Technology

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

SAVE $15: As of April 16, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 43% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick HD $19.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Amazon's HD Fire Stick is back on sale and for only the second time this year, it is reduced to under $20. The Fire TV Stick HD is a streaming device that plugs into your TV (or laptop) and lets you access platforms including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and more. And as of April 16, you can buy it for $19.99.

The Fire Stick comes with a remote with Alexa built-in, allowing you to turn almost any TV into a smart TV. The Alexa feature is a great tool for searching through multiple platforms at once to find your favorite movie or comfort show, as well as using it to ask questions or search things on the internet.

SEE ALSO: How to watch 'Nickel Boys': One of our top films of 2024 is coming to Prime Video

And let's not forget, with this Fire Stick, you'll be enjoying these shows in beautiful HD quality.

The setup isn't confusing either, these handy remotes are so simple to use. All you need to do is pop the device into your TV's HDMI port, and that's it. You have instant access to a range of streaming platforms as well as many live channels.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal.

The last time I was around Tim Cook, I was screaming, "Queer kids need you" at the top of my lungs. Holding signs asking him to stop selling unsafe phones to kids, our team at the Heat Initiative — a nonprofit working to keep kids safe online — tried calling on someone who we thought was one of the last Big Tech CEOs with a heart. Being the first openly gay man to head a Fortune 500 company, I hoped he would shatter the glass ceiling, allowing more young LGBTQ+ people to envision a similar path of excellence. Instead, he carved out just enough space for him to step through, sealing it back up and joining the other tech oligarchs in their pristine detachment from the rest of society. 

The Big Tech oligarchy was front and center at Trump’s inauguration, showing Americans who were really about to run our country. Watching Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg play teacher’s pet was expected. But Cook donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration was a shock. Until then, I had relatively neutral-to-positive things to say about Cook’s leadership. I hoped the company’s failure to keep kids safe on their devices and platforms would end up being one of the rare black spots in Cook's rather impressive corporate history. One thing has become abundantly clear: Child safety is no longer the only black spot in Cook’s time at Apple. Tim Cook himself is harming Apple’s reputation. 

Trump’s tariffs have been getting a lot of air time. Given that they impact working-class Americans' lives, I hoped my dissenting opinion on them would be proven wrong. After all, the idea of more manufacturing in the U.S. sounds good, I just think that using the livelihoods of Americans as a bargaining tool is wrong.

SEE ALSO: President Trump says semiconductor tariffs are next

But tech giants like Apple are also being hammered by the tariffs, with their stock price see-sawing thanks to Trump's chaotic policy. It was refreshing to see that these attacks were not just happening to our most vulnerable, but also to our most powerful — including a giant corporation that has not done enough to protect vulnerable populations, like kids and LGBTQ+ Americans, from online dangers. Thanks to the tariffs, Cook's $1 million suck up donation to Trump was turning out to be a waste. 

That was short lived. Suddenly, smartphones were now temporarily exempt from the tariffs, proving once again that it really is that easy to buy favors from the leader of the "free" world. With the exemption, presented to the public as a way to protect Americans' accessibility to devices, Cook could rest easy knowing that his stock price would bounce back and his and his stockholders' pockets would continue to fill. Then, Trump equivocated again, calling the exemption temporary. Maybe Cook's $1 million wasn't enough? Or maybe having a strong moral code, and standing up for what (and who) is right, is good business sense in the end.

SEE ALSO: Trump admin already walks back smartphone, laptop tariff exemption

This past weekend, Cook’s alma mater, Auburn University, celebrated their famous alumni day. My team and I were on the ground, with a hilarious parody blimp of Cook holding money bags and a phone that says "profits over kids," talking to people on campus. We connected with an engineer that geeked out about hash matching technology, a privacy forward technology to detect known child sexual abuse material; a family talking about the regret of giving their daughter a phone too early; and young people aware of their iPhone addiction.

I miss the feeling of being excited about Apple’s newest technology. Here’s hoping Cook, thanks to Trump's treatment, has an epiphany and transforms back into the leader we know he should be. 

