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Chicken Shop Dates Amelia Dimoldenberg launches new YouTube series

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 13:00

Amelia Dimoldenberg is a YouTube force to be reckoned with.

The host is best known for her viral Chicken Shop Date series in which she interviews celebrities over chicken nuggets and fries, but now she's branching out into new territory that's long proven fertile ground for web series: a show set entirely in a car.

Called Passenger Princess and with the first episode featuring racing driver George Russell, the tagline is simple enough: "Amelia Dimoldenberg can't drive, so she got F1 divers to teach her."

The end result is eight minutes of Dimoldenberg's trademark dry humor coupled with some (very) slow driving around a race track.

The top creators keeping the internet interesting in 2025. From meme-makers to movement-starters, these are the people powering our timelines today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I Use My Raspberry Pi's Terminal From My Android Phone

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 13:00

Ever wanted to send commands to your Raspberry Pi (or another SBC), but didn't have an available and convenient PC to SSH with? I did too, until I found the right software for my Android phone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Walmart has dropped some bumper gaming PC and laptop deals, including mice, keyboards, and headsets

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:55

With Xbox seemingly focusing more on Windows-based gaming and everyone bar Nintendo bringing their games to Steam and the like, it's a great time to get into PC gaming or update your RTX 1000 outdated rig. Luckily, Walmart has some brilliant deals on prebuilt gaming PCs and laptops that come packed with the latest GPUs from Nvidia and AMD Radeon alongside high-end processors and DDR5 RAM to get you ready for the switch.

SEE ALSO: Walmart is running a mega PS5 sale — here are the best game and accessory deals

There's also plenty of deals for components to upgrade your existing build and a lot of discounted gaming peripherals. Need an upgraded hard drive, processor, mouse, keyboard, or monitor? I've found some of the best deals on Walmart that gets you the cream of the crop for less. I've also taken the liberty of breaking down these deals so you can find what you need with zero hassle. Let's jump straight in.

Best prebuilt gaming PC dealsBest gaming laptop dealsBest gaming monitor dealsBest gaming mouse dealsBest gaming keyboard dealsBest gaming headset dealsBest PC component deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 16, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:53

Today's Connections: Sports Edition requires expertise in women's tennis.

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

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

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

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

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

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: 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: Audience reactions

  • Green: Needed for a game of hockey

  • Blue: Tennis winners down under

  • Purple: Get your back into it

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Expression of Approval

  • Green: Hockey Equipment

  • Blue: Australian Open Singles Winner

  • Purple: ____Back

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 #388 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Expression of Approval - APPLAUSE, CLAPPING, HAND, OVATION

  • Hockey Equipment - GLOVES, HELMET, SKATE, STICK

  • Australian Open Singles Winner - GRAF, KEYS, OSAKA, PIERCE

  • ____Back - BRUSH, STEP, TAIL, TOUCH

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for October 16, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:53

Happy Thursday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 11, 2025

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 October 15, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 16 Pips

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 16 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (21): Everything in this space must add to 21. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 16 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this orange space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 16, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:52

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you have a sweet tooth.

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 October 13, 2025 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: Water games

  • Green: Used in military comms

  • Blue: Types of cars

  • Purple: An adhesive

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Found in a bakery

  • Green: Irritable

  • Blue: Marine animals

  • Purple: A yellow fruit

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 #858 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Fruit desserts: COBBLER, CRISP, CRUMBLE, TART

  • Crabby: CROSS, PRICKLY, SORE, SOUR

  • Fish: CHAR, FLUKE, PIKE, SKATE

  • Banana ___: BOAT, BREAD, SLUG, SPLIT

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 13, 2025

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 today's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for October 16, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:52

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you know a lot of fun facts.

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 October 13, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 13, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: And the category is...

The words are related to a popular game.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things to test knowledge.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Trivia Night.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 16

  • Sports

  • Geography

  • Movie

  • Trivia Night

  • Music

  • History

  • News

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 today's Strands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 16, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:52

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you've seen Mean Girls.

