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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

Pathway.

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

ROUTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Grumpy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SURLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A short performance.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

REVUE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Decided.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CHOSE

Final Hurdle hint

To denounce.

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

DECRY

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

We're approaching a new lunar phase, the Third Quarter. This is when the Moon appears to be illuminated by half following the Full Moon. It's just one of eight unique phases of the Moon's visibility, with the whole lunar cycle taking around 29.5 days.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, March 8, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 70% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

If it's a clear sky tonight you should be able to see the Aristarchus Plateau, Mare Imbrium, and the Copernicus Crater. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to see even more, including the Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater, and Alps Mountains. If you're a keen sky-gazer and have a telescope to hand, set this up to see glimpses of the Apollo 16 landing spot, Rima Hyginus and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says the Moon takes about 29.5 days to circle Earth, while it moves through a set of eight phases. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the portion lit by the Sun changes as it travels, which is why it can look full, half-lit, or barely visible at different points in the cycle. These changing views are what we call the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love scary movies.

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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 8, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Iconic places

• Green: Backwards and forwards

• Blue: Thrillers

• Purple: None

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cities

• Green: Palindromes

• Blue: Horror movies minus "S"

• Purple: Starting with slang for zero

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 #1001 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Cities: LIMA, NICE, OSAKA, PHOENIX

• Palindromes: EYE, REFER, ROTATOR, SELES

• Horror movies minus "S": GREMLIN, JAW, SINNER, TREMOR

• Starting with slang for zero: JACK, NADA, SQAUTTER, ZIPPER

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 8, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're ready to spring forward.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 8, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That time of year again

The words are related to time.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe time changes.

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 Dayling Savings.

NYT Strands word list for March 8

• Spring

• Hour

• Losing

• Dayling Savings

• Clock

• Forward

• Sleep

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you frequent hotels.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 8, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 8, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A waiting area.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter B appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LOBBY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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.

It seems Sony has been experimenting with dynamic pricing across the PlayStation Store, apparently since as early as November of last year, targeting discounts to specific player regions. This is according to the website PSPrices, which has closely tracked trends in Sony’s pricing over time, and it recently reported an increase in the number of games undergoing dynamic pricing. 

In 68 regions and across 139 games, including first-party AAA titles like God of War, Spider-Man, HELLDIVERS 2, and Stellar Blade, Sony offered average discounts ranging from just over 5 percent at the low end to nearly 18 percent at the high end. PSPrices even discovered that personalized discounts were being offered, with some lucky accounts receiving a massive 56 percent off the regular price of the popular Helldivers 2 game.

SEE ALSO: Sony’s first clip-style buds sound fabulous, but is that enough to justify their price?

Currently, both the United States and Japan are exempt from the experiment, likely due to stricter market regulations, but that still means that millions of customers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Africa

If Sony embraces dynamic pricing across the board, it may also seek to selectively raise prices on its most popular or in-demand titles, a practice known as "surge pricing." Furthermore, learning that one player in a gaming lobby paid full price for a game while another player from a different country received a 50 percent discount may not sit well with some gamers, and is likely to provoke some backlash if or when the dynamic pricing policy becomes standard store-wide.

As of this writing, Sony has not publicly commented on the experiment. At a time of economic uncertainty and general consumer anxiety, gaming companies have faced heightened scrutiny over their pricing, so it will be interesting to see whether they move forward with dynamic pricing.

Last fall, OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, promised that it would enable an “adult mode” for verified users of the service sometime in the first quarter of 2026. Today, we learned that the service has been delayed.

In a brief roundup, independent journalist Alex Heath revealed on his newsletter, Sources, that an OpenAI spokesperson told him that the company was "pushing out the launch of adult mode." OpenAI stated further that the company wanted to "focus on work that is a higher priority for more users right now," such as "personality improvements, personalization, and making the experience more proactive."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI updates Department of War deal after backlash

The news may disappoint some, as the "adult mode" was allegedly meant to launch in Q1 of this year. Erotica is understood to be a potentially lucrative market for AI, and many people are already relying on generative AI for romantic connections or to find "digital companions" for NSFW chatting. However, there's also apprehension about the marriage of artificial intelligence and human sexuality, with experts warning about the “AI porn problem” and the ethical problems that might arise from handing an all-powerful software access to our fantasies. 

