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TL;DR: Through Jan. 28, you can get a lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro for just $24.97 instead of $99.99. That's over 70% in savings on an all-in-one hub for merging, splitting, converting, and scanning PDFs.

PDFs are hard to avoid, but good PDF apps aren't nearly as common. You might already have a subscription to a PDF app, but that's like paying a continuous fee just to open a file. A more affordable alternative would be to get an app you only have to pay for once that still lets you convert, merge, cut, and work with PDFs seamlessly. 

PDF Converter Pro is a PDF app that makes it easy to work with PDFs, and you don't have to pay for it every month. In fact, a lifetime license is on sale for $24.97 through January 28.

Convert, Merge, Split, and Protect PDFs

From your central hub, you can use this app to convert files to and from PDFs quickly. Can't afford to lose the formatting on your Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Text, HTML, PNG, or JPG? Just quickly convert to a PDF and preserve the original layout, including images, text, links, and more.

PDF Converter Pro has built-in OCR technology, so you can even extract text from image-based PDF documents. That means all those ancient PDF files that have been scanned and re-scanned can finally be revised. 

Look out for additional features like PDF merging, splitting, image extraction, compression, unlocking password-protected PDFs, and encrypting PDFs for protection. This app is compatible with Windows 8/10/11 and macOS X 10.8 or later, and it's only available to new users. 

Get One App for All Your PDFs

Stop switching between apps just to use a file type that's practically impossible to avoid. 

You only have until January 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get lifetime access to the PDF Converter Pro for $24.97 (reg. $99.99, with no coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter Pro: Lifetime License $24.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Through Jan. 28, pick up a refurbished Apple TV HD streaming device on sale for $69.97 instead of $149. That's a savings of 53%.

There's an overwhelming number of choices for streaming sites — choosing the device to use for said streaming sites can also be tough. Your streaming stick or box of choice should ultimately depend on the services you want to use, along with the user experience that is most aligned with your streaming habits. But let's face it. If you're an Apple loyalist and wish to stay within its ecosystem, the Apple TV becomes the most obvious choice.

But you don't necessarily have to shell out for a brand-new device. You could stand to save more money if you opt for a refurbished unit, like this new-to-you 4th Gen Apple TV. Through January 28, you can grab it on sale for over 50% off.

This Apple TV may be an older unit, but it's capable of delivering stunning 1080p HD resolution. Sure, it may not let you see Jeremy Allen White's pores in 4K when you binge-watch episodes of The Bear, but you're still getting a full high-definition experience. Powering it is an Apple A8 chip that boosts audio, video, and graphic quality, while its Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 feature delivers impeccable surround sound. With 32GB of storage, you have more than enough space for storing apps and content.

It also comes with a 1st Generation Siri remote with a touch surface that makes it easy to navigate apps with the swipe of a finger. The built-in microphone can pick up voice commands, too, and the Bluetooth connectivity links up to a keyboard for a quicker searching experience. But if you don't want to bother messing with the remote, there's always AirPlay that allows you to stream and mirror any content from your mobile device to the Apple TV.

This refurbished HD Apple TV with Siri Remote normally retails for $149, but through January 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can grab it on sale for only $69.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple TV HD (4th Gen) $69.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

UPDATE: Jan. 23, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST We've revisited this review as part of an ongoing overhaul of Mashable's VPN coverage based on stricter criteria and hands-on testing. Our analysis will continue to evolve as we keep using TunnelBear on differnet platforms over the coming months.

"Beginner-friendly VPN" is not an oxymoron thanks to TunnelBear, a cheery provider with an uncluttered, cartoon-y app, unlimited simultaneous connections, and an unintimidating privacy policy that doesn't require a law or IT degree to understand. Crucially, it's also one of the few VPN services you can safely use for free (with some major restrictions).

Power users won't be impressed by its lack of advanced features or its spotty performance. But for casual users and VPN newbies who'd rather be inundated with bear puns than technical jargon, TunnelBear is a worthy pick.

