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NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 27

Mashable - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 03:00

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 March 27'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: Corrections

  • Green: Argue

  • Blue: Casino games

  • Purple: Types of chips

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: Update for Accuracy

  • Green: Quarrel

  • Blue: Games of Chance

  • Purple: ___Chip

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 #289 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Update for Accuracy: AMEND, CORRECT, FIX, REVISE

  • Quarrel: FIGHT, ROW, SCRAP, TIFF

  • Games of Chance: BINGO, LOTTERY, ROULETTE, WAR

  • ___Chip: BLUE, COMPUTER, POKER, POTATO

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How much is Spotify Premium in the US?

Mashable - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 00:47

Everything is better without ads ruining the vibe, and your perfect playlist deserves to play on uninterrupted. Don't believe us? As of December 2023, Spotify had more than 230 million Premium subscribers enjoying ad-free songs, podcasts, and audiobooks. Here's how each of the platform's Premium plans break down.

What do I get with a free Spotify account?

You'll have access to Spotify's music library, but you'll have to listen to ads and won't be able to download music to your phone for times when you don't have W-Fi access (like on planes).

What do I get with a Spotify Premium plan?

If you want an ad-free and offline listening experience, Premium is the way to go. You'll get ad-free access to Spotify's entire music library and be able to download music and podcasts to your device. Plus, you have the option to bump up the quality of your audio, play songs in any order, and create a listening queue, none of which are available on Spotify's free plan.

SEE ALSO: Spotify is dabbling in online learning What are Spotify's Premium plan options?
  • Premium Individual (Two months free, then $10.99/month): This plan is for one person and includes all the Premium features.

  • Premium Student (One month free, then $5.99/month): Students at an accredited higher education institution can get 50% off all Premium features for up to 4 years, in addition to access to Hulu's ad-supported plan at no extra cost (a $1.99/ month value for students).

  • Premium Duo ($14.99/month): Two people can each get their own Premium account with Premium Duo. Spotify stipulates that these two people must be living together but, since there's no way for them to know that, you could probably split this plan with a bestie or sibling. You'll also get 15 hours of audiobooks listening time per month.

  • Premium Family ($16.99/ month): This plan offers a discounted rate for families of up to six, and each member gets their own account. One family member, the "plan manager," pays for the plan, manages members, and can set explicit content filters for members.

    This plan is great for parents who want to ensure that their little ones aren't listening to explicit material, or parents who want to give their child their own account in the Spotify Kids app. On the Premium Family plan, only the plan managers get 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to screen record on an iPhone

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 20:56

Sometimes a simple screenshot doesn't suffice.

When you want to show off a new app feature you're experimenting with or need to share a looong conversation with a trusted group of friends, it's better to record a video. If you have an iPhone, recording your screen can be done in a few simple steps. Here's how.

SEE ALSO: How to easily combine photos on an iPhone Total Time
  • Less than 1 minute
What You Need
  • iPhone

Step 1: Add Screen Recording to Control Center

Go to Settings > Control Center and tap the plus sign to add the Screen Recording tool. This enables you to prepare for the next step and easily start recording.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 2: Open Control Center

Open your Control Center on newer iPhone models by swiping down from the upper righthand corner. On iPhone models with a home screen, open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 3: Hit record

Tap the Screen Recording button which is the circle icon of the recording symbol. Once you do this, you'll receive a three-second countdown. You'll know your iPhone is recording when there's a red dot at the top of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 4: Make your video

Now that your iPhone is recording, navigate to what you want to record. Whatever action you perform on the device is being captured, so essentially your iPhone records what you see. To stop recording, tap the red dot at the top of your screen, and then tap the Stop button to end the video.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 5: Find and edit your recording

Once you hit Stop, your recording is automatically saved to your Photos app. From here you can edit it however you would with any other video, like cutting, cropping, or adding filters.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple
Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple confirms dates for WWDC 2024

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 19:36

Try to contain your surprise: Apple is going to hold a big event later this year.

No, not the one announcing new iPhones, though that's inevitable, too. This one will be focused on the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, and the rest of Apple's software suite. That's right, the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference is starting on June 10, per an official announcement from Apple on Tuesday.

