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Ever wondered how some of the awful products listed on online shopping sites are getting great reviews? It could be "brushing": a scam that uses your personal details to leave reviews for things you never purchased, to trick others into doing so.

"Wi-Fi Pineapple" is a silly name for a real threat to your cybersecurity. These devices trick you into connecting to fake Wi-Fi networks to intercept data and compromise your privacy. Here's how to protect against Pineapples and Wi-Fi attacks.

If you use Zoom as your online meeting tool, you have various features at your disposal to use. From getting things done with keyboard shortcuts to sharing your screen, I’ll give you some useful Zoom tips.

Microsoft has finally rolled out the ever-controversial Recall feature, but not everyone is pleased with the idea of it. Here's how you can disable Recall if it is on, and how you can prevent Recall from re-enabling itself in the future.

Never thinking that clip-on earbuds would be anywhere near comfortable, I made sure to avoid the category like the plague. But after using the Soundpeats Pop Clip, I’m actually convinced that the form factor makes sense. Add in nice sound quality for a budget-minded price, and it’s a winner.

TL;DR: Secure a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages with Babbel language Learning for just $169.99 through May 18.

Want to give your brain a little boost? Learning a new language helps your brain rewire itself, forming new neural connections and strengthening existing ones.

A Babbel Language Learning subscription can show you just how adaptable your brain can be, and you can currently secure a lifetime of learning all 14 languages for just $169.99 with StackSocial’s special pricing through May 18.

Become fluent in new languages in your free time

When was the last time you set foot in a classroom? Thanks to Babbel, you can learn right from your smartphone and give your brain a workout on your lunch break, in line at the grocery store, or even after getting cozy in bed.

Pick up Polish, study Swedish, or focus on French with their convenient 10- to 15-minute lessons. They are available in three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so you can easily get started with mastering a new language or brush up on one you learned in the past.

Babbel syncs your progress across devices, so you can work on your smartphone and pick up where you left off on your desktop later. Going somewhere without Wi-Fi? You can also download lessons to work on later.

With over 10,000 hours of online language education, you can try to tackle all 14 languages at your own pace with this lifetime subscription.

Their advanced speech recognition technology helps with your pronunciation, letting you hone your skills so you don’t sound like a tourist. And there’s an AI Conversation Partner available so you can work on your conversation skills in real time.

Get a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages on Babbel language Learning for $169.99 (reg. $599) through May 18.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $169.99
$599 Save $429.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get this 9-inch wireless car display for $79.99 (reg. $179.99) and keep your kids entertained with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Spring and summer usually means you’re traveling more — do you have a family road trip planned to the West Coast or up to Cape Cod coming up? Instead of dealing with your kids’ potential tantrums and boredom, keep them (and other passengers) entertained and connected while speeding down the highway.

This 9-inch wireless car display might just become your new road trip MVP. Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it mirrors your smartphone so passengers can stream movies, play games, and access apps, all from a crisp, high-res touchscreen. For a limited time, you can grab it for $79.99 (reg. $179.99).

The large display offers plenty of screen space for kids to watch their favorite shows or follow along with a playlist, while Bluetooth support adds hands-free calling and easy music streaming to the mix. Whether you’re navigating unfamiliar roads or just trying to avoid the next “Are we there yet?” from your kids, this display helps keep the whole car ride a little more relaxed — and maybe even a little enjoyable.

Setup is wireless and refreshingly simple. There’s no need to mess with cords or adapters, and it works with both iPhones and Android devices, so everyone in the family can plug in, regardless of which smartphone camp they belong to.

From cartoons and audiobooks to turn-by-turn directions, this device brings the convenience of modern in-car entertainment to just about any vehicle. It’s a smart pick for families who want to keep passengers happy and drivers focused.

If you’ve been looking for an easy, affordable way to upgrade your car’s tech before the next family road trip, grab this $79.99 9-inch wireless car display with CarPlay and Android Auto while inventory is still available.

