Technology

You’ll always find me testing new applications on a virtual machine. However, setting up a virtual machine isn't a straightforward process, and the overall performance you get is not very smooth either. That's why I recently made the switch to Windows Sandbox, and here are my initial impressions after using it for over a week.

Home Assistant and Apple Home appeal to two different smart home owners. The former is seen as complex with endless possibilities, the latter a closed ecosystem that’s incredibly easy to use. But did you know you can get the best of both worlds?

In the last few years, the dominant narrative surrounding Glen Powell has been that of "Glen Powell: Movie Star."

The title is undoubtedly earned. Following his breakout in Top Gun: Maverick, Powell has cemented himself as a reliable leading man. He showed that successful box office rom-coms were still possible with Anyone But You, weaponized his Texas charm for Twisters, and channeled a dizzying range of characters in Hit Man.

SEE ALSO: Fall TV preview: 25 TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

But Powell stans know that the actor can do even more than play the suave lead. He's capable of total silliness, a talent on display in his earlier TV work as Scream Queens' ultimate frat bro, Chad Radwell. Very stupid, very douchey, yet somehow still endearing, Chad Radwell revealed Powell's ability to commit wholeheartedly to a bit, playing up his own good looks and frat background to killer effect.

That same level of comedic commitment is on display in Powell's new TV series Chad Powers, in which he, once again, plays a gut-busting character named Chad. (If I had a nickel, right?) Here, Powell proves he's gone beyond the label of "movie star," or, in Chad Powers' case, "TV star." He's a comedy star, too.

What's Chad Powers about? Glen Powell and Frankie A. Rodriguez in "Chad Powers." Credit: Disney / Zac Popik

Chad Powers follows the Ted Lasso formula of taking a comedic sports segment and fleshing it out into a show with real heart. In Ted Lasso's case, that segment was a commercial for NBC's Premier League coverage. Chad Powers, on the other hand, draws from an episode of Eli Manning's Eli's Places docuseries. (Eli Manning and Peyton Manning are both executive producers on Chad Powers.) The episode saw the Super Bowl–winning quarterback don a face full of prosthetics, take the name Chad Powers, and go undercover at Penn State's walk-on tryouts.

Chad Powers, co-created by Powell and Michael Waldron (Loki), expands on that premise, asking, "What if the man behind the Chad Powers makeup wasn't superstar Eli Manning, but instead, a man at rock bottom?"

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Sept. 26, 2025)

That man is Russ Holliday (Powell). Once a rising star quarterback for the University of Oregon, he made an arrogant mistake in a championship game that cost his team the win. Following the loss and his resulting crash out, Russ is reviled by the entire internet. Even eight years later, he can't escape his infamous meltdown.

But when Russ learns that the struggling University of South Georgia Catfish are holding walk-on tryouts for a new quarterback, he senses a golden opportunity. Russ' image is toxic, but maybe he can find new success as someone else. So, one bad wig and several prosthetics later, Chad Powers is born.

Glen Powell is a comedic force in Chad Powers. Glen Powell in "Chad Powers." Credit: Disney / Daniel Delgado Jr.

Russ' double identity is reminiscent of Powell's layered performance in Hit Man, where he plays philosophy professor Gary and his fake hit man identities, often at the same time. As Russ, Powell remains relatively grounded, a man haunted by his failure. Yet as Chad, he goes bigger and sillier than anything we've seen from him, starting with Chad's squeaky voice. You know Channing Tatum's much-memed "My name is Jeff" delivery from 22 Jump Street? Powell's voice is that level of ridiculous, sustained over several episodes of TV.

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That ridiculousness extends to Chad's dialogue. From the moment Russ walks on the South Georgia field as Chad, he starts improvising the hell out of Chad's backstory. He knows he shouldn't. Messing up details could get him caught. Yet he can't help himself, spinning up folksy tales about a backwoods childhood plagued by wolves and bizarre medical conditions. His eyes light up with worry at every new question about his past, but there's a glint in them that suggests his panic comes paired with the thrill of performance, of becoming someone else. It's a high-wire performance of duality, but Powell makes it looks effortless.

