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The 32-inch Roku Smart TV has dropped to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $50

Mashable - 8 hours 45 min ago

SAVE $50: As of March 6, the 32-inch Roku Smart TV is on sale for £119.99 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku 32-inch Roku Smart TV $119.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your TV, this latest Amazon deal on the 32-inch Roku Smart TV might be worth a look. As of March 6, this TV has dropped to its lowest-ever price, now just $119.99. That's $50 off the list price.

There a lot of reasons to upgrade to this TV, but one of the big ones is how easy it makes streaming. It's compatible with fast WiFi (so no lagging) and also all the major streaming apps that are available to launch right on your home screen. The interface is easy to navigate, so browsing the selection of movies, shows, and live TV is nice and simple. Roku also offers more than 500 free channels.

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And let's not forget the picture quality. This Roku TV delivers a bright 720p HD picture, while Roku Smart Picture automatically optimises and adjusts the picture mode for the best results. This pairs nicely with the great sound quality: the built-in speakers are designed for clearer dialogue and stronger sound. There’s even a Bluetooth headphone mode, so you can listen through wireless headphones without disturbing anyone else in the house.

It also fits easily into a smart home setup, supporting voice control through Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. It even allows you to share videos, photos, and music from Apple devices using AirPlay.

Get this TV deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Top 4 robot vacuums for hardwood floors that scrub without scratching, tested on my floors at home

Mashable - 8 hours 49 min ago
A hybrid is the way to go with hardwood

Any avowed hardwood floor enthusiast is likely to be just as strict about faint shoe prints and dried droplets as they are about the more obvious visible debris. That's why I'll always recommend a robot vacuum mop combo for hardwood floors — a robot vacuum that doesn't mop can't provide the same satisfying shine. Solid suction power and a damp, forceful cloth are the dynamic duo for any type of hard floor, lapping up minuscule specks and pet hair while spot-cleaning liquid spills when necessary.

Are robot mops safe for hardwood floors?

Most robot mop cleaning solutions sold by the brands themselves are totally hardwood safe, as long as the finish isn't already peeling. The sanitizing formulas have a neutral pH balance (pH 6.5 to 7.5) and avoid topcoat-damaging ingredients like ammonia or other alkaline products. If you want to be extra careful about preventing damage, you can lower the water flow level in the app or mop with just water sometimes.

SEE ALSO: How do some robot vacuums clean and navigate better than others? They're probably using AI.

As for worries of nicks in your maple, robot vacuums and their brushes are purposefully designed to maneuver across hardwood floors without scratching them. Most modern robovacs, even the ones that aren't super advanced otherwise, have floor type sensors that tell the vacuum when it's time to unleash the most intense suction (on carpet and rugs) and when it's time to vacuum more gently (on hard floors).

Recent flagship models from Dreame and Roborock use advanced obstacle climbing technology and retractable legs that can hoist the vacuum chassis safely over a detected threshold. If the vacuum senses a tricky spot like a rug corner or floor type change, the vacuum body can lift more than three inches to avoid getting stuck or digging hard plastic into the floor.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Beats Fit Pro earbuds are down to their lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $70 right now

Mashable - 8 hours 51 min ago

SAVE $70: As of March 6, Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $129.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $129.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $69.96   Get Deal

Looking for a new pair of earbuds? The 1st generation Beats Fit Pro are on sale once again at Amazon, and this time they've dropped down to their best-ever price. As of March 6, you can buy them for $129.99, saving $70 on the list price. This deal is only for the white set.

These earbuds are designed with flexible, secure-fit wingtips. These help to keep the earbuds secure and comfortable in your ears all day, and keeps them in place during sports. And if you plan on using them for workouts, they're both sweat and water resistant, rated IPX4.

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With any Beats product, you know you're going to get a great sound, and that's no different here. These use a custom acoustic platform to deliver powerful, balanced sound, while Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking creates a more immersive experience for music, movies, and games.

They also have three different listening modes, depending on what level of noise cancellation you need. There's Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive EQ. These earbuds are also powered by the Apple H1 chip, so they support features like Automatic Switching between Apple devices, Audio Sharing with another pair of Beats headphones or Apple AirPods, and hands-free “Hey Siri.”

One of the biggest selling points is the battery life. These can last up to six hours on a single charge or up to 24 hours with the charging case, so you won't need to charge regularly.

Get these earbuds from Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Today only, get $50 off Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones at Amazon

Mashable - 8 hours 57 min ago

SAVE $50: As of March 6, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen) have dropped to $399 for one day only at Amazon. This 11% discount is $50 off their list price of $449.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen) $399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50   Get Deal

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are some of our favorite headphones, popping up on our lists of the most comfortable headphones, best noise-cancelling headphones, and best headphones overall. If you've had your eye on them, Amazon's offering $50 off right now. But there's a catch — this deal only lasts through March 6.

