IT General

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 hint

The opposite of always.

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

NEVER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To pay money.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SPEND

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Removed from a place.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TAKEN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A short period of time.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

STINT

Final Hurdle hint

A small storage space.

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

CUBBY

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, May 4, 2025:

AcrossWines that Napa Valley is renowned for, informally

• The answer is Cabs.

"Right away!"

• The answer is At once.

School students

• The answer is Pupils.

Make a mistake ... or 8-Across backward

• The answer is Slip up.

Many a new driver

• The answer is Teen.

DownItems of clothing that may be worn backward

• The answer is Caps.

___ Gawande, surgeon with the #1 New York Times best seller "Being Mortal"

• The answer is Atul.

Hasbro toy with a pull handle and twistable crank

• The answer is Bop it.

Criticize snarkily, with "at"

• The answer is Snipe.

You're reading it

• The answer is Clue.

$10 bill, informally

• The answer is Tenner.

Channel with "2" and "U" spinoffs

• The answer is ESPN.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Star Wars: A New Hope

The words are lines in popular Sci-Fi movies.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words the first lines in Star Wars films.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Opening Crawl.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 4

• Long

• Time

• Galaxy

• Space

• Opening Crawl

• Planet

• Empire

• Rebel

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 today's Strands.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 4 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: How you'd describe a well-done steak

• Green: Playing an instrument

• Blue: In a popular Taiwanese drink

• Purple: In our solar system

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: Qualities of overcooked meat

• Green: Play some electric guitar

• Blue: Ingredients in bubble tea

• Purple: Planets/Dwarf planet with first 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 #6913is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Qualities of overcooked meat: CHEWY, DRY, STRINGY, TOUGH

• Play some electric guitar: JAM, NOODLE, SHRED, SOLO

• Ingredients in bubble tea: BOBA, MILK, SUGAR, TEA

• Planets/Dwarf planet with first letter changed: BLUTO, CARS, DARTH, GENUS

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 May 4

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 today's Connections.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for 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 today: Hints and answers for May 4 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles 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 May 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A freshwater fish.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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

TROUT.

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 May 4

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 today's Wordle.

Windows computers come with pre-installed manufacturer bloatware and built-in apps I rarely use, while missing some tools I rely on heavily. Without the right apps, my device feels incomplete and unfamiliar. So, whenever I get a new Windows machine, here are a few apps I install right away.

Windows (by default) has become a privacy nightmare. Microsoft has made it impossible to install Windows without linking it to a Microsoft account first. Not to mention the incredibly invasive telemetry triggered during installation. Let me show you how to do an effortless and clean Windows install with a local account.

If your Windows 11 PC occasionally lags or freezes up, it could be due to the lack of enough RAM (Random Access Memory). You can take a few steps to free up the available RAM space, and I’ll show you how.

The Northern Lights can only be seen under certain circumstances, which gives the impression that it's difficult to spot this phenomenon. Well, it's certainly not the easiest thing in the world, but it is probably easier than you think. There are many places dedicated to helping you see the aurora.

Do you shut your PC off or put it to sleep when leaving the office for the day? I stopped doing this years ago, and I'm never going back. Here's why I leave my PC on 24/7/365, and why you should too.

Is your Mac constantly beeping with notifications, making it difficult for you to focus? You're not alone. We've compiled a list of seven different notification settings that can help you make your Mac quieter both in terms of audio volume and the volume of notifications you see.

Marvel's Thunderbolts* looks to top the box office this weekend, bringing in $31.5 million on its opening day.

SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' end-credits scene, explained: Who are the New Avengers?

That opening gross puts the MCU antihero team-up movie on track for a domestic opening weekend total somewhere between $70 million and $75 million. While sizable, that's still on the lower end of Marvel openings. It's also not as much as this year's other MCU offering, Captain America: Brave New World, which drew an $88 million opening weekend before grossing a disappointing domestic total of $200 million overall.

A smaller opening may not be a problem for Thunderbolts*, though. The movie's grab bag of heroes may not have the same name recognition as Captain America: Brave New World, but stronger reviews than recent MCU projects and more positive word of mouth could propel it to longer legs. (Thunderbolts* currently has an audience Cinema Score of A-, compared to Captain America: Brave New World's B-.)

Speaking of legs, Ryan Coogler's Sinners continues to kill it at the box office, raking in $9.5 million on Friday, May 2, a 27% fall from the week prior. That puts it on track for a $33 million third weekend, even after losing IMAX screens to Thunderbolts*.

