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Avatar: Seven Havens gets cosmic in its ninth episode, and may have just confirmed a big fan theory in the process.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Seven Havens' finally shows us how Korra broke the world

In the episode, titled "The Envoys: Part Two," Avatar Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) once again makes contact with the menacing, diamond-shaped anomaly that's been threatening Ellora. This time, instead of showing her a flashback of Avatar Korra's memories like it did in episode 6, the anomaly transports Pavi to a place that's familiar to any Avatar fan: outer space.

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What does Pavi see after touching the anomaly?

Okay, Pavi isn't physically in space, but her spirit winds up floating in a cosmic void. It's the same void Avatars Aang and Korra found themselves in before entering the Avatar State. In their series, they followed a glowing path to a massive cosmic projection of themselves holding a ball of white energy. Once they stepped into the ball, they'd be in the Avatar State. The entire cosmic set-up is a neat visual representation of the spiritual and mental components of being the Avatar. However, it's not what we see in Seven Havens.

Like Aang and Korra, Pavi follows a path through space in Seven Havens. But instead of finding a vision of herself, she sees a massive circular gate. Like the anomaly, it glows black and red. Unlike the anomaly's fragmented, angular geometry, this gate bears a beautiful, flowery design.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Seven Havens' episode 5 is chock-full of 'Last Airbender' Easter eggs

From there, Seven Havens reveals that beyond this circle lie six others, each ringed in their own glowing colors, although none bear a design yet.

The progression of these colors is a visual Avatar fans are familiar with, going all the way back to Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, episode 19, "The Guru." In that episode, Aang visits guru Pathik to learn how to enter and control the Avatar State. Pathik teaches him about unblocking his chakras, which are points of concentrated energy throughout the body, with real-world roots in Buddhist and Hindu practices.

The scenes in which Aang unblocks his chakras are each tinged with a specific color tied to each chakra, starting with red and moving up to orange, yellow, and so on. It's the exact same color progression as the gates Pavi encounters, highly implying that she is looking at a series of chakras. But they aren't hers. Instead, each of the seven chakras is almost certainly tied to one of the seven Havens.

Avatar: Seven Havens' chakra theory, explained.

Throughout Seven Havens' run, series fans have theorized that each Haven represents one of the seven chakras. After all, the show's opening credits show the Havens as glowing points of color on a map, each corresponding to one of the chakra colors. The same color scheme carries over to the costumes of the Havens in the play about the Cataclysm in the very first episode.

All of this is compelling evidence for the theory, but Pavi's vision in "The Envoys: Part Two" is the strongest confirmation of the theory so far. Let's start with the red gate in front of Pavi. It is the same color as the first chakra guru Pathik teaches Aang about: the Earth chakra, known in real-world practices as the root chakra. It sits at the base of the spine. According to Pathik, it deals with survival, but it's blocked by fear.

All these concepts of survival, fear, and the root chakra figure into Seven Havens in some way. Book 1 is titled "Survival," while the season finale is titled "The Root Chakra." As for fear, the city of Ellora is overrun with it. Whenever someone comes into contact with the anomaly, they become afflicted by fear.

With that in mind, it seems like the anomaly isn't truly some kind of spirit demon. Rather, it's a physical manifestation of the blocked energies of Ellora, which explains its appearance as a warped version of the design on the gate. In order to keep the world in balance, Pavi and her twin sister Nisha (voiced by Aishu Devan) will surely have to find a way to unblock Ellora — the root chakra — and likely the other havens as well.

Each of the seven Havens representing a chakra raises a massive question, though. What are they chakras of? They seem to be chakras of the entire world, but does that mean that the Earth in the Avatar universe is actually its own living being? Was the Cataclysm caused in part by blockage of these energy points?

All will surely become clear as Seven Havens continues to open its mystery box. For now, though, Pavi's vision is the clearest answer viewers have gotten to the many questions the show has raised about the world post-Cataclysm.

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

Since Avatar Studios announced Avatar: Seven Havens, Avatar fans' biggest question has been, "How did Avatar Korra cause the apocalypse?"

In Seven Havens episode 7, we finally get closer to finding out.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Seven Havens' episode 5 is chock-full of 'Last Airbender' Easter eggs

The episode continues twin Avatars Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) and Nisha's (voiced by Aishu Devan) quest to find their parents. Their investigation brings them back to the mysterious glowing red anomaly that has plagued Ellora on and off throughout the season. It left behind a mass of crystals following its resurgence in the zombie-influenced "Night of the Afflicted," and when Pavi and Nisha tunnel beneath those crystals, they discover the ruins of what appears to be an old world factory. Based on the gear logo on the wall and an old mover showing Asami Sato cutting a ribbon outside the building, it's a Futures Industries factory.

