Technology

TL;DR: Live stream Egypt vs. Ivory Coast in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi finals beckon for Egypt and Ivory Coast. The final quarter final is a mouthwatering prospect, with stars like Mohamed Salah and Amad Diallo set to battle it out. Egypt are the most successful team in the history of this competition, but Ivory Coast are the defending champions.

If you want to watch Egypt vs. Ivory Coast in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Egypt vs. Ivory Coast?

Egypt vs. Ivory Coast in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 10. This fixture takes place at the Adrar Stadium.

How to watch Egypt vs. Ivory Coast for free

Egypt vs. Ivory Coast in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

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Live stream Egypt vs. Ivory Coast for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Egypt vs. Ivory Coast 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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Egypt vs. Ivory Coast (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, 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 $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Egypt vs. Ivory Coast in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations 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.

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

A small boat.

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

SKIFF

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To make into small pieces.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 10, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRATE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A letter in the Greek alphabet.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 10 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 10, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SIGMA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A trinket.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 10 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CURIO

Final Hurdle hint

They're always on the go.

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

NOMAD

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

TL;DR: Live stream Algeria vs. Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is approaching its dramatic conclusion. Some spots in the semi-final stage are already secured, but Nigeria and Algeria are still to play. The hotly-anticipated matchup features a number of big names including Lookman and Osimhen, but can the star power fire Nigeria into the last four?

If you want to watch Algeria vs. Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Algeria vs. Nigeria?

Algeria vs. Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on Jan. 10. This fixture takes place at the Marrakech Stadium.

How to watch Algeria vs. Nigeria for free

Algeria vs. Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Live stream Algeria vs. Nigeria for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Algeria vs. Nigeria 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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Algeria vs. Nigeria (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, 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 $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Algeria vs. Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

The Moon is now in its Third Quarter, which means it’s half-illuminated and half in shadow. There's still lots to see on its surface for the time being, so keep reading to find out what you can spot.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Jan. 10, the Moon phase is Third Quarter. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 51% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

If you look carefully, there should be lots to see tonight. With just your naked eye, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Mare Imbrium, Copernicus Crater the Aristarchus Plateau. If you have binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Humorum. If you have a telescope, set it up and you'll see the Apollo 14 landing spot and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

NASA explains that the Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete a full orbit, a period known as the lunar cycle. As it moves around Earth, the Moon goes through a series of distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the sunlight hitting it changes depending on its position in orbit. This is why the Moon can appear fully lit, partially lit, or completely dark at different times. The lunar cycle includes eight main phases:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know west coast schools.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Hockey

• Green: For short

• Blue: In brief

• Purple: The beginning

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A Western Conference NHL player

• Green: NBA player nicknames that are initialisms

• Blue: ACC teams, abbreviated

• Purple: Starts of NFL team names

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 #474 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A Western Conference NHL player - CANUCK, DUCK, KING, SHARK

• NBA player nicknames that are initialisms - AD, KD, LBJ, SGA

• ACC teams, abbreviated - FSU, ND, UNC, UVA

• Starts of NFL team names - BRON, CHAR, PACK, PANT

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.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 10, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 10, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 10 Pips

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

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

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-5, placed. vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 10 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 10 Pips

Less Than (5): Everything in this purple space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this yellow space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this red space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're always on the go

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 January 10, 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: Long and round

• Green: Website views

• Blue: To leave

• Purple: Calculators

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Hollow cylinders

• Green: Software platforms

• Blue: Take off

• Purple: Units of measure

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 #944 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hollow cylinders: HOSE, PIPE, STRAW, TUBE

• Software platforms: APP, DESKTOP, MOBILE, WEB

• Take off: BOOK, DIP, JET, SPLIT

• Units of measure: BAR, GRAM, MOLE, VOLT

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 January 10, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always putting things off.

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 January 10, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 10, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: If not now, when?

The words are related to delays.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a time in the future.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Procrastinator.

NYT Strands word list for January 10

• Later

• Eventually

• Soon

• Shortly

• Tomorrow

• Procrastinator

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 hysterical.

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 January 10, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 10, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Insane.

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 M.

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...

MANIC

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 January 10, 2026

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.

IKEA is in the midst of rolling out a new lineup of smart home devices, ditching Zigbee in favor of Matter over Thread. Though the full lineup isn’t available everywhere yet (virtually none of it is available in my local store here in Australia), some users have noticed that some devices aren’t locked to the new Thread protocol.

TL;DR: A one-time $27.99 gives you permanent access to iScanner — an all-in-one mobile scanner, PDF editor, and file manager backed by powerful AI, available on iOS and Android through Jan. 11 only.