SEE ALSO: 'The Lowdown' review: Sterlin Harjo and Ethan Hawke team up for a killer noir caper

Russ sinking into his daffy alter ego points to Chad Powers' themes of redemption. But it's also pleasant evidence that there's a theater kid hiding inside jock Russ, just as there's a love letter to movie makeup hidden within the football-focused show that is Chad Powers.

If you, like me, aren't the biggest football fan, then Chad Powers' surprise focus on prosthetics serves as a sweet counterbalance to the show's sportier nature. The Chad Powers makeup, which Russ steals from his prosthetics designer father (Toby Huss), essentially becomes its own character. It's the reason why Chad can't shower with his teammates, or join in on their lake parties. It's the reason why Russ has to go on a high-stakes emergency mission to get glue at Spirit Halloween. The prosthetics wind up as a driving force within Chad Powers, highlighting the ridiculousness behind Russ' scheme while also letting the show embrace the makeup craftsmanship at its core.

In some ways, Chad Powers' pairing of football and movie makeup magic is the perfect synthesis of its leading man: a film star who knows the transformative power of prosthetics thanks to films like Hit Man, and who spends football season hyping up the Texas Longhorns.

It's a crime that Chad Powers is only six episodes long. Perry Mattfeld and Glen Powell in "Chad Powers." Credit: Disney / Daniel Delgado Jr.

Powell leads a a charming cast in Chad Powers. As Catfish coach Jake Hudson, Steve Zahn is a live wire of comedic stress. Perry Mattfeld brings gritty determination to the show as Jake's daughter Ricky, who knows football inside and out but can't shake the nepo baby accusations. She's an unlikely kindred spirit for Russ, who also understands what it means to be pigeonholed based on prior expectations.

Elsewhere, Frankie A. Rodriguez is downright delightful as Russ' ally Danny. On top of serving up physical comedy as the Catfish mascot, Rodriguez imbues Danny with a mischievous, scheming quality, making him a bit of a wild card in his dedication to helping Russ succeed. Colton Ryan has a smaller role as Bible-thumping, perpetually optimistic backup quarterback Gerry, but his can-do attitude made me crack up every time he opened his mouth.

Unfortunately, we don't get too much of Gerry in Chad Powers' six episodes — a wild number for any TV show! — nor do we get much of the rest of the Catfish locker room. They have potential to be a great ensemble, but given the truncated length of the show, they fade into the background.

What little we do get of Chad Powers, though, is the makings of a great sports comedy, anchored by a great comedic performance from Powell. Watching the show, I kept thinking that it's not just criminal that Season 1 is only six episodes long; it's also criminal Powell has never hosted Saturday Night Live. Put him in a wig and let him loose onstage. Chad Powers proves he's got what it takes.

The first two episodes of Chad Powers premiere Sept. 30 on Hulu, with new episodes every Tuesday.

Since the release of her first adult novel Beach Read in 2020, author Emily Henry has dominated the modern romance genre.

In the past six years, she's written six romance novels, all of which have become New York Times bestsellers and blown up on BookTok. Now, Henry's work jumps to the big screen thanks to Netflix's film adaptation of her 2021 book, People We Meet on Vacation.

Directed by Brett Haley (Hearts Beat Loud), People We Meet on Vacation stars Emily Bader (My Lady Jane) and Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) as best friends Poppy and Alex. The two are polar opposites: He's buttoned-up, while she's a free spirit.

Despite their differences, the pair have been inseparable since college. That closeness continues even after they graduate, with Poppy and Alex meeting up every year for a week-long vacation together.

In all their time knowing each other, they've only ever claimed to be platonic friends. But get one glance at their chemistry in People We Meet on Vacation's trailer, and it's clear that Alex and Poppy are lying to themselves. Will these long-time besties finally get a chance to kickstart the romance they both so obviously want? It might just take another vacation to find out for sure.

