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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Track events that don't include running

• Green: Played on a table

• Blue: Sports teams that share a state

• Purple: Share a first word/letter

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Throwing events

• Green: Often found in a game room

• Blue: Ohio sports teams

• Purple: Words that can be preceded by "T-"

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 #205 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Throwing events - DISCUS, HAMMER, JAVELIN, SHOT PUT

• Often found in a game room - AIR HOCKEY, FOOSBALL, PING PONG, POOL

• Ohio sports teams - BEARCATS, BENGALS, CAVALIERS, REDS

• Words that can be preceded by "T-" - BALL, MAC, SHIRT, WOLVES

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

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

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fore!

The words are golf-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are what you swing to hit a golf ball.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is GolfClubs.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 16

• Driver

• Wood

• Putter

• Iron

• Wedge

• Chipper

• Utility

• GolfClubs

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

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

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

TL;DR: Replace your monthly Dropbox subscription with a 10TB Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Plan on sale for £211.87 with code STORAGE20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £211.87
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Cloud storage subscriptions are expensive, even if they don't seem like it at first. Dropbox's cheapest plan is £7.56 per month for 2TB of cloud storage. It seems cheap, but that's a little over £90 every year, and you're never actually done paying for it. 

If you want a cheaper alternative to Dropbox, Internxt just dropped the price for a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription. Now it's only £211.87 with code STORAGE20.

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Space isn't the only thing this cloud storage has going for it. Internxt is committed to keeping your data safe. That's why they use end-to-end encryption to secure files during transfer and at rest. Its zero-knowledge architecture means that files are encrypted in a way that Internxt itself cannot access. You're the only one who has access to your files.

You don't even have to manually upload. You can sync all your files and photos across platforms, even Linux. This focus on privacy even extends to its open-source design, so users can inspect the code for transparency and security.

This subscription lasts for life, with no recurring payments of any kind. You can access your cloud storage on unlimited devices, too. 

Use code STORAGE20 by April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Internxt 10TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription on sale for £211.87. 

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VPNs are seriously useful security tools that can protect your identity and data, bypass online restrictions to access extra content, and much more. If this is all very new to you, you've probably got a lot of questions. Don't worry, because we can help.

We've done all the hard work for you and thoroughly researched these services to provide the information that matters to you. Here's everything you need to know about VPNs.

What is a VPN?

VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks) provide important protection for your data and identity when you're online. They offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). This means that all of your activity is untraceable and secure.

Basically, you can think about VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware.

Do you need a VPN?

Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. There's no need to panic, because whether you're sending important emails, doing some online shopping, or paying essential bills, VPNs make sure that everything remains private and anonymous.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for your iPhone

First and foremost, VPNs are designed to provide online security, but there is another reason that millions of people use these services: streaming more content from around the world. By hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick your favourite streaming services into thinking that you are based in a different country. This means that you can watch all of the shows and films from global libraries, like all the extra content on U.S. Netflix. This is the quickest and easiest way of boosting your content options, without the need to rely on a dodgy stream.

What should you consider before subscribing to a VPN?

There are plenty of things that you should consider when it comes to VPNs, but we don't have all day. Instead of listing off every feature offered by the best VPNs, we have highlighted a selection of the most important things to think about.

Before you make any sort of decision, you should look out for connection speed, server network, number of logins, and more important features:

• Bandwidth — There are some VPNs out there that place monthly caps on network bandwidth, meaning you can only download a certain amount of data. You should avoid these services, unless you're on a free trial. If you're paying for a VPN, you should be able to download and upload as much as you want.

• Connection speed — Using a VPN is going to produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept a significant drop that is going to result in buffering. Be sure to select a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can't watch a film or download a file without frustration.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and whilst it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best options will all offer powerful protection for your data. You are likely to come across terms like "military-grade" and "enterprise-grade," which just means that you can rely on it to do its job.

• Number of connections — Some VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account. Others limit you to just a single device. You should look out for a service that offers multiple simultaneous connections, so you can stay protected on all your devices at the same time.

• Server network — The very best VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. It's useful if a VPN has a lot of servers in key locations, because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming, shopping, or browsing anonymously. It's not a straightforward case of more is better, but it's always good to have options.

