Technology

The Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro may not be the best-looking phones by some arbitrary measure, but they are two of the most bizarre. I wish more companies took a chance on releasing something this bold.

SAVE $30: As of March 11, get a pair of OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro at OnePlus for $49.99, down from their usual price of $79.99 with promo code LUCKY25.

Opens in a new window Credit: OnePlus OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro for $30 off $49.99 at OnePlus
$79.99 Save $30.00 Promo Code: LUCKY25 Get Deal

The weather's warming up. It's time to bust out the shorts and sneakers, at least in many parts of the country, as spring is starting to arrive. That means it's a good time to take a few walks, hang out in your backyard, or just enjoy music while you're out and about. You can do that with a brand new pair of earbuds, and today a pair that we don't get to spotlight often is up for a great discount.

As of March 11, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are $49.99 at OnePlus, down from their usual price of $79.99, with $30 off thanks to promo code LUCKY25. All you have to do to claim the deal is add the buds to your cart, then apply the promo code before you check out. The discount will then be applied. This price applies to both the Soft Jade and Starry Black colorways.

These earbuds, which just debuted last August, offer excellent active noise cancellation and up to 44 hours of listening time per charge. They can cancel up to 49dB of noise, so you can rest assured that loud noises won't be a problem if you decide to listen to music or take calls with the buds. Plus, they offer deep, satisfying bass with Basswave 2.0.

When you've exhausted that, you only need 10 minutes to juice them back up for 11 additional hours, so the music never really has to stop if you don't want it to. And you get all this for under $100 normally, made even cheaper by the special LUCKY25 promo code. If you're on the lookout for some new earbuds, these are definitely a great contender to opt for, especially if you're a newcomer to the brand.

TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Benfica in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first proper Champions League knockout round includes some really interesting matchups, including Barcelona vs. Benfica. The first leg finished 1-0 to Barcelona, but everything is still to play for in this fascinating contest. Benfica possess the talent to upset the odds and win away from home.

If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Benfica in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Benfica?

Barcelona vs. Benfica in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on March 11. This fixture takes place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Benfica for free

Barcelona vs. Benfica is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Benfica for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Barcelona vs. Benfica for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Barcelona vs. Benfica (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Benfica in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

It’s pretty much assumed that using a smartphone means that some company somewhere is tracking you. However, people usually expect to have to actually use the thing before it starts to track their usage. Apparently, for Android users at least, that may not be the case. 

A recent study from D.J. Leith at Trinity College Dublin took a deep dive into the messy world of device IDs, trackers, and analytics cookies on Android devices and found that Google tracks users before they even have a chance to open an app. Leith was able to identify at least 14 cookies, trackers, and device identifiers that are created and stored on Android devices almost immediately upon setup. 

Worse yet, there doesn’t appear to be a way to permanently opt out of any of them. 

“No consent is sought or given for storing any of these cookies and other data, the purposes are not stated, and there is no opt out from this data storage,” Leith wrote in the study. “Most of this data is stored even when the device is idle following a factory reset and no Google apps have ever been opened by the user i.e. they were not set in response to services explicitly requested by the user.”

SEE ALSO: It's now easier to remove personal information from Google Search results

Leith posits that the reason for this is due to the sign-in process on Android devices. Once you sign in with your Google account, you’re automatically signed into every Google app that comes preinstalled on the device from the Google Play Store to Gmail, and thus, the apps.

Some of the trackers and cookies are easy enough to find information for. One example is the DSID cookie, which Google says is “used to identify a signed-in user on non-Google sites so that the user’s ads personalization setting is respected accordingly.” Leith noted that Google’s explanation is vague and doesn’t gainfully explain where the cookie originates from since it exists on Android devices even if no apps are opened.

Another one of the trackers is the Google Android ID. Leith says this device identifier is made during setup, can survive a factory reset, and transmits data about the user even if they’re not logged into a Google account. 

