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Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for October 4's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 4 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 4 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 4 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:It's the name given to a book, movie, or position, often revealing its essence.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There is one letter that appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 4 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...
TITLE.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for October 4's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 4 What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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 deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 4 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: A curve that dips inward
Green: Just a little bit
Blue: Famous animated characters
Purple: Types of dates
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Concavity
Green: Small Amount
Blue: Disney Characters
Purple: ___Date
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #480 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayConcavity: DENT, DIMPLE, DING, DIVOT
Small Amount: DAB, DASH, DOLLOP, DROP
Disney Characters: DAISY, DALE, DOC, DORY
___Date: DELIVERY, DINNER, DREAM, DUE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 4If 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.
OpenAI is changing up ChatGPT's interface to look more like a digital notepad for projects.
On Thursday, OpenAI announced a beta "canvas" feature for writing and coding. Canvas is different from the traditional chatbox interface, which makes it tedious to refine or develop ideas without the back and forth prompts.
"Although the [ChatGPT] interface is easy to use and works well for many tasks, it’s limited when you want to work on projects that require editing and revisions. Canvas offers a new interface for this kind of work," the announcement said.
The new feature is ChatGPT's first major design change since its launch in 2022. OpenAI has been busy doing other stuff, like launching multimodal model GPT-4o, reasoning model o1, and raising $6.6 billion in its latest investment round. According to reports from the New York Times, OpenAI told investors it plans to increase revenue from $3.7 billion this year to $11.6 billion by 2025. The updates to ChatGPT, such as making it more dynamic and user-friendly, could potentially help OpenAI meet its ambitious financial goals.
Canvas makes it easier for users to iterate ideas with ChatGPT. Credit: OpenAIFor now, Canvas is only available to paying subscribers, but OpenAI says it plans to expand access to non-paying users when it's out of beta. If you're a ChatGPT Plus or Teams user, you can select "ChatGPT 4o with Canvas" from the model dropdown and get to work. Access for Enterprise and Edu subscribers rolls out next week.
From here, all you need to do is enter a prompt related to writing or coding and it will activate Canvas by opening a new window. Per OpenAI's announcement, ChatGPT has been trained to recognize certain prompts that trigger canvas. For writing help, users can highlight specific parts of the text and click "ask ChatGPT" to edit or ask certain questions about the highlighted text.
There are also shortcuts found in the lower lefthand corner for suggesting edits, shortening the length, changing the reading level, polishing for grammar, and adding emoji. The ChatGPT format remains in a left sidebar in case you want to keep the conversation going.
Canvas has a shortcuts bar for making edits. Credit: OpenAIFor coding, Canvas works in a similar way, by recognizing coding-related prompts that trigger a new window. Shortcuts include: Review code, Add logs, Add comments, Fix bugs, and Port to a language by translating your code into a different programming language (i.e., JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C++, or PHP).
If you made a mistake, you can hit the back button and revert to the previous version. When you're finished working, simply close the window, and you'll find yourself back in the normal ChatGPT interface. To find the project again, just click on the module saved in your chat history.
If you're looking to bring home a new fitness tracker, Prime Day is a great time to shop. Though the official Prime Big Deal Days event doesn't kick off until Oct. 8, Amazon has already put up tons of deals on items across every department, fitness trackers and smartwatches included.
Now that the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to change, you might be more inclined to start that jogging program you were looking forward to. Or you might decide to get ahead of New Year's resolutions and start heading to the gym. Whatever you're planning, there are plenty of smartwatch and fitness tracker deals already available to help you get going — with brands like Apple, Garmin and Samsung running the show. Fitbit deals are currently MIA, but we're not surprised. The brand typically waits until closer to the official event to join the party, though a couple of Google Pixel deals have popped up already.
We'll be keeping a running tab below on all the best fitness tracker deals throughout Amazon's October Prime Day. If you don't see the wearable you're looking for on sale yet, check back regularly for the latest updates.
Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) $299.00 at AmazonCheck out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.
Despite the recent release of the Series 10, the Apple Watch Series 9 is not exactly outdated. You won't get the slightly larger display and sleep apnea sensor, but you'll still get the same 2,000-nit max brightness, Double Tap feature, and 18 hours of battery life. Not to mention, you'll save $100 on the Series 9 because it's no longer the shiniest new Apple toy. If you're upgrading from an old Apple Watch or are brand new to the fruit company's wearables, you won't be disappointed.
More Apple Watch dealsSeries 10
Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS) — $411.99 $429 (save $17.01)
Series 9
Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) — $299 $399 (save $100)
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) — $329 $429 (save $100)
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS + cellular) — $599 $749 (save $150)
SE
Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) — $189 $249 (save $60)
Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $229 $279 (save $50)
Ultra
Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) — $734.89 $799 (save $64.11)
Check out our full review of the Galaxy Watch 6.