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Avatar: Seven Havens teases the Cataclysm.

Deep in the bowels of the factory, Pavi finds a vast pit full of a strange liquid whose surface ripples with the glowing red design of the anomaly. As she makes contact with it, she's greeted with a memory of Republic City before the Cataclysm. The city has been completely rebuilt following the battle with Kuvira at the end of The Legend of Korra, in which Korra created a new spirit portal within the city's Spirit Wilds. Now, the yellow beam of that portal appears to emerge straight from a Future Industries tower, suggesting that the people of Republic City have built over or around the Spirit Wilds. That couldn't possibly have a negative impact on the physical world's relationship with the Spirit World, right?

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Seven Havens' gifts us a perfect Halloween episode

In Pavi's anomaly vision, she also sees a concerned-looking Korra, one who's much older than when we last left her, flying from Air Temple Island to Republic City. When Nisha joins Pavi in the vision, the scene changes drastically. The twins find themselves in the city streets, surrounded by fires and explosions. As the smoke clears from a motorcycle crash, the twins see Korra again. This time, though, she's changed: She's in the Avatar State, and she sports a menacing smirk. That can only mean one thing. The twins are seeing the moment Korra somehow turned and broke the world.

As Pavi and Nisha look on, Korra reaches up to pipe-like structures running along Republic City's skyscrapers and tears them down. The breaking of the pipes unleashes massive bands of destructive purple energy beams, which look very similar to the spirit vine energy Kuvira harnessed in her campaign to conquer Republic City.

That's all we get of the Cataclysm, but there's already a lot to unpack here, from Republic City's new look to the purple energy beams. Most fascinating of all might be the pipe structures Korra is tearing down. Their design is not rigid and pipe-like, but instead resembles vines. In rebuilding Republic City, could its citizens have tried to harness spirit energy from the Spirit Wilds as an energy source? Did they build around the vines climbing up buildings, and if so, did that strategy backfire spectacularly, contributing to the Cataclysm? Based on Republic City's skyline and these mysterious pipes, it seems like the physical world's relationship with the Spirit World was already way out of whack by the time the Cataclysm happened. That's odd, given that much of Korra's time as the Avatar was focused on maintaining that balance. After all, she opened the spirit portals at the poles and in Republic City.

Is Korra really to blame for the Cataclysm?

That brings us to Korra herself. Let's be totally real here. That smirking woman in the Avatar State might look like Korra and bend like Korra, but that frightening smile and the intent on destroying the world just doesn't feel like her. Obviously, a lot has changed since we last saw Korra on TV, but I refuse to believe she had an entire personality transplant!

Instead, this version of Korra in the Avatar State recalls a more sinister figure from Book 2 in The Legend of Korra. In the climax of that season, villain Unalaq merged with the darkness spirit Vaatu to create a dark Avatar whose eyes glowed red, contrasting with the white glow of the light spirit Raava, who lives within the Avatar. In the Seven Havens vision, Korra's eyes still glow white, yet her unsettling body language screams that the Avatar State has been corrupted in some way.

By the end of Season 2, Korra defeated Vaatu, but did not destroy him outright. Instead, his spirit is set to regrow within Raava over a period of 10,000 years, until the next Harmonic Convergence. That's a ways off within the Avatar timeline, but could the rapid acceleration of technology or Korra's proximity to the Spirit Wilds have accelerated that growth somewhat? Or alternatively, did some Future Industries technology create the anomaly and trigger some dark turn in Korra? I could very well be barking up the wrong spirit vine, but I have a feeling Book 2 of The Legend of Korra is about to become very, very important.

Clearly, we haven't gotten the full story yet, and Seven Havens is being very careful in how it doles out Korra's memories. In this episode alone, it leaves a gap between Korra's flight to Republic City and the Cataclysm. (Assuming the visions happen on the same night, that is, as Korra is wearing the exact same outfit in both.) That gap could be key to understanding Korra's motives in bringing on the Cataclysm, and hopefully in clearing her name somewhat in the timeline of Seven Havens.

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

SAVE $175.50: As of Oct. 23, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is on sale for $534.49 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. $534.49 at Amazon
$709.99 Save $175.50   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon has a new deal on the Dyson Airwrap i.d., which includes the Dyson Chitosan post-style serum.

If you're wanting to upgrade to the popular styling tool and pair it with the brand's own products, this is a great deal. As of Oct. 23, you can take home this bundle for $534.49, down from the usual $709.99. That's a discount of over $170.

