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When I found out that Apple's new iPhone 16e doesn't support MagSafe accessories (despite having wireless charging), it was an unpleasant surprise. I rely on at least three different versions of the magnetic chargers daily (including a MagSafe Wallet), and losing access to those would be a bummer.

More broadly, the decision didn't make much sense to me. Apple may be cutting costs by omitting MagSafe on the iPhone 16e, as well as differentiating it from the more powerful phones in its lineup, but it's sure to lose potential profit on MagSafe accessories.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 16e is the new affordable Apple phone

Regardless of Apple's reasoning for this decision, the solution seemed simple: Just get a MagSafe case. However, typically for Apple, the company went all the way with omitting MagSafe on the iPhone 16e, because even the official cases for the device do not support it.

Fortunately, third-party companies have already started to fill this gap. Spigen, for example, has launched a pretty extensive lineup of iPhone 16e cases, some of which support MagSafe. A company called Mous also sells a couple of iPhone 16e cases with MagSafe.

Mous says it has MagSafe cases for the iPhone 16e, though they're all still labeled as "coming soon." Credit: Mous

I cannot be completely certain that a third-party case with MagSafe will always work exactly the same as having MagSafe on the phone. But given that MagSafe is essentially a Qi wireless charger paired with magnets to automatically align with MagSafe chargers, and the iPhone 16e does support Qi wireless charging, it should work fine with MagSafe-compatible chargers. Some features, such as Find My for MagSafe Wallets, probably won't work (I will put this to the test once I get an iPhone 16e review unit).

Still, if you're keen on getting the iPhone 16e, and you want to use MagSafe accessories, a third-party case is probably your best bet.

SAVE $300: As of Feb. 20, the Apple Studio Display is on sale for $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's a 19% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Studio Display $1,299.00 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal

If you're a MacBook user and you want to give your work setup an upgrade, you'll love this latest deal on the Apple Studio Display.

As of Feb. 20, this impressive monitor is reduced to $1,299.99 at Amazon, saving you $300 on list price. This deal is specific to the tilt-adjustable monitor with standard glass. This deal does not include AppleCare+.

SEE ALSO: Here's when you can preorder the new Apple iPhone 16e

The screen boasts a 27-inch 5K Retina display with 600 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and support for a billion colors — so everything looks really high quality and vibrant. It’s got a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, meaning your video calls stay focused on you, even if you move around.

The three-mic system is seriously impressive, ensuring your voice comes through loud and clear, and the six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio delivers an immersive listening experience. Perfect for long calls or meetings, or watching movies and TV.

Connectivity-wise, you get one Thunderbolt 3 port and three USB-C ports, plus 96W of power delivery to keep your MacBook charged. And for added comfort, there’s an optional stand that lets you adjust both tilt and height.

You can find this great deal on the Apple Studio Display at Amazon.

When a TV show aims to speak to a political moment, it helps for it to face our reality head-on. Zero Day tries for the former but fails at the latter, making for an extremely frustrating political thriller.

The limited series marks Robert De Niro's first leading role on TV. He also executive produces. Zero Day also boasts other big names like Angela Bassett, Lizzy Caplan, and Jesse Plemons, as well as creators Eric Newman (The Watcher, Narcos) and Noah Oppenheim (Jackie, NBC News). While this crew lends gravitas to Zero Day, the show can't escape the feeling that it's out of sync with the political climate it's trying to critique.

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them What's Zero Day about? Robert De Niro in "Zero Day." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Zero Day drops us into a United States in crisis. A nationwide cyberattack has caused a minute-long power outage that compromised transportation and communications systems, as well as the power grid. Thousands are dead, and the entire country is on edge, especially since the attack ended with an ominous message to every U.S. citizen: "This will happen again." Now, sitting President Evelyn Mitchell (Bassett, woefully underused) is on the hunt to find out who caused the attack and how to prevent it.

Enter former President George Mullen (De Niro). A popular president who won bipartisan support, Mullen would have been a shoo-in for a second term had he not resigned to grieve the death of his son. As Mitchell sees it, Mullen's popularity makes him the ideal candidate to run the Zero Day commission, which will have great powers of surveillance and search and seizure. The commission could be an affront to civil liberties, which is partly why Mullen takes the job — to stop someone more likely to abuse it from getting there first.

