Technology

Windows 11 Pro costs more than the Home Edition of Windows, but many people who own Pro aren't making use of some of its most interesting features. They're not flashy, but they provide a very noticeable improvement over Home editions, especially if you like to experiment with applications or customize your PC.

Is bigger always better? For your bank account, absolutely. For the spider currently sprinting across your living room floor? Definitely not.

Mesh Wi-Fi is one of those upgrades that genuinely changes how your home network feels, often doing a lot more than an expensive router ever could. The dead zones disappear, the streaming gets smoother, and you stop fighting with your router every time you walk into the wrong room. For most people, that's the whole story, and honestly, that's where the experimentation ends.

Like many people, I bought Amazon Echo smart speakers, thinking that they were the future of the smart home. Being able to control your smart home using your voice seems ideal, but the reality is that Amazon's proprietary system is restrictive and only supports fairly basic automations.

Obsidian might help you build a second brain, but it won’t help you collaborate with a second person. It’s famously a local-only tool. If you want to share your notes with someone else, you have to zip up your vault and email it over—which is a clunky solution. Alternatively, you can upload your vault to a cloud service like Google Drive—but then your local notes are exposed to a third-party server.

I am having way too much fun with the terminal on my phone. When I learned that Termux was available on Android, I downloaded it and immediately started playing around with the command line itself and integrating the API. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience.

There's no denying that so-called "suitcase" record players are stylish and would look pretty awesome on a shelf or mantle. Even better, you can pick up a cheap one from your local supermarket these days, and all the kids are getting into vinyl records again, so why not?

The Windows Registry is a large database that includes a mountain of settings and configuration data used by Windows programs, services, system components, and hardware. It also includes paths to programs and files stored on your PC, as well as a wide range of other information needed for Windows to function properly.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' interview with Stephen Colbert may start with a kiss, but the gloves quickly come off.

In the clip above, the Veep star surprises the Late Show host with two pages of roast jokes written by the Veep writers, which she performs in character as Selina Meyer while Colbert cracks up.

The one that makes him laugh the most? "When my people said I should come and say farewell to you I was hoping it would be more of a hospice-type situation."

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Cooling your home can be expensive, even with a modern and efficient air conditioning system. If you want to save money, you should aim to prevent your home from getting too hot in the first place.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you frequent your local deli.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 13, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Deli order

• Green: Reason

• Blue: iPhone features

• Purple: Jam

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Long sandwich

• Green: Pretext

• Blue: Smartphone photo editing options

• Purple: Jelly ___

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 #1067 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Long sandwich: GRINDER, HERO, HOAGIE, SUB

• Pretext: ARGUMENT, BASIS, CAUSE, GROUNDS

• Smartphone photo editing options: ADJUST, CROP, FILTERS, MARKUP

• Jelly ___: BEAN, BELLY, DONUT, ROLL

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 May 13, 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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're courageous.

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 May 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You've got...

The words are related to determination.

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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe courage.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is What It Takes.

NYT Strands word list for May 13

• Nerve

• Spunk

• Gumption

• What It Takes

• Pluck

• Grit

• Fiber

• Heart

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't keep up with the latest trends.

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 May 13, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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 May 13, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Drab.

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Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter D appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DOWDY

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 yesterday's Wordle.

Artificial Intelligence has been the talk of the town for years now. At first, people tried to ignore it as simply a corporate buzzword, but its prevalence in our daily lives continues to grow, whether we like it or not.

SAVE OVER $700: As of May 13, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $449 at Amazon, a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer.

Opens in a new window Credit: ECOVACS Ecovacs Deebot T30S Robot Vacuum and Mop $449 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $750.99   Get Deal

Does your home have a combination of hard and carpeted surfaces that need constant cleaning? If you're in need of a little assistance to tackle never-ending stains, dirt, and pet hair, a robot vacuum can help. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S is one model that vacuums and mops, making it a powerful option to tackle your floors.

This robot vacuum usually comes with a hefty price tag of $1,199.99, but Amazon has slashed 63% off the Ecovacs Deebot T30S's full price, dropping it down to a much more reasonable $449. This marks a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer, making now an excellent time to buy.