Lennon Torres is a Public Voices Fellow on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse with The OpEd Project. She is an LGBTQ+ advocate who grew up in the public eye, gaining national recognition as a young dancer on television shows. With a deep passion for storytelling, advocacy, and politics, Lennon now works to center the lived experience of herself and others as she crafts her professional career in online child safety at Heat Initiative. Lennon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennon-torres-325b791b4/

"With so many 'rules' around what to do and what not to do anymore, who the **** knows," laments a Reddit user on a post about texting etiquette whilst dating. The goalposts continue to shift in the dating world, from waiting for a phone call to come the next day to now, an age of constant contactability. So, what exactly are the rules of engagement for texting in the early stages of dating? 

As a relationship blooms, it can be hard to know what and how frequently to message. Difficult enough that Redditors have formed comprehensive "how-to" guides on navigating messaging in the "beginning stages" of a courtship. Some daters are keen to meet extremely quickly to the understandable discomfort of others, while others are happy to exchange lengthy messages until the situation enters pen pal territory.

SEE ALSO: Are we sharing too much too soon while dating online?

Even after meeting IRL, how much are you supposed to stay in touch between dates one and two (if the vibe is there), and you want to keep up the momentum but save something for in-person? How can we create an image of the person we're trying to get to know if all we actually know of them is words on a screen? Without inflection, personality, or anything beyond a blue box and white text? 

How do we create intimacy in those early stages and keep it alive before dates, and can digital intimacy meet our needs like physical intimacy? We asked daters and the experts.

How often should we be texting during early dating stages?

Research by associate professor of psychology Dr Darcey N. Powell, then at Roanoke College and now at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, shows that in the early stages of dating, referred to as the talking stages, "there is less information shared, fewer physical acts of intimacy, and less commitment to the partner than when dating."

When talking to Mashable's features editor and author Rachel Thompson in The Love Fix, Powell says these stages are "a balancing act of trying to protect oneself because you're unsure of what's going to happen, but people aren't good at breaking up with each other or being rejected."

"I'll usually use a dating app to communicate up until a date has been set, and I'll probably check in once a day or maybe more if I'm really keen," says Polly, 29, an active dater from London. Polly, like other people Mashable spoke to, requested to go by their first name only for privacy reasons.

"Ideally, I want to be texting somebody I'm dating roughly four times back and forth each day. If it's less than that, then I'd prefer the texts to be longer and more detailed," she says. By the time she meets someone in person, WhatsApp is her preferred method of communication.

"I think the problem is that we know people are on their phones ALL the time, so we're now hardwired to expect people to respond instantly, and if they don't, we automatically assume they can't be that interested," says Polly.

This feeling isn't unique. A 2016 Harvard sociology study revealed that 94 percent of respondents (all millennials) said receiving, writing, or waiting for text messages can make them anxious. Reddit users, too, have experienced this, seeking help on subreddits such as r/SocialSkills. 

Despite this common experience, the average American has 43 unread texts, according to 2021 research.

"Hypercommunication [constant exchanges] can negatively impact relationships by fostering an over-reliance on asynchronous messaging as a measure of relationship success, rather than meaningful in-person connection," says Caitlin Begg, author of the 2016 study, sociologist, and founder of research firm Authentic Social.

How do we create real intimacy?

While some daters like to text about one's day, that's not the case for everyone.

"I only text if it's regarding planning or if I have a question. I hate being in constant contact with someone when I'm not physically with them," expresses a Reddit user in a comment on r/Dating Advice.

"I am a big fan of spending time in person and if that isn't possible, incorporating FaceTimes or phone calls," says Allison Raskin, writer and relationship coach.

"Having experiences together also creates intimacy because it creates memories and shows you what the other person is actually like in the world," Raskin continues, recognising that there is only so much you can glean through a screen. "Texting shows you people's thoughts but not how they behave in different situations."

We can text a romantic interest repeatedly, but what we learn about them is filtered through their mind, edited with rapid precision, and then read in a tone we create in our minds. Messaging can conjure an image we find attractive without offering a real-life experiment to test it. 