This discount has dropped the price of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen) from $449 to $399, which is also just $20 away from their lowest-ever price of $379. Plus, all available colors are on sale at this price. The timer has already started on this deal, so act fast to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

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There's a lot to love in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, including a comfortable fit, great noise-cancellation, and excellent audio quality. Our roundup of the best headphones says, "With the second generation of the headphones, Bose makes minor improvements to the soundscape, noise-cancelling, and somehow the wear. They also fixed other bugs that detracted from the otherwise premium experience of using the QC Ultras."

Mashable's Bethany Allard also reviewed these headphones and said that she, "Definitely wouldn't recommend an upgrade to any existing QC Ultra headphones users, but if you're buying into the line for the first time, the blend of comfort, noise cancellation, and sound is hard to beat, especially if you're keen on all-day wear."

The clock is ticking to make a move on this offer, so act fast to save on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen) at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): How Apples new laptops compare

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Pricing and specs The MacBook Neo (pictured here in indigo) comes in two configurations. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,099, while the 15-inch version starts at $1,299. The Apple Store's education discount knocks $100 off for college students, their parents, and school staff.

Both sizes of the M5 MacBook Air are kitted with the following specs:

  • Processor: M5 chip with a 10-core CPU and an 8-core or 10-core GPU

  • Memory: 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB RAM

  • Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB SSD

  • Display: 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display

The M5 MacBook Airs have double the starting storage of their predecessors — 512GB instead of 256GB. While they don't come in that lesser configuration anymore, they're $100 cheaper than their M4 counterparts with 512GB of disk space. Their 4TB storage upgrade is also new.

SEE ALSO: Laptop specs explained: A jargon-free guide to what's inside your computer

The M5 MacBook Air's MSRP gave Apple a lot of breathing room in pricing the MacBook Neo, but it's even cheaper than some analysts expected. The base configuration with 256GB of storage is only $599, and a 512GB model is just $699. Once again, students and educators can save $100 by buying direct.

The MacBook Neo is only available in one 13-inch size:

  • Processor: A18 Pro chip with 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU

  • Memory: 8GB RAM

  • Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD

  • Display: 13-inch Liquid Retina display

The MacBook Neo's specs are more "iPad in spirit," to quote Mashable's Stan Schroeder. It starts with half the memory and storage of the MacBook Air, and that RAM isn't upgradable. It also runs on a pared-down iPhone chip. (The 2024 iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max had an A18 Pro chip with one extra GPU core.) Overall, it's much less future-proofed than the Air.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Performance predictions The M5 MacBook Air (pictured here in midnight) will probably be one of the most powerful ultraportables on the market. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Apple's mobile chips are zippy — there's an older A16 chip in the current iPad — but don't expect the A18 Pro to vie with Apple's M-series silicon in any serious way. We got a taste of the M5 chip's multitasking prowess in the base 14-inch MacBook Pro last fall, and it's astonishingly fast, earning a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 17,470. (That's our main CPU performance benchmark.) At the time of writing, the M5 MacBook Pro outperforms 90 percent of the laptops in our current testing database, including many Windows PCs that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more.

Apple's M4 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro had close Geekbench 6 scores, so I expect the M5 MacBook Air to notch a mid-17,000s multi-core number, too. If that pans out, it'll have an unrivaled price-to-performance ratio among ultraportables.

The A18 Pro nabbed an average Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 8,166 when we tested it in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, so I'm thinking the MacBook Neo will be about half as fast as the M5 MacBook Air. The Air should feel much snappier in everyday scenarios and have a much higher performance ceiling to run more demanding apps.

The MacBook Neo's performance will probably rival that of the M1 MacBook Air from 2020. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

That said, the MacBook Neo will probably be a strong performer compared to other options at its low price point. In a press release, Apple claimed the A18 Pro chip is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks like web browsing, and up to three times faster when running local AI workloads, compared to the latest mid-range Intel Core Ultra 5 chip in top-selling Windows laptops. Of note, Apple says it still supports Apple Intelligence features on device.

A Geekbench 6 multi-core score in the lower 8,000s would make the MacBook Neo about as fast as the M1 MacBook Air (8,783), which Apple sold through Walmart for around $699 from 2024 to early 2026. That would also put it in the same realm as two high-end Chromebooks we've tried, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (7,680) and the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (7,187), which both have MediaTek's Kompanio Ultra 910 chip.

I'll add that the MacBook Neo is fanless, so it should run as quietly as a MacBook Air, if not nearly as fast.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Battery life

The MacBook Neo will likely be Apple's shortest-lasting laptop, but it should still get you through a full school or workday. It has a 36.5Wh battery that's rated at up to 16 hours of video playback, while the MacBook Air has a 53.8Wh battery that's rated at up to 18 hours of video streaming.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best battery-life laptops of 2026. This HP OmniBook shocked me.

