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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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CES 2026: Solver adds configurable haptic buttons to your smartphone

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 07:28

CES 2026 has officially kicked off with the annual CES Unveiled event, where tech companies of all sizes showcase their unique new products. One of those more unique items this year is Solver, a small, rectangular object that brings a pair of programmable haptic buttons to your smartphone.

SEE ALSO: Switchbot claims to have the 'most accessible humanoid housebot' at CES 2026

That's right, Solver literally adds two physical buttons to your mobile device. The tiny add-on magnetically clips on to the back of your iPhone or Android so you can easily tap on the buttons to activate them without having to even turn on your smartphone.

Credit: Mashable

And what do those two buttons do? Whatever you want. Solver's buttons are programmable, meaning each individual user can affix any action to each button. This means a tap on the top of Solver could simply directly open an app like Notes, YouTube, or Spotify. Alternatively, a user could get more adventurous with their programming and have a button tap launch a series of actions or Shortcuts. 

For example, a user can program Solver so that a tap of a button could automatically start recording video in an emergency, then when the recording ends that video can be automatically sent to a specific user via Messages. During the demo, Solver's team showcased an even more advanced set of actions where a user can share their location with a specific contact, place a 911 phone call, record audio, and sound an alarm all with a single tap on Solver.

Even more interesting is how Solver works. There is no need to charge Solver. In fact, there's no battery or wire or even Bluetooth connection involved at all. Solver connects with your smartphone using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

If you miss having more physical buttons on your iPhone, or just like the idea of being able to launch actions without even having to unlock your mobile device, Solver may be for you.

Solver is officially launching at CES this year, with multiple different color options, at a price point of $140.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

CES 2026: Switchbot claims to have the most accessible humanoid housebot

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 07:15

At CES 2026, SwitchBot is using the onero H1 concept robot to make a clear statement about where it thinks smart homes are headed. Specifically, it's focusing less on adding another gadget and more on introducing a system that can actually do things.

Switchbot is debuting the onero H1 as an "accessible" household robot, and in a broader sense, a transition point. Moving from single-purpose smart devices to a general-purpose home robot that can adapt as needed.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: This knife has a secret party trick. It vibrates when you cut with it.

Rather than anchoring the onero H1 to one killer feature, SwitchBot is framing it as a flexible platform built around embodied AI. The robot integrates visual perception, depth sensing, and tactile feedback, complemented by 22 degrees of freedom and an on-device OmniSense VLA model. In practical terms, that’s meant to help it handle the kind of small, contact-heavy household tasks that still trip up most consumer robots. This includes activities such as grasping objects, opening doors, or organizing items without being meticulously pre-programmed.

This is clearly a concept meant to signal direction, not a product ready for mass adoption. Still, in a CES increasingly crowded with AI talk and humanoid theatrics, the onero H1 stands out by focusing on something refreshingly basic: getting robots to reliably help around the house, instead of just looking impressive on a show floor.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

CES 2026: This knife has a secret party trick. It vibrates when you cut with it.

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 06:32

I spent part of my Sunday night at CES 2026 chopping vegetables on the showroom floor of the Unveiled media event. But this wasn't your average cooking demo: My knife vibrated whenever I cut into a tomato.

SEE ALSO: What to expect at CES 2026

This might sound like some sort of twisted Cutthroat Kitchen challenge, but trust me — it's more practical than it sounds. Launching this month from the cutlery startup Seattle Ultrasonics, the C-200 UltraSonic Chef's Knife has an orange button on its handle that makes its eight-inch Japanese steel blade vibrate about 30,000 times per second. This allows it to slice through food more smoothly than a regular knife, as well as prevents crumbs from clinging to the blade. It also shouldn't need to be sharpened as frequently.

Slicing and dicing. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Impressively, the C-200 only wiggles a distance of 10 to 20 microns when it vibrates — a quarter of the width of a grain of salt, per a PR rep — so you don't see or feel it move at all. It looks and handles like a standard chef's knife, albeit one on the heftier side. The only reason I'm confident that Seattle Ultrasonics wasn't punking me with a regular knife is because it occasionally made a sharp pinging noise if it was used while wet. It's the same high-pitched sound that a wine glass makes if you run a wet finger around its rim.

I wouldn't say the C-200 worked dramatically better than the nice new chef's knife I just got for Christmas, but it certainly sliced like a dream. I had no trouble getting it to cut paper-thin pieces of tomato with a light touch. Seattle Ultrasonics' rep likened it to riding a bike versus pedaling an e-bike in that it makes your experience more effortless.

Vibration aside, it's just a decent-looking knife. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The C-200 has been six years in the making, and the company claims it's the first ultrasonic knife on the market that's meant for home use. Commercial options are expensive and bulky; the smallest alternative is the size of a shoebox. To keep the C-200 small, its circuit board had to be folded on itself within the handle.

The C-200 can be bundled with a wireless mahogany charging tile (not pictured). Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The C-200 is IP65-rated for water resistance, meaning you can hand-wash it like any other chef's knife. Its removable battery is rechargeable via USB-C.

The C-200's first sold-out production run begins shipping later this month, and its second batch of reservations is now live on the Seattle Ultrasonics website ahead of a March release. It retails for $399 on its own and $499 with its wireless mahogany charging tile, so it's decidedly a splurge for serious home chefs. In its defense, other premium Japanese chef's knives cost that much and don't vibrate.

Opens in a new window Credit: Seattle Ultrasonics C-200 Ultrasonic 8-inch Chef's Knife $399 at Seattle Ultrasonics
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Seattle Ultrasonics C-200 Ultrasonic 8-inch Chef's Knife and Charger Bundle $499 at Seattle Ultrasonics
  Shop Now

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on January 5

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 06:00

Tonight the Moon is continuing to wane, meaning less of its sunlit side is visible from Earth than the night before. The lit up side will keep decreasing over the coming days until the New Moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Jan. 5, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to The Sky Live, 95% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Feb. 1.

What are moon phases?

