Technology

TL;DR: Live stream select NBA games for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA is a unique sport. There's nothing else in which incredibly tall athletes can be made to look tiny by aliens who could probably touch the sun if they stood on tip toes. And almost all of these shockingly tall athletes display a skillset that mere mortals can't even fathom.

The NBA could make a legitimate argument that it hosts the very best athletes in the world. Sure, the NFL might disagree. And rugby definitely attracts some special specimens. But the NBA has a bunch of seven footers dunking on each other. That's tough to beat.

If you are interested in watching the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the NBA?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America made up of 30 teams (29 from the United States and one from Canada). The reigning league champions are the Boston Celtics.

When is the NBA?

The NBA regular season runs from Oct. 22 to April 13. The play-in tournament is scheduled to be played on April 15-18, followed by the playoffs on the next day, and concluding with the NBA Finals in June.

How to watch the NBA for free

Free-to-air channel ProSieben airs select NBA games, with free live streaming available on Ran.de. Fans can watch two NBA games every weekend during the regular season, with many playoff and finals fixtures also available to watch for free.

Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, 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 Germany, meaning you can access this streaming service from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 Germany

4. Connect to Ran.de

5. Watch the NBA for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select NBA games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on Ran.de, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Our readers have made How-To Geek one of the most popular technology websites in the world. Here's a brief recap of the site's origins, where we are now as we continue to innovate, and what our future holds.

FREE LEGO: On May 4, build a Lego Grogu in a hover pram model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. Plus, save 20% on the epic Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon 25th Anniversary Collectible model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Grogu for Star Wars Day Learn More

Lego has been running make and take events all year. Fans have had the opportunity to build a Steering Wheel, Valentine's Day Heart, and Mother's Day Bouquet for free in 2025, and the giveaways aren't stopping there.

Lego is celebrating Star Wars Day in style this year: Visitors to select Lego Stores on May 4 (from 12-2 p.m.) will have the chance to participate in a Lego Star Wars Grogu make and take event. During this event, participants can build and bring home a model of Grogu in a hover pram for free. This event is intended for participants aged 10+ years, and the model will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, at participating locations, while supplies last.

SEE ALSO: Building the 'Twilight' Lego set was the therapy session I didn’t know I needed

What makes this free giveaway so special is that the Grogu model is not available for purchase. So by taking part, you're getting your hands on an exclusive item for free. The only catch is that you're limited to one build per participant, but that feels fair. Don't get greedy now.

Build and take home an exclusive Lego Star Wars Grogu for free on May 4.

Best Lego deals for Star Wars Day Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon (25th Anniversary Collectable) $67.95 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $17.04 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a great way to celebrate May 4, we think building the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon with a movie marathon is close to perfect. The 25th anniversary collectible model is on sale at Amazon for $67.95, marked down from the standard price of $84.99 — that's a 20% discount.

The Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon set has almost 1,000 pieces and it comes with a buildable stand complete with a nameplate and Lego Star Wars 25th Anniversary brick. Once built, the Millennium Falcon measures about 5 inches tall, 9.5 inches long, and 7.5 inches wide. It's gonna look perfect on your bookshelf or tucked beside your DVD collection of the series.

More Lego Star Wars deals

• Lego Star Wars The Clone Wars Captain Rex Y-Wing Microfighter — $7.78 $12.99 (save $5.21)

• Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian Ambush on Mandalore Battle Pack — $16.99 $19.99 (save $3)

• Lego Star Wars BARC Speeder Escape — $24.99 $29.99 (save $5)

• Lego Star Wars Jedi Bob’s Starfighter — $31.95 $39.99 (save $8.04)

• Lego Star Wars The Clone Wars Ahsoka's Jedi Interceptor Spaceship — $38.99 $44.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV — $43.99 $54.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s Duel on Peridea — $43.99 $54.99 (save $6)

• Lego Star Wars BrickHeadz The Phantom Menace — $44.99 $54.99 (save $10)

• Lego Star Wars Droideka — $51.99 $64.99 (save $13)

• Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV — $63.95 $79.99 (save $16.04)

• Lego Star Wars The Phantom Menace Mos ESPA Podrace Diorama — $65 $79.99 (save $14.99)

• Lego Star Wars R2-D2 — $80 $99.99 (save $19.99)

• Lego Star Wars The Dark Falcon Buildable Starship — $154.99 $179.99 (save $25)

Have you ever experienced wild volume spikes from your favorite music streaming app? If you're wishing for more YouTube Music features, like volume consistency or lyric sharing, that's exactly what we're getting. Over the last week, Google started rolling out two new features, and one might feel familiar to those who've previously used Spotify.

