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Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Design and comfort You won't be surprised to hear that an Apple Watch fits like any old watch. Credit: Samantha Mangino The Oura Ring is easily the most low-profile fitness tracker. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Apple Watch takes the route of a standard smartwatch. In its over 10 iterations, it's kept its signature OLED display and assortment of wristband options, but it's gotten smaller and thinner over the years.

Meanwhile, the Oura Ring is the newest type of fitness tracker: the smart ring. The Oura Ring 4 looks like a classic band, just maybe a little thicker than your average wedding band. It comes in six finishes: silver, black, brushed silver, stealth, gold, and rose gold. It also comes in a wide range of ring sizes, from four to 15.

As you might guess, the Apple Watch feels like a standard watch model. It's lightweight; the latest Series 10 model ranges from 29.3 to 36.4 grams in weight, and rather than a classic watch face, it has either a 42 or 46-mm OLED watch face. That leaves plenty of room to check and reply to texts or view your health metrics. It's a slim fit that doesn't get in the way, so you can wear it all day. The wristband tends to make the watch feel stiff while you're trying to sleep, however. And it's not the most aesthetically pleasing device — don't ask the internet about wearing an Apple Watch to a wedding unless you want an earful.

Meanwhile, the Oura Ring has a far more unobtrusive design. It's 2.88mm thick and 7.9mm tall, so it's certainly not a slim fit, but in my experience, it doesn't interfere with your grip either. It looks like any old ring at a distance, but it packs a lot of biometric sensing in a small package, so if you want an inconspicuous tracker, go for Oura.

Both devices are waterproof, so you can wear them around the clock, even if you go swimming or take a shower. I should note that the Apple Watch is only for iOS users, while the Oura Ring can work with iOS and Android.

Winner: Oura Ring

Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Fitness tracking

The real priority with both of these devices is fitness tracking—that's why you're investing in this gadget after all. Both will monitor your activity, letting you log your type of activity and tracking your heart rate, steps, and distance, but they each do it in different ways.

With the Apple Watch, the primary sensor under the watch face sits on the wrist to gather biometric data. The smartwatch has two apps, Workout and Fitness. Workout is where you start and end workouts, and you can see your distance, pacing, and heart rate right on your wrist. The Fitness app shows you the total calories burned, hours of standing, and minutes of exercise, all of which you can check directly on the watch. Plus, if you forget to start a workout, the Apple Watch is good at sensing activity and can remind you to start a workout.

Since the Oura Ring takes a screenless approach, to see all of your health data, you need to open your smartphone and go into the Oura app. Within the app, you can start workouts and see your step count, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. Like the Apple Watch, Oura's sensors are smart at detecting activity. If you forget to log a workout beforehand, Oura will give you a list of activities to review in hindsight.

Based on ease of access to health data and phone-free approach, the Apple Watch wins for me. Plus, when used together, you can track your workouts on an Apple Watch and import that data into the Oura app.

Winner: Apple Watch

Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Sleep tracking

As mentioned, the Apple Watch isn't my preferred sleep tracker based on comfort alone. The silicone and metal bands tend to be stiff, causing wrist discomfort overnight. Apple Watches struggle to last 24 hours on battery life, and constant charging can be a pain.

On the flip side, the Oura Ring is the perfect sleep tracker. If you already wear rings on your fingers around the clock, then the Oura Ring feels no different. You might feel discomfort if your hand swells at night, but that's all.

The Oura Ring is also exceptionally good at detecting sleep. Not only does it track how long your sleep, but also the different cycles you go through, such as REM and deep sleep. Plus, the Oura Ring makes long-term calculations. After 90 days of wear, the Oura Ring will calculate your chronotype so you can learn when your body naturally wants to rest.

Winner: Oura Ring

Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Battery life While the Apple Watch lasts 24 hours, the Oura Ring goes for days. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

When it comes to battery life, it's a no-brainer which device takes the cake. The Oura Ring's battery life lasts nearly a week, while the Apple Watch lasts up to 24 hours max. Both charge fairly quickly and can charge within an hour. So, if you want a device with superb battery life, allowing you to track every waking and sleeping moment of your day, the Oura Ring is the only option.

Winner: Oura Ring

Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Smart features

The Oura Ring offers a ton of health tracking perks — it even connects to other health apps like Clue or Natural Cycles. However, it's just a fitness tracker, albeit a very good one.

The Apple Watch provides much more than fitness tracking. iOS users receive iPhone notifications on their watch and can even take calls or reply to texts. Plus, you can connect to Spotify and other apps, all without pulling out your phone. So, if you want more bang for your buck, it's the Apple Watch.

Winner: Apple Watch

Apple Watch vs Oura Ring: Cost

Regarding cost, the Oura Ring and Apple Watch are fairly aligned. The Oura Ring starts at $349 but ranges to $499 based on your color choice. The Apple Watch is slightly more expensive, starting at $399 and going up to $1,049 if you splurge on titanium and stainless steel models (we don't think that's necessary; the aluminum models are great).

The biggest hiccup in cost comes with the Oura Ring. In addition to the upfront cost, you must pay a monthly subscription to access the full range of Oura's features. Monthly membership costs $5.99 a month or $69.99 annually.

Winner: Apple Watch

Our winner: Use the Oura Ring and Apple Watch together An Apple Watch and Oura Ring work better together. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

In my mind, the Oura Ring and Apple Watch are both winners; it just depends on what you need. If you're already on the iOS system and want a fitness tracker, the Apple Watch is a no-brainer. It provides detailed workout summaries and monitors your health data in an easy-to-access package. Just a few taps on the wrist show your step count and daily calories burned.

If you don't like the look of an Apple Watch and prefer the discreet design of a smart ring, then the Oura Ring is the ideal choice. It's the best smart ring we've tested, and it provides more comfortable sleep tracking than the Apple Watch. Not to mention its nearly week-long battery life.

But what if you want easy access to smartwatch features on your wrist and the 24/7 monitoring of a smart ring? Then get both. In comparing these devices and wearing them simultaneously, I found that they work better together than apart. I like being able to start my workouts on my watch and have them automatically uploaded to the Oura app. But the Oura Ring provides overnight sleep tracking, so my Apple Watch doesn't have to.