The report goes on to list everything Leith could find about the 14 trackers that he was able to identify, including where they may have come from, where they’re stored, and how they work. However, the underlying message is clear. Users have to mow through a ton of settings, permissions, and other hoops to put a stop to some of these. There is nothing a user can do to opt-out or delete all of them. 

Google has recently come under fire for its security and privacy practices. Last month, Google drew ire from Android users by forcibly installing SafetyCore on Android devices. It’s a feature that was meant to increase safety by filtering sensitive content. But Google flubbed the launch by installing it on Android devices without consent while also not telling anybody exactly what it does or how it works. Its rollout of the redesigned Results About You tool was much better as it gives people easier access to remove their data from Google Search.

ASUS now sells an Air Ionizer computer monitor. Available in three sizes, the monitor should remove odor and fine particulates, such as pollen, from the air around your desk.

You can connect your Mac to shared computers running Windows and Linux, networked drives, and remote servers via standard protocols like SMB. Follow along to learn how to access network shares on macOS with a few clicks to share files with ease.

SAVE $50: Get the Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 noise-masking earbuds for just $99.99 in the Best Buy app, down from the usual price of $149.99. That's a 33% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 noise-masking earbuds $99.99 at Best Buy
$149.99 Save $50.00 Best Buy app exclusive sale price Get Deal

Getting restorative sleep can be a struggle. We have a lot working against us when it comes to relaxing into a sweet dreamland. From doomscrolling to stress at work to sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress, you might feel like good sleep hasn't been attainable in years. If noise is one of the primary contributors to poor sleep, check out this deal exclusive to the Best Buy app.

As of March 11, the Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 noise-masking earbuds are on sale via the Best Buy app for just $99.99, down from the usual price of $149.99. That's a 33% discount that takes $50 off the standard price. This sale is part of the Best Buy Drops program that's exclusive to the Best Buy app. To score this sale price, be sure you're logged into your free Best Buy account in the app. Keep in mind Best Buy Drops tend to sell out quickly, so hop on this deal if you're hoping for better sleep this spring.

One of the biggest sleep disruptors is noise. Maybe your partner snores, the dog barks at nothing at 3 a.m., or the neighbors rearrange furniture at dawn. Noise can be especially bothersome for light sleepers who wake up easily. If that sounds familiar, the Anker Sleep A20 noise-masking earbuds could be the perfect wellness hack.

SEE ALSO: The Avocado Green pillow is an eco-friendly choice for side sleepers

Since you'll be wearing these earbuds while sleeping, Anker designed them to be especially comfortable. The pressure-less Air Wing design on the Sleep A20 earbuds is meant to give an ultra-soft feel. The included earbuds feature a Twin-Seal ear tip that Anker says offers stronger passive noise blocking that's more effective at blocking out unwanted noise. The customizable sound library will help lull you off into a restful sleep.

Since most of us aim for at least eight hours of sleep each night, the Anker Sleep A20 earbuds come with about 14 hours of battery life on a single charge, but that increases to 80 hours with the included case. That means you'll be set for about 10 nights as long as you remember to stick them back in the case come morning.

You might now be wondering how you'd wake up to your morning alarm while wearing noise-masking earbuds. The earbuds come with the ability to set a custom personal alarm that'll gently wake you up come morning. Plus, waking up to an alarm via your earbuds means you won't disrupt a partner.

If noise is a primary reason your sleep quality is suffering, snag this sale on the Soundcore by Anker Sleep A20 noise-masking earbuds. These usually sell for $149.99 but they're on sale today only in the Best Buy app for just $99.99. Stock is disappearing quickly though, so hop to it if you're making sleep a priority this spring.

Reddit has added a few features aimed at keeping your posts live and free of rule violation in the drafting phase. Basically, the platform will think before you post for you.

Added in early March and currently rolling out in beta on iOS and Android, the social platform's new Rules Check tool allows users to check whether their post violates the rules of the subreddit before posting. Once you've drafted your post, you can have Reddit "review" it to flag any issues that might get the post taken down before it's live.