There are some computer parts that you should probably think twice about buying used. Things like hard drives, SSDs, and power supplies can be a real lottery. However, monitors aren't one of them. They're one of the best PC components to buy used. Here's why.

Google is guilty. So, now what?

Last summer, Google lost a landmark antitrust case. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta declared that “Google is a monopolist,” finding the company acted illegally to maintain dominance over the search engine market.

SEE ALSO: Google just lost a big antitrust case for running illegal ad tech monopoly

Now, Google is back in court — this time for the remedy phase of the case, where the U.S. government argues what actions Google should be forced to take to dismantle its monopoly.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) wants to break up the tech giant. Google is fighting to convince the judge that less drastic steps would address concerns, without handing an advantage to foreign rivals. No matter the outcome, this trial is likely to reshape how the internet works.

What this trial isn't about

This case is separate from the antitrust suit Google lost earlier this month over its ad tech monopoly (not to mention a recent antitrust action against Google in Japan). So, these remedies don’t involve Google Ad Manager or its advertising tools.

Instead, this trial’s outcomes could affect nearly everyone who uses the internet.

The DOJ's proposed remedies

To break Google's hold over the search market, the DOJ has proposed several potential remedies:

1. Sell off Chrome

At the top of the DOJ’s list: force Google to divest Chrome, its dominant web browser.

The government argues Chrome gives Google an unfair edge by directing users to Google Search by default. With around 66 percent of the global web browser market share, Chrome is tightly integrated with Google’s search engine, reinforcing the company’s dominance. Already, AI rival OpenAI has expressed interest in buying Chrome.

Selling Chrome would be a worst-case scenario for Google, but it’s not the only remedy on the table.

2. Share user data

The DOJ also wants Google to share some user data with rival companies to help foster competition in the search market.

3. End exclusive deals Credit: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A core issue in the original case was Google’s whopping $20 billion-per-year deal with Apple to be the default search engine on iPhones. The DOJ wants to ban such agreements going forward, not just for search, but also for emerging technologies like AI.

For instance, the government wants to prevent Google from paying device makers to exclusively use its AI assistant, Gemini, as generative AI becomes a standard smartphone feature.

4. Unbundle Android

Rather than forcing Google to sell Android, its mobile operating system, the DOJ is pushing for a different remedy: unbundling.

If approved, this would mean third-party Android phone makers could ship devices without pre-installed Google apps like Search or the Play Store, giving users more freedom to choose alternatives.

Google's response

Google has made it clear: it disagrees with the verdict. Now, it's focused on fighting the proposed remedies and appealing the ruling.

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

In a post on its official blog, the company said the DOJ’s proposals would hurt consumers, weaken the U.S. economy, and damage America's position as a tech leader. It called the remedies an example of an "interventionist agenda."

Google’s defense is that People use its products because they like them, not because they’re forced to. It argues that breaking up its services or changing default settings would only inconvenience users.

To support its case, Google is expected to call on allies like Apple, Microsoft, and Mozilla. Mozilla, for instance, has said it depends on Google’s funding for its Firefox browser — a relationship Google will highlight to show that its partnerships support the broader internet ecosystem.

Google will also heavily emphasize user safety and privacy in its defense. Chrome is based on Google’s open-source Chromium platform, which powers browsers like Microsoft Edge and Opera. Google will argue that a forced sale of Chrome would make it harder to maintain security updates and protect user privacy, not just for Chrome but also for all Chromium-based browsers. The company will likely utilize the same security and privacy argument to fight back against the DOJ remedy that would force Google to share its search data with competitors.

