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SAVE $440: As of Jan. 28, iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum is available at Best Buy for $359, a massive $440 discount off its regular $799 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7+ $359.00 at Best Buy
$799.00 Save $440.00 Get Deal

No one loves vacuuming, and with the iRobot Roomba j7+, you’ll never have to think about it again. Right now, it’s down to $359 in Best Buy’s 48-hour flash sale, saving you a jaw-dropping $440. This is a game-changing deal for a robot vacuum that not only cleans but empties itself.

The Roomba j7+ takes cleaning to the next level with 10x the power-lifting suction compared to the Roomba 600 series, making it perfect for tackling stubborn messes. Got pets? It’s a lifesaver. iRobot guarantees its P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise, fantastic), meaning the j7+ can identify and avoid pet waste. If it fails, they’ll replace it for free.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Say goodbye to pre-cleaning rituals. With PrecisionVision Navigation, this vacuum can dodge obstacles like cables, shoes, and even socks. Set it loose, and it’ll navigate your home like a pro. With Imprint Smart Mapping, you can customize its cleaning schedule by room and time, store multiple floor plans, and create “Keep Out Zones” for areas you’d rather skip.

One of the best features is the self-emptying base. The Roomba j7+ empties itself into an enclosed dirt disposal bag, meaning you don’t have to deal with the dust for months. It even knows when to clean without bothering you, starting its rounds when you leave the house and wrapping up before you return.

From rugs to hardwood, the Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes adjust automatically to different floor types, so every surface gets the attention it deserves. It’s also equipped with Cliff Detect, which prevents it from falling down the stairs, and advanced sensors that glide under furniture with ease.

At $359, this deal is a no-brainer for anyone tired of dragging out the old vacuum. With features like voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant and personalized cleaning suggestions, the Roomba j7+ doesn’t just clean your home — it changes how you think about cleaning altogether. But hurry — this deal disappears after today, and so should your old vacuum.

SAVE $560: As of Jan. 28, the Alienware m16 16-inch gaming laptop is on sale for $2,239.99 at Best Buy, a massive $560 discount off its regular price of $2,799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware m16 16-inch gaming laptop $2,239.99 at Best Buy
$2,799.99 Save $560.00 Get Deal

Here’s the deal: Best Buy’s clearance sale is offering a monster gaming laptop at a price that’s hard to ignore. Alienware m16, armed with the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, is down to $2,239.99 from $2,799.99. That’s $560 in savings for one of the most stacked rigs on the market.

The m16’s 16-inch QHD+ display isn’t just big. It’s loaded. With a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, it’s designed to handle fast-paced games with buttery-smooth visuals. Dolby Vision support means you get cinematic color and contrast, from hectic moments in DooM to exploring in Skyrim. Add Dolby Atmos audio to the mix, and you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the action.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Performance-wise, the 12-core Ryzen 9 7845HX CPU and 16GB of DDR5 RAM are built for serious multitasking and intense gaming sessions. Pair that with the RTX 4080 GPU, featuring 12GB of GDDR6 video memory, and this machine isn’t just ready for modern games. It’s prepared to dominate them on ultra settings. Thanks to the 1TB NVMe SSD, you’ll have plenty of space for your growing game library and near-instant load times.

Alienware didn’t skimp on cooling, either. The Cryo-tech cooling system combines a vapor chamber, quad fans, seven heat pipes, and Alienware’s proprietary Element 31 thermal material to keep temperatures in check, even during demanding sessions. The redesigned chassis and Legend 3 aesthetics make this machine look as premium as it performs.

This is a complete package for gamers who want top-tier specs, and at this clearance price, it’s a solid investment. This is your green light if you’ve been holding out for a major upgrade. Just don’t wait too long. Clearance deals don’t last, and someone else might claim this beast while you’re still deciding.

SAVE $170: As of Jan. 28, the Insignia 75-inch F50 4K UHD Smart Fire TV is on sale for $429.99 at Best Buy, saving you $170 off its regular $599.99 price during the 48-hour flash sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 75-inch F50 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $429.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

When was the last time you upgraded your TV? Because this Insignia F50 Series 75-inch 4K Fire TV deal at Best Buy is calling your name. Right now, it's slashed down to $429.99 from its usual $599.99, and trust me, that's a lot of screen for not a lot of money. At this size, everything from Sunday football games to your favorite Netflix dramas feels like a front-row experience. Plus, it's got 4K Ultra HD resolution, so those stunning visuals will leave you wondering why you waited so long to ditch your old TV.

