Technology

AdGuard for Android has just rolled out version 4.12. There will finally be proper landscape mode support. If you're one of the many who use AdGuard on a tablet, you can now expect a much more convenient experience when holding your device horizontally.

We're nearly at the full moon, which means it's getting bigger each night.

The lunar cycle is a 29.5-day cycle of eight distinct phases of the moon. According to NASA, these phases happen as the Sun lights up different portions of the moon while it orbits Earth.

Keep reading to find out what you can spot in the night sky tonight, October 2.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Oct. 2, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, and according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 75% of its surface is illuminated tonight.

There's more than half of the moon illuminated tonight, with lots to see. With your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mare Imbrium, the Mare Serenitatis, and the Mare Fecunditatis. With binoculars, you can also see the Archimedes Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and the Alps Mountains. Grab a telescope to see even more, with the Apollo 14 and Apollo 11 landing spots also in view.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 7. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the moon’s phases are part of its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. As the moon moves, the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth shift, creating the changing phases we see. From our perspective, the moon sometimes appears full, sometimes seems to vanish completely, but we always see the same side. What changes is how much sunlight is reflected off its surface, depending on its position in orbit.

This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Bose did something right when it named its QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

The first generation of the premium over-ear headphones have held the title of Mashable's favorite noise-cancelling headphones basically since their release, and for good reason — they're ultra comfortable and great at keeping the surrounding environment quiet. See? Aptly named.

As one of Mashable's headphones reviewers, I was naturally very curious when the second generation of the QuietComfort Ultra headphones was announced. Though I've only had the chance to use them for about a day and a half, in honor of their launch day this Oct. 2, I wanted to share my initial thoughts on trying these headphones out.

(As always, a disclaimer that my opinion is subject to change as I spend more time with the headphones.)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 at Amazon
Shop Now Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) design upgrades

Though my testing period is relatively limited, I can't help but feel like I know what to expect from these headphones, likely because they don't feel that different from the previous generation.

SEE ALSO: Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn

Design-wise, they're basically identical, with the same on-ear controls and placement, folding ear cups, and plush padding on the ears that makes them feel comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time — even as I wore earrings and glasses. The main design difference is in the available colors: while there are fewer options upon launch, the midnight violet and driftwood sand colorways feel unique compared to Bose's extensive colorways and options from other brands.

How the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones sound

Sound and noise cancellation-wise, I haven't had the chance to test them side by side with the first-gen headphones just yet (but will provide an update as soon as I do).

That said, these headphones definitely perform on the high end of the spectrum in both categories. Bose's companion app equalizer is a little more simplistic than Sony's, providing fewer presets and options for playing around with specific settings, but it's still serviceable. Plus, the out-of-the-box sound delivers, both with and without spatial audio.

Yes, they still sound great. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

As for their noise cancellation, Bose headphones have long provided some of the best ANC, and while I haven't put these headphones through the wringer yet, I'm feeling confident about their initial showing. Even with the best ANC headphones, you can typically detect some degree of white noise when you're not playing any audio, even if it's minimal. With these Bose headphones, I could barely tell the noise-cancelling was on in the best way possible — the world just felt quieter, without the assistance of a hiss.

The surprisingly big upgrades

While Bose does note that the adaptive ANC has improved on these headphones, so far, I find myself feeling possibly more excited about the wired playback options and improved battery life.

One of my bigger gripes with the first gen of these headphones was that their comfort, great ANC, and foldable ear cups made them a great option for travel. However, their so-so battery life and lack of passive playback (the ability to use the aux cord and play lossless audio without the headphones powered on) felt like oversights, so I'm pleased to see that rectified with the second generation.

Passive playback finally arrives to the QC Ultras. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In addition to passive playback, the new QC Ultras also offer USB-C headphones (though I've found the headphones do have to be powered on for it to work). The battery life is undeniably better, with an increase from 24 to 30 hours (putting them on par with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and XM5 headphones).

