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SAVE $70: As of Aug. 3, the Google Pixel 10a is on sale for $424 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10a $429
$499 Save $70   Get Deal

The Google Pixel 10a has just dropped in price at Amazon, making now a great time to upgrade if you're in the market for a new smartphone. As of Aug. 3, it's dropped by $70, bringing the price down to $429 from $499.

The Google Pixel 10a is an unlocked Android smartphone designed for everyday use, with a durable build that includes a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display and IP68-rated water and dust resistance.

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Display-wise, it features a 3,000-nit Actua display for improved visibility in bright conditions. And if you like a phone with an impressive camera system, this phone will not disappoint. It's designed for high-quality photography, with built-in features like an 8x zoom. It also includes Camera Coach, an AI-powered feature that uses Gemini models to analyze your subject and provide suggestions on framing and lighting to help improve your photos.

This phone is also designed to last all day (and more), with a battery life of over 30 hours on a full charge. And for everyday ease and use, enjoy access to Google's built-in Gemini AI assistant, which can help with tasks such as brainstorming ideas, screening spam calls, and other everyday productivity features.

Get this smartphone deal from Amazon now.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Alternatively, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

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

Samsung is still the center of attention. Samsung just dropped three new foldables smartphones, two smartwatches, and smart glasses, so it deserves its moment in the spotlight. But won't someone think about Apple for a change?

Apple prices are bumping in the face of RAMageddon, but you can still secure a limited-time offer on iPhones from T-Mobile. This popular mobile carrier has just dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals on the latest handsets:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required

• iPhone 17 — free when signing up for 24 months of an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee. That's a small catch, but that's how it often goes with this kind of deal.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." That's enough for us to consider upgrading.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for free this week with T-Mobile.

The Moon is now losing more of its light, with the next major milestone in its cycle being the Third Quarter phase. Here's what you can spot on its surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 3, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 79% of its surface visible.

With just your naked eye, tonight you can spot the Copernicus Crater and the Tycho Crater. If you have a pair of binoculars, these will help you see the Alphonsus Crater, Mare Humorum, and the Mare Frigoris. Finally, if you have a telecope, this will help you see the Apollo 11, 14 and 15 landing spots.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon goes through a complete cycle of eight phases roughly every 29.5 days. As it travels around Earth, the angle between the Sun, Earth and Moon constantly changes, meaning we see different amounts of the Moon's sunlit side. This is what causes the familiar progression from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the cycle repeats.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

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 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 August 3, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 3 Pips

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 3 Pips

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

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 3 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 0-6, 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 will be easier if you've ever watched basketball and baseball.

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.

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: 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: New York basketball

• Green: East Coast baseball

• Blue: Golfers across the pond

• Purple: Trade terminology

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: New York Basketball Teams

• Green: NL East Teams

• Blue: English Golfers

• Purple: Trade___

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 #679 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• New York Basketball Teams: KNICKS, LIBERTY, NETS, ST. JOHN'S

• NL East Teams: BRAVES, METS, NATIONALS, PHILLIES

• English Golfers: FITZPATRICK, FLEETWOOD, RAI, ROSE

• Trade___: BLOCK, DEADLINE, OFFER, RUMORS

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.

Many dragons have died so far in House of the Dragon, but now we have one who's come back.

Season 3, episode 7 ended with the shock revelation that Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) may have switched to Team Green, but one scene before that, we had an even bigger surprise: Aegon's (Tom Glynn-Carney) dragon Sunfyre, who comes rumbling out of the woods to save him and Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) from imminent death.

So, what happened, and how did Sunfyre manage to revive himself?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Who is Dreamfyre, and why are her eggs so important? What happens with Aegon and Sunfyre?

After Larys (Matthew Needham) finally convinces him to flee to Braavos, Aegon and co. encounter an army coming in the opposite direction. They're apparently looking for Tyland, but rather than taking Larys' advice and making themselves scarce, Aegon decides to make a last stand. Larys flees, Tyland stays — and for a moment, it looks as though they may be at the end of the road. Then Aegon reveals who he really is, and the men start to fall back, looking afraid. But it's not the former king they're scared of, it's what's standing behind him: his dragon Sunfyre, badly scarred but still very much alive, and more than happy to scorch anyone foolish enough to stand in his path.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments How is Sunfyre still alive?

