Mashable

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you love geography.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 2, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: High and mighty

The words are related to a geographic location.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe what you might find up high.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is Vertical (diagonally).

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Mountaintop.

NYT Strands word list for November 2

• Glacier

• Peak

• Snow

• Mountaintop

• Cliff

• Ridge

• Summit

• Saddle

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always in a rush.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 2, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

"Move over!"

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SCOOT

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

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Wordle.

Internet speak is a very real thing. Online communities develop their own vocabularies, particularly on sites and platforms that have been up and running for years — it's all part of the fun of belonging to the online world. Knowing specific terms is like a membership badge.

One place you'll find internet slang is AdultFriendFinder, one of the OG hookup sites. If you're new to AFF, it can be a bit confusing at first. You'll quickly come across lingo, acronyms, and shorthand terms that you've never heard before.

Some of the terms will be obvious or familiar from other online dating cultures, but some are particular to specialist communities, such as the worlds of BDSM and kink. 

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

To get you started on AFF, we've put together a glossary of essential AFF terms that will help you navigate the site:

Common AFF slang terms you need to know

• Aftercare: Term for cuddling and/or words of affirmation after a BDSM scenario

• Bate buds: Two or more people who enjoy masturbating to the same kinds of content and swap recommendations 

• CD: Cross-dressing, usually referring to a person who enjoys wearing the clothing of another gender

• Cuckolding: The practice of consensual infidelity, i.e. taking pleasure from your partner having sex with someone else, widely enjoyed in non-monogamous relationships

• DD/LG: Acronym for "daddy dom, little girl," describing a male-dominant, female-submissive relationship

• Dom/Domme: Short-hand term for the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship. The terms master/mistress are often used interchangeably with dom/domme

• Edging: The practice of bringing oneself close to sexual orgasm but without ever reaching it

• ENM: Ethical non-monogamy, which is otherwise known as an open relationship

• Little: Short-hand term for the submissive partner in a BDSM relationship

• Limits/Hard Limits: Someone's boundaries. Respecting limits is a central tenet of kink culture and should be practiced even in online encounters

• MD/LB: Acronym for "mommy domme, little boy," describing a female-dominant, male-submissive relationship

• Orgasm Control: A scenario in which one partner voluntarily relinquishes control of their sexual climax to another play partner

• Shibari: The Japanese art of decorative rope bondage, usually requiring a high degree of experience to execute properly

• Switch: Someone who occasionally enjoys being either dominant or submissive

• Vanilla: A non-pejorative term describing a preference for non-kinky sexual practices

TL;DR: Stop underutilizing Claude and unlock its full potential with some help from the Claude AI Professional E-Degree, on sale now for just $19.99 (reg. $159).

Opens in a new window Credit: Eduonix Learning Solutions Claude AI Professional E-Degree $19.99
$159 Save $139.01   Get Deal

Learning to use AI efficiently is becoming increasingly important, whether you’re working on personal projects or trying to incorporate it into your workflow. The Claude AI Professional E-Degree gives you a structured way to master one of the most popular AI models, with lessons on prompting, coding, and integrations to help you put your knowledge into practice.

Right now, you can secure the Claude AI Professional E-Degree for just $19.99.

When it comes to AI, you don’t want to miss the boat. The Claude AI Professional E-Degree lets you keep up without having to head back to school or spend hours doing your own research. This 8-hour E-Degree shows you how it works, how to prompt, how to use it for coding and integrations, and a whole lot more.

The Claude AI Professional E-Degree is taught by Eduonix Learning Solutions, a professional team of technology trainers who teach you how to use these skills the way they’re used in the real world.

You can work through the four hands-on modules at your own pace and go from a Claude beginner to an expert user. Start with Claude Chat: Best Practices, where you learn how to craft the most effective prompts and achieve the best results. From there, you move on to Claude Code: Agentic Coding, which helps you become a more efficient coder.

A Claude CoWork module shows you how to connect Claude with your favorite apps and plugins to streamline your daily routines. Then the Master Claude CoWork module takes things even further, showing you more advanced plugins and automation to help build a better AI-driven workflow.

There are quizzes available to test your retention as you go. You’ll also receive a professional E-Degree certification upon completion of the modules.

Master Claude with the Claude AI Professional E-Degree for just $19.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Sad news for space aficionados: the famous Hubble Space Telescope, responsible for some of the most jaw-dropping images of our solar system taken more than three decades since its launch into low-Earth orbit in 1990, is on a slow path towards a fiery fate. At its present rate of altitude loss, NASA's most famous telescope is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere sometime in 2033 or 2034, at which point it will come crashing down like a comet, according to Space.com, possibly endangering human life on its descent

It doesn't have to be that way, though. If NASA had more room in its budget, it could repeat its 2002 Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-109 and give the aging telescope a nudge into a higher orbit, extending its lifespan. In desperation, NASA has put out a Request for Information (RFI) to the fast-growing commercial space sector, hoping for aid to either boost Hubble's altitude and extend its lifespan or else guide its descent to a safe crash site, such as the middle of the ocean.

According to the RFI, a successful orbital boost would require an ascent of more than 370 miles (600 kilometers), which is a significant increase in elevation and an astonishingly difficult challenge from a purely technical perspective. 

In a statement on the NASA website, Nicky Fox, an associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, spoke to the growing power and influence of the private space sector: "Commercial industry has rapidly evolved in recent years to offer new capabilities for in-space satellite capture and servicing. Given the time we have until Hubble’s anticipated re-entry, we are eager to explore the breadth of possibilities to boost Hubble to a higher orbit while we develop the flagship mission to follow."  

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman spoke of a duty to both "the American taxpayer" and "the scientific community" to explore all possible ways to extend Hubble's life, and the project is likely to attract serious interest from companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Peter Beck's Rocket Lab, which became famous for successfully catching a used rocket with a helicopter. 

It wouldn't even be the first time that the commercial space sector has lent NASA a helping hand. In March of last year, stranded astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were rescued from the International Space Station with assistance from SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.