This deal is even sweeter because it's a complete entertainment hub. With Fire TV built-in, you can immediately stream everything from Prime Video to Disney+. The Alexa voice remote also comes in handy. You can ask her to launch apps, find a specific movie, or even change inputs without lifting more than a finger. And if you're an Apple fan, it supports AirPlay, so sharing photos or videos from your phone is a breeze.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Now let's talk sound. The DTS Studio Sound technology might not replace your home theater system. Still, for built-in speakers, it delivers some surprisingly immersive audio. And if you've got a soundbar, the TV's HDMI ARC and eARC support make hooking it up hassle-free.

On the tech side, you're getting features that make this more than just a budget TV. The HDR10 support ensures colors pop with vibrant contrast. At the same time, the LED-backlit LCD panel offers sharp clarity for those Netflix binges or gaming marathons. Plus, it has three HDMI ports, so no one's unplugging the PS5 to watch cable.

At just $429.99, this Insignia 75-inch F50 Fire TV is a rare find, especially during Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale. If you're serious about leveling up your home theater without draining your bank account, this deal is one you'll regret passing up.

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

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

• Yellow: Lingo Serena Williams would use

• Green: Football team abbreviations

• Blue: Points awarded on a single play in NFL

• Purple: Two

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

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

• Yellow: Tennis lingo

• Green: NFL teams on scoreboards

• Blue: Possible points on a football play

• Purple: No. 2

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 #127 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Tennis lingo - ACE, FAULT, LET, WINNER

• NFL teams on scoreboards - NOR, PIT, SEA, TEN

• Possible points on a football play - ONE, SIX, THREE, TWO

• No. 2 - JETER, PLACE, RUNNER-UP, SILVER MEDAL

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

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

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, January 28, 2025:

AcrossMagic accessory for Gandalf the Grey

• The answer is Staff.

Item often cut with a pocket-sized guillotine cutter

• The answer is Cigar.

Fill with awe

• The answer is Amaze.

Flood stopper

• The answer is Levee.

Word repeated in "Any ___ is good ___"

• The answer is Press.

DownTop of the head

• The answer is Scalp.

Track meet official

• The answer is Timer.

Plant used to make tequila

• The answer is Agave.

Flusters

• The answer is Fazes.

Saves from jail in Capture the Flag, say

• The answer is Frees.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

One of President Donald Trump's first actions after last week's inauguration was to sign an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as well as Denali to Mount McKinley. Now Google has announced it will follow Trump's directive, changing how these landmarks are labelled in Google Maps.

While Trump's order alters the U.S. government's official position regarding the Gulf of Mexico and Denali's names, it does not specifically direct companies to follow suit. Even so, Google confirmed that its Maps app will be renaming the Gulf of Mexico and Denali in an X post on Monday.

"We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps," Google wrote (with at least a few of those questions coming from Mashable). "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources."

SEE ALSO: Google and Apple Maps still list Gulf of Mexico, not America, per Trump's order Tweet may have been deleted

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the U.S. government's official source for geographic features' names, maintaining records and standardising information across the country. As of Monday, the GNIS has not yet been updated to reflect Trump's executive order, and still lists the sea and mountain in question as the Gulf of Mexico and Denali respectively.

However, Trump's directive included a 30-day deadline for the name changes to be completed and all references to the Gulf of Mexico removed. Google has thus stated that it will wait until the GNIS amends its records before switching over to the new Trump-mandated names.

"When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America," wrote Google.

I never ever under any circumstances install chrome plugins, but I will install one that makes it display Gulf of Mexico instead of Gulf of America on Google maps.

— MC Frontalot (@mc.frontalot.com) January 28, 2025 at 11:56 AM

The tech giant also confirmed that Google Map's name changes won't only be visible to U.S. users. Rather, the "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley" labels will be visible to everyone who uses Google Maps regardless of the country they're in. This is due to Google's "longstanding practice" of handling labelling inconsistencies by deferring to a landmark's official name in the country where it's located. 