SEE ALSO: 'The White Lotus' Season 3 review: Juicy drama, great performances, still underwhelming

Now racing against time, it's up to Mullen to root out the source of the attack. While many believe the culprit to be Russia, Mullen has reason to suspect the attack came from closer to home. He'll have to wade through misinformation, conspiracy theories, and power-hungry tech moguls and hedge fund managers in order to find the truth. As if that weren't enough, he'll face opposition from his own daughter, Congresswoman Alexandra Mullen (Caplan), as well as claims that he isn't sound enough of mind to do this job. (Surreal sequences featuring the repeated use of the Sex Pistols' "Who Killed Bambi?" certainly seem to support that claim.)

All these element make for a compelling enough thriller, especially some late-season twists. But for a show that deals with American division, misinformation, and conspiracy theories, Zero Day doesn't interrogate the reasons why these problems are so prevalent now, or why they're so intrinsically linked to the government.

Zero Day is frustratingly vague about American politics. Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett in "Zero Day." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Despite its platitudes about bipartisanship and "reaching across the aisle," Zero Day doesn't actually assign its characters political parties. Where does Mullen fall on the political spectrum? How about President Mitchell, or Speaker of the House Richard Dreyer (Matthew Modine)? We sense opposition and tension between them, and while we can make some educated guesses as to their affiliation, Zero Day never lets us know for sure.

The choice is intentional. Plemons, who plays Mullen's aide Roger Carlson, told The Times, "When you do get into the specifics of a political party, it gives you an out immediately as a viewer to either say, 'I'm for this person' or 'I'm against them.' Something disengages as you're watching."

Yet knowing party affiliations — as we do in other highly political shows like The West Wing and House of Cards — gives you vital context about where a character may stand on certain issues, and who their base is. In a show whose crux winds up being "How can we fix a divided America?", knowing which side of the ideological divide people are on is crucial. Without this knowledge, politician characters like President Mitchell and Dreyer feel woefully undercooked, especially when they deliver sermons about the problems facing the country.

"Half the country [is] caught up in a fever dream of lies and conspiracy," one character tells Mullen. "The other half [is] shouting about pronouns and ranking their grievances."

Statements like these wildly simplify the complex issues facing the United States today, not to mention put people just wanting to be referred to by the right pronouns on the same level as dangerous conspiracy theorists. (Zero Day was filmed prior to the 2024 election, but given the Trump administration's ongoing erasure of queer and trans history, the catchall complaint about "pronouns" is extra unfortunate.)

Crucially, Zero Day never examines who might have led people to believe these lies or have these grievances. The answer is undoubtedly the very politicians we're following, as well as figures like tech billionaire Monica Kidder (Gaby Hoffmann), who barely gets enough screen time to register as the show's answer to Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. However, since we don't know who stands where and how they treat their base, Zero Day removes culpability for this divide from politicians — they're just trying to fix the division, apparently — and places it on the American people. After all, the only time Zero Day gives an explicit political affiliation is to call out a homegrown terrorist network of "radical leftists." But even then there are inconsistencies. Why do these leftists follow controversial TV host Evan Green (Dan Stevens), who's positioned as a right-leaning, Alex Jones-like figure? Details like this immediately remove viewers from the world of the show, even though Zero Day keeps stressing that it's speaking to division in modern society.

But in the Trump era, when political figures thrive on just such division, Zero Day's vagaries don't just feel naive. They feel like cop-outs.

Zero Day is now streaming on Netflix.

A Monster Train sequel has just been announced, promising more of the incredibly popular, highly addictive roguelike deckbuilder. What's more, there's already a surprise PC demo that players can check out right now for free. It's a good thing we're headed toward the end of the week, because a lot of people's productivity is about to take a massive hit.

Developed by indie studio Shiny Shoe, 2020's Monster Train had players ride a locomotive through Hell, defending the Pyre on board from the armies of Heaven. Choosing from five clans featuring different abilities, players had to fend off the forces of Heaven across the train's three vertical levels, building a new deck of cards on each run to reignite the fires of Hell.

SEE ALSO: 'Slay the Spire 2' gets a ghastly gameplay trailer at The Game Awards

Monster Train 2 will now have players going full steam ahead in the opposite direction, rushing flat out through Heaven. Instead of reigniting the fires of Hell, this time players are out to stop the powerful Titans from destroying the world, heading toward their homeworld of the Abyss. To do so, Heaven and Hell have formed an incredibly unlikely alliance — and opened up exciting new gameplay possibilities.

