IT General

SAVE $140: As of July 17, the Segway Navimow i110 is on sale for $789 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Navimow Segway Navimow i110 $789 at Amazon
$929 Save $140   Get Deal

Robot helpers are becoming incredibly popular, and it's no surprise why. Vacuums, pool cleaners, and even garden mowers all make our lives a little bit easier by cutting out some of life's most tedious chores. And with summer being the season for lounging in the garden, robot lawn mowers are definitely worth considering.

As of July 17, Amazon has dropped the price of the Segway Navimow i110 robot lawn mower, dipping from $929 to $789. Nnot only is this a discount of $140 on list price, but it's also the lowest-ever price for this model.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Setup is streamlined through a smartphone app, so getting going with this device is nice and easy. On the app, you can guide the mower to create virtual boundaries around your lawn. Its AI-assisted Assist Mapping feature can also identify lawn edges and automatically map the working area.

During operation, Navimow uses planned mowing patterns to cut grass systematically, changing direction after completing to reduce visible mowing tracks. When it runs out of battery, it automatically returns to recharge before continuing until the lawn is finished.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

FREE GIFT CARD: Apple is giving away gift cards worth up to $150 in its Back To School sale when purchasing select MacBooks and iPads.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Apple Back To School Sale: Free gift card worth up to $150   Get Deal

Apple's Back To School promo is live, giving eligible students, parents, and staff the chance to score a free Apple Gift Card worth up to $150 when purchasing select MacBooks and iPads.

The offer runs from July 16 through Aug. 27, 2026, and is available in Apple Stores and online at the Apple Store for Education. To qualify, you have purchase an eligible device through one of these channels during the promotional period.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

If you buy a MacBook Pro, you'll get the highest gift card value of $150. If you buy a MacBook Air, iPad Air, or iPad Pro, these come with a $100 Apple Gift Card.

This deal is open to current and newly accepted higher education students, higher education faculty and staff, parents purchasing on behalf of college students, and eligible K-12 employees. This includes homeschool teachers, school board members, and qualifying PTA or PTO officers.

However, there are a few restrictions to note. Each eligible customer can only claim one gift card with a qualifying MacBook purchase and one with a qualifying iPad purchase during the offer period. And if you return your device, you'll also need to return the gift card, or its full value will be deducted from your refund if it has already been redeemed. And of course, you'll need to verify your education eligibility before completing your purchase.

Get this Back To School deal at Apple before Aug. 27.

We're not sure why exactly, but we're the midst of a flurry of national food days. Fresh from National French Fry Day and National Hot Dog Day, it's now time to celebrate National Ice Cream Day. We're not in the business of picking favorites, but come on. We'll whisper it quietly, but this is our favorite. Not only is this ice cream we're talking about, but the free deals and limited-time promotions are elite.

Sunday, July 19, is National Ice Cream Day. We're already seeing special offers from Target, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, and many more popular retailers. Clear your schedule, because ice cream is on the menu all weekend.

These are our favorite National Ice Cream Day deals in 2026.

Baskin Robbins

From National Ice Cream Day through July 25, rewards members get $5 off orders of $20 or more in-app or online. On July 26, members can score a buy-one-get-one free scoop.

Blue Bell Ice Cream

Grab the limited-time Chocolate Lava Cake flavor in honor of National Ice Cream Month before it sells out.

Blue Bunny

Use DoorDash’s DashMart grocery service to secure a "buy two, save $5 deal" on soft pints and mini swirls through July 26.

Dairy Queen

Rewards members can claim a free Dilly Bar with any purchase of $1 or more in the DQ app from July 13-19.

Dippin' Dots

Score a free mini cup of any flavor at participating locations during a specific two-hour window on National Ice Cream Day (check their online locator to find one near you).

DoorDash

DashPass members get a free Wendy's Frosty with a $20 purchase and a "buy two, save $4" deal on Häagen-Dazs from July 16-22.

Friendly’s

Get a free cone or dish of Friendly’s signature ice cream on July 19. There's no rewards membership or purchase required to qualify.

GoPuff

Grab two pints of Ben & Jerry's for $8, two pints of Halo Top for $10, or 30% off Snickers and Twix Ice Cream Bar packs. FAM members can score select premium pints for just $3.50.