Get the Oura Ring and Apple Watch If you know your ring size Oura Ring 4 in silver $399 Shop Now If you don't know your ring size Oura Ring sizing kit $10 Shop Now Best Apple watch for most people Apple Watch Series 10 $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best budget Apple Watch Apple Watch SE $169 (save $80) Get Deal

Still can't decide? Dive into our reviews of the Oura Ring 4 and the Apple Watch Series 10.

At Jupiter's north pole, powerful storms the size of Australia or bigger are wrapped in 100 mph winds. 

After analyzing years of data from NASA's Juno mission, scientists have observed the long-term movements of its huge polar cyclone, along with the eight others surrounding it. 

Meanwhile, on Jupiter's moon Io, the most volcanically active world in the solar system, the spacecraft discovered that still-warm lava flows just beneath its crust. 

These are some of the new eye-opening observations Juno has made while orbiting the gas giant planet, some 544 million miles away in space. The findings, presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly meeting in Vienna this week, should help scientists better understand how planets and moons cycle heat inside them — something that affects weather, volcanic activity, and even how surfaces change over time.

"As Juno’s orbit takes us to new regions of Jupiter’s complex system, we’re getting a closer look at the immensity of energy this gas giant wields," said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno, in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: NASA spacecraft saw something incredible near Jupiter's Great Red Spot Juno observes volcanic vents erupting on Jupiter's moon, Io. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Andrea Luck

The team is also learning about Io's energy. A volcanic eruption discovered during Juno's flyby in late December 2024 — the most energetic in the moon's history — was still spurting lava and ash as of March 2. Scientists think it's likely still going strong today. 

One of the big surprises: Despite the moon's cooled crust, the data shows Io maintains liquid hot lava just below the ground. In fact, about 10 percent of the surface has lava underneath it. That may have something to do with how Io keeps its surface looking so new. 

"Io’s volcanoes, lava fields, and subterranean lava flows act like a car radiator," said Shannon Brown, a Juno scientist, in a statement, "efficiently moving heat from the interior to the surface, cooling itself down in the vacuum of space."

On one of Juno's recent trips around Jupiter, the spacecraft — which has been orbiting the planet since 2016 — used so-called "radio occultation" to send a signal through Jupiter’s thick atmosphere and measure how the waves bent. From this, they learned that the air at the north pole is about 20 degrees Fahrenheit colder than the areas around it. 

Unlike Earth's hurricanes, which usually form near the equator and break up as they migrate closer to the poles, Jupiter’s storms loiter at the poles in what seems to be a grand display of organized chaos: The cyclones ping off each other, stabilizing the entire configuration, and slowly rotate in lockstep around a large central storm.

Jupiter's massive cyclones at the planet's north pole. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / ASI / INAF / JIRAM

Jupiter, which has no solid surface, is quite different from our home planet, but researchers say studying its weather, internal activity, and system of moons can actually help scientists better understand Earth. It's an enormous natural laboratory, where researchers can see extreme versions of processes that also happen here.

Scientists have created computer models that simulate weather and climate, based on laws of physics that govern all planets. By watching wind, heat, and pressure at play on Jupiter, scientists can improve their understanding of weather systems generally and ensure the accuracy of those models. 

Juno is expected to swing by Io again on May 6. The spacecraft will pass within 55,000 miles of the moon, allowing scientists to know whether that massive eruption indeed continues. 

"One of the great things about Juno is its orbit is ever-changing, which means we get a new vantage point each time as we perform a science flyby," Bolton said. "We’ve built Juno like a tank and are learning more about this intense environment each time we go through it."

TL;DR: Scan and save old film negatives and slides with Kodak Slide N Scan for $164.97 through May 4 and preserve memories for future generations.

Ever stumble across a box of old slides or negatives and wish you could see what’s on them without having to dig up a decades-old projector? With the Kodak Slide N Scan Film Scanner, you can easily digitize those precious memories and bring them back to life, all from the comfort of your home.

This simple, intuitive device helps you relive the moments you once thought were lost to time. Imagine your parents’ wedding photos, nostalgic childhood snapshots, or long-forgotten vacation memories made digital — the Slide N Scan does just that, making it easy to preserve your family’s history and share it with generations to come. Grab it for $164.97 (reg. $224) through May 4.

Open up that dusty box of film from the attic to get started. This scanner supports 35mm, 126, and 110 film and slides,and includes a 5-inch LCD screen to preview your photos before saving. You’ll also get built-in tools to adjust color, rotate images, and make quick edits. No complicated photo-editing software is needed.

The Kodak Slide N Scan isn't just any gadget — think of it as your time machine. Older family members can reconnect with their past, and younger generations can finally put faces to names in the family tree. It’s a meaningful way to preserve and celebrate your family’s legacy, especially when so many memories are trapped in outdated formats.

Whether you’re an amateur archivist or just want to gift Grandma a trip down memory lane, this scanner merges nostalgia and functionality in one gadget.

Don’t miss your chance to grab the Kodak Slide N Scan for just $164.97. Act before supplies sell out, or before this price drop expires on May 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

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

TL;DR: Create AI images without monthly fees when you get an Imagiyo lifetime subscription for $29.

AI image generators started out pretty basic. Remember when Dall-E couldn't even render a face? The technology has improved rapidly, and some of the old staples like Midjourney are already becoming outdated. Imagiyo is a new type of image generator that you can use personally or commercially, and a lifetime subscription just went on sale for $29 (reg. $345). 

A lifetime of art at your fingertips

Whether you’re an artist visualizing different ideas, a marketer creating eye-catching images for ads, or someone who wants stunning artwork for social media, Imagiyo can handle it. Powered by advanced AI algorithms like StableDiffusion, Imagiyo translates text prompts into detailed, vibrant images that suit your needs. Want a fantasy landscape? Just describe it. Need a realistic product mockup or abstract digital art? Imagiyo’s AI can generate it in seconds.

One of the things that makes Imagiyo different from other AI art tools is that it supports multiple image sizes, so whether you’re crafting a desktop wallpaper or a precise social media graphic, Imagiyo has you covered.

You can even generate NSFW content using ModelsLab’s Stable Diffusion AI model, as long as you mark it as “PRIVATE.” Every image you create is saved and available for download, so you can build your collection without worrying about losing your work.

