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I can't count the number of times my jaw dropped while watching Mexodus.

Much of that wonder comes down to the show's live looping, which sees creators and performers Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson creating the show's score from scratch onstage. But there's more goodness where that came from, as Quijada and Robinson interrogate under-taught history through powerful personal storytelling and hip-hop. Separately, these elements would be fascinating enough. Combine them, and the results are electrifying.

SEE ALSO: 'Every Brilliant Thing' review: Daniel Radcliffe gives us one million reasons to love life. This play is one of them. Mexodus tells a lesser-known tale of the Underground Railroad. Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson in "Mexodus." Credit: Thomas Mundell

If you hear the phrase "the Underground Railroad," chances are you think of the network of routes slaves in the American South took north to escape bondage. Yet as Quijada and Robinson tell us, there was also a southbound network that brought thousands of slaves to freedom in Mexico. How many thousands? We don't know for sure, Quijada and Robinson say, in one of the many moments when they speak to the audience themselves. The story of the southbound Underground Railroad is not a story you'll find in many history books, but it's one the duo hopes to pass on through word of mouth, with Mexodus' story serving as a composite of their own research.

Robinson plays Henry, an escaped slave who evades capture in Texas and barely survives a dangerous crossing of the Rio Grande. He's saved by Quijada's Carlos, a medic-turned-farmer battling his own demons from the Mexican-American war. Wary of each other at first, the two soon grow to overlook their differences, collaborate on Carlos's farm, and even become firm friends.

Mexodus' live looping will have you hooked. Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson in "Mexodus." Credit: Thomas Mundell

Quijada and Robinson build the soundtrack to Carlos and Henry's friendship in real time, looping and layering their own vocals and instruments. A lot of the instruments are recognizable: pianos, cellos, trumpets, guitars, drums, vinyl scratching. That Quijada and Robinson are playing all of them and rapping at superhuman speed and harmonizing with themselves is already impressive enough. But what kicks Mexodus into an even higher gear is when Quijada and Robinson interact with the stage itself, designed by Riw Rakkulchon. Corrugated walls become sources of percussion and even thunder. A wooden wheel modulates tracks' tempos. Pedals around the stage loop the sounds, and watching Quijada and Robinson stomp on them to control the next loop is a magic trick that never gets old.

Another magic trick? The live looping doesn't end with Mexodus' songs. Quijada and Robinson craft soundscapes too, from storms to crackling fires. My personal favorite moment came when Quijada strummed a comb to create the sound of chirping insects coming out at night. Yes, we fully see what causes the sound effect — in fact, we see what causes every sound in the show — but as Mikhail Fiksel's sound design amplifies it throughout the theater, it becomes something new. The theatrical experience allows us to leap from the mundanity of the comb to the fantasy of the bugs it's imitating.

There's a communal aspect to the live looping as well. Quijada and Robinson feed off our joy at each aural surprise. (Quijada took a smiling bow after my audience oohed at how he created the sound of fire.) They also take several opportunities throughout the show to step outside the story and tell personal tales: Robinson of his ancestors, Quijada of a time when he witnessed the same kind of prejudice and division that would have alienated Carlos and Henry centuries ago. Each moment builds on Quijada and Robinson's reminders that it's up to us to pass down the unknown stories of the Underground Railroad that led south, culminating in a goosebump-inducing moment of audience participation.

By inviting the audience into their stories and showing us how each song is created, Quijada and Robinson have created a riveting, joyful take on an unsung chapter of American history. It's one that I guarantee you won't forget.

Mexodus is now running Off Broadway through June 14.

So far, Nintendo has given us almost nothing about what to expect from the Switch 2 in the second half of 2026. However, reports suggest The Legend of Zelda fans are getting a major gift for the venerable series' 40th anniversary.

According to a prominent Nintendo leaker called Natethehate, and corroborated by Video Games Chronicle, Nintendo is set to release a full-scale remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 this holiday season. Of course, Nintendo hasn't confirmed this yet, and there's a chance it's not even real. But, as someone for whom Ocarina is about as important as a piece of art can be to a person, I can't stop thinking about it.

