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TL;DR: Rediscover and protect precious memories with this Kodak Slide N Scan Film and Slide Scanner, now just $164.97 (reg. $224.99) through March 30. 

Whether you've never given up on film or are strictly digital and found some old negatives in the attic, the Kodak Slide N Scan bridges the gap between old and new media. This handy device lets you safeguard precious old memories, and right now, it's just $164.97 until March 30. 

Bring the past into the future with this film scanner

Classic never goes out of style, so we hope you saved all those film negatives. The Kodak Slide N Scan is ready to bring them into 2025. 

This state-of-the-art device scans color and black and white negatives and standard slides and helps you make digital copies. You can bring memories back to life before your eyes, dropping them right in the digital age for safe keeping.

You can also enhance film images as you go with Kodak Slide N Scan. It lets you make color adjustments, rotate them, and even boost the resolution from 14 to 22 megapixels to make the digital version clear and more detailed.  

The Slide N Scan is straightforward to use — even if you prefer film because you hate dealing with technology. The quick-feeding tray technology makes slides and film negatives easy to load, and you can see what you're scanning thanks to the large 5-inch LCD screen. 

Want to make an event out of it? You can connect the scanner to your television, PC, or Mac and enjoy a slideshow experience as you scan. After you're done, you'll have successfully transferred your film memories to digital copies for extra peace of mind. 

Discover old gems in the attic and clear up some storage space with this user-friendly digitizing device. It's compatible with 35mm, 110, 126, and Monochrome film and slide types. 

Bring home a Kodak Slide N Scan for just $164.97, 26% off the usual price now through March 30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kodak Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner $164.97
$224.99 Save $60.02 Get Deal

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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. 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.

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: Teams in the US capital

• Green: Moves on skates

• Blue: Coaches past the round of 32

• Purple: Retired soccer team names

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

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

• Yellow: DC sports teams

• Green: Figure skating jumps

• Blue: Men's basketball coaches in Sweet 16

• Purple: Former MLS team names

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 #184 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• DC Sports teams - CAPITALS, MYSTICS, NATIONALS, WIZARDS

• Figure skating jumps - AXEL, LOOP, LUTZ, SALCHOW

• Men's basketball coaches in the Sweet 16 - OATS, PAINTER, PEARL, POPE

• Former MLS team names - BURN, FUSION, METROSTARS, MUTINY

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.

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.

The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng has weighed in on Trump administration's now infamous Signal group chat, in which U.S. officials planned to bomb Yemen without realising that national security advisor Michael Waltz had inadvertently added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the conversation.

"Is anyone else kind of upset that we're conducting war by emoji now?" quipped Chieng, noting that Waltz reacted the air strikes with a string of emojis.

SEE ALSO: The Trump administration accidentally texted military plans to a journalist. The White House says it's fine.

Skewering Republicans' reactions to the Signal scandal, Chieng pointed out their paradoxical responses of calling the breach a mistake, deriding Goldberg's journalistic integrity, and saying that the leaked chat actually proved the officials' competence.

"So this reporter who is dishonest and sucks is also correct," said Chieng. "You can't use 'it was a mistake' and 'it was fake news.' You gotta pick one."

Chieng also jokingly expressed empathy for the U.S. officials, "who are just trying their best to kill other humans."

"I guarantee that if anyone in this audience had their group chats leaked, it would ruin every single one of your lives," quipped Chieng. "I personally have chats that are actually more sensitive than a missile attack on the Houthis, OK? If you told me that my group chats leaked, and then told me it was just my missile attack one, I'd be like, 'oh my god, thank god, thank god."

U.S. officials' Signal chat debacle has provided bountiful fodder for late show hosts, and Stephen Colbert is feasting. Though Republicans have attempted to spin the embarrassing security breach as somehow demonstrating the Trump administration's competence, Colbert noted that the war planning Signal chat may have violated the Espionage Act.

SEE ALSO: The Trump administration accidentally texted military plans to a journalist. The White House says it's fine.

"The only reason we know that they were doing any of this is because they accidentally included a journalist!" said the Late Show host. "What else are these 'merit-based hires posting on? What're they doing? Where else? For all we know for just $4.99 a month you might see the launch codes on Only Fans."

