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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 4'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:

Scaling a large object.

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 C.

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 #1020 is...

CLIMB.

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 4'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: Cooking an egg

• Green: Adrenaline junkie

• Blue: You can throw these

• Purple: Wrapping

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: Ways to Prepare Eggs

• Green: Exhilaration

• Blue: Thrown in Target Games

• Purple: ___Wrap

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 #298 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Ways to Prepare Eggs: BOIL, FRY, POACH, SCRAMBLE

• Exhilaration: BUZZ, KICK, RUSH, THRILL

• Thrown in Target Games: AXE, DART, HORSESHOE, RING

• ___Wrap: BODY, BUBBLE, GIFT, SHRINK

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 just had a massive outage of its services, with users around the world unable to access everything from the App Store to Apple TV. Fortunately the tech giant appears to have since resolved the issue, leaving you free to stream your Apple Music playlist in peace.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new AI: 3 ways Siri could beat ChatGPT

First complaints of an outage began appearing shortly after Apple's systems went down at 3:13 p.m. PT / 6:13 p.m. ET, with multiple users notifying the company that they were unable to access services such as the App Store, Apple Music, or Apple TV. Mashable's testing found that attempting to access the Apple Store on an iPhone during the outage brought up a notification that it "cannot connect."

It quickly became apparent that the issue was impacting many more services, though. The official Apple Support Twitter/X account has not made any general announcement about the outage, however it did tell users who raised the issue to bookmark its System Status page for updates.

Fortunately, Apple's services came back up at 4:35 p.m. PT / 7:35 p.m. ET, allowing Apple TV customers to resume streaming The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin without interruption.

Which Apple services were down?

Apple's website listed outages on:

• App Store

• Apple Arcade

• Apple Books

• Apple Fitness+

• Apple Music

• Apple Music radio

• Apple Music Subscriptions

• Apple Sports

• Apple TV Channels

• Apple TV+

• AppleCare on Device

• Audiobooks

• Mac App Store

• Podcasts

• Subscription Purchase

So basically the majority of Apple's most popular services were down, though fortunately Apple Pay remained unaffected. Apple Music Classical was still up as well, which was good news for anyone who prefers Tchaikovsky to Taylor Swift.

As of writing, Apple's Systems Status page lists everything back up except for AppleCare on Device.

Several other Apple services are still experiencing issues though, including:

• Apple Business Essentials

• Apple Business Manager

• Apple School Manager

UPDATE: Apr. 4, 2024, 11:15 a.m. AEDT Apple's Systems Status page now states that AppleCare on Device is back up as well.

UPDATE: Apr. 4, 2024, 11:39 a.m. AEDT The issues impacting Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple School Manager have now been resolved as well, meaning all of Apple's systems are now back up and running without problems.

The FCC is defrosting net neutrality once again, bringing back internet protection laws intended to keep users from paying high prices for the same web.

In an exclusive statement to Reuters, FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the federal committee would be voting to bring back net neutrality laws at the end of the month, despite lingering internal challenges. "The pandemic made clear that broadband is an essential service, that every one of us — no matter who we are or where we live — needs it to have a fair shot at success in the digital age," she told the publication. "An essential service requires oversight and in this case we are just putting back in place the rules that have already been court-approved that [ensure] that broadband access is fast, open, and fair."

But former net neutrality protections have failed to fully stick in the U.S., so what's up? 

SEE ALSO: Google is funding AI tools for nonprofits, including the World Bank What is net neutrality?

Net neutrality is an internet anti-discrimination principle that argues for the equal treatment of websites and services by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In the words of its supporters, the concept ensures fast, open, and fair broadband access to all. It's the path toward an "open internet."

In practice, net neutrality regulations include prohibitions on ISPs blocking (legal) websites and services as part of paid packages, or throttling website speeds according to a customer's plan or at the ISP's discretion. Laws may also block the prioritization of services and providers that pay more for bandwidth access, or ensure that users of different ISPs receive similar web experiences. 

For consumers, a world without net neutrality could look like Verizon striking a deal with one website or streaming service, and then charging you more to access its competitors. An ISP could censor entire categories of apps from free access. Conversely, some credit the rise of online streaming services with former net neutrality protections, including the Disney+ acquisitions that now let you digitally stream what were once cable-only channels.

On the whole, net neutrality argues that telecommunications companies shouldn't be allowed to ramp up prices or put walls up to digital access without the government being involved. 

Advocates for net neutrality laws include digital rights advocacy groups, the ACLU, and even the inventor of the World Wide Web, arguing that an open market for broadband access is both a requirement for innovation and a free speech issue. 

What is the United States' stance on net neutrality? 

Debate between those aligning with providers and those in favor of more government oversight has led to a split among political leaders, with the majority of Republican leadership favoring the former and Democrats the latter. The FCC, made up of presidentially-appointed members that serve five-year terms, tends to lean toward the appointing side. Major providers, like Verizon and Comcast, have taken net neutrality to court — and won.

While the first FCC attempt to instate net neutrality laws happened way back in 2005, the regulations didn't officially make it onto the books until a decade later, with the support of the ardently pro-net neutrality Obama administration. In a 2014 White House statement, President Barack Obama wrote, "'Net neutrality' has been built into the fabric of the Internet since its creation — but it is also a principle that we cannot take for granted. We cannot allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to restrict the best access or to pick winners and losers in the online marketplace for services and ideas." The Obama administration's net neutrality agenda, known as the Open Internet Rule, included limits on ISP blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. 

