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The best Apple TV+ deals for watching 'Palm Royale': BEST FREE TRIAL Apple TV+ 3-month trial via Best Buy free for new or returning subscribers (save $9.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR T-MOBILE/SPRINT CUSTOMERS Apple TV+ free for select T-Mobile and Sprint customers (save $9.99/month) Get Deal MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD Apple TV+ free 7-day trial, then $9.99/month Get Deal BEST FOR MOST PEOPLE Apple TV+ annual subscription $99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

Palm Royale, one of our most anticipated shows of 2024, hits streaming this month. Judging by the star-studded cast, this high society underdog comedy is sure to be a hit.

Set among the upper crust of Palm Beach in 1969, Palm Royale stars Kristen Wiig and Laura Dern, who also serve as executive producers on the show. The impressive ensemble cast also features Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Kaia Gerber. Plus, the legendary Bruce Dern and the iconic Carol Burnett show up as guest stars.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Palm Royale — including the best streaming deals for Apple TV+.

What is Palm Royale about?

Palm Royale follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig) as she desperately tries to break into Palm Beach high society in the late '60s. Loosely based on the novel Mr. and Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel, an Apple TV+ press release calls it "a true underdog story." Maxine is willing to do just about anything to become a member of the exclusive club, and in her pursuit, the secrets and lies that hold the elite society together begin to unravel.

Per Apple TV+, "As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, “Palm Royale” asks the same question that still baffles us today: 'How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?'"

Check out the official trailer to get a glimpse into the Palm Royale, aka "the most exclusive club in the world."

When does Palm Royale start streaming?

The highly anticipated series will debut globally on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes airing on March 20, 2024. New episodes will be available every Wednesday through May 8, for a total of 10 episodes.

How to watch Palm Royale on Apple TV+ for free

Once one of the cheaper streaming services, Apple TV+ suffered a dreaded price hike near the end of 2023, bringing its $6.99 per month fee up to $9.99 per month. However, it's still one of the only streamers that offers new and returning viewers ways to try out the service without paying a cent. Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite ways to get Apple TV+ for free.

Best overall: Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free via Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy / Apple TV+ Apple TV+ Free 3-month trial, then $9.99 per month Get Deal

If you're new or returning to Apple TV+, you can secure three months of streaming for free by signing up through Best Buy. You'll have to enter your credit card information (don't worry; you won't be charged) and proceed with checkout as you normally would. After checkout, Best Buy will send you an email with a digital promotion for three free months of Apple TV+. Open the email and click "Redeem now." Then, enter your Apple ID information (or create one) and the promo code will automatically unlock three free months (plus an extra week). I can vouch for this method — I've already unlocked the free trial myself.

Just remember that once your free trial ends, you'll automatically be charged $9.99 per month unless you cancel. New subscribers can also score three free months of Apple TV+ with the purchase of new Apple hardware, so long as you claim the deal within 90 days of your purchase.

Best for T-Mobile/Sprint customers: Get Apple TV+ free with select T-Mobile plans Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile Apple TV+ Free for select T-Mobile customers Watch Now

Select T-Mobile (and former Sprint) customers can stream Palm Royale and other Apple TV+ content for free as long as their accounts remain in good standing. Others can score six or 12 months for free before eventually having to pay the $9.99 per month cost. Check the FAQs over at the T-Mobile website to see if you qualify for the promotion.

The following plans include Apple TV+ at no extra cost:

• Go5G Next

• Go5G Plus

• Magenta MAX

• Magenta MAX Welcome

• Magenta Plus

• Magenta Amplified

• ONE Amplified

• ONE Plus

The following plans include Apple TV+ for 12 months (renews at $9.99 per month):

• Sprint MAX

The following plans include Apple TV+ for six months (renews at $9.99 per month):

• Go5G

• Magenta

• Sprint ONE

Most straightforward: Free 7-day trial with Apple TV+ monthly subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV+ Apple TV+ Free 7-day trial, then $9.99 per month Watch Now

If you don't want to enter your credit card information through Best Buy, you can still enjoy a free trial to Apple TV+ before committing. Unfortunately, it's only a week-long trial, as opposed to three months, but to each their own. New and returning subscribers can stream for the first seven days for free, then they have to pay $9.99 per month to sick around for the rest of the season. Cancel at any time to avoid further charges.

Apple TV+ deals for existing subscribersBest for Apple fanatics: Bundle Apple TV+ and other apps with an Apple One subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Apple One Apple One Starting at $19.95 per month Watch Now

If you want more bang for your buck, you can bundle your Apple TV+ subscription with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ starting at just $19.95 for an individual account. That ultimately saves you $9 per month. If you're new to any of the apps, you'll get your first month of each for free, including Apple TV+. It's probably not the best option for those only looking to watch Palm Royale and move on, but if you're an Apple fanatic, bundling your apps with Apple One is definitely a good way to keep more money in your pocket.

Best for everyone else: Apple TV+ annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV+ Apple TV+ annual subscription $99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

If you're already an Apple TV+ subscriber looking to save some money, or you're a returning subscriber who doesn't qualify for the free trial options, opt for an annual subscription over a monthly subscription. Dishing out $9.99 per month equals $119.88 over the year, but paying outright for the whole year will only cost you $99. That's 17% in savings. The thing is, you'll have to go in and switch your subscription manually. Open your Apple subscriptions in Settings on your device, choose Apple TV+, and select "See all plans." For there, you can choose to pay "per year" instead of "per month" and save some money.

Everyone knows that Apple products tend to cost a pretty penny, and MacBooks and iMacs are no exception.

If you'd rather avoid spending $1,100 on entry-level specs, we have great news: you can save hundreds on an Apple laptop or computer multiple times a year. That means if your laptop is on its last leg, you don't have to hold out until next November to make an upgrade that won't hurt your bank account. (And tbh, Apple's annual gift card incentive around Black Friday isn't anything to write home about anyway).

SEE ALSO: Your MacBook is filthy. Here's how to clean it.

