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SAVE $13: As of April 17, the Apple Pencil Pro is on sale for $116 at Amazon. That's a 10% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil Pro $116 at Amazon
$129 Save $13 Get Deal

The Apple Pencil Pro, the latest in Apple's range of stylus pens, is back on sale at Amazon. As of April 17, you can save 10% and purchase the Pro for $116.

Released in 2024, this new and improved pencil features an impressive list of upgrades and new features that previous models don't offer. These more advanced controls include gestures and haptics. By just rotating the pencil, you can change the brush or pen tool settings mid-drawing. The squeeze interaction is also new and allows users to change modes or activate tools simply by squeezing the pencil.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your iPad with this impressive Apple Magic Keyboard deal

The haptic feedback mimics the feeling of writing or drawing on real paper, delivering subtle vibrations to match the activity being performed on the iPad.

Similar to the Apple Pencil 2, the Pro can be charged wirelessly by magnetically attaching to the side of compatible iPads. According to Apple, the Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Air 11-inch (M2), and iPad mini (A17 Pro).

It's compatible with the Find My locator, too. So if you misplace it, just use the app to track its location.

Find this deal at Amazon now.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, April 17, 2025:

AcrossPerson, ___ or thing

• The answer is Place.

Like someone you shouldn't trust with fragile objects

• The answer is Klutzy.

A time to dye?

• The answer is Easter.

Dangle a carrot in front of

• The answer is Entice.

Class for a cognitive science major, for short

• The answer is Psych.

DownActivities on the docket

• The answer is Plans.

Full of sexual desire

• The answer is Lusty.

Commonly cobwebby room

• The answer is Attic.

From Prague, say

• The answer is Czech.

Jane in classic literature

• The answer is Eyre.

Not get rid of

• The answer is Keep.

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

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

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

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

SAVE $20: As of April 17, the Apple Magic Keyboard is on sale for $329 at Amazon. That's 6% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard $329 at Amazon
$349 Save $20 Get Deal

iPad accessories such as the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard are a great way to elevate your device, taking things from play to work in no time. And right now at Amazon, you can get a great deal on Apple accessories, including on the Apple Magic Keyboard.

As of April 17, you can pick up the Magic Keyboard for $329, saving you $20 on list price. This deal is currently only available in black and is compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation).

SEE ALSO: Whatever Trump decides on tariffs, Apple and Tim Cook lose

The Magic Keyboard is a great way to transform your iPad. It’s super easy to use — no charging or pairing needed — just snap it on and start typing. It features backlit keys for comfy, quiet typing, a built-in trackpad for gestures and precision, and even a USB-C port for charging. It can also be purchased in different languages, including Arabic, British English, Chinese (Pinyin), Chinese (Zhuyin), Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swiss, Ukrainian, and U.S. English.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal.

SAVE $20: As of April 17, the TOLOCO Massage Gun is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TOLOCO TOLOCO Massage Gun $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20 Get Deal

Post-workout pain can be a nightmare. And no matter how much you will it away, the only way to get through it is by stretching and resting. And, if you can be bothered, massaging your sore muscles.

This is where the TOLOCO Massage Gun comes in. A blessing and a curse, massage guns can be used to stimulate blood circulation in your muscles with the use of deep tissue massage. If you've used one before, you'll know just how equally relaxing and painful they can be.

SEE ALSO: The best massage guns in 2025

As of April 17, you can treat yourself to the TOLOCO Massage Gun at Amazon for just $39.99. This model provides fast relief from aches, stiffness, and tension with 10 changeable heads and low, medium, and high speed options.

Using a massage gun offers a whole host of benefits for physical recovery and overall wellness. It helps alleviate muscle soreness and stiffness by promoting blood circulation and reducing lactic acid buildup. After a tough workout, using a muscle gun can speed up your recovery.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Harvard University are available to take for free on edX.

Looking for online courses from some of the top educational institutions in the world? You should stop what you're doing and check out the impressive selection on edX, because you can find free online courses from the likes of Harvard University. It doesn't get much better than that.

You can find online courses from Harvard University on popular topics like AI, cybersecurity, game development, personal development, law, and so much more. This is your chance to pursue your passion without spending anything or stepping foot outside.

