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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, November 12, 2024:

AcrossMake very thirsty

• The answer is Parch.

Greeting from someone wearing a lei and Hawaiian shirt

• The answer is Aloha.

Gives up, as a territory

• The answer is Cedes.

Standing up straight

• The answer is Erect.

Add firewood to

• The answer is Stroke.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 12 DownWalks nervously back and forth

• The answer is Paces.

Like a hungry dog waiting for leftover food scraps, say

• The answer is Alert.

Event in which cowboy boots are worn

• The answer is Rodeo.

"___, please" (post-dining request)

• The answer is Check.

Waste maker, in a proverb

• The answer is Haste.

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.

SAVE $130: As of Nov. 12, the Dyson Airwrap is reduced to $219.99 at Walmart. That's a 37% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap $219.99 at Walmart
$349.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Walmart's early Black Friday sale officially kicked off on Nov. 11, following retailers Target and BestBuy with the early deals. No longer are your discounts limited to one day of madness, you have the whole month to shop for incredible discounts. Deals spread far and wide across all products, but we love this latest deal on the refurbished Dyson Airwrap.

The Dyson Airwrap has remained at the top of the hair products game since its release years ago, famed for its incredible styling techniques using Dyson air-powered technology. Such incredible technology doesn't come without a high price tag, however, and this product has regularly been priced north of $300. But as of Nov. 12, you can find this refurbished model at Walmart reduced to just $219.99, saving you $130 on list price.

SEE ALSO: Save over $200 on a refurbished Dyson Corrale at Walmart

Don't let the "refurbished" stamp put you off; this product has gone through heavy testing to ensure it's fit for purpose. According to Walmart, it has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned by a performance-managed seller or supplier. It also has a one-year warranty, so you can have peace of mind.

This iconic hair tool features a range of attachments to curl, wave, smooth, and add volume to your hair without extreme heat. It offers versatility for all types of hair style, from natural waves to polished looks, all while minimizing the risk of heat damage.

This deal is available in both colors, but currently, only the nickel/copper option is in stock at Walmart.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 12, the Microsoft Xbox Series X is on sale for $448 at Walmart. That's a 10% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Microsoft Xbox Series X $448.00 at Walmart
$498.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Walmart's Black Friday sale has kicked off early and we're all in for a treat. You'll find everything from TVs, laptops, and gaming devices reduced, so there couldn't be a better time to get prepared for Christmas, or to treat yourself.

The plethora of Black Friday deals also includes this $50 discount on the Microsoft Xbox Series X. As of Nov. 12, it's reduced by 10%. This deal comes with the console, Xbox Wireless Controller, an ultra-high-speed HDMI cable, a power cable, and two AA batteries.

SEE ALSO: Find the best early Black Friday Apple AirTag deal at Walmart

This device is a powerhouse for gaming, built for speed, incredible visuals, and an overall smooth experience. Released in late 2020, it boasts a super-fast custom SSD and a powerful processor, allowing games to load quickly and run at up to 4K resolution with incredible detail.

It’s backward compatible too, so you can enjoy all your Xbox One, Xbox 360, and even some original Xbox games. Plus, with Xbox Game Pass, you get access to a huge library of games.

Head over to the Walmart website to snag this great early Black Friday deal.

NASA's Voyager mission beamed back unprecedented views. It also sent back some mysteries.

One of these came in 1986, when the Voyager 2 probe — one of a duo of Voyager craft sent into deep space — journeyed by the ice giant Uranus, a strange world rotating on its side. When the mission passed by, its instruments detected strong radiation around Uranus, yet, curiously, didn't find any source of energized particles to feed these zones of radiation.

For decades, the observation has been an enigma. But not anymore. Recent analysis of Voyager's old data found that extreme solar wind — a flow of particles shooting out from the sun — impacted the environs around Uranus and created the abnormal episode.

