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What Mark Zuckerberg’s Washington, D.C., Mansion Says About His Ideological Shifts

NYT Technology - 2 hours 12 min ago
Mark Zuckerberg’s political ideology and tastes have evolved. His real estate portfolio reflects the shift.

Save 10% on the Apple Pencil Pro for a limited time

Mashable - 2 hours 52 min ago

SAVE $13: As of April 17, the Apple Pencil Pro is on sale for $116 at Amazon. That's a 10% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil Pro $116 at Amazon
$129 Save $13 Get Deal

The Apple Pencil Pro, the latest in Apple's range of stylus pens, is back on sale at Amazon. As of April 17, you can save 10% and purchase the Pro for $116.

Released in 2024, this new and improved pencil features an impressive list of upgrades and new features that previous models don't offer. These more advanced controls include gestures and haptics. By just rotating the pencil, you can change the brush or pen tool settings mid-drawing. The squeeze interaction is also new and allows users to change modes or activate tools simply by squeezing the pencil.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your iPad with this impressive Apple Magic Keyboard deal

The haptic feedback mimics the feeling of writing or drawing on real paper, delivering subtle vibrations to match the activity being performed on the iPad.

Similar to the Apple Pencil 2, the Pro can be charged wirelessly by magnetically attaching to the side of compatible iPads. According to Apple, the Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Air 11-inch (M2), and iPad mini (A17 Pro).

It's compatible with the Find My locator, too. So if you misplace it, just use the app to track its location.

Find this deal at Amazon now.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 17, 2025

Mashable - 2 hours 57 min ago

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 Thursday, April 17, 2025:

AcrossPerson, ___ or thing
  • The answer is Place.

Like someone you shouldn't trust with fragile objects
  • The answer is Klutzy.

A time to dye?
  • The answer is Easter.

Dangle a carrot in front of
  • The answer is Entice.

Class for a cognitive science major, for short
  • The answer is Psych.

DownActivities on the docket
  • The answer is Plans.

Full of sexual desire
  • The answer is Lusty.

Commonly cobwebby room
  • The answer is Attic.

From Prague, say
  • The answer is Czech.

Jane in classic literature
  • The answer is Eyre.

Not get rid of
  • The answer is Keep.

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.

Upgrade your iPad with this impressive Apple Magic Keyboard deal

Mashable - 3 hours 33 sec ago

SAVE $20: As of April 17, the Apple Magic Keyboard is on sale for $329 at Amazon. That's 6% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard $329 at Amazon
$349 Save $20 Get Deal

iPad accessories such as the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard are a great way to elevate your device, taking things from play to work in no time. And right now at Amazon, you can get a great deal on Apple accessories, including on the Apple Magic Keyboard.

As of April 17, you can pick up the Magic Keyboard for $329, saving you $20 on list price. This deal is currently only available in black and is compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation).

SEE ALSO: Whatever Trump decides on tariffs, Apple and Tim Cook lose

The Magic Keyboard is a great way to transform your iPad. It’s super easy to use — no charging or pairing needed — just snap it on and start typing. It features backlit keys for comfy, quiet typing, a built-in trackpad for gestures and precision, and even a USB-C port for charging. It can also be purchased in different languages, including Arabic, British English, Chinese (Pinyin), Chinese (Zhuyin), Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swiss, Ukrainian, and U.S. English.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal.

Save $20 on this budget-friendly massage gun

Mashable - 3 hours 4 min ago

SAVE $20: As of April 17, the TOLOCO Massage Gun is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TOLOCO TOLOCO Massage Gun $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20 Get Deal

Post-workout pain can be a nightmare. And no matter how much you will it away, the only way to get through it is by stretching and resting. And, if you can be bothered, massaging your sore muscles.

This is where the TOLOCO Massage Gun comes in. A blessing and a curse, massage guns can be used to stimulate blood circulation in your muscles with the use of deep tissue massage. If you've used one before, you'll know just how equally relaxing and painful they can be.

