Blogroll

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to bake.

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 4, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 4, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Piece of cake

The words are related to pastries.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe pastry ingredients.

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 Spruced Up.

NYT Strands word list for March 4

• Candles

• Vanilla

• Flour

• Frosting

• Baking Aisle

• Cocoa

• Sugar

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a kleptomaniac.

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 4, 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 4, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Robbery.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T 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...

THEFT

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 the latest Wordle.

Guy Ritchie is back with a new adventure involving one of the world's most famous detectives. Young Sherlock, an origin story for Sherlock Holmes, premieres March 4, 2026, on Prime Video. Instead of a weekly rollout, all eight episodes will be released at once for Prime Video subscribers.

The highest court in the land has decided not to hear a case on whether AI-generated art can be copyrighted under U.S. law, as the battle over digital creation continues.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal involving an artist refused copyright for digital art created by a personal AI software. Plaintiff Stephen Thaler filed for copyright of a piece of moving digital art in 2018. The application was rejected by the U.S. Copyright Office in 2022. The office argued that the Missouri computer scientist's art was not eligible for copyright protection because it was not created by a human.

SEE ALSO: AI has made us all surveillance targets. This tool helps you fight back.

The decision preceded a 2025 report by the U.S. Copyright Office that offered further interpretation of the law and eligibility for copyright shelter, writing that "unedited outputs of generative AI tools" wouldn't qualify for protection. The report added that art facilitated by AI but "retained the centrality of human creativity" could be eligible, but not expressive elements solely determined by a machine.

The copyright of AI-generated and AI-assisted works of art remains an ongoing battle. The office has previously rejected copyright claims by artists who argue certain forms of art created with the assistance of AI tools — rather than art generated independently by AI software — should fall under the 2025 interpretation of U.S. copyright law.

Thaler has also appealed to the Supreme Court over rejected U.S. Patent and Trademark Office applications, urging the court to decide whether or not AI-generated inventions are eligible for U.S. patent protection. The Trump administration had been placing pressure on the court to deny hearing Thaler's copyright case, CNBC reports.

Thaler's lawyers expressed disappointment in the court's decision not to take the case. "Even if it later overturns the Copyright Office's test in another case, it will be too late. The Copyright Office ​will have irreversibly and negatively impacted AI development and use in the creative ​industry during ⁠critically important years."

TL;DR: Save $749 and get a like-new HP OmniBook X 14-inch (2024) for $649.99 — Snapdragon power, 16GB RAM, and up to 26 hours of battery life.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook X 14-Inch Touch Laptop 2024 (Certified Refurbished) $649.99
$1,399 Save $749.01   Get Deal

A powerful laptop doesn’t have to cost over a grand. The Grade A refurbished HP OmniBook X 14” Touch (2024) is down to $649.99 (reg. $1,399) — delivering modern performance, long battery life, and a premium feel at 53% off.

If you want something fast, portable, and built for everyday productivity, this checks the right boxes without stretching your budget.

What You’re Getting:

• Snapdragon X Elite 12-core processor for responsive, efficient performance

• 16GB LPDDR5X RAM for smooth multitasking

• 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD for fast boot times and storage space

• 14″ IPS touchscreen (2240×1400) with sharp, vibrant visuals

• Up to 26-hour battery life for long workdays and travel

• Windows 11 Home with built-in productivity and security features

• 5MP webcam + integrated mic for clear video calls

• Backlit keyboard for comfortable typing anytime

As a Grade A refurbished model, it arrives in near-mint condition with minimal cosmetic wear.

If you’ve been waiting for a practical, high-performance laptop without paying full retail, this is a smart time to upgrade. Get this like-new HP OmniBook X 14″ Touch (2024) for just $649.99 (reg. $1,399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Streaming services such as Netflix have made watching shows and movies more convenient. In some cases, however, the versions that are available on streaming services may secretly be significantly worse.

Sometimes, you just need an extra GPU. I'm not going to ask questions. Even though SLI and CrossFire are dead and buried, there are still plenty of legitimate uses for a second GPU, and in fact those use cases are growing. Unfortunately, peering through the window of your computer case you notice that your motherboard only has one PCIe slot long enough for a GPU.

The popular emulator for the Sony PlayStation Portable, PPSSPP, has just received a significant update. PPSSPP v1.20 has a new portrait mode for phones and tablets, performance improvements, full support for ARM Windows, and much more.

Taylor Sheridan’s new neo-Western television series Marshals premiered March 1 on CBS and Paramount+. The series shocked audiences right out of the gate, which I won’t spoil in case you haven't seen it yet. The newest chapter in the Yellowstone universe finds former U.S. Navy SEAL and rancher Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) stepping into an entirely new role with three things—a new outlook, a new badge, and a brand-new mission.

Sports cars in 2026 are split down the middle. Some are chasing electrification and wild aero tricks, while others stick to the old-school formula and dare you to call them outdated.

Did you know that many of the tools you use every day have free, open-source alternatives that are just as good as—or even better than—their expensive commercial counterparts?

Google Chrome already releases new major versions every four weeks, delivering new features, web APIs, bug fixes, and critical security patches. That’s now changing to every two weeks, and other Chrome-based browsers could follow suit.

