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Tinder announced today that identity verification with facial recognition will now be required for all new users in the U.S. in the coming months.

A facial scan is already required for new Tinder users in California as of July this year. New users in Colombia, Canada, Australia, India, and several countries across Southeast Asia must also complete one according to the dating app's press release. Match Group, Tinder's parent company and dating app conglomerate, confirmed to Mashable that this requirement is rolling out to the rest of the U.S.

SEE ALSO: As Tinder struggles to attract paid users, one dating app is gaining popularity

To complete the verification, called Face Check, users must take a video of themselves within the app. This is to ensure the person is real and their face matches their profile photos. It also scans whether the same face is used in multiple profiles. If verified, users receive a Photo Verified badge.

Video selfies are apparently deleted shortly after review, while one's face map and vector are encrypted and stored to verify new photos and detect fraud or multiple accounts.

Tinder has apparently seen an over 60 percent decrease in exposure to potential bad actors, including spam, scam, and fake accounts. (This figure is based on a random weighted sample of in-app profile views.) Early use of Face Check has also led to a more than 40 percent decrease in reports of bad actors.

Face Check is the next evolution of verification methods Tinder has introduced over the years, including photo verification in 2021, video verification in 2023, and ID checks last year.

Safety has been an ongoing, multi-pronged issue on dating apps. Earlier this year, an investigation into Match Group reported that it didn't take measures to properly ban harmful users nor alert law enforcement.

In September, two U.S. senators penned a letter to Tinder and Match Group's CEO, Spencer Rascoff, to urge him to take action against romance scammers on the apps.

Rascoff stated in the press release that Face Check reflects the company's "deepening commitment to responsible innovation that builds trust and supports a healthy, growing community."

"It's just the beginning of a broader effort to make Tinder the best and safest way to meet new people," Rascoff continued.

The widespread adoption of Face Check also comes months after the UK passed its age-verification law, compelling dating apps to install age checks. Age-verification laws are also sweeping the U.S., in an apparent effort to keep minors off of explicit sites. But experts predict they could fundamentally change our online lives beyond adult content. As evidenced by platforms like Spotify and YouTube, we may be required to submit more of our personal data to verify our age and use these services, despite them being "safe for work."

Match Group plans to roll this out to new Tinder users globally (where legally permitted), as well as to additional apps in 2026.

SAVE $75: Through Nov. 5, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV for just $64.99 per month for three months. That's $25 cheaper than the typical monthly cost, which ends up saving you $75 across three months.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney / ESPN Hulu + Live TV $64.99/month for three months (save $25/month) Get Deal

Choosing a cable replacement service in 2025 really comes down to just a handful of choices. We tend to recommend Fubo for sports fans and YouTube TV for everyone else because the price and channel selection make it the best value. However, Hulu + Live TV has us second-guessing everything with its latest offer.

Now through Nov. 5, new and returning subscribers (who have not been Hulu subscribers in the past month) can sign up for Hulu + Live TV for just $64.99 per month for three months. The regular price just jumped from $82.99 to $89.99 per month as of Oct. 21, so this deal now ends up saving you $25 per month or $75 across three months. We're used to seeing YouTube TV and Fubo run introductory offers like this, but it's a lot rarer for Hulu + Live TV. So we definitely recommend jumping on it sooner rather than later.

Unlike other cable replacements, Hulu + Live TV includes more than just a live channel lineup. For $64.99 per month, you'll get access to live and on-demand TV from over 95 top channels, plus full access to the Hulu and Disney+ libraries (with ads), as well as ESPN Select and Unlimited through the ESPN app. Those three streaming services typically cost about $54 total on their own.

The channel lineup itself is pretty comprehensive, with a variety of sports, news, and entertainment. You'll get your local CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX affiliates, networks like FX, Freeform, SYFY, and TNT, and even specialty sports channels like FS1, FS2, ACCN, B1G, and the Golf channel. Sports fans will be able to tune into the MLB World Series when it kicks off on Oct. 24, plus tons of NFL and college football games, and national broadcasts of NHL and NBA games.

If you haven't tried a live TV streaming service, this Hulu + Live TV deal is a great chance to dip your toes in. Just remember that after three months, the price will jump back up to full price unless you cancel.

SHOP NOW: As of Oct. 22, Apple's latest tablet, the new Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip, is available to show now. Buy the Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip, at The Apple Store, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Where to buy the Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip Apple Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip $999 Shop Now Amazon Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip $999 Shop Now Best Buy Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip $999 Shop Now AT&T Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip From $33.34 per month Shop Now Verizon Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip From $29.44 per month Shop Now

Without pomp and circumstance, Apple dropped a new lineup of devices on Oct. 15, including the Vision Pro, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro. All three devices are now powered by Apple's latest chip, the M5, which Apple claims is over 4 times the peak GPU performance and is designed for AI.

