IT General

Movies have often been described as a form of escapism, and that may be what I most like about them. No matter what’s stressing you out (your job, your relationship, or maybe just the nightly news), you can always disappear into a great movie. And thanks to Prime Video, you have plenty of films to help you escape life, if only for an hour or two.

The portable power and energy company EcoFlow just launched two big new power stations designed to power homes during an outage. The latest EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus and Delta 3 Ultra Plus are here, upgrading the previous generation with better efficiency and performance to help keep your lights and essentials running. These new units are a durable whole-home backup solution.

As we head into October and the movie options on Paramount+ refresh with a new batch of titles for the spooky month, there are still plenty of great movies to enjoy for your weekly viewing.

The layers of meta fiction stack up quickly in the trailer for Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach's new movie. Here, George Clooney plays a suave Hollywood A-lister whose face regularly appears on giant posters, but is sometimes criticised as an actor who only plays himself.

Directed by and co-written by Baumbach and Emily Mortimer, the trailer makes this one look like a whimsical journey that splices comedy and drama with a ridiculously stacked cast. Alongside Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Greta Gerwig, Alba Rohrwacher, Josh Hamilton, Lenny Henry, Emily Mortimer, Nicôle Lecky, Thaddea Graham, Isla Fisher, Louis Partridge, and Charlie Rowe also star.

Jay Kelly hits select theaters Nov. 14, and arrives on Netflix Dec. 5.

Hybrid cars are slowly but surely winning over more drivers, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. Today’s hybrids pack some of the best performance and efficiency numbers we’ve ever seen, thanks to a decade of improvements in batteries and electric tech.

SAVE OVER $40: As of Sept. 29, the Kindle Essentials Bundle (which comes with a Kindle, fabric cover, and power adapter) is on sale at Amazon for $117.97 for Prime members. This is $44, or 27% off its list price of $161.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Essentials Bundle $117.97 at Amazon
$161.97 Save $44 Get Deal

Amazon's sale events are a great opportunity to score discounts on the retailer's own devices. With Prime Big Deal Days coming up soon, we're already seeing some items get nice price drops. This includes bundles like the Kindle Essentials Bundle, which comes with a Kindle, fabric cover, and power adapter, and is currently discounted exclusively for Prime members.

The Kindle Essentials Bundle is currently on sale for $117.97. This is $44 away from its usual bundle list price of $161.97, and extremely close to its lowest-ever price of $116.97. If you've been itching to jump on the e-reader bandwagon, this is an excellent discount to take advantage of.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

This model of Kindle boasts 16GB of storage to hold a massive library of digital titles, so you can set yourself up this fall with plenty of exciting novels as the weather gets a little colder. It also features a six-inch glare-free display with an adjustable front light and dark mode, so you can keep reading even in darker settings without a bright light in your face.

The standard Kindle also comes with up to six weeks of battery life, which makes it perfect for traveling with to keep you busy. And with a fabric cover and power adapter packaged with it, the Kindle Essentials Bundle is a worthy pick-up for avid readers.

Don't miss out on this Prime exclusive deal on the Kindle Essentials Bundle at Amazon. And if you're looking for even more Amazon device deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can also save on the Fire Max 11 tablet right now.

SAVE $50: As of Sept. 29, the Garmin vívoactive 6 is on sale at Amazon for $249.99. This is 17%, or $50, off its list price of $299.99 and marks its lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 6 $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50 Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days is about a week away, but if you simply can't wait to score some good deals, Amazon already has a selection of discounts to explore before its next big sale event even kicks off. If a smartwatch has been on your shopping list, there's quite a few on sale right now, including the Garmin vívoactive 6.

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is normally available with a retail price of $299.99, but shoppers can save $50 on it right now as its dropped down to $249.99. This marks its lowest price yet, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, so now is an excellent time to scoop it up if you've had your eye on it. All of the available colors are on sale as well, so you can choose between the slate model with a black band, lunar gold with a bone band, metallic jasper green with a jasper green band, and metallic pink dawn with a pink dawn band.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

Featuring a sleek and bright AMOLED display, the Garmin vívoactive 6 is packed with features to help you out throughout the day, from a sleep score to personalized suggested workouts each day to Body Battery energy monitoring. The latter shows you where your energy levels are at for the day, so you can plan ahead for any workouts you're looking to do or if you need the day to rest.