When a new generation makes its debut, we often see ultra-low prices on the previous one. Such is the case with the Galaxy Watch 6. With the arrival of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra over the summer, the Watch 6 is now steadily sitting below $200. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can grab the 40mm version with Bluetooth for only $195.30, which is 35% in savings and a new record-low (by about $1). Only a year old, the sixth generation is still a very good smartwatch. It includes a nuanced breakdown of sleep habits, sleep coaching, personalized heart rate zones, irregular heart rate notifications, and a better battery life over its predecessor, which led Mashable's Alex Perry to dub it "the king of the Android smartwatch mountain."
More Samsung Galaxy Watch dealsSamsung Galaxy Watch 6 (Bluetooth, 44mm) — $194.72 $329.99 (save $135.72)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Bespoke Edition (Bluetooth, 44mm) — $279.99 $379.99 (save $100)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Bluetooth, 44mm) — $287.34 $329.99 (save $42.65)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (Bluetooth, 43mm) — $329.99 $399.99 (save $70)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (LTE, 44mm) — $329.99 $379.99 (save $50)
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (LTE, 47mm) — $581.62 $649.99 (save $68.37)
Ideal for smaller wrists, the Garmin Venu 3S is about .2 inches smaller in diameter and .3 oz lighter than the standard Venu 3. It still offers the same advanced features, like a built-in speaker and microphone to take calls, the ability to store music, and an abundance of health and fitness tools and insights. The only real difference besides the size is that the 3S has a slightly shorter battery life (about 10 days in smartwatch mode versus the 3's 14 days), but it still blows the Apple Watch battery out of the water. It's usually $449.99, but you can save $50 ahead of the October Prime event and get it for only $399.99. That's just a few bucks away from its all-time low.
More Garmin dealsGarmin Forerunner 55 — $168.99 $199.99 (save $31)
Garmin vívoactive 5 — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)
The Google Pixel Watch 3 just dropped in Aug., which makes this discount at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days its biggest one yet. This is the first Pixel Watch to offer a larger size case, which Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon says is "a visual stunner." Its battery life largely remains the same as its predecessor, but the Pixel Watch 3's dynamic refresh rate might allow you to squeeze out a little more. It also features a whole lot of software upgrades, including enhanced running features, AI-driven form tracking, a new Morning Brief feature via Fitbit, and updated media controls.
More Google deals (including Fitbit)Google Pixel Watch 2 (WiFi) — $231.70 $249.99 (save $18.29)
Check out our full review of the Oura Ring 3.
The Oura Ring 4 launches later this month, so it's no surprise that we're seeing the Oura Ring 3 on sale ahead of Prime Day 2. Regardless of the colorway you choose, you'll get a discount between 10% and 22% off. For instance, the stealth and brushed titanium models are 22% off, coming in at $349 (down from $449). The gold and rose gold models, on the other end of the price spectrum, are $449 after a 10% discount. The third-generation ring is a low-profile fitness tracker that offers in-depth info about sleep, workouts, recovery, mindfulness, and more through a variety of sensors, though sleep tracking is truly where it shines.
More smart ring dealsThere are currently no other live deals on smart rings, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled.
Two Harvard students have created a privacy nightmare, according to 404 Media. Real-time facial recognition smart glasses, which pull up names, contacts, addresses, and more about a complete stranger just by looking at them.
On top of the facial recognition software capabilities, the students' project is even more eye-opening considering the hardware they're using to run it: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.
The students – AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio – say they won't be releasing the product nor the software behind it. The project, titled I-XRAY, is meant to raise awareness about what is possible with today's technology. In fact, it's something that Big Tech companies like Google and Facebook have long had the power to do, but they haven't released such capabilities due to the high potential for misuse.
How it worksNguyen and Ardayfio were able to create I-XRAY, thanks, in part, to Meta's smart glasses and PimEyes' facial recognition software.
While there are a few facial recognition search engines out there, PimEyes is perhaps the largest one that makes its technology accessible by the public. Users can simply upload a photo to PimEyes, and using facial recognition, the service scans the web for images of the individual in the photo.
Using the information from PimEyes, I-XRAY can then identify the individual and find out personal information on them by scanning the internet for articles and through data brokers like FastPeopleSearch. This information can include full names, phone numbers, home addresses, social media profiles, and more.
The entire system is automated to start pulling this data as soon as the smart glasses detect an individual's face in the frame. The students uploaded a video to social media to show the process.
Tweet may have been deletedMeta pointed out in their response to the I-XRAY project that any similar camera product can be adapted to utilize PimEyes in this way. There's nothing particularly unique about Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses' technology itself that allowed this project to happen.