"The spacecraft saw Uranus in conditions that only occur about 4 percent of the time," Jamie Jasinski, a NASA physicist who led the new research published in Nature Astronomy, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA spacecraft keeps on going faster and faster and faster

The graphics below help demonstrate what happened. Like Earth, Uranus has a protective magnetosphere — the region or cavity around the planet home to its magnetic field (these magnetic fields are created by currents in the planets' metallic cores). Magnetospheres shield planets from solar storms and wind, but become compressed by this potent stream of solar particles.

When the solar wind hit Uranus' magnetosphere, it compressed the distant planet's magnetosphere, and squeezed out the plasma (hot gas composed of electrically charged particles) that naturally surrounds Uranus. Instead, the solar wind injected its own particles into radiation belts around Uranus. This explains why the Uranus environment was so irradiated — but didn't seem to have an obvious source of radiation.

On left: Typical conditions around Uranus, showing a rich area of plasma around the planet. On right: Particles from the solar wind compressing Uranus' magnetosphere and forcing out the system's plasma. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech Tweet may have been deleted

These results also suggest that some of Uranus' five moons aren't dead, after all. The lack of plasma around the planet hinted that the moons weren't geologically active, because unlike other active moons of our solar system (like Jupiter's ocean moon Europa), it appeared Uranus' satellites emitted no charged water molecules. But that might not be the case.

There are no missions back to Uranus any time soon, though the planet, at 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) away, is considered a priority target for a future NASA mission.

Meanwhile, the Voyager probes continue their respective journeys through interstellar space, where they'll journey through the galaxy for billions of years.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 12 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Spell it out

These words take the long way to get there.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words for letters.

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 NatoAlphabet.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 12

• Echo

• Tango

• Foxtrot

• Bravo

• Victor

• Golf

• Delta

• NatoAlphabet

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.

SAVE $10: As of Nov. 12, the Apple AirTag is on sale at Walmart for $19, saving you 34% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag $19.00 at Walmart
$29.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal

There may be a few weeks left until the big event really kicks off, but Black Friday discounts have already started to appear at our favorite retailers, including Walmart.

Yep, eager sales-hunters can find a huge variety of deals already live and kicking at Walmart, with TVs, vacuums, headphone, and laptops on offer. But for something extra useful, why not check out this deal on the Apple AirTag, currently reduced to $19 (as of Nov. 12).

SEE ALSO: Save $200 on Apple’s 2024 MacBook Air with M3 chip before Black Friday

The deal is for just one AirTag that you can attach to pretty much anything: your wallet, keys, even your pet's collar. The setup is super easy, attach it to your item of choice and track it in the Find My app. It even has a small built-in speaker, so you can trigger a sound from the Find My app on your Apple device, making it easier to find the AirTag if it's nearby but out of sight, like under a cushion or in a bag.

But what about battery life, you ask? All AirTags are designed to have a one-year battery, with regular use. They use a standard CR2032 coin cell battery, which is user-replaceable. When the battery is running low, you’ll receive a notification on your iPhone, giving you plenty of time to replace it.

Ready to stop losing your items every other day? Head to Walmart now.

SAVE $230: As of Nov. 12, you can find the Dyson Corrale Hair Straighteners on sale at Walmart for $169.99. This deal saves you 57% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Corrale $169.99 at Walmart
$399.99 Save $230.00 Get Deal

November is the month of discounts and sales, and we're not mad about it. As brands start the countdown to Black Friday, many will indulge in some early deals, before the madness truly begins. Walmart is one such brand, and as of Nov. 12, you can already find a host of early Black Friday deals to browse. From tech to beauty devices, there's something for everyone.

We couldn't help but spotlight this incredible deal on a refurbished Dyson Corrale, reduced to just $169.99 (correct as of Nov. 12). That's a huge discount of 57%, and who couldn't love a Dyson haircare deal for under $200. The deal is available in a range of colors, but currently, only fuschia and copper/nickel are still in stock.

SEE ALSO: Snag the Apple Watch Series 10 for under $400 ahead of Black Friday

And don't be put off by the "refurbished" stamp; this product has gone through thorough testing to ensure it's fit for purpose. According to Walmart, it has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned by a performance-managed seller or supplier. It comes with a one-year guarantee, too.

