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Let's get straight to the point: Online dating gets old real fast. Connecting with people you likely wouldn't have met before sounds amazing at first, but the steps preceding that potential success story can be cumbersome.

What's the point of answering questions (that everyone lies about anyway) if a site's algorithm ignores your filters regardless? All it gets you is weirdos terrorizing your inbox, people who are about to retire, or someone who just wants to bang, even if you requested to only see users who marked that they're ready to get serious and monogamous.

Between that and having shit luck with ~serendipitously~ meeting your soulmate at a concert or bar, you may feel like signing up for Love Island is your only viable option.

OkCupid may be able to change your mind.

Everyone knows the name, but what tons of people (especially young people) may not realize is that it's not just another eharmony or Match. OkCupid is the perfect happy medium that you might have thought didn't exist. It's ideal for people who don't want anything to do with mindless swiping apps, but who also don't want to feel like they're desperately looking for marriage.

SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to know What is OkCupid?

With a user base of more than 1.79 million and an average of 50,000 "Wanna get drinks?" dates per week since its launch, it's hard not to wonder what this dating app is all about.

OkCupid debuted in 2004, making it one of the OG dating sites. Its trusted name is to thank for much of the robust user base — but OkCupid's more recent focus on diversity, inclusivity and modern cultural trends has definitely helped to strengthen the OKC army as of late.

OkCupid pushes for lasting connections using a mix of non-traditional questions and math, and it's pretty foolproof. They accomplish this by diving into both the shallow and deep aspects of a relationship without being corny or forcing people to self-evaluate. (The ability to weigh the importance of shared values or personality traits in a partner is really handy.) It ends up providing a well-rounded look at users both as a person in general and as romantic partners, giving the algorithm a pool of data to calculate the compatibility between you and another user.

SEE ALSO: Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached

Just as you'd expect from a dating site created by Harvard math majors, the entire site's ethos is built around numbers — and it's nice to know they can actually back up their algorithms. 

In 2018, OkCupid went through a major rebranding, and their new advertising is incredible. You've probably seen their ads plastered on public transportation or on a billboard at least once: They feature bright colors, a cheeky sense of humor, and both same-sex couples and heterosexual couples, all while redefining what "DTF" stands for. The entire campaign is fresh and inviting and does an exceptional job of making online dating feel cool and not lame. Their slogan is literally "Dating deserves better," and like yeah, it really does.

How does OkCupid work? Credit: Screenshot: OkCupid

Now, let’s talk technicalities. OkCupid works via a super-powerful algorithm that takes your age, location, gender (22 genders offered), orientation (12 orientations offered), romantic interests, “deal breakers” (we’ll talk about this in a bit), and profile prompt responses into account before matching you with another person. 

All of these factors create your Match % score (AKA how well you match with another person). The higher your Match % score is with someone, the more aligned the two of you will be on important issues (e.g., religion, politics, etc.) and what you’re looking for in a relationship. 

This way, you won’t need to worry about meeting someone who isn’t compatible right off the bat. 

Getting started on OkCupid 

Getting started on OkCupid is free and easy to do. You can either download the OkCupid app for iOS or Android or visit OkCupid on a computer. (I liked that there was a web-based version available.) 

Then, sign up with your email address. OkCupid will also ask that you verify your account via phone number to ensure your authenticity, which is much appreciated. After you’ve gone through the verification process, you can dive into the fun stuff and build your profile.

An example of some of the fun personality questions you can answer on OkCupid. Credit: Screenshot: OkCupid

If you've tried online dating elsewhere in the past (Tinder doesn't count), you've probably noticed that filling out the questionnaires is THE WORST. The questions get way too fake for my liking, and honestly, are just begging people to lie. Do you think the cheaters of the world are actually going to say "Doesn't describe me at all" when asked if they cheat? Do you think the world's most sensitive, quick-tempered crybaby (raises hand) wants to admit to constantly picking fights? Hell no. There's no question that that stuff is important, but I just don't think this method will produce the most accurate information on how someone actually acts in a relationship past the honeymoon phase.

Instead, OkCupid asks fun questions like "Would you rather share a kiss in a tent or a kiss in Paris?" or "Would you rather go to a music festival or sporting event?" You'll get to say what your ideal partner's answer would be as well. (You'll also answer the basics about smoking, drinking, political preferences, religion, and all that good stuff.)

OkCupid is not shy about politics and social issues. Credit: Screenshot: OkCupid

They also have tons of questions to answer directly on your profile if you want to get even more specific with your preferences. Questions like "Do you make your bed every day?" or "How long do you want your next relationship to last?" allow OkCupid to discover your habits without making you think too hard. You're able to showcase all aspects of your dynamic as a partner without feeling the need to lie. There are also spaces for you to answer prompts about the last shows you binged, your favorite music artists, your talents, etc.

OkCupid paid features 

OkCupid offers various paid features, including a la carte and bundle options. Here’s the breakdown: 

OkCupid Boost 

If you’d like, you can purchase a Boost (whether you’re on a paid plan or not) and this will force the app to increase your profile visibility for 30 minutes. According to the site, a Boost can increase your matches up to five times. 

With the Boost feature, you can choose when the Boost begins (the hot time to be online is between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. local time). Boosts are available in single or bundles of five or 10 (bundles are discounted). There’s also an option to purchase a SuperBoost — which is, essentially, an extended Boost. SuperBoosts are available in three-hour, six-hour, and 12-hour increments. If you decide to go with a six- or 12-hour SuperBoost, you’ll get it at a discounted rate. 

OkCupid offers Boosts if you don't want to commit to a full-blown paid subscription. Credit: Screenshot: OkCupid Read Receipts 

For some people, knowing whether or not someone has read your message can make or break your sanity. If you’re one of those people, you’ll be happy to know that OkCupid offers read receipts…for a price. 

You can purchase read receipts in packs of one, five, or 20. You can also choose which conversations you’d like to use your read receipts for. 

OkCupid Stacks 

Stacks are basically categories of potential matches within the discover tab. Stacks give users the option to filter people based on different categories, including those you have the highest Match % with. 

Stacks show potential matches broken down by category. Credit: Screenshot: OkCupid

While many Stacks are free, some require a Stack Pass which gives you access to a particular Stack (e.g., Popular Stack, New People Stack, etc.) for seven days. 

SuperLikes 

As the name of this feature suggests, a SuperLike is a way to show someone you really, really like them. With a SuperLike, your crush can see that you SuperLiked them immediately. You can also send notes with SuperLikes so you’ll have the chance to impress them with your charm. 

Additionally, SuperLikes put you in a special SuperLikes Stack so you’ll stand out from the regular discover tab. 

The site is very user-friendly

The required set of questions only takes about five minutes to complete, and then you're ready to start playing Bachelor or Bachelorette. You're not bombarded with notifications or emails, which I was extremely thankful for. The top nav is extremely clean and only gives notifications for likes and messages — unlike other sites where people can like you in general, like your photo, send a wink, send a smiley face, send a gift, and whatever TF else these sites think is necessary.

I'm big on aesthetics and design when it comes to dating sites (I completely roasted AdultFriendFinder about it), and OkCupid is exactly what I want: organized, minimalistic, with all features obvious and labeled so that you don't have to click around to see what the options are. OkCupid gets major points for how user-friendly it is.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites for finding serious, long-term relationships It's also ideal for introverts

OkCupid is also one of the best places for introverts and self-proclaimed geeks to find a kindred soul. The prominence of social justice-related questions has drawn an open-minded crowd, creating a safe space that relieves the pressure to be perfect.

The opportunity for badges on your profile is a fun way to express yourself: #IStandWithPP, Game of Thrones, and "nerd" are a few of the things you can pin to the top of your profile to attract other users who get you. (Fun fact: Game of Thrones has been mentioned over 2 million times in user profiles. Automatic conversation starter.)

