Mashable

Free promotions often come with a catch. Sure, you can get some limited-edition merch or a brand-new device, but most of the time you need to spend some cash to qualify. Can you claim that this type of "free giveaway" is free at all? It's a grey area, at best.

But sometimes you really can get something for nothing: Dairy Queen recently gave away cones for free, Krispy Kreme handed out green doughnuts for St. Patricks Day, and Ben & Jerry's has confirmed that it's running its free cone day once again in 2026. And Rita's is doing something similar by offering a truly free giveaway to celebrate the first day of spring.

SEE ALSO: Dunkin' is giving away free ring boxes on National Proposal Day — how to claim yours today

On March 20, customers who visit one of Rita's 600+ locations across the U.S. can get a free 6-ounce Italian Ice. You can choose from a number of flavors, including the new Mystery Peeps Italian Ice Flavor.

Rita’s expects to serve about one million cups of its signature Italian Ice during this promotion. To be one of those lucky million, find your nearest Rita's location and set out in search of your free ice on March 20. We're all feeling the spirit of spring right now, so what better way to celebrate?

Pokémon officially turned 30 a few weeks ago (feel old yet?), but the merch drops are still going strong. Case in point: PopSockets just launched its brand new Pokémon Day and Night collection on March 19.

As the name implies, the lineup gives you two distinct aesthetics to choose from: pastel, sun-soaked designs or moody, dark-purple galaxy themes.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the coolest and weirdest 'Pokémon Pokopia' builds we've seen so far

PopSockets went all out with a full ecosystem of MagSafe accessories that feature four fan-favorite creatures: Mew, Gengar, Espeon, and Umbreon.

Prices run anywhere from $20 to $50. You've got $45 MagSafe cases for all four characters (along with a few matching wallets) split between the two themes: a dark, cosmic look for Gengar and Umbreon, and bright pastel colors for Mew and Espeon. The grips range from $35 to $50; our fave is the Tidepool Dome Mew Aura Sphere. They even threw in some $40 magnetic PowerPacks (so your phone doesn't die while playing Pokémon GO), along with $30 suction mounts and a few beaded phone wristlets.

Where to buy the PopSockets x Pokémon collection

You don't have to wait around for this one. The entire Day and Night collection is available to shop right now directly on the PopSockets website.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon Day and Night Collection   Shop Now

Best Apple AirTag deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best deal overall Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $63 (save $36) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale isn’t officially underway until March 25, but we’re already seeing some pretty promising price drops across multiple categories. Of course, we’re holding out to see if Amazon’s going to gift us with additional Apple deals (we’re seeing $250 price cuts on MacBooks and $100 off Apple Watches, after all), but there’s no denying the Apple AirTag deals are worth jumping on.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4-Pack) $63 at Amazon
$99 Save $36   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirTag (2nd Gen) is still at full price ($29 each or $99 for a four-pack), but you can get a four-pack of 1st Gen AirTags for just $63 right now. This is a big deal because last year (during the actual sale), this bundle was $69.99. With the current discount, you'll be getting each tag for just $15 a pop.

These little trackers are total lifesavers for anyone who's always misplacing their keys or wants some peace of mind by stashing one in their checked luggage. (I use them to keep tabs on my dogs when I'm visiting my parents.) You can track your stuff directly in the Find My app, and if you’re nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to the exact cushion your wallet is hiding under.

Apple AirTag accessory deals to peruse

• QyQa Airtag Holder (4-Pack) — $8.98 $9.98 (save $1)

• MOLOSLEEVE Airtag Holder Air Tag Case with Keychain (4-Pack) — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder with Carabiner — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• SPGUARD AirTag Holder Case with Keychain (4-Pack) — $22.99 $28.99 (save $6)

Deals on AirTag alternatives

• Ultrabeka Ultra-Thin Wallet Tracker — $15.99 $19.99 (save $4)

• UGREEN FineTrack Tracker Tags (iOS Only) (4 Pack) — $19.98 $25.99 (save $6.01)

• Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 — $20.99 $29.99 (save $9)

If there's two things in life that we truly love, it's food and free stuff. Combine those two things together and you're onto a real winner.

