Mashable

TL;DR: Sterling Stock Picker combines AI insights, personalized recommendations, and a done-for-you portfolio builder to make smart investing accessible — just $55.19 with code SAVE20 through September 7.

If you’ve ever stared at a stock chart and thought, I have no idea what I’m looking at, you’re not alone. The stock market can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to investing or have been putting it off for fear of making the wrong move. But missing out on years of growth because you didn’t know where to start? That’s even scarier.

Sterling Stock Picker is a platform built to turn uncertainty into strategy. Instead of leaving you to sift through endless data, it serves up personalized stock picks, tailored to your risk tolerance, values, and financial goals. Its patent-pending North Star technology even helps you know when to buy, sell, hold, or avoid a stock — no real guesswork required.

And then there’s Finley, your AI financial coach. You can ask about your portfolio, market trends, or even basic investing terms, and get clear, actionable answers. Whether you’re chasing long-term growth, learning the ropes, or focusing on specific sectors, Finley keeps the process approachable.

You’ll also get a Done-For-You Portfolio Builder that assembles a diversified, data-backed portfolio in minutes, plus analysis tools to help you make adjustments over time. Want to dig deeper? The platform includes community forums, educational resources, and strategy breakdowns so you can learn as you go.

You don’t have to be a finance expert to start investing confidently — you just need the right tools to guide you.

Get lifetime access to Sterling Stock Picker for $55.19 (MSRP: $486) when you use code SAVE20 through September 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81 Get Deal

TL;DR: Youbooks uses multiple AI models, real-time research, and your unique style to create 300,000-word professional non-fiction books in record time — and lifetime access is just $49.

For years, publishing a professional non-fiction book meant months (if not years) of research, writing, editing, and endless rewrites. But with Youbooks, you can skip the bottlenecks and jump straight to holding a polished manuscript in your hands — crafted in your voice, backed by real-time research, and ready for the world.

Youbooks works like your behind-the-scenes dream team, combining the strengths of multiple AI models — including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama — to deliver nuanced, well-structured books up to 300,000 words long. And unlike other AI tools that spit out generic filler, Youbooks blends your ideas, uploaded research, and preferred style to create content that’s uniquely yours.

Built-in internet research pulls in the most current facts, stats, and examples, so your work is always timely and relevant. You can even upload your own transcripts, notes, or documents to ensure every chapter stays rooted in real-world insights.

Here’s what you get with lifetime access:

• 150,000 monthly credits for writing and source uploads

• Full commercial rights to publish and sell your work anywhere

• Custom tone and style settings with up to 100 stored samples

• Multiple export formats, from DOCX to EPUB, for easy publishing

• All future updates — because AI doesn’t stop evolving

Whether you’re a subject matter expert looking to cement your authority, a content creator ready to expand into books, or an entrepreneur wanting to turn insights into leads, Youbooks makes the process fast, accessible, and surprisingly fun.

Instead of staring at a blinking cursor, you could be uploading your next book to Amazon—or pitching it to a publisher.

At $49 for lifetime access to Youbooks (MSRP: $540), it’s less than what you’d spend on one good lunch meeting with an editor.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks - AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $49
$540 Save $491 Get Deal

TL;DR: Youbooks uses multiple AI models, real-time research, and your unique style to create 300,000-word professional non-fiction books in record time — and lifetime access is just $49.

For years, publishing a professional non-fiction book meant months (if not years) of research, writing, editing, and endless rewrites. But with Youbooks, you can skip the bottlenecks and jump straight to holding a polished manuscript in your hands — crafted in your voice, backed by real-time research, and ready for the world.

Youbooks works like your behind-the-scenes dream team, combining the strengths of multiple AI models — including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama — to deliver nuanced, well-structured books up to 300,000 words long. And unlike other AI tools that spit out generic filler, Youbooks blends your ideas, uploaded research, and preferred style to create content that’s uniquely yours.

Built-in internet research pulls in the most current facts, stats, and examples, so your work is always timely and relevant. You can even upload your own transcripts, notes, or documents to ensure every chapter stays rooted in real-world insights.

