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SAVE $207: Score the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 for just $892.49 (regularly $1,099.99) — the lowest price yet on this RTX 4050-powered gaming beast.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS TUF Gaming F16 Gaming Laptop $892.49 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $207.50 Get Deal

If you’re after a portable gaming system that’s also an upgrade from your current PC, Amazon has dropped a major discount on a new model from one of my favourite series of laptops.

As of Aug. 4, the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 is seeing a rare price drop to $892.49 on Amazon — shaving more than $200 off its original price tag. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, that’s the lowest price for this particular model since launching this year, and considering what you’re getting under the hood, it’s a steal.

Designed to handle everything from casual sessions to competitive marathons, this 16-inch gaming laptop promised to pack a real punch. The Intel Core 5 210H processor teams up with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU (with up to 115W Max TGP) to deliver solid 1080p performance across most modern games. 

Whether you’re jumping into Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, or any of the latest hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, this system will aim to hold its ground — and do so without sounding like a jet engine, thanks to its beefy cooling setup.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: MacBooks, AirPods, and more

The 144Hz FHD+ display with 100% sRGB colour and Adaptive-Sync targets smooth, tear-free gameplay, and the 16:10 aspect ratio gives you a bit of extra vertical space — perfect for strategy games, spreadsheets, or multitasking between Discord and Steam. It’s all housed in a rugged chassis that meets MIL-STD-810H military durability standards, so it’s more than ready to survive life in a backpack.

You also get 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a speedy 512GB Gen4 SSD, WiFi 6, and Windows 11 Home out of the box. And yes, it still manages to look sleek, with a subtle embossed TUF logo — no over-the-top RGB distractions here.

However, if you want your new gaming laptop to be even more future-proofed to get more out of your investment, the F16 has the same added feature as my beloved ASUS TUF 16: upgradable RAM and storage. 

If you're looking for a reliable, capable gaming laptop under $1,000, this deal is hard to beat. Just don’t wait too long — deals like this tend to disappear fast once the price hits rock bottom.

By unscrewing the bottom panel, you’ll have access to the TUF F16’s dual RAM and SSD slots — of which you can either add an additional SSD and DDR5 RAM stick to increase your storage and memory, or replace them with whole new kits altogether.

I’d done the same last year with my older ASUS TUF A16 — swapping its base 8GB DDR4 RAM stick with twin 16GB DDR4 RAM sticks for 32GB, and I could suddenly play Metaphor: ReFantazio like it was a breeze. 

Whilst you can’t swap other components like the processor or GPU as time goes by, being able to upgrade your storage and RAM will make the ASUS F16 stay relevant in the gaming space for years to come.

If you’re more of a casual gamer or are looking more for a home office upgrade, check out our selection of best Apple deals for the week — which include bargains on MacBooks, iPads, and more. For those still wanting to build a home PC rig, too, you can grab this 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor from KOORUI for only $265.99.

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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: 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: Bugs

• Green: Large plants

• Blue: Common phrases

• Purple: Two-syllable words

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: Antrhopods

• Green: Trees

• Blue: [Letter] (is) For ___

• Purple: Words that sound like two letters

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 #785 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Antrhopods: APHID, BEETLE, MITE, TICK

• Trees: BEECH, CEDAR, PINE, YEW

• [Letter] (is) For ___: APPLE, COOKIE, EFFORT, VENDETTA

• Words that sound like two letters: DECAY, EASY, GEO, ZITI

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 today's Connections.

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Cutting it close

The words are grooming-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are types of styling tools.

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 Barbershop.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for August 4

• Clippers

• Razor

• Aftershave

• Barbershop

• Comb

• Cape

• Trimmer

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for August 4 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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Stiff.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

RIGID.

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 August 4

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.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. India (Test 5) for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's something special about a Test series involving India. You always get passionate supporters, big name players, and electric cricket.

Fans of Test cricket will have had India's tour of England circled in their calendars for some time. It doesn't get much bigger than this. With England still leading this incredible series 2-1, the attention now turns to the all-important final Test match at The Oval. And the best thing about this Test match is that anyone can watch for free with a quick and easy hack.

