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Get $300 off this Samsung 85-inch 4K TV and score a free 40-inch bonus TV

Mashable - 12 hours 3 min ago

FREE 40-INCH TV: As of Feb. 5, the Samsung 85-inch DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV is on sale for $799.99 at Best Buy (regularly $1,099.99). Not only do you save $300, but you’ll also get a Samsung 40-inch 5 Series Full HD Smart TV ($249.99 value) and a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription ($50 value) for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-inch DU7200 $799.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $300.00 Shop Now

If you’re looking for a massive 85-inch 4K TV, this impressive Best Buy deal will help you kit out the rest of your home. Right now, you can get Samsung 85-inch DU7200 Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV for just $799.99, which is $300 off its usual price. But here’s the epic bit: you’ll also get a free Samsung 40-inch TV and a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription included.

Samsung’s DU7200 Series packs stunning 4K visuals, an ultra-fast Crystal Processor, and HDR support, ensuring everything from movies to sports to gaming looks its best. This 85-inch display delivers an immersive home theater experience at a budget-friendly price. It even smashes gaming.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Tizen OS powers this Smart TV, giving you access to your favorite streaming apps, such as Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and Prime Video. With Samsung’s Universal Guide, you can easily browse content across apps, making it even easier to find something to watch.

The included Samsung 40-inch 5 Series Full HD Smart TV is the perfect bonus addition for a bedroom, guest room, or office. It features full HD resolution, smart streaming apps, and Samsung’s reliable picture quality. It's a solid secondary TV that's completely free with your purchase.

On top of that, you’ll also score a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, worth $50. This means you’ll have access to hundreds of games across console, PC, and the cloud, including AAA blockbusters and day-one releases. If you’re a gamer, this adds even more value to an already fantastic deal.

Considering the 85-inch DU7200 alone usually retails for $1,099.99, getting it for $799.99 with two extra bonuses is an absolute steal. If you’ve been waiting for a big-screen upgrade, this is the perfect time to pull the trigger.

Need a robot vacuum that actually works on carpet? These 3 performed the best in my home.

Mashable - 12 hours 16 min ago

Nearly any robot vacuum can sufficiently clear tile or hardwood floors of the hair and crumbs blowing across them like tumbleweeds. But for a robot vacuum to work on carpet, suction power and time spent cleaning need to be boosted to uproot the debris embedded in any pile height.

Do robot vacuums really work on carpet?

Yes, several robot vacuum cleaners do a pretty phenomenal job on carpets and rugs. In fact, the best robot vacuum brands have been mastering the art for several years, particularly honing in on pet hair pickup and deep cleaning of plush carpet.

For homes with varying floor types and a notable amount of foot traffic, buying the cheapest robot vacuum will likely create more hassle. Every time that bot gets stuck on a rug corner or welcomes you home to pet hair still visibly clinging to the living room carpet, you'll be tempted to do the job yourself — but rest assured that that's not an inevitable experience with every robovac.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

The best robot vacuums for carpet have powerful suction, of course, aided by brush roll systems designed to dig into low- and high-pile carpet to pinch hair and large chunks while simultaneously inhaling fine debris that a weaker robot vac would pass right over. The most common way to measure suction power is in Pascals (though top contenders like iRobot and Shark just have to be different by not adhering to that method). When suction power in Pascals (Pa) is advertised, look for at least 6,000 Pa, and under no circumstances entertain anything lower than 5,000 Pa. For reference, robot vacuums at the premium end of the spectrum clock between 10,000 and 22,000 Pa.

Our top picks use automatic suction adjustment to customize cleaning based on floor type, leading to stronger cyclonic force on soft floors without you having to specifically request so. All of my top picks also come with a self-emptying dock (or at least offer the option) to mitigate the frequency of trips you'd personally have to make to the trash can — which, ideally, would be a lot if the robovac is deep cleaning the amount of gunk from your carpets that it should be.

What about robot vacuums on different floor types?

If a robot vacuum has mastered carpet — the hardest floor type to tackle — these models definitely won't struggle to sweep up debris from hard floors like hardwood, tile, and laminate. Speaking of hard floors, if you're already eyeing a robot vacuum with market-leading suction power, chances are that that model is also one of the most advanced at mopping. Typically, the super powerful premium robot vacuums are also outfitted with pressurized mopping pads that wash and dry themselves, plus sensors that alert them to stop mopping on carpet. Unless it's a bumbling artifact from 2018, most robot vacuums transition smoothly between floor types. (Though almost every robot vacuum slips up on a bath mat from time to time, the ones that are better at navigating will at least make it out without getting stuck in place.)

