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SAVE UP TO $1,900: The Samsung early Black Friday sale has major discounts on TVs, tablets, watches, earbuds, home appliances, and more. Slash $1,700 off the 4-Door Flex refrigerator.

Best early Black Friday deals at Samsung Best earbuds deal Galaxy Buds3 Pro $209.99 at Samsung (save $40) Get Deal Best home appliance deal Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator (full-depth) $3,299 at Samsung (save $1,700) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 55-inch Class Neo QLED 4K $999.99 at Samsung (save $400) Get Deal

From phones to watches to earbuds and almost every major home appliance, Samsung consistently makes some of the highest quality tech. If you're thinking of updating some of your personal tech in 2024, like earbuds or a smartwatch, the Samsung early Black Friday sale has discounted prices on tons of wearable tech.

There are also major discounts if you could use a new TV, refrigerator, or washing machine. All in all, the early Black Friday deals at Samsung are worth paying attention to. Here are some of our top recommendations:

Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro $209.99 at Samsung
$249.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Less than a month since their release, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are already seeing a pretty sweet discount. While they usually sell for $249.99, Samsung's early Black Friday sale puts them at just $209.99, which saves you a nice $40.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro focus on fit and comfort, with a redesigned ear canal form that's both more comfortable for wearing all day and better when it comes to immersive sound. The Buds3 Pro also feature some of Samsung's most advanced features, like hearing language translations in the buds during face-to-face conversations. If you have international travel coming up in 2025, the Buds3 Pro could be ideal for both the long flights and having a better understanding on the ground once you arrive with the translation feature.

More wearable tech deals

• Samsung Galaxy Buds FE — $79.99 $99.90 (save $20)

• Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro — $129.99 $229.90 (save $100)

• Samsung Buds3 — $149.99 $179.90 (save $30)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch FE — $169.99 $199.90 (save $30)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch7 — $239.99 $299.90 (save $60)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra — $599.99 $649.90 (save $50)

Best home appliance deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator (full-depth) $3,299.00 at Samsung
$4,999.00 Save $1,700.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With incredibly convenient features, the Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator will become the reason people gather in the kitchen during holiday parties. For starters, the model comes with Samsung's Family Hub display, a large screen that lets you display photos, check on recipes, or stream your favorite shows and playlists.

This model also includes extra features like a door sensor that opens with a light touch, dual ice makers, and a flexible zone that you can use as a refrigerator or a freezer.

More home appliance deals

• Samsung Bespoke Over-the-Range Microwave (2.1 cubic feet) — $299 $499 (save $200)

• Samsung Auto Release dishwasher — $549 $899 (save $350)

• Samsung Bespoke Slide-In Range With Air Fry and Air Sous Vide — $1,099 $2,099 (save $1,000)

• Samsung Pet Care Solution Top Load Washer and Dryer — $1,489 $2,298 (save $800)

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch Class Neo QLED 4K $999.99 at Samsung
$1,399.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Winter calls for enjoying some relaxing time at home with no pressure to be productive. A great excuse to add to your arsenal of reasons to chill at home this winter is enjoying a new TV. The Samsung 55-inch Class Neo QLED 4K is the perfect reason to enjoy football games, the new season of Squid Game in December, or learn from baking tutorials. The Samsung uses Quantum Matrix with mini LEDs that work to increase brightness and clarity in every scene.

Samsung also uses Motion Xcelerator, which gives off crisp images at the speed of 120 frames per second. Plus, enabling AI Energy Mode means you could be reducing energy consumption this winter.

More TV and home entertainment deals

• Samsung The Frame 50-inch Class QLED 4K — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 (save $200)

• Samsung 65-inch Class The Serif QLED 4K — $1,699 $1,999 (save $300)

• Samsung Q-Series Wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbar + rear speakers — $1,499.99 $1,999.99 (save $500)

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T-Mobile’s early Black Friday sale has started, offering up to 4 new iPhone 16 phones for free with trade-ins of eligible phones and new lines.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 16 Get 4 free iPhone 16s with eligible trade-in and new lines at T-Mobile Get Deal

Has your phone seen a little wear and tear this year? Now’s the time to do something about that with T-Mobile’s new iPhone 16 deal for up to four phones. If you have a qualifying used phone, you can trade it in to get access to this deal and get $830 off on a new iPhone 16. Trade in four phones and start new lines to update the whole family.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: How are they different?