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 October 13, 2025 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 October 13, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Spiteful.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CATTY

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 13, 2025

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 today's Wordle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft Won't Fix Sleep Mode, Here Is What I Do Instead

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:30

My desktop Windows PC is rarely turned off, but when it is, it's hibernating, not sleeping. Similarly, I exclusively use Hibernate, not Sleep mode, on my Windows handhelds. Here's why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Hisense U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV has dropped to an all-time low price at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:25

SAVE OVER $200: As of Oct. 16, the Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV has dropped to $795 at Amazon. This is $202.99 off its list price of $997.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-Inch Class U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD TV $795 at Amazon
$997.99 Save $202.99   Get Deal

Considering how many great things there are to stream at the moment, it's nice when you have a TV that can keep up with everything you like to watch. If you've been feeling like it's time for an upgrade, there are thankfully some nice deals available at Amazon that you can score, even before the next big sale event hits. Right now, the Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV has dropped to its best price yet at the retailer.

The Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV is currently marked all the way down to $795, a 20% discount from its list price of $997.99. This marks a new all-time low price for the TV, so why wait until Black Friday to grab it? It's currently marked as a limited-time deal, so be quick to pick it up at this price.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

Since this Hisense TV is a Google smart TV, it can bring together all of your favorite streaming apps so you can bounce between different services to watch the shows and movies you enjoy. They'll look great, too, as this TV boasts 4K resolution, Mini-LED Pro technology, and QLED Color that'll make images look bright, vibrant, and crystal clear while you watch.

On top of that, this Hisense TV comes with Dolby Atmos audio and up to 82W 4.1.2 Multi-Channel Audio System, so you can feel fully immersed in what's happening on screen with high-quality sound as well. It even comes with Anti-Glare Low Reflection Pro panel technology, so you can minimize reflections on the screen.

This offer may not last for long, so don't miss out on the Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV at its best price at Amazon. And if this TV is a bit too small for your liking, you can also score a great discount right now on the massive Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The VTOMAN Jump 1800 portable power station is down to a record-low price — save over $400 at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:59

SAVE $423: As of Oct. 16, the VTOMAN Jump 1800 is on sale for $476.99 at Amazon. That's a 47% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: VTOMAN VTOMAN Jump 1800 $476.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $423   Get Deal

Whether it's connection on a camping trip or backup supply during a power cut, a portable power station is one of those devices that you're always grateful to have by your side. Models range from devices that can power a whole house for days, to smaller, more affordable options that keep your essentials running. The VTOMAN Jump 1800 falls somewhere in the middle. Usually priced at $899.99, as of Oct. 16 it's on sale for $476.99, almost a 50% discount.

It's an ideal power station for charging multiple devices in one go. It does so safely thanks to the battery with a built-in safety system to protect against overcharging, too much current, and other issues. You can easily plug in up to 12 devices at the same time using its AC outlets, DC ports, USB-A, and USB-C ports.

SEE ALSO: Save over $1,000 on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus power station right now at Amazon

The battery can even be expanded from 1,548Wh to 3,096Wh with an extra battery if you need more power. You can also charge it with a solar panel, ideal for off-grid camping trips. On its own, it provides 1,800W of constant power, so it can run bigger appliances like heaters or ovens without shutting off. It also has 12V DC ports for things like car fridges, CPAP machines, or tire inflators.

VTOMAN states this model can handle around 3,000 cycles before dropping to 80% of its original capacity. So, if you're shopping for a power station to have on hand, check out this deal at Amazon while it lasts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Sabrina Carpenter channels Sex and the City in SNL promo

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:57

Sabrina Carpenter is hosting SNL this week, and in the promo clip above she channels every bit of her inner Carrie Bradshaw.

"New York is one Big Apple, and I'm taking my bite...at Saturday Night Live," says Carpenter's narration, over footage of the pop artist striding into the building and turning every cast and crew interaction into a fast-paced pun.

Based on Carpenter's acting in this brief segment alone, we're going to go out on a limb and say she may well have a lucrative side career in comedy ahead of her.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save over $1,000 on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus power station right now at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:33

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of Oct. 16, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus portable power station is on sale for $1,599 when you clip the coupon on Amazon. This is $1,200 off its list price of $2,799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station $1,599 at Amazon
$2,799 Save $1,200   Get Deal

Do you desperately need backup power at home? Do you love the great outdoors? A portable power station is a must. And while they can sometimes come with hefty price tags, great deals occasionally pop up that are worth checking out. Over at Amazon, you can score the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus for over $1,000 off right now.