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is designed to make styling much easier, offering several styling functions in one device. Depending on the look you're after, you can use it to dry, curl, wave, smooth, or shape your hair, with attachments to help you switch between finishes.

One of the standout features of the Airwrap is its integration with the MyDyson app. Using Bluetooth, the tool can create a personalized styling routine based on your hair type and length, helping you achieve more consistent results each time you use it. Its styling technology is also designed to rely on airflow rather than extreme heat, so heat damage isn't a concern.

You can find this Dyson deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: The Insta360 Mic starts at $79.99 for a single transmitter, with receiver bundles priced at $139.99 for a 1TX + 1RX setup and $249.99 for the complete 2TX + 1RX kit. It combines a customizable E-Ink display, onboard microSD storage for 32-bit float backup recording, and AI noise cancellation.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insta360 Insta360 Mic   Shop Now at Amazon

Insta360 has spent the last few years dominating the action and 360 camera space, but even the crispest 8K footage gets ruined if the audio sounds like it was recorded inside a tin can. Enter the Insta360 Mic — the newest mid-tier option designed to bridge the gap between the budget-friendly Mic Air and the top-end Mic Pro.

Built for daily vloggers, travelers, weekend sports shooters, and podcasters, it brings high-end features down to an approachable level so you don't have to blow your whole budget on gear. Each transmitter rocks a customizable E-Ink display on the front, letting you upload your channel logo, personal brand, or even a photo of your pet to show off while filming.

Credit: Insta360

An onboard microSD card slot lets you capture 32-bit float backup tracks directly to the transmitter. If audio suddenly spikes during a loud celebration or drops during a quiet moment, the massive dynamic range keeps the sound from clipping or distorting, giving you plenty of room to adjust levels during editing. You also get a dedicated NPU-based AI chip that strips out background chatter and ambient noise without making human voices sound like a compressed robot.

If you already shoot on Insta360 hardware like the X6, X5, Luna Ultra, or Ace Pro 2, the Direct Connect feature pairs the mic directly to your camera over Bluetooth, with no receiver required. Shooting on a phone or mirrorless DSLR instead? Simply plug the included receiver in using the USB-C adapter or 3.5mm jack for a traditional lavalier setup.

A single charge gets you up to 13 hours on the transmitter alone, and the charging case bumps the total runtime to 34 hours for long multi-day shoots. You can even sync four transmitters onto a single receiver, mixing and matching with older Mic Pro units, to handle group interviews or podcasts.

The Insta360 Mic is available today, starting at $79.99 for a standalone transmitter, $139.99 for a 1TX + 1RX kit, and $249.99 for the complete 2TX + 1RX bundle with the charging case.

Tesla's Cybertruck will no longer be released in Australia and New Zealand. The company announced its cancellation in these regions in an email to customers on Friday.

"After careful consideration, plans to produce the Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand have been discontinued," Tesla wrote. "As a result, we're unable to fulfil your reservation and it will be cancelled."

SEE ALSO: Someone drove a Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to test 'Wade Mode.' It didn't end well.

Drivers in Australia and New Zealand had been able to preorder Tesla's Cybertruck since it was initially unveiled in 2019. At the time, the company planned to start production in late 2021, eight years after CEO Elon Musk first teased the Cybertruck in 2013.

Now five years past the Cybertruck's previous manufacturing date, it seems that Australian and Kiwi customers' patient waiting has not borne the results they were promised. The Cybertruck has been removed from both Tesla's Australian and New Zealand websites, which now only offer the Model 3, Model Y and preorders for the Roadster.

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Those eager to secure a Cybertruck had been required to pay a preorder deposit of $AU/NZ150. Fortunately, Tesla has stated that all such payments will be refunded. The company has also said that customers whose preorders were cancelled will be given a one-year subscription to Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system — provided they buy a new Model 3 or Model Y instead.

(Despite its name, the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system does not enable Tesla's electric vehicles to autonomously drive themselves. Rather, it is a driving assistance feature that offers some automation, and still requires a driver to actively pay attention and control the car.)

Reddit

While some enthusiasts have been disappointed by the cancellation of their Cybertruck preorders, many other EV users are celebrating that it won't make it onto Australia and New Zealand's roads. Even users of the r/TeslaAustralia subreddit have shed few tears over the Cybertruck's cancelled plans in the country.

The Cybertruck has been widely derided as ugly since its introduction, with people likening it to everything from a child's drawing to low-poly video game graphics. Many have also been unimpressed by negative reports on the Cybertruck's build quality, the vehicle having been subject to multiple recalls in the U.S. where it is already available. Now drivers in Australia and New Zealand won't have to worry about it as well.

