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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 January 21 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: Insults

• Green: Like G.I. Joe, Barbie, or Warhammer

• Blue: Frozen precipitation alleviation instruments

• Purple: They don't like apples

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: Putdown

• Green: Small likeness

• Blue: Used to clear snow

• Purple: Doctors in pop culture

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 #590 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Putdown: BARB, CRACK, DIG, SLIGHT

• Small likeness: DOLL, FIGURE, MINIATURE, MODEL

• Used to clear snow: PLOW, SALT, SAND, SHOVEL

• Doctors in pop culture: NO, OCTOPUS, PEPPER, WHO

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 January 21

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.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You don't say...

These words were once cool to say.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are things your child might tell you not say anymore.

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 DatedSlang.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 21

• Radical

• Fresh

• Major

• Phat

• Boss

• Tubular

• Cherry

• DatedSlang

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.

Bitcoin surged to an all-time high on Monday, hours before Donald Trump took office as President of the United States.

Over the course of Monday, Bitcoin spiked to $109,350 before dipping below $105,000.

President Trump has talked about cryptocurrency on numerous occasions in the leadup to taking office again. Bitcoin started gaining steam over the week before the inauguration, with speculation rising that Trump would announce a Bitcoin-related executive order.

According to reports, Trump is planning on reducing regulations around cryptocurrency, something that could spur adoption.

The spike in Bitcoin price also happened after the launch of two new meme coins by the Trumps – simply named $TRUMP and $MELANIA. Trump's coin was launched on Friday, Jan. 17, with Melania's coin following a few days later. Both are based on the Solana blockchain.

SEE ALSO: TRUMP and MELANIA crypto memecoins launch ahead of inauguration, chaos ensues

Meme coins are essentially cryptocurrencies that are based on some aspect of internet culture. They’re not really considered to carry any intrinsic value, but can be bought and sold, and can rise or fall in cost.

The most famous meme coin is Dogecoin (DOGE), which was essentially created as a joke, but has been heavily promoted by Elon Musk. Dogecoin is also on the rise, sitting at $0.36 at the time of this writing – though it’s still only a little over half the value of its all-time-high of $0.64, which it hit in May 2021 shortly after the GameStop squeeze. 

As for Bitcoin, we’ll have to wait and see if the rally continues, or if the currency settles after its latest surge. 

Donald Trump is officially the 47th President as of Inauguration Day. In a 30-minute speech, Trump proclaimed that "the golden age of America begins right now," and promised many changes. Here are a few of them below, along with how viewers on social media reacted to it:

Declaring a national emergency at the southern border

Trump ran on an anti-immigration stance, discussing ending birthright citizenship and planning sweeping deportations during his campaign. On Monday, Trump mentioned that he would declare a national emergency at the southern border of the U.S., halting immigration. Trump used the term "criminal aliens," which was stated several times in Project 2025 (the conservative policy wishlist for Trump's second term).

Following the speech, the Trump administration shut down CBP One, an app for migrants to legally enter the U.S. The effects were instant:

Tweet may have been deleted 'Rescinding' the Green New Deal

The "Green New Deal" isn't the law of the land, despite efforts by progressive politicians in recent years. On Inauguration Day, however, Trump promised to "terminate" spending on the Green New Deal. Axious speculated that he meant Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which did address climate change.

Still, social media was quick to note that Biden didn't run nor try to enact the Green New Deal:

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Sen. Ed Markey, who did run on the Green New Deal, came to X to express his feelings:

Tweet may have been deleted Make an official policy that there are "only" two genders

It's no secret that Trump's policies are a threat to trans people, and since his first term trans people said Trump is "not a friend." On Monday, Trump said he would instate an official policy that there are "only" two genders, male and female.

Trans journalist Erin Reed posted on Bluesky that, "It's going to be quite a slog for 4 years":

Whelp. JD Vance, author of one of the most repressive trans bans ever proposed in congress, is now our VP. It's going to be quite a slog for 4 years.

— Erin Reed (@erininthemorning.com) January 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM

Multiple people pointed out that Trump stated this soon after declaring that "free expression will no longer be limited":

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted 4. 'Bring back' freedom of speech

Trump said he'll sign an executive order to stop "government censorship" and "bring back free speech in America."

