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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for October 30's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 30 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 30 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A wood frame for a canvas.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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...

EASEL.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 29

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for October 30'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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 29 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Trending positively

• Green: Wheels attached

• Blue: Tape

• Purple: Misspelled stores

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Upswing

• Green: Things with Wheels

• Blue: Kinds of Tape

• Purple: Retail Chains with a Letter Changed

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 #507 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Upswing: BOOM, RISE, SPIKE, SURGE

• Things with Wheels: DOLLY, ROLLERBLADE, SKATEBOARD, WAGON

• Kinds of Tape: DUCT, ELECTRICAL, GAFFER, PACKING

• Retail Chains with a Letter Changed: BEST BOY, IDEA, KRONER, STABLES

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 October 28

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.

Loud White Guys for Kamala!

The tech giant’s 34 percent increase in quarterly profit topped Wall Street expectations.

Phones used by Jared Kushner and Eric Trump were among those that hackers sought access to as part of a counterintelligence effort carried out by a hacking group associated with China.

Spoilers ahead, this is finale territory here.

Only Murders in the Building can never let the residents of the Arconia live in peace. Rest in peace, certainly.

In the Season 4 finale, which Mashable's Belen Edwards has unpacked in detail, the series dropped another murder on us in the final few minutes. After all, it's now tradition for the show's finales to tease a new chapter.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 ending explained: Who killed Sazz and why?

Sadly, the doomed resident this time is the Arconia's true heart: poor Lester (Teddy Coluca), the doorman. And his death is foreshadowed in the same episode.

After Oliver (Martin Short) and Loretta's (Meryl Streep) gorgeous wedding in the Arconia courtyard, Oliver, Mabel (Selena Gomez), and Charles (Steve Martin) are wandering through the remaining decorations recording the final words of their podcast. It's then that they find Lester, murdered and lying in a fountain that's now filled with blood.

"All he does is let in murderers!"

Earlier in the episode, on their way to rescue Mabel from the killer, Charles and Oliver encounter Lester in the hallway; the doorman has news that Oliver's chuppah had arrived for the wedding ceremony. Flustered, Oliver tells him to handle it, but adds, "I trust you completely, but just know, if you get anything wrong, I will destroy you."

When Charles protests, Oliver scoffs, "What? All he does is let in murderers!" Yeah, Oliver's going to regret that one.

Whether or not Lester let his own murderer into the building will be the mystery of Season 5. Not just a longtime doorman, Lester has a major connection to the Arconia and the fountain he ends up dead in, telling Charles and Oliver he was married to his wife Lorraine in the courtyard in an evening ceremony "with just the stars and the fountain as our witness."

Teddy Coluca as Lester in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney / Patrick Harbron

We've learned very little about Lester over the last four seasons, aside from his deep knowledge of everyone at the Arconia. We've heard tiny mentions of Lorraine throughout the series, with characters like Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell) giving her regards. In Season 2, during the blackout, when Lester is taking a breather in board president Nina Lin's (Christine Ko) apartment, he mentions he connected with his wife over his love of the chat and her hatred of awkward silences — "Says with me, she never has any." We find out Lester and Lorraine have two children, May and Frank; one at SUNY Stony Brook and one doing improv.

There's a mysterious side to Lester, too. In Season 1, he indicates he knew Sting and The Police back in the day, then demands no one say anything about it again. In Season 2, when the trio are staging the confession trap, Lester says he graduated from Juilliard. "Started out off-Broadway with Tracy Letts. We were rivals. Hand to God," he says. "I stopped getting hired, developed a drinking problem, and was homeless for a while. Almost died, cleaned up, took the first job I could get, and I've been stuck here ever since."

Poor Lester, it's also where he'd see the end of his days — and Season 5 will get into who's responsible.

Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu.

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: price and specs

Starting at just $599, the M4 Mac mini is one of the more affordable Macs, by virtue of not including a display of any kind. Here are the specs you get for $599:

• Apple M4 chip

• 256GB storage

• 16GB RAM

Obviously, there are different variants of the M4 Mac mini, and those increase in price as you bolt better specs onto it. Storage can go all the way up to 2TB, while RAM can go all the way up to 32GB. There are many different possible final prices depending on your configuration, but bumping storage and RAM all the way up balloons the total cost to $1,799.

The M4 Mac mini is priced the same as the M2 model was at launch, so there's no huge advantage in that regard. However, you are getting a better value. For example, the M4 chip is more powerful than the M2 chip. Plus, M4 owners get 16GB of base RAM (the M2 model's starting configuration only came with 8GB). A newer chip and twice as much memory for the same price is not a bad deal.

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: design

While the internal specs aren't too shocking nor out of this world, the M4 Mac mini has some noteworthy exterior design changes.

M4 Mac mini attached to a monitor Credit: Apple

Most crucially, it's much smaller than the M2 model. Here are the precise measurements for both machines:

M4: 2 inches x 5 inches x 5 inches (HWD)

M2: 1.41 inches x 7.75 inches x 7.75 inches (HWD)

The M2 model might have been slightly shorter from a height perspective, but it was much bigger and more bulky than the M4 model. At 1.5 pounds, the M4 model is also a full pound lighter than the M2 Mac mini.

Unfortunately, the power button is still on the bottom of the M4 Mac mini. Why does Apple keep doing this?

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Ports Ports! Credit: Apple

The port situation is where things get a bit more interesting.

Believe it or not, there's actually a distinct advantage to getting the M2 Mac mini: It has two USB type-A ports on the back, while the M4 model has none. That's really the only advantage, though, as the rest of the port selection on the M4 mini is solid:

• Two USB-C ports on the front

• Headphone jack on the front

• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back

• HDMI 2.1 on the back

• Ethernet on the back

For those taking score, that's one more Thunderbolt 4 port than the M2 model. Plus, you're getting HDMI 2.1 instead of just HDMI 2.0. In addition, the USB-C and headphone jacks have been moved around to the front of the device on the M4 model (they sat on the rear end of the M2 Mac mini). That should be more convenient, ideally.

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Performance

This one is tricky because we haven't actually used the M4 Mac mini yet. However, we have tested the M4 chip inside the iPad Pro, and it was incredibly impressive in terms of performance and battery life.

Plus, the big RAM boost for the base model should give it some performance improvements over its M2 counterpart. In terms of granular tech details, the M4 chip has 10 CPU cores (as opposed to eight on M2) and support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. That could make this a decent gaming machine for the games that actually support Mac, if nothing else.

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 Mac mini: Which should you buy?

At this moment in time, it doesn't seem like there are very many reasons to get an M2 Mac mini over the M4 model.

Barring any temporary discounts or impending price changes we don't know about yet, the two computers cost the same amount of money. However, the M4 model gives you more port flexibility by moving some of them around, theoretically better performance, and a whole new chip to play with. The only reason to get an M2 would be a significant price drop or a desperate need for USB type-A ports.

Apple Intelligence has arrived and it’s ushering in a new era of AI. The iOS 18.1 update packs a set of AI-powered features designed to enhance how we communicate, work, and create.

However, with all things Apple, gaining access can be a hassle. So here's what you need to know to use Apple Intelligence.

How to use Apple Intelligence

You must have an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone to use Apple Intelligence.

Credit: Apple

This includes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as the entire iPhone 16 line (i.e., iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max).

• Update your device to iOS 18.1 if you haven’t already.

• Open Settings, then tap Apple Intelligence & Siri.

• Select Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist — expect a few hours for activation, though it can vary.

• When it’s your turn, you’ll get a notification to activate it.

• Once activated, your device will start downloading the on-device AI models automatically.

And just like that, you’re ready to explore the latest in Apple’s AI-powered features.

Apple Intelligence is also available on iPad and Mac devices; you'll have to upgrade to iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, respectively.

