IT General

NYT Pips hints, answers for February 15, 2026

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:44

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

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 15, 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 February 15, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 15 Pips

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

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this orange space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this orange space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 15 Pips

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

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 15 Pips

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

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (22): Everything in this space must add up to 22. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Airbnb is testing AI-powered search to help users with bookings

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:30

The next time you book a rental on Airbnb, you might be getting some help from AI.

Airbnb is currently testing out a new AI-powered search feature. According to the company's Q4 shareholder letter, Airbnb is currently "integrating AI" into its app. One such integration, AI-powered search, is already in its testing phase and available to a "small percentage" of Airbnb's users.

SEE ALSO: Bitcoin biopic 'Killing Satoshi' leans into generative AI

Airbnb's AI-powered search currently lets users use natural language to describe the type of rental and amenities they're looking for. This means users no longer have to formulate the perfect search query to find exactly what they want; they can simply describe the type of rental they're looking to book in a conversational manner. Users can also use the AI-powered search to ask questions about specific listings and their locations.

The company says that the AI-powered search feature will eventually "evolve into a more comprehensive and intuitive search experience that extends through the trip."

During Airbnb's recent Q4 earnings call, company CEO Brian Chesky described how the property rental company is currently working on an  "AI-native experience" for its users.

Airbnb also shared that its AI-powered customer support assistant, which was released in the U.S. last year, now resolves a third of all customer support requests. The company says it's prepared to roll out the feature globally to all users later this year.

Investors have been hearing a lot about AI integrations lately from big tech companies, as AI has been frequently mentioned on recent quarterly earnings calls. Music streaming giant Spotify shared during its Q4 call that its developers now have AI handling the majority of the company's coding work.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 essential settings I change on every fresh Ubuntu install

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:30

Ubuntu is probably the Linux distro I keep coming back to most frequently. It's also many people's first distro. It's really good, and really customizable. But I'm not fully okay with some of its defaults.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop throwing away your TV boxes

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:30

Buying a new TV is an exciting time. You can’t wait to take it out of the box, get all the accessories out, mount it, and throw away the box. Except that last step is something you should seriously reconsider—the box is far more valuable than you might realize.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch India vs. Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:11

TL;DR: Live stream India vs. Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are so many huge games in the 2026 T20 World Cup, but there really isn't anything bigger than India vs. Pakistan. For a long time it looked like this Group A contest wouldn't take place, but fans can now look forward to the biggest game in world cricket. That's if the hold rain holds off in Colombo.

Both sides have won their two opening games, so confidence is high. We're expecting an awesome spectacle from two star-studded squads. There isn't much on the line at this early stage of the tournament, but try telling that to the players. They'll give everything to gain an edge over their fiercest rivals before the latter stages of the competition.

If you want to watch India vs. Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is India vs. Pakistan?

India vs. Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 15. This game takes place at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium.

How to watch India vs. Pakistan for free

India vs. Pakistan in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream India vs. Pakistan in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

  4. Visit ICC.TV

  5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup (plus the Winter Olympics) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Wales vs. France online for free

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:09

TL;DR: Live stream Wales vs. France in the 2026 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Six Nations started with a number of huge performances from the usual candidates. The best performance from the opening round? It's difficult to look past France. They dismantled Ireland in front of a passionate Stade de France, making a big statement of intent as the tournament kicked off.

Next France face Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Wales suffered a defeat to England in the opening round, and will be hoping to see improvements over the next few weeks. Fans will expect France to win this one comfortably, but you can never truly count out Wales.

If you want to watch Wales vs. France in the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wales vs. France?

Wales vs. France in the 2026 Six Nations starts at 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 15. This fixture takes place at the Millennium Stadium.

How to watch Wales vs. France for free

Wales vs. France in the 2026 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Live stream Wales vs. France from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Visit BBC iPlayer

  5. Live stream Wales vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Wales vs. France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services to watch the Winter Olympics, the T20 World Cup, and more from anywhere in the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the 2026 Six Nations?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Wales vs. France in the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Manual color-coding is breaking your Excel spreadsheets—here's the fix

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:00

We've all built a rainbow spreadsheet in Excel, but in reality, your data shouldn't look like a bag of Skittles. While color-coding feels productive, it's hard to audit, impossible to automate, and invisible to formulas. Here's why you need to stop painting and start automating.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How buying an expensive foldable phone has saved me money

