Technology

Youre wrong about OnlyFans star Lily Phillips

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:34

OnlyFans performer Lily Phillips exploded online after posting her pornographic video of sleeping with 101 men in one day and starring in a subsequent YouTube documentary about the stunt in 2024. Now, Phillips is a tabloid sensation, making headlines about faking a pregnancy and getting a boyfriend like any other influencer would. Between late Nov. and Dec. 2024, her name was Googled 6.4 million times, according to Google Trends.

Being an adult creator mixes something she really enjoys — sex — with creativity, Phillips told Mashable in an interview. "It was something I just really wanted to do," she said. "I knew it was something that was just for me." 

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans

And she makes money from it. A lot of it. 

While Phillips was tight-lipped about a typical month's earnings, she did share that her biggest month pulled her in $800,000 following the shoot with 101 men.

"What's not to love?" she asked.

Phillips's profile has risen at the same time as a moral panic against porn, both stateside and in the UK, where she resides. 

For years, adult content creators like Phillips have been pushed off mainstream social media platforms. More recently, with the enactment of age-verification laws in many states and in the UK, access to explicit content has become more restricted; if a porn site complies, visitors must submit proof of age, be it a government ID or a facial scan. This has also occurred with content that's not at all explicit but deemed potentially harmful to minors, like a Reddit forum to help people stop smoking

For Phillips, who mainly uploads content on her OnlyFans account, porn allows her to be creative and make the content she wants (within the OnlyFans guidelines, of course). 

"For me, I see it as a real art," she said. "And it sounds silly, but I really…get to create my own art every day."

"I wasn't very good at school. I'm not great academically or anything like that. So to find something that I excel in feels amazing," she continued.

What people get wrong about Lily Phillips

There are many misconceptions about sex workers out there. The ones Phillips has heard about herself include that she's money-hungry ("No, I just do something that I enjoy and love") and that she has an "evil demeanor" ("No, none of this is evil or necessarily wrong…I'm just putting my art out there for people to also enjoy").

"And if the male porn star [were sitting] here, is that the first question you would ask him?"

She also sees how she's treated differently from men in the adult industry. One of the most-asked questions she received is what her parents think. "And if the male porn star [were sitting] here," she said, "is that the first question you would ask him?"

There's an idea of "ownership" when it comes to women, Phillips said, like her parents somehow own her. "No, this was just a choice I made on my own when I was an adult," she said. 

She herself is open-minded about other people's perspectives, so she finds it sad that others aren't the same way. "When someone's made their mind up, and they think they know everything about you and your job, it can be quite frustrating."

She'd love to sit down with someone who is anti-porn and hear why they're against it, and destigmatize the industry for them.

Phillips is also a supporter of the Online Safety Act, the UK's age-verification law that went into effect in July 2025. 

SEE ALSO: Porn censorship is going to destroy the entire internet

"There's nothing worse than…someone underage seeing my porn," she said. She first saw porn at 11 years old, and thinks the thought of someone underage seeing it is gross. 

Early studies about age-verification laws, however, suggest that they don't work to keep minors off porn sites due to software like VPNs and non-compliant websites. Many instead urge for device-level filters, which free speech advocates say don't infringe on adults' rights. Last week, Pornhub announced it's live in the UK again following the implementation of such a filter on iOS 26.4 devices; it previously blocked itself due to the Online Safety Act.

Phillips is also a proponent of more sex education and media literacy in schools. She mentioned that young men could watch porn and think that sex is like this in real life. As an adult, you come to learn that porn isn't like how everyone has sex, but that's not the case when you first become sexually active, she said. (Though some adults likely don't know this, either.)

Phillips told Mashable she hasn't seen her income impacted by the Online Safety Act at all. That could be because OnlyFans requires a credit card to create an account, which is a form of age verification. But a preliminary study shows that other adult creators have experienced income losses due to these restrictions.

A typical day for Lily Phillips

Every day is "super different," Phillips said, but she gave an example of what she was up to the day of her Mashable interview. That morning, she walked her dog and filmed custom content for clients and social media content. 

After the interview, she said she had other calls scheduled, including video calls with clients. Then, she was going to wind down for the evening.