We've been tracking Apple deals weekly for over two years, so we know what tends to go on sale and when. Plus, we know what MacBook deals are actually worth jumping on, and which "markdowns" are basically the regular price. Check out this list of the top three times of year to find the best prices on a MacBook or iMac, based on our historical deals knowledge:

Time #1 to get a deal on a Mac: Black Friday and Prime Day seasons

Months: Early to mid-July, October through November

We know, shopping holidays are a great time to save money, groundbreaking. However, we're not talking about Apple's annual Black Friday deal, which is the same every year: Buy a laptop or iMac, get a free gift card to use on a future purchase. It's a little lackluster, and not all that great for saving money upfront.

If you want real savings during shopping holidays, you'll want to look to retailers like Amazon and Best Buy during Black Friday and Prime Day seasons. At first glance, that may seem like you have to keep your eye on the calendar for a few select days throughout the year, but these retailers have decided that time is meaningless when it comes to sales. That means you'll start to see Black Friday savings as early as October, and Prime Day savings for a week or so around July. (Prime Day has spanned two days the past few years, but usually brings the deals heat in the weeks leading up to the official sale).

Despite hitting the market only weeks prior, the M3 MacBook Pros saw good discounts last Black Friday. Credit: Apple

During these sales, it's not uncommon to see MacBooks from the cheapest Airs to the most souped-up Pros on sale for $150 off or more. They're great deals, but they can also be harder to score because the general public know these are the times to shop for a Mac. If you see a good deal, don't hesitate too much. Our advice? Know what models you're interested in before these sale events kick off, and keep your eye on them.

SEE ALSO: M3 MacBook Pro 14-inch review: Why you should buy this Apple laptop

As a final note, Black Friday season is a reliable time to catch the initial sales on any fall Mac releases. Last fall, M3 and M3 Pro MacBook Pros dropped in October, and by November, were already on sale for $150 off. These likely won't be the steepest deals you'll see in the year or so lifespan before a newer chipset and Mac come out, but they can be impressive considering how recent the releases are.

Time #2 to get a deal on a Mac: Back-to-school season

Months: June through early October

Apple offers educational pricing year-round for current or newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. These prices knock $100 off the price of their laptops and computers. It's not a massive markdown, but it beats full price.

However, if you fall into one of the above demographics, that's not your only chance to save directly through Apple. They also run a special back-to-school sale from the summer to the early fall. In 2023, it ran from June 5 to Oct. 2, so you'll have plenty of time to decide what model Mac to pick up. The major downside is that similar to the Black Friday sale, Apple's BTS offer isn't an off-the-face price cut — you'll receive an Apple gift card proportional to the value of the product you're buying for use on future purchases. In 2023, this is how the pricing broke down:

• 24-inch iMac: receive a $150 Apple gift card

• MacBook Air: receive a $150 Apple gift card

• MacBook Pro: receive a $150 Apple gift card

• Mac mini: receive a $100 Apple gift card

Also like Black Friday, Apple doesn't tend to adjust gift card values drastically, if at all, from year to year, so we expect to see essentially the same offer this year. Considering MacBooks are some of our favorite laptops for students, we see this as a deal worth a second look, but with stipulations.

SEE ALSO: Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro is getting a key new feature soon

If you're not planning on making another Apple purchase (gift cards can be used on App Store purchases, in-app purchases, more Apple tech, and subscriptions like iCloud+ or Apple TV+), you might want to wait for a sale at another retailer. Chances are, places like Amazon and Best Buy will also want to draw in the back-to-school crowd, so there might be greater markdowns there — but you likely won't a ton of flexibility on specs. A MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, for instance, might be $150 off, but a model with 16GB of RAM might not be on sale at all.

The gift card incentive is also good for anyone who has a pair of AirPods or a paid note-taking app on their back-to-school list, too.

Time #3 to get a deal on a Mac: After new releases are announced

Months: Can vary

This tip isn't unique to Apple products, but it doesn't make it any less useful for grabbing a Mac for a little less cash. Typically, after Apple announces the latest models, they drop the prices on older generations.

Technically, this isn't a deal in the strictest sense of the word, but it'll still save you money. Take for instance the recent announcement of the 13-inch and 15-inch M3 MacBook Air. On March 4, Apple put it up for pre-order on their online store, and right alongside the new laptop was a $100 price drop on the 13-inch M2 Air.

The price of the M2 MacBook Air has dropped twice following releases of upgraded MacBooks. Credit: Apple

The price only fell from $1,099 to $999, so it's not a drastic difference, but if you were already planning on grabbing the M2 Air, waiting for this newer gen saved you at least $100. Plus, a new list price means future sales will net you even more bang for your buck.

You don't necessarily need to wait for the exact same model to get a newer counterpart to see a price drop. Allow us to explain, again with the M2 MacBook Air. Last June, Apple announced the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air at a starting price of $1,299. At the time, the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air had been out for just under a year, and cost $1,199. The larger model brought a price cut to the smaller and slightly older model.

SEE ALSO: Apple's M2 MacBook Air is a super-fast WFH companion with a dreamy keyboard

Price cuts aren't always determined by Apple itself. A new Mac usually means the discontinuation of an older one. In the case of the M3 Air release, Apple discontinued the 15-inch M2 Air and M1 Air from 2020. Though you can no longer buy either at the Apple Store, at the time of writing they're both still available at Amazon and Best Buy for sale prices that beat their average markdowns.

And if you're sensing a theme here, yes, it's better more often than not to skip the Apple Store in favor of other retailers if you're looking to save some serious dough.

Final tips for saving money on a Mac1. Keep an eye out for random sales

While the whole point of this guide is that there are ideal times to grab a Mac on sale, we're going to be honest: sometimes there are very random, very good sales on Macs for seemingly no reason.

Obviously, this is a bit trickier to plan for, but rest assured, if there is a Mac sale worth knowing about, we're writing about it, so we recommend following our deals coverage.