Colbert also addressed Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth's attempt to discredit said journalist. When asked by reporters about the incident, Hegseth called The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg "deceitful" and accused him of "[peddling] in garbage."

"Then why. Was he. On the war planning. Group chat," said Colbert, growing increasingly more agitated. "Why. Was he in. The chat! 'This guy's an idiot and everyone hates him.' You're the guys who put him in the chat! You did! 'He's a moron'? Okay then! Don't put him! In the secret chat! If he's a bad guy! Why's he in the chat?!"

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.

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

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

A green Italian sauce.

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

PESTO

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A type of drum.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 26, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BONGO

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Used to cut grass.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 26, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MOWER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A small group of trees.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 26 Hurdle Word 4 answer

COPSE

Final Hurdle hint

Used to make folk music.

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

BANJO

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

TL;DR: Through 30 March, grab a lifetime of cloud storage from Koofr on sale for £92.86 (reg. £626.93) with discount code KOOFR.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) £92.86
£626.93 Save £534.07 with code KOOFR Get Deal

So many cloud storage services come with a monthly fee. It may feel cheap at first, but how many of those files are only there temporarily? With every month you pay for cloud storage, the value starts to fade. The cheaper overall alternative is to get cloud storage that lasts for life without needing to pay more than a one-time fee. Take a look at Koofr's offer for a 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription for £92.86 (reg. £626.93) with code KOOFR.

Koofr takes your privacy seriously with top-notch encryption for your files, both when they're being transferred and while they're stored. They also don’t track your activity, so you can rest easy knowing your data is secure and private.

What really stands out about Koofr is how flexible and user-friendly Koofr is. Whether you're on your smartphone, desktop, or using WebDAV, you can easily access and manage your files from anywhere. The interface is straightforward, so even if you're new to cloud storage, you’ll find it easy to use.

Plus, if you’re already using other cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, or OneDrive, Koofr integrates smoothly, letting you handle everything from one place.

And for keeping your digital space in order, Koofr has some neat features. The Duplicate Finder helps you eliminate unnecessary duplicates, while advanced renaming options let you customise file links. This way, you can keep your files organised and your digital space clutter-free.

Keep your files safe and sound with a Koofr 1TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for £92.86 (reg. £626.93) with promo code KOOFR through 30 March at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Mashable readers can get lifetime access to Headway Premium for just £37.14 (reg. £232.16) through 30 March using the discount code LEVELUP20. Headway transforms spare moments into powerful learning experiences with insights from the world’s best nonfiction.

We all want to learn, grow, and achieve more, but finding the time to read can feel impossible. That’s why Headway Premium is such a game-changer. And at just £37.14 (reg. £232.16) for lifetime access, it's a good time to check it out.

Headway Premium offers a smarter way to learn by delivering concise, engaging summaries of nonfiction bestsellers in just 15 minutes. This lifetime deal provides unlimited access to an ever-growing selection of summaries, allowing you to absorb key ideas, strategies, and insights without the time commitment of traditional reading.

You’ll have lifetime access to Headway’s extensive collection of over 1,500 expertly crafted summaries, with 30 to 50 new additions every month. Whether you want to sharpen your business acumen, enhance your leadership skills, improve your health, or develop better habits, there’s a summary waiting to guide you.

Unlike other learning platforms that require ongoing subscriptions, Headway Premium lets you pay once and learn forever. This single purchase will unlock unlimited access, so you can continue expanding your knowledge without worrying about monthly fees.

This app’s AI-powered personalisation tailors recommendations to your goals and interests, helping you focus on the topics that matter most. And a gamified approach allows you to track progress, earn achievements, and build a sustainable learning habit.

Professionally narrated audio summaries provide an on-the-go learning option so you can absorb key insights while commuting, exercising, or multitasking. Even offline, Headway ensures that learning never stops.

Don't miss out on this steep savings. 

Get a lifetime of Headway Premium for just £37.14 (reg. £232.16) when you use the discount code LEVELUP20 through 30 March at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Headway Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £37.14
£232.16 Save £195.02 Use code 'LEVELUP20' Get Deal

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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 25 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In the circle of life

The words are animal-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are animals featured in a Disney movie.