According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, one former OpenAI employee even claims they were fired because of concerns they raised about the promised launch of erotic content on the service, specifically surrounding the mental health of ChatGPT users and the ease with which teenagers might still access the content. Elon Musk’s Grok A.I. has already faced heavy criticism for its “digital undressing” feature, used to disrobe real people without their consent.

Despite the controversy and the latest delay, OpenAI has continued to roll out age verification features to gatekeep functions and hasn’t shied away from its commitment to giving its users the maximum autonomy. "We still believe in the principle of treating adults like adults," the spokesperson told Heath, "but getting the experience right will take more time."

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 7, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 7, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 7 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 7 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 7 Pips

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

Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 0-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this orange space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for anyone who's ever lived in Arizona.

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

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

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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.

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Sports in the Copper State

• Green: Advanced stats

• Blue: Non-power conferences

• Purple: Receivers

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Arizona Teams

• Green: Baseball Stats, Abbreviated

• Blue: Mid-Major College Conferences

• Purple: NFL WR Nicknames

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 #530 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Arizona Teams - CARDINALS, MERCURY, SUN DEVILS, SUNS

• Baseball Stats, Abbreviated - ERA, IP, OPS, WAR

• Mid-Major College Conferences - HORIZON, OHIO VALLEY, SUMMIT, SUN BELT

• NFL WR Nicknames - HOLLYWOOD, JSN, NUK, SUN GOD

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

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

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

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

Bad news for gamers: the much-hyped Steam Machine, long rumored to see the light of day in the first half of 2026, may be delayed even longer due to memory and storage shortages and the astronomically high prices these shortages are pushing on to consumers. 

SEE ALSO: Out of stock: Valve Steam Deck is the latest casualty of global memory shortage

With the expansion of artificial intelligence, gaming hardware manufacturers have to compete for memory, storage, and graphical processing power with the deep pockets of Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, all of whom are racing to outcompete one another and win the AI race. 

As recently as February, Valve made some concessions to this reality in a blog post: 

"When we announced these products in November, we planned to share specific pricing and launch dates by now. But the memory and storage shortages you've likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since then. The limited availability and growing prices of these critical components mean we must revisit our exact shipping schedule and pricing (especially around Steam Machine and Steam Frame)."

For the unaware, the Steam Machine is Valve’s latest attempt to leverage its dominant software position in the PC gaming market into hardware, promising what amounts to a budget gaming PC with the form factor of a gaming console allegedly priced under $1,000 but still capable of offering “4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR” with either 512GB or 2TB of native storage, expandable via microSD, and running on their proprietary SteamOS. 

In their "Steam Year in Review 2025" update, Valve initially wrote that they "hope to ship in 2026," potentially indicating that the launch of the Steam Machine and its key accessories, the Steam Frame VR headset and controller, would be delayed until next year, but they have since amended the sentence to be more optimistic: "we will be shipping all three products this year."

While that almost certainly means we will have to wait until the second half of 2026, it also helps keep the hope alive among gamers hoping for a better budget gaming experience. 

A fight over Pentagon contracts shows how the leaders of Silicon Valley’s two most important A.I. start-ups are feuding over the future of the tech industry.

Negotiations, threats and amended contracts have left plenty of questions. Here are some answers.

Iran has launched waves of Shahed drones to menace Persian Gulf nations. The U.S. has unleashed its own copycat on Iran. It’s a sign of how war is changing.

By manipulating animals to do wonderful things, we may become numb to their real wonder.

We’re living in the era of the wearable. Smartwatches are replacing traditional timepieces, smart rings double as finger jewelry and health devices, and clip-on open earbuds make for fashionable ear accessories.

Now, we’re at the point where wearable speakers are a thing — or least, JLab seems to think so. The company just developed these portable Bluetooth speakers, which look like monstrous-sized wireless headphones for ogres. They're called the Blue XL Speaker Headphones, and they can be yours for $100.

The only thing more bonkers than the concept? The design itself. As someone who tests headphones and speakers, I’m obligated to check them out even if they're a weird novelty. Well, the Blue XL Speaker Headphones didn’t disappoint — at least on the weirdness front.

JLab loves to experiment Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

This is a company that has built its reputation on low pricing and filling a niche. It was one of the first audio brands to launch wireless earbuds with charging cases that featured built-in charging cables. The Blue XL Speaker Headphones are JLab’s second most ambitious creation – a limited-edition release that draws more “umms” than “oohs.”