SEE ALSO: Comparing popular VPNs? Folks on Reddit have some thoughts. How much does TunnelBear cost?

TunnelBear offers three different subscription options:

• TunnelBear Free is designed for "testing and limited usage." It includes 2GB of browsing data per month on a single device, which doesn't roll over to the next month if it goes unused.

• TunnelBear Unlimited ($9.99/month, $4.99/month per year, or $3.33/month per three years) unlocks unlimited browsing data, unlimited simultaneous connections, access to its entire server network, the ability to select certain servers on the city level, and priority customer support.

• TunnelBear Teams starts at $138/year for businesses with at least two users.

TunnelBear doesn't have a money-back guarantee, unlike many of its peers, and refunds are only offered by request on a case-by-case basis. It accepts Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.

For the purposes of this review, I only tested TunnelBear's Free and Unlimited tiers.

Hands-on with TunnelBear He's a jetsetter. Credit: Screenshots: TunnelBear

TunnelBear works on Windows, Mac (which I tested), Android, iOS, and Chrome. That's fewer platforms than some of its peers, but realistically, it covers most users on a smartphone and/or desktop.

The TunnelBear app is effectively just a posterized world map speckled with yellow, Super Mario Bros.-esque pipes that represent different servers, and when you boot up the app for the first time, a small sheep will be sitting at your physical location. Toggling on the VPN will colorize the map and make the sheep poof into a teensy brown bear, who then digs down and emerges from the pipe at the VPN server location nearest you — that means you're connected. (In theory, this default server should be the speediest one for you since your data doesn't have to travel very far. TunnelBear calls it the "Fastest Tunnel.") If you look closely, you can see the bear look around once he's settled. It's very cute.

Via Giphy

That's pretty much the extent of the TunnelBear interface. The free version lets you switch between servers in different countries, while a paid subscription opens up servers in specific cities worldwide; you can connect to them by clicking on their pipes or by selecting them from a list. The app defaults to an "auto" protocol option that it deems best for you. (TunnelBear's website says you can choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 on desktop under "TunnelBear settings," but I couldn't find that on my app. I'll look into it for a future update to this review.)

Features-wise, TunnelBear uses are limited to an automatic kill switch called "VigilantBear" and a split tunneling tool called "SplitBear." The latter offers varying levels of control depending on your platform: SplitBear for Windows lets you exclude both websites and apps from your VPN connection, for instance, while SplitBear for macOS lets you only exclude sites. There's no multi-hop.

TunnelBear Unlimited

Browsing with TunnelBear was hit or miss. Sometimes it took ages to connect to a server and load sites. (There was one day when my Fastest Tunnel was basically unusable; a New York server and even some European servers worked better.) Other times it got me online and pulled up different content without a hitch. That bear can be a little temperamental, it seems.

Regular internet connection versus nearby TunnelBear server Credit: Screenshot: Ookla Credit: Screenshot: Ookla Regular internet connection versus French TunnelBear server Credit: Screenshot: Ookla Credit: Screenshot: Ookla

This was also the case when I tried to watch different content with TunnelBear. On the plus side, the VPN didn't make its presence known at all when I pulled up YouTube videos and movies on Disney+ and Max; once things loaded in, lagging and stuttering were non-issues. But international streaming platforms gave it trouble: ITVX would let me watch Love Island UK on a TunnelBear UK server one day and give me a "you're outside the country" error code 01-01 the next. The BBC iPlayer was a little more on top of things and detected my VPN usage every time.

In TunnelBear's defense, it at least kept my true IP address locked down while I was connected to its server. (It passed multiple DNS leak tests.) It's important to remember that this is the main job of a VPN, and that extras like unblocking content are essentially just bonuses.

TunnelBear Free

A TunnelBear Free plan used to limit you to just 500MB of browsing data per month. TunnelBear's decision to raise it to 2GB per month in February 2023 made this tier eons more practical for regular use, but you can still chunk through it in a few hours if you're not careful. I ate through my 2GB in just under four hours by surfing the web, scrolling through social media, and watching some music videos on my Fastest Tunnel, so don't just leave it on and expect it to get you through the month.