NASA tells us that the Moon completes one full orbit of its phases in about 29.5 days, a period referred to as the lunar cycle. As the Moon travels around the Earth, it passes through a sequence of distinct phases. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the portion lit by the Sun changes depending on its position in orbit. This variation in sunlight is what causes the Moon to appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely dark at different points in the cycle. The lunar cycle is made up of eight phases:

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. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for January 5, 2026

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 06:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A large horned animal.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BISON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Boldly.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

NOBLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Odd.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WEIRD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Used to sweep.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 5 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BROOM

Final Hurdle hint

Famous rockstar David ___.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

BOWIE

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

CES 2026: These color-changing sunglasses are like something out of a sci-fi movie

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 03:24

CES 2026 doesn't officially start until Tuesday, but Mashable is already reporting live from Las Vegas, where the festivities have kicked off early at CES Unveiled. This preview event offers a first look at some of the exhibitors coming to the annual consumer tech show, and in between all the robots, smart cameras, and AI toys, a unique pair of sunglasses caught our attention.

SEE ALSO: What to expect at CES 2026

I got the chance to try on the Povec C1 sunglasses, which the company's cofounder Alexis Marc Pons described as the world's first electrochromic sunglasses.

So, what does that mean? These sports sunglasses can switch from tinted to untinted with the swipe of a finger. Simply slide your finger along a panel on the frame of the glasses, and the tint level changes instantly. Normally, you would need an entirely new pair of sunglasses or some type of lens attachment to achieve this effect. It also looks really cool, which is always a nice bonus in a new piece of technology. The glasses feature an on-trend sports frame, which will come in a variety of colors.

While user-controlled tint may not be a show-stopping innovation like some of the advanced robotics on display at CES Unveiled, it's the kind of product that anyone can appreciate. I can see these glasses going mega-viral.

A Povec Optics representative said that the electrochromic technology was originally developed for automotive use in the Audi E5 Sportback, but that they have an obvious use case for outdoor athletes like cyclists, skiers, runners, and boaters. The sunglasses do need to be charged via USB-C, and the company says the glasses should go about 28 days between charges.

Povec Optics isn't the first company to explore user-controlled tinted sunglasses. Mashable previously checked out similar sunglasses from Chamelo Eyewear at last year's CES, which could not only change their tint, but their color as well. Chamelo's glasses are already available for purchase, though Povec will no doubt provide some interesting competition once it launches.

The startup said it's targeting a May 2026 launch with a price range between $250-$350, so they're priced like designer glasses. For updates, you can follow the Povec Optics on Instagram.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The complete list of winners at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 03:07

The 2026 Critics' Choice Awards was on this Sunday, celebrating some of the best new entertainment available to blast into your eyeballs. Here are all the winners.

SEE ALSO: Critics Choice Awards nominations 2026: 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' take a commanding lead

Hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth year in a row, this year's Critics' Choice Awards ceremony was once again held at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica Airport, California.

Sinners was poised to win big in the film categories, leading with 17 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director. Both categories were ultimately won by One Battle After Another, which had racked up the second highest number of nominations at 14, followed by Hamnet and Frankenstein with 11 each. However, Ryan Coogler's vampire film didn't go home emptyhanded. Sinners scored four wins all up, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting and Ensemble, Best Score, and Best Young Actor/Actress (Miles Caton).

Meanwhile, Netflix dominated the television nominations, boasting 31 spread across various series. This included the two most nominated series, with drama Adolescence up for six awards and comedy Nobody Wants This up for five. HBO Max followed close behind at 27 nominations, Hacks and medical drama The Pitt each accounting for four. 

Adolescence had a terrific night, winning every category it was nominated in and taking home four trophies (multiple actors were nominated in some categories). The Netflix show took the Critics' Choice Awards for Best Limited Series, Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television (Stephen Graham), Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television (Owen Cooper), and Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television (Erin Doherty).

Here is the full list of nominees and winners at the 31st annual Critics' Choice Awards, with winners bolded. The Critics' Choice Awards aired live on E! and USA Network from 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

2026 Critics' Choice Awards Film WinnersBest Picture
  • Bugonia 

  • Frankenstein

  • Hamnet 

  • Jay Kelly

  • Marty Supreme 

  • One Battle After Another 

  • Sentimental Value 

  • Sinners 

  • Train Dreams 

  • Wicked: For Good

Best Actor
  • Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

  • Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)

  • Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams)

  • Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)

  • Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

  • Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)

Best Actress 
  • Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

  • Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)

  • Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another)

  • Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)

  • Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee)

  • Emma Stone (Bugonia)

Best Supporting Actor
  • Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another)

  • Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)

  • Paul Mescal (Hamnet)

  • Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

  • Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly)

  • Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

Best Supporting Actress
  • Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value)

  • Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good)

  • Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)

  • Amy Madigan (Weapons)

  • Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners)

  • Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Best Young Actor/Actress
  • Everett Blunck (The Plague)

  • Miles Caton (Sinners)

  • Cary Christopher (Weapons)

  • Shannon Mahina Gorman (Rental Family)

  • Jacobi Jupe (Hamnet)

  • Nina Ye (Left-Handed Girl)

Best Director
  • Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

  • Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

  • Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein)

  • Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)

  • Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)

  • Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)

Best Original Screenplay 
  • Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer (Jay Kelly)

  • Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)

  • Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

  • Zach Cregger (Weapons)

  • Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby)

  • Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)

Best Adapted Screenplay  
  • Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

  • Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (Train Dreams)

  • Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, and Jahye Lee (No Other Choice)

  • Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein)

  • Will Tracy (Bugonia)

  • Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell (Hamnet)

Best Casting and Ensemble
  • Nina Gold (Hamnet)

  • Douglas Aibel and Nina Gold (Jay Kelly)

  • Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme)

  • Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another)

  • Francine Maisler (Sinners)

  • Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey (Wicked: For Good)

Best Cinematography
  • Claudio Miranda (F1)

  • Dan Laustsen (Frankenstein)

  • Łukasz Żal (Hamnet)

  • Michael Bauman (One Battle After Another)

  • Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)

  • Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams)

Best Production Design
  • Kasra Farahani and Jille Azis (The Fantastic Four: First Steps)

  • Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau (Frankenstein)

  • Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton (Hamnet)

  • Jack Fisk and Adam Willis (Marty Supreme)

  • Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne (Sinners)

  • Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales (Wicked: For Good)

Best Editing
  • Kirk Baxter (A House of Dynamite)

  • Stephen Mirrione (F1)

  • Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)

  • Andy Jurgensen (One Battle After Another)

  • Viridiana Lieberman (The Perfect Neighbor)

  • Michael P. Shawver (Sinners)