Check out the full teaser above for glimpses at Poppy and Alex's gorgeous vacation destinations, as well as a stealthy recreation of the novel's beachy cover.

People We Meet on Vacation also stars Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, and Lukas Gage.

People We Meet on Vacation hits Netflix Jan. 9.

When it comes to washable rugs, Ruggable's blend of form and function has helped it make a name for itself in the DTC rug market. And with its latest release, Ruggable is looking to offer rug buyers even more convenience.

As of Sept. 30, Ruggable is expanding its catalog to include the All-in-One rug, which is a washable rug with a built-in rug pad. It launches in two textures: the medium-pile Tufted rug and the Plush rug, with the latter being Ruggable's "thickest and softest rug to date," according to the press release. Tufted All-in-One rugs are available in 13 different sizes, starting at $119 for a two-by-three-foot rug, while Plush All-in-One rugs will come in four sizes, starting at $439 for a five-by-seven-foot rug.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Ruggable All-in-One rugs Starting at $119 Shop Now What's new about the Ruggable All-in-One rug

When Mashable tested Ruggable's traditional rug design previously, we generally had a great experience — minus matching up the rug cover and rug pad.

Our reviewer wrote, "It’s not necessarily difficult to get it aligned, but the velcro backing does make it a lot harder than dragging a normal rug over a rug pad. Plus, because the rug cover is a bit bigger than the cushioned rug pad beneath it, getting it matched up can be a challenge — one we gave up on."

SEE ALSO: What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair? My cats and I have been testing options at home.

Thanks to the built-in rug pad, the All-in-One rug does away with the need for any alignment. And Ruggable's betting big on the demand for this ease: Its existing Tufted rugs got an upgrade to the Tufted All-in-One design with this launch.

Ruggable says the built-in rug pad also adds flexibility to the rug, making it easier to fit into a washing machine when it's time for cleaning. Design-wise, the Tufted All-in-One rug launches with seven new looks, while the Plush All-in-One launches with nine new designs.

So how does the feel of the All-in-One backing compare to Ruggable's existing standard and cushioned rug pads? We checked in with a Ruggable rep, who told us via email, "It’s in its own class entirely." She continued, "The bottom is also a softer texture for elevated comfort, styles that hold their color longer after washing, and no curling at the edges."

Ruggable All-in-One pricing

As mentioned above, the Tufted All-in-One rug comes in 13 different sizes, with pricing as follows (with some prices subject to change in certain styles):

Tufted All-in-One pricing tiers

• 2 x 3-foot: $119

• 2.5 x 7-foot: $199

• 2.5 x 10-foot: $249

• 2.5 x 12-foot: $299

• 3 x 5-foot: $169

• 4 x 6-foot: $299

• 5 x 7-foot: $399

• 6 x 9-foot: $499

• 8 x 10-foot: $699

• 9 x 12-foot: $999

• 10 x 14-foot: $1,299

• 6-foot round: $499

• 8-foot round: $599

The Plush All-in-One is available in four different sizes, priced at:

Plush All-in-One pricing tiers

• 5 x 7-foot: $439

• 6 x 9-foot: $569

• 8 x 10-foot $799

• 9 x 12-foot: $1,099

Comparatively speaking, the All-in-One rugs do cost slightly more than their rug-pad-requiring counterparts. For example, this flatwoven rug costs $449 for a six-by-nine-foot two-piece rug (without the rug pad included), while the All-in-One counterpart costs $599. However, the cost of a standard six-by-nine rug pad is $189, or $279 for the cushioned rug pad, making the All-in-One more cost-effective.

If you'd still prefer something slightly cheaper (and aren't too picky about texture or design), the washable rug brand Tumble offers faux fur rugs with built-in rug pads in four different sizes, ranging from a $159 two-and-a-half-foot-by-seven-foot runner to a $379 six-by-nine-foot rug.

SEE ALSO: Tumble vs. Ruggable: Which washable rug brand is better? Where to buy the Ruggable All-in-One rug

Ruggable All-in-One rugs are available at Ruggable's website as of Sept. 30.