SEE ALSO: Reddit launches 'Answers' AI search tool to help solve your problems

In case you're not aware of what a particular subreddit's rules are, Reddit has also added a prominent note feature that allows you to see the community criteria like age limits or Karma minimums (Reddit's in-house system of rating community engagement).

Here's how to use Reddit's Rules Check, if you want a second opinion before that shower thought goes live on the internet.

How to use Reddit's Rules Check Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Reddit account

Step 1: Draft your Reddit post.

Think about what you're writing and that it's going to be on the internet forever. Shocking advice, I know.

Step 2: Click the magic wand button in the bottom right.

This will prompt Reddit to review the post for violations of the community rules.

Step 3: Make any adjustments or don't, it's up to you.

Just know your post could be taken down if it breaks the subreddit's rules.

Relatedly, Reddit has added a new feature called Post Recovery, which now sits underneath removed posts that violate the platform's community rules. According to Reddit, the prompt is meant to "provide an easy way to repost the content to an alternative subreddit, helping people stay engaged in the conversation."

Mashable asked Reddit if there's a limit to reposting removed posts. Currently, the limit, as a North Shore mathlete once said, does not exist.

The last time Apple completely overhauled the iPhone's operating system was with iOS 7 in 2013. It appears as though 12 years has been long enough. Apple is reportedly preparing a major visual overhaul for iPhones with iOS 19, as well as big changes for iPads and Macs with new operating systems of their own.

According to a report this week from Bloomberg, Apple has been working on “one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history.” The update will include new design aesthetics along with new icons, a fresh approach to menus, new system buttons, and it’ll even change how apps work. 

Citing anonymous sources, Bloomberg reported the new software design — codenamed “Luck” on iOS and iPadOS, and “Cheer” for macOS 16 — is loosely based on the Apple Vision Pro. 

Apple’s operating systems are set to get their biggest overhaul in years — with icons, menus, apps and windows all getting a new look www.bloomberg.com/news/article... via @markgurman.bsky.social

[image or embed]

— Nick Turner (@newsynick.bsky.social) March 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM

Consistency across operating systems appears to be the goal for Apple, with Bloomberg noting the company wants swapping between systems to be a more seamless experience. Since Apple intends to borrow design elements from the Vision Pro, it seems that Apple wants all of its operating systems to look similar to one another. 

SEE ALSO: iOS 18.4 developer beta released — here's what you can expect

Bloomberg noted that Apple is likely hoping a fresh design will generate some hype and sales. Sales for Apple’s iPhone 16 series have been relatively sluggish and consumers have had a lukewarm reception to Apple Intelligence.

Mark Gurman at Bloomberg typically hits the nail on the head with Apple news, and this is not the first time a major software overhaul has been rumored. Jon Prosser from Front Page Tech first surfaced the rumor a month ago, showing off an iOS with circular icons and other changes in a YouTube video. Gurman’s report seems to correlate with what Prosser said, lending more weight to the idea that rumors of a revamped iOS 19 are true. 

Fortunately, people won’t have to wait long. Bloomberg reports  that the changes should be announced at this year’s WWDC event this summer.

As the final two episodes of Severance Season 2 approach, one question looms larger than any other: What in the world is Cold Harbor?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' creator Dan Erickson breaks down Gemma's 'nightmarish' experience at Lumon

It's a mystery that's haunted us right from the Season 2 premiere, but since then, Severance has provided viewers with some major reveals that have better clued us into what these two words really mean.

From Mark's (Adam Scott) MDR file to Lumon's testing floor rooms, here's everything we know about Cold Harbor so far.

Cold Harbor is the name of Mark's current MDR file — and only he can complete it. The Cold Harbor file in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Let's start with the basics. As we learned back in Season 2, episode 1, Cold Harbor is the name of the file Mark is currently refining for Lumon. At the start of the season, he's 68 percent of the way through. By episode 7, he's 96 percent done with the file. However, as he recovers from his reintegration-induced seizure, there's no telling how quickly he'll be able to finish Cold Harbor.

