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TL;DR: This Grade-A refurbished HP EliteBook combines an 11th-gen Core i7, 32GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro for $389.99 (reg. $549.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Elitebook 830 G8 2020 (Refurbished) $389.99
$549.99 Save $160   Get Deal

The HP EliteBook 830 G8 is the kind of laptop designed for actual workloads, not just looking productive on a coffee-shop table. This configuration pairs an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of DDR4 RAM, giving it enough muscle for demanding business applications, heavy multitasking, virtual meetings, and everyday productivity.

Its 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD supports quick startups and responsive app launches. Intel Iris Xe graphics handle business computing, video conferencing, and creative projects, and Windows 11 Pro is preinstalled.

The 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen folds through 360 degrees, making the EliteBook flexible enough for traditional work, presentations, or entertainment. Despite its convertible CNC-machined aluminum design, it weighs just 2.8 pounds. Battery life reaches up to 16.5 hours, and HP Fast Charge can restore up to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.

Connectivity is ready for a modern desk setup. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.0, and USB-A support monitors, docks, and peripherals, while WiFi 6 and Bluetooth handle wireless connections.

HP Wolf Security features include HP Sure Start, Sure Sense, Sure Click, and TPM 2.0, with fingerprint authentication listed as optional. Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, AI-powered noise reduction, and a multi-microphone array help make calls clearer.

This refurbished EliteBook carries a Grade-A rating and arrives in near-mint condition with minimal to no case scuffing. Don’t miss this HP EliteBook 830 G8 on sale for just $389.99 (reg. $549.99) while stock is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $42.97 once for lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams Basic, and OneNote on one Mac.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $42.97
$219 Save $176.03   Get Deal

Subscriptions have their place, but productivity software doesn’t really need to be one of them — especially when it’s something as familiar and widely used as Microsoft Office. Somewhere along the way, there must have been a glitch in the matrix, because buying software quietly turned into renting it forever.

Thankfully, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 skips that model entirely. Its lifetime license is currently on sale for $42.97 (reg. $219), whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows PC.

There’s no need to explain why an Office license still matters. Most people have been using Microsoft Office long before cloud apps and browser-based alternatives became the norm. With this deal, you can install the full Office suite on a single device for lifetime use — at home or at work — without worrying about monthly renewals, annual price hikes, or surprise charges down the line.

This license includes all the core apps most people actually rely on: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That means drafting documents, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing email, and organizing notes using the full desktop versions of each app. Unlike free alternatives or web-based tools, you get access to the complete feature sets, which makes a difference when you’re working on longer documents, detailed spreadsheets, or presentation-heavy projects.

Once you purchase, your license key and download links are delivered instantly, so there’s no waiting around to get started. Microsoft also includes lifetime customer support, which can be helpful if you ever need assistance with installation or troubleshooting.

Instead of committing to yet another recurring subscription, this one-time purchase lets you snag software you’ll likely keep using for years. You can grab Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for $$42.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best Labor Day TV deals at a glance: Best QLED TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 (save $1,102) Get Deal Best RGB TV deal Samsung 65-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV $1,499.99 (save $600) Get Deal Best OLED TV deal LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,499.99 (save $1,200) Get Deal

Labor Day isn't just the unofficial kick off of fall and football season, it's also a great time to score tech at cheaper prices. TV deals are particularly impressive this week, with some of our favorite models of 2026 down to record lows. If you've been putting off upgrading your TV, now's a great time to take the leap.

More deals will likely pop up leading into the weekend, but with some of these models at their best prices ever, there's really no need to wait. I've rounded up the best Labor Day TV deals worth adding to your cart below.

Best QLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,102.00   Get Deal Why we like it

TCL's QM8L SQD-Mini-LED TV is our favorite QLED TV for most people. Mashable's TV expert shouts out its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling" in her review. She also dubs it one of the brightest TVs you can buy, period, which is largely due to its "super quantum dot mini LEDs" (the SQD in its name). It clocks in at $2,499.99 for the 65-inch model on a normal day, but for Labor Day, it's down to a best-ever $1,397.99 at Amazon. That's 44% in savings.