Graeter’s

Use code ICECREAMDAY10 for 10% off online orders from July 17-19. Sweet Rewards members can also grab a $1.56 single-dip sugar cone in-store.

Häagen-Dazs

DashPass member can buy two, save $4 until July 22.

Jeni’s Ice Creams

Visit a scoop shop on July 19 to get a free pour of the signature Fudge Sauce or brand-new Caramel Sauce with any order.

Kilwins

Enter Instagram sweepstakes between July 19-31 for a chance to win "free ice cream for a year" (awarded as a $650 gift card).

Marble Slab Creamery

Loyalty members can redeem a free small ice cream on July 19.

Salt & Straw

Build your own custom pint (three scoops with fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry) for $12.50 from July 17-23, plus earn double loyalty points on July 19.

Stop & Shop

Scan your loyalty card at the in-store Savings Station kiosks from July 17-23 for a chance to win a free 1.5-quart container of store-brand ice cream.

Target

Score a buy one, get one 50% off deal on all ice cream from July 12-18.

Wendy’s

DashPass members can get a free Frosty with $20+ orders until July 22.

We're three episodes into Silo Season 3 now, and the paranoia is real.

But while there are multiple reasons to feel permanently on edge in the silo itself, things are becoming just as nerve-wracking in the flashback timeline. Back in episode 1, Charles (Jessica Brown Findlay) thinks she's being followed when she goes to meet her brother, Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman). Now, two episodes later, we pretty much have confirmation that she was right.

So, what happens in episode 3 with Daniel's investigation into his sister's crash, and what does the mysterious gray-haired man have to do with it?

SEE ALSO: 'Silo' Season 3, episode 2's ending explained: What is Vitamin D+? When does the gray-haired man appear in Silo?

Daniel's investigation into what happened on Charles' mission takes him to a funeral of one of her fellow pilots. After speaking with the deceased pilot's father, Alameda (Joseph Balderrama), he learns that there may be a recording out there of the mission's comms. Towards the end of the conversation, two men appear on the far side of the busy room.

"That's the cap of the Nimitz," Alameda tells Daniel, before going over and shaking hands with the man in uniform.

The other gray-haired man, who is in civilian clothes, keeps glancing across at Daniel — and we've seen him before.

Where have we seen the gray-haired man before?

Eagle-eyed viewers will remember the same man appears back in episode one, when Charles is getting on the subway to meet Daniel.

She pauses just before getting on the train and sees the gray-haired man waiting on the platform. Their eyes meet. She moves down the platform and boards the train, but when she sees him in the neighbouring carriage, she panics and jumps out at the last minute. As the train passes her, she sees that he's still on board, but he doesn't look up.

Back in episode 1, it wasn't clear if Charles was just being paranoid or if she was actually being followed. Now we know the answer.

So, who is the gray-haired man?

First of all, we know who plays him: An actor named Reed Birney, who has previously had recurring roles in House of Cards and American Horror Story. In other words, the guy isn't a nobody. He's an experienced actor, which suggests his character is going to have more to do this season than just a couple of cameos.

Clearly the character isn't a nobody, either. He enters the room alongside a military captain, which suggests he's also a man of importance despite the fact he isn't wearing uniform.

So, someone who isn't in the military but who knows high-ranking members of the military? Could he be CIA or FBI? A well-connected private detective?

Time will tell, but we're guessing this won't be the last time we see his face.

Silo Season 3 is streaming now on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watched 2000s 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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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

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

SEE ALSO: 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: World Cup entrants

• Green: Stars of the past

• Blue: Luka

• Purple: Some strings on these

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: First-Timers in 2026 in World Cup

• Green: Nicknames of 2000s Basketball Stars

• Blue: Associated with Luka Doncic

• Purple: Things That Have Strings

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 #662 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• First-Timers in 2026 in World Cup: CAPE VERDE, CURACAO, JORDAN, UZBEKISTAN

• Nicknames of 2000s Basketball Stars: AI, BIG TICKET, STARBURY, T-MAC

• Associated with Luka Doncic: 77, LAKERS, MAVERICKS, SLOVENIA

• Things That Have Strings: BOW, DEPTH CHART, LACROSSE STICK, TENNIS RACKET

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 the latest Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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 July 17, 2026

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 July 17, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 17 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 17 Pips

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

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 17 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators 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

Tapered.

