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TL;DR: Google's new When to Buy Guide analyzed holiday shopping data across thousands of retailers to pinpoint the best days to shop. The verdict: Lock in your OLED TVs, sneakers, and skincare hauls over Black Friday weekend, but wait until late December for hardshell luggage and Dutch ovens.

Holiday shopping usually feels like a high-stakes guessing game where you’re gambling on whether to buy an item now or hold out for a steeper markdown down the road. Wait too long, and your colorway sells out, shipping cutoffs slam shut, or you’re left scrambling through picked-over store aisles on Christmas Eve.

To take the guesswork out of the seasonal madness, Google dropped its 2026 When to Buy Guide, analyzing massive amounts of U.S. promotional patterns, search trends, and aggregated discount data across merchants. Instead of relying on gut feelings, Google mapped out exactly when promotional volume and price cuts reach their absolute peak across every major consumer category.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's Holiday Gift Guide is live: See our top 10 picks ahead of Black Friday 2026

Here are 10 things Google's retail data reveals about how you should actually be timing your holiday haul:

Don't fall for "up to 70% off" banner hype

Before diving into specific items, it helps to know how Google tracks these sales. Stores love slapping massive discount banners on their homepages, even if the price cut applies to only a handful of items nobody wants. To bypass the hype, Google used an impression-weighted setup that looked at two things: how many items were actually marked down and the average size of the price cut. This filters out outlier noise and tracks when an entire category is truly discounted.

Wrap up your big-screen ambitions before Cyber Week ends

If a new television, soundbar, or smart home security camera is on your list, dragging your feet into December is an easy way to overpay. The data confirms that the stretch between Black Friday and Cyber Week is the absolute sweet spot for main electronics. This is when you'll find both the widest selection of gear on sale and the largest price drops. Once December settles in, promotional momentum dries up, leaving you with weaker discounts and annoying backorders.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday deals on unlocked phones from Google, Samsung, and TCL are already live Drones and motorized toys march to their own chaotic beat

Standard consumer tech demands an early purchase, but tech toys behave completely differently. If you’re hunting down remote-controlled cars, motorized gadgets, or drones, playing the waiting game actually works. Pricing patterns show these kinds of toys don't hit their deepest markdowns until the final week before Christmas, making them a solid last-minute win.

Gaming consoles hit an awkward mid-December slump

Shoppers looking for a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo setup or party board games and puzzles need to watch the calendar. Black Friday weekend is still your best bet for console bundles and wide game sales. But if you miss that opening window, step away from the checkout cart in the middle of the month. Deal quality takes a noticeable dive in mid-December, then a second wave of discounts bounces back right before Christmas wraps up.

SEE ALSO: 20+ early Black Friday gaming laptop deals: Score record lows on Alienware, ASUS, MSI, and more Buy packing cubes now, but leave the rolling suitcase for later

Shopping for a frequent traveler takes a split approach. Smaller travel gear, like packing cubes, tech pouches, and dopp kits, peaks during Black Friday weekend and then slowly drops off. Large luggage is the exact opposite. Big suitcases and hard-shell sets don't hit their lowest clearance prices until late December. Grab the smaller organizers early, but hold off on the heavy bags.

Treat your dog early, but hold out for the reptile tank

Gifting four-legged family members comes with its own retail schedule. Treats, apparel, and cozy beds for dogs and cats hit their widest selection and steepest discounts over Black Friday weekend, followed by a mid-December lull. However, if you are shopping for specialty pets like reptiles, aquarium fish, birds, or small critters, late December triggers an aggressive secondary wave of deep-discount clearance.

Buy appliances early; skip mid-December for holiday decor

Big-ticket household upgrades like dishwashers, refrigerators, and living room couches demand early planning. Retailers roll out their best inventory and steepest cuts during Black Friday weekend. Given the delivery hassles and inventory caps that come with oversized items, putting it off past November is asking for a late delivery.

Meanwhile, holiday decor works best if you buy early to enjoy it, or wait until late December for deep clearance on lights and storage bins. Just skip mid-December, where both selection and discounts hit a dead zone.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday home improvement deals save big on power tools, smart lights, home security, and more. Gourmet cookware rewards the shoppers who wait

Unlike living room furniture, kitchen essentials and fancy dinnerware reward late-season patience. Retail data shows that deep percentage markdowns on cookware sets, kitchen gadgets, and dining tools don’t fully surface until late December. If an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven or a new knife set is on your radar, waiting until the final weeks of the season will net you the lowest prices.

The late-December skincare clearance is a myth

If signature scents, makeup, or fancy skincare are on your gift list, lock them down early. Fragrance promotions peak between the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, falling off a cliff after that without getting any cheaper. Skincare follows that exact same pattern: Black Friday delivers the widest brand selection, and steep late-December skincare clearance has basically vanished in recent years.