"Most people think it's a huge amount of sex, but I probably only really have sex with other creators once a week," she revealed. "People probably think I'm banging out every single day, but [I'm] really not."

"I probably only really have sex with other creators once a week. People probably think I'm banging out every single day, but [I'm] really not."

As for porn studios, Phillips said she only works with them around once a month. She prefers her content to be exclusive to her OnlyFans, as she owns it herself. When she makes a video with a studio, "You sign that contract and they can sell [the video] when you're dead." Plus, studios don't pay as well. An industry professional told Mashable that the typical heterosexual scene pays around $1,200-1,600 for women and $700-1,000 for men. This can increase for specialized scenes or higher-profile performers.

Especially with OnlyFans, marketing and advertising are a huge part of getting an audience. OnlyFans itself doesn't have discovery functions, so creators need to go elsewhere, like social media, to find customers. So a lot of her time is spent creating social media content.

And it just so happened that days before Phillips spoke to Mashable, her Instagram account disappeared.

What happened to Lily Phillips's Instagram?

Phillips and her team confirmed to Mashable that her Instagram account was removed in early May. A Meta spokesperson told Mashable on May 11 that the account was removed in error and has been restored.

"A huge amount of industry girls are being deleted at the minute," Phillips told Mashable while the account was still down. This isn't too surprising, as more and more sex-related, LGBTQ, and reproductive health accounts are reporting that Meta is censoring them.

"We're really being discriminated against," Phillips said. "All my content is always in the guidelines. I really don't even show my ass cheeks or anything like that. I'm pretty strict."

"All my content is always in the guidelines. I really don't even show my ass cheeks or anything like that. I'm pretty strict."

Instagram is one of her biggest platforms that brings in OnlyFans subscribers, so if it remained down, it would've impacted her financially, she said. Her vlogging Instagram account with over 110,000 followers remained active while the main account, @lilyphillip_s, was down, but that's a small fraction of the 1.6 million following on her other account.

What's next for Lily Phillips?

In the immediate future, Phillips is appearing on the new Australian reality series Turned On: Dirty Sexy Money, which premieres at the end of May. 

Phillips sees herself as a workaholic, saying she sometimes doesn't sit back and take in how much she's made or the recognition she's received. But as the nature of content creators, adult and not, you can't just sit back on your laurels once you have an $800,000 month. If you want that to happen again, you have to work for it.

"Sustaining that can be quite hard," she said. Once you have a viral moment like Phillips did with 100 Men, she thinks about how she can top herself (figuratively) and keep doing better.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 30-pack Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is now under $120 at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:31

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box on sale for $119.95, down from its $164.70 list price. That saves you $44.75 on a 30-pack display, with each Play Booster including 14 Magic cards and one guaranteed traditional foil.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $119.95 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $44.75   Get Deal

Boxes for Magic: The Gathering expansions like Lorwyn Eclipsed have been bouncing around in the trading card market lately, but Amazon has dropped the 30-pack Play Booster Box back under $120. 

As of May 12, the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is listed at $119.95, which comes out to just under $4 per pack. That’s 27% off its standard $164.70 list price, and these boxes are shipped and sold by Amazon directly.

If you don’t mind exchanging the convenience of Amazon for a few dollars in savings, you can get lower prices elsewhere. Walmart currently has the same box at $119.95, but TCGplayer is even cheaper with unopened listings as low as $108.95 shipped

This Lorwyn Eclipsed display includes 30 Play Booster packs. Each pack contains 14 Magic: The Gathering cards, with one to four cards of rare or higher rarity, three to five uncommons, six to nine commons, and one land. Every pack also includes a traditional foil card of any rarity, with a foil borderless mythic rare appearing in less than 1% of boosters.

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Lorwyn Eclipsed sends Magic back to the plane of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, splitting the set between eternal day and forever night. Expect Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, Elves, creature synergies, new and returning mechanics, and art that leans into the whimsical side of classic MTG.

Among other sets, Magic: The Gathering’s Strixhaven Play Booster Box is still on sale for below $140. For more fantasy-focused MTG, you can pre-order the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box for just under $210.