First, select a new iPhone 16 — available in five colorways. This deal only triggers when you trade, so make sure you don’t skip that option on the website menu. To get the credit you’ll need to trade in an iPhone 11 Pro or newer, or equivalent value phone from another brand. If your phone is too old, then T-Mobile will offer you an alternate credit of $415 off.

After you select your phone and set up the trade, add a new eligible T-Mobile line. Once your purchase and trade go through, you’ll receive a bill credit, which will fund the balance of the offer over 24 months. This bill credit will apply each month. Keep paying for the whole 24-month cycle to take full advantage of the deal.

Additionally, grab this deal now and T-Mobile will waive your online activation fee, for $35 of savings per line.

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 Nov. 7'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 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 8 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: Puck protection

• Green: Yellow flag topics

• Blue: Hoop dreams

• Purple: Different types of this sport

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 - Hockey equipment

• Green - Football penalties

• Blue - Basketball movies

• Purple - ____ Hockey

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 #46 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Hockey equipment: GLOVE, HELMET, SKATES, STICK

• Football penalties: CLIPPING, FACE MASK, HOLDING, OFFSIDE

• Basketball movies: HOOSIERS, HUSTLE, SEMI-PRO, SPACE JAM

• ____ Hockey: AIR, FIELD, FLOOR, ICE

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.

Andrea Arnold lobs everything including the kitchen sink at her latest tale of realism, though she can't quite balance its highs and lows. Bird follows a poor 12-year-old's coming-of-age in Southeast England, and her friendship with a mysterious stranger. It's as much about grimy, tangible details as it is about ethereal ideas of what the lens can (and cannot) see, but this self-reflexivity is, at once, the movie's most breathtaking facet, as well as its undoing.

Arnold has long employed a roving lens to explore rural and suburban landscapes. Bird, her first fiction film is nearly a decade, is no exception, though she affords herself too much aesthetic liberty at times. This time around, her handheld style is more chaotic than exploratory. It often obscures more than it reveals. However, her actors help her in capturing just enough vulnerability to make up for this misstep.

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

The film doesn't quite fit together, but its individual pieces can be dazzling. Some even border on the divine, and they work to remind us that even a lesser Arnold is still a cut above most people's best.

What is Bird about? Credit: Atsushi Nishijima / Courtesy of MUBI

Hard-as-nails Bailey (newcomer Nykiya Adams), a 12-year-old biracial Black girl, lives with her young, wayward white father, Bug (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn), in a dilapidated apartment project in Kent, England. In fact, their town is called Gravesend, a murky name that echoes their dead-end prospects, though this doesn't stop Bug from planning a wedding celebration he can't afford. To Bailey's chagrin, Bug's girlfriend of three months and now fiancée, Kayleigh (Frankie Box), is about to move into their home with her infant daughter. The pre-teen lashes out, and attempts to join the vigilante gang run by her 14-year-old half-brother, Hunter (Jason Buda).

Arnold often takes an oblique, blink-and-you'll-miss-it approach to establishing some of these relationships, which often come to light through quick and muffled dialogue. This is, in essence, the point. It can be initially hard to tell whether the heavily tattooed, high-energy Bug is Bailey's father or her sibling, or where Bug and Hunter are related at all — they barely share the screen — which speaks to how young and ill-prepared Bug is for fatherhood, and the family's fractured nature.

Hunter and his scrawny friends try to take the law into their own hands by attacking domestic abusers and recording their assaults for social media, and while this could make its own intriguing feature, it's but a passing detail in Arnold's jagged-edged world — for better or worse. While it does eventually pay off in the plot (and has at least glancing thematic relevance), it can't help but feel like a morally intriguing aspect of Bailey's story has gone unexplored.

After Bailey is ousted from these missions for her safety, she comes across an awkward, friendly figure who goes only by the name Bird (Franz Rogowski, Passages). Bird claims to have come to Gravesend to track down his parents, from whom he was separated as a child. In keeping with the film's persistent issue, this saga is also sidelined as soon as it gets interesting, but the ephemeral nature of Bird's arrival is, in its own way, wondrous.