Woke level: 100

The same-sex ads were probably an obvious giveaway, but OkCupid is liberal as hell. Finding a hottie only to find out you disagree on everything is the most awkward bummer ever. Other sites only ask one question about that stuff, which just isn't enough. If you're woke, liberal, and horrified by the dumpster fire that is our current political climate, this is the site for you. Right-wingers, you should just exit now and sign up for eharmony — it has a history of leaning conservative.

SEE ALSO: Singles don't want to date non-voters, according to OkCupid survey

With OkCupid's makeover came a ton of politically charged questions as a way to weed out the not-so-progressive users. They want to know your opinion on issues such as abortion, immigration, guns, and more to make sure you and your potential partners have political views that are aligned.

OkCupid uses these answers to tell potential matches how liberal you are and vice versa, and it's always a plus if you can avoid heated arguments down the road. Liberal women found that this worked to their advantage, as OkCupid released statistics showing that liberal-leaning answers to those questions made you 80 percent more likely to find love on the site.

An online dating site that's open and welcoming to even the quirkiest singles and embraces the differences and variety of its users should be a given — not a bonus. Unfortunately, a lot of OkCupid's competitors have some growing up to do. You go, OkCupid. You go.

Finding a match isn't as hard as it sounds

If you're feeling hopeless about finding love, you won't after being on OkCupid. I literally had 607 likes after having my profile up for two days. TWO DAYS. OkCupid has such a massive user base with such a wide variety of people, there's no way you're not gonna find a ton of people who find you exactly their type.

The app has that standard swiping app feel (but less "I'm judging you solely on your face" vibes). You see one profile at a time and swipe right or left depending on whether or not you're interested, with random profile-building questions thrown in at times to narrow down your pickings even more.

SEE ALSO: OkCupid debuts ChatGPT-generated matching questions

See what potential matches are talking about, search for names, or even type in a hobby, musical artist, or show to see which users near you mentioned the same thing. It's chill and simple enough to do while you're waiting in line at the store or sitting on the train, all while feeling more sincere than Tinder.

OkCupid's overhaul brought a lot of positive changes, but some users weren't psyched about one in particular. In late 2017, the site decided it would require users to use their real names on their profile instead of usernames like AFunnySassygirl or Superlonelyman. Though it was a goodhearted attempt to make the experience seem more real and less like a creepy AIM chatroom, people (especially women) were pissed.

Being required to give your real name to any and every stranger on the site felt like a huge invasion of privacy to a lot of people, and with the way desperate users can sometimes seem like stalkers, we don't blame them. (If you appreciate the uniform feel of Tinder or Hinge and find usernames super lame, maybe you'd actually like OkCupid more for this.) OkCupid received so much backlash that they recanted the policy and said that users can also use a nickname or initials.

You won't receive messages from randos

OkCupid doesn't have open messaging, meaning randoms can no longer message you before you two have matched. This can be good or bad depending on how you prefer the conversation to start: I personally enjoy it, as one main problem with online dating, in general, is that ladies get harassed by men who flood their inboxes. It's genuinely overwhelming and I'd prefer to only be messaged by people I already gave the go-ahead to. (Bumble combats this by only letting women message first.)

Like me, some people were stoked about this. Reddit user reciphered writes:

"Under the new OKC I get about x5 as many matches. I send fewer messages and I receive higher quality responses. I believe this is all because of the requirement to match before messaging. Now women are required to seek out desirable profiles in order to interact with users on the site - just like the men. I also really like how doubletake has shown me interesting profiles that I wouldn't have found with browsing. The only downside is the low population compared to Tinder.

I assumed that only annoyingly persistent men would dislike this change, but according to Reddit, a lot of ladies also aren't feeling it either:

Reddit user narcissica writes:

"I don't like it because I can't tell if someone's a creeper just from a quick glance at their profile. I either have to "like" people fairly indiscriminately to leave myself open to conversation, or I have to close doors on potential conversation that could be worthwhile. I was doing just fine having the block feature, or simply not responding to people who weren't worth my time."

The Reddit community is actually huge on OkCupid, and while all dating sites receive their fair share of shit (Redditors do not hold back on giving their opinions), I genuinely feel like OkCupid has the nicest things said about it. (Or the least mean things. Close enough). This blog even put together a guide on OkCupid advice that Redditors have given over the past few years.

Surprise: The free version *isn't* worthless

The site is fully functional with the free membership, and we give them props for that. Most dating sites make you pay to do literally anything besides signing up. But on OkCupid, you can view mutual likes (aka matches) and message matches for free. (Similar to Tinder and Bumble.) However, if you're feeling ambitious and want a little feature upgrade, OkCupid does offer two paid memberships: OkCupid Basic and OkCupid Premium.

OkCupid subscription cost 

Here's a breakdown of what you'll get from OkCupid Basic and OkCupid Premium. 

OkCupid Basic 

• Six months of OkCupid Basic – $17.49 per month

• Three months of OkCupid Basic – $23.33 per month

• One month of OkCupid Basic – $34.99 per month 

With OkCupid Basic you can: 

• Use Dealbreakers: Dealbreakers are “hard filters” that let you suss out what you don’t want.  

• Send unlimited likes: There's no limit on the number of people you can like per day. 

• Get unlimited rewinds: Undo any regrettable passes you made. 

• Unlock intros: View unlimited intros with OkCupid Basic. 

• Use the app ad-free: Say goodbye to ads with this paid plan. 

 OkCupid Premium 

• Six months of OkCupid Premium – $22.49 per month

• Three months of OkCupid Premium – $29.99 per month

• One month of OkCupid Premium – $44.99 per month 

With OkCupid Premium you’ll get the above features in addition to:  

• See who likes you: No need for mutual likes, with OkCupid Premium you can see a full list of people who like you. 

• Get three free SuperLikes each week: With this premium subscription, you’ll get three free SuperLikes every week — which, according to the OkCupid website, increases your chances of matching by four times. 

• See all question answers: The free version limits what you can see, with this plan you can see responses to questions you haven’t answered yet.

Good for: Liberal people who want a relationship

OkCupid is essentially the place for everyone who takes dating seriously but still wants to have fun and skip the pressure of settling down. Though OkCupid's advertisements may have "DTF" plastered all over them, the site's intentions and matchmaking process are no joke.

OkCupid is the best place to find people who want a partnership to truly be equal.

It might take some time and genuine effort to make a profile, but that's what you want if you're looking for something real. You'll fill out a questionnaire with your answers as well as what you would like your ideal match to answer. This makes the application-building process a lot more fun than other apps, making it feel like an online quiz. It asks a range of questions, from simple stuff to whether you smoke and drink to more intimate things like how many dates you typically wait before sleeping with someone. Pro tip: The app says that the more questions you answer, the better your matches will be. The deeper you go, the more accurate your profile is. In turn, OkCupid will have a way easier time finding matches for you.

Like we said in our eharmony review, just because you're bored with Tinder doesn't mean eharmony (or a site with the same expectation to settle down) is the next step. A lot of those users are older, divorced, and have kids, and there's a much slimmer selection of young people in that gray area. OkCupid seems ideal for the person who's trying to marry the next person they date, even if the idea of marriage and kids makes them slightly nauseated.

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder is a borderline-porn hookup site that's stuck in the past

OkCupid is the dating site version of the left-wing hipster who wears "Make America Gay Again" hats. The LGBTQ community finally has a safe space in the online dating world (that is, one that's not a super niche lesbian or gay-only app), and those who usually vote liberally can make sure they're not going on a date with someone whom they'd want to fight on Facebook.

I'd go as far as to say that OkCupid is the best place to find people who want a partnership to truly be equal — where women won't be shamed for being breadwinners and where men won't insist that cleaning is the woman's job. Get with the times, people.

Not ideal for: Conservative people and those in a rush to marry

While browsing through the potential matches in my feed, I didn't get the vibe that people were 100% ready to settle down — which is fine if you feel the same way, but worrisome if you're past that phase. Some people seem to be using OkCupid like Tinder and were only visiting, while most will specify exactly what they're looking for in their bios, so confusion about intentions should be minimal. This isn't to say that it's not possible to find your future spouse on here — these success stories prove that you can — just don't go into it expecting to talk about how many kids you want. It's serious, but not serious.