Assuming it's real, what should an Ocarina of Time remake bring to the table? And what kinds of pitfalls should it avoid? Let's talk about it. And if all of this turns out to be a false alarm and there is no remake, I humbly welcome all of you to call me an idiot in the future.

An Ocarina of Time remake should be different enough to justify its existence Maybe don't go quite as hard as the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' games do, but they're a decent starting point. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

To start, I should note that you can play the original Ocarina of Time on a Switch or Switch 2 right now via the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. I am of the belief that remakes exist to supplement the original work, not replace them, so it's paramount that Nintendo keep the original playable on modern platforms, and I have no reason to believe the company would remove it from the NSO service.

With that in mind, if this purported remake is going to a $60+ major holiday release that exists alongside the original, it needs to set itself apart. There are plenty of ways to do that. For starters, it might not hurt to modernize the controls a bit. I love the way the original Ocarina feels, with Link's weighty, substantial movement grounding him in the game's world in a beautiful way. Ocarina's heavy use of context-sensitive actions gave Link a huge number of ways to intuitively interact with said world, which set the game apart from other 3D action-adventure titles at the time.

The iconic title screen needs to stay. Credit: Nintendo

That said, there are a lot of people who don't have three decades of nostalgia for this game baked into their memories. Some folks are younger and may have started their Zelda journeys with newer games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. For a portion of the modern gaming audience, Ocarina's original control scheme feels clunky and unwieldy.

Even I, a person who loves the original release as much as I can possibly love anything, will admit that lining up jumps or trying to precisely throw bombs can be a chore. It also just doesn't make much sense on anything other than a Nintendo 64 controller, for which Ocarina was hyper-specifically designed.

Whoever is making this rumored remake needs to make it make sense on a Switch 2 controller. It might also help to add new content to Link's seminal 3D adventure, which might please fans of the original. New or reworked side quests, an additional optional dungeon, or even a smaller second adventure with a different playable character (looking at you, Sheik) would each individually do a lot to make players new and old flock to this remake. As long as it all fits naturally into the original game's structure, of course.

But they shouldn't just turn it into Breath of the Wild Great game, but not something the 'Ocarina' remake needs to emulate. Credit: Nintendo

One thing I've seen some fans online suggest that I vehemently disagree with is the notion of turning Ocarina of Time into a full-blown open-world adventure in the same vein as the two big Switch games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. This is an idea that might sound enticing until you think about it for a few seconds. Let me explain why.

More than anything, that's just not what Ocarina of Time ever was. Hyrule Field felt massive, expansive, and mysterious in 1998, but Ocarina at its core is a pretty linear game where there's typically only ever one authored solution to any problem. It's not about creativity in puzzle-solving like Breath and Tears, it's about using a boomerang to open a door in the exact way the designers want you to.

This may sound stifling to fans of the newer games, and in the arc of the Zelda franchise, that formula was indeed stifling enough to inspire the need for a series overhaul, but it's an apples-and-oranges thing.

New Zelda is a physics sandbox, while old Zelda focused more on the creativity of the designers than the player. In practice, one could very easily argue that the old style produced better pacing, and it allowed each game to have a large arsenal of fun items to use, rather than a small handful of powers like in the newer entries. If you've never used the Hookshot, you don't know what you're missing.

Crucially, you can also finish Ocarina of Time in like 20 hours. Not everything needs to be a 100-hour epic.

The remake needs to have a fresh look

Honestly, if this remake exists, the most important decision for its developers to make concerns how it will look. I am not an artist, so I don't have much in the way of specific ideas for how it should look. But I don't think a straightforward adaptation of the original game's graphics is the way to go.

If you just do "Ocarina of Time but modern," you run the risk of inviting ungenerous comparisons between the original and the remake. It would also be boring, just as it would be to simply convert Ocarina into the more Studio Ghibli-inspired Breath of the Wild art style. Zelda has reinvented itself visually more times than almost any series, and it's time for that to happen again.

