Technology

Chromebooks are generally well-known for their affordability, but the best budget Chromebooks let you save even more while still running your favorite work and entertainment apps.

Everyone who follows graphics cards is pretty sure Nvidia will announce the GeForce RTX 50-series at CES 2025. One new leak makes that seem almost certain.

Chinese manufacturer Inno3D appears to have leaked its iChill X3 version of the rumored RTX 5090 GPU, courtesy of VideoCardz. The leak, which amounts to some product art that presumably exists for a future online shop webpage, doesn't tell us much. However, the packaging seems to confirm that the 5090 will come with 32GB of GDDR7 memory, twice the capacity of the rumored 5080 graphics card.

SEE ALSO: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000: Details, launch date rumors as CES 2025 looms

In layman's terms, that means it should be really fast and capable of doing a lot, whether it's in the realm of gaming, bitcoin farming, or artificial intelligence applications. It will also likely be expensive, as these things tend to be. Unfortunately, this leak doesn't tell us much else, such as pricing or a specific release date.

But we likely won't have to wait much longer to find out. Nvidia is hosting the big keynote address to kick off CES on Monday.

People with kids, rejoice.

That's because Roborock is releasing a robot vacuum that can help clear up all the little socks they leave all over the place. Announced at CES 2025, the Roborock Saros Z70 is a pretty normal-looking circular robot vacuum, except for the part where a big robot arm is jutting out of it. Roborock says it will launch in the first half of 2025, but didn't include any pricing info.

Look at this little guy. Credit: Roborock SEE ALSO: These are the best self-emptying robot vacuums that make life easier

The arm is officially called OmniGrip, which Roborock insists is the "first-of-its-kind mass-produced foldable robotic arm" on a robot vacuum. It can allegedly take care of small items under 300g in size, like tissue paper, socks, and small towels. It's not really clear what the device does with these things, but apparently it can also clean hard-to-reach areas.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: Mashable's guide on what to expect

I don't have kids, but if I did, I'd seriously think about it.

If your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence, Siri is able to pass requests on to ChatGPT. For some requests, it's hard to see the difference from standard Siri, but you may be surprised at exactly what you're able to do using Siri and ChatGPT together.

Staying on top of firmware updates is essential for most modern devices, and that includes video game controllers.

Today at CES 2025, Belkin unveiled Stage PowerGrip, an unusual power bank that doubles as a phone grip resembling an old-school analog camera.

Apple is slowly doling out more and more AI features to iPhone users, but it's coming at a price.

In just the last few months, the internal storage requirements to install Apple Intelligence on a supported Apple device (be it an iPhone, iPad, or Mac) have nearly doubled from the initial investment. According to a notice on Apple's website (spotted by 9to5Mac), installing Apple Intelligence on your device now requires 7GB of storage space.

SEE ALSO: Every foldable iPhone and iPad rumor we've heard so far

For context, the initial rollout of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 only carried a 4GB install size. Ever since the iOS 18.2 update added more features like Genmoji to the mix, the storage requirement has ballooned in size. As Apple keeps adding onto Apple Intelligence in the future, don't be surprised if the commitment continues to increase. The oldest iPhone that can run Apple Intelligence is the iPhone 15 Pro, which starts with 128GB of internal storage.

It should also be noted that there's no way to install Apple Intelligence features piecemeal. You either get none of them or you get all of them.

For many, this won't be an issue. Not everyone fills up their camera rolls or Apple Music download queues, so not everyone is bumping up against the storage limits on their devices all the time. But for those who like to live that life, Apple Intelligence may not be worth it.

KDE Plasma is a powerful desktop environment that gives you tons of customization over how your system looks and feels. However, you need to pair it with the right base distro to get the perfect user experience. To help you make your pick, here are five awesome distros running KDE Plasma.

You don’t always have to rely on the graphical interface to launch your Android Studio Virtual Device. The command prompt offers a faster, more efficient way to manage your emulator. This article explores how to start and reboot your virtual device effortlessly on Windows using simple commands.

It feels odd to say CES is the biggest tech show of 2025 given that it starts so early in the year, but it's mostly true: As far as technology events go, CES is the largest, and the most interesting one you can attend (outside of Apple's iPhone launches).

What is CES 2025?

CES, or Consumer Electronics Show, is an annual technology convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It typically starts very early in the year, and goes on for four days, taking over much of the gargantuan spaces in famous Vegas venues such as the Venetian, Wynn, and yes, the newly-opened Sphere arena.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025 preview: Mashable's guide on what to expect

The event itself is a mix of high-profile keynotes (this year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as well as Waymo co-CEO Tekedra N. Mawakana, are speaking, among others), press events and product launches, and a massive exhibition space where visitors can take a look at the latest gadgets, prototypes, and technology showcases.