One of the biggest things TunnelBear Free has going for it (besides the obvious "it's free!" part) is that it isn't cluttered with ads. A banner promoting a seasonal discount on Tunnelbear Unlimited did appear across the top of the app at one point during my testing, but it was subtle and unobtrusive and didn't affect my user experience whatsoever. TunnelBear's rangers have kept this park litter-free.

From a VPN performance standpoint, TunnelBear Free matched that of TunnelBear Unlimited in my testing. Load times varied between fast and pokey seemingly depending on the day. Domestic streaming content played just fine, but the VPN couldn't reliably unblock international streaming content. Most importantly, DNS leak tests showed that it kept my real IP address hidden.

Is TunnelBear trustworthy?

TunnelBear has democratized VPNs in two major ways: One, by simplifying the technology itself, and two, by maintaining a privacy policy that's extremely easy for a layperson to understand. It uses plain language and mixes in explainers that delve into why certain types of customer data are collected and stored — the last name on your credit card is used for fraud prevention, for instance — and it explicitly states that it does not log activity while someone's using the VPN. (It doesn't know who you are, where you connect from, or what you're doing when you're on it.) TunnelBear Free users' monthly data consumption is documented so that the company can enforce its 2GB limit, but they're otherwise protected by the same "no logs" promise.

TunnelBear was the first consumer VPN to publish an independent security audit back in 2017, and it's completed them every year since. It also publishes reports that disclose the government data requests it receives.

As far as I can tell, TunnelBear has avoided amassing any obvious dings on its record in the 13 years since it first hit the market. Its acquisition by McAfee in 2018 initially raised some concerns about whether TunnelBear's VPN would be bundled with its new owner's, but the company has continued to operate separately. Overall, it's made some stellar commitments to privacy and transparency.

Is TunnelBear worth it?

TunnelBear is a refreshingly approachable service that will win over VPN newbies, not veterans. It's an excellent introduction to the technology, but those in need of a VPN that's running 24/7 will get more bang for their buck by subscribing to one of its competitors. (For comparison's sake, a NordVPN Standard plan gets you multi-hop, a built-in dark web monitor, an anti-malware/tracker tool, support on more platforms, up to six simultaneous connections — plenty — and guaranteed access to international streaming content for the same annual rate as TunnelBear Unlimited.) I also don't love the fact that it only offers refunds on a case-by-case basis, so it could be a risky pick for long-term subscribers.

The free version of TunnelBear deserves its own shoutout. Many free VPN providers will log and sell user data to third-party advertisers or bundle their products with malware — there's that thing about free lunches — but TunnelBear Free is backed by the same policies and protections as the paid version. While it probably won't meet your needs as a daily user, it's decent for sparing, situational use and may help you decide whether to invest in a higher-end VPN.

And you might as well try to get it to unblock a few episodes of your favorite international shows in the off-chance your bear decides to clock in that day. Unreliability is less annoying when it doesn't cost you anything.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 23 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 23

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024:

AcrossTook to the air

• The answer is flew.

Actor Ledger of "The Dark Knight"

• The answer is heath.

Words that can precede 1-Down and 5-Down, to mean "Undecided" and "Liable"

• The answer is onthe.

Group of eight

• The answer is octet.

Boat's bottom

• The answer is keel.

DownBackyard border

• The answer is fence.

Coffee-and-milk order

• The answer is latte.

Broadway actress Merman

• The answer is ethel.

Stimulate, as an appetite

• The answer is whet.

End of a fishing line

• The answer is hook.

A database of 26 billion leaked records has been discovered, in what has been called the "Mother of all Breaches." Fortunately, it actually isn't as bad as it sounds.

The massive 12-terabyte leak was discovered by cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, working alongside the team at Cybernews. It isn't clear exactly who is responsible for the database, however it contains both credentials and sensitive data.

