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SAVE OVER $800: As of Oct. 30, the LG 55-inch OLED evo G4 smart TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,796.99. That's a 31% saving on list price, and the lowest it's ever been on Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG 55-inch LG OLED evo G4 smart TV $1,796.99 at AmazonIf you're serious about the quality of your TV, the LG OLED evo G4 smart TV is something to seriously consider. This model is a stunning 4K flatscreen TV that will make every watch feel like you're at the cinema.
And the best part, as of Oct. 30, this TV is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon. Saving you an incredible $803, you can now purchase this TV for $1,796.99. This reduced price is specific to the 55-inch model and for the TV-only option. However, if you're interested in premium audio bundles, there are several reduced options on these too, including a Home Theater Audio option.
But this TV is so good that if additional audio bundles aren't in your budget, you won't be missing out. The TV already benefits from Dolby Atmos which creates an incredible immersive 3D sound experience.
SEE ALSO: Save $400 on this gaming-friendly TV from SonyOne of our favorite features is the clever use of AI to improve picture quality. Powered by the a11 AI Processor, it enhances the viewing experience by optimizing both the picture and sound quality. It features AI Picture Pro and AI Super Upscaling for smoother, crisp visuals, adapting content for the best possible display.
Even without AI, the picture quality is already top-notch. It has over 8 million self-lit pixels and benefits from brightness Booster Max, which enhances picture brightness. Dolby Vision and Filmmaker Mode further ensure that colors are reproduced as intended by filmmakers, so you know you're getting the best viewing experience.
Don't miss out on this limited-time deal, head to Amazon now.
SAVE $30: As of Oct. 30, the Amazon Fire TV 40-Inch 2-Series is on sale at Amazon for $169.99, saving you 15% on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 40-Inch 2-Series $169.99 at AmazonCozy season is here, so it's time for movies, early nights, and, more movies. It's also the perfect season to upgrade your TV, because who wants to rewatch Love Actually on an old screen?
And as of Oct. 30, you can add the discounted Amazon Fire TV 40-Inch 2-Series to your list of upgrade options. Currently reduced by 15%, this model is now just $169.99. This deal is specific to the TV-only option. To add the four-year protection plan you'll need to pay a bit more.
As with most Amazon devices, the Amazon Fire TV 40-Inch 2-Series has Alexa voice control. An incredibly handy feature when you need to search through multiple streaming platforms for your favorite show. You can also use Alexa to search the internet and control smart home devices, for example, robot vacuums with Alexa built in.
For entertainment, the TV runs on Amazon's Fire OS, so you'll have access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more. It also features two standard HDMI inputs and one ARC input, making it easy to connect gaming devices. And it supports Dolby Audio for even better sound quality. Image quality is great too, with an HD 1080p resolution to enjoy.
Head over to Amazon to grab this deal and upgrade your TV in time for snuggle season.
SAVE OVER $300 As of Oct. 30, this robot vacuum and mop combo is on sale at Amazon for $135.95. That's a saving of 74% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: XIEBro T8S Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $135.95 at AmazonWho doesn't love robot vacuums? They reduce your endless list of chores, they clean, and if you're really lucky, they mop too. We're sold.
But of course, nothing in life comes without a catch, and the robot vacuum catch is the price tag. You'll rarely find a high-performing vacuum for less than a few hundred dollars. So that's why we love this latest deal at Amazon. As of Oct. 30, you can purchase the T8S Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo at the reduced price of $135.95, saving you 74% and almost $400 on list price.
This model is great at removing dust, pet hair, and paper scraps. It has a 300ml dust box and 260ml water tank, with a roller brush for added cleaning. The electronically controlled water tank gives you two-speed water output options to choose from via the app or remote.
SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2024Powered by a 2600mAh battery, it can run for up to 120 minutes in quiet mode, covering up to 1290 square feet. When the battery runs low, it'll automatically return to the charging dock. The 8S model also features 3D obstacle avoidance, climbs up to 15-degree inclines, and is able to reach tight spaces with its nifty design.
It has three cleaning modes: auto, spot, and edge. Auto cleaning is perfect for everyday use, spot cleaning focuses on a targeted area to tackle concentrated messes, and edge cleaning runs the vacuum along baseboards and edges.
This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.
SAVE $30: As of Oct. 30, the Apple Watch 10 is on sale for $399 at Amazon. That's a saving of 7% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch 10 $399.00 at AmazonIn September this year, Apple released the latest edition of the Apple Watch, the Series 10. It's a fantastic fitness wearable, with some notable upgrades on the previous model. Just check out our recent review to see what we thought.
