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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.

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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.

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: Not precise

• Green: Positions on the ice

• Blue: HOFers who played in the Bay Area

• Purple: Leader of the Bills

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: Inaccurate

• Green: Ice hockey positions

• Blue: Giants Hall of Famers

• Purple: Associated with Josh Allen

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 #118 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Inaccurate - AWAY, OFF THE MARK, OUTSIDE, WIDE

• Ice Hockey Positions - CENTER, DEFENSEMAN, GOALTENDER, WINGER

• Giants Hall of Famers - MARICHAL, MAYS, MCCOVEY, OTT

• Associated with Josh Allen - 17, BUFFALO, QB, WYOMING

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.

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 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 19 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I get the message

These words are functions of an inbox.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are actions you might take when you get a message.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is EmailLabel.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 19

• Inbox

• Sent

• Trash

• Drafts

• Spam

• Snoozed

• Starred

• EmailLabel

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.

Your perfect grid on your Instagram profile might soon be gone — if it isn't already.

Instagram is rolling a big change this weekend: rectangles instead of squares. That means your carefully curated grid could be a mess as the dimensions of the content shift on your profile.

"I know some of you really like your squares. And square photos are sort of the heritage of Instagram," Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said in an Instagram story. "But at this point, most of what’s uploaded, both photos and videos, are vertical in their orientation. And it just is a bummer to overly crop them. I know it's a change. I know it's a bit of a pain, but I think it's a transitional pain."

That change is apparently creating some havoc already on grids everywhere. What once was a perfect image created by squares is a jumbled mess. Lots of folks noticed their favorite artists' Insta pages now looked odd, for instance.

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Instagram has been warning of this change for some time now. It began testing vertical grids in August and now it appears the change is really coming for everyone.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a billionaire tech guy, has cozied up further to President-elect Donald Trump like, well, just about every other billionaire tech guy.

In fact, he cozied up to Trump by trolling Democrats who sent a letter over concerns that Altman was...cozying up to Trump. Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet sent a letter to Altman worrying he was attempting to "cozy up to the incoming Trump administration" to "avoid scrutiny, limit regulation, and buy favor." The letter noted that Altman donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sam Altman sued by sister, alleging years of sexual abuse

How do we know about this letter? Well, Altman posted it to X, writing, "funny, they never sent me one of these for contributing to democrats..."

Tweet may have been deleted

Altman followed up by writing: "it was a personal contribution as you state; i am confused about the questions given that my company did not make a decision."

Altman is far from the only tech guy to give money and/or lavish praise on Trump. As Mashable has noted in previous coverage, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, and Tesla's Elon Musk, among other tech power players, are all set to attend the inauguration. TikTok's CEO went out of his way to praise the president-elect ahead of the looming ban. Pretty much everyone in the tech world has lurched rightward into Trump's waiting arms.

SEE ALSO: The bros’ new clothes: How Big Tech lurched to the right

So of course Altman would troll Democrats online — that's exactly what folks on the right love to do.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, January 18, 2025:

AcrossWorked in Microsoft Word

• The answer is Typed.

With 14-Across, comedy writer who takes a road trip with Will Ferrell in a 2024 Netflix documentary

• The answer is Harper.

Pseudonyms

• The answer is Aliases.

Director Burton

• The answer is Tim.

"Oh, there ___ again!"

• The answer is I go.

10-legged marine crustacean

• The answer is Sea crab.

See 6-Across

• The answer is Steele.

Like the firstborn of two children

• The answer is Elder.

Down"___ all there is to it!"

• The answer is Thats.

Ivy Leaguers in Connecticut

• The answer is Yalies.

Man or mandrill

• The answer is Primate.

Org. concerned with clean air and water

• The answer is EPA.

Wished for

• The answer is Desired.

Lavishly entertain (with)

• The answer is Regale.

Not drinking any alcohol

• The answer is Sober.

