Technology

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're preparing your resolutions.

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 December 31, 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: 2026

• Green: They swallow things

• Blue: The first capital of the US

• Purple: A waterway

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Happy New Year!

• Green: Places where things disappear

• Blue: Associated with Philadelphia

• Purple: Starting with bodies of water

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 #934 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Happy New Year!: BALL DROP, CHAMPAGNE FLUTE, FIREWORKS, NOISEMAKER

• Places where things disappear: BERMUDA TRIANGLE, BLACK HOLE, COUCH CUSHIONS, DRYER

• Associated with Philadelphia: BROTHERLY LOVE, CHEESESTEAK, LIBERTY BELL, ROCKY

• Starting with bodies of water: BAY LEAF, CHANNEL SURF, SEA BASS, SOUND BARRIER

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 31, 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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love going in circles.

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 31, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 31, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: One good turn deserves another

The words are related to twirling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe circular motions.

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 Round and Round.

NYT Strands word list for December 31

• Round and Round

• Circle

• Whirl

• Orbit

• Rotate

• Spin

• Pirouette

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're an emergency worker.

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 31, 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 31, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Found atop a police car.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SIREN

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 31, 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 yesterday's Wordle.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

Intertwined.

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

WOVEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A unit of energy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 31, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

JOULE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To mock.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 31 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 31, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SCOFF

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A wire.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 31 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CABLE

Final Hurdle hint

To stow away.

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

STASH

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

By now, everyone knows that Elon Musk is very much an optimist when it comes to making predictions. 

That's the nice way to put it. To be blunt, Musk is a "bullshit artist." He makes promises he can't keep. For example, everyone now is likely very familiar with his infamous 2011 interview with the Wall Street Journal where he said he'd put a man on Mars in 10 years. That was 14 years ago now and we're nowhere near putting anyone on Mars. Years ago, Musk also touted his proposed Hyperloop train system as a way to quickly transport people between cities; that never came to fruition and was likely a ruse to stop other transit projects.

With 2025 nearly over, Mashable decided to revisit his predictions related to this year. Time has run out. What did Musk promise for this year that didn't come to fruition?

People on Mars by 2025

Yes, I just mentioned that 2011 Wall Street Journal interview where Musk promised to put a man on Mars in 10 years. However, this one is a completely separate promise from Musk regarding a man on Mars.

Back in 2016 — roughly four years after his 10-year WSJ claim — Musk made an appearance during Recode's Code 2016 conference. During a conversation with Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, Musk pushed back his previous Mars arrival prediction that placed humans on the red planet by 2021. According to Musk, SpaceX would start sending rockets to Mars by 2018, followed by a new Mars mission every 26 months, and then they'd start sending people.

"If things go according to plan, we should be able to launch people probably in 2024 with arrival in 2025," Musk said, referring to colonists arriving on the planet.

Nope — 2025 has come and gone and we're still not on Mars.

SEE ALSO: NASA Mars rover captures crackling lightning. Hear the 'thunder' yourself. Tesla robotaxis would cover half of the U.S. population

Take a walk outside. How many Tesla robotaxis do you see? None, you say? And you say you live in Austin, Texas – the only place in the U.S. where robotaxis are currently operating?

That's odd. Because in July, during Tesla's Q2 quarterly financial report, Musk told investors that Tesla's robotaxis would be serving half of the nation.

“I believe half of the population of the US will be covered by Tesla’s robotaxi by the end of the year," Musk said.

Obviously, that's not true. And a new report from the New York Times last week found that even Austin locals rarely, if ever, came across Tesla's robotaxis.

As the EV outlet Electrek pointed out at the time of his claim, it was preposterous for Musk to make. Yet, he made the claim with a straight face and investors believed him.

Fully driverless Tesla robotaxis

Speaking of Tesla's robotaxis, if you do come across one, did you know you'll actually find a human safety monitor riding inside? You will, despite what Musk previously promised.

"Teslas will be in the wild with no one in them, in June in Austin," Musk said last year in a 2024 Q4 earnings call. "This is not some far-off mythical situation, it's five, six months away."

