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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintRounded.
Hurdle Word 1 answerCURVY
Hurdle Word 2 hintA collection.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 13, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerGROUP
Hurdle Word 3 hintA large animal found in Alaska.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 13, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 13, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerMOOSE
Hurdle Word 4 hintSimpson patriarch.
Hurdle Word 4 answerHOMER
Final Hurdle hintTo look into.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerPROBE
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The Moon may be hard to spot right now, but that won't last for long. As the new lunar cycle gets underway, a little more of it will become visible each night.
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Sunday, Sept. 13, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, with 5% of its surface visible.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.
What are Moon phases?As the Moon orbits Earth, its appearance changes over the course of roughly 29.5 days, creating what we know as the lunar cycle, according to NASA. The phase we see depends on where the Moon is in relation to Earth and the Sun, and how much of its sunlit side is facing us. Throughout the cycle, it moves from a slender crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before the pattern begins again.
The eight 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.
What do you do when the big plans you made fall to pieces? This is both the question faced by the antihero at the heart of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, and the men who made it.
Written and directed by Bassam Tariq, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother stars two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali as Latif, a Muslim family man and hit man on a mission. Dedicated to protecting his community, Latif wields a sword in their defense. But when his wife dies unexpectedly, he drops everything (including properly disposing of a recently slain body) to care for their three children.
On a less dramatic level, one might imagine Tariq and Ali relate. The two met while in development on the MCU's Blade movie. But once they realized it wasn't coming together, Tariq approached Ali with his original script for Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
Here, in the story of a hit man having to question his choices while using violence to defend his loved ones, Ali finds a place to put the muscle he built prepping for Blade to use. But beyond that, he brings to life a complex character who adds to the rich tapestry of the American antihero.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is a family drama, and a gangster drama, and an action movie. Credit: Orion / Amazon MGM StudiosTariq begins his film with a compelling collision of sight and sound. Onscreen, Ali bursts into frame, bringing down a skinhead in an empty public bathroom. The violence is efficient, communicating this is not the first time Latif has taken on such a task.
Over this scene, audio plays, explaining the title, which comes from the Quran. An unseen girl reads a passage about how the Prophet was asked who to honor after Allah, and three times, the prophet said, "Your mother," before he said, "Your father."
SEE ALSO: 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' trailer: Mahershala Ali leaps into actionEven before the phone call comes to announce how his world has changed — even if you aren't familiar with the Quran quotation — you understand Latif is ill-equipped to replace the void his wife's death leaves. Soon, we see how, as he struggles to speak to his teen daughter (a marvelous Adia) about her burgeoning sexuality, and to find a source for what his infant needs most: mother's milk.
While struggling to cope with his grief and the overwhelm of single parenting, Latif desperately tries to exit his violent vocation. But as every gangster movie makes clear, it's not an easy thing to walk away from being a hit man. The one last job demanded of his handler won't be ignored. So, as he seeks breast milk to feed his child, he must also face off against hired guns, and a Christian cult leader (John Cho) on a violent crusade.
Tariq's plot line seamlessly blends elements of a gangster drama with exhilaratingly intense action sequences and a tender father-daughter drama that is absolutely breathtaking. Like Sinners, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother moves smoothly, weaving together genre elements with character development in a richly realized world to create a film that is familiar yet scorchingly unique.
Under Tariq's direction, there is not only poignant dialogue or a surprising story. It's a film alive with tiny but crucial visual details. It's in the blade by Latif's side, or the saucy video his daughter sneaks on her laptop through stolen WiFi, and in the platinum grill that Cho sports on his teeth, glistening not only in precious metals but also diamonds forming a cross on each tooth. Each is evocative, urging the audience to think deeper about who each figure is — even as they rush to escape, fight, or rescue each other. Each element is an invitation to make the movie our own by how we choose to translate them.
Mahershala Ali is absolutely riveting in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Credit: Orion / Amazon MGM StudiosWhen Ali revealed his Blade movie with the MCU seems dead, fans online grieved publicly. But from the ashes of Marvel's fumble comes an action hero that is all Ali's own, with one of the best performances of his career.
