Technology

Apple held its Q4 2026 earnings call on Monday, its first since John Ternus took over from Tim Cook as its new CEO. The tech giant reported quarterly revenue of $114.5 billion, marking a 12 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Unsurprisingly, a large chunk of that came from iPhone sales.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook praises John Ternus again in Apple's Q3 2026 earnings call

iPhones remain Apple's biggest money spinner, making the company a net profit of $57.6 billion in the three months from July to September. That's a 17 percent increase from the $49 billion it made during the same period last year. Calling Q4 2026 "one of the most prolific launch periods in [Apple's] history," Ternus specifically cited the iPhone Duo as "the most transformational iPhone since the original."

"We have been thrilled with the early response from reviewers and customers, and we are working hard to get iPhone Duo into customers' hands as quickly as we can," Ternus said.

While Apple's consolidated financial statements didn't break down exactly how much profit can be attributed to each iPhone model, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were two of Apple's biggest releases within Q4. The iPhone Duo orders opened too late to be included in these quarterly results, but the launch itself was a big deal for Apple. The device had been highly anticipated for years prior to its unveiling in September, with preorders for Apple's first foldable phone selling out within hours despite a starting price of $1,999.

The iPhone Duo is currently on backorder, with the Apple Store stating that shipments are expected to resume late January next year. However, Apple's executives couldn't say when the company would have enough units to fulfill customers' orders.

"iPhone Duo is constrained as of today," said COO Sabih Khan during Apple's earnings call. "The ramp is going well… But at this time, it is really hard to predict when supply and demand will be in balance."

Apple acknowledges increased iPhone prices and memory chip demand

Apple's growing revenue comes in spite of higher manufacturing costs, driven by increased demand for memory chips due to the AI boom. In response to these pressures, Apple quietly raised the prices of the iPhone 16, 17, 17e, and Air in September, making most of these older models more expensive than they had been at launch. These price increases followed a similar adjustment of iPad and Mac prices in June. Apple's former CEO Tim Cook stated that month that while the company was attempting to "mitigate" the impact of the memory shortage on customers, "price increases are unavoidable." 

"What we're seeing with memory pricing right now is unprecedented," Ternus said during Monday's earnings call, stating that memory prices are continuing to climb every quarter. "For the December quarter, we expect even higher memory costs."

"We did reluctantly make the decision to change pricing on a number of our products, starting with the iPad and Mac in the June timeframe, and then iPhone more recently in September," said CFO Kevan Parekh. "We evaluate the unit's revenue margin, and we are really being thoughtful and deliberate at evaluating kind of the short-term and long-term considerations, and we really believe we are balancing this well."

U.S. tariff refunds assist Apple's finances

Apple further noted that its finances have been significantly helped by tariff refunds. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of the Trump administration's tariffs in February, finding that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally impose them.

As such, Apple received enough tariff refunds in Q4 to account for approximately one percentage point of its 47.9 percent gross margin. While not as much as the two percentage points attributable to its Q3 tariff refunds, it's still a significant amount.

"When you remove the tariff refunds from both the June and September quarter, both company and products gross margin would be down about one point sequentially, primarily driven by higher memory costs," said Parekh. "As of the September quarter, we have received the vast majority of the refunds related to tariffs paid."

Now that Apple has received almost all of its tariff refunds, it likely won't receive a similar boost in future earnings reports. As such, the company may look to make savings or bring in additional revenue elsewhere. 

Ternus began cutting jobs at Apple just two weeks after he began his new role on Sept. 1, aiming to run it leaner and to move faster according to a report from Bloomberg. Impacted workers have been told to find other roles within the company, or will eventually be laid off. Apple has also reportedly looked into replacing around 5,000 AppleCare customer support workers with AI agents, though such plans have been shelved for now.

TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with a string of high-profile matchups this week, including Barcelona vs. Aston Villa. The visitors have made a perfect start to this campaign, but Barcelona at the Nou Camp will be their toughest test by far. Can the Premier League side stop the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha from running wild?

If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Aston Villa?

Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. This fixture takes place at the Camp Nou.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Aston Villa for free

Barcelona vs. Aston Villa is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Barcelona vs. Aston Villa for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Shakhtar vs. Sporting in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back this week with more interesting fixtures involving Europe's best, including Shakhtar vs. Sporting. The visitors have six points from three games and could move into the top eight with victory at Stamford Bridge. Shakhtar are only two points back, so we're expecting a close game between two talented teams.

If you want to watch Shakhtar vs. Sporting in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Shakhtar vs. Sporting?

Shakhtar vs. Sporting in the Champions League kicks off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. This fixture takes place at Stamford Bridge.