Best OLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $1,200.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The LG C6 is what we'd call the "best affordable OLED TV," compared to competitors' prices, and the best OLED TV for most people. With a $1,200 discount, the 65-inch model is the same price as the 55-inch option on a normal day. It also happens to be its best price on record. The C6 features inky black levels, stark contrast, improved audio, peak brightness, and refresh rate over its predecessor, and a generally impeccable picture quality.

Best RGB TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV $1,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,099.99 Save $600.00   Get Deal Why we like it

RGB TVs were easily the biggest TV trend at CES 2026 and Samsung's R95H is easily the best RGB TV of the year. However, it's pretty dang expensive, even on sale ($2,799 for the 65-inch option). On the other hand, its more affordable sibling, the R85H, is down to a much more palatable $1,499.99 for the 65-inch version. Like the R95H, it uses individual red, green, and blue LEDs to deliver better color accuracy than non-RGB TVs. It's almost too vivid. If you're curious about RGB TVs, it's a solid entry-level option that won't require emptying your wallet.

More Labor Day TV deals50 to 55-inch TV deals

• Insignia 50-inch F50 LED 4K TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $259.99 $469.99 (save $210)

• LG 55-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $699.99 $1,299.99 (save $600)

• Hisense 55-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,499.99 (save $600)

65-inch TV deals

• LG 65-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,799.99 (save $900)

• Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,002)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,298 $1,598 (save $300)

• Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,999.99 (save $602)

• LG 65-Inch B6 OLED 4K TV — $1,399.99 $1,999.99 (save $600)

• Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV — $1,597.99 $2,697.99 (save $1,100)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD QLED 4K TV — $2,498 $3,299.99 (save $801.99)

• Samsung 65-inch S95H OLED 4K TV — $2,799.99 $3,399.99 (save $600)

75-inch TV deals

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,399.99 (save $602)

• Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $1,197.99 $1,999.99 (save $802)

• Samsung 75-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,799.99 (save $800)

• Sony 75-inch Bravia 7 II RGB 4K TV — $2,299.99 $3,099.99 (save $800)

• Samsung 75-inch The Frame Pro QLED 4K TV — $2,397.99 $2,797.99 (save $400)

• Samsung 75-inch R95H RGB 4K TV — $3,799.99 $4,499.99 (save $700)

80 to 85-inch TV deals

• Insignia 85-inch Class F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Hi-QLED Mini-LED 4K TV — $1097.99 $1,999.99 (save $902)

• Samsung 85-inch M80H Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,799.99 (save $600)

• Hisense 85-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,102)

• Hisense 85-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $2,199.99 $3,499.99 (save $1,300)

Over 85-inch TV deals

• Hisense 100-inch U6 Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,000)

• TCL 98-inch QM7L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

• Hisense 100-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $3,499.99 $5,999.99 (save $2,500)

You might just have an easier way to manage your smart home without leaning on custom automations or becoming an expert. Anker has unveiled the MindBase, an AI hub that serves as a decision-making "brain" for security cameras and other smart home devices.

TL;DR: Koofr’s 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription is just $199.99 (reg. $810.00), ending on Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $199.99
$810 Save $610.01   Get Deal

Cloud storage is handy for keeping photos, videos, and important documents accessible without taking up space on your devices. If you want to avoid adding another recurring subscription to the list, Koofr’s 1TB lifetime plan is currently available for just $199.99 (reg. $810.00).

Koofr has been offering cloud storage since 2013 and has a 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot. The 1TB plan provides enough room for roughly 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million document pages. More importantly, the lifetime subscription requires a single payment instead of ongoing monthly or annual costs.