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Whether you have pets that shed or dirt that keeps getting tracked through your home from outside activities this spring, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S features powerful 11,000Pa suction to clear it all up. There's no need to worry about hair getting caught up in the vacuum, as it also comes with ZeroTangle technology that keeps the brush free of hair so it can keep cleaning without interruption.

When it comes to mopping, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S can clear up stains on your harder surfaces, whether they're in the middle of your floors or even along edges and in corners thanks to its TruEdge technology. This helpful cleaner is also equipped with obstacle avoidance technology called TrueDetect 3D 3.0, which ensures its cleaning routine isn't slowed down by anything in its way.

If it sounds like the kind of robot vacuum you've been searching for, act fast to take advantage of this great deal on the Ecovacs Deebot T30S at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that when it comes to negotiating a deal with Iran, "I don't think about Americans' financial situations. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon."

It's the start of that statement that Seth Meyers unpacks in his Late Night segment "A Closer Look," with the host examining the president's priorities.

"Trump's entire campaign was premised on improving Americans' financial situations, and now he's admitting he's not even thinking about it," said Meyers.

Though Trump may shrug off the numbers of America's affordability crisis, inflation spiked to 3.8 percent in April due to the U.S.-Iran war. A May 2026 CNN poll found that 70 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's economy, while a further 77 percent (with a Republican majority) said Trump’s policies have worsened their cost of living.

“Seriously, 77 percent is impressive. It’s rare to get Americans to agree on anything, let alone politics," said Meyers. "I don’t even think we could get 77 percent of Americans to agree that pineapple on pizza is disgusting, which it is. Here’s how disgusting it is: even Pizza Rat wouldn’t touch it. Although in fairness, Pizza Rat is actually very discerning — he was a guest judge on the new season of Top Chef. I'm just kidding, Pizza Rat’s dead."

Elsewhere, Stephen Colbert also shared his thoughts on Trump's recent comments.

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SAVE $50: As of May 13, the Samsung 55-Inch Class Crystal TV is on sale for $297.99 at Amazon. That's a 14% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-Inch Class Crystal TV $297.99 at Amazon
$347.99 Save $50   Get Deal

If you're shopping around for a new TV in time for the World Cup, an impressive new deal has just dropped at Amazon. As of May 13, the Samsung 55-Inch Class Crystal TV has dropped to its lowest-ever price. Normally $347.99, it's now priced at $297.99 — saving you $50.

This TV has incredible image quality, with features like 3D color mapping and 4K upscaling to improve what you're watching, so colors and lower-resolution content are much clearer and closer to 4K. There's also the Motion Xcelerator feature which works by estimating movement between frames and smoothing it out, helping to deliver clearer motion and a more fluid picture.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

And there's no need to worry about your personal data. This TV keeps everything secure with Samsung Knox Security which helps block harmful apps and phishing sites as well as protecting information like passwords or PINs.

Design-wise, it uses a slim bezel and a single metal sheet construction with an aircraft-inspired look. It also includes access to over 2,700 free channels through Samsung TV Plus, and you'll also be able to access major streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video without fuss.

Get this Samsung TV deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) QHD gaming monitor on sale for $159.99, down from its $249.99 list price. That saves you $90 on a 1440p gaming display.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) Gaming Monitor $159.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $90 Get Deal

If you’ve been holding off on upgrading your gaming setup from standard HD, Amazon has provided a tempting offer to finally make the jump to QHD. 

As of May 13, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale for $159.99 at Amazon, marked down from its $249.99 list price. That makes it 36% off. This is the lowest price this monitor has ever been at Amazon (confirmed using price tracker camelcamelcamel).

For this new low price, this Odyssey G5 gives you a 27-inch QHD display with 2560x1440 resolution, which Samsung says packs 1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD. That should give games a sharper look — covering anything you’re playing, like multiplayers in the realm of Fortnite or new single-player adventures like 007 First Light. 

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The more time you spend gaming, the more the speed of this particular model stands out. The 180Hz refresh rate is built for smoother gameplay than a standard 60Hz or 75Hz displays (great for high-speed titles like Overwatch and Marvel Rivals), while the 1ms MPRT response time should help keep inputs feeling quick when a match suddenly gets hectic. AMD FreeSync is included as well, helping reduce screen tearing and choppiness.

