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Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 January 12's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Conversation

• Green: Arcs in a story

• Blue: Car lingo

• Purple: Colors

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Topic of Discussion

• Green: Section of One's Life

• Blue: Parts of a Car, Informally

• Purple: Color Homophones

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 28

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 Connections #215 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Topic of Discussion: ISSUE, MATTER, POINT, SUBJECT

• Section of One's Life: CHAPTER, PERIOD, PHASE, STAGE

• Parts of a Car, Informally: DASH, SHOCK, TANK, WHEEL

• Color Homophones: BLEW, CHORAL, READ, ROWS

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

The rental car company blamed the sharp drop in the value of electric vehicles and higher repair costs for its decision to sell 20,000 cars.

The products, known as exchange-traded funds, were approved by federal regulators this week, a watershed moment for the crypto industry.

The Biden administration and U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new investment in the country's push for greater electric vehicle adoption and usage, pledging $623 million in EV charging station grants intended to build out community charging networks around the U.S.

The large investment is part of President Joe Biden's goal of building 500,000 publicly available chargers by the year 2030.

"America led the arrival of the automotive era, and now we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution—securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process. This funding will help ensure that EV chargers are accessible, reliable, and convenient for American drivers, while creating jobs in charger manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for American workers," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

SEE ALSO: Too much TV screen time for kids: 5 things to know about the risks

The Federal Transit Authority is also awarding $311 million to 36 community projects, including indigenous-led projects in Alaska and Arizona.

According to the announcement, the grants are funded through a $2.5 billion EV allocation wedged into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law also authorizes up to $108 billion in public transit infrastructure projects designed to improve transit safety, modernize existing systems, improve access for underserved communities, and transition services into climate-friendly options.

For example, the administration announced a $1.7 billion grant program for zero-emission and reduced-cost buses around the country.

EV charging stations along the country's highway system have previously been funded through the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

In an effort to create an even stronger EV "backbone," as the administration calls it, the Biden administration's new grant program will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, and construct 7,500 EV charging ports.

"From my time working at the local level, I know that finding electric vehicle charging in a community is different from finding charging along highways,'" added Buttigeig. "USDOT is proud to make an investment that will provide Americans with convenient, straightforward charging options in their communities."

It seems that every January after the festivities of the holidays begin to fade and the winter chill settles in, tech companies begin their rounds of layoffs.

Google said on Wednesday that it laid off a few hundred people from its central engineering team, a few hundred people in the Google Assistant team, and a few hundred people from its AR and DSPA teams. If you follow my math (or the Verge's ) that's probably about a thousand people who lost their jobs on Wednesday.

Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman are leaving the company as well, according to Reuters.

SEE ALSO: Google Assistant is losing 17 features: See the list

"As we’ve said, we’re responsibly investing in our company's biggest priorities and the significant opportunities ahead," a Google spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Mashable. "To best position us for these opportunities, throughout the second half of 2023, a number of our teams made changes to become more efficient and work better, and to align their resources to their biggest product priorities. Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include some role eliminations globally. We’re continuing to support any impacted employees as they look for new roles here at Google and beyond."

This isn't the first time a large round of layoffs hit Google in the month of January. In January of 2023, Google laid off approximately 12,000 employees. At the time, U.S. employees received a severance package starting at 16 weeks' salary plus two weeks for every additional year at Google. It's unclear how fat the severance package is for the employees laid off today.

In an internal memo, Discord said it had grown five times its size since 2020.

Yes, the Sony car that can be controlled with a DualSense controller is pretty sick — but wait 'til you hear about the Razer car.

We already gushed about the Razer car earlier this week, but after careful deliberation, Mashable has deemed it the best car of CES 2024.

For the unintiated, Razer is known for rolling out badass, sleek gaming laptops that are stamped with a three-headed snake insignia that can emanate electric-green lighting. Razer adopted the same design language for its car — and you won't believe what's in it.

