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It was a warm summer night in September 2017 when Mashable asked itself: Has Apple innovation stalled? Do these glitzy new Apple phones (back then, that was the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, as well as the then-upcoming iPhone X) carry their weight, or did iPhone evolution end with the most perfect phone that came out two years earlier?

In short, we asked ourselves: Was the iPhone 6S the last of the great iPhones?

First, a little context. I didn't write the article; I'm way too enamored with the next new thing to look back in such a way. It was written by my former colleague Foster Kamer. Ever the new phone skeptic, Kamer argued that the iPhone 6S, then two generations old, was the perfect iPhone; one that's fast enough, perfectly sized, light, and equipped both with a headphone jack (remember those) and an actual Touch ID button, which was later replaced with a faux button and, ultimately, with Face ID.

The article goes into quite a bit of detail, but ultimately it's not just about the iPhone 6S or any particular iPhone; it's also about how the best iPhone purchase is almost always one that's one or two generations old. Because, you know, it's just so much cheaper.

SEE ALSO: The latest iPhone 18 news, leaks, and rumors: Release date, price increases, and colors

This is where I'm willing to concede the argument: Yes, if you don't care about the latest fancy new feature, by all means go for last year's phone, or even the one before that. It's probably gonna serve you just as well; it'll be a lot cheaper, and since these are iPhones we're talking about, it'll probably last you a good two, three, or even four years.

This is even more true today than it was in 2017. Smartphone companies have been putting their best R&D minds to work on smartphones for decades now, and innovation has, to some extent, been exhausted. I'm using the latest and greatest iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I can honestly say that switching to the previous model wouldn't kill me.

Glorious Touch ID button, why has thou abandoned us? Credit: Future Publishing / Getty Images

However, go back a year or two more, and the differences are staggering. The battery life and camera on my current iPhone are just so much better than they were on the iPhone 14 or 15 Pro Max, it's not even funny. I'm not even talking about some fancy new features; I'm talking about the very basics, precisely the stuff that seemingly reached its peak at every new iteration. The iPhones are still evolving; it's just harder to notice year over year.

To go back to 2017 and the 4.7-inch iPhone 6S, the argument that it is the peak iPhone seems hilariously wrong from our current perspective. Back then, it seemed like Face ID wasn't good enough to replace the Touch ID button, but it was, and it opened the way to iPhones with much larger displays. The iPhone 6S' 12-megapixel camera is potato-quality compared with today's powerful phone cameras, and don't even get me started on the 5-megapixel selfie camera. Yes, it was light, practical, and good enough for basic tasks, which is why Apple held on to a similar form factor for years in the form of iPhone SE. But no, the iPhone 6S was not particularly special, and it would feel laughably underpowered when used alongside any recent iPhone.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Ultra might have a staggered, country-by-country rollout

As I type this, we're probably weeks away from the grand unveiling of the iPhone Ultra. It’ll be Apple’s first foldable iPhone, making it a very different beast from all the iPhones that came before it. It’ll probably be fatter, heavier, and more expensive than regular iPhones. Still, it will also unfold into a glorious tablet, paving the way for actually enjoyable reading, or binging House of the Dragon on the go. And just like every new iPhone that takes a different direction from the ones that came before it, people will say it’s trash, and they’ll say you should stick to the far cheaper, far simpler iPhone that came out a few years back. Perhaps we at Mashable will once again have someone declaring that some older device was “peak iPhone,” especially when compared to some foldable nonsense.

This will surely be true for some people, and choosing a vintage device will definitely save you a decent amount of money. But then you’ll see, at the corner of your eye, someone riding the subway, someone enjoying a movie on the iPhone Ultra’s massive inner display. Then you’ll look at your old iPhone’s comparatively puny display, and you may feel a certain way, the same way you felt when you last realized that the new thing may just be, well, better than the old thing.

Credit: Internet Archive "The iPhone 6S is the last of the great iPhones, everything else is trash," published Sept. 11, 2017

SAVE $30: As of Aug. 26, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a 60% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Amazon has recently raised the list price of several of its devices, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. This popular model just jumped from $39.99 to $49.99. That's a $10 increase on one of Amazon's most affordable streaming sticks.

Thankfully, if you're looking to buy, it's currently on sale for just $19.99. This deal is for the latest 2026 release, which includes upgrades such as a new, modern design and more streamlined recommendations from Alexa+.

SEE ALSO: Kindles just got more expensive, but the Kobo Clara Colour is on sale for under $160

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select can stream content in 4K Ultra HD with HDR10+, making sure that movies and shows look sharper and more detailed. Getting started is straightforward, too. Plug it into your TV, connect it to WiFi, and you're ready to go.