Overall, they feel like much improved headphones for travel over their previous gen, thanks to the adjustable noise cancellation, improved battery life, passive playback capability, and USB-C playback.

Is there room for improvement?

Bose headphones can have some issues with multipoint pairing — on several occasions, when testing them with more than one device paired, the audio stream will cut in and out. For $449, I expect way more out of my headphones. So far, I haven't had that experience with these headphones, which is encouraging, but it'll be something I look out for as I continue to test them.

I do wish the equalizer and sound profile in general had received a bigger upgrade — though both were already great, a new generation of headphones should sound noticeably improved. Still, I'm hesitant to knock Bose too much here — it's not as if it's the only brand keeping things relatively consistent from generation to generation.

Are the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones worth it?

If you already own the first-gen Ultras, I feel pretty comfortable already saying that these aren't so different as to be a must-upgrade.

At $449, these headphones aren't cheap, so really deliberating whether or not to invest makes sense, especially with more and more worthwhile mid-range and budget models on the market. Still, for premium headphones, their pricing is on par with the competition — the Sony XM6 headphones are $449, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones are $449, and the Apple AirPods Max are $549.

Plus, the comfort of these headphones, combined with the spatial audio features, adjustable ANC, and overall experience, does feel like it firmly belongs in the premium price tier. So far, they seem like a promising option.

Where to buy the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones

If you're ready to check out the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, you can find them available as of Oct. 2 at the following retailers:

Where to buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 Shop Now Best Buy Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 Shop Now Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 Shop Now

October Prime Day (also known as Prime Big Deal Days) is nearly here, starting on Oct. 7 and 8, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait for the official sale to bag a Nintendo Switch bargain. 

As with most big sales, the retailer has already rolled out a batch of early Prime Day deals on Amazon, and Nintendo Switch fans in particular have plenty to get excited about.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

From discounts on must-play titles, old and new, to deals on consoles and accessories that can make gaming on the go a little easier, there’s already a healthy selection available. So, whether you’re hoping to top up your game library, pick up a spare controller, or even grab a Switch console itself, now’s a great time to take a look.

We’ve pulled together some of the standout Nintendo Switch deals live at Amazon right now, all ahead of October Prime Day. More discounts are sure to follow once the sale event officially gets underway, and we’ll keep updating this list as fresh offers appear.

Best Nintendo Switch deal Opens in a new window Credit: SEGA Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut - Nintendo Switch 2 $37.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $12 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’ve been waiting for the right excuse to dive into Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut on the Nintendo Switch 2, this price cut is exactly that. Marked down to $37 from $49.99, it’s the cheapest we’ve seen it so far, making it one of the best-value third-party titles currently on the system.

It’s also a surprisingly sharp price drop, considering this new Switch 2 version of Yakuza 0 only launched in early June.

As a prequel to the long-running series, Yakuza 0 plunges you into the seedy underworld of late-’80s Japan, switching between the perspectives of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in a crime drama that’s as stylish as it is brutal. Already a fantastically fun game to begin with, the Director’s Cut layers in new cutscenes and expanded story details, offering fresh insight into its central characters, while combat gives you three unique fighting styles to swap between on the fly.

There’s even a new online mode, Red Light Raid, which lets you join forces with friends to take on wave-based enemy encounters. 

