Mashable

TL;DR: Smart parents know screen time doesn’t have to mean overstimulation or guilt. Pok Pok offers Montessori-inspired, offline educational play for just $47.99 (MSRP $250) for lifetime access.

We are parenting in very tricky times. You don’t just hand over a screen and hope for the best. You think about what your child is engaging with — and how it shapes their development.

That’s why Pok Pok is the kind of app parents in the know choose.

For a one-time payment of $47.99 (MSRP $250) through Nov. 2 with code PLAY, you can give your child access to Pok Pok’s Montessori-inspired digital playroom.

It’s ad-free, calming, beautifully designed, and built to support kids’ cognitive, social, and emotional development — all while giving you peace of mind.

Pok Pok isn’t a “keep them quiet” app. It’s a thoughtfully crafted digital toy box designed by parents and early childhood experts for kids aged 2–8. It turns screens into a place of exploration, not distraction.

• Montessori-inspired: Hands-on, self-paced, curiosity-driven play that sparks creativity.

• Grows with your child: Open-ended toys offer new layers of discovery as kids get older.

• Calm and beautiful: Hand-drawn art and gentle soundscapes create a stress-free environment.

• Offline and ad-free: No pop-ups, no upsells, no sneaky tactics.

• Culturally inclusive: A diverse world that reflects real families.

• Regular updates: New toys and seasonal content keep it fresh.

This isn’t passive entertainment — it’s meaningful engagement.

Kids naturally explore, create, and problem-solve without needing levels, menus, or instructions. And when it’s time to stop? No tantrums. Seriously.

Get lifetime access to Pok Pok while it’s on sale for just $47.99 (MSRP $250) with code PLAY through Nov. 2.

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OpenAI recently launched Instant Checkout in ChatGPT, giving the AI chatbot the ability to both recommend and purchase products for users.

In the world Sam Altman and OpenAI imagine, ChatGPT acts as your personal shopper, travel planner, secretary, life coach, and tutor. And Instant Checkout brings us one step closer to that vision. But whether you realize it or not, those shopping recommendations are being cribbed straight from shopping journalists, product reviewers, and vloggers. Take away those human voices, and ChatGPT will be left with nothing but its hallucinations.

In the world of agentic AI and large-language models, human voices are becoming more important, not less. Yet those human voice are in danger of being drowned out entirely.

As one of those human voices (I'm a long-time journalist and product reviewer), I obviously stand to lose if people turn to ChatGPT over traditional media. But I don't think ChatGPT users realize just how much the chatbot depends on journalists, authors, and human creators of all kinds.

Instant Checkout is a coup for OpenAI

The Instant Checkout feature is a smart move by OpenAI. The inability of agentic AI tools to actually add items to your cart and purchase them has been a major limitation. Rumor has it, Amazon isn't thrilled about the prospect of rival AI bots replacing actual human shoppers. It would certainly threaten Amazon's lucrative advertising business, as brands pay billions each year to appear at the top of Amazon search results. Take away the human visitors, and you take away those ad dollars.

Yet by working directly with Shopify merchants for Instant Checkout, OpenAI has done an end-run around Amazon and other retailers. It's quite the coup for the company, and soon ChatGPT will be able to make purchases from 1 million merchants, without users ever leaving ChatGPT.

Since ChatGPT can't test a pair of headphones, set up a robot vacuum, or compare the taste of two espresso machines, how does it decide which product to recommend?

The same way ChatGPT knows anything — by scraping vast amounts of data from the internet.

The process is invisible to the end user, but LLMs like ChatGPT are trained on countless product reviews, YouTube video transcripts, and human-written content — including content from Mashable. To win the AI arms race, AI companies are ingesting all the content they can find, and they're doing this precisely because human-created content is so valuable.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

This copyrighted content is taken without permission or payment. In any other context, we call that stealing. And you don't steal something unless it has value.

AI companies are chipping away at the foundation of the internet economy

There's a catch-22 built into the AI industry. Chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT are taking away the clicks, views, revenue, and advertising that publishers, journalists, YouTube creators, and other experts depend on. By laying claim to the sum of human knowledge and scraping the internet in the process, the AI industry is chipping away at the very foundation of the internet economy. If ChatGPT and Google can steal and summarize every single article published on sites like Mashable, then users never need to leave ChatGPT and visit our site. Already, many indie publishers and blogs are dying as the web changes. The Columbia Journalism Review calls it the Traffic Apocalypse.