I chuckled a few times during the unboxing. My 5-year-old toddler burst out laughing when he saw the speakers around my neck and asked, “what the heck is that?” My wife had a similar reaction. Basically, we all found the Blue XL Speaker Headphones hilarious. They’re certainly nowhere near as stylish as category favorites like the Beats Pill.

They're also outlandishly heavy (52 oz., or 3.25 lbs). Wearing them around the neck weighed down my shoulders, giving me a frumpy posture.

More importantly, if you’re thinking of buying the Blue XL Speaker Headphones as a home speaker alternative, you better think long and hard about their placement and how they will be positioned. The earcups must face outwards, rather than pointing at each other, to get the best sound output.

What about hanging them, say from a headphone stand? I tried that. The product is too long and won’t remain stable unless it’s propped on the back of the stand, which is a ridiculous-looking setup.

But how do the speaker headphones sound? With great headphones comes great function dial. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

In a word: impressive.

JLab doesn’t have the sonic pedigree of legacy audio companies like Sennheiser and Sony. What it does provide is adequate sound at highly competitive price points.

The Blue XL Speaker Headphones feature dual 2.5-inch drivers and passive radiators that blast incredibly loud audio and a powerful bass response. Lows have an effective presence on most contemporary recordings. Afro punk, EDM, hip-hop, and rock fans should enjoy what they hear. 

Listeners who like vocal performances and podcasts won’t be sold on the Blue XL Speaker Headphones’ audio quality, however. Vocals and high-range sounds (6 kHz to 20 kHz) are subdued. Sibilance is noticeable when listening to dialogue-heavy content; consonants like 's', 'sh', 'z', and 'ch' sound harsh. 

True stereo sound is out of the question — because the speakers don’t support JLab’s LabSync technology to pair multiple speakers at once. This a standalone unit with two mono speakers that broadcast the same thing. 

And in case you were wondering how it does with calls ... well, you can’t use the Blue XL Speaker Headphones as a speakerphone, either. 

Conclusion: a hilarious novelty Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The Blue XL Speaker Headphones aren’t ideal wireless headphones or speakers, mainly due to their enormous size. You must stretch your imagination to find any use for them.

To their credit, the Blue XL Speaker Headphones perform a lot better than you would think. Each driver pumps out strong, bass-filled sound. The dial with a multifunctional button is distinctive and works well. Up to 20 hours per charge is more than what most similarly priced speakers offer. And the overall build quality is solid.

I would have recommended hanging a pair from each ceiling corner to create wide surround sound, but the lack of multi-speaker connectivity kills that idea. 

The main purpose this product serves? Getting a laugh out of anyone who looks at them. Keep in mind that April Fool’s Day is around the corner!

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Still, $100 is generous for these speakers, even as a white elephant gift.

In short, the Blue XL Speaker Headphones raise questions that inevitably lead to disappointing answers. No one is going to wear them outside unless they’re begging for attention, and the responses won’t be flattering. Sizing is excessive — you can’t set these speakers up anywhere.

JLab suggests placing them on a table, but there’s no direction on how to properly position them. Also, there’s no mention of the heavy reverberation they produce when placed on certain surfaces. Other shortcomings include no IP rating or app support to personalize the speakers. 

To all appearances, JLab conceived the Blue XL Speaker Headphones as a joke and ran with it. But after you get over the novelty factor, it will be hard to take them seriously.

The JLab Blue XL limited-edition headphones are currently out of stock, though you can find them on eBay for twice their retail price.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder at Amazon for under $70. That's below market value ahead of the March 20 release date.

Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 $67.92 at Amazon
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Finding new Pokémon products for anywhere near market value is always a challenge. Finding Pokémon preorders for a good price is almost impossible. But every now and then, a leading retailer gives trading card enthusiasts something to celebrate.

The Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is available to preorder at Amazon for under $70. Why is that price significant? It's below market value. Only just below market value, but below market value all the same. When it comes to Pokémon, you should jump at anything close to market value from Amazon. It doesn't happen that often.