SEE ALSO: Is the ick just a lack of attraction?

Research also shows that the benefits of face-to-face interactions are irreplaceable. A 2022 paper in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication found that face-to-face interactions make us feel more connected and less lonely. Whilst voice calls brought some level of connection, texting and video calls were less beneficial. 

"If you think about the best, most real conversations you've had, they usually happen when you're feeling your most relaxed, comfortable, and safe," says Dr Nikki Coleman, psychologist and wellness coach.

"Envision those late night/early morning conversations under a blanket. The things shared in those moments are intimate. Try to create that same energy even in the early stages," she recommends. "You have to get to know someone in 3D — the wild, outside — to be able to build intimacy. Until you really know someone in that way, you're really building a relationship with a fantasy in your mind."

What is the difference between 2D connection and 3D intimacy?

"We learn slivers of information about a person and our brain does the rest, filling the gaps to make a whole person make sense in our heads — but it isn't real. It's a romanticised picture of a person that does not exist, and sometimes creates a narrative the real person cannot match," says Georgie, 24, an active dater in London.

While a text can bring a smile to your face and allow that touchpoint often lost in the days that can sometimes feel endless between seeing each other, a pinch of salt must be taken during digital exchanges. 

The gap between first contact and meeting, or between dates, can stretch depending on diaries, desires, and other factors. Phone calls and voice notes might be too intimate for the level of connection being fostered at this stage, leaving texting as the most appropriate, accessible, and immediate method of communication in the interim. Texting is also the most ambiguous and open to interpretation. 

"I once was super excited for a first date because we had been texting for a few weeks leading up to the date, and I thought he was hilarious," Georgie says.

"This person that I had in my head in no way matched up to the reality of the person I met. He was lovely, but most definitely not for me, which was probably exacerbated by my utter shock at the stranger that rocked up to the date when I had been mentally dating an entirely different human being," Georgie continues. "The date lasted all of 26 minutes."

This person that I had in my head in no way matched up to the reality of the person I met...The date lasted all of 26 minutes. - Dater Georgie What communication rules exist in dating?

Digital communication is important today, especially when dating. However, a balance between real-life and digital interactions must be struck, with a dash of skepticism and the ability to look beyond the paragraphs on screens. To what extent? That's different for everybody.

"People love to give 'hard and fast' dating rules. 'Dating experts' and others try to prescribe set norms for digital communication in dating, but the reality is it's messy. This means it's key to find someone who aligns with your communication style," Begg believes.

And we can control more than we may think within these early stages.

"I would recommend that folks be honest and direct about the amount of communication they need, and to walk away from connections that can't meet those needs," recommends Melissa Fabello, PhD, sex and relationships educator.

"Co-creating that dynamic, which includes sharing when you desire more or less communication, is the real goal."

Each of us will have different expectations, desires, and comfort levels when dating. But what we can do is set our own expectations, recognise our needs, and be ready to respond appropriately — whether in person or digitally. 

TL;DR: Save $417 on this AI stock-picking app that can help you navigate crazy markets and keep your cool.

I was watching the first of the month’s market crashes and wondered, ‘Does it make sense to invest right now?’ I’d always been curious about the stock market, at least in terms of how people actually got rich by practically gambling, but I didn’t have a single clue where to begin — let alone how to even buy a stock.

Once I saw a TikTok calling this period a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (take that with a grain of salt), I decided to take my chance. But I needed help researching everything: what stocks to choose and how to track them. That’s when I found Sterling Stock Picker, and made my first investment with their $68.99 lifetime subscription (reg. $486).

How I invested my first dollar

My biggest concern wasn’t that the market wouldn’t eventually recover, but that I would choose ‘bad’ stocks due to my lack of experience. Sterling Stock Picker helped me feel calm with the 5-minute questionnaire covering my wants and ability to handle risk.

Then, I started researching stocks with help from AI. I also learned about something called exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are like groups of stocks. I didn’t know what these were at first, so I consulted the AI assistant, Finley AI, and it told me that it’s like putting a stake into a huge nest of companies at once rather than individually.