Brandishing blades and his muscle-bound arms, Ali tears into fight scenes with a focus that is exhilarating on its own. But Tariq enhances the stakes by putting Latif's children in immediate peril. It's not enough for Latif to rip through a flood of Christian militants, armed to the teeth with guns. He must do it while keeping an eye on his defenseless baby. And if that means putting lubricant and broken glass on leather gloves as an impromptu weapon, that's what it means. (And it's awesome.)
The resounding presence that Ali has brought to Moonlight, Green Book, and Luke Cage is radiant here. In moments of battle, he is quiet, his body primed to spring into action like a snake leaping from a coiled posture. There's moments where it seems Latif is most comfortable in warrior mode, where he can rely on his body and might. In scenes where he must cajole or convince, he's stiffer, clearly uncomfortable in being in a position of needing help.
In these scene's, Ali's stiffness reverberates with a tension born from Latif's fear that he is not enough. How can he compare to his wife when it comes to caring for their children? His fear of failing them drives every moment, major and seemingly mundane. But Ali makes sure no moment feels mundane.
Credit: Orion / Amazon MGM StudiosA scene of prayer at the mosque where he holds his hungry infant daughter as he silently cries becomes a moment of silent and stillness that reflects Tariq's keen understanding of great filmmaking. He pulls from Eastern masters like Akira Kurosawa and Hayao Miyazaki, creating a moment of ma — a quiet space to allow the audience to see what the world is like before violence shatters its peace. Except, in this moment it's not a soft rain falling, it's a man whose faith is shattered by loss, crying by himself as he's surrounded by his community. In this moment, Latif cannot keep up the façade that he is okay. And his eldest daughter is the one who sees this. (I can sense the elder daughters out there nodding in recognition.)
Make no mistake. The action in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is electrifying, sparked with stakes, grit, and style. This is thanks in no small part to Ali's athleticism in the role, and Tariq's embrace of saturated colors, painting everything from mosques to strip clubs to a tacky mansion in vivid hues of red, gold, blue, and greens. But the heart of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is the relationship between Latif and his eldest daughter, who, on the brink of womanhood, sees him, flaws and all.
With her mom gone, she steps up as a second parent in the house, which brings tension and guilt to Latif's dealings with her. They also share a disillusionment with Islam, largely because of the cruelty of their lost mother. Latif certainly sees himself in her, and this weighs on him too. But it's not all heavy emotions.
Tariq and Ali smartly weave in not just levity, but the goofy intimacy that breathes in the bonds of father and daughter. A sendoff scene might have been too maudlin or earnest were it not for the pair sharing a laugh over a perfectly executed dad joke. Again, the moment of ma, as Latif sets off for the climactic battle, and Tariq takes the time to remind us exactly what is being fought for.
Adia is a superb scene partner, not only to Ali, whose intense glare she matches, but also in scenes shared with young Jahleel Kamara, her onscreen little brother. She gives her sister depth by showing her as both patient and caring and annoyed. In scenes with her Mormon crush, she shrinks in shyness. And these shades make her boldness in communication with her dad reflect not only their shared fire, but also the closeness of their bond.
Credit: Orion / Amazon MGM StudiosThen there's John Cho, who brings a fresh menace as the cult leader. Rather than delivering a big, brash performance, Cho's performance is more nuanced. He lets the sparkling grill and flashy cowboy attire — bedecked with Christian iconography — speak loud, so he can speak in a deceitfully folksy whisper. It's enchanting and alarming, because it's easy to imagine being sucked into the easy warmth in his tone. But the things he's saying with a smile are downright scary. His showdown with Latif is inevitable, and as it gets closer, the tension will catch the breath in your throat. And it won't be the last time.
Because of how Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother came about, some might write it off as the "not-Blade Blade movie." But that's their mistake.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is a blisteringly original and absolutely gorgeous film. Tariq shows a comprehensive understanding of what draws Americans to not only action movies but also antihero/crime dramas. He delivers spectacles of violence, but grounds them in gripping, human stakes. Then, through that, he weaves a magnificent character-driven thread that is accentuated by color, details, and an extraordinary cast. Simply put, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is a stunner, and easily one of my favorite films of 2026.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother was reviewed out its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie opens in select theaters on Sept. 25. and everywhere in October.
Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you know like James Bond.
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 MashableBy 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 September 13, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Top SecretThe words are related to counter-intelligence work.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe a spy.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
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NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Undercover.
