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Apple's macOS Tahoe came with a new, Liquid Glass-infused design when it launched last September, but not all of it worked as well as it does on the iPhone and iPad.

Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims Apple is about to make some design changes in the upcoming macOS 27 to address some of the most glaring issues.

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The new macOS 27 won't be a complete overhaul of Tahoe; internally, Gurman's sources are talking about a "slight redesign," and the Liquid Glass design language will remain a big part of the new OS.

Mostly, these will be small tweaks that make certain parts of the user interface more legible and less confusing. The report doesn't offer many details about what, exactly, is about to change, but it does mention the legibility issues in Tahoe's Control Center, Finder, as well as apps with sidebars and dense lists.

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Furthermore, the advent of MacBooks with OLED displays (current Macs all have LCD displays) should further improve the look of the Liquid Glass interfaces in macOS. Apple is expected to launch several MacBooks with OLED displays over the next year or so.

Gurman also said that macOS 27 should bring bug fixes, battery life upgrades, and performance improvements, as well as more AI features, mostly reflected in Apple's smart assistant Siri.

Apple is expected to unveil macOS 27 during its WWDC conference, which kicks off on June 8 this year.

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 May 11, 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 May 11, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 11 Pips

Less Than (10): Everything in this space must be less than 10. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 11 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 11 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

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

SAVE $50: As of May 11, the Garmin vívoactive 6 is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. That marks a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 6 $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50   Get Deal

For those with an athletic lifestyle, a fitness tracker is worth having on your wrist to keep a close eye on your progress towards your goals. If you've been thinking about dropping some cash, why pay full price? Amazon has some great deals available on a variety of options at the moment. The Garmin vívoactive 6 is one of them, with $50 slashed off its full price tag.

As of May 11, this discount has dropped the price of every color of the Garmin vívoactive 6 from $299.99 to $249.99. This marks a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer. No better time to snag it, then.

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The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a tracker that can help you with everything from exercise stats to keeping a closer eye on your day-to-day health. When it comes to the latter, it offers a wide variety of features including wrist-based heart rate, stress tracking, a sleep score, fitness age, and more. It even has a Body Battery energy monitoring feature, which shows you how rested your body is for the day.

In terms of fitness, it's packed with over 80 sports apps and even has advanced features that show you how a workout affects your body.

If this is a fitness tracker that's caught your eye, now is a great time to save on the Garmin vívoactive 6 at Amazon.

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When my wife and I rescued our dog, Milly, this winter, we registered her microchip right away, but we wanted another level of protection. From the rescue, we knew Milly was a runner, which meant taking extra precautions, like double-leashing and working with a dog trainer right away. But I'd also scooped up a four-pack of AirTags when they were at an all-time low during Black Friday so that I could attach one to Milly's collar.

But was an AirTag really the best solution? It's certainly affordable, but since owning a dog, I'm inundated with targeted ads for GPS dog collars. While GPS collars are the more expensive option, they promise greater reliability. Since I'm still fairly new to dog ownership, I turned to experts to find out whether there's a clear choice between an AirTag and a GPS tracker for a dog.

While AirTags are gaining popularity among pet owners, that doesn't mean they're the best option. "AirTags are flying off the shelves for dogs, and there is a big market for collars and harnesses that house them. Unfortunately, they are misunderstood and are providing a false sense of security," says Chris Edge, founder of K9 Edge Dog Training.

"For a working dog handler or trainer, the question isn't really AirTag vs. GPS collar — it's passive location vs. active monitoring. One tells you where your dog was. The other tells you where your dog currently is," says Jonathan Bensamoun, the founder and CEO of Fi, a company that makes GPS dog collars. But which is which? Here's what you need to know about AirTags versus GPS dog collars.

How do AirTags and GPS collars work for dogs? Is a GPS collar more effect than an AirTag? That depends. Credit: Halo / Awoo

AirTags, commonly used to track keys, wallets, and luggage, are not necessarily made for moving objects, like a dog. They work via a Bluetooth signal detected by iOS devices on the Find My network. AirTags feature a lost mode, so when a lost object is detected, you'll get a notification. Plus, NFC-capable iPhones can tap the AirTag to receive your information. But the key piece of information here is that AirTags require proximity to other Bluetooth devices to locate. Bensamoun says, "Your dog's location only updates when another Apple device passes nearby. In a suburban neighborhood, that might mean a delay of minutes. In a park, a trail, or a rural area, it could be hours — or never."

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A GPS collar works differently as it provides real-time info. These collars typically let you draw GPS maps in their apps so you can create boundaries for your dogs and receive notifications if they cross them. They provide real-time tracking, regardless of proximity to other smartphones, so you can still see live tracking information even in rural, sparsely populated areas.