And as of Oct. 30, you can find it reduced to $399 at Amazon, saving you $30. It's not a huge discount, but so soon after its release, we'll take what we can get. This deal is specific to the 46mm case and S/M size in the color jet black.
Style-wise, the Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch so far but also has the biggest and most readable display. It also introduces Apple's first-ever wide-angle OLED display. A wide-angle display means it's much more readable for quick glances and when looking at the watch from different angles.
SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 10 review: Buy it for the faster chargingThe real selling point is its health and fitness stats, which are top tier. Advanced health tracking includes ECG readings, heart rate notifications, and ovulation estimates. In the Vitals app, you can find even more detailed metrics such as overnight readings, heart and respiratory rates, and sleep tracking. It even includes alerts for possible sleep apnea.
For fitness enthusiasts, the Workout app lets you track a whole load of activities, along with tools to monitor workout intensity and aquatic tracking with depth and water temperature sensors. And with 18 hours of normal use (and fast charging that gives you 80% in 30 minutes), the watch is perfect for all lengths of activity.
Head to Amazon to snag this great deal.
SAVE $300: As of Oct. 30, the 2023 MacBook Pro with M3 chip (14.2-inch, 512GB SSD) is on sale for $1,299 at Amazon. That's 19% off its usual $1,599 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Apple MacBook Pro M3 $1,299.00 at AmazonApple’s 2023 MacBook Pro packs some serious brainpower with its new M3 chip, combining an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU that zip through daily tasks and pro-level projects like editing video, designing graphics, or finally cleaning up your photo library. This MacBook is as efficient as it is powerful thanks to a battery life of up to 22 hours. No need to scramble for an outlet mid-project (or mid-binge) with this bad boy.
The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display isn’t just sharp; it’s downright dazzling. With 1000 nits of sustained brightness for HDR content and 600 nits for SDR, it gives everything from your spreadsheets to your movies that extra pop.
SEE ALSO: How to use Apple IntelligenceReady to play nice with pro apps like Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365, the M3 chip also lets you run some of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps. It's ideal for when you need a break to scroll TikTok on the big screen. The newly launched Apple Intelligence will make life even easier too by helping you work faster and smarter, all with Apple’s top-notch privacy features.
With a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, three-mic array, and six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, your video calls will look and sound so clear you might even forget they’re happening on a laptop. And since this MacBook Pro has all the ports you could need (Thunderbolt to MagSafe to an HDMI and SDXC card slot), setting up your workstation is practically plug-and-play.
Available in space gray, this MacBook Pro is built to last with a durable aluminum body and regular software updates. At $300 off, it’s a great deal for snagging some of the latest Apple tech. Check out the offer on Amazon and get ready to level up your work (and play) setup.
SAVE $80: As of Oct. 30, the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Air Fryer is down to $119.99 at Amazon. That's 40% off the usual price of $199.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Ninja Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Air Fryer $119.99 at AmazonIf you’re tired of playing air fryer Tetris with a single basket, this Ninja DualZone Air Fryer is a game-changer. With two 4-quart baskets, you can cook two different foods at two different temperatures in one go. No more waiting for one dish to finish so you can start the next; just toss in both and let the Smart Finish feature work its magic. Users can also sync up the cook times so everything is ready simultaneously. Or, use Match Cook to apply the same settings to both baskets, maximizing that roomy 8-quart capacity for one big batch.
This Ninja model is a multi-tasking dream. With six cooking functions — air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate — it handles anything from crispy chicken wings to roasted veggies to homemade beef jerky. The XL capacity means you can make mains and sides simultaneously or prepare enough fries to keep everyone happy.
SEE ALSO: TikTok execs know exactly how many videos it takes to get addicted to its platformThe Ninja DZ201’s nonstick baskets and dishwasher-safe crisper plates make cleanup a breeze, and the air fryer’s design reduces fat by up to 75% compared to traditional frying methods. Whether you’re cooking up a storm for game day or just want a quick meal without all the oil, this air fryer delivers crispy, delicious results every time.
Available in sleek grey, this 8-quart powerhouse is built for fast, easy meals with minimal mess. At 40% off, this is one of the best deals we’ve seen, so head over to Amazon and grab it while it’s still hot (and ready to cook things hot, too).