Once I selected a few ETFs to invest in, I opened a free brokerage account (sadly, you can’t directly invest through Sterling Stock Picker). I purchased my shares and put the information into Sterling Stock Picker so I could view my portfolio with fun graphs and charts and get alerts when prices change — which may help me determine when to sell.

How it’s going

Well, it’s only been a few days since I’ve made my investments and, if you’ve been keeping up with the news, things have been up and down. One day, my $1,000 portfolio was up $100, and the next, it was down $20. 

As a total beginner, I won’t offer any formal advice to you other than to do your research and be well-informed, and Sterling Stock Picker is a great tool to do just that.

Get a Sterling Stock Picker lifetime subscription for $68.99 (reg. $486).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: SSP Software Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $68.99
$486 Save $417.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Be prepared for anything with the FlashMini PRO, a 12-in-1 super bright utility flashlight, now just $14.97 (reg. $34) through April 27.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab FlashMini PRO $14.97
$34.99 Save $20.02 12-in-1 Super Bright Utility Flashlight Shop Now

Power outages usually catch us by surprise. Being prepared for emergency situations can provide some peace of mind, and the FlashMini PRO is a convenient way to make sure you always have light.

The FlashMini PRO is a 12-in-1 super bright utility flashlight with a conveniently sleek design that can tag along anywhere. And right now, you can score one for only $14.97 (reg. $34). 

Light the way with this multitasking flashlight

Let the FlashMini PRO light the way at home and on the go, thanks to a built-in carabiner that easily attaches to keys to backpacks. If you're traveling light, you can pop it into your pocket. 

Aside from serving as a powerful flashlight that shines 30 times brighter than your smartphone's flashlight, the FlashMini PRO offers seven quick-adjust light modes to suit your needs, available in white and yellow light. And a red warning light and emergency strobe are available if needed.

The FlashMini PRO includes a foldable kickstand to adjust the light at different angles. The magnetic base also allows it to attach easily to metal surfaces. And it doubles as a bottle opener, so it'll come in handy if you need to open a beverage. 

Enjoy up to 3.5 hours of use from the rechargeable battery, or one hour of runtime at maximum brightness. It's easy to power back up. 

Whether you're heading out on a hike, off on a camping trip, or simply making sure you're never stuck in the dark, the FlashMini PRO offers plenty of perks. 

Get your own FlashMini PRO, a 12-in-1 super bright utility flashlight, now just $14.97 (reg. $34) through April 27. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This Apple Mac mini M2 proves bigger isn't always better, and right now, this powerful, compact desktop computer is yours for $359.99.

Looking for a desktop computer that won't take up too much space? Enter the Apple Mac mini, a petite yet powerful device powered by Apple's lightning-fast M2 chip. 

You can currently snag your own Apple Mac mini M2 for just $359.99, $140 off the usual price tag, right here.

Upgrade your workstation with this Apple Mac mini

Whether you're working from home, studying, or setting up a dedicated gaming station, a desktop computer can give your workspace a more professional feel. And this Apple Mac mini M2 saves you much-needed desk space thanks to its tiny casing. 

Don't be deceived by its small size; this Apple Mac mini is powered by an Apple M2 chip that allows for serious power, speedy multitasking, and even 8K video editing. Tackle even the heaviest lifts on your to-do list thanks to the 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. 

256GB of SSD storage allows you to save files right to the device. There's also plenty of input and output options available if you need to hook up an external hard drive with USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, and a headphone jack. 

The Mac mini has macOS Ventura pre-installed, so you'll be running smoothly with your favorite apps in no time. And connectivity is a breeze thanks to the Wi-Fi 6E, which offers faster wireless speeds for smoother data transfers and easy cloud access.

Curious why you're securing such a great price? This model comes with a grade A refurbished rating, which means your device will arrive in near-mint condition, but you'll still receive the discounted price. 