But it also needs to respect the original's distinct vibes

In playing some of the original release recently for research purposes, one thing that stuck out to me is just how weird it often is. I think about NPCs like Grog, the gaunt misanthrope who mostly exists to tell you how much he hates his parents, or the creepy music box guy. At one point, you can play music on your ocarina for the enjoyment of a bunch of cartoon frogs. It's a goofy game with a lot of heart, and I hope that doesn't get lost in translation.

There are lots of other things that I think can be updated without being lost, such as the original game's brilliant soundtrack. That could use a full orchestral re-arrangement. I'm also open to other ideas, but for now, these are the things that have been swimming around my mind the most about this potential remake.

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A number of interesting NHL fixtures are taking place this weekend, including Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. Both sides are well positioned in the Atlantic Division, but both need a win to end a concerning run of losses. We're expecting a evenly-matched contest at TD Garden.

If you want to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning?

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on April 11. This fixture takes place at TD Garden.

How to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free 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. Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL (plus more NHL fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its impressive library without breaking the bank.

The best Hulu deals and bundles in April 2026: Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle $12.99/month with ads Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Student Deal Hulu Student Deal Hulu with ads for $1.99/month Get Deal Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal

There's a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From The Testaments to season two of Paradise, it's a library that's full of options to keep you entertained this spring.

If these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we're here to help you get the best deal. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you're looking to save some cash. This includes the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package.

SEE ALSO: 'Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice' review: Time-traveling gangster comedy is a must-see crowd-pleaser

Below you can find details on Hulu's best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service right now.

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+ and Hulu Bundle $12.99 per month with ads Get Deal Why we like it

For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which sets you up with Disney+ alongside Hulu, it starts at $12.99 per month. If you'd prefer the Premium ad-free version of this plan, this jumps to $19.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $12.99 per month

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for the three of them separately. It's an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you've already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student Deal Hulu with ads for $1.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu's Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts "so long as student enrollment status remains verified," then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.

• Hulu Student Deal — $1.99 per month

Best ESPN bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle $35.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also has plans for sports fans that throw in ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." 

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Hulu's monthly plans

If you're just looking to jump straight into Hulu's library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month, but you'll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it's the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that'll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.

• Hulu (with ads) — $11.99 per month (get first month free), $119.99 per year

• Hulu Premium (no ads) — $18.99 per month

If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there's the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it'll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $89.99 per month (three day free trial)

• Hulu Premium + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select (no ads) — $99.99 per month

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select — $94.99 per month

• Live TV Only — $88.99 per month

Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We're here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you're in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.

SAVE $500: As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,089 at Amazon. That's over $500 off the list price and the best-ever price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

The 2026 drone market is currently in a weird state of flux. Legislative pressure is mounting on DJI imports. We’ve moved past the phase of uncertainty into genuine panic buying before stock disappears for good.

Any sort of deal during this frantic period is very much welcome. Any sort of deal down to a record-low price cannot be ignored.

As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to $1,089 at Amazon — its all-time low and over $500 off the list price for a limited time.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The Mini 5 Pro remains the champion of the lightweight category. For creators, the one-inch CMOS sensor is the star of the show, delivering 4K HDR at 60fps that looks like it belongs on a cinema screen. The 360-degree Nightscape sensing maps obstacles in low light while the specialized Nighttime Return-to-Home ensures your investment doesn't end up as a permanent resident of a neighbor's tree.

We’ve monitored this price point across several sale cycles, and this looks like the floor. If you’re a content creator looking to future-proof your kit with a drone that doesn't require a commercial pilot’s license, this is the deal to snipe before stock drops.

We're not encouraging panic buying, but we do believe in tactical shopping — and there's never been a better time to invest in this versatile drone.

TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Get Deal

In the mobile world, the word "free" is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that's not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.

T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.

You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren't trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal. We did say this was a rare opportunity to save.

Mashable's Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years." That's an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it's free.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold launch might happen later than we thought (updated)

If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.

It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really "free" when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It's a gray area, OK? We're doing our best.

Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

Every major online dating service has been the target of malicious hackers attempting to gain access to private information, but few attacks have been as severe, as pervasive or as publicly damaging as the data breach attack on AdultFriendFinder in October 2016.

The attack exposed the records of more than 360 million users, not just of AdultFriendFinder but of sites across the popular FriendFinder network. To this day, it is still one of the largest database breaches ever recorded, leaking the email addresses, usernames, passwords, sexual orientations, and even spoken languages of millions of people across more than two decades of AFF's history.

Worse still, it exposed the downright shoddy security practices of the company, which included using SHA-1 cryptographic hashing, already more than a decade out of date by the time of the breach, and storing account passwords in plain text. 

Thankfully, parent company FriendFinder Networks took this breach seriously, and dramatically stepped up their security practices. Here are three major changes they made to help protect future users:

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More AFF overhauled their database security

Think of a website's database as a kind of bank vault; it's where all the valuable stuff that thieves are after is stored. In 2016, prior to the attack, AdultFriendFinder had the equivalent of a single-lock safe: it looked secure and intimidating, but malicious actors had long ago figured out how to crack the code. 

Now, they use the latest encryption technologies to bolster security, including a technique called "salted hashing" that involves combining each password with a unique, random string of characters (known as the salt) and then passing them through a one-way hash function. It's a sophisticated way of ensuring that even accounts using identical passwords (looking at you, people who use "password" for your password) don't all share the same vulnerability during a breach.

AFF hired outside security experts

The ugly truth is that companies are no longer self-sufficient when it comes to cybersecurity. Your in-house security team, as smart and hardworking as they may be, are not going to stand a chance against the wide variety of hackers and other malicious actors working 24/7 to access your data. 

SEE ALSO: Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps

The 2016 data breach humbled AFF enough to recognize this fact, and they've been contracting outside cybersecurity help ever since, including with Google subsidiary Mandiant. These cybersecurity firms don't just examine the potential vulnerabilities in your coding; they also look at your corporate structure and employee practices to evaluate them for potential vulnerabilities. 

Forced password resets

Not all cybersecurity vulnerabilities are the fault (or exclusive fault) of the website. Sometimes, your own laziness is your biggest vulnerability. Part of beefing up AFF's security involved forcing password resets, so you can't use the same password year after year. 

SEE ALSO: All your Hinge questions, answered

This is now basically standard operating procedure across the internet: once every six months or once a year, you're probably going to be asked to choose a new password. AFF has formalized this approach to help secure against password vulnerabilities that it can't control, such as leaks on other dating sites (be honest: how many of you use the same password across multiple sites?) or hardware malware like keyloggers. 

Later this year, exactly one decade will have elapsed since AdultFriendFinder's last security breach. Say what you will about their past mistakes — a full decade of cybersecurity success is an achievement, and modern users of the site should be grateful that AFF has stepped up their game in such a big way.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is tricky! There are some red herrings you'll have to avoid.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Take me out to the...

• Green: Go, Bruins!

• Blue: Great lakes

• Purple: You have all of these

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: MLB Teams, Colloquially

• Green: UCLA

• Blue: Can Follow Minnesota

• Purple: Starts With Part of the Body

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #565 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• MLB Teams, Colloquially — D-BACKS, JAYS, PHILS, SOX

• UCLA — ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, LOS, UNIVERSITY

• Can Follow Minnesota — LYNX, UNITED, VIKINGS, WILD

• Starts With Part of the Body — ARMY, EARTHQUAKES, LEGACY, LIVERPOOL

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

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

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

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

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 10, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 10, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 11 Pips

Equal (5): The domino half in this purple space must have five pips. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this red space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have five pips. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 11 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this purple space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 4 pips. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 11 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this red space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to less than 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this green space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this red space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): The domino half in this light blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this yellow space must add up to less than 5. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're always prepared.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 11, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Driving necessities

• Green: Donor

• Blue: Building blocks

• Purple: Natural formations

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Found in the trunk of a car

• Green: Benefactor

• Blue: Structural supports

• Purple: Ending in bodies of water

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 #1035 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Found in the trunk of a car: ICE SCRAPER, JACK, JUMPER CABLES, SPARE TIRE

• Benefactor: ANGEL, CHAMPION, PATRON, SPONSOR

• Structural supports: BEAM, BRACE, COLUMN, STRUT

• Ending in bodies of water: BOMBAY, CHELSEA, SCREWDRIVER, SNOWFLAKE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 11, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stylish.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 April 11, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You're putting me on

The words are related to fashion.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe fashion accessories.