Best Costume Design
  • Kate Hawley (Frankenstein)

  • Malgosia Turzanska (Hamnet)

  • Lindsay Pugh (Hedda)

  • Colleen Atwood and Christine Cantella (Kiss of the Spider Woman)

  • Ruth E. Carter (Sinners)

  • Paul Tazewell (Wicked: For Good)

Best Hair and Makeup
  • Flora Moody and John Nolan (28 Years Later)

  • Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey (Frankenstein)

  • Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, and Shunika Terry (Sinners)

  • Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, and Mia Neal (The Smashing Machine)

  • Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, and Jason Collins (Weapons)

  • Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, and Laura Blount (Wicked: For Good)

Best Visual Effects
  • Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett (Avatar: Fire and Ash)

  • Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, and Keith Dawson (F1)

  • Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, and José Granell (Frankenstein)

  • Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, and Kirstin Hall (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning)

  • Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, and Donnie Dean (Sinners)

  • Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, and Guy Williams (Superman)

Best Stunt Design  
  • Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, and Kinga Kósa-Gavalda (Ballerina)

  • Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, and Craig Dolby (F1)

  • Wade Eastwood (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning)

  • Brian Machleit (One Battle After Another)

  • Andy Gill (Sinners)

  • Giedrius Nagys (Warfare)

Best Animated Feature 
  • Arco

  • Elio

  • In Your Dreams

  • KPop Demon Hunters

  • Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

  • Zootopia 2

Best Comedy  
  • The Ballad of Wallis Island

  • Eternity

  • Friendship

  • The Naked Gun

  • The Phoenician Scheme

  • Splitsville

Best Foreign Language Film
  • Belén

  • It Was Just an Accident

  • Left-Handed Girl

  • No Other Choice

  • The Secret Agent

  • Sirāt

Best Song 
  • "Drive" — Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin (F1

  • "Golden" — Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy (KPop Demon Hunters

  • "I Lied to You" — Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson (Sinners

  • "Clothed by the Sun" — Daniel Blumberg (The Testament of Ann Lee)
    "Train Dreams" — Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner (Train Dreams)

  • "The Girl in the Bubble" — Stephen Schwartz (Wicked: For Good

Best Score  
  • Hans Zimmer (F1)

  • Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein)

  • Max Richter (Hamnet)

  • Daniel Lopatin (Marty Supreme)

  • Jonny Greenwood (One Battle After Another)

  • Ludwig Göransson (Sinners

Best Sound  
  • Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, and Gareth John (F1)

  • Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, and Greg Chapman (Frankenstein)

  • Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, and Tony Villaflor (One Battle After Another)

  • Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, and David V. Butler (Sinners)

  • Laia Casanovas (Sirāt)

  • Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, and Richard Spooner (Warfare)

2026 Critics' Choice Awards Television WinnersBest Drama Series
  • Alien: Earth

  • Andor

  • The Diplomat

  • Paradise

  • The Pitt

  • Pluribus

  • Severance

  • Task

Best Actor in a Drama Series
  • Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)

  • Diego Luna (Andor)

  • Mark Ruffalo (Task)

  • Adam Scott (Severance)

  • Billy Bob Thornton (Landman)

  • Noah Wyle (The Pitt)

Best Actress in a Drama Series
  • Kathy Bates (Matlock)

  • Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age)

  • Britt Lower (Severance)

  • Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us)

  • Keri Russell (The Diplomat)

  • Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  • Patrick Ball (The Pitt)

  • Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)

  • Ato Essandoh (The Diplomat)

  • Wood Harris (Forever)

  • Tom Pelphrey (Task)

  • Tramell Tillman (Severance)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  • Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show)

  • Denée Benton (The Gilded Age)

  • Allison Janney (The Diplomat)

  • Katherine LaNasa (The Pitt)

  • Greta Lee (The Morning Show)

  • Skye P. Marshall (Matlock)

Best Comedy Series
  • Abbott Elementary 

  • Elsbeth 

  • Ghosts

  • Hacks

  • Nobody Wants This 

  • Only Murders in the Building

  • The Righteous Gemstones 

  • The Studio

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
  • Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)

  • Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside)

  • David Alan Grier (St. Denis Medical)

  • Danny McBride (The Righteous Gemstones)

  • Seth Rogen (The Studio)

  • Alexander Skarsgård (Murderbot)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)

  • Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face)

  • Rose McIver (Ghosts)

  • Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones)

  • Carrie Preston (Elsbeth)

  • Jean Smart (Hacks

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
  • Ike Barinholtz (The Studio)

  • Paul W. Downs (Hacks)

  • Asher Grodman (Ghosts)

  • Oscar Nuñez (The Paper)

  • Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary)

  • Timothy Simons (Nobody Wants This)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Danielle Brooks (Peacemaker)

  • Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)

  • Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)

  • Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This)

  • Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live)

  • Rebecca Wisocky (Ghosts)  

Best Limited Series
  • Adolescence 

  • All Her Fault 

  • Chief of War 

  • Death by Lightning 

  • Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy 

  • Dope Thief

  • Dying for Sex 

  • The Girlfriend 

Best Movie Made for Television
  • Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

  • Deep Cover

  • The Gorge

  • Mountainhead

  • Nonnas

  • Summer of '69

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
  • Michael Chernus (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy)

  • Stephen Graham (Adolescence)

  • Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief)

  • Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story)

  • Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me)

  • Michael Shannon (Death by Lightning)

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
  • Jessica Biel (The Better Sister)

  • Meghann Fahy (Sirens)

  • Sarah Snook (All Her Fault)

  • Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)

  • Robin Wright (The Girlfriend)

  • Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
  • Owen Cooper (Adolescence)

  • Wagner Moura (Dope Thief)

  • Nick Offerman (Death by Lightning)

  • Michael Peña (All Her Fault)

  • Ashley Walters (Adolescence)

  • Ramy Youssef (Mountainhead)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
  • Erin Doherty (Adolescence)

  • Betty Gilpin (Death by Lightning)

  • Marin Ireland (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy)

  • Sophia Lillis (All Her Fault)

  • Julianne Moore (Sirens)

  • Christine Tremarco (Adolescence)

Best Foreign Language Series
  • Acapulco

  • Last Samurai Standing

  • Mussolini: Son of the Century 

  • Red Alert

  • Squid Game

  • When No One Sees Us

Best Animated Series
  • Bob’s Burgers

  • Harley Quinn

  • Long Story Short

  • Marvel Zombies

  • South Park

  • Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Best Talk Show
  • The Daily Show

  • Hot Ones

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • Late Night with Seth Meyers

  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Best Variety Series
  • Conan O’Brien Must Go

  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

  • Saturday Night Live

Best Comedy Special
  • Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life

  • Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian

  • Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things

  • Marc Maron: Panicked

  • Sarah Silverman: PostMortem

  • SNL50: The Anniversary Special

Categories: IT General, Technology

A new e-reader is entering the US market — welcome the DuRoBo Krono e-reader

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 01:00

Move over Kindle, a new bombshell has entered the e-reader field. DuRoBo's Krono e-reader is coming to the United States and European markets in 2026, and it's all kicking off at CES.

