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If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 10 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 10 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: What's the buzz?

The words are part of an insect.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are make up a bug that buzzes.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Bumblebee.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 10

• Antennae

• Thorax

• Wings

• Abdomen

• Tongue

• Stinger

• Bumblebee

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 yesterday's Strands.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 10 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: Cheery, bright hues

• Green: Stockpile

• Blue: Scrooge

• Purple: You might hear these south of the border

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: Shades of yellow

• Green: Supply

• Blue: Anti-spirit of Christmas

• Purple: Spanish words

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 #669 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Shades of yellow: CANARY, GOLD, LEMON, MUSTARD

• Supply: MINE, RESERVE, STORE, WELL

• Anti-spirit of Christmas: BAH, COAL, GRINCH, NAUGHTY

• Spanish words: ELLA, GUSTO, MAYO, SOY

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 10

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 yesterday's Connections.

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 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 today: Hints and answers for April 10 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's The Mini crossword answers for April 10, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

High-speed.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TURBO.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 10

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 yesterday's Wordle.

In a legal filing, OpenAI asked a federal court to hold Mr. Musk responsible for any damage he has caused the firm, in the latest sign of their bitter feud.

The spacecraft are the online giant’s entry into beaming wireless service from space, but the company has much to do before it can compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.

President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariffs, and the stock market is already bouncing back — from the damage caused last week when Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs.

Tech stocks, like Apple, Sony, and Microsoft, shot up quickly following Trump's announcement, with Tesla rising particularly fast. As of this writing, Tesla stock was up 22.69 percent for the day. Meanwhile, Intel gained more than 17 percent; Nvidia was up by over 15 percent; and Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and more stocks were spiking as well.

Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

"I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately," Trump announced.

SEE ALSO: Trump tariff news: iPhones getting snapped up, laptop sales disrupted – what we know

However, according to the president, the pause only affects countries who are engaged in negotiations with the White House. Tariffs put on goods from countries like China, who responded with their own new reciprocal tariffs, have not been paused. In fact, Trump announced a new 125 percent tariff with China. A global 10 percent tariff, announced over the weekend, will also remain in effect.

The slapdash tariff rollout has led to an extremely volatile market. Still, the news of a pause on levies for countries like South Korea and Vietnam was enough to send Apple stock flying upward. Trump's tariffs resulted in the worst 4-day stretch on the stock market for Apple since 2000.

Crypto market also rebounds with tariff news

The crypto markets also reacted positively to Trump's tariff suspension announcement. Bitcoin was back up over $82,000 as of publication after spending days floundering in the mid-to-upper $70k range. Ethereum also spiked 8 percent after Trump's tariff announcement.

The tariffs that Trump implemented last week wreaked havoc on the global economy. The market looked so bleak over the weekend that some analysts expected a "Black Monday" scenario. On Monday, April 7, rumors spread on Elon Musk's X that Trump was considering a pause on the tariffs, which helped avoid that worse case scenario. According to the White House, those posts were untrue.

Despite a temporary reprieve on most reciprocal tariffs, the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China rages on. So, while Trump's tariff pause was welcome news on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley for the moment, the fallout remains impossible to predict.

How will President Trump’s tariffs affect you? Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.

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Remember that man who was rescued from the ocean after calling for help on his Apple Watch last year? Apple has released audio from that call in a new ad highlighting the Watch's safety features.

Rick Shearman was swimming off an Australian beach last July when he was caught in a current and dragged approximately one mile from the shore. Fortunately, he was able to call for help using his Apple Watch Ultra's Emergency SOS feature, which put him in touch with local emergency services (000 in Australia). The Watch also kept them updated on Shearman's coordinates, so the rescue helicopter didn't have to spend too much time searching for him in an endless expanse of blue.

The call is an interesting listen, with Shearman sounding much less panicked than most others would be in his situation (which no doubt contributed to his survival). Though he was clearly tired at that point, freaking out would have been a phenomenally poor use of his depleting energy.

It's also clear enough to be comprehensible even without Apple's helpful subtitles, which is quite the feat considering that Shearman was treading water and holding his wrist to his mouth or ear in turns. It's possible that Apple cleaned the audio up a bit for the ad, but even so, it was still apparently clear enough for Australia's emergency services to understand.

