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The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 18 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 18

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, March 18, 2024:

AcrossWhat a bolt icon indicates on a phone camera

• The answer is flash.

Able to move easily and gracefully

• The answer is lithe.

See eye to eye

• The answer is agree.

Big unit of cheese

• The answer is wheel.

Exercise that you might try to get in daily

• The answer is steps.

DownImperfections

• The answer is flaws.

Subject of a revolutionary 1905 paper from Albert Einstein

• The answer is light.

"... sitting in ___, K-I-S-S-I-N-G"

• The answer is atree.

Mindless followers

• The answer is sheep.

Tough shoes to run in

• The answer is heels.

Apple's iPhones might soon get some new artificial intelligence smarts — courtesy of Google.

A new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is talking to Google about bringing the company's AI engine Gemini to the iPhone.

Launched in December last year, Gemini is Google's most powerful large language AI model yet (it also replaced Google Bard in February this year). And despite some serious hiccups at the start, including generating some very unsettling, historically inaccurate illustrations, it is Google's most important and ambitious, public-facing AI project right now.

Should the deal between the two companies come to fruition, Gemini might power some new features on the iPhone this year, though details are absent.

SEE ALSO: Apple to launch a new, 'mid-tier' version of AirPods, report claims

The report also claims that Google held similar talks with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, though nothing is final at this point.

If the deal happens, it would be great news for Google (or, alternatively, ChatGPT), who would gain easier access to billions of iPhone users. On the other hand, it could be a sign of defeat for Apple, who appears to be lagging behind competitors when it comes to AI (the company's own large language model, codenamed Ajax, is reportedly not as powerful as Gemini or ChatGPT).

Featured Video For You How to use ChatGPT from a mobile device

A previous report from Gurman said Apple has big plans for its iOS 18 mobile platform, likely to be announced in June this year, during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and these plans include new AI-related features. The new report claims that if the Apple-Google deal goes through, it's unlikely that it would be announced before WWDC.

Notably, Samsung recently brought some AI features to its Galaxy S24 line of phones, powered by Google's technology. Google's own Pixel phones have a number of AI-powered features as well.

Google currently has a deal with Apple, with Google Search being the default search engine on the iPhone. This has put both companies into trouble with regulators, which may take further action should the AI deal go through.

You've probably come across VPNs. These security services protect your data and identity when you're navigating the online world. They are increasingly important in today's world, as the fight against cyberthreats becomes more serious every day. Of course, not everyone uses these services for boosting cybersecurity.

A lot of subscribers sign up to unlock more content from around the world or give themselves an advantage when gaming.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is an essential service that secures your internet connection, giving you greater control over how your online activity can be tracked, and providing a combination of security (keeping your computer and data protected) and privacy (keeping your identity protected).

So how does a VPN accomplish this? By creating an encrypted connection between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service, that’s how. When you’re connected to the VPN server, all of your network traffic passes through a safe, protected tunnel that no one else should be able to monitor. That's the theory anyway.

Even the very best VPNs will likely have an impact on your connectivity, though, sometimes to the point where lag gets in the way of your gaming — which is unacceptable, particularly if you’re a first-person shooter fan.

Do you need a VPN for gaming?

First and foremost, VPNs should be used to protect your personal information when you're online, and that doesn't change if you're gaming. It's important to remain anonymous as hackers and other online threats can still access your personal details when you're playing your favourite titles. The best way to ensure that you're data is private is with a VPN.

There is an argument that using VPNs can also increase your chances of success when gaming. With games that use skill-based matchmaking, VPNs can help you find easier lobbies. By connecting to a VPN, you can hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks the game into thinking you are based elsewhere. Why is this useful when it comes to games like Call of Duty: Warzone? You can connect to a country with fewer gamers, or connect to a country at a less busy time of the day. This reduces your chances of meeting skilled players.

What is the best VPN for gaming?

So how do you select a VPN when both security and gaming are priorities. You need a VPN that ticks three boxes — speed, ping, and protection — so that when you’re in a virtual life and death situation, lag doesn’t deliver the killer blow.

These are the best VPNs for gaming in 2024.