This is undoubtedly bad news. It's never good to have your personal data left exposed online, where anyone can find and utilise it for nefarious purposes. However, the situation is far from as disastrous as it appears. 

SEE ALSO: Xfinity data breach affects more than 35 million — what we know

The leak is in fact a compiled collection of data from thousands of previous breaches, and doesn't appear to contain any new information. If you've kept up to date on your security, you should have little more to fear than you did yesterday. It's also reasonable to expect that some of the records are duplicated, so there may not necessarily be 26 billion unique records.

Even so, this doesn't mean you should be complacent. Given the sheer volume of data and the number of leaks it covers, there's a high chance your data is included, even if it's from a breach which occurred years ago that you already know about. It's a good reminder to refresh your security hygiene, and maybe change a few passwords.

Tencent was the most heavily impacted by the leak, with 1.5 billion records in the compilation. It was followed by Chinese social media platform Weibo at 504 million, MySpace at 260 million, Twitter at 281 million, and Wattpad at 271 million. Other brands included LinkedIn, AdultFriendFinder, Adobe, MyFitnessPal, and Canva. 

Government organisations weren't spared either, with the US, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, and the Philippines among those swept up in the compiled database.

You can use tools such as Have I Been Pwned or Cybernews' data leak checker to find out whether you've been the victim of a data breach. And if you haven't already, consider using a password manager. It may not prevent leaks, but it will make using unique passwords for all your accounts a lot easier.

A photographer trained two rats to take photographs of themselves. They didn’t want to stop.

TL;DR: Live stream Zverev vs. Alcaraz in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A lot of tennis fans think that Novak Djokovic's biggest threat in the Australian Open is Carlos Alcaraz, but the talented Spaniard has a lot of work to do before he'll get a chance to play the champ. He has looked classy so far, but Alexander Zverev is going to pose a serious challenge.

If you want to watch Zverev vs. Alcaraz in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Zverev vs. Alcaraz?

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will meet in an Australian Open quarter-final on Jan. 24 (AEDT).

How to watch Zverev vs. Alcaraz for free

Every match from the 2024 Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Zverev vs. Alcaraz.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Zverev vs. Alcaraz for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the rest of the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Zverev vs. Alcaraz for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Hurkacz vs. Medvedev in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter-finals are bringing together some of the very best players in the world, and that very much includes Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev. Who will book their spot in the semi-finals? There's only one way to find out.

If you want to watch Hurkacz vs. Medvedev in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Hurkacz vs. Medvedev?

Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev will meet in their quarter-final match on Jan. 24 (AEDT).

How to watch Hurkacz vs. Medvedev for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Hurkacz vs. Medvedev.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Hurkacz vs. Medvedev for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Hurkacz vs. Medvedev for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Rublev in the Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter-finals are finally here, and most of the biggest names in the tennis game are still battling it out for victory in the first Grand Slam of the year. Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev are not favourites to win the tournament, but at this late stage, everyone has a chance.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. Rublev in the Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sinner vs. Rublev?

Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev will meet in their quarter-final match at around 8:15 p.m. AEDT on Jan. 23.

How to watch Sinner vs. Rublev for free

Every match from the Australian Open is available to stream for free on 9Now, including Sinner vs. Rublev.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can gain access to this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can connect to 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access 9Now from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Steam Sinner vs. Rublev for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to 9Now without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2024 Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Sinner vs. Rublev for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a Curiosity Stream Standard Plan is on sale for £134, saving you 57% on list price.

Did you know there are streaming services that don’t charge any recurring fees? Don’t believe us? Check out Curiosity Stream. It’s like Netflix for documentaries and docu-series, but without subscription fees. Or the password-sharing nonsense.

With this deal, lifetime access is even more affordable than usual, at just £134. You won’t find a lower price anywhere else. While it may seem like a high price upfront, it’s less than paying for two years of Netflix’s cheapest plan.