If you want to watch England vs. India (Test 5) for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is India's tour of England?

India's tour of England consists of five Test matches:

• England vs. India (Test 1) — June 20-24

• England vs. India (Test 2) — July 2-6

• England vs. India (Test 3) — July 10-14

• England vs. India (Test 4) — July 23-27

• England vs. India (Test 5) — July 31 to Aug. 4

The great news for fans is that it's possible to live stream every Test match without spending anything.

How to watch England vs. India (Test 5) for free

England vs. India (Test 5) is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream India's tour of England for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access (like Italy). This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream England vs. India (Test 5) by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access (like Italy)

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Live stream England vs. India (Test 5) for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming aren't free, but leading VPN providers do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you'll be able access free live streams without actually spending anything. This is a temporary fix, but it gives you enough time to stream England vs. India (Test 5) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to live stream England vs. India (Test 5), for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months of coverage for free — 61% off list price. This deal includes a year of unlimited data backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream England vs. India (Test 5) for free with ExpressVPN.

Save $234: The KOORUI 34-inch Curved Ultrawide WQHD gaming monitor is just $265.99 at Amazon (regularly $499.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: KOORUI KOORUI 34-inch Curved Ultrawide Gaming Monitor $265.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $234 Get Deal

For players wanting to invest in a decent-sized curved gaming monitor but don’t have the funds for a big brand, Amazon’s making an offer that’s almost too good to refuse. As of Aug. 4, the KOORUI 34-inch Curved Ultrawide WQHD gaming monitor is down to just $265.99 at Amazon, a very strong 47% discount from its usual $499.99 price tag. 

That’s a saving of $234, and according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it’s the lowest price this monitor has ever reached.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple deals this week: MacBooks, AirPods, and more

Based on the specs, KOORUI is offering a lot of value for your money. It’s a 34-inch, 1000R curved ultrawide screen with a resolution of 3440x1440 and a 21:9 aspect ratio. Essentially, you're being promised a cinematic, edge-to-edge viewing experience that wraps around your field of vision, whether you're grinding through long work hours or immersed in an FPS marathon.

This may not come with extra bells and whistles that the alternatives from Samsung and ASUS do, but gamers in particular should still appreciate the 165Hz refresh rate via DisplayPort (120Hz via HDMI 2.0), 1ms MPRT response time, and FreeSync Premium + G-Sync compatibility for ultra-smooth gameplay.

However, KOORUI does still throw in gaming-specific features like FPS/RTS modes, an on-screen crosshair, a timer, and a black equaliser that boosts visibility in dark scenes — which is ideal for spotting enemies before they see you. That’s great for fast-paced titles like Fortnite and Marvel Rivals.

The panel itself covers 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and hits HDR400 brightness levels, so you’re looking at accurate, vibrant colours across 16.7 million shades — so you can thrill in colourful modern titles like Monster Hunter Wilds. It’s also ergonomic, thanks to an eagle-inspired stand that offers tilt, height, and swivel adjustments, along with VESA mount support.

Whether you’re editing timelines, working across multiple windows, or deep in a battle royale, this monitor targets decent performance and aesthetics without blowing your budget.

At $265.99, it’s tough to find another ultrawide monitor with specs like this at such a low price. If you’ve been waiting to make your setup bigger, brighter, and faster — this is a prime opportunity. 

If you’re using this monitor to play on Nintendo Switch 2, the Hori Piranha Plant Camera is also still on sale at Amazon for $39.99. For more of the latest and greatest tech in general, check out our best Apple deals of the week, including iPads, AirPods, and more. 

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

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced age verification laws for online adult content, including North Dakota. In response, Pornhub has banned potential users from these locations. The situation is complicated, but the workaround is straightforward.

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

How to unblock Pornhub for free in North Dakota

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

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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

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

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in North Dakota with ExpressVPN.

