Blogroll

Stuff Your Kindle Day is live for Halloween: How to download 100s of free spooky books this week

Mashable - 13 hours 21 min ago

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Oct. 26-30. Get Spooked, hosted by Indie Author Collective, offers thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books for Kindle and Kobo users.

Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an awesome opportunity for bookworms to add to their TBR list without any guilt.

We're blessed with a pretty busy Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule in 2026, including romance, thriller, and young adult giveaways. Now that it's officially spooky season, Get Spooked has launched with 100s of free thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books.

Get Spooked, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is aimed at Kindle and Kobo users. Everything you download is yours to keep forever, so you can go wild.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the 2026 Motorola Razr for free — how to qualify

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Get Spooked takes place from Oct. 26-30. This five-day giveaway doesn't carry the same stress as a 24-hour event. You can consider your options and take your time. You could dip into the selection today and come back later in the week.

Which books are free?

Get Spooked is offering a huge selection of thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books. The helpful hub page has filters for price, retailers, e-reader, representations, and genres. Play around with the filters and find exactly what you want to read. Chances are you'll find something for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so what's holding you back?

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $149.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go, with weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Block ads and boost your cybersecurity with this $35 deal

Mashable - 13 hours 54 min ago

TL;DR: Enjoy a more private and peaceful internet experience with this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker Family Security Suite, on sale now for just $34.97 (reg. $439.39) through Nov. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN + Ad Blocker Family Security Suite $34.97
$439.39 Save $404.42   Get Deal

Between pop-up ads, trackers, and online privacy concerns, browsing the internet can feel like a chore. The AdGuard VPN and Ad Block Family Security Suite makes it easier by combining VPN protection and ad blocking, so you can enjoy a more private and less cluttered online experience.

Right now, you can lock in a 5-year subscription to AdGuard VPN and a lifetime subscription to the Ad Blocker Family Plan with this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker Family Security Suite for just $34.97, with no coupon code required, until Nov. 1.

We’re all multitasking, so it’s time for our tools to do it, too. The AdGuard VPN and Ad Block Family Security Suite can tackle two things for the price of one — keeping you safer online while providing an ad-free internet experience.

The AdGuard VPN and Ad Block Family Security Suite kicks off with a 5-year subscription to AdGuard VPN, boosting your cybersecurity so you can rest easier knowing hackers and cybercriminals are stopped in their tracks. You can use it on up to 10 devices in your household.

AdGuard VPN provides encrypted internet access and a zero-logging policy, so your internet activity stays secure and private. You can also enjoy internet access without geographic restrictions, choosing from over 60 locations worldwide and watching content from anywhere.

In addition to a safer internet, you’ll also get a more peaceful one with a lifetime subscription to the Ad Blocker Family Plan. This handy tool stops ads in their tracks, banishing pop-ups, banners, and video ads. You can share with up to nine devices, and it works with both Android and iOS. There’s also a parental control feature available to help the little ones in your life stay safer.

Lock in this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker Family Security Suite, on sale now for just $34.97 (reg. $439.39) through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dig trailer: Amy Poehler leads archeology comedy from Parks and Recreation co-creator

Mashable - 15 hours 19 min ago

Peacock has released the official trailer for Dig, an upcoming comedy series by Amy Poehler and Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place). 

Based on the novel Excavations by Kate Myers, Dig follows a group of archeologists and students working on a Greek excavation site. However, the expedition takes an unexpected turn when they discover a rare artefact. 

"When the team uncovers a long-buried secret with the potential to rewrite history, they find themselves at the center of a high-stakes international conspiracy," Dig's logline reads.

Led by Poehler, Dig's cast features Geraldine Viswanathan (Bad Education), Fina Strazza (Paper Girls), Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor), and Hugh Laurie (House). The trailer teases a few other familiar faces as well, including Jason Mantzoukas (Taskmaster) and Brennan Lee Mulligan (Dimension 20).

Dig premieres Nov. 23 on Peacock.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AT&Ts $177 million class-action settlement payout is coming, but probably wont change your life

Mashable - 15 hours 30 min ago

AT&T settled a $177 million class-action lawsuit last year, agreeing to pay customers whose personal information was stolen in two data breaches. A Texas district court has since approved the settlement agreement on Oct. 2. However, even if you were impacted, this doesn't mean a windfall is coming your way.

SEE ALSO: AT&T data breach impacts 'nearly all' customers

In March 2024, AT&T announced that data belonging to approximately 73 million current and former customers had been found on the dark web. The data appeared to be from 2019 or earlier, and included personal information such as social security numbers.

Four months later in July, AT&T discovered a second major data breach. A bad actor had accessed AT&T's cloud server and downloaded records of customers' calls and texts, as well as their phone numbers. This breach impacted nearly every AT&T customer who used the telco's network between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2022, as well as some on Jan. 2, 2023.