Franz Rogowski brings a shimmering warmth to Bird. Credit: Robbie Ryan / Courtesy of MUBI

From the moment he appears, Rogowski's soft physicality brings dazzling contrast to Bailey's rough-and-tumble world, building intrigue in the process. Their initial connection is built on commonalities; Bird defies gender binaries with his lengthy skirt, as does Bailey with her short hair and boisterous attitude, and they happen to meet in the wide-open isolation of a lonely field, as if they're each escaping from something. However, Bird also represents a sense of wide-eyed possibility that Bailey's surroundings don't often allow her to feel.

Something as simple as Bird's quiet smile, and his seeming friendly demeanor with no ulterior motives, feels entirely alien to Bailey, though it might to most people. Rogowski plays Bird with one eye towards rejecting all things cynical, whether to maintain optimism about his familial search or simply because this is some innate quality Bird happens to possess.

Bird often rides the line between character and idealistic symbol, especially when Bailey begins capturing him with her phone camera, and projecting his images on her bedroom wall. On occasion, he'll stand perched on the roof of a nearby building, unmoving, looking down at her like an angelic being. The way he carries himself is beautiful and breathtaking. He's a breath of fresh air that Bailey and the movie sorely need.

Bird is almost self-reflexive about its images — but not quite. Credit: Courtesy of MUBI

Unfortunately, Bailey's proclivity for capturing scenery is yet another idea left unexplored, even though Bird is at its most potent when dipping its toe into her perspective. Her pictures and videos are gentle in a way her surroundings are not, and the question of whether she's projecting this gentleness out into the world or finding it in places others might not seek it remains largely untouched.

Arnold is usually adept at capturing the rhythms and invisible hues of any place she films, but her framing here is often so off-kilter as to be nauseating. Bird is too quick and chaotic to ever ruminate on its images — Arnold's own, or the ones she creates for Bailey — which makes her protagonist's own point of view feel fleeting, even when the movie delves further into her family.  

However, Bird's enigmatic presence, as briefly seen through Bailey's eyes, is just alluring enough, and allows Arnold to keep an observational distance without the movie coming apart at the seams. Along the way, as teenage drama comes to the fore, it's also complemented by strange happenings verging on magical realism, thanks to the strange behavior of animals. While these can be chalked up to coincidental oddities, they're framed with just enough mischief to pose delightful doubts about the movie's true nature.

Whether or not Bird represents or possesses some kind of divinity is practically irrelevant in the face of whether or not Bailey can recognize this or capture it. However, rather than exploring its latent symbolism, the film soon begins straying into awfully literal territory. It can't seem to maintain its sense of mystery for very long. In the process, even its most life-affirming moments tend to lose their impact, even though Rogowski's otherworldliness is a marvel to behold.

Bird is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Nov. 8, 2024, 9:19 a.m. EST Bird was originally reviewed out of its NewFest premiere in New York. This article has been republished for its theatrical debut.

Apple is planning a major camera upgrade, but it might not arrive until 2026.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is working on adding a variable aperture main camera to its iPhone 18 Pro series.

That wasn't a typo: We're talking about the iPhone 18 Pro, the one that's likely to arrive in 2026. Yes, we know that's very far in the future, but Kuo gets his info from Apple's supply chain, and the company often does plan this far ahead.

SEE ALSO: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) review: Record-breaking performance

Kuo's post focuses on the potential suppliers of this new camera; he thinks they'll be Sunny Optical, Largan Precision, and Luxshare.

Notably, an earlier report from The Information claimed that Apple would bring the variable aperture camera to the iPhone in 2025, but it appears that the launch has been delayed for a year.

For the end user, the variable aperture main camera should bring noticeable improvements; the camera should perform better in low light, as the variable aperture allows the camera to control how much light hits the lens. It could also improve portrait mode, as variable aperture should allow for more precise depth of field control.

While we'll apparently have to wait two years for an Apple phone with this tech, phones with variable aperture cameras do exist on the market already. One example is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which Xiaomi unveiled (as a global device) during Mobile World Congress in February this year.

A young couple kidnapped by a creepy driver is a straightforward enough horror concept, but Bruce Goodison's Black Cab throws in a spooky twist to shake things up.

While the first two acts are easy enough to follow, the movie's ending — and particularly the final moments — is a bit more of a head scratcher.

