IT General

There's a fun feature of AdultFriendFinder that many users sleep on. The online hookup site actually allows couples to share an account. Registering as a couple, as opposed to a singleton (particularly a solo male), helps boost your visibility on the site, since the search algorithms will treat your account as representing two people rather than one. That means it's easier for other users to find you in searches, helping you make more connections.

The process of creating a joint account is reasonably straightforward, but there are some extra steps you'll need to take to ensure it is properly registered as a couple's account. 

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

Here's a quick guide on everything you need to do.

How to create a joint AFF account

The first hurdle you'll have to pass is the "Who would you like to connect with?" screen, which offers up four options: Man, Woman, Couple, or Trans. This screen is totally inconsequential to creating a joint account, so if, for example, you're open to meeting people of all genders, don't worry that you've limited your options by your choice here. It doesn't matter overall.

On the next screen, "Let's get your details," the site will prompt you to choose between a solo and a joint account. Under the "I am/we are a" tab, select "Couple." You'll then have to provide an answer to the "Your Orientation" screen before you can proceed. The partner you'll be using the account with will also have the opportunity to provide their own answer later down the line. 

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps

Next, you'll have to specify what kind of connection you're looking for as a couple (Love, Casual, Friends, or Hanging Out), and then provide your birthday and location, followed by your email address and chosen password. 

At this point, congratulations! Your account has been created, but your profile still isn't complete. 

Completing a couple's profile on AFF

You'll know you're on the right track when your account's blank profile photo features not one anonymous avatar, but two. If you see just a single avatar in your profile photo, you've made a mistake along the way and need to start again to create a new account.

Your work isn't done, though: Just as you filled out information about your date of birth and sexual orientation on the registration screen, you now have to do the same for the person with whom you're sharing an account (AFF does not support accounts of three or more people). It's extremely important that you fill this information out as well, because the AFF search filters will be able to parse your group account as having, for example, a bisexual man and a heterosexual woman, making the account appear in many more search results. 

Can you combine individual accounts on AFF?

Let's say, hypothetically, that you meet your significant other on AdultFriendFinder and decide you want to search for a third person as a couple. Can you combine your two accounts that were created before you met? Unfortunately, the answer is no. 

If you already have an AFF account and want to add another person, follow the steps above to create a new joint account.

Storied Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar has built his career on melodramas rich in sex and agony. However, in 2019, he got more personal with Pain and Glory, a semi-autobiographical drama in which Antonio Banderas plays a thinly veiled version of the director as he looks back on his work and life, anxious to move forward with a new project. His latest, Bitter Christmas, serves as a sister film, echoing not only the semi-autobiographical element but also by casting a dashing actor in the role of an aging Almodóvar.

SEE ALSO: TIFF 2026 preview: 18 films (and shows) you'll want to see (and how)

Leonardo Sbaraglia stars as Raúl, a filmmaker who's hungry for inspiration for a new screenplay. In his corner are his much younger partner, Santi (Quim Gutiérrez), and his longtime manager, Mónica (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón). However, Bitter Christmas gets self-reflexive as Raúl's story is interwoven with that in his screenplay. There, a once-revered art-house filmmaker named Elsa (Bárbara Lennie) seeks to move away from directing commercials and return to screenwriting. Aside from their similar creative quest, both also have May-December romances with younger men, and both find inspiration for their new project in the tragedy that befalls a friend.

In two layers, Almodóvar explores what it means to be an artist who may well cannibalize the stories of his loved ones for his art. But he doesn't lose sight of what it means to see your heartache treated as fertilizer to grow that art. In both Raúl's story and Elsa's, the writers are confronted by a female friend is radiantly furious at having her life treated as source material without consent.

So, how do these parallel stories play out?

Bitter Christmas is compelling and frustrating.

Almodóvar, who wrote and directs Bitter Christmas, leaps back and forth between Raúl and Elsa, whose arcs play out in 2025 and 2004, respectively. Despite the decades between them, these worlds are visually similar, alive with the vivid color palettes that are part of Almodóvar's signature style.

