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TL;DR: The INNOCN 49-inch OLED ultrawide curved gaming monitor is currently on sale for $699.99 at Amazon, down from its usual $999.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: INNOCN INNOCN 49-inch OLED Ultrawide Curved Monitor $699.99 at AmazonIf you’ve been waiting for a huge OLED ultrawide to dip in price, this latest Amazon discount may provide the perfect opportunity to upgrade your gaming setup. As of Feb. 13, the 49-inch INNOCN curved gaming monitor has dropped to $699.99 on Amazon, marking its lowest price yet (confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel) and shaving hundreds off the regular cost.
Built around a wide and large 32:9 panel with a 5120x1440 resolution, a 49-inch display like this is designed to replace a dual-monitor setup without the distracting bezel gap. The QD-OLED technology promises to delivers deep contrast and vivid colors. At the same time, the 1,800R curve helps keep everything in your field of vision, whether you’re gaming, editing, or juggling multiple windows.
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!Performance-wise, you’re looking at a 144Hz refresh rate paired with a lightning-fast 0.03ms response time, which should keep fast-moving games — like Fortnite, Apex Legends, or League of Legends — smooth and responsive. HDR 400 support and Adaptive-Sync also mean it can boast reduced screen tearing and boosted visual clarity, making the monitor a strong option for both immersive gameplay and heavy day-to-day workflows.
Alongside its selection of handy connectivity options; with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and USB-C power delivery; it should be easy to hook up laptops, consoles, or a full desktop setup without extra clutter.
For a curved display from a bigger name brand, the 40-inch Samsung Odyssey G7 monitor is on sale at Amazon. If you’re set on a 49-incher, the OLED Odyssey G9 is also on sale for just $100 more than this model.
SAVE $250: As of Feb. 13, the Roborock Qrevo Series is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% saving on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Series $399.99 at AmazonThe Roborock Qrevo Series is sporting a new discount at Amazon, so if you've been toying with the idea of purchasing a new robot vacuum, this is your sign to make the leap. As of Feb. 13, this model is reduced by $250, bringing the price down to $399.99. And this isn't just a vacuum, it's also a mop, so you're getting a dual cleaner for under $400.
The vacuum has 8,000Pa HyperForce suction, so it's strong enough to pick up really tough dirt and dust, even if it's embedded into carpet. It has an all-in-one docking station where it will automatically empty any dirt picked up into a sealed 2.7 liter bag. The mop is taken care of here too, and it can do things like refill the 4 liter water tank and wash and dry the mop pads without any intervention from you.
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!If you have a home with pets, the tangle-free brush system will be your best friend. It combines an asymmetrical side brush with a full-rubber spiral main brush to prevent hair wrapping.
It navigates with the help of PreciSense LiDAR navigation. This helps it scan your rooms to create real-time maps. On the Roborock app, you can also create custom routes for it to follow. The app is also useful for scheduling and maintenance.
Get this robot vacuum deal from Amazon now.
SAVE $400.01: As of Feb. 12, the Samsung 75-Inch Class QLED Q8F 4K Smart TV (2025) is $897.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,297.99. That's a discount of 31%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 75-Inch Class QLED Q8F 4K Smart TV (2025 Model) $897.98 at AmazonPresidents' Day is right around the corner. It's a great time to buy mattresses, sure, but you can also snag a great TV during one of the many sales going on. That includes some serious savings on this Samsung TV at Amazon, which you can secure right now for an excellent price.
As of Feb. 13, the Samsung 75-Inch Class QLED Q8F 4K Smart TV (2025) is $897.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,297.99. That's $400.01 off and a discount of 31%.
SEE ALSO: The Best Buy Presidents' Day sale is live — shop deals on AirPods, TVs, laptops, and moreThis massive QLED TV is a great showpiece for any living room, or wherever else you want to put it. It has a Quantum Dot screen that provides you 100 percent color volume. That means over a billion colors utilized without fading and darker hues without banding. Powered by Samsung's Q4 AI processor, it can also use AI to upscale older content to give your favorite shows and movies a little boost.
If you're more into gaming, you'll be able to take advantage of several features that make it great for even the biggest blockbusters. With VRR gaming support up to 4K 144Hz, you get a lightning fast refresh rate and special gaming mode to ensure lower lag. And if you're into free content, you can use Samsung TV Plus to get thousands of live TV channels to peruse.
