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I'll be the first person to tell someone to just grow up and buy a Dyson rather than settle for a cheaper cordless vacuum. Yes, the Dyson purchase probably requires extra saving up, and yes, I acknowledge that a vacuum costing the same or more than a month's rent puts it in the "overpriced" category. But if you can swing it, I think a Dyson stick vacuum is worth it.

And this is simply because my Dyson does such a good job that it makes me prefer doing the chore manually. If a robot vacuum does a crappy job of cleaning a hard floor, my Dyson V12 Detect Slim will snitch immediately, using its green laser to highlight any leftover hairs or specks that a robot vacuum missed. It's still clutch to be able to rely on a robot vacuum for surface-level jobs in a pinch, but for better or for worse, my ultimate robot vacuum test is how it stands up against my Dyson.

So what better robot vacuum to compete with my beloved Dyson stick vacuum than a Dyson robot vacuum? I went into my experience with Dyson's new 360 Vis Nav with high expectations, despite already knowing about Dyson's odd choice to omit crucial features like mopping and self-emptying. Here's how it went.

Dyson rarely releases robot vacuums, so this was huge

The 360 Vis Nav initially sold out at Dyson's website within hours of release on March 19. Stock subsequently dwindled completely at other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy within the following days. That's not surprising — demand for a Dyson robot vacuum has been bubbling since 2016, which is the last time Dyson released a robot vacuum in the U.S. And it was a flop.

Eight years later, the premise of a Dyson robot vacuum feels much more auspicious. Dyson has perfected its cyclonic suction power in the realm of upright cordless vacuums, so it should have no problem converting that expertise to robot form, right?

SEE ALSO: We tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300 — including the Shark FlexStyle

The 360 Vis Nav came out with the promise of being the world's most powerful robot vacuum, aided by a flat edge and a genius extending side duct for better corner cleaning than what a round robot vacuum can manage. A D-shaped robot vacuum is unique, but isn't something we've never seen before. And it's definitely not the most... interesting choice Dyson made with this physical design. Let's start there.

This physical design will clash with a lot of home decor

You can tell a Dyson vacuum is a Dyson vacuum just by looking at it. The metallic gray bodies, bold pops of color, and chunky industrial details are pretty recognizable to anyone who has shopped for a vacuum before.

And I've never minded that boldness. My V12 Detect Slim, which is gray with a weird orange tentacle-looking piece on the dust bin and a purple filter cap, is a flex mounted on the wall in my kitchen.

That being said, Dyson should have reined in its signature design with the 360 Vis Nav, because it's kind of an eyesore. Rather than sticking to graphite, the entire body is bright indigo. That is topped off with an exterior circular dustbin that was probably meant to give cool exposed gear vibes, but more so resembles a curled-up centipede.

Something about the 360 Vis Nav and the Fleetwood Mac record just don't vibe. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable You can choose a cleaning mode on the touchscreen, but that's about it. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I guess the polarizing design choice might be appealing to ultra-modern maximalists, but given my guests' puzzled reactions when they see the 360 Vis Nav in my living room, it's not exactly screaming practical.

Despite the fact that robot vacuums are becoming increasingly common, they can still feel a bit out of place — maybe too futuristic — in a lot of homes. Other brands have caught onto the consumer's preference for chicness and subtly, with iRobot going as far as to make its Roomba Combo j9+ dock double as a wooden top side table.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The 2024 guide to deciding which Roomba to buy

So the dust bin isn't concealed on the underside or back like it traditionally is on standalone robot vacuums. Yes, this means that the wad of gray dust will be facing outward until it's time to empty. You'd be off the hook from that for weeks and weeks had Dyson included a self-empty dock, but at least the 360 Vis Nav's 0.15-gallon dust bin is larger than most.

You hold the dustbin like a purse and click it open via the handle. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

And granted, if a robot vacuum is going to require manual emptying, Dyson's system is definitely the mildest pain in the ass. Just pull up the handle and un-click the bin while the vac is charging, hold it over a trash can, and push the red button. The door swings open downward and everything falls directly in the trash.

Speaking of questionable design choices, not even the religious RuPaul's Drag Race stan in me can justify the black and white checkered flags stuck to the 360 Vis Nav's dock. This thin panel needs to be attached in order for the vac to map correctly and find its way back. Without it, the 360 Vis Nav looks like me trying to parallel park. No other premium robot vacuums I've tested require obnoxious stickers to drive themselves. Just saying.

Smart mapping is accurate, but customizing zones is frustrating

A small LCD touchscreen and a small transparent sphere known as the Eye sit atop the 360 Vis Nav. You use the touchscreen during setup when connecting to the WiFi, and I appreciate that all of the steps are laid out in very simple terms. You can also use the touchscreen to select from four cleaning modes (which you can also do on the app): auto, boost, quiet, and quick. They're pretty self-explanatory.

The other piece of tech on top, the Dyson Eye, replaces the circular LiDAR tower that is seen on a lot of competing robot vacuums. The Eye has a 360-degree view of its surroundings and, with the help of 26 different sensors, is said to analyze up to 10,000 data points a second, allowing it to remember your home's layout and navigate around large obstacles like furniture and walls.

Tight-knit table legs or kitchen chair legs did not trip the 360 Vis Nav up once. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The 360 Vis Nav knew to not use its side suction around these defenseless blanket tassels. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The 360 Vis Nav's mapping run proved to be quite accurate the first time around, at least when assessing the general perimeter of the floor plan. (Dividing rooms in the app wasn't as seamless.) After each cleaning session, the MyDyson app offers what looks like a heat map version of its smart map, showing where it found the most dust. It'll work harder in those areas the next time you start a full home cleaning.

Navigation-wise, the 360 Vis Nav is nimble when dealing with tricky furniture. It never got stuck once in my apartment, and was able to carve tightly around our acorn-shaped coffee table. I'm not over the lack of small obstacle avoidance technology, though. And I elaborate on these gripes in the downsides section of this review.

Suction power: Great on carpet, rough around the edges (literally)

Dyson alleges that the 360 Vis Nav has double the suction power of any robot vacuum. That's honestly not totally unbelievable coming from a longstanding powerhouse like Dyson, but it is tricky to compare suction power on paper when other robot vacuums measure that in Pascals (Pa) while Dyson measures in Air Watts (AW).