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

Would you be chill if someone leaked your entire search history to the government? How about if your internet provider made it so that one episode of The Office took an hour to load? If you've had a crisis about anything like this, you've probably considered investing in a VPN.

We know you've probably seen absolutely loads of VPN reviews from experts across the board, but if you wanted a raw opinion — or thousands of them — from people with absolutely no filter, there's only one place to go: Reddit.

You know it makes sense.

What is a VPN?

The bottom line is simple: People don't want other people watching what they're doing online, even if they're not doing anything wrong.

A VPN (virtual private network) is an internet security subscription that basically allows you to make up your own internet rules. It acts as a bodyguard between you and your internet service provider (and hackers, and other third-party weirdos) by hollowing out a personal security tunnel through which you perform all of your internet activities. A VPN's job is to plug the holes that could be making your data vulnerable to nefarious eyeballs, like creeps scouring public WiFi networks for personal information that could be used to steal your identity. VPNs are as wise of a precaution as antivirus software or a password manager (yes, this applies to Macs too). 

Hackers love free WiFi for the same reason you do: Connecting to the internet requires no authentication. That network is littered with unsecured devices, many times belonging to working professionals with bank accounts and business credentials that have phishers frothing at the mouth. Often, the easiest thing for hackers to do is slide in between your device and the connection point. This Man-in-the-Middle situation is like eavesdropping, but on emails, credit card info, and work logins. Other hackers users public WiFi to unleash malware to all of the suckers using the network without protection.

Many people avoid the public WiFi risk by recruiting their phone's hotspot. But on the flip side, data limits might be an issue — setting up a situation where both a laptop and phone need VPN protection. Many Reddit users suggest using something like EasyTether to share the VPN connection. Just download and enable a proxy app on your phone, configure it on your laptop, and you can enjoy a sort of reverse hotspot VPN-style.

Can you access streaming content with a VPN?

The convenience factor also plays a big role. VPNs also provide a way for people to get around internet roadblocks and censors. These can be location-based or around blocks to certain websites set by, say, your workplace.

All decent VPNs offer a wide selection of servers based in multiple geographic locations. Picking one of those essentially tricks your ISP into thinking your device is based there, maneuvering around geoblocks and opening the door to international content, like another country's Netflix or Prime Video library.

What do Redditors think you should look for in a VPN?

The specs that Reddit users care about in a VPN are easy to tally when the same ones pop up in countless subreddits throughout the year. These are the ones that were mentioned the most: 

• App compatibility — Not all VPNs run equally smoothly on every device. Before you sign up, make sure that the VPN app doesn't have major bugs on your operating system. For instance, some mobile VPN apps don't play as well on iPhone as Android, or an app might keep getting killed depending on other apps sucking your phone's battery.

• Jurisdiction — The country in which a VPN is originally based will dictate the privacy laws that a VPN has to follow. Some places are nosier than others, mostly depending on their membership in an intelligence-sharing alliance (or not): The Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes are all but guaranteed to come up in any subreddit about a certain VPN's privacy policy. Countries in these groups have agreements related to third-party sharing and may be following strict data retention laws, depending on their legal jurisdiction. For instance, a VPN can be based in the U.S. but have an office in Switzerland and follow Swiss legal obligations in order to avoid loopholes that make user data vulnerable.

• Kill switch — This cuts your connection to the internet if a secure connection to your VPN drops without notice. This is less likely on a high-quality VPN with a hefty roster of servers that can balance the traffic of millions of users, but far from impossible. By default, your device will switch back to your personal IP address or, worse, a public one. The speedy end-all action performed by a kill switch essentially ensures that you aren't unknowingly operating on a weak IP address. Some kill switches operate in the form of a firewall.

• No DNS leaking — This is a good test of a VPN's trustworthiness. Think of a DNS (Domain Name Service) as the internet's phonebook: It's the service that transfers host names for humans to understand (like Mashable.com) to IP addresses for computers to understand. A leaked DNS essentially blabs your browsing history to whoever's watching on the other end — thus totally defeating the purpose of a VPN. 

• Split tunnelling — VPNs that support split tunnelling let you route some of your traffic through the encrypted VPN tunnel while bouncing other traffic over the internet directly. One might choose to separate less demanding but high-security activities like web browsing from high-bandwidth but low-security activities like streaming or playing video games. Advantages include reduced traffic on corporate networks, better speeds and reduced latency for the chosen tasks, and more customised privacy. If you're looking to tunnel to specific apps, look for an SSL VPN. 

