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Google’s Find My Device is arguably the best way to track down a lost Android device or supported accessories like a smartwatch. If your phone never got lost, chances are you were never really interested in Find My Device, but a new feature may change that.
The new feature grants you the ability to track a contact’s location in real time through the app. Google announced the new feature as part of its March Pixel Drop announcement.
"The new location-sharing feature in the Find My Device app lets you share and receive live locations with trusted contacts, providing a sense of security for both everyday check-ins and emergencies," the company said in the announcement.
Sharing your location with a trusted contact in Find My Device works about how you would expect. Once you and your loved one enable the feature, you’ll be able to open Find My Device and it’ll show you where they are located. You’ll also be able to share your location with multiple contacts at once.
There appear to be multiple configuration options as well. For example, you can share your location for "today only" if you’re keeping track of a friend during a day trip or even as low as one hour for shorter excursions. There is another option to customize the longevity of the sharing as needed.
Once it’s configured, it works almost identically to the location-sharing feature already available in Google Maps. Admittedly, the version in Find My Device is much easier to find and use since the Find My Device app is not nearly as complex as Maps. As Endgadget notes, this allows for a more streamlined location-sharing experience versus Google Maps, which isn’t set up as well to handle this sort of thing.
It also pairs well with Find My Device’s other features. In 2024, Google added the ability to share tracked items with your friends, along with support for tracking tags and other useful functions. Google and Apple both worked rather hard to reduce the risk of being tracked with tags through these same apps.
Bluesky is working on giving users a little more control over their privacy. The company published a proposal on Github outlining the changes the company is thinking of making to that end.
“This draft describes how atproto accounts (eg, Bluesky users) could declare ‘intents’ (aka, preferences) about certain categories of reuse of their public content. The mechanism and expectations are similar to robots.txt files on the web: a machine-readable format, which good actors are expected to abide, and does carry ethical weight, but is not legally enforceable”
That is quite a bit of technical speech, but the meaning is pretty clear. Robots.txt is a file most websites have—including this one—that tells robots that scrape the Internet what they can and cannot do with the data they find along the way. Bluesky would implement settings that would allow users to tell those same bots what they can and cannot do with their Bluesky data.
SEE ALSO: Can stan Twitter be recreated on Bluesky? Swifties think so.It gets a little sticky because robots.txt is a suggestion rather than a hard rule. However, as it stands right now, Bluesky is a public website, and as such, generative AI platforms and other forms of data scraping, like Google Search, have free reign over what they find there.
Bluesky head honcho Jay Graber talked briefly about this at South by Southwest last week, but the discussion got more attention when Graber posted about it on Bluesky on Friday. Per Techcrunch, some users were initially alarmed until Graber explained the situation more succinctly.
"Gen AI companies are already scraping public data from across the web, and everything on Bluesky is public like a website is public," Graber said. "But in the history of the open web, standards like robots.txt emerged that most search engines came to respect. This is a proposal to create a new, similar standard."
Companies scraping the World Wide Web for use in training generative AI is a controversy as old as the technology, and many digital denizens have been trying to prevent AI from learning based on their content. Some companies, like Meta, have been accused of using untoward methods of training AI models, up to and including piracy.
It’s a reality that Graber has been staunchly against. Last week at SXSW, Graber wore a T-shirt that read Mundus sine Caesaribus ("A world without Caesars" in Latin), taking a dig at a similar T-shirt Mark Zuckerberg wore that read Aut Zuck aut nihil ("Zuck or nothing").
Bluesky sold Graber's Mundus T-shirt on its website, which sold out in minutes.
Owners of the Amazon Echo have long had the option for the device to process requests locally, thereby keeping their information off of Amazon’s servers. That functionality is going away starting on March 28.
The company sent out emails to customers to explain the changes.
"We are reaching out to let you know that the Alexa feature ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ that you enabled on your supported Echo device(s) will no longer be available beginning March 28, 2025," the email reads. "As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature."