NYT Strands word list for September 12Plant
Agent
Counterspy
Asset
Opertaive
Mole
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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.
Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.
Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.
While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 13, 2026 Droppy signal meaningTo hang downward.
Flaccid meaningLacking firmness.
Sagging meaningDrifts down.
Slack meaningNot tight.
Cleveland meaning24th President.
Garfield meaning20th President.
Grant meaning18th President.
Madison meaning4th President.
Empty meaningContains nothing.
Excess meaningContains too much.
Kewpie meaningA small chubby doll with a topknot of hair.
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Odie meaningGender-neutral name of British origin.
Doublespeak meaningDeceptive language.
Heathcliff meaningA fictional character in Wuthering Heights.
Paramount meaningSuperior to others.
Porridge meaningA soft food made of boiled grains in milk or water.
Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you know U.S. History.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 11, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Soft
Green: Leaders of the Executive Branch
Blue: One word, two letters
Purple: Words with a high point
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Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Lacking in Firmness
Green: U.S. Presidents
Blue: Words That Sound Like Two Letters
Purple: Ending in Elevated Landforms
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 #1190 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayLacking in Firmness: DROOPY, FLACCID, SAGGING, SLACK
U.S. Presidents: CLEVELAND, GARFIELD, GRANT, MADISON
Words That Sound Like Two Letters: EMPTY, EXCESS, KEWPIE, ODIE
Ending in Elevated Landforms: DOUBLESPEAK, HEATHCLIFF, PARAMOUNT, PORRIDGE
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
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 Wordle answer should be easy to solve if pay attention.
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 September 13, 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 September 13, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Lock in.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.
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...
FOCUS
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
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.
At TIFF this week, Caleb Hearon and Zooey Deschanel sat down for the "For You Feed to Feature Film" panel, moderated by TikTok's Global Entertainment Partnerships Lead Jenny Kim, to talk about making the leap from online content to the big screen.
SEE ALSO: 'Trash Mountain' review: Caleb Hearon is ready for his next actThe two star together in Trash Mountain, which Hearon also co-wrote with Ruby Caster. A clip of the panel from Mashable's Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko, offers a preview of the advice they gave to creators hoping to make the same jump.
Deschanel's message was simply to stop waiting for permission. She recalled being told early in her music career that she couldn't make it as a musician because she'd already built a name for herself as an actor, and her response was basically to ignore it. "How about you just be the person that does it first," she said, adding that she believes everyone on that path already has something worth putting into the world.
Hearon went further, discussing the instinct people have to box creators into a single identity. His advice was to "Get comfortable saying no very early" and not to let companies or institutions push you into things "just because you're convinced it's the only way to get ahead."
He was candid about the money, too, noting that most of his bills get paid by "reading ads on my gay little podcast," not acting, despite doing four movies last year. Creators now have real leverage, according to Hearon, even as institutions increasingly offload financial risk onto them because of the "DIY nature" of content creation. His takeaway is to "learn how to say no early and make your fucking thing."
Our entertainment editor, Kristy Puchko, is on the ground at the Toronto International Film Festival and will have a full recap of the panel soon. Until then, you can also check out her review of Caleb Hearon's Trash Mountain.
While the iPhone Duo was the standout product during Apple's September event, the second biggest news was the camera additions to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
For the first time ever, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max include a genuine variable aperture. It's paired with a new set of manual controls, upgraded video features, and a fresh approach to photo authenticity, making this arguably the most substantial camera overhaul Apple has shipped in years.
It's also a meaningful shift in what Apple wants the iPhone to be. Case in point, the event kicks off with different cinematic scenes shot on the iPhone 18 Pro. Between the adjustable aperture, manual shutter speed, manual focus, and a live histogram, the iPhone 18 Pro is basically an entry-level DSLR that can call and text your friends.
That said, it's worth watching how long Apple sticks with the hardware. Variable aperture isn't new to smartphones broadly; Samsung shipped a version of it with the Galaxy S9 and S10, before quietly dropping the feature entirely.
So, whether the feature is here to stay or not, here's a closer look at everything that's new.
Manual controlsFor people who like to fine-tune their shots rather than let the phone decide everything, there's a new "Pro controls" panel baked right into the Camera app.