Curiosity Stream has something for just about anyone: Science, nature, history, technology, and art. You’ll discover thousands of documentaries and series like Planet of Treasures, Into the Jungle, Polar Bears, The History of Home, and even the Emmy award-winning Stephen Hawking’s Favourite Places.

Your plan also includes access to frequent content updates. Since you get lifetime access, you’ll (probably) always have something new to watch and never run out of options.

Just like other streaming services, Curiosity Stream has convenient search tools to help you filter out whatever your mind is hungry for — maybe a documentary on healthy living or a docu-series on true crime. Start watching on one device and pick up where you left off on another, or add shows to a list to watch later.

Curiosity Stream even has the option to download content for offline viewing, excellent for road trips, long flights, or your daily commute.

Grab the best-on-web price for lifetime access to CuriosityStream, at just £134.

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription Curiosity Stream Standard Plan (Lifetime Subscription) £134 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Few rejoinders sting quite the way "touch grass" does. For those who aren't chronically online, the phrase essentially means you need to log off and go outside, but the deeper undercurrent is that you've lost touch with the real world and desperately need to reconnect to something tangible. It's "get real," minus the vintage appeal. Yet in Mel Eslyn's pilot for the YA drama Penelope, the concept of touching grass proves a wholesome jumping-off point for a modern teen's journey of self-discovery. 

Written and directed by Eslyn, who also created the undersung sci-fi gem Biosphere, Penelope centers on a 16-year-old girl (Little Fires Everywhere's Megan Stott) who abruptly decides to log off of everything and wander into the wilderness. However, while Penelope is essentially looking to touch grass (and trees and bunnies), the show is bled free from the vitriol that typically accompanies such a stinging sentiment. Instead, Penelope relishes the wonder and freedom of cutting loose from cell phones and social media. 

SEE ALSO: 'Biosphere' spoiler-free review: The best 2023 movie you just might overlook Penelope is a cozy fantasy set in the real world. 

Though this is the story of a runaway fleeing from her family and all she knows, Penelope is not urgent with drama. There's no grim inciting incident that spurs its young heroine to strike out on her own. Instead, the pilot, which is premiering as part of Sundance's Episodic Pilot Showcase, begins with Penelope happily bopping around at a silent disco, where headphones allow the dancers to feel connected while not disturbing the animals of the surrounding forest. Penelope isn't like the others, though. While they are caught up in the music and each other, she makes eye contact with a wandering wolf. Just like that, she seems destined to depart her family's camping trip for parts unknown. 

The script from Eslyn and Mark Duplass (who co-wrote and starred in Biosphere) is scant in detail, purposefully sketching Penelope's backstory as one of a kid with loving parents who check in with her via text to remind her she's got SAT prep coming up. As she's played by Stott, Penelope doesn't seem burdened by tech or the pressures of her parents; she just seems bored by them. So, she goes on a "solo hike" that leads her to a shop to buy camping supplies. She turns off the "share location" option on her phone and hops onto a train car like a Mark Twain hero, giddy at her daring. 

SEE ALSO: Take back your time and attention with digital minimalism

Parents — or those of us who grew up in the Stranger Danger age— might flinch at her choices, as she hitchhikes, puts her trust in randos, and goes out of her way to make sure that her folks can't track her down. Much of it seems like a recipe on how to become the subject of a future 20/20 special report, but Eslyn isn't making a harrowing drama about isolation or teen homelessness. The could-be threats of the real world are softened by a color palette that is breezy and inviting, and the score, which reverberates with electronically filtered women's voices, feels like a synth-y siren luring Penelope forward. The strangers she meets in the first episode provide help and warm smiles or curt advice, but never a reason for fear. Penelope offers us all the dream of walking into the warm woods and not looking back. 