Let's hope history repeats itself and NASA finds a willing collaborator, because Hubble's insights over more than a three decades have radically altered our understanding of the universe we inhabit and inspired new generations to look to the stars.

Inde Navarrette has been hitting the gym for Marvel. She also had a little something to say to Shane Gillis in her opening monologue.

The Obsession star made her Saturday Night Live hosting debut on Halloween, slipping a jab at the show's previous host into an otherwise straightforward update about playing Rogue in the upcoming X-Men movie.

"I know it’s really important for Marvel that you get really fit, so I’ve been working out a lot," she said. "So every morning I put on my little whore outfit and I hit the gym."

Credit: Will Heath/Getty Images

The audience caught the reference, breaking into laughter and applause. Three weeks earlier, Gillis had stood on the same stage and complained that women "dress like whores now" at the gym, following it with a bit about revealing shorts and being told not to stare.

The comments prompted criticism from Dan Levy and former SNL cast members Cecily Strong and Ego Nwodim, who posted a gym selfie on Instagram Stories captioned "Whore reporting for duty."

Navarrette also had a less reassuring update about her love life. Addressing fans who wondered whether she resembled Nikki, her character in Obsession, Navarrette insisted that the similarities ended onscreen.

"My boyfriend is here tonight to support me and we have such a chill relationship, right?" she said.

The camera cut to her boyfriend, Nick Aiello, bound and gagged in his audience seat.

The monologue ended with cast members showing off their Halloween costumes, including Marcello Hernandez as a sexy TSA agent and Kam Patterson as Elizabeth Holmes. Jeremy Culhane turned up as Wolverine, hoping Navarrette could get him into her Marvel movie. Apparently, he'd come prepared for an audition.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Mexico GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Mexico GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

Kimi Antonelli had a slim chance of winning the title last weekend in Austin. He did his part by winning the Grand Prix, but Hamilton and Russell stayed in the game. Now the action heads to Mexico, where Antonelli's victory seems all but certain.

Antonelli needs to finish in ninth place or higher in Mexico to be crowned champion, even if Russell takes the race win. Surely it's time. I'd be shocked if Antonelli doesn't secure his place as the youngest champion in F1 history.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish VPN service with proven privacy and a large U.S. presence

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Mexico GP?

The Mexico GP is the 19th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez:

• Practice 1 — 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 30

• Practice 2 — 6-7 p.m. ET on Oct. 30

• Practice 3 — 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 31

• Qualifying — 5-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 31

• Race — 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 1

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Mexico GP for free

Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, and you can now sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels.

That trial gives you access to select races for free, including this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix. The subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after the seven-day trial, but you can disable the automatic renewal and still stream the entire race weekend for free.

If you're already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it "completely free" is a stretch. But if you don't have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you're truly spending nothing to stream this weekend's race.

If you've already made use of this method, you still have a few workarounds:

• Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple's app.

• Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

• Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

David S. Pumpkins returned to Saturday Night Live for Halloween, but another familiar orange figure quickly took over.

Tom Hanks reprised his pumpkin-suited character during the Oct. 31 cold open, alongside Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan as his dancing skeleton sidekicks. What looked like a Halloween reunion soon became a platform for James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump to discuss the midterm elections — and Hanks' backside.

The episode, hosted by Obsession star Inde Navarrette with musical guest Gracie Abrams, opened with a couple boarding a haunted attraction guided by Kenan Thompson. When Hanks appeared, the riders wanted to know why David S. Pumpkins belonged on the ride. Before he could explain, Johnson's Trump interrupted with one word: "Midterms."

"Aw, are you sad you don’t get to see your third David Pumpkins scene?" he asked. "I’ll save you four minutes: he keeps popping up and confusing people on the ride. The end."

With the performers frozen behind him, Trump compared himself to Pumpkins. "We both appeared in 2016, we’re both very loud, very orange, and very, frankly, annoying!" he said.

He then praised Hanks' acting before adding, "Great ass! A great ass on Hanks." The joke nodded to Trump's recent campaign speeches, in which he has repeatedly admired Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted's physique, describing his backside as "a pile of muscle." On SNL, that fixation extended to Hanks and Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, making men’s backsides the butt of the joke (pun intended).

Holding up a bruised hand, Trump also compared its color to Texas turning purple, declaring that if the state went blue, he would abandon it.

Thompson, meanwhile, walked offstage. When Trump thanked him for a supposed donation, he replied, "Yeah, you wish, bitch."

Saidah Belo-Osagie appeared as Nicki Minaj, whom Trump introduced as a prospective press secretary. "I’m out here killing it," she said. "And by it, I mean my career."

Veronika Slowikowska followed as Katie Zacharia, who bungled the show’s opening line, leaving Hanks and his skeletons to deliver "Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!"

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Celebrity Halloween has become a holiday within a holiday. There are the costume reveals, the elaborate photo shoots, and the inevitable moment of trying to figure out what, exactly, someone is supposed to be. Half the fun is recognizing the reference before reading the caption.

This year's best looks gave pop culture obsessives plenty to work with. Music videos, cartoons, and an awkward talk show interview all made the cut, alongside a few transformations that deserve a closer look. Some were genuinely creepy. Others were funny enough to make a case for keeping Halloween very, very unserious.

Here are 11 of our favorite celebrity Halloween costumes of 2026.

SEE ALSO: Here are some the internet's best Halloween costumes Heidi Klum as a giant severed hand This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Heidi Klum, the Queen of Halloween, turned up to her annual party as an enormous, bloody version of her own left hand, complete with red nails and rings. Getting into the costume reportedly took five to six hours. An impressive amount of effort to make everyone a little uncomfortable.

Lily Allen as a Ticketmaster seating chart This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Lily Allen dressed as a Ticketmaster seating chart. A strong contender for the scariest costume here, especially for anyone who has recently tried to buy concert tickets.