The Garmin vívoactive 6 also boasts a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, so you can stay focused on your routines instead of thinking about constant recharges.

Don't miss out on $50 off the Garmin vívoactive 6 at Amazon. If you're looking for even more great smartwatch deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can also save on the Fitbit Sense 2 there right now.

Streaming your PlayStation 5 gameplay to Discord is a fun way to spice up game night with friends. You can chat while sharing whatever you're doing for a more social experience. There are two methods you can use to do this. Let's take a look at how they both work.

Amelia Dimoldenberg celebrated 10 years of Chicken Shop Date over the weekend by digging into exactly what it takes to become one of the major creators shaping digital culture right now. And if you missed it, you can stream every panel for free.

The 31-year-old British journalist, comedian, red carpet favourite, and creator of the wildly popular interview series — not to mention Mashable 101 honoree — hosted a two-day event on Friday and Saturday in London's Protein Studios.

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators shaping the internet in 2025

Joined by fellow content creators, journalists, producers, talent managers, and other special guests, Dimoldenberg's Chicken Shop Date: 10 Years of an Idea explored the strategies and challenges of creating content online and exactly how Chicken Shop Date got started. An exhibition outside the panel hall took attendees through the history of the show including Dimoldenberg's very first episode with Ghetts.

Amelia Dimoldenberg at "Chicken Shop Date: 10 Years Of An Idea." Credit: Dave Benett/Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for YouTube

But if you weren't in London over the weekend or a ticketholder, you can still watch all four panels online for free through Dimoldenberg's YouTube channel. Not a bad gift for her 2.3 million subscribers. It's honestly invaluable information if you're thinking of becoming a content creator. They're all around 45 minutes long and full of genuinely practical advice.

• "In Conversation" interview: Subway Takes creator Kareem Rahma chatted to Dimoldenberg about credibility and comedy in their work, and the power of scripting vs improv, and how they select their guests (it's specific).

• "The Next Era of Format" panel: Hosted by BuzzFeed News journalist Ade Onibada, this panel gets into the future of entertainment and how content creators are redefining the power structure of the film and TV industry, with Dimoldenberg alongside People Just Do Nothing creator, actor, and writer Asim Chaudry, digital commissioning executive Kaio Grizelle, and producer Trent Williams-Jones.

• "From Viral to Valuable" panel: Dimoldenberg examines whether you can make something viral become something actually sustainable in this panel hosted by journalist Chanté Joseph, with Trippin co-founder Kesang Ball, cultural commentator Mimi The Music Blogger, Recess founder, producer, and cultural curator David Sonubi, and Dimoldenberg's talent manager Rebecca Dowell.

• "Everybody Can Create" panel: Connecting with communities is the core of this panel hosted by presenter Lea Ogunlami, with Dimoldenberg, DJ and writer Elijah, Friends Are Always Welcomed co-founder Anthony Idahosa, Polyester editor-in-chief Ione Gamble, and creative Mikey Krzyzanowski.

Featured Video For You How Taryn Delanie Smith makes heaven feel like home

If you want more practical advice for becoming a content creator, check out Mashable's series Creator Playbook, and if you're looking for more technical, hardware suggestions, take a peek In My Bag.

Just because you have a small workspace, it doesn't mean you shouldn't have big expectations. The Vari Electric Standing Desk with ComfortEdge is a genuinely premium compact workstation with solid build quality, though its price may be a turnoff for those on a budget.

SAVE $70: As of Sept. 29, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is on sale for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

We've been treated to many discounts on the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet throughout the year, but none quite like the one Amazon has live right now. Whether it's an early Prime Day treat or not, we're not complaining, because as of Sept. 29, this tablet has never been so cheap. Now priced at $69.99, that's a 50% discount on the list price. The deal also applies to all available colors, so choose from lilac, ocean, or black.

