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The key to making anything happen in Pokémon Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2 is to get a little help from your friends.

Case in point: getting paper. No, I don't mean "get that paper" in the "making money" sense. I mean, literally, getting paper as an item in your inventory so you can complete requests or use it in construction projects. This can be done somewhat easily if you get far enough in Pokopia's story, but like a lot of other things in this adorable Pokémon life sim, it's not as straightforward as you'd think.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the coolest and weirdest 'Pokémon Pokopia' builds we've seen so far How to get paper in Pokémon Pokopia

If you've played a decent chunk of Pokopia, which I assume you have if you find yourself needing paper, then you probably know that certain materials can only be created by handing a prerequisite ingredient to a Pokémon who has a certain skill that can transmute what you gave it into something else. One early-game example is giving wood to Scyther, who processes it into lumber. Paper is the result of a similar process.

Specifically, you're going to need to befriend a Pokémon with the "Recycle" ability. There are a few in the game who can do this, including Porygon and Beldum, but probably the easiest one to get is Trubbish, who you can meet pretty early in the game's story in the Bleak Beach area. His habitat consists of a Sign, a Waste Bin, and some Garbage Bags, which can all be found in Bleak Beach. You can also wait until you meet Metang later in the game's story, as that Pokémon also has Recycle.

Once you have a Trubbish on hand, the next step is finding Wastepaper, an item that's not particularly useful on its own but can be turned into Paper by giving it to a Pokémon with the Recycle ability. This is where the process can get a little tedious if you're relying on a Trubbish at Bleak Beach, as wastepaper is much more commonly found in the Sparkling Skylands area later in the story.

However, Nintendo Life has a hot tip that you can use a Dragonite Doll to travel to a dream island that should have an abundance of Wastepaper for your needs, potentially even before you've unlocked Sparkling Skylands.

Hopefully, this piece has given you at least a cursory idea of how to get Paper in Pokémon Pokopia. Whatever you do with that paper is up to you, though.

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next big sale.

The next sale happens to be right around the corner, too. Amazon's Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 to 31. Like any Amazon sale, we expect some of the biggest discounts will be on Amazon's own devices, and that includes Echos. The sale hasn't even started, and we've spotted great savings on the Echo Show and Echo Spot. So if you're ready to buy, take advantage of these 40% discounts before the sale ends.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Alexa is a Mashable Readers' Choice Award winner New Echos in 2025

On Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon debuted several new Echo devices. We've yet to test the new Amazon Echo Dot Max or the refreshed Echo Studio, however, once we've completed testing, we'll add them to this guide.

Changes to existing Echo devices in 2025

For existing Echo owners, or those looking to become ones, a major change happened in 2025 that affects user privacy. Amazon sent out an email to users saying the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on the device will no longer be available as of March 28, 2025. But what does that mean?

Previously, the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting allowed the devices to process requests locally without sending them to Amazon servers. However, with that setting no longer supported, all requests will now go through Amazon servers. Plus, if you do have that setting turned on after the change goes into effect, you'll lose access to the Voice ID feature as well.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all of that data.

What can an Echo smart speaker do? Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, a new AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

If you're ready for an Alexa-powered home, read on for the 10 best Amazon Echo devices of 2025.

Apple's annual developer conference is less than three months away, and the rumor mill is turning at full speed. Between several sources, most notably Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we've got a pretty clear picture of what to expect when Tim Cook takes the stage in June.

Of course, Apple is still capable of some surprises. (Last week's AirPods Max 2 launch came out of nowhere, for instance.) With that in mind, here's what we know about the annual iOS-focused event.

When is WWDC 2026?

Apple hasn't officially announced WWDC 2026 yet, but history is a reliable guide here. From past years, Apple typically announces the event in late March, and the conference itself lands in the first or second week of June — almost without fail. Based on that pattern, some sites like 9to5Mac expect WWDC 2026 to run from June 8–12, with the keynote kicking things off on Monday, June 8.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold may come later than we thought iOS 27

In November 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman broke the news that iOS 27 is being positioned internally as Apple's "Snow Leopard" moment — a callback to the 2009 Mac OS X release that famously ran a "no new features" marketing campaign that laid the groundwork for every update since.