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

CONIC

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Unfasten.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UNZIP

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Beamed.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SHONE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Proverb.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ADAGE

Final Hurdle hint

Assortment.

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

ARRAY

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

We're not onto day three of the new lunar cycle, which means the Moon is starting to properly come into view. Over the next few nights it'll become even more visible, and moon gazing will return.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, July 17, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with just 11% of its surface visible.

Even with binoculars or telescopes, there is simply not enough reflected light tonight to make out any craters, mountains, or any other features on the Moon's surface.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon completes one full cycle around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight different phases along the way, NASA explains. Although the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes as it travels around Earth. This changing angle of illumination is what makes the Moon appear to transform throughout the month, from a thin crescent to a half-lit Moon and eventually a fully illuminated Full Moon, before starting the cycle again.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a mechanic.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 17, 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: The last hoorah

• Green: Fun and games

• Blue: Quartet

• Purple: Auto pieces

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Grand finale

• Green: Seen in an arcade

• Blue: Four groups of four

• Purple: Ending in parts of a car

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 #1132 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Grand finale: EPILOGUE, FAREWELL, LAST DANCE, SWAN SONG

• Seen in an arcade: CRANE GAME, PINBALL, TICKETS, TOKENS

• Four groups of four: CARDINAL DIRECTIONS, CLASSICAL ELEMENTS, SEASONS, SUITS

• Ending in parts of a car: PLOT SPOILER, ROBIN HOOD, SATIRES, TREE TRUNK

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 17, 2026

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 game night.

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 July 17, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Categorically speaking

The words are related to quizzes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a popular board game.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Trivial Pursuit.

NYT Strands word list for July 17

• Entertainment

• Geography

• Trivial Pursuit

• Sports

• Nature

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're a law-abiding citizen.

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 July 17, 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.

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 July 17, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Lawful.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LEGAL

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.

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.

In the summer of 2023, an eerie and lingering haze blanked skies all across the East Coast following a record wildfire season in Quebec. New York City's Air Quality Index reached a hazardous level of 465 as the smoke eventually drifted into cities like Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. More than 350 million people were exposed to record levels of unhealthy air before it finally cleared.

TL;DR: Organize the invoice process once and for all with this lifetime subscription to AI Invoice Maker, on sale now for just $19.99 (reg. $39.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Secure Software AI Invoice Maker Lifetime Subscription $19.99
$39.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal

Let’s face it, dealing with invoices is a job in itself. If you’re looking for help with the chaos, meet AI Invoice Maker. This tool can easily convert receipts and notes into structured billing in a few seconds, and right now, a lifetime subscription is just $19.99.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner — if you have to handle invoices, you know how time-consuming it can get. AI Invoice Maker simplifies the process, so you can get back to more important things.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

AI Invoice Maker uses AI to create professional invoices in seconds, with no manual formatting required on your end. It can auto-number them to keep your records organized, and even offers nine different templates so you can best match your personal brand.

Thanks to the power of AI, AI Invoice Maker supports over 150 different global currencies, making it a great option for those working with clients around the world. It works on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, so it’s compatible across your Apple devices.

Stay on top of client information with a client directory, and easily automate repeat billing when needed. If you frequently bill for items or services, you can also use a catalog to streamline your invoicing.

Once you have your invoice done, send it via email, messaging apps, or other supported sharing platforms.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to AI Invoice Maker, on sale now for just $19.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Roblox has a whopping 132 million daily active users. But, while Roblox is massively popular among gamers, it's also quite popular among game creators as well. There are millions of user-generated games or experiences on Roblox.

However, it seems like those millions of games and experiences aren't enough.

Roblox has just announced Build, a brand new set of AI tools focused on user game or experience creation.

"Somewhere right now, someone has an idea for a game," Roblox said in its statement announcing Build. "They know exactly what it would feel like to play. They just don’t know how to build it. Today, that changes."