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 16:00

I didn't have my heart set on a book-style foldable phone right away. Like many, I wrote them off as too expensive. But after taking a chance on one this year, it has turned out to be quite the cost-saving investment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I brought back the 1980s Weather Channel by self-hosting it

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 15:30

Back before we could check the weather forecast with our phones or computers, we used to be able to check it by turning on the TV. The Weather Channel's automated local weather info would tell you what you needed to know while playing a smooth jazz musical number. I was able to bring that back in my homelab.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 new IKEA Matter over Thread smart home gadgets that are worth the money

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 15:00

IKEA has gone all-in on Matter, ushering in a new era of affordable smart home devices that use low-power Thread mesh networking. This is great news for anyone who has been holding out for Matter devices, and it’s hard to deny the value proposition when these devices cost less than the Zigbee accessories they’re replacing.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Windows power settings are tanking your performance

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 14:30

You're playing a video game and notice it has microstutters, or occasional hitches, or your computer isn't quite so snappy as it was before when you open the Start Menu, or click an app icon to open it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You're not supposed to play chess on a Kindle, but I do it anyway

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 14:15

Your Kindle can do way more than just read e-books. Modern Kindles come with a web browser, which can load basic websites and web apps. Today I'll show you how I play chess on my Kindle, and why it rocks.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid delivers Toyota reliability and Lexus luxury

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 14:00

Hybrid SUVs increasingly promise efficiency and refinement, but few manage to blend long-term dependability with premium comfort as effectively as one new contender in 2025. It delivers the proven reliability many buyers associate with Toyota, while offering interior quality and refinement that rival entry-level luxury models, creating a rare combination of trustworthiness and upscale feel in a single package.

Categories: IT General, Technology

If you only use Ubuntu, you’re missing out on what Linux is all about

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 13:30

When it comes to Linux, have you only ever used Ubuntu? Have you noticed that your “Linux skills” break the moment you try another distro? Here are four reasons why Ubuntu-only users are missing the real Linux experience.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I took these 4 gadgets skiing, and now I won't hit the slopes without them

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 13:00

If you're a skier or snowboarder, you know that you just can't beat the thrills and awe-inspiring views that come with ripping groomers or backcountry powder on the mountain. It's my happy place. But when you're gone from dawn to the last gondola home, traversing miles of mountain ranges, there are a lot of things to contend with that can make or break your day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 reasons Windows games use more RAM than consoles

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 12:30

You might have noticed that some new games are starting to recommend, and in some cases even require 32GB of RAM, and yet the console version of that game will run using nothing more than 16GB RAM total, including VRAM.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Comulytic Note Pro review: A thin AI voice recorder that wants to close the deal

How-To Geek - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 12:00

The dream for anyone dealing with office work is to press a button, have a device record everything in a meeting, and then transcribe it and distill it into actionable tasks. The Comulytic Note Pro is a device trying to do just that, and keep track of your customers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Worried about your digital privacy? I tested the top 3 VPNs to find the best of the best.

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 11:30
Why do you need a VPN?

Even the best VPNs can't make you 100 percent anonymous on the web. Cookies and other trackers can still follow you around, and your ISP can see that you're using a VPN. But a good VPN will secure your traffic and hide your true IP address so that prying eyes on the outside can't see which sites you're visiting, what you're downloading, or your general location. The most trustworthy VPN providers operate transparently and abide by independently verified no-logs policies to prove that they don't collect or store any user data in the process.

For casual users, VPN services are useful tools for staying safe on public WiFi networks. For journalists, activists, and those in critical situations where digital privacy is paramount, the best VPN can be a legitimate lifesaver.

SEE ALSO: Google issues security alert about malicious VPNs stealing user data

Beyond these scenarios, the top VPN services also have a popular secondary use case as location-spoofing tools. By connecting to a VPN server across a border or ocean, you can bypass geo-restrictions on content that isn't available in your own country or region. This is pertinent intel for folks in France, the UK, and 23 U.S. states where sites with explicit content are restricted by age verification laws.

The best VPN for 2026? Proton VPN.

I believe Proton VPN is the top VPN for most people. It's the most privacy-forward VPN I've tried, with open-source apps, a no-logs policy that's held up in court, and a history of supporting digital freedom efforts. It's also a stellar value: Paid Proton VPN users get full access to its huge fleet of reliable servers and useful features like multi-hop and split tunneling, with up to 10 simultaneous VPN connections per account. Their subscriptions also include bonus security tools like a password manager, encrypted cloud storage, and ad, tracker, and malware blockers.