SEE ALSO: The best massage guns in 2025

As of April 17, you can treat yourself to the TOLOCO Massage Gun at Amazon for just $39.99. This model provides fast relief from aches, stiffness, and tension with 10 changeable heads and low, medium, and high speed options.

Using a massage gun offers a whole host of benefits for physical recovery and overall wellness. It helps alleviate muscle soreness and stiffness by promoting blood circulation and reducing lactic acid buildup. After a tough workout, using a muscle gun can speed up your recovery.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

Streamline your workday with all the AI tools you need for just £61

Mashable - 6 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 1min.AI's Advanced Business Plan, which offers a collection of almost all the major AI models for only £60.41 (reg. £407.89).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription £60.41
£407.89 Save £347.48 Get Deal

There's been talk about AI taking people's jobs, and we're here to say you should let it — at least when it comes to time-consuming or tedious tasks. Rather than use your time writing rejection emails or proofreading sales reports, AI could do it for you. All you need to have AI become your new favourite colleague is to grab this 1min.AI subscription for £60.41 (reg. £407.89).

  • Lifetime access to GPT, Gemini, Llama, Midjourney, and more AI models with a one-time payment.

  • User-friendly interface: This makes it easy to dive in and start creating, whether you're familiar with or new to AI tools.

  • PDF manipulation tools: Edit, merge, or split PDFs with ease — perfect for organising documents.

  • Content generation: Speed up your workflow with AI tools for writing, designing, presentation creation, etc. 

  • Use one of the AI models to join virtual meetings, code, or even edit videos.

  • No need to bounce between multiple AI models ever again since all of them are neatly organised in 1min.AI.

  • With the credits you get with this 1min.AI plan, you can use them to generate AI content. The Advanced Business Plan lets you generate 1.1 million words or 1,100 images every month, and your credits renew monthly.

Offload your least favourite (or time-consuming) day-to-day tasks to AI with this 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription, now just £60.41 (reg. £407.89) through April 30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open online for free

Mashable - 7 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Barcelona Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The clay court season in professional tennis is officially underway. It's a special time of year for tennis fans, with a number of significant tournaments taking place between April and June.

The Barcelona Open is one of the most popular tournaments taking place over this period, attracting some of the biggest names in the game. Want to see the likes of Alcaraz and Ruud battle it out on clay? The Barcelona Open is for you.

If you want to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Barcelona Open?

The Barcelona Open is an annual professional tennis tournament on the ATP Tour. It is played at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on outdoor clay courts.

Casper Ruud is the defending champion.

When is the 2025 Barcelona Open?

The 2025 Barcelona Open is the 72nd edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from April 14-20.

How to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open for free

Select games from the 2025 Barcelona Open are available to live stream for free on RTVE.

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

Access free live streams of the 2025 Barcelona Open 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 Spain

  4. Visit RTVE

  5. Watch the 2025 Barcelona Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 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 without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2025 Barcelona Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Spain

  • 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% 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 the 2025 Barcelona Open for free with ExpressVPN.

68 of the best Harvard University courses you can take online for free

Mashable - 7 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from Harvard University are available to take for free on edX.

Looking for online courses from some of the top educational institutions in the world? You should stop what you're doing and check out the impressive selection on edX, because you can find free online courses from the likes of Harvard University. It doesn't get much better than that.

You can find online courses from Harvard University on popular topics like AI, cybersecurity, game development, personal development, law, and so much more. This is your chance to pursue your passion without spending anything or stepping foot outside.

We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a standout selection of online courses to get you started. These are the best free online courses from Harvard University this month:

The catch with these free courses is that they don't include certificate of completion or graded assignments and exams. But you can still enroll at any time and start learning at your own pace.

Find the best free online courses from Harvard University with edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Harvard University Harvard University Courses Free at edX Learn More

How to unblock xHamster for free

Mashable - 7 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: Unblock porn sites like xHamster with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

A lot of locations around the world restrict your access to popular porn sites like xHamster. These restrictions make sense, but we do think there is something to be said for retaining your right to online freedom. When the time is right, there is nothing wrong with accessing your favorite adult sites like xHamster.