Google is also expected to stress the implications of sharing user data with foreign competitors. It wouldn't be surprising to see Google point to AI companies like China's DeepSeek to make the case that the U.S. government would be ceding ground to these foreign competitors by breaking up Google.

As for remedies, Google has its own suggestions. The company says it would provide smartphone makers with more "flexibility" in choosing which apps are pre-loaded on Android devices. Google will also argue that partnerships like the one with Apple should be allowed to exist, but again, with more "flexibility" regarding the exclusivity of such a deal.

The future of the web Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

This case isn’t just about today’s search engines. It’s about the future of AI and how we access information online.

Google has warned that the DOJ’s remedies could "chill" its innovation in AI, which it calls “perhaps the most important innovation of our time.” In court, Google may downplay its AI dominance and point to OpenAI’s growing influence in the search business as proof of a competitive market.

OpenAI, for its part, is watching closely. During the trial, one executive even said the company would be interested in buying Chrome if Google is forced to sell. That raises a question: Would replacing one tech giant with another really solve the problem?

Whatever the courts decide, this trial and its verdict will likely cause reverberations across the internet.

Lately, AAA games have left me feeling a little uninspired. There’s a sameness to it all — big budgets, bigger expectations, and not a lot of heart. So when an AA game comes out of nowhere, clearly made out of a love for the game, it’s a real breath of fresh air.

That game is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title from French studio Sandfall Interactive. A Western JRPG that proudly wears its Final Fantasy and Persona influences on its sleeve; it first turned heads at the Xbox Games Showcase back in June 2024. Since then, it’s quietly built momentum thanks to its gorgeous visuals and a combat system that fuses turn-based mechanics with real-time elements.

SEE ALSO: 'Bionic Bay' Review: A speedrunner's delight

After spending 24 hours with the game on PS5, I can confidently say that the hype is real, and the game delivers.

The greatest expedition ever Credit: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Make all the jokes you want about the name, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t trying to be subtle. The title actually makes sense once you get into it. Set in a surreal, living painting of a world, you play as Gustave (played by Daredevil: Born Again’s Charlie Cox), a citizen of the fractured city of Lumière and a member of a group known as Expedition 33.

In this universe, every year, a mysterious, god-like being called The Paintress paints a number onto her monolith. That number is the age of the people who will be erased from existence that year. They call it the gommage (French for "erased"). However, the catch is the number descends each year — and when the game starts, it’s 33.

That’s where Expedition 33 comes in. It's made up of volunteers who are all 32 years old, giving them exactly one year left before their number comes up. Every year, a new Expedition sets out in a last-ditch effort to stop The Paintress and break the cycle. And yeah, it’s been happening for a while (for about a century now, in fact).

As you’d expect, the latest Expedition doesn’t exactly go smoothly. Things go sideways almost immediately, thanks to the arrival of Renoir, a cryptic older figure who basically steamrolls the group. Gustave survives and ends up joining forces with the few remaining members: Lune, the mage and inquisitive scholar; Sciel, a calm and friendly fighter; and Maelle, Gustave's adopted sister/daughter and a 16-year-old who just wants to see the world while she still can.

You’ll meet a whole cast of odd, memorable characters on your journey, but I won’t spoil those moments here. Just know the writing hits. It balances weird, poetic world-building with grounded, emotional storytelling. Sure, it leans into the melodrama now and then, but it earns it.

They’re written with care — serious people with real motivations, not just vehicles for snappy dialogue. Gustave is just trying to find Maelle and make it home. Lune is focused on finishing the mission, no matter what. Sciel, who’s already lost her husband, seems oddly at peace with the idea of death and mostly just goes with the flow.

They don’t always agree, but when conflict comes up, they actually talk things through like adults. No sarcastic barbs, no forced jokes — just people under extreme pressure, trying to deal with it the best they can. I appreciated that the writers trusted you to pick things up without over-explaining.