If you know where to look, you can find free food promotions all over the place: Dairy Queen gives away free cones, Ben & Jerry's hands out free ice cream, Krispy Kreme offers up free doughnuts, and then there's the long list of promotions tied to significant events like St. Patricks Day or March Madness. This latest giveaway falls into the latter category.

National Proposal Day takes place on March 20. To celebrate, Dunkin' is giving away limited-edition “I Dough” ring boxes at participating locations nationwide (while supplies last). This offer is only available on March 20, so cancel your plans and head to your nearest location. This is your one opportunity to score ring box with a Wedding Cake Munchkins donut hole — a glazed blueberry donut hole topped with wedding cake-flavored sprinkles. 

How to get a Dunkin’ "I Dough" ring box 

Interested in this limited-time promotion? Here's how to get your hands on the Dunkin' ring box:

• Visit a participating Dunkin’ location on March 20 (National Proposal Day) 

• Order a 25- or 50-count of Munchkins Donut Hole Treats 

• Receive a complimentary “I Dough” ring box  

If you go a step further and actually propose with this ring box (why wouldn't you?), you could win a Vera Wang bridal experience. 

From March 20 to April 3, post your proposal video on Instagram or TikTok, tag Dunkin' or Vera Wang, and use the hastag #DunkinVeraWangcontest to be in with a chance of winning a bridal salon experience at Vera Wang’s flagship location in New York City or Beverly Hills. This includes a gown with a custom embroidered detail inspired by your go-to Dunkin’ order. It's something different, at least.

Amazon is launching a phone for the first time in over a decade.

This is according to a Reuters report, which cites four people familiar with the matter. The new phone is internally known as "Transformer," and the company wants to make it a "mobile personalization device" that syncs with Amazon's smart assistant Alexa.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold may come later than we thought

The idea, according to the report, is for the phone to make interacting with various Amazon services easier. This includes buying from Amazon, watching Prime Video, or listening to Prime Music. Of course, AI would be in the middle of it all, though Alexa may not be the "primary operating system" of the phone. We're not quite sure what that means, but it seems to imply that Amazon might rely on another company's AI to run things on the phone.

If this sounds familiar, you might be thinking of Amazon's Fire Phone, which launched in 2014 and was pulled from the market roughly a year later.

Remember the Fire Phone (pictured)? It barely lasted a year before Amazon pulled it off the shelves. Credit: Christina Ascani / Mashable

While the Fire Phone has been a massive flop for Amazon, things are very different now. The Fire Phone's primary claim to fame was a pseudo 3D user interface, and artificial intelligence was nowhere near as smart as it is these days.

The report says that the new Amazon phone is still in early stages, and may be scrapped by Amazon entirely. The anticipated launch date, price of the phone, or the revenue Amazon hopes to generate selling the phone, are all unknowns at this point.

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

The time to be on the fence about artificial intelligence is over. That's according to Daniel Kwan, co-writer/co-director of Everything Everywhere All at Once, founding member of the Creators Coalition on AI, and producer of the upcoming documentary The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist.

Every day, decisions are being made by the biggest CEOs in the AI space. And it can feel like the everyday folk don't have a say. But that's a common misconception that Kwan and The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist filmmakers, including co-director Charlie Tyrell and producer Ted Tremper, aim to overturn with this Focus Features documentary. While at SXSW, The AI Doc team came by our Say More studio to dig into the film's information and how it's structured to communicate a lot in an actually accessible way.

SEE ALSO: Win tickets to see 'The AI Doc' early at Mashable's advanced screenings

In my review out of SXSW, I cheered, "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist compiles a mountain of big ideas, opposing theories, and talking head interviews. But it does so within a personal framing that keeps this discussion deeply human."

Documentarian Daniel Roher interviewed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind CEO and co-founder Demis Hassabis, and Anthropic CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei, along with scads of experts and engineers, to explore both sides of the AI debate. But the human thread of the film is about how his fears about becoming a first-time parent inform how he's responding emotionally and psychologically to all he learns.

For more on The AI Doc, look for Mashable's recording of The AI Panel: Or What Being an Apocaloptimist Looks Like, which featured Kwan, Tremper, and co-producer Diane Becker, along with me, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, as moderator.

And for your chance to see The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist early and at no charge, check out Mashable's advanced screenings in L.A. and New York.

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist opens in theaters on March 27. Look for more Mashable coverage out of SXSW.