The Corrale is an incredible option in the hair straightener market (our review alone sings its praises). Different from standard straighteners that use solid plates to flatten the hair, Dyson uses flexing plates to shape and gather hair, giving you more styling with less heat. And we all know, less heat equals less damage and frizz.

This is an online-only deal at Walmart, so don't miss out.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 12, the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) is on sale for $379 at Amazon, down from $429. Snag this early Black Friday deal for a smartwatch that does it all.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) $379.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Black Friday isn’t here just yet, but the Apple Watch Series 10 is already seeing a sweet price cut. This sleek wearable is $50 off at Amazon, bringing the price down to $379 (from $429). If you’ve been eyeing a watch that tracks everything from your steps to your heart rate, this might be the early Black Friday deal you’ve been waiting for.

The Apple Watch Series 10 brings some impressive updates, starting with its bigger display, which boasts 30% more screen area than previous models. With its thinner, lighter build, this watch is designed for all-day comfort. Plus, the always-on Retina display means it looks sharp all day. No need to keep tapping your wrist to check the time.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs. Ultra 2: We'll make this simple

If health insights are your jam, the Series 10 covers a lot of ground. You can take an ECG any time, monitor your heart rate, and get alerts if something seems off. A sleep tracker that watches for signs of sleep apnea and menstrual cycle tracking offers retrospective ovulation estimates. And suppose you ever find yourself in a tricky situation. In that case, the built-in Fall Detection and Crash Detection features can connect you to emergency services with a simple tap.

This smartwatch isn’t just for fitness fiends, either. It pairs seamlessly with your iPhone, letting you quickly take calls, send texts, and use Siri. And with three months of Apple Fitness+ included, you’ll have guided workouts right on your wrist to help you close those Activity Rings in style.

So, why wait until Black Friday when you can snag this Series 10 at a discount right now? Whether it’s a gift for yourself or someone else, this early deal is a smart way to save on a smartwatch that does it all.

SAVE $200: As of Nov. 12, the 2024 MacBook Air with M3 chip is $200 off at Amazon, bringing the price down to $899 (regularly $1,099). Grab this early Black Friday deal on Apple’s latest tech.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2024 MacBook Air $899.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If waiting until Black Friday feels like torture, this deal on Apple’s brand-new MacBook Air might just be the answer. Amazon has shaved $200 off the 2024 MacBook Air with the M3 chip, dropping it to $899, so you can lock in a deal now and skip the holiday frenzy. Think of it as a head start to holiday shopping — and an upgrade you can start enjoying ASAP.

The 2024 MacBook Air is more than just a pretty face, though that sleek design doesn’t hurt. It’s powered by Apple’s new M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, which basically means it can breeze through work, streaming, and whatever else you’ve got on deck. It’s also designed with Apple Intelligence, giving you the edge of optimized multitasking and beefed-up privacy protections, so even Apple can’t snoop on your data.

SEE ALSO: These 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Memberships are only $36.49

What really makes this MacBook Air special? It’s portable, powerful, and pretty darn practical. At half an inch thick and feather-light, this is a laptop that’s ready to travel with you, whether you’re running from class to class, hopping between coffee shops, or just working from the couch. Plus, with up to 18 hours of battery life, you’ll have plenty of juice to make it through the day without hunting down a power outlet.

And let's talk display: The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina screen supports over a billion colors, so everything looks sharp, vibrant, and almost touchable. Whether you’re binging a series or editing your latest photo haul, the picture quality is top-notch. Add in a 1080p FaceTime camera and Spatial Audio speakers, and you’re all set for video calls that don’t make you sound like you’re talking from a tin can.

This pre-Black Friday price is a rare treat, especially for an Apple product. So, if you’re looking to get your hands on the latest tech without the Black Friday panic, now’s the time to snag one before it’s gone (or worse, back up to full price).

