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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A babysitter.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

NANNY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To spread.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SMEAR

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

An aquatic animal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 24 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

OTTER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Crazy.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BATTY

Final Hurdle hint

A popular Adidas shoe.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SAMBA

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We’ve now reached the First Quarter Moon, where roughly half of the visible surface is lit up. Keep reading to find out what you may be able to spot on its surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, April 24, the Moon phase is First Quarter. Tonight, 52% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

If you're looking at the Moon with just your naked eye, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Mares Crisium, Tranquillitatis, and Fecunditatis. If you have binoculars, the Mare Nectaris and Endymion and Posidonius Craters should also come into view, appearing from halfway up the Moon to near the top. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 16 landing spot, Rupes Altai, and Linne Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it passes through eight stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward us, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its path, producing the familiar cycle of full, half, and crescent shapes. These variations are referred to as lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition definitely has some red herrings that could get you off track. But if you have a decent level of ball knowledge, you should be able to get the right answers.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports 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 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 before 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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Verbs

• Green: March Madness

• Blue: Ball Knowledge

• Purple: Half of a whole

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Move Smoothly

• Green: First Words of College Conferences

• Blue: Basketball Hall of Famers

• Purple: Road ____

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: Sports Edition #578 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Move Smoothly — COAST, FLY, GLIDE, SOAR

• First Words of College Conferences — ATLANTIC, BIG, MOUNTAIN, SOUTHEASTERN

• Basketball Hall of Famers — ENGLISH, HILL, PIERCE, WEST

• Road ____ — GAME, GRADER, RACE, TRIP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 24 Pips

Number (3): The domino half in this purple space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this red space must have 0 pips. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally; and 5-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): The domino half in this dark blue space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 24 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this purple space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): The domino half in this light blue space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 7. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this green space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 3 pips. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 24 Pips

Number (2): The domino half in this purple space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): The domino half in this red space must have 5 pips. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (0): The domino half in this light blue space must have 0 pips. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this yellow space must add up to be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): The domino half in this dark blue space must have more than 2 pips. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this green space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this purple space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): The domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): The domino half in this light blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): The domino half in this yellow space must have 0 pips. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this green space must add up to be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this purple space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this red space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this light blue space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this dark blue space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this green space must have 4 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this purple space must add up to be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): The domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): The domino half in this light blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): The domino half in this yellow space must have 0 pips. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love Italian food.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 24, 2026 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:

• Yellow: Italian must-haves

• Green: They have tentacles

• Blue: They cut

• Purple: You haul them

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Pizza ingredients

• Green: Associated with octopuses

• Blue: They have blades

• Purple: What "Cab" might refer to

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 #1047 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Pizza ingredients: CHEESE, DOUGH, PEPPERONI, TOMATO SAUCE

• Associated with octopuses: ARMS, INK, INTELLIGENCE, SUCTION CUPS

• They have blades: GRASS, HELICOPTER, ICE SKATES, LAWN MOWER

• What "Cab" might refer to: CABIN, CALLOWAY, RED WINE, TAXI

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 24, 2026

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo

The words are related to sound.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ruckus.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Lets Get Loud.

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NYT Strands word list for April 24

• Shout

• Holler

• Clamor

• Lets Get Loud

• Bellow

• Whoop

• Caterwaul

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 24, 2026 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 24, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Intoxicated.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

DRUNK

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.

Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or a bear? Posed to women on TikTok in 2024, this seemingly simple hypothetical question ignited a firestorm across social media. Video after video showed women choosing the bear, speaking up against rape culture and speculating how a man alone in the woods could be up to no good, while a bear in the woods is less suspicious. Others were outraged by the idea that a random man might seem more a threat to a woman than a wild animal. And now, the new Netflix movie Apex seems certain to reignite this debate.

To be clear, there is no bear in Apex. (Sorry for the spoiler?) Charlize Theron stars as Sasha, a physically strong and resilient rock climber, who takes her thrill-seeking to the Australian wilderness, where she aims to kayak down white rapids alone. However, her plan for reflective solitude is interrupted when she crosses paths with Ben (Taron Egerton), who seems friendly at first, but soon proves to be the deadliest threat in this treacherous terrain.

