Technology

If lightning-fast, wicked-smart zombies ever chase us, I’m tripping you. I’m kidding. But seriously, traditionally, the zombie genre of movies and TV tends to be full of sluggish, easy-to-kill, dumb-dums, which makes for some gory, fun entertainment. But as the genre has evolved, some of the scariest zombie movies are now known for their rapid-paced, agile, infected beings, who’ve evolved into hybrid monsters of incredible speed and smarts.

Moving files and configuring settings and preferences when setting up a new Windows computer (or after a reset) can be frustrating. But with Windows Backup integrated into Windows’ Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), the process has become much easier. Here’s how it works and how you can put it to use.

Video games demand more performance from our PCs with every passing year, but we can't all afford to upgrade. But there are some shortcuts and workarounds we can use to help bridge the gap between PC performance and the demands of the next big game.

SAVE $150: As of Oct. 4th, this 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is on sale for 33% off. That’s $150 off its list price of $449 on Amazon. 

Opens in a new window Credit: 3I 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $299 at Amazon
$449 Save $150 Get Deal

This 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is a deal when it’s not discounted. It’s new patented technology compresses dust and dirt, allowing you to forgo emptying the device and avoiding the self-emptying station situation. Mashable’s senior shopping reporter Sarah Stodart says it's "The most impressive robot vacuum under $500."

Right now, though, it’s under $300. Stodart reported that on her test run, the 3i G10+ robot vacuum’s advanced LiDAR technology expertly and correctly mapped her apartment, taking care to note bedrooms and bathrooms via distinguishing items like toilets and beds.

“The G10+ also steered around socks and fake pet waste (clumps of brown sugar). While it did identify most phone and laptop chargers in the app, it drove over some of them anyway,” Stodart reported. “But even the most advanced robot vacuums I've ever tested don't have a perfect track record with cords.”

The G10+ can identify and detect different types of dirt or mess and respond accordingly. It also has customizable options for carpet cleaning based on your home’s needs. 

"During zone cleanings, the G10+ automatically cleans in a grid pattern like the Shark Matrix vacuums," Stodart says. "The only time I really saw debris left behind was when I intentionally spilled a giant pile of rice on the kitchen floor, and the G10+ cleared about 90 percent of it in two passes."

Ever waited an hour (or more) for an AUR package to compile on your Arch system? Do you find yourself avoiding certain apps simply because the compilation time is unbearable? Well, let me introduce you to Chaotic-AUR and how it completely changed my Arch experience.

SAVE $52: As of Oct. 4, this Fire TV Stick HD and Luna Controller bundle is 50% off. Save on both devices, which are down from their list price of $105 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick HD + Luna Controller gaming bundle $52.98 at Amazon
$104.98 Save $52.00 Get Deal

Amazon’s bundle deal for the Fire TV Stick HD and the Luna Controller is on sale for half off this weekend. Not only do you get all of the benefits that Fire TV offers as far as streaming goes, but the bundle is also everything you need to get started with Amazon’s game streaming service. Prime and Luma subscriptions are sold separately, but these two products can unlock thousands of shows, games, and game streaming from your favorite streamers and creators. 

The Fire TV Stick HD allows you to stream in fast, reliable, and high-quality HD, which is especially made for HD TVs. The Alexa remote comes with voice control, and the Fire TV Stick also works with compatible smart home devices. 

If you don’t want to sign up for both Prime and Luna, there is good news. Prime members can stream and play Fortnite and a host of games that rotate monthly. For gamers that are down to clown, a Luna+, Ubisoft, or Jackbox subscription gives you the keys to hundreds of games. If you prefer to test out games before purchasing them, this subscription streaming model from Luna+ could be the right choice for you.

Both the Fire TV Stick HD and the Luna controller connect to servers via WiFi, and the controller connects to compatible devices via Bluetooth. 

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will challenge your knowledge of a popular winter sport.