If Sinners continues to perform at this level, it won't be long before it takes Captain America: Brave New World's spot as the second-highest-grossing film at the domestic box office. A Minecraft Movie still comfortably sits in the number one domestic spot, while the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is the highest-grossing film globally (Sinners currently ranks fifth globally).

Still, the fact that an original, R-rated film continues to hold strong at the box office even without premium screens proves that Sinners is on track to be 2025's biggest box office success story.

Linux distros can seem boring when you've been using them for a while. Another one? Are you nostalgic for the 1990s and early 2000s? A little-known distro called EXE may be what you're looking for. Is it for you?

The Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here, and if you’re jumping in early to play Mario Kart World or next-gen versions of Zelda then you’re probably on the lookout for accessories like a memory card too.

If you have a password manager, chances are you rely on an online account that tracks and stores all of your passwords. It's convenient, but you can actually keep your passwords stored off the internet while still syncing across devices.

The conclave to elect a new pope has yet to begin, but President Donald Trump already has a pitch for who should lead the Roman Catholic Church: himself.

SEE ALSO: Apple isn't overly worried about Trump's tariffs. Here's why.

On Friday, May 2, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as the pope on Truth Social. The official White House X account then reposted the image.

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The post comes days after Trump, who is not Catholic, told reporters he should be the next pope.

"I'd like to be pope. That would be my number one choice," he said, before adding: "I have no preference. I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York, who’s very good, so we’ll see what happens.”

Trump was likely referring to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, whom he appointed to serve on the newly established Religious Liberty Commission alongside figures like TV personality Dr. Phil and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. According to Reuters and the BBC, Dolan is not on the shortlists of likely successors to the late Pope Francis.

Trump's fan casting of himself as the new Pope sparked waves of reaction on social media, from debates about whether it was facetious or genuine to further memes and AI-generated images.

I’M THE POPE NOW, THERE’S A PICTURE!

[image or embed]

— Rex Huppke (@rexhuppke.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 2:06 AM

If Trump isn’t elected Pope he’ll call it the most rigged papal election in history.

[image or embed]

— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@sundaedivine.bsky.social) May 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM

Trump’s whole “I want to be pope” thing is a troll but this is still a very odd thing for the president to post in normal times.

[image or embed]

— Matt Novak (@paleofuture.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM

The “Trump for Pope” stuff is clearly meant to Trigger the Libs but most people are just reacting by noting how fucking weird these people are.

— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) April 29, 2025 at 7:54 PM

I do not think this is trolling, I think Trump genuinely believes he should be the pope.

[image or embed]

— Michael Hobbes (@michaelhobbes.bsky.social) May 2, 2025 at 11:19 PM

The pope image isn't the first time Trump has posted fake AI-generated pictures. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, he shared an AI-generated image of Kamala Harris holding a communist rally and an AI endorsement from Taylor Swift.

Most people use Linux to learn, tinker, or build something useful. I’ve used it to do things that range from mildly amusing to downright cursed. These aren’t best practices. They’re not productive. They probably won’t land you a job. But they will remind you why Linux is such a wild and wonderful system.

FREE LEGO: On May 4, build a Lego Grogu in a hover pram model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. And if you're shopping online, see all the latest Star Wars Day deals.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Grogu for Star Wars Day Learn More

Lego has been running make and take events all year, providing fans with the opportunity to pick up exclusive models for free.

Lego lovers have had the chance to take home a Steering Wheel, Valentine's Day Heart, and Mother's Day Bouquet for free in 2025, but the giveaways don't stop there. Lego is celebrating Star Wars Day in style this year by offering up an exclusive Grogu in a hover pram model on May 4.

SEE ALSO: Top Star Wars Day deals: New releases and freebies to shop on May the 4th

Visitors to select Lego Stores on May 4 (from 12-2 p.m.) can participate in a Lego Star Wars Grogu make and take event. During this special event, participants can build and bring home a model of Grogu in a hover pram for free. This event is intended for participants aged 10+ years, and the model will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, at participating locations, while supplies last.

What's important to note is that the Grogu model is not available for purchase. So by taking part, you're getting your hands on something that money cannot buy. The only catch is that you're limited to one build per participant, but that shouldn't stop you from attending.

Build and take home an exclusive Lego Star Wars Grogu for free on May 4.

