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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're well-groomed.

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 January 30, 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: A sector

• Green: Beauty tools

• Blue: Sticky things

• Purple: Five fingers

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Region

• Green: Grooming items

• Blue: Things with adhesive surfaces

• Purple: ___ Hand

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 #964 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Region: AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, POCKET

• Grooming items: COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, TWEEZERS

• Things with adhesive surfaces: BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER TAPE

• ___ Hand: HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, UPPER

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 January 30, 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 have a bad sense of direction.

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 January 30, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 30, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We're not lost...

The words are related to directions.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that guide.

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 Find Your Way.

NYT Strands word list for January 30

• Beacon

• Star

• Find Your Way

• Landmark

• Sextant

• Atlas

• Compass

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 go big or go home.

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 January 30, 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 January 30, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Huge.

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 J.

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...

JUMBO

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 January 30, 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.

The encrypted messaging app Signal has become a critical tool for organizers following the actions of immigration agents in Minneapolis. Now that activity is the target of a probe launched personally by FBI Director Kash Patel — one that has Constitutional law experts questioning its merits.

Criticism of the Signal investigation was swift from figures on both the right and left. The libertarian Cato Institute called the investigation an "epic constitutional and legal fail by Patel."

Whether or not courts would accept any action bought by Patel against Signal or its users, the circumstances are at least highly unusual: Patel announced the probe via podcast.

Patel discussed the investigation during Monday's episode of The Benny Show, a podcast hosted by the right-wing commentator Benny Johnson. Patel alleged, without evidence, that participants in the chat might have incited violence, threatened law enforcement, or broke the law.

SEE ALSO: 'Shameful': Tech leaders react to ICE killing of Alex Pretti

Patel said that alleged screenshots from a Signal chat amongst Minneapolis anti-ICE organizers posted to X by the rightwing, self-described independent journalist Cam Higby led to the investigation.

Higby has said he hopes the government conducts a "witch hunt" of the Signal chat participants, who were allegedly sharing information about license plates belonging to cars driven by federal immigration officers.

"We immediately opened up that investigation because that sort of Signal chat being coordinated with individuals, not just locally in Minnesota, but maybe even around the country," Patel said. "If that leads to a break in the federal statute or a violation of some law, then we are going to arrest people."

Signal did not respond to Mashable's request for comment on the investigation. The X accounts belonging to the app and its president, Meredith Whittaker, have remained silent on the investigation.

Here's what you need to know about whether the investigation has merit and how it unfolded:

Does the FBI Signal chat investigation violate Constitutional rights?

Patel insisted that the investigation wouldn't infringe on the public's First Amendment right to express political speech and protest but rather focus on illegal activity.

Yet legal and Constitutional scholars have questioned whether the Signal chat participants were doing anything illegal.

In an interview with the Guardian, First Amendment expert Kevin Goldberg said that his review of Higby's social media posts revealed nothing clearly illegal.

"I got the sense the [Signal chat] group has been organized for purposes that are fully protected by the First Amendment: To observe, to speak, and to alert others of possible dangers," said Goldberg, vice president of the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation that works on First Amendment issues. "I didn't see anything that impedes or obstructs justice. The claimed 'doxing' of law enforcement is not necessary illegal."

Patrick G. Eddington, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, had a cutting response for the Trump administration and Patel.

"I suppose it was just a matter of time before a Trump administration official would suggest that the use of public key encryption — protected by the First Amendment — to monitor federal agent misconduct was itself allegedly a crime," he wrote in an article on the Cato Institute's website. "This is another epic constitutional and legal fail by Patel."

Eddington added that a decades-old federal court case affirmed citizens' First Amendment right to coordinate peaceful protest activity, and even monitor an agency like ICE for "acts of brutality," using encrypted speech.

On Thursday, Higby alleged on X that he had more material to leak about the Signal chat he infiltrated.

How did the FBI learn about the Signal chat?

When Patel spoke on Johnson's show, he followed an interview with Higby, who alleged on X that he attempted and succeeded in infiltrating the anti-ICE organizers' group Signal chat.

Higby admitted to Johnson that though he isn't a "legal expert," he viewed the Signal exchanges as a "mass conspiracy" to violate federal law because the participants were, in his opinion, "engaging in collusion against federal law enforcement."