Which Apple Intelligence features can you use?

The Apple Intelligence AI suite includes the following perks, as outlined here:

• Clean Up Tool (Apple's answer to Google Magic Eraser)

• Writing Tools (Rewrite different versions of text for a more appropriate tone)

• Siri's new ability to handle disfluency

• Siri's expanded product knowledge (e.g., you can ask it questions like "How do I share my Wi-Fi password?")

• Transcripts for Voice Memos and call recording

• Get brief summaries of notifications, emails, texts, and more

• Natural language search in the Photos app

• Use the "Memories" Photos app feature to create a movie by typing a description (e.g., "Last summer in our garden" or "Everything we ate in Italy")

• Priority Messages intelligently shows the most urgent emails

• Smart Reply provides suggestions for quick responses to emails

Take a look at Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon's exploration of Apple Intelligence for a follow-along on how to use some of the aforementioned Apple Intelligence features.

Some Apple Intelligence features are not yet available

If you're wondering when you'll have the chance to play with Genmoji, a highly anticipated feature that lets you make your own emoji with a natural-language description, it won't drop until December.

Genmoji isn't available yet Credit: Apple

Other delayed Apple Intelligence features include Image Playground (lets you generate your own images), ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Wand (transform rough sketches into sophisticated images), and Visual Intelligence (only available with iPhone 16 series via new Camera Control feature).

A new rule from the Biden/Harris administration that took effect this week requires airlines to issue customers a refund—not a voucher, not a new flight—if their flight is significantly delayed. This is a huge, positive change for U.S. airline passengers, and the internet was excited about it.

The rules are simple, and, importantly, you don't need to do much to get your refund should you qualify for it. Here's what you need to know.

The new airline refund rules, explained

The first thing you should know is that refunds are automatic. You do not have to do anything besides deny the significant changes to your flight.

Cancellations qualify for a refund, as do domestic flights delayed three or more hours and international flights delayed six or more hours, USA Today reported. Significantly changed flights — like those where the airport changes, stops are added, etc — can also qualify. Passengers are required to automatically get a refund for any flight that is "canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or alternative compensation," read a statement from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

So, in short, if the airline makes a big change to your itinerary and you do not accept that change, you get your money back with zero hassle. The new rule from the Biden/Harris administration requires the refund to be processed within seven business days for a credit card purchase and within 20 days for other forms of purchase.

"Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them—without headaches or haggling," wrote Buttigieg in the statement posted to X.

Tweet may have been deleted The internet reactions

There are few things the internet enjoys more than complaining about travel hassles and airline screw-ups. It's an entire genre of post. So the internet was actually pretty pleased to see a new rule forcing airlines to give passengers their money back. If your flight is too late to make your meeting, then it sure makes sense the airline doesn't get to keep your money.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Considering the cost of tickets and the lack of legroom, it's probably not going to be fun to fly anytime soon, but it did just get a little less painful.

Only Murders in the Building's Season 4 finale may have answered a lot of our burning questions — like who killed Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch) and why — but it left us with several others. Chiefest among them: What was with all the links to the loose ends from Season 1?

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 ending explained: Who killed Sazz and why?

At the end of Season 4, episode 7, "Valley of the Dolls," actors Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria presented Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) with information that, to borrow Detective Brazzos' catchphrase, could have sent the case in a whole new direction. According to them, the mystery of Sazz's death has been brewing since Season 1 of Only Murders (the fictional podcast, as well as the show).

"It all goes back to Season 1," Levy says, "which, by the way, has more holes than Zach Galifianakis."

The actors point out these loose ends and what they could mean, but does Only Murders in the Building actually plug up any of these holes? Not really. Let's take a look at the evidence, and what the show does (or doesn't) do with it.

