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If you've ever felt that Microsoft PowerPoint has weak image-editing tools, that may finally be changing. A new update adds AI-powered editing features that let you erase objects, move subjects, upscale images, and even edit text directly inside a slide.

UPDATE: Mar. 11, 2026, 5:00 a.m. EDT This review was originally written in January 2023. Since then, I've gone from one cat to two and have added a Litter-Robot to the mix in my household. In November 2025, we switched to the ScoopFree Crystal Plus model, though it essentially functions identically to the older Legacy Pro model. This review has been refreshed to encapsulate my overall experience with the PetSafe ScoopFree series.

I have the smallest Litter-Robot, and it could easily still be a tight squeeze for many home or apartment layouts. That's not the only reason so many people are looking for a good Litter-Robot alternative. A $600 to $800 automatic litter box is hardly a casual purchase, and a lot of cats (including one of mine) are sketched out by the big enclosed rotating designs. Luckily, the PetSafe ScoopFree exists.

Litter-Robots may not be for everyone, but automated scooping definitely can be. In size and shape, the PetSafe ScoopFree is essentially like putting a self-scooping grate on the traditional rectangular litter box that your cat is already used to. Three and a half years ago, that was the sole litter box setup for my cat, Sansa. Since then, Sansa has gotten a sister named Leota, and we've expanded to a second automatic litter box. We had the Leo's Loo Too for three years, and are currently trying the Litter-Robot Evo.

Sansa wanted me to tell you that she does not vibe with those big scary litter boxes, and that I better never get rid of the ScoopFree. Leota is chill with either. As the person who has to maintain both litter boxes, I have a lot to say about the PetSafe ScoopFree experience.

This ScoopFree is a great option for limited floor space

It's abundantly clear that apartments do not design bathrooms with cat owners (who can't put the litter box in the common area) in mind. I was able to slide the ScoopFree right between my toilet and cabinets, taking advantage of the small amount of open space for my cats to sit comfortably while they do their business. (My cats don't mind having no hood, but PetSafe does make a covered version of the ScoopFree.)

Sansa was intrigued by the ScoopFree in 2023. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Sansa still chases the grate on the new ScoopFree model in 2026, and she has a sister. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

We had the PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Pro Legacy model for three years until a plastic piece of the lifting lid snapped off. Sansa messes with the lid constantly, so I think it was more her fault than it was the build quality. At any rate, we switched to the PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus, which functions identically, minus the screen that tracks scoops.

How does the PetSafe ScoopFree work?

The PetSafe ScoopFree uses motion sensors and a metal grate to keep the litter bed clear. A few minutes after your cat has finished its business, the grate slowly rakes the length of the box, pushing any solid pieces into the covered compartment. (The moving grate gets a butt wiggle and pounce out of Sansa every single time.) The compartment's cardboard lid attaches magnetically to the hood-shaped end of the litter box and lifts by itself when a new scoop is coming in. The absorbent crystal litter contains silica gel that soaks up urine and dries out droppings to prolong the stench.

Refills consist of a new cardboard tray, bagged litter, and a lid that can go on the old box. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Inserting the new tray takes seconds, and then the litter is ready to be spread. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Swapping trays is quick and easy. The only permanent piece of the litter box is the frame, attached to which are the grate and the plastic waste compartment lid. The entire bottom of the litter box is disposable, and you'll be changing it out for a new one every couple of weeks, depending on how many cats are using it. To perform the switcheroo, the ScoopFree frame needs to be lifted completely off of the old tray and set elsewhere while you place the new tray and add litter. (This is always a struggle with limited floor space, but I make it work.)

To ensure I'm getting the max number of days out of each tray, I "refresh" the current tray every few days by scooping any turds out of the compartment and any super mushy litter from the bed. To me, the recommended number of days between tray changes applies more to the cardboard's level of sogginess, which can hold up for the full month. But the ScoopFree will definitely start to smell earlier than any of the recommended tray swap windows, so I've learned to just maintain the ScoopFree based on vibes.

SEE ALSO: What is the best robot vacuum for pet hair? After testing, my cats and I chose 4 top picks for 2026 so far.

Some ScoopFree models have a screen that tallies each scoop so that you know when a tray is nearing its soil limit. The ScoopFree Crystal Plus model I have now just flashes a red light and will simply refuse to rake once the current tray has hit 50 rake cycles. Sensors in the frame scan each tray, so the ScoopFree will know when you've replaced the old one with a fresh one.

The old tray can simply be thrown away. That's super straightforward unless you're dealing with a trash chute with an arbitrarily small opening, like the one in my apartment. The monthly trashing also feels crappy if you care about the eco-friendliness of it all, which I do. More on that later.