2. Some Macs go on sale more frequently than others

This tip likely goes without saying, but some models rarely go on sale. General trends we've seen are that iMacs tend not to go on sale as frequently as MacBooks, and anything above the starting specs on a MacBook, especially if you're looking for upgraded memory, are much trickier to find on sale regularly.

We say this just to encourage a little healthy expectation setting as you embark on your search for a discounted Mac.

March Mindfulness is an annual Mashable series that explores the intersection of meditation practice and technology.

What does whipping up a nice bowl of creamy guacamole have in common with pushing your child on the swing set, and with just plain old walking around?

Answer: they're all perfect opportunities to meditate with eyes wide open, according to Gwyneth Paltrow. And the famed actor and Goop guru isn't wrong, even if some of her examples say as much about her as the practice of mindfulness.

Practicing awareness by meditating in our busy, everyday-life moments — with eyes alert, not just when we have our eyes closed on a yoga mat or pillow, in other words — is pretty much the definition of mindfulness. But most meditation apps treat meditation as devotional. "Close your eyes," their meditations often instruct. The apps have been slow to, uh, reach awareness on eyes-open meditation — this recent blog post from Calm being a notable exception.

Now here comes Moments of Space, an app that's technically been around since 2022, but seems to keep overhauling itself in search of a reason to stand out from the crowd. A new focus on eyes open meditation is one good one; its AI-assisted daily meditation practice, quietly launched last week, may be another.

The coordinated launch of Paltrow's partnership with the app, however, was not so quiet.

'Really changed my life'

"The eyes open meditation practice has really changed my life," Paltrow said during an embargoed webinar for the media. "I find all day, every day, I can just steal a few minutes here and there. I can be at my desk, walking down the hall, on a Zoom, and I can meditate."

Which is great, so far as it goes. The app's new celeb collaborator led a short eyes open meditation as example, briefly held up by Paltrow needing her team to bring her a script (she's a self-proclaimed newbie to the practice). And then raised more questions than she answered by describing a "charged work experience" in which she began to open-eye meditate in order to reduce her "reactionary impulses." No further details were forthcoming.

Paltrow leads a series of similar meditations on the app, incorporating an against-the-grain philosophy of eyes-open, visually-oriented meditation. Presumably, she doesn't spill on which Hollywood co-star or Goop executive infuriated her. Access to Paltrow's meditations was requested, but the company would only provide them after the official launch time. We've investigated the walking meditations the app does already provide; more on that in a moment.

Paltrow famously devotes large sectors of her life to meditation, but just as famously devotes herself to distracting hype around various wellness products. Can she bring it out of the realms of woo-woo or fad, and back to the helpful mindfulness of everyday moments?

Based on the app's new promotion reel, the evidence is mixed, the message muddy. A mindful explanation of mindfulness this ain't.

"What do you see?" Paltrow's disembodied voice says to her eyes-open self, which is calmly sitting in what looks like a wood-paneled co-working space. "I see a pathway toward infinite space, connecting me with everything and everyone," replies one man.

Um, okay?

"I see the energy in every action," says someone else.

Sure, but that's not really —

"I see myself, but differently," retorts a nameless woman, perhaps the one on screen floating peacefully in a lake.

"I see more of each and every moment," Paltrow concludes, back in the not-WeWork. "And all I have to do is open my eyes."

Eyes Wide Open, the app

The app's founder, Kim Little, explained the concept of eyes-open meditation a little more directly than Paltrow.

Citing its foundations in Dzogchen and Mahamudra Tibetan Buddhism, backing it up with psychological principles, Little says eyes-open meditation involves learning to see past our visual distractions and find calm amid sensory stimulation.

"Modern society is defined as distraction," Little said, noting our devotion to screen time while staring at us on a screen. "Visual distraction is one of the most powerful forms." And yet "shutting off the visual sense" — that is, by treating meditation as a devotional practice, the way most apps do — "means we don’t learn mindfulness where we need it most."

Visual meditation works with the problem of modernity, not against it, Moments of Space argues. It is a "more practical, more accessible, more relevant" option for a distracted age.

"We approach meditation through separating off time from our day," says Little. "The problem is, even if we find the time, the effects tend to fade. The 20 minutes of mindfulness competes with 16 hours of mindless practice. We need a 'little but often' approach to meditation."

Using the "abundance of time" that fills the more mindless moments of our day — like brushing our teeth, commuting, or doing chores — people can more easily incorporate the bite-sized ethos and self-regulate better.

A quick review Credit: Moments of Space Credit: Moments of Space

How does Moments of Space work in practice? Well, as with the Paltrow ad, there are some strange choices you have to scrape away before arriving at the actually useful stuff.

Take Alisha, a Paltrow-esque Clippy who appears to walk you through the app. Then there's the oddly-worded meditation goals screen, above left, which cannot be skipped. Nor can you choose more than one goal.

Something that can be skipped is the screen that forces you to sign up for a free trial, so long as you quit out of the app at that point and reload. The "free" version of the app gives you access to around a dozen pieces of content, four of which are eyes-open specific.

Something else that can be skipped is the app's desire to track you, ostensibly so it can know when you're out walking and nudge you to meditate then.

(Moments of Space notes in its privacy policy that it collects personal data such as "your location, your physical activity, how much you use our app, and any content you share," as well as motion data collected by device sensors. Little says he believes nudges are crucial to "awakening" the world to the benefits of mindful meditation.)

But then? The first, free, actual eyes-open walking meditations in the app were ... delightful. We tested them with the first non-Alisha option, the voice of Stefan, an otherwise unidentified Brit very much in the same vocal realm as Andy Puddicombe, the voice and co-founder of Headspace.

In the carefully-staggered short bite meditations, Stefan's suggestions did not have the condescending tone of many guided meditations (such as the few non-Paltrow, Goop-sponsored meditations we had access to in the app.)

Instead, his advice came across as directed attention: Notice how your feet connect to the Earth, how you arms swing; now look at shapes and colors, now listen to sounds both calming like birdsong or annoying like traffic. Now notice your inner thoughts.