If you're looking for the best way to unblock porn sites like xHamster for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock xHamster for free

VPNs are useful security tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions to secure access to porn sites like xHamster from anywhere in the world. It sounds complicated, but it's actually really simple.

Unblock xHamster by following these steps:

  1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to xHamster

  4. Unblock xHamster

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-year subscription + 4 months free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're traveling to a location without access to your favorite sites.

If you want to retain permanent access to free pornj sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like xHamster, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

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

  • Strict no-logging policy

  • Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock xHamster for free with ExpressVPN.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Virginia

Mashable - 7 hours 14 min ago

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Virginia with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The big news in the world of porn is that more than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content, including Virginia. Millions of users in Virginia are now unable to access popular sites like Pornhub after the introduction of age verification laws. There are complicated reasons for this restriction that we're not going to get into right now, but what's important to note is that there is a workaround for users in these impacted states.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Virginia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Virginia

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

  4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • 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 streaming speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free in Virginia with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 17

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 22:00

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Going for gold in the winter

  • Green: Teams in racing league

  • Blue: Legendary in Pennsylvania

  • Purple: Share a number

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: Winter Olympic sports

  • Green: F1 racing teams

  • Blue: Pittsburgh sports greats

  • Purple: Famous No. 8s

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 #206 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Winter Olympic sports - BIATHLON, ICE HOCKEY, LUGE, SKELETON

  • F1 racing teams - ALPINE, FERRARI, MERCEDES, RED BULL

  • Pittsburgh sports greats - BRADSHAW, CLEMENTE, CROSBY, GREENE

  • Famous No.8s - BERRA, EARNHARDT JR., JACKSON, OVECHKIN

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.

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 17

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 22:00

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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 17 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: THE movies

The words are seen in theaters.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are movie titles that start with The.

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 Titles.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 17
  • Godfather

  • Ring

  • Graduate

  • Goonies

  • Aviator

  • Shining

  • Titles

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.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 17, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 22:00

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 April 17 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: Mid-section

  • Green: Parts of a deep dish

  • Blue: Packaging for alcoholic drinks

  • Purple: MLB legends

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: Central section of the body

  • Green: Components of a pizza

  • Blue: Units of beer

  • Purple: Baseball greats

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 #676 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Central section of the body: CORE, MIDRIFF, TORSO, TRUNK

  • Components of a pizza: CHEESE, CRUST, SAUCE, TOPPINGS

  • Units of beer: CASE, FORTY, GROWLER, SIX-PACK

  • Baseball greats: BONDS, MANTLE, TROUT, YOUNG

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 April 17

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.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 17, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 22:00

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 April 17 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 April 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Erected.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

STOOD.

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 April 17

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for April 17, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 22:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

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

Remorse.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

GUILT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Flies a plane.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PILOT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

In first place.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FRONT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A cottage.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

LODGE

Final Hurdle hint

The opposite of north.

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

SOUTH

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

MrBeast fans rage as immersive Vegas experience flops

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 15:42

Fans of MrBeast expressed anger and disappointment at a three-night immersive event themed after the YouTube star.

MrBeast, the stage name of James Donaldson, did not appear at the gathering at Las Vegas' Resorts World casino, which officially wrapped on Tuesday. While a flyer promoting the "MrBeast Experience at Resorts World" didn't promise the star's appearance, what really had attendees steaming was the dearth of "activations" at the casino's restaurants and pool, and an underwhelming "mystery bag" delivered to participants' rooms. Guests reportedly paid $1,000 to attend the "experience."

"There should have been like mini-games, and meet and greets, and photo ops, special food and drink things," attendee Theresa Metta told the Las Vegas CBS news affiliate. "Unfortunately, we didn’t get any of that."