• Streaming dependability — Lots of people want a VPN solely to watch content from other countries, so a VPN's ability to bypass geoblocks and get around a streaming site's VPN blocks is crucial. The speed at which that content streams matters, too (a fast VPN should be able to upscale to HD without lag). Connection speed and location spoofing are dependent on the number of servers and where they're located — more servers means less people hogging a single server's capacity, and various locations means more streaming libraries from around the world. Free VPNs typically don't have the funds to support a robust menu of servers. For obvious reasons, most big streaming services aren't happy about the idea of VPN usage and will probably mention it in their terms and conditions. If they happen to sniff out your VPN-ridden IP address, you're not necessarily in trouble. The most likely repercussions would be the inability to access the streaming platform (even if it just worked the day before), but there have been instances of steaming services terminating subscriptions associated with spoofing.

Keep these points in mind when shopping around for a VPN.

Should you use free VPNs?

Reddit users will let you know that comparing free VPNs to paid VPNs just doesn't make sense. It's like comparing apples to oranges, and you'll almost definitely be skimping on some crucial features by opting out of paying. Proof isn't always provided, but many Redditors are convinced that free VPNs don't follow a true no-log policy or sell your data to third parties. "Free" is sometimes synonymous with "slow" due to fewer servers in fewer locations.

The general consensus seems to be to only use a free VPN to test the waters, then cough up the credit card info. Most times, this can be done through a trusted paid VPN that has a free tier to experiment with, or via a free trial, which many services offer. However, free VPNs can step up to the job for more temporary endeavors — like having access to your home country's streaming services while going abroad for a semester or keeping up with a certain sport for a season. Because paid VPNs only really get affordable when a one or two-year subscription is met, it may not make sense to pay £10 per month for the few months that you need a VPN.

What is the best VPN according to Reddit?

There are a lot of VPN providers out there offering similar packages and sets of features, so it's difficult to pick a favourite. We've tried to help you make an informed decision by picking the brains of well-informed Redditors.

We actually dug through Reddit threads of users discussing their experiences with VPNs, and lined up a selection of the best services based on those conversations. This list includes popular services like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and NordVPN.

These are the best VPNs according to Reddit in 2024.

TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing restrictions to access blocked sites. Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world of porn has once again been thrown into disarray. And it all comes down to access.

Earlier in the year, Pornhub blocked access to users in North Carolina and Montana following the introduction of age verification laws in both states. Users in Montana were required to provide "a digitized identification card" to go through "a commercial age verification system", while North Carolina's law meant that sites had to provide a "commercially reasonable method of age and identity verification".

Pornhub wasn't happy with these new laws, and decided to block access as a form of protest. And now the same thing has happened in Texas. Fortunately, the solution remains the same.

If you want to unblock sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

If you're based in a location with restricted access to porn sites, you'll need to use a VPN to bypass these blockades. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location, bypassing geo-restrictions so you can stream on your favourite sites from anywhere in the world.

Retain access to Pornhub by following this quick and easy process:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to your favourite sites.

If you want permanent access to everything online, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for porn sites is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $105.20 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.

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

At a glance, Immaculate is provocative. Not only does this horror film center on a pregnant nun, but also, its harried heroine is played by Sydney Sweeney, the American actress known for boundary-pushing TV dramas like Euphoria and White Lotus. Even in the film's first trailer, there are signs that Immaculate will tap into nunsploitation terrain, colliding Catholic imagery with sensuality and iconoclastic violence. On those fronts, director Michael Mohan delivers. Yet this grisly bit of pregnancy horror still feels underdeveloped. 

To the credit of screenwriter Andrew Lobel, Immaculate takes a claustrophobic tale of terror and winds it into a metaphor for pregnant Americans whose bodies are subject to the beliefs of a religious authority following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. However, despite dedicatedly ghoulish twists, irreverent spectacle, and some terrific performances, this movie falls short of hitting as hard as it should. 

What's Immaculate about?