I’ll admit, a few story beats near the end didn’t quite sit right with me. Not dealbreakers, but enough to make me pause and go, "hmm, really?" Still, I went along for the ride. For a game heavy on narrative, that’s one of the few complaints I can point to. As for the world itself, the game makes a point of never spelling anything out.

Everyone talks about Gesterals like it’s common knowledge (news to me), and apparently, every kid in Lumière was raised on the legendary exploits of Esquie — whatever that is. It’s all intentional, there's a bigger picture here, but let’s be clear: if you feel like the game hasn’t explained a single damn thing, you’re not wrong.

Fight for tomorrow Credit: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

High fantasy has never really done it for me. Whether it’s a lack of imagination or just too much bad writing, the genre usually doesn’t click. Expedition 33 managed to change that. The world is so well-realized that I found myself fully immersed once the story settled in.

Expedition 33 is a turn-based action game with some light RTS mechanics. You take turns attacking enemies, but quick-time events can increase your damage during your moves. Timing also matters on defense—you’ll need to dodge and parry attacks to stay alive.

The dodge and parry system ended up being one of my main frustrations. Enemy attack timings often felt like they were tuned specifically to be annoying. Late-game bosses, in particular, use fake-outs and stuttered attack patterns, making reacting in time unnecessarily difficult. The design reminded me of Elden Ring, where bosses seem capable of reacting to your inputs and adjusting their combos mid-animation. The fact that I accidentally played half the game in Quality mode at 30FPS didn’t help. It made those already tight windows feel even worse.

SEE ALSO: 'Andor' Season 2 review: The best Star Wars show goes out with a brilliant bang

Performance on PS5 was mostly solid, aside from a few technical hiccups. Sound design was inconsistent — cutscene transitions were occasionally off, and during battles, the music would sometimes cut out entirely, like the audio file ran out and wasn’t set to loop. It's not a dealbreaker, but noticeable enough to mention.

Combat in Expedition 33 will feel familiar to anyone who’s played a classic JRPG. On their turn, each party member can use items, perform a basic attack, or trigger special abilities that consume Attack Points (AP). Every character also has a large skill tree, allowing you to shape their playstyle to fit your preferences.

Gustave plays like a paladin — he can hit hard but also brings passive buffs to support the team. His signature ability, Overcharge, builds energy in his mechanical arm with each attack. Once it hits 10 charges, he can unleash a powerful electric strike for serious damage.

Credit: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Lune fills the mage role. She has access to healing spells but leans heavily into elemental damage. Her special system, Stain, lets her stack magical effects, which she can later convert into boosted attacks or stronger healing.

Maelle acts as the rogue archetype. She uses different stances to increase her damage output, though each stance also raises the amount of damage she takes in return. She’s high risk, high reward.

Sciel rounds out the group as a warrior. Her mechanic, Foretell, is built around Sun and Moon cards. She applies these effects in battle, then consumes them to enter a Twilight phase, which temporarily boosts her damage, sometimes doubling or even tripling it.

You can only bring three characters into battle at a time, so party composition does matter — but it doesn’t take long to figure out who pulls their weight and who can sit out. The enemy design is one of the game’s real highlights. The Paintress’s creations, known as Nevrons, shift in form depending on the environment, and the art direction here is genuinely impressive.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder retailer guide: Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart and more

In one early area, Flying Waters — a visually striking inverted seafloor with an ocean suspended above you — the Nevrons resemble crab-like sea creatures with antique diving helmets. They don’t exactly switch up their attack patterns much, but they look cool as hell and fit the surreal tone of the game perfectly.

The worst of the bunch are flying enemies. You can’t hit them with standard attacks or most skills. Instead, you have to use a mechanic called Free Aim, which lets you manually target and shoot enemies. It’s also the only way to hit weak points or apply marks, which makes targets more vulnerable to follow-up damage. Every shot costs AP, so it’s not something you can spam without consequences.

The issue is when the game leans too hard into this. Some areas are stacked entirely with flying enemies, and since they can’t be touched by normal attacks or skills, your options become frustratingly limited.

