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When you think of a camera, you're probably thinking of a device that's at least partly mechanical. The zoom lens, the shutter, and the little knobs and wheels are all moving parts that exist even in a DSLR.

Do you think that everything about a homelab is expensive? Think again! These are my five favorite cheap gadgets that improved my homelab the moment they arrived.

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 March 21, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 21, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 21 Pips

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 21 Pips

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 21 Pips

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-3, placed horiontally.

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

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

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

When you're shopping for a laptop, there are plenty of features to consider. Some are obvious—like a fast processor or, for gamers, a dedicated graphics card. After all, no one wants a sluggish, unusable machine.

Despite the many worthy alternatives, I always find myself coming back to Plex. I know people have strong opinions on Plex, partly because it's the corporate face of self-hosting and partly because it has paywalled features that feel like they should be free.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people knowledgeable about gymnastics.

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.

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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: 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: Gymnastics

• Green: The ring

• Blue: Hybrid skill players in the NFL

• Purple: Spelled like an NHL team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Gymnastics Apparatuses

• Green: At the Boxing Ring

• Blue: First Names of NFL Tight Ends

• Purple: Starts of NHL Team Names

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 #544 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Gymnastics Apparatuses - BARS, BEAM, FLOOR, VAULT

• At the Boxing Ring - BELL, CORNER, ROPES, TURNBUCKLE

• First Names of NFL Tight Ends - BROCK, DALLAS, HUNTER, TRAVIS

• Starts of NHL Team Names - FLY, ISLAND, OIL, RANG

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.

For years, we've all seen the same lists detailing "must-have apps" for any new Android phone, but times have changed. Android has been around for a long time, and dozens of once-popular apps have faded away. Still, there are several apps many consider "essential" that you no longer need and should probably uninstall.

Despite being 30 years old, the USB-A standard is as popular as ever. While USB-C has been steadily gaining ground since it was introduced in 2014, USB-A isn't going anywhere. Considering its ubiquity, popularity, and affordability, USB-A outlasting USB-C isn't out of the realm of possibility.

It feels cliché to say at this point, but cameras are a big part of the appeal of Google Pixel phones. I’ve been using Pixel phones for many years, and I’ve become very familiar with the Camera app. With just a few toggles, I have it perfectly set up to my liking.

Windows Notepad is slowly losing many of its best qualities, but that doesn't mean it isn't usable today. Since its quiet debut in 1983, it has stayed a fundamental, lightweight core utility. For most of its history, Notepad's stubborn refusal to modernize made it an excellent tool for quick notes and great code writing. Recent updates have brought both good and bad, but for now, there's no reason to avoid it; in fact, it can end up being your most used program. Its invisible design, technical dependability, and commitment to simplicity make it an unbeatable choice, even as Microsoft risks its legacy by chasing unnecessary generative AI integrations.

You've decided to see what all the fuss is about and have installed Home Assistant. It's up and running, and you've logged in for the first time. Now what? Here are some of the key things to do first.

If you've been using KDE Plasma for a while, you've probably settled into a workflow and think you know most of its features and what it has to offer. However, there's a good chance you've been walking past some of its most useful features without realizing they exist. I've been using Plasma for nearly a decade now, and I'm constantly discovering new things you can do on this desktop environment. Here are five underrated yet advanced features that’ll make you a KDE Plasma power user.

For a long time, 4GB DDR4 RAM sticks were seen as the awkward leftovers from upgrading your machines. While 4GB is too small for a modern PC intended to run games or even multiple Chrome tabs, it's still relevant hardware because it’s relatively modern compared to older RAM standards.

Nothing ruins a professional Excel report like a "Summary" line floating on its own page when you send it to a printer or PDF. While you could manually adjust your print area for every update, the real pro move is automation. Here's how to use the OFFSET function to create a print area that truly thinks for itself.

This was another busy week in tech, with Google revealing changes to sideloading apps on Android devices, big upgrades for Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA, a new project for Linux-powered phones, and much more Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

The professional world has pretty much lived by the unspoken rule that Microsoft Excel is the essential foundation for anything numerical. It's universally accessible and really powerful for simple tasks. However, it gets pretty unwieldy and slow when you're trying to clean complex data, process large amounts of information, or do any kind of advanced statistical modeling.

If you spend enough time around Linux users, you will eventually notice something interesting about desktop environment discussions. They almost always revolve around the same two names. GNOME gets mentioned because many major distros ship it by default. KDE Plasma gets attention because of its enormous customization capabilities and constant visual polish. Occasionally, someone brings up a tiling window manager like i3 or Sway and explains how using the mouse is apparently inefficient now.

Bambu Lab makes the most popular 3D printers in the world, earning a reputation for ease of use, reliability, and great value. But not everyone is in love with the company’s walled garden approach, which involves locking out third-party slicers and a heavy dependence on the cloud.

