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The Camry’s rapid rise as Toyota’s best-selling hybrid caught a lot of people off guard—especially with the RAV4 being as popular as it is. Turns out, plenty of buyers still want a good old-fashioned sedan, even with no shortage of shiny SUVs on the lot.

I woke up on Sunday morning to find that I’d left the garage door open all night long and that a bike had been stolen. After wishing great harm on whoever decided to take my partner’s daily ride to work, I started thinking about how I can prevent this happening in future with the help of Home Assistant.

The state of New York has passed new legislation requiring social media platforms like X and TikTok to add warning labels to their services.

Much like the warnings found on cigarette packaging, the new law — signed by Governor Kathy Hochul — targets platforms that rely on features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds. These services will now be required to display labels cautioning users, particularly young people, about the potential mental health risks associated with prolonged use.

SEE ALSO: Louisiana social media age verification law blocked by federal judge

Under the law, warning labels must appear when a user first interacts with any feature deemed "predatory," and will continue to surface periodically afterward. The requirements apply whenever these platforms are accessed from within New York, regardless of the companies' locations.

The move comes amid a growing body of research linking heavy social media use to negative mental health outcomes among young people. A large, multi-year study published earlier this year found that increased social media use among tweens and teens was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms over time, while the reverse was not true.

Researchers behind the study said the findings strengthen concerns that certain online behaviors, including excessive scrolling and algorithm-driven engagement, may actively contribute to declining mental well-being rather than simply reflecting it.

At the same time, platforms like TikTok have begun rolling out their own safety and oversight features in response to mounting pressure from lawmakers, parents, and regulators. Earlier this year, TikTok expanded its parental control tools, adding options for screen time blocking, scheduled app access, and increased visibility into teens’ followers and activity.

The company has framed those changes as part of a broader push toward mindfulness and healthier usage habits, particularly for users under 18, even as critics argue that design features like autoplay and infinite feeds continue to encourage prolonged engagement.

I love open-source software, and it's been essential to my needs over the years. I've used GIMP when I couldn't afford Photoshop. Scribus when I needed to design a book for college, and OpenOffice for the Linux netbook that got me through post-grad. I owe open-source software a lot, and it's too important to hold it to a lower standard than the closed-source for-profit stuff.

Were you an avid Google Voice user? I was, and it was an amazing service at one time. These days, however, it seems like a forgotten service. Here’s why I stopped using Google Voice, and also how I think Google could raise its VoIP service from the ashes.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 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 December 27, 2025

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 December 27, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 27 Pips

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 27 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 27 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this green space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 0-2, 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.

For years, I've relied on running totals in Microsoft Excel, but the traditional methods are fragile and unreliable. Since Microsoft introduced the SCAN function, I've switched to a brand-new approach that is flexible, self-healing, and doesn't break when my data grows.

Google Chrome's default settings can hinder your browsing experience, compromise your privacy, and chew through system resources. That's why I always disable the following settings when installing Chrome on a new machine.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you think outside the box a bit.

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.

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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: Trophy room

• Green: Wrasslin'

• Blue: Award-winning Canadians

• Purple: Ends in a letter

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Memento

• Green: Types of wrestling

• Blue: Blue Jays to Win Cy Young Award

• Purple: Ends in a Homophone for a Letter of the Alphabet

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 #460 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Memento - COLLECTIBLE, KEEPSAKE, MEMORABILIA, SOUVENIR

• Types of wrestling - ARM, FREESTYLE, GRECO-ROMAN, SUMO

• Blue Jays to Win Cy Young Award - CLEMENS, HALLADAY, HENTGEN, RAY

• Ends in a Homophone for a Letter of the Alphabet - BATTER'S EYE, BLUE JAY, GOLF TEE, POOL CUE

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 today's Connections.

We often point fingers at system files, apps, update caches, temporary data, or restore points when the C drive fills up. But the biggest space hog is usually hiding in plain sight: the Downloads folder. Here’s why it fills up so fast, how to clean it out, and how to stop it from ballooning again.

Recently while working on my homelab setup, I noticed the dual network ports on my NAS, and I got curious what was possible with the second. Looking through manuals and discussions, I learned I had a few options.

A NAS is endlessly versatile. You can use it as a simple solution for backups and data storage, or you can evolve it into a full-on homelab, with Docker containers, VMs, media streaming, photo management, and smart home services. That versatility is exactly why it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

This wasn't a particularly busy week in the tech industry, given the holiday season wrapping up and CES 2026 on the horizon, but there was still some exciting tech news. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

The tech press seems to be fixated on social media and AI. Someone like me, who cares about tech at more than a surface level, can feel frustrated with the tech world. Is scrolling through feeds and interacting with chatbots all there is? If you're bored with tech, Linux might help you fall back in love with it.

German SUVs are often praised for performance and luxury, but long-term reliability isn’t usually part of the conversation. That’s what makes this particular model so surprising. It combines serious speed, a refined interior, and everyday comfort with a reliability record that defies the stereotypes surrounding German vehicles. For buyers who want excitement without constant trips to the service department, it stands out in a crowded premium segment.

A new year is a time of new beginnings and, as corny as it sounds, a great excuse to look at areas of your life that need improving. As someone who jumped headfirst into Home Assistant in 2025, I’m looking to make some changes to improve my smart home in 2026.

Are you interested in self-hosting your own website? It’s actually easier than you think. With just six simple tools, you can have a website up and running on a computer at your house this weekend—here’s how.

Want to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: BEST FOR ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year (save $15) Shop Now Best for Fox and Big Ten Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year (save $39.89) Shop Now BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month (save $30) Get Deal Best for channels Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now Best for affordability Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months (save $50.95) Shop Now BEST for INTRODUCTORY OFFER YouTube TV 5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months (save $99) Shop Now

It's an exciting time for college football, with both the playoffs and bowl games satisfying football fans. BYU vs. Georgia Tech should be one of the best games of the week — neither program made the playoffs but both are ranked, with BYU (11-2) at No. 12 and Georgia Tech (9-3) at No. 22, which means both teams are in good form and capable of delivering a gripping game.

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If you want to watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is BYU vs. Georgia Tech?

BYU vs. Georgia Tech takes place at 3.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 27. This game takes place at Camping World Stadium.

BYU vs. Georgia Tech is broadcast on ABC.

How to watch college football in 2025/26

Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.

ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year Shop Now

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX

ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.

Fox One (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year Shop Now

Channels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network

Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.

FuboTV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.

Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW

Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.

Sling (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network

Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.

YouTube TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months Shop Now

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW

YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.

How to watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.

Live stream BYU vs. Georgia Tech from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

5. Watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech from anywhere in the world

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

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