AirTags vs. GPS trackers — it depends on where you live

The decision between an AirTag and a GPS tracker comes down to where you live. As a city dweller, an AirTag is a pretty good option, considering the more densely populated the area, the more likely an iPhone will be nearby. For those living in the suburbs or rural areas, though, it means a runaway dog will be less likely to encounter people; therefore, the AirTag won't be effective. Even if you live in a city, if you're frequently going on hikes or traveling into isolated areas, an AirTag won't be effective then either.

But a GPS tracker will work anywhere, regardless of cell service availability. So if you're considering which is best for you, I like to think of it this way. If your dog escapes the house, are there nearby woods or a bustling main street they're going to run to?

AirTags vs. GPS trackers for dogs: Which is cheaper?

AirTags are extremely popular and accessible. An AirTag four-pack puts the individual trackers at $24.75. Plus, you need something to attach it to a collar, which will run you less than $20. So all in all, the investment is under $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag $29 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Awoo Awoo AirTag Holder, 2-pack $16 at Chewy
  Shop Now

A GPS collar is much more expensive. A collar itself starts at around $99. Fi's payment structure is similar to that of the fitness tracker, Whoop, where, rather than purchasing the collar outright, you pay for the membership. While another GPS collar, Halo, costs $599 outright — and you also need to pay a monthly membership fee.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fi Fi Series 3+ $99 at Fi
Memberships start at $99 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Halo Halo Collar 5 $598.97 at Halo
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Tractive Tractive smart dog tracker $55.30 at Tractive
$79 Save $23.70 Plans start at $5 per month Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: PetPace PetPace 3.0 $299.99 at Amazon
Plans start at $25 per month Shop Now AirTags vs. GPS trackers for dogs: Does battery life matter?

Edge presents a potential downside to GPS trackers: "GPS collars provide real-time info, but the battery is a real issue as it must be recharged almost daily." The more usage the GPS collars get, the more battery power they require. Halo collars last up to two days, and Fi collars technically have a longer battery life of up to three months. However, when in Lost Mode, which provides live tracking, the battery life lasts about two days.

AirTags on the other end, which require a CR2032 coin battery, last about one year. Battery life varies depending on usage and movement, so for a dog that moves more frequently, it could be just six months.

AirTag vs. GPS trackers for dogs: Which is better?

There's no definitive answer to whether an AirTag or a GPS tracker is better for a dog — it really depends on what you need and where you live. As a city dweller, I still feel comfortable using an AirTag for my dog. However, for trips into the woods, I'd consider getting a GPS collar to use then.

But if you live in a sparsely populated area or are hiking in the woods with your dog, then a GPS collar could be an actual lifesaver. But Edge says, regardless of which you choose, behavioral training is just as important: "Ultimately, both can be useful if used within their capacity. All dogs should be microchipped as a fail-safe, and of course, coming from a dog trainer, the real answer is a very solid recall."

SAVE $699.01: As of May 11, the Anker Solix C2000 is on sale for $799.99 at Amazon. That's a 47% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C2000 $799.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $699.01   Get Deal

The Anker Solix C2000 has gone down in price once again at Amazon, and this time you can save almost 50%. As of May 11, the price has dropped from $1,499 to $799.99, saving you just shy of $700.

The C2000 Gen 2 is a reliable portable power station to have on hand. It has a 2,400W rated output and a 4,000W peak output, so it's made to run multiple appliances at once, including some window and RV air conditioners. It uses 9W on standby and can power a dual-door fridge for up to 32 hours. The unit supports six charging methods and can recharge from 0% to 100% in only 58 minutes using AC and solar charging combined.

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It also supports 800W alternator charging through a vehicle. With this helpful feature, it can reach full charge in around three hours.

And it really is a portable option, weighing just 41.7 pounds. It much lighter than comparable models. So if you plan to take it on a road trip or a camping vacation, it won't stand in your way.

Find this portable power station deal online at Amazon right now.

SAVE $40: As of May 6, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale for $119.95 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $119.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $40.00   Get Deal

The Fitbit Charge 6 has dropped in price again at Amazon. If you're looking for a budget-friendly fitness tracker, it's the perfect choice.

As of May 11, the Fitbit Charge 6 has dropped from $159.95 to $119.95, saving you $40. And all three colorways are discounted, so you can choose from black, red, or white.

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This watch does a bit of everything. It has built-in GPS for accurately tracking pace, distance, routes, and steps, and you won't need a phone nearby to access the data. It also features 24/7 heart rate monitoring through Fitbit’s PurePulse 2.0 sensor, giving you data like resting heart rate, workout heart rate zones, and notifications for unusually high or low readings. During workouts you'll also get a breakdown of calories burned and Active Zone Minutes.