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This popular preorder celebrates the bond between Trainer and Pokémon with a booster pack containing three of nine illustration rare-style promo cards. These consisting of beloved first partner Pokémon from the Kanto, Sinnoh, or Alola region. You’ll also get two more Pokémon TCG booster packs and a fun sticker sheet featuring first partner Pokémon friends. It's a fun bundle for collectors to shop this weekend.

Score the best Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 preorder deal at Amazon.

SAVE $500: As of March 7, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price and the lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
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Finding DJI drones in stock is becoming tougher and tougher. There's been a lot of conversation around the ban on DJI imports, but it's still possible to find popular models on Amazon (for now). And better yet, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo has hit a new record-low price on Amazon.

As of March 7, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price this weekend. We have seen this deal before, but there's no telling how long you'll be able to shop and save on these drones. At some point, you'd expect stock to become limited. At that stage, we can only assume that prices will skyrocket faster than a DJI drone.

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This beginner-friendly bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. Basically, it's everything you need to start flying and capturing epic footage in one convenient package. You shouldn't need to dip back into your pockets at a later date to bolster your supplies.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro has a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can opt for 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming. Night flying is also a possibility thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. And DJI's ActiveTrack 360° technology is an absolute essential if you're planning on filming moving subjects.

Score the best-ever price on the DJI Mini 5 Pro this weekend.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle is available to preorder for $49.99 at Amazon. That's below TCGplayer's market value and comes with Amazon's pre-order price guarantee.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $49.99 at Amazon
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The Mega Evolution Perfect Order expansion doesn't release until March 27, but that hasn't held back shoppers. We knew that these products were going to sell like mad as soon as preorders went live at top retailers, but we didn't expect the wave of activity that struck this week. The Pokémon trading card market is absolutely wild right now. We're just about holding on.

Looking for the best preorder deal on Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundles? Amazon is offering excellent value for money.

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle is available to preorder for $49.99 at Amazon. That's way below TCGplayer's market value and comes with Amazon's pre-order price guarantee. The guarantee really is a game changer. The price you pay when this product ships will be the lowest price offered by Amazon between the time you placed your order and the end of the release date. So you're covered against future price drops.

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Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundles contain six booster packs from the new Perfect Order expansion. And every pack contains 10 cards, so there's a chance to pull Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex. We know the chances of pulling something seriously valuable are slim, but you never know.

Secure the best Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle preorder deal at Amazon.

It's been almost 15 years since Julia Quinn published the third book in her Bridgerton series, An Offer from a Gentleman, and it still lands.

A risqué and romantic Cinderella story about class and hidden identity, it's the basis for Season 4 of the Shondaland/Netflix series. But it's not the only book running this season, which also draws from Quinn's sixth book in the series, When He Was Wicked, for the tale of Francesca, John, and Michaela Stirling — a simmering tale of guilt, lust, and longing that will take the lead in Season 5.

We went straight to the source, speaking to Quinn about the nuances of Sophie and Benedict's socially-impossible situation, and the impact of gender flipping the character of Michael Stirling in the TV series — a decision that opens up queer inclusivity in for Bridgerton, and one that has seen strong fan reactions, for better or worse. These two books, published in the early 2000s, are still finding new audiences in 2026 — in fact, fancy new collector’s editions of the first three Bridgerton books have just been published.

SEE ALSO: 'Bridgerton' Season 4 soundtrack, song-by-song

We also talked more broadly about Regency romance and the undying yearnaissance in fiction, as Quinn's latest project proves she's just as much a fan of romance writing as you are: a subscription book box called JQ Editions, in which Quinn handpicks the titles based simply on whether she liked them.

So, dear gentle reader, pour yourself a cup of tea and settle in. This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Shannon Connellan: There are a lot of fans who haven't read the Bridgerton books, who are watching the show. An Offer from a Gentleman, which you first published in 2001, the thing I love about this Bridgerton story is that it really digs into the working class. Obviously, Sophie is our Cinderella. Why do you think this theme of class is so important in this luxurious Regency ton?

Julia Quinn: I just think it was something that was so... unsurmountable. I don't know that viewers understand what a big deal it was. When I was writing it, most of the people who I knew were going to read it were either my fans or fans of Regency romance, who were already pretty well schooled in the ins and outs of Regency society. So they knew this is a big deal. Does it ever happen that somebody of the nobility will marry somebody working class? Yes, but it is a big deal and comes with big consequences… You want to come up with a big conflict, and there wasn't much that was bigger than this.

