Mashable

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for October 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hairy styles

These words are a barber's dream.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are hairstyles.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Shortcuts.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 3

• Flattop

• Buzz

• Shortcuts

• Pixie

• Fauxhawk

• Fade

• Shag

• Pageboy

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 3 SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 3, 2024

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 Oura Ring 4, like a stealthy ninja in the night, may have just knocked the Samsung Galaxy Ring off its high horse.

I've been wearing the Galaxy Ring since it launched in late July — and I've been adorning it on my ring finger non-stop. I praised it for a handful of features, including its graceful interactions with my Galaxy S24 Ultra (it can trigger the shutter button in the Camera app). Plus, the absence of a subscription fee is always a bonus.

As the weeks have passed, however, I’ve grown bored of the Samsung Galaxy Ring — it’s missing something. It needs more.

And then — wham! — the Oura Ring 4 just got announced, threatening to wipe out all of its competitors. A new wearable beast has entered the ring, pun intended, and it’s got the Galaxy Ring squarely in its crosshairs, ready to deliver the knockout blow.

Oura Ring 4 hands-on

So for the uninitiated, the Oura Ring 3, due to its sensors, has a bumpy interior — similar to the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Samsung Galaxy Ring Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In my opinion, the bumpiness is barely perceptible for both wearables. For example, Mashable's Chris Taylor, who reviewed the Oura Ring 3, claims that the sensors felt like "tiny smooth round teeth," but didn't find them to be unpleasant. And while the Galaxy Ring has similar grooves, they don't faze me.

Still, wanting to achieve wearable nirvana, Oura has recessed the sensors on the new fourth-generation ring for a smoother interior. Take a look below.

Oura Ring 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now compare this to the Oura Ring 3, pictured on the left next to Taylor's wedding ring.

Oura Ring 3 (pictured left) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On top of that, Oura increased the number of signal pathways to 18 (up from eight).

The Finland-based health tech company told Mashable that these sensors use Smart Sensing technology, powered by an algorithm that works with the advanced sensors in the Oura Ring 4, to adjust to each user’s unique finger characteristics.

In other words, depending on your skin tone, BMI, and age, the Oura Ring 4 can calibrate to your individual physiology.

Better accuracy

The extra 10 signal pathways on the Oura Ring 4 lead to better accuracy, according to Oura. As such, users should experience more precise readings.

Oura Ring 4 Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Oura said that its accuracy claims are backed by research. It compared the Oura Ring 4 to the Oura Ring 3 with an external research group and recorded a 30 percent improvement in blood-oxygen sensing accuracy and better breathing disturbance monitoring (up by 15 percent). Plus, there are less gaps in its daytime and nighttime heart-rate graphs (7 percent and 31 percent fewer gaps, respectively).

The sensors inside the Oura Ring 4 include the following:

• Red and infrared LEDs

• Green and infrared LEDs

• Digital temperature sensor

• Accelerometer

Oura told Mashable that the Ring 4 uses a "multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) system." As you might have guessed, that went way over my head. But after Oura explained it to me like I'm five, it basically means that Oura Ring uses lights (e.g., green and infrared LEDs) that shine through your skin to detect certain health metrics (e.g., how your blood is flowing in your body).

The PPG method tracks your heartbeat, breathing rate, and even sleep patterns, throughout the day and night.

Oura Ring 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Oura Ring 4 can monitor the following health and wellness metrics:

• Heart rate

• Heart-rate variability

• Bedtime detection

• Sleep staging

• Blood oxygen levels (spO2)

• Cardiovascular age

• Cardio Capacity

• Daytime stress and resilience

• Body clock and chronotype

• Cycle insights

• Automatic Activity Detection

It's also worth noting that, with the Oura Ring 4, you no longer have to worry as much about how it's sitting on your finger. With the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring 3, you'll get more accurate readings if the sensors are facing the fleshier parts of your finger. However, thanks to the enhanced sensors, this isn't as much as an issue as it was with the Oura Ring 3.

Longer battery life

The Oura Ring 3, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Ring, has an advertised battery life rating of about seven days. (For me, the latter lasted about six days on a single charge.)

