Technology

Whether you're looking for a kid-friendly tablet or a compact laptop replacement, there are plenty of excellent options out there. If you're not exactly sure which tablet you should buy, we've got one simple question to help narrow down your search: Are you an Apple person? We tested the entire iPad lineup, and though iPads are our preferred tablets in 2026, we also love some of the best tablets from Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft. So, whatever your preferences, we've got a tablet to recommend.

It hasn't been the best year for tech prices either. With RAMaggedon, nearly all tech brands have raised prices on their products. Tablets have not been immune, and many of the models on this list were impacted. While we still stand by our picks, no one likes rising prices.

What's new in this guide?

• August 2026, we added the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 to this guide as the best tablet for gaming.

• June 2026, we added the Lenovo Yoga Tab as our new favorite Android tablet. The Amazon Fire HD 8 was also added as our favorite Amazon Fire tablet.

• March 2026, we updated this guide to include the iPad Air with M4 chip, replacing the previous Air model. We also added the iPad Pro (M5) as the best iPad for professionals, as well as the OnePlus Pad Go 2 as the best budget Android tablet.

The best streaming deals to watch "Hokum" at a glance: Buy or rent it Buy or rent "Hokum" on Prime Video $9.99 or $5.99 Shop Now Buy or rent it Buy or rent "Hokum" on Apple TV $9.99 or $5.99 Get Deal Buy or rent it Buy or rent "Hokum" on Fandango $9.99 or $5.99 Get Deal Stream it as of Oct. 10 Hulu annual subscription $124.99 per year (save $24.89) Get Deal Stream it as of Oct. 10 Hulu and Disney+ bundle $11.99/month for 6 months ($12.99/month thereafter) (save $12.99/month) Get Deal Stream it as of Oct. 10 Hulu and Disney+ Student bundle $6.49 per month (save $6.50 per month) Get Deal Stream it as of Oct. 10 Hulu (with ads) free for select T-Mobile customers (save $11.99 per month) Get Deal

It's been a pretty epic year for horror, but one of the major standouts is Damian McCarthy's Hokum, starring Adam Scott. And now it's finally coming to the streaming world, so you can scream from the comfort of your couch.

Mashable's Kristy Puchko caught the SXSW premiere of Hokum earlier this year and called it "a seriously scary masterpiece" in her review, confessing that she screamed herself hoarse in the theater. Not only did we name it one of our favorite horror films of 2026, but it also cracked the top five on our list of the best films of the year (so far) in general.

It hit theaters in May and made its digital debut in June, so it's been a fairly long wait. If you haven't seen it yet (or you can't wait to see it again), you can finally stream Hokum at home in October. Here's what you need to know.

What is Hokum about?

Hokum follows Ohm Bauman (Scott) as he travels to a remote hotel in Ireland to scatter his parents' ashes where they spent their honeymoon. But before he can get the job done, he becomes consumed by the mystery of a missing woman and the local lore of the haunted honeymoon suite at the inn.

Check out the full trailer:

How to watch Hokum at home Credit: NEON

Hokum opened in theaters nationwide on May 1, 2026. It's been a bit of a wait, but it's now officially available to watch at home in a couple of different ways. As of Oct. 10, 2026, you can buy it or rent it on digital retailers for as low as $5.99 or stream it. I've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Hokum made its at-home debut via video-on-demand retailers on June 2, 2026. You can purchase it for your digital library for $9.99 or rent it for $5.99.

Here are some quick links to buy the film on digital:

• Apple TV — $9.99 to buy, $5.99 to rent

• Fandango at Home — $9.99 to buy, $5.99 to rent

• Prime Video — $9.99 to buy, $5.99 to rent

Stream it on Hulu

Hokum will finally make its streaming debut on Hulu on Oct. 10, 2026, just in time for spooky season. If you don't already have a Hulu subscription, we have some bad news. Unfortunately, Hulu just underwent another price hike, bringing a basic subscription with ads up to $12.49 per month. There are some ways you can save, though, and we've rounded up the best ongoing Hulu streaming deals below.

The best Hulu streaming dealsBest Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $124.99 per year (save $24.89) Get Deal

An annual Hulu plan is your best bet for cutting back on the cost of a subscription. You'll pay for a year up front for $124.99 (which breaks down to $10.42 per month) instead of $149.88. That's about 17% or just shy of $25 in savings. It's not the biggest discount ever, but every dollar counts.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 50% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu and Disney+ (with ads) $11.99 per month for 6 months (save $12.99/month) Get Deal

The Disney bundle plans are still the best deals in the streaming world, despite recently increasing in price. For a limited time, you can sign up for a six-month subscription to both Hulu and Disney+ for only $11.99 per month (reg. $24.98 per month). That means you'll get one streaming service completely for free for six months. After the six-month promotional period, you'll pay just a dollar more per month — still a damn good deal if you ask me.

Best for students: Save 50% on the Hulu and Disney+ Student bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu and Disney+ Student bundle (with ads) $6.49 per month (save $6.50 per month) Get Deal

College students can slash 50% or $6.50 per month off the Hulu and Disney+ bundle with ads. Sign up through the Student promotional page and verify your college email address via SheerID, then the price will drop from $12.99 to just $6.49 per month. The deal is valid as long as your student status can be verified.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) free for select customers Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

The only way you can get Hulu for free in 2026 is through T-Mobile's Go5G Next and Experience Beyond plans (you'll also get Netflix for free and Apple TV+ for $3). If you're already on one of these plans, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. Just enter your T-Mobile number and account details to sign up for Hulu.

The best Amazon Prime offers: Amazon Prime Free for 30 days Get Deal Prime for Young Adults $7.49/month (free trial available) Get Deal Prime Visa Card $150 gift card at sign-up (earn 5% back at Amazon) Learn More

Amazon is bringing back its members-only Prime Big Deal Days sale this October, and the big event is just days away. While Prime Day officially takes place in June or July, most of us simply call this annual fall sale October Prime Day.