If you're ready to upgrade your TV, now's the time. This price likely won't stick around for long, so be sure to get yours before it's gone.
Ring and surveillance company Flock Safety have cancelled their partnership, which planned to make it easier for police to access footage from users' personal cameras. This comes less than a week after Ring's widely criticised Super Bowl ad drew further attention to the concerning privacy implications of its home security system.
SEE ALSO: Why so many people hate Ring's 'Search Party' Super Bowl ad"Following a comprehensive review, we determined the planned Flock Safety integration would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated," Ring wrote in a blog post on Thursday. "As a result, we have made the joint decision to cancel the planned integration. The integration never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety."
Though Ring states that resource issues are to blame for the partnership's cancellation, its collaboration with Flock Safety has been the subject of significant criticism regarding privacy and surveillance concerns. Distrust toward the Amazon-owned surveillance camera company has escalated, with users reportedly disconnecting, destroying, or returning their Ring devices. Some have also specifically cited Flock Safety's use by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
News of the partnership's cancellation closely follows Ring's poorly received Super Bowl ad, which promoted its AI-powered Search Party feature. Advertised as a tool for finding lost pets, Search Party allows people to upload a photo of their dog so that Ring can search their neighbours' camera footage for the animal using AI detection.
Concerned viewers quickly pointed out that this technology could very easily be used to track humans as well. Ring introduced facial recognition to its devices late last year, the Electronic Frontier Foundation stating that the feature could potentially violate people's right to privacy.
Why Ring and Flock Safety's partnership raised privacy concernsAnnounced last October, Ring and Flock Safety's partnership was promoted as a tool for users to "help solve crime in [their] community." Police would be able to request Ring camera video directly from users, which Flock Safety would send straight to them once approved. Flock Safety has stated that it is partnered with over 5,000 law enforcement agencies.
"When local public safety officers are investigating an active case, local officers using Flock Safety's technology can now post a request directly in the Ring Neighbors app asking for help," Flock wrote in a blog post at the time. "If you decide to share, Flock's system securely delivers your video directly to the public safety agency handling the case."
The planned partnership was met by backlash when initially unveiled, with critics noting that the Flock Safety's services and data have been used by agencies such as the U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) and ICE. 404 Media reported last May that while Flock was not in direct contact with ICE, the agency still accessed its services and data via requests from local law enforcement.
Flock has since confirmed this, stating that though it does not have a direct partnership with ICE, the agency can still access it through a "local customer." The company has also admitted to working directly with CBP.
Further, Ring has had a historically close relationship with law enforcement as well. A 2019 report from Motherboard revealed that Ring had secret deals with dozens of U.S. police departments, providing free products and a private portal for requesting footage without a warrant. In exchange, law enforcement officers agreed to promote Ring to their local community.
As of 2020, 2,014 government agencies were able to access Ring's camera surveillance network via its Neighbors Portal program. Agencies submitted Ring footage requests for over 22,335 incidents that year, over half of which were approved. Then in 2022, Amazon admitted that it had sent Ring camera footage to the police without users' knowledge or consent.
Ring did axe its Request for Assistance feature in 2024, which had allowed police to request camera footage from users and kept a public record of it (though private requests could still be made). However, it returned to its focus on providing law enforcement with users' videos last year, allowing police to request footage via taser-maker Axon's evidence management system.
The original God of War trilogy is getting a remake over 15 years after it ended. Developer Santa Monica Studio announced the project on Thursday during PlayStation's State of Play showcase.
Very little has been revealed about the God of War remake aside from its existence. However, it does appear as though original voice actor Terrence C. Carson is returning for the game. Carson voiced protagonist Kratos in the original God of War trilogy, and appeared during the remake announcement.
SEE ALSO: PlayStation State of Play February 2026: How to watch, top games we hope to see"This project is still in the early stages, so it'll be a minute before we get back to share another update," said Carson. "But I'm telling you, I'm telling you, next time we come back, we coming with something big, baby."
Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the God of War franchise, with God of War first released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game followed Kratos, a Spartan warrior who served the Greek pantheon, as he embarked on a revenge quest to kill the titular god Ares. The subsequent two games also kept Kratos on a mission of revenge, turning his blades toward the king of the gods Zeus.