We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a standout selection of online courses to get you started. These are the best free online courses from Harvard University this month:

• American Government: Constitutional Foundations

• Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature

• Applications of TinyML

• Building Personal Resilience: Managing Anxiety and Mental Health

• Calculus Applied

• Cell Biology: Mitochondria

• Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice

• CitiesX: The Past, Present and Future of Urban Life

• Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract

• CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals

• CS50's Computer Science for Lawyers

• CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python

• CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

• CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity

• CS50's Introduction to Game Development

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with R

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with Scratch

• CS50's Understanding Technology

• CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript

• Data Science: Capstone

• Data Science: Inference and Modelling

• Data Science: Machine Learning

• Data Science: Probability

• Data Science: Productivity Tools

• Data Science: R Basics

• Data Science: Visualization

• Deploying TinyML

• Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies for Implementation

• Electrochemistry

• Energy and Thermodynamics

• Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

• Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles

• Fat Chance: Probability from the Ground Up

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience Part 1

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 2: Neurons and Networks

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 3: The Brain

• Fundamentals of TinyML

• High-Dimensional Data Analysis

• Human Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Cases

• Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster

• Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health

• Introduction to Data Science with Python

• Introduction to Digital Humanities

• Introduction to Probability

• Islam Through Its Scriptures

• Justice

• Justice Today: Money, Markets, and Morals

• Leadership: Creating Public Value

• Leaders of Learning

• Machine Learning and AI with Python

• Managing Happiness

• Masterpieces of World Literature

• MLOps for Scaling TinyML

• Modern Masterpieces of World Literature

• PredictionX: Lost Without Longitude

• Principles of Biochemistry

• Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology

• Remote Work Revolution for Everyone

• Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

• Shakespeare's Life and Work

• Statistics and R

• Structure and Function of Argument: Introduction to Critical Thinking

• Super-Earths and Life

• Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market

• The Architectural Imagination

• The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life

• Using Python for Research

The catch with these free courses is that they don't include certificate of completion or graded assignments and exams. But you can still enroll at any time and start learning at your own pace.

Find the best free online courses from Harvard University with edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Harvard University Harvard University Courses Free at edX Learn More

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on April 15-20. Fantastical Escape, hosted by Indie Author Central, offers free fantasy books in a wide range of subgenres.

The Stuff Your Kindle Day calendar was getting out of hand in the early stages of the year. It felt like there was a new event every week for a while, but just like that, things slowed back down to a regular pace. And we've now returned to the point where a new announcement feels overdue.

The good news is that Stuff Your Kindle Day is back. This special event provides an awesome opportunity to stock up on hundreds of books without spending anything. And the books that you download are yours to keep forever.

SEE ALSO: The best Kindles in 2025

The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on fantasy books. Fantastical Escape, hosted by Indie Author Central, offers free fantasy books in a wide range of subgenres. If fantasy is your thing, this is your best opportunity to stock up.

Want to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule has been incredibly busy in 2025. We had a couple of events in January, and then February and March delivered an abundance. It honestly felt a little overwhelming. We're all for free books, but everyone has their limit.

And now on April 15-20, Fantastical Escape is showcasing a wide selection of free books for fans of fantasy.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The best thing about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate. You don't even need to own a Kindle to get involved.

Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone, as you can also find these free titles on the Google Play and Apple Books apps.

Which e-books are free?

Sourcing all of these free fantasy books is straightforward thanks to Indie Author Central. There's a helpful hub page with everything on offer listed out for your convenience. Indie Author Central has even sorted the books by content and spice level so you can find exactly what you're looking for.

All of the listed titles could be yours for absolutely nothing or at a heavily discounted rate.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books per month that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow, so don't hold back.

Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These super popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. They start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited absolutely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1min.AI's Advanced Business Plan, which offers a collection of almost all the major AI models for only £60.41 (reg. £407.89).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription £60.41
£407.89 Save £347.48 Get Deal

There's been talk about AI taking people's jobs, and we're here to say you should let it — at least when it comes to time-consuming or tedious tasks. Rather than use your time writing rejection emails or proofreading sales reports, AI could do it for you. All you need to have AI become your new favourite colleague is to grab this 1min.AI subscription for £60.41 (reg. £407.89).

