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TL;DR: flowkey lets you learn piano at home with interactive lessons, instant feedback, and thousands of songs — and a 3-year subscription is just $69.99 (reg. $579).

Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App - Classic Plan: 3-Year Subscription $69.99
$579 Save $509.01   Get Deal

Learning piano doesn’t have to mean driving to lessons, rearranging your schedule, or feeling awkward playing in front of someone else. With flowkey, you can learn from home, at your own pace, using a piano or keyboard you already have.

And to make things even more convenient, a 3-year subscription is on sale for just $69.99 (reg. $579) for a limited time.

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flowkey is an interactive piano learning app designed for everyone — from absolute beginners to experienced players looking to sharpen technique. Instead of passively watching videos, the app actually listens as you play and gives instant feedback.

That means, if you hit the wrong note, you’ll know right away. And if you nail it? You move on. That kind of responsiveness helps build confidence fast.

Lessons combine synced sheet music and video demonstrations, so you can see and hear how a piece should be played. Features like Wait Mode let you progress only after playing the correct notes, while slow motion, looping, and hand-separate practice make tricky sections manageable instead of overwhelming.

One of flowkey’s biggest strengths is its song library. With over 1,500 pieces spanning classical favorites, pop hits, film scores, and beginner-friendly arrangements, practice feels more like playing music and less like doing homework. Structured courses guide you through music theory, chords, and reading sheet music.

Whether you’re learning your very first scale or finally tackling a piece you’ve always loved, flowkey makes piano learning approachable, flexible, and genuinely enjoyable.Get three years of the flowkey Classic Plan while it’s just $69.99 (reg. $579).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller had a very short run as the apex robot vacuum before being overthrown by another Dreame robot vacuum: The Dreame X60 Max Ultra. It was part of Dreame's mammoth showcase at CES 2026, and is currently available to preorder ahead of its official release date on Feb. 10. I got to unbox my X60 Max Ultra early — here are my initial thoughts after the first day or so.

I think the Aqua10's dock is slightly prettier, but the X60 Max Ultra is still chic Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable What's special about the X60 Max Ultra?

Dreame turned heads when it randomly released the Aqua10 Ultra Roller in September 2025. Its 30,000 Pa of suction power was a new high for the mainstream market, beating out the flagship robot vacuums that had held the title of best robot vacuum for most of the year (namely the Roborock Saros 10 and 10R, which have 22,000 Pa of suction power). Not more than a few months later, the X60 Max Ultra and its 35,000 Pa hit the stage. Unlike the Aqua10 Ultra Roller, a roller mop robot vacuum, the X60 Max Ultra mops with two rotating pads.

I appreciate the dual brush rolls made of two different textures. That's the most effective design for hair pickup. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The X60 Max Ultra comes with regular detergent and detergent for pet odors. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

FWIW, Dreame isn't the only brand with a robot vacuum that powerful. The CES-announced Roborock Saros 20 robot vacs also have 35,000 Pa, though they don't even have an official release date yet. While that's the ultimate duel in my eyes, the X60 Max Ultra could have a leg up simply by being the only 35,000 Pa option available to buy right now. Either way, a power jump that large is hard to conceptualize in my head.

Is the Dreame X60 Max Ultra good on carpet?

In its first 24 hours, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra has done a pretty outstanding job at vacuuming various carpets in my apartment.

SEE ALSO: The Shark vs. Roomba debate is old news. Here's how both robot vacuum brands got dethroned.

Since I keep up with vacuuming multiple times per day, there weren't a ton of opportunities for the X60 Max Ultra to tackle universal debris that builds up in everyone's home over time (i.e., dust, random crumbs, and hair). But as a professional robot vacuum reviewer, I'm not afraid to fabricate a mess just to make a vacuum's life difficult. The initial test involved spilled sprinkles and tufts of cat hair pulled from the ChomChom strewn across a furry white rug. Its pile and uneven zebra-ish texture make it easy for debris to skim under a vacuum's radar, and it's so light that no missed debris really blends in.

Before... Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable ...After Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I was impressed by the success rate here. I had to get eye level with the floor to find any missed specks. On max power (the strongest of four settings), the X60 Max Ultra picked up every single ball of cat hair, even the ones that I pressed into the rug fibers. It cleared about 97 percent of the sprinkles, leaving behind a single green star and a few tiny balls. The lint roller test afterward revealed a few fuzzies and some fur that was left over, but the kind that's so thin that it's nearly invisible. The paper was still extremely sticky after rolling over the full 5 x 7 rug, which is promising.