Google has now confirmed that Reddit uses Gemini to power Reddit Answers, an internal AI search tool for Reddit users. Contrary to some early reports, a Google PR representative told Mashable that Reddit Answers was already integrated with Gemini prior to the announcement.

A beta version of Reddit Answers launched last December. And at the Google Cloud Next event on Wednesday, Google shared new details about how Reddit Answers works with Gemini. The tool uses Gemini "to help people more effectively find information, recommendations, discussions, and insights directly from the conversations and communities across Reddit," according to a press release.

The Reddit Answers beta launched in late 2024. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Reddit

Thanks to an existing partnership between Google and Reddit, which allows the latter to access Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform, Reddit Answers is powered by Google's Gemini AI model, among other tools. This means Reddit Answers has a similar AI search experience as Google tools using Gemini, like the standalone chatbot, Google Search's AI Overviews and AI Mode — except with answers sourced directly from the Reddit community.

"The integration of Vertex AI Search into Reddit Answers means users can find the information they need more quickly and accurately, and easily navigate to the conversations that matter to them," said Michael Clark, president of North America GTM at Google Cloud, in the press release.

The introduction of ChatGPT brought upheaval to the search world, and left Google scrambling to catch up in the AI arms race. A recent survey from media company Future found that up to 27 percent of U.S. searchers already use AI tools like ChatGPT instead of Google (though, the low-quality of recent Google Search results may also be a factor).

Google has made significant changes to its search engine in an effort to re-engage users. This includes features like AI Overviews and AI Mode, but also a licensing deal to train its models on Reddit content. After the Reddit-Google partnership was announced, Reddit's forum pages also became far more visible in Google Search.

With Gemini powering Reddit Answers, the companies are growing ever more entwined.

Adding to growing fears of digital surveillance under the Trump administration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will begin screening immigrants' social media accounts in an effort to uncover "antisemitic activity," the department explained.

The department will be on the hunt for content that appears to be "endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity," the order says. Under the new directive, evidence of such online activity, as well as physical harassment of Jewish citizens, determined by the USCIS and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), can be used as grounds for denying immigrant benefit requests.

SEE ALSO: Phone inspections when crossing the U.S. border: What you need to know about your rights and security

In line with President Donald Trump's executive orders to tighten immigration enforcement and combat antisemitism, the DHS argues such surveillance will "protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens, including those who support antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah aka: 'the Houthis.'”

While reports of antisemitism have increased across the U.S., activists argue the policy is less of a protective measure and more of an opportunity to root out criticism of Israel's occupation and siege of Palestinian territories, as well as America's allegiance to the foreign power. Over the last month, several international students who have vocally supported Palestine were clandestinely arrested by immigration agents, including graduate students Rumeysa Öztürk, Ranjani Srinivasan, and Mahmoud Khalil. The latter is currently fighting his deportation in court and has become a symbol of the administration's crack down on Palestinian organizers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked hundreds of visas on such grounds, saying: "We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campus."

The latest policy applies to "lawful permanent resident status, foreign students, and aliens affiliated with educational institutions," providing legal protection to scour the profiles of international students and faculty despite a widespread outcry from free speech advocates across the political spectrum.

"The spirit of Joseph McCarthy is alive and well in the Trump administration, which has spent months dishonestly mischaracterizing legitimate criticism of the Israeli government's war crimes in Gaza as antisemitic, pursuing witch hunts into American colleges, and threatening the free speech rights of immigrants," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in a statement to NPR.

In March, the administration announced it would begin reviewing social media profiles as part of the immigrant benefits request process, including applications for visas, naturalization, and relatives of people who have been granted asylum or refugee status. The decision was estimated to impact more than 3 million people.

Meanwhile, individuals entering the U.S. — citizen or otherwise — are increasingly on alert about securing their digital devices and online privacy in the face of increased electronic checks by federal immigration services on the border and at customs checkpoints.

AI companies have been working on voice models for a while now, but it seems things really ramped up after OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT Voice Mode.

Now, Amazon has just introduced its new "foundation" AI voice model called Nova Sonic. And it really makes Alexa sound like she's living way in the past.

According to Amazon, Nova Sonic "unifies speech understanding and speech generation into a single model, to enable more human-like voice conversations in AI applications." With the samples provided, it certainly does seem more human-like than the company's previous iterations of AI voice models. 