SEE ALSO: I used the Apple Vision Pro on a flight to Costa Rica — and it was chaotic Tweet may have been deleted

Apple marketing exec Greg Joswiak gave us the biggest clue as to what to expect in his tweet, with the conspicuous capitalization of "Absolutely Incredible." A CNBC report came out not 24 hours prior to Apple's announcement claiming that the company would have some kind of AI-infused app store available by June. This could be a cornerstone of iOS 18, which we don't know a lot about so far.

WWDC is typically not a hardware event, though it is worth noting that Apple Vision Pro was announced there a year ago. Maybe that'll happen again, but given Joswiak's tweet (and the fact that Apple is generally not that subtle about these things), software might take the forefront yet again in 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse put the internet's conspiracy brain on gross display

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 18:59

In the early hours Tuesday, in Baltimore, Maryland, a massive cargo ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge collapsed shortly thereafter, reportedly plunging eight people into the waters below, six of whom are still missing.

It is a horrific tragedy. It was also caught on live cams and seemingly filmed by nearby witnesses. The footage is bone-chilling.

Yet, nearly immediately, this horrible incident was met with conspiracy theories and people just asking questions despite a complete and total lack of evidence suggesting this was anything but a tragic accident. It puts into stark relief just how broken the internet's collective brain is, and, relatedly, just how much being online has steered folks toward conspiratorial, nonsensical thinking. To a certain subset of people, it appears, nothing can be as it seems — there has to be a nefarious or salacious backbone to any story, no matter how obviously tragic.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Here's a disturbing and sad thought. A couple hours after most of the East Coast woke up — and some eight hours after the accident itself — and the conspiracies are already too numerous to fully count. The octopus' tentacles have already spread. That's the way these things go. Folks latch onto one piece of "info" here, another "thought" there, and the conspiracies get confusing and nearly impossible to comprehend. Think of how something like QAnon bleeds into Epstein conspiracies which fuses with political conspiracies, and forever and ever it goes on.

SEE ALSO: What happens when people talk to their therapists about conspiracy theories? It's tricky.

But soon after the bridge collapse, one popular theory popped up prominently in the comment sections of TikTok videos of the accident. There were lots of just asking questions about how there were so many angles of the collapse. People wondered how witnesses would just know to film at that exact time. Seriously, this type of comment was posted quite a lot on disturbing video footage. How is that peoples' first thought?

Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @toby_jg02 Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @toby_jg02

Let's take a step back and be logical here. Why would there be so many videos? First, the Key Bridge spanned the Baltimore Harbor, which is a major port. There are live cams on the bridge and harbor. Many of the videos seemed to come from those cameras. Also, if you happened to be in the area and awake shortly before 2 a.m. — Baltimore is a densely populated city with people out at all times — you might begin filming when you heard the likely horrific and loud sound of a cargo ship ramming into a bridge. The fact that there are multiple angles of the accident is far from surprising. It's 2024. It's expected, at least if you stop to think about it for a moment. Also, not for nothing, but if some shadowy group or entity was going to do something as horrific as this why would they want to have it filmed? As a famous Baltimore-based show pointed out — "is you taking notes on a criminal conspiracy?" — someone wouldn't purposefully create evidence to incriminate themselves.

But that's where the internet is. If anything happens online — and, well, everything happens online — there are bound to be theories about how things are not as they seem. Think of the recent Kate Middleton debacle, which obviously inspired more mainstream and prevalent conspiracies. Middleton had been diagnosed with cancer and was dealing with it privately, but the online ecosystem wouldn't allow for that vacuum of information. Mashable's Meera Navlakha summarized the emergence of the royal Photoshop chaos and early spin, and Ryan Broderick, who writes the digital culture newsletter Garbage Day, did a good job breaking down how the Middleton theories expanded and got out of control.

Broderick wrote, near the conclusion of the piece:

"Over the last 25 years we have slowly uploaded every part of our lives to a system of platforms run by algorithms that make money off our worst impulses. Well, the ones brands are comfortable advertising around. And for years we have wondered what the world might look like when we crossed the threshold into a fully online world. Well, we did. We crossed it. This is what it looks like."

The Rubicon is well in the rear-view and it means even a tragic bridge collapse or cancer diagnosis is subjected to the often mis-aligned spotlight of the internet's conspirators.

And, by the way, the how were there cameras is far from the only theory and "question" to arise in the hours after the collapse. Conspiracists questioned if DEI were to blame, or Jewish people, or unnamed terrorists. Lots of people wondered how the bridge could collapse just because it was hit, not taking into account, of course, just how massive that a cargo ship really is.