Credit: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

The last major layer of Expedition 33’s combat system comes in the form of Pictos and Luminas. Pictos are passive upgrades you can equip — each character gets three slots. These range from basic boosts like acting first in combat or increasing healing effectiveness to more strategic ones like earning extra AP for pulling off a perfect dodge.

Then there’s Luminas, which is where things start to get interesting. After winning four battles with a Picto equipped, you unlock the option to permanently add it to a character using Lumina points. So, if you’re using the “Dodger” Picto, which gives +1 AP on a perfect dodge, you can burn a Lumina point to keep that bonus forever, even while equipping a different Picto in its slot.

Lumina points themselves can be upgraded at camps using items you collect throughout the world. It’s a solid system that rewards experimentation without locking you into one build. The more you play around with it, the stronger your team gets and the more flexibility you have in fights.

Weapons are upgradeable, too, but honestly, this felt like the least interesting part of character progression. As you find or level up weapons, they’ll come with passive bonuses and elemental effects — some useful, some situational. It’s worth swapping them out depending on who you’re fighting, but compared to the depth of Pictos, Luminas, and the skill trees, the weapon system doesn’t leave much of an impression.

Exploring the continent Credit: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

The world outside of Lumière is a freaky little place that feels both alien and familiar. Floating islands hang in the sky, surrounded by swirling clouds and strange glowing light. Forests and fields mix with ancient ruins and overgrown tech, creating a space that feels lived-in but mysterious. One area is filled with calm meadows and flowers, while another is littered with massive broken machines and glowing coral-like structures.

It’s a strange mix, but it works. The environments feel like they’re telling a story even when nothing is happening. One moment you're standing in a peaceful glade carpeted in violet wildflowers, and the next you're navigating a biomechanical graveyard littered with the remnants of titanic constructs and crystalline growths. It’s a visual fever dream, but with just enough grounded naturalism to make you believe you could actually step into it

Exploration will undoubtedly draw many comparisons to Final Fantasy X, and it’s pretty spot-on. The areas look big and open at first glance, but they’re mostly linear, with a few branching paths here and there. Sometimes, you’ll find a side character tucked away or stumble into a group of unsettling mime-like enemies that feel like they wandered in from someone’s nightmare. But don’t expect wide-open zones or massive side quests early on.

Between these areas, you travel across a tilt-shifted overworld map. It’s a nice visual change, and it’s not just for show — the overworld has enemy encounters and scattered NPCs you can interact with. Most of them are Gestrals, odd little creatures modeled after those wooden drawing mannequins. They’re a bit dim but extremely friendly, and they live for combat. You can trade with them and sometimes challenge them to fight for bonus loot.

The overworld stays pretty restricted until Act 3, where it finally opens up and offers a bunch of optional dungeons and extra areas to explore. Until then, it’s more about moving from point A to B, meeting a few oddballs, and occasionally punching them for treasure.

While exploring the continent, you’ll occasionally be able to set up camp. This is where you can rest, upgrade Luminas, and enhance your weapons with the help of the Curator — a skeletal, hollow-like figure who rescues Maelle early on and eventually takes up residence in your camp after leaving The Manor. He’s vaguely unsettling to look at, but he makes my weapons hit harder.

Camp is also where you can check in with your party members. Don’t expect Baldur’s Gate 3-level character interaction here. Dialogue is limited, and most of the deeper camp-related content doesn’t even unlock until well into Act 2. Can’t say much more without spoiling it, but just know that even when it opens up, the camp system is more of a light touch. Still, it’s a nice moment of calm between the heavier parts of the game, giving you a chance to connect with the group more groundedly.

Jeu magnifique, magnifique

Despite the sound issues, Expedition 33’s music rules. The orchestral strings, the moody piano motifs—it all just works. The soundtrack elevates every moment, whether it’s a quiet walk through a dreamlike landscape or a boss fight that’s making you question your reflexes and life choices.

Visually, the game is just as strong. Beyond the high fantasy setting, it leans heavily into Belle Époque-era France, the supposed golden age of the nation from 1874 and 1914. So yes, if it wasn’t obvious already, this game is unapologetically French. Lumière, the main city, is essentially just Paris with a new name. ("Lumière" literally means "light," and Paris is the City of Lights — subtle, it is not.)