As Gurman described it, Apple's engineering teams are "combing through Apple's operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality." The motivation isn't hard to understand. Since the release of iOS 26, users have reported a lengthy list of grievances, including device overheating and unexplained battery drain, as well as UI glitches, keyboard failures, and sluggish animations.

According to Gurman, iOS 27 is also meant to prepare Apple's software stack for its foldable iPhone. Other than that, expect to see new refreshes for watchOS, tvOS, macOS, visionOS, and iPadOS.

Siri is finally getting a real upgrade (no, really this time)

The long-promised overhaul to Siri — the one Apple has been teasing and delaying since the early Apple Intelligence announcements — is expected to be front and center at WWDC 2026. AppleInsider reported that the update, codenamed "Campo" internally, will give Siri an interface closer to what you'd expect from ChatGPT or Claude. It's a more conversational, chatbot-style experience that Apple has been quietly building toward.

According to AppleInsider, a deal struck earlier this year will see Apple incorporate Google's Gemini models into its Apple Foundation Models framework. It was a deal worth $1 billion per year, and its comparatively small change given Apple's existing $20 billion annual arrangement with Google for default search placement.

Beyond the Siri overhaul, Gurman reported that Apple is weaving AI into additional apps throughout iOS 27. The most intriguing addition: a health-focused AI agent tied to a Health+ subscription, expected to arrive next fall. There's also reportedly an expansion of Apple's AI-powered web search, which Apple is positioning as a direct competitor to both ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Gurman also revealed that Apple has been internally testing a full chatbot app called Veritas, which is described as a text-based proving ground for the re-architected Siri. Apple reportedly has no plans to release Veritas as a standalone product.

The Tim Cook situation

No WWDC preview would be complete without a word on Apple's leadership. A Financial Times report from November 2025 claimed Cook was poised to step down between late January and June 2026. That window has now passed without incident, and Gurman — who has been tracking Apple's succession planning closely — called the FT's specific timeline "simply false."

Gurman's broader read from his newsletter is that Cook "still loves the job," succession planning is ongoing with John Ternus (SVP of Hardware Engineering) as the leading internal candidate, but an imminent departure is not in the cards. When Cook does eventually step down, he's expected to remain as board chairman. So don't expect any dramatic announcements from the WWDC stage this June.

Earlier this year, columnist and sociologist Kathryn Jezer-Morton coined the term "friction-maxxing." It was her attempt to describe the importance of doing hard things in order to reclaim our humanity from our algorithmic overlords. And it stuck.

Jezer-Morton had spent months contemplating the concept of escapism, and whether it still existed in a world where tech companies suggest life itself as an inconvenience to be avoided with their "frictionless" user experiences. In January, her friction-maxxing manifesto appeared in The Cut as a New Year's resolution.

Reading, talking, moving, leaving the house, thinking, interacting with strangers, risking an unexpected reaction, speaking at all — "these are all frictions we can now eliminate easily," the column noted. "And we do," she added, to our detriment.

The advice to friction-maxx wasn't really for herself.

"The way that I live, I think, is probably higher friction than average," says Jezer-Morton, who is also the author of the forthcoming book The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything. 

SEE ALSO: 'Not everything needs to be known': How one day with no phone changed my life

She confesses to being one of those "annoying" people who shops at the grocery store every day instead of ordering delivery online (it helps that she lives within walking distance of the store). Plenty of adult professionals have swapped at-home socializing for screen time, unconsciously or not. Jezer-Morton invites friends over for impromptu meals, no matter the state of her home.    

It's not that Jezer-Morton is entirely without digital crutches. She relishes periods of isolation and has a tendency to communicate with friends via "epic" voice memos, sent via text. 

"It's definitely the thing that I know I need to change about my life if I want to enact the things that I actually feel really strongly about," Jezer-Morton says. That's why she's trying to wean herself from voice memos.