His characters are beautiful, always, and favor bold hues of red, magenta, gold, and amber. The production design around them is rich with the texture of lives lived: a book shelf thoughtfully organized but clearly oft-visited, a lamp shedding light on simple but elegant illustrations, a strip club for women that's a mix of chic and sleazy. Across both stories, we're invited to understand these people and their alter egos through such tender details.

The ensemble cast strides into this world as if it is truly theirs. Determined close-up shots allow for every micro-expression to register, while wide shots remind us of how close these friends and lovers are, and yet how fragile the space between them can be.

Sbaraglia is intriguing in the role of Almodóvar's first mirror, Raúl. He speaks with passion, intelligence, and a low-burning frustration, which bursts whenever he's challenged. Elsa, however, is a more typical Almodóvar figure — a strong-willed woman who won't be bent by the judgment of others. She is robust, defiant, and ruthlessly loyal to her art.

By contrast, the boyfriends Santi and Bonifacio (Patrick Criado) are defined by their congeniality and sex appeal. Gutiérrez, playing the older of the two, gets to weave in more nuance than the Golden Retriever boyfriend Criado is given to play. But this feels intentional, as if Raúl simplifies his lover Santi into the himbo archetype of Bonifacio. But why? It's in these difference where Bitter Christmas becomes the most exciting for longtime Almodóvar fans.

Is the simplification of Santi meant to convince Raúl that their relationship is not so serious, so if and when it ends, his heartbreak will be lessened by anticipation? Or is the almost puppy-like sweetness and loyalty of Bonifacio meant as a quiet condemnation of Elsa's opportunism, as she treats him with little regard even as he bends over backwards to please her? Basically, are these boy toys not meant to be mocked, but to reflect Almodóvar's own insecurities through their guilelessness?

However, it's Monica who becomes Bitter Christmas's most compelling character, and I'm not sure if that's intentional or not.

Aitana Sánchez-Gijon owns Bitter Christmas.

At first, she seems a supporting character who flutters around the sensitive artist, caring for all the chores, emails, and requests so he won't have to. But no sooner is her dedication defined that she's requesting a "sabbatical." It's so unusual for this clear workaholic to request time off, much less a lot of time, and with little warning and no explanation, that Raúl is darkly enchanted.

Forged over decades, their professional and personal relationship is impossibly intertwined, so Monica soon shares that her dear friend has suffered a horrendous personal loss. She is going to care for her (not terribly unlike Almodóvar's last film, The Room Next Door.) However, no sooner has she divulged this painful truth than Raúl remolds it for his fiction. Both within his script and in his life, the filmmaker will have to face the friend betrayed in this specific way.

When Monica sits down with Raúl in a garden cafe to lay into him about his selfishness in this creative endeavor, Bitter Christmas ignites. While much happens in the parallel stories, the energy of Elsa and Raúl feel subdued, as if they are always in their heads looking down on the situation instead of living fully within it. It's possible Almodóvar intended such restraint, but it makes Bitter Christmas feel almost as if the movie is holding its breath, waiting for something profound to hit. That comes when Monica argues for herself, her privacy, and her friend's dignity.

However, no sooner does Bitter Christmas open up into something exciting than the film itself ends. There will be no satisfying resolution — perhaps until Almodóvar's next movie.

At one point in the movie, Raúl recognizes that even a minor work from him will be big to his fans. And it seems almost a buffer for those who might critique Bitter Christmas. Regarded on its own, this film feels thin. But Almodóvar devotees might well see it as a Rosetta stone to better understand the revered filmmaker and the whole of his body of work.

Bitter Christmas was reviewed out of its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will open in NYC and L.A. Nov. 13, before going nationwide Nov. 25.