What was the deal with that ghost? Is Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) alive or dead at the end? We've had a go at breaking it down below.

SEE ALSO: 25 hidden gems of horror found on Shudder What's Black Cab about?

First, a quick recap of the key points. In Black Cab, Anne and her fiancé Patrick (Luke Norris) are kidnapped by a taxi driver called Ian (Nick Frost), who claims to have driven Anne previously. After remembering that he picked her up from a hospital maternity ward and spoke to her about her pregnancy in their last ride, Ian electrocutes Patrick with a taser and zip-ties both of them.

Ian then drives them to Mabel Hill, a notorious road that he claims is haunted by the ghost of a woman whose child died before she did — a ghost that Anne herself keeps catching glimpses of during their drive. But it isn't until the final act that we discover why Ian is doing this.

What happens at the end of Black Cab?

We learn Ian has a wife and son of his own, but he's clearly mentally unstable. Although he changes his story a couple of times, the final version reveals that he's had ideas of killing the boy as a way to punish his wife for accusing him of cheating. Ian believes these dark thoughts are what's led to him being haunted by the ghost he's seen on the road; he thinks she's searching for a living child as a replacement for her own that she lost.

Ian's twisted plan in kidnapping Anne, therefore, is to offer her and her unborn baby up to the ghost as a way of getting her to leave him alone. The problem? As Anne finally reveals to Ian, she's no longer pregnant; she had a miscarriage shortly after he gave her that previous lift from the hospital.

After breaking this news Anne chases after the ghost, accusing her of taking her baby. Ian runs away through the woods only to circle back to his black cab. He gets in, drives off, then appears to crash into Anne when she runs out into the road — but when he gets out and checks, there's nobody there. As he drives off again we see a ghostly image of Anne sitting in the back seat of his cab.

Credit: Shudder What really happens to Anne at the end?

A lot to unpack, isn't it? The main question we were left with when Black Cab finished, though, had to do with Anne's fate. Is she alive at the end of the film, or dead? What's happened to her?

Ultimately Anne's fate isn't clear, but the implication seems to be that she's dead at the end of the movie. Maybe she collapsed in the woods while chasing the ghost, dying from complications related to Ian also tasering her earlier in the film? Her cause of death isn't clear, but the fact that the road is empty after Ian appears to crash into her strongly suggests that Anne is a ghost at this point — as does the final shot of her sitting in the back seat of his cab as he drives away.

Our best guess? Anne has essentially replaced the ghost haunting her and Ian throughout the film. The ghost lost a child, so she took Anne's — and now that Anne's dead, like a curse being passed down, she'll be the one haunting Mabel Hill in search of what she's lost.

How to watch: Black Cab is streaming now on Shudder.

TL;DR: Live stream Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2024 WTA Finals are nearing their conclusion. We're at the semi-final stage, meaning the remaining players can almost taste the absolutely huge prize money reward on offer. The Riyadh singles champion will win no less than $4.45 million, so there's quite literally a lot of stake.

Zheng meets Krejcikova in the first semi-final matchup. If you want to watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free

The 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including Zheng vs. Krejcikova.

If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Zheng vs. Krejcikova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 November 8'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 November 8 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Daring adventure

• Green: Pickles

• Blue: Could be sexually suggestive

• Purple: Sayings for getting rid of something

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: Escapade

• Green: Kinds of Pickles

• Blue: Risqué

• Purple: Cut The___

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 #515 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Escapade: ANTIC, CAPER, EXPLOIT, STUNT

• Kinds of Pickles: DILL, KOSHER, SOUR, SWEET

• Risqué: ADULT, BLUE, SPICY, SUGGESTIVE

• Cut The___: CHEESE, CORD, DECK, MUSTARD

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 November 8

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 the latest Connections.

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 November 8'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 November 8 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 November 8 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Is prepared.

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 R.

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...

READY.

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 November 8

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

15% OFF: As of Nov. 8, Target Circle members can get 15% off Fandango gift cards.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango Target Circle Members: Get 15% Off Fandango Gift Cards Get Deal

This time of year is all about excellent deals. Target, in particular, is already dropping early Black Friday deals for shoppers to enjoy. If you're part of their Target Circle program (and if not, it's free to join), you can score even more discounts. One of our favorites at the moment is this deal on Fandango gift cards, but you'll want to act fast as it expires after Nov. 8.

