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Access unpublished flight and hotel prices with OneAir Elite

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 11:00

TL;DR: OneAir Elite tracks hotel and flight prices — even after you book — to help you save automatically, all for a one-time $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: OneAir OneAir Elite: Lifetime Subscription $99.99
$790 Save $690.01   Get Deal

Travel is one of those things people really don’t want to cut — but it’s usually the first thing to get expensive. Flights fluctuate, hotel prices drop or rise randomly, and there’s always that lingering feeling you could’ve gotten a better deal if you waited or checked one more site.

OneAir Elite is a travel platform that doesn’t just help you find deals — it keeps working after you book. Its hotel price monitoring tracks your reservation and automatically rebooks the same room if the price drops, refunding you the difference. No extra tabs, no manual checking.

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Flights get similar treatment. If your ticket price drops, OneAir flags it and helps you rebook at the lower fare (factoring in any fees). It’s not magic, but it does remove a lot of the guesswork and time

You also get access to private hotel rates and unpublished flight deals that aren’t typically listed on public booking platforms. For frequent travelers — or even occasional ones—that’s where the savings can start to stack up.

Is it for everyone? If you rarely travel, probably not. But if you take a few trips a year, or just hate overpaying for the trips you take, it’s a pretty low-effort way to keep costs in check for years to come.

Get a lifetime of OneAir Elite for a one-time $99.99 (reg. $790).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AdultFriendFinder vs. Tinder: Which subscription tier is right for you?

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 11:00

If you're searching for a fun hookup or summer fling, and especially if you're prepared to pay for a premium dating account to boost your chances, you're going to be faced with a lot of choices. Not only do you have to pick a dating app or site, from the literal dozens of options, but you also have to consider what subscription tier will best fit your needs or maximize your chances.

By reputation, longevity, and success rate, there are two standout options in the game right now: Tinder and AdultFriendFinder. But while they're both geared towards short-term fun, they operate in very different ways, beginning with the fact that Tinder is a smartphone app and AFF operates on computers exclusively (or almost exclusively). 

The next big difference between the two services is the age brackets that use them. More than half of Tinder users are under the age of 30, while the median AdultFriendFinder member is between 30 and 38 years old, so there's a pretty significant demographic difference between them, though you shouldn't let that discourage you from trying them out even if you happen to fall outside their mainstream age group. After all, their combined member pool is well into the millions, so it's not like you'll be fishing in a small pond. 

But that brings us to the big question: which subscription tier is right for you? We did the research and compared offerings to help you find the right fit for your dating circumstances, without wasting your money on unnecessary extras.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tinder Tinder   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Tinder subscription tiersTinder+

The most basic premium account Tinder offers is also probably the right fit for most people. It unlocks a major quality-of-life upgrade for swipe addicts, unlimited likes, so you'll never have to wait out the clock in frustration ever again, but it also offers another majorly useful feature, especially for young people travelling between university and their hometown: Passport. The Passport feature allows you to change your swiping location, instantly switching up your pool of available singles, which is majorly useful if you're expecting to be in a new place in a month or so, as you can start pre-planning your dates. 

Tinder uses a dynamic pricing model, varying by your age, location and subscription length, but in the United States you should expect to pay from $8 per month for a Tinder+ membership. 

Tinder Gold

Tinder Gold includes all of the aforementioned Tinder+ features, with three additional features to give you a sneaky edge over the competition: a weekly "Super Like," one monthly profile boost to increase your visibility to nearby singles, and, best of all, the ability to see who has liked your profile before you swipe right or left on that person.

If you've used Tinder in the past without much success, or with less success than you would like, a Gold subscription goes a long way towards helping you boost your visibility and find new matches, especially if you happen to come across a profile that has liked you that you somehow overlooked. 

SEE ALSO: 4 tips for using hookup apps discretely — advice for Feeld, Tinder, AdultFriendFinder, and Grindr

These extra perks aren't cheap, though. Taking into account the aforementioned dynamic pricing model, you should expect to pay between $23 and $45 dollars a month for Tinder Gold, depending on the length of your subscription.

Tinder Platinum

Ready to bring out the big guns? Tinder Platinum is the service's most exclusive and most expensive membership tier, but it's also the most feature-rich. Naturally, it includes all of the perks available to + and Gold members, with two key additions: as a Platinum member, your likes get priority visibility above non-Platinum users, which means you'll automatically be shuffled to the top of the pile for singles you swipe on, and you'll unlock the "Message before Matching" feature, which works exactly as it sounds: you'll be able to DM the sexy single who catches your eye before you both swipe on each other. 