Who poisoned Winnie? Michael Cyril Creighton (and Winnie the bulldog) in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney / Patrick Harbron

First up on our tour of plot holes is the matter of which sick individual poisoned Oliver's precious bulldog Winnie, who makes a cameo in the Season 4 finale as Oliver's ring-bearer. A prime suspect in Season 1 was musician Sting, who had his fair share of beef with Winnie. But once Charles, Oliver, and Mabel discovered bassoonist Jan (Amy Ryan) was behind Tim Kono's (Julian Cihi) murder, Oliver assumed she was behind the poisoning.

"Wrong!" Longoria says.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 finale hides Season 1 Easter egg

She points to the note Oliver found on the door right before he discovered Winnie, which read, "end the podcast or I end you." A smudge of ink on the paper leads Galifianakis to deduce that someone left-handed wrote the note, and since Jan is right-handed, that means it couldn't have been her.

Who left the note on Jan's door? Amy Ryan in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney / Patrick Harbron

Another loose end Levy, Galifianakis, and Longoria discover is the fact that the Only Murders trio never found out who left the note on Jan's door that said, "I'm watching you." The message echoes the threatening text Charles, Oliver, and Mabel received from Sazz's phone in episode 6, after they discovered hidden cameras in their apartments. That leads Levy, Galifianakis, and Longoria to believe that Jan's note, the texts, and the cameras came from the same person.

Adding to the evidence are the notes Charles, Oliver, and Mabel found in Sazz's apartment, which singled out both "sick pup" Winnie and Jan's "door note." If Sazz was onto the unknown culprit from Season 1, it would make sense for them to try to kill her, right?

Except Sazz wasn't on the trail of this mysterious adversary. These scribblings were just pointers for the screenplay she was writing about the Only Murders crew. And her murderer, screenwriter Marshall P. Pope (Pachinko's Jin Ha), wasn't at all connected to Season 1. These loose ends fade away from the main Only Murders plotline just as quickly as they were reintroduced, leaving us back at square one.

However, there is some hope we'll get some closure on these elements in Season 5. After all, doorman Lester's (Teddy Coluca) death could have some ties to Season 1. The same goes for the newly introduced Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni) and her missing husband, Nicky. Plus, we never did find out who put those cameras in Charles, Oliver, and Mabel's apartments... Could the same person be responsible for all these crimes?

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is now streaming on Hulu.

It's been almost 10 years since Xenoblade Chronicles X amazed the approximately 27 people who played it on Wii U, but now that number is going to get a lot bigger.

The series that I once called "Nintendo's most unsung" is now fully complete on Switch, as Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launches on Nintendo's current console on March 20, 2025. This new port from series developer Monolith Soft promises improved visuals and extra story content for the gargantuan RPG that originally launched on the failed Wii U system fairly late in its life cycle in 2015.

In case you missed it at the time (and you almost certainly did), Xenoblade X is narratively disconnected from the other Xenoblade games, making it a great place to jump in if you've ever been curious. It's an absolutely massive open-world RPG set across five distinct and beautiful continents on an alien planet called Mira, where humanity wants to find refuge after Earth has been destroyed in the crossfire of an alien war.

Its two main draws are an enormous open world and fully customizable mech suits that let you fly and unlock new areas. It's one of the most memorable open worlds in recent game history, so much so that Nintendo commissioned Monolith Soft's help on getting The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild across the finish line shortly after Xenoblade X came out.

You can also expect a bunch of goofy stuff like the main city on Mira being called "New Los Angeles," and combat classes having names like "Partisan Eagle" and "Full Metal Jaguar."

Nearly a decade later, after several popular Xenoblade sequels and re-releases, the last great Wii U exclusive is finally coming to the Switch. Breathe easy, Xenoblade-heads.

SAVE $46: If you're new to YouTube TV, you can score your first two months for just $49.99 per month instead of $72.99. That's about 32% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Live TV streaming services are basically the new cable — only without the contracts and hidden fees. Rather than a cable connection, you just need a solid internet connection and you can enjoy live access to a well-rounded channel selection. The problem is that costs keep climbing, making these cable alternatives nearly the same price as cable itself. That's why this YouTube TV deal particularly made us perk up.