Spotify has launched a quiz for BTS fans to test their knowledge, marking the release of Arirang, the K-pop icons' first album in four years.

Available for Spotify users with a Premium subscription, the BTS Music Quiz is meant to put ARMY to the test — just like Google's own free BTS quiz, also launched today.

SEE ALSO: BTS fans, you've got to see Google's trivia quest

Spotify's quiz covers album art (make sure you know your Love Yourself: Answer from your Love Yourself: Her), album release strategies, and even which BTS member opens certain songs — so if you can identify RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook by vocals, you'll probably ace this. It runs from easy questions to medium and hard, and you can tap "challenge a friend" to compare scores.

How can you take Spotify's BTS quiz? Easy, medium, and hard. Credit: Spotify / Mashable

Make sure your Spotify app is updated, log in, and play any BTS track (I'd probably hit one from their new album Arirang, because it's incredible and it's release day, but you can play whatever you like).

Then, tap the track playing to bring up the song page, then scroll down to the music quiz (it should be under related music videos). I couldn't see the quiz on desktop, so it looks like it's mobile only.

It's a big day indeed for ARMY, with the release of BTS' 10th studio album, the first since announcing their reunion in June 2025. BTS called a hiatus in June 2022 in order for members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook to fulfil South Korea's mandatory military service (which they all completed by June 2025), as well as spend time on solo projects.

Now, they're looking at a colossal, 82-date world tour for Arirang, which will both be livestreamed in cinemas and on Netflix.

Want to tune into BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang live? Here's Mashable's guide.

Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry

Haven't you heard? BTS' long-awaited return is here. After spending close to four years fulfilling South Korea’s required military service and working on solo projects, all seven members of the K-pop megagroup will come together for their first all-in performance since 2022. This is big.

Here's everything you need to know about BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang.

When is BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang?

BTS will perform a live concert to be globally streamed on March 21, the day after BTS' fifth studio album, ARIRANG, is released.

Here's the breakdown of start time by timezone:

• PST — 4 a.m.

• EST — 7 a.m.

• GMT — 11 a.m. 

• IST — 4:30 p.m.

• KST — 8 p.m.

How to watch BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang

The great news for dedicated fans all over the globe is that you can watch this reunion live — Netflix is the exclusive streaming platform for this concert (included with all subscription plans). If you have a Netflix account, simply log in at showtime to watch the livestream with no additional purchase.

The hour-long performance will live stream from Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace. The concert celebrates the release of Arirang on March 20. Expect the first live performances of songs from the new album, plus all the hits that made BTS such a global phenomenon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / BTS Watch BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang   Learn More

Google Search added a little trivia quest to mark BTS' release of Arirang, the K-pop icons' first album in four years. And we're talking we're talking lachimolala level knowledge required.

If you type "BTS" into the Google search bar, you'll see a little animation pop up with the album icons. However, it doesn't stop there, as you'll notice a small ship in a bottle sitting at the bottom of the screen.

SEE ALSO: BTS' 'SWIM' video is already tearing up YouTube

If you click the ship — a nod to the video for BTS' lead Arirang single "SWIM" video — you'll either be prompted to scan a QR code with your smartphone or if you're already on mobile, you'll be sent to a "Scavenger Hunt" game in which you can answer BTS trivia questions to unlock cards to build a song deck. They're not easy questions (the emoji question had me pacing) and if you're stuck, there's already a whole Reddit thread happening.

At the time of writing, over 16 million quests have been solved by Google users. That's a lot of BTS knowledge.

You know you could crush this, ARMY. Credit: Google / Mashable screenshot.

It's a big day indeed for ARMY (BTS fans), with the release of the group's 10th studio album, the first since announcing their reunion in June 2025. BTS called a hiatus in June 2022 in order for members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook to fulfil South Korea's mandatory military service (which they all completed by June 2025), as well as spend time on solo projects.

Now, they're looking at a colossal, 82-date world tour for Arirang, which will both be livestreamed in cinemas and on Netflix.

Want to tune into BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang live? Here's Mashable's guide.

Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry

Whatever the hell you're doing today, make sure it involves BTS' absolutely exquisite return album, Arirang.