"When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name," said Google. "Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too."

As such, we can reasonably expect Google Maps to change its label for Denali to Mount McKinley across the globe in the near future, as the mountain is located entirely within U.S. borders.

In contrast, the U.S. does not own the Gulf of Mexico/America, which is also bordered by Mexico and Cuba. It therefore appears likely that while U.S. Google Maps users will see the gulf completely renamed to "Gulf of America," international users may see the new name alongside its internationally recognised label "Gulf of Mexico."

Mashable has reached out to Google for comment.

Participants at this year’s Joint Mathematics Meetings explored everything from the role of A.I. to the hyperbolic design of a patchwork denim skirt.

TL;DR: Get a PDF Expert Premium lifetime subscription for £64.21 (reg. £112.38) and manage your PDFs with seamless editing, organising, and annotation tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle Limited PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) £64.21 at the Mashable Shop
£112.38 Save £48.17 Get Deal

PDFs are great until you need to edit one — then they can feel like an unsolvable puzzle. With PDF Expert Premium, you’ll never have to wrestle with your files again. This powerful £64.21 (reg. £112.38) tool puts you in full control of your PDFs, making edits, annotations, and organisation simple.

PDF Expert is built for flexibility and ease of use. If you want to tweak text, images, or links, it’s as simple as clicking and typing. You can highlight, comment, and mark up your PDFs with intuitive tools that let you collaborate seamlessly.

But it doesn’t stop at edits. PDF Expert also makes organising large batches of documents effortless. Merge multiple PDFs into one, split files, or rearrange pages to your liking. Plus, its handy search function ensures you’ll never waste time hunting for key information again.

For those focused on security, PDF Expert has you covered. Lock your documents with passwords and control access to sensitive information. Whether you’re handling contracts, assignments, or personal files, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your data is protected.

Great for students, professionals, or anyone who deals with PDFs regularly, you can say goodbye to clunky workarounds and hello to streamlined productivity.

With a one-time payment of £64.2 — a 42% discount — you get lifetime access to PDF Expert Premium's complete suite of features.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Jan. 28. Hosted by Romance Book Lovers, this Romance Book Blast features 1,000 books for free.

It felt like a really long wait for the last Stuff Your Kindle Day, but we've only had a few days between that drop and the next event hosted by Romance Book Lovers. We're not complaining. The more free book events, the better.

Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an incredible opportunity to stock up on hundreds (or even thousands) of books for free. We get that this sounds too good to be true, but this author-organized event really does drop the price of e-books to absolutely nothing. And the books that you download are yours to keep. Where's the catch? There isn't one.

SEE ALSO: The Kindle Paperwhite made me enjoy reading books again

This latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is focused on romance books. Hosted by Romance Book Lovers, this Romance Book Blast features 1,000 books that are available to download for free. And on the hub page, everything is organized into helpful subgenres so you can find exactly what you're looking for without hassle. Subgenres include Steamy Romance, Sports Romance, Romantic Comedy, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Romance.

Want to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Stuff Your Kindle Day calendar is busy. The most recent events took place in December (Indie Author Winter Wonderland Event and Dark Mode Books Giveaway) and earlier in January (Cozy Mystery Book Club).

And on Jan. 28, Romance Book Lovers are running a Romance Book Blast with 1,000 books available to download for free.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The beauty of Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate. You don't even need to own a Kindle to get involved.

Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these free e-books. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone, as you can also find these free titles on the Google Play and Apple Books apps.

Which e-books are free?

Finding all these free romance e-books is straightforward thanks to Romance Book Lovers. There's a helpful hub page with 12 subgenres listed out. By following those links, you are directed to shopping links to Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, Google, and more retailers.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books per month that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow, so don't hold back.

Shop Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited $109.99 at Amazon
$145.96 Save $35.97 Get Deal Why we like it

These super popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. They start at $109.99, a great price for those on a budget, but if you want to save even more, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited absolutely free during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Kindle Unlimited costs $11.99 per month and allows you to borrow up to 20 months per month. For a limited time, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, saving you $35.97.

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better?

TL;DR: Live stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia for free on 7Plus. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Australia are coming off a really strong Test match series victory over India, so they'll be confident of keeping the good times going in Sri Lanka. Of course, playing away from home is always a challenge. The pitches will be unfamiliar, the crowds will be passionate, and the weather could pose a problem.

