Technology

Amazon deal of the day: The Sonos Arc soundbar is the cheapest its ever been

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 18:27
Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Jan. 23: OUR TOP PICK Sonos Arc soundbar $649 (save $250) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra + $200 Amazon gift card $1,419.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 $144 (save $55.99) Get Deal BEST KIDS DEAL Amazon Fire 7 Kids $59.99 (save $40) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum $139.99 (save $110) Get Deal

January may not be known for any major shopping holidays, but that doesn't mean you can't find deals. Amazon's daily deals page always has some gems floating around — you just need to sort through a bit of chaos to find them. Fortunately, we've done the sorting for you and handpicked a few of the best deals we think are worth your money.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Jan. 23. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to take a look at our picks from earlier this week. Many of those are still live, including $250 off the M3 MacBook Air.

Our top pick: Sonos Arc soundbar Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc soundbar $649.00 at Amazon
$899.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

As our friends at PCMag (also owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) noted in their review, "The impressive Sonos Arc takes the best parts of the company's other soundbars and combines them into one Dolby Atmos-compatible package." Its audio profile is fantastic, with crisp dialogue, thumping bass, and deep layers bolstered by Dolby Atmos. The main thing holding us back from recommending the Sonos Arc as one of our top soundbar picks is the $899 price tag. As of Jan. 23, however, Amazon has it on sale for a more approachable $649. That's 28% in savings and its best price ever.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Cell Phone + $200 Amazon Gift Card Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra + $200 Amazon gift card $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Just announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, when you pre-order the brand-new Galaxy S25 Ultra (unlocked) with either 256GB or 512GB of storage, you'll get a free $200 Amazon gift card to spend on future purchases. Orders will start shipping on Feb. 7, so you'll get your gift card alongside your new phone. Compared to its predecessor, the S25 Ultra upgrades the camera and processor, is slightly larger, and features even more impressive AI features (of course). It won't look too much different than the S24 Ultra, but it'll wow you in terms of internal updates.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 $144.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $55.99 Get Deal

For a speaker of its size, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 is pretty impressive. It offers 360-degree sound with punchy bass, balance, and clarity that lasts for up to 20 hours on a single charge. It's also virtually indestructible thanks to IP67 waterproofing. We haven't tested this specific speaker, but we did spend time with its pint-size sibling (the Wonderboom 4) and it's one of our top picks. Usually $199.99, it's on sale for just $144 at Amazon as of Jan. 23. That's 28% in savings and a record-low for the blue colorway.

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids $59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

Our favorite tablet for preschoolers, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids is a virtually indestructible device packed with parental controls and exciting kid-friendly apps. The rubbery case is built to withstand drops or spills, but even if your toddler manages to mess it up, Amazon will send you a new one anytime within two years. Parents can customize screen time limits, age filters, limited access to certain apps, and schedules. Plus, it comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+, which unlocks access to over 20,000 different apps. It may not have an HD screen, but we're pretty sure your 3-year-old won't be able to tell the difference. Snag it on sale for just $59.99 instead of the usual $99.99 as of Jan. 23. That's 40% in savings.

Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum $139.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

If you want to invest in hands-free cleaning on a budget, the Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum can get the job done for cheap — just $139.99 as of Jan. 23. That's 44% off its usual cost. It packs over 10 infrared sensors to keep it in touch with its surroundings, including anti-collision and anti-drop sensors. It also offers 2000Pa of suction power, a three-point cleaning system, and a remote control to help you set up schedules and pick cleaning patterns. It's not the best choice for high-pile carpets or for fancy features, but it can glide over just about any other floor type with ease and won't require you to dig into your savings account.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S25+ and score a free $100 Amazon gift card

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 18:26

GET A FREE $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD: Preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) and get a free $100 Amazon gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) + free $100 Amazon gift card Get Deal

Samsung Unpacked brought on the announcement of the brands latest flagship models. If you're looking for a powerhouse Android device but don't want to spend over $1,000, the S25+ might be a great option. And if you preorder from Amazon, you'll be in for a nice surprise.