Credit: Moments of Space Credit: Moments of Space AIs wide open

Then there's the AI element, because apparently we're not over the AI hype thing yet. It's "the future" of, according to many, everything. Moments of Space uses an undisclosed AI model and machine learning to personalize its eyes open experience.

Little, a meditation advocate and software developer, says there's pressing need for a personal AI assistant specifically trained to help detect those personality traits and build mindfulness. He proposes using Large Language Models (LLMs) that are fine-tuned on wisdom teachings across Christianity, Buddhism, psychology, and neurology.

SEE ALSO: How to choose a meditation app that's right for you

The app's AI could — with continued investment! — pinpoint both the "dominant negative traits" and fleeting, "transient personality traits" of the individual, using a model built on the language and daily habits of the app's users. That means personalized eyes-open mindfulness routines that both engage and break down those traits.

"An overactive mind is a very common personality trait," Little says. "Someone who has a busy mind shouldn’t be doing a mindfulness of breath meditation, but a mindfulness of thought meditation — creating space around thoughts. They’re not being given the right thing for that trait."

Paltrow, ultimately, was more grandiose.

Asked how she views the intersection of tech and mindfulness, Paltrow connected the data-gathering potential of tech, like the Oura ring she says helps track her meditation, with practice's ability to heal the world's divisions.

"When in a meditative state, I feel a oneness, so much," she said. "I think a connection to that oneness intrinsically heals that division. You feel the interconnectedness of every human being, and it brings empathy to the forefront. With AI, things are going to change quickly moving forward. We need to embrace tech. Tech being able to help us hold data lets us go further."

Moments of Space offers limited free content, as well as a paid app subscription, and is available for iOS download here.

Look what Taylor Swift made the App Store do.

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) comes to Disney+ tomorrow, but in a case of classic Swiftian capitalism, she's teasing its streaming release on the App Store right now. A preview of her acoustic performance of folklore's lead single "Cardigan" now plays when you open the App Store's Today tab, prompting you to watch the previously unseen performance in full.

SEE ALSO: TikTok convinced me I had seen the best of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour.' Until I saw it in theaters.

People famously turned against U2 when their album was downloaded onto everyone's iTunes library, but since Taylor isn't taking up any precious storage space she's probably safe from the ire. Plus, everyone should experience the lyric "Leavin' like a father / Running like water" at least once in their lives.

"Cardigan" is one of five acoustic additions to the streaming version of the concert movie, which she's calling Taylor's Version. The film is a godsend for fans who were unable to secure tickets via Ticketmaster to see her wildly popular world tour in person.

Swift is releasing her next album The Tortured Poets Department on April 19 and will bring The Eras Tour to Paris next in May.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version) arrives on Disney+ tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET.

So you messed up Valentine's Day. The roses you definitely ordered weren't delivered, you waited too late to book a restaurant, or you just completely forgot to mark the most romantic day of the year. Fear not: White Day is here to save you.

What is White Day?

Celebrated on March 14, White Day is a day on which people who received Valentine's Day gifts one month earlier to reciprocate the gesture. The holiday was initially founded as "Marshmallow Day" in '70s Japan, but has since spread to other Asian countries such as South Korea, China, and Vietnam. 

Though White Day still isn't as widely recognised in Western countries, interest in it has steadily grown alongside interest in East Asian culture. It's also a lovely excuse to spoil your partner, and one they probably won't be expecting.

SEE ALSO: Sexy Valentine's Day gifts guaranteed to spice things up

As the name implies, White Day gifts are often white — but they don't necessarily have to be. Flowers, chocolate, and candy are all fairly common gifts, while jewellery, accessories, and other such items also don't go amiss. 

If you're still with your partner, chances are you've already done an adequate amount of grovelling to make up for fumbling on V Day. But if you want to write yourself into their good books in ink, White Day is the perfect opportunity to spring a romantic surprise on them.

Here are a few White Day gift ideas to get you back into your lover's arms.

A subscription snack box from Tokyo Treat or Sakura Co Credit: Tokyo Treat and Sakura Co

White Day originated in Japan, so why not go back to its roots for some inspiration? Rather than the standard heart-shaped chocolate and candy, give your partner a box full of Japanese treats to try.

Tokyo Treat offers modern Japanese snacks such as Pocky, Calpis soda, and matcha KitKats — a good time for anyone who likes fun things in their mouth. Alternatively, Sakura Co's elegant boxes are suited to people who enjoy cultural experiences, filled with traditional foods such as mochi, taiyaki, and Japanese tea.

You can just order a one-off snack box for your snack box then cancel your subscription if you think the relationship isn't going to last. But if you want to send your lover a regular set and forget reminder of your affections, you can sign up for an entire year of monthly deliveries.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tokyo Treat Tokyo Treat snack box subscription
From $37.50 per month, $32.50 on a 12-month plan. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Sakura Co Sakura Co snack box subscription
From $37.50 per month, $32.50 on a 12-month plan. Shop Now LEGO's Botanicals Collection Credit: LEGO

Flowers are a tried and true classic when it comes to showering a lover with gifts. Even so, adding a bit of a twist to this romantic gesture can help keep things interesting. LEGO's Botanical Collection has become a popular flower alternative for couples, offering a nerdy bouquet that never wilts.

There are 14 different sets to choose from in the collection, from an entire bouquet of LEGO wildflowers, to a potted orchid, to the more traditional bunch of 12 red roses. 

You can of course unpack and construct the flowers before you present them to your partner. But if you know that they enjoy building LEGO sets, you could also just give it to your lover in the box — or even set aside some quality time to build the blooms together.

Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO LEGO's Botanicals Collection
From $14.99. Shop Now Nanoleaf's Elements Hexagons Smarter Kit Credit: Nanoleaf

One of the key elements to a successful gift is that it should be an unnecessary luxury that the recipient will enjoy, but which they might not have allowed themselves to indulge in before. Nanoleaf's Elements Hexagons fit perfectly into this category. 

