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Apple just axed its cheapest Mac Mini option, a compact 256GB desktop brain that previously cost Apple shoppers just $599.

First reported by MacRumors, the tech giant's new lineup starts with the Mac Mini at the company's $799, 512GB option. The more expensive model runs on Apple's M4 chip and offers 16GB of RAM, just like the $599 model, but with twice the storage.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI explains why ChatGPT suddenly loved goblins

Last week, Apple paused orders of the then sold-out 256GB Mac Mini, hinting at a lineup change. Apple CEO Tim Cook — who recently announced his departure from the company after 14 years — said on a recent earnings call that Mac Mini supply was currently constrained under global manufacturing squeezes and that meeting existing demand may be difficult. Tech companies and AI enthusiasts are weathering a global memory chip shortage, which is expected to worsen over the next year.

Cook himself attributed an increase in Mac Mini orders to the device's AI capabilities, with the Mac Mini now advertised for its Apple Intelligence processing power. Users have flocked to the portable computer amid a surge in interest in agentic AI after the launch of the open-source AI agent framework OpenClaw (previously known as both Moltbot and Clawdebot).

I've had a computer in some shape or form for too long to mention now, and have been building my own PCs for 20 years. Those two decades span multiple desktops, including some that were technically the same PC that evolved multiple times over years of upgrades. I'm also the designated tech person for a number of my family members and friends, which means I'm often saddled with old PCs that they don't know what to do with anymore.

If your aging PC is struggling to keep up with the demands of a modern Windows version, you are not alone. It's pretty common for older hardware to be left behind as software evolves. However, that doesn't mean your system is ready for an e-waste dump.

Whenever I'm at the computer, I seem to have Spotify going in the background. With data on Spotify songs available, I wanted to see if any traits the hit songs had in common. I used Spotify to see if I could build a model of a hit song.

Before every weekend rolls around, I like to refresh my Netflix watch list with limited series and miniseries that I can typically wrap up within a day or two. And if you're like me, you know how exciting these shows can be for a perfect binge-watching session.

Unreliable Wi-Fi is the most frustrating and common issue we deal with. It's a real struggle when you have to deal with buffering screens, dropped video calls, issues with your smart home, and slow download speeds that usually make even new devices seem old. For years, the default advice for solving this problem has been to replace your old router. Performance does not depend on purchase price. If you master a few cheap software tweaks and small physical adjustments, you can get back significant speed and stability without spending money.

PowerShell is a Windows utility you can use to fix a surprisingly large number of common Windows 11 issues. It's often faster than digging through Windows 11 menus and in many cases, you can simply copy, paste, and execute commands without any further intervention on your side.

It's 2026, and Android still doesn't have some basic features like cutting off internet access for certain apps. Now there are third-party apps that make this sort of firewall possible on Android. However, they come with one big trade-off: they need to run constantly in the background as a VPN tunnel.

Serial Instagram reuploaders are about to be hit hard in the algorithm, as the platform announces new content ranking guidelines intended to boost original content creators.

Accounts that primarily aggregate content or repost others' content without meaningful alterations or additions won't be recommended to other users, Instagram explained in a recent Creators blog post. The platform announced the same algorithmic guidelines for Reels uploads in 2024. Now they'll apply to photos and carousel posts, too.

SEE ALSO: New rules for the Oscars: AI actors are out of the race

"Original content" is defined as "work that you wholly created or reflects your unique perspective," Instagram explains. That includes original photos and designs, as well as third-party content that is materially edited by the user. "Some examples include adding unique text on the content itself that provides more context than just describing what’s happening, adding creative graphics that offer new information, or using our remix feature to transform the original," the blog post reads.

The platform recommends that accounts that frequently reshare content share other users' posts to their stories, use the repost button, or enable collab posts to avoid being marked ineligible.

Aggregator accounts that are marked ineligible for recommendations under the new guidelines can regain their place in the feed by pivoting to original posts. Instagram says "most" of an account's posts, carousels, and reels need to feature original content over a 30-day period to have the decision reversed. Users can also remove unoriginal content and appeal the decision.

The Academy won't be handing over the golden statuette to robots anytime soon.

In new rules announced May 1, the Academy ​of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has ruled that AI performances are not eligible for an Oscar. Filmmakers can still utilize AI tools in their submitted works, but only human actors and human-authored screenplays will be considered for the body's highest honors.

SEE ALSO: Spotify now verifies artists that are human, not AI

The move aligns with AI agreements won during the 2023 Writers' Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes and addresses growing tension over the presence of generative AI tools across artistic industries.

