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Spanish, Chinese, & 54 more languages to learn; app now $34.97

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Skip monthly subscription fees when you get a lifetime subscription to the Qlango language learning app for just $34.97.

Think you can’t play your way to new language fluency? Think again. With Qlango, you can pass gamified levels while learning any of the 56 languages it offers to improve your target language. Have fun while challenging your brain and learning a useful new language with a single subscription fee to Qlango of $34.97 (regularly $119.99).

Science meets play for language learning

Level up through over 6,500 new vocabulary words with Qlango’s science-backed spaced repetition. This cycles you through new vocabulary, each time waiting a little longer before you encounter the word again. As the length between recognizing the word increases, your language-learning memory also improves.

And that improved memory is what makes it easier to speak the local lingo while traveling. Many users have already gotten a confidence boost by learning this way, and rated Qlango over four stars in both the App Store and Google Play, with millions of downloads. A scientifically-backed, affordable language learning app just works.

Win the game of learning a language

As you move up through six different levels of the Qlango app, you can adjust your learning preferences. Try some dictation to practice listening. Translation can help you learn with context clues. Brush up on vocab with matching or multiple-choice questions. The app allows you to adjust your learning preferences to find out what works for you.

Unlike some other language learning app competitors, you don’t face penalties for missing a day. Instead, you’re in control of setting your own goals in the apps and then meeting them within your own time frame.

Learning a new language is challenging, and it can take many attempts to make real progress. But when you pay once for Qlango’s lifetime subscription, you won’t feel as if you’re wasting money on monthly fees if you need to take a break. Instead, you’ll pay a single fee for the lifetime subscription and retain access to all 56 available languages for life. Bored with Spanish? Swap to Swedish. Think you can conquer some Latin after studying Italian for a while? Go for it, trilingualism is a thing, after all.

Say “sayonara” to overpriced language learning apps when you nab Qlango’s lifetime subscription for just $34.97.

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Qlango Qlango Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $34.97
$119.99 Save $85.02 Get Deal

Instant, custom AI music now $39.97 for life

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 05:00

TL;DR: Create unique songs without special training when you get a lifetime subscription to Supermusic.ai for just $39.97.

Original music can be the cherry on top of a production, but who has the time or budget to commission a new song for every presentation or social media post? Add custom, unique music to your presentations and social media posts without any musical training background when you use Supermusic.ai, the ChatGPT of music composition. A lifetime subscription allows you to create over a thousand songs per year for just $39.97.

What kind of music can Supermusic.ai make?

A better question is, what kind of music can’t you make with Supermusic.ai? Use the platform to create everything from stadium pop to soulful rock ballads.

Want to write your own lyrics? Add them right in the platform. Or generate lyrics with the help of Supermusic.ai. Add vocals that fit your genre and even layer multiple voices.

Supermusic.ai is ideal for creators who want to go beyond presets for truly customized generation. Type your prompt, choose from genre settings, and tweak edits until it sounds like your unique song.

Whether you want to write an emotional dirge to back a social media post or a silly cat song — see “Chomsky the Winking Cat” below — Supermusic.ai provides the tools for you.

What does the Supermusic.ai lifetime subscription include?

With the Pro Plan lifetime subscription, you can create up to 100 songs each month. Each generation prompt creates two songs, using up two credits per prompt. The single payment for a lifetime subscription outdoes the paid monthly plans of AI music competitors like Suno AI or Udio, making it a more affordable paid product over time.

You’ll also get access to Supermusic.ai’s thriving AI music community. You can connect with other artists and share your generated content from your curated playlists or your profile. Climb the leaderboards as your music becomes popular for even more exposure.

Create something unique and affordable by using Supermusic.ai to generate music, now with a lifetime subscription for just $39.97 (regularly $319).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Supermusic Supermusic AI: Lifetime Subscription $39.97
$319 Save $279.03 Get Deal

Nicolas Cages eat the rat scene in The Surfer was inspired by Humphrey Bogart

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 04:57

If you had Billy Wilder's 1954 rom-com Sabrina in your mind while watching The Surfer, turns out you got what Nicolas Cage was throwing down.