Zendaya as Halle Berry This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Zendaya recreated Halle Berry's look from the 2000 X-Men premiere, with styling by Law Roach. A red carpet reference specific enough to reward the people who immediately recognized it.

Alex Consani as a Thumb-Thumb from Spy Kids This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Alex Consani became a Thumb-Thumb, reviving one of Spy Kids’ most unsettling creations. Somewhere, an adult who watched that movie as a child just remembered an old fear.

Mary Beth Barone and Benito Skinner as Dakota Johnson and Ellen DeGeneres This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The Ride hosts revisited Dakota Johnson’s famously awkward 2019 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with Mary Beth Barone as Johnson and Benito Skinner as DeGeneres. During the interview, DeGeneres claimed she hadn’t been invited to Johnson's birthday party, prompting the actress to respond, "Actually, no, that’s not the truth, Ellen." The uncomfortable exchange became an enduring internet reference — and, apparently, an excellent two-person Halloween costume.

Lisa Rinna as Kylie Jenner This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Lisa Rinna recreated Kylie Jenner’s orange Chrome Hearts look from the Marty Supreme premiere, complete with a long dark wig and a chunky silver cross necklace. The resemblance even got Jenner’s attention. "Thought this was me," she commented on Rinna’s Instagram post.

Keke Palmer and Leodis as Janet and Michael Jackson This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Keke Palmer and her son, Leodis, channeled Janet and Michael Jackson’s 1995 "Scream" music video, complete with matching hairstyles and a black-and-white shoot. Palmer also recreated the choreography in a video, while Leo appeared perfectly content sitting nearby with his iPad. "That iPad is a life saver omg," she wrote in the caption. "I haven’t stopped laughing." Same, Keke.

Lizzo as Seiko Ayase from Dan Da Dan This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Lizzo chose Seiko Ayase, the grandmother from the anime and manga series Dan Da Dan, for her Halloween fit. If the reference required a quick Google search, consider this an introduction to the next show on the watchlist.

Paris Hilton as Britney Spears This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Paris Hilton revisited Britney Spears’s 2001 MTV Video Music Awards look, channeling her friend's iconic "I'm a Slave 4 U" performance. A reminder that the early 2000s will always be a reliable source of Halloween inspiration.

Kim Kardashian as North West This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Kim Kardashian dressed as her daughter North West, recreating her blue hair, faux facial piercings, black grill, and long pointed nails. The resemblance was uncanny: "Girl, I thought this was North," one commenter wrote.

Alix Earle as a Sorayama sculpture This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Alix Earle turned herself into a Sorayama sculpture for Halloween, wearing a futuristic metallic costume that she said took an hour and a half just to get into. She documented the transformation on TikTok, captioning one update “An hour 1/2 later.” Getting dressed was apparently an event of its own.

As we first reported in early August, Anthropic has bowed to demands from EU legislators that AI-generated text carry a hidden watermark, to help eventually distinguish between human- and AI-generated content. 

The initial watermark rollout only applied to the latest and greatest versions of Claude, but on Friday Anthropic alerted its users that an expansion of the watermark would soon roll out to Claude Mythos 5, Claude Opus 4.7, Claude Opus 4.6 and Claude Sonnet 4.6, starting on November 3. 

According to the AI giant, it will be the same watermarking technology already in use in Opus 5.5, based on "an imperceptible pattern in word choice" that won't change the accuracy or readability of its output, or contain any identifying information about the user or organization working with Claude. 

But it's one thing to worry about the function of artificial intelligence and another to worry about the human element. Lawyers have been caught using AI-generated citations, novelists have been caught relying on AI to write entire books, and scientific researchers have been caught using AI in the peer review process. 

For all the problems solved by AI use, and the mundane busywork it so ably processes in seconds rather than hours, it also creates a powerful incentive for humans to cut corners and lie about it, so it will be interesting to see if widespread watermarking helps keep the human element honest.

Georgia Tech aerospace engineering student Tomas Salvo rocked the internet by sharing video footage of his custom-made Reaper RC drone launching to an astonishing 491 mph (790 kmh) while carrying a payload of 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms). According to reporting from Tom's Hardware, it held that incredible speed for a full four minutes, climbing to a maximum height of 6,500 feet, with a total range of 31 miles at full speed.

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

His original tweet has now been viewed more than two million times, making it one of Friday's most viral internet posts, but you have to go through his post history to understand the genesis of this project and his greater ambitions. 

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

All of that engineering and space-grade technology doesn't come cheap, though. Salvo is estimating his total costs for the project will be roughly $70,000, including $40,000 just on the engines and testing expenses; $6,000 for fuel and fuel systems; and a further $20,000 in contingency expenses to replace damaged parts or redesign and remake underperforming parts. 

His GoFundMe page is seeking to raise $50,000, with more than $16,000 already pledged. If you contribute $500 or more, you can get yourself added to a private email list for future updates, while if you pledge $5,000 or more, you can attend a test flight in person. 

In the immediate future, Salvo wants to compete for the inaugural Boom Prize, announced by Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl, for "the first amateur-built radio controlled airplane to break the sound barrier." The total payout of that prize currently sits at $800,000 ($750,000 in cash and $50,000 in Boom stock), but even at 491 mph, Reaper will need to gain an additional 276 mph in speed to reach Mach 1 and break the sound barrier.

The next test flight of the prototype Reaper M1 is targeted for a late-November, early-December window, but if you want to keep up with Salvo's progress you should follow him on X.

Get an inside look at the world's most powerful X-ray laser at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Stanford, which scientists use to film movies of molecules.

Read more about experimental science and energy technology: They're building floating nuclear power plants
World's largest gun for shooting satellites into space

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction to SLAC and LCLS
0:48 Upgrading the particle accelerator
1:45 How cryomodules work
2:23 Cooling below outer space temperatures
3:11 Generating hard X-rays
4:15 Filming “molecular movies” of atoms
5:03 Real-world applications and future experiments

Video credits
Host: Andy Altman
Scripted by: Andy Altman
Producer: Andy Altman
Camera: Celso Bulgatti
Video editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao

When we write about e-readers, Kindle is usually the first name that comes to mind. But in the color e-reader market, Kindle has been late to the party. That delay opened the door for other brands to step in with stronger devices. We’ve rounded up the best color e-readers, and here are the ones that stood out.