Reddit Reddit Reddit Reddit Reddit Reddit

TL;DR: Preorders for the physical version of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake are $10 off at Amazon. Preorder your copy now for $59.88, and you'll also get a preorder price guarantee.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Digital) $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Physical) $59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11   Get Deal at Amazon

There are just a few weeks until Nintendo finally drops the Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game is officially out on Nov. 5, but Zelda fans have been excited for this game ever since the release of gameplay preview footage.

You can already preorder both the digital and physical copies at Amazon. Even better than that, you can already get a deal on the physical edition. It was originally priced at $69.99, but as of Oct. 22, it's down to $59.88 for total savings of $10.11. The digital version is available for $59.99.

As an extra incentive, Amazon is offering a price guarantee on preorders. That means that if the price changes between now and the point the game is released — when your card is actually charged — you'll pay the lowest price point from that period (in other words, if it drops to $55 before you receive the game, that's what you'll pay).

If you need another reason to preorder, Nintendo is also releasing special packaging with textured foil cover art as part of the first print run on the physical edition. It's a can't-miss deal for collectors and die-hard Zelda fans.

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.

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

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

Ship bed.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BERTH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Rule-breaker.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

REBEL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Company.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 23, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BRAND

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Surpass.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

OUTDO

Final Hurdle hint

Therefore.

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

HENCE

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who watch baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Pennant hopefuls

• Green: Defunct baseball

• Blue: GOAT Brewers

• Purple: Championship MVP's

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: MLB Teams to Reach The League Championship Series This Year

• Green: Former MLB Team Names

• Blue: Brewers All-Stars, Historically

• Purple: World Series MVPs, with The First Letter Changed

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 #760 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• MLB Teams to Reach The League Championship Series This Year: BREWERS, DODGERS, GUARDIANS, RAYS

• Former MLB Team Names: BROWNS, DEVIL RAYS, EXPOS, PILOTS

• Brewers All-Stars, Historically: FIELDER, FINGERS, SHEETS, WEEKS

• World Series MVPs, with The First Letter Changed: CAMELS, EYE, MEAGER, METER

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

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

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

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

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 23, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 23, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 23 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 23 Pips

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 23 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6 placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

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

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 23, 2026 Direct meaning

Expressing opinions clearly, plainly and without beating around the bush.

Frank meaning

Speaking or acting with sincerity and directness,

Open meaning

Not closed, blocked, sealed or covered

Vocal meaning

Relating to, produced by, or intended for the human voice or speech.

Driver meaning

A computer program that controls hardware.

Extension meaning

An extra part or allowance added to a main thing.

Plugin meaning

A software component that adds specific features to an existing program or platform without changing its core code

Update meaning

To bring something or someone up to date by adding the newest information, making it more modern or providing recent facts

Double meaning

When a word, phrase or sentence can be understood in two distinct ways at the same time

Love meaning

A strong, deep emotional and mental state of affection, attraction or devotion toward a person, animal,or activity.

Phone meaning

An electronic device that lets two or more people talk to each other across a distance using wires or radio signals.

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Spinal meaning

Relating to, or affecting the spine.

Distance meaning

The numerical measurement of how far apart two objects, points or places are.

Force meaning

A push or a pull.

Power meaning

The ability, righto r political strength to govern, influence, or direct people, events or nations

Time meaning

The continuous progression of existence where events move forward from the past, through the present and into the future

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a math whiz.

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 Pips hints, answers for October 23, 2026 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: Don't beat around the bush

• Green: Tech uploads

• Blue: Mathematics

• Purple: Lightly hit

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Forthright

• Green: Things you install on a computer

• Blue: Quantities in a formula for power

• Purple: __ Tap

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 #1230 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Forthright: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, VOCAL

• Things you install on a computer: DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN, UPDATE

• Quantities in a formula for power: DISTANCE, FORCE, POWER, TIME

• __ Tap: DOUBLE, LOVE, PHONE, SPINAL

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you stick your nose where it doesn't belong.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 October 23, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: None of your beeswax!

The words are related to curiosity.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being in others' business.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Busy Body.

NYT Strands word list for October 23

• Nosy

• Prying

• Inquisitive

• Snoopy

• Eavesdropping

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you get nervous easily.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 23, 2026 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Quaver.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TRILL

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.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 22, the Anker Solix C200 DC portable power station is marked down to $129.98 at Amazon. That's $20.01 off its full price of $149.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker SOLIX C200 DC Portable Power Station $129.98 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $20.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Anker isn't waiting until November to hop on the Black Friday bandwagon. The company has already dropped plenty of early deals for shoppers to check out, including portable power stations.