If you have a lot of confidence in your text game but want to buy yourself the chance to flex it, Platinum is a fantastic option. On the other hand, if you're someone who likes to let their profile and photos do the work for them, it doesn't offer enough of a compelling reason to upgrade from a Gold membership. 

Again, taking into account dynamic pricing, you can expect a Platinum membership to cost you between $29.99 per month with a multi-month commitment or up to $50 per month with a short-term commitment.

AdultFriendFinder subscription tiersAFF Gold

If you opt for the AdultFriendFinder route, you're absolutely going to want to spring for at least the Gold membership. Unlike Tinder, which offers free members an enticing variety of ways to match and meet, AdultFriendFinder severely restricts the freedom of non-paying accounts. You can't message people one-on-one, for example, or even view other people's profiles, without ponying up some cash. 

With a Gold membership, however, your on-site experience starts to improve dramatically. You can view full profiles, including nude photos and full-length videos, and even comment on those public-facing photos and videos. It's also not possible to send friend requests without a Gold membership, and on the AFF platform, this is a major inhibitor to interacting.

SEE ALSO: Adult Friend Finder app: Where to download the AFF app and how secure is it?

But by far the biggest benefit of the Gold membership is how dramatically it improves the site's search functionality. You'll unlock a ton of new filters, including the ability to search by specific kinks or interests, and as a premium member, your profile will be given priority when other people search for criteria you meet. 

All of that added functionality comes at a cost, though. A Gold membership costs between $39.95 per month on a month-by-month subscription or as little as $14.95 per month if you opt in for an entire year. 

AFF VIP

If you become an AdultFriendFinder power user and want to increase your on-site perks even further, you might consider upgrading to a VIP membership. It's only available at a flat cost of $29.95 per month, in the United States, but it delivers some incredible benefits, from read receipts (so you know when someone has seen your message) to enhanced visibility across the site, which includes having a VIP badge affixed to your profile photo. There's even an exclusive, VIP-only site area, where you can mingle with the other elite members. 

If you're looking for local hookups, truth be told, the VIP membership won't really improve your chances above and beyond the regular Gold membership, but if you also like to have virtual fun, the premium subscription tier does unlock a lot of doors, showing you just how wild AdultFriendFinder can be.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 2026 Met Gala was haunted by Jeff Bezos

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 10:58

The 2026 Met Gala was held at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, gathering celebrities and fashion insiders from across the world. Technically it's a charity event, intended to raise money for the museum's Costume Institute. For online onlookers, it's a time to transform into passionate amateur fashion critics. 

This year however, much of the commentary was redirected toward the 2026 Met Gala's sponsor and honorary chair: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Following tradition, the 2026 Met Gala theme focused on the museum's new spring exhibition. "Costume Art" opens on May 10, pairing clothing with artworks from across (primarily Western) history. As such, the dress code for the 2026 Met Gala was "Fashion is Art," encouraging attendees to similarly find connections between their garments and artworks in other mediums. 

Credit: Mashable composite: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images; Kevin Mazur / MG26 / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue; Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue Audrey Nuna, Sabrina Carpenter, Beyonce, and Hudson Williams. Credit: Mashable composite: Taylor Hill / Getty Images; Theo Wargo / FilmMagic; TheStewartofNY / Getty Images; Julian Hamilton / Getty Images

Many attendees embraced the theme. Sabrina Carpenter wore a Dior gown made from film, specifically from the 1954 film Sabrina. Hudson Williams made his Met Gala debut in baby blue Balenciaga reminiscent of a Spanish matador's outfit, accompanied by makeup inspired by the 2010 film Black Swan. Emma Chamberlain's hand-painted Mugler gown took reference from the medium of paint itself, evoking its textures and colours. 

Credit: Mashable composite: Lexie Moreland / WWD via Getty Images; Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images; Mike Coppola / Getty Images

However, the Met Gala fashion wasn't the only thing turning heads on Monday. Bezos' involvement drew significant attention to this year's gala, provoking considerable criticism beyond the traditional fashion commentary. The Met Gala has previously come under fire for revelling in ostentatious opulence while the rest of the world burns, drawing comparisons to the severe class divide in dystopic YA novel The Hunger Games

Now that the fourth richest man in the world has reportedly dropped $10 million to sponsor the event, the vibes for the 2026 Met Gala were even more off than usual. 

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Bezos himself didn't walk the red carpet, leaving his wife, Met Gala co-chair and co-sponsor Lauren Sánchez Bezos, to show off her Schiaparelli dress alone. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan also skipped the spectacle of the red carpet, despite this being their first time at the gala.

