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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for May 17's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Study helper.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1063 is...

TUTOR.

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.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 May 17's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Dishonest

• Green: Extend a hand to

• Blue: Inanimate art subjects

• Purple: Types of beer

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: Corrupt

• Green: Reach Out To

• Blue: Classic Still Life Components

• Purple: Beer___

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 Connections #341 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Corrupt: BASE, DIRTY, LOW, VILE

• Reach Out To: CONTACT, MESSAGE, PING, TEXT

• Classic Still Life Components: FRUIT, PITCHER, SKULL, TABLECLOTH

• Beer___: BATTER, CAN, GARDEN, PONG

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Do you think you can wait a year and a half to play GTA 6? Sorry, but it seems like you don't have a choice.

In an interview with IGN, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said pretty explicitly that we should expect the next entry in the GTA series to launch late next year. Previously, the game was announced with a vague release window of just "2025," so Zelnick's comments should help narrow things down for those who simply need GTA VI in their lives.

"We do feel highly confident that we'll deliver [Grand Theft Auto VI] in fall of 2025," Zelnick said, per IGN.

This news will surely disappoint those who were holding out hope that it might come out earlier in 2025, but what's another few months when you've been waiting for the next GTA since 2013?

GTA VI has, obviously, been a magnet for rumor-mongering and discussion online for more than a decade at this point. After years of speculation (and leaks), Rockstar confirmed the game in December with a Tom Petty-set trailer. It's a modern take on previous series setting Vice City, which is a not-especially-subtle pastiche of Miami.

At this point, you probably already know if you're excited for GTA VI or not. Now, the waiting game begins. Or continues, I guess.

I'll get straight to the point: there's no "off" button for Google's new AI Overviews feature. There is instead a "Web" button, buried in the "More" section of Google's familiar row of buttons that look sort of like folder tabs, along side things like "Images" and "News."

Credit: Mashable screenshot of a Google search results page

Searching the new "Web" tab will get you the sort of results page you're used to, with no AI-written summary of Google's finding — just some links.

Credit: Mashable screenshot of a Google search results page

There's a more elaborate, but much more complete solution to your problem as well, and I'll go into that below. Using the Web option, however, is the simplest way out of the mess you've found yourself in.

Why is Google like this?

To back up a bit, Google is an AI company now, and as such, it fire-hosed new AI features out into the world earlier this week at its developer conference, Google I/O. This was just one of those.

AI overviews aren't quite new. They've been available as an opt-in for the AI-curious for months, but Google apparently liked what it was seeing, and turned them into the default for hundreds of millions of users across the U.S., with a planned expansion to over a billion users around the world in the works.

SEE ALSO: Google is lowering deepfake porn in search rankings

Broadly speaking, users who don't like this feature must choose the Web option — manually — for each search. Though it's also worth noting that as of my tests on Thursday, May 16, 2024, the AI Overview feature was not on by default in the Safari or Microsoft Edge browsers. Of my browsers, only Chrome brought up Overviews automatically. So for the time being, not using Chrome might be one way to escape from the feature.

But if a) you're a dedicated Chrome user, b) you use the url bar to search, and c) you have two minutes to mess with your Chrome, settings, there is an easy way to stop seeing AI Overviews by default without changing the way you search. Credit where credit is due, I got this from an article at Tom's Hardware. I tested it, and it works.

How to turn off AI Overview in your Chrome settings Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Chrome

Step 1: Navigate to your search engine settings

Enter "chrome://settings/searchEngines" into your url bar and press return.

Credit: Mashable screenshot of Chrome

Step 2: Below your list of search engines, click the Add button to the right of Site Search

Credit: Mashable screenshot from Chrome

Step 3: Enter "{google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s" under "URL with %s in place of query"

You'll also need to enter "Google" under shortcut, and give this search engine a name, such as "Google (Web)."

Credit: Mashable screenshot from Chrome

Step 4: Once that's created, hit the hamburger button and click "Make default"

Credit: Mashable screenshot from Chrome

As long as you're using the browser where you tweaked this setting, you'll be able to live in the world before the AI revolution. But only time will tell how long you can really blind yourself to this new reality.

Anyway, good luck!

The cast of The Big Cigar discuss the lesser-known history of Huey Newton and his unexpected connection to Hollywood.

Actor, Michael Emerson, goes into detail (maybe too much?) describing the process of making his prosthetic, decapitated head in 'Fallout'.

Just when you've thought you've seen everything when it comes to cryptocurrency theft, two brothers attending MIT have uncovered a brand new way to steal millions.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announcement on Wednesday, Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno have both been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The brothers allegedly found a way to exploit the Ethereum blockchain and stole $25 million in cryptocurrency as a result.

“As we allege, the defendants’ scheme calls the very integrity of the blockchain into question," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York said in a statement. "The brothers, who studied computer science and math at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, allegedly used their specialized skills and education to tamper with and manipulate the protocols relied upon by millions of Ethereum users across the globe." 