Color e-reader price increases

This year has not been good for tech prices. Due to the global memory crisis, prices are increasing on tablets, phones, laptops, and even e-readers. Three out of the four color e-readers on this list increased in price this year. The only e-reader to avoid a price hike was the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

Temper your color expectations An e-reader's color won't be quite as vibrant as a tablet's or physical book's. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mangino

Having tested my way through a lot of e-readers — and now color e-readers — I’ve found a universal truth: While the colors are accurate, they often look a bit washed out. No matter which brand you use, that’s going to be the case. The muted tones don’t outweigh the convenience and portability of color e-readers, but it’s worth tempering your expectations.

Don’t expect the vivid, punchy colors of an iPad screen. An iPad has a max of 500 nits (a measure of brightness), while Kobo and Kindle e-readers max out at 100.

New to this guide:

• As of October 2026, we added the new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition to this list. While the display and resolution haven't improved, its new aluminum casing makes it a sturdier e-reader.

• In February 2026, we added the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to this guide. After testing Amazon's latest e-reader, we were thoroughly impressed by both its speed and display.

What about ReMarkable tablets?

You might notice that ReMarkable e-ink tablets are not on this list. We've tested both the ReMarkable Paper Pro and ReMarkable Paper Move, and while they're dynamic digital notebooks, they're limited in their e-reader capabilities. Getting e-books on these devices was a bit of a struggle, and we missed the Libby integrations available on Kindles and Kobos. So while we think they're great e-ink tablets, they're inferior e-readers.

If you don't like the look of the Beats 360 headphones, you might as well click out of this review now.

That's not to say these headphones are only as good as their appearance — they do have their strengths — but if the many colorways Beats started teasing back in June via World Cup players wasn't enough of a hint, a big part of the allure of these Beats are how they look.

After spending a couple of weeks with these headphones, and switching out many an ear cushion and head band, I found myself more impressed with some aspects of these headphones, and surprisingly let down in others. While a solid first attempt at this concept, I have some notes — so let's get into it.

Beats 360 at a glance The pink/blue combo demanded a cute background. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The new flagship headphones from Beats run for $349.99 (the same intro price as the Beats Studio Pro) and come with the following features:

• Battery life: 32 hours per charge

• Active noise cancellation: Yes

• Microphones: Nine, with eight dedicated to ANC

• IP rating: IPX4

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.3, one-touch pairing for Apple and Google Fast Pair for Android users

• Colors: Black, cloud, sky, pink

The design of the Beats 360 can't be beat (so far) The replaceable components meant allowed me to rock an all pink look. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Beats 360 aren't the first over-ear headphones to do swappable components: Dyson's OnTrac headphones launched with replaceable ear plates and cushions back in 2024. They did, however, also cost $499.99 and are less suited to using during exercise than the Beats.

The Beats cushion sets are the main draw of their design. The headphones themselves come in four different colors: black, cloud (cream), pink, and sky (light blue). Each headphone will come with its corresponding color in the Performance Knit cushion set, which closely resembles that found on the AirPods Max 2.

SEE ALSO: The 5 most comfortable headphones we've ever tested

You'll also have the option of purchasing an additional Performance Knit set in one of six different colors: black, cloud, pink, sky, navy, and volt (a neon green-yellow). Then there are two shades of the UltraPlush cushion set, which comes in black and cloud. The UltraPlush is the same faux leather material used on the Beats Studio Pro (and found on most over-ear headphones). That is to say, they're plenty comfortable for longer periods of wear and a nice alternative if you want to reserve the Performance Knit cushions for more high-activity use. All additional kits are priced at $49.99, but launch pricing has these marked down 80% for just $9.99.

The de-cushioned Beats surrounded by three cushioning options. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

It's plenty simple to swap out the cushions, which is why I was surprised by the case. These headphones encourage you to swap them out for different uses throughout the day, yet the magnetic closure case didn't consistently shut properly with an additional cushion set — sometimes it closed just fine, and sometimes I found myself needing to place the headphones and the components in the case just so if I didn't want it to hang open.

With the right positioning of the extra cushions, the case closed without issue. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable But sometimes, despite my best efforts, the case refused to close. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Another oversight in the design I didn't love was the lack of a headphone jack and lack of USB-C listening functionality. It's not the end of the world, but it can limit listening options, especially while traveling or for anyone interested in lossless audio — a feature supported by the Beats Studio Pro.

Where the Beats 360 could definitely do better

The out-of-box sound on a pair of headphones could literally sound like thousands of angels singing in my ears, but if I'm paying $349.99, I would like the option to adjust my own sound signature. Maybe I want one less angel singing!

It's a concept Apple seems to understand with the recent iOS 27 update, which finally gave the AirPods Pro 3 a custom equalizer, but these Beats were left out of the software update.

Adjustable audio would've gone a long way for these customizable headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

It's unfortunate, especially because the sound on these headphones not only didn't have the whole angel thing going on — it sounded kind of flat and bland, which feels decidedly un-Beats-like. The brand is known for its pumping bass, but here, the mids and vocals take center stage. Case in point: I was not bopping my head along to Lorde's "Supercut," which is a feat I frankly didn't know was possible. On a different point in the genre spectrum, Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" sounded predictably beautiful because it's a Joni Mitchell song — the balance of sound, however, leaned too heavily on her vocals and shrank the guitar into the background. I found myself itching to adjust the equalizer settings while listening to the track.

The ANC isn't bad

Faring better than the sound is the ANC. Though it won't create the cocoon of silence some of Mashable's favorite noise-cancelling headphones are capable of, they'll definitely dim the sounds of a student-packed cafe playing loud punk music (trust me). That said, mid-range priced headphones are facing some serious competition from budget headphones these days, which are getting better and better at providing ANC that punches above its weight class.