Other tech executives did take to the carpet though, including Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel (with his wife Miranda Kerr), Instagram head Adam Mosseri (with his wife Monica), Google co-founder Sergey Brin (with his girlfriend Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto), OpenAI executive Charles Porch (with his husband Robert Denning), and Amazon executives Christine Beauchamp and Jenny Freshwater.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, and Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr. Credit: Mashable composite: Kevin Mazur / MG26 / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue; Cindy Ord / MG26 / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue; Julian Hamilton / Getty Images Charles Porch and Robert Denning, Adam Mosseri and Monica Mosseri, and Sergey Brin and Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto. Credit: Mashable composite: John Shearer / WireImage; Kevin Mazur / MG26 / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue; Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue. Jenny Freshwater and Christine Beauchamp. Credit: Cindy Ord / MG26 / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue Bezos' Met Gala met with pee bottle protest

Bezos' decision to bypass the Met Gala's famous red carpet may have been informed by the loud backlash to his involvement in the event. On Friday, activist group Everyone Hates Elon left approximately 300 bottles of fake urine inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a reference to allegations that Amazon workers have been forced to pee in bottles to keep on schedule amidst gruelling working conditions.

"Jeff Bezos's company Amazon is literally being sued for forcing workers to urinate in bottles," the group said in a statement posted to Instagram. "Amazon avoids MILLIONS in tax and Bezos is one of the world's richest men. The Met Museum is taking the PISS by having Jeff honoured as their Gala host."

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The protestors partook in their own guerilla installation art outside the museum as well, attaching a basket of empty plastic bottles to a lamppost alongside a sign encouraging people to use them as toilets.

"Met Gala VIP toilet," read the sign. "Installed in honor of Met Gala chair Jeff Bezos. Go ahead, it's good enough for his staff."

Everyone Hates Elon also projected calls to boycott the Met Gala upon New York buildings on Sunday. 

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Even so, few invitees publicly bowed out of the event, much less cited Bezos as the reason. While some former Met Gala attendees were absent this year, this could be due to any number of reasons other than protest, such as not being invited, having a clash in their schedule, or simply because they didn't feel up to it.

However, previous attendee Taraji P. Henson did explicitly express her distaste for Bezos' involvement in the Met Gala, sharing a post on her Instagram Story juxtaposing the billionaire's wealth with poor working conditions in Amazon warehouses. 

Forbes reports that former gala guests Bella Hadid and Cara Delevingne also liked an Instagram Reel from creator Meredith Lynch, in which she called out celebrities planning to attend this year's gala after also protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite this, Delevingne attended anyway, co-hosting the official livestream.

"If you are a celebrity and you attend the Met Gala and you wear the ICE Out pin, please note that I will be dragging you in perpetuity," said Lynch. 

"You cannot wear the ICE Out pin to the Jeff Bezos-backed Met Gala. Jeff Bezos is part of the reason we're in this fucking mess… I know that the funds from the Met Gala go to a good cause in that the Met is a wonderful institution in New York city. But it is wild to me that this event is sponsored by Jeff Bezos, who has backed Trump, who has slashed arts funding."

Sarah Paulson attended the Met Gala as well, wearing a Matières Fécales ballgown with a leather mask designed to look like a one-dollar bill. According to the designer, the collection was "a reflection of the greed and corruption that comes with extreme power." However, Paulson's apparent dig at the ultra wealthy received mixed reactions on social media, with some finding it tone-deaf in light of the context.

Cara Delevingne, Sarah Paulson, and Doechii. Credit: Mashable composite: Leonardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images; Mike Coppola / Getty Images

One notable person who skipped the Met Gala was New York's favourite mayor Zohran Mamdani. While his predecessors traditionally attended the event, Mamdani told Hell Gate in April that he wanted to keep focusing on his work to make the city affordable. His office also released a spotlight of New York fashion industry workers timed to coincide with the Met Gala, focusing on celebrating the people behind the scenes.

The mayor didn't explicitly state that the Met Gala's association with a tech billionaire accused of exploiting his workers weighed into his decision. However, a source told Page Six that though Mamdani had been invited, the event "goes against everything he believes in."

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for May 5, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 08:25

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

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 May 5, 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 May 5, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 5 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 5 Pips

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 5 Pips

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 08:13

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

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.

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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.