Until Feb. 6, preorders for the Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) come with a free $100 Amazon gift card. The 256 Galaxy S25+ is priced at $999.99 while the 512GB model is $1,119.99. Orders are expected to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is a step up compared to the base S25 model. Maybe the most noticeable difference is the larger screen size, with the S25+ coming with 6.7-inch display, compared to the 6.2-inch display on the S25 base model.

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

The S25+ also packs in a larger battery, which can be great if you're often away from a charger for longer periods of time.

Like the other Galaxy S25 phones, the S25+ uses the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and comes with pretty fancy AI features like Circle to Search which allows you to circle anything on your phone screen and ask Google to search it.

If you're in line to upgrade to the new Samsung Galaxy S25+, preorder from Amazon to score a free $100 Amazon gift card. Not only will you be getting the newest Android device, you'll have some serious spending money at Amazon for a future purchase.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2025 Oscar snubs: Challengers, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, and more

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 18:24

The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards dropped on Thursday, and as always, the list came with its fair share of snubs and surprises.

SEE ALSO: 2025 Oscar nominations: See the full list

Jacques Audiard's Emilia Pérez received 13 nominations, but Selena Gomez — who'd been nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her performance — lost out on a Supporting Actress nod. Coralie Fargeat's The Substance earned five nominations, but Margaret Qualley's supporting turn, which earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods, was not among them. Elsewhere, movies like Babygirl, Challengers, and Queer came up totally empty, even after earning nominations at other major awards like the Golden Globes.

What where the biggest snubs of the Oscar nominations this year? Let's get into it.

Challengers gets blanked.

Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, one of Mashable's best movies of 2024, got completely shut out at the 2025 Oscar nominations, even after getting Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture — Musical/Comedy and for Zendaya's leading performance. While it missed out on nominations in those fields at this year's Oscars, the most surprising snub of all here is undoubtedly the lack of recognition for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' pulsing techno score. Not only did their work turn a tense tennis mash into a full-on rave — it also won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score over four of the five Oscar nominees. (Somehow, Wicked got in instead.)

SEE ALSO: Still haven't seen 'Challengers?' Here's how to watch the steamy Zendaya flick now. Daniel Craig misses out on a nomination for Queer.

After earning Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild nominations, Daniel Craig missed out on his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Luca Guadagnino's Queer. The rest of the movie came up empty-handed, but it's the lack of Craig that stings the most, because, as Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review of Queer, "Craig is mesmerizing as Lee, swanning from catty gossip sessions to carnal encounters to body-rattling withdrawals and psychedelic splendors. It's easy to be beguiled by his charms, including a suave sex appeal made less intimidating by his tendency toward silliness."

SEE ALSO: How Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey filmed the ayahuasca scene in 'Queer' The Oscars fail to recognize Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two.

In 2022, the Academy Awards snubbed Denis Villeneuve for his direction of Dune, and I thought, "Well, surely they won't do that again." But the Academy loves to surprise me, because they repeated their egregious mistake this year by failing to recognize Villeneuve's work on the arguably more challenging Dune: Part Two. That's the sci-fi equivalent of not nominating Peter Jackson for directing any of The Lord of the Rings installments!

SEE ALSO: Denis Villeneuve breaks down the evolution of sandworms in 'Dune: Part Two' Nicole Kidman, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Pamela Anderson, and Angelina Jolie lose out on Best Actress nominations.

The Best Actress race this year was a bloodbath (when is it not?), with Babygirl's Nicole Kidman, Hard Truths' Marianne Jean-Baptiste, The Last Showgirl's Pamela Anderson, and Maria's Angelina Jolie all losing out. Each snub was surprising in its own way. Kidman won the 2024 Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, while also earning a Golden Globe nomination. Jean-Baptiste earned BAFTA and Critics Choice nominations, and was a repeated favorite with Critics Associations. Anderson picked up Golden Globe and SAG nods, and Jolie was recognized by the Golden Globes and Critics Choice. None of these accolades, however, translated to an Oscar nomination.