But the 2015 regulations were repealed by a new Republican-controlled FCC only a year later, under President Donald Trump. At the time, FCC chairman Ajit Pai argued the regulations had a negative impact on innovative internet investment and small providers. "These providers often serve rural and lower-income areas where better internet access and competition are most desperately needed. But they were forced to spend scarce funds on regulatory compliance rather than building out broadband to more Americans," said Pai. 

What followed were several years of failed bills to reinstate the Obama era laws, including a bicameral bill, known as the Save the Internet Act of 2019, introduced by Democratic legislators. As federal regulations stalled, states introduced their own net neutrality laws, like California's 2018 Internet Consumer Protection and Net Neutrality Act.

In a 2021 executive order, President Joe Biden called on the FCC to restore net neutrality rules, as well as require ISPs to report their prices and subscription rates directly to the FCC. Biden also championed the revival of the FCC's shelved "Broadband Nutrition Label," a standardized consumer label that would provide basic information about internet services and prices.

How will the FCC's decision affect internet users?

A "yes" vote from the FCC would reinstate protections and oversight powers bestowed under the Open Internet Rule. This means federal agencies would once again require ISPs to report speed, pricing, and network management practice; that information would then be made available to customers. 

Notably, Rosenworcel explained it would also provide the FCC with "new national security tools," which could impact international companies providing equipment and services to ISPs and U.S. customers. Amid growing political fears of foreign state actors online (read: TikTok), that fact could be the bipartisan chip that gets net neutrality back in U.S. law. 

The internet itself wouldn't immediately change for consumers with the revival of open internet laws, but the downstream effects could be significant to those shopping around for new providers, plans, services, and more.

SEE ALSO: Biden’s executive order: What it means for Big Tech and you

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) officially went into effect in the EU last month. That means Big Tech needs to start abiding by this new regulation that intends to spur competition on these companies' core platforms.

In Apple's case, one of the biggest results of the DMA has been to allow "alternative marketplaces," basically App Store competitors, on the iPhone.

What's coming for iPhone users in the EU

As The Verge points out, there's currently just one third-party alternative marketplace on iOS that users in the EU can currently download — a business-to-business marketplace for corporations to distribute their own internal apps called Mobivention.

However, there's a lot more on the way.

Epic Games, the company behind the super popular Battle Royale game Fortnite, has already shared its plans to soon launch its own alternative marketplace on the iPhone. 

In addition, Epic Games has announced they would use this distribution model to get Fortnite back on iOS for users in the EU. The game has been missing from Apple's App Store for nearly four years after the Fortnite developer and the iPhone maker had a very public falling out over App Store fees and revenue share models.

SEE ALSO: Apple already unbans Epic Games, will allow Fortnite on iPhone in EU

SetApp by MacPaw is also coming to the iPhone in the EU. Mac users may be familiar with SetApp, a sort of Netflix for Mac apps. The subscription service charges $9.99 per month and allows users to download and use any of the more than 200 third-party Mac apps that are part of its program for as long as they are subscribed. SetApp plans to bring a similar iOS subscription service to the iPhone via its alternative marketplace.

However, as both TechCrunch and The Verge note, an alternative marketplace called AltStore will likely be the first to make it to the iPhone.

AltStore leading the way

AltStore, by developer Riley Testut, has already existed for years as an "alternative marketplace" before the concept officially existed. Testut found a workaround that allowed iPhone users anywhere in the world to sideload AltStore, basically installing it directly to their device via their PC or Mac. Testut found a creative way to make his public App Store alternative work on an iPhone without being distributed via Apple's official App Store, in a similar way to how businesses install and use internal company apps on employees' iOS devices. 

AltStore comes with preloaded apps like Delta, Testut's Nintendo emulator and a perfect example of apps that likely would never be approved by Apple for distribution in the App Store.

Post by @rileytestut View on Threads

Testut's AltStore is currently undergoing Apple's alternative marketplace review process and will be ready to launch as soon as Apple approves of AltStore.

Once Apple approves, AltStore will be available for "official" download in the EU. The alternative marketplace will have two apps ready to go at launch: the aforementioned Delta game emulator, which will be available for free, and and clipboard manager called Clip.

Testut will require users pay a small fee for Clip, and it appears that this app will be used to test out a very new and unique mobile app subscription model. According to Testut, users will pay for Clip via a $1 or more pledge via the creator monetization platform Patreon. 

Patreon allows creators to setup subscription models so that their followers can pay a monthly monetary fee for exclusive content. According to Testut, AltStore will have Patreon directly integrated into it as its payment platform for paid apps. If all works out, Testut plans to allow other developers to distribute their own apps in AltStore and monetize them using the Patreon pledge model

One thing holding back more alternative marketplaces

With the DMA in effect for about a month now, it may seem surprising that we have yet to see a deluge of alternative marketplaces opening on the iPhone for EU users.

However, there's a good reason we haven't seen that yet.