In addition to new enemies, Monster Train 2 will feature new playable clans, both new and familiar cards, and even new card types. For example, Room Cards will boost a floor on your train, while Equipment Cards will power up individual units. Players can even customise their trains for different buffs, and there will be an endless mode for anyone who doesn't want the ride to end.

The Monster Train sequel isn't the only good news for people who appreciate fantastic video games. The original Monster Train is also a massive 90 percent off on Steam, putting it at just $2.49 — the lowest the game has ever been. Considering the hours of fun and strategic gameplay this game provides, it's pretty much a no-brainer. You can also pick up the Last Divinity DLC for just $1.79, which adds the Wurmkin clan to the game.

I have no idea how many hours I've already sunk into Monster Train on Xbox, but I'm absolutely ready to do it all over again on PC.

Monster Train 2 is scheduled to arrive "soon" on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Between this and Slay the Spire 2, 2025 is already shaping up to be an excellent year for card-based roguelike games.

At CES 2025, AI was everywhere — especially when it came to laptops. We were impressed by many of the AI laptops that were revealed at this year's show, including offerings from Asus, Acer, Lenovo, and many more, as well as the announcement of Qualcomm's budget-level AI chip in the Snapdragon X. But how can you actually get your hands on one of these new-wave machines?

SEE ALSO: Best Windows laptops for 2025: Our top pick lasts longer than the M4 MacBook Pro

The answer in most cases is that you're going to have to wait a tad bit longer to pick one up for yourself, but fortunately, a few of them are available to purchase — or preorder at the very least. Take a look below and check out some of our favorite AI laptops from CES 2025 that you can start shopping as we speak.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition $1,459.99 at Lenovo
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One of the best new convertible laptops from CES 2025, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is available on Lenovo's storefront. New and improved AI processing, an updated Yoga Pen stylus, and a sleek design make this 2-in-1 an exciting prospect for the future of AI-assisted convertible laptops. We're excited to get our hands on this one to put it to the test soon.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Swift Go 14 AI $837.99 at Best Buy
$999.00 Save $161.01 Shop Now

Equipped with one of Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Plus chips, the Acer Swift Go 14 AI is a Copilot+ PC that won't completely break the bank at $999. The compact machine comes with a decent suite of specs at this price as well, including 1TB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and a Full HD, 120Hz display. Not only is this laptop available to purchase, it's already gone on sale.

Asus ZenBook A14 and ROG Flow Z13 Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ZenBook A14 $1,099.99 at Asus
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ROG Flow Z13 $1,999.99 at Asus
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The Asus ZenBook A14 was the best AI laptop overall that we saw at CES 2025 — Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel got her hands on the laptop, highlighting its light and sleek design, promises of a long battery life, and a beautiful OLED display. On Asus' gaming side of things, the ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming-focused tablet that employs AMD's new line of Ryzen AI Max+ processors. We didn't get to test this one out, but we're certainly looking forward to it.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 AFL for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aussie Rules is a uniquely fast-paced and physical game that provides entertainment to millions of fans every week, but for whatever reason, this entertaining sport hasn't traveled well outside of Australia. We think this should change, because we firmly believe that the rest of the world would absolutely love footy.

If you want to watch the 2025 AFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the AFL?

The Australian Football League (AFL) is the leading professional competition of Aussie Rules Football.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the Champions League online for free

The AFL currently consists of 18 teams spread over Australia's five mainland states. The league features 23 rounds in the regular season, with the team with the best record awarded the minor premiership. The top eight teams from the regular season standings compete in a four-round finals series, culminating in the AFL Grand Final.

The defending champions are the Brisbane Lions.

When is the 2025 AFL?

The 2025 AFL season is the 129th edition of the Australian Football League. This season runs from March 6 to Sept. 27.

How to watch the 2025 AFL for free

Every round of the 2025 AFL is available to live stream for free on 7plus. This free coverage includes matches on 23 Thursday nights, 24 Friday nights, State Footy Saturdays, 25 Sunday afternoons, five Sunday nights, plus every game in the Finals Series including the AFL Grand Final.

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

Live stream the 2025 AFL from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 7plus

5. Live stream the 2025 AFL for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 AFL without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select AFL fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 7plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2025 AFL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Bangladesh vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Pakistan and New Zealand came together for the first 2025 ICC Champions Trophy fixture, and now it's the turn of the other half of Group A: Bangladesh and India. Only two sides will progress from Group A to the knockout rounds, so every game is hugely important.