How to watch Shakhtar vs. Sporting for free

Shakhtar vs. Sporting is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Shakhtar vs. Sporting for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Shakhtar vs. Sporting for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Shakhtar vs. Sporting (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Shakhtar vs. Sporting in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Manchester United vs. Roma in the Champions League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The return of the Champions League could not have come at a worse time for Manchester United. Another defeat last weekend in the Premier League leaves Michael Carrick's side languishing near the bottom three. Things aren't much better in the Champions League after two defeats in three fixtures.

Now Manchester United host Roma for an all-important clash. The visitors are fresh from beating Udinese 5-2 at the weekend, and will come into this fixture with a lot of confidence.

If you want to watch Manchester United vs. Roma in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester United vs. Roma?

Manchester United vs. Roma in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. This fixture takes place at Old Trafford.

How to watch Manchester United vs. Roma for free

Manchester United vs. Roma in the Champions League is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK.

You don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Manchester United vs. Roma for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to watch the Champions League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Live stream Manchester United vs. Roma for free on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester United vs. Roma on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream Manchester United vs. Roma in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Compost.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

MULCH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Promise.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWEAR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Females have two of them.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 3, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

OVARY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Record.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

VINYL

Final Hurdle hint

Exhilarate.

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

ELATE

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for college basketball fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Resolve

• Green: Athletic maintenance

• Blue: Leaders

• Purple: Same second word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Fortitude

• Green: Supplies for an athletic trainer

• Blue: Men's college basketball coaches

• Purple: ___ room

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 #771 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Fortitude: GRIT, GUTS, METTLE, MOXIE

• Supplies for an athletic trainer: BANDAGES, ICE PACK, PRE-WRAP, TAPE

• Men's college basketball coaches: DREW, FEW, PAINTER, SELF

• ____ room: DRESSING, FILM, LOCKER, WEIGHT

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 yesterday's Connections.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 3, 2026 Carry on meaning

Continuing forward.

Check meaning

A bill.

Roller bag meaning

A bag with wheels.

Interview meaning

To converse with someone to learn more about them.

Resume meaning

To proceed.

Profile meaning

A side view of something.

Office chair meaning

A type of chair used in work environments.

Food meaning

Sources of nourishment.

Menu meaning

A selection of items.

Shopping cart meaning

An object used to transport groceries.

Credit meaning

The ability to obtain things with the expectation of paying for them later.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Continue meaning

To resume.

Whelp meaning

A word to describe several young carnivors, including puppies and wolf cubs.

Tap water meaning

Water available from a faucet.

Proceed meaning

The continue.

Stroller meaning

A device used to transport a child.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

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

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like to dine out.

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 November 3, 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: Moving forward

• Green: Rolling around

• Blue: Dining out

• Purple: Words within words

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Keep going

• Green: Things with wheels

• Blue: Things a server brings at a restaurant

• Purple: Ending in menu bar headings

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 #1241 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Keep going: CARRY ON, CONTINUE, PROCEED, RESUME

• Things with wheels: OFFICE CHAIR, ROLLER BAG, SHOPPING CART, STROLLER

• Things a server brings at a restaurant: CHECK, FOOD, MENU, TAP WATER

• Ending in menu bar headings: CREDIT, INTERVIEW, PROFILE, WHELP

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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

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

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 will be easy if you love karaoke.

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 November 3, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I've got a song in my heart

The words are related to music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe musicians.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Belt it out.

NYT Strands word list for November 3

• Singer

• Crooner

• Vocalist

• Belt it out

• Balladeer

• Chorister

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

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 like to store things on your person.

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 November 3, 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A wearable pocket.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

POUCH

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.

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

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.

DeepSeek Harness has added a new Creator Mode, which aims to create plugins directly from text prompts.

While AI models are capable of generating responses to prompts and determining a course of action, actually carrying it out requires a harness. Harnesses connect large language models (LLMs) to tools and systems that can perform actions, such as scheduling an appointment in a calendar or making a phone call. Put an AI model and a harness together, and you get an AI agent.

DeepSeek's aptly named Harness is an open-source harness based around the idea that "everything is a plugin." A plugin is a piece of software that's added on to an existing program to give it new functionality, without altering the original. 

Accordingly, Harness' new Creator Mode allows users to enter text prompts in order to generate new plugins. In a demonstration video, DeepSeek showcased examples of AI-generated plugins such as digital sticky note wall, a poster design tool, and a Minecraft-like video game. 

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DeepSeek has published some of the prompts used in the demonstration, offering them in both English and Chinese so users can try them out. However, DeepSeek noted that "some plugins were refined through several rounds of conversation, so a single prompt may not reproduce exactly what you see in the video."