Should its pickup rate be perfect, given its fancy suction specs and $1,699.99 price tag? I could see why you'd argue that. I tend to lean toward patience in a robot vacuum's first few days — it's still getting the lay of the land and learning where to adjust its suction power. I'll be better able to gauge its effectiveness on carpet over the next few weeks, as I put it to the test on the kitchen and living room rugs.

SEE ALSO: I ran the Dyson HushJet 24/7 for a week. It's so quiet that I forgot it was on, but I did notice fresher air.

To give credit where it's due, the X60 Max Ultra feels extremely quiet for how powerful it is. Its strongest setting averaged between 67 to 69 decibels, and that was with my phone an inch away from the machine itself. (For reference, weaker vacuums I've tested range from 64 to 74 decibels). I was pleasantly surprised by how subdued (and short) the self-emptying noise is. At 71 decibels, you definitely don't have to plug your ears and brace yourself if you're anywhere near the dock. After being traumatized by several Roombas, Dreame's clear focus on noise level is appreciated.

Is the Dreame X60 Max Ultra good on hard floors?

January in Pennsylvania always comes with a certain amount of white salt residue being trudged inside on shoes. But in the aftermath of that massive winter storm, there's an unprecedented level of slush coming in and drying near my front door. We happened to have guests on the first day that I had the X60 Max Ultra, so there were even more shoes adding to the puddle — the floor was literally tinted gray.

Before the X60 Max Ultra came through, my floors were caked with snow and salt residue. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The mop scrubbed away most of the debris in the first pass. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The X60 Max Ultra's mopping came in so clutch. It was able to scrub away a vast majority of the massive powdery puddle in the first pass, leaving the floor comfortingly shiny behind it. I've tested so many robot vacuum and mop combos that struggle more with dried water stains than they do with wet spills, but the X60 Max Ultra aced it. Surely, that's the difference between mopping with room-temperature water and mopping with 104-degree Fahrenheit water, as the X60 Max Ultra does.

The spinning mopping pads were also pressurized enough to wipe up super fine dust that suction power alone often struggles with, even at 35,000 Pa. I made a huge mess while changing the waste drawer liner in my automatic litter box and sent the X60 Ultra to deal with it. The line between where the vacuum had and hadn't cleaned yet was as stark and satisfying as one could ask for.

Features I'm keeping an eye on: Navigation and threshold scaling

Aside from those core cleaning features, Dreame is also really touting the X60 Max Ultra's small obstacle avoidance capabilities. Thanks to improved dual AI cameras, it can allegedly avoid more than 280 objects that might be on the floor, including "tiny blocks" (Lego size, I assume). I'm still waiting for a volunteer to let me try this out with some unwanted pieces, but I did put an iPhone charger, an ankle sock, and a hand towel in the X60 Max Ultra's path two times each. The X60 Max Ultra successfully swerved almost all of them, and can drive precisely enough to clean right around their edges. It started to run over the phone charger one out of two times, but eventually backed off, never sucking it up.

SEE ALSO: A tale of two robot vacuums with arms: How the Dreame Cyber 10 could beat the Roborock Saros Z70

Surprisingly, it's the X60 Max Ultra's smart mapping that has had more blips in the first day. A few times, it has sent itself back to the dock after giving the classic "could not find the specified area" excuse that I rarely see outside of cheap robot vacuums. But again, I won't judge too hard this early — robot vacuums make little tweaks to the saved layout of your home as it makes more and more laps. I do find the map in the Dreame app to be incredibly intuitive. You can tap to divide rooms very easily without any arbitrary errors, and you can get super specific with the size and shape of spot cleaning zones within rooms.

Am I the only one who's not super thrilled about the "climbing" capabilities? The max height it can scale is just under 3.5 inches, which is slightly taller than what the Dreame X50 Ultra could do. But it's still not all that helpful unless your home features shallow drops or sliding door tracks between rooms, like into a sunroom. The full-length mirrors in my apartment are all sliding doors, and the X50 Ultra was able to safely cross those to sweep in my large closet. I assume the X60 Max Ultra will be able to do the same.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete $1,359.99
$1,699.99 Save $340   Pre-order Here

Apple TV's The Studio cemented itself as a comedy juggernaut in 2025, earning critical acclaim and setting a new record for most Emmys for a comedy in one year with 13 wins. Naturally, a second season is on its way, and obviously, we have Sal Saperstein (Ike Barinholtz) to thank.