Tesla is expanding its Robotaxi service area again for the second time in a week.

The company originally launched its autonomous ride-hailing service in June, open to a limited number of people and in a fairly small area in South Austin.

SEE ALSO: The 'affordable' Tesla is, in fact, the Model Y. Here's what that really means.

But Tesla has been expanding its Robotaxi coverage on a very fast track: First, it expanded the the original coverage area into a much larger, penis-shaped area over Austin. And just days ago, Tesla launched a similar, though far less autonomous, Robotaxi-named service in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Now, Tesla has expanded (via Teslarati) the geofenced area where its Robotaxis operate in Austin once more. It now covers an estimated 80 square miles, nearly matching Waymo's autonomous taxi coverage in the area.

Judging by the way other autonomous ride-hailing services have been expanding over the years — for example, Alphabet's Waymo has been around for a decade, and it added new cities and areas at a much slower pace — Tesla seems to be confident in its Robotaxis, which consist of regular Tesla Model Y vehicles. Musk recently laid out an incredibly ambitious plan to offer Robotaxis to "half the population of the U.S." by the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, Waymo has been picking up the pace in its own autonomous taxi expansion; the company recently said it would launch in Dallas in 2026.

SAVE $80: As of Aug. 4, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's $80 off their list price of $249.

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

Apple AirPods Pro 2 have been stuck at $199 for some time. That was still a $50 discount, but savvy shoppers will have remained patient. Well, the time has come to strike.

As of Aug. 4, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's $80 off their list price of $249, and only $20 off the best-ever price we saw over Prime Day. We can't say this with total confidence, but we would be surprised to see a further price drop anytime soon. $169 is generally the best price outside of major shopping events.

SEE ALSO: Ditch your Apple AirPods — score $20 off the Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds with ChatGPT

Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer stellar sound quality courtesy of the H2 chip. Whether you're looking to block out the sounds around you or stay aware of your surroundings, Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency mode are here to help you out. There's also Adaptive Audio, which works as a mix of the two features to adapt to your environment.

According to Mashable's Apple expert Stan Schroeder, the AirPods Pro 2 "sound wonderful and have almost uncanny active noise cancelation." They also claim the title of the "best earbuds for Apple users" in our roundup of the best earbuds in 2025. Need we say more?

Save $80 on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon.

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 July 31, 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: Texas squads

• Green: Baseball offense

• Blue: Footballers

• Purple: Racing branding

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: Houston teams

• Green: Hitting statistics

• Blue: NFL rookie QBs

• Purple: NASCAR Cup Series sponsors, over time

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 #315 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Houston teams - ASTROS, DASH, DYNAMO, TEXANS

• Hitting statistics - AVERAGE, HOME RUN, RBI, RUN

• NFL rookie QBs - DART, SANDERS, SHOUGH, WARD

• NASCAR Cup Series sponsors, over time - MONSTER ENERGY, NEXTEL, SPRINT, WINSTON

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is available to purchase for $299 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $299 at Amazon
Get Deal

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone so near the top of the charts of best-sellers over Prime Day. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like a drone to the head.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

The good news for anyone hoping to buy before a potential ban is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon, listed for $299 right now. It's being shipped and sold by Fly Image Tech. We don't generally recommend third-party sellers, but Fly Image Tech has a decent track record and times are tough right now. With stock running low, we'll take what we can get.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has one-tap takeoff options and a return to home function. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $300 at Amazon.

TL;DR: Pay $130 for a 1-year Costco Executive Gold Star Membership and receive a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* when you redeem online (new members only).

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco 1-Year Executive Gold Star Membership + $40 Digital Costco Shop Card $130
Get Deal

Running errands doesn’t have to feel like…running errands. At Costco, one trip can knock out groceries, tech, clothes, travel planning, and your next eye exam — all in one place.

For $130, you get a 1-year Executive Gold Star Membership — Costco’s highest tier — plus a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* after online redemption. That includes both the standard $65 membership and the $65 Executive upgrade. It’s only available to new members or those who haven’t had a membership in over 18 months, so be sure to redeem online soon (within 30 days, must be by 12/31/25 to qualify).

