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The animatronic nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza has become legend in the trailer for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.

Director Emma Tammi is back with a sequel to her 2023 film (the highest grossing horror film of that year, and Blumhouse's best opening weekend ever). Based on Scott Cawthon's game series, the film sees the cursed, animatronic-filled lair of a pizzeria a sort of dark tourism spot, with the tale of the first film inspiring the first ever Fazfest. What could possibly go wrong?

Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail are back as former Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza security guard Mike and cop Vanessa, who survived the first film and haven't quite told Mike's sister Abby (Piper Rubio) what really went down with haunted animatronic fiends Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. Trying to reach her friends on the radio, Abby hears the creepy voices Mike and Vanessa thought long defeated. Yep, they're baaaaaack.

Matthew Lillard reprises his role from the first film, with his Scream co-star Skeet Ulrich joining for the sequel (Billy and Stu reunited!). Theodus Crane is also back, with new cast additions including Jurassic Park/Seinfeld legend Wayne Knight, Shadow and Bone's Freddy Carter, and Annabelle Comes Home's Mckenna Grace.

Here's how to watch the first Five Nights at Freddy's film, but just know Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Five Nights At Freddy's gets so bogged down in a soggy plotline about dream theory, guilt, and child custody that it forgets to be entertaining." Maybe the sequel will be better?

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 hits cinemas Dec. 2.

Today, Google announced a new AI shopping feature that can suggest outfits and home decor ideas, plus connect users with products that look similar to its recommendations. The feature will be available to U.S. users within the Google AI Mode search experience this fall.

The feature is an expansion of Google's "Vision Match" tool, which previously only worked on singular garments. Users could describe a piece of clothing in Search, and the feature would generate images of the garment based on the prompt before finding shoppable items that resembled it. Now, Vision Match will soon be able to devise entire outfit suggestions and room design ideas.

Tag yourself, I'm "Boho Chic Gardenista." Credit: Google / Mashable composite

"Our Vision Match technology will generate a range of visual options for your query and use the 50 billion products in the Shopping Graph to show product listings or visual matches we think you’ll like," said Danielle Buckley, Google's Director of Product, Consumer Shopping, in a company blog post.

SEE ALSO: I tried Google's new 'Try it on' AI shopping tool. I'm equally impressed and mortified.

Interior design, in particular, is already a popular use case for AI image generation; dedicated tools like VisualizeAI and RoomsGPT exist for that specific purpose. Unlike those tools, Google's Vision Match won't be able to produce ideas based on uploaded images — just text prompts. But its real-life buying recommendations should streamline the process of turning a concept into reality. (Notably, Vision Match's new capabilities will also be completely free to use.)

The news comes alongside Google's formal launch of the Clueless-esque "try it on" tool it first announced at Google I/O in May. (It's now available to all U.S. users on mobile and desktop.) To use it, simply tap the "try it on" icon on Google's product listings for shirts, pants, or dresses and upload a full-length photo of yourself. Google's AI will then show you how the garment might look on you. Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth was "equally impressed and mortified" by its results when he tested the beta version of the tool this spring.

Google's "try it on" feature turns you into a virtual mannequin. Credit: Google / Mashable composite

Google has also timed its Vision Match upgrade with a useful update to its price alerts feature. U.S. users can now pick their preferred size, color, and/or budget when they start tracking a product's price. (Waiting to buy some Puma Ballet Speedcats until they're at least 20% off? Google can flag you when the moment strikes.)

Google's price alerts tool makes it easer to snag good deals on products you're coveting. Credit: Google

"The Shopping Graph has products and prices from all across the web — so we’ll let you know when there’s an offer that meets your criteria," Buckley wrote in the blog post. "No more constantly checking to see if that bag you’re eyeing is finally at the right price for you or forgetting to come back to a product you loved!"

SAVE $272: Get the 2023 Apple Mac Studio (Renewed Premium, M2 Max chip) for $899 — its lowest price ever on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2023 Apple Mac Studio with M2 Max $899 at Amazon
$1,171.14 Save $272.14 Get Deal

As of July 24, the Apple Mac Studio (2023, Renewed Premium) with the M2 Max chip is down to $899 — that's 23% off its usual $1,171.14 price, and the lowest it's ever been according to camelcamelcamel.