The only real caveat is that the physical version uses Nintendo’s Game-Key Card system, meaning you’ll be downloading rather than slotting in a full cartridge. Still, at this discount,

More Nintendo Switch deals

• PowerA King Bowster Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch / Switch Lite / OLED Model - $26.97 $44.99 (40% off)

• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch - $59.50 $69.99 (15%)

• Nintendo Switch Lite - Blue - $199.97 $229.99 (13% off)

• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - Nintendo Switch - $25.99 $49.99 (48% off)

• Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express Card (for Switch 2) - $104.11 $119.99 (13% off)

• tomtoc Slim Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 - $30.99 $36.99 (16% off)

• TMNT Mutants Unleashed - Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch - $19.99 $39.99 (50% off)

• Sonic X Shadow Generations (Nintendo Switch 1 & 2) - Up to $39.99 $49.99 (20% off)

• R.D.S. Industries, Inc. Licensed Nintendo Switch 2, OLED & Nintendo Switch Game Traveller Deluxe Case - $27.49 $29.99 (8% off)

Prime Big Deal Days, the new October Amazon Prime Day sale event arriving on Oct. 7 and 8, is already building momentum with some sweet gaming deals that players can grab right now. 

While there are some great early deals at Amazon across all categories, games across PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S platforms have scored fantastic bargains to stock up your backlog with. 

Among a mix of very recent releases and those that have come out over the last few years, you’ll either find modern gems that have rarely gone down in price, fun adventures that have had so much taken off that they’re at an all-time low, or RPGs that will give you hundreds of hours of content for the time you’ve put in.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

Ahead of Amazon Prime Day starting on Oct. 7, we’ve assembled the top 10 gaming deals across all three major console platforms so far. If the main event adds in some offers that are even better, we’ll immediately be updating this list accordingly. 

In the meantime, our best gaming deals so far before Prime Day is an RPG with so much money taken off, it feels ridiculous.

Best gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: SEGA Persona 3 Reload: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 $20 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $49.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re catching up on long RPGs that have come out over the years, being able to grab the amazing Persona 3 Reload for only $20 — 71% off its launch price — is the best gaming deal Amazon has going right now, ahead of the Prime Day sale. 

Launched in February 2024, this fantastic remake of the already great Persona 3 from 2006 has been a must-buy for fans of the long-running franchise and RPG fans alike. With its upgraded visuals and music remade from the ground up, enhanced turn-based & social-sim mechanics, and new voice-acting performed by a stellar cast, the original’s incredible story — about a group of high schoolers wielding titular Personas to battle Shadows and solve the mysterious Dark Hour — plays better than ever. 

Thankfully, I’m not alone in my praise, as Mashable eventually declared Persona 3 Reload as one of the best games of 2024 at the time. 

Persona games are especially known for their longer lengths amongst role-playing games, and P3R is no different, with a 70-hour minimum playtime to beat the campaign, with at least 100 hours required for completionists. For only $20 to buy the game physically on PS5, that’s at most 28 cents per hour for an incredible game. 

As shown through its pricing history on price tracker CamelCamelCamel, this particular game will likely go back to its higher price of $69.99 once stock allocation for the $20 sale price runs out. 

Persona 3 Reload is also available on Xbox Series X for $35.16, and its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port is available to pre-order for $59.99, making this sale on the PS5 version the best cost-effective way to play it if you own all consoles. 

More gaming deals

• Unicorn Overlord (PS5, Switch, Xbox) - Up to $34.99 $59.99 (42% off)

• Black Myth: Wukong - PlayStation 5 - $55.49 $64.99 (15% off)

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – PS5 Standard Edition - $53.99 $69.99 (23% off)

• Gran Turismo 7 (PS5 & PS4) - Up to $49.65 $69.99 (29% off)

• F1 25 (PS5 & Xbox) - $44.92 $69.99 (36% off)

• Sonic Frontiers (PS5 & Xbox) - Up to $19.53 $39.99 (50% off)

• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - Nintendo Switch - $25.99 $49.99 (48% off)

• Raidou: Remastered – The Mystery of the Soulless Army Launch Edition (PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2) - Up to $44.99 $49.99 (10% off)

• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (PS5 & Nintendo Switch) - Up to $19.99 $27.99 (29% off)

• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (PS5 & Xbox) - Up to $49.99 $69.99 (29% off)

Not even a decade ago, the idea of playing console-quality (or higher) video games in a handheld form factor was more aspiration than reality. Yet, here we are in 2025, with Lenovo already launching the sequel to its flagship handheld gaming PC. Time flies!