"I don't know that viewers understand what a big deal it was." Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

SC: I think a lot of the 2026 lens on the show looks at Sophie's reluctance and insistence on not becoming a mistress, and Benedict's privilege saying 'Why not?' Why not?' — but to a Regency reader that would be really obvious.

JQ: For him, he is truly acting with the best of intentions. This seems like a way to take her out of poverty, a way that they can be together, a way that she gets away from a lot of abuse — and it is the way that society tells him it can be done. But I think the real story is, how does he go from this offer with the best of intentions to making one that is truly world-altering, and saying, OK, I'm willing to change my whole world for this person.

SC: It's really powerful.

JQ: I think so, and I know there are a lot of people who are like, 'Ew, why does he keep asking her to do this?' Like he's a predator or something. He's not a predator. He's a man of his time who is a kind person, truly, who is trying to keep her safe. I mean, yeah, he definitely tricks her into getting her the job at Bridgerton house, but he also knows that she's going to be treated so much better there than she's been treated somewhere else. It is a little bit of mansplaining, I will acknowledge that, but he really is looking out for her safety.

"How does he go from this offer with the best of intentions to making one that is truly world-altering..." Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

SC: Definitely, I read it like that too. I think people don't understand a modern workplace in the same way as a 19th century workplace and everything that goes with it. So it's really interesting to watch how that functions in the book and in the series.

JQ: Yeah, it's tough, because you're writing these books that are set in the early 19th century, but you are aware that you're writing them for modern readers. There's always this balance that you have to try to find and it's never going to be the right balance for everybody.

SC: Speaking of balance, romance writing has changed a lot in the last 20 years, especially for queer inclusion. And now, with Francesca Bridgerton's story from When He Was Wicked, Michael Sterling's character is gender flipped for the Netflix series. So we're looking at the first leading queer storyline for Bridgerton [in Season 5]. You've said this publicly, that you're "deeply committed to the Bridgeton world becoming more diverse and inclusive." So what does Michael becoming Michaela mean to you?

JQ: It just means that more people will be able to see themselves in a story about joy and happy endings, truly. I hear there are a lot of readers who are upset, and they have made themselves known, and while I think some of them are truly homophobic, I think some of them truly just loved the story and wanted it to remain the way that they loved — unfortunately, now they're getting called homophobic, so there's layers upon layers of things happening there. I'm touched because it's amazing to have written something that resonates so deeply with people, but the book isn't going to change. I'm not going to rewrite the book, because I always have that story, and I think it will just be very, very interesting. 

"It just means that more people will be able to see themselves in a story about joy and happy endings." Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

I think that the main themes of this story can remain true. The biggest theme for me while I was writing was the guilt that both Francesca and Michael felt over falling in love with each other, because John was Francesca's beloved husband, and John was Michael's beloved best friend and cousin, so they felt deeply guilty falling in love with each other. That was the big inner struggle. I haven't seen the script yet, but I have every faith that it will remain true to the story. I don't see why gender flipping a character would change that.

SC: I wholeheartedly agree. You wrote the books in the 2000s and since then, and the release of the Netflix series, fandom has changed on the internet. It must be very strange or interesting for you to see these debates, ships, and loves for these characters that you wrote over two decades ago. How does the internet change how you see characters you created?

JQ: I wouldn't say it changes, it's just very interesting. I guess one thing that really surprised me was you have these fandoms, the ships — people have their special couples that they love so much — and usually, the Simon/Daphne people are pretty quiet, but the Kanthony, Benophie, and Polin people, I mean, they go at it with each other. And I'm just like guys, everybody gets a happy ending… but I just stay out of it.

Choose your fighter: Saphne, Kanthony, Polin, Benophie. Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

SC: One of my favorite things about An Offer from a Gentleman is that although the connection with Jane Austen and Bridgerton is alluded to, the Mr Darcy legacy is real in Bridgerton. You have this frankly hilarious scene [in the book] when Benedict needs to 'control himself' so much that he plunges himself into icy water. I wanted to ask you, what is it about Regency romance and bodies of water, what is going on here?

JQ: Well, you couldn't take a cold shower! I actually remember I was writing my first book [The Duke and I], and the main character thinks, 'I need a cold shower,' and then all of a sudden's like… That probably was in there for three days before I was like, wait a minute, they don't have cold showers, what's he gonna do? 