• Privacy policy — It's worth paying special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of the VPN you are planning on using. These practices should be laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't clear, it's best to avoid. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. If privacy is the objective, it's absolutely essential that your VPN is not going to store these details. If it does, the whole thing is kind of pointless.

There are other things to consider, like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start.

Should you use free VPNs?

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, plus free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. So why would you ever pay for a VPN?

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with VPNs. There tends to always be a catch with free versions, and it's normally in the form of limited data usage. If you're just an occasional user, these plans will work fine. But if you're going to be streaming or downloading, this isn't going to work. Free trials are a little bit different: they come with everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously they don't tend to last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

What we're saying is that the best option for streaming securely and accessing the online world without restrictions is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you need to pay up. The best VPNs are generally the most expensive, but there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What is the best VPN?

There are a lot of VPN providers out there all offering different sets of features, with different pricing structures. We recommend taking some time to carefully access your options, and decide on what you really need from a VPN. Once you have established your priorities, you can check out this definitive list of the best VPNs this month.

We have tracked down everything on offer and lined up a selection of the very best VPNs for streaming, shopping, and everything else. We have tried to find something for everyone and every budget, and you can find popular services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN in this list. All you need to do is weigh up these options against your own set of priorities, and then pick a favourite from the bunch.

These are the best VPNs in 2025.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from North Carolina with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content, including North Carolina. After the introduction of age verification laws, millions of users in North Carolina are now unable to access popular sites like Pornhub. There are complicated reasons for this restriction, but for those left in the dark, there is a simple workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from North Carolina, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in North Carolina

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free in North Carolina with ExpressVPN.

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

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

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

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

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

A biscuit-like pastry.

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

SCONE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Strength.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POWER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To add up.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COUNT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

The name of something.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 16 Hurdle Word 4 answer

TITLE

Final Hurdle hint

Sleek.

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

SLICK

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

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

In this age of on-demand everything, hookup apps are the go-to for casual dating. If we can stream movies (thank you, Netflix) and order a takeaway with just a few taps, why shouldn't we find a potential partner the same way?

Sometimes all you want is a little fun, and there's an app for that.

How do you find a hookup?

It's still possible to find a connection in the real world. Meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other real-life locations still happens on a regular basis. You're simply shortening your odds by subscribing to a dating site.

Dating sites and sex apps allow you to get your information out there to a massive network of like-minded individuals. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting up. We know that some dating apps can be expensive, but just think about all those wasted coffees you could avoid by chatting through an app first.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for sending naughty messages

Using dating apps and sites is also a whole lot less intimidating than meeting someone face to face. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you dip your toe into the world of dating from the comfort of your own home.

Should you use free dating apps?

The good news is that there are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. However, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating apps. And sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up some cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap. It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What makes an app good for hooking up?

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hookup apps. What works for your friends might not work for you. Your best bet is to download a handful of options and see which one clicks with your vibe.

Skip the apps that are all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, eharmony). Instead, keep an eye out for apps that get straight to the point. The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe.

If you really want to pay for a premium membership, that's up to you. But we recommend starting with the free versions of cult faves like Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge. These popular dating apps give you just enough functionality to connect with potential partners for casual encounters — all without spending anything.

What is the best sex and dating app for hooking up?

The good news is that there are absolutely loads of dating sites and sex apps out there for every type of dater and dating situation. The problem with this wealth of options is that deciding on the right site for you can be difficult. This is where we can help.

Whether you're looking to have a one-night stand, exchange nudes with strangers, or have some phone sex before you doze off, we've rounded up the most reliable hookup apps for every type of single. You can download them via Google Play or the App Store and start swiping in minutes.

These are the best hookup sites and apps in 2025.

Nvidia has announced that its 5060 line of GeForce RTX GPUs will be available for purchase beginning on April 16. The line includes two models: The RTX 5060 Ti, which comes in 8GB and 16GB VRAM variants, and the RTX 5060, which will only come in an 8GB VRAM option. The former GPU releases on April 16 for $379 and $429, respectively, with the latter coming sometime in May for $299.