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People suggested in the comments that it could've been intentional or some kind of "distraction" planted by the government.

Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @dailymail Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @joeycontino2 Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @apaynelife757

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, on air, went right from talking about the White House saying there was no evidence of nefarious intent to talking about the "wide open border" in a now-viral clip.

Tweet may have been deleted

This is where we are now. A tragedy is, almost immediately, grist for the internet's mill. You could see the theories shape-shift and grow in real time on Tuesday. The internet has, almost subliminally, taught folks that they can tie a hobbyhorse gripe to any major incident.

To be clear: This is not everyone. Far from it. And that's not to say skepticism isn't warranted online. Especially amid the rise of AI, it's worth stopping for a second to consider what is real and what isn't. It's worth questioning power and the official story. But the internet's predilection for conspiratorial thinking, depressingly, sucks the oxygen out of other, real issues that might be worth questioning. Maybe we should be talking about the degradation of America's infrastructure. But maybe not through the lens of how this accident can be pinned on someone or some thing.

Conspiracy theories, just asking questions, all of this isn't new. We've seen it time and again. The worst things imaginable — Sandy Hook, notably — have all been subjected to it.

But Tuesday morning made clear how impossible it is to escape. How engrained it now is in our culture. Our internet brains, the internet's brain, it's all one and the same.

Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday the Key Bridge collapsed in what all indications suggest was a horrible accident. And before most of Baltimore had gotten out of bed, the internet was already questioning the city's awful reality.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to take screenshots on Windows

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 18:47

Everyone runs into this speedbump eventually.

I get it: You're reading an article or scrolling through your social feeds and you see something you want to share with a friend. Unfortunately, the easiest way to do that would be via screenshot, and you don't actually know how to do that on a Windows PC. The good news is that's really not a difficult problem to solve these days.

Here's how it works.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft adds spellcheck and autocorrect to Notepad on Windows 11 How to take screenshots on Windows

Unlike MacOS, which has a screenshot feature built-in at the OS level, Microsoft has opted to put an app into modern versions of Windows called Snipping Tool. This is the key to taking screenshots on Windows, according to the mothership itself.

Before we get into all the wonders of Snipping Tool, I should mention that there's one way to take screenshots on Windows that has always worked. Simply find the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard and press it to take a screenshot, which should automatically be pasted to your clipboard. For basic screenshots, this might be all you need. Pressing the Windows key + Shift + S will also do this, in case you'd rather press three buttons instead of one.

But for anything a little more complicated, such a screenshot that only includes one window or needs cropping, Snipping Tool is the way to go. You can find it by pressing the Windows key and searching for it in the search bar. Snipping Tool will let you choose what shape you want your screenshot to be, which windows you want to screenshot, or even annotate a screenshot with text or drawings.

If you want, you can always put Snipping Tool on your taskbar, too.

In short, Snipping Tool is the way to screenshot on Windows 11. However, the Print Screen button will work just as well a lot of the time. It's up to you to figure out what's the best method for any scenario. Have fun out there, folks. Just remember to always crop to the point of focus.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Send spring pollen packing for under $150 with this Shark Clean Sense air purifier

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 18:18

SAVE 38%: The Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier is just $149.99 at Amazon, down from the typical price of $239.99. That's a savings of $90.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier $149.99 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

If you deal with allergies from pollen or suffer from itchy eyes on account of a beloved pet's hair, using an indoor air purifier can provide tons of relief. Swap tissue boxes for this Shark air purifier that's discounted at Amazon today.

As of March 26, the Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier is just $149.99, down from the regular price of $239.99. That's a savings of $90 or a 38% discount.

As much as we love our pets and spring flowers, both can cause major allergy issues. From the runny nose to sneezing, pollen and other allergens can linger in indoor air. The Shark Clean Sense air purifier aims to take care of 99.98% of these pesky airborne particles.

Designed for rooms up to 500 square feet, the Shark air purifier uses a HEPA filter to capture the particulate matter that could be the source of respiratory irritation. The size means it's ideal for a bedroom, nursery, or a smaller office. But since it weighs under six pounds, it's possible to move it from the bedroom to the office or the rec room throughout the day without much trouble.

This model features Shark Clean Sense IQ, a digital reading that shows you how clean the room's air currently is. It automatically adjusts power to ensure clean, filtered air. You can also program it to continuously operate at one of four fan speeds.