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 LionKing.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 26

• Zebra

• Meerkat

• Hyena

• LionKing

• Warthog

• Hornbill

• Elephant

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.

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's The Mini crossword answers for March 26 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: Needed for a dinner party

• Green: Grew

• Blue: File locations

• Purple: Added measurements

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: Parts of a table setting

• Green: Increased, with "up"

• Blue: Kinds of digital storage

• Purple: Units of volume plus letter

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 #648 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts of a table setting: FORK, GLASS, NAPKIN, PLATE

• Increased, with "up": FLEW, ROSE, SHOT, THRUST

• Kinds of digital storage: CARD, CLOUD, DISK, DRIVE

• Units of volume plus letter: BOUNCE, GALLEON, PINOT, QUARTZ

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 March 26

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 March 26 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 March 26, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

The bend of the arm.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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...

ELBOW.

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 March 26

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.

A journalist’s inclusion in a national security discussion served as a reminder that you might not know every number in the chat — and that could be a big problem.

Napster was only around for roughly three years before it shut down in 2002. The company faced multiple lawsuits from major record labels and bands like Metallica, as Napster's users freely shared music and other files online. Yet, despite its short life, the peer-to-peer file-sharing platform changed the music industry forever, altering how consumers acquired music and ushering in what eventually would become modern-day music streaming.

Now, 25 years after its launch, Napster was just acquired for a whopping $207 million by a 3D tech company called Infinite Reality. And the company says it has big plans for the Napster brand.

"With this acquisition, we're expanding and reimagining Napster, empowering artists with new audience monetization and engagement capabilities, underpinned by iR’s immersive technology, AI-powered tools, and audience network," Infinite Reality said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: The early internet kept showing us the future, and we rolled our eyes every time

In a press release, Infinite Reality laid out some of its plans for Napster, including 3D virtual spaces where "fans can enjoy virtual concerts, social listening parties, and other immersive and community-based experiences." Infinite Reality also plans to let artists sell physical and virtual merchandise and event tickets through the platform. Additionally, the company wants to provide brand sponsorship opportunities for artists.

While most internet users know the infamous peer-to-peer version of Napster, the brand has been chugging along for the past decade as a legal, paid music streaming service. Ironically enough, of all the music streaming services, Napster reportedly pays artists the most per play. 

According to Infinite Reality, current Napster CEO Jon Vlassopulos will continue with his role as CEO of the company.

“By acquiring Napster, we’re paving a path to a brighter future for artists, fans, and the music industry at large,” said Infinite Reality cofounder and CEO John Acunto. "I firmly believe that the artist-fan relationship is evolving, with fans craving hyper-personalized, intimate access to their favorite artists, while artists are searching for innovative ways to deepen connections with fans and access new streams of revenue. We’re creating the ultimate music platform where artists can thrive in the next wave of digital disruption.”

Major video game franchises like Fortnite have held virtual in-game concerts with great success over the past few years. Other platforms like Turntable.fm, which went viral in 2011 before shuttering in 2013, failed in their attempts to create communities out of digital music streaming. It'll be interesting to see how Infinite Reality approaches the concept, especially as Mark Zuckerberg's Meta backtracks on their own "metaverse" concept.

SAVE $800: As of March 25, the Roborock Qrevo Master robot vacuum is on sale for $799.99 at Amazon's Big Spring Sale. That's a full 50% off of its original $1,599.99, and its lowest price ever at Amazon.

Roborock Qrevo Master $799.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $800 Get Deal

Amazon never disappoints with robot vacuum deals at its big sales, and the Big Spring Sale is timed perfectly between the Black Friday and Prime Day seasons. A ton of options hit 30% off or more, but as someone who tests robot vacuums for a living, narrowing down my top one or two recommendations for someone is easy. I simply scan the list for my ultimate favorite robot vacuums that I've tested at home.

Lo and behold, the Roborock Qrevo Master (my favorite from all of 2024) is 50% off for the spring sale. Originally retailing at a steep $1,599.99, the Qrevo Master is down to $799.99 — a whole $100 less than its Cyber Monday price a few months ago. Is it still on the premium end of the price scale? Yes. Does it do more than pretty much any other robot vacuum going for $800? Hell yes.