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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: 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: At the pool

• Green: Mid NFL division

• Blue: Located in Texas

• Purple: NHL players, informally

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: Found at a Pool

• Green: AFC South Teams

• Blue: Texas College Teams

• Purple: NHL Player Nicknames

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 #376 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Found at a Pool - LIFEGUARD, NOODLE, TOWEL, TUBE

• AFC South Teams - HOUSTON, INDIANAPOLIS, JACKSONVILLE, TENNESSEE

• Texas College Teams - BAYLOR, RICE, SMU, TEXAS TECH

• NHL Player Nicknames - MCJESUS, OVI, PASTA, SID THE KID

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 the latest Connections.

On occasion, you might have seen a red warning from your internet browser when it blocks access to a potentially harmful website. Blocks like those are only one of the many, many security measures modern browsers have in place to keep you safe online.

Wisconsin Democrats have introduced a bill looking to crack down on soaring ticket prices, and, of course, they've named the legislation in honor of Taylor Swift.

The bill, officially called the "Stop Wildly Inflated Fees and Ticketing Industry Exploitation" act, was introduced earlier this week just before the release of Swift's new, somewhat divisive album, The Life of a Showgirl. The legislation would institute "requirements for sellers and resellers for price disclosure, refunds and ticket transferability, along with rules for acquiring and advertising tickets for resale," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

"Live events are one of the great joys of life. If you are a fan, you deserve to go see your favorite artist or sporting event without being exploited by unscrupulous scalpers, third-party bot farms that drive up prices, and other practices that exploit fans, venues, and artists," said Wisconsin State Sen. Kelda Roys — the lawmaker who introduced the legislation, in an Instagram Reel.

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Roys mentioned how expensive Swift's last tour proved to be for fans. However, if you ask the head of Ticketmaster, concert tickets are actually underpriced.

As we covered at Mashable, LiveNation/Ticketmaster CEO Michael Rapino said, "The concert is underpriced and has been for a long time."

Rapino argued that sports can actually be more expensive. But an average fan of any big musician knows how expensive concerts can be, too.

Python has some wonderful libraries for statistical analysis, but they might be overkill for simple tasks. The built-in statistics library might be what you want instead. Here are some things you can do with it. You don't have to remember complicated formulas or look through tables anymore.

The cp command on Linux has some cool options that extend its usage. Most users only do vanilla copying and never bother to explore the flags that come with it. After trying out a few, I realized that there are some flags that I keep using for a better experience.

If you have to sleep, you’re never safe from Freddy Krueger. He was unlike any previous slasher villain for his ability to slaughter teenagers in their dreams. While there might be places to run from other horror villains like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, there’s no escaping Freddy's domain, where he has a frightening level of imagination to toy with his victims.

Is your Netflix watch list looking a little dry after the September high of new releases? With the new month comes newer, exciting titles, as Netflix has lined up a string of new releases for October.

Recently, as I was editing an article, I noticed an accent over an “a” that definitely shouldn’t have been there. I backspaced to no avail and even went so far as to make sure my Spanish keyboard wasn’t turned on by mistake. Turns out it was a fleck of dust or dirt, which is how I knew it was time to clean my laptop screen.

As with most valuable tech devices, there is a right and a wrong way to clean your laptop screen. So, here’s the 411 on exactly how to clean your laptop screen so you’re left with a shiny, sparkly, and almost-new-looking screen.

First off, you definitely shouldn't just pull your sweatshirt sleeve down over your hand and wipe away. That’s totally not what I did when dust was conspiring against my latest writing assignment. “I always use a microfiber cloth with a small amount of a very gentle chemical that specifically states it is 'LCD safe,'" says Pedro Serrano, senior technician at New York Computer Repair. "The number one step is to power off the device before you clean the screen with the cloth.” He recommends you clean your screen with gentle circular strokes and wait for it to dry completely before turning the device back on. 

“I would never use any towels or anything abrasive like regular towels, paper towels, or toilet paper,” Serrano adds. Paper towels and tissues can come apart and leave debris behind on the screen.