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If you’re heading into the new year determined to be more organized (or at least less buried in paperwork), this offer is perfectly timed. For a few more days, you can score lifetime access to the iScanner app for just $27.99 with code FLASH — and instantly turn your phone into a full scanning and PDF-editing powerhouse.

iScanner is built for people who need clean, professional documents without lugging around a scanner or waiting until they’re back at a computer. Students, freelancers, parents, small business owners — anyone who deals with forms, receipts, or paperwork — gets a huge upgrade here.

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Some of what iScanner helps you do in seconds:

• Scan anything — documents, IDs, receipts, books, notes, and multi-page files

• Export in multiple formats — PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT

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• Lock sensitive documents with PIN protection

• Use specialty modes like Math Solver, Area Measurement, Object Counter, and QR reader

Everything lives on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device — no ads, no recurring subscription, and no desktop hardware required.

If you want a simple, affordable way to clean up your digital life in 2026, this is it. Get lifetime access to the iScanner App for just $27.99 (reg. $199.90) through Jan. 11 with code FLASH.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay just $84.97 (reg. $159.99) to get a retro gaming console packed with thousands of classics, dual operating systems, 4K output, Wi-Fi, and easy plug-and-play fun for long winter nights.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kinhank Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator & Streaming Console $84.97
$159.99 Save $75.02   Get Deal

When winter eventually feels draggy, here’s a fun — and shockingly affordable — way to speed things up: the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro is just $84.97 through Jan. 11, and it’s basically a nostalgia machine disguised as a streaming box.

Plug it into your TV, and boom — thousands of pre-loaded retro and 3D games appear at your fingertips, spanning multiple generations of gaming.

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It’s powered by the S905X2 chip, Mali-G31MP2 GPU, and a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU up to 1.8GHz, which is tech speak for “your old favorites will run smoother than you remember.” The console even outputs in 4K UHD, giving classics a crisp upgrade. And because it supports 2.4G + 5G Wi-Fi, downloading extra 3D games or adding wireless controllers is effortless.

One of the coolest perks? You get two systems in one — Android 9.0 for apps and streaming, plus EmuELEC 4.5 for dedicated gaming. That means more flexibility, more entertainment, and more things to do when the weather says “stay inside.”

Multiplayer support also makes this little console a crowd-pleaser: break out Mario-style platformers, retro racing titles, fighting games, puzzlers, and more for instant living-room fun. And if you ever want to expand your library, the microSD slot lets you load even more games.

Whether you need a boredom buster, a nostalgic gift, or a winter hobby that doesn’t involve shoveling snow, this all-in-one retro powerhouse should be a contender.

Get the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro for just $84.97 (reg. $159.99) through Jan. 11 with free shipping.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you’ve recently upgraded to a high refresh rate monitor and are disappointed by blurry performance, you're not alone. Unfortunately, the cause behind the blur isn't always obvious.

Character.AI and Google have settled several lawsuits filed against both companies by parents of children who died by suicide following lengthy conversations with chatbots on the Character.AI platform. Their exchanges allegedly included concerning discussions of the teens' mental health and well-being.

Character.AI said it could not comment further on the settlement, the details of which must still be finalized by the court, according to The Guardian. Representatives for the plaintiffs did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Mashable.

The most prominent case involved the 2024 death of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who became secretly obsessed with a Character.AI chatbot based on the popular Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen.

SEE ALSO: 'Perfect predator': When chatbots sexually abuse kids

Setzer's mother, Megan Garcia, only became aware of his Character.AI account when alerted by a police officer following his death, because the app was open on his phone. Garcia read messages in which Setzer behaved as if he were in love with the chatbot, which allegedly role-played numerous sexual encounters with him. The chatbot used graphic language and scenarios, including incest, according to Garcia.

If an adult human had talked to her son similarly, she told Mashable last year, it would constitute sexual grooming and abuse. 

In October 2024, the Social Media Victims Law Center and Tech Justice Law Project filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of Garcia against Character.AI, seeking to hold the company responsible for the death of her son, alleging that its product was dangerously defective.

The filing also named as defendants the Google engineers Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas, Character.AI's cofounders.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that Google knew of concerning risks related to the technology Shazeer and De Freitas had developed before leaving to found Character.AI. Google contributed "financial resources, personnel, and AI technology" to Character.AI's design and development, according to the lawsuit, and thus could be considered a co-creator of the platform.

Google eventually struck a $2.7 billion licensing deal in 2024 with Character.AI to use its technology. Part of that agreement brought Shazeer and De Freitas back to AI roles at Google.

