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Tired of opening and closing your blinds daily? Smart blinds take care of that for you. They're perfect for small spaces, homes with lots of windows, anyone with mobility challenges, or simply those who love a little extra convenience. You can even control them using a remote, an app, or voice commands.

SAVE $60: As of Feb. 21, PlayStation owners can snag a 12-month PS Plus Premium membership for $60 off the usual price. That's just $99.99 for a whole year of the Game Pass-esque subscription service, rather than $159.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation Plus Premium membership (12 months) $99.99 at PlayStation
$159.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

If you're into gaming at all, it's kind of becoming a necessity to have some sort of subscription service to supplement your hobby. Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online — basically, it's the streaming service boom all over again. And like streaming services, membership rates aren't exactly cheap.

So when one is on sale, it's probably a good idea to jump on the opportunity. Case in point: PlayStation Plus Premium annual memberships are $60 off the usual price until Feb. 25. Only $99.99 for a year rather than $159.99? We'll take it.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

What makes PlayStation Plus Premium so great (and worth $100)? It's the perks. With your membership, you'll not only be able to play online with your gaming pals, get free monthly games, and have the opportunity to take advantage of special deals and discounts. You'll also gain access to the PS Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog — two massive, Game Pass-esque game libraries that you can download from and play at your leisure. Better yet, you'll be able to use the Cloud Storage and Share Play features, download game trials, stream certain games, and be able to watch movies from the Sony Pictures Catalog. That's a whole lot, we know.

So, if any of that sounds good to you, act fast — annual PlayStation Plus Premium memberships are $60 off (just $99.99) until Feb. 25.

SAVE $30: As of Feb. 21, you can score the Anker Prime Power Bank for $149.99, down from $179.99, at Amazon. That's a $30 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime Power Bank $149.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

We've all been there: a dying phone battery when you need it most. Whether you're a traveler, a heavy phone user, or just have an older device, a portable power bank is the smartest way to stay connected on the go.

As of Feb. 21, you can get the Anker Prime Power Bank for $149.99, down from $179.99, at Amazon. That’s a 17% discount and a $30 price cut on a top-notch charger that’ll keep your devices powered up no matter where you are.

SEE ALSO: Get an adapter that works in 190+ countries with USB-C charging for just $50

The Anker Prime Power Bank is compatible with the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPhones 16, 15, 14, and 13. It’s also compatible with Samsung and Dell devices. It has a 27,650mAh capacity, which Anker says can charge a 13-inch MacBook Air (M2) 1.28 times or an iPhone 14 4.67 times.

There are dual USB-C ports for fast charging, plus it comes with a two-foot charging cable and travel pouch. The power bank itself charges via USB-C and can fully recharge in about 37 minutes.

Twitch is imposing a storage restriction on certain types of content.

The Amazon-owned streaming platform, which is largely dedicated to video games but also sometimes eating food, announced on its support website that anything under the "Highlights" and "Uploads" banner now counts towards a 100-hour storage limit, per profile. It should be noted that this does not apply to the temporarily saved VODs of livestreams or shorter, streamer-uploaded Clips.

Highlights and Uploads are generally longer than Clips, so only they count towards this new limit, which goes into place on April 19.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Feb. 21, 2025)

Yes, it's a little confusing that there are like five different types of videos that can appear on a Twitch user's profile, and only two of them count towards this limit.

According to Twitch, less than half a percent of all users currently exceed the 100-hour limit for Highlights and Uploads. Those people will be notified directly, and if they don't correct their ways before April 19, their Highlights and Uploads could get automatically deleted. After that, it won't even be possible to exceed the limit in the first place, so automatic deletion isn't something people will have to worry about moving forward.

If you're part of that half-percent of users, you better fix your situation now.

In Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight's Hulu/Disney+ show, A Thousand Blows, there are more than a few characters based on historical figures. Set in the grime and crime of 1880s East London, the most overt action takes place in the boxing ring, with real-life Jamaican immigrant Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) taking on the best fighter on the Thames, Henry "Sugar" Goodson (Stephen Graham).

But beyond these matches, a band of stealthy, organised thieves are seizing their own piece of the action — and they're all women. They're the Forty Elephants, a real gang led by the charismatic Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), who pilfer the prized possessions of the upper classes by the pocketful.

