- Help
- Google+
Whether you're skeptical of the AI hype or counting on them to get you through finals, the reality is that AI tools are showing up in classrooms whether you asked for them or not.
The upside: many AI companies are actively courting college students with steep discounts. So, if you're a college student hunting for deals on AI services like Gemini or Copilot, this guide's for you.
In addition to the deals in this guide, your college may also offer access to a variety of AI tools at a reduced or free rate. Here are the AI college discounts available right now.
Google Gemini + NotebookLMGoogle's student offer is probably the most generous on this list. Eligible college students 18 and older can get the Google AI Pro plan — normally about $20 a month — completely free for a full year. That gets you access to Gemini 3.1 Pro, NotebookLM, Deep Research, and 5TB of storage, among other perks.
NotebookLM is the quiet standout here. You feed it your source material — lecture recordings, PDFs, textbook chapters — and it organizes, summarizes, and lets you ask questions about it. It can even generate audio study guides. Worth noting: set a calendar reminder before the year is up, because it will start charging you automatically.
Sign up at gemini.google/students.
Perplexity Education ProPerplexity's AI-powered search tool offers a dedicated student tier, Education Pro, at $10 a month — half the standard price — after verifying your enrollment through SheerID. Beyond the discount, student accounts get expanded citation counts, file and image uploads, access to a guided learning mode with flashcards and quizzes, and broader access to its Academic and Research features. It's a more source-transparent tool than most, which makes it a reasonable choice if you care about where information is actually coming from.
Sign up at perplexity.ai.
Wolfram Alpha ProIf your coursework involves a lot of math, physics, or chemistry, Wolfram Alpha Pro has long been a quietly useful tool. The student plan runs $5 a month (billed annually at $60), and it unlocks step-by-step solutions, practice problems, guided calculators for calculus and algebra, and extended computation time. A Premium tier at $8.25 a month adds even more. The free version exists but won't show you how to get to an answer, which is usually the whole point.
Sign up at wolframalpha.com/pro/pricing/students.
Microsoft 365 (with Copilot)Microsoft actually has two separate offers worth knowing about, and most students don't realize either exists. First, the base Office 365 Education plan — which includes web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams, and Copilot Chat — is completely free for students at eligible institutions, donated directly by Microsoft with no strings attached. If your school qualifies, you may already have access and not know it.
For students who want more than the browser-based versions, Microsoft is currently running a limited-time promotion giving college students 12 full months of Microsoft 365 Premium at no cost, just by signing up with a college email. That tier unlocks the full desktop apps across multiple devices, expanded cloud storage, and deeper Copilot integration baked into the productivity tools you're already using.
The practical advice here: check with your school first. If your institution is already enrolled in Office 365 Education, you have free access to the core tools without doing anything. The premium offer is worth grabbing separately if you need the desktop apps or want more storage.
Sign up at microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office.
What about ChatGPT?OpenAI no longer offers a dedicated student discount for ChatGPT, but the good news is that GPT-5.2, one of OpenAI's flagship models, is currently available to all users at no cost. OpenAI also works directly with some universities to provide campus-wide access, so it's worth checking with your school before paying for anything.
A note before you spend anythingMost of these services have free tiers that handle basic tasks reasonably well. Before committing to a paid plan, check whether your college already covers any of these tools — many schools have institutional licenses for Google Workspace, Microsoft, or others. Spending money on software you already have access to is its own kind of homework mistake.
It should also be noted that a discounted subscription doesn't come with a free pass to use these tools however you want. AI policy varies wildly from campus to campus — some professors welcome it as a research aid, others treat AI-assisted work the same as plagiarism, and many fall somewhere in the murky middle.
A few major universities have published approved tool lists, but most haven't yet, so the safest move is to ask before you submit anything. Getting caught submitting AI-generated work as your own isn't just an academic integrity problem — it can follow you. These tools work best when they help you understand the material, not do the thinking for you.
At a glance, the pitch for The Sheep Detectives seems less like an actual movie that exists and more like an unhinged Mad Libs page: From the co-creator of TV's The Last of Us, Craig Mazin, comes a cozy crime comedy in which Hugh Jackman stars as a misanthropic shepherd, whose unexpected death spurs his furry flock into amateur investigating. Lending their voices to these sleuthing sheep are Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, and Bella Ramsey. At the helm sits Kyle Balda, director of Minions: The Rise of Gru. And for good measure, the rest of the human cast includes the likes of Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson.