When Johnson asked Higby how he wanted the FBI to respond, Higby made his goal clear. "I want to see a witch hunt January 6th style," Higby said, referencing the federal prosecution of insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

Patel was literally the next guest on Johnson's show. He said Higby's X post on his alleged infiltration of the Signal chat triggered his decision.

"As soon as Higby put that [X social media] post out, I opened an investigation on it," Patel said. He argued that the practice aligns with the FBI's policy of following publicly-provided tips, leads, and information.

Speaking with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Patel indicated that the FBI would issue subpoenas, collect data, call grand juries, and "find out who broke the law."

What to know about using Signal

Though Signal uses end-to-end encryption, that doesn't mean user messages will be protected from the government.

Signal's website acknowledges it will disclose transcripts of chats when legally compelled by the government or law enforcement agencies.

ICE reportedly also has a contract with the digital forensics company Cellebrite to help officials unlock phones to retrieve all of their data, including apps, location history, and Signal messages, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Match Group, the conglomerate that owns Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps, is investigating a security incident that exposed user data.

A hacker group called Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters claimed they stole a mass of Match's internal data, according to 404 Media. 404 Media downloaded the data and reported that it contained some users' unique advertising IDs, corporate receipts, and other internal documents.

SEE ALSO: Hinge's founder is leaving Match to launch Overtone, an AI dating service

A Match spokesperson told Mashable, "We are aware of claims being made online related to a recently identified security incident. Match Group takes the safety and security of our users seriously and acted quickly to terminate the unauthorized access. We continue to investigate with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts."

"There is no indication that user log-in credentials, financial information, or private communications were accessed. We believe the incident affects a limited amount of user data, and we are already in the process of notifying individuals, as appropriate," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the hacking group told 404 Media that it gained access to Match's documents through a social engineering tactic called vishing. Vishing is like phishing, except it's done over the phone. Scammers impersonate a credible person or company to gain information or money. The hacker told 404 Media that the group vished Match's Okta single-sign-on. Okta is a cybersecurity company that specializes in secure logins for companies. A spokesperson for Okta told 404 Media:

"Okta Threat Intelligence routinely shares threat research to help companies protect against evolving social engineering techniques. These target organizations in all industries and impersonate a range of identity and cryptocurrency providers. While Okta’s platform and services remain secure, Okta is calling attention to these evolving techniques to help raise awareness and support stronger defenses for customers."

Hackers posted that they accessed Match's data from the cloud platform AppsFlyer, but AppsFlyer denied that the incident originated from its app:

"AppsFlyer has confirmed that the incident referenced in recent media reports did not originate from AppsFlyer and did not involve a data breach, security incident, or compromise of AppsFlyer’s systems. AppsFlyer’s infrastructure and security controls were not breached. Any implication that AppsFlyer was the source of the incident, or that data was exposed due to a compromise of AppsFlyer systems, is inaccurate."

Google just gave Chrome a huge Gemini-powered upgrade that basically allows the AI assistant to complete tasks on the web for users.

In a blog post, Google announced that it was launching a new feature called "auto browse" powered by its most powerful new AI model, Gemini 3. The feature is only available for Chrome on desktop and is currently only rolling out to paying Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

What is auto browse? It's a feature that brings an agentic experience directly to Chrome via Gemini. Google's AI assistant Gemini will appear on a right-hand sidebar within Chrome, allowing users to chat and interact directly with websites within the web browser.

Gemini carries out tasks via Chrome's auto browse feature. Credit: Google

Using auto browse, Gemini can interact with any web page. Gemini can click, input text, and scroll through the page, all while carrying out the user-requested actions. All a user has to do is input in the Gemini sidebar what they would like the AI agent to carry out, and Gemini will reply, "Task started."

One example provided by Google involves the AI agent being asked to shop for supplies on Etsy for a themed party. The user inputs which website they want Gemini to search, which party to look for, and how much of a budget they have to spend. Gemini goes to Etsy, searches for supplies, adds the relevant ones to the cart, and then informs the user that the checkout cart is ready for them to look over.

Gemini will even look up and add discount codes and, if given permission, will access Google Password Manager to log in to the user's account on the website.

A task completed by the Gemini-powered auto browse feature in Chrome. Credit: Google

Furthermore, there is a "Take over task" button hovering at the top of the web browser window, allowing a user to intervene, just in case Gemini goes rogue.