But here's the catch: If the AI industry removes the incentive for real humans and journalists to publish new content online, then eventually the chatbots will run out of content for training. You may enjoy turning to ChatGPT for product recommendations or recipes, but those recommendations only have value if ChatGPT can keep absorbing the latest recipe blogs, cookbooks, and YouTube cooking videos.

So, how will AI chatbots provide answers in a post-human information economy? We have some idea.

Elon Musk has made it very clear that he believes X and Grok users can replace traditional journalism altogether. He's working on a Grokpedia right now. Instead of getting news from human journalists, with all their imperfections, Grok will simply scrape X to see what's happening in the world.

Meanwhile, Google is investing heavily in a partnership with Reddit. Reddit's visibility in Google Search has increased dramatically, and clearly, Google thinks Reddit will be a valuable source of training data for Gemini and AI Overviews.

Let's be clear: A world in which X and Reddit users are the primary source of information is a world on a direct collision course with the Idiocracy timeline — and I say that as a user of both platforms.

The irreplaceable power of human connection

No matter what the techno-utopians in Silicon Valley might think, there's still no replacement for actual human experience.

Already, we're seeing the limits of chatbots when they can't simply scrape the answer from human sources. During the Charlie Kirk shooting, AI chatbots struggled to provide answers to the most basic questions — like, "Is Charlie Kirk alive?" — and it's easy to see why. The event was so new that LLMs couldn't accurately predict the answers to users' questions.

We'll see the same problem when a new product launches. After the iPhone 17 Pro launch, reviewers and customers quickly discovered that the new aluminum body of the phone was extremely prone to scratching — exactly the kind of first-hand experience you need when making a purchasing decision.

Vivek Shah, the CEO of Mashable publisher Ziff Davis, recently tackled this topic in an appearance on the Channel media podcast. He summarized how many journalists feel about the AI era, when every word you write can (and almost certainly will be) taken by a chatbot.

"I think in the end, as humans, we read, we listen, we watch, at least in the context of content and media," Shah said. "And I still think we prefer words and sounds and videos from humans. Do I think that the robots will eat into some of that? I do. I think the real question is when do we crave a human voice?"

Shah added, "But I think that if the robot distillation takes away voice and tone and narrative and sources and all the things that I think make human-created content great, I think you’re going to want to go and dig in deeper."

And what about topics that demand in-depth investigation? AI chatbots can't interview sources. They can't contact experts. They can't call bullshit. They can only scrape, predict, and summarize, with a healthy side serving of ego stroking. That's a valuable skillset, no doubt, but it's also a very limited one.

The goal of most apps is simple — to keep your attention on the app for as long as possible (hence, the ego stroking).

And ChatGPT is very good at holding your attention. But as AI chatbots take on a larger role in society, don't forget to step outside the ecosystem.

It's worth remembering that ChatGPT depends on journalists and reviewers to answer your questions — and sites like Mashable depend on you.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2019 Home & Business for Mac for the one-time payment of $39.97 (MSRP $229) through Oct. 19.

In reality, not everyone needs the newest AI bells and whistles to write a report, crunch some numbers, or put together a clean, killer presentation. If all you really want is a reliable, full-featured version of Microsoft Office that won’t keep charging you monthly, this deal is your guy.

You can get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for just $39.97 (MSRP $229) through Oct. 19. It’s a one-time purchase that gives you lifetime access to the essential suite of Microsoft apps.

This version of Office has been optimized for modern Macs, with Retina display support, full-screen view, scroll bounce, and a refreshed interface. It includes everything most people actually use daily:

• Word 2019 – the classic word processor for everything from essays to business reports

• Excel 2019 – spreadsheets, charts, pivot tables, and all the core formulas you know and love

• PowerPoint 2019 – create clean, professional presentations

• Outlook 2019 – reliable email and calendar tools for staying organized

• OneNote 2019 – your digital notebook for work or personal projects

• Teams Classic 2019 – collaborate easily when you need to

This license connects to your Microsoft Account (not your device), and you’ll get instant delivery and download once you purchase.

Pick up this MS Office 2019 for Mac lifetime license while it’s just $39.97 (MSRP $229) through Oct. 19.

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TL;DR: Secure your online life with a digital vault thanks to this lifetime subscription to the My-Legacy Bronze Plan, now just $49.99 (reg. $350).