Amazon has confirmed that you need an active Prime membership to access the Prime Big Deal Days sale. Normally, Prime memberships cost $139 per year, or $14.99 per month, but you may qualify for a free 30-day trial for Amazon Prime, which means you can shop the best October Prime Day deals and enjoy perks like free shipping and grocery delivery at no cost.

If you don't have an active Prime membership — or if your membership hasn't been active for 12 months — you can claim your free trial right now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime Claim 30-day free trial (normally $14.99/month) Shop Now

Keep scrolling to learn about all the benefits included in the 30-day free trial. We'll also answer common questions about Prime Big Deal Days so you'll have everything you need to take advantage of this members-only shopping event.

Who qualifies for the Amazon Prime free trial?

If you don't have an active Prime membership — or if your old account has been inactive for 12 months — then you should automatically qualify for the 30-day free trial. To sign up, visit amazon.com/prime. If you qualify, you should see a message that says, "We're giving you a free 30-day trial of Prime." If you don't see this message, look for a button that reads, "Start your free 30-day trial."

How much does Prime cost? And what kind of benefits are included?

Prime normally costs $14.99 per month, but young adults and college students qualify for a 50% discount. Here's how the pricing works:

• 30-day free trial

• $14.99 per month after the trial ends

• Young people pay $7.49 in the Prime for Young Adults membership

• You can also save $40.88 by paying $139 per year upfront

The most famous benefits of Amazon Prime include free 2-day delivery and free returns. Many products are available with 1-day and same-day shipping in some areas. In addition, your $14.99/month membership includes access to the Prime Video streaming service.

Other benefits included in the membership and 30-day free trial include:

• Free Same-Day Delivery on $25+ grocery orders in selected areas

• Access to Amazon Music

• Access to Amazon Photos (unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage)

• Free Grubhub+ membership, including $0 delivery fees, lower service fees, and exclusive savings

• Amazon Prime Fuel Savings lets you save 10 cents a gallon on fuel at more than 7,500 gas stations

• Exclusive access to offers on Amazon services and sales events like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days

Apply for the Amazon Prime Visa to earn cash back

Amazon also offers a Prime Visa card for qualifying Prime members. With the Prime Visa, you can enjoy exclusive rewards, such as:

• $150 gift card at sign-up

• Earn unlimited 5% back on Amazon purchases

• Earn unlimited 5% back at Whole Foods (online or in-store)

• Shop with points at Amazon

You can apply for the Prime Visa card at Amazon.

What is Prime Big Deal Days, aka October Prime Day? Credit: Amazon

Since 2022, Amazon has hosted a fall sale for Prime members, officially called Prime Big Deal Days. In recent years, this shopping event has become the unofficial kick-off to the Black Friday shopping season. For early bird shoppers, it's a chance to get a head start on holiday shopping (and save some money in the process).

When is Prime Big Deal Days 2026?

The sale will take place over 48 hours on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and Wednesday, Oct. 7, with opportunities to save across 35 different categories and deals on popular products from Apple, Bose, Dyson, Lego, Levi's, Nike, Samsung, Sony, and tons more brands. Amazon's own devices and services will also see huge discounts, including Echo speakers, Fire TVs, eero routers, Audible, and Kindle Unlimited.

In fact, a ton of early Prime Day deals are already live. However, if you want to save hundreds of dollars on OLED TVs or try Audible for free, you'll need to be a Prime member.

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop the October Prime Day sale?

Yes. According to Amazon's announcement, only Prime members with an active subscription can participate in this sale.

Is Amazon Prime worth it?

This writer says yes. I've been an Amazon Prime member for at least five years, and I've never let my membership lapse. I'm an active user of Prime Video, and I regularly purchase household necessities (and plenty of non-necessities) on Amazon to take advantage of the free shipping.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to swim.

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 September 29, 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Underwater swimming.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No, there are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SCUBA

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.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you know animated films.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 September 29, 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: Not in a crowded space

• Green: Geographical

• Blue: Related to titles

• Purple: Words within words

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Secluded

• Green: River features

• Blue: First words of Pixar films

• Purple: Phrases hiding Greek letters

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 #1206 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Secluded: HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET, TUCKED AWAY

• River features: DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH, STREAM BED

• First words of Pixar films: FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS, TOY

• Phrases hiding Greek letters: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, ORAL PHASE

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2026 Delta meaning

A letter of the Greek alphabet.

Hidden meaning

Something not clearly visible

Inside meaning

Something not outside

Model tank meaning

A recreation of the military vehicle.

Monsters meaning

Creatures, frequently scary.

Finding meaning

The process of discovering.

Secret meaning

A fact unknown to others, perhaps by design.

Toy meaning

Something that is used for play.

Freeze tag meaning

A child's game.

Oral phase meaning

A term linked to Freudian psychoanalysis.

Mouth meaning

A body part that, for a person, includes lips, teeth, and a tongue. It can also mean where a river ends.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Remote meaning

Isolated.

Stream bed meaning

The bottom of a waterway.

Tucked away meaning

Stashed.

Home game meaning

When a sports team competes at their stadium or arena.

Drainage basin meaning

Where water runs down and eventually collects.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 will be easy if you know anatomy.

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 September 29, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Have a heart

The words are related to matters of the heart.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe matters related to an actual human heart.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Cardiovascular.