Remember back in episode 4, when Aegon and Larys find the (apparent) corpse of Sunfyre in the forest? At the time, the dragon looked very much dead, so much so that some locals had even turned his ostensible corpse into something of a pay-to-see zoo attraction.

The only person who thought he may still be alive was Aegon, who seemed pretty convinced. And while Aegon may have been wrong about most things up until now, he clearly wasn't wrong about that. In hindsight, it makes sense. There's a strong connection between a Targaryen and their dragon, so Aegon may have been the only person able to sense that Sunfyre hadn't yet departed the realm of the living.

Like his master after the battle at Rook's Rest, the dragon just needed a long time to recover. Maybe Sunfyre was in the equivalent of a coma, and hearing Aegon's voice a few episodes back started the process of bringing the dragon back to consciousness — just in time to save Aegon from almost certain death.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like to take the scenic route.

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 August 3, 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: Backroads

• Green: Same color

• Blue: A, E, I, O, U

• Purple: To annoy

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Road less traveled

• Green: Shades of green

• Blue: "Y" is the only vowel

• Purple: Starting with synonyms for "pester"

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 #1149 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Road less traveled: ALLEY, BACKSTREET, BYWAY, LANE

• Shades of green: FOREST, HUNTER, MINT, SAGE

• "Y" is the only vowel: FLY BY, MYRRH, NSYNC, RHYTHM

• Starting with synonyms for "pester": BUG FIX, NAP CHAMPA, NEEDLESS, TEA SET

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 3, 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 you're a rare gem.

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 August 3, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: There's nothing like it

The words are related to difference.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe distinction.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is One of a Kind.

NYT Strands word list for August 3

• Sole

• Singular

• Only

• Special

• One of a Kind

• Unique

• Exclusive

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're a good communicator.

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 August 3, 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 August 3, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To respond.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

REPLY

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.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators 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

A squirrel's favorite nut.

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

ACORN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Cutter.

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

PARER

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Brilliance.

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

ECLAT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To mature.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

RIPEN

Final Hurdle hint

Fiery crime.

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

ARSON

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

Side-switching isn't an uncommon occurrence in the world of House of the Dragon, but it's a bit more important when you've got a dragon in tow.

Last season, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) went to great effort to recruit herself some new dragonriders, but in Season 3 it already looks like one of them may be on the cusp of stabbing her in the back.

So, what exactly happens at the end of episode 7, and what does it mean for Ulf the White (Tom Bennett)?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Who is Dreamfyre, and why are her eggs so important? What happens at the end of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 7?

The final scene of the episode sees a hilltop conversation between Ulf and the ever-sneaky Lord Ormund (James Norton), where the latter professes his apparent shock to hear that Daemon (Matt Smith) has struck Ulf in the streets of King's Landing.

"It is obvious Rhaenyra and her ilk regard you only as a tool to be used and reprimanded, whereas I understand who you really are," Ormund says.

"You said last time that you could gift me a lordship," responds Ulf. "And a castle. Honeyholt."

"Honeyholt?" says Ormund with a smile. "Honeyholt is a trifle. It seems that Driftmark itself may soon be without a master. Lord of the Tides. What do you think of that? They will laugh at you no more, when they see you as you are."

"No," says Ulf. "They will burn."

Doesn't sound great, does it? So, has Ulf really gone over to Team Green? And what could that mean for Rhaenyra if he has?

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments Has Ulf switched to Team Green?

It seems like the answer is probably a yes. Earlier in the episode, Ormund tells Gwayne (Freddie Fox) that he "has a piece on the board that will bring the bitch to her knees." Gwayne thinks he's talking about Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint), who was kidnapped in the last episode, but now it seems clear he was actually talking about Ulf and his dragon.

Ultimately, Ulf's main motivation has always been the status a new dragon might bring. He's longed for a title and a castle. And over the past few episodes, we've seen him growing increasingly dissatisfied with his treatment at the hands of Team Black.