Our lives are almost fully digital now. But what happens to all of your accounts if something were to happen to you? If you want to make sure your most important data will be taken care of and passed on to your loved ones, My-Legacy can help.

This AI-powered service makes it easy to safeguard your digital footprint, and a lifetime subscription to the bronze plan can currently be yours for just $49.99 (reg. $350).

Make sure your most important digital information is safe after you’re gone

Don’t leave your loved ones to desperately guess all your passwords in a difficult moment. My-Legacy lets you secure all of your important online information in a digital vault, making access to accounts, assets, documents, passwords, and more much easier for your family.

This lifetime subscription to the My-Legacy Bronze Plan gives you 50 assets and 5GB of secure storage. You’ll have an Emergency Binder, which you can think of as a digital bank locker, that your family can access when needed — but it will be kept locked until a minimum quorum agrees to open it.

Aside from storing your important assets like files and online accounts, you’ll also be able to create your own Time Capsule. This allows you to preserve your personal stories, wisdom, and final wishes for your loved ones to cherish when you’re gone.

You can also create legal documents with My-Legacy. Leave your will, medical power of attorney, guardianship, and social media will in the vault, so you can make sure everything is done as you would wish.

Join over 50,000 users resting easy with a lifetime subscription to the My-Legacy Bronze Plan, on sale now for $49.99 (reg. $350).

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Happy Wednesday and 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 October 4, 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 October 4, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 8 Pips

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

Number (11): Everything in this light blue space must add to 11. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 8 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (18): Everything in this space must add to 18. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 8 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this purple space must add to 11. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (11): Everything in this purple space must add to 11. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this green space must add to 11. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition features a letter used in multiple sports.

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.

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

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.

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

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: Head honcho

• Green: The first pick

• Blue: Defunct teams

• Purple: Defining "C"

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: Leader of a Team

• Green: NFL Draft No. 1 Picks

• Blue: Former MLB Team Names

• Purple: What "C" Might Mean

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 #380 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Leader of a Team - COACH, GAFFER, MANAGER, SKIPPER

• NFL Draft No. 1 Picks - GCARR, COUCH, LUCK, MANNING

• Former MLB Team Names - BROWNS, EXPOS, PILOTS, SENATORS

• What "C" Might Mean - CAPTAIN, CATCHER, CELTICS, CENTER

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're a music fanatic.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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.

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

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: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 8, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Top-notch

• Green: Heard on Guitar Hero

• Blue: Wall coloring

• Purple: Slept on

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

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

• Yellow: Finest

• Green: Rock music subgenres

• Blue: Paint finishes

• Purple: Kinds of beds

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 #851 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Finest: BEST, CREAM, ELITE SELECT

• Rock music subgenres: ALTERNATIVE, ARENA, CLASSIC, GARAGE

• Paint finishes: EGGSHELL, GLOSS, MATTE, PEARL

• Kinds of beds: FLOWER, NAIL, OYSTER, RIVER

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 29, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are important for concerts.

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.

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you have a good ear.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 29, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Now, hear this!

The words are related to live shows.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe types of audio.

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 Soundcheck.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 8

• Feedback

• Midrange

• Bass

• Soundcheck

• Reverb

• Volume

• Treble

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.

Today's NYT Wordle answer has one quality that sometimes trips players up.

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 October 8, 2025 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To irritate.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter N appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

ANNOY

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 8, 2025

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

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 Wordle.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025:

Across___ of personality

• The answer is Cult.

Spelling Bee rank achieved by getting 70% of total points

• The answer is Genius.

THC-infused gummy, e.g.

• The answer is Edible.

Grid with numbers

• The answer is Matrix.

Harvest

• The answer is Reap.

DownMoth-repellent wood

• The answer is Cedar.

Join together

• The answer is Untie.

Zodiac sign before Scorpio

• The answer is Libra.

Flower that caused the world's first economic bubble in the 1630s

• The answer is Tulip.

Rock on a band

• The answer is Gem.

It sells, in an old maxim

• The answer is Sex.

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

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

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

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

This year has felt nothing like normal for countless reasons. But one thing is always reliable: Amazon Prime Day events. Several times a year, Amazon consistently shows up with some staple discounts that we've come to rely on.

Maybe there's some methodology to the classic Prime Day discounts, or maybe it's just throwing darts at a board, but we all save regardless.