The tracker also supports overnight SpO2 monitoring to estimate blood oxygen levels during sleep, alongside advanced sleep tracking that records light, deep, and REM sleep stages, and restlessness during the night. It also gives you a daily sleep score out of 100 that helps you understand how well you really slept.

You can find this Fitbit deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: Get the Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD and get fast, durable storage for large projects and backups, on sale for $999.99 (reg. $1,144.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD (Black) $999.99
$1,144.99 Save $145   Get Deal

Running out of storage in the middle of a large project is frustrating enough. Waiting forever for files to transfer makes it worse. If you regularly work with high-resolution video, massive photo libraries, or demanding creative workflows, the Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD could help speed things up while giving you more room to work.

Right now, you can get the Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD while it’s on sale for $999.99 (reg. $1,144.99).

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Tailored for creators, professionals, and power users, the T9 delivers read and write speeds up to 2,000 MB/s — twice as fast as Samsung’s T7 portable SSD. That speed can chip off valuable minutes from big project transfers, backups, or even editing straight from the drive.

The T9 also leans into portability without feeling flimsy. Compared to the slimmer T7, it has a slightly larger, more rugged build that’s better suited for travel, mobile setups, and on-the-go production work. Samsung says the drive offers drop resistance up to 3.2-feet, which could provide some peace of mind if your gear spends a lot of time in backpacks or camera bags.

Storage is another plus. With 4TB on board, the T9 keeps sprawling media libraries, high-res footage, game installs, and chunky backups in one place. It’s compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and connects seamlessly across desktops, cameras, consoles, and supported mobiles.

Samsung also includes features aimed at long-term performance, such as Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to help prevent overheating during extended sessions, and access to Samsung Magician Software for firmware updates, encryption settings, and drive health monitoring.

If you’ve been looking for a fast external drive that can handle demanding workloads without being overly fragile, the Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD is currently $145 off for a limited time, making its final price $999.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Perfect Order New Single Pokémon Booster Pack on sale for $8.70, down from its $9.95 list price. That’s its lowest Amazon price in 30 days, with free delivery available from a third-party seller. 

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Pack $8.70 at Amazon
$9.95 Save $1.25   Get Deal

Perfect Order has secured its position in the Pokémon TCG as the most affordable modern expansion in the market.

As of May 11, Amazon has the Perfect Order New Single Pokémon Booster Pack listed at $8.70, a 13% drop from its $9.95 list price. The listing is showing as Amazon’s lowest price in 30 days, with free delivery currently estimated for May 15-19. What’s more, that’s the lowest price we’ve seen for Perfect Order Booster Packs on Amazon, as confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel.

If you’re looking for the lowest price altogether rather than sticking with Amazon, the retailer is currently in the middle ground compared to those available elsewhere. While Walmart’s Perfect Order Booster Packs are more expensive at $11.99 each, TCGplayer’s third-party listings are as low as $5.81 each, with the next selling for $6 with shipping included.

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As is the case with boosters from other Pokémon TCG expansions, each Perfect Order Booster Pack contains 10 random cards, and the set continues the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Evolution era with Mega Zygarde ex keeping the city in order. The expansion also features Pokémon with Special Illustration Rare chase cards like Mega Clefable ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Meowth ex.  

To grab even more packs at low prices, you can also buy the Pokémon TCG’s Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box for just under $80. Meanwhile, to have a TCG-ready deck from the get-go, you can also grab the Perfect Order Build and Battle Box for around $40 at Amazon.

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TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle listed for $49.99. That puts it just above TCGplayer’s current $41.49 market price. Walmart has it for $42.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle $49.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

The Perfect Order expansion has been fluctuating in price since it launched, so we've been keeping close tabs on any sort of price drop.

As of May 11, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Bundle listed for $49.99. TCGplayer’s current market price sits at $41.49, so Amazon is only just over market while still giving shoppers the familiar checkout, delivery, and return setup. With over 20,000 sold in the past month alone, it’s safe to say plenty of fans are prioritizing that convenience.

That said, this isn’t the cheapest listing right now. Walmart has the same Booster Bundle for $42.95, while TCGplayer has unopened listings starting at $40.48, plus $2.49 shipping. That brings the cheapest TCGplayer option to $42.97 delivered, which is basically tied with Walmart. 

On a per-pack basis, Amazon comes out to about $7.91 per booster pack before tax. Walmart lands at roughly $7.16 per pack, while TCGplayer’s lowest shipped listing works out to about $7.16 as well. 