The K-pop superstars' first album in four years is out with crisp lead single "SWIM" already clocking up 14 million views on YouTube in six hours (at the time of writing). That's some hectic ARMY effort right there, and it's sure to keep on sailing.

The video (above) sees Lili Reinhart wandering around a maritime museum before we're whisked off to a ship helmed by a reunited RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. It's a dreamboat full of dreamboats.

Plenty to look forward to for BTS fans.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people knowledgeable about college basketball.

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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: A separation

• Green: Fancy footwork

• Blue: Bracket climbers

• Purple: Same first word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Part ways

• Green: Types of kicks in soccer

• Blue: Last year's Women's NCAA Tournament Final Four

• Purple: Miami ____

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 #543 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Part ways - AXE, CAN, FIRE, SACK

• Types of kicks in soccer - BICYCLE, CORNER, INDIRECT, PENALTY

• Last year's Women's NCAA Tournament Final Four - BRUINS, GAMECOCKS, HUSKIES, LONGHORNS

• Miami ____ - DOLPHINS, GRAND PRIX, HEAT, REDHAWKS

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.

We might have to wait a little longer than anticipated for Apple's iPhone Fold.

Analyst Tim Long said so in a new research note for Barclays (via MacRumors), claiming that the shipments for the iPhone Fold will likely begin in December 2026, a few months after iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max hit the shelves.

SEE ALSO: Apple responds to DarkSword spyware, the hacker tool targeting iPhones

This doesn't necessarily means the iPhone Fold will not launch in September alongside other flagships. But Apple might announce it in September and actually release it a few months later, just like it did with the iPhone X.

We've previously seen reports that all three iPhone flagships will launch in Apple's usual September timeframe; this is the first time we've heard about the Fold arriving a few months later.

Featured Video For You How prediction markets got people betting on nuclear war

Long also said he expects Apple's base model, the iPhone 18, to launch in March 2027, which would mean Apple would skip it entirely in 2026. We've heard that before, but Long also said Apple plans to launch two other phones alongside the iPhone 18: the iPhone 18e, as well as either an upgraded iPhone Air, or an iPhone 18 Plus.

Apple's iPhone "Plus" model has gone away in 2025, with Apple effectively replacing it with the super-thin iPhone Air. This is the first time we've heard about the possible resurgence of an iPhone Plus instead of a new iPhone Air, and while it does seem unlikely that Apple would flip-flop between models like that, rumors that iPhone Air isn't selling too well do lend some credibility to this idea.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 March 20, 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 March 20, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 20 Pips

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

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 20 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 20 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this green space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-6, 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.

TL;DR: Get Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Access for $159 (reg. $646.20) with the StackSocial code LEARN and study 14 languages with short, practical lessons designed for real-world conversation.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$646.20 Save $487.20   Get Deal

Is there a big trip on the horizon? You’re probably thinking about flights, hotels, and restaurant reservations. But there’s one piece of travel prep that often gets overlooked: learning a bit of the local language.

Even knowing a few phrases can make a big difference. Ordering dinner, asking for directions, or greeting someone properly tends to go much more smoothly when you’re not relying entirely on translation apps.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

You can currently grab lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for $159 (reg. $646.20) with the StackSocial code LEARN.

Babbel focuses on practical, real-world conversations, which makes it especially useful for travelers. Lessons cover situations like dining out, shopping, navigating a city, or making small talk. And because each lesson only takes about 10–15 minutes, it’s easy to squeeze in practice before your trip.

The platform includes 14 languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Swedish, and more. You can learn on your phone, tablet, or computer, and your progress syncs across devices automatically. Babbel also includes speech recognition technology, so you can practice pronunciation and get feedback while you’re learning. There’s even an AI conversation partner designed to help you practice forming sentences naturally.

Whether your next adventure is in Europe, South America, or somewhere closer to home, knowing the language — even just a little — can make the experience richer and more memorable. Get lifetime Babbel access for just $159 (reg. $646.20) when you use the StackSocial code LEARN at checkout.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on March 20-23. Stuff with Fantasy is offering free fantasy books from a number of sub-genres for your e-reader.

Stuff Your Kindle Day likes to keep everyone guessing. We can go weeks without anything, and then the schedule gets wild without warning. We're in a wild phase, which is good and bad news for bookworms. The good news is that you can stock up on new reads without spending anything. The bad news is that you need to get your head out of a book and prepare your wishlist.