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 Top Gear.

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NYT Strands word list for April 11

• Beanie

• Fedora

• Beret

• Top Gear

• Bowler

• Toque

• Derby

• Sombrero

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a goody two-shoes.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 11, 2026 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 Pips hints, answers for April 11, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Puritan.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PRUDE

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Rock.

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

STONE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To sneak.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SLINK

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

A kid.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 11 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHILD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A bet.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

WAGER

Final Hurdle hint

A flying object.

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

DRONE

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

To humanity's relief, the Artemis II astronauts returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific ocean just off the California coast Friday evening. And it looked every bit as iconic as those Apollo splashdowns from the 1960s and 1970s.

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As thrilling as the splashdown was, equally thrilling was video of the crew module separating from the service module a half hour before the spacecraft returned.

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Celebrations broke out at the nearby Air and Space Museum in San Diego, where one space-loving child gave us what may be the most relatable raised fist since Success Kid.

Credit: Apu GOMES / AFP via Getty Images

Celebrations also broke out several hundred miles north at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California — where the descent was a nerve-wracking reminder of the lost Space Shuttle that the center is named for.

Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

However, there followed a wait of more than an hour — longer than expected — while the crew awaited the inflation of a "front porch" that would allow them to be extracted by helicopter.

Credit: NASA screenshot

We'll update this post with photos of the crew emerging as soon as it happens.

The NASA spacecraft carrying the four astronauts of Artemis II — Commander Reid Wiseman, 50, pilot Victor Glover, 49, Christina Koch, 47, and Jeremy Hansen, 50 — splashed down as planned off the coast of San Diego, California at 5:07pm Pacific time, in perfect weather. 

The safe return of the crew module, known during descent as Integrity, followed a nerve-wracking set of maneuvers during the mission's final half hour. 

Integrity had to separate from its service module, reorient itself for a "raise burn" that assisted reentry, and then had to weather an expected communications blackout of exactly six minutes as it reentered Earth's atmosphere.

SEE ALSO: After splashdown, brutal obstacle course awaits the Artemis II crew

Finally, a series of hair-raising parachute deployments concluded with the reveal of three iconic red and white parachutes.

On reaching the Pacific, the crew were reported as "green" — meaning all OK — and balloons deployed to help keep it afloat while Integrity powered down. The only snag, apparently, was was a non-working satellite phone.  

The astronauts remained in good spirits throughout the process, and had plenty of time to look around on the way down — and back up again.  

"The moon looks smaller than it did yesterday," Commander Wiseman noted to mission control some 23 minutes before splashdown. 

"Guess we'll just have to go back, then," responded Artemis II Chief Training Officer Jacki Mahaffey.  

The successful trip, which in looping around the moon went further from Earth than any humans have ever gone, was intended to prepare the hardware and the flight controllers for a moon landing in 2028, the first in more than a half-century. 

NASA also aims to use the moon to practice keeping humans alive in another world for extended periods before going to Mars. The U.S. also has an interest in landing on the moon again before China, which is close to achieving its own first human moon landing. 

Watch splashdown below, starting at about the 1 hour, 35 minute mark:

Elisha Sauers contributed to this report.

Once upon a time, streaming was considered a cheap alternative to cable. Now, depending on the services you subscribe to, "cheap" is hardly the word.