Metta said she was told to wait in her room for her advertised mystery package. When the bag finally arrived, it only contained branded chocolates and kids' clothes. Metta said the gifts were not the "exclusive merchandise" attendees were promised, but actually several items listed for clearance on the MrBeast website.

SEE ALSO: So, uh, what was going on with that nightmarish Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow?

A group of disgruntled attendees gathered to demand refunds from Resorts World executives and air their grievances to the casino's CEO, Alex Dixon.

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Instead of refunds, Resorts World officials offered each guest two $50 food and beverage vouchers, according to attendee Desiree Pineda. "This experience has been nothing short of horrible," Pineda told CBS.

It appears Resorts World may have shifted course, however. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported it issued full refunds Tuesday evening.

MrBeast didn't release a formal apology, but did respond to an attendee's complaint on X, saying this "definitely isn't the experience we hoped they'd deliver" and promised all disappointed guests an invite to his studio (in North Carolina).

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With 385 million subscribers, MrBeast's YouTube channel is the most subscribed on the video streaming site.

The latest ChatGPT trend? People are using it to turn their pets into humans.

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 15:24

Since ChatGPT's AI image generator launched to free users a couple of weeks ago, people online have been toying around with its possibilities. The latest trend involves people anthropomorphizing their pets. Yes, really.

To be clear, we all kind of act like our pets are humans — my perfect dog, Henry, is a good boy who loves deeply like a real person. But folks are now using ChatGPT's image generator to imagine what their pets would actually look like as people. It's both kind of neat and a little creepy. Here's a super viral example from Reddit.

Reddit

If you search around other social platforms, you'll find more examples of people who said they used ChatGPT to transform their pets into humans.

Do not, under any circumstances, ask ChatGPT to show you what your dog would look like as a human. It will haunt you and permanently alter your relationship with your pet.

[image or embed]

— Thomas Frampton (@tframpton.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM

Lmao I asked #chatgpt to make a human version of my dog. Not only did it deliver but turns out he’s a pup either way 😁 #aiart #funny #pet

[image or embed]

— Sindel Sloan | ATX (@sindelsloan.bsky.social) April 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM

It seems some folks found the results cute, while others found it unsettling. TechRadar's John-Anthony Disotto wrote that he wasn't "quite prepared to see a grown man sitting on the yellow armchair [his dog] likes to frequent, and [he] immediately felt a sense of uncanny valley."

The dog-as-human trend is just the latest to emerge from ChatGPT's image generator. Last week, for instance, folks were turning themselves into AI-generated action figures.

SEE ALSO: Want to be an AI action figure? Just give ChatGPT a full-body pic. How to use ChatGPT to turn your pet into a human

While some folks might avoid seeing their pet as a person — myself included — should you want to try it out, it isn't difficult.

First, you have to upload a photo of your pet. Then, the prompt can be simple. You simply ask ChatGPT to turn the pet into a human. The sample from the Reddit post also asked to keep everything else in the photo the same. ChatGPT may ask follow-up questions, but it should be relatively straightforward.

Just be careful: You can't unsee it.

TikTok surfaces reviews tab in the comments section, usurping Google Maps

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 15:00

TikTok has already secured its status as Gen Z's ultimate search tool, and now it's dipping its greedy little app toes into reviews.

The social media app hosts plenty of content creators who make a living off showing their audience reviews of tech, restaurants, and clothes they've bought. But now, TechCrunch reported that TikTok has started surfacing reviews for some places — like stores and restaurants — inside the comments section of a video.

Right now, if you see a place you want to visit on your For You Page, you'll need to navigate to Google Maps or Yelp to learn its exact location, reviews, hours, and other information. This new TikTok feature has the potential to circumvent that additional step.

SEE ALSO: For Gen Z, TikTok is more than entertainment. It's a search engine. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to TechCrunch, TikTok reviews are currently being tested for select users, who might see a "Reviews" tab on the right of a video's comments. App researcher Jonah Manzano posted a screenshot of his TikTok comments section on Threads, showing that the feature currently only works "on selected videos with a tagged location."