SAVE $180: As of Oct. 30, Beats Studio Pro are on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 51% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Beats Beats Studio Pro $169.99 at AmazonIf you've been waiting for a deal on Beats headphones, now's your moment. Beats Studio Pro brings that classic, bass-thumping sound Beats is famous for — but this time, it's even more refined and feature-packed. With a custom acoustic platform, these headphones deliver rich, immersive audio, whether jamming to your favorite playlist or trying to hear your mom on the phone.
Beats Studio Pro headphones aren't just about sound; they're packed with convenience features for daily life. You get two distinct listening modes — Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode — so you can either block out the world or stay aware of your surroundings (like when the barista calls your name). Enhanced Bluetooth Class 1 connectivity means fewer dropouts, making them great for long listening sessions when you're out and about.
SEE ALSO: How to use Apple IntelligenceThese over-ear headphones are all about comfort, with soft ear cushions and an ergonomic fit that'll have you forgetting they're even there. Battery anxiety? Not here. With up to 40 hours of playtime on a full charge, they'll easily outlast your playlist. And in a pinch, a quick 10-minute charge with Fast Fuel tech gets you four more hours — perfect for powering through a long commute or last-minute workout.
The Studio Pro plays nice with Apple and Android, offering one-touch pairing and platform-native features. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking adds that "you are here" feel to your favorite tracks. USB-C connectivity brings lossless audio for a pure, wired experience.
Available in black and a mix of earthy hues like dune, moon, and navy, these headphones bring style as much as sound. And at 51% off, this is one of the best prices we've seen — grab them on Amazon while they're still hot and enjoy top-tier sound without breaking the bank.
The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.
But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.
And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.
Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 30 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Wednesday, October 30, 2024:
Across____ canalThe answer is Root.
The answer is Oldest.
The answer is Aldente.
The answer is TLC.
The answer is Pan.
The answer is Teabars.
The answer is Arrest.
The answer is Sets.
The answer is Roller.
The answer is Oldcars.
The answer is Ode.
The answer is TenPast.
The answer is Starts.
The answer is Tens.
The answer is Atta.
The answer is Bee.
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 GamesAre 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.
SAVE $100: As of Oct. 30, Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones are marked down to $299.99 at Amazon. That’s 25% off their original price of $399.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $299.99 at AmazonSony's WH-1000XM5 is a fan favorite for good reason when it comes to noise-canceling headphones. This model takes Sony's renowned noise-canceling technology up a notch, featuring two processors and eight microphones designed to block out everything from subway screeches to airplane roars. Whether you're looking to focus at work or just tune out the world, these headphones will create a bubble of uninterrupted sound around you.
The WH-1000XM5 isn't just about silencing the outside world. It also has features to keep you connected, like four beamforming microphones for crystal-clear calls, even in a noisy café or airport terminal. With Alexa built-in, you can also ask it to play music, get directions, or control smart home devices, making multitasking a breeze.
SEE ALSO: Google's Android 15 uses AI to lock your phone when someone grabs itDesigned with soft-fit synthetic leather, these over-ear headphones are lightweight and cozy enough for extended wear. If you wear headphones all day, this model's 30-hour battery life will keep up, sparing you from constant charging. In a pinch, the quick-charge function gives you an impressive three hours of playback with just a three-minute charge, perfect for those "I forgot to charge them last night" moments.
With touch controls built right into the ear cups, these headphones make it easy to manage your music and calls without reaching for your phone. A few swipes let you adjust volume, skip tracks, and even answer calls — super handy whether you're on the move or just want to keep your phone tucked away.
Available in classic black, smoky pink, midnight blue, and silver, these headphones are as stylish as they are functional. At 25% off, they're a solid pick if you've been waiting to snag a premium pair of noise-canceling headphones. Check out the deal at Amazon, and get ready to enjoy your own personal sound sanctuary.
SAVE $400: As of Oct. 30, the Sony 75-inch Bravia 7 is available for $1,798 at Amazon. This deal cuts 18% off its typical price of $2,198.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Sony Sony 75-Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV $1,798.00 at AmazonIf your living room could use a screen that’s practically a theater, the Sony Bravia 7 is worth a spot on the wall. This 75-inch powerhouse packs in Mini LED backlighting with Sony’s XR Backlight Master Drive, so scenes are punchy, bright, and full of contrast — even in daylight. And thanks to QLED with XR Triluminos Pro, you’ll get a ridiculously wide color range. Translation? Everything from explosions to cozy fall scenes will look stunningly accurate.