SEE ALSO: The best of CES 2024 Best car CES 2024: Razer Lexus TX

Razer's decked-out gaming car was stationed on the LinQ Promenade in Las Vegas. It caught the Mashable team's eye, so we decided to check it out. Turns out, the gaming-focused company modified a 2024 Lexus TX, swapping out the original seats for four ultra-comfy Razer Iskur gaming chairs, which retail for about $500 each.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Razr Iskur Gaming Chair $499 Get Deal

The two back seats are tricked out with two 27-inch Razer monitors. Both feature a keyboard and a mouse from the brand, delivering a gamer's paradise for passengers.

This car wouldn't be complete without monitors in the back seats. Credit: Razer

Pop open the trunk and you'll find four Razer Blade gaming laptops, fueled by the Razer Core X Chroma eGPUs, charging on docking stations.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Razer Core X Chroma $499 Get Deal

Oh, and you'll find an Xbox Series X, too.

It's a gamer's dream. Credit: Amazon

Is this street legal? Probably not. But this eye-catching collaboration between Lexus and Razer, a striking mélange of luxury and gaming, gets Mashable's award for best car of CES 2024 due to its innovative charm and nod to a better future of high-level entertainment inside consumer vehicles.

OpenAI has a mobile app for its generative AI tool ChatGPT. Here's how to use it.

I'm not usually a fan of tech products that claim to be able to make homemade versions of customers' favorite store-bought foods. Sorry to companies like SodaStream, but the end products just never come out tasting right.

But then I came across ColdSnap at CES 2024.

ColdSnap, the countertop ice cream maker at CES 2024. Credit: Mashable

ColdSnap is a countertop ice cream maker that claims to make the "creamiest, best tasting ice cream available anywhere." You simply insert a "pod," which looks like a slim can of Coca-Cola, containing one of an assortment of available ice cream flavors into the machine and shortly after, soft-serve ice cream is yours for the eating.

When I first saw ColdSnap, I did not get it. There was a huge line of people around the company's booth because, of course, free food will always attract a crowd. But I've been there and done that when it comes to ice cream makers. 

SEE ALSO: We tried the potato ice cream from Van Leeuwen. We have some thoughts.

My mom has a "Ninja CREAMi" at her home, a different countertop ice cream maker, which costs less than $200. On visits, I've had Ninja CREAMi soft-serve and it's good, but it's no replacement for real soft-serve like you get at Carvel or Mr. Softee. It's just not "soft" enough. In my experience, Ninja CREAMi ice cream comes out too icy and not creamy enough. I expected ColdSnap to be a bit like that.

I decided to see what the hubbub surrounding ColdSnap was about. And, of course, yeah, the free food.

I was wrong. ColdSnap ice cream actually had the consistency of real soft-serve like you'd get straight from your favorite ice cream truck or soft-serve shop. The ice cream was creamy soft-serve and it was delicious. It seems like its actually possible to replicate store-bought food exactly how it was intended to taste using a homemade ice cream machine.

You can't taste it, but I assure you that ColdSnap's ice cream is very good. Credit: Mashable

ColdSnap does come with some issues and unanswered questions. Storing the coke can-sized pods will be less than ideal, and when it comes to disposal, will cities add them to recycling programs for other, similar pods? But the biggest question is: when will it actually be available to buy? ColdSnap actually debuted way back at CES 2021 and stole the show-related headlines then. But the company seemingly disappeared without ever releasing a commercial product.

At CES 2024, ColdSnap was all the rage once again. But the company was showing off a larger machine that they said they don't want to sell to customers. A ColdSnap representative told me they're looking to create a smaller version within the next year to put on the market.

Personally, I don't think the current ColdSnap product is that big. It's a kitchen countertop food maker. These products can be rather large and consumers usually don't mind. And then there's the question of will this smaller ColdSnap device still be able to make creamy soft-serve ice cream? Or will downsizing the product mean the output quality is icier in consistency, putting ColdSnap more in line with the previously mentioned Ninja CREAMi? That would certainly be a huge disappointment.