I'm talking, of course, about the Lenovo Legion Go 2. Starting at $1,099, this mobile powerhouse has just about everything you could want in a handheld gaming PC: A powerful AMD Ryzen chip, a gigantic 8.8-inch display, detachable controllers with a bevy of auxiliary optional buttons, and the ability to work with any PC gaming marketplace you use.

That said...in my brief time with it, I'm wondering if I actually want any of that stuff in a world where the comparatively elegant (but also compromised) Nintendo Switch 2 exists. Heck, even a Steam Deck OLED, while inferior in some ways, is a more enjoyable product to use for my gaming needs. If it's possible for a machine to have too many features, the Legion Go 2 might be a good example of that.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2 $1,099 at Lenovo
Get Deal SEE ALSO: All 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 game releases confirmed with preorder details Lenovo Legion Go 2 has a little bit of everything

There are multiple models of the Legion Go 2 with a range of specs, but for starters, here's what's inside of the unit Lenovo provided Mashable for review:

• AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor

• 8.8-inch OLED display with 1920x1200 resolution and 30-144Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 32GB RAM

• 1TB storage

• Windows 11 OS out of the box

Interestingly, Lenovo arguably downgraded the display a bit from the first Legion Go. That device's panel was the same size and had the same refresh rate, but a higher 2560x1600 resolution. I can't say I mind that much, though, as I would argue that you get diminishing returns past 1080p or so when it comes to handheld gaming. Besides, lower screen resolution will probably equal better battery life, though I haven't had enough time with the Legion Go 2 to say that for sure.

The new processor also promises more horsepower under the hood. I've only been able to test a small handful of games so far, but early returns are positive, especially compared to the now-kinda-old Steam Deck OLED. Games like Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade and The Witcher 3 run at or near 60 frames per second on lower graphics settings, though little hitches here and there are noticeable. For those two games in particular, that's a small upgrade over the Steam Deck; FFVII Remake in particular would oscillate between 45 and 60FPS when I played it on my Steam Deck a couple years ago.

Even from the silhouette, you can tell this is more comfortable to hold than the first one. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable SEE ALSO: ROG Xbox Ally pre-orders start now: Where to buy the new handheld

On the software side, the Legion Go 2 runs Windows 11 out of the box. There are pros and cons to this. On the upside, it means you can natively install and play games from any PC gaming marketplace, be it Steam, Epic Games Store, or Xbox Game Pass. That option is considerably less available on a Steam Deck running SteamOS. However, I have to say I miss the safe confines of SteamOS. Valve's custom handheld PC operating system has a much more touchscreen-friendly interface than Windows 11. Using the normal desktop version of Steam with your fingers straight up blows.

My colleague Zackery Cuevas at PCMag also noted in a Legion Go 2 hands-on piece recently that the SteamOS version of the original Legion Go saw notably better game performance than the Windows model. Whether that would be the case with Legion Go 2 or not is just speculation at this point, but that's worth keeping in mind, at any rate.

On the hardware end, Legion Go 2 is pretty comprehensive. It's got the usual array of analog sticks, shoulder buttons, and face buttons, but there are also numerous optional mappable buttons on the sides and back of the device. There are also six other buttons on the front of the device that do things like open the Legion Go-specific library hub for all of your games, switch between open windows, and pull up a handy UI that lets you change resolution and refresh rate on the fly.

Just like the previous Legion Go (and Switch), the controllers are also detachable. I need to spend more time with this feature before I can say much about its efficacy, but I'm sure some people will get plenty of use out of that. That definitely sets it apart from other handheld gaming PCs, if nothing else. There are circular LED lights surrounding each analog stick that light up and change color, too, which is fun. Lenovo has also gone and made the device more ergonomic in the hands, a welcome change from the weirdly angular original Legion Go.