And then there's the political aspect of it. While most dating sites refuse to take sides, OkCupid has made it clear that they care about social justice issues. People who align strongly with the Republican party, are Trump fans, or have religion-backed values or political views may feel a bit out of place here — you'll probably feel like many of the questions are irrelevant to a relationship, and you probably won't see a high number of matches with whom you align politically. That's not to say that it's not worth a shot, but if you're trying to cast your net as wide as possible, another site where these issues aren't highlighted may give you better luck.

Is OkCupid legit?

As with any dating site, there will be one-star ratings, enthusiastically negative reviews, and complaints from people about things that the site itself has no control over. (No, Karen, it is not OkCupid's fault that John ghosted you.) Dead profiles, catfishing, and getting abruptly suspended are annoying. OkCupid has its fair share of each, but unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to guarantee that a site is completely free of flaws. OkCupid does try to combat fake profiles by having users connect to an Instagram account, which is way harder to fake than an online dating profile.

Cities are overflowing with users, but less populated areas see a huge drop in potential matches.

One thing that is a legitimate issue is the user base in less-populated areas. Cities (like NYC, where I live) are overflowing with potential boos, but I guarantee that if I logged on in my middle-of-nowhere hometown, my number of matches within a 10-mile radius would drop an alarming amount. We've seen a ton of complaints about this, but again — that's not an OkCupid problem, it's an every-site problem.

Those who have been using the site for years have noticed a significant slowdown in finding people to talk to, as you can't see who's messaged you until you like them back, and going through all of the possible people already takes forever. It's easier to just block people if you don't want their messages instead of almost never being messaged at all, you know? OkCupid doesn't have to re-open messages completely, because some people do like their privacy — but it would be great if they had the option to toggle it on if you don't mind being hit up by strangers.

OkCupid alternatives

OkCupid falls under both the classic dating site category and the swiping app category, which also means that they have way more competition than most one-or-the-other platforms do. When it comes to swiping apps, Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are the obvious top three competitors. None of them want to be known as a hookup app, and it's definitely possible to find a long-term relationship on any of them, but Tinder and Bumble provide so little information that user intentions are easy to surmise. Alternatively, Hinge calls itself "The Relationship App" and requires users to be a bit more serious with their pickings by judging off more than a few selfies. Where Hinge may fall short is the fact that it pretty much caters to young people only, while OkCupid is more wide-ranging.

When it comes to more traditional sites, OkCupid's obvious competitors are eharmony, Zoosk, and Plenty of Fish. Match has the size advantage by far — and though OkCupid will always be #1 in my heart, Match is a close second. It's also an OG player in the online dating game, and it's always nice to have the reassurance that there are veteran masterminds behind the matchmaking process. Match has numerous unique features to meet new people that no other site has even come close to. I appreciated their eagerness to get people together IRL. It's a little less trendy and millennial than OkCupid, and maneuvering through the dating pool is basically a free-for-all. The way that OkCupid breaks suggestions down by categories makes everything significantly more organized and helps to give an idea of what might or might not work with a person right off the bat, which I found to be an extreme leg up.

If you're looking to start a family ASAP or prefer a more traditional approach, eharmony may be a safer bet.

eharmony is all about marriage and features a 29-dimension matching system. The registration process there takes longer and goes a bit deeper, but there's a reason eharmony has led to some 4 percent of marriages in the US. This isn't to say that OkCupid isn't serious, because it is — it just gives a little more leeway when it comes to people's intentions. eharmony sees a much more mature audience filled with many divorcees, single parents, and a few stage-five clingers — AKA no one that has time to play games. If you're looking to start a family ASAP or prefer a more traditional approach, eharmony may be a safer bet. eharmony has had some history of not being LGBTQ-friendly in the past, which is likely a turn-off for most of OkCupid's stans.

IMO, there's nothing super standout about Zoosk or Plenty of Fish. Both are user-friendly enough, except POF looks like it hasn't been updated since 2005 and neither is nearly as aesthetically pleasing as OkCupid. POF is super into the chemistry stuff and their questionnaires are intense, so if you're looking for something serious and aren't trying to pay a lot, it's a great alternative to eharmony. Zoosk is unique in that it uses behavioral matchmaking, which basically suggests matches for you based on your on-site behavior, and I do have to commend them for that. It's a great feature for people who don't know what they want, and OkCupid's number of ways to discover new people might get overwhelming for those who aren't confident in their partner-choosing abilities.

Is OkCupid a good dating site?

As far as online dating goes, OkCupid rules. When you're over-swiping apps but are not desperately looking for marriage, this is a happy medium that evades the feeling of desperation. You can find commitment but still feel hip and have fun. It has gained a trusted rep from over 20 years of matchmaking experience and evolving with the younger generations, leading OkCupid to win the hearts of 50 million singles.

Their ads (as well as the addition of numerous gender identities and orientations and the importance placed on political issues) showcase the importance they place on inclusivity and social justice, which is a giant breath of fresh air for anyone tired of regular heteronormative sites.

OkCupid genuinely wants dating to be a good experience for you, and their non-traditional questions, multi-faceted matchmaking, and modern vibe help you steer clear of feeling like a loser talking to people online while still pushing for lasting connections. 

Opens in a new window Credit: okcupid OkCupid Learn More

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS5 Slim vs. PS5: Price

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

• PS5 Slim (no disc drive) - $449

• PS5 Slim (with disc drive) - $499

• Original PS5 (no disc drive) - $399

• Original PS5 (disc drive) - $499

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

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

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

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

PS5 Slim vs. PS5: Size

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS5 Slim models Credit: Sony

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

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

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

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

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

PS5 Slim Credit: Sony

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

PS5 Slim vs. PS5: Disc drive

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

PS5 Slim Credit: Sony

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

PlayStation deals

PlayStation game deals

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

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

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

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

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

• NHL 23 — $24.99 $69.99 (save $45)

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

PlayStation console deals

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

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

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

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

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

PlayStation controller deals

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

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

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

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

Are you a micromanager? Especially if you’re a new manager building your confidence and leadership style, check in with yourself and ask these three questions to ensure you’re not leading with a grip. Am I always giving my team advice? There’s nothing wrong with giving your team members advice in situations that truly require it (high-stakes […]

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TL;DR: A three-year subscription to Windscribe VPN Pro is on sale for £56.60 with the code SECURE20.

Just as you lock your front door and look both ways before crossing the street, it’s important to safeguard your digital presence. VPNs offer one solution for online privacy and security, and Windscribe allows you to connect unlimited devices with added perks like an ad blocker.

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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 April 5'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:

In between the hand and the forearm.

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 W.

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 #1021 is...

WRIST.

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 April 5'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: Home goods

• Green: Bottling things up

• Blue: Taste of wine

• Purple: Metal words

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: Pieces of Furniture

• Green: Carry, As A Feeling

• Blue: Wine Tasting Descriptors

• Purple: Starting with Metals

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 #299 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Pieces of Furniture: BED, CHAIR, COUCH, TABLE

• Carry, As A Feeling: BEAR, HARBOR, HOLD, MAINTAIN

• Wine Tasting Descriptors: BALANCED, DRY, FULL, SWEET

• Starting with Metals: GOLDILOCKS, IRONIC, LEADERSHIP, TINDER

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.

OpenAI still hasn't divulged when Sora will be available — or details about its training data — but that hasn't stopped the company from cultivating intrigue by releasing a music video created by the AI video generator.

On Wednesday, OpenAI posted the music video for a song called "Worldweight" by indie musician August Kamp. The video, made with Sora, is a compilation of dreamlike scenes like a giant crystal in a garden, psychedelic glowing plants, and grainy archival-esque footage of underwater coral reefs. The visuals are all very befitting of a musical vibe reminiscent of electronic artists Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin.

SEE ALSO: 8 wild Sora AI videos generated by the new OpenAI tool you need to see

When OpenAI announced Sora in February, it amplified the murky ethical and legal generative AI conversation. Existing questions about training data, copyright infringement, and job replacement regarding ChatGPT and DALL-E are now asked of Sora.