Her progress so far? "We've gone from, like, zero to one." She's not motivated by any kind of perfect score, but has seen how her relationships and sense of belonging in the world improve whenever she talks on the phone with friends. 

So far, Jezer-Morton has resisted the tendency to turn friction-maxxing into a prescriptive checklist — which would be a very human tendency, she notes. "We just can't be stopped," she says. "We're going to metabolize information for the sake of optimization if it's the literal last thing we do."

Other experts, asked about the concept of friction-maxxing, say the approach could play a valuable role in reorienting yourself away from tech dependency and back toward embracing the effort that makes people feel genuinely alive and fulfilled. 

The pitfalls to avoid: Adding friction without thoughtful direction and purpose, and trying to optimize your life in the pursuit of a proverbial gold star. In other words, don't live and die by friction-maxxing streaks. 

Why friction leads to fulfillment

Dr. Gloria Mark, the Chancellor's Professor Emerita of Informatics at the University of California at University of California at Irvine, has studied human-computer interaction for decades. At first, industry's goal was to build easy-to-use hardware for widespread adoption. 

"I think we've been riding this wave of making tech easier and easier to use, and I just think we've gone too far," says Mark, who is also the author of Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity. 

It's not just that devices are designed for ease of use in themselves — it's that they're increasingly designed to make our lives easier. Mark doesn't believe in rejecting all conveniences this affords — after all, some of it is beneficial. Yet we've gotten to the point where people are so absorbed by their devices that it can be difficult for them to walk down a hallway without clutching a phone.

If friction-maxxing can be an antidote to that overcorrection, Mark is all for it, with caveats. The practice shouldn't be limited to routinely putting a device out of reach or rejecting its various conveniences, like food delivery and online shopping. That's just the first step. 

Mark recommends subsequently putting effort into activities that "deepen" you — like reading a book, spending time on a passion project, or using technology mindfully, in pursuit of a very specific goal. 

Each of these actions requires exerting yourself in ways that can feel unfamiliar after growing accustomed to a fast-and-easy lifestyle. A book demands your attention without an immediate payoff, unlike the short-form videos you may binge on at the end of a long day. It also involves absorbing ideas and interpreting meaning.

With a DIY project, you might be tempted to source a version of what you're constructing from an online shop that offers the product for half the price but none of the fulfillment. Taking the hard way can mean learning a new skill, eliciting the type of rewarding effort that you haven't felt in ages. 

Friction for a fast lifestyle

Mark says the point isn't just to friction-maxx for the sake of it, but to value the kind of effort that can deepen a person.

What you're aiming for is depth of processing, which can be gratifying in itself, Mark says. This concept describes the effort taken to understand something, effort that leads to better retention. 

Depth of processing doesn't only apply to sophisticated tasks. It also arises in an act as mundane as reading a map to learn how to get from one place to another. When you're not reliant on a maps app as a guide, the brain must create its own internal spatial map based on the environment, which might include objects like landmarks and natural features, according to Mark. 

"You can find yourself [being] the snake chasing its own tail." - Jay Vidyarthi, a meditation teacher and tech founder

If you're looking for a simple piece of friction that has the potential to boost your cognitive abilities, Mark recommends learning a route and developing an internal map of it. Then attempt walking or driving without GPS or a maps app. 

Mark isn't immune to tech-enabled distractions, either. She recently resolved to spend less time listening to audiobooks during outdoor walks. It may seem innocuous, but even the audio input can shift your attention from the present moment and onto the content playing in your ears, Mark says. You're likely to miss out on the benefits of an outdoor stroll when you don't focus on its restorative qualities, such as listening to birds chirp. 

Taking a walk without media introduces friction if it's something you don't do regularly. Devoting your undivided attention to that podcast or audiobook, perhaps at home in a quiet place, also counts as friction-maxxing. 

Using friction-maxxing with your kids 

Jay Vidyarthi, a meditation teacher and tech founder, is concerned about the zeal-of-the-convert factor. He believes people can overcorrect, once they grasp that friction is necessary for a fulfilling and happy life. They may intentionally make everything difficult for no other reason than avoiding the guilt they would feel if they went easy on themselves. 