Shop new sets on Star Wars Day

The Lego Store's Star Wars Day programming runs in stores and online from May 1-5, including the release of several brand-new sets:

• Lego Star Wars Jango Fett's Firespray-Class Starship — $299.99

• Lego Star Wars Chopper (C1-10P) Astromech Droid — $99.99

• Lego Star Wars Jango Fett Helmet — $69.99

• Lego Star Wars Kylo Ren Helmet — $69.99

• Lego Star Wars Rebel U-Wing Starfighter — $69.99

• Lego Star Wars Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle — $69.99

• Lego Star Wars Brick-Built Star Wars Logo — $59.99

• Lego Star Wars BrickHeadz Revenge of the Sith Heroes and Villains — $49.99

• Lego Star Wars BrickHeadz Luke Skywalker (Rebel Pilot) — $9.99

Gone are the days of clip-on pedometers. Now, it's all about tech wearables that maximize your physical potential with round-the-clock vitals monitoring — but I'm not talking about an Apple Watch or Fitbit. The next evolution of fitness trackers is here, and it's the smart ring.

Smart rings monitor your health in a tiny, inconspicuous package. At first glance, they look like any other piece of jewelry, a simple gold or silver ring. But with tiny sensors, these rings track biometrics through your finger. Yes, they'll track your step count and calories burned, but more advanced technology allows them to track sleep and stress levels, all detected through heart rate and variability.

If you're looking to upgrade your fitness tracker and want to make the leap to a smart ring, we've vetted the most popular models on the market through weeks of testing to find the best smart ring.

Why should you buy a smart ring? So you think you want a smart ring? Here's what you need to know about the latest tech wearable. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Smart rings are not just another fitness tracker. Yes, they do track your activity, steps, and calories burned. However, they're really meant to offer a more holistic view of your health so you can gain deeper insights into your sleep habits, cardiovascular health, and more.

You're a good candidate for a smart ring if you hate the look of a smartwatch or fitness tracker with LED screens, which are categorically not cool. Smart rings are posed as a discreet option, looking like a regular piece of jewelry. However, to be frank, they don't blend in that well. In my weeks of testing, while wearing the rings during hangouts, someone would inevitably ask me, "What's that?"

Since a smart ring doesn't have a screen, you have to pull out your phone and open an app whenever you want to track activity. That's certainly not the end of the world, but if you convert from a smartwatch, you'll miss the convenience of tapping your wrist. That being said, I actually find a smart ring most useful when paired with a smartwatch. I ran all my testing while simultaneously wearing an Apple Watch, and I appreciated the smart rings that were compatible with my watch so I could receive push notifications.

What's the best smart ring?

The smart ring market is ever-growing, with new models debuting each year. Samsung just launched a smart ring in 2024, and while Apple doesn't have a smart ring on the market yet, we're sure it will be here in a matter of time. But smart rings are synonymous with the Oura Ring, a leader in the field. After spending weeks with the device, testing its hype, and comparing it to other devices, we can confidently say it is the best ring.

It offers the most expansive biometric tracking, monitoring your health around the clock. It focuses on daily and long-term health goals more holistically than other rings.

However, the Oura Ring has downsides, like a monthly subscription fee. If you're not down for a monthly fee, we tested some other viable smart ring options.

Please stop killing Pedro Pascal. I've had enough.

Look, even if you played the game and knew Joel's death was coming, The Last of Us's brutal exit for this character was harder to watch because it was Pascal. It's not just because the scene was intense. It's because it also gives Pascal fans PTSD-style flashbacks to all the other times Pedro Pascal has been killed onscreen.

Game of Thrones. Drive-Away Dolls. Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Gladiator II. The list goes on, if you go deeper into his filmography. And it all started with Joss Whedon, whose whole thing is, "Don't get too attached, I'll kill your favorite character." Somehow, even though Pascal just had a bit part on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Whedon was like, "THIS GUY!" Dead.

SEE ALSO: 'Drive-Away Dolls' cast on working with Pedro Pascal's 'head'

And it's not just that Pedro Pascal dies onscreen. His eyes get pressed into his pretty head. That head gets cut off. He gets pummeled to a pulp made effectively horrendous looking with just horrific prosthetics — that'll probably win an Emmy for Outstanding Makeup. Props to The Last of Us team. And sometimes he's literally thrown into a meat grinder.

It's just enough. Give us some time for him to smile, give Daddy vibes and warm charisma — and don't kill him. I'm looking at you, Disney! Because you got The Mandalorian Season 2, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the relaunch of the Avengers and more Star Wars stuff. Pascal will have plenty of opportunities to die nobly for a valiant cause. I just need you not to do it. Just give us a breather.

To the Pedro Pascal fans out there who just want a movie where he gets to be cute and charming and not die, we've got The Materialists coming up! It's a rom-com starring Pascal, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Evans. From Past Lives writer/director Celine Song, it has a love triangle — and look at that cast! We love to see it! And Pascal probably won't die! Right? Right?!