The free version of Proton VPN is extremely limited in comparison, but it's the only free VPN I've encountered with unlimited data and zero ads. For all these reasons, Proton VPN is the first (and only) VPN to win a Mashable Choice Award.

SEE ALSO: There are only 2 free VPNs I actually recommend. Ignore all the rest.

FYI: Prices for most VPN providers' long-term plans change frequently. The rates listed here were accurate at the time of publication.

What's new

I didn't love ExpressVPN the first time I tried it in 2023. But after re-testing and re-evaluating it in early 2026, I've decided to make it a new top pick. The company has expanded its server network, redone its desktop apps, added a new ShuffleIP feature that makes users harder to track, and fleshed out some new subscription tiers with more non-VPN privacy tools. It's a much better value than before.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Lifetime access to ChatGPT, Gemini, and more comes with this $75 tool

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 11:07

TL;DR: Get forever access to ChatGPT, Gemini, and other top AI tools with a 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription, now $74.97 through Feb. 22 (reg. $540).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $74.97
$540 Save $465.03   Get Deal

At some point, most people using AI have the same realization: ‘Why am I paying for all these tools separately?’ ChatGPT here, Gemini there, another subscription for images, another for video — it adds up faster than streaming subscriptions.

1min.AI solves that problem by giving you access to multiple AI models in one place, and right now, it’s available as a lifetime deal at its best price yet. Save 86% on a lifetime subscription while this deal lasts.

What is 1min.AI?

If you’ve been intimidated by the idea of working with artificial intelligence, 1min.AI makes it totally accessible and a lot more convenient as a central hub for popular models. This handy tool lets you input your request in one place and enjoy the fruits of multiple AI models’ labor, with no tab-hopping required.

Need to create AI-generated images? Looking to whip up some content for social media? Since all the AI models have different strengths, 1min.AI takes the guesswork out of which service to use.

Take advantage of all the perks that ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and more models have to offer, without having to pay multiple subscription costs. Just make sure to check 1min.AI’s output and make sure no light editing is required.

What’s included with the Advanced Business Plan?

This lifetime subscription includes:

  • Unlimited prompt library

  • Unlimited storage

  • Unlimited brand voice options

You’ll also receive 4,000,000 credits every month, which is enough to:

  • Write up to 1,112,500 words per month

  • Research up to 5,933 SEO keywords per month

  • Generate up to 1,186 images per month

  • Create up to 37 videos per month

If you ever need more credits, you can earn them for free by using the web app, referring friends, or leaving a review.

Get your 1min.AI lifetime subscription on sale for $74.97 through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $540). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft: Amazon added color and finally got this e-reader right

Mashable - Sun, 02/15/2026 - 11:00

I love Kindles. Among e-readers, Kindles are still the best option for most readers. (I do love Kobos, though, don't get me wrong.) But within the Kindle line-up, there's been one dud: the Kindle Scribe. I've tested two previous generations of the Scribe, and it's been a decent enough e-reader, as well as the only Kindle with writing abilities. However, it's always been a little lackluster; it's too big, too slow, and too expensive — until now.

Announced in Sept. 2025, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft didn't actually hit the market until Dec. 2025. Now that I've had the chance to try the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, I'm pleasantly surprised, and I can confidently say that this is the first Kindle Scribe worth buying. It's faster, brighter, and a lot of fun for writing, reading, and doodling.

There's just one problem: It's still way too expensive.

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft price and specs The home page of the Kindle Scribe got a much needed makeover. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The 2025 Kindle Scribe received a significant redesign from the previous two generations of Scribes. They got rid of the extraneous sidebar for a more narrow, streamlined look.

These are the full specs for the 2025 Kindle Scribe Colorsoft:

  • 11-inch glare-free display, up to 100 nits brightness, 300 ppi black and white, and 150 ppi color resolution

  • USB-C charging port with up to eight weeks of reading battery life and two weeks of writing battery life.

  • 32GB or 64GB storage options available

  • Premium pen included

  • Includes Google Drive and Microsoft One integrations

  • Comes in fig (purple) or graphite (dark gray)

  • Not waterproof

Classic Kindle speed and a redesigned home screen Improvements to the user interface gives the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft a boost. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Historically, I've found that the Scribe runs slower than other Kindles, but with this latest iteration, it's caught up. The Scribe Colorsoft is a quick-moving e-reader with writing capabilities. It moves swiftly between pages and doesn't lag when switching between books. It does tend to slow down when writing and using the notebooks; however, it is much faster than previous models, and I barely noticed the difference.