SAVE $40: As of Nov. 12, RayNeo’s Air 2s AR glasses are $40 off at Amazon with an on-site coupon, bringing the price down to $359.99. Take advantage of this early Black Friday deal and start leveling up your reality.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rayneo RayNeo Air 2s AR glasses $359.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

The Black Friday blitz is closing in. If you’d rather skip the chaos, this early deal on RayNeo’s Air 2s AR glasses is worth a closer look. With a $40 off coupon, bringing the price to $359.99 on Amazon, you can dive into your favorite game or show on a whopping 201-inch virtual screen without waiting for Black Friday (or elbowing through the holiday crowds).

These AR glasses mean serious business (and serious fun). Built to bring your tech setup into the future, RayNeo’s Air 2s AR glasses offer a stunning 201-inch virtual screen effect that’s bright enough for anything from sunny outdoor binge-watching to dim-lit gaming marathons. The glasses feature a crisp micro-OLED display from Sony with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, so visuals are seamless, and a brightness of up to 5,000 nits — way more than you’d expect from something in your bag. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or just watching TikToks on the sly, the picture’s bound to impress.

SEE ALSO: These 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Memberships are only $36.49

Air 2s rocks a quad-speaker setup that provides surround sound without a bulky headset. The Push-Push design (like a mini-studio on your head) means you’ll get clear highs, balanced mids, and bass that’s got actual depth. No more muffled audio from dinky glasses speakers. And thanks to the superpower of Whisper Mode 2.0, you can keep the sound to yourself, so your significant other can catch some z’s while you’re diving into the latest game release.

This $40 pre-Black Friday deal isn’t just about gaming, either; it’s a solid option for anyone looking to mix some high-tech style into their routine. The Air 2s glasses are compatible with pretty much every device in your arsenal — from the iPhone 16 to the Nintendo Switch. But heads up: if you’re on a Pixel or an iPhone with a Lightning port, you may need an adapter (just one tiny speed bump to ultra-cool reality).

If you’re into mixing up reality with some help from RayNeo, now’s the time to grab this early discount before the big sales hit. It’s almost a guaranteed way to avoid the gift scramble, so you can actually relax on Black Friday (or scroll through deals from the comfort of these futuristic specs).

The Steam Deck will soon come in white, with Valve announcing the handheld console's new colourway on Monday. You'll have to pay a little more for the aesthetic, though.

The Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White will be available from Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. EST / 3 p.m. PST in every region where the console is already available. It will also be available in Australia, arriving with the Steam Deck's long-awaited launch in the region on Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. AEST.

SEE ALSO: I tested Steam Deck OLED for 3 weeks — it's more than just a display upgrade

If you already have a Steam Deck, there isn't much point in picking up the white version. The Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White is exactly the same as the Steam Deck OLED's 1TB model in terms of specs. Both consoles have a 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display, up to 90Hz refresh rate, and enough power for around three to 12 hours of gameplay.

The primary difference between the two is that the Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White is, as the name suggests, coloured white and grey. Valve also notes that it comes with a white carry case, as opposed to the typical black one, as well as a white microfibre cloth to help you keep your device clean.

Aside from this, the only other difference between the black and white Steam Decks is their price. While the regular black 1TB Steam Deck will set you back $649, the Limited Edition White costs $679, charging you an extra $30 for the aesthetic.

Tweet may have been deleted

If you're debating whether to pick it up anyway, you'd better decide quickly. The white Steam Deck will only be available in "limited quantities, with stock allocated proportionally across each region," and only one can be purchased per Steam account. Exactly how limited said quantities are is unclear, but Valve has stated that they won't be doing another run.

"As this is a limited edition release, we will not be making more of this particular design," said Valve. "Once we are sold out, we will be sold out."

How to get the white Steam Deck

Purchasing a Steam Deck isn't as simple as adding it to your Amazon cart, though. The console will be available through the Steam store (except in some Asian regions where it will be available via Komodo). However, users will only be able to buy it if they spent at least $US5 in the Steam store prior to this month, so anyone who hasn't done that already is simply out of luck. Valve has previously stated that it limits user accounts that haven't made such transactions in order to weed out spam and malicious users.