The combo of the UltraPlush cushions and ANC made these headphones great for work. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

There's also the presence of some hissing that's somewhat noticeable without music playing — it's not nearly as loud as some cheaper pairs of headphones, but if you're sensitive to ANC that hisses, it's worth noting.

Are the Beats 360 worth it?

At this point, the Beats 360 don't quite have the 360 appeal that they could with a few small changes. The component customization makes it easy to envision a world where these are the headphones people take to the gym instead of AirPods Max, while still being a great pair of headphones to use for work, school, commuting — true all-arounders.

But middling ANC, OK sound, and zero equalizer for $350 makes it hard to recommend these wholeheartedly to the majority of folks, especially when cheaper headphones can manage all of the above, even if they don't feature the same customization. I anticipate that gym rats will love them — I look forward to the next iteration when the rest of us can, too.

Beats 360 $349 at Amazon
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After a year of doomscrolling, endless whiplash-inducing headlines, and too many deepfakes to count, the midterm elections have arrived. 

And whether you're preparing to lock in — staying glued to your phone and prepping your own digital war room — or resisting the urge to tune it all out, you can catch live election coverage on just about any device, anywhere. 

How to watch live broadcast election coverage

Major broadcast news channels ABC and CBS announced they will begin primetime election coverage at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. 

Americans can also tune into NewsNation for live coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET, in partnership with Decision Desk HQ. 

MSNow and Fox News coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET. 

NBC News' 13-hour live broadcast will begin at 5 p.m. ET.  

CNN, led by anchors Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, will begin broadcasting at 4 p.m. ET. 

How to stream live election coverage

From Nov. 2-4, DIRECTV customers can watch live results via its Election HQ, which will provide a 4-channel live news stream and data from The Associated Press. Election HQ is available only on DIRECTV Gemini, Gemini Air, and Genie devices — both broadcast and streaming — not via the app.

Fox One streaming subscribers can log onto the app's new interactive midterm elections hub to follow along with the network's coverage on any compatible device.   

NBC News NOW, ABC News Live, and CBS News 24/7 offer free news streams on desktop and mobile, as well as for app users. 

Peacock 

Peacock subscribers can tune into NBC News Now's coverage right in the app. 

Hulu 

Hulu subscribers, at any tier, can watch ABC News Live. Hulu + Live subscribers can also tune into a range of live news channels, including CNN, CBS News, Fox News, and more.  

YouTube TV

YouTube TV subscribers can watch coverage from local ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox channels, as well as national coverage from outlets like CNN, NewsNation, MSNow, and C-SPAN. 

How to find election coverage online  Twitch and Discord

Election data service Decision Desk HQ will be providing live election results to members of its Discord channel, starting at 5:30 p.m. ET. 

Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has recently been seen alongside Democratic officials on the campaign trail, will be doing a special Nov. 3 livestream. 

YouTube

C-SPAN will be live-streaming its 20-hour continuous election coverage online and to its YouTube followers, including a joint simulcast of two other popular YouTube shows: The Young Turks and The PBD Podcast. 

Or catch live YouTube streams from CBS News, PBS NewsHour, NBC News Now (with much-loved election watcher Steve Kornacki), and FOX News, among others. 

The All In Podcast will be streaming live midterm election commentary at 7 p.m. ET via the Polymarket app. It will feature guests Taylor Lorenz and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. 

Podcast options

For night owls: The Atlantic podcast Radio Atlantic announced a live, election night episode with hosts Hanna Rosin and Adam Harris, as well as bipartisan commentators. The broadcast will begin at 9 p.m. ET, and stream on The Atlantic's YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts. 

Tune into your local NPR station to catch the station's live special election coverage, starting at 8 p.m. ET. 

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Originally published as a serial, starting in 1849, Charles Dickens' The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery is a tale rife with tragedy. But recent adaptations like Armando Iannucci's 2019 movie The Personal History of David Copperfield and Jeffrey Scharf's Copperfield! The New Musical focus on the hope and happiness found in a life story rocked repeatedly by woe.

However, for those taking notes on such things, Copperfield! does hew more closely to the events of Dickens' story, embracing some of its darkest moments without reserve. And yet, this new musical, now playing Off-Broadway, is a rapturous delight — perhaps in part because it doesn't shy away from its hero's hardships.

Copperfield! A New Musical is a classic story told with a raucous and sensationally talented ensemble. Amelia Cormack, Jed Feder, Alexander Sovronsky, Henry Witcher, Cathryn Wake, and Nancy O'Connor in "Copperfield! The New Musical." Credit: Jeremy Daniel

With book, music, and lyrics by Scharf, Copperfield! is set across England, from 1835 to 1870. Directed and choreographed by Gabriel Barre (with associate director and choreographer Ashley Wren Collins), this musical kicks off with a grown David Copperfield (Bobby Conte) reflecting on his life. A dashing man, he ushers audiences back to the day of his birth, introducing his widowed mother Clara (Cathryn Wake) in fervent labor, while her devoted maid Peggotty (Amelia Cormack) assists, and his eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood (Kara Mikula) flutters about making bizarre predictions and demands.

With an energetic song called "Betsey Trotwood Copperfield/It's a Boy," Mikula kicks the story off with rousing energy and plenty of spunk. Then comes Young David (Calvin Knegten at the performance I saw), who shoulders much of the first act, with his older counterpart stepping in on occasion to make observations or lend reflective moral support. Young David will be bounced on his mother's knee, then he's off to a seaside village to visit with Peggotty's charming family, before being sent to a cruel boarding school at the behest of his vicious stepfather, Mr. Murdstone (Will Reynolds).

From there, the poor boy will be orphaned then forced into hard labor, before seeking salvation from the aforementioned aunt. Even as he finds relief from one vexation, other troubles arise. But so, too, do meaningful relationships with debonair classmate Steerforth (Owen Squire Smith), scrappy debtor Mr. Micawber (Andy Taylor), a befuddled but brilliant family friend Mr. Dick (Aaron Michael Ray), and his benevolent bestie Agnes Wickfield (Tatiana Wechsler).