Denzel Washington gets snubbed for his Gladiator II performance.

Of the six actors nominated for Best Supporting Actor at this year's Golden Globes, the only actor not to make it into the category at the Oscars was Denzel Washington for his performance in Gladiator II. In her Mashable review, Puchko raved that, "Denzel Washington steals this movie," so it's a shame that his scene-stealing turn was denied an Oscar nod.

How to watch: The 97th Academy Awards will air on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Home Emergency Kit Needs USB and Solar-Powered Lights

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 18:00

Toss out those old disposable battery-powered flashlights and stop using the LED light on your phone. The next time you have a power outage, rechargeable LED lanterns or inflatable solar-powered lights are a much better choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab a refurbished Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer at Walmart for $210 less than a new model

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 17:58

SAVE $130: As of Jan. 23, get a refurbished Dyson Supersonic hair dryer at Walmart for $219.99, down from the usual refurbished price of $349.99. That's a discount of 41%, and a full $210 less than a new model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer (Refurbished) $219.99 at Walmart
$349.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Whether you have long, thick hair or a shorter style, drying your hair can feel like a chore. But you don't want to leave it wet and go out in the cold weather, or deal with stringy wet hair instead of a polished style. That's where a great hair dryer comes in. Our favorite professional hair dryer for a salon-quality blowout is the Dyson Supersonic, and you can get one for a great price at Walmart right now.

As of Jan. 23, get a refurbished Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in the Ceramic Pink/Rose Gold colorway at Walmart for just $219.99, which is $130 (or 41%) off its normal refurbished price of $349.99, and a full $210 less than springing for a brand-new model.

SEE ALSO: I tried 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype

This famous hair dryer is usually prohibitively expensive, but as it's refurbished, you're saving a nice little bundle. We named it the best professional hair dryer in the world, and for good reason. It dries quickly with less intense heat thanks to its digital V9 motor, and its design makes it more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time.

It's bladeless, and it uses power and precision for three different speed settings and four heat settings to get your hair dry but smooth and polished all in one go. Plus, it comes with multiple attachments for working on different kinds of style. And this colorway is so chic.

If you're interested in trying out a hair dryer we absolutely love for decidedly less than it usual price, head over to Walmart and snag your own.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tumblr Now Wants to Compete With TikTok, Too

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 17:43

With TikTok getting in trouble with the US government, it seems everyone wants to try and take over the short video format for themselves. Instagram is suspiciously trying to push its Reels feature more aggressively now, with rewards to creators and other changes to the app. Now, even Tumblr is getting into the action.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro for their lowest price ever at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 17:34

SAVE $130: Get the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro for their new lowest price ever of $99.99. Normally $229.99, these earbuds are now $130 off for 56% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro $99.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

If you've been hanging onto the hype out of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked, and are getting ready to upgrade to a new Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone, we're right there with you. Whether you're new to the Samsung ecosystem or are well acquainted, you can fully dive in with a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

As of Jan. 23, you can grab the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro on sale for $99.99, down from $229.99. That's $130 off, or a 56% discount, and their lowest price ever. There's an $80 discount now automatically being applied at checkout — no coupon necessary.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best earbuds to buy in 2025

Despite being pleased by their performance in our tests (our reviewer said they're "a no-brainer for Samsung fans"), we don't love their list price, but this serious discount makes them an easy buy.

Just like Apple has AirPods that are built to work within the iOS ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are built to work with Samsung phones. They have excellent audio quality with fantastic active noise cancellation, too. When used with Samsung phones, you can set up touch settings on the earbuds so you can control playback. However, this is only available on Samsung devices; when used with iPhones, you lose that customization.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a free $200 Amazon gift card when you preorder the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 17:33

GET A FREE $200 GIFT CARD: Preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) and get a free $200 Amazon gift card. Orders are set to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) + free $200 Amazon gift card Get Deal

For those who like to keep up with the latest phone trends, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra aims to impress, and it comes with some of the most advanced AI features around. We still have a few weeks until consumers can get their hands on the new phone, but if your preorder from Amazon, you'll be in for a special treat.