Roblox's Build will launch a test phase on July 28 which will bring a new mobile-first Build tab into the Roblox Studio within Roblox's app. Roblox Studio is well-known among game developers as that's where they currently create Roblox experiences. Build is going to bring new AI tools into the Roblox Studio. These AI tools will be powered by a "broad set" of AI models including Roblox's own proprietary AI models.

Using Build, users will be able to generate environments, characters, visual styles, gameplay mechanics, sound, and more without leaving the Roblox app and without needing to know the technical elements of game development.

Game-makers will be able to provide Build with conversational, natural language prompts in order to develop their games and experiences. From there, they will be able to playtest their game creations and refine the output in order to fix issues, add elements, or continue to customize their game before sharing the final product.

According to Roblox, its AI models are trained on a large set of 3D models and gaming data so that they can generate fully functioning 3D models and scenes of their own.

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

"For 20 years, Roblox has been on a mission to remove limits on what gaming is – and what it can be," Roblox founder and CEO David Baszucki said in a statement posted to his X account. "Today, we're introducing Build – a new way for anyone to create a game on Roblox from their phone. And we’re expanding AI-powered tools for developers of every level." 

"We're doing this for one reason: The world needs more play," he continued.

Some Build features, such as the ability to publish games, will only be available to select users in a public alpha stage at launch. For example, users in New Zealand will be part of the initial test phase for publishing Build-created games. Roblox expects to roll Build to more creators and more regions in the coming months.

Roblox also shared that it will be rolling out new AI agents across both Build and Studio that can bug test games, explain game analytics, and help creators experiment with different options to help drive engagement and monetization.

Build will be available for age-checked users 9 and older and published games that go through safety checks will be available to age-checked users 16 and older. Build games for Roblox Kids or Select catalogs will go through an extended review process that all Roblox games must undergo.

The company plans to provide a free base tier of Build to users with paid options for power users in the future.

Roblox has long-ago established itself as a platform over a traditional gaming experience. Some of the most popular games, such as Steal a Brainrot, have been created by Robox's users. The company clearly believes there are even more potential gems out there from creators who don't necessarily have the skillset or knowledge to create them. Roblox is hoping to remove that barrier to entry.

At the same time, however, Roblox is addressing potential issues that Build could bring about in order to avoid controversies like its age-verification system. In its Build announcement, Roblox assures users that AI slop will continue to be filtered out thanks to how its discovery systems are designed. 

"The quality of games on the homepage isn’t changing: If no one plays it—no one can find it," the company said.

It seemed like Immich came out of nowhere, but suddenly all my colleagues appear to be using it. I'm not as into self-hosting as some of them, so perhaps that's why I'm surprised, but the more I look into it, the more obvious it seems that this photo management solution is turning into a sleeper hit.

We've reached the point in the summer when all anyone can talk about is The Odyssey or Christopher Nolan's best movies. However, the streaming services have been releasing new shows to serve as counterprogramming for Nolan's epic movie. For me, the top show this week is a new Apple TV crime thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy.

While it's convenient to pay for things with a tap of your phone, there's still a bit of a dance that you have to go through before the actual payment happens. If you use Google Wallet, there are a few tweaks you can make to save a few seconds every time you have to pay. Depending on your spending patterns, that can end up saving you quite a bit of time, and the person in line behind you will certainly appreciate it.

OpenAI now wants a place in your browser, on your desk, in your closet, and, for $70, on your local basketball court.

The company behind ChatGPT is selling a branded basketball through Supply Co., its expanding online shop for clothing, collectibles, desk accessories, and limited-edition hardware.

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

On its own, the product is an unusual piece of tech-company merchandise. Alongside OpenAI’s growing catalog, it is easier to understand as part of the company’s effort to build recognizable physical products around ChatGPT, Codex, and its research culture.

The $70 ChatGPT basketball is part of “Pause. Play. Prompt.,” a campaign that argues creativity need not remain on a screen. OpenAI describes the ball as a reminder to step away from technology and suggests that good ideas can arrive between pickup games.

But it's also just a functional basketball. The standard Size 7 ball is made entirely of rubber and contains no artificial intelligence, sensors, an internet connection, or any other technology.

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

The question on most people's minds — according to social media, at least — is: why is OpenAI selling this in the first place?