Your account also has to be in "good standing" for Valve to let you purchase a Steam Deck, the company apparently disinterested in selling consoles to people who install cheat programs. To check your status under the Valve Anti-Cheat System (VAC), open the Steam app on your PC, click "Steam," select "Settings," then hit the "Learn More" button next to "VAC status." It will then tell you whether your account is in good standing, or if you've been caught being a filthy cheat.

Similar restrictions apply to those who want to buy the standard black Steam Deck as well, though by now they've had more than enough time to spend $5 and become unlimited users. The black Steam Deck isn't a limited edition model either, so even if you can't buy it this month, there's always the next.

TL;DR: A great gift for gamers: These 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Memberships are only £28.35 (reg. £39.60).

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: 3-Month Membership - Stackable & Global - (Digital Code) £28.35 at the Mashable Shop
£30.96 Save £2.61 Get Deal

New games are coming out all the time. As exciting as that can be, games aren't exactly cheap. Dropping a fresh wad of pounds on every new title isn't feasible for most gamers, so it's a good thing there's an alternative.

Instead of grabbing every new title, try Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get access to hundreds of high-quality titles on-demand. With exclusive day-one releases, a huge library of indie hits and blockbusters, and seamless play across consoles, PCs, and even smart TVs, Game Pass is a game-changer—and now it’s more affordable than ever.

Right now, you can grab a 3-month membership for just £28.35 (reg. £39.60), and since these memberships are stackable, you can lock in up to 15 months at a discount.

A great buy, even if you already own it

This membership is available to new and existing members, so it's worth checking out even if you're a long-time Game Pass member. Now you can keep up your membership for 15 months at a huge discount. 

Game Pass Ultimate isn’t just about access—it’s about staying ahead. With new games constantly being added, including fresh releases from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda, there’s always something exciting waiting. Whether you're hopping into the latest RPG or exploring an indie gem, you’ll never run out of games to play.

One of the coolest perks? You can play wherever you want. Stream games to your phone, tablet, or even a VR headset with cloud gaming—no downloads required. Plus, members get exclusive discounts on in-game content and free add-ons, along with access to EA Play. That means early trials and special rewards for franchises like The Sims and Madden NFL.

With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you’re not just buying games—you’re getting an ever-evolving experience that fits any setup and any mood. And at this discounted price, there’s no better way to dive in.

Save on a great gift for gamers

Why get one game when you can unlock dozens? 

You can get an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-Month Membership on sale for £28.35 (reg. £39.60) at the Mashable Shop. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Stream the latest series of I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a lot of obvious signs that we're entering the festive season. Christmas decorations start to appear in shop windows, Christmas songs are played on the radio, and every advert is all about the holidays. Those are big clues, but there's also something that goes on Down Under that signals the start of Christmas: I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

If you want to watch I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When does I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! start?

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! starts on Nov. 17 and runs for three weeks.

How to watch I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! for free

You can watch every episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on ITV1, with free live streaming available on ITVX.

If you're abroad for this series, you might need to use a VPN to unblock ITVX. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can connect to ITVX from any location.

Unblock ITVX to watch I’m A Celeb 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream I’m A Celeb for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you the opportunity to stream I’m A Celeb before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream I’m A Celeb for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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 November 12'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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 12 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Expressing dissatisfaction

• Green: Plural of certain veggies

• Blue: Components that affect computer performance

• Purple: Symbols associated with Lady Justice

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: Complain

• Green: Vegetable Units

• Blue: Laptop Specs

• Purple: Features of Justice Personified

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 #520 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Complain: BELLYACHE, CARP, CRAB, GRUMBLE

• Vegetable Units: CLOVE, FLORET, SPEAR, STALK

• Laptop Specs: RAM, RESOLUTION, SPEED, STORAGE

• Features of Justice Personified: BLINDFOLD, ROBE, SCALES, SWORD

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 November 8

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

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

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

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for November 12'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 November 12 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 November 11 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Having just traveled by plane.