Mashable UK editor Shannon Connellan spoke to the Hollywood icon alongside director Lorcan Finnegan about the psychological thriller, which draws inspiration from '70s Ozploitation movies of the Australian New Wave like Wake in Fright. In particular, Cage spoke about managing the art of the unravel within his character, a man who endures a never-ending supply of misfortune in one Western Australian beach parking lot.

"I always believe that if you scratch the surface of any man or woman long enough, you will eventually reach the inner caveman."

"I wanted to make that distinction very clearly in the beginning that what appears to be a fairly well put together, normal man with a job and a son, a teenage son, and a nice Japanese luxury car, slowly unveils little holes in his personality and also his life," Cage told Mashable.

"For me, as an actor, I wanted to incorporate how much it would affect my voice. Like the sunlight, the dehydration. The scene where you really hear the change in the voice is outside the car with Julian [McMahon]'s character, Scally, when he's tormenting me with the burger and with the beer...Then he's just kind of a humiliated puddle of tears and weeping. I wanted it to be so far removed from the guy we met in the beginning.

"You know, I always believe that if you scratch the surface of any man or woman long enough, you will eventually reach the inner caveman."

But how does Sabrina come into all this? Cage told Mashable that he came up with his character's dramatic "eat the rat" moment in The Surfer — when his character literally demands that of another — after watching Humphrey Bogart's performance.

"So what happened there is interesting because I didn't really know what I was going to do in that scene with Pitbull in the ocean where the big transcendent moment occurs. I knew I had this prop rat, and the rat was a very good prop. It looked real. It was made of rubber. It looked good. And I thought, you know what? Let's not lose this. And I just tucked it in my pocket. One, because I liked the way the rubber tail looked dangling from the character's pocket, I thought it was amusing. But I also thought, 'Hey, I can use this somewhere'," Cage said.

"I had seen a movie called Sabrina, directed by Billy Wilder. In that movie, Humphrey Bogart removes an olive from his martini glass and he shoves it in his uncle's mouth and goes, 'Eat it.' And I was watching that alone in my bed in Nevada and I was cracking up. I was like, 'I can't believe he just did that to his uncle in a movie.' And I couldn't stop laughing.

"That was in my head and I finally said to Lorcan, 'You know, I think I want to use this rat and I want to shove it in Pitbull's mouth and say, 'Eat the rat, eat the rat!' And it just happened because Lorcan is the kind of filmmaker, not unlike David Lynch, who isn't afraid to foster a feeling of creativity and openness on his set. Plus he has a wicked sense of humor. He's really funny. But he's also not afraid to take wild chances with things. So he let me go for it."

The Surfer is in theaters now.

Tesla launches cheaper Model Y

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 04:51

Tesla's Model Y in the U.S. has just gotten cheaper — if you don't mind having one less motor, that is.

The company has launched a new variant of its recently redesigned Model Y electric SUV. Called the Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, it starts at $44,990 before federal tax credit and local incentives.

For comparison, the Long Range All-Wheel Drive configuration starts at $48,990.

This one should give Tesla a sales boost. Credit: Tesla

For your money, you get just one motor driving the rear axle, with slightly slower acceleration — taking the car from 0-60 mph will take you 5.4 seconds, as opposed to 4.6 seconds on the All-Wheel Drive version. But you also get significantly more range: 357 vs. 327 miles, according to Tesla.

Featured Video For You The 4 coolest EVs and car tech we saw at CES 2025

Adding the $7,500 federal tax credit takes the car's price to $37,490. Deliveries start in three to five weeks, however, while the All-Wheel Drive variant is available immediately.

