This digest compiles the latest from Mashable.
Today’s Mashable Roundup
ChatGPT is overtaking Google in one alarming way
OpenAI and its popular AI chatbot ChatGPT may have started the current AI craze, but they’ve recently been losing some ground to Google Gemini in the AI arms race. However, it seems all is not lost for OpenAI and ChatGPT.
A new survey from subscription bundling platform Bango claims that 72 percent of ChatGPT subscribers say they have set the chatbot as their new browser homepage on both desktop and mobile (as reported by Tom’s Guide). If true, that would be a big blow to Google’s long-time dominance in the search space. Google hasn’t faced a true competitor in the search world in decades, and a U.S. federal judged ruled in 2024 that the company illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. (Google is appealing that antitrust ruling.)
Since ChatGPT exploded onto the scene in 2022, Google and OpenAI have become fierce rivals.
Last month, a report found that ChatGPT had lost six percent of its user base after Google launched an upgraded Gemini 3 model. Then, just weeks ago, Google announced alongside Apple that its Gemini AI model would power Apple Intelligence across all of Apple’s devices, which in turn would likely further dilute ChatGPT’s market share. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly declared a “code red” at the company in response to increased competition.
ChatGPT is still causing problems for Google in one key area
Bango’s survey found that a majority of ChatGPT subscribers now use the AI chatbot as their default homepage. That’s potentially hundreds of millions of people who no longer start their online experience with Google.
One of the ways Google has dominated the search engine space for so long has been by becoming the default search engine when users open their web browsers. For example, Google had been paying Apple a whopping $20 billion per year for the privilege of being the default search engine for iPhone users, until the company was barred from doing so as a result of an antitrust lawsuit.
If this survey data is accurate, OpenAI has been able to convince users to switch from Google to ChatGPT, and without paying billions of dollars a year to do so.
Bango polled 1,400 U.S. ChatGPT subscribers for this survey, so we should note that these are the opinions of a small group of users who regularly utilize ChatGPT.
ChatGPT subscribers love ChatGPT
The main takeaway from Bango’s survey is that while Google has been making gains when it comes to AI, the search giant may have to defend its own turf from ChatGPT.
However, there are other interesting results from this survey that point to another trend: many hardcore ChatGPT users want to do everything within ChatGPT.
The survey also found that 78 percent of ChatGPT subscribers have added the ChatGPT widget to their mobile device’s home screen. This means they don’t even have to access a web browser to use it. They just want to go directly to ChatGPT.
Once those users are in ChatGPT, they don’t want to go anywhere else. The survey found that 74 percent of ChatGPT subscribers want to shop for products within ChatGPT, and 72 percent say they’ll use standalone third-party apps like Spotify and Maps less if they can access them within ChatGPT.
In addition, three-quarters of ChatGPT subscribers said they want to perform all their daily digital tasks within ChatGPT without using any other apps or websites.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
Is OnePlus getting shut down? Conflicting reports cause confusion among mobile users.
Lots of people are saying OnePlus is on the verge of shutting down, but OnePlus executives beg to differ.
So, what’s going on with OnePlus?
The Chinese smartphone maker is the subject of credible reports alleging that parent company Oppo is planning to end the mobile brand’s operations in the near future. It all started with an investigation from Android Headlines, which cited dismal sales numbers and multiple unnamed sources claiming that the company is on its last legs. Android Headlines described the evidence it collected as “damning.”
“OnePlus, as you know it, is over,” wrote Android Headlines publisher and owner Chris Yackulic. “The brand is being dismantled — wound down and put on life support until it honors its remaining commitments, and by then, no one will remember to ask what happened. That’s not speculation. That’s the playbook, and we’ve watched it run before.”
Android Headlines reported that some corporate headquarters have already been closed, and that products like OnePlus’s next foldable have been canceled.
However, OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu has strongly denied these claims in a statement on X. He echoed this denial in statements to various mobile outlets.
“Recent unverified reports claiming OnePlus is shutting down are false. OnePlus India’s business operations continue as normal. We urge all stakeholders to verify information from official sources before sharing unsubstantiated claims.”
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
In addition, OnePlus’s North American branch provided a similar comment to Android Headlines.
“OnePlus North America continues to operate, with full guarantee of users’ after-sales support, software updates, and rights commitments,” the company told Android Headlines.
Of course, many struggling companies deny reports like this right up to the moment they shut down in an attempt to stave off a death spiral.
Mashable has reviewed OnePlus phones for years, and if the company does shut down, it would leave a hole in a mobile market that’s already dominated by several tech giants (Apple, Google, and Samsung). The calculus is different in Asia, where there are lots of alternative smartphone options, but here in the West, OnePlus is one of the only ways to get out of the Apple–Google–Samsung ecosystem.
The OnePlus 15, released just a few months ago, was one of the very best phones of 2025, with high-end specs at a competitive price.
How to watch Newcastle vs. PSV online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League delivers regular doses of elite competition between Europe’s top sides. There are plenty of fascinating matchups on the schedule this week, including Newcastle vs. PSV.
Both teams are in contention to move into the knockout rounds. Newcastle won’t have given up on a top eight spot, but they’ll need two wins from their final fixtures. Next week Newcastle travel to play defending champions PSG, which is obviously going to be tough. That just puts more pressure on this fixture. Eddie Howe’s team really need three points against PSV.
If you want to watch Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Newcastle vs. PSV?
Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 21. This fixture takes place at St. James’ Park.
How to watch Newcastle vs. PSV for free
Newcastle vs. PSV is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.
Virgin Media 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, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Newcastle vs. PSV for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit Virgin Media Player
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Watch Newcastle vs. PSV for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Newcastle vs. PSV (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Newcastle vs. PSV in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
How to cancel your Bumble subscription
There comes a time when paying for a dating app just isn’t in the budget anymore, and it’s time to cancel your subscription. If you’re a Bumble user forking over cash monthly for Boost, Premium, or Premium+, and you don’t want to anymore, here’s how to cancel. The method will depend on how you subscribed.
How to cancel Bumble subscription through the app
Choose this method if you’re using Apple Pay, a credit or debit card, or PayPal
- 2 minutes
- Bumble app
Step 1:
Open the Bumble app
Step 2:
Tap your profile icon
Credit: Screenshot: Bumble
Step 3:
Go to “Subscription details”
Step 4:
Tap “Manage your subscription” and choose to cancel
How to cancel Bumble through the App Store
If you subscribed to Bumble through the App Store, try this.