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As is usually the case with Pokémon TCG boxes like these, the Perfect Order Booster Bundle includes six booster packs from the expansion. Each pack comes with 10 cards, one Basic Energy, and one Pokémon TCG Live code card.  

Booster Bundles from other modern expansions are costing well over $60 on average, including White Flare, Black Bolt, Surging Sparks, and Chaos Rising. That makes Perfect Order the perfect choice for protecting your trading card budget. 

To score even more Pokémon TCG booster packs at a saving, you can also grab the Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box for just under $80. As for the upcoming expansion, you can still preorder single Chaos Rising Booster Packs for $12.99 at Amazon. 

SNL UK's latest cold open is a literal window into the future, bringing us to a 2046 where Reform leader Nigel Farage is UK prime minister and Donald Trump is apparently "king".

In the clip above Farage (a guest appearance from actor Peter Serafinowicz) downs a pint in Number 10 before his deputy and former Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (played by Ayoade Bamgboye) brings him his morning briefing.

"One last thing: King Trump assures us he's almost negotiated a ceasefire over the Strait of Hormuz!" Badenoch says.

"Phew," says Farage. "For a minute there it felt like we were on the brink of World War IV."

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some sports and pop culture knowledge.

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: Isolated muscles

• Green: Smart teams

• Blue: Famous Jonathans

• Purple: How to start

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Muscles, Informally

• Green: Ivy League Team Nicknames

• Blue: Jonathans

• Purple: ___Start

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 #595 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Muscles, Informally: AB, PEC, QUAD, TRAP

• Ivy League Team Nicknames: BIG GREEN, CRIMSON, LIONS, QUAKERS

• Jonathans: KUMINGA, QUICK, TAYLOR, VILMA

• ___Start: FALSE, KICK, QUALITY, SPOT

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.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, May 11, 2026:

AcrossItty-bitty insect

• The answer is Gnat.

"Excellent job!"

• The answer is Bravo.

Bird that "croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan," in "Macbeth"

• The answer is Raven.

Each and ___

• The answer is Every.

Swollen mark

• The answer is Welt.

DownDeathly serious

• The answer is Grave.

Belly button

• The answer is Navel.

Prevent, as a crisis

• The answer is Avert.

___ the Tiger, mascot of Frosted Flakes

• The answer is Tony.

Beer, informally

• The answer is Brew.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

He is ___.

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

RISEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Solver.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FIXER

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Topic.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 11 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

THEME

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Troubleshoot.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DEBUG

Final Hurdle hint

Pungent.

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

ACRID

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The Moon is losing visibility each night as we approach the New Moon. With just a few nights left before it's total darkness, keep reading to find out what you might be able to see tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, May 11, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, 36% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Kepler Crater and the Aristarchus Plateau. If you have binoculars or a telescope, these should help you see the Gassendi Crater, Clavius Crater, and Mare Humorum.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, passing through eight different phases along the way. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the way sunlight falls on it changes as it moves, which is what creates the familiar full, half, and crescent shapes. In total, there are eight main phases in the lunar cycle:

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a good mystery.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 11, 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: On the prowl

• Green: A plot

• Blue: Solving crimes

• Purple: Anatomy

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Move stealthily, with "In"

• Green: Kinds of schemes

• Blue: Detective movies

• Purple: Body parts surrounded by two letters

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 #1065 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Move stealthily, with "In": CREEP, SLIP, SNEAK, STEAL

• Kinds of schemes: COLOR, PONZI, PYRAMID, RHYME

• Detective movies: CHINATOWN, KNIVES OUT, SEVEN, VERTIGO

• Body parts surrounded by two letters: ELEGY, KARMA, KEYED, SHANDY

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 May 11, 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 love a good mashup.

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.

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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 May 11, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A nice medley

The words are related to mixtures.

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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a combination of things.

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 Odds and Ends.

NYT Strands word list for May 11

• Hodgepodge

• Variety

• Ragbag

• Odds and Ends

• Mishmash

• Jumble

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 just got married.

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 May 11, 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 May 11, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Fresh.

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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 N.

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...

NEWLY

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.

A two-year legal battle between General Motors and California prosecutors, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta, over the alleged misuse of customer driving data has concluded, with GM agreeing to pay $12.75 million in penalties. 

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In a press release announcing the settlement, the AG alleges that GM sold "the names, contact information, geolocation data, and driving behavior data of hundreds of thousands of Californians" to data brokers, including Verisk Analytics and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. And, as the statement points out, "If you know the precise location of a person’s car, then you know an enormous amount of personal, sensitive information about that person — their home, work, children’s school, place of worship."