NYT Strands word list for September 29

• Pulse

• Cardiovascular

• Vein

• Artery

• Atrium

• Blood

• Pressure

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 29, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 29, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 29 Pips

Less than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Less than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Less than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Less than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 29 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Less than (12): Everything in this space must be less than 12. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 29 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Less than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Less than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who like baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Baseball's first GOAT

• Green: Winter sports stars

• Blue: Movies

• Purple: Midwest rivalries

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Babe Ruth Nicknames

• Green: Famous Winter Olympians

• Blue: Kevin Costner Sports Films

• Purple: Big Ten Rivalry Trophies

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 #736 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Babe Ruth Nicknames: BABE, BAMBINO, COLOSSUS OF CLOUT, SULTAN OF SWAT

• Famous Winter Olympians: ALYSA LIU, APOLO OHNO, MARIT BJØRGEN, PICABO STREET

• Kevin Costner Sports Films: BULL DURHAM, DRAFT DAY, FIELD OF DREAMS, TIN CUP

• Big Ten Rivalry Trophies: FLOYD OF ROSEDALE, OLD OAKEN BUCKET, PAUL BUNYAN'S AXE, VICTORY BELL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.

What does it take to run one of the internet's most wholesome animated empires? Apparently, a lot of spicy chips.

Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson are the creators behind Tubby Nugget, the tiny animated character whose relentless optimism and goofy sense of humor have helped him amass more than 14 million followers online. What started as an inside joke between the couple has since expanded into plushies, music videos, live events, and an increasingly ambitious animation operation.

SEE ALSO: How Tubby Nugget grew from a doodle into a beloved internet brand

But when Mashable asked Pastores and Jackson what creator essentials they couldn't live without, Pastores had one immediate problem with the premise. "You know what's funny? We make it from home," she said. "So I'm like, what's in our bag?"

As it turns out, quite a bit. There's the iPad Jackson uses to draw Tubby, Pastores's increasingly chaotic system for capturing ideas, an emergency kit worthy of a grandma's purse, and enough glasses wipes to theoretically last Jackson years — if he could stop losing them.

And, most importantly, there are snacks.

Tubby Nugget's creators share the essentials behind their wholesome empire. Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images/Grupo Bimbo Takis (but only as many as Josh allows) Takis 18 pc / 1 oz Variety Pack, Assorted Flavored Mixed Rolled Tortilla Chips – (5) Fuego, (5) Blue Heat, (4) Nitro, (4) Crunchy Fajitas $9.47 at Amazon
$9.97 Save $0.50   See It at Amazon

"It's gonna sound very Tubby Nugget, but it's snacks," Pastores said. "I feel like we cannot work without snacks."

For Pastores, that generally means spicy chips. Specifically, Takis. Unfortunately, Jackson has appointed himself the household's unofficial Takis regulator. "She eats a lot of Takis, and I often have to ration it for her because it gives her a stomachache," Jackson said.

Pastores immediately objected. "You want to know what he does to me? He hides the Takis on the top shelf because I can't reach it."

"Even with a ladder, she can't reach it," Jackson added.

"You didn't have to hear that part," Pastores said. "It's really sad."

Jackson's system has become surprisingly sophisticated. He portions the Takis into a small bowl rather than giving Pastores access to the entire bag. "I'm like, 'You can eat this many Takis,'" he said.

"No!" Pastores replied.

"This whole segment is gonna be Josh roasting me about my Takis obsession," she said. "You guys heard it first. Honestly, any spicy chips. It's pretty bad, but I love it. It's delicious."

An iPad and Procreate Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) $427 at Amazon
$449 Save $22   See It at Amazon See It at Walmart

There is, thankfully, some actual creator tech on the list. Jackson uses an iPad and Procreate to draw Tubby Nugget, making the device one of the more obvious necessities in their creative workflow.

"Josh draws everything on Procreate," Pastores said.

"Yeah, it's pretty essential," Jackson added. "It's what we do."

For a character that now exists across social media, merchandise, music videos, and the real world, a major part of the Tubby Nugget operation still comes down to Jackson sitting down and drawing on an iPad.

A journal and some extremely chaotic Apple Notes Artfan Bullet Dotted Journal $11.86 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon

Pastores needs somewhere to capture an idea whenever inspiration hits. "My journal, in case I have ideas," she said. "That's really important. My journal is very important to me."

She still keeps a physical journal, but increasingly, her ideas end up somewhere considerably less organized: the Notes app on her phone.

"I did start transitioning to using my Apple Notes," she said. "But it's like the nonsensical Apple Notes where it's just like, 'fire in kitchen.'"

No further explanation of "fire in kitchen" was provided.

A grandma-level emergency kit

Pastores describes herself as "a grandma with my purse," and she has the supplies to prove it. "I have my favorite pill box, which has every single pill imaginable that I might need," she said, listing staples like Advil, Benadryl, and Allegra.

Jackson considered this a perfectly legitimate creator essential. "No, it is important. It is important," he said. "Most people are like, 'My camera,' and you're like, 'My pills.'"

Not every tool of the creator trade needs a charging cable.

So many glasses wipes Metene Lens Cleaner Wipes, Pre-Moistened Electronic Glasses Wipes, 300 Count $13.48 at Walmart
$26.99 Save $13.51   See It at Walmart

Jackson's essential is simple: glasses wipes. The problem is keeping track of them. "The man loses his glasses wipes constantly," Pastores said. "He has ordered the 12-pack maybe like 12 times."

Jackson disputed the frequency somewhat. "Two times a year, I order like a 12-pack of glasses wipes because every six months I lose all of them."

Pastores eventually finds them. "They're just all over our house," she said.

For now, Jackson's actual glasses remain decidedly low-tech. But when Mashable asked whether he'd ever try smart glasses, he was intrigued by one possibility.

"Maybe if we could do a Tubby AR and a real-life Tubby could be floating," Jackson said.

The pair already has a Tubby Nugget Snapchat filter, which got them thinking. "We have to work on this," Pastores said.

"Maybe Tubby AR," Jackson replied.

Add it to the bag.

A mukbang video can keep bringing in ad revenue long after the meal is over. For some Korean creators, those old uploads have become something to worry about.