- 2 minutes
- iPhone
Step 1:
Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap your name
Step 2:
Go to Subscriptions and select Bumble
Credit: Screenshot: Apple
Step 3:
Tap “Cancel Subscription”
Credit: Screenshot: Apple
How to cancel Bumble subscription through Google Play
If you subscribed through Google Play on your Android, use this method to cancel.
- 2 minutes
- Android phone
Step 1:
Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile icon
Step 2:
Go to Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions
Step 3:
Select Bumble, then tap “Cancel subscription”
Get over half off the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with this coupon code
SAVE $700: As of Jan. 21, you can get the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station with a 200W solar panel for just $599 at Amazon when you enter the code ANKER610 at checkout. That’s a savings of around 54% or $700 and the lowest price on record.
at Amazon
$1,299
Save $700
You’ve probably at least considered investing in a portable power station by now. Also known as a solar generator or backup home power, these reliable and movable power sources can keep your essentials up and running when you don’t have access to standard wall power. Of course, they don’t come cheap. But for a limited time, a special discount code knocks over 50% off one of our favorite options: the Anker Solix C1000.
As of Jan. 21, when you use the coupon code ANKER610 at checkout (enter it under payment method), you’ll knock an extra $90.99 off the Anker Solix C1000 bundled with a 200W solar panel. Already on sale for just $689.99 from $1,299.99, that brings the final price down to only $599. That’s a total savings of $700 or 54%, marking a new best-ever price for the bundle.
This do-it-all power station is a Mashable Choice Award winner, thanks to its portability, versatility, and impressive performance. It weighs less than 30 pounds, which is kind of like carrying around a stocked cooler — not exactly lightweight, but maneuverable. Its up to 2,400W output and 11 versatile ports (two USB-C, two USB-A, and six three-pronged AC outlets) can keep plenty of your essential gadgets up and running during tailgates, camping trips, or even if you lose power at home. It’s not going to power up your entire home, but it’ll deliver power to a space heater, coffee maker, and even a refrigerator. It recharges in less than an hour via wall power, but you can also connect it to the included solar panel if you’re off the grid.
Even at full price, our reviewer thinks the Solix C1000 is worth it — at less than half price, it’s a helluva deal.
Your Netflix app is going to change as the company competes with Instagram for your attention
Netflix is planning to redesign its mobile app (again) amid changing priorities for the streaming giant. And you should expect — like lots of other apps — a shift toward TikTok-style vertical video.
Netflix indicated its plans during an earnings call this week. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters noted in the call that the planned mobile redesign followed a similar overhaul of its TV user interface.
“Just as you’ve seen us do with the new TV UI, we’re working on a new mobile UI that will better serve the expansion of our business over the decade to come,” Peters said in the call. “We’re gonna roll this out later in 2026. And just like our TV UI, it then becomes a starting point. It becomes a platform for us to continue to iterate, test, evolve, and improve our offerings.”
At the investor earnings call, Netflix’s other CEO, Ted Sarandos, also called out Instagram as a competitor to watch.
“TV is not what we grew up on. TV is now just about everything,” he said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “The Oscars and the NFL are on YouTube. Networks are simulcasting the Super Bowl on linear TV and streaming. Amazon owns MGM, Apple is competing for Emmys and Oscars, and Instagram is coming next.”
The planned redesign also follows Netflix’s recent push into podcasts, a medium that often creates viral vertical videos.
“You can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types like video podcasts,” Peters noted.
The exact details of Netflix’s mobile redesign remain undisclosed, but you can expect an app that integrates the many ways in which the streaming giant has infiltrated our lives. That could mean clips from a podcast, an NFL highlight, or the somewhat disappointing end to a hit show.
How to watch Siniakova vs. Anisimova online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 Australian Open excitement continues to ramp up, with top seeds such as Sabalenka and Gauff advancing to the third round already. American star Amanda Anisimova, however, still has a second-round match to win before she can progress. The No. 4 seed faces Katerina Siniakova.
Things are looking good for the 24-year-old Anisimova. She had a breakout 2025, a year that saw her reach two Gland Slam finals — at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. The big question at the Australian Open is, can she make it three finals in a row or even bring home the trophy this time around?
If you want to watch Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Siniakova vs. Anisimova for free
Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.
9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
-
Visit 9Now
-
Watch the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Siniakova vs. Anisimova without actually spending anything. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for 9Now?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries including Australia
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast connection speeds
-
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Siniakova vs. Anisimova in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.
Grab a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for 37% off
SAVE $157.26: As of Jan. 21, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $271.74 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That’s a discount of 37%.
A new pair of headphones can fundamentally change the way you enjoy your favorite music. You suddenly start hearing more of the song and even discover things you may not have heard before. And when that happens, it’s like hearing a song again for the first time. Treat yourself to some new headphones now with this great deal on one of Bose’s best models.
As of Jan. 21, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $271.74 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That’s $157.26 off and a discount of 37%.
Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino called these headphones “the most comfortable” she’s ever worn, praising them for their variety of audio settings and noise cancelling abilities, how simple it is to connect to Bluetooth, and their all-day battery life.
“The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer exceptional comfort,” she wrote. “They cup your ears for a secure fit but won’t cause aching ears. If you’re wearing headphones from the beginning of your commute, all throughout the workday, and until the moment you get back home, these are a worthy investment for comfort, not to mention battery life.”
If you’re looking for great sound quality as well as noise cancellation that goes above and beyond, you won’t want to miss out on this deal, especially while they’re still on sale at this significant discount.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is back at a record-low price at Amazon — save $500
SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, down from the normal price of $1,599. That’s a 31% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.
Despite the FCC ban on foreign drones, you can still get yourself a DJI drone. The fine print of the ban explains that any drone already in the country are excluded from the new legislation, which means they’re fair game for ownership and operation. However, that means stock is dwindling, so if you’re searching for a DJI drone, check out this deal.
As of Jan. 21, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,599. That’s a 31% discount that takes a hefty $500 off the price. It also matches the record low at Amazon.
The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a premium drone and the Fly More Combo makes it just that much more appealing. The bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone itself, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. Boiled down, this is everything you’d want for an epic drone set-up.
Last chance to score the DJI Power 2000 power station for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $600
In terms of performance, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a stellar model. It has a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can also go with 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming. DJI also made this model especially appealing for night flying thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. DJI’s ActiveTrack 360° technology is a must-have feature if you’ll be filming moving subjects like a cyclist, skier, or surfer.
