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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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 12 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: Proof of possession

• Green: Different types of performances

• Blue: Iconic Simpson character items

• Purple: Words linked to movement and noise

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: Documents of Ownership

• Green: Bits in a Variety Show

• Blue: Props for Characters on The Simpsons

• Purple: Starting with “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”

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 #611 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Documents of Ownership: CERTIFICATE, DEED, RECEIPT, TITLE

• Bits in a Variety Show: DANCE, MONOLOGUE, SKETCH, SONG

• Props for Characters on The Simpsons: DONUT, PACIFIER, SAXOPHONE, SKATEBOARD

• Starting with “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”: ANDROID, RATTLESNAKE, ROLLERBLADE, SHAKESPEARE

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 12

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 12 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 12, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Moves quickly, like a rushing river..

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters repeat in today's puzzle.

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...

RAPID.

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 12

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.

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: Plan

• Green: Teams in the Gopher State

• Blue: Something you might buy at a game

• Purple: Used to be hockey 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: Strategy

• Green: Current Minnesota teams

• Blue: Things one buys at a sporting event

• Purple: Former NHL teams

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 #142 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Strategy - GAMBIT, MANEUVER, MOVE, TACTIC

• Current Minnesota teams - GOLDEN GOPHERS, LYNX, VIKINGS, WILD

• Things one buys at a sporting event - FOOD, PROGRAM, SOUVENIR, TICKET

• Former NHL teams - COYOTES, GOLDEN SEALS, NORTH STARS, WHALERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 12 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Don't stop believin'

These words are lyrics.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are parts of the most popular Journey song.

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 Journey.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 12

• Lonely

• Girl

• Small

• Town

• World

• Took

• Midnight

• Train

• Journey

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

The executive, Jim Farley, said President Trump’s tariff and auto policies would raise costs and could force the automaker to cut jobs.

Elon Musk's encroachment into U.S. governance has hit another legal obstacle.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (or EPIC) filed a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (or, sigh, DOGE) on Monday, per the privacy-focused non-profit's website. According to the lawsuit, DOGE and its leader Elon Musk have "illegally forced" the Office of Personnel Management and Treasury Department to disclose huge swaths of digital information about U.S. citizens to "unauthorized, untrained personnel." The lawsuit calls Musk's actions "the largest data breach in American history."

SEE ALSO: DOGE staffer resigns after racist posts uncovered. Elon Musk might bring him back.

All of this follows a firestorm of reports over the past couple of weeks detailing what some have called a sort of coup of the U.S. government. Musk and his team, which includes people as young as 19 years old, seized access to a system with sensitive data about government employees, like home addresses, Social Security numbers, and birth dates. Further reporting, including that of Mashable's own Rebecca Ruiz, has painted a grim picture about what a politically motivated group of people could do with that data.

This isn't the first and likely won't be the last lawsuit attempting to halt Musk and DOGE in their tracks. A group of labor unions similarly filed suit against Musk this week, as well.

A federal judge appointed by a Republican President has castigated Trump administration officials — and ordered them to immediately restore public health websites that they abruptly abruptly shut down.

The lawsuit against the website removal, brought by a group of physicians known as Doctors for America, concerns sites operated by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Doctors for America says the scrubbing of the sites makes it more difficult for them to treat patients.

U.S. District Judge John Bates, appointed by George W Bush, agreed. He ordered the government to restore the pages by the end of the day of his ruling (Tuesday Feb. 11).

SEE ALSO: Thousands of datasets from Data.gov have disappeared since Trump's inauguration. What's going on?

The TL;DR of Bates' ruling? It "was done without any public rationale, recourse or ability to challenge the decisions, despite laws and regulations that typically require them," as Politico summarized.

Sites removed by Trump officials concern HIV care, plus information on contraception drugs and student health. In their lawsuit filed against the Office for Personnel Management, HHS, CDC, and the FDA, Doctors for America says the removal of websites offering them guidance on these subjects is creating confusion, which eats up time that is better spent treating patients.

SEE ALSO: Bookmark these abortion resources now

Justice Department attorneys defended the government's decision to remove the sites, saying doctors could still access the information by using the Wayback Machine, which archives offline websites. But that didn't fly with the judge.