That early-bird rule also applies to footwear and heavy workout gear, such as treadmills, weights, and golf clubs, before inventory thins out. If you're just hunting for sweaters and everyday gym clothes, though, don't sweat it — those stay steadily discounted all the way to Christmas.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is dropping early Black Friday beauty tech deals way ahead of schedule The predictable spiral of waiting until Christmas Eve

Google's search query logs reveal a predictable panic routine that plays out every single December:

• Dec. 22 — Searches for "next day shipping" jump as regular delivery windows vanish. This is also the single biggest day of the year for "DIY gift" searches, as shoppers try to figure out if overnight freight is worth it or if they should just make something by hand.

• Dec. 23 — With delivery options gone, everyone pivots to local storefronts, driving searches for "gifts near me" and "in-store pickup" to their yearly peak.

• Dec. 24 — Curbside panic sets in, pushing "same day pickup" searches to their highest point of the season.

• Dec. 25 — With stores finally closed on Christmas Day, shoppers hit the inbox with last-second searches for e-gift cards, digital vouchers, and streaming subscriptions.

The funniest find in the entire report? Searches for "last minute gift for mom" consistently start climbing on Dec. 23. Searches for "last minute gift for dad," on the other hand, don't show any real movement until Christmas Eve.

The numbers don't lie: when it comes to holiday procrastination, dads get the absolute worst of it.

We choose stories alongside the kids, often listen together, and talk about what’s happening.

They’ve proven to be a great tool to soften transitions, help the kids have some quiet time to rest while we prepare meals or clean up, take along during long car rides, and engage their brains without being overly stimulating. 

There is no shortage of options on the market right now specifically aimed at our kids’ age group, so we decided to put some to the test. We spent three months trying out a collection of popular players, both at home and in the car, to come up with this list.

After lots of hands-on testing, the Yoto player came out on top as our favorite screen-free audio player, with the Toniebox as a close second. Read on to learn why and see what else made the list.

Editor's note: We have not yet tested the Eddi, Lunii, or Nex Playground.

Astronomers have just spotted a small, bright world in the outer reaches of the solar system they think could be a dwarf planet like Pluto. 

The mysterious space object, for now known as 2026 ED138, lies about 46 times farther from the sun than Earth, and may measure between 370 to 930 miles wide. Scientists estimate it's about 1.1 billion miles farther than Pluto in the Kuiper Belt, a zone of icy debris past Neptune.

Matthew Holman, a researcher at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, made the discovery two weeks ago by running data from the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory through a program he built with fellow astronomer Kevin Napier. 

"My first reaction was one of excited disbelief," Holman said in a statement. "Objects like this are very rare, so I immediately started checking whether I or the code had done something wrong."

The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, the official recordkeeper for new objects in our solar system, announced it as a candidate on Wednesday. If confirmed, ED138 could become the sixth officially recognized dwarf planet in the solar system, following Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. 

SEE ALSO: Life ingredients probably didn't ride in on a comet, new study shows

Rubin's detection of a previously unknown world in our own cosmic backyard highlights a new accelerated way of doing astronomy. After the initial find, the team was able to piece together a detailed "picture" of the object in three days. By pairing the observatory's repeated sky scans with archival data and pictures from other telescopes, the researchers learned quite a bit about ED138 and its stretched orbit around the sun. 

You can think of a dwarf planet as a scaled-down planet. It gets pulled around the sun by its own gravity, but it's not quite massive enough to clear other space rocks out of its way like a regular planet does. Pluto's 2006 demotion from planet status occurred because other icy bodies cross its orbit. 

"Once we identify a new object, we can search back months, and sometimes even decades, finding it in images where nobody knew to look," said Mario Jurić, Rubin's lead solar system scientist at the University of Washington, in a statement. "This ability to both discover and 'precover' objects is transforming how quickly and accurately we can determine their orbits and understand the distant solar system."

Astronomers say ED138 shines so brightly that folks with fairly small telescopes could probably see it. The reason no one has noticed it until now may be that it hides in plain sight among the Milky Way's crowded band of stars in the sky. 

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Looking back in the vault, Rubin's Simonyi Survey Telescope had observed ED138 some 30 times between March 4 and July 11. Then, using the Asteroid Institute's ADAM Precovery tool, which combs archives for old matches to newly found objects, the team saw it again in 2016 images taken with the Dark Energy Camera at another observatory in Chile. Combined, the data allowed astronomers to trace the object's path over a decade. 

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory took these images of 2026 ED138, a possible dwarf planet beyond Pluto that may be one of the largest and brightest objects ever found that far from the sun. Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory / NOIRLab / SLAC / AURA / M. Jurić / D. de Martin / M. Zamani

For now, scientists call ED138 a dwarf planet candidate because they still need to prove it's round. Icy objects of this size usually get pulled into a round shape by their own gravity. To be sure, though, scientists need to observe it with other telescopes in infrared light — a kind of light our eyes can't see — to pin down its exact size and other details.

Distant objects like ED138 are artifacts from the era when the planets, including Earth, formed, and they could help explain how the solar system and its giant planets came together.

Over the next 10 years, Rubin will photograph the whole southern sky repeatedly. Scientists believe this new detection is just the beginning of many discoveries to come. 

"Any others hiding in the places earlier surveys skipped are now within reach," Holman said. 