Koofr also includes tools for managing files once they’re in the cloud. Its Duplicate Finder can locate duplicate files in your account, while advanced renaming options can help keep larger collections organized. You can also connect existing Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive accounts, allowing you to access files from multiple services in one place.

Privacy is another important factor. Koofr doesn’t track user activity, and files are encrypted both during transfer and while stored. You can access your files from a smartphone, computer, or through WebDAV.

This is especially helpful if you need substantial storage for a growing collection of photos, videos, or documents, or if you’re already managing different files across several cloud services. Having those files accessible in one place can make it easier to keep track of what you have without moving content between accounts.

Get 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage for $199.99, saving $610 off the regular $810.00 price through Sept. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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.

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

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

Jeans.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DENIM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Transparent.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CLEAR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound an angry dog makes.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 3, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GROWL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Legitimate.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

LEGAL

Final Hurdle hint

Cheesy.

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

CORNY

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 will be easier if you've watch football.

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: Before kickoff

• Green: California fields of play

• Blue: Icons from the U

• Purple: Capitals

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Events Before a Football Kickoff

• Green: California Sporting Venues

• Blue: Miami (FL) Alumni

• Purple: Starts with a State Capital

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 #710 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Events Before a Football Kickoff: COIN TOSS, NATIONAL ANTHEM, TEAM ARRIVALS, WARMUPS

• California Sporting Venues: INTUIT DOME, LEVI'S STADIUM, PEBBLE BEACH, TORREY PINES

• Miami (FL) Alumni: DEVIN HESTER, ED REED, REGGIE WAYNE, VINNY TESTAVERDE

• Starts with a State Capital: AUGUSTA NATIONAL, AUSTIN REAVES, MADISON KEYS, PIERRE GARCON

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 3, 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 September 3, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 3, 2026 Carmine meaning

A deep-red dye that comes from cochineal insects.

Cinnabar meaning

A bright red mineral made of mercury sulfide.

Maroon meaning

A deep purple-red tone.

Vermilion meaning

A bright, red-orange color.

Blink meaning

To shut and open the eyes quickly.

Flash meaning

A sudden burst of light.

Heartbeat meaning

A single muscle contraction.

Trice meaning

A quick moment.

Hot Wheels meaning

Popular toy card created by Mattel.

Matchbox meaning

A popular toy car created in the 50s.

Micro Machines meaning

A type of toy car that was popular in the 80s and 90s.

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

Tonka meaning

A black seed of the Dipteryx odorata tree.

Average meaning

The middle number in a data set.

Count meaning

A tally.

Max meaning

The peak.

Sum meaning

Total.

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

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

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

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

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

Walmart is finally getting tap-to-pay — but social media is considerably less impressed with the apparent AI-generated advertisement announcing it.

A photo posted to X shows an in-store display promoting the rollout with a cheery "Fast! Easy!" message, alongside images of a smartphone and payment terminal. Look a little closer, however, and the terminal’s keypad dissolves into the familiar visual gibberish associated with generative AI. The buttons feature mangled symbols, illegible characters, and, apparently, two 7s. Yes, two.

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"AI is so scary it’s like the words you read in your dreams where it doesn’t actually say anything," one user wrote. Others were frustrated that one of the world’s largest retailers appeared to have used generative AI for such a basic piece of marketing. "I despise AI generated advertisements for businesses," one person wrote. "Billion dollar corporation," another user posted, criticizing Walmart for seemingly declining to hire a graphic designer.

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Another user pointed out that "Walmart has been using AI" for some time now.

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The wonky keypad is precisely the kind of tell that has become synonymous with "AI slop": a polished-looking image that falls apart as soon as you inspect the details.

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It’s the same phenomenon showing up in restaurant menus filled with AI-generated nightmare food, where impossible ingredients and plastic-looking meals replace photographs of the products customers might actually receive.

As I wrote last week: Please stop putting AI-generated food on the menu. While we’re at it, perhaps stop putting AI-generated payment terminals next to the register, too.