With the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti, Nvidia is making high-tech features more accessible for gamers who can't afford a $2,000 GPU. In particular, the new 5060 GPUs offer DLSS 4 support and full ray tracing capabilities for enhanced visuals and higher frame rates.

“The RTX 5060 family offers gamers next-generation performance and AI-enhanced visuals starting at $299,” said Vice President of GeForce Marketing Matt Wuebbling in an Nvidia press release. “Powered by the advanced NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and featuring DLSS 4 technology in over 100 games, this new class of GPUs elevates gaming with stunning visuals, high frame rates and quick responsiveness.”

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 tariff impacts: What we know so far

DLSS 4's AI-enhanced capabilities like Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, and Nvidia Reflex can all be found in the RTX 5060 GPU family. The company says these features will reduce latency times during gameplay in addition to those speedier frame rates and higher resolution.

Better yet, over 100 games will support DLSS 4 when the new GPUs launch, including Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Black Myth: Wukong. Nvidia says that on the GPU's maximum settings, users can enjoy "stunning ray-traced visuals at over 100 frames per second" on some titles.

If you're planning on buying one to upgrade your current setup, we recommend making your decision as soon as humanly possible, because new Nvidia GPUs tend to go out of stock quickly. (The Nvidia RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs can be particularly hard to find.) We all remember the RTX 3080 dilemma back in 2020, and with the addition of the volatile U.S. tariff policy situation, we aren't exactly sure how this launch is going to unfold. Product pages for the RTX 5060 Ti aren't even posted yet, so you'll probably want to keep your credit card at the ready.

In addition to the GPU announcements, Nvidia revealed that RTX-5060-equipped laptops from every big-name manufacturer will also be available this May starting at $1,099. The new laptops are said to have lower latency and are able to double the frame rates of previous iterations. They'll also come in a range of configurations and sizes starting at 14.9 millimeters.

For updates on the RTX 5060 launch, visit the Nvidia website.

Scientists previously captured rare footage of a giant squid. Now, they've filmed another huge squid species — the colossal squid.

The first specimens of the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) were formally described by biologists a century ago, in 1925. These deep sea dwellers, which live exclusively in Antarctic waters, are rarely seen, so they're largely mysterious. But the Schmidt Ocean Institute, a well-traveled ocean exploration group, has used a high-tech robot to film the first-ever confirmed footage of colossal squid in its natural and remote marine environs.

"It’s exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist," Kat Bolstad, a cephalopod expert at the Auckland University of Technology who helped verify the footage, said in a statement. "For 100 years, we have mainly encountered them as prey remains in whale and seabird stomachs and as predators of harvested toothfish."

"This is honestly one of the most exciting observations we've had in my time researching deep sea cephalopods," Bolstad added during a press conference on April 15.

SEE ALSO: A dominant shark lurks in the deep, dark ocean. Meet the sixgill.

The observed colossal squid seen below is quite young and not nearly fully grown, at about a foot long. But mature individuals grow to around 23 feet long (though some individuals could be larger), weigh in at over 1,100 pounds (which makes them both the heaviest squid and invertebrate), and have the largest eyes of any animal (at some 10.5 inches across, making them soccer-ball size).

The Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian — a robot fitted with a slew of scientific instruments and capable of descending down to 14,763 feet, or 4,500 meters — filmed the squid on March 9 off the South Sandwich Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The squid was swimming at some 1,968 feet, or 600 meters, beneath the surface.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute's remotely operated vehicle SuBastian. Credit: Alex Ingle / Schmidt Ocean Institute

This long-sought footage was ROV SuBastian's third time capturing first-ever confirmed footage of a squid species in their natural ocean habitat. (The others include Spirula spirula, or Ram’s Horn Squid, in 2020, and the Promachoteuthis.)

Dropping such robots into the depths regularly reveals rare or unprecedented footage. "We always discover stuff when we go out into the deep sea. You're always finding things that you haven't seen before," Derek Sowers, an expedition lead for NOAA Ocean Exploration, previously told Mashable.

Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there. The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. Biologists emphasize that rare biodiversity and marine habitats ought to be protected. What's more, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"There's life down there that has the potential to provide and has provided us with medicines," Jyotika Virmani, an oceanographer and executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, told Mashable last year.