Incredibly, The Sheep Detectives is a real movie. Frankly, it could have been a deeply stupid movie with bad CGI animation and a predictable solution, and I still would have been pleased that it even existed at all. I just love a big swing for its bonkers ambition. But props to Balda and his kooky cast, because The Sheep Detectives is so much more than silly fun. It's a smart parody of the detective stories with a cheeky sense of humor, a sensational ensemble, and an ending so poignant that I actually teared up!
It might sound like sheer hyperbole, but I mean this sincerely: The Sheep Detectives is an utter crowd-pleaser sure to be one of the most entertaining movies of the year.
If you love Only Murders in the Building or The Thursday Murder Club, you'll adore The Sheep Detectives. Regina Hall as the voice of Cloud, Chris O’Dowd as the voice of Mopple and Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the voice of Lily in "The Sheep Detectives." Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosBased on Leonie Swann's 2005 novel Three Bags Full, The Sheep Detectives begins on the farmland of George Hardy (a terrifically game Jackman), a lonely shepherd who dedicates his life to the care of his sheep. Through voiceover, George explains that he doesn't care much for people, but he loves his flock. Then, he introduces each ram, lamb, and ewe by name. There's the fluffy diva Cloud (Regina Hall), the spunky lamb Juno (Ramsey), the sage-like Mopple (O'Dowd), the rambunctious twin rams (both voiced by Brett Goldstein), and his favorites, the tawny-colored Lily (Louis-Dreyfus) and the surly black sheep, Sebastian (Cranston).
At the end of each day, George settles down with the setting sun and a mystery novel, which he reads aloud to his sheep. He suspects they understand neither hide nor hair of these detective stories, but he treasures the tradition all the same. Little does George know that when speaking amongst themselves, the sheep compare notes each night, hoping to crack the case ahead of the novel's sleuth. It's always Lily who gets it right. So, when one morning they find George dead in their meadow, Lily leads the others in finding his killer.
With Sebastian and Mopple at her side, she travels to the nearby village to size up the suspects, including a grimacing butcher (Conleth Hill), a rival shepherd (Tosin Cole), the rude bed-and-breakfast proprietor (Chau), and a mysterious stranger (Gordon), whose arrival in town is quite suspicious.
Of course, while Lily and her flock understand English, they don't speak it. So, they'll need to figure out how to communicate their findings with investigative journalist Elliot Matthews (Galitzine) and the village's only police officer, Tim Derry (Braun). Along the way, they'll not only use what they've learned from George's books, but also face some hard truths about what it means to be a sheep.
Cozy crime has a new masterpiece in The Sheep Detectives. Nicholas Braun stars as Officer Tim Derry and Molly Gordon as Rebecca Hampstead in "The Sheep Detectives." Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosCraig Mazin's script doesn't spoof detective stories. Instead, like Scream did for slashers, The Sheep Detectives draws attention to the tropes of its genre to better subvert them. Lily dedicatedly notes how motive, means, and alibis are all crucial pieces of information. But both she and the cop soon realize that solving a murder isn't as simple as a checking off the boxes in a game of Clue. Humor comes not only from the weird twists the investigation takes, but also from the inventive ways the sheep find to communicate their message to this clown of a cop.
Braun is a solid fool in the role, bouncing not only off the CGI sheep, which are brought to life with animation that finds a cozy spot between photo-real and cutesy critter. He also plays the foil to smarter figures, like Galitzine's reporter, Gordon's could-be femme fatale, and Emma Thompson's lawyer, whose tongue is as sharp as her attire.
Emma Thompson stars as Lydia Harbottle in "The Sheep Detectives." Credit: Alex Bailey / Amazon MGM StudiosMazin shrewdly brings together archetypes from a cozy English village and from film noir to create a thrilling conflict of tone. Reflecting this mash-up, The Sheep Detectives repeatedly leaps from bouncy comedy to tense moments around the murder investigations. And Balda's ensemble manages each leap with grace. Louis-Dreyfus shoulders the lead, making Lily vibrant, determined, and on occasion rattled. Cranston recalls his Isle of Dogs performance, playing a mangy animal whose yearning to belong and fear for self-preservation are at odds. O'Dowd brings a dopey sweetness that matures into a solemn sincerity as The Sheep Detectives grapples less with the mystery than with the grief of George's death. As these sheep butt heads over the case, there's terrific tension because of how the animation and voice work knits together to create characters who feel absolutely real, even in their wacky scenarios.