The cheaper version of Tesla's best-selling car should give sales a boost, and Tesla needs it, given it just had a pretty awful quarter. It's worth noting that Tesla sales have plummeted in Europe and that's despite the fact that the Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y has been available in many markets there for a few weeks now.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for May 7, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 04:40

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, May 7, 2025:

AcrossOvechkin who broke Wayne Gretzky's N.H.L. goals record
  • The answer is Alex.

Stand-in
  • The answer is Proxy.

Industry for marketing professionals, informally
  • The answer is AdBiz.

Poe, Pope or Pound
  • The answer is Ideal.

Org. that really ought to give you a break?
  • The answer is IRS.

DownIntense passion
  • The answer is Ardor.

Parts of ears and brains
  • The answer is Lobes.

Glowing sign in a movie theater
  • The answer is Exit.

End of the alphabet
  • The answer is XYZ.

Spanish term of endearment
  • The answer is Papi.

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.

Robert Irwin weighed in on the 100 men vs one gorilla debate

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 02:19

Recently the internet has been consumed with the question of whether 100 people could win in a bare knuckle brawl with a gorilla. Now Robert Irwin has offered his thoughts on the debate.

The Australian conservationist and Bonds underwear model weighed in on the hypothetical in a lighthearted post to TikTok on Tuesday, noting that the question has been coming up a lot recently.

"I have been asked this question so much in the last week, it's ridiculous," said Irwin. "Like, I'm getting asked on the street now."

SEE ALSO: The internet can’t stop arguing over 100 men fighting 1 gorilla

The 100 people vs. one gorilla debate has spread significantly across social media platforms, with people arguing over everything from science to strategy. Even primate experts have weighed in, telling Rolling Stone that humans might theoretically stand a chance — if they all commit wholeheartedly to a kamikaze mission with devastating casualties.

For his part, Irwin was reluctant to firmly back one side or the other, acknowledging the sheer volume of people in the hypothetical scenario.

"Gorillas are strong, mate," said Irwin. "Like, really strong. But it's 100 people — I'm not sure."

Instead, Irwin was more concerned with the implications of attempting to beat up an endangered animal. Native to equatorial Africa, gorilla populations have been adversely impacted by threats such as habitat destruction, hunting, and the Ebola virus. This hasn't been helped by their slow reproductive rate either, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature regarding gorillas as critically endangered.

"Just as an animal conservationist, fighting an endangered species just doesn't sit right with me," said Irwin. "How many people does it take to save gorillas? That's the question we should be asking. Because there's not many of them left."

Irwin also considered that the internet debate ignored the fact that gorillas are typically docile, and wouldn't be interested in instigating a fistfight with a crowd of humans. There also seems to be little reason for humans to start something either, particularly if they value the structural integrity of their skulls.

"Yes, gorillas are super powerful, all of that," Irwin said. "But also, they're pretty chill. Most of the time they kinda just keep to themselves. They'll defend themselves and protect each other and all of that, but if they don't really have a reason they kind of just do their thing.

"We don't… we don't need to fight gorillas. Maybe let's just let this one remain a mystery."

Viewers were quick to call Irwin's response "the most Robert Irwin answer," with many dubbing him a "true man" due to his concern for the gorillas.

"him gentle parenting us like school children is sending me," said esmecaastro070.

"he really said 'it’s never HOW is the gorilla,'" quipped rayne333333.

This app ensures youll never need a desktop scanner again

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Keep a scanner at your fingertips forever with SwiftScan VIP, now just $41.99 (reg. $199) with code TAKE30. 

We may poke fun at the massive multitasking printers of yesteryear, but having a scanner really did come in handy. If you find yourself missing that addition in your family's old '00s computer room, let SwiftScan VIP fill the void. This versatile scanner app can preserve documents, images, and a lot of things your old desk scanner couldn't dream of.

A lifetime license is also only $41.99 (reg. $199). 

Scanning just got a whole lot easier

Scan anything right from your smartphone or iPad with a little help from SwiftScan. This genius app lets you create high-quality scans of anything from anywhere. It even enhances the scan quality, utilizing color filters, auto-optimization, and blur reduction. 