All three titles in the God of War trilogy were well-received at the time of their release, widely praised for their brutal, fluid combat. However, other aspects of the games have not aged quite as well, having treated women as sexual objects to be bedded in minigames and then discarded. In one infamous incident in God of War III, Kratos used an enslaved, half-naked woman as a literal object to solve a puzzle, leaving her screaming as she was crushed to death.
It's currently unclear how the God of War remake might tackle such issues, particularly as the original games are well-known for their highly sexualised depiction of women. The series successfully retooled its approach more recently in a soft reboot, which delivered satisfyingly powerful combat alongside a markedly more mature, evolved, and nuanced approach to both women and masculinity. Even so, 2018's God of War and its follow-up God of War Ragnarök had the benefit of being able to tell new stories, rather than remaking games that fans are already familiar with.
The remake wasn't the only God of War news to drop during Thursday's State of Play, with PlayStation also giving a surprise announcement and release of new 2D action platformer God of War Sons of Sparta.
Developed by Mega Cat Studios with writers from Santa Monica Studio, Sons of Sparta is a prequel to the God of War series, and follows a young Kratos who's still in training alongside his brother. The side-scrolling game features retro-style pixel graphics with Carson narrating as Kratos, reprising the role for the first time since God of War: Ascension in 2013. (Christopher Judge voiced Kratos in the 2018 reboot and its sequel.)
God of War Sons of Sparta is available now for $29.99 on PlayStation 5.
A medical issue at the International Space Station in January required a swift, premature return of four astronauts, leaving just one American in space for the past month.
That will change when the Crew-12 astronauts launch as early as Friday morning from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The crew — NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot — along with European Space Agency astronaut Jack Hathaway and cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, will join Chris Williams, who arrived at the station on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2025.
Members of Crew-11 — Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, on Jan. 15. NASA did not disclose which of the astronauts had a medical issue or what the problem was, citing medical privacy concerns. All four seemed well as they participated in a news conference six days after their landing.
Though Williams was never entirely alone — cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev remained with him — the unprecedented medical evacuation highlights the importance of the staggered "seat swap" with Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency. The arrangement guarantees at least one American and one Russian are always on board. The operational redundancy ensures personnel from both countries are available to maintain their respective modules orbiting 250 miles above Earth.
SEE ALSO: Astronomers discover the surprising reason for a star's disappearance How to watch Crew-12 launchPending weather conditions, NASA plans to see Crew-12 blast off as early as 5:15 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 13. The crew will ride atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a Dragon spacecraft.
To watch, NASA will provide live launch coverage starting at 3:15 a.m. ET on its YouTube channel, which you can stream from the video below.
NASA also will broadcast the event on NASA+, its own free on-demand streaming service. Check NASA's Facebook page and X channel for coverage as well.
If the rocket lifts off as planned on Friday, Crew-12 will get to the space station at about 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Upon arrival, the crewmates will begin an eight-month stint aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for 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 February 13, 2026The 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 February 13, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 13 PipsLess Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 13 PipsEqual (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.
Equal (6): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.
Equal (5): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 13 PipsNumber (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.
Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.
Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.
Number (24): Everything in this space must add up to 24. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.
Equal (5): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you like tennis.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Winning hands
Green: Features tennis
Blue: Bears legend
Purple: Located in a capital
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Hands in Poker
Green: Tennis Movies
Blue: Associated with Walter Payton
Purple: Teams That Play in World Capitals
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 #508 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Hands in Poker - FULL HOUSE, PAIR, ROYAL FLUSH, STRAIGHT
Tennis Movies - BATTLE OF THE SEXES, CHALLENGERS, KING RICHARD, WIMBELDON
Associated with Walter Payton - 34, BEARS, JACKSON STATE, SWEETNESS
Teams That Play in World Capitals - COMMANDERS, CRYSTAL PALACE, REAL MADRID, SENATORS
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.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintTa-da!
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerVOILA
Hurdle Word 2 hintA kingdom.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 13, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerDUCHY
Hurdle Word 3 hintTo beg.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 13 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 13, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerPLEAD
Hurdle Word 4 hintA column.
Hurdle Word 4 answerPYLON
Final Hurdle hintA stick.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerBATON
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
If you’ve never dabbled in sexting, trust us when we say it opens up unexpected possibilities for your sex life. It’s more than just taking dirty — it’s building anticipation for the main event. Don’t get us wrong: We’re not advising you to slide into someone's DMs uninvited and start typing sweet nothings via a dating app (though feel free to do that very thing on AdultFriendFinder, which is the whole point of its existence). It might seem intimidating with all the options and avenues to navigate — particularly if you’re new to sexting. But we’re here to recommend the best apps for sexting — apps that are purpose-built for digital flirtations and foreplay.