To round out the G51F monitor, Samsung has added some luxury PC extras, like HDR10 for brighter highlights and deeper shadows, plus Black Equalizer for spotting enemies in darker areas. There’s also Virtual Aim Point and Auto Source Switch+ to give you an even bigger edge — while the ergonomic stand supports tilt, pivot, and height adjustments.

If you’ve got the budget for a model that’s bigger and even flashier, LG’s 39-inch OLED and curved UltraGear monitor is now only $749.99. Elsewhere, the 4K ASUS ROG Swift is $200 off. 

TL;DR: As of May 13, the Anker Solix F3800 portable power station with a 400W Solar Panel is on sale for just $1,999.99 on Amazon. That's 50% off its $3,999 list price and its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station + 400W Solar Panel $1,999.99 at Amazon
$3,999 Save $1,999.01   Get Deal

Need a heavy-duty portable power station on hand in case of emergencies? The beefy Anker Solix F3800 comes highly recommended by expert reviewers as a reliable option for whole home backup. (It's also capable of charging electric vehicles.) Better yet, you can snag it on sale for a record-low price when you bundle it with a free solar panel.

Amazon currently has the Solix F3800 with a 400W solar panel marked down to just $1,999.99. I say "just" because it usually sells for a whopping $3,999, so you're saving 50% (or roughly $2,000) on top of getting a freebie.

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This is an all-time-low price on the package deal according to the Amazon price tracker camelcamelcamel. It's only been this cheap once before before in mid-April.

If you don't need the solar panel, the standalone Solix F3800 is now discounted to $1,799.99 on Amazon — another historical low. (Amazon's list price is very deflated, FYI. The Solix F3800 retails for $3,999 on its own, not $1,999.99, so that works out to a 55% savings.)

Just hit the Anker Solix F3800's 240V power switch twice to activate its EV charging mode. Credit: Anker

Our sister site CNET tested the Solix F3800 back in 2024 and gave it a stellar 9/10 score for its myriad output options and massive capacity. It starts at 3,840Wh, but you can bump that to 26,880kWh by adding up to six expansion batteries, or even 53,760kWh with a second unit.

Reviewer and former CNET Labs Manager Steve Conaway said his absolute favorite thing about the Solix F3800 "is its ability to output not only normal 120-volt receptacles, but also split-phase 240 volts in the same single unit." That's enough juice to power large appliances like ovens and dryers, or charge up an electric vehicle. Plus, you don't need a combo box or transfer switch to get all that power, as you would on alternatives.

Conaway notes that the Solix F3800 is heavy, but at least it's wheeled.

If you haul the Solix F3800 off-grid — it's great for RVs — you'll be able to charge it with the 400W solar panel. Its waterproof design can be angled four different ways.

Disclosure: CNET and Mashable are both owned by Ziff Davis.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Spider-Man Gift Bundle is on sale for $73.31, knocking $16.68 off its $89.99 list price. That’s below TCGplayer’s $75.49 listing, making Amazon the best place to buy right now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel's Spider-Man Gift Bundle $73.31 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $16.68   Get Deal

Amazon is usually trailing behind other retailers when it comes to trading card deals, but this time, it’s leading the pack on one of the coolest products in MTG’s Spider-Man expansion. 

As of May 13, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Spider-Man Gift Bundle listed for $73.31 with free delivery, down from its $89.99 list price. That works out to a 19% discount and over $15 off. If stock sells out and you need a backup, TCGplayer has the Marvel Spider-Man Gift Bundle listed as low as $75.49, with a listed median of $96.14 and a market price of $73.81.

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Inside the box, you get nine Play Boosters, one Collector Booster, one traditional foil alternate-art promo card, 30 basic lands split between foil, non-foil, and full-art versions, an oversized Spindown life counter, a foil card storage box, and two reference cards. In other words, it’s more than just a few packs in a shiny box.

The Spider-Man set brings Marvel’s web-head into Magic with heroes, villains, Spider-Verse flavor, and comic-book-style treatments that are built for collectors. 

For other Magic: The Gathering deals, you can also grab a Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box for $119.95. Meanwhile, you can also score a MTG Play Booster Box of the new Strixhaven expansion for under $140.

If you’re a Pokémon TCG fan, the newly-announced Pitch Black expansion is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

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