Over at Amazon, the Anker Solix C200 DC is marked down to $129.98. Compared to paying its full price of $149.99, this offer saves you just over $20. It's currently marked as a limited-time deal, so the clock is ticking to save.

SEE ALSO: The 65+ absolute best stocking stuffers for 2026

The Anker Solix C200 DC may be small, but it's still packed with power to keep your devices charged up while you're on the go. It comes with a 192Wh battery that delivers a 200W output, plus five charging ports to handle your tech: a 100W USB-C, a 140W USB-C, a 15W USB-C, and two 12W USB-A ports.

And speaking of taking it on the go, it's 39% smaller than similar power stations, so bringing it along on a camping trip won't feel like a hassle. This power station is also easy to recharge, with three options: a 140W USB-C PD 3.1 port, 100W solar panels, or a car socket.

Don't let a low battery get you down. Act fast to save on the Anker Solix C200 DC while it's on sale at Amazon.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC for a one-time $114.97 (reg. $149.99) through Oct. 25 — includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase $112.97
$149.99 Save $37.02   Get Deal

Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations aren’t going anywhere. Neither are the monthly fees that often come with productivity software. Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC is just $114.97 (reg. $149.99) through Oct. 25, and it’s a one-time purchase for lifetime access.

This edition includes the 2024 desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, which means it is a practical toolkit for students, families, and anyone who regularly works with documents.

Word handles everything from school essays to personal correspondence, with advanced formatting controls and collaboration features that let multiple people work on the same document.

Excel offers Dynamic Arrays and functions such as FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE, which help organize information and automatically update results when data changes.

PowerPoint includes presentation recording with voice, video, and closed captions, while OneNote gives you a convenient place to organize notes and ideas.

One major advantage of the desktop apps is offline access. You can write, edit spreadsheets, and create presentations without an active internet connection, then sync supported files when you’re back online.

The software also supports real-time collaboration, making it easier to work on group assignments or shared family projects when connected.

Unlike Microsoft 365, this version doesn’t require monthly or annual subscription payments.

A couple of important details: Office 2024 Home doesn’t include Outlook, and each license covers one Mac or Windows PC. The one-use activation code is linked to your Microsoft account rather than the device itself.

For anyone who prefers familiar productivity software without recurring fees, this is a straightforward way to get the essential Office apps.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC for just $114.97 (reg. $149.99) through Oct. 25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, my childhood Halloween hauls were 70 percent Clark Bars. Emptying my bag onto the living room floor, I’d channel my inner Ralphie from A Christmas Story, muttering a disappointed "Ohhhhh fuuudge!" at all that local chocolate.

Because Clark Bars were manufactured in Pittsburgh, customers at the local G.C. Murphy or Thrift Drug could scoop up giant bags at markdown prices. Clark had Halloween cornered in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Times have changed. Those stores are gone, Clark Bars are rare, and I’m old enough that I don't have to say "fudge" when I'm angry. But one thing hasn't changed: kids still treat trick-or-treating like a game of neighborhood Rolo roulette. Back then, anything besides a Clark Bar was a coveted confection.

After I reluctantly grew up, I went into retail, leading media relations for Kmart and Sears. Our Kmart stores would load up on cheap candy before Halloween, and sales always topped costumes or decorations. Corporate buyers spent months planning exactly what to sell, how much to order, and where to ship it across 1,000 stores. Then, like clockwork on Nov. 1, the leftovers went on clearance. Apparently, peanut butter cups don’t age well on store shelves.

SEE ALSO: Hello Nancy put over $248 worth of sex toys in a $79 Halloween mystery box — and I'm here for it

That human-driven process seems so stale now. Nowadays, people snicker at the butterfingers of humans, proverbial pez heads who can let things slip be-twix their fingers. But don’t be too quick to kiss humans goodbye.

Today, childhood nostalgia is being systematically optimized away by advanced predictive analytics and logistical AI. The invisible hand of the candy aisle knows your neighborhood’s demographic profile better than you do, and it has already decided if your zip code deserves the "good stuff." Where I grew up, we wouldn’t be getting Toblerone, that’s for sure.

Global candy manufacturers and big-box retailers openly deploy AI-driven "demand sensing" models. Retailers now feed past transactions, social media trends, and hyper-local product inventory into machine learning networks. By analyzing this data, algorithms can forecast exactly how a specific neighborhood will shop.

The system cross-references local census records and homeownership rates to shift delivery pallets before the first plastic pumpkin hits shelves. Quite frankly, that is a helluva lot of data.