"Once they put their plan into action, their heist only took 12 seconds to complete," Williams continued. "This alleged scheme was novel and has never before been charged."

How two MIT students exploited the Ethereum blockchain

While one part of the brothers' scheme may have taken only 12 seconds, the DOJ indictment makes it clear that they meticulously planned and prepared for months in order to successfully exploit the Ethereum blockchain.

On the Ethereum blockchain, transactions aren't verified in chronological order, but by "maximum extractable value" or MEV, essentially how much value can be earned by validators from the transaction. Validators verify transactions, and in turn, add new blocks to the blockchain. 

According to the DOJ, the two MIT students exploited a flaw in MEV-Boost, an open-source software used by 90 percent of Ethereum validators. Upon discovering the exploit, Anton and James Peraire-Bueno set up a series of validators using shell companies in order to conceal their identities. The DOJ alleges it took "several months" for the two to prepare for their scheme.

The Peraire-Bueno brothers set their plot in motion by creating "bait transactions" in order to trick "victim traders" into revealing their trading behaviors.

In April 2023, the two pulled off their $25 million crypto heist by "luring" in the victim traders' MEV bots with eight transactions containing "illiquid cryptocurrency" to frontrun and then transfer into stablecoins and other liquid cryptocurrencies. These bundled "Lure Transactions" from the brothers were timed to be verified by one of their own validators.

From there, the brothers further exploited the system by forging signatures to deceive the blockchain relay into releasing the transaction information, which they then manipulated. As a result, Anton and James Peraire-Bueno walked away with $25 million and proceeded to take further steps to conceal their alleged crime.

“These brothers allegedly committed a first-of-its-kind manipulation of the Ethereum blockchain by fraudulently gaining access to pending transactions, altering the movement of the electronic currency, and ultimately stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency from their victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York Field Office in a statement. “In this case, IRS-CI New York’s Cyber Unit simply followed the money."

According to the DOJ, the two left a trail of incriminating evidence, including a document laying out the exploit in full detail, breaking their scheme into "four stages:" The Bait, Unblinding the Block, The Search, and The Propagation.

In addition, in the weeks and months following the exploit, the brothers search history unveiled queries for terms such as "top crypto lawyers," "wire fraud statute of limitations," "money laundering," "fraudulent Ethereum addresses database," and searches related to which countries the U.S. has extradition agreements with.

The two face up to twenty years in prison for each charge.

"PS5 vs PS5 Slim" is a face-off gamers want to see as they scratch their heads over how Sony's skinnier new console differs from the original variant.

For years, many complained about PS5's bulky, unwieldy body — and Sony finally addressed that with the new PS5 Slim.

Sony announced the new slim PS5 model in October 2024, following a decades-long tradition of each PlayStation console getting a smaller counterpart midway through its generation. As you can probably tell, it's meant to be smaller than the original 2020 model, but that's not all.

SEE ALSO: 180+ of the best Cyber Monday gaming deals

Here are all the ways in which the new PS5 Slim is different from its predecessor.

Note: While we're diving into the differences between PS5 vs. PS5 Slim, keep in mind that Sony is reportedly working on a new console called PS5 Pro. It's expected to hit store shelves later this year. We also may get new information regarding the PS5 Pro in the upcoming PlayStation showcase, which is reportedly set to launch in late May.

PS5 vs PS5 Slim: Price

For whatever reason, Sony has elected to not drop the prices of the new PS5 models. The PS5 Slim with a disc drive is still $499, while the PS5 Slim without a disc drive is, maddeningly, $449 — or a $50 increase over the original digital-only console.

• PS5 Slim (no disc drive) - $449

• PS5 Slim (with disc drive) - $499

• Original PS5 (no disc drive) - $399

• Original PS5 (disc drive) - $499

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PS5 Slim (no disc drive) Get Deal

With that in mind, yes, the digital-only PS5 Slim is a money-saver in comparison to the one with a disc drive, but not in comparison to the digital-only model that launched three years ago.

The new price also means that buying a digital model before purchasing the additional disc drive would cost more than just snagging the version with a built-in drive. I don't really have a good explanation for any of that.

My only advice is this: If you want a PS5 that only costs $399, you better get one now. Once the existing stock of both original models sells out, the new slim models will replace them on store shelves.

PS5 vs PS5 Slim: Size

Obviously, size is what many gamers are most concerned about here, so let's get right to it. Looking at Sony's stated dimensions, you can see that the new PS5 is indeed smaller than the original:

• Original PS5 (disc version): 104mm (height) x 390mm (width) x 260mm (depth)

• PS5 Slim (disc version): 96mm x 358mm x 216mm

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PS5 (Original Disc Version) Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PS5 Marvel’s 'Spider-Man 2 Bundle' (Slim, Disc Version) Shop Now

• Original PS5 (digital version): 92mm x 390mm x 260mm

• PS5 Slim (digital version): 80mm x 358mm x 216mm

PS5 Slim models Credit: Sony

In other words, per Sony's announcement blog post, that's about a 30 percent reduction in total volume. That's definitely an improvement, but there's some important context missing in just those raw numbers. The Verge ran a digital size comparison and discovered that both new models are still substantially larger than the Xbox Series X.