Malachi Kirby as Hezekiah Moscow and Erin Doherty as Mary Carr in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

"I wanted for a long time to do the story of the Forty Elephants, which is a true story of a gang of female-only criminals who were led by someone called Mary Carr," Knight said onstage at A Thousand Blows' premiere at the London Film Festival (LFF) in October, fittingly shown at the BFI around the corner from the Embankment pub named for the gang. He referred to the story as "working class history...that is just remarkable, astonishing, and needed to be told."

SEE ALSO: How the world got hooked on the sneaky allure of 'Peaky Blinders'

But who were the Forty Elephants and Mary Carr, and how are they portrayed in Knight's TV series? Let's dig into the history books.

Who were the Forty Elephants? The Forty Elephants in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

As the first organised, all-female shoplifting gang in London, operational from the 1870s to the 1950s, the Forty Elephants (also called the Forty Thieves) might instantly enliven modern feminist imaginations. They're simply made for the screen. A city-wide, highly organised syndicate of women without the right to vote but seizing the right to everyone's coin and luxury goods? It's the stuff of legend, and it makes them deeply compelling characters in A Thousand Blows, cutting the pockets of the aristocracy in both covert, theatrical, and sometimes literal ways.

"The Forty Thieves is the most successful shoplifting gang that Britain's ever seen," says historian, author, and BBC journalist Lucy Worsley in a riveting Lady Swindlers podcast episode on the Forty Elephants. "It has a mirror image of itself in the form of the male Elephant and Castle gang, which includes relative, lovers, and husbands. But the Forty Thieves are proud of their financial independence from the men, and they certainly don't share their proceeds with them."

Organised gangs need a formidable leader; the Forty Elephants had a queen.

The Forty Elephants deployed creative means of stealing money, clothes, jewels, and anything else of value, as detailed in author and journalist Brian McDonald's book Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants — he dug through police detective reports, court transcripts, and newspaper coverage from the time. From blackmail to breaking and entering and assault, their targets reportedly ranged from gentlemen on the street to London's newly opened department stores and high-end jewellery shops — we see the Elephants' brazen raid of Harrods in A Thousand Blows' second episode.

The gang's emergence came from a place of "combatting unfairness," McDonald writes — they were women in the lower echelons of society fighting to survive, not just to vote: "The suffragist movement sought equality with men; shoplifters, jewel thieves and fences sought escape from ritual drudgery." In fact, according to the Museum of London, shoplifters and suffragettes would have served sentences at Islington's notorious Holloway Prison around the same time in the early 1900s.

Historian Rosalind Crone explained on Lady Swindlers that professional shoplifting "provided an option for women who were failing or struggling to benefit from the new opportunities opening up in the early 20th century to have some of the luxury, to have a career and to have economic independence from men. So in other words, this was an alternative route to become a modern woman."

Most important of all, organised gangs need a formidable leader; the Forty Elephants had a queen.

Who was Mary Carr of the Forty Elephants? Erin Doherty as Mary Carr and Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

"One of the most dangerous women in the metropolis," according to a 1900 police report described in McDonald's book, Mary Carr was the 'queen' of the Forty Elephants gang in Victorian London, recruiting girls and women to her shoplifting syndicate.

According to historian, journalist and author Caitlin Davies in her book Queens of the Underworld (Davies also trawled through police transcripts, court reports, and more from the National Archives), Carr was born in 1862 in the central London district of Holborn, and quickly ran afoul of the law by her teens, landing in a Church of England-run penitentiary for "fallen women." By the 1890s, the author says, Carr was not only an artist's model but was suspected of crimes ranging from pickpocketing to fencing stolen goods to child kidnapping (really). But she'd be most famous for running the Forty Elephants, teaching young women how to take what they didn't have.

"As Queen of the Elephants, I travel 'round this city offering poor, lost souls opportunities," says Carr in A Thousand Blows, played by The Crown's Erin Doherty.

Erin Doherty as Mary Carr in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

Finding her own version of the fearless and strategic leader in the show, Doherty views her brazen character with utter respect. "I just wanted to be just a morsel of the reason why people get to find out about these women. I was genuinely just really inspired by what they did, and I just wanted to be a part of Mary. Embracing her and embodying her, really, has been a gift for me," said the actor onstage at LFF.

"I just really respected that they took these missions with complete seriousness, and they took it with pride," Doherty added. "This was the only opportunity that they were given, so they were going to do it to the best of their ability."

