Technology

A lot of NAS builders, especially those using old-school mechanical drives, also tend to add an "SSD cache" to their units in an attempt to improve performance.

Setting up a fresh Linux system and getting it ready for your work can sometimes be a tedious time sink. It's why I have this 5-step approach to making it as fast as I can.

The base models of many Android phones, including the Pixel 10, come with 128GB of storage. To get more, you have to add as much as $100 onto the bill. Having enough storage on your phone is more important than ever, but it's not because of all those photos you're taking.

One of the best things about Jellyfin is how flexible it is. You can customize it to look just about any way you want, and the community around Jellyfin has made some stellar skins for that purpose. One of the best ones broke for me, but I found an even better replacement.

Defragmenting your drive, or defragging, used to be routine basic maintenance. But as our computers have evolved, so has the need to defrag.

I got to try a ton of awesome smart glasses at CES 2026, and one of the most exciting pairs is finally available. On Friday, TCL launched the new RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR glasses for $299 (early shoppers can save $50 at launch), which boast dual Micro-OLED displays for watching movies and playing games.

These smart glasses are the world's first to offer support for HDR10, and they can create a virtual screen up to 201 inches in size. They're also noticeably brighter and more vivid than other smart glasses I've tried, including the popular Xreal One Pro AR glasses, which I've tested and enjoyed. The Xreal One Pro glasses cost $650, and the cheapest competitors have a starting price of $499. As I wrote at the time, with a boundary-breaking display and a $299 price tag, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro seemed all set to completely disrupt this emerging market.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Shop Now

But there's a reason we don't write reviews after a short demo at CES. After spending more time with the RayNeo Air 4 Pro, they're not quite as big a threat to Xreal as I first thought.

Still, it's hard to argue with $299 smart glasses that feature a gorgeous micro-OLED display. For gaming and watching movies, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro are currently the best smart glasses on the market.

What are the RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR Glasses? Unboxing the RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The Air 4 Pro are augmented reality glasses that connect to a smartphone, laptop, gaming handheld, or other device. Simply plug them into any compatible device, and they should start to work immediately — no setup required. You do have to stay connected at all times via the included USB-C cable, but you don't have to worry about battery life, which is nice.

Using dual micro-OLED displays, smart glasses like this create a virtual screen that floats in the space in front of you. If you're plugged into a laptop, it will act as a second monitor. On a smartphone, it mirrors your display. While spatial computing gadgets like this are often designed for enhanced productivity, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro were specifically designed for entertainment.

Unboxing the RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

As TCL puts it in a press release, "RayNeo Air 4 Pro is like a television you can wear on your head...With Air 4 Pro, you can enjoy an IMAX-level private cinema in a crowded subway, a large-screen working environment during business trips, or an immersive gaming experience during breaks — this is the revolutionary experience brought by RayNeo Air 4 Pro."

The OLED displays support HDR10 and have two refresh rate options, 60 Hz or 120 Hz.

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR glasses: By the numbers Buttons on the arms control volume, brightness, and the menu. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Let's break down the specs before diving deeper into my full RayNeo Air 4 Pro review.

• Style: Augmented reality smart glasses

• Display: 0.6-inch micro-OLED display

• Screen size: 201 inches

• Brightness: Up to 1,200 nits

• Resolution: 1920x1080

• Refresh rate: 60 Hz, 120 Hz

• Color accuracy: ΔE

• Sound: Bang & Olufsen surround sound (4 speakers)

• Weight: 76 grams

In terms of fit and comfort, they're slightly lighter than Viture and Xreal glasses (though they're much heavier than display glasses like Even Realities G2). I haven't had any problems with comfort, though, because of my larger face size, the fit is a bit awkward. I have to fiddle to keep the whole virtual screen in sight.

The best smart glasses for entertainment They're comfortable and lightweight, though the USB-C tether can be annoying. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I've spent quite a bit of time testing the Xreal One Pro smart glasses, widely regarded to be the best AR glasses on the market right now. However, in my experience, the One Pro are most useful when working on the go, such as at a coffee shop or airplane, when you need an extra display. But with the new RayNeo AR/XR glasses, TCL is prioritizing an advanced display and audio.

