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SAVE $70: As of Jan. 26, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

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$349.99 Save $70   Get Deal

If you're looking to upgrade to a new tablet, as of Jan. 26, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is on sale at Amazon. A great option from Samsung, this model boasts a bright display and all-day battery life, now for $279.99. That's a $70 discount on the list price.

This is a great multi-use tablet thanks to its 10.9-inch display with Vision Booster that automatically adjusts brightness to suit your surroundings.

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The battery is built to last up to 16 hours, and it supports Super Fast Charging so you'll be fully topped-up in around two hours. It comes with an S Pen stylus for taking notes and drawing. Plus, with up to 256GB of built-in storage and the option to expand by up to 2TB using a microSD card, you're not short on space for apps or photos.

It's powered by the Exynos 1380 processor, so it'll handle streaming, multitasking, and flicking between tabs with ease. It even comes with clever AI tools to make everything more slick, such as Circle to Search, note cleanup, and translation.

This deal is only available for a limited time — get it from Amazon now.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It feels like we're inundated with tennis tournaments over the summer months, and then nothing. After the US Open, tennis fans have a painful wait for the next Grand Slam.

But that wait is over. The 2026 Australian Open is finally here, delivering epic contests between the best players in the world. It's the first chance to see the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Świątek on the biggest stage. And better yet, it's possible to follow all the action from this showpiece event without spending anything.

If you want to watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Australian Open?

The Australian Open is a tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. It's the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year, followed by the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

The current singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys.

When is the 2026 Australian Open?

The 2026 Australian Open is the 114th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from Jan. 18 to Feb. 1.

How to watch the 2026 Australian Open for free

The 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the third season of Love Island: All Stars for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We should all be seeking as little drama as possible in our private lives. There's a lot of joy to be found in a peaceful existence. That being said, there's also a great deal of joy to be found in watching other people's messy lives play out. And that's exactly what Love Island provides.

The hit show delivers weeks of flirting, breakups, and passionate debate between fame-hungry singles. It's exactly what we all need to get through these bleak winter months. And the only thing better than Love Island is Love Island: All Stars. Someone came up with the great idea to invite some of the best Love Island contestants back for a second (or third) chance at finding love.

They're looking for love, OK? They're not heading back for a quick paycheck. How dare you even suggest that.

If you're interested in watching Love Island: All Stars for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Love Island: All Stars in 2026?

The third season of Love Island: All Stars starts on Jan. 15. This latest season is expected to run for six weeks.

How to watch Love Island: All Stars for free in 2026

The third season of Love Island: All Stars is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to watch Love Island: All Stars from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Love Island: All Stars for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Love Island: All Stars for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Love Island: All Stars without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to watch a large chunk of the season before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Love Island: All Stars for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $29.01: As of Jan. 26, the Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price.

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$99 Save $29.01   Get Deal

Apple's AirTags are back on sale at Amazon, and if you're a habitual loser of your stuff, this is the perfect excuse to buy. As of Jan. 26, the pack of four is reduced to $69.99, a saving of $29.01 on list price. That works out at around $17.50 per AirTag.

If you're not familiar with AirTags, these are little tracking devices that let you keep tabs on everyday stuff like your wallet, keys, or luggage. The setup is easy: just attach it to whatever you want to track and it connects to your iPhone or iPad.

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You can even play a sound from the built-in speaker to help track something that's nearby but you can't see. If something’s further away, the wider Find My network of Apple devices can help locate it, and Lost Mode will notify you if it’s detected. You can even share the location of an AirTag with an airline if your bag goes missing. And there's no need to worry about the battery life, it's designed to last over a year and can be replaced with a CR2032 coin cell battery.

Get this AirTag deal from Amazon now.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 26, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 26, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 26 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (30): Everything in this space must add up to 30. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 26 Pips

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 26 Pips

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (9): Everything in this purple space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this purple space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you remember your childhood games.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Positions

• Green: Defense

• Blue: Leaders of the Midwest

• Purple: Ways to watch ESPN

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Basketball Positions, Abbreviated

• Green: Baseball Defensive Terms

• Blue: Big Ten Men's Basketball Coaches

• Purple: ESPN____

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 #489 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Basketball Positions, Abbreviated - C, PF, PG, SG

• Baseball Defensive Terms - CUTOFF, PITCHOUT, RELAY, SHIFT

• Big Ten Men's Basketball Coaches - GARD, IZZO, MAY, PAINTER

• ESPN__ - +, 2, EWS, U

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

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

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

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

It’s an exhausting time to be in senior leadership. If your executive role feels unsustainable, you’re not alone. Many senior leaders are quietly questioning whether the top job is worth the stress. But instead of stepping down, step back. Here’s how to build a personal retention plan to stay put without sacrificing your well-being.  Reevaluate what the role really requires. Start […]

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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

A pretty girl.

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

BELLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To explode.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BURST

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To see eye-to-eye.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

AGREE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Extra.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BONUS

Final Hurdle hint

A gathering area.

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

FOYER

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

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already bucking Game of Thrones' tradition in several big ways.