In other words, this "slim" console is still pretty dang big.

For a visual comparison, check out this awesome PS5 Slim vs. Regular Reddit post.

SEE ALSO: Save on 'Star Wars Jedi: Survivor,' plus more PlayStation deals this Cyber Weekend PS5 vs PS5 Slim: Horsepower and storage

Another important aspect of the new PS5 models to get out of the way is that they have the exact same internal capabilities as the originals. This isn't a PS4 vs. PS4 Pro situation. Games will run exactly the same across the spectrum of PS5 consoles.

PS5 Slim Credit: Sony

One little internal bonus that owners of the new PS5s get, however, comes in the form of expanded storage. For some reason, the original PS5 only had 825GB of onboard storage, with the option to expand via external SSDs. The new ones have a full 1TB of built-in space, so you can install a few extra games depending on how big they are.

PS5 vs PS5 Slim: Disc drive

Just like at the PS5's launch in late 2020, there are two PS5 Slim models. One of them has a built-in disc drive and the other one is digital-only.

PS5 Slim Credit: Sony

Well, sort of, anyway. There's an optional detachable disc drive you can buy for $79.99. This was actually rumored more than a year ago, but the PS5 models were expected to launch next year — not 2023.

PlayStation deals

PlayStation game deals

• A Plague Tale: Requiem — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)

• Atomic Heart — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III + Limited Collector's Box — $129 $149 (save $20)

• Call of Duty: Vanguard — $15 $59.99 (save $44.99)

• Need For Speed Unbound — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• NHL 23 — $24.99 $69.99 (save $45)

• The Quarry — $9.99 $69.99 (save $60)

PlayStation console deals

• PlayStation 5 + Modern Warfare III Bundle — $539.99 $569.99 (save $30)

• PlayStation 5 + Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Bundle — $499 $559.99 (save $60.99)

• PlayStation 5 Slim (non-bundle) — $499.99

• PlayStation 5 Slim + Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Bundle — $499.99 $559.99 (save $60)

• PlayStation 5 Slim + Call of Duty Modern Warfare III Bundle — $499.99

PlayStation controller deals

• PlayStation 5 DualSense controller — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• PlayStation 5 DualSense controller (Midnight Black) — $65.99 $69.99 (save $4)

• PlayStation 5 DualSense controller (Gray Camouflage) — $68.85 $74.99 (save $9)

• PlayStation 5 DualSense controller (Galactic Purple) — $72.75 $74.99 (save $25.99)

SAVE $8.23: As of May 16, get the hardcover edition of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief for $10.76, down from its normal price of $18.99. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' $10.76 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $8.23 Get Deal

Looking for a new YA fantasy to follow? Percy Jackson and the Olympians is now a new series on Disney+, 14 years after its theatrical debut in 2010. If you've been curious about the saga or you're a die-hard fan and want to collect the books now, here's a great deal that you can start with, going on right now during the Amazon Book Sale.

As of May 16, you can get a hardcover edition of the first book in the Percy Jackson series, Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief, for just $10.76. That's $8.23 off its normal price of $18.99, and a discount of 43%.

The Lightning Thief kicks off a long-running series that follows the titular Jackson, who discovers he's a demigod, or a half-god, half-human, and his real father is the Greek god Poseidon. After uncovering his lineage, he's tasked with preventing the fearsome Titans from destroying the world as we know it.

The action-packed saga is a fun read, especially if you like Greek mythology, or if you just want to learn more about what happens in the books compared to the new series. There's likely a second season on the way, so you can gear up with knowledge about what's going to happen by starting with this first (now very affordable) book. And while it may be aimed at teens and preteens, there's certainly plenty to love here if you need a new series to love after wearing Harry Potter out after all these years.

SAVE 20%: The Soundcore Motion 300 wireless speaker is just $63.99, marked down from the usual price of $79.99. That's a $16 discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Motion 300 wireless speaker (black) $63.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $16.00 Get Deal

Before the heat of summer arrives, it's time to prepare your list of essentials. You'll need some sunscreen to protect your skin, new sunglasses would also be ideal, a few great books, and some tunes. If you still need to sort out how to listen to your favorite summer playlist, today's deal at Amazon is ready to help.

As of May 16, the Soundcore Motion 300 wireless speaker is on sale for just $63.99, down from the normal price of $79.99. That's a 20% discount or a savings of $16. This price matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. To score this sale price, you'll need to grab the black colorway.