For streaming, you can access all the main services like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+. It isn't limited to watching shows and movies, either: if you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can use Xbox Cloud Gaming to play supported Game Pass games straight through your TV.

If you're looking to save on the Fire TV Stick Select, this limited-time deal is not one to skip.

TL;DR: Disney, the NFL, Champion, and Fanatics just revealed all 32 team-character pairings for their new apparel collection — including the Eagles as Doctor Doom and the Packers as Chewbacca — with tees, crewnecks, and fleece now available online.

Disney just completed one of its biggest crossovers yet.

Disney Consumer Products, the NFL, Champion, and Fanatics revealed the final wave of team-character pairings in the Disney x Champion NFL Collection, completing a lineup that matches all 32 NFL teams with characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. The collection includes tees, crewnecks, and fleece for every team, and it's available now online and at select retailers nationwide.

Credit: Champion / Disney / Fanatics / NFL

Here's every team's match, broken down by division:

AFC East

• Buffalo Bills: Beast — strong, a little wild, fiercely loyal underneath it all

• Miami Dolphins: King Triton — royalty of the sea, fitting for a franchise with real staying power

• New England Patriots: Captain America — the embodiment of legacy and leadership

• New York Jets: Buzz Lightyear — fast, high-flying, and full of confidence

AFC North

• Baltimore Ravens: Diaval and Maleficent — dark, calculated, and hard to shake

• Cincinnati Bengals: Shere Khan — all stripes and swagger

• Cleveland Browns: Pluto — loyal and always down for a scrap, just like the Dawg Pound

• Pittsburgh Steelers: Pete — tough, no-nonsense, and built for physical football

AFC South

• Houston Texans: Jessie — fearless and gritty, with that classic Texas spirit

• Indianapolis Colts: Horace Horsecollar — a steady, hardworking Midwest workhorse

• Jacksonville Jaguars: Pepita — a spirit guide whose courage matches the team's identity

• Tennessee Titans: Thanos — locked in, relentless, and impossible to look away from

AFC West

• Denver Broncos: Maximus — tough and pioneering, always pushing forward

• Kansas City Chiefs: Big Bad Wolf — impossible to ignore, just like Chiefs Kingdom

• Las Vegas Raiders: Darth Vader — all mystique and menace

• Los Angeles Chargers: Hercules and Pegasus — legendary strength paired with serious flair

NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys: Woody — classic cowboy charm with real staying power

• New York Giants: Wreck-It Ralph — big, tough, but with heart underneath

• Philadelphia Eagles: Doctor Doom — commanding and hard to beat, cape and all

• Washington Commanders: Hamm — a nod to "The Hogs" and their grounded strength

NFC North

• Chicago Bears: Baloo — laid-back, fun-loving, and right at home in Chicago

• Detroit Lions: Simba — pride, strength, and a team on a mission

• Green Bay Packers: Chewbacca — loyal through the cold, no matter the conditions

• Minnesota Vikings: Thor — an obvious pick for a fan base that already yells "SKOL"

NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons: The Millennium Falcon — a fan favorite that's built a following through every twist and turn

• Carolina Panthers: Bagheera — disciplined and sharp, matching the team's black-and-blue identity

• New Orleans Saints: Louis — full of New Orleans energy and enthusiasm

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Captain Hook — expressive, unmistakable, and leaning fully into the pirate theme

NFC West

• Arizona Cardinals: Jafar and Iago — a fittingly dramatic desert duo

• Los Angeles Rams: Sulley — big presence, big city, big championship energy

• San Francisco 49ers: Stinky Pete the Prospector — a nod to the team's Gold Rush roots

• Seattle Seahawks: The "Mine, Mine, Mine" Seagulls — a playful callback to the team's loud, dedicated fan base

The full lineup is out now. Disney says the collection is part of a bigger push tied to Disney and ESPN's "Year of the Super Bowl," building toward ESPN's first-ever Super Bowl broadcast on Feb. 14, 2027.

Shop the full Disney x Champion NFL Collection at NFLShop, Fanatics, and Disney Store.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Alternatively, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

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

Samsung and Google are still the center of attention. Samsung just dropped three new foldables smartphones, two smartwatches, and smart glasses. Google then came along and dropped new smartphones, smartwatches, and more. Apple fans still need to wait for news of the latest iPhones.

Simply can't wait? You should know that you can still secure a limited-time offer on iPhones from T-Mobile. That's great news in the face of Apple price increases due to RAMageddon.

These are the best free iPhone deals from T-Mobile this week:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required.