9″ Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 9" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring $79.99
$179.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: This Mother’s Day, surprise Mom with a fresh, ultra-sharp set of Japanese knives from Seido, now $109.97 (reg. $429) through May 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Seido Knives Seido Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set w/ Gift Box $109.97
$429 Save $319.03 Get Deal

If the mom or mother figure in your life finds joy in the kitchen, this year’s Mother’s Day gift might already be sliced, diced, and ready to wrap. This set of Seido Japanese knives — currently on sale for $109.97 (reg. $429) — is a thoughtful upgrade to any home cook’s routine, especially when it comes in at nearly 75% off.

This 8-piece set covers the essentials with precision. Each knife is forged from high-carbon stainless steel and honed to a 15-degree edge, offering sharper, smoother cuts than typical Western-style blades. It’s the kind of set that makes everyday cooking feel just a little more special, whether Mom’s slicing perfectly cooked steak or chopping vegetables for her famous Sunday sauce.

Check out what she’ll receive when she opens her gift:

• 8-inch chef’s knife: for daily chopping needs

• 8-inch slicing knife: designed with a long, slender blade for slicing meats and thinner veggie and fruit cuts

• 8-inch bread knife: constructed with a serrated edge to cut through baked goods without crushing them

• 7-inch cleaver: for hacking through bones and meat or crushing garlic

• 7-inch and 5-inch Santoku knives: with granton edges, so your ingredients don’t stick to them while chopping

• 6-inch boning knife: designed with a curved blade for ultra-thin and precise slices

• 3.5-inch paring knife: for peeling fruits and veggies

Presented in a black gift box, the knives are already packaged and ready to gift, saving you time making your present look, well, presentable. These Seido blades might just be the dream gift for the mom or mom figure in your life whose love language is cooking. Plus, they might just last her for years if they’re cared for properly.

This price drop ends on May 11 at 11:59 p.m PT, which is also Mother’s Day, so act quickly, so Mom receives these knives in time. Grab this 8-piece Seido Japanese knife set with a gift box for $109.97 while supplies last and make her day with the ultimate kitchen upgrade!

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR:This Mother’s Day, surprise Mom with a delivery of two-dozen fresh roses with this voucher deal from Rose Farmers, now just $19.97 (plus shipping).

Opens in a new window Credit: Rose Farmers Get 2 Dozen Farmer's Color Choice Long-Stem Roses for Only $19.99! (Shipping Not Included) $19.97
$69.99 Save $50.02 Get Deal

Mother’s Day is just a few days away — are you prepared with a sweet gift for Mom or the other mother figures in your life? Sure, you could go the splashy route with your gift idea, but sometimes, something as simple as flowers can really make their day.

Flowers have been the go-to gift for Mother’s Day and almost every other holiday for a reason. Why? Because they’re truly thoughtful and can brighten practically anyone’s day. If you don’t want to deal with the mad rush that’s bound to happen at the local florist’s shop, grab this voucher deal for two dozen long-stem roses and have them delivered to Mom for only $19.97 (reg. $97) while supplies last.

Rather than fight the crowd and overpay for flowers at the florist or give her a random grocery store bouquet reaching the end of its shelf life, delight Mom without even leaving the couch. You could just save plenty of time and cash thanks to this Rose Farmers voucher, and you might win the “Best Kid” award this Mother’s Day.

Mom will receive two dozen long-stem roses in beautiful, mixed colors that Rose Farmers personally selects based on freshness so that her blooms last. Here’s how easy it is to gift these roses:

• Purchase your rose delivery voucher here.

• Head over to Rose Farmers’ website to redeem it. 

• Buy add-ons like a vase or more roses, or just add your giftee’s address. 

• Set the delivery date, so Mom receives them on her special day.

It’s important to note that your recipient isn’t based in Alaska or Hawaii, as this deal is only valid in the continental US. Also, you’ll want to redeem your voucher as soon as you can. Rose Farm recommends selecting 1-3 days before Mother’s Day or any other holiday.

Mom deserves the best, so treat her (or any other mother figure) to beautiful blooms this Mother’s Day.

Don’t wait to send her this two dozen long-stem rose delivery for just $19.97. Shipping is not included, and be sure to order ahead of the holiday.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Every year, in the first half of September, we get new iPhones.

Aside for the occasional out-of-schedule launch of a low-cost model — the iPhone 16e launched last February, for example — since 2013, Apple's been launching its flagship smartphone in the fall, and only in the fall.