Portable speakers have become an essential part of everyday life, and while your phone will do in a pinch, the best backyard hangs involve a powerful wireless speaker. The Soundcore Motion 300 is designed to produce clear, hi-res sound quality with deep bass. The compact size makes it perfect for tossing in your tote bag for the beach or easily storing in a desk drawer when it's not in use.

Lending itself to summer sessions, the Soundcore Motion 300 comes with IPX7 waterproof protection, so it can come along on your adventure to the beach, pool, or on the river-side hike. You also won't have to worry if the weather takes a turn and rain suddenly appears.

The portable speaker comes with a detachable strap, so you can conveniently hang the speaker from a tent canopy or your backpack. The soft outer rubber shell helps with durability should any falls or drops occur.

Soundcore mentions the speaker gets about 13 hours of play time before needing a recharge, so it should last all day.

If summer prep is on your mind, and you're in need of a fresh portable speaker, the Soundcore Motion 300 is on sale for under $65 today at Amazon. With great sound and a long battery life, there's no stopping the sounds of summer with this speaker.

Samsung has capitalized on backlash from Apple's tone-deaf iPad Pro ad with a message of its own: Samsung is your creative ally, not Apple.

Negative reactions to Apple's promo for the new iPad Pro, which featured a hydraulic press crushing creative tools and instruments, prompted the company to issue a rare apology for "missing the mark" — and it cancelled plans to run the ad on TV.

Tweet may have been deleted

Samsung had some thoughts too, running its own ad that seemed to pick up right where the hydraulic press left off.

SEE ALSO: The new iPad ad essentially flips AI-weary creatives the bird Why Apple's iPad ad fell flat

The rise of AI threatens creative livelihoods with the very unresolved issue of copyright infringement and generative AI tools that can create images, music, video, and text with simple prompts. The issue boils down to whether AI will replace jobs or empower creatives to better express themselves. Apple has long positioned itself as a friend to creatives, and profits from our aspirations of being the best creative versions of ourselves. Now that Apple's reputation has been tarnished, Samsung is ready to swoop in and offer consolation.

In the ad for Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra posted on X, a woman walks through scattered wooden and metal debris and picks up a beat-up guitar from the floor of an empty warehouse like the one featured in the Apple ad. Reading sheet music from the Samsung Galaxy tablet propped up on a music stand, she starts playing guitar and smiles. The camera pans out to reveal a similar hydraulic press platform dripping with paint as the text overlay reads "Creativity cannot be crushed."

Samsung's ad is a not-so-subtle callout of Apple's iPad Pro announcement that struck the wrong note at the wrong time. "Apple's commercial was no doubt intended to convey the idea that the iPad Pro can also do many of the tasks that the various obliterated tools could," said Mashable reporter Amanda Yeo. "Unfortunately, the result looked more grimly dystopian than the tech giant intended."

But fear not, creatives. The strategically-timed move from Samsung has just the solution.

In a brutal year for tech layoffs, Tesla may have set the record for worst reason to lay people off.

At least, that's the implication in a new report from Reuters detailing what led to 500 employees from Tesla's Supercharger team being cut earlier in May. According to Reuters, Musk met privately with charging executive Rebecca Tinucci in what was expected by Tinucci to be a meeting about the future expansion of the charging network.

SEE ALSO: QAnon conspiracy theories are surging on Elon Musk's X. Here's proof.

However, Musk was reportedly unsatisfied when Tinucci's presentation and asked for further layoffs. Tinucci disagreed and Musk's response was to then fire Tinucci and the 500 other members of the Supercharger team who lost their jobs. It should be noted that, according to Bloomberg, at least some of those employees are now on their way back to Tesla.

If this interaction between Musk and Tinucci happened precisely as reported by Reuters, it would only add to a years-in-the-making tapestry of reports about the volatile work environment at Tesla. Whether it's an unusually high rate of workplace injuries or repeated accusations of racism on the factory floor, Tesla has generated plenty of headlines over the years that paint it as a pretty bleak place to work.

The same has been true for SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) more recently. Hm, I wonder if there's some kind of common denominator between those companies?

SAVE $200: As of May 16, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is $1,219.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 14%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra $1,219.99 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If, after completing your spring cleaning spree, you're ready for a new smartphone, now's a great time to invest. For Android fans, you can't do much better than the excellent Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is on sale for even lower than the Amazon Big Spring Sale price back in March.

As of May 16, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is on sale for just $1,219.99. That's a $200 discount and 14% off its normal price of $1,419.99. This price applies to the Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow color options.

This is the largest model of the Samsung Galaxy S24 line, with a 6.8-inch display boasting a 3088 x 1440 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 12GB of RAM, and comes with 512GB of storage and a 50MP zoom camera. It has a high-capacity 5,000mAh battery that'll give you plenty of usage and talk time, improved over the previous generation. Plus, it includes the Samsung S Pen stylus that you can use to doodle, take notes, or navigate menus on your phone.