A Thousand Blows also features Carr's arguably more famous successor Alice Diamond (played by The Irregulars' Darci Shaw), who was the gang's notorious queen in the 1920s. In a fictionalised scene in A Thousand Blows, Mary and Alice meet during a Harrods raid, and she's recruited into the gang through a series of trials — it's a real treat to watch these hypothesised conversations between the two queens throughout the series. In A Thousand Blows, the Forty Elephants are Hannah Walters as Eliza Moody, Nadia Albina as Verity Ross, Morgan Hilaire as Esme Long, Jemma Carlton as Belle Downer and Caoilfhionn Dunne as Anne Glover.

Shirley Pitts, who followed Diamond as the gang's last queen, isn't represented in the show, but you should read Dr. Lorraine Gamman's book Gone Shopping about her.

The theatrical gambits of the Forty Elephants The Forty Elephants in "A Thousand Blows." Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography / Disney

One of the most compelling elements of the Forty Elephants is how organised the operation was — McDonald writes that the gang adhered to a strict code of conduct and worked with a city-wide network of specialist fences, pawnbrokers, and couriers (you'll see them all in A Thousand Blows). The author quotes the gang's manifesto during Diamond's time as queen: "Discipline is expected, no drinking before a raid, and early hours to bed. Proceeds from a job are equally shared by the group members involved no matter what their role members must not steal from each other. Families must be looked after when a member is in prison."

But as organised as they were, the gang was also creative.

In the opening scene of A Thousand Blows, we first meet Mary Carr pulling a diabolical heist by pretending to go into labour in the middle of the street, while her gang members pickpocket the crowd. It works like a charm, and it's the perfect homage to the real gang's techniques. McDonald writes of the Forty Elephants' "practice of putting their arm in an affectionate embrace around the necks of their victims, in this case sailors, while rifling their pockets with the other hand. In Lady Swindlers, Worsley talks about Diamond using a type of trouser referred to as "grafters bloomers" with extremely deep pockets to rob Selfridges, and she quotes a detective from the Metropolitan Police describing how the gang would rob department stores "with military precision":

"Dressed to kill, these girls would descend on a West End store like a swarm of locusts. They'd roll up in taxis and chauffeur-driven limousines and practically clean the place out inside an hour. In 1914, there were 15 arrests in Selfridges alone in one single day, but most of the time, Alice and the gang got away with it."

"Dressed to kill, these girls would descend on a West End store like a swarm of locusts."

The Harrods scene in episode 2 of A Thousand Blows sees Mary Carr and her gang swan into the palatial store, knives out, smashing and grabbing silver hairbrushes, Chinese silk, hats, furs, and feather boas, and strolling back out the door.

There are great anecdotes in McDonald and Davies' books about Carr's gambits, including one in which McDonald says she was sentenced to four months hard labour for stealing a gold watch by pretending to have lost her purse, asking for a bus fare, then snatching the goods. "Mary Carr used her youthful looks to full advantage by dressing in exquisite clothes, her golden locks hanging over her shoulders, and acting the part of a teenage girl who could not find her way to her lodgings," McDonald writes. "This was for the benefit of prosperous-looking gentlemen who offered directions to guide her and when she was too upset to comprehend the instructions consented to walk with her. Carr would then turn from demure damsel to forceful harridan when her gang of girls responded to her cries for help."

This technique the author describes involves the gang members often framing men for assault, then blackmailing them for their valuables "to avoid the embarrassment of a prosecution." Davies says this technique evolved from a ruse by Ann Duck in the 1740s. Other stories McDonald and Davies write of are Carr swooning in the street, being escorted home by a passing man, then having her aunt burst in on their being unaccompanied, and blackmailing him. While fabricating such claims for blackmail purposes is obviously completely terrible, it’s actually quite surprising this female gang felt confident enough in a judicial system’s possibility of believing women that they used it as a weapon. That might be a modern read, but I'm intrigued.

So, what did they do with all that loot? As well as making ends meet and putting food on the table, the Museum of London has a great answer: "The gang were known for their extravagant style, but you wouldn’t catch them wearing most of the items they’d nicked. Instead, they’d flog them to their network of specialist ‘fencers’, people who buy stolen goods to sell at a profit. The Forties would get money on a commission basis. They spent their money on high fashion and fun. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the clan gathered in London entertainment venues like music halls."

Despite the drama, these were genuinely risky plays by the Forty Elephants. A Thousand Blows director Nick Murphy told the LFF audience that the show's events are underpinned by the brutality of everyday life in Victorian London, and the very real risks facing the Forty Elephants. "Like Mary says, 'One slip, London will kill you.' That's it. There's no social security. There's no backup. Everybody knows that one slip and it's done…These women get caught, they'll fucking hang. That's it, and it's serious."

