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Windows 11 came with a number of refreshed default apps and a sleek new user interface, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. The basic media app often struggles with unusual formats or HDR content, the UI changes were not universally popular, it still lacks the ability to interact with some kinds of files effectively, and managing your installed apps is a messy nightmare.

If you own even a moderately modern car, you may not have a CD player in your vehicle at all, but that doesn't mean you can't find some way to enjoy your high quality audio collection on the road.

If you know a thing or two about power tool brands, you're probably well aware that Black+Decker is primarily aimed at at-home DIYers looking for affordable, easy-to-use power tools. On paper, I sound like the perfect customer, but I have some real regrets a year after buying my first cordless drill from the company.

Google Maps is one of those apps I use so often that I just assume I know everything it can do. I was wrong. When I started digging, I found some features that solve surprisingly common problems and make everyday journeys easier. Here are seven hidden gems worth knowing.

An aggravating amount of software today requires a sign-in to use, even if it doesn't require a subscription or license to use. Software that just used to install and work now has an extra step.

When I first planned out my home theater setup, I knew there was one thing I didn’t want: a bunch of wires running all over the room. Having fewer wires reduces the tripping hazard and the chance of them getting caught on something and pulling what they are connected to down.

How we date and who we date will never not be a hot topic on social media. Oversharing our dating lives is the foundation of the internet, but it's also the source of some of the worst takes you'll ever hear.

Because the internet is cyclical, certain ideas and expectations about sex and dating get repeated ad nauseam on TikTok and X. While a lot of it is centered on heterosexual dating norms about first dates and hookup culture, occasionally (re: annually), we're dragged into discourse about dating bisexual men.

SEE ALSO: I'm tired of bi women being the internet's Pride punching bag Discourse about bi men hits the internet (again)

In the past month, TikTok and X are embroiled in takes and reactions and reactions to takes about straight women not wanting to date bi men.

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Bisexual dating and labels are a conversation we have basically every year. Here's a tweet about it from 2024. Here's a tweet about it from 2020. I'll even throw in a tweet from 2018 about the "bi-lesbian" label discourse. This time, however, it's about bisexual men.

For Zachary Zane, author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto and sex expert for Velvet Brands, a sex toy manufacturer, the reason this conversation has an annual loop is its complexity. He's also quick to push back on the instinct to label every rejection as biphobic.

"It's a very similar argument every time," Zane told Mashable. "I think it never resolves because it's actually a more complicated question than it seems on the surface. I don't think that if you don't want to date a bi guy, you are automatically extremely biphobic. And I'm saying this as a bi man who's had plenty of people not want to date me because of my (bi)sexuality."

A 2023 meta-analysis in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity pulled together 61 studies from 1999 to 2022, totaling over 32,000 participants, to figure out who actually holds the most anti-bisexual bias. Across the board, men reported more negative attitudes toward bisexuality than women did, and that gap widened specifically around male bisexuality, meaning straight men, more than straight women, tend to carry the biggest hang-up about bi guys. (Gay men and lesbians, for what it's worth, had similar attitudes about bisexuality.)

So why does the online discourse keep circling back to women specifically?

A separate study on actual willingness to date bi people gets closer to an answer. Researchers surveyed over 1,800 people across sexual orientations and found that straight people and gay/lesbian people were both less willing to date bisexual people than bisexual people were willing to date them. However, the reluctance to date bisexual men specifically was unusually strong. Strong enough that even bisexual women reported hesitation about dating bi men.

Added together, these studies suggest varying conclusions: Men, straight men especially, apparently carry more measurable anti-bisexual bias overall. But when it comes to who bi men are actually trying to date, it's resistance from women — bi and straight alike — that keeps showing up as the real sticking point.

Glamour and YouGov polls from the same general period found similar patterns: Most women surveyed said they either wouldn't date a man with any male sexual history, bi or not, or weren't comfortable with the idea of a bi partner at all.

For Zane, desire isn't something anyone owes a justification for, but he does draw a hard line between someone simply not being interested and someone being cruel about why.

"There's a difference between people, more specifically cis women, who don't want to date a bi man because, 'Ew, that's gross, he sucks dick.' That's clearly homophobic and biphobic."

So where does the fear come from, if the stereotypes don't hold up?

Common stereotypes against bisexuality range from bi men who are "actually" gay and in denial, that they're incapable of monogamy, and that they're at a higher STI risk. These stereotypes seemingly persist because bi men are an easy target for stigma that would be socially unacceptable if aimed at almost any other group.

