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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Heated Rivalry stars teased as Quinn’s latest audio erotica additions

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 22:39

Capitalizing on the massive success of the hit Canadian Crave/HBO Max series Heated Rivalry, audio erotica app Quinn has been teasing the show’s leads, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, as its newest star collaborators.

SEE ALSO: The glorious, easy-to-miss moments in Heated Rivalry's finale

The rollout began on Friday with a series of cryptic teasers. The first featured hockey gear laid out in a recording studio, soundtracked by the instantly recognizable t.A.T.u. hit "All the Things She Said." A follow-up clip leaned further into the mystery, showing confused production staff questioning why the only food on set was tuna melts, followed by blurred shots, quick cuts, and what appeared to be cue cards — all but confirming the involvement of the Heated Rivalry stars.

Taken together, the clues strongly suggest Quinn is preparing to have Williams and Storrie record audio content drawn from Heated Rivalry, the Rachel Reid novel that inspired the series and the second book in her Game Changers hockey romance universe.

For those not in the know, Quinn is one of the biggest names in audio erotica, an app that allows listeners to experience immersive, self-insertion storytelling. In recent years, the app has elevated its profile by partnering with some of the internet’s most beloved crushes, including Andrew Scott and Jesse Williams, to lend their voices to original and adapted erotic stories.

And for those unfamiliar with Heated Rivalry: it’s a gay enemies-to-lovers story turned breakout TV hit, centered on the combustible relationship between Canadian hockey star Shane Hollander and his cocky Russian rival, Illya Rozanov. The show premiered on Crave in Canada before landing on HBO Max weeks later in the U.S. and Australia — and it promptly exploded in popularity. Beyond sharp writing and undeniable chemistry between the leads, the sex scenes are, frankly, very hot.

So, yes, it would make perfect sense for the two stars to lend their voices to the very book that has been taking the internet by storm.

There’s no official announcement from Quinn just yet, so fans will have to wait until Dec. 30 to find out who’s involved — and whether Williams and Storrie will, in fact, be reading from Heated Rivalry or diving into other erotica altogether.

Categories: IT General, Technology

New York State will now require warning labels on social media platforms

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 17:50

The state of New York has passed new legislation requiring social media platforms like X and TikTok to add warning labels to their services.

Much like the warnings found on cigarette packaging, the new law — signed by Governor Kathy Hochul — targets platforms that rely on features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds. These services will now be required to display labels cautioning users, particularly young people, about the potential mental health risks associated with prolonged use.

SEE ALSO: Louisiana social media age verification law blocked by federal judge

Under the law, warning labels must appear when a user first interacts with any feature deemed "predatory," and will continue to surface periodically afterward. The requirements apply whenever these platforms are accessed from within New York, regardless of the companies' locations.

The move comes amid a growing body of research linking heavy social media use to negative mental health outcomes among young people. A large, multi-year study published earlier this year found that increased social media use among tweens and teens was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms over time, while the reverse was not true.

Researchers behind the study said the findings strengthen concerns that certain online behaviors, including excessive scrolling and algorithm-driven engagement, may actively contribute to declining mental well-being rather than simply reflecting it.

At the same time, platforms like TikTok have begun rolling out their own safety and oversight features in response to mounting pressure from lawmakers, parents, and regulators. Earlier this year, TikTok expanded its parental control tools, adding options for screen time blocking, scheduled app access, and increased visibility into teens’ followers and activity.

The company has framed those changes as part of a broader push toward mindfulness and healthier usage habits, particularly for users under 18, even as critics argue that design features like autoplay and infinite feeds continue to encourage prolonged engagement.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for December 27, 2025

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 17:01

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 27, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 27, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 27 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 27 Pips

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

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 27 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this green space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this green space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27, 2025

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 16:41

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you think outside the box a bit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Yellow: Trophy room

  • Green: Wrasslin'

  • Blue: Award-winning Canadians

  • Purple: Ends in a letter

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Memento

  • Green: Types of wrestling

  • Blue: Blue Jays to Win Cy Young Award

  • Purple: Ends in a Homophone for a Letter of the Alphabet

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 #460 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Memento - COLLECTIBLE, KEEPSAKE, MEMORABILIA, SOUVENIR