Not sure which robot vacuum would work best on your carpets or rugs? I test and compare a ton of top robot vacs as they come out in my own home, narrowing down the best options and refreshing my recommendations as necessary. For this list, I kept an extra close eye on performance on a variety of carpet pile lengths, rugs, and bath mats, pet hair and debris pick up, transitions between floor types, automatic suction settings, and more. Here are my three favorites of 2025:

Best gift ideas for people in long-distance relationships

Mashable - 12 hours 46 min ago

Long-distance relationships can be rough, but they are create an opportunity for some clever and thoughtful gift giving. Until teleportation is a thing, fill the void with these nifty gifts that can make you feel more connected, keep that spark alive, or simply help your S.O. feel less alone. With Valentine's Day coming up, this is an especially opportune time to let your long-distance loved ones know you're thinking of them with a gift. While some of these gifts are clearly for couples, others aren't limited to a romantic long-distance relationship. Living far away from family members or friends and not seeing them often can be just as hard. Many of these gifts would make just as sweet a gift for your BFF or your family.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for February 5, 2025

Mashable - 13 hours 4 min ago

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 Wednesday, February 5, 2025:

AcrossFacebook's parent company
  • The answer is Meta.

Full-length skirts ... and a morning hour read backward
  • The answer is Maxis.

Written with pen
  • The answer is InInk.

N.B.A. team that nearly renamed itself the Swamp Dragons in the 1990s
  • The answer is Nets.

"___ a Wonderful Life"
  • The answer is Its.

DownFrench modernist painter … and a morning hour read backward
  • The answer is Manet.

What lighted signs mark in theaters
  • The answer is Exits.

Altoids containers
  • The answer is Tins.

Pose a question
  • The answer is Ask.

Short skirt
  • The answer is Mini.

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.

Google deletes policy against using AI for weapons or surveillance

Mashable - 13 hours 49 min ago

Google has quietly deleted its pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance, a promise that had been in place since 2018.

First spotted by Bloomberg, Google has updated its AI Principles to remove an entire section on artificial intelligence applications it pledged not to pursue. Significantly, Google's policy had previously stated that it would not design nor deploy AI technology for use in weapons, or in surveillance technology which violates "internationally accepted norms."

Now it seems that such use cases might not be entirely off the table.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps will rename Gulf of Mexico to America following Trump's order

"There’s a global competition taking place for AI leadership within an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape," read Google's blog post on Tuesday. "We believe democracies should lead in AI development, guided by core values like freedom, equality, and respect for human rights. And we believe that companies, governments, and organizations sharing these values should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth, and supports national security."

While Google's post did concern its AI Principles update, it did not explicitly mention the deletion of its prohibition on AI weapons or surveillance. 

When reached for comment, a Google spokesperson directed Mashable back to the blog post.

"[W]e're updating the principles for a number of reasons, including the massive changes in AI technology over the years and the ubiquity of the technology, the development of AI principles and frameworks by global governing bodies, and the evolving geopolitical landscape," said the spokesperson.

Google's AI Principles listing the "Applications we will not pursue" as of Jan. 30. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Google

Google first published its AI Principles in 2018, following significant employee protests against its work with the U.S. Department of Defense. (The company had already infamously removed "don't be evil" from its Code of Conduct that same year.) Project Maven aimed to use AI to improve weapon targeting systems, interpreting video information to increase military drones' accuracy. 

In an open letter that April, thousands of employees expressed a belief that "Google should not be in the business of war," and requested that the company "draft, publicize and enforce a clear policy stating that neither Google nor its contractors will ever build warfare technology."

The company's AI Principles were the result, with Google ultimately not renewing its contract with the Pentagon in 2019. However, it looks as though the tech giant's attitude toward AI weapons technology may now be changing.

Google's new attitude toward AI weapons could be an effort to keep up with competitors. Last January, OpenAI amended its own policy to remove a ban on "activity that has high risk of physical harm," including "weapons development" and "military and warfare." In a statement to Mashable at the time, an OpenAI spokesperson clarified that this change was to provide clarity concerning "national security use cases."

"It was not clear whether these beneficial use cases would have been allowed under 'military' in our previous policies," said the spokesperson.

Opening up the possibility of weaponised AI isn't the only change Google made to its AI Principles. As of Jan. 30, Google's policy listed seven core objectives for AI applications: "be socially beneficial," "avoid creating or reinforcing unfair bias," "be built and tested for safety," "be accountable to people," "incorporate privacy design principles," "uphold high standards of scientific excellence," and "be made available for uses that accord with these principles."

