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Apple announced on Wednesday a new, upgraded version of its headset, the Apple Vision Pro. Don't expect major changes, however.

The biggest difference is that Apple swapped in its powerful M5 chip, which the company wrote in a press release would lead to "a leap forward in performance, improved display rendering, faster AI-powered workflows, and extended battery life."

“With the breakthrough performance of M5, the latest Apple Vision Pro delivers faster performance, sharper details throughout the system, and even more battery life, setting a new standard for what’s possible in spatial computing,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of worldwide product marketing, in a press release.

SEE ALSO: Apple launches iPad Pro with powerful, new M5 chip

In general, the new M5-powered Vision Pro promises smoother visuals, quicker load times, and, Apple hopes, an improved, more immersive experience. The company promised, for instance, that the M5 chip means the Vision Pro now "renders 10 percent more pixels on the custom micro-OLED displays compared to the previous generation, resulting in a sharper image with crisper text and more detailed visuals"

The company also introduced a new Dual Knit Band, which is aimed at improving comfort while wearing the headset. Instead of just one strap, it now has two, which fit snugly to the top and bottom of a user's head. The idea is that a user can "make fine-tuned adjustments to achieve their ideal fit." The Dual Knit Band can also be bought separately and fits with the previous generation of the Vision Pro.

SEE ALSO: Samsung names the date: Project Moohan is coming for the Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro with the M5 chip starts at $3,499, and is available with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. It went on sale Wednesday in most markets, including the U.S. The Dual Knit Band is available to buy separately for $99.

Apple’s MacBook Pro range is, quite likely, the best range of computers your money can buy. The M-series chips are really just that good. And now, with Apple unveiling the new M5 chip, the MacBook Pro series is getting upgraded with the new chip.

How many times have you fixed your network problems by restarting your router or computer? That works in a pinch, but it doesn't solve persistent problems; instead, you must identify the root cause. I have four tools I often use to precisely pinpoint most network issues on Linux.

More than two decades after Microsoft released the desktop version of OneNote, picture cropping is finally available to those using the program on Windows as part of a long-awaited new tab on the ribbon.

Apple's new iPad Pro is here, and it's one of the first devices to get the company's new M5 chip.

The new chip is significantly more powerful in the context of AI workloads; Apple says the new iPad Pro has 3.5x the AI performance of its predecessor.

The M5 chip, which has up to 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores, and 16 Neural Engine cores, also boosts CPU and graphics performance. Apple says the new iPad Pro has four times the graphics performance compared to the iPad Pro with the M4 chip.

Other improvements include more RAM (up to 12GB of unified memory), faster memory bandwidth, 2x faster storage read and write speeds, and faster charging.

The new iPad Pro is available in black and silver. Credit: Apple

Apple also equipped the new iPad Pro with its C1X cellular modem which offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance, as well as Apple's new N1 wireless chip.

Outside, the new iPad Pro devices haven't changed all that much. You still get a choice between an 11-inch and a 13-inch model, both of which are very thin (5.3mm and 5.1mm, respectively). Both tablets have Apple's Ultra Retina XDR display, with a tandem OLED that enables very high brightness; Apple says the new iPad Pro has up to 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness for SDR and HDR content, and 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR.

SEE ALSO: We found 12 of the best iPad deals live for October Prime Day

The new iPad Pro is available in black and silver, starting at $999 for the 11-inch model, and $1,299 for the 13-inch model.

Back in high school, all I wanted was a mechanical keyboard. There was one in particular I had my eye on—the Corsair K70—but I couldn’t afford it. When I finally got it, I thought I’d use it for decades, but with the benefit of hindsight, I now know I couldn’t have been more wrong.

We've already found lots of great deals for Nintendo Switch at Walmart, and now the retailer is sporting some ridiculous savings on PlayStation 5 first party titles and peripherals. Whoever is looking after pricing at Walmart, you are a legend. There's over $40 off modern classics such as God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Parts I and II, LEGO Horizon Adventures, and even more savings on more must-own titles.

SEE ALSO: 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' on Switch 2 is the turbo-charged 'Pokémon' combat of my dreams

Need more convincing? How about over $30 off Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition? Just to clarify, that includes Marvel's Spider-Man upgraded for PlayStation 5 and Miles Morales for $39.88. There's so many must-play games here that I want to buy them all. Alas, I am not made of money, but the money I do have will stay in my pocket for longer with these deals. Let's get into it.