• Lifetime access to GPT, Gemini, Llama, Midjourney, and more AI models with a one-time payment.

• User-friendly interface: This makes it easy to dive in and start creating, whether you're familiar with or new to AI tools.

• PDF manipulation tools: Edit, merge, or split PDFs with ease — perfect for organising documents.

• Content generation: Speed up your workflow with AI tools for writing, designing, presentation creation, etc. 

• Use one of the AI models to join virtual meetings, code, or even edit videos.

• No need to bounce between multiple AI models ever again since all of them are neatly organised in 1min.AI.

• With the credits you get with this 1min.AI plan, you can use them to generate AI content. The Advanced Business Plan lets you generate 1.1 million words or 1,100 images every month, and your credits renew monthly.

Offload your least favourite (or time-consuming) day-to-day tasks to AI with this 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription, now just £60.41 (reg. £407.89) through April 30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Barcelona Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The clay court season in professional tennis is officially underway. It's a special time of year for tennis fans, with a number of significant tournaments taking place between April and June.

The Barcelona Open is one of the most popular tournaments taking place over this period, attracting some of the biggest names in the game. Want to see the likes of Alcaraz and Ruud battle it out on clay? The Barcelona Open is for you.

If you want to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Barcelona Open?

The Barcelona Open is an annual professional tennis tournament on the ATP Tour. It is played at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on outdoor clay courts.

Casper Ruud is the defending champion.

When is the 2025 Barcelona Open?

The 2025 Barcelona Open is the 72nd edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from April 14-20.

How to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open for free

Select games from the 2025 Barcelona Open are available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Barcelona Open by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit RTVE

5. Watch the 2025 Barcelona Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• 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.

Live stream the 2025 Barcelona Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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.

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: Going for gold in the winter

• Green: Teams in racing league

• Blue: Legendary in Pennsylvania

• Purple: Share a number

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: Winter Olympic sports

• Green: F1 racing teams

• Blue: Pittsburgh sports greats

• Purple: Famous No. 8s

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 #206 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Winter Olympic sports - BIATHLON, ICE HOCKEY, LUGE, SKELETON

• F1 racing teams - ALPINE, FERRARI, MERCEDES, RED BULL

• Pittsburgh sports greats - BRADSHAW, CLEMENTE, CROSBY, GREENE

• Famous No.8s - BERRA, EARNHARDT JR., JACKSON, OVECHKIN

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

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

If you 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

Remorse.

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

GUILT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Flies a plane.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PILOT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

In first place.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FRONT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A cottage.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

LODGE

Final Hurdle hint

The opposite of north.

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

SOUTH

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

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 5:35 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to include the official streaming release of "The Brutalist," as well as the latest pricing details.

The best ways to watch 'The Brutalist' at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent or buy 'The Brutalist' on Prime Video rent for $5.99, buy for $19.99 Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEAL Max (With Ads) annual subscription $79.99 per year through May 7 (save $20) Get Deal BEST AD-FREE DEAL Max Ad-Free annual subscription $139.99/year through May 7 (save $30) Get Deal WATCH FOR FREE Max (With Ads) for select Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Learn More WATCH FOR FREE Max with ads Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) (save $9.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads $16.99/month (save $8.98/month) Get Deal

If you haven't seen The Brutalist yet, you can now watch all three-and-a-half hours of it at home from your couch — where you have the ability to pause and return to it as you see fit. Mashable's reviewer Siddhant Adlakha called it a "modern American masterpiece," and we named it one of the best films of 2024.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, director Brady Corbet crafts a deeply moving film about immigrants, architecture, and Jewish identity. It stars Adrien Brody — who nabbed not only the Golden Globe, but also the Academy Award for his role as László Tóth — as well as Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, and Raffey Cassidy. It was one of the most nominated films at the 2025 Academy Awards, and managed to take home three, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Lead Actor.

You can watch it for yourself at home now that it's officially available at digital-on-demand retailers and will soon make its streaming debut. Here's everything you need to know.