• iPhone 17 — free when signing up for an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone.

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee. That's a small catch, but that's how it often goes with this kind of deal.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." That's enough for us to consider upgrading.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for free this week with T-Mobile.

Apple has lowered the price on its Polishing Cloth. Previously priced at $19, the plain off-white microfibre cloth could now be yours for just $9. Alternatively, you could just get an off-brand one that does the exact same thing for a fraction of the price.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces new $899 M6 Mac mini and $5,499 M5 Ultra Mac Studio

Introduced in 2021, the Apple Polishing Cloth was advertised as being "made with soft, nonabrasive material" that "cleans any Apple display, including nano-texture glass, safely and effectively." The tech giant also included a list of compatible Apple products in the cloth's Apple Store listing, stretching all the way back to the 4th generation iPod Shuffle released in 2010.

Of course, the Apple Polishing Cloth was cross-compatible with a much wider range of unlisted devices from other brands. Because, again, it is just a polishing cloth. iFixit even did a teardown of the $19 cloth, discovering that it is really just two pieces of fabric glued together.

"The polishing cloth makes clear that when it comes to innovating new ways to get people to overpay for something, Apple is still leading the pack," former Mashable reporter Jack Morse wrote at the time.

Now the multi-trillion dollar company has made its Polishing Cloth more affordable, slashing its price by over 50 percent. The cloth's Apple Store description appears largely unchanged, barring an updated compatibility list to account for new and retired products. However, the Apple Polishing Cloth is now $10 cheaper, down from $19 to a comparatively more affordable $9.

Even so, that's still $9 for a basic microfibre cleaning cloth. If you aren't concerned with having an Apple-branded cloth to polish your Apple-branded phone while checking your Apple-branded watch, you can easily pick up a bulk pack of microfibre cloths for less. 

The Apple Polishing Cloth's price reduction might be enticing to those eager to shell out their hard-earned cash for absolutely anything Apple-branded. Within days of unveiling the cloth in October 2021, Apple pushed back its delivery window by over three weeks, with backorders stretching into January before the end of the month. For everyone else, you're probably better off saving your cash.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

It's 2026, and times are good for getting what you want, when you want it, at the tap of a phone screen. That's right, there's a whole world of consumer brilliance behind an endless selection of apps. You can get almost anything you desire via your smartphone: Your weekly shopping, your favorite pizza, your high-end tech, even — our personal favorite — a red-hot hookup.

In fact, it's become the standard way to meet a date or potential partner. Online dating replaced the process of chatting someone up in a bar years ago, with the phenomenon of dating websites now going back decades. Some of these sites started up in the 1990s, in fact, though most of the modern-day dating action happens via apps. And as with all technology, the world of online and app-based dating continues to evolve.

According to the top sex-perts at Lovehoney — the popular sex toy brand and retailer that sells everything from lingerie and lubricants to dildos and tech-based toys — we're living in horny-but-wholesome times. Lovehoney has named 2026 "The Year of Pleasure."

But it's not about frivolous flings and one-night stands. It may be a surprise to some dating app users, but the humble one-night stand is on the decline. Wannabe daters are apparently searching for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections" instead of quick-and-easy sex.

People are still hooking up. Sex itself is still very much a No. 1 activity. But daters are on the hunt for hookups of substance — flings that actually mean something. We're becoming increasingly selective about who we hookup with and why. That's why it's important to use the right dating app. Each one offers something a little different, so the type of connections will vary from app to app.

To help you get started, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.

What to know before you swipe

Before you start downloading apps and sending a "hey" to anyone who catches your eye, it’s best to know just how to approach online dating. Our advice is to be 100 percent up front about who you are and what you’re looking for. And if you're interested purely in hooking up, maybe pass on more mainstream dating apps — apps such as eharmony that focus on romance and long-term relationships. The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the best free apps have ironclad safety features like profile verification.

Our main advice, though, is to stick to apps that are specifically designed for hookups and casual fun. Or even apps that are made to satisfy your kink (trust us, whatever that kink is, the likes of AdultFriendFinder have you covered). It can be freeing, not to mention productive, to be open about your desires. The ways in which we understand sex and relationships are changing all the time — just look at fast-growing "heteroflexible" sexuality, for instance. Hookup apps will allow you to explore any and all curiosities — but without any judgment or social anxiety.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for. It could be the chance to explore a new sexual frontier or a friends-with-benefits situation. And just because the one-night stand is in decline, it's still fun — just ensure it's safe and on your terms.