Customers filed multiple class-action lawsuits against AT&T which were later combined. The company ultimately agreed to pay a cash settlement fund of $177 million: $149 million for those impacted by the first breach, and $28 million for the second. Though that is no small chunk of change, the amount each individual claimant receives will be significantly smaller. After more than $18 million is subtracted for lawyers' fees, the remaining settlement must be divided among several million people.

Claimants in the AT&T class-action settlement are split into three tiers, each of which will receive a different payout. Tier 1 class members had their social security number exposed by the breach discovered in March 2024. Over 1.65 million people made claims as members of this class, and will each receive around $39-$40.

Tier 2 claimants were impacted by the same breach, but did not have their social security number exposed. More than 687,000 people submitted claims as part of this tier, and will each get approximately $7.50-$8.10.

Finally, Tier 3 claimants were impacted by the July 2024 breach. Over 1.5 million of these class members will take home around $6.50-$7.10 each.

People in Tier 1 could submit a claim for up to $5,000 if they had documentation proving they suffered actual losses due to the AT&T breaches. Similarly, those in Tier 2 could claim up to $2,500 if able to show such losses as well. These aren't mutually exclusive either, so claimants could receive up to $7,500 if they are part of both tiers. Even so, the majority of class members are unlikely to have documented losses.

Unfortunately, if you haven't already submitted a claim, it's too late to do so now. The deadline to opt in for a payout from AT&T's settlement was Dec. 18 last year. If you didn't submit a claim before then, you will not receive any money. Those applying for a higher payout due to documented losses also had to submit their evidence by Sept. 8 this year.

If you didn't opt in but also didn't explicitly exclude yourself from the class by Nov. 17, you are still bound by the settlement's terms. This means that you can't bring your own lawsuit against AT&T for the same breaches, so there's no chance of you getting anything at all.

It isn't clear exactly when class members will receive their money.  The official settlement website states that even after the court approves the settlement, appeals may delay any payouts. Class members will only begin receiving settlement money after the time window for appeals has expired, and all claims have been reviewed. However, if no appeals are filed, payments are expected to begin around December this year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 28, 2026

Mashable - 17 hours 19 min ago

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who've played football.

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

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

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

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

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

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 anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Assembling a team

  • Green: Reggie, who?

  • Blue: Backfield route tree

  • Purple: Gymnastics equipment

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Club

  • Green: Reggie____

  • Blue: Receiving Routes for a Running Back

  • Purple: Rhythmic Gymnastics Apparatuses

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 #765 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Club: GROUP, SIDE, SQUAD, TEAM

  • Reggie____: JACKSON, MILLER, WAYNE, WHITE

  • Receiving Routes for a Running Back: ANGLE, FLAT, SWING, WHEEL

  • Rhythmic Gymnastics Apparatuses: CLUBS, HOOP, RIBBON, ROPE

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for October 28, 2026

Mashable - 17 hours 24 min ago

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 28, 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 October 28, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 28 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 28 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 28 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hurdle hints and answers for October 28, 2026

Mashable - 17 hours 54 min ago

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Prepare.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BRACE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Soft bread filling.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 28, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DOUGH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Worship.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 28, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 28, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DEIFY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A form of writing.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

PROSE

Final Hurdle hint

Darkest color.

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

BLACK

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

How to watch Venezia vs. Inter online for free

Mashable - 17 hours 54 min ago

TL;DR: Watch Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Serie A is back for a batch of midweek fixtures, including Venezia vs. Inter. The visitors have made an incredibly strong start to the season, winning seven of their opening eight fixtures. Venezia are bottom of the standings after winning just one of their eight games. Fans will expect Inter to win this clash comfortably.

If you're interested in watching Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Venezia vs. Inter?

Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A kicks off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 28. This fixture takes place at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium.

How to watch Venezia vs. Inter for free

Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Venezia vs. Inter for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Venezia vs. Inter for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit SportyNet

  5. Watch Venezia vs. Inter for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Venezia vs. Inter without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus other Serie A action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Venezia vs. Inter for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 28, 2026

Mashable - 19 hours 54 min ago

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 27, 2026 Attachment meaning

A digital file, document or image sent along with an email message.

Body meaning

The main part of a letter, article, book or email, separate from the header or signature.

Signature meaning

A unique mark written or created on a document to prove identity,

Subject meaning

A main theme of conversation, a book or an academic branch.

Attraction meaning

A feeling of liking, interest or drawing toward another person.

Crush meaning

A strong, often temporary or unexpressed romantic liking for someone.

Feelings meaning

The conscious, subjective experience of an emotion, physical sensation or opinion

Interest meaning

A feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to something or someone.