The automatic raking isn't the fanciest, but it's still so convenient

I've gone on countless overnight, long weekend trips, and weeklong vacations in the past three years with a PetSafe ScoopFree. And let me tell you: Not having to make arrangements for litter box upkeep rocks, even if the ScoopFree may smell a little bit worse than a Litter-Robot does when you get back. Taking periodic excursions out of the equation for a sec, the ScoopFree's self-scooping is also clutch when you're home, feeling lazy, and just need to offload a chore or two. (The automatic litter box and robot vacuum combo is chef's kiss.)

While I technically have roommates who will take care of my cats while I'm away, it's always nice to sweeten the deal with, "But you won't have to scoop the litter box!" The same surely goes if you're looking for a friend to come over to cat sit, or finding a sitter on an app like Rover.

Can you use any litter in the ScoopFree litter box?

PetSafe obviously recommends that you use its branded crystal litter. That's easy enough since a bag of it comes with each tray refill. But if you have the reusable stainless steel tray like I used to, you're safe to branch out to other silica crystal litters. I always just bought whatever brand was in stock at Target.

The main thing to know is that the PetSafe ScoopFree does not work with clumping litter. Dried clumps of pee quickly get too heavy for the rake to pick up, or the clumps get stuck to the bottom of the tray. It's just a matter of time before a rake error occurs.

I had a little bit of luck with more sustainable non-clumping options like ökocat paper litter and Naturally Fresh walnut litter, but they get gross and dissolve into powder pretty quickly. Most natural non-clumping litters are pellets, which often piled up at the end of the litter box instead of falling through the grates to create an even layer.

Downsides: Light manual upkeep is needed every few days

The PetSafe ScoopFree litter box doesn't mask the smell as well as a Litter-Robot and its filter do. So while my Litter-Robot is pretty much odorless and hands off until the drawer needs to be emptied, my ScoopFree requires a light refresh every few days between tray changes to keep it from stinking.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

The blue litter mixed with pee turns green and melts down into the texture of kinetic sand. Since it's not clumping litter, the soggy dissolved crystals just sit there for the cats to step on until you scoop that area — and of course, one of my cats pees in the same exact corner every time. If I were to leave it completely untouched for the 10 to 15 days that PetSafe claims for two cats, I'd need a gas mask to enter my bathroom. This might be less of an issue if your litter box is in a basement or a room that's not used daily.

To be clear, I personally don't mind light scooping once or twice a week, even if taking the whole frame off is a little inconvenient. The automation is still so clutch for overnight or weekend trips, and it's better than scooping a traditional litter box every day.

The "disposable" aspect isn't eco-friendly and involves recurring costs

Any product banking on being "disposable" as a selling point should be concerning on sight for anyone who cares about the planet — the one that, you know, makes it possible for you to live a life with a pet in the first place. Let's also consider the animals whose habitats are being taken over by the local landfill.

It's good that the ScoopFree trays are cardboard and not plastic, which would take hundreds of years to decompose. Though I understand why the tray's shiny coating is necessary for preventing sogginess, I do question the cardboard's ability to biodegrade normally. In general, crystal litter is one of the least environmentally friendly litter types.

I felt better when I made the switch to PetSafe's stainless steel litter tray. It's $50 upfront, but you're then off the hook from buying new $25 tray refills each month. This also means that you won't be receiving the bag of litter that comes with each cardboard tray, so you'll have to buy full bags of litter every so often.

SEE ALSO: The Mill food recycling bin is the easiest indoor composter alternative, and my all-time favorite appliance

Tray refills go for $25.99 each or $74.99 for three. That $26 per month may not be a totally egregious bill for a one-cat household only using one tray per month. But it's significantly costlier than a traditional litter box setup — $26 could get you like 80 pounds of clumping clay litter. The recurring cost adds up even more for multi-cat households that require more frequent tray swaps.

Is the PetSafe ScoopFree worth it?

If a $600+ Litter-Robot isn't feasible for whatever reason, you're not sentenced to a life of daily litter box cleaning by default. I've recommended the PetSafe ScoopFree to countless people in real life who had no clue that this in-between option existed.

The PetSafe ScoopFree successfully decreases your interactions with the litter box each week. It correctly recognizes when your cat has gone to the bathroom and effectively rakes solid waste, leaving behind a clean, smoothed-over bed of crystals. However, the convenience also comes with recurring costs of pricey tray refills and way more trash than your traditional litter box ever produced. In my experience, the ScoopFree also requires light upkeep by hand every few days to divert the smell. Despite its quirks, the PetSafe ScoopFree is a worthwhile upgrade from any manual litter box.

A comet swept through the solar system carrying a strange chemical recipe — one that has astronomers taking a closer look at what kinds of worlds might form around distant stars.

Astronomers studying the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS detected two gases streaming off its icy surface: methanol, a type of alcohol molecule, and hydrogen cyanide, a compound made of hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. They spotted them using a powerful radio telescope network, called the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, in Chile.