"You can find yourself [being] the snake chasing its own tail," says Vidyarthi, author of Reclaim Your Mind: Seven Strategies to Enjoy Tech Mindfully. He recommends approaching friction with mindfulness and curiosity, not "self-flagellation and self-judgment."

Vidyarthi has been exploring friction in his own life. He noted his tendency to check work email while playing with his young son. He needed friction to interrupt this pattern, so took that email app off his device and put a different app in the same spot on the screen — one of our top picks for meditation apps, Insight Timer. 

The swap helped him reflect on what motivates the desire to check email, whenever his thumb instinctually hovers the button. His conclusion? He's tied self-worth to productivity, which makes it hard to feel OK when not moving work forward.

Understanding this pattern has dramatically reduced his fixation on work email and messages, and increased his presence with his son, Vidyarthi says.

Be curious about friction as a tool

No doubt some people benefit from a formal practice in which they track their efforts for accountability and motivation. Yet that tracking should yield meaningful insights about where and how friction can benefit them, rather than becoming its own unstoppable cycle of heightened expectations. 

For a tech tool that helps with managing friction, consider an app blocker like Opal or Brick, which restrict select apps and can be programmed for specific times of day. One Mashable reviewer used Brick to cut their screen time in half.  

Jezer-Morton is allergic to tips and takeaways — they're too easy, she says, another example of friction removed. What she does offer is a little philosophical inspiration. 

"I don't really think about it in terms of practical ways of going about [friction-maxxing]," she says. "I think of it more like reaffirming your own relationship with your humanity." 

TL;DR: Until March 31, Prime members who buy or lease a new car will get a free $1,250 Amazon Gift Card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Autos Until March 31, Prime members who buy or lease a new car will get a free $1,250 Amazon Gift Card Get Deal

Did you really think Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (March 25–31) was just about heavily discounted gadgets and home deals? Think again, because Amazon is throwing away the rulebook this year and going huge.

During the 2026 Amazon Spring Sale, Prime members can score a $1,250 Amazon gift card when buying or leasing a new car through Amazon Autos. That's right, cars are now very much in the mix. There's no promo code or hoops to jump through with this limited-time offer — just buy the car, pick it up, and the credit lands in your inbox within two weeks. Here's the full breakdown of how it works:

1. Begin a purchase on any new car at Amazon Autos

2. Finish checkout and submit your order at Amazon Autos by March 31

3. Schedule a pickup appointment through Amazon Autos (you will still need to sign required documents from the dealer)

4. Pick up your car from the dealer by April 3

5. Within two weeks after you pick up the vehicle from the dealership, you will receive an email from Amazon containing the $1,250 Amazon gift card

We know the thought of buying a car through Amazon is a little strange, but Amazon Autos offers fair and transparent pricing, flexible payment options, and the possibility of test driving before you finalize. It's also nice to be able to browse, select, and pay online with all the Amazon convenience you've become used to.

There's so much going on over Amazon's Big Spring Sale, but a free credit of $1,250 deserves its moment in the spotlight. Already in the market for a new car? This limited-time promotion is a no-brainer.

TL;DR: Get a Curiosity Stream lifetime subscription for $127.50 (reg. $399.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $127.50
$399.99 Save $272.49   Get Deal

If you’re tired of endlessly scrolling through streaming apps without finding anything truly worth watching, a documentary-focused platform might be exactly what you need. Curiosity Stream offers a library built entirely around educational and informative content — and, for a limited time, a lifetime subscription is available for just $127.50 (reg. $399.99) with code MARCH15, valid until March 29.

Curiosity Stream gives you access to thousands of documentaries covering topics like science, history, nature, and technology. The platform has also continued to grow its reach, with new content added regularly, so there’s always something new to explore. Popular series include Engineering the Future, Deep Time History, and Into the Jungle, each focusing on different aspects of how the world works.

