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SAVE $32: As of Oct. 5, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $17.99 at Amazon. That's a 64% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select $17.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $32   Get Deal

With Prime Day about to drop, we can expect many deals, including discounts on tech, robot vacuums, and of course, Amazon's own devices like Echo speakers and Fire TV Sticks.

If your streaming setup needs an overhaul but you don't want to splash out tons of cash, this early deal on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is ideal. Normally $49.99, it has dropped in price to just $17.99. That's a saving of $32, and its lowest-ever price.

And it's so simple to use, too. It's designed to make any compatible TV feel a little smarter, and once you've plugged it in and connected to WiFi, you can use the included remote to navigate Fire OS, adjust your TV's volume, and switch the power on and off without juggling multiple remotes. The latest model also brings a refreshed design and new Alexa+ recommendations.

Of course, as it's a streaming device, you'll have access to popular services such as Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+, with support for 4K Ultra HD and HDR10+.

It can even double as a gaming device. With an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can use Xbox Cloud Gaming to play compatible Game Pass titles directly through your TV.

This Fire Stick deal is available at Amazon right now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Fire Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)

• AirPods Pro 3 — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort Gen 2 — $319 $359 (save $40)

• iPad mini — $499 $599 (save $100)

• MacBook Air M5 — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 5, the Apple Watch SE 3 is on sale for $229 at Amazon. That's an 18% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 $229 at Amazon
$279 Save $50   Get Deal

Waiting for Prime Day to upgrade your fitness tracker? There may be no need, because the Apple Watch SE 3 is already on sale, dropping from $279 to $229 and saving you $50. It's available in three colors: starlight aluminum with a sand band, midnight aluminum with a navy blue band, and starlight aluminum with a starlight band.

Just in case there was any doubt about the quality of this deal — it's a record-low price for this model.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced way to track your health and fitness. It has features like temperature sensing for insights in the Vitals and Cycle Tracking apps, sleep tracking and sleep apnea notifications, and support for a wide range of workouts. If you're into running, strength training, swimming, and more, you can track all of your workouts on this watch.

You'll also get a battery that lasts up to 18 hours, and fast charging provides up to 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. Siri is also built in to help with everything from finding information to suggesting post-workout stretches, recipes, and wellness tips.

And for added safety, it can also detect hard falls and severe car crashes, then automatically help connect you with emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.

Find this Apple Watch deal at Amazon right now.

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 5, the Echo Show 5 is on sale for $59.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 $59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal

Prime Day is about to get underway, but the discounts have already started creeping in. From Apple products to robot vacuums, you can find a discount on just about anything.

And Amazon has been discounting its own products, including the Echo Show 5. Normally $99.99, you can save $40 on this handy smart home hub at the new price of $59.99. It comes in three colors: glacier white, charcoal, and cloud blue, so you can blend it seamlessly into your home decor.

This device gives you a compact screen for checking things like the weather, catching up on the news, or putting on some music. You can stream from services including Amazon Music and Spotify, or from Prime Video if you want to watch shows and movies.

It also has a built-in 2MP camera. You can use this for video calls or to keep an eye on things at home when you're out. And when you don't need it, the screen can double as a digital photo frame with rotating slideshows. Prime members also get unlimited cloud photo storage for their pictures.

This Echo Show deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 5, the Apple 2026 MacBook Air M5 is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's a $200 discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2026 MacBook Air M5 $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal

It's officially Prime week, with just one day until the two-day sale gets underway. Early discounts have been popping up for weeks, and we're now seeing some stunning deals on Apple products.

We didn't expect this latest MacBook deal, but we're so glad to see it. If the latest MacBook Air has been in your sights, you're in luck. As of Oct. 5, the 13-inch, 512GB model is on sale for $1,099, down from $1,299. This deal applies to all colorways, so you're not stuck with one option.

If you want a laptop that can handle everyday work with ease, the MacBook Air with the M5 chip is a great choice. It's no wonder it's one of our best laptops for 2026. It has the performance to handle creative projects and AI-assisted tasks, and its slim, lightweight design makes it a convenient pick if you work on the go. You'll also get Apple Intelligence built in and 512GB of SSD storage.

It has all the basics you need too. Apple says the battery can last for up to 18 hours, and the 12MP Center Stage camera is ideal for video calls. There's also a three-microphone setup and a four-speaker system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, so you've got great audio at all times.