"The Wayback Machine does not capture every webpage, and there is no information to suggest that is has archived each removed webpage," Bates wrote. "Additionally, pages archived on the Wayback Machine do not appear on search engines. In other words, a particular archived webpage is only viewable to a provider if the provider knows that the Wayback Machine exists and had recorded the pre-removal URL of the requested webpage."

This is real: You can buy Harry Bōlz memecoins now.

Elon Musk — the owner of X, CEO of Tesla, billionaire, and leader of the U.S.'s Department of Government Efficiency — changed his name on X to Harry Bōlz on Tuesday. (Say it out loud.) Almost immediately, a few Solana meme coins popped up.

One token has been live since February 7 and increased 54,637 percent in just an hour on Tuesday. It has since fallen from a peak of $25.14 million to $8.5 million, according to Decrypt. Another token is sitting at a $3 million market cap, Decrypt reported.

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Musk first changed his name to Harry Bōlz in April 2023 in an effort to make media publications call him that. (I am playing right into it.) As Rolling Stone reported back in 2023, it's a prime example of what makes Musk and his "routine of garbled gags, corny jokes, and pilfered memes" so deeply unfunny.

A new iPhone SE is reportedly days away.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to launch the iPhone SE 4 this week. The tech giant hasn't released an iPhone SE since 2022, so it's a big deal for Apple users looking for an updated version of the budget-friendly iPhone. Speaking of which, the Bloomberg reporter says the iPhone SE 4 will cost around $500, which is a decent bargain considering the iPhone 16's starting price of $800. Here's what else we know so far.

Tweet may have been deleted Bigger display

Gurman reports that the iPhone SE 4 will have a significantly bigger display. It will be 6.1 inches across, which is a major step up from the 2022 iPhone SE which has a 4.7 inch display. That means the iPhone SE 4 would have the same display size as the most recent iPhone 16 and earlier iPhone 15.

SEE ALSO: Listen up: Get a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $80 off at Amazon Apple Intelligence

Not even the iPhone SE can escape Apple Intelligence's grasp. Like it or not, the new device will reportedly have Apple Intelligence features, thanks to the A18 chip. Currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and full iPhone 16 lineup have Apple Intelligence.

The A18 processor also powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus (iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have the A18 Pro chip) so the iPhone SE essentially leapfrogs over iPhone models released before 2024.

Design changes

Besides a bigger display and more powerful processor, the iPhone SE 4, tipster Majin Bu posted images of what it might look like. The screen has a camera notch instead of the dynamic island which comes with later models and a single rear camera which is the same as the 2022 iPhone SE 3. The images show a matte black colorway, although there might be other options.

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Regardless, we won't have to wait long for confirmation on the specs.

Duolingo, the language-learning app, killed off its owl mascot named Duo on Tuesday in what is assuredly some kind of publicity stunt.

In fact, here were are writing about it. So, well played, Duolingo.

Duolingo posted the news on social media.

"It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead," the company's post reads, while joking that authorities were investigating the matter.

View this post on Instagram

"[To be honest], he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know," the post contined. "We're aware he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comments. If you feel inclined to share, please also include your credit card number so we can automatically sign you up for Duolingo Max in his memory."

The internet, predictably, made jokes and memes about Duolingo killing off its mascot. The company itself retweeted posts from gossip sites about it.

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Duolingo has long leaned-in to internet culture, positioning its owl mascot and brand accounts as unhinged — or as unhinged as corporate comms gets. Killing off its mascot is just another example of that branding.

In fact, it's not really even an original stunt. Planters killed off Mr. Peanut ahead of the Super Bowl five years ago. This was, of course, just a method for launching a mascot rebrand.

SEE ALSO: The Mr. Peanut ad saga is a strange byproduct of the internet's death obsession

So, sure, Duo the owl is dead. But I suspect it'll be back soon, in one form or another.

Apple's iOS 18.3.1 — the latest version of its iPhone operating system — features a key security update to patch a physical exploit.

Apple hasn't released too many details about the issue — after all, it wouldn't want to alert potential wrongdoers to a flaw they could exploit — but it involves Apple's USB Restricted Mode feature. Effectively, the patch prevents hackers from accessing data on a locked device.

"A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device," wrote Apple on its support page. "Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals."