While it’s still in stock and on sale for a record-low price, snag the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. The bundle is packed with advanced accessories while still being a perfect model for beginners.
Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why theyre popping up everywhere
As a professional headphones tester, the question people around me have asked me the most this past year is some version of: What exactly are open earbuds? That often gets followed up with: Are they better than regular noise-cancelling earbuds?
The (somewhat) short answer to the first part: They’re one of the most popular earbuds trends. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you might have seen their other names: open-ear earbuds or open-ear headphones. This earbud type is unique in that no part of the earbud sits in your ear canal. Chances are, if you’ve seen one pair, you’ve seen the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, which, though great (I recommend them as one of the best open earbuds), are just one option of many on the market.
Credit: Bose
In addition the the cuff-designed Bose earbuds that focus on the listening experience first and foremost, there are open buds that use ear hooks to stay in place, designs made for exercise, and even open headphones.
Major audio brands seem to be going all in on the rising popularity of this design. In 2026 alone, JBL announced five new styles of open earbuds at CES, Soundcore revealed an open earbud that can also be used as a noise-cancelling earbud, Shokz introduced noise reduction into the open earbud space, and Sony revamped their donut open earbuds in favor of a pastel clip design.
So to that second question — are any of those options better than in-ear noise-cancelling earbuds? As always, it depends on what you’re looking for in a pair of earbuds. So let’s start with the basics:
What are open earbuds?
Open earbuds are any earbuds that don’t sit directly in your ear canal. Generally, this means they use air conduction to transmit the sound to your ears. Some folks also consider bone conduction headphones, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, to be a type of open earbud, as they don’t sit in the ear canal and send vibrations to the bones of your head, which then transmit as sound in your inner-ear canal. However, for the purposes of this guide, I’ll be speaking primarily about the air conduction open earbuds.
Credit: Shokz
A significant part of open earbuds’ appeal is that they essentially provide a permanent transparency mode, without any annoying hissing or weird amplification of environmental sound. Some folks also find them more comfortable, suited for exercise, and a good alternative to traditional earbuds (if they don’t like the feeling of earbuds in their ears).
Do open earbuds offer noise cancellation?
Open earbuds sit outside of the ear canal and don’t encompass the ear (like a traditional over-ear headphone), so it’s essentially impossible for any open earbuds to provide active noise cancellation.
Instead, open earbuds rely on using music to drown out the world around you, to an extent (though they will be noticeably less effective than a pair of ANC buds). Still, this is the point of an open earbud — they’re designed for excellent noise transparency, not noise cancellation.
What exactly does that mean? It means that in the best pairs of open earbuds, you’ll find a balance between external sounds and the audio you’re streaming. You’ll be able to hear a barista calling your name clearly, cars driving along the road next to you, or yourself singing along. Frequently, transparency modes on traditional in-ear earbuds can amplify environmental sounds to an unnatural degree — because the transparency mode is built into the design, open earbuds essentially give you the experience of having your own personal speakers. They’re an excellent solution for anyone who frequently finds themselves wearing only one earbud or sliding one ear cup slightly off their ear with over-ear headphones.
If the lack of ANC turns you off from using open earbuds, I wouldn’t check out just yet. As I mentioned briefly up top, Soundcore recently introduced a pair of open earbuds that can also be used as ANC buds. Granted, when using the noise cancellation feature, you do wear the earbuds as in-ear buds, but they can be adjusted back to their open wear form. The Shokz OpenFit Pro are another new release that are worn solely as open earbuds, and provide noise reduction — you’ll still hear the world around you well, but it will be dampened in an effort to make the audio you stream easier to listen to.
Can other people hear open earbuds?
Ideally, the sound leakage from open ear headphones is minimal to nonexistent, but that’s not always the reality. While it won’t be like you’re actually using small Bluetooth speakers, certain models, especially at higher volumes, might play music clearly enough that someone standing within a couple feet of you might be able to make out the lyrics of what you’re listening to.
Though I didn’t have a pair on hand to confirm this theory, the sound leakage felt somewhat reminiscent of what you’d experience with the early 2000s on-ear headphones that often came with portable CD players.
The main benefits of open earbuds, summarized
Open earbuds won’t appeal to everyone’s taste, but anyone looking for their earbuds to give them the following is much more likely to be pleased:
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Comfortable wear: Open earbuds don’t obstruct your ear canal, and can generally be much lighter on the ear than traditional earbuds and headphones.
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General awareness: You can still hear the world around you the entire time you’re wearing open earbuds, making them great for taking out in public, whether on a run or for a stroll in the park.
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Exercise-friendly: Many open earbuds have IP scores that deem them water resistant or even waterproof, meaning they’re okay to sweat in. Awareness of the world around you can come in handy when you’re running down the street or want to stay alert at the gym. Finally, the ear hook design can help hold earbuds in place, making them ideal for use during more movement.
Beyond the lack of ANC, open earbuds have two major cons. For one, the audio itself won’t sound as robust, because they’re sitting outside your ears — hearing finer details or well-rounded bass is less likely across the board, even with the best-sounding earbuds. Some brands may also be prone to more audio leakage, meaning using them in already quiet settings (like studying at the library) could pose some risk of disturbing others.
How to wear open earbuds
How exactly you’ll wear an open earbud depends somewhat on the design and the brand. Ear hook designs tend to take a little more finessing to situate comfortably, while ear cuff buds can be more straightforward to put on.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
However, with both styles, you’ll likely spend some time during your first wears adjusting where exactly the earbud sits on your ear. Though this is something you’ll do to some extent with all earbuds, it’s especially important with open earbuds, as the sound quality can legitimately be affected by where the earbud is situated. Finding the right spot is simple: While playing music, slightly adjust the earbuds until they sit where they sound best.
Our favorite open earbuds
Like regular earbuds, open earbuds can run you anywhere from $25 to $300 — below, I’ve included tried and tested open earbuds models from across the price spectrum.
EarFun Clip
soundcore AeroFit 2
Shokz OpenDots One
The Beauty review: Ryan Murphys latest is gorgeous, unhinged ridiculousness
The Beauty is Ryan Murphy at his Ryan Murphy-est, which is to say that it’s maximalist, deranged chaos.
For proof, look no further than the show’s opening. Over five minutes, The Beauty puts Bella Hadid through body horror hell. As fictional model Ruby, Hadid struts a muddy Paris catwalk. She’s gleaming — not with supermodel shine, mind you, but with a concerning layer of sweat. It’s a symptom of a mysterious affliction that’s burning her up from within, one so unbearable she begins snapping onlookers’ necks in order to steal their water bottles.