But I think less might be more sometimes

Now that I've covered everything the Legion Go 2 can do, I feel the need to say that it honestly feels like a bit much at first blush.

For instance, all of those extra buttons are nice to have in theory, but for my money, they're a little too easy to accidentally press in the course of play. Thankfully, they don't do anything by default, but if you happen to map them in some way, I can see it becoming irritating. All of that plus the ability to detach the controllers also means the device, by necessity, has to have a lot of real estate, for lack of a better term. It's just very big and bulky, which would have been more tolerable had I not spent the past few months getting used to the Nintendo Switch 2.

It's tough to knock the Legion Go 2 too much, especially in comparison to the Switch 2, a device that costs a lot less, but can also do a lot less. Legion Go 2's library of potential games is bigger than Switch 2's by several orders of magnitude, and it's likely considerably more powerful, as well. But in the early stages of testing the Legion Go 2, I'm realizing that maybe I don't care about that. I think I care more about form factor and elegance than horsepower and tertiary features. After all, my Switch 2 is probably never going to tell me that a game I own for it is incompatible with the machine's graphics hardware, which is strangely what happened when I tried to play Halo Infinite on Legion Go 2.

I'll have a full review with more expanded thoughts on the Legion Go 2 soon, but for now, I'm wondering if maybe I'm just not the target audience for it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2 $1,099 at Lenovo
Pre-order Here

The unstoppable might of Netflix's Kpop Demon Hunters is landing in Fortnite in one of the buzziest collaborations we've heard in an age.

Teased on TikTok by Rei Ami (Zoey's singing voice in the film), the new "Demon Rush Mode" hit the online gaming platform on Thursday. Players can kit themselves out in HUNTR/X skins and accessories to fight side by side with Rumi, Mira, and Zoey against hordes of demons from Oct. 2 to Nov. 1.

Plus, Fortnite creators can also build their own KPop Demon Hunters games with new themed assets.

Check out the trailer above and enjoy "Golden" right back in your head where it should be.

In just the latest example of Gen Z growing nostalgic for the '90s and 2000s, a new trend is employing AI to insert people in the famous Scream franchise.

Yes, TikToks love for the '90s and 2000s — by the way, I was there, it wasn't that great — has led to Scream playing a central role in an online trend. It doesn't hurt, of course, that the movie franchise was rebooted a few years back. Here's what to know about the trend.

What is the Ghostface AI trend

It's loosely known as the Ghostface AI trend — the killer in Scream is known as Ghostface. The idea is you upload a photo of yourself and have AI morph it into a glossy, 90s-style photo, with killer Ghostface creeping up behind you. With October nearly here, Spooky Season is upon us. It tracks folks would be drawn to a horror movie-based trend. It's also not uncommon for AI-created images to spark a trend.

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People also made fun of the trend or did it without AI because of course the internet loves mockery, too.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How to do the Ghostface AI trend

If you want to do the Ghostface trend, it's pretty simple. Basically, you just upload a photo and ask AI to do the work. The general idea is to ask AI to create an image where you're lying on a bed with an old-school, corded phone, in a glossy, dimly lit room. Barely visible in the back, you guessed it: Ghostface from Scream.

A popular post on Reddit and a blog from the website The Tab both suggested using this specific prompt with an image generator like Google's Gemini:

"Create a photo of me in a dreamy y2k style portrait of me laying on a shiny pink satin bedding as i hold a large 90s style chorded phone and in a thoughtful daydreaming pose her long black hair falls freely in loose curls with pink clips on each side. she wears delicate jewellery including dainty gold necklaces and accessories and gold chunky rings. the room behind her is girly and daydreamy with 90s posters. her makeup is simple yet glamorous with brown lipgloss and brown lip liner. the photo should have a grainy 90s style to it with a light source like a lamp in a dimly lit room at night. The Ghostface killer from Scream should be behind her staring at her, his body should be dimly lit, and he should be standing in the doorway of a dimly hallway. The background behind he should be 150 slightly dark and ominous."

