Technology

TL;DR: Live stream Keys vs. Svitolina in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

In the blink of an eye, we're at the quarter-final stage of the 2025 Australian Open. At this point, every remaining player is dreaming winning the whole tournament.

Keys vs. Svitolina includes the highest-seeded player of the quarter finals. Svitolina might be seeded 28th, but she's only a couple of games away from an unlikely final.

If you want to watch Keys vs. Svitolina in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Keys vs. Svitolina for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Keys vs. Svitolina.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open 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 leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Keys vs. Svitolina without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection 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 generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Keys vs. Svitolina in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Navarro vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter finals are here, with Navarro vs. Swiatek playing last in the women's singles tournament. This looks like a really close match between two top players.

If you want to watch Navarro vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Navarro vs. Swiatek for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Navarro vs. Swiatek.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open 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 leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Navarro vs. Swiatek without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection 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 generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Navarro vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Shelton vs. Sonego in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open is moving towards a dramatic conclusion. The quarter-final stage showcases some really intriguing matchups, including Shelton vs. Sonego. Can the unseeded Italian advance to the semi finals? Or will the American triumph?

If you want to watch Shelton vs. Sonego in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Shelton vs. Sonego for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Shelton vs. Sonego.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open 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 leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Shelton vs. Sonego without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection 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 generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Shelton vs. Sonego in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter finals are here, and Sinner vs. de Minaur is sure to capture the attention of fans around the world. It's the defending champion against the home favorite.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. de Minaur for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sinner vs. de Minaur.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open 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 leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection 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 generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

What happened to Moretti (John Malkovich), an iconic, red-flared, groundbreaking music star who retreated from public life three decades ago? That's the task given to journalist Ariel (Ayo Edebiri) in A24's new film Opus.

Written and directed by Mark Anthony Green, Opus sees The Bear star invited to Moretti's luxe compound in Utah for "an exclusive listening experience" of what appears to be his first work released in 30 years. Only a small selection of press have been extended the invitation. But there's a sinister plan afoot, and Ariel might be the only one who sees it beyond the towering displays of reverence and blue-clad cult followers ambling about the grounds.

It's a killer cast, this one; Amber Midthunder (Prey), Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets), Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus), Stephanie Suganami (Power Book II: Ghost), Young Mazino (Beef), and Tony Hale (The Decameron) also star.

Opus is out in cinemas March 12.

OpenAI has added a much-requested feature to ChatGPT that makes the AI chatbot even more useful. Projects in ChatGPT allow you to organize your chats, add project-specific custom instructions, and even upload files that project chats can access.

Gaming has come a long way since the early days of Linux when it was far from easy. Still, you can expect to run into some issues, so it’s best to be prepared to you’re ready when you encounter them.

SAVE 50% ON ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE: Avast Mobile Security is offering half off its annual paid plans for your first year so you can get better security for your devices at a lower price.

Save on Avast Mobile Security: Best for basics Avast Premium Security £42.50 (save 50%) Get Deal Best for advanced features Avast Gold One £69.99 (save 50%) Get Deal

When it comes to your phone's security, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. Viruses, ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and more float around just waiting to compromise your device, which is why it's so important to be equipped with reliable antivirus software to keep your Android device and all of the information safe.

Avast Mobile Security is a great choice to keep you protected, thanks to its free mobile antivirus app for Android devices.

In fact, we consider Avast one of the very best free antivirus and security solutions for Android. In our rundown of the best Android antivirus apps, we said Avast "is filled with features that guarantees your Android will stay safe and your information secure. After all, Avast offers both real-time and on-demand scanning and easily checks the security of whatever WiFi connection you’ve logged onto."

If you take your phone's security seriously, though, you may want to consider a more premium option. Avast is currently offering a deal on its paid annual plans so you can get maximum protection against mobile threats at a minimum price.

Right now, you can score some of Avast Mobile Security's paid annual plans for 50% off for the first year. This includes Premium Security and the Avast One Gold, which are available for £42.50 for the first year and £69.99 for the first year, respectively. After that, Premium Security will automatically renew at £84.99 per year and Avast One Gold will automatically renew at £139.99 per year unless cancelled.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

When it comes to combatting mobile security threats, Premium Security helps to block viruses, ransomware, and malware. It also monitors your apps for any suspicious activity, uses advanced firewall, stops webcam spies, helps you to avoid fake websites, and provides additional protection for your sensitive information. If you're looking for a little extra, Avast One Gold offers these benefits alongside an unlimited VPN (which masks your location for increased privacy). Avast One Gold plan also monitors your online accounts for any breaches, automatically updates your drivers, keeps an eye out for trackers from advertisers, and helps to clean up your devices.