What is The Brutalist about?

Clocking in at three-and-a-half hours long, The Brutalist tells the tale of László Tóth (Brody), a fictitious Jewish Hungarian architect and survivor of the Holocaust, over several decades as he arrives in America post-World War II. "It embodies the kind of American epics no longer really made by Hollywood studios. All the while, the film also explores the fraught corners of post-World War II Jewish identity in the West," Adlakha writes.

Check out the official trailer:

Is The Brutalist worth watching?

The Brutalist clocked in at No. 17 on our list of the best films of 2024. It was also one of the most prominently featured films this awards season. It nabbed the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Brody, and Best Director for Corbet. Additionally, it earned 10 Oscars nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. While it was a favorite to take home the biggest award of the night, it ended up losing out to Anora. Still, it took home the prize in Best Lead Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.

Currently, the A24 film has a 93 percent critic rating and an 80 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Mashable's own reviewer writes, "The Brutalist is a towering paean to the American dream, in all its force and folly. Set over several decades, Brady Corbet's post-World War II immigrant saga is — like the architectural achievements of its protagonist — constructed with meticulous consideration, resulting in a work of multifaceted technique and piercing humanity."

Read our full review of The Brutalist.

How to watch The Brutalist at home Credit: A24

There are multiple ways to watch The Brutalist at home: purchasing it via digital video-on-demand, renting it through digital video-on-demand, and of course, streaming. The cheapest option is renting, but it's also the most limiting.

Buy or rent The Brutalist on digital

The Brutalist made its digital debut just shy of two months after its theatrical release. You can purchase the film for your digital collection as of Feb. 18 at online retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV. It's also available to rent at the same digital retailers for 30 days. Just note that once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish — and it's a 3.5-hour movie.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the A24 flick:

• Prime Video — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Google Play — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• YouTube — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'The Brutalist' on digital $5.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Get Deal Stream The Brutalist on Max

Thanks to a multi-year output deal between A24 and Warner Bros. Discovery, we knew that The Brutalist would eventually make its streaming debut on Max alongside other recent A24 hits like Babygirl and Queer. The usual window between a digital and streaming release for A24 is about around two-and-a-half months, so we originally thought it would start streaming at the end of April. A24, instead, decided to make us wait a little longer. The Brutalist is finally set to make its streaming debut on Max on May 16.

Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few ways to save money on your plan. We've rounded up the best Max streaming deals for you below.

The best Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 33% on Max with ads annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (with ads) yearly subscription $79.99 per year (save 33%) through May 7 Get Deal

While a Max with ads subscription goes for $9.99 per month, you can knock that price down to just $8.33 per month by signing up for a year in advance. Yes, you'll have to pay $99.99 upfront, but the breakdown monthly ends up saving you 16%.

Better yet, if you sign up before May 7, you'll be able to slash that price even further as annual subscriptions are 20% off their usual cost. That drops the annual plan with ads down to only $79.99 per year or $6.67 broken down monthly. After your initial discounted year is up, the price will revert back to the typical annual plan fee, which is still a very good price.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 32% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (No Ads) annual subscription $169.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Similarly, for those who hate ads, you can also save up to 32% through May 7 by committing to a yearly plan of the Max ad-free tiers. You have two tiers to choose from: Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate Ad-Free. The basic ad-free tier costs either $16.99 per month or $139.99 per year (about $11.67 per month) for a limited time, while the Ultimate tier costs either $20.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month) for a limited time. The price drop is only valid for your first year of streaming and will revert back to full cost — $169.99 or $209.99 per year — thereafter.

Note: Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier comes with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal

Cricket customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan get a free Max with ads subscription — no questions asked. That's a $99.99 per year value for zero dollars. If you're already on the $60 per month unlimited plan, just head over to the Max app, choose Cricket as your provider, then enter your Cricket credentials to log in. Boom — you're free to watch whatever you want, whenever you want — including The Brutalist upon its release. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more.