Where to check for Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Amazon Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Day/Espeon) Check stock on Amazon Shop Now Amazon Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Night/Umbreon) Check stock on Amazon Shop Now TCGplayer Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Day/Espeon) Check stock on TCGplayer Shop Now TCGplayer Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Night/Umbreon) Check stock on TCGplayer Shop Now Walmart Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Day/Espeon) Check stock on Walmart Shop Now Walmart Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Night/Umbreon) Check stock on Walmart Shop Now Target Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Day/Espeon) Check stock on Target Shop Now Best Buy Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Day/Espeon) Check stock on Best Buy Shop Now Best Buy Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection (Night/Umbreon) Check stock on Best Buy Shop Now

The Pokémon TCG's 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections have finally arrived, but getting hold of either the Espeon (Day) or Umbreon (Night) edition at a reasonable price has been proving difficult, even with new listings regularly going live across major U.S. trading card retailers.

Released on Nov. 6, these enormous anniversary boxes have become two of the most sought-after Pokémon products of the year — just as much as the 30th Celebration ETB. Along with the many early Pokemon Black Friday deals, we've found several places to buy both versions, with Walmart currently offering the lowest prices among top retailers. However, there are some important differences between the available offers and the official restocks.

We've rounded up the retailers worth checking out, the latest prices, and everything you need to know to secure one of these special collections ahead of Black Friday.

Where to check for Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration UPC stock

These are the main U.S. retailers to bookmark for the Espeon and Umbreon collections, including their current stock situation:

• Amazon: No stock or listings are available directly from the retailer or from third-party sellers, but we’ve added a go-to search results page so you can quickly check for any restocks (we expect more this week).

• Best Buy (Day and Night): Official stock is hard to find, but third-party listings are still available for both versions. Set up deal alerts to catch any new allocations.

• Target (Day): Currently sold out via official stock and third-party sellers.

• TCGplayer (Day and Night): The dedicated trading card marketplace has listings for both the Espeon and Umbreon editions of 30th Celebration’s Ultra-Premium Collection at around or under market price. 

• Walmart (Day and Night): Both Day and Night editions are available through third-party sellers. Keep an eye out for cheaper listings.

Why are the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration UPC boxes selling out so quickly?

Demand for the 30th Celebration expansion has been exceptionally strong since its September launch, and these Ultra-Premium Collections are arguably the hottest items in the entire anniversary lineup.

Unlike smaller Pokemon products such as Booster Bundles and Elite Trainer Boxes, each UPC contains a staggering 30 booster packs, including one exclusive Classic Collection pack with three etched cards celebrating the TCG's history. Add in two highly collectible promo Pokémon cards — Espeon and Umbreon — alongside special Pikachu ex promo cards and all the premium extras (playmat, card sleeves, deck box, etc.), and it’s no wonder that there hasn’t been enough supply to meet the demand. 

What's included in the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections?

There are two versions to choose from: the green-and-blue Day edition featuring Espeon ex, and the purple-themed Night collection starring Umbreon ex.

Both contain 29 standard 30th Celebration booster packs and one special Classic Collection pack, alongside a foil Pikachu ex promo card and a matching Espeon ex or Umbreon ex promo. You'll also get a themed playmat, 65 card sleeves, a deck box, a metal Pokémon coin, six damage-counter dice, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

The accessories and promotional artwork vary between editions, but you’re effectively getting the same level of contents with either box.

How can you improve your chances of finding Pokémon TCG UPC stock?

With both versions in high demand, there are a few ways to make tracking down an Espeon or Umbreon Ultra-Premium Collection a little easier:

• Keep checking the major retailers: Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Amazon, and GameStop are all worth revisiting throughout the week — as new stock has been constantly reappearing over the last couple of weeks. On the other hand, stock can sell out with little warning, so you’ll need to check regularly.

• Set up stock alerts where available: Retailer notifications and independent stock trackers can help you spot fresh inventory without repeatedly refreshing every product page. Best Buy, for instance, even lets you set deal alerts for specific listings.

• Compare prices across different sellers: Third-party sellers can be a useful way to secure either collection when official stock is unavailable. Just remember to compare their offers against current market prices (available on TCGplayer), as some listings are considerably more expensive than others.