When announcing alternative marketplaces, Apple also introduced a new "Core Technology Fee" for developers looking to distribute via these App Store competitors. Instead of paying 15 to 30 percent of app revenue to Apple like they would in the App Store, developers will now be paying €0.50 for every first annual install of their app over 1 million downloads. This includes free apps, meaning that a developer that creates very popular free app can owe Apple money for those downloads — a cost of business that never before existed in Apple's official App Store. And any developer that wants to distribute apps via alternative marketplaces needs to abide by Apple's new terms that include this fee. 

The EU is already investigating Apple for these new terms and fees to see if they are actually in violation of the DMA.

So, we'll definitely soon see a number of alternative marketplaces on iPhones in the EU. But based on the results of that EU investigation, we'll have to wait and see how many actually pop up.

Author John Green's books have frequently made homes for themselves onscreen, from The Fault in Our Stars to Paper Towns to Looking for Alaska. Next up to the plate is an adaptation of his 2017 novel Turtles All The Way Down, which premieres May 2 on Max.

Directed by Hannah Marks and starring Isabela Merced (Madame Web), Turtles All The Way Down centers on high schooler Aza (Merced), who struggles with a constant stream of anxious, obsessive thoughts. As seen in the trailer, these thoughts include worries about the sheer amount of bacteria living inside us, and whether others perceive her as "crazy." But when Aza reconnects with her childhood crush Davis (Felix Mallard, Ginny & Georgia), she'll embark on a journey that will prompt her to reconsider her potential for love, friendship, and happiness.

Turtles All The Way Down hits Max May 2.

Apple seemed slow to jump on the generative AI bandwagon, but new research related to contextual understanding might make Siri better than ChatGPT.

The tech giant was conspicuously quiet during the meteoric rise of ChatGPT and the subsequent barrage of generative AI tools and features from companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. But Apple researchers have a new model that could give Siri the generative AI upgrade Apple fans have been hoping for.

SEE ALSO: Apple and Google are reportedly talking. Could Gemini come to iPhone?

"Human speech typically contains ambiguous references such as 'they' or 'that,' whose meaning is obvious (to other humans) given the context," said the researchers. The paper proposes a model called ReALM (Reference Resolution As Language Modeling) that tackles the problem of large language models (LLMs) not always being able to understand context when it comes to on-screen, conversational, and background references (e.g., apps or features running in the background) with the goal of achieving a "true hands-free experience in voice assistants."

While ChatGPT is pretty good and certain kinds of context understanding, researchers said ReALM outperforms GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 (which power free and paid versions of ChatGPT) on all of its context tests. Here's what that could mean for Siri.

1. On-screen context clues

Apple researchers trained ReALM using "on-screen" data from web pages, including contact information, enabling the model to comprehend text within screenshots (e.g., addresses and bank account details). While GPT-4 can also understand images, it wasn't trained on screenshots, which the paper argues makes ReALM better at understanding on-screen information that Apple users would be asking Siri for help with.

2. Conversational and background understanding

Conversational references mean something that's relevant to the conversation, but maybe not explicitly mentioned in the prompt. From training ReALM on data like lists of businesses, the model can understand prompts like "call the bottom one" in reference to a list of nearby pharmacies shown on the screen, without needing to provide more specific instructions.

ReALM is capable of understanding "background entities," which means something running in the background of a device "that might not necessarily be a direct part of what the user sees on their screen or their interaction with the virtual agent," such as music playing or an alarm going off.

3. Completely on-device

Last but not least, ReALM is designed to be on-device, which would be a big deal since LLMs require lots of computing power and are therefore mostly cloud-based. Instead, ReALM is a smaller LLM, "but fine-tuned for specifically and explicitly for the task of reference resolution." Apple has historically touted its commitment to privacy as a selling point for its devices, so a generative AI version of Siri that runs completely on the device would be both very on-brand and a major achievement for devices with AI capabilities.

Apple has been predictably tight-lipped about its AI plans, but CEO Tim Cook said a big AI announcement is expected later this year, so all eyes are on Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10.

Stable Audio, a text-to-music AI tool from Stability AI, once maxed out at 90 seconds. Now, you can generate longer audio content.

Stability AI announced Stable Audio 2.0, an update to Stable Audio 1.0 that lets users generate up to three minutes of AI sound.

SEE ALSO: StableLM: What to know about Stability AI's language model What's new with Stable Audio 2.0?

As mentioned, Stability AI launched Stable Audio 2.0, an AI audio generator with a free tier. The new model comes with the following new perks:

• With text prompts, users can generate high-quality, full tracks with "coherent musical structure" for up to three minutes long at 44.1 kHz stereo

• In addition to text-to-audio, Stability Audio 2.0 now has audio-to-audio capabilities. In other words, you can transform uploaded audio samples via natural language prompts

• Stability AI expanded Stable Audio's sound-effect generation, allowing artists and musicians more "flexibility" and "control"

Stable Audio 2.0 was exclusively trained on a licensed dataset sourced from AudioSparx music library. Opt-out requests from musicians and artists are honored, according to Stability AI, ensuring creators are fairly compensated.

In addition to a Stable Audio 2.0's free tier, there are also premium subscriptions that offer access to creator licenses and greater monthly allowances for track generation.

SAVE $100: The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) is on sale for $399 at Best Buy as of April 3 — a 20% discount on its $499 MSRP.

