Technology

Stephen Colbert has a brutal response to Trumps Time magazine cover shot

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 11:00

A cover on Time magazine paired with a positive story should be something for a president to celebrate, but Trump's recent inclusion doesn't seem to have gone down too well.

The reason? A not-exactly-flattering close-up photo of the president taken from an upwards angle, which he was quick to moan about on TruthSocial.

"I never liked taking pictures from underneath angles, but this is a super bad picture, and deserves to be called out," Trump wrote. "What are they doing, and why?"

Colbert's response, meanwhile, is a bit more brutal.

"Worst Georgia O'Keeffe ever," he says. "There's a lot going on there. It's like one of those optical illusions where you can't tell if it's an old woman or a young ballsack."

Elsewhere, Jimmy Kimmel was also quick to gleefully mock the image and Trump's reaction to it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This 3-in-1 Fast Charger Is Tempting, But Probably Worth Skipping

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 11:00

The Ugreen MagFlow 3-in-1 Wireless Charger seems like the ideal bedside option with its 25-watt speed and flexible charging spots. While it seems good, I found it to have a few too many weak spots for its premium price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Waymos driverless taxis are coming to London

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:47

Waymo has taken the Tesla Robotaxi threat seriously.

On Wednesday, the company announced it's launching its autonomous ride-hailing service in London in 2026.

The service will be offered, in truly British fashion, via a fleet of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. Customers will be able to hail them via Waymo's app, and the company highlighted the fact that its cars will operate without a human behind the wheel.

There's no word on which areas Waymo's service will cover, though Waymo said it plans to serve Londoners and the city's "millions of visitors" next year. The company's official FAQ for London says it's conducting "extensive trials and safety validation work across select boroughs of London."

Fun fact: The Waymo cars in London will have the steering wheel on the left side, as the company will use its existing fleet of Jagaur I-PACE cars which were originally built for U.S. operations. It shouldn't matter too much as there will be no driver in the seat, and the company says its operators which monitor the system are "trained to operate a left-hand drive vehicle safely on UK roads."

SEE ALSO: Self driving taxis may be coming to NYC, as Waymo wins first AV testing permit

This isn't the first time Waymo has expanded internationally; the company already announced it will launch in Tokyo, besides a host of cities in the U.S. where it's already operational. But it appears to have accelerated its expansion following the launch of Tesla Robotaxi, which currently operates in Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:43

SAVE OVER $200: As of Oct. 15, the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop (Intel Core 5 210H Processor, RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for $769.99 at Amazon. This is $230 off its list price of $999.99 and marks its best-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS TUF Gaming F16 (2024) $769.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $230   Get Deal

Whether you're frequently on the go or just prefer to have a portable option to play on, a gaming laptop is worth investing in. This is especially true given how many great games there are to play right now. If you've been hoping to find something on sale, even after big sale events like October Prime Day, Amazon is currently offering the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop (Intel Core 5 210H Processor, RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) at its lowest price yet.

Amazon has dropped the price of the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop from $999.99 to $769.99. This 23% discount saves you $230. Now's a great time to move on it if it's caught your eye.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

The ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop is ready to handle all of your favorite games, with a 13th Gen Intel Core 5 210H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, and a Full HD (1920x1080) 144Hz display to enjoy them on. On top of that, this model comes with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, making for a nice amount of storage to keep your games, and its size makes it a great portable companion to take with you while you're out and about.

Who knows how much longer the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop will stay at its new low price. Act fast to grab it for $769.99 at Amazon.

If this gaming laptop deal isn't for you, and price isn't an issue, have a look at our roundup of the best gaming laptops to see some of our top picks for PC gamers this year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni robot vacuum for its lowest-ever price — save over $300 at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:35

SAVE $355: As of Oct. 15, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is on sale for $944.99 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni $944.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $355   Get Deal

Robot vacuum deals are always a nice treat, especially when the deal takes a product down to its lowest-ever price. And that's exactly what you get with this latest deal on the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni. As of Oct. 15, this impressive robot vacuum is down to $944.99, saving you $355.