Thanks to a coupon that can be clipped on the store page, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus has dropped from its list price of $2,799 to $1,599. This makes for $1,200 in savings, which is an excellent discount to take advantage of while it's still available.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus boasts a 3,600W output and features four AC outputs (120V, 20A), a TT-30 RV port (120V, 30A), two USB-C ports (100W Max), and two USB-A ports (18W Max). It also has a convenient design with wheels and a handle, so you can easily roll it to new places around your home or take it on the go.

Don't miss out on this coupon that saves you over $1,000 on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus portable power station at Amazon.

This isn't the only portable power station deal Amazon has at the moment, either. If you're not looking to drop as much cash on a model, you can also save on the Gendome Go 300 Portable Power Station right now, which has dropped to just $119.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Conan OBrien and Rose Byrne doing art therapy goes hilariously off the rails

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:10

Given that they have a therapist/patient dynamic in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, it's only fitting that Conan O'Brien and Rose Byrne take part in a little therapy of their own in the A24 promo above.

The therapy in question involves the pair painting a picture before discussing it with a therapist, and – given O'Brien is involved – it isn't long before things go completely off the rails.

The highlight? O'Brien arguing with both Byrne and the therapist herself.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a budget-friendly fitness tracker, and its on sale for $20 off right now

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:10

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 16, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for $79.95 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $20   Get Deal

Fitness trackers can range from under $50 to almost $1,000. Some are so advanced they can predict race times, suggest recovery periods, and offer all manner of high-tech stats. But these models aren't for everyone, least of all because of the price. If you enjoy working out and want a watch that complements this without breaking the bank, check out the Fitbit Inspire 3.

And as of Oct. 16, it's on sale. Right now, you can take it home for just $79.95. All colors are discounted, so pick from midnight zen, lilac bliss, or morning glow.

SEE ALSO: Suunto has launched the Vertical 2 adventure watch — here's where to buy

This watch does a bit of everything. It tracks your activity, heart rate, sleep, and stress throughout the day and night. It comes with over 20 exercise modes, so whether you like to swim, run, or do yoga, it will monitor your performance. It also has automatic workout detection, so if you forget to press start, the watch will pick up your movement and track it anywhere. A lifesaver for the stats-obsessed among us.

It has great lifestyle features too, including Daily Readiness and Stress Management Scores. You can also monitor your sleep patterns, and use the smart wake alarm to get up more naturally. For more data, the watch comes with a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium. After the trial period it costs $9.99 a month.

Pick up this Fitbit deal from Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Suunto has launched the Vertical 2 adventure watch — heres where to buy

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:01

TL;DR: Suunto has launched the Vertical 2 watch. Get it from Amazon for $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Suunto Suunto Vertical 2 $599 at Amazon
  Shop Now

There's a new fitness tracker on the market, and it's something for endurance athletes to lust over. Finnish brand Suunto has announced the Vertical 2 watch, officially hitting shelves on Oct. 15. It's described as an "advanced adventure watch", designed with serious endurance sports in mind.

This model has seen the heart rate sensor fully redesigned. It now gives you far more accurate stats across training, recovery, and health tracking. It also has a new processor and expanded memory, so things should run much faster.

SEE ALSO: Suunto has launched the Wing 2 bone conducting headphones — a runner's opinion

There are 115 sport modes to choose from, all with advanced training analytics, weather alerts, altitude data, and further stats. It even has offline maps and climb guidance — maps guide you through unfamiliar terrain, and climb guidance assists you in navigating hilly or mountainous ground through real-time elevation profiles. Users get color coded route sections and pre-warnings of climbs or descents.

The key to any endurance watch is the battery life. The Vertical 2 promises to last up to 65 hours with GPS tracking and up to 20 days with general smartwatch use. Perfect for multi-day treks or races.

Style-wise, the Vertical 2 has an impressive AMOLED display, keeping everything bright and colorful, even in direct sunlight. And whether you pick the steel or titanium option, this watch is seriously robust and is able to cope with all manner of activities.