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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: Olympic cities

  • Green: Horseshoe

  • Blue: La Liga table

  • Purple: Grainy last name

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Summer Olympics Hosts

  • Green: Horseshoe Terms

  • Blue: Words in La Liga Team Names

  • Purple: ____Rice

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 #589 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Summer Olympics Hosts: ATHENS, ATLANTA, SEOUL, SYDNEY

  • Horseshoe Terms: LEANER, PIT, RINGER, STAKE

  • Words in La Liga Team Names: ATLETICO, BARCELONA, RAYO, REAL

  • ____Rice: BEN, GLEN, GRANTLAND, KIKI

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 07:42

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

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 5, 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: A shimmer

  • Green: Human nature

  • Blue: A tie

  • Purple: Rivalry

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Glimmer

  • Green: Involuntary actions

  • Blue: Kinds of knots

  • Purple: Starting with units in competitions

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 #1059 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Glimmer: FLICKER, HINT, SUGGESTION, WHIFF

  • Involuntary actions: BLINK, HICCUP, SHIVER, SNEEZE

  • Kinds of knots: BEND, BOWLINE, HITCH, SHEEPSHANK

  • Starting with units in competitions: GAMELAN, MATCHSTICK, POINTER, SETBACK

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 May 5, 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for May 5, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 07:42

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always on time.

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 May 5, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get up!

The words are related to time.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a timeteller.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Digital Clock.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for May 5
  • Snooze

  • Display

  • Tuner

  • Digital Clock

  • Alarm

  • Radio

  • Time

  • Date

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 07:42

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're easily hooked.

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 May 5, 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 May 5, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To hook onto.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LATCH

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.

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for May 5, 2026

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 07:41

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators 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

A small measure of weight.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

POUND

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Young girl.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MISSY

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

An oddity.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

QUIRK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A principle.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TENET

Final Hurdle hint

Emotional.

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

TEARY

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Focus AI Efforts Where They Matter Most

Havard Management Tip of the Day - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 06:01

Many companies invest heavily in AI but struggle to turn isolated productivity gains into meaningful business results. The issue is a “micro-productivity trap”: you optimize individual tasks without rethinking workflows or how value is created. To break out of this pattern, focus on four steps that shift AI from incremental improvement to real business transformation. […]

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Categories: Management

The White House may begin vetting AI models before release

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 00:13

White House officials are exploring official government oversight of new AI models, according to the New York Times.

U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the publication that the Trump administration is forming an AI working group composed of tech leaders and government representatives. The group will be tasked with outlining potential oversight procedures for new models launching to market, including formal review processes, the Times reported.

SEE ALSO: Student sues matchmaking app for allegedly stealing her likeness for an ad

The proposed plans were discussed at a White House meeting last week with representatives from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI.

Potentially influenced by regulatory processes announced by UK regulators, which relegate AI oversight to relevant government bodies, the working group would also determine which U.S. agencies would be tasked with oversight. Some officials have suggested the National Security Agency (NSA), the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, and the director of national intelligence take the lead, while others have even suggested revitalizing the Biden-era Center for A.I. Standards and Innovation, according to the Times.

The administration has reversed its stance on AI regulation in recent months, despite announcing a federal AI action plan that pulled back on regulation of tech companies and threatened to reduce federal funding for states that impeded AI infrastructure efforts through regulation. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill also included limits on state governments' AI regulation, originally proposing a 10-year moratorium on state action in favor of federal oversight.

Trump appointee and FCC chairman Brendan Carr has also advocated for a light-touch approach to AI regulation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I finally found an SUV where both trims are worth it: why the Toyota Crown Signia matters

How-To Geek - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 00:00

Although the shooting-brake silhouette might draw you in at first, the real story of the Crown Signia is the somewhat unexpected level of refinement and standard features Toyota has packed into the vehicle. Since its debut in late 2023, the Crown Signia has served as a textbook example of understated luxury, complete with a wagon-style profile that avoids traditional SUV or wagon classifications.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $40 bundle breaks down trading so it makes sense

Mashable - Tue, 05/05/2026 - 00:00

TL;DR: This $39.99 bundle includes 7 trading courses and 89 hours of content covering stocks, forex, and futures—built for learning at your own pace.

Opens in a new window Credit: SkilletAcademy From Zero to Pro: The 2026 Complete Stocks, Forex & Futures Trading Bundle $39.99
$140 Save $100.01   Get Deal

Thinking about getting into trading, but don’t know where to start (and don’t trust random YouTube advice)? This kind of structured approach makes a lot more sense and you can learn at your own pace.

This 2026 Complete Stocks, Forex & Futures Trading Bundle pulls together seven full courses into one place, covering everything from basic concepts to more advanced strategies. The big draw here is the format — it’s designed to take you step by step instead of dropping you into the deep end.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

You’ll learn how markets actually move, including price action, trends, and key levels like support and resistance. There’s also a strong focus on technical analysis — think candlestick patterns, chart setups, and indicators — but explained in a way that’s meant to be usable, not just theoretical.