Australia and Sri Lanka are all set to battle it out in two Test matches and two ODIs. If you want to watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test) for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test)?

The 1st Test between Sri Lanka and Australia takes place from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. This Test match takes place at the Galle International Stadium.

The full schedule for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka is as follows:

• Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test) — Jan. 29 to Feb. 2

• Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd Test) — Feb. 6-10

• Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st ODI) — Feb. 12

• Sri Lanka vs. Australia (2nd ODI) — Feb. 14

The good news for fans is that every ball of this tour is available to live stream for free.

How to watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia for free

Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test) is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

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

Access free live streams of Sri Lanka vs. Australia by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test) without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream this Test series before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live cricket on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sri Lanka vs. Australia (1st Test) for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Big Game is finally here, and it's going to be glorious.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on a mission to become the first team to ever win three straight. Standing in their way are the Philadelphia Eagles, fresh from smashing the Washington Commanders 55-23 to win the NFC championship. This is the second time that the Eagles have made it to this stage in three seasons, so everything is set up for something special in New Orleans.

Looking for the best way to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

When is Chiefs vs. Eagles?

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles starts at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 9. This fixture takes place at the Caesars Superdome.

How to watch Chiefs vs. Eagles for free

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in New Zealand. This process bypasses geo-restrictions to unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL 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 New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles 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 services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. Sign up for these deals to access free live streams of the NFL, and it won't cost you anything in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it's possible to live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. As part of this deal, you also get three bonus months of coverage plus a whole year of unlimited data backup via the cloud and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are lots of reasons to equip your outdoor area with speakers: Maybe you like to dine outside, throw garden parties, or simply kick your feet up and relax when the sun is out. You could always just blast a playlist from your smartphone's speaker, of course, but it never sounds great. If you're serious about music, treat those with the respect they deserve. Invest in a purpose-made outdoor speaker.

You can think beyond your own outdoor space, too. In the Bluetooth-connected world, you can pair your smart device and play music just about anywhere. So, if you're a regular picnicker or traveller, it's good to have a portable Bluetooth speaker that you can use in just about any outdoor space — the park, the beach, the poolside, wherever.

Finding a good pair of speakers is straightforward when you're building a sound system for inside your home, but finding the same kind of high-quality audio for the outdoors can be tricky. You can't use the same speakers for your living room as you do in your garden. Not only can they not withstand the weather, but indoor speakers just aren't built to carry audio in wide-open spaces. Read on for a guide on sweet-sounding outdoor speakers, plus a selection of the best options in 2025.

Are wired or wireless speakers best for outdoors?

Ultimately, it depends how, when, and where you use them. Wireless speakers are great for their portability, which makes them super convenient, but wired outdoor speakers are likely to be more powerful, more dependable, and less susceptible to interference. And with wired speakers, you'll never have to worry about recharging the battery or walking too far out of Bluetooth range. Those are definite perks when you’re throwing an all-day, all-night party and want to mingle with your guests. Outdoor wired speakers also tend to be better at filling large spaces with an even distribution of sound, especially since you can hook up several around the garden.

Wireless speakers — which usually work via Bluetooth — have their plus points, too. Bluetooth speakers can stream audio content from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other Bluetooth-capable device. Sometimes, these speakers will also allow for hands-free capabilities through voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. The other bonus is that you can take them to the party, so you're not bound by one location. You can also take a portable Bluetooth speaker to the park, the pool, or on holiday.

But — because of where we are with speaker technology technology right now — there are speakers that effectively fill both roles, delivering massive sound more typical of wired speakers while also offering Bluetooth and streaming technology.

Can you mount outdoor speakers?

Mounting wired speakers around your outdoor living area is an ideal choice when you have the space to place them on walls or under decks. Often, these speakers are sold in pairs and have a stereo configuration with left and right inputs to help fill your space with more complex audio. The only downside is that they have a more limited range of projecting sound as they can only be tilted so far without literally hitting a wall.

If your outdoor space is further away from mountable opportunities, however, you could opt to hide your setup in your landscaping with some in-ground speakers instead. It will involve the careful burying of some wires, but it's a great choice for dispersing audio more evenly as many ground-level speakers boast 360° sound. The only caveat? Whichever option you choose for your outdoor listening, you'll want to ensure that they are actually designed to be used outside.