• Check whether you're getting Day or Night: Some retailers list the two versions separately, while GameStop uses combined listings with randomized selections. Make sure you're ordering the right product if you're specifically after Espeon or Umbreon.

• Don't overlook in-store availability: Online stock shifts incredibly fast, but checking nearby Target, Best Buy, and GameStop locations could give you another chance to grab a box — as many don’t check physical stores, simply assuming they’ll be automatically sold out, particularly if additional inventory arrives ahead of Black Friday.

Will the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration UPC boxes be restocked for Black Friday?

It's certainly possible that more Ultra-Premium Collections could come in stock for Black Friday, though no allocations have been confirmed for either collection.

With Black Friday arriving on Nov. 27, there's still a little over two weeks for retailers to receive more inventory and, as mentioned, there have been fleeting stock drops across the major Pokemon TCG retailers — even if most of them come via third-party sellers. Keep in mind that due to the demand for the 30th Celebration UPCs, sellers have little incentive to discount listings much below market price (around $360 per Ultra-Premium Collection).

For now, it's worth keeping the retailer pages above close at hand, so you can compare prices for any available stock and decide what’s best for your trading card budget. 

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is $11.99 (reg. $199) with code DEAL20 through Nov. 15, and the lifetime license adds BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Copilot to your PC.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $11.99
$199 Save $187.01   Get Deal

Paying full price for an operating system is hard to justify when the same license goes on sale. If your PC feels slow or you keep putting off an upgrade, try a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license, now $11.99 (reg. $199) with code DEAL20.

You pay once, and you never pay a renewal fee. Windows 11 Pro has an updated interface, Snap layouts for working in several windows at once, and face or fingerprint sign-in backed by TPM 2.0 security.

Professionals and power users also get access to tools that Windows 11 Home doesn’t offer. Hyper-V runs virtual machines, Windows Sandbox tests apps in an isolated space, BitLocker encrypts your drive, and Azure AD connects the PC to business networks. If you work on several client projects at once or keep sensitive files on your laptop, these tools matter every day.

Copilot is built into the taskbar too. You can ask it to summarize a page, answer a question, or write code without opening a browser.

Before you buy, run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to make sure your computer is compatible. This license is for PCs that need a new Windows license, and it installs on one PC. It won’t install on a Windows 10 machine that can’t get the free upgrade through Windows Update.

You know a good price on Windows when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for $11.99 (reg. $199) with code DEAL20. Offer ends Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Where to check for PS5 Pro stock: Amazon PlayStation 5 Pro $899.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best Buy PlayStation 5 Pro $899.99 at Best Buy Shop Now GameStop PlayStation 5 Pro $899.99 at GameStop Shop Now PlayStation Direct PlayStation 5 Pro $899 at PlayStation Direct Shop Now Target PlayStation 5 Pro $899.99 at Target Shop Now Walmart PlayStation 5 Pro $899.99 at Walmart Shop Now

If you waited until launch week to upgrade your console before GTA 6 arrives on Nov. 19, you are not alone. With Rockstar’s biggest release in over a decade just days away, gamers across the country are scrambling to lock down Sony’s most powerful hardware — and that sudden rush has wiped out PlayStation 5 Pro inventory almost everywhere.

Following Sony’s April price hike that pushed the PS5 Pro’s standard MSRP to $899.99, legitimate retail stock has dried up across PlayStation Direct, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop.

Instead of falling for inflated reseller markups, bookmark this tracker to monitor official retail pages directly. While major storefronts are currently sitting at zero, brief restock waves at the standard list price continue to cycle through — and having the right links ready is the easiest way to snag one before Vice City opens its doors.

Where to track down a PS5 Pro at retail price

If you are trying to score a PS5 Pro for retail price before GTA 6 arrives, save these direct store links and check them regularly — inventory drops in brief, unpredictable waves:

• Amazon — Currently out of stock, unless you opt for marked-up listings from third-party sellers.

• Best Buy — Currently out of stock. Online drops typically filter buyers through a virtual queue, so stay logged into your account ahead of time. Keep an eye on local store pickup toggles too, as single units occasionally surface regionally.

