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In a rational world, Linux is just an operating system and people who genuinely believe it's a better operating system than the alternatives would want it to become as easy to use and popular as possible.

Sometimes the news is so chaotic that you forget just how many ridiculous things have happened in a relatively short space of time.

"This is usually the part of the show where we would do our recurring segment 'A Closer Look', about all the crazy things that are happening in the news, but we just got back from a three-week break, and it turns out nothing happened. So instead we're debuting our new segment, 'Everything's Great,'" says Seth Meyers in the Late Night clip above.

"That's right, it's been a quiet three weeks, and nothing really— what's that? Oh, Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed again? OK. Uh, what, Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker? And, sorry, the U.S. seized an Iranian cargo ship and Iran is vowing to retaliate? Okay, but that's just the Middle East— what? Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi? He posted a meme of himself as Jesus, but then said he thought it was a meme of himself as a doctor? What? He said the Pope is weak on crime?"

The segment goes on like that for a solid two minutes.

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SAVE $300: As of April 21, the Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $1,199. That's $300 or 20% off its list price and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Summer's right around the corner, which means so is yard work. If you have a lawn that requires constant care, you may want to consider a robotic lawn mower this season. Like robot vacuums, they can take over a chore you'd rather not do and give you hours of your time back every week. They're not the cheapest investments, but Amazon just dropped the price of Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower to save you a big chunk of change.

As of April 21, the Ecovacs Goat O1000 robotic lawn mower is on sale for just $1,199 at Amazon instead of its usual $1,499. That's 20% or $300 in savings, knocking it down to its cheapest price ever.

The Goat O1000 robot lawn mower is powered by AI Vision and 3D ToF LiDAR, which means it can accurately navigate your lawn for proper upkeep while avoiding obstacles like kids' toys, furniture, pets, and more. It's designed for smaller lawns, with the ability to mow up to a quarter acre or for 1.5 hours before it needs a charge. TrueEdge Trimmer technology helps it conquer clean edges, so you don't need to go back in manually. Plus, you can adjust the cutting height to your preference, from 1.2 to 3.1 inches.

To make the most of the Goat O1000's features, you'll need to download the Ecovacs app. Like a robot vacuum, you'll be able to set no-go areas, create multiple mowing zones, define travel paths, adjust the cutting height and speed, and create your mowing schedules. It's like having a personal lawn care professional in your pocket.

Sure, it's still not the cheapest investment at $1,199, but it's the best price you'll find on the Ecovacs Goat O1000 and it'll save you more money in the long run on lawn care.

Every homeowner or DIYer has a few power tools from their preferred brand, with Milwaukee being a popular choice. And while most brands offer the essentials, what sets Milwaukee apart is its vast selection of unique, niche, or trade-specific tools. With that in mind, here are some neat Milwaukee tools you can't get from Makita.

Amazon isn't hosting its next big sitewide sale until Prime Day in July (or maybe June). But in the meantime, pet owners will be able to stock up on discounted food, treats, toys, apparel, grooming supplies, and other pet essentials during its fifth annual Amazon Pet Days sale next month.

The retail giant confirmed Tuesday that the event will run from May 11 to 15 this year, which makes it the longest Amazon Pet Days sale ever. Here's what you should know about it ahead of time.

What is Amazon Pet Days?

Amazon Pet Days is Amazon's yearly sale on pet supplies — pretty straightforward. It always happens in May, which is National Pet Month, but it's never been a five-day event before. It started as a 24-hour event in 2022 and ran for 48 hours from 2023 to 2025. (This is becoming a pattern for Amazon: Last year, it extended its flagship Prime Day sale from 48 hours to four days.)

What kind of deals to expect during Amazon Pet Days

Amazon Pet Days will bring "thousands of deals" on pet essentials for animals of all kinds, according to a company blog post. In the past, it's been a good opportunity to save on the sort of unglamorous petkeeping stuff you probably need to buy anyway, like a new bag of dental chews or a fresh tub of kitty litter.

Most of the deals featured in Amazon Pet Days will revolve around supplies for dogs and cats, the company said, but select products for fish, parrots, reptiles, small mammals, and even horses and chickens will also be on sale. Look for discounts on kibble, toys, and more from big-name brands like Blue Buffalo, Chuckit!, Greenies, Iams, and Purina.

Amazon typically drops a selection of early Amazon Pet Days deals in late April as a way of previewing some of the sale's top offers.

Do you have to be a Prime member to shop Amazon Pet Days?

Amazon Pet Days is often called "Prime Day for pets," but unlike actual Prime Day, it's not exclusive to members of Amazon's Prime program — anyone can shop the deals. However, Prime members get the extra benefit of free same-day, one-day, or two-day delivery on millions of items (with no order minimums), which can come in clutch if you find yourself suddenly low on, say, food or poop bags.