Mukbang, a Korean portmanteau for "eating broadcast," took off in South Korea as a live format: A host would eat on camera and talk with viewers, turning a meal into something people could share from home. An enormous spread might catch someone's eye, but research on mukbang viewers suggests the conversation and sense of company help keep them watching.

On YouTube, those viewers can also bring in money. Creators in its Partner Program earn a share of ad revenue from eligible videos, even when the views come years after the upload. That makes a restriction on older videos a problem for a creator's income today.

SEE ALSO: YouTube just raised the bar for creators to earn ad revenue

Salppaejo, also known as DietJo, is dealing with exactly that uncertainty. The creator, whose channel has about 447,000 subscribers, said YouTube had suspended its monetization. "We have also stopped uploading videos because we do not know which ones might be penalized," she wrote in a community post, according to Seoul Economic Daily’s translation.

The concern isn't simply about eating a large amount of food on camera. YouTube's rules target eating-disorder content that depicts behaviors vulnerable viewers might imitate, including binge eating, hiding food, or tracking weight and weight loss. That distinction is becoming important for creators whose videos mix food with dieting or weight-loss content.

Miso, a diet and food YouTuber with about 100,000 subscribers, found herself sorting through four years of videos. In a Sept. 15 upload, she said YouTube first notified her of a guideline violation in mid-March and, later that month, told her that her channel's monetization would be temporarily suspended. She spent April contacting YouTube and appealing the decision before reviewing every video she had posted. "I reviewed all 667 videos on my channel and deleted 339 of them with tears in my eyes," she said.

Miso added that she had made some of those videos to share her own weight-loss experience. But since they included specific weight and diet figures, as well as descriptions of weight-loss routines, she said they could be risky for vulnerable viewers to imitate. What mattered in the YouTube review, as she understood it, was "not the creator’s intent, but rather how teenagers and viewers perceive the content." Mashable reached out to YouTube for more information about how it applies these rules but did not receive a response by press time.

The concern has reached muckbang creators at large. Tzuyang, one of South Korea’s best-known mukbang stars with 13.5 million subscribers, told viewers during a visit to an Incheon market, "I heard eating a lot isn’t the trend these days." She added, "I’ll try to be a YouTuber who eats a reasonable amount from now on." Then she ate fried chicken, spicy rice cakes, donuts, and several other dishes. There’s no indication YouTube has penalized her channel, but her joke shows that she’s following the conversation.

So what changed? In 2023, YouTube expanded its rules to prohibit disordered eating content that featured what it calls "imitable behavior" or actions vulnerable viewers might copy. Later that year, it updated its ad guidelines, stating that videos focused on eating disorders that depict such behavior "will not receive ad revenue." Under YouTube's current guidelines, examples that can affect ad eligibility include references to binge eating or hiding food, showing a lowest weight or BMI, and tracking weight-loss progress. YouTube also considers a video's title, thumbnail, description, and tags. (The rules don't amount to a ban on mukbangs overall, and there's no evidence that simply eating a large meal on camera automatically leads to demonetization.)

There's a lot at stake for YouTube, too. The company said videos with "mukbang" in the title drew more than 30 billion views worldwide from January through July 2024. But it also faces questions about the eating disorder content it recommends to young viewers. In a July 2026 study, researchers created accounts posing as 13-year-old girls. After those accounts watched a video featuring disordered eating, researchers found that an average of one in nine "Up Next" recommendations featured harmful eating disorder content.

For the creators in this story, the consequences are already concrete. The next change to mukbang may happen before anyone takes a bite. Creators can still film a meal, but they may think more carefully about how they portray excessive eating, as well as the titles and thumbnails associated with it — at least if they want to keep getting the views and ad dollars they're used to.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to a Matt’s Flights Premium Plan for $39.99 (reg. $197) for a limited time and start watching for holiday flight deals early.

Opens in a new window Credit: Matt's Flights Matt's Flights Premium Plan Lifetime Subscription: Save up to 90% on Domestic & International flights $39.99
$197 Save $157.01   Get Deal

It’s never too early to think about Christmas travel, especially once you start pricing flights home. Instead of refreshing search tabs every night, you can have someone else watch the fares for you.

That’s the idea behind Matt’s Flights. There’s a real person behind it: Matt scans airlines for sales and mistake fares, then emails the deals to members. Premium members get five times as many deals as free users on both domestic and international routes and can save up to 90% on airfare.

SEE ALSO: I hunted down the top early October Prime Day MacBook deals: Save $600 on on the M5 Pro

The direct line to Matt is especially handy for the holidays. You can email him for 1-on-1 flight and travel planning support, and send custom search requests for a specific route, such as getting home for Christmas. There’s no cap on how many requests you can submit.

The Premium Plan includes:

• 3+ flight deals per week, domestic and international

• Mistake fare notifications

• 1-on-1 flight and travel planning support via email

• Unlimited custom search requests

There are a couple of things to know before you buy. Deals are based on departures from 60 U.S. airports and six Canadian airports, so check that your home airport is on the list first. The plan is also only available to new users, and you’ll need to redeem your code within 30 days of purchase.

At $39.99 for lifetime access, one well-timed booking could more than cover the cost. Get a lifetime Matt’s Flights Premium Plan for $39.99 (reg. $197) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Financial Freedom Bundle pairs lifetime access to Sterling Stock Picker with the PRO$PER financial education platform for $69.99 (reg. $598).

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The Financial Freedom Bundle ft. Sterling Stock Picker $69.99
$598 Save $528.01   Get Deal

Learning to invest usually means picking up a tool, a course, or both, separately. This bundle covers both sides at once: a stock research app and a financial education platform, for $69.99 together instead of $598.

Sterling Stock Picker runs financial, technical, and risk analysis on individual stocks and returns a buy, sell, hold, or avoid call, so you’re not stuck parsing an earnings report yourself. A five-minute risk-tolerance quiz feeds a portfolio builder that can assemble a diversified mix based on your goals, and an AI assistant named Finley answers portfolio questions in plain language with real-time market data. It works through a browser or the iOS and Android apps, with no recurring fees once you’ve bought in.