Lighting can work wonders when it comes to setting a romantic scene, or even just a cosy one. These wood-look wall panels from Nanoleaf provide a stylish and mature lighting feature that's more unique than candles, and lasts for much longer. It will also continue to provide ambiance once you've cleared the bed of rose petals and just want to enjoy your nightly spooning.

The $199 Elements Hexagons Smarter Kit comes with seven panels which you can affix to your wall in countless different configurations. You can also pick up a three-panel expansion pack if you need more hexagons to bring your artistic vision to life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nanoleaf Nanoleaf's Elements Hexagons Smarter Kit
Shop Now Therabody's Theragun massage guns Credit: Therabody

There's nothing like a good massage after a long day hunched over a laptop. Unfortunately, typing away at a keyboard does little to build muscle, leaving many without the strength or endurance to provide their partner with the pounding they deserve. Enter: Therabody.

Though Therabody's massage guns were historically targeted at athletes, they've since found loyal fans among average, less athletic people. The company has a wide range of devices at varying price points, from the tricked out $599 Theragun PRO Plus to the entry-level $149 Theragun Relief. This gives you options when picking the best massage gun for your partner, whether they'd enjoy the $399 Theragun Elite's powerful 16mm amplitude, or if they prefer the $199 Theragun Mini's shallower 12mm amplitude but increased portability.

Treating your partner's aches with a massage gun is a great way to offer them some relief, while also saving your own strength for other activities.

Opens in a new window Credit: Therabody Therabody massage guns
From $149. Shop Now Swarovski Flower Ornaments and Decorations Credit: Swarovski

So you want to give your lover a flower they can keep forever, but LEGO doesn't quite do it for them. For something a bit more upmarket, you could look at Swarovski's Flower Ornaments and Decorations. The crystal company has 24 delicate floral ornaments to choose from, even including cacti.

If prickly desert plants don't send the sensuous message you're going for, you could go for something extremely on the nose with a single, yonic orchid for $189. Alternatively, Swarovski also has long-stemmed cherry blossoms, poppies, and roses for $129. Just remember to pick up a nice bud vase as well, so your lover have something to proudly display the flower in. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Swarovski Swarovski Flower Ornaments and Decorations
From $119. Shop Now Baldur's Gate 3 Credit: Baldur's Gate 3

A video game may seem like a strange choice for a romantic gift, and it's definitely one you should only choose if both you and your partner are already gamers. However, when properly applied, games can facilitate excellent quality time with your loved one. It's much more interactive than watching a film, and even lets you practise making decisions together.

Baldur's Gate 3 has received significant attention for both its Dungeons and Dragons-based ruleset and its romance. The turn-based fantasy game offers players a variety of potential partners, including a snarky vampire, a muscular tiefling, and a man who turns into a bear. (And yes, you can ask him to do so in intimate moments.) 

Aside from the combat and story, choosing who to romance is half the fun of the game — and may open up some conversations with your partner about preferences or spicy roleplaying ideas. Baldur's Gate 3 also has multiplayer, so you can either go through the single player campaign together, or pick up two copies and each create your own characters for an adventuring party.

Opens in a new window Credit: Baldur's Gate 3 Baldur's Gate 3
$69.99 on PS5 and Xbox, $59.99 on PC. Shop Now

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

The FA Cup is the oldest and most famous domestic cup competition in the world. Kids grow up dreaming of winning it, but so few players actually get close.

We're into the latter stages of the competition, so every remaining team will be starting to dream once again.

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

When is Manchester City vs. Newcastle United?

Manchester City vs. Newcastle United kicks off at 5:30 p.m. GMT on March 16. This fixture takes place at the Etihad Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Newcastle United for free

The match between Manchester City and Newcastle United will be broadcast live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 5:10 p.m. GMT on March 16. 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 powerful 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 Manchester City vs. Newcastle United 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 Manchester City vs. Newcastle United for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Wolves vs. Coventry City in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After a long campaign, we've made it to the FA Cup quarter-finals. The remaining eight teams will all believe that this could be their year to win, but it's fair to say that Wolves and Coventry City are not exactly favourites. But that doesn't matter, because one of these sides will book their place in the semi-finals this weekend.

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

When is Wolves vs. Coventry City?

Wolves vs. Coventry City kicks off at 12:15 p.m. GMT on March 16. This fixture takes place at the Molineux Stadium.

How to watch Wolves vs. Coventry City for free

The match between Wolves and Coventry City will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 11:30 a.m. GMT on March 16. 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 Wolves vs. Coventry City 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 Wolves vs. Coventry 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 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 the FA Cup 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 Wolves vs. Coventry City for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream France vs. England in the Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

England produced one of their best performances in years to secure a victory over Ireland in the last round of the Six Nations, but it doesn't get any easier in the final fixture of the competition. France have not been at their best this year, but they are still a formidable opponent for any team (particularly at home).

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

When is France vs. England?

France vs. England kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 16. This fixture takes place at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France.

How to watch France vs. England for free

The match between France and England will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 7:20 p.m. GMT on March 16. 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 powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access ITVX to stream the Six Nations 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 France vs. England for free 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 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 mean you can stream the Six Nations from anywhere in the world without spending anything.

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 France vs. England for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Ireland vs. Scotland in the Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ireland vs. Scotland was supposed to be the winner-takes-all contest for the Six Nations, but sport doesn't often play out in the way you expect. Ireland are still going for the title (despite losing to England in the last round), but Scotland have been inconsistent at best.

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

When is Ireland vs. Scotland?

Ireland vs. Scotland kicks off at 4:45 p.m. GMT on March 16. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

How to watch Ireland vs. Scotland for free

The match between Ireland and Scotland will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 3:55 p.m. GMT on March 16. 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 powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access ITVX to stream the Six Nations 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 Ireland vs. Scotland for free 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 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 mean you can stream the Six Nations from anywhere in the world without spending anything.