• GameStop — New consoles are sold out online, so calling or walking into your neighborhood store is your best bet for retail-priced stock. Just ignore the pre-owned listings — the retailer deliberately jacked used and refurbished units up to $1,399.99 ($500 more than a brand-new box) to cash in on the GTA 6 shortage. Hard pass.

• PlayStation Direct — Currently out of stock. Buying straight from Sony is your cleanest shot at paying the list price without third-party clutter, and they cap orders at one console per customer whenever new batches go live.

• Target — Currently out of stock. Target tends to release small online waves alongside early-morning store pickup inventory tied to local freight arrivals. Having payment details saved in the Target app saves crucial seconds at checkout.

• Walmart — Currently out of stock, unless you opt for marked-up listings from third-party sellers.

Why everyone is scrambling for a PS5 Pro right now

It all comes down to GTA 6 arriving next week. Since Rockstar is launching the game exclusively on consoles with no PC version available at launch, anyone who wants the best-looking trip to Leonida is rushing to grab Sony's flagship hardware.

Rockstar confirmed this week that while GTA 6 runs at 30 frames per second across all consoles, the PS5 Pro is the single best place to play on day one. It is the only console getting sharper 4K visuals through PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and upgraded ray-traced shadows. Throw in faster load times, DualSense controller haptics, and a built-in 2TB drive for massive game files, and it makes total sense why players are upgrading right now.

Besides that, supply has been tight for months. Component shortages and rising memory costs have slowed down console production throughout 2026, leaving stores without enough stock to handle the pre-launch rush. Because production won't catch up to GTA 6 hype anytime soon, any standard list-price units that hit store sites will vanish in minutes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto 6 $79 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Is the PS5 Pro worth the upgrade?

If you are debating whether to hunt down a PS5 Pro instead of playing GTA 6 on a standard PlayStation 5, Rockstar just confirmed exactly what the extra hardware gets you on day one.

Even though frame rates remain the same across all consoles, the PS5 Pro is the only system to unlock two major visual upgrades. First is PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), Sony’s AI upscaling tech that sharpens lower-resolution images on the fly so Vice City’s neon skylines, crowded beaches, and distant horizons look noticeably crisper on a 4K TV.

You also get exclusive ray-traced shadows powered by the Pro’s faster graphics chip, giving sunlight, headlights, and towering cityscapes far more realistic depth and lighting than you will see on a base PS5 or Xbox Series X. Plus, with GTA 6 taking up over 210GB, the PS5 Pro’s built-in 2TB SSD gives you plenty of breathing room without having to delete half your library just to install it.

How to beat the bots and improve your chances of finding stock

Catching a surprise drop before GTA 6 launches comes down to speed and a little bit of prep:

• Dodge third-party marketplace sellers: Sites like Walmart and Amazon let outside merchants charge whatever they want. Always check the "Sold and shipped by" label to ensure you are buying from the actual retailer at standard list price.

• Save your checkout information beforehand: Taking the time to type in a security code or shipping address during a drop will cost you your cart. Keep your profiles logged in with default payment methods saved.

• Do not refresh Best Buy's waiting line: When Best Buy runs a drop, it puts shoppers into an automated queue. Hitting refresh resets your spot and sends you to the very back of the line. Meanwhile, refreshing PlayStation Direct directly on weekday mornings often catches small waves before stock-alert apps fire.

• Check physical stores in the morning: Online checkout bots can wipe out digital inventory in seconds. Visiting Target, Best Buy, or GameStop when doors open often turns up fresh shipment boxes that never made it onto website listings.

Should you wait for a PS5 Pro Black Friday deal?

In short: no. While major retailers almost always hold back small batches of high-demand hardware to anchor their Thanksgiving week and Black Friday doorbusters, don't expect a holiday discount on the PS5 Pro this year.

Sony's early Black Friday rollout has focused almost entirely on digital games and accessories rather than new console markdowns — so simply catching a legitimate restock at the standard list price is the real Black Friday win.

