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I’ve had my Unraid server for the past several years, and it’s had an SSD cache drive for almost that entire time. However, at the beginning, my cache drive was definitely an unexpected bottleneck in my system. Here’s what happened and how I fixed it.

Wi-Fi is all around us, but it’s obviously not something we can see with our eyes. That makes it easy to miss Wi-Fi dead zones in your home, which is exactly what happened to me. Thankfully, Samsung Galaxy phones have a super handy Wi-Fi mapping tool built in.

Apple's first "e" model iPhone, the iPhone 16e, wasn't just a review unit for me; I actually lived with it as my main phone for over six months. And while I still stand by what I wrote in my review last year — it was surprisingly powerful for a "cheap" phone, with excellent battery life — the one thing I couldn't stand was its camera.

On paper, the camera was the same as the main camera on the iPhone 16. In reality, it was similar, but it produced way worse photos in low light. Photos of my kids dancing in the living room in the evening, or friends chatting over dinner, or a band playing in a small club? Most of those turned out pretty bad.

With the iPhone 17e, which came out in March, Apple fixed most of the other annoyances that plagued the original model. The camera is a little better, but is it enough?

Same look, but now with MagSafe

Focusing on said previous grievances, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe, Apple's magnetic, wireless charging tech that makes it easy to slap various accessories onto the phone.

MagSafe support means MagSafe cases are available for the iPhone 17e, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Apple sent me an iPhone 17e unit for review, and I was happily able to use my Apple Wallet and magnetic chargers with it. Apple also sent me a Clear Case with MagSafe, and while it may not be my favorite case in terms of design, it was a relief to be able to charge the phone magnetically without removing the case.

The ability to use MagSafe chargers and accessories is just about the only physical difference between the iPhone 17e and 16e, though. The iPhone 17e looks exactly the same as its predecessor, with the only difference being the new color, Soft Pink. The unit Apple sent me was in this color, and I can tell you that it is a very nice, but indeed a very soft pink.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e hands-on: New chip, more storage memory, and yes, MagSafe

On the front, there's still no Dynamic Island; the Face ID sensors and the selfie camera are still hidden inside a notch on the top of the display. The dimensions have remained exactly the same (your old iPhone 16e case will work), and the weight is virtually the same (169 grams for the new model, 167 grams for the old one).

The display, unfortunately, still only goes up to 60Hz. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The display is still a 6.1-inch OLED that maxes out at 60Hz, and that's very apparent if you switch from a 120Hz phone; the transitions and animations aren't nearly as smooth on the iPhone 17e.

New chip, more storage

The biggest improvements on the iPhone 17e are inside the phone. It has a new chip, Apple's powerful A19, which can power the latest AI shenanigans. Apple's C1X modem has replaced the old C1 modem, though it's hard to tell what sort of improvements this has brought.

Perhaps most importantly, the iPhone 17e starts at 256GB, compared to the iPhone 16e's 128GB starting storage. Given that the iPhone 17e's starting price remains unchanged at $599, this is a pretty big deal. You can also configure the iPhone 17e with 512GB of storage, but that takes the price to $799.

The Soft Pink color is the softest pink imaginable. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years. In fact, this makes it extremely similar to the $799 iPhone 17, though the A19 chip on the iPhone 17e has one less GPU core, meaning it'll be slightly worse for gaming. If you don't care about having the flashiest phone, and just need something that gets the work done, the iPhone 17e is a compelling choice.

When I reviewed the iPhone 16e, I was pleased with battery life and how powerful it was. But having used the phone over several months, I came away disappointed with the camera. The phone has a singular, 48-megapixel rear camera with similar specs to the iPhone 16's. But it just wasn't the same; it was alright in daytime, but night shots, or even shots taken in the relative dimness of my living room, just weren't good enough.

About that camera

The bad news is that the iPhone 17e has the same camera specs as the iPhone 16e. And yes, that means no dedicated telephoto or ultra-wide camera; just a single, 48-megapixel main camera on the back. Apple says that the new A19 chips will unlock better shots, and some new camera features are indeed here, including next-gen portraits with Focus and Depth Control. But is it better where it truly matters, which is low light shots?