The Krono e-reader — or, as DuRoBo calls it, an ePaper Focus Hub — is a power-packed device coming with a lot more power than you're used to. Measuring 6.1 inches, it's a nearly pocket-sized device, smaller than even the basic Kindle.

All of its controls are housed in its smart dial, which, in addition to letting you navigate menus and adjust settings, also records voice notes on your command. It features a Carta 1200 HD display with 300 ppi resolution, notably the same resolution you'll find on Kindles.

In addition to reading books, browse the internet and listen to music on the Krono. Credit: DuRoBo

What really stands out about the Krono e-reader is its 128GB of storage space. We're used to seeing e-readers max out at 32GB, and now the Krono is quadrupling that. But with its open Android operating system, you'll need that storage space for apps, as you can download Spotify, Reddit, Gmail, Google Drive, and plenty more to the device. It also has a built-in speaker in addition to Bluetooth connectivity, offering flexibility if you want to listen out loud or on a pair of wireless headphones.

The Krono won't be for everyone, as many e-reader users choose the devices for their distraction-free design. However, it bridges the gap between a tablet and e-reader and, with black and white displays, potentially makes it less tempting to scroll.

The Krono e-paper device will be on display at CES 2026, and is arriving to United States and European markets in late January. It will retail for $279.99 and will be available for purchase on DuRoBo's site.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $49.97 Microsoft Office deal skips the monthly bill entirely

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 00:00

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 is on sale for $49.97 (reg. $219), offering a lifetime license with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $49.97
$219 Save $169.03   Get Deal

Subscriptions have their place, but productivity software doesn’t really need to be one of them — especially when it’s something as familiar and widely used as Microsoft Office. Somewhere along the way, there must have been a glitch in the matrix, because buying software quietly turned into renting it forever. Thankfully, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 skips that model entirely. Its lifetime license is currently on sale for $49.97 (regularly $219), whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows PC.

There’s no need to explain why an Office license still matters. Most people have been using Microsoft Office long before cloud apps and browser-based alternatives became the norm. With this deal, you can install the full Office suite on a single device for lifetime use — at home or at work — without worrying about monthly renewals, annual price hikes, or surprise charges down the line.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This license includes all the core apps most people actually rely on: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That means drafting documents, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing email, and organizing notes using the full desktop versions of each app. Unlike free alternatives or web-based tools, you get access to the complete feature sets, which makes a difference when you’re working on longer documents, detailed spreadsheets, or presentation-heavy projects.

Once you purchase, your license key and download links are delivered instantly, so there’s no waiting around to get started. Microsoft also includes lifetime customer support, which can be helpful if you ever need assistance with installation or troubleshooting.

Instead of committing to yet another recurring subscription, this one-time purchase lets you snag software you’ll likely keep using for years.

Right now, you can grab Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac or Windows for $49.97 (reg. $219). That’s proof that the matrix occasionally still gets things right.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Clean up the internet for your whole household for just $15.97

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 00:00

TL;DR: AdGuard’s Family Plan is available for $15.97 for lifetime access with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

If each of us had a dollar for every ad we saw online, we’d all be swimming in money by now. The average person is exposed to thousands of ads a day, and they’re practically unavoidable — especially if you live online. Pop-ups, autoplay videos, cookie banners, and targeted ads pile up fast, and that clutter multiplies when several people are using multiple devices under one roof. AdGuard’s Family Plan is designed to block much of that noise at the source, and its lifetime license is currently priced at just $15.97.

If it ever feels like the internet knows a little too much about you, you’re not imagining things. Ads that follow you from site to site and trackers quietly collecting data in the background can make browsing feel less like exploration and more like surveillance. AdGuard aims to dial that back by blocking ads and trackers before they even load, helping protect your privacy across everyday browsing.

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Designed to make the web feel cleaner and more peaceful, AdGuard blocks nearly every type of ad imaginable. Beyond that, it hides your activity from trackers and analytics tools that monitor your online behavior. The result is a faster, less cluttered browsing experience — and fewer eerily well-timed ads popping up in your feed.

Security is another part of the package. AdGuard includes built-in malware and phishing protection to help prevent harmful sites from slipping through. For households with kids, parental controls allow you to restrict access to inappropriate content, making the internet a safer place for your little ones.

The Family Plan works across Android and iOS devices, along with computers, making it a flexible option for most households. This plan supports up to nine devices, which should cover phones, tablets, and laptops without much juggling.

Perhaps the biggest draw is the pricing model. Instead of another recurring subscription, this is a one-time purchase. Pay once, and you get lifetime access, including future updates and feature improvements.

Use code FAMPLAN to get an AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription for only $15.97 (reg. $169.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What to expect at CES 2026

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 21:53

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is just a matter of days away, which means it's time to take stock of what to expect from the world's most recognizable tech brands.

Companies like Samsung, LG, and AMD will showcase new products that range from futuristic concepts to more tangible and real-world items you can purchase in the near future. Between foldable phones, fancy new TVs, robots, and computer hardware, there's going to be a lot to talk about in the coming week. Let's dig in.

Here are the biggest tech trends to expect at CES 2026.

SEE ALSO: How to watch CES 2026 live: Streaming schedule, keynotes, events Lots of colorful, big TVs Get ready to hear the letters 'RGB' a lot. Credit: LG

Television sets always take a prominent place at CES, and 2026 appears to be no exception. However, one thing that will be different is the color technology being used in a lot of the TVs on display this year.