This MacBook deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $60: As of Oct. 5, the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro (M5, 256GB) is down to $1,139 at Amazon. That's marked down from its $1,199 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, 256GB) $1,139 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $60   Get Deal

The 11-inch Apple iPad Pro (M5, 256GB) is down to $1,139 at Amazon — a $60 discount off its $1,199.00 list price, marking a 5% markdown on Apple's flagship tablet ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

The M5 iPad Pro delivers speed and effortless multitasking on a stunning display. Built with Neural Accelerators for on-device AI and Apple Intelligence, it runs the revamped iPadOS 26, which brings a sleek Liquid Glass look and flexible desktop-style windowing to handle heavy-duty workflows.

Crowned Mashable’s "best for professionals" tablet by shopping reporter Samantha Mangino, the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro is the ultimate setup for creative power users who want a true laptop replacement. In his 4.6-star review, Mashable’s Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth called the M5 iPad Pro "a victory lap for Apple," describing it as the kind of tech that "makes you feel like you're living in the future."

At just 5.3mm thin and under a pound, it’s somehow thinner than the iPhone Air, yet it packs mind-blowing performance. Werth found that the M5 chip easily handles demanding programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, giving it a Geekbench score that puts it in the top 8% of all laptops Mashable tested.

SEE ALSO: The best early October Prime Day deals on iPads, according to Mashable's tech experts

Paired with the Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR display, which delivers up to 1,600 nits of brightness for insanely vibrant HDR video, it’s an absolute dream for creators and power users. While Timothy warned that "everyday use is wasted on this tablet" because it's overkill for basic tasks, catching it on sale makes the extra power and high-end tech completely worth the buy.

Grab the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro (M5, 256GB) before this rare pre-Prime Day discount disappears.

TL;DR: Watch France vs. Belgium in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League brings together Europe's top teams for exciting matchups. We weren't always convinced by this new competition, but we're into it. We get to see France take on Belgium just days after seeing Zidane's team play Italy. That's what it's all about.

If you're interested in watching France vs. Belgium in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is France vs. Belgium?

France vs. Belgium in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Oct. 5. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.

How to watch France vs. Belgium for free

France vs. Belgium in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.

TF1 is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can live stream France vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Belgium for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit TF1

5. Watch France vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch France vs. Belgium without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including France

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream France vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Italy vs. Turkey in the Nations League for free on RaiPlay. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first break for the UEFA Nations League is coming to an end, but there are still some exciting fixtures to play out. That includes Italy vs. Turkey.

These sides met last week at the Centennial Atatürk Stadium, with Italy securing an impressive win. Turkey will be looking to improve and avenge that heavy defeat.

If you're interested in watching Italy vs. Turkey in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Turkey?

Italy vs. Turkey in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Oct. 5. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

How to watch Italy vs. Turkey for free

Italy vs. Turkey in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy, meaning you can live stream Italy vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Italy vs. Turkey for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit RaiPlay

5. Watch Italy vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. Turkey without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RaiPlay, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Italy

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Italy vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for who watch baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Just for fun

• Green: Where to play tennis

• Blue: Florida baseball players

• Purple: Scoring streaks, big leads

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Game with no Stakes

• Green: Types of Tennis Courts

• Blue: Tampa Bay Rays

• Purple: ___Run

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #742 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Game with no Stakes: DEAD RUBBER, EXHIBITION, FRIENDLY, SCRIMMAGE

• Types of Tennis Courts: CARPET, CLAY, GRASS, HARD

• Tampa Bay Rays: BAKER, CAMINERO, JAX, WALLS

• ___Run: EARNED, HOME, INSURANCE, STRETCH

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 5, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 5, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 5 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 5 Pips

Less than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

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

Less than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Less than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 5 Pips

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

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

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Ring.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CHIME

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An Asian prince.

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

RAJAH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Location.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 5, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

PLACE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Bulk.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BATCH

Final Hurdle hint

Soup spoon.

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

LADLE

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

The Moon is nearing the end of its current lunar cycle, with the New Moon now just around the corner. The cycle takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, taking the Moon from New Moon to Full Moon and back again. We're now in the final stages, so here's what the Moon will look like tonight.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Monday, Oct. 5, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 31% of its surface visible.

With just your naked eye, tonight you can see the Oceanus Procellarum and the Kepler Crater. If you have binoculars, you can also spot the Grimaldi Basin, the Copernicus Crater, and the Mare Humorum. Finally, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 12 landing spot and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth, and as it moves through this cycle, we see different amounts of its sunlit side from here. That's what creates the Moon's different phases, from a thin crescent through to a half Moon and, eventually, the Full Moon. Once it reaches the Full Moon, the cycle starts over again. NASA explains that the phase we see depends on the Moon's position in relation to Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 5, 2026 Content meaning

A state of being satisfied.