This might change soon. According to a new report by The Information (via Engadget), Apple is planning to change its launch schedule for the iPhone, starting in 2026. Instead of launching all of its flagships in the fall, the company will start releasing the Pro models in the fall, while the standard iPhones launch in the spring.

SEE ALSO: Here's one good thing about Apple Intelligence: All iPhones will have more RAM because of it

Apple is reportedly doing this to accommodate for new models entering the lineup, including the rumored foldable iPhone, and the iPhone Air, which is rumored to debut this year alongside the other models in the fall.

In practice, this could mean we'll get the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone in the fall of 2026, followed by the iPhone 18, the iPhone 18 Air and (perhaps) the iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027.

The Information's report also shared a few new details about Apple's upcoming iPhones. For this year's iPhone 17 Air, it will allegedly have worse battery life than regular models (due to its thinness), which Apple plans to mitigate by releasing an optional battery case.

As for the iPhone 18 models, the report claims that the Pro and the Pro Max models will have an under-the-display Face ID tech, with only a small, circular cut-out for the front-facing camera in the upper left corner of the screen. We've heard similar reports before, though it's unclear what this would mean for Apple's Dynamic Island. Furthermore, The Information claims that in 2027, Apple plans to launch an all-screen iPhone, which wouldn't have any sort of camera or Face ID cutout on the front.

SEE ALSO: Spotify's iPhone app now lets you choose how you want to pay

None of this is official, so take the report — especially the parts that talk about distant future — with a big grain of salt.

UPDATE: May. 5, 2025, 2:23 p.m. CEST Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also shared his prediction of what Apple's iPhone launch might look in the next two years.

The schedule is as follows:

• 2H25: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Slim (or Air), iPhone 17

• 1H26: iPhone 17e

• 2H26: iPhone Foldable, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Slim

• 1H27: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e

• 2H27: iPhone Foldable 2, iPhone 19 Pro Max, iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 19 Slim (or Air)

Note that Kuo predicts that Apple will launch its second foldable iPhone in the second half of 2027; he says the development of that device is already underway. He also claims that the iPhone 19 Slim (or Air) will have a larger display than its predecessor.

Kuo says that Apple is looking to switch to a staggered iPhone launch due to intense competition, particularly in China. By splitting the iPhone launch into two dates, Apple could close the "marketing gap" that arises from other companies' more frequent launches.

Many leaders dismiss empathy as an optional, “touchy-feely” skill. But failing to demonstrate it can lead to low morale, poor retention, and a culture where people withhold ideas and concerns. If you want to drive better results, use these strategies to make empathy part of how you lead—consistently and clearly. Start with a shared definition. […]

257257

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2021 at just $49.97 (reg. $219) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

• Lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 — pay once and access it forever

• Includes must-have apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher

• Compatible with Windows — ideal for professional and personal projects

• Streamline your workflow with trusted tools for creating documents, managing data, and organizing emails

• Instant download with a product key for quick and easy setup

• No recurring costs — a single payment secures access to essential Office apps

Say goodbye to subscriptions — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for $49.97. 

Sale ends April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
$219.99 Save $170.02 Get Deal

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Baseball nicknames

• Green: Heard at the gym

• Blue: Popular in women's sports

• Purple: The first half of these words is the same

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: MLB teams, familiarly

• Green: Weightlifting terms

• Blue: U.S. women's soccer players

• Purple: Score___

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 #224 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• MLB teams, familiarly - D-BACKS, JAYS, SOX, YANKS

• Weightlifting terms - BARBELL, CLEAN, JERK, SNATCH

• U.S. women's soccer players - COFFEY, FOX, RODMAN, SONNETT

• Score___ - BOARD, BUG, CARD, KEEPER

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

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

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

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

The Last of Us Season 2 is moving from Jackson to Seattle, and with that move come several new characters.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2, episode 4: Who is Isaac?

We've already met Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her crew, but Season 2, episode 4 introduces other major players in Seattle, including Washington Liberation Front (WLF) leader Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright, reprising his role from The Last of Us Part II).

Gamers already know Isaac, but episode 4 also introduces a character who will be new to gamers and show-only fans alike: Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach).