Ormund, who is a cunning character, likely spotted this discontentment when he first spoke to Ulf. Since then, he's promised the dragonrider exactly what he's always wanted — and as of their latest meeting, it seems that Ulf is more than happy to turn against the people who first lifted him up.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Dreams and prophecies can never be dismissed in House of the Dragon, and that goes double for Helaena (Phia Saban), who has a proven track record when it comes to seeing into the future.

In Season 3, episode 7, she has a number of dreams. Some of these feel pretty straightforward — her dream about her baby being taken away from her, for instance — while others are a bit more cryptic.

So, what does she dream, and can any of these dreams offer us an insight into the future?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Who is Dreamfyre, and why are her eggs so important? What does Helaena dream in episode 7?

Helaena has four different dreams over the course of episode 7. The first one happens right at the beginning of the episode, while the next three are interconnected dreams that happen over the course of the same night's sleep. You could argue that's just one dream, but as they're four very different scenes we've broken them up:

1. Helaena's in an empty courtyard, standing next to a white horse pulling a trailer. The large doors open and light comes in, before she's woken by Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) calling her name.

2. Helaena screams during childbirth. Her baby is handed to a guard, who immediately takes it away.

3. Helaena sits atop a large dragon while a crowd of people rushes towards her. She cries out, "Dracarys!" and the dragon unleashes fire upon them.

4. Helaena is sitting outside a house in the countryside with two blonde children and a white horse, feeding chickens. Snow begins to fall, and the sun is blocked by an eclipse. She stands up, looking round, as white mist rolls towards them.

Four very different, intriguing scenes. But, how do they fit in with the show and the wider Game of Thrones universe?

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast unpack Season 3, episode 2's biggest moments What could Helaena's dreams mean?

Okay, let's break them down one by one. The first, in which Helaena stands beside a horse in the courtyard, seems simple enough: This is surely Helaena dreaming of leaving her current imprisonment. The doors open and light pours in, but we don't see what's outside. This likely represents Helaena's uncertainty at where she would go if she did escape King's Landing.

The next dream seems like a manifestation of her very real (and understandable) fear of what might happen when she gives birth. As she's already been made well aware by her mother, Alicent (Olivia Cooke), a baby boy would be seen as a threat to Rhaenyra's claim to the throne — hence the soldier that immediately takes the child away from her.

The third and fourth dreams are where things get a bit more abstract. We do have some clues, though: In the third dream, for instance, the building Helaena sees in the distance is the Red Keep of King's Landing. It seems likely she's in the Dragonpit, where Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) had his coronation. And the dragon she's riding? That's a little more tricky to say. It's certainly not a dragon we've seen yet in the show, at any rate, meaning this is likely a vision of something that happens in the future. Could it be a vision of Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) attacking King's landing on the back of Drogon? Possibly, but in Game of Thrones, this doesn't take place in the Dragonpit. And although the dragon Helaena rides is dark like Drogon, it looks slightly more purple in its colouring. Perhaps this is a vision of something else?

The final dream, meanwhile? Our best guess is that this is another future vision, this time of the Long Night and the coming of winter that Game of Thrones revolves around.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

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Your car is the perfect place to put your 3D printer to work. From utility items like sunglasses clips and phone holders, to fun things like take-out sauce cup holders, here are five fun projects to 3D print for your car.

Just like the list of new movies for this month, Netflix also has a great lineup of new and returning shows in August. Later in the month, the streamer says goodbye to the Pogues, who plan to go out in a fiery fifth and final season.

I've been using Linux for a decade now, and around the five-year mark, I went all-in on Arch. I daily drove Garuda Linux for four of those years, dabbled with CachyOS and a few other Arch-based distros, wrote a small mountain of articles about Arch-based distros, and told anyone who would listen to give them a shot. And while it's been a good run, I think it's finally time to call it quits. I figure I owe you all an explanation, and it really boils down to three reasons.

Large language models entered the mainstream when OpenAI wrapped one in a chat window and called it ChatGPT. The interface was so intuitive that everyone copied it, and it's still how most people think about AI: you type a question, you get an answer. But a lot has changed since then.

The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home from the Trojan War. Its viewers, however, are heading in the opposite direction...back to Troy.

Christopher Nolan’s epic has quickly become one of the year’s biggest movies. The film opened with $264.1 million worldwide, the largest global debut of Nolan’s career, and earned another $90 million domestically during its second weekend. By its 12th day in theaters, it had generated $727.9 million worldwide.

All that attention has also sent viewers toward a much older, looser interpretation of Homer’s Iliad.

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Clips from Wolfgang Petersen’s 2004 film have been circulating across social media. Viewers are comparing the movies’ battle scenes, costumes, performances, and versions of the fall of Troy. Some have gone further, arguing that the critically dismissed Brad Pitt blockbuster may actually be the better movie.

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The renewed attention is showing up beyond social media. As of July 23, Troy ranked 12th on IMDb’s list of most popular movies and 23rd on Letterboxd, while The Odyssey held the top position on both. By the end of the month, Troy had also climbed to No. 2 on AMC+ in the United States.

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Suddenly, a movie once remembered primarily for Pitt’s armor and extremely committed workout routine is receiving a full cultural re-evaluation.

Why Troy looks different in 2026

When Troy opened in 2004, Hollywood was still crowded with historical and fantasy epics. Gladiator had arrived 4 years earlier, and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy had just demonstrated how emotionally and commercially successful a massive fantasy production could become.

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That competition made Troy feel less remarkable at the time. Petersen removed nearly all the gods and supernatural forces from Homer’s story and condensed years of mythology into one muscular, star-filled blockbuster.

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Critics were divided by the results. Troy currently holds a 53 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus describes it as an entertaining spectacle without enough emotional resonance. Audiences were warmer, giving it a 74 percent score.

22 years later, some of what once made Troy seem conventional has become the reason viewers are praising it. Compared with The Odyssey, fans say Troy better captures the sheer scale of the war. They have also singled out its radiant colors, weathered costumes, and supporting performances from Eric Bana and Peter O’Toole.

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Most of all, viewers keep returning to its action: the battles clearly show the tactics of two armies, while the duel between Achilles and Hector lets audiences follow every blow. Those qualities stand out even more when placed beside The Odyssey, according to fans.

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Of course, the two movies are trying to accomplish very different things. Troy is a war movie built around Achilles, Hector, and the destruction of a city. The Odyssey follows the exhausted soldier who has to live with what happened afterward.

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Still, watching them so close together has made viewers appreciate a movie has been overlooked for years.

Troy was always more popular than its reviews suggested

Despite its mixed reviews, Troy earned more than $497 million worldwide during its original theatrical run. Nearly three-quarters of that total came from international audiences.

The irony is that viewers now seem more eager to defend Troy than some of the people who made it.

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Pitt said he appeared in the movie because he had withdrawn from another Warner Bros. project and remained obligated to make something for the studio.

"I was put in Troy," Pitt told The New York Times in 2019. He said the experience convinced him to begin following his instincts when selecting future roles.

Bloom was even less nostalgic about playing Paris. "I think I just blanked that movie out of my brain," he told Variety in 2024, explaining that he never wanted to play the Trojan prince.

Christopher Nolan nearly made Troy himself

The most unexpected connection between the movies belongs to Nolan, actually. More than two decades before directing The Odyssey, he was originally hired by Warner Bros. to make Troy.

Petersen had begun developing the movie before leaving to work on a planned Batman vs. Superman project. When Warner Bros. abandoned that film, Petersen asked for Troy back. Nolan agreed, although he later told Empire that Homer’s world remained in the back of his mind. He was especially interested in how he would depict the Trojan horse.

Losing Troy worked out reasonably well for him. Nolan instead directed Batman Begins, which screenwriter David S. Goyer later jokingly described as Warner Bros.’ "consolation prize." The movie launched Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and helped establish the blockbuster career that eventually allowed him to return to Homer on an even larger scale.

That history makes the current comparison feel almost too good to be true. Nolan finally got to create his version of Homer’s world. And though Odysseus needed 10 years to find his way home, Troy needed 22 to get its retrial.

USB-C has been a game changer for electronics like phones, laptops, and other small devices, but the same isn't true for desktop PCs. After going through the trouble of adding a USB-C port to my slightly-older PC, I've only used it a handful of times, and I frequently find myself wondering if it was worth the fuss.