Specifically, RGB (which stands for red, green, and blue) TVs are en vogue at CES 2026. A typical TV has backlights that emit white or blue light, depending on what is on screen, but RGB TVs have numerous small red, green, and blue lights that create the picture instead. The idea here is to create greater color accuracy than you'd find on a different kind of display. As a bonus, these screens can achieve higher brightness levels and better contrast as well.

We know for certain that SamsungLG, and Hisense are all showcasing RGB TVs at CES, but other companies will likely have something on the docket as well. Beyond the RGB of it all, it appears that these same companies are pushing harder on huge displays this year as well. Leaks suggest that Samsung is showcasing a 98-inch version of its Frame TV, while LG's line of RGB sets starts at 75 inches and increases from there. This isn't to say that smaller TVs are going away, but it does mean that huge ones are here to stay.

New laptop chips Intel has some new chips coming. Credit: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The atmosphere surrounding computer components at CES 2026 is currently a bit muted, given the skyrocketing prices of memory these days. In previous years, we've seen powerful consumer-grade GPUs showcased at CES, but it doesn't seem like that will be the case this year.

Still, that doesn't mean there will be nothing to chew on. For instance, AMD will deliver a keynote address to kick off the show, which it may use to announce its Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU, reportedly designed for incredibly fast PC gaming. Intel, meanwhile, has already pre-announced its Panther Lake chips, which will likely be showcased in powerful laptops and PCs at CES. The same goes for Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. Whether they're entirely new laptops or refreshes of older models, expect to see machines with those chips inside at the show this year.

As always, keep an eye out for innovative new concepts, such as rollable screens and other unconventional form factors. We don't know of any in this specific category just yet, but there's always something like this at CES.

(Hopefully) helpful robots Where are you? Credit: Kim Gedeon/Mashable

Robots consistently make an appearance at CES in some form, and 2026 appears to be no exception.

In fact, we already know about one in advance. Its name is CLOiD, and it comes from LG. The Korean tech company has yet to share any photos, specs, or price info about CLOiD, but we know it will have two limbs with actuated digits at the end, a menagerie of sensors for navigating and interacting with your home, and an AI-powered robot brain that will personalize its responses to its owners over time. At least, it'll do all of that in theory. CLOiD could be one of those far-off concepts I mentioned earlier, something that doesn't launch for quite some time, if ever.

Speaking of which, Samsung has been threatening to unleash Ballie, a spherical robotic helper, since CES 2020. After that initial showcase, Ballie went silent for several years, reappearing at CES 2024. We still haven't gotten any concrete info about when (or if) Ballie will be available to consumers. There's no guarantee Ballie will show up this year, but it definitely warrants a mention until Samsung provides some answers.

At least two new foldable phones Big phone! Credit: Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images

The heavily rumored iPhone Fold is unlikely to appear at CES, but other foldables are expected to be showcased.

For starters, Samsung has just recently launched its anticipated Galaxy Z Tri-Fold in Asia, and we expect it to arrive in the U.S. in early 2026. That doesn't necessarily guarantee it will appear at CES, but given Samsung's substantial presence at the show this year, it would not be surprising at all to see the TriFold make its Western debut at the show. In case you haven't been following along, this is the ultra-big, book-style foldable that has two creases instead of just one. In other words, when it's unfolded, it'll almost be like three smartphone displays attached to each other.

Interestingly, Samsung is also reportedly working on another new foldable with a wider display than its previous devices. That one may be further off and isn't guaranteed to appear at CES, but it's worth keeping an eye out for.

And while we know less about this than the TriFold, Motorola is apparently going to show off a new foldable of its own at CES. The company sent physical invites to some media outlets that heavily hinted at a new book-style foldable (as opposed to clamshell-style devices Motorola already makes), and it might have a wood finish, giving it a distinct look. Other than that, though, we know next to nothing about this device. That will probably change next week.

Smart glasses Smart glasses are having a comeback. Credit: IAN MAULE/AFP via Getty Images

Between last year's CES showcase and Meta's increasing market saturation with Ray-Ban, smart glasses made a modest comeback in 2025. Do not be surprised to see more of them at CES 2026.

We don't have many firm predictions about which companies will show which glasses at CES, but in general, you should expect to see more glasses with built-in displays than in previous years. Those have been at CES for a while now, but it's starting to feel like a device category that might actually be used by regular consumers in the near future, rather than just a far-off tech fantasy. Well, maybe, anyway. It depends on whether tech companies can figure out how to navigate all the horrifying privacy implications of wearing a camera on your face.

AI will be everywhere

Lastly, as a general prediction, expect the term "AI" to be frequently used in relation to any and all of the above device categories. New laptop chips will be optimized for AI applications. Smart glasses and home robots will be powered by AI. New TVs will probably use AI in some way. And, of course, foldable phones will come with AI features built in, just like non-foldable phones do.

Will any of it be especially new or novel? It's impossible to say. We'll find out together soon.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

GE unveils smart fridge with barcode scanner linked to Instacart for delivery

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 18:28

Ahead of CES 2026, GE announced the GE Profile Smart Refrigerator with Kitchen Assistant, which boasts a barcode scanner that can add an item to your grocery shopping list — and syncs directly with Instacart.

With the "Scan-to-List" feature, you can scan a product, and the fridge will add it to a shopping list within GE's SmartHQ app. From there, the list can be shared with others, used in-store, or copied to Instacart for fast delivery. You can also add items to your grocery list using your voice — or even ask for unit conversions or product information.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: The biggest tech trends to watch out for

If you're unsure about what to cook, you can also utilize the fridge's recipe integrations. More than 50 recipes will be added monthly for you to save or add ingredients to your shopping list.

Another feature is "FridgeFocus," which aims to reduce food waste. It's a camera integrated into an LED bar that can snap real-time shots of crisper drawers, which usually contain perishables. So you can check on how your produce is looking while you're away doing next week's grocery shopping.

GE's latest smart fridge "builds on our legacy of kitchen breakthroughs by delivering solutions that adapt to real lives and solve universal stressors such as meal decision fatigue and grocery shopping," Jason May, executive product director of French-door refrigeration at GE Appliances, stated in the press release.