While it's not immediately clear what Trump means by this, page 687 of Project 2025 recommends Trump "[s]upport free speech and hold big tech accountable. Immediately conduct a thorough review of federal policy regarding free speech online and provide policy solutions to address big tech’s censorship of speech."

That was a pretty quick segue from "we're bringing back free speech and ending government censorship" to "here are the things government employees will be no longer allowed to say about sex, gender, and race."

— Seth Cotlar (@sethcotlar.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM

Don’t get it twisted when trump says he wants to “bring back free speech” he means HIS type of free speech. Which is full of bullshit and misinformation

— Rave Mom✨ (@edmprincess.edm.blue) January 20, 2025 at 1:02 PM

Project 2025 also calls for the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which Trump also mentioned during Monday's speech:

5. Ending DEI policies

Trump called for an "end [to] the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life," an usher in a society that is "colorblind" and "merit-based."

People online retorted, saying such actions don't decrease inflation.

Tweet may have been deleted 6. Renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America

The notion to rename the region to the Gulf of America isn't new, but Trump has run with it in recent months. He mentioned it in his inaugural speech on Monday.

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As Trump's first 100 days unfold, we'll see which of these policies he tries to enact.

A new leak has seemingly revealed the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S25 will see a major Galaxy AI upgrade.

The new leak comes from veteran smartphone leaker Evan Blass, who published what seems to be a marketing video showing off some of the new features coming to Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite of features.

These features are expected to launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, which will likely be unveiled at Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked event, set to take place on Wednesday, January 22. 

Galaxy AI brings agentic AI features to the Galaxy S25 series

The leaked video starts with a user being woken up by the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s alarm, after which a feature called Insights delivers information like the weather, sleep scores, and other data that the user might want to see when they first wake – all in a single scrollable screen.

The video then cuts to another user who asks Google’s Gemini assistant to “find a pet-friendly Italian restaurant with outdoor seating and send it to Tony.” Gemini sends a rundown of nearby restaurants, then compiles a message that the user approves to be sent with a simple tap. 

SEE ALSO: What to expect at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked

Perhaps the best AI features are those that aren't as in-your-face, though. In the video, Samsung shows off the new Night Video mode on the Galaxy S25 series, which can seemingly capture more detail than before. It's kind of like how night mode photos have worked in the past, but in video. The user then makes use of the Audio Eraser tool to remove nearby noise, and focus the audio on a person playing piano.

Not all of these features are completely new. For example, Gemini can already send text messages, and Google's Audio Eraser tool has been available on the Pixel since the launch of the Pixel 9 series. That said, Audio Eraser has so far been limited to Pixel devices, so the video at least shows off the fact that it's expanding to more phones.

As mentioned, the likely reveal of the Galaxy S25 is only a few days away. It's expected to comprise the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. All three new devices are expected get a series of upgrades apart from those that are AI-based, including the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.

The White House website received a makeover as soon as Donald Trump was sworn in on Inauguration Day. In addition to an apparent fancam when one goes to the homepage, portraits of Trump and key members of his administration are displayed.

Credit: Screenshot: whitehouse.gov

Trump's official White House portrait is a straight-on angle. The president isn't smiling and has a furrowed brow — not unlike Trump's mugshot:

Credit: Fulton County Sherrif's Office

In the year and a half since the mugshot was taken, Trump's mugshot has been reclaimed by his fans, used on merchandise along with phrases like, "Never surrender," which Trump said after his assassination attempt in July. While Trump's new portrait doesn't appear to be the exact photo, it recreates it:

Credit: White House

The photo has brighter lighting and a different background, but the two look strikingly similar.

That similarity has not been lost on social media users, who called it out directly.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

GET A FREE $20 AMAZON CREDIT: Spend $80 on P&G essentials like paper towels, toiletries, vitamins, and more at Amazon and get a free $20 credit to spend at Amazon by Aug. 30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proctor & Gamble Free $20 Amazon credit with purchase of $80+ on P&G products Get Deal

Now that we're well into 2025, you might be noticing your daily necessities are running a bit low. If you're in need of restocking household essentials soon, ordering from Amazon could be a great option thanks to today's deal.

As of Jan. 20, orders of $80 or more on P&G essentials qualifies shoppers for a $20 free Amazon credit. You'll need to redeem the free promotional Amazon credit before 11:59 p.m. PT on Aug. 30, 2025.