If you're dreading the congestion that comes with springtime, set up the Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier and enjoy the season thanks to allergen-free indoor air.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' trailer is heaving with snacks and action

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 18:14

Get me a pack of Tropical Fruit Bubblicious and some Skittles because the snack-heavy trailer for Bad Boys: Ride or Die is here.

Screeching into frame in a deeply expensive Porsche Turbo S, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett in the fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise (following 2020's Bad Boys for Life).

This time, the detective lieutenants have a dangerous game on their hands as the late Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) has been framed for corruption by some powerful foes. Soon, the guys on the run themselves.

SEE ALSO: 'Bad Boys 2' is Michael Bay at his best, giving into his worst impulses

Expect plenty of snacks, major action-sequences, and one of the slickest gun-passing camera shots I've seen this week.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die hits cinemas June 7.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Musk's X to pay legal fees to support doctor who sued to silence her critics (and lost)

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 18:05

Since acquiring the company now known as X, Elon Musk has claimed that his social media platform would be one where free speech ideals reigned supreme. In August 2023, Musk went so far as declaring that he would financially support any user who was punished for their speech on X.

"If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill," Musk said. "No limit. Please let us know."

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk and X lose lawsuit against anti-hate nonprofit

This past Sunday, X seemingly shared an example of one such case.

"X is proud to help defend Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill against the government-supported efforts to cancel her speech," X said, going on to say they would pay the remainder of the doctor's $300,000 legal bills. Gill had previously posted that she had raised around half of the amount herself through a crowdfunding campaign, meaning X was going to fund the estimated remainder of $150,000.

Tweet may have been deleted

However, Musk and company left out an important, glaring detail that seems to run contrary to his stated "free speech" beliefs: The lawsuit that Gill lost was one that she filed in an attempt to silence critics from saying things she did not like.

Who is Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill?

Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill is a Canadian physician who published posts in 2020 on X, then Twitter, that presented her COVID vaccine-skepticism and anti-lockdown beliefs in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, in one tweet that Gill posted in August 2020, she said, "If you have not yet figured out that we don't need a vaccine, you are not paying attention. #FactsNotFear."

Gill's posts were highly criticized by the medical community and were covered by journalists with mainstream news outlets.

As a result, Gill sued 23 doctors, journalists, and news outlets, claiming defamation. Some of the individuals that she sued were ones who had posted their criticism in direct response to her on the social media platform X.

The judge dismissed the lawsuit under anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law, deeming that the suit was an attempt by Gill to silence her critics' speech. Gill was ordered to pay the defendants' legal fees, a judgment of $300,000.

X steps in to support Gill

According to X's official statement on its support for Gill, "Elon Musk learned earlier this week about her crowdfunding campaign to pay the judgment," and that's when he pledged to help.

Tweet may have been deleted

In its post, X claims that "free speech is the bedrock of democracy and a critical defense against totalitarianism in all forms" and that "we must do whatever we can to protect it."

"At X, we will always fight to protect your right to speak freely," X's statement ends.

However, X leaves out critical information about this case that makes their position contrary to Musk and company's stated beliefs.

X claims in its statement that Gill was "harassed by the legacy media, censored by prior Twitter management, and subjected to investigations and disciplinary proceedings by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario."

But it was Gill who filed the lawsuit, in an attempt to stifle speech she didn't like, which included posts from her critics on then-Twitter. 

Also, while the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), a regulatory medical body, did "caution" Gill over her COVID posts, those are intended to be educational or remedial measures, not punitive. Gill did not lose her medical license. (In addition, the CPSO was not involved in Gill's lawsuit.)

Tweet may have been deleted

But, X's actions here shouldn't be too surprising. Musk and company just lost a lawsuit of their own — also struck down under anti-SLAPP law — one day after it announced their financial support for Gill. In that case, X sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that tracks hate speech online, over reports regarding X that Musk did not like.

"In support of your right to speak," Musk commented earlier this week regarding X's financial help for Gill.

But, it doesn't seem that Musk extends that "right to speak" to Gill's or X's critics.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Princess Peach: Showtime!' is $10 off with this peachy deal at Woot!