As of Jan. 23, preorders at Amazon for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB) come with a free $200 Amazon gift card. The 256GB version costs $1,299.99 while the larger 512 model comes in at $1,419.99. The phone and gift card are set to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

The recently announced Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra spells the cutting edge of Android smartphones. Compared to the S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra comes with upgrades to the camera, size, and snazzier AI features.

It's also worth mentioning we didn't see an uptick in price with the S25 Ultra, compared to the S24 Ultra. Both models cost $1,299.99 for the 256GB version and $1,419.99 for the 512GB version. That means, when not on sale, you might as well go for the newest model.

The Samsung Ultra S25 is ever so slightly larger than the S24 Ultra, measuring 6.9 inches and 6.8 inches, respectively. It's also using the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy.

Of course, the Ultra S25 comes with an S Pen and all its handy features. In terms of AI, the phone adds some fun features, like the ability to ask Google to search for a Thai restaurant near you and then text the address to a friend, for a truly hands-off experience.

If you have plans to snag the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and you're looking to buy the unlocked model, preorder today from Amazon and you'll be rewarded with a free $200 Amazon gift card. Since the gift card never expires, you'll be able to cash in on the savings on any future order.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best Budget Laptops of 2025

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 17:30

When you don't need to run the latest games at max settings or just need a competent workhorse, budget laptops can offer the best price-to-performance by cutting away some unnecessary features or shrinking the form factor.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Install Software on Ubuntu: A Beginner's Guide to Snap and APT

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 17:00

Finding and installing software on Ubuntu Linux can be confusing at first. This guide will show you how to install, update, and remove any application you may need on your Ubuntu system!

Categories: IT General, Technology

Community notes are coming to Instagram. Heres how theyll work.

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 16:18

Meta is working on implementing community notes on Instagram and Threads.

Shortly after CEO Mark Zuckerberg's big pivot away from fact checking and into community notes, Meta's Threads and Instagram appear to be working on implementing the feature.

This was spotted by mobile developer and leaker Alessandro Paluzzi, who posted a screenshot of the new feature in action, both on Instagram and on Threads.

View on Threads

From Paluzzi's screenshots, presumably taken from a test version of the feature, it appears that the community note option will show up when you click or tap on the three dot menu in a post on Threads or Instagram.

Paluzzi says that the note is anonymous, and that it may get published on the post if it's rated helpful by other users.

When announcing the feature, Zuckerberg argued that "fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created."

SEE ALSO: Instagram is showing your friends which Reels you’ve liked

The move echoes a similar pivot on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter), which also relies on crowdsourced fact-checking via community notes. However, this didn't work particularly well, as misinformation on the platform increased instead of decreasing.

In another big pivot, Instagram and Threads will soon start recommending political content to its users, despite the company's long-standing stance that this is a bad idea.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2025 Oscar nominations: See the full list

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 15:30

The 97th Academy Awards are coming this March, and will boast Conan O'Brien as their hilarious host. But the Oscars got off to a thrilling step this morning, with a pair of comic stars, Bowen Yang (Wicked) and Rachel Sennott (Saturday Night), announcing the nominations live from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Last year saw Barbie and Oppenheimer face off, with the latter scoring Best Picture. This year, what will the Academy declare very best films of 2024? The Golden Globes bestowed its titular trophy upon Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist, Flow, Conclave, A Different Man, A Real Pain, Wicked, and The Substance.

SEE ALSO: 2025 Oscar snubs: 'Challengers,' Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, and more

But how will these films, varied, controversial, and compelling play to Oscar's nomination committee? Find out below! Mashable will be updating this article live as the announcements hit, beginning at 8:30 AM ET/ 5:30 AM PT.