Here's why insist on low light camera performance. New iPhones, especially those from the Pro line, as well as top Android phones, have spoiled the heck out of me (and probably most of you, dear readers).

One of the new camera features on the iPhone 17e is support for Apple's next-gen portraits. I managed to capture some beautiful shots, but the iPhone 17e's camera still seemed to struggle with focus and depth. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

It's easy to forget just how hard it was to get a decent low light shot on a smartphone just a few years ago. These days, however, I'm used to being able of taking a photo in a dim pub, or during an evening stroll, and have the phone automagically increase brightness and exposure while accommodating for the movements of my shaky hand. It's hard to go back to a phone that doesn't do that well.

So yeah, the iPhone 17e takes decent photos in broad daylight. All modern phones do. Selfies are alright, too, though nothing to write home about.

The selfie camera is still the old, 12-megapixel one. The other series 17 iPhones all have a better, 18-megapixel camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you want to zoom in with the iPhone 17e, you can do that, but it's purely digital: You'll simply get a smaller cutout of what the camera sensor has captured, and while the shot quality will remain the same, the resolution will be lower.

Left: The zoomed imag is just a digital cutout, but it can yield decent results. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Indoors, and in the evening, is where the camera's weaknesses show. Sometimes, Apple's Night Mode will kick in and save the day, producing a decent shot (while still not as good as the main camera on my iPhone 17 Pro Max). But sometimes you'll just get a smudgy, blurry shot, or the tones will be overly yellow.

The photo on the left was taken with the iPhone 17e, the one on the right with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Left: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The good news is that it does seem that the iPhone 17e's camera is a little better than the one on the iPhone 16e when it comes to low-light shots.

The biggest issue, perhaps, lies in expectations. Check Apple's official tech specs for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17e, and they're all listed as having a "48MP Fusion Main" camera, which might lead you to believe they cameras are the same. They're not, so just have that in mind when you're shopping for a new iPhone.

A pretty good entry-level iPhone It's improved, it's affordable, but the iPhone 17 may be a better option if you need a good camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

All things considered, the iPhone 17e is a decent upgrade over its predecessor, and a good choice if you want the cheapest new iPhone you can get. It's got MagSafe, more storage, and Apple's powerful A19 cheap. But if you need a better, more versatile camera, the iPhone 17 is a better choice.

This text is an expanded version of the hands-on iPhone 17e article which you can read on Mashable.

It might not be apparent if you browse through my article history over the past half-decade, but I actually don't like writing bad news about Microsoft Windows. I'm tired of having to complain about the world's most popular desktop operating system, developed by one of the largest and most valuable tech companies in existence.

When Tesla first unveiled the Cybertruck, the conversation centered around its apocalypse-proof demeanor and a design meant to survive the end of the world. But as the popular truck has integrated into the daily lives of its owners, the narrative has shifted from surviving a zombie onslaught or alien invasion to powering everyday life, be it for work or pleasure.

At this year's Galaxy Unpacked, I was more excited about the Galaxy Buds 4 than any of Samsung's new phones. But as cool as these new buds are, there's one thing about them that I wish Samsung would do differently—something that harkens back to the originals.

Using an API can be a tricky challenge, with issues like authentication, rate limiting, different data formats, and various HTTP verbs to master. But some APIs can be simple, requiring little more than a browser or the curl command-line tool.

TL;DR: TCGplayer has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Display listed from $109.49 with shipping included. That puts it $1.63 below TCGplayer’s current $111.12 market price, while also undercutting Amazon’s $119.95 listing.

Where to buy the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box Best TCGplayer deal Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $109.49 at TCGplayer Shop Now Best Amazon deal Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $119.95 at Amazon Shop Now

Booster box prices for newer Magic: The Gathering sets can slide around after launch, and Lorwyn Eclipsed has now dipped to one of its most tempting prices since release.

As of April 9, TCGplayer has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Display listed from $109.49 shipped. TCGplayer’s own current market price sits at $111.12, while its listed median is still far higher at $144.99. Amazon, meanwhile, has the same box priced at $119.95, so TCGplayer is currently the better buy by a pretty comfortable margin. 