"You couldn't take a cold shower!" Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

SC: That is superb. Obviously, you are an iconic part of the "yearnaissance," this never-ending love for yearning that often accompanies Regency romance. We've got romance bookshops popping up all over the world with historical fiction sections. Dating apps even saw a rise in the 2020s of the mention of 'courting' in dating bios, which is wild. Why do you think that Regency romance, in particular, never goes out of fashion?

JQ: I think that it is far enough in the past that we can romanticise it and give it a fairy tale quality that say, we couldn't for… I mean, I love reading novels set in World War I or World War II, but I think that's too close. It is hard to romanticize that time period in that way.

I'm sure I've written a book where everything could have been solved if somebody had a mobile phone. And we can allow for characters to behave in ways that wouldn't necessarily work today, like the workplace issue. Sophie doesn't have the kind of options she would have today, so when Benedict's really pushing hard to get her a job in his mother's house, it's because she really doesn't have any other options. Also it's modern enough that we can give characters hopes, dreams, foibles, and emotions that feel just generally familiar to us. One of the big things of Benedict's character is he feels like he's not seen as an individual, that he's just seen as the "number two" Bridgerton. With Penelope, you had a character who felt like she knew who she was on the inside, but she did not know how to be that person on the outside. I think a lot of people resonate with that today and so I think that works.

"I'm sure I've written a book where everything could have been solved if somebody had a mobile phone."

If you went farther back in time to say, medieval times, I think there's a religiosity and mysticism to the world that changes the way we view it, that makes characters' thoughts, dreams, and hopes a little bit too foreign. So it's really the sweet spot. 

SC: I have read that you are into sports romance. 

JQ: I like some of them, yeah.

SC: The whole Heated Rivalry phenomenon that's happened, I'm just saying that there's a high stakes game of pall mall in The Viscount Who Loved Me. Is there room for a sports romance?

JQ: I don't think it's my wheelhouse as a writer. I think I'm a sports romance reader. I quite like Tessa Bailey, in fact, I know I've known her online for a while, and I finally got to meet her in person recently, because I did a book signing in New York City and she was my conversation partner. She's really fun, I like her a lot. 

SC: You've written over 40 books. Where do you write?

JQ: I write in a number of different spots. I often write in cafes. I often will also just go away for a week or two to a hotel or resort somewhere where I'm all by myself and nobody can bother me, and I don't have to get up at a specific time to get my kids to school — although that's not an issue anymore, because they're grown. So it's a combination of things. I don't have a set writing schedule, and if I did, I'd probably get an awful lot more done.

Bridgerton is now streaming on Netflix.

The Deluxe Collector’s Editions of the first three Bridgerton titles — The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me and An Offer From A Gentleman – are available in hardback (Piatkus, £25).

Featured Video For You Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley reveal the real surprise in 'Hamnet'

I was a lost puppy in my early days on Grindr, especially as I tried to ditch the juvenile online abbreviations I’d been using for years. Gone were the days of “ur”. As a wide-eyed, new college freshman, I was more “literate” than ever. These were the times of spelling the whole word out: “you’re.” 

After my first Grindr download, I realized acronyms like gh, gen, ff, ws, poz, and pnp were being thrown around everywhere, but I didn't think it was necessary to learn them. Let me be clear: it was, and it still is. It took a few weeks until someone asked me if I wanted to “parTy”. A spelling error, I had assumed. My iPhone keyboard sometimes does that, too. But, I was an eighteen-year-old first-year college student living on my own for the first time. What a stupid fucking question. Hell yes, I like to party!

SEE ALSO: All your Grindr questions, answered

It took one Google search to realize that I was right, I do like to party… but I absolutely do not like to parTy (which is a reference to drug use). That’s when it hit me. To stay safe, I actually needed to understand these terms, something I’d been innocently ignoring since I first joined the app. Knowing them is how you avoid ending up in a situation you don’t want to be in.

But, why are people using acronyms and terms on Grindr to begin with? The short answer: speed. Acronyms and terms are quick. They get the point across efficiently, even with the learning curve. It minimizes the need for longer, direct conversations. I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of people using these terms aren’t looking to beat around the bush. They want to meet up right now

Acronyms and terms are also used on Grindr for discretion, which exists for two reasons: safety and plausible deniability. 