Stuff with Fantasy is the latest event to go live, offering participants the chance to download fantasy books without spending anything. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, so there really is no need to hold back. This is your opportunity to stock up on fantasy reads so you're covered through the spring and summer.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Stuff with Fantasy takes place on March 20-23. That's a long weekend of free reading. Does it get any better than that?

A lot of Stuff Your Kindle Days only last 24 hours, so this is a refreshing change of pace. There's no need to panic this with fantasy giveaway. You can assess your options, make a wishlist, and then add to your ever-growing virtual pile of books. That's your weekend plans sorted.

Which ebooks are free?

Stuff with Fantasy offers free fantasy books from a number of sub-genres. There's a hub page with 100s of free books listed out, with helpful filters for Age Category, Spice Levels, Representations, Tropes, Subgenres, and Language Level. Narrow down your search and find exactly what you want to read, without spending anything.

Anyone can participate in this event: Kindle and Kobo readers can download these romance books for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download (we're seeing close to 200 free books in this latest giveaway). Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so don't hold back.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time. We're hoping to see price reductions over Amazon's Big Spring Sale, but there's no guarantee of anything.

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 Friday, March 20, 2026:

AcrossCable channel that airs March Madness games

• The answer is TBS.

Rapper with the 2026 #1 album "The Fall-Off"

• The answer is J Cole.

Review thoroughly, as taxes

• The answer is Audit.

"Darn it!"

• The answer is Crap.

Annoying things to realize you've left in the house

• The answer is Keys.

DownYesterday, tomorrow

• The answer is Today.

Radar screen dots

• The answer is Blips.

"On your marks … get ___ …"

• The answer is Set.

Playing card historically called a knave

• The answer is Jack.

Medical success

• The answer is Cure.

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.

Earlier this week, Meta announced that its VR app Horizon Worlds would no longer be available in virtual reality (VR) after June 15. It looked like a significant setback to the tech giant's grand VR metaverse vision, with Meta refocusing its efforts on the Horizon Worlds mobile app instead.

Now it seems as though Meta has partially reversed its decision, with CTO Andrew "Boz" Bosworth citing feedback from users who "encouraged [it] to reconsider." Announcing the change on Wednesday, Bosworth stated that while no new Horizon Worlds games will come to VR, Meta will now continue to support those that already exist.

SEE ALSO: Meta's VR Metaverse takes one more step into the grave

"We have decided — just today, in fact — that we will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR for existing games," Bosworth said in an Instagram story responding to Meta users' questions. "The Horizon Unity Runtime games, they're not gonna work on mobile, they'll just be working on VR. We're not bringing new games, again, most of our energy is going toward mobile and the Meta Horizon engine there. The reason for that is because that's where most of the consumer and creator energy already was, and so we're kind of leaning into that."

"But for people who already have games that they like, that they're using in Horizon Worlds, they'll be able to download the Horizon Worlds app and use it for the foreseeable future."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Released in 2021, Meta's Horizon Worlds is a massively multiplayer online space which allows users to create and share games. Though initially a strictly VR experience only accessible via virtual reality headsets such as the Meta Quest or Oculus Rift, Meta subsequently rolled out mobile and desktop versions of Horizon Worlds in 2023.

Last month, Meta acknowledged that the robust VR industry it had predicted "hasn't grown as much or as quickly as [it had] hoped," prompting the company to readjust its approach and focus on Horizon Worlds as a mobile platform. 

Even so, Bosworth has stressed that he still believes in the future of Meta's metaverse. Posting to Threads, the Meta executive noted the distinction between VR and the metaverse. 

"I’ve said it before, will keep saying it, the metaverse is not just Horizon or VR," Bosworth wrote. "It's the blending of the digital and physical that will define the next computing platform. We can experience it on VR and AR sure but we also see it on mobile platforms. The future is here, it is just not evenly distributed."

Though the terms "virtual reality" and "metaverse" are frequently used in conjunction, they are two different technologies. A metaverse is a virtual world that users explore using digital avatars, allowing them to work, play, shop, socialise, and theoretically do almost anything else they're able to in real life. In contrast, virtual reality is a technology that enables users to immerse themselves in 3D digital environments, displayed via a VR headset.