While Tesla's robotaxi service did arrive in Austin during that timeline, they weren't "with no one in them." The level of autonomy that Tesla's performs at requires a human safety monitor to ride inside the vehicle, according to Texas regulations.

But, Musk promised multiple times over the past few months that those human safety monitors would be removed by the end of 2025.

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Musk said so in a post in September on X.

"The safety driver is just there for the first few months to be extra safe," Musk said. "Should be no safety driver by end of year.”

Musk reiterated that schedule during an earnings call in October.

“We are expecting to have no safety drivers in at least large parts of Austin by the end of this year, so within a few months," Musk said.

And then Musk repeated that claim in early December during an xAI hackathon.

“Unsupervised is pretty much solved at this point," stated Musk. "So there will be Tesla robotaxis operating in Austin with no one in them. Not even anyone in the passenger seat in about three weeks.”

Last week, Musk posted that he had taken a ride in a fully driverless Tesla robotaxi in Austin. A Tesla employee shared a video from inside a driverless ride as well. However, these appear to be test runs as regular customers still report human safety monitors are still part of the ride, as least as of very late December.

xAI would achieve AGI

Artificial general intelligence or AGI is basically the holy grail for the current AI-obsessed tech industry. AGI can be defined as the type of artificial intelligence that we were promised in sci-fi movies. It's not a large language model that can sound human, like existing AI, but AI that can actually perform intellectual tasks just like a human. It can think, learn, reason, and take action.

In 2024, in a reply on his social media platform X, Musk said his AI company xAI would achieve AGI in 2025.

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"How long until AGI?" posted Logan Kilpatrick of Google AI Studio.

"Next year," Musk replied.

"Big if true," Kilpatrick responded.

Well, surprise. It wasn't true.

According to a new report from Business Insider, Musk has since moved the goalposts and says xAI could achieve AGI in the next few years and potentially even by next year! We'll report back at the end of 2026 unless Musk's version of Skynet has taken over.

A flying car / demo of the long-awaited Tesla Roadster

This is a combo of two potential promises, as it's still unclear what the heck Musk was actually referring to on Joe Rogan's podcast back in November.

During an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Musk claimed that Tesla would drop a demo of the long-awaited Roadster, a vehicle which the company announced and started taking preorders for in 2017. The Tesla Roadster has still yet to be released eight years later.

"We're getting close to demonstrating the prototype," Musk said to Rogan during the show. "I think this will be...one thing I can guarantee is that this product demo will be unforgettable."

When pressed for a timeline from Rogan, Musk replied "hopefully before the end of the year."

However, Musk went further, recalling how his "friend" Peter Thiel would say that the future was supposed to have flying cars, yet we don't have flying cars. Rogan questioned Musk further but Musk just hinted that Thief should be able to buy a flying car and we'd all just have to wait to see the demo.

So, was Musk saying that the Roadster can fly? Was Musk even being serious about the flying car? Who knows. But, 2025 is now over and we don't have a demo of a flying car or a Roadster so Musk didn't deliver on either.

DOGE would cut $2 trillion in 'waste, fraud and abuse'

Following Donald Trump's reelection, Musk was given the chance to head up a new quasi-government agency called DOGE in which he pledged to cut $2 trillion in what he described as "waste, fraud and abuse."

DOGE quickly became quite controversial as Musk and his very young team struggled to find any real "waste, fraud, and abuse" in the federal government. Many of DOGE's claims of fraud were debunked and the group had a penchant for posting inaccurate data which put the group in a more favorable light.

Musk's promise of $2 trillion in cuts quickly became a promise of $1 trillion in cuts. That $1 trillion promise? That soon was rounded down further to the hundreds of billions.

SEE ALSO: DOGE is dead

Now, new analysis from the New York Times as well as the right-wing CATO Institute, found that DOGE actually didn't save anything. Many of the government contacts that DOGE claimed to cancel are still active. In fact, government spending actually went up on DOGE's watch.

“The federal government spent $7.6 trillion in the first 11 months of calendar year 2025, approximately $248 billion higher by November of 2025 compared to the same month in 2024,” the CATO Institute's analysis said.

While Musk failed to deliver on his DOGE promises, the cuts it did actually make to USAID and foreign aid programs have reportedly led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. Happy new year?