The M4 MacBook Air had the same 18-hour rating but lasted nearly 20 hours when tested, so expect both of those numbers to vary slightly in practice.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Design Interesting MacBook colors! Finally! Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air look pretty similar — both have an aluminum chassis with rounded edges — but there are a few key design differences separating them. For two, the Neo has larger bezels surrounding its display and lacks a webcam notch. It also comes in different colors, including a flashy new yellow hue called "citrus":

  • MacBook Neo colors: Silver, indigo, blush, and citrus

  • MacBook Air colors: Silver, starlight, midnight, and sky blue

The MacBook Neo is slightly thicker and smaller than the 13-inch Air, but they both weigh the same:

  • MacBook Neo: 11.71 x 8.12 x 0.5 inches, 2.7 pounds

  • 13-inch MacBook Air: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches, 2.7 pounds

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Display The M5 MacBook Air has the same display refresh rate and brightness rating as the MacBook Neo. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The MacBook Neo and the smaller MacBook Air are both classified as 13-inch laptops, but the Air's display is a little bigger than that. It's like how Microsoft has a 13-inch Surface Laptop and a 13.8-inch Surface Laptop.

The MacBook Neo's display has a 2,408 x 1,506 resolution and an anti-reflective coating, while the 13-inch MacBook Air's display has a 2,560 x 1,664 resolution and a glossy finish. The MacBook Air supports a broader color gamut on top of Apple's True Tone display technology, which adjusts its picture based on ambient lighting. This means colors will look more lifelike on it.

Both MacBooks' displays have a 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Keyboard and trackpad The MacBook Neo's keyboard isn't backlit. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air both have a full-sized Magic Keyboard. Touch ID comes standard on the Air, but if you want it on the Neo, you have to upgrade to the $699 model with 512GB of storage. The MacBook Air's keyboard has backlighting; the MacBook Neo's does not.

The MacBook Air has a Force Touch trackpad with haptic feedback, gesture controls, and input sensitivity. (It can perform different actions based on how hard you press.) The MacBook Neo has a clickier mechanical Multi-Touch trackpad with gesture support.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Audio

Music and movies should sound better on the MacBook Air: It has four speakers to the Neo's two. However, both models support Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. The Neo just lacks dynamic head tracking support with AirPods.

The MacBook Neo has a dual-mic array, while the MacBook Air has a three-mic array.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Webcam

The MacBook Air has a fantastic 12MP webcam that supports Center Stage, a tool that keeps you centered in frame, as well as Desk View, a feature that produces an overhead shot of your desktop. As mentioned above, it's housed in an (ugly) webcam notch that juts down into the top of the screen.

The MacBook Neo has a 1080p webcam, so its picture is going to look fuzzier, but it's located within the display's upper bezel. No notch!

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Connectivity The MacBook Neo offers open-lid support for one external display. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Both new MacBooks have two USB-C ports on the upper-left sides of their bases (near their hinges), but with the Neo, you miss out on Thunderbolt 4 for faster data transfer speeds. Both models charge through those ports, though the Air has an extra dedicated MagSafe 3 charging port that frees them up for other peripherals.

One of the Neo's USB-C ports can support a 4K external monitor while its own display is active. Conversely, the Air has open-lid support for two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor over either of its USB-C ports.

The MacBook Neo has an audio jack on the left side of its base near its trackpad. The MacBook Air's audio jack is located on the opposite side, and it has added support for high-impedance headphones.

The Neo and the Air both support Bluetooth 6, the latest Bluetooth standard, but their WiFi standards differ. The Air supports WiFi 7, the newest, fastest WiFi standard, while the Neo supports older WiFi 6E tech.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): Which model is better for you? The MacBook Neo (pictured) and the MacBook Air both launch on March 11. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The MacBook Neo is technically a "worse" laptop than the M5 MacBook Air in almost every way, but it's also geared toward a very different kind of user. As someone in the r/technology subreddit observed: "If you even understand the difference between 8 vs 16 GB of RAM, you're not the target" for the Neo. (This echoes the broader Chromebook vs. laptop debate.)

In the Neo, Apple skimps on specs so it can offer its signature premium build quality and polished, reliable operating system at a lower price point. It's effectively a MacBook "SE" in all but name. On paper, it seems ideal for those who don't need a ton of power, like kids and people who were already using their iPads as laptops. I could also see existing MacBook Air and Pro owners buying a Neo as a secondary laptop for travel.

The M5 MacBook Air will veer into "overkill" territory for those folks, but others will find its boosted performance, higher-end components, and extra future-proofing worth the $500 upcharge. Apple considers the Air's user base to be college students, creative professionals, and business users, according to a press release.

As a final note, I'll just mention that both new MacBooks seem like an exceptional value compared to other options at their respective price points — especially if you can take advantage of Apple's education pricing. We'll be testing both models soon, so stay tuned for some more formal hands-on reviews and analysis.

Both new MacBooks are available for preorder ahead of their official launches on Wednesday, March 11.

Shop Apple's new MacBooks: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 Pre-Order Here Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 Pre-Order Here
Categories: IT General, Technology

Yes, you can unplug for 24 hours

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago

Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life, knows the value — and the difficulty — of putting a smartphone out of arm's reach. 

Price recently led a 30-day phone breakup challenge, based on her book, which invites readers to leave their phones behind for a day. It sounds scary at first. "We come up with all these reasons why we couldn't possibly take a break, she says, "but many of these reasons don't stand up to scrutiny." 