Imagiyo’s user-friendly interface makes the creative process smooth and intuitive, even if you’re not tech-savvy. There are no watermarks to deal with, and the images you create are yours to use however you want. Plus, with 250 images per month, you can experiment and produce content without feeling restricted.

It's only $29 to get an Imagiyo subscription that lasts for life. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription $29
$345 Save $316 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 2TB of secure, easy-to-use cloud storage with FileJump for just $69.97 (reg. $467) while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$467 Save $397.03 Get Deal

Looking to do some personal spring cleaning and get more organized? Start by tackling your digital clutter with FileJump’s 2TB lifetime cloud storage plan. For just $69.97 (reg. $467), you can back up your files, free up your devices, and ensure your important documents, photos, and videos are always accessible and secure.

FileJump is the ultimate "Goldilocks" of cloud storage, striking the perfect balance between affordability and premium features. Unlike other solutions that lock you into monthly subscriptions, FileJump’s lifetime plan offers peace of mind with a one-time payment. Plus, its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes organizing files user-friendly.

Need to share large files? FileJump lets you send links or provide access to team members, making collaboration seamless. And with built-in preview support for images, videos, and even Excel spreadsheets, you can quickly view your files without downloading them first.

Anyone worried about keeping their most important files off in a cloud somewhere can rest assured that FileJump takes security seriously. Your files are protected with AES encryption, ensuring sensitive data stays safe.

FileJump’s 2TB of storage gives you plenty of space to back up your life — from work projects to cherished memories — and access them anytime, anywhere. With support for large files up to 15GB, it’s perfect for creative professionals, families, and anyone juggling multiple devices.

This new year, set yourself up for success by getting organized. FileJump’s lifetime plan ensures you’ll never have to worry about running out of space or paying recurring fees. And if you still need a last-minute gift, this digital subscription doesn't require shipping time. 

Get lifetime access to 2TB of secure cloud storage with FileJump for just $69.97 (reg. $467).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) on sale for $449.99 (reg. $1,799). 

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $449.99
$1,799 Save $1,349.01 Get Deal

MacBooks are reliable, versatile, and just all-around solid computers. The only problem is the price, but you can get around that if you can find a good sale. That's how you can get this refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for only $449.99 instead of $1,799. 

A MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price

A 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with a 2GHz base speed and a 3.8GHz Turbo Boost makes multitasking seamless whether you're getting work done at the office or powering through your to-do list at home. Pair that with 16GB RAM, and you have a solid all-purpose computer. 

Go ahead and save your important data right on the MacBook Pro, thanks to the 512GB SSD, no clunky external hard drives or expensive cloud storage necessary. 

A 13.3-inch Retina display is armed with Intel Iris Plus Graphics and provides stunning visuals that make everything vibrant, from games to boring work emails. And Apple's signature True Tone Technology adjusts the screen color so you experience reduced eye strain.

This laptop has a Magic Keyboard that truly lives up to its name, offering a comfy experience with responsive typing. It also comes with a Touch Bar for easier access to shortcuts. 

Other cool perks include an impressive 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, four Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports, and Touch ID for easy logging in. 

Wondering how you score the deep discount on this model? This particular MacBook comes with a grade A refurbished rating, which means it shows up at your door in near-mint condition, with virtually no signs of prior use. 

Bring home a MacBook Pro for just $449.99. You won't find a better price anywhere online. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Nicolas Cage wages war on a gang of hostile Australian surfers who stole his surfboard.

That's the elevator pitch for The Surfer, a trippy psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Nocebo, Vivarium) and written by Thomas Martin. But there's more afoot within the riptide of this strangely hypnotic film, which ruminates on toxic masculinity and unprocessed trauma while putting Cage through the absolute ringer.

SEE ALSO: How Nicolas Cage memes shaped 'Dream Scenario'

Taking creative cues from Ozploitation classics of the Australian New Wave like Wake in Fright, Finnegan simultaneously reveres and villainizes the Australian landscape, blurring the line between reality and surrealism while throwing everything he has at the Hollywood star. Cage delivers a characteristically unhinged performance, though he's at the risk of being upstaged by an exceptional Julian McMahon.

What is The Surfer about? Credit: Roadside Attractions

Equal parts tense survival thriller and coastal Western, The Surfer essentially takes place within one location: the confines of a beachside parking lot in the fictional suburb of Luna Bay, Western Australia. (It was filmed in Yallingup, located in Wadandi Country, the traditional land of the Wadandi people.)

Credited just as "The Surfer," Cage's character is a man bursting with nostalgia and idealism. Returning to the Australian town he grew up in after a life in California, he's anxious to finally buy his childhood home and reunite his family. He's a classic divorced dad, waxing lyrical about surfing as a metaphor for life in speeches aimed at his estranged teenage son (Yellowstone's Finn Little). But his lofty quest to close the deal and secure a seaside utopia is disrupted by hostile locals, who won't have a bar of him.

When the Surfer attempts to go surfing with his son, he comes face to face with the Bay Boys, a gang of surfers determined to "keep the riffraff out" of their waves — i.e. non-locals. They're brilliantly described by a carpark-dwelling character crudely credited as "The Bum" (Nicholas Cassim) as a "bunch of fuckin' yuppies cosplaying at being surfers." Dedicated to their mustachioed gang leader Scottie "Scally" Callahan (a brilliant Julian McMahon), this hollering group of violent bleached blondes in tank tops humiliate and harass Cage's protagonist, stealing his surfboard and creating hell for him. As for the local police officer (Justin Rosniak), he's in Scally's pocket too.

As soon as he arrives at the Luna Bay break, the Surfer starts to lose. With dwindling personal effects, increasing dehydration, no allies, and a teetering grip on reality, the Surfer wages an uphill battle against his downhill enemies. Somehow, Finnegan and Martin manage to concoct a never-ending supply of misfortune for their protagonist, all while presenting the locals as deeply corrupt and self-serving. But there's more to this place than it initially appears for the long-suffering Surfer.