Love your PlayStation 5? Sony’s tossed in some gamer-friendly features here, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode, which tweak the display settings automatically to match your game (or movie) of choice. The new Game Menu is also a nice touch, letting you access gaming-specific picture settings quickly. So when you’re in an intense boss fight, you won’t have to dive deep into menus for tweaks — just do it on the fly.
SEE ALSO: 'Xenoblade Chronicles X' got announced — why it could be great for Switch gamers who are new to the franchiseAside from gaming, this Bravia model is a streaming aficionado’s dream. Google TV lets you hop between Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more. And Sony’s exclusive streaming platform gives you high-bitrate 4K content, so your screen gets a workout. And if you’re in the mood for some voice commands, Google Assistant has you covered, with AirPlay 2 compatibility, making it easy to share your phone’s screen for that spontaneous video session.
For a 2024 model with these specs and Sony-exclusive PS5 perks, it’s a steal at this price. And if you’d rather break it up, Amazon’s interest-free monthly plan brings it down to $149.83 for 12 months for eligible Amazon Visa cardholders.
Don’t let this rare price drop pass — grab this deal at Amazon, kick back, and finally give your PlayStation (and popcorn supply) the TV they deserve.
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 hintTo eliminate debt.
SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 30 Hurdle Word 1 answerREPAY
Hurdle Word 2 hintYou can grade on these.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 30 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerCURVE
Hurdle Word 3 hintCreature nose.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 30 Hurdle Word 3 answerSNOUT
Hurdle Word 4 hintDishonest.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 30 Hurdle Word 4 answerLYING
Final Hurdle hintWhen objectives are left unfinished, they can be described as such.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerUNMET
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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 October 28'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 30 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 deletedEach 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 deletedPlayers 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 October 30 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: High stakes decisions
Green: Zippy words
Blue: University singles
Purple: Basketball teams
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow - Actions in poker
Green - Speedy
Blue - Big Ten nicknames in singular form
Purple - Ends with a WNBA team
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 #36 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayActions in poker: CALL, CHECK, FOLD, RAISE
Speedy: FAST, QUICK, SPRIGHTLY, SWIFT
Big Ten nicknames in singular form: HAWKEYE, SPARTAN, TERRAPIN, WOLVERINE
Ends with a WNBA team: DAYDREAM, HUSKY, SPACES, SWINGS
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.
SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 30If 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.
Particles blasting from a supermassive black hole jet appear to be traveling at nearly the speed of light — much faster than scientists had previously clocked them, according to new research.
While most observations of black holes in space are with radio telescopes, a research team used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to study their jets in a new light — literally. What they found with the X-ray telescope was surprising.
"We've shown a new approach to studying jets, and I think there's a lot of interesting work to be done," said David Bogensberger, lead author of the study, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: Scientists found a colossal black hole near the dawn of time In a composite image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Centaurus A galaxy, jets are seen blasting from the accretion disk in opposite directions. Credit: ESO / WFI / MPIfR / ESO / APEX / A.Weiss et al. / NASA / CXC / CfA /R.Kraft et al.Black holes were little more than a theory 50 years ago — a kooky mathematical solution to a physics problem — and even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed.
Today, not only are supermassive black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth. Supermassive black holes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, are thought to lurk at the center of virtually all large galaxies.
What we know is this: Falling into a black hole is an automatic death sentence. Any cosmic stuff that wanders too close reaches a point of no return. But scientists have observed something weird at the edge of black holes' accretion disks, the ring of rapidly spinning material around the hole, like the swirl of water around a bathtub drain: A tiny amount of that stuff can suddenly get rerouted.
When that happens, high-energy particles can get flung outward as a pair of jets, blasting in opposite directions, though astronomers haven't figured out exactly how they work. Jets give out prominent radio emissions, but have also been observed to be surprisingly bright in X-rays, too.
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory spacecraft launched in 1999. Credit: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center illustrationSo Bogensberger, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, decided to look at the black hole at the center of Centaurus A, one of the brightest galaxies in the sky, about 12 million light-years from Earth, in X-rays. For reference, one light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles.
Using data already captured by the space observatory between 2000 and 2022, Bogensberger developed a computer algorithm to track bright lumps within the jets that astronomers call knots. Following knots during a set timeframe is a way to measure the speed.
After tracking one knot in particular, the team found it traveling at least 94 percent the speed of light. That was significantly faster than what scientists had seen in radio waves, with a knot from the same black hole jet, moving at 80 percent the speed of light. The paper has been published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Not only did the team discover faster clumps in the X-ray band, but the data also showed that the fastest knots weren't the ones closest to the black hole, as was seen in radio waves. Instead, the fastest knots were those around the mid-region of the jets.