If you haven't had a Prime membership recently, you may be eligible for a free 30-day trial.

I have long loved the idea of owning a Fairphone, but it wasn't until the latest generation that I decided to make the switch. Unfortunately, shortly after placing the order, I realized this phone wouldn't quite live up to its promise of being fully repairable. In some areas, it is just as vulnerable as any other phone.

SAVE $900: The 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,599.99, down from the standard price of $2,499.99. That's a 36% discount and the lowest price we've seen on this model in 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV (UN98DU9000, 2024 model) $1,599.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $900.00   Get Deal

We've spotted a really big deal. If you've been yearning for a jumbo TV but haven't felt like the price was reasonable enough to make the leap, this Amazon deal might be your sign.

As of April 21, the 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,599.99, marked down from the list price of $2,499.99. That's a 36% discount that takes a massive $900 off the price. It's the lowest price we've seen on this model so far this year.

If you're feeling in the mood to treat yourself, your favorite shows, and your friends, upgrading to the 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal is a great choice. Sure, you could spend the money elsewhere, but what else could give you hours of enjoyment everyday for years to come?

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (April 17, 2026)

The Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is designed with Samsung's Supersize Picture Enhancer with a wide picture ratio. This means the display remains sharp even at its large size. There's also the Motion Xcelerator that clocks speeds of up to 120Hz, and that means you can use this model as a gaming TV. Image sitting in your climate-controlled living room playing games this summer.

Since 98-inch Samsung Class Crystal UHD 4K TV is sitting at the lowest price we've seen this year, take it as a sign to make the upgrade. You'll be able to stream shows, watch movies, game, and catch this summer's best sporting events while saving $900.

YouTubers are great at driving interest in 3D printers, especially with fancy time-lapses and early hardware reviews. Some of these polished tutorials tend to hide a trend of viral hacks created for views instead of engineering quality. But replacing mechanical knowledge with surface-level tricks can inadvertently hide hardware problems that need careful consideration.

Digital minimalism is one of those ideas that sounds wise until you actually live it. The promise is fewer devices, more focus—but what you often get instead is one overloaded machine pulling you in six directions at once. I know because I tried it, and my "optimized" two to three device setup was quietly one of the most distracted periods of my life. More devices fixed that—and the reason has its roots in behavioral psychology.

SAVE $600.99: As of April 21, get the Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop for $899 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,499.99. That's a discount of 40% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop $899 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $600.99   Get Deal

If you're still struggling to keep your home clean when you've got a busy schedule or a full house, you don't have to deal with it alone. You can recruit a robot vacuum to help whip your home into shape, and it won't cost you an entire paycheck. Case in point: we found this robot vacuum for its lowest price ever, and it's got every feature you could want to help tidy up your home in record time.

As of April 21, get the Ecovacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum and mop for $899 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,499.99. That's a discount of 40% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness

This robot vacuum and mop eliminates a few steps from your routine. It boasts a strong 19,500Pa of suction to help cut through the dirt, debris, and hair ground into the carpet. All of this is stored in its bagless auto-emptying station. It can handle all the mess, so you just have to occasionally empty the station when it gets full.

It can find its way around your home and create maps of each room to eliminate bumping into things and navigational slowdowns. It can also swap between robot vacuum and mop with ease so you don't have to worry about which mode to use. With its high-density roller, it can scrub hard-to-reach stains as well as edges and corners. When it's finished with its cleaning session, it'll even refill its own tank.

if you're ready to offload these tasks to a robot, now's the time to jump in while this model is the lowest price it's been.

Don't you love it when the universe seems to be listening?

For instance, my colleague Samantha Mangino just wrote about how great the budget-friendly Soundcore Space One headphones are, and voilá, Soundcore's new Space 2 headphones are officially available at Amazon and Soundcore's website as of April 20.

Naturally, I couldn't be one to close my ears off to what the universe was offering me, so I got my hands on a pair of the Soundcore Space 2 headphones ahead of their launch, and tested them out over the course of the past two weeks. (As a headphones reviewer, I guess this is also technically my professional obligation, but still.)

Knowing that the Space Ones are great, I've had my eye on the second-gen headphones since their announcement at Mobile World Congress in March — I'm happy to report that these headphones do not disappoint. At a price point far more accessible than premium flagship releases these days, I could see these headphones being the best option for most people, especially if you don't need the absolute top-of-the-line features.

Of course, budget products always come with a few trade-offs, and the Space 2s are no exception. So let's get into it.