And as a Prime Day veteran, I can assure you the 2025 October Prime Day deals are wild, and in a good way. Amazon clearly understood that we could all use something nice while dealing with life these days. October Prime Day has record-low prices on portable power stations, Ninja appliances, Kindles, TVs, outdoor gear, and even Lego Advent calendars. Mashable is busy tracking all the latest drops live, of course. But if you're in the mood to shop some tried and true deals, here are some staples that tend to show up for each and every Prime Day sale.

Apple AirTags Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (4-pack) $64.99
$99 Save $34.01 Get Deal

Initially marked down to $67.99, Amazon went even lower, and you can now pick up a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for just $64.99. Whether you use these Bluetooth trackers to keep track of your personal belongings or your toddler, it's time to restock.

Crest 3D WhiteStrips Opens in a new window Credit: Crest Crest 3D WhiteStrips teeth whitening treatment $27.86 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $22.13 Get Deal

My teeth definitely aren't whiter than they were in 2019, when I started covering Prime Day. At least I quit smoking.

Coleman camping tents Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Sundome Camping Tent $84.99
$117.99 Save $33 Get Deal

As sure as the sun rises in the sky, Coleman will mark down their four-person tents to under $85 during an Amazon sale. This Prime Day is no exception.

LifeStraw emergency water filters Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Peak Series Personal Water Filter Straw $18.70
$24.95 Save $6.25 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Straw $9.45 at Amazon
$17.49 Save $8.04 Get Deal

In keeping with the outdoor theme, LifeStraw also has big discounts across the board come Prime Day. Their deals start cheap — for less than $10, you can grab their original personal water filter. And for a little bit more, their updated Peak Series straw is on sale for $18.

Kindles Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (ad-supported) $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

Of course, Amazon marks down its own products for big shopping events, and Prime Day brings the best Kindle prices of the year. These e-readers typically go on sale but twice a year (Black Friday is your other chance to save), so don't miss your chance.

Apple AirPods Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $119 at Amazon
$179 Save $60 Get Deal

For at least the last couple of years, Amazon has used Black Friday and Prime Day as an excuse to drop the AirPods Pro down to a new record-low price. But they're being stingy during October Prime Day. Instead, snag the AirPods 4 for $119.

Bissell Little Green Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Bissell Little Green $99.99 at Amazon
$123.59 Save $23.60 Get Deal

The upholstery cleaning powerhouse otherwise known as the Bissell Little Green can be found on sale year-round, but reliably, Prime Day brings it down to a decent, if not always fantastic, price point. Still, getting cleaner carpets for less than full price never hurts.

Echo speakers Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop $24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Amazon Echo speakers provide the cheapest entry fee for smart speaker life. Just like with Kindles, Amazon doesn't miss a chance to mark them down during the big sale — the cheapest one you can grab is the Echo Pop at just $24.99.

SEE ALSO: Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Which Alexa speaker should you buy during Prime Day 2025? Therabody massage guns Opens in a new window Credit: Therabody Theragun Mini (2nd Gen) $149.99
$199.99 Save $50 Get Deal

The massage gun craze has died down considerably since COVID times, when we were all really bored and really stressed. But these percussion massagers are still beloved by athletes, and they're still classic Prime Day deals. The sale price of $149.99 matches the record low that we haven't seen since the spring.

Reusable water bottles Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Rambler 42 Ounce Tumbler $31.50 at Amazon
$45 Save $13.50 Get Deal

Hydration is in big time in 2025. Maybe because it's something we can actually control? Whatever the reason, water is good for us and the Yeti Rambler Straw Mug is a great option from one of the top outdoors and camping brands.

Awesome Lego sets Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar $31.49 at Amazon
$44.49 Save $13.00 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Classic Creative Brick Box $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00 Get Deal

The best-selling Lego sets for Prime Day 2025? The seasonal Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar and the classic Lego Brick Box are both on a major discount. Of course, you can find tons more Lego sets on sale this time of year, as per always.

Pro tip: Don't sleep on Walmart's Lego deals!

Cheap Beats headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 Headphones $129.95
$199.95 Save $70 Get Deal

Look, we love AirPods, but do you really have $429 to spare on AirPods Max headphones? For Prime Day, you can count on Beats and Amazon to deliver deals on noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds for about or under $100.