Ruggable All-in-One rugs Ruggable Tufted All-in-One Starting at $119 Shop Now Ruggable Plush All-in-One Starting at $439 Shop Now

Google's latest hardware announcements were joined by the Pixel Watch 4, but the Pixel Watch 3 is still a really good purchase, especially if you can find it at a good price. Now, the Pixel Watch 3 is heavily discounted—making for a great deal if you're not necessarily aiming for Google's very best smartwatch.

Android secures your device by asking you for a PIN, pattern, or full password. What happens if you forget the security method you set up? If you're lucky, you can get back in easily—but that may not be possible.

You know when Conan O'Brien is a talk show guest that the resulting interview is going to contain plenty of chaos, and his appearance on The Late Show does not disappoint.

In the 23-minute video above the former late night host speaks to Stephen Colbert about his role in A24 drama If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (he introduces the clip in trademark Conan fashion), tells a hilarious story about the time his mom gave advice to Jim Carrey, and takes a more serious minute to say something sweet to Colbert about his future after The Late Show ends next April.

"I, of course, adore you, I love you, I know you as a person and also as a comedic force, and like a lot of people I'm very sad that this chapter is ending," says O'Brien. "But I also want to say that you are going to do amazing things, you're going to have a lot of fun, and the connection you have — and this isn't just you, it's Mr Kimmel, and Fallon, all these guys have — it's very special. The connection you have with your audience, you're taking with you. No-one else owns that. That's yours."

Widgets are now a staple across nearly every Apple platform—from iOS and iPadOS to watchOS and beyond. In iOS 26, Apple expanded widget compatibility to the car with the redesigned CarPlay experience.

Today, Hinge is updating its approach to handling content that violates its Terms of Service for all U.S. users. The dating app will now remove a specific piece of problematic content from a user's account and share clear feedback on what was flagged and why — as opposed to banning the account entirely.

Previously, if one piece of content (like a photo or response to a prompt) on a profile was flagged and didn't meet Hinge's Terms of Service, that account would be booted, and the person behind it would need to appeal the ban.

SEE ALSO: As Tinder struggles to attract paid users, one dating app is gaining popularity

Now, that single piece of content will be removed. The account will remain on the app, but it won't appear in other people's Discover or Standout feeds (where you can "like" and match). Users will also be given a specific reason why and a chance to update their profile so that they can be seen by others again.

Hinge's new content removal process Credit: Hinge

Reasons why content could get removed include discriminatory language, scams, and sexually explicit material, according to Hinge's help center.

This change comes after reports of Hinge (and other dating apps) banning accounts, and those users having a difficult time appealing the decision. Singles who have been banned from apps told Mashable earlier this year that not being able to use them has hurt their dating lives.

Now, Hinge aims to provide greater clarity and transparency regarding its rules and decision-making processes. It also hopes to decrease the frustration of "well-intentioned" daters who will be given a chance to adjust their profiles. Hinge clarified to Mashable that one instance of "extremely harmful" content — like graphic or extreme violence — could constitute a ban.

"We believe in supporting our community throughout their dating journey," said Hinge's chief risk officer, Jeff Dunn, in a statement to Mashable. "By giving daters the opportunity to update their content while remaining in good standing on Hinge, we're delivering on our commitment to greater transparency and helping well-intentioned users better understand our policies — so they can stay focused on what matters most — making meaningful connections."

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2025, 2:39 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with further clarity from Hinge.

Next week is the October Prime Day event, known as Prime Big Deal Days. Running Oct. 7-8, this is a nice opportunity to check out some discounts on items ahead of the big holiday sale events in November, and Amazon already has some early deals available that are worth checking out.

If you're not looking to spend above a certain amount during this sale event, we've rounded up some of the best offers currently available for under $50. There's some good stuff to look through right now, too, including Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K down to $24.99 and JLab JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones for $48.99.

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

We still have a week to go before the sale event officially kicks off, and we'll continue to update this with more deals available for under $50 as they pop up over the next few days. Make sure to check back to see what else is new in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days.