This article reflects the opinions of the author.

Samsung usually launches its next wave of flagship devices over the winter, and all signs point to an early 2026 launch for the Samsung Galaxy S26 — and the Galaxy Z TriFold. The Galaxy S25 was released in early February, and the Galaxy S24 before it came in late January. Thus, it stands to reason that the Galaxy S26 will come around the same time in 2026.

While Samsung hasn't announced any upcoming Galaxy Unpacked events, we fully expect the new generation of Samsung phones to make their debut in the months ahead. And if the volume of S26 leaks is any indication, it's sooner rather than later.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is coming to America soon: Everything we know so far What will the Galaxy S26 phones look like?

Recently, leaker @onleaks posted a gallery and video on X that claims to show dummy units of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. We can't verify the authenticity of the video, but it looks plausible, at least.

Overall, it looks very similar to the S25 Ultra, as expected, with one notable change — it has a camera bump similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. As 9to5Google points out, because this bump is on the left side of the phone, it will make the phone wobble when placed down on a table or desk. In comparison, the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max has a more symmetrical shape and thus no wobble.

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However, we would be a little skeptical of this leak. Android Police recently posted its own alleged S26 Ultra leaks, only without the camera bump.

What models will be included in the S26 lineup?

Just a few months ago, rumors and leaks pointed to a significant shakeup in the Galaxy S26 line. It was said that Samsung would rename the base model to S26 Pro, drop the Plus model that sat in the middle of the annual lineup for years, and replace that with a new Edge phone modeled after last year's S25 Edge (which was something of a flop). However, that's apparently no longer happening, and you can thank Apple for that, per Korean outlet NewsPim (via 9to5google).

This is the S25 Ultra. Credit: James Martin / Mashable

Due to Apple's success in offering significant year-over-year upgrades to the base iPhone 17 (such as a 120Hz display) without raising the price, Samsung has reportedly dropped the Pro branding for the base model and reverted it back to just the Galaxy S26, which was corroborated by a separate report from SamMobile. According to that report, you can expect a retread of the usual S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra lineup in 2026. That may be disappointing to anyone who was expecting a big shakeup based on previous reporting, but if nothing else, it makes it easier to keep track of what's going on.

As for the previously rumored S26 Edge, it's unclear what's going to happen with that. It might be dead, or it might come out later in the year as a separate release like the S25 Edge did. Given that phone's relative lack of success, it might be smart to assume there won't be an S26 Edge at this point.

Galaxy S26 rumored specs

For specs, the rumors aren't particularly surprising. The Galaxy S26 series is currently rumored to have the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, which Qualcomm rebranded to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. There is also a rumor that Samsung will equip some S26 models with an Exynos chip, which Samsung fans hope is the Exynos 2600, which has also been making some noise in the rumor mill lately.

In terms of the small stuff, like storage and RAM, there have been some small rumblings. One rumor says that the Galaxy S26 (all models) will feature 16GB of RAM, a 4GB increase from the last few years, and the most a Galaxy phone has had since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. In terms of storage capacity, there are no rumors that anything will change, so the 128GB base (256GB on the Ultra) is likely to remain in place for now, with upgraded storage available as an option. 

Galaxy S26: Is a price hike coming?

We're in the midst of a major global memory shortage, and this could be very bad news for smartphone and laptop shoppers (you can blame the AI industry for hogging all the RAM). And according to leaker @kro_roe, this could not only lead to an S26 price hike, but also the end of a popular launch offer.

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Typically, when Samsung launches a new phone, customers who pre-order or purchase at launch can claim double the storage at no extra cost. But with RAM in short supply, that may no longer be the case. The most recent rumors suggest that Samsung hasn't landed on a final price for the S26 phones, however.

TL;DR: Not only could S26 phones cost more, but you may have to pay a premium for more storage as well.

Battery and charging

Based on early rumors, this may be one of the most interesting changes coming to the S26 lineup. Samsung has been working on a stacked battery design that would allow for more dense batteries in the same physical space. This could bring a long-awaited bump to battery size. According to early rumors, the S26 Ultra is slated to come with a 5,500 mAh stacked battery, a 10 percent increase from the S25 Ultra. Samsung reportedly experimented with removing a camera to add even more battery capacity, but that doesn't mean it's certain to happen in the mass-produced model. While the S26 Pro was rumored to have a bigger 4,900mAh battery compared to previous base model Galaxy phones, NewsPim's report claimed that the base S26 (now that it's no longer a Pro device) has been adjusted down to a more modest 4,300mAh cell.