Even in Performance mode on PS5, the game looks great. The world design is gorgeous, full of painterly detail, with environments that feel like they were made to be PC wallpapers. The paint-themed aesthetic extends to the characters and enemy design, which often draws directly from art history. Don’t be surprised when a YouTube video essay titled "An Art Historian Plays Clair Obscur" drops a year from now.

Suffice to say, the game hits like crack in all the right ways.

Is Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 worth it? Credit: Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive

Expedition 33 isn’t perfect — combat can be frustrating, especially with the parry system and flying enemies, and some of the deeper mechanics don’t fully open up until later in the game. But what Sandfall Interactive has built here is something genuinely unique.

The story is slow-burning but rewarding, with grounded, well-written characters who don’t deflect with quips. The world is strange, stylish, and unapologetically French, backed by a gorgeous soundtrack and painterly visuals that make even the quiet moments feel intentional.

It’s not perfect, but it's bold, weird, and full of heart. If you're into character-driven RPGs with a distinct vibe and don’t mind a few rough edges, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is absolutely worth your time.

I used to download and unzip files with a browser and file manager until I realized I could do it all from the terminal, without clicking or switching windows. I now use just six commands all the time. Here’s what they are and why they’re worth memorizing.

Wednesday Addams is back to torment the citizens of Jericho alongside the students of Nevermore Academy for another semester, with Netflix releasing the first teaser trailer for Wednesday Season 2.

Back in the braids for Tim Burton's series is spooky star Jenna Ortega, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán as Wednesday's parents Morticia and Gomez Addams, Emma Myers as teen werewolf Enid Sinclair, Fred Armisen as everyone's favourite freaky uncle Fester Addams, and Joy Sunday as teen siren Bianca Barclay.

In the horror-packed trailer, Wednesday very much fails an airport security check with every blade and weapon in the book, reunites with her Nevermore roomie and a very creepy doll, casually wields an axe, appears to be playing some kind of school sport?!, and generally "does her best work in the dark." Click click!

Wednesday Season 2 will launch in two parts on Aug. 6 (Part 1) and Sept. 3 (Part 2) this year on Netflix.

On many roads across the U.S., this is a familiar scene: Drivers talk, text, click, scroll, read, and even film themselves to make social media content — all while piloting what is essentially a dangerous, or deadly, machine.

Maybe you are even among these drivers. After all, your phone and its apps are built to keep you engaged. And that console on your dashboard constantly needs your attention with its alerts about slowdowns, incoming calls, and missed messages.

A new survey commissioned by the location-based service and app Life360, which tracks driver behavior, puts some numbers to the problem of chronically online drivers. You might be surprised to learn that it affects every generation, not just the youngest motorists.

SEE ALSO: Smooth, silent, strange: What it's really like to hail a robotaxi

The survey results, paired with Life360's own proprietary data, indicate that some drivers are taking shocking risks on the road in order to stay on their phone. Even if they get to their destination without harming themselves or someone else, scientific research has shown that the human brain simply can't safely manage the simultaneous demands of driving and phone.

How bad is distracted driving, really?

Life360's recent survey of 1,000 U.S. drivers between the ages of 16 and 65 found that more than a third texted, 19 percent scrolled through social media, and 16 percent watched online videos while driving, with varying degrees of frequency.

These figures were higher for Gen Z drivers; 13 percent of them said they frequently viewed online videos behind the wheel, while only 4 percent of all respondents did the same. Similarly, while only 7.5 percent of all participants texted often on the road, that jumped to 16.5 percent of Gen Z drivers. Only roughly a third of Gen Z drivers rarely or never texted.

But older respondents were also guilty of the same behavior — they just do it less frequently.

Between 5 and 6 percent of Millennials in the survey admitted to frequently texting, scrolling, and watching while driving. Overall, between 6 and 29 percent of Gen X respondents text, scroll social media, and watch online videos, frequently, often, or occasionally.