The Surfer traps Nicolas Cage in the parking lot from hell. Credit: Roadside Attractions

The entirety of The Surfer is set within an asphalt arena, the beachside carpark overlooking the waves that Cage's character so desperately wants to surf again. That the Surfer himself is contained to this bitumen plain mirrors his denied access to the beach. However, this limitation doesn't mean the film is boring by any means, thanks to Cage's signature slow-burn unraveling.

Cage has been unpredictable in his film choices over the last few years, from his serial killer transformation in Longlegs to playing an amped-up version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Here, he's tasked with carrying the whole film as a man just trying to get his stolen surfboard back and catch a wave, and Cage truly leans into gaslit delirium.

Featured Video For You 'Longlegs' cast on Nic Cage's total transformation

Cage's character is pushed to the brink in the film, as his characters often are. But here he's drinking beer out of puddles, eating dead rats, and having his bare feet shredded by carpark broken glass, completely at the mercy of what is by no means a remote environment. As Cage's character stumbles through misfortune after misfortune, the film cleverly and organically becomes a kind of survival drama set within a relatively busy beachside suburb. At many points in The Surfer, you're basically yelling at the screen for this man to get a hotel room and call it a day — two things pretty much always available to him during his turmoil. But there's a deeper reason for the Surfer's determination.

What Finnegan's production team manages to create within one seaside battleground is nothing short of impressive. But probably the most stunning achievement of the film is using Australia's idyllic natural beauty and surfing culture to dive into the sinister realities of toxic masculinity.

The Surfer dives into a particularly Australian brand of aggressive male behavior. Julian McMahon and Justin Rosniak in "The Surfer." Credit: Roadside Attractions

The Surfer is, at its core, a rumination on the harmful effects of hypermasculinity. But it's a particularly Australian, and particularly violent form of it, with the country's tendency to dismiss male toxicity and violence as "larrikin" behaviour. "Boys will be boys," a character literally says aloud in this film.

Finnegan and Martin use surfing culture and the terrifying Bay Boys to sharpen their focus on misogyny and superiority complexes, as well as hammering home Australia's skewed sense of local identity. (The film's local surfer gang, the Bay Boys, seems a subtle nod to the real surf gang from Sydney's Maroubra Beach, the Bra Boys.) While the film doesn't address the hypocrisy of such localism in a country with a violent colonial past, it does go hard on the general messaging of keeping outsiders out, locals in. "Don't live here, don't surf here," the Surfer is violently told by the locals. "Locals only" signs adorn the beach. 

SEE ALSO: How to talk to the men in your life about toxic masculinity

It's the head of this predatory pack who threatens to upstage Cage in The Surfer: McMahon as the chilling Scally. Swanning about with a deep tan and a bright-red beach poncho, this character is so blatantly yet amiably menacing that he gets right under your skin (and that of Cage's character) with cold finesse. Running his "Sanctuary" for young surfers and their problematically younger teen girl visitors — no girl surfers here, no way — Scally's whole deal is that modern men have "gone soft" and "haven't had to suffer." He preaches this to his young followers, encouraging them to unleash their inner "animal" within their beach haven. Under Scally's tutelage, the Bay Boys' abrasive, territorial behaviour isn't just allowed by the rest of the community, it's encouraged, with Cage's Surfer encountering the same level of anti-outsider animosity by other non-surfer locals he comes across in the lot.

In fact, there are only two characters in the entire film who aren't total assholes to the Surfer: his son and a confoundingly underused Miranda Tapsell (Top End Wedding) as a friendly photographer who helps him out. It's overwhelming, this unrelenting hostility. And it's been used as a weapon in many an Australian film.

The Surfer stylistically rides the Australian New Wave. Credit: Roadside Attractions

The Surfer is by no means the first to make a nightmare of Australia's natural environment, amping up the heat, sunlight, and mysteries of the bush for psychological thrills. But Finnegan appears to pay tribute to such Australian New Wave thrillers of the '70s and '80s like Ted Kotcheff's Wake in Fright, Everett De Roche's Razorback, and Tony Williams' Next of Kin. Wake in Fright is the most overt reference here, as a film in which an outsider is also driven to madness by the locals — a psychological state only intensified by the harsh heat and dangerous dehydration. 

Director of photography Radek Ladczuk, cinematographer for Jennifer Kent's brutal Tasmanian film The Nightingale as well as The Babadook, makes a Australian New Wave meal of The Surfer. Meticulously slow or audaciously fast zooms feel right out of the '70s, proving to be a hilariously kitsch but strangely authentic way to capture Cage's earnestness over his beloved waves. Lighting furthers The Surfer's slightly surreal feeling; the entire film feels like it's been drenched in a golden sunlight filter, which moves from idyllic to dangerously searing. The carpark itself glows in green-lit darkness at times, while the lot's cursed toilet block glows an ominous orange. Ladczuk takes full advantage of the strange distortions reflected by metal mirrors typically found in Australian public toilet blocks. 

Then there's that score by François Tétaz and sound design by Aza Hand, resulting in a hypnotic, bonkers smorgasbord of operatic singing, chimes and harps, and blissful orchestral overtures uniquely combined with the sounds of Australian wildlife. Cicadas chirp loudly and relentlessly, a kookaburra's famous laugh becomes a cursed rhythm, and buzzing flies rise as the Surfer's hold on reality slips. It's this combination of whimsy, threat, beauty, and overwhelming powerlessness that makes The Surfer deeply effective.  

Everything about The Surfer's one-line pitch sounds ridiculous (Nicolas Cage versus mean Australian surfers), but the film itself is a haunting set piece about localism, repressed memory, and toxic masculinity, boasting the wild ride we've come to associate with Cage. It's as far from a wipeout as you can get.

The Surfer is in theaters now.

UPDATE: Apr. 30, 2025, 4:38 p.m. EDT "The Surfer" was reviewed out of the BFI London Film Festival. This review was first published on Oct. 11, 2024, and has been updated for its theatrical release.

Tribit isn’t a household name like Beats, JBL or Sony. However, the bargain audio brand has grown in popularity in the past two years with its collection of inexpensive portable speakers and true wireless earbuds. Reception has ranged from acceptable to surprisingly great, and the accolades continue to grow with every new release. 