SEE ALSO: Please stop putting AI-generated food on the menu

The mangled keypad isn’t the only part of the sign making people do a double take. Walmart is promoting tap-to-pay like a futuristic convenience in 2026, even though tapping a card or phone has been routine at other retailers for years. Until now, contactless-minded Walmart shoppers generally had to open the company’s app and scan a QR code using Walmart Pay.

That part of the story baffled plenty of international onlookers more than the malformed keypad did. "Why is the USA’s payment system still stuck in the last century," one person asked. "I’m sorry wdym you don’t have tap to pay in 2026," another wrote.

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So, yes: Walmart customers are finally getting the convenience they’ve been asking for. They may just want to avoid pressing the second 7.

Many football fans are not choosing between watching the game and scrolling TikTok, but are doing both. Now TikTok wants to make that habit official.

Days before the 2026 NFL season begins, TikTok and the NFL announced a new multiyear partnership that will bring more highlights, archival footage, player-focused videos, and other official content to the platform. The agreement will also introduce NFL hubs where fans can find scores and schedules, then follow links to tune into game broadcasts.

There is already a sizable audience waiting for all of it. According to TikTok, posts using #NFL increased by more than 32 percent between August 2025 and August 2026. The league’s main @NFL account has more than 20 million followers, while eight international accounts serve fans in markets including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, Australia, and the UK and Ireland.

At first glance, this might sound like another agreement to put sports highlights on social media. But TikTok and the NFL have been building toward something much bigger for years.

Credit: TikTok

TikTok and the NFL first teamed up in 2019, when the league launched its official account with highlights, sideline footage, behind-the-scenes videos, and hashtag challenges. Its first campaign, #WeReady, invited fans and creators to celebrate their teams ahead of the NFL’s 100th season.

The partnership did not stay confined to the For You page for long. Beginning in 2021, the companies staged the annual NFL TikTok Tailgate, a livestreamed Super Bowl pregame event that combined musical performances with appearances from players and creators. By its fourth edition in 2024, headlined by Gwen Stefani, TikTok said the event attracted 2.2 million live viewers.

Later that year, TikTok and the NFL renewed the partnership and promised to add more long-form football content. At the time, TikTok said videos from the league and its 32 teams had generated more than 5 billion views during the 2023 season.

Of course, TikTok is not the only platform chasing football fans. Its longtime rival YouTube has been moving directly onto the field. YouTube replaced TikTok as the official sponsor of the Super Bowl Tailgate in 2025, after becoming the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket in 2023.

That gives YouTube something TikTok largely lacks: the games themselves. So instead of trying to become another traditional broadcaster, TikTok appears to be going after everything surrounding the action.

As part of the renewed partnership, the NFL will use TikTok GamePlan, which connects videos to hubs featuring scores, schedules, standings, official accounts, and broadcast links. In other words, TikTok wants every spectacular catch or sideline moment on your For You page to bring you closer to the live game.

SEE ALSO: Disney and the NFL just paired every team with a character — here's your team's match

TikTok has good reason to believe this pipeline could work. According to the company, 85 percent of sports fans on TikTok use the platform as a second screen during live events, while 42 percent are more likely to watch a live match after encountering related sports content on the app.

TikTok is also bringing the NFL to Pro Events, the standalone app it piloted during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The app rewarded fans for exploring tournament content and completing tasks with stars redeemable for merchandise, TikTok Shop discounts, or charitable donations. A dedicated NFL hub will reportedly launch in the coming weeks.

And where there are more ways for fans to engage, there are naturally more places for brands to advertise. TikTok is expanding its Pulse Premiere program so advertisers can place ads directly after videos from participating NFL teams.

The partnership could be especially useful as the NFL looks beyond its home turf. The league is staging a record nine international games across seven countries in 2026 and has made attracting millions of additional fans outside the United States a major part of its long-term strategy. TikTok’s regional NFL accounts give the league a way to keep reaching those audiences long after the teams leave town.