If you want to watch Bangladesh vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bangladesh vs. India?

Bangladesh vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 20. This ODI takes place at the Dubai International Stadium.

How to watch Bangladesh vs. India for free

The following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

• Australia — Prime Video (free with 30-day trial)

• India — Disney+ Hotstar

• New Zealand — Sky TV NZ

• Pakistan — Tamasha (free) and PTV (free)

• UK — Sky Sports

• USA — Willow and Sling TV

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy 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 Pakistan

4. Visit Tamasha or PTV

5. Live stream Bangladesh vs. India for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bangladesh vs. India (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Bangladesh vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free with ExpressVPN.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 20 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Together for the present

These words are popular among married couples.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are traditional gifts and the year they are gifted.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Anniversary.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 20

• First

• Paper

• Fiftieth

• Gold

• Sixtieth

• Diamond

• Anniversary

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

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

• Yellow: Played on grass, maybe in a backyard

• Green: Nascar-related

• Blue: Runs in the family

• Purple: Athletes turned comedians

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: Lawn games

• Green: Parts of a racetrack

• Blue: Members of the Manning family

• Purple: Athletes to guest host 'SNL'

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 #150 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Lawn games - BOCCE, CORNHOLE, CROQUET, KANJAM

• Parts of a racetrack - INFIELD, PITS, STRAIGHTAWAY, TURN

• Members of the Manning family - ARCH, COOPER, ELI, PEYTON

• Athletes to guest host 'SNL' - BRADY, PHELPS, ROUSEY, WATT

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.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 20 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: Signs of warning or emergency

• Green: Ways to stay overnight

• Blue: Things related to dawn

• Purple: Shapes associated with popular South Korean Netflix show

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: Alert

• Green: Spend The Night (At)

• Blue: Associated with Early Morning

• Purple: Cookie Cutter Shapes in "Squid Game"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #620 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Alert: ALARM, FLARE, SIGNAL, SOS

• Spend The Night (At): BUNK, CRASH, SLEEP, STAY

• Associated with Early Morning: DEW, ROSTER, SUNRISE, WORM

• Cookie Cutter Shapes in "Squid Game": CIRCLE, STAR, TRIANGLE, UMBRELLA

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 20

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.

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: 8NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 20 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 19, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Gross, annoying bug.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

ROACH.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 20

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.

Elon Musk may be the biggest beneficiary of Donald Trump's re-election, surpassing even Trump himself.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Musk's social media platform X is currently looking to raise money from investors at a valuation of $44 billion. If that number sounds familiar, it's because that's precisely what Musk paid for the company formerly known as Twitter when he acquired it in October 2022.

In the years since Musk took over and rebranded the entire platform as X, its revenue has plummeted by nearly half of what it made as Twitter. That's billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Musk, alongside his financial backers, now seems to have overpaid for the company. One investor, Fidelity, calculated in September of last year that its investment had lost 79 percent of its value compared to when Musk acquired it.

However, the U.S. presidential election changed the game. Musk threw his support behind Trump, establishing a PAC to back the Republican candidate with hundreds of millions of dollars. That investment paid off when Trump won. Now, Trump has appointed Musk to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), granting him significant influence over federal spending.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's DOGE.gov website can apparently be edited by anyone

Musk's companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, have secured billions of dollars in government funding over the years. However, his close relationship with President Trump is now benefiting his businesses in ways beyond government contracts.

Since Musk took over X, the platform has seen a significant loss in advertisers due to content issues and some of Musk's own controversial statements. Nevertheless, after the election, some advertisers have signaled their return. While it's unclear how much they'll spend compared to previous campaigns, notable brands like Apple have begun running ads on X for the first time in years.

Additionally, some investors in Musk's X, who were struggling to sell off their debt, recently found success. Bloomberg reports that some were able to offload billions of dollars of this debt at "no discount to face value," meaning they likely got back most if not all of what they put in.

With X preparing to enable financial transactions on the platform and integrate Musk's AI company, xAI, and its Grok chatbot, the company is now seeking funds at the same $44 billion valuation Musk originally "overpaid." Thanks to Trump's election, Musk is now in a stronger position to raise the necessary capital.

Meta announced some new policies for Facebook live broadcasts and it's going to lead to a lot of deleted videos.

On Tuesday, the company announced in a blog post that all Facebook live broadcasts will only stay on Facebook Pages or profiles for 30 days, after which they'll be deleted and removed from Facebook. The new policy goes into effect starting on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

All user's live videos older than 30 days won't immediately be deleted and removed from Facebook but users will need to act fast if they want to keep them.