Apple's iPads are incredibly powerful tablets, even for creatives who need to edit photos or videos or tackle expansive graphic design projects. With the new M5 chip, this iPad delivers 3.5 times better AI performance than the iPad Pro with M4 chip. And with the new iPadOS 26 operating system, it's more like a laptop than ever, with a new window system and easy-to-access files.

With the new iPadOS 26, you can multitask better than ever with the new window system. Credit: Apple

The iPad Pro went a surprisingly long time without an update, and by that, we mean it went almost a year and a half. The iPad Air got an upgrade to the M3 chip less than a year after the M2 debuted, so Apple is always keeping us on our toes when it comes to product timelines.

We got our hands on the iPad Pro with M5 chip ahead of its release, and it's one of the most impressive pieces of tech we've ever held.

The new iPad Pro with M5 chip comes in 11- and 13-inch models with the option between Space Black or Silver finish. That's not the only choice users have to make. The iPad Pro starts at 256GB of storage and maxes out at 2TB. The standard glass screen is available on all models, but the nano-texture glass is available on 1TB and 2TB models.

All models of the iPad Pro with M5 are now available for to shop at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and mobile carriers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip $999 at Apple
Available on Oct. 22, starting at $999. Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip $999 at Amazon
Available on Oct. 22, starting at $999. Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro with M5 chip $999 at Best Buy
Available on Oct. 22, starting at $999. Pre-order Here

The newest OnePlus phone might actually be cheaper than the last one.

That's according to one prominent leaker, anyway. @MysteryLupin on X posted that the 16GB RAM/512GB storage variant of the upcoming OnePlus 15 will retail for £949 in the U.K., which comes out to about $1,266 USD.

There are two bits of good news here: One is that £949 is actually cheaper than the £999 price point for the equivalent version of the OnePlus 13, and another is that the U.K. OnePlus price was higher than the U.S. price last year, for whatever reason. In other words, U.K. customers are getting a small price cut, and the 16GB/512GB version may not actually cost $1,266 in the U.S. when it launches later this year.

SEE ALSO: OnePlus 15 with cutting-edge Snapdragon chipset officially announced This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Of course, until OnePlus releases official price points, take any leaks with a grain of salt. It shouldn't be long now, though, as OnePlus is set to launch the phone in its home country of China on Oct. 27, with a global launch expected shortly after in November.

As for specs, we don't have to rely as much on leaks here because OnePlus has already officially announced much of what to expect from this phone. We already know it will be the first North American phone running on the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, with a massive 7,300mAh battery inside it. It'll also have three 50MP cameras on the rear, a 165Hz OLED display, and up to 120W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds, per Android Authority.

If OnePlus can manage to set the U.S. price at an agreeable level despite all of those specs and whatever is currently happening with U.S. tariff policies, the OnePlus 15 might be a seriously enticing option for the non-iOS crowd.

Have you ever wished that your power bank could double as an internet hotspot? If you’re a remote worker or frequent traveler, chances are you’ve been stuck without an internet connection or have had to deal with dead devices — maybe both. Now, Baseus offers a solution to these tech travel woes: the EnerGeek GX11 MiFi Power Bank, the world’s first 20,000mAh power bank with built-in 4G MiFi and 67W fast charging.

TL;DR: Live stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next round of Champions League fixtures includes some intriguing matchups, including Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt. Both sides find themselves in the playoff spots after two games, but there's a lot of football left to be played. These teams will be looking at this fixture as an opportunity to secure three huge points.

If you want to watch Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt?

Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at Rams Park.

How to watch Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt for free

Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

2025 was the year when two big companies decided to launch ultra-thin phones once again–Apple with the iPhone Air, and Samsung with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Apparently, though, people don't like those—and even Apple is struggling to sell its own.

Are you getting ready to fly home for the holidays, but want to make sure your phone can stay charged on the trip? Carrying a portable power bank is an easy way to power up without a wall outlet—but how big can you go when flying?

If you have a list of values in a text file separated by a character (such as a comma or pipe) but would rather have each item on its own line, you can do the newline conversion automatically in Notepad++. Here's how.

Gmail has been my go-to email client literally since I started using email. But I recently tried one of its alternatives on my Android smartphone, and I like it so much that I'm not going back to Gmail again. I'm talking about Proton Mail.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're fascinated by bugs.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 October 17, 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: Small bills

• Green: Custom-made

• Blue: Insects

• Purple: Duplicate

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: Utilities

• Green: Adapt to fit one's needs

• Blue: Kinds of ants

• Purple: Copy___

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 #864 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Utilities: ELECTRIC, GAS, TELEPHONE, WATER

• Adapt to fit one's needs: FASHION, MOLD, SHAPE. TAILOR

• Kinds of ants: ARMY, CARPENTER, FIRE, PHARAOH

• Copy___: CAT, PASTA, RIGHT, WRITER

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 17, 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 the latest Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an organized person.