Oura Ring 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

According to Oura, the Ring 4 has improved power efficiency. It can reportedly last up to eight days, but we'll be the judge of that when we get it in for review.

More sizes

Oura said it received a lot of requests to accommodate more sizes.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Young women (e.g., teens), in particular, have shown interest in wanting a wellness-focused wearable. It has even received some requests from stocky athletes who demanded a bigger size.

As such, Oura Ring 4 now offers an expanded range of sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

I asked an Oura rep which finger is the best placement for the Ring 4 — and it's the pointer finger, apparently. Interestingly, my pointer finger is a size 7: two sizes larger than my ring finger.

Oura Ring 4 sizing kit Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When you purchase the Oura Ring 4 online, you can receive a free sizing kit, allowing you to select your correct size confidently.

The gold Oura Ring 4 is stunning

The Oura Ring 4's predecessor, the Oura Ring 3, came in two styles: Heritage and Horizon.

The Oura Ring 4 worn next to Mashable's Joe Maldonado's aquamarine ring Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now, the Oura Ring 4 only comes in Horizon.

Oura Ring 4 comes in six different finishes, but let's be honest, the gold one is the best. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I've always joked that Heritage reminds me of a washer with its ridges while Horizon offers a smooth, uninterrupted, round design.

The Oura Ring 4 comes in four finishes:

• Black

• Stealth

• Silver

• Brushed Silver

• Rose Gold

• Gold

Samsung Galaxy Ring in black Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, it's the Gold ring that won my heart. I can imagine getting a lot of compliments while wearing this one. Meanwhile, not only have not received compliments on my matte-black Samsung Galaxy Ring, but my ultra-honest best friend had the gall to call it "ugly."

New-and-updated app

The Oura app is getting a huge update and redesign, too. However, I'm most excited about Oura Labs, which is where you can find an AI-powered Oura Advisor that works in concert with your Oura health data.

You can start a conversation with the Oura Advisor, and it will give you advice and personalized health goals based on what it understands about your data.

The Oura Ring 4 is available for pre-order now, and you can find it across several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and of course, Oura's main website.

The Oura Ring 4 starts $349, and it comes with a free one-month membership. However, after it expires, a membership will set you back $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

The Oura Ring 4 will officially hit store shelves on Oct. 15.

TL;DR: Live stream Twente vs. Fenerbahce in the Europa League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Fancy watching select fixtures from the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League without spending anything this season? We've got some good news, because Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons.

If you want to watch Twente vs. Fenerbahce in the Europa League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Twente vs. Fenerbahce?

Twente vs. Fenerbahce in the Europa League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 3. This fixture takes place at the De Grolsch Veste.

How to watch Twente vs. Fenerbahce for free

Twente vs. Fenerbahce is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

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

Live stream Twente vs. Fenerbahce for free on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Twente vs. Fenerbahce for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Europa League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Twente vs. Fenerbahce (plus more Europa League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Twente vs. Fenerbahce in the Europa League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Fans can watch select fixtures from the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League this season without spending anything. And no, we're not suggesting you rely on those dodgy streams that fill your screen with seriously dodgy ads. We're talking about using VPNs to unblock free live streams from around the world.

If you want to watch Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt?

Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 3. This fixture takes place at the Beşiktaş Stadyumu.

How to watch Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt for free

Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Europa League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt for free on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Europa League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (plus more Europa League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Besiktas vs. Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray in the Europa League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is special season for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, because you can watch select fixtures from all three competitions without spending anything. That's because Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons.

If you want to watch Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray in the Europa League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray?

Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray in the Europa League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 3. This fixture takes place at the Daugava National Stadium.

How to watch Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray for free

Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

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

Live stream Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray for free on Tabii by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Europa League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray (plus more Europa League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Rigas FS vs. Galatasaray in the Europa League for free with ExpressVPN.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Passwords are starting to rule our lives. Or more specifically, the need to create — not to mention remember — strong, complex passwords. It's one of the modern world's most arduous chores.

We all know that you shouldn't use the same password for everything because it's not safe. But that doesn’t make it any less annoying when you have to mentally shift through every password and variation you’ve ever created every time you try logging into a bank account or do an online shop.