The sound is high quality for smart glasses, though obviously they compare poorly to the best wireless earbuds. I found they have minimal (but not non-existent) sound leakage. When watching movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos, I was happy with the sound. I did experience some technical issues, however. When connected to my MacBook, I could not get the RayNeo Air 4 Pro to play audio instead of the MacBook speakers. That could be an Apple problem, of course.

The display is still impressive. If you've tried other AR glasses, you should notice an immediate difference. Color accuracy, motion blur, sharpness, and brightness are noticeably better here, particularly brightness. While the new Xreal 1S AR glasses max out at 700 nits, the RayNeo offer 1,200 nits. They also provide built-in eye protection (3840Hz PWM dimming) so your eyes don't tire out.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

However, it's not all rosy. I noticed a regular flicker effect when using the glasses, which was distracting. It wasn't so bad to render the glasses unusable, but it was a big pain point. I also found it difficult to get the entire display in my field of view, likely because I have a much larger head than the average person. You can adjust the angle of the lens to the frames and change out the nose guard, but sometimes the bottom of the screen would blur or disappear.

On the whole, you get a 201-inch virtual screen you can use to watch movies while traveling, lying in bed, or anytime you don't have access to a TV. It really is like having an OLED TV you can wear on your head.

Of course, that's also the $299 question: Do you want to wear an OLED TV on your face?

A beautiful display, but at a cost The TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses are missing some key features. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

It wasn't apparent in my initial demo, but the new RayNeo glasses are missing some very important features. With my Xreal glasses, I can easily adjust the size of the virtual screen, the angle of the virtual screen, and the distance. I can also activate a curved, ultra-wide display mode. Most importantly, I can anchor the display so that it freezes in a particular part of my eyeline, no matter how much I turn my head.

This spatial computing trick is especially handy when working, as I can anchor the screen just above or to the side of my laptop. RayNeo's virtual display moves with you. You may also be distracted by some reflection on the back of the glasses, which hasn't been a problem with Xreal to date.

In its press materials and on its website, TCL also talks about an immersive 3D feature, which can turn 2D photos and videos into 3D. This doesn't appear to be available yet, however.

Xreal's 3D conversion feature is live, and it's pretty damn cool.

Are the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro worth it? The TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro are lightweight and comfortable, but the USB-C tether can be annoying. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

For early adopters eager to try AR glasses for entertainment, I think this is the best option on the market in 2026, at least, for now. But as I already discussed, they come with tradeoffs, and Xreal has a large advantage for productivity and advanced features like 3D conversion. (If money is no object, wait for the ROG Xreal R1 Gaming Glasses coming later this year.)

I should also note that smart glasses are a very new product category. The average customer is an early adopter and a techie who's OK with some bugs and quirks if it means they're on the cutting edge. I think it's an open question whether the market will ultimately settle on AR headsets like the Vision Pro and Galaxy XR, or on AR smart glasses (like the ones Google is releasing later this year, and that Apple is rumored to be building for 2027).

I guess what I'm trying to tell you is this: We're grading smart glasses on a curve. If you're not an early adopter, they may not be for you.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses $249 at TCL
$299 Save $50   Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream India vs. West Indies in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 T20 World Cup action concludes this weekend with an absolutely huge game between India and West Indies. The winner of this fixture will progress to the semi finals. The loser will be dumped out. It's a winner-takes-all knockout game. It really doesn't get much bigger than this.

India and West Indies both suffered defeats to the impressive South Africa in this tricky group. They also both beat Zimbabwe to set up this all-important clash at Eden Gardens. The stadium is going to be electric.

If you want to watch India vs. West Indies in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is India vs. West Indies?

India vs. West Indies in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on March 1. This game takes place at the Eden Gardens.

How to watch India vs. West Indies for free

India vs. West Indies in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream India vs. West Indies in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free 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 a location with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

It's easy to fall into the trap of assuming that the default security settings for your smart home are the best way to keep your smart home protected. The problem is that these settings are often weak or publicly known. In many cases, you can make your smart home much more secure by changing the default settings.

Honor's got a new foldable phone, and it's even thinner than the last one.

The company had its big unveiling in Barcelona, one day before the official start of this year's Mobile World Congress, and the key word was "slim." Oh, and also "AI," but you already knew that.