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch $399.00 at Best Buy
$499.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Google's Chromebook Plus series is a haven for value seekers. And while the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch may not be the absolute best deal of the bunch, it's a decidedly more compelling purchase now that it's on sale at Best Buy.

As of April 3, the tech retailer has the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch marked down to just $399. That's $100 off its $499 sticker price, which works out to a 20% discount. Note that this is the base configuration of the Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch that includes an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of Universal Flash Storage (UFS). Other variants are available on the HP website starting at $599.99, though they weren't on sale at the time of writing.

I'm hot off the heels of reviewing this Chromebook Plus and was surprised by how much I enjoyed using it, even as an Apple MacBook devotee. It zips through Google-based productivity tasks and its huge, colorful display is great for movie-watching and casual gaming. (I'd never, ever recommend it as someone's primary rig, but it's worth mentioning that I used the Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch to play a ton of Palworld at launch, and it never ran hot or slowed me down.)

SEE ALSO: HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: A big-screened budget laptop for the right user

The Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch also comes with some useful software features that are exclusive to the Chromebook Plus line, including a FileSync tool that automatically downloads your My Drive files for offline use, AI-powered webcam settings, and Google Photos Magic Eraser.

This laptop isn't totally free from flaws, to be clear. It could benefit from a snappier keyboard, upgraded speakers, and a longer battery life. Candidly, I think it's outpaced by some of the other new Chromebook Plus models at its regular MSRP. But for $400, it's a really solid budget buy.

SAVE $30: The Tile Mate Essentials four-pack of Bluetooth trackers is just $49.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $79.99. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Mate Essentials four-pack $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00 Shop Now

Listen up, travelers. If there's a plane ticket with your name on it, you're likely to be packing a few items that you definitely do not want to lose. Regardless of if you're checking a bag or packing a light carry-on, Bluetooth trackers can come in handy when you're away from home. Thanks to today's deal, you can score a pack of four at a great sale price.

As of April 3, the Tile Mate Essentials four-pack is just $49.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $79.99. That's a savings of $30 or a 38% discount. The pack includes two Tile Mate trackers, one Tile Slim, and one Tile Sticker.

If you excel when it comes to misplacing important items, Bluetooth trackers can save the day. Through the power of Bluetooth connectivity, these trackers can locate and inform you of where your lost items have gone.

The Tile Mate Essentials four-pack includes two Tile Mate trackers which easily connect to your key ring or slip into luggage. The set also includes one Tile Slim which is similar in size to a credit card, for easy storage and tracking of your wallet or purse. One Tile Sticker tracker is also included which has an adhesive backing designed to stick to a remote control, a video game controller, or your tablet.

All four Tile trackers are water resistant so they'll be ok if you're on vacation and it starts to pour.

If you have upcoming travel plans, investing in the Tile Mate Essentials four-pack could save you time and stress when it comes to keeping tabs on your belongings. Today's sale price means each Tile tracker costs $12.50. The reassurance of always knowing where your checked bag is located is well worth the price.

Amazon deals of the day: OUR TOP PICK Tile Mate Essentials (4-pack) $49.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Google Pixel Watch $199.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Get a free $200 promotional credit Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security Systems as low as $139.99 (save 30%) Get Deal

There are always deals to be found, even if it's not explicitly a major shopping event or holiday. Amazon continuously hides the most impressive deals in plain sight, amongst a slew of some too-good-to-be-true discounts. We've cleared out the nonsense for you and hand-picked a few of the best deals you can shop at Amazon today, April 3.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. And don't forget to take a second look at our picks from April 1 and April 2, as many of those discounts are still alive and thriving.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Amazon deal of the day: Tile Mate Essentials (4-pack) $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

One of our top picks for a Bluetooth tracker, the Tile Mate is a reliable way to track your keys, wallet, luggage, and more via GPS (with both iOS and Android devices). It's one of the thinnest trackers on the market, making it ideal for slipping into small places without much bulk. Plus, when you opt into the paid Tile Premium subscription, you'll get notifications when you leave stuff behind and qualify for reimbursement for items you aren't able to recover. A single Tile Mate is usually $24.99 on its own, so this 4-pack deal — which includes two Tile Mates, a Tile Slim, and a Tile Sticker — is a total steal for $49.99. You're essentially getting the Tile Slim and Tile Sticker for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch (WiFi) $199.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

At full price, we're not major fans of the Google Pixel Watch's features-to-value ratio. However, with this $90 discount — just $2 away from its lowest price ever — we're much more obliged to recommend it. It offers Fitbit capabilities rolled into a sleek smartwatch design and does all the basic things you'd expect a smartwatch to do: track sleep, count steps, read heart rate, activate Google Assistant, and more. If you're a fan of the Google ecosystem, it's certainly worth a grab at this price.

Read our full review of the Google Pixel Watch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Cell Phone (unlocked, 256GB) Get a free $200 promotional credit with purchase Get Deal

Following its January debut, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is offering a pretty sweet incentive to snag it: a free $200 Amazon promotional credit. Through April 14, just click "redeem" next to the listed promotion and go about your purchase as usual. After your shipment is complete, you'll receive an email confirming your credit, which will then be added to your Amazon account. Note that the $200 credit only applies to select colors in the 256GB configuration. However, if you prefer a different model, there's also a $50 credit and $150 credit up for grabs for the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+. For what it's worth, though, Mashable's reviewer claimed that the S24 Ultra "takes the throne as the best Android phone."