Here’s what makes the Executive tier smart for forward-thinkers and number-crunchers: you can earn a 2% annual reward on qualified purchases at Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel up to $1,250 per year. You also may see deeper discounts on select Costco Services**, like check printing, and certain auto perks like roadside assistance.

Stretch your budget while streamlining errands, and knocking out everyday tasks in one trip. You’ll also get a free Household Card, access to all 500+ Costco locations worldwide, and the ability to shop online or at the gas station without extra fees.

Once you redeem your membership online (required before heading to a warehouse), your $40 Costco Digital Shop Card* shows up via email within two weeks. This offer is a solid, practical membership designed for people who appreciate value and don’t mind planning ahead to get it.

Purchase a year-long Executive Gold Star Membership for $130 and get a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

*To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address and set up auto renewal of your Costco membership on a Visa® card at the time of sign-up. If you elect not to enroll in auto renewal at the time of sign-up, incentives will not be emailed.

Valid only for new members and those whose memberships (Primary and Household) have expired at least 18 months or more. Valid only for nonmembers for their first year of membership. Not valid for renewal or upgrade of an existing membership. Promotion may not be combined with any other promotion. Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed to the email address provided by the Primary Member at time of sign-up within 2 weeks to qualifying members. Digital Costco Shop Card is not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. Costco is not liable for incentives not received due to entry of an invalid address during sign-up. Digital Costco Shop Cards are not accepted at U.S. or Canada Food Court. Neither Costco Wholesale Corporation nor its affiliates are responsible for use of the card without your permission. Use the provided single-use promo code when entering your payment information. A Costco Gold Star Membership is $65 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $65 upgrade fee a year. Each membership includes one free Household Card. May be subject to sales tax. Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT and Costco Shop Cards. Departments and product selection may vary. (Note: You will see a $0.01 deduction on your membership cost after the promo code is entered. This indicates that your promo code has been successfully applied).

**Services are provided to Costco members by third parties.

TL;DR: For a limited time, you can get a Microsoft Home & Business for Mac 2021 Lifetime License + refurbished MacBook Pro (Intel i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $419.99 — no renewals, just pure productivity.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Microsoft Home & Business for Mac 2021 Lifetime License + refurbished MacBook Pro (Intel i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $419.99
$1,799 Save $1,379.01 Get Deal

There’s a special kind of peace that comes from owning your tools outright — no logins expiring, no renewal emails, no surprise charges. Just gear that works, and keeps working. That’s what this bundle delivers: a MacBook Pro refurb and a lifetime of Microsoft Office — all for $419.99 (MSRP $1,799).

Let’s start with the hardware. This is a 2020, 13.3-inch MacBook Pro in Space Gray, sporting Intel i5, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Translation: it’s fast, has room for all your stuff, and doesn’t flinch at multitasking. The Retina display is bright and color-accurate, and the Magic Keyboard and Touch Bar make it a dream to use. Bonus: it’s got four Thunderbolt 3 ports, so connectivity is covered.

This MacBook Pro is grade-A refurbished, which means it’s in near-mint condition with little to no visible wear — just professionally tested, cleaned, and ready to go. You get premium performance without the premium price tag, and it still looks great on your desk.

Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams. It’s a one-time license tied to your Microsoft account, not your device — meaning you can reinstall anytime without losing access. The best part is, you’ll actually own it. No monthly fees, ever.

Whether you’re freelancing, studying, or running your own business, this bundle sets you up with the tech you need — with no future bills sneaking up on you. Just make sure to redeem your license within seven days of purchase.

This combo of a near-mint refurbished Apple MacBook Pro and Office lifetime license is on sale for 77% off of $1,799, available for $419.99 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Sellful’s ERP Agency Plan gives you lifetime access to a white label AI business platform for $349.97 (MSRP $1,497) through September 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sellful Sellful - White Label Website Builder & Software: ERP Agency Plan (Lifetime) $349.97
$1,497 Save $1,147.03 Get Deal

Running an agency means juggling a hundred tools and hoping nothing drops. You’re bouncing between web builders, CRMs, project trackers, POS apps — and somewhere in there, you’re still trying to sleep.