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The service is impressively flexible across all your favorite devices, with crisp high-definition streaming and the ability to download content for offline viewing — perfect for commutes or travel. Powerful built-in search tools make it a breeze to dive into specific topics, whether you’re fascinated by space, wildlife, or world history. Handy features like bookmarking and resume playback mean you can watch entirely at your own pace, never losing your spot.

This subscription is a fantastic fit for anyone who loves learning-based content over traditional entertainment. Whether you’re a student, a lifelong learner, or simply someone who gets a kick out of engaging and informative storytelling, Curiosity Stream has something for you. It’s also a smart, practical choice if you’re looking to streamline your streaming subscriptions without sacrificing great content.

Instead of paying a recurring monthly fee, this plan offers lifetime access, which can add up to long-term savings if you watch regularly.

You can get a Curiosity Stream lifetime subscription for $127.50 (reg. $399.99) with code MARCH15 until March 29.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you're chasing online hookups, you'll inevitably come across AdultFriendFinder, one of the oldest and most popular adult dating sites for going on three decades. With more than 80 million registered users worldwide, and some two million weekly users, it's a giant social network for horny adults everywhere, and the ideal place to find a fling.

But once you've created a profile and registered an account, you'll quickly realize that the functionality of free memberships is strictly limited, and the real fun begins when you upgrade your account. Here's everything you need to know about AdultFriendFinder's premium membership from a billing perspective:

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More AFF membership tiers and costs

If you decide to upgrade from a free membership to a premium membership, you'll gain access to many useful features, including unlimited one-on-one messaging, expanded search functionality, and the ability to see photos and videos in high resolution. AdultFriendFinder has two premium memberships, Gold and VIP, but to become a VIP you must first opt into a Gold membership, so it's worth exploring that tier first.

SEE ALSO: Is Hinge really 'designed to be deleted'? I tested it to find out.

A Gold membership will set you back $39.95 per month if you sign up for a single month, $26.95 per month if you commit to a three-month membership, or $19.95 per month if you commit to an entire year. VIP members don't gain any additional on-site functionality, but they do unlock exclusive perks that make them more visible to others, including a special VIP badge, access to a VIP lounge, and priority placement in search results.

Multiple payment options

AdultFriendFinder offers a wide variety of payment methods, far more than the typical online dating site. You can, of course, opt to pay with credit card (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover — sorry AmEX users), or with a bank transfer/direct debit payment, but you can also pay with a gift card or cash/check/money order (in the United States only), while residents of the United Kingdom can even pay via SMS order on their smartphones.

If you're especially cautious or privacy-minded, you might be interested in the gift card, money order, or SMS payment options. This withholds more of your personal data.

Watch out for the auto renew feature

One key thing to be aware of is that your premium AdultFriendFinder membership will automatically renew at the end of your billing cycle, unless you deliberately disable this function or you used a one-time payment method to purchase your membership, such as a gift card.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

To disable the auto renewal feature and prevent unwanted credit card billing, navigate to the My Stuff tab, scroll down to My Account, and then click Billing History & Credit Card Info. Under the Subscription and Product Status menu, you will see your premium memberships and an On/Off toggle for the Auto Renew function. Note that if you have more than one paid membership, such as both the Gold and VIP tiers, you need to toggle off the auto renew button for both memberships to prevent further charges.

Billing statement

Because discretion matters, especially to a lot of AdultFriendFinder users, it's worth knowing that the AFF billing statement is reasonably anonymous. The only wording that will appear on your bank or credit card statement is "FFNHelp.com*FRIENDF." 

Troubleshooting

If you have a question or concern about your bill that wasn't answered by any of the above, you can always reach out to the AdultFriendFinder support line, toll-free, at 888-575-8383.  

SAVE $149.99: Select T-Mobile customers can secure a free full 2026 MLB regular season subscription to MLB.TV from March 24 through March 31. That's $149.99 you'll keep in your pocket.

Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / MLB.TV MLB.TV 2026 regular season subscription free for any T-Mobile or Metro customer on qualifying branded monthly rate plans (save $149.99) Get Deal

Watching sports in 2026 hasn't just become incredibly complicated; it's also wildly expensive. Fortunately, T-Mobile remains undefeated in the streaming lineup department and this deal is proof. For the third year in a row, select T-Mobile customers can secure an MLB regular season subscription to MLB.TV for free.