Sweeney stars as Sister Cecilia, a novitiate who is preparing to take her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in an Italian convent. There, she will not only devote herself to Christ, but also to the aging nuns to whom this big, stone structure is a hospice. The addled sisters wander the halls, say cryptic things, and occasionally suffer violent outbursts, making for some easy scares. Indeed, jump scares pepper these proceedings. But the heart of the horror here is about Cecilia's faith being used against her. 

After a cheerful montage shows the American sister finding her footing (even as she openly struggles with the local language), Cecilia is shocked to discover that her strange sickness is actually pregnancy. 

She swears up and down to strapping Father Sal Tedeschi (Álvaro Morte) that she is a virgin, and swiftly the doting Mother Superior (Dora Romano) and intimidating Cardinal (Giorgio Colangeli) declare this is a miracle. With an alarming lack of evidence, they unilaterally declare that Cecilia is carrying the Second Coming. But as her belly grows big with child, this dedicated sister begins to doubt if this pregnancy is what she wants. Of course, being surrounded by devout Catholics who believe her role in life is to be the bearer of this child, conflict will arise. 

Sydney Sweeney and Benedetta Porcaroli have terrific chemistry in Immaculate. 

This movie borrows pretty heavily in tone and plot from some massively iconic horror movies regarding pregnancy and female spaces. To reveal some would mean major spoilers. However, the first act, in which Cecilia is giddy to join the sisterhood despite its jealousies and in-fighting, recalls Suspiria (either version, really). The moody lighting of the convent creates a surreal space, where long hours of work and devotion collide with blasts of red details (like face-covering masks) to create a giallo-like hellscape. Also in line with the sinister sorority of Suspiria's ballet academy are a thrilling collection of friends and foes. 

With wide eyes and an openness, Cecilia becomes fast friends with Sister Gwen (Porcaroli), a former sex worker who escaped an abusive relationship by joining the nunnery. Where Cecilia believes it is God who brought her here, Gwen shrugs at whether God even exists. Despite this massive fundamental difference in faith, they click instantly, whether whispering over group meals or sharing a big wooden bathtub while wearing translucent white chemises — allowing for nunsploitation's version of a wet T-shirt contest. 

In sharp contrast to this odd couple is Sister Isabelle (Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi), who glowers so powerfully, even the audience recoils under her glare. Her jealousy over the praise the pretty American nun gets upon her arrival is ominous but also exciting, the first red flag that Cecilia can't see through her rose-colored glasses. Yet the violence Isabelle's attitude forewarns — while shocking — is undercut by a messy middle. 

Immaculate's politics are undermined by favoring salacious spectacle over character. 

The first act of the film introduces compelling characters, even as they lean into dated archetypes of naive virgin, mouthy whore, and jealous zealot. However, in the film's second act, Cecilia's personality is overwhelmed by the script's need to make her a prop. On some level this is clever. Perhaps Mohan is reflecting how she has shifted from person to vessel to the Catholics around her, her life not nearly as valued as the fetus inside her womb. But from a viewer's perspective, it's not just Cecilia's bodily autonomy that is lost as the priests and elder nuns co-opt every decision about her birth plan. It's our access to her innermost thoughts.

Incredibly, while she is given earth-shattering news that not only is she miraculously pregnant but also believed to be carrying Jesus Christ, Cecilia barely has a chance to react. The other sisters fawn or frown or snark, but she gets one single tear to communicate what must be a flood of emotions. 

The third act will pitch her into scenes of violence and much blood, where religious iconography — like a gold cross and a pair of very sturdy rosary beads — will be used as weapons. Undeniably, there's irreverent pleasure in seeing such preposterous assaults. However, the emotional undercurrent is lost because Cecilia feels more like an abstraction than a flesh-and-blood pregnant person.

This makes for a finale that, while explosive, feels more like an arrogant mic drop than a satisfying climax. The plot makes sense both structurally and politically. But the emotional weight was dropped long before the final shot. Plus, message-wise, it's muddling to promote bodily autonomy with the plot but still make a spectacle of the nude bodies of the women trapped within this nightmarish story. Even in a story about our rights to our own flesh, our body is not our own, but that of the world's to goggle. 