SEE ALSO: 'The Studio' review: Seth Rogen torches Hollywood in must-watch satire

But in all seriousness, when can audiences expect to see more of the chaos at Continental Studios? And which A-list cameos could we be seeing next? Here's everything we know about The Studio Season 2, from its cast to its release date.

What's The Studio Season 2 about?

The Studio Season 2 will continue the misadventures of Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) and the Continental Studios team. Season 1 ended with Continental's CinemaCon presentation, which teased upcoming projects like Blackwing and The Kool-Aid Movie. Could Season 2 continue to follow these productions up to their release? Will the public fall head over heels for The Kool-Aid Movie? Will it be Matt's Barbie?

At the 2026 Golden Globes, Rogen also hinted at some plot points for the coming season, telling press backstage, "We’ve literally written some things that happened leading up to this award show into episodes as we’ve been writing the show."

That means that if you've been following this awards season, get ready for some serious déjà vu come The Studio Season 2.

Who's in The Studio Season 2?

The Studio Season 2 will see the return of its main cast, including Rogen, Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston.

Comedy legend Catherine O'Hara, who played producer Patty Leigh, passed away on Jan. 30, just a few weeks into production on The Studio Season 2. Apple TV hasn't confirmed whether O'Hara shot anything during that time, or how Season 2 will address her passing.

"We are all heartbroken by the loss of Catherine O’Hara," Apple TV and Lionsgate said in a statement sent to press. "An undeniable legend, icon, and incomparable talent, Catherine elevated every project she was a part of, including the singular genius she brought to her role on The Studio, and every transcendent performance she gifted to us. Her artistic accomplishments will forever bring humor, light, and love for generations to come, and her brilliance and generosity of spirit touched everyone around her. We will hold her in our hearts always, and extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to her husband Bo, and children, Matthew and Luke."

The Studio's cast and crew shared a separate statement mourning O'Hara, saying, "We are at a loss for words at the passing of our friend Catherine O’Hara. She was a hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her on The Studio. She was somehow classy, warm, and hilarious all at the same time. We’re unbelievably saddened she is gone and send our deepest sympathy to Bo and all her family."

What celebrity cameos can you expect in The Studio Season 2?

Part of the fun of The Studio was seeing which actors and directors signed on to play heightened versions of themselves. Who will be joining the ranks of Martin Scorsese and Zoë Kravitz this season?

So far, no cameos have been confirmed yet. However, at the Golden Globes, Rogen confirmed that people had been pitching themselves to him. "There’s a few people we roped in tonight," he told press. "This is good poaching ground for us."

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

You know what that means: If you review the Golden Globes guest list, you'll land on some of the upcoming cameos.

When is The Studio Season 2 coming out?

Apple TV has yet to announce a concrete release date for The Studio Season 2, but its production schedule could give us an idea of when to expect it.

The Studio Season 2 began filming in January of 2026, in the week following the Golden Globes, Rogen confirmed. By comparison, Season 1 started shooting in March of 2024 for a March 2025 release date, marking a year-long turnaround. That means we could be getting The Studio Season 2 in January of 2027.

The Studio is now streaming on Apple TV.

If waiting another three years between Severance seasons fills you with enough woe and dread to scare even Kier Eagan, trust me, I feel your pain.

SEE ALSO: 21 burning 'Severance' questions we have after the Season 2 finale

The good news is, Season 3 is already in the works, meaning it hopefully won't be long until we get to what happened after Season 2's jaw-dropping finale. Here's everything we know about Severance Season 3 so far, including when it could be released.

What is Severance Season 3 about?

Severance being Severance, plot details are heavily under wraps for the upcoming Season 3. However, we can expect the series to pick up in the wake of Season 2's cliffhanger, which saw Mark S. (Adam Scott) and Helly R. (Britt Lower) running through the hallways of Lumon together, while Outie Mark's wife Gemma (Dichen Lachman), now escaped, looked on.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance's brilliant Season 2 finale, explained

The consequences for these final moments are sure to be huge. How will Lumon react to the outright rebellion on the Severed Floor? What will Gemma do now that she's free? Will we see Irving (John Turturro) again after he left town? (Turturro has said it's not the end for Irving, so it's likely the answer to that last question, at least, is yes.)