Kindles are generally already user-friendly devices; however, Amazon made some significant interface improvements on the new Scribe. The Scribe Colorsoft has a redesigned home screen that puts notebooks front and center. This makes it super convenient to switch between notebooks when you need to hop between a journal and a planner.

Plus, I love that you can add documents or books to your notebook section. For students, this makes swapping between your readings and notebooks truly convenient, so you don't have to move between your library and notebook sections.

It also just looks better. The device now has a front light, giving it a much lighter, brighter display. This means the screen has an actual white background rather than a muted gray that previous generations had.

It conveniently collects notes You can annotate, take notes on the page, or take notes in the margins. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Another way the Scribe is nailing the user interface is how it collects notes. Testing the Kindle Scribe came at a convenient time as I was taking a class and needing to do some required reading. Using the Scribe, I annotated, wrote notes on the page, and made comments in the margins.

Go back and find all of your notes throughout a book in one spot. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kindle collects all of these notes in one place, allowing you to see your comments and the section annotated. From there, you can tap to go back to the page where your notes are, which is extremely helpful when I was in a class discussion and wanted to go back to read a quote or remind myself of a thought I had about it.

Did Kindle solve ghosting? The Kindle Scribe's ghosting is at its worst after erasing. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Scribe has had one major performance issue across all generations thus far: ghosting. This is the phenomenon in which traces of previous screens linger, creating shadows of images. Ghosting is a common issue that any e-reader is susceptible to, but especially those with writing capabilities.

Ghosting on Kindle Scribes has been quite egregious in our previous reviews, so we didn't expect this Kindle to have nearly no ghosting. When using the device as an e-reader, there's no trace of ghosting.

When writing, though, some minor ghosting does appear. This typically happens after erasing on the Scribe. Some writing or drawing appears even after it's erased. Even this ghosting is mild, though, as I found that as soon as I refreshed the page, those marks disappeared.

Feeling like Lady Whistledown when I write My handwriting has never looked better. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Whenever I need to write digitally, trying to craft a signature with a finger on the screen, it looks... terrible. Luckily, with the Kindle, my handwriting truly looks better than ever. To write, there's an included stylus, Amazon's premium pen that automatically connects to the device.

There are five pen styles on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft but my favorite is the fountain pen. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

When writing with the premium pen, you have so many writing styles available, including pen, fountain pen, marker, pencil, and, for illustrators or highlighters, a shader. Each pen style has adjustable width and color, too, making it something you could even illustrate with.

I'm not an artist, so I can only judge it by its writing, and on that front, it makes my handwriting look neater and more beautiful. I'm particularly fond of the fountain pen, which has me feeling like Lady Whistledown writing with her quill.

Where does it stand to improve? The color resolution

While color e-readers are rising in popularity, some features are still slow to improve. The standard color resolution across most color e-readers, including the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, maxes out at 150 ppi, half the usual black and white resolution. The result is muted colors and some pixelation.

To its credit, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft works well within the constraints of its low resolution. It uses colors that skew in the pastel range, which look better than other shades. This is best showcased in the lock-screen ads, which I thought were delightful and gorgeous, surprising since I've never been impressed by Amazon's lock-screen images before.

It's still too expensive

Usually, I find Kindles to be well-priced e-readers, but the Scribe and Colorsoft e-readers are far too expensive. Unfortunately, this is the case for the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which starts at $629.99. This puts it on par with the Remarkable Paper Pro's price tag, although the Remarkable e-ink tablet has better color resolution and worse black-and-white resolution at 229 ppi for both.

It's certainly an investment, and if you're just using it as an e-reader, it's way overpriced. However, if you're looking for an e-reader that's also a great e-ink tablet, it is on par with the market price, even if we still think that the market price is too high.

Should you buy the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft? Amazon finally made a Kindle Scribe worth buying. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If you can stomach the price, I think the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is the first Scribe worth purchasing. Its redesigned build has crafted a smaller tablet with a wider screen that's more comfortable to hold. The added front light is visually stunning and truer white background. Amazon has sped up the Kindle Scribe's processing, resulting in a faster e-reader with very little ghosting.

For those turned off by the price, I say hold out. It hasn't gone on sale yet, but if it does during the next Prime Day, it'll be a far better value than it is now.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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