Here’s what you get with lifetime access:

• 150,000 monthly credits for writing and source uploads

• Full commercial rights to publish and sell your work anywhere

• Custom tone and style settings with up to 100 stored samples

• Multiple export formats, from DOCX to EPUB, for easy publishing

• All future updates — because AI doesn’t stop evolving

Whether you’re a subject matter expert looking to cement your authority, a content creator ready to expand into books, or an entrepreneur wanting to turn insights into leads, Youbooks makes the process fast, accessible, and surprisingly fun.

Instead of staring at a blinking cursor, you could be uploading your next book to Amazon—or pitching it to a publisher.

At $49 for lifetime access to Youbooks (MSRP: $540), it’s less than what you’d spend on one good lunch meeting with an editor.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks - AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $49
$540 Save $491 Get Deal

SAVE $80: As of Aug. 17, the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 at Amazon. Save $80 on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

The battle to be crowned the best earbuds is fiercely competitive, but the AirPods Pro are probably edging ahead. And that's why we absolutely love a discount of any description.

As of Aug. 17, the AirPods Pro 2 are down to just $169 at Amazon. That's a saving of 32% on list price, and only $20 shy of their best-ever price from Prime Day 2025. These earbuds do fall to $169 pretty regularly, but that doesn't mean this isn't a solid deal.

SEE ALSO: Shop Apple's most affordable iPad for its lowest price yet

We love the rich and well-balanced sound of the AirPods Pro. They also offer best-in-class noise cancellation, decent battery life (up to six hours per charge, 30 hours with case), and seamless Apple ecosystem integration. The Pros regularly top our lists of the best headphones, and our readers seem to love them just as much. "For portability, active noise cancellation, and balanced sound, your search ends with the AirPods Pro," our reviewer writes.

Get AirPods Pro 2 for $169 for a limited time.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2021 at just $49.97 (reg. $219) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

• Lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 — pay once and access it forever

• Includes must-have apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher

• Compatible with Windows — ideal for professional and personal projects

• Streamline your workflow with trusted tools for creating documents, managing data, and organizing emails

• Instant download with a product key for quick and easy setup

• No recurring costs — a single payment secures access to essential Office apps

Say goodbye to subscriptions — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for $49.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
$219.99 Save $170.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2021 at just $49.97 (reg. $219) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

• Lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 — pay once and access it forever

• Includes must-have apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher

• Compatible with Windows — ideal for professional and personal projects

• Streamline your workflow with trusted tools for creating documents, managing data, and organizing emails

• Instant download with a product key for quick and easy setup

• No recurring costs — a single payment secures access to essential Office apps

Say goodbye to subscriptions — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for $49.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
$219.99 Save $170.02 Get Deal

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, August 17, 2025:

AcrossSalsa, hummus, queso, etc.

• The answer is Dips.

U.S. state capital that rhymes with 9-Across (not 7-Across!)

• The answer is Pierre.

What broadcasters are on

• The answer is The air.

"Yes and no ..."

• The answer is Sort of.

Societal equal

• The answer is Peer.

DownJohn ___ (tractor company)

• The answer is Deere.

Boiling mad

• The answer is Irate.

"Sorry, I have a ___ commitment"

• The answer is Prior.

Laborer in medieval times

• The answer is Serf.

A touchdown is worth six: Abbr.

• The answer is Pts.

Breakfast chain typically open 24 hours a day

• The answer is IHOP.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, August 17, 2025:

AcrossSalsa, hummus, queso, etc.

• The answer is Dips.

U.S. state capital that rhymes with 9-Across (not 7-Across!)

• The answer is Pierre.

What broadcasters are on

• The answer is The air.

"Yes and no ..."

• The answer is Sort of.

Societal equal

• The answer is Peer.

DownJohn ___ (tractor company)

• The answer is Deere.

Boiling mad

• The answer is Irate.

"Sorry, I have a ___ commitment"

• The answer is Prior.

Laborer in medieval times

• The answer is Serf.

A touchdown is worth six: Abbr.

• The answer is Pts.

Breakfast chain typically open 24 hours a day

• The answer is IHOP.

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 yesterday's Mini Crossword.

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.