In fall 2025, the Social Media Victims Law Center filed three additional lawsuits against Character.AI and Google, representing the parents of children who died by suicide or allegedly experienced sexual abuse in the course of using the app.

Additionally, youth safety experts declared Character.AI unsafe for teens, following testing that yielded hundreds of instances of grooming and sexual exploitation of test accounts registered as minors. 

By October 2025, Character.AI announced that it would no longer allow minors to engage in open-ended exchanges with the chatbots on its platform. The company's CEO, Karandeep Anand, told Mashable the move was not in response to specific safety concerns involving Character.AI's platform but to address broader outstanding questions about youth engagement with AI chatbots. 

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

Every now and then, you'll come across a new piece of tech at CES that just immediately clicks, and you'll think to yourself, "This is actually genius."

CES 2026 was filled with robotics, AI, and other futuristic tech, yet one of the most impressive things I found was a pair of headphones that turn into speakers called Neo from a company called TDM.

TDM's CES 2026 booth Credit: Mashable

Or are they speakers that turn into headphones? TDM is going with the former by calling the Neo headphones first, but they are, in fact, both.

TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers are a pair of high-quality over-ear headphones that transform into speakers by simply bringing the two headphone sides together and twisting them until they snap into place. From there, your personal audio experience becomes one that can be shared by everyone around you.

TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers as headphones Credit: Mashable

The implementation of transitioning from headphones to speaker and vice versa was so simple, and more importantly, felt seamless. It worked with audio playing in your ears, and then automatically switched to the external audio source with a twist.

Twisting the TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers Credit: Mashable

Sometimes a two-in-one product looks natural in one form but odd in its alternative one, but that's not the case with the Neo headphones. The Neo looks stylish as both headphones and a speaker. Not to mention, they sounded great in both modes, too.

As an additional bonus, TDM realized that you may want to use the Neo in speaker form to store the device, making it more compact. The Neo can be programmed to pause all audio, in addition to other programmable options, when twisted in the speaker form.

Twisting the TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers as speakers Credit: Mashable

TDM states that the Neo can last for more than 200 hours in headphone mode and 10 hours in speaker mode on a full charge before needing to be plugged in.

Personally, the instant use case I thought of for the Neo headphones is when you want to share music with friends. Sometimes, you'll want to introduce a buddy to a new song or artist, so you share earbuds or hand over your headphones. But, with the TDM Neo headphones, you'd be able to twist your device into a speaker and experience the song — and their reaction — in real time with them.

Twisting the TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers look really slick Credit: Mashable

The TDM Neo Hybrid Headphone Speakers will go on sale later this month for $249, with black and white color options available.

When it comes to the best things that Mashable saw at CES, TDM’s Neo headphones are definitely up high on my personal list.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

T-Mobile is raising prices on its mobile plans yet again, even for plans advertised with a "price guarantee." A higher fee will now apply to each line on certain plans.

There's a second acronym constantly looming above the floor of any CES: TBD. That's the most info we have about a good chunk of products announced at CES 2026 so far. "Coming soon" could mean next month to some brands and next year to others. Sometimes, we don't even know if these debuted products will ever make it out of the prototype phase.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: This AI bartender called me old, but it makes one hell of a drink

While no one is asking for LG's laundry-folding robot to be sold at Target or anything, a few more tangible gadgets with no waiting period would be nice. As of Jan. 9, the last official day of CES, several of our favorite new gadgets are already available to buy (or at least preorder). More recent announcements could go live for purchase in the days following the event, so we'll be updating this list through the weekend.

1. TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV

TCL's big TV announcement wasn't just another RGB TV like we were expecting from all of the major TV brands. That doesn't mean the new TCL TV isn't going to give Samsung or LG's Micro RGB TVs a run for their money. The TCL X11L is an SQD-Mini LED 4K TV, SQD standing for Super Quantum Dot: a pure white light strewn across an advanced layer of quantum dots instead of the true red, green, and blue light sources used in RGB TVs. The goal is the same: to produce ultra-high peak brightness, typically only possible with QLED and mini-LED panels, and pristine black levels and contrast, typically only possible with OLED panels, all at the same time.

The TCL X11L is available in 75, 85, and 98 inches, but only the $7,999.99 85-inch model is available to add to your cart to preorder at TCL's website. (The other two have prices, but are "out of stock.")

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch X11L SQD-Mini LED 4K TV $7,999.99 at TCL
  Shop Now 2. DuRoBo Krono e-reader

A major player has entered the e-reader villa, and it's speaking directly to people who really value portability. DuRoBo unveiled its 6.1-inch Krono e-reader at CES 2026, and several specs make it a worthy Kindle or Kobo alternative. Despite its pocket-sized build (that's smaller than the basic Kindle), the Krono packs 128GB of storage compared to the 32GB e-readers typically have. It also has Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in speaker, and a 300 ppi resolution HD display. Shopping reporter Samantha Mangino says "it bridges the gap between a tablet and e-reader and, with black and white displays, potentially makes it less tempting to scroll."