Best deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Considering how much there is to watch on streaming services right now, it's worth having a streaming setup that can bring you a high-quality picture to enjoy it all. The Fire TV Stick 4K is a great pick that supports 4K Ultra HD resolution (with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio, too), and is currently on sale for $24.99 at Amazon. This saves you 50% off its list price, and considering how close it is to its lowest-ever price of $21.99, it's well worth it to pick up now.

This deal just scratches the surface of what's currently available, though. Have a look below at even more great deals available on Amazon for under $50.

More deals under $50

Streaming deals:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max - $39.99 $59.99 (33% off)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD - $17.99 $34.99 (49% off)

• Roku Streaming Stick Plus 2025 - $29.00 $39.99 (27% off)

Echo device deals:

• Amazon Echo Spot (newest model) - $49.99 $79.99 (38% off)

• Amazon Echo Dot (newest model) - $34.99 $49.99 (30% off)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids with Alexa (newest model) - $34.99 $59.99 (42% off)

• Amazon Echo Pop (newest model) - $24.99 $39.99 (38% off)

Headphone and earbud deals:

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones - $48.99 $79.99 (39% off)

• Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (newest model) - $34.99 $119.99 (71% off)

Blink security device deals:

• Blink Mini 2 (newest model) - $19.99 $39.99 (50% off)

• Blink Video Doorbell (newest model) - $34.99 $69.99 (50% off)

• All-new Blink Video Doorbell + Mini 2 - $39.99 $109.98 (64% off)

Gaming deals:

• Official Luna Wireless Controller - $39.99 $69.99 (43% off)

My recycling bin is overflowing with packaging for smart plugs, remotes, and sensors. After starting my smart home journey relatively slowly, I decided it was time to kick things up a notch and part with a few hundred dollars at everyone’s favorite Swedish flat pack and hot dog retailer.

You know we're living in a strange timeline when the president of the U.S. is casually sharing AI videos of himself on social media, but — as Stephen Colbert pointed out on The Late Show — this story gets messier the closer you look at it.

"The president of the United States posted an AI video of a Fox News report that never happened featuring a fake version of himself, saying things he never said about a magic, foot-growing-back body-pod that does not exist, all reported by an AI anchor of his real daughter-in-law," says Colbert, giving a depressingly accurate summary of the strange AI conspiracy Donald Trump posted about non-existent, secret, cure-all "medbeds".

"After watching that I hope they have medbeds so I can regrow my brain back."

It's difficult to analyse why Trump posted the video and what was going through his mind when he watched it, but Colbert also gives that a go.

"It really seems like Trump saw the AI video of himself and thought it was real. Which means he also thinks in 2020 he did this," the host says, before playing an AI clip of Trump dancing next to a bongo-playing Joe Biden.

Happy Tuesday 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 September 20, 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 September 29, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 30 Pips

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 30 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 30 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (17): Everything in this space must add to 17. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition requires deep knowledge of baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Acquired at the ballpark

• Green: Tracking pitcher performance

• Blue: GOAT World Series performers

• Purple: High-arching baseball plays

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: Purchases at a Baseball Game

• Green: Pitching Stats

• Blue: World Series MVPs

• Purple: ___Fly

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 #372 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Purchases at a Baseball Game - FOOD, PROGRAM, SOUVENIR, TICKET

• Pitching Stats - HOLD, SAVE, STRIKEOUT, WIN

• World Series MVPs - BENCH, DENT, DYE, SPRINGER

• ___Fly - BIG, INFIELD, POP, SACRIFICE

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.

Today's Connections can't be solved without paying close attention to syllables that sound like other, related words.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're good with numbers.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 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: Uncomfortable body language

• Green: It's a mouthful

• Blue: Animated animals

• Purple: Counting

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: Unnatural, as mannerisms

• Green: Words in a famous tongue twister

• Blue: Cartoon birds

• Purple: Ending with number homophones

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 #842 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Unnatural, as mannerisms: AWKWARD, STIFF, STILTED, WOODEN

• Words in a famous tongue twister: CHUCK, COULD, WOOD, WOODCHUCK

• Cartoon birds: FOGHORN, SCROOGE, WOODSTOCK, WOODY

• Ending with number homophones: CLASSICS, CREATE, GUTHRIE, THEREFORE

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 Wordle answer uses a letter more frequently than usual.