Collectible cartoon image sold at Disney World

• The answer is Cel.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

Most small galaxies that stopped making new stars in the early universe never resumed operations. Something caused their celestial factories to shutter. 

But researchers have used the James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian space counterparts, to zero in on a dwarf galaxy that bucked the trend, rebooting its star formation after a billions-of-years-long hiatus. 

The dwarf galaxy, known as Leo P and about 5.3 million light-years from Earth, is offering new insights into galaxy evolution and the factors necessary to keep galaxies growing and churning out new stars.  

"We have a measurement like this for only three other galaxies — all isolated from the Milky Way — and they all show a similar pattern," said Kristen McQuinn, the principal investigator on the study, in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Astronomers just witnessed a whole galaxy 'turn on the lights' in real-time The James Webb Space Telescope zeroed in on dwarf galaxy Leo P to study its star-formation history. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration

Astronomers have learned that galaxies tend to start out small and grow larger by collecting gas and merging with other galaxies. But most dwarf galaxies that made stars before the so-called Epoch of Reionization never got back to business after. 

Reionization was an era of major transition that occurred more than 13 billion years ago.  It was when the baby universe transformed from a neutral state to one filled with free electrons and protons. 

Prior to it, the gas in the primitive universe was mostly opaque. That's why scientists refer to the period before as the cosmic "dark ages." Researchers are trying to better understand the processes that allowed the universe to become fairly transparent. 

Because most of the tiny galaxies turned off their star-making activity in the first few billion years after the Big Bang, many scientists have thought reionization was the reason. But that understanding may be skewed by biased data.

Researchers used Webb to take pictures of Leo P, gathering data for some 15,000 stars. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / K. McQuinn / J. DePasquale

Most studies have focused on small galaxies nearby, making it difficult to conclude whether it was reionization or some other environmental factors, like the influence of neighboring large galaxies, including the Milky Way. Galaxies in denser clusters are surrounded by hot gas, stymying the collection and cooling of gas needed to churn out new stars. 

That's why McQuinn's team picked Leo P, a more isolated galaxy than the 80-or-so tiny ones within our region of space, known to astronomers as the "local group." The findings, presented at the 245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Maryland this past week, are published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

Leo P — the P stands for "pristine" — is mostly composed of hydrogen and helium, the same primitive material that emerged out of the Big Bang. Given that most of the chemicals in the universe are thought to have come from exploded dead stars, scientists have rationalized that the firstborn stars must have been almost entirely formed of these original elements.

Reionization was an era of major transition that occurred more than 13 billion years ago. Credit: NASA / STScI

The researchers used Webb to take pictures of Leo P, gathering data for some 15,000 stars. By measuring their brightness and color, astronomers could estimate the stars' ages. This allowed them to map out the stellar birth rate over time. 

The team speculates that high heat in the galaxy may have suspended star formation. Then, as the universe cooled down, stars began to form again. But why would Leo P experience a renaissance that many others galaxies of its kind wouldn't?

Perhaps it's not just the mass of the galaxy that mattered but whether it was close to larger galaxies, too.

The team intends to study four more isolated dwarf galaxies to see if they share similar star-forming history.

The once-fringe writer has long argued for an American monarchy. His ideas have found an audience in the incoming administration and Silicon Valley.

TikTok’s cultural footprint in America is huge. Why is its potential disappearance being met with a shrug?

The spy agency is trying to give its teams better tools and make it easier for the private sector to develop technology for their secretive work.

The sight of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg sitting together at Donald Trump's inauguration — as they reportedly will do Monday — would be a shock for their 2016 selves.

Back then, these titans of the tech world were way to the left of Trump, whose political stances put him about as far to the right as Republicans get, then and now.

Musk, once a vocal Barack Obama supporter, voted for Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Bezos of that year blasted candidate Trump for "eroding democracy." Zuckerberg didn't make an endorsement, but the issues he put his money behind at the time — social justice, inequality, easing the immigration process — put him squarely on the Democratic side of the political line.