As part of MWC, which officially runs from March 2-5, Honor has revealed its Magic V6 phone, the MagicPad 4, and MagicBook Pro. We've gotten an up-close look at all of them, and there is a lot to like.

Honor Magic V6

The Honor Magic V6 is a foldable smartphone that's just 8.75mm thick when closed (for comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is slightly thicker at 8.9mm). It has a 7.95-inch, 2,352x2,172 pixel inner display, as well as a 6.52-inch, 2,420x1,080 pixel exterior display, both with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Yeah, that's a lot of pixels for your eyes to feast on. Thankfully, the phone comes with a bunch of Honor technologies to make both displays easier on the eyes, including anti-glare coating, dynamic dimming, and motion sickness relief.

There's a pretty powerful camera system hiding in there. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The Magic V6 should be pretty durable thanks to a "super-strong" steel structure, as well as a nano-crystal shield protecting the displays (and also giving them anti-reflective properties). In fact, to prove how sturdy the phone is, Honor had a guy use it as a zipline link; check out the video below.

Inside, there's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 6,660mAh silicon-carbon battery with 80W wired and 66W wireless charging.

Just 8.75mm thick when folded. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The camera system on this one is pretty bonkers, too. The phone has a triple camera array, with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera. You also get two 20-megapixel selfie cameras, one for each display.

SEE ALSO: MWC 2026: What to expect at the world's largest phone show

Other features of note include stereo speakers and IP68/69 dust- and water-resistance rating.

On the AI side, you get Google Gemini, which should be embedded into numerous aspects of the phone. One interesting software aspects of this phone, which is a trend we're seeing a lot from Chinese manufacturers recently, is that it integrates well with Apple devices; you should, for example, be able to use an Apple Watch alongside this phone.

The Honor Magic V6 has an IP69 water resistance rating, and you can even fold and unfold it underwater. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The Honor Magic V6 will be available in "select markets" in the second half of 2026. It will be available in four colors: Gold, Red, White, and Black; pricing will be determined later.

Honor MagicPad 4

Honor also brought the MagicPad 4, an impressively thin 12.3-inch tablet that measures just 4.8mm in thickness (for comparison, Apple's 13-inch iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick).

The thinnest 12-inch tablet ever. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, 12/16GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, and a massive 10,100mAh battery with 66W wired charging. Other highlights include refresh rate going up to 165Hz, eight speakers with spatial audio, and a 13-megapixel rear camera coupled with a 9-megapixel selfie camera.

Software-wise, the MagicPad 4 is powered by Honor's MagicOS 10 on top of Android 16.

There's no word on pricing or exact availability date for the Honor MagicPad 4. It will be available in two colors: Gray and White.

Honor MagicBook Pro 14 A 14.6-inch OLED touchscreen, and 15.5 hours of battery life. Credit: Honor

Finally, the company also unveiled the new Honor MagicBook Pro 14, a 14.6-inch laptop with a 120Hz, OLED touch display, a battery that should last 15.5 hours in normal office work, 100W fast charging, stereo speakers, and a 1,080p front camera.

It can be configured with a range of Intel chips, from Intel Core Ultra 5 to Intel Core Ultra X9, as well as several GPUs, including Intel Arc B370 and B390. It comes with either 24GB or 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

In terms of connectivity, you get one USB-C port, two USB-A ports, a HDMI port, a memory card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Honor MagicBook Pro 14 will come with Windows 11 Home out of the box; there's no word on pricing and availability yet.

Oh, and Honor also brought a bunch of robotic gadgets which we cover in a separate article, including its first-ever humanoid robot, and the Honor Robot phone.

Mashable is on the ground at Mobile World Congress 2026. Follow along here as we bring you the latest reveals and surprises from Barcelona.

This March, Netflix is bringing a fresh roster of thrilling movies and shows to your screen. From the return of an iconic TV character to the introduction of new characters, this month, you can expect to add some exciting films to your watchlist.

The thought of downsizing a team to just a few—or even just one—sounds like a dream. Why have a team of hundreds when a team of dozens with AI can do the same job? This whole idea of the “10x developer” is dangerous and there’s no good outcome to it.

One way to impress a 3D printing skeptic is to show them some of the more impressive prints you have made. Few examples inspire wonder quite as much as those that use the print-in-place technique for more complex elements.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a frequent flyer.