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Catch all

The words are related to miscellaneous items.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe random things that can be found at home.

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 Junk Drawer.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 22

• Battery

• Pencil

• Coin

• Shoelace

• Thumbtack

• Tape

• Junk Drawer

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 the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a Tom Cruise fan.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 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 October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A trick.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

STUNT

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 17, 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 the latest Wordle.

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 18, 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 18, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 21 Pips

Less Than (5): Everything in this orange space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 21 Pips

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (30): Everything in this space must add to 30. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this red space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 21 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this red space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you understand baseball statistics.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Located in NYC

• Green: Basketball champions

• Blue: Shoes

• Purple: Graphic design

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: New York Basketball Teams

• Green: Last Four NBA Champions

• Blue: Famous Sneakers

• Purple: Found in NBA Team Logos

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 #394 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• New York Basketball Teams - KNICKS, LIBERTY, NETS, ST. JOHN'S

• Last Four NBA Champions- CELTICS, NUGGETS, THUNDER, WARRIORS

• Famous Sneakers - AIR JORDAN, FOAMPOSITE, PUMP, QUESTION

• Found in NBA Team Logos - BRIDGE, MUSIC NOTE, PICKAXE, SHIP

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.

The final days of October are upon us, and that means Halloween is this close to scratching on your door. 'Tis the season, yes, but now is when you want to dive into some of those classic horror movies that have stood the test of time, and that continue to stand out as iconic entries in the genre. Right now, HBO Max is home to some of the most iconic horror movies ever made, but they are scheduled to vanish soon, so now is your last chance to see them.

I used to love watching car shows on TV when I was growing up. It's where I saw the latest cars, and learned a lot about how cars worked and the history of these incredible machines.

When Apple launched the iPhone Air, the big question wasn't whether the phone will be good; Apple doesn't often produce bad phones. The question was whether there's a demand for a thin iPhone in the first place.

Judging by a new report from Nikkei, the demand is there but it's very low.

The report, published Wednesday, claims that Apple is "drastically" cutting iPhone Air production while boosting other iPhone 17 models instead. This is due to lower than expected demand for the iPhone Air, but also because the demand for the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro models has been "unexpectedly robust."

Nikkei's sources say that the iPhone Air originally accounted for "roughly 10% to 15%" of overall new iPhone production this year. However, the production has now been cut "nearly to end of production levels."

In particular, one supply chain manager told Nikkei that production orders for the iPhone Air from November onward will be less than 10 percent of the volume compared with September.

One (imperfect) way to check the demand for various iPhone models is to look at shipping times on Apple's website. For example, the orange iPhone 17 Pro ships in 1-2 weeks while the white iPhone 17 ships in 2-3 weeks. But the iPhone Air is readily available for immediate shipping, no matter which color you choose.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review: The mighty workhorse we needed

I've reviewed all three models and found the iPhone Air to be (by far) the most beautiful and elegant of them all. But it has shorter battery life and a less versatile camera than both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro, and it appears that buyers care about that more than they do about thinness.

If you’ve ever glanced down mid-run and noticed a USB port on your treadmill or your gym’s treadmill, you’ve probably wondered what kind of stuff you could plug into it. While the obvious answer is that it’s mainly there to make updating the treadmill’s firmware easier, that’s far from its only purpose.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 22, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This is 14% off its list price of $349, saving you $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50   Get Deal

Black Friday sales are coming up fast, but the even better news is Amazon already have some great deals available. In particular, quite a few Apple devices are on sale right now. The 11-inch Apple iPad is on the list, dropping back below $300 for a limited time.

As of Oct. 22, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon, a 14% discount from its list price of $349. Ultimately, that saves you $50. We consider this model to be among our picks of the best iPads, so it's well worth picking up at this low price.

SEE ALSO: Scary: Best Buy will start dropping early Black Friday deals on Halloween

This 11-inch Apple iPad is powered by the A16 chip and features a sleek Liquid Retina display that'll make images on your screen look crisp and bright. This particular model boasts 128GB of storage, so you have plenty of space for all your favorite apps.

We consider this iPad to be the best option on a budget. Mashable's Samantha Mangino said it, "Doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech."

Don't miss out on the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) down to $299 at Amazon. And if you're looking for even more Apple deals at Amazon, you can also save big on the 2025 MacBook Air M4 there right now.