IT General

Apple's AirTag tracking device is pretty easy to find when it's standing still, but it might soon become easier to track when on the move, too.

Macworld has inspected a leaked version of internal iOS 26 code and found several references related to a new version of the AirTag.

Nearly all of the upgrades are related to AirTag's key trait: the owner's ability to find exactly where it is.

SEE ALSO: Apple 'HomePad' specs revealed in new leak

A new feature reportedly called Improved Moving indicates that it might get easier to track an AirTag when it's on the move. Another unnamed feature could improve tracking the AirTag in crowded places.

The leaked code also indicates Apple is planning to improve Precision Finding, a feature that lets you exactly pinpoint the AirTag's location when in close proximity.

Other improvements include better pairing, and detailed battery level reporting.

It's unclear whether all of these improvements are coming to existing AirTags via a software update (likely in the first half of next year), or whether they're related to an entirely new version of AirTag. A new AirTag with a new ultra-wideband chip has been rumored for a while, so we're betting on the latter.

Featured Video For You Why this e-reader won me over (and I hate e-readers)

Are you ready for more homelab projects to do? Because I know I am! This weekend, set your sights on saving money by canceling subscriptions, supercharging your coding experience, and overhauling your automation workflows.

Are you still using the built-in password manager from Google or Apple? If so, it’s time to leave your old password manager behind and move to something more universal and cross-platform.

If you ever wish that reading the system logs, optimizing music metadata, and checking battery health were easier on Linux, I've got recommendations. With your spare time this weekend, you may find an app that makes your Linux PC just a little bit more powerful.

Bryan Fuller is a master of blending weirdness and whimsy, having created shows like Pushing Daisies and Dead Like Me. Fitting, then, that his feature directorial debut, Dust Bunny, brings together Amblin inspirations and Hannibal's menacing leading man, Mads Mikkelsen.

SEE ALSO: 'Dust Bunny' review: Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver team up for gnarly fairy tale

Dust Bunny centers on young Aurora (Sophie Sloan), who is plagued by a monstrous, 12-foot-tall dust bunny that she insists has eaten her parents. So, naturally, she asks for the help of her neighbor, a mysterious man that she has discerned is a hitman. And naturally, he is played by Mikkelsen.

In Mashable's Say More interview, Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko spoke with Fuller and Mikkelsen about the road from Hannibal to Dust Bunny, what it was like working together again, and about the prospect of a Pushing Daisies resurrection. Fuller also had the opportunity to take credit for introducing the world to Lee Pace, as he first cast him on 2004's Wonderfalls, then as the lead of 2007's Pushing Daisies.

Be sure to check out the full interview on YouTube for more, including Mikkelsen's experience working with Sigourney Weaver, the film's deep-cut allusions, and whether or not this R-rated movie is appropriate for kids. (Spoiler: Both Fuller and Mikkelsen disagree with the MPAA rating!)

Dust Bunny is now in theaters.

This weekend on Paramount+ I've decided to mix together three totally different genres in the hopes that at least one of them will spark your interest for a good weekend binge.

If something breaks on a Windows PC in my family or circle of friends, I am usually the one who gets the call. Over the years I have become the default tech support guy, and that means I spend a lot of time hunting down strange errors, slowdowns, and the kind of odd behavior that rarely shows up in Microsoft’s help docs. I have written before about the tools I rely on to fix Windows, including a few standouts from the Sysinternals Suite that have saved me more times than I can count.

I love the array of fresh available content on Amazon Prime Video. This week, I bring you some personally verified gems in a very witty historical comedy, a modern-day dramedy set in Bristol, and one of television’s most bingeable psychological thrillers of this century—you know, the kind that creates the obsession where you’d rather finish a season than stop to sleep.

SAVE OVER $40: As of Dec. 12, the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement set has dropped to its lowest-ever price of $65.99 at Amazon. This is $44 off its list price of $109.99.

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$109.99 Save $44   Get Deal

The weather outside is getting a little bit colder, making it thea perfect time to work on projects indoors. If you're a Lego fan looking for your next build, there were some great discounts to take advantage of during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, but they didn't end there. Amazon still has a few lingering around, including a new all-time low price on the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement.

As of Dec. 12, the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement has dropped to $65.99, over $40 off its list price of $109.99. That's a 40% discount overall, and considering it's the lowest-ever price, there's truly no better time to pick it up. Amazon even has a note above the 'Add to Cart' button saying it'll arrive before Christmas, which is great news if you're getting some last-minute shopping done.

SEE ALSO: The 65 best tech gifts of the year, hand-picked by professional gadget nerds

The Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement is quite the display piece, especially if you want to put it at the center of a table during the holiday festivities. It comes with 1,161 pieces in total that create 14 flowers — including camellias, peonies, hydrangeas, baby’s breath, ranunculus, bouvardia, and lilies — that are placed in a white vase. You can even customize it by adding flowers from other sets in the Botanicals collection to the vase, which is a fun touch.

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Keep in mind this lovely little display is made with adults in mind, though younger builders can piece it together with an adult's help. This deal may not be around much longer, so act fast to save on the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement set at Amazon.

If you're looking for more Lego sets to pick up for the holidays this year, our roundup of the 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025 features some more excellent options we highly recommend gifting this year.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Dec. 12, the Sonos Ace headphones have returned to their lowest-ever price of $279 at Amazon. This is $120 off their list price of $399.