Best Max deal for DoorDash users: Free Max with ads with DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max Max with ads Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way you can get Max for free in 2025 is through DoorDash's annual DashPass plan. A yearly DashPass membership costs $96 per year ($8 per month) and gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders, as well as a Max subscription with ads. You'll just have to activate your Max subscription through your DoorDash account. Then, once you're in, you're in as long as your annual DashPass plan is valid.

Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can get an entire year of Max with ads for just $4.99 per month instead of $9.99. That's 50% in savings. All you have to do is verify your student status with UNiDAYS to retrieve the unique discount code that will drop the price.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

While it won't be the cheapest way to get Max, you can get more bang for your buck if you choose a streaming bundle deal instead of a single service. For only $16.99 per month (reg. $25.97), you can sign up for Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads or $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97) without ads. That's up to 38% in savings for access to three full streaming libraries.

Fans of MrBeast expressed anger and disappointment at a three-night immersive event themed after the YouTube star.

MrBeast, the stage name of James Donaldson, did not appear at the gathering at Las Vegas' Resorts World casino, which officially wrapped on Tuesday. While a flyer promoting the "MrBeast Experience at Resorts World" didn't promise the star's appearance, what really had attendees steaming was the dearth of "activations" at the casino's restaurants and pool, and an underwhelming "mystery bag" delivered to participants' rooms. Guests reportedly paid $1,000 to attend the "experience."

"There should have been like mini-games, and meet and greets, and photo ops, special food and drink things," attendee Theresa Metta told the Las Vegas CBS news affiliate. "Unfortunately, we didn’t get any of that."

Metta said she was told to wait in her room for her advertised mystery package. When the bag finally arrived, it only contained branded chocolates and kids' clothes. Metta said the gifts were not the "exclusive merchandise" attendees were promised, but actually several items listed for clearance on the MrBeast website.

SEE ALSO: So, uh, what was going on with that nightmarish Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow?

A group of disgruntled attendees gathered to demand refunds from Resorts World executives and air their grievances to the casino's CEO, Alex Dixon.

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Instead of refunds, Resorts World officials offered each guest two $50 food and beverage vouchers, according to attendee Desiree Pineda. "This experience has been nothing short of horrible," Pineda told CBS.

It appears Resorts World may have shifted course, however. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported it issued full refunds Tuesday evening.

MrBeast didn't release a formal apology, but did respond to an attendee's complaint on X, saying this "definitely isn't the experience we hoped they'd deliver" and promised all disappointed guests an invite to his studio (in North Carolina).

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With 385 million subscribers, MrBeast's YouTube channel is the most subscribed on the video streaming site.

Since ChatGPT's AI image generator launched to free users a couple of weeks ago, people online have been toying around with its possibilities. The latest trend involves people anthropomorphizing their pets. Yes, really.

To be clear, we all kind of act like our pets are humans — my perfect dog, Henry, is a good boy who loves deeply like a real person. But folks are now using ChatGPT's image generator to imagine what their pets would actually look like as people. It's both kind of neat and a little creepy. Here's a super viral example from Reddit.

Reddit

If you search around other social platforms, you'll find more examples of people who said they used ChatGPT to transform their pets into humans.

Do not, under any circumstances, ask ChatGPT to show you what your dog would look like as a human. It will haunt you and permanently alter your relationship with your pet.

[image or embed]

— Thomas Frampton (@tframpton.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM

Lmao I asked #chatgpt to make a human version of my dog. Not only did it deliver but turns out he’s a pup either way 😁 #aiart #funny #pet

[image or embed]

— Sindel Sloan | ATX (@sindelsloan.bsky.social) April 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM

It seems some folks found the results cute, while others found it unsettling. TechRadar's John-Anthony Disotto wrote that he wasn't "quite prepared to see a grown man sitting on the yellow armchair [his dog] likes to frequent, and [he] immediately felt a sense of uncanny valley."

The dog-as-human trend is just the latest to emerge from ChatGPT's image generator. Last week, for instance, folks were turning themselves into AI-generated action figures.

SEE ALSO: Want to be an AI action figure? Just give ChatGPT a full-body pic. How to use ChatGPT to turn your pet into a human

While some folks might avoid seeing their pet as a person — myself included — should you want to try it out, it isn't difficult.