Here is the full list of the 2025 Oscar nominations:

Best Picture

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

I'm Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance

Wicked

Best Director

Sean Baker, Anora

Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez

Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

SEE ALSO: 'The Substance' creator, Coralie Fargeat, on reclaiming aggression and rage for women Best Lead Actor

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

Best Lead Actress

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance

Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here

Best Supporting Actor

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Best Supporting Actress

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Best Adapted Screenplay

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Nickel Boys

Sing Sing

Best Original Screenplay

Anora

The Brutalist

A Real Pain

September 5

The Substance

Best Cinematography

The Brutalist

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

Maria

Nosferatu

Best Live Action Short Film

"Alien"

"Anuja"

"I’m Not a Robot"

"The Last Ranger"

"A Man Who Would Not Remain Silent"

Best Animated Feature Film

Flow

Inside Out 2

Memoir of a Snail

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Wild Robot

Best Animated Short Film

"Beautiful Men"

"In the Shadow of the Cypress"

"Magic Candies"

"Wander to Wonder"

"Yuck!"

Best Costume Design

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Gladiator II

Nosferatu

Wicked

Best Original Score

The Brutalist

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

The Wild Robot

Best Sound

A Complete Unknown

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

The Wild Robot

Best Original Song

"El Mal." Emilia Pérez

"The Journey," The Six Triple Eight

"Like a Bird," Sing Sing

"Mi Camino," Emilia Pérez

"Never Too Late," Elton John: Never Too Late

Best Documentary Feature

Black Box Diaries

No Other Land

Porcelain War

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Sugarcane

Best Documentary Short Subject

"Death By Numbers"

"I Am Ready, Warden"

"Incident"

"Instruments of a Beating Heart"

"The Only Girl in the Orchestra"

Best Film Editing

Anora

The Brutalist

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

Best International Feature Film

I'm Still Here

The Girl With the Needle

Emilia Pérez

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Flow

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

A Different Man

Emilia Pérez

Nosferatu

The Substance

Wicked

Best Production Design

The Brutalist

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Wicked

Best Visual Effects

Alien: Romulus

Better Man

Dune: Part Two

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Wicked

How to watch: The 97th Academy Awards will air on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Create iPhone and iPad Limits for Your Kids With Family Sharing

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 15:30

Do you want to control what your child watches on their iPhone or iPad? Or would you like to ensure that no purchases are made from the App Store without your permission? In either case, you can use the Family Sharing feature to set limits on what your child can do on their device.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Building a Budget PC? 4 Reasons Why Last-Gen Hardware Still Rocks

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 15:00

Building your dream PC on PCPartPicker is exciting—until the final cost wipes the smile off your face. But it doesn't have to be this way. You can still get most of the performance with slightly older hardware at a fraction of the price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Working on Windows 11 Across Timezones? Learn These 5 Tricks

How-To Geek - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 14:00

If you work from different time zones or interact with people working at different locations, it makes sense to add those time zones to your Windows 11 PC. This makes checking out the date and current time in those locations easier.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. S23: Should you upgrade?

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 13:29

Samsung officially announced the new Galaxy S25 line of phones at its Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event. 

While plenty of comparisons will be made between the Samsung Galaxy S25 and its predecessor, the Galaxy S24, Mashable knows that a good chunk of people actually upgrade to the a new smartphone every two-years.

This means that for those Samsung Galaxy users, the real comparison is between the new Galaxy S25 and their current model, the two-year old Samsung Galaxy S23. Lets take a look at the two.

Galaxy S25 vs S23: AI, chipset are the major factors

Let's be up front: For the casual smartphone user, the upgrades between phone models are getting less noticeable.

However, for those looking to fully take advantage of all the newly announced AI features, this is where the difference between the S25 and S23 will really shine through.

The Galaxy S25 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which is reportedly more powerful than even Apple's Apple A18 Pro chip powering the iPhone 16 Pro line of smartphones. The Snapdrop 8 Elite chipset is also said to be nearly 50 percent more powerful than the previous Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The two-year old Galaxy S23 is powered by the chip released prior to that one, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, so it's a massive upgrade.