Megan Stott is pitch-perfect in Penelope's pilot episode.  Megan Stott and Austin Abrams play kindred spirits in "Penelope." Credit: Sundance

Where much of YA shows and movies are full of snarking Mean Girls or emotionally overwrought heroines, Penelope blooms from a place of quiet reflection. As its protagonist strikes out on her own, the show doesn't offer flowery speeches about her motivations. Instead, Stott's wide-eyed expressions communicate the wonder, curiosity, and excitement of each step of her journey. Deceptively simple cinematography lingers on her fingers as she reaches for camping supplies in a store, all on her own. The possibilities of the world are just at her fingertips! A sincere grin splashes across her apple cheeks as she overcomes a financial obstacle with a clever solution. Her physicality is alive but never anxious, like a kid waiting their turn at a diving board. And so, through her every motion, Stott urges us to dive in with Penelope. 

Still, as a grown-up watching the show, it's easy to slip into our concerns about the dangers we know lurk outside Penelope's dreamy tunnel vision. Perhaps we wonder what was so bad that she had to run away to begin with. The only concrete clue the pilot offers is a text that she doesn't send: "Mom… Was I a happy kid?" 

Implied here is that despite seeming to have it all — a phone, Apple Pay, loving parents who support her education and take her to things like silent discos — Penelope feels forlorn for some reason she can't put her finger on. So, she follows a trail back to nature to discover who she is outside of social media and societal expectations. Who might she be in the woods with herself as her only company?

We're invited to share in Penelope's awe and excitement as POV shots allow us to vicariously experience the thrill of literally hopping onto a speeding train, watching the world rush by. But there's still a distance between us and our eponymous heroine. 

Mel Eslyn gives Penelope her space. 

It's a thrill to watch a TV show that doesn't fill the need to spell everything out for you. (See also: True Detective: Night Country). Through her direction, Eslyn gives us access to Penelope's unspoken concerns and wishes, but she also allows the character some space for mystery. A scene where she walks into the woods and out of focus reminds us that this journey is hers, and we are witness only to what she allows us. When she takes a photo of nature on her phone but looks dismayed at the result, there's no dialogue explaining why. Later, a conversation with a traveling musician (Austin Abrams) gives us some clarity. 

Penelope asks gently why he's bothering touring at tiny coffee shops when Spotify exists. Why not "join this century"? As it turns out, his experience with online communities has also felt lacking. He explains that playing music live versus distributing it via the Internet is the difference between visiting a river and seeing a picture of a river. The difference is being there, a romance with the real that is undeniably beguiling through the eyes of these kindred spirits. 

Based on the first episode, it's hard to guess where Penelope might go next. Will this play like a road trip story, bringing the girl from one curious location to another? Will the focus shift away from Penelope and to her parents, who have been left behind to worry and wonder? Will it combine those could-be threads in order to allow fantasy clash with anxiety? I couldn't say, but I can't wait to find out. As pilots go, Penelope is absolutely enchanting. 

Penelope was reviewed out of Sundance 2024. 

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 23's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Motionless.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

A letter appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #948 is...

STILL.

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.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 20'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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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:

• Green - Great

• Yellow - Foment

• Blue - You'll notice when typing

• Purple - Things you [synonym for "overtake"]

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:

• Green - EXCELLENT

• Yellow - BRING INTO BEING

• Blue - SYMBOLS ABOVE NUMBERS ON A KEYBOARD

• Purple - PASS THE ____

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 Connections #226 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Green - EXCELLENT - FINE, PRIME, QUALITY, STERLING

• Yellow - BRING INTO BEING - COIN, CREATE, DEVISE, INVENT

• Blue - SYMBOLS ABOVE NUMBERS ON A KEYBOARD - AT, DOLLAR, PERCENT, POUND

• Purple - PASS THE ____ - BAR, BUCK, TIME, TORCH

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 calls, in a voice most likely artificially generated, urged people not to vote in Tuesday’s primary.

If you've been on Elon Musk's X anytime over the past week, you've likely seen MrBeast fill up your feed as the social media app incessantly promoted the popular YouTuber's first video upload to the service across the platform.