However, Nyugen said there was a specific reason that the two students chose Meta's smart glasses: The creepiness factor of being able to dox complete strangers with hardware that looks just like a normal, everyday glasses. Unlike many wearables, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses don't look like a tech device. Furthermore, their $300 price point puts them in a fairly affordable range compared to other similar products.
How to protect yourselfAs previously mentioned, there isn't a public product or service out there that can do this – yet. But, if you are concerned about the potential to dox individuals on the fly like this, the two Harvard students explained how to protect yourself.
According to Nguyen and Ardayfio, it's as simple as reaching out to these data brokers to get your information removed.
For example, PimEyes provides an opt-out page where people can get their images removed from their facial recognition search engine. Data brokers like FastPeopleSearch also usually provide forms where users can request data removal from the service.
SAVE $170.99: As of Oct. 3, get the Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum for just $329 at Walmart. That's a discount of 38%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum $329.00 at WalmartNo one likes doing housework. Maybe you enjoy zoning out while doing dishes. Or perhaps you enjoy the fruits of your labor after cleaning house. But most people absolutely abhor having to drag the vacuum out and handling the housework. That's what robots exist for, people – specifically, robot vacuums. It's 2024, and it's time to leave the dirty work to them thanks to Walmart's Shark Days.
As of Oct. 3, you can get the Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum for just $329 at Walmart. That's a discount of 38% and $170.99 off its normal price of $499.99. The sale is open to all Walmart shoppers, so no Walmart+ needed to take advantage of the deal.
This self-emptying robot vacuum uses Matrix Clean, which gives it up to 50% more suction power, to pull up debris, dirt, and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors. That's thanks to its precision grid that can help it take multiple passes over different areas of the carpet so there aren't any missed areas. When it's done, it can go right back to its base on its own to empty, holding up to 30 days' worth of dirt until you need to dump the reservoir on your own.
This LiDAR-equipped robot vacuum is a great option if you have pets thanks to its tough brushroll. You can set it to target specific rooms and areas of your home that need more care than others with heavy traffic or additional pet hair. When it's finished, it'll go back home to its base and recharge for the next cleaning session. If you're looking for a heavy-duty yet affordable option to clean your home without your input, this is it, so grab it while it's still around.
Time to stock up on literary scares: Today (Thursday, Oct. 3) is Terrify Your Tablet Day.
Hosted by Horrorsmith Publishing for the second year in a row, the 24-hour event is effectively a horror-only version of Stuff Your Kindle Day, where participating authors make their e-books available for free or just 99 cents. Unlike the titles featured in Stuff Your Kindle Day, however, Terrify Your Tablet Day-eligible ebooks are available across several platforms, including Kindle, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Scribd, and via direct download.
SEE ALSO: Another Stuff Your Kindle event is here — this time for the horror fansThere are hundreds of ebooks featured in this year's Terrify Your Tablet Day, and you can see the full list on Horrorsmith's website; it'll be uploading titles in waves throughout the day. Below, we've pulled a selection of Kindle horror picks from the first upload to get you started:
Free horror e-books21 Dares (Stephen Barnard) — $0 $2.99
Along About Midnight (Dorian J. Sinnott) — $0 $2.99
Black Death (David Hardy) — $0 $2.99
Dark Songs (Keith Evans) — $0 $2.99
From Dark Waters and Woods (Amanda Leanne) — $0 $2.99
Home (Ben Young) — $0 $2.99
Mind the Mirrors (Amanda Leanne) — $0 $2.99
The Salem Legacy (Paul Carro) — $0 $6.99
To Eat You With You (Kayla Burt) — $0 $2.99
The Triangle Forest (Edward Flora) — $0 $2.99
Who is Mara Wildes? (Amanda East) — $0 $2.99
Note: Most of the following titles are free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Amazon Prime members can snag a free three-month trial for a limited time.
Abject Fear (Paul Carro) — $0.99 $6.99 (save $6)
Awake In The Night (Shauna Mc Eleny) — $0.99 $5.99 (save $5)
Ditch of the Damned and Other Tales (Ryan Hoyt) — $0.99 $3.99 (save $3)
Hole: A Small Town Horror Novel (Matthew Doggett) — $0.99 $14.99 (save $14)
The Naughty Corner (Mark Towse) — $0.99 $15.99 (save $15)
The Original's Retribution (David Watkins) — $0.99 $2.99 (save $2)
The Original's Return (David Watkins) — $0.99 $2.99 (save $2)
Saltblood (T.C. Parker) — $0.99 $4.99 (save $4)
Sudden Death (Theresa Jacobs) — $0.99 $7.50 (save $6.51)
Territory (Dan Howarth) — $0.99 $5.99 (save $5)
The Zombie Effect (Theresa Jacobs) — $0.99 $9.99 (save $9)
We've Already Gone Too Far (MJ Mars) — $0.99 $5.99 (save $5)
Terrify Your Tablet Day is here, and it's bringing a slew of Halloween-themed book discounts to your favorite e-reader with it.
