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Smart locks and video doorbells are two types of popular smart home devices that are tailor-made for your front door. In many cases, you can link both devices together to see who is at the door and let them in from a single app.

American football is on everyone's minds right now thanks to the impending Super Bowl, but fascinating things are afoot in the world of association football, too.

According to a statement released by game developer Sports Interactive, Football Manager 25 will not be released in March, like it was supposed to be. It's not being delayed, either, as it was already delayed from November 2024 to March. Instead, it's being canceled entirely, with development efforts being refocused on the next edition of the annual soccer management simulation.

SEE ALSO: Google faked a Gemini AI answer in its Super Bowl commercial

While Football Manager may not have the same name recognition in the U.S. as something like Madden, it's a very popular series for hardcore fans of soccer, focused more on roster management and scouting than in-game skill. It's also been released continuously under that name near the end of every calendar year since 2004; Football Manager 25 being delayed into March was already anomalous by series standards.

As Polygon pointed out, this will be the first year without a Football Manager since the series started. It's incredibly unusual for popular, annually released sports games to get canceled, but Sports Interactive was doing a lot of work to Football Manager 25 that made it understandably hard to finish on time. The interface and visuals were set for an overhaul, and women's soccer was to be included for the first time.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until the next release to see any of that stuff.

There are a lot of VPN services out there, and many of them claim to be the cheapest. We went through our VPN reviews to find the services and make sure you get the best value.

I hadn't touched my PS5 for months as real life always got in the way. But then a comment from a colleague made me realize that if I could find time to play my Switch, I could find a way to get back to my PS5, too.

As we sit around waiting for Super Bowl LIX to start, a Google commercial set to run during the big game has come under fire again.

In a Super Bowl commercial theoretically designed to extoll the virtues of its Gemini AI chatbot, Google actually faked the AI part, according to The Verge. The ad, in which a business called Wisconsin Cheese Mart uses Gemini to come up with a product description for gouda, shows a paragraph-long block of text about gouda that was actually lifted directly from Wisconsin Cheese Mart's website, as seen on the Wayback Machine going back at least as far as 2020:

"Gouda is a Dutch cheese named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. It is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of the world's cheese consumption. Smoked Gouda is a variant of this famous cheese, smoked in brick ovens over flaming hickory chip embers. This sweet curd is similar to Edam except that it contains more milk fat, which gives it a creamier texture and causes it to become more buttery with age. Sensational with beer, this cows milk cheese has an edible, smokey brown rind and a creamy, yellow interior."

SEE ALSO: Google Search 'AI Mode' has started internal testing, report says

In case you were wondering, Gemini came into existence three entire years after that block of text was written, and it is copied and pasted verbatim into the commercial as if Gemini wrote it. This starts to look even worse for Gemini when you consider that the same commercial had to be quietly edited because one part that Gemini did include on its own, a stat about gouda being the most widely consumed cheese in the world, turned out to be fake.

So, in other words, the piece of Gemini text that's true was actually written by a human several years ago, and the only part of it that Gemini contributed itself was a falsehood. There has to be a better way to advertise generative AI than this.

Instruction manuals were once included with every video game, but they're now practically extinct. While video games have outgrown the need for instruction manuals, it's easy to forget how important they were during the early years of gaming.

Linux is a wonderful operating system, and its open-source license is commendable. But for day-to-day work, I can’t give up macOS.

When it comes to value for money, traditional hybrid vehicles seem to sit at the top of the stack. The premium you pay over gas-only models isn’t a huge amount, yet they save you a ton of money on gas. Regardless of what kind of vehicle you’re looking for, chances are there is an excellent hybrid out there for you.

Gaming handhelds are all the rage, but they’re not cheap. Sadly, most of them still suffer from a point of weakness that console and PC gamers have had to deal with for decades.

My son goes to a school that doesn't provide laptops but requires kids to have one. The needs are simple and easily satisfied by a cheap Chromebook. By using resources already available to me, though, I saved that Chromebook money.

A lot of manufacturers permanently lock down the phone’s hardware, so you cannot make any system-level changes. If you’re an Android enthusiast interested in tinkering with your phone, consider these brands first.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, February 8, 2025:

AcrossBeer foam

• The answer is Head.

Dance that it takes "two" to do

• The answer is Tango.

Annoying thing to forget on a trip

• The answer is Charger.

Color associated with Barbie

• The answer is Hot pink.

"For all ___ and purposes …"

• The answer is Intents.

Maryland governor Wes

• The answer is Moore.

Cons' counterparts

• The answer is Pros.

DownOldest monthly magazine in the U.S., launched in 1850

• The answer is Harpers.

Front car of a train

• The answer is Engine.

Athlete's representative

• The answer is Agent.

Nerds

• The answer is Dorks.

Body image?

• The answer is Tattoos.

Bonobo relative

• The answer is Chimp.

Pay tribute to

• The answer is Honor.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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 today's Mini Crossword.

This was a busy week in tech, stacked with Windows updates, big changes for EVs, Firefox updates, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

Over the years, I've encountered various Ubuntu boot problems, from black screens to endless loading loops. Luckily, I've discovered several reliable methods to get Ubuntu up and running again. Here's what worked for me.

Did you know Python has several hidden easter eggs? Turns out, your favorite programming language isn't just helpful for building applications, but also some quality humor. Let's find some of the best ones.

Apple Invites is a dedicated iPhone app that “brings people together for life’s special moments.” By contrast, Calendar is a boring productivity app primarily aimed at work and business. Let's take a look at the ways in which the two apps differ.

We all know that defective or damaged lithium-ion batteries are a fire hazard. Yet we still use closets and drawers as the resting ground for old phones and other retired gadgets. I decided to break this habit after finding a swollen phone in my dresser, and I suggest that you do the same.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 8 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Westminster assembly

These words are used to describe dogs in show.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are generic groupings of dogs that might compete in the Westminster Dog Show.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is DogGroup.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 8

• Sporting

• Herding

• Toys

• Hounds

• Working

• Terriers

• DogGroup

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.

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: 8NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 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 February 8, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Extremely high.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears 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...

STEEP.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 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 today's Wordle.

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 8 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: Seen on a baseball card

• Green: Squeeze together

• Blue: Will see you again

• Purple: Types of food

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: Info on a Baseball Card

• Green: Scrunch, As Fabric

• Blue: Time Adverbs

• Purple: ___Food

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 #607 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Info on a Baseball Card: BIO, PLAYER, STAT, TEAM

• Scrunch, As Fabric: BUNCH, GATHER, PUCKER, RUFFLE

• Time Adverbs: LATER, NOW, SOON, THEN

• ___Food: FAST, FINGER, JUNK, SOUL

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 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 today's Connections.