That’s just the start of Ruby’s quest for hydration, which soon spirals into a motorcycle chase involving shredded skin, broken bones, and Hadid splashing herself with toilet water. It all culminates in Ruby self-destructing in an impressive shower of blood, guts, and gore that left me cackling and wondering, as I do after watching most Murphy shows, “What the hell did I just witness?”
What’s The Beauty about?
Credit: Philippe Antonello/FX
FBI agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) are trying to answer that very same question, albeit with far less cackling. Turns out, Ruby isn’t the first supermodel to spontaneously combust. She’s the latest in a string of grisly deaths, the culprit of which is a nightmarish new virus described as “the fucked-up love child of HIV and rabies, but neither.”
Meet the Beauty, a sexually transmitted disease that turns its hosts into absolute bombshells — after a hideously painful transformation, that is. The virus was initially engineered as a product for the wealthiest man alive, known simply as the Corporation (Ashton Kutcher). While it’s currently running rampant in the wild, he hopes to one day market it as the shot that makes you hot.
No, The Beauty is not (entirely) a Substance rip-off.
Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FX
If the concept of an injectable beauty serum reminds you of Coralie Fargeat’s 2024 film The Substance, I don’t blame you. But The Beauty is actually based on Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley’s graphic novel series of the same name, which began its run in 2015.
However, the show does take major liberties with its source material. (Hurley still serves as a consultant.) That includes the intense focus on the Corporation and the injectable aspect of the Beauty, which screams The Substance. It’s tough not to see the latter’s influence in The Beauty‘s many transformation sequences either.
These scenes are showstoppers: body convulsions straight out of The Exorcist, swaths of melting skin, and bone cracks so loud you’ll think twice about watching any ASMR chiropractor videos. When a victim’s “beautiful” self is ready to emerge, it does so by hatching from the goopiest cocoons you’ve ever seen.
After watching The Substance‘s Sue crawl out out Elisabeth’s split back, these skin sac rebirths may feel tame by comparison. Plus, as The Beauty sees more and more of its characters transforming, the pattern of body horror risks becoming stale. Thankfully, the show’s astounding prosthetics work, and the Beauty’s increasing mutations keep things feeling fresh instead of punishingly rote. New transformations focus on new body parts, from teeth to fingernails to rib cages, ushering in a new wave of WTF-ery every episode.
The Beauty is at its best when it’s unhinged.
Credit: FX
Granted, “WTF” is the reaction so much of The Beauty wants you to have. The show oozes with twists, transformations, and out-of-pocket one-liners that feel, like the virus at the show’s heart, as if they’ve been lab-engineered for maximum shock value. But Murphy and Hodgson also aim for introspection, trying to prompt greater conversations around beauty standards and the extreme lengths people go to in order to look “beautiful.”
The latter elements are unfortunately skin-deep. As part of their thoroughly unconvincing love story, Detectives Madsen and Bennett discuss why people would want to take the Beauty in the first place, debating breast augmentation and monologuing about people’s desire for sexual validation. Elsewhere, a plastic surgeon (Jon Jon Briones) tells a prospective patient (Jaquel Spivey) that he’s an “incel” when he should be a “chad.” Of course, the patient is extremely online and found the doctor thanks to a dark web chat room, meaning he’d definitely know what an incel is. This explanation is just one example of The Beauty‘s clumsy, on-the-nose attempts to be a part of current discourse around beauty standards. Of course, when the show itself caves to said beauty standards, with its cast of Instagram-perfect faces and bodies and a lens that ogles them incessantly, it’s tough to believe that The Beauty buys what it’s selling.
It’s when The Beauty gets less earnest and more straight-up unhinged in its messaging that it works best. Forget metaphors about the Japanese art of kintsugi and embracing our physical flaws. I want the Corporation’s Assassin (Anthony Ramos) ranting about the career of Christopher Cross on the way to a kill. I want Isabella Rossellini (whose casting is a delightful Death Becomes Her nod) reading Kutcher to filth for his superficial behavior. If you’re going to somehow be less subtle than The Substance when it comes to commentary on beauty standards, I want you to make it flat-out fun!
The Beauty manages to do so as it begins to focus less on the detectives and their fight for justice, and more on the Corporation and just how darn evil he is. (It helps that both Kutcher and Ramos know exactly the kind of over-the-top villainy their roles demand.) There are some exceptions to the rule, though. At several points, The Beauty peers beyond both its detectives’ investigations and the Corporation’s wrongdoings, examining the many use cases for the Beauty beyond just looking stunning. Gender-affirming care and life-saving medicine are at the center of two of these moving storylines. The show also examines how the Beauty and social media make for a potent mix, especially for high school girls whose self-esteem already takes enough of a beating without the world telling them they need a hotness superdrug.
The ground-level storytelling in these vignettes is the closest the series has to holding up a mirror to our own world, no on-the-nose monologue necessary. Of course, it’s not long before The Beauty reverts back to its main, extremely heightened plotline, full of jet-setting, corporate conspiracy, and yes, explosions. It’s some of the most ridiculous TV I’ve watched in ages, and this being a Murphy show, you can bet I mean “ridiculous” in both the best and worst sense.
Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip open earbuds embrace pastel colors and a clip style design
Sony was one of the first companies to champion the idea of open-ear earbuds when it released its first LinkBuds model in 2022, an in-ear design with a distinctive donut-shaped speaker module. Since then, it has stuck to this formula — with a small tweak to 2024’s LinkBuds Open — while most open-ear competitors like Shokz, Bose, and Soundcore have chosen earhook and clip-style designs.
Today, that changes with the debut of the Sony LinkBuds Clip ($229.99), available now in four different colors (lavender, black, green, and greige). At the time of writing, the earbuds are available at Amazon and directly from Sony.
The LinkBuds Clip, as its name suggests, follows in the footsteps of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Shokz OpenDots One, with a U-shaped clip design that wraps around the side of the ear instead of sitting inside it.
The Sony LinkBuds Open have a distinctive donut-style shape.
Credit: Sony
The new LinkBuds Clip have a cuff-style shape.
Credit: Sony
I got to briefly try the new Sony LinkBuds Clip at a demo ahead of their launch, and I’ve got all the details on these new wireless earbuds.