Target Circle members can get 15% off Fandango gift cards. This offer applies to the $25 card, $50 card, and $100 card. If you've been looking for a good gift idea, you truly can't go wrong with a Fandango gift card that can set someone up for some fun visits to the movie theater.

SEE ALSO: Movie lovers can score 50% off The Criterion Collection at Barnes and Noble

These gift cards can be used to purchase tickets online for a wide variety of upcoming movies at numerous movie theaters. Thankfully, their website has a full breakdown of movie theater partners as well so you can find your best local option. And with so many movies coming out this holiday season — from Gladiator II to Wicked to Nosferatu — a gift like this can save someone a lot on multiple trips to the cinema.

Target's got plenty more deals to check out right now as well, given their early Black Friday sale event is running until this Saturday. A few other retailers are jumping in on the Black Friday action ahead of the actual day as well, like Walmart and Best Buy, so check out our breakdowns of each to learn more about what their plans are.

TikTok will now let you share songs directly from Apple Music and Spotify to the platform.

Announced by the company on Thursday, the new "Share to TikTok" feature gives users of music streaming platforms the ability to share tracks, podcasts, or even audiobooks straight to TikTok.

The option to "Share to TikTok" will now appear when you go to share a song or album on Spotify or Apple Music. You can either post your selected track straight to the TikTok feed, using Photo Mode or the green screen feature to appear in the video steaming with hot takes. Or you can share straight to TikTok DMs to send it to your friends, where clicking on the song will open it in either Apple Music or Spotify.

SEE ALSO: What does WLW mean? The term is all over TikTok.

Amazon Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, and other music streaming platforms were not named in the announcement.

The feature is meant to be a complementary addition to TikTok's "Add to Music App" launched in November last year, which lets users tap the button next to the name of the song playing in a video and add it to their chosen music streamer.

Credit: TikTok

"Today's launch of 'Share to TikTok' is the latest example of our ongoing commitment to support music discovery and artist promotion in partnership with music streaming services," said Ole Obermann, global head of music business development, in a press statement.

"Since its launch, 'Add To Music App' has already been responsible for hundreds of millions of track saves and billions of streams on our partner music streaming services. 'Share to TikTok' takes the user experience full circle, and will be an amazing way of promoting artists and tracks to the TikTok community."

It won't be this straightforward with every share, however. Major labels have different licensing agreements in place with TikTok; for example, in May, TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) reached a "multi-dimensional" deal to put their artists back on the platform after the label pulled its whole catalogue. Warner Music Group (WMG) and Sony Music Entertainment have their own deals with TikTok.

Meanwhile, indie labels have their own deals. When TikTok's licensing deal with the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), which represents a number of indies, expired in April, the NMPA said it would not renew its license with TikTok. Indie nonprofit label licensing group Merlin is threatening to remove a large chunk of its catalogue from TikTok.

So, while sharing music to your TikTok DMs seems pretty safe as it's just a link, sharing to your feed might be more complicated.

The news also comes after TikTok said it would be pulling the plug on TikTok Music by November. The music streaming service never made it to the U.S., and had debuted in Brazil and Indonesia in July last year.

50% OFF: As of Nov. 8, The Criterion Collection is 50% off at Barnes and Noble. This sale runs until Dec. 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection 50% off at Barnes and Noble Get Deal

It's a fantastic time of year to be a movie fan. Not just for the Black Friday shopping event, which usually offers some great 4K and Blu-ray discounts, but also for the big Criterion Collection sale at Barnes and Noble. For those looking to get their hands on some incredible films from their collection, this is an excellent time to stock up.

The Criterion Collection is currently 50% off at Barnes and Noble. This sale features a wide variety of 4Ks, Blu-rays, and DVDs to build out your physical media collection, but also a variety of boxed sets are on sale, including the massive CC40 box set. This sale only runs until Dec. 2, so if you've had your eye on some films, now's a great time to pick them up.

SEE ALSO: Save over 80% on Audible audiobooks and dive into new stories this winter

The added bonus of purchasing from The Criterion Collection is that each cover has a unique design that'll stand out beautifully in your collection. They're physical editions that are worth every penny, and investing in high-quality 4Ks and Blu-rays is always a good idea. Though streaming is there with a touch of a button, there's nothing quite like watching a physical copy of your favorite films.