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 F.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

FLOWN.

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 November 10

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.

Robot vacuums have become an increasingly popular tool for maintaining a clean and tidy home with minimal effort, and over the past decade, the market has grown increasingly competitive. One of the more recent major players in the game is Eureka, and if you're looking for a way to simplify your cleaning routine, the Eureka E10s Robot Vacuum might be the solution you need.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eureka Black Friday Deal Get 55% off the Eureka E10s until Dec 2 Get Deal What is the Eureka E10s?

The Eureka E10s is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop from Eureka that offers up a range of new features designed to streamline household cleaning. As a mid-range offering (RRP A$1,099), the E10s has a lot going for it. Ultra-high precision laser navigation and a 2L transparent dust cup design help protect the environment and save you money by eliminating the need to purchase dust bags. It’s self charging, with 180 minutes of continuous battery life, 4,000pa suction power, and an operating volume of 65Db. It can automatically detect your floor type to avoid wetting the carpet, has a range of smart features and tools to help it navigate a wide variety of surfaces and spaces and a powerful app that is fairly straightforward.

Want to know more? We’ve got you covered. Here are all the key features that the Eureka E10s brings to the table:

Self charging, and self-emptying

The E10s takes care of recharging itself. When the battery runs low, it automatically returns to its charging dock and resumes cleaning when fully charged. This feature saves you from having to monitor the vacuum, ensuring it’s always ready for the next cleaning session without wasting energy. The 2L super-sized dustbin can store up to 45 days' days of dust and floor debris.

Smart mapping & controls

The Eureka Smart Mapping technology quickly learns the layout of your home, with a scanning speed of 3.5 seconds per square metre. This helps it to clean efficiently straight away, covering every key area, avoiding obstacles, and minimising missed spots. This also allows you to create custom zones to direct the vacuum’s behaviour within the app, like focusing on specific rooms or high-traffic areas in your home.

Multi-surface functionality

Whether your floors are hardwood, tile, or carpet, the E10s automatically detects the floor in a room and adjusts to handle them all. Its suction power adapts to the surface, delivering effective cleaning across different floor types, and it will lift its cleaning cloth to avoid wetting carpet. This versatility means you won’t have to worry about changing settings manually.

Accessibility

The E10s is designed to be user-friendly, and is complimented by an impressively simple app. Its automated features and remote controls make it easy for anyone to use, including older people, the technologically illiterate or those with mobility challenges. With just a few taps on the app or a simple voice command using Alexa or Google Assistant, you can keep your home clean effortlessly.

Designed with pets in mind

If you have pets, you know how quickly hair and dander accumulate. The Eureka E10s is equipped with strong suction and specialised brushes to collect pet hair effectively. It can help you keep floors free from fur and allergens, creating a cleaner environment for you and your family.

Small and quiet

With its slim design, the E10s can clean under furniture and reach tight spaces that traditional vacuums might miss. It also takes up very little storage space, making it a good fit for small homes or apartments where storage space is limited. It also operates with minimal noise, so it can clean during the day while you work or at night without disturbing your sleep.

Instead of requiring you to constantly change out the bag in the charging dock like other robot vacuums, the Eureka E10s features a self-emptying base station where a transparent, reusable dust cup is used instead. Emptying the dust container works similar to traditional cyclonic vacuum cleaners, and an in-built HEPA filter helps to hold most particles inside.

Key specifications Credit: Eureka Is the Eureka E10s right for you?

For households with pets, busy schedules, or for those just seeking more accessible cleaning solutions, the Eureka E10s is a robot vacuum worth considering.  While it may feel like a large upfront investment, a decent robot vacuum and mop can save you money over time on professional cleaning services. Additionally, keeping floors consistently clean can help prevent damage caused by dirt and debris, potentially extending the life of your floors. While it may not replace deeper cleaning methods entirely, it can complement existing cleaning routines and help users maintain a more consistently tidy home. You can pick one up on Amazon in Australia here.