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 Ireland vs. Scotland for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Wales vs. Italy in the Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Italy usually find themselves at the bottom of the Six Nations table, but not this year. Wales are going into the final round of fixtures in last place, but that could still change as the two sides meet this weekend. It's a battle to get off the bottom — nobody wants to finish last.

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

When is Wales vs. Italy?

Wales vs. Italy kicks off at 2:15 p.m. GMT on March 16. This fixture takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

How to watch Wales vs. Italy for free

The match between Wales and Italy will be broadcast live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 1:45 p.m. GMT on March 16. You can also live stream this 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 powerful 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 Six Nations 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 BBC iPlayer

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 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 BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world.

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

TL;DR: Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is usually locked behind a paywall, which is frustrating for dedicated fans of the sport. Finding a way to watch live football for free is not an easy task, but it's not impossible. There is always a way.

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

When is Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan?

Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan will kick off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 13. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan for free

Austrian viewers can live stream select Champions League fixtures for free (with German commentary) through Austrian broadcaster ServusTV. This free schedule includes the fixture between Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.

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

Unblock ServusTV 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 Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan in the Champions League for free

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 they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to ServusTV and watch regular Champions League fixtures, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 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.

Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get a Microsoft Office Professional 2019 for Windows lifetime license or a Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac lifetime license for £23.33, saving 86% on list price.

Students, working professionals, and business owners alike would likely agree that Microsoft Office is the one software suite indispensable to their daily tasks and larger projects. However, as you’re probably already aware, accessing those apps isn’t free.

You have two options: Microsoft 365 with renewal fees or a Microsoft Office lifetime license with zero subscription charges. And for a limited time, Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows and Mac is price-dropped to just £23.33.

Whereas Microsoft 365 plans may offer web-based apps with some including mobile access, a lifetime license is strictly for download onto one Windows PC or Mac with the following apps:

• Word: Type essays, reports, and CVs.

• Excel: Organise budgets, make calculations, and build graphs.

• PowerPoint: Design slideshows with templates and animations.

• Outlook: Manage email inboxes and calendars in one place.

• OneNote: Paperless note-taking with seamless media integration.

The Windows download also includes Publisher, an advanced design tool, and Access for managing large databases, while the Mac version includes Teams for easy text and video chatting. PCs must be running on Windows 10 or 11 and Macs on Monterey or newer in order to be compatible with this lifetime download.

Your Microsoft Office 2019 lifetime license arrives in your inbox instantly, including a download link and software license key for activation. Beyond convenience, this digital delivery means the purchase might also make an excellent last-minute gifting option.

Secure lifelong access before these price drops end, no coupon is needed:

• Microsoft Office Professional 2019 for Windows lifetime license, £23.33 (save 86%)

• Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac lifetime license, £23.33 (save 86%)

It can feel demotivating when your manager has a clear favorite—and it’s not you. But don’t give in to the sense of rejection. You can strengthen the relationship and regain some favor. Observe and adjust. Where is your boss’s attention focused? What’s their communication style? What are their goals? Take steps to better align yourself […]

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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 13'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:

Someone who knows the area.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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 #998 is...

LOCAL.

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 13'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.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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: Things you'd buy at Spirit Halloween

• Green: Tasty plants

• Blue: Food

• Purple: Ways to cut a diamond

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: Halloween Purchases

• Green: Plants with Similar Flavors

• Blue: Food Slang for Head

• Purple: Gemstone Cuts

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 #276 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Halloween Purchases: CANDY, COSTUME, DECORATIONS, PUMPKIN

• Plants with Similar Flavors: ANISE, FENNEL, LICORICE, TARRAGON

• Food Slang for Head: BEAN, MELON, NOODLE, NUT

• Gemstone Cuts: BAGUETTE, EMERALD, PRINCESS, RADIANT

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.

Apple has recently been making big changes to how it runs its core platforms in order to comply with the EU's new Big Tech regulations known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

After weeks of unveiling new – and often controversial – new policies, Apple announced one of its most significant DMA-inspired moves yet on Tuesday: Web distribution.

This means that Apple will let app developers distribute their iOS apps to iPhone and iPad users directly through the developers' own websites.

SEE ALSO: Vision Pro apps are now visible on Apple's App Store website

In addition, developers will be allowed to link out to external pages within their apps without having to follow Apple's guidelines or templates for discounts, promotions, and other deals. Companies who choose to set up an "alternative marketplace" will also now be allowed to solely distribute their own apps through those platforms.

Apple announced these new EU policy additions in an update on Tuesday titled "More options for apps distributed in the European Union."

The way apps are distributed on iOS in the EU will forever change

Apple first announced sweeping changes to its App Store model earlier this year in preparation for the DMA. The new EU regulation officially went into effect last week and forces Big Tech companies, known as "gatekeepers," to open their core platforms to third-parties in order to spur competition.

Apple introduced a slew of DMA-inspired changes that spans all facets of iOS, but its App Store changes were easily the most significant. Due to the DMA, Apple could no longer monopolize app distribution on iOS through the App Store. Apple complied by allowing competitors to the App Store, known as  "alternative marketplaces," to distribute apps on iOS devices. Developers who released these apps on these marketplaces would not need to follow Apple's App Store content policies or take part in Apple's App Store revenue share model.

However, its new App Store policies were widely criticized by its peers in the tech industry. Under Apple's DMA-inspired changes, app developers who agree to the company's new terms which allow for "alternative marketplaces" will end up being charged a €0.50 "Core Technology Fee" for every first annual installation over one million installs. This means that for the very first time, developers could owe money to Apple without pulling in any revenue from its apps.

With that being said, these latest updates from Apple are a step in the right direction but there are more stringent requirements for developers choosing to distribute their apps in this way.

Apple will still require that developers who distribute their apps from their websites be enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. In addition, Apple says those developers must be in "good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year." Apple will also require that those developers take on responsibilities typically reserved for app distributors such as handling government requests and keeping in touch with Apple regarding potential issues such as fraudulent or illegal behavior related to the apps.

One major drawback, though, is that apps distributed directly via a developer's website are still subject to the controversial Core Technology Fee.