We have some answers, but nothing specific yet. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati said Sora was trained on "publicly available data and licensed data," but didn't know if that included videos from YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

When asked about the potential upheaval of filmmaking and creative industries, Murati reiterated OpenAI's line of getting early feedback from a select group of testers. "We want people in the film industry and creators everywhere to be a part of informing how we develop it further," she said to the Journal. The reportedly slow, deliberate rollout hasn't stopped OpenAI from courting Hollywood film studios and agents.

For Kamp, using Sora to make her video was "how the song has always 'looked'" in her mind. "That's what I think is special about this tool. I get to share what was once locked behind my shut eyes - all alone," she said in an Instagram post.

That's all to say, the polarizing new technology is both terrifying and exciting, depending on who you talk to.

Apple wants to get smart home robots into our households, according to a new report from Bloomberg. Arguably, the Cupertino-based tech giant already had a successful foray into a new category (i.e., mixed-reality headsets), so why not take another risk?

The iPhone maker is reportedly working on a personal bot that can follow owners around their home, Bloomberg said, similar to Samsung's Ballie or Amazon's Astro.

Everything we know so far about the Apple smart home robot

Citing "people who asked not to be identified," Bloomberg wants us to believe that, behind the scenes, Apple engineers are currently exploring personal robots for the home. The project is still in the beginning stages, though, so it's unclear whether it'll be released in the future.

All we know so far is that it supposedly features a built-in display that uses robotics to move automatically. However, this screen has been a source of contention for the company.

At first, Apple reportedly wanted the display to mimic the head movements of callers on FaceTime (e.g., nodding). Engineers also allegedly conceived an idea in which the smart display would have the ability to frame a single person within a crowd during a call.

However, you know how expensive Apple products can be, so the Cupertino-based tech giant was concerned whether consumers would shell out their hard-earned money for such ho-hum features.

Another issue is that engineers have been reportedly struggling with balancing the display's weight on the personal robot's motor. According to Bloomberg, Apple executives are questioning whether the personal smart home robot is a worthy investment at all.

If Apple does, indeed, move forward with the project, it faces huge competition with Roomba, the most popular home robot.

Personal robotics isn't the only category Apple has been diving into behind the scenes. Rumor has it that Apple is focusing its efforts on artificial intelligence more than ever, with Siri potentially benefitting from some of the advancements.

Only time will tell whether Apple's reported personal robotics project will take off like the Apple Vision Pro — or be scrapped like the Apple Car.

Perhaps your FYP is different than mine, but it appears Chappell Roan is everywhere right now. TikTok seems to be falling in love with Roan, and with good reason — she rules.

For those on a different side of TikTok or social media in general, Roan is a musician. She puts out smart, fun pop songs she called "slumber party pop" in a recent NYLON feature. Her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is fantastic — Pitchfork called it "a bold and uproarious introduction" — and has sparked a sharp rise in popularity for the campy singer-songwriter. Things like magazine features and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert have helped her gain traction online. And, most notably, she opened for Olivia Rodrigo on her Guts World Tour.

TikTok has a massive effect on the music industry, so it tracks that Roan would be all over our feeds because she's an artist of, and for, the moment. Google Trends is an imperfect measure of interest, but it still shows she's on the rise.

Credit: Screenshot: Google Trends

Everyone seems to be posting about Roan. Concert videos. Fancams. Her kissing Rodrigo. Dancing along to her song "Hot To Go." Running on treadmills. Even the Empire State Building's account is doing it (lol).

Tweet may have been deleted

Roan's rise on TikTok adds up. It's a platform dominated — at least in what's considered "cool" — by young people. And Roan, 26, is a decidedly Gen Z artist. She gets how to be online. She's commits to an image and a bit, including her look, which often includes bold makeup, lipstick-stained teeth, wigs, and striking colors. Her lyrics are also confessional, explicit, and bubbly fun, like a Tumblr dashboard come to life. She clearly grew up on the internet.

In some ways it reminds me of Boygenius, who also saw their popularity skyrocket online last year.

SEE ALSO: How Boygenius went from indie supergroup to internet darlings

If you didn't quite know Roan yet, you're about to — so long as you spend a decent amount of time on your phone. This week she teased a new song "Good Luck Babe," and it's bound to be all over everyone's FYP.

According to Oscar Wilde, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that's true, then TikTok must be the most flattered app out there. Everyone wants to be it or beat it or both — and Facebook just made another move to do just that.

On Wednesday, Facebook announced the newest TikTok-ification of its site by rolling out a new full-screen video player on its app, much like the vertical video format TikTok made so famous. All of the Reels you see on Facebook, along with longer videos and Live content, will all be shown to you via a full-screen, vertically-oriented video. The social media giant also purports to have "improved recommendations for videos of all lengths we think you’re most likely to enjoy based on your interests."

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

"For example, we may recommend a Reel giving you inspiration for a quick, daily makeup routine or a longer tutorial video on DIY house improvements from experienced homeowners," Facebook wrote in a blog post about the change. The new player also includes the scrubber at the bottom so you can rewind or fast forward a video, pause it, and change the playback speed. TikTok also already has this.

This change will begin rolling out over the next few weeks. If a video is made specifically to be viewed horizontally, users will have the option to watch it in landscape view and flip your phone to view it in full-screen mode, but it will still automatically appear vertically. 

Because of the format change, creators will probably want to start posting Reels if they want their videos to get seen on Facebook. It'll certainly be interesting to see how this affects video formats that are typically horizontal by design, like movie trailers and music videos, on the app.  

Time to add more fuel to the "new iPads" fire.

As spotted by 91Mobiles, the Bureau of Indian Standards (or BIS) let slip that two new iPads are coming soon by putting their model numbers on the BIS website. Basically, that means the new iPads have passed India's regulatory standards and can legally be sold there.

SEE ALSO: 3 iPads are reportedly not getting iPadOS 18 — and we're confused

That's not surprising, as there have been rumors about new iPads launching in the first half of 2024 for months. What is sort of unexpected, however, is that MacRumors spotted some text strings in iPadOS 17.5 beta 1 suggesting that the iPhone's "battery health" menu is coming to iPads.

On iPhone, this is something you can access via the Settings app and it tells you how healthy your device's battery is, expressed as a percentage of its total original capacity. As this percentage decreases, the more urgent it becomes to either replace the battery or acquire a new device.

Whether that feature comes to older iPads or not, it's reasonable to expect you'll be able to access it on the rumored new models. As far as anyone knows, there will be two iPad Pro models with new OLED displays, and two iPad Air models, with one of them coming in at 12.9-inches.

SEE ALSO: OLED iPad Pro is reportedly in production. Here’s when it’s expected to launch.

So, if you were thinking about getting a tablet soon, maybe wait a few weeks.

Dating sites and apps are a great way to meet people, but with so many out there these days, finding the site with the right features for you is pretty important if you're not keen on wasting your time. There's Tinder's famous easy swiping, Match's longer profiles for the more serious daters, Hinge's prompts that help the conversation going — the list goes on.

So what about a dating site that can take you back in time?

To be clear, we're not talking about actual time travel, so much as the immediate burst of Facebook-circa-2010 energy that Zoosk offers upon loading up its website or app. That's courtesy of an interface and features that make it clear this dating site was one of the first Facebook apps back in December 2007.

While the other longstanding online dating players like Match, eharmony, and OkCupid have managed to (mostly) update to stay current and somewhat fresh, Zoosk's initial draw of making international dating simple and a matching users with a unique algorithm feels more and more gimmicky and unrealistic as the years go by.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites for finding serious, long-term relationships Who is on Zoosk?

Allegedly, there are 40 million users on Zoosk across 80 different countries. If you're not trying to see the same 10 profiles within a 20 mile radius, these are pretty appealing numbers.