Allow me to give my favorite non-spoilery example. In this quaint village, where a festival consists of three small booths arranged in a line behind the bed-and-breakfast, every shop seems to have a neon sign. Not the expected hand-painted wooden sign announcing their shop name. Neon. I first noticed it at the butcher shop, where the grimacing butcher was interviewed under neon pink signs resembling butcher knives. Later, I saw the words "police station" emblazoned in blue neon. And then, during a walk-and-talk where much exposition was being laid down, we see two big green wrenches on the side of a building... in neon, of course. Then, the characters walk past a sign that serves as an explanation and punchline for a joke I didn't even realize was being set up. It read: "Nancy's Neon — huge discounts for locals."
It's a small, blink-and-you'll-miss-it gag. But it had me cackling. And beyond that, it bolstered The Sheep Detective's genre-mashup by infusing the small English village coziness with the harsh lighting of a neo-noir neon signage. The Sheep Detectives is filled with thoughtful elements like this that reflect the layers Balda, Mazin, and their terrific cast have built in.
The Sheep Detectives is fun for the whole family. Laraine Newman as the voice of the Fainting Sheep and Hugh Jackman as George Hardy in "The Sheep Detectives." Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosFor grown-ups who love a mystery to solve, The Sheep Detectives offers a murder case that is curious and not easy to crack. The suspects, played by dazzling comedic performers, are colorful, quirky, and even a bit cranky, adding a burst of energy to each interrogation.
For kids who love animal movies, The Sheep Detectives smartly offers furry, funny heroes who offer life lessons in an easy-to-understand way. Sure, this movie involves death, murder, and grief. But there's no blood and little violence. Plus, death is not taken lightly by man or beast here. Actually, how Lily and her flock learn to face what has happened to George could be a learning moment for kids, as it's explained simply but sensitively.
The humor here ranges from physical comedy to quips to visual gags and sheep shenanigans. And as such, The Sheep Detectives is a rare thing, a comedy unashamed to be a comedy. Yet with Mazin's eye for detail and Balda's skill for crafting sheer silliness, The Sheep Detectives is more. It's a feel-good movie that's sure to delight all ages.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will test your knowledge of multiple American sports.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Going, going...
Green: AKA
Blue: First name
Purple: One of a kind
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Hard-Hit Baseball
Green: NBA Teams With Singular Nicknames
Blue: ____ Johnson
Purple: What "1" Might Mean
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 #580 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Hard-Hit Baseball — FROZEN ROPE, LASER, LINER, SCREAMER
NBA Teams With Singular Nicknames — HEAT, JAZZ, MAGIC, THUNDER
____ Johnson — FLAU'JAE, GUS, LANE, RANDY
What "1" Might Mean — FASTBALL, PITCHER, POINT GUARD, TOP RANK
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs (Game 5)for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Denver Nuggets are on the brink of exiting the NBA Playoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves have so far managed to keep Nikola Jokić quiet in their first-round matchup, but can they finish the job at the Ball Arena in Game 5? Rudy Gobert will need to deliver another defensive masterclass.
If you want to watch Nuggets vs. Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs (Game 5) for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Nuggets vs. Timberwolves?Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on April 27. This game takes place at the Ball Arena.
How to watch Nuggets vs. Timberwolves for freeDenver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs is available to live stream for free on YouTube.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a VPN (we tested ExpressVPN and it worked great)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in India
Visit YouTube
Watch the NBA for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like YouTube, 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 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box on sale for $94.32, down from its $167.76 list price. That saves you $73.44 on 24 Jumpstart Boosters, each with 20 Avatar-themed Magic cards.
Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box $94.32 at AmazonThe Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion has been one of the most fun to hit the Magic: The Gathering trading card game in recent times, and it’s thankfully becoming more affordable in steady price cuts.
As of April 27, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale for $94.32 at Amazon, down from its $167.76 list price. That’s a 44% discount, saving you $73.44 on the full box. Since this display includes 24 Jumpstart Boosters, that works out to about $3.93 per pack before tax.
For anyone who’s recently jumped into MTG, Jumpstart boxes are designed to make getting into the game as easy as possible. Instead of drafting, deckbuilding, or sorting through a pile of singles first, you just grab two boosters, shuffle them together, and you’ve got a playable deck ready to go.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Lands are already included, so this is especially useful if you want something that works for quick games, newer players, or friends who like Avatar but haven’t fully fallen into Magic just yet.
This box comes with 480 cards in total, with 20 cards in each of the 24 packs. There are 46 possible Avatar: The Last Airbender-themed pack variants, letting you relive different scenes, characters, and elemental combos from the acclaimed Nickelodeon series. The packs can also be mixed with other Jumpstart boosters, giving you more ways to stretch the format later.