Whatever it is, we can help make it happen with this guide to the best hookup apps. Our selections are based on Mashable’s own real-world testing, expert input, and general dating app experience. We’ve broken down each of these hookup apps by features and function, and we've offered an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.

These are the best hookup apps for 2026.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you're a fan of UT-Austin.

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: Injury-prone

• Green: Cycling

• Blue: Go Longhorns

• Purple: Could be spelled like a sports team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Vulnerable Spot

• Green: Famous Cycling Races

• Blue: Associated with the University of Texas

• Purple: Starts with an NFL Team, in Singular Form

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 #702 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Vulnerable Spot: ACHILLES' HEEL, DEFECT, FLAW, WEAKNESS

• Famous Cycling Races: GIRO D'ITALIA, IL LOMBARDIA, TOUR DE FRANCE, VUELTA A ESPANA

• Associated with the University of Texas: AUSTIN, BEVO, BURNT ORANGE, HOOK 'EM

• Starts with an NFL Team, in Singular Form: COLT MCCOY, LIONEL MESSI, RAMBLERS, SAINT JOSEPH'S

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.

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 August 26, 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 August 26, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 26 Pips

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

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (28): Everything in this space must add up to 28. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 26 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

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

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 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 26 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're gifted.

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 August 26, 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: Abracadabra

• Green: Aptitude

• Blue: Signified by a letter

• Purple: Opens the door

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: "There you have it!"

• Green: Knack

• Blue: What "P" might stand for

• Purple: Key ___

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 #1172 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• "There you have it!": BEHOLD, PRESTO, SHAZAM, VOILÀ

• Knack: FORTE, GIFT, STRENGTH, TALENT

• What "P" might stand for: PAGE, PARK, PHOSPHORUS, PIANO

• Key ___: CHAIN, LARGO, LIME, SIGNATURE

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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy for a workaholic.

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 August 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All in a day's work

The words are adjectives related to an occupation.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe responsibilities.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Part of the Job.

NYT Strands word list for August 26

• Errand

• Assignment

• Part of the Job

• Duty

• Task

• Chore

• Project

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 today's Strands.

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 August 26, 2026 Park meaning

To stop driving a vehicle, or a green space for people to enjoy.

Lime meaning

A type of fruit.

Forte meaning

Area of expertise.

Largo meaning

A musical term.

Presto meaning

A musical term, or a word a magician might say.

Signature meaning

A music-related term, or when someone signs their name.

Page meaning

A single sheet of paper within a book.

Gift meaning

Something given to another, usually for a special occasion.

Phosphorous meaning

A chemical element.

Behold meaning

To look upon, sometimes used as an exclamation.

Chain meaning

An object, often metal, connected by a series of links.

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Voilà meaning

A French expression that essentially means "here it is."

Talent meaning

Referring to skill and ability.

Shazam meaning

Something a magician might say.

Strength meaning

Related to characteristics that allow someone or something to lift or withstand.

Piano meaning

An instrument that is played by pressing keys.

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 today's Connections.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you have a farm.

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 August 26, 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A castrated rooster.

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 C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CAPON

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 today's Wordle.

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

Hurled.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

THREW

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Doomed

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GONER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Belief.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 26, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FAITH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Member of the Catholic Church.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FRIAR

Final Hurdle hint

A tooth.

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

MOLAR

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: Babbel helps you learn a new language naturally, and lifetime access is just $159 with code LEARN.

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Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons in advance. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and switch between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort level.

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With rare exception, I start my day by skimming a handful of RSS feeds specific to my interests and my work. Then, if any of them are relevant to a work project, I paste them into a document so I can reference them later.

BMW's latest electric SUV shows just how far the automotive industry has pushed its touchscreen obsession. Its enormous infotainment display doesn't just handle navigation and entertainment. It replaces many of the physical controls drivers once used without taking their eyes off the road. BMW says the shift reflects changing preferences among younger buyers, but the result feels less intuitive rather than more advanced.

Dolly Parton, the country music legend who somehow felt less like a distant superstar and more like someone America collectively knew, has died, her family announced. She was 80.

Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death in a video posted to her official social media accounts on Aug. 25. He said Parton died peacefully in Nashville and that "Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus." A cause of death was not announced. A small, private service will be held for her immediate family.

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Almost immediately, social media filled with the usual markers of collective grief: favorite songs, old interviews, movie scenes, personal stories, and declarations that this particular loss felt different. But people were not only mourning the woman who gave the world "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." They were mourning Dolly herself — the rhinestones, the one-liners, the enormous hair, the even bigger heart, and the uncanny ability to make millions of strangers feel as if she were rooting for them personally.