Using an acronym for safety might include why a trans person would use a term such as “ftm” (female to male), “mtf” (male to female), or “t4t” (trans for trans). These acronyms enhance safety for trans people meeting strangers online by providing a shorthand for identity and intent.

Plausible deniability, on the other hand, is where things get a little more illicit. Acronyms are often used to bypass moderation for topics that would otherwise result in a ban, including the use of illegal drugs. Codewords allow users to discuss illegal activities with enough ambiguity to claim they were talking about something else entirely. It’s ridiculously problematic, but it is rather foolproof.

Grindr   Learn More at Grindr Grindr’s most-used acronyms and terms in 2026

As language shifts, so does the coded shorthand used on Grindr. Some terminology seen on the app ten years ago might not have much pertinence anymore. Whether you’re new to Grindr in 2026 or just need a little bit of a cheat sheet to hold onto, here are the most common acronyms and terms you'll encounter and what they signify.

SEE ALSO: The best gay dating apps of 2026: Grindr is still king, even if we wish it weren't

• anon: anonymous; interest in anonymous sex

• bb: bareback; raw sex without condom-use

• bear: bear; a subculture of gay men with typically larger, hairier bodies

• bttm: bottom; one who prefers to be on the receiving end of anal sex

• cd: crossdresser; a man who dresses up as a woman during (and occasionally not during) sexual acts

• discreet: discreet; someone not publicly out as gay/trans/etc. looking to partake in sexual acts and conversation on a secretive level

• dl: down low; essentially means the exact same thing as above

• dp: double penetration; exactly what you think it is

• ff: fisting; someone either into fisting/wanting to be fisted (you can ask more about who’s taking which side in the DMs)

• ftm: female to male; a person who was assigned female at birth, who now identifies as male 

• fwb: friends with benefits; a friend you can f*ck

• gen: generous; someone looking a financial arrangement, typically involving payment for a sexual encounter

• gh: gloryhole; a typically anonymous encounter involving oral and/or anal sex through a hole in a wall or sheet

• host: host; A user who has their own place and can accommodate guests for a hookup

• into: into; a quicker way to ask someone, “what are you into sexually?”, meaning the person asking does not care that you like to hike and play ultimate frisbee

• jo: jerking off; someone interest in mutual masturbation with a partner

• jock: jock; a man with a muscular/athletic body who is typically into fitness

• ltr: long-term relationship; someone with interest in pursuing a romantic connection

• mtf: male to female;  assigned male at birth, now identifying as female 

• npnc: no pic, no chat; someone with no interest in chatting with someone who is unable to provide a photo of their face

• nsa: no strings attached; a sexual/physical connection with no romantic connection

• otter: otter; a hairier gay man with a slim, lean, or more athletic build

• parTy: chemsex; refers to sex involving drug use, specifically "tina" (crystal meth), with the capitalized "T" serving as a coded signal for the substance

• pnp: party and play; broader term that can include various substances to enhance sexual experiences

• poz: HIV+; a term to signify an HIV+ person

• rn: right now; interest in meeting up for sex as soon as possible

• side: side; a user with preference to sexual encounters that don't involve penetration

• t4t: trans for trans; a trans person looking for encounters with another trans person

• top: top; one who prefers to be on the giving end of anal sex

• twink: twink; a hairless, leaner, younger gay man

• twunk: twunk; a hairless, more athletically-built gay man

• uc: uncut; someone with an uncircumcised penis

• u=u: undetectable = untransmittable; medically proven status meaning those on sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART) with an undetectable HIV viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus to someone without HIV

• vers: versatile; someone who enjoys being both on the receiving and giving end during anal sex

• ws: watersports; interest in urine-play during sexual experiences

• wya: where you at; used to quickly determine a person’s location before or during a meetup

Should I be using acronyms and terms on Grindr?

Grindr may be built for fast connections, but navigating the app effectively requires understanding the specific acronyms and terms users rely on. So, do you need to use them? Technically, no, you don’t, but you should absolutely be familiar with what most of these mean when using the app. If you ever encounter an unfamiliar term or request, a quick Google search is a perfectly normal way to stay informed. And trust me, knowing the lingo will help you steer clear of some very uncomfortable situations.

Grindr   Learn More at Grindr