Linux has no shortage of distros, and keeping track of which ones are worth trying can be difficult. Some distros focus on making Linux easier for newcomers, while others experiment with different desktop environments, system components, or specialized tools. Every year, a few distros manage to attract more attention than usual, and 2026 has been an interesting year for several of them.

We should all probably spend less time staring at screens. At least, that's what the professionals tell us. And yet the average person needs to be online. They use the internet for work, to pay bills, to access government resources, and to follow political leaders. Many have turned social media into their livelihoods.

And if you skip one day on the internet, you are sure to miss a year's worth of memes, references, and even historical events. In fact, social media is where more than half of Americans get their news, if not from a chatbot assistant.

It's online where you'll be lulled into doomscrolling, engage in unhealthy digital interactions, or witness violence. A good portion of what you see may not even be real. It may be trying to intentionally deceive you. For those staying online, there is at least one way to protect yourself from false information: Stop and ask why.

SEE ALSO: Is it legit? How to tell if that website or social media account is a scam

Why am I still scrolling? Why did this account post this particular opinion? Why is this ad targeting me? Why would this platform allow this?

Pausing is a stopgap for misinformation, media literacy experts say. A few minutes is often all it takes.

Learning to slow down in an internet built for speed

In this age of AI and misinformation, not many people are being taught the basics of consuming modern media. 

"Most states don’t require districts to offer news and media literacy instruction," said Chuck Salter, president and CEO of the News Literacy Project. The News Literacy Project promotes K-12 media literacy curriculum to address growing gaps among the next generation of news consumers. 

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called for intentional media literacy instruction. A 2024 survey of educators by The National Association for Media Literacy Education found that only 12 percent of schools offered media literacy as part of their core curriculum. Yet news and media literacy is an essential life skill, experts argue. 

More than half of Americans use social media to get their news. Credit: Pew Research Center

How are adults faring? Around 25 percent of U.S. adults read at the lowest literacy level. When it comes to digital literacy skills, one third of U.S. workers lack basic knowledge. Around half say they find it difficult to spot fake news when scrolling online, according to a 2025 Pew Research survey. 

SEE ALSO: Kids aren't learning to type anymore Lots of slop 

Even the savviest social media users — who are increasingly turning to these platforms for both news and entertainment coverage — are navigating an overwhelming amount of posts aimed to deceive them. 

"Social media is littered with false and misleading content," said Sofia Rubinson, Senior Editor at misinformation watchdog NewsGuard. In addition to an abundance of intentionally stimulating content, "it is inevitable to come across AI fakes, twisted political claims, and foreign disinformation when scrolling."  

More than one-third of new web content is now AI-generated, according to recent data from Pew Research. Other reports allege more than half of the internet is made up of "AI slop." And estimates of the number of bot social media accounts range from 10 percent of platforms to nearly 50 percent. 

Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince claims agentic bot usage constitutes 57.4 percent of total internet traffic, while human traffic has dropped to 42.6 percent.

False and manipulative content performs best for Big Tech

Despite claims of free speech and open town squares by its leaders, social media isn't a neutral conveyor of information, Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer of online security company NordVPN, told Mashable. "Feeds are built to move you quickly and reward things that provoke a reaction. That is a design choice, and it happens to be the exact environment where synthetic content performs best."

Many of these design choices are currently under the spotlight of federal and state regulators, including features like endless scrolls, personalized recommendation algorithms, and autoplay. 

Other, less noticeable, platform choices make it worse, like the sporadic ability to embed or link to external sources on sites where users most often get their news, including TikTok and X. Without these built-in fact-checking opportunities, we're forced to rely on our own intuition.

"We scroll fast, react on instinct, and read likes and shares as 'lots of people believe this,'" explained Roei Sherman, senior director of research at cloud security firm Mitiga. 

Limited moderation helps fake news spread

Our scrolling habits, combined with the algorithm's rules of engagement, are further enabled by Big Tech's ongoing moderation problem.

"You have a much more free flow of information, which has always been the case in the United States, but there's an even further lack of moderation occurring now," explained Zohaib Ahmed, CEO of deepfake detector Resemble.AI. 

Large platforms like Meta and X have decimated human moderation teams in recent years, while simultaneously weathering allegations of censorship by their AI-powered moderation tools. YouTube, a hot spot for AI slop, has also loosened its moderation guidelines. 

Ahmed explains that advanced AI models have pushed us further toward the "Indistinguishability Threshold," or the point at which the human senses fail to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate content without the help of technology itself. 

He adds that indistinguishability stirs confusion and conflict in online content moderation, too, especially on platforms that have slashed professional teams in favor of community fact-checking. 