Case in point: the all-new StormBox Lava. While the latest entry in Tribit’s speaker lineup is geared toward outdoor enthusiasts (e.g., backyard owners, campers, poolgoers) with an affinity for bass, it has the sonic prowess to satisfy big indoor crowds as well. It’s a mid-range option that serves up strong audio output and serviceable features in a robust, waterproof package. Battery life is also up there with some of the category’s top entries. 

Not everything runs smoothly, but for the price, the StormBox Lava offers enough performance to warrant the purchase, depending on your lifestyle.  

SEE ALSO: Sony ULT Field 3 hands-on review: Testing the new addition to Sony's bass line Tribit StormBox Lava portable speaker setup and specs

Setting up the StormBox Lava is very simple. Press the power button, then the Bluetooth button, and select the speaker from the Available Devices list in the Bluetooth settings on your media device. That’s it. This speaker does support multipoint technology (more on that later).

This mid-range speaker houses some impressive features. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

All controls are placed on the top and produce solid tactile feedback when pressed. The rear houses three inputs: AUX, USB-A, and USB-C. Only the latter works to recharge the speaker.

Noteworthy specs include:

• Woofer Unit: 30 watts

• Tweeter Units: 10 watts

• Frequency Response: 43Hz to 20KHz

• Output power: 80 watts

• Customizable EQ with 10 frequency bands

• Party Mode pairing (up to 160 speakers)

• IP67 dustproof and waterproof

• Up to 24 hours

• Speaker dimensions: 12.2 x 5.78 x 5.98 inches

• Speaker weight: 6.13 pounds

• Detachable strap

• Color: Black

The Tribit app is available for download in the Apple App Store or Google Play for free. It’s basic in both look and functionality. You gain access to some features, which I’ll break down further in the review. 

Rocking sound that you can tweak on the fly

Tribit equipped the StormBox Lava with two 30-watt woofers and two 10-watt tweeters. These components create loud, emphatic sound with booming bass that will satisfy the most hardcore headbanger.

The adrenaline-inducing bass levels on Kaytranada’s “Drip Sweat” were sonorous and didn’t veil production elements like the jingling tambourines and muttered vocals. It was a well-balanced mix of lows, mids, and highs. James Brown’s “The Boss” delivered the thump I desired from the funky mellow classic. The thick double-bass guitar was accentuated and demonstrated superb reverberation that merged and decayed smoothly with every strum. 

Layered synth basslines like the one on Snow Wife’s “Wet Dream” sounded decent and had a nice bop to it. Playing the track at high volume created some distortion, but it wasn’t a bloated mess that ruined the soundstage. 

The 1975’s “This Must Be My Dream” performed similarly, which made me question the speaker’s ability to handle bottom-heavy lows. Then I turned on the XBass feature and noticed a huge change. Tribit’s proprietary EQ eliminated the unwanted bloat and refined the midrange. 

The XBass feature makes bass-heavy tracks sounds better. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Four other EQs are available in the Tribit app: Audiobook, Classical, Rock, and Jazz. Rock is the only one worth checking out. It gives alternative rock and EDM tracks a little more oomph. The app comes with a customizable 10-band EQ to personalize sound, though the learning curve can be difficult for those unfamiliar with frequencies and unit measurements. Save yourself the headache and stick with either the standard or XBass EQ.

Other media formats sounded pleasant. Movies and sports clips on YouTube were engaging. I was also taken aback by the vocal clarity on podcasts. Spoiler alert: It was on point.   

When compared to other in-class rivals like the Beats Pill (2024) and JBL Charge 5, this speaker doesn’t match their dynamic frequency range or streaming quality. Those models offer lossless audio.

In addition, the StormBox Lava fails as a professional speakerphone. Feedback from callers was disappointing due to the microphone’s weak vocal capture. My wife noticed an echo effect on my end as well. 

Keeps your music and media devices going and going and going…

Tribit rates battery life at 24 hours. Take features and high volume into account, and playtimes fall between 18 to 20 hours, which is still more than sufficient for a weekend of entertainment. You can even play music when the speaker is recharging. I was left with 20 percent battery after using the speaker three hours daily for an entire week. 

Feel free to leave your Anker power bank at home because the StormBox Lava also doubles as a portable charger. Oddly, only the USB-C port works for recharging the speaker, but the USB-A port can be used to fully charge other portable devices. 

Portable and party-ready

The StormBox Lava is nowhere near as attractive as the Beats Pill, but it makes up for the lack of style with a practical design that blends size, weight, and protection very well. It is lighter and smaller than other mid-range cylindrical-shaped speakers. You won’t strain a muscle lugging it to the pool area. The bundled detachable handle is reliable for carrying in-hand, though the shoulder strap is stronger and keeps your mind at ease over accidental drops. 

The Tribit StormBox Lava has two carrying options: a handle or a shoulder strap. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Tribit used sturdy plastic and a thick woven material to build the speaker. The rear has a rubberized cover that hides and protects all three inputs. And IP67 certification means the StormBox Lava can stave off dust and survive one-meter submersion for up to 30 minutes. 

Seamless wireless performance is to be expected. Bluetooth 5.4 remains stable within a 40-foot range of your connected device. Tribit threw in multipoint technology for good measure, letting you pair the speaker to two media devices simultaneously. I would play Spotify on my iPhone and switch to YouTube on my MacBook Pro with ease. No lag or stutter. 

Then we have the speaker’s flagship feature: Party Mode. Enabling it allows you to pair the unit with up to 160 speakers at the same time. This is perfect for brand loyalists who want to adorn each room in their home with a StormBox Lava for immersive stereo sound. I can’t speak on its performance since I was only sent one speaker, though the reviews from other audio critics have been positive. 

Is the Tribit StormBox Lava portable speaker worth it?

For $129 (and often on sale for $109 on Amazon), the Tribit StormBox Lava is worth the consideration if you value aesthetics, bass performance, and playtimes. The near-impenetrable exterior will survive extreme conditions. Music is given a vibrant boost that’s enjoyable in all settings, living room or mountain top. And you won’t have to worry about the speaker dying because there’s enough power to last a full day.

If none of this entices you, seek out other mid-range competitors with more features and refined sound. Take a look at our rankings of the best Bluetooth speakers for suggestions.

Tribit StormBox Lava $129.99 at Amazon
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SAVE UP TO $20: As of May 2, you can find great discounts on Redragon gaming keyboards at Amazon.