Soundcore Space 2: Price and specs The Soundcore Space 2 headphones look (and sound) great. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In an era where one of the big constants of headphones releases is increasing price points, it's nice to see a brand launching well-rounded headphones that don't cost several hundred dollars. It's especially pleasant to see headphones that are just $129.99, as the Soundcore Space 2 are. While this is $30 more than the Space One's $99.99, it's still an incredibly competitive price point. Here's what you'll get with the headphones:

• Battery life: 50 hours with ANC on, 70 hours with ANC off

• Quick charge: Five minutes of charge for four hours of playback

• Listening modes: Noise cancellation, normal, transparency

• Drivers: Double-layer 40mm diaphragm drivers

• Multipoint connection: Yes, up to two devices

• Equalizer: Eight-band custom equalizer, with 22 equalizer presets

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, and LDAC

• Passive playback: Yes

• On-ear controls: Noise cancellation button, multifunction button, power/Bluetooth button, and volume controls

• Colors: Seafoam green, white, black

The Soundcore Space 2 headphones sound great

Out of the box, the Space 2 headphones sound balanced, clear, and generally pretty damn great. But you don't have to stop there.

With the companion app, the Space 2 headphones allow for plenty of customization. There's the eight-band custom equalizer, the HearID test that helps you find your sonic preferences, and the 3D Sound (Soundcore's name for spatial audio). And, as on other Soundcore audio devices, you have your pick from 22 preset equalizer options, too. (I remain partial to the Treble Booster).

I put these headphones to the test with plenty of variety, including "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Aerodynamic" by Daft Punk, "Hooligan" by BTS, and "Here is Someone" by Japanese Breakfast. Whether it was the rock-heavy punches from Queens of the Stone Age, the bass-forward mix of BTS's song, or the lilting vocals and soft strings of "Here is Someone," the Space 2 headphones handled the soundscape deftly. I even listened back to a podcast episode I edited (and therefore, was very familiar with) — Soundcore's headphones sounded great.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best headphones of 2026 — we tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

As a self-proclaimed spatial audio skeptic, I was also pleasantly surprised by the 3D sound feature. Generally, I find spatial audio to sound hollow and tinny in a way that very much does not immerse me. And while Soundcore's version didn't work unanimously across genres, for some songs (again, like "No One Knows") it added the immersive sense, without losing a sense of the song's fullness.

Finally, their noise cancellation. I don't have too much to say here — it's nothing astounding, but it certainly gets the job done, especially on lower-pitched hums. That means if the main reason you're getting noise-cancelling headphones is to block out a lot of talking, you might find these aren't best suited to your needs. Soundcore recommends these for plane rides in particular. While I didn't get a chance to travel during my testing period, I can attest to them being great headphones and great for busy households. Living with eight of my family members in Southern California, I'm very attuned to the sounds of other people playing music, TV shows, cooking, or sounds of the neighborhood, like gardeners with leaf blowers or cars driving by — these headphones handled all of the above with ease.

A better-than-budget look and wear

In my experience, budget headphones tend to show their price point in their design. Maybe they're clunky, have odd colorways, or are more prone to squeezing the head.

This was not the case with the Space 2 headphones. The memory foam ear cushions and padded band made hours of wear entirely possible and comfortable — even when I wore hats or my glasses. The on-ear buttons were intuitively placed, with two on each side (and some customization available through the app), which made pausing music and switching to the next song entirely possible without ever reaching for my devices.

Soundcore's headphones look better than your average pair of budget headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In a similar vein, the wear detection worked well most of the time. Mainly, it faltered if the sensor was blocked (one time when I put my headphones on my lap, and another when I only removed one ear cup from my ear). Still, for $130, I'm not complaining.

Finally, Soundcore gives the option of three colorways on these headphones, all of which are cute and fit in with more expensive headphones, like the Bose QuietComforts.

Black and white are the other two available colorways on the Space 2 headphones. Credit: Soundcore Credit: Soundcore Some of the best battery life available

This isn't going to be a very long section because it's quite straightforward, but the battery life on these headphones deserves a call-out. With noise cancellation, you can get 50 hours of playback. Noise cancellation and wear detection drops that to 45 hours, while no noise cancellation bumps it up to 70 hours. Long story short, it'll take you a minute to run down the battery life.

In my two weeks of testing, they finally ran out on the very last day I was using them — and even then, a five-minute quick charge got me 20 percent of the battery life back. For comparison, significantly more expensive headphones like the Bose QC Ultra 2 and Sony XM6 headphones can each run for 30 hours with ANC. Only a handful of options fall in the higher battery life range, like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and Marshall Monitor III headphones, which offer 60 and 70 hours with ANC, respectively.