Now Google's revised policy has consolidated this list to just three principles, merely stating that its approach to AI is grounded in "bold innovation," "responsible development and deployment," and "collaborative process, together." The company does specify that this includes adhering to "widely accepted principles of international law and human rights." Still, any mention of weapons or surveillance is now conspicuously absent.

How to watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia 2nd Test online for free

Mashable - 16 hours 46 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia for free on 7Plus. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Australia secured a victory in the first Test match against Sri Lanka. It's only a two-Test tour, so this next matchup really matters. Sri Lanka need to win to level the series before the tour moves on to the ODIs.

If you want to watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test) for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test)?

The 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and Australia takes place from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10. This Test match takes place at the Galle International Stadium.

The full schedule for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka is as follows:

  • Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test) — Jan. 29 to Feb. 2

  • Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test) — Feb. 6-10

  • Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st ODI) — Feb. 12

  • Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd ODI) — Feb. 14

The good news for fans is that every ball of this tour is available to live stream for free.

How to watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia for free

Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test) is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams of Sri Lanka vs. Australia from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of Sri Lanka vs. Australia 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 7Plus

  5. Stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test) without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream this Test series before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live cricket on 7Plus, 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 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.

Live stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test) for free with ExpressVPN.

Lego is giving away a Valentines Day Heart for free. Here’s how to get yours.

Mashable - 16 hours 46 min ago

FREE LEGO: On Feb. 9, build a Lego Valentine's Day Heart at participating stores and take it home with you. Find participating stores here.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Valentine's Day Heart Learn More

We're always on the lookout for deals that represent great value for money. We search high and low for special offers and limited-time discounts, scouring the online world for anything that could save you cash. But sometimes, we find something that doesn't require any research. The value is there for all to see.

Lego is offering something for nothing ahead of Valentine's Day. On Feb. 9, you can build a Lego Valentine's Day Heart and take it home with you for free. A limited quantity will be available from 12-2 p.m. at participating stores.

SEE ALSO: Grab this Lego Bouquet of Roses ahead of Valentine's Day for 20% off

This special event is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and the Lego Valentine's Day Heart model will be available on a first come first serve basis while supplies last. Participants are also limited to one build each, so you can't stock up.

What makes this free giveaway particularly interesting is that the Valentine's Day Heart model cannot be purchased. So by taking part, you're getting your hands on something pretty special.

Celebrate Valentine's Day by building and taking home a Lego Valentine's Day Heart for free.

22 of the best ChatGPT courses you can take online for free

Mashable - 16 hours 46 min ago

TL;DR: A wide range of ChatGPT courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

Udemy is arguably the best place to find online courses covering popular topics.

Udemy hosts an absolutely massive range of online courses covering everything from Python programming to Microsoft Excel. And better yet, some of these online courses are available to take for free, including some highly-rated lessons on ChatGPT.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek just taught the AI industry 5 hard lessons

We've checked out everything on offer from Udemy and lined up a selection of standout ChatGPT courses to get you started. These are the best online ChatGPT courses you can take for free this month on Udemy:

So where's the catch? These free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but that's the only downside. You still get unrestricted access to all the video content, so you can start learning at your own pace.

Find the best free ChatGPT courses on Udemy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy AI Courses Free at Udemy Get Deal

How to unblock Redtube for free

Mashable - 16 hours 46 min ago

TL;DR: Unblock Redtube from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Online restrictions and blockades can be a pain. We totally understand that are usually good reasons for these rules, but sometimes, your access to your favorite sites will be restricted and it will feel unfair.

Fortunately, it is possible to bypass online restrictions with a quick and easy hack. And this method even works for unblocking porn sites.

If you're looking for the best way to unblock porn sites like Redtube for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Redtube for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions to secure access to porn sites like Redtube from anywhere in the world. This might sound complicated, but you can unblock your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a 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 that supports access to Redtube

  4. Visit Redtube

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 unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're traveling or temporarily away from home.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like Redtube, 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

  • Fast streaming 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.

Unblock Redtube for free with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 5, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 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 February 5 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: Work benefits and earnings

  • Green: A clue or a sign

  • Blue: Actions in a card game

  • Purple: Meanings of a common name

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: Parts of a Compensation Package

  • Green: Indication

  • Blue: Things to do with A Deck of Cards

  • Purple: What "Bill" Might Refer To

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 #605 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Parts of a Compensation Package: BONUS, INSURANCE, SALARY, VACATION

  • Indication: FLAG, GIVEAWAY, SIGN, TELL

  • Things to do with A Deck of Cards: CUT, DEAL, FAN, SHUFFLE

  • What "Bill" Might Refer To: BANKNOTE, BEAK, INVOICE, WILLIAM

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 February 5

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.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 5, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 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 February 5 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 February 5, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Foot-operated lever.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PEDAL.