And even if you do manage to come up with passwords of Olympic-level strength, remembering your passwords for dozens of different sites is nearly impossible. This is where password managers come in. But what is a password manager? How does it work? And which are the best options? Keeping reading to find out.

Why do you need a password manager?

The short answer is quite simple: because you need so many bulletproof passwords. We cannot stress how important passwords are. According to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report, 81% of hacking related breaches involved the misuse of stolen or weak credentials — which means crappy, overused passwords. And we probably don't have to tell you this, but having your money or identity stolen isn't much fun.

How does a password manager work?

With a decent password manager, all you have to do is remember one master password and they'll autofill the rest for you, along with more security stuff you probably didn't even think about. Think of it like keeping a list of passwords in your phone's notes, except losing your phone won't mean that your entire life is about to be hacked.

A decent password manager will also allow you to secure your devices — like your Kindle or Apple Watch — and even your photos and other private documents that you won’t want easily accessible on your computer or smartphone. Think of it as a form of personal encryption to add an extra layer of security to your digital life.

What features do password managers have?

There are plenty of password managers out there, but before you go ahead and pick a favourite, you should consider a few features and specifications.

• Device compatibility — Do you want passwords to be remembered on your phone and laptop? If so, you'll need to make sure the password manager allows syncing on multiple devices. As you'll see, some free versions do not allow more than one device.

• Emergency contacts — Some password managers are equipped with emergency contacts. This allows you to give a trusted friend or family member access to your master password in the event that you can't provide it.

• Permissions — Are you storing passwords just for personal use, or do you need to share with a group?

• Two-factor authentication — Does the the password manager use a second level of security, such as Google Authenticator? Without this, someone could access to all of your stuff with the master password.

Keep these factors in mind when selecting a password manager.

What is the best password manager?

If you're interested in employing a password manager to help make your online life a little easier, keep reading. We’ve sifted through a bunch of password manager programs and listed a selection of the best ones, with details of what each plan offers. You should find one that fits your individual needs.

These are the best password managers in 2024.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for October 3's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 3 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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 3 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 3 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rolls along, pulled by horses.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 3 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...

WAGON.

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.

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

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 October 3'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 3 What is Connections?

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

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 3 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Drinks

• Green: Not killing a plant

• Blue: Sold together

• Purple: Sounds like a bug

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

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

• Yellow: Beverages

• Green: Care for a Plant

• Blue: Item Sold in Paris

• Purple: Bugs Plus Starting Letter

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 #480 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Beverages: JUICE, MILK, PUNCH, SODA

• Care for a Plant: FERTILIZE, POT, PRUNE, WATER

• Item Sold in Paris: BOOKEND, EARBUD, SKI, SOCK

• Bugs Plus Starting Letter: BLOUSE, PANT, SMITE, STICK

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 3

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

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

If you spot famed childhood science entertainer Bill Nye on the streets and feel compelled to ask for a brag-worthy selfie, you better be able to show where you stand on climate policy.

That's because the celebrity and newly minted "Climate Guy" is drawing a line: He'll take your photos, but only if you're voting Team Earth. Explained via the same "Bill Nye the Science Guy" humor that made him famous, but now via social media, the terms are the latest in a pre-election "Too Hot Not to Vote" engagement campaign. In the spot, Nye thanks his dedicated fans for decades of support, which had inspired kids near and far to join STEM fields, and, of course, generated thousands of selfies. And while these 1:1 interactions are meaningfully heartwarming, the last thing the Earth needs is more heat — so he's turning his fans to the polls.

"Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent— and more extreme. We are changing Earth’s climate," Nye told Mashable. "The first thing to do about it is vote. Democrats have a plan to address climate change. The other side is pretending it’s not even happening. I get asked for selfies all the time when I’m out and about. I’m usually happy to oblige, but from now on, if you ask for a selfie, I’m going to insist that you commit to vote. Climate is on the ballot, from top to bottom this November. To ensure a healthy future for all of us, vote."

SEE ALSO: Are the 2024 presidential campaigns Too Online?

The "Too Hot Not to Vote" campaign — awash in bright red fire and "hot face" (🥵) emojis — was launched in September by Climate Power, a strategic communications organization focused on building political action for the climate that's recently called attention to the environmental impacts of Project 25. It's supported by groups like the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the Sierra Club Political Committee, and Green New Deal Network, and seeks to harness social media's prowess in urging voters to lay on the pressure for "bold" climate policy.