What stands out is the inclusion of real trade walkthroughs. Instead of just explaining strategies, the courses show how they play out in real market conditions, which helps connect the dots.

There’s also a solid emphasis on risk management and trading psychology, which is arguably the less flashy but more important side of trading. Things like position sizing, discipline, and avoiding emotional decisions are baked into the lessons.

Get a comprehensive trading foundation with this 2026 Complete Stocks, Forex & Futures Trading Bundle, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $140).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spirit Airlines shut down: What to do now if youre a customer

Mashable - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 23:44

Spirit Airlines is officially out of business. The budget airline carrier ceased operations on May 2, 2026 due to financial troubles. The company has now begun winding down after filing for bankruptcy twice and failing to secure a government bailout.

If you're a Spirit Airlines customer, you may be asking yourself: "I booked a flight with Spirit…what do I do now?"

Here's how to get your refund or book your flight with a different airline.

Spirit Airlines refunds

According to Spirit Airlines, anyone who booked tickets for an upcoming flight will automatically receive a refund to the credit card or debit card they used to make their purchase. 

Spirit's official website, Spirit.com, now forwards to a new URL, spiritrestructuring.com. However, existing customers can still login to their account at https://www.spirit.com/my-trips/find-trip in order to view the status of their refund.

Customers who booked a Spirit flight through a travel agent must contact their agent for a refund.

It's currently unclear how Spirit will handle any vouchers, credits, or points used to book flights.

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' Weekend Update covers Spirit Airlines shutdown and more Book a 'rescue fare' flight

Finding out that your Spirit Airlines flight home in the middle of your trip has been canceled because the company is no longer operating is certainly not a fun experience.

However, many airlines are trying to make things simple for travelers so they aren't left stranded. Airline carriers like American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines are all offering "rescue fares" or discount flight tickets for Spirit customers.

For example, JetBlue is offering discounted $99 one-way flights for anyone with a valid itinerary through May 6. Some airlines, however, are offering these discounts only to traveling Spirit customers who show up in person at the ticket booth during their trip.

Companies like Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, and Frontier are also temporarily offering reduced fares on routes that Spirit once flew.





Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Star Wars Day deals, drops, and freebies for May the 4th

Mashable - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 23:30
A quick look at the best May the 4th deals, freebies, and merch: Best Amazon deal Echo Dot Star Wars Bundle: Includes Echo Dot, Charcoal, and The Mandalorian Helmet Stand $79.98 (save $20) Get Deal Best Lego deal C-3PO Lego model $111.99 (save $28 with Insider membership) Get Deal Best Casetify deal Darth Vader 3D AirPods Case: Collector's Edition $98 (save $40) Get Deal Most coveted drop Star Wars Ultimate Grogu $599.99 Pre-Order Here

I’ll level with you: I'm not a Star Wars fan. (Cue collective gasps.) I couldn’t tell you the difference between a Sith and a Jedi, and my knowledge of the franchise basically begins and ends with Baby Yoda memes. But if there is one thing I do love, it’s finding a good deal.

Every year on Star Wars Day (aka “May the Fourth”), brands use the unofficial holiday as an excuse to drop new products, hand out gifts, and discount their inventory. So, while I won't be having a movie marathon today, I have spent the morning scouring the internet for the best sales.

Below is a running list of all the May the 4th deals, new releases, and freebies going on right now.

Celebrate Star Wars Day with Lego

Lego has always had some pretty cool Star Wars sets (and I say that as a non-fan), but this year, the brand's going all out with freebies (you'll get a free Razor Crest Mini if you spend $40+, or Darksaber if you spend $160+), new product drops (including the Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter which comes with a Mandalorian and Grogu Display set), quadruple the points, and exclusive rewards for Insiders.

Insiders also get access to the following deals:

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Store Star Wars Day Sale   Shop Now Shop limited-edition Star Wars Echo Dot stands at Amazon

Amazon usually celebrates May 4th by releasing a new Star Wars-themed Echo Dot stand. This year, the company released two: The Mandalorian Helmet and Grogu. Both bundles are available for $79.96 and $71.98, respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Star Wars Bundle: Includes Echo Dot, Charcoal, and The Mandalorian Helmet Stand $79.98 at Amazon
$99.98 Save $20   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Star Wars Bundle: Includes Echo Dot, Charcoal, and Grogu Stand $71.98 at Amazon
$89.98 Save $18   Get Deal Get your pups a Star Wars-themed toy at Bark (by the creators of Bark Box)

Bark just dropped two $100 Star Wars-themed enrichment toys inspired by The Mandalorian: The Mythosaur Plush XXXL Multi-Part and Enrichment Dog Toy and the Krayt Dragon Plush XXXL Multi-Part and Enrichment Dog Toy.