SEE ALSO: iOS 18.3 is here. 3 major changes to know

The security update was also part of iPadOS 18.3.1, and an identical fix for older iPads was included in iPadOS 17.7.5.

If security is a major concern, you should update your operating system as soon as possible.

20% OFF + FREE GIFT: As of Feb. 11, get 20% off GHD hair tools during the GHD Valentine's Day Sale. Plus, get a free GHD Curly Ever After hold spray with promo code TREATYOURSELF.

Opens in a new window Credit: GHD 20% off hair tools at GHD Valentine's Day Sale Get a free GHD Curly Ever After hold spray with promo code TREATYOURSELF Get Deal

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance may have been the talk of the weekend, but superstar SZA's show-stopping hair was a sight to behold as well. If you've been curious about how you could emulate those fiery red curls that made the "Saturn" singer look like a flame-haired goddess, we've got one word for you: GHD.

Celebrity stylist Devante Turnbull worked on SZA's hair for the big game, and as it turns out, he used a combination of GHD tools to bring SZA's gorgeous curls out and give them a fun, amped-up twist. Thanks to GHD's Valentine's Day Sale, you can snap up the same tools to do it at home.

As of Feb. 11, you can save up to 20% off GHD hair tools during the GHD Valentine's Day Sale. Plus, you can get a free bottle of GHD Curly Ever After hold spray with your purchase with promo code TREATYOURSELF while supplies last.

Turnbull used the GHD Curve Creative Curl Wand and Thin Wand to curl SZA's hair in different directions to "add dimension", and you can do the same with your own locks. Both are currently discounted as part of the sale, so you can experiment with gorgeous big hair like SZA's without having to consult a celeb stylist.

There are tons of other items to choose from as well, like flat irons if you prefer straight hair, hot brushes for volumizing, and plenty of other goodies to give you the best hair yet just in time for the most romantic day of the year. But if you're looking to emulate SZA, you know what to do. Head to GHD, and grab some fire truck red hair dye.

Government investigations into Mr. Musk’s companies are stalling from President Trump’s firings and Biden administration resignations.

SAVE $13.50: Get the Wednesday & Enid’s Dorm Room Lego Building Set through the Best Buy app for just $76.49, down from the standard price of $89.99. That's a 15% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Wednesday & Enid’s Dorm Room Lego Building Set $76.49 at Best Buy
$89.99 Save $13.50 app exclusive discount Get Deal

Nevermore Academy has never looked better. If you're a fan of the Netflix series Wednesday that follows Wednesday Addams on her (mis)adventures, you'll want to log into the Best Buy app ASAP, because there's a special deal worth jumping on.

As of Feb. 11, the Wednesday & Enid’s Dorm Room Lego Building Set is on sale with the Best Buy app for $76.49, marked down from the typical price of $89.99. That means you'll be saving $13.50 with the 15% discount.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away a Valentine's Day Heart for free. Here’s how to get yours.

Before we dive into the wow-factor of this Lego set, here's how you can snag this deal at Best Buy. For starters, this deal is exclusive to the Best Buy app, so go ahead and download that on your phone. After that, you'll need to create or sign into your free Best Buy account. Once that's done, you're eligible to head into the Best Buy Drops tab and snag this Lego deal.

Keep in mind this is part of Best Buy Drops, which offers us a few special products each week, discounted exclusively in the Best Buy app. Since these deals usually have impressive discounts, they tend to sell out quickly. Boiled down, if you're a Wednesday fan and enjoy Legos, jump on this one quickly.

Pro tip: Once you're in the app, you can check on the percentage of inventory left. You can also sign up for future alerts about Best Buy Drops.

Back to the set itself: it's hard to get over how adorable Thing looks as a Lego character, with scars from stitches and all. But we also need to point out the detail of Wednesday's freckles and the incredible gargoyles that stand guarding the balcony.

Recreating the dorm room of opposites Wednesday and Enid, the Lego set perfectly portrays the colorful and cheery side that Enid decorated. That stands in stark contrast to Wednesday's side of the dorm which is purely black, white, and brown. The set also includes fun reminders from season one, like Wednesday's cello, Enid's colorful clothing, and the incredible spiderweb window.

The 750-piece set is recommended for builders aged 10 and up. If you're anxiously awaiting season two of Wednesday to drop sometime this year, recreate Wednesday & Enid's Dorm Room thanks to this Lego set that's on sale on the Best Buy app at a 15% discount.