Save that receipt, record a whiteboard before it's erased, or safeguard a handwritten note with just one tap. SwiftScan can detect the edges of the page and can even scan multiple pages as a single document as needed. 

Once you have scanned the item, you can turn it into a PDF or JPG. From there, you can go old school and send it as a fax. Or if you'd prefer to stay in 2025, you can also send it via email or upload it to iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or your own preferred cloud service. 

Aside from serving as your personal scanning machine, SwiftScan also helps you edit PDF files. If you need to work with a PDF — from signing to annotating or redacting — just scan it and then draw, highlight, or erase text as needed. 

Once you scan an item, SwiftScan saves and organizes your scans in folders. And the OCR technology makes them easily searchable later, so you can type in a keyword and find it long after scanning. 

Use code TAKE30 by June 1 at 11:59 p.m. to get a SwiftScan VIP Lifetime Subscription on sale for $41.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Maple Media SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime Subscription $41.99
$199.99 Save $158 Get Deal

How to watch PSG vs. Arsenal online for free

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League semi finals were always going to be tough games to call, but the first legs were incredibly tense. PSG narrowly won the first leg of their semi final against Arsenal, but that 1-0 advantage could easily be overturned in Paris.

Arteta's side will be desperate to start strongly in the Parc des Princes. They beat Real Madrid away from home in the quarter finals, so why couldn't they do the same and advance to the final?

If you want to watch PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Arsenal ?

PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on May 7. This fixture takes place at the Parc des Princes.

How to watch PSG vs. Arsenal for free

PSG vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, 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 Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

  4. Visit RTÉ Player

  5. Watch PSG vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Arsenal (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

  • 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream PSG vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Nebraska

Mashable - Wed, 05/07/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Nebraska with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states still have restrictions in place for online adult content, meaning millions of potential users are locked out of their favorite sites after the introduction of age verification laws. That's frustrating for users, but there's a simple workaround that everyone should know about.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Nebraska, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Nebraska

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these 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 Pornhub

  4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

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

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% 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 Pornhub for free in Nebraska with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 23:25

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

  • Yellow: Deflecting the ball

  • Green: Data in football

  • Blue: Baseball team characters

  • Purple: In charge of popular football teams

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

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

  • Yellow: Prevent a goal

  • Green: Stats for a running back

  • Blue: MLB mascots

  • Purple: Homophones of NFL head coaches

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 #226 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Prevent a goal - BLOCK, PARRY, SAVE, STOP

  • Stats for a running back - ATTEMPTS, FUMBLES, TOUCHDOWNS, YARDS

  • MLB mascots - BLOOPER, MR. MET, ORBIT, WALLY

  • Homophones of NFL head coaches - BOWLS, CAROL, READ, TAILOR

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

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

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

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

NYT Strands hints, answers for May 7

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 7 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 7 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I'm in lobe

The words are transportation-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are types of train cars.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is All Aboard

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 7
  • Engine

  • Gondola

  • Boxcar

  • Flatbed

  • Hopper

  • Caboose

  • All Aboard

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for May 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 22:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Rugged.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

ROCKY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Friend of Snow White.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 7, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DWARF

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To expand.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 7 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 7, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SWELL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Happens most frequently.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 7 Hurdle Word 4 answer

MODAL

Final Hurdle hint

A new gadget.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

GIZMO

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 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.

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 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.

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: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 7 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: To recuperate

  • Green: Excluding

  • Blue: Used by an oracle

  • Purple: Jewels

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: Get better, as a broken bone

  • Green: Not including

  • Blue: Tarot minor Arcana suits

  • Purple: Homophones of gemstones

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 #696 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Get better, as a broken bone: HEAL, KNIT, MEND, RECOVER

  • Not including: BESIDES, BUT, EXCEPT, SAVE

  • Tarot minor Arcana suits: CUPS, PENTACLES, SWORDS, WANDS

  • Homophones of gemstones": CHORAL, OPEL, PURL, QUARTS

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 May 7

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 May 7, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 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 May 7 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 May 7, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Aggressively masculine.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MACHO.