Most importantly, the social activation is co-chaired by those with social media pull and the potential for virality: Celebrities like Rosario Dawson, Sophia Bush, and (everyone's favorite) young political correspondent Jack Schlossberg, as well as environmental justice activists LaTricea Adams and Pattie Gonia, known as the premiere drag queen environmentalist.

View this post on Instagram

"Voting is hot, climate change is not," said Gonia at the time of the campaign's launch. "Vote like our planet depends on it because... well... it does."

Nye's already made two videos urging people to vote on the side of the climate (Read: The Harris / Walz ticket). In one, sporting the essential white lab coat, Nye is blunt: "The world is on f*cking fire!!" In another, donning the garb of the nation's founding fathers, the science icon quotes directly from the Constitution as he begs voters to align themselves with science. "Science isn't partisan. It's patriotic!" he says.

But, as Nye says in the third installment, the state of the world is getting dire. "From now on, you can have your selfie, but you gotta vote."

Mashable entertainment editor, Kristy Puchko, is all in on Robbie Williams' biopic 'Better Man'. Here's why!

Leadership turmoil, rumblings about an AI bubble, and a failed CEO coup last year didn't stop OpenAI from raising $6.6 billion.

On Wednesday, OpenAI completed its latest funding round according to the New York Times, giving it a valuation of $157 billion. That makes it the largest VC round of all time, a distinction that was previously held by Elon Musk's xAI, which raised $6 billion earlier this year.

SEE ALSO: The AI bubble has burst. Here's how we know.

The investment was led by VC firm Thrive Capital and included Microsoft, NVIDIA, Japanese tech investment company SoftBank, and United Arab Emirates investment company MGX. As confirmed in previous reports, Apple, which was rumored have backed out of investment talks with OpenAI is not an investor.

OpenAI's massive funding round caps off a raucous period of events over the past year or so. After it ignited the generative AI boom in 2022 with the launch of ChatGPT, OpenAI quickly became the latest Silicon Valley darling, earning $13 billion in investment from Microsoft. Then last November, a failed attempt by its non-profit board to oust CEO Sam Altman, revealed leadership's mistrust of Altman and differing philosophies from its co-founders. Eventually, co-founder Ilya Sutskever and, just last week, CTO Mira Murati quit the company. Co-founder and President Greg Brockman has taken a leave of absence and other executives have recently quit the company. OpenAI is also in the midst of restructuring its corporate status from non-profit to for-profit.

Despite waning investor interest, backlash from AI-weary consumers, and unfulfilled promises of AI's potential suggesting that the AI bubble might be ready to burst (or perhaps that it's slowly leaking after bursting months ago), OpenAI's funding round has proven investors with deep pockets are willing to bet on its success.

OpenAI makes money from subscriptions to its ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Enterprise, and API accounts. As of August, OpenAI reported that ChatGPT has over 200 million weekly users, which was double the amount of users in November, 2023, and expects to bring in $11.6 billion in sales next year (per CNBC). But building and maintaining AI models isn't cheap. According to The Information, OpenAI could lose up to $5 billion this year.

Scams are getting more complex as artificial intelligence gets more advanced. That in mind, Meta launched a new Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (FIRE) tool in Australia in an effort to cut down on the massive financial losses suffered by victims in the country.

Australia saw a rise in celebrity deepfakes pushing investment scams amid the ongoing crypto boom. Such scams used fake images of Aussie celebs like billionaire Gina Rinehart or TV personality Larry Emdur, the Guardian noted. In some cases, as with a deepfake photo of animal activist Robert Irwin in handcuffs, the scams had a conspiratorial tone, as if law enforcement was trying to hide secret financial information from the public, and the celebrities wanted to bring it to light.