So there you have it, you, too, can pretend to be in imminent danger in a '90s movie.

Hily, a dating app with 39 million worldwide users, just launched a feature to stop unwanted explicit messages and cyberflashing, or sending non-consensual nude images.

"Consent Guard" uses machine-learning models and custom algorithms to scan for specific words in messages and elements of photos. If something X-rated is detected, Hily will alert a user that their match wants to send explicit messages, and that they'll only see them if they consent. The user can then consent or decline.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps, reviewed: I swiped until my thumb hurt

The sender, meanwhile, receives a prompt to request one-click consent. If they say no, the explicit content won't be sent. And if the prompt goes unanswered, the conversation will continue as if nothing explicit was attempted.

Hily's new Consent Guard in action. Credit: Hily

Each user can send up to three consent requests per chat, according to Hily's press release. Users can also adjust their consent settings at any point — from hot to chill to "not tonight, please."

Hily developed Consent Guard with its sexologist and sex educator, Dr. Mindy DeSeta. DeSeta provided insights on the culture around sexual consent and harassment.

As of 2024, over a third of women under 40 have received unsolicited sexual photos from someone who was not a dating, romantic, or sexual partner, YouGov reported. This is an issue that other dating apps have also addressed, such as Bumble's Private Detector, an AI tool designed to detect nude images.

Hily has also previously addressed this. Consent Guard will replace the app's Explicit Filter feature, which blurred photos for review.

"Unsolicited pics have never really worked: they're mostly just a turn-off," DeSeta said in the press release. "Hily's new Consent Guard feature actually empowers your sexuality by putting you in charge of how you date, what you share, and how sexy you want to get. Instead of having an explicit photo pop up at the worst possible moment, imagine getting a notification that someone wants to get a little hot and heavy. That's mental foreplay!"

Worried about creating operating system independent programs in Python? The os module is Python's direct line to your operating system. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife for everyday tasks related to your system. Let’s see what tricks the os module has up its sleeve.

Home security systems are expensive and often come with ongoing costs, but smart home technology has never been more affordable or accessible. Though pricey alarm systems still have their place, I figured I could use sensors and automations to throw something together on the cheap.

Emily Blunt isn't just a run-of-the-mill guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, because The Smashing Machine star and the host are actually old friends. Blunt and her husband John Krasinski used to live opposite the Kimmels, and the families have even been on vacation together.

In the clip above, Blunt brings up a memorable moment from one of those holidays, where Kimmel battled sea sickness on a fishing trip — a memory that was perfectly captured in a haunting photo taken by Kimmel's wife Molly.

"I do remember you were still valiantly trying to fish in that state," says Blunt after the photo has been shown. "So you'd go and collapse, and then someone would yell, 'Fish on!' and you'd sort of slither out there, try to catch one and then sort of slither back and collapse again."

We're into October, which means that the Orionid meteor shower—one of the few astronomical displays that can be reliably observed in both hemispheres—is happening right now. It offers many bright, fast meteors with long-lasting trains, so you won't want to miss it.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're a pet owner.

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 Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 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: Said to a pet

• Green: Equitable

• Blue: Positioned

• Purple: Popular kids' movies

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: Dog commands

• Green: Deserved

• Blue: Situated

• Purple: Best animated feature Oscar winners

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 #844 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Dog commands: COME, DOWN, HEEL, STAY

• Deserved: DUE, FAIR, JUST, RIGHT

• Situated: LEFT, PLACED, PUT, SET

• Best animated feature Oscar winners: BRAVE, FLOW, FROZEN, UP

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 September 29, 2025

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

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 could be easily damaged.

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.

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you're extremely careful.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 29, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The slightest touch...

The words are related to airiness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe flimsy things.