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 February 5

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 Strands hints, answers for February 5

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 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 February 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: What's your reaction?

These words are common reasons to take Benadryl.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are things that can cause an allergic reaction.

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 Allergens.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 5
  • Latex

  • Dander

  • Dust

  • Pollen

  • Fragrance

  • Mold

  • Smoke

  • Allergens

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.

‘The Antiquities’ Review: Relics of Late Human Life in 12 Exhibits

NYT Technology - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 21:00
According to Jordan Harrison’s museum piece of a play, we are long extinct by 2240. But the future has kept our Betamaxes.

Daniel Penny Is Hired by Venture Capital Firm Whose Founder Backed Trump

NYT Technology - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 19:46
Mr. Penny, who was acquitted after choking a mentally ill subway passenger to death, will work for Andreessen Horowitz. Before the killing, he had been an architecture student.

Are some AGI systems too risky to release? Meta says so.

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 17:03

It seems like since AI came into our world, creators have put a lead foot down on the gas. However, according to a new policy document, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg might slow or stop the development of AGI systems that are deemed "high risk" or "critical risk."

AGI is an AI system that can do anything a human can do, and Zuckerberg promised to make it openly available one day. But in the document "Frontier AI Framework," Zuckerberg concedes that some highly capable AI systems won't be released publicly because they could be too risky.

The framework "focuses on the most critical risks in the areas of cybersecurity threats and risks from chemical and biological weapons."

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on Meta's submission to Trump

"By prioritizing these areas, we can work to protect national security while promoting innovation. Our framework outlines a number of processes we follow to anticipate and mitigate risk when developing frontier AI systems," a press release about the document reads.

For example, the framework intends to identify "potential catastrophic outcomes related to cyber, chemical and biological risks that we strive to prevent." It also conducts "threat modeling exercises to anticipate how different actors might seek to misuse frontier AI to produce those catastrophic outcomes" and has "processes in place to keep risks within acceptable levels."

If the company determines that the risks are too high, it will keep the system internal instead of allowing public access.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg wants more 'masculine energy' in corporate America

"While the focus of this Framework is on our efforts to anticipate and mitigate risks of catastrophic outcomes, it is important to emphasize that the reason to develop advanced AI systems in the first place is because of the tremendous potential for benefits to society from those technologies," the document reads.

Yet, it looks like Zuckerberg’s hitting the brakes — at least for now — on AGI’s fast track to the future.

Alphabet Earnings Fall Short of Expectations as Google Cloud Sales Disappoint

NYT Technology - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 16:38
The internet giant reported sales that narrowly missed Wall Street’s estimates and worried investors about the company’s A.I. business.

Valentines Day gifts for your wife: How to spoil your forever best friend

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 16:28

Valentine's Day shopping for your wife should be easy. You've known her forever. You hear her talk about her interests on a daily basis. But finding something to showcase how much she means to you is more of an enigma than it seems. How do you nail romance without being too cliché or too vague? We scoured the internet to find gifts with the perfect combination of thoughtful and practical. For even more ideas, check out our guides to the best Valentine's Day gifts for her, Valentine's Day gifts for your girlfriend, and gifts for your wife.

Elon Musk’s X Becomes Weapon in Government Cost Cutting

NYT Technology - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 15:21
The billionaire has used the social media site to boast of victories, lash out at enemies and conduct polls for the initiative he calls the Department of Government Efficiency.

How Dark Match blends wrestling, horror, and satanic cults

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 14:42

Chris Jericho, Ayisha Issa, and Lowell Dean break down how Dark Match uses themes, tropes and blends genres to make this unique film.

Dark Match is in theaters now.

A mindfulness-themed browser is (calmly) shaking up search

Mashable - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 14:08

An internet browser with built-in mindfulness and meditation tools? Sounds a little like buzzword fodder to me. However, I'm a tired, jaded journalist who'll try anything to feel more alive, so I tested the early access release, mindfulness-focused Opera Air and found its features straightforward and genuinely beneficial in the short period I played around with it.

Built by Norwegian browser maker Opera, Opera Air claims to be "the first browser built around the concept of mindfulness." Opera has released thematic versions of its own browsers in the past, including a gaming-focused browser with a “Panic Button,” and a crypto browser. The latest, Air, is designed as a browser that both functions like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari but also "helps its users manage stress, enhance their focus, and maintain emotional clarity throughout their day."