The new smart fridge will be available for purchase in standard-depth or counter-depth models (allowing it to be flush with your cabinetry) on GE's website and at other retailers in April, with a suggested retail price of around $4,899.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

CES 2026: Narwal Flow 2 robovac announced with specs, features, price, more

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 17:21

For this year's CES, Narwal just announced its Flow 2 robovac and mop, which it calls its "most advanced robotic mop ever."

The Flow 2 boasts two RGB cameras with 1080P resolution, AI that is designed to detect and avoid objects on the floor — such as your cat or lost jewelry — and real-time self-cleaning, according to Narwal's CES page on its website.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: The biggest tech trends to watch out for

Narwal's Flow 2 also upgrades features of the original Flow, like 30,000Pa of suction (up from 22,000Pa), and 158 degrees Fahrenheit hot water mopping, The Verge reported. The Flow 2 also has two docking stations, one with an automatic refill and draining function and another that's a water tank.

The robovac is expected to be released in April 2026, but pricing and pre-order information aren't yet available. For reference, the Narwal Flow retails for $2,049.98 on the official website.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What to expect from Samsung at CES 2026

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 17:04

Samsung is going to have a very busy CES 2026.

The company typically brings new TVs and gaming displays to the show, and that's exactly what's on schedule for CES 2026 as well. But being the consumer tech behemoth that it is, Samsung is firing on all cylinders.

For example, the company pushed out 18 press releases in December alone, many of them pre-announcements of the stuff Samsung is bringing to CES – and that doesn't count the pre-embargoed releases which are scheduled to see the light of day over the next week.

The company has also built an entirely new, massive exhibition space at The Wynn where it can showcase its ambitious AI vision.

Let's take a look at the most interesting stuff we expect to see from Samsung at CES 2026.

Micro RGB TVs Forget about OLEDs (maybe), Micro RGB TVs are coming. Credit: Samsung

Both Samsung and LG have announced a full range of Micro RGB TVs to be launched at CES 2026. For a full explainer what Micro RGB TVs are, go here; the short version is that they're TVs which should come close to OLED picture quality at a lower price.

In particular, Samsung said that in 2026 it would expand its Micro RGB TV lineup with 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100- and 115-inch models (the company previously launched a massive, 115-inch TV in 2025).

SEE ALSO: The top 6 CES 2026 trends I expect to see at tech's biggest show

It's still early days for Micro RGB TVs, though, and we're eager to see how good these are with our own eyes.

Gaming monitors No glasses needed for 3D on this one. Credit: Samsung

This is another tradition by Samsung: The company almost always unveils new gaming monitors at CES. This year, the company is bringing its 2026 Odyssey gaming monitor lineup, including the world's first 6K glasses-free 3D gaming monitor called the Odyssey 3D.

Other new devices include the Odyssey G6, the world's first 1,040Hz gaming monitor, as well as several new Odyssey G8 models, including a 6K, 5K, and OLED variant.

Folding phones Samsung's first tri-folding phone is coming to America. Credit: Samsung

The company's first tri-folding phone, the Samsung Galaxy TriFold, was officially unveiled in early December, but for many, CES 2026 will offer a first chance to see the device up close.

Samsung is also rumored to be working on yet another foldable phone with a wider aspect ratio, as it (apparently) prepares to meet Apple's first foldable iPhone head on. We don't expect to see that one at CES 2026, but Samsung Display typically offers a glimpse into future devices by showing us the latest displays the company's been working on.

Wireless speakers and soundbars We don't know how it sounds yet, but it looks good. Credit: Samsung

Samsung is bringing new audio gear to CES 2026, including a couple of new Q-series soundbars. But we're particularly interested in two new WiFi speakers called the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7. The latter is a 3.1.1. channel speaker system with left, front, right and top-firing speakers, which should create a "natural 3D immersion." It supports hi-res audio as well as Samsung's audio tech such as AI Dynamic Bass Control and Audio Lab Pattern Control.

The Music Studio 5 is a smaller version, with a four-inch woofer and dual tweeters. It also includes the AI Dynamic Bass Control and supports WiFi casting, streaming services, and Bluetooth connectivity.

But the coolest thing about these speakers is how they look. Available in black and white, Samsung says their "dot design" has been created by renowned designer Erwan Bouroullec.

AI everything

In Samsung's official words, the company will take the CES 2026 stage to "present its unified AI approach for its Device eXperience (DX) Division and articulate the company’s overall business direction." More importantly for us, Samsung said its AI vision is so ambitious that it built an "industry-leading, large-scale premium standalone exhibition space at The Wynn," where it can showcase its AI innovation with "no limitations."

While AI announcements can sometimes be hard to digest, the above sounds like Samsung's massive exhibition space at the Wynn will be newsworthy in itself. In a few days, we'll be there live to tell you what it's like.

Samsung also said it would unveil a new lineup of AI-connected home appliances, including the new Bespoke AI Laundry Combo (that's a smart washing machine), the Bespoke Samsung AirDresser (that's a smart clothes freshener), the Bespoke AI WindFree Pro Air Conditioner, and a cleaning bot called the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam.

Finally, the company partnered with Google to add Gemini smarts to some of its hone appliances, including the new Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub and the Bespoke AI Wine Cellar. Yes, in the end everything in your house will be smart; time to get used to it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

XReal AR glasses get an upgrade and price drop in time for CES 2026

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 16:25

The XReal One Pro AR glasses debuted at CES 2025, and now XReal has announced an upgraded version, 1S, in time for CES 2026. Plus, the XReal 1S is available for $449, which is $50 cheaper than the XReal One on the company's website, and $200 cheaper than the XReal One Pro.

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The XReal 1S boasts 3D spatial technology so users can convert 2D games and videos into 3D, and several upgrades compared to other XReal models:

  • 500-inch spatial screen, up from 147 inches on the XReal One

  • 52 degrees field of view, an increase from 50 degrees on the XReal One (but less than the XReal One Pro's 57 degrees)

  • 1200P HD resolution, up from 1080P resolution on both the XReal One and One Pro

  • Highest perceived brightness up to 700 nits, more than the One's 600 (but the same as the One Pro)

Like the One and One Pro, the XReal 1S features Native 3DoF (degrees of freedom) spatial anchoring, allowing you to keep the screen in one place. It also features electrochromatic dimming, a USB-C plug-in, and is powered by the X1 chip. The 1S glasses come in a cobalt blue, whereas the other models are black.