For charging, it’s unlikely that the Galaxy S26 series will get a serious upgrade. Samsung is definitely working on 60W wired charging, but so far, it seems that Samsung will wait for the Galaxy S27 series (or later) to implement it. This could change as we get closer to launch for the S26 series, but for now, it seems that 45W will be around for at least one more year. There are also rumors that wireless charging may see a bump to the Qi2 standard

Galaxy S26: What about the cameras?

The camera system in the Galaxy S26 series may change quite a bit, and there are a few different rumors that say different things. Jumping right in, one older rumor says that the S26 series will have the same megapixel count but will feature a new, as-of-yet unannounced sensor from the same ISOCELL GN series as prior Samsung models. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a 200MP camera is rumored, as is a 324MP lens with a 50MP, 3x telephoto lens. It’s more likely that Samsung will do the 200MP with a new sensor, but all leaks are being considered right now. 

S25 Ultra with its five cameras. Credit: James Martin / Mashable

In addition, there are rumors that Samsung will bring back its variable aperture on the main shooter, which Samsung hasn’t included on its camera system since the Galaxy S10 series back in 2019. As previously mentioned, Samsung may be considering dropping the number of cameras to three instead of four, like on prior models, to make space for a larger battery. Other rumors about the camera include a dual periscope design that’ll magnify to 8x, but that is just speculation at this time.

However, many of these rumors come from the time when we thought Samsung was significantly altering the S26 lineup. Newer reports indicate that, at least for the base S26 and S26 Plus, things won't change that much from previous years. According to Korean outlet The Elec, those two phones will have the exact same megapixel count on the triple-lens rear array as previous Galaxy models: a 50MP wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. Those have been the specs going all the way back to the Galaxy S22. If you were hoping for big changes in the cheaper S26 models this year, you have our condolences.

Other features and hardware

Much of the rest of the Galaxy S26 lineup is predictable. It’ll come with the latest One UI out of the gate with the latest version of Android. That is no surprise, and we don’t need rumors to predict that one. The S26 series will likely get One UI 8.5, which is slated for a rather large redesign along with a host of new features, including the aforementioned privacy screen feature. According to rumor, the redesign emulates Apple’s Liquid Glass in some ways with transparent UI elements. 

The only other piece of hardware we haven’t talked about is the S-Pen. Samsung appears to be set to do something big with the S-Pen. The rumors speculate that the S-Pen is sticking around and will come with some upgrades. The new functionality may have something to do with how magnetic accessories work, and this seems to be linked to the aforementioned Qi2 wireless charging upgrade. 

We'll find out how much (if any) of this is true in just a matter of weeks, going by previous Samsung announcement timelines.

I've always argued that we desperately need competition in the GPU space, which is why I was very happy when Intel broke into the GPU market—even as it only made mid-range and budget cards.

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Is your Outlook inbox so packed that important emails slip through the cracks, leaving you feeling overwhelmed? If so, you’re not taking advantage of features that help keep everything under control. Here’s how you can filter out the noise, surface what truly matters, and keep your inbox organized.

If you’re shopping for a gaming laptop, don’t overlook storage. With games taking up more space than ever, it’s one of the most important specs to consider. NVMe drives are fast but pricey, and skimping here can quickly blow your budget. So, how much storage do you really need?

Instant messaging apps today just don’t have the same charm as the OGs. Some are a bloated mess of read receipts and stickers, while others are super minimal and boring. Inspired by AOL Instant Messenger, a 15-year-old UI designer wanted to change that. He built a throwback to early messaging apps, complete with a Windows 98-inspired theme.

There was a time — years ago, mind you — that "Rickrolling" someone was the peak of internet humor.

If you don't know what this is, bless your either young or old heart. The nearly 20-year-old prank was simple: You'd get someone to unknowingly click the link to the cheesy music video for Rick Astley's '80s classic "Never Gonna Give You Up." Boom, you've just been Rickrolled.