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 May 7

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.

Flying without REAL ID? Heres how much extra time you need at security

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 19:54

The REAL ID deadline begins Wednesday (May 7), though Department of Homeland Security officials say those without the new identification can still board planes but will need to get to the airport even earlier.

At a congressional hearing on Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said travelers who are not REAL ID compliant will face additional security procedures at U.S. airports, including possibly being diverted to extra lines. The New York Times reports that TSA officials recently echoed that statement on Reddit, saying fliers without REAL IDs should get to the airport an hour earlier than they initially planned.

The REAL ID deadline arrives nearly 20 years to the day after the REAL ID law passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The requirement for having a REAL ID to fly domestically has been continually extended but was finally set in stone by President Biden, with the Trump administration keeping that May 2025 date.

SEE ALSO: Google Flights data reveals the cheapest day to book your travel

For decades, Americans have been able to fly domestically using only a state-issued driver’s license, but the star-emblazoned REAL ID requires more identity confirmation, including documents verifying addresses and social security numbers. Every state has different rules on how you turn their state ID or driver's license into a federally-compliant REAL ID. California, for example, asks travelers to fill out an online application, upload necessary documents (like passports and birth certificates for personal identification and utility bills to prove California residency), provide a social security number, then go to a Department of Motor Vehicles office — with the hard copies of the documents you uploaded — before the REAL ID is issued.

American travelers without REAL IDs can still fly domestically, and without extra security, with a U.S. passport, a permanent resident card, a Global Entry card, or a Department of Defense ID.

NSO Group Ordered to Pay Meta $167 Million in Damages

NYT Technology - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 19:40
Meta had sued the firm, NSO Group, for using its spyware to hack 1,400 WhatsApp accounts belonging to journalists, dissidents and others.

MrBeast is teaming with Maximum Ride author James Patterson to write a novel

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 18:18

In a collaboration that feels ripped from the simulation, MrBeast — YouTube’s reigning king of high-stakes philanthro-tainment — is partnering with thriller juggernaut James Patterson to release a novel.

SEE ALSO: MrBeast fans rage as immersive Vegas experience flops

Yes, you read that right. After a bidding war reportedly pushing into eight-figure territory, the mega-creator is making his literary debut with Patterson under the HarperCollins banner. Per Deadline, the book is a high-octane thriller centered on a global, life-or-death competition with a billion-dollar prize dangling at the end. In other words: a MrBeast video, but with chapters.

Deadline’s source claims the working title at the moment is The Most Dangerous Game — a not-so-subtle nod to the classic Richard Connell short story about a man hunted for sport by a wealthy Russian. That is not confirmed, however, and it appears other titles are under consideration.

The book’s premise also wouldn’t be far off from what some contestants claimed they endured on MrBeast’s Amazon-backed game show, Beast Games. Ahead of the show’s release last year, participants alleged that Donaldson’s team subjected them to "dangerous circumstances and conditions."

Still, controversy and legal threats haven’t derailed the MrBeast hype engine. In a statement via United Talent Agency, Donaldson said he’s long wanted to break into fiction — and it was his reps who connected him with Patterson.

The Alex Cross author turned out to be a natural match for the kind of story Donaldson had in mind. Together, they landed on a concept tailored perfectly to the MrBeast brand: high-stakes, high-drama, and engineered for maximum spectacle.

5 classic video games that deserve a remaster before Gears of War: Reloaded

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 17:45

Sometimes, old games come back in style. Sometimes, they never come back at all. And sometimes they just keep coming back regardless of whether anyone asked for it.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the all-time champion in the latter category, having been ported and remastered what feels like 19 times now (at least we're getting Oblivion this time). But on May 5, Microsoft announced Gears of War: Reloaded, a new 4K-enhanced port of the 2006 Xbox 360 classic that's also coming to PS5. That's all fine and dandy, except Gears of War literally already got a remaster in 2015 called Ultimate Edition. So, this is a remaster of a remaster, but at least Ultimate Edition owners get the upgrade for free.