The most vocal tech world supporter of Trump in 2016, Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel, was seen as an outlier back then: Silicon Valley was solid blue. Now the outlier is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who hasn't donated to Trump's inauguration fund and won't be attending.

All the other big names in tech will be there: Apple's Tim Cook, Google's Sundar Pichai, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and TikTok's Shou Chew, have all donated $1 million or more, and all save Altman will be in attendance.

What happened? It wasn't just that these men were made so much richer by a stock market rally following Trump's election in November. A similar rally happened in November 2016 as well, and it didn't make tech CEOs any less reluctant at a Trump Tower meeting with the president-elect. That was the roundtable where Thiel's smile stood out in a sea of grimaces.

Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel, left, and Apple CEO Tim Cook display very different reactions to Donald Trump speaking after his 2016 election. Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The process of tech leaders learning to love Trump may have begun piecemeal during his first administration. But it only really kicked into high gear over the course of 2024, with a speed and ferocity that has left many observers' heads spinning. No wonder President Biden, in his farewell address, warned of a tech-led "oligarchy" that may threaten democracy itself.

To understand what happened, let's take a look at the three richest tech bros, who also happen to be the three wealthiest men in the world, and the journey they took from opposing Trump in 2023 to sitting together at his inauguration in 2025.

Elon Musk

Nowadays, of course, Musk is so central in Trump's camp that he is sometimes described as the incoming "co-president." He donated $250 million, spoke at Trump rallies, called himself "Dark MAGA," and clearly put more than a thumb on the scale for Trump on Twitter/X throughout the fall of 2024.

Musk's America PAC seized the @America account from its original owner, and even now faces a fresh lawsuit from Pennsylvania's Attorney General over that PAC's dubious $1 million lottery for swing state voters.

But it's important to remember that Musk wasn't always this far right, and his turn towards Trump came fairly recently. Yes, he joined Trump's business council in 2017, but he also quit when Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate accords. Back then, the Bay Area-based Burning Man attendee was still happy to support Pride month.

Musk drifted rightwards during the pandemic years, when he moved Tesla HQ to Texas and, according to reports, began feuding with his trans daughter. The drift seems to have accelerated when he bought Twitter in 2022, started tweeting about the "woke mind virus," and endorsed the GOP (unsuccessfully) in that year's midterm elections.

Even then, Musk was no Trump fan. In 2023 he helped launch Florida governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign in a disastrous Twitter Spaces. Musk's statement that Trump should "sail into the sunset" prompted a brief feud with the former president. "I could have said, "drop to your knees and beg," and he would have done it," Trump responded, recalling an Oval Office meeting in his first term.

Then came 2024, and three key events. First, DeSantis dropped out in January. Then on May 31, Donald Trump's conviction in a New York courtroom over hush money payments that possibly swung a close 2016 election his way. Musk fumed that the charges were "trivial" and politically motivated. By then, perhaps not coincidentally, Trump was already talking to Musk about a possible advisory role — and we were starting to learn just how many federal agencies were investigating Musk.

SEE ALSO: Why Elon Musk is skipping around on stage for Donald Trump

But the deal was sealed in July when Trump survived a shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Musk "fully endorsed" Trump on Twitter that day, then made his first appearance with Trump on his return to Butler in October.

By then, Trump had already promised Musk his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the advisory group that Musk is set to lead along with fellow billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy. The latest reports on DOGE say that Musk will have an office inside the White House itself.

Notably, Musk did not have to drop to his knees and beg for any of this. Which leads us to wonder: who is really on whose leash here?

Jeff Bezos

In the 2016 election, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was one of Trump's most outspoken critics in the tech world. A month after Trump entered the White House, Bezos' Washington Post unveiled its pointed new slogan, echoing its owner's warnings: "Democracy dies in darkness." Bezos and the Post's coverage continued to earn Trump's ire.

