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When Plex starts buffering or stuttering, it's easy to assume that hardware problems are to blame, especially if you're using a NAS. But that often isn't the case. With Plex, the overall setup is so important. If your media files aren’t in the right format, Plex has to convert them on the fly, and that’s what causes many performance problems.

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 22, 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 22, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 22 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 22 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 22 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 3-1, placed horizontally.

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 0-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup final for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The EFL Cup doesn't have the history or the prestige of the FA Cup, but nobody is complaining when we get Arsenal and Manchester City battling it out for the trophy at Wembley Stadium.

The top two in the Premier League are going head-to-head for the first significant title on offer this season — it's going to be a fascinating contest between two talented sides with managers who know all about each other. Could this be Arsenal's year to turn the tables on Man City? There's pressure on both teams to deliver a big performance in this crucial contest.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup final from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Manchester City?

Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup final kicks off at 4:30 p.m. GMT on March 22. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Manchester City for free

Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup final is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Arsenal vs. Manchester City 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the EFL Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup final before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms like ITVX, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Arsenal vs. Manchester City in the EFL Cup final for free with ExpressVPN.

You’re used to using your phone, shouting at a smart speaker, or tapping a dashboard on the wall to control your smart home. But adding a select few controls to my Apple Watch has been more useful than any of these when I’m in a rush, on a bike, or otherwise preoccupied.

Linux is often held up as an example of an operating system that is more private and secure than Windows, and not without reason—it does have some distinct advantages. However, Windows hasn't been totally left behind either. There are several ways that Windows matches, or even surpasses, Linux on the privacy and security front.

I still clearly remember the first portable CD player my parents bought me in the early 2000s. I'd always wanted one, but I had to make do with a cheap Walkman clone instead, dubbing CDs to tape using our home Hi-Fi.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who like a word game.

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: Equal

• Green: Spelled the same, front and back

• Blue: Basketball bros

• Purple: Types of zones

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: All Square

• Green: Palindromes

• Blue: NBA Brothers, Past and Present

• Purple: ____Zone

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 #545 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• All Square - DEADLOCKED, EVEN, LEVEL, TIED

• Palindromes - KAYAK, POP, RADAR, STATS

• NBA Brothers, Past and Present - ANTEKOUNMPO, BALL, CURRY, GASOL

• ____Zone - 2-3, NEUTRAL, RED, STRIKE

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.

Although I firmly believe that most people don't need an expensive SSD, cheaper drives have some downsides. One glaring flaw is that they seemingly slow down for no reason.

I've been using Google's smartphones for a long time. Although they aren't technically "stock Android," they do represent Android in its peak form: smooth, clean, uncluttered. For years, they felt like the closest thing Android had to an iPhone-style experience.

This text editor is a bit of a hidden gem, but it borrows some of Vim’s best features and works well alongside it, too. Find out how to get up and running with Textadept, and why it could be a vital addition to your toolbox.

In modern culture, every movie and TV show seems to be a book adaptation, and reading has entered a golden age. So many people are turning to currently trending novels, old bestsellers, and classics galore to read about the tales before they watch them on streaming websites, even if some, like Netflix, aren't the best anymore.

Don't you just love it when one setting can affect your entire network, and you may often not even know about it? In this case, we're talking about an often overlooked legacy setting that can completely wreck mixed-speed setups.

Freezing panes was once the go-to method for keeping headers in view, but on modern 16:9 screens, it takes up valuable vertical space. If you're still locking rows like it's 1997, it's worth exploring newer tools that achieve a similar outcome while making better use of your screen.

LEGO is fun, whether you’re eight or 80. If you have a 3D printer, you might think that the two hobbies go hand in hand. While it’s true that there are a lot of resources available, LEGO and 3D printing aren’t the match made in heaven you’re hoping for.

The last version of DOS was released more than 30 years ago, but even after all that time, many DOS features have survived in Windows. Some of them are even among the most common and useful tools you can use in the Windows Terminal.

The low-frequency rumble of a subwoofer is usually the greatest source of contention between you and your neighbors if you live in an apartment, since you need to place it in specific places for the best sound.