They're huge, so if you have a big dog and you're a Star Wars fan, this might be a good collectible (if they don't destroy it, that is). If you have smaller pups, like I do, you may want to check out Bark's other Star Wars toys:

PetSmart also has a collection of Star Wars-themed toys, but they're not on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bark Bark Star Wars Day Sale   Shop Now Preorder John Williams' newest Tiny Vinyl releases: 'The Imperial March' and 'Finale'

Tiny Vinyl makes literal four-inch records, and the company just dropped a Target-exclusive Star Wars edition.

You can finally preorder John Williams' "The Imperial March" (from The Empire Strikes Back) and "Finale" (from Return Of The Jedi) for $14.99 at Target. The miniature record company first teased the release on its Instagram back on March 17, but it's finally available to add to your cart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tiny Vinyl John Williams Tiny Vinyl Edition - The Imperial March / Finale $14.99 at Target
  Shop Now

Target also has a ton of other Star Wars items on sale, including:

Protect your phone from the Dark Side (and general clumsiness) with Casetify

If you're looking for a new phone case and want to sport your love for Star Wars, Casetify has tons of options, including a Darth Vader Chest Plate Case, a C-3PO Case, and a classic R2D2 Case. The standard iPhone 17 Pro Max cases will run you $64.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify C-3PO Case $64 at Casetify
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Darth Vader™ 3D AirPods Case: Collector's Edition $98 at Casetify
$138 Save $40   Get Deal Grab new Baby Yoda (aka Grogu) merch directly from the Disney Store

Unsurprisingly, the Disney Store is packed with new Star Wars merchandise today, including a handful of exclusive new items. You can grab a Grogu Crossbody Bag for $34.99, a Mandalorian Voice-Changing Helmet for $119.99, and a Mandalorian and Grogu Squishmallows Plush Set for $34.99. (Note: When you enter the site, you'll be prompted to enter a code, and then you'll be put into a queue. It only takes a couple of seconds, though!)

Opens in a new window Credit: Disney The Mandalorian Voice-Changing Helmet for Adults $119 at Disney
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Mandalorian and Grogu Squishmallows Plush Set $34.99 at Disney
  Shop Now Get early access to Bath & Body Works' new Mandalorian collection

Bath & Body Works is offering a limited, online-only early drop for its upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu collection. The catch? You have to be a signed-in member to buy anything today. The full collection doesn't officially launch until May 11, so this is your only chance to grab these items before the general public.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bath & Body Works Snack Time Collectible Tin $24.95 at Bath & Body Works
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Bath & Body Works Mythosaur Messenger Bag $59.95 at Bath & Body Works
  Shop Now Show your love for the franchise with a Star Wars-themed rug

Ruggable, our fave washable rug brand, has a variety (33 options) of Star Wars-themed rugs, including the oh-so-popular The Rebellion Rug and the Dark Side Damask Delft Blue Rug.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable The Rebellion Rug $549 at Ruggable
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable Dark Side Damask Delft Blue Rug $549 at Ruggable
  Shop Now Bring the fandom to the gym with 30% off BlenderBottle

Get some motivation at the gym with Star Wars-themed BlenderBottle shakers. The whimsy (and wisdom) of Yoda can come with you to the gym as BlenderBottle is offering 30% off Star Wars-themed bottle on May 4 and 5.

Opens in a new window Credit: BlenderBottle Star Wars BlenderBottle Shakers $14 at BlenderBottle
$19.99 Save $5.99 30% off Star Wars-themed BlenderBottle shakers. Discount applied automatically. Get Deal May the 4th deals for puzzle lovers from Ravensburger

To celebrate May the 4th, Ravensburger is offering 20% off Star Wars puzzles and games. Deals are marked down on the Ravensburger website, but unfortunately, it doesn't apply to the brand's 18,000-piece Star Wars puzzle.

Find Star Wars art in the Samsung Art Store

In honor of May the 4th, Samsung added eight new Star Wars artworks to the Samsung Art Store. Digital art can then be added to Frame TVs so you can enjoy your favorite universe on the TV, even when you're not watching one of the movies.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Star Wars Digital Art Shop Star Wars digital art in the Samsung Art Store to add to your Frame TV. Shop Now A new batch of Star Wars apparel just dropped, and it's already on sale

BoxLunch just dropped a whole new collection of apparel to celebrate the upcoming release of The Mandalorian & Grogu. Plus, for May the 4th, it's 30% off. Get it now, and you can roll up to the theater in style.