SEE ALSO: Rian Johnson on 'Wake Up Dead Man,' Josh O'Connor's neck tattoo, and AI slop

Well, in a neat bit of synergy, the latest installment of the beloved-by-the-internet series Knives Out actually shared a location with the filming of "Never Gonna Give You Up." Director Rian Johnson confirmed on Bluesky that the gym scene in Wake Up Dead Man was shot where Astley filmed his classic music video. Surprisingly, not that much of anyone cared on set.

"This is true, and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)," he wrote in response to a post that pointed out the fun fact.

This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)

[image or embed]

— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson.bsky.social) December 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM

For the curious, it appears that the shared location is the Harrow Club in London, which was once a church. So, yes, Wake Up Dead Man and "Never Gonna Give You Up" share some creative DNA. What a world.

The compact SUV segment has been dominated for years by recognizable names, but in 2026 the battle for supremacy may finally be tightening. Toyota’s latest RAV4 update brings a suite of refinements that could give it a real edge over the Honda CR-V, long considered the benchmark for practicality, reliability, and overall value in this crowded category. As both models evolve, buyers now have more to consider than ever before.

OpenAI has been swinging for the fences with recent updates like GPT-5.2 and ChatGPT Images. This week, the company rolled out an improvement to its ChatGPT Android app, and it's a change power users have been waiting for. ChatGPT’s official app now has a real Thinking mode, previously only available through a browser.

According to Bleeping Computer, the original Thinking toggle actually rerouted your responses through the Standard thinking time, which uses less compute power and doesn’t think for as long. The new toggle allows users to expressly choose between Auto, Instant, or Thinking modes to determine how long the AI will pontificate over a request before delivering an answer. 

This matches the functionality already available for desktop users who choose “Extended Thinking,” which gives the AI more time to work on complex queries to deliver better, more accurate answers. 

The rollout is happening now, so if you use ChatGPT on an Android device, make sure you’ve updated to the most recent version. Once done, the new Thinking mode will appear in your chat settings. From there, you’ll be able to choose between Standard and Extended thinking times, allowing you to get better answers on mobile. As of this writing, we have not been able to access the new thinking toggle in the ChatGPT iOS app.

This feature is only available for ChatGPT Plus users, so free users are still stuck with the old Thinking mode, which is really just Standard mode. 

Per Bleeping Computer, the feature rolled out alongside a new formatting block feature. Now, when you ask ChatGPT to type an email, it does so in a formatting block, and you can request changes or edit the document without having to regenerate the entire email. This feature started rolling out over Christmas and is available to all users. 

It’s a small but pleasant end to the year for ChatGPT users. OpenAI spent the latter half of 2025 allegedly in a “code red” state after losing a sizable number of users to Google’s Gemini 3 and Nano Banana, and has spent much of the rest of the year trying to recapture those people with GPT-5.2 and ChatGPT Images. It has mostly worked, as GPT-5.2 trades blows with Gemini 3 on most benchmark scores while soundly beating Grok 4 in most areas. 

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Can't wait for the release of the new PlayStation 6? Well, thanks to the computer memory shortages caused by the rise of AI, you may just be waiting even longer.

According to a new report from Insider Gaming, there is talk among the video gaming industries about delaying the release of the next generation of consoles, such as the PS6. Global RAM shortages have led companies like Sony to weigh the benefits of delaying the console instead of pushing for its currently planned release window.

According to previous leaks, Sony was targeting a November 2027 release for the PS6.

As Mashable has previously reported, laptop and smartphone manufacturers have been forced to institute price hikes on their products to make up for the shortages amid the demand. The AI boom has yet to lose steam within the tech industry and this means that global memory shortages will likely continue into the new year and for the foreseeable future. As a result, many computer manufacturers are warning their customers that additional price increases are on the way.

Next-gen video game console makers would be affected by these RAM price increases as well. Sony would likely have to wrestle with two choices if it wanted to maintain a 2027 release for the PS6: pass on the extra cost to customers, which could hurt sales numbers, or eat these costs themselves. 