When is CES 2025?

The event itself officially starts at January 7 and ends on January 10. For us tech journalists, and you, our dear readers, it actually starts two days before, as many of the big press announcements happen on so-called media days, January 5, and January 6.

The full CES schedule is available on the CES website.

CES 2025 exhibitors

Where do we start? They're pretty much all here, with the notable exception of Apple, which prefers to do its own events.

That means Samsung, LG, Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, Sony, Hisense, Lenovo, TCL, Meta. There will be lots of talk about artificial intelligence. New chips and graphics cards will be shown. Obscenely large OLED TV will be unleashed upon the world. An absolute onslaught of smart wearables, including smart glasses and VR headset, can be expected.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: 7 AI-powered home products we expect to see from Samsung, LG, more

And even though CES is not purely an automotive event, we also expect to see numerous new cars and car technologies at this year's event. In particular, BMW, Honda, Volvo, Zeeker, Sony (yes, Sony has teamed up with Honda and they're gonna show something cool at the event) will have a presence, among others.

A full list of exhibitors is available on the website. Yes, we know it's a long list.

CES 2025 ticket prices

Unlike some other tech events like the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and IFA in Berlin, CES is not open to the general public. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older, and affiliated with the consumer technology industry.

If you're keen on going, you need to register as one of three types of attendee: Industry attendee, media, and exhibitor personnel. Most people who aren't going for work will fall into the first category, and there are several ways to prove that you're associated with a company that's in the consumer tech industry. This includes business cards, verification of employment by letter link to media articles etc. The full list of requirements is publicly available.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: Samsung to unveil AI-powered refrigerators

Once you've successfully registered, you can purchase a ticket. Prices were $149 up until Dec. 4, but from Dec. 5 to Jan. 10 they cost $350 per ticket. That's for the regular Exhibits Plus Pass which grants you access to the exhibit floor, keynotes, and some conference programming. If you want a Deluxe Conference Pass, which includes all conference and partner programming, you'll have to dish out $1,400 (until and through Dec. 4), or $1,700 (from Dec. 5 to Jan. 10)

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Cold snap

These words are common in a winter forecast.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are variations of wet, icy, or frozen weather.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Winter Weather.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 4

• Frost

• Blizzard

• Snow

• Sleet

• Drizzle

• Flurry

• Winter Weather

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 the latest Strands.

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 5 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: Chill

• Green: Cheddar reception

• Blue: Clicker options

• Purple: Same last name

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: Hardly bustling

• Green: Earn

• Blue: Remote control functions

• Purple: Words before "drum"

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 #574 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hardly bustling: CALM, QUIET, SLEEPY, SLOW

• Earn: GROSS, MAKE, NET, YIELD

• Remote control functions: HOME, MUTE, STOP, VOLUME

• Words before "drum": EAR, KETTLE, OIL, SNARE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 5

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 5 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 5, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A very online word.

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 C.

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...

CYBER.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 5

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 the latest Wordle.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, January 5, 2025:

AcrossWhat "verb" or "adjective" is, confusingly

• The answer is Noun.

On the ___ (free)

• The answer is House.

One holding a deed

• The answer is Owner.

Large in scope, as a photography lens

• The answer is Macro.

They're rolled in annoyance

• The answer is Eyes.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 4 Down"You've got to be kidding!"

• The answer is NoWay.

Unit equal to roughly 28 grams

• The answer is Ounce.

App customers

• The answer is Users.

Infamous Roman emperor

• The answer is Nero.

Where the heart is, it's said

• The answer is Home.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

While technically a Windows 11 tablet, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 2 Detachable offers something different, I think. It's more of a laptop with a great detachable keyboard, though I do wish Lenovo would have done something different with the stylus.

TL;DR: Get a 1-year Sam’s Club membership with auto-renew for just $20 until January 10 and shop for all your essentials under one roof.

• Shop in bulk to cut costs on everyday essentials like diapers, snacks, and cleaning supplies (and way more)

• Discover discounts on big-ticket items, from furniture to electronics, perfect for your next home project

• Access member-only fuel discounts to save at the pump and keep more money in your wallet

• Enjoy free curbside pickup for added convenience, letting you load up on necessities without stepping foot inside

• Unlock discounts on hotels, car rentals, entertainment, movies, and more

• Automatic renewal makes it hassle-free to keep the savings going all year long

• Deal available to new members only or for those who were members more than six months prior to purchase date

Whether you’re feeding a growing family or looking for deals on the things you use every day, this 1-year Sam’s Club membership for $20 (reg. $50) through January 10 helps you do it all.