As such, Bosworth is correct in that virtual reality technically isn't necessary for a metaverse to exist. Still, it is considered a significant element. Most people envisaging a metaverse-heavy future likely picture an immersive Ready Player One experience rather than playing Roblox on a phone screen.

Meta laid off over 1,000 employees from its VR-focused Reality Labs division in January, Bosworth telling ACCESS podcast that the company is investing less in the technology due to its slow growth. Reality Labs has reportedly lost over $70 billion since 2021, the year Meta changed its name from Facebook and announced it was going all in on becoming "a metaverse company."

Mashable staff and contributors have tested nearly a dozen popular Chromebooks over the course of the past two years, and as of March 2026, there are four I recommend in particular. My top pick for most people is the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, a high-end Chromebook with a speedy processor, a fanless aluminum build, a clacky backlit keyboard, great battery life, and a beautiful OLED display. It starts at $649.99 (or $749.99 as tested), which is pricey for a Chromebook, but it's super future-proofed and worth the hassle of hunting down on sale.

My complete guide to the best Chromebooks includes other picks for budget shoppers and kids, so keep scrolling. (And if you aren't sure whether a Chromebook is right for you, check out my explainer on how they're different from regular Windows laptops and MacBooks.)

What's new

I made a couple changes to this guide in March 2026. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is now our No. 1 pick overall, replacing the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, which has been out of stock for several weeks. Additionally, I've decided to crown the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 the best option for gaming. It's dethroned the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, which is no longer available in new condition.

What's on deck

Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo all announced new Chromebooks for 2026 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January. None of them have set pricing or release dates for their devices yet, but we plan on testing them as soon as they're available. Here's the full lineup:

• The 15-inch Acer Chromebook 315 will be powered by MediaTek's new Kompanio 540 chip, a lesser version of its powerful Kompanio Ultra 910 chip (as seen in the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 and the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14).

• The Asus Chromebook CM14 and CM15 are clamshell-style models that will come in six color options, though not all of them will be available in the U.S. They'll run on the Kompanio 540 chip, too.

• The Asus Chromebook CM32 Detachable has a 2.5K 120Hz display, a removable keyboard, and that same Kompanio 540 processor. I saw this one in person at CES and thought it looked a lot like an iPad.

• The HP Chromebook 14 and Chromebook Plus 14 are entry-level options with 2K displays and basic Intel processors. The HP Chromebook x360 14 and Chromebook Plus x360 14 are their convertible counterparts. These will probably be some of the cheapest options available.

• Lenovo Chromebook Plus 15 i is a 15-incher with an Intel Core i3 processor (hence the "15 i" in its name). It will have a 2K display, a 5MP webcam, and a fingerprint reader, making it a higher-end variant.

As NASA rolled the mega moon rocket to the launchpad Thursday night, the astronauts preparing to ride it watched the spectacle from screens in their quarantine facility.

As of Wednesday evening, the Artemis II crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen — reported to Johnson Space Center in Houston to begin their mandatory two-week isolation. 

It's a milestone moment for any space mission, but one the foursome has already experienced twice before for launch dates that came and went. Mission managers have been trying to launch the 10-day lunar voyage since February, but crews keep finding problems requiring repairs. Now they're shooting for a launch window that begins April 1. 

No one yet knows whether the third quarantine is the charm for Artemis II, but the policy protects the crew and their spaceflight from being derailed by everyday germs. After all, Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen will share extremely tight quarters in a sealed spacecraft as they journey around the moon. The Orion capsule, which they've named Integrity, is about the size of a studio apartment. Even a mild virus could spread quickly among them. 

"We choose to isolate the crew for 14 days before a launch because most infectious diseases take 10 to 14 days to be transferred from one person to another," said Dr. Raffi Kuyumjian, the Canadian Space Agency's flight surgeon, in a video. 

SEE ALSO: NASA's Hubble telescope just saw the space version of a white whale

Medical teams test astronauts when they enter quarantine and again just before liftoff to try to catch any warning signs of illness.

If the idea of that long isolation sounds bleak, know that the quarantine rarely involves astronauts alone. Medical staff, support crews, and technicians who work closely with them often join the protective bubble so they don't pass anything on either. Family members may also join.