Waiting until Nov. 27 also puts you up against peak holiday traffic, GTA 6 latecomers, and automated checkout bots all hammering store servers at once. If an "Add to Cart" button flickers live at $899.99 before Thanksgiving week officially kicks off, buy it on the spot instead of waiting around for a sale that isn't coming.

Google has announced Gemini 4 Hydrogen, its latest AI model. Adapted from Gemini 4 Carbon and focused on speed, Google claims that Hydrogen also surpasses its frontier Gemini 4 Argon model when using its default thinking level.

SEE ALSO: Google Gemini upgrades are rolling out to all supported Android devices

"While our frontier models, Gemini 4 Carbon and Gemini 4 Argon, excel at deep, long-horizon reasoning on your hardest problems, Hydrogen is built for rapid execution across diverse agentic workflows," wrote Koray Kavukcuoglu, senior vice president at Google DeepMind, in Thursday's announcement. 

Specifically, Hydrogen is intended to quickly conduct tasks such as writing code, running tests, and doing everyday work, as opposed to designing systems and fixing complex bugs. Set to a "high" thinking level by default, Hydrogen can also be adjusted to low, medium, and a new xhigh tier, which vary in quality, latency, and cost.

"Hydrogen is built to stand on its own as a model for everyday work — or to pair with Carbon and Argon as the high-efficiency execution engine in multi-model workflows," wrote Kavukcuoglu.

Gemini 4 Hydrogen is rolling out globally from today, arriving in Google Search for all users. It will also be available for selection in the Gemini app's model dropdown menu. 

Google Search's AI features were previously powered by Gemini 3.8 Flash, which launched in September. In comparison, Kavukcuoglu stated that Hydrogen will respond to queries with more visual responses, as well as a wider variety of relevant links. Hydrogen is also designed to better understand conversational prompts and follow users' trains of thought, including understanding typos.

A comparison between Gemini 4 Hydrogen and Gemini 3.5 Flash, a previous AI model released in May. Credit: Google

"Gemini 4 Hydrogen makes it easier to get things done, staying on track and following instructions more closely across multi-turn conversations," said Kavukcuoglu. "In the Gemini app, Hydrogen makes your everyday assistant even more helpful — it’s better at following your guidance, calling the right tools, and getting you to a reliable output with less back-and-forth."

Compared to 3.8 Flash, Google claims that Hydrogen is two times less likely to circumvent permission boundaries. The company further stated that it's continuing to work on the AI model's safety and security aspects such as jailbreak resistance, though noted that Hydrogen is still prone to hallucinations, like all generative AI agents.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 13, 2026 Browse meaning

To search leisurely.

Scroll meaning

Browsing the Internet or social media

Search meaning

To look for something or someone.

Surf meaning

To search casually.

Coverage meaning

The broadcasting of a news event.

Exposure meaning

Being made known to the public, media or an audience.

Press meaning

News coverage.

Publicity meaning

Public visibility.

Barge meaning

A roomy, flat-bottomed boat.

Glider meaning

A motorless aircraft that flies by riding on air currents.

Trailer meaning

A teaser, typically for a film or TV show.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Water skier meaning

Someone who participates in water skiing.

Freeze meaning

The process of water turning to a solid.

Teaser meaning

A short preview.

Trust meaning

To have faith in something or someone.

Waves meaning

Natural curves.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a high screen time.

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 November 13, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Google it

• Green: In the public eye

• Blue: Water sports

• Purple: It's all in your head

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Use the internet

• Green: Media attention

• Blue: Things that are towed

• Purple: Brain ___

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 #1251 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Use the internet: BROWSE, SCROLL, SEARCH, SURF

• Media attention: COVERAGE, EXPOSURE, PRESS, PUBLICITY

• Things that are towed: BARGE, GLIDER, TRAILER, WATER SKIER

• Brain ___: FREEZE, TEASER, TRUST, WAVES

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 will be easy if you're superstitious.

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 November 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Not a good sign

The words are related to superstitions.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve bad fortune.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Rotten Luck.