This phone just hit retailers in January 2024, so the fact that it's already seen multiple discounts is a bit surprising, but it's good news for you. If you're ready to try out a new phone, be sure to go ahead and snatch this one up while it's available now for this lower price.

I realize it's tedious to complain about remakes. Often tied to the weary lament that "Hollywood is out of new ideas," such complaints are so constant that they are practically a metronome, keeping the time as studios churn out remakes or "reimaginings." Already this year we've seen Mean Girls, Road House, and The Fall Guy, and still ahead are The Crow, Twisters, Speak No Evil, and Nosferatu. And now comes The Strangers: Chapter 1, which is not a prequel but a relaunch of the home-invasion horror franchise that began in 2008 with writer/director Bryan Bertino's original thriller The Strangers. 

Renny Harlin, who in the '90s directed a slew of splashy action movies including the Sylvester Stallone-fronted Cliffhanger and the underrated Geena Davis pirate epic Cutthroat Island, is at the helm of this new chapter of the proposed new trilogy. But to call it "new" feels more than generous. Penned by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland, The Strangers: Chapter 1 has some differences from the original. For instance, rather than an arguing couple staying in a remote vacation house owned by a family member, this installment follows an otherwise happy couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) that unexpectedly finds shelter in a last-minute Airbnb cabin. But otherwise, the plot points of the movie are so astonishingly similar that you might well experience déjà vu. 

How does The Strangers: Chapter 1 compare to The Strangers? Credit: John Armour for Lionsgate

Once more, a handsome, straight white couple from the city spends the night in a remote rural cabin, and are mercilessly and violently tormented by a mysterious trio of masked intruders. The masks from The Strangers resurface here with little discernible differences. And the routine of the killings is religiously the same, from start to finish: A young woman, whose face is lost to darkness thanks to an unscrewed porch light, knocks on the door asking if Tamara is there. Strange noises and blood-red graffiti in a bedroom hint that someone has already gotten into the house. Creepy wide shots confirm this to the viewer, while the female victim — left alone by her male partner — remains oblivious. The remote location means there is nowhere to run. The victims' phones and vehicles are strategically destroyed by the invaders. With no escape likely, death seems as inevitable as the killers' motivations are inexplicable.

Which begs the question, if Harlin and company are going to hew this closely to the original, why bother making this movie at all? It's not just that the other movie already exists. It's also that the scares in this movie fall flat because of how we as audiences have changed since 2008. Back then, The Strangers served as a rebellion in the reemergence of the slasher, which thanks to the success of Scream had become a subgenre flooded with glossy teen-aimed imitators, like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legends, and The Faculty. By contrast, The Strangers gave audiences a grimmer version of horror, one where no solace would come in the form of unmasking the killer. No motive would give a sense of closure. And the final showdown between killer and Final Girl would be more gutting, literally and metaphorically. 

SEE ALSO: 'Scream VI' writers and Jasmin Savoy Brown reveal the most crucial horror movie survival rules

The Strangers also offered unique terror with the same promise made by horror movies like The Blair Witch Project, Wolf Creek, and Open Water: It claimed to be based on a true story. That is true in only the flimsiest of senses. Bertino found inspiration in the senselessness and maliciousness of the Manson family murders and the unsolved Keddie cabin murders of 1981. (Be warned — googling either is nightmare fuel.) These influences might explain why in the 2008 movie, poor tortured Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) act like they'd never seen a slasher movie before. 

That film was set in a contemporary time of cell phones and easy access to the entire Scream franchise (not to mention the decades-old Friday the 13th and Halloween series). And yet the characters had no awareness of slasher "rules," leading to a throwback shock and general helplessness in the face of random violence. This attitude might have been intended to reflect the naïveté folks had before Manson about what horror might crash into your home without reason. However, Harlin's Chapter 1 maintains this same ignorance, which feels even less believable in a modern world where true crime has become an omnipresent genre across movies, TV, and podcasts. Frankly, this makes his heroes — in particular, heroine Maya — almost unforgivably obtuse. 

Madelaine Petsch stumbles where Liv Tyler sprinted.  Credit: John Armour for Lionsgate.

But it's not the Riverdale star's fault. Where The Strangers focused intensely on the relationship crisis between its heroes ahead of their hardship, Petsch's Maya has no troubles. She and Ryan (Gutierrez), her blandsome boyfriend of five years, are beginning to talk about marriage, but neither seems particularly pressed on the issue. Her main goal at the start of the film is just to get to a job interview in Portland, Oregon, so she can be an architect. Ryan, meanwhile, is also there. Their characters, despite having plenty of pre-invasion time to talk, are not much defined beyond this, and so feel like flimsy stand-ins for the original tortured twosome. Their screams, while earnest, feel like little more than echoes.