The FIRE tool is, effectively, a joint effort between Meta and banks to collect information on online scams. It has led to the blocking of 8,000 pages and 9,000 celebrity scams on Facebook in its first six months, the Guardian reported. Citing the Australian government service Scamwatch, Australians had reported $43.3 million — around $30 million USD — in losses from social media scams just from January through August, the Guardian says.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Bing amps up its ability to stop explicit deepfake images from appearing in Search results

Online scams are a growing problem in Australia and elsewhere. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission reported that losses from social media scams rose 16.5 percent to $93.5 million — around $64 million USD — in the last year. The FIRE initiative is funded by Meta and run by Meta employees.

"Meta has an important responsibility to counter scams that target Australians on our apps," said David Agranovich, Policy Director, Global Threat Disruption at Meta, according to the news site News.com.au. "In addition to investing in our own tools and technology we are working with government and industry partners to fight this scourge. Scams often cut across multiple industries, and the [Australian Financial Crimes Exchange] have been an invaluable partner to help identify and take action against scams targeting Australians."

How to avoid scams online

Mashable has written quite a bit on how to avoid scams. But, in general, if you see a questionable image of, say, a celeb being taken away in handcuffs, it's best to verify. Be wary of unsafe links or of sharing financial information.

And always remain vigilant, because the scammers will too.

"Scammers aren’t going to stop their activities," Meta's Agranovich said, via the Guardian. "Once we've blocked them, they'll look for new ways to come back, new ways to get around our defensive, which is why continued information sharing like this is so critical."

If it feels like every time you log onto social media you're being marketed to, there's good reason — you are, and that's because it works.

According to a new report from research firm EMARKETER, "high shares of shoppers" across the board are buying content from creators on all platforms.

The people most influenced by creators to shop are young people, particularly Gen Z shoppers, while the people least likely are baby boomers. The platform that influences creator-driven shopping the most is Snapchat, remarkably beating out both TikTok and Instagram, while the platform that influences shoppers the least is Facebook.

"In our survey, 85.6% of social shoppers who said Snapchat content led them to make a purchase also said they had made a purchase because of creator or influencer content," read the report, in which EMARKETER surveyed 1,207 people "who have made or been inspired to make a purchase from social media platforms" in the past year. "Those shoppers may have seen that content elsewhere, but it’s likely that at least some saw it on Snapchat."

The survey found that 82 percent of Gen Z shoppers — aged 15 to 26 years old — who responded to their survey bought something because of a creator, compared to just over 18 percent of baby boomer shoppers and 40 percent of Gen X shoppers.

Conspicuous consumption is real, social media marketing works, the sky is blue.

A cell phone can feel like a Swiss Army knife of the 21st century — until you lose cellular or data service. Then it becomes a so-called brick that you obsessively pick up, hoping to see that WiFi or cell signal has returned.

Whether you've lost connectivity because of an unexpected outage, natural disaster, or you're in a remote location, newer generation iPhones running iOS 18 the ability to tap into satellite service.

iPhone owners can now send non-emergency messages via iMessage and SMS. Additionally, the iPhone 14 and later has an "emergency SOS" feature that routes people to emergency services via satellite connectivity. Pixel 9 phones have a similar SOS feature.

If you just want to temporarily restore messaging capability, which includes texts, emojis, and Tapbacks, by connecting to a satellite, here's a step-by-step process:

Total Time

• 10 mins

What You Need

• iPhone 14 or later models

Step 1: Use the iPhone's satellite connection demo

You'll have more success if you test your satellite connection prior to losing service. You can do this via the satellite connection demo, which can be accessed via your phone's control center. Once there, click on the cellular button. In that menu, you'll see a satellite button. Tap that, then select "try connecting to satellite." Onscreen instructions will guide you through connecting your phone to a satellite.

Step 2: Turn on iMessage.

This is an important step: In order to use the satellite connection, you must have iMessages turned on before you lose service or signal.

Step 3: Set up your iPhone's emergency contact and family sharing.

When you have an emergency contact and family sharing set up, those individuals can reach you via messaging first. Even if you're out of range or have no service, you'll receive their messages once you connect to the satellite. However, for this to work, your contacts need to have iOS 17.6 or later, or a non-Apple device, so be sure to remind them to update their software as needed.

Step 4: When prompted, confirm that you want to connect via satellite.