NYT Strands word list for November 13

• Thirteenth

• Broken

• Spilled

• Rotten Luck

• Floor

• Salt

• Mirror

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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 have no fear.

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 November 13, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

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

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Courage

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MOXIE

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.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Estimate.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

GAUGE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Allow.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 13, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRANT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Meaty leg.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 13, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 13, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

THIGH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To assess.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

JUDGE

Final Hurdle hint

Kids.

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

YOUTH

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

Onyx Boox makes the best eReaders available to the human species, and there's no debating me on that. The new Boox Picco is a brilliant little pocket eReader that used to come with a MagSafe case, but Boox stopped selling the case with it recently. Third-party sellers haven't clocked this gap yet, so there aren't any alternatives at the moment. That's why I took matters into my own hands and decided to add that feature myself. What could go wrong?

Slim, modern TVs leave very little room for good speakers, so a soundbar is one of the simplest ways to improve the way your shows and games sound. If you want a compact option, the Samsung HW-S50B Soundbar is a good place to start, and it's 35% off right now as part of an early Black Friday sale.

My phone kept nagging me about storage, and every warning came with a button to pay for more. I'd been renting space for my own images for years, and the price only ever moved in one direction. Then I looked at the old desktop gathering dust in my closet and wondered if it could do the job. It could, but I could have done it faster had I known what I know now. Just make sure you have an 8GB flash drive to start with.

Home Assistant really is incredible software. It's come a long way from its origins as a few lines of code that could turn on a smart bulb. There's very little that Home Assistant can't do these days, but there are still one or two things that even Home Assistant can't manage alone.

What's new on Netflix in the U.S. this week? If you're searching for a new movie, look no further than Heartland, a mystery thriller starring Jessica Chastain as a former country music star searching for her missing niece. I'm a gambling man, so I'll bet that Heartland shoots to the top of Netflix's Top 10.

TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus, now $47.99 (reg. $249.99) with code DEAL20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License $47.99
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Most people get Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through a Microsoft 365 subscription. If that subscription lapses, the desktop apps drop into a read-only mode until payment resumes. If you’d rather own the apps outright, try a Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus lifetime license, a one-time purchase of the full desktop suite for Windows. You pay $47.99 (reg. $249.99) once with code DEAL20.

Six apps and no subscription

Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access. Each app installs on your PC and works without a cloud connection, so you can write and edit offline.

Your license is tied to one Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC rather than your Microsoft account. That setup suits offices with controlled IT environments, and there’s no Microsoft 365 subscription to keep active. Your redemption code and download instructions arrive by email right after checkout, so setup can start within minutes.

Pro Plus keeps a fixed feature set instead of adding new tools every month, so the menus you learn this week look the same next year. You still get regular security updates for the supported lifecycle. Built-in security and compliance features also make this edition a good fit for businesses in regulated industries.

Day to day, the interface has a dark mode option, and Pro Plus runs well on modest hardware, including older Windows 10 laptops that still meet the system requirements.

On the downside, this version doesn’t run on a Mac, and the license can’t move to a new PC later. You have seven days after purchase to redeem the code. Once you redeem it, the sale is final, so confirm your PC runs Windows 10 or Windows 11 first.

Own your Office apps instead of renting them.

Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for $47.99 with code DEAL20. Offer ends Nov. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Cancel your monthly hosting plan and get a Hostdeal Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription for $119.99 (reg. $1,800) with code DEAL20.

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Most web hosts price their plans by how many sites you run, so every new project can mean a bigger plan. You can avoid that with a Hostdeal Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription and get unlimited web hosting for as many websites as you want. A one-time $119.99 (reg. $1,800) gets you the plan when you use code DEAL20.

54 domains with no renewal fees

Along with unlimited websites, Hostdeal gives you unlimited NVMe SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth, so a busy week on one site won’t add a bandwidth charge. You also get 54 free lifetime domains with no renewal fees. Those domains use niche extensions like .co.business, .co.technology, and .co.events rather than .com, so they fit side projects better than a main brand name.