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 17:48

SAVE $10: As of March 26, get a copy of Princess Peach: Showtime! on Nintendo Switch for $49.99. That's a 21% discount and the first we've seen on this new release.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! 'Princess Peach: Showtime!' $49.99 at Woot!
$59.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Mario's had his fair share of adventures. It's time for Princess Peach to have her time in the spotlight. While she starred in the excellent Nintendo DS title Super Princess Peach, she's had very few opportunities to shine on her own. Princess Peach: Showtime! puts the Mushroom Kingdom royalty front and center in a theatrical platforming game on Nintendo Switch. And even though it just debuted on March 22, it's available at a discount that'll make joining Peach on stage that much sweeter.

As of March 26, the Switch exclusive Princess Peach: Showtime! is just $49.99 at Woot! That's $10 off its usual price of $59.99 for a brand-new copy and a discount of 21%.

SEE ALSO: Verizon will give you a free Nintendo Switch (and more) just for switching to Verizon Home Internet in March

Princess Peach is a "pleasant, bite-sized adventure," according to Mashable reviewer Alex Perry, that spans about six to eight hours. With the Sparkle Theater overrun by the evil Grape and the Sour Bunch, it's up to Peach to save the day and the theater with the help of several transformative costumes.

With each level taking on the form of a play, Peach can play plenty of roles including a thief, a swordfighter, a martial arts master, and more. It's glitz and glam throughout and a "solid little adventure," but as Perry notes, it's a bit simple – meaning little Switch fans may get more out of it than adults. But for Peach fans, this one might be considered a must-have.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurry to snag a $100 DoorDash gift card for just $85

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 17:36

SAVE $15: Grab a $100 DoorDash gift card (digital or physical) from Best Buy for just $85. That's a 15% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash $100 DoorDash gift card $85.00 at Best Buy
$100.00 Save $15.00 Get Deal

There's nothing better than ordering dinner in and enjoying a night off from cooking. If you order meals from local restaurants via DoorDash, you'll want to grab this gift card deal from Best Buy today.

As of March 26, a $100 DoorDash gift card (digital or physical) is just $85. That means you'll be saving $15 for grabbing the gift card.

DoorDash is paramount when it comes to the convenience of having a meal arrive on your doorstep. Servings over 4,000 cities in the U.S. and Canada, DoorDash comes to the rescue if you don't feel like cooking or when you deserve a little treat mid-week.

Not only can you order from thousands of restaurants, you can also order DoorDash from the local grocery store to get that one forgotten item needed to make the birthday cake you're working on. You can also order pet supplies or a few quick items from the convenience store.

Whether you use DoorDash weekly or plan to use it sometime in the future, snag a $100 gift card for you or a loved one at Best Buy for just $85. Free money is the best money.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This drone could be the key to learning more about our oceans

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 17:33

With 71% of the Earth covered in water, we still know less about the ocean floor than the surface of Mars. Hydrus aims to be the solution. Hydrus is a fully autonomous underwater drone that makes underwater data capture more detailed and accessible. Developed by Advanced Navigation, this compact drone uses intuitive software to build underwater 3D maps of oceanic sites and inspect marine life and structures. An AI navigation system and a 4k camera allows Hydrus to explore the unknown. Hydrus surveyed one shipwreck, just off the coast of Perth that was located 60m below sea level. According to the Western Australian Museum it was the most complete and comprehensive survey of the shipwreck to date.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prep for summer backyard season by getting 20% off on select Solo Stoves

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:46

Fans of spending time outdoors have recently been treated to something pretty special — outdoor fires that have minimal smoke. For those who've ever played an endless game of musical chairs to avoid sitting in the smoke plume, these sale prices at Solo Stove will be enticing as summer season rolls around.

Best sale items at Solo Stove today Best deal for the outdoor chef Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven $279.99 at Solo Stove with code FAST20 (save $70) Get Deal Best deal for those who prefer the indoors Cinder Tabletop Bowl $31.99 at Solo Stove with code FAST20 (save $18) Get Deal Best backyard ambiance deal Solo Stove Mesa Torch (3-pack + 1 bonus torch) $159.99 at Solo Stove with code FAST20 (save $119.99) Get Deal

Solo Stove is in celebration mode and they've invited all of us to the party. Fast Company recently awarded Solo Brands 2nd place on the list of the Most Innovative Companies of 2024. To commemorate the achievement, Solo Stove is offering 20% off on some of the brand's most innovative products that earned them this prestigious award by using the code FAST20 at checkout. Here are some of our favorite Solo Stoves to shop during this limited-time sale that ends on March 31.