The Krono e-paper device is available for $279.99 on DuRoBo's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: DuRoBo DuRoBo Krono e-reader $279.99 at DuRoBo
  Shop Now 3. Dell XPS laptops

Dell is back to its XPS roots after trying to make "Dell Premium" happen for the past year, and select 14-inch and 16-inch configurations are already available for purchase. (The same can't be said for Dell's new Alienware gaming laptops, which we know nothing about except for the fact that they exist). The 2026 XPS PCs are Dell's thinnest ever at these sizes, with the XPS logo cemented on the lid of each. Other upgrades include three modular Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports and a long-awaited function row with physical keys.

As of Jan. 6, you can find the Dell XPS 14 starting at $2,049.99 and the Dell XPS 16 starting at $2,199.99. More variants priced under $2,000 are slated to launch in February.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 $2,049.99 at Dell
  Shop Now 4. Soundcore Sleep A30 Special sleep earbuds

It's only been since August that Soundcore released the Sleep A30 earbuds, which were the first sleep earbuds with true active noise cancellation at the time. Lead shopping reporter Bethany Allard referred to them as the gold standard for premium sleep earbuds after testing them, her only real complaint being the nine-hour battery life (six and a half with Bluetooth on). That's what Anker set out to fix with the "Special" version — you'll get an additional hour of juice (plus Calm app integration) at a lower price point than the OG $229.99 pair.

The Soundcore Sleep A30 Special sleep earbuds can be pre-ordered for $199.99 in four colors: mist lilac, lunar white, moonlit white, or mist green.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $199.99 at Soundcore
  Pre-order Here 5. Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete robot vacuum

Dreame dropped most of its new flagship vacuum lineup in August, but the one Dreame robot vacuum held for CES is more exciting for several reasons. Compared to the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller, which has been available for a few months, the X60 Max Ultra is now tied with new Roborocks for the strongest suction power of any robot vacuum (35,000 Pa vs. the Aqua10's 30,000 Pa). Somehow, the extra juice didn't require a bigger body — the X60 Max Ultra is significantly less clunky, measuring just over three inches tall.

The most fun upgrade, though, is a front-facing blue light that's said to illuminate debris and spills on the floor in front of it and then vacuum or mop accordingly. The new Dyson robot vacuum, allegedly set to release in 2026, is reportedly equipped with a similar light and reactive cleaning technique, but its release is taking forever.

Through Jan. 25, the X60 Max Ultra Complete can be preordered from Dreame's website for special early bird pricing of $1,359.99. That's $340 off its $1,699.99 MSRP, plus $410 in free gifts.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,359.99
$1,699.99 Save $340 save $340 plus $410 in gifts with early bird access Shop Now 6. A vibrating chef's knife

The CES home tech arena has quite the range, from smart lights and ever-evolving robot vacuums to concepts for straight-up robot butlers. Kitchen tech is somewhere on that spectrum. Last year, it was the Electric Salt Spoon. This year, Seattle Ultrasonics is aiming to streamline at-home meal prep with the C-200 Ultrasonic Chef's Knife. The 8-inch blade is already quite sharp on its own, but with the press of a button, 30,000 sonic vibrations per minute make the knife feel sharper than it physically is. Allegedly, the amount of effort required on your end should be chopped in half, even on tricky ingredients like bread or winter squashes.

Senior shopping reporter Haley Henschel got to try it firsthand on the ground at CES, noting that it sliced like a dream. "I had no trouble getting it to cut paper-thin pieces of tomato with a light touch. Seattle Ultrasonics' rep likened it to riding a bike versus pedaling an e-bike in that it makes your experience more effortless."

The C-200 UltraSonic Chef's Knife is available to pre-order for $399 at Seattle Ultrasonic's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Seattle Ultrasonics C-200 Ultrasonic Chef's Knife $399 at Seattle Ultrasonics
  Shop Now 7. Xreal 1S glasses

Xreal debuted the Xreal One Pro AR glasses at CES 2025, but they were pretty impossible to come by until they finally became available at Amazon and Best Buy at the end of August. Just months later, there's already another new (and more affordable) pair from Xreal on the market. The Xreal 1S glasses can convert 2D games and videos to 3D using 3D spatial technology, plus the help of boosted specs over older Xreal models. These include a 500-inch spatial screen (compared to 147 inches on the Xreal One) and 1200p HD resolution (compared to 1080p on the Xreal One and One Pro).