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This display box includes 30 Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Boosters, with each pack containing 14 Magic trading cards. Every booster includes one traditional foil card, plus 1 to 4 cards of rare or higher rarity, alongside uncommons, commons, and a land. That makes this box a strong fit whether you’re buying for Limited nights, cracking packs for collection value, or just trying to get into the set without paying inflated early pricing.

Lorwyn Eclipsed is also a fairly easy sell for longtime fans. The set heads back to the split worlds of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, bringing back creature types like Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, and Elves while leaning into the contrast between eternal day and perpetual night.

Among the other newer MTG expansions, the Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box is also still available for around $140. Meanwhile, you can grab the MTG Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box for under $125.

Ring is a name that’s become synonymous with doorbell cameras, swallowing up a huge chunk of the market. On the surface, these cameras are easy to use and offer reasonable protection against would-be intruders and porch pirates.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 9, 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 April 9, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 9 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-3 placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 9 Pips

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this red space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 9 Pips

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this red space must be greater than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this green space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

Between "friction-maxxing" and the discussions regarding "social media addiction," it's safe to say that we're ambivalent about our lives online. We'd love to "touch grass," yet the bright colors of Instagram Reels lure us into remaining on our phones.

Some people, though, are making concerted efforts to decrease their screentime. But musician Leith Ross is taking it a step further: They're not looking at screens for a full year.

SEE ALSO: We didn't grow up on social media. We grew up on digital nicotine.

Not literally — they will go see a movie in the theater or borrow their partner's laptop for a Zoom interview, which is how Mashable spoke to Ross. But they no longer use a smartphone or a laptop themselves. They use an alarm clock, write by hand, and only play physical games.

The Canadian singer-songwriter still films videos for YouTube — but they record on a camcorder, and someone else uploads them to their channel with over 46,000 subscribers. 

Mashable interviewed Ross about their "year without screens," why they're doing it, and how it's changing their life.

Why go screen-free?

"It was a long time coming," Ross said. They explained that they believe they're addicted to screens and that their compulsive behavior around screens of all kinds was impacting them negatively.

Whether one can truly be addicted to screens or social media is, as of now, contested, much like sex addiction. But the World Health Organization has noted an increase in problematic social media use, such as a lack of control and experiencing negative consequences. "But it felt like everyone was dealing with the same thing," Ross said. They didn't have the motivation to try to do anything about it.

One day, though, their phone was dead. Their TV wasn't working, either, or something like that kept them off screens.

Then, they wrote a song they really liked, and they had an epiphany: There are probably hundreds of songs they could've written that never came to be because they were never bored.

There are probably hundreds of songs they could've written that never came to be because they were never bored.

"I felt a lot of grief in that moment, because writing music is what I love to do, and…and it feels like something I was supposed to do with my life," they said. "And I had just not been doing it as much as I could have."

That thought spiraled into thinking about how many books they wanted to read, too, which led them to wanting to do this project. Cutting things one bit at a time wasn't going to work, as it hadn't worked for them before. So they made a plan.  It took several months to implement, but since Jan. 6, 2026, Ross has been living (by and large) screen-free.

"My year of no screens"

In a seven-page document, Ross outlines the rules for their year with no screens as well as a mission statement. No smartphones, no TV, no laptop or desktop computer, and no gaming systems, with limited exceptions. For instance, they can use a library computer for essentials, such as booking flights. Their family also requests FaceTimes, which are done on a friend's or their partner's phone and supervised. 

Ross has uploaded two YouTube updates since starting their year with no screens, one at the end of Jan. (that has over 100,000 views) and another in Feb. Since then, they (or rather, their team) have also posted a song demo and vlogs from the European leg of their I Can See The Future Tour, a string of shows to support the release of their second album of the same name.

Compulsive screen use and information overload

What problematic screen use looked like in Ross's life was a constant need to be online or looking at a screen, an extreme anxiety or bad feeling in their body when they didn't have access, and a muscle memory of always reaching for a device.