If you’ve been holding out for a powerful Mac desktop that won’t empty your wallet, this is a major budget-friendly opportunity. This renewed premium model offers flagship-level specs at a mid-tier price — perfect for creatives, developers, or home office professionals who want top-tier performance without the brand-new price tag.

Inside its small yet powerful build, this desktop packs Apple’s M2 Max chip with a 12-core CPU and a 30-core GPU — more than enough to chew through 4K video edits, 3D rendering, and intensive multitasking. According to Apple’s own performance benchmarks, the M2 Max delivers up to 1.8x faster CPU performance and 3.6x faster GPU performance than the old 27-inch iMac — a huge leap for any professional setup.

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

You also get 32GB of unified memory, a 512GB SSD, and a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning tasks like AI model training or intelligent photo processing. And while it’s powerful, it still keeps Apple’s signature compact form factor — the Mac Studio fits cleanly on any desk without the usual bulk of a workstation tower.

Part of the reason that this deal is so good is its “Renewed Premium” status, meaning the unit — although previously used — has been professionally inspected, cleaned, and comes with a full year of Amazon’s satisfaction guarantee. It’s basically the closest you’ll get to “like new,” with none of the risk.

This is a limited-time deal and a rare chance to snag pro-level Apple hardware at entry-level Mac pricing. 

You can also get a refurbished MacBook Air at 60% off. And for everything else, take a browse through the best Apple deals this week for bargains on AirPods, iPads, and more.

TL;DR summary:

• Galaxy AI on the S25 and S25 Ultra adds an intelligence layer to everyday tasks like photo cleanup, multitasking, and morning briefings.

• Functions like Seamless actions across apps[1], Now Brief[2], and multimodal voice search take the friction out of your day-to-day phone use.

• It’s simple to get started exploring these features — just open your usual apps, and let Galaxy AI[3] work its magic.

When most people think of smartphone AI tools, their minds jump straight to fancy photo-editing tricks. And while, yes, Galaxy AI delivers those capabilities in spades, the real magic is in the everyday minutiae.

Galaxy AI infuses seamless smarts into your daily routine: things like perfecting the meme you’re sending your sister, streamlining your news updates when you want to skip the daily doomscroll, and pulling up specific photos from years ago in a snap.

With the Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra, all these little tasks are just a little bit smoother — and quite a bit smarter compared to other Galaxy handsets. Here’s how Galaxy AI changes the way your phone helps you through the day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Galaxy AI on the S25 and S25 Ultra Harness the power of AI to streamline your everyday phone operations Learn More One-step results with Seamless action across apps

Seamless actions across apps on the S25 Series allows you to become the ultimate multitasker. Let’s say you’re watching a clip of a live concert online, and you want to know if the artist is playing at a venue near you in person sometime soon. Instead of opening a browser, searching for tour dates, copying the info, and setting an alert to buy tickets, you can simply ask: “Who is this band, and are they playing somewhere near me in the next six months?” 

On the Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra, Seamless action across apps lets you instantly search for tour dates — and even send a text to your crew of concert-going pals to gauge who’s in. It can also populate reminders on your calendar to check for ticket sales at a later date.

In another moment, you might come across a video of your favourite foodie influencer making what looks like a killer noodle dish. You want to try it out, so you could ask: “Find the viral ‘chili garlic udon’ recipe, add the ingredients to my shopping list, and block time on Thursday night for me to make it.” Seamless action across apps can surface the recipe, check your Notes or Shopping app, add what you need, and drop a calendar reminder in place.

Your phone, but better at mornings

Nobody wants to start their day in a state of information overload, but in our day and age, waking up to a wall of notifications has become the norm.

Galaxy AI allows you to skip the noise and start the day with the info that matters most using Now Brief and Now Bar features that create a personalised summary of the stuff that’s actually worthy of your attention — the day’s weather, your upcoming calendar items, and a quick summary of the most important news updates. 

Now Brief and Now Bar curate this information and deliver it in one streamlined view, which is a lot less stressful than piecing together the day’s most important events and to-do items across ten different apps. Better yet, Now Brief and Now Bar are fully customisable: simply tap 'Content to include' to select the information you want to see.

When it’s time to wind down for the day, Now Brief2 can summarise your evening schedule, give you a snapshot of health metrics — like how many steps you took throughout the day, with even greater insights if you have the Galaxy Ring — and offer suggestions for relaxing music or podcasts to nod off to.