The list of eligible Proctor & Gamble products gets into the thousands. You'll be able to replenish your home's supply of laundry pods, dishwasher pods, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, diapers, and vitamins with this deal.

That's not to mention stocking up on facial skincare items from Olay and personal care products from Secret. With plentiful options, you'll have no issue reaching the $80 minimum order amount.

Keep in mind this deal to get $20 of free Amazon credit is only eligible to a single order per Amazon account. After your make your qualifying purchases, Amazon will add the $20 credit to your account once all items have shipped your way.

In a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive by the day, stocking up during a sale that gives you free Amazon credit is a no-brainer. And this way, you won't be in danger of running out of daily household essentials.

GET $200 OFF: Jan. 20th, the LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV is on sale for $599.99 at the Best Buy Four Day Sale, get $200 off and save 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV $599.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Wheel out the OLED. With 8.3 million self-lit pixels, this LG 48-inch TV delivers contemporary visuals with extreme resolution and quality.

Currently, the LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV is on sale at Best Buy for 25% off, get it for $599.99 and save $200.

SEE ALSO: This Samsung soundbar is over 50% off for Best Buy's Four Day Sale

If you're in the market for a mid-price, apartment-sized TV, then don't sleep on this deal. Featuring an Alpha 8 AI processor the LG screen upscales and improves the image and sound of whatever you're watching, whether that's OG Star Wars or Arthur.

Designed for gaming, this TV features a 120Hz screen refresh time. It also has specific game-focused features, like Nvidia G-Sync.

Right now, the LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED UHD TV is available for $599.99 — get it now and save 25%, or $200 off.

With two built-in speakers and audio features like Dolby Atmos, this TV isn't just a screen, it's a home entertainment suite. With four HDMI inputs, LAN, optical audio, and 2 USB-A ports, it connects to everything in your home entertainment arsenal.

Brady Corbert's The Brutalist is one of the most prominently featured films in this year's awards season, including widespread Oscar expectations of a Best Picture nod. Set in the aftermath of World War II, it tells the story of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect forced to immigrate to the United States without his family.

The film's commitment to form is evident not only in its cinematic portrayal of Brutalism, the postwar period's defining architectural movement, but also in its reverence to American cinema of the time. Shot almost entirely on VistaVision (a format widely abandoned in the 1960s with the emergence of 70mm and CinemaScope), The Brutalist makes an event out of its theatrical screenings, with a 15-minute in-roll intermission splitting its colossal runtime of three hours and 34 minutes.

It is perhaps this return to the cinematic spectacle of the mid-20th century that has made some view The Brutalist’s use of an AI speech-enhancing software as some sort of betrayal to the craft and not as another tool available to filmmakers to enhance the impact and credibility of their storytelling. Concerns over the film industry's increasing use of AI are not unique to The Brutalist, with recent controversies including the horror Late Night With the Devil, Netflix's sci-fi anime short The Dog & The Boy, and Marvel's Secret Invasion.

But what happened and how exactly did The Brutalist use AI?

SEE ALSO: For Hollywood, scary AI is an old trope. It's now a true threat. How did The Brutalist use AI?

Speaking to RedShark News, The Brutalist editor Dávid Jancsó explained that the team used software by Ukrainian AI company Respeecher to refine Brody and co-star Felicity Jones' Hungarian pronunciation in the film.

In the interview, Jancsó, himself a Hungarian speaker, talks about the difficulties of sounding native in his language. Hungarian is a Uralic language, a linguistic branch which also includes Finnish and Estonian, and some of its sounds are challenging to Anglo-Saxon speakers, even if they happen to be some of the world’s most talented actors. 

What exactly does Respeecher do?

Respeecher's voice conversion system builds a database of what a person sounds like — their language, accent or other specific features (such as a lisp), then allowing an actor to perform their lines as the tool alters their voice. In The Brutalist’s case, according to Jancsó, the AI speech enhancer was only used to substitute the sound of certain letters that the actors found challenging to pronounce. According to Jancsó, Brody and Jones were aware of the alterations, and most of the corrected pronunciation was read out by the editor himself.

"Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there. We were very careful about keeping their performances. It's mainly just replacing letters here and there. You can do this in ProTools yourself, but we had so much dialogue in Hungarian that we really needed to speed up the process otherwise we'd still be in post," Jancsó told the publisher.