Though the Qrevo Master has been dethroned as the most powerful Roborock I've tested by the new Saros 10R from CES, it's still one of the most solid cleaners you'll find. Its 10,000 Pa of suction is speaking to pet owners keeping up with kibble, kitty litter, or shedding from more than one pet on multiple floor types. I was most psyched about its mopping capabilities, however. The dual spinning mopping design has become my own personal gold standard over a singular flat pad.

This is corner detailing that most Roombas just can't achieve. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

One of those spinning pads operates on a hinge that can flex the pad out from under the circular vac to mop along edges or in corners. The visual satisfaction is one thing, but the relief of the mystery sticky stuff along my kitchen counter baseboards being taken care of is priceless.

Other premium features packed into the Qrevo Master include self-washing and drying mopping pads, small obstacle avoidance, and a livestream pet camera on the botvac itself.

Opens in a new window Credit: Our Place Our Place Wonder Oven $145 at Amazon
$175 Save $30 Get Deal

For the longest time, I didn't understand the air fryer thing. If I have a perfectly good oven, why do I need another appliance taking up unnecessary counter space? But things changed when the Our Place Wonder Oven entered my life. While I originally received it as a gift, I would buy it 10 times over with my own money.

I don't love the idea of a single-use appliance, especially as an apartment dweller. If something is going to take up precious counter space, it better earn its keeps. The Wonder Oven truly does, as it can toast, reheat, bake, broil, and air fry. It comes with three different trays — an air fryer basket, baking tray, and toasting rack — to help get your cooking jobs done. And not to mention, it's far cuter than your average air fryer. I love the retro-inspired design, and while I wish it had digital controls, the knobs work well.

I've found the Wonder Oven to be key to getting the crispiest bites. Yes, I use it to air fry chicken nuggets to crispy perfection, like any respectable adult, but it does more nuanced jobs, too. On the left of the Wonder Oven is a compartment to add a splash of water so you can use steam to elevate your bakes. I particularly like this feature when it comes to reheating a stale baguette, which magically tastes fresh from the bakery after a trip in the Wonder Oven.

Not to mention, it's the best way to warm up leftover pizza. When set to the reheat setting, leftover slices have crisp crusts and freshly melted cheese.

With Amazon's Big Spring Sale, I was thrilled to see the Our Place Wonder Oven marked down to $145. That saves 17% off its standard $175. While I'd tell you to buy it at full price, I urge you to buy it when it's $30 off. Plus, with summer coming, it's the perfect way to avoid turning on your oven once the heat rolls in.

Character.AI, a leading chatbot platform facing lawsuits related to youth safety issues, introduced a new supervision tool designed to give parents a peek into how their children are using the product.

The "parental insights" feature is meant for caregivers whose children are younger than 18. The tool is accessible via the child's account preferences. From there, the user must add the adult's email address and then invite them to receive a weekly activity report compiled by Character.AI.

SEE ALSO: American Psychological Association sounds alarm over certain AI chatbots

The report includes daily average time spent on the platform, on both mobile and the web; a list of top characters that the teen engages with frequently; and the time spent with each character. The report doesn't include a transcript of the user's chat with their companions.

If the teen decides to revoke their parents' access to this data, they can do so through their account but that request must be confirmed by the adult.

Character.AI described the feature as a "first step" toward providing parents with information about their child's activity on the platform. In recent months, the company has implemented a number of new safety efforts, including a separate model for teens, as well as disclosures that characters are not real people.

The changes come in the wake of two lawsuits against Character.AI, alleging that the product uniquely harmed children who engaged with it.

In October, bereaved mother Megan Garcia filed a lawsuit after her son, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide following intense communications with a character on the platform. In December, two mothers in Texas filed another lawsuit against Character.AI alleging that the company knowingly exposed their children to harmful and sexualized content.

The company said in its announcement about the parental insights feature that it would keep refining the tool: "We will continue to listen to teens, their parents, and leading teen safety organizations as we evolve our parental insights tool to most effectively meet our community’s needs."

A24's upcoming The Legend of Ochi promises a return to handcrafted fantasy adventure films, and the studio has released a first-look featurette to prove it.