To set up Now Brief, navigate to Settings >Galaxy AI>Now Brief, tap Content to include, and select your preferred content categories. Here, you can also enable Expand Now Brief without unlocking. 

To access Now Brief after set-up, swipe down from the top of the lock screen to reveal the Now Bar, then tap the Now Brief card to expand it. Alternatively, tap the Now Brief widget on the Home screen, or open it via the Edge panel.

To set up Now Bar, head to Settings>Lock screen and AOD>Now bar >View more, and toggle on the items (e.g. Clock, Samsung Health, Maps). To interact, wake the screen, swipe up the bar on the lock screen, and tap or long-press.

Give your phone commands in plain language

You know that moment when you're trying to show someone a photo and end up swiping through a chaotic scramble of screenshots and memes from three years ago? 

Galaxy AI spares you the scroll with multimodal search in the Gallery[2]. Multimodal search lets you say what you’re looking for in simple, human language. For instance: “Find that epic sunset photo from my 2019 trip to Santorini,” or “Show me pictures of Ava’s birthday party with the cake shaped like a dinosaur.” Multimodal search filters by both visuals and context, so you can actually find what you’re after without the thumb workout.

Multimodal voice control works in Settings2, too. So the next time you need to make your device’s text larger or turn on dark mode, you can just ask. To ensure Multimodal voice control is switched on, go to Settings>Accessibility>Interaction & dexterity>Voice Access, toggle it on, allow the required permissions and 'Start Listening' button, and optionally assign a shortcut (e.g., Side button or Volume Up) for quick activation. To use the feature in Gallery, open Gallery and navigate to your photos, then long-press the side button (or use your Voice Access shortcut) and begin speaking your commands.

Instant video edits without the manual editing

Creating short, snappy videos on your phone used to mean scrubbing through lengthy clips and making dozens of decisions about where to trim or how to time transitions. The Auto Trim feature on the S25 and S25 Ultra handles this for you by identifying key moments in your footage and stitching them into a clean, shareable clip. If you’re filming your kid’s school concert, for example, Auto Trim can pull out the highlights and skip the shaky parts.

Access Auto Trim by opening the Gallery app, tapping the hamburger menu to access Go to Studio>Start New Project, and select the video you want to edit. Then, tap the scissors icon to activate Auto Trim options and generate highlight clips.

Audio, too, gets an upgrade on these devices. If you need to quiet down the background in a crowded space, Audio Eraser[4] offers a useful quick fix. Audio Eraser lets you strip out noise from video recordings — so the conversation, music, or narration is actually what people hear. 

Play around with Audio Eraser by opening your video in Gallery, tapping Edit (pencil icon)>Audio (speaker icon)>Audio Eraser, then selecting noise types (Voice, Crowd, Music, etc.) or auto removal. Tap 'Apply edits' and then 'Save a copy' to generate your optimised video.

Crisper, cleaner content at your fingertips

Galaxy AI’s ProScaler[5] feature on S25 Ultra helps elevate the content you capture. If a shot comes out a little soft or just underwhelming, ProScaler uses real-time AI upscaling to enhance detail and boost overall clarity without you needing to reshoot or edit. Whether it’s a quick selfie or a filmed moment at a concert, your multimedia comes out looking crisp and polished, ready to post or share straight from the Gallery — no need to touch up manually or run through a third-party app.

ProScaler is a default feature that operates behind the scenes of S25+ and S25 Ultra devices, so long as you’re using QHD+ resolution — so there’s no need to activate it manually. To ensure your display is in QHD+ mode, open Settings>Display>Screen resolution, and select QHD+.

AI that just works

That level of unobtrusiveness is probably the best part of these Galaxy AI features. You don’t need to open a dedicated app or learn a new system. The features are tucked inside the tools you already use: your Gallery, your camera, the apps you rely on every day, and even your settings.

With Galaxy AI on the S25 series, Samsung isn't just adding 'AI' for the buzzword. These tools are genuinely helpful upgrades to how you use your devices on a daily basis — and that’s the kind of smart tech that actually earns its name.

Discover the newly released Samsung Galaxy Foldables Z Fold7 and Z Flip7.

[1] Compatible with select languages only. Google account login and network connection required.

[2] Samsung account login and network connection required.

[3] Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.

[4] Samsung account login required. Six types of sound can be detected; voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise. Results may vary depending on audio source & condition of the video.

