Feed aggregator

How to watch Liverpool vs. Lille online for free

Mashable - Tue, 01/21/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Liverpool vs. Lille in the Champions League for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with some absolutely massive games involving the top sides in Europe. There are a number of interesting matchups in this round of fixtures, including Liverpool vs. Lille. The French side will need to be at their best to take anything from Liverpool.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Lille in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Lille?

Liverpool vs. Lille in the Champions League starts at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 21. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Lille for free

Liverpool vs. Lille is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Liverpool vs. Lille (plus more Champions League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

Fans from outside the UK will need to use a VPN to watch the Champions League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

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

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

  4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  5. Watch Liverpool vs. Lille for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Liverpool vs. Lille on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 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.

Stream Liverpool vs. Lille in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Sinner vs. de Minaur online for free

Mashable - Tue, 01/21/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. de Minaur 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 here, and Sinner vs. de Minaur is sure to capture the attention of fans around the world. It's the defending champion against the home favorite.

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

How to watch Sinner vs. de Minaur for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Sinner vs. de Minaur.

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Sinner vs. de Minaur 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

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

  • 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 Sinner vs. de Minaur in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Shelton vs. Sonego online for free

Mashable - Tue, 01/21/2025 - 00:00

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

The Australian Open is moving towards a dramatic conclusion. The quarter-final stage showcases some really intriguing matchups, including Shelton vs. Sonego. Can the unseeded Italian advance to the semi finals? Or will the American triumph?

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

How to watch Shelton vs. Sonego for free

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

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Shelton vs. Sonego 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

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

  • 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 Shelton vs. Sonego in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Djokovic vs. Alcaraz online for free

Mashable - Tue, 01/21/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Djokovic vs. Alcaraz 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 here, with fans really excited about every game at this stage of the competition. That being said, there is one game that is just that little bit more exciting than the rest. Djokovic vs. Alcaraz is a huge battle between an absolute legend and the new superstar of the sport.

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

How to watch Djokovic vs. Alcaraz for free

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

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Djokovic vs. Alcaraz 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

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

  • 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 Djokovic vs. Alcaraz in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Pavlyuchenkova online for free

Mashable - Tue, 01/21/2025 - 00:00

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

Sabalenka is on her way to winning another Australian Open, unless someone can deliver a big performance and stop the defending champion from taking home the trophy for the third year in a row. Sabalenka vs. Pavlyuchenkova is an interesting quarter-final matchup and a challenging prospect for the champ.

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

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Pavlyuchenkova for free

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

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Sabalenka vs. Pavlyuchenkova 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

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

  • 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 Sabalenka vs. Pavlyuchenkova in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch the Champions League online for free

Mashable - Tue, 01/21/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024-25 Champions League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The top club competition in the world of football has to be the Champions League. There is nothing else that brings the very best teams in the world together in a battle for footballing immortality. Sure, winning your domestic league is great. But winning the Champions League is on another level.

If you want to watch the 2024-25 Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Champions League?

The Champions League is an annual club football competition organised by UEFA and contested by top-division European clubs. This year's tournament begins with a 36-team round robin group stage to determine which sides qualify for the double-legged knockout rounds, followed by a single leg final.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2024-25 Europa League online for free

The defending champions are Real Madrid.

When is the 2024-25 Champions League?

The 2024-25 Champions League is the 70th edition of the competition (and the 33rd since it was renamed the Champions League). This season's tournament runs from July 9 to 31 May.

How to watch the 2024-25 Champions League for free

It is possible to live stream the 2024-25 Champions League for free on the following streaming platforms:

  • Belgium — RTL play (select fixtures)

  • Ireland — RTÉ Player (select fixtures including the final)

  • Luxembourg — RTL ZWEE (select fixtures)

  • Turkey — Tabii (select fixtures including the final)

  • UK — Prime Video (select fixtures including semi finals with 30-day free trial)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Champions League 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 a location with free coverage of the Champions League

  4. Visit RTL play, RTÉ Player, RTL ZWEE, Tabii, or Prime Video (free trial)

  5. Watch Champions League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2024-25 Champions League without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, the fact is you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Champions League?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • 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 the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Trump Signs Executive Order in Attempt to Delay TikTok Ban

NYT Technology - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 22:50
Shortly after taking office Monday, the president issued the order to delay the app’s ban for 75 days. The law went into effect on Sunday.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 21, 2025

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 22:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 21 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 21, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A hockey penalty.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter I.

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...

ICING.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 21

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.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 21

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 22:00

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Gameplanning

  • Green: Needed for catching

  • Blue: Basketball stars

  • Purple: Same first word

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

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

  • Yellow: X's and O's

  • Green: Parts of a Baseball Glove

  • Blue: WNBA MVPs

  • Purple: Game ___

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 #120 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • X's and O's - PLAYBOOK, SCHEME, STRATEGY, TACTICS

  • Parts of a Baseball Glove - FINGERS, HEEL, POCKET, WEBBING

  • WNBA MVPs - CATCHINGS, DELLE DONNE, FOWLES, STEWART

  • Game ___ - BREAKER, DAY, PLAN, WINNER

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

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

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

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 21, 2025

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 22:00

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

NYT Strands hints, answers for January 21

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 22:00

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 hits all-time high on Inauguration Day

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 15:11

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. 

6 Trump Inauguration speech highlights — and how the internet reacted

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 14:38

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:

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

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

Samsung Galaxy AI features leak ahead of Unpacked 2025

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 13:27

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.

Trumps White House portrait looks a lot like his mugshot, and the internet has noticed

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 13:05

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 when you spend $80 on P&G essentials

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 12:42

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 a big discount on this LG 48-inch TV at Best Buy

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 12:15

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.

The Brutalist AI backlash, explained

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 12:05

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.

Shoppers delight: A $100 Macys gift card comes with a free $10 Best Buy gift card

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 12:03

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
$110.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal

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!

This 77-inch Samsung dream TV just got a lot more attainable at Best Buys sale

Mashable - Mon, 01/20/2025 - 11:40

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
$3,299.99 Save $1,700.00 Get Deal

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.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator