Blogroll

GET $170 OFF: The Mac Mini i7 32GB RAM 128GB PCIe SSD is available from Woot! for $329.99 for a savings of $170, or 34%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Mac Mini i7 32GB RAM 128GB PCIe SSD $329.99 at Woot!
$499.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

The Mac Mini is a powerful creator's computer with a small footprint. Bring it on stage for latency-free live musical performances, connect it to a screen and use it as your main desktop, or build out an industrial process with it as the main hub. This larger version might be from 2018 but it still has power.

Currently the Mac Mini i7 32GB RAM 128GB PCIe SSD is available for a deal price of $329.99 at Woot! saving you $170, or 34%.

SEE ALSO: New Satechi hub fixes the most annoying thing about the Mac mini

This Mac Mini's 32GB of RAM is the star of the show. You won't find a laptop with that much computing memory for near this price. Its i7 3.2GHz 6-core 8th Gen processor is dated, but still powerful, especially when it's running with all of that RAM.

Four Thunderbolt-3 cables make sure you can transfer data in and out faster than an eye can blink (or a USB-C can churn data). Use these for screens, external hard drives, an eGPU, and more.

Right now, this Mac Mini i7 32GB RAM 128GB PCIe SSD deal is available from Woot! for only $329.99, saving you $170.

Whether you're planning to start a business that needs strong computing power, you're a DJ who wants to run Ableton Live flawlessly on stage, or you're simply looking for a good computer for less, this deal is not to be missed.

Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz are married spies on a mission in Netflix's upcoming espionage comedy Back in Action.

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

The film, which marks Diaz's comeback to acting after 11 years, follows former CIA agents Matt (Foxx) and Emily (Diaz) as they are forced back into the spy game when their cover is blown. The news of their old lives comes as a major shock to their children (McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson), who view them as normal parents. After all, as they point out in the trailer, Matt and Emily are in a pickleball league and they make their own sourdough. How could they be spies?

Luckily, Matt and Emily spend the rest of the Back in Action trailer proving their talents in spycraft with car chases and fistfights. The trailer also teases Back in Action's considerably stacked supporting cast, including Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy), Kyle Chandler (Mayor of Kingstown), Andrew Scott (Ripley), and Jamie Demetriou (The Afterparty).

Back in Action premieres Jan. 17 on Netflix.

SAVE $800: Get the Apple MacBook Pro with M3 chip for $1,999 at B&H Photo, saving 29% off the list price of $2,799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M3, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,999.00 at B&H Photo
$2,799.00 Save $800.00 Get Deal

In late 2024, Apple debuted the M4 chip in the MacBook Pro. Pros are elite models, with the highest Geekbench 6 score we've ever seen. However, it leaves behind the M3 models of MacBook Pros, which are still stellar. With the exorbitant prices of the M4 MacBooks, we're always hunting for a good deal, even on a previous generation.

Right now at B&H Photo, you can find the Apple MacBook Pro with the M3 chip for just $1,999. This model, which comes with 36GB RAM and 1TB SSD, usually retails for $2,700. Now you can find it for $800 off, or a savings of 29%.

SEE ALSO: The best AI laptops we saw at CES 2025

The Apple MacBook Pro with M3 chip launched in 2023 and delivered the fastest MacBook performance we'd seen — that is, until the M4 came out. It has an astounding battery life of 16 hours and 23 minutes, so you can leave your charger at home. These laptops are our top pick for creative jobs that require heavy lifting like graphic design or video editing.

This model, available at B&H Photo, will be able to handle all your creative projects as it comes stacked with all the memory and storage required. It's only on sale through Jan. 16, so this deal won't hang around for long.

SAVE $170: The EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $629, down from the list price at EcoFlow of $799. That's a 21% discount. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus $629.00 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $170.00 Get Deal

If you're one of the lucky ones to still be working from home, you likely have the power to call "home" anywhere you'd like. Why not take work with you on a cross-country adventure, keeping powered up with a compact portable power station. If this sounds like the perfect way to avoid the winter blues this year, check out this deal at Amazon before you take off.