What does all of that mean? The answer is a big shrug emoji right now, but Bogensberger intends to use his method to collect more data observing the jets of other supermassive black holes.
"A key to understanding what’s going on in the jet could be understanding how different wavelength bands trace different parts of the environment," he said. "Now we have that possibility."
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 MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, October 30, 2024:
AcrossSubculture with dyed black hair and black lipstickThe answer is Goth.
The answer is Curve.
The answer is Hagar.
The answer is Evade.
The answer is Fans.
The answer is Guava.
The answer is Organ.
The answer is TVAds.
The answer is Here.
The answer is Chef.
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 GamesAre 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.
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 MashableBy 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 October 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: How sweet!These words are buddies.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWords that refer to friendships.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is CandyStore.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 30Toffee
Gumdrop
CandyStore
Chocolate
Lollipop
Licorice
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 Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 just reminded me what I love about Chromebooks. As someone who is deep into the Google ecosystem in my work and personal life, as well as owning an Android phone (e.g., Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra), it's so much more convenient for me as opposed to the M2 MacBook Air that I use.
At setup, I was asked to log in with my Google credentials, and it didn't leave me floundering. (No offense to Microsoft, but since I don't use the likes of OneDrive, Teams, nor other Microsoft properties often, I can never remember my Microsoft credentials, making setting up Windows laptops a pain.)
With an attractive sub-$500 starting price tag, for a split second, I wondered whether I'd be better off with a Chromebook — but one dealbreaker slapped me right back into reality. Still, I'd argue it's one of the best Chromebooks you can buy.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 price and specsThe Chromebook Plus Spin 714, as of this writing, starts $499 via Best Buy and comes with the following specs:
Intel Core i5-1335U
8GB of RAM
256GB of SSD storage
14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel display
ChromeOS
If you want a bump in performance, you can upgrade the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 to an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U (this review is based on this configuration) — this will require an additional $200 for a price of $699.
Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy / Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 $499.99 at Best BuyAcer Chromebook Plus Spin 714's design language just speaks to me. You really can't go wrong with a gray-and-rose-gold color scheme.
Credit: Kimberly GedeonThe entire aluminum chassis comes in Steel Gray — the only color option for the Acer laptop. But what gives this laptop an edge is the rose gold touches that you can find on the hinges and the reflective trim that surrounds the touchpad.
Speaking of the hinges, as you can tell by the name "Spin," the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 would be a contortionist if it was personified as a human. It's bendable and flexible, which means it can transform into a number of different postures: tent mode, tablet mode, and more.
Credit: Kimberly GedeonTent mode is perfect for anyone who wants the display to take center stage, making it easy to enjoy streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu on the Chromebook Plus Spin 714.
If you want to draw and take notes, you can use tablet mode. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 supports styli, like this one on Amazon, but it doesn't ship with one, which is unfortunate. However, the downside of tablet mode — and this is across all 2-in-1 laptops — is that you'll feel the keyboard under your fingers while using it, which always gave me the ick.
One of the top selling points of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is that it meets MIL-STD 810H standards, which means it has military-grade durability. In other words, you can rest assured that it can withstand everyday wear and tear. (This makes this an ideal "starter laptop" for young children who tend to have butterfingers with tech.)
It's also worth noting that the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has quite a bit of heft. It's not heavy, but this isn't a laptop that would make me say, "Whoa! This is so thin-and-light!"
It weighs 3.21 pounds and has a slimness of 0.74 inches.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 displayI wasn't expecting the Chromebook Plus Spin 714's display to blow me away. Remember: it costs less than $700.
Credit: Kimberly GedeonIt sports a 14-inch. 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This aspect ratio is growing more popular among laptops (16:9 used to be the traditional option), and I'm happy about it. It provides more vertical screen space, so you can enjoy more display real estate for scrolling through the web, reading documents, and more.
However, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714's display performed a lot better than I expected. I watched a couple of trailers, including Snow White (2025), and the screen perfectly captured Rachel Zegler's warm ivory skin tone. The textures are so vivid, I could practically feel the yellow tulle of the dress Zegler twirled in during one whimsical scene.
One thing to be aware of, however, is that the brightness is quite low, clocking in at about 340 nits. As such, you'll likely have a bit of trouble seeing the screen in sunny environments.