If you don't already know what Terrify Your Tablet Day is, it's basically Stuff Your Kindle Day, but spooky. Started by Horrorsmith Publishing in 2023, the themed sale is back again this Oct. 3, and full of free and discounted e-books from the horror, thriller, sci-fi, and dark fantasy genres. If you're more interested in thrillers — slashers, crime dramas; stuff like that — we've rounded up the best deals from the genre that are included in the Terrify Your Tablet event. Take a look below, and kick off spooky season the right way.
Note that all of these offers are exclusive to Kindle Unlimited members.
SEE ALSO: The best tablets: iPads are great, but have you tried literally anything else? Free Kindle thriller books21 Dares (Stephen Barnard) — $0 $2.99
The Contract (D.E. McCluskey and C. William Giles) — $0 $13.99
Diary of Murders (Sarah Cook) — $0 $0.99
Wrath (Karmellah Howlett) — $0 $1.99
Along About Midnight (Dorian J. Sinnott) — $0 $2.99
Home is Where the Bodies Are (Amanda East) — $0 $2.99
The Namaste Slasher (Alan Shivers) — $0.99 $14.99
Awake In The Night (Shauna McEleny) — $0.99 $5.99
The Ghost In Me (Theresa Jacobs) — $0.99 $9.99
Sudden Death (Theresa Jacobs) — $0.99 $7.50 (save $6.51)
When critics called for superhero movies to do something different, we didn't mean Joker: Folie à Deux.
In 2019's Joker, co-writer/director Todd Phillips stole heavily from Martin Scorsese's earlier films to re-imagine the iconic Batman villain as a put-upon everyman on the brink of breakdown and infamy. Earning over a billion dollars worldwide and 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, The Hangover helmer's gritty Joker origin story was practically guaranteed a sequel. Admittedly, Phillips earned goodwill — even from those of us who rolled our eyes at Phillips' poor imitation of Taxi Driver meets The King of Comedy — were intrigued when he cast pop goddess Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
But be warned, Little Monsters: Joker: Folie à Deux will not satisfy your desire to see Gaga go hard. Harley Quinn fans will likewise be disappointed, as the character who has been re-imagined in a variety of fresh and fun ways across movies, TV, and video games never gets her moment in the spotlight. Likewise, I suspect Batman fans — specifically those who adored Christopher Nolan's take on the Gotham rogues' gallery — will groan over Phillips' casual skewing of that canon. Not even musical fans will be entertained by Joker: Folie à Deux, because while Phillips can drop a reference, he fails to make any of these intriguing elements his own.
Make no mistake: Joker: Folie à Deux is an atrociously grim and boring movie.
Joker and Harley aren't what fans might hope. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros. PicturesThe first act of Joker: Folie à Deux is ungodly slow, lumbering through Arthur "Joker" Fleck's (Phoenix) routine at the Arkham State Hospital. He's being held in the maximum security wing ahead of his trial for murdering five people, including talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) on live TV. Emaciated as ever and silently glum, Arthur doesn't even crack jokes for the jolly Irish guard (Brendan Gleeson, giving his all to a bit part), not anymore anyway. It seems Arthur's lust for life (or blood) is utterly gone — until he makes eye contact with Lee Quinzel (Gaga), a patient who shares his affinity for violence and mayhem.
From Batman: The Animated Series to Suicide Squad to Harley Quinn, the romance between Joker and Harley has always been characterized by varying levels and shades of toxicity. Here, the dynamic is less lovestruck sidekick and more hanger-on. Lee swiftly establishes herself as a Joker fangirl, telling Arthur she's seen the TV movie made about him like 20 times, and assuring him it's a great. She coddles his ego, his need for attention, and even his genitals to wind her way around his heart. And ahead of his trial, she's quick to rush to the tabloids to tell all about their wild love.
Per the title, the two share in a specific madness, a fantasy that explains the musical numbers within this movie that Phillips himself has declined to define as a musical. Essentially, in their shared vision, Arthur and Lee are backed by an orchestral score as they sing out jaunty songs with a twisted glee. Joker: Folie à Deux is most alive when Phoenix and Gaga embrace this freaky fantasy, informed by musicals like 1953's The Band Wagon, pulling from the scene and song "That's Entertainment."
However, Phillips seems afraid to indulge in the aesthetics of the Golden Age of musicals, favoring instead the gritty, macho ferocity of '70s classics like Dog Day Afternoon, The French Connection, or The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. But he can't pull it off. Sure, the colors may shift from sickly greens and yellows to brighter shades when the film moves from real to romantic imagination. But they're still cool, reflecting a certain squalor instead of a glistening fantasy.