Best deal for the outdoor chef Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Our pick: Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven $279.99 at Solo Stove
$349.99 Save $70.00 use code FAST20 Get Deal Why we like it

How does a flame kissed pizza in 90 seconds sound? The Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven is the outdoor summer chef's dream. Using propane, the Solo Stove Pi Prime has a demi-dome design for efficiency. Just preheat for 15 minutes, get that pizza on the included pizza stone, and you'll be serving up pizzas with endless topping combos all summer long. The oven also comes with an included shelter for protection from those summer storms.

Best deal for those who prefer the indoors Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Our pick: Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl $31.99 at Solo Stove
$49.99 Save $18.00 use code FAST20 Get Deal Why we like it

Not much of an outdoor person? Solo Stove has something just for you. The Cinder Tabletop Bowl is designed for using indoors with a compact size that lends itself to easy storage. Ideal for when a s'mores night is on the calendar but the weather isn't cooperating, the Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl uses a heat-resistant base and durable concrete construction, making it more stable for indoor use.

Best backyard ambiance deal Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Our pick: Solo Stove Mesa Torch (3-pack + 1 bonus torch) $159.99 at Solo Stove
$199.99 Save $40.00 use code FAST20 Get Deal Why we like it

Set the summer mood with the Solo Stove Mesa Torch to get transported to your favorite tropical island. A three-pack of Mesa Torches typically sells for $199.99, but thanks to the discount code FAST20, you'll be scoring the pack for just $159.99. To sweeten the deal, a three-pack is currently eligible for an additional free Mesa Torch which means you'll wind up with four in total.

The Mesa Torches can be set to two height options to match the look you're going for, and the weather-resistant steel means you won't have to worry about them getting a little summer drizzle.

More Solo Stoves eligible for the FAST20 discount code
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch England vs. Belgium online for free

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:42

TL;DR: Watch England vs. Belgium for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Euro 2024 is not too far away, so international friendly matches are taking on greater significance as participating countries look to sharpen up and build momentum. England and Belgium will both believe that they can go far in this summer's tournament. But first, they meet at Wembley.

If you want to watch England vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England vs. Belgium?

England vs. Belgium kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on March 26 at Wembley Stadium in London, UK.

How to watch England vs. Belgium for free

Fans can watch England vs. Belgium live on Channel 4, with free live streaming also available online.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access Channel 4 from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Channel 4 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 the UK

  4. Visit Channel 4

  5. Stream England vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to Channel 4 without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream England vs. Belgium before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 94 countries including the UK

  • 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

  • Up to five simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream England vs. Belgium for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Wales vs. Poland online for free

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:42

TL;DR: Stream Wales vs. Poland in the Euro 2024 play-off final for free on S4C Online. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wales are just one game away from securing their spot in Euro 2024. That seems straightforward enough, but Poland and Robert Lewandowski stand in their way. It's going to be a big challenge for Robert Page's side, but if we've learnt anything from Wales in recent campaigns, anything is possible.

If you want to watch Wales vs. Poland for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wales vs. Poland?

Wales vs. Poland kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on March 26 at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

How to watch Wales vs. Poland for free

Wales vs. Poland will be shown live on S4C, S4C Online, and Viaplay Sports 1. 

S4C Online is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access S4C Online from anywhere in the world.

Unblock S4C Online 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 the UK

  4. Visit S4C Online

  5. Stream Wales vs. Poland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to S4C Online without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Wales vs. Poland before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for S4C Online?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking S4C Online, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including the UK

  • 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

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Wales vs. Poland for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Snag an M1 MacBook Air at one of the best prices we've seen while you still can

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:40

SAVE $300: As of March 26, the M1 Apple MacBook Air is just $699 at B&H, which is $300 off the usual price. We've only seen it listed at this price once before, so you should probably hop on this deal while you still can.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air (M1) $699.00 at B&H
$999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Even if you need a new laptop, you may not need a new laptop, if you know what we mean. Sometimes it's okay, if not ideal, to dip into the annals of laptop history and pick up a device that dates back one or two generations.

Case in point: The 2020 M1 MacBook Air is still a fantastic laptop to this day, and it's currently sitting at one of the lowest prices we've ever seen. Head on over to B&H and pay just $699 for one, a full $300, or 30%, off the usual price. The only other time we've seen it at this price was in early March, so you can definitely consider this a rare find.