The third option now being discussed, according to this new report, is to simply delay the release of the console in hopes that RAM supply increases over the next few years and prices drop.

By the time Quinn's newest audio erotica series starring Heated Rivalry fan favorites Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie finally dropped, the anticipation had already reached an actual breaking point. Within hours of the release of the first two episodes, the Quinn app went down, briefly buckling under the weight of fans who had been waiting mere days to hear the pair reunited.

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Ember & Ice marks Quinn's first-ever duet original, shifting the app's usual listener-centric intimacy into a fully dramatized MM romance. Dane (Storrie) and Finn (Williams) rival fae princes locked in a forbidden, years-long affair. A heart-pounding queer romantasy story narrated by a pairing that already carries deep emotional weight for fans was never going to arrive quietly.

The format change, combined with Williams and Storrie's established chemistry from Heated Rivalry, turned the release into a fandom event — one that spilled immediately onto social media as listeners reacted in real-time to every whimper and carefully placed inhale.

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What Ember & Ice ultimately highlights is the power of fandom continuity, how voices and chemistry can carry emotional meaning across projects and formats. Since premiering in late November, Heated Rivalry has rapidly evolved from a new release into an online obsession, effectively launching Williams and Storrie’s careers in real-time.

The appetite driving that momentum — especially among women eager for more erotic, chemistry-forward content — was strong enough to overwhelm Quinn's servers. With Ember & Ice's third and final episode set for Jan. 6, the question isn't whether fans will return, but whether the app is ready for them.

SAVE $40: Through Jan. 6, DirecTV's Signature Entertainment streaming package is only $49.99 for your first month (regularly $89.99/month). The package includes 90 channels plus Disney+ and Hulu (with ads), an extra savings of $19.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: DirecTV First month of DirecTV Signature Entertainment streaming package $49.99
$89.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal

While the Sling TV day pass is a great hack for watching sports on ESPN, there's a major hole in coverage when it comes to the sports that are on broadcast channels like FOX and CBS — so, pretty much the entire NFL playoff schedule. In that case, the next hack up is DirecTV's rare holiday deal: Get your first month of DirecTV's Signature Entertainment Package with 90 channels for just $49.99 ($40 off its usual $89.99/month).

SEE ALSO: Best 65-inch+ TVs for watching in dark and bright rooms

The promo, which has been running since mid-December, is finally closing out on Jan. 6, so these are your last few days to lock down January NFL games without cable or committing to a live TV subscription.

Past the big broadcast networks that'll cover most of your football needs, other channels in the Entertainment streaming package include E!, FX, Disney Channel, Hallmark, Syfy, and Nickelodeon. With the included access to Hulu (as well as Disney+ and ESPN), you can catch the second season of A Thousand Blows when it drops on Jan. 9, see what all the Alien: Earth hype is about, or hate watch All's Fair.

So, you bought an Android phone that promised a rapid charging time up to some amount like 80%, but when you plug it into a charger you see a message like "slow charging" or "fully charged in two hours." That's not what you signed up for, so what gives?

Shop the best cooking-related deals at a glance: Best cookware deal Our Place Always Pan (10.5-inch) $99 (save $36) Get Deal Best air fryer deal Ninja Crispi 4-in-1- portable air fryer $139.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best multicooker deal CrockPot Multimeal multicooker $127.99 (save $52) Get Deal Best cookbook deal "Home Style Cookery" by Matty Matheson $22.42 (save $17.58) Get Deal

Another year is approaching, which means it's time to think about what you want to change or focus on in 2026. If you're simply aiming to stop spending so much money on takeout next year, we've rounded up some of the best kitchen deals to help you cook more at home.

The first step in any cooking journey is to make reasonable upgrades that actually encourage you to cook at home. It's a simple New Year's resolution with a simple solution. If your current tools aren't sparking inspiration in the kitchen, here are some essentials that might do the trick.

First and foremost: new cookware Opens in a new window Credit: Our Place Our pick: Our Place Always Pan (10.5-inch) $99 at Amazon
$135 Save $36   Get Deal Why we like it

Before you can really start your 2026 cooking journey, you need to upgrade your cookware. That old, rusty pan that everything sticks to isn't doing you any favors. The Always Pan from Our Place is a crowd favorite and it's on sale for over 25% off in several color options at Amazon — just $4 shy of its best-ever price. It's constructed from 100 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum, features a toxin-free nonstick coating, and is oven safe up to 450 degrees. Besides the pan itself, it also comes with a spatula, modular lid, and a stainless steel colander and steamer.