Who is in Severance Season 3?

There have been no official casting announcements for Severance Season 3, but you can expect leads like Scott, Lower, Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, and Patricia Arquette, alongside Lachman, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, and Christopher Walken.

Severance Season 3 will see a shake-up behind the camera, though. Ben Stiller, who's directed 11 episodes of the show, will not be returning as a director. He will still be involved as an executive producer.

When is Severance Season 3 coming out?

This is the million-dollar question, and as of now, there's no clear answer. However, the show is reportedly set to film from April to December of 2026, according to Production Weekly (via 9to5Mac).

Based on that timeline, we can make an educated guess about when Season 3 might premiere. Season 2 wrapped filming in April of 2024, for a January 2025 release date. That's a turnaround time of nine months. With that in mind, we could be getting Severance Season 3 around September of 2027, although again, nothing is confirmed.

Severance is now streaming on Apple TV.

If you, like Pluribus' hive mind, want to see Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) again, you're in luck. A second season of Pluribus is in the works, as Apple TV ordered two seasons after acquiring the series in a 2022 bidding war.

SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' Season 1's bombshell ending, explained

So, when can we expect Vince Gilligan's critically acclaimed sci-fi series to return, and what should we expect from it? As of now, the details are murky, but we're still able to make some educated guesses. Here's everything we know about Pluribus Season 2, from its plot to its cast to its release date.

What's Pluribus Season 2 about?

Pluribus Season 2 will continue Carol's fight against the hive mind that's taken over Earth. This time, though, she won't be alone. She'll have an ally in Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga), whom she met at the end of Season 1. Oh, and don't forget the atomic bomb she asked the Others for in the finale. That's sure to come in handy down the line, especially as leverage.

SEE ALSO: The 'Pluribus' cast unpacks Carol and Manousos' tense meet-up: 'It says a lot about being human'

Season 2 will likely also address the ticking clock of the Others experimenting on Carol's stem cells in order to make her Join with them. According to Zosia (Karolina Wydra) in the Season 1 finale, Carol has about a month left, maybe two, before she won't be immune to the Joining anymore. That doesn't give Carol and Manousos a lot of time to save humanity, so hurry up, you two!

Who's in Pluribus Season 2?

There's no official cast list yet for Pluribus Season 2, but based on the ending of Season 1, it's fairly clear that Seehorn, Wydra, and Vesga will all be back. Season 2 could also see the return of other immune survivors like Mr. Diabaté (Samba Schutte) and Laxmi (Menik Gooneratne). And of course, the door's always open for more bizarro, John Cena-style celebrity cameos.

When is Pluribus Season 2 coming out?

Here's where I've got some bad news. According to Gilligan himself, it could be quite a bit of time before Pluribus Season 2 graces our screens. In a December 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said, "We're working on it. It takes us a while. I would love to go faster if I could."

Still, based on the turnaround time for Season 1, we can make a guess at when Season 2 would come out. Apple TV acquired Pluribus in 2022, but writing for the show was impacted by the 2023 WGA strike. Shooting then took place in 2024, for a late 2025 release. With that in mind, and without any strikes, we could expect Pluribus Season 2 in late 2027, but a 2028 release date seems more likely.

Pluribus Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV.

SAVE $15: As of Feb. 3, the Roku Streaming Stick is on sale for $24 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick Plus $24 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.99   Get Deal

Roku Streaming Sticks are clever devices for hacking your setup. They are easy to use, they make streaming at home and on the go much easier, and above all, they’re affordable. And right now, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is on sale, taking the price down from $39.99 to just $24. 

The Roku Plus supports 4K picture quality with HDR, so content always looks great. And like all Roku sticks, the design is compact and easy to use. You set it up by plugging it directly into an HDMI port on the back of your TV. This model can be powered from the TV itself, so there’s no need for extra cables or access to another wall socket. 

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The included remote can control both the Roku and your TV, letting you turn the TV on and adjust the volume. And it has voice control built-in, so use this button to search for shows using just voice commands. It’s also easy to take with you when traveling, so you can plug it into another TV and watch your own apps without signing into your accounts on a new TV.  

Get this Roku deal at Amazon.