At any price, this is a great tablet. But at its best-ever price, it's a no-brainer. Especially with high definition stats like a 10.1-inch 1080p full HD display. So, if you're planning on streaming movies or Netflix shows, this is an ideal choice. You’ll also get up to 13 hours of battery life, 32GB of storage (plus support for up to 1 TB with a microSD card), and 25% faster performance than the previous generations.

The 5MP front camera is also perfect for video calls, work meetings, and the occasional selfie or two. The built-in Alexa makes things easier, too. You can set reminders, play music, or get a quick audiobook read to you - all done hands-free.

For under $70, you really can't go wrong. Pick up the Fire HD 10 tablet from Amazon now.

Today's Wordle answer features a couple things that might trip people up regardless of their favorite starting word.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're cool, calm and collected.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 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 September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Well-mannered.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CIVIL

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 September 2, 2025

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.

If you're going to play a game that involves cold calling celebrities, there are probably few better playing partners than one of the world's most famous actors, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

In the clip above, The Smashing Machine star sits down opposite BBC Radio One host Greg James for a game of "Sit Down, Stand Up", where they take turns ringing famous friends and guessing if they're standing up or sitting down.

The end result? A fun chat between The Rock and UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, and a very interesting insight into The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie's unusual answering machine message.

Today's NYT Strands hints will help you understand the flavor of today's puzzle.

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you love chewy candy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 29, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Chew on that!

The words are related to a chewy impulse purchase.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe the taste of chewing candy.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Gum Flavors.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 29

• Bubble

• Cinnamon

• Wintergreen

• Gum Flavors

• Spearmint

• Berry

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.

Today's Connections will challenge your musical knowledge in a very unexpected way.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're a music lover.

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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 Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 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: Worn under the clothes

• Green: A hoax

• Blue: What a plumber might touch

• Purple: Old-school jams

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: Kinds of underwear

• Green: Play a joke on

• Blue: Parts of a toilet tank

• Purple: First words in '70s rock song titles

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 #841 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of underwear: BOXER, BRIEF, HIPSTER, THONG

• Play a joke on: FOOL, PRANK, PUNK, TRICK

• Parts of a toilet tank: CHAIN, FLAPPER, FLOAT, HANDLE

• First words in '70s rock song titles: BABA, BOHEMIAN, HOTEL, STAIRWAY

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 September 29, 2025

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

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

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

Happy Monday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Today's games feature difficulty levels that dial up the challenge quickly, but we have all the tips you need to navigate them.

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 Pips

If 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 September 20, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 29, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 29 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 29 Pips

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this blue space must add to 5. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this green space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 29 Pips

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-5 placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (18): Everything in this space must add to 18. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

I’ve been testing dating apps for Mashable for three years, and Pure is one of the most unconventional and artsy platforms I’ve used — especially for an app that's so direct about sex, yet lacks the usual NSFW ads and creepy messages.

Unlike “traditional” dating apps (and this is definitely a niche app), Pure encourages you to be yourself without actually revealing your full identity. Instead of asking you to share your life story, it asks, “What if you shared nothing at all?”

SEE ALSO: We asked daters what dating in 2025 is like so far

It’s designed for people who are tired of small talk and want to connect based on unfiltered desires, which, ironically, you can filter for. It's ideal for virtual play, casual hookups, and finding someone who is into the same things you are, without judgment.

While this might sound like just another wild hookup app, Pure’s 2025 evolution is focused on creating an empowering space for a Gen Z and female audience that values safety and consent as much as privacy. The features are thoughtful, and the playful interface encourages you to open up and take a chance.

To see how well it works, I used Pure for four weeks with a simple bio, three photos, and a few “Turn-ons,” and I was honestly surprised by the results. Below is my detailed experience with Pure, from the moment I signed up to connecting with other users.

Getting started on Pure: The first 60 seconds

As soon as you download the app, it asks you to sign in using your Apple or Google account. You can also use Facebook, but I'm assuming it's a less-picked option since the link is in a tiny font below the big, clickable buttons for the other two.