Premium Security also offers coverage for 10 devices, compared to Avast One Gold which covers five. They're not the only plans currently on sale, though. Several Privacy products through Avast are also on sale, including the SecureLine VPN, Secure Browser PRO, AntiTrack, and BreachGuard, and a couple of Performance products are on sale: Cleanup Premium and Driver Updater. You can see each product currently on sale below and learn more about them on Avast:

• SecureLine VPN — £39.99 for first year (automatically renews at £79.99 per year unless cancelled)

• Secure Browser PRO — £17.50 for first year (automatically renews at £34.99 per year unless cancelled)

• AntiTrack — £24.99 for first year (automatically renews at £49.99 per year unless cancelled)

• BreachGuard — £19.99 for first year (automatically renews at £39.99 per year unless cancelled)

• Cleanup Premium — £27.50 for first year (automatically renews at £54.99 per year unless cancelled)

• Driver Updater — £19.50 for first year (automatically renews at £38.99 per year unless cancelled)

We even consider Avast's Premium Security to be one of the best antivirus software options, noting that "if you're keen to pay for an antivirus rather than rely on a freebie, this is a great option. And it covers a total of 10 devices." These plans from Avast Mobile Security are a great way to feel more secure on your devices while keeping some cash in your pocket in your first year.

Keep your Android device fully protected in 2025 and download Avast Mobile security for free today, and then consider one of Avast's premium plans for even more advanced security options.

Marvel Snap is back online in the U.S. following a brief absence in association with the TikTok ban.

The popular card battle game created by California-based developer Second Dinner was temporarily pulled from American app stores on Jan. 18, as the game is published by ByteDance-owned Nuverse. It was one of several apps pulled by the TikTok owner hours before the ban was set to take effect, alongside CapCut and Lemon8.

On Monday night, Second Dinner posted an update on X, saying Marvel Snap had been reinstated online, and that the developer was looking for a new publisher beyond Nuverse.

SEE ALSO: TikTok ban: Marvel Snap and 5 other apps also banned

"To make sure this NEVER happens again, we’re working to bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher. This is the start of a new era for MARVEL SNAP," the post reads. "We know this probably leaves you with even more questions than answers. We appreciate your patience, but in the meantime enjoy playing MARVEL SNAP."

Tweet may have been deleted

Though it's available on Steam, Marvel Snap still isn't available in Apple's App Store or the Google Play Store in the U.S. at the time of writing. However, as Second Dinner wrote on X, "We're working on it. It may take some time. We'll keep you updated."

ByteDance's problems aren't over though. On the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed a previously announced executive order to delay the U.S. TikTok ban for 75 days.

Is Instagram hiding the #Democrat hashtag from its users?

The answer, at least at the time of writing, appears to be yes — but the reasons why are still unclear.

SEE ALSO: 8 ways Mark Zuckerberg changed Meta ahead of Trump’s inauguration

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, reports began to spread online that the #Democrat hashtag was being blocked for users of Meta's Instagram app.

Mashable attempted to access the hashtag via both mobile and desktop, but we were greeted by a message saying the results had been hidden as they "may contain sensitive content." A "learn more" link took us to Instagram's generic sensitive content help page.

Credit: Instagram

A search for the #Republican hashtag, meanwhile, brought up a page of results as normal.

It's worth noting that as well as attending Trump's inauguration and donating $1 million to his fund, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has also made a number of changes to his platforms in the run-up to the new president being sworn in.

Mashable has reached out to Meta and we will update this story if we hear back.

Linux shells might appear similar to the Command Prompt, but if you're coming from the Windows command line, there's a lot to discover about them.

Like fellow late night hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers recapped Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, especially pausing for a moment to stare directly into the lineup of tech billionaires in attendance.

Meyers showed an image of the Silicon Valley heavyweights on the guest list — Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Alphabet Inc and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos. Meyers then pointed out the fact that cold temperatures had moved Trump's ceremony indoors to the Capitol rotunda, where Trump supporters weren't able to physically attend — instead opting to stand in the freezing cold and trying for a spot at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.

"That's right, MAGA supporters were left out in the cold while Trump gave toasty indoor VIP seats to the wealthy tech oligarchs, which brings us to a segment called 'Do I Really Have to Explain the Metaphor Here?'" said Meyers.

