Technology

Your router can do more than provide a Wi-Fi signal or an Ethernet connection to your devices. It is a miniature computer, and most of them allow you to run extra services that can improve functionality and security.

People love to share their Home Assistant dashboards on chat groups and forums. A lot of these dashboards look really impressive, but so many I see seem to be making the exact same mistake.

RAID is typically the go-to method for redundancy in servers, and it definitely has stood the test of time. What if I told you I intentionally stopped using RAID on my Plex server? Here’s why.

Have you been wanting to launch a website, but were turned off by the cost and difficulty required? Those two elements of website building are a thing of the past now! It’s easier than ever before to launch your website with modern tools, and it doesn’t even have to cost you a dime.

When Samsung released the One UI 7 update and the Galaxy S25, the company also debuted the Now Bar and Now Brief, among other things. Samsung's Now Bar was supposed to be Galaxy's answer to the Dynamic Island, a sleek pill-shaped hub that promised to turn your home and lock screen into an information command center.

If your wired internet speeds aren't what you expect, or you find that your Wi-Fi network doesn't work as well as it should, your router might not be responsible—it could be something else. Old network switches, damaged or low-quality Ethernet cables, and unreliable transmission methods could all be at fault.

Between the 2026 Winter Olympics and March Madness, it’s been a big year for sports already, and Paramount+ is making sure you continue to get your fill in April. While the streamer will see exclusive streaming debuts of a couple of recently released movies, it will also see debuts of three new original docuseries, one of which is a doozie for all the true-crime fans out there. Additionally, you can also catch the Masters live and UFC Fight Night.

I have been in the homelabbing game for over five years at this point, and I have tried out, quite literally, hundreds of services to self-host. These days, I have around 30 to 40 services running in my homelab at any given time, but these five are the ones I can’t live without.

For many drivers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become essential parts of the in-car experience. Navigation, music, calls, and messaging all run through the vehicle’s infotainment system, so phones don’t have to be handled while driving. The problem is that many cars produced between 2016 and 2023 still require a wired USB connection to use those features.

Buying a NAS for one specific thing is probably the main reason why a lot of people end up with a NAS in the first place. But what if you end up not being that into the very thing you bought it for? Here are 5 more reasons and ways to put that NAS to use.

Most homeowners have a power tool or two, and chances are Ryobi, Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWALT make it. All the major brands manufacture a wide range of options. And while your go-to brand likely offers the usual essential tools, each also makes a few unique items tailored to specific professions or tasks.

The once-speedy Windows PC you bought will eventually turn into a slow, unresponsive machine, suffering from long boot times and application delays. Many users blame this on aging hardware, the unavoidable decay of technology over time and in some ways it is, leading some to give up. However, the truth is much more subtle and fixable. Your computer wears out because of the digital clutter you install and the natural outcome of long-term operating system use. This systemic clutter exhausts available memory and storage space, severely reducing disk read/write speeds and slowing down your computer's overall responsiveness.

A good streaming box or dongle can cost just as much or quite a bit more than a Raspberry Pi, even when you factor in a case, power supply, and wireless media keyboard. If you're in the market for an upgrade to a dumb TV or an existing smart TV where you don't want to use the built-in streaming apps, the Raspberry Pi might be your best choice.

SAVE OVER $20: As of April 2, the Lego Star Wars C-3PO buildable droid figure is on sale for $117.99 at Amazon. That's $22 off its list price of $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars C-3PO Buildable Droid Figure $117.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal

May 4 is just about a month away, but why wait to celebrate? If you're a Star Wars fan and want to tackle some fun Lego sets right now from a galaxy far, far away, Amazon still has some great deals available after its Big Spring Sale. The Lego Star Wars C-3PO buildable droid figure is one option worth checking out, which is still sitting at its Big Spring Sale price of $117.99.

Overall, this saves you $22 off its list price of $139.99. It's also just a few dollars away from its lowest-ever price of $111.95, so why not scoop it up now if you've had your eye on it?

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This Lego C-3PO build is a delightful set to have up on display if you're a Star Wars fan. It has a piece count of 1,138 that fit together to create the beloved character, and since it's more of a display model, it's angled towards adult builders ages 18 and up. Once assembled, his head and arms can be moved around and posed, which is a fun touch.

On top of that, this Lego C-3PO set also comes with an information plaque that can be set up next to the completed build, alongside a C-3PO minifigure and LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick.

If you've been hoping to pick it up for less, don't miss out on the chance to save on the Lego Star Wars C-3PO buildable droid figure at Amazon.

April is here, and as you refresh your winter watch list, Netflix has you covered with some more new titles. This month's options are sure to entertain, including the return of highly anticipated shows and a spin-off series that brings back one of Netflix's most popular shows.

With the Full Moon now passed, each night the moon will start to look smaller. It won't be noticeable at first, but after a few nights you'll see the moon start to fade from the right side. This will continue until we reach the New Moon, where it will appear completely dark.

Keep reading to see how much of it is visible tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, April 2, the Moon phase is North America is Waning Gibbous, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

There's plenty to see if you have clear skies tonight. Even without visual aids to assist you, you can see the Kepler Crater, Aristarchus Plateau, and the Mare Tranquillitatis. If you do have assistance, in the form of binoculars, you'll be able to spot more features, including the Posidonius and Endymion Craters. Finally, a telescope will give you many viewing opportunities, with the Apollo 11, Caucasus Mountains, and the Schiller Crater appearing the clearest.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to circle Earth, moving through eight unique phases along the way. Although we always see the same side from Earth, different amounts of its surface are lit by the Sun as it orbits, causing it to appear fully illuminated, partially lit, or as a thin crescent. These changing views are called the lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an animal lover.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 2, 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: To foster

• Green: A break

• Blue: Furry friends

• Purple: Alcohol companies

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Support

• Green: Opportunity

• Blue: Male animals

• Purple: Ends of liquor brands

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 #1025 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Support: BACK, CHAMPION, ENDORSE, SECOND

• Opportunity: CHANCE, MOMENT, OPENING, WINDOW

• Male animals: BUCK, DRAKE, DRONE, STALLION

• Ends of liquor brands: CARDI, EATER, MESON, MIGOS

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 April 2, 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 love the derby.

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 April 2, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On track

The words are related to sports.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a sporting competition.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Horse Racing.

NYT Strands word list for April 2

• Bettor

• Agent

• Jockey

• Horse Racing

• Trainer

• Bookie

• Tipster

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't drink.

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 April 2, 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 April 2, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Dry.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SOBER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

A wealth of open-source projects exists, just below the visible surface of the apps you use from day to day. They may not be high profile or widely appreciated, but they enable everything from networking and statistical analysis to the next generation of AI agents.