There’s also a disclaimer that reads, “You must be at least 18 years old!” — though, as I'd discover, the actual age verification doesn't happen until later.

You’ll then be asked to choose your gender. Pure offers three options:

• I am a man

• I am a woman

• I am non-binary

Once you choose, you’re prompted to add your sexuality. The list includes hetero, bi, lesbian, queer, and asexual (for me, as I selected that I am a woman). There are little monster-like, Salvador Dalí-esque drawings underneath the options, which adds some whimsy (though they kind of freak me out a little bit).

Pure's sign-up process is quick and to the point. Credit: Mashable | Pure 3 photos and 350 characters to make your case

After defining your identity, the app asks what you're actually looking for.

The options are:

• Casual

• Long-term

• Virtual

• Non-monogamy

• Anything but boring

One thing I noticed is that it doesn’t specifically ask if you’re looking for men, women, or non-binary people. I guess choosing your sexuality on the first screen is meant to handle that.

Once you make a selection (you can only pick one), the app asks for your birthdate. This is where the age verification comes in. After you enter the date, a message pops up asking you to confirm you are the age you say you are, warning that it can’t be changed later. You click “That’s Right,” and you're set. You're also given a small toggle to hide your age from your profile.

Then, things get a bit more personal. You’re asked to enter your height (which you can also hide), the languages you speak from a list of 15+, whether you belong to a couple or not (a win for non-monogamous users), and to upload photos. You’ll need to add three of them to move forward. The last step is your bio (which Pure calls a “personal ad”). You only get 350 characters, so you’ll need to be short and to the point. Once that’s done, you’re in!

Pure’s stance on verification gets even more serious in the UK. With age verification being a hot-button issue across the internet (from porn sites to YouTube), Pure complies with local law by requiring UK users to complete a face scan to estimate their age. If it’s inconclusive, they’re prompted to scan a government ID.

After the basics, the profile setup continues with more personal details like your height (which you can choose to hide), the languages you speak, and your photos. Credit: Mashable | Pure Anonymity, ‘Turn-Ons,’ and ‘Devil‘s Bones’

Perhaps the most important feature on Pure is one it completely lacks: your name. I didn’t forget to mention it earlier — because the app never asks for it. The entire experience is built around anonymity, which may make it easier to connect with other users without the pressure of exposing your public identity (but definitely sharing who you really are).

For example, the “Devil's Bones” feature lets you roll the proverbial dice and join a random voice or text chat with a complete stranger. It’s a feature that only works in a setting where no one knows who you are.

The app also gives you a dedicated space to list your ”Turn-Ons.” You can select multiple options within predefined categories like “Foreplay,” “Communication,” and — something certain Mashable readers might appreciate — “Gamergasm.” The choices range from the vanilla (cuddles, kisses) to the delightfully unhinged (biting, wax play, being watched). I was especially happy to see progressive options like “been to therapy” and “dry dating” included. I’m here for it.

This control over your persona extends to your photos, too. You can create entire photo albums on your profile and choose to keep them hidden (and only share access when you choose to do so).

Anonymity vs. safety: How Pure manages both

Anonymity is Pure’s biggest draw, but it naturally raises the risk of catfishing and misrepresentation. So, how does the app handle it? It turns out, with some pretty clever features.

The Photo Verification Badge is your first line of defense. Users can verify they’re real by submitting a quick, private face scan where they copy a specific pose. This badge lets you know there's a genuine person interested in you behind the profile, not a bot or scammer.

But verification isn’t required. So, if a user isn’t verified, the app has a ”True Photo” request. This lets you ask for a live photo from a match directly within your chat, serving as a real-time reality check. It’s a great way to get some peace of mind before you share your secrets (or photos of your naughty bits).

Pure also gives you tools to control your own experience. If you're squeamish about sensitive content (it’s OK, not everyone wants to go straight to Pound Town), a toggle in the settings blurs explicit photos until you choose to view them. You can also hide specific ads from your feed or hide your own profile whenever you need a break, giving you another layer of control.