Still, props to Sweeney, who not only shows her merit as a leading lady, but also produced Immaculate. While the film wobbles, it shows her fearlessness not only in what she'll take on as an actress (Nude scenes? Blood? Action? Bring it on!), but also delivers an impossible-to-miss message about the sanctity of a woman or pregnant person's right over their own body. This concept is where Immaculate comes alive, and in the third act, from which Sweeney's screams become much more than those of terror. They become a war cry. 

In the end, Immaculate is solid B-movie entertainment, brandishing sex, violence, and gore with a heady mix of irreverence and star power. But despite its proudly presented politics, it could have been more. As I wrote in my Arcadian review (also out of SXSW), when horror is grounded in human stakes and the gnarly tangle of human emotion, it just hits harder. And as Immaculate delivers its final brutal blow, I wish I was more shocked or awed instead of just nodding along. 

Immaculate was reviewed out of SXSW 2024; the movie will open in theaters March 22. 

TL;DR: As of March 18, get Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro together for $49.97 — usually $408.

Upgrading your computer can be a major expense, but with software subscriptions, just having a device that does everything you need costs money. If you're looking for a low-cost way to give your Windows computer an overhaul and get reliable apps for basic productivity, here's a bundle that comes with Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft Office 2019 doesn't have any recurring costs but still comes with older versions of many apps you might rely on every day. Plus, Windows 11 Pro still gives you modern upgrades to security, usability, and aesthetics. 

This whole bundle with Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro is only $49.97, but that's only through March 24. 

Upgrades for productivity and price

This two-part bundle comes with Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro. This version of Microsoft Office may look a little different from what you're used to if you have the most recent versions included in Microsoft 365, but they still work great for everyday tasks. 

This MSO 2019 license lets you install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access on one device for life. Security updates are included, and they connect directly to your Microsoft account. 

Windows 11 Pro gives your computer a total overhaul with new features for security, and usability, and it even changes a few visual details. For security, you can look out for tools like BitLocker device encryption, wake and lock, and support for biometric login. If you like keeping your digital space organized, you might be excited to see expanded support for widgets, snap windows, and smart app control. 

Both parts of this bundle only require a one-time payment for lifetime access. 

Low-cost alternative to Microsoft 365

Here's your chance to upgrade your operating system and get a software suite you only have to pay for once. 

Until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get this Microsoft Office Pro 2019 and Windows 11 Pro bundle for $49.97. No coupon required. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: NERDUSED The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $49.97 at the Mashable Shop
$408.00 Save $358.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: As of March 18, get a lifetime subscription to the Producti AI Pro Plan for only $49.99 — that's 92% off.

In today's world, content is king. Most industries rely on creating content for advertising, marketing, training, and more. Even self-employed vloggers or small business owners need to be able to put their names and voices out there. Hiring professionals to write or design can be too pricey, especially if you are just building your business. 

The advancement of AI has made things infinitely easier for all of the above and more. For example, you can get a lifetime subscription to the Producti AI Pro Plan for just $49.99. That means you have the help and assistance of AI for life for this one reasonable price.

Producti can help in a variety of ways. Whether you want to generate text or images to bolster your website, online store, or social marketing, you can have this platform make it for you within seconds. You can even create helpful chatbots, have a virtual assistant to send emails, and manage other tasks.

You'll even be able to connect with an AI expert to answer questions and help guide you along the way. And if you need to transcribe speech to text or code, this AI tool can do that, too. You will get lifetime access to Producti AI's Pro plan for mobile and desktop, with updates included.

Take control of your workflow and create content more efficiently with this tool.

Save hundreds on a lifetime subscription to the Producti AI Pro Plan while it's on sale for just $49.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xenitha Producti AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.99 at the Mashable Shop
$647.64 Save $597.65 Get Deal

TL;DR: As of March 18, get the iSpyPen PRO camera pen for just $149.97 — usually $198.

If you've ever sat through an 8 a.m. meeting, you probably already know that your memory isn't perfect. Whether you're in class, at work, or just chatting with a friend, it's tough to keep all the little details together. Writing things down is an option, but that means you have to pay attention to what you're listening to and what you're writing. 