[5] Supported on Galaxy S25+ and Ultra. Image quality can be enhanced up to QHD+, depending on the screen resolution setting of the device.

If you’re wondering what Galaxy AI[1] actually does, here’s the short answer: It’s Samsung’s intelligence layer baked into the Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra — and it’s designed to help you accomplish more with less effort.

These features streamline things that used to take five steps and three different apps into fewer, context-aware interactions. (For example: turning your shaky 20-minute concert video into a Reel-worthy highlight — without rage-quitting your editing app.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra with Galaxy AI Do more in less time with Samsung's onboard AI Learn More

Here’s a breakdown of what Galaxy AI can do and how its most impressive features work.

Built-in tools for fast content capture

From removing distracting objects to perfecting dynamic lighting, Galaxy AI makes your phone’s camera feel like a professional photo assistant in your pocket. 

Credit: Samsung

Better yet, many of these tools are woven directly into the user experience, quietly improving your shots behind the scenes — no need to fiddle around with third-party apps and filters.

.features-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; } .features-table th, .features-table td { padding: 16px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; } .features-table th { background-color: #f2f2f2; font-weight: bold; } /* Responsive styling */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .features-table, .features-table thead, .features-table tbody, .features-table th, .features-table td, .features-table tr { display: block; width: 100%; } .features-table thead { display: none; } .features-table tr { margin-bottom: 20px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } .features-table td { border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; position: relative; padding-left: 50%; box-sizing: border-box; } .features-table td::before { content: attr(data-label); position: absolute; left: 16px; top: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap; } .features-table td:last-child { border-bottom: none; } } Feature What it does How it helps Generative Edit2 Lets you resize or remove elements from your photo, using AI to seamlessly rebuild the image. Fine-tunes framing so you can get creative with your edits — without needing to download third-party apps. Nightography3 (AI-enhanced) Boosts clarity and reduces noise in low-light environments. Lets you shoot clean, vivid photos and videos even in dim or tricky lighting scenarios. Super HDR Captures multiple exposures and blends them with AI to preserve rich detail across tones. Ensures balanced highlights and shadows — perfect for backlit selfies or dramatic landscapes. Object Eraser Taps into AI to remove unwanted objects from your photos and auto-fills the background. Cleans up photobombs or unsightly distractions in just a few taps. Scene Optimiser Automatically detects the subject and lighting to adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation. Captures well-balanced photos across different environments without fussing with manual settings. Sketch to Image Turns your doodles or traced outlines into realistic illustrations within the photo. Adds a playful or creative touch to your shots to make them even more share-worthy. Multimodal Gallery Search Uses natural language and image recognition to find photos in your Gallery. Just tell your phone the exact photo you want to find, and let AI do the work.

Here's a breakdown of these features and their most helpful attributes:

Ditch basic filters for pro-grade footage

Got footage that needs a glow-up? Whether you’re creating videos for work, school, or just your social feed, Galaxy AI gives you more polish with less prep. Tools like Auto Trim turn raw videos into watchable highlights by automatically identifying the most interesting clips and skipping the fluff.

Credit: Samsung

Galaxy AI ProScaler, on the other hand, takes your just-okay footage and sharpens it on the fly. So if that product demo you filmed came out soft, it’ll still look crisp in the edit. Another feature, Audio Eraser, cleans up noisy backgrounds (e.g. chatter, wind, or the drone of a crowd) so you don’t have to re-record or dig for filters.

Here’s an overview of these features:

.feature-summary { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; } .feature-summary th, .feature-summary td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; } .feature-summary th { background-color: #f2f2f2; font-weight: bold; } @media (max-width: 768px) { .feature-summary, .feature-summary thead, .feature-summary tbody, .feature-summary th, .feature-summary td, .feature-summary tr { display: block; width: 100%; } .feature-summary thead { display: none; } .feature-summary tr { margin-bottom: 20px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } .feature-summary td { border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; position: relative; padding-left: 50%; box-sizing: border-box; } .feature-summary td::before { content: attr(data-label); position: absolute; top: 16px; left: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap; } .feature-summary td:last-child { border-bottom: none; } } Feature What it does How it helps ProScaler4 Upscales and enhances soft or blurry images in real time — automatically. Your photos and clips look crisper without you needing to download extra editing apps. Auto Trim Automatically edits your videos by identifying highlights and removing fluff. Get polished videos without the hassle of manual editing. Audio Eraser5 Reduces or removes background noise in recorded videos. Makes videos sound clearer and more professional with minimal effort. Your new multitasking muscle

The idea of phone-based productivity used to be a little oxymoronic, but Galaxy AI flips that script. No more bouncing between apps and getting derailed by a never-ending onslaught of notifications when you’re trying to maximise your afternoon.