SEE ALSO: Spring cleaning starter kit: 8 products to cover all your bases

Dyson does scale its robot vacuum's motor the same way it does its cordless vacuums, making contextualizing suction power a little more tangible. The 360 Vis Nav houses a proprietary Hyperdymium motor that spins at up 110,000 RPM — faster than all cordless Dyson vacuums that retail for more than $649.99. However, that motor only creates suction up to 65 AW of suction power, which is nearly half of the suction power pumped out by Dyson's cheapest cordless vacuum, the V8, which can often be found on sale between $300 and $350. As a reminder, the 360 Vis Nav costs $1,119.99.

Success stories first: The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is pretty stellar on carpet and rugs. It aced any debris test I threw at it, audibly boosting suction (in auto mode) when it came across a mess. These three piles of crushed tortilla chips, soil, and cat fur were totally cleared before the 360 Vis Nav went back to its dock, even when I was skeptical after it missed some pieces on the first pass.

Crumbs, dirt, pet hair — the usual. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The 360 Vis Nav sensed that debris was left and went back to get these pieces. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The effectiveness is probably a combination of sheer suction power and the triple-action brush roll. It's basically a spitting image of the one on Dyson's Digital Motorbar cleaning head for its cordless vacuums, combining soft nylon, stiff bristles, and anti-static carbon fiber strands that dig into carpet pile, attract debris like velcro, and suck it out.

In terms of battery life, Dyson alleges that the 360 Vis Nav can run for 65 minutes. I was able to send the Dyson out to cover two rooms that took just under half an hour each, and it had enough juice for both on one charge. However, I can see this run time dwindling significantly if more of the floor is carpet or needs to be cleaned in boost mode.

Hard floors were more of a struggle than carpet, which is surprising because it's usually the other way around for robot vacuums.

My bathroom is one place where I need a robot vacuum to reliably clean on a daily basis. It's where one of my cats' litter boxes is, and is where my hair sheds the most — and is the only place in the apartment where I always walk barefoot. So tell me why, on multiple occasions, I walked in there after a 360 Vis Nav run to see the back third of the floor still scattered with kitty litter and long hairs. Either the 360 Vis Nav's suction did virtually nothing, or it didn't attempt to go back there at all. Considering a $299 Shark robot vacuum successfully came to the rescue afterwards, neither of those excuses will fly.

Similarly, the laser on my Dyson V12 Detect Slim showed a decent amount of dust still remaining in front of the litter box in the kitchen after the 360 Vis Nav cleaned there.

Yes, this is *after* the 360 Vis Nav came through. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Dyson's hyped edge cleaning was a huge letdown

Aside from rocking a flat edge to scoot into 90-degree angles better than a round vacuum, the 360 Vis Nav is equipped with side ducts that extend when cleaning along a wall. These target suction power to the side of the vacuum that the wall is on, replacing the traditional flimsy spinning side brushes that operate on mere hope. This was going to be huge if true: Robot vacuums universally struggle to grab the dust bunnies that blew into the corner behind the couch or the crumbs pushed up against cabinets or appliances.

I thought this was a first pass blunder, but no, it was left like this. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Once again, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim saved the day. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Unfortunately, the 360 Vis Nav fell short of edge-pectations. During my spill-rice-on-purpose challenge, the vac did an OK (just OK) job at clearing the middle of the floor, but hardly grabbed any of the rice hanging out under the lip of the cabinets.

Downsides: Dyson skipped crucial features, then charged too much

My list of cons of the 360 Vis Nav will be pretty straightforward — not because Dyson got very few things wrong, but because there's actually not a ton of features to evaluate. No self-emptying, no mopping, no small obstacle avoidance. I'll cover those in the section exploring the competition, but first, I want to touch on the features that are present, but disappointing.

There's a lot of misplaced innovation going on here. Rather than ensuring some basic features that every high-end robot vacuum should have, Dyson put its energy into things like a touchscreen. That would have been cool if you could do anything more proactive than select the cleaning mode through it.

Similarly, I've already gone off about how the 360 Vis Nav doesn't even reliably clean edges — the one thing it was supposed to excel at.

Spot cleaning is another huge miss. Sometimes, scheduling a cleaning for one room in particular isn't specific enough. Sometimes, you just need to directly tackle the few feet surrounding the kitchen counter, or the front door, or the litter box. If the ability to physically pick the vacuum up, plop it in the spot that needs attention, and press a button on the top to make it go isn't an option, I'll settle for drawing a zone in the app.

JUST LET ME PINCH THE DIVIDER EASILY, I BEG YOU. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The MyDyson app doesn't differentiate between rooms and zones, despite referring to the entire room-labeling process as "zoning." The most intuitive robot vacuum apps allow you to drag a rectangle onto whatever area of the map you desire for a one-time cleaning, no questions asked.

But if you want to spot clean with the 360 Vis Nav, you have to put dividers up just like you would when separating a bedroom from the hallway. That'd be fine if the dividers were easy to set up with your finger. But they barely respond to pinching or dragging, and then get mad at you for not being arranged correctly. This once again had me sending a $299 robot vacuum to cover those spontaneous spots.

The competition

Dyson's choice to simply omit features like self-emptying and mopping is unforgivable at this price point. These "advanced" autonomy features may have been considered premium in 2020, but have become accessible at any price point in the past two years. You can easily score a robot vacuum that empties itself and mops for less than $500 even without a sale.

The competing robot vacuums in the same $1,000+ pricing tier are actually going far past just automatic emptying or just mopping, too. The theme of the robot vacuums announced at CES 2024 was fully self-sufficient mopping, including automatic washing and drying of the mopping pads. Considering Dyson just released a mopping version of one of its best cordless vacuums in Sept. 2024, it's surprising that its robot vacuum ignores mopping completely.

SEE ALSO: The Roomba Combo j7+ is pretty good at cleaning and really good at not eating phone chargers

It's also impossible not to compare the 360 Vis Nav to Dyson's own stick vacuum lineup, especially when the 360 Vis Nav costs more than the most expensive cordless Dyson, the $1,049 Gen5 Outsize. That vac more than doubles the suction power and dustbin capacity of the 360 Vis Nav, plus can be trusted to get into corners. Yes, you'll be the one doing the work, but it's actually fun when you're guided by a game-changing laser that highlights exactly where dust and debris are. You already know I back the V12 Detect Slim, which can often be snagged for less than $500.

Is the Dyson 360 Vis Nav worth it?

Nope. And that's not an "unless you have the budget to spend over $1,000 on a robot vacuum" nope. It's just a hard nope.