There are plenty more deals on physical media still to come as Black Friday approaches. Some retailers are jumping into the seasonal sale event early this month as well, so it's worth having a look at our breakdowns of Walmart, Best Buy, and Target's shopping events to see what they've got planned.

Sorry, folks: You won't be able to share your Max login credentials much longer.

The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service announced it would start cracking down on accounts that are sharing their password back in March, but not much has really happened so far.

In the company's third quarter 2024 earnings call on Thursday, JB Perrett, CEO and president of global streaming and games for Warner Bros., said Max will start with "very soft messaging" around password sharing later this year.

SEE ALSO: The best Christmas movies now streaming on Netflix

"As we kick into '25 and into '26 you'll see more and more progress on that, which in effect is a form of a price rise as well, obviously asking members who have not signed up or multi-household members to pay a little bit more," he said. "And so you're going to see that as an additional kicker."

This probably means users can expect emails warning them about password sharing, followed by offers to start paying for extra members.

The company previously said it would fully roll out paid sharing in 2025.

There's potentially worse news, too. According to Perett, Max might also increase the prices of its streaming service as it deems there is a "fair amount of room" for higher prices due to the service's "premium nature."

"We think the premium nature of our product in particular lends us to have a fair amount of room to continue to push price," he said. "We've been judicious about it, but every price rise we've done so far the churn has actually been lower than we projected and expected and the retention continues to be strong."

The company increased the prices for its streaming service twice this year, most recently in June.

Max's move to curb password sharing is hardly surprising given that Netflix saw a big subscriber increase after it put an end to password sharing on its streaming service.

Jimmy Kimmel has responded to Elon Musk calling him a "propaganda puppet".

Instagrid's tiny power grid is bringing big changes to music festivals.

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Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.

AI has taken the world by storm, but perhaps its best use case right now is in productivity. Where do you get most of your productivity done? Well, it depends on what your job is, but for most of us, our work happens best on our computers — especially if our computers are NPU-equipped, and AI ready. Over the past year or so, companies from Microsoft to Apple have been building AI-powered tools to supercharge productivity, baking these features into their latest and greatest laptops in an effort to help users get more out of their devices. 

Not only is AI super useful for productivity, but it can play a role in how you use your laptop to relax too. Here's a look at the best AI laptop features, for both work and play, out there right now.

AI assistants at the push of a button

Many laptops now feature AI assistants that can be prompted from the keyboard.

Microsoft, for instance, was relatively quick to the AI revolution with Copilot, which is available in full force on Copilot+ PCs, like the Microsoft Surface Laptop. Copilot works kind of like ChatGPT and allows you to chat about basically anything you can imagine, including researching or coming up with outlines for that presentation you haven't put together yet. Copilot+ PCs even have a dedicated Copilot button that you can press to easily bring up the AI assistant whenever you need it.

Improve your writing with the help of built-in AI

Laptops are the best tools around for writers, and having AI writing assistants built in seems like a no-brainer.

Apple, which may not have been quite as quick as Microsoft to bring AI features to its laptops, is making up for lost time now that macOS 15.1 Sequoia is available. All of Apple's top-of-the-line laptops, like the new M4 MacBook Pro, have access to some Apple intelligence features. Many of these features are slightly more subtle than Microsoft's, being easily accessible when you need them but not quite as in your face. A perfect example of this is Apple Intelligence's new Writing Tools feature. All you have to do is highlight some text, right-click on it, and head to the Writing Tools menu item. From there, you'll be able to have Apple Intelligence proofread text, rewrite it, or completely change the tone of it to be more friendly or more concise. It's pretty handy for day-to-day use, and it's great that it's easily accessible wherever you might type text. 

Create AI images quickly and easily

AI-generated images are becoming a familiar part of the online world, but tools built into the latest laptops are making it easier than ever to create them.

Looking for that perfect image to accompany the PowerPoint presentation you're putting together? Or simply want to create something for fun to send to a friend? The Microsoft Photos app can generate AI images for that exact purpose. Using Microsoft Photos, all you have to do is come up with a prompt that describes the image you're looking for, after which Photos will generate it and you can then refine it with additional instructions. It works quite well, and while you may have to spend a bit of time asking Photos to refine its creation, you'll spend a whole lot less time than you would if you were designing the image yourself. Microsoft Photos is available on all Windows computers, however the image creation feature works on Copilot+ PCs like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i.