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 Handle With Care.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 2

• Fragile

• Delicate

• Dainty

• Handle With Care

• Gossamer

• Wispy

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.

Today's Wordle answer is difficult to measure in terms of difficulty, but perhaps can be measured in other ways.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're good with measurements.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 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 Pips hints, answers for September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An object's thickness.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

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...

WIDTH

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 September 2, 2025

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.

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: Seeing ghosts

• Green: Needs these for a new contract

• Blue: Ballparks

• Purple: Could be a QB

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: Game wear

• Green: Said during curling

• Blue: Boys of summer

• Purple: New shoes/places

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 #374 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Game wear - JERSEY, KIT, SWEATER, UNIFORM

• Said during curling - BONSPIEL, BROOM, SHEET, STONE

• Boys of summer - BETTS, FREEMAN, PAGES, SNELL

• New shoes/places - BALANCE, ENGLAND, ORLEANS, YORK

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.

Happy Thursday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Today's games feature difficulty levels that dial up the challenge quickly, but we have all the tips you need to navigate them.

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 October 1, 2025

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 October 1, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 2 Pips

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 2 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 2 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this orange space must add to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this green space must add to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (1): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this purple space must add to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 2, the Fire TV Cube is on sale at Amazon for $99.99. This is 29%, or $40, off its list price of $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

There have been some great discounts already popping up on Amazon's own devices before its October Prime Day sale event kicks off. If you've had the company's streaming devices on your radar to buy, quite a few are on sale right now. This includes the Fire TV Cube, which has dropped below $100 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

The Fire TV Cube is currently on sale for $99.99 at Amazon, a 29% price drop from its retail price of $139.99. This is a worthwhile discount to jump on before the official sale event kicks off next week on Oct. 7, and the device itself is a worthy pick-up for those looking for a streaming device upgrade.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

If you want to make sure you get a high-quality picture to enjoy what's available on streaming services, the Fire TV Cube supports 4K Ultra HD resolution alongside supporting Dolby Vision and HDR so you can take in every pop of color and detail that comes across your screen. It also supports Dolby Atmos audio, so you can feel fully immersed with excellent sound quality, too.

And with Wi-Fi 6E support, you'll get smooth streaming quality as well to enjoy your favorite shows and movies. A deal like this may not last long, though, so grab the Fire TV Cube for $99.99 while it's still available at Amazon.

There are plenty more early Prime Big Deal Days discounts to check out right now, too. Have a look at our roundup of 30+ early deals to shop now to see what else is available.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 2, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is on sale at Amazon for $249.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. This is 17%, or $50, off its list price of $299.99 and a return to its best price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Lily 2 Active $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50 Get Deal

The Prime Big Deal Days sale event may not start until Oct. 7 at Amazon, but lucky shoppers can already score some sweet early deals at the retailer. Already there's a wide variety of items available to shop through, including some smartwatch and fitness tracker deals. For those looking to pick one up to stay on top of their health and fitness goals, the sleek Garmin Lily 2 Active is discounted at Amazon right now.

Normally the Garmin Lily 2 Active comes with a retail price of $299.99, but right now it's available for $249.99. This 17% discount also marks a return to its lowest-ever price, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, so it's worth it to jump on now while the deal is still live.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

If you don't want to have a bulky smartwatch or fitness tracker on your wrist, the Garmin Lily 2 Active offers a bit more of a stylish design for wearing around. With up to nine days of battery life, it also comes with plenty of features to help you out throughout the day, including a sleep score, respiration tracking, all-day stress tracking, heart rate monitoring, and more.

For active individuals, it even has step counting, details on calories burned, intensity minutes, and a built-in GPS so you can stay on top of your fitness goals. This deal may not last long, though, so be quick to pick up the Garmin Lily 2 Active back at its best price at Amazon.

Looking for even more early Prime Big Deal Days deals to check out? Have a look at our breakdown of 30+ early deals to shop now to see even more discounts available at Amazon.