The full suite of Apple Intelligence features isn't quite ready for primetime yet, but you can at least test some of them out prior to their proper launch.

Apple launched the third beta for iOS 18.2 this week. If you've gotten past the Apple Intelligence waitlist, this beta lets you get a taste of the new AI-powered features. It should be noted that these features actually entered the public beta last week and the latest beta release is mostly dedicated to bug fixes.

SEE ALSO: How to use Genmoji on iOS 18 iOS 18.2 beta: 4 new Apple Intelligence features

Apple Intelligence introduced its highly anticipated image-based AI tools in earlier betas, but with iOS 18.2 developer beta 3, you can keep experimenting with the following:

Image Playground

First up is Image Playground, Apple's standard text-to-image generative AI tool.

Credit: Apple

It works how you'd expect: Type some text into a box describing what you want to see, and eventually, an image will pop up that should, theoretically, depict what you wrote.

That said, it's not that basic. The software will make suggestions for things to add to your photos and you can even use existing photos as inspiration for your creations. You can, of course, share your creations through the Messages app.

Genmoji

Next up is Genmoji, or AI-generated emoji.

Credit: Apple

You can use text descriptions or existing photos of people to create custom emoji.

Visual Intelligence

On the more practical, though less creative side, is Visual Intelligence.

Credit: Apple

This feature allows iPhone 16 users (yes, it is exclusive to the newest iPhones) to open up the Camera app, aim it at something, and have AI give you some pertinent information about what you focused on.

For instance, aim your camera at a business, and you might get service hours or user reviews. Visual Intelligence can also do dirty work like detecting phone numbers and addresses in images to add to your contacts list. Oh, and it can copy and paste text, which will most likely be the most useful thing about it.

Siri with ChatGPT

Finally, Siri's upcoming ChatGPT enhancements are available via the iOS 18.2 beta. The way this works is that if you ask Siri a question and it can't come up with a satisfying answer on its own, you will be prompted to optionally consult ChatGPT instead. Siri will present the answer, but ChatGPT is where it comes from.

Oh, and unlike the web version of ChatGPT, you don't need to make an account to use this feature. Take notes, OpenAI.

You can download the third developer beta of iOS 18.2 by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Beta versions of iOS can be rough around the edges, so don't forget to make a backup.

Donald Trump may have won the 2024 presidential election, but Elon Musk may end up being the bigger winner than the soon-to-be 47th President of the United States.

Musk bet big on Trump and spent millions to back him. However, Musk wasn't just doing this out of the kindness of his heart. Many of Musk's companies. including Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), xAI, The Boring Company, and Neuralink, heavily rely on government contracts and subsidies. They have made billions in federal dollars.

Musk's bet has paid off. Since the election, Musk has been a regular figure in Trump's orbit. He reportedly made further inroads with Trump and deepened his influence in terms of making policy and appointment suggestions. Musk was even on a phone call made after the election between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

But, how will Musk play a prominent role in politics and the Trump administration while still running his businesses? It appears that Musk will assemble an "A-Team" to act as his mouthpiece in government. 

Musk's A-Team

"America’s A team is usually building companies in the private sector," Musk posted on X just days after Trump's electoral win last Tuesday. "Once in a long time, reforming government is important enough that the A team allocates time to government. This is that time."

Tweet may have been deleted

Musk appears to be positioning himself to encourage Trump to bring his trusted employees and allies into the administration, aiming to secure favorable outcomes for his ventures.

According to the Financial Times, some of the likely names that Musk will float include individuals like Steve Davis, president of The Boring Company, Musk's tunneling company that is ranked as one of the worst for workplace safety. Davis played an important role with Musk's pro-Trump lobbying group America Pac this year. Davis was also the key figure Musk relied on to cut 80 percent of then-Twitter's employees shortly after Musk acquired the platform now known as X.

Musk will likely also turn to Omead Afshar, who helped Musk with Twitter layoffs and the cutting of 14,000 jobs at Tesla earlier this year.