From March 24 through March 31, any T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile customer on qualifying branded monthly rate plans can claim their free MLB.TV subscription for the 2026 season — a $149.99 value. To claim your free MLB.TV subscription, you'll need to install and open the T-Life app, then select the MLB.TV tile to get to the detail page. Click "Save," which will take you to the redemption page, then "Redeem" to get to the MLB.TV registration page. Then you'll either login to your existing MLB.TV account or register for a new one before being routed to the confirmation page. Once logged in, just click on "Watch Now" and enjoy the entire season of out-of-market baseball games.

There's a few things to note. MLB.TV's All Teams season package gives you access to every out-of-market game, but blacks out your local team. So, this deal is only worth it if you want to watch a team (or teams) that lives in a different region than you. Check which games are blacked out for you by entering your zip code on the sign-up page. You'll need a separate single-team subscription to watch your local team ($99.99 per season).

If you live in a different area than your favorite team, or you like to watch a variety of teams, this is your best bet to getting the most bang for your buck for baseball season. No matter which way you slice it, nothing beats free streaming.

TL;DR: Get any model of the Apple iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free Apple iPhone 17   Get Deal

This has been such a big month for Apple. We got new iPhones, game-changing MacBooks, and upgraded iPads. And with any new releases, new deals are dropped to tempt shoppers into an upgrade.

T-Mobile is doing exactly that with a number of iPhone deals live right now. You can sign up for almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 Pro for free when signing up for 24 months of an Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone. It's worth noting that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these "free" deals and a $35 device connection fee.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold may come later than we thought

Apple is now using the A19 chip in the new iPhone 17e. This should lead to improved performance and AI compatibility. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder reviewed the iPhone 17e and said, "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years."

You don't get much for free these days, so this free iPhone 17 from T-Mobile offer is something to carefully consider. If you're not impressed, check out our roundup of the best unlocked phone deals ahead of Amazon's Spring Sale.

Paramount+ has released the trailer for Dutton Ranch, teasing the next Yellowstone TV spinoff to chronicle the Dutton family's drama.

Picking up after the events of Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch follows Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), who were last seen moving to a ranch in Dillon, Montana. It now seems as though they didn't stay there for long. Dutton Ranch is set on a 7,000-acre ranch in South Texas — one with a rival ranch that isn't very friendly to the new neighbours. Of course, no matter where they go, the Duttons are still the Duttons, which means drama and violence are sure to follow.

Dutton Ranch premieres May 15 on Paramount+.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has declared all consumer-level WiFi routers made outside the country a national security risk, banning them from import or sale. This doesn't mean you have to throw out the router you're currently using. However, you may encounter difficulties when it comes time to replace it.

Announced on Tuesday, the FCC has added all foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List. This list records communications equipment and services that the U.S. government has determined pose an "unacceptable risk" to national security. Products on the Covered List are barred from receiving FCC equipment authorisation, which is required for most electronic devices imported and sold within the country.

As such, this update means that routers manufactured outside the U.S. can no longer be imported or sold in the country. This includes the vast majority of routers, including those from widely trusted brands such as TP-Link, ASUS, and U.S. company Netgear. The ban also covers routers that were designed in the U.S. but manufactured elsewhere, or vice versa.

"Recently, malicious state and non-state sponsored cyber attackers have increasingly leveraged the vulnerabilities in small and home office routers produced abroad to carry out direct attacks against American civilians in their homes," read the four-page National Security Determination cited by the FCC. Authored by an unnamed government interagency body, it specifically pointed to the 2024 Salt Typhoon hack, stating that routers were "directly implicated" in the attack. "From disrupting network connectivity to enabling local networking espionage and intellectual property theft, foreign-produced routers present unacceptable risks to Americans."

Of course, as the overwhelming majority of routers are manufactured outside the U.S., it's possible that this is a matter of correlation rather than causation.