As of Jan. 14, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus portable power station is on sale for $629 at Amazon, discounted from the standard price of $799 listed at EcoFlow. That means you'll be saving $170 by getting a 21% discount. The sale price is also a record low at Amazon.

The powerful but compact EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus portable power station means you'll be in great shape for keeping connected while on the road. It's also a great option if you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages.

The Delta 3 Plus gives off a 1,800W output and is capable of supporting almost any household appliances. That means if your power goes out, you'd be able to keep your refrigerator going for 7 to 14 hours, recharge your phone 89 times, keep your Wi-Fi router on for 58 hours, or keep a fan going for 17 hours.

Recharging the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus from 0 to 100% takes just 56 minutes via AC charging. You can also recharge with solar power or from your car. With an 800W car charger, expect to get a full charge in under an hour and a half.

While powering your devices, the EcoFlow operates a quiet level which means you can still use it while sleeping. At 600W, the Delta 3 Plus gives off about 30dB of noise which increases to about 40dB at 1,200W.

From the EcoFlow app, you can monitor battery status, get real-time energy information, and even turn output on or off.

If you hope to stay connected and powered up while on the road this year or you experience frequent power outages, investing in a portable power station can make a world of difference. Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, you can score the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus for just $629, which happens to be the lowest price we've ever seen.

In 2015, Until Dawn was the video game that dared to put horror fans to the test, asking if they had what it took to survive a slasher movie. Written by indie horror icon Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick, this Supermassive Game put players in the shoes of a band of teen friends, who reconvene at an icy and remote mountain cabin on the anniversary of a horrid prank, which led to two of their friends going missing. Now, something's in the woods and out for blood. And as players switch characters and make life-and-death decisions, the biggest question is who will survive until dawn.

Sony published the hit game and is now producing the movie adaptation, which tweaks the premise, setting, and characters to give audiences something unexpected.

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

Here's the official synopsis from Sony Entertainment:

One year after her sister Melanie mysteriously disappeared, Clover and her friends head into the remote valley where she vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and horrifically murdered one by one…only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning of the same evening. Trapped in the valley, they’re forced to relive the nightmare again and again — only each time the killer threat is different, each more terrifying than the last. Hope dwindling, the group soon realizes they have a limited number of deaths left, and the only way to escape is to survive until dawn.

In the first look above, writer/producer Gary Dauberman and director David F. Sandberg give us a glimpse at what this Until Dawn has in store — including that the movie will show us ways the characters could die (like the totems in the game?), and then as Sandberg puts it, "things start over and they get to try again." Will working this game mechanic into the game make for fresh thrills? We can't wait to find out.

Where the original game starred the likes of Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, and Jordan Fisher, the movie version reveals a new slate of stars: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, and Maia Mitchell. And seemingly reprising his role as Dr. Alan J. Hill is the dependably unnerving Peter Stormare.

Until Dawn is coming to theaters in 2025.

Over the past year, our work on AutoGen has highlighted the transformative potential of agentic AI and multi-agent applications. Today, we are excited to announce AutoGen v0.4, a significant milestone informed by insights from our community of users and developers. This update represents a complete redesign of the AutoGen library, developed to improve code quality, robustness, generality, and scalability in agentic workflows. 

The initial release of AutoGen generated widespread interest in agentic technologies. At the same time, users struggled with architectural constraints, an inefficient API compounded by rapid growth, and limited debugging and intervention functionality. Feedback highlighted the need for stronger observability and control, more flexible multi-agent collaboration patterns, and reusable components. AutoGen v0.4 addresses these issues with its asynchronous, event-driven architecture. 

This update makes AutoGen more robust and extensible, enabling a broader range of agentic scenarios. The new framework includes the following features, inspired by feedback from both within and outside Microsoft.  