Zane doesn't pick one so much as point out they're all load-bearing for each other. "These stereotypes are all interconnected," he says. "Being labeled 'secretly gay' fuels the stereotype that bi men pose a greater STI risk, just as the myth that bisexual people are incapable of monogamy reinforces those same STI concerns." Killing one myth, in his telling, barely matters if the other two are still propping it up.

Much of the pushback in this discourse relies on a straw man argument that anyone raising the topic is trying to shame or guilt straight women into finding bi men attractive, as if attraction itself is up for debate.

"I think often, though not always, 'discomfort' is synonymous with insecurity," says Zane. "But a person doesn't want to admit that they're insecure, so instead they use the word discomfort."

Nobody's arguing women should be forced to date bisexual men; the argument is about the reasons some women give for ruling them out categorically — the idea that they're secretly gay, more likely to cheat, or riskier for STIs. It's one thing to have a preference, but another to base that on unfounded assumptions. Plus, treating any pushback on those beliefs as an attempt to "shame" women into attraction lets people avoid actually defending the belief.

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Honestly, part of why this conversation comes back every year has nothing to do with bisexuality specifically — it's just how the internet works now. Writer Daysia Tolentino nailed it when she described online discourse as react-first-think-later, where the goal isn't actually figuring anything out, it's staying mad enough to keep scrolling.

Everything gets treated like the biggest deal ever, so annoyingly classist conversations about bonnets in classrooms and discourse about bi men's dating lives end up hitting your feed with the exact same energy.

One tweet basically called the whole thing out, joking about having to do "the bisexual men and straight women conversation" again next year, and the year after that, forever. It's not even really about bi men at this point — it's just what happens when the internet finds a fight it can have on repeat.

The cost of this is that bi men are obviously the ones affected the most by this discourse. They're still the least likely group in the LGBT community to be out to the people in their lives, by a lot. The Pew Research Center found that only a small fraction of bisexual men were out to most of the important people around them, compared to the large majority of gay men and lesbians who were.

Even Zane, someone who's spent years publicly unpacking this exact discourse, doesn't think the conversation is going anywhere soon. He compares it directly to the equally exhausting, equally cyclical "should straight people go to Pride" debate that resurfaces every June.

"The discourse is undoubtedly exhausting," he admits. "But I think the only way we can move the needle forward is through discourse. It just takes time."

Nothing beats the experience of unboxing a brand-new phone, removing the protective sheets, and turning it on for the first time while you're gliding all over it with your fingers to get a feel for the case's texture. After unboxing dozens of phones in my life, this still hasn't gotten old.

OpenAI wants California to toughen up the AI safety law it helped get across the finish line less than a year ago.

In a post from OpenAI's Global Affairs team on LinkedIn, the company laid out its case for amending SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law back in Sept. 2025. OpenAI says the law needs new teeth, specifically, requirements that frontier AI models be monitored during training or evaluation for signs that they could bypass a third party's security controls or obtain confidential information they shouldn't have.

The company is also pushing for beefed-up cybersecurity across the entire model development process, aimed at preventing AI systems from circumventing their internal safeguards.

For context, SB 53 was already a pretty significant piece of legislation when it passed. According to the Governor's office, the law requires large frontier AI developers to publish safety frameworks, establishes a formal channel for reporting critical safety incidents to California's Office of Emergency Services, protects whistleblowers, and grants the state Attorney General the authority to levy civil penalties on companies that don't comply.

It also created CalCompute, a public computing consortium meant to give safety and equity research a boost, and it requires the state to revisit the law annually as the tech beneath it shifts. Newsom pitched it at the time as proof that California could protect the public without choking off the AI industry that has become such a huge part of the state's economy. It was also called a stopgap for Washington's inability to pass anything resembling a real federal AI policy.

It makes sense, then, that OpenAI is calling its broader strategy "reverse federalism" — the idea being that while Congress continues to sit on its hands on comprehensive AI legislation, states can move first on compatible safety standards that can eventually be turned into national policy.

The company was careful to frame this as forward-looking rather than reactive, insisting that the ask isn't "to write rules for one particular incident" but to build a framework that catches problems earlier and ensures lessons are shared industry-wide. Such demands are all well and good, and one that conveniently keeps OpenAI in the room to shape what those standards look like.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Everyone says Linux is technically complicated, intended for tech-savvy users who like to dwell in the terminal. However, as someone who has used Linux as my daily driver for 10 years and nudged plenty of friends and family toward it, I can tell you that reputation is a myth—at least on modern Linux desktops. To prove my point, I put my mother-in-law—a completely non-technical user—on Linux. And spoiler alert: it went better than her time on Windows ever did.