The XReal 1S is available for order now on the XReal website or Amazon.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for January 4, 2026

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 11:05

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026:

AcrossRon Swanson's "number one favorite food," on "Parks and Recreation"
  • The answer is Bacon.

It comes in black and green varieties, depending on ripeness
  • The answer is Olive.

Paramour
  • The answer is Lover.

In bronze medal position
  • The answer is Third.

Feeling resentful, in slang
  • The answer is Salty.

DownStreaks of lightning
  • The answer is Bolts.

Hawaiian greeting
  • The answer is Aloha.

The "C" of A.C.L.U.
  • The answer is Civil.

In the open
  • The answer is Overt.

Knowledgeable, and proud of it
  • The answer is Nerdy.

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Magic vs. Pacers online for free

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 11:00

TL;DR: Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are plenty of great NBA games taking place over the first weekend of 2026, including Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers. Sure, the Pacers have been pretty poor this season without Tyrese Haliburton. But the Orland Magic are looking to climb the standings.

If you want to watch Magic vs. Pacers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Magic vs. Pacers?

Magic vs. Pacers in the NBA starts at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 2. This game takes place at the Kia Center.

How to watch Magic vs. Pacers for free

Magic vs. Pacers in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

  2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

  4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get your digital life in order with 10TB of lifetime cloud storage

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 11:00

TL;DR: Secure 10TB of data securely with end-to-end encryption, thanks to this lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage, now just $269.97 (reg. $2,900) through Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan $269.97
$2,900 Save $2,630.03   Get Deal

Make 2026 the year you get your digital life in order. If you’ve been meaning to sort out your file storage setup but haven’t found the time, consider this your sign. An Internxt Cloud Storage lifetime subscription gives you 10TB of storage to safeguard your data for life. Right now, it’s available for just $269.97 (reg. $2,900) through Jan. 11.

With Internxt Cloud Storage, you can pay once and rest easy knowing your files are stored for life. This 10TB plan lets you secure years’ worth of data affordably, while also offering top-tier security.

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Your data is protected with end-to-end encryption, meaning it’s encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only by the recipient. Not even Internxt can access your data, unlike other cloud storage competitors who may monetize it through targeted advertising and data sharing.

In addition to letting you own your cloud storage and keep it highly secure, Internxt has taken steps to improve transparency. Internxt keeps its code publicly available under an open-source policy and is GDPR-compliant, adhering to strict European laws that protect user privacy and data security.

If you’re already using a popular platform, don’t worry. Internxt has a user-friendly interface and cross-platform compatibility, making it easy to use and integrate across devices and operating systems.

Secure your own 10 TB lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage for only $269.97 (reg. $2,900) now through Jan. 11.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eharmony review: The dating app for people who treat finding a spouse like a full-time job

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 11:00

I’ve been testing dating apps for a long time now, and the question my friends ask me most isn't "how does the algorithm work?" but rather "which app is actually the best?"

Lately, as we've all gotten older (and more willing to settle down), eharmony has snuck into the conversation more often than I’d like to admit. It’s known for being the go-to for the over-50 crowd, but its "hip" new commercials suggest the company is desperate to attract a younger user base.

Whatever their marketing strategy, the claim that "every 14 minutes, someone finds love on eharmony" piqued my interest. So, I decided to give it a real college try to see whether its infamous questionnaire and algorithm-based matching system actually work. Below is my detailed experience with eharmony, from sign-up to connecting with other users.

Getting started on eharmony

Once you download the app, you have two choices: “Join now” or “Log in.” There isn't an option to sign in with Facebook or Google on this screen. (Given the app's older demographic, I honestly expected a Facebook login to be front and center.)

Next, you select your country and your gender. You have three options: woman, man, or nonbinary.

After you pick one, a note pops up letting you know you can "update your gender at any time." This is cool considering eharmony’s history of being less-than-welcoming to gay and nonbinary folks. But that feeling of progress evaporates when you’re asked, “Who are you open to meeting?” You can pick women, men, or nonbinary people — but the app doesn't let you make multiple selections. It’s a major downside for queer and bisexual daters who want a wider pool.

If you decide to keep going, you’ll share what you're looking for (casual, serious, or just browsing) and then get smacked in the face with a massive consent pop-up.

The "Your Consent" pop-up that appears during eharmony's sign-up process. Credit: Screenshot: eharmony

I didn't click “accept all,” and it still let me move forward, so at least there’s no gatekeeping there. Finally, the app asks you to sign up with your email address, Apple, or Google account. It’s weird that they bury this step so deep in the onboarding process instead of putting it at the very beginning, but I eventually chose Google — it’s just easier that way.

You’re in. Now what?

After successfully getting through the initial registration, you’ll get a cute little welcome message: “Congrats — you’re taking the first step towards finding someone who gets you. Now, let’s see what’s next for you.”

This is the part we’ve all been complaining about for years. This extensive questionnaire is a hallmark of eharmony, and it’s what the company claims is the "secret sauce" to its matchmaking success. The first screen is just an intro that basically says to find someone right for you, the best place to look is within yourself. (I think this makes total sense.)

Clicking “continue” brings you to a screen with two tips: Spend 10 to 20 minutes taking the quiz, and go with your gut. (I am curious if the upcoming questions are based on whether you chose man, woman, or nonbinary for your gender preference. It would be interesting to see if a male user gets different phrasing than a female or nonbinary user.)

The welcome screen for eharmony's famous Compatibility Quiz, which takes about 20 minutes to complete. Credit: Screenshot: eharmomy

I’m not going to list every single question, but here’s a quick rundown of the first 15 percent:

  • Where is your ideal place to live? (Regardless of where you are now.)

  • Why do you want a relationship? You can choose three options, including things like “emotional security,” “so I’m not alone,” and “frequent intimacy” (go eharmony for including that one!).

  • Why are you single? (First of all, rude. Also, not sure some of you are ready to go down that rabbit hole.)

  • Would you sleep in one bed or separate bedrooms?

One thing I didn’t love is that if you change your mind about an answer, there isn’t a “back” button to revise it. Once you click, you’re committed.

Moving on… the next set of questions focuses on specific interests. Some are multiple choice, while others demand "exactly two answers required." It covers the basics like smoking and drinking, plus lifestyle questions like whether you prefer cooking or going out to eat (again, wondering if they ask the guys this, too). I appreciated that you could choose “none” for sports, but it was weird that it asked if I played an instrument, but never asked which one.