In his interview with RedShark News, Jancsó states that these alterations would have been made regardless, but that Respeecher’s AI tool significantly sped up the process, saving the production time and money, which was especially important as The Brutalist was completed on a slim $10 million budget.

It only takes looking into Respeecher's body of work to know that The Brutalist is far from the first film using AI tools in its post-production. Speech enhancing for Hollywood productions has been the Ukrainian company's bread and butter, and the company is credited for restoring Darth Vader’s voice for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series after actor James Earl Jones retired, as well as recreating French singer Edith Piaf's voice to posthumously "narrate" her own biopic, which is still in the making.

Beyond the film world, Respeecher has been using its technology to help preserve the endangered Crimean Tatar language, which faces increased repressions under Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Did The Brutalist use AI for anything else?

Not just used for voice corrections, however, AI was also employed to create some of Toth's architectural drawings and finished buildings featured in the Venice Biennale sequence towards the end of the film, according to Jancsó, though he doesn't specify (at the time of this article) what AI tool was used and whether the drawings were completely AI-generated.

"It is controversial in the industry to talk about AI, but it shouldn't be," the editor told RedShark News. "We should be having a very open discussion about what tools AI can provide us with. There's nothing in the film using AI that hasn't been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster. We use AI to create these tiny little details that we didn't have the money or the time to shoot."

There have been growing concerns about the use of generative AI at the expense of filmmakers, from screenwriting to acting to music production. It was one of the main instigating topics of the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes in 2023. After months of negotiations, the strikers reached tentative agreements which aim to regulate the use of AI in the film industry.

Whether or not these revelations will affect The Brutalist's Oscar standing remains to be seen — the nominees will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 23. But they've ignited a fresh conversation around the use of AI in movie and TV production, whether the production team was ready to find themselves within it or not.

GET A FREE $10 BEST BUY GIFT CARD: Purchase a $100 digital Macy's gift card and get a free $10 Best Buy gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Macy's / Best Buy $100 digital Macy's gift card + $10 Best Buy gift card $100.00 at Best Buy
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Regardless of the savings, scoring something for free is exciting. Getting free credit at a store that sells almost every electronic available is especially exciting. If you happen to shop at Macy's and Best Buy, you'll want to check in on this deal.

As of Jan. 20, a $100 digital Macy's gift card purchased from Best Buy comes with a free $10 Best Buy gift card. To score this deal, you'll need to be logged into your Best Buy account, which is free to create.

For anyone who said department stores are gone hasn't been to Macy's lately. The retailer is a one-stop-shop for tons of essentials like clothing, shoes, furniture, linens, cosmetics, and more. Macy's also happens to hold some incredible sales throughout the year. You can use the $100 gift card either in store at any Macys location at Macy's online storefront. Plus, it never expires.

Once you purchase the Macy's gift card, Best Buy will send along the Best Buy e-gift card to the email address you indicated when placing the order. After that, you'll be able to cash in on a $10 savings on your next purchase at Best Buy.

Happy (free) shopping!

GET $1,700 OFF: Jan. 20th, the Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV is on sale for $1,599.99, saving you 52%, or $1,700 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV $1,599.99 at Best Buy
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If you've long dreamed of bringing Hollywood to life in your own home, this dream screen is the TV to do it. A massive 77-inches gives you all the real estate you'll need to enjoy blockbusters in sparkling OLED, and video game action at blisteringly fast frame rates.

Currently, the Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV is available from Best Buy's Four Day Sale for $1,599.99 — a savings of $1,700, or 52% off.

SEE ALSO: Best TVs under $500: Low-budget, high-quality TVs in every size

Pantone validated, this Samsung screen displays true-to-life color. Watch classics like In the Mood for Love from the Criterion Collection with color grading just how the director meant it to look.

Rich OLED 4K upscaling brings TV and classic movies into the contemporary resolution, with deep HDR blacks.

Right now, the Samsung 77-inch S84D Series OLED Tizen TV is 52% off at Best Buy's Four Day Sale, get it for $1,599.99 and save $1,700.

In contemporary games, a screen refresh time can make all the difference. This Samsung 77-inch TV aces competitive gameplay with a 120Hz refresh rate and proprietary Motion Xcelerator Turbo technology.

Inauguration Day has begun, and so have the fashion critiques.