PC troubleshooting is usually quite the odyssey. Between needing multiple programs to cover all the bases, not having the slightest idea what's wrong in most cases, and the ever-looming chance that the machine will reboot, freeze, or bug out in the middle of the troubleshooting process, it can all be pretty frustrating.

It's your birthday? Happy birthday! And in the wise words of Parks and Rec: Treat yourself. But don't worry, that doesn't mean spending money. If you, like me, have spent hours online watching people's birthday freebie hauls, it's time to do one yourself.

With birthday freebies, you could plan a day that gets you a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So, where does one get all these birthday freebies? We rounded up 50 places to collect all your free birthday rewards.

And if you think these are too good to be true, your inclination might be to run. Most retailers and restaurants require you to sign up for their rewards programs to earn your birthday freebies, and some require a minimum annual spend. But with a little planning, you can guarantee yourself a birthday full of free stuff.

Food and beverage birthday freebies At Cheesecake Factory, score a free slice of cheesecake on your birthday. Credit: Getty Images / WoodysPhotos

• Applebee's: Members of Club Applebee's enjoy a free dessert on their birthday. Not to mention, you get a free appetizer when you sign up for the club.

• Auntie Anne's: On your birthday, Auntie Anne's Rewards members enjoy a free pretzel. Keep in mind, you must make at least one purchase annually to qualify.

• AMC: AMC Stubs Insiders enjoy a free large popcorn during their birthday month. But for Premiere and A-List members, enjoy a free large popcorn and a large fountain drink during your birthday month.

• Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins Rewards members enjoy a free scoop on their birthday after their first qualified purchase.

• Benihana: For members of Benihana's Friends with Benefits rewards program (which also includes STK Steakhouse, Kona Grill, RA Sushi, Samurai, or Salt Water Social restaurants), enjoy a $50 birthday reward to use toward a birthday meal.

• Buca Di Beppo: Join Buca Di Beppo's eClub and get a free Colossal Brownie Sundae on your birthday.

• Burger King: With Burger King's Royal Perks program, enjoy double rewards during your birthday month and a free item on your birthday. You'll earn 20 points (or "Crowns" as BK calls them) for every $1 spent, which can be redeemed for even more free stuff.

• Buffalo Wild Wings: As a member of Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin' Rewards, enjoy a free six-piece wing on your birthday.

• Cava: For fans of Mediterranean cuisine, join Cava Rewards and get a freebie on your birthday. Members enjoy their choice of a free drink, pita chips, or dessert.

• Cheesecake Factory: Join Cheesecake Rewards, and on your birthday, get a free slice of cheesecake or a layered cake.

• Chili's: Sign up for My Chili's Rewards and enjoy a free molten lava cake on your birthday.

• Chipotle: We see free chips and guac in your future. At Chipotle, join the restaurant's reward program and enjoy a free birthday reward.

• Cinnabon: Cinnabon Rewards members enjoy a free 16-ounce cold brew on their birthday.

• Cold Stone Creamery: For Cold Stone Creamery Rewards members, receive a birthday coupon. The reward will be sent seven days before your birthday and is redeemable until seven days after your birthday.

• Crumbl Cookies: At Crumbl Cookies, Silver Tier and above rewards members enjoy a free single cookie voucher on their birthday.

• Dairy Queen: Members of the DQ Rewards get a coupon for a free treat on their birthday, but you must spend at least $1 in the 45 days prior to your birthday, so plan ahead.

• Denny's: Your birthday breakfast is covered at Denny's. Members of Denny's Rewards enjoy a free Value Slam on their birthday.

• Domino's: At Domino's, loyal customers of Domino's Rewards enjoy a free birthday gift. The gifts vary and may include a free medium pizza, free lava cakes, or a discount.

• Dunkin' Donuts: While Dunkin' doesn't give out free drinks or donuts on your birthday, they will give you extra points. Dunkin' Rewards members get 3x points on their birthday, which you can redeem later for free food and drinks.

• Edible Arrangements: If you love sending Edible Arrangements, then you'll be gifted back on your birthday. Members of its rewards program receive a free box of dipped fruit on their birthday.

• IHOP: For pancake lovers, sign up for IHOP's International Bank of Pancakes rewards and collect points to receive a free full stack of pancakes on your birthday.

• Jamba Juice: A sweet but nutritious birthday treat could come from Jamba Juice, as Jamba Rewards members receive a free birthday smoothie.

• Jersey Mike's: How about your birthday served Mike's Way? Join Jersey Mike's email club and get a free birthday sub — as long as you've purchased a regular sub within the past year.

• Jimmy John's: Join the Jimmy John's rewards program and enjoy a free sub on your birthday.

