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FREE GIFT CARD: Apple is giving away gift cards worth up to $150 in its Back To School sale when purchasing select MacBooks and iPads.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Apple Back To School Sale: Free gift card worth up to $150   Get Deal

Apple's Back To School promo is live, giving eligible students, parents, and staff the chance to score a free Apple Gift Card worth up to $150 when purchasing select MacBooks and iPads.

The offer runs from July 16 through Aug. 27, 2026, and is available in Apple Stores and online at the Apple Store for Education. To qualify, you have purchase an eligible device through one of these channels during the promotional period.

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If you buy a MacBook Pro, you'll get the highest gift card value of $150. If you buy a MacBook Air, iPad Air, or iPad Pro, these come with a $100 Apple Gift Card.

This deal is open to current and newly accepted higher education students, higher education faculty and staff, parents purchasing on behalf of college students, and eligible K-12 employees. This includes homeschool teachers, school board members, and qualifying PTA or PTO officers.

However, there are a few restrictions to note. Each eligible customer can only claim one gift card with a qualifying MacBook purchase and one with a qualifying iPad purchase during the offer period. And if you return your device, you'll also need to return the gift card, or its full value will be deducted from your refund if it has already been redeemed. And of course, you'll need to verify your education eligibility before completing your purchase.

Get this Back To School deal at Apple before Aug. 27.

We're three episodes into Silo Season 3 now, and the paranoia is real.

But while there are multiple reasons to feel permanently on edge in the silo itself, things are becoming just as nerve-wracking in the flashback timeline. Back in episode 1, Charles (Jessica Brown Findlay) thinks she's being followed when she goes to meet her brother, Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman). Now, two episodes later, we pretty much have confirmation that she was right.

So, what happens in episode 3 with Daniel's investigation into his sister's crash, and what does the mysterious gray-haired man have to do with it?

SEE ALSO: 'Silo' Season 3, episode 2's ending explained: What is Vitamin D+? When does the gray-haired man appear in Silo?

Daniel's investigation into what happened on Charles' mission takes him to a funeral of one of her fellow pilots. After speaking with the deceased pilot's father, Alameda (Joseph Balderrama), he learns that there may be a recording out there of the mission's comms. Towards the end of the conversation, two men appear on the far side of the busy room.

"That's the cap of the Nimitz," Alameda tells Daniel, before going over and shaking hands with the man in uniform.

The other gray-haired man, who is in civilian clothes, keeps glancing across at Daniel — and we've seen him before.

Where have we seen the gray-haired man before?

Eagle-eyed viewers will remember the same man appears back in episode one, when Charles is getting on the subway to meet Daniel.

She pauses just before getting on the train and sees the gray-haired man waiting on the platform. Their eyes meet. She moves down the platform and boards the train, but when she sees him in the neighbouring carriage, she panics and jumps out at the last minute. As the train passes her, she sees that he's still on board, but he doesn't look up.

Back in episode 1, it wasn't clear if Charles was just being paranoid or if she was actually being followed. Now we know the answer.

So, who is the gray-haired man?

First of all, we know who plays him: An actor named Reed Birney, who has previously had recurring roles in House of Cards and American Horror Story. In other words, the guy isn't a nobody. He's an experienced actor, which suggests his character is going to have more to do this season than just a couple of cameos.

Clearly the character isn't a nobody, either. He enters the room alongside a military captain, which suggests he's also a man of importance despite the fact he isn't wearing uniform.

So, someone who isn't in the military but who knows high-ranking members of the military? Could he be CIA or FBI? A well-connected private detective?

Time will tell, but we're guessing this won't be the last time we see his face.

Silo Season 3 is streaming now on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watched 2000s basketball.

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. The sports 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 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 before 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: World Cup entrants

• Green: Stars of the past

• Blue: Luka

• Purple: Some strings on these

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: First-Timers in 2026 in World Cup

• Green: Nicknames of 2000s Basketball Stars

• Blue: Associated with Luka Doncic

• Purple: Things That Have Strings

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 #662 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• First-Timers in 2026 in World Cup: CAPE VERDE, CURACAO, JORDAN, UZBEKISTAN

• Nicknames of 2000s Basketball Stars: AI, BIG TICKET, STARBURY, T-MAC

• Associated with Luka Doncic: 77, LAKERS, MAVERICKS, SLOVENIA

• Things That Have Strings: BOW, DEPTH CHART, LACROSSE STICK, TENNIS RACKET

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 the latest Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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 July 17, 2026

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 July 17, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 17 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 17 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 17 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

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