Curious about trying it for yourself? Consider participating in the Global Day of Unplugging. In 2026, the 24-hour period of powering down begins at sundown on March 6 and concludes the following evening, offering a bite-size experience of going phone-free. 

SEE ALSO: Make 2026 the year your kid gets off their device

Price has published her own guide for the event, which has been around for a decade. The Global Day of Unplugging offers its own guide. The essential starting point is recognizing it's OK to fear losing access to your texts, maps, music, and everything else our devices now provide.

"People get very nervous ahead of time," Price says of a day without a smartphone. But "many people report back that it's easier than they feared." 

If you're ready to ditch that always-attached device for a full 24 hours, or even just a portion of that time, consider the following tips from Price along with Nick Plante, vice president of operations at Appstinence, a Gen Z-led organization that promotes quitting addictive technology. 

Get curious about your phone-related anxiety

Price says people looking to unplug need to first address their anxiety about doing so. She encourages "curiosity" about what drives their concerns. 

In Price's experience, many people fear not being constantly available. They worry about missing a critical phone call or text. Yet, often they're surprised to discover that they missed nothing, or what came in their absence wasn't that important. Emergencies are also rare, Price says.

Once you understand your key concerns about unplugging, you can plan for each contingency. 

Let's start with some basic tips:

Use a notepad

Price recommends keeping a notepad handy once you've unplugged.  "The moment you put your phone down your brain is going to protest by coming up with all of these things you need to check or lookup or buy or do," she says. "It really is kind of fascinating to see how panicked your brain will get." Writing those items down assures your brain you'll come back to them later. 

Do it with someone else …

Price says unplugging is easier with the company of a friend, spouse, or child. They can serve as an "accountability partner." Going tandem also means you'll have help improvising how to navigate life without a phone, as well as someone else to reflect on the experience. 

And make it fun!

Crucially, the hours you spend participating in the Global Day of Unplugging should not be dedicated to housework or other tedious tasks. Instead, Price strongly urges creating a "fun plan." The Global Day of Unplugging's "unplugged ideas" list includes a Free Library scavenger hunt, group crafting, and hosting a block or neighborhood party. 

How to get an emergency call 

If you need to be reachable in an emergency by a spouse, caregiver, or elderly parent, Price suggests telling those people to call you. When putting your phone in "do not disturb" mode, adjust the settings to allow calls from those contacts. Leave your ringer on to hear if you do indeed get a call. 

How to let people know you've unplugged

Price says to communicate in advance about your plans to unplug. Let the people you're informing know how long you'll be away. If necessary, change your email away settings.

How to make plans with friends 

Nick Plante, 25, began using a dumbphone (the Light Phone II) four years ago. He says it's become much easier to make plans now that some of his friends also have a dumbphone. 

Here's how it works for Plante and his friends: they agree on meeting at a specific place and time, with the understanding that they won't be "texting each other out of anxiety" to confirm the details. (As Price points out, unplugging does require sticking with set plans as much as possible.)

Sometimes, Plante just invites friends to a certain park or cafe during a set time period, making it clear he'll be without a phone. He says he enjoys building the capacity for ambiguity, instead of having an RSVP list or the ability to text incremental updates. 

Unplugging becomes easier when you focus on what you gain in the process, instead of what you lose, Plante emphasizes. 

"Unplugging lets you move through the day in a manner that you don't normally get to, and it can be very exciting to bring our attention to what that feels like," he says. 

How to pay for things without a digital wallet

Bring a physical wallet. It's really as simple as that, Price says. 

It's true that some small businesses, like food trucks or farmers market vendors, only take electronic forms of payment, like Venmo and CashApp. But most tap-to-pay systems allow for credit cards too. If you're worried, withdraw cash as a backup. 

If you're going to a museum or movie theater and have a digital ticket, pass or QR code, Price suggests printing it out in advance. 

How to listen to music 

Plante, who lives in New York City, notices more old CD players or iPads on the subway these days. When available, those are great alternatives for music listening. 

Price also recommends tuning into the radio for the Global Day of Unplugging, which may not have your carefully curated playlists, but will do for a short period of time. (For longer durations, Price suggests using an app blocker like Opal, Brick, Freedom, or ScreenZen to restrict everything but select apps, including music services.)

If you've decided to throw a party to celebrate unplugging (and good for you!), Price does note that using your phone to put on a playlist isn't "the worst thing in the world." Just be careful of any down-the-rabbit-hole effect that might follow, such as quickly texting a friend to see if they still plan to attend — then getting lost in your messages.

How to navigate without a maps app

Plante carries a paper map on the New York City subway. He also asks strangers for directions, and says it's not cheating if someone else consults Google on your behalf. 

He notices that people aren't as clueless about how to navigate to their location without a phone as they might seem; instead, they crave the reassurance of checking their maps app multiple times. 

When using public transportation, Plante recommends trusting the time table as much as possible, and relying on signage. 

Price encourages people to trust their memory when driving to a familiar location, or to print out or write down the directions when they're feeling less confident or driving somewhere new. 