Similarly-priced competitors empty themselves, mop, wash and dry their own mopping pads, and can detect small obstacles like cords, pet waste, and socks. The 360 Vis Nav doesn't do any of that, and doesn't even ace edges, the main thing it claimed to be good at.

And even if the 360 Vis Nav wasn't drowning in competition from other robot vacuums, it would still lose to its number one enemy: its own cordless stick vacuums.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson 360 Vis Nav $1,199.99 at Dyson
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If you want to get in sync with your partner or belong to a highly organized friend group, and wondering how to share your Google Calendar, you've come to the right place.

Sharing your Google Calendar with someone means they can see your schedule without any tedious back-and-forth, which is a lifesaver for busy people. Before you enter into this intimate step in a relationship, make sure you know the different levels of access.

If you give someone full access to your calendar, they can respond to invitations, create and edit events shared with you, and even share your calendar with someone else or delete events. If this sounds like giving someone way too much trust, you can set different access permissions for specific people.

With that out of the way, let's dive in.

Total Time

• Less than 5 minutes

What You Need

• Your computer and internet access

Step 1: Go to Google Calendar on your computer

This isn't possible on the mobile Google Calendar app, so make sure you're using Google Calendar on desktop.

Step 2: Go to "My calendars"

You can find this section on the lefthand side of the page. Expand your calendars by clicking the down arrow to find the calendar you want to share.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 3: Hover over the calendar you want to share

When you hover over the calendar you want to share, you'll see the three vertical dots icon next to the name of the calendar. Click on this icon and select "Settings and sharing."

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 4: Find the "Share with specific people" section

Scroll to the bottom of the settings page that says "Share with specific people or groups." Then click "Add people."

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 5: Add the person's email address

When you click "Add people" a pop-up will prompt you to add who you want to share your calendar with. Start typing their name if they're already within your contacts or enter their email address manually. Either way this box will populate with their email address. Note: This is the part where you can customize access permissions. The list goes from most restricted to least restricted, so the last permissions choice gives the users full access (creating, deleting, editing events, etc.)

Credit: Screenshot: Google / Mashable

Step 6: Hit send

Once you've chosen your access permissions, hit "Send." The user will receive an email with a link to confirm access to your calendar.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Step 7: Make your Google Calendar public or delete access

To make your Google Calendar accessible to anyone with the link, check the box "Make available to public" under the "Access permissions for events." From here, you can copy the link to your calendar on your clipboard. To remove access, go back to the "Share with specific people or groups" section and click the "X" next to the user.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

TL;DR: Through April 16, upgrade your laptop’s OS with Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, price-dropped to $31.99 with code ENJOY20.

If your current laptop is starting to lag or underperform, it may be time to update your OS. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro was designed to help you increase productivity and provide advanced management tools for remote work.

With multi-factor authentication and support for certificate-based authentication, Windows Hello for Business has your back for all professional tasks. The user-friendly interface offers a more pleasurable user experience, so you can simultaneously navigate multiple programs, operating systems, and apps at once. Through April 16, you can get lifetime access to Windows 11 Pro for just $31.99 with coupon code ENJOY20.

Windows 11 automatically receives updates and exclusive features, including Windows Copilot, an AI assistant to help with tasks like changing settings, launching playlists, summarizing documents, and more. Check out snap layouts, improved voice typing, and the advanced search engine for making everyday assignments easier to execute.

Creatives will love the updated Paint app in Windows 11 with improved zooming, enhanced imaging capabilities, support for layers, AI-powered background removal, generative content creation, and transparent PNG support. Take your art to the next level, there are no limitations to the magic you can create.

Whether you’re a business professional, student, or at-home user, this versatile OS offers features that can benefit everyone. You’ll love the enhanced security, BitLocker encryption, improved performance, and customizable options this software has to offer.

Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for only $31.99 (reg. $199) with code ENJOY20 until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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$199.00 Save $167.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 16, save on Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 along with courses on Python, C++, and ChatGPT, all for $51.99 with code ENJOY20. 

There's more to learning to code than picking a language and running with it. You may also have to find an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that helps you work on your projects. It's the place where you actually write your code, and some of them have tools built in to streamline the process. 

Beginner programmers can get lifetime access to a comprehensive IDE and thorough courses training you on coding basics when you get the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and Learn to Code bundle on sale for $51.99. That sale only lasts until April 16 though. 

What is Visual Studio Pro?

Visual Studio Professional 2022 is a development environment that could help to enhance your productivity while you're working on large, complex, or collaborative projects. This 64-bit IDE lets developers write code for mobile or desktop apps with .NET MAUI, craft responsive web UIs in C# using Blazor, and debug and test their code using .NET and C++ apps in Linux.

One of the major highlights of Visual Studio Pro is IntelliCode, which is like contextual auto-complete for developers. That means your IDE is constantly analyzing your code, making suggestions, and offering insights to help you complete single lines or whole blocks. Make sure to check the CodeLens to see recent changes, authors, tests, and commit history if you're working in a group. 

And if you're just learning how to program, make sure to check out the intro coding courses included in this bundle. Get the basics of Python 3, C++, and more taught by industry pros like John Purcell, a full-time private software trainer based out of Hungary. 

Learn to code

Don't lose your chance to learn how to code and get a place to do it. 

Get the Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 and Premium Learn to Code bundle for $51.99 until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT when you use code ENJOY20. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle $51.99 at the Mashable Shop
$1,999.00 Save $1,947.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 16, a lifetime subscription to 1TB of cloud storage with Koofr is on sale for $127.99 (reg. $810) with code ENJOY20.

Nowadays, it seems we never have quite enough storage for all of our data. Through April 16, this lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage with 1TB of space is just $127.99 with code ENJOY20, so you can store documents, photos, media, etc.  

Koofr is designed to be user-friendly and can be accessed from multiple devices. It allows you to pull files from tablets, phones, or computers. The advanced file management feature gives users more control and flexibility in organizing files and a simple tool to clear duplicates.

Koofr cloud storage services promise to encrypt your data during rest and transfer, and won't track you or expose your personal information. The extra security measures allow for smooth integration with external cloud accounts like Dropbox, Amazon, Google Drive, and OneDrive, while making it seamless to access files across multiple platforms.

Make a one-time purchase and the Koofr lifetime subscription service is accessible for life. If you can’t wrap your head around the enormity of this deal, 1TB can store 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million document pages such as PDFs. 