SEE ALSO: Amazon's AI-powered Alexa+ is real and it's coming this yearPer Ars Technica, the changes don’t stop there. Users who have the "Don’t save recordings" feature enabled will also lose access to Voice ID, a feature that allows Alexa to share user-specific things like calendar events, music preferences, and more. Thus, in order to keep that functionality, users will have to manually change that setting as well.
In short, everything you say to your Echo devices after March 28 will be sent to Amazon’s cloud, and there isn’t anything anyone can do about it. If users continue to make Amazon delete recordings, they will also lose access to features their devices had by default when they were purchased.
Amazon attempts to assuage security concerns by telling users in the email that "Alexa voice requests are always encrypted in transit to Amazon’s secure cloud, which was designed with layers of security protections to keep customer information safe."
However, as Ars points out, once the information gets there, it’ll be used by Amazon and its employees to do as they please.
The announcement has not gone over well, with many Alexa users storming Reddit over the weekend to voice their displeasure.
The news comes a couple of weeks after Amazon’s announcement of Alexa+, a subscription service that adds AI enhancements. The retail giant had delayed the release of Alexa+ due to a severe setback, but it seems to be on pace to release the service this year. Amazon says Alexa+ will offer a more seamless and context-aware experience and also work with other Alexa-enabled devices like Ring video doorbells and other tech.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, March 16, 2025:
AcrossThe "J" in PB&JThe answer is Jelly.
The answer is Agile.
The answer is My man.
The answer is Pom.
The answer is TSA.
The answer is Jam.
The answer is Egypt.
The answer is Limos.
The answer is Llama.
The answer is Yen.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
TL;DR: Learn something new daily with lifetime access to EDU Unlimited by StackSkills, now just $19.97 through March 30.
Who couldn't use more flexibility? Whether you're a student, a business owner, a freelancer, or a stay-at-home parent, it can be hard to fit extra courses into your schedule. Online courses offer just that flexibility, letting you chip away at topics on your own time.
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Make learning fit your busy scheduleLearning new things has never been more convenient in the digital age. Instead of heading back to the classroom, sign on to StackSkills and start absorbing new content. Its easy-to-use interface and progress-tracking features make it easy to jump right in (and hop out if needed) without any deadlines.
With beginner to advanced course options, StackSkills is filled with more than 1,000 courses. Lifetime access puts them all at your fingertips, so starting a side hustle, earning a promotion, or switching to a totally new field is possible... and for less than the price of a textbook you'd need at a community college.
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Learn for life with lifetime access to EDU Unlimited by StackSkills, now $19.97 (reg. $600) through March 30.
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Opens in a new window Credit: StackSkills EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access $19.97TL;DR: Outfit your PC with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for just $54.97 (reg. $219.99) through March 30.
There's a reason the Microsoft Office apps have had such amazing staying power — they really work. The same tools you used as a kid growing up in the '90s on that bulky desktop are still helping you tackle work tasks on your laptop at the office.
If you've been without the fleet of helpful apps, you've probably already run into numerous scenarios where you needed them. Give your PC the gift of these eight go-to's with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for just $54.97 — that's 75% off the usual $219.99 price tag.
Fall in love with the Microsoft Office apps all over againLifetime access to Microsoft Word for less than $7? Microsoft Office Professional makes that a possibility, including favorites like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Newer apps like Access, Teams, OneNote, and Publisher round out this deal.
Don't be deceived by the year 2021 in its name; this older Microsoft Office Professional version still has all the tools you need — and at a lower price. It offers a more budget-friendly way to enjoy these apps, offering them at a low one-time price instead of Microsoft 365's monthly subscription costs. And a 2021 version offers three more apps than the most recent 2024 license.
Microsoft Office Professional 2021 also offers familiar interfaces. There are no AI integrations like in later versions, so there's no extra tech knowledge required. And once you install the apps, you can easily work offline from anywhere, making this a great option for travelers.
Make sure your computer's operating system is updated to Windows 10 or 11 prior to purchase. Once you buy, you'll receive an instant delivery and download, so you can get started working with these apps right away.
Let this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows make life a little easier, now at less than $7 an app with this $54.97 deal running through March 30.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $54.97 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Scan anything, anywhere, with this lifetime subscription to iScanner, now $24.99 (reg. $199) with code SCAN through March 30.