Opens in a new window Credit: BoxLunch BoxLunch The Mandalorian Women's Cropped Striped Baseball Jersey $38.43 at BoxLunch
$54.90 Save $16.47   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: BoxLunch BoxLunch The Mandalorian Din Djarin Striped Mechanic Woven Button-Up $38.43 at BoxLunch
$54.90 Save $16.47   Get Deal Bring home the Ultimate Grogu

If you want a very own Grogu of your own — and not just a plain old plushy, but a real-life replica of Grogu — Hasbro dropped the Ultimate Grogu. This lifelike replica includes 250+ animations and a screen-accurate design. But this item is preorder only and won't ship until 2027, so you'll have to be patient.

Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Ultimate Grogu $599.99 at Hasbro Pulse
  Pre-order Here Buy $15 worth of Hasbro Star Wars toys at Walmart and get a $15 Fandango movie reward

Hasbro, Walmart, and Fandango teamed up for the ultimate Star Wars Day deal. When you purchase $15 worth of Hasbro Star Wars toys at Walmart, Fandango will give you a $15 Fandango movie reward. After you make your purchase, submit your receipt online, and once approved, you'll get a promo code from Fandango.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Star Wars Huggin' Grogu Electronic Action Figure $29.97 at Walmart
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Star Wars The Black Series The Mandalorian & Grogu Deluxe Action Figure $34.95 at Walmart
  Shop Now Get a classic Vera Bradley tote with a Star Wars twist

The classic, soft Vera Bradley styles now come with a Star Wars twist. You can find Vera Bradley's classic duffel bags, cosmetics cases, wallets, and more, all in the adorable Grogu Medallion print.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vera Bradley Vera Bradley Star Wars Large Original Duffel $145 at Vera Bradley
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Vera Bradley Vera Bradley Star Wars Small Turnlock Wallet $80 at Vera Bradley
  Shop Now Get an actual piece of Star Wars history

OK so most of the deals and products to shop during Star Wars Day are just replicas or homages to the legendary series, but what if you could own an actual piece of Star Wars history? Starting May 4, Propstore is now selling props, memorabilia, storyboards, and more from the Star Wars film franchise. Many items have already been sold at auction, but you can still shop available items.

Opens in a new window Credit: Propstore Star Wars Propstore Auction   Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

Roomba inventor unveils a companion robot thats more pet than helper

Mashable - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 22:52

At this point, most home robots are either glorified vacuums or far-off concepts that may never become commercially available. However, we just got a look at a new home companion robot potentially coming to market next year, and its inventor has a proven track record of putting robots into homes.

Colin Angle, co-founder of Roomba maker iRobot, fully unveiled his new company Familiar Machines & Magic at the Wall Street Journal's The Future of Everything event this week.

FM&M's goal is to make home robots that act more as emotional companions than chore machines. Its debut product is an unnamed four-legged robot companion. The robot looks like a cross between a dog and a bear, and it's designed to spark a connection with its human owner.

"The next era of robotics is not just about dexterity or humanoid form — it's about machines that can build and sustain human connection," Angle said, per an official press release.

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

The companion bot probably won't launch until next year at the earliest, and we don't have a price point yet, but it's still quite fascinating to look at. In addition to its Roomba pedigree, a Familiar Machines & Magic press release states that the company's employees have also worked with Disney Research, MIT, Amazon, Boston Dynamics, Bose, and Sonos.

The robot animal has 23 degrees of freedom and can move its head, ears, and eyes.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI adds AI pets to its Codex coding tool Credit: Familiar Machines & Magic

According to The Verge, it can't grasp objects or climb stairs, which would severely limit its usefulness, if it existed to be useful, anyway. It uses on-device generative AI to learn about its owner and respond to the owner's needs on an emotional level.

One very important detail is that it doesn't speak, instead purring and making other pet-like noises. A pet seems to be the best point of comparison here, as the robot seems almost totally incapable of performing practical tasks, and instead exists to make people feel less lonely.

Some other crucial points include a touch-sensitive coat that should, in theory, be pleasurable to pet, and onboard cameras and microphones that help the robot react to situations without streaming that audio or video anywhere. It doesn't have to connect to the internet to work.

The idea of using AI to cure the loneliness epidemic isn't necessarily new or without merit, even if it can sometimes feel a bit dystopian.

Last year, Mashable reported on a service that allowed the elderly to talk to an AI over the phone, just for the sake of providing company. Multiple companies are creating AI-powered robot companions for elder care applications, including startups like ElliQ and Abi.

Anthropomorphizing robots and artificial intelligence can be dangerous, especially given what we know about AI psychosis. However, some experts believe that companion robots could prove beneficial in specific settings.