OpenAI is building a lifestyle shop This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The answer begins with Supply Co., which, according to its home page, "documents the visual culture surrounding intelligent systems."

The brand started as a small merchandise operation for OpenAI employees. According to the company, workers became unusually enthusiastic about collectible cards, graphic hoodies, and blue folding chairs. OpenAI says those objects eventually became “material embodiments of company culture.”

Supply Co.'s next phase is described as a mix of “collaborations, experiments, and physical expressions of research energy,” broad language that leaves room for more than just shirts bearing a corporate logo. The online reaction to the product line is mixed.

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

The current shop includes a $40 "Good Research" T-shirt, a $50 ChatGPT long-sleeve shirt, a $100 Codex hoodie, a $40 Blossom hat, and matching $15 socks. Customers can also buy a $45 embroidered tote featuring Bloop, one of OpenAI’s cartoon characters, and a $25 Nalgene bottle covered in pixelated graphics.

For anyone hoping to dress like an especially well-funded graduate student, there is the $175 Research Half Zip. The Portuguese cotton fleece sweater has the word “research” embroidered across its chest and a crisp collar that OpenAI says "reminisces on our days in academia." It lands somewhere between university apparel and a startup office uniform.

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

The current selection is relatively restrained compared with its archive. OpenAI has previously produced a rice cooker, dinner plates, a wooden checkerboard, a tape measure, earplugs, a hair claw, a Raspberry Pi kit, a soccer jersey, active shorts, flying discs, folding chairs, and an earlier basketball featuring its Blossom design.

Codex gets its own physical controller

Elsewhere in the same shop, OpenAI is selling a device that links to its actual software.

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

Codex Micro is a $230 desktop controller created with Work Louder, a boutique hardware company known for customizable mechanical keyboards and shortcut devices. OpenAI describes it as a “command center for agentic work.”

The controller is built for people using Codex, OpenAI’s coding agent, to manage several tasks at once. Its illuminated Agent Keys indicate whether an agent is thinking, running, waiting, or finished, while a joystick launches common workflows such as reviewing pull requests, debugging errors, and refactoring code.

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

Other controls let users accept or reject changes, start a new chat, record spoken instructions, and adjust the amount of reasoning Codex applies to a task. The device connects through Bluetooth or USB-C, works with Mac and Windows computers, and was offered with either clicky or silent mechanical switches before selling out.

Codex Micro is unlikely to become a mainstream consumer product. It is aimed at people who already use AI agents heavily enough to benefit from dedicated physical controls.

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

Still, it provides a more concrete example of how OpenAI wants its software to extend beyond an app.

OpenAI also wants to bring ChatGPT into the home

According to a July 14 Bloomberg report, OpenAI is also developing a portable device that reportedly looks like a smart speaker but has no screen. It could answer questions, play media, respond to messages, and control smart-home devices using ChatGPT.

Cameras and sensors would help it understand what is happening around the user, rather than relying only on spoken commands. That would make it similar to an Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod, but with more awareness of its surroundings.

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

OpenAI has spent heavily on the project. In 2025, it acquired Jony Ive's device startup, io, for about $6.5 billion, and Ive’s design studio, LoveFrom, is helping build the product alongside OpenAI researchers, engineers, and former Apple employees.

Those Apple ties are now part of a lawsuit. Apple claims OpenAI used confidential information to speed up its hardware plans, while OpenAI says it has no interest in Apple’s trade secrets. The allegations have not been proven, and the device still has no announced design, price, or release date.

What's clear is that while the company may still live mostly on screens, its products are starting to show up just about everywhere else.

AI promises to make tedious work easier, but I wanted to know whether it could deliver in real Excel projects. Rather than asking Claude for formulas or snippets of code, I tested whether it could handle three types of automation: creating a workbook from scratch, building a reusable reporting system, and developing a tool that analyzes existing spreadsheets. The goal was to see how much of the work Claude could handle and where I would still need to step in.

No one likes a phone that's starting to lag, glitch, or slow down, especially when it's a fancy high-end Samsung Galaxy. No matter which phone you have, the way we use these devices all day, every day, can eventually slow things down. Fortunately, there's one easily overlooked setting that'll keep your Galaxy feeling fast and new.