The portrayal of Mary Carr and the Forty Elephants in A Thousand Blows might be the first you hear of this formidable gang — it certainly was for me. For women at the bottom rung of society to climb their way up through theatrical ruses and violence is not a story we've heard a lot, and it's one that deserves its time onscreen.

If you decide to use their shoplifting techniques, we were never here.

A Thousand Blows is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

SAVE $160.27: As of Feb. 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE for $289.72 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $449.99. That's a discount of 36%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE $289.72 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $160.27 Get Deal

Tablets are versatile pieces of tech that make just about anything easier when you're out and about. If you don't have the space to work on a laptop, or you just want a bigger screen to enjoy your favorite shows, movies, and games on, they're a no-brainer. And you can get an excellent tablet right now for a great price without having to break a sweat.

As of Feb. 21, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE for $289.72 at Amazon, down from its normal price of $449.99. That's a discount of 36%.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025

This tablet can be considered mid-level, but it still packs every bit of a punch. Powered by the Samsung Exynos 1390 chip, it features a 10.9-inch screen with dual speakers and Dolby Atmos support, a slim and lightweight frame, and 128GB of storage. It also comes with an S Pen stylus, which means you can use it to jot down notes, doodle, or just navigate the tablet with it.

You get an 18-hour battery life with fast charging that nets you another full charge in just an hour and a half, and it's also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance.

If you need a reliable tablet that'll get the job done without having to shell out for the price of an iPad or even one of Samsung's other heavy-hitters, this is a great choice. Snag one before the price goes up again, or a couple, and stop squinting to see what's on your phone screen.

Clone Robotics just brought the very essence of your worst nightmares to life in gleaming, astonishing, graphic detail.

The Polish startup posted a video on X of Protoclone, a faceless, anatomically accurate synthetic human hanging from strings in the ceiling.

"Protoclone, the world's first bipedal, musculoskeletal android," Clone Robotics introduced in the video that has now been seen by more than 33 million people on the platform. It has over "200 degrees of freedom, over 1,000 Myofibers, and 500 sensors." It has synthetic organ systems. You can "stab it with a fork and it will bleed out."

Tweet may have been deleted

The video shows the robot twitching, and there's ominous music playing in the background. It is like they specifically created the video to look like a scene in a horror film — and that's pretty much the take the internet responded with.

SEE ALSO: Meta is diving into AI-powered humanoid robots Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

No matter your personal thoughts about the evolution of robotics — be them problematic, life-altering, boring, terrifying, or an exploration of the new frontier — it is clear that this specific video perhaps wasn't intended to lull us into a sense of calm.

UPDATE: Feb. 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with iPhone 16e preorder links now that retailers' and carriers' listings are live.

Everywhere you can preorder the Apple iPhone 16e: The Apple Store Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $630 with a trade-in) Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $540 with a trade-in) Pre-Order Here AT&T Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $200 with a new phone line and an eligible wireless plan) Pre-Order Here T-Mobile Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $630 when you switch on most plans or up to $500 with a trade-in) Pre-Order Here Verizon Apple iPhone 16e Starting at $599 (save up to $419.99 with a new line and any plan) Pre-Order Here

Apple announced the iPhone 16e Wednesday, its first budget smartphone in three years — and its first-ever smartphone with an in-house cellular modem. Priced at $599 to start, or $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16, it's now available for preorder ahead of its formal launch on Friday, Feb. 28.

Customers can get $40 to $630 in credit toward an iPhone 16e by trading in an older phone at the Apple Store, and up to $540 with a trade-in at Best Buy. If you go through an eligible third-party carrier instead, you can save $200 to $630 (via monthly bill credits) with a new line, an eligible wireless plan, and/or a trade-in at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 16e is the new affordable Apple phone

The iPhone 16e features the iPhone 16 series' A18 chip, but replaces their Qualcomm modem chips with the all-new Apple C1. In a press release, Apple deemed it "the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity" while bringing support for Apple Intelligence.

The C1 is also supposedly a factor in the device's "extraordinary" battery life of up to 26 hours of video playback per charge. That puts it on par with the iPhone 16 Plus, which is rated at 27 hours of video playback; it beats the standard iPhone 16 by five hours and 2022's iPhone SE (Apple's last budget handset) by 11 hours. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder noted, this will probably be a "big selling point" for potential upgraders.