I tested the best Sony headphones and earbuds for ANC, sound, and cool factor: See my top 7 picks
Sony embraces a new design for the LinkBuds
Sony says its research revealed that fit and comfort are among buyers’ top concerns in choosing open-ear earbuds. And while Sony stopped short of saying that users found the LinkBuds and LinkBuds Open uncomfortable, the LinkBuds Clip seems like an acknowledgement that not everyone was able to get a comfortable fit with the company’s in-ear models.
A soft, flexible band connects the in-ear speaker pod with a battery module that sits behind the ear. Sony includes a set of small silicone “air fitting cushions” to help users with smaller ears get a secure fit. Like the rest of the LinkBuds family, the new Sony LinkBuds Clips have an IPX4 splash-proof rating.
Credit: Sony
As with the LinkBuds Open, Sony will sell accessory silicone top and bottom covers (with ring carabiners) for the charging case in the same five colors as the earbuds. The tops come with a color-matched set of air cushions, and you’ll be able to mix and match top and bottom colors. They cost $24.99 for a set and will only be available on Sony’s website.
Speaking of the charging case, its size and shape are nearly identical to the LinkBuds Open, with a clamshell design that unfortunately lacks wireless charging.
Open earbuds guide: What they are, who should buy them, and why they’re popping up everywhere
What else is new with the Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds?
Sony says it has upped the battery life on the LinkBuds Clip by an hour versus the Open model, claiming a 9-hour per charge play time, and a total of 37 hours when you include the case’s capacity. A fast-charge system promises an additional one hour of play time after just three minutes of charging.
Sound-wise, Sony has added a new voice mode that attempts to keep spoken audio content clear and intelligible in noisy environments, while a sound leakage mode works to prevent your music and voice calls from being heard by others.
The company also says that a future firmware update will bring adaptive volume control, which will sense the noise level of your surroundings and boost or lower the LinkBuds Clip’s volume to match.
The Clips support Bluetooth Multipoint, along with SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, but unlike the LinkBuds Open, you don’t get LC3 codec support. Perhaps more disappointingly, Sony has no plans to add Bluetooth Auracast.
The earbuds use tap controls instead of physical buttons, but Sony hasn’t included the wide-area tap feature from the LinkBuds Open, which lets you tap near the earbuds instead of directly on them. Moreover, customization of the controls with Sony’s Sound Connect app will be limited to a set of pre-configured control groups.
Call quality, which has always been a big selling point for open earbuds, could see a significant improvement on the LinkBuds Clip. Sony says it has leveraged AI-powered noise reduction, combined with a new bone-conduction sensor, to eliminate background noise during calls. During my briefing, Sony played some example recordings to illustrate the difference these new technologies make, and if they prove to be as effective in real life, the Clips should be excellent for calls.
Google says there arent any plans to put ads in Gemini as ChatGPT tries them
Worried about seeing a bunch of ads in your favorite AI assistant? If you’re using Google Gemini, you probably won’t — at least not in the foreseeable future.
During an interview in Davos, Switzerland, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis told Alex Heath that the company doesn’t have “any plans” to put ads in Gemini. In contrast, OpenAI is about to start testing ads in ChatGPT, causing outrage from many of its users.
Plans can and do sometimes change, of course, and Google could still integrate ads into its AI assistant one day, but at least we know it’s not happening soon. (Though we should note that Google is currently the largest advertising company on the planet; in 2023, the company generated $175 trillion in ad revenue.)
In discussing AI ads at Davos, Hassabis also seemed to take a subtle shot at his chief AI rival, telling Axios he was “surprised” that OpenAI was turning to ads so quickly.
In a tweet, OpenAI said that ChatGPT ads will only show up in ChatGPT free and Go tiers, and explained that ChatGPT’s responses will not be influenced by ads and that users’ conversations will remain private from advertisers.
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The company said that its mission is “to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity,” and that its pursuit of advertising is “always in support of that mission,” as well as “making AI more accessible.
It probably isn’t that simple, though. In 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said ads were a “last resort” for the company, and recent reports describe how Altman internally declared “code red,” prioritizing efforts to make sure ChatGPT doesn’t fall behind competitors, including Gemini.
Masters of the Universe teaser gives first glimpse of live-action He-Man
Anyone who grew up in the ’80s is in for a treat, with Amazon MGM Studios dropping the first glimpse of live-action He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) in a teaser for Masters of the Universe.
The teaser itself gives little away — it’s pretty much a 30-second promo for the actual trailer dropping tomorrow — but we do see some brief glimpses of the heroes based on Mattel’s famous action fantasy franchise.
Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristin Wiig, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba make up the incredibly stacked cast.
Masters of the Universe is in theaters on June 5.
Need to upgrade your TV? The internets favorite 65-inch QLED is more than half off.
SAVE $1,502: As of Jan. 21, the TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV is down to just $997.99 at Amazon. That’s 60% in savings based on its full list price of $2,499.99 and just $98 away from its best-ever price from Black Friday.
Unsure what size TV to get? We think 65 inches is the sweet spot for most people. And our top pick for a 65-incher is TCL’s QM8K TV. It’s a particularly worthwhile choice when it’s on sale and as of Jan. 21, it’s more than half off.
Typically listed at $2,499.99, you can grab the TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV for only $997.99 at Amazon this week. That’s more than $1,500 or 60% in savings based on its full list price (Amazon’s current list price is deflated). That’s also only $98 away from its best-ever price from Black Friday. Best Buy also has a great deal on the TV if you prefer to shop there — it’s just $2 more than Amazon.
The internet practically unanimously agrees that the TCL QM8K is the best QLED TV for most folks, thanks to its highly impressive brightness and stellar picture quality, contrast, and shadow detail. “While this intensity of brightness makes the QM8K a solid choice for watching TV in daylight, its more-precise-than-usual backlights keep details crisp in a dark room. The new anti-halo effect is an effective fix for some of the blooming its predecessor experienced,” Mashable’s Leah Stodart notes.
It’s also equipped with a 2.2-channel Bang & Olufsen-designed speaker array with Dolby Atmos spatial audio, a 144Hz native refresh rate with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, a low 12.9ms input lag, ATSC 3.0, Wi-Fi 6, and plenty of ports for all of your peripherals.
If you’re looking to upgrade your TV this season, you certainly won’t be disappointed with this pick — and your wallet will be pleased with the price. And BTW: If you’re not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.