Raise your hand if you've had to drive to your parent's house to borrow their printer. If most of us don't have the space for clunky printers, chances are we also don't keep a scanner at home. That's what iScanner is for: transforming your iPhone or iPad into a handy scanning machine.
Right now, a lifetime subscription to this convenient way to scan is just $24.99 wide code SCAN, saving you $175 if you act fast and purchase before March 30.
This multi-tasking app saves you serious desk spaceEven if you're one of the few with a physical scanner still in your presence, you can now clear some counter space thanks to iScanner. And while you're at it, you can throw away that dusty old filing cabinet, too.
iScanner is the number one US-based scanning and document management tool, letting you knock items off your to-do list from anywhere. Need to save a receipt for taxes? Do you have a contract you need to digitize? You can scan any document using just the phone on your iOS device.
Students, entrepreneurs, educators, and stay-at-home moms alike will all find endless uses for a scanner in your pocket. The AI-powered tools ensure your documents' borders are detected and automatically adjusted while also straightening scan pages and ditching curves and skews.
Thanks to AI, you can also use iScanner to help you solve complicated math problems. Or put its OCR technology to the test and let it help you decipher text in up to 20 languages.
Once things are scanned, the app becomes a full PDF editor and file manager. Edit your scans, including signing them, adding text, or auto-filling them with custom templates. Then, use the file manager's folder via drag and drop to keep them safe and organized.
Scanning something confidential? You can also protect files and folders by locking them with a PIN.
Secure iScanner for life with code SCAN, bringing the price down to $24.99 through March 30.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $24.99TL;DR: Lock in a lifetime subscription to FolderFort's 2TB of Cloud Storage Pro Plan for just $109.97 with code SECURE2TB now through March 30.
Did you know you can secure cloud storage without hefty monthly fees? Though the most popular cloud storage services require expensive subscription fees, FolderFort lets you secure ample storage for a low, one-time price.
Keep your files safe forever with a lifetime subscription to FolderFort 2TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan. It's available now for only $109.97 (reg. $499.99) with code SECURE2TB through March 30.
Check out all that FolderFort has to offerWhether you're still dragging around clunky external hard drives or paying Dropbox or Apple a small fortune month after month, there's a better way to safeguard your important data. You can pay once and enjoy 2TB of storage for life with FolderFort.
The learning curve won't be steep with FolderFort. The interface is super user-friendly, and it offers cross-platform accessibility so those with PCs, Macs, or smartphones can easily log in and share files.
Though it can be hard to grasp how much data 2TB holds, think of it as approximately 400,000 5MB photos or millions of text documents. That means you hopefully won't be running out of space anytime soon, and this investment is truly enough to secure memories for a lifetime.
Have a baby? Adopt another dog? If you ever need more space, that's not an issue. You can upgrade at anytime and enjoy increased storage instantly.
Besides saving you money, FolderFort also offers reliability. Unlike the big guys, their guaranteed 99.99% uptime means you won't be waiting to access files when your cloud storage platform goes down. Speedy upload speeds save you time, while BackBlaze encryption keeps all your data safe.
Keep 2TB of your precious data safe and tucked away with a lifetime subscription to FolderFort 2TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan, now just $109.97 with code SECURE2TB through March 30.
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Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort FolderFort 2TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $109.97TL;DR: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your files are safe with this lifetime subscription to 2TB of FileJump Cloud Storage, now just $89 (reg. $467).
Whether you serve as your family's personal photographer and have a phone filled with memories or you're a small business needing to store and share your important files, deciding where and how to secure your data is an important decision.
If you're looking for a cloud storage option that doesn't break the bank, check out FileJump's offer. You can secure 2TB of cloud storage for a lifetime for just $89 if you act fast.
Secure 2TB of data safely for life for under $100Don't be deceived by this low price tag. FileJump is a premium cloud storage solution that lets you save files in all formats — from images and videos to MS Excel files. This makes it a versatile option for use at both home and work.