If you’re a Pokémon TCG fan, the newly-announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Obsidian isn't actually open source—here's the markdown editor that is

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:30

Obsidian has long been the gold standard for markdown editors. However, recently, it lost its throne to a newcomer on the scene (at least for me). Tolaria is a fully open source markdown editor that has more functionality than Obsidian, and you should definitely consider using it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify has a new Wrapped-like experience that covers its entire history

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:29

Spotify has just turned 20, and the company has a gift for you.

On Tuesday, the company launched a new feature called "Party of the Year(s)," an experience that gives you a quick trip down memory lane.

We won't spoil the surprise, but it's very similar to Spotify Wrapped, the biggest difference being that it spans your entire history on Spotify. At the end of it, you'll get a playlist featuring your all-time favorite songs on the service.

SEE ALSO: Claude can now connect with Spotify, Uber, and a lot more apps

To check it out, go here and scan the QR code with your mobile device, or just go to spotify.com/20 on your phone.

By the way, we checked, and it isn't exactly Spotify's 20th today, at least not if we're talking about the music streaming service that launched in 2008. Spotify, the company, was however founded in April 2006, roughly 20 years ago.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tried to revive a Logitech C7, the 41-year-old "blueprint" for every mouse you've ever owned

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:00

Here's one for the digital scrapbook: I found an ancient computer mouse (with a trackball!) while cleaning out my garage. Covered in a thick layer of 20th-Century dust but still in relatively good condition, the mouse immediately conjured one thought: I wonder if it still works?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Here's why it's (almost) impossible to recover deleted data from an SSD

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 15:00

When you delete a file, is it really gone? On a traditional hard drive, often not. But on a solid-state drive, the answer is far more complicated — and for most people, far more final.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why ESPHome is the smart home protocol everyone is switching to (and how to get started)

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 14:45

ESPHome is a free and open-source framework for getting firmware to run on cheap microcontrollers like the ESP32, ESP8266, and RP2040. If that sentence sounds complicated to you, don’t worry. ESPHome is one of the most user-friendly examples of its kind, and you can get started without knowing a line of code.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I asked three AI models to fix the same broken code. One outperformed the rest

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 14:30

One of the most helpful aspects of using AI for coding is debugging. Before the AI era, I had to read the code line by line, use debuggers, and put print statements to find bugs. If all failed, there was Stack Overflow and other beginner websites, where people used to tear your code apart. But now? You just share the code snippet with an AI, give some context, and ask it to fix the code, and you're done.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to turn your old tablet into a portable monitor for your Windows PC

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 14:15

A decent portable monitor costs anywhere from $100 to $200—more if you want touchscreen support. So if you already have an old tablet lying around, why not turn it into a portable monitor instead? A free app called Spacedesk can turn almost any iPad or Android tablet into a true second display for your Windows PC—not just a mirrored screen, but a fully extended monitor you can drag windows onto. Here’s a detailed guide on how it works.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Plex's remote streaming paywall is actually fine—here's who should pay and who should switch

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 14:00

In 2025, Plex announced that it was putting remote streaming behind a subscription, and the rollout is still ongoing. While it feels like a betrayal for many users who had previously been using the feature for free, the change isn't as unreasonable as it seems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The LG Ultragear WQHD OLED curved gaming monitor hits new record-low price at Amazon — save over $800

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:43

SAVE OVER $800: As of May 12, the LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD OLED curved gaming monitor is on sale for $749.99 at Amazon, marking a new low price at the retailer.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD OLED Curved Gaming Monitor $749.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $850   Get Deal

Have you been thinking about upgrading to a new gaming monitor for your PC setup? Amazon is the place to look. The retailer has quite a few excellent deals available at the moment, including one standout offer on the sleek LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD OLED curved gaming monitor.

As of May 12, Amazon has dropped the price of this LG Ultragear gaming monitor from $1,599.99 to $749.99. This is a massive 53% discount, and also marks a brand new low price for this monitor at the retailer. What better time to grab it?

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And what an upgrade this 39-inch LG Ultragear gaming monitor is. It boasts a WQHD OLED display, which offers vibrant colors and contrast that makes your favorite games pop with astonishing picture quality, alongside an 800R curve to help you feel truly immersed in what you play. Plus, the screen has an anti-glare surface, so outside light and reflections won't get in the way of the action.

