Technology

Saturday Night Live brought two of the internet's biggest obsessions into one of their skits this week: KPop Demon Hunters and Bad Bunny.

The skit featured Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Chloe Fineman, and Bad Bunny as friends catching up over brunch. They're chatting about what they're excited to watch — Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein — when Bad Bunny says he's been watching KPop Demon Hunters.

SEE ALSO: How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became a love letter to K-pop and its fandom

The other three ask if he's watching with his kids, and Bad Bunny's character admits he doesn't have kids and says the movie is "actually not for kids" but "for smart adults." Each time the other three try to talk about something else — the Epstein files or Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad — he brings it back to KPop Demon Hunters. They don't take him seriously until Bowen Yang shows up dressed like a demon from the movie. Then, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami from KPop Demon Hunters join them on stage to perform one of the movie's songs, "Golden."

Windows always has a ton of background processes running, and if you're trying to clear up some CPU space and increase your performance, it's hard to know what you can and can't afford to disable. Here are some Windows processes you can turn off without a care in the world in the Services app.

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 5, the Beats Studio Buds are on sale at Amazon for just $79.95. That's nearly 50% off their list price of $149.95 and close to their best-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds $79.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $70.00 Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event kicks off on Tuesday, but deals are flooding our feeds already. If noise-cancelling earbuds are on your shopping list, check out this early deal on the Beats Studio Buds.

As of Oct. 5, the Beats Studio Buds are on sale for only $79.95 at Amazon in red, black, and white colorways. That's nearly a 50% discount from their usual list price of $149.95 and just $8 or so shy of their very best price on record.

The Studio Buds hit the market in 2021 and have since been "replaced" by the upgraded Studio Buds+. But you can still find the regular Studio Buds on shelves, which means they're still relevant in 2025. Mashable's tech reporter Alex Perry called them "Apple's new go-to entry-level earbuds" when they first came out, claiming they put the basic AirPods to shame. They pack powerful bass, decent active noise cancellation, transparency mode, spatial audio, and can last 24 hours with the help of the charging case. And even though Beats is owned by Apple, the earbuds are device agnostic and will work seamlessly with just about any phone.

If you want a pair of earbuds that will actually sound good, cancel noise, and be friendly on your wallet, the Studio Buds make a great pick — particularly when they're on sale for basically half price.

If you've ever looked into buying a smart TV, you've probably noticed that some models are advertised as being AI-enhanced. This label isn't just a marketing gimmick; recent AI-enhanced smart TVs have multiple advantages over ordinary screens, but there are some things you should know before you decide to buy one.

Bad Bunny hosted SNL this weekend for its first week back on air and his monologue didn't disappoint.

He started off talking about his 30-show, three-month residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico featuring his incredible dance moves and Jon Hamm aka Juan Jamón, who was in the audience. Then, he brought up the fact that he'll be headlining the Super Bowl 60 halftime show.

"I am very happy. I am very happy and I think everyone is happy about it," he joked, nodding towards the mixed responses some people had online. Some fans were ecstatic to see him on the main stage; other people complained it might be hypocritical of him to play the show after refusing to add U.S. dates to his upcoming world tour; and other people were upset that the show would likely be predominately in Spanish.

SEE ALSO: Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, but not everyone's cheering

He added a few sentences in Spanish to convey how excited he was to play the Super Bowl halftime show for all the Latinos and Latinas in the U.S. and around the world.

"And if you didn't understand what I just said," he joked, "you have four months to learn."

Annabelle has nothing on the murderous doll Chucky. Debuting in the late 1980s, the serial killer possessing a toy has become as much of a slasher icon as Freddy Krueger or Jason Vorhees. He might be small, but he’s got a filthy mouth, maniacal laugh, and brutal methods of taking out people three times his size.

Sometimes, choosing the exemplary streaming service has less to do with taste than budget. There are so many options for streaming movies and television, even the abundance of selection isn’t a factor. Of course, plenty of free streaming services exist, but sometimes you want to splurge for something a little without ads.