Uploading is a breeze thanks to their drag-and-drop user interface. Just drop them directly into your FileJump dashboard. Once they're in the cloud, rest easy knowing 256-bit AES end-to-end encryption protects your data's safety.
Built-in preview support for photos, videos, spreadsheets, and more makes later access easier. And whether you're sharing with family members or work colleagues, the process is equally easy. Share your files or folders via links or have them create free accounts for easy access.
This lifetime subscription is only available to new users and includes 2TB of storage, unlimited downloads, and 15GB per file upload. You'll also get access to customer support and PWA Mobile and Desktop apps.
Secure 2TB of cloud storage with this lifetime subscription to FileJump, now 80% off the usual price and just $89 for a limited time.
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Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $89Connections: 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 categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Measuring a Quarterback's success
Green: March Madness-related
Blue: Alternative baseball
Purple: Science & sports
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Stats for a QB
Green: First words of NCAA tournament rounds
Blue: Baseball "leagues"
Purple: Periodic table meets sports
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 #174 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayStats for a QB - ATTEMPTS, RATING, TOUCHDOWNS, YARDS
First words of NCAA tournament rounds - ELITE, FINAL, FIRST, SWEET
Baseball "leagues" - CACTUS, GRAPEFRUIT, INTERNATIONAL, PACIFIC COAST
Periodic table meets sports - GOLD MEDAL, LEAD RUNNER, MERCURY, SILVER SLUGGER
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.
TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Carabao Cup final brings together Liverpool and Newcastle United in what looks like an absolutely electric contest. Liverpool are flying high on all fronts this season, but Newcastle United possess the talent to upset the odds in this final. Can Eddie Howe lead Newcastle United to their first trophy since 1955?
If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Liverpool vs. Newcastle United?Liverpool vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final starts at 4:30 p.m. GMT on March 16. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.
How to watch Liverpool vs. Newcastle United for freeLiverpool vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Access a free live stream of Liverpool vs. Newcastle United by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Live stream Liverpool vs. Newcastle United for free from anywhere in the world
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 Liverpool vs. Newcastle United without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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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.
Stream Liverpool vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Need a reliable PDF app? Mashable readers can get a lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro for only £18.56 (reg. £79.41) when they use the discount code SAVE20 through 30 March.
Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter Pro: Lifetime License £18.56 at the Mashable ShopPDFs are common. Good PDF apps are not. Sure, Adobe has Acrobat, but Adobe apps aren't exactly cheap.
Whether you’re a student juggling multiple assignments or a business professional needing to convert files for reports, if you need a low-cost PDF app, check out PDF Converter Pro. This all-in-one PDF app lets you convert PDF documents into various formats or edit PDFs, and you can get it for life for just £18.56 (reg. £79.41) — but not for much longer.
To get this newly discounted price, use the code SAVE20 when you purchase a lifetime license through the Mashable Shop.
What can PDF Converter Pro do?Tired of convoluted app menus? PDF Converter Pro gives you a simple, user-friendly interface where you can convert or alter PDFs. You can change PDFs into editable Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, enabling seamless editing and sharing without losing the original layout or content. That means images, text, and hyperlinks are preserved, so you don’t have to worry about losing important details during the conversion process.
PDF Converter Pro’s built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology is a game-changer, allowing you to extract text from image-based PDF documents. If you have any ancient, faded master copies lying around, you can finally scan them to make a new version that you can actually edit. Students, that means you can also scan your readings and turn them into searchable documents.
This all-in-one PDF app even lets you edit existing PDFs with tools for merging and splitting, extracting images, and compressing files to reduce their size without sacrificing quality.
On sale but not for much longer30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro for just £18.56 (reg. £79.41). Be sure to use the code SAVE20 during checkout.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: You can get an Internxt 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription for £216.56 (reg. £270.71) when you use the code STORAGE20 at checkout through 30 March.
Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £216.56Worried about an economic recession? Even if you're not, you’re probably looking for ways to save as much money as possible. Many people are canceling subscriptions, and the first one to go could be Dropbox or Google Drive. Instead, store your files with this lifetime cloud storage deal.