Peaceful meaning

Free from war, violence, noise or worry.

Placid meaning

Calm, peaceful and not easily upset.

Serene meaning

Calm, peaceful and free from disturbance or worry.

Explicit meaning

Stated clearly and in detail.

Graphic meaning

Something very clear and powerful.

Strong meaning

Having the power to exert great force.

Suggestive meaning

Implying or hinting at sexual matters.

Parent meaning

Someone's mother or father.

Please meaning

A polite word used to make a request sound more courteous.

Sapphire meaning

A precious gemstone famous for its rich blue color.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Sloan meaning

An army raid or expedition.

Advisory meaning

An official notice that alerts the public of a potential hazard or danger.

Chess meaning

A two-player strategy board game played on a sqaure grid.

Ironing meaning

The process of using a heated tool to straighten out clothes or fabric.

Message meaning

A piece of information or news sent from one person or source to another.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a chill guy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 3, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cool and collected

• Green: NSFW

• Blue: A slab

• Purple: To let

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Calm

• Green: Adjectives for mature content

• Blue: Kinds of boards

• Purple: Ending in ways to temporarily acquire

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 #1211 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Calm: CONTENT, PEACEFUL, PLACID, SERENE

• Adjectives for mature content: EXPLICIT, GRAPHIC, STRONG, SUGGESTIVE

• Kinds of boards: ADVISORY, CHESS, IRONING, MESSAGE

• Ending in ways to temporarily acquire: PARENT, PLEASE, SAPPHIRE, SLOAN

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a Debbie Downer.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 5, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Oh well, too bad, such a shame

The words are related to disappointment.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe negative reactions.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Sad Trombone.

NYT Strands word list for October 5

• Bummer

• Sucks

• Boohoo

• Sad Trombone

• Alas

• Sorry

• Unfortunate

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a chocoholic.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 5, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

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

Chocolate.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MOCHA

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

When last we left Lanterns, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan's Halogram (Kyle Chandler) had ventured to the last alien world Manhunter Zoe Macon (Poorna Jagannathan) had destroyed. There, among ruins and the potent residue of the Manhunter's tear gas, they discovered Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), last seen in a high-security space prison.

SEE ALSO: 'Lanterns' review: Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre shine bright in DC's sci-fi mystery

While an exciting tease of Lanterns' more cosmic potential, the sequence also left viewers with a ton of questions. How had Sinestro escaped? What was he doing on Antaan's (Paul Ben-Victor) dead planet, and how did a portal wind up in Rushville? Plus, Lanterns had yet to answer the question that's haunted it since the very beginning: Who killed Hal Jordan?

Thankfully, Lanterns also answers all these questions in its Season 1 finale, which nicely synthesizes its grander discussions of fear and family. If you're afraid of spoilers, now would be the time to turn back. Otherwise, let's get into it.

How did Sinestro escape from prison, and what is he up to now? Ulrich Thomsen in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

Before we get into Hal's murder, let's talk about the big, pink elephant in the room: Sinestro.

When John and Hal find him on Antaan's planet, he's working in a forge of some kind, where he's created a brand new lantern. Unlike the lantern we've seen Hal use to charge his rings, this one is streaked through with yellow. The new coloration comes from the leftover fear in the planet's water and air. While Sinestro insists this lantern will work like any other, the presence of yellow is ironically a red flag for any Green Lantern fan. On top of being associated with fear, yellow is tied to the villainous Sinestro Corps, as well as the cosmic fear parasite Parallax. With just a few streaks of yellow, Lanterns may be setting up its future antagonists.

But Sinestro isn't forging the lantern for himself. He's forging it for the person who broke him out of prison: Sheriff Kerry Kane's (Kelly Macdonald) son Noah Macon (Shea Pritchard). How in the world was a high school football star able to break Sinestro out of space prison? The answer is, he's no ordinary high school football star. Noah is also a Manhunter.

How is Noah Macon a Manhunter? Shea Pritchard in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

Noah is Lanterns' second secret Manhunter reveal, which comes as an extra shock because Zoe was supposed to be the last one. Plus, according to Antaan's conversation with William Macon (Garret Dillahunt) in episode 5, it seems like Manhunters aren't able to reproduce.