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 5, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for just $79.95 instead of $99.95 as an early October Prime Day deal. That's a savings of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $20 Get Deal

Looking to gain some insights into your health and wellness routine without breaking the bank? Skip the Apple Watch and go with the simple, yet intuitive Fitbit Inspire 3. It's our favorite fitness tracker under $100, and you can get it for even cheaper than usual ahead of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event.

As of Oct. 5, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for just $79.95 at Amazon in all three color varieties (pink, yellow, and black). That's $20 or 20% off its list price of $99.95. We've seen it drop to $69.95 in the past, but with the latest tech price hikes across the board, we'd be surprised if the budget-friendly fitness tracker hits that all-time low price on October Prime Day. FWIW, on Prime Day proper in July, it only dropped an extra $5 to $74.95. There's a chance you could save a few more bucks if you wait, but you're still getting a good deal if you shop now.

We're big fans of the Fitbit Inspire 3's intuitive design, impressive app suite, workout insights, and sleek and slim aesthetic. It offers a comprehensive suite of tracking features — from sleep and steps to stress levels and blood oxygen — and a decent battery that'll last you a week or more. "For anyone new to fitness or any dedicated gym rat, the Fitbit Inspire 3 gets you more than you pay for," our reviewer writes, giving it the Mashable Choice award honor.

It seems hyperbolic to say that nobody answers the phone anymore, but with spam calls reaching unprecedented levels and younger generations who prefer to communicate by text and audio messages, it’s not exactly a false statement.

GEEKOM's IT15 is one of the most powerful mini PCs available today. Packed with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and priced at $1,200, it should be an absolute winner, but I don't think it makes sense beyond some specific professional or hobbyist use cases.

We're now several weeks into the 2025-26 NFL season, and it's been nothing short of electric. Watching from regular TV stations is still possible, but things are changing. The NFL recently cut the cord and gave YouTube the Sunday Ticket, and several upcoming games will air exclusively on streaming platforms. It's a mess.

Monster movies are entertaining, but there are times when those old monstrosities look a little basic. While it’s essential to pay respect to such classics as Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein’s monster and Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, not all of their scary nature has stood the test of time. Some padded makeup and stuck-on appendages might’ve been enough to scare audiences of the 1930s, but times change, and you need a little more.

Python’s open function should be your first port of call when you’re looking to read the contents of a file. Give it a filename and you’ll get back a versatile object, letting you read and write data, both in plain text and binary formats.

CarPlay lets you control your iPhone using your car’s dashboard or entertainment unit, but did you know you can also use it to control your smart home?

Amazon's October Prime Day (aka Prime Big Deal Days) event is here to unleash massive savings as we head into the holiday shopping season. Officially kicking off on Oct. 7, the shopping event promises millions of deals across categories. There will be plenty of hefty discounts floating around — many of which are already live — but the savings won't last forever. If you're looking to score the deepest of discounts, then you need to mark your calendars now.

We've got what you need to know on how long you have to shop as well as a few deals to get you started on your way. Plus, you can check out our Prime Day hub for in-depth coverage on what products are worth grabbing and which ones are worth passing on.

SEE ALSO: What is Prime Big Deal Days? Everything you need to know and what deals to expect. What time does Prime Day end?

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days will officially come to a close at 11:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Oct. 8, which means around 3 a.m. on Oct. 9 for people living on the East Coast. Of course, just as deals pop up weeks ahead of the main event, many are also likely to linger past that deadline.

Best early Prime Big Deal Days deals to shop

As most Prime-centric events go, Amazon's already dishing out deals left and right ahead of the main event. The best early Prime Day deals are mostly on Amazon's own devices and services, books, earbuds, and TVs — including up to 65% off books, three free months of Kindle Unlimited, and the first discount on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).

Here are the best early October Prime Day deals you can shop before the big day(s).