Melania Trump arrived at the ceremony on Monday wearing an outfit by American designer Adam Lippes, according to fashion website WWD — but what everyone is talking about is the incoming first lady's hat, the work of American designer Eric Javits.

Tweet may have been deleted

The wide-rimmed hat, a dark navy with a white ribbon, partially shields Trump's face, and immediately evoked a sharp reaction. Some users on X admired the look:

Tweet may have been deleted

Others, however, harkened it to fictional characters Zorro, a masked vigilante, and Carmen Sandiego, a criminal mastermind:

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

There were also comparisons to the Babadook, the titular horror character of Jennifer Kent's 2014 film (combined with the Quaker Oat man...)

Melania looks like a combination of the Babadook and the Quaker Oats man

[image or embed]

— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Given that the hat obscured Trump's face, there was also speculation that the sartorial choice would fuel conspiracy theories about a "fake" Melania:

Tweet may have been deleted

As today goes on, the conversation is sure to steer away from fashion and towards whatever executive orders Donald Trump will sign on day one of his second term as president.

SAVE $130: The Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum (Raspberry) is just $199.99 at Amazon, down from the list price at Shark of $329.99. That's a 39% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum (Raspberry) $199.99 at Amazon
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Some of us have incredibly talented pets. Dogs that can let us know exactly what treat they want or cats that pretty much reply when asked a question. Unfortunately, none of us own pets that have figured out how to vacuum up the fur they shed. Fortunately, another animal has come along to clean up pet hair — it's a Shark, and it's on a deep discount today.

As of Jan. 20, the Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum in the Raspberry colorway is on sale at Amazon for just $199.99. That's a 39% discount and a savings of $130 compared to the listed MSRP at Shark of $329.99. Keep in mind it may come with delayed shipping from Amazon.

Designed with a self-cleaning brush roll, the Shark Pet Plus uses powerful suction to rid your home of unwanted pet hair and dander. Suitable for both hard floors and carpet, the Shark's lightweight design is a huge plus when it comes to ease of use and maneuverability.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

This model uses an anti-allergen seal with HEPA filtration to keep the air in your home cleaner when using the vacuum, preventing dust and debris from getting tossed back into the air.

Not only is the vacuum lightweight, it can transform into a handheld model for cleaning window sills, tight spots behind furniture, or cleaning out the car in the garage. The stick also bends, making it easier to clean under furniture.

Overall, the Shark Pet Plus gets about 40 minutes of runtime before it'll need to recharge. The included extra large dust cup, however, might not need to be emptied after each use since it can hold up to 0.34 quarts.

With today's deal at Amazon, you can score a lightweight and efficient stick vacuum at an impressive discount. Instead of paying the list price of $329.99, the Raspberry colorway option of the Shark Pet Plus cordless stick vacuum is on sale for just $199.99. For pet owners, that means you'll save $130 that can be spent on treating your pet like the royalty they are.

GET $210 OFF: Jan. 20th, get this Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar and subwoofer combo for $189.99 at Best Buy's Four Day Sale and save $210, or 53%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar $189.99 at Best Buy
$399.99 Save $210.00 Get Deal

After a good projector or TV screen, a solid soundbar or speaker set is the next most important piece of tech to add to your home theater. (Music nerds would argue that the sound comes first.) If you're looking to upgrade with a nice set of speakers, don't miss this Samsung soundbar deal.

Currently, the Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar is on sale for $189.99 at Best Buy's Four Day Sale — get it now and save 53%, or $210. The sale is in full swing, with eyebrow arching deal prices on a huge array of items.

SEE ALSO: Get $15 off Apple AirPods 4 with Best Buy's Deal of the Day

This soundbar combo features three channels, paired with a wirelessly connected bass subwoofer. The soundbar uses Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X technology to create the illusion of surround sound (vertical as well as horizontal), by smartly bouncing the sound around your room.

Virtual 3D sound isn't the only advanced processing this speaker set can carry out. The center speaker is built to make vocals as clear as possible. Use Voice Enhanced mode to make dialogue extra-crisp, improving clarity.

Right now, get the Samsung HW-B650/ZA 3.1 Channel Soundbar Combo for $189.99 at Best Buy and save $210 (53%) while the Best Buy Four Day Sale continues.

When you want to add even more speakers, this soundbar is simple to pair with other Samsung speakers.