Who does Alanna Ubach play in The Last of Us Season 2? Jeffrey Wright, Ben Ahlers, and Alanna Ubach in "The Last of Us." Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

Hanrahan is a character created solely for The Last of Us show, meaning we don't have any in-game lore to guide us on her role. However, based on her brief appearance in episode 4, we have enough context clues to piece together key aspects of her character.

Episode 4 opens with a flashback to Seattle in 2018. Back then, the city was still under FEDRA rule, and the WLF were an underground resistance group, as opposed to the militia they are in The Last of Us' present-day.

The flashback (which features an appearance from Josh Peck as a FEDRA soldier) primarily serves as an introduction to Isaac, then a FEDRA Sergeant. The truck he and his soldiers are riding in stops in front of a school bus blocking the road, at which point a group of WLF members begins walking to the bus. Dressed in civilian clothes and without a weapon in sight, they're a far cry from the military force we see by the end of episode 4.

Leading the pack is Ubach's Hanrahan. When Isaac gets out of the truck to speak to her, all she says is: "You Isaac?"

He nods and replies, "You Hanrahan?"

When she nods back, Isaac throws a grenade into his truck, killing all his men and officially defecting to the WLF.

"Welcome to the fight," Hanrahan tells him.

That's the extent of Hanrahan we get in this episode, but even that small interaction gives us a lot of insight into her relationship with Isaac. Clearly, Hanrahan was a leader of the WLF in its early days, and while Isaac occupies that role now, she may still hold a position of power in the current WLF.

Hanrahan also likely served as one of Isaac's point people within the WLF as he was planning to leave FEDRA. They may not have seen each other's faces, but the fact that they know each other's names suggests prior communication. Perhaps the two of them collaborated on the plan for Isaac to kill his men, or maybe Hanrahan arranged it as one last test for Isaac to prove his loyalty to the WLF.

Either way, The Last of Us presents both Hanrahan and Isaac as faces of the WLF, so you can bet we haven't seen the last of them this season.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

As a TV adaptation of Naughty Dog's games, The Last of Us includes more than a few hidden references and overt re-creations of the gameplay and cutscenes from The Last of Us Parts I and II.

Music references, in particular, are threaded through both seasons, from the Hank Williams connection to Season 1, episode 4; Crooked Still playing at the dance in Season 2, episode 1; to Ashley Johnson's cover of "Through the Valley" to end that brutal second episode.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show?

In the fourth episode of Season 2, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) plays a tune right out of the game, in what's sure to be a moving moment for fans familiar with the TV show's source material. But what song does she play, and how is it connected to the game?

Which song does Ellie play in The Last of Us? Suffice to say, Dina (Isabela Merced) loves the song. Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO

In Season 2, episode 4, Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) are en route to Seattle when they need shelter. They find the one place they can fit their horse Shimmer through the door, Valiant Music Shop, an abandoned record store that's still fully stocked with Bob Marley and Tears for Fears vinyl and requisite Pearl Jam posters.

Ellie heads upstairs and finds the guitar section, where many an instrument has been eroded by the elements. But fortune smiles on an unopened case, and Ellie finds a pristine acoustic guitar within. She picks it up, takes a seat, and plays a truly beautiful, quietly romantic version of A-ha's 1985 track "Take On Me."

Why does Ellie play "Take On Me"?

Music is a crucial link between Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) in The Last of Us, in life and after his death. Joel gave Ellie the butterfly-necked guitar and was restringing it for her before he died, despite their rocky relationship.

Featured Video For You Bella Ramsey and 'The Last of Us' team talks Season 2's new characters and Joel in therapy

The song Ellie picks to play is the same one as in The Last of Us Part II, when you play the chords yourself (this feature of the second game is a polarising one). Ramsey performs the song in the show in much the same style as Johnson does in the game, with both scenes showing Dina listening with shining eyes to Ellie's rendition.

In the game scene, Ellie actually starts to play Pearl Jam's "Future Days", a song Joel plays to Ellie at the beginning of The Last of Us Part II when he gives her a guitar, and a song that's become synonymous with the franchise for fans. But then Ellie stops when Dina enters, then moving into A-ha's "Take On Me."