  • Types of wrestling - ARM, FREESTYLE, GRECO-ROMAN, SUMO

  • Blue Jays to Win Cy Young Award - CLEMENS, HALLADAY, HENTGEN, RAY

  • Ends in a Homophone for a Letter of the Alphabet - BATTER'S EYE, BLUE JAY, GOLF TEE, POOL CUE

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech online for free

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 12:00
Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Shop Now Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) Shop Now BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Get Deal Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now Best for affordability Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months (save $50.95) Shop Now BEST for INTRODUCTORY OFFER YouTube TV 5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months (save $99) Shop Now

It's an exciting time for college football, with both the playoffs and bowl games satisfying football fans. BYU vs. Georgia Tech should be one of the best games of the week — neither program made the playoffs but both are ranked, with BYU (11-2) at No. 12 and Georgia Tech (9-3) at No. 22, which means both teams are in good form and capable of delivering a gripping game.

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If you want to watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is BYU vs. Georgia Tech?

BYU vs. Georgia Tech takes place at 3.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 27. This game takes place at Camping World Stadium.

BYU vs. Georgia Tech is broadcast on ABC.

How to watch college football in 2025/26

Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.

ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year Shop Now

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX

ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.

Fox One (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year Shop Now

Channels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network

Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.

FuboTV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.

Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW

Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.

Sling (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network

Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.

YouTube TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.

How to watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.

Live stream BYU vs. Georgia Tech from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Make your AI bills disappear forever with this one AI hub

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 12:00

TL;DR: Instead of paying for multiple AI apps every month, the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan gives you lifetime access to top models and pro-grade tools for a one-time $74.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $74.97
$540 Save $465.03   Get Deal

From the looks of things, AI isn’t going anywhere, and for most professionals, it’s becoming just as essential as email or Wi-Fi. The challenge? Keeping up with an ever-growing list of tools, subscriptions, and model upgrades.

The 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan is currently available as a lifetime subscription for just $74.97 (reg. $540), and solves that problem with one very appealing idea: put everything in one place and make it a one-time payment.

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Instead of hopping between apps for writing, image editing, video creation, document analysis, and chat assistants, 1min.AI centralizes your entire AI workflow. It includes many of the top models—GPT-4o, Claude 3, Gemini Pro, Llama 3, Mistral, Cohere, and more — so you always have the right engine for the job.

Writers can generate blog posts, research keywords, summarize documents, rewrite content, or maintain a consistent brand voice. Designers and marketers get powerful image tools like upscalers, face swaps, background editors, 3D image generation, and sketch-to-image. Teams working with documents can translate, summarize, interact with PDFs, or collaborate across multiple files at once.

Audio and video creators aren’t left out, either — there’s text-to-speech, voice cloning, music generation, text-to-video, auto-captions, and even YouTube transcription and chat.

For a small business owner, this could replace five or six separate SaaS subscriptions. For a freelancer, it’s an all-in-one creative studio. For anyone who uses AI daily, it’s a huge upgrade — and a rare chance to lock in lifetime access without ongoing fees.

If your goal is to work smarter in 2026, this is one of the easiest wins available. Get lifetime access to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan while it’s just $74.97 (reg. $540) for a limited time.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

This eSIM card lets you stay connected abroad without roaming fees, and now it’s 53% off

Sat, 12/27/2025 - 12:00

TL;DR: Save some money on your next trip abroad with this $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click aloSIM Traveler's Mobile Data Plan: $150 Credit $69.99
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Got big travel plans in store for 2026? If you’re heading abroad, make sure you can stay in touch without spending a fortune with aloSIM. This eSIM card keeps you connected in more than 200 countries and regions without roaming charges, and right now you can get a $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

Traveling internationally is not cheap. Fortunately, you can make it a little more affordable with this aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan. Instead of coming home to ridiculous roaming charges, this eSIM card gets you $150 of data for less than half the price. You can connect to a fast, local data connection on 5G and LTE networks easily — with no surprise charges that creep up later.

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With aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan, you just install a digital eSIM ahead of your travels and connect to data networks in over 200 countries. It’s prepaid and never expires, though the data package is only valid for the length of time stated at purchase, and unused data won’t roll over to your next trip.

This eSIM can be used on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, giving you flexible connection options once you land. You also have it for life, with no monthly charges. Just add a data plan next time you need to use it. You can also add more data as you go, with packages starting at $4.50 that last for 7 days.

Don’t leave home with this $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

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