Mashable dating experts have put dozens of these platforms to the test. You can rely on us to know what we’re talking about here. Using expert research, our choices are based on certain key features, including end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and screenshot detection — all essential for safe sexting fun. Because when it comes to sexting, you must always consider privacy, safety, and consent.
It stands to reason that if you believe in safe sex, you should also practice safe sexting. With all that said and understood, here’s a selection of the very best sexting apps available right now.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you smoke like a chimney.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 13, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Absolute
Green: A streamer
Blue: Bum a smoke
Purple: To decrease
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Downright
Green: Pennant
Blue: Cigarette brands
Purple: Homophones of ways to get smaller
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 #978 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayDownright: PURE, SHEER, STARK, UTTER
Pennant: BANNER, COLORS, FLAG, STANDARD
Cigarette brands: CAMEL, KENT, PARLIAMENT, SALEM
Homophones of ways to get smaller: LESSON, RESEED, SYNC, WAYNE
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 February 13, 2026Are 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 a visual learner.
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 MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 13, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: See what I mean?The words are related to educational help.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe information guides.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Visual Aids.
NYT Strands word list for February 13Diagram
Photograph
Infographic
Visual Aids
Chart
Video
Model
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 begger.
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 February 13, 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 February 13, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:To beg.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter O appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.
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...
MOOCH
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.
The Pitt audience, how are you feeling after Season 2, episode 6? If you're like me, your eyes are moist (if not streaming outright) after the show's emotional send-off to "frequent flyer" patient Louie (Ernest Harden Jr.)
SEE ALSO: Why 'The Pitt' feels more real than any other medical dramaLouie crashed at the end of Season 2, episode 5, before passing away early on in episode 6. His loss hangs over the entire installment, which ends with the staff of the Pitt holding a small memorial service for him. There, they share their memories of treating him, and Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) reveals information about Louie's life outside the trauma center.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Louie was married to a woman named Ronda. She wanted kids, and even though Louie was reluctant at first, he became incredibly excited once she got pregnant. Just before her due date, Ronda and the baby died in a car crash. It's a heartbreaking revelation, one that offers a greater perspective on a sweet patient we knew little about beyond the walls of the Pitt, as well as a look at how much these patients touch caregivers' lives and vice versa.
The end of the scene is accompanied by a new song from Andrew Bird and series composer Gavin Brivik, titled "Need Someone." If you want to relive Louie's memorial scene, or just want an extra dose of emotional damage, courtesy of The Pitt, you can listen to it above.
New episodes of The Pitt Season 2 air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.
TL;DR: Get eight new tools with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for only $34.97 now through Feb. 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $34.97Looking to make life a little easier? There’s a reason Microsoft Office has been around for decades — it’s packed with tools to help you tackle your to-do list, both personally and professionally. Right now, you can secure a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for just $34.97 — less than $5 an app — now through Feb. 22.
Whether you’re a busy college student, a stay-at-home mom, or an overworked entrepreneur, there’s an app that can help you within the Microsoft Office suite of tools. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license gives your PC permanent access to eight essentials, with no subscription fees and no cloud connectivity required.
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!This license includes some of the classic apps you know and love from Microsoft — Word for document drafting, Excel for spreadsheet creation, PowerPoint for presentation creation, and Outlook for managing your inbox.
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There's a new iOS update, and along with the bug fixes and security enhancements, Apple has some new features for iPhone users as well.
iPhone users can now upgrade their mobile devices to iOS 26.3, though users need an iPhone 11 or later. Just go to Settings, then General, then tap Software Update on your iPhone.
So, what's new in iOS 26.3?
First up, Apple has created separate Wallpaper options for Astronomy and Weather on your iOS device. Along with that, Apple has released three pre-designed Weather wallpaper options for your lockscreen with different fonts and widget designs.
Limit Precise Location is a new feature in iOS 26.3 that focuses on user privacy. With Limit Precise Location turned on, iPhone users can reduce how precise their coordinates are when relaying that information to cellular networks. Apple says this means your iPhone would share a general neighborhood location instead of an exact street address.
Apple notes that Limit Precise Location only affects the information shared with cellular networks. Exact location data shared with Find My, with friends, or location sharing is not affected when Limit Precise Location is turned on.