The best deals on Redragon gaming keyboards Best For Noise Redragon K673 PRO 75% $55.24 (save $21.75) Get Deal Best for customisation Redragon K668 RGB $39.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best for connectivity Redragon K580 PRO $63.99 (save $16) Get Deal Best for lighting Redragon K556 PRO $79.99 (save $20) Get Deal

Gaming accessories don't have to break the bank. With so many products costing hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, it's easy to forget that you can do it cheaply. And as of May 2, Amazon has a whole host of great Redragon gaming keyboard deals, all for under $80.

Upgrade your gaming setup for less with Redragon, with something for everyone:

Opens in a new window Credit: Redragon Redragon K673 PRO 75% Get Deal Why we like it

Compact and quiet, the Redragon Gasket Out keyboard boasts a tri-mode connection, smooth gasket-mounted typing, and dual-layer noise dampening. It has 81 keys and a handy control knob, so it’s made for clean sound and a crisp feel. It's flexible for your setup too, and can be used wired or wireless.

Opens in a new window Credit: Redragon Redragon K668 RGB Get Deal Why we like it

This Redragon 108-key keyboard features hot-swappable quiet red switches, compatible with three-pin and five-pin setups. You can enjoy smooth, linear keystrokes with built-in sound-dampening foam. There are 19 custom RGB lighting modes, and the ability to sync it with music.

Opens in a new window Credit: Redragon Redgragon K580 PRO Get Deal Why we like it

The Redgragon K580 PRO keyboard has tri-mode connectivity (USB-C, Bluetooth, 2.4GHz), upgraded hot-swappable sockets for nearly all switches, and five on-the-fly macro keys. It also has dedicated media controls, a volume/backlight wheel, and full software support.

Opens in a new window Credit: Redragon Redragon K556 PRO Get Deal Why we like it

This gaming keyboard is USB-C wired, Bluetooth 3.0/5.0, and 2.4GHz wireless, so you can switch easily between devices. It’s hot-swappable with 99.8%+ of switches, and the custom socket design makes swaps easier and more stable. It also has quiet red linear switches and 3.5mm sound-absorbing foam. The solid aluminum board keeps it steady on your desk, and up to 20 RGB lighting modes let you pick the mood you want.

These deals are all available at Amazon for a limited time, so what exactly are you waiting for?

Pinterest users have been complaining about mass bans for days, many claiming that they've been locked out of their accounts without clear justification. The social media platform finally addressed the furore on Thursday after Mashable reached out, however the response is unlikely to appease many users.

SEE ALSO: Pinterest wants teens to log off during school hours

Reports of Pinterest's inexplicable mass bans began circulating recently, with users flocking to other platforms such as X to complain about suddenly losing their accounts. The r/Pinterest subreddit has been overtaken by posts about the issue, while the comment sections on Pinterest's official Instagram and TikTok accounts have been flooded with by irate users asking the company to fix it.

Users have accused Pinterest of issuing sweeping bans for no discernable reason, in circumstances where there is allegedly no clear violation of its Community Guidelines. Some state that they've had completely new and unused accounts banned, while others claim they've lost accounts that are over a decade old.

Pinterest enables users to save images in virtual pinboards, making it particularly popular with people gathering inspiration for creative projects or event planning, as well as collating fashion or home decoration ideas. As such, an unexpected ban can mean the loss of years of careful work and curation.

Yet despite the widespread outrage amongst users, Pinterest maintained silence on the matter for days. This has left users to speculate, with some theorising that AI moderation may be the culprit. Pinterest's Help Centre states that it uses AI in "improving content moderation."

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On Monday, moderators for the r/Pinterest subreddit pinned a thread about the mass bans, noting that "there isn't anything we can do here other than talk about it." The thread has gathered over 200 comments in the days since, with people expressing anger and frustration at the situation. Many have accused Pinterest of a lack of transparency regarding the bans, claiming that they have no idea what they could have done that warranted losing their accounts. 

"I want my Pinterest account back I find it heavily unfair it was banned and no matter how many times I appeal they don’t do anything about it," wrote Reddit user cruicifix.

"I got no response on what exactly broke the guidelines, It just stated that I should 'read the guidelines to understand their decission', super vauge and im sure there was nothing that could have gotten me banned," wrote Reddit user Admirable-Birthday-9, who stated that they used Pinterest for innocuous content such as fashion, beauty, and recipes.

Though at least two people reported that they successfully regained access to their Pinterest accounts on appeal, the majority appear to have had little success with the appeals process. Further, one of the individuals who recovered their account claimed that not all their content was still there.

In light of the issue, some users have been warning others to stop using Pinterest and search for alternatives, as they no longer trust that people are reliably able to access their saved content.

"Pins of classical paintings, life drawing poses, fashion photos, and even museum art have triggered bans under vague and inconsistently enforced content policies," claimed HH-5 on Reddit (emphasis original). "Nothing explicit — just standard references that artists have used for generations."

Pinterest finally responds to mass bans, users consider class action lawsuit

Pinterest finally broke its silence after Mashable reached out for comment on Thursday morning, addressing the situation publicly on X. Unfortunately, there's little in Pinterest's statement to appease upset users.

"We hear your concerns about recent account deactivations on Pinterest," the company posted to X on Thursday afternoon. "To ensure Pinterest remains a safe and positive platform, we continuously monitor for content that violates our Community Guidelines and accounts with violative content may be deactivated as a result. If you think your account was deactivated by mistake, please send us a DM @askpinterest."

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Pinterest also issued a similar statement directly to Mashable, though it didn't specifically address the mass bans.

"Pinterest has long-established, public Community Guidelines that clearly outline what is and isn’t allowed on the platform," said a Pinterest spokesperson. "We’re committed to building a safer and more positive platform, and enforce these policies rigorously and continuously. Users who believe their account may have been deactivated mistakenly may submit an appeal."

Unsurprisingly, Pinterest's statement on X hasn't satisfied its disgruntled users, particularly considering the lack of success many have had with their appeals. Users are lambasting the response in replies to the post, calling for Pinterest to scrap or at least overhaul its AI moderation.