A simple solution could be recording, and you don't have to take out your phone to do it. The iSpyPen PRO is a stylish ballpoint pen with a secret. It has a built-in HD camera and microphone, so you can record all those little moments you might normally forget, and it's only $149.97. Don't forget when that price expires, though. This deal only lasts through March 24. 

The pen really is mightier

No more losing track of the important details from meetings. The iSpyPen Pro is a compact camera pen with an HD camera that records from a hidden lens just above the clip. This covert recorder even captures clear audio and has a storage capacity of 128GB. When you want to watch your video back, just take the pen apart and plug it into your computer. Fully charged, you could record for up to 75 minutes, and a charger is included. 

This isn't just a novelty device. The camera records in excellent resolution, and you even have the option to add a timestamp overlay to help you keep track of essential details. Plus, you can still take notes while you're recording. The pen even comes with ink refills, among other accessories including a case, charger, and more. 

A pen that remembers your meetings

Writing notes is one way to remember a meeting, but recording the whole thing means you don't have to try to catch every detail in time to write it down. With the iSpyPen, you can do a bit of both. 

You have until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get the iSpyPen Pro while it's marked down to $149.97. And you don't need a coupon for that price, either. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: ISpyPens iSpyPen PRO 2021 Model (128GB/24-Hour Storage/Black) + Adapter & Battery $149.97 at the Mashable Shop
$198.00 Save $48.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through March 24, get the Flash Pro Plus power bank for only $199.97 — normally $319.

Low batteries are a nuisance, but it's hard to avoid them. You might bring along a cable, but then you have to find an outlet. And if your device has a few years on it, that battery may not be lasting as long as it used to. Always being near an outlet isn't a practical solution. Instead, try bringing the power with you.

The Flash Pro Plus is a versatile power bank with a large battery capacity and the ability to connect to six devices at once. Successfully funded on Indiegogo, this efficient power bank has an OLED display that gives you real-time information about how much power is being directed to each device. Normally, you'd have to pay $319 for this powerhouse of a power bank, but this is your chance to get it on sale for just $199.97 through March 24.

Power up on the go

The Flash Pro Plus may be small, but it's powerful. Literally, it's full of power with a 25,000mAh battery accessible through three USB-C ports, one USB-A output, and two spots for wireless charging. The USB ports all have their max power output labeled beneath them, but you can also check the OLED display to see how much power is being directed to each port. That's also where you can find out how much of your total charge is left. 

The MagSafe-compatible wireless charging spots support 15W devices. The smaller of the two wireless charging pads is magnetic and can securely charge your Apple Watch while you also charge your iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and other devices with cable access. Plus, the whole charger comes with safety features for overcurrent, overvoltage, and short circuits. 

No more low batteries

Keep your batteries full whether you're powering through a long workday or hitting the road on a cross-country trip. 

Until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Flash Pro Plus for $199.97. No coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh Graphene Power Bank w/ Magsafe Compatibility $199.97 at the Mashable Shop
$319.00 Save $119.03 Get Deal

Apple's AirPods are getting a new member of the family.

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claims that Apple plans to launch two new versions of AirPods this year, neither of them "Pro."

In the latest of his newsletters, Gurman said that Apple is preparing for the "biggest AirPods launch to date," with the company planning to produce a record-breaking 20 to 25 million earbuds, with production starting in May and general availability starting in September or October.

Apple is launching two models this year, the report claims. One, codenamed B768(E), is an entry-level model, with the other is codenamed B768(M), with the "M" standing for "mid-tier." Both will be redesigned compared to the current AirPods, with a better fit, and charging cases equipped with a USB-C port. The mid-tier variant will also have active noise cancellation, as well as Find My speakers in the case, which should make it easier to find if you misplace it.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Pro 3: Every single thing we know so far

These are just regular AirPods, not the AirPods Pro. Apple currently sells only one new variant of the AirPods for $179, though the company does also sell the previous generation of the AirPods for $129. Unfortunately, there's no word on the price for the upcoming model.

Apple AirPods $99.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $30.00 Shop Now

As for the AirPods Pro, a new variant is coming "as soon as next year," the report says. Gurman also reiterated his previous report that the new AirPods Pro will get a hearing aid feature.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Pro might get a 'hearing aid' feature soon

Finally, Gurman says an AirPods model that comes out "a few years from now" could come with low-resolution cameras that can scan the environment around the user, with the data then processed via AI to help you out with daily activities.