It surfaces the aperture setting mentioned above, plus shutter speed (how long the sensor is exposed to light — faster freezes motion, slower creates blur or lets in more light) and white balance (a color correction that keeps whites looking white instead of tinted orange under indoor lighting or blue in shade).
See that graph in the left corner. Credit: Apple / Mashable screenshotThere's also a histogram, which is a small graph that plots how exposed an image it. It looks technical, but the practical use is simple: if the graph is bunched up on the left, your photo's probably too dark; bunched on the right, it's probably blown out and too bright.
Smarter tracking, sharper videoApple has reworked what it calls the "computational imaging pipeline" to produce cleaner, more detailed images. It's a neat, low-key upgrade, as smartphone photos are normally heavily processed by algorithms (merging multiple exposures, reducing noise, sharpening detail) rather than being raw, untouched captures.
Photographic Styles, the tool that lets you set a consistent color/mood preset across your photos, now also includes texture and grain controls. On the video side, Cinematic effects can now be applied after the fact to footage shot at up to 60 frames per second; time-lapse videos support 4K and Dolby Vision HDR; and Audio Mix's algorithms have been updated to produce cleaner-sounding voices and isolate background music more effectively.
There's also a new AI-powered smart focus system designed to lock onto and track a single moving subject through a frame, which should help with shooting kids, pets, or anything else that won't stay still.
Variable apertureThe headline feature is a 48MP main camera built around a physically adjustable aperture, something iPhones have never had before. In cameras, an aperture is the opening in a lens through which light passes to hit the camera sensor. A wider opening lets in more light (better for dim rooms or night shots) and blurs the background more; a narrower opening lets in less light but keeps more of the scene in sharp focus, which is useful outdoors or in group photos where you want everyone's face crisp.
The standard for most smartphone cameras has been a fixed aperture of a single size (the iPhone 17 Pro, for example, had a ƒ/1.78 fixed aperture). Apple says the aperture on the 18 Pro and Pro Max uses six hair-thin, laser-cut blades that can be physically adjusted between four aperture settings, automatically widening or narrowing depending on the lighting and depth of field a shot calls for.
Apple says the change improves low-light photos and produces crisper background detail in group shots, while giving photographers a level of manual control that wasn't previously available on the phone.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.As previously stated, variable aperture settings have existed before, but they don't stick around for long. The biggest reason is durability and production. It's a lot of delicate moving hardware to cram into a device that regularly gets dropped, tossed in bags, and generally treated worse than a dedicated camera ever would be. Even current-generation stabilization systems can behave unpredictably after a hard enough drop, so a mechanical aperture introduces a new point of failure.
The Galaxy S27 was rumored to be getting its own variable aperture system as recently as eight months ago. However, reports in August suggest Samsung scrapped those plans because they made the phone bulkier and were expensive to add for what Samsung deemed to be "minor image-quality gains."
Whether Apple's engineering proves more durable than Samsung's, or whether variable aperture quietly disappears from the iPhone lineup a generation or two from now, remains an open question.
Apple Reference ImagePerhaps the most unusual and frighteningly needed addition is Apple Reference Image, a new authenticity feature built around the Main camera's redesigned sensor.
Credit: Apple / Mashable screenshotWhen a photo is taken in the new "Reference" capture mode, the sensor's data is cryptographically signed and processed through Apple's Private Cloud Compute into an unalterable reference version of the image. In short, it's a digital negative.
That reference photo sits alongside the normal shot in the Photos app, which can be compared with the final image to check whether it's been edited. Combined with image metadata and upcoming support for the SynthID watermarking standard, which flags AI-generated or AI-edited images.
Apple is positioning the feature as a way for photojournalists and everyday users alike to verify that a photo is what it claims to be, at a moment when AI-edited and AI-generated images are becoming harder to distinguish from real ones.
The solar system's smallest planet has suffered significant shrinkage, drawing up 30 percent more than scientists even previously estimated.
Mercury, which orbits closest to the sun, is a tiny rocky world that has continuously leaked heat into space since its sizzly formation 4.5 billion years ago. As its heavy iron core cools, the entire planet shrinks, like a grape transforming into a raisin in the sun. Its outer crust buckles and cracks around it, but on a planet scale, those surface wrinkles translate into huge cliffs and mountainous ridges.