NASA quarantine history

Agency policies have come a long way since the Apollo era. Astronauts used to have to go into quarantine before and after returning from the moon. Those pioneers would remain isolated and monitored for 21 days after splashing down on Earth, in case they had been exposed to any microorganisms in the lunar environment. 

Their Mobile Quarantine Facility was made out of a modified Airstream camper. The vehicle was carefully filtered so that it couldn't vent anything harmful into the air.

It wasn't until 1971 that NASA ended the post-flight quarantine procedures, following a recommendation from the Interagency Committee on Back Contamination.

NASA discontinued using the modified Airstream campers as post-flight quarantine facilities after Apollo 14. Credit: NASA The Artemis 2 crew quarantine

A week before launch, the crew will move to group facilities at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, for the final stretch of quarantine. There they keep training but mainly focus on relaxing. They run through last checklists, sit down with flight directors for final briefings, and complete their last medical exams. They also spend what time they can with family before heading to the launchpad.

"They need to be well-rested because the mission will be very busy," Dr. Kuyumjian said.

But the quarantine is really just one layer of defense to protect crew health. The astronauts and support staff receive vaccines, such as for the flu and COVID-19, to lower the risk of those viruses boarding the spacecraft.

View this post on Instagram

Launch delays can complicate the system. If the schedule slips by a day or two, astronauts generally stay in quarantine until the new launch time. But if a mission is pushed back by several weeks or longer, they come out of quarantine and then start a fresh 14-day isolation before the next attempt.

On the rare occasions when someone has gotten sick in quarantine, it has usually involved mild respiratory infections that did not end up changing the mission. Only if the illness is serious do mission leaders consider delaying the launch or swapping astronauts. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

That's an option rarely used, though Jack Swigert is a famous example of a last-minute substitute for Apollo 13. Just three days before the mission, NASA pulled astronaut Thomas Mattingly from the mission because of his exposure to the German measles. As history would show, Mattingly never ended up getting sick — but also didn't end up on that ill-fated flight, which nearly killed the crew.  

"It didn't take an awful long time for me to get rid of my hostility for doctors," Mattingly said in a 2001 oral history project interview. "They [had] done me a really good favor." 

The best early classic deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Bundle $202.97 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best Bluetooth tracker deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4 pack) $63 at Amazon (save $36) Get Deal Best Fire Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $21.99 at Amazon with code SAVE254K (save $28) Get Deal Best Apple AirPods deals Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

We're gearing up for the first major Amazon sale of 2026. The Amazon Big Spring Sale kicks off on March 25, giving us the opportunity to shop the retailer's best spring deals through March 31. During a time when the price of simply breathing seems to get more expensive by the day, we're looking forward to shopping deals next week.

Amazon is notorious for offering a selection of classing deals during major sale events — sales that we see pop up every Prime Day sale. These include Amazon devices, Apple products, Ninja kitchen appliances, and plenty more.

The sale doesn't begin until March 25, but we're already seeing some nice discounts. Not everything we're hoping for is on sale quite yet (looking at you, LifeStraw). But if past sales trends hold true, we just need to be patient. In the meantime, Amazon has plenty of great classic deals on offer that are worthy of shopping ahead of the sale. Here are some of the best options to buy today.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Bundle $202.97
$222.97 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

The standard Amazon Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB storage comes with a list price of $159.99 but during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2025, we saw that drop to $124.99. We hope to see that sale price again next week during the Amazon Big Spring Sale event, but in the meantime, Amazon has the Kindle Paperwhite Bundle on a discount. The Paperwhite (Mashable's favorite Kindle), a plant-based leather cover, and a power adapter is on sale for $202.97, marked down from the normal price of $222.97.

The Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect spring break accessory since it's lightweight enough to pack along and it's waterproof. Plus, a single charge can last for up to 12 weeks.

Best Bluetooth tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4 pack) $63 at Amazon
$99 Save $36   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple AirTags are a staple feature during Amazon sales. Will we see the first-ever discount on the second generation AirTags? We'll have to wait on that one, but for now, you can snag a four-pack of first generation Apple AirTags for only $63. That's just one cent away from matching the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. At $63 for the bundle, each Apple Bluetooth tracker costs just $15.75. The timing for this deal couldn't be better since we're all-eyes on spring break and we're booking summer travel since airfare prices have no bounds these days.