For more from the newest MTG expansion, you can grab the Strixhaven Play Booster Box for around $140. Meanwhile, Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy Play Booster Box is still available for just under $185.
Workers trying to log in to Microsoft Outlook experienced unexpected problems Monday morning, with some users receiving error messages and unexpected signouts.
On its official Microsoft service status page, the company confirmed that some Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise customers were experiencing a service interruption, directing them to X for more information.
The Microsoft 365 Status page on X stated that some customers were unable to log in to the email software.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."We've discovered some users may experience intermittent sign‑in failures, including 'too many requests' errors, or unexpected sign‑outs. We're analyzing service telemetry further to identify any potential next steps and mitigation actions."
The platform DownDetector also reported a spike in user error reports beginning around 5 a.m. ET Monday morning, with a majority of users identifying login issues as the problem.
(Disclosure: DownDetector and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, ZiffDavis.)
Microsoft Outlook also experienced an outage in January.
This is a developing story...
Omegle is in the ground, and Thundr is dancing on its grave. Since Omegle's demise in late 2023, the internet has been introduced to a number of Omegle alternatives, from the tame to the explicit. Thundr is a random video and text chat service that's emulating Omegle the most in 2026. Think of it as Omegle with actual guardrails, offering far more ways to get your exact match through tags, country selection, and AI moderation. Thundr prides itself on being one of the safer random cam connection sites, claiming to instantly block nudity, spam, and hate speech.
SEE ALSO: What happened to Omegle? The rise and fall of the internet's favorite stranger dangerBut what is Thundr, and is it really Omegle's best replacement? And is the site as safe as it claims to be?
How does Thundr work?Like Omegle, Uhmegle, Flingster, DirtyRoulette, and the like, Thundr matches users to random strangers across the globe through video or text chat. Like most alternatives, Thundr has a customizable matching process designed to help users find better matches, faster. Add up to 33 tags, select your preferred countries, and Thundr will do its best to connect you accordingly. Note: Thundr is one of the only cam sites that allow users to choose multiple countries without payment.
While this doesn't affect matching, Thundr also offers a number of color themes for a better visual experience, including Dark, Light, Pink, Brat (neon green, likely inspired by Charli XCX's hit 2024 album), and more.
Thundr requires every user to create an account before connecting with strangers, with options to sign up via Google or Apple. This is a safety measure, which is a breath of fresh air in this space since most similar sites don't bother — but it's very easy to create an anonymous account even without an email, so it's difficult to say how safe this requirement is.
On the home page, Thundr claims to be different from nearly every other cam site out there: "Thundr uses a match-making algorithm that is designed to give you an amazing experience from the first match, and it only gets better with time." In our experience, this is half true. You can add tags and select countries, but the country filter works noticeably better than the tag filter. You'll find someone with a similar tag maybe every 20ish people.
Where it gets interesting is how the algorithm actually learns. It seemingly sorts users based on nudity and sexually explicit conversation more than anything else. Match with hundreds of faces, take your dick out once, and suddenly, everyone Thundr pairs you with is there for the same thing. While that works great for NSFW users, the algorithm will occasionally misfire and place users who did nothing wrong into NSFW matches, pigeonholing people who are otherwise there for connection. Outside of the SFW versus NSFW divide, we haven't seen much evidence that the algorithm is doing anything more sophisticated than that.
Is Thundr free?Yes, Thundr is free to use, including all the aforementioned filter options. The only form of payment Thundr offers is something called Boosts. A Boost is a one-time purchase that puts you at the front of Thundr's match queue from 10 to 60 minutes, making it more likely you'll be paired with higher-quality users. Thundr doesn't say much about Boosts on the site itself, but when they launched, the creator of Thundr took to Reddit to explain: "All that happens is that when a user is boosted, they are temporarily at the top of the match queue. This means they're more likely to be matched to what the platform thinks is the highest quality users."
When it comes to pricing, here's what you're looking at as of April 2026, according to a Thundr pop-up:
Small Boost: $3.99 for 10 minutes
Normal Boost: $7.99 for 30 minutes
Super Boost: $16.99 for 60 minutes
But, do Boosts on Thundr work? We're unsure. We haven't tested this ourselves, but users on Reddit claim the answer is a big, fat "no".