This is the ideal robot vacuum if you want floor cleaning taking off your to-do list entirely. It vacuums, it mops, and it keeps itself clean, so other than occasional emptying of dirt, there's nothing for you to do. The vacuuming is powerful too, combining BLAST Airflow with 16,600Pa suction, so you get a much stronger performance on carpets and more effective removal of dust, pet hair, and debris. It even has anti-tangle brushes which prevent hair from wrapping around the rollers, saving you from spending ages removing hairs and detangling the brushes.

SEE ALSO: On paper, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is the apex robot vacuum. Here's what I think of it so far.

And to prevent any accidents, the Triple Lift System automatically adjusts the main brush, side brush, and mop depending on the surface of the floor, lifting the mop on carpets and raising the side brush for large debris.

The maintenance is a breeze too, its docking station basically takes care of everything. It refills the water tank, washes and dries the mop, and dispenses cleaning solution for up to 150 days. And it handles its own navigation thanks to the AIVI 3D 3.0 and LiDAR mapping. This stops the vacuum from bumping into furniture, allows it to map your home, and target areas that are typically dirtier.

Get this great robot vacuum for its best-ever price at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for October 15, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:34

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

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play 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 October 11, 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 October 15, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 15 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically, 5-0, placed vertically, 2-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 15 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 5. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add to 6. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 15 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 6-2, 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save $100 on the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 for a limited time

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:26

SAVE $100: As of Oct. 15, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 is on sale for $559.95 at Amazon. That's a 15% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $559.95 at Amazon
$659.99 Save $100.04   Get Deal

A good air purifier can help with a whole lot of things. It can help allergy sufferers with symptoms, it can clear out pet dander and dust, reduce lingering smells from cooking, and even make the air in your home feel generally fresher and cleaner. And if you’ve been thinking about getting one, now’s a great time to do it, because Dyson’s Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 is on sale. As of Oct. 15, this popular purifier is down to $559.95, that's a saving of $100 (or $100.04, to be exact).

This is one of the most popular air purifiers on the market, and with the Dyson name attached, you know you're getting an impressive product. The model cleans the air by using a fully sealed filtration system that combines an activated carbon filter to remove gases with a HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of microscopic allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's immersive Odyssey G9 gaming monitor just got $500 cheaper

The entire unit is sealed to HEPA H13 standards, so, none of the nasties it catches can escape back into your room. Its Air Multiplier technology blasts over 76 gallons of smooth airflow per second, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

And if you're purchasing for odor removal, this purifier promises to catch 97% of odors from cooking, pets, and smoke. You can even control and monitor your air quality through the MyDyson app or by voice command. Here you can also set schedules and get personalized air quality reports.

Head to Amazon to pick up this Dyson air purifier deal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel gleefully mocks Trumps angry reaction to Time magazine photo

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:13

Donald Trump has made the cover of Time magazine, but this time he's not nearly as happy about it as you'd expect.

Reacting to the publication's cover photo, which was taken close up from a low angle, the U.S. president took to his own Truth Social after the issue was published to moan about it.

"Time Magazine wrote a relatively good story about me, but the picture may be the Worst of All Time," wrote Trump. "They 'disappeared' my hair, and then had something floating on top of my head that looked like a floating crown, but an extremely small one. Really weird!"

In the clip above from Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday night, the late night show host gleefully reads Trump's post before responding to it.

"I want to go back to that cover and show you this crown," Kimmel says. "OK, that's not a crown, that's the letter M. Only he would see an M on his head an assume it's a crown."

He goes on to talk about the rest of Trump's post, in which the president says he's "never liked taking pictures from underneath angles" before adding that the photo "deserves to be called out."

"It's like he's a TikTok influencer yelling at her boyfriend for not knowing her angles," Kimmel says. "It really is remarkable what a big, fragile baby this man is."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ankers Prime Charger is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $70 right now

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:05

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 15, the Anker Prime Charger is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That's a 41% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Prime Charger $99.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $70.00   Get Deal

If you're fed up with your desk looking like a nest of knotted cables, Anker's Prime Charger is the answer to your organizational prayers. It’s a compact power hub with six ports, a tiny display that shows what’s charging, and enough power to charge up your laptop, phone, and tablet all at once, without a bunch of cables getting tangled. And it's on sale for a limited time.

As of Oct. 15, this charger is at its lowest-ever price, so you're getting a real steal. Save $70 with the new price of $99.99.