Two years later, in an equally pithy Medium post, Bezos attacked Trump ally David Pecker, head of the company that owns the National Enquirer, for what Bezos said was blackmail over nude photos of the billionaire.

But a curious thing had started to happen by then. With his growing wealth, which spiked in the late 2010s, plus his new marriage and new yacht, Bezos started to develop a serious case of Rich Guy Brain. By 2022, his tone on social media had changed entirely, becoming much more Musk-like. No longer was Bezos skewering his Trumpian opponents for literally threatening to expose his ass; instead, he was discussing compliments on his ass.

Finally came the moment that Bezos' opposition broke. His top lieutenant at the Post told staffers there would be no presidential endorsement in 2024 — which, if democracy was still at risk, seemed a curious case of fence-sitting. (Indeed, the Post staff had prepared a Kamala Harris endorsement that was effectively spiked.)

More than 200,000 Post subscribers cancelled their subscription in disgust. Still, Bezos seemed unmoved. This time he penned a piece explaining that newspaper endorsements didn't matter. It was, he said, a complete coincidence that Trump was visiting his space company Blue Origin the same day.

After the election, Bezos continued his shift towards Trump. In a December interview he said the incoming president was "calmer" and had "grown a lot over the last eight years." Time will tell whether that's true, or whether Bezos has simply shifted to the side of Dark MAGA.

Mark Zuckerberg

Unlike Musk and Bezos, who moved Trumpwards all at once, the Facebook founder seems to have slalomed back and forth in his attempts to placate Republicans in Washington since Trump first took office.

Prior to Trump's first election, Zuckerberg was easily the most liberal of this Big Tech trio. As a New York Times investigation during election season noted, he helped found Fwd.us, an advocacy group dedicated to giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. The Zuckerberg-Chan initiative spent nearly half a trillion dollars on causes such as legalizing drugs, reducing the number of people in U.S. prisons, and promoting universal healthcare.

But then in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election, Zuckerberg quickly tossed aside claims that unchecked fake news on Facebook had contributed to Trump's victory. He later regretted that stance, but not enough to avoid being dubbed Misinformer of the Year in 2017 by the watchdog group Media Matters for America.

Zuckerberg's response to Trump's first election was twofold: he minimized the presence of news posts in Facebook feeds, which unintentionally contributed to a widespread crash in readership for media entities. And he set up a fact-checking service, which often earned the ire of conservative groups. The fact-checking service was nuked in January 2025, pleasing the incoming Trump administration.

Often wanting to appear amenable to conservative concerns about the news feed and which stories get promoted, Zuckerberg made repeated changes to the algorithm that boosted pro-GOP voices. When internal data showed right-wing news sites like the Daily Caller were getting more interactions on Facebook than anyone else, Zuckerberg nixed the release of that data.

The more amenable he is, however, the more conservative voices (including Musk) complain — an old tactic called "playing the ref." Now Zuckerberg has morphed again, apologizing even for his donation to election integrity groups in 2020. Most recently, he told Joe Rogan that corporate America needs more "masculine energy."

What that means for the social media giant remains to be seen, but America is certainly about to get a lot more oligarch energy from Zuck and his fellow tech bros.

Armored isopods crawl on the seafloor, feasting on fallen carrion. And they can grow quite big.

So big, in fact, scientists reference the largest types as "supergiants." Biologists have identified a new such species, Bathynomus vaderi, named for its resemblance to Star Wars' Darth Vader — though, rest assured, these deep sea animals aren't evil Siths.

They reach a foot long, making them appear as striking 14-legged critters. And in recent years, they've apparently become a delicacy in Vietnam, as they're caught by ocean trawlers.

"Some go as far as claiming it’s more delicious than lobster, the 'king of seafood,'" notes a press release about the discovery from Pensoft Publishers, a science literature publisher. "Some outlets and restaurants even advertise the sale of these 'sea bugs' online on various social media platforms, including how best to cook them!" the release added.