Bring home your own Apple Mac mini 2 for just $359.99 (reg. $499) while supplies last. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini M2 (Early 2023) 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Refurbished) $359.99
$499 Save $139.01 Get Deal

BEST AMD CUSTOM PC: As of April 16, MAINGEAR’s RUSH Night Drive Artist Series PC is available for $3,498. You’re not saving money here, you’re spending smart: premium AMD parts, artist-driven design, zero bloatware, and hand-built precision with exceptional support.

Opens in a new window Credit: MAINGEAR MAINGEAR RUSH Night Drive Artist Series PC Shop Now

I own this exact PC. I don’t mean I tested it for a week. I mean it’s sitting next to me, powered on, running smooth as ever while I write this. It’s the second system I’ve purchased from MAINGEAR, and I can say without hesitation that this Night Drive Artist Series build is the best gaming PC I’ve ever used. It’s easily the best money I’ve spent on tech.

I’ve been around the block when it comes to building PCs. I’ve spent Saturday afternoons hunched over a kitchen table with thermal paste in my hair. I’ve cursed the awkward shape of a budget mid-tower case while trying to route thick PSU cables through a spaghetti maze of sharp-edged metal. I’ve also spent plenty of time using and messing around with prebuilt systems from the major players, and I know exactly where they tend to fall short. Usually, it’s in ways you don’t notice until something goes wrong.

SEE ALSO: Nvidia vs. AMD: Putting the GPU giants side-by-side

So when I say this: spending $3,498 on a MAINGEAR RUSH Night Drive Artist Series PC is absolutely worth it, I mean it in the most grounded, painfully practical way.

This isn’t me throwing around cash to flex on people with RGB. I’m not here to sell you on the most expensive thing just because it’s shiny. This is me, a seasoned PC user, explaining why I went with a hand-built custom machine from a boutique company over dozens of more affordable options with similar specs.

Let’s break it down, component by component, and experience by experience. Here’s why this setup is something genuinely special.

Specifications and features

• Price: $3,498 for Night Drive Artist Series ($3,099 in standard Rush chassis)

• Retailer: MAINGEAR

• Case: RUSH Mk. IV - Night Drive

• Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT with 16GB GDDR6

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

• Cooling: MAINGEAR Epic 360 RGB liquid cooler

• Fans: 10-count premium RGB fans

• Memory: 32GB T-Force Delta RGB

• Storage: 1TB T-Force A440 NVMe SSD

• Motherboard: MSI Pro B850-P WiFi

• Power Supply: 850W MSI MAG A850GL

• Power Cables: Stock

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home

• Warranty: 1-year included

• Shipping Time: Estimated 2 to 3 weeks

The real cost of performance

If you’re chasing raw power, this thing delivers. I chose the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card for a reason. It has 16GB of GDDR6 memory, excellent ray tracing capabilities, and a level of headroom that doesn’t require sacrificing performance just to keep thermals in check. It’s running cool and smooth even when I throw demanding titles at it on ultra settings.

This card is hard to find. At retail, it’s going for around $1,100 when it’s in stock, which is rarely. And that’s your first real value. MAINGEAR has access to the good stuff. You aren’t rolling the dice with your GPU order or crossing your fingers on shipping. You’re getting high-end hardware, installed, tested, and ready to roll.

The CPU? AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This chip is a monster. It’s about $860 on its own and well worth it. It handles CPU-bound titles and productivity workloads without breaking a sweat. Games feel effortless. Renders move faster. And multitasking doesn’t even make the fans spin up.

Those two parts alone are nearly $2,000. That doesn’t include a case, cooler, RAM, SSD, motherboard, power supply, or the skilled labor that makes all the parts work together like a dream.

This is not a budget tower. It’s a work of art.

The RUSH chassis is exclusive to MAINGEAR. I chose the Night Drive Artist Series upgrade, which gives the case a glossy, layered 3D finish. The result looks like a high-end collectible and not a plastic box from an outlet warehouse.

The panoramic tempered glass panel gives you full visibility into the system, which matters when everything inside is wired perfectly. This isn’t a half-effort cable job. Every wire is routed with intention. It looks like a demo unit you’d see at a trade show.