The result is a hyper-focused predictive allocation engine. If a well-to-do suburb experiences a millennial baby boom, something like Walmart’s demand-forecasting algorithms catch the trend early. By analyzing local sales history and foot traffic, the system uses machine learning to automatically trigger massive shipments of premium, multi-brand chocolate variety packs to those specific high-demand stores weeks in advance.

Conversely, if you live in a high-density urban apartment block of young professionals or an aging retirement community, the AI predicts low trick-or-treater turnout. Premium inventory is rerouted elsewhere, leaving your local store shelves bare of anything but low-tier hard candies.

In other words, your neighbors couldn't buy the good candy even if they wanted to; the algorithm decided they weren't worth the shipping cost. What a snobby algorithm.

Then I got to thinking, what happens when these algorithms collide with regional history, creating an inevitable feedback loop? Take my childhood Pittsburgh data. Today's predictive AI won't see a city of disappointed children. Nope, it will only see a massive, recurring seasonal spike for Clark Bars.

Blind to our melt-away misery, the algorithm would flag this as a "regional preference," boost bulk buying, slash the price, and flood local shelves. By automating past behavior, the machine ensures future generations face the exact same crisis I did. A lot of kids like me venting an "Ohhhhh fuuudge!"

The algorithm isn't just looking backward, either. It also parses unstructured data like live weather forecasts. If the machine catches even a whiff of rain on Oct. 31, it can instantly reduce shipments of trick-or-treating candy to your entire region, prioritizing indoor alternatives like party kits or ghoulish plastic backdrops.

The system is also secretly scrolling social media. The second a viral TikTok video of an influencer with a trending marshmallow ghost Peep with bug eyes catches fire, the algorithm intercepts the digital signal. It immediately diverts entire shipping containers of Peeps to the hip, urban zip codes driving the clicks, leaving the surrounding suburbs out of the loop.

To the TikTok victor go the Peep spoils.

We spend a lot of time fretting about generative AI replacing human artists or stealing digital identities. Yet, the most immediate way AI alters our culture is deceptively invisible; quietly sucking the random, chaotic joy out of a community holiday and dressing it in the costume of an optimization spreadsheet.

So, when the kids dump their plastic pumpkins onto the living room rug this year, look closely at the haul. Don’t curse the house down the street for handing out generic chocolate or cheap hard candy. They weren't being stingy.

They were just the unfortunate casualties of a cold, unfeeling algorithm. The machine unwrapped their zip code, crunched the numbers, and chewed on the fact that their neighborhood simply didn't possess the premium metrics required for a Reese's Cup.

By trying to optimize our choices, the algorithm inadvertently condemns them to a bleak, automated future of pure, inescapable Clark Bars. “Ohhhhh fuuudge!”

This article represents the opinions of its writer.

John Casey is a columnist at Raw Story, the Advocate, Daily Beast, and Outsports. He's also the author of Love: The Heroic Stories of Marriage Equality.

Skullcandy's products will no longer just feature Sound by Bose — they'll be an official part of the Bose brand, too.

Following the collaboration between the two brands that brought Bose-engineered audio and tech to the budget brand's products, Bose announced an acquisition of Skullcandy on Oct. 21.

What this means for Skullcandy and Bose

This comes just over a year and a half after the release of the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds, the first pair of Skullcandy buds to come with the Sound by Bose designation. In my testing of those earbuds, priced at $99, I found they featured an impressive soundscape for the price point that felt worthy of the Bose name. While not exactly like a pair of Bose earbuds, they did feel like an elevation over what I expected sonically from Skullcandy.

Though not twins, the Bose-powered Skullcandy earbuds and Bose earbuds do bear a resemblance. Credit: Skullcandy Credit: Bose

The Skullcandy brand will remain its own distinct brand under Bose, with the headquarters remaining in Park City, Utah. The press release announcing the acquisition detailed that Bose wanted to retain "Skullcandy’s design, understanding of its consumers, and authentic community connections," as it helped create new products and growth for the brand, providing "new ways for Bose to meaningfully connect with consumers where it has less presence today."

SEE ALSO: The 10 best cheap wireless earbuds, tested by audio experts

In other words, the success of the collaboration between the two brands seems to have offered Bose the opportunity to go more aggressively after the budget consumer market, a corner that Skullcandy has been firmly situated in for years. For comparison, Skullcandy's cheapest earbuds, a pair of wired earbuds, go for $14.99. Bose's cheapest earbuds, the new wired ANC buds, go for $99.99. Wireless- and ANC-wise, Skullcandy's buds start at $104.99 while Bose's most affordable pair clocks in at $179.99.