SEE ALSO: The deep sea footage scientists filmed in 2024 is jaw-dropping

The research has been published in the science journal ZooKeys. The four Bathynomus vaderi specimens described came from dealers in coastal Quy Nhơn in south-central Vietnam, and were fished from the South China Sea.

The new identification underscores the great biodiversity of the ocean — much of which we know little about or have yet to find.

"That a species as large as this could have stayed hidden for so long reminds us just how much work we still need to do to find out what lives in Southeast Asian waters," the release noted.

One of the study's authors, Nguyen Thanh So, holding another species of "supergiant" isopod in October 2024. Credit: Peter Ng

Two Bathynomus vaderi indiviuals. Credit: Rene Ong

Ocean research organizations are now vigilantly documenting and mapping the deep sea. Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there.

The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. For example, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

TL;DR: Bring binoculars into the digital age with Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars that record HD photos and videos for just $89.97 (reg. $159).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars $89.97
$159.99 Save $70.02 with 1080p HD Recording Get Deal

These are not the big, clunky binoculars you had when you were a kid. The Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars take classic outdoor gear into the digital age. Whether you’re scouting wildlife, night fishing, or camping under the stars, these compact binoculars make seeing all that the outdoors has to offer super convenient.

With a range of up to 1,000 feet in total darkness and 850nm infrared illumination, you’ll get a clear view no matter the light conditions. Plus, the 10x optical magnification and 4x digital zoom help ensure you won’t miss any details. The 2.4-inch HD display lets you view in real time, while 1080p HD recording means you can capture photos and videos to relive the adventure later or share them with friends.

No need to worry about bulky equipment or extra batteries. These binoculars are pocket-sized and rechargeable, with a built-in 2260mAh lithium battery that provides hours of exploration. Seven adjustable brightness levels and four color modes (including infrared) let you customize your viewing experience based on your surroundings.

Ideal for a wide range of activities — from security and surveillance to hiking and cave exploring — these binoculars are designed to go wherever your adventures take you. And at $79.97, with no coupon required, they’re a steal for anyone looking to upgrade their outdoor gear.

If you're ready to explore the dark like never before, grab these modern binoculars and see just what you’ve been missing.

The Mini Digital Night Vision Binoculars are just $89.97 (reg. $159) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Enjoy unrestricted online freedom and privacy with the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router for just $169 (reg. $219).

When it comes to staying secure online, the Deeper Connect Air gives you something different than digital subscriptions. Some would say a smarter, simpler choice. This pocket-sized VPN router protects your data with military-grade encryption, giving you peace of mind on public Wi-Fi, whether you're at a coffee shop, airport, or hotel. And the best part is it’s subscription-free, so you’ll never have to worry about recurring costs.

Weighing just 26g, the Deeper Connect Air is compact enough to fit in your bag or pocket, making it the ideal travel companion. With 300 Mbps speeds, you can stream Netflix and YouTube or access work files securely — all without buffering or lag. And thanks to its decentralized private network (DPN), you get privacy without relying on a central server. It’s smart, fast, and incredibly secure.

Setting it up is also made to be very easy. Simply plug it in, and you’re ready to go. No complex configurations, just instant protection for up to five devices simultaneously. Whether you’re a remote worker, frequent traveler, or just want better online privacy, the Deeper Connect Air has you covered.

With added features like ad blocking, parental controls, and Web3 readiness, it’s made to be a powerhouse of functionality. You'll be able to say goodbye to geo-restrictions, annoying ads (even on YouTube), and the risks of unprotected public Wi-Fi.

At just $169, this all-in-one internet security solution is an investment in your peace of mind.