Through Nov. 17, new subscribers can get their first two months of YouTube TV for just $49.99 per month. That's a savings of $23 per month or about 32%. Not to mention, you'll get a free 10-day trial to kick things off. The offer is only valid for the base plan, but the base plan has plenty to offer. After the promotion period ends, you'll automatically be charged the full price of the base plan, which is $72.99 per month, unless you cancel.

This is one of the best deals we've seen YouTube TV offer. Usually the introductory cost for new users hovers between $52.99 and $64.99 per month. So if you've been curious about live TV streaming or looking for a way to tune into NBA games, college football, or any other live sports, this is the time to dive in.

The YouTube TV base plan includes over 100 live channels, including local stations, specialty networks like Discovery and Bravo, sports channels like FS1, ESPN, Golf, and NFL Network, and kids networks like Nickelodeon and Disney. You can checkout your own local lineup before committing.You'll also get unlimited DVR space, special features like Key Plays View, six different household accounts, and three simultaneous streams.

TL;DR: Back up your stuff — 2TB of storage with lifetime cloud access and a portable hard drive are on sale for $89.97 (reg. $341) through November 3.

• Lifetime 1TB cloud storage from FolderFort

  • Access from any device through your browser — no software installations required

  • Unlimited users and workspaces for seamless file sharing and collaboration with others

  • Fast, secure uploads with Backblaze encryption, ensuring your data is safe while you work from anywhere

• Ultra Slim Portable Hard Drive

  • Offers 1TB of space with speedy 120MB/s read and 104MB/s write speeds for efficient data transfers on the go

  • Lightweight and compact design makes it easy to fit in your pocket and carry around wherever you need it

  • Works with PCs, Macs, Linux machines, smart TVs, and gaming consoles like PS4, PS5, and Xbox

  • Easily upgrade your FolderFort cloud storage if you need more space, with no downtime

• Individually, these products would cost $140, making this bundle a major steal

Until November 3, this 1TB (x2) bundle of cloud and hard drive storage is available for $89.97 to provide secure, reliable storage for all your files.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort The Complete 1TB (x2) Cloud & Hard Drive Storage Lifetime Bundle $89.97
$341.63 Save $251.66 Get Deal

Meta is throwing its hat into the AI search engine ring.

According to a report from The Information, Meta is working on an AI-powered search engine to power its Meta AI feature on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Currently, the Meta AI search function uses Google Search and Microsoft's Bing to surface real-time information about news, sports, and stocks. Meta also recently struck a deal with Reuters for providing news reports in Meta AI responses.

SEE ALSO: Meta is using your posts to train AI. It's not easy to opt out.

But Meta's reported development of its own search engine is an effort to rely less on its competitors' search engines, especially if the circumstances of the arrangements change. The rise of generative AI, plus a decrease in Google Search quality, has many users turning to platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity instead of traditional search engines. With Meta going all on its flagship Meta AI search function, the company hopes to get users searching on its apps, although some find the Meta AI search bar annoying and intrusive since it can't be turned off.

Meta's search engine team has reportedly been indexing sites and organizing them into databases for at least eight months. As previously reported, Meta quietly launched a web crawler in July to source information for its Meta AI training. This is similar to OpenAI's GPTBot, which scrapes the web for ChatGPT training data, and prompted many news sites to block the web crawler by adding a robots.txt line of code to its codebase. However, OpenAI and Anthropic were also found to have ignored the robots.txt block rule.

Ford is struggling to make money on battery-powered models while General Motors, which started more slowly, says it is getting close to that goal.

The U.S. government has tried to keep Chinese companies from obtaining certain advanced technologies, but concerns have been growing that some products may have been routed to Huawei.

Where to pre-order the new M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini Apple Store Apple M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini starting at $599 Preorder now

Apple's Mac Week didn't start and wrap up on a Monday, of course: The Tuesday (Oct. 29) of the event saw the arrival of the M4 and M4 Pro Mac Minis.