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$399 Save $120   Get Deal

If a new pair of headphones have been on your holiday wishlist this year, or something you've been hoping to grab for someone else, Amazon has quite a few discounts on select models to check out. At the moment, that includes the Sonos Ace headphones, which have returned to their lowest-ever price of $279.

This deal saves you $120 on the Sonos Ace's usual list price of $399, which is a pretty nice discount. Since they're listed as a limited-time deal right now, it means they may not stay at this price for very long. Act fast to score them at this price before it goes back up.

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

While the Sonos Ace headphones boast Active Noise Cancellation, for those who love to be fully immersed in what they're listening to, sound quality is where they really shine. Our review from Mashable's Miller Kern said, "Audio quality is Sonos’s wheelhouse and where the Ace headphones rise above competitors." They also boast Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, which Kern says of the latter is "immersive in a way I haven’t experienced from other headphones." On top of that, they offer up to 30 hours of battery with Active Noise Cancellation on.

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!

There's only a limited amount of time to take advantage of this offer, so act fast to save on the Sonos Ace headphones at Amazon

If you're still getting some shopping done ahead of the holidays, check out our breakdown of the 65 best tech gifts of the year to see more items we'd recommend gifting this year.

One usually visits a graveyard or cemetery to pay your respects, but also to remember the good times before you lost something special. That's me visiting the Google graveyard of dead products and services. When it's time to lay some flowers at the headstone of Google Reader, all I can remember is that the web used to be a much better place.

As we speed through December and the weather outside is frightful (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere), now is the perfect time to hunker down and watch some quality entertainment on Netflix.

Donald Trump has launched Gold Cards, a method for rich people to pay $1 million to get a fast-track visa to the U.S. — and Jimmy Kimmel has thoughts.

"This is a card that will allow wealthy foreigners to live here. For a million bucks you get legal visitor status, you get a pathway to citizenship, and a presidential pardon for one major crime of your choosing," Kimmel jokes in the clip above. "It might be time to update that inscription on the Statue of Liberty. Never mind your poor and tired, give us a million bucks, you're in."

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host goes on to play footage of Trump's Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, speaking to Fox about how the cards will bring "the best people" to America.

"That's right, the best people are the rich people," says Kimmel. "It's what Jesus always said. It's in the Bible, he says it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle if you pay the needle a million dollars. Rich people are the finest people there are, that's why God made them rich. And I say it's about time our immigration system ran like the rewards program at one of Trump's bankrupted casinos."

When I started using Microsoft Excel, my spreadsheets were a mess, and I wasted hours trying to make them look professional. If you're struggling with manual formatting, these six simple tips are the shortcuts I wish I had known from day one to clean up my data faster.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know your canines.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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: 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: Leisure activities

• Green: Info

• Blue: Gently struck

• Purple: Pup categories

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Bar games

• Green: Ways to catch up on the game

• Blue: Descriptors for a softly hit baseball

• Purple: Dog show groups

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 #445 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Bar games - DARTS, POOL, POP-A-SHORT, SHUFFLEBOARD

• Ways to catch up on the game - BOX SCORE, HIGHLIGHTS, REPLAY, STORY

• Descriptors for a softly hit baseball - BLOOPER, DRIBBLER, DUCK SNORT, TEXAS LEAGUER

• Dog show groups - SPORTING, TERRIER, TOY, WORKING

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love big cars.

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 December 12, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 12, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A large vehicle.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TRUCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 12, 2025

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love old poetry.

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 December 12, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 12, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Shakespearean titles

The words are related to writing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe classic written works.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is The Bard.

NYT Strands word list for December 12

• Midsummer

• Tempest

• Shrew

• The Bard

• Merchant

• Merry

• Twelfth

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.

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

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 December 12, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To comprise

• Green: To rock

• Blue: Food measurements

• Purple: A dozen

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Contain

• Green: Move in the wind

• Blue: Vegetable units

• Purple: Things that are divided into twelve segments

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 #915 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Contain: HOLD, HOUSE, KEEP, STORE

• Move in the wind: BLOW, FLAP, SWAY, WAVE

• Vegetable units: BULB, EAR, HEAD, SPEAR

• Things that are divided into twelve segments: CLOCK, FOOT, YEAR, ZODIAC

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 12, 2025

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Dec. 12, 2025:

AcrossBullet ___ (insect known for its painful sting)

• The answer is Ant.

Setting for the children's book "Good Night, Gorilla"

• The answer is Zoo.

Mixed-breed dogs

• The answer is Mutts.

Language that gave us the words "democracy" and "philosophy"

• The answer is Greek.

Untidy

• The answer is Messy.

DownBrilliant shade of blue

• The answer is Azure

Classroom jottings

• The answer is Notes.

"100%," in slang

• The answer is Totes.

Longtime movie studio now owned by Amazon

• The answer is MGM.

Chicago W.N.B.A. team

• The answer is Sky.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

"You know what's weird. I swear to God, this is how I grieve."

That's Conan O'Brien explaining the hilariously dark message chain he had with Will Arnett and Jason Bateman in the days after the deaths of his parents, which the two break down in the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast clip above.

In a nutshell, what started as a jokey rivalry with Bateman over a party invite escalated to O'Brien blaming Bateman for the death of his father immediately after his dad had passed away.

"I'm a sick person," says O'Brien. "But I remembered very much wanting to connect, and it was so comforting to me to screw around with you guys at that moment. It just was. And if that makes me a madman, so be it."