Sellful says no to all that chaos. Through September 7, grab a lifetime subscription on sale for $349.97.

This is one platform that doesn’t play small. The ERP Agency Plan gives you a full white label experience — you can stamp your brand on everything. We’re talking AI website builder, CRM, marketing automations, invoicing, POS, social scheduling, memberships, courses, client portals, even HR and accounting tools. All under your label. You get 10 sites/sub accounts out of the gate, and you can scale like crazy — with no limits on contacts, users, or products.

The AI tools help you whip up websites, funnels, and emails in seconds. Appointment scheduling? Built in. Subscription billing? Yep. Community forums? Also yes. And because Sellful supports over 20 payment gateways (without taking a cut), you actually keep what you earn.

This isn’t a “jack of all trades, master of none” situation — it’s more like the Swiss Army knife of agency life, but with AI, automation, and zero fluff.

It’s available for both new and existing users, includes updates, and it works on desktop and mobile.

Take advantage of this deal on a lifetime subscription to Sellful, on sale for $349.97 (MSRP $1,497) through September 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Stop digging for your phone and get all your notifications delivered to your wrist with a refurbished Apple Watch Series 6, now for only $123.99 (reg. $399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (32GB, GPS + Cellular, 44mm) $123.99
$399 Save $275.01 Get Deal

Whether you’re keeping a closer eye on your health or just trying to save time hunting down your phone, an Apple Watch can help make everyday life a little easier.

If you’ve been in the market for one of these game-changing gadgets but don't have hundreds of dollars to spend, this refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (32GB, GPS + Cellular, 44mm) is now just $123.99 — 68% off the usual $399 price tag.

Let this Apple Watch help make life a little easier

We’ve all been there — you can hear your phone notifications buzzing away, but can’t seem to find where it’s hiding. If you want to get hours of your life back and stop searching the house for your smartphone, just connect your iPhone, and this Apple Watch will deliver all your notifications right to your wrist with a retina display that’s always on.

You don’t even have to raise your wrist; this Apple Watch Series 6 delivers your metrics right on the screen at all times. You can send and receive texts, make calls, and even check your email, all from your wrist.

Hoping to work on your fitness? This Apple Watch can help with that too, by tracking your workouts independently via GPS, with activity rings that encourage you to move more and track your progress each day, and access to Apple Fitness+ that lets you enjoy a more focused workout with help from knowledgeable trainers.

The Apple Watch Series 6 has your back when it comes to health issues, with an ECG app that alerts you to unusually high or low heart rates or irregular rhythms. Fall detection displays an on-screen prompt so you can quickly call for help if needed. And an emergency SOS option also lets you quickly call for help and alert your emergency contacts.

This particular Apple Watch Series 6 model is refurbished with a grade B rating. That means it will arrive on your doorstep with signs of light to normal wear, while you enjoy a deep discount.

Take advantage of major savings and get this Apple Watch Series 6, for just $123.99 (reg. $399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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 Monday, August 4, 2025:

AcrossKey above Caps Lock

• The answer is Tab.

Biased sports fan

• The answer is Homer.

What puts the "i" in Silicon Valley?

• The answer is Apple.

Triangular road sign

• The answer is Yield.

Items in a music library, for short

• The answer is CDs.

DownConversation subject

• The answer is Topic.

Pumped up

• The answer is Amped.

"Silver ___" (Christmas classic)

• The answer is Bells.

Farm fodder

• The answer is Hay.

Like pants in the classic Nantucket style

• The answer is Red.

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.

TL;DR: Put all your AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Leonardo.AI in one place with a lifetime subscription to 1minAI, an all-in-one AI app, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at The Mashable Shop
$234 Save $194.01 Get Deal

The free version of some AI models like ChatGPT can get the job done, but if you want the good stuff, you should consider opting for a paid subscription.  