SEE ALSO: I never go camping without this $24 portable charger

Let's break down the specifics. It's a 250W desktop charger that can power multiple devices at once, with four USB-C and two USB-A ports. The main USB-C port delivers up to 140W which is enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 50% in about 25 minutes. Impressive, right?

It also has a 2.26-inch LCD display that tells you real-time charging information, and the control dial lets you adjust output for each device. It even supports connection to the Anker app for additional features.

Ready to tidy up your desk space? Get this great charger deal from Amazon while it's still on sale.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Lego is giving away free Witch models for Halloween — here’s how to get yours on Oct. 26

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:00

FREE HALLOWEEN LEGO: Build a Halloween Witch model at participating stores and take it home with you for free. Find participating stores here.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Free Lego Halloween Witch   Learn More

Another month, another free giveaway from Lego. For those not in the know, Lego regularly runs make and take events in which fans can build and take home exclusive models for absolutely nothing. We're sorry to say that you do need to actually visit a store, but this is your chance to get your hands on something that money literally cannot buy. We're sure you can manage.

The next free giveaway takes place from 12-2 p.m. on Oct. 26. Participants in the U.S. and Canada can build a Lego Witch model and take it home with them for free. We recommend checking participating stores here before you set off in search of this spooky model. We don't want you to leave the comfort of your home unless absolutely necessary. It's getting cold out there.

SEE ALSO: Our 15 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

This event is intended for participants aged 6+ years, and the free model is available on a first-come-first-serve basis, at participating locations, while supplies last. Participants are limited to one build each.

Free Lego is free Lego, but what makes these events so special is that these models are not available for purchase. By taking part, you're getting a truly exclusive model that money cannot buy.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a 3-pack of USB-C cables for $35 that stay exactly where you want them

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 10:00

TL;DR: These magnetic, fast-charging USB-C Stay Cables ($34.99 for three) help keep your space organized and your devices powered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Function101 Stay Cable: 1M USB-C Charging Cable with Magnetic Connector (3-Pack/White) $34.99
$53.85 Save $18.86   Get Deal

Most of us have experienced a similar scenario to this one: you finally sit down to charge your phone, only to find your cable has vanished behind the desk or tangled itself into a knot. While this is not the end of the world, it can definitely slow you down and even make you sweat while you dig around to find it.

The Stay Cable three-pack (just $34.99, down from $53.85) can help end that daily battle once and for all. These ultra-durable USB-C cables don’t just charge fast — they actually stay put.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best portable power stations to stay charged up at home and on the go

Each Stay Cable includes a magnetic base that snaps securely onto included metal plates (or any magnetic surface). That means your cable stays right where you left it — at your desk, bedside table, or car dashboard — neatly in place and ready when you need it. No slipping, no searching, no frustration (and more importantly, no random sweating).

Of course, practicality doesn’t mean you’re giving up performance. These cables deliver up to 60W of fast charging power and 480 Mbps transfer speeds, making them ideal for phones, tablets, and laptops alike.

And with a braided nylon build tested to handle 20,000+ bends, they’re designed to outlast every flimsy cord you’ve ever had to begrudgingly throw away.

At 3.3 feet long, each cable hits a good balance between flexibility and tidiness — great for keeping one at home, one at work, and one in your bag.

Buy them as stocking stuffers if you want, but fair warning: once you try them, you’ll probably keep them.

Pick up a three-pack of Stay Cables (blocks are not included) while it’s on sale for just $34.99 (reg. $53.85) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 15, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:49

Today's Connections: Sports Edition requires some knowledge of some athletic moves to get past a defender.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Strategies

  • Green: Online game-related

  • Blue: Short names

  • Purple: Same second word

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

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

  • Yellow: Basketball defenses, in short

  • Green: Fantasy football positions

  • Blue: Big 12 Schools, abbreviated

  • Purple: ___ hitter

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #387 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Basketball defenses, in short - 2-3, MAN, PRESS, ZONE

  • Fantasy football positions - D/ST, FLEX, QB, WR

  • Big 12 Schools, abbreviated - BYU, TCU, UCF, WVU

  • ____ hitter - CLEANUP, DESIGNATED, NO, PINCH

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for October 15, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:39

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 Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025:

AcrossChromebooks, but not MacBooks
  • The answer is PCS.

"Yippee!"
  • The answer is Wahoo.

Reveal, as juicy gossip
  • The answer is Spill.