This drop was more anticlimactic than expected after Amazon leaked some specs a day early, but this major step up from the older M2 Minis is exciting nonetheless. Pre-orders for all configurations are live now at the Apple Store, with the 16GB Unified Memory and 256GB SSD M4 Mini going for $599, the 16GB Unified Memory and 512GB SSD M4 Mini going for $799, 24GB Unified Memory and 512GB SSD M4 Mini going for $999, and the 24GB Unified Memory and 512GB SSD M4 Mini Pro going for $1,399. All units officially come out on Nov. 8.

SEE ALSO: Apple just announced the M4 Apple iMac: Here's how to pre-order it

Just as we expected, these new versions of the Mini grew in power while shrinking in size. Now with dimensions of just 5 x 5, the cube-ish M4 Minis are essentially ridiculously-powerful desktops squeezed into an Apple TV 4K package. Despite losing physical space, the new M4 models absolutely school their predecessors in benchmark tests. We're talking up to 1.8 times faster CPU performance compared to the M2 (2.2 times over the M1).

SEE ALSO: Shop M2 and M3 MacBooks on sale before new models arrive

Those numbers are scaled up even further when "Pro" is added to the mix, partially thanks to the Pro's 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU (compared to 10 and 10 on the non-Pro M4 Mini). These marks will be particularly game-changing for those undertaking heavy projects in programs like Logic Pro, Motion, or Blender. The M4 Pro also wields not just one, but three Thunderbolt 5 port — a Mac first.

All M4 Minis also come with Apple Intelligence compatibility, opening up a world of possibilities with AI writing tools, image creation tools, and more, plus ChatGPT integration coming in December. The M4 Minis are also Apple's first carbon neutral Macs.

That's a wrap on a very Hollywood-themed Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building!

After 10 episodes of A-list cameos, stunt man shenanigans, and the highs and lows of showbiz, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) finally caught Sazz's (Jane Lynch) killer. But in true Only Murders fashion, it's not long before another body drops, setting the stage for Season 5.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 finale hides Season 1 Easter egg

From catching our killer to theorizing about what comes next, let's break down that finale, spoilers and all.

Screenwriter Marshall P. Pope killed Sazz Pataki — but not for the reason you think

Like every season before it, Only Murders Season 4 is no stranger to red herrings. After all, the entire West Tower storyline ended up being an elaborate misdirect, while actors Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria's theory that that this murderer had been after our trio since Season 1 also turned out to be false. But in its penultimate episode, Only Murders Season 4 hit us with a softer red herring — one concerning Sazz's killer's motive.

At the very end of episode 9, "Escape from Planet Klongo," Charles, Oliver, and Mabel learned that Sazz's killer was none other than Marshall P. Pope (Jin Ha, Pachinko), the screenwriter of the in-the-works Only Murders movie.

Marshall, whose real name is Rex Bailey, was Sazz's stunt protégé — at least, he was until he burned director Ron Howard's eyebrows off in a stunt gone wrong on the unfinished film Project Ronkonkoma. Sazz blackballed him after that, replacing him with stuntman Glen Stubbins (Paul Rudd), which is why the Only Murders trio thinks Marshall murdered her. Turns out, his actual motive was to get away with stealing Sazz's screenplay for the Only Murders movie.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' dropped an autobiographical Easter egg for Steve Martin and Martin Short Why did Marshall kill Sazz and Glen? Jin Ha in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney/Patrick Harbron

As Sazz tells us in voiceover at the start of the finale, decades of stunt work was taking a toll on her body, and she wanted to find another way to contribute to bringing stories to life. That's why she wrote the Only Murders script, centered on her "hero," Brazzos himself, Charles-Haden Savage. Sazz brought it to Marshall, hoping to get some pointers from the other aspiring screenwriter she knew. However, his jealousy over how good her script was prompted him to disparage it, then steal it and sell it to Bev Melon (Molly Shannon) as his own. His biggest crime really was plagiarism. Just kidding, it's still murder, but this is a close second.