SEE ALSO: Here's when to buy a laptop, whether you need the latest specs or a great deal

For a four-year-old laptop, the M1 MacBook Air still brings a lot to the table and fits comfortably among the best MacBooks on the market. Sure, you'll be giving up some processing power compared to the later models, but you'll still be able to handle your usual web browsing, editing, productivity, and streaming apps with ease. You'll also get that super quiet, fanless design, and solid battery life of up to 18 hours (depending on what you use it for). And all these years later, that display still looks great.

For $699, it's a steal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score a refurbished Xbox Series X for just $299 at Woot!

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:25

SAVE $100: As of March 26, get a refurbished Xbox Series X for $299.99 at Woot!, which is 29% off its standard refurbished price of $399.99 at most retailers. It's also about $200 less than purchasing a brand-new Xbox Series X.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! Xbox Series X (refurbished) $299.99 at Woot!
$399.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you love to play video games but don't have an Xbox Series X just yet, this may be your lucky day. The console, which has an extensive back catalog and the option to subscribe to an even bigger selection of games with Xbox Game Pass, is on sale today — if you don't mind buying refurbished.

As of March 26, you can get a Grade A refurbished Xbox Series X at Woot! for just $299.99. That's $100 off, or a 29% discount, on the typical $399.99 refurbished price elsewhere. It's also $200 off the normal Xbox Series X price when purchased new, as it typically goes for around $500. Grade A at Woot! is described as "as close to new as you can get" and has been factory reconditioned by the original manufacturer or a certified partner. It also comes with a manufacturer warranty or a Woot! warranty and a 30-day return window.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming headset for the Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful current iteration of the Xbox you can get. With 12 teraflops of graphic processing power, support for 4K and 8K gaming, and 120 FPS with 3D spatial sound, it's a great buy no matter how you slice it. It also has a massive 1TB hard drive so you can hang on to all the games you want and swap between them at will.

This Woot! deal will likely sell out fast for this discounted price, so grab yours while they're still available. The sale will be up for a month or until supplies sell out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon Pharmacy launches same-day prescription delivery in New York and LA

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 16:11

Amazon Pharmacy is expanding its services, now offering same-day delivery for prescriptions in New York and Los Angeles.

The company, which launched its online pharmacy in 2020, announced that the service is rolling out in New York City and the greater Los Angeles area. Customers who require medication to treat "common conditions", like the flu, high blood pressure, diabetes, can access the service to have the medication delivered within hours.

The service has already been available in select U.S. cities since October, available to customers in Seattle, Miami, Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Austin. Those in College Station, Texas are able to have prescriptions delivered via drone within an hour of placing an order. Amazon plans to roll out same-day delivery to a dozen other cities in the country over the next year.

SEE ALSO: Health insurers can't rely on AI to decide Medicare coverage, according to new federal guidelines

Amazon Pharmacy allows customers to shop by condition, displaying which medications are available, whether prescriptions are required, and also whether a person's health insurance is required or eligible to cover the cost of said prescription. The service is available in all 50 cities, including the District of Columbia.

As Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz wrote back in 2020, "Basically, Amazon upended the way we buy almost everything. It wants to do the same for medicine."

Amazon says the new same-day service is outperforming traditional delivery speeds, with an industry standard of up to two weeks. The tech giant is investing heavily into the factors needed to fuel this service, like new small-format facilities stocked with medications, the use of drones, and implementing artificial intelligence tools to help pharmacists fill prescriptions more quickly.

"The current pharmacy experience is broken, with patients facing long pharmacy lines and unexpected prices at the counter," says Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer for Amazon Pharmacy, in a statement. "Amazon Pharmacy is tapping its world-class logistics network, along with a variety of cutting-edge technologies, to change that."

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to stack emojis in iMessage

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 15:14

Emoji stacks are all over TikTok and Instagram reels, but putting one together isn't super straightforward. Just check out the comments, where folks share that their failed stacking attempts resulted in sending a dozen random emojis to the group chat. Oops!

Here's how to get the hang of emoji stacking in just a few minutes.

Total Time
  • 3 min.
What You Need
  • iPhone

Step 1: Open the emoji keyboard in iMessage.

Open iMessage, select a conversation, and tap the text field as if you were about to write out a message. Tap the emoji button (the smiley face) on the lower left corner of the keyboard to open the emoji keyboard.

Step 2: Choose your base emoji.

Find an emoji you like then tap, hold, and drag the emoji into the empty text field to create a sticker. This is your "base" emoji and cannot be changed, so choose wisely! Press send.