SEE ALSO: Can consent exist in 'Severance'?

In the first two episodes of Season 2, Severance makes it clear that Mark — and only Mark — finishing Cold Harbor is Lumon's priority. That's why they hired him back after the Overtime Contingency fiasco that concluded Season 1. That's why they were so quick to give into his demands that his original team return to the severed floor.

Mark is such a key part of the Cold Harbor project because of his deep connection with Gemma (Dichen Lachman), on whom Lumon is experimenting as a result of MDR's refining. Speaking of...

Cold Harbor is one of the rooms Gemma goes through on the testing floor. Dichen Lachman and Sandra Bernhard in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Just like with MDR's other files — including Allentown, Dranesville, and Siena — Cold Harbor is the name of one of the many rooms that Gemma goes through daily on Lumon's testing floor.

As seen in episode 7, each room houses a different Severed identity of Gemma's, as well as an unpleasant situation, like a turbulent flight or a trip to the dentist. For each Innie, these experiences are their entire life, a nonstop loop of torture.

After Gemma endures the rooms, the sinister Dr. Mauer (Robbie Benson) prods her about whether she can recall anything that happened in them, or whether any emotions from her Innies' time in the rooms bled through to her. The answer is no, but that doesn't stop Gemma retaining physical pain — like aching teeth or a cramped hand — from some rooms.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' finally reveals what Lumon is doing to Gemma. It's terrifying.

This line of questioning proves that Lumon is testing the severance barrier to see what, if anything, bleeds through from these terrible experiences. Based on that, it seems like Lumon's endgame is creating a way to sever all painful experiences, which they can then sell to the masses. As Dr. Mauer tells Gemma when she asks about seeing Mark, "Mark will benefit from the world you're siring. Kier will take away all his pain just as Kier has taken away yours."

Of all the rooms on the testing floor, there's only one that Gemma hasn't been in: Cold Harbor. Given that Mark has to be the one working on it, it's likely that this room presents the biggest emotional challenge yet. If the severance barrier can hold while Gemma is undergoing emotional turmoil that Mark somehow created or controlled, then Lumon knows its goal is complete.

What is in the Cold Harbor room? Dichen Lachman in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

Since we haven't been in the Cold Harbor room yet, we can't know for certain. However, fan theories on Reddit speculate that the room will present Gemma's Cold Harbor Innie with the death of a loved one or a reminder of her miscarriage, therefore testing whether Gemma can forget devastating grief.

SEE ALSO: This 'Severance' Reddit theory may have finally answered the 'Cold Harbor' mystery What happens to Gemma after Mark finishes Cold Harbor? Dichen Lachman in "Severance." Credit: AppleTV+

We obviously have a lot of questions about what Cold Harbor will turn out to be, but another nagging issue is what Lumon will do with Gemma once it's finally finished its big project.

When she asks Dr. Mauer outright what will happen after she goes through Cold Harbor, he tells her, "You will see the world again, and the world will see you."

In theory, then, Gemma will be going back out into the world. But will it be as herself? As Ms. Casey? As one of her other various Innies? After all, there's no way Lumon would willingly let someone they've kidnapped back out into the world unless they can control the narrative.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2, episode 8 finally confirms Miss Huang's whole deal

Another less-than-promising hint at Gemma's future comes during an episode 7 discussion between Dr. Mauer and Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), when Mr. Drummond says, "When [Mark] is done, you're gonna have to say goodbye to her."

But does that mean "goodbye" as in Gemma is leaving the hellhole of the testing floor for good? Or "goodbye" as in a permanent farewell to Gemma? When it comes to Lumon doublespeak, we should always skew more sinister — and it seems like no matter what Cold Harbor brings, Gemma is still very much in danger.

Severance Season 2 is now streaming on AppleTV+, with a new episode every Friday.

Southwest was known as the airline that didn't have everything, but it did have free bags — until now.