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for August 15, 2025 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: Assist

• Green: Teams in the Great White North

• Blue: Notable Oregon Ducks

• Purple: Misspelled golf clubs

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: Deliver The Ball to a Teammate

• Green: Canadian Teams, Minus The S

• Blue: Oregon Alumni

• Purple: Golf Clubs Minus The First Letter

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 #328 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Deliver The Ball to a Teammate - DISH, DISTRIBUTE, GIVE, PASS

• Canadian Teams, Minus The S - CANUCK, FLAME, RAPTOR, WHITECAP

• Oregon Alumni - HERBERT, IONESCU, NIX, PRITCHARD

• Golf Clubs Minus The First Letter - EDGE, RIVER, RON, UTTER

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 yesterday's Connections.

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.

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for August 15, 2025 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: Assist

• Green: Teams in the Great White North

• Blue: Notable Oregon Ducks

• Purple: Misspelled golf clubs

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: Deliver The Ball to a Teammate

• Green: Canadian Teams, Minus The S

• Blue: Oregon Alumni

• Purple: Golf Clubs Minus The First Letter

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 #328 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Deliver The Ball to a Teammate - DISH, DISTRIBUTE, GIVE, PASS

• Canadian Teams, Minus The S - CANUCK, FLAME, RAPTOR, WHITECAP

• Oregon Alumni - HERBERT, IONESCU, NIX, PRITCHARD

• Golf Clubs Minus The First Letter - EDGE, RIVER, RON, UTTER

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 yesterday's Connections.

The moon is slowly disappearing from view, and that's because of where we are in the lunar cycle. What's the lunar cycle, you ask? The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 17.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 17, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, and it is 35% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

We're on day 24 of the lunar cycle, so that means for the next few days it'll be less and less visible, until there's nothing to see at all. But for now, there's still plenty to spot on the moon's surface. With just your naked eye, catch a glimpse of the Aristarchus Plateau and the Copernicus Crater.

With binoculars, see even more, including the Grimaldi Basin and the Gassendi Crater. Telescopes truly come into their own for moon gazing, and tonight with one, you'll see the Reiner Gamma and the Schiller Crater, too.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The moon is slowly disappearing from view, and that's because of where we are in the lunar cycle. What's the lunar cycle, you ask? The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 17.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 17, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, and it is 35% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

We're on day 24 of the lunar cycle, so that means for the next few days it'll be less and less visible, until there's nothing to see at all. But for now, there's still plenty to spot on the moon's surface. With just your naked eye, catch a glimpse of the Aristarchus Plateau and the Copernicus Crater.

With binoculars, see even more, including the Grimaldi Basin and the Gassendi Crater. Telescopes truly come into their own for moon gazing, and tonight with one, you'll see the Reiner Gamma and the Schiller Crater, too.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

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

Timidly.

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

SHYLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A bush.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHRUB

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To smell.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SNIFF

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A mythical Greek creature.

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

SATYR

Final Hurdle hint

Four cups.

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

QUART

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

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

Timidly.

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

SHYLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A bush.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHRUB

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To smell.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SNIFF

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A mythical Greek creature.

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

SATYR

Final Hurdle hint

Four cups.

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

QUART

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.

Is it time for a tablet upgrade? Surely no home can do without one. Along with the smartphone and laptop, a tablet is one third of the holy trinity of must-have smart devices. Compact and sleek, a tablet is essentially a computer you can take anywhere.

Indeed, tablets aren't only about portability. Some have processing power and spec for serious work, creative tasks, and gaming. In fact, it's difficult to find your perfect tablet because there are so many options to suit a whole array of smart device needs.

Just ask yourself the necessary questions: Are you Apple or Android? Do you need Alexa? Do you need a tablet for heavy duty graphic design or casual streaming? What kind of battery life do you need? And does it need to be kid-friendly? These questions will ultimately decide which tablet works for you. To help cut through the jargon, we've put together a quick guide and selected the best tablets in 2025.

Do you need a tablet?

Sure, a tablet isn’t for everyone. It might be surplus to requirements, but they’re also super handy and productive. If you do lots of video streaming and eBook reading on the go, or you simply need a portable device for work and play, a tablet is almost certainly for you. There are other benefits too. They usually pack plenty of battery power and handle apps (of which there are thousands) at lightning speed.

What is the best tablet operating system?