Ellie plays the song for Dina in "The Last of Us Part II." Credit: Naughty Dog

The thing is, you could completely miss this cutscene in the game if you don't investigate the guitar room. It's not part of the main storyline, but instead it's more of a private side moment for Ellie, who is still grieving the loss of her guitar-teaching father Joel, and for Dina, who is becoming more aware of her feelings for Ellie — you try watching someone you might like playing music live and not falling head over heels.

But it's particularly poignant because of A-ha's lyrics, which match The Last of Us' glimmer of hope for our protagonist, with Ellie singing, "Needless to say / I'm odds and ends / But I'll be stumblin' away / Slowly learnin' that life is OK."

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Brand new.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

FRESH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

16 ounces.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POUND

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A young girl.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MISSY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A weird trait.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 5 Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUIRK

Final Hurdle hint

A belief.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

TENET

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

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 May 5 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To move smoothly

• Green: Related to a popular vampire

• Blue: To even out

• Purple: They have the same shape

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: Glide

• Green: Associated with Count Dracula

• Blue: Stop changing

• Purple: Things that are long and cylindrical

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 #694 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Glide: COAST, CRUISE, DRIFT, FLOAT

• Associated with Count Dracula: BAT, CAPE, CASTLE, FANG

• Stop changing: FLATTEN, LEVEL, PLATEAU, SETTLE

• Things that are long and cylindrical: BATON, CIGAR, HOAGIE, TORPEDO

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 May 5

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for May 5 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 May 5, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To quiet someone.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letters S and H appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SHUSH.

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 May 5

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

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the side

The words are types of potato dishes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words styles of fried potatoes.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is U-shaped.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is French Fries

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 5

• Shoestring

• Steak

• Curly

• Home

• French Fries

• Waffle

• Crinkle

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Joel may have left us, but new faces are arriving in The Last of Us universe to take his place.

Episode 4 saw yet more new arrivals, one of which marks the first onscreen appearance for a character who is briefly mentioned right at the beginning of the season.

So who is Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), and what part is he going to play in the action going forward? Let's unpack it.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last of Us' Season 2: What are the differences between the game and the HBO show? Who is Isaac in The Last of Us Season 2?

If the name sounds familiar, it's because Isaac first gets a mention in the opening scene of Season 2.

When Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her gang are standing at what remains of the Firefly base and trying to decide what to do next, Isaac's name is dropped by Owen (Spencer Lord).

"Ed has a brother who runs an outfit in Seattle," Owen says. "A guy named Isaac. Supposedly, he'd take us all in."

As we learn five years on, when Abby and her crew appear outside Jackson to kill Joel, they are part of a military outfit known as the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) — but we don't see Isaac, one of the outfit's leaders, until episode 4.

As the start of the episode reveals via a flashback to 2018, Isaac is a former FEDRA sergeant who joins the WLF because he's become disillusioned with how FEDRA is treating people in Seattle (so disillusioned that he casually murders his entire platoon, in fact).

The next time we see him is in present-day 2029, still in Seattle — and now clearly one of the WLF higher-ups, locked in an endless war with the forest-dwelling Seraphites.

Credit: Liane Hentscher / HBO Isaac's character reenforces a depressing Last of Us message.

The cycle of violence is a theme that crops up a lot in The Last of Us, and is perfectly encapsulated in Isaac's character. When we first see him, he's marked out as different from his FEDRA colleagues by his apparent disgust at the way they think of people who aren't FEDRA.

"We took away their right to vote, and somebody started calling them 'voters' to mock them," mutters a younger Isaac in response to a story told by one of his soldiers about civilians being murdered by FEDRA.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Sarge," the soldier replies.

"'Course you didn't," comes Isaac's response. "You're thoughtless."

We don't know what exactly has happened to Isaac in the 11 years since that flashback and the present day, but it's clear that his experiences have hardened him. When we first meet modern-day Isaac, he's torturing a naked Seraphite in a kitchen by burning him repeatedly. When the man doesn't give him the answers he wants, he shoots him dead.

As a leading figure of the WLF, it seems likely that Isaac will play a larger role in the story ahead. But for now, his character is the embodiment of a depressing message: People in The Last of Us may start out with a certain set of ideals, but they ultimately turn into the monsters they're trying to leave behind.

The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming on Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

Watching The Last of Us and want to play the games? Here's how.