SAVE $130: As of Feb. 3, the Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV $169.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130   Get Deal

The Insignia 50-inch Class F50 TV is back on sale at Amazon, so you can consider this your sign to finally upgrade. And it's not just any sale, it is currently down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon. As of Feb. 3, you'll pay just $169.99 for this TV. And if you're interested in something bigger, the 55-inch model is also on sale for $179.99.

Quality-wise, this is a great TV with 4K Ultra HD resolution making the picture much sharper and more detailed than standard Full HD. It also works to upscale older content, to give you the most high-quality watching experience at all times. It supports HDR10 and the sound is improved with DTS Studio Sound.

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This model also has Fire TV built-in, so you can access streaming apps like Prime Video and Netflix, along with free streaming options such as Pluto TV and Tubi. It also works as a smart home hub, thanks to the built-in Alexa. This allows you to connect compatible devices to do things like start robot vacuums or control smart lighting.

Get this TV deal from Amazon now.

Jon Stewart has addressed the new Epstein files released last Friday, which revealed more information on the investigation into convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This included the names of several high-profile people who were allegedly involved with Epstein to some degree, such as tech billionaires Elon Musk and Bill Gates, as well as further mentions of President Donald Trump.

Even so, Stewart doesn't seem optimistic that the newly released files will actually instigate any sort of change.

"The chances of this breaking MAGA are actually worse than Trump just lowering the age of consent to be done with the whole fucking thing," quipped the Daily Show host. "Which is not to say there isn't awful shit in this new Epstein dump. It was a veritable who's who of who you imagine wanted someone to touch their hoo-hoo. Allegedly."

Stewart also joked about having been mentioned in the Epstein files himself, though he wasn't involved in any of the nefarious activities chronicled. Rather, Stewart is mentioned in a 2015 email exchange between Epstein and producer Barry Josephson, in which the former put forward the idea of a stand-up comedy special starring "Woody." ("You all know which Woody, right? It's the Epstein files, it ain't Harrelson.") In response, Josephson suggested that instead "make a true biographical experience with his stand-up being the capper. Somebody like Jon Stewart could host/narrate the biographical part."

"Excuse me?" said Stewart, expressing faux outrage. "I am offended. 'Somebody like Jon Stewart'? Or Jon Stewart? My point is, do I have the offer, or is this an audition?"

Netflix will stream a live BTS concert next month, showcasing the phenomenally popular K-pop group's first new songs since their hiatus and kicking off their upcoming ARIRANG World Tour. If that wasn't already enough to excite fans, there's a behind-the-scenes documentary they can look forward to as well.

BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG will premiere March 21 at 7 a.m. ET / 4 a.m. PT on Netflix, streaming live from Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The concert will see BTS' seven members perform a selection of songs from their extensive catalogue, as well as several from their upcoming album ARIRANG. BTS' fifth studio album, ARIRANG, is scheduled for release on March 20 — the day before the concert. As such, Netflix's stream will be BTS' first live performance of these songs.

Netflix has also announced the new documentary BTS: THE RETURN, which will premiere one week after the live concert. Though this is far from BTS' first concert film or documentary,  BTS: THE RETURN distinguishes itself by following the K-pop group as they reunite to record ARIRANG after a lengthy hiatus spanning almost four years.

BTS went on hiatus in December 2022, with the members signing up to complete their mandatory service in South Korea's military. The last member to be discharged was SUGA in June 2025, allowing BTS to resume activities together. While some BTS members have released solo projects during the group's hiatus, ARIRANG marks their highly-anticipated return as a complete group.

BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG and BTS: THE RETURN will premiere March 21 and 27 on Netflix.

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.

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

Black and white striped

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

ZEBRA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A design.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MOTIF

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A poem.

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

ELEGY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Impact.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BRUNT

Final Hurdle hint

Slang for a butt.

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

FANNY

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

The Full Moon has passed, but it's still looking almost full in our skies. This means, for the next few days, we'll still have peak visibility. Can you spot anything on the Moon's surface tonight? Keep reading to find out exactly what you're seeing.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 98% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

With just your naked eye, you can still see the Mare Imbrium, Aristarchus Plateau, and the Mare Serenitatis tonight. With binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater, Mare Frigoris, and the Grimaldi Basin, too. Finally, with a telescope, you'll see all this and the Descartes Highlands, Rima Hyginus, and the Linne Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on March 3.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the lunar cycle lasts around 29.5 days. This is how long the Moon takes to travel once around Earth. Over that period, it passes through eight recognised phases. The same side of the Moon always faces our planet, however the portion that appears lit changes as the Moon moves along its orbit. The amount of sunlight reaching the Moon is what makes it appear full, partially illuminated, or almost invisible at different points in the cycle. The eight lunar phases are:

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 to solve if you're always on the course.