Beyond the lack of characterization, The Strangers set up interpersonal tension before any intruder creepiness kicked in, which grounded the film in an eerie banality — essentially urging audiences to imagine what if an already shitty day ended with this?! Chapter 1 has no such tension, and instead coasts on audience awareness of what is to come. Behold the cliches of creepy rural horror: a rural strip of road dotted by only a handful of buildings; locals who range from odd to nosy, to downright menacing. And then for good measure, the angel-faced evangelical boys with proselytizing pamphlets who popped by at the end of the 2008 movie also make an appearance. When Ryan picks a fight with a surly mechanic, we know this outsider is doomed. But that also breaks some of the tension the original had, as the world beyond the couple's cabin was a mystery. 

While the 2008 sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night, shook things up by adding two teen siblings to the mix, The Strangers: Chapter 1 instead expands to Venus, Oregon, a small town of a few hundred, which boasts businesses like Rudy's Garage and Molly's Diner, all with rusted facades that match the yellowing teeth of the scowling residents. With one short sequence in which Ryan and Maya make a pit stop on their way to Portland, this trilogy-starter shifts from proposing no motive for the attack to suggesting the petty kind common in rural horror, in which city-associated outsiders are hunted with relish. (See: Deliverance, Straw Dogs, The Wicker Man, Men.)

The Strangers: Chapter 1 aims to build lore but is a bore. Credit: John Armour for Lionsgate

Remarkably, the (very few) ways in which The Strangers: Chapter 1 is notably different from The Strangers also make it less interesting. The introduction of characters outside of predator and prey suggests there's more to these masked murderers than the horrific happenstance of "because you were home." It undercuts the mysterious menace of the original. Plus, the changes to the intruders' signature costumes are frankly unimpressive. 

In both The Strangers and its sequel The Strangers: Prey at Night, the killers paired their masks with a rumpled business suit, a trendy baby-doll dress, and a casual teen look that'd be well-suited to a mall hang. The incongruity with the masks was jarring, as was their lack of cohesion. These were outfits that might seem like puzzle pieces, but they refused to fit together; as a result, our brains ran wild with possible explanations.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 chucks these costumes, as well as the long blonde hair of one of the assailants. Now, they all wear hiking boots, jeans, and khaki jackets that would be equally suitable for hunting in the forest or hitting the flea markets in Brooklyn. It's giving nothing. Which perhaps is supposed to be more haunting, but instead is unengaging. Off-the-rack slasher fashion is something few outside Jason Voorhees can pull off. 

Between the repeated plot points and uninspired changes, all that's left is the ghoulish spectacle of human misery. As was the case in the prior installments, the horror here is pure nihilism. Unmoored from the morality and twisted motives of standard slasher movies, The Strangers: Chapter 1 doesn't offer hope or a hero to root for. Instead, it offers a front-row seat to the kind of violent crimes that make for seedy news coverage, relishing in the carnage. The opening credits even play into such fear-mongering, claiming a violent crime happens in the U.S. every 23.1 seconds. And yet, the film behaves as if its victims have absolutely zero awareness of such potential horrors, all the more outrageous when one is a young white woman — the primary demographic for the true crime genre! But because Maya and Ryan are babes in the woods,  when the intruders do their thing, there's little forward momentum and more panicked meandering, with much screams and tears. 

Personally, nihilistic horror hits me as more unpleasant and depressing than engagingly scary. Such bleakness bleeds out tension, making for a remake that is merciless but also exhaustingly familiar. The most haunting part of The Strangers: Chapter 1 is its finale's promise for more, when a title card threatens, "To be continued…"

The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters May 17.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK TP-Link Tapo MagCam $79.99 at Amazon (save $40 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 wireless earbuds $79.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY TECH DEAL Shark SmoothStyle $79.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL iRobot Roomba j7 robot vacuum $299.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal

You never really know what sort of deals Amazon has in store on any given day — whether it's a major shopping holiday, a big promotional event (like the current Amazon Book Sale), or just a random Thursday. We've scoured pages and pages of Amazon deals and handpicked a few of the best ones you can shop on May 16 — with brands like TP-Link, Shark, Anker Soundcore, and iRobot coming out on top.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Be sure to check back at our deals from May 14 and May 15, too. Most of those deals are still going strong.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: TP-Link Amazon deal of the day: TP-Link Tapo MagCam $79.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $40.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

If you're looking to add an extra set of eyes to your home for security, the TP-Link Tapo MagCam offers sharp 2K video and a year-long battery life at a price that won't break the bank. Not to mention, it's on sale for it's lowest price on record as of May 16. While we haven't had a chance to test it ourselves, our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, ZiffDavis) have done the honor and awarded it a 4.5 outstanding rating. "It's an excellent value for a battery-powered camera that offers color night vision, built-in spotlights, local and cloud storage options, free intelligent alerts, voice control, and many other features," the review states, all of which earned the camera an Editors' Choice award. Usually $119.99, you can snag the TP-Link Tapo MagCam on sale for just $79.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark HT202 SmoothStyle blow dryer brush $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