From there, Sazz heads to New York to tell Charles about the movie she'd written. Again, nothing here about the Westies or their involvement with Dudenoff (Griffin Dunne), just good old-fashioned Hollywood drama.

SEE ALSO: Every single 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 end credits Easter egg

Sazz did write a Dudenoff subplot into her script though, which is how Marshall knew he could get into the West Tower of the Arconia and snipe her from Dudenoff's now sadly empty apartment. (His pitch-perfect aim is a result of a traumatic childhood of being forced to hunt by his father, the basis of his unsuccessful first script.) Once he shot Sazz, he made it to Charles's apartment by creeping along the window ledge going around the Arconia's courtyard. Being a physically fit stuntman who isn't afraid of heights sure has its perks! From there, he disposed of Sazz's body down the trash chute where the incinerator awaited, with the whole endeavor taking less than 12 minutes.

Later, when Marshall realized stuntman Glen Stubbins could identify him from their overlap on Project Ronkonkoma, he tried to take Glen out with the same sniping method during a promotional photoshoot — where he accidentally shot Galifianakis as well (both survived). With Glen on the mend in the hospital, Marshall went to his ward to finish the job, so the connection between his new identity and his old one would remain concealed.

In Mabel's apartment, Marshall confesses all of his crimes to Charles, Oliver, and Mabel before trying to kill them, but not so fast! In a reversal of Sazz's murder, Marshall gets shot through the window from Charles's apartment. The culprit? None other than Jan (Amy Ryan), who's been living in the Arconia's secret passageways for months and finally saw a chance to avenge her beloved Sazz (and simultaneously save her former beloved Charles).

Sure, the cops arrest her, but when has that stopped her before? You can bet this isn't the last we've seen of Jan. After all, she asserts that she and Charles are endgame. What is this, Riverdale?

Oliver and Loretta's wedding goes great — until we learn that doorman Lester is dead.

Thankfully, some less deadly love is in the air at the Arconia in the form of Oliver and Loretta's (Meryl Streep) marriage. It's a lovely affair, complete with Oliver's dog Winnie serving as ring-bearer and Loretta's son Dickie (Jeremy Shamos) and Oliver's son Will (Ryan Broussard) walking the bride down the aisle. The only downer is that Loretta is moving to New Zealand to shoot the rest of her TV show. She tells Oliver to stay in New York though, because when has their relationship ever been conventional? And how else to give Streep an easy out if she's not up to return for Season 5? (Although I'd love to see her come back.) Or, hear me out, the gang goes to New Zealand next season for a Lord of the Rings-themed mystery.

SEE ALSO: Mabel has no love story in 'Only Murders In the Building' Season 4, and it's quietly revolutionary

Aside from Loretta's moving announcement, the wedding goes off without a hitch. But after the celebration, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel discover the corpse of doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) in the courtyard fountain, continuing the Arconia's streak as the deadliest building in New York.

Lester hasn't been around much this season, but he did pop up towards the start of the finale episode to tell Oliver and Charles an interesting anecdote. He tells them he got married in the courtyard too. He'd shared: "Middle of the night, with just the stars and the fountain as our witness. I think it's good luck!"

Sadly for Lester, his luck ran out. (Oliver even foreshadows his death in their brief encounter, complaining that, "All [Lester] does is let in murderers!") But perhaps Lester's description of the marriage ceremony is a clue for next season. Speaking of next season...

Who is Téa Leoni's Sofia Caccimelio? Selena Gomez and Martin Short in "Only Murders in the Building." Credit: Disney/Patrick Harbron

Another clue for what Only Murders Season 5 has in store is the arrival of the mysterious Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni, Madam Secretary), whom Charles can only describe as a "dame."