Honestly, by this point, I was ready to tap out, but I’m doing this for all of you singletons out there who are ready to find your forever person.

A glimpse at the "personality" section of the eharmony quiz, which includes abstract shape preferences and situational questions to gauge your reactions. Credit: Screenshot: eharmony

The next section is picture-based and starts to feel a little like a Rorschach test. It gives you two shapes and asks which appeals to you more. Once that’s over, you get an encouraging pop-up: “Halfway there — keep it up!” Then, more pictures — this time of homes, flowers, and nature scenes.

The most interesting part of this section was a question about your “immediate reaction” if someone close to you upsets you. When I picked my first choice, I got a little pop-up scolding me: “Most people tend to pick this answer because it seems the most logical. Please take a moment and make sure you are picking the right answer that applies to you.” OK, eharmony.

It randomly hits you with a climate change question, and then things get serious. However, the marriage question didn’t sit right with me. Not because of what it asked (“What do you think about marriage as an institution?”) but because of the answers it didn’t offer. It felt limited. It also places a question about whether “sex sells” right underneath a question about set mealtimes, which is... a choice.

Once you finally finish, you’re met with a congratulations screen. You made it.

Even more details, if you can believe it

OK, so you’ve made it this far — congrats! Now, you have to fill out your full name, birthday, occupation, height, education level, annual income, whether you have children, religion, and ethnicity. I literally felt like I was filling out a loan application.

They also ask for your marital status. The only options are single, separated, divorced, and widowed. At first, I thought this was weird for a "forever love" app, but then it clicked. Since so many eharmony users are older, knowing if someone is divorced or widowed is actually helpful context. (That said, bad news for the poly crowd: there is absolutely no option for ethical non-monogamy here.)

Next, you choose two required prompts to answer (500 characters max) and write a short bio. Then comes the photo section. Wildly enough, eharmony lets you “skip” this step entirely. If you try, a pop-up gently nudges you to reconsider because you’ll "stand out more," but you can proceed without a face. For a site this serious, that feels like a loophole for catfish.

eharmony is notorious for being pricey, so when a “Welcome Gift” screen popped up, I braced myself for what was to come. Sure enough, clicking “unwrap gift” reveals a 50% off premium subscription offer.

The "Welcome Gift" screen that appears at the end of the sign-up process — spoiler: it's a discount on a paid subscription. Credit: Screenshot: eharmomy

Warning: If you click "Next" on this screen, it immediately asks for payment info. It looks like a paywall, but don’t be fooled — you can hit the “back” button to bypass it and get to the free version. Don't let them trick you.

How much will dating on eharmony cost you?

While you can sign up for eharmony for free, the app really pushes you to get a paid subscription. (The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has actually sued the company for auto-renewals people didn’t consent to, so... proceed with caution.)

Anyway, here's the pricing structure I was offered. Note that yours may differ depending on where you live, when you sign up, etc.

Premium light: $14.90 per month
  • Unlimited messaging with 15 matches monthly

  • See one photo of each profile

  • Unique personality profile

  • Search near you

Premium plus: $16.90 per month
  • Unlimited messaging with 30 matches monthly

  • See all photos

  • Unique personality profile

  • Search near you

  • See who’s seen you

Premium unlimited: $18.90 per month
  • Unlimited messaging with all matches

  • See all photos

  • Unique personality profile

  • Search near you

  • See who’s seen you

  • Filter new members first

The matching process (finally!)

After all that data entry and the predatory subscription BS, the app tells you it's finally ready to show you your “featured profiles” — basically three members you’re supposed to rate. You can skip this section, but I moved forward so I could tell you what happens.

Clicking “Let’s go” brought me to my first profile. I couldn't even view her photo; tapping it immediately triggered a request for payment.

Then I looked at the details. She was a solid two hours and 30 minutes away from me. She was also seven years younger than me (weird, since the app never asked for my age preference earlier). The only good thing? It said she was "online yesterday," which suggests she’s an active user — if she’s real.

The profile did show some info, like height, sports, and our "common trait" (we both "seek comfort when things go wrong," apparently). You get the option to "Like" or "Skip." If you click "Like," it lets you send a message, and I assume it notifies them. My other two "featured" options were also over an hour away, despite the app knowing my zip code.

Once you get through that, it says “See who’s here” and dumps you into a feed of BLURRED PHOTOS. There’s also a bright orange banner at the top, constantly trying to force you into buying a subscription. It feels aggressive.

Is eharmony worth the download?

To be blunt, I think you should try literally any of our other top-recommended apps before considering eharmony. Yes, I often rate it as the "best for marriage," but that’s almost entirely because of the sheer volume of data it collects. (Even after "finishing" the quiz, I found there were still 24 more questions waiting for me in my profile, plus tons of sections to add interests.)

The person who should be on this app is Charlotte York, in every sense. She’s focused on finding her knight in shining armor, she lives in NYC (so she’d have way more options than I do in a small Virginia town), and she has disposable income.

If you fit that profile, then cool — this might actually be the best place to find your soulmate, provided you can dodge the aggressive ads for a premium subscription (though if you’re Charlotte, you can afford it).

But if you’re not willing to shell out any cash and you know you’re not looking for anything serious, I’d say it’s probably fine if you never download the eharmony app.

Opens in a new window Credit: eharmony eharmony Plans start at $14.90 per month Learn More
Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 4, 2026

Sun, 01/04/2026 - 10:58

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know team colors.

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: Color-specific

  • Green: NFL team

  • Blue: Basketball team

  • Purple: Same colors

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Things that are yellow

  • Green: Associated with the Green Day Packers

  • Blue: Associated with the Duke Blue Devils

  • Purple: Teams that wear purple

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 #468 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Things that are yellow - FOUL POLE, GEORGIA TECH, SOFTBALL, TOUR DE FRANCE LEADER

  • Associated with the Green Bay Packers - CHEESEHEAD, FROZEN TUNDRA, LAMBEAU, TITLETOWN

  • Associated with the Duke Blue Devils - CAMERON, KRZYZEWSKIVILLE, THE SHOT, TOBACCO ROAD

  • Teams that wear purple - NORTHWESTERN, RAVENS, ROCKIES, VIKINGS

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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