The first look opens with a behind-the-scenes shot of the film's hero, Yuri (Helena Zengel), riding a shopping cart down a grocery store aisle. On her back is a small golden-furred creature like something out of Gremlins. This is one of the Ochi, a mystical being from Yuri's home island of Carpathia. It's also a remarkable puppet.

SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Ochi' trailer unveils the cutest movie monster of the year

"As we were shooting, you could see all five puppeteers standing around in plain clothes, and if you looked at the puppet, you were like, 'That's a real living thing,'" writer-director Isaiah Saxon says in the first look.

The featurette shows more examples of the puppets — and even an Ochi exoskeleton! — in action, as well as a deeper look at the fantastical journey Yuri must undertake to reunite her Ochi friend with its mother.

"There is a slow dial that gets turned up towards fantasy and magic over the course of the film," Saxon says. "Growing up, I felt that the deepest mysteries were found in nature, and I hope to share that same feeling that anything is possible."

The Legend of Ochi also stars Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, and Finn Wolfhard.

The Legend of Ochi hits theaters Apr. 25.

The app, which was introduced in 2014 and has hundreds of millions of users, is widely viewed as the safest messaging tool because of its encryption technology.

Have you experienced a moment when technology created a "Good Connection" in your life? We're talking good deeds, long-lost friends and family reunited, and more empowering tales made possible by some sort of digital detail. Share your story below and it could be selected to appear on Mashable.

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE: As of March 25th, Amazon's Big Spring Sale is offering 3 for the price of 2 on select movies, music, and books.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chappell Roan / Miles Davis / Nosferatu Amazon's Big Spring Sale buy 2 get 1 free deal Get 3 books, movies, or albums for the price of 2. Shop Now

If you've been loading up your recommendations list, now is a good time to bring in the haul.

As part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, the retailer is offering a buy 2 get 1 free deal on media, including books, movies, and records (Target is running the same type of deal during its Circle Week sale). Take advantage of the deal to load up on new films like Nosferatu, classic records like Abbey Road on vinyl, and acclaimed novels like Percival Everett's James.

SEE ALSO: Headphones and speaker deals live from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Save on Sony, Bose, Sonos, and more

Whether you're looking to scoop a bunch of bestsellers for less, you want to nab some film classics on disc, or you're expanding a record collection (digital music works too), this sale has you covered.

The vinyl roster includes contemporary award winners like Chappell Roan's The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess on double vinyl and genre definers like Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. Beyond vinyl, we're stoked on this Akira Movie 4k Steelbook 4K UHD set.

Age-verification laws have popped up across the United States in the past few years, especially in the South. Typically, they require people to submit proof that they're an adult if they visit a website where over a third of the content hosted is explicit. In January, the Supreme Court heard a case about the constitutionality of age-verification laws, and its decision will likely come down this summer.

That case, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, began as a challenge to Texas's age-verification law specifically (but SCOTUS's decision will have national ramifications). Coincidentally — or not — a bill calling for age verification for online sex toy sales has just been introduced in Texas, as well.

SEE ALSO: The Trump administration accidentally texted military plans to a journalist. The White House says it's fine.

404 Media first pointed out that Senator Angela Paxton, wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, sponsors this bill. Ken Paxton is the Paxton in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton.

The sex toy bill, S.B. 3003, proposes age-verification methods similar to those used by some states for porn sites, such as requiring users to submit a government-issued ID or using a third-party verification service. Violations of this would subject site owners to a $5,000 fee and a misdemeanor charge.

According to a recent study from New York University, age-verification laws don't work. One reason is that if a site isn't based in the U.S., it may not feel the need to comply. Another is that people can use a VPN to pretend to be in another location. Presumably, the same would be true for this bill.

But, as explained in Mashable's rundown of age-verification laws, these laws aren't just about preventing minors from accessing porn sites. They're about reaching the true goal of Project 2025 (the conservative blueprint for Trump's second presidential term), which is an outright ban on porn. One state, Oklahoma, has already introduced a bill to criminalize porn and imprison its creators.

Free speech advocates who have spoken to Mashable in the past say that the best way to actually prevent minors from looking at explicit sites is through device-level filters.