Best PlayStation 5 game deals

• God of War Ragnarök — $29.83 $69.99 (save $40.16)

• Death Stranding 2: On The Beach — $54 $69 (save $15)

• The Last of Us Part I — $29.83 $69.99 (save $40.16)

• The Last Of Us Part II Remastered — $29.83 $69.99 (save $40.16)

• Helldivers 2 — $28.50 $41 (save $12.50)

• LEGO Horizon Adventures — $19.93 $59.99 (save $40.06)

• Rise of the Ronin — $39.88 $69.99 (save $30.11)

• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered — $29.83 $49.99 (save $20.16)

• Until Dawn — $39.88 $59.99 (save $20.11)

• Returnal — $42.90 $69.99 (save $27.09)

• Sackboy: A Big Adventure — $34.84 $59.99 (save $25.15)

• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection — $28.68 $49.99 (save $21.31)

• Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition — $39.88 $69.99 (save $30.11)

• Demon's Souls — $35.99 $69.99 (save $34)

• The Nioh Collection — $27.99 $69.99 (save $42)

• Death Stranding Directors Cut — $38.90 $49.99 (save $11.09)

• Horizon: Forbidden West Launch Edition — $30.12 $37 (save $6.88)

• EA Sports College Football 26 Plus Steelbook — $49.94 $69.99 (save $20.05)

• EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Plus Steelbook — $49.94 $69.99 (save $20.05)

Best PlayStation 5 peripheral deals

• DualSense Edge Wireless Controller — $179 $199 (save $20)

• Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5) Vertical Stand — $21.99 $29.99 (save $8)

Best PlayStation 5 headset deals

• Nyko 87305 NS-2600 Wired Over-Ear Headset — $13.97 $24 (save $10.03)

• Venom Sabre Universal Wired Stereo Gaming Headset — $16.96 $22 (save $5.04)

• Wired Gaming Headset - Pokémon Pikachu Gold — $30.58 $39.99 (save $9.41)

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Wired Multi-System Gaming Headset — $44.99 $59.99 (save $15)

• Razer Kraken V4 X Wired Gaming Headset with Chroma RGB — $59.98 $79 (save $19.02)

• Logitech G Astro A30 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset — $103.86 $149.49 (save $45.63)

• Razer Barracuda Wireless Gaming Headset — $143.99 $159.99 (save $16)

• Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset — $219.99 $249.99 (save $30)

If you snap a lot of photos with your phone, it doesn't take long to fill up the free 15GB of storage that Google offers. The company is happy to offer you a Google One plan with more storage, of course. However, if you take these three actions, you can free up space on Google Photos and avoid paying for a subscription.

If the mention of algebra conjures bad memories of math classes, a Python library called SymPy could change your mind about the subject. With SymPy, algebraic operations become easier than tedious hand calculations and a lot more fun. Here's what you can do with SymPy.

After successfully breaking into the home server market with its NASync devices in 2024, UGREEN is now offering its first ARM-powered NAS boxes—the NASync DH2300 and NASync DH4300. These products offer extreme power efficiency but won't work with x86 server applications, so they'll mainly appeal to casual users who just want an easy-to-use photos or files server.

Spotify's free version has gotten slack for years due to its restrictive playback and shuffle features that have limited how new users enjoy the app's vast library of music and podcasts. But a recent update has changed the game and given the music streaming platform an advantage in drawing in new listeners.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 15, the AirPods Pro 2 are down to $197 at Amazon. This 21% discount makes for $52 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $197 at Amazon
$249 Save $52   Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day sale was an excellent opportunity to save on earbuds, and while it's been a week since the sale event ended, we're still finding some nice offers at the retailer. This still includes a discount on the AirPods Pro 2. While they're not as low as they were during Prime Big Deal Days, they're marked down to $197 at the moment.

This saves you $52 off their usual retail price of $249, which is still a worthy discount to jump on while it's still available. The AirPods Pro 2 are certainly worth the investment as well, even if the AirPods Pro 3 are out in the world right now.

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

Whether you're settling in to listen to an audiobook or jamming out to new music, the AirPods Pro 2 offer excellent sound quality thanks to the H2 chip. This is further enhanced by their noise-canceling features which can keep you immersed in the sounds you're listening to. They offer Active Noise Cancellation (for fully blocking out sounds), Transparency mode (which lets some sounds in while you're listening), and Adaptive Audio (which works as a blend of the other two features, depending on the environment you're in).

The silicone tips on these earbuds are an extra help in keeping noise out as they create a seal when placed in your ear. This also helps them stay in place a bit easier, which is good news if you're wearing them while you're working out or exploring outside.

If new earbuds have been on your shopping list, now is your chance to grab the AirPods Pro 2 for $52 off at Amazon. Alternatively, you can also save on the AirPods 4 (with ANC) right now at Amazon.

Bash scripts are powerful, but with power comes great responsibility. It’s very easy for sloppy or poorly-planned code to do real damage, so it’s a good idea to be careful and practice defensive programming.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're familiar with cars.

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.

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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.