However, it appears that Zoe was able to use her Manhunter technology and a sample of Kerry's body to create a new Manhunter. As Kerry tells John later in the finale, Zoe was supposed to grow back the finger Kerry cut off to save herself from the Gotham goons hunting her down. Instead, Kerry found herself pregnant, which was odd since she hadn't been intimate with anyone in months. She gave birth to Manhunter Noah and tried her best to raise him to not be a monster.

SEE ALSO: 'Lanterns' finally reveals its Manhunter. Here were the biggest hints at the truth. What is Noah's plan? Shea Pritchard in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

Despite Kerry's best efforts, Noah found out who he truly was. (Remember Zoe telling him, "Don't forget everything I've told you"? She was definitely giving him Manhunter tips.) As he grew up, he found himself caught in a classic battle of nature versus nurture: Should he succumb to his power-hungry Manhunter ways? Or should he remain good and caring, like his mother taught him? His stated interest in politics and even the president in episode 7 suggest he's leaning towards the former. Yet his kindness to his fellow teammates, including drawing out his college football decision so more scouts could come see them play, highlights how there's still good in him.

Realizing that he is in danger from the Guardians, Noah sought the help of the one person who's ever killed a Guardian: Sinestro. He broke him out of prison and put him to work making the lantern as a contingency plan for his safety. He learned about Antaan's planet and how to get there from Zoe, who would occasionally visit.

SEE ALSO: 'War' review: HBO and Sky's delicious legal drama is your next TV obsession

Hal found out about Noah's Manhunter nature when Noah saved him from his burning house. He agreed to keep Kerry in the dark about Noah's knowledge, but he couldn't help but snoop around and go through Noah's portal. John assumes that Hal's meddling led to Noah killing him, but the truth is far more devastating.

Who killed Hal Jordan? Kelly Macdonald in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

In a heartbreaking turn of events, it was Kerry, not her son, who killed Hal. She fired on him after he confronted her about Noah being a Manhunter, insisting that she get away from Noah before he enacted his plan.

After Lanterns spent the first part of its finale focusing on Hal and Kerry's sweet relationship, the final killer reveal is an absolute gut punch, made all the better by Macdonald's superbly layered performance. As Kerry tells John, she informed him about Hal's death both because she thought he deserved to know, and because she wanted him to see Noah for himself. She wanted to know if she was raising a monster.

SEE ALSO: 'Ted Lasso' just sank to a new low

John doesn't see it that way. As Noah opens up to him about his desire to buck his Manhunter "programming," John recognizes a lot of himself in him. He thinks back to his traumatic childhood, a deeply regimented time of his life when his parents decided every step of his path. As he grew up, he found himself wondering what was truly him, and what was just his "repetition and training." Noah is undergoing a similar crisis: How much of him is Noah, and how much of him is Manhunter instinct?

The fact that Noah is even grappling with this, John thinks, is proof that Noah's on the right path. So, when Noah asks John to kill him out of mercy, John decides not to. Yes, this means there's still a Manhunter running around on Earth. But he's a Manhunter who's trying to be something other than what people expect him to be, and that's something John can relate to all too well.

Seeing himself in Noah, and seeing some of his own fearful mother, Bernadette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), in Kerry, John retaliates against neither one, believing that that's what Hal would have wanted too.

How does John Stewart become a Green Lantern? Aaron Pierre in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

After leaving Kerry and Noah to celebrate his big football win and commitment to Nebraska, John still has some unfinished business to attend to. He summons Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) to Rushville and tells him there's going to be a change in Green Lantern management on Earth. From now on, Earth will be John's domain, while Guy will still get to monitor the rest of Sector 2814. Naturally, Guy is ticked off, especially since John verbally eviscerates him and his gold tooth. He says that the Guardians won't stand for this, but John knows otherwise.

Once Guy flies off, John is left alone with his ring, his lantern, and the Halogram. Both Hal and John know that once John charges his power ring with the new lantern, the Halogram will cease to exist. So begins a tear-jerking goodbye, one that ends with Hal telling John, "I love you too, Junior." He's come so far from throwing himself out of cars to teach John a lesson!

Aside from the heartfelt parting words, the biggest takeaway from Hal and John's goodbye is Hal's reminder to John: "Don't be afraid to be afraid."

The advice is a perfect culmination of John's journey, from being horrifically trained not to feel fear to later accepting it and finding his own path. His new lantern, shot through with yellow fear, becomes the physical embodiment of that arc.