Comets release gases in space when sunlight warms their frozen surfaces. The ice turns straight into vapor and forms a hazy cloud around the comet's head, known as a coma. By measuring the gases in that cloud, astronomers can figure out what ingredients are locked inside the comet's ancient ice.

What grabbed researchers' attention wasn't simply the gases but the balance between them. The comet appears unusually rich in methanol compared to hydrogen cyanide — one of the highest ratios astronomers have ever measured in any comet. 

That matters because comets preserve the ingredients that existed when they formed, within the same disk of gas and dust that built a system's planets. Because 3I/ATLAS formed somewhere else entirely, its chemistry offers a rare glimpse of how another planetary system differs from our own. 

SEE ALSO: NASA demonstrates humanity may be able to stop an Earth-bound asteroid

Around the sun, most comets formed where water ice dominated. But the chemistry seen in 3I/ATLAS hints that its birth environment may have favored the production or preservation of methanol-rich ice. That could mean its native region was colder or awash in stronger radiation.

Whatever the exact cause, the comet's exotic chemistry suggests planet-forming disks can create icy bodies quite different from those in our own solar system. If those ingredients diverge from star system to star system, then the starting chemistry for planets — and, therefore, for life — may vary widely across the Milky Way.

"Observing 3I/ATLAS is like taking a fingerprint from another solar system," said Nathan Roth, a professor at American University, in a statement. "The details reveal what it's made of, and it's bursting with methanol in a way we just don't usually see in comets in our own solar system."

The new research, led by Roth, was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on March 6. 

Comet 3I/ATLAS came from another part of the galaxy and was later ejected — likely by a gravitational jolt from a planet or passing star — before drifting across interstellar space for hundreds of millions of years. Scientists only know about two other interstellar visitors having passed through our cosmic neighborhood: 'Oumuamua in 2017, which turned out not to be a comet, and Comet 2I/Borisov in 2019.

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The latest find reinforces the idea that alien planetary systems may make comets with different chemical fingerprints. Earlier observations with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope showed that 3I/ATLAS' halo contains an unusually large amount of carbon dioxide compared to water — another odd trait. 

Astronomers tracked the interstellar comet for several months in 2025 as it moved toward the sun, passing just inside the orbit of Mars before beginning its long trip back out of the solar system. Because it was traveling roughly 137,000 mph when it arrived, it was far too fast for the sun's gravity to capture it. 

Forensic crime fiction queen Patricia Cornwell published her first Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel 35 years ago, so you're damn right she deserves a cameo in Scarpetta, Liz Sarnoff's new Prime Video series.

Starring Nicole Kidman as Cornwell's iconic forensic pathologist, the crime procedural show includes a moment with the author in its very first episode.

SEE ALSO: 'Scarpetta' review: Nicole Kidman leads a killer cast in Patricia Cornwell series

About 13 minutes into episode 1, when Scarpetta is being re-sworn in as Virginia's chief medical officer after taking leave, the high-ranking official performing the ceremonial swearing-in is played by none other than Cornwell.

"Great," says Kidman's Scarpetta. "Second time's the charm."

"Good luck, Dr. Scarpetta," says Cornwell, shaking her protagonist's hand.

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It's a delightful, cheeky cameo, seeing this iconic author send her own famous creation into dark events ahead — three decades after Postmortem hit shelves and introduced readers to Scarpetta for the first time.

Scarpetta is streaming on Prime Video March 11.

Cops don't tend to do well in horror movies. When a rampaging killer is on the loose, the police officer with his gun and badge is a symbol of order that will be violently toppled, just to show the sheer horrifying power of the villain. Think of Scream's often-stabbed Deputy Dewey Riley, or his slain protégé Sheriff Judy Hicks in Scream 5, or The Wicker Man's Sergeant Neil Howie, who was ultimately set ablaze by the community he came to protect. 

So, out of the gate, you can predict that the officers at the center of Shudder's Bodycam are going to have a rough night shift ahead of them. Not only are they cops in a horror movie, but also they're cops in a found-footage horror movie, a subgenre known for a very low survival rate. Yes, as you might have deduced, this movie is shot almost entirely through their bodycams, offering audiences a unique perspective on horror. However, while you might predict how this scary movie will end, you won't guess at the wild twists along the way. 

Bodycam has a folk-horror story in an urban setting. 

Written by Ryan Christensen and Brandon Christensen, and helmed by the latter, Bodycam begins on what seems an average nightly patrol with Officer Jackson (Jamie M. Callica) and Officer Bryce (Sean Rogerson). Called to a rundown house over a domestic disturbance, ominous signs pile up fast. Sure, they notice the folks who seem mesmerized, lingering outside the house, staring up at the sky. But the cops shrug them off as "tweakers," pushing past them to a front door left ajar, through which a swarm of rats flees into the night. 