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

15. Ali G: Who Iz I?

Sacha Baron Cohen has released his third movie of 2026. And if you're surprised to hear he's had three movies out this year, and you might have missed most, if not all of them, consider that a sign of their quality. First came the abysmal battle-of-the-sexes comedy Ladies First. Next was the Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser comedy about condom marketing, Balls Up. And now, Cohen brings back Ali G after 20 years.

Once more in disguise, Cohen interacts with unsuspecting folks as the outrageous character. And sure, critics thrashed the film when it opened in theaters last Friday. But now it's on streaming. So, you can see it for yourself for free — if you already subscribe to Prime Video. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen and Morgana Robinson

How to watch: Ali G: Who Iz I? is now streaming on Prime Video.

14. The Mob

If you can't get enough of Traitors, Hulu's hoping you'll join their Mob.

This reality TV game show brings together a gaggle of celebrity contestants in an Italian villa, where they are The Family. Each week, they'll compete in challenges inspired by mafia movies, earning prizes and power. They want to be chosen as the don, so they're safe from being whacked (kicked off the show). The prize money is $100,000, so the competition should be pretty cutthroat.

Parker Posey brings her bold fashion sense and comedy chops as the host, while a variety of actors, reality stars, and one of our favorite (drag) queens compete. But are we alone in being worried there's just not enough Willam in this trailer? — K.P.

Starring: Bella Palk, Willam Belli, Demi Engemann, Maria Georgas, Joe Gorga, Harry Jowsey, Chelsea Lazkani, Debi Mazar, Romeo Miller, Shane Parton, Bruno Tonioli, and Aida Turturro

How to watch: The Mob is now streaming on Hulu.

13. The Dog Stars

Based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel of the same name, The Dog Stars is a post-apocalyptic action thriller that bombed at the box office this summer. Set in a not-so-distant future where a pandemic has wiped out much of mankind, the film focuses on Hig (Jacob Elordi), a pilot who survives alongside his dog and a gruff former marine named Bangley (Josh Brolin). But as tensions rise over Bangley's methods of protection, Hig looks for a way out to thrive, not just survive.

Critics jeered Ridley Scott's latest, calling it overrun by cliches and gimmicks without much meaning. So, despite its incredible talent behind the scenes and in front of the lens, we're not recommending The Dog Stars. — K.P.

Starring: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Guy Pearce

How to watch: The Dog Stars is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

12. Minions & Monsters

The Minions have caused all kind of comical mayhem since they debuted in Despicable Me back in 2010. But their latest adventure is uniquely thrilling for cinephiles as it lets these lovable critters loose in 1920s Hollywood, where they're searching for monsters to make a movie of their own.

This means a lot of allusions to cinema on top of the Minions' signature silliness. So whether you love slapstick, goofy gibberish, or classic Hollywood icons, this comedy should satisfy.* — K.P.

Starring: Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, and Phil LaMarr

How to watch: Minions & Monsters is now streaming on Peacock.

11. Dexter: Resurrection, Season 2

It may be all about serial killers, but Dexter is a show that refuses to die.

The main series ran for eight seasons from 2006 to 2013, then there was a follow-on set 10 years after (Dexter: New Blood), then a prequel (Dexter: Original Sin), and now there's a sequel to the sequel (Dexter: Resurrection), which is on its second season. Got all that?

To be honest, the main thing you need to know is that it's about a serial killer (Michael C. Hall) who only murders other killers. Now in his fifties, Dexter is having something of a midlife crisis, but there are still plenty of bad people out there that need hunting down. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman, Jack Alcott, David Zayas, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Kadia Saraf, Dominic Fumusa, Emilia Suárez, James Remar, Peter Dinklage, Brian Cox, Dan Stevens, Bokeem Woodbine, Nona Parker Johnson, and Desmond Harrington

How to watch: Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 debuts on Showtime and Paramount+ on Oct. 30.

10. The Stunt Driver

Jay Baruchel reteams with Man Seeking Woman director Michael Dowse for a historical comedy based on the life of Canadian daredevil stuntman Ken Carter. Known as The Mad Canadian during his heyday, Carter pulled off a variety of wild stunts. Set in the 1970s, The Stunt Driver focuses on the time he aimed to drive a rocket car over a one-mile jump across the Saint-Laurent river.

Within its silliness, The Stunt Driver explores how following even a "stupid" dream can be important. Critics have cheered the Canadian comedy, highlighting Baruchel's portrayal of Carter as a defining moment in his career. See for yourself what the buzz is all about. — K.P.

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Ed Helms, Ben Foster, Laurence Leboeuf, and Dan Bakkedahl

How to watch: The Stunt Driver is now available for rental or purchase on digital.

9. Minimum Wage

Comedy sketch group American High Shorts' viral Minimum Wage web series makes the jump to Netflix this year, with original cast members Aidan Micho, Grace Reiter, Hyde Healy, Julia Dicesare, Luke Burke, Ryan Micho, and Tommy Armstrong returning.

Like in the original Minimum Wage, the Netflix series is an ensemble comedy that follows a group of teenagers trying their best to run a local pizzeria, complete with awkward customer interactions and a neurotic manager. It's also the latest example of creators charting their own course in Hollywood, so if you're searching for laughs and rising comedy stars, Minimum Wage is sure to serve up both.* —B.E.