OpenAI is reportedly working on a social media prototype for sharing images generated by ChatGPT.

According to The Verge, who spoke with anonymous sources "familiar with the matter," OpenAI is working on a social media feed akin to X that would host ChatGPT-generated images created by users. This would reportedly serve two goals: boosting visibility of ChatGPT's now-viral image generator and serving as a source for real-time user data. (Google, Meta, and X all have vast amounts of user data, some of which can be leveraged for AI training.) The Verge also reports that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been privately asking for feedback on such a tool.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Studio Ghibli-inspired AI art provokes backlash across the internet

It's unclear whether the social feed would be a standalone social networking app or integrated with ChatGPT, similar to the feed of user-generated images on Midjourney. It also calls to mind the video feed that already exists on OpenAI's standalone Sora app, which serves as a space for users to explore how others are using the AI video generator.

Of course, there's a lot of distance between a social networking feed of user-generated content and a genuine social media app, like X or Instagram. If the company did venture into the social media space one day, it would likely make the feud between Musk and OpenAI even more contentious. Sources told The Verge that Grok's relationship with X, which is now also owned by Elon Musk's xAI company, has "made everyone jealous" since "people create viral tweets by getting it to say something stupid."

Musk is currently suing OpenAI for breach of contract by attempting to convert its capped for-profit into a full-fledged for-profit corporation. Recently Musk offered to buy OpenAI for $97 billion, an offer than Altman firmly rejected.

OpenAI would also be taking on Meta, another AI rival. Meta AI benefits from gathering user data to train its Llama models, and the company is also reportedly planning a standalone Llama app to compete with ChatGPT.

Altman has jokingly referred to building a social media app in the past. In response to a February CNBC report, Altman wrote on X, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app."

Ever since Nintendo indefinitely delayed pre-orders on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. and Canada, Switch gamers have been in limbo.

Now, the wait may finally be over. A new leak from Deal Labs' Billbil-kun on Bluesky (via Kotaku) suggests that U.S. retailers are eyeing either April 21 or April 30 as the official pre-order date. The leaker, who has proven reliable in the past, reports that Canadian retailers are preparing for an April 23 date.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo exec explains $80 price of 'Mario Kart World,' what it means for Switch 2 games

In other words, we could be less than a week away from the end of the tariff-caused delay in pre-orders. Of course, there are reasons to doubt this rumor. For starters, the tariff situation itself is very, let's say, fluid. And that's putting it lightly.

For now, a 10 percent tariff on Vietnam (where many Switch 2 consoles are reportedly being manufactured) remains in effect, though that could change at any time. After a meeting earlier this week between Vietnam and China, President Donald Trump accused the countries of trying to "screw" the United States.

Beyond that, all internet leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, even from a source that is generally reliable. It's very possible that Nintendo itself still isn't certain when it will open pre-orders in the United States and Canada, and if that's the case, retailers wouldn't know, either.

Despite all the uncertainty, Nintendo remains adamant that the Switch 2 will be launching on June 5 as planned.

Featured Video For You Nintendo Switch 2: Hands On

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Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max annual subscriptions save up to 20% on any plan Get Deal

Max has randomly decided to drop the cost of its annual streaming plans for a limited time, resulting in one of the best streaming deals we've seen since Black Friday.

Through May 7, new and returning subscribers can score a yearly subscription to Max for up to 20% off the usual cost. The ad-supported tier is down to just $79.99 per year from $99.99, which breaks down to just $6.67 monthly. Meanwhile, the ad-free tiers are just $139.99 per year (just $11.67/month) instead of $169.99 or $169.99 per year ($14.17/month) instead of $209.99. That's up to $40 in savings.

Whether you want to see what all The White Lotus hype is about or tune into some of the latest box office hits like Babygirl, Y2K, Heretic, and the Oscar-winning Flow, Max is a treasure trove of excellent content. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer is home to not only Warner Bros. films, but also new A24 theatrical releases and an insane array of original series. Translation: you'll never be bored.

Sadly, like Netflix, the service is expected to start its password sharing crackdown very soon. Hence, there's never been a better time to sign up for your own Max account. Just note that the Max streaming deal is only valid for your first year. Afterwards, the price per year will revert back to full cost. Be sure to cancel before the year is up if you want to avoid that price jump.