Twitter/X's AI chatbot Grok is now open source. In a better timeline, I wouldn't have to know any of those words.

Last Monday, Twitter/X owner and xAI founder Elon Musk announced that Grok would soon go open source, making its source code freely available for anyone to access and modify. Now the company has acted on that plan, releasing Grok-1's base model weights and network architecture on GitHub.

"░W░E░I░G░H░T░S░I░N░B░I░O░," the official Grok Twitter/X account posted, mimicking a format frequently used by spam bots claiming to share pornographic images on the platform.

Tweet may have been deleted

In a brief blog post announcing the release, Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI stated that the model being released is from when Grok-1 was in its "pre-training phrase" in Oct. 2023. So while this base model has been trained on "a large amount of text data," it hasn't been fine-tuned to any specific task. This means you're probably better off continuing to use Grok on Twitter/X if you just want to play with a Musk-approved chatbot (and are prepared to shell out your hard-earned cash to become an X Premium+ subscriber).

SEE ALSO: OpenAI shares Elon Musk's emails, says he wanted 'full control' of the company

For those more interested in toying with code, Grok's weights and architecture have been released under an Apache 2.0 licence, meaning anyone is free to modify and redistribute them. In an apparent reference to 1989 sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, the code of conduct accompanying Grok's release reads only: "Be excellent to each other." 

"Grok is a 314-billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model trained from scratch by xAI," wrote xAI. 

Grok was uploaded to GitHub by an account apparently belonging to AI researcher and xAI employee Igor Babuschkin. All you need to do is head over to the website, hit the green " Code" button, and select the format you want it in.

Musk has been pushing OpenAI to go open source

This move comes just weeks after Musk sued Grok competitor OpenAI for not being open source. Musk previously sat on the ChatGPT creator's board of directors, as well as invested several million dollars into the AI research company. Now the billionaire has accused OpenAI of breach of contract, contending that there was a "Founding Agreement" that its artificial general intelligence would be open source, and that the organisation would be run as a non-profit "for the benefit of humanity." 

OpenAI has since refuted Musk's claim, stating that no such agreement existed. It further published emails demonstrating that Musk knew of and agreed with OpenAI's plans to become proprietary rather than open source, as well as its intention to become a for-profit organisation.

"As we discussed a for-profit structure in order to further the mission, Elon wanted us to merge with Tesla or he wanted full control," wrote OpenAI, noting that Musk stated OpenAI had zero chance of success without raising several billion dollars per year.

"Elon left OpenAI, saying there needed to be a relevant competitor to Google/DeepMind and that he was going to do it himself… When he left in late February 2018, he told our team he was supportive of us finding our own path to raising billions of dollars."

Apparently Musk isn't quite as supportive as OpenAI expected, if his lawsuit is anything to go by.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone is on sale for £148.68, saving you 52% on list price.

The barrier to learning a new language is practically non-existent at this point, thanks to the proliferation of free online resources and language-learning software. If you're committed enough, you can even train yourself to be a polyglot all on your own. But if you want structure in your learning and wish to do away with tedious grammar rules to plunge you directly into the practical use of a new language, you could use the guidance of language-learning apps.

Rosetta Stone is an award-winning app that takes out the complexities of language learning. Trusted by organizations like NASA, Calvin Klein, and TripAdvisor, it offers an immersive and intuitive training method to help you become fluent quicker than you'd expect. For a limited time, you can grab a lifetime subscription on sale for £148.68.

Rosetta Stone teaches new languages by mirroring the natural way you learned your first language. Instead of having you watch monotonous video lectures, its training approach kicks off with having you match words and images and then escalates to interactive lessons. Its progressive learning structure offers a comfortable pace, beginning with basic conversational skills like ordering food, hailing a taxi, and shopping. Once you've got a good grasp of the foundation of the language, you then move on to picking up intermediate language skills like discussing pop culture and sharing opinions.

Fine-tuning your pronunciation and diction is also easier with the app's proprietary speech-recognition technology that analyses your words 100 times per second and yields instant feedback. With a subscription, you can learn up to 25 languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Filipino, and French, focusing on one at a time. Before long, you'll be reading, writing, and speaking in your chosen language with confidence.