Read our full review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Opens in a new window Credit: SimpliSafe SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security Systems as low as $139.99 (save 30%) Get Deal

Our top pick for a home security system, SimpliSafe offers comprehensive protection at an excellent value. We love how flexible its systems are, with the ability to choose between DIY and professional monitoring and installation, as well as the wide variety of starter kits to choose from. As of April 3, you can save 30% on a variety of options, including five, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, or 12-piece bundles. Prices start at just $139.99, so you can outfit your home with some extra eyes for a steal.

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

GET UP TP 34% OFF: As of April 3, you can get up to 34% off LG TVs, projectors, and soundbars at Amazon.

Our top picks: Best TV deal LG C3 Series 55-inch TV $1,296.99 at Amazon (save $503 ) Get Deal Best soundbar deal LG S65Q soundbar $196.99 at Amazon (save $100 ) Get Deal Best projector deal LG CineBeam 4K projector $1,229.96 at Amazon (save $270.03) Get Deal

Remember a long time ago (like, the early aughts) when only celebrities and people on MTV Cribs had huge, fancy flat-screen TVs? Today, flat-screen TVs are the norm, and you don't have to be 50 Cent to afford one.

SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV deals

Not only are they more affordable now, but there are many ways to transform any living room into a full home theater experience. There are upgrades to fit every home theater vision and budget, and Amazon's sale on LG entertainment tech is worth checking out today.

Get LG soundbars, projectors, and TVs up to 34% off at Amazon as of April 3. Here are our top picks:

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG Our pick: LG C3 Series 55-inch TV $1,296.99 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $503.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The LG C3 Series 55-inch TV offers crisp picture quality with its 4K Ultra HD resolution and OLED EVO display. Its AI-assisted deep learning capabilities analyze what's on and automatically adjust the picture and sound settings for the best viewing experience. (Thanks to its 0.1 ms response time and 120 Hz refresh rate, it's also great for gaming.)

It has more than 300 free LG channels and built-in streaming apps for easy access to popular content. You can organize your faves with Quick Cards, and the webOS platform allows for seamless navigation and app integration.

Plus, whenever the TV's not in use, you can use it to display photos or artwork.

Best soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG Our pick: LG S65Q soundbar $196.99 at Amazon
$296.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The LG S65Q soundbar has Bluetooth connectivity and 3.1-channel audio with 420W power output, delivering immersive sound quality for movies, music, and games.

It includes a remote and wireless subwoofer for enhanced bass and a more dynamic audio experience.

Best projector deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG Our pick: LG CineBeam 4K projector $1,229.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $270.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The LG CineBeam 4K projector has a max screen size of 140 inches, so you can watch your favorite movies and shows on a big, cinematic display. The ceiling-mountable design allows for a flexible installation process (it's also out of the way), and the HU70LA delivers a 4K UHD resolution with 8.3 million pixels (four times the resolution of Full HD) for sharp, detailed visuals. This projector's quality and details mean it won't look or feel like you're watching on a projector screen.

This little gadget is also Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatible, making it easy to control your home theater setup with voice commands.

Spotify did something really cool last fall: it started offering Premium subscribers 15 hours of audiobook listening per month with access to more than 150,000 reads. Now they might be doing something less cool: hiking up the price for Premium subscribers who want to listen to those audiobooks.

The music streaming service cost a monthly subscription of $9.99 for 12 years before hiking it up to $10.99 in July 2023. According to a report from Bloomberg, Spotify is eyeing another increase of anywhere from $1 and $2 in the UK, Australia, Pakistan, and two other markets by the end of April and an increase in the U.S. "later this year." Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable.

SEE ALSO: How to use Spotify Audiobooks

Part of the price increase could be to cover the cost of adding audiobooks on Spotify — an addition that many of people, myself included, seem to love. There's already a limit to how many hours of audiobooks you can listen to on Spotify without paying extra money, which is, admittedly, pretty annoying. An average audiobook is between eight and 12 hours long, and Spotify includes a 15-hour listening period per month. That means if you want to listen to more than one book, or one exceptionally long book, you'll have to pay for the top-off or wait until the next month. I have personally paid for the top-off twice. I don't like it — most users don't — but I will probably do it again.

But if you're not an audiobook listener, you'll allegedly be able to use Spotify's new "basic" plan, which stays at the current $10.99 Premium rate and doesn't include audiobooks, according to Bloomberg. We're still waiting on news and details about Spotify's “Supremium” plan.

Ever since the launch of iPhone 14, Apple has supported satellite text messaging for emergency situations. It sounds like the competition will get an even better version of that soon.

In a teardown of a new beta version of Android 15, 9to5Google found some text strings that give us an idea of how satellite messaging might work. The feature was first uncovered in beta builds last month, but now we have more information about what to expect from it. The text strings include:

• "You can message with anyone, including emergency services"

• "To send and receive, stay outside with a clear view of the sky"

• "Satellite messaging may take longer and can’t include photos & videos"

SEE ALSO: Google is funding AI tools for nonprofits, including the World Bank How Android satellite texting may beat iPhone

The latter two text strings in that list are predictable enough — and more or less reflect what the satellite texting experience is like on iPhone. The first one, however, is a bit of a doozy. On iPhone, you can only message emergency services via satellite. On Android, you might be able to text anyone, if this feature rolls out in this state.