It generally comes down to a choice of four — Apple, Android, Windows, or Fire. Each has its own benefits. Apple iOS — or in this case, iPadOS — is generally accepted as the slickest all-rounder, with a simple-to-use interface and syncing between devices.

Android is more customisable and is supported across various manufacturers (such as Samsung and Lenovo). Windows is designed as a cross-platform OS, which suits pretty much any device. Fire is an offshoot of Android and used on Amazon-made devices, so you'll get Alexa and other Amazon-specific features.

Smart device users tend to stick to their preferred OS — it’s a lifestyle choice as much as tech preference — so we’ve included options for each OS.

What features do tablets have?

Every model and operating system has its own spin on the user experience. Not to mention all those apps. But there a few basics that are worth bearing in mind:

• Battery Life — Tablets outstrip smartphones for battery life, but you’ll still want to make sure you get plenty of juice for your money. Look for 10 hours or more.

• Camera — Front and rear facing cameras are relatively standard on tablets and 12MP is pretty decent. Though even better cameras are available in top tablets.

• Ports — Make sure the tablet you’re buying has the ports you need. Do you have wired headphones? Then make sure there’s a headphone port (increasingly rare). Also check for USB and micro HDMI ports.

• Screen Resolution — This will be important if you’re a big time streamer or you like playing games. Tablets are generally HD — 1280 x 720 — or higher.

• Speakers — You might not buy a tablet expecting great sounds, but if streaming movies and shows is your thing, good sound is a must.

• Storage — This is important for keeping music, photos, and videos, plus offline downloads from streaming sites, such as Netflix. Around 38GB is standard for a mid-priced tablet, but they can go way over that — anything up to 1TB.

Keep these features in mind when shopping around for your next tablet.

What is the best tablet for kids?

Most tablets made specifically for kids are already equipped with parental controls. Things to keep in mind when shopping for a tablet for kids: Resolution (depending on the amount of movie watching and gaming they'll be doing), storage (kids will probably have more apps than you do), intensity of parental controls (for obvious reasons), and rugged-ness (because kids drop and break things — that's a fact of life).

What is the best tablet?

To make things easier, we've lined up a selection of the best tablets according to reviews, with popular models from top brands such as Apple and Samsung. Consider all of the options and select the device that meets your day-to-day tablet requirements.

These are the best tablets in 2025.

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

Is it time for a tablet upgrade? Surely no home can do without one. Along with the smartphone and laptop, a tablet is one third of the holy trinity of must-have smart devices. Compact and sleek, a tablet is essentially a computer you can take anywhere.

Indeed, tablets aren't only about portability. Some have processing power and spec for serious work, creative tasks, and gaming. In fact, it's difficult to find your perfect tablet because there are so many options to suit a whole array of smart device needs.

Just ask yourself the necessary questions: Are you Apple or Android? Do you need Alexa? Do you need a tablet for heavy duty graphic design or casual streaming? What kind of battery life do you need? And does it need to be kid-friendly? These questions will ultimately decide which tablet works for you. To help cut through the jargon, we've put together a quick guide and selected the best tablets in 2025.

Do you need a tablet?

Sure, a tablet isn’t for everyone. It might be surplus to requirements, but they’re also super handy and productive. If you do lots of video streaming and eBook reading on the go, or you simply need a portable device for work and play, a tablet is almost certainly for you. There are other benefits too. They usually pack plenty of battery power and handle apps (of which there are thousands) at lightning speed.

What is the best tablet operating system?

It generally comes down to a choice of four — Apple, Android, Windows, or Fire. Each has its own benefits. Apple iOS — or in this case, iPadOS — is generally accepted as the slickest all-rounder, with a simple-to-use interface and syncing between devices.

Android is more customisable and is supported across various manufacturers (such as Samsung and Lenovo). Windows is designed as a cross-platform OS, which suits pretty much any device. Fire is an offshoot of Android and used on Amazon-made devices, so you'll get Alexa and other Amazon-specific features.

Smart device users tend to stick to their preferred OS — it’s a lifestyle choice as much as tech preference — so we’ve included options for each OS.

What features do tablets have?

Every model and operating system has its own spin on the user experience. Not to mention all those apps. But there a few basics that are worth bearing in mind:

• Battery Life — Tablets outstrip smartphones for battery life, but you’ll still want to make sure you get plenty of juice for your money. Look for 10 hours or more.