Pitting an iconic action heroine against an animal-call-shrieking madman in a ruthless wilderness, Apex is a wild ride, fueled by violence, action, gore, and many women's worst fear.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (April 24, 2026) Apex will have you rattled from its very first scene. Charlize Theron in "Apex." Credit: Kane Skennar / Netflix

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, Apex begins with a peaceful scene. Sasha and her partner Tommy (a rugged Eric Bana) awake in a tent, the sound of the wind bellowing very loudly outside. This rush of air is a clue to their location. And while they're both super chill about it, the reveal that they are pinned on the side of a massive cliff had me literally gagging. I don't have a fear of heights. But as cinematographer Lawrence Sher follows Theron's head out of the tent entrance to peek outside, I was genuinely thrown by the sheer drop lying below their fragile tent.

The opening act follows this adventurous couple as they rock climb up the cliffside, chatting along the way. But when disaster strikes, Apex stuns not with their daring or natural wonders, but with violence that's brutal and traumatizing. Sasha's next adventure will be haunted by this one. Moreover, we, the audience, understand how hard-hitting Kormákur will go when it comes to onscreen violence and its life-or-death stakes.

Sure, when Sasha first meets Ben, he's chipper, even helpful. He puts himself between her and some gruff bogans, and he offers her directions to a prime camping spot. But much like Kevin Bacon in The River Wild, there's a flicker in his eye that suggests Ben cannot be trusted when it comes to this striking blonde woman. Sure enough, he pivots from helper to hunter, telling Sasha she better run, because he's got a crossbow and she's in his sights.

To paraphrase the Doofenshmirtz meme: If I had a nickel for every time an Academy Award–winning leading lady starred as a rafter, fighting for her survival against a deranged killer, who is played by a traditionally charming leading man, I'd have two nickels. Which is not a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

Apex is stuffed with eye-popping, stomach-churning action. Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton in "Apex." Credit: Kane Skennar / Netflix

So much so that I lament you won't see it in a theater, as critics did. Streaming on Netflix, the endless woods and waters, cliffs and caves that Sasha scrambles across in this twisted game of cat-and-mouse are absolutely stunning on a movie theater screen. The woods around her offer their own obstacles, but Sasha had prepared for that. Now, chased by this psychotic hunter, the sprawl of wilderness is a cage she can't easily escape.

Sasha will race through forests, fall down gullies, thrash through a raging river, climb cliff faces, and squeeze through uncharted caves as she's pursued by this cackling villain. Like The River Wild, there's an undercurrent of psychological torture between the charismatic criminal and his hostage heroine. But Theron's character takes a much more brutal battering at the hands of man and nature — though never bear.

The star of Atomic Blonde and The Old Guard rushes into action with a snarl, yet is cool under pressure. And this makes what she faces all the scarier. This is not the teen babysitter stalked by a suburban slasher. This is not a doting mother, forced to defend her family against a gun-twirling bank robber. Sasha is presented as tough and fearless out the gate. And yet, she was caught off guard by a "nice guy" with a hidden agenda of misogynistic malice. That Egerton is smaller than Theron, that Ben is a bit gawky and earnestly friendly only makes this switch all the more harrowing. Because while not every women will see herself in a character like Sasha, who can scale a hundred-foot-high cliff for fun (certainly not me!), many will see themselves in the woman who realizes too late she's mistaken a predator for a good guy.

Taron Egerton delivers a career-defining performance in Apex. Taron Egerton in "Apex." Credit: Kane Skennar / Netflix

This English actor is building an unpredictable and thereby absolutely thrilling career. Breaking out with the Kingsman film series, Egerton swiftly established himself as a leading man with swagger and comedy chops. Then in 2019, he threw himself into the challenging role of a warts-and-all Elton John in the musical biopic Rocketman. There, he not only had to recapture the magic of one of the best rock stars to take to an arena stage, but also find the quiet moments of desperation and isolation that drove John's addictions.

With Sing, he brought verve to a pop-loving gorilla. Then in Tetris, he played an ambitious American entrepreneur who gets entangled in Cold War paranoia and espionage. More recently, in Netflix's Carry-On, he played an everyman challenged to become an action hero. But with Apex, he goes full-on baddie.