SEE ALSO: 15 early October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by our gadget experts

The second half of the bundle, PRO$PER, focuses on education: more than 12 courses and 150 lessons on budgeting, debt, investing, and retirement planning, taught by financial educator Jaden Sterling. It includes its own dashboard for tracking goals and progress, plus the same Finley AI coach for questions as they come up.

Together, the idea is to give new and experienced investors both the research tool and the background to understand what it’s telling them, rather than one without the other. Both pieces come with lifetime access and unlimited future updates, and the bundle is open to new users only, with codes redeemable within 30 days of purchase.

Get the Financial Freedom Bundle for $69.99, an 88% savings off the $598 list price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

You're scrolling through your TikTok For You page, watching videos, when suddenly a pop-up appears on your smartphone screen.

"Congratulations! You have been selected for our Screentime To Cash program," reads the prompt, which looks a lot like a TikTok notification.

These types of ads suggest that TikTok users can get paid to watch videos; however, even though it looks like an official TikTok message, it's not.

There is no legitimate TikTok program called "Screentime to Cash" — or anything similar — the company confirmed in a statement to Mashable. TikTok does have an official monetization program for eligible creators who upload content and meet certain requirements. But TikTok definitely does not have a program that pays viewers to watch videos or scroll through the app.

Screentime to Cash pop-up Credit: Mashable screenshot

A TikTok spokesperson also told Mashable that they have since removed the ads and connected accounts.

"We've removed content and accounts for violating our policies against deceptive practices and misleading content," TikTok told us. "TikTok prohibits fraudulent activity in both advertising and user-generated content, and we continuously remove such content and accounts as they're detected or reported."

So, why is this message on your screen then?

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

Behind the TikTok "Screentime to Cash" pop-up messages

Third-party entities are running ads on TikTok that are designed to look like official messaging from the platform, according to a Mashable investigation. Typically, these ads promote Get-Paid-To apps, or GPT apps.

These apps advertise themselves as ways that users can make money by playing games, watching videos, or filling out forms and surveys. The Get-Paid-To app-makers may act as affiliates for other third-party companies, which pay the app maker for signups or downloads of their product. In turn, these GPT app companies share their affiliate earnings with their users as they complete qualifying tasks. These types of apps may also share user data with third parties, a common app monetization strategy. When a user completes a certain number of tasks, such as taking surveys or downloading games, and reaches a payment threshold, they can request their payout.

Mashable found numerous TikTok users posting screenshots of the "Screentime to Cash" advertisements on social media platforms like Reddit; users said those ads directed them to third-party apps such as Playful Rewards or QuickRewardz.

Mashable reached out to both Playful Rewards and QuickRewardz, and a Playful Rewards spokesperson told Mashable that the ads "are not being run directly by Playful Rewards and may be coming from a third-party advertising source."

As for QuickRewardz, it appears the app has since been removed from the Google Play store, although it's unclear when the app was taken down. It's also unclear if the app was pulled by Google or the developer. Mashable reached out to the company behind the app, Team Rewardz, and we'll update this piece if we hear back.

These types of apps and advertisements make up a vast web of affiliate networks and third parties. This can make it difficult for social media platforms to crack down on misleading ads, leaving them playing whack-a-mole as new accounts and ads pop up, literally, as detailed in a 2024 Forrester research report.

Do get-paid-to apps actually pay?

There are some legitimate companies that pay small amounts of money for completing marketing surveys or other tasks. However, on sites such as Trustpilot, some frustrated reviewers describe GPT apps as scams. Many of these users report that after qualifying for a cash payout, their account was mysteriously suspended, typically for some type of alleged policy violation, and so they were never able to claim the promised rewards.

On the TrustPilot page for Playful Rewards, one reviewer wrote: "They're a scam. I recently accumulated enough coins to cash out $60, and then promptly got my account permanently locked. When I asked their customer support, they claimed it was because I progressed too fast on a game."

Always remember the golden rule when evaluating programs like this: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Likewise, just because you see an ad on a social media site like TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook, that does not mean the company behind the ad is legit. Internal Meta documents reviewed by Reuters stated that Facebook showed users 15 billion scam ads every day, and Mashable has reported on sketchy YouTube ads using AI and celebrity deepfakes.

TikTok users should also be skeptical of apps that use misleading advertisements that imply they have a formal relationship with TikTok or other companies. Always proceed with caution when you are asked to hand over any private personal information during the signup process. You should also check the fine print, as these app-based rewards programs may contain terms that allow the company to resell your information or place you on robocall lists, according to a 2023 suit by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

The bottom line: TikTok says these "screentime to cash" programs are in no way endorsed by TikTok.

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National Cheeseburger Day was huge. We got participation of huge names like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Smashburger. We really didn't think anything could top the deals offered on this date, but National Coffee Day is generating a real buzz.

National Coffee Day takes place on Sept. 28, and you can celebrate by visiting popular spots like Starbucks, Dunkin', and Krispy Kreme to score free giveaways, limited-edition products, new releases, and so much more. We've scanned the market for all the National Coffee Day deals to line up a selection of standout offers.

These are our favorite National Coffee Day deals:

7 Brew

Score free State License Plate Stickers with any drink purchase on Sept. 29th.

Aroma Joe’s

Head to Aroma Joe’s to score a free 16-ounce hot or iced coffee. There is a limit of one per customer, and the offer is valid in-store only.

Atlas Coffee

Through Oct. 5th, Atlas Coffee is offering a 12-ounce bag/box of coffee for $5 plus shipping.

Biggby Coffee

On Sept. 29, Biggby Coffee is offering a 16-ounce hot or iced brewed coffee for $0.99 or a 16-ounce hot or iced Mocha Mocha Latte for $1.99.