Others are looking to take it even further. After Pinterest posted its statement, Reddit user wighthamster began gauging interest in a potential class action lawsuit, noting that people may have not only lost income from Pinterest ad campaigns or traffic, but also personal archives containing irreplaceable content such as personal projects or family photos. 

"Pinterest promotes itself as a platform for saving ideas, preserving memories, and conducting business… things many users invest significant time and trust in," wrote wighthamster. "Yet, recent actions suggest a pattern of arbitrary mass account suspensions, often with no functional recourse, directly contradicting its own marketed image and the reasonable expectations of its users."

Mashable has reached out to wighthamster for comment. However, multiple users have already expressed interest in being involved in the proposed legal action, some claiming that Pinterest's bans have had repercussions beyond merely losing a few saved pictures.

"For a lot of photographers artists and stylists, it’s the industry standard to present a moodboard before any project goes into action and the sheer amount of valuable references I’ve lost out on since being banned is hard to describe," wrote Affectionate-Pie-706. "I’ve had to postpone shoots and scramble to reassemble projects. Years and years of curating down the drain and multiple projects stuck in limbo."

Regardless of whether a lawsuit is filed or not, it's clear that Pinterest has a lot of work to do to win back users' trust and goodwill.

TL;DR: Put all your AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Leonardo.AI in one place with a lifetime subscription to 1minAI, an all-in-one AI app, on sale for just £30.14 (reg. £407.03). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription £30.14 at The Mashable Shop
£407.03 Save £376.89 Get Deal

The free version of some AI models like ChatGPT can get the job done, but if you want the good stuff, you should consider opting for a paid subscription.  

1minAI consolidates many of the most popular AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI — into one platform where you can use them all seamlessly, whether you need to generate text, images, or even full videos. A lifetime subscription to 1minAI usually costs £407.03, but you can get one on sale now for £30.14. 

What can you do with 1minAI

1minAI gives you one platform where you can access AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Mistral AI, and more. You don't just get the baseline version, either — 1minAI users can chat with GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Gemini Pro 1.5, and Llama 2 or Llama 3. 

Like a ton of other AI platforms, 1minAI has a limit to how much you can generate every month. Unlike other platforms, the limit is incredibly high. Here's what your lifetime subscription gets you every month. 

First, you get a baseline of 1,000,000 credits per month. Then, every day you log in, you get an additional 15,000 free credits. These will roll over if you don't use them all, too. 

In practice, those huge numbers mean you could generate up to 362,500 words, research nearly 2,000 SEO keywords, generate 386 images, upscale 241 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert text to speech for over 120,000 characters, and generate up to 12 videos. 

Your AI Swiss Army Knife

Put all your go-to AI tools in one place. Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for £30.14. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

E-commerce trade in small parcels brought Chinese factories to American shoppers. Tariffs are severing the connection.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If you like porn but want to make things a bit more interactive, these are some popular dating sites that will help you achieve that. There’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore your kinky fantasies, make a lasting romantic connection, search for senior love, hook up, or want to keep things safely socially distanced and just chat.

And if free videos with easy-to-search categories like Pornhub offers are what do it for you, there’s options out there for you. While these sites are by no means perfect and some of them are pretty raunchy, here's the scoop on what you're getting yourself into.

What do you need to know about dating on NSFW sites?

Keep in mind that “dating” on NSFW sites like Grindr and GetItOn is about as subtle as the names of the platforms: Users are there to find a connection for a night, a threesome, or an ongoing sex buddy situation — not a long-term partner.

Also, sites like this don’t operate without mutual consent and boundary-setting (and respecting). When you’re building out your profile, be specific and honest about what you’re looking for and wanting so you can find people who genuinely match up with you and your interests or fetishes.

Should you use a NSFW site for dating?

If you’re looking for no-strings-attached sex, or just a sexting or Skype-sexing buddy for the evening, NSFW sites can be ideal for getting your needs met and getting straight to the point. “Dating” here is a very loose term — think of these as sites and apps for hooking up.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Users on these apps tend to be fairly direct — don’t expect a dinner invitation before you get asked over to their flat. If that’s not your cup of tea and you need a little more of the getting-to-know-someone before jumping into bed with them, these might not be the right sites for you.

What precautions should you take when using a NSFW dating site?

If you’re on a site where you need to share personal information or choose a username, be careful about the information you’re giving out — and about what kind of information it is. Things like credit card numbers are vulnerable to hackers, and using your real name on platforms like these can compromise your safety if you happen to stumble upon the wrong sort of people on the sites.

Always choose a username that doesn’t have a relationship to your first name, and be careful about the personal information you share (like where you live, etc.).

What else is important to know when using a NSFW dating site?

Besides not giving away any personal information, especially for things like anonymous encounters on cam or sexting sites, know the risks when it comes to sending nude or partially nude photos containing identifying details like your face or tattoos. While it’s against the law in many places to circulate private sexual images, that doesn’t stop people from doing it.

What is the best NSFW dating site?

There are plenty of raunchy dating sites out there that should suit just about everyone, but we get that you probably don't want to spend all day perusing the options (or maybe you do). To help you find the best NSFW dating site for you, we have lined up a standout selection.

We've tried to find something for every type of dater, with popular sites like AdultFriendFinder and GetItOn making the cut. You just need to pick a favourite.

These are the best dating site alternatives to Pornhub in 2025.

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 black and white bear.

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

PANDA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A lavish dinner.

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

FEAST

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Seen in a church.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 2, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ALTAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A popular photo filter.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 29 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SEPIA

Final Hurdle hint

Split.

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

CLEFT

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

When it comes to home cinema and TV technology, the future is now. We're blessed with 8K TVs that have incredible sound systems, stylish designs, and more smart features than you can shake a voice assistant at. But not everyone needs — or can afford — that level of tech.

There’s nothing wrong with a TV that deals with the basics — a decent picture quality, crisp sound, and some useful smart functions. There are plenty of TVs that tick all of these boxes, and many are available at surprisingly low prices.

The trouble with finding cheap TVs is that there is so much on offer, making it difficult to pick a favourite. We know the struggle, so we've tried to help you out. Here’s some useful information to get you started and a selection of reliable models.

What is a smart TV?