Your iPhone will detect when it has no cellular or WiFi service. On phones with satellite capability, you'll see a lock screen message indicating you can send and receive messages via that connection. You may also see that prompt upon opening the Messages app. When you make the satellite connection, you'll also be given the option to contact emergency services using the Emergency SOS feature.

Step 5: Open the Messages app.

Sending texts via satellite should then be as easy as opening the Messages app. If you haven't begun receiving messages yet, you'll then receive a prompt to do so, in addition to instructions for connecting to the satellite. On the iPhone 14 Pro or later models, a top-of-the-screen feature called Dynamic Island shows indicator dots demonstrating your connection's strength. You do not need to hold your arm out toward the sky, but you may see arrows directing you left or right to boost the connection. For more help, you can access Connection Assistant by tapping on the Dynamic Island.

Credit: Courtesy Apple

What else you need to know about messaging via satellite:

• Satellite connectivity is free for two years after you activate an iPhone 14 or later model.

• Ideally, you'll have a direct view of the sky and horizon. The more obstructed your view, the longer your message will take to send. Apple notes that a satellite-sent message may take 30 seconds. This can increase to more than a minute if you're surrounded by light or medium foliage. And it may be impossible to connect to a satellite if your view is blocked by heavy tree cover. While you don't need to hold your arm outstretched toward the sky, you shouldn't put your phone in a pocket or backpack while trying to connect to a satellite.

• Any SMS messages sent by a contact before you connected to the satellite will arrive once you connect and begin accepting messages. However, receiving iMessages works a little differently. Your emergency contact or family member must return to the text conversation and tap "send via satellite" underneath their message bubble.

• You will not be able to use all Messages features, like sending and receiving photos, videos, audio notes, and group messages.

• In locations above 62° latitude, which includes northern parts of Alaska, satellite connectivity may not work.

The latest version of Microsoft Windows 11, version 24H2, rolled out on Tuesday. The update brings a slew of new features to PCs including a number of AI-related additions to Windows, such as the controversial Recall feature.

However, the Windows update launch hasn't gone without a hitch – especially if you're a PC gamer.

SEE ALSO: I just demoed Windows 11 Recall: 3 useful features that may surprise you

Microsoft has put out an update on its Windows 11 version 24H2 issues page, warning some gamers of known issues with the upgrade that's causing certain video games to crash.

Easy Anti-Cheat incompatibility

Perhaps the biggest gaming-related bug with Windows 11 version 24H2 involves issues causing the update to be incompatible with Easy Anti-Cheat.

Easy Anti-Cheat is a software service by Epic Games which stops hacking and cheating in online multiplayer games. While Epic Games utilizes the service for its own titles, like the massively popular Fortnite, many other developers license the technology from Epic Games as well.

According to Microsoft,  "most devices experiencing this issue use Easy Anti-Cheat drivers released before April 2024." In addition, the incompatibility issues should only affect devices with Intel’s Alder Lake+ processors and vPro platform. 

"In rare cases, when users open or play certain games, this issue causes affected devices to stop responding and to show a blue screen with the error “MEMORY_MANAGEMENT”," reads Microsoft's update.

Microsoft has already set up a stop gap in order to prevent devices with these drivers from updating to Windows 11 version 24H2. Users who try to manually update will also be served with a pop-up notifying them of the issue. Microsoft is urging potentially affected users to not upgrade Windows 11 until the problem is resolved.

Asphalt 8 issues

Along with the broad range of games affected by the Easy Anti-Cheat incompatibility issue, Windows 11 version 24H2 is also causing unrelated problems for those playing a specific title, Asphalt 8.

"After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, you might face issues with Asphalt 8 (Airborne)," Microsoft says. "The game might stop responding with an exception while you are using or exiting it, and you will have to restart the game to recover from the exception."

Microsoft has also applied a compatibility hold to PCs with Asphalt 8 installed in order to stop those devices from updated to Windows 11 version 24H2.

TL;DR: Through October 27, pick up Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and a comprehensive coding bundle for just $55.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle $55.97
$1,999.00 Save $1,943.03 Get Deal

Ready to kick your coding career into high gear? Whether you’re a beginner looking to dive into software development or a professional aiming to add to your skills, the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle can be your one-stop solution for success.

For just $55.97, you get a powerful IDE plus a comprehensive set of coding courses — all at a fraction of the regular price.