Is Thundr available on mobile?Thundr is browser-only and does not currently have a dedicated app, but you can use it on your phone through your mobile browser. It's worth noting that the mobile version works slightly differently from the desktop one. On desktop, the experience mirrors classic Omegle, with a skip button in the corner of your screen near your camera feed to move on to the next person. On mobile, that button still exists, but users can also swipe up to skip.
Is Thundr NSFW?Yes, Thundr is NSFW. Although the site prides itself on its AI moderation, nudity and explicit content slip through more often than you'd expect. You must be 18+ to use Thundr.
Is Thundr safe?A hard question to answer. Thundr claims to have end-to-end encryption (meaning Thundr and other third parties cannot see messages), zero data-sharing, and AI moderation, and seemingly does its best to keep explicitly-minded users in their own corner of the site. But this doesn't always work. You have to actively do something Thundr deems sexual to end up in the NSFW zone, meaning someone can expose an unsuspecting user to explicit content just to trigger the algorithm.
Here's something else we take issue with. In Thundr's FAQ section, the question "How does Thundr's free video chat let me chat with strangers safely?" is answered like this:
"Every live video or text session is end-to-end encrypted and protected by real-time AI that instantly blocks nudity, hate speech, and spam. You can report, skip, or mute any stranger with one tap, so you enjoy free video chat without compromising safety."
This is false. Just because Thundr separates explicit users into their own corner doesn't mean nudity is blocked. It just means that it's pushed elsewhere. When you get to this side of Thundr, you will know by the amount of penises that appear on screen over and over and over again, which wouldn't happen as much prior. That's not blocking nudity, that's just doing something else with it.
Adding a mandated sign-in requirement is an excellent step, but anyone can have an email without confirming their age (or make an anonymous account without an email and do the same). Children under 18 can access Thundr just as easily as adults, and given what can slip through the moderation, that's a serious problem.
Final thoughts on ThundrThundr is doing something many other sites are not doing: requiring users to sign in. Although Thundr does not say it explicitly, this holds people accountable in a way. This will push away a number of bad actors who intend on using Thundr for the wrong reasons, ultimately making Thundr safer than a lot of Omegle alternatives. Like always, when using Thundr or any other cam site that connects users to strangers from around the globe, use caution. The internet has always been a weird place. Thundr is no exception.
Though bloody, Euphoria's "version of the Red Wedding" actually had a very pink colour palette.
Season 3, episode 3 of the HBO series saw combustible lovers Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) getting married in a ceremony that was just as lavish and over-the-top as it was harrowing.
SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' just did its version of the Red WeddingThe Euphoria wedding was filmed on the south lawn of The Langham, Huntingdon in Pasadena, as well as on a Warner Bros set for the interior reception scenes. From the ceremony to the afterparty, Cassie and Nate's wedding is a cornucopia of pink drapery, Cartier jewels, and $50,000 flower arrangements, including rose aisle arches and a custom C&N logo.
In a behind-the-scenes video from HBO, production designer François Audouy said he talked to Euphoria creator Sam Levinson early in pre-production with his vision: "I told him that I was inspired by a shrimp cocktail."
"I literally sampled the pinks from a shrimp and then that became the color palette for the wedding," Audouy added.
I mean... Credit: HBO / YouTube That feeling of a $50,000 flower budget. Credit: Eddy Chen / HBO Shrimpy pinks abound. Credit: Eddy Chen / HBOIf you watch the episode again, you can see the production team, including set decorator Anthony Carlino, not only took cues from the favoured dish of 1960s dinner parties, but included a ton of prawns within an ice sculpture, emblazoned with Nate and Cassie's initials. The team also wrote a menu, which includes blinis, steak tartare, and smoked salmon and crème fraîche — all the fancypants canapés you'd expect. And you'll notice Cassie's bridesmaids dresses, designed by Euphoria costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas, are the same shrimpy pink.
🦐 loooool 🦐 Credit: HBO / YouTube"It's a bit over-the-top, all these incredibly detailed tables, and the flower arrangements, and the food — it's supposed to be very Californian," Audouy said of the Spanish Revival-style interior set the Euphoria team built at Warner Bros. for the reception scenes. The level of detail here is just staggering, from the wedding table to the table setting (with Fujifilm Instaxes) and that horrendous ice sculpture of Cassie and Nate.
🦐 Credit: HBO / YouTube 🦐 Credit: HBO / YouTube 🦐 Credit: HBO / YouTubeIf the wedding site looks familiar, The Langham is regularly used for film and TV shoots; the hotel's website lists The Parent Trap, Hacks, Westworld, The Brothers Sun, Modern Family, and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. It's also where Ashley and JP’s wedding was filmed for The Bachelorette in 2012, which feels right for Cassie and Nate.