Musk's most trusted associate Jared Birchall will likely also play a role in Trump's administration, if Musk has any sway. Birchall has been referred to as Musk's right-hand man and runs his family office while also working directly with Musk's xAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Birchall also played a major role in Musk's Twitter acquisition.

SpaceX may benefit the most

The Musk company with the most to gain from relaxed regulations and favorable government contracts is his space exploration company SpaceX. According to the New York Times, Musk asked Trump to consider SpaceX employees for positions with the Department of Defense, including Senior Vice President for Global Business and Affairs Tim Hughes, former Air Force general and SpaceX advisor Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, and Senior Director of Government Affairs Mathew Dunn.

While Tesla already benefits from tax credits, Musk's EV company will find itself further wrapped up in regulatory issues as it looks to push the autonomous driving capabilities of its planned robotaxi. While most of these conflicts are at the state level, Musk may look to leverage the federal government to exert pressure on these regulators. Peter Scheutzow, Tesla's head of autopilot and AI, and safety chief Suraj Nagaraj, are also potential Musk-backed candidates for roles within the administration.

And, of course, no list of potential Musk candidates would be complete without his fellow Silicon Valley elites. Venture capitalists and hedge funders like David Sacks, Jason Calacanis, and Bill Ackman have all become more active in pro-Musk politics online and could certainly play a role in a Trump administration. Musk's weapon-tech buddies like Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey could also potentially find a place within Trump's Department of Defense.

Regardless of who Trump picks, things within the U.S. government are looking very good for Elon Musk in the coming years – as long as he stays on Trump's good side.

Wicked, indeed! Mattel erroneously printed "Wicked.com" on boxes of their new singing dolls tied to Universal Pictures' Wizard of Oz prequel film, but the movie's actual URL is WickedMovie.com, while the other web address leads to an adults-only website.

Visitors to Wicked.com are greeted with a message indicating the page is "Restricted to adults (18+) only" and "displays sexually oriented, including explicit, material of pornographic nature."

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

Mattel is aware of the "misprint," telling the Associated Press in a statement, "We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this." Details on Mattel's actions are unclear at the moment, though the AP notes that many of the dolls — primarily sold in the U.S. — were yanked from online stores like Amazon and Target.com. The toy behemoth is telling concerned parents with the original box to toss the packaging in the trash or keep it out of sight of kids; the toys are for children aged four and up.

The far-right gadfly account known as LibsofTikTok has already tried to weaponize the mistake, insinuating it was somewhat intentional.

Tweet may have been deleted

While the goof is a nightmare for Mattel, Universal may be pleased at all the publicity generated by the URL. The film, starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey, arrives in theaters on November 22.

TikTok has revolutionized the way we watch videos, and it's a detail that other short-form video creation platforms can't ignore: the swipe up.

When Instagram launched its TikTok clone Reels, it included a swipe up design detail, an important aspect that makes the copycat so popular — and same thing with YouTube Shorts. Famously, all of those platforms are primarily used to vertical video. Now, it appears the YouTube app itself might be testing that gesture in its standard video player — in all its horizontal glory.

SEE ALSO: YouTube responds to accusations that it’s been 'hiding' the skip button on ads

Digital Trends contributor Tushar Mehta first spotted the change and posted about it on X saying he noticed the change on the app on Android phones and asking who would want "to scroll on a long form video?" It's a good question. The general consensus — if you combine the vibe of Mehta's tweet with the headline from the Android Authority piece covering the potential change, "YouTube is testing the worst change ever in its Android app" — is that people are not excited about it. One user responded to Mehta's post on X with: "this is so frustrating. Frustrating enough to drive me to twitter to see if I'm the only one who's annoyed." Another user called it "genuinely hilarious," which Mehta responded with: "Idk how engineers come up with this to justify their $250k+ salaries."

This is not an official change, and YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable. So far it's only been spotted as a limited test on Android, and it's unclear if Google has any plans whatsoever to actually roll this out.