An old Kindle can do far more than you might imagine. The only thing holding it back is Amazon's locked-down software. By jailbreaking my Kindle, I was able to turn it into a useful second monitor in less than an hour.

If you're new to the world of cordless power tools, it can be rather confusing. There are brushless tools, older brushed motors, different voltages, battery capacities, different output types, and so many brands to choose from. Ryobi is popular with the DIY crowd, but you'll also hear people everywhere suggesting buying Milwaukee. And while there's a lot to consider in that decision, don't go by voltage alone.

While I don't have the built-in MSN Weather app on my Windows 11 PC (I deleted it ages ago), I decided to reinstall it to see whether those recent reports about the app using more than 1GB of memory on Windows 11 weren't overblown. And, well, I was indeed surprised, and not in a positive way.

UPDATE: Aug. 23, 2026, 3:25 p.m. This article was updated to include a statement from Oura.

A class-action lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California alleges that the fitness tracker Oura Ring doesn't actually track one's sleep.

The complaint, filed on Aug. 20, states that Oura can't measure brain electrical activity, eye movements, muscle tone, "and other signals measured through electrodes placed on the scalp, leads on the eyes, and sensors on the chin," and because it doesn't do this, it can't track sleep or sleep cycles.

SEE ALSO: From Oura to Whoop, we tested the best sleep trackers of 2026

"Instead, Oura's AI models are doing guesswork as to what may be happening," it reads, "based on improper inputs, and thus taking advantage of desperate consumers who struggle with their sleep or are concerned for their health by selling faulty AI-based inference as reliable science."

While Oura states in technical materials that it doesn't track brain activity or eye movements, the lawsuit alleges that the company still claims to measure sleep stages and cycles. Clarkson Law Firm and named plaintiff Madison Surber filed the complaint. It states that around May 22, 2025, Surber bought an Oura Ring 4 Gold for $513.68 directly from Oura, and believed the ring could provide accurate data about her sleep.

The suit alleges Oura engaged in fraudulent advertising, unjust enrichment, breach of express and implied warranties, and violations of California's Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law, and Consumers' Legal Remedies Act. Over 100 class members seek monetary compensation totaling more than $5 million.

In a statement to Mashable via email, an Oura spokesperson wrote, "We stand behind our science, research, and accuracy claims." They also added that Oura is "committed to continuing to clearly communicate what Oura measures, what it estimates, and how members should use that information. We dispute the allegations and will defend against them in the appropriate legal forum."

After seeing several videos of drivers getting out of trouble because they had dashcam footage, I finally bought cameras for both my SUV and my wife's car. She drives about 15 miles each way to work, much of it on the highway, and I'm always thinking about how quickly a normal commute can turn into a mess if there's a crash or some other incident.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've watched Celtics basketball.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Numbers for a RB

• Green: Movies

• Blue: Celtics

• Purple: Ballparks

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Stats for a Running Back

• Green: One-Word Basketball Movies

• Blue: Current Boston Celtics

• Purple: First Word in Names of MLB Home Ballparks

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 #699 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Stats for a Running Back: ATTEMPTS, FUMBLES, TOUCHDOWNS, YARDS

• One-Word Basketball Movies: AIR, EDDIT, HOOSIERS, HUSTLE

• Current Boston Celtics: GEORGE, PRITCHARD, TATUM, WHITE

• First Word in Names of MLB Home Ballparks: CITIZENS, GLOBE, GREAT, SUTTER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 23, 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 August 22, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4 placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is1-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

A clogged nozzle can mean anything from inconsistent print quality to total 3D printer shutdown. While the latter usually involves a long needle and some elbow grease, the former is arguably best solved with a gentler approach known as a “cold pull.”

Modern smartwatches are essentially miniaturized phones on our wrists, and Samsung watches are no exception. Fortunately, if you want to enjoy that beautiful Galaxy hardware on your wrist but aren't keen on sharing loads of data with Samsung, you aren't without options. I have a Galaxy Watch 8, and here's what I'd recommend.

One of my favorite things about self-hosting is that it isn't just limited to running a Plex server or hosting your own website. Self-hosting can actually take hobbies you already have and make them so much better. Here are five tech-focused hobbies that get better when you start self-hosting things for them.