• Camera — Front and rear facing cameras are relatively standard on tablets and 12MP is pretty decent. Though even better cameras are available in top tablets.

• Ports — Make sure the tablet you’re buying has the ports you need. Do you have wired headphones? Then make sure there’s a headphone port (increasingly rare). Also check for USB and micro HDMI ports.

• Screen Resolution — This will be important if you’re a big time streamer or you like playing games. Tablets are generally HD — 1280 x 720 — or higher.

• Speakers — You might not buy a tablet expecting great sounds, but if streaming movies and shows is your thing, good sound is a must.

• Storage — This is important for keeping music, photos, and videos, plus offline downloads from streaming sites, such as Netflix. Around 38GB is standard for a mid-priced tablet, but they can go way over that — anything up to 1TB.

Keep these features in mind when shopping around for your next tablet.

What is the best tablet for kids?

Most tablets made specifically for kids are already equipped with parental controls. Things to keep in mind when shopping for a tablet for kids: Resolution (depending on the amount of movie watching and gaming they'll be doing), storage (kids will probably have more apps than you do), intensity of parental controls (for obvious reasons), and rugged-ness (because kids drop and break things — that's a fact of life).

What is the best tablet?

To make things easier, we've lined up a selection of the best tablets according to reviews, with popular models from top brands such as Apple and Samsung. Consider all of the options and select the device that meets your day-to-day tablet requirements.

These are the best tablets in 2025.

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.

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for August 15, 2025 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: Results of an at-bat

• Green: Football roles

• Blue: Gaffers in England

• Purple: Last name Thomas

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: Outcomes for a Hitter

• Green: First Words of Football Positions

• Blue: Premier League Managers

• Purple: ____Thomas

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 #327 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Outcomes for a Hitter - FIELDER'S CHOICE, HIT, STRIKEOUT, WALK

• First Words of Football Positions - DEFENSIVE, RUNNING, TIGHT, WIDE

• Premier League Managers - EMERY, GUARDIOLA, HOWE, SLOT

• ____Thomas - DEMARIYUS, FRANK, GABBY, THURMAN

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 yesterday's Connections.

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.

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for August 15, 2025 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: Results of an at-bat

• Green: Football roles

• Blue: Gaffers in England

• Purple: Last name Thomas

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: Outcomes for a Hitter

• Green: First Words of Football Positions

• Blue: Premier League Managers

• Purple: ____Thomas

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 #327 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Outcomes for a Hitter - FIELDER'S CHOICE, HIT, STRIKEOUT, WALK

• First Words of Football Positions - DEFENSIVE, RUNNING, TIGHT, WIDE

• Premier League Managers - EMERY, GUARDIOLA, HOWE, SLOT

• ____Thomas - DEMARIYUS, FRANK, GABBY, THURMAN

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 yesterday's Connections.

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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 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: Within reach

• Green: Mailing essentials

• Blue: Seen on a passageway

• Purple: Found in the Constitution

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: Conveniently located

• Green: Needs for sending a letter

• Blue: Words on a door

• Purple: First Amendment freedoms

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 #799 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Conveniently located: ACCESSIBLE, CLOSE, HANDY, NEARBY

• Needs for sending a letter: ADDRESS, ENVELOPE, NAME, STAMP

• Words on a door: EXIT, OPEN, PUSH, WELCOME

• First Amendment freedoms: ASSEMBLY, PETITION, PRESS, SPEECH

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 August 4

Are you also playing NYT 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 yesterday's Connections.

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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 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: Within reach

• Green: Mailing essentials

• Blue: Seen on a passageway

• Purple: Found in the Constitution

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: Conveniently located

• Green: Needs for sending a letter

• Blue: Words on a door

• Purple: First Amendment freedoms

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 #799 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Conveniently located: ACCESSIBLE, CLOSE, HANDY, NEARBY

• Needs for sending a letter: ADDRESS, ENVELOPE, NAME, STAMP

• Words on a door: EXIT, OPEN, PUSH, WELCOME

• First Amendment freedoms: ASSEMBLY, PETITION, PRESS, SPEECH

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 August 4

Are you also playing NYT 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 yesterday's Connections.