TL;DR: Live stream Paul vs. Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Australian Open quarter finals are where things get serious. Every remaining game is absolutely massive, including Paul vs. Zverev. A place in the semi finals is up for grabs for two players who have yet to win a Grand Slam.

If you want to watch Paul vs. Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Paul vs. Zverev for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Paul vs. Zverev.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Paul vs. Zverev without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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Live stream Paul vs. Zverev in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

While there's a robust global market of smartphone manufacturers, in the U.S., most people are probably rocking something made by Apple, Samsung, or Google. Those companies all make totally fine flagship phones, but if you want an alternative, OnePlus 13 might be the one for you.

The latest handset from OnePlus is, if nothing else, proof that the Chinese company can hang with the big boys. To be fair, plenty of previous OnePlus phones have more or less proven that too, but the case has never been more convincing than it is now. The $899 OnePlus 13 gives you nearly everything you'd want from a modern flagship, including excellent performance, a pretty display, some AI features if you're into that sort of thing, and one of the best smartphone batteries I've ever seen.

OnePlus 13: Specs

Starting at $899, here's what you get when you shell out for a OnePlus 13:

• 6.8-inch display

• Snapdragon 8 Elite processor

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB internal storage

• 6,000mAh battery

Put simply, it's a big flagship phone with big flagship specs. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is top-of-the-line, and is making its U.S. debut with OnePlus 13. It is widely expected to also power the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25, so OnePlus technically beat Samsung to the punch here. For some extra cash you can bump the RAM up to 16GB or the storage up to 512GB, but unfortunately, there's no 1TB option for the true storage sickos out there.

While OnePlus uses a proprietary operating system called OxygenOS, it was originally based on Android, and thus will be familiar to anyone who regularly uses Android phones. The latest OxygenOS build is clean, lacking in some of the up-front bloatware that used to plague these phones.

OnePlus 13: Display It's a good display. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

One thing you'll notice immediately upon picking up a OnePlus 13 is that the display is very nice. Its 3168x1440 resolution is sharp as hell, and its 4,500 nits of peak brightness make it a pleasure to look at in direct sunlight. The refresh rate is dynamic, oscillating between 1 and 120Hz to provide peak smoothness while preserving battery where it can.

There's not much more to say about the display, really. It has everything you'd want from a flagship smartphone display. Considering my iPhone 16 is priced only $100 cheaper than OnePlus 13 and doesn't offer anywhere near as much in terms of resolution or refresh rate, I'd say OnePlus has settled onto a good value here.

OnePlus 13: Design

Design is one area where I find OnePlus 13 to be a little questionable.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the way it looks, though. While a 6.8-inch display means it's a very large phone and thus will not be great for anyone with smaller hands, it's at least stylish to the eye. It's got a big, cool-looking rear camera module designed by the Swedish company Hasselblad, which is no longer awkwardly attached to the side of the phone by a big clamp-looking thing like it was on the last couple of OnePlus devices. It's a free-floating camera module now, oriented to the left side of the phone, near the top of the rear end.

It looks cool, but I don't love the way it feels. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As for colors, your options are Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn, and Black Eclipse. In simpler terms: Dark blue, white, and black, respectively. OnePlus provided me with an Arctic Dawn model, and I do think it looks spiffy.

My issues with the phone's design are almost entirely to do with OnePlus's choice to use a microfiber vegan leather texture on the phone's rear side. I'll admit that this is a cool idea in theory. I've never used a phone that feels like this in the hands, and I'm sure plenty of people will like it. For me, though, it just feels kind of...greasy? There's no actual moisture, but the leathery texture always makes it feel like it's on the verge of slipping out of my hands, as if my fingers are sweaty, even when they're not.

OnePlus 13: Performance

Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor powering the OnePlus 13, I can't really think of anything negative to say about the phone's performance profile.

When it comes to daily use (which, for me, mostly manifests as social media and streaming music or videos), everything runs smoothly. Apps open and load quickly and I detected no amount of slowdown when trying to do a lot at once. I also appreciate that the phone never became warm on me, even while doing somewhat intensive battery testing.

If you want a more analytical approach to performance appraisal, the Geekbench 6 benchmarking software was also kind to OnePlus 13. Its multi-core CPU score was 9,092, which is more than 2,000 points higher than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which came in at 6,782. That Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is the real deal.