She also recommends asking a stranger for directions if you need them. It sounds like obvious advice, but some people have forgotten that the option exists — and might even enjoy the generosity and camaraderie that a kind stranger can bring to an annoying situation. 

Plus, Price says: "If for some reason you do get lost, you'll have a story afterwards" — a rare moment in our smartphone-driven world.

Categories: IT General, Technology

A big asteroid wont hit the moon. Many scientists had wished it would.

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago

Astronomers say Asteroid 2024 YR4 will dodge the moon entirely in 2032, ending speculation about a possible collision with Earth's nearest solar system neighbor. 

But the missed strike means the door closes on a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity.

New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, a joint observatory between NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, allowed scientists to calculate the asteroid's trajectory with greater precision. The latest findings rule out a lunar collision on Dec. 22, 2032. Instead, the asteroid will safely pass about 13,200 miles away from the lunar surface.

Astronomers track near-Earth objects in space because understanding their paths helps scientists assess potential hazards to Earth. A crash on the moon would not have threatened people. In fact, lunar debris would almost certainly have stayed near the moon, and the impact would not be severe enough to change the moon's orbit. But it would have offered a rare chance to learn from a known asteroid hitting another planetary surface.

SEE ALSO: A radio telescope just took this giant picture of the Milky Way's core What is Asteroid 2024 YR4?

The asteroid itself is about 200 feet across — more than half the length of a football field. Scientists first spotted it in late 2024 with the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System station in Chile. Early predictions suggested a slight risk that the object could hit Earth in 2032. Follow-up observations later ruled out that possibility.

"It's typical to have initial observations and risk models updated once additional observational data is gathered and models are able to be refined," NASA said in a blog post on Thursday.

Even after the Earth risk disappeared, scientists estimated about a 4-percent chance the asteroid might strike the moon. That uncertainty remained because the asteroid moved farther away and became too faint for most telescopes to look at it.

Most asteroids are the rubble left over from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. They're usually too far away from Earth to pose a threat to people. But because no one wants to repeat the dinosaurs' misfortune, keeping an eye on the ancient rocks and comets zooming through space is paramount.

Webb telescope's latest observations

Tracking Asteroid 2024 YR4 again this year required some ingenuity. Many astronomers believed they wouldn't get another chance until 2028, but an international team identified two short windows last month — Feb. 18 and 26 when Webb might still detect the space rock. The telescope observes only a small patch of sky at a time, so astronomers had to predict the asteroid's position with extreme accuracy to point the instrument correctly.

The team compared the asteroid's location with background stars mapped by the Gaia spacecraft, a European mission. Those measurements allowed scientists to refine the asteroid's orbit — the route it takes around the sun — and rule out a lunar impact.

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The good news: Astronomers know they can combine new cutting-edge instruments to track small, distant asteroids years in advance. Teams including NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies rely on those calculations to monitor space rocks and comets that could someday pose a real threat to Earth.

The bad news: The miss means scientists won't get a rare natural experiment to collect data on a large asteroid strike. Telescopes and spacecraft could have otherwise watched the impact flash and measured the debris thrown into space. Missions such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter could have photographed the fresh crater.

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Those observations could help plan for potentially dangerous asteroids in the future. 

"The moon is safe, 2024 YR4 poses no danger, but the work continues," the European Space Agency said Thursday. "If a genuine danger ever emerges, we will not be caught unaware."

Categories: IT General, Technology

If you rely on AI, this lifetime subscription seriously streamlines your workflow

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago

TL;DR: Make working with AI even more efficient with this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, on sale now for $79.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $79
$619 Save $540   Get Deal

If AI is part of your workflow, you’re well aware of the downsides. From keeping each model’s strengths straight to hopping from tab to tab, this helpful technology can also slow you down. That’s where ChatPlayground AI comes in, offering a better way to work with more than 25 popular AI models.

You can work easier with AI for life thanks to this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, on sale now for just $79.

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We all turn to AI to help with daily tasks, but what happens when it takes even more time to use effectively? ChatPlayground AI makes the process more efficient, offering one window filled with responses from more than 25 popular AI models so you can stop tab hopping and get things done. And it works as a Chrome extension, so it’s easily accessible when you need it.

With ChatPlayground AI, you can see results from ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama, DeepSeek, Perplexity, and more models right in one spot. Just enter your prompt and you’ll see the answers side-by-side, with help for everything from creating images, writing code, or answering questions.

When it comes to AI, your prompt can make all the difference. ChatPlayground AI can also help you construct the right prompts with prompt engineering. You can use image and PDF chat features as well to help save time. It also saves your past conversations, so you can reference them in the future.

This lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan includes monthly messaging, priority access to new features and future models, and priority customer service when you need it. It also means you can avoid paying multiple monthly subscriptions to the individual models, while still getting access via this tool.

Get this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan now for only $79.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 online for free

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 on Paramount+. Access this live stream for free with a 30-day trial for Walmart+.

UFC 326 is showcasing a number of interesting fights, but the focus is naturally on Holloway vs. Oliveira.