Google continues to add AI features to its array of internet products. In addition to this announcement, Google also brought Nano Banana to Chrome. And earlier this week, Google added additional AI Mode integration into Google Search's own existing AI product, AI Overviews. And continuing the theme of rewarding users who pay for its AI products, auto browse is currently only available for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. This is $100 off their list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $249.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100   Get Deal

A good pair of headphones are always worth investing in, no matter if you're often out and about traveling, or just listen to music and podcasts while you're at home. If you've been hoping to grab a new pair for the year ahead, Amazon has quite a few deals on select models to explore. At the moment, this includes the Beats Studio Pro headphones.

As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro have dropped to $249.99 at Amazon. Normally they're listed for $349.99, so this great deal saves you $100. For a pair of headphones we said are "excellent on most of the levels that matter" in our review, this is a discount well worth your time.

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The Beats Studio Pro certainly check a lot of boxes. These headphones boast two noise-canceling modes — Active Noise Canceling and Transparency — which allow you to either block out sounds around you entirely or let a bit of noise in. They also feature Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, which makes the sound feel as if it's coming from all around you, rather than just the drivers positioned over your ears. And the excellent battery life can last up to 40 hours.

Returning to our review, Mashable's Alex Perry also said that they "sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform." So regardless of what smartphone or device you use, these headphones are compatible.

If they've caught your eye, now is your chance to save $100 on the Beats Studio Pro at Amazon.

TL;DR: Make your computer feel brand new for just $19.97 with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03   Get Deal

You can’t get much for $20 these days, so it’s pretty surprising that that’s all it takes to totally refresh your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license. This suite of apps gives your computer seven helpful tools to help you get things done, and right now you can get them all for only $19.97 (reg. $229).

Whether you’ve been living without Microsoft Office tools for a while or you’re totally new to these incredible apps, this deal on a Windows license brings them to less than $3 each. And you’ll own all seven of them outright, so there are no subscription fees required.

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The Microsoft Office suite is geared to help you both personally and professionally. Curious which apps are included? You’ll get Word, the go-to app for drafting documents for decades, and PowerPoint, a great tool for creating presentations.

You can manage all your email communications in Outlook, build out a budget in Excel, and upgrade the way you take notes with OneNote. If you need to manage large databases, Access is a great tool, and if your work requires professional documents, Publisher has you covered.

This edition may seem to have an older year attached, but don’t worry. These apps have been redesigned and include enhanced features like new Excel analysis capabilities, new PowerPoint presentation tools, and updated email and contact management in Outlook.

After purchase, you’ll receive an instant delivery and download so you can access the apps permanently and work offline as needed. There’s also free customer service available anytime.

Get this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license for $19.97 (reg. $229) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google has launched a new AI experiment called Project Genie, a tool that lets users build their own interactive virtual worlds. Project Genie comes from the Google DeepMind research lab and is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the United States (users must be over the age of 18).

If you're an AI Ultra subscriber — the AI subscription plan is priced at $249.99 — you can start building worlds right away by visiting Google Labs and navigating to Project Genie.

What does Project Genie do?

A video released along with Project Genie shows exactly how users can create custom virtual worlds. Crucially, Project Genie doesn't just create a virtual environment; it also allows the user to create a character to explore and interact with the world. Users can even use prompts to create their own mini-games, using their keyboard's arrow keys to control the character. (One reporter at The Verge quickly realized he could use Project Genie to make Zelda and Super Mario knockoffs.)

Google says Project Genie can generate worlds at 720p resolution and 24 frames per second.

Considering how much time and labor go into creating video games, it's remarkable that Project Genie can create such detailed, interactive environments using AI. That said, Project Genie is primarily a research project, and while it can be entertaining to play with, it doesn't really do anything. (Keep reading to learn about potential future applications.)

The created worlds have realistic physics, and objects in the world react as the user interacts with them. Users can also modify and remix their virtual worlds to their heart's content.

Left: Create a virtual world from scratch. Credit: Google / YouTube Right: Users can also modify the world as desired. Credit: Google / YouTube Project Genie is powered by an experimental 'world model.'

Project Genie is powered by Genie 3, which is a powerful "world model." (Google says that Nano Banana and Gemini are also used to generate worlds.) A world model is an AI program that can generate a virtual world from text, images, and other inputs. Google actually teased Genie 3 back in August 2025, calling it "a key stepping stone on the path to AGI."