Samsung's new AI features and the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip were built to work perfectly in tandem. So, if you're planning on using them, this smartphone upgrade is for you.

Galaxy S25 vs S23: Everything else

The difference in processing power is obviously a major factor. But, looking at everything else, the upgrades seem pretty standard from what you'd see year-after-year without any major leaps in technology or new must-have features.

When it comes to memory, the base model of the Galaxy S25 comes with 12GB of RAM as opposed to just 8GB for the S23, so that might be one of the next big draws to upgrade to the latest Galaxy phone.

Design wise, the Galaxy S25 and the S23 look pretty similar with no really major changes other than a slight bump in the display size. The Galaxy S25 has a slightly bigger screen at 6.2 inches when compared to the S23's 6.1 inch display.

The biggest overall changes to the design between the two Samsung Galaxy phones is likely the color options to choose from when making the upgrade. The Samsung S25 comes in Navy, Icyblue, Mint, Silver Shadow, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold. The Samsung S23 only has four color options to choose from.

If you use your Galaxy phone to take lots of photos and videos, then unfortunately there's not much here for you in terms of an upgrade. The Samsung Galaxy S25 has the same three cameras: Wide, ultrawide, and telephoto.

Battery-wise, there's not much of an upgrade on paper. The Galaxy S25 has a 4,000 mAH battery compared to the 3,900 mAH battery of the S23. However, there are a few additional factors here that can make a difference. For one, if your two-year old Galaxy S23 may not be holding a charge like it once did when it was brand new and it might make sense to upgrade. But, also, in addition to that, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is reportedly much more energy efficient, which should translate to less strain on the battery resulting in a longer battery life.

Galaxy S25 vs S23: Should you upgrade?

So, should you upgrade from the Galaxy S23 to the Galaxy S25? The answer to the big question is really dependent on your needs.

If you're completely happy with your Galaxy S23, then there's probably nothing new here in the Galaxy S25 for you. However, if you feel like your Galaxy S23 is slow and can't keep up with your usage or you are sure you'll be regularly utilizing AI features, then the upgrade to the Galaxy S25 makes perfect sense.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) $799.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Pre-Order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 23, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 13:19

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 23 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 23, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Higher or superior.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter P appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter U.

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...

UPPER.

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 23

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 23, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 13:18

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 23 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: The act of exceeding or surpassing others

  • Green: Brought for an outdoor meal

  • Blue: Iconic archaeologist's outfit and gear

  • Purple: Words that rhyme with former heads of state

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: Outdo

  • Green: Picnic Accessories

  • Blue: Parts of an Indiana Jones Costume

  • Purple: Rhymes of U.S. President Names

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 #592 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Outdo: BETTER, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP

  • Picnic Accessories: BASKET, BLANKET, COOLER, UTENSILS

  • Parts of an Indiana Jones Costume: BOMBER, FEDORA, SATCHEL, WHIP

  • Rhymes of U.S. President Names: PAGAN, SMARTER, VIXEN, WIDEN

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 23

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 23

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 13:18

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: Football mascots

  • Green: How to get in the pool

  • Blue: Like _______

  • Purple: Types of races

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: NFL teams in singular form

  • Green: Diving positions

  • Blue: Famous Mikes

  • Purple: ______ race

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 #122 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • NFL teams in singular form - BEAR, BILL, DOPLHIN, PACKER

  • Diving positions - FREE, PIKE, STRAIGHT, TUCK

  • Famous Mikes - BOSSY, EVANS, PIAZZA, TROUT

  • _____ race - HORSE, PENNANT, RELAY, ROAD

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for January 23

Mashable - Thu, 01/23/2025 - 13:17

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 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 23 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Udderly delicious

These words are not for the lactose-intolerant.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are foods produced by cow by-products.

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 DairyProducts.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 23
  • Milk

  • Yogurt

  • Cheese

  • Butter

  • Gelato

  • Custard

  • DairyProducts

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology
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