The RGB lighting setup is subtle and seamless. It doesn’t scream. It glows. And when you add the premium fan kit like I did, you get a full system that’s visually unified and acoustically chill. Even under load, this thing doesn’t sound like a stressed-out leaf blower.

Cooling that’s actually effective

Thermal performance is essential, especially in a rig with this much power. MAINGEAR’s Epic 360 RGB liquid cooler isn’t just about showing off. It does the job. Temps stay solid during long sessions, and airflow across the case is well-balanced.

GPU sag? Not happening. They include a custom bracket that supports the card, preventing pressure on the PCIe slot and saving your motherboard’s lifespan. It’s a small touch that shows the level of care that went into the build.

BIOS tweaks included

The system arrives tuned. Not kind of tuned. Fully tweaked at the BIOS level. RAM timings are dialed in. Boost performance is validated. Thermals are tested. This is not what you get with a big box build where BIOS is left on stock settings and your RAM never runs at full speed.

You’re getting every bit of performance your hardware is capable of, and you’re getting it out of the box.

MAINGEAR support is next level

I had a minor issue with my MG-1 build’s RGB lighting. It wasn’t syncing right. I reached out, and their support didn’t just reply with a script. They worked through the problem with me, sent a fix, followed up, and included some extra swag for the trouble. That kind of service doesn’t happen with most manufacturers.

And it’s not a fluke. This build has had zero issues, but I know if something came up, I’d get the same fast, intelligent help again.

A bloat-free experience

MAINGEAR systems ship with clean Windows installs. There’s no antivirus trial waiting to ruin your startup sequence. No random manufacturer utilities trying to launch every time you boot. It’s your system from day one, not theirs.

I installed Steam, Discord, and a few launchers and was gaming within minutes. It’s refreshing not having to spend your first hour uninstalling trashware.

You can go all out or keep it simple

The Night Drive design is part of MAINGEAR’s Artist Series. If the cyberpunk glow isn’t your thing, you can choose the Good Fortune theme or the industrial Machina design instead. They all cost the same and feature that same embossed texture and high-gloss finish.

If you want to keep it minimal and save a bit, MAINGEAR also offers this same build in the original Rush Mk. IV chassis. It has the same internal layout and airflow, just without the art finish. That version drops the price to $3,099.

Built for now. Ready for later.

Here’s the part that really sealed the deal for me. This system isn’t just powerful now. It’s upgradable later. All the components are standard, not proprietary. You can add a new GPU, swap the RAM, drop in a faster SSD, or upgrade to a new CPU when it makes sense.

And if you don’t feel like doing it yourself? MAINGEAR will help you spec out the right upgrade path and even install it for you if you send your system back in. That kind of flexibility and support makes this feel like a long-term investment, not a short-term splash.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, April 16, 2025:

Across"T-t-t-turn up the heat!"

• The answer is Brr.

Like fare at a fair, fairly often

• The answer is Fried.

A complete unknown?

• The answer is Rando.

A Rolling Stone?

• The answer is Issue.

Witch's spell

• The answer is Hex.

DownIn-your-face assertive

• The answer is Brash.

Help with the dishes

• The answer is Rinse.

Done again in a similar way

• The answer is Redux.

The "F" of T.G.I.F.: Abbr.

• The answer is Fri.

Fawn's mother

• The answer is Doe.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Track events that don't include running

• Green: Played on a table

• Blue: Sports teams that share a state

• Purple: Share a first word/letter

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

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

• Yellow: Throwing events

• Green: Often found in a game room

• Blue: Ohio sports teams

• Purple: Words that can be preceded by "T-"

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #205 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Throwing events - DISCUS, HAMMER, JAVELIN, SHOT PUT

• Often found in a game room - AIR HOCKEY, FOOSBALL, PING PONG, POOL

• Ohio sports teams - BEARCATS, BENGALS, CAVALIERS, REDS

• Words that can be preceded by "T-" - BALL, MAC, SHIRT, WOLVES

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.

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fore!