The age range of users seems to vary widely, too — from my two weeks on the app, I saw profiles from 21-year-olds to 51-year-olds. Users as young as 18 can sign up, and my age filter maxed out at 51, though users up to age 98 can also make accounts — I'm unsure why I wasn't able to adjust my age filters any higher. With that said, I'm not sure this app is great for older crowds. I'm in my mid-20s and I found Zoosk's interface to be kind of confusing. There are definitely better dating apps for seniors out there.

Sorry to all the 99-year-olds out there. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk It's not the most queer-friendly dating app out there

When it comes to diversity of options for LGBTQ+ users, Zoosk could be doing a whole lot better. For starters, if you're interested in more than one gender, you'll have to take it up with Zoosk customer service, as there's no built-in option to select that preference on your profile. They'll then have to set you up with an additional profile. If you don't want to go through that process, you'll only get these four choices upon sign up:

Ah yes, the expansive range of human sexuality, reduced to four options. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk

I'd just like to take a moment to speak directly to Zoosk — baby, it's 2024. I should not have to email your customer service team to a) change my preferences to switch my profile from seeing men to seeing women or b) ask you to pretty please allow me to see both — gasp — men and women at the same time. That should just be an integrated feature on your site, and there's no reason to have a needless hoop for any bi- or pan-sexual users to jump through. Speaking of, might be cool to recognize nonbinary people exist, too!

And it's got a bit of a bot problem

Forty million users is an impressive user base. But that impressive user base needs to be taken with a grain of salt: Dead or fake profiles seem to make up a decent portion of that 40 million. Now, Zoosk does have a huge collection of success stories on its social media and blog (though the latter hasn't been updated since 2020). If the person of your dreams doesn't message you back, you can tell yourself it's probably because they haven't logged on in two years.

SEE ALSO: AdultFriendFinder is a borderline-porn hookup site that's stuck in the past

If you're looking for more accurate numbers on how many users are actually using Zoosk, there aren't many out there. However, on The Date Mix, a blog owned by Zoosk, an article updated in 2021 mentioned that Zoosk has 3 million active users. During my two weeks, I saw a couple of repeat profiles pop up, leading me to believe the lower number is likely the more truthful one.

If you are wary of accidentally flirting with a bot, Zoosk does offer several profile verifications, including photo, Facebook, Twitter, and phone number verification. It's not uncommon to come across profiles that have none of these, but I would say about half of the users I came across were at least photo verified. Still, the chances that you'll get messages from clearly fake profiles aren't slim. Before I'd put in any pictures or my name on my profile, I had 34 people who were into me. While I'd like to believe my charm is just that potent, likely, it was bots.

A green check mark lets you know that a user is photo verified and (probably) a real person. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk Making your account on Zoosk

It makes sense that there are a lot of fake profiles because making an account on Zoosk is easy and takes at most five minutes.

Here's how it works: When you first log on, you can decide if you want to create an account from an email, Google, or Facebook account. Unlike more involved websites like eharmony or EliteSingles, you won't have to slog through a long questionnaire. Instead, you'll be prompted to fill out information that's pretty standard dating app fare: your location, preferences, education, ethnicity, religion, and so on. You'll also be prompted to pick a username, and if you can't think of any, Zoosk provides some creative options.

Please respect the amount of restraint it took not to choose "RoyallyBeautiful" as my username. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk

You also have the option to fill out a short bio ("My Story"), and some ice breakers about your ideal first date, and who you imagine your perfect match to be. Those prompts were a bit too on the nose for my taste — I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to glean about potential compatibility from someone who imagines our first date to be "enjoying a meal together" or whose perfect match is "happy." Other apps like Bumble, Hinge, and OkCupid have mastered the art of the more specific prompts that actually might reveal something about someone's personality, but I guess Zoosk's are good jumping off points for someone very new to the online dating game.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites for introverts, wallflowers, and anyone hesitant to try online dating

Finally, you have the option to fill out your interests when signing up, which was maybe the most early-Facebook the app ever felt, mostly due to the fact you chose your interests from the classic Facebook group pages. Again, knowing that you and a potential partner both have an interest in basketball, Rihanna, or FarmVille (the Facebook JUMPED out here), might be nice, but something about this feature doesn't give the sense it's inspiring a ton of robust conversation. If anything, it seems like Zoosk is holding on to the remnants of what used to be a winning formula, and aging itself in the process.

From Rihanna to FarmVille, Zoosk's preset interests have got you covered. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk Something about this doesn't scream "dating app in 2022." Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk Verifying your profile

At this point, you can also choose to verify your profile and let other users know you're a real person. As mentioned above, you have a few choices about how to do this, with the most extensive being the photo verification. First, you need to have a picture uploaded onto your page.

Then, you have to hold your smartphone at arm’s length and press record when prompted. It’s not as effortless as taking a selfie, but Zoosk wants to know if you’re an actual person holding a phone and not just placing a photo in front of its camera. The site will then ask you to turn your head to the right and then left, as if you’re taking a mugshot. Your photo is then sent to administrators, who will make sure that your "video" lines up with the one on your profile. Although it takes some time, you can now rest easy knowing your matches are real (or at least verified) when you see that green check mark on their photo.

Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk The website is better than the app

For all the issues I've had with Zoosk feeling out of touch, I will say that the website does better than the app. You know when you open an old app you downloaded in like 2013, and the font is huge and doesn't fill out your whole phone screen? The Zoosk app doesn't do that, but it somehow still captures that energy. I don't know if it's the overly simple color-blocked header on pages or the basic font that looks like it was pulled straight from Microsoft Word, but this app feels old.

And despite the simplicity, it's difficult to navigate — I say this as a person who has never found a single other dating app that difficult to get around after a day or two of using it. Between the Connections, Online Now, Carousel, Views, Smart Pick, and (inexplicably) the Live stream pages, I felt overwhelmed and confused every time I wanted to look at people's profiles.

The website, though in some need of an update, looks much cleaner and more of this time. Something about the way buttons are highlighted, the spaces between page titles, and the way user profiles look makes it feel like this website has actually been updated post-2012.

There were moments when I saw clearly the how the site was superior. When clicking on the app message page, I would be hit with the words, "283 people are into you!" and there is actually no world where that's not overwhelming.

One of these is objectively less stressful than the other. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk

On the desktop message page, however, I was notified that I had "69 messages and 176 greetings," which was still a lot, but felt much more manageable (though the math didn't add up between the app and the site, which was interesting). Still, if I wanted to, on the site I could decide to only pay attention to the people that had bothered to write something out instead of those who sent just a heart or smiley face. The specificity helped, and made the entire experience feel less spammy.

The Zoosk algorithm

So if it's confusing and outdated, why would anyone use Zoosk? Well, its "Behavioral Matchmaking" algorithm is supposed to be great. Basically, the more people you like and pass on, the more Zoosk learns about what kind of profiles you're looking for. This used to be a novel idea, but these days, it seems that's how most dating app algorithms work.

One place you can teach the app is the Carousel feature. It functions similarly to Tinder with swiping to send a like, pass, or say maybe, but you don't get to see beyond one picture on the person's profile when making your choice. I get this is supposed to be the more "rapid fire" section, but it felt restrictive for no real reason. If I wanted a barebones Tinder experience, I'd go on Tinder to swipe on people who didn't bother to fill out their profile. I also had to sit through short video ads every few swipes, which again, made it feel less like a serious dating app and more like a cheap, old mobile game downloaded on an iPod Touch.

SEE ALSO: Is Tinder Platinum worth it? I tried it for 3 months to find out.

You can also inform the app through your daily "SmartPick" choices, which is where the algorithm is really supposed to kick in to high gear, combining profile preferences and how you interact with other user accounts to find your perfect matches. Limiting to 10 daily picks made this one of the most simple and effective ways to look for other users on the app. If I were a regular Zoosk user, I imagine I'd just bother checking this page to avoid sinking hours of my time.

With that said, I didn't see any verification checks on the profiles presented to me through the SmartPicks. I don't think it's because they were all on unverified, but because the profiles themselves were laid out differently in this section, and the verification checks didn't make it over, which is a huge oversight when a website has its share of fake profiles.