SEE ALSO: I compared Sesame to ChatGPT voice mode and I'm unnerved

For example, there are proper pauses, tone, and inflections on words depending on where they are and what they mean in a sentence. Amazon provided some samples you can listen to here and here.

Again, "more human-like" is the key description here. There are still plenty of signs that it's an AI voice, but it also does sound like a big step over previous AI voice assistants like Alexa.

Amazon says that it achieved this by combining multiple models that would traditionally be used, like speech recognition, large language models, and text-to-speech, into one single unified model. According to Amazon, it not only understands the nuances in speech to produce it, but it also understands it when a human inputs their own speech with these nuances as well.

According to TechCrunch, Nova Sonic is already powering Amazon's next-generation AI voice assistant, Alexa+.

Based on recent developments, it does seem like the big AI companies are currently focusing on voice models. So, prepare for competition in that space to heat up. Amazon is already pointing to claims that Nova Sonic is roughly 80 percent cheaper than OpenAI's GPT-4o model and promoting it as “the most cost-efficient."

Nova Sonic is currently available to developers through Amazon's enterprise AI developer platform, Bedrock.

Jo Ellis, a National Guard pilot, is suing an influencer who falsely identified her as the captain of a helicopter that collided with a passenger plane in January.

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SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: Upgrade to the M4 MacBook Air while it's at its cheapest price to date

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A year after its initial launch, Sony has expanded its ULT speaker lineup. New additions include the ULT Field 3, ULT Field 5, and ULT Tower 9. This expansion focuses on middle sizes of the Field variations and a smaller tower speaker.

I was stoked to see Sony expand this line because I adore the Sony ULT Wear headphones, and the ULT Field 1 is my go-to portable Bluetooth speaker. Plus, it’s a much-appreciated departure from Sony’s typical naming nomenclature. 

I got my hands on the ULT Field 3 speaker and have been testing it out for about two weeks, and overall, it’s a great bass-heavy option for people who host or take their music outside.

Sony ULT Field 3 price and specs

The Sony ULT Field 3 speaker retails for $199, which is the same price as its predecessor, the SRS-XE300. It does have some upgraded specs, so it’s nice to see the price go unchanged. Those specs include:

• 7-band EQ (compared to the SRS-XE300’s 3-band EQ)

• 1 woofer, 2 passive radiators, 1 tweeter

• ULT mode for extra bass

• IP67 waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, rustproof

• Multi-speaker connection, with up to 100 paired speakers through Party Connect

• Vertical and horizontal listening orientation

• USB-C device charging

The Sony ULT Field 3 speaker supports horizontal and vertical listening orientation. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Sony ULT Field 3 battery life

The ULT Field 3’s battery is supposed to last up to 24 hours of continuous music playback with ULT Power on. That drops down to five hours if the volume is at max level. The speaker does have quick charging, where a 10-minute charge gives you 120 minutes of playback at volume level 22.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best noise-cancelling headphones we use and love

I haven’t had the chance to do a full battery rundown, but I did charge the speaker to 100 percent before running it for an all-day sewing session and kept it going while I got ready for a night out. In total, I played the speaker for about 10 hours straight at 50 percent volume with ULT Power turned on, and the battery dropped down to 60 percent.

Loud, room-filling sound

If you’re just looking for a casual portable speaker to listen to in the shower or while you work, the ULT FIeld 3 is going to be far more than you need. I suggest opting for the smaller, more affordable ULT Field 1.

The ULT Field 3 is best for parties, the outdoors, larger working spaces, or people who just love to blast loud music. This thing gets loud. 

The speaker has noticeably fuller sound compared to its predecessor. And while I’m always a big fan of Sony’s audio quality, the ULT Field 3 can sound a bit tinny if you’re right next to it and the volume is cranked. However, if you step away a few feet, it sounds perfectly fine. (For your ear drums’ sake, you probably shouldn’t be so close to a loud speaker anyway.) 

I listened to the Sony ULT Field 3 and Bose SoundLink Max simultaneously and back-to-back, and the audio quality is decently comparable between the two. Bose ultimately sounded better, but the SoudnLink Max also costs $200 more, so that was expected. The ULT Field 3 provides generally clear, full sound that can fill a room at a relatively budget-friendly price.