Instant Pots Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Pro Crisp (8-quart) $229.95 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $40.04 Get Deal

Instant Pots may not really have the cultural cachet of a few years ago, but they're still a mainstay on the Prime Day deals page. This Pro Crisp model is a hybrid, serving as both a pressure cooker and an air fryer.

UltimateEars speakers Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $66.49 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $33.50 Get Deal

These tiny speakers are the best Bluetooth speakers under $100, even at full price, but Prime Day often brings them to a much, much lower price point. This year, you can grab them for as low as $66.49.

Philips Hue Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit $89.99 at Amazon
$142.99 Save $53.00 Get Deal

Philips Hue color-changing bulbs may not be cheap, but they definitely set a vibe. Prime Day is an excellent time to find them on sale — this bundle in particular gets you two bulbs and a Hue Bridge, so you can unlock these bulbs' full functionality.

Anker chargers Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Laptop Power Bank $89.99 at Amazon
$134.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

Prime Day just wouldn't be the same without Anker marking down essentially its entire product line. The brand is especially known for its chargers, which can power up multiple devices at once with impressive speed. If you want to go all out, this power bank can charge up to four devices at once and includes its own retractable cables.

Bose headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra $329 at Amazon
$429 Save $100 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort $229 at Amazon
$349 Save $120 Get Deal

Bose's flagship QuietComfort Ultra are included in Prime Day this year and so are the more affordable Bose QuietComfort. In either case, you'll be in great shape for holiday travel with the ability to drown out the noise.

DeWalt drills Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver $149
$259 Save $110 Get Deal

If you've always wanted to be handy around the house, then you need the proper tools. And DeWalt deals are always popular on Prime Day.

Cheap Fire TVs Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 40-inch Class F40 Series Fire TV $94.97
$149.99 Save $55.02 Get Deal

Somehow, in the tariff era, TV prices keep getting lower. Why should TVs prove to be so immune to tariffs? Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. This year, you can even grab a 40-inch smart Fire TV from Insignia for just $95.

Samsung's The Frame Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung The Frame TV (55 inch) $797.96 at Amazon
$1,497.99 Save $700.03 Get Deal

Prime Day is full of cheap TV deals, but if you're interested in a more elevated experience, Samsung's The Frame TVs double as artwork when you're not binging horror films. The Frame TVs are notorious for costing thousands, but you can save a massive 47% by shopping during October Prime Day.

A fancy espresso machine Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine $549.95
$749.95 Save $200 Get Deal

This is a newcomer in the category, but for the last few years, Breville's brushed stainless steel espresso machines have always gotten a sizable discount for Prime Day and Black Friday. With dark winter mornings ahead, now is a great time to buy a reason to stop hitting the snooze button.

Flagship Roborock robot vacuums Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock roborock Saros 10R $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $400 Get Deal

This is less so one product we see year over year, thanks to how often new robot vacuums hit the market year after year. Still, that paves the way for Prime Day to serve as the debut of many first-time discounts, including this one on the Roborock Saros 10R, Mashable's newly crowned best robot vacuum.

Samsonite luggage sets Opens in a new window Credit: Samsonite Samsonite Omni 2 hardside luggage set (2 piece) $195.50 at Amazon
$409.79 Save $214.29 Get Deal

You never realize how expensive good luggage is until it comes time to replace yours. Conveniently timed just ahead of holiday travel, Samsonite typically offers solid discounts on its luggage for Prime Day — like this two-piece Omni 2 hardside set. Usually $410, it's down to just $195.50, saving you over 50%.

Dyson products Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Origin $399.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $150 Get Deal

We all know Dyson isn't known for its affordability. If you've been eyeing a Dyson gadget, whether it's a new vacuum or the fancy Dyson Airwrap, there's a good chance you'll see it on sale during Prime Day. The brand is a Prime Day staple year after year.

Fitbit trackers Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Versa 4 $132.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $67 Get Deal

Fitbit fitness trackers and smartwatches always get big price drops this time of year. If you like the sound of deeply discounted Fitbits, then it's always a good idea to wait until Prime Day, when you can score one for up to 38% off.

Free offers from Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: kindle unlimited Kindle Unlimited $0
3-Month Free Trial Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited $0
4-Month Free Trial Get Deal

Amazon tries to tempt Prime Day shoppers with extended free trials on its most popular services, including Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, and Kindle Unlimited. Just don't forget to make a calendar event to remind you to cancel the subscription before the free period expires!