The 6.1-inch iPhone 16e is the same size as the iPhone 16 and sports the same Super Retina XDR OLED display, though it's slightly dimmer and has a slightly lower resolution. Apple went with a notch at the very top of it instead of a Dynamic Island, and there's an Action Button on the side of the phone. On the back, you'll find a single "2-in-1" 48MP camera with a 2x Telephoto lens; there's no ultrawide lens. It supports Face ID, satellite connectivity, and wireless charging (but no MagSafe).

The iPhone 16e is made from aluminum with a glass back, and it's available in matte black and white finishes with 128GB to 512GB of storage. The 256GB model costs $699, while the 512GB variant is $899 (the same price as an iPhone 16 Plus, mind you).

You might think you know Osgood Perkins, but The Monkey is about to prove you wrong. 

The horror helmer has built a reputation for atmospheric spookiness and psychological tension with twisted thrillers like Longlegs, The Blackcoat's Daughter, and I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House. Yet his adaptation of a Stephen King short story is anything but ambiguous. From its first gnarly scene of deadly violence, its premise and threat is crystal clear: This cursed vintage toy — a mechanized monkey banging a drum — kills without mercy anytime his crank is turned. 

The Monkey abandons subtlety and seriousness in favor of gonzo and gory displays of ultra-violent death. Perkins' vibe has always been a bit throwback, pulling influence from gothic ghost stories or the grisly tension of '90s thrillers like Silence of the Lambs. This holds true with The Monkey, but his influences here are far less highbrow, as this King adaptation — which King himself called "batshit insane" — has more in common with the madcap mayhem of Tales From The Crypt. 

The result is a movie that feels refreshingly new for Perkins, yet is knowingly familiar with this gleefully ghoulish and grubby brand of horror. Reveling in kills that are senseless, aggressive, and increasingly imaginative and nightmarish, The Monkey is not just a stomach-churning treat for horror fans. It also feels like a challenge, as if the monkey — be it his unblinking gaze or the truly outrageous gore he unfurls — dares you to look away. 

What is The Monkey about?  Credit: NEON

Like King's short story, The Monkey centers on a put-upon dad named Hal (Theo James), who teams up with his young son to defeat the evil toy that has been wreaking havoc since his own childhood. However, Perkins' screenplay works in a lot more death scenes, a custody battle subplot, and a seething twin. In his version, Hal and Bill (also played by James) were just boys when the monkey found them, a hidden gift from their absent father. A morbid experiment leads them to realize the power of the thing: Turning its crank spurs an unpredictable and outlandish accidental death to occur. So, they bury it deep, where it can never hurt another soul. Years later, Hal and Bill are estranged, when the former realizes — through a splashy slaughter scene — that the monkey is back. 

With Bill having become a mysterious recluse, it's up to Hal and his son Petey (Colin O'Brien) to stop the menacing monkey for good. Along the way, they'll have to deal with Petey's overreaching and obnoxiously chipper stepfather (Elijah Wood), a young tough with more ammo than sense, and a string of accidental deaths that are jaw-droppingly gruesome. 

The Monkey gets off to a pitch-perfect start, thanks to Adam Scott.  Credit: NEON

The Severance star is no stranger to horror-comedy, having appeared in movies like The Omen parody Little Evil, the gem of a Christmas slasher Krampus, and the over-the-top creature feature Piranha 3D. Yet it's Scott's broader range, which includes chipper sitcoms like Parks and Recreations and raw indie dramas like The Vicious Kind — that make him such a savagely smart choice for The Monkey. He opens the film dressed as a pilot whose uniform is flecked with blood. Immediately, his distress is urgent and contagious. Charging into a pawn shop, he presents the eponymous toy. ("Don't call it a toy," he warns the unimpressed shopkeeper.) But his attempt to offload the gift intended for his twin boys goes horridly awry. 

The kill that follows plays as a calling card for Perkins to take on bigger, more commercial horror projects. It's not just that the violence is uniquely horrific, or the razor-sharp humor cutting through the scene, or even the masterful timing of this cut (props to editors Graham Fortin and Greg Ng), which teases out the tension of what hell might rain down when the monkey's hand beats that damned drum. It's all of this in conjunction with Scott's performance. All at once, Scott is able to come across as an average guy, but also as a man who has seen some really unreal shit. So the fear in his eyes, the tension around his mouth, the quake of his body is a perfect setup even before we see the Rube Goldberg machine-like method to The Monkey's first on-screen murder. With one short and sick opening scene (and a blowtorch), Perkins sets up his audience for what to expect: rip-roaring fun, splashed with blood and gallows humor. And then he delivers, again and again. 