With 2-Down, chef who helped popularize chicken cordon bleu in the U.S.
  • The answer is Julia.

Toss in
  • The answer is Add.

Down___ New Guinea
  • The answer is Papua.

See 7-Across
  • The answer is Child.

State of matter for most elements at room temperature
  • The answer is Solid.

Business-focused newspaper, for short
  • The answer is WSJ.

Hello, in Portuguese
  • The answer is OLA.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score Pokémon Legends: Z-A preorders with exclusive starter pins for free

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:33

Read our full review of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon Legends: Z-A Switch 2 (Physical) + Free Preorder Pin   Pre-order Here

Walmart is winning Pokémon Legends: Z-A preorders thanks to a free starter Pokémon pin bonus with every physical copy of the game. It's a cut above retailers like Best Buy.

Sadly, these preorder pins have suffered stock issues, but Walmart has reopened the preorder flood gates once again. Best of all? Walmart is still offering a release day shipping time, so trainers won't need to wait for their dose of new Pokémon for the sake of a Chikorita, Totodile, or Tepig pin.

SEE ALSO: 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A': Everything you need to know before release

Pokémon Legends Z-A is set to be the biggest shake up ever for mainline Pokémon games. Moving battle mechanics towards real-time, trainers will need to shift their focus to movement, how long attacks take to cool down, and collecting mega energy orbs to Mega Evolve their own Pokémon.

It's great to see Mega Evolution return after 12 years, and there's even brand new Mega Evolutions of fan-favorite Pokémon such as Dragonite. Set in Kalos' Luminose City, it's a far cry from the usual region touring adventures and Legends Arceus "open-zone" gameplay.

Using rooftop traversal and sections of the city fenced off as wild areas for Pokémon to live in, it's an interesting take on moving Pokémon games forward whilst keeping that winning formula that's kept it in first place. Instead of gyms and the Pokémon League, the Z-A Royale has trainers earning ranks by facing off against trainers in battle zones, working from ranks Z to A with promotional battles at every rank increase.

All in all, it's a promising concept and a sign of the Pokémon Company moving in the right direction. Still on the fence about Pokémon Legends: Z-A? Our review goes into more detail.

Categories: IT General, Technology

We Are Rewind Is Making Limited-Edition Elvis Cassette Player

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:00

Oh, baby. Dust off your blue suede shoes and get ready for more Elvis puns than you know what to do with. In keeping with the revival of sorts that old-school analog cassettes have been having, retro audio gear makers We Are Rewind are about to get you all shook up, announcing the launch of its Limited Edition Elvis Presley Cassette Player box set.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for October 15, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 05:00

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

Worn while cooking.

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

APRON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An expert.

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

ADEPT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A thick, clear liquid.

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

RESIN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To be at ease.

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

RELAX

Final Hurdle hint

Surrounds a picture.

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

FRAME

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best sex and dating apps for hooking up

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 05:00

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

In this age of on-demand everything, hookup apps are the go-to for casual dating. If we can stream movies (thank you, Netflix) and order a takeaway with a few quick taps, why shouldn't we be able to find a potential partner the same way?

Sometimes all you want is some fun, and fortunately there's an app for that.

How do you find a hookup?

It's still possible to find a connection in the real world. Meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other real-life locations still happens, whether you believe it or not. You're simply shortening your odds by subscribing to a dating site.

Dating sites and sex apps allow you to get your information out there to a massive network of like-minded individuals. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting up. We know that some dating apps can be expensive, but just think about all those wasted coffees you could avoid by chatting through an app first.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for sending naughty messages

Using dating apps and sites is also a whole lot less intimidating than meeting someone face to face. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you dip your toe into the world of dating from the comfort of your own home.

Should you use free dating apps?

The good news is that there are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. However, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating apps. And sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up some cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap. It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What makes an app good for hooking up?

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hookup apps. What works for your friends might not work for you. Your best bet is to download a handful of options and see which one clicks with your vibe.

Skip the apps that are all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, eharmony). Instead, keep an eye out for apps that get straight to the point. The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe.

If you really want to pay for a premium membership, that's up to you. But we recommend starting with the free versions of cult faves like Tinder, Grindr, and Hinge. These popular dating apps give you just enough functionality to connect with potential partners for casual encounters — all without spending anything.