Shark's SmoothStyle launched last summer and looks and acts like a fancier Revlon One-Step. It's basically a round hot air brush with some extra features. You can start with your hair wet and use the three preset air temperatures to dry and style your hair in one go without frying it. Once it's dry, you'll use the SmoothStyle like a thermal brush, with one preset heated smoothing comb setting. The comb itself has ceramic-coated plates to keep it from damaging your locks. Usually, it would run you $100, but as of May 16, it's on sale for just $79.99 at Amazon. That's 20% in savings and only the second time its dropped to this low of a price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 wireless earbuds $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Looking for a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that won't break the bank? Anker's Soundcore Liberty 4s offer premium features like spatial audio, ACAA 3.0 technology for clear and crisp sound, personalized ANC, and an in-ear heart rate sensor to detect your heart rate as you listen throughout the day, all for just $79.99 as of May 16. That's $50 off the usual cost and the lowest price on record since their release at the end of 2022. They come with CloudComfort eartips to ensure listening for up to 28 hours (with the included charging case) remains comfortable the whole time.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7 robot vacuum $299.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Although it's not the lowest price we've seen, 50% off any Roomba is reason to sound the alarm. The Roomba j7 is one of the most solid Roombas (and robot vacuums in general) you could bring home, thanks to its small obstacle avoidance feature. The j series Roombas will steer clear of smaller obstacles in your home, like phone charging cables, socks, and pet waste — a capability that Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart found to be an "absolute game-changer." While it doesn't sport on-board mopping or self-emptying capabilities, we're more willing to forgive since it's on sale for only $299.99. That's $300 off its usual price and about $37 shy of its all-time low.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

It's been 11 years, but a college football video game is finally releasing soon.

EA Sports College Football 25, the long-awaited entry in the renamed NCAA College Football video game series, will be launching worldwide on July 19, 2024. It'll be the first college football video game since the release of 2013's NCAA Football 14.

Developed by EA Orlando, the team has stressed in the past few months that this game is not just a re-skin of its NFL counterpart, Madden. Thanks to EA's new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) agreements — which compensate players for their in-game representation — the game will feature over 10,000 real college athletes for the first time in the series' history. Additionally, College Football 25 will include all 134 FBS teams.

College Football 25 was first announced in February 2021 as a game that would happen at some point, with no definitive date. News of the game's development was sparse until its teaser trailer in February of this year with a promise of a full reveal in the following months.

Both versions of the game's cover have already leaked on the internet, with the Deluxe Edition seen earlier this month on Sony's Playstation store. The Standard Edition was seen on various social media circles on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. Interestingly, both covers feature current college football players, whereas in years past the NCAA series would only use the likeness of recently graduated players. It makes sense though as EA has paid a hefty chunk of change for the NIL rights to college athletes across the country.

Featuring on the standard cover are University of Texas QB Quinn Ewers, University of Colorado athlete Travis Hunter, and University of Michigan RB Donovan Edwards. Reception online to the leaked covers has been mixed at best, with some disappointed that the design isn't as cool as what they've envisioned in the years since the game was announced.

It's still unclear how the actual game will play, however, EA plans on doing a full reveal of College Football 25 on Friday, May 17.

SAVE 28%: Jake Adelstein's memoir Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan is discounted to just $12.99 in paperback during the Amazon Book Sale, down from the usual price of $18. That's a savings of $5.01.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon "Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan" by Jake Adelstein $12.99 at Amazon
$18.00 Save $5.01 Get Deal

As the yen sinks to record lows against the U.S. dollar, more people are heading out to experience the magic of Japan. If you've always wanted to visit Japan and hope to discover more about the country before you take the journey over to the land of the rising sun, today's offering at the Amazon Book Sale is literary travel prep.

As of May 16, Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan, the memoir by Jake Adelstein, is just $12.99 in paperback at Amazon, down from the usual price of $18. That's a 28% discount or a savings of $5.01.

Not many of us have epic stories to tell about what we were up to at age 19, but that's when Jake Adelstein moved from America to Japan in search of a journalism career. His memoir follows the highs and lows of his journey that eventually granted him access into the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Press Club, as the first American ever admitted.

The book is also the inspiration behind the the hit MAX series of the same name, Tokyo Vice. The two-season series stars Ansel Elgort as Jake Adelstein, Ken Watanabe, and Rinko Kikuchi. Both the book and the series dive into a lesser-seen side of Japan that includes extortion, murder, and corruption.

If a first-hand account of life in Japan as a foreign journalist sounds appealing or if you're a fan of the hit show, today's deal at Amazon brings the price of the paperback down to just $12.99 — a bargain price if comparing the cost to the total hours of engrossing entertainment it'll provide.