Curiosity meaning

A strong desire to learn, know,or discover something

Opportunity meaning

A favorable time, occasion or combination of circumstances that makes it possible to do, achieve or experience something you want or need.

Perseverance meaning

The continued effort to achieve a goal, complete a task or maintain a course of action despite difficulties, failures, setbacks or opposition

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Spirit meaning

The non-physical, vital essence of a person or living thing.

Coarse meaning

Consisting of a harsh, abrasive or non-smooth surface.

Rode meaning

.The past form of ride, used to describe sitting on, being carried by or controlling an animal or a vehicle.

Rout meaning

An overwhelming defeat in a battle, sports match or election

Weigh meaning

To ascertain the heaviness of by or as if by a balance.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 28, 2026

Mashable - 19 hours 54 min ago

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you've got butterflies.

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 28, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Love is in the air

  • Green: Electronic communication

  • Blue: Out of this world

  • Purple: The way

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Romantic Liking

  • Green: Components of an Email

  • Blue: NASA Mars Rovers

  • Purple: Homophones of Paths

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 #1235 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Romantic Liking: ATTRACTION, CRUSH, FEELINGS, INTEREST

  • Components of an Email: ATTACHMENT, BODY, SIGNATURE, SUBJECT

  • NASA Mars Rovers: CURIOSITY, OPPORTUNITY, PERSEVERANCE, SPIRIT

  • Homophones of Paths: COARSE, RODE, ROUT, WEIGH

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for October 28, 2026

Mashable - 19 hours 54 min ago

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're the class clown.

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 28, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Comedy club

The words describe making people laugh.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe where you'd go for a stand-up show.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Funny Business.

NYT Strands word list for October 28
  • Slapstick

  • Sketch

  • Farce

  • Burlesque

  • Funny Business

  • Improv

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

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 28, 2026

Mashable - 19 hours 54 min ago

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you make food from scratch.

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 28, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Grain.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

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...

GRIST

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I hate smart home appliances, so I built these Home Assistant automations instead

How-To Geek - 22 hours 53 min ago

Overpriced home appliances with lackluster smarts are a pet peeve of mine. I’d never upgrade a perfectly functioning fridge or dishwasher just to get access to half-baked smart features, and I’d choose value or performance over features I don’t need, or that might backfire on me down the line.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung's One UI 9 update has me rethinking my Galaxy phone habits (for the better)

How-To Geek - 23 hours 53 min ago

I’ve always been a Samsung fangirl, so it’s not like I needed convincing to love its phones. But One UI 9 has given me a few more reasons to appreciate them. I love exploring my Galaxy’s settings, and One UI 9 has a few new features that could save me an extra 10 minutes a day to enjoy my evening walk instead of fiddling with my phone. Here are five One UI 9 features that got me excited about Samsung phones all over again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon just knocked $400 off LG’s blazing-fast 240Hz UltraGear OLED gaming monitor

Mashable - 23 hours 54 min ago

SAVE $400: As of Oct. 27, the 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED QHD Gaming Monitor (27GS93QE) is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That's down from its standard $899.99 list price — a 44% discount and its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor (27GS93QE) $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400   Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been waiting for a deal on high-end OLED, the 27-inch LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor (27GS93QE) is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That is a $400 discount, or 44% off its usual $899.99 tag, matching the lowest price we have ever tracked for the screen.

Speed is the main draw here, and LG built this panel to keep action silky smooth. The QHD 1440p resolution delivers crisp visuals, backed by an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate and a near-instant 0.03ms response time, virtually eliminating ghosting and motion blur during frantic shootouts. You also get official Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which work together to eliminate distracting screen tearing and stutter when frame rates fluctuate.

Visual fidelity also gets a big boost thanks to self-lit OLED pixels. Certified with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 and an impressive 1.5 million-to-one contrast ratio, it delivers inky blacks and sharp details in dark scenes without washed-out gray tones. It also covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum for rich, vibrant hues, while an anti-glare, low-reflection coating keeps stray room lighting from ruining your focus.

The physical build is also just as flexible as the display. An ultra-thin, slim-bezel frame leaves plenty of room on your desk, and the included stand lets you adjust height, tilt, and pivot between landscape and vertical modes. You can switch through preset modes for FPS or RTS titles, and you get both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports to hit 240Hz speed, whether you are plugged into a PC or a modern game console.