A woman's bloodcurdling scream draws them inside, where they split up. Their investigations swiftly push them out of their comfort zones. What they find in this house is bloody and discombobulating. When one of them fires on a civilian, the fear comes faster than regret. Will they try to cover it up? Will they try to make amends? One bad split-second decision pulls them both into a downward spiral of suspense and supernatural weirdness. 

From a genre perspective, the Christensens frame the film within a folk-horror structure. Like The Wicker Man, Bodycam centers on a representative of law and order. Within this context, the cops are meant to be rational, rejecting the folklore and superstitions of simple country folk. But Jackson and Bryce don't need to travel to a country village for that experience. It's their own city, their own beat, but not their world. And their position of power can't protect them from the evil here. As they investigate the bizarre paranormal activity that follows them out of the strange house, they discover the so-called tweakers understand something they don't. 

They seek advice from Jackson's mother, a sage Black woman who speaks of community, sneers at his uniform, and warns of getting in over his head. Within this reinterpretation of folk horror, Bodycam becomes a clever investigation into the horror that can unfold when police officers become disconnected from the communities they're meant to serve. Rather than a story of us versus them, Bodycam plays as a warning about such division. But on top of that, it's a gnarly romp. 

Bodycam is a twisted sprint of a horror-thriller. 

While this found-footage movie touches on big topics like police brutality, its 75-minute runtime means there's no time to linger. Shot not just in bodycams, but presented as a one-night shift gone wrong quick, we're locked to their every step from that first call over the radio. The Christensens shrewdly scripted Bodycam so that the movie veers from one jolting sequence to another, keeping us off-balance like the officers. Like them, we might wish to make sense of the strange graffitied symbols that follow them, or the cryptic words mumbled by strangers with piercing stares. But as in The Blair Witch Project, the protagonists can't think straight while running for their lives through terrain that — while once familiar — has become a mindfuck of a labyrinth. So, be warned, this is not a paranormal mystery with answers, just plenty of thrills and scares. 

The actual horror in the film is solid stuff. Setting the tone are the strange folk, smeared with blood, shuffling to an unknown purpose. Occasionally, there's a jump scare involving a distorted face (think The Ring) or a freaky figure with distended limbs. But what makes these elements creepier is the use of bodycams. 

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While I worried at first that the bodycams might make for a barrage of blurry shots (think the shaky-cam aesthetic of The Hunger Games), Brandon Christensen is meticulous in the staging of certain scenes. With the cameras positioned at the center of his protagonists' chests, often the footage from one captures the other's expression. Or perhaps a mirror catches the wearer's face as he's chided by his mother. This slightly low angle also reflects the characters' initial sense of superiority over those around them. But as the film progresses, the angle shifts to suggest a break in their relationship. In one scene, Jackson is practically on the ground as his camera captures Bryce firing on a civilian. This much lower angle, showing Bryce's arm fully extended, his face locked into focus as he fires, creates a sense of dread and intimidation. These two are no longer on the same footing on what it means to be a cop. This lower angle suggests Bryce is the scariest thing in this room. 

Then there's the sense of spontaneity the bodycam concept gives this film. Because every turn could reveal a 360 of their surroundings, Christensen can't shoot on a three-walled set. Instead, the whole environment should be film-ready so as not to break the immersion. And that urges the audience on some level to be aware of what might lurk just out of frame. Like Michael Myers hiding in the shadows of a closet, there's the possibility that a new horror is just out of sight. Sometimes, as the officers run, you'll get a flash of a figure, unclear yet unnerving. Other times, all we can see is what's directly ahead of the officer. With a gun extended with one hand and a flashlight in the other, his point of view is reminiscent of first-person shooter games, enhancing the viewer's awareness that while he has a weapon, he too is a target. 

All this makes for a horror movie that's exhilarating to watch, and thrilling to reflect on. The dynamic style the film is shot in makes it easy to get caught up in the ride along with Jackson and Bryce, especially as their patrol goes off the rails into paranormal peril. Their mission is to unravel the mystery of what plagues them before it's too late. But Bodycam's quest is not just to chill — which it does — but to challenge its audience to consider the real horror behind all its clever devices and satisfying scares. That makes this more than just a devilishly entertaining found-footage movie. Bodycam is a wickedly smart horror film that gives you goosebumps that sink into your bloodstream and rattle your brain. 

Bodycam comes to Shudder on March 13. 

How's your sleep? Not getting enough of it? That's why the National Sleep Foundation has its annual Sleep Week, to remind people just how important sleep is to our overall well-being. Contemporary life can leave us sedentary and constantly staring at screens, which doesn't create the best conditions for sleeping well.

For most of us, getting a good night's sleep requires a little bit of effort. Luckily, there is a whole market of products designed to help you get a better night's sleep. Some of it is a fad, but some of it truly works. So in honor of Sleep Week, here are products that actually help you achieve a better night's sleep.