SAVE $500: As of March 21, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price and the best-ever price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

The ban on DJI imports will surely cause stock to drop at some stage, but we haven't yet reached that point just yet. Instead, you can still find popular drones at record-low prices ahead of the Amazon Spring Sale.

As of March 21, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price and a record-low price on Amazon. This bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more.

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The DJI Mini 5 Pro features a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can opt for 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming, and night flying is a possibility thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. It's a premium product for content creators and anyone looking to capture epic footage.

This isn't the first time we've seen this low price, but we've never seen anything better. And with the uncertainty around the future of DJI drones in the U.S., we don't see this sort of deal sticking around for long. There's no need to panic, but if you're interested in buying, we wouldn't recommend waiting around for too long.

Score the best-ever price on the DJI Mini 5 Pro at Amazon this weekend.

TL;DR: Get any model of the Apple iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free Apple iPhone 17   Get Deal

This has been such a big month for Apple. We got new iPhones, game-changing MacBooks, and upgraded iPads. And with any new releases, new deals are dropped to tempt shoppers into an upgrade.

T-Mobile is doing exactly that with a number of iPhone deals live right now. You can sign up for almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 Pro for free when signing up for 24 months of an Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone. It's worth noting that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these "free" deals and a $35 device connection fee.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold may come later than we thought

Apple is now using the A19 chip in the new iPhone 17e. This should lead to improved performance and AI compatibility. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder reviewed the iPhone 17e and said, "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years."

You don't get much for free these days, so this free iPhone 17 from T-Mobile offer is something to carefully consider. If you're not impressed, check out our roundup of the best unlocked phone deals ahead of Amazon's Spring Sale.

The ESP32 has become a killer gadget for anyone who wants to DIY their own smart home solutions. Why wait for someone to make the smart home gadget of your dreams when you can combine an ESP32 with a few accessories and program it to do exactly what you need?

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 MotoGP World Championship for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Are you looking for thrilling and unpredictable racing? No we're not talking about F1, unless you like regular pit stops, safety cars, and the same driver winning almost every week. We're talking about a form of two-wheel racing where anything could happen.

MotoGP is where the real action can be found. Every week you see the best riders in the world go wheel to wheel with their rivals, throwing their bikes into corners with absolutely no sense of self preservation. It's an awesome spectacle, and it doesn't need to cost you anything to watch.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Want to watch the 2026 MotoGP World Championship for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

What is MotoGP?

MotoGP is the oldest established motorsport world championship, with the inaugural season taking place in 1949. Races last approximately 45 minutes, without pitting for fuel or fresh tires.

The likes of Ducati, Honda, and Yamaha do battle for the constructors' championship. Marc Márquez is the defending champion.

When is the 2026 MotoGP World Championship?

The 2026 MotoGP World Championship features 22 races held all over the world between March and November:

1. Thailand GP — March 1

2. Brazil GP — March 22

3. USA GP — March 29

4. Qatar GP — April 12

5. Spain GP — April 26

6. France GP — May 10

7. Catalonia GP — May 17

8. Italy GP — May 31

9. Hungary GP — June 7

10. Czechia GP — June 21

11. Netherlands GP — June 28

12. Germany GP — July 12

13. Great Britain GP — Aug. 9

14. Aragon GP — Aug. 30

15. San Marino GP — Sept. 13

16. Austria GP — Sept. 20

17. Japan GP — Oct. 4

18. Indonesian GP — Oct. 11

19. Australia GP — Oct. 25

20. Malaysia GP — Nov. 1

21. Portugal GP — Nov. 15

22. Valencia GP — Nov. 22

The good news for fans is that it's possible to live stream the 2026 MotoGP World Championship without spending anything.

How to watch the 2026 MotoGP World Championship for free

The 2026 MotoGP World Championship is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

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

Unblock ServusTV by following this quick and easy process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By using these money-back guarantees, you can watch MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select races without actually spending anything.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is tough to beat when it comes to streaming live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• 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

• Impressive streaming speeds without buffering

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 MotoGP World Championship for free with ExpressVPN.