Don't miss the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router while it's on sale for just $169 (reg. $219) for a little while longer.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Connect Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $169.00
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TL;DR: It's only $19.97 (reg. $199) to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro with a lifetime license. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $19.97
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Windows 10 has served us well, but it’s time to say goodbye. Microsoft is pulling the plug on support for it this year. So, if you’re still hanging onto it, now might be the perfect time to consider an upgrade. And no, you don’t have to settle for the basic Windows 11 Home edition.

For just $20, you can level up to Windows 11 Pro for life.

Why Windows 11 Pro?

If you're used to Windows 10, Windows 11 Pro will feel like a breath of fresh air. The sleek, modern design makes navigating your computer a lot more enjoyable. But it’s not just about looks. This version also has some major quality-of-life improvements. Multitasking is a breeze with tools like Snap Layouts, which helps you organize your windows like a pro. Whether you’re juggling multiple tabs or switching between apps, it’s all so much easier.

And, for those of us who need to feel like we're actually getting work done, Windows 11 Pro brings a nice productivity boost. You can have multiple virtual desktops to keep your work and personal life separate.

Windows really leaned into security with this one. The built-in security tools like BitLocker device encryption and TPM 2.0 give you a solid foundation against unwanted access. Add in Windows Defender’s real-time protection and you’ve got a system that’s pretty hard to crack.

It’s not just about keeping your files safe, either. The upgraded login options, including biometric features like facial recognition, make it even easier to get into your system without a password. So, no more typing in those long, complicated strings of characters when you’re in a rush. 

If you're ready for an upgrade, get Windows 11 Pro while it's just $19.97 (reg. $199). 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Make every drive smarter and safer with the 9" Wireless Car Display — Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible for just $119.99 (reg. $179).

Looking to upgrade your car’s infotainment system without dipping into your savings? The 9" Wireless Car Display is the easy, budget-friendly alternative solution to pricey upgrades or buying a new car.

At just $119.99 (regularly $179), this sleek touchscreen display brings Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone mirroring to any car model, no fancy installation required.

With a 1024x600 FHD display, you’ll get a clear, immersive viewing experience for maps, music, calls, and more. Voice control via Siri or Google Assistant keeps your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road while it syncs with the GPS navigation on your phone for real-time directions.

And it’s not just about function — it’s about entertainment, too. Mirror your phone’s screen to watch YouTube videos (while parked, obviously), stream music, or even display your favorite apps. The Bluetooth and FM transmission options also offer crystal-clear audio through your car’s speakers, and the adjustable brightness means the display works well in both bright sunlight and at night.

Plus, this 9" Wireless Car Display is compatible with all car models, powered by a cigarette lighter, and super easy to install. No complicated wiring, no tech expertise required — just plug it in and go.

For drivers looking for a cost-effective upgrade to their car’s system, this display delivers big tech features at a reasonable price.

From Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to GPS navigation and phone mirroring, it’s an easy way to make your drive smarter, safer, and a little more fun.

Get this 9" Wireless Car Display while it's on sale for $119.99 (reg. $179).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 9" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring $119.99
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TL;DR: Live stream Inter Miami vs. Club America for free on Apple TV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Inter Miami are starting their 2025 preseason tour with a huge game against Club America. Inter Miami will play five preseason matches, but this is the big one. And better yet, you can watch all the action without spending anything.

If you want to watch Inter Miami vs. Club America for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Inter Miami vs. Club America?

Inter Miami vs. Club America starts at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 18. This fixture takes place at the Allegiant Stadium.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Club America for free

Inter Miami vs. Club America is available to live stream for free on Apple TV.

Apple TV is available globally in 114 countries around the world. If you can't access Apple TV in your location, you should consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can bypass content restrictions to unblock free live streams from around 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Inter Miami vs. Club America without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Apple TV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Apple TV, 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 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 Inter Miami vs. Club America for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Kansas City Chiefs are looking to win their third Super Bowl in a row, something no team has done before. The NFL Playoffs bring together the best of the best, so it's not going to be easy for the Chiefs to progress. They start with a tough matchup against the Texans. It's going to be electric.