Now, as the story roams from the Copperfield estate to Yarmouth, London, and beyond across decades, Copperfield! keeps its cast almost alarmingly small. Around Conte's strong central performance, 13 adult actors not only play several characters each, but also pick up instruments to join in the orchestration. In this way, they turn a tiny stage — enhanced by flanking platforms and a modest but efficient set design — into a wide world that is cruel, kind, and often wondrous.

Bobby Conte leads a marvelous ensemble cast in Copperfield! Bobby Conte and Cathryn Wake in "Copperfield! The New Musical." Credit: Jeremy Daniel

As an admirer of Iannucci's adaptation of David Copperfield, I thought of it often while witnessing Copperfield! In that, I found a curious distinction. Iannucci focused on David's pursuit of identity, drawing attention to how he was forced to code-switch and even change his name depending on his company. Scharf's approach is less cerebral, focusing instead on the search for home.

The plays opening number "I Am Home" is reprised throughout the show, as David reflects on when he felt safe and thought his happy ending was assured. Of course, whether you know Dickens' work or just that this musical is unlikely to end in the first act, this reprise toys with our hearts, because we know there's more to come. While the company brings out guitars, trumpets, pianos, drums, and more instrumentation, Scharf's songs range from dastardly ("Mr. Murdstone Is the Master Now") to playful ("I Shake Your Hand Sir") to mournful ("Always the Pleasure Was Mine") to rollicking ("I Am a Rover"). In this, Scharf creates a thrilling odyssey in a simple setting, using his music and relying on this sensational cast to build David's world with their unbridled vigor.

Tatiana Wechsler, Aaron Michael Ray, Bobby Conte, and Kara Mikula in "Copperfield! The New Musical." Credit: Jeremy Daniel

While the whole of the cast sings their hearts out, there are a few standouts. Cormack, who plays Peggotty and Mrs. Micawber, among others, bursts with warmth and comedic bounciness, so her every entrance is a blessing. Mikula, as Aunt Betsey, is a deranged delight, singing with the trilling enthusiasm and the force of a windstorm, to the point where I yearned to see her tackle Sweeney Todd as Mrs. Lovett. Alexander Sovronsky awed me with the sheer breadth of his characters, playing the effusively warm Mr. Peggotty, the malevolent Mr. Creakle, the dignified then drunken Mr. Quinion, and a smattering of bit parts aside. With the toss of his lush silver hair and a switch up of his mouth, Sovronsky needs no costume change to change character. And in group numbers, he is so clearly enthralled, whether singing, dancing, or playing an instrument, that he's hard to look away from.

Conte is strong in the lead role, delivering nuance and heartache whether mourning over his mother or falling in love, not once but twice. Wechsler is lovely in the role of besotted Agnes, while Wake is hilarious and surprising as David's first love, Dora. Playing his mother, Wake is serene and oft on the verge of tears, bursting with motherly adoration of him. As his sweet, giddy bride, she is unhinged in the best way. Watching her throw herself into the Olympian vocal back-and-forth of their courtship ("Do-o-or-a, Part One and Part Two"), I was reminded of Jane Krakowski and her recent Broadway stint in Oh, Mary! In this latter role Wake is explosively hilarious, deepening my appreciation for the sincerity in her first-act performance of Clara.

With so much going on, Copperfield! is a whole lot of show. And admittedly, that means the third act drags as the eponymous hero catches up to the romantic realization even newcomers to the story will clock in Act II. Still, bursting with energy, passion, and jaw-dropping talent, Copperfield! The New Musical is a wonder not to be missed.

Copperfield! The New Musical is now playing through Dec. 6 in New York.

Your phone rings, and without thinking, you answer it. It's your spouse. Or your grandma. Maybe the friend you're always posting TikToks with online. And they're asking for your help. 

They've been in a car accident, and you have to provide some personal information as their emergency contact. They're in jail and need you to bail them out. Or maybe it's even simpler than that: Grandma can't log into her account and needs to send you a code. Can you please read it to her? 

The familiar lilt of their voices catch you off guard — only none of them are real. 

Their voices have been cloned, and malicious actors are donning their audio likenesses to scam you out of your personal information, and sometimes cold, hard cash. That number is growing, making even more people susceptible to the deceptive tech, but there are very simple ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.  

Scroll through TikTok, and you'll come across hundreds of stories detailing tales concocted by scammers to impersonate your loved ones. In one such video with more than 450,000 views, a young woman writes that her mother was nearly scammed by an imposter who imitated her grandmother's voice. The only way they caught it? Grandma is no longer alive. 

Scams are on the rise. In 2025, Americans lost around $148.2 billion to digital crimes, a jump of more than 25 percent from the year before. Recent data from digital security company NordVPN found that a growing number of scammers are pitching voice scam services to bad actors on dark web forums and Telegram channels. Sales pitches for voice cloning services rose sevenfold in the last two years, reported NordVPN.

Why more people are getting fooled by audio scams 

One reason that number keeps ticking up is the proliferation of sophisticated — but more importantly accessible — generative AI tools, explained Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. 

"Some years ago, a cloned voice had something slightly off about it, and most people could hear it. That is gone now," Briedis said. 

Advanced technology is only one part of the growing scam industry, however. Briedis explained that such tools are being increasingly packaged, priced, and sold directly to the Average Joe. 

Voice cloning tools, previously a standalone novelty tech, are now sold as a single feature in all-encompassing, common criminal toolkits, or "scam kits," experts told Mashable. These kits include access to legitimate generative AI tools via jailbroken accounts, troves of personal data, and other features sold at increasingly affordable prices. 

Credit: Cole Kan / Mashable / Getty

For example, a recent study of dark web marketplaces conducted by NordVPN found that a hacked ElevenLabs Scale account — complete with unlimited voice cloning — sold for just $150. An ElevenLabs API key was going for a mere $8.

Scam networks no longer need technologically savvy hackers or technologists. Just about anyone with a computer can do it. And that means you have to be prepared. 

Step 1: Know the threat and make a plan 

"When anyone can run the attack, volume becomes the strategy," Briedis said. "No single attempt has to be perfect. There just have to be a lot of them."

But asking someone to be on alert all the time is unfair, Briedis said. Up until now, the mantra has been: "Every message, every video, every call. Get it wrong once and that is the one that counts," Briedis explained. "Nobody holds that standard across a lifetime, and most security advice assumes they will."

As an alternative, users can prepare themselves, and their community, to be able to step up when the moment calls. 

Credit: Cole Kan/Mashable/Getty Prepare your contacts

Eyal Elazar, head of market Intelligence for online merchant security business Riskified, described effective scam preparation as being a "digital ambassador" for your inner circle. 

It begins with a little research. Find and save verified contact information for important callers, such as your bank, insurance company, or family lawyers. You can use this to cross reference callers later.

Then, talk to your circles about what a legitimate phone call would look like. Know who lists you as an emergency contact, and in what contexts. Are you a beneficiary on an account, and, if so, what do you need to know?

Set a code word

Most experts Mashable spoke to recommend creating a code word that you can use with friends and family to confirm who they are. Don't share this anywhere online. "Sounds silly right up until the day it does not," Briedis said.

Filter out the red flags  

There are also common scam requests that are instant red flags, experts told Mashable. Any demand for money over the phone is suspicious. There are more specific tells, too: 

• Requests to read a code, sent via text or email, over the phone

• Requests for passwords or other log-in credentials 

• Demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, crypto exchanges, and payment apps

• Suggestions to initiate a wire transfer over a voice note, a phone call, or a voicemail

• Demands of ransom

• Law enforcement dealings conducted via phone call

Step 2: Putting down the phone can stop a scammer.

"AI isn’t inventing new scams, but it's removing the tells we’ve learned to look for in the old ones," said Donnie Hasseltine, chief information security officer at Arkstone Defense. 

It can be hard to discern the small audio tells that make your loved ones' voice truly theirs, especially when an individual is up against social engineering that forces urgency and stirs panic. 

So, the next piece of advice is to hang up on your friends or "friends." 

Yes, this may cause some drama in the group chat. But if you can't always tell when a voice is real or cloned, it's best to cut them off and reset. 

If someone you personally know was supposedly on the other line, call them back on the number you're used to before agreeing to anything. If it's a bank or your workplace, call a listed number on an official website, the back of a credit card, or a piece of mail. Many institutions are already keenly aware of common phone scams that target customers. 

"Stop judging the content and change the channel instead," Breidis urged. 

SEE ALSO: Have you been impacted by a scam or security breach? Step 3: Slow down.

The last, and most simple, piece of advice is to take a breath. Experts told Mashable that urgency is the number one red flag that may indicate you are the target of a scam, e.g., someone claiming to be from the electricity company demanding money immediately in exchange for keeping your power on. That supposed urgency also sets you up to be more susceptible to scammers. 

Andrew Jones, co-founder of Adaptive Security, said that a manufactured sense of urgency as well as a demand for secrecy are the two factors found in nearly every successful scam he has studied. 

"Nothing is so urgent that it can’t wait for you to verify it," Hasseltine agreed. 

So don't give in to the rush. Slow down, hang up the phone, and ask someone else to weigh in. 

And it bears repeating: Never. Send. Cash. 

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Already been scammed? Here's what to do.

If a scammer has already gotten hold of your personal information or money, act fast:

1. Block the scammer so they can't reach out again.

2. Cut off their access to your bank account or payment method, if you provided that information. Call your bank immediately. If you sent a wire transfer or gift card, contact the issuer and tell the company you have been scammed. Change your passwords. Freeze your credit.

3. Report your stolen information. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to create a government-recommended recovery plan. Report the scam to the Social Security Administration’s fraud hotline if you handed over your SSN.

4. Stay calm. The vast majority of Americans have been scammed in one way or another. There is help out there, and you can prepare your defenses for next time.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 is free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. The iPhone 17 Pro is also free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17 Free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

Apple has spent recent months dropping an overwhelming flood of hardware, but if you aren't trying to drop four figures on the latest model, carrier promo season has officially entered its prime window.

For those interested in investing in the Apple iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro, we strongly recommend checking out T-Mobile right now. The popular carrier is offering free iPhone deals this weekend.

The iPhone 17 is totally free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. The iPhone 17 Pro is also free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan. T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee.

How can T-Mobile offer a wild deal like this? You're committing to stay with the service for three years, because the full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the contract, you will be charged the remaining balance immediately.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone Duo has launched: How to save $1,000 without a trade-in

But why would you do that? The Experience More and Experience Beyond plans are designed for power users who want 4K streaming, massive hotspot data, and the best international roaming. These premium plans include bumper perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix.

Score an iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

One of the major annoyances of online dating is how often matches devolve into pen pals rather than translate into IRL dates. Those initial, flirty conversations are great, don't get us wrong, but most of us aren't jumping onto Tinder or Hinge just to endlessly text. And yet, in modern dating, where both people often feel afraid to make the first move and take the match into the real world, endless texting is all too often the only result of a once-promising match. 

But it doesn't have to be this way. Dating app Pure concocted some clever solutions to the never-ending chatting, and in our own experimentation, they work like a charm. 

Here's how Pure introduced a sense of urgency into its dating mechanics, and how that helps users translate matches into real-life encounters. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Pure Pure   Learn More How Pure leverages a sense of urgency to benefit its users

One unique feature of Pure is that it doesn't use traditional dating profiles, which means its matches operate differently than on basically every other dating app. 

Instead of having a permanent, public-facing profile, Pure users can post "ads," temporary personal advertisements shouting out who they are or what they want, whether that's for a long-term relationship or a short-term connection. It's only when someone has posted an ad that they're discoverable to other users, and only then are your basic profile elements (age, gender, sexual orientation, and photos) visible. Once your ad expires, so does access to your profile.