Notifications on Zoosk

As I mentioned, there are a million (seven) main pages to interact with on Zoosk, which means it's beyond easy to rack up notifications. I am the type of person who can't stand when I'm unable to make the little red bubble go away from any app I use, whether it be iMessage or my email. As a result, Zoosk became my personal hell.

What my notifications looked like on a typical day. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk

Let's start with the "Views" page. What I have learned is I have no interest in knowing who has viewed my profile, especially if they've not interacted with it, because it leads to so many unnecessary notifications. Some apps have the (usually paid) feature of showing you who has liked you, which feels like a much better version of seeing your views. Ultimately, I am not a YouTube video, I don't care about my view count.

Next, the push notifications. I got a notification that someone was "curious" about me, and I still don't know what the hell that means. I got notifications about profile views, when I had a connection, when my SmartPicks were ready, when people who I'd never exchanged a single message with wanted to meet me, and so on. There are two kinds of push notifications I want with a dating app: when someone matches with me, and when someone sends me a message. Simply put, it was way too much and made the entire process feel less engaging.

The messaging experience

You don't have to match with people on Zoosk to send and receive messages. Zoosk even offers some pre-written messages to help you get the ball rolling. However, you do have to have a subscription, and thus pay money, to message most users. You can respond to any premium messages you receive for free, but for most messages you'll receive, you have to pay to see what was said and respond.

For most conversations, it's not free to message back. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk

Obviously, that presents a problem for ever clearing out your notifications if you want to continue using this app for free.

One part of messaging that didn't cost money (at least for the first and only time I tried it) was Super Send, which allows you to send a mass message to a bunch of users to get some conversations going. If you don't think about too hard, this sounds like it could be nice for making a connection, and if you think about it a little more, it sounds awfully similar to a spam message.

"I'd love to talk to you. For reals. No fakesies." Sounds human to me. Credit: Screenshot: Zoosk

Yes, it can take a lot of patience and effort to start talking to someone you really hit it off with. But that patience and effort is kind of essential for making an authentic connection. Sending a pre-written "Want to chat sometime?" selected from a bulleted list doesn't go a long way when you're trying to intentionally date and get to know people.

Zoosk price

For most parts of the app, such as liking people that have viewed your profile, matching with your SmartPicks, and messaging users (as mentioned above), or use the integrated "Great Dates" video chatting, you have to be a paying member of Zoosk. So what exactly does that cost you?

• One month membership: $14.99

• Three month membership: $24.99

• Six month membership: $74.99

Compared to other apps, Zoosk's prices aren't outrageous — in fact, they're cheaper in many cases. One month of OkCupid will cost you $14.99 too, one month of Hinge $34.99, and one month of Match can run you close to $50. What's more is Zoosk's prices have gone down in the past couple of years. However, its subscription fees would be way more competitive, if it had the features and user base these other apps and sites have, to back up what it's trying to sell.

OkCupid and Hinge both have fully functional free versions, and Match has a user base that knows it's looking for something serious. Zoosk feels confused in comparison, with its swiping feature and quick sign up that make it seem casual, along with its space for a full profile and marketing about finding love that make it seem serious. Having users pay to experience most of the app also lends an air that this is not the place for hookups or uncommitted dating.

But it's not clear if that is 100 percent the case, and there are way more bot profiles than on the other websites. When there's no straightforward messaging as to what you're even supposed to be paying for, it makes you wonder why you would pay in the first place.

Let's talk about Zoosk coins

It used to be that much of the app was free, and you could use Zoosk coins to pay and access special features. Now, you have to subscribe to use many features, and you can pay extra for coins.

With coins, you can "buy" matches virtual gifts, browse anonymously, and see read receipts (though you do need a subscription on top of using coins to do this last item.)

You can also use coins if you're feeling impatient — the "Boost" feature puts your profile front and center for all users in your area to spike your views (and hopefully your matches), but each boost costs 100 Zoosk Coins.

Here's what that means in real money:

• 180 coins = $19.95

• 480 coins = $39.95

• 1800 coins = $99.95

To Zoosk's credit, coin prices haven't gone up in the past few years, and the same can't be said for other sites and apps prices in the same time frame. However, the very existence of coins to access features on top of a paid subscription does feel like a rip off in and of itself.

Data breach issues

Outside of the app experience, it's important to note that Zoosk has run into some legal trouble. In 2020, they faced a negligence suit after a leak of 30 million users' private data. Spark Networks, the company that owns Zoosk, had sent emails to those affected by the leak, but some users feel it was not within a reasonable time frame. It's been reported that the original notice sent to affected users stated that Zoosk was unaware of the breach until it was publicly reported.

Is Zoosk worth trying out?

Zoosk's pricing structure is on par with other dating sites, but not competitive enough considering all of its flaws, especially when it comes to its subscriptions and coins system. While paying for upgrades makes sense for "freemium" games like Clash Royale, Pocket Frogs, and The Simpsons: Tapped Out, it just doesn’t always make sense for a dating site — especially one that's essentially making users pay to weed through tons of seemingly dubious profiles.

To add insult to injury, this app doesn't have the active user bases of other options out there. To be fair, every dating app has its share of problems with bogus and inactive users — it just seems like they’re more prevalent here.

It also never felt entirely clear who this app was for, which seems to make it a subpar time for everyone. In my experience, the best apps are the ones that know they're for casual dating or serious dating or even something in between, and fully lean in to that identity with features that cater to those experiences.

Zoosk, on the other hand, wants to be the best of all worlds, but ended up feeling like the mediocre option for most. Sure, there seem to be some people who've genuinely found love on the app, but it's still hard to name it a top choice for anyone. All I can really imagine is if you're opposed to the idea of being on a Match Group-owned app, Zoosk is technically there. Just don't expect it to wow you.

Opens in a new window Credit: Zoosk Zoosk Learn More

If your PlayStation gaming collection is feeling a bit stale, you're in luck. PlayStation's Spring Sale has discounted thousands of games at up to 70% off. Here are a few of our favorites to grab today.

Best games at PlayStation's Spring Sale A Mashable top pick from 2023 Alan Wake 2 $47.99 at PlayStation (save $12) Get Deal A PlayStation collection must-have The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt $14.99 at PlayStation (save $35) Get Deal A must-play from Rockstar Games Red Dead Redemption 2 $19.79 at PlayStation (save $40.20) Get Deal

The wonderful world of gaming has expanded beyond many of our reaches. There just aren't enough hours in the day/week/year to keep up on the latest and greatest games that span numerous consoles.

If you feel like you missed the hype on some must-play games, PlayStation's Spring Sale is offering epic discounts on some older games that still deserve our attention. With discounts of up to 70%, now is the perfect time to fill in the gaps of your PlayStation game collection. Here are a few of our top choices to grab during the PlayStation Spring Sale.

A Mashable top pick from 2023 Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation Our pick: Alan Wake 2 $47.99 at PlayStation
$59.99 Save $12.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Scoring the number one pick on Mashable's list of the best games of 2023, Alan Wake 2 is still a fan favorite. From Finland's Epic Games, Alan Wake 2 has over 18,000 reviews at the PlayStation store with an impressive rating of 4.77 out of 5. If you've yet to dedicate a weekend (or several) to Alan Wake 2, today's sale price will save you $12 on the PS5 standard edition.

A PlayStation collection must-have Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation Our pick: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt $14.99 at PlayStation
$49.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Looking for something to get totally lost in? The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers over 100 hours of open-world adventures. This complete edition version also comes with two story expansions that add up to an extra 50 hours of gameplay. In total, 150 hours or more at a sale price of $14.99 seems like a pretty great deal. The offer extends to both the PS4 and PS5 versions. But you'll want to hurry because this offer expires on April 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

A must-play from Rockstar Games Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation Our pick: Red Dead Redemption 2 $19.79 at PlayStation
$59.99 Save $40.20 Get Deal Why we like it

In case you missed one of the more popular games from Rockstar Games, now's your chance to grab Red Dead Redemption 2. The PlayStation Spring Sale has the PS4 standard edition on sale for just $19.97, marked down from the normal price of $59.99, a 67% discount. Winning countless awards, Adam Rosenberg's Mashable review of Red Dead Redemption 2 mentions the game has a minimum of 50 hours of gameplay. The discounted price plus lengthy storyline means this is a great option if you're looking for maximum time spent engrossed in a game without overspending.