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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You don't say...

These words were once cool to say.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are things your child might tell you not say anymore.

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 DatedSlang.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 21

• Radical

• Fresh

• Major

• Phat

• Boss

• Tubular

• Cherry

• DatedSlang

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 the latest Strands.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 January 21 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: Insults

• Green: Like G.I. Joe, Barbie, or Warhammer

• Blue: Frozen precipitation alleviation instruments

• Purple: They don't like apples

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: Putdown

• Green: Small likeness

• Blue: Used to clear snow

• Purple: Doctors in pop culture

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 #590 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Putdown: BARB, CRACK, DIG, SLIGHT

• Small likeness: DOLL, FIGURE, MINIATURE, MODEL

• Used to clear snow: PLOW, SALT, SAND, SHOVEL

• Doctors in pop culture: NO, OCTOPUS, PEPPER, WHO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 21

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 the latest Connections.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: Gameplanning

• Green: Needed for catching

• Blue: Basketball stars

• Purple: Same first word

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: X's and O's

• Green: Parts of a Baseball Glove

• Blue: WNBA MVPs

• Purple: Game ___

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 #120 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• X's and O's - PLAYBOOK, SCHEME, STRATEGY, TACTICS

• Parts of a Baseball Glove - FINGERS, HEEL, POCKET, WEBBING

• WNBA MVPs - CATCHINGS, DELLE DONNE, FOWLES, STEWART

• Game ___ - BREAKER, DAY, PLAN, WINNER

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 the latest 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 January 21 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 January 21, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A hockey penalty.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter I.

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...

ICING.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 21

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.

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 Tuesday, January 21, 2025:

AcrossKinda wet

• The answer is Damp.

Standoffish

• The answer is Aloof.

Creature on a lifeboat with Pi, in "Life of Pi"

• The answer is Tiger.

Less than 90°

• The answer is Acute.

"What ___ is new?"

• The answer is Else.

DownWhat hasn't been processed if it's raw

• The answer is Data.

Character who climbs through the looking glass

• The answer is Alice.

Tycoon

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Ones working with meters and feet?

• The answer is Poets.

Complimentary

• The answer is Free.

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Brady Corbert's The Brutalist is one of the most prominently featured films in this year's awards season, including widespread Oscar expectations of a Best Picture nod. Set in the aftermath of World War II, it tells the story of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect forced to immigrate to the United States without his family.

The film's commitment to form is evident not only in its cinematic portrayal of Brutalism, the postwar period's defining architectural movement, but also in its reverence to American cinema of the time. Shot almost entirely on VistaVision (a format widely abandoned in the 1960s with the emergence of 70mm and CinemaScope), The Brutalist makes an event out of its theatrical screenings, with a 15-minute in-roll intermission splitting its colossal runtime of three hours and 34 minutes.

It is perhaps this return to the cinematic spectacle of the mid-20th century that has made some view The Brutalist’s use of an AI speech-enhancing software as some sort of betrayal to the craft and not as another tool available to filmmakers to enhance the impact and credibility of their storytelling. Concerns over the film industry's increasing use of AI are not unique to The Brutalist, with recent controversies including the horror Late Night With the Devil, Netflix's sci-fi anime short The Dog & The Boy, and Marvel's Secret Invasion.

But what happened and how exactly did The Brutalist use AI?

SEE ALSO: For Hollywood, scary AI is an old trope. It's now a true threat. How did The Brutalist use AI?

Speaking to RedShark News, The Brutalist editor Dávid Jancsó explained that the team used software by Ukrainian AI company Respeecher to refine Brody and co-star Felicity Jones' Hungarian pronunciation in the film.

In the interview, Jancsó, himself a Hungarian speaker, talks about the difficulties of sounding native in his language. Hungarian is a Uralic language, a linguistic branch which also includes Finnish and Estonian, and some of its sounds are challenging to Anglo-Saxon speakers, even if they happen to be some of the world’s most talented actors. 

What exactly does Respeecher do?

Respeecher's voice conversion system builds a database of what a person sounds like — their language, accent or other specific features (such as a lisp), then allowing an actor to perform their lines as the tool alters their voice. In The Brutalist’s case, according to Jancsó, the AI speech enhancer was only used to substitute the sound of certain letters that the actors found challenging to pronounce. According to Jancsó, Brody and Jones were aware of the alterations, and most of the corrected pronunciation was read out by the editor himself.

"Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there. We were very careful about keeping their performances. It's mainly just replacing letters here and there. You can do this in ProTools yourself, but we had so much dialogue in Hungarian that we really needed to speed up the process otherwise we'd still be in post," Jancsó told the publisher.

In his interview with RedShark News, Jancsó states that these alterations would have been made regardless, but that Respeecher’s AI tool significantly sped up the process, saving the production time and money, which was especially important as The Brutalist was completed on a slim $10 million budget.

It only takes looking into Respeecher's body of work to know that The Brutalist is far from the first film using AI tools in its post-production. Speech enhancing for Hollywood productions has been the Ukrainian company's bread and butter, and the company is credited for restoring Darth Vader’s voice for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series after actor James Earl Jones retired, as well as recreating French singer Edith Piaf's voice to posthumously "narrate" her own biopic, which is still in the making.

Beyond the film world, Respeecher has been using its technology to help preserve the endangered Crimean Tatar language, which faces increased repressions under Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Did The Brutalist use AI for anything else?

Not just used for voice corrections, however, AI was also employed to create some of Toth's architectural drawings and finished buildings featured in the Venice Biennale sequence towards the end of the film, according to Jancsó, though he doesn't specify (at the time of this article) what AI tool was used and whether the drawings were completely AI-generated.

"It is controversial in the industry to talk about AI, but it shouldn't be," the editor told RedShark News. "We should be having a very open discussion about what tools AI can provide us with. There's nothing in the film using AI that hasn't been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster. We use AI to create these tiny little details that we didn't have the money or the time to shoot."

Following the media attention Jancsó's interview received, director Corbet released a statement on Monday, specifically clarifying the use of AI in the Biennale sequence. "Judy Becker [production designer] and her team did not use AI to create or render any of the buildings. All images were hand-drawn by artists," he said. "To clarify, in the memorial video featured in the background of a shot, our editorial team created pictures intentionally designed to look like poor digital renderings circa 1980."

Corbet also commented on the use of Respeecher's software to refine Brody and Jones' Hungarian accents: "Adrien and Felicity’s performances are completely their own. They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy. No English language was changed. This was a manual process, done by our sound team and Respeecher in post-production. The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity’s performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft."

Following The Brutalist AI backlash, it reemerged that Respeecher's technology was also used to enhance Karla Sofía Gascón's singing voice in fellow Best Picture hopeful Emilia Pérez, with a 2024 interview from Cannes Film Festival with director Jacques Audiard (in which he confirms the use of AI in the film) recirculating online.

There have been growing concerns about the use of generative AI at the expense of filmmakers, from screenwriting to acting to music production. It was one of the main instigating topics of the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes in 2023. After months of negotiations, the strikers reached tentative agreements which aim to regulate the use of AI in the film industry.

Whether or not these revelations will affect The Brutalist's Oscar standing remains to be seen — the nominees will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 23. But they've ignited a fresh conversation around the use of AI in movie and TV production, whether the production team was ready to find themselves within it or not.

UPDATE: Jan. 21, 2025, 10:52 a.m. UTC Added Brady Corbert's statement and detail about the recirculated Jacques Audiard interview confirming AI use in "Emilia Pérez".

TorGuard was a solid, geeky VPN, and I was always happy to recommend it to everyone. However, upon reviewing it again, I encountered some issues that should cause prospective subscribers to hesitate, especially regarding performance.

There was a lot to unpack about Donald Trump's inauguration day, from viral hats to the speech itself and the reaction it had online.

In the Daily Show clip above Jon Stewart breaks the day down, from an awkward gesture from Eric Trump to a significantly worse gesture from Elon Musk which looked a lot like a Nazi salute.

"OK. Charitably I'm just going to say that was an awkward, my heart goes out to you gesture. Many of you might have done it like this," says Stewart, miming a gesture where he uses both hands and keeps them close to his chest. "But you know, listen, it's a ****ing nerve-wracking day, you're not normally a public speaker, it's a one-off gesture..." Cue Stewart playing another clip of Musk repeating the salute a second time, this time to the back of the stadium. "Son of a bitch."

Stewart goes on to talk about Joe Biden's last minute pardons for his family, before giving the whole day the following, fairly depressing summary.

"So the takeaway of this entire day was, a man who tried to overthrow the government has been peacefully handed the reins of power, and the outgoing president has started a new tradition of blanket pardoning everyone in his orbit," he says. "The two men creating a magnificent, snake-sucking-its-own-dick cycle of no accountability."