On Tuesday, March 11, the company announced that the only flyers who will get two free checked bags are Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and customers traveling on Business Select fares. A-List Members and other select customers will get one free checked bag. Everyone else? You'll have to pay up. Changes will go into effect for all flights booked on or after May 28.

"We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our Shareholders expect," Bob Jordan, the president, CEO, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Southwest Airlines, said in a press release. "We will do all this while remaining focused on what’s made us strong — our people and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning customer service only they can provide."

But people on X aren't so sure that's what makes Southwest strong. No, users would argue that the free bags made it strong.

SEE ALSO: Why we're doomscrolling about plane crashes even though air travel is relatively safe This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

One user pointed out that Southwest also recently eliminated its "sit wherever you want, we could care less" seating model, which disappointed customers at the time. It seems like Southwest is quickly becoming Spirit Airlines, but without Spirit's charming self-awareness.

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As many, many, many users pointed out on social media, there's not much that separates Southwest from its competitors, now. What's the point?

Apple's new M4 MacBook Air is here, with a new chip, new price, and a new color on offer. I took it for a quick spin.

Apple sent me the 15-inch variant of the new MacBook Air in the new "sky blue" color, with an M4 chip, 16GB of memory, and 1TB of storage space. I haven't yet spent enough time with it to tell you whether it's a good purchase, but I can say one thing: The sky blue color will only shine in a certain light.

So, so subtle.

Pulling the new Air out of its box, I thought there must've been a mistake, as the thing seemed gray to my eyes. Only after a direct comparison with my 16-inch, silver MacBook Pro was I able to determine that the device Apple sent me indeed has a blue hue to it.

Lighter, slimmer, and slightly more colorful than a silver, 16-inch MacBook Pro. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

In its marketing materials, Apple did say that the Air "creates a dynamic gradient when light reflects off of its surface," and it does, but you do need that light to see it. In other words, don't expect people to notice your new fancy Air unless it's basking in sunlight. Oh, and if you wondered, the MagSafe charge cable you get with it is color-matched.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted.

Enough about the color (the new Air is also available in midnight, starlight, and silver). The new Air, as I expected, was incredibly sleek and light next to my massive MacBook Pro. With a 15-inch LED display and at 2.7 pounds of weight, it's definitely not a small laptop, but I feel it still deserves the "Air" moniker, if only barely.

What else is new?

This year's MacBook Air seems to be about refinement. It looks and weighs the same as the last one, but it has the new, faster M4 chip, it starts with more RAM (16GB), it has a much-needed, upgraded 12-megapixel FaceTime camera, and it starts at $999 (down from $1,099) That's for the 13-inch variant, though; the 15-incher that I've tested starts at $1,199.

You get a matching MagSafe charge cable in the box. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

That's actually quite a lot of improvements, and while I didn't have time to truly put the new M4 chip to the test, the new Air seems to be a no brainer if you're looking for a sleek, portable Apple laptop.

Sure, the display doesn't get as bright as the one on my Pro, but having them both side by side right now, both on maximum brightness, I'm not really noticing that much of a difference. The fact that the Air's display only supports 60Hz refresh rate while the Pro goes up to 120Hz is noticeable when things are moving on screen.

No USB-C ports on the right side; you only get a 3.5mm headphone jack there. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

And yes, the Air could definitely use more ports. It only has the MagSafe port (if you wondered, the charinge cable you get with it is color-matched), two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This could be of particular importance if you plan to use the new Air with two external monitors, which you now can -- those two Thunderbolt ports probably won't cut it for all your needs.

Stay tuned for a more thorough assessment of whether the new Air is worth your money. For now, though, it appears to be a winner.

A new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing from Nintendo answers at least one question still up in the air about the company's upcoming Switch 2: Amiibo's are staying.

SEE ALSO: It's Mar10 Day at Nintendo — find all the best deals live now

The filing appears to confirm the handheld gaming console will still contain near-field communication (NFC) support, used to unlock specific content in games, the Verge reported. The Switch 2 will also sport two different USB-C charging ports (one on top and one of the bottom), as well as faster WiFi compatibility — consoles will be able to connect to Wi-Fi 6 networks with up to 80MHz of bandwidth.