Many people believe they're addicted to social media these days, and their screentime is in the double-digit daily hours. But Ross admitted that they may be a more extreme case, saying they couldn't physically stop themself from being online or scrolling or even watching TV.

"If I was having an anxious night, I would just be on TikTok until four in the morning or later, because as soon as I put it down, I felt that like horrible, overwhelming anxiety," they said. "It was just like my constant, constant, constant coping mechanism for everything."

But they hesitate to support social media bans for children, such as the mandate enacted in Australia last Dec.

"Our aim should be less on making policy that affects the population and more on making policy that affects the tech companies that are f*cking us over," they said, "for lack of a better term." They brought up social media algorithms that amplify hate speech and disturbing content, and that there should be a moral standard for what is shared and pushed by algorithms. 

Social media gives us the illusion of being connected, they said, but we're bombarded with information in an unhelpful way that shuts us down. We don't see uplifting content like liberation work — at least, that's not what Ross was seeing during their last couple of months online.

When they used social media, they also hyperfixated on how others perceived them — a common complaint. For example, last time they toured, they'd immediately go online after a show to see what they and their bandmates looked like, what they sounded like, and what people thought. But during their most recent tour, which ended weeks ago, they "couldn't lean on anybody else's experience at all." 

"I just had to take it at face value for what happened to me," they said, "and it sounds so funny, because isn't that just the human experience?" 

Not seeing the concert through other people's eyes was strange, but it made Ross happier. They weren't overanalyzing themself, how they looked on stage, or their behavior. "There was nothing that I could cling to and be hard on myself about in that way," they said.

"I was really forced into the moment, the present, which is a great feeling," Ross said.

How relationships change post-social media

Besides their relationship with themself, their relationships with other people have changed since they began their year of no screens — for good and bad.

For the friends they see often, their relationship has improved. Since they can't keep up with friends on social media, when they see or talk with them, they're excited to hear about what's been going on. 

"It's not like I wasn't excited to hear about my friends before, but I felt like I already knew," they said.

On the flip side, they said, "I now am not really allowed any illusion of being close to a person that I'm not actually close to." There are people Ross considered close friends before the project started, and while they still do, they don't really connect as much. Before, they felt an intimacy with people just replying to their Instagram stories.

"And I'm not saying that that's unimportant," they said. "But I am realizing that…I don't actually see them very much or at all, and…that we didn't have an ability to connect often and well outside of being online."

"It feels a bit lonely at times," they said, "but it's also inspiring me to strengthen those relationships in real, tangible ways that I can control."

They've also set up a P.O. Box and receive letters from fans and viewers. "Getting a handwritten letter is like a joy that I haven't experienced since I was very young, and it's so fun," they said. They used to be affirmed by kind DMs, now — similar to catching up with friends — receiving these positive messages now "feels like that much more rare and special and unique," especially because of the effort required to write and send a physical letter.

Should I do a year with no screens?

Ross recommends that anyone do this to the amount that they feel capable of — and not for the reasons you might think.

Beyond getting your attention span back, wanting to read more books, and be more creative, Ross believes there's a larger existential threat that makes them want to encourage others to lessen their screentime. 

They believe that an emotional distance has been created between people and their community due to capitalism, individualism, and social media. We're not tangible to each other, and we have less desire to sacrifice for others and do the hard things that make the world better, they said. Living a less digital life and being a part of a physical community may help with that.

"I feel like we need to find a very concrete way back to each other, so that when push comes to shove, we will have real, physical communities in our lives that can take care of us and who we can take care of," they said. 

They won't stop at a year, but when the year is up, they'll likely be less strict, they said. One of the main things they don't anticipate, though, is ever getting a smartphone again. The number one thing that has brought them back to their body and self is not having a computer on them at all times, they said.

For now, they seem to be frictionmaxxing to the extreme — not that they've seen the meme online before Mashable told them about it. 

"It's nice to hear from the other side of the veil [that] I'm relating to an online trend," they joked.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know basketball player nicknames.