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 February 3, 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: To divide

• Green: Provide shelter

• Blue: On the green

• Purple: Records

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cut into pieces

• Green: Provide with a place to stay

• Blue: Kinds of golf clubs

• Purple: Memory ___

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 #968 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Cut into pieces: CUBE, DICE, HASH, MINCE

• Provide with a place to stay: BOARD, HOUSE, LODGE, QUARTER

• Kinds of golf clubs: IRON, PUTTER, WEDGE, WOOD

• Memory ___: CARD, FOAM, HOLE, LANE

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 February 3, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a computer geek.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 3, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 3, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On key

The words are related to writing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe writing characters.

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 Symbols

NYT Strands word list for February 3

• Asterisk

• Tilde

• Hashtag

• Bracket

• Symbol

• Underscore

• Caret

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're good with measurements.

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 February 3, 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 February 3, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To measure heaviness.

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 W.

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...

WEIGH

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 3, 2026

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've been to a baseball stadium.

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.

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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: 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: Visit to the ballpark

• Green: Championship hangover

• Blue: Huskies legends

• Purple: Mountain West

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Found at a Baseball Field

• Green: Rewards for Winning A Championship

• Blue: UConn Women's Basketball Greats

• Purple: A Mountain West Athlete

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 #497 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Found at a Baseball Field - BACKSTOP, BULLPEN, DUGOUT, ON-DECK CIRCLE

• Rewards for Winning A Championship - BONUS, PARADE, RING, TROPHY

• UConn Women's Basketball Greats - BIRD, CASH, COLLIER, LOBO

• A Mountain West Athlete - AGGIE, AZTEC, COWBOY, RAM

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

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

Released in August 2025, 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 February 3, 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 February 3, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 3 Pips

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 3 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this purple space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this green space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 3 Pips

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this red space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

SAVE $300: The 65-inch LG Class QNED evo 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $696.99, down from the normal price of $996.99. That's a 30% discount and a new record-low price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG 65-inch LG Class QNED evo 4K TV $696.99 at Amazon
$996.99 Save $300   Get Deal

On Sunday, we have the pleasure of watching Super Bowl LX, and this weekend is also the beginning of the winter Olympics in Italy. That means we have February blocked off to watch winter's best sports offerings. If you're in the same boat but have been feeling like your TV is lacking, there's a nice deal in store today at Amazon.

As of Feb. 2, the 65-inch LG Class QNED evo 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $696.99, marked down from the standard price of $996.99. That works out to a savings of $300 from a 30% discount. It also marks a new record-low price at Amazon. Plus, Amazon is offering free deluxe delivery which includes moving the TV into the room of your choice, unboxing, and removal of packaging, which usually costs $29.99.

A 65-inch TV is pretty great for most rooms and LG makes some of the most reliable TVs when it comes to picture quality. We're currently in one of the best times of the year to get a new TV so it's no surprise we're seeing a new record low on this LG model.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Frame TV is back on sale at Amazon — save $300 right now

This model falls into LG's QNED color category which uses an enhances color reproduction range for better color viewing. The mini LED display is also designed to have exact dimming controls which aims to make blacks appear blacker and colors appear more vibrant. Plus, the 120Hz refresh rate could be nice for gaming.

Before this record-low price disappears, upgrade to the 65-inch LG Class QNED evo 4K TV. Viewing winter sports will look crisp and clear, and as a bonus, Amazon will take all bulky packaging away so you won't have to wrestle it into the recycling bin.

SAVE 45%: As of Feb. 2, you can get the LG UltraGear 27-inch gaming monitor (27G850A-B) for $496.99 at Amazon, down from $899.99. That's a 45% discount or $403 in savings.

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$899.99 Save $403   Get Deal

Usually, buying a gaming monitor means picking a lane: You either get 4K resolution for the visuals or a high refresh rate for the speed. This LG UltraGear is one of the few that offers both.

As of Feb. 2, you can get the LG UltraGear 27-inch gaming monitor (27G850A-B) for $496.99 at Amazon, down from $899.99. That's a 45% discount or $403 in savings. And, according to our trusty price-tracking app CamelCamelCamel, this is a record-low.