As Ben, he manages a switch on the level of Ed Norton in Primal Fear. You know the one. What's phenomenal is that Egerton is totally believable as the mirthful stranger, happy to help out a lost tourist. But when his eyes go cold, revealing Ben's hunting plans, there's a shimmer in the darkness that's absolutely riveting. It's not just that Ben is going to stalk Sasha like a deer in the wood. He's going to enjoy every moment of torture — be it physical or psychological — he can subject her to.

Egerton throws himself into the action with the same energy he did Rocketman's musical numbers. He chews on the threats in Jeremy Robbins' screenplay as if they are the jerky that Ben sells at the local convenience store. And he'll howl and caw like a wild thing, not afraid to indicate to Sasha where he is, because she's come onto his turf, where he feels invincible. Even a cheeky reprieve, like when Ben skinny-dips — and Kormákur offers a peek at Egerton's much thirsted-after bottom — is threaded with horror. Ben is treating this like a holiday, whooping it up naked and free, while Sasha is desperately seeking escape.

Apex is a relentless, exciting, and nerve-rattlingly scary thriller, wherein Theron and Egerton bring their very best to a brutal face-off. It'll be a fun watch at home, hooking audiences on its gnarly twists and gore. But I pity those who won't get to see the vistas and violence Kormákur has captured on a big screen, where their wonders and horrors can truly overwhelm you.

Apex premieres on Netflix on April 24.

The chip maker reported a 7 percent rise to $13.6 billion in its latest quarter, more than $1 billion more than Wall Street expected.

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The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.

The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."

In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.

"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (April 24, 2026)

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.

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TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.

LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.

"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."

Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.

"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel pulled off the air. This is the monologue that sparked it.

This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.

In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.

Microsoft just reached a new corporate milestone — but not the good kind.

The Redmond, Washington-based tech giant is set to offer voluntary buyouts to a portion of its U.S. workforce, CNBC reports. That might not be a big deal for many companies, but this is the first time Microsoft has tried to cut headcount in this way since the company's founding 51 years ago.

In order to be eligible, an employee must be at the senior director level or below, and their age plus years of employment need to add up to at least 70. The program also excludes anyone with a sales incentive plan. The details of the buyout package remains unknown, but reportedly people who are eligible will hear more on May 7.

SEE ALSO: Memory wars: Microsoft announces big price increases for Surface laptops

“Our hope is that this program gives those eligible the choice to take that next step on their own terms, with generous company support,” chief people officer and executive VP of Microsoft Amy Coleman said in an employee memo obtained by CNBC.

While Microsoft has never offered voluntary buyouts (at least in the U.S.) before, the company did lay off thousands of employees in 2025. It's a turbulent time at the Windows factory; the company is investing plenty in data centers and other AI ventures. Some analysts are growing suspicious of how much this massive AI investment is actually worth for Satya Nadella's company.

Meanwhile, many other Microsoft divisions seem to be in flux. The Xbox division just underwent a massive and somewhat surprising leadership change, the Surface laptop division just implemented a huge price increase on its products, and Microsoft itself continues to be a major target of the BDS boycott list for its partnership with the Israeli military.

Other than that, though, everything is fine in Redmond.

AI bubbles this, AI bubbles that — companies apparently need to cash in on their generative AI investments, and fast. It's why many people online feel they are being inundated with new AI tools and features day in and day out. The latest example? A new TikTok setting, known as remixes, that automatically opts you in to being turned into a digital meme.

TikTok creators first spotted "Remixes" content earlier this week, buried in their account settings. With remixes on, any public content can be used by its viewers to create digitally generated images, text-based memes, and more. The reveal and lack of notification stirred widespread concern about privacy and consent. Many wondered where the setting came from — and how to turn it off ASAP.

SEE ALSO: See Spotify's most-streamed artists, songs, and albums of the past 20 years

Days later, the platform confirmed to CNET that the feature was real and still in an "experimental" stage. Remixes are available only to select creators as the platform tests the AI tool, and TikTok told CNET that it could change drastically before it goes to users en masse. The company also claimed users' content won't be used to train its AI, part of updated guidelines under its new U.S.-based owners. Still, users who have already interacted with the remix feature are skeptical of the claims, and many worry that the tool will enable widespread impersonation and content theft.