But, I guess we're closer to finding out than we were when ColdSnap debuted at CES three years ago. 

The Federal Communications Commission is concerned about abusive partners using connected car apps to harass and track their victims.

George Carlin has dropped a new comedy special. And if that seems weird — because, you know, he died in 2008 — well, it's because it isn't actually Carlin.

The special is from Dudesy, a comedy AI, that co-opted Carlin's persona for a YouTube "special" called George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.

To be clear, the hour-long video from the AI goes out of its way to say the special is not actually Carlin.

"I just want to let you know very clearly that what you're about to hear is not George Carlin. It's my impersonation of George Carlin that I developed in the exact same way a human impressionist would," it says in the video. "I listened to all of George Carlin's material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence, and attitude as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today. So think of it like Andy Kaufman impersonating Elvis or like Will Ferrell impersonating George W. Bush."

But frankly, the impression is not like that at all. Ferrell and Kaufman were human beings, accentuating certain qualities of powerful people in order to create comedy and social commentary. The Dudesy special is a voice-accurate copy of Carlin, not adding context but rather trying to resurrect a ghost. It's a weird, less funny version of Carlin.

I watched a bit of the video and my takeaway was that, yes, it seemed like an AI impression of Carlin. It talked about some of the topics you'd expect from a modern Carlin: billionaires, the class system in America, and social media. But, from the little bit I saw, it felt like an impression. It didn't have much to say.

The great comedian had a point of view because he was...a great comedian. Dudesy has amalgamated its idea of Carlin into something resembling the genuine article. It's weird, unsettling, and capitalistic nonsense nobody asked for and nobody needs. In other words: The AI version of Carlin sure seems like something Carlin would've hated.

At one point the AI even jokes about replacing stand-up comedians and news anchors because it could stream forever and ever. Ah yes, endless flotsam, the perfect version of art. For what it's worth, Carlin's family seems to agree that the AI special was a bad idea.

"My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius," Carlin's daughter Kelly Carlin wrote on Twitter/X. "These AI generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again. Let's let the artist’s work speak for itself. Humans are so afraid of the void that we can't let what has fallen into it stay there. Here's an idea, how about we give some actual living human comedians a listen to? But if you want to listen to the genuine George Carlin, he has 14 specials that you can find anywhere."

SAVE $50: Pre-order the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for just $449.99, down from its regular price of $499.99. That's a 10% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Segway Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro preorder $449.99 at Segway (save $50 with pre-order) Get Deal

If you're tired of hopping on the metro for your morning commute or no longer find enjoyment with your rideshare companions, it might be time to find a new way to get into the office. Thanks to today's deal, you can pre-order one of Segway's best commuting scooters and kick off your year with savings.

As of Jan. 11, you can pre-order the new Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for $449.99, a $50 discount off the MSRP of $499.99. Segway estimates shipments will begin on Jan. 25.

The Segway Ninebot E2 Pro is built for daily commuting, running errands, or enjoying an adventure. With a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, the E2 Pro features Segway's RideyLONG technology which adds 20% to the scooter's range without needing an extra battery. At max speed, the E2 Pro gets 16.8 miles of distance on a single charge. There's an anti-skid traction control system should you face precipitation and you get front and rear turning indicators for a safer ride. Plus, the braking system has a front drum brake and a rear electronic brake.

SEE ALSO: The biggest assistive technology and accessibility triumphs of 2023

Glide your way up hills with the E2 Pro's ability to head up slopes with up to an 18% incline thanks to the combination of rear-wheel drive and the 750 W motor. It takes about five-and-a-half hours to recharge the scooter for your next ride.

If you're looking for a new way to get around, the new Segway Ninebot E2 Pro scooter could be your dream mode of transportation. Pre-order the scooter today to save $50.