On top of that, it's also incredibly responsive, offering a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. It's also compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC, so you won't have to worry about screen tearing while you play.

Amazon currently has it marked as a limited time deal, so this offer won't be live for long. Act fast to save big on the LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD OLED curved gaming monitor.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box is under $70 on Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:36

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box listed for $69.69, down from $84.99. That’s an 18% discount and puts the sold-by-Amazon listing back under $70.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box $69.69 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $15.30   Get Deal

The Perfect Order ETB has been going up and down in price over the last few weeks, but ahead of Chaos Rising and Pitch Black dropping, more Pokémon sellers are listing product for under $70. 

As of May 12, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box on sale for $69.69, down from its $84.99 list price. It’s sold and shipped by Amazon directly, with free delivery and Prime delivery depending on your location. That puts Amazon back in the sub-$70 bracket after briefly creeping higher.

Walmart is currently listing the same Perfect Order ETB for $68.95, which is technically a little cheaper. Over on TCGplayer, the main unopened shipped listing is $74, with a $74.77 market price and a $79.45 listed median. There are cheaper listings around, but some come with caveats, including one without booster packs.

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Inside the ETB, you’re getting nine Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order booster packs, one full-art foil Tyrunt promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Perfect Order is still the most affordable expansion compared to Ascended Heroes and Chaos Rising. If you want a 120+ card set well below $100, this is the best go-to available. 

If you are dead set on stocking up on all the latest Pokémon expansions, the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box is still available to preorder for under $120. Meanwhile, individual Perfect Order Booster Packs are also on sale at 13% off on Amazon

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles are available to pre-order at TCGplayer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop blindly trusting your VPN: 8 ways it exposes everything you do online

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:30

Your VPN is probably leaking information without you knowing. From the domain names you visit to your real identity, if you use a VPN for privacy, you're going to want to read this one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't overlook these 7 Bambu Studio features, they're the key to better prints

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:00

Bambu Lab is very particular about its slicer, to the point where cloud connectivity must be disabled if you want to use something other than Bambu Studio. Despite the obvious concerns this limitation raises, Bambu Studio isn’t a bad choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 11 best wireless earbuds weve ever tested

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:40

The best wireless earbuds range anywhere from $10 to $1,000, especially if you're going for professional-grade studio earphones. And if you care about active noise cancellation, you can easily spend $300 — that's the price of peace and quiet. You can also get hyperspecialized models like sleep earbuds, bone-conduction earbuds for working out, and open earbuds for transparency.

SEE ALSO: I replaced my $249 AirPods Pro with $19 wired EarPods

In 2026, our top picks for earbuds are the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen), and Panasonic Technics AZ100s, which provide outstanding sound quality and ANC. But keep in mind that these models will run you $299 to $329. While we stand by the value of everything on this list, we know that spending over $300 on a pair of earbuds is a lot to stomach. That's why we've also included more budget-friendly wireless earbuds under $100 that still deliver excellent performance.

Ready to start shopping now? Here are our favorite wireless and noise-cancelling earbuds as of May 2026.

Types of earbuds

There are two types of earbuds: wireless and wired. While those descriptors are self-explanatory, let's get into the specifics of both.

Wireless

Wireless earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth for cordless usage. These earbuds range from $20 budget models to high-end models with active noise cancellation. While they don't require a wire to connect to a device, some wireless earbuds still have a wire that might go around the back of the neck to connect the buds.

While earbuds traditionally don't provide the passive noise cancellation of over-the-ear headphones, wireless models often feature ANC, which electronically blocks out background noise. With wireless headphones, you need to consider the battery life. Most models should have an eight-hour or more battery life before they need to be recharged.

Wired

Wired earbuds are the original model: two buds connected by a wire to your audio source. While they once felt high tech, they're pretty basic now. Wired earbuds with active noise cancellation are basically non-existent, and you won't find any on our list.

The biggest positive to wired headphones is that they don't need to be charged. They're a great backup option to keep in your bag in case your usual wireless headphones or earbuds run out of charge.

New additions to this guide

After extensive testing, Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard rounded up the best sleep earbuds. You can read her full guide, but as of February 2026, we've added the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special to this guide, which Allard says are the best sleep earbuds for most people. Also in February 2026, we added the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds as our top pick for the best overall earbud, and removed the previous generation, the WF-1000XM5, as the best Sony earbud.