This isn't the first AI grab by the social media giant. TikTok launched its AI assistant, Tako, to app users in 2022, but it's only recently appeared at the top of users' FYP displays and in search functions. The company also debuted its "AI Self" tool, a feature that lets users create AI replicas of themselves that can be "cast" in other users' content. Earlier this year, OpenAI was ordered to rebrand a similar controversial Sora feature, known as Cameos.

How do I turn off TikTok AI remixes?

TikTok's AI remix setting is unfortunately turned on by default. In order to block viewers from remixing your content, you have to turn off remixes on every individual post you've made visible to your followers or the general public. Users have already called out the company for the complicated process, but the company didn't confirm if a unilateral opt-out option would become available alongside its eventual rollout.

Here's how you can prevent yourself from getting meme-ified for now.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• TikTok app

Step 1: Go to your TikTok profile

Step 2: Click on a TikTok post or video

Step 3: Tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the post

Step 4: Navigate to the the bottom row of icons, scroll to the right, and select "Privacy Settings"

Step 5: Toggle off the button next to "Allow AI to remix content"

The maker of ChatGPT is taking a more open approach to cybersecurity than its chief rival, Anthropic.

The layoffs affect about 8,000 employees, with Meta also planning to close 6,000 open roles, as the company focuses on artificial intelligence.

A jury trial that is set to start on Monday could shift the course of the A.I. race, with Mr. Musk seeking billions of dollars in damages from Mr. Altman’s OpenAI.

Social media app X rolled out a new custom timeline feature earlier this week, and so far, user reactions have been positive.

The new feature is reminiscent of TweetDeck, the popular feature that recently rebranded as X Pro. Using the new custom timelines feature, X users will be able to create custom feeds for specific topics.

The new feature, powered by the xAI tool Grok, is now available to Premium subscribers on iOS devices. Nikita Bier, head of product at X, announced the rollout in a post on X and said that Android support would be coming soon.

"It's powered by Grok's understanding of every post with the algorithm's personalization — meaning every timeline is made just for you. And it works even better when it's a topic you already engage with. This was a huge undertaking across many months, so we're excited for you take it for a spin," Bier wrote.

X also released a short video showing how the feature works.

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Podcaster Aakash Gupta noted that the update lets users create up to "75 custom timelines powered by Grok." Gupta also speculated that the feature would give xAI a lot of new data for AI training."

In general, X users were excited to try the feature, though there was some confusion, which is typical with new-feature rollouts like this.

In response to a user lamenting the lack of an option for a Catholicism-focused custom feed, Bier reminded users to update the X app to try the new feature.

"Update your app," Bier wrote. "That’s the old experimental feature. We’re working on supporting religions in the next 2 weeks. We had it earlier, but the quality/content didn’t meet our bar yet.

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To a user who asked if it was possible to prevent topics from appearing in a feed, Bier pointed users to another new feature — the snooze topics feature, which rolled out at the same time as the custom feeds. That feature is available now for iOS and web Premium users.

Credit: X / @nikitabier

Most other comments on Bier's post were from users requesting specific topics, such as Ukraine, manufacturing, Bitcoin, and memes.

Finally, some X users are skeptical of the feature but willing to try it.

"Using it since morning, tbh it's okay," wrote X user @syssignals. "I saw overlapping in between AI, Software and Tech. Also seeing same content again and again on these timelines. I am still on my For you timeline. But hope this custom timeline will be mature as time goes by."

User @Hoxygo shared a similar sentiment: "Finally a way to separate tech from sports without building a whole new account. The real test is whether the algorithm respects the timeline boundaries instead of bleeding the main feed into it."

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STAR WARS x CASETIFY COLLECTION: Shop the new The Mandalorian and Grogu collection at Casetify ahead of Star Wars Day. The collection includes customizable phone cases, laptop cases, earbuds cases, tablet cases, and more. Some items are already on sale.

Casetify 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' sale items at a glance: This is The Way Special Set (mirror case, earbuds collectible case, Snappy wallet) $134 (save $14) Get Deal Gorgu Special Set (impact case, impact laptop sleeve, Snappy mirror grip stand) $124 (save $14) Get Deal The Mandalorian Grogu Collectible AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro Case $46 (save $18) Get Deal

We're gearing up for an important day for Star Wars fans — May the 4th. We already have deals from Lego to help celebrate but now we can add Casetify to the list of offerings. The tech-lifestyle accessories brand just launched a major new collection that's perfect for any Star Wars fanatic.