SAVE $70: As of Jan. 11, the Oh! vibrator is available for preorder from Ohdoki for $74.95. That's 50% off its normal price of $149.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Okidoki Oh! vibrator $74.95 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

Looking to spice things up in the bedroom? Norwegian tech company Ohdoki just debuted one very interesting piece of sextech at CES 2024, and it looks like a very interesting proposition for people with vulvas. The same company, which introduced the automated penis stroker The Handy at last year's tech expo, wants you to meet The Oh!, a new vibrator that looks more like a remote control than something that could rock your world. But despite its looks, it promises some serious sensations.

If you're in the market to try something new beyond your go-to toys, now's a great time to get in on the Oh! craze before it even starts. The newly-announced toy is available for preorder from Ohdoki right now for 50% off its MSRP. That means if you lock in your purchase as of Jan. 11, you can get it for just $74.95, which is down from its suggested price of $149.95.

The Oh! doesn't rely on motors to create those satisfying vibrations you expect from this kind of toy. Instead, according to Ohdoki, it uses sound wave-based "ResoTouch technology" to help users "create their own vibrational patterns." What that means, exactly, is a bit up in the air right now. But it probably translates to you or a partner having a great time.

You can sync up the Oh! with your favorite audio or video through Bluetooth as you take in the vibrations. And there's the opportunity to try it out with a partner using the brand's Handy toy as well, so there's an interesting type of synergy here that could bring you and someone else together while you enjoy content with a little something-something physical in the background.

The Oh! is set to debut this spring, so if you want to get it at its lower price now, be sure to pre-order early.

If you didn't think you could Moneyball dating, Netflix's latest film has a sporting strategy to change your mind.

The streaming service has dropped the trailer for Players, director Trish Sie's romantic comedy following a group of friends who run "plays" to help each other meet people for casual flings. In their dating rulebook, there's only one proviso: You can't start a relationship from a play. Seems somewhat ethical, I guess.

When Mack (Gina Rodriguez) falls for someone she has her eye on, a war correspondent named Nick (Tom Ellis), she goes to the group to help her run a play for something bigger. Her best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) and the rest of her pals decide to help her out and create a game plan to rival their usual scenarios. But the trailer hints at something else going on closer to home.

Netfix is releasing this one on Valentine's Day, so it's going to be the streaming service's big mushy romance play — and the latest addition to Netflix's existing romantic movie lineup.

Players debuts on Netflix Feb. 14

After writing surreal, existential dread-inducing movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anomalisa, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Charlie Kaufman makes a foray into films for younger audiences with the animated adventure Orion and the Dark.

Directed by Sean Charmatz and based on the book by Emma Yarlett, Orion and the Dark tells the story of elementary schooler Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay). He's overcome with fear of almost everything — but especially the dark. But when the embodiment of darkness itself (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser) pays him a visit, he'll embark on a magical adventure to try to overcome his fears.

The film's first trailer teases Orion and the Dark's fantastic journey and introduces some of Dark's friends: Dreams (voiced by Angela Bassett), Sleep (voiced by Natasia Demetriou), Unexplained Noises (voiced by Golda Rosheuvel), and more.

Orion and the Dark hits Netflix Feb. 2.

SAVE $170: The Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) is just $629 at Best Buy, down from its regular price of $799. That's a 21% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) $629 at Best Buy (save $170) Get Deal

If your lifestyle involves mountain adventures, exploring the underwater world while scuba diving, or off-the-map expeditions that rely on GPS, you might have noticed that not all smartwatches can keep up. If you've been let down by a fitness watch in the past, the Apple Watch Ultra might be the one for you, and there's a great deal at Best Buy today.

As of Jan. 11, the Apple Watch Ultra is just $629 at Best Buy, down from its regular price of $799. That's a savings of $170, or 21%.