SEE ALSO: Apple AI lawsuit settled: Every iPhone included in the $250 million settlement

The original facts of the case were uncovered by The New York Times back in 2024, where the focus was on whether insurance companies were using this driving data to charge some customers higher insurance rates. But the attorney general's investigation concluded that "California drivers were not directly impacted by GM’s sales of data," because under California's strict insurance laws, "insurers are prohibited from using driving data to set insurance rates." 

In addition to the $12.75 million settlement, GM has agreed to stop selling driving data to any consumer reporting agencies for five years, delete any current driving data within 180 days (unless expressly permitted to keep the data by the driver), and develop and maintain its own privacy program to assess its data collection practices and mitigate the risks of a data breach.

While the settlement is definitely a win for consumer privacy, you shouldn't feel too bad for GM just yet. According to the attorney general's own calculations, GM earned roughly $20 million for the sale of its OnStar data, so even with the hefty settlement, they're still turning a nice profit. 

Good news for owners of foreign-made drones and routers: the Federal Communications Commission has amended its original deadline that would have banned firmware updates to these devices after March 1, 2027. 

In an announcement posted on May 8, 2026, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) updated its previous guidance to allow new software and firmware updates to foreign-made drones and routers until January 1, 2029, adding nearly two years to the initial cut-off date.

SEE ALSO: The FCC's proposed plan to fight spam calls puts consumer privacy in jeopardy

The main concerns cited by the American government are espionage, unauthorized surveillance, and data exfiltration, all of which can be enabled by backdoor exploits built directly into both drones and routers. The most famous example of such a cyberattack is the ongoing Volt Typhoon "advanced persistent threat" (APT), which attempts to leverage compromised hardware, including routers, to steal data and establish "command and control" channels over American cyber infrastructure. 

And though drones are newer than routers, they have been used in corporate espionage since at least 2022, when drones were used to infiltrate the wireless networks of a major American financial firm. 

From a numbers perspective alone, the size of the vulnerability is frightening: around 60% of America's routers are manufactured in China, according to Reuters, while more than 80% of the drones operational in the United States were designed and built in China, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

But put yourself in the shoes of someone who just shelled out serious money for a drone or router, only to learn, after the fact, that the government had made your purchase illegal. The Consumer Technology Association, advocating on behalf of precisely those American consumers, issued an open letter to the FTC just last month, urging legislators to exercise leniency, as well as to better clarify which products might be affected by the ban. 

Their efforts are probably responsible for this two-year extension, but expect supply lines and manufacturers to re-localize in the coming years as the full scope of the cybersecurity threat becomes clearer.

Sick and tired of having your day disrupted by robocalls? You're not alone, and the FCC is taking notice. In press releases from the past month, the FCC said that preventing illegal spam calls has become its "top consumer protection priority," while FCC chairman Brendan Carr vowed to "bring meaningful robocall relief to consumers." 

Unfortunately, their approach might be so broad, so badly focused, that it will create new privacy concerns, destroy so-called "burner" phones, and place an extra burden on consumers. Or in the words of Gizmodo's Mike Pearl, "the FCC's cure might be worse than the disease."

SEE ALSO: Braze Xbox test message spams phones: What we know

One proposed change, known as the "Know Your Customer" rules, would require businesses to collect a government ID, a physical address, and the customer's full legal name, instead of just their phone number, to initiate phone contact. This proposed change might serve to stop robocalls, but it would also effectively end the concept of consumer privacy. In the words of civil liberties advocates Reclaim the Net: "The result would be an identity-verification regime covering one of the last semi-anonymous communication tools available to ordinary Americans." 

Worse still, the FCC's proposed "red flags" that would heighten scrutiny are broad enough to encompass the lawful behaviors of millions of Americans. Proposed red flags include using a virtual office, making payments in cryptocurrency, using a "suspicious" email address, or operating a phone number not tied to a residential address. 

While all of these activities are likely indicative of robocall spammer behavior, they are also common practices among law-abiding citizens, who often operate out of virtual offices or use so-called "burner" or pre-paid phones. Worse still, the people who rely on prepaid phones often do so because of the anonymity they afford — think about refugees fleeing conflict zones or victims of domestic abuse attempting to keep a low profile. 

Finally, the FCC is looking to place the burden of enforcement on telecom providers, threatening them rather than individual spam callers with up to $2,500 in fines per call. While this approach is no doubt easier than searching out every individual robocall operator, and certainly motivates the companies to take enforcement seriously, it also creates a bad incentive in which telecom operators have to scrutinize each individual customer and their behavior at the expense of consumer privacy. 

Ultimately, spam calls might prove to be the price we pay for enjoying a modicum of privacy in the digital age.