That's goofy, right? But instead of lingering on that, let's celebrate some other old(er) games that could use the remaster treatment instead.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Track latest restocks, see our first-hand impressions 5 other video games that deserve remasters

For this list, I'm trying to stick to games that you can't just easily download and play on a modern console. There are a couple of exceptions, but bear with me, OK?

Sleeping Dogs The combat in 'Sleeping Dogs' was amazing. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

I'm going to immediately break my rule with Sleeping Dogs, a game that has a just-OK Definitive Edition port available on current Xbox and PlayStation hardware. That version of the game didn't really feature the kinds of visual or performance enhancements we've come to expect from remasters, and was mostly just an excuse to package the original game with its DLC, so I'm fine throwing that port under the bus here.

Anyway, if you didn't play Sleeping Dogs when it hit Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2012, you really missed out. It's basically Grand Theft Auto, but you play as an undercover cop in Hong Kong. The setting means that guns are very rare, so the developers at the now-defunct United Front Games included a much deeper and more fun melee combat system than any GTA game has to offer. Gorgeous urban visuals, a story that takes itself just seriously enough to be interesting without being boring about it, and all kinds of goofy open-world mayhem defined Sleeping Dogs.

Unfortunately, it was a bit of a sleeper at the time and didn't sell enough to get a real sequel greenlit. But real ones know. Sleeping Dogs deserves another chance in the spotlight.

Where can you play it? Steam, PlayStation 4

Asura's Wrath

Asura's Wrath is the only game on here that I've actually written words about for a real, published book that you can buy in stores. That means it's real art.

Of course, that wouldn't be in dispute to anyone who's seen Asura's Wrath. Also hailing from the Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2012, Asura's Wrath is basically an 8-hour playable anime movie. The gameplay consists largely of timed button presses tied to some of the most absurd, over-the-top action cutscenes ever rendered. At one point, a guy magically extends his sword to such a length that he's able to stab it through the entire planet. I'm pretty sure the moon gets destroyed like halfway through the game and nobody even really stops to point it out.

Asura's Wrath lost points then and now for tying the true ending of the story to a $10 DLC episode. A modern remaster that just makes the game available in full on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles would be amazing.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 3

The Simpsons: Hit & Run

Speaking of Grand Theft Auto, did you know there was a Simpsons-themed ripoff back in 2003?

The Simpsons: Hit & Run speaks for itself, really. You run around an open-world version of Springfield, doing wacky missions for each of its 900 or so colorful side characters. Basically, any vehicle that has ever appeared on-screen in the show is playable, and the town map is full of easter eggs for fans to discover. It's probably the best Simpsons game, but likely due to ancient copyright problems, it's never been re-released in any form.

I'd love a basic HD version of this game for current platforms. You wouldn't even need to do anything to it other than make it look a little sharper. Just save it from PS2 purgatory, please.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 2 (if you can find one)

Bloodborne Credit: PlayStation Store

You didn't think I'd make it all the way through a list of games that need remasters without getting to Bloodborne, did you?

This is really only here as a formality, given that every single PS5 announcement stream carries speculation from fans that this will finally be the one where they announce a Bloodborne remaster. It has yet to actually happen, of course, and it's starting to feel like it never will. But let's talk about it anyway.

Originally released in 2015 for PS4, Bloodborne is the newest game on this list and also the easiest to just buy and play on a PS5 right now. The only problem is that it never got any kind of upgrade patch for PS5, so it runs exactly as it did in 2015, which is to say "not great." Bloodborne in its original state is still fully playable and a wonderful action game in its own right, but people are not necessarily wrong to beg for a remaster.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 4 and PS5

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Last but certainly not least, one of the most self-indulgent pieces of art ever created deserves to be seen again by fresh eyes in 2025 (and beyond).