The path to acquisition tracks for Bose

The writing was on the wall with Bose acquiring Skullcandy, especially considering their latest Skullcandy collab, the Crusher 1080 headphones. Released just this past July, the press release called these headphones the "most advanced headphone in Skullcandy's history," powered with Sound by Bose, Bose QuietControl 6-mic adaptive noise cancellation, Bose TrueSpatial with head tracking, and the Bose WaveForm Audio Engine.

SEE ALSO: We tested every pair of Bose headphones and earbuds. We found 5 we love, and 1 to buy on sale.

The president of Bose Audio Technology and Chief Strategy Officer Nick Smith said the collab was "an exciting example of how Bose innovation can reach more listeners through distinctive new products and experiences," which sounds like a line that could've easily fit in the acquisition press release.

This purchase of Skullcandy is Bose's third acquisition of the year, though the first of a consumer audio brand. On Oct. 1, Bose acquired Firelight Technologies, the maker of an interactive audio software program. Earlier this year, Bose bought StreamUnlimited Engineering GmbH, a connected audio platform.

Birdbuddy has launched two new smart bird feeders ahead of the holiday season, including the compact, budget-friendly Birdbuddy Nook (starting at only $99). The other is a next-generation flagship model, the Birdbuddy Home, which retails for $219 and replaces the Birdbuddy Pro.

Both feeders initially debuted at CES 2026 as the Birdbuddy 2 mini and Birdbuddy 2, respectively. As of Oct. 22, they're now widely available for purchase at various retailers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Birdbuddy Birdbuddy Nook $99 at mybirdbuddy.com
  Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com Opens in a new window Credit: Birdbuddy Birdbuddy Home $219 at mybirdbuddy.com
  Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com

Birdbuddy sent me both models to try ahead of their release. Since it can take a while for wild birds to find new feeders, I enlisted the help of my pet parrot, Melon, to evaluate their upgraded cameras. (He also helped me test out Birdbuddy's AI-powered species identification feature, which you can read about here.) Here's what stood out to me as I unboxed them and set them up in the front yard of my Chicago apartment.

Birdbuddy Nook: A basic smart feeder for under $100

The Nook is a small, minimalist hopper feeder that's ideal for tight spaces like balconies and patios. Its modular design comes in a cute sage green finish.

The Birdbuddy Nook doesn't come with a solar roof by default. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Nook is much more affordable than the Birdbuddy Home, but it requires more maintenance. It can only fit about three and a half cups of birdseed, so it needs more frequent top-ups. And its $99 base model doesn't have solar charging capabilities; you'll have to monitor its battery life and bring it inside to sit on an outlet occasionally.

You'll get a solar roof attachment if you opt for the Birdbuddy Nook Solar ($159) or the Birdbuddy Nook Extended Edition ($199.99), which also includes a larger perch and a Birdbuddy Family Premium membership. You can buy the bigger perch à la carte for $34, but full disclosure: I could not for the life of me figure out how to install it without possibly stripping its screw holes.

Here's what comes in the Birdbuddy Nook Extended Edition. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Based on my initial testing, the Nook Solar is an essential upgrade for three reasons. First, I like not having to worry about charging my feeder. Second, I think the Nook looks a little cheap and unfinished without its roof — there are little gaps on the sides where it's meant to snap on. Thirdly, the USB-C port where its roof plugs into its battery is located right in the middle of its reservoir, and it's a pain to clean tiny seeds and dust out of it.

Birdbuddy Home: A bigger smart feeder with all the fixings

The Home is an all-in-one hopper feeder with two built-in solar panels, dual-band WiFi for a more reliable connection, and a taller reservoir that can fit around five and a half cups of seeds. A bright red-orange perch accents its slate blue finish.

There's a solar panel on either side of the Birdbuddy Home's roof. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Home has the same mic and camera as the Nook, but adds a built-in speaker. It chirps the first time you install the camera and verbally guides you through the app and WiFi pairing process.

Between the Nook Solar and the Home, I prefer the latter. It has a hatch in the back that makes seed refills easier, whereas you have to remove the entire top of the Nook to access its reservoir. Additionally, the Home has two solar panels on either side of its roof, so it's more likely to get ample sun exposure. The Nook's roof attachment only has a solar panel on one side.

Here's what the Birdbuddy Home looks like before it's assembled. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Home also comes in an Extended Edition ($249.99) with a bigger perch and a Family Premium membership.