As of August 2025, we also updated the best earbuds for working out to the Powerbeats Pro 2 and added the Shokz OpenDots One as the best open earbuds.

What are the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds?

If you're just looking for a pair of everyday wireless earbuds, all but one of the models in this guide will check that box. (We formerly included the Marshall Mode earbuds for folks who preferred a wired option, but have since removed them from our guide as the version we tested is difficult to find in stock these days.)

If you're looking for the highest quality wireless earbuds, you can't go wrong with the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro 3, and Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds, our most recent recommendation in 2026. Both of these wireless earbuds feature elite noise-cancellation, stellar sound, long battery life, and a comfortable fit for extended wear.

Still, this guide includes several other earbuds we stand behind. Apple users may prefer the AirPods Pro, while shoppers on a budget may prefer buds from Marshall or Anker Soundcore. If you need help picking the perfect pair, read on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for May 12, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:37

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stylish.

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 May 12, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Quite the pair

The words are related to fashion.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an article of clothing.

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 Fancy Pants.

NYT Strands word list for May 12
  • Gaucho

  • Harem

  • Palazzo

  • Fancy Pants

  • Toreador

  • Sailor

  • Tuxedo

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 today's Strands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 12, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:36

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an avid reader.

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 May 12, 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: Large text

  • Green: Religious sites

  • Blue: Lengthy

  • Purple: Money

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Substantial book

  • Green: "Saint" cities

  • Blue: "Long" things

  • Purple: Currencies plus a letter

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 #1066 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Substantial book: OPUS, TOME, VOLUME, WORK

  • "Saint" cities: MONICA, PAULO, PETERSBURG, SALVADOR

  • "Long" things: DISTANCE, DIVISION, JOHNS, WEEKEND

  • Currencies plus a letter: FRANCI, RANDO, REALM, WONK

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 May 12, 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 the latest Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 12, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:36

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're never late.

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 May 12, 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 May 12, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Tells time.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CLOCK

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 the latest Wordle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box is close to market price at Amazon — now under $120

Mashable - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:35

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box up for preorder at $119.45, putting it under $120 and about $15 over TCGplayer's current market price of $103.78. Walmart is also cheaper right now at $113.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box $119.45 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

The Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising expansion has seen price fluctuations matching the likes of Ascended Heroes, but you can thankfully still secure the Elite Trainer Box at leading retailers for under $120. 

As of May 12, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed from $119.45, with free delivery shown for May 27-28. That lowest preorder is sold and shipped by Kings Games. BetterShopping4You has a $119.45 listing with free delivery shown for Saturday, May 30. 

Amazon comes with a premium compared to the two other key retailers in the space, but it is still a worthwhile price if you prefer sticking with Amazon for your trading card needs.  Walmart has the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed for $113.97 with free shipping, while TCGplayer's unopened presale listings start at $103.75

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No matter where you buy from, the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box includes the following:

  • Nine Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising booster packs

  • One full-art foil promo card featuring Fennekin

  • 65 card sleeves

  • 40 Pokémon TCG Energy cards

  • A player's guide

  • Six damage-counter dice

  • One competition-legal coin-flip die

  • One plastic coin

  • A collector's box with six dividers

  • One Pokémon TCG Live code card

Launching May 22, Chaos Rising heads back to Lumiose City, where Mega Floette ex is turning the city into a disaster zone. Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex are among the Mega Evolution Pokémon ex featured, giving collectors another Legends: Z-A-flavored expansion to chase. 

To make sure you’re stocked up after release, you can still preorder individual Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Packs for $12.99. As for currently available ETBs in the Pokémon TCG, the Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box is still on sale for under $70

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles are available to preorder at TCGplayer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Two years without a laptop taught me what Android can't do (and Linux can)

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:30

Two years ago, I replaced my laptop with an Android-based desktop, and for most of the time since, I've used Samsung DeX whenever I needed to do something the internal screen on my Galaxy Z Fold 6 couldn't handle. That worked out surprisingly well for me, but I've since decided to fall back into the familiar arms of Linux regardless, and Samsung isn't entirely to blame.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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