Credit: Samsung

Take Seamless actions across apps, for example. Let’s say you’re watching a video of a new gadget, and want to send the product link to a friend, save it to your shopping list, and check if it fits your budget this month. Previously: three apps, five actions. Now: just ask.

This is AI that understands context, not just commands.

Below is an overview of some of these features and what they entail:

.ai-feature-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; } .ai-feature-table th, .ai-feature-table td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; } .ai-feature-table th { background-color: #f2f2f2; font-weight: bold; } @media (max-width: 768px) { .ai-feature-table, .ai-feature-table thead, .ai-feature-table tbody, .ai-feature-table th, .ai-feature-table td, .ai-feature-table tr { display: block; width: 100%; } .ai-feature-table thead { display: none; } .ai-feature-table tr { margin-bottom: 20px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } .ai-feature-table td { border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; position: relative; padding-left: 50%; box-sizing: border-box; } .ai-feature-table td::before { content: attr(data-label); position: absolute; top: 16px; left: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap; } .ai-feature-table td:last-child { border-bottom: none; } } Feature What it does How it helps Seamless actions across apps Lets you issue a single, natural language command that triggers actions across multiple apps. Saves time and taps into multiple apps without manual steps. Now Brief6 & Now Bar7 Gives you a morning or evening summary with relevant info like weather, schedule, and news. Reduces information overwhelm and helps you start and end your day on a focused note. Multimodal Search & Voice Control Allows you to use plain language to search your Gallery or control device settings. No more endless scrolling — just say what you’re trying to do and find answers fast. AI Select Suggests contextual actions — like adding an event to your calendar or finding an address — based on what’s on your screen. Smart, on-the-spot shortcuts that help you act on what you’re doing without extra taps or digging through menus. A smarter system that stays out of your way

Whether you’re a creative professional juggling multiple client accounts or just an everyday user who wants a device that’s a little more art direction and a little less attention-sapping distraction, Galaxy AI delivers.

The S25 and S25 Ultra are devices that strike an impressive balance of creative intuition and common sense, so you can stay in the zone without getting stuck in the weeds.

Discover the newly released Samsung Galaxy Foldables Z Fold7 and Z Flip7.

[1] Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.

[2]Samsung account login is required. Requires network connection.

[3] Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.

[4] Supported on Galaxy S25+ and Ultra. Image quality can be enhanced up to QHD+, depending on the screen resolution setting of the device.

[5] Samsung account login required. Six types of sound can be detected; voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise. Results may vary depending on audio source & condition of the video.

[6] Samsung account login and network connection required.

[7] Samsung account login and network connection required.

Samsung's most affordable flip phone ever, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to buy their first foldable. However, so is Motorola's Razr 2025. So, if you're on the market with a limited budget, which one should you choose? Let's figure it out.

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 July 24 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: Huge

• Green: A swift departure

• Blue: Discussed with a realtor

• Purple: Two-in-one

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: Colossal

• Green: Leave quickly

• Blue: Parts of a basketball hoop

• Purple: Homophones of synonyms for "Nab"

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 #774 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Colossal: GIANT, GREAT, MAMMOTH, TITANIC

• Leave quickly: BOUNCE, DIP, JET, SPLIT

• Parts of a basketball hoop: BACKBOARD, NET, POLE, RIM

• Homophones of synonyms for "Nab:" KNICK, LUTE, RABE, STEEL

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 July 24

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 July 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 24 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Back away slowly

The words are animal-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are animal gestures.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Warning.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 24

• Snarl

• Growl

• Hiss

• Warning

• Stomp

• Screech

• Spray

• Huff

• Rattle

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 July 24 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 July 24, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Tremble.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter Q.

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...

QUAKE.

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 July 24

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.

HDMI cables are an integral part of any home theater or modern display setup. However, shopping for the best HDMI cables for you can become overwhelming due to the sheer number of choices and marketing fluff surrounding them.

Tesla's Robotaxi autonomous taxi service is currently serving only one, penis-shaped area of Austin, but the company's ambitions are much, much bigger than that.