Outside of music, I also listened to a couple of episodes of “The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott.” Their voices sounded loud and clear from wherever I went in my 1,000-square-foot apartment.

This speaker is definitely for bass lovers Tap the ULT button to boost the bass up a notch. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

With the ULT Power turned on, the speaker is incredibly bass-forward. If you don’t like heavy bass, the ULT Field 3 is probably not the best speaker for you. You can obviously turn off the extra bass feature, but at that point, you could just opt for a cheaper speaker instead.

Listening to Bad Bunny’s “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” I felt like I was at a bumping party, even though I was just in my apartment by myself. I could actually feel the bass vibrate while the speaker sat on my desk and I sat in my desk chair.

ULT Field 3 introduced me to background bass that I never even knew existed in “The Last Time (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift and Gary Lightbody. The speaker is great for punching up your music and bringing out little details you might miss on another speaker.

Portability and ruggedness shine The detachable strap is stylish and great for portability. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Let me start by saying that this speaker is surprisingly lightweight — it doesn’t feel much heavier than the smaller ULT Field 1 speaker. It also comes with a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap that makes transportation easy. The strap has a cute design with Baggu or Off-White vibes.

The speaker is about 10 inches wide x 4.5 inches high x 3 inches deep, so even without the strap, it’s small enough to fit in a tote or backpack.

As I mentioned above, Sony’s ULT Field 3 is IP67-rated waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and rustproof. I took a shower with the speaker sitting on the ledge of the tub, and it was totally unaffected by water spraying all over it. The sound still came out great and the speaker itself was unharmed.

I can see this being a really great speaker for outdoor parties, pool days, hikes, or camping. It’s tough enough to withstand any accidents that might happen with dropping or spillage.

The speaker survived getting drenched in my shower. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable Sony Sound Connect app

Sony used to have separate apps for headphones and speakers, but now they’re all combined under the Sony Sound Connect app. This is where you can customize your 7-band EQ for the ULT Field 3 or connect the speaker with other Sony speakers. You can also see the speaker’s battery life and swap between other Sony devices in the app. I did have trouble getting the speaker to connect to the app, and then I wasn't able to connect my ULT Field 1, so I couldn't try out the Party Connect between the two speakers. I'm hoping that was just a fluke that will get sorted out.

The app also has DJ Control, where you can isolate audio or add in DJ sound effects like an air horn or record scratch. I found this feature to be very funny and not something I would ever seriously use, but maybe an aspiring DJ who’s more well-versed in the effects would find it more useful.

Where the ULT Field 3 falls in the Sony ULT lineup

When the Sony ULT lineup launched in 2024, it started with the ULT Wear headphones, ULT Field 1 small portable speaker, ULT Field 7 large portable speaker, and ULT Tower 10 large tower speaker. The 2025 launch includes the ULT Field 3, ULT Field 5, and ULT Tower 9.

The smaller ULT Field 1 (left) with the medium-sized ULT Field 3 (right). Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The ULT Field 3 sits toward the smaller end of the lineup, larger than the ultra-portable ULT Field 1 but smaller than the ULT Field 5 or 7, which are technically portable but would be better for more stationary uses like house parties. The Field 3 also gets significantly louder than the ULT Field 1. However, it doesn’t have the fun party lights of the ULT Field 5 or Field 7.

Is the Sony ULT Field 3 worth it?

The Sony ULT Field 3 speaker is worth it for someone who loves to hear the bass in their music and needs a speaker to fill a large space — or someone who listens to music outdoors often, like at the beach or on a hike.

It’s a decently priced mid-size speaker from one of our favorite audio brands, so I don’t think anyone would regret purchasing it. It has great audio quality (as long as you’re not right next to the speaker), a good battery life, and can withstand tough conditions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Field 3 Bluetooth speaker $199 at Amazon
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SEE ALSO: Tax season is here: All the details on IRS Free File

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Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: TurboTax TurboTax Deluxe 2024 Tax Software (federal and state) $55.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.00 Get Deal Why we like it

At 30% off, Turbo Tax Deluxe is ideal for anyone who owns a home, has tax-deductible charitable donations, paid high medical expenses, or those who need to file both state and federal returns in 2025 for the 2024 tax year. Normally, TurboTax Deluxe costs $79.99, but Amazon has it discounted to just $55.99 for a digital version of the software that's suitable for both PC and Mac.