TL;DR: Leave recurring costs behind and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for just A$80 (reg. A$352) through 27 April.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License AU$80
AU$352 Save AU$272 Get Deal

With this limited-time offer from the Mashable Shop, you can get an unlimited device license for Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2021 for Windows with a one-time purchase of A$80. Once it's set up on your device, the license will never expire.

Here's what's included with purchase:

• Lifetime access to essential Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version only), OneNote, Publisher, and Access for all your work and personal projects

• Access these productivity tools without recurring subscription fees

• Fully compatible with Windows 10 and 11, ensuring smooth functionality on modern PCs

• Perfect for business, school, or home use, offering all the apps needed to create, edit, and share documents, presentations, and spreadsheets

• Delivered digitally for quick and easy setup with instant access to your license key

Take advantage of this limited-time price drop on a lifetime license to the complete Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2021 suite on sale for A$80 until 27 April at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google is under the microscope again — this time in Japan. The country’s Fair Trade Commission has issued a cease-and-desist order against the tech giant, claiming it may have broken Japan’s antitrust laws.

SEE ALSO: Google invented new ways to alter movies with AI for The Sphere. It's sure to be controversial.

The order, signed Tuesday, alleges that Google pressured Japanese smartphone manufacturers to preinstall its apps on Android devices, specifically Google Chrome and the Play Store. A senior investigator speaking to The Japan Times said the practice made it "difficult for other competing search engines to be used on Android phones."

This is a notable first for Japan — it’s the country’s first antitrust move against one of the major U.S. tech players. And while the timing of the antitrust action coincides with tariff-related trade talks between Japan and the United States, a press release from the Japanese Fair Trade Commission states that the investigation into Google's business practices began in October 2023.

The investigation found that Google required manufacturers to preinstall Google apps and offered extra ad revenue to companies that complied with these conditions. According to The Japan Times, the company had such agreements with six manufacturers, accounting for roughly 80% of smartphones produced in Japan.

The cease and desist order instructs Google to end these practices or risk facing financial penalties.

The company has also faced antitrust action in the United States and the European Union.

TL;DR: Keep the lights on with help from the Explorer Bear 4000 Watts Portable Ultra-Quiet Dual Fuel Generator with CO Sentry by Pulsar, now $499.99 (reg. $599).

Opens in a new window Credit: Explorer Bear Explorer Bear 4000 Watts Portable Ultra-Quiet Dual Fuel Generator with CO Sentry by Pulsar $499.99
$599 Save $99.01 Get Deal

Planning some off-grid adventures? Whether you've got some remote plans for the summer or you just want to have backup power on hand in a pinch, the Explorer Bear 4000W is ready to handle both.

This heavy-duty yet portable generator runs on gas or propane and comes equipped with safety features to give you peace of mind — whether you're camping, prepping, or powering through an outage. And right now, it's available for $499.99 (regularly $599).

Enjoy portable power with dual fuel options

We don't know when the next power outage may hit. The Explorer Bear not only gives you peace of mind in an emergency, but also offers versatility with dual fuel options and a telescopic handle that adjusts to different lengths.

The Explorer Bear operates on both gas and propane, with an impressive 4000 peak watts on the former and 3600 peak watts on the latter. And you can even switch between the sources while it's running with the convenient control panel dial. 

Unlike many generators, this one operates quietly, measuring at just 62dB. And it comes with many built-in safeguards — like overload protection, a low oil shutdown, and short circuit protection that shields it from electrical surges and shorts. A CO safety alert system also alerts you to dangerous carbon monoxide levels.

This handy generator is powered by a 5.5HP 149cc 4-stroke high-speed engine, which makes it great for emergencies or other times when you need immediate remote power. 

Stay powered up anytime with the Explorer Bear, now just $499.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Amazon just dropped the dates of its next sale, and this time, it's for the book lovers.

The Amazon Book Sale runs from April 23 to 28, 2025. The savings will be major, offering up to 80% off of e-books, audiobooks under $8, and up to 65% off of print books. But the best news of all is that early savings are already trickling in. Right now, you can find the Amazon Kindle Scribe for $85 off and three months of Audible for $0.99.