The new landing page for Project Genie elaborates: "Genie 3 represents a major leap in capabilities – allowing agents to predict how a world evolves, and how their actions affect it. Genie 3 makes it possible to explore an unlimited range of realistic environments. This is a key stepping stone on the path to AGI – enabling AI agents capable of reasoning, problem solving, and real-world actions."

Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, is a term for a hypothetical AI tool that can perform most tasks as capably (or more so) than the average human. That means it could do your job with little or no monitoring. To achieve true AGI, AI companies need to build models that can make sense of the environment and understand how to interact with it.

Examples of virtual worlds created by Genie 3. Credit: Google

World models are an emerging frontier in AI research, and companies building video models have attracted significant investment over the past year. AI company WorldLabs recently raised $230 million in funding, while video model maker Luma AI raised $900 million.

Besides AGI, what are the practical uses for world models? As one example, car companies could build a world to safely test autonomous vehicles. There are also possible applications for education and video game development.

Again, AI Ultra subscribers in the United States can start using Project Genie right away.

A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube

Cryptocurrency is facing yet another big price plunge.

Bitcoin dropped to the $84,000 range on Thursday, the lowest price it's seen in 2026 so far. Other cryptocurrencies like Ether and Doge also experienced falling prices, with values being down as much as 6 percent.

Crypto analysts suggest that this is a crucial price point for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to maintain or its valuation may continue to drop.

As crypto outlets point out, the price drop of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies didn't happen in a vacuum. The stock market, especially tech stocks like Microsoft, took a huge dive on Thursday. Crypto-related stocks also took a big hit as well.

As investors sell off investments, crypto holdings traditionally take a big hit as one of the more riskier bets. According to Coindesk, investors have liquidated more than $650 million across all crypto assets during the Thursday selloff. 

Some analysts believe that Bitcoin could see its prices drop below $80,000 in the near future.

SAVE $1,150: As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's a discount of 58%.

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$1,999 Save $1,150   Get Deal

We're in the middle of winter, and that means some particularly grisly weather. Much of the US just suffered a massive snowstorm with ice and power outages. If your area is prone to disaster or you lose power a lot, a portable power station might be the answer. You can get a great one right now for an excellent price if you'd like to stay prepared for the inevitable winter (or summer) storm that pops up in the future.

As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's $1,150 off and a discount of 58%.

SEE ALSO: The Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is down to a record-low price — save over $86 before the next storm hits

This massive power station packs 2,048Wh of power into a portable package. That's enough electricity to ensure most of your home's appliances, including your fridge or toaster, can stay alive while you wait for the power to come back on. And it can handle your phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices too.

According to Anker, the Solix F2000 can actually keep your fridge up and running for up to 10 hours, so if you're concerned about losing all the food you just went out and bought ahead of the storm, you'll be able to keep it nice and cold.

All this, plus the power station is housed in a form factor that makes it easy to transport, with wheels and a handle so you can take it from place to place with ease. It couldn't be simpler to use, and it's up for grabs at a great price. Be sure and get yours before it goes out of stock, and before the next ice storm.

SAVE $100: The Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price of $999. That's a 10% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 265GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal

A powerful and versatile tablet is one of life's greatest pleasures. It's perfect for times when you don't feel like hauling out the laptop but also have tasks that are too complex for a small phone screen. It can also be excellent for travel. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line tablet, check out this Apple deal.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, marked down from the standard price of $999. That's a 10% discount that shaves $100 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

In Mashable's review of the best iPads, the iPad Pro with M5 processor earns the top spot as the ideal model for professionals. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors."

SEE ALSO: The noise-cancelling Apple AirPods 4 just got $60 cheaper

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth did a full review of the M5 iPad Pro last fall and wrote, " It's the kind of gadget that makes you feel like you're living in the future." Some highlight features include its ultra-thin design, ultra-lightweight feel, and the fact that it gets up to 1,600 nits of brightness.

If you're seeking out a professional upgrade, consider the iPad Pro while it's on sale at Amazon for $899. The sale price applies to both the silver and black colorways.

SAVE $20: As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for just $19.99 with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20. That's 50% off its list price of $39.99.

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$39.99 Save $20.00 with on-page coupon 4KSELECT20 Get Deal

One of Mashable readers' top buys from Black Friday is back on sale. While it's not quite as spectacular of a discount, it's still one worth shouting about.

As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is just $19.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20 (make sure to hit "redeem" next to the code). That's 50% or $20 off its list price of $39.99.