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

SEE ALSO: 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: Types of pools

• Green: In the NATO phonetic alphabet

• Blue: Ford models

• Purple: ___ Seal

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 #857 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Types of pools: INFINITY, KIDDIE, KIDNEY, OLYMPIC

• In the NATO phonetic alphabet: BRAVO, DELTA, GOLF, LIMA

• Ford models: BRONCO, FIESTA, MUSTANG, PINTO

• ___ Seal: ELEPHANT, GREAT, MAVY, VACUUM

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always in a lift.

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: Going up?

The words are related to movement.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things found in an enclosed space.

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 Elevator Buttons.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 15

• Alarm

• Ground

• Lobby

• Elevator Buttons

• Open

• Close

• Basement

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.

Today's Wordle answer is easy to solve for SNL fans.

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:

A parody.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SPOOF

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.

SAVE OVER $800: As of Oct. 15, the Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV has dropped from $2,299.99 to $1,417.19 at Amazon. This is a 38% discount, saving you $882.80 on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 98-Inch Class QD5 Series QLED 4K UHD TV $1,417.19 at Amazon
$2,299.99 Save $882.80   Get Deal

For those looking to upgrade to a new TV this fall, the good news is you don't have to wait for Black Friday to secure a great deal. At the moment, Amazon has a few options worth checking out, even after its October Prime Day sale. This includes the Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV, which has dropped to its lowest-ever price.

The Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV is currently on sale for $1,417.19 at Amazon, which is over $800 off its retail price of $2,299.99. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is a new low price for this TV, so now is an excellent time to scoop it up for less.

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

This Hisense TV is an incredible upgrade, especially considering its massive 98-inch size that'll make you feel like you've stepped into a mini movie theater in your home. It has a high-quality display to top it all off, with 4K resolution and QLED Color that will make every image on screen look vibrant and bright. This is further enhanced by Dolby Vision, and it even comes with Dolby Atmos audio so you can experience excellent sound quality alongside the picture.

On top of these features, gamers will get a Native 144Hz Panel and AMD FreeSync Premium which makes games look smooth while you play. It's also a smart TV with Google OS, which can bring together all of your favorite streaming apps in one place.

This limited-time deal is well worth jumping on while it's still available. Don't miss out on 38% off the Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV at Amazon. And If you're looking for something a little smaller instead, one of our favorite QLED TV deals from October Prime Day is still around on a 75-inch Insignia QF QLED 4K Fire TV as well.

SAVE $332: As of Oct. 15, the Hisense 55-inch Class U6 TV is on sale for $447.99 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch Class U6 TV $447.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $352   Get Deal

October is the month for movie nights in and rewatching your favorite comfort shows. We don't make the rules, we just enjoy following them. And the only thing that can make these cozy nights in better? Watching on a brand new TV. If you're in the market for a TV bargain, Amazon has lots of models reduced, but we really like this deal on the Hisense 55-inch Class U6 TV.

As of Oct. 15, the Hisense 55-inch Class U6 TV is reduced to $447.99. Not only is this a saving of $332, but it has never been cheaper than this. This price is for the 55-inch option, but there are discounts across all sizes, all the way up to 100-inch.

SEE ALSO: The 85-inch Hisense Class QD7 QLED TV has never been this affordable

And you won't be disappointed with this TV. It has a Mini-LED display with up to 600 local dimming zones. It also benefits from QLED Color, making everything super sharp. Meanwhile, the Dolby Vision will bring impressive visuals to everything you watch, and the Hi-View AI Engine keeps the picture sharp and the colors vibrant no matter what you're watching.

The navigation is simple too, thanks to the Fire OS. Your favorite apps are all front and center on one main screen, so you can jump straight into shows, movies, or sports without scrolling for ages. And because it's a Fire TV, you'll have Alexa functionality. Use it to search the web, download apps, or even search through multiple streaming catalogs at once.

Get this TV deal from Amazon now.

A cover on Time magazine paired with a positive story should be something for a president to celebrate, but Trump's recent inclusion doesn't seem to have gone down too well.

The reason? A not-exactly-flattering close-up photo of the president taken from an upwards angle, which he was quick to moan about on TruthSocial.

"I never liked taking pictures from underneath angles, but this is a super bad picture, and deserves to be called out," Trump wrote. "What are they doing, and why?"

Colbert's response, meanwhile, is a bit more brutal.

"Worst Georgia O'Keeffe ever," he says. "There's a lot going on there. It's like one of those optical illusions where you can't tell if it's an old woman or a young ballsack."

Elsewhere, Jimmy Kimmel was also quick to gleefully mock the image and Trump's reaction to it.

The Ugreen MagFlow 3-in-1 Wireless Charger seems like the ideal bedside option with its 25-watt speed and flexible charging spots. While it seems good, I found it to have a few too many weak spots for its premium price.