Brooklyn Water Bagel

Rewards members can get a free 16-ounce hot coffee or 24-ounce Cubsta in-store or in-app on Sept. 29th. No purchase is required to qualify.

Caribou Coffee

Purchase any beverage at Caribou Coffee on Sept. 29 to score a free medium hot or cold brew.

Circle K

Get a free medium coffee — hot or iced — at any of the 7,000 Circle K locations. This offer is redeemable through the Circle K app. 

Dairy Queen

Get a small DQ Coffee Cooler for just $3 at participating U.S. locations through Nov. 1.

Dunkin’

Get a free medium iced or hot coffee with any purchase on Sept. 29

DoorDash

Get a free medium hot or iced coffee with a $15+ Dunkin’ order through DoorDash.

Dutch Bros

On Sept. 29, customers who purchase any two drinks at participating locations can receive a set of two mystery straw toppers.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Get a free iced coffee with any purchase at Einstein Bros. Bagels on National Coffee Day. You must mention the offer in-store to redeem it.  

Frutta Bowls

Frutta Bowls is offering free 16-ounce cold brew with any online or in-app purchase of $9.99 or more. To qualify, use promo code JAVA9 during checkout on Sept. 29.

Gregorys Coffee

Rewards members will earn 400 Gs with purchases on Sept. 29. That's enough to redeem for a free drip coffee on a future visit.

Jeff’s Bagel Run

Get a free hot or iced coffee all day at Jeff’s Bagel Run on National Coffee Day with no purchase necessary.

Klatch Coffee

Get free Competition Cappuccinos when you use an in-app promo code.

Krispy Kreme

Available through Sept. 29, Krispy Kreme has dropped a new Original Glazed Coffee Flavored Doughnut for National Coffee Day.

Original ChopShop

Score a 16-ounce Vanilla Iced Latte or Golden Iced Latte for just $4.75 at Original ChopShop on National Coffee Day.

Paris Baguette

PB Members can score a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase on National Coffee Day.

Parlor Doughnuts

Purchases of at $25+ will get $5 off on National Coffee Day. Redeem in store or enter promo code SAVE5 at checkout.

Peet’s Coffee

Peetnik Rewards members can pay just $0.25 for a medium-sized coffee and get a Cold Brew Pass for $30 through Sept. 30. With the pass, you get one free medium cold brew every day for 30 days from your purchase.

Pilot

Get free hot coffee of any size on Sept. 29, no purchase necessary. Customers can score this deal by opening the Pilot app and redeeming at checkout.

Pinkbox Doughnuts

Pinkbox Doughnuts Loyalty members can get a free 16-oz drip coffee with no purchase required, plus 50% off one specialty coffee drink.

PJ’s Coffee

Get a free 12-ounce hot or 16-ounce cold brew with any in-store food purchase.

Playa Bowls

On Sept. 29, rewards members can enjoy an exclusive buy one, get one deal on 20-ounce cold brews.

RaceTrac

Every day through Sept. 30, you can grab a small hot coffee at RaceTrac for only $1. No rewards membership is required to claim.

Sheetz

Score free self-serve coffee with any purchase through Oct. 1. Customers must be My Sheetz Rewardz members to redeem this offer.

Starbucks

From Sept. 29, Starbucks is offering a new iced espresso beverage called the Aerocano and three new Mini Pies: Apple Crumble Mini Pie, Pecan Mini Pie, and Pumpkin Mini Pie.

Stop & Shop

Until Oct. 1, rewards members can get a free 48-ounce bottle of Stop & Shop ready-to-drink cold brew coffee. Scan your GO Rewards account at the Savings Station kiosk to receive the digital coupon, with no purchase required.

Sunny Street Cafe

On Sept. 29, save $2 on any Sunny Street Cafe cold brew at all locations.

Shipley Do-nuts

Shipley Do-nuts is offering bonus loyalty points on every purchase until Oct. 18.

Tim Hortons

On Sept. 29, get a free coffee of any size with no purchase necessary. To qualify, customers must activate the offer in the Tim Hortons app.

Verena Street Coffee

Verena Street Coffee is offering bagged coffee for up to 25% off in September.

Whataburger

Get a free 16-ounce hot or iced coffee on National Coffee Day, with no purchase necessary.

Ziggi's Coffee

Ziggi's Rewards members can score a free small Daily Brew, Cold Brew, or Iced Coffee with the purchase of another menu item through Oct. 5.

AdultFriendFinder has been in the hookup game for literally decades. Launching online in 1996 — truly the dark ages of the internet — AFF soon established itself as the No. 1 adult dating site. In other words, AFF has been hooking people up for 30 years, making it the go-to platform for singles, casual flings, and kink-based fun.

AFF has also stayed strong through major changes in the dating game and online culture. It's survived the emergence of dating apps like Tinder, which have otherwise taken over the dating game, while maintaining its original identity. The result is that it still stands out from the crowd. Which is no mean feat. The world of online dating is hugely competitive, with all kinds of apps drawing daters' attentions in various alternative directions.

If you're looking to let your freak flag fly loud and proud — and why not? Just go for it, we say — AFF offers you the best variety of ways to explore and indulge in kink-based fun. To help get you started, here's a round-up of six great features on AdultFriendFinder — features you won't find on any other dating sites.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Naked content

The first thing to notice when you register for an AFF account (and you could hardly miss it) is that the site doesn't exactly shy away from nudity. You'll find it in every corner of AFF and all over its interface. Indeed, it's very common for users' profile photos to contain genitalia close-ups or full-frontal nudity rather than the usual headshot you get on more typical dating sites. What better way to set out your stall on the world's spiciest hookup site?

You can also post videos on your profile, including explicit videos, and there are webcam feeds live at any given time with amateur and professional models in various states of undress and pleasure. 