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

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

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

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

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

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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: 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: High performers

• Green: Combat lingo

• Blue: Also known as

• Purple: Same first word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A team's best player

• Green: MMA terms

• Blue: Nicknames of former NBA players, with "the"

• Purple: Mr. ____

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 #563 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A team's best player - CENTERPIECE, HEADLINER, LEAD, STAR

• MMA terms - ARMBAR, CHOKE, CLINCH, SUBMISSION

• Nicknames of former NBA players, with "the" - ANSWER, BIG DIPPER, MATRIX, TRUTH

• Mr. ___ - 3000, HOCKEY, MET, OCTOBER

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

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

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

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

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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, April 9, 2026:

AcrossSlip-on shoe ... or something you don't want in your bathtub

• The answer is Clog.

Ancient artifact

• The answer is Relic.

In a most unusual way

• The answer is Oddly.

Springs in a mattress

• The answer is Coils.

Raven's haven

• The answer is Nest.

DownSlip-on shoe .. or something you really don't want in your bathtub

• The answer is Croc.

Strung along

• The answer is Led on.

Boomer's bop, nowadays

• The answer is Oldie.

Breathing organs for fish

• The answer is Gills.

Fluid-filled lump

• The answer is Cyst.

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

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 yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Orion is in space, the Artemis II crew is returning from the moon, and you can follow their journey without leaving Earth.

NASA's Artemis Real-time Orbit Website, or AROW, allows the public to track the moonship. During the roughly 10-day test flight, anyone with a phone or computer can see how far the crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — are from Earth.

The tracker turns a complex deep space mission into something easier to understand at a glance. With data from sensors on the spacecraft, AROW takes information already flowing to mission control in Houston and interprets it into simple visuals for the layperson. Instead of trying to picture where the crew might be, you can actually see their path, distances, and major milestones as they happen.

SEE ALSO: Artemis 2 mission timeline: An itinerary for the historic 10-day flight

People can download the NASA app or go to the website to give the tracker a spin. 

AROW began updating about a minute after liftoff on Wednesday, April 1, and will keep feeding live information until Orion dives back into Earth's atmosphere for a splashdown at the end of the mission. Online, users can see where the spacecraft sits in space and trace its figure-eight route.

NASA's Artemis Real-time Orbit Website provides the public with information about the Artemis II moon mission as it happens. Credit: NASA / AROW screenshot

NASA designed the website to show more than a dot on a map. It highlights key moments in the mission and points out features on the moon, including landing sites from the Apollo program. That lets viewers connect what they’re seeing today through Artemis — named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology — with the first era of human exploration on the lunar surface.

The NASA app includes similar features, plus an augmented reality tracker. After calibration, the app uses phone sensors to tell you how to move your device so on‑screen markers line up with where Orion is relative to your position on Earth. 

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For people who love to pore through the numbers, AROW also shares precise data describing Orion's location and motion.

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Since launch, the crew has been in a high-Earth orbit, allowing them time to check out the systems aboard the spacecraft before pushing into a moon-bound trajectory.

Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission in the Artemis campaign and a major step toward landing on the moon and learning how to live there. By sending astronauts around the moon and bringing them home safely, NASA is attempting to prove the systems needed for future lunar landings — and, perhaps down the road, the first human mission to Mars.

SAVE OVER $200: As of April 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's $220 off its list price of $499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop $279.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $220   Get Deal

For those days when you just don't want to vacuum, a robot vacuum is nice to have on hand. If you've been thinking about investing, there are thankfully some great deals still available post-Spring sales. Among them is the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop, which is discounted right now at Amazon.

As of April 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ is marked down to $279.99. Normally it's listed for $499.99, so this is a great opportunity to save $220. It's a model that earned a spot on our list of the best robot vacuums as the quietest pick.

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The Roborock Q10 S5+ can tackle a variety of messes, as it boasts features for both vacuuming and mopping. It has 10,000 Pa suction for clearing up carpets. It even comes with a JawScrapers Comb main brush and an anti-tangle side brush that help keep hair from getting caught up inside the rollers. And as for mopping, it scrubs up to 3,000 times per minute to get out annoying stains on harder surfaces.