There's only one thing left for John to do: recite the Green Lantern Corps oath and take on the role he spent so much of his life training for. But just like John's decision to take over Green Lantern duties on Earth, he's going to take the oath on his terms. His own oath goes as follows:

In brightest day, in darkest night,

I'll embrace my fear. I'll do what's right.

I choose this ring. I choose this fight.

In service to this lantern's light.

It's an empowering conclusion to John's complicated relationship with fear and the Guardians, made all the sweeter by him taking flight for the very first time. Between that and a scene of John reuniting with his family and embracing Bernadette, Lanterns closes the door on his painful journey to become Earth's Green Lantern, and opens the door to a whole new chapter of John's life.

Will there be a Lanterns Season 2? Aaron Pierre in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

HBO has not yet announced a Lanterns Season 2. However, even if the show doesn't continue, this certainly isn't the last we've seen of John Stewart. Aaron Pierre is confirmed to be reprising the role in Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, out July 9, 2027. Perhaps we'll finally get to see his suit!

If Lanterns does continue, there are several plot threads it could tug on. For one, Sinestro is still out there. Yes, he's chained down on a desolate alien planet, but he's also escaped from a seemingly inescapable alien prison. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him. Plus, given the emphasis on the yellow fear in John's new lantern, Lanterns could begin introducing the Sinestro Corps, or even Parallax. There's a whole lot of Lantern lore to explore, should Lanterns light up our TV screens again.

Lanterns is now streaming on HBO Max.

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An appellate court in Arizona threw out the prison sentence of a man convicted of manslaughter after an A.I.-generated video of his victim was played in court.

It's official: Digger couldn't strike gold at the box office.

The Tom Cruise climate change satire, directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, made $8 million at the domestic box office over its opening weekend, Variety reports. Its international earnings totaled $12 million, bringing Digger's opening weekend total to $20 million.

SEE ALSO: 'Digger' review: Tom Cruise swings big for Oscar gold, and dear God, does he miss

According to Variety, the film cost between $160 and $180 million to make, meaning Digger is officially a massive box-office bomb. It is also the last Warner Bros. film released before Warner Bros. Discovery merges with Paramount to become Skydance, marking a rough end to this era for the historic film studio.

Warner Bros. banked on Cruise's star power to deliver success for Digger, but the film's box office is shaping up to be one of the worst of the famed actor's career. (Yes, potentially worse than 2017's The Mummy, which stopped Universal's Dark Universe franchise plans outright.) Digger has the lowest box-office opening for Cruise since 2007's war drama Lions for Lambs, which earned $6.7 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend. However, with a $35 million budget, that film cost markedly less to make.

Following Digger's catastrophic opening and underwhelming critical response, Warner Bros. has leaned into the film's divisiveness with a new campaign that pits negative American reviews against positive international ones. Cruise posted a tribute to the film's cast and crew on Instagram, saying that he was "so proud of what we created."

Topping the box office this weekend was Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity, which picked up $32.6 million domestically and an extra $30 million internationally. It is Anne Hathaway's third number-one opening of the year, after The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Odyssey.

It was the battle of the video games on last night's Saturday Night Live.

SEE ALSO: Pete Hegseth performs slam poetry in 'SNL's Republican midterm ad cold open

During the show's Weekend Update segment, co-host Colin Jost stated that the hype around Grand Theft Auto VI is so massive, it's made other video game developers push their own release dates back to avoid competing with its Nov. 19 launch. Only one game still stands strong against it: Nintendo's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, out Nov. 5.

To discuss the rival release dates, Jost invited GTA VI main character Jason (Marcello Hernandez) and The Legend of Zelda main character Link (Mikey Day) to the Weekend Update desk. What followed was essentially a redo of the pair's emoji sketch from last season, in which Hernandez's popular Red Heart character roasted Day's Aerial Tramway. Day retaliated with increasingly loud (and incredibly successful) attempts to break Hernandez.

Here, the joke is the same, just with a new skin. As Jason, Hernandez hypes up the cool factor of GTA VI, saying it promises "destruction, chaos, and sex."

He also labels The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as TMPNG: Too Many Puzzles, No Guns.

Meanwhile, Day's Link works to sell viewers on The Legend of Zelda's puzzles, light combat, and fairy bottles. With every diss from Jason, he gets more frantic and defensive, with breaks all around. Check out the chaos for yourself above, and decide whether you're heading to Hyrule or Vice City come November.