The Monkey is sicko shit.  Credit: NEON

And I mean that as a compliment. Where plenty of horror filmmakers can unleash gore or deliver kills that are radically ruthless, few can do it with the panache and wit that Perkins shows here. Yes, on one level, he's offering the base thrill of seeing heinous violence in the safe space of a fictional story. But beyond that, there's a cutting humor that urges the audience to recognize our own absurdity of casually ignoring our mortality, when death is dumb, relentless, and coming for us all. 

Perkins weaves this theme in through Hal and Bill's mom, Lois (Tatiana Maslany), who urges her boys to face death without fear. "Everybody dies," she says coolly after a funeral, then dances defiantly, still in her mourning attire. She tries to teach her sons the power of rebellious joy, or laughing in the face of death. And that's what The Monkey is all about. 

Through his alarmingly graphic depictions of death, bloody yet hilarious, Perkins urges us to follow Lois' lead. We don't laugh because these characters on-screen — many existing without names or personalities, only to be slain — are a buffet of Face of Death-style carnage. We laugh in the shock and absurdity that one moment, we're here, minding our own business, tending our lawns, going for a swim or out for a hibachi dinner, and the next, we're dead meat. Not even Perkins (who cameos) is safe from death's sick sense of humor. And that's the weirdly liberating pleasure of The Monkey. 

All in all, it’s a vicious and hysterical spectacle of blood and brain matter that’ll make you laugh, gasp, gag, and even think.

The Monkey opens in theaters Feb. 21.

Questlove's Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) asks the question "Is there a burden on Black Genius?" The film's producer Joseph Patel gives us a deep look into the film, Sly Stone's legacy, and the burden that comes with success for Black artists.

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 21, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen, GPS, 40mm) is on sale at Amazon for $199. That's 20% off its list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) $199.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Smartwatches aren't just for very active individuals. If you want something a bit more simple that can just keep up with your day-to-day activities, there are plenty of options to choose from. For Apple users, the Apple Watch SE is a great pick that covers all of the basics. It's currently on sale at Amazon as well, so you can add it to your Apple ecosystem at a cheaper price.

The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is currently marked down to $199 at Amazon. This is 20% off its list price of $249, allowing you to keep $50, which is a very nice discount. This smartwatch boasts plenty of features that make it well worth that price tag, too.

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wrist

Alongside a variety of fitness features that can help you stay on top of your goals and track your activity for the day, the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) also includes a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS. Not to mention, you can also answer calls and send texts from the watch.

In our comparison of Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE 2, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon notes that, "If you're more fitness-focused, and you don't mind the thicker bezels and lack of always-on display, the Watch SE is a solid choice."

Don't miss out on 20% off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) at Amazon.

This isn't the only Apple deal worth jumping on right now, though. At Best Buy you can save on the iPad Pro right now as well and the Apple Studio Display has also gotten a very nice discount at Amazon.

SAVE OVER $350: As of Feb. 21, the LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV is on sale for $499.99 at Walmart. You’re saving $350 off the regular price of $849.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV $499.99 at Walmart
$849.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

The LG 55-inch 4K UHD QNED Smart TV is an absolute steal right now at $499.99 (down from $849.99) from Walmart. That's a $350 discount and a no-brainer for what you get in terms of picture quality and smart features. I've always been a fan of LG's picture quality.

With QNED Contrast technology, this TV delivers sharp, colorful images with deep contrast — even in bright rooms. Binge-watching your favorite series or gaming? Colors pop on this bad boy; you don't have to deal with washed-out visuals.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

One of the standout features for me is the α8 AI Processor. It uses artificial intelligence to analyze the picture and sound, adjusting it to ensure you get the best viewing experience every time. The sound is clear and immersive, and the picture is crisp, with vibrant detail across all content. Plus, with the 120Hz refresh rate, everything from sports to fast-action movies looks buttery smooth. I love how this TV keeps up with fast-paced scenes, making every moment feel sharp and fluid.

The webOS 24 is another reason this TV is such a great deal. It's easy to navigate and connects you to all your favorite streaming apps. Plus, with LG Channels, you can access over 300 free channels. You'll be covered for years to come with up to five years of software updates, keeping your TV up-to-date with the latest features and improvements. Into streaming, gaming, or just watching live TV? This TV has you covered. I really appreciate that it'll keep improving over time.