OnePlus 13: Battery life You won't need to use the charging port all that often. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Having said all of that, by far the most impressive thing about the OnePlus 13's performance is its battery life. It lasts so long that testing it for this review was actually more difficult than it usually is for smartphones.

I think you could easily start one day at 100 percent battery and make it well into the afternoon of the next day without plugging in if you wanted to. Evidence: I was able to do that. This thing simply refuses to die, unless you do what I did and loop an HD video in full screen until it dies. Using that method, I was able to wring 24 hours of continuous playback out of the OnePlus 13. Incredible.

If that's not enough, it also charges unbelievably fast, provided you use the included cable and wall adapter. Just half an hour of charging will probably get you through a full day.

OnePlus 13: AI features

Yes, the OnePlus 13 brings some AI features to the fold that weren't present in previous OnePlus devices. Full disclosure: I hate most of the things we call "AI" these days. I made it clear when I reviewed the Google Pixel 9 last year that "magic" text and photo editing tools that use generative AI actually cheapen the experiences of written communication and photography. Unfortunately, OnePlus packed in a handful of AI features that are more or less identical to what I was talking about back then.

For instance, you can have AI clean up or reformat text in your notes or text messages. Ho-hum. Every phone can do that now, plus you should really be able to write your own text messages if you're an adult. Circle to Search is also here, which is one of the few AI features that is actually useful and practical.

Left: Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Right: Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Most of the AI features are in the realm of photo editing. You can circle or highlight objects in photos to have objects erase them, just like on Pixel phones. This worked OK in my brief testing, though it inexplicably couldn't remove an object that should have been easily removable in one photo. "Magic Unblur" supposedly removes motion blur from photos, but I had a hard time getting it to make much of a difference.

The same goes for "AI Detail Boost," which is supposed to sharpen images and make them look better. When I tried this, the end results were nearly indistinguishable from the original photos. Your mileage may vary. I don't necessarily want to sound like a Luddite, but the increasing encroachment of these features that make everything look too perfect and fake doesn't make me feel good.

OnePlus 13: Cameras

The aforementioned Hasselblad camera array on the rear end of the OnePlus 13 includes a trio of lenses, in the wide, ultrawide, and telephoto variety. All three measure in at 50MP, which is nice and simple.

In practice, photos taken on the OnePlus 13 using default settings look fine. You'll have to excuse how grey and gloomy New York City was during the testing period. I found that shots generally looked sharp and pretty, if a little unnaturally vibrant compared to what my eyes were actually seeing at times.

It was nasty outside. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

The zoom lens is able to produce impressive levels of clarity from far away, though I would point out that you can see the software fudging some details if you look closely enough.

Zoomed all the way in. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

One issue, which is consistent with my experiences using previous OnePlus phones, is that nighttime shots often look like they have studio lighting on them or something. They're simply too bright for my taste. Yes, you can see what's happening in them better than you could prior to software-enhanced nighttime photography, but it doesn't look anything like what I saw with my eyes.

Too bright IMO. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Still, aside from that, it's a good set of smartphone cameras. Macro photography allows you to get high amounts of detail on small objects, for instance.

Macro is cool. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

And, as always, portrait mode can create a nice bokeh effect when you need it.

Good boy. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable OnePlus 13: Final thoughts

By most of the metrics that matter, OnePlus 13 is an excellent smartphone. For $899, you get a vibrant display, AI features that at least have some parity with the competition, one of the best smartphone batteries ever, and top-level performance.

Personally, I wouldn't call the OnePlus 13 cameras a selling point on their own, even though they're perfectly fine. Beyond that, I don't love its vegan leather back texture, and I still have major qualms with all of the AI creep in our lives. But if you need a new Android (or Android-like) phone and want to get out of the Apple/Google/Samsung bubble, this is probably the way to do it.

Apple is reportedly (and finally) set to bring the more buzzy Apple Intelligence features to its Mail app on Mac.

Though Apple's AI has been rolling out tools for iPhone and iPad users with the launch of iOS 18.2, not all Apple Intelligence features have been extended to Macs — though some were included with macOS Sequoia 15.2 launched in December.

Now, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company is set to expand its AI capabilities to the Mail app in macOS 15.4 — that's the April-rumoured software update after macOS 15.3, which is expected to launch in late January, early February.

"The Mac will get the upgraded Mail app that uses AI to prioritize messages and sort content into different inboxes," Gurman wrote in his "Power On" newsletter on Sunday. "Right now, iPad and iPhone users are able to tap into the feature — which is terrific — but Mac customers have been left behind. That changes with macOS 15.4, I’m told."