Are outdoor speakers waterproof?

While on your search for outdoors speakers, look out for keywords like "weatherproof" and "water-resistant". Most outdoor speakers will clearly let you know that all the electrical stuff is safely housed inside a weather-resistant shell. This means it can withstand the elements, including rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. 

A high waterproof rating is standard with portable Bluetooth speakers, but less common on mountable wired speakers. That said, it's common for wired outdoor speakers to be labelled as weather-resistant rather than waterproof. If you are concerned about wild weather, you might opt to place your speakers under some sort of cover to offer them more protection.

What is the best outdoor speaker?

We've tried to narrow down your options and compiled a roundup of top speakers for a wide range of people, budgets, and activities. We’re pretty confident you’ll find what you need to enjoy the outdoors without missing a beat. We've tracked down impressive devices from top brands like Bose, JBL, and Sonos. Just pick a favourite.

These are the best outdoor speakers in 2025.

A Chinese manufacturer just shocked a larger, complacent U.S. rival with a cheaper product that is significantly more customizable. News at 11.

In many industries, in the 21st century so far, this statement would not in fact be news; it would be such a familiar tale, few would bother mentioning it. But the old tale is noteworthy in this latest instance, thanks to the industry being Artificial Intelligence. Which, ironically, now seems to be an industry that was not very intelligent about obvious developments coming down the pike.

DeepSeek has taken off at a difficult time in the U.S., and not just politically. A divided country was just coming to grips with what AI means for business, for jobs, and whether the promised returns would be worth the investment that has been ploughed into (and by) U.S. companies. One thing few seemed to question was that a U.S. business would always be in the lead. No matter who was in or out, an American leader would emerge victorious in the AI marketplace — be that leader OpenAI's Sam Altman, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Google's Sundar Pichai, or for the true believers, xAI's Elon Musk.

ChatGPT appeared to have a grip on the public imagination, and Altman seemed to be the most media savvy public face of the AI salesmen, so — presuming he could stop having weird feuds over celebrity voices and isn't found liable for allegedly abusing his sister — probably him?

Now here comes Liang Wenfeng, founder and CEO of DeepSeek, with a face so unknown there isn't even, at time of writing, a photo on his Wikipedia entry, nor does the mighty Getty archive contain any picture of him. (He did show up at a Beijing Symposium last week, should you want to know what he looks like.) DeepSeek doesn't swim in the media-facing, market-facing waters of the posturing U.S. AI giants. All it has is a better product — a faster, way cheaper product that fulfills a promise Altman forgot: It's open source.

And in the flattened world of the internet, turns out, that's all you need.

A day in the life of DeepSeek

One day, that's all it took. One day for DeepSeek to vault to the top of the app charts on Apple and Google. One day for Nvidia's Jensen Huang to lose nearly $21 billion of his net worth, thanks to the biggest single-day loss for any stock ever.

Reports that DeepSeek may have been partly trained on sanctions-busting Nvidia chips didn't stop the slide, because DeepSeek's secret sauce is that it simply doesn't need as much computing power as other Large Language Models. DeepSeek isn't just cheaper and more customizable, it is up to 50 times more efficient than the top U.S. models. Which could be good news for the environment, and bad news for Nvidia, let alone any U.S. tech giant which have been gearing up their data center budgets and massively overspending on Nvidia chips (in other words, pretty much all of them — except Apple, which has wisely put Apple Intelligence to work mostly on the device itself.)

"Nvidia has basically been getting rich selling shovels in the midst of a gold rush," AI expert Gary Marcus, one of the deepest skeptics of the U.S. AI approach, wrote as DeepSeek news poured in, "but may suddenly face a world in which people suddenly require far fewer shovels ... building $500 billion worth of power and data centers in the service of those chips isn't looking so sensible either."

Indeed, an increasing number of companies may be able to avoid paying for cloud-based AI services at all. At costs of pennies on the dollar, executives will be able to download an open-source LLM that can be customized to fit their database and data needs. It doesn't need to be the absolute fastest and smartest AI, it just needs to be competitive with the fastest and smartest — which DeepSeek's R1 model apparently is.