Get a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage for only $127.99 (reg. $810) with code ENJOY20 until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: KOOFR Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $127.99 at the Mashable Shop
$810.00 Save $682.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through April 16, make spring cleaning manageable with the JASHEN V18 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for only $135.99 with code ENJOY20. 

Spring cleaning isn't just a single day where you suddenly make your home feel fresh and clean. It's a process that keeps going because spring is messy. Between tracked-in dirt, lunchtime spills, pet messes, and kitchen catastrophes, there's a lot of cleaning to do, but you might only need one tool to do it. 

The JASHEN V18 Vacuum Cleaner is a powerful, efficient cleaning device that works on hard floors or carpets, and it's totally wireless. This powerful cordless vacuum is also super quiet and on sale but not for long. For a few days more through April 16, you can get the JASHEN V18 for only $135.99 with code ENJOY20. 

Includes accessories and a wall-mounted charger

This versatile vacuum doesn't just stick to the carpet. Roll from the soft floor of the living room into the cool tile of the kitchen without skipping a beat when you're using this lightweight whole-house cleaner. Like any cordless vacuum, the V18 has limited battery life, but the 2,500mAh battery capacity means it could run for up to 40 minutes of uninterrupted cleaning. That's a lot of time to cover some real distance, especially when there's no cable to trip over. Plus, this one comes with all sorts of useful accessories like the upholstery tool, crevice nozzle, two-in-1 dusting brush, and more. 

When it's time to recharge, just pop it on the wall-mounted charger. That keeps it out of the way and ready to go next time a mess needs a quick cleanup. 

Clean up springtime messes

Whether it's mud in the kitchen or grass on the carpet, you could turn a messy season into your own spring dreams if you get the right cleaning tools. 

Until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the JASHEN V18 350W Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $135.99 (reg. $336) with code ENJOY20. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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$336.00 Save $200.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: The InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable has adaptive connectors that work with USB-C, USB-A, Micro, and Lightning — get two of them for $31.99 with code ENJOY20 until April 16. 

The InCharge X Max is compact, portable, and can work with different devices without frustrating (and easy-to-lose) adapters. This six-in-one cable could be a great gift for a student or professional who keeps a lot of different devices on hand, and you can actually still get it on sale. Instead of paying $78, you can get a two-pack of InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cables for $31.99 when you enter code ENJOY20 at checkout through April 16. 

Great gift for students

It may look like a regular cable charge, but the InCharge® X Max is hiding some fun secrets. On the exterior, you have a tough-looking cable with nylon reinforcement for a little extra durability, but it's the connectors that really stand out with this one. 

The unique design of this cable means it's compatible with iPhones, Android, iPads, laptops, and a variety of other devices. It has connectors for USB-C, USB-A, micro, and Lightning built in, so you can charge different devices or transfer data between them. 

This cable is five feet long for that extra bit of mobility, because the outlet is never quite close enough with a three-foot charger. This versatile cable also supports power transfer, so you can use one USB-C phone to actually power another. That could come in handy in a pinch, and the adaptive connectors mean you may not need to carry around adapters for all your different devices anymore. Students and professionals who use a variety of devices from different manufacturers could save themselves a headache by keeping one or two of these on hand. 

Charge almost anything 

Don't miss your chance to get a cable you can use for practically anything. 

Until April 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a two-pack of InCharge X Max Cables on sale for $31.99 with code ENJOY20.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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$78.00 Save $46.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal

Valentine's Day just isn't enough. When you're in love, you'll take any excuse you can to show your significant other that you're obsessed with them.

Well, get your calendars out. National Boyfriend Day is your chance to shine.

When is National Boyfriend Day?

National Boyfriend Day is celebrated each year on October 3. Mean Girls fans will know that this coincides with Mean Girls Day. "On October 3rd he asked me what day it was."

What is National Boyfriend Day?

The origins of this day are unknown. National Boyfriend Day aims to provide an opportunity to show your male partner some love, to make them feel special, and to do something nice for them. It differs from National Girlfriend Day, which was originally set up as a way for women to celebrate female friendship (but can also be used to celebrate your female partners).

SEE ALSO: Our favorite tech gifts: Treat yourself to a new toy with that tax return money

Time to get your thinking cap on: how will you celebrate? Need gift inspo? Try out Mashable's Gift Lab to find the perfect gift.

Until 2024, our lunar neighbor didn't offer much in the way of reading material. 

Just four sentences were etched on old NASA landers, two on Apollo 11 and two on Apollo 17, both with Richard Nixon's signature. Other visible words include a memorial to fallen astronauts and logos on equipment (including Alan Sheperd's golf balls). One visitor donated a book — astronaut David Scott says he left his Bible atop a lunar rover in the Sea of Showers — but 53 years' worth of sunlight and gamma rays (which bombard the moon and break down paper) will not have left it in readable condition.

Then in late February, the moon received a massive donation of books — some 30 million pages' worth, to be precise. Also in the collection: 25,000 songs and a whole bunch of art.

How? Well, that groundbreaking lander Odysseus didn't merely deliver money shots from the moon's south pole, and it won't just be remembered for tipping over during landing. Something that landed right-side up is the first ever repository of human culture on a world beyond Earth. The Galactic Legacy Archive is its official name — but informally, we're more likely to think of it as the moon library.

No books can be checked out of this library. The pages are etched in nickel, on thin layers so tiny that you need a microscope to read them. (Forget microfiche, this is nanofiche). A good chunk of the archive, the digital part with music and images, requires that you read the nickel-etched primer on digital encoding.  

But it's on one small disk that can fit in your hand, and that's one giant leap for library-kind. "Nickel never decays and never corrodes," explains Nova Spivack, head of the nonprofit Arch Foundation that was making its third attempt to deliver the first off-Earth library. (This time it partnered with a company called Space Blue, which added more than 70,000 digital artifacts from 222 Earth artists.) 

"We can now say for the first time in history that civilization will not be lost." 

Now that it's in place, providing the tiny disks don't suffer a highly unlikely direct hit from a meteorite, the library "will last for as long as the moon," Spivack says. (Scientists' current best guess: the moon will stay in Earth orbit until the sun turns into a red giant, in 5 billion years' time). "Even if our planet is destroyed in a nuclear war, it'll still be there. We can now say for the first time in history that civilization will not be lost." 