March is here, and so are some new Android updates. Google is releasing several features for Android users at large, as well as the latest Pixel Drop. There are better tools for finding everything from luggage to friends, Circle to Search improvements, a highly-requested app, and much more.

Congratulations—you finally got up to actually making backups of your data. If you think it's a "run and forget" ordeal, though, you're very, very wrong.

Motion sensors are a part of many smart homes. They're very useful for common purposes, such as having your lights automatically turn on when you enter a room. Where you position them can be key to how quickly they react, and the obvious positions aren't always the best.

House Targaryen apparently isn't just satisfied with conquering our small screens. It's coming for the big screen, too.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 teaser gives fiery glimpse of the Battle of the Gullet

According to Page Six Hollywood, Warner Bros. is working on a Game of Thrones prequel film. Andor writer and House of Cards showrunner Beau Willimon is attached as screenwriter, and has reportedly already submitted a draft of the film's screenplay.

While the plot remains under wraps, Page Six reports that the film will center on King Aegon I Targaryen and his conquest of Westeros. The conquest took place nearly 300 years before Game of Thrones itself, and Aegon carried it out alongside his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys. (Even in movie form, you can't escape Targaryen incest.)

HBO has been discussing a TV show about Aegon the Conqueror since 2023. Among these discussions was the possibility of a companion feature film that would lead into the series. It's unclear yet whether Willimon's film will be acting as a similar bridge into an upcoming show, or if it will be a stand-alone.

Of course, the movie's future could be in flux due to Warner Bros.' possible sale to Paramount Skydance, as the project could be scrapped post-merger. Then again, Game of Thrones is crucial to the Warner Bros. and HBO brands, and that importance may help it come to fruition in a turbulent media landscape.

I've long been a fan of Humble Bundle, but I have never purchased as much from the site as I do now—and that has everything to do with my book-style foldable phone. If you're not sure why someone might want a phone with a large square-shaped inner screen, I firmly believe that Humble Bundle is all the reason you need.

SAVE $100: As of March 3, get the Bissell FlexClean FurForce Robot Vacuum and Mop for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's a discount of 17%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bissell FlexClean FurForce Robot Vacuum and Mop $499.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100   Get Deal

If you share your home with pets, you know how dirty things can get in a short amount of time. That's where a robot vacuum comes in. You can tackle tough stains, cut down on pet hair, and cut your cleaning schedule in half by adding one to your home. And this particular deal, which we've found at Amazon, is well worth investing in if you're a parent to some furry friends.

As of March 3, get the Bissell FlexClean FurForce Robot Vacuum and Mop for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's $100 off and a discount of 17%.

SEE ALSO: Shark's new scrubbing-centric robot vacuum finds stains with a UV light. I tested it against other top robot mops.

This robot vacuum and mop offers twice the suction than some of Bissell's other models, with up to 30% more hair pickup and a brush roll that's meant to never tangle. Plus, it uses LiDAR navigation to make a path through your home so you don't have to, all the while picking up all the fur, hair, and other dirt and debris without your input.

When you've handled all the dry messes, the robot can handle mopping on all your hard floors with its Multi-Surface Formula, then it will move to its docking station all its own to empty everything out. It holds up to 8 weeks of dirt in a bagless base, so you don't even have to get your hands dirty when it's time to tidy up the robot vacuum's space.

If you're ready to stop having to handle all of your pets' messes on your own (or just want a more efficient deep clean) this is a great place to start. Just act fast, as this is currently a Lightning Deal on Amazon.

Affordable SUVs are often built with cost savings in mind, but long-term reliability doesn’t always come with a low price tag. Yet one compact Japanese SUV has built a reputation for doing exactly that, lasting for years with minimal repairs while remaining one of the most budget-friendly options in its class. The Honda HR-V stands out as a rare example of simplicity, durability, and everyday practicality rolled into one package.

SAVE $16: The DJI Osmo Mobile 7 is on sale at Amazon for $59, down from the normal price of $75. That's a 21% discount that matches the record-low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Mobile 7 $59 at Amazon
$75 Save $16   Get Deal

DJI is a content creator's best friend. The brand makes the viral DJI Mic Mini, the super convenient Osmo Pocket 3, and even incredible portable power stations for creators. But if you're in the market for a stabilizing gimbal that'll connect to your iPhone or Android, there's a nice deal in store today at Amazon.

As of March 3, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 is on sale at Amazon for $59, marked down from the standard price of $75. That's a 21% discount that takes a nice $16 off the price. It also matches the record-low at Amazon.

Regardless of whether you're a pro content creator, just starting out, or playing around to share with family, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 could be a perfect accessory. It's compatible with both Android and iPhones and will make your content so much smoother. The three-axis gimbal uses DJI's seventh-generation stabilization tech to make sure there's no wobbling or stuttering in your video.

SEE ALSO: Beginners can capture 360° video footage in 4K with this DJI Mini 5 Pro — and it’s on sale right now

DJI equipped this model with ActiveTrack 7.0 which will follow your subjects no matter the activity. From walking around Disneyland to skiing, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 will earn its keep as a great accessory. The Osmo Mobile 7 also functions as a tripod with up to 10 hours of runtime.

Before spring content season hits, upgrade your setup with the DJI Osmo Mobile 7. Since it's sitting at the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, now is a great time to make the investment.