This rematch comes over 10 years after the initial meeting of these two talented fighters at UFC Fight Night 74. Oliveira was defeated via first-round technical knockout in that featherweight bout. Oliveira sustained an apparent neck and shoulder injury during a takedown attempt. Will history repeat itself at the T-Mobile Arena? Or will Oliveira overcome the former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway?

If you want to watch Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is UFC 326?

UFC 326 takes place on March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira is the event's headline fight.

How to watch Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 for free

Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 is available to live stream on Paramount+.

New subscribers can get Paramount+ for $8.99 per month with access to all UFC events. Alternatively, you can sign up for a 30-day trial for Walmart+ to gain access to Paramount+ for free. Paramount+ is included as a perk of Walmart+, so you can live stream Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 for free with a trial of Walmart+.

If you're outside the U.S. for the next fight, you might need to use a VPN to unblock the UFC on Paramount+. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of the UFC from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the UFC 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. Visit Paramount+

  5. Watch Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the UFC?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Holloway vs. Oliveira in UFC 326 from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop renting cloud storage and lock in 100TB for life

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago

TL;DR: Pay once and get enough cloud storage for life with this 100TB lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage, currently just $974.97 until March 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97
$9,900 Save $8,925.03   Get Deal

Sick of constantly having to upgrade your cloud storage? If you’re looking for enough to last a lifetime and don’t want to keep paying monthly forever, Internxt Cloud Storage has the solution. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage for 100TB of data for just $974.97 until March 31.

If you’ve already amassed a lot of data, there aren’t many cloud storage options available to you. The most you can rent from Apple is 12TB, and that will set you back $59.99 a month. For those that work with large amounts of data, or simply take a lot of family photos and videos, Internxt Cloud Storage has an affordable and permanent solution.

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With Internxt, you pay once and secure 100TB of cloud storage for life. This allows you to own your space outright, while resting easy knowing Internxt will keep your content private. End-to-end encryption prevents anyone from accessing your data, even Internxt itself, unlike other companies that both access and make money off your content with targeted ads and data sharing.

Already using one of the big names? That’s no problem with Internxt, as they offer easy cross-platform compatibility. Access your content from any of your devices — there are user-friendly apps for Android, iOS, web browsers, and desktop.

Get this 100TB lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage for just $974.97 now through March 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Hamnet: The heart-wrenching Oscar nominee is now streaming

Mashable - 8 hours 58 min ago
The best ways to watch 'Hamnet' at a glance: Buy or rent 'Hamnet' on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Buy or rent 'Hamnet' at Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Instacart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free) $99.99/year (save $109.99/year) Get Deal Walmart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free) $98/year (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

Academy Award–winning director Chloé Zhao is back in the Oscar race with the heartbreaking period piece Hamnet. It stars our favorite sad boy, Paul Mescal, and a sensational Jessie Buckley as William and Agnes Shakespeare — the latter has already taken home the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics Choice, and Actor Award (SAG-AFTRA) for her outstanding performance.

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko calls Hamnet "an earthy and poetic raw tale of love and loss," and it earned a high spot on our list of the best movies of 2025. It's still floating around in select theaters, but if you prefer to cry from your own couch, Hamnet is now officially streaming. Here are all the details you need to know.

What is Hamnet about?

A tragic historical drama based on the novel of the same name by Maggie O'Farrell, Hamnet offers a view of William Shakespeare (Mescal) and his mystical wife Agnes (Buckley) from a different lens. It paints a portrait of their relationship as they cope with the sudden loss of their youngest son and the ways the tragedy influences one of the greatest plays ever written. Mashable's entertainment reporter, Belen Edwards, describes it as "the kind of film the word 'heart-wrenching' was invented for." In other words, keep a box of tissues nearby.

Check out the official trailer below:

Is Hamnet worth watching?

"This period drama seems primed to be a contender this award season," Puchko wrote in her review out of TIFF. And boy was she right. Hamnet has been nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars, plus Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Directing, and Best Actress in a Leading Role. It currently holds an 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes amongst critics and a 93 percent amongst audiences.

Mashable's entertainment team loved it — it cracked the top 10 of our favorite films of 2025. But, as Puchko warned, "Hamnet could leave you tear-soaked and in tatters."

Read Mashable's review of Hamnet.

How to watch Hamnet at home Credit: Focus Features

There are a couple of different ways you can watch Hamnet at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $19.99 or you can stream it on Peacock. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Hamnet made its digital debut on Feb. 3, 2026, which means you can now buy or rent the movie from on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep and watch at your own leisure.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

Stream it on Peacock

Hamnet, a Focus Features (part of NBCUniversal) film, makes its streaming debut on Peacock on March 6, 2026. This follows a similar timeline as other Focus Features films (Bugonia, Honey Don't!) and arrives just ahead of the Academy Awards on March 15.