• Asynchronous messaging: Agents communicate through asynchronous messages, supporting both event-driven and request/response interaction patterns. 
• Modular and extensible: Users can easily customize systems with pluggable components, including custom agents, tools, memory, and models. They can also build proactive and long-running agents using event-driven patterns. 
• Observability and debugging: Built-in metric tracking, message tracing, and debugging tools provide monitoring and control over agent interactions and workflows, with support for OpenTelemetry for industry-standard observability. 
• Scalable and distributed: Users can design complex, distributed agent networks that operate seamlessly across organizational boundaries. 
• Built-in and community extensions: The extensions module enhances the framework’s functionality with advanced model clients, agents, multi-agent teams, and tools for agentic workflows. Community support allows open-source developers to manage their own extensions. 
• Cross-language support: This update enables interoperability between agents built in different programming languages, with current support for Python and .NET and additional languages in development. 
• Full type support: Interfaces enforce type checks at build time, improving robustness and maintaining code quality.

Microsoft research podcast

NeurIPS 2024: The co-evolution of AI and systems with Lidong Zhou

Just after his NeurIPS 2024 keynote on the co-evolution of systems and AI, Microsoft CVP Lidong Zhou joins the podcast to discuss how rapidly advancing AI impacts the systems supporting it and the opportunities to use AI to enhance systems engineering itself.

Listen now Opens in a new tab New AutoGen framework

As shown in Figure 1, the AutoGen framework features a layered architecture with clearly defined responsibilities across the framework, developer tools, and applications. The framework comprises three layers: core, agent chat, and first-party extensions.  

• Core: The foundational building blocks for an event-driven agentic system.
• AgentChat: A task-driven, high-level API built on the core layer, featuring group chat, code execution, pre-built agents, and more. This layer is most similar to AutoGen v0.2 (opens in new tab), making it the easiest API to migrate to.
• Extensions: Implementations of core interfaces and third-party integrations, such as the Azure code executor and OpenAI model client.

Figure 1. The v0.4 update introduces a cohesive AutoGen ecosystem that includes the framework, developer tools, and applications. The framework’s layered architecture clearly defines each layer’s functionality. It supports both first-party and third-party applications and extensions.  Developer tools

In addition to the framework, AutoGen 0.4 includes upgraded programming tools and applications, designed to support developers in building and experimenting with AutoGen. 

AutoGen Bench (opens in new tab): Enables developers to benchmark their agents by measuring and comparing performance across tasks and environments. 

AutoGen Studio (opens in new tab): Rebuilt on the v0.4 AgentChat API, this low-code interface enables rapid prototyping of AI agents. It introduces several new capabilities: 

• Real-time agent updates: View agent action streams in real time with asynchronous, event-driven messages.  
• Mid-execution control: Pause conversations, redirect agent actions, and adjust team composition. Then seamlessly resume tasks. 
• Interactive feedback through the UI: Add a UserProxyAgent to enable user input and guidance during team runs in real time. 
• Message flow visualization: Understand agent communication through an intuitive visual interface that maps message paths and dependencies. 
• Drag-and-drop team builder: Design agent teams visually using an interface for dragging components into place and configuring their relationships and properties. 
• Third-party component galleries: Import and use custom agents, tools, and workflows from external galleries to extend functionality. 

Magentic-One: A new generalist multi-agent application to solve open-ended web and file-based tasks across various domains. This tool marks a significant step toward creating agents capable of completing tasks commonly encountered in both work and personal contexts.

Migrating to AutoGen v0.4

We implemented several measures to facilitate a smooth upgrade from the previous v0.2 API, addressing core differences in the underlying architecture. 

First, the AgentChat API maintains the same level of abstraction as v0.2, making it easy to migrate existing code to v0.4. For example, AgentChat offers an AssistantAgent and UserProxy agent with similar behaviors to those in v0.2. It also provides a team interface with implementations like RoundRobinGroupChat and SelectorGroupChat, which cover all the capabilities of the GroupChat class in v0.2. Additionally, v0.4 introduces many new functionalities, such as streaming messages, improved observability, saving and restoring task progress, and resuming paused actions where they left off.  