The words are golf-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are what you swing to hit a golf ball.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is GolfClubs.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 16

• Driver

• Wood

• Putter

• Iron

• Wedge

• Chipper

• Utility

• GolfClubs

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.

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Cloud storage subscriptions are expensive, even if they don't seem like it at first. Dropbox's cheapest plan is £7.56 per month for 2TB of cloud storage. It seems cheap, but that's a little over £90 every year, and you're never actually done paying for it. 

If you want a cheaper alternative to Dropbox, Internxt just dropped the price for a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription. Now it's only £211.87 with code STORAGE20.

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You don't even have to manually upload. You can sync all your files and photos across platforms, even Linux. This focus on privacy even extends to its open-source design, so users can inspect the code for transparency and security.

This subscription lasts for life, with no recurring payments of any kind. You can access your cloud storage on unlimited devices, too. 

Use code STORAGE20 by April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Internxt 10TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription on sale for £211.87. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

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

A biscuit-like pastry.

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

SCONE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Strength.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POWER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To add up.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COUNT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

The name of something.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 16 Hurdle Word 4 answer

TITLE

Final Hurdle hint

Sleek.

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

SLICK

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

I love movies, and I love games. So you'd think I'd love games that are based on movie licenses. The only problem is that, historically, movie tie-in games have been terrible.

Acer makes awesome computers, and its latest range of gaming laptops looks amazing. But the company also unveiled a desktop PC among those computers—and not only does it sit in an awkward place in Acer's lineup, but it has reasons to do so as well compared to other SFF computers.

Nvidia has announced that its 5060 line of GeForce RTX GPUs will be available for purchase beginning on April 16. The line includes two models: The RTX 5060 Ti, which comes in 8GB and 16GB VRAM variants, and the RTX 5060, which will only come in an 8GB VRAM option. The former GPU releases on April 16 for $379 and $429, respectively, with the latter coming sometime in May for $299.

With the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti, Nvidia is making high-tech features more accessible for gamers who can't afford a $2,000 GPU. In particular, the new 5060 GPUs offer DLSS 4 support and full ray tracing capabilities for enhanced visuals and higher frame rates.

“The RTX 5060 family offers gamers next-generation performance and AI-enhanced visuals starting at $299,” said Vice President of GeForce Marketing Matt Wuebbling in an Nvidia press release. “Powered by the advanced NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and featuring DLSS 4 technology in over 100 games, this new class of GPUs elevates gaming with stunning visuals, high frame rates and quick responsiveness.”

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 tariff impacts: What we know so far

DLSS 4's AI-enhanced capabilities like Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, and Nvidia Reflex can all be found in the RTX 5060 GPU family. The company says these features will reduce latency times during gameplay in addition to those speedier frame rates and higher resolution.

Better yet, over 100 games will support DLSS 4 when the new GPUs launch, including Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Black Myth: Wukong. Nvidia says that on the GPU's maximum settings, users can enjoy "stunning ray-traced visuals at over 100 frames per second" on some titles.

If you're planning on buying one to upgrade your current setup, we recommend making your decision as soon as humanly possible, because new Nvidia GPUs tend to go out of stock quickly. (The Nvidia RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs can be particularly hard to find.) We all remember the RTX 3080 dilemma back in 2020, and with the addition of the volatile U.S. tariff policy situation, we aren't exactly sure how this launch is going to unfold. Product pages for the RTX 5060 Ti aren't even posted yet, so you'll probably want to keep your credit card at the ready.

In addition to the GPU announcements, Nvidia revealed that RTX-5060-equipped laptops from every big-name manufacturer will also be available this May starting at $1,099. The new laptops are said to have lower latency and are able to double the frame rates of previous iterations. They'll also come in a range of configurations and sizes starting at 14.9 millimeters.

For updates on the RTX 5060 launch, visit the Nvidia website.

I don't buy new TVs or monitors often, but when I do I like to put them through their paces like anyone else. For me, the best way to do this is watching a few of my favorite movies that pose one or another visual challenge.

Scientists previously captured rare footage of a giant squid. Now, they've filmed another huge squid species — the colossal squid.