How matching works on a 24-hour clock

The main way to connect on Pure is through your “ad.” This is basically your bio, which you can update whenever you’d like or hide from the feed when you want to take a break.

To see ads from other members, you’ll need to post one first. Once your ad is live, a Feed of other users appears, based on your location and preferences. You can then filter who you see by things like age and “Turn-ons,” and the app even gives you a heads-up if someone is a seasoned “Pure Guru” or brand “New” to the app. (Pro tip: the "Perfect Match" filter lets you select up to five of your must-have "Turn-Ons," and then only shows you people who share the exact same interests.)

When you see an ad you like, just click “Like,” and if there’s a match, the app creates a chat for you. But you should know that all chats expire in 24 hours, and anything you’ve shared will disappear along with them. Your “Likes” also expire on the same clock. (This is a bit like Bumble, where if a match doesn't reply to a first message within 24 hours, the match disappears.) But based on my testing, it appears that paid features, like unopened Instant Chats and Gifts, stay in your inbox until you decide to accept them. If you and your match want to keep talking in a standard chat, you can both agree to turn off the timer and chat without a time limit. Once the timer is off, Pure assigns you and your match random pop-culture or mythological nicknames, so you're still anonymous even if you decide to keep chatting.

The chats are designed for privacy, too. The app blocks screenshots and will notify you if someone tries to take one. You can also delete the entire chat from both phones at any time by tapping “Clear History.” And if you want to leave a chat, Pure encourages a little honesty by letting you choose a reason, like "Not my type" or "Ghosted," which it then shares with your chat partner.

So, how much does Pure cost?

Pure is completely free for women, but men and non-binary users will need to pay for a subscription to get the most out of it.

For Men and Non-Binary Users

Pricing can vary, but most basic subscriptions start around $6.67 per month (billed annually, so the upfront cost is higher). Pure's PR team confirmed that the Premium subscription runs around:

• $13.49 weekly

• $29.99 monthly

• $99.99 yearly

Features for this tier include:

• Unlimited Likes: Send as many "Likes" as you want.

• Dating with no Borders: This gives you the ability to change your location and scroll through users in any city worldwide.

• Smart Likes: Lets you choose who you want to receive likes from.

• Filter All Likes: Lets you apply filters to see the most compatible likes first.

• Blocklist: Blocked users can be unblocked at any time.

Men can also purchase the “King of the Hill” feature, which will pin their ad at the top of the feed for an hour or until another user takes the top spot.

For Women (Pure Queen Subscription)

While the app is free for women, there's a paid subscription tier called “Pure Queen” that unlocks additional features. A Queen subscription includes premium features like Smart Likes, Filter All Likes, and Blocklist management, but also comes with a few extra perks:

• Incognito Mode: This feature lets you browse the feed secretly and appear offline. The subscription includes seven "incognito hats" each week, and from what I've gathered, they activate incognito mode for 24 hours at a time.

• Queen Style: This adds a unique avatar and design to your ad. You can turn it off whenever you want, but this will give other users a clear visual indication that you’ve paid to be here and are serious about your intentions.

Pure Queen subscriptions ($12.99 for one month or $19.99 for one year) renew automatically unless you cancel them at least 24 hours before the end of the paid period.

À La Carte Features

There are also additional à la carte features available for purchase:

• Virtual Gifts: You can also purchase and send virtual gifts like a heart, a lucky star, or a cocktail to someone you really like. (You can get 50 for $1.60 each or one for $2.99).

• Instant Chat: If you're ready to chat with someone who hasn't noticed you yet, you can purchase an Instant Chat to start a convo with anyone on the app, even without a mutual like. (10 Instant Chats are $13.99).

• Chips: This is an in-app currency used to unlock specific actions, like sending a request to save a chat from the "Devil’s Bones" feature. (Five chips cost approximately $1.10).

Is Pure worth the download?

Pure isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t pretend to be. The entire experience is designed for a specific kind of dater: someone who’s adventurous, values their privacy, and wants to try something a little bit unconventional. It’s a total “breath of fresh air” (literally hate that phrase, but it applies here) for anyone who’s so over the mainstream apps. Pure makes finding connections fun — and if I’m being honest, it’s also hot.