SEE ALSO: How to choose a meditation app that's right for you

Tech platforms, apps, and wearables aimed at boosting mindfulness have made companies and startups a mint for years, so it's understandable why eyebrows disappear into hairlines when a shiny new one comes along. However, the internet is a truly shitty place of late, a veritable tidal wave of misinformation and tech bros getting rich off unbridled abuse and harassment. We're all on it, day after day, so a browser pinging me to "Take a Break" on the regular doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world. So I tried it out.

Opera Air is instantly recognizable as a modern mindfulness offering

When you first install Opera Air, you'll meet the requisite verdant landscape of rolling hills and a lone hiker, overlaid with an inspirational Jon Kabat-Zinn quote: "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." Drenched in that overt earnestness, let's take a look around. You can choose a different wallpaper from mountaintop clouds, a meditation rock in a forest, or the company’s signature bubble overlaid on some naturescapes.

Mountains, check. Inspirational quote, check. Credit: Opera Air / Mashable screenshot

You can connect Opera Air with your Chrome or Firefox account, which will bring in all your bookmarks, or you can start fresh. On the homepage, Opera Air features default buttons for leading mindfulness apps including Headspace and Calm, professional creative database Behance, social publishing platforms Medium and Penzu, and mindfulness publisher Mindful.

Mashable asked Opera about whether these buttons were sponsored placements, and the company said they were not: "Currently, we do not have any partnerships or affiliations with other apps or sites. This is a selection of inspiring apps and websites that our users can find helpful. Of course they have full control to remove these sites if they don’t want them and wish to have a more minimalist experience."

Testing the "Take a Break" and "Boosts" features

Probably the most overt mindfulness plug-in here is the "Take a Break" button on the left hand menu. Pressing the icon that looks like three horizontal dashes will bring up a menu of options: breathing and neck exercises (3D-camera enabled or not), and guided meditations including a full body scan. You can actively seek the feature out or set your timer to enable break reminders for as regularly as you'd like (60 minutes seems to be a good ballpark number).

The "Take a Break" menu. Credit: Opera Air / Mashable screenshot

Opera told Mashable the company produced the exercises in-house and the sounds through an agency, all using licensed lo-fi music tracks and ambient sounds — you can change up the ambient sound if you prefer "vinyl record crackling" to "walking in mid shallow water" (I do). You can choose between voice guides (Emma or Alex, both voice actors) and Opera told Mashable they're available in English for now, with Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and German planned to roll out soon.

These types of meditation are available on many mindfulness and meditation apps, some of which cost money and some which don’t, so this is nothing new. But it's free (for now, and remember the cardinal rule of apps and software: if it’s free, you're probably the product). Conveniently, however, it’s right there in your browser, so if you’re like me, doing a small meditation before heading into a video call meeting might be more likely for you than pulling out your phone. 

Featured Video For You Let's talk about meditation. For starters, what is it, actually?

I tried a seven-minute mindfulness meditation to “increase focus, ground the mind, and reduce stress." The meditation uses techniques like controlled breathing, identifying thoughts and emotions and letting them pass by without judgment, checking in with your posture, noticing the space around you, and other long-used hallmarks of the practice. And yeah, I felt focused afterward, and could potentially use this every day to make a real effort to make meditation a habit.

The "Boosts" are binaural beats. Credit: Opera Air / Mashable screenshot

The other mindfulness tool Open Air features is “Boosts," sitting above the “Take a Break” option in the left menu. It’s a menu of binaural beats, a long prevalent auditory technique that generates a unique frequency in the brain when you listen to two different frequencies at once — Opera told Mashable the platform uses pure sine waves and carrier frequencies of 120hz and 240hz to deliver a range of binaural beats between 1hz and 40hz. There are different frequency states, several of which help with focus and attention, some which are associated more with relaxation; Opera Air’s binaural beats offerings are titled Creativity Boost, Energized Focus, Deep Relaxation and more.

Other bits in Opera Air that aren't mindfulness-related

Like its standard Opera browsers, Opera Air also features the company’s ad blocker and Opera’s own free VPN, which you can switch on and off in the Settings. Here, you can also take control of your privacy and data settings.

On the sidebar, there’s also an inbuilt AI chatbot called Aria that’s been built using a combination of AI models GPT-4o, Gemini 1.5, and Imagen 3. Meta platforms WhatsApp and Messenger are also built into this menu, which feels weird to see underneath the mindfulness tools, but hey, this is a browser after all. Plus, you can switch these on or off in the Settings.

As I said, in 2025, with everything simmering online, an internet browser with an in-built mindfulness reminder seems like a pretty good idea. There's plenty of online spaces to get free meditation and mindfulness guidance right now, and this is one of them, one that's close at hand during your work day.

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