Looking for the best way to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

When is Chiefs vs. Texans?

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans starts at 4:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 18. This fixture takes place at Arrowhead Stadium.

How to watch Chiefs vs. Texans for free

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in New Zealand. This process bypasses geo-restrictions to unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL 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 New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans 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 free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. Sign up for these deals to access free live streams of the NFL, and it won't cost you anything in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it's possible to live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• 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, saving you 49% on list price. As part of this deal, you also get three bonus months of coverage plus a whole year of unlimited data backup via the cloud and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL Playoffs naturally include some absolutely massive matchups between the best teams in the business. We're so excited by what's to come, especially as it's possible to watch every game without spending anything at all.

Looking for the best way to watch Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

When is Lions vs. Commanders?

Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders starts at 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 18. This fixture takes place at Ford Field.

How to watch Lions vs. Commanders for free

Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in New Zealand. This process bypasses geo-restrictions to unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL 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 New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders 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 free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. Sign up for these deals to access free live streams of the NFL, and it won't cost you anything in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it's possible to live stream Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• 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, saving you 49% on list price. As part of this deal, you also get three bonus months of coverage plus a whole year of unlimited data backup via the cloud and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Online dating as a gay man has its share of horror stories. It's also a rite of passage dating back to the Craigslist m4m era. It's a high-risk, high-reward activity.

For members of the LGBTQ+ community, online dating presents a unique set of challenges, which can sour the experience. Ghosting and catfishing are still common, but you might also find people asking unnecessary questions about your past, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. Not exactly the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling we're all after, right?

Yet, despite the BS, the best gay dating apps have helped millions of men make meaningful connections.

SEE ALSO: The major dating apps are collapsing into each other

According to the Pew Research Center, about one-quarter of LGBTQ+ adults say they met their match through online dating. The problem? Not all dating apps are created equal, especially for LGBTQ+ users.

What is the best gay dating app right now?

We can't talk about the gay dating scene in the 21st century without talking about Grindr, the undisputed king of gay dating mobile apps. However, there are a lot of other options, especially if you want to make a genuine connection.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the No. 1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app — but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either." Lately, Grindr users have been complaining about a buggier app experience and free features going behind paywalls. So, even if you don't quit Grindr for good, it might be time to test other gay dating apps.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock porn for free

The most popular dating apps have a lot to offer, and that's where you'll find the most queer users. Keeping Tinder on the back burner isn't just a straight people thing (especially for guys in less-populated areas where apps like Scruff offer slim pickings). Plus, mainstream apps deserve credit for trying to create a more inclusive atmosphere. OkCupid gets kudos for embracing change and making inclusivity a core part of its compatibility scoring. You can also try niche gay dating sites if you tend to like a certain type of man, but in general, the more popular apps offer the greatest chance of success — it's a numbers game.

Whether you're looking for something serious, a hookup, something that stays strictly online, or an altogether different definition of connection, there's an ideal queer dating app out there for you. So, here's a breakdown of the best dating apps for gay men to help you find your perfect match.

TL;DR: Live stream Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Washington Wizards head to Chase Center to face the Golden State Warriors in a non-conference matchup. The Wizards are 6-33, which puts them in dead last (15th) in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors are 20-20, which puts them in 10th place in the Western Conference.

With just six wins, there's not a lot of green on the Wizards schedule. The team hasn't won a game since January 1 against the Chicago Bulls. But, on an eight game losing streak, it's not the worst the Wizards have been this season. The Wizards lost 16 straight games earlier this season, tying a franchise record. The Warriors, on the other hand, have lost three of their last five games, but are coming off a close 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

When is Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors?

Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 18. This game takes place at Chase Center in San Francisco.

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Wizards vs. Warriors basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors for free 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 the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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 live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice 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 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA with ExpressVPN.