Credit: Suunto

The Suunto Vertical 2 is available to buy right now. The stainless steel version comes in at $599, and is available in a huge range of colors including black, canyon, and sage. The titanium version retails at $699, and comes in black or sage colors. You can find both options from Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

TCL is giving away NFL tickets, gift cards, and more just for having a TCL Mini LED TV. Most of them are on sale.

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:00

REGISTER YOUR TCL QLED TV, ENTER TO GET FREE STUFF: Now through Sunday, Feb. 8, TCL is carrying out weekly drawings for its Ultimate Season to Score Sweepstakes to win free prizes like regular season NFL tickets, gift cards, TCL tech, and one set of four tickets to the big game in February. To enter, you can register an eligible TCL QM6K, QM7K, QM8K, or QM9K TV. Multiple models are on sale as of Oct. 16.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL Ultimate Season to Score Sweepstakes Register your TV and enter here Learn More

The window between early October's Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday would typically be considered a lull for TV deals. But that time frame suddenly sounds like one of the best times of year to buy a TV when free NFL tickets are up for grabs. Those are just one of the prizes you could win during TCL's Ultimate Season to Score Sweepstakes, and entry just requires registration of your TCL TV.

Every Thursday through Feb. 8, 2026, TCL is picking one to two winners per week to score a variety of sick recurring prizes: regular season NFL tickets of your choice, $500 Uber Eats and NFL Shop gift cards, TCL soundbars and tablets, Yeti coolers, and more. The big prize, however, is the real doozy: One lucky person will secure four tickets to the big game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8, plus hotel rooms, round-trip flights, NFL-hosted tailgate tickets, and $2,000 in spending money. That's casually $41,000 worth of free stuff.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

Specific prizes coinciding with each drawing date and a full list of prizes can be found in the entry rules. You're limited to one entry per person per registered TCL product, but if you have more than one TCL TV, you can enter up to three total. If you don't win one week, your entry will be carried forward for all of the remaining drawings — so there's always hope.

TV models eligible for the giveaway include the TCL QM6K, QM7K, QM8K, and QM95 QD-Mini LED TVs.

Don't have a TCL to register yet? Almost every size of each of those series is on sale at Amazon or Best Buy, and we've curated a quick list of your options below. For the models available at Amazon (all but the QM9K), we've used Camelcamelcamel to check their price history and note which TVs are at a record-low sale price (or close to it).

Sweepstakes-eligible TCL QLED TVs on saleTCL QM6K dealsTCL QM7K dealsTCL QM8K dealsTCL QM9K deals

Need to get rid of an old TV to make room for your new one? You can recycle TVs at your local Best Buy store.

Categories: IT General, Technology

A giant black hole is lost in space. Heres how its shocking astronomers.

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:00

When scientists discovered an enormous black hole thousands of light-years from where it ought to be in space, they knew they had a cosmic oddity on their hands. 

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope showed a rare black hole that looked like the kind astronomers would find at the center of a galaxy. Instead, it was about 2,600 light-years from the core, which was occupied by an even more massive black hole. The discovery of the renegade, first spotted by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California, was only possible because it happened to light up after snacking on an unlucky star. 

But this bizarre black hole, the weight of 1 million or more suns, gets even weirder. In a new study led by UC Berkeley, researchers used radio telescopes to observe the strange object's behavior and found that the event, known as AT 2024tvd, prompted two clear bright flares of radio waves, changing faster than any other that scientists have seen.

"This is truly extraordinary," said Itai Sfaradi, first author of the research published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, in a statement. "Never before have we seen such bright radio emission from a black hole tearing apart a star, away from a galaxy’s center, and evolving this fast. It changes how we think about black holes and their behavior."

SEE ALSO: Scientists snap first photo of two black holes in an epic staredown

The first burst appeared about four months after the discovery and faded quickly. The second burst showed up about six months later, rising and falling even faster. The results show that powerful outflows of material were launched from the area of the black hole after the star's demise — not immediately after but months later, suggesting delayed and previously unknown processes at work.

Black holes are some of the most confounding things in space. They are regions where gravity is so intense that nothing can escape, not even light. About a half-century ago, astronomers weren't even sure they existed. Today, black holes aren't just confirmed, they're getting photographed. In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope achieved the first image of a black hole, located 53 million light-years away in the Messier 87 galaxy.