Wedding planning website The Knot prices The Langham at $34,500 average spend for a wedding, however, that seems hilariously under Cassie and Nate's budget. Mashable has reached out to The Langham for a quote of our own.
With those $50,000 florals, the multi-venue hire, Cassie’s Natasha Newman-Thomas/Jackson Wiederhoeft dress and Cartier jewellery, Nate’s Bottega Veneta tuxedo, the full band, DJ and dance floor, wedding planner, highly opulent food and drink budget, and those lavish table settings, we’re thinking six figures at a minimum. But remember, Nate’s in serious debt and though Cassie’s making that OnlyFans money, they’re not millionaires. Yes, Nate’s financial situation has toe-curling consequences.
New episodes of Euphoria Season 3 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry"Our main story tonight concerns AI: It saves significant time writing emails, and all it costs us is everything else on Earth."
That's how John Oliver launches his latest Last Week Tonight segment on AI chatbots, taking half an hour to break down the darker side of artificial intelligence apps — from chatbots becoming sexually explicit with young users to the dangerous lack of safeguards in place when people use them to talk about suicide.
Oliver ends by advising parents to speak with their children about what chatbots they're using, and "treat these apps with extreme caution" if you're pre-disposed to mental health issues.
"In general, it is good to remember that however much an app may sound like a friend, what it is is a machine. And behind that machine is a corporation trying to extract a monthly fee from you. And that kind of sums up for me what is so dystopian about all this, because while that guy you saw earlier said that selling AI friends is low risk because they're just entertainment, that's not actually how friends work. Friends can be the most important figures in your life," says Oliver. "True friends know when to listen, when to push back, and when to worry about you."
If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.
SAVE $20: As of April 27, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees are on sale for $44.99 at Amazon, a return to their lowest-ever price at the retailer.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees (10373) $44.99 at AmazonLego's Botanicals sets are perfect builds for spring and summer, thanks to their bright colors and blooms that are beautiful on display. If you've been searching for a new set to piece together, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees (10373) are a terrific little trio. They're even discounted right now at Amazon, so there's no better time to grab them.
As of April 27, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees have dropped to $44.99 at Amazon, marking a return to their lowest-ever price. Usually they're listed for $64.99, so this is your chance to save $20. It's currently marked as a limited time deal, so this set may not stay on sale for long.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!The Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees is a delightful display, coming with 709 pieces in total that create three trees: a ginkgo bonsai tree with vibrant yellow leaves, a black pine bonsai tree with green needles, and a wisteria bonsai tree that features lovely lilac flowers.
Since it's a display piece, it's a set that's recommended for adults of ages 18 and over. However, if you know someone younger who wants to tackle this set, just have an adult help them out with the building process.
Again, since it's a limited-time offer, this deal on the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees may not be available for long. If you're hoping to have it as part of your Lego collection, now is the time to scoop it up and save.
SAVE $40: As of April 27, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale at Amazon for $119.95. This is $40 off its list price of $159.95.
Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $119.95 at AmazonIf this spring weather has you searching for a fitness tracker to join you outside for workouts and activities, Amazon has dropped the price on quite a few different models, including some top picks from Fitbit. Our favorite mid-range fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6, is down to just $119.95.
Overall, this is a $40 discount from the Fitbit Charge 6's list price of $159.95. That's a nice standalone offer, but what makes it even better is every available color is on sale at this price. Take your pick from the black band, white band, or even the vibrant red band if you want a pop of color on your wrist.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!If you're on the hunt for a fitness tracker that's not too over-the-top in terms of stats but also not too simple, the Fitbit Charge 6 is worth a look. In our roundup of the best fitness trackers, we said it's "A shining example of what a mid-budget fitness tracker can be. It offers fantastic value for what you pay, and packs in a lot of the features you'd expect from more high-end fitness trackers like a built-in GPS, 40 exercise modes to choose from, and heart rate connectivity with select exercise machines, just to name a few."
On top of that, its battery life can last up to seven days. That gives you plenty of time before it needs to be recharged.
The Fitbit Charge 6 is marked as a limited time deal right now. So if it sounds like the kind of fitness tracker you've been searching for, this is the time to grab it.
TL;DR: Amazon has the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 16-Core Processor on sale for $573.99, knocking $125.01 off its $699 list price. That's an 18% discount on a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 5 CPU with second-gen AMD 3D V-Cache, up to 5.7GHz max boost, and AM5 support.