You’ll no longer be chained to annoying monthly payments — just pay once and be set for life. Mashable readers can get 10TB of storage with Internxt for £216.56 by using the code STORAGE20 at checkout. And if you don’t need that much space, 2TB and 5TB plans are also available on sale.
Cloud storage without feesWith Internxt, you may be paying more upfront, but your cloud storage plan will pay for itself in time, saving you money in the long run.
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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 March 16 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: A set of things
Green: The last letter isn't pronounced
Blue: Films featuring notorious murderers
Purple: Begins with star groups
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Bunch
Green: Ending with a silent "T"
Blue: Serial killer movies:
Purple: Starting with constellations
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 #644 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayBunch: CLUSTER, COLLECTION, CONSTELLATION, GROUP
Ending with a silent "T": BALLET, DEBUT, RAPPORT, TAROT
Serial Killer Movies: MONSTER, PSYCHO, SEVEN, ZODIAC
Starting with constellations: DRACONIAN, HYDRANT, LEONARDO, LIBRARY
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 March 16Are 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 March 16 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 March 16, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A popular collectible.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter 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...
STAMP.
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 March 16Reporting 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 MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Drive to surviveThe words are related to racing.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words are not about NASCAR.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is FormulaOne.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 16Practice
Sprint
Qualifying
Podium
Pits
Race
FormulaOne
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.
AI search tools confidently spit out wrong answers at a high clip, a new study found.
Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) conducted a study in which it fed eight AI tools an excerpt of an article and asked the chatbots to identify the "corresponding article’s headline, original publisher, publication date, and URL." Collectively, the study noted that the chatbots "provided incorrect answers to more than 60 percent of queries."
SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated textThe mistakes varied. Sometimes, the search tool reportedly speculated or offered incorrect answers to questions it couldn't answer. Sometimes, it invented links or sources. Sometimes, it cited plagiarized versions of the real article.
Wrote CJR: "Most of the tools we tested presented inaccurate answers with alarming confidence, rarely using qualifying phrases such as 'it appears,' 'it’s possible,' 'might,' etc., or acknowledging knowledge gaps with statements like 'I couldn’t locate the exact article.'"
The full study is worth looking at, but it seems reasonable to be skeptical of AI search tools. The problem is that folks don't seem to be doing that. CJR noted that 25 percent of Americans said they use AI to search instead of traditional search engines.
Google, the search giant, is increasingly pushing AI on consumers. This month, it announced it would be expanding AI overviews and began testing AI-only search results.
The study from CJR is just another point of data showing the inaccuracy of AI. The tools have shown, time and again, that they'll confidently give wrong answers. And the tech giants are forcing AI into just about every product. So be careful what you believe out there.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, March 15, 2025:
AcrossHamburger meat, typicallyThe answer is Beef.
The answer is Frame.
The answer is Writes.
The answer is Waiters.
The answer is O Henry.
The answer is Money.
The answer is Body.
The answer is Britney.
The answer is Eatery.
The answer is Emery.
The answer is Fess.
The answer is Friend.
The answer is Wahoo.
The answer is Womb.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
Google's officially retiring its Assistant tool, instead migrating users to its AI-powered Gemini.
In a blog post announcement, Google wrote: "Over the coming months, we’re upgrading more users on mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini; and later this year, the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices or available for new downloads on mobile app stores."
9to5 Google reported that most people with newer phones and upgraded software will be moved to Gemini. Assistant will remain only on phones running Android 9 or earlier that don't have at least 2 GB of RAM.
SEE ALSO: Google is testing AI-only search results, expands AI OverviewsGoogle has recently made a concerted effort to get people to use Gemini. Last month, it pulled the tool from its search app, for instance, and redirected users to the standalone Gemini app. And it's not just phones that'll be migrating to Gemini.
Wrote Google in the blog post:
"Additionally, we’ll be upgrading tablets, cars and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches, to Gemini. We're also bringing a new experience, powered by Gemini, to home devices like speakers, displays and TVs. We look forward to sharing more details with you in the next few months. Until then, Google Assistant will continue to operate on these devices."
In short: So long Assistant, hello Gemini.
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