For a TV with such stunning picture quality, top-tier processing power, and a solid smart platform, this LG 55-inch QNED Smart TV at Walmart is definitely worth considering. It's a huge upgrade at a price that's hard to beat.

SAVE OVER $500: The Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV is $828.15 at Walmart, saving you $569.84 from its original price of $1,397.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV $828.12 at Walmart
$1,397.99 Save $569.87 Get Deal

I’ve been hunting for a great TV deal, and the Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV at $828.15 (down from $1,397.99) at Walmart has everything I’ve been looking for. The color quality is jaw-dropping thanks to Quantum Dot technology, and the Quantum HDR feature makes everything pop with deep blacks and outstanding contrast. Whether you're watching movies or gaming, this TV offers vivid details and stunning visuals that truly elevate the experience.

What really sold me on this TV is the Quantum Processor Lite that enhances everything I watch. It works in real-time to upscale content to 4K, so even if I'm watching something not in 4K, it still looks crisp and clear. Add in Motion Xcelerator, and the TV ensures smooth, blur-free motion during fast-paced action scenes. This is a total game-changer, especially when watching sports or playing games where every frame counts.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

The Object Tracking Sound Lite feature also caught my attention. It creates a 3D surround sound experience that syncs with whatever’s happening on screen. So, when there’s a car chase or a big explosion, the sound moves with it, immersing me even more in the action. I’m all about that cinematic feeling at home, and the Q-Symphony 3.0 feature lets you pair the TV with a Samsung soundbar to take the audio experience up a notch. The sound and visuals work together perfectly.

This TV isn’t just about picture and sound — it’s also designed with gamers in mind. The Samsung Gaming Hub allows you to stream games directly to your TV, no console required, just a fast internet connection. The AirSlim Design keeps the TV ultra-thin and sleek, blending seamlessly into any room. Plus, with the SolarCell Remote, I never have to worry about constantly replacing batteries, since it’s solar-powered. It's just another smart feature that makes this TV feel ahead of its time.

If you're looking to upgrade your home entertainment setup, this Samsung 75-inch Q60CB QLED 4K Smart TV deal at Walmart is too good to pass up. With $569 off, the picture quality, sound, and smart features you get here are unbeatable for the price. Trust me, this is the TV you’ll want to show off.

SAVE OVER $20: The Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $69.99 at Best Buy, saving you $29.01 off the regular price of $99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 4-Pack $69.99 at Best Buy
$99.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal

I've been using Apple AirTags for a while now, and I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to know I can find all of my important stuff with a tap of my iPhone. If you misplace things like I do, you'll appreciate how simple and effective these little devices are.

And right now, Best Buy has a four-pack of Apple AirTags on sale for $69.99, saving you $29 off the regular price of $99. This is such a good deal, especially since I've gotten so much use out of mine. You can tag your keys, bag, or anything else you tend to misplace, and the Find My app takes care of the rest.

SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 off

The setup is super easy. Just pop the AirTag out of the box, tap it on your iPhone or iPad, and it's connected. I was able to set up all four AirTags in no time, and they've already saved me a lot of frustration. The Precision Finding feature is one of the best parts, especially if you have an iPhone 11 or newer. It uses Ultra-Wideband technology, and if your AirTag is nearby, it leads you right to it. It's like a little personal tracker that helps you find things fast, so I no longer have to waste time searching for my keys.

I can put it into Lost Mode right through the Find My app if I ever lose something. I get notified whenever the item is found by another device in the Find My network, which is huge. It's like having hundreds of millions of Apple devices out there helping you track your stuff. I've also used the built-in speaker on the AirTag to help me find my keys when they're buried in my bag. Just press a button in the app, and the AirTag will play a sound until you locate it. It's incredibly convenient.

These AirTags are small but tough, with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which means they can handle some rough conditions. I'm not worried about it getting damaged while I'm out. And the best part? The battery lasts over a year, and when it's time for a new one, you can replace it yourself. There's no need for recharging; just pop in a new battery, and you're good to go.

This is a must-have accessory for someone who always forgets where they put their wallet, phone, or keys. The four-pack at $69.99 is an amazing deal that will give you peace of mind. Whether it's your keys, luggage, or anything else, you'll be able to find it in seconds with the AirTags. I honestly don't know how I managed without them before. This deal is perfect if you're ready to stop wasting time looking for your stuff. You can get it now at Best Buy and make sure nothing goes missing again.