As she tells Mabel and Charles, her husband Nicky was recently reported missing, as seen on news report playing on a hospital TV in episode 9. The report described Nicky as "the dry cleaning king of Brooklyn" and mentioned his ties to the Caputo crime family. Despite this, police say they don't suspect foul play. Sofia thinks otherwise, asking for Charles, Oliver, and Mabel's help find her missing man.

When Charles and Mabel tell Sofia they aren't private detectives and only investigate Arconia-related murders, Sofia drops a bomb on them: "What happened to Nicky has everything to do with this building." What new secrets does the Arconia have in store? And could Nicky's disappearance be linked to Lester's death?

We'll have to wait for Season 5 to find out.

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is now streaming on Hulu.

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 29, get the Samsung Galaxy A15 smartphone for just $179.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 10%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy A15 $179.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

If you're looking to buy a new smartphone for yourself or someone else right now, you don't have to stick to the latest and greatest models out there. Sure, a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy device would be nice, but if you don't want to or can't afford to pay the hefty price tag that accompanies those phones, there are still some excellent options out there. And there's one that's a particularly good deal right now that can do the trick nicely over at Amazon.

As of Oct. 29, you can get the Samsung Galaxy A15 for just $179.99. That's $20 off its normal price of $199.99 and a 10% discount. The phone is unlocked, so it can be used with the carrier of your choice. This price applies to both the Black and Light Blue colors.

The Samsung Galaxy A15 is a great budget-priced phone that can still hold its own with many of its more expensive contemporaries, especially if you're already a big fan of the Android ecosystem. This model boasts a MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus processor, a 1080p 6.5-inch display that runs at a 90Hz refresh rate at up to 800 nits of brightness, and 4GB of onboard memory. Plus, it has a 50MP wide angle camera with a 13MP front-facing camera so you can snap like a regular shutterbug to your heart's content.

While the phone isn't as speedy as some of its competitors, for the price you get a reliable, hardy phone that Samsung is still providing updates for. It has a 5,000mAh battery that can last a full day per charge, it comes in two attractive colors, and it can handle just about any app you need, though you'll need to temper expectations when it comes to how powerful it is compared to the best and brightest Samsung models. Still, you could do much worse than this phone for under $200. It's well worth grabbing at this price, especially if you just need a new phone – and fast.

SAVE $100: The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in Prussian Blue/Rich Copper is on sale at Dyson for just $329.99, down from the usual price of $429.99. That's a 23% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (Prussian Blue/Rich Copper) $329.99 at Dyson
$429.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Some things in life are worth paying a bit more for. Comfortable shoes, a coat that'll last for years, that good organic chocolate, and a fancy morning coffee are all often worth the splurge. Dyson products almost always come with a price that makes them only reasonable if you're in the mood for such a splurge. But thanks to today's sale price, one of Dyson's most popular hair care tools is significantly marked down.

As of Oct. 29, the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in Prussian Blue/Rich Copper is only $329.99 at Dyson, down from the list price of $429.99. That's a 23% discount and a savings of $100.

While the Supersonic is still at a premium price even with the discount, it's a really impressive hair dyer that could be great for some people. If you dry your hair daily and find it takes too long, the Supersonic can help speed things up. And if time is money, the premium price of the Supersonic might very well be worth it.

Dyson focuses on fast drying while protecting hair from heat damage. The Supersonic measures air temperature over 40 times per second, making sure the heat is regulated. The brand also mentions the Supersonic can help cut down on frizz and fly-aways, leaving you with smoother and shinier hair. When drying, you'll get four heat setting options, including a cold shot for setting your style.

The Supersonic comes with some extras too, like a presentation case, flyaway attachment, wide tooth comb attachment, diffuser, styling concentrator, and a gentle air attachment.

If you've had your eye on the premium Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, today's sale price will save you $100 as long as you opt for the Prussia Blue/Rich Copper colorway. While winter's cold and dry weather can often lead to less than prefect hair, the Dyson Supersonic might be a key to changing that up this year.