SEE ALSO: Why landing a spaceship on the moon is still so challenging

The Arch Foundation's multi-year mission: place Galactic Legacy Archives all over Earth and around the solar system. It's good to have multiple backups. But what are we humans choosing to preserve, and what does it say about us? Spivak gave Mashable an exclusive look. Here are six highlights that future generations, or alien civilizations, might find in the moon library. Some of it is sublime, some of it ridiculous — a bit like the thing it aims to represent. 

1. The earliest art.  A cave painting with images of hands. Credit: The Arch Foundation

Cave paintings go back at least some 45,000 years. This early form of art was often a collaboration between generations centuries apart (such as the hands in the Cueva de las Manos in Argentina, above, painted in waves between 7,300 BC and 400 AD). Thanks to this new wave of collaboration, copies of hundreds of cave paintings exist on the moon – the same moon those hunter-gatherers would have seen most nights of their lives. 

It's fair to say they never imagined their digits would be compressed into digital files and blasted on a rocket to that mysterious orb.  

2. A version of Wikipedia … that makes Elon Musk look good?

The moon library contains what you might call an extremely offline version of Wikipedia, out of date long before it was sent. This English version's 6 million articles were downloaded by the Arch Foundation in 2021, though the 10,000 most-read entries were updated in 2022. 

What does that mean? Well, for one thing it means the version of Elon Musk on the moon – his Wikipedia entry – is forever frozen in time before his disastrous takeover of Twitter. Any aliens finding this archive will think of Musk as the richest person in the world (instead of, as he currently is, the third) and will wonder what he's doing as an encore after the rockets and the EVs. Let that sink in. 

3. Dogecoin. 

Back in 2021, Dogecoin fans put together a tune about sending their favorite currency "to the moon." Houston, we regret to inform you that the crypto has landed. 

Not in the way the crypto bros intended, of course. Dogecoin's price hasn't gotten close to its 2021 high, let alone rocket higher. But now, along with Bitcoin and Ethereum, the specs and design for this meme-based coin are literally on the lunar surface. Billions of years from now, the human race may have perished – but that side-eye shiba will live on.   

Some of the crypto-inspired art and detailed specs listed in the library. Credit: The Arch Foundation 4. 25,000 songs in your pocket.

What do Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin, and The Who have in common? They're not just rock legends, they're rock legends who made it to the moon, man. Space Blue formed a partnership with Melody Trust, a company that owns the rights to the masters for some 25,000 classic rock tunes in the library; there's a special focus on 1969 recordings to commemorate the first moon landing.

Rock fans can also rejoice at the fact that among the many images in the digital archive is Pink Floyd's iconic Dark Side of the Moon album cover. "See you at the south pole of the moon" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but that's where you'll find 'em.

5. David Copperfield's magic secrets. You may not be able to see the Great Wall of China from the moon, but you will be able to see how David Copperfield "walked through" the wall in 1986. Credit: CBS

"If you want to know how I'm going to make the moon disappear, go up there and check it out." So said magician David Copperfield to Space.com about a supposed upcoming performance that has yet to be announced. Perhaps Copperfield is waiting a while after the moon made its own spectacular performance by totally blocking the sun across a swathe of the U.S. – who'd want to follow that? 

Regardless, Copperfield's archive is contained in the library: all the details of his famous illusions, including the ones he performed at the Statue of Liberty and the Great Wall of China. Whether those artifacts last as long as the moon library remains to be seen.

6. Materials for worship … including Dune

Every kind of civilization-rebuilding text you can imagine is part of the archive, courtesy of the Long Now Foundation, an institute creating long-term cultural libraries. So is every language known to the Rosetta Project, an archive of all known languages. Religions are well represented: the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, the Hindu Vedas and Upanishads, and Buddhist scriptures all live on the moon now. There are images and stories from indigenous traditions on six continents. 

Plus thousands of beloved novels, Spivak says: "If it's an important book, it's there … Harry Potter, the Foundation Trilogy, Lord of the Rings, Dune." Wait, Dune? The story of a young aristocrat who becomes a God Emperor conquering billions of worlds? Let's hope we don't accidentally give the aliens any ideas. 

The bisexual community has an inside joke that describes what it's like to date as a bi person: People think it means double the options and double the fun, but it really just means double the rejection (sad trombone sound effect).

You have to be able to laugh at self-deprecating jokes like this if you're part of the "Single People Club," regardless of whether you're diving into the straight or gay dating scene, but bisexual people do face extra roadblocks in the dating world.

Online dating absolutely sucks for everyone, but the fact that there's only a single bisexual dating site that caters specifically to this community (and even then, we're kind of iffy about it) means many folks are frequently swiping on people who don't take bisexuality seriously. In 2024, that shouldn't be the reality.

There's [an] issue of bi people feeling invisible when they're deemed too "straight passing," which can often happen in queer spaces. This kind of invalidation contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.

The "B" in LGBTQ+ makes up 50 percent of the queer community, according to data from the Human Rights Campaign, but it's also one of the least-acknowledged letters in the acronym. What makes the bisexual dating landscape — especially the online one — so tricky to maneuver?

Before we get into the best dating apps for bisexuals, let's tackle this question for a sec.

Bisexuality is hyper-sexualized on heteronormative apps

Something many bisexual women are all too familiar with when navigating online dating is the concept — one as old as time — of men being straight-up creeps. It's like heterosexual males can't seem to grasp that bisexuality is not a green light to ask a woman how many girls she's been with or if she likes men or women better. Such comments, especially from absolute strangers online, are disconcerting at best and threatening at worst.

Megan, a 23-year-old woman from Virginia, told us via Facebook that she couldn't even count the number of gross (slash ignorant) messages she'd received from men in reference to writing "bi" in her Tinder bio. "There were times when they would be like, 'Oh, you never seemed gay in high school' or whatever, because gay is obviously a personality trait 🙃," she said. "Like my sexuality wasn’t a real thing, or it was just a fetish to these people."

Even on Bicupid, the aforementioned singular bisexual dating app, there are a lot of couples only looking for bi women to hook up with. We aren't saying that threesomes are wrong, but let's not assume that every bi person is dreaming of hooking up with you and your beau. You'd think the user base on queer dating apps would be more enlightened than on comparatively heteronormative apps, but that's not always the case.