So far in 2026, several apps have undergone price increases, to the point where it's hard to keep up. That's where we come in. Here are the major streaming services that have hiked up their prices in 2026 so far.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (April 10, 2026) Prime Video

In March, Amazon changed the pricing structure for Prime Video, downgrading its cheaper options and locking important features behind its premium tier. The basic cost of Amazon Prime is still $14.99 a month or $139 a year, but that tier now only has access to 1080p streams on Prime Video.

To see 4K Prime Video content, you now need to pony up an extra $4.99/mo for a new "Ultra" tier that also gets rid of ads. Prime Video Ultra also allows for more simultaneous streams and more downloads. But at a 33% premium to the regular price, is it worth it in this economy?

Paramount Plus

Back in January, Paramount Plus upped the prices of both its available tiers by an additional $1 per month.

The cheaper, ad-supported Essential tier is now $9 monthly or $90 annually (up from $60), while the ad-free Premium tier is now $14 monthly or $140 annually (up from $120).

Crunchyroll

Anime fans are not immune to price hikes, either. Crunchyroll, the biggest name in anime streaming, increased its prices in February. The cheapest Fan tier went from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, the middle Mega Fan tier went from $11.99 to $13.99, and the Ultimate Fan tier went from $15.99 to $17.99.

This was the service's first real price hike in years, and it didn't come without some perks: Users can now download content to watch offline, for one thing. Sadly, the free, ad-supported Crunchyroll tier was killed earlier this year — so if you want to watch the best in anime, you'll probably have to pay.

Spotify

Spotify increased the price of its Premium plan from $11.99 to $12.99 per month in February. The cheaper Student plan went from $5.99 to $6.99. Duo and Family plan users saw $2 hikes. The former went from $16.99 to $18.99 per month, while the latter jumped from $19.99 to $21.99.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the only service on this list that was explicitly supposed to replace cable. Unfortunately, it also became the victim of a price hike earlier this year. There are too many tiers and permutations of Sling to list here, but the TL;DR is that prices went up by $4 per month for many users.

YouTube Premium

Last but not least is YouTube Premium, lowkey one of the better investments you can make if you really, truly hate ads on YouTube. This service got a $2 a month price increase, going fro $13.99 to $15.99 in April.

Sadly, there don't seem to be any extra perks to go along with this price increase.

Many of us can't go anywhere without our smartphones, and neither do the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.

The historic Artemis II mission sent four brave astronauts 248,655 miles away from Earth, a historic record — and the iPhone 17 Pro Max went with them. The Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by its crew, is a marvel of engineering, but it's also home to some familiar terrestrial technology.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen brought all sorts of quirky items along with them to space (including at least one jar of Nutella). In addition to iPhones, the Artemis II crew is traveling with consumer gadgets from GoPro, Nikon, and Microsoft, all of which serve practical purposes aboard Orion.

The astronauts have been using the latest Apple flagship smartphone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, to document life aboard Orion. They've sent back some unforgettable selfies with these smartphones.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows Credit: NASA

In addition, the astronauts have been using two Nikon D5 DSLR camera bodies, along with a variety of lenses, batteries, and camera accessories. Taking photographs of the lunar surface was one of the most important scientific objectives of the Artemis II mission, and the Nikon cameras have been essential for that task. (We've been marveling over the photographs all week long.)

Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen configure their camera equipment. Credit: NASA

In addition, each of the astronauts is using a personal computing device, or a PCD. For this mission, the astronauts are using Microsoft Surface Pro tablets, for both important scientific work as well as more mundane tasks, like checking their email.

Finally, a variety of GoPro cameras are in use, both within the Orion cabin and on the exterior of the craft.

NASA documents state that the astronauts are using handheld GoPro action cameras to record the mission, and the footage will eventually appear in a Disney/NatGeo documentary.

In addition, specialized GoPro cameras have been installed on Orion's solar arrays.

A GoPro representative told Mashable that Artemis II astronauts are using HERO11 Black action cameras and a MAX1 360-degree camera onboard Orion. Outside the cabin, NASA placed modified HERO4 Black cameras on the solar arrays.

GoPro cameras have a reputation for durability, but these conditions are particularly extreme.