Fortunately, the FCC's new mandate doesn't revoke authorisation from routers that have already received it, regardless of where they were manufactured. These router models can continue to be sold and imported in the U.S. without adverse consequences. However, as no new routers can obtain FCC authorisation, U.S. users' options will shrink considerably. Routers are instrumental for connecting multiple devices to a modem, which provides access to the internet. They can impact the speed of uploads and downloads, as well as the range of coverage.

Companies can apply for exemptions for their routers, with the Department of War (DOW) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authorised to evaluate and approve of ones that they don't consider pose a national security risk. None have been listed thus far.

Mashable has reached out to TP-Link, ASUS, and Netgear for comment.

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Disney's live-action Moana has released its official trailer, featuring Catherine Laga'aia as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, and a truly upsetting Pretty Woman-style wig as Maui's hair.

Remaking Disney's 2016 animation of the same name, the film follows Moana as she and demigod Maui journey to save her island home of Motunui. Moana will feature songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i, and Mark Mancina, and is directed by Miranda's longtime collaborator Thomas Kail, his second feature after the Hamilton proshot.

Unfortunately, Moana's trailer has left many viewers dissatisfied, taking to social media to criticise the acting, aesthetics, and particularly confronting coiffures on display in this early look at the film. Disney has released a slew of live-action (and CGI) remakes of its popular animated films, often to mixed reception. Judging from the reactions to this trailer, many already expect the live-action Moana to land on the lower end of that spectrum.

Moana arrives in theatres July 10.

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 24, 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 24, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 24 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 24 Pips

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 24 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically; 1-4, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who like to go bowling.

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: Bowling

• Green: Types of pitches

• Blue: Bruce

• Purple: Types of power roles

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Found in a Bowling Alley

• Green: Baseball Pitches

• Blue: Famous Bruces

• Purple: Power___

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 #547 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Found in a Bowling Alley - BOWLING BALL, BUMPER, GUTTER, PIN

• Baseball Pitches - CHANGEUP, CUTTER, SLIDER, SLURVE

• Famous Bruces - BOWEN, LEE, SMITH, SUTTER

• Power___ - FORWARD, HITTER, LIFTER, PLAY

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.

Yesterday’s tip laid out what sophisticated AI use looks like at the individual level. As a leader, how can you drive this sophisticated approach to AI on your team? Start with these three tactics.  Develop AI-first best practices. Make effective behaviors clear and repeatable. Turn them into practical playbooks, short explainers, and peer-led guidance. Reinforce what […]

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

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

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

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

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

A long vehicle used by kids.

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

WAGON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Kangaroos have one.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

POUCH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Uproar.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FUROR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A speech.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SPIEL

Final Hurdle hint

To obstruct.

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

BLOCK

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're planning to get married.

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

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

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 24, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Foul

• Green: The Big Day

• Blue: Large vehicles

• Purple: Multiple meanings

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Despicable

• Green: Features of a wedding

• Blue: Kinds of trucks

• Purple: Heteronyms

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 #1017 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Despicable: BASE, LOW, MEAN, VILE

• Features of a wedding: CAKE, KISS, RING, VOW

• Kinds of trucks: DUMP, FIRE, FOOD, TOW

• Heteronyms: BOW, ROW, SOW, WIND

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 24, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if something's always in your way.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 24, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get over it ... or get through it

The words are related to barriers.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that get in the way.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Obstacle Course.

NYT Strands word list for March 24

• Wall

• Hoop

• Barricade

• Obstacle Course

• Hurdle

• Fence

• Tunnel

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you breed animals.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 24, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 24, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Offspring.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BROOD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

TL;DR: A $15 Sam’s Club membership can help streamline your spring refresh with bulk essentials and lifestyle finds.

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A one-year Sam’s Club membership for $15 (reg. $50) through March 29 offers a way to streamline that process by bringing a wide range of essentials into one place.

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Rather than bouncing between multiple stores, members can access groceries, household goods, seasonal outdoor items, clothing, and more in a single trip. For anyone tackling a spring refresh, that convenience alone may help save time and simplify planning.

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