If you've been eyeing a high-refresh OLED upgrade, hit Amazon and grab this 27-inch display before the $400 discount disappears.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Smart speakers don’t make sense anymore—an ESP32 or an old phone can do a better job

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/27/2026 - 23:30

When smart speakers first burst onto the scene, it felt like this would be the way we would all be controlling our smart homes in the future. That future never really became a reality, as smart speakers haven't really improved much over the years. It's reached the point now where your old phone or a DIY smart speaker can do a better job.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 Netflix reboots that honor the originals instead of just feeling like a cash grab

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/27/2026 - 23:00

Reboots and revivals have a bit of a reputation for being unnecessary cash grabs, but every now and then, a familiar series gets a second life that proves there's still plenty of value in revisiting an old favorite. Netflix has had its fair share of successful revivals, bringing back beloved franchises for the longtime fans and a new generation. From nostalgic sequels to fresh takes on classic shows, some of these reboots have managed to capture what made the originals so special.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Never mow your lawn again: Roborock’s RockMow X130H robot lawn mower is $500 off at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 10/27/2026 - 23:00

SAVE $500: As of Oct. 27, the wire-free Roborock RockMow X130H 4WD robot lawn mower is on sale for $1,999.98 at Amazon. That's down from its typical $2,499.99 list price — its best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock RockMow X130H 4WD Robot Lawn Mower $1,999.98 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $500.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Tending to a sprawling yard usually means giving up half your weekend, but Amazon has a steep markdown to help you take that time back.

The wire-free Roborock RockMow X130H robot lawn mower is down to $1,999.98, saving you $500 off its typical $2,499.99 sticker price. That 20% discount marks the best price ever for this heavy-duty model, making it a great time to automate your yard work before next season rolls around.

Setting it up does not require spending hours digging trenches to bury boundary wires. The mower can handle properties up to a full acre and lets you choose how to map your space. You can let the machine chart an open yard on its own, or steer it through the companion app like a remote-controlled car to set custom lines around flowerbeds and tricky landscaping. To keep from wandering off course, it pairs satellite positioning with four built-in cameras, allowing it to navigate reliably past tall fences, thick tree cover, and shaded corners.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday home improvement deals save big on power tools, smart lights, home security, and more.

Tough terrain is not an issue, either. It uses true four-wheel drive and a dynamic suspension setup to climb steep hills with slopes up to 80% and roll right over roots and bumps up to 3.15 inches tall. Active steering keeps it agile, so tight turns never rip up your grass. A wide 9.49-inch cutting deck lets you pick grass heights between 1.57 and 3.54 inches, while four intelligent sensors spot pets, stray patio furniture, and garden tools to steer clear of trouble.

You can also manage the whole routine from your phone. The app lets you create separate mowing schedules for different parts of your yard and includes a wildlife-safe setting to keep local animals protected. Built-in 4G service, a loud siren, a PIN lockout, and real-time GPS tracking round out the package, keeping the mower safe from curious hands while it keeps your lawn tidy on its own.

Grab the Roborock RockMow X130H robot lawn mower at its record-low $1,999.99 price before the deal ends.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your projects need a plan — Microsoft Project 2024 is on sale for just $49.97

Mashable - Tue, 10/27/2026 - 23:00

TL;DR: Get lifetime Microsoft Project Professional 2024 license for Windows for just $49.97 (reg. $1,299.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Project Professional 2024: Lifetime License for Windows $49.97
$1,129.99 Save $1,080.02   Get Deal

A project gets complicated when changing one deadline affects five other tasks. But there are ways to make your project life easier. Microsoft Project Professional 2024 for Windows is $49.97 (reg. $1,299.99) through Nov. 1, giving you a lifetime license for one PC and tools to manage those connections.

Pre-built templates provide a starting point, so you can focus on the work instead of building a plan from scratch. Set task dependencies, and Project can automatically populate start and end dates based on how those tasks relate.

The visual tools make detailed schedules easier to follow. Multiple timelines show different parts of a project, while task path highlighting in Gantt charts reveals relationships between activities. That visibility helps when you need to understand what a schedule change could affect.

What-if scenarios let you explore task assignments before committing to adjustments. Baselines then give you a reference point for comparing actual progress with the original plan, which is useful when a status update needs more substance than “we’re getting there.”

Built-in reports, including Burndown and Resource Overview, help communicate progress and resource information to stakeholders. Timesheets capture time spent on project and non-project work for payroll, invoicing, and other needs.

For connected workflows, Project supports synchronization with Project Online and Project Server. Microsoft Teams for Business integration can show colleagues’ presence and enable chats or calls, but it requires a separate Teams license.

Get Microsoft Project Professional 2024 for Windows for one $49.97 payment through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 PC ports that outlived their inventors and still refuse to die

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/27/2026 - 22:30

Hippocrates once said "art is long, life is short." It's a neat old proverb that, like many ancient Latin and Greek isms, has been re-observed and re-proven over and over again throughout history. And although I may not be the first to compare computer engineering to an art, I'm probably the first to use a Hippocrates quote to describe the RS-232 serial port.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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