The Orion crew is scheduled to return to Earth on April 10, and the world has been following every step of the mission with bated breath.

Godspeed, Artemis II!

"Fetch" is never going to happen. But "moon joy" just might.

NASA began using the phrase "moon joy" all over its social media accounts as the Artemis II crew approached the moon this week. Now the agency has gone all in with a definition on the official NASA account on X, along with the ideal photo — its lunar adventurers looking adorably like the first fourple in space — leading into a video of moon joy moments.

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"The feeling of intense happiness and excitement that only comes from a mission to the moon" is how NASA defines moon joy (which sounds to us like it should be one word, but we'll wait for an official ruling from the AP Stylebook).

The phrase has been used several times throughout the Artemis II mission. The first use NASA posted was on Sunday, April 5: a clip of the mission control communicator calmly replying to a litany of excited identification of lunar locations from astronaut Reid Wiseman aboard Orion.

"Copy," mission control says with a chuckle. "Moon joy."

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One commenter on X called the phrase "the most perfectly understated response to astronauts losing their minds over seeing the moon up close for the first time." (Which calls to mind this classic 1969 moon landing story from the Onion — featuring a mission control transcript that seems closer to how the Apollo team would have expressed its moon joy if they hadn't been so professionally understated.)

NASA knew a good meme when it saw one. When the astronauts were woken up on Monday, mission control told them, "Our room is buzzing with moon joy." When the Artemis II astronauts viewed a solar eclipse that same day, it also qualified as moon joy — because the eclipse was one only they could see.

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Moon joy is infectious, it turns out — even reaching the astronauts aboard the International Space Station, according to a live NASA broadcast of a ship-to-ship call between Orion and the ISS.

"We can tell that you guys are definitely experiencing moon joy," Jessica Meir, commander of the ISS Crew-12 mission, told the Artemis II crew, "and I feel like even we are experiencing moon joy right now."

The ISS's moon joy manifested, according to Meir, in a particularly nerdy jape.

At the moment Orion set the new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth on Monday, her crew went to the far end of the station to claim that they were the farthest humans away from them at that moment — presumably since the ISS happened to be on the opposite side of the Earth at the time.

Even Rise, the official Artemis II mission mascot, got in on the moon joy meme on Wednesday, turning in the perfect made-for-Hollywood cute character catchphrase.

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Of course, NASA couldn't make moon joy happen all on its own. Luckily, back on Earth, moon joy is already a thing — because ironically, and unlike fetch in Mean Girls, it's not happening in a vacuum.

We noted the unusually unified, unabashedly earnest reactions to last week's Artemis II launch. That sense of wonder and delight has only grown, and #moonjoy has become the positive hashtag for an otherwise uniformly terrible year.

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How long moon joy lasts, and whether it stays with us for NASA's planned moon landing in 2028, is anyone's guess. But this week at least, it was a real and global thing — and that is, in itself, pretty fetch.

Elisha Sauers contributed to this report.

The device burned an exterior gate of the house, in San Francisco, the police said, and it was unclear whether the artificial intelligence executive was home. The authorities arrested a suspect.

BookTokers, Bookstagramers, and the most passionate Kindle users across the internet are fuming this week. On April 7, Amazon notified affected users that the company would be discontinuing support on 13 devices, including nine Kindle e-readers.

Amazon already faces plenty of backlash in the book world. Last year, Amazon launched a massive book sale, which coincided with Independent Bookstore Day. This most recent news has left some Kindle users with a bad taste in their mouth, and now some readers are asking, "Should I switch to a Kobo?"

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While Kindle is the biggest name in e-readers, Kobos are climbing the ranks.

We've tried and loved both the Kobo Clara and Kobo Libra, and the devices are just as great as any Kindle. Kobo e-readers have features that Amazon abandoned in its Kindles, like page-turning buttons, plus seamless Libby integration. But if the decision to switch to a Kobo is driven out of worries that your current Kindle will eventually get bricked too, then a Kobo won't solve this problem.