A bigger issue is that Arthur Fleck is not the charismatic underdog seen in these '70s hits. Phoenix doesn't attempt the grizzled bravado of Walter Matthau, the tooth-grit intensity of Gene Hackman, or the feral, blue-collared enthusiasm of Al Pacino. Phoenix's Fleck is built of broken glass, sharp and fragile but unable to be embraced as an engaging anti-hero. In both this film and the last, he is defined by a lack of charisma. So, while clown-masked fans holler outside the courthouse, the audience might well be baffled at their obsession. Fleck is either pathetically perplexed or excruciating in his capering. The many, many courtroom scenes of Arthur/Joker facing off against witnesses, prosecutor Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey), or an increasingly annoyed judge are ruthlessly dull.
I wish this was the movie Lady Gaga thinks she's in. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga star as Arthur and Lee in "Joker: Folie à Deux." Credit: Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros. PicturesJoker: Folie à Deux is a misanthropic movie, where nearly every act of kindness is undercut by a hidden agenda. But even in this grim portrait of Gotham, Phillips leans hard into misogynistic archetypes. The two female leads in this sequel fall on opposite sides of the tedious madonna/whore divide, where a man's view of a woman is either a saintly mother or a sinister temptress. On one end of the spectrum is Arthur's defense attorney (an underused Catherine Keener), who argues that the Joker is a separate personality and that Arthur needs mental health care, not prison. On the other end is Lee, who sees Joker as Arthur's true self, and through their romance pushes him to embrace the clown paint, wherever it leads him.
Because this is firmly Joker's movie (Harley's name isn't in the title, is it?), Lee's character is less fleshed out and more a sexy device to push Arthur out of his numb routine and back into the chaos circus. Despite her worldwide fame as a singer, Gaga isn't given a big number, just a small solo moment before a mirror, singing to herself as she puts on the closest this movie will get to a Harley Quinn makeover. This could-be awesome transformation is underwhelming, the results like a rushed Halloween costume. Fans who've relished the fresh fashion fantasies bestowed upon us by Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn, and The Suicide Squad will likely be disappointed. Adding insult to injury, the duo's dance down Joker's signature staircase — which is all over the promotional materials — doesn't even occur in this movie.
Why would Gaga take such a sidekick role? She pours herself into the part, so much so that she's released a companion album, Harlequin, though Lee is never even called "Harley Quinn" in this movie. But despite being kicked to the margins of this Joker story, Gaga's performance offers a rich subtext about parasocial relationships — one that perhaps is informed by her own experience as a global pop star. Her Lee is a fan who feels not only that she understands the (in)famous person with whom she is obsessed, but also that she knows what's best for him better than anyone else. Yearning to be seen and loved, Arthur is easy prey for such attention. But while the film begins to regard Lee as a vicious opportunist, Gaga's performance shows empathy through Lee's radiant desperation to be seen. Whatever the song put before her, Gaga performs them smartly in character, pitching her voice from tender on the verge of breaking, to sultry vocal purrs, to broad cabaret belting. Her Lee is a woman determined to be the badass she wants to see in the world, and Gaga's vocal performance charts that course in the background of the Joker tedium.
While Phillips' dull courtroom drama has the depth of a college dorm room poster, Gaga plunges into a deep pool of primal yearning and emotional resonance to make the most of a criminally underwritten role.
DC canon and classic musicals are given equal disrespect in Joker: Folie à Deux. Joaquin Phoenix is Arthur Fleck in "Joker: Folie à Deux." Credit: Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros. PicturesThe script by Phillips and Scott Silver sprinkles in some familiar Harley canon, however haphazardly. But it's not enough to make this character feel remotely connected to the versions of Quinn that have come before. Worse yet, Phillips cavalierly includes in his third act a none-too-subtle allusion to Nolan's The Dark Knight. This scene — which involves a violent interaction with another Arkham inmate — is clearly intended as an Easter egg for DC fans, but it's hard to imagine Phillips' blatant retconning of the adored trilogy (which he had nothing to do with) will be appreciated.
On top of showing a clip from The Band Wagon, Joker: Folie à Deux is sprinkled with old standards like "Get Happy," "That's Life," and "If My Friends Could See Me Now." There are also allusions to iconic musical offerings such as Jacques Demy's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Sonny & Cher Show, and Chicago. But these flourishes feel as superficial as the narrative's tentative connection to the DC comics.