First, you have to upload a photo of your pet. Then, the prompt can be simple. You simply ask ChatGPT to turn the pet into a human. The sample from the Reddit post also asked to keep everything else in the photo the same. ChatGPT may ask follow-up questions, but it should be relatively straightforward.

Just be careful: You can't unsee it.

TikTok has already secured its status as Gen Z's ultimate search tool, and now it's dipping its greedy little app toes into reviews.

The social media app hosts plenty of content creators who make a living off showing their audience reviews of tech, restaurants, and clothes they've bought. But now, TechCrunch reported that TikTok has started surfacing reviews for some places — like stores and restaurants — inside the comments section of a video.

Right now, if you see a place you want to visit on your For You Page, you'll need to navigate to Google Maps or Yelp to learn its exact location, reviews, hours, and other information. This new TikTok feature has the potential to circumvent that additional step.

SEE ALSO: For Gen Z, TikTok is more than entertainment. It's a search engine. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to TechCrunch, TikTok reviews are currently being tested for select users, who might see a "Reviews" tab on the right of a video's comments. App researcher Jonah Manzano posted a screenshot of his TikTok comments section on Threads, showing that the feature currently only works "on selected videos with a tagged location."

We don't know when, if at all, the feature will be launched publicly, and who knows how users will actually feel about the feature once it launches. Will it be met with annoyance for crowding up the comment section, or glee that the social media giant is slowly morphing into a super app?

Skullcandy headphones and earbuds have long been a well-known budget option, though not exactly a brand that makes you think "premium sound."

Its latest release might change that. Thanks to a partnership with Bose, the new Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds feature sound powered by Bose's technology. Following a press event with new brand ambassador Tony Hawk on April 15, the earbuds are now available to the public. As Skullcandy ups the sound quality of its earbuds, it's keeping the cost low with a special introductory price of $99.99, which will then be raised to $129.99. At their full price, they'll be the most expensive earbuds from the brand (while tied at their discounted price with the Push ANC Active earbuds).

SEE ALSO: The best Bose headphones we've tested

At this time, a Skullcandy rep was unable to share when the discounted pricing would end, telling Mashable, "We’re laser-focused on delivering premium sound to the people at a highly accessible price point for as long as possible."

For comparison, the cheapest earbuds Bose offers are $179.99, though they occasionally drop down to the $150 range and once hit the record-low price of $129. At the time they hit the market, we deemed those earbuds a solid budget option. Meanwhile, early press information about the Method 360s stated that "sound quality is subjective to user taste, but we're confident they're better than anything at this price point and comparable to many above it," and claimed the earbuds could deliver "audio quality two to three times their price point."

If Skullcandy does deliver, they could pose a real threat to those Bose earbuds. I just received the earbuds myself and haven't tested them yet, so I can't say definitively whether or not they will, but I'll certainly be testing the earbuds side by side with Bose products and reporting back.

Along with Bose-powered sound, the Method 360 earbuds will come with features geared toward a premium experience, including:

• Adjustable four-mic hybrid active noise cancellation

• Nine hours of battery life with ANC per charge and 11 without ANC (23 and 29 hours with case, respectively)

• A unique slider case with an O-ring clip

• Three sizes of ear fins and gel ear tips

• Multipoint pairing

• A companion app with custom and preset EQ modes

• Google Fast Pair

• Bluetooth 5.3 and LE connectivity

As of April 16, you can grab the Method 360 ANC earbuds for $99.99 in five colorways at Skullcandy, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skullcandy Skullcandy Method 360 ANC $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Elon Musk’s steady mission to erase every trace of Twitter’s former identity continues — and the next feature on the chopping block appears to be Direct Messages. According to rumblings from X employees and independent researchers, the classic DM tab may soon be replaced by something called XChat.

SEE ALSO: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk call to delete IP laws, but artists are pushing back

The change was first hinted at by Zach Warunek, a software engineer at X, who responded to a user reporting issues with DM message requests. Warunek stated that the page would be “deleted soon." He clarified that the existing DM tab would be removed entirely, not just the requests section.