Speaking during the company's earnings call on Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk said he thinks the company will "have Robotaxi in half the population of the US by the end of the year," while noting that this is subject to regulatory approvals.

"We're getting the regulatory permission to launch in the Bay Area, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and a number of other places," said Musk.

During the call, Musk did also say that the company is being "very cautious" with Robotaxi expansion, but that the service areas and the number of vehicles in operation will increase at a "hyper-exponential rate."

Musk previously said the Robotaxi service would expand to the Bay Area in a "month or two", but this new plan is ambitious, even for Musk's own (often unrealistic) standards. Tesla is currently offering its Robotaxi service in a reported 10-20 Model Y vehicles (the number might have increased since launch), and only to a limited number of participants.

Alphabet's Waymo is currently available in several major U.S. cities, including Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Atlanta. The company also plans to launch its self-driving service in Miami and Washington D.C. in 2026.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Diner & Drive-In opens in California

Tesla does have a big advantage over other self-driving taxi services — it uses stock Model Y cars as its Robotaxis, while Waymo, Zoox and other competitors use highly modified cars with added sensors such as cameras, radars, and lidars. This means that Tesla could technically expand a lot faster than its competitors, though none of it will happen until regulators give it the green light.

SAVE $230: For a limited time, Amazon has the Samsung 27-inch S80UA 4K monitor for just $219.99 — 51% off its regular $449.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch ViewFinity S80UA 4K Monitor $219.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $230 Get Deal

As of July 24, the 27-inch Samsung ViewFinity S80UA 27-inch 4K UHD monitor is a powerhouse for creatives, professionals, gamers, and anyone craving pixel-perfect visuals whilst upgrading their setup. And at just $219.99, it’s officially a no-brainer.

With four times the resolution of Full HD, this monitor’s 4K display offers stunning detail and ample screen real estate for multitasking across multiple apps or documents. The IPS panel in particular promises to deliver bold, accurate colours with a 178-degree wide viewing angle, making it ideal for design work, spreadsheets, and binge-watching Netflix and Disney+ shows alike.

SEE ALSO: The best monitors in 2025

And it's not just about the looks; the S80UA also boasts comfort and connectivity. With USB-C, this monitor can charge your laptop (up to 90W) while sending video and data — all through a single cable. That’s less clutter on your desk and fewer headaches when switching between devices, thanks to Automatic Source Switch.

Colour lovers will appreciate its HDR10 support and over a billion colours, while long workdays feel a little easier on the eyes thanks to Eye Saver Mode and flicker-free tech. Adjustable height, tilt, swivel, and pivot options round out the ergonomic perks — plus, it’s VESA-compatible for clean wall or arm mounting.

While its max 60Hz refresh rate doesn’t make it the best gaming monitor in the world, it should still make for jaw-dropping 4K-resolution displays when playing Cyberpunk 2077 and Stellar Blade — as long as you’re not bothered about a max FPS of 60.

Nevertheless, energy-efficient and future-proofed with a three-year warranty, the S80UA is built for work, play, and everything in between.

And while you're in upgrade mode, check out our guide advising on the other best monitors for upgrading your visuals. And take a look at our overall list of best monitors in 2025 — covering all budgets.

4K gaming monitors are often touted as the ultimate way to experience games by reviewers, but I’m not convinced. While 4K objectively looks better, I don’t think the difference matters to most gamers, and there are some real downsides to it. Allow me to explain.

Despite Trump wanting everyone to talk about Obama, the main story of the moment continues to be the president's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, with a recent Wall Street Journal report claiming that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump that his name appears in the Epstein files back in May, and a CNN report digging up new photos and video footage of the two men together in the '90s and '00s.

During his second day hosting The Daily Show, Josh Johnson goes through these damning new stories one by one.

"It's getting to the point where it's harder and harder to find a photo of Donald Trump without Jeffrey Epstein in it. As Donald Trump, your only hope is to be like, 'Hey, I take pictures with lots of people! Alright?'" says Johnson, before bringing up a grim image carousel of the president with other disgraced celebrities. "I'm in pictures with OJ, Diddy, I'm in pictures with Harvey Weinstein. That's not helping, I'm gonna stop!"

Johnson isn't the only late night host talking about this, either. Over on the Late Show, Stephen Colbert is continuing with his scorched earth coverage of the president.

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.