More games on sale at the PlayStation Spring Sale:

• Grand Theft Auto V — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)

• Star Ward Jedi: Survivor — $31.49 $69.99 (save $38.50)

• Hogwarts Legacy (PS5 version) — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Gran Turismo 7 — $39.89 $69.99 (save $30.10)

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III — $45.49 $69.99 (save $24.50)

Musica is not your typical musical film. Rudy Mancuso and Camily Mendes reveals how his film 'Musica' breaks with convention and why he considers it an "anti-musical musical." Musica premieres on Prime Video April 4th.

The First Omen has the grand misfortune of coming out hot on the heels of Immaculate, a nun-centered horror movie that bears more than a glancing resemblance to this prequel to 1976's The Omen.

Both plots revolve around a young and beautiful American novitiate, new to an Italian convent, facing stern Catholic authority and penetrating forces of evil. Stylistically; however, they are quite different. Immaculate relishes in the sexy star power of Sydney Sweeney in its delve into nunsploitation, but shows a modern squeamishness when it comes to onscreen violence. The First Omen is a pastiche in 1970s style and pacing, but pulls no punches when it comes to gore.

If you're after a movie about a tormented nun that really goes for the gusto, The First Omen should be your pick.

What is The First Omen about? Bill Nighy as Lawrence. Credit: Moris Puccio / 20th Century Studios

Set in 1969 Rome, The First Omen begins with Margaret (Servant's Nell Tiger Free), a doe-eyed young woman from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who grew up as a ward of the Catholic church. Invited by Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy) to join a convent, where the sisters care for orphaned girls and unwed mothers, Margaret is eager to contribute and to take her vows. But shortly after her arrival, this fish out of water begins to suspect something is off in the religious sanctum, and it seems to revolve around a problem child named Carlita Scianna (Nicole Sorace). 

SEE ALSO: 10 terrifying religious horror movies you can stream right now

Where the other children have bright smiles, rosy cheeks, and flowers in their hair, Carlita carries bags under her dark eyes and a perpetually grim expression. She draws troubling images and is uncomfortably close to a creepy nun (a requisite of this subgenre), whose high-pitched giggle is like nails on a chalkboard.

While a fellow novitiate (a beguiling Maria Caballero) cajoles Margaret to focus on the positive and embrace her youth and body before signing herself over to the church for good, the harried heroine is plagued by dark visions of vicious nuns and a horrid clawed hand reaching out for her. Are these hallucinations of an overactive imagination? Or is Margaret getting omens of something terrible to come? 

How does The First Omen tie to The Omen (1976)? Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan in "The First Omen." Credit: Moris Puccio / 20th Century Studios

There are some connective characters in common with the original, including Father Brennan. The priest played by the late Patrick Troughton in the 1976 version is portrayed by Game of Thrones' Ralph Ineson. Here, Brennan is an ally of Margaret's who is researching rumors about a conspiracy to bring about the antiChrist. Other cryptic connections and callbacks will be made, including a grisly death that evokes the chilling catchphrase, "It's all for you!" 

How else this prequel sets up its predecessor can likely be guessed by The First Omen's very existence. The point of this film is not too much the destination but the journey. To the credit of director and co-writer Arkasha Stevenson (Brand New Cherry Flavor), she imbues the film with atmospheric dread that feels true to the original. The score courses with choral singing distorted to turn the human voices into nightmarish squalls. The color scheme is fit for shadows, allowing creeping nuns to emerge as mighty and terrifyingly as Michael Myers in a suburban closet. 

Featured Video For You Sydney Sweeney on finding a church that would let them film 'Immaculate'

At times, the scares are predictable, but in a smartly intentional way. Stevenson knows a horror savvy audiences will be hip to the beats of such tricks, and uses that to her advantage. For instance, as a character fearfully retreats to cross a street — we might rightly predict he'll be hit by a car. This expectation pulls us to the edge of our seats in anxious anticipation. But when we're proven right, Stevenson doesn't let us off the hook with a jump scare and a quick demise — as was often the case in The Omen.

She lingers on the aftermath, the injury, the blood, the physical agony and emotional anguish, not allowing us the relief a jump scare often offers. However, the close-ups of such garish graphic violence can offer diminishing returns. Sometimes the prolonged exposure to such intense imagery is affecting, as if we are stuck in a nightmare from which we can’t look away. But other times Stevenson's generosity in displaying such graphic violence sours to silly, as some practical effects look better in glimpses than long gazes. (See the editing of Jaws for a classic example.) 

Nell Tiger Free gives her all in The First Omen.  Nell Tiger Free as Margaret and María Caballero as Luz. Credit: Moris Puccio / 20th Century Studios

While this perturbing prequel delivers on graphic violence in a way Immaculate willfully avoids, it falls prey to the same pitfall of characterization.

Make no mistake, Free is devoted in her performance. Playing a heroine who is put through the ringer, emotionally, physically, and psychologically, — hell, even ideologically — Free is pushed to express herself not only through bulging eyes, panicked screams, and full-body shivers, but also physical contortions that could veer into goofy in a lesser actor's hands. However, her efforts are undermined by the screenplay, penned by Stevenson, Tim Smith, and Keith Thomas. 

Chockful of twists, turns, and Omen lore (new and old), the film has so many hoops to jump through in its runtime that what is shortchanged is establishing Margaret. Like Immaculate, the nun heroine is introduced upon her arrival to Italy, fresh-faced and eager to serve Jesus. Sure, a tragic backstory is plopped down in dialogue to give her some context. But Margaret is clumsily defined as sweet and innocent, and not much else.

These traits make her a suitably angelic archetype for the horror story that will follow, which delves into how religious authority dehumanizes women, reducing them to Madonna, whore, or vessel. But the lack of depth in the protagonist's personality deadens the impact of her pain. Margaret feels more like a caricature than a person, and so, while the metaphor works, the emotional follow through does not.

Is The First Omen scary?  Nell Tiger Free as Margaret and Nicole Sorace as Carlita. Credit: Moris Puccio / 20th Century Studios

Moderately.

Admittedly, growing up Catholic I am a particularly hard critic on horror movies around Christian ideology. Any given Sunday a priest might say something on the pulpit more horrifying than the things I’ve seen in dozens of these movies. Still, I respect this Stevenson's dedication to striving for the tone and the original. Too often in reboots and prequels and whatever the Scream franchise has devolved into, the aim to achieve the tone of the original feels like winking set dressing intended as fan service. Here, the mood brings us back to 1976 and the unique terror of Richard Donner's classic film, but without feeling hollow in its admiration.

By mimicking the pacing of the original, Stevenson neatly folds in the classic and the contemporary, bringing in a post-torture porn era thirst for blood that leads to some genuinely alarming on screen violence. While overall the film left me a bit underwhelmed, Stevenson's depiction of demons is undeniably nightmare fuel and will assure The First Omen a place of honor in the maternity horror canon for one snatching shot in particular. However, Stevenson's lust for carnage leads to indulgence, and being thin on character development makes the film's emotional terror more frail than fraught. 

In the end,The First Omen offers generous splashes of gore, jump scared, and dread. So if you're seeing something more spooky than scary, or more haunting than horrifying, this religious thriller will scratch that itch with a long, putrid claw.

The First Omen opens in theaters April 5. 

Oura, the company behind the sleek wearable health ring all over wellness circles and the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, debuted its new Oura Labs beta testing site for members last month. It's an incubator for experimental health features like its recently announced, illness-spotting Symptom Radar.

The radar, which detects biometric levels like temperature, resting heart rate, and respiratory rate, is specifically not advertised as an illness detection tool, but rather a tool to "help you understand your body's signals," the company explained in a March post.