Step 3: Add layers of emojis.

Once your base emoji has been sent, scroll through your emoji keyboard to find emojis you'd like to layer on top of it. You're going to tap, hold, and drag each emoji onto your base emoji. You can repeat this process as many times as you'd like.

Step 4: Reposition an emoji.

To reposition an emoji in a stack, press down on it and move it to a new location by releasing it when it's in the right place. You can also adjust the size of your emoji by pinching it as it's pressed.

Step 5: Delete an emoji from a stack.

To remove an emoji from the stack you've built, tap and hold the base emoji until a menu appears. Select "Sticker Details" and swipe left on any emoji to delete it.

Want to see stacking in action? Check out these Instagram and TikTok videos from folks who already have the hang of it:

View this post on Instagram
Categories: IT General, Technology

'3 Body Problem': What do the aliens actually look like?

Mashable - Tue, 03/26/2024 - 15:14

Netflix's 3 Body Problem is a show that leaves us with a lot of questions at the end of its first season. How different are Liu Cixin's books, upon which the show's based? What does the joke that Dr Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) tells Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) really mean?

But one of the biggest question marks has to be over the San-Ti themselves — the alien race making their slow and steady way to Earth in order to find a (gulp) new home. Although we hear them speaking in the show (via a human voice and in their VR game), we never actually see their true forms. So what do the creatures coming to wipe out the human race actually look like? What clues are there in the show, and in Cixin's novel trilogy?

SEE ALSO: What exactly is the three-body problem in '3 Body Problem'?

The first part of this article contains spoilers for Season 1, while the latter contains spoilers for Cixin's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy upon which any future season will be based. Tread carefully!

What are the San-Ti?

The San-Ti are a technologically advanced alien race that live on a chaotic, dying world. Their home is part of a system of three suns, resulting in the planet experiencing extreme weather conditions whenever it enters more than one orbit at a time. During these events, known as "Chaotic Eras", the San-Ti have the ability to dehydrate themselves in order to enter a kind of hibernation. When the planet is stable again the surviving San-Ti can wake the others from hibernation by popping them into a body of water so that they come back to life.

Some characters see a human-looking version of the San-Ti in a VR game. Credit: Netflix What do the San-Ti look like?

Although various characters in 3 Body Problem speak with and interact with the San-Ti via a virtual reality game, their true forms are kept hidden.

In episode 5, Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham) and Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) place on their alien VR headsets and are transported to a ruined desert world, where they're greeted by a warrior who appears as a representative for the San-Ti in the game world. When Wade asks who the warrior is, Jin responds, "An AI. Or one of them."

"They look like us?" asks Wade.

"We don't look anything like this," responds the warrior. "This is all for your benefit."

"What do you really look like?" asks Wade.

"You wouldn't like it," comes the reply.

SEE ALSO: '3 Body Problem': Why John Bradley's character is the best and worst part of the show

This is one of the only clues we're given as to the San-Ti's true form. Basically, nothing like humans. So different, in fact, that even the sight of them might disturb us. We also know, from a conversation Mike Evans (Jonathan Pryce) has with the San-Ti in episode 4, that they communicate through thought. Maybe this means they don't have mouths, or perhaps any recognisable facial features at all?

The only other clue we have from the show is the dehydration element. The San-Ti are able to dehydrate and then rehydrate, which means they must have a physical body of some kind, right? Interestingly, there are actually some creatures on Earth that have a similar ability: Tardigrades, which are microscopic eight-legged creatures, are also able to survive for years in a state of suspended animation if they undergo extreme dehydration. Maybe the San-Ti look a bit like them?

This is a Tardigrade. It, too, can dehydrate into a kind of hibernation. Credit: Sebastian Kaulitzki / Science Photo Library

Update: Mashable spoke to 3 Body Problem showrunners David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo about what the aliens might look like, and whether we'll see them in future seasons of the show.

What do Liu Cixin's novels tell us about what the aliens look like?

If you're hoping for an easy answer in Cixin's novels, you're going to be disappointed. Although there are a few hints dropped here and there about the aliens (known as Trisolarans in the books), they're never described explicitly. The best clue we get in the books, just like in Season 1, is their ability to dehydrate.

It seems as though Cixin went with the philosophy that something imagined is often more mysterious than something clearly described.

But if we are going to imagine them, then maybe the humble Tardigrade is the best place to start.

How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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