Sites are managed through the StartCP control panel, where you can manage domains, email accounts, and databases from a single dashboard. A one-click installer sets up WordPress and more than 400 other web apps. Developers get MySQL databases, FTP access, Git integration, cron jobs, and a choice of PHP versions, with every hosted site able to have up to 5 email accounts.

Each site automatically gets a free SSL certificate and daily off-site backups. Hostdeal also includes DDoS protection, malware scanning, a web application firewall, brute-force protection, and two-factor authentication. You can pick a server location in the U.S., U.K., or Singapore, and those servers run on NVMe SSD storage with HTTP/2, IPv6, a CDN, and edge caching.

You can manage everything from a modern browser on Windows, macOS, or Linux, on desktop or mobile. Hostdeal also sells Standard and Triple plans for fewer sites, but Unlimited is the only tier with no cap on websites. Support is available 24/7, and platform updates come with the plan.

Host every site you build for a one-time fee. Through Nov. 15, a Hostdeal Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription is $119.99 with code DEAL20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

A smart thermostat is one of the easier ways to add voice control to your heating and cooling, and it doesn't need to cost a lot, either. The Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat is Energy Star certified and works with Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, and you can grab it now for just $80.

There are plenty of reasons Jensen Huang's resignation is a big deal. Not only does his departure leave Nvidia, the AI chipmaker he co-founded 33 years ago, looking for a new permanent CEO for the first time. It also puts the spotlight on the Huang family, whose ties to the company run well beyond its founder.

To catch you up, Huang stepped down four days after first telling employees he'd been unfaithful to his wife of 41 years, Lori Huang. He made the admission after reports of a relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman, who first of all is unrelated to him, and whom U.S. intelligence officials suspect of spying for China. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that he'd also had a relationship with Kimberly Powell, an Nvidia executive who reported directly to him. And then on Thursday, hours after resigning, Reuters reported that Huang had an "intimate relationship" with another Nvidia employee, whom the outlet did not name.

To make matters worse (if possible), the Huangs' two children, Madison and Spencer, both work at Nvidia, making this whole scandal a family affair with a far more personal question at the center of it: What would happen to the Nvidia multi-billion dollar fortune if they divorced?

Of course, this analysis doesn't mean the couple is divorcing — Lori hasn’t made any public comment. She and Jensen are deeply connected in business as co-trustees of three trusts that directly held nearly 669 million Nvidia shares in March. A September SEC filing shows those direct holdings at about 608 million shares, with additional stock held through companies their living trust owns. Nvidia says the couple may share voting and investment power over those shares.

Will Lori Huang follow MacKenzie Scott's path?

The size of that stake harkens MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of another tech titan, Jeff Bezos. When a judge finalized Scott's divorce from the Amazon founder, her stake in the company was worth $38.3 billion. That October, Forbes ranked her the third-richest woman in America.

Like Scott, Lori Huang was there long before her husband became a billionaire. By the time Jensen co-founded Nvidia, she already had a career in the chip industry.

Lori and Jensen Huang first met as lab partners in an electrical engineering class at Oregon State University, and when they landed jobs in Silicon Valley, Lori earned more than Jensen, he told The New Yorker in 2023. She left the workforce to raise their two children before he co-founded Nvidia in 1993.

Ms. Huang also runs the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation, which reported $9.1 billion in net assets at the end of 2024. The couple gave Oregon State $50 million to help build a research center that bears both their names, and the foundation has also bought time on graphics processors and donated it to universities and nonprofits for research.

As of Thursday, Nov. 12, Forbes estimates Jensen's net worth at about $145 billion, making him, according to its list, the thirteenth-richest man in the world. Half of that amount would be roughly $72.5 billion, enough to rank fourth on Forbes' annual list of the world's richest women in March. Of course, what Lori might receive if they divorced would depend on which assets qualify as marital property and whether the couple signed a prenup or postnup, which remains unclear. In California, courts generally divide community property equally unless the spouses agree to a different split.