But if you plan on using the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 indoors, it's got an above-average display for a Chromebook.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 portsThe Chromebook Plus Spin 714 comes with a decent variety of ports.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableOn the left side, you'll find the following:
USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 (2)
HDMI 2.0
On the right side:
USB-A (3.2 Gen 1)
Headset jack
On the left side, you'll find the power button, but the volume rocker lives on the right side. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 audioThe worst aspect of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is its audio quality. You can't win 'em all, right?
The upward-firing speakers flank the keyboard, but I'm not a fan of the sound quality. I fired up Sabrina Carpenter's hit song "Espresso" via Apple Music (downloaded from the Google Play Store), and while it could get sufficiently loud at max volume, the tune sounded a bit tinny, metallic, and flat.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 keyboard and trackpadI'm a keyboard snob, and I can't get enough of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714's satisfying keyboard. The minute the keys actuate, they springboard you to the next letter, creating a seamless, rhythmic typing experience.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe keys are clicky and snappy, but they're also not loud enough to earn side-eyes from annoyed co-workers and classmates.
Bonus points for the keyboard's high visibility between with the well-contrasted white-and-dark gray keys. Plus, you can adjust the white backlight on the keyboard by pressing the ALT and brightness key (next to the mute button) in the function row.
The trackpad isn't half bad either. It was responsive while I pushed it to the edge with my erratic actions.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 benchmarks and performanceOn Geekbench 6, which tests how well a laptop can handle real-world applications (e.g., PDF rendering, ray tracing, image editing, and file compression) Chromebook Plus Spin 714 delivered a score of 5,223.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThis score is OK. But I'm not too concerned with this performance figure because ChromeOS is designed to lightweight tasks that run through cloud-passed applications (rather than relying on local processing power).
Most Chromebook tasks (e.g., using Google Docs, streaming videos, web browsing) happen online, meaning these laptops rely on cloud servers for heavy processing, minimizing the need for powerful hardware.
Even while pushing Google Chrome to its limit with about 40 tabs, I didn't notice any slowdowns nor laggy behavior.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 battery lifeThe Chromebook Plus Spin 714, packed with a 53 watt-hour battery, is advertised as having up to 10 hours of battery life.
According to our video rundown test, which involves a nonstop video loop of a 1080p video, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 lasted about 9 hours on a single charge — 8 hours and 57 minutes to be exact. This is a bit of a dealbreaker for me. Ten-hour battery life, at minimum, is a must.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 Google AIAI isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely mine. I'm cautiously optimistic about the sudden resurgence artificial intelligence.
Google Gemini on Chromebook Plus Spin 714 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableWhile you can experience Google Gemini on any laptop or phone, this suite of Google-based AI practically lives inside this ChromeOS laptop, allowing you to right click anywhere in the screen to get summaries on webpages, companionship for writing, and even creating high-res backgrounds for your video calls.
Creating summaries is quick and easy, and it worked like a charm. For example, on Mashable, I asked Gemini to give me a straightforward answer to why, exactly, iPhone 16 Pro batteries are more expensive to replace (as the headline suggested) — and it "read" the article and spat back the answer to me in a quick and concise response.
I asked Gemini to help me summarize a story on Mashable Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAnd I didn't even have to read a single word.
The one issue I have with Gemini is that, at times, it can be painfully slow. For example, I tried to create a background image for my Google Meet call, and it took so long to generate (over 9 minutes), I eventually gave up and closed the laptop.
It took almost a lifetime to generate an AI background. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAcer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 comes with 12 months of the Google One AI Premium Plan (this plan includes access to Gemini Advanced and 2TB of storage, and Gemini in Docs, Sheets, Gmail, and more).
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 webcamThe Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a 1440p webcam, and as much as I dislike using this trite phrase, there really isn't much to write home about.
Webcam picture with Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIt's not the crispest, clearest webcam, as one would expect from a sub-$700 webcam, but it does the job. It still was able to accurately capture my complexion and my burgundy top.
Is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 worth it?The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a better-than-expected display, an excellent keyboard, a sophisticated design, and military-tested durability. However, the screen brightness isn't that great, the sound quality is mid, and the battery life could be better.
If it weren't for the battery life, I'd consider giving the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 a spot in our best cheap laptops list.
On the plus side, there's a laptop for everyone. I'd recommend the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for budget-conscious users who are looking for a laptop that can be stationed on a desk at home. I'd also suggest this Chromebook for a tween who doesn't need a high-powered, long-lasting work station — they'll be happy with a laptop with a great display and decent performance.
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