"Before your archival live videos are deleted, you will be notified by email and in the app, and from then you'll have 90 days to download or transfer your content," the blog post read, noting that the platform is "launching new tools to make downloading your previous live videos easier."

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

If you'd like to keep your live videos, you have a few options. You can download them to your personal device individually or in bulk, transfer them to your cloud storage individually or in bulk, or convert the videos into a new Reel.

It's unclear why Meta is making this change, but it comes at a time in which the company is prioritizing vertical videos and Reels. Pressuring users into converting their live videos into reels lest they be lost forever could be seen as a pretty transparent move.

The president’s company, Trump Media & Technology Group, represents a clear mingling of his official duties and his business interests.

SAVE UP TO 70%: We found the best post-V-Day sex toy deals. Save up to 70% on products from Lovehoney, Lovers, Babeland, FemmeFunn, and more.

If you’ve been feeling underappreciated since Valentine’s Day (it happens to the best of us), a little retail therapy could be the pick-me-up you need.

Right now, you can find discounts of up to 70% off vibrators, dildos, cock rings, lube, and more at major online retailers, including some of my personal faves like Lovers and Le Wand.

Here are the best sex toy deals to shop now and cure that V-Day hangover:

Lovehoney Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Get up to 70% off at Lovehoney Shop Now Why we like it

If you’re looking for a deal on sex toys, Lovehoney is the place to shop. This retailer has literally hundreds (if not thousands) of options, all for an affordable price. Right now, you can get up to 70% off clearance items, including bestsellers like the Lovehoney Extra Powerful Multispeed Wand Vibrator and Womanizer Premium Clitoral Stimulator.

Lovehoney is great for finding a wide variety of toys at all price points (for beginners and pros). Plus, they have fast and discreet shipping — which is free on orders of $49 or more.

Lovers Opens in a new window Credit: Lovers Get up to 20% off at Lovers Shop Now Why we like it

Lovers is one of my absolute favorite online sex toy retailers, full stop. The selection is always top-notch, the prices are reasonable, and the site is super user-friendly. Plus, the Playboy Pleasure collection keeps me coming back for more (pun definitely intended).

Speaking of, now through March 1, you can get up to 15% off all Playboy Pleasure items with the code PLAY15 and 20% off sex chocolates with the code SWEET. There’s also one more day left to get 20% off solo toys with the code FORME.

FemmeFunn Opens in a new window Credit: FemmeFunn Discounted bundles at FemmeFunn Shop Now Why we like it

This brand’s kind of an honorable mention on this list. FemmeFunn’s been around for 10 years, but they don’t get nearly enough credit for their really well-made, innovative toys. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re responsible for creating the first-ever fully silicone bullet vibrator — no seams for bacteria to hide in, just power and fun.

Right now, you can score the Happy Hour Bundle (a panty vibe and double cock ring) for just $99.99 (originally $134.74), or you can get the Intro to Funn Bundle (a rabbit vibe, wand vibe, and bullet vibe) for $209.97 (originally $259.97).

More sex toy deals

• Adam & Eve: Get 45% off one item with code TAKE45 + clearance sale

• Babeland: Get up to 70% off sex toys

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• ZALO: Get up to 15% off sitewide with code ZALOLOVE

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It seems like there's been a new air-travel incident every day under President Donald Trump's new administration.

Most notably, last month, a U.S. Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people. It was the first fatal crash of a U.S. airliner in some 16 years. On Monday, a Delta flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport flipped as it landed in Toronto. There was the deadly high-profile crash of a medical jet in Philly, a fatal wreck in Alaska, and, just today, a fatal plane collision in Arizona.

SEE ALSO: Why Elon Musk is part of the controversy involving D.C.'s deadly plane crash

This is happening as Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) fire hundreds of employees at the Federal Aviation Administration. So, naturally, folks are a bit nervous about flying. And since it's 2025, they're expressing their anxiety through jokes and memes online.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

folks my flight is about to take off and it's been an honor to be woke with you

— Sen. Lemon Gogurt (@ugarles.bsky.social) February 18, 2025 at 2:05 PM

"hey siri, what is the quickest path i could take to destroy the confidence that keeps commercial passenger flight viable?"