UPDATE: May. 5, 2026, 9:21 a.m. EDT A previous version of this article referenced an internal company name for the upcoming robot, as reported by The Verge. The company clarified this is not the robot's name, and the story has been updated accordingly.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 awesome Paramount+ movies new to watch this week (May 4 - 10)

How-To Geek - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 22:50

Paramount+'s May slate of new movies are here, providing U.S. subscribers with some solid choices for weekday movie nights this week and beyond—that is, if you're not going to be preoccupied with Taylor Sheridan's newest Yellowstone spinoff, Dutton Ranch, coming May 15.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon just dropped the new M4 iPad Air to an all-time low, but youll have to act fast

Mashable - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 22:18

SAVE 13%: As of May 4, you can get the 11-inch Apple iPad Air (M4) for $519.99, down from $599 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount and $79.01 savings.

11-inch Apple iPad Air (M4, 128 GB) $519.99 at Amazon
$599 Save $79.01   Get Deal at Amazon

It's not often that we get a good Apple deal on a non-big-sale day (e.g., Prime Day), but yesterday Amazon dropped the Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) to an all-time low of $519.99. That's a 13% discount, or an extra $79.01 in your pocket.

If you're still on the fence, Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth recently awarded this tablet a Mashable Choice award and rated it a 4.5/5 on our very strict (we're pretty tough) scale. And while it looks basically the same as the previous-gen, Werth says it "delivers faster performance thanks to an improved neural engine and Apple's N1 and C1X connectivity chips," adding that "artists and note-takers will definitely appreciate this one."

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

If you order it right now, Amazon guarantees free delivery by this Wednesday, May 6 (exactly four days before Mother's Day, just in case you're trying to get some extra brownie points with Mom).

Thanks to Liquid Glass and iPadOS26, the newest iPad Air can do double-duty as a laptop, though you'll need Apple's Magic Keyboard. Fortunately, both the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro are also on sale at Amazon; both iPad accessories are currently $30 off, at least, for Prime members.

Opens in a new window Credit: apple pencil pro Apple Pencil Pro $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air $239 at Amazon
$269 Save $30   Get Deal

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Student sues matchmaking app for allegedly stealing her likeness for an ad

Mashable - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 22:02

A 19-year-old University of Tennessee freshman is suing the makers of a social matchmaking app after the company allegedly lifted a video from her TikTok page and used it — without her knowledge or consent — in an advertisement suggesting she was looking for casual sexual encounters. The company then supposedly targeted that ad at men living in her own dormitory.

Kaelyn Lunglhofer filed the lawsuit on April 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee against Quantum Communications Development Limited, a British Virgin Islands-based company, and its Chinese affiliates. The defendants own and operate a social media and messaging app called Meete. Per the lawsuit, Meete claims to have 17 million users worldwide.

SEE ALSO: A controversial dating app uses credit scores to create matches

According to the complaint, Lunglhofer posted a video to her public TikTok account on May 31, 2025 — the day of her high school graduation — showing off an orange outfit from her bedroom while music played in the background. Defendants allegedly pulled a 10-second clip from that video and used it as the backdrop for a Meete advertisement that ran on social media platforms like Snapchat.

The ad, per the complaint, featured female narration stating, "Are you looking for a friend with benefits? This app shows you women around you who are looking for some fun. You can video chat with them." Lunglhofer's face was on screen, and the Meete logo was prominently displayed.

According to the suit, Meete allegedly used geolocation technology to serve the ad specifically to male users within the Knoxville, Tennessee area. This includes men living on other floors of her on-campus dormitory building. Lunglhofer found out about the ad because one of the male residents in her dorm alerted her to it, she said in an interview with local ABC affiliate, WKRN.

The suit brings claims under the federal Lanham Act (which addresses businesses' use of misleading claims), Tennessee's right of publicity statute — known as the ELVIS Act — and Tennessee common law defamation. Lunglhofer is seeking compensatory damages of $750,000, disgorgement of Meete's profits tied to the ad campaign, and punitive damages. She is also seeking to have the ad removed entirely.

Mashable reached out to Meete but did not receive a response in time for publication. The firm representing Lunglhofer also did not yet respond to a request for comment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 blockbuster Netflix movies to watch this week (May 4 - 10)

How-To Geek - Mon, 05/04/2026 - 22:01

In addition to the Charlize Theron thriller Apex and the new comedy Roommates that have been holding steady on the Netflix Top 10 in the U.S. recently, the new slate of movies added to Netflix's library for the month of May has started to trickle in, and there's a great selection, spanning all kinds of genres.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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