Here's everything to know about the Amazon Book Sale.

Who can shop the Amazon Book Sale?

Unlike Prime Day, any Amazon customer can shop the sale; it's not exclusive to Prime members. The deals will be available to customers in the United States, Canada, the UK, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and South Africa.

When is the Amazon Book Sale?

Officially, the Amazon Book Sale runs from April 23 to 28.

However, the deals have already kicked off on both books and e-readers. Amazon is rolling out more deals as the sale approaches. Each day will bring new drops. For example, on April 20, you can find Wedding People by Alison Espach for 49% off.

What deals will the Amazon Book Sale offer? Credit: Amazon

In addition to all the savings on books — both print, Kindle, and audio — the Book Sale will bring discounts on subscriptions, too. Here's what to expect:

• Get three months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99 and borrow from the Kindle Unlimited catalogue of books.

• Get three months of Audible for $0.99 to enjoy audiobooks on the go.

• Get three months of Comixology Unlimited for $0.99 and enjoy over 45,000 comic books, graphic novels, and manga.

• Throughout the sale, enjoy double and triple points day with Kindle Rewards.

Early Amazon Book Sale deals to shop now

Amazon loves to pre-game its own sales with...more deals. You can find solid savings on books and devices right now. Here are all the deals you can start shopping:

• Savings on Amazon Devices: Get the Amazon Kindle Scribe for $85 off, or the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet for $35 off.

• Audiobooks under $8: Start shopping audible audiobooks for under $8. Or sign-up for three months of Audible for $0.99.

• Shop e-books up to 93% off: Shop bestsellers and editor's pick e-books up to 93% off. Get page-to-screen adaptations like Normal People: The Scripts for just $1.99.

• Shop print books up to 65% off: Explore editor-selected deals on print books, including award-winning fiction like The Leavers by Lisa Ko and acclaimed series like The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion blew many minds back in 2006, and it seems like it's getting ready to potentially do the same in 2025.

Bethesda's very popular open-world RPG, which singlehandedly sold some Xbox 360s back in the day, seems to be getting a modern remake. This has been rumored for a while, but extremely legitimate-looking screenshots leaked via the backend of developer Virtuos Studios' website on Tuesday morning. You can see some of them via Reddit and on social media, but much of the Virtuos website was seemingly closed off not long after the leak surfaced, as many of the links now go to 404 screens at the time of publishing.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 tariff impacts: What we know so far This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

For context, Virtuos is a Singapore-based studio that does a lot of support work for both original games and ports of older games to newer hardware. In other words, an Oblivion remake is the exact kind of thing Virtuos would normally work on. The most wild part is that the remake could be coming out in the very near future. Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb, who has a history of being right with these sorts of things, said on his GameBreaking News podcast on Monday that the game is shadow-dropping during the week of April 21.

So not only is this remake potentially real, but it could be in your hands as soon as next week.

SAVE $65: A refurbished Kindle Paperwhite (16GB, 11th gen) is down to $84.99 at Woot with discount code FIREFIVE. A brand-new Kindle Paperwhite with the same specs sells for $149.99 at Amazon. That's $65 off the new price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Refurbished Kindle Paperwhite (16GB, 11th gen) $84.99 at Woot
$149.99 Save $65.00 with code FIREFIVE Get Deal

We're rounding the corner into summer, and if you have plans to read poolside on vacation or on the couch with air conditioning, you'll want to pay attention to this deal.

As of April 15, a refurbished Kindle Paperwhite (16GB, 11th gen) is just $84.99 with code FIREFIVE at Woot. A new Kindle Paperwhite (16GB, 11th gen) sells for $149.99, which means the refurbished model saves you $65, or 43%.

SEE ALSO: Groceries are expensive — take up to 20% off during the Amazon Spring Grocery Sale

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is here to change your mind about e-readers. While some people feel there's nothing compared to a physical book, the Paperwhite comes pretty darn close, and if you're considering packing several books on vacation, a Kindle Paperwhite is infinitely easier to pack.