PRESIDENTS' DAY DEALS: Presidents' Day 2025 is on Feb. 17, but Walmart has already started publishing great deals on products like the Samsung 65” DU6900 Crystal UHD TV. Don't miss out, shop now.

The best Presidents' Day deals at Walmart Best TV deal Samsung 65” Crystal UHD TV $348 ($121.99) Get Deal Best tablet deals 2022 Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi-Fi 64GB $299 (Save $50) Get Deal Best headphone deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.00 (Save $80) Get Deal Best laptop deal Asus Vivobook 15.6-inch Intel Core i5-1235U 8GB RAM 256GB SSD $299 (Save $100) Get Deal Best home deal nutribullet PRO Single Serve Blender $49 (Save $29) Get Deal

Presidents' Day always seems to strike out of the blue. It's the first big shopping holiday of the year, with major deals across all categories.

With savings on such a variety of products, Walmart is a great place to shop. Walmart's Presidents' Day deals are already going live with sales on iPads, smart TVs, and much, much more.

Here are the Walmart Presidents' Day deals we're most excited about:

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65” Crystal UHD TV $348.00 at Walmart
$469.99 Save $121.99 Get Deal SEE ALSO: The best Presidents' Day deals from Best Buy that are already live Why we like it

If you need a new TV, you won't want to miss this smart TV deal. The Samsung 65” Crystal UHD TV is built for streaming and easy connectivity. Samsung Tizen OS makes it simple to flip between steaming services, Samsung TV Plus, and on-demand media.

Right now the Samsung 65” DU6900 Crystal UHD TV is on sale for $348.00, saving you $121.99, or 25% off.

More TV deals

• onn. 65” UHD (2160P) LED Roku Smart TV — $298.00 $348.00 (save $50.00)

• Hisense 58" UHD LED LCD Roku TV — $248.00 $298.00 (save $50.00)

• Vizio 65" UHD LED HDR TV — $328.00 $428.00 (save $100.00)

Best tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2022 Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi-Fi 64GB $299.00 at Walmart
$349.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

What can't you do with an iPad? Whether you're looking for a device on which to run art apps like Procreate, a game hub for your kids (or your parents), or a convenient productivity tool for studying on, an iPad is a great buy.

Right now the 2022 Apple 10.9-inch iPad Wi-Fi 64GB is on sale for $299.00, for a savings of $50. That's 15% off.

More tablet deals

• onn. 10.4" Tablet Pro, 64GB (2023 Model) — $79.00 $129.00 (save $50.00)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE 10.9" 128GB — $298.99 $449.00 (save $150.01)

Best headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.00 at Walmart
$249.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We're big AirPods fans. With Apple headphones staying largely similar edition after edition, it's easy to remain fans. These headphones retain a comfortable design. They'll follow you to the gym, onto the subway, and onto your couch at night.

In Apple AirPods Pro 2, excellent sound quality mixes with some high-end features like active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and a hearing aid feature. Get them now for $169.00 to save $80, or 33% off.

More headphone deals

• Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $99.00 $127.00 (save $28.00)

• JBL Tune 520BT — $37.99 $49.95 (save $11.96)

• Apple AirPods Max — $449.00 $549.00 (save $100.00)

Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Vivobook 15.6-inch Intel Core i5-1235U 8GB RAM 256GB SSD $299.00 at Walmart
$399.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a simple laptop for daily tasks, then the Asus Vivobook 15.6-inch Intel Core i5-1235U 8GB RAM 256GB SSD might be just the laptop you need. This affordable laptop won't have a ton of power for demanding tasks, but it's more than capable of surfing the web and streaming films, and might be able to keep up with less demanding games.

Currently, the Asus Vivobook 15.6-inch Intel Core i5-1235U 8GB RAM 256GB SSD is on sale for Presidents' Day for $299.00, saving you $100, or 25%.