The first specimens of the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) were formally described by biologists a century ago, in 1925. These deep sea dwellers, which live exclusively in Antarctic waters, are rarely seen, so they're largely mysterious. But the Schmidt Ocean Institute, a well-traveled ocean exploration group, has used a high-tech robot to film the first-ever confirmed footage of colossal squid in its natural and remote marine environs.

"It’s exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist," Kat Bolstad, a cephalopod expert at the Auckland University of Technology who helped verify the footage, said in a statement. "For 100 years, we have mainly encountered them as prey remains in whale and seabird stomachs and as predators of harvested toothfish."

"This is honestly one of the most exciting observations we've had in my time researching deep sea cephalopods," Bolstad added during a press conference on April 15.

SEE ALSO: A dominant shark lurks in the deep, dark ocean. Meet the sixgill.

The observed colossal squid seen below is quite young and not nearly fully grown, at about a foot long. But mature individuals grow to around 23 feet long (though some individuals could be larger), weigh in at over 1,100 pounds (which makes them both the heaviest squid and invertebrate), and have the largest eyes of any animal (at some 10.5 inches across, making them soccer-ball size).

The Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian — a robot fitted with a slew of scientific instruments and capable of descending down to 14,763 feet, or 4,500 meters — filmed the squid on March 9 off the South Sandwich Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The squid was swimming at some 1,968 feet, or 600 meters, beneath the surface.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute's remotely operated vehicle SuBastian. Credit: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute

This long-sought footage was ROV SuBastian's third time capturing first-ever confirmed footage of a squid species in their natural ocean habitat. (The others include Spirula spirula, or Ram’s Horn Squid, in 2020, and the Promachoteuthis.)

Dropping such robots into the depths regularly reveals rare or unprecedented footage. "We always discover stuff when we go out into the deep sea. You're always finding things that you haven't seen before," Derek Sowers, an expedition lead for NOAA Ocean Exploration, previously told Mashable.

Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there. The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. Biologists emphasize that rare biodiversity and marine habitats ought to be protected. What's more, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"There's life down there that has the potential to provide and has provided us with medicines," Jyotika Virmani, an oceanographer and executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, told Mashable last year.

OpenAI is reportedly working on a social media prototype for sharing images generated by ChatGPT.

According to The Verge, who spoke with anonymous sources "familiar with the matter," OpenAI is working on a social media feed akin to X that would host ChatGPT-generated images created by users. This would reportedly serve two goals: boosting visibility of ChatGPT's now-viral image generator and serving as a source for real-time user data. (Google, Meta, and X all have vast amounts of user data, some of which can be leveraged for AI training.) The Verge also reports that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been privately asking for feedback on such a tool.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Studio Ghibli-inspired AI art provokes backlash across the internet

It's unclear whether the social feed would be a standalone social networking app or integrated with ChatGPT, similar to the feed of user-generated images on Midjourney. It also calls to mind the video feed that already exists on OpenAI's standalone Sora app, which serves as a space for users to explore how others are using the AI video generator.

Of course, there's a lot of distance between a social networking feed of user-generated content and a genuine social media app, like X or Instagram. If the company did venture into the social media space one day, it would likely make the feud between Musk and OpenAI even more contentious. Sources told The Verge that Grok's relationship with X, which is now also owned by Elon Musk's xAI company, has "made everyone jealous" since "people create viral tweets by getting it to say something stupid."

Musk is currently suing OpenAI for breach of contract by attempting to convert its capped for-profit into a full-fledged for-profit corporation. Recently Musk offered to buy OpenAI for $97 billion, an offer than Altman firmly rejected.

OpenAI would also be taking on Meta, another AI rival. Meta AI benefits from gathering user data to train its Llama models, and the company is also reportedly planning a standalone Llama app to compete with ChatGPT.

Altman has jokingly referred to building a social media app in the past. In response to a February CNBC report, Altman wrote on X, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app."

After about a month of testing, the full release of Fedora Linux 42 is finally here, bringing with it a bunch of upgrades and improvements for all of its many spins and editions.