"Symptom Radar assesses your biometric data each morning to detect signs of respiratory symptoms, and will prompt you to activate Rest Mode when there is a low or moderate risk detected, or when there’s a significant elevation in body temperature," explains Oura. According to the company, such data can help in early detection of common respiratory illnesses, like the flu or common cold.

As the Verge reports, Oura and other wearable health companies previously explored illness detection as the demand for COVID-19 early detection grew. Most companies shelved the venture, or pivoted specific illness detection efforts toward general symptom management, like the new radar.

SEE ALSO: Tracking your stress may be more stressful than you imagined

The company's 2022 Gen3 ring debuted with an expansion of its originally limited health features, including menstrual cycle prediction, blood oxygen measuring, and even new stress tracking (although the benefits of such metrics are murky at best). Many of these were still in testing periods, however, and are now joined by the Oura Labs family of upcoming additions.

Wearables are quickly expanding across the health tech market, with brands like Samsung debuting their own versions of small, sleep-tracking health devices. Last month, Google announced a new research endeavor with Fitbit, known as Fitbit Labs, to develop a new AI health model that can analyze health data and offer recommendations to users. Meanwhile, the FDA is keeping a watchful eye on wellness trackers making dubious, data-collecting claims.

How to use Oura Labs and Symptom Radar

Oura Labs is currently available to active Gen3 members on iOS. The first group of members were invited to test Labs in March. The testing environment can be found in the under the drop down menu in the top left corner of the app. New and available features will be added periodically, and users can opt out of testing at any time.

Credit: Oura

The best deals on Amazon as of April 4 include a TherGun Pro massager, plus more of our top picks below:

Amazon deals of the day: OUR TOP PICK TheraGun Pro $299 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal BEST FITNESS DEAL Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1805 magnetic indoor cycling bike $503.99 at Amazon (save $95.99 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Google Nest Cam 2-pack (2nd Gen, indoor/outdoor) $259.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal BEST HEALTH DEAL Waterpik Cordless Advanced water flosser $69.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

You never know what sort of deals Amazon will dish out on any given day. It doesn't need to be a big promotional event or a shopping holiday to save big bucks, and the deals below are living proof. We've sorted through the noise and handpicked a few of the best Amazon deals you can shop on April 4, with health and fitness products particularly coming in hot.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. And don't forget to check out our top picks from April 2 and April 3, as many of those discounts are still going strong.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Theragun Amazon deal of the day: TheraGun Pro (4th gen) $299.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

TheraGun is essentially the Apple of massage guns, with a product line that stands out in a crowded market and meets multiple price ranges. The fourth-gen TheraGun Pro is Mashable's top pick for a massage gun due to its intense percussions (it packs 60 pounds of force into each 16mm punch), five speed options, six attachments, and adjustable angles. It's a bit pricey at $499, but you can save $200 at Amazon as of April 4 and snag it for only $299. It's also sitting at the same discounted price at the TheraGun website, but potentially without free two-day shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sunny Health & Fitness Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1805 magnetic indoor cycling bike $503.99 at Amazon
$599.98 Save $95.99 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Looking to kick off the spring season with a new workout routine? The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1805 magnetic bike is on sale for just over $500 as of April 4 — that's a 16% discount from its usual $600 and just $8 away from its lowest price in six months. For those keeping track, that's also about $940 cheaper than a Peloton bike. The Sunny Health and Fitness bike is more simplistic than a Peloton, sure, but it still offers smooth resistance, adjustable tension, and a fully customizable setup. While there's no screen onboard, there's a device holder that allows you to easily slip a tablet or phone in and follow along to your favorite workout videos. You can even add a cadence sensor (sold separately) to turn it into a smart bike if you want extra features.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Cam 2-pack (2nd Gen, indoor/outdoor) $259.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

One of our top picks for a home security camera, the Google Nest Cam is a slick, waterproof camera that can be placed inside or outside to catch 24/7 live HD video with 6x digital zoom. A two-pack of these babies is on sale for just $259.99 at Amazon as of April 4 — that's just $20 away from its lowest price ever, which it hit during Black Friday season last year. The Google Nest Cam allows you to share your stream with anyone using a public or password-protected link and will show you recordings from the past three hours for free. You can add a Nest Aware plan for an extra fee and enjoy intelligent alerts, continuous video recording, clip sharing, emergency alerts, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Waterpik Waterpik Cordless Advanced water flosser $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Improve your oral hygiene with a Waterpik Cordless Advanced water flosser, a handheld, dentist-recommended flosser that's ideal for home and travel. It has a rechargeable battery, a seven-ounce reservoir, three pressure settings, a travel bag, a tip case, and four included tips. It's also waterproof so it can be used in the shower (which prevents messes all over your sink). It's on sale at Amazon for just $69.99 as of April 4 — that's just $10 away from its Black Friday pricing.

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

Samsung Galaxy users are on Reddit and the Samsung Community forum posting complaints about their devices' unresponsiveness.

The AI-filled One UI 6.1 update, which debuted with the new Galaxy S24 series in January, was released to older to March 28, according to SamMobile.

Unfortunately, for some, the rollout hasn't been smooth, particularly for Samsung Galaxy S23 series users.

SEE ALSO: Galaxy AI: Any Android, iOS phone can try it now. Here’s how. What's going on with the Samsung Galaxy S23 series?

One UI 6.1, as we reported in late February, expanded its Galaxy AI features to older models, including the Galaxy S23 series, S23 FE, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 and Tab S9 series. This means that they're getting new AI features Samsung boasted about during Galaxy Unpacked 2024, including Circle to Search and Generative Edit.

However, as TechRadar pointed out, the rollout apparently hasn't been seamless, with Samsung Galaxy S23 series users reporting unresponsive displays after the One UI 6.1 update.

"After installing version 6.1 (14) on my phone the touch screen is no longer responding to a finger touch but works with the S Pen, how do I fix this?" anyirongo posted on Samsung's Community forum

Among 41 replies, many chimed in to say they're experiencing the same issue.

"After hitting the 6.1 update, I'm stuck with the same problem: the touch screen is totally unresponsive. It's downright disheartening. Can't believe a brand would drop an update this messed up," cyberplanete said.

"Has anyone found a fix for this yet? So frustrating!!!!" said halllpppp.

Reddit has its complaints, too: u/RetroXStyles1 said, in part, "Since updating my screen is totally unresponsive to finger touch and only works when I use the S Pen. I've restarted my phone multiple times with no luck in fixing this problem."

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review Is there a fix after downloading the One UI 6.1 update?

One Redditor claims they were able to resolve the issue by rolling back their device to the previous 6.0 update. That, however, is a bit extreme. Others have said that restarting their device rectifies the problem, particularly after waiting for their apps to be fully optimized after the One UI 6.1 update.

As such, if you're experiencing this problem, wait a few days after the One UI 6.1 update and trigger a restart. If the issue persists, Samsung will have no choice but to address the problem with a patch in the near future.

It's difficult to say whether this is a widespread issue, but the complaints are certainly beginning to pile up online. We reached out to Samsung for comment; we'll update this article if we get a response.

The red-band trailer for Indian action film Kill is here, and it has certainly earned its rating. If you're squeamish about eye injuries, maybe give this one a skip.

Kill follows army commando Amrit (Lakshya), who boards a New Delhi-bound train to save his sweetheart Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) from being forced into an arranged marriage. Unfortunately, his journey soon becomes derailed when a ruthless gang led by Fani (Raghav Juyal) begins terrorising passengers. In response, Amrit embarks on an exceedingly bloody rampage to protect his fellow commuters — and probably work off a bit of his frustration.

Purely judging from the trailer, Kill looks like if Old Boy met Die Hard and Train to Busan — only with exceedingly graphic, gory knife fights instead of zombies for the latter.

Kill arrives in theatres on July 4.

Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko speaks with Ripley star Andrew Scott to discuss what it was like to play Tom Ripley and the challenges of bringing Patricia Highsmith's novels to the screen.

Ripley is now streaming on Netflix.