Opens in a new window Credit: AMD AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 16-Core Processor $573.99 at AmazonUpgrading your gaming PC is a simple but expensive idea, but Amazon’s new drop on a premium AMD CPU will certainly help take the edge off.
As of April 27, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 16-Core Processor is on sale for $573.99 at Amazon, down from its $699 list price. Not only does this save you $125.01, but this is also Amazon’s lowest ever price for this particular CPU, as confirmed using price tracker camelcamelcamel.
Taking you far beyond casual gaming, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is built for more than just a few rounds of Fortnite. It’s been crafted for gamers who love doing a lot at once: playing, streaming, editing, rendering, or switching between heavy workloads — all without having your daily tasks suddenly come to a grinding halt.
Also packing 32 threads, a 4.3GHz base clock, and up to 5.7GHz max boost, the 9950X3D also uses AMD’s Zen 5 architecture and second-generation 3D V-Cache technology. As a result, you’ll give games and demanding apps more cache to work with. In layman’s terms, it’s built to keep things fast when your PC is being pushed properly, even when you’re playing demanding new gaming titles like Crimson Desert or Pragmata.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!There’s also support for the AM5 platform, DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0, AMD EXPO memory overclocking, and Precision Boost Overdrive. Overall, that provides a pretty strong upgrade path if you’re building a system that you don’t want to feel outdated in a year.
The one thing to remember is that there’s no cooler included, and AMD recommends a liquid cooler for the best performance. Still, if you’re buying a CPU at this level, that probably isn’t the part of the build where you were planning to cut corners.
To complement your setup with some amazing new visuals, you can also find the 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED monitor for only $499.99 at 44% off. If you’re after something even bigger, the 52-inch LG UltraGear evo (the world's largest 5K2K gaming monitor) is $300 off.
SNL UK's first ever sketch went so hard on prime minister Keir Starmer that Donald Trump shared it, and it doesn't look like the roasting is going to stop anytime soon.
The show's latest cold open above is a parody of the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, which sees a nervous Starmer (played by George Fouracres) struggling to answer the question: "Is it ever a good idea to give Peter Mandelson a job?" (The real Starmer has come under increasing scrutiny for giving the U.S. ambassador role to Mandelson, who is currently under criminal investigation over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein).
In the sketch, despite multiple lifelines narrowing down Starmer's options to "Not in a million years", he still decides to pick "Yes".
Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.
Euphoria Season 3's jaw-dropper of a third episode saw Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) getting hitched — and it was just as over-the-top, lavish, and blood-soaked as you'd expect.
HBO released a behind-the-scenes video for "Euphoria's version of the Red Wedding" for fans wanting to know more about every last detail, from those off-the-runway looks to the fake body parts fit for choppin'.
Filmed on the south lawn of the Huntingdon Langham Hotel in Pasadena (as well as on a Warner Bros set), the wedding sequence is drenched in pinks, a colour palette production designer François Audouy described as "inspired by a shrimp cocktail." The production team details everything from the ice sculpture to Cassie and Nate’s first dance, giving you a sense of the sheer scale of the episode.
Euphoria costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas unpacks the design for Cassie’s dress, which she co-designed with New York designer Jackson Wiederhoeft — it was paired with eight-inch Jimmy Choo heels and half a million dollars’ worth of Cartier jewellery. You'll also get a look at Nate's Bottega Veneta tuxedo, Maddy’s (Alexa Demie's) “gravity-defying” gown with the dangling rosary, Lexi (Maude Apatow) in Nana Jacqueline, and Jules (Hunter Schafer) in an Acne spring 2023 runway sample.
It was nothing short of a TV wedding to remember.
Microsoft has made it easier, but not entirely easy, to pause forced Windows updates forever.
In a blog post on the company's website, Microsoft described several ways in which it gave Window users more control over updating the software.
SEE ALSO: The 12 best Windows laptops for 2026Perhaps the most notable among these is the ability to pause forced Windows updates indefinitely. The catch, however, is that you can only pause an update for up to 35 days, after which you'll have to pause again. There are no limits on how many times you can reset the pause end date, Microsoft wrote.
Bug me again in 35 days, please. Credit: MicrosoftThe company also introduced the ability to skip updates immediately during device setup.
Also, the company separated power actions from update actions; now, you can choose to "restart" or "shutdown" your computer, "update and restart," or "update and shut down" your computer.
Finally, Microsoft is now providing more detail on driver updates, making it easier to understand what, exactly, are you updating.