Catfishing is also an issue bi folks have to grapple with. Some men have such a rabid obsession with queer women that they'll sign up for a dating site as a woman just to see an all-women swiping field. It's a total privacy breach and certainly doesn't boost your willingness to meet up with someone IRL. That's why the best dating sites require some form of Facebook or ID verification these days; in the case of Tinder, built-in background checks are (thankfully) now a mainstay feature of the app.

Queer dating apps aren't always inviting, either

Does "gold star lesbian" sound familiar to you? Not everyone sees the label as a positive, despite its cheerful-sounding name. It refers to lesbians who have never slept with a man. Countless bisexual women have reported being ghosted after disclosing that they have been with a guy before, and even on the best dating apps for bisexual women, profiles with "gold stars only" in the bio have popped up.

Then there's the issue of bi people feeling invisible when they're deemed too "straight passing," which can often happen in queer spaces. This kind of invalidation contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.

This feels a lot like the impossible Goldilocks principle, doesn't it, of being too much and never enough?

SEE ALSO: Bisexuality and the anxiety of not feeling 'queer enough' Why you might still want to put "bi" in your dating app bio

Adding those two simple letters to your bio will draw some unwanted attention, and it's going to be a pain in the ass. But in the long run, it will also act like an asshole filter to weed out people who try to put sexual orientation into a box.

Just think about it: Would you want your partner to think that being bisexual is just a pit stop on the road to being a "full-blown gay"? Of course not. Then there's the old stereotype that bisexuality means you want to bang anything that moves. The easiest way to ensure that you won't be left heartbroken over someone rejecting or questioning your sexuality is to let them know how you identify from the jump. You deserve the very best, which means only those people who accept you as you are.

With all of this in mind — and it's a lot to keep in mind — we wanted to review the best bi dating apps. We can't promise you'll never have a bad experience on these (indeed, mishaps are all but guaranteed when you brave dating apps), but we believe these particular apps give bisexual men, women, and non-binary folks the very best shot at finding a compatible partner.

The Fallout games are synonymous with a few things: a crumbling, retro-futurist American aesthetic; brutal combat with rusty, makeshift weapons; and the old-fashioned, often deeply harmonised sounds of popular American music from the '30s, '40s, and '50s. Think Cole Porter, The Andrews Sisters, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

By the time you've finished the Fallout TV series, you might not want to hear big band music again in your life, but perhaps you found comfort in the soundtrack and its jazzy ways. Either way, it's one of the more polarising mechanics of the Bethesda game franchise. (Honestly, if you can hear The Ink Spots' "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" without thinking of wandering the Wasteland, you're in the minority.)

And in their adaptation of the games for Prime Video, Westworld creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan have not only leaned into Fallout's obsession with this specific pre- and post-war era of music, they completely understand the function of it in the game: pure and utter comfort in the face of violence and horror.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout' hides a neat game loading screen Easter egg in episode 1

In the Fallout games, when you're not listening to the original scores, you can tune into the last bastion of broadcasting in post-apocalyptic America through your Pip-Boy, the chunky wearable computer that proves your most crucial device. Through the radio function across the games, you can find rogue stations like Galaxy News Radio (GNR) hosted by the legendary Three Dog (Fallout 3), Diamond City Radio hosted by Travis Miles (Fallout 4), and Mojave Music Radio or Radio New Vegas (Fallout: New Vegas). You can also switch radios on in abandoned buildings if you don't want the sound directly emanating from your wrist.

Fallout fans either love or hate this feature. I personally adore it.

On most of these radio stations, you'll hear survival updates for your location, as well as a stream of songs that you can listen to as you explore the sprawling game map, engage enemies, and investigate deep, dark ruins. For me, these soothing tunes often make it easier to move forward through blood-spattered, booby-trapped schools and supermarkets, or to take on furious Super Mutants on crumbling but recognizable streets.

In the Fallout TV series, alongside a gorgeous score by Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi, there are a slew of songs that are used in the games themselves or are from those same musical eras. When characters have to commit bloody acts or engage in combat, the show drops Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Some Enchanted Evening," Johnny Cash's "I Heard That Lonesome Whistle," or The Platters' "Only You."

You can hear Jack Shaindlin's "Let's Go Sunning" at the start of episode 4, a song I heard many a time from my Pip-Boy in Fallout 3. There's also a whole attack scene set to Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" in episode 3. In one of the funniest needle drops of the season, the aforementioned "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" can be heard while Lucy (Ella Purnell) has to do a deeply grisly thing in episode 4. The song continues into the start of episode 5, embodying the deeply messed-up nature of Fallout's reliance on musical sweetness to mask brutality.

Featured Video For You Grow plants from fantasy games with this IRL initiative

From Guardians of the Galaxy to Captain Marvel and the Kingsman franchise, splashy needle drops over big fight scenes have become a bit of a crutch for action titles, and it doesn't always work, often feeling more forced than fun (see: Argylle). But in Fallout, they authentically honour the source material and the reason the game gained such fame for using this particular genre of music. Not only do the songs assist you through the violence at hand, they directly connect the Fallout universe's post-apocalyptic American Wasteland to the time its characters are nostalgic for, before the nuclear blasts and World War II: the '50s and '60s. They're the last type of music recorded before the destruction, and so pirate broadcasters cling to it, instilling in the survivors a sense of nostalgia and comfort as their various limbs are being pursued by cannibalistic Fiends.

Granted, viewers of the Fallout series can't exactly switch off the music on their Pip-Boys while watching. But the use of these songs is one of the best ways the showrunners have incorporated a key game mechanic that's instantly and unmistakably Fallout.

All episodes of Fallout are now streaming on Prime Video.

Eagle-eyed Fallout fans will be glued to the screen of the new Prime Video adaptation, and they should be — the series is bursting with Easter eggs from the beloved Bethesda game franchise. And there's one neat reference to the game's loading screen hidden right at the very beginning.

In episode 1 of the TV series, from Westworld creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, the subterranean residents of Vault 33 have their seemingly happy lives disrupted by a band of raiders, violently infiltrating the bunker, killing a lot of vault dwellers, and destroying Lucy's (Ella Purnell) ill-fated wedding.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout' trailer welcomes us to an unhinged apocalypse

In the background of the wheatfield-made-wedding space, the Telesonic Projector has been beaming sunny views of the the Nebraskan countryside on loop. But during the raider attack, the projector is hit with gunfire, meaning it glitches. Instead of the sweeping landscapes, you can see the projector is showing a temporary announcement to indicate technical difficulties. A black and white screen that resembles a '50s TV broadcast message, it reads: "Please stand by."