A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone normally goes for over £300, but you can get it for only £148.68.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone: All languages (Lifetime Subscription) £148.68 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

With the rise of remote and hybrid work, the number of employees working at different times and collaborating across time zones is growing. As a result, you need to develop an increasingly important skill: asynchronous communication. Here are a few tactics that can help. Asynchronous work requires more autonomy. Familiarize yourself with company resources, like […]

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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 March 18'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:

Another name for dinkle wheat.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 #1003 is...

SPELT.

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 March 18'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: The next part

• Green: A group of stars

• Blue: Spirals

• Purple: The One

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: Segment of a Process

• Green: Constellations

• Blue: Spirals in Nature

• Purple: Associated with "One"

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 #281 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Segment of a Process: CYCLE, PHASE, ROUND, STAGE

• Constellations: CYGNUS, GEMINI, ORION, PEGASUS

• Spirals in Nature: CYCLONE, GALAXY, SNAIL, SUNFLOWER

• Associated with "One": CYCLOPS, MONOLOGUE, SOLITARE, UNICYCLE

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.

Reddit is planning on going public. But first, the Federal Trade Commission has to check on some stuff.

The social media company revealed that on March 14, the FTC sent them a letter declaring that the commission would conduct a "non-public inquiry" regarding Reddit's licensing of user-generated data for training third-party AI models, per CNBC. Data licensing is a young business for Reddit, which relies mostly on advertising revenue at this point.

SEE ALSO: Reddit finally files IPO, gives Redditors first dibs on buying stock

Reddit's plan at the moment is to go public on March 21. It is unclear what kind of effect, if any, this FTC investigation will have on those efforts.

As you may or may not be aware, many generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Sora, and Midjourney require a great deal of data to train on. The easiest, and most accessible source for huge data sets like the ones these tools require is the internet. Some companies like Tumblr owner Automattic have been willing to strike deals with AI companies to license data for training. That's what Reddit is trying to do here.

Arguably the most prominent third-party AI model that Reddit has partnered with for training is Google's, which was announced last month. We'll see if it winds up haunting Reddit at some point down the road.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 17 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 17

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, March 17, 2024:

AcrossWord meaning "beverage" that scores 20 points in Scrabble

• The answer is Quaff.

Value of B or C, in Scrabble

• The answer is Three.

The "R" of the state abbreviation R.I.

• The answer is Rhode.

Wear and tear

• The answer is Use.

Evil Spell

• The answer is Hex.

Down15 minutes of an N.F.L. game: Abbr.

• The answer is QTR.

"Sure, sure ..."

• The answer is Uh huh.

Came up

• The answer is Arose.

Company with planes that ship

• The answer is FedEx.

Penalty for using another bank's A.T.M.

TL;DR: Stream Chelsea vs. Leicester City in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The remaining eight teams in the FA Cup will be starting to dream of a famous victory. The problem with those dreams is that everyone wants to win just as much as each other, and only one team can lift the trophy.

Chelsea will be favourites in their clash with Leicester City, but this is the FA Cup. This competition is all about the underdog story.

If you want to watch Chelsea vs. Leicester City in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chelsea vs. Leicester City?

Chelsea vs. Leicester City kicks off at 12:45 p.m. GMT on March 17. This fixture takes place at Stamford Bridge.

How to watch Chelsea vs. Leicester City for free

The match between Chelsea and Leicester City will be broadcast live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 12:20 p.m. GMT on March 17. You can also live stream this FA Cup fixture for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access BBC iPlayer to stream the FA Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a 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 BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Chelsea vs. Leicester City 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 top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the FA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer, 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 always 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.

Watch Chelsea vs. Leicester City for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Watching La Liga for free is not easy, but it's not impossible. Every now and then an opportunity presents itself, and we make some noise about it.

In this case you can watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga without spending anything. You just need to know how to bypass geo-restrictions. And we can help with that.

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

When is Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona?

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 17. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free

The match between Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona will be broadcast live on ITV4. You can also live stream this fixture for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access ITVX to stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona 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 ITVX

5. Stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona 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 ITVX without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, 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 always 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.

Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.