Nintendo's updated Switch 2 was first teased in January, introducing a bigger casing, slightly different color ways, and revamped Joy-Con controllers. A public patent later revealed that the new Joy-Con design operated less like a traditional gamepad and more like a computer mouse, which could potentially allow players more movement functionality. Still, rumors won't be confirmed until Nintendo's big Switch 2 launch event, taking place on April 2.

John Mulaney appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday, and he brought a weird gift with him.

Spending much of their conversation talking about his appearance on a charity version of a Kimmel-hosted episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? alongside Nick Kroll, Mulaney ends the appearance by calling up Kroll on FaceTime.

"Nick, so far I've clued the audience in that we had a difficult time with an Easter Island question," Mulaney said. "What they don't know so much is that you and I and Jimmy constantly text about Gene Simmons, the front man of KISS, and that throughout the taping of Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire I was trying to slip in quotes of Gene Simmons.'"

The resulting gift? An Easter Island-style statue of Gene Simmons' head, with an accompanying quote. That's surely got to be the most unique late night present ever given.

Mr Milchick (Tramell Tillman) is definitely one of the funniest characters in Severance, and the scene in which he tells a story about the King of Sweden is glorious proof.

The moment from Season 2, episode 5, which involves Milchick saying the made-up Swedish word "gråkappan" (it means a gray cloak in the story), went viral on X, with many Swedish people commenting on Milchick's exaggerated pronunciation of the word.

Tillman's explanation in The Late Show clip above? He took inspiration from Betty White's character in Golden Girls, and then tested three different pronunciations during filming. The one that made the crew laugh the hardest was the one they went with.

The U.S. economy has been taking a beating recently, with fears over Donald Trump's tariffs causing the stock market to plummet.

"In the first Trump term, it took a disease to destroy the economy," said Stephen Colbert on The Late Show Monday night. "This time, he is the disease."

Colbert went on to play a clip of the president on Fox News, defending his actions by talking about taking the longer view.

"Oh sure, with a big enough time perspective nothing really matters," said the late night host. "Beth, I can tell you're mad I'm two hours late to our wedding, but I will remind you, on a geological scale, two hours is punctual. Does a mountain care that I got distracted looking at sandwiches on TikTok?"

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 March 11 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 March 11, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A path.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TRACK.

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 March 11

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.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 11 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: Something different

• Green: These might chime or buzz

• Blue: Often imitated, but many prefer the genuine materials

• Purple: Musicians

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: Variation from the norm

• Green: Things that ring

• Blue: Things traditionally made of leather

• Purple: Singer-songwriter pianists

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 #639 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Variation from the norm: ALTERNATIVE, BREAK, CHANGE, DEPARTURE

• Things that ring: ALARM, BELL, INTERCOM, PHONE

• Things traditionally made of leather: FOOTBALL, MOCCASINS, SADDLE, WALLET

• Singer-songwriter pianists: KEYS, KING, LEGEND, WONDER

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 March 11

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.

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.

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.

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: Court points

• Green: Hoops

• Blue: Legendary baseball player details

• Purple: Same second word

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Scoring in tennis

• Green: A score in basketball

• Blue: Associated with Willie Mays

• Purple: ____ Draft

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 #169 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Scoring in tennis - 15, 40, DEUCE, LOVE

• A score in basketball - BASKET, BUCKET, FIELD GOAL, MAKE

• Associated with Willie Mays - 24, GIANTS, SAY HEY KID, THE CATCH

• ____ Draft - EXPANSION, FANTASY, MOCK, NFL

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.

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 March 11 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 11 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: What's the magic word?

These words accompany impressive feats.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are related to magic.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is CastingSpells.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 11

• Alakazam

• Presto

• Tada

• Shazam

• Abracadabra

• CastingSpells

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.