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App researcher and web dev Nima Owji backed up that theory when he reported on X that XChat is already being used internally by X employees. Based on screenshot leaks from another X user, it seems XChat is being positioned as a full-fledged WhatsApp competitor — complete with encrypted messaging, file sharing (including PDFs), disappearing messages, unread status toggles, message deletion for everyone (not just you), and voice messages (sometime after launch).

If you're curious, Owji also shared a screenshot of XChat, though we can't independently verify that it's genuine. At a glance, the biggest difference we see is the addition of a PIN-verification tab.

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This move aligns with Musk’s broader vision of turning X into an all-in-one platform. Back in February, the X CEO stated that he eventually plans to stop using a phone number altogether, opting to handle all texts and calls exclusively through X.

There’s no official release date for XChat yet, but several employees openly discussing the feature on X suggest its rollout is imminent.

TikTok is testing out Footnotes, which is effectively its version of X's Community Notes. The company announced the new feature Wednesday in a blog post on its website.

TikTok is just the latest social media platform to roll out its own version of Community Notes, joining giants like Facebook and Instagram. The idea is that a community of users can help combat misinformation.

In the post announcing the feature, TikTok wrote:

"Footnotes will draw on the collective knowledge of the TikTok community by allowing people to add relevant information to content on our platform. To start, this feature will be tested in the U.S. for short form videos. It will add to our suite of measures that help people understand the reliability of content and access authoritative sources, including our content labels, search banners, our fact-checking program, and more."

U.S. users can apply to become Footnotes contributors but must meet certain requirements, including being on the platform for longer than six months, being 18 or older, and having no recent violations of community guidelines.

Credit: TikTok

The tool will rely on users rating the helpfulness of different Footnotes.

Wrote TikTok:

"Footnotes will use a bridge-based ranking system designed to find agreement between people who usually have different opinions, inspired by the open-sourced system that other platforms use. It works by allowing contributors with differing opinions to leave and vote on the helpfulness of a footnote. Only footnotes that meet the threshold for "helpful" will be visible to the community, at which point the broader community can vote on it, too. The more footnotes get written and rated on different topics, the smarter and more effective the system becomes."

It's not clear when, exactly, Footnotes will launch, but TikTok noted that it'll open access to the tool in the "coming months."

SAVE UP TO 47%: Amazon has hundreds of tech and toy items on sale for up to 47% off that will arrive by Sunday, including Lego sets, Bose speakers, Sony headphones, Echo devices, and National Geographic STEM toys.

Best sprig tech anad toy deals at Amazon Best tech deal Bose SoundLink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 (save $30) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 (save $5) Get Deal Best toy deal National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 (save $4) Get Deal

Since we could all use some treats in 2025, now is a great time to snag some spring fun — especially if you're packing Easter baskets for Sunday, April 20. Even if you're not one to celebrate Easter, it's an excuse to shop some great deals and grab a few things that make you (or the kids in your life) feel good.

Amazon has discounts on plenty of tech, as well as hundreds of toys and games that are great for all ages. If you're shopping for last-minute treats, check out some of our favorites, but be sure to order today (or by tomorrow at the latest) to ensure Sunday arrival.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 at Amazon
$149 Save $30 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose Soundlink Flex is a great summer companion that gets up to 12 hours of battery life on one charge. While it normally sells for $149, it's on sale at Amazon for $119 as of April 16. That's a 20% discount that works out to a savings of $30. Plus, this deal extends to a bunch of colorway options including Alpine Sage, Dust Blue, and Pink Petal.

The included utility loop makes the Bose easy to take on any adventure, and it's also waterproof and dustproof. The silicone-wrapped body of the portables speaker means it's better equipped to handle a tumble. Plus, Bose sound quality is always reliable.

More tech deals

• Amazfit Bip 5 Unity Smart Watch — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (32GB) — $139.99 $189.99 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $249.99 $399.99 (save $100)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $5 Get Deal Why we like it

Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate flowers — unless you have pollen allergies. Avoid the runny rose, and go with a Lego floral set. The adorable Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set is on sale at Amazon for $24.99, down from the usual price of $29.99.

The Lego building set is perfect for an office, dresser, or an entry-way display. Plus, it never needs watering.