And, of course, only app developers in the EU are covered by these new iOS app distribution policies. Everyone else still has to go through Apple's official App Store.

Airplane manufacturing giant Boeing is going viral this week for all the wrong reasons.

The company's fleet of commercial airplanes has been rife with safety issues, prompting widespread media attention and mounting concerns from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and flyers. Here's what you need to know.

What is going on with Boeing planes, and what does John Oliver have to do with it?

It's been a turbulent few weeks for Boeing planes, as several aircraft have experienced alarming issues mid-flight — we'll get into that later — but the company started getting a lot of heat for its insufficient safety protocols after John Oliver's Last Week Tonight did a brilliant and damning segment on it last week.

We've embedded the entire video, which is worth a watch. But the TL;DR of the commentary from Oliver: Boeing's company culture shifted away from safety and quality to increasing shareholder value, which resulted in, well, plummeting safety and quality.

Oliver goes through the history of the company in depth, providing context for the recent safety issues. It's all fitting and in line with the reporting in 2018 and 2019 after two Boeing 737 Max crashes killed 346 people.

SEE ALSO: 'Aggressive and riskier' A.I. — and bureaucracy — caused the Boeing crashes, report says What's happening now with Boeing?

In short: a few things, none of them good. The New York Times reported that the FAA examined Boeing and found it failed 33 of 89 audits after a high-profile incident where a panel blew off a 737 Max 9 flight before reaching cruising altitude.

You've most likely seen footage of that terrifying incident where, by some miracle, everyone survived.

SEE ALSO: iPhone that fell 16,000 feet from Alaska Airlines plane found intact

The Times goes into a bit of detail on these issues, but the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to come up with a quality-improvement plan.

The latest Boeing safety incidents

Fortunately, there haven't been fatal incidents in the past few weeks, but Boeing planes have experienced significant safety issues. Fifty people were injured on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that took a nosedive flying from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand on Monday.

Passenger Brian Jokat told CNN that the pilot said they lost control of the plane, causing the incident.

"I immediately engaged with him and said, 'What was that?' And he openly admitted, he said, 'I lost control of the plane. My gauges just kind of went blank on me,'" Jokat told CNN.

There have been a few other recent instances as well, including a Boeing 777-200 that had a tire fall off shortly after takeoff in San Francisco on Thursday. The flight was re-routed to Los Angeles and landed without any injuries. A Boeing plane landing in Houston on Friday ran off the runway into a grassy area. Last week, a Boeing 737-900's engine caught fire some 20 minutes after takeoff, and videos of the incident, naturally, went viral.

This could be more folks noticing common relative incidents because Boeing is in the news already, but the fact remains there have been numerous incidents as of late.

Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead

John Barnett — a longtime Boeing employee who had been providing evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit against the company — was found dead on Monday. The Charleston County coroner said the death was from a "self-inflicted" wound, the BBC reported.

Barnett, who had worked as a quality manager, had alleged that Boeing put workers under intense pressure which led to compromised safety. He did several interviews over the years alleging Boeing pushed aside safety procedures to keep things running smoothly.

The timing of Barnett's death has caused a lot of internet speculation, in ways that might be expected. As of right now, however, we don't know very many details about the 62-year-old's passing. Still, people are, in general, very suspicious of Boeing.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted What now for Boeing?

Well, that's not clear. The company has to come up with a quality improvement plan per the FAA's orders.

"Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said last month. "Making foundational change will require a sustained effort from Boeing's leadership, and we are going to hold them accountable every step of the way."

However, the FAA hasn't specified how they would punish the company if it did not deliver results.

For now, customers seem to be taking things into their own hands. There have been a lot of posts from folks saying they'd no longer fly in a Boeing aircraft. And people are now using sites like Kayak to filter Boeing planes out of their travel plans.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

There may be a lot more people suddenly interested in boarding only Airbus aircraft moving forward. And with all the news out there, who could blame them?

Reddit (RDDT) is set to go public soon and is as of now, one of the most highly anticipated initial public offerings (IPOs) of 2024. The social media company, led by CEO Steve Huffman, is seeking a $6.5 billion valuation and is aiming to raise up to $748 million in the company's public offering.

Planned for March 21, the offering is imminent, and Reddit said last week that it will be selling 22 million shares at an expected price of $32.50 per share to help reach that aforementioned $748 million. Around 1.76 million shares of the stock have been isolated for Redditors — meaning they'll have the opportunity to buy separate shares at the initial offering price and can sell them when the IPO happens without delay. A mandatory six-month holding period is typical for early investors after a stock debut.

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

These isolated shares are mostly for the holders of Reddit accounts made before January 1, 2024, so if you're new to Reddit you can't get in on this. The offer to buy the stock applies to select users, moderators and then "friends and family of various board members and employees," according to Yahoo Finance.

Back in February, select users were given invitations for the IPO with participants chosen based on their level of activity as forum moderators on the platform, or their "karma" scores, which reflect the perceived value of users' contributions and work as shorthand metrics for individual standing within the community. Users of Reddit who did not receive an invitation had the chance to sign up in advance to purchase shares in the IPO from March 1 to March 5. If the program reached its capacity before March 5, Reddit would initiate a waitlist.

Reddit's IPO launch has been in the works since the company first confidentially filed in 2021. Unsurprisingly, Redditors hate this move. Most heavy users seem to feel that the site is already suffering from Reddit's attempt to further monetize a platform that hasn't turned a profit in 20 years. This includes, most notably, Terms of Service changes in 2023, specifically to its API, that forced developers of very popular third-party Reddit apps to shut them down. Then there's the $60 million content licensing deal with Google that allows its AI to be trained on the sites data. Additionally, Reddit removed users' option to opt-out of personalized ads.

The relationship between Reddit and its free workforce of volunteer moderators is already in a precarious place, especially after many were removed from their subreddits after protesting the company's API changes. Thus, Reddit allowing moderators early dibs to its IPO can be thought of as an attempt to "make good" to those who feel slighted.