The 4K Select is the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup and the most affordable option that offers 4K quality with HDR10+ support. It's the first Fire TV Stick to feature the ultra-responsive and speedy new operating system called Vega. While we haven't had a chance to test it yet, we're glad that Amazon decided to switch things up up from the previous operating system. We found the older system a bit laggy in our testing, so an upgrade was certainly in order.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select still features the same plug-and-play design as the previous streaming sticks, though, which instantly brings all of your favorite streaming apps into a single platform. Just press and ask Alexa to open your favorite app, pick up an episode where you left off, show you sports scores, and more. It offers support for Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, NordVPN, IPVanish, Alexa+, and Amazon Kids+ (coming soon).

If you don't have a smart TV, this will instantly transform your current setup. If you do, it will make your TV even smarter — all for just 20 bucks. That's a whole lot cheaper than buying a new TV, just saying.

It's a great week to be a loon. If you've fallen under the spell of the hit HBO Max/Crave show Heated Rivalry, you know how incredible Shane Hollander's Team Canada fleece is. He sported it during his time in Sochi for the Olympics. The fleece was so good that fans have been begging Canada to "release the fleece" for weeks. On Threads, the term "release the fleece" has 47 million tags. And we finally have incredible news, loons — the Heated Rivalry fleece is coming.

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So far the exact details are vague. We know Canadian brand Province of Canada is manufacturing the fleece, and the brand's website states that all of their products are 100% made in Canada. We also know 10% of proceeds from fleece sales will be donated to a charity. So far, 106,000 people have liked the brand's Instagram post announcing the official collaboration.

Executive producers of the show and co-presidents of Accent Aigu Entertainment Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady are quoted as saying, "We’re so excited to partner with Province of Canada. As a Canadian-based, independent apparel brand that does amazing work sourcing and manufacturing high-quality clothing, we share a common ethos. We look forward to bringing it to life with the creativity and care fans expect.”

It's a damn good fleece, that's for sure. Credit: HBO Max / Crave How to score your very own Heated Rivalry fleece

Province of Canada hasn't announced the fleece's release date yet. Instead, you'll want to sign up for e-mail notifications. The brand promises to email us once the fleece is available to order (checks email 70 times per day). We'll be sure to update this article once we have more information.

SEE ALSO: I found the headphones Ilya Rozanov wears in "Heated Rivalry" and they're on sale at Amazon for $100 off How much will the Heated Rivalry fleece cost?

Pricing details for the Heated Rivalry fleece have yet to be announced, but our guess is that it won't come cheap. Checking out currently available fleeces on the Province of Canada website leads us to believe a fleece will come in at least $120 USD. The Province of Canada's reverse fleece pullover is listed at $168 CAD (that's $123.77 USD with today's exchange rate) and the brand's reverse fleece overshirt is listed at $198 CAD ($145.87 USD).

Will the Heated Rivalry fleece be available in the U.S.?

The Heated Rivalry fleece landing page says, "Our goal is to make shipping available to as many countries as possible," but the Province of Canada's website currently explains they're not shipping to the U.S. as of last August. The brand lists Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as their current shipping options. We're hopeful this pause on U.S. shipping will lift in time to score the fleece. If not, maybe we'll need to plan a trip?

How to shop more official Heated Rivalry merch

Heated Rivalry does have an official merch shop, but all 33 items are sold out at the time of writing. The shop promises to have a restock soon, and you can bet we'll be getting the "I'm coming to the cottage" hat to pair with the official Team Canada fleece.

While we wait for this merch, might we suggest making a tuna melt with Grillo's Pickles? Ilya and Shane would want that for us. Pair it with an ice cold Canada Dry Ginger Ale and rewatch all six episodes.

Samsung apparently doesn't have enough foldables on the market, so prepare for one more before the end of 2026.

Just days after confirming the U.S. price and release date for the new TriFold, the company is rumored to have a fourth foldable in the works, to go alongside the TriFold and the follow-ups to the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lineups. The so-called "Wide Fold" will be similar to the Z Fold, but will open up into a bigger inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. According to Korean outlet ET News, Samsung is gearing up to release the phone this summer at the same time as the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy TriFold is coming to America: Price, release date confirmed

In a vacuum, it seems strange for Samsung to introduce yet another foldable to its portfolio, one that sort of sits in between the Z Fold and the TriFold. However, apparently the idea is to compete with Apple's still-unconfirmed iPhone Fold, said to release this year with a 4:3 aspect ratio for its inner display. If Samsung did indeed release its Wide Fold phone in the summer, that would most likely beat the iPhone Fold to market by at least a month or two, given that Apple's big annual iPhone announcement event is always in September. Samsung evidently doesn't want to get beaten to the punch by Apple, if these reports are to be believed.