Unexpected extras

If a pair of headphones $130 or under nails the sound and design and has decent battery life, I'm typically not expecting much more from them. And yet, this is Soundcore.

What that means is that these headphones come with a couple of interesting extras. One piqued my interest more than the other, but I appreciate the inclusion of both. Let's start with the nap mode feature, which allows you to set white noise and a timer for taking a nap. It's not the most surprising feature, considering Soundcore makes the best sleep earbuds on the market, but I'm not sure over-ear headphones are the most sleep conducive. Still, I guess it's nice that the option is there.

More intriguing was the live translation feature. I'd encountered it before on Soundcore's open earbuds and found it to be pretty reliable. I tested it again by making my friend speak to me in Korean and my mom speak to me in Spanish — with both languages, the translation was about 80 to 90 percent accurate, and relatively fast working. The only place it didn't work was with the automatic language detection — the app kept crashing. However, inputting the language that was to be translated first worked with great results.

What the Soundcore app shows you while using the Live Translation feature. My friend deemed this "impressively accurate." Credit: Screenshot / Soundcore The budget pitfalls

I genuinely had a hard time coming up with features of these headphones that I found to be less than ideal. While I don't think any of these features are experience-destroying, they're worth being aware of before purchase.

• Slight creaking: While this wasn't the most noticeable, I could occasionally hear slight creaking from the headphones when I moved my head — especially when I wasn't streaming audio. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd experienced on the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones, but it was more noticeable than on a more expensive pair of headphones, like the Bose QuietComforts.

• App isn't the best for accessing all the features: These headphones are decently feature-rich, but the app can be a little confusing to navigate, with too many menus hiding all the options for customization.

• Noise cancellation lets in higher tones: The noise cancellation for low-tones is great — for higher tones like talking, these headphones tend to show their price more. That's not to say it doesn't work well — it does — but you shouldn't expect Sony performance here.

Are the Soundcore Space 2 headphones worth it?

In a word, yes. In two words, absolutely yes.

Soundcore made a name for itself in creating excellent budget products, and it holds that name up with the Space 2 headphones. I can't think of another pair that offers the same balance of performance, design, and functionality, making these a great buy for everyone, from students to folks on a budget looking for a pair of everyday headphones.

Soundcore Space 2 $129.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore

When you think of the best Pixar movies, a few likely come to mind first—maybe the always-popular Toy Story series or the emotional rollercoaster of Up.

You might think of your NAS as a "build once and forget about it" thing. The thing is, however, that just like your computer does, your NAS can benefit from upgrades. And a really good upgrade people often overlook is RAM. Here's why it'd be worth it to upgrade—if you can afford these RAM prices, that is.

While most Galaxy owners are still waiting for the One UI 8.5 release, Google and Samsung have already begun testing the next big update, One UI 9, based on Android 17. Google announced Android 17 in February and is now beta-testing the new software, which will be available on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets soon.

Linux has been used as a catch-all term for any free, open-source operating system that prioritizes user control over systems like Windows or macOS. Although many share command-line interfaces and a philosophy of freedom, calling every open-source project a Linux distribution ignores important details about computing history and engineering. There are distinctions you need to understand if you want to appreciate the complexity and variety of open-source software. Just remember, not everything that is an outsider is Linux, even though distros can be very different.

Going into 2026, I had big plans for my PC. But the current state of the market (read: the dumpster fire that it is, rather) made me reconsider. Majorly.

It's all very well making ground-breakingly good TV, but what happens when you have to follow it up?

This is the challenge faced by Half Man, Richard Gadd’s new limited series following his massive success with 2024's Baby Reindeer.

So how does the series, directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck, compare? Well, the two shows have their similarities and differences. Half Man isn't as funny as Baby Reindeer. Both are very dark. Both have characters at war with themselves. The question is, which is better? And how can Half Man hope to compete with a predecessor that earned so many viewers, armchair detectives, and awards?

SEE ALSO: The 20 best TV shows streaming on Max What's Half Man about?

Set in Glasgow, Scotland, the six-episode BBC/HBO show jumps between two timelines. Each episode is framed by snapshots of a wedding in the present day. Niall (All of Us Strangers' Jamie Bell) is getting married. But the occasion is marred by the arrival of his step-brother Ruben (Gadd), who clearly has unfinished business with Niall that goes beyond wishing him all the best for the future.

Flashbacks slowly reveal why. The first three episodes take us back to the main characters' teenage years, when a bullied Niall (Mitchell Robertson) sees his life upended by Ruben (Stuart Campbell) being released from a young offender's institute and coming to live with him and his mother Lori (Neve McIntosh). Niall, a vulnerable teen struggling with his sexuality, is both obsessed with and afraid of Ruben — a tall boy with tattoos and a swagger, who seems to cause chaos wherever he goes.