While Limit Precise Location is being introduced with iOS 26.3, the feature is only available on iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and iPad Pro M5 Wi-Fi + Cellular devices. Why? As our colleagues at PC Mag note, an iOS device with an Apple C1 or C1X modem is required for Limit Precise Location to work.
Finally, iOS 26.3 is giving users an easier time jumping from the iOS ecosystem with the new Transfer to Android feature. Located within the Settings app, Transfer to Android lets users wirelessly move photos, messages, apps, and other data to Android devices. Some information, like health data and previously connected accessories, will not transfer to Android through this feature. Still, being able to easily move your photos and conversations from an iPhone to an Android device is a welcomed new feature.
TL;DR: Get lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages for just $159 (reg. $646.20) for a limited time with StackSocial’s code LEARN.
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Babbel focuses on practical, conversation-driven lessons that help learners build real-world communication skills instead of memorizing phrases they may never use. Lifetime access to Babbel’s full language learning platform is available for $159 (reg. $646.20) when using StackSocial’s exclusive code LEARN at checkout.
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 subscription unlocks access to 14 languages and more than 10,000 hours of lessons designed by expert linguists using research-backed teaching methods. Lessons are structured around everyday situations such as ordering food, navigating transportation, and conducting business conversations.
Babbel’s bite-sized lessons typically take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, making it easier to practice consistently without needing to block out large chunks of time.
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Apple's augmented reality headset is only just now getting a real YouTube app.
The home for internet videos is now available in app form on the App Store for anyone who owns an M2 or M5 Apple Vision Pro device. With this app, you can watch YouTube videos in a theater-like virtual environment, with full access to playlists, Shorts, and everything else you'd find on YouTube. M5 Vision Pro owners can also watch videos in 8K if they happen to exist in that format.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy XR review: A great Vision Pro alternative, but for whom?Really, the bigger news here is that there wasn't a YouTube app on Vision Pro already. That seems like something that should have been available at or shortly after the device launched in early 2024.
Users could watch YouTube videos via the Safari browser, but that was about it. Access to YouTube was never going to make or break the Vision Pro project in general, but it feels like too little, too late, considering recent poor sales for the device.
It never really felt like Vision Pro had much of an audience to begin with. But hey, those who bought it can at least watch 8K YouTube videos now.
AI is once again on the witness stand.
In comments made during preliminary trial proceedings, Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff decided that documents prepared by an AI tool and then shared with an attorney are admissible in court, existing outside of attorney-client privilege, reported Law360.
SEE ALSO: We need to talk about that Mike Tyson Super Bowl adThe decision relates to the case of Beneficient CEO Bradley Heppner, charged with committing $150 million in securities and wire fraud between 2018-2021. The financial services exec was indicted in November. Prior to his arrest, Heppner used Anthropic's Claude chatbot to create 31 documents later shared with his defense attorney, evidence which was then seized by investigators. Federal prosecutors say that the documents are fair game and should be regarded as a "work product," rather than a confidential legal strategy. They also say that the AI tool's own usage policies do not guarantee confidentially.
The defense argued that, even though they weren't created by attorneys, the documents include information based on conversations with legal representatives that should be shielded. Also, by implicating the defense team itself in the documents, the evidence could create a conflict of interest between Heppner and his own representation, they added. Rakoff said he did not see any basis for claims of attorney-client privilege, but agreed the evidence could result in a witness-advocate conflict and a mistrial.
The comments shine a spotlight on an escalating conflict among AI developers, privacy watchdogs, and safety advocates.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.AI executives, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have suggested extending the same kind of attorney and therapist client privilege, which protects communications from court discovery, to conversations with AI chatbots. Altman has argued that, in particular, increasingly personal uses of AI assistants, including those designed for therapy or health advice, necessitate a reconsideration of what kinds of communications are granted legal privileges. Facing a multitude of lawsuits for copyright infringement and AI's effect on mental health and youth safety, AI developers have fought to keep chatbot conversations behind the black box, despite many providing express permission for government entities to view chat logs.
Meanwhile, chat history data has been essential in cases alleging misconduct and safety failures among AI's big players. Simultaneously, privacy watchdogs have raised concerns about extensive data collection and storage by AI tools, which has in turn prompted AI developers to institute measures to minimize chat history storage and allow users to use AI incognito.
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