This bundle combines Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022, one of the industry’s most trusted integrated development environments (IDE), with in-depth coding courses that cover everything from front-end development to data science. With the tools and knowledge in this bundle, you’ll be well on your way to mastering software development and building a rewarding career.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 is a powerful IDE that helps you design, code, and debug your applications easily. One of the courses included in the 15-course bundle is the JavaScript Complete Guide, which consists of 32 lessons and practical projects. You also have Google Assistant Automation IoT Development: Dive into 163 lessons on automating tasks with IoT and Google Assistant. You'll also explore Python, one of the most in-demand programming languages, with 78 lessons.

This bundle isn’t just for beginners. Whether you want to specialize in front-end development, build websites' back-end infrastructure, or dive into data science, the courses cover everything you need to know.

Front-end developers can learn JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and frameworks like React and Vuex, while back-end developers will dive into Python, Java, C++, and SQL to build server-side applications. Full-stack developers will master the full spectrum of coding, from front-end to back-end and mobile app developers can explore Flutter, Swift, and Kotlin for building iOS and Android apps.

Don't miss getting the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle for just $55.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE UP TO 40%: Book with code SAVEWOW to save up to 40% on flights at Southwest Airlines through Oct. 3.

Opens in a new window Credit: Southwest Get up to 40% off base fares at Southwest Airlines Get Deal

Thinking about taking a trip before the year is up or within the first few months of 2025? You deserve it. Whether your ideal destination is a tropical beach, a snowy mountain escape, or a weekend in the big city, Southwest's big sale will help you take a vacation for nearly half off.

Through Oct. 3, use code SAVEWOW when booking flights at Southwest Airlines to save up to 40% on base fares. Southwest's Week of Wow sale includes continental U.S. flights that take off between Oct. 29 and Jan. 31, 2025. The deal extends to flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international locations that take off between Oct. 29 and March 5, 2025.

SEE ALSO: The best freebies during Amazon's October Prime Day

Southwest also offers some attractive perks that go against the grain of typical airline policy these days. For example, Southwest bookings come with two free checked bags. You can overpack to your heart's delight on your next Southwest flight. Southwest also doesn't charge change or cancel fees, either, so if your plans change, you can alter your booking, stress-free.

If you have travel plans coming up soon, check out the Southwest Week of Wow sale. With code SAVEWOW, you could be saving up to 40% off your flight price. But you'll want to hurry because the sale ends on Oct. 3.

GET $50 OFF: As of Oct. 2, the Shark FlexStyle air styling and drying system is available for $249, down from $299.99 at Amazon. That's 17% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle air styling and drying system $249.00 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal

Dyson has dominated the vacuum and, more recently, the hairstyling market for years. The iconic Airwrap became a must-have item after going viral on TikTok in 2021 — since then, it’s been an expensive (and maybe unnecessary) purchase for many.

Thankfully, we’re now in a place where other brands have managed to make impressive and affordable Airwrap dupes, with the Shark FlexStyle being one of our favorites. This multi-functional styling tool is currently on sale for $249 ahead of October Prime Day. That’s $50.99 off the list price of $299.99, and nearly $400 less than the Dyson Airwrap.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300: The Shark FlexStyle is no longer your only option

The Shark FlexStyle can curl, volumize, smooth, and dry hair without heat damage, much like the Airwrap, but at a much lower price point. It’s also compact and lightweight, so you can take it on the go. With 1.25-inch auto-wrap curlers, two brushes, and four heat settings, you can get a salon-worthy ’do right at home.

The best early October Prime Day laptop deals at a glance: Best Windows laptop deal Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,099.99 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal

Amazon isn't usually loaded with great laptop deals on any given day (especially compared to the competition), but things tend to pick up a bit during the retailer's major sitewide sales.

With Prime Big Deal Days coming soon — that would be Amazon's members-only "October Prime Day" sale, set for Oct. 8 and 9 — the Mashable Shopping team is on the lookout for the best, most worth-it discounts there starring Apple MacBooks, Windows PCs, Chromebooks, and beyond.