MrBeast said the video upload was a test to compare his X earnings with his YouTube payouts and that he'd publicly share how much he made. Well, he has just delivered.

According to MrBeast, X's analytics show that he will make $263,655 off his video. The creator shared the information in a tweet on Monday and included a screenshot of his account's analytics as proof.

Tweet may have been deleted How does it stack up to YouTube?

In July 2023, MrBeast shared with his paying X Subscribers that what was then his most recent YouTube video made $167,000 in ad share revenue after receiving 77 million views in 5 days.

As of publication, MrBeast's post containing his first X video upload has around 157 million views, which is roughly double what MrBeast's YouTube video received in July. But, his earnings on X are only around $100,000 more than what MrBeast earned from that YouTube video with less than half as many views.

What do these revenue stats mean?

There are some major addendums here as metrics on YouTube and X are far from equal. 

For one, X's view count isn't for the video itself. Back when X was still known as Twitter, the company publicly displayed how many views a video received. However, Musk removed public view metrics from video posts in May 2023. Now, only the account that posted the video has access to these stats. The public view stat is just for the post itself, meaning it counts users who never clicked play or watched the video.

And those 157 million views are not all views. On X, those views are impressions. This means that this metric counts a view for something as simple as when a post shows up in a user's feed because the algorithm recommended it.

There's also something interesting about the MrBeast screenshot: It appears to show a dashboard that's not available to most users.

SEE ALSO: MrBeast uploads first video to X to test out ad revenue

X has a monetization program that users can apply to join after subscribing to the platform's paid verified subscription services like X Premium or X Premium+. Once a user is accepted into that program, they can start earning revenue based on how many other verified paying subscribers view ads that show up in the replies to their posts. 

A Monetization tab also becomes accessible for a user approved for ad share revenue, showing that user how much they've made every two weeks – or when they've accumulated enough ad share revenue for a payout. Nothing in MrBeast's screenshot looks like that Monetization tab.

MrBeast's screenshot looks much more like X's Analytics page. Yet, the vast majority of users do not have a revenue tab on their Analytics page like MrBeast does.

Pre-roll video ads ran on MrBeast's video, which means that the creator is part of X's Amplify program. Amplify allows very select users, usually big brand accounts, to get paid for the pre-roll video ads that appear before their video content. I checked with an account that's part of the Amplify program and can indeed confirm this is the same monetization dashboard that members of the Amplify program have access to.

MrBeast's quarter of a million dollar payout from X is based on X's Amplify pre-roll ads monetization, an invite-only program that, according to X, only has 200+ publishers.

MrBeast did it, but you probably can't

Speaking of MrBeast's unique situation, YouTube's most popular creator had other benefits that pretty much no other user on X has to replicate his success.

MrBeast acknowledged some of this himself in his tweet announcing his payout.

"It’s a bit of a facade," MrBeast wrote. "Advertisers saw the attention it was getting and bought ads on my video (I think) and thus my revenue per view is prob higher than what you’d experience."

That's part of it. But, there's even more.

Musk has been trying to get more YouTube creators and podcasters on X over the past year as video increasingly looks to be a major part of Musk's vision for the platform. 

MrBeast originally passed on uploading his content to X, saying he did not believe Musk's social media platform could compete with YouTube when it came to payouts for creators. But, MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, relented last week and uploaded one of his older YouTube videos on Jan.15 and said it was part of a test to see how it would perform, revenue-wise.

Tweet may have been deleted

Since then, MrBeast's post has been relentlessly promoted on the platform — by official X accounts, by Musk, and, as Mashable previously reported, by X's advertising platform as an unlabeled ad being pushed across users' feeds.

So, it's easy to see how MrBeast had an unfair advantage when compared to any other X user. The real question that remains to be answered is: Will MrBeast continue to upload his future content directly to X?

UPDATE: Jan. 22, 2024, 5:22 p.m. EST This piece was updated to add confirmation that MrBeast's revenue is from X's Amplify program.