Some of Apples M4 MacBook Airs are still on sale for $200 off, but youd better hurry
SAVE UP TO 14%: Select configurations of the Apple MacBook Air (M4) are on sale on Amazon for $200 off as of Jan. 21, with prices starting at $1,199 (normally $1,399). Each variant comes with at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
Amazon puts latest M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $200 off so often, Apple might as well edit their MSRPs. Indeed, data from the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel shows that every configuration was enjoying that discount since the start of the year, up until earlier this week. However, only a few upper-end variants are still holding onto it at the time of writing.
This isn’t a sign to panic yet, but the ongoing RAM shortage makes one wonder if sizable discounts on the cheapest base models are going to be rarities going forward. (They’re currently just $100 off; Mashable’s deals team will be watching them closely.) Regardless, it’s never a bad idea to splurge on some extra memory and storage for future-proofing’s sake if your budget allows.
As of Jan. 21, Amazon’s $200 discount is still live for the following sizes, colors, and configurations:
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13-inch M4 MacBook Air (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) in midnight and silver — $1,199
$1,399(save $200) -
15-inch M4 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) in silver — $1,199
$1,399(save $200) -
15-inch M4 MacBook Air (24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) in midnight and silver — $1,399
$1,599(save $200)
Amazon’s deals weren’t matched anywhere else the last time I checked — including Best Buy, which usually gives the retail giant some competition. All of the aforementioned configurations were still full price there.
I’d steer most people towards the 15-inch model, which has two extra speakers and a GPU with two extra cores (read: it’s a little bit better at handling heavier workloads). However, students and those who prioritize portability will be served well by the 13-inch version. Check out my complete guide to the best MacBooks for 2026 buyers if you need more intel.
The Starlink Mini is down to under $200 at Best Buy — stay connected at all times
SAVE 60%: As of Jan. 21, the Starlink Mini Kit AC Dual Band WiFi System is on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy. That’s a 60% discount.
No matter how you feel about Elon Musk, it’s hard to deny that Starlink has changed the game for getting online (no matter where you are). Whether you’re working from a van or just want Netflix at a remote campsite, this backpack-sized kit is a serious upgrade from trying to find a single bar of 5G.
As of Jan. 21, the Starlink Mini Kit AC Dual Band WiFi System is on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy, down from $499.99. That’s a 60% discount or $300 in savings. You can also save an additional 15% (plus 15% off Geek Squad Home Wi-Fi Setup) when you bring in an old router or modem/router combo for recycling.
The “Mini” lives up to its name: It’s compact enough to fit in a backpack, yet delivers max speeds over 100 Mbps and features an integrated WiFi 5 router, so you don’t need to haul extra gear to get a signal. Plus, it’s designed to be plug-and-play. Just set it up with a clear view of the sky, plug it in, and you’re online in minutes.
Just keep in mind that while the hardware is yours, a service plan is required to actually connect, though there are no long-term contracts to lock you in.
How to watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League is back this week with a bunch of exciting fixtures. We’ve already seen some huge performances from Europe’s elite, and the fascinating matchups keep coming this evening. Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid is one of the most interesting fixtures on the schedule today.
With two group stage games left to play, Atletico Madrid are very much in the mix to secure a top eight position. Galatasaray, meanwhile, look more likely to move into the playoffs. That being said, there’s only three points separating these sides going into this match. So it’s all to play for.
If you want to watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid?
Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 21. This fixture takes place at Rams Park.
How to watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid for free
Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.
Virgin Media 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, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit Virgin Media Player
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Watch Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
The Jackery HomePower 3000 portable power station is nearly half off at Amazon — save over $1,000
SAVE OVER $1,000: The Jackery HomePower 3000 with two SolarSaga 200W solar panels is on sale for $1,598.99 at Amazon. That’s down from the standard price of $2,999.
No one loves a power outage. The idea of cozy blankets, no WiFi, no phones, and sitting down with a Lego set or a puzzle seems magical at first, but the joy can wear off quickly. Once you realize the refrigerator is no longer running, things get less magical. Instead of dealing with the inconvenience of no power, a portable power station offers a great solution. There’s a solid model on sale today at Amazon that even comes with solar panels to help with recharging.
As of Jan. 21, the Jackery HomePower 3000 with two 200W solar panels is on sale at Amazon for $1,598.99, marked down from the normal price of $2,999. In total, that works out a savings of $1,400.01 from a massive 47% discount.
Like the name suggests, the Jackery HomePower 3000 comes packed with 3,072Wh of battery capacity. In simpler terms, that means you can keep the refrigerator cooling for one or two days, the WiFi router on for 66 hours, or a light on for up to 10 days. All of those will be useful during a power outage. Of course, you’ll also be able to recharge your phone, Kindle, or your Nintendo Switch 2 to stay entertained.
Last chance to score the DJI Power 2000 power station for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $600
Once we get back into camping season, the Jackery HomePower 3000 should get an invite to the campground. You’ll be able to pack along the air fryer, lights, projector, and speakers thanks to the portable power of the Jackery.
Since today’s deal includes two 200W SolarSaga solar panels, you’ll be in great shape for recharging the HomePower 3000. With the 400W combined solar input, Jackery says this model will get back to 100% charged after 11 hours. An 80% charge is possible with nine hours of solar charging.
Useful in all season, upgrade to the Jackery HomePower 3000 this year while it’s on sale for a major 47% off. You’ll be endlessly thankful during the next power outage when you have a fully charged phone and working refrigerator.
This curved Samsung gaming monitor is at its lowest-ever price on Amazon — save $300 right now
TL;DR: The Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor has dropped to $699.99 at Amazon, hitting its lowest-ever price. That’s $300 off its $999.99 list price.
Samsung has been going strong with deals lately, but the latest gaming monitor offer might be the best of the bunch.
As of Jan. 21, the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G91F) is down to $699.99 at Amazon, marking a full $300 off its $999.99 list price and its lowest price to date — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel. For anyone dreaming of an ultra-wide, wraparound setup without juggling multiple screens, this monitor’s truly worth considering.
At a massive 49 inches, the Odyssey G9 is built to dominate your desk; a 32:9 curved display of that size is essentially the equivalent of two 27-inch monitors fused together, minus the annoying bezel gap. With a Dual QHD resolution (5120 x 1440) and an aggressive 1,000R curve, it fills your peripheral vision and pulls you straight into the action, whether you’re racing in Forza Horizon 5, flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator, or exploring open worlds like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Performance doesn’t take a back seat, either. You’re getting a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, helping fast-paced games like Battlefield 6 stay smooth and tear-free. Add VESA DisplayHDR 600, and darker scenes gain extra contrast without washing out highlights — a noticeable upgrade for cinematic titles and late-night gaming sessions.