"That creates more commentary that can be split down the middle, that can be very opinionated and isn't very precise when it comes to labeling misinformation or disinformation," Ahmed said. "The average user will simply gloss over that, and they won't think to dig in any further than what the human moderators have already done."

AI agents might be setting us up to believe anything

The popularization of friendly chatbots and helpful AI agents have made many more susceptible to scams and manipulation, experts told Mashable. 

"We tend to be far too loose with the AI agents we interact with daily," said Eyal Elazar, head of market intelligence for e-commerce security business Riskified. When it comes to scams, bad actors weaponize this psychology and count on users to let their guard down around "cutesy" personable agents, he explained.

Credit: Cole Kan/Mashable/Getty

Meanwhile, AI continues to promise the user an unburdened life. AI agents, AI-powered search engines, and chatbots encourage users to consolidate access to information into a single helpful tool. According to Elazar, the human desire for frictionless experiences, where everything is at our fingertips with a single click or one chatbot prompt, may end up being our biggest vulnerability.

"AI makes it really easy to avoid thinking for yourself," Salter said. "We have to exercise our agency." 

Learning new internet habits

A lot has changed in just a few years. It's easy to fake a crowd. It's cheap to run a scam. And fake media no longer looks fake, Sherman said. Now, "the instincts we built up have stopped working, and we haven't built new ones yet," Sherman said.

Protecting yourself doesn’t take a technical background. - Andrew Jones, Adaptive Security

How do we build those new habits? We fight back by slowing down, said Andrew Jones, co-founder of AI security firm Adaptive Security.

"Social media rewards speed. Every autoplay, every infinite scroll, every push notification trains us to react in a second and move to the next post," he said. "Protecting yourself doesn’t take a technical background."

Jones said it's more important than ever to build a pause into your everyday routine, even if it take some effort. But just a few minutes sets yourself up to fight back, no matter your skills. 

Skepticism, not cynicism

We need to exercise caution, experts say, but not let ourselves fall into conspiracy. Skepticism is healthy. Cynicism is dangerous, warns Salter. "It can lead us to believe what we want to or reject information that challenges us, regardless of whether it’s true," he said. 

If you choose to stay online, stay tethered to the real world. Fact check information with real people you know. Discuss viral posts with your friends.

"Once people understand that anything can be faked, they start doubting the real things too," said Briedis. "You do not get that back easily."

Adam Robinson, a prolific Austin-based tech founder, was one of the nine people who died in the shocking Learjet crash in Florida on Sunday.

Robinson, along with his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, their nanny, two other adults, and two pilots perished in the crash, which was captured on dash cam footage. Video of the crash quickly spread across social media, with footage showing the moments the Learjet went down near a roadway in Palm Beach County.

The other three adult passengers on the plane were identified as Rachael Reed, Charmi Fehr, and Anita Maria Appelido Cetina, according to People. The pilots included pilot Edward Daniel Murphy and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.

Robinson, 45, was a tech executive who listed himself on LinkedIn as the CEO of MoltSets, RB2B, and Retention.com.

"Most teams use MoltSets to build prospect lists and enrich them with validated email addresses," according to its website.

RB2B offered customers website visitor identification software, while Retention.com helped businesses identify internet users.

“Identify the person behind a session, refresh their identity, then expand into the attributes and audiences your team actually uses,” is how the platform describes itself.

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Robinson and his group were headed from Austin to the Bahamas when their jet crashed in a residential neighborhood near Palm Beach. The crash caused a giant fireball that has displaced 600 people from nearby mobile homes, according to the Palm Beach Post.

This story is developing...

It's almost here. Grand Theft Auto VI comes out later this month.

Many GTA 6 fans have been planning for this game's release for years. Some have put PTO requests in or have set aside vacation time to get lost in Leonida, the fictional U.S. state where the game takes place.

Now, some non-gamers just won't understand what the big hubbub is about, and you need to prepare for those naysayers too. If your parents, significant other, or employer give you a hard time about taking time away from "real life" for a video game, just show them this.

Mark Tilbury, a British multi-millionaire who shares entrepreneurship tips to his YouTube audience of more than 9.3 million subscribers, has just released a video explaining how buying GTA 6 can save consumers an estimated $5,000.

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

According to Tilbury, this $99.99 investment in purchasing GTA 6 could actually be a financial win. Tilbury breaks down how GTA 6 provides gamers with at least 80 hours of entertainment, which breaks down to $1.24 per hour of fun. 

Furthermore, GTA 6 is chock full of side missions, which could lead to even more hours of entertainment. Tilbury estimates that by factoring that in, GTA 6 provides entertainment at a cost of only 50 cents per hour, far less than concerts, movie tickets, or eating out.