If you find yourself distracted by all of the nudity or just want to browse the site in public without having NSFW imagery all over your screen, you can turn on the adult content filter by navigating to your profile settings in the top right of the screen, then scrolling down to Content Filter and selecting either No Nudity, Some Nudity, or Everything (the default setting, naturally). Be warned, the default setting is to have all that nudity front and center. And it's best to avoid checking AFF while you're public, no matter what filters you have in place.

Live webcam feeds

We know that webcam sites are rife — there's no shortage of places to find cam-based naughtiness — but it's rare to find an actual dating site that hosts live webcam action. With AFF, you'll get both professional models and regular users on webcam feeds.

All you need to do is go to the Live Action menu at the top of your AFF window and click either Member Webcams or Pro Models. Once you've selected your preference, there are even more specific search filters, including gender (Men, Women, or Trans), Nude or Non-Nude, and even by proximity to your location.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

One thing to note, however: while free members can view webcam feeds, only Gold members and above can actually chat with models. Gold members can also watch multiple webcam feeds at the same time.

Discussion forums, blogs, and group chats

Unlike traditional dating sites, which focus solely on one-on-one matches, AdultFriendFinder encourages group dynamics, especially in its Community section. Here you'll find personal blog posts by AFF users who share their experiences, tell stories, and post questions. You'll also find group discussion boards organized around literally hundreds of interesting topics. Many of these are sexual in nature (there's a polyamory group, for example, and a "women who like older men" group), but many are based on regular interests and hobbies, including politics, tech, travel, movies, and music. 

Best of all, you can participate in these communal discussions without subscribing to AFF's Gold membership, which helps keep these spaces livelier than they would otherwise be if only paying members could access them. 

Erotic stories

Fun fact: Erotic fiction now accounts for approximately 25 percent of all fiction sold in the United States, so it's hardly surprising that erotic writing ("literotica" for those in the know) would be a major draw. What is surprising, however, is how few online dating sites take advantage of it.

AdultFriendFinder members who wish to read or write sexy stories, real or imagined, can navigate to the Community menu and select Stories, which unlocks a near-unlimited array of stories, novels, fan fiction, and erotic poetry. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best free dating apps to find your spring fling

If you're feeling adventurous, you can explore the stories at random, but AFF also deploys a clever tagging system that allows you to search by topic, with popular options including First Time, Sci-Fi, TSTV (trans and transvestite), and Voyeur. 

Popular stories achieve higher ratings and greater on-site visibility, and popular authors can actually build a large following on the site, so whether you're eager to read more erotic fiction or aspire to write some, AFF has you covered. 

Contests

One of the more fun aspects of AdultFriendFinder is that it genuinely seeks to cultivate a sense of community and actively encourages its users to spend more time on the site, especially in the public-facing sections. Their on-site contests are a fantastic example of this in action. 

About once per month, the site hosts a themed photo contest, asking members to submit photos and then allowing the rest of the site to vote on which submissions best reflect or embody the contest caption. 

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

One recent photo contest theme was "Velvet Secrets: Valentine's Masquerade," while prior contests included "Naughty & Nice" for the holidays and "Midnight Mischief." Winners get a special badge they can display on their profile, plus tons more profile visibility, so there's a strong incentive to participate. 

To enter, scroll to the Community menu and then find Contests at the very bottom of the options list. If there's an active contest and you are logged in to your account, you'll be given the option of participating.

Kink-based profile search

Every online dating site or app has a profile section, where you can fill out pertinent personal information such as your sexual orientation, level of education, and whatever hobbies, interests, or special skills you have that might make you stand out from the crowd, but AdultFriendFinder takes things a step further by offering members the opportunity to list their kinks.

If you navigate to your profile name in the top right of your AFF screen and then select Dating Profile and Edit Profile, you'll find your My Kinks section. Popular options here include BDSM, voyeurism, and cross-dressing, but the full list is far more extensive. Nothing (that's legal, of course) is off limits. AFF is a place to not only indulge in your kinks and fantasies but to also to discover some you never knew you had.

SEE ALSO: How to use the internet to figure out what you’re into in bed

If you have a premium account, you can actually search out other members by their chosen kinks, allowing you to find users in your area who like exhibitionism or have a foot fetish, for example. In other words, you can find your kink-minded people.

There's no shortage of online dating sites, and even no shortage of hookup-first sites, but when it comes to adult dating, AFF clearly separates itself from the competition with its wide array of kink-friendly features and accommodations. 

What I look for in the best MacBook alternatives

I've used a MacBook as my daily driver for 15 years now, so I have a pretty good handle on Apple's laptop hardware and software. (Shoutout to my fellow butterfly keyboard survivors.) IMO, a Windows PC or Chromebook is doing a great MacBook impression if it has above-average performance, decently long battery life, and a sleek, polished design — basically, if it's a superb Windows laptop or Chromebook. I'll add some extra qualifiers depending on the exact Mac model:

• MacBook Air alternatives should be super lightweight and portable

• MacBook Neo alternatives should cost well under $1,000 and have premium build quality

• MacBook Pro alternatives should have a crisp, rich 120Hz display and enough power for intensive tasks like video editing

Other Mashable staffers and I have tested nearly 100 laptops in the past two years (and counting). After combing through our database, I've landed on eight worthy MacBook alternatives for 2026 buyers — including seven PCs from Acer, Asus, Dell, and HP, plus one very nice Acer Chromebook. I've also lined up a fallback option for those who want to stay within the Apple ecosystem.

Which Windows laptops and Chromebooks can beat Apple?

As part of our review process, we quantify laptops' performance using Primate Labs' Geekbench CPU benchmark and measure their battery life with a video rundown test. All of the picks on this list beat MacBooks in one or both of those tests.

In the performance department, the M5 MacBook Air and M5 MacBook Pro earned the top single-core scores. (That tells us how snappy a laptop feels when you're just using it for basic things like sending emails and web browsing.) However, the Asus Zenbook A14, Asus Zenbook A16, Dell XPS 14, HP OmniBook Ultra 14, Acer Swift X 14, and Asus Expertbook Ultra all outpace one or both of them in heavier multi-core tasks like video editing.