On April 23, Casetify launched a galactic-themed collection that focuses on The Mandalorian and Grogu, and as a surprise, a few items are already on sale. The collection features tons of options for cell phone cases, laptop cases, tablet cases, and more. A few options include customizable elements like the Impact Case with MagSafe compatibility. Shoppers can choose their ideal protection level, bumper design, additional features.

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Prices for the collection vary depending on the item with some of the least expensive options being phone case accessories like a Snappy Grip Stand for $32 or Snappy Cardholder Stand for $34. There's also the The Mandalorian and Grogu Stickermania Earbuds Case for $32.

Shop the entire Casetify collection here, and be sure to order soon to be fully equipped when the new The Mandalorian and Grogu film premiers on May 22.

Recently, the FBI recovered old Signal messages from a suspect's iPhone, despite the messages and the app having been deleted. Now, Apple has fixed the loophole that allowed it to happen.

Signal is a popular secure messaging app, so the news that the FBI had extracted Signal messages from an iPhone was concerning for Signal users, even though the bug originated with Apple, not Signal itself. In this case, the FBI was able to recover deleted Signal messages from the suspect's iPhone notifications.

The news comes courtesy of BleepingComputer, which noticed that a small security update was issued to iPhones and iPads to theoretically rectify the issue. In an Apple security bulletin, the company noted that a bug called "CVE-2026-28950" had been fixed. Apple didn't provide a lot of specificity here, but its official description of the bug seems right in line with the Signal notifications loophole: "Notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device."

If you haven't already, update your iPhone to iOS 26.4.2 to take advantage of the security update.

Signal even thanked Apple for doing this on X.

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The Signal bug in question, originally reported by 404 Media, involved deleted and end-to-end encrypted messages extracted from iPhone push notifications. Since the notifications contained the text of the message, and the iPhone didn't delete them in a timely fashion, the FBI was able to read them.

While Apple's security update didn't mention this story, it seems fairly obvious that this update was meant to address this particular bug. Moving forward, old notifications will be deleted instead of retained.

SEE ALSO: The Tim Cook era at Apple is defined by 5 achievements

As a reminder, Signal users can also avoid this problem by going to the app's Settings menu, tapping "Notification," then "Notification Content," and then finally choosing "No Name or Content." If you do that, your push notifications will merely alert you to the presence of a message without spoiling its sender or contents for you — or for anyone else who might get a warrant for your device in the future.

Users running iOS 26.4.2 (and iOS 18.7.8) will get the benefits of the latest security update. Users whose iPhones are running older software should ensure their push notification settings are up to date.

SAVE $300: As of April 23, Amazon and Best Buy have dropped the price of the Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV to just $499.99. That's $300 off its list price of $799.99 — a new all-time low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Budget-friendly TV brand Hisense is offloading its older inventory to make space for all of its new models. That's great news if you're shopping for a new TV, as you can find 2025 models for the cheapest they've ever been.

As of April 23, the Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV is on sale at both Amazon and Best Buy for a record-low $499.99. That's $300 off its already low list price of $799.99. According to our favorite price-tracking tool camelcamelcamel, this discount beats its previous all-time low by $50.

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With full array local dimming (typically only found in more expensive TVs), excellent contrast and brightness levels, plus features like an AI upscaler, Filmmaker Mode, and native 144Hz refresh rate, we can see why our friends at CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) called the QD7 the best budget TV.

"In my head-to-head comparisons, I found the Hisense delivers picture quality that I have never seen in a TV this cheap," writes TV expert Ty Pendlebury. He heartily recommends it.

As a fire TV, you'll get built-in Alexa. So you can press a button on the remote and ask Alexa for just about anything from sports scores to content recommendations. If you link your smart home gadgets, you can even ask your TV to adjust the lights, show you who's at the front door, set reminders, and more.

There's no doubt the Hisense QD7 is excellent value — especially now that it's $300 cheaper. At a cost this low, there's a good chance it could sell out.