The Apple Watch Ultra is designed for the most rugged of adventures. The watch is built with titanium and combines durability with a lightweight design. The Ultra's face features a super-bright Always‑On Retina display of 2000 nits, which is twice as bright as some other Apple Watch models.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch SE is still under $200, plus more Apple Watch deals this week

When it comes to wayfinding, the GPS antenna uses dual frequency for better accuracy when you need it most. Should you take a wrong turn, the watch's siren projects an 86-decibel sound pattern to attract help, heard up to 600 feet away.

If normal fitness watches can't keep up with your adventures, the Apple Watch Ultra is up for being your reliable companion. Take advantage of this deal while it lasts.

Last year, M3GAN gifted us with a pint-sized horror icon with killer dance moves. This year, Universal's Abigail looks to take up the mantle of dancing scream queen with its titular character: a vampiric ballerina (Matilda the Musical's Alisha Weir).

On the outside, Abigail looks like any sweet 12-year-old. But when a group of criminals kidnap her in order to claim a $50 million ransom from her father, they discover she's got a taste for human blood — and they're next on the menu. Locked in an isolated mansion, will these would-be kidnappers be able to survive the night?

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Scream VI), Abigail stars Melissa Barrera (Scream franchise), Dan Stevens (The Guest), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), William Catlett (Black Lightning), Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution), and Angus Cloud (Euphoria).

Abigail hits theaters April 19.

Clicks may very well be one of the most divisive iPhone cases ever created. 

Mashable published a quick first-look at the smartphone case with the built-in physical keyboard earlier in the week after first seeing the accessory at CES 2024. Other tech outlets did too. The online conversation about the case was all over the place. 

A physical keyboard for your iPhone?! Photos of the Clicks furthered the discourse as Clicks certainly has an interesting look, elongating the already quite large iPhone 15.

But, personally, I actually liked the idea. I'm not a fan of typing on a touchscreen. For short emails, text messages, and tweets – fine, it's no big deal. But, anything longer? Sorry, I need to wait until I'm at my laptop or desktop keyboard. If Clicks replicates those experiences, I don't care how big the case is.

Yes, Clicks makes your iPhone much bigger to carry around. But, that's not the problem. Credit: Mashable

So, I was excited to meet with the Clicks team and actually get some hands-on time with Clicks.

Reader, let me tell you, I wanted to like Clicks so much. The idea is there. The team behind it gets all the needs for a physical keyboard for your iPhone. But, the execution…it's just way off.

The Good

But, first, what I liked about Clicks, the iPhone case with a built-in physical keyboard. My favorite thing about the case is that it frees up space on your iPhone screen. When you put Clicks on your iPhone, the touchscreen keyboard disappears. Your device registers there's a physical keyboard plugged in, so the touchscreen keyboard doesn't show up. If you're livestreaming and need extra room to interact with your viewers in the livechat, that extra screen real estate is huge. Same goes for if you're trying to write a long document, note, or journal entry on your iPhone. This is easily Clicks' best feature.

SEE ALSO: 5 most WTF products we saw at CES 2024

The case also brings keyboard shortcuts to your iPhone. For example, just tap the space bar over and over to scroll down a page. Talk-to-text is just one always-visible physical keyboard click away. Clicks is also easy to slide on and off your iPhone, so if a user didn't want the case on all the time, it doesn't have to be.

The Bad

But, here's the negatives – and it's a big one – the keyboard itself is just bad.

If the point of a physical keyboard for the iPhone is to avoid the perils of a touchscreen, like accidentally tapping the wrong key, Clicks doesn't seem to solve that. I was constantly tapping the wrong keys during my hands-on experience. In fact, I was doing even worse than when using the iPhone touchscreen keyboard. The physical keys are just so close together, I was pressing on multiple keys at once at times.

Furthermore, the physical keyboard just doesn't feel like the keyboard I was expecting. The keys are soft and don't really physically push down all that much. There's no satisfying sounding "click" when tapping a key on a keyboard called Clicks!