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Parton was one of the rare celebrities whose fame never appeared to place much distance between her and everyone else. She spoke openly about growing up poor in a one-room cabin in Tennessee. She joked about her wigs, her body, and the money it took to achieve her famously over-the-top look. She could deliver a perfectly constructed punchline, then turn around and say something so sincere that it caught people off guard.

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Best of all, her humor made it clear that the "dumb blonde" persona was always a performance, and that she was the person most in on the joke: "I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb," she famously said. "And I also know that I’m not blonde."

The combination of glamour, intelligence, warmth, and self-awareness made her beloved far beyond the country music world. People who had never bought one of her albums still knew Dolly, somehow, someway.

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Parton was musician Miley Cyrus' godmother, and according to Cyrus, "Dolly's been like a mother to me." She guided Cyrus through every stage of her career, and the two performed together many times, including on "Jolene" and a soaring New Year's Eve medley of "Wrecking Ball” and “I Will Always Love You.”

Cyrus once recalled Parton sending her a fax that read, "How much do I love you? As much as my heart can hold and as far as my arms can reach."

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Parton has spent much of her career championing younger female artists, like Cyrus. She joined Kesha on a recording of "Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You)," and Kesha later called Parton a "guiding light" and said that working with her changed the way she judged her own music. Parton also sang with Bebe Rexha on the 2023 ballad "Seasons" and Sabrina Carpenter for a country-inflected version of "Please, Please, Please." Back in January, she brought Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah, and Reba McEntire together for a new recording of "Light of a Clear Blue Morning", with proceeds benefiting pediatric cancer research.

She also never prohibited other women from reinterpreting her music. Beyoncé put her own spin on "Jolene." The White Stripes turned it into garage rock. Whitney Houston transformed "I Will Always Love You" into a global phenomenon. Parton seemed genuinely delighted whenever someone found a new way into one of her songs; after all, she always saw herself as a songwriter first and foremost.

"At the end of the day, I hope that I will be remembered as a good songwriter," Parton once wrote. "The songs are my legacy

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Parton reportedly wrote thousands of songs during her life, often drawing from the people, poverty, faith, and complicated emotions of her childhood in the Smoky Mountains: "My Tennessee Mountain Home" captured the place that continued to ground her after she became famous. "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" turned her own hard-won independence into an anthem about believing better days were coming. And in "The Bargain Store," she transformed a secondhand shop into a tender metaphor for a heart that had been hurt but still had something to give.

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The numbers behind that legacy are staggering. Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide, landed 25 songs at No. 1 on Billboard's country chart, and placed 47 albums in the country Top 10. She earned 10 competitive Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, and two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

And music was only one part of what she built. Parton starred in movies including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias; wrote the score for the Broadway adaptation of 9 to 5; and co-founded the production company behind projects including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Father of the Bride. She also turned Dollywood into one of Tennessee’s best-known attractions and, in 2025, received the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for using her success to help others.

Her care for people took forms more tangible than a song to play over and over again. Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 because her father could not read or write. What began as a program for children in her Tennessee home county grew into an international effort, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, that has sent hundreds of millions of free books to children.

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She also donated $1 million to research at Vanderbilt University, which helped fund the development of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. She also supported communities affected by wildfires, funded scholarships, and invested in her home state through Dollywood. For Parton, generosity was not a carefully managed addition to her image, but part of what she did with the power that image gave her.

"Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." - Iconic quote from the late Dolly Parton

Parton's husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025. She later postponed and ultimately canceled a planned Las Vegas residency while dealing with health problems. Yet just four days before her death, she was still talking about what she wanted to create next.

"I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, and I still have so many things I want to achieve," she told People on Aug. 21.

Dolly was never simply preserving a legacy. She was always writing another song, planning another project, making another joke, or finding another way to help.

Those wishing to honor Parton are urged by her family to share a message by tagging @DollyParton on social media or leaving one on her official website. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

For years, Android users have been sneaking into the Developer Options to make their phones feel faster—this article is not about that. I found a different, less “hacky” setting that sped up my Pixel phone, and I didn’t expect it to matter as much as it did.

Cyberdecks have been wildly popular with DIY enthusiasts for a good reason: you can build a portable computer that does what your usual PC can't, often with more style and a lower price. Raspberry Pi is eager to hop on the trend, and has just shared a tutorial that teaches you how to build a cyberdeck from scratch.

Your car's 12V outlet is probably one of its most overlooked features. While many drivers only use it for an old-fashioned cigarette lighter or a phone charger, it can power a surprisingly wide range of useful accessories, from dash cameras and tire inflators to portable coolers, vacuum cleaners, and even heated blankets.