SEE ALSO: The LG UltraGear 34-inch OLED gaming monitor is almost half price at Amazon — save $600

The coolest thing about this monitor is that it features a "Dual Mode" that lets you toggle the display between 4K at 240Hz (which is great for single-player games) and 1080p at 480Hz (for competitive shooters where you need max frames). It also uses Nano IPS Black technology, which gives you deeper contrast than a standard IPS panel. There's just one thing I'd like to mention: Amazon has flagged this as a "frequently returned item." If you read the reviews, some say their item is perfect, while others report issues like dead pixels or backlight bleed.

At nearly half off, this is a solid deal for the specs. Since Amazon offers free returns, the smart move is to buy it and stress-test it immediately. If the panel is clean, you got a killer deal. If not, you can send it back for free.

New AI controls are coming to the Firefox browser, the Mozilla Foundation has announced — including the ability to turn off generative AI features entirely.

The open-source Firefox, in other words, has created what users overwhelmed by slop and hallucinations have been waiting for: the ability to only see generative AI features when they're useful.

In a blog post announcing the update, Mozilla details how AI controls will give Firefox users the ability to "block current and future generative AI features." Starting Feb. 24, users will be able to toggle a setting called "Block AI enhancements."

The new AI controls will go into effect on Feb. 24 with the introduction of Firefox 148. Here's what the nonprofit foundation had to say:

"AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it. We’ve heard from many who want nothing to do with AI. We’ve also heard from others who want AI tools that are genuinely useful. Listening to our community, alongside our ongoing commitment to offer choice, led us to build AI controls. Starting with Firefox 148, which rolls out on Feb. 24, you’ll find a new AI controls section within the desktop browser settings. It provides a single place to block current and future generative AI features in Firefox. You can also review and manage individual AI features if you choose to use them. This lets you use Firefox without AI while we continue to build AI features for those who want them."

Why Firefox's AI controls are so unusual Credit: Mozilla

Like it or not, we're still very much living in the ChatGPT era. As AI superfans embrace all things generative AI, many AI critics and skeptics are growing tired of the endless AI integrations. Tech giants like Samsung, Google, and Microsoft are integrating AI features into every facet of online life.

Laptops and PCs now come with Copilot pre-installed. Google has integrated AI overviews and AI Mode into its search tool and Gemini into Chrome. The latest mobile phones from Samsung are now "AI smartphones," with a full suite of generative AI features. Samsung is even putting AI in washing machines, TVs, and refrigerators, leaving no device untouched.

For users who want less artificial intelligence — or even, gasp, no artificial intelligence — the technology is increasingly difficult to avoid. For instance, there's no way to fully remove the AI assistant Copilot from Windows laptops.

But Firefox users will be able to control individual AI settings, including:

• Translations

• Alt text in PDFs

• AI-enhanced tab grouping

• Link previews

• AI chatbot in the sidebar

Mozilla also released a video showing how AI controls will work.

SAVE $1,600: As of Feb. 2, the Samsung 77-inch S85F OLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,399.95. That's over $1,600 off its list price and beats its previous all-time low price by nearly $100.

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$2,999.99 Save $1,600.04   Get Deal

Last month, we highlighted Samsung's 77-inch entry-level OLED TV when it dropped to its all-time low Black Friday price. Since then, it's gotten even cheaper.

As of Feb. 2, the Samsung 77-inch S85F OLED 4K TV is down to just $1,399.95 at Amazon. That's over $1,600 off its list price of $2,999.99 and beats its previous record-low by nearly $100. As it turns out, the second-best time to buy a TV (NFL playoffs season) has now become the best time for this particular model.

The S85F is technically the entry-level model in Samsung's OLED lineup, falling in line behind the S90F and S95F, but it's still pretty impressive. It offers a brilliant, 77-inch picture with vivid colors and deep contrast. Gamers will appreciate its 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1, and FreeSync Premium. Plus, the latest version of Samsung's smart TV platform, Tizen 9.0, offers smooth and speedy navigation with AI as the star of the show. AI tools like Click to Search, Live Translate, Adaptive Sound Pro, and Real Depth Enhancer are designed to enhance your overall viewing experience.

If advanced TV specs mostly go over your head, just know that the Samsung S85F OLED TV checks the most important boxes: it looks good and it comes from a reliable brand. Not to mention, now it's just a fraction of the original price.