It also works quietly, which is what landed it on our list of the best robot vacuums. Mashable's Leah Stodart said it, "has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning."

On top of that, its base comes with a 2.7 liter dust bag that can hold up to 70 days worth of dirt, dust, hair, and more. If it sounds like the kind of robot vacuum you've been looking for, don't miss out on this chance to save on the Roborock Q10 S5+ at Amazon.

Following days of threats, including a Truth Social post declaring that "a whole civilization will die tonight," Donald Trump has announced a "double-sided ceasefire" with Iran, a two-week period in which the contested Strait of Hormuz will allow shipping traffic.

On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert questioned the president's Wednesday social media post and his use of the term "double-sided."

"But aren't all peace deals double-sided? I believe there's a word for a single-sided ceasefire, and it's murder," the host said.

Trump also said on Truth Social that he agreed to the ceasefire because "we have already met and exceeded all military objectives" in the U.S/Israel war with Iran.

"It's true, this war reached all of its objectives," reacted Colbert. "It's been weeks since anyone mentioned the Epstein files."

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The Moon is nearing a new lunar phase, the Third Quarter. This occurs half of the Moon’s surface appears illuminated, with the visible portion continuing to shrink each night as we move towards the New Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, April 9, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 59% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

There's plenty for you to see on the surface of the Moon tonight, even if you don't have any visual aids. Just looking up with your eyes, you should be able to see the Mare Imbrium, Tycho Crater, and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Gassendi Crater, Alps Mountains, and the Apennine Mountains. Finally, if you have a telescope, expect to see features like the Apollo 12 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, it takes the Moon roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct stages during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves, which is why it can look full, partly lit, or just a slim crescent. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

SAVE $600: As of April 9, the Mova Z60 robot vacuum is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mova Mova Z60 Robot Vacuum $899 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $600   Get Deal

Robot vacuums are arguably one of the best smart home devices money can buy. They keep your floors clean, perhaps one of life's most arduous tasks, so you don't have to. Amazon regularly has great deals on top models, but as of April 9, this new deal on the Mova Z60 robot vacuum caught our eye. Not only is it reduced by $600, but it's dropped down to its lowest-ever price of $899 (from $1,499).

This vacuum is designed for powerful yet low-maintenance cleaning. It combines 28,000Pa suction with a HydroForce mopping system that sprays clean water while removing dirty water at the same time, so your floors are dust free and sparkly clean at all times.

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It has a TroboWave DuoBrush that helps prevent hair tangles, and AutoShield technology that detects carpets and lifts the mop to prevent it from getting damp. The all-in-one docking station also takes care of tasks like dust emptying, hot water mop washing, refilling, and hot air drying, so there's next to no manual upkeep.

There's even specific pet hair-focused features such as targeted cleaning around high-traffic areas and dual solution tanks for both cleaning and odor control.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $620: As of April 9, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is on sale for $679 at Amazon. That's a 48% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni $679 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $620.99   Get Deal

If you've been waiting for the right time to purchase a new robot vacuum, now might be that time. As of April 9, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni has dropped down to its lowest-ever price. With over $600 off the list price, you can take it home now for $679.

This vacuum is built for a serious clean. It combines BLAST technology with a 16,600Pa suction and enhanced airflow to pick up fine dust and pet hair. Its Triple Lift System automatically raises the mop, side brush, and main brush when moving between different surfaces, helping you keep carpets dry while still keeping your hard floors sparkly clean.

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This unit is almost completely self maintained, too. The OZMO Roller continuously self-washes during use to keep the mop fresh, and the ZeroTangle 2.0 helps to prevent hair from wrapping around the brush. The OMNI Station handles the rest of the maintenance by washing and drying the mop with hot water, refilling water, and emptying dust. It can even store dirt for up to 150 days before you need to empty manually.

And you don't even need to direct it around your home. This vacuum uses AIVI 3D 3.0 with LiDAR to recognise objects and map out your rooms, so it can navigate on its own.

This robot vacuum deal is available at Amazon now.