SEE ALSO: MacOS Sequoia 15.2: New features you need to try

The most current version of Apple Intelligence lets users do a whole bunch of things in the Mail app including using Writing Tools to draft messages, composing email responses with Smart Reply, receive summaries of lengthy email threads, and more. Some of these were available with macOS Sequoia 15.2, but Gurman's report suggests the tools that prioritise messages and sort emails into inboxes will now be added — yes, Gmail's had that last one for years.

Featured Video For You iOS 18: 8 cool new features you can try right now, including Apple Intelligence

But it's not the only additional (and coveted) Apple Intelligence feature the company is reportedly bringing to Macs, with Gurman writing that Genmoji, Apple's AI-generated emoji, will be arriving soon, as well as the updated, more capable version of Siri.

"For the first time, Apple is bringing its Genmoji custom emoji to the Mac — following their debut on the iPhone and iPad," wrote Gurman. "The company will add more features by April with iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4. The big addition at that time will be the new Siri digital assistant, which will be able to better tap into personal information and use the App Intents technology to more precisely control apps."

The report comes a day after Apple pulled its AI-generated news summaries feature, following a series of blatantly false headlines.

Want to know what else you can do with Apple Intelligence on your Mac? Mashable's got you covered — but you might need to turn it on first.

TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Badosa in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Sabalenka is attempting to win a third straight Australian Open, but if anyone can stop her, it's probably Coco Gauff. The American has looked good so far, and meets Paula Badosa in the quarter-final stage.

If you want to watch Gauff vs. Badosa in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Gauff vs. Badosa for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Gauff vs. Badosa.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open by following these simple steps:

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Gauff vs. Badosa without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Gauff vs. Badosa in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $15: As of Jan. 20, Apple's AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation are on sale at Best Buy for $164.99 as part of its Deal of the Day. This is $15 off their list price of $179.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $164.99 at Best Buy
$179.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Best Buy's Deal of the Day always has a nice little selection of discounted treats for shoppers, and today's deals are no different. If you've had your eyes on the new Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancelation, they're currently included among the Deal of the Day discounts with a very nice price tag of $164.99.

This saves you $15 off their list price of $179.99. Not to mention, you get three months free of Apple Music with your purchase which is an excellent bonus. You only have through the rest of the day to take advantage of this deal, so act fast to secure this discount on the AirPods 4 with ANC before they return to their normal price.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

These earbuds are worth every penny as well, especially with ANC. In our review of these sleek new earbuds, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon praises the noise cancelation, saying "The active noise cancellation is elite, allowing me to immerse myself into the honeyed soundwaves that emanate from the AirPods 4." She also says that "The AirPods 4 are, without a doubt, the best in-ear earbuds I've ever tested in a long while."

Don't miss out on this very limited-time deal on the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancelation at Best Buy.

Looking for even more Apple deals? Thankfully, there are quite a few to check out right now. Some of our favorites include this discount on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 at Amazon and the AirPods Max with USB-C are also on sale at Best Buy right now.

SAVE $15: As of Jan. 20, the Fire TV Stick 4K is on sale for $34.99 at Amazon, 30% off its list price of $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

There's nothing better than being able to stream your favorite shows and films in 4K. Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K makes it smooth and easy to watch in this quality without breaking the bank. Right now you can even score it at a discount at Amazon, setting you up with 4K streaming for under $35.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is currently down to $34.99 at Amazon. This is 30% off its list price of $49.99, allowing you to pocket $15. If you've been looking for a streaming upgrade, this deal is definitely worth taking advantage of before it disappears. The Fire TV Stick 4K is worth every penny, too.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Alongside 4K Ultra HD resolution, the Fire TV Stick 4K also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio if you want to create an immersive viewing experience. On top of that, it also supports WiFi 6 for smoother streaming quality. In our review, Jake Krol says that "Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K checks off almost every box that you'd want in a streaming dongle, plus you get its much-improved Alexa remote."

If you've been hoping to give your streaming selection a 4K upgrade, look no further than this discount on Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K.

Amazon has a few more discounts that are worth checking out on its own devices. At the moment, Prime members can save on the Kindle Colorsoft and Amazon's 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series is at its lowest price in over a year.