A smarter alarm clock: Loftie alarm clock Loftie Alarm Clock $169.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Lead shopping reporter, Bethany Allard, is a big fan of the Loftie alarm clock. Once you set it up, there's no need to keep your phone in the bedroom as it serves as an alarm and a sound machine. The alarm has a two-fold system, first delivering a wakeup tone, gently stirring you out of sleep, followed by a get-up tone, signaling that it's time to get up. Loftie alarm clocks also feature a built-in Bluetooth speaker, bed signal alarm, and a built-in nightlight.

Read our full review of the Loftie Alarm Clock.

An alarm clock that simulates the sun: Hatch Restore 3 Hatch Restore 3 $144.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $25   Shop Now at Amazon

Like Loftie, Hatch's Restore 3 gently wakes you up in the morning, but it also soothes you to sleep. Setup for the Hatch Restore 3 happens in the Hatch smartphone app, where you create a routine that starts in the evening with a wind-down routine and then eases you into the new day with a gentle wakeup routine. The built-in light even emulates the rising sun, ideal if you're waking up before the sun actually rises. Plus, it comes with a fun array of wakeup and wind-down sounds, but keep in mind, to gain full access to the Hatch library, you need a premium subscription.

Lighting to unwind: Red light bulb Opens in a new window Credit: Gamma Light Therapy Gamma Light Therapy Red Light Bulb $29.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: GE GE LED+ Color Changing Light Bulbs $12.19 at Amazon
$13.49 Save $1.30   Shop Now

You've incorporated red light into your skincare, so why not your bedtime routine? While the studies on the effects of red light in a bedtime routine are somewhat limited, evening red light exposure may help stimulate melatonin production, leading to a better night's sleep. A red light bulb is a cheap and easy thing to incorporate into your bedroom, creating a dim, relaxing mood that signals to your brain that it's time to sleep.

Gamma Light Therapy's red light bulb is designed as a sleep aid, but a smart bulb like GE's LED+ bulb features a red light setting in addition to warm and cool white light, so you don't always need the ambient evening lighting.

A sleep tracker: Oura Ring + Whoop Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring $349
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Whoop Whoop 5.0/MG $239 at Amazon
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If you're trying to optimize your sleep to no avail, it's time to get some actual data. We have a full guide to the best sleep trackers, but our two favorites are the Oura Ring and Whoop 5.0/MG. Both track your health biometrics around the clock, plus you'll get special sleep insights.

After weeks of tracking, the Whoop learns your preferred wake and sleep times, eventually suggesting your ideal bedtime and wake time. Plus, the Whoop acts as an alarm, gently buzzing when it's time to wake up.

Meanwhile, the Oura ring tracks your sleep, eventually categorizing your chronotype. That chronotype then provides an optimal sleep schedule so you're not fighting against your own circadian rhythm.

Both the Oura ring and Whoop are strong sleep trackers; which one is right for you is just a matter of whether you prefer wearing a ring or a band.

Read our full review of the Oura Ring 4.

Keeping out the noise: Loop earplugs Loop Dream Earplugs $49.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Whether you're sharing a bed with Snorlax, have noisy neighbors, or just need to block out the noise, earplugs might be the meaningful difference between a good and bad night's sleep. Loop makes our favorite earplugs — the Mashable team has even worn them to see Beyoncé.

Loop's Dream earplugs are designed for overnight comfort, so even side sleepers won't feel them as they doze off. Each pair comes with two types of ear tips: the standard Dream foam silicone ear tips plus the Dream double tips, so you can play around with the level of noise reduction you need.

Read our full review of Loop earplugs.

Headphones you can sleep in: Sleep A30 earbuds Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds $199.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore

If you like to listen to music or a guided meditation while you sleep, but the person you're sharing a bed with doesn't, it's time to get a pair of sleep earbuds. The best pair we've tested is the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds, which, like the Loops Dream earbuds, are designed for optimal comfort while sleeping. But these are more than just earplugs. The Soundcore Sleep A30 have active noise cancellation to block out noise, plus come with built-in soundscapes including AI audio brainwave, snore masking, white noise, Calm app sleep stories, and Calm app meditations.

Read our full review of the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds.

A luxury bed setup: Eight Sleep Pod 5 Opens in a new window Credit: Eight Sleep Eight Sleep Pod 5 $2,999 at Eight Sleep
  Shop Now

Sometimes sleep requires a serious investment. If you want a high-tech sleep device, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 might be the answer. The Pod 5 is a mattress cover that is attached to a hub. Throughout the night, it regulates its temperature so you never get overheated (or too cold). But beyond temperature regulation, Eight Sleep has an extensive app, tracking all your sleep metrics for thorough insights into your health. It's an extremely pricey system, costing $2,999, but for those struggling to sleep well, it could crack the code to a good night's sleep.

Read our full review of the Eight Sleep Pod 5.