1minAI consolidates many of the most popular AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI — into one platform where you can use them all seamlessly, whether you need to generate text, images, or even full videos. A lifetime subscription to 1minAI usually costs $234, but you can get one on sale now for $39.99. 

What can you do with 1minAI

1minAI gives you one platform where you can access AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Mistral AI, and more. You don't just get the baseline version, either — 1minAI users can chat with GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Gemini Pro 1.5, and Llama 2 or Llama 3. 

Like a ton of other AI platforms, 1minAI has a limit to how much you can generate every month. Unlike other platforms, the limit is incredibly high. Here's what your lifetime subscription gets you every month. 

First, you get a baseline of 1,000,000 credits per month. Then, every day you log in, you get an additional 15,000 free credits. These will roll over if you don't use them all, too. 

In practice, those huge numbers mean you could generate up to 362,500 words, research nearly 2,000 SEO keywords, generate 386 images, upscale 241 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert text to speech for over 120,000 characters, and generate up to 12 videos. 

Your AI Swiss Army Knife

Put all your go-to AI tools in one place. Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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

To drench.

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

DOUSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Drunk.

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

BOOZY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An objection.

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

DEMUR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A path.

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

TRAIL

Final Hurdle hint

Opposite of left.

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

RIGHT

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

We're getting closer to this month's full moon, but let's take a look at where we are in the lunar cycle first.

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, what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 4?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 4, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, the moon will be 77% lit up tonight, the 11th day of the lunar cycle.

With each night we progress through the lunar cycle, there is more visibility for us on Earth. With just your naked eye tonight, you'll be able to spot the Copernicus Crater, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Crisium.

Pull out the binoculars to see the Posidonius Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Endymion Crater. With a telescope, you can also see the Rima Arladaeus, the Descartes Highlands, and Apollo 12.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on August 9. The last full moon was on July 10.

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.

It seems OpenAI has been caught with its hands in the proverbial cookie jar. Anthropic has reportedly cut off OpenAI’s access to Anthropic’s APIs over what Anthropic is calling a terms of service breach. 

SEE ALSO: OpenAI pulls ChatGPT feature that let user chats appear in Google Search results

As reported by Wired, multiple sources claim that OpenAI has been cut off from Anthropic’s APIs. Allegedly, OpenAI was using Anthropic’s Claude Code to assist in creating and testing OpenAI’s upcoming GPT-5, which is due to release in August. 

According to these sources, OpenAI was plugging into Claude’s internal tools instead of using the chat interface. From there, they used the API to run tests against GPT-5 to check things like coding and creative writing against Claude to compare performance. OpenAI allegedly also tested safety prompts related to things like CSAM, self-harm, and defamation. This would give OpenAI data that it could then use to fine-tune GPT-5 to make it more competitive against Claude. 

Unfortunately for OpenAI, this violates Anthropic’s commercial terms of service, which ban companies from using Anthropic’s tools to build competitor AI products. 

“Customer may not and must not attempt to access the Services to build a competing product or service, including to train competing AI models or resell the Services except as expressly approved by Anthropic,” the terms read.

OpenAI responded by saying that what the company was doing was an industry standard, as all the AI companies test their models against the competing models. The company then went on to say that it respected Anthropic’s decision but expressed disappointment in having its API access shut off, especially considering that Anthropic’s access to OpenAI’s API remains open. 

A spokesperson told Wired that OpenAI’s access would be reinstated for “benchmarking and safety evaluations.”

It’s not the first time this year that Anthropic has cut off API access. In June, the company cut off Windsurf’s API access after rumors that it was being sold to OpenAI. That deal ultimately fell through, but Anthropic’s cofounder, Jared Kaplan, told TechCrunch at the time that “it would be odd for us to be selling Claude to OpenAI.”

Anthropic has also tweaked its rate limits for Claude, which will take effect in late August, with one of the reasons being that a small number of users are violating the company’s policy by sharing and reselling accounts. 

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.