Starring: Aidan Micho, Grace Reiter, Hyde Healy, Julia Dicesare, Luke Burke, Ryan Micho, and Tommy Armstrong

How to watch: Minimum Wage is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Verity

Based on Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel Verity, this psychosexual thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, a little-known novelist who is offered a bizarre opportunity that she can't turn down. After world-famous novelist Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) is left catatonic from a car collision, a ghost writer is needed to finish her hit book series. But there's one catch: Lowen must come and stay in the remote cabin where Verity lives with her handsome husband (Josh Hartnett) and young son. While there, she goes through Verity's notes, and finds some things truly shocking that make her suspect Verity is not what she seems.

Is this a good movie? No. Is this a juicy psychosexual thriller? Not really. Helmed by Michael Showalter, Verity feels pretty tame, especially in the year Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Pillion came out. But as I wrote in my review, "Anne Hathaway gives top-notch psycho-biddy." And it is worth watching for her alone. —K.P.

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett, Ismael Cruz Córdova, and Brady Wagner

How to watch: Verity is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

7. Nocturne

Last year, Stephen Graham broke hearts (and dominated awards season) with his portrayal of a broken father in Adolescence. In this fall's Nocturne, he's less likely to break your heart than he is to stop it outright as he takes on the role of a terrifying serial killer.

Based on Lars Kepler's novels Lazarus and The Sandman, Nocturne introduces soldier-turned-homicide detective Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber). He and his family trade the streets of Philadelphia for a small town in Western Pennsylvania, but trouble finds them in the form of Jurek Walter (Graham), a cunning killer. As Jonah and his surrogate daughter, FBI agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz), seek out Jurek's latest missing victim, how far will they go to stop him?* —B.E.

Starring: Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, Stephen Graham, and Bill Camp

How to watch: Nocturne premieres on Apple TV on Oct. 30.

6. SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of

SCTV isn't as well known as Saturday Night Live, but they both pulled from the same pool of crackling improv talent out of Toronto. Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Aykroyd, and John Candy were all friends doing comedy together when these sketch shows came calling. And if you don't know SCTV, you can learn all about it with the new Netflix doc SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of.

For comedy nerds, this doc plays as a companion to the perfectly titled You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way). Both films begin with talking about how the Toronto production of Godspell launched the careers of many of the comedy greats above. However, the SCTV doc dives more into what happened next. Featuring interviews with the cast members, including Levy, O'Hara, Short, Thomas, and Martin, this doc explores how Second City in Toronto fostered budding comedy geniuses, and how their show fought for its place after SNL debuted. Plus, there's interview with the comedians the show inspired, speaking to how SCTV influenced them. Though a bit stiff considering the talent and the topic, this film is still a must-see for comedy lovers. — K.P.

Starring: Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Conan O'Brien, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Kathryn Hahn

How to watch: SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of premieres globally on Netflix on Oct. 30.

5. The Gilded Age, Season 4

Julian Fellowes' The Gilded Age returns for a fourth season to show the drama behind 1880s New York City, where the culture clash was new money versus old money (versus no money).

SEE ALSO: 'The Gilded Age' understands the power of giving Carrie Coon seven costume changes

Carrie Coon returns as Bertha Russell, the social-climbing wife of dashing robber baron George Russell (Morgan Spector). But as the trailer reminds us, their marriage is "on shaky ground." What will that mean for Bertha and New York society? We can't wait to find out. — K.P.

Starring: Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, Denée Benton, and Christine Baranski

How to watch: The Gilded Age Season 4 premieres on HBO Max on Nov. 1.

4. Instadocs: Jane Doe v. Cornell

The Cornell 7 case has launched protests at Cornell University and discussions around rape culture nationwide. You might know that a former Cornell student — protected in her lawsuit with the name Jane Doe — has alleged that seven members of the university's Chi Phi fraternity chapter sexually assaulted her in October of 2024, and that the university and local district attorney's response has been seen as insufficient to Cornell's student body and beyond.

SEE ALSO: Feminist orgs claim Meta censoring posts about Cornell 7 case

Now, Netflix offers an Instadoc from showrunner Steve Yaccino, which explores the case through interviews with The Cornell Daily Sun editor-in-chief Sophia Dasser and senior editor Cereese Qusba; current New York governor Kathy Hochul; Amanda Walsh, deputy director of the Victims Rights Law Center and a former Title IX coordinator at Brown University; Thomas Giuffra, Jane Doe’s attorney; a former Cornell fraternity president; and a recent Cornell graduate who went through the Title IX process. — K.P.

How to watch: Instadocs: Jane Doe v. Cornell is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Never After Dark

Seeking something uniquely haunting for Halloween? I recommend Never After Dark.