Physical media are having a bit of a revival as I write this, as old and new generations discover the weaknesses in the streaming model. Shows and movies become available nowhere, and digital platforms offer no way to truly own and control the media you care about.

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 count up.

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

TALLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Healthy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

HARDY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

It's in our mouths.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 11 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TOOTH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A shadow.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

UMBRA

Final Hurdle hint

Used to groom nails.

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

FILER

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.

You can get pretty much anything with a tap and swipe of your smartphone: Movies, songs, takeaway, the entire range of products at Amazon. So why shouldn't you get a date in the same way? Yes, this is the age of on-demand apps and instant gratification. It's nothing new for the romantically inclined. Apps and websites have dominated the dating world for the best part of 20 years. But things are always changing within online dating.

According to the sex-perts at Lovehoney — everyone’s favourite progressively-minded sex toy brand — we're living in horny-but-wholesome times. Lovehoney has named 2026 "The Year of Pleasure."

That doesn’t mean one-night stands and flippant flings. According to research, one-night stands are on the decline. Would-be daters are now looking for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections". All of which means, hookups with actual substance. We're still hooking up, but we're getting more selective. That’s why using the right dating app is so important. Every dating app has something slightly different to offer, and you need the tools to find someone you actually want to share your time (and more) with. Getting a date might be as easy as tapping your phone, but it has to be the right date. To help you get started, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.

What to know before you swipe

Before you start downloading apps, it’s good know just how to approach online dating. Our advice is to be 100 percent up-front about who and what you’re looking for. And maybe give a pass to the mainstream dating apps that are more about romance and happily ever afters (that means you, eharmony). The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe. But most importantly, it's best to stick to apps which are purpose-built for hookups, casual fun, and satisfying your kink (whatever that might be). It can be freeing, not to mention productive, to be open about specific desires. The ways in which we understand sex and relationships are changing all the time — just looking at fast-growing "heteroflexible" sexuality — and hookup apps allow you to explore curiosities with no judgement or social anxiety.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, whether it's the chance to explore a new sexual frontier, a friends-with-benefits situation on the reg, or an old school one-night stand (the one-night stand might be going out of fashion, but it’s still hella fun as long as it’s safe and on your terms). Whatever you're after, we’ve got your back with this guide on the best hookups apps, which is based on Mashable’s own real-world testing, expert input, and general experience. We’ve broken down each of the best hookup apps, with an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.

These are the best hookup apps for 2026.

Giving critical feedback can help people grow—but only when it’s handled with care. If your criticism crosses the line and feels like an attack, it can backfire, shutting people down instead of helping them improve. Use the following practices to keep feedback constructive and focused on learning.  Set clear guardrails for criticism. Define what feedback should never do. Make […]

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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love to level up.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 11, 2026 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: To pilfer

• Green: Take it up a notch

• Blue: Same shape

• Purple: Ways to address someone

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Steal

• Green: Make nicer, with "Up"

• Blue: Kinds of cones

• Purple: Pronoun homophones

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 #1003 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Steal: LIFT, PALM, PINCH, POCKET

• Make nicer, with "Up": DRESS, JAZZ, SPIFF, SPRUCE

• Kinds of cones: ICE CREAM, PINE, SNOW, TRAFFIC

• Pronoun homophones: HEE, MI, OUI, YEW

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 March 11, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're overprotective.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 11, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 11, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Survival mode

The words are related to protection.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe protection mechanisms.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Defenses

NYT Strands word list for March 11

• Agility

• Distraction

• Mimicry

• Defenses

• Camouflage

• Armor

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you still have your childhood toy.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 11, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 11, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A stuffed animal.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter D appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TEDDY

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.

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 yesterday's Wordle.

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

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 11, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 11, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 11 Pips

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

Number (9): Everything in this red space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this orange space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 11 Pips

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 11 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy for people who watch the best division in the NFL.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFC best

• Green: Advanced baseball stat

• Blue: Hockey GOATs

• Purple: Belts

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: NFC West Teams

• Green: "WHIP" In Baseball

• Blue: Hockey Hall of Famers

• Purple: ___Best

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 #534 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• NFC West Teams - ARIZONA, LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE

• "WHIP" In Baseball - HITS, INNING, PITCHED, WALKS

• Hockey Hall of Famers - BOSSY, IGINLA, ORR, ST. LOUIS

• ___Best - BLACK, BRANDON, SUN, TITLE

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

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

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

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

Anyone who's seen Netflix’s award-winning series Adolescence will have heard the word "manosphere" — and most people using the internet in recent years will have encountered it.

The term refers to an online subculture in which so called "alpha males" — think Andrew Tate and the like — preach a life philosophy that espouses traditional, outdated, misogynistic versions of masculinity like dominance, emotional stoicism and the subjugation of women.

In Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, the legendary documentary-maker submerges himself in this murky world, spending time with influencers while trying to get to the bottom of where their world view comes from.