What is the best sex and dating app for hooking up?

The good news is that there are absolutely loads of dating sites and sex apps out there for every type of dater and dating situation. The problem with this wealth of options is that deciding on the right site for you can be difficult. This is where we can help.

Whether you're looking to have a one-night stand, exchange nudes with strangers, or have some phone sex before you doze off, we've rounded up the most reliable hookup apps for every type of single. You can download them via Google Play or the App Store and start swiping in minutes.

These are the best hookup sites and apps in 2025.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on October 15

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 03:00

The moon is getting smaller and smaller this week as we head towards to the New Moon. There's still a small crescent visible, however, so keep reading to see what you can spot tonight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Oct. 15, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, only 31% will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Waning Crescent is the last phase before we reach the new moon, and with each day until then, the visibility will decrease. There's a little less to see without any visual aids tonight, but there's still something. Look to the top left to see the Oceanus Procellarum and the Kepler Crater. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, these will be in the bottom right. With a telescope, you'll also see the Reiner Gamma, a lunar swirl on the moon's surface and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

The Moon goes through a repeating cycle roughly every 29.5 days as it orbits Earth. These changes happen because the Sun, Earth, and Moon are constantly shifting in relation to one another. From our viewpoint on Earth, the Moon might appear full, partially illuminated, or completely dark, but we always see the same face. What changes each night is the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dan and Phil turned a 16-year relationship reveal into a lesson on parasocial boundaries

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 00:42

Dan Howell and Phil Lester — mega stars of a mid-2000s cohort of British YouTubers that blazed the trail for what we now know as the creator economy — are in love. 

Yes, those of the terminally online ilk, it's true. No, people who had been half paying attention to Tumblr trends for a decade, they hadn't really confirmed it before this. But, don't take my word for it, take theirs. And maybe you'll learn something about yourself (and fandom), too. 

In a 46-minute satirical "conspiracy" documentary, skillfully evoking the popular 2010s YouTube format, the creator duo confirmed what fans have speculated for nearly 16 years: that the creative partners, roommates, and best friends have been romantically linked the whole time, and that they've remained silent about it because of intense societal pressure. In less than 24 hours, it racked up more than 1.8 million views. 

SEE ALSO: Instagram Teen Accounts are now rated PG-13

The duo, ship name Phan, has been at the center of one of the internet's most fervent romantic conspiracies for more than a decade. They spawned entire blogs and fan accounts and a relitigation of what's known online as "RPF," or "real person fiction," a fan fiction phrase that grew to encompass an ardent belief that two real-life celebrities are actually infatuated with each other. 

RPF is a taboo subject in many fandom spaces. Recall Larry Stylinson — CALM DOWN — the decades-long conspiracy that Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction fame are secret partners. Both parties in the relationship have long denied a romantic fling, with Tomlinson emphatically begging fans to cease their speculation and even blocking mentions of the ship name on social media. A decade since the band's hiatus, and with one of the members tragically gone, Larry shippers are still posting anyway. 

Not all RPF is so extreme. In fan fic, it's an exceedingly common category that is usually constrained to the lead actors of a fan-favorite TV show or random cross-industry pairings between musicians and F1 drivers. In Hollywood, it can be an ingenious marketing tactic. Some online speculated that Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's Anyone But You press tour was an attempt to generate RPF buzz that could push the movie's box office numbers up.  

But, for many, RPF bleeds too closely into the boundaries of real life. "Sometimes I felt like when I looked at Phil, I felt the gaze of these people in my head," Howell opined in the video, calling it a state of "apocalyptic constant stress." 

Howell and Lester are resetting the boundaries.

At a time when celebrities are increasingly pushing back on parasocial relationships and calling out the entitled behavior of fans, it would be justifiable for the two YouTube phenomena to leave it at that. To face the camera and tell fans — bluntly — that it's their fault. That many of them took it way too far (they did). That it was incredibly invasive to stalk them online (it was) and even more so to stalk their movements in public (nearing a literal crime). It became impossible to separate their budding careers from each other, fearing that a romantic association would consume their individuality; they rejected promotional events and censored themselves in videos to keep personal information away from fans. To confirm the RPF conspiracy would be to validate the near-abusive behavior. Reflect on that a bit, Phan-dom.

Howell and Lester have spent too many years online, and love their fans way too much, to fall into that binary. 