Fans of the Fallout franchise will recognise the screen as one of the first things you see when starting up some of the games including Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4. The "please stand by" screen clicks up as you start a new game or load one, which is fitting for the beginning of the TV series.

The screen itself takes inspiration from a real TV test card known as the "Indian Head Test Pattern", created for RCA in 1939 by an artist called Brooks. Among other designs, this test pattern became the standard for TV camera testing in America and other countries throughout the '40s and '50s, and fits with Fallout's Space Age retrofuturist tech aesthetic. It was used on black and white TV for the first electronic TV cameras to focus on, for studios to set their monitors, and for viewers to adjust their sets to. Originally, it featured an illustration of a Native American chief wearing a headdress, placed above black lines and circle shapes of various widths, all used by the cameras to determine light and focus. The original illustration was recently displayed at the Texas Broadcast Museum.

In Fallout, the game test card features a re-creation of this figure in the "please stand by" screens (except the online multiplayer Fallout 76, which subbed in the chipper Vault Boy cartoon at the top). It's the game loading screen you can see about 30 minutes into episode 1 of the TV series, beamed onto Vault 33's screens after the projector's film is burned. It's a fleeting reference, but fans won't miss it.

All episodes of Fallout are now streaming on Prime Video.

UPDATE: Apr. 13, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT Roborock, Ecovacs, Eufy, and Samsung debuted new mopping robot vacuums at CES 2024. We're in the process of getting our hands on them for testing and will update our top picks in this story accordingly.

Despite the enthusiasm of actors in Swiffer commercials, few people are smiling at the workout that is manually mopping their floors.

If you experience similar dread when faced with vacuuming, the best robot vacuum and mop combos will cross those two chores off of your list (three, if you count digging your old mop out of the closet as a chore in itself).

Are robot vacuum and mop combos worth it?

Since 2020-ish, most robot vacuum companies have added at least one hybrid model to their lineup, with prices ranging from $100 to well over $1,000. Price is one thing, but whether a hybrid's mopping pad does more than push water (or your spilt wine) around is another. It's not uncommon to stumble across a robot vacuum listing with fine print along these lines: “Not meant to be used for stubborn, sticky, or set-in stains.” That's a nuanced statement, because aren't these kinds of floor stains the exact reason why you'd invest in a 2-in-1 robot vacuum in the first place?

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Dyson: Which cordless vacuum should you get?

Fortunately, the past year or so has seen serious strides in the automated mopping department. Brands like iRobot, Roborock, Shark, and Narwal are moving far past the bare minimum — the technical presence of mopping gear — with features that actually make autonomous mopping effective, like pressurized and/or spinning mopping pads (rather than lackadaisical, stationary ones) and water tanks that allow cleaning solution to be mixed in (rather than cleaning with just water).

This shift is particularly exemplified in the fleet of new hybrid models released at CES 2024, where two clear themes for the future of 2-in-1 robot vacuums were unofficially set: The best robot hybrids will not only make dry floors gleam but will also automatically wash and dry mopping pads, as well as the refill the botvac's water tank through a separate tank in the dock.

Below, we’ve narrowed down the best robot mop combos on the market in the first half of 2024, including rundowns of the standout features that have proven their value during testing on our own personal floors. Regardless of your budget, you're just a few clicks away from retiring that wasteful Swiffer for good — without sacrificing going barefoot in peace at home.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons is on sale for £94.57 with the code ENJOY20.

Dreaming of tickling the ivories? Whether you want to learn to play the piano to master some classical tunes or you're thinking about playing pop tunes on a keyboard instead, it's a fun hobby to pick up at any age that can help you flex your brain. If you've ever wanted to be proficient on the piano, but always put off looking for an instructor or a music school, there's never been a better time to learn.

Skoove Premium Piano Lessons can help you polish up your piano and keyboard skills from the comfort of your home. And you can currently score a lifetime subscription to this easy-to-use app for just £94.57 with the code ENJOY20 — the best price on the web.

Over a million people are taking advantage of Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, which offers training for both beginners and more advanced pianists. This app simplifies learning notes, chords, and techniques, so you'll be on your way to playing your favourite songs in no time. And as you learn to play, the artificial intelligence component of the app will recognise the notes you're playing, learn your weakness, and provide you with individual feedback so you can improve as you go. 

Over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos are at your fingertips with this lifetime subscription to the app. And it has something for every music lover — from classical pieces like Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven to hit songs from The Beatles, Adele, and Coldplay. Hear a new song you like? You'll also learn how to play songs by ear, by recognising the notes and playing them just as you casually listen. 

Snag a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, just £94.57 with the code ENJOY20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons (Lifetime Subscription) £94.57 with the code ENJOY20 Get Deal

TL;DR: Stream Leinster vs. La Rochelle in the Champions Cup for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Investec Champions Cup quarter finals have thrown together some of the biggest club rugby sides in the world, which is great news for fans. Everyone wants to see the best players in the best teams go head to head, and that's exactly what's on offer as Leinster take on La Rochelle.

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

When is Leinster vs. La Rochelle?

Leinster vs. La Rochelle kicks off at 5:30 p.m. BST on April 13. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

How to watch Leinster vs. La Rochelle for free

Leinster vs. La Rochelle is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Ireland, so you can access RTÉ Player from anywhere in the world.

Unblock RTÉ Player by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Stream Leinster vs. La Rochelle for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to RTÉ Player without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Leinster vs. La Rochelle before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking RTÉ Player to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Leinster vs. La Rochelle for free with ExpressVPN.

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 13's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An alloy of iron and carbon.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1029 is...

STEEL.

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 13's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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: At the circus

• Green: Characters in famous Oz story

• Blue: Movie production crews

• Purple: You ever listen to the Steve Miller Band?

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: Seen at the Circus

• Green: The Wizard of Oz Figures

• Blue: Film Departments

• Purple: "I'm A___" (Lyrics in "The Joker")

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 #306 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Seen at the Circus: CLOWN, RING, TENT, TRAPEZE

• The Wizard of Oz Figures: LION, SCARECROW, WITCH, WIZARD

• Film Departments: HAIR, MAKEUP, PROPS, WARDROBE

• "I'm A___" (Lyrics in "The Joker"): JOKER, LOVER, SINNER, SMOKER

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.

Elon Musk has long warned of the dangers of AI. However, it doesn't seem that he's all that concerned over X's own flawed AI chatbot, Grok, which recently created and promoted dangerous fake stories.