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 a birdwatcher.

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:

Waterbirds.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears three times.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

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...

GEESE

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 NYT Strands hints have a virtuous ring to them.

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 a good person.

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: For goodness' sake

The words are related to a person's character.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe positive traits.

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 Values.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 30

• Respect

• Honesty

• Empathy

• Values

• Cooperation

• Discipline

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.

October Prime Day (otherwise known as Prime Big Deal Days) is coming up fast — starting up next week on Oct. 7 and 8, to be exact — but shoppers don't have to wait for the sale event to begin to score some deals. There have already been quite a few early deals available at Amazon that are worth a look, including some great discounts on Lego sets.

These range from offers on some of this year's Lego advent calendars to one of our favorite Lego sets, the Lego Ideas The Insect Collection. If you're hoping to stock up on new sets this fall, now is a great time to see what's available before the start of the sale event.

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

At the moment, we've gathered up 10 Lego deals at Amazon that are worth checking out before October Prime Day. Hopefully, there will be even more to look through next week during the actual sale event, and we'll be updating this list as more deals go live leading up to it.

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego LEGO Minecraft Advent Calendar 2025 $38 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $6.99 Get Deal Why we like it

For those looking to get a head start on holiday shopping, Lego's advent calendars are a very fun pick-up. It's even better when they can be found on sale. Right now, the 2025 Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar is down to its best price at Amazon, dropping from $44.99 to $38. If you're looking to grab one for the kids to enjoy over the holidays, now is a great time to jump on it.

This set comes with 24 days of surprises and features a variety of Minecraft characters including Alex, Steve, a Creeper, drowned, stray, snow golem, zombie, and a Santa villager. Each of them has fun festive elements and comes with accessories, too.

More Lego deals

• Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 - $38.00 $44.99 (16% off)

• Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2025 - $38.00 $44.99 (16% off)

• Lego City Advent Calendar 2025 - $25.00 $34.99 (29% off)

• Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House - $38.49 $59.99 (36% off)

• Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds - $135.99 $169.99 (20% off)

• Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet Building Set - $61.99 $79.99 (23% off)

• Lego Ideas The Insect Collection - $63.99 $79.99 (20% off)

• Lego Ideas Vincent Van Gogh The Starry Night - $150 $169.99 (12% off)

• Lego DC Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City Set - $276.16 $299.99 (8% off)

SAVE $15: As of Sept. 30, the Echo Pop is on sale at Amazon for $24.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. This is $15, or 38%, off its usual list price of $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop $24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Amazon has been dropping some nice discounts on its own devices ahead of its next big sale event, Prime Big Deal Days. Echo devices are among those marked down, including the Echo Pop. Right now, you can scoop up this compact smart speaker for just $24.99.

This makes for 38% off the Echo Pop's usual list price of $39.99, saving you $15. If you've been hoping to grab this smart speaker for your home, there's no better time than now to do it as it's also listed as a limited-time deal, so it may not last long. All of the available colors are discounted to this price as well, so you can choose between lavender bloom, charcoal, glacier white, and midnight teal.

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

The Echo Pop features a compact design that can fit nicely into any room in your home, whether you want to set it up in your bedroom or the kitchen. By using your voice, you can ask Alexa to play music through it, podcasts, or audiobooks. But that's not all: You can also ask Alexa to do things like set a timer or a reminder, check the weather outside, or read the news. It's a tiny but mighty addition to a room.

This discount may not stick around for long, so get ahead of the game by saving on the Echo Pop at Amazon right now before Prime Big Deal Days even starts up.

It's not the only Echo device deal to pop up as an early deal, either. The Echo Show 5 is also at its lowest price this year right now at the retailer, which is well worth taking advantage of while the deal is still available.