This version of TurboTax is designed to get you the maximum refund possible, including over 375 potential deductions and credits. You'll be able to import W2 forms, investments, mortgage information, and more from participating companies which will streamline the process.

Keep in mind that this deal gives you five federal e-files and one state file, meaning you can share the federal filing option with family members or friends to get their taxes done this week, too.

Best deal for self-employed folks Opens in a new window Credit: TurboTax TurboTax Home & Business 2024 Tax Software (federal and state) $95.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $34.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Filing taxes as a freelancer or self-employed person can get complicated. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, pick up TurboTax Home & Business 2024 Tax Software (federal and state). This version focuses on filing for contractors, small business owners, sole proprietors, and other self-employed folks.

Typically, TurboTax Home & Business comes in at $129.99, but the software is on sale at Amazon for $95.99. This version of TurboTax is well-equipped to deal with new business start-up costs, refinances, business expenses, and rental property income, making the task of filing much less daunting. There's also protection that checks your return for audit triggers, helping you sleep better after filing.

Best deal for business owners Opens in a new window Credit: TurboTax TurboTax Business 2024 Tax Software (federal) $143.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $46 Get Deal Why we like it

Feeling nervous to file your 2024 return as a business owner? Understandable, but enlist the help of TurboTax Business 2024 Tax Software (federal) and you'll be taking major steps in the right direction. With easy-to-navigate guidance, TurboTax helps business owners with maximizing industry-specific credits and deductions. It'll also let you create K-1 forms electronically.

TurboTax recommends opting for this version if you own an S- or C-Corp, have a partnership, manage a trust, or have a multi-member LLC.

Best deal for investors Opens in a new window Credit: TurboTax TurboTax Premier 2024 Tax Software (federal and state) $82.99 at Amazon
$114.99 Save $32 Get Deal Why we like it

Taxes can get tricky if you're active in trading stock or bonds. Instead of worrying about your investments when working on your 2024 tax return, opt for the guidance of TurboTax Premier 2024 Tax Software (federal and state). The software usually sells for $114.99, but Amazon has it discounted to $82.99.

This version is also ideal if you're a trust beneficiary or you own rental property. Plus, it can handle returns for those who sold employee stock in 2024.

TurboTax Premier scans your return for over 375 potential deductions and credits, plus it has additional help for retirement tax and includes IRA tools.

Best H&R Block deal for Amazon shoppers Opens in a new window Credit: H&R Block H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State (federal and state) $45.97 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $14.02 Get Deal Why we like it

Anyone who shops often at Amazon can benefit from this H&R Block tax software deal. For starters, this bundle offers both federal and state tax filing, offering one state program and five federal e-files, plus it's 23% off.

H&R Block focuses on taking the stress out of tax filing by offering the ability to easily upload W-2 forms, 1099s, 1098s, and information from your 2023 tax return. That even includes importing from TurboTax and Quicken.

But the most unique offering with this H&R tax software deal is the potential for a larger refund. When you snag this deal at Amazon and select to get your tax refund on an Amazon gift card, you could be eligible to get an extra 2% bonus on the gift card.

Best H&R Block deal for self-employed folks Opens in a new window Credit: H&R Block H&R Block Premium Tax Software (federal and state) $72.97 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $12.02 Get Deal Why we like it

Being self-employed is hard enough, then come the complicated taxes. Take some of the pressure off thanks to H&R Block Tax Software that helps self-employed people by offering advanced Schedule C guidance which can maximize deductions. Like all H&R Block software, it comes with easy-to-follow steps and free in-person audit support should that become necessary.

This deal is also great if you expect a refund and shop at Amazon. With this deal, you can select to receive your tax refund in the form of an Amazon gift card, which comes with an additional 2% bonus refund.

Best H&R Block deal for business owners Opens in a new window Credit: H&R Block H&R Block Premium & Business Tax Software (federal and state) $85.97 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $14.02 Get Deal Why we like it

With support for business owners, H&R Block Premium & Business comes with great features, and it's on sale at Amazon for $85.97. H&R Block recommends this version of e-filing to business owners who are filing corporate or S-corporation taxes. LLC, estate, and trust taxes are also well-supported with this version.

You might also be eligible to get an extra 2% bonus refund if you choose to get your refund in the form of an Amazon gift card.