Beyond gaming, this monitor shines as a productivity powerhouse for work, too. Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture modes make multitasking easy, while the ergonomic stand lets you fine-tune height and tilt for marathon sessions.
If you’re shopping around across different brands, LG’s 32-inch UltraGear QHD monitor is still $100 off. As for more from Samsung, the OLED version of the G9 monitor is also on sale at almost $400 off.
Whats going on with Elon Musk and Ryanair?
Elon Musk and Ryanair have been experiencing turbulence of late, but what exactly has occurred?
The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO has been swapping barbs with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, with petty insults thrown around by two grown-ass men on public platforms. And it’s all about internet on short-haul flights. Here’s what’s been happening.
Back on Jan. 14, Ryanair ruled out the possibility of installing Musk’s Starlink internet tech on its planes, like competitors British Airways and Lufthansa. O’Leary told Reuters, “You need to put antenna on fuselage, it comes with a two percent fuel penalty because of the weight and drag. We don’t think our passengers are willing to pay for WiFi for an average one-hour flight.”
The following day, Musk sprang into action on his social platform X, claiming O’Leary was “misinformed” and writing, “I doubt they can even measure the difference in fuel use accurately, especially for a one hour flight, where the incremental drag is basically zero during the ascent phase due to high angle of attack,” and pairing it all with an AI Grok explainer.
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Since then, it’s been on — and in increasingly lower levels of mature.
When X suffered a major outage on Jan. 16, Ryanair took a jab at Musk on the platform, asking, “perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?” Musk fired back, tweeting, “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”
Then, in a radio interview on Ireland’s Newstalk, O’Leary was asked about Ryanair’s stance on Starlink. The airline CEO rejected the idea again, not only describing the impact of adding antennas to aircraft — “about a 2 percent fuel drag” and a boosted fuel bill of “$200, $250 million a year…in other words, about an extra dollar for every passenger we fly” — but then targeting Musk directly.
“I frankly wouldn’t pay any attention to anything that Elon Musk puts on that cesspit of his called X,” he said. “He was the guy who advocated to getting Donald Trump elected. I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk. He’s an idiot. Very wealthy, but he’s still an idiot.”
Of course, Musk hit back on X, recycling the insult and calling for O’Leary to be fired — a message he’s repeated on X since.
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Since then, there’s been a few side-eye barbs on social media — on Jan. 19, Ryanair’s official X post retweeted a post responding to a question posted: “what is a propaganda you’re not falling for?” The airline’s response: “”Wi-Fi on planes.”
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Now, Musk appears to be moving into his favoured tactic of controlling the narrative by buying it. Musk responded to the above post asking, “How much would it cost to buy you?” before later calling for O’Leary’s firing while using the r-word slur. Then, on Jan. 19, Musk posted a poll to X, asking whether he should “Buy Ryan Air and restore Ryan as their rightful ruler.”
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On Tuesday, Ryanair moved things into even more immature territory than Musk (hard to do), with a post on X announcing that O’Leary has called a press conference on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Dublin, suggesting the airline is “launching a Great Idiots seat sale especially for Elon and any other idiots on ‘X’.” And yes, O’Leary did hold the conference, with Ryanair actually launching that sale.
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O’Leary thanked Musk “for the wonderful boost in publicity, which has seen our bookings rise significantly,” and repeated Musk’s r-word slur about himself (not great) during his address.
“The Starlink people believe that 90 percent of our passengers would happily pay for Wi Fi access,” he said. “Our experience, sadly, tells us we think less than 10 percent of our passengers would pay for this access, and therefore we can’t afford to shoulder costs of between 150 or 250 million a year. If Starlink wants to fit our aircraft and pay for the fuel drive, we’d happily put them on board. But the only way we see Starlink working on board our aircraft on short haul flights is if you give it away for free.”
Credit: Paulo Nunes dos Santos / Bloomberg via Getty Images
As the BBC points out, Musk would have a hard time buying Ryanair, as airlines based in the EU must be majority owned by people from the EU, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, or Switzerland.
At this point, can Ryanair get back to draining our wallets with oversized baggage fees and Musk actually address the issue of Grok continuing to created sexualized images despite being banned from doing so?
Daily Show brutally mocks Trumps desperate bid for the Nobel Peace Prize
Donald Trump’s anger at not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize appears to be leading to all sorts of global issues, and the Daily Show‘s Josh Johnson is here to point out how ridiculous the whole situation is.
“For the last year Donald Trump has been fiending for a Nobel Peace Prize. Like a humanitarian award addict he’s tried everything from whining to pretending that he ended eight wars,” says Johnson in the clip above. “But the Nobel committee gave the prize to Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, and Trump was so butthurt he said that she should give her prize to him. And because that’s the stupidest possible thing that could happen, guess what happened?”
Cue a news reel showing Corina Machado presenting her prize to Trump, accompanied with a photo of the U.S. president smiling while holding the plaque.
“Wow. This is one of the saddest images I’ve seen in months, and I follow one of those hairless cats on Instagram,” says Johnson. “You know the medal is only a symbol, right? Like just because I steal A$AP Rocky’s wedding ring, doesn’t make it so that I’m married to Rihanna.”
Stuff Your Kindle Day is live — download free sports fiction ebooks until Jan. 24
FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Jan. 21-24. Play Game, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering free sports fiction books for Kindle e-readers.
Welcome back, Stuff Your Kindle Day. We missed you over the festive period.
Play Game, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is offering readers the chance to download heavily discounted or free sport fiction ebooks. And the books that you download are yours to keep forever. So stop what you’re doing and take this opportunity to stock up. The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule is pretty busy in 2026, but we don’t see a lot of sports fiction in these giveaways.
Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We’ve lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.
When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?
Play Game takes place on Jan. 21-24. Stuff Your Kindle Days often take place over 24 hours, this event runs for four days. That gives you time to check out everything on offer, assess how much you can actually read, and then download a sensible number of ebooks. OK, there’s no need to be sensible here.
Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?
One of the great things about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that everyone can participate. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them straight from your phone.
Which ebooks are free?
Indie Author Collective is running the show, and has a helpful hub page for Play Game. This has a bunch of filters for major tropes, spice level, content level, and representation. By utilizing these filters, you camn head directly to what you want to read most.
Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?
Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there’s no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don’t count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so there’s no need to hold back. This is the time to be greedy.
The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal
Why we like it
These popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase.
Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box preorders are $14 off at Amazon
TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is down to $150.90 on Amazon. That’s around $14 off the list price.
Locking in a good price on a new Magic: The Gathering expansion can be tough, depending on demand. Thankfully, the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box preorder has dropped in price at Amazon. As of Jan. 21, The Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is down to $150.90 on Amazon.
This deal drops the Play Booster Box to market price vs. TCGplayer.
This is a great deal for a bundle of 30 booster packs from a new trading card game expansion like this. And this preorder also qualifies for Amazon’s preorder price guarantee. That means if the price drops again before release day, Amazon will automatically charge you the lowest price offered between now and when the box ships. There’s very little downside to reserving a box early.
Lorwyn Eclipsed officially releases on Jan. 23, 2026, and revisits the fan-favorite in a split form — balancing the radiant harmony of Lorwyn with the chaotic darkness of Shadowmoor. The Play Booster Box includes 30 Play Boosters, designed for Limited formats and casual openings alike, with a guaranteed foil in every pack.
Each booster can contain multiple rares, and there’s even a slim chance of getting borderless foil mythics for collectors chasing premium pulls.
For more deals on Magic: The Gathering boxes, Foundations Jumpstart 2025 boosters are 23% off at Amazon right now. Plus, the MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is down to its best-ever price at the retailer.
Last chance to score the DJI Power 2000 power station for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $600
SAVE $600: As of Jan. 21, the DJI Power 2000 portable power station is back to its lowest-ever price of $699 at Amazon. This is $600 off its list price of $1,299.
No matter if its for future camping trips or backup power in the event of a storm, a portable power station is always worth checking out. One option that’s crossed our radar is the DJI Power 2000 portable power station, which has returned to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.
Amazon has knocked $600 off the price of the DJI Power 2000, bringing it down to $699. The clock is ticking to take advantage of this deal. Amazon’s only running this deal through Jan. 21, so now is the time to make a move.
The DJI Power 2000 is one of our favorite portable power stations. More specifically, it’s our top pick for content creators. This is because it “packs in 2,048Wh capacity with great features for content creators. It comes with three standard AC ports, a 30-amp plug, four USB-A ports, four USB-C ports, and two SDC ports for quick recharging of drones.” On top of that, it even has a “quiet operation, which won’t disrupt work.”
Alongside its helpful handles for portability, it also has a sturdy, safe build with a 2,048Wh LFP battery, smart Battery Management System, sub-nano coating, and flame-retardant housing. So no matter where you go, it’s built to handle the adventure.
Act fast to save $600 on the DJI Power 2000 portable power station at Amazon.
How to watch NRL live streams online for free
TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 NRL for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There are few other sports that can compete with rugby league when it comes to physicality and skill. It’s clever handling and outrageous trickery combined with absolute brutality, and that’s why love it.
And if you’re looking for all of that and more on a weekly basis, you should check out the NRL. It’s an electric competition featuring some of the best players and teams in the world. We’re definitely not knocking what you get in the Northern Hemisphere, but there’s something special about the National Rugby League. It feels like something wild happens every week.
If you want to watch the 2026 NRL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the NRL?
The National Rugby League (NRL) is a professional rugby league competition in Australasia, including clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand.
Each team plays 24 matches in the regular season, with the first-placed team at the end awarded the minor premiership. This is followed by a finals series contested between the eight highest-placed teams from the regular season, culminating in the NRL Grand Final.
The defending champions are the Brisbane Broncos.
When is the 2026 NRL?
The 2026 NRL season is the 119th edition of professional rugby league in Australia and the 29th season run by the National Rugby League. This season runs from Feb. 28 to Sept. 5.
How to watch the 2026 NRL for free
Select fixtures from the 2026 NRL season are available to live stream for free on 9Now.
9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the NRL from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the 2026 NRL from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
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Visit 9Now
-
Live stream the 2026 NRL for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 NRL without actually spending anything. This clearly isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select NRL fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for 9Now?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Australia
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 NRL for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 online for free
TL;DR: Live stream the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There are so many incredible sporting events taking place in 2026. Fans can look forward to the Winter Olympics, World Cup, and so much more this year. And cricket fans really don’t need to wait long for arguably the biggest showpiece event on the calendar: the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The best international T20 teams are heading to India and Sri Lanks to compete for the top prize. You can expect the likes of India, Australia, South Africa, and England to be fighting it out in the knockout rounds. Those teams are the pre-tournament favorites, but don’t count out the likes of Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Anything can happen in this electric form of the game.
If you want to watch the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the T20 World Cup?
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council. The event is generally held every two years. India are the defending champions.
In 2026, 20 teams will compete in 55 matches across five venues. The 20 qualifying teams are divided into four groups of five. In the group stage, each team will play four matches in a round-robin format, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Super 8 stage. At this point, teams will be placed into two groups of four, and will play three matches. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage.
When is the 2026 T20 World Cup?
The 2026 T20 World Cup is the 10th edition of the competition. This year’s event takes place from Feb. 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka.
How to watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free
The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Access free T20 Cricket World Cup live streams by following these simple steps:
-
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
-
Visit ICC.TV
-
Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast connection speeds
-
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 21, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love comics.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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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 hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Reuse
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Green: Needed to sleep
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Blue: To copy
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Purple: Associated with a famous superhero
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Items to recycle
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Green: Bedding
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Blue: Plagiarize
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Purple: Batman’s “Bat” things
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 today’s Connections #955 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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Items to recycle: BOTTLE, CAN, CARDBOARD BOX, NEWSPAPER
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Bedding: BLANKET, SHAM, SHEET, THROW
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Plagiarize: COPY, CRIB, LIFT, PIRATE
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Batman’s “Bat” things: CAVE, MOBILE, SIGNAL, SUIT
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.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
NYT Strands hints, answers for January 21, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you don’t have proper etiquette.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That’s not very polite
The words are related to ettiquette.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe things that are impolite.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is Don’t Be Rude.
NYT Strands word list for January 21
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Gloat
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Tease
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Burp
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Shout
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Don’t Be Rude
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Stare
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Point
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Interrupt
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.
Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 21, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love geometry.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’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.
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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
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:
Cube-shaped.
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter C.
The Wordle answer today is…
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 today’s Wordle is…
CUBIC
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.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
End of today’s Mashable roundup.