Musk is reportedly so unconcerned with Grok's issues that he is now apparently looking to further push it throughout X by tasking the social media platform's engineers with integrating the AI chatbot right into its tweet composer.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X pushed a fake headline about Iran attacking Israel. X's AI chatbot Grok made it up.

According to a new report from Kylie Robison of Fortune, Musk wants Grok to be available right in the tweet box for X Premium users so that Grok can just write tweets for those users. Fortune's source claims that Musk "wants people to sound smarter" and he believes Grok will make that happen.

The problem with Grok

There's quite a few big issues with having Grok write users' posts. In fact, X employees realize this and, according to Fortune's source, have worked to stall the roll out of this feature.

For one, since Musk has taken over the platform formerly known as Twitter, the spam and bot problem has only become worse. And, many of these bots and spammers are clearly powered by AI writing tools and chatbots. If X builds such a feature right into the platform via Grok, then one can only imagine this problem will be exacerbated.

Furthermore, according to the report, X engineers have struggled to use Musk's x.AI API which powers Grok because it's too slow.

And, as previously mentioned, there's the whole issue in which Grok has been known to just make up stories and present them as fact, which are then promoted by X's new trending topics and Explore features.

Tweet may have been deleted

Another potential problem pointed out by Ed Zitron of the Better Offline Podcast is that X's Grok AI chatbot is already trained on data from users' tweets. If users generate posts via Grok and then Grok goes ahead and trains on that Grok-generated content, it will actually make Grok worse. When an AI model is trained on AI-generated content, researchers have found that it leads to defects in the model.

Musk had requested Grok be integrated into the tweet composer months ago for users paying at least $8 per month for an X Premium subscription. While it hasn't happened yet, unless X's engineers can convince him that this is a bad idea, it will likely end up being implemented eventually. So, get ready for an X filled with even more AI-generated spam and bots then ever before.

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For a film with such a star-studded lineup — including Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Catherine O’Hara, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Boutella, Bryan Cranston, and Jing Lusi — Argylle's box office debut was a bit sad. The Apple-backed Universal film cost $200 million to produce and earned a measly $17.5 million domestically on opening weekend. Perhaps its streaming debut will fare better with audiences.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Argylle at home. There's even a high likelihood you can stream it for free.

What is Argylle about?

Matthew Vaughn's all-star spy movie follows Elly Conway (Dallas Howard), a cat lover and bestselling author of spy novels about Agent Argylle (Cavill). When she discovers her books are mirroring the actions of a spy organization in real life, she finds herself wrapped up in an espionage plot of her own creation. Along the way, she gets entangled with a real spy named Aiden (Rockwell).

Here's a look at the official trailer:

Is Argylle worth watching?

If you read the critic reviews online, the answer is a resounding "no" (it currently has a 33 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes). However, the audience score of 72 percent is a bit more promising. Argylle certainly didn't make a splash in theaters, but that doesn't mean it's not worth watching. Most audience reviews dubbed it a fun flick with "over-the-top action and plenty of surprises." However, the biggest complaint is that it overstays its welcome with an over 2-hour runtime.

Mashable's Film Editor Kristy Puchko concluded that, "While there are some fun bits in Argylle, the whole is far less than the sum of its parts."

We'll let you decide for yourself.

Read our full review of Argylle.

When does Argylle start streaming?

Argylle makes its streaming debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 12. If you already have an Apple TV+ subscription, then you're good to go. If not, you have a few different options for signing up for free. So, keep scrolling to find out how to watch Argylle for free online or at home.

How to watch Argylle on Apple TV+ for free

Apple TV+ sadly raised its price from $6.99 per month to $9.99 per month near the end of 2023. However, it's still one of the only streamers that offers new and returning viewers ways to test out the service without paying a dime. Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite ways to get Apple TV+ for free. Note: you have to be a new or returning subscriber in order to secure the deals.

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

New Apple TV+ subscribers and those returning after some time away can secure three months of streaming for free by signing up through Best Buy. Click "Add to cart" and go through the motions as you normally would — you'll have to enter your credit card information, but you won't be charged. After checkout, you'll receive an email from Best Buy with a digital promotion for three free months of Apple TV+. Open the email and click on "Redeem now." Then, enter your Apple ID information (or create one) and the promo code will automatically unlock those three free months (plus an extra week!).

I've unlocked the free trial for myself and can vouch that it actually works. Just keep in mind that once your free trial is up, you'll automatically be charged $9.99 per month unless you cancel. Note: New subscribers can also score three free months of Apple TV+ with the purchase of new Apple hardware, so long as you claim the deal within 90 days of your purchase.

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

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

The following plans include Apple TV+ for free:

• Go5G Next

• Go5G Plus

• Magenta MAX

• Magenta MAX Welcome

• Magenta Plus

• Magenta Amplified

• ONE Amplified

• ONE Plus

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

• Sprint MAX

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

• Go5G

• Magenta

• Sprint ONE

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

Don't want to enter your credit card information and go through the motions at Best Buy? You can still score a free trial to Apple TV+ to watch Argylle. Sadly, though, it's only a week long, rather than three months. Just head over to the Apple TV+ app or navigate to Apple TV+ through your browser to sign up. New and returning subscribers can enjoy the first seven days for free, then it'll run you $9.99 per month to stick around. Cancel at any time to avoid further charges.

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

If you don't qualify for any of the free trial options or you're already an Apple TV+ subscriber looking to save some money, you can opt for an annual subscription over a monthly subscription and save about 17%. While the regular $9.99 per month payments will amount to $119.88 over the year, an annual plan will only cost you $99 total. The thing is, Apple makes it a bit complicated to switch over. You'll have to go in manually through your Apple subscriptions in your device's settings, choose Apple TV+, and select "See all plans." From there, you can choose to pay "per year" instead of "per month" and save some money.

Other ways to watch Argylle

If you don't want to sign up for another streaming service just to watch a single film, we don't blame you. Fortunately, you also have the option to purchase Argylle via digital on-demand platforms like Prime Video or Fandango at Home. It'll also be available for rent at a later date if you prefer to wait for that.

Here are the quick links for purchasing the film on digital:

• Prime Video — $17.74 to buy for Prime members ($24.99 for non-Prime members)

• Fandango at Home — $19.99 to buy

• YouTube — $19.99 to buy

• Google Play — $19.99 to buy

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