In a last-minute scramble, tech heavyweights like Apple, Dell, and Microsoft have been fast-tracking shipments of phones and laptops to the U.S. ahead of sweeping new tariffs on Chinese goods.

SEE ALSO: Trump tariff news: iPhones getting snapped up, laptop sales disrupted – what we know

The report comes via Japanese outlet Nikkei, which says these companies are leaning hard on their Asian suppliers to pump out as much inventory as possible before the new rules land. Unfortunately, the slapdash nature of the tariff rollout has complicated those efforts. "The biggest challenge is that we don't have so many components and materials in stock," one exec told Nikkei. "There's only so much we could ship less than a week before the new tariffs begin."

The tariffs officially hit on April 9, slamming Chinese exports with a staggering 104% hike — made up of a 20% levy already in place, the 34% tacked on last week, and a fresh 50% added by Trump after Beijing refused to walk back its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

The Trump administration says its goal is to push American companies to bring manufacturing back home. But here's the catch: the supply chains, factories, and skilled labor needed to build devices at scale in the U.S. simply don’t exist at the moment.

While some tech companies have been rushing to refresh their inventory ahead of the tariff rollout, others are hitting pause. Nintendo has delayed preorders on the Switch 2, while Razer Blade laptops disappeared altogether from the company's online store on April 8.

How will President Trump’s tariffs affect you? Keep checking Mashable.com as we cover the latest impacts on the tech and shopping worlds, from how tariffs delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to iPhone 16 panic buying.

GET 19% OFF: As of April 9, the Vizio 40-inch 1080p Smart TV is on sale at Amazon for $138, down $169.99, saving you $31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vizio Vizio 40-inch 1080p Smart TV $138 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $31.99 Get Deal

If you're in need of a new TV, then you're in luck, for the moment, there are still deals to be had on products like the Vizio 40-inch 1080p Smart TV. With President Trump implementing tariffs up to 104% on China, and China responding with 84% tariffs on US goods, prices on consumer goods are likely to change very quickly.

As of April 9, you can still get the Vizio 40-inch 1080p Smart TV for $138, down from $169.99, and save $31 for 19% off. That's its lowest price ever.

SEE ALSO: The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with RTX 4060 is $400 off — nab it before tariffs take hold

The Vizio 40-inch 1080p Smart TV is a high-tech, modern television priced for less. Compatible with Alexa and Google Cast, you'll easily be able to link it to your smart assistant and stream your favorite shows.

With HD resolution and a 60Hz screen refresh time, this TV is as well-equipped for gaming as it is for movies and TV. It uses active pixel tuning with full array LED backlighting, lighting and darkening zones to create rich contrast.

Whether you're upgrading your home theater before hopping into an Avowed playthrough, or you're just trying to replace an aging TV before Trump tariffs decimate global trade, this deal is a great time to buy.

If you've played Fortnite recently, then you've probably been bombarded by, of all people, Sabrina Carpenter.

The pop star is taking center stage as the headliner for Fortnite Festival Season 8, a rhythm-based game that feels like Guitar Hero’s wild little cousin. But don’t think it’s just about playing music — Sabrina’s influence is everywhere. Among the treasures up for grabs this season are a slew of Sabrina-themed goodies, including a Carpenter skin complete with multiple outfits. For those who don’t live and breathe video games, that just means you can deck out your in-game character to look like the "Espresso" singer herself.

And it’s causing quite the buzz. Scroll through social media, and you’ll find an endless stream of screenshots and clips featuring players who’ve decked out their avatars as Sabrina Carpenter. From epic dance moves to full-on Carpenter takeovers, it seems like Fortnite is now Sabrina’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

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As those posts demonstrate, some folks playing as Carpenter are less focused on fighting and more into dancing or just vibing out.

"Dance-related stalemates are on the rise since @SabrinaAnnLynn arrived in Fortnite," the Fortnite account posted on X. "[Battle Royale] is all vibes now."

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It's a fun addition to the game, but if you're planning to play, just "Please Please Please" get ready for some dance breaks.

SAVE $90: As of April 9, get the Blink Outdoor 4 (2-Pack) for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179.99. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 (2-Pack) $89.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

Do you know what's going on outside your home when you close the door? With the right smart home tech, you can see everything that's happening by glancing at your phone thanks to wireless security cameras. There's a great deal at Amazon right now that should make keeping a watchful eye a breeze.