The Hubble Space Telescope detects a tidal disruption event from a black hole, seen in this image north of the bright smudgy galactic center where another even larger supermassive black hole resides. Credit: NASA / ESA / STScI / Yuhan Yao / Joseph DePasquale

Black holes don't have surfaces. Instead, they have a boundary called an "event horizon," or a point of no return. If anything wanders too close — like the poor previously mentioned star — it will fall in, never to escape the hole's gravity.

Astronomers aren't sure how this gargantuan black hole got to its seemingly random location. One idea is that it came from another galaxy that at some point merged into its present galaxy about 600 million light-years away from Earth. Another idea is that it was evicted from the center of the galaxy by two bigger black holes in what's known as a three-body interaction.

"Theorists have predicted that a population of massive black holes located away from the centers of galaxies must exist," said Ryan Chornock, a coauthor at UC Berkeley, in a statement earlier this year, "but now we can use (these events) to find them.”

The scientific term for when a star wanders too close to a black hole is a tidal disruption event. When a black hole interacts with surrounding gas and dust, it throws out fast streams of material or narrow jets. These features can be observed in radio waves. So shortly after the tidal disruption was detected in optical and ultraviolet light, Sfaradi and colleagues set out to watch it with the Very Large Array, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and other radio dishes.

The black hole's unusual location and rapid radio changes give scientists a new way to study black holes and their effects far from galactic cores. Continued monitoring may reveal more about the speed, timing, and behavior of the material the black hole ejects. This event's unusual behavior could be connected to the black hole's off-center location, or it might represent a phenomenon scientists haven't seen before. 

"This is one of the fascinating discoveries I’ve been part of," said Assaf Horesh, a coauthor based at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in a statement. "The fact that it was led by my former student, Itai, makes it even more meaningful." 

The scientists used computer simulations to model how outflows or jets could produce the signals they saw. One explanation could be a single outflow launched about three months after the star was disrupted, with the double peaks in radio caused by the material hitting a complex environment around the black hole. Another possibility is that two separate outflows occurred, the first about three months after the event and the second about six months later.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Bengals vs. Steelers online for free

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Live stream Bengals vs. Steelers in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL action kicks off this week with the Bengals taking on the Steelers. The Steelers come into this matchup sporting an impressive 4-1 record, and many will fancy them to take a victory on the road.

If you want to watch Bengals vs. Steelers in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bengals vs. Steelers?

Bengals vs. Steelers in the NFL starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 21. This game takes place at the Paycor Stadium.

How to watch Bengals vs. Steelers for free

Bengals vs. Steelers in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Bengals vs. Steelers for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like IPVanish)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 7Plus

  5. Live stream Bengals vs. Steelers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Bengals vs. Steelers in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

  • 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including Australia

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

  • AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Bengals vs. Steelers in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Want to score Microsoft Office for just $20? The clock is ticking.

Mashable - Thu, 10/16/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Upgrade your PC with seven helpful apps thanks to this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license, now for only $19.97 (reg. $229) until Oct. 19.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03   Get Deal

There’s a reason Microsoft Office has been a fixture in our lives for decades — these programs really work. Now known as apps, this suite of tools can help streamline your workflow, and this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license comes packed with seven different helpers.

Right now, you can get these apps for life for just $19.97 (reg. $229) — less than $3 each — but you have to act fast. This deal is only available for three more days and will end on Oct. 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

SEE ALSO: Unlock eight Adobe and Microsoft apps for just $90

Filled with seven different apps, this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license is an affordable way to give your PC a refresh. This deal brings them to less than $3 each, and you’ll be able to take advantage of these Microsoft Office staples for life.

Curious what this version includes? You’ll score classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, while also gaining access to newer additions like OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

Don’t be deceived by the year of this edition. The seven included apps have been redesigned and offer enhanced features and improved cloud connectivity. You’ll enjoy new analysis capabilities in Excel, new presentation tools in PowerPoint, and updated email and contact management features in Outlook.

Before purchasing, make sure you’re running Windows 10 or 11. It’s also recommended that you have at least 1GB of RAM.

Upgrade a PC with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license, now for just $19.97 (reg. $229) through Oct. 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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