More cookware deals

• Our Place Mini Griddle Pan — $58 $69 (save $11)

• Carote 14-piece pots and pans set — $66.49 $109.99 (save $43.50)

• Our Place Mini Perfect Pot — $95 $125 (save $30)

• All-Clad D3 stainless steel frying pan (10-inch) — $109.94 $139.99 (save $30.05)

• Our Place Always Pan (12.5-inch) — $125 $159 (save $34)

• Sur La Table Chef's Deck 10-piece stainless steel cookware set — $134.29 $169.99 (save $35.70)

An air fryer for healthy, but crispy meals Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Crispi 4-in-1- portable air fryer — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40) $139.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $40   Get Deal Why we like it

The viral Ninja Crispi air fryer is a Mashable favorite — after testing a big batch of Ninja appliances, shopping reporter Sam Mangino crowned it one of the best. Unlike most air fryers, it features a portable design with glass containers that attach to an air-frying lid. Beyond heating and crisping food to perfection, it also doubles as storage for your leftovers. "The Ninja Crispi ... allows you to meal prep and store food directly into glass baskets, where you will then reheat it," Mangino writes. "The storage containers are all dishwasher safe, a rare trait in air fryer baskets." As of Dec. 30, it's also $40 off, which matches its Black Friday price.

More air fryer deals

• Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 (5-quart) — $89.99 $129.99 (save $30)

• Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone air fryer (8-quart) — $119.98 $199.99 (save $80.01)

• Our Place Wonder Oven — $155 $185 (save $30)

A multicooker to simplify dinner time Opens in a new window Credit: CrockPot Our pick: Crockpot Multimeal multicooker $127.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $52.00   Get Deal Why we like it

If you want to simplify mealtime, do yourself a favor and grab a multicooker. It's a more hands-off way to whip up delicious meals at home. CrockPot's Multimeal multicooker features a dual-pot design, so you can cook your main course and sides with the same appliance at the same time. It has separate temperature controls and cook functions, like slow cook, sear/sauté, bake, rice/steam, and keep warm. Plus, the removable cooking pots are oven safe up to 450 degrees.

More multicooker deals

• Instant Pot Rio 7-in-1 (6-quart) — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)

• Ninja Foodi Everyday PossibleCooker Pro (6.5-quart) — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)

• Our Place Dream Cooker (6-quart) — $169 $199 (save $30)

A cookbook for recipe ideas Opens in a new window Credit: Abrams Books Our pick: "Home Style Cookery" by Matty Matheson $22.42 at Amazon
$40 Save $17.58   Get Deal Why we like it

The executive producer and actor on the Emmy Award-winning Hulu show The Bear, Matty Matheson, offers a definitive guide to mastering your kitchen in Home Style Cookery. The recipe-packed cookbook covers everything from pantry staples to creative party treats to go-to weeknight dinners. The hardcover book is usually $40, but you can grab it on sale for only $22.42 at Amazon.

More cookbook deals

• From Crook to Cook by Snoop Dogg — $14.16 $24.95 (save $10.79)

• Half Baked Harvest Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard — $15.73 $29.99 (save $14.26)

• Bad B*tch in the Kitch by Cassie Yeung — $19.45 $35 (save $15.55)

• What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers — $19.64 $35 (save $15.36)

• Appetites: A Cookbook by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever — $24.99 $45 (save $20.01)

Even more kitchen deals

• KitchenAid gourmet multi-sided meat tenderizer — $12.99 $16.99 (save $4)

• Astercook 13-piece knife set — $17.98 $49.99 (save $32.01)

• KitchenAid food chopper (3.5-cup) — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• Gourmia indoor pizza oven — $119.99 $169.99 (save $50)

• Drinkmate OmniFizz sparkling water maker — $124.99 $179.99 (save $55)

• Ninja NC301 CREAMi Ice Cream Maker — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)