At the time of writing, the floodgates have only just started to crack open; there's really only one good early Prime Day laptop deal available: A variant of the Acer Swift X 14, our favorite Windows laptop for photo and video editing, has hit a new all-time low.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Official dates, the competition, and more

That said, Amazon also has some MacBook Pros and Airs on sale separately from its pre-Prime Big Deal Days programming. That includes two configurations of the 14-inch M3 Pro, our favorite laptop for photo and video editing overall, which have returned to their lowest prices on record. As such, we recommend that shoppers consider them, too.

We'll couch these recs with a warning that anything on sale now could theoretically get even cheaper next week when Prime Big Deal Days officially starts. (That's when we're expecting the bulk of the best laptop deals to arrive.) But if you need to upgrade ASAP and can't wait until then, these are decent discounts as things currently stand. Below, we go deeper on specs and pricing.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Our pick: Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Swift X 14.

The Intel Core Ultra 7-powered Acer Swift X 14 is our top Windows laptop for photo and video editing, nabbing a 4.5/5 rating from Tech Editor Kim Gedeon (and a Mashable Choice Award) for its stellar performance, decent battery life, good build quality, and beautiful OLED display. "The Acer Swift X 14 may not be the most exciting laptop, but behind its boring exterior is a powerful set of internals that will handle your creative workloads like The Hulk," she wrote. This variant features downgraded Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics — our loaner had an RTX 4070 GPU — and 16GB of memory instead of 32GB, but should still be plenty powerful for most users.

Normally $1,499.99, Amazon has it on sale for just $1,099.99 — a 27% savings and a record low. Meanwhile, it's still full price on the Acer website.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,699.00 at Amazon
$1,999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).

With a super bright mini-LED display, a good amount of useful, creative-friendly ports, gorgeous-sounding speakers, and an M3 chip that supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the current-gen MacBook Pro is our No. 1 laptop for photo and video editing (regardless of operating system). It's also the longest-lasting MacBook we've tested to date, clocking in at over 16 hours in our battery life test. It's another Mashable Choice Award winner that earned a 4.5/5 rating from Gedeon.

We highly recommend bumping up to the 1TB variant with 16GB of memory, which is currently marked down to $1,699 (down $300 from $1,999), but the base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is also on sale for $1,299 (down $300 from $1,599). Either way, you'll be locking in an all-time low.

More MacBooks on sale

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 $999 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,099 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,299 (save $150)

FREE $15 PRIME BIG DEAL DAYS CREDIT: As of Oct. 2, get a free $15 Prime Big Deal Days credit at Amazon when you use Amazon Photos to back up your memories. Prime members have unlimited photo storage for no extra charge.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon $15 Prime Big Deal Days Credit with Amazon Photos Signup Get Deal

October Prime Day is right around the corner (Oct. 8 and 9), and you can save big during the October shopping event thanks to the deluge of deals on their way. If you want to get a leg up on the savings, Amazon is giving you an easy way to get an additional $15 off your Prime Big Deal Days purchases by inviting you to use one of the Prime benefits you may not even know you have: unlimited photo storage.

As of Oct. 2, you can get a $15 credit for Prime Big Deal Days when you back up your photos using Amazon Photos. There's no purchase required, but you must be a Prime member to do so. You'll want to go ahead and sign up for Prime ahead of October Prime Day to make sure you can take advantage of the offer, or use a free trial if one is available to you, if you're interested in snagging the extra cash. Aside from that, there are no hoops to jump through and no hidden fees.

SEE ALSO: The best freebies during Amazon's October Prime Day

You'll need to download and sign in to the Amazon Photos app on your mobile device (phone or tablet, doesn't matter which) or your desktop. From there, use the Auto-Save feature to back up all the images on your computer or device to give you a bit of space back. But don't just rely on cloud storage, take it from us. You'll want to make sure you have a second backup if those photos are precious.

In four days after signing up for Amazon Photos and using it to give yourself a bit more space, you'll automatically receive an email with your $15 Amazon credit. This deal is only available through October 3, so you're going to have to hurry and sign up if you're interested. From there, you have through October 9 to use your credit. There are a variety of items you can't use it on, and you must apply it to an order of at least $30. That said, it's well worth uploading a single photo (that's all that's required) to Amazon Photos to get this little discount.