Birdbuddy camera quality Those two lines on either side of the lens tell you whether your new Birdbuddy's camera is positioned in landscape or portrait mode. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Both new Birdbuddies have an updated 2K HDR camera with a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass casing. Here's how it compares to the shooters on older Birdbuddy feeders, which had an oblong design instead of a round one:

• It's faster at pairing with the Birdbuddy app (I can attest to this — it only takes a few seconds)

• It has a wider field of view (135 degrees versus 122 degrees)

• It works in landscape or portrait mode

• It "wakes up" faster once the feeders' motion detectors sense a bird

• There's no longer a delay on its livestream

Before I mounted the Home outside, I bribed my parrot Melon into stepping in front of its camera by putting a few peanuts in its tray — his favorite treat. A couple minutes later, the Birdbuddy app sent me a "postcard" with a 30-second video clip and six photos it took automatically during his visit.

Smile, you're on "Candid Camera." Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The clip Birdbuddy recorded had very clear audio and colorful, detailed picture quality, but its photos weren't all that great; one was a blurry close-up of Melon, and the five others were of his back. I took some more shots manually using the photo capture feature on the Home's live feed and they turned out much better.

Left: Photos taken by the Birdbuddy Home automatically. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Right: Photos taken with the photo capture feature on the Birdbuddy Home's livestream. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Birdbuddy app tells me that Cooper's hawks, red-breasted nuthatches, and white-throated sparrows have been spotted near me this week. Let's hope they're ready for their close-up.

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Birdbuddy claims the AI model powering its species identification feature can recognize about 11,000 different types of birds, or "nearly every bird species in the world." As I was setting up its two new smart feeders for testing, I wondered: Does that include Melon, my Alexandrine parakeet?

Does Birdbuddy know ball?

Melon, as seen on the camera of the new Birdbuddy Home in my office (his room). Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Not to sound like a total bird hipster, but you've probably never heard of Alexandrines, an older and lesser-known species of chatty green parrots native to southern and southeastern Asia. They're not available at chain pet stores and are very often confused with Indian ringneck parakeets, their much more popular relatives with smaller beaks, shorter tails, and no crimson wing patches. (There are a lot of ringnecks on TikTok — see Hamlet of "what doing???" fame.)

Needless to say, I figured Melon would give Birdbuddy's AI a real challenge.

The verdict That red wing patch should be a dead giveaway to true parrot heads. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Disappointingly, but not fully unexpectedly, Birdbuddy guessed wrong. Right after I got Melon in view of the next-gen Birdbuddy Home, the Birdbuddy app sent me a notification saying that I was just visited by a "rose-ringed parakeet" — another name for an Indian ringneck. I submitted feedback within the app to let Birdbuddy know that its guess was close but ultimately incorrect.

The good news is that most people won't have exotic parrots visiting their house on a regular basis. I'm hoping Birdbuddy will have an easier time recognizing my native wild birds; the Home is currently mounted in the front yard of my Chicago apartment, if someone could kindly alert the area pigeons.

Left: Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Right: Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The new Birdbuddy Home ($219) and Birdbuddy Nook ($99) are now available for purchase.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Birdbuddy Birdbuddy Nook $99 at mybirdbuddy.com
  Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com Opens in a new window Credit: Birdbuddy Birdbuddy Home $219 at mybirdbuddy.com
  Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com

Rising gas prices. The Iran War. AI's effects on the economy.

Across the United States, Americans are worried about a multitude of major challenges.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he called Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, one of the biggest tech companies on the planet, to discuss a pressing issue that's been on his mind: Changing the name of the Atlantic Ocean.

At a rally in South Carolina, Trump shared that after successfully getting Google Maps to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario to Lake America, he tried to pressure the tech giant to do the same for the Atlantic Ocean.

“We have a lake and we have a gulf, now we need a river and we need an ocean," Trump said at the rally, as reported by the Washington Post.

Trump said that he “called Google Maps," which he described as "really great with the lake" regarding his prior requests. 

"They're still rattled from the Gulf," Trump said, adding that he called Pichai because he wanted to see if Google would be up to changing the name of the Atlantic Ocean too.

"Sundar, I'm thinking of the Atlantic Ocean," Trump claimed he said in the call.

However, it seems that renaming the Atlantic Ocean as the American Ocean was one step too far for Google, which has previously kowtowed to Trump's geographical demands. (Google's previous Google Maps changes only appear for U.S. visitors to the platform)

"No, no, no. This time, I’m not doing it," Pichai said, according to Trump's version of events. "Please don’t ask us to do that."

According to Trump, Pichai's reasoning was that "oceans are different" because they "cover a lot of countries."

After the call, Trump said he'd "probably pass" on renaming the Atlantic Ocean after his call with Google. The tech giant has yet to confirm the call with the president occurred. 

"I think let's keep it the Atlantic Ocean, right?" Trump told rallygoers, before turning his attention to the West Coast.

"Pacific Ocean," Trump added. "We're going to call it the American Ocean."

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