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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 Mini crossword answers, hints for July 23, 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: Refreshments

• Green: Competitor

• Blue: Same team

• Purple: Same second word

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: Equal

• Green: Sporting towns

• Blue: Same last name

• Purple: Sounds like

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 #304 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• All square - DEADLOCKED, EVEN, LEVEL, TIED

• Tennis Grand Slam locations - LONDON, MELBOURNE, NEW YORK, PARIS

• Sports figures with the surname Rivers - AUSTIN, DOC, PHILIP, SANIYA

• Homophones of NFL QBs - BOROUGH, HERTZ, KNICKS, MAY

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.

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 Thursday, July 24, 2025:

AcrossOverhead tennis shot

• The answer is Smash.

Dish over which Lady and Tramp share a kiss

• The answer is Pasta.

How some solve print crosswords

• The answer is InPen.

Work with dough

• The answer is Knead.

The Bronx Bombers, informally

• The answer is Yanks.

DownLike hair in a mohawk, often

• The answer is Spiky.

Miraculous "bread from heaven" in the Book of Exodus

• The answer is Manna.

Colorado ski town

• The answer is Aspen.

Entrée that comes with its own knife

• The answer is Steak.

They have five digits each, typically

• The answer is Hands.

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

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

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

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

Stephen Colbert may be getting canceled, but that doesn't mean he's going to slow down on his scorched earth coverage of Trump and Epstein. Quite the opposite, in fact.

In the clip above Colbert kicks off his Late Show monologue by discussing a Wall Street Journal report that claims Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump his name was in the Epstein files back in May.

"He's in the files," says Colbert. "You know how they say there's no such thing as bad publicity? They're not talking about this."

Colbert goes on to mention some newly discovered photos published by CNN of Trump and Epstein from the '90s and '00s.

"That's how tight these guys were. Their friendship outlasted Trump's marriage to Marla Maples," says Colbert, before launching into his Trump impression. "'Till death do us part, Jeffrey. 'Till mysterious, unexplained death."

Colbert then moves on to the news that Trump will apparently be getting an extra $20 million from Skydance, the company planning to merge with his parent company Paramount, on top of the $16 million already being paid as part of a lawsuit settlement.

"That means by bending the knee, they lost like $40 million this year. They better watch out, they might get canceled. For purely financial reasons."

TL;DR: Find a wide range of free AI courses on Udemy. Learn about ChatGPT, Copilot, DeepSeek, and more without spending anything.

We know by now that AI is going to take over the world. We don't know exactly when AI will make its move, but it's coming. And all we can do until that point is try to better understand this technology. We might even be able to persuade it to go easy on us.

Fortunately, a wide range of free online courses on AI can be found on Udemy. We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started. These are the best online AI courses you can take for free this month:

• A Gentle Introduction to Generative AI

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI for Beginners: Learn The Basics of ChatGPT

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• AI for Everyone

• AI for Students: Boost Learning & Research with Gen AI

• AI Fundamentals: From Basics to Generative AI

• AI in Agriculture: Practical Introductory Course

• AI Literacy Essentials: Working Responsibly with AI

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: Cursor, the AI-First IDE

• Become an OpenAI ChatGPT Master: Start Earning with AI

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• Generative AI For Leaders

• How Smart People Use AI to Think, Lead, and Grow

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Master Generative AI for Developer Productivity With Pieces

• Master Generative AI: GPT, LLMs, Agents and Use Cases

• Training AI with Human Data, Explained for Annotators

• Worldbuilding AI Futures

These free online courses don't include certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content.

Find the best free AI courses on Udemy.

SAVE $250: For a limited time, Amazon has the Eufy C10 robot vacuum on sale for $229.99 — its lowest price since launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: eufy Eufy Robot Vacuum C10 $229.99 at Amazon
$479.99 Save $250 Get Deal

For anyone whose floors are begging for a break and tired of playing housekeeper, Eufy’s C10 robot vacuum might be exactly what your cleaning routine needs — and it just hit its lowest price yet.

As of July 24, the Eufy C10 robot vacuum is still on sale for $229.99 at Amazon, marked down from its original price of $479.99. That’s a 52% discount, and the biggest price drop since the model launched according to camelcamelcamel. It’s a limited-time deal, so if you’ve been waiting to upgrade to a robot vacuum that actually empties itself, now’s the time to make your move.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 25+ robot vacuums. Here are 6 I'd actually recommend buying in 2025.