Just a few years ago, the idea that there would be this flourishing ecosystem of foldables in the U.S. seemed unbelievable. But here we are.

Apple's AirTag 2 is finally here.

Well, the product's actual name is once again just "AirTag," but we'll call it AirTag 2 because it's a second-generation product. So what does it bring to the table? What can it bring to the table, given that it's just a silver-and-white puck that tracks its own location?

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) $99 at Amazon
  Shop Now What is AirTag?

Before we dive into details, a little history. The original AirTag tracking device was launched in April 2021. It's deceivingly simple: You connect it to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch via Bluetooth, and then you can track its location through Apple's Find My app. Because the Find My network uses compatible iPhones, iPads, and other devices to help track lost items — and because there are a lot of iPhones in the world — the Find My network is famous for its reliability.

The AirTag is, in fact, a dual tracker. It relies on Bluetooth signals from other iOS and iPadOS devices it encounters to provide a rough location. If it's close enough, then you can precisely track it, thanks to Apple's ultra-wideband U1 chip.

The AirTag also features a speaker, and you can play a sound to make finding it easier. It relies on (replaceable but not rechargeable) battery power, with an advertised one year of battery life.

Use cases are numerous. You can put it in a key ring (Apple provides several options) and use it to track your keys. You can do the same for your wallet, backpack, or bike. Or you can put it in your luggage when you fly to make sure it doesn't get lost — at least not for very long.

How is AirTag 2 better than AirTag?

The AirTag 2 doesn't bring any revolutionary new features. It's still a little puck that you can track via Find My. But it does improve a few important aspects of the original AirTag.

You can get a FineWoven key ring for your AirTag for $35. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

First, the AirTag 2 has Apple's new U2 chip and a new Bluetooth chip. Thanks to this, you'll be able to track it precisely from farther away — 50 percent farther than the old AirTag. Keep in mind that you'll need an iPhone 15 or later (the iPhone 16e is not included) as only those phones have the new U2 chip as well.

The AirTag 2 also has a louder speaker than the original AirTags. That's important for obvious reasons; if your AirTag is hanging on a keychain you've misplaced in a coat pocket, it will now be easier to hear its sound when you trigger it.

The battery inside the two devices is exactly the same, as are other specifications such as dimensions and weight.

Is the range really better?

Apple doesn't disclose the precise range for Precision Finding on the AirTag, probably because it depends on numerous factors, such as how many walls are between you and your missing item.

Considering there was a couple of walls between me and the AirTag, this is a great result. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But the company sent me an AirTag 2 to try out, so I could test the range in my two-bedroom apartment. The results I got were pretty good. I placed the new AirTag in one bedroom, and then went to the farthest corner of the apartment. It took a second, but my iPhone 17 Pro Max was able to detect it from about 15 meters (49 feet) away, with two walls between us, and could pinpoint its location at 11 meters (36 feet) away.

On the original AirTag, the best I could get was about 30 feet; anything farther than that and the signal would be lost.

As for the sound, it is definitely louder than before, though it's hard to say by exactly how much. I placed my AirTag 2 in a backpack, and I could still easily hear it from another room.

What about the price?

The price for the new AirTag 2 is the same as for the original: $29 for one AirTag or $99 for a pack of four. They're available for sale now at Apple and Amazon. However, it is worth noting that the first-gen AirTag is often discounted. You can get the AirTag 1 for $25.99 on Amazon (or grab a 4-pack for $69.99), which is a better deal, especially if you own an older iPhone that doesn't support precision tracking.

Products featured in this story: Apple AirTag 2 $29 Shop Now Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) $99 Shop Now Apple AirTag 1 (4-pack) $69.99 (save $29.01) Get Deal Apple AirTag FineWoven Key Ring $35 Shop Now

YouTube is blocking a popular workaround for background playback — e.g. playing only the audio of a video with your screen off — in a move that'll likely prove frustrating to a number of users.

Android users have relied on third-party browsers to work around limitations on background playback, but now users of Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Edge have reported being unable to play YouTube sound in the background, according to tech site 9to5Google.