Despite all of the improvements and a fun new cobalt color option, the Xreal 1S glasses are cheaper than both other pairs. They're available to buy for $449 at Xreal's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: XREAL Xreal 1S $449 at Xreal
  Shop Now 8. Dreamie phone-free sleep device

If you dig the concept of cutting your screen time with the Brick, then this anti-doomscrolling sleep device might be another to add to your list. It's a sunrise alarm clock like Hatch — but unlike Hatch, which is extremely dependent on the corresponding app to set up sleep sounds, calming lights, and wakeup times, you don't need a phone to program Dreamie alarms or sleep audio at all. (It's also Bluetooth compatible, if you prefer headphones before bed.) In the morning, Dreamie will gently wake you up with a gradual glow aimed to mimic sunrise.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Dreamie is available for purchase at helloambient.com for $249.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ambient Dreamie $249.99 at helloambient.com
  Shop Now 9. Skylight Calendar 2

Still feel chaotic despite religious use of your phone's calendar app? Let Skylight's CES launch convince you to switch to a WiFi-connected calendar on your counter or desk — the original is a Mashable Choice Award winner for a reason. The Skylight Calendar 2 comes with interchangeable magnetic frames and an adjustable, tilt-able tabletop stand, and is thinner than the last 15-inch model. It also has rounded edges like the Calendar Max.

Right now, you can grab a limited-edition brass frame version (a collab with Joanna Gaines' brand, to be exact) of the Calendar 2 at Target for $339.99, or wait until February for the $299.99 standard version.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skylight Credit: Target Skylight Calendar 2 Antique Brass - Hearth & Hand with Magnolia $339.99 at Target
  Shop Now 10. Shokz OpenFit Pro open earbuds

Lead shopping reporter Bethany Allard already thought that Shokz's OpenDots One were the best open earbuds for most people. Then, Shokz introduced a completely new pair at CES, and these ones are the first Shokz pair to feature open-ear noise reduction. The Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds are estimated to be able to quiet external noise by about 12 to 16dB at the default setting of 50 percent power (but that can be adjusted in the app). The OpenFit Pro are also equipped with two Dolby Atmos speakers per ear for an even better listening experience.

The OpenFit Pro can be preordered at Best Buy and the Shokz website for $249.95 and will be available for purchase from Amazon in March.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenFit Pro $249.95 at Best Buy
  Shop Now 11. Samsung Movingstyle portable 4K TV and monitor

Samsung showcased two really unique, completely different TVs at CES 2026: An absurd 130-inch Micro RGB TV and... a much more practical option. The Samsung Movingstyle is a wireless 4K display that can work as a TV or monitor, depending on the type of screen you need that day. It can be wheeled between rooms on its rolling base or transported by the handle, then propped up on the most convenient flat surface with the built-in kickstand. Imagine a YouTube workout or DIY recipe video on a screen bigger than your phone.

There are two versions of the Movingstyle, both of which have quietly been available for purchase since November. The 32-inch non-touchscreen model is on sale for $579.99 (regularly $699.99) at Samsung's website, and the $1,199.99 27-inch touchscreen model has been in and out of stock during the week of CES.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Movingstyle M7 (32-inch) $579.99 at Samsung
$699.99 Save $120   Shop Now Honorable mention: Birdfy Bath Pro

Though we were first introduced to the Birdfy Bath Pro at CES 2025, it still made an appearance at Birdfy's CES 2026 booth — complete with a sign showcasing its 2026 Innovation Award. So while we wait for Birdfy's 2026 smart hummingbird feeder and its slow-motion 4K video to come out, it's worthwhile to refresh your memory about this other delightful staple for any bird-friendly backyard setup. The solar-powered Bath Pro also has a camera and garnered ridiculously positive reviews during its first year on the market. It would make a great gift for mom or dad (or a gift for pets who like to watch out the window).

You can buy the Birdfy Bath Pro on sale for $299.99 at Birdfy's website, saving you $50 off its original $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Birdfy Birdfy Bath Pro $299.99 at Birdfy
$349.99 Save $50   Shop Now

I’m tired of using my iPhone 17 Pro’s flashlight just to be let down by how dim it always is. That’s why I keep an ultra-compact, low-cost, and rechargeable flashlight on me at all times—and you should too.

Linux package managers make it super simple to install and upgrade software. However, you will inevitably run into a 'target package not found' error. Here is what you can do when that happens.

Japanese cars have a reputation for just working, and Honda is a big reason why. Porsche, on the other hand, builds some of the most rewarding sports cars to drive, especially the 911.