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 March 1, 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: Appetizers

• Green: Building gear

• Blue: Jetsetting

• Purple: Looks can be deceiving

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Little bite

• Green: Construction equipment

• Blue: Vacation emoji

• Purple: Things you don't eat that end in foods

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 #994 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Little bite: CANAPÉ, FINGER FOOD, HORS D'OEUVRE, TAPA

• Construction equipment: HARD HAT, LADDER, NAIL GUN, TOOL BELT

• Vacation emoji: AIRPLANE, LUGGAGE, PALM TREE, SMILING FACE WITH SUNGLASSES

• Things you don't eat that end in foods: COPYPASTA, JOHANNESBURGER, KNUCKLE SANDWICH, LICORICE PIZZA

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 February 28, 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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're not on. your best behavior.

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 March 1, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Dressing down

The words are related to discipline.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to chastise.

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 The Riot Act.

NYT Strands word list for March 1

• Braidup

• The Riot Act

• Scold

• Castigate

• Reprimand

• Admonish

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you believe in coincidences.

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 March 1, 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 March 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A coincidence.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FLUKE

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 today's 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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, March 1, 2026:

AcrossStereotypical wearer of a letterman jacket

• The answer is Jock.

Surrounding glows

• The answer is Auras.

Eschew a heavy meal in favor of light snacks

• The answer is Graze.

The white stuff?

• The answer is Snow.

M.M.A. fight enders, for short

• The answer is KOs.

DownJacksonville N.F.L. player, informally

• The answer is Jag.

"But this love is ___" (Taylor Swift lyric)

• The answer is Ours.

Grumbly sort

• The answer is Crank.

Instrument that buzzes

• The answer is Kazoo.

Uses needle and thread

• The answer is Sews.

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

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.

Spend any amount of time browsing the internet, and you will inevitably run into a site that demands you prove you're not a robot. It might ask you to click or slide a button, solve a puzzle, mark things on the road, or even play a little game. Is it impossible for robots to pass those tests? It's not. Why are we keeping robots off the internet in the first place?

Xiaomi likes to bring cars to Barcelona; the company gave us the first glimpse of its SU7 Ultra supercar during last year's MWC in March.

This year, however, Xiaomi has unveiled something that's pretty far out there, even by its own standards. Called the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo, it's a hypercar that was designed to go really fast while slicing through the air in a way not many cars (or race cars, for that matter) can (Xiaomi says it's been "sculpted by the wind").

It feels kinda empty in there. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The company will bring the concept car to its MWC show floor in Barcelona on March 2, presumably when we'll learn more about its powertrain, acceleration, battery, and other trivialities. Today, however, Xiaomi was mostly focused on how the air flows through the car, using a variety of wind tunnels and channels (and even a moving part on the car's bottom) to make it more efficient.

The wheels and wheel covers are special, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Even the car's wheels have special covers that are (somehow) magnetically set in place so they don't rotate while the car moves, as that would also increase drag.

I bet your car doesn't have a cocoon-shaped sofa. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Inside, it gets even nuttier. The seats are out; instead, you sit in a "cocoon-shaped sofa" with an x-wing steering wheel with five tiny displays, some of which apparently double as (contextual?) buttons. Most of the things you associate with a traditional car are gone; instead, it's you in that sofa-shaped cockpit, that steering wheel, and the road. The car's a two-seater, so don't expect to bring your family on a trip in this one.

Fortunately, you might be able to get a cocoon-shaped sofa/cockpit for your home. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

In fact, most people probably won't be able to afford a car like this, but Xiaomi's got you covered, as it plans to release a gaming console/cockpit shaped just like the car's cockpit, so you can race around in your own little cocoon in the relative safety of your home.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi 17 Ultra hands-on: The cameraphone with a monstrous zoom

We don't know how fast it goes. We don't know where the batteries are, given that the car appears to be mostly wind tunnels under that cockpit. We don't know if it's ever going to make it to market. But boy, does it all look cool.

We'll hopefully find out more on March 2 when that show floor opens, so stay tuned for pics and videos.

We knew that Honor is about to bring its oddball Robot Phone to this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

What we didn't know, however, that the company is also bringing its first-ever AI-powered humanoid robot to the show.