The question is, how successful is he?

SEE ALSO: How to help your son navigate the manosphere What's Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere about?

"I coach boys how to be fucking boys. How to make money, how to be outside the system, how to not have a boss telling you what to do. I teach guys to be proper guys."

This is how Harrison Sullivan (known online as HS Tikky Tokky) responds when Theroux ask him what his core message is. The remainder of the feature-length documentary essentially unpacks this sentiment, examining how influencers like Sullivan come to hold their views, how they make their money, and the type of impact their content has on the fans that consume it.

To do this, Theroux spends time with Sullivan and a number of similar influencers, jumping between livestreamed nights out in Spain and tours of flashy apartments in Miami. He speaks to a friend of the Tate brothers, Justin Waller, and the host of controversial Fresh and Fit podcast, Myron Gaines, both of whom espouse a "one-way monogamy" in which they're allowed to sleep with other people while their partners can't. Theroux also spends time with formerly banned YouTuber Sneako, who's morphed from the manosphere to far-right politics and pushing conspiracy theories.

"If I'd just done good things, I would never have really blown up on social media in the first place." - Harrison Sullivan

Theroux's interviews expose a number of similarities between the influencers he meets: They all share extreme views, they're anti-feminist, and — crucially — they've all found a way to profit from sharing these views online.

Inside the Manosphere exposes the contradictions, and the money

With half a million people in his Telegram group, Sullivan is able to drive fans towards the profiles of OnlyFans creators and financial apps, both of which provide him with a revenue source. Throughout the documentary, though, his disdain for OnlyFans creators is clear. When Theroux asks him if it's a contradiction to be profiting from OnlyFans creators while also denigrating them, Sullivan is unapologetic.

"I openly say I don't give a fuck, and I'm doing it for money," he says.

Gaines' relationship with OnlyFans creators is shown as similar; he frequently has them as guests on his podcast, while also doing his best to publicly humiliate them.

Waller, meanwhile, has a similar business model to Sullivan's financial apps. As we see in the film, he promotes subscriptions to a self-described "online university" created by the Tate brothers called The Real World, where people pay $49 a month for access — and Waller gets a cut.

Justin Waller is one of several prominent manosphere influencers that Theroux interviews. Credit: Netflix

The documentary makes it clear that while these various influencers may hold the views that they preach, their primary motivation is financial — and Sullivan in particular says he's happy to make money even if the means goes against his own philosophy.

"Why not try and be a good person?" Theroux asks him at one point, in one of the documentary's most interesting exchanges. "Why not try and uplift people, rather than pandering to their worst impulses?"

Sullivan seems to genuinely spend a moment thinking about it. "It's a good question," he says eventually. "If I'd just done good things, I would never have really blown up on social media in the first place."

Is there a danger of giving these people a bigger platform?

Manosphere influencers aren't the first controversial group that Louis Theroux has spent time with. He's previously made shows on the homophobic Westerboro Baptist Church, and in 2022 he made a programme in which he spent time with far-right influencer Nick Fuentes. There's sometimes a tension in his work when it comes to featuring figures like this: Does giving them air time actually raise their profiles, and therefore their influence? Is it possible that in spending time with them, Theroux is doing more harm than good?

This is a question that comes up in the documentary itself, in Theroux's final meeting with Sullivan and his mother, Elaine. She puts it to the documentarian directly: "If you don't agree with what Harrison is doing, then why are you making money off of it on a program by publicising it?"

She may have a point. But in the case of the manosphere, you could also argue that the problem is already out there. And even if Theroux's documentary risks giving Sullivan more attention, it also does a solid job of exposing what he and his peers are really about: profiting from their followers.

Rather than coming across as some kind of revolutionary philosophy that will help uplift struggling young men, the manosphere depicted in Theroux's documentary seems more like a multi-level marketing scheme. Influencers portray themselves as having made it so they can build a following, which then allows them to monetise the people they claim they're trying to help.

Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is streaming now on Netflix.

SAVE $1,150: The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $849, down from the list price of $1,999. That's a 58% discount and just just a few dollars more than the all-time low price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix F2000 $849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150   Get Deal

Now that we've gone over the hurdle of losing an hour of sleep, it's all eyes on summer fun. If you like to the spend the warmer weather outside camping, you've heard about the benefits of a portable power station. These let you stay online and connected to power while camping off-grid. If you could use a hefty model, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of March 10, the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $849, marked down from the standard price of $1,999. That's a 58% discount that takes a massive $1,150 off. It's just a few dollars more than the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Packing in 2,048Wh and an ergonomic design you can roll around the campground, the Anker Solix F2000 will be able to power up your outdoor adventure needs. Pack along the air fryer, string lights, the portable speaker, and more, knowing you'll be able to keep it all powered up.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C1000 power station is over $300 off at Amazon — buy now for $428.99

Anker mentions the 2,000Wh will keep an air fryer on for almost two hours or a projector going for over 24. Of course, you'll also be able to keep phones charged up thanks to the three USB-C ports. You can recharge the Solix F2000 with up to 1000W of solar power which will be perfect for warm-weather camping.