The result of this mechanic is a sense of urgency, the very real possibility that you're seeing someone you may never see again, so if you want a connection, you have to act fast. That's a very welcome change from the dating app norm, where profiles are always visible, and you can browse them at your convenience, whether on your morning commute or between sets at the gym.

But Pure takes things a step further with how you actually interact with other people. 

The disappearing chat mechanic

From the moment you initiate a chat on Pure, you're under an artificial time constraint, since every chat automatically self-deletes after 24 hours, unless both parties agree to suspend the chat timer. 

While at first this seems like an unnecessary constraint, in practice it's actually very healthy and helps daters avoid the endless banter that plagues so many online dating interactions. 

Think about what would happen if you approached a cute stranger in the real world. You may see them at a bar or coffee shop, going about their day, but no matter how smooth your introduction, you know in the back of your mind that you can't monopolize this person's time and attention for very long. 

For an in-person approach, you have to be concise in your communication: I think you're cute and want a chance to get to know you better — would that interest you? But on an app, where there's no sense of urgency, you can endlessly waffle, delaying the most important question of all in favor of a never-ending series of mundane questions. 

This is why Pure's disappearing chat mechanic is so clever, even when both parties agree to disable it, since even that act forces a mutual acknowledgment of the connection. And after using the app over an extended period, we can confirm that Pure's culture really encourages in-person interactions at the expense of endless chatting or swiping.

Perhaps when you think of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, you think of Brad Pitt, who headlined David Fincher's 2008 film adaptation to the tune of 13 Oscar nominations (though no major category wins). That movie took major liberties with the 1922 F. Scott Fitzgerald short story on which it's based. So does the Olivier Award-winning new musical, which has just opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater.

And that's for the best, as Fitzgerald's short story was mean and odd. Alas, the movie and musical made from it are less of both, and yet, I yearn for more.

What remains the same across all three iterations is this: Benjamin Button is born old and ages in reverse. Thus, his death is basically going from zygote to nothingness.

SEE ALSO: 'Copperfield! The New Musical' review: A rollicking, big-hearted Dickens adaptation that is not to be missed

In the case of the musical, writer/lyricist Jethro Compton and composer/lyricist Darren Clark transport the story from 1860s Baltimore to a Cornish fishing village at the end of World War I. There, a quirky village consists of a baker with a wandering eye, a drunken tea shop proprietor, a woman who dreams of growing her lawn gnome into a husband (stranger things have happened), and Roger Button (Brandon J. Ellis), an expectant father who is not expecting to find his newborn son is an old man with a cap and cane.

Andrew Durand stars as Benjamin Button. Andrew Durand and Kelsee Kimmel (foreground) with the company of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Credit: Joan Marcus

Earlier this year, Durand played Brad Majors in Broadway's Rocky Horror Show revival. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he thrusts his jaw forward and stoops his shoulders to convey that the eponymous hero is effectively a septuagenarian at birth. Of course, as Benjamin ages in reverse, Durand will be tasked with shifting his physicality to that of a man in his fifties, who is besotted by a twentysomething barmaid, Elowen Keene (Kelsee Kimmel). As she grows older, he'll grow more spry and lively, dancing and frolicking with children, then running away like one.

SEE ALSO: 'Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen' review: Duncan Sheik's musical adaptation gets kink right, but falters elsewhere

His performance is broad and cartoonish, framing the musical as a farce. Around him, the ensemble, who play multiple supporting characters along with instruments throughout, match this tone with relish. The music by Clark is rollicking, like a country fair. "Rag Ty Yw Tre" opens the show, setting up a theme of time and tide being fickle friends to man. Other songs will invoke nature too, like "The Western Wind," "The Kraken's Lullaby," and "The Tide Is Comin' In."

While the musical has garnered praise since its Off-West End debut to its West End run to its current Off-Broadway run at the Public, I struggled to make sense of the fervor for it. The orchestration was loud and muddled; I struggled to make out the lyrics outside of the chorus. The voices of the company are melodic, and their playing enthusiastic, yet neither can distract that many of Clark and Compton's songs are not just reprisals, but repetitive. "Time is a funny thing" is a sentiment repeated over and over, making the two-and-a-half-hour production feel longer and tiresome.

Benjamin Button is a bastard. The company of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Credit: Joan Marcus

This is true to the Fitzgerald story too. In both, Benjamin marries a younger woman, and then flees her as she grows old and he grows young. Compton and Clark's musical offers a different motivation than Fitzgerald's, but their revision makes his trespass even crueler. And disturbingly, they doesn't seem to realize how much of a cad their hero is. Or else they give him a maudlin backstory as justification.

In the short story, Benjamin's father urges him to play with other children. In this musical, his mother and father lock him in the attic, ashamed of his bizarre existence. After years of such neglect, Benjamin takes to sneaking out on Friday nights to a pub to experience community and beer. There, he meets his future bride, though much drama will come before they wed. Then, tragedy will strike their family, and he'll flee.

It's not that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button doesn't recognize that running away from your wife in a time of shared heartbreak isn't horrid. But rather that the musical's rush to forgive him is not just alarming but repulsive. Opposite Durand, Kimmel offers a performance that is charming and tender, while punctuated with occasional comedic bravado to keep in the musical's overall tone. But Elowen is a character thin as tissue paper, who exists purely to satisfy Benjamin's every need, be it love, forgiveness, reflection, or beer. Yet I felt for her as her love runs off on a vague journey of self-improvement that is a circle.

This dreadful second act lumbers into a confounding climax. Songs haphazardly tie up the loose ends of every clumsy thread of character arc, from horny baker to wannabe gnome wife. Flimsy characters flit around as Benjamin is treated as some profound figure, while his behavior is generally that of a fuckboy. By the end, I had the lyric "It's all just a matter of time" ringing in my head, as I felt I'd wasted mine.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is now playing at the Public Theater until Dec. 20.