Metal Gear Solid 4 was a bonafide event in 2008. It's the only video game I've ever waited in line at midnight for. Unfortunately, it has never been released on anything other than PlayStation 3. One would assume that a remaster of this game for modern hardware is in the works, given that a collection of the first three Metal Gear Solid games came out with a "Vol. 1" label on it in late 2023. But it's been nearly 20 years and nothing feels like a given with this game.

If you've never played it, everything that people say (lovingly or otherwise) about director Hideo Kojima is most applicable in MGS4. It has 90-minute cutscenes full of flow charts and meditations on genetic legacy and geopolitics. All of the boss enemies are modeled after real-life female models Kojima liked for some reason. Every single plot thread from every Metal Gear game leading up to 4 is resolved in this game, often in ways that feel contrived and clunky.

It's a beautiful mess of a video game, and it doesn't feel fair that something that made such a big impact nearly two decades ago is just unplayable by a large majority of people now.

Where can you play it? PlayStation 3

Is it Thunderbolts* or *The New Avengers?

Mashable - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 17:16

Marvel Studios unveiled a bold marketing strategy to promote Thunderbolts* with a promotional billboard and online campaign that many MCU fans have decried as a spoiler.

After making $76 million domestically on the film's opening weekend, Marvel Studios and Thunderbolts* distributor Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures papered over billboards and posters that had the movie's title on them with a new proposed title that finally explained that asterisk: *The New Avengers

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What does the title change from Thunderbolts* to *The New Avengers mean?

Near the end of the 36th MCU movie, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Sentry (Lewis Pullman), the ragtag band of antiheroes known as the Thunderbolts (a name even they couldn't agree on) are redubbed "the New Avengers" in a slick PR (or CYA) move by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).

The movie's post-credit scene takes this rebrand even further, with a potential superhero copyright conflict. Marvel Studios' marketing campaign seems to follow her lead, not only revealing the new title, but also employing the cast to bring more attention to it.

SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' tries to tackle mental illness. It almost works.

On Instragram, Marvel Studios revealed footage shot at the film's premiere that shows Florence Pugh peel away the Thunderbolts* title from a poster to reveal *The New Avengers. On Twitter, Marvel Studios posted a video of Sebastian Stan replacing a character poster of his Winter Soldier with a new updated poster.

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But what do these billboards, posters, and videos touting the title change mean?

Is this movie called Thunderbolts*? Or is it now to be called *The New Avengers? Is this like The Edge of Tomorrow or Ghostbusters (2016), where the studio changed the name of the movie after release? (In the case of those movies to Live Die Repeat and Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, respectively.)

It doesn't appear so.

On Disney's official website, the film is still called Thunderbolts*. If you're booking tickets on Fandango, you'd still be booking Thunderbolts* — even though both sites boast the updated poster. This seems to be a marketing move long in the making, but not an official change of the MCU title.

You can see both old and new posters below.

Left: The original Thunderbolts* Poster The original Thunderbolts* Poster Credit: Disney Studios / Marvel Entertainment Right: The updated *The New Avengers poster The updated *The New Avengers poster Credit: Disney Studios / Marvel Entertainment

Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier explained the marketing move to the New York Times, saying, "It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that, too. Especially given that the asterisk has been on the movie for a year, hopefully it doesn’t feel sweaty — it feels like this was a plan and we built up to it."

Online, the poster swap went over poorly. Fans weren't upset about the relaunch of the Avengers, but were confused about the seeming title change and annoyed that this third act plot point was outed on the internet and in the real world (via billboards and posters) before the movie had been out even a full week.

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Will this marketing move help or hurt Thunderbolts* as it moves into its second weekend in theaters? We'll see.

Elon Musk Tried Keeping Issues at His Texas Mansion Private, Emails Show

NYT Technology - Tue, 05/06/2025 - 17:00
The tech billionaire’s staff were concerned that correspondence about his home in West Lake Hills would become public after neighbors complained.

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