When it comes to stamina, the Dell XPS 13 and Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 both outlast the MacBook Neo by at least three and a half hours. The OmniBook Ultra 14 and the Expertbook Ultra beat the MacBook Air on battery life by smaller margins, while the Zenbook A14 surpasses both the MacBook Air and Pro by up to nearly 10 hours. With 27 hours and 36 minutes of battery life, it's the longest-lasting MacBook alternative I recommend.

What's new

In September 2026, I added the Dell XPS 13 as the best MacBook Neo alternative after a new round of testing. (The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 Spin is now the best Neo rival for those who prefer ChromeOS.) I also checked all of our existing picks for pricing and availability changes. The Asus Zenbook A16 has gotten $300 more expensive since I last updated this guide over the summer, but I don't think its new price of $1,999 is outrageous in the current market, given its 48GB RAM capacity. Therefore, it retains its spot on this list.

Back in July, I added the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 and Asus ExpertBook Ultra as new picks.

Other contenders to consider Not giving the ProArt GoPro Edition a 120Hz display was an odd choice on Asus' part. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The special-edition Asus ProArt GoPro Edition bundles MacBook Pro-rivaling multi-core performance and 128GB of RAM in a rugged convertible design. It's expensive at $2,999.99, but fairly priced for how much memory it has. (An identically configured MacBook Pro costs $6,699.) Still, I can't recommend it as a MacBook Pro alternative because it has a blurrier 60Hz display. That feels like a glaring omission on a premium creator laptop.

The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI is a shockingly thin-and-light ultraportable with a 2.8K OLED touchscreen. It only costs $1,499.99 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It would make a very good MacBook Air alternative if it weren't such a mediocre performer: It's 48 percent slower than the latest MacBook Air in single-core scenarios and 33 percent slower in multi-core tasks. It's a closer rival to the M2 MacBook Air from 2022 when it comes to processing power. I would only pick it over the Zenbook A14 if you can't use an ARM-based laptop (see below).

We haven't tested them yet — stay tuned — but the Acer Swift Air 14 looks like another very promising MacBook Neo alternative, and the Framework Laptop 13 Pro seems like a neat repairable MacBook Pro alternative.

A note about ARM-based Windows laptops

The Asus Zenbook A14, Zenbook A16, and HP OmniBook Ultra 14 run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 series chips. These are ARM-based chips, which are built differently from traditional x86-based Intel and AMD chips. As such, they're not compatible with as many video games and certain specialty software. This isn't an issue for most general users, but if you do a lot of PC gaming or you're a college student, you should avoid them. You can read more about this in my dedicated guide to the best Windows laptops.

SAVE $402: As of Sept. 29, the Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series is on sale for $597.97 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series $597.97 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $402.02   Get Deal

Amazon's next installment of Prime Day officially kicks off next week, but we've been tracking early deals popping up throughout September. There are deals of all kinds to be found, from robot vacuums to our tech favorites.

If it's a new TV you've been looking to buy, there are many impressive deals already live, including this latest discount on the Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series. Normally $999.99, this TV is now $597.99, saving you over $400.

As the name suggests, this TV delivers cinema-quality viewing in the comfort of your home. It benefits from Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which deliver HDR picture quality and immersive sound, and supports Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG.

It also offers various AI features to enhance your viewing experience. These include picture processing, which helps adjust settings like brightness, contrast, and color based on the content you're watching. An AI light sensor can even adapt the backlight to the room's ambient lighting. Plus, there's also an AI Sports Mode that automatically adjusts the picture and sound for live sports.

And if you're a movie fanatic, you'll love Filmmaker Mode. This feature preserves the original picture and sound settings of compatible films, so you can watch them the way directors intended.

You can find this early Prime Day TV deal at Amazon right now.

We're now a few days past the Harvest Moon, this month's Full Moon, so it'll now begin to wane each night until we reach the New Moon. This process is called the lunar cycle, and takes around 29.5 days in total.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Sept. 29, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, with 92% of its surface visible.

While the Moon's visibility is decreasing, there is still so much to see tonight, including the Mare Imbrium, Mare Serenitatis, and the Tycho Crater which can be spotted without the use of any visual aids. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Clavius Crater, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Alps Mountains. Finally, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots, plus the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, and as it moves through this cycle, we see different amounts of its sunlit side from here. That's what creates the Moon's different phases, from a thin crescent through to a half Moon and, eventually, the Full Moon. Once it reaches the Full Moon, the cycle starts over again. NASA explains that the phase we see depends on the Moon's position in relation to Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

SAVE $50: As of Sept. 29, the Ninja Creami is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami $169.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $50   Get Deal

If you've spent any time scrolling TikTok, you've more than likely seen the Ninja Creami in action. The viral ice cream maker has become a firm favorite online for making homemade frozen treats of all kinds. We're talking everything from coffee ice cream to protein powder ice cream. And if you've been hoping to make your own creations, it's currently on sale at Amazon.

Prime Big Deal Days (also known as October Prime Day) kicks off next week, but early discounts have already started trickling in. For example, the Ninja Creami is now down to $169.99. According to camelcamelcamel, this is the best price in six months.

So, what exactly does it do? The Ninja Creami essentially lets you make seven different types of frozen treats at the touch of a button. These include ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, Lite Ice Cream, and Mix-In. Its Creamify Technology finely shaves through a frozen pint to create smooth, creamy desserts in minutes, and the Re-spin function lets you process it again for an even softer texture.

And the world is your oyster when it comes to creations. You can make treats with the ingredients you choose. Plus, the Mix-In program also lets you add chocolate chips, nuts, fruit, cookies, etc., distributing them throughout your dessert.

Head to Amazon now to grab this Ninja deal.