We don't know when, if at all, the feature will be launched publicly, and who knows how users will actually feel about the feature once it launches. Will it be met with annoyance for crowding up the comment section, or glee that the social media giant is slowly morphing into a super app?

Skullcandys Bose-powered noise-cancelling earbuds hit the market at just $100

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 14:46

Skullcandy headphones and earbuds have long been a well-known budget option, though not exactly a brand that makes you think "premium sound."

Its latest release might change that. Thanks to a partnership with Bose, the new Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds feature sound powered by Bose's technology. Following a press event with new brand ambassador Tony Hawk on April 15, the earbuds are now available to the public. As Skullcandy ups the sound quality of its earbuds, it's keeping the cost low with a special introductory price of $99.99, which will then be raised to $129.99. At their full price, they'll be the most expensive earbuds from the brand (while tied at their discounted price with the Push ANC Active earbuds).

SEE ALSO: The best Bose headphones we've tested

At this time, a Skullcandy rep was unable to share when the discounted pricing would end, telling Mashable, "We’re laser-focused on delivering premium sound to the people at a highly accessible price point for as long as possible."

For comparison, the cheapest earbuds Bose offers are $179.99, though they occasionally drop down to the $150 range and once hit the record-low price of $129. At the time they hit the market, we deemed those earbuds a solid budget option. Meanwhile, early press information about the Method 360s stated that "sound quality is subjective to user taste, but we're confident they're better than anything at this price point and comparable to many above it," and claimed the earbuds could deliver "audio quality two to three times their price point."

If Skullcandy does deliver, they could pose a real threat to those Bose earbuds. I just received the earbuds myself and haven't tested them yet, so I can't say definitively whether or not they will, but I'll certainly be testing the earbuds side by side with Bose products and reporting back.

Along with Bose-powered sound, the Method 360 earbuds will come with features geared toward a premium experience, including:

  • Adjustable four-mic hybrid active noise cancellation

  • Nine hours of battery life with ANC per charge and 11 without ANC (23 and 29 hours with case, respectively)

  • A unique slider case with an O-ring clip

  • Three sizes of ear fins and gel ear tips

  • Multipoint pairing

  • A companion app with custom and preset EQ modes

  • Google Fast Pair

  • Bluetooth 5.3 and LE connectivity

As of April 16, you can grab the Method 360 ANC earbuds for $99.99 in five colorways at Skullcandy, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skullcandy Skullcandy Method 360 ANC $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Report: Xs DM feature is getting rebranded as XChat

Mashable - Wed, 04/16/2025 - 14:29

Elon Musk’s steady mission to erase every trace of Twitter’s former identity continues — and the next feature on the chopping block appears to be Direct Messages. According to rumblings from X employees and independent researchers, the classic DM tab may soon be replaced by something called XChat.

SEE ALSO: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk call to delete IP laws, but artists are pushing back

The change was first hinted at by Zach Warunek, a software engineer at X, who responded to a user reporting issues with DM message requests. Warunek stated that the page would be “deleted soon." He clarified that the existing DM tab would be removed entirely, not just the requests section.

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App researcher and web dev Nima Owji backed up that theory when he reported on X that XChat is already being used internally by X employees. Based on screenshot leaks from another X user, it seems XChat is being positioned as a full-fledged WhatsApp competitor — complete with encrypted messaging, file sharing (including PDFs), disappearing messages, unread status toggles, message deletion for everyone (not just you), and voice messages (sometime after launch).

If you're curious, Owji also shared a screenshot of XChat, though we can't independently verify that it's genuine. At a glance, the biggest difference we see is the addition of a PIN-verification tab.

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This move aligns with Musk’s broader vision of turning X into an all-in-one platform. Back in February, the X CEO stated that he eventually plans to stop using a phone number altogether, opting to handle all texts and calls exclusively through X.

There’s no official release date for XChat yet, but several employees openly discussing the feature on X suggest its rollout is imminent.

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