"The NFL isn’t just a sport, it’s a year-round way of life where fandom thrives through game-day highlights, daily trends, and player personalities," TikTok Global Head of Sport Rollo Goldstaub added in the announcement.

One of the biggest problems with switching from Windows to Linux has always been software compatibility. Linux has thousands of applications, but there are still Windows programs that people depend on for work, school, creative projects, and everyday computing.

After trying endless note-taking apps over the years, Google Keep became my go-to. Whether I needed to capture a fleeting idea, create a grocery list, or jot down notes from my editor, Keep always had my back.

Most people don't think about their car's A/C until it stops working, and by then the repair bill is already uncomfortable. This is something you either crank up in July or forget about entirely until next summer. The problem is that neglect is exactly what kills it. A lot of the failures that send people to the shop are easily preventable if you start adding in a few habits.

What you see up there are my two copies of Robocop. One is the version that people saw in theaters, and the other is the version that director Paul Verhoeven wanted people to see in theaters, but had to edit slightly to get past the ratings board.

The parallel port is gone as of the time I'm writing this. But its demise was long and drawn-out, even as supposedly better alternatives came along and tried to take its place. Here's how it finally met its ultimate demise, long after it was supposed to.

I used to spend ages crafting ChatGPT prompts, telling it exactly how to behave, what steps to follow, and how to format the answer. But ChatGPT has changed, and so has OpenAI's prompting advice. With the release of GPT-5.6, OpenAI's newest model guidance puts more emphasis on clearly stating your goal and less on micromanaging how ChatGPT gets there.

Ask any director, and they'll tell you that filming a movie is rather difficult. Now try shooting a movie where the protagonist is constantly on the move. That is one of the several challenges director Kevin Macdonald faced in The Runner, a new Prime Video action movie starring Gal Gadot.

Every fall, LEGO celebrates the day when young witches and wizards return to Hogwarts for another year of adventures. The official LEGO Back to Hogwarts 2026 shopping event starts Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 6. 

Whether you’re from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin — fans young and old will want to get their paws on the two new Harry Potter LEGO sets, limited-time gifts, and geek-out-worthy brick merch from your favorite fantastical world.

Plus, your kiddos can hone their real-life building skills with the intuitive LEGO Builder app. Now that’s something even Muggle parents can obsess about. Here’s a sampling of what the event has up its sleeve: 

Early access to the new Ministry of Magic collector’s set  Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO The Ministry of Magic Collector’s Edition $449.99 at LEGO
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The massive 3,491-piece set has three different levels for builders 18 years and older, including a subway station and the Hall of Prophecies. Kids will love flushing the 14 mini-figures from the public restroom down into the Ministry. Collectors will love the golden wizard statue and 25th-anniversary Lynx Patronus figure. 

A new Mini Hogwarts Castle casts its spell Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO Mini Hogwarts Castle $39.99 at LEGO
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This 700-piece set stands only 5.5 inches high, but it packs infinite adventures for ages 10 and up. Kids can build microscale versions of the Great Hall and Astronomy Tower, lift up the East Wing to reveal the ancient Chamber of Secrets, and gaze into the Mirror of Erised. When the Harry Potter and Hedwig owl mini-figures take flight on Harry’s broomstick, the magic is real.

Score cool gifts until Sept. 6

Your wand won’t get you first dibs on new Harry Potter sets or gifts with purchase during the 2026 LEGO Back to Hogwarts event. But a free LEGO Insider membership will. 

For example, members who purchase The Ministry of Magic Collector’s Edition can score a shiny metal display of Harry Potter’s phone-booth portal to the Ministry of Magic. Members can also redeem Insider points for 25th anniversary Harry Potter baubles.

Anyone who spends $40 or more on qualifying Harry Potter merchandise will get the Dumbledore's Office with Harry Potter set. You can also nab the Ministry Munchies and The Daily Prophet Stands for free with a qualifying $130 purchase. 