As of April 9, get the Blink Outdoor 4 (2-Pack) for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179.99. That's $90 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: Upgrade to the M4 MacBook Air while it's at its cheapest price to date

You get two Blink Outdoor 4 cameras here for less than $100, which is a great deal, especially since these wireless cameras can be placed just about anywhere. They come with their own mounting kit and two AA batteries, which will last about two years per camera.

You can view up to five camera feeds from your phone, with 1080p HD recordings, infrared night vision, and two-way communication so you can live chat with anyone on the other end of the camera. You can also connect your cameras via Alexa-enabled devices to control and view your feeds from there. Since these cameras are for outside use, they're weather-resistant, meaning you can truly set them up and forget them.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of April 9: OUR TOP PICK Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,139 (save $60) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Fitbit Charge 6 $119.95 (save $40) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 (save $30) Get Deal BEST STYLUS DEAL Apple Pencil 2 $109 (save $20) Get Deal BEST BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DEAL Bose SoundLink Flex $119 (save $30) Get Deal

With tariff talk causing tech prices to jump and purchases to skyrocket, we're all desperately in need of some deals. We don't encourage panic-buying, but if you're seeking some specific tech and don't want to spend an arm and a leg, we've found a few discounts at Amazon we think are worth grabbing as of April 9.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are catching your eye, be sure to check out our selections from April 7 and April 8. Many of those deals are still live, including 40% off the Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet and the lowest price to date on the Sony SRS-XG300 Bluetooth speaker.

Our top pick: Apple 15-inch M4 MacBook Air Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,139 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $60 Get Deal

The brand-new 15-inch Apple MacBook Air with an M4 chip has dropped to its lowest price to date — just $1,139. That's only a $60 discount, but considering the laptop has only been out for a month, that's pretty impressive. A Mashable Choice Award-winner, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars, it's practically a no-brainer purchase if you're looking to upgrade. Mashable's reviewer, Stan Schroeder, dubbed it "the best-buy Apple laptop, period," specifically shouting out its "impressively powerful" and silent performance and improved FaceTime camera.

Read our full review of the M4 MacBook Air.

Fitbit Charge 6 Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $119.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $40.00 Get Deal

The Fitbit Charge 6 checks all the boxes for a top-notch fitness tracker. It features a seven-day battery life, 40 different exercise modes, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, built-in GPS, and a sleek, slim design. You'll also get a six-month Fitbit Premium membership to kickstart your new health and fitness routine. It's usually a $159.95 purchase, but as of April 9, it's on sale for $119.95. That's 25% in savings.

Blink Video Doorbell Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

If you don't want to drop hundreds on a home security system, but still want some peace of mind when you're away, the Blink Video Doorbell is a great investment. On sale for just $29.99 — 50% off its usual cost — this smart doorbell lets you see who's at your door even when you're far away with a 1080p HD live view and two-way audio, plus infrared night vision when the sun goes down. Pop in two AA batteries and it can last for up to two years before needing new ones.

Apple Pencil 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil 2 $109 at Amazon
$129 Save $20 Get Deal

The Apple Pencil is a game-changing iPad accessory, whether you're a creator hoping to make digital masterpieces or just want to jot down some notes or doodles. The second-generation stylus gives you the luxury of magnetic charging by just hovering it close to the edge of a supported iPad. Plus, it offers pressure sensitivity that makes note-taking or drawing fine details feel like using an actual pen or pencil, as well as double-tap gestures that let you switch tools effortlessly. It's typically $129, but you can slash $20 off as of April 9 at Amazon.

Bose SoundLink Flex Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose SoundLink Flex $119 at Amazon
$149 Save $30 Get Deal

Not all portable speakers are created equal. If you want something small enough to go with you anywhere, yet powerful enough to crank out your tunes for hours, check out the SoundLink Flex by Bose. Our pals at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) celebrated its "outdoor-friendly build and impressive rumble for its portable size," rating it "excellent" with 4 out of 5 stars. It boasts an impressive 12-hour battery life, a rugged design that is not only waterproof, but can float. The latest generation also streamlined the controls and offers customizable EQ in the Bose app, unlocking a better listening experience than its predecessor. Usually $149, you can snag it on sale for only $119 as of April 9. That's 20% in savings on any color.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.