It's all so much clown paint on a pig. Phillips has crafted an astoundingly tedious courtroom drama bedecked with musical numbers, star power, and DC IP, yet it still feels like a slog. To his credit, he's broken out of the superhero cliches that have resulted in fatigue from critics and audiences alike. But his pastiche brings nothing new or exciting to the screen for a woefully indulgent runtime of two hours and 18 minutes.
In the end, Joker: Folie à Deux doesn't feel provocative, romantic, or even entertaining. This sequel feels like a punishment.
Some Apple Watch users claimed that they had their devices ruined by the latest beta release.
At least, that's the word on sites like Reddit, as spotted by Neowin. After installing the third beta for watchOS 11.1, some users found that their devices would freeze up not long after being turned on with the update installed. Common fixes like restarting the devices don't seem to work, either. Apple has since pulled the update so it's no longer available for download.
SEE ALSO: October Prime Day is just around the corner: Here are the Apple Watches you can already grab on saleIf this happened to you, unfortunately, the only thing you can really do is send the device to Apple for repairs. As Neowin pointed out, Apple Watches don't allow users to revert back to old software after an update.
This is obviously a bummer for anyone who suffered a bricked Apple Watch, but it's a good reminder to be very careful about installing pre-release software onto your personal devices. Apple recently had to do something similar after an iPadOS update bricked some tablets.
Stuff Your Kindle Day, but make it Halloween.
That's basically what Horrorsmith Publishing said in 2023 when they debuted Terrify Your Tablet Day, which gave readers access to tons of free horror titles from the publisher (which, as you likely guessed from the name, specializes in the genre). Terrify Your Tablet Day is back for round two this year on Oct. 3, offering free and discounted books for fans of the genre.
SEE ALSO: Another Stuff Your Kindle event is here — this time for the horror fansObviously, horror is an expansive genre, which is why we're grateful the publisher broke down their free offerings by sub-genres, including psychological horror, thrillers, dark fantasy, and horroromance, just to name a few. On this list, you'll find all the free books offered from the cosmic horror and apocalyptic and dystopian genres — in other words, here's where you find the free sci-fi horror.
And if you don't have a Kindle, don't worry — these e-books are available for all e-reader devices, including Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and direct website from authors where available.
Free sci-fi horror books from Terrify Your Tablet Day:Dead in Dallas: Dead Cities #1 by Alathla Morgan
Black Death: An Extreme Horror Apocalyptic Novella by David Hardy
All the Rage: An Extreme Horror Apocalyptic Novella by David Hardy
Consumed By Rage: An Extreme Horror Apocalyptic Novella by David Hardy
The Triangle Forest by Edward Flora
Things From the Dark by K.K. Monroe
The Salem Legacy by Paul Carro
Terrify Your Tablet is for the spookiest of readers. If you like eery thrillers, all things supernatural, or gorey slashers, this is a Stuff Your Kindle-style event made for you. This event, lead by Horrorsmith Publishing, is offering dozens of discounts on creepy books of all kinds.
Everyone can find something to read during this sale — including fantasy readers. Among the free and discounted books are dark fantasy novels. For readers of romantasy, October may have you eager to deep your toe into the darker side of the genre and dark fantasy is just right for you.
We've rounded up a series of dark fantasy novels (and one memoir from the queen of dark fantasy, Elvira) that are all free or discounted during Terrify Your Tablet Down. Here are the deals to shop.
Shop free dark fantasy booksFrom Dark Waters and Woods: Stories of Growing Up in the Swamps by Amanda Leanne — $0 (save $2.99)
Insanity's Respite by Josua E.B. Smith — $0 (save $3.99)
The Salem Legacy by Paul Carro — $0 (save $3.99)
Witch's Choice by A.K. Stuntz — $0 (save $3.99)
In the Grimdark Strands of the Sinneret by Keith Anthony Baird — $0.99 $10.99 (save $10)
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed — $1.99 $18.99 (save $17)
Dark & Dreadful Brutes by Lola Glass — $2.49 $4.99 (save $2.50)
The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith — $2.49 $4.99 (save $2.50)
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie — $2.99 $19.99 (save $17)
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco — $2.99 $12.99 (save $10)
Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson — $2.99 $17.99 (save $15)
SAVE $100: As of October 3, get the Google Pixel Watch 3 (LTE) for just $399.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and the lowest price we've seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel Watch 3 (LTE) $399.99 at AmazonStill looking to pick up a new smartwatch? There are tons of options, like the newly-released Apple Watch Series 9, or perhaps a Samsung Galaxy Watch might strike your fancy more. Need a third option? You might be interested in perusing Google's wares, especially given the fact that one of its most recent releases is on sale for its lowest price yet.
As of Oct. 3, get the 45mm Google Pixel Watch 3 (LTE) for just $399.99. That's $100 off its normal price of $499.99 and a 20% discount. It's also the lowest price we've seen for this particular model.