This vacuum does more than just roam around and hope for the best. With advanced LiDAR navigation and real-time smart mapping, the C10 creates efficient cleaning paths and avoids random bump-and-go chaos. 

Its standout feature is the self-emptying station. The built-in 3L dust bag holds up to eight weeks of debris, meaning you can go hands-free for two whole months without even thinking about emptying a dust bin. The C10 delivers 4,000Pa of suction, which — along with its rolling brush — makes short work of pet hair, crumbs, and daily debris. The slim 2.85-inch profile helps it squeeze under beds and furniture, and the CornerRover Arm extends to grab hair and dust in those frustrating hard-to-reach corners.

Eufy offers full control over scheduling, zone cleaning, and cleaning modes right from your phone.

Between its smart tech, serious suction, and low-effort upkeep, the Eufy C10 is a solid pick for anyone looking to automate the more annoying parts of cleaning. At just $229.99, this deal won’t stay around for long — and neither will the dust.

For more solid Eufy models, check out the best 25 overall robot vacuums in 2025. For some good old-fashioned ‘do it yourself’ cleaning, we’ve got some cordless stick vacuums in our selection of best general vacuum cleaners in 2025 as well.

Running essentials you can find on Amazon Best Running Watch Garmin Forerunner 955 $429 (save $70.99) Get Deal Best running earbuds Beats Fit Pro $179 (save $20.95) Get Deal Best Massage Gun TOLOCO Massage Gun $39.98 (save $20.01) Get Deal Best running torch InnoFox Running Light $13.99 (save $9) Get Deal

My favorite thing about running is that it's totally accessible. You don't need expensive equipment or memberships to get going. You just need a pair of trainers and the willingness to actually get out there.

That being said, there are a few things that make running more enjoyable, more comfortable, and sometimes even a little more consistent. Over time, I’ve found a handful of affordable running accessories on Amazon that genuinely make a difference. Here are some of my favorites that I actually use and love.

Garmin Forerunner 955 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Foreunner 955 $429 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $70.99 Get Deal Why I like it

A watch is an essential accessory for running, and the Garmin Forerunner 955 is my absolute favorite. Yes, you can track runs on your phone apps if you don't want to fork out for a dedicated tracker. But for accurate pacing, GPS, and advanced stats, a fitness tracker is the way to go. It supports full GPS tracking and has a 5 ATM water resistance. This, combined with a stellar battery life, makes this smartwatch ideal for any kind of endurance running.

It benefits from metrics like Garmin's Training Readiness, Body Battery, and Training Status, all helping to support and improve your training.

Beats Fit Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $179 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $20.95 Get Deal Why I like it

Running without music seems like a horrible idea, but so does running without being aware of your surroundings. Enter the Beats Fit Pro. With noise cancellation modes that allow you to hear your music but also passing sounds (transparency mode), these are my go to for runs of all lengths.

My standout features are the battery life (they've survived marathons, accidentally being left on for days in my bag, and still live to tell the tale) and durability. I've used these for over two years and remain impressed with how well they still work. Not to mention, the sound quality is unbelievable. These are my first pair of Beats earbuds, and I can safely say I won't be going with anything else anytime soon.

TOLOCO Massage Gun Opens in a new window Credit: TOLOCO TOLOCO Massage Gun $39.98 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal Why I like it

There's nothing quite like the sweet misery that comes from using a massage gun; it truly is beautiful torture. Using a massage gun offers a whole host of benefits for physical recovery and overall wellness. It helps alleviate muscle soreness and stiffness by promoting blood circulation and reducing lactic acid buildup. After a tough workout, using a muscle gun can speed up your recovery, and it's a step I never skip.

This budget option from Amazon is just as good as the expensive models, in my opinion. It has 10 changeable heads and low, medium, and high speed options.

InnoFox Running Light Opens in a new window Credit: ACEPHILY InnoFox Running Light $13.99 at Amazon
$22.99 Save $9.00 Get Deal Why I like it

Safety is paramount for runners, and whether we want to admit it or not, the long, bright nights will be coming to an end soon. We'll be back to morning and evening runs in the dark. A lightweight running light is one of the easiest ways to stay visible and safe; it helps you see, but more importantly, helps others see you.

This budget option from Amazon can clip onto your clothes or running belt. It's USB charged, so it's easy to have ready for when you want to head out the door.