Google has yet to officially announce satellite texting for Android, but it might not be long now. Google I/O, the company's annual software-focused conference, is right around the corner in May.

Camping season is about to begin, which means it's time to asses your gear and upgrade anything that needs a replacement. As of April 3, select Coleman camping gear is up to 24% off at Amazon. Here are some of our top picks.

Best deals on Coleman camping gear today Best camping chair deal Coleman Quad portable camping chair (red) $34.19 at Amazon (save $10.80) Get Deal Best propane coffee maker deal Coleman QuickPot propane coffee maker $119.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best cooler deal Coleman 316 Series insulated portable cooler (62-quart, twilight) $69.99 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal

Ahh, the great outdoors. As the weather warms and we get closer to summer, it's time to get those camping reservations finalized. After that, the task shifts to checking out the camping gear that got put away in a hurry last September. Does the tent's zipper still function? Is the cooler leaking? Did that camping chair really break last August or was that a dream? These are all important questions to ask before heading to your campsite.

You can upgrade necessary camping equipment with select Coleman products on sale for up to 24% off at Amazon as of April 3. Here are a few of our favorite camping deals to shop.

Best camping chair deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Our pick: Coleman Quad portable camping chair (red) $34.19 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $10.80 Get Deal Why we like it

Great for sitting around the campsite, the kids' soccer game, or tailgating in the fall, the Coleman quad portable camping chair is ideal for comfort on the go. Thanks to today's sale price you can score the red Coleman chair for just $34.19, marked down from the standard price of $44.99 for a 24% discount. The chair weighs about eight pounds and can accommodate people who weigh up to 325 pounds. There's a built-in insulated pouch to keep up to four canned beverages cool and another mesh pouch for safe-keeping items like a cell phone or the car keys.

Best Coleman deal for the coffee lover Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Our pick: Coleman QuickPot propane coffee maker $119.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Camping outdoors comes with some incredible perks, but the experience can be a bit jarring for those who have a morning routine that includes a Nespresso machine. If your camping experience needs a coffee upgrade, the Coleman QuickPot propane coffee maker could be a welcome addition. Coffee lovers can brew 10 cups in 18 minutes with the propane-fueled coffee maker that uses 4,500 BTUs of power. You get fresh coffee with your morning views and the removable filter basket is dishwasher safe once you get home.

Best cooler deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Our pick: Coleman 316 Series insulated portable cooler (62-quart, twilight) $69.99 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Any good camping adventure needs a reliable cooler to keep drinks and food properly chilled. The Coleman 316 Series insulated portable cooler can keep ice for up to five days with storage capacity for over 100 aluminum cans or 50 cans with 26 pounds of ice. With a collapsible handle and two durable wheels, you can take the cooler from the car to the campsite with no trouble. The cooler's lid includes four built-in cupholders, so you're also getting a side table (or a surface for card games) out of the deal. If you prefer to use the cooler as a seat, go ahead; it's designed to support up to 250 pounds.

More Coleman deals at Amazon today:

• Stearns Kids Classic Life Vest (30 - 50 pounds, red) — $19.99 $25.99 (save $6)

• Coleman multi-purpose 190L LED lantern — $35.99 $44.99 (save $9)

• Coleman Sundome camping tent (4-person, spruce green) — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Coleman Triton+ two-burner propane camping stove — $89.99 $109.99 (save $20)

TL;DR: Tickets to see Immaculate are only $6.66 at select AMC, Regal, Marcus, and Harkins theaters on Wednesday, April 3.

Quick links: AMC Theaters 'Immaculate' tickets $6.66 on April 3 Find Showtimes Regal Cinemas 'Immaculate' tickets $6.66 on April 3 Find Showtimes Marcus Theaters 'Immaculate' tickets $6.66 on April 3 Find Showtimes Harkins Theaters 'Immaculate' tickets $6.66 on April 3 Find Showtimes

Paying an ungodly amount of money to see a new movie in theaters? Not today, Satan. (Sorry.)

On Wednesday, April 3, tickets to the Sydney Sweeney-led and produced nunsploitation film Immaculate are only $6.66 apiece at select AMC, Regal, Marcus, and Harkins theaters. The offer applies across all showtimes — matinee and evening included, in case you're interested in dedicating an extended lunch break to some edgy religious horror. (The movie has a tight 89-minute runtime.)

SEE ALSO: 'Immaculate' review: Nunsploitation meets post-Roe v. Wade era

Immaculate finds the Euphoria star in the habit of an American — and crucially, chaste — novitiate who finds out she's pregnant shortly after arriving at an eerie Italian convent to take her vows. With other nuns and priests convinced that the child she's carrying is the Second Coming of Christ, things start getting predictably weird.

After seeing it at SXSW 2024 last month, Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko deemed Immaculate "solid B-movie entertainment" that "[brandished] sex, violence, and gore with a heady mix of irreverence and star power." Still, she wished it went even harder with its scares and message of bodily autonomy: "[As] Immaculate delivers its final brutal blow, I wish I was more shocked or awed instead of just nodding along," she wrote.

Read Mashable's full review of Immaculate.