• Chefman Iceman Slush-Ease Max machine — $199.93 $349.99 (save $150.06)

• Bartesian Professional cocktail machine — $348.99 $499 (save $150.01)

• Ooni Koda 12 portable gas pizza oven bundle — $359.80 $514 (save $149.19)

• Halo Versa 16 outdoor pizza oven — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)

The best deals to help cut down on screen time Best Productivity Deal The Brick $53.10 (Save $5.90) Get Deal Best Activity Book Deal Puzzle Mania! Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! $17.97 (Save $5.39) Get Deal Best Camera Deal Camp Snap Camera $59.95 (Save $10) Get Deal Best Puzzle Deal Bepuzzled Classic Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle $10.17 (Save $12.50) Get Deal Best Diamond Painting Kit PaintGem Butterfly Edition Diamond Painting Kit $29.90 (Save $10) Get Deal

New year, new you. If you're looking to make 2026 less about spending time on your phone and doom-scrolling, there are plenty of great ways to cut your screen time and do more productive things with your days. But even though that resolution may sound like a simple one, it's not always as easy as you might think to go cold turkey when it comes to spending time in front of a screen, whether that's the TV, a monitor, your phone, or a console.

Because it's something you really need to make a valiant effort to accomplish, we've got your back. We've put together a few of our favorite options that you can lean on to help you cut down your screen time, even if only by a few minutes a day. There are tons of great alternatives out there that you can choose from, but these should at least get you to unplug for a short time, even if it's temporary.

Below, find our favorite picks for the best deals to help you fulfill your New Year's resolution to cut down on screen time.

Best productivity deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Brick The Brick $53.10 at Brick
$59 Save $5.90   Get Deal Why we like it

This unassuming little gray block locks certain apps when you tap your phone to it. That means even if you feel like doom-scrolling, you won't be able to, which automatically keeps you out of the "using your phone too much" hot seat. It's quick and easy to use, Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino tried out The Brick in a bid to cut down on screen time, and came away finding it was absolutely worth it, praising it as her "favorite option" and "recommending it to everyone I know".

Best activity book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Thrift Books Puzzle Mania! Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! $27.85 at Thrift Books
$38 Save $10.15   Get Deal Why we like it

Sharpen your brain with this collection of Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, and other puzzles taken straight from The New York Times. It's a hardcover book with a lay-flat format that lets you easily puzzle things out alone or share with others, giving you plenty of reasons to skip the screen for the day and work on your focus and concentration with high-quality puzzles and brain-teasers.

Best camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Camp Snap Camp Snap Camera $59.95 at Camp Snap
$69.95 Save $10   Get Deal Why we like it

This screen-free digital camera can cut your screen time in a sneaky way: taking it away entirely. This is essentially a new-school point-and-shoot option that feels like taking pictures with a disposable camera. It's durable, supports storing up to 2,000 photos with its included SD memory card, and it's free of distractions so you can focus on what matters: being there and being present.

Best puzzle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bepuzzled Classic Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle $10.17 at Amazon
$22.67 Save $12.50   Get Deal Why we like it

This 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle is more than just a puzzle. It's also a murder mystery that you work out while putting the puzzle together as there are clues to find within. You can solve the mystery as you search for the right puzzle pieces, and by the end of the puzzle you should know exactly "whodunnit" -- making this a fun way to keep you engaged and excited about what you're working on.

Best diamond painting kit Opens in a new window Credit: PaintGem PaintGem Butterfly Edition Diamond Painting Kit $29.90 at PaintGem
$39.90 Save $10   Get Deal Why we like it

Getting into diamond painting is a good way to keep yourself from staring at a screen, because you'll be creating decor and images that you can keep whenever you finish. This kit comes with 16 canvases, with 11,788 gems in total in 38 colors to create some absolutely gorgeous butterflies to display or give as gifts.

More deals on products to help cut down on screen time

• Candle Making Kit — $52.99 $62.99 (save $10)

• Vellostar Sewing Kit for Adults & Beginners — $17.97 $23.36 (save $5.39)

• The Rider Tarot Deck — $19.99 $21.95 (save $1.96)

• Gerute Crochet Kit for Beginners — $16.99 $23.99 (save $7)