The Clicks team explained to me that the physical keyboard does take some people time to get used to. My time with the keyboard wasn't that long and there are people who excel at typing on the iPhone touchscreen, so I can certainly believe that there are some users who would get the hang of the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro version of the Clicks case after a little while.

It was difficult to type with Clicks. Credit: Mashable

The team recommended I try out the larger Clicks case for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The keys are slightly more spread apart on that version of the case, so maybe I'd find it easier to use. Unfortunately, the iPhone 15 Pro Max case was even worse. In fact, I found it downright unusable.

SEE ALSO: 18 gadgets from CES 2024 that you can buy already

When testing out the Clicks case for iPhone 15 Pro Max, I could barely even use the keyboard. Why? The physical keyboard is located all the way at the bottom of the case. So, when you have both hands holding the keyboard so you can type, the entire device feels like it's about to flip over and fall out of your hand due to the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Clicks does not seem to have considered the weight distribution of the case for the largest iPhone model.

Just give me a portable mechanical keyboard

Overall, I was disappointed in the Clicks keyboard case. And that may be an understatement because I wanted to love it. The best things about the device, like the extra screen space, are all secondary benefits. The main selling point – the physical keyboard – is a let down.

Most of the criticisms about the case from those who have yet to try it all focus on the size: It's too big! I disagree. If a physical keyboard for the iPhone replicates the experience of typing at my desktop, I don't care how big it is. Give me a full blown mechanical keyboard for the iPhone! 

SEE ALSO: CES 2024: 5 wild laptops that made our jaws drop

Instead, it feels like Clicks took the naysayers' critiques to heart and tried to give us a physical keyboard for the iPhone in the most compact size possible. By doing so, it solved none of the biggest problems that people have with the touchscreen keyboard. It's either that or my hands are just too big.

Clicks for iPhone 14 Pro starts shipping next month, with the iPhone 15 Pro model coming out in March, and the Phone 15 Pro Max version launching in the Spring.

The best portable mechanical keyboards you can shop right now Best For Typing Experience Epomaker TH80 Pro $85.99 at Amazon Get Deal Best for Compact Design EPOMAKER TH66 Pro $89.99 at Amazon Get Deal Best For Premium Features Keychron Q1 Pro $219.99 at Amazon Get Deal

The world of wearable tech never sleeps. Sure, many of them track our sleep, but the tech industry's innovations with health and wellness wearables are constantly improving. If you're in the market for a new wearable health device in 2024, these are some of the best deals to shop today at Amazon.

Today's best deals on wearable wellness gadgets Latest tech wellness wearable deal Apollo Neuro $279.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best Garmin smartwatch deal Garmin vívoactive 5 (navy) $231.36 at Amazon (save $68.63) Get Deal Best fitness watch deal under $100 Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

In case you're not one for keeping up with tech news, this week introduces the public to handfuls of tech devices and gadgets to look forward to. CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is currently underway in Las Vegas. While some products have yet to be released, others are already available for you to buy. Health and wellness wearables have seen an eventful week at CES with spotlights on the Evolve MVMT and the Apollo Neuro — both of which present unique wellness tracking.

If you've earmarked 2024 as the year of wellness, here are some of the best fitness and wellness tracker deals today.

Latest tech wellness wearable deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apollo Our pick: Apollo Neuro $279.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Why we like it

Wearable fitness trackers have been around for ages. We've become accustomed to them tracking our steps, heart rate, and even sleep cycles, but the Apollo Neuro is a different type of wellness wearable. The Apollo works on vibes and vibes only, and attaches to either your wrist or ankle. From the free Apollo app, you get to select which vibes you're seeking — like Social, Focus, Calm, or Fall Asleep. Depending on which you choose, the Apollo Neuro then send the associated vibrations to the device. Ahead of CES 2024, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon tested out the Apollo Neuro for a week. Her review mentions she found it worked great in the Social mode but was felt skeptical about other modes. If you're curious about how actual vibes can impact your life, the Apollo Neuro is on sale at Amazon for $279.99, marked down from the normal price of $349.99.