More laptop deals

• Acer Chromebook 315 15.6-inch Intel N4500 4GB RAM 64GB eMMC — $139.00 $179.00 (save $40.00)

• Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch M1 Chip 8GB RAM 256GB — $629.00 $699.00 (save $70.00)

• Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15-inch Intel Core i7-1255U 16GB RAM 512GB SSD — $597.80 $869.99 (save $272.19)

Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nutribullet nutribullet PRO Single Serve Blender $49.00 at Walmart
$78.00 Save $29.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Sometimes one purchase can make all the difference in our health and well being. An investment in healthier eating can do just that. The nutribullet PRO Single Serve Blender is a countertop blender that could innovate your nutrition routine. Use it for quick delicious smoothies in the morning, or lavish pesto in the evening.

The nutribullet blends with a press. It's safe, quick, and intuitive. Right now the nutribullet PRO Single Serve Blender is on sale for Presidents' Day at Walmart. Get it for $49.00 and save $29.00.

More home deals

• Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 3369 — $87.94 $123.59 (save $35.65)

• Black+Decker 6-Slice Crisp 'N Bake Air Fry Toaster Oven — $59.00 $69.00 (save $10.00)

• Ninja Foodi 4-in-1 8-Quart 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology — $129.00 $169.00 (save $40.00)

Google has removed select holidays from its default Google Calendar, a move that has put users on watch as the company makes worrisome product changes amid a sweeping anti-diversity push.

The affected cultural and identity-based holidays include the start of Black History Month (which the nation is currently celebrating), Women's History Month, Pride Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, National Hispanic Heritage Month, and Indigenous People Month — The events were added over the last few years as part of an integration with TimeAndDate.com.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps has changed the Gulf of Mexico to America

According to the company, these changes have been happening for months, as the product shifts to only acknowledging public holidays.

"For over a decade we’ve worked with timeanddate.com to show public holidays and national observances in Google Calendar. Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments in a wide number of countries around the world," Google spokesperson Madison Cushman Veld told the press. "We got feedback that some other events and countries were missing — and maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn’t scalable or sustainable. So in mid-2024 we returned to showing only public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com globally, while allowing users to manually add other important moments."

SEE ALSO: DEI programs at Meta are done, company says

The general public wasn't as convinced, however, with many taking to Google's Help forums and social media to accuse the company of censoring its products or to plead with the company to reinstate the observances. "@/Google please change this back," wrote one X user. "It's such an important time that those holiday months should be acknowledged. Our government is trying to erase them please don't assist in this. I know logistically it might be difficult but this is important. Please reconsider."

Last month, Google quickly capitulated to President Donald Trump's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," and announced it would be abandoning its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring program along with other DEI initiatives. Other tech giants have made similar, suspiciously eager, concessions, including Meta's decision to remove its DEI programs and Hateful Conduct policy, allowing previously banned forms of hate speech on its platforms.

Just for reference, here's those dates so you can add them back to your personal calendar:

• Holocaust Remembrance Day: Jan. 27

• Black History Month: Feb. 1 to March 1

• Women's History Month: March 1-31

• Jewish American Heritage Month: May 1-31

• Pride Month: June 1-30

• National Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept. 15 to Oct. 15

• Indigenous Peoples Month: Nov. 1- 30

How much do you actually know about your parents? Would you believe them if they happened to have a secret life of crime they hid your entire life, living under the guise of a successful bodega owner?

That's exactly what happens in Deli Boys, created by Abdullah Saeed and produced by Disney's Onyx Collective, with Dollface's Michelle Nader as showrunner.

In the upcoming 10-episode series, rich and spoiled Pakistani American brothers Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj (Saagar Shaikh) are dealing with the sudden death of their father mainly by debating who gets what. But he wasn't the convenience store king they thought he was; Dad was an underworld criminal running a very different kind of family business. Not the inheritance they wanted, but the inheritance they've got.

Never Have I Ever's Poorna Jagannathan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Alfie Fuller, and Seinfeld legend Brian George also star, and from the looks of the trailer, the show looks like a lot of fun.

Deli Boys is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ from March 6.

Matthew Gasda directs his new play, which was inspired by Sam Altman’s 2023 ouster from OpenAI.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Feb. 11: OUR TOP PICK Bose Ultra Open earbuds $229 (save $70) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Motorola razr+ (256GB, Unlocked) $579.99 (save $420) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Fitbit Charge 6 $115.95 (save $44) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) $479.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal BEST SSD DEAL Samsung T7 portable SSD $139.99 (save $130) Get Deal

With both Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day around the corner, Amazon is flooded with great deals this week. We've rounded up the best ones we could find at the mega retailer on Feb. 11, with standouts from top brands like Apple and Samsung.