Sam's Club 1-Year Membership with Auto-Renew! - $25

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TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2019 for a one-time payment of $34.97, and make productivity simple.

• Has everything from document creation to advanced data analysis with an intuitive suite of tools tailored for professionals

• Allows for efficient collaboration with built-in sharing and co-authoring features, perfect for remote work or team projects

• Packed with professional templates and formatting options, making it easy to create polished presentations, reports, and documents that stand out

• Includes advanced security features to protect sensitive data, ensuring peace of mind while working on important files

• One-time payment for lifetime access — no recurring fees or subscription worries

• Designed for seamless Windows 10 or 11 (not 7 or 8) installation on one PC, giving you full functionality without the complexity of cloud-dependent software

Get this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows now for just $24.97 and never pay for it again.

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows - $24.97

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TL;DR: Charge everything on the go with the Flash Pro Plus power bank, now $179.97 (reg. $319).

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Charge everything on the go with the Flash Pro Plus power bank, now on sale for $179.97 (reg. $319).

• Packs a 25,000mAh capacity — enough to juice up a MacBook Pro 1.5 times, an iPhone 12 five times, or an iPad Air twice

• Charges up to six devices at once with USB-C, USB-A, and even wireless charging, so everything stays powered

• Delivers blazing-fast 100W charging, giving your laptop or phone a boost in record time

• Built with Panasonic graphene batteries for long-lasting durability and a compact design that’s easy to carry

• Includes a digital display that keeps track of battery life and protections against overheating or overcharging

• Fully recharges itself in just 70 minutes, meaning less downtime for your adventures

• Features a MagSafe-compatible wireless charger, perfect for powering your iPhone 12 or later without any cables.

Say goodbye to dead devices and scrambling for outlets. With the Flash Pro Plus Graphene power bank for $179.97, your tech stays charged — wherever life takes you.

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TL;DR: Take advantage of this deal on a refurbished iPad 6 and Beats Flex headphones for $139.97 (reg. $279) while supplies last.

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Get a great deal on a refurbished iPad 6 and Beats Flex headphones on sale for just $139.97 (reg. $279) while supplies last.

• Includes a 9.7-inch Retina display 2018 iPad 6 with 32GB storage, an Apple A10 chip, and WiFi — plenty of room for apps, photos, and more

• iPad arrives in near-mint condition ("A" refurbished grade), with minimal to no scuffs, so you get high-quality tech that looks as good as it performs

• Great for note-taking, streaming, or FaceTiming, the iPad is versatile enough for students, professionals, or casual users

• 2020 Beats Flex headphones offer premium sound quality, perfect for Zoom calls, workouts, or winding down with your favorite playlist

• Offers four different ear tip options for a fit tailored to your preferences

• Both are lightweight and portable — perfect for travel, commuting, or just lounging at home

• Limited quantities available — don't wait to grab this deal

Why settle for just one upgrade when you can have two? This refurbished iPad and Beats bundle is priced at $139.97 — grab it while supplies last.

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TL;DR: Through January 12, a lifetime subscription to AdGuard's Family Plan is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99).

Ensuring online safety has never been more important — especially when it comes to protecting our families. As children spend more time online for both education and entertainment, the need for a reliable solution to safeguard them from the pitfalls of the web has become paramount.

AdGuard is a powerful tool designed to provide peace of mind for parents while offering a seamless browsing experience for the entire family. A lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan covers up to nine devices and is on sale for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99). That's 90% off.

With its advanced ad-blocking module, AdGuard eliminates the constant barrage of annoying banners, intrusive pop-ups, and disruptive video ads that clutter your browsing experience. But AdGuard goes beyond just blocking ads; it also shields your family from harmful malware and phishing websites, acting as a fortress for your digital life.

For parents, AdGuard’s parental control feature is a game-changer. It allows you to restrict access to inappropriate and adult content, so your children can explore the internet in a safe and secure environment. Whether they are doing schoolwork or watching videos, you can rest easier knowing that they are more protected from the dangers lurking online.

It's designed to work across all your devices, from smartphones to tablets, covering both Android and iOS operating systems. And this lifetime subscription includes continuous updates and new features.

Jump on this chance to protect yourself online for life with the AdGuard Family Plan for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this deal.

AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription - $15.97

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