Apple released iOS 17.5 beta 1 for developers on Tuesday, allowing them to test some new features in the build.

As 9to5Mac pointed out, there aren't many major changes with iOS 17.5 beta 1, but there are some tweaks that, in part, appease the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules implemented by the EU.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18: Everything we know about the next big iPhone update 3 new features in iOS 17.5 beta 1

If you have a developer account, you can explore the new features for yourself — navigate to Settings > General > Software Updates > Beta Updates to download iOS 17.5 beta 1. As mentioned at the outset, don't expect any jaw-dropping updates — the new feature set is relatively minor.

1. Anti-stalking utility

9to5Mac claims that it spotted some code in iOS 17.5 beta 1 that reveals a new system that addresses the dark side of tracking gadgets. (This is no surprise since Apple, alongside Google, announced that they're working on a new industry standard to find a solution for stalking.)

A new string added to the Find My app says the following:

“This item isn’t certified on the Apple Find My network. You can disable this item and stop it from sharing its location with the owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item."

In other words, the Find My app will start recognizing tracking gadgets that aren't Apple-certified. Plus, users will have the option to disable them, too.

2. New MDM perk

For users who are mobile device managers (MDMs), which typically involve some sort of business organization that remotely manages and control their employees' Apple devices, beta versions can now be enforced during automated device enrollment, according to Aaron Perris on X.

Tweet may have been deleted 3. Web distribution

In March, Apple announced that, in compliance with the EU's DMA rules, developers will have the option to distribute their apps from a website (as opposed to the Apple App Store).

With iOS 17.5 beta 1, Apple is putting this plan into action, enabling support for web installation in the new update.

However, keep in mind that Apple isn't allowing iOS to be the Wild, Wild West here. The Cupertino-based tech giant will still require developers to meet certain guidelines to protect the operating system's integrity. Plus, as Apple stated in its announcement, apps can "only be installed from a website domain that the developer has registered in App Store Connect."

And finally, in addition to three new features, iOS 17.5 beta 1 has a few minor design changes:

• Apple Books - The "reading goal" icon has been redesigned

• Settings app - "Passkeys Access for Web Browsers" has a new icon

• Apple Podcasts - The widget has a new dynamic design, changing to align with the artwork of the show you're listening to

Wondering when the official release of iOS 17.5 will roll out to the greater public? We're expecting it to drop some time in May before iOS 18 is revealed in WWDC 2024.

Instagram is rewarding select creators for posting, offering a "spring bonus" for engagement on their posts.

First reported by Business Insider, the monetization program is invite-only, offering some creators revenue for content that isn't brand-sponsored or falling under the umbrella of a collaboration.

SEE ALSO: Most creators making six figures have less than 1 million followers, new study finds

An Instagram spokesperson confirmed the test to Mashable, saying it applies to certain creators posting reels, carousels, and single image posts.

"Instagram is testing a spring bonus, which rewards creators for sharing their reels, carousels, and single image posts," the spokesperson said. The bonus is currently only applicable to those in South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, but Instagram said they hope to bring the program "to more creators in the future."

The program comes after Instagram notoriously shut down its Reels Play Bonus, which previously rewarded creators for hitting certain view benchmarks on their videos. Creators belonging to the defunct program would make between $500 and $1,000 per month — the loss of which angered many users. Back then, Instagram said it would continue to work on monetization options for creators: referring to the Reels Play Bonus, a spokesperson told the Verge, "We will look into ways to run the program in a more targeted form, for example in potential new markets."

Now it seems the app is playing around with cash incentives once again, which could be good news for creators if the bonus happens to become more widespread.

GET A FREE PAIR OF EARBUDS: As of April 3, you can get a free pair of Liberty 4 NC earbuds when you purchase the XREAL Air 2 Pro smart glasses.

Opens in a new window Credit: XREAL XREAL Air 2 Pro at XREAL
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If you've ever wished you could carry a big-screen TV wherever you go, the XREAL Air 2 Pro is as close as you'll get. These smart glasses transform the space in front of you into a virtual theatre so you can do chores while enjoying your favorite TV shows or movies.

SEE ALSO: The XREAL Air 2 smart glasses are a huge improvement from the original model

And, if you order a pair right now, you'll get the bonus of a free pair of Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds to take your viewing experience to the next level. All you have to do is purchase your Air 2 Pro online. Once your order ships, you'll receive a redemption code for your free Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds (which retail at $99) via email within 72 hours.

That's a pretty good deal if you ask us. Not only do the XREAL Air 2 Pro give you a theatre-like experience, but they're comfortable, too. With three nose pads and the option to get prescription lenses, these smart glasses are designed for maximum comfort and customization.

SEE ALSO: XREAL (formerly Nreal) Air AR glasses are so cool but need some serious work

Of course, there's some fine print:

• This deal is available now through April 23, so you'd better jump on it while you can.

• The earbuds cannot be returned for a refund.

• Returning the Air 2 Pro glasses requires returning the earbuds as well. If you try to return the glasses without the earbuds it'll result in a $99 deduction from your refund to cover the earbuds' value.

A total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada on April 8, the likes of which won't return to the continent until 2044.

This special astronomical phenomenon happens when the moon lines up between the sun and Earth in space, completely blocking the face of the sun for a brief period and exposing the sun's corona. It can confuse wildlife and gobsmack even the most informed audience.