While the cheapest Peacock subscription costs just $7.99, it won't grant you access to theatrical releases such as Hamnet. Instead, you'll need at least Peacock Premium, which costs $10.99 per month. Before you sign up, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Peacock's annual subscription plan is the best deal on any given day. You'll have to pay $109.99 (Premium with ads) or $169.99 (Premium Plus, ad-free) upfront, but it'll ultimately end up getting you about two months of streaming for free. The Premium tier typically costs $10.99 per month, which adds up to $131.88. That means you'll save a total of $21.89 with the annual plan. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan typically costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. With the annual plan, you'll save $33.89 total.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

We highly recommend that Xfinity customers check out the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock. There's a chance you could score a subscription for free.

Here's a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity (head to Xfinity.com for more details):

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for young adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Students and young adults can shave $5 a month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Verify your student status or age via SheerID and retrieve a unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Once the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4 per month) Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying their professional status through SheerID. Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code. Rates are also subject to change year to year.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. If you're new to Instacart+, you'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. If you time your trial to match up with the release of Hamnet on Peacock, you can watch it for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount — set a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ $98 per year Get Deal

Signing up for Walmart+ is one of the best ways to score streaming services for free. A subscription lets you choose either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free perk — and you can switch every few months. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Of course, you'll also get free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Walmarts Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box deal beats Amazons best-ever price — save $47

Mashable - 9 hours 1 min ago

TL;DR: Walmart has dropped the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box to $174.99, beating Amazon’s current $222.19 listing. That gets you 30 Play Boosters packed with cards inspired by all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box $174.99 at Walmart
Get Deal

Deals on MTG’s Final Fantasy expansion haven’t been appearing as often as before, but Walmart is still offering some of the best prices in trading cards when compared with competitors. 

As of March 6, Walmart has the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box down to $174.99, with free shipping. That puts it $47.20 below Amazon’s current $222.19 price for the same English-version Play Booster Box, making Walmart the better place to buy if you’ve been waiting for this set to cool off a little before jumping in.

This not only knocks it down to TCGplayer’s market price, but the Walmart deal even beats Amazon’s best-ever price of $183.32 for this Play Booster Box, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

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This is the 30-pack Play Booster display, which means you’re getting a full box intended for cracking packs, building decks, or running Limited games with friends. Each Play Booster includes 14 Magic cards, with 1 to 4 rares or better, 3 to 6 uncommons, 6 to 9 commons, and one land card. Every booster also includes one traditional foil card, while traditional foil lands show up in 20% of boosters. What’s more, a full display box can support an eight-player Draft pod with a few packs left over for prize support.

The set pulls from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games, with familiar characters, summons, spells, and locations woven into Magic card form. It’s a great way to revisit the series’s biggest moments while still getting a booster format built for actual play.

For more MTG deals, you can still buy the Magic: The Gathering Tarkir Dragonstorm Play Booster Box for below $110 at Walmart. You can also buy the Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Draft Night for a new low price of $86.99 at Amazon

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for March 6, 2026

Mashable - 9 hours 12 min ago

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, March 6, 2026:

AcrossMountains on an Evian bottle
  • The answer is Alps.

Sound effect for a pogo stick
  • The answer is Boing.

Bert's buddy
  • The answer is Ernie.

"Bruhhh!"
  • The answer is Dude.

Candy with collectible dispensers
  • The answer is Pez.

DownPresidential nickname of the 1860s
  • The answer is Abe.

"My Sweet ___" (George Harrison song)
  • The answer is Lord.

Affix with a thumbtack
  • The answer is Pinup.

Like an unpleasant, mocking comment
  • The answer is Snide.

"Good grief!"
  • The answer is Geez.

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes ETBs are down to market value at Amazon and Walmart — buy now for under $110

Mashable - 9 hours 14 min ago
Where to buy the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box Best Walmart Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $102.95 at Walmart Shop Now Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $109.88 at Amazon Shop Now

Walmart is continuing its streak of being the best retailer to grab readily available Pokémon TCG products at prices that are closer to "budget-friendly."

As of March 6, Walmart has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box listed for $102.95, down from $149.99. That’s a notable drop not just against Amazon’s current $109.88 price (also its lowest price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel), but also against TCGplayer’s market price.

After a new expansion comes out, just above $100 is usually the sweet spot for ETBs. With Ascended Heroes’ most valuable SIR cards still well in the high hundreds, like Mega Gengar ex and Mega Dragonite ex — we expect this to be the standard for a long while, and $102.95 is the best deal we’ve seen by far.  

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That may only be a small edge vs. TCGplayer’s tracked $104.23 market value, but it matters more once you look at the actual listings. TCGplayer currently shows the Ascended Heroes ETB at $120 from its only listed seller, and that listing also comes with a shipping charge. The listed median is $119.43, which makes Walmart’s price look especially strong.

The Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box includes nine booster packs of trading cards, a full-art foil promo card featuring N’s Zekrom, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, a plastic coin, six dividers, a collector’s box, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

For new expansions, you can still preorder the Pokémon TCG’s Perfect Order Booster Box for a low price of $219.99 at Walmart. Meanwhile, you can also preorder Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Bundles for just under $50

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for March 6, 2026

Mashable - 9 hours 16 min ago

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 March 6, 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 March 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 6 Pips

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically; 4-6 placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 6 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this green space must be equal to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 6 Pips

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-5 placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Japan vs. Chinese Taipei in the 2026 World Baseball Classic online for free

Mashable - 9 hours 27 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Japan vs. Chinese Taipei in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free on Tele Rebelde, Tubi, or Venevision. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is bringing together the best international sides in the world to compete over the next few weeks. Baseball fans are patiently waiting for the new MLB season to get underway, so the timing of this top-quality competition really helps.