SEE ALSO: MWC 2026: What to expect at the world's largest phone show

Honor announced the news on Monday via a teaser video on X, featuring both the Robot Phone and its robotic camera, and the unnamed humanoid robot.

"Something revolutionary is about to step out of the shadows. We’ve combined cutting-edge robotics with the ultimate mobile experience. The result? Something you have to see to believe," the company wrote in a tweet.

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The video actually gives us a decent glimpse of the robot, which looks just like you'd expect: a humanoid clad in matte black with a glass face, and a light bar where its eyes should be (the robot also appears to have a single camera on its forehead). In another image (below), sent to Mashable by Honor, the robot is seen from the side.

Slightly odd head shape on this one, but we'll let it slide for now. Credit: Honor

Honor shared some details about the upcoming robot with Bloomberg. Apparently, the robot will be a "service robot" which should be able to help you out with shopping, among other tasks.

Other details are scarce, except that the robot will somehow be connected with Honor's Robot Phone, which will also be shown in Barcelona.

Mashable will be there to cover Honor's event in Barcelona, which kicks off at 7 a.m. ET on March 1, 2026, so stay tuned for more updates on the company's fast-expanding robotics portfolio of products.

Xiaomi's strategy when it comes to phones, tablets, and accompanying accessories, appears to be pretty simple: Make it as Apple-like as possible, while still using the best that the Android ecosystem has to offer.

The company's new Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro, launched during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, is no different. It's a powerful, 11.2-inch tablet with slim black bezels, a metallic unibody frame, and a set of accessories that can turn it into a compact, portable computer, including a pen and two different keyboards.

The Xiaomi Magic Keyboard Pro Focus. Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Inside, you'll find a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a 9,200mAh battery, 8/12GB of RAM, 128/256/512GB of storage, and quad speakers with Hi-Res audio and Dolby Atmos support. The 50-megapixel main camera on the back coupled with a 32-megapixel selfie camera sounds like overkill for a tablet, but then again, why not?

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All tablets look similar. But having spent some time with the device I can tell you that the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro really wears its influence on the sleeve. Its dimensions are nearly identical to the 11-inch iPad Pro, down to the thinness and weight (Xiaomi: 5.75mm and 485 grams, iPad Pro: 5.3mm and 444 grams), and Xiaomi's Magic Keyboard Pro Focus is a dead ringer for Apple's Magic Keyboard (XIaomi also offers a more portable version called the Xiaomi Magic Keyboard Pro). Heck, even the Xiaomi Focus Pen Pro looks pretty much exactly like Apple Pencil.

There's an optional pen, and another, lighter keyboard on offer as well. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The good news is that Xiaomi's tablet and accessories all quality-made, so if you don't mind the similarities with Apple, you don't have to worry about them not being good. In other words: It's not just a cheap knock-off.

In fact, Xiaomi's tablet beats its competitors in several regards. Both of its cameras are pretty amazing for a tablet. It has fast 67W charging. The 3.2K display is as crisp as they come. Battery seems to lasts forever if you're browsing or reading, or even using it as a secondary display (yes, you can do that even if you have a Mac). Sure, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro not an absolute powerhouse like the iPad Pro, as it has a smartphone chip, but I think the vast majority of users don't need their tablet to be more powerful. For what it's worth, I've found Xiaomi's Pad 8 Pro to be very snappy in common everyday tasks.

Xiaomi's HyperOS software could use some work, though. It, too, is extraordinarily similar to Apple's iPadOS, down to the icon design. But sometimes you can tell it's an adaptation of a smartphone OS. For example, I was frustratingly enable to set up even the simplest of widgets the way I wanted them on the screen, as the widgets take up tons of empty space for no good reason. AI is baked in, of course, in the form of Google Gemini; you can invoke the assistant with a long press of the power button.

You can get the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro in Blue, Gray, and (pictured) Pine Green. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Depending on which keyboard you choose, you'll either get a slightly bulkier tablet that feels more like a tiny laptop, or a truly portable tablet that also happens to have a decent keyboard. I'd probably opt for the bulkier Magic Keyboard Pro Focus, simply because it has a touchpad.

Despite the fancy keyboards, this thing is not a great replacement for a laptop, but neither is the iPad. Instead, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is a pro-looking Android tablet that will excel at things tablets are for: Browsing, reading, gaming, and some light work.