The Pixel Watch 3 is an improvement over its predecessor in several ways, with a 45mm screen that's twice as bright and 40% larger than the Pixel Watch 2. It offers a variety of AI-assisted tracking options, including sensors that measure your heart rate, workouts, and more. It's compatible with Fitbit Premium for a host of other workout and fitness-related metrics and features, including custom workouts and form tracking that's delivered in real-time.
Of course, you can also use the Pixel Watch 3 as a regular smartwatch if you aren't a huge fitness buff. Text, make calls, use your favorite apps, and keep in touch with friends and family right from your wrist. It offers 24 hours of battery life with an always-on display, so it can be your constant companion for Android devices, or one of Google's phones if you have one. This model can be used independently of your phone if you prefer with its own LTE connection so you can leave your device at home or in the car.
If you want to scoop up this watch at a great price, now's the time to do so with this pre-Prime Day deal. It probably won't go any lower for a while.
The HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G looks unassuming, but it’s full of surprises. At first glance, all I noticed was its boring (albeit fingerprint-resistant) silver exterior, but after using it for a few weeks, this laptop is certainly more than its lackluster chassis.
Equipped with one of Intel’s new Core Ultra chips, the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 outpaces the M3 MacBook Pro in almost every category, most notably performance and battery life. I’m used to Windows laptops dying after seven hours; this laptop almost tripled that. It doesn’t quite rival the battery life of Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7, but still, I was thoroughly impressed.
Consider its satisfyingly responsive keyboard and trackpad, plentiful ports, and barely there weight — and the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G might just make it to our best laptops list. It’s certainly not a perfect laptop, but its pros help you overlook some minor foibles.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G price and specsThe HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G I tested for this review costs $2,099 via HP and comes with the following specs:
Intel Core Ultra 7 165H CPU
Integrated Intel Arc graphics
16GB of RAM
512GB SSD
14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel, 60Hz, non-touch display
Windows 11 Pro
If you don’t need as much performance power, you can pick up an HP Elitebook 1040 G11 configuration for just $1,899. It swaps out the Core Ultra 7 165H CPU above for Intel’s Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, but otherwise shares the same specs.
Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G $2,099.00 at HPThe HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G won’t wow you visually with its design. The HP logo is sleek on the top cover, but the laptop’s chassis is a boring silver shade. In the laptop world, silver or dark gray are two of the most common laptop shades — and I’d love to see something new and different for this Elitebook.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableWhile I’m not a fan of the laptop’s colorway, there are other things I adore. Opening the laptop with one hand is smooth, the hinges are sturdy, and its rounded corners are a nice design touch.
What I love most about the HP Elitebook 1040 G11’s design is how incredibly light it is. Starting at 2.6 pounds, this is the lightest laptop I’ve ever tested. My daily driver laptop is only three pounds, but man, that 0.4-pound difference is noticeable.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G displayThe HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G features a simple 14-inch display with specs I’ve seen many times before, but it looks great. Its 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution is plenty crisp for streaming videos and working — and the 60Hz refresh rate offers a decent cloud gaming experience.
This is a non-touch display, which I rarely see anymore. I tend to avoid using my daily driver laptop’s touch screen anyway to prevent smudges from accumulating, so it definitely didn’t feel like anything was missing from this laptop.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableIn a fully lit room or while working outside, I used all 400 nits of brightness the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 offers. But with the lights off or at nighttime, I’d drop it to 50 percent brightness or even lower, which greatly extends its battery life.
To get an idea of how well the laptop represents colors, I fired up the official Wicked trailer for the millionth time. Every color in the fictional world of Oz looked bright and vibrant, from Glinda’s pink attire to Elfaba’s green skin and the blue Shiz University uniforms.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G portsThe HP Elitebook 1040 G11 has all the ports I’d want in a laptop.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableOn the right side, you’ll find:
USB Type-C port (3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps)
USB Type-A port (3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps)
Kensington Security slot
SIM card slot
And on the left side:
HDMI 2.1 port
Two USB Type-C ports (Thunderbolt 4, 40 Gbps)
Headset jack
For charging convenience, I love that this laptop features USB Type-C ports on both sides. And although you can connect external displays via Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, I prefer to see a laptop equipped with an HDMI port because most monitors come with an HDMI to HDMI cable.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G audioDespite featuring quad stereo speakers with discrete amplifiers and audio by Poly Studio, the sound quality on HP’s Elitebook 1040 G11 5G is just okay.
I fired up the song I play on every set of speakers or headphones I test: Unprocessed’s “Real ft. Polyphia’s Tim Henson & Clay Gober.” The title is a mouthful, but this song has plucky bass notes and high-synth sounds that create rich depth that’s only audible on better-quality speakers.