"It gives you that sense of place, that sense of belonging, and also smallness in the universe, and how did we get so lucky to be on this place where things just happened to align this way?" said Kelly Korreck, NASA program manager for the eclipse.

Over the past few months, Mashable has diligently reported everything you need to know about this stellar event. Here's a round-up of our guides and coverage.

SEE ALSO: That iconic Trump meme may save eyes this solar eclipse Tweet may have been deleted How often total solar eclipses happen

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the sun and Earth. During that brief period when the sun is entirely hidden behind the moon — up to 4.5 minutes this time — the sky will darken to twilight.

When the sun is concealed, called "totality," people have the rare chance to observe the sun's corona around the edges of the moon. The corona, the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, is normally washed out by the much brighter solar surface.

SEE ALSO: That iconic Trump meme may save eyes this solar eclipse

As Mashable has reported, this special alignment happens on our planet about every year or two. But with over 70 percent of Earth's surface covered by oceans, viewing such an event on land is not as common. Even more unusual is living in a place where the eclipse comes to you: On average, a total solar eclipse returns to the same location about every 375 years.

The phenomenon has transfixed civilizations throughout history, and ancient peoples have associated eclipses with superstitions and dread. But most people today understand total solar eclipses as harmless natural events. Astronomers often describe their eclipse experiences as full of introspection, ecstasy, and wonder. 

A map shows where the moon's shadow will cross over the United States, known as the path of totality, during the April 2024 solar eclipse. Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Solar eclipse path calculators show which locations will experience totality

The moon will cast its shadow over the continent starting on Mexico's western coast at 11:07 a.m. PT, sweeping from Texas to Maine, entering Canada through Ontario, and exiting from Newfoundland at 5:16 p.m. NDT. Major U.S. cities in this path will include Dallas, Indianapolis, and Cleveland. Over 31 million people live within this corridor.

If you're not sure whether you'll be in the right place at the right time, Mashable has compiled eclipse calculators that can help. Everywhere else in the U.S. mainland, from coast to coast, will get a partial eclipse, meaning some portion of the sun will be exposed during the peak.

The places with the best odds for clear skies are out West. Statistically, Texas and Arkansas look the most promising, though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has put together a cloudiness map that shows the likelihood of visibility based on climate records. 

Experts warn spectators not to look in the direction of the sun unless it is completely concealed by the moon. Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP via Getty Images Solar eclipse glasses will help people safely view the eclipse. How to get yours.

Never stare at the sun, unless you're wearing protective solar filters or the sun is completely concealed behind the moon. Otherwise, even looking briefly at the sun's rim could cause visual impairment. 

Eye doctors and scientists say the sun can literally cook a person's eyes, causing solar retinopathy. All internet memes and kidding aside, scars caused by solar burns can be permanent and result in legal blindness, depending on the severity of the injury. Several little glances can be as harmful as a long stare. 

If you're unsure where to get glasses or need help determining if a pair complies with international safety standards, see Mashable's guide to solar eclipse eyewear.

The 'diamond ring' effect is on display close to the peak moment of a total solar eclipse over Casper, Wyoming, on August 21, 2017. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images How the 2024 solar eclipse will differ from the last one 

The total solar eclipse on April 8 will last longer, could appear darker, and the corona should look even more like a spiky crown than it did in 2017. Also, many times more people live in the path of totality, where it will be safe to remove protective eclipse glasses for the minutes when the sun is completely blocked.

Corona means "crown" in Latin. And because of where the sun is in its 11-year solar cycle, eclipse watchers are more likely to see a corona surrounded by pointy peaks, much like the name evokes.

SEE ALSO: How the 2024 solar eclipse will be different from the last

Eclipse chasers are also excited about the chance to see wispy pink tendrils and bubbles or blobs in the corona. 

Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks, aka the 'devil comet,'  will have its closest approach to the sun just two weeks after the eclipse on April 21. Credit: Dan Bartlett What to look for during the eclipse

The main attraction is the sun's corona, a gossamer white glow that will appear when the moon blocks the sun. No two coronas during totality look alike, each taking on different shapes and features due to solar activity.

But there are other delights to look forward to in the sky. Planets Jupiter and Venus will pop against the darkened palette, outshining Sirius, the brightest star.  

SEE ALSO: A comet could photobomb the solar eclipse. Here's where to look.

Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks, aka the 'devil comet,'  will have its closest approach to the sun just two weeks after the eclipse on April 21. The timing of the visit means the giant space snowball could be visible in the temporary twilight that comes with a blocked sun. The key will be whether the comet will undergo a sudden flare-up called an outburst a day or so before.

What an eclipse looks like from space

A paucity of humans have seen the effect of a total solar eclipse in space. From the vantage point of the International Space Station, a laboratory orbiting about 250 miles above Earth, astronauts have seen the moon's shadow, like an enormous storm bearing down on their home planet. 

Some other worlds experience solar eclipses, though not all planets have moons that appear large enough from the planet's surface to completely blot out the sun. And not all moons are as appropriately sized and shaped for the job. That point was underscored when NASA's Mars rover Perseverance recently took a video of the Martian moon Phobos partially eclipsing the sun. From the perspective of the Red Planet, the 40-second event looked a bit like a flyby potato.