Early Prime Day book deals

• The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose — $1.69 $9.99 (save $8.30)

• Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka — $1.99 $18.99 (save $17)

• Think Twice by Harlan Coben — $2.99 $19.99 (save $17)

• Anxious People by Fredrik Backman — $3.99 $19.99 (save $16)

• Count My Lies by Sophie Stava — $3.99 $28.99 (save $25)

• People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — $7.04 $16 (save $8.96)

• The Crash by Freida McFadden — $7.10 $17.99 (save $10.89)

• Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica — $7.18 $16.99 (save $9.81)

• Deep End by Ali Hazelwood — $8.09 $20 (save $11.91)

• One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune — $9.48 $19 (save $9.52)

• Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez — $10.98 $28 (save $17.02)

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt — $11.38 $29.99 (save $18.61)

• Matriarch by Tina Knowles — $12.62 $35 (save $22.38)

• Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix — $12.92 $30 (save $17.08)

• The Names by Florence Knapp — $14.11 $30 (save $15.89)

Early Prime Day Amazon device deals

• Echo Buds with ANC — $34.99 $119.99 (save $85)

• Blink Outdoor 4 — $34.99 $79.99 (save $45)

• Blink Wired Floodlight Camera — $49.99 $99.98 (save $50)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) — $69.99 $139.99 (save $70)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 (64GB) — $79.99 $179.99 (save $100)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (32GB) — $84.99 $159.99 (save $75)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) — $104.99 $189.99 (save $85)

• Echo Hub — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

• Echo Frames — $119.99 $299.99 (save $180)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $259.99 $399.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $339.99 $519.99 (save $120)

Early Prime Day headphones and earbuds deals

• JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $48.99 $79.99 (save $31)

• EarFun Free Pro 3 — $49.97 $79.99 (save $30.03)

• EarFun Air Pro 4 — $55.99 $79.99 (save $24)

• EarFun Wave Pro — $55.99 $79.99 (save $24)

• Shokz OpenRun Pro — $124.95 $179.95 (save $55)

• Sennheiser Accentum — $129.95 $189.95 (save $60)

• Beats Studio Pro — $199.95 $349.99 (save $150.04)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) — $279 $299 (save $20)

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $299 $449.95 (save $150.95)

Early Prime Day Apple deals

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) — $329 $499 (save $170)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $389 $399 (save $10)

• Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi + cellular, 256GB) — $499 $649 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB, 512GB SSD) — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

Amazon is also doling out some extra perks for Team Prime ahead of Prime Day. Members can get a free three-month trial of Amazon Music Unlimited; get Audible Premium Plus for three months for $0.99/month; and get three free months of Kindle Unlimited.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're an '80s pop fan.

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 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: Needed for greenery to flourish

• Green: To astonish

• Blue: Like a Virgin

• Purple: Automobiles

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: Used to grow a houseplant

• Green: Flabbergast

• Blue: Madonna songs

• Purple: ___ Car

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 #848 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Used to grow a houseplant: POT, SEED, SOIL, WATER

• Flabbergast: FLOOR, ROCK, SHAKE, SHOCK

• Madonna songs: CHERISH, FROZEN, HOLIDAY, MUSIC

• ___ Car: BUMPER, CLOWN, GETAWAY, SPORTS

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are a bit of a misdirect.

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're a trickster.

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: Don't take the bait

The words are related to lying.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe conning someone.

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 Its a Trap.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 5

• Deception

• Trick

• Its A Trap

• Stratagem

• Decoy

• Ruse

• Lure

• Ploy

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 Wordle answer isn't a bird or Superman.

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 a frequent flyer.

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:

A flying vehicle.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PLANE

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.

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 a messenger.

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:

To pass along.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

RELAY

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.

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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, Oct. 5, 2025:

AcrossVague assortment of things

• The answer is Stuff.

Prison-related

• The answer is Penal.

Country that's home to the majority of the world's wild tigers

• The answer is India.

Basketball offenses

• The answer is Fouls.

Recently picked from the garden, say

• The answer is Fresh.

DownImprove in appearance, with "up"

• The answer is Spiff.

Second-lowest voice in many choirs

• The answer is Tenor.

Excessive

• The answer is Undue.

Gets an F

• The answer is Fails.

Necessity for photographing in the dark

• The answer is Flash.

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.