A modern blueprint for responding to parasocial bonds, Howell and Lester spend the first 30 minutes of the video telling fans what they already know, parroting back their own behavior over a decade. It's not really to shame them. They stand outside their old flat, where fans scoped out Google Street View specs to recreate it in incredible detail. They wear tin foil hats while pointing at a conspiracy board, filled with references only Phan stans should know. They concoct the perfect ship in a lab. They've been aware of it all. 

Then, they turn the metaphorical camera to the viewer and themselves. "A lot of the 'bad guys' weren't bad people," says Howell. "They were just young people that had absolutely no idea what the effects of their actions were."

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Howell had a complicated childhood, he explained, closeted and clouded by an extremely homophobic upbringing. Now he wants a fresh start, based on authenticity. Lester, who was privately out before Howell, was there for him through it all — much like Phan was for their viewers. "This is not a video for you to be like, 'I need to beat myself up about this. I feel so bad. I need to stop watching.' It's not about that," adds Lester. 

They reiterate this because Dan and Phil, the duo, truly understand what fandom entails. They were helping architect modern fan spaces with their peers in the 2000s, and participating in it themselves, right as YouTube and the idea of a "creator" being a celebrity came to fruition. Combine this with what fandom can mean for queer youth, specifically, and the wishful thinking of a generation of similarly closeted LGBTQ+ fans. It's much more nuanced than one may think.

Fandom researchers have long explored the intensity and importance of fandom, even before the internet complicated the relationship. In a 2023 interview with Mashable, researcher Nancy Baym explained how previously normalized fandom behaviors are actively being renegotiated: "The expectation that you ought to be online engaging your people, showing them these more private moments, has opened up a constant need to negotiate boundaries, part of a much broader blurring of boundaries between work and home, professional and personal, public and private."

So, at the 30-minute mark, the partners reestablish the rules: Shipping is fine, fan fiction ("creative writing") is all good, but no digging into their private moments and certainly no sexual speculation. 

Howell and Lester are resetting those boundaries, rooted not in anger but in compassion for their younger selves — and the fans who changed the trajectory of their lives. "Forgiveness and growth is such an important part of life," says Howell, a point he repeats later. "In the same way we want the people in our lives to give us patience and grace and the benefit of the doubt if we ever make a mistake, I have to extend that to the world."

Watch the full video below — It's worth every minute.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

Chase DiBenedetto is the Social Good Reporter at Mashable.

Meet The Mashable 101: The top creators keeping the internet interesting in 2025. From meme-makers to movement-starters, these are the people powering our timelines today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung names the date: Project Moohan is coming for the Apple Vision Pro

Mashable - Wed, 10/15/2025 - 00:31

We don't know whether Apple will even hold its October launch event this year, but at least one tech giant has stopped playing coy. Samsung announced "Worlds Wide Open" Tuesday, streaming to a screen near you on October 21.

The grandiose name and soaring orbital invite image, above, may be justified. This is a Galaxy Event in which we'll finally get to see Project Moohan (and hopefully start calling it something other than Project Moohan), the Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality Android XR headset billed as a cheaper, more high-definition rival to the Apple Vision Pro.

Project Moohan is "the first product built for the open and scalable Android XR platform," Samsung stated in the announcement. "Project Moohan blends everyday utility with immersive new experiences, unlocking a whole new dimension of possibility and setting a new benchmark for XR."

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy XR headset early report: Project Moohan beats Apple Vision Pro in 2 key ways

And if that's not enough to whet your appetite, how about a discount? Customers who reserve their Galaxy device at any time before the event "are eligible to receive $100 credit to use toward any additional eligible products," the company said. After reserving by Oct. 20, the device must be purchased between Oct. 21 and Nov. 16.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Reserve the Project Moohan device by Oct. 20 Get a $100 credit Get Deal

We still don't know how much this Project Moohan will cost, however. Previous leaks have placed the number in a range between $1,800 and $3,000 — a hefty price tag, but still cheaper than a Vision Pro.

Other leaks have suggested the headset will have more than 4K of resolution in each eye, which would also best Apple's device.

We'll find out for sure in one week. According to Samsung, the Galaxy event will be streamed on Samsung.com/us and Samsung’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, October 21 at 10 p.m. ET.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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