Affirm is the first BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) service to be available directly through Amazon Pay, and shoppers love it. Last year, BNPL orders increased by 85 percent during Cyber Week compared to the week before, while revenue increased 88 percent. And during last year's Amazon Prime Day there was a 20% increase in BNPL use from the previous year. With inflation still wreaking havoc, it's no stretch of the imagination to assume that Affirm use will remain high for Prime Day 2024.

The ability to pay for items in installments can sweeten your Prime Day prospects. But before going BNPL-wild on your haul, there are some factors to consider about Affirm versus other BNPL apps, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using these tools in general.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024: When it's happening and everything else we know so far Why Buy Now, Pay Later is so appealing

Layaway programs were popular with shoppers in the '90s until they were overtaken by credit cards. But there is a key difference between layaway and BPNL. When you put an item on layaway, it was held for you until you paid it off, at which point you could take it home. With BPNL, you get the goods shipped to you right away but then pay off that item in installments.

When combined with Amazon's typically lightning-fast shipping and Affirm's lack of late fees, BPNL can make big purchases feel easier to stomach.

Affirm's interest rates typically range from 0 to 30% APR based on your credit and payments can be spread out over three to 48 months. Different plans are available for different purchase amounts, and the minimum purchase amount to use Affirm is $50. Affirm's APR calculator can help you estimate how much interest you'll rack up on a certain purchase, which could hit $100 or more if you get a loan for, say, a pricey piece of furniture.

When it's wise to buy now and pay later

There are moments when BPNL is a good choice:

• For some big purchases, using BNPL services may make sense. Breaking up the cost of big investments like a new MacBook Pro or premium robot vacuum can be easier to manage over time rather than laying down the whole amount in one go.

• Using BNPL services on necessities like groceries depends on your habits. Habitually funding little daily expenses (like Starbucks) with an installment app can trigger a domino effect of debt, but may work better if you're buying something like toilet paper in bulk.

• When used responsibly, apps like Affirm can also help you work around the timing of your paycheck and monthly costs that require up-front payment, like rent. Be aware that Affirm's "soft inquiry" to determine your credit won't affect your credit score, but the company doesn't promise not to report your payment history to credit bureaus. To make sure you always pay on time, we recommend turning on automatic payments and confirming that your payment method won't expire over the pay period.

When you shouldn't buy now and pay later

There are times when you should absolutely avoid relying on BPNL:

• Before purchasing with BPNL, consider whether you'd buy that item if you didn't have the option to break up the payment.

• Don't snag something just to hit Affirm's $50 minimum.

• Make a wishlist ahead of time if you have to, and hold yourself accountable. The devil on your shoulder saying "You need this, though" can get louder when something is on sale. Especially during big shopping events like Prime Day, you don't want to cancel out your savings with a serotonin booster that you didn't know existed five minutes ago.

• Impulse purchases may feel less risky at the moment, thanks to tools like Affirm. But they can swiftly feel unnecessary once the Affirm reaper returns for payment month after month. Making a series of small payments can create the harmful illusion that you're spending less money. While that's technically accurate (and admittedly blissful) for the first few months, you'll still be spending the same amount of money by the time you've paid out every installment.

"It Ends With Us," starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, hits theaters August 9.

SAVE $10.99: As of May 16, get the physical edition of Cixin Liu's The Three-Body Problem for $8, down from its normal price of $18.99. That's a discount of 58%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The Three-Body Problem' $8.00 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $10.99 Get Deal

Netflix's hit sci-fi series 3 Body Problem is an intriguing story that had to undergo some significant changes to bring to the small screen. Whether you've already been through the entire show and still have questions, or you're curious what it's about and why there are three bodies anyway, now's a great time to read the book that started it all. You can get it for a fantastic price thanks to the Amazon Book Sale. Reading the inspiration for the show may very well help you understand a bit more about what's going on – if nothing else, it's a good read that you won't be able to put down.

As of May 16, you can get a paperback edition of the first installment of the author's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, The Three-Body Problem, for just $8 at Amazon. That's $10.99 off its original price of $18.99 and a discount of 58%.

There's a lot to unpack with this somewhat complex story, but that'll be much easier with the book in-hand. This is a sci-fi story that's been viewed in the past as "unadaptable," but it made for a thrilling ride when it hit Netflix as an adaptation from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with True Blood's Alexander Woo.

In a nutshell, this first book explores a past, present, and future where Earth comes into contact with an alien civilization from another Solar System-like galaxy with three suns, a representation of the "three-body problem" in orbital mechanics. The phrase refers to predicting the motions of three bodies (in this case the three suns) that interact gravitationally, like our system's sun, earth, and moon. Isaac Newton was the first to study this problem and realized it was very difficult to solve – and it's pretty complicated here, too.

If all that sounds like a fun ride despite the complexity, grab the book while it's still on sale for just $8.