The full-bodied atmosphere this song is capable of creating was missing through the Elitebook 1040 G11’s speakers. The bass notes rang out slightly better than other laptops I’ve tested, but the song overall sounded dampened and a bit tinny through these speakers.
When I bumped it up to max volume, it got very loud, but not distorted — so that’s a win at least.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G keyboard and trackpadBefore I even started typing on the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G’s keyboard, I could tell I’d like it. The keys look slightly raised, indicating a nice amount of travel while typing — and the keys feel nice and wide under my fingers.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableBecause these keys are a bit wider than the keys on my daily driver laptop, the Yoga 9i, I made a few mistakes in the beginning. But as I’m typing on the Elitebook 1040 G11’s keyboard now, it feels fluid, like my fingers are easily bouncing from one key to the next.
The power button for this laptop is in the top right corner of the keyboard, where I expected the Delete key to be. It only took a few typing sessions for my fingers to remember where to reach for the Delete key instead of the power button.
This laptop’s trackpad was smooth and responsive to swipe gestures. And although I initially noted clicking as clunkier than my regular laptop’s trackpad, it felt satisfying to click by the end of my time with it.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G benchmarks and performanceThe HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G performs well under pressure. I fired up 35 RAM-hungry Google Chrome tabs, one of which was streaming live low-fidelity hip hop radio, and experienced no lagging nor stuttering. In fact, I could barely hear the fans kick up when muting the live radio.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableHowever, the laptop can get hot under heavy workloads. And unfortunately, the laptop’s hottest point seems to be right under the middle of the keyboard. It never got too hot to touch while typing, and the laptop’s fans work quickly and efficiently to cool it down.
While real-world performance experience is important to mention, so are official benchmarks. On the Geekbench 6 performance test, the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G earned a wonderful multi-core score of 12,680.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G battery lifeMacBooks are no longer the only top dogs in the laptop space when it comes to battery life. I’m used to Windows laptops dying after only six or eight hours, but the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 more than exceeded my expectations.
We run down every laptop’s battery life by looping a 1080p video at 50 percent brightness — and this laptop just wouldn’t quit. The HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G lasted an incredible 19 hours and 27 minutes.
The only other Windows laptop we’ve tested so far that surpasses this is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which lasted 22 hours and 50 minutes in the same battery test.
HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G webcamThe HP Elitebook 1040 G11 has a 5-megapixel IR camera on the top bezel, along with a slidable privacy shutter.
I snapped a photo of myself (and my tuxedo cat) on my patio outside and was impressed with the results. My green eyes, dark blue jacket, and pale complexion all rendered accurately — and I didn’t look too blurry.
Credit: Sarah Chaney / MashableOverall, it’s a great webcam compared to the average 1080p webcam I see on most laptops, but you need to have good lighting to get a crisp image. You don’t need to be outside like I was, but letting in some natural light makes a world of difference.
Is the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G worth it?With almost 19.5 hours of battery life and performance that rivals that of Apple’s M3 MacBooks, the HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G is absolutely worth it. At the time of this review, this is the longest-lasting, non-ARM Windows laptop.
At $2,099, it's a pricey laptop, but you get a lot in exchange for that high price tag: zippy performance, a battery that just won’t quit, ports galore, a satisfyingly responsive keyboard, and a super lightweight design that you’ll barely notice in a backpack.
That said, it’s not perfect. If you need a laptop with the best speakers, a high-quality webcam, or a more interesting design, this probably isn’t the laptop for you. Instead, take a look at the M3 MacBook Pro.
Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable HP Elitebook 1040 G11 5G $2,099.00 at HPTesla has issued a voluntary recall for nearly every Cybertruck ever made, after the models' already-limited rearview visibility was threatened by a software issue. It's not the first time Cybertrucks faced a recall. Or even the second.
This recall covers 27,000 Cybertrucks manufactured between Nov. 13, 2023 and Sept. 14, 2024. It reads: "A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash." Drivers running software 2024.32.5.2 have seen blank reverse camera feeds for up to 8 seconds at a time while backing up before completing the shutdown or boot-up process.
The problem is a violation of a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), which requires feeds appear in 2 seconds or less.
SEE ALSO: https://mashable.com/article/tesla-cheapest-model-3-discontinuedCybertruck owners affected by the recall have been offered a free over-the-air (OTA) software update to resolve the issue. They can expect notification letters with further information in November. Individuals can also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or www.nhtsa.gov.
The company quietly discontinued its cheapest car model, the Model 3, at the same time as the Cybertruck recall. In July, Tesla recalled nearly 2 million cars due to a failure in select model software, which could potentially harm drivers and damage vehicles by failing to detect unlatched car hoods. It was the biggest recall in the carmaker's history.
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