Per my review, "From House of Ninjas' writer/director Dave Boyle comes a horror thriller that has the slow burn of '70s classics like The Shining and The Exorcist. Like those searing horror legends, Never After Dark also centers its story of supernatural infestation in one location. The forest-bound bed-and-breakfast of Never After Dark might seem an unremarkable space, much like the Overlook Hotel or the MacNeil home at first glance. But as the chilling story develops, its many-windowed exterior grows foreboding, and its wood-paneled interiors slyly sinister, suggesting the presence of something inhuman and dangerous... In the end, Never After Dark is a beguiling haunted house tale with tantalizing twists, skin-crawling scares, and a tender tale of sisterhood at its core. Horror lovers should be on the lookout for this one." — K.P.

Starring: Moeka Hoshi, Kurumi Inagaki, and Kento Kaku

How to watch: Never After Dark is now available for rental or purchase on digital.

2. Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant

One of the weirdest movies of the year is now on digital. And just in time for Halloween! Make it a movie night with friends and kick back to the gross-out sci-fi sex comedy Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant.

SEE ALSO: 'Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant' review: Body horror meets Kiwi comedy in this absolutely outrageous sci-fi gem

THUNDERLIPS, the Kiwi writing/directing duo, offers a story about a slacker (Hannah Lynch) whose laundry room hookup with a new neighbor leads to an accelerated pregnancy that's out of this world. Understandably, she's less than thrilled about this unexpected turn of events, and so seeks an abortion. Hilarity ensues in a film I called "hilarious, heartfelt, and unapologetically gross." See for yourself. —K.P.

Starring: Hannah Lynch, Yvette Parsons, Arlo Green, and Jackie van Beek

How to watch: Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant is available for rental or purchase on digital.

Best of streaming this week: Forgotten Island

The best animated movie of the year you might have missed is now on digital. Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, Forgotten Island is a rousing adventure about friendship that's steeped in Filipino culture and '80s/'90s American radio. And it's totally awesome.

The story centers on wild child Jo (H.E.R.) and her brainy bestie Raissa (Liza Soberano), who grow up together, relishing in action movies, karaoke, and folklore around the magical island of Nakali. However, it's when their friendship is on the brink that they unexpectedly tumble into this incredible and dangerous realm, having a wild night they can't remember! As they retrace their steps to find their way home, they'll meet a collection of colorful characters, including a comically vain merman, an adorable baby demon, and a weredog, perfectly voiced by Dave Franco. Plus, it's a heartfelt story that's sure to comfort the misfits out there, reminding us we're not alone.

As I cheered in my review, "Forgotten Island will deliver an ending that is sensational and satisfying, reassuring us that being a weirdo works out once you've found your wild pack." — K.P.

Starring: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, Kevin McCann, and Lea Salonga

How to watch: Forgotten Island is now available for rental or purchase on digital.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

TL;DR: A typical content project can involve writing, images, documents, and a recording that still needs transcribing. The 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan puts those tasks into one platform with a single upfront payment. Lifetime access is just $69.97 (MSRP $540) through Nov. 1.

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You can chat with assistants powered by models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI, and others, including Claude and Gemini. Having several options in one place gives you flexibility when a coding question needs a different approach than a marketing draft.

The writing tools cover keyword research, blog generation, rewriting, summaries, grammar checks, and brand voice generation. You can also generate images, remove backgrounds, upscale pictures, and edit unwanted objects.

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For freelancers, small businesses, and creative teams, having a broad toolkit available without managing a separate workspace for every task is a big win.

Get 1min.AI Advanced Business lifetime access for $69.97 (reg. $540) through Nov. 1.

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Using several AI tools doesn’t mean copying the same question into multiple browser tabs. ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Lifetime Subscription brings multiple models and creative tools into one workspace, and it’s only $79 (reg. $619) for a limited time.

Enter your prompt once and compare responses side by side. With access to more than 20 models, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, you can explore different approaches without repeatedly starting over in separate tools.

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The platform also lets you upload PDFs and images and ask questions about their contents. Instead of manually pulling information into a prompt, you can bring the file into the conversation.

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Available models are updated regularly and may change. Get ChatPlayground AI Unlimited lifetime access for one $79 payment.

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TL;DR: Get a free iPhone 17e when you sign up for a T-Mobile plan, with no trade-in required. Alternatively, get the iPhone 17 for under $100 from T-Mobile when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 17e   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17   Shop Now

Apple is going extremely hard right now. In recent weeks, we've had new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads. What are you supposed to do with all these new product launches? Check out the best deals on older models, of course.

For those interested in investing in the Apple iPhone 17, we recommend checking out T-Mobile. The popular carrier is offering another "free iPhone" deal this week.

You can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 for under $100 when signing up for a 36-month Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee. That's mildly irritating, but that's how it often goes with this kind of deal.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone Duo has launched: How to save $1,000 without a trade-in

It's important to note that the Experience More and Experience Beyond plans are designed for power users who want 4K streaming, massive hotspot data, and the best international roaming. It therefore comes with a higher monthly bill than more limited plans. They do include perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix, which help offset some of that cost.

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." That's enough for us to consider upgrading.

Score an iPhone 17e for free this week with T-Mobile.

Witchbrook finally has a solid release date. A decade after developer Chucklefish first teased the cosy witch life sim, it and co-developer Robotality have now announced the game will launch on Jan. 28 next year. That's only three more months of waiting.