In the four weeks I used the app, I received hundreds of “Likes” each day from real people, and several Instant Chats and Gifts. I also received some steamy voice messages. To really test the location-based features, I was in New York City for one week to see if I received more local engagement (spoiler alert: I did), but even when I returned to Virginia, I still received 100+ “Likes” per day, and the messages weren’t just “hey,” either. My bio reads: “Just a journalist doing some research.” So, so many people who responded to my ad had something cheeky and a little bit witty to say — a completely different experience than I had when using Hinge or Bumble. The only downside I noticed is that even though I set my sexuality to “bi”, there were way more men in my inbox than women (but there was an even split of women and men in the feed).

So my honest opinion on whether it’s worth the download is a resounding yes, particularly for women who are looking for a partner who can think up something that’s better (and sexier) than “hey.” Also, if you’re interested in just having super hot phone sex with strangers, Pure is the place to be.

NASA just brought back from the dead a science mission to the moon involving a water-seeking rover that many believed was already being disassembled and scrapped for parts.

The U.S. space agency canceled the so-called VIPER rover, short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, in July 2024, citing launch delays and cost overruns. VIPER, already $450 million into development, would drill for water ice at the moon's south pole. The findings would then be used to decide where astronauts would land in the future.

VIPER was originally supposed to reach the moon in 2023 on a lander built by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, but NASA believed the commercial spacecraft needed more time for testing. That, coupled with other schedule and supply chain issues, meant putting more time and money into a beleaguered mission that could jeopardize other lunar plans.

Now, without much fanfare, NASA has restored the mission, choosing billionaire Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to deliver the rover to the lunar south pole in late 2027. The mission is part of the Artemis program, which aims to create a long-lasting human presence on the moon in preparation for potential future missions to Mars. 

"The selection of Blue Origin to deliver VIPER is a victory for science, lunar exploration, and U.S. leadership in space," said Grant Henriksen of the National Space Society, which released a position paper last year advocating for a solution to save the mission. "It demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships to overcome challenges and keep critical missions alive."

SEE ALSO: Webb captured this stunning nursery of baby stars. It's massive.

For the VIPER mission, Blue Origin will design, test, and operate the lander, which will carry the rover to the moon. Once the vehicle is on the surface, NASA will run it for an anticipated 100 days. 

Blue Origin has already built a robotic lander to go to the moon for a different mission as early as this year. Under a new NASA task order, the Kent, Washington-based company would manufacture another lander to deliver the rover for up to $190 million. The duplicate spacecraft is already in production, according to NASA. 

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 lander will attempt to deliver NASA's VIPER rover on the moon in late 2027. Credit: Blue Origin illustration

Blue Origin is one of many vendors in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. The program has recruited the private sector to help deliver cargo, conduct experiments, and demonstrate new technology, as well as send back crucial data to support Artemis. Through these contracts, NASA wants to see a regular cadence of moon missions to prepare for astronauts' return to the moon in 2027 or later.

Several nations and companies have set their sights on the moon's south pole because of its natural ice. The resource, thought to be buried in permanently shadowed craters, is coveted because it could supply drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel for future space voyages. Not only is their economic interest in the off-planet ice, but having access to lunar water would make it more feasible for astronauts to live on the moon for longer durations. 

The mission's sudden return followed objections from space advocacy groups, which applied pressure on Congress. Lawmakers then requested that private companies step in to help save the rover. 

Water is scarce in deep space, so scientists have long wondered whether the moon's tiny bit could be tapped, Matt Siegler, senior scientist for the Planetary Science Institute, told Mashable in 2022. 

Water was directly detected on the moon for the first time with the instruments on China's Chang'E-5 robotic lander in December 2020. That data suggested there may be more water on the moon than even previously suspected, Siegler said. 

"I'm sure there are a lot of American scientists who are jealous that we didn't have the lander on the moon to do this measurement," said Siegler, who is a part of NASA’s VIPER team.