This refurbished deal at Woot gives you an 11th generation Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage. This model launched in 2021 and was replaced with the 12th gen that launched in 2024. Overall, Amazon says the newer model has a longer battery life and faster performance. However, the refurnished sale price on a slightly older model is a great option.

The 11th gen Kindle Paperwhite boasts up to 10 weeks of battery life on the 6.8-inch display. You'll be able to download and store thousands of e-books with 16GB of storage space, and the device is waterproof. All of this, including the great sale price, means you'll be set for summer vacation reading.

Grabbing a refurbished model that takes 43% off the normal price is also a great option if you're new to the world of e-readers and want to try one out at a discounted price. It's also a great deal for teens or college students.

For under $85, you can snag a refurbished Kindle Paperwhite. And since we're all a little concerned about tariffs, buying used is a great way to avoid any price hikes.

BOGO 50% OFF: As of April 15, buy one, get 50% off select Starbucks coffee at Target in-store and online.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Buy one, get 50% off select Starbucks coffee In-store and online Get Deal

What's better than a morning cup of coffee? Or a mid-afternoon cup of coffee? Or, well, an anytime cup of coffee? Few things are when you're a big caffeine fan, but trips to Starbucks can start to get expensive. When you factor in time, gas, and money for each drink, you start seeing how much money goes to satisfying your need for a vanilla frappe at 10:30 AM every day. But here's the good news: you can curb your spending a bit right now, thanks to a deal at Target.

As of April 15, buy one, get 50% off select Starbucks coffee at Target in-store and online. This deal is live through April 19, and it applies to both in-store and online purchases. Your discount will automatically be applied at checkout, and you must be a Target Circle member to qualify.

There's a ton of different options you can choose from, all pulled from Starbucks' collection of roasts and flavored coffees. Choose from Keurig cups, fresh ground coffee, cold brew concentrate, and instant packets, all available in a variety of flavors. It's a good time to stock up, especially since you're getting half off your second item.

Think of how many servings you can get for the price of making all the coffee at home yourself. And with the way the economy is, it's probably a good idea to save more money now than hopping in the car and going on a Starbies run. You can add milk and sugar and all that jazz yourself at home, too.

This week car rental company Hertz notified its users of a wide-ranging data breach that exposed some customers' personal information.

On Monday, April 14, TechCrunch reported the appearance of a Notice of Data Incident on the Hertz website. According to the notice, personal information including names, contact information, date of birth, credit card information, driver's license information, and "information related to workers' compensation claims" were potentially exposed in the data breach through an external vendor named Cleo.

Additionally, Social Security numbers, government IDs, passport information, Medicare or Medicaid IDs, and medical information from car accident claims may also have been stolen from "a very small number of individuals," said the notice.

Hertz discovered the breach on February 10, and customer data was stolen in October 2024 and December 2024.

SEE ALSO: Grubhub confirms data breach, both drivers and customers are affected

The notice did not say how many customers had their personal information exposed. However, according to a copy of the notice issued to Maine residents (published by the Office of the Maine Attorney General), the breach affected 3,409 customers in Maine alone. That means the true number of impacted individuals is likely far larger, especially considering that notices were also issued to customers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

A spokesperson for Hertz declined to share specific numbers but said "it would be inaccurate to say millions of customers are affected."

The breach came from a Hertz vendor called Cleo, which manages file-sharing platforms for the company. "On February 10, 2025, we confirmed that Hertz data was acquired by an unauthorized third party that we understand exploited zero-day vulnerabilities within Cleo’s platform in October 2024 and December 2024," read the notice. Hertz didn't provide any further specifics about the hack or hackers, but during those same months, cybersecurity firm Huntress reported "evidence of threat actors exploiting this [Cleo software]." Around that same time, ransomware group Clop claimed responsibility for data theft attacks targeting Cleo's servers.

In the notice, Hertz said it was "not aware of any misuse of personal information for fraudulent purposes in connection with the event." But it encouraged customers to "remain vigilant" of any instances of data breaches and shared resources on how to monitor account statements and credit reports, including how to place a fraud alert or credit freeze on their accounts. Some Hertz customers will also be offered "two years of identity monitoring services" free of charge.

UPDATE: Apr. 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with new information from a Hertz representative.