SEE ALSO: Here's what DeepSeek AI does better than OpenAI's ChatGPT

So what has ChatGPT, and by extension Altman, got on its side? Why, in this fast-moving tech consumer world, where a competitor is only an app store tap away, would anyone stick with the app they know? Sure, many will for a while, but relying on the inertia of your customer base in the face of close-to-free alternatives is a great way to ... become the next AOL. ChatGPT's fall from grace could arguably happen faster than its ascendency in 2022, which in itself was practically overnight.

Which is not to say that U.S. AI companies are sunk. After all, they have an ongoing cyberattack and a protectionist U.S. government in their corner. Today's Washington is willing to pass the CHIPS act to prevent Chinese companies from accessing the latest U.S. chip technology, which evidently did not work, but it is also willing to ban TikTok, the kind of blunt tool that would work to stunt DeepSeek's scary-fast growth. Suspicions over what China could do with all the U.S. customer data its companies are acquiring are rife, and can always be stoked.

But what are you going to do? Keep banning every Chinese LLM that undercuts a bloated U.S. rival? At a certain point, that's playing whack-a-mole, and it ignores the point. If the market wants a super-cheap, super-efficient open-source AI, then American companies need to be the ones who provide them.

If Altman doesn't release a supposedly superior GPT 5 soon, and if he doesn't want OpenAI to be heading for the kind of long-term decline that has affected so many haughty U.S. tech companies in the past, then he needs to join DeepSeek and Meta in the ranks of AI makers that release open-source products.

And maybe concentrating on the carbon footprint of your AI model — a pretty good proxy for how inefficient it is — isn't such a bad idea after all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 28 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: Someone who entertains

• Green: Used for strength training

• Blue: Candy bar, singular

• Purple: Associated with "speed"

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: Funny Person

• Green: Resistance Training Equipment

• Blue: Candy Bar Minus "S"

• Purple: Speed___

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 #597 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Funny Person: CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH

• Resistance Training Equipment: BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT

• Candy Bar Minus "S": AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER

• Speed___: BUMP, CHESS, DEMON, DIAL

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 28

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 28 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 28, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

High body temperature due to illness.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

FEVER.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 28

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.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Stable supply

These words are things a cowboy might need.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are related to horses in a stable.

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 HorsebackRiding.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 28

• Reins

• Harness

• Spurs

• Saddle

• Crop

• Bridle

• HorsebackRiding

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.

Google said it would follow the Trump administration in renaming the Gulf of Mexico once the new name is updated in government sources.

The chatbot from China appears to perform a number of tasks as well as its American competitors do, but it censors topics such as Tiananmen Square.

DeepSeek appears to be twisting the knife.

U.S.-based AI stocks took a tumble on Monday following the release of the China-based DeepSeek AI chatbot. The new product from the Chinese tech startup offers a more affordable large language model (LLM), presenting a competitive alternative to OpenAI's options like ChatGPT.

But DeepSeek wasn’t finished. By Monday afternoon, the company unveiled its latest innovation: Janus-Pro-7B, a cutting-edge AI image generation model.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek AI might be smarter than OpenAI's smartest AI, and you can try it out now

DeepSeek claims its Janus-Pro-7B outperforms existing models such as OpenAI's DALL-E and Stable Diffusion. In a bold move that mirrors its approach with DeepSeek-R1, the company has made Janus-Pro-7B free and open source.

Like DALL-E, a user can input text describing a photo or artwork, and DeepSeek's Janus-Pro will provide the user with an AI-generated image. DeepSeek says that Janus-Pro can both analyze and generate images.

"Janus-Pro is a novel autoregressive framework that unifies multimodal understanding and generation," the company said in a technical report of the model. "It addresses the limitations of previous approaches by decoupling visual encoding into separate pathways while still utilizing a single, unified transformer architecture for processing."

DeepSeek provided AI-generated image examples of the improvements between its prior Janus model, which can be viewed below.

Credit: DeepSeek

Though fairly new to the space, DeepSeek is already positioning itself as a formidable disruptor in the AI race, no doubt leaving industry leaders scrambling to adapt.

The tech industry has had an insatiable appetite for Nvidia’s chips over the last two years. But the feast may be over sooner than many had expected.