To make his case, Tilbury breaks down a consumer's playing time into 4 hours per night for roughly 50 evenings' worth of entertainment. Tilbury points out that a night out at a bar could easily cost $100 per night, thus saving consumers $5,000 if they stay home and play GTA 6 instead.

Now, obviously, your mileage will vary. Most gamers aren't spending $100 per night at a bar. But if you're looking to defend your planned time with GTA 6, Tilbury may provide some good points for your argument.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

While other platforms, like Netflix, might have the edge when it comes to series and documentaries, there are few platforms that can hold a candle to Paramount+ when it comes to their collection of movies. From cinematic classics to modern blockbusters, it has something for just about everyone.

TL;DR: Lingzio combines structured language lessons with AI conversation practice and pronunciation feedback. Get lifetime access to its Premium Plan for $59.99 (reg. $199).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lingzio Lingzio Language Learning Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $59.99
$199 Save $139.01   Get Deal

A 100-day language-learning streak is impressive, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to hold a conversation. Lingzio combines traditional lessons with AI conversation practice and pronunciation feedback to help you figure out where you need work. For a limited time, you can score a lifetime subscription to its Premium Plan for just $59.99 (reg. $199).

Choose from six languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and English. You can keep up to three languages in your account and switch between them whenever you like, with your progress saved for each one. Only one language can be active at a time.

The lessons follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), covering levels A1 through C2, from beginner to advanced. There’s no limit on how many lessons you can complete, and you’ll also get unlimited vocabulary flashcards, listening exercises, a built-in grammar guide, and progress tracking.

For speaking practice, Lingzio includes an AI tutor that lets you work through conversations instead of just reading dialogue on a screen. You can also use voice recognition to check your pronunciation and identify areas that need more attention.

The Premium plan includes 20 minutes of AI conversation practice, or roughly five scenes, and 150 pronunciation checks each month. Those allowances reset on the first of every month without rolling over, although you can purchase additional AI conversation time if, say, you have an upcoming trip and want to bring your A-game.

Whether you’re preparing to order food abroad, speak with international clients, or learn a language your family uses, the combination of lessons and speaking exercises gives you several ways to practice.

Lingzio works through a browser on computers, phones, and tablets, with no separate app to download. You’ll need an internet connection for lessons and a microphone for speaking exercises. Each license supports up to three devices, and this deal is available to new users only.

Normally $199, get lifetime access to Lingzio Premium for just $59.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Drime’s Essential Plan combines 2TB of cloud storage with document editing, timestamped comments, and e-signatures. Lifetime access is on sale for $149.97 (reg. $299).

Opens in a new window Credit: Drime Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $149.97
$299 Save $149.03   Get Deal

You send a project to a client, only for feedback to come pouring in through emails, documents, and messages. Before you know it, keeping track of the latest version becomes a project of its own. Drime helps cut through the back-and-forth by bringing file storage, editing, sharing, and collaboration into one place. Its Essentials plan includes 2TB of cloud storage with lifetime access, and you can get it on sale for $149.97 (reg. $299).

The storage itself is useful, especially if you regularly work with large files. Drime doesn’t impose a file size limit on individual uploads, so you can store raw photos, videos, or project archives without splitting them into smaller pieces, provided you have enough storage space. You can also sync files across compatible desktop and mobile devices.

And when it’s time to share those files, you have a few options beyond simply sending a link. You can create custom links, add password protection, set expiration dates, and check access statistics. That gives you more control over who can open a file and how long a shared link remains available.

For projects that need feedback, Drime supports timestamped comments on videos and PDFs. That means reviewers can point to specific moments or sections rather than leaving you to figure out which part of a file they’re talking about.

There are also built-in document and media editing tools, plus Drime Sign for collecting electronic signatures. Shared workspaces support teams of up to 15 members, and 120 days of version history lets you recover earlier versions when a revision doesn’t go as planned.

If you’re concerned about security, Drime hosts files in the European Union and offers an end-to-end encrypted Vault for sensitive documents. The Vault encrypts files locally, and Drime says it can’t read their contents.

The Essentials plan is available to new and existing users. Redemption happens through the web app within 30 days of purchase, and Intel-based Macs aren’t currently supported by the desktop app.

Formerly $299, get a lifetime Drime Essentials subscription with 2TB of storage for $149.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change

Here's a problem you maybe didn't even know was a problem: turning on your PC. If your desktop sits atop your desk (as it should—please get it away from that carpet), you probably don't have far to reach. But if it's tucked underneath it, or you want to connect to it remotely, then you're out of luck.