While it's on sale for a near-record low, upgrade your next outdoor adventure with the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station. It's less than half price right now at Amazon, but this sale might disappear as quickly as the best campsites, so hop to it.

Recently, I've seen a huge number of people promoting apps on forums. These are apps that they've vibe coded themselves, and that they're trying to monetize. There are so many reasons why you shouldn't pay for these apps.

SAVE $400: As of March 10, get the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV for $999.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,399.99. That's a discount of 29%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400   Get Deal

There are few entertainment-related things that a huge TV can't fix. A new big screen TV is always a good idea, whether you're getting one to watch movies on, play games, or enjoy your favorite shows with. And if you're looking to save some cash on a new display, this TCL pick is your best bet in terms of value right now.

As of March 10, get the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV for $999.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,399.99. That's $400 off and a discount of 29%.

SEE ALSO: The Sony 65-inch Bravia XR8B OLED 4K TV is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $200

TCL's T7 series, which this model belongs to, is all about giving you plenty of screen size as well as a swath of features and options for less cash. This particular model offers a quantum dot display, a 144Hz refresh rate, an AI processor, and support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+.

You don't need to attach a streaming device to get started watching either, thanks to the TV's Google TV integration. That'll let you watch all your favorite shows and movies straight from the TV itself. And if you'd rather use it for gaming, you're covered here too, with Auto Game Mode, Game Accelerator 288, and more to handle input lag and latency.

If all this sounds good and you're ready for a significant TV upgrade, don't sit on your hands and wait for this deal to pass you by. Snag it now and live large with your entertainment.

Not even the in-game currencies for your favorite battle royale shooter games are immune from the current global economic conditions.

Fortnite, the massively popular online free-to-play game, announced on Tuesday that it was increasing the prices for its in-game currency V-Bucks.

"The cost of running Fortnite has gone up a lot and we’re raising prices to help pay the bills," developer Epic Games shared in a statement posted on Fortnite's website.

Currently, $8.99 buys gamers 1,000 V-Bucks. Starting on March 19, $8.99 will only buy gamers 800 V-Bucks. 

Those price changes will also go into effect across the board on that date. Here's how prices will change:

• The $22.99 V-Bucks pack will come with 2,400 V-Bucks instead of the current amount of 2,800

• The $36.99 pack will come with 4,500 V-Bucks instead of 5,000

• The $89.99 pack will come with 12,500 V-Bucks instead of 13,500

While technically, the V-Bucks packs are staying at the usual price, the packs will come with fewer V-Bucks. If Fortnite fans are looking to buy exact amount packs, then they will see a more accurate depiction of the price increases, as the $0.50 for 50 V-bucks is going up to $0.99 per 50 V-bucks. Players will end up spending more.

However, that's not the only price change coming to Fortnite.

Fortnite Crew, the game's monthly subscription membership, will remain priced at $11.99 per month. However, instead of receiving 1,000 V-Bucks per month with the reward, members will only receive 800 V-Bucks per month going forward.

There's also some price drops coming to all four of Fortnite's season passes. 

Fortnite's OG Pass will drop in price from 1,000 V-Bucks to 800 V-Bucks. The game's Music Pass and LEGO Pass will also be reduced from 1,400 V-Bucks to 1,200 V-Bucks.

As for the most popular season pass, Fortnite's Battle Pass, it too will drop in price from 1,000 V-Bucks per season to 800 V-Bucks. 

However, there is a negative change here as well. Epic is also altering the amount of V-Bucks you can earn with the Battle Pass. By playing the game, completing quests, gaining XP, and leveling up, gamers could've earned 1,000 V-Bucks plus 500 more V-Bucks with Bonus Rewards. Going forward, only 800 V-Bucks could be earned by completing the Battle Pass. That's in total. Fortnite is also doing away with the Bonus Rewards V-Bucks.

So, while Fortnite gamers could still purchase a single Battle Pass and use their V-Bucks earnings to redeem the next season's Battle Pass in perpetuity, there won't be any leftover V-Bucks to use on skins or other items in the Fortnite shop under these changes.

The game's Battle Bundle, which includes the Battle Pass and a 25-level upgrade, will be changing in price too, going from 2,800 V-Bucks to 2,600 V-Bucks.

It's important to note that in-game items in the Fortnite shop do not change gameplay whatsoever. Skins, emotes, back bling, wraps, and other items are all solely cosmetic in nature and do not play a factor in the actual gameplay.

What happens if you have a Fortnite gift card? Epic Games says that users with existing gift cards can continue to redeem them at the rate printed on the card.