Back to school isn’t a bummer when it coincides with the LEGO Back to Hogwarts shopping event. From Aug. 29 to Sept. 6, snag two new Harry Potter LEGO sets and more perks than you can wave your wand at.

The internet isn't exactly known for bringing out the best in people. Every so often, though, it channels all that collective energy into something genuinely helpful — like buying a car seat for someone you've never met.

That is what happened after Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper began surprising expectant parents by purchasing items from their Babylist registries. Cooper, who announced in May that she is expecting her first child with husband film producer and Unwell co-founder Matt Kaplan, had been turning to her audience for pregnancy and parenting advice. Clearing registries became a way to return some of that support.

"Clearing out registries was a way to thank the community for all their incredible support and advice," Cooper said in a release. "Reading their stories and seeing what that meant to them made me want to find a way for Unwell to keep paying that forward." Recipients definitely felt the love, posting emotional reactions and unboxing videos as cribs, car seats, mattresses, and swaddles arrived at their homes.

The best part of the story, though? Other people began doing the same thing.

Strangers opened strangers' registries and bought whatever they could afford. For some, that meant a pack of bottles or a box of diapers. Others helped clear entire lists. What began as a celebrity giveaway grew into a much larger chain of people paying the gesture forward.

Online generosity is hardly new. Crowdfunding links have become fixtures beneath viral videos, while kindness creators have built enormous audiences around giving cash, houses, or cars to strangers and inviting viewers to contribute.

One registry became thousands Credit: Babylist

Babylist, an online baby registry and shopping platform, soon joined Cooper and her Unwell media network to formalize the effort under the #BabylistItForward banner. The company committed to supporting more than 1,000 families, with Pampers also contributing to the campaign.

The response suggests the idea touched a nerve — according to figures shared with Mashable, more than 15,000 expectant parents replied to the launch post in less than an hour.

Many left their own registry links. Others nominated a friend, sibling, co-worker, or partner. Between the requests, parents started discussing which products they had actually used, what first-time parents could skip, and where less expensive alternatives might work just as well. Babylist's campaign page recorded 3,279 gifts from the company’s team as of Aug. 31.

Credit: Babylist

For Babylist, the response also demonstrated that parents were looking for more than products. Jennifer Hyman, the company’s incoming CEO, told Mashable the partnership was intended to reach parents when they need "answers, reassurance, and connection." Cooper, Babylist, and Unwell also plan to crowdsource parenting advice and product recommendations, spotlight families' stories, and support charitable organizations working with parents during pregnancy and early parenthood.

Brands of different sizes got involved, too. Los Angeles diaper bag company Mina Baie promised to purchase gifts from five parents’ registries and award diaper bags to 20 others, while UPPAbaby offered to clear five full registries and purchase one of its strollers from 50 additional lists. Cozy Crew Club invited parents to share their stories for a chance to receive registry gifts and store gift cards, and mom-founded baby brand Kiplie offered portable changing mats while acknowledging that it could not clear entire lists. Itzy Ritzy, meanwhile, offered to purchase up to $300 worth of its products from each selected registry.

SEE ALSO: Alex Cooper parlays podcast prowess into entrepreneurial domination

Other creators and reality stars, including Colton Underwood, Harry Jowsey, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Anneliese van der Pol, also invited parents to leave their registries in the comments of their own posts.

Meanwhile, viewers without large platforms continued the effort by buying individual items for families whose stories appeared in their feeds.

Examples of this trend in action are heartwarming: Wyatt Morris, an active-duty service member, is expecting a daughter with his wife, Breanna. Morris posted their Babylist registry on TikTok and later returned with a follow-up video after viewers reportedly purchased every last item.

The internet's attention is notoriously unpredictable, but it's always heartening to see a viral moment turn into tangible support for people who truly need it. The trend may disappear, but the items arriving at families' doorsteps — and the difference they make — won't.