For detailed guidance, refer to the migration guide (opens in new tab).

Looking forward

This new release sets the stage for a robust ecosystem and strong foundation to drive advances in agentic AI application and research. Our roadmap includes releasing .NET support, introducing built-in, well-designed applications and extensions for challenging domains, and fostering a community-driven ecosystem. We remain committed to the responsible development of AutoGen and its evolving capabilities. 

We encourage you to engage with us on AutoGen’s Discord server (opens in new tab) and share feedback on the official AutoGen repository (opens in new tab) via GitHub Issues.  Stay up to date with frequent AutoGen updates via X (opens in new tab). 

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the many individuals whose ideas and insights helped formalize the concepts introduced in this release, including Rajan Chari, Ece Kamar, John Langford, Ching-An Chen, Bob West, Paul Minero, Safoora Yousefi, Will Epperson, Grace Proebsting, Enhao Zhang, and Andrew Ng. 

Opens in a new tab

The post AutoGen v0.4: Reimagining the foundation of agentic AI for scale, extensibility, and robustness appeared first on Microsoft Research.

After buying a used iPhone, you might wonder about its history. Did it leave Apple as a brand new device or was it sold refurbished? There's an easy way to tell how Apple sold it, but it can be harder to find out whether it was refurbished after that.

Clearing app cache and data can help keep your Android running smoothly, but digging through settings isn’t always fun. That’s where ADB (Android Debug Bridge) comes in—a faster, easier way to handle things from your computer.

YouTube Music has been hosting podcasts for some time, but I've only recently started building my podcast library. Is YouTube Music a good platform to manage your podcast collection? Here's all you need to know.

Your home screen says a lot about you—it’s like the front door to your digital life. While most people might expect to see the usual social media apps, the apps I’m highlighting here serve a specific utility—they’re tools I rely on to stay productive, entertained, and organized.

TL;DR: Live stream Osaka vs. Muchova in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second round of the 2025 Australian Open includes some really interesting matchups, including Osaka vs. Muchova. It's a really difficult game to call. Muchova is seeded 20th for this tournament, but the unseeded Osaka has won this tournament twice.

If you want to watch Osaka vs. Muchova in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Osaka vs. Muchova for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Osaka vs. Muchova.

9Now 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 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Osaka vs. Muchova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Osaka vs. Muchova in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Bouzas in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aryna Sabalenka is seeking her third Australian Open victory in a row. In doing so, she would become the seventh player in tournament history to three-peat this Grand Slam.

But before she can dream, Sabalenka faces a tough second-round matchup against Bouzas.

If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Bouzas in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Bouzas for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sabalenka vs. Bouzas.

9Now 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 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sabalenka vs. Bouzas without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sabalenka vs. Bouzas in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF: As of Jan. 14, Target Circle members can buy one select Valentine's Day candy and get one for 50% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Target Circle Members: Buy One Select Valentine's Day Candy, Get One 50% off Shop Now

Valentine's Day is exactly a month away, but if you want to get some shopping done ahead of time, Target's here to help. If you're a Target Circle member, you can take advantage of a BOGO deal on Valentine's Day candy right now, allowing you to stock up on some tasty treats before the day arrives.

This deal allows Target Circle members to buy one Valentine's Day candy from their selection and get another for 50% off. There's an excellent variety of chocolates to choose from as well, including adorable Kit Kats shaped like bears, delicious Reese's red velvet peanut butter cups, and Dove's classic chocolate hearts. Whether you're buying for loved ones or getting a treat for yourself, there's a little something for everyone to enjoy.

If you're not a Target Circle member, it's actually completely free to join and worth it if you're a frequent shopper at the retailer to get deals like this one. You'll have plenty of time to take advantage of this BOGO offer as well if you sign up now, as it's set to run through Jan. 25.