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 21, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale at Amazon for $199. That's 20% off their list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $199.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're an Apple user, the AirPods Pro 2 are an excellent investment. Offering great sound quality and noise-cancelation, these earbuds are a perfect pairing for those who frequently listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. I'm a very big fan and think they're worth every cent.

Amazon currently has the AirPods Pro 2 marked down to $199 from their $249 list price, saving you $50 overall. While not as low as they were during the Presidents' Day sale event, this is still a great discount to take advantage of if you're looking for high-quality earbuds at a decent price.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones for flying make air travel suck a little less

These earbuds have earned a place in our roundups of the best earbuds to buy in 2025 and the best headphones of 2025. In the latter, we said that, "For portability, active noise cancellation, and balanced sound, your search ends with the AirPods Pro."

I really love these earbuds. They're not only great for listening to my favorite music, but I frequently use the noise-canceling features while working to stay focused. And for when I'm out and about, I've loved using the Transparency mode that lets me stay a bit more aware of what's going on around me.

This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on 20% off the AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon.

Looking to save on even more Apple devices? You can also score a discount on the Apple Studio Display at Amazon right now and the iPad Pro is on sale at the moment at Best Buy.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Feb. 21, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are on sale for $148 at Amazon. This is 26% off their list price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT WEAR Headphones $148.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal

If you've been on the hunt for new headphones, look no further than Amazon. The retailer has had some great deals lately, even after the Presidents' Day sale event. One of our favorite deals we've spotted is on the Sony ULT WEAR headphones, which we consider to be the best picks for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. If you've been looking for an audio boost, these are definitely worth a look.

The Sony ULT WEAR headphones have had a 26% discount at Amazon, dropping them from their list price of $199.99 to $148. This allows you to pocket over $50, which is a very nice deal. They're currently marked as a limited-time deal, so if they've caught your eye you'll want to act fast to get them at this price.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025

As mentioned before, we consider these headphones to be the best for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. This is because, "In addition to the equalizer in the app, the headphones have a dedicated ULT button that lets you bump up the bass on demand. The 40-millimeter driver keeps it sounding clear and not crispy, making these headphones a worthy competitor to the WH-1000XM5s, our top pick for the best-sounding noise-cancelling headphones."

Our review even had high praise for them, with Mashable's Miller Kern saying, "The Sony ULT Wear headphones prioritize bass and provide punchy sound without sacrificing quality at a relatively affordable price."

With a comfortable design, noice-canceling features, and excellent sound quality, the Sony ULT WEAR headphones are worth every cent. Don't miss out on this limited-time deal at Amazon.

There are a couple more headphone deals worth checking out right now alongside these. Also on sale at Amazon are the Sennheiser Accentum headphones, which have dropped to their lowest-ever price, and the Sonos Ace headphones are discounted there as well.

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 February 21 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 February 21, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A segment of garlic.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CLOVE.

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 February 21

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.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 February 21 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: Fixing issues

• Green: Gather crops

• Blue: Features in editing program

• Purple: Items used with a dominant hand

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: Way of Solving a Problem

• Green: Collect, As from an Orchard

• Blue: Photoshop Tools

• Purple: Objects That May be Right-or-Left-Handed

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 #621 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Way of Solving a Problem: ANSWER, FIX, REMEDY, SOLUTION

• Collect, As from an Orchard: GATHER, HARVEST, PICK, REAP

• Photoshop Tools: ERASER, EYEDROPPER, LASSO, MAGIC WAND

• Objects That May be Right-or-Left-Handed: BASEBALL GLOVE, CAN OPENER, GOLF CLUB, GUITAR

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 February 21

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.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

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: Given to the winner

• Green: LA ______

• Blue: Cast a line

• 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: Award

• Green: A Los Angeles athlete

• Blue: Fishing baits and lures

• Purple: ________ crew

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 #151 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Award - MEDAL, CUP, PLAQUE, TROPHY

• A Los Angeles athlete - CLIPPER, KING, RAM, SPARK

• Fishing baits and lures - PLUG, SPINNER, SPOON, WORM

• ________ crew - BREW, COLUMBUS, GROUNDS, OFFICIATING

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.

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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "To infinity and beyond"

These words are animated characters.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are characters who star alongside the astronaut famous for this saying.

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 Toy Story.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 21

• Slinky

• Woody

• Wheezy

• Alien

• Bullseye

• Buzz

• Twitch

• Toy Story

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.