For example, a recent trailer for the upcoming historical adventure film As Deep as the Grave, featuring an entirely AI-generated recreation of the late Val Kilmer, caused widespread furor among fans who recoiled at the on-screen digital likeness. Prior to his death, Kilmer created an AI version of his speaking voice with UK tech company Sonantic. Other celebrities, like Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine, have worked with AI company ElevenLabs to clone their voices, as well.

But while some celebs are getting ahead of their AI counterparts, others are fighting back against nonconsensual deepfakes writ large. Pop star Taylor Swift recently filed for trademark of her voice and image — including the phrase "Hey, it's Taylor." — amid a surge of synthetic AI likenesses of her proliferating across the internet, including ones used in data phishing scams.

The Academy announced additional rule changes for international film and acting categories, generating buzz online after several contentious Oscar campaign races in recent years. For non-English films, a country can now have multiple nominated entries instead of the previous limit of one. Similarly, actors can receive multiple nominations in the same category if their performances rank in the top five.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 2, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 2, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 2 Pips

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 2 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 2 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

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

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

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports 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 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 before 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Found in the Iron City

• Green: Keeping score

• Blue: PWHL's best

• Purple: Racing horse winners

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A Pittsburgh Athlete

• Green: Seen on an MLB Scorebug

• Blue: Teams in the PWHL Playoffs

• Purple: Horse Racing Triple Crowns

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 #585 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A Pittsburgh Athlete: PANTHER, PENGUIN, PIRATE, STEELER

• Seen on an MLB Scorebug: COUNT, INNING, OUTS, SCORE

• Teams in the PWHL Playoffs: CHARGE, FLEET, FROST, VICTORIE

• Horse Racing Triple Crowns: AFFIRMED, CITATION, JUSTIFY, WHIRLAWAY

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

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

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

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

If you sideload books onto your Kindle, you'll know that things don't always go smoothly. Files sometimes don't even convert properly, the formatting can be completely unpredictable, and your library becomes messy very quickly. That's why I convert my eBooks in Calibre before putting them on my Kindle. It fixes almost all the problems.

So you've heard about Qubes OS, and you're scared to try it. Well, you should be. Qubes OS is not something you can fumble through; there's an upfront research cost, and just because you have a powerful computer, it doesn't mean it'll work. I explain the entire hardware landscape in simple terms.

If you have a few ESP32’s lying around and nothing to do with them, let me show you some fun projects you can finish in under an hour. From full-on air quality monitors to simple sensor projects, here are five things you can do with your ESP32s today.

Is your Netflix watch list looking a little dry? Netflix is set to release new titles in May as the heat picks up, which will ensure your summer watch list is packed with new, fresh films, shows, documentaries, and live events.

Running a Plex server starts out as a tidy experiment and then quietly turns into infrastructure. At first, it is a few movies in a folder, maybe a TV show or two that you swear you will organize later. Then one evening you open the library and realize half the metadata is wrong, some files refuse to match, and someone has just messaged you asking if you can “add that one show with the guy” (this description is somehow expected to be sufficient). That is the moment Plex stops being a media server and starts behaving like a system that needs tooling around it.

If you've already made the switch from VLOOKUP to XLOOKUP in Excel, you've taken the first step toward better formulas. But most people still only use it as a drop-in replacement—they're missing one of its most powerful capabilities.

TL;DR: Build a Lego Star Wars N-1 Starfighter and take it home with you for free on May 3.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free N-1 Starfighter for Star Wars Day   Learn More

Lego regularly runs make and take events, providing an opportunity for participants to walk away with an exclusive build for free. We've made noise about a number of these free giveaways over the years, but nothing gets the people going like free Star Wars Lego.

Lego is once again celebrating Star Wars Day by offering an exclusive mini build for free. Visitors to select Lego Stores around the world can build and bring home a model Star Wars N-1 Starfighter for free. This event is intended for participants aged 10+ years, and the model is available on a first-come-first-serve basis, at participating locations, while supplies last. Warning: These free models are going to go quickly.

In the U.S. and Canada, this free giveaway will take place from 12-2 p.m. on May 3. You can then admire your free model on Star Wars Day.

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The free model depicts the Mandalorian’s second ship with Grogu. You're obviously not getting the same level of detail as the new 1,809-piece Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter, but it's a seriously fun collectible that money cannot buy. What's not to love?

The only catch is that you are limited to one build per participant. You can't just turn up and stock up, but that feels fair.

Celebrate Star Wars Day in style with a free N-1 Starfighter from Lego.

Your 3D printer can turn photos and other images into physical objects using a variety of techniques. This includes—but is not limited to—lithophanes, a 19th-century technique that traditionally relied on porcelain but has since been updated for the modern age.