SEE ALSO: Parents can now set limits on YouTube Shorts for teen accounts

Piunikaweb, a Pixel-focused tech site, wrote that the "sudden, simultaneous failure across multiple browsers strongly suggests a targeted change by YouTube." 9to5Google tested the new limitations on Samsung Internet and found that "video playback ends within a couple of seconds of the display going dark."

YouTube limits background play on mobile to Premium subscribers, so the company's targeting of a workaround makes sense, even if it is frustrating to users. So, for now at least, it seems the folks who used the third-party browser workaround are stuck like the rest of us folks who're operating on Chrome or Safari: Pay up or give up your background sounds.

SAVE $14.99: As of Jan. 29, get the JBL Charge 4 for $84.96 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $99.95. That's a discount of 15% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon JBL Charge 4 $84.96 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $14.99   Get Deal

If you're the type of person who likes to share your favorite songs wherever you go, you need a portable speaker. JBL makes a few great ones, and if you're looking for one to invest in without spending an arm and a leg, today's your lucky day.

As of Jan. 29, get the JBL Charge 4 for $84.96 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $99.95. That's $14.99 off and a discount of 15%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best Bluetooth speakers of 2025

The JBL Charge 4 is a small but mighty speaker. It can serve up crisp treble as well as deep, satisfying bass, and offers excellent, clear overall audio. That makes it the perfect option for taking everywhere you go.

It has a sizable rechargeable battery that gives you up to 20 hours of playtime, and boasts IPX7 waterproofing, so whether you're listening out in the snow and ice or around the pool when the weather gets warm, you don't have to worry about it getting wet.

It's simple to connect to your phone or other device, and you can connect multiple speakers at once, so if you want more sound, it's capable of delivering it that too. If you're looking for a great and reliable Bluetooth speaker, pick this one up while it's still at its lowest price yet.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are on sale for just $119 at Amazon and Walmart. That's 34% off their list price and about $20 away from their best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation $119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

It's not every day that you can score a pair of noise-cancelling AirPods for under $120. So if you're in the market for a new pair, we highly recommend adding the fourth-generation earbuds to your cart ASAP.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are on sale for just $119 at both Amazon and Walmart. That's a pretty impressive $60 discount or 34% off their list price. It's also only $20 away from their lowest price ever, which they hit during Cyber Week.

A great value even at full price, the AirPods 4 offer personalized spatial audio, voice isolation, Siri interactions, improved bass, mids, and highs over their predecessor, a comfy and snug fit, and a more compact charging case that's easier to locate. Mashable's reviewer noted that the fit is surprisingly snug and actually stays put, the noise-cancellation is "elite," and the sound is "like honey."

They'll last you about five hours per charge — up to 30 with the charging case — making them a solid daily driver. While we still think the AirPods Pro 3 are the best earbuds for Apple users, the AirPods 4 with ANC are the better choice if you're looking to save some money. And since they're 34% off, they're an even better value.

SAVE $599.68: As of Jan. 29, the Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for $898.32 at Amazon. That's 40% off its list price and a new best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $898.32 at Amazon
$1,498 Save $599.68   Get Deal

It's officially one of the best times to upgrade your TV, y'all. Not only is it a huge season for sports, with the NFL postseason wrapping up and the 2026 Winter Olympics just a week away. But it's also one of the best times to score a major discount on a 2025 TV.

As of Jan. 29, the Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for only $898.32 at Amazon. That's 40% or nearly $600 off its list price of $1,498 and a new best price on record. This discount actually beats its Cyber Week price by nearly $100.

The 2025 Hisense U8 TV is remarkably vibrant and colorful, making it a great choice for watching sports, gaming, or immersing yourself in movies and TV shows. CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury called it the brightest TV he's ever reviewed, but noted that "it complements that brightness with excellent contrast and well-saturated colors." Specs-wise, it boasts 5000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, a 165Hz native refresh rate, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

The Google TV smart platform provides a streamlined interface to navigate every major streaming service, offers Google Cast (by default) as well as Apple AirPlay, and features built-in Google Assistant for hands-free TV and smart home device control. You can ask it to search for content, recommend your next watch, set alarms, check your doorbell camera, and more.

The Hisense U8 is typically a little pricey at nearly $1,500, but with a 40% discount, it's a total steal. If you're due for an upgrade, now's the time.