All of these updates are rolling out to Windows Insider users in the Dev and Experimental Channels, and will probably trickle out to all users soon.
Featured Video For You How prediction markets got people betting on nuclear warSAVE OVER $1,500: As of April 27, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is on sale for $2,148.99 at Amazon. That's a 42% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus $2,148.99 at AmazonThe Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is back on sale at Amazon. As of April 27, you can save a huge $1,550.01 on the unit with two solar panels. This setup is strong enough to power a three-person household for over two weeks, so if you need something reliable, you can't go wrong with this deal.
This portable power station has a 3,600W output (7,200W in parallel) and a 3,584Wh capacity, so it can comfortably run essential appliances like pumps and heaters. It also has expandability up to 21kWh per unit or 43kWh using multiple units. But despite its capacity, it’s designed to remain portable. It has a wheeled luggage-style build that makes it easy to move around the house, or take with you on a camping vacation.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Even with such a large discount, this isn't a small purchase. So, you'll be glad to know Jackery built this model to be reliable over many years. It uses high-temperature resistant ceramic membrane battery cells and is designed to prevent overheating and overcharging, so you'll get up to 6,000 charge cycles and an estimated 10-year lifespan. It’s also designed to perform in extreme conditions, making it a reliable choice even in harsh weather.
This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.
TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Display Box listed for $229, down from its usual $279.99 list price. That saves you $50.99 on a full 36-pack Booster Display Box, working out to about $6.36 per booster pack.
Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Display Box $229 at AmazonThe Perfect Order range has continued to be one of the Pokémon TCG’s most affordable modern expansions, more so now that you can score its display boxes of a few dozen packs for even less.
As of April 27, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Display Box is listed for $229 at Amazon, down from its $279.99 list price. That makes it 18% off overall, or $50 cheaper than buying at full retail. Since the box includes 36 booster packs, you’re paying roughly $6.36 per pack before tax.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!This is a solid Amazon price for anyone who prefers buying their boxes through the major retailer. The boxes at these lower price points have been selling quickly, but the next-lowest listing is sitting at $239.95 — which is an also-respectable $40 off.
The Mega Evolution set’s Perfect Order expansion puts Pokémon that appeared in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game, like (Mega Zygarde ex), front and center, with more than 120 cards to collect across the set. These also include Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex, alongside more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards for collectors and players to chase.
Each Booster Display Box comes with 36 booster packs, and each pack includes 10 random cards. That makes this the clear pick over single-sleeved packs if you’re planning to rip a larger number of Perfect Order at once, build out a set binder, or just give yourself more chances at the expansion’s bigger pulls.
You can also grab the Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Elite Trainer Booster Box for around $70. As for the latest upcoming expansion, you can preorder the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Box for just under $240.
SAVE OVER $20: As of April 27, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16GB) is marked down to $154.99 at Amazon. This is $25 off its list price of $179.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16GB) $154.99 at AmazonIf you have vacations with your kids coming up this spring and summer, a Kindle is a nice piece of tech to keep them busy with a book on a long plane ride or in those quieter moments of downtime. The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is an option we'd recommend — it's our favorite Kindle pick for kids — and it's even discounted right now at Amazon.
As of April 27, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16GB) is on sale for $154.99 at Amazon. Overall, this saves you $25 on its list price of $179.99, though it's a deal that may not last for long. It's marked as a limited time deal, so act fast to grab it at this discounted price.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!If your kid is an active reader, the good news is the Kindle Paperwhite Kids offers 16GB of storage, so there's plenty of space to fill with their favorite books. Reading is nice and easy on the eyes as well thanks to the glare-free, seven-inch Paperwhite display. It even features an adjustable warm light, so they can read in the evening without a bright screen shining in their face.
Mashable's Samantha Mangino had a lot of praise for this Kindle in our roundup of the best Kindles. She highlighted that "It's waterproof, which means it stands up to juice spills and dips in the pool. Plus, it comes with a built-in case." That's not all, though. It's also "a distraction-free device. It doesn't come with ads, notifications, or the temptation of games or video."
If you wait too long, you may miss out on this great deal on the Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16GB) at Amazon.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 27, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 27 PipsGreater than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.
Greater than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 27 PipsEqual (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.
Number (11): Everything in this purple space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.
Greater than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.
Greater than (11): Everything in this space must be greater than 11. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.
Less than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 27 PipsNumber (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.
Greater than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
Greater than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
Greater than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this purple space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically
Greater than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.