Shohei Ohtani led Japan to a stunning victory over USA in the final of the last edition of this tournament. Can Japan go all the way again? They start their campaign against Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome.

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

When is Japan vs. Chinese Taipei?

Japan vs. Chinese Taipei in the 2026 World Baseball Classic starts at 5 a.m. ET on March 6. This fixture will take place at the Tokyo Dome.

How to watch Japan vs. Chinese Taipei for free

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.

Access free World Baseball Classic live streams 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 a location with access

  4. Visit Tele Rebelde, Tubi, or Venevision

  5. Live stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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

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

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Japan vs. Chinese Taipei in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nothing Phone 4a Pro: Powerful camera, metal unibody, Glyph Matrix

Mashable - 10 hours 45 min ago

Nothing leaked just about everything about its Nothing Phone 4a prior to its big March 5 unveiling, but the company was almost completely silent about the Pro variant. As it turns out, it's the most interesting device in the bunch.

Just like last year's Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro, the 4a and the 4a Pro are both mid-rangers in spirit, but the Pro isn't the same phone with slightly stronger specs. Instead, it has a completely different design and some unique features that are new to the brand.

Starting with the Nothing Phone 4a, which we've seen (abundantly) at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, it has a 6.78-inch, 120Hz, AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, 8/12GB of RAM, and 128/256GB of storage. On the back, there's a triple camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom, and an ultrawide camera (for some reason, the company does not provide details about it), coupled with a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

It's not a very strong pink, but it's pink: The Nothing Phone 4a. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

It has a 5,080mAh battery with 50W charging, comes in Pink, White, Black, and Blue. On the back, there's a vertical Glyph Bar, a Nothing-specific feature which can signal incoming calls or text, be a progress bar tracking stuff like food delivery, or a battery charge indicator.

The Nothing Phone 4a will start at about 350 euros in Europe; it will not be available in the U.S.

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro shares the same battery, memory and storage sizes. But it has a slightly larger display (6.83 inches), a more advanced chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4), and a more powerful camera system, with a larger sensor on the main camera (again, we don't know the specs for the ultrawide, but it appears to be the same as the one on the Nothing Phone 4a).

You have to hand it to Nothing, its phones always look very fresh. Credit: Nothing

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro also has a very different design. Instead of a plastic chassis, it has a metal unibody, which probably allowed Nothing to reduce its thickness to 7.95mm (this makes it the thinnest Nothing phone ever). It also has a different camera arrangement on the back, and a Glyph Matrix instead of bar, a circular arrangement of 137 mini-LEDs that is now basically a tiny display on the phone's back. It's not new: We've seen it on the last year's flagship, the Nothing Phone 3, but it's nice to see the company bring it to its mid-range phone.

It's easy to reduce a phone to a list of specs, but what sets both of these phones apart from the crowd is their semi-naked design. Not only is it different from anything else on the market, but it also completely changes from one Nothing iteration to the next.

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro comes in Pink, Silver, and Black. Credit: Nothing

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro will be available in Black, Silver, and Pink.

As for pricing, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro will start at $499, and unlike its brother, it will actually arrive in the U.S. later in March.

Finally, the company also launched new over-ear headphones with an unreal battery life.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 6, 2026

Mashable - 11 hours 58 min ago

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for anyone who played a stick-based sport.

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: Stick

  • Green: Cinderella

  • Blue: European champions

  • Purple: Sounds like an MLB team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Used to Hit a Ball

  • Green: Unlikely Winner

  • Blue: Last Four Men's Clubs To Win The Champions League

  • Purple: Homophones of MLB Teams

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 #529 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Used to Hit a Ball - BAT, MALLET, PADDLE, RACKET

  • Unlikely Winner - DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, MINNOW, UNDERDOG

  • Last Four Men's Clubs To Win The Champions League - CHELSEA, MANCHESTER CITY, PSG, REAL MADRID

  • Homophones of MLB Teams - FILLIES, RAISE, READ SOCKS, ROILS

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Right Way to Open Up as a Leader

Havard Management Tip of the Day - 13 hours 56 min ago

As a leader, disclosing personal details to your employees can build trust and connection—but it can also backfire. When you decide to open up, understand that a thoughtful reveal can build trust and a careless one can erode it. Use these principles to share wisely and strengthen your credibility. Keep it real. Delivery shapes perception. […]

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Categories: Management

Hurdle hints and answers for March 6, 2026

Mashable - 13 hours 58 min ago

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

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

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

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

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

Broken.

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

FRITZ

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To bother.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ANNOY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Hot food.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SPICY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

After eighth.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

NINTH

Final Hurdle hint

A film star.

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

ACTOR

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

Categories: IT General, Technology
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