SEE ALSO: Chinese fantasy farming sim 'Immortal Life' adds trauma bonding to pastoral ideal, and I love it

First teased in 2016 under the working title Spellbound, Witchbrook has become one of the most highly anticipated upcoming cosy games, competing with ConcernedApe's Haunted Chocolatier. According to SteamDB, Witchbrook is currently the ninth most wishlisted game on Steam. Players take on the role of a student at Witchbrook College, a magic school for witches in training.

Witchbrook's developers had initially planned to release the game in Winter 2025, announcing the launch window in March that year. This was eventually pushed back to 2026, allowing them to bring Witchbrook to more platforms and add support for additional languages. This Wednesday's release date announcement has now delayed it just a little bit further until 2027.

"We have poured detail and care into every pixel, to create a truly handcrafted experience," Chucklefish and Robotality said in their release date announcement. "Thank you for all of your support and patience, especially within the last year, while we took the additional time to make a game we’re truly proud of."

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In Witchbrook, there are classes to attend, assignments to complete, and exams to pass, with subjects such as Potions, Astrology, Demon Hunting, and Tarot. However, you won't be spending all your time on your studies. You can also start a business, creating goods and delivering them via broom, as well as partake in extracurricular activities such as cooking, gardening, decorating your home, and exploring the seaside town of Mossport.

Like many good cosy games set in friendly villages, Witchbrook is a social RPG as well, with an attractive cast of local residents and classmates to befriend — or even date. If none of them take your fancy, you can spend time with your real-life friends instead, as Witchbook supports up to four players in online multiplayer.

While the 10-year wait has caused the hype to die down for some, many eager gamers have still reacted to the news of Witchbrook's launch date with joy. Several have even likened the excitement and anticipation for the game to that surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI's launch. Despite the additional delay to cap it off, many fans are just happy that Witchbrook is finally arriving, and has a definite date they can mark in their calendars.

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OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

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— zoo ⋆˚🕯️ (@sailortea.bsky.social) October 29, 2026 at 3:29 AM

Witchbrook will launch Jan. 28, 2027 for $24.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for fans of abbreviations.

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. The sports 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 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 before the game ends.

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

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

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

• Yellow: Southeastern Conference

• Green: Football stats

• Blue: Nicknames

• Purple: Parts of a hockey team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: SEC Schools, Abbreviated

• Green: QB Stats, Abbreviated

• Blue: Nicknames of NBA Stars

• Purple: Hockey Positions, Abbreviated

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 #765 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• SEC Schools, Abbreviated: LSU, OU, UGA, UK

• QB Stats, Abbreviated: INT, QBR, TD, YDS

• Nicknames of NBA Stars: AD, KD, PG-13, SGA

• Hockey Positions, Abbreviated: C, G, LW, RW

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.

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

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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 October 29, 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 October 29, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 29 Pips

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 29 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 29 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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.

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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

Cover story.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ALIBI

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A prank.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CAPER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Protrusion.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 29, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BULGE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Serious.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

STERN

Final Hurdle hint

Sorcery.

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

MAGIC

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

The full Moon may be behind us, but there's still plenty of lunar activity to look forward to as October draws to a close.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Thursday, Oct. 29, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, with 87% of its surface visible.

Tonight, without the use of visual aids you should be able to spot the Tycho Crater, Copernicus Crater, and the Mare Imbrium. Binoculars will also help you see the Posidonius Crater, the Mare Humorum, and the Grimaldi Basin. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 12 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete an orbit around Earth, going through a series of phases along the way. Depending on its position relative to Earth and the Sun, the amount of its illuminated surface we can see changes, creating the familiar sequence of crescents, quarter moons and the Full Moon. Once the cycle is complete, the pattern repeats, as explained by NASA.

The eight 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.

Anthropic has announced new Claude reporting tools, allowing employers to see exactly how and why their employees are using the AI tool. Smart reports are available now for users on paid Claude Enterprise plans, and can be enabled in an organisation's settings.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is still giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualify

Announced on Wednesday, Claude's smart reports feature produces graphs showing how a team has been using the AI tool, what they've produced, and how much they've spent on it. Managers simply specify the team, a date range up to the last 28 days, and Claude products they'd like to be included in the report. 

Credit: Anthropic

The products that can be selected are chat, Claude Code, Claude Cowork, or the "unified chat and Cowork experience." (The recently announced Claude Duet AI agent isn't available on Claude Enterprise.) Smart reports will then pull data from the chosen tools and create an overview of what workers have been doing. This involves reading the team's conversation transcripts, grouping them into workstreams and types of output (such as vibe code or technical documents), and determining how much they've been spending.

"If a spend limit is holding someone back, admins with billing permission can raise it from the report," wrote Anthropic. 

On Monday, the company submitted an IPO filing stating that its existing customers had increased their spending by 900 percent since last year — though it still reported $80 billion loss in the first half of 2026 alone. Organisations can generate up to 10 free smart reports per month, after which they'll have to pay additional fees. 