It’s rare to find a TV these days that doesn’t boast some kind of smart features. In the simplest terms, it’s a TV that connects to the internet and supports a variety of entertainment apps. That means you’ll be able to watch streaming platforms such as Netflix or YouTube as well as regular digital channels.

Some smart TVs support other features, such as voice assistant — look out for TVs with Alexa or Google Assistant, which eliminate the need for a remote control — or connectivity to other devices and smart home systems.

What is 4K?

4K is shorthand for ultra-high definition (UHD) resolution. At 3840 x 2160 pixels (sometimes just labelled as 2160p), it has around four times the pixels of regular high definition, which is 1080p. It’s named 4K because the pixels width is almost 4,000.

Can you find cheap 4K TVs?

Many TVs these days have 4K. It’s very nearly the standard above a certain price point. However, not all the TVs in this roundup have 4K resolution, because we’re talking real budget options for the most part. You can get cheap 4K TVs but may need to spend a few hundred more for the pleasure.

What is HDR?

This is a term you’ll see a lot when shopping for TVs. It means High Dynamic Range. It essentially refers to the contrast levels between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks. The better the dynamic range, the more lifelike and vivid the colours will be. There are here various types of HDR, including HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.

What TV features are the most important for gamers?

Look out for TVs that have specific gaming modes, which usually have a low input lag (reducing the time between you press a button on the controller and the action paying out on the screen) or TVs with a HDMI 2.1 port. This is the fastest type of HDMI connection and is used to connect next-gen gaming consoles.

What is the best cheap TV?

We have lined up a selection of the best cheap TVs from top brands like Toshiba, Philips, and Hisense. These models are not going to top the charts when it comes to specifications or features, but they might surprise you with what they can do.

These are the best cheap TVs in 2025.

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 May 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 2 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: What a trill!

The words are animals that make appealing sounds.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are winged animals that sing.

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 Songbirds.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 2

• Chickadee

• Sparrow

• Lark

• Warbler

• Cardinal

• Wren

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 May 2 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: Seen at a museum

• Green: A pole or column

• Blue: Summer foods

• Purple: They share the second half of the word

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: Kinds of carvings

• Green: Pillar

• Blue: BBQ offerings

• Purple: ___Neck

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 #690 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of carvings: BUST, RELIEF, STATUE, TORSO

• Pillar: BRACE, POST, PROP, SUPPORT

• BBQ offerings: DOG, LINK, RIB, WING

• ___Neck: BOTTLE, BREAK, GOOSE, TURTLE

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 May 2

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 May 2 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 May 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Belonging to which person.

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 W.

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...

WHOSE.

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 May 2

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.

By the end of Marvel's Thunderbolts*, it's official: We have our New Avengers, and they are none other than the team formerly known as the Thunderbolts.

SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' mid-credits scene, explained

That's right: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), and Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) are now Earth's Mightiest Heroes. (Bob might take some time though, given the threat of his Void persona.)

However, as the end-credits scene for Thunderbolts* reveals, there's some competition for the title of New Avengers. The scene takes place in the Avengers' tower, 14 months after the events of the movie. The now well-established New Avengers are discussing the fact that Captain America himself, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), apparently wants to put together his own New Avengers. He's even filed for copyright of the name!

The scene is full of Thunderbolts banter — like should they be called Avengerz instead? — but the Sam Wilson discussion does raise a big question:

Who is on Sam Wilson's team of Avengers?

The movie's end-credits scene does not confirm who Sam has in mind for his own team of Avengers, but based on the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, we've got some ideas.

The Doomsday cast features four major sub-groups: the returning X-Men cast, including Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen; the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps cast, including Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby; the New Avengers introduced in Thunderbolts*; and everyone else. It's highly likely that the people in the "everyone else" group — minus Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom — will make up Sam's Avengers.

SEE ALSO: 'Captain America: Brave New World's end-credits scene, explained

The most obvious pick is Joaquín Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez), who played a big part in Captain America: Brave New World and who certainly isn't leaving Sam's side. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) are also likely candidates, along with Shang-Chi (Simu Liu).

Other returning characters include Wakanda's Shuri/Black Panther (Letitia Wright) and M'Baku (Winston Duke). Could a Wakanda-Avengers alliance be forthcoming? The same goes for Talokan's ruler, Namor (Tenoch Huerta).

There are some characters who weren't a part of the casting announcement that we'd still like to see return to the Avengers, though, including Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau/Photon (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani). Bring them back!

The Fantastic Four are officially in play.

Sam's New Avengers aren't the only major reveal in the Thunderbolts* end-credits scene. We also get a tease of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

As Yelena and Bucky talk about how to deal with Sam, they receive an alert that an "extra-dimensional ship" is entering the atmosphere. It's none other than the Fantastic Four's spaceship, complete with their logo on the side!

The ship isn't around for long, but based on its arrival, it seems like the Fantastic Four have left their dimension and wound up in the Avengers'. But what caused them to leave in the first place? I'm guessing we'll find out in First Steps.

Thunderbolts* is now in theaters.

The first post-credits scene for Marvel's Thunderbolts* takes us on a trip down the cereal aisle.

SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' end-credits scene, explained: Who are the New Avengers?

The mid-credits scene sees Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) hanging out in a supermarket, waiting to see if anyone will buy a Wheaties box with the Thunderbolts — sorry, New Avengers — on it.

The entire gag plays off one of Alexei's earlier lines, where he yearns to be on a team of heroes that people will love and respect to the point where they get that ultimate prize: a place on the front of a Wheaties box. Now that the Thunderbolts have been dubbed the New Avengers and have a public-facing role as heroes, that dream has been fully realized.

That doesn't mean people are actually buying the New Avengers Wheaties, though. Alexei tries to convince one woman, adding that the cereal is "good for kids" and pointing himself out on the box. The shopper, bless her heart, does take a box — only to put it down at the end of the aisle and run off. Sorry, Alexei, you're just not the best salesman!

If you, unlike this mid-credits shopper, actually want to see a New Avengers Wheaties box, you're in luck! You can buy a collectible box (no Wheaties included) or see a massive standee of the box at a movie theater.

Yummy. Credit: Belen Edwards

I'd say it's part of a balanced breakfast, but I don't think a balanced breakfast comes with quite this much murder.

Thunderbolts* is now in theaters.