[image or embed]

— jamelle (@jamellebouie.net) February 17, 2025 at 8:27 AM

Maybe I wasn’t clear about this. I wanted more egg and no plane crash, not many plane crash and no egg.

— Tim Onion (@bencollins.bsky.social) February 17, 2025 at 6:28 PM

me in 2077: what people forget is that there were a half dozen plane crashes each month before the Great AI Plane Skyfall of 2025 grandson: wow so everybody thought AI was going to fix all of that? me: haha what? oh. no. not even kind of. No

— Tim Onion (@bencollins.bsky.social) February 18, 2025 at 7:57 PM

So yes, everyone is nervous about plane crashes. But at least the internet has jokes.

From Woman of the Hour to Apple Cider Vinegar, movies and TV shows based on true crime stories have become a staple of the entertainment landscape, for better or for worse. Hulu's upcoming Good American Family is yet another addition to the genre, dramatizing the true story of Natalia Grace.

Good American Family introduces us to Kristine and Michael Barnett (Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass). The two adopt Natalia Grace (Imogen Faith Reid), a Ukrainian-born orphan with a rare form of dwarfism. In the trailer above, Kristine becomes unnerved by Natalia Grace's behavior and soon raises questions about her true age.

This story has already been the subject of the documentary series The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which examined Natalia Grace's time with multiple families and the abuse she faced there. How will Good American Family tackle these tricky themes? According to Hulu, the series is "told from multiple points of view, as a means to explore issues of perspective, bias, and trauma."

Good American Family premieres March 19 on Hulu.

TL;DR: Learn ethical hacking, penetration testing, and cybersecurity with lifetime access to 18 courses, on sale for A$55 until 30 March at the Mashable Shop.

This ethical hacking bundle offers a lifetime of learning for those eager to master this critical and in-demand skill set. With 18 courses and 132 hours of content, this A$55 online course bundle (sale ending 30 March) covers a wide variety of cybersecurity topics, from beginner-friendly basics to advanced penetration testing.

Dive into practical lessons that teach real-world techniques, like exploiting vulnerabilities, safeguarding networks, and building custom tools using Python. Courses such as "Complete Python 3 Ethical Hacking" walk you through coding your own backdoor tools and automating repetitive security tasks, while "Hacking Wireless Networks" teaches you to identify and protect against vulnerabilities in WiFi environments. These are hands-on experiences tailored for those who want to go beyond theory and practice in safe lab environments.

For those interested in web security, the bundle offers in-depth training in tackling vulnerabilities like SQL injections and cross-site scripting, using tools like Burp Suite to run penetration tests and secure applications. You’ll also explore Metasploit, the industry-standard framework for penetration testing, giving you the skills to identify and fix system weaknesses.

Even if you’re just starting out, courses like "Ethical Hacker Certification" make it easy to build foundational skills while setting you up for common industry certifications. Meanwhile, "Bug Bounty: Web Hacking" introduces you to earning money by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities for major companies.

Whether you’re an IT professional, a cybersecurity enthusiast, or a beginner ready to jump into the field, this bundle gives you the tools to succeed.

With a one-time payment of A$55, you’ll gain lifetime access to a wealth of knowledge and resources in this comprehensive ethical hacking course bundle — all designed to help you protect, analyze, and improve systems like a pro.

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PDFs are supposed to make life easier, but anyone who’s ever touched one can testify the opposite. Like when you need to convert a PDF for editing, more often than not the format turns into a jumbled mess, especially if you’re using those free online tools.

We know paying for a PDF tool probably isn’t what you had in mind when becoming an adult, but it’s a necessary evil. PDF Converter Pro keeps your file formats intact and gives you other essential features without recurring fees. Use code SAVE20 at checkout to download it to your PC or Mac for life for just A$37 (reg. A$157).

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2025 is a big year for presidential crises in film and TV.

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Hulu's Paradise opens with a president's murder. The upcoming thriller G20 sees a U.S. president fighting through a hostage crisis. Captain America: Brave New World ends with the president hulking out and wrecking the White House. Now, Netflix and Shondaland's upcoming whodunnit The Residence adds to that trend by focusing on a murder that takes place at the White House during a state dinner.

This time, the victim isn't the president. It's A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito), the White House's chief usher. On the case is Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), who must reluctantly join forces with FBI agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) in order to crack the case. Check out the trailer above for a taste of The Residence's delicious screwball vibes and its sprawling cast, which includes pop icon Kylie Minogue as herself.

The Residence premieres March 20 on Netflix.