SEE ALSO: 9 of the best air purifiers, according to experts More Lego deals

• Lego Daffodils — $7.99 $14.99 (save $7)

• Lego Minecraft The Pirate Ship Voyage — $9.59 $14.99 (save $5.40)

• Lego Botanicals Lucky Bamboo Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Adorable Dogs Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Wild Animals Panda Family — $31.99 $39.99 (save $8)

• Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants Set — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal Why we like it

National Geographic has great toys that find fun ways to introduce STEM topics. For the kids who like to craft, the National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light is a ton of fun, and it can become part of their bedroom decor since it functions as a night light with adjustable brightness.

Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the crafting kit is down to just $15.99, which takes 20% off the normal price of $19.99.

More toy deals

• Kalour 72 Count Colored Pencils — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset — $11.28 $19.99 (save $8.71)

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• National Geographic Bug Catcher Kit — $16.99 $19.99 (save $3)

• National Geographic Kids Weaving Kit — $18.74 $24.99 (save $3)

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 2:18 p.m. EDT Now that the OpenAI livestream has ended, this article has been updated with the latest information about the o3 and o4-mini launch.

OpenAI's o3 and o4-mini models for ChatGPT have arrived.

As expected, during a livestream event today, the ChatGPT maker released the newest versions of its reasoning models. OpenAI launched o1, its first reasoning or chain-of-thought model, last summer and skipped over o2 to announce its progress on o3 in late December. While o3 has not been publicly available until today, OpenAI already has a lightweight version, o3-mini, on the market.

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In the livestream, the OpenAI team (sans CEO Sam Altman) described some of the models' capabilities and demoed how users can use o3 and o4-mini. The models have been trained to use tools and can process visuals like charts and images.

"For the first time, our reasoning models can agentically use and combine every tool within ChatGPT—this includes searching the web, analyzing uploaded files and other data with Python, reasoning deeply about visual inputs, and even generating images," read the announcement.

The o3 model is now OpenAI's most advanced reasoning model. The lightweight o4-mini is a smaller model designed to be more cost-efficient, and it's particularly good at math and coding, according to OpenAI. Both perform higher than o1 and o3-mini on benchmarks like AIME and GPQA. They have also improved at visual reasoning, based on multimodal evaluations.

Initially, in an effort to streamline its numerous and somewhat confusing model options, Altman said they wouldn't release o3 and o4-mini as standalone models, and would instead integrate their capabilities into ChatGPT-5. But a few weeks later, the company pivoted and decided to release the two models after all, delaying the ChatGPT-5 launch. Again.

Skeptics say the multiple delays of GPT-5 indicate internal struggles to significantly improve model performance. But Altman says the wait will be worth it. In the meantime, o3 and o4-mini have been deemed strong enough models to exist on their own.

o3 and o4-mini are available today via the API and for ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Teams subscribers, with Enterprise and Edu access coming next week.

In the lead up to Earth Day on April 22, tech giant Apple announced it's making major headway in its goal to be more environmentally friendly, including cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent since 2015.

Apple outlines these initiatives, including recent renewable energy investments, in its newly published Environmental Progress Report. The company says it redirected 600,000 metric tons of waste through its Zero Waste program and explains it surpassed the 99 percent mark for use of recycled rare earth elements in magnetic and battery components. A line of what Apple calls carbon-neutral devices, including the Apple Watch Series 10 and Mac mini, were announced in 2024, as well.

SEE ALSO: Your old phones can help plant new trees with new AT&T trade-in program

Apple aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 75 percent, become fully carbon neutral, and switch to 100 percent renewable energy before the global 2030 climate goal deadline.

"Today, we’re using more clean energy and recycled materials to make our products than ever before, we’re preserving water and preventing waste around the world, and we’re investing big in nature," Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. "As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder — and we’re meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration, and urgency."

Apple device owners can also take advantage of a new Earth Day programs, including 10 percent off an Apple accessory when they recycle an eligible item in-store. On Earth Day, Apple Watch and Fitness+ users can earn a limited-edition award by completing a 30 minute workout, as well as access planet-friendly advice in the Tips app.