Here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If these aren't sparking your interest, take a peek at our picks from Feb. 10. Many of those are still live, including the best price ever on the Kindle Paperwhite Kids.

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If you like to stay in touch with your surroundings while listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds' unique design might be up your alley. Each earbud fits like an earring cuff, which loops around the edge of your ear instead of actually going inside. This makes them a particularly good option for cyclists, runners, or commuters looking to stay aware and alert. Our tester RJ Andersen writes, "Though we were skeptical at first, these buds are extremely comfortable and score top marks for battery life, spatial audio, and sound quality." Usually $299, you can slash 23% off and pick up a pair in any color variety for just $229 at Amazon as of Feb. 11. That's the lowest price ever for a few of the color options.

Read our full review of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds.

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While we haven't had a chance to test the 2024 Motorola razr+, we did test the previous generation and deemed it "solid — not spectacular." The latest version made some significant improvements, however, including a quicker processor, a larger outer display, and a waterproof design, making us more inclined to recommend it to flip phone enthusiasts. We do still wish the camera was better, but as our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) noted, "The Razr+ is one of the best folding phones you can buy." Slash 42% off an unlocked model with 256GB at Amazon as of Feb. 11.

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The Fitbit Charge 6 was one of our readers' top purchases during Cyber Week 2024, which isn't surprising. It's one of the best fitness trackers you can buy, packing a seven-day battery life, over 40 exercise modes, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, a built-in GPS, and solid insights into health and habits. Mashable's reviewer puts it simply: "It packs a powerful punch into a tiny device." To kick off your new health and fitness routine, it even comes with six months of Fitbit Premium. Grab it on sale as of Feb. 11 for $115.95 instead of $159.95. That's 28% in savings.

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Apple's AirPods Max are powerful, stylish, and way overpriced. While we like them for Apple enthusiasts, we wish they had longer battery life (or a headphone jack) and a better carrying case. It's easier to look past their flaws, however, when they're on sale. As of Feb. 11, the newer USB-C model is down to $479.99 at Amazon, which is about $69 cheaper than usual.

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Digital storage is a hot commodity in 2025. If you prefer to keep your files and photos in a physical location instead of the cloud, Samsung's Portable SSD T7 is a "crowd-pleasing, compact external drive with strong security (256-bit AES hardware encryption) and a rough-and-tumble aluminum chassis," according to our pals at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis). One of top picks for a solid-state drive, it packs 2TB of storage space, read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s, and fall protection from up to six feet. Whether you need storage for business or pleasure, you'll appreciate the T7, especially since it's on sale for just $139.99 at Amazon as of Feb. 11. That's 48% in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

The next couple of months are astoundingly busy for video games, and Sony just ensured that things are about to get a lot busier.

The company behind PlayStation announced a State of Play stream on the PlayStation Blog on Tuesday. These streams typically shuttle viewers from one trailer to the next, showcasing a bunch of previously announced or entirely new games coming to PlayStation consoles. Here's how you can watch and what to expect from the February 2025 State of Play stream.

SEE ALSO: PlayStation apologizes for major network outage with free Plus time for members PlayStation State of Play: When is it and how to watch Tweet may have been deleted

The next State of Play stream has been officially confirmed for Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET. You can watch it on PlayStation's YouTube and Twitch channels.

PlayStation State of Play: What to expect

This part is a little tricker because, of course, Sony didn't bother to tell anyone what's going to be in the stream. Surprises are more fun, I suppose.

That said, we can make some educated guesses. Sony was willing to confirm that the stream is more than 40 minutes long and focuses on upcoming PS5 games, so don't go expecting anything other than that. PlayStation recently did a little feature on upcoming PS5 games specifically for the year 2025, and it included some interesting titles that I would bet might show up at this event.

Namely, Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei. The former hasn't gotten a new trailer in a little more than a year, and if it's actually coming out in 2025, it makes sense for Sony to start showing it more now. The latter was announced more recently, so maybe it's not ready to show just yet, but again, Sony said it's coming in 2025.

Aside from that (which is just speculation on my part), it's impossible to say what will show up in this stream. All the more reason to watch it.