And while Serrano's advice covers most LCD and LED screens, we also have some extra advice for OLED displays, which come with some newer laptops. Our advice will also apply to smartphones and similar gadgets with displays.

How to clean your laptop screen1. Shut down your device completely

Serrano added that even though the cleaning solutions may be safe for your screen, absolutely no liquid should be near a running laptop. If it gets near on the hardware while it is running, it could break or damage your device.

2. Use a screen-safe microfiber cloth and an LCD-safe solvent

You don’t want to use anything too harsh, according to Serrano. Even something like a glass cleaner (for example, Windex) can leave rainbow-like stains that could be permanent. For OLED displays, which tend to be more sensitive, MSI specifically recommends using a microfiber cloth and 70 percent ethanol solution.

3. Gently wipe your screen in a circular motion and leave it to dry completely before turning it back on

Serrano stressed that you should use a very small amount of the cleaning solution and let it dry before you return to using your device so that you protect it from any potential damage.

What to avoid when cleaning your laptop screen

Always avoid the following cleaning products:

• Paper towels, toilet paper, or tissues

• Regular towels or cloth fabric (such as your own shirt sleeve)

• Harsh cleaning chemicals with ammonia or bleach 

• Excessive amounts of liquid that could leave drips behind

• Window cleaner

• Dish soap (or soap of any kind)

• Makeup remover

Finally, here are some of our tech reporters' favorite products for cleaning laptop screens safely:

Best products for cleaning your laptop screen EDITOR'S PICK OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner $11.99 (save $3) Shop Now EDITOR'S PICK Pristine Screen 4-pack $17.98 (save $12.02) Get Deal Screen Cleaner Spray Kit $7.99 Shop Now MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths 2-Pack $6.98 (save $3.01) Get Deal YTT Touchscreen Mist Cleaner $6.99 (save $1) Shop Now WHOOSH! Screen Shine Duo $17.99 (save $2) Shop Now Windex Electronic Cleaning Wipes $4.77 Shop Now Fintie Screen Cleaning Pad $8.99 Shop Now

There are many horror sub-genres, but cosmic horror is one of the most fascinating. Mixing in science fiction and monster elements, the terror from the skies can take many forms. Sometimes a strange force threatens our realm, and other times we stumble upon it when venturing across the stars.

Xbox is planning to add a free, ad-supported tier to its cloud gaming service. That means you should be able to stream certain games without paying.

The Verge broke the news, citing sources familiar with Microsoft's plans. The tech site reported that Microsoft was getting ready to announce the news and had been testing ad-supported gaming internally. The ads would reportedly take the form of a two-minute pre-roll before playing, and there may be limits on how long games could stream.

Wrote The Verge:

"I understand that the free ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming will include the ability to stream some games you own, as well as eligible Free Play Days titles, which let Xbox players try games over a weekend. You’ll also be able to stream Xbox Retro Classics games."

SEE ALSO: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is about to cost more — here's how to lock in a better price

Xbox Cloud Gaming is a key offering from Microsoft and allows gamers to stream with certain Game Pass subscriptions. The company recently instituted a price hike — like everything else these days, it seems — pushing Xbox GamePass Ultimate up 50 percent to $29.99 per month.

Whether you're building your own PC or just trying to save as many cents as possible on your power bill each month, there are many areas in which your computer may be unnecessarily drawing power. Follow these tips, and you can tone that power draw back as much as possible.

Samsung makes incredible phones I've enjoyed for years, but I recently switched from my Samsung Galaxy S25+ to the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. And while I'm currently loving this phone and being on team Pixel, there are several aspects I miss about my Samsung Galaxy and One UI.

Desktop upgrades are usually either expensive, underwhelming, or both. It’s easy to spend a fortune on some piece of equipment, only to realize later that it’s completely useless. However, with this particular gadget, the opposite is true—it’s both cheap and incredibly effective.

The vi editor is confusing if you're not used to it. It takes a secret handshake to escape this application if you've stumbled into it. Here's how to quit vi or vim on Linux, macOS, or any other Unix-like system.