Half Man follows the highs and lows of their lives, from school and university into adulthood, watching as the two rely on, love, and at times despise one another, all while the series tries to unpack what it is that makes a person the way they are.

Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson play a young Ruben and Niall. Credit: Anne Binckebanck / HBO Half Man is a painful exploration of masculinity and sexuality

One of the main themes that runs throughout the show is Niall's struggle with his sexuality. He's clearly aware of his attraction to men from a young age, but it's just as clear that he can't accept it. Self-hatred and internalised homophobia means he hides that part of him away. However, he later visits dogging spots (public or semi-public places for sexual encounters) and chem sex parties, which puts him at risk from blackmailers and police.

As with Baby Reindeer, Gadd's writing in Half Man does an excellent job of subtly exploring the issues its main characters face. Niall and Ruben are both closed off in their own ways, but the show allows their actions to speak volumes even when they shut down, leaving room for the talented cast to complement the script with subtle actions and facial expressions. And in the rare moments when the characters do open up, the dialogue is filled with the gut-punches we've come to expect from Gadd.

"Why can't you just be happy with that side of yourself?" Niall's girlfriend Ava (Anjli Mohindra) asks him in one key moment. "It's the 21st century, nobody cares anymore."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," responds Niall. "The fact that the world is progressing only adds to the problem because not only am I ashamed, I'm bloody irrational too."

When Ava tells Niall that "everyone who matters knows" about his sexuality, his response, delivered in a strangled yell by Bell, is painful to hear: "Because I don't know."

Niall struggles to come to terms with himself throughout "Half Man". Credit: Anne Binckebanck / HBO Does Half Man have any weaknesses?

Despite only being around six hours long, Half Man crams a lot in. Possibly too much.

Moving from adolescence to adulthood, the show's time jump is a key narrative driver, making us want to keep watching to find out what exactly has led Niall and Ruben to a point of violence on Niall's wedding day — but it does also lead to a small problem in the story. This occurs in episode 4 when the timeline ticks forwards to Niall and Ruben's adult selves and the core cast changes from Robertson and Campbell to Bell and Gadd. It comes with a reversal in the main characters' fortunes that, when coupled with the skipped decade, feels jarring at first. As if maybe we've missed too much and are playing catch up.

Luckily, the feeling doesn't last. The time jump needs to happen for the sake of the story, and it's not long before Gadd and Bell's performances overcome what could have been a slight narrative misstep to pull us into Half Man's powerful second act.

So is Half Man as good as Baby Reindeer?

Half Man is Gadd's first foray into TV drama that's not directly based on real life. It's a test he passes. Half Man is gripping, emotional, complex, and upsetting, telling a story of masculinity and brotherhood that feels rooted in reality even though the story is fictional. It stumbles at times but never falls, and the strengths massively outweigh any negatives.

Is it as good as Baby Reindeer? No. But that would have been close to impossible. Baby Reindeer, with its unique subject matter, incredible blend of awkward comedy and extremely dark themes, and true story tagline, felt like a groundbreaking show. The kind of series that doesn't come along every year. Half Man walks a more well-trodden path. But it does what it does well, cementing Gadd as a storyteller with a lot more to offer.

Half Man airs on HBO on Thursday, Apr. 23 at 9 p.m. ET and is available to stream on HBO Max, with new episodes airing weekly. In the UK, the series is streaming on BBC iPlayer from Friday, Apr. 24, with new episodes airing weekly.

Heated print beds have become a staple feature on most 3D printers, even at the entry level. They help that all-important first layer remain in place, and prevent warping caused by a sudden drop in temperature once filament has been extruded.

Looking back at my old Excel spreadsheets, I can't believe I survived without Power Query. It turns complex automation into something surprisingly user-friendly. If you've avoided it because it looks intimidating, this guide is for you.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love action movies.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 21, 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: Walk leisurely

• Green: Nonsense

• Blue: Purses

• Purple: Action films

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Amble (in)

• Green: Balderdash

• Blue: Kinds of bags

• Purple: Starts of one-word James Bond movie titles

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 #1045 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Amble (in): BREEZE, MOSEY, STROLL, WALTZ

• Balderdash: BALONEY, BILGE, BULL, BUNK

• Kinds of bags: CROSSBODY, HOBO, MESSENGER, SADDLE

• Starts of one-word James Bond movie titles: GOLD, MOON, OCTOPUS, THUNDER

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 21, 2026

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

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

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