Don't miss out on this sweet buy one, get one 50% off deal for Target Circle members on select Valentine's Day candy.

If you want some gift ideas outside of chocolates, there are quite a few deals available after the holidays that are worth checking out. Want to find something for an avid reader in your life? Look no further than this discount on a refurbished Kindle Scribe at Amazon. And on the topic of books, Audible's still offering one of its best audiobook membership deals of three months of Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month. This is another great gift idea, if you want something on the cheaper side.

TL;DR: Live stream Djokovic vs. Faria in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Novak Djokovic is seeking a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam victory at the 2025 Australian Open, but he's not going to have it all his own way. A bunch of young stars are looking to dominate this season, including Sinner and Alcaraz. Can the Serbian legend roll back the clock?

If you want to watch Djokovic vs. Faria in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Djokovic vs. Faria for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Djokovic vs. Faria.

9Now 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 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Djokovic vs. Faria without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Djokovic vs. Faria in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Nishioka vs. Alcaraz in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Carlos Alcaraz is one of the favorites to win the Australian Open, but he will need to work hard to get past Yoshihito Nishioka. This second-round matchup is one of the best of the bunch this week in Melbourne, and you can watch all the action without spending anything.

If you want to watch Nishioka vs. Alcaraz in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Nishioka vs. Alcaraz for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Nishioka vs. Alcaraz.

9Now 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 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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

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 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Nishioka vs. Alcaraz without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Nishioka vs. Alcaraz in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Many of us have seen one, two, or even three planets in the sky at once, but seeing up to six line up in formation is a rare event. Dust off the blankets and fill up your mugs because January 2025 is a great month for seeing many of our planetary neighbors line up simultaneously.

SAVE $35: As of Jan. 14, the Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds are on sale for $44.99. This is 44% off their list price of $79.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds $44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

Finding a good pair of budget-friendly, noise-canceling earbuds can feel a bit tricky with so many offers on the market in the $100+ range. If you're not looking to make a massive dent in your wallet, Amazon's here to help with a great discount on the noise-canceling Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds. What's even better is they're on sale right now at their lowest-ever price.

The Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds are currently on sale for $44.99, 44% off their list price of $79.99. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, they've never been lower than this price. These earbuds are worth the investment.

SEE ALSO: Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds get $100 price drop at Best Buy

The noise-canceling features on these earbuds will allow you to listen to your favorite songs, podcasts, or audiobooks without the outside world coming in to interrupt. Not to mention, they have high-quality sound and offer up to 50 hours of playtime with the charging case so you can listen for longer.

Amazon has these earbuds listed as a limited-time deal, so act fast to save on the Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds while the discount is still live.

There are a few more headphone and earbud deals that are worth checking out right now, too. If you're looking to splash out on higher-end headphones, have a look at this deal on the AirPods Max (Lightning) at Best Buy. The Beats Powerbeats Pro are also discounted right now at Best Buy, if you're looking for another earbud option.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for January 14 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's The Mini crossword answers for January 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Elegant or elaborate.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no repeating letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FANCY.

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 January 14

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.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for January 14 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: Alive and kicking

• Green: A length of time

• Blue: Objects you'd find in a camera bag

• Purple: Bird is in the word

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: Operating

• Green: Term

• Blue: Things in a Camera Kit

• Purple: Bird Plus Letter

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 #583 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Operating: ACTIVE, FUNCTIONAL, RUNNING, WORKING

• Term: MEETING, PERIOD,. SESSION, SITTING

• Things in a Camera Kit: BODY, FLASH, LENS, STRAP

• Bird Plus Letter: CROWD, GULLY, PUFFING, SWANK

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 January 14

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 the latest Connections.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 January 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 14 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Bundle up

These words are clothes for cold weather.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are clothes to be layered to keep warm.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is WinterClothes.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 14

• Mittens

• Scarf

• Jacket

• Parka

• Gloves

• Beanie

• WinterClothes

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.