Best Garmin smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin vívoactive 5 (navy) $231.36 at Amazon (save $68.63) Get Deal Why we like it

Garmin brought the Lily 2 Classic smartwatch to CES this year, but if you're looking for a great deal on a Garmin, we're opting for the Garmin vívoactive 5. In navy, the health and fitness watch is just $231.36 at Amazon, down from its normal price of $299.99. One of the most impressive elements of the vívoactive 5 is its battery life, which can last up to 11 days. This becomes especially useful if you're using a wearable to get a better picture about sleep stats. The Garmin vívoactive 5 also has a wheelchair mode that tracks pushes rather than steps.

Best fitness watch deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Why we like it

If you're seeking an uncomplicated wellness wearable, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is back down to just $69.95 at Amazon, matching its lowest price ever. For under $70 this could be perfect for anyone who wants to enter the world of fitness tracking in 2024. The always-on wellness tracker gives out a daily stress management score paired with mindfulness sessions or breathing exercises. You can also connect the Fitbit to receive text messages and app notifications from your smartphone. The Fitbit Inspire 3 can get up to 10 days on one battery charge, so you'll likely only need to recharge once a week.

Google Assistant is killing off a bunch of its capabilities. The tech giant said it would stop supporting 17 "underutilized features."

Several of these features that'll no longer be supported feel quite useful, including sending a message with your voice or setting alarms on Assistant-enabled devices. The company said it was "making a few changes to focus on quality and reliability" in Assistant, but it's clear this is part of a shift in priorities.

Here is the full list of defunct features, via Google.

• Playing and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books with your voice. You can still cast audiobooks from your mobile device.

• Setting or using media alarms, music alarms, or radio alarms on Google Assistant enabled devices. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior or use a standard alarm.

• Accessing or managing your cookbook, transfering recipes from device to device, playing an instructional recipe video, or showing step-by-step recipes. You can use Google Assistant to search for recipes across the web and YouTube.

• Managing a stopwatch on Smart Displays and Speakers. You can still set timers and alarms.

• Using your voice to call a device or broadcast a message to your Google Family Group. You can still broadcast to devices in your home.

• Using your voice to send an email, video or audio message. You can still make calls and send text messages.

• Rescheduling an event in Google Calendar with your voice. You can still schedule a new event.

• Using App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps to read and send messages, make calls, and control media. You can still use voice control on Google Maps the same way.

• Asking to schedule or hear previously scheduled Family Bell announcements. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior.

• Asking to meditate with Calm. You can still ask for meditation options with media providers such as YouTube.

• Voice control for activities will no longer be available on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices. You'll need to use the buttons on your device to start, stop, pause, and resume activities. You can still voice control activities on Pixel Watches.

• Viewing your sleep summaries will only be available on Google Smart Displays. You can still ask for sleep details by voice on third-party smart clocks.

• Calls made from speakers and Smart Displays will not show up with a caller ID unless you’re using Duo.

• Viewing the ambient “Commute to Work” time estimates on Smart Displays. You can still ask for commute times and get directions by voice.

• Checking personal travel itineraries by voice. You can still ask for flight status.

• Asking for information about your contacts. You can still make calls to your contacts.

• Asking to take certain actions by voice, such as send a payment, make a reservation, or post to social media. You can still ask Assistant to open your installed apps.

There have been a lot of recent changes at the search giant. Google announced this week that it laid off hundreds of workers from its Assistant unit, among other cuts. All of these major changes come, of course, amid its increasing focus on Bard, its AI chatbot.

Assistant's future appears to be inextricably tied to Bard. AI is coming down the pike, whether we like it or not.

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