Engineers lift the mast atop the VIPER moon rover in a clean room at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credit: NASA / Helen Arase Vargas

Under President Donald Trump's administration, discussions of a new space race between the United States and China have intensified, with many concerned China's military-run program could send astronauts to the moon — and perhaps even onward to Mars — before NASA. China wants to land people at the moon's south pole in 2030. Former NASA administrator Bill Nelson feared China might hoard the resources without sharing.

That's at least one matter on which the new acting administrator under Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy agrees. At a ceremony to announce the new 2025 astronaut class in Houston last week, he made those feelings clear. 

"Some are challenging our leadership in space — say, like the Chinese, and I'll just tell you this, I'll be damned if the Chinese beat NASA or beat America back to the moon," Duffy said. "We love challenges. We love competition, and we are going to win."

TL;DR: Keep a scanner on hand at all times with this lifetime subscription to iScanner App, now only $24.99 (reg. $199.90) with code SCAN through Oct. 12.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $24.99
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It’s surprising how often we find ourselves in need of a scanner in the year 2025. If you want to keep one available at all times, the iScanner App can help. This handy tool turns your iPhone or iPad into a scanning machine, and you can currently secure a lifetime subscription for just $24.99 (reg. $199.90) with code SCAN until Oct. 12.

Gone are the days of those clunky printer-scanner hybrids. Now you can enjoy the power of a scanner in the palm of your hand with some help from the iScanner App. You can download this game-changing scanning and document management tool right to your iPhone or iPad and start scanning and storing important documents in just a few taps.

SEE ALSO: Apple claims MagSafe stands are responsible for iPhone 17 'Scratchgate'

Take advantage of iScanner’s AI-powered features that leave you with clean, crisp scans. The app ensures the borders of your document are accurately detected and automatically adjusted, while also straightening pages and eliminating curves and skews.

iScanner isn’t just a convenient way to scan — it’s also a document manager that allows you to organize your files with ease using drag-and-drop functionality. It also includes a PDF editor, allowing you to sign, add text, or auto-fill documents with custom templates when scanning something you need to work with.

There are some other perks to iScanner, too. If you need help with a complicated math problem or need to translate a language, the app’s AI capabilities can solve math problems and decipher text in up to 20 languages.

Scan right from your iPhone with this lifetime subscription to iScanner App, now just $24.99 (reg. $199.90) with code SCAN through Oct. 12.

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TL;DR: This tracking device fits where an AirTag can’t, and now you can get a four-pack of KeySmart SmartCard Lites for slim spaces for just $64.99 (reg. $99.96).

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard Lite | Works With Apple Find My | 2-Year Battery (4-Pack) $64.99
$99.96 Save $34.97 Get Deal

Looking for a way to keep track of your most valuable items? From wallets to passports and IDs, the KeySmart SmartCard Lite is designed to make tracking your slim items easy. This convenient device pairs with Apple’s Find My app for quick tracking, and right now you can score a four-pack for just $64.99 (reg. $99.96) — less than $17 each.

Let the KeySmart SmartCard Lite help you save time and gain some peace of mind. This sleek tracker is slimmer than the size of two credit cards, measuring less than 2mm thick, so it easily slips into wallets and other small spaces without adding any bulk. And it pairs with Apple’s Find My app, so you can instantly spot it on a map, play a sound to find it, or receive an instant alert if you accidentally leave your item behind.

SEE ALSO: The Apple AirTag 4-pack is back on sale at Amazon — save over $20 right now

With a KeySmart SmartCard Lite, losing your wallet doesn’t have to be a disaster. Just activate Lost Mode, then anyone who finds it will see your contact info and be able to return it to you. It also works great with IDs and even has a lanyard slot to keep it close to badges.

An IPX8 waterproof rating means it can survive up to one hour in 3.3 feet of water, so you won’t need to worry about the elements or any spills or accidents. An impressive two-year battery life also means you don’t have to charge it.

Keep track of your essentials with this four-pack of KeySmart SmartCard Lites for slim spaces for just $64.99 (reg. $99.96).

StackSocial prices subject to change.