Though less than a percent of Baby Boomers texted frequently or often while driving, 20 percent of them did so occasionally.

Life360's analysis of its own data from 55 million opted-in users, over the period between January 2024 and early April 2025, also provides insight into aggressive driving patterns, which may be affected partly by delayed or sudden reactions due to being distracted.

Life360 found that Gen Z drivers indeed speed 84 percent more often than Baby Boomers, and that speeding and rapid acceleration both peak for users around age 20. The company also saw an 8 percent year-over-year nationwide increase in trips with rapid acceleration between January 2024 and January 2025.

More than 3,200 Americans were killed in crashes that involved distracted drivers in 2023, according to the latest data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The trick distracted drivers play on themselves

Dr. Paul Atchley, a professor of psychology at the University of South Florida who studies distracted driving, says the simple truth is that driving wears the human brain out.

"We're used to driving, so it seems easy, but frankly, there's a lot going on during the process of getting from point A to point B safely as a driver," says Atchley, who was not involved in Life360's survey and research. "When you try to combine that with a secondary task that also requires a lot of your brain, your brain has to make compromises."

As a result, a distracted driver scans the environment less well, doesn't perceive objects, and can be slower to react, or not react at all.

Atchley says drivers continue to pick up their phones on the road because of a concept called "perception as the grand illusion."

Typically, when someone is behind the wheel, their expansive field of vision can make it feel like they're observing everything. The reality, however, is that the brain processes only a fraction of what someone sees.

So when a distracted driver doesn't notice the pedestrian at the crosswalk and there's no accident, they have no evidence to counter their perception as a grand illusion. Instead, they start to believe that "they drove perfectly well," Atchley says.

Yet years of research shows this generally just isn't true. Even asking a hands-free voice-command assistant to compose and send a text message while driving distracts the brain long enough that it takes 27 seconds to regain full attention.

"These infotainment systems can present the same kinds of distracting information that you get with your phone." - Dr. Paul Atchley, professor of psychology at the University of South Florida

Atchley says drivers are also fooled by interactive consoles in their cars. His own research on console-based systems found that people were far more willing to interact with them, even for the same type of activity they'd do with a handheld phone. They believed them to be safety-tested, but that's not the case, according to Atchley.

"These infotainment systems can present the same kinds of distracting information that you get with your phone," he says.

Atchley says there's a small percentage of drivers who simply can't limit their phone use while in the car. For those individuals, he recommends restricting their access to a connected device every time they drive, by turning it off or putting it out of reach.

"Once that phone's in the car...it's very difficult for a driver whose brain is trying to pay attention to the road and doesn't have a lot of willpower left over to not interact with it," Atchley says.

For all drivers, he says that any activity on a phone or hands-free system that takes longer than two seconds — or the amount of time you'd spend turning the AC on or switching radio stations — just isn't safe.

I grew up with video games, and every now and then, I feel tempted to own a gaming PC or home console. The thing is, as a parent of two young kids, I wouldn't actually get time to play them—so I've fully embraced mobile gaming instead.

Lexus just pulled the wraps off the 2026 ES at Auto Shanghai 2025, and it's safe to say—nobody saw this coming. Once the understated "girl next door" of the lineup, the ES has transformed into one of the most striking sedans Lexus has ever designed.

Tesla's quarterly results are in, and it seems the panic alarm finally went off.

Analyst expectations for Tesla's first quarter of 2025 were already pretty grim, but Tesla handily beat them with a 71 percent drop in profit and a 20 percent drop in car sales, with the only thing keeping the company in the green for the quarter being $595 million in carbon credit sales.

While the sales drop can partially be attributed to the launch of Tesla's updated Model Y, it's now obvious that Musk's political engagement, which includes running the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been giving potential Tesla buyers pause. DOGE, which is supposed to be cutting unnecessary government expenses, has instead wreaked havoc inside the federal government, with fairly little to show for it.

Musk's endorsement of far right political options probably isn't helping either, especially in Europe, where Tesla sales have plummeted in recent months.