Many users' enthusiasm about grabbing the stock is not overwhelming, however. "They failed to turn a profit as one of the most popular websites in the world for decades and their only path to profit now is selling access to the previously-not-profitable shitposts to scrapers who will feed it to their AI," wrote user DPSnacks on the r/investing Subreddit.

Victims of nonconsensual deepfake porn are using the laws of copyright to take back ownership of their likenesses, according to a new investigation.

In an analysis of copyright claims against websites known to share nonconsensual, digitally-altered videos, WIRED discovered thousands of women (including streamers, gamers, and other popular content creators) levying complaints to Google demanding the content be taken down.

The publication documented more than 13,000 copyright claims (which includes almost 30,000 URLs) against dozens of sites that populate Google.

SEE ALSO: SXSW 2024: 3 WTF tech products, including an AI Marilyn Monroe

Victims are utilizing the Digital Media Copyright Act (DMCA), which is frequently weaponized to remove copyrighted music, videos, and other media from third-party sites (and personal pages) online. The DMCA has also been used on behalf of victims of image-based sexual abuse or "revenge porn," with cases citing personal authorship and the unauthorized used of images.

A deepfake creator's alteration or outright fabrication of original images does complicate the matter, providing a higher obligation of proof for victims claiming rights over intellectual property.

Google has previously addressed the spread of revenge porn and deepfakes with new policies and reporting procedures, including options to remove personal explicit images from search results and deepfake reporting systems involving the detection of both original and copied images. The company has also documented its efforts to flag and remove such content. According to Google's own data, around 82 percent of complaints resulted in URL removal. "For the biggest deepfake video website alone," WIRED reported. "Google has received takedown requests for 12,600 URLs, 88 percent of which have been taken offline."

The sheer number of confirmed violations has prompted online safety and copyright advocates to wonder why the websites are still allowed to remain up. "If you remove 12,000 links for infringement, why are they not just completely removed?” posed Dan Purcell, founder and CEO of pracy protection firm Ceartas, in a WIRED interview. “They should not be crawled. They’re of no public interest."

SEE ALSO: What to do if someone makes a deepfake of you

The copyright strategy is a legal workaround for victims as government leaders crawl forward with proposed legislation that would criminalize the spread of "sexualized digital forgeries."

Known as the DEFIANCE (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits) Act, the legislation also outlines a civil path for victims to sue the creators of deepfake images using their likeness.

"Victims of nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes have waited too long for federal legislation to hold perpetrators accountable. As deepfakes become easier to access and create — 96% of deepfake videos circulating online are nonconsensual pornography — Congress needs to act to show victims that they won’t be left behind,” wrote Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez upon the bill's introduction to the House.

In February, hundreds of AI leaders — joined by academics, researchers, artists, and even politicians — issued an open letter calling for the prioritization of deepfake legislation. The coalition called for a bill that would fully criminalize deepfake child pornography, establish criminal penalties for anyone knowingly involved in creating or spreading harmful deepfakes, and place requirements on software developers and distributers, Mashable's Meera Navlakha reported.

The letter cited the limits and inadequacies of current legislation to address deepfakes specifically, as well as the sheer increase in deepfake technologies and output. "Unprecedented AI progress is making deepfake creation fast, cheap, and easy. The total number of deepfakes has grown by 550 percent from 2019 to 2023," the coalition wrote.

Explicit deepfakes of celebrities are top of mind for many, following the spread of nonconsensual images of Taylor Swift on X and the recent discovery of deepfake porn ads using the likeness of actor Jenna Ortega.

But the problem is just as worrisome for non-famous individuals. Deepfake images are increasingly entering the social lives of young children and teens, prompting online child safety experts to call for preventative measures and heightened attention from parents.

In February, a group of California middle school students used deepfake technology to create and disseminate nude images of their classmates, just the latest instance among minors who seem to be getting younger and younger. Various court cases have laid down the verdict on victim recourse, with few to no laws to guide them.

"Deepfake pornography is a form of digital sexual violence. It violates victims' consent, autonomy, and privacy," wrote Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) founder Omny Miranda Martone in support of the DEFIANCE Act. "Victims face increased risk of stalking, domestic abuse, loss of employment, damaged reputation, and emotional trauma."

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

Between tech behemoth Instagram copying its best features (successfully) and a potential ban looming, TikTok is being attacked on all fronts — but it's fighting back.

TikTok might be developing a new "TikTok Photos" app, according to The SpAndroid, who spotted references to "TikTok Photos" in the back-end code of the current TikTok app. A potential new welcome message allegedly reads: "TikTok Photos will be launched soon, we hope to help you gain new audiences in the new app. If the switch is on, we’ll sync your public photos to the new app, whether you close the pop-up or not." TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It kind of looks like TikTok is copying Instagram's copying strategy, which it used to copy TikTok's short-form videos to create Reels. Copying isn't new for TikTok, which already has a "photo mode" for slideshows of still images and attempted a pretty lame Instagram-like app called Lemon8. Innovation for social media platforms is just a constant cycle of one app stealing ideas from another app until all apps become the same app. Love!

SEE ALSO: Instagram is copying TikTok, and the strategy is working

This leak comes as TikTok faces its most aggressive battle yet. For the first time since 2020, TikTok had fewer new app downloads in 2023 than Instagram, according to data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reported by the Financial Times. In 2023, TikTok downloads grew just 4 percent compared to Instagram's 20 percent — and part of that growth can be attributed to Instagram's copycat strategy.

All the while, TikTok is also facing a potential ban. Lawmakers are working to pass the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," which would ban TikTok and all other apps based in China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran from U.S. app stores. President Joe Biden said that if Congress does pass the ban, he'd sign it into law. In response, TikTok encouraged its U.S. users to call their representatives to "stop a TikTok shutdown."

We don't know if TikTok's attempt to copy Instagram will work as well as Instagram's copycat playbook has. But the app is pulling out all the stops to maintain its hold — and relevancy — on U.S. users.