• Krispy Kreme: Donut lovers need to be in Krispy Kreme's rewards program, which gets you a free birthday donut.

• LongHorn Steakhouse: On your birthday, you deserve a steak dinner, and LongHorn thinks so, too. When you join LongHorn's eClub, you get a free dessert or special coupon on your birthday.

• McDonald's: Receive a free medium fry at McDonald's on your birthday by downloading the McDonald's app and joining My McDonald's Rewards.

• Olive Garden: When you sign up for Olive Garden's email list, you'll get a coupon for free dessert on your birthday. Unlimited breadsticks, salad, and free chocolate lasagna certainly sound like the perfect birthday meal.

• Panera Bread: Members of MyPanera rewards get a free treat on their birthday: a muffin, cookie, pastry, or bagel.

• Papa John's: For a sweet birthday treat, join Papa Rewards. You'll be treated to a free dessert on your birthday.

• P.F. Chang's: At P.F. Chang's, get a free appetizer or dessert as a member of the restaurant's rewards program. That means your birthday lettuce wraps could be totally free.

• Pinkberry: Froyo is making a comeback. Pinkcard members get a free small yogurt with toppings on their birthday.

• Pizza Hut: Sign up for Pizza Hut's reward program and get a reward of breadsticks or cinnamon sticks on your birthday. Just make sure your birthday is added to your profile.

• Red Lobster: Go for the cheddar bay biscuits and stay for the free birthday reward. Joining Red Lobster's rewards gets you a free birthday dessert.

• Red Robin: A burger could be on the house when you go to Red Robin on your birthday. To qualify, sign up for Red Robin Royalty and spend $10 prior to your birthday.

• Ruby Tuesday: Enjoy a free burger or Garden Bar entree at Ruby Tuesday on your birthday when you sign up for Ruby Rewards. Just sign up in the app or online.

• Sbarro: Pizza lovers get a free XL NY Slice at Sbarro on their birthday. To get the reward, you must have a Sbarro rewards account and have the Sbarro app downloaded.

• 7-Eleven: You don't have to wait for free slushie day on 7/11. With 7Rewards, get a free small slushie on your birthday, too.

• Shake Shack: For a sweet birthday treat, add your birthday to your Shake Shack account and receive a free milkshake on the big day.

• Starbucks: As a member of Starbucks rewards, get a free drink or snack on your birthday.

• Subway: As a card-carrying member of the Sub Club, you'll enjoy a free cookie on your birthday, yum!

• Taco Bell: Join Taco Bell's rewards program and climb the tiers throughout the year to get a free birthday surprise. Earn 250 points and get to the restaurant's Hot Tier, and the birthday reward will be all yours.

• TGI Fridays: At TGI Fridays, not only will you get serenaded with a birthday song, but you'll also enjoy a free birthday dessert. To redeem, you must be a member of Fridays Rewards.

• Waffle House: Waffle lovers need to join Waffle House's Regulars Club. Joining gets you coupons and a sweet birthday treat.

• Wingstop: When you sign up for a Wingstop account, receive a free birthday reward to celebrate.

Retail birthday freebies You can't miss going to Sephora during your birthday month. Credit: Getty Images / Erik McGregor

• Aerie and American Eagle: For a new birthday 'fit, join RealRewards by American Eagle and Aerie and receive a $5 birthday reward. Rewards are sent out seven days prior to your birthday.

• Bath & Body Works: Start a new year smelling right with Bath & Body Works. Create a rewards account and receive a free birthday surprise.

• CVS: If you have a CVS card, your ExtraCare membership will get you a $3 reward on your birthday. Just go to the CVS app to claim.

• DSW: Treat yourself to a new pair of shoes. As a member of DSW's VIP program, you'll receive a $5 gift certificate to use during your birthday month.

• Old Navy: Climb the ranks of Old Navy's rewards program, and you and a family member could enjoy a reward on your birthday. Core members receive a birthday bonus, while Premier members (who spend $350+ annually) get a birthday bonus to share with a family member. Meanwhile, Old Navy card members get a birthday bonus to share with three family members.

• Sephora: Sephora's birthday gifts are iconic. During your birthday month, Sephora Insiders receive a free gift to redeem in-store or online.

• Stanley: For the Stanley Cup enthusiasts, it's time to sign up for the Stanley Club, which gets you a free birthday gift.

• Target: What's better than a discount on things you already need? Target Circle members get a 5% discount on their birthday.

• Ulta: Ulta Rewards members also get some pampering on their bdays. Just sign-up with your email and put in your birthday, and you'll get a treat when the big day rolls around.

• Yankee Candle: For candle lovers, there's Yankee Candle's Fragrance Family rewards. When you sign up with your email and input your birthday into your profile, you'll receive a birthday gift.