Credit: Anthropic

Anthropic states that in addition to telling smart reports what to focus on in its analysis, managers can also ask their own custom questions about usage and cost. These questions can be saved to be asked again, so managers don't have to reenter them every time. Smart reports will make recommendations as well, such as suggesting new rules that could be added to a code repository.

Each smart report generates interactive charts, with managers able to click on them to see a breakdown of sessions in a workstream. Sessions can be ranked and filtered by cost, the product used, the date, and the type of output produced.

Smart reports will also not only show obstacles encountered and how often they cropped up, but also what Anthropic calls "inefficiencies." This includes sessions where workers didn't produce usable output, as well as ones classified as being "personal or off-topic."

Credit: Anthropic

Claude's new AI reporting tool is likely to leave some workers feeling apprehensive. There have been multiple reports of companies using AI to make layoff decisions, with a recent survey finding that one in four managers in the U.S. use it for this purpose "often or all the time." In July, a group of former Meta employees alleged that it relied on improperly tested AI tools to evaluate workers' productivity and track their AI token use, ranking them for inclusion in a mass layoff. Meta denied the allegations, saying workforce decisions were made by people, not AI.

Anthropic appears aware of such concerns, noting that Claude's smart reports aren't intended to be used in this manner.

"Smart reports help you understand adoption and plan your investment in Claude," Anthropic wrote. "They aren't designed and should not be used for evaluating individual performance or making employment decisions."

Claude's smart reports also have restrictions on the questions it will accept. Users will not be allowed to ask queries on topics such as race, gender identity, religion, political affiliation, immigration status, health, union activity, harassment complaints, or workers' personal lives.

Even so, the AI-powered reports are unlikely to nurture worker affection for the technology, or trust in their managers.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 29, 2026 Parking meter meaning

A device in the street or in a parking lot that you put money into so that you can park your car next to it for a particular period of time.

Payphone meaning

A public telephone that requires prepayment before a call can be placed.

Piggy bank meaning

A small coin container, traditionally shaped like a pig, with a slot on top for inserting coins or paper currency.

Wishing well meaning

A traditional water feature, fountain or spring where people throw coins or small objects while making a wish.

Calico meaning

A multicolored animal coat pattern.

Candy corn meaning

A small, kernel-shaped American candy made from sugar, corn syrup, fondant and marshmallow cream.

Neapolitan meaning

Relating to, or coming from, the city of Naples, Italy.

Traffic light meaning

A visual signal, such as a system of colored lights, for controlling traffic.

Antarctica meaning

Earth's southernmost continent that surrounds the geographic South Pole.

Emperor meaning

The sovereign ruler of an empire, representing the highest and most prestigious rank in monarchic tradition.

Tuxedo meaning

A formal evening suit for men distinguished by satin or grosgrain accents on the lapels, buttons, and trouser side seams.

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Waddle meaning

To walk with short, awkward steps while swaying or rocking your body from side to side.

Gothic meaning

A medieval art style.

Roman meaning

Of, relating to or coming from the city or ancient empire of Rome.

Sans meaning

Lacking something or doing something in the absence of an item, person or condition.

Typewriter meaning

A mechanical or electromechanical machine with a keyboard that prints letters, numbers and symbols directly onto paper by striking an inked ribbon with type elements.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love the cold.

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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 29, 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: Spare change

• Green: Cold birds

• Blue: Microsoft Word

• Purple: Colorful

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things You Put Coins into

• Green: Associated with Penguins

• Blue: Ends of Famous Fonts

• Purple: Things that Feature Three Colors

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 #1236 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things You Put Coins into: PARKING METER, PAYPHONE, PIGGY BANK, WISHING WELL

• Associated with Penguins: ANTARCTICA, EMPEROR, TUXEDO, WADDLE

• Ends of Famous Fonts: GOTHIC, ROMAN, SANS, TYPEWRITER

• Things that Feature Three Colors: CALICO, CANDY CORN, NEAPOLITAN, TRAFFIC LIGHT

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 will be easy if you belive in magic.

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 October 29, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Double, double toil and trouble

The words are related to witchery.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe making potions.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Cauldron.

NYT Strands word list for October 29

• Tongue

• Worm

• Newt

• Lizard

• Bubble

• Cauldron

• Blood

• Fire

• Snake

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 a mechanic.

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 October 29, 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.

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

Keeps a car running.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MOTOR

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.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

I bought my first 3D printer expecting to make toys, gadgets, and the occasional product prototype. Instead, one of my most useful prints is simply a plastic clamp whose whole job is to get chewed up by my CNC bit. Plastic clamps save my bits when a cut goes wrong, but buying injection-molded ones over and over got old fast. Now I print them for pennies a dozen at a time.

The Xreal Aura, spatial computing glasses made in partnership with Google for the Android XR platform, are now available to order. We first learned about these XR glasses at Google I/O 2026, and early adopters can finally try them in a matter of weeks.

The futuristic XR device combines elements of augmented reality and virtual reality in a pair of smart glasses. They're the first wired smart glasses to run on the new Android XR operating system from Google. The glasses and accessories are available for preorder at the Xreal website as of today, and they're scheduled to ship in mid-November, according to a press release shared with Mashable. Customers who preorder the glasses can save $180 on the hefty $1,279 price tag.