Unlike its predecessors, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms doesn't feature dragons or scheming for the Iron Throne. As episode 2 reveals, it's also missing another Game of Thrones series staple: an elaborate title sequence.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Targaryen family tree: How everyone connects

Where Game of Thrones has its clockwork map, and where House of the Dragon has its Targaryen family tree and historical tapestries, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms simply has a title card. It's just white text on a black background, all without Ramin Djawadi's epic Game of Thrones theme to accompany it. (While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms occasionally interpolates Djawadi's theme, the show's score is composed by Dan Romer.)

The difference between opening sequences is starker than Ned, especially since House of the Dragon's titles so clearly ape those of Game of Thrones. So, why the big switch-up for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' review: 'Game of Thrones' prequel is a surprising comfort watch

For showrunner Ira Parker, the decision stems from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' central character, Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall (Peter Claffey).

"All decisions came down to Dunk, trying to channel the type of person he is into every aspect of this show, even the title sequence," showrunner Ira Parker told Entertainment Weekly in an October 2025 story.

He continued: "The title sequences on the original [Game of Thrones] and House of Dragon are big and epic and incredible. Ramin Djawadi's score is orchestral and large and beautiful. That's not really Dunk's M.O. He's plain and he's simple and he's to-the-point. He doesn't have a lot of flash to him."

Dunk's lack of flashiness is central to George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, upon which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based. These are not epic tales of Westeros-wide war. Instead, they're ground-level stories about the Seven Kingdoms' smallfolk. With that in mind, a smaller scale requires a smaller title sequence.

The title card also has the added benefit of setting A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms apart from other Westeros-set shows, allowing it to forge its own identity and prove that there's room for stories of all scales in the Seven Kingdoms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

While the Game of Thrones universe has always had moments of comedy thrown in amongst the betrayal, incest, and murder, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes Westeros' comic streak into uncharted territory.

Episode 1 had that gloriously disgusting phlegm scene, and while there are many amusing moments in episode 2, a conversation between Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) is probably the thing that made us laugh most — while also acting as the perfect representation of their relationship as a whole.

Let's recap.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Targaryen family tree: How everyone connects What's the conversation between Dunk and Egg?

The conversation takes place after Dunk's floundering attempt to talk to Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), a puppeteer working at the Ashford tourney who agrees to paint a new sigil on his shield.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

After attempting to console Dunk, who is worried the conversation was "ill-handled," Egg changes the subject to knighthood. We've copied the resulting, hilarious exchange below, in full:

Egg: "Do you think I'll ever make a knight one day?"

Dunk: "Sure. Why not? You're a likely lad."

Egg: "I'm a bit puny."

Dunk: "You'll grow."

Egg: "Even for my age. Everyone's always told me so."

Dunk: "Everyone's always told me I was stupid."

[Massive pause while Dunk sips his drink, not saying anything else.]

Egg: "And?"

Dunk: "Hm?"

Egg: "Hm, what?"

Dunk: "What?"

Egg: "What did you do when people said you were stupid, ser?"

Dunk: "What business is that of yours? My problems are my own."

Egg: "I thought... Aren't you trying to help me?"

Dunk: "Help you what? Grow?"

It's an absolutely beat-perfect exchange, from Egg's exasperated "And?" to Dunk's complete confusion that follows it. This kind of conversation is also why the show, and Dunk and Egg as characters, are so deeply lovable — we will never tire of seeing a small child growing increasingly frustrated with his giant, well-meaning companion's total lack of understanding.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes dropping Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a film buff.

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 Pips hints, answers for January 26, 2026 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 suck dry

• Green: To intimidate

• Blue: Hollywood icons

• Purple: Animals

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Exploit

• Green: Daunt

• Blue: Iconic actresses

• Purple: Mammals minus last letter

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 #969 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Exploit: DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, SQUEEZE

• Daunt: BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, RUFFLE

• Iconic actresses: CLOSE, FIELD, FOSTER, WEAVER

• Mammals minus last letter: BADGE, GOA, MOOS, RABBI

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 January 25, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always a wine drinker.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 January 26, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Grape expectations

The words are related to drinks.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an alcoholic drink.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is By the Bottle.

NYT Strands word list for January 26

• Zinfandel

• Chardonnay

• By the Bottle

• Shiraz

• Merlot

• Malbec

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're unusual.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for January 26, 2026 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 Pips hints, answers for January 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A weirdo.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FREAK

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 January 26, 2026

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 yesterday's Wordle.

It’s almost a new lunar phase, with the Moon one night away from the First Quarter. This means that just under half of the Moon is illuminated tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Jan. 26, the Moon phase is First Quarter. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 54% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Half of the Moon is illuminated tonight, so there's plenty surface area to look for features. With just your naked, you should be able to spot the Crisum, Serenitatis and Vaporum mares. If you have binoculars you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Apennine Mountains, Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. There's even more to see with a telescope, including the Apollo 11 and 15 landing spots and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

NASA tells us the lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, which is how long the Moon takes to travel once around Earth. Over that period, it passes through eight recognised phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the portion that appears lit changes as the Moon moves along its orbit. The varying amount of sunlight reaching the Moon is what makes it appear full, partially illuminated, or almost invisible at different points in the cycle. The eight lunar phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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