Older tech being phased out is an unfortunate reality of our modern era. Unlike a Kitchenaid mixer, which doesn't require software updates to stay functional, a phone, computer, tablet, or e-reader always will. Unfortunately, with such frequent product releases, we're accustomed to a system of planned obsolescence. So, it feels revolutionary when Google announces a plan for automatic updates that makes Chromebooks last up to a decade.

And to be fair, it's impressive that Amazon devices that are at least 14 years old are still kicking it, which is a testament to the device's longevity. However, it's understandable if you want to switch to a Kobo. But our word of caution is to switch for the right reasons because it's highly probable Kobo e-readers will face the same bricked fate.

Why you shouldn't switch to a Kobo from a Kindle

If you want to switch to a Kobo from a Kindle because you think it won't be discontinued, I have bad news. Kobo also has a history of retiring devices and no longer supporting them with software updates. On the company's website, they have a list of products, including e-readers, that it no longer supports.

This is just the fate of any device requiring regular software updates.

Companies are also incentivized to do this because it means pushing users to buy a new device, even if it frustrates the customer. And let's clear up one misconception. While Kindles and Kobos are no longer supported with software updates, these past-gen devices can still run. (Our colleagues at PCMag have advice for holding onto older Kindles.) It may mean they can no longer access the internet; however, users should still have access to the library of books currently on the device, and they can add books by connecting it to a computer.

Something else to keep in mind with switching to a Kobo is that you won't be able to transfer over your library. Both Kindle and Kobo use DRM on books purchased in their respective stores, which means you can only read those files on that specific brand of e-reader. However, you can still revisit those books through the Kindle app. Some users even recommend buying a used Kindle if you do want to stick with the brand.

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So, if you are making a pros and cons list, there are still plenty more reasons why you should switch to a Kobo.

Why you should switch to a Kobo from a Kindle Kindle Scribe (left) and Kobo Libra Colour (right). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

There are plenty of reasons to shop for a Kobo. Across the board, Kobo e-readers are just as speedy and user-friendly as any Kindle. They have an accessible user interface, but there are some slight differences, like how Kobo numbers their pages based on digital pages while Kindle numbers are based on the physical book.

Unless your Kindle library is entirely full of DRM-free EPUB files, you won't be able to access any book you've purchased in the Kindle library on your new Kobo e-reader. But if you can get over that, then there's plenty to look forward to with a Kobo.

Page-turning buttons

Older Kindle models have a coveted feature that the newest models don't: page-turning buttons. With models like the Kindle 5 no longer being supported and the Kindle Oasis discontinued, users don't have no longer have a new Kindle option to shop that includes page-turning buttons.

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If you want those buttons, look to the Kobo Libra Colour, which has two page-turning buttons on the side so you don't need to tap the touch screen. Those buttons also mean there's extra space to hold the device, for a really comfortable hold. The Kobo Libra Colour also has something that no Kindle does, an internal gyroscope, which means you can rotate the device to hold it with the opposite hand and the screen will automatically rotate.

A native remote With just two buttons, the Kobo remote lets you turn the page forward and backward. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For readers maximizing their reading nook with an e-reader stand, a remote makes it easy to turn the pages while keeping your hands warm under the blanket. Kobo is the first e-reader brand to come out with a remote to pair with their e-readers.

We've tested the Kobo remote, and it rocks, connecting via Bluetooth, and it's far better than any random remote you can find on Amazon to go with a Kindle.

Libby integration

Libby users with a Kindle will rejoice at an even more straightforward integration on Kobo e-readers. On a Kobo, you can login to your library card directly on your device and books you borrow through Libby/Overdrive automatically populate onto your device. The downside is that if you have multiple library cards you use on Libby, you can only log into one at a time on a Kobo e-reader.

Color at a cheaper price

Kindle has its own color e-readers, but Kobos are much cheaper.

The basic Kindle Colorsoft costs $199.99 while the comparable Kobo Clara Colour is just $159.99, which happens to be the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite. So if you're looking to upgrade to a color e-reader anyway, it's far more affordable to do so with a Kobo.