It seems that Musk is finally getting the message — partially, at least. During Tesla's earnings call on Tuesday, he said his time allocation to DOGE would drop "significantly" starting in May. Musk also said he plans to allocate "far more" of his time to Tesla.

He will not, however, leave DOGE completely, as long as the president would like him to stay, and "as long as it's useful".

During the call, Musk also complained about Trump's tariffs on China, which hurt Tesla's profits, as well as claiming that the increasingly widespread Tesla boycotts are the work of those who oppose Musk's work at DOGE.

As for Tesla's future plans, Musk was surprisingly timid. In June, the company will launch "fully autonomous" taxi rides in Austin, Texas, but they won't be Tesla Cybercabs. Instead, the company will launch the autonomous rides with Tesla Model Ys. Musk also said that Tesla Optimus robots will be working in Tesla factories by year's end, though the humanoid robot is also affected by Trump's tariffs.

SEE ALSO: Tesla reportedly delays cheaper Model Y again as earnings call looms

Overall, however, Musk is still very bullish about the prospects of his company. "I continue to believe that Tesla, with excellent execution, will be the most valuable company in the world by far," he said.

Few laptops have as much of a legacy as the ThinkPad. It first started as an IBM product, and while the lineup is managed by Lenovo today, they are still awesome pieces of hardware. Now, if you need a keyboard with a nub in your life, there's a few new ThinkPads. And they all look great.

20 years ago, a 19-second video in crisp 240p changed everything. You might not remember it, but a humble video simply titled "Me at the zoo" quietly marked the dawn of a new era. Oh, how far we've come since then.

You can't just throw away batteries in the trash, nor can you recycle them with normal bottles and plastic. Make sure to recycle them properly for the environment.

SAVE $12: As of April 23, the Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet is on sale for $47.99 at Amazon. That's 20% off its list price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet $47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12 Get Deal

Lego sets are always a fun gift idea. Personally, I'm a big fan of Lego, and it's always great to see the new sets coming out. Some of the cutest sets from Lego are the various floral arrangements, and right now you can score a nice deal on the Lego Botanicals Wildflower Bouquet. With Mother's Day coming up, this is a fun gift idea to scoop up.

The Lego Botanicals Artificial Wildflower Bouquet has received a 20% discount at Amazon, dropping its price from $59.99 to $47.99. This deal is very close to its lowest-ever price of $47.95, so there's no better time than now to add it into your shopping cart.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away Grogu models for free to celebrate Star Wars Day. Here’s how to get yours.

Complete with 939 pieces, this set offers a beautiful variety of wildflowers, including cornflowers, lavender, Welsh poppies, cow parsley, leatherleaf ferns, gerbera daisies, larkspur, and lupins. It's an arrangement bursting with color and even comes with 16 individual stems so you can set them up in a vase.

This Lego set is a great gift to work on together this Mother's Day. Don't miss out on 20% off the Botanicals Wildflower Bouquet set at Amazon.

Lego has even more to offer this Mother's Day, too. If you visit a select Lego Store on April 27 (from 12-2 p.m.), you could have the opportunity to participate in a Lego Mother's Day Flower model make and take event to get a cute flower set for free.

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's The Mini crossword answers for April 23 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: Found on a Redwood

• Green: Features of common house pets

• Blue: SNL is full of these

• Purple: The second half is the same

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Parts of a tree

• Green: Canine/feline features

• Blue: Comedic routine

• Purple: __Pole

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 #682 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts of a tree: BRANCH, LEAF, ROOT, TRUNK

• Canine/feline features: FUR, MUZZLE, PAW, TAIL

• Comedic routine: ACT, BIT, GAG, SKETCH

• __Pole: BEAN, FLAG, MAY, TAD

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 23

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 today's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for April 23 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's The Mini crossword answers for April 23, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A gas found in Earth's atmosphere.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.

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...

OZONE.

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 April 23

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 today's Wordle.

Are you looking for a board game that can be 3D printed at home? Whether you're avoiding spending money or just want to be able to say that you've made your own game, these are some of the best board games to print at home.