Access and analyze your documents and files

If AI software is going to act as your "assistant" it's going to need access to the documents you use to do business. This is part of the full service AI-powered laptop of the future.

Perhaps the most powerful thing about Google's Gemini, for instance, is its ability to integrate with the rest of your Google services. So, you can ask it for information about documents you've written and to summarize those documents directly in the Gemini interface. Gemini even integrates with Gmail, so you can have the assistant summarize emails in a pinch without having to go through them all individually. Gemini features work best on so-called "Chromebook Plus" laptops, like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. These laptops come with a free year of Google’s Gemini Advanced subscription.

Avoid digging through settings

Who wants to dig through the settings menu on their computer to find every little setting? Both Copilot and Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, can change settings for you – all you have to do is ask. Some advanced settings may not quite work just yet, but you can easily ask these assistants to do things like toggle Wi-Fi on and off, manage Bluetooth connections, and more. It works pretty well, and is available on both Apple Intelligence-powered computers, like the MacBook Pro, and even cheaper Copilot+ PCs, like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.

TL;DR: Perfect for your bedside, desk, or travel, the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger is on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $119) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: VistaShops Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone $34.97
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If you're tired of dealing with tangled cords and slow charging, the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger might just be your new favorite charging solution.

For just $34.97 (reg. $119), this sleek wireless charger is designed to make your life easier, whether it’s on your nightstand, desk, or in your travel bag.

The Speedy Mag is ideal for bedside use, thanks to its magnetic design that holds your phone securely in place all night. Plus, with built-in safeguards against overcharging and overheating, you can rest easy, knowing your device is in good hands. 

And if you need a desk upgrade, this wireless charger eliminates messy cables, giving you a cleaner-looking workspace. It’s designed with fast-charging capabilities, so you can get back to using your phone quickly (within about 30 minutes) and keep the productivity flowing.

And for those on-the-go moments, this compact charger fits easily into any bag, allowing you to charge wirelessly at cafes, hotels, or offices. It also makes a terrific travel companion to charge your phone while flying to your destination.

With MagSafe compatibility and Qi-enabled support for other devices, the Speedy Mag offers rapid, versatile power for iPhone 12 and newer models. It can power up your iPhone 1.5 times on a single charge. 

Get yours today or gift it to someone on your list to experience the convenience of wireless charging.

The Speedy Mag Wireless Charger is on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $119) for a limited time.

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TL;DR: This refurbished 2017 MacBook Air is just $249.97 (reg. $299.97) with free shipping through November 21.

Looking for a dependable Mac at a fraction of the price? This grade-A refurbished 2017 MacBook Air offers just that. Priced at $249.97 (reg. $299.97) with free shipping through November 21, this model brings you the quality and design of an Apple MacBook without the high cost, making it ideal for everyday users.

The 2017 MacBook Air is powerful enough to handle your daily tasks, from web browsing and video streaming to document editing and light photo work. With a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, you can expect smooth, responsive performance for the essentials, while its 128GB SSD offers the right balance of speed and storage space to keep important files, photos, and more at your fingertips.

And with a battery life of up to 12 hours, you can go all day without worrying about recharging. Apple’s thoughtful design is apparent in the lightweight, ultra-slim build, which makes this MacBook Air easy to slip into a bag and take anywhere.

Its 13.3" widescreen display, equipped with a 1440x900 native resolution, offers bright, clear visuals for watching videos, browsing photos, or getting through work with minimal eye strain. The compact form factor doesn’t compromise connectivity either, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, allowing you to stay connected.

Purchasing this refurbished MacBook Air also contributes to environmental sustainability. By choosing refurbished tech, you’re helping to reduce e-waste, which is better for the planet. With its grade-A condition rating, this MacBook is in near-mint shape, giving you the feel and experience of a new laptop at a lower price.

Get the trusted performance of an Apple laptop without the hefty price tag.

This refurbished 2017 MacBook Air is just $249.97 (reg. $299.97) with free shipping through November 21.

Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) - $249.97

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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) $249.97
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