“Xreal Aura is finally here, and we're so proud to unlock new ways for people to work, watch, play, and build," said Chi Xu, co-founder and CEO of XREAL, in a press release.

The Xreal Aura utilizes dual Sony Micro-OLED displays to create a virtual display with a 70-degree field of view, up to 1,050 nits of brightness, and up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

Credit: Xreal Credit: Xreal

Xreal is one of the leading augmented reality companies, known for its tethered AR glasses, which project a large virtual display into the user's field of view. The Xreal Aura will provide spatial computing and virtual reality experiences usually associated with headsets in the smart glasses form factor.

The Xreal Aura is part of a new generation of spatial computing smart glasses, along with the Specs AR glasses from Snap and the recently announced Meta VR glasses. The Snap Specs are fully wireless but have a chunky design and a $2,195 price tag. The Meta VR glasses have a $1,299 price tag but won't launch until spring 2027.

What do the Xreal Aura Glasses do? Credit: Xreal / Mashable Photo Composite

Xreal says the new glasses will support "productivity, immersive entertainment, and next-generation XR experiences."

The Xreal Aura offer the same augmented reality features as other AR smart glasses, but they up the ante with spatial computing experiences powered by the Android XR operating system and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform. (A press release states that the glasses were made in partnership with Google and Qualcomm.)

Unlike most AR glasses, the Xreal Aura can also be controlled via voice and hand movements, thanks to onboard sensors and cameras. Instead of simply plugging into a user's smartphone, laptop, or gaming device, the Aura glasses come with a puck, which houses the battery and powers most of the compute necessary for spatial computing.

The Apple Vision Pro introduced spatial computing into the public consciousness. The technology turns a user's surroundings into a 360-degree virtual canvas, and users can open apps, games, entertainment, and AI tools directly into their space. However, unlike headsets, which can be extremely limiting, smart glasses don't limit a user's movements or block their peripheral vision.

“This is a defining moment for XR," Xu said in a press release. "We built AURA for people who want the power of spatial computing without being removed from the world around them. With transparent lenses, a category-leading lightweight design, Gemini by your side, and access to the Android ecosystem from day-one, the promise of XR is more approachable than ever."

The Xreal Aura will also offer support for Gemini, letting users ask questions about their environment or complete tasks across apps.

Spatial photos, virtual reality, and more Credit: Xreal / Android XR

Using Google Photos and Android XR, Aura users will be able to view their photos and videos in new immersive ways. For example, users can convert their existing photos and videos into 3D, while panoramas will become full 360-degree experiences. Via Google Maps, users can explore destinations in immersive 3D, either with an aerial view or via Street View.

Users can also enjoy 360-degree and VR180 video content on YouTube.

New XR experiences

At launch, users will also be able to access a library of more than 150 XR experiences, with more to come in the months ahead. Some of the highlights include:

• NBA App for Android XR

• Fallout: Factions video game

• Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, a mixed-reality adventure

• NASCAR XR app

• Oh My Galaxy!, a physics-based arcade game

• XR HoloMedicine

• Simply Piano XR

Where to preorder the Xreal Aura

The Xreal Aura are available for preorder now exclusively at the Xreal online store. The glasses have a retail price of $1,279 but are available for $1,099 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xreal Xreal Aura XR Glasses $1,099 at Xreal
$1,279 Save $180   Preorder at Xreal Xreal Aura specifications Credit: Xreal

And for the real AR/XR nerds, here are the key specs for these upcoming smart glasses:

• Displays: Dual Sony Micro-OLED

• Field of view: 70 degrees

• Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz

• Resolution: 1200p resolution (1,920 × 1,200 pixels per eye)

• Peak brightness: 1,050 nits

• Controls: Support for voice, hand, keyboard, trackpad, and game controller input

• Tint: Electrochromic dimming with 5 transparency levels

• Sound: Bose audio

• Microphones: 4 microphones

• Glasses weight: Under 95 grams

• Processor: Xreal X1S Chip

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How did baseball broadcasts get like this? Over 40 camera angles, shots change every couple of seconds, pitch speeds, exit velocity, spin rate, launch angle, and ads everywhere you look. I went back through the archives of Major League Baseball to see how we got here, starting with the very first World Series in 1903. 

Read more about the World Series: Brewers vs. Rays: How to watch the 2026 World Series for free

Timecode chapters
0:00 How did we get here?
0:38 1903: The first World Series
1:21 The megaphone man
1:51 The Playograph
2:39 1921: Radio, baby!
3:36 1939: The first televised MLB game
5:07 1947: The first televised World Series
5:40 1951: Baseball in color
5:57 The center field camera
6:17 The first instant replay
6:56 The 1990s and the Fox Box
7:54 Today: The modern super broadcast
9:11 Is it too much?
9:55 Bring back the local booths
10:54 Why I love this game

Video credits
Host: Dillon Lopez
Scripted by: Dillon Lopez
Producer: Dillon Lopez
Camera: Dillon Lopez
Video editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail designer: Dillon Lopez