A new study reveals Mercury has lost up to 14.5 miles of its diameter since birth. That might not seem like much until you realize that the planet is only 3,000 miles wide overall. For decades, researchers may have underestimated the planet's contraction because the rough terrain was obscuring the true extent of the damage.
"Thirty percent is a little bit surprising, but the corrected amount of contraction actually makes sense to me," said Gaku Nishiyama, a planetary scientist at the German Aerospace Center Institute of Space Research and lead author on the study, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: Astronomer proposes jaw-dropping reason why we don't have a super-EarthA barrage of meteors pock Mercury's surface, cratering the land and hurling giant shattered rock across the planet. The rubble seems to create a fresh gravel spread, concealing the planet's wrinkles.
While testing Nishiyama's hypothesis, a team of researchers discovered a clear pattern: The rugged regions contained the fewest visible wrinkles. Around major impacts, like the massive Rachmaninoff crater, tectonic cracks disappeared almost entirely under thick layers of debris.
"We compared a global map of Mercury's surface roughness with maps of shortening structures and contraction," Nishiyama said. "Mercury appears to have shrunk considerably more than what the visible tectonic record alone suggested."
After accounting for these hidden features, the researchers recalculated Mercury's total contraction. The results were published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal this week.
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For scientists, the findings could resolve a long-standing tension. Previous estimates suggested far less shrinking than physics predicted, leaving researchers uncomfortable with their understanding of how planets cool. By correcting the math, astronomers may be able to unlock clues about Mercury's original temperature and how other shrinking rocky worlds, like our own moon, evolve over time.
NASA's Messenger spacecraft captured the Rachmaninoff crater, a double-ring basin about 180 miles wide, on Mercury in 2009. Credit: NASA / JHUAPL / CIWA faster shrinkage rate may mean Mercury holds a much larger metal core that contains fewer light elements, such as silicon, than previously thought. That matters because a larger iron core would rewrite what scientists know about Mercury's birth. More metal would strongly suggest the planet survived a catastrophic collision with another body in its ancient history, an event that could have stripped away most of its rocky crust. An oversized core might also explain how such a tiny world kept its interior churning, a necessity for its global magnetic field.
Scientists won't have to wait long to verify the team's work with fresh data. The BepiColombo spacecraft, a joint mission of the European Space Agency and Japan's JAXA, is on its last leg of its space journey to Mercury. It's expected to enter orbit around the planet in November.
Equipped with advanced lasers, BepiColombo will scan Mercury's surface to detect fine details in its surface features that earlier space missions missed. Only two missions — NASA's Mariner 10 and Messenger — have visited the planet before, and only Messenger has ever orbited it.
Anthropic is reportedly in talks with Nvidia to secure funding for its upcoming IPO, according to an exclusive report from Reuters. If the deal goes through, it'd make Anthropic's IPO one of the largest stock market debuts ever.
Reuters report cites two people familiar with the discussions between the Claude maker and Nvidia, although they weren't at liberty to speak publicly. According to Reuters, Anthropic is looking to raise as much as $100 billion in the offering, which would raise the company's valuation to around $2 trillion.
That would put Anthropic in the same financial weight class as some of the world's largest public companies, despite not yet being publicly traded itself. One source told Reuters that Nvidia is considering investing up to $10 billion as part of the deal, though the terms are still being worked out and could change.
Anthropic declined to comment on the discussions, and Nvidia did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Known as anchor investing, lining up a major investor ahead of an IPO has become common practice for companies planning especially large listings. A well-known backer buying in early can reassure the broader market that the offering is a safe bet. Reuters noted that Nvidia and Amazon played similar roles in chip designer Arm's IPO, while Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund did the same for SpaceX.
If it goes forward, Anthropic's IPO would extend a wave of major stock listings this year, following Elon Musk's SpaceX going public in June. Citing Dealogic data, Reuters reported that U.S. IPOs, excluding blank-check companies, had already raised a record $137 billion through the end of August.
Nvidia and Anthropic already have significant financial ties. Reuters reported that Nvidia agreed last November to invest up to $10 billion in Anthropic as part of a broader partnership under which Anthropic committed to spending $30 billion on Microsoft's Azure cloud service, which runs on Nvidia chips.
A new investment tied to the IPO would further deepen that relationship.
The newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max officially opened for preorders today, with the new Apple smartphones going on sale promptly at 8 a.m. ET.
Despite rumors that the online Apple Store was down ahead of the launch, the site appears to be working fine. Retailers and mobile carriers have also gone live with iPhone 18 Pro preorder deals, with companies like T-Mobile offering the iPhone 18 Pro for free for qualifying customers.
If you have any questions before ordering the new iPhones, we're here to help. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder has been reporting live from Apple Park all week and going hands-on with the new devices, and we'll have full reviews to share in the weeks ahead.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro, 256GB Save up to $1,200 at T-MobileThe iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both phones are $100 more expensive than last year's iPhone 17 Pro line, thanks to the global memory crisis.
When does the iPhone 18 Pro officially launch?While preorders opened this morning, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will officially launch on Friday, Sept. 18. If you preorder, that's when your phone should arrive, and when you can go to your local Apple store to check them out for yourself.
What colors are available for the new iPhones?The new Pro models come in four colors this year:
Burgundy
Glacier Blue
Silver
Black
If you're still deciding between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the iPhone Duo, you have a bit more time to make a decision. The foldable iPhone Duo will be available for preorder on Oct. 16 and will hit store shelves Oct. 23. It will set you back $1,999.
How does the iPhone 18 Pro Max differ from the iPhone 17 Pro Max?We'll be honest: The phones are very similar this year, but there are some key differences. (Read our full breakdown of the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max.)
Here are the biggest changes:
The new models introduce a new physical variable aperture for professional-quality photographs and videos, as well as smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.
The iPhone 18 Pro has a better battery life
A new A20 Pro chip provides better support for AI tools
The new iPhone 18 Pro models are more expensive and have new color options
All the big carriers are competing to attract new customers by offering big savings on the iPhone 18 Pro — if you meet certain terms and conditions, of course. Over at T-Mobile and AT&T, you can save $1,200 on the new phones, letting you get the new iPhone for free. Apple is also offering major trade-in credits.
T-Mobile: Switch to T-Mobile and bring your existing phone number to get the iPhone 18 Pro for free. Alternatively, you can trade in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan to score this deal.
Apple: Get between $175 and $885 in trade-in credits.
Apple Upgrade: Apple's new leasing program lets you pay as little as $34.99 per month for the Pro.
AT&T: Save up to $1,200 on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by trading in your iPhone 14 or newer device and activating an AT&T Premium 2.0 plan.
Total Wireless: Save $600 on the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max via the All Access plan.
Verizon: Get up to $1,020 off when you upgrade and bring an eligible trade-in on an existing myPlan.
Visible: If you buy the iPhone 18 Pro through Visible+ Pro, you'll receive $480 in monthly service credits. Both new and existing members are eligible.
Walmart: The big-box retailer doesn't offer any true preorder deals, but you can finance the new iPhone for $78/month through OnePay, a Klarna-backed service.
Xfinity: With a qualifying trade-in and device payment plan on the Mobile Plus plan, you can save $1,200 on the Pro model.
Very soon! iOS 27 will be available before the new phones, and anyone with a compatible iPhone can set it up starting on Monday, Sept. 14. The new Siri AI app will arrive with it.
Can you buy the new iPhone 18 Pro at Amazon?No, Amazon does not sell the new iPhone 18 Pro line. However, Amazon is a great place to pick up iPhone 18 Pro Max cases, grips, and accessories, as well as the new AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12.
Amazon typically sells renewed and refurbished iPhones. You can buy the new iPhones from Walmart, however.
What are reviewers saying about the iPhone 18 Pro Max?Nothing yet. Mashable has received the new Pro and Pro Max phones for testing along with other tech journalists, but it's too soon for anyone to render a verdict just yet. Early first impressions have been positive, however, and you can learn more in these reports:
Video: I played with Apple’s new iPhones. Here’s what surprised me most.
Video: Our first take on the iPhone 18 Pro: Intelligent photography
We'll have a full review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned! In general, Apple smartphones are very reliable, and we think you can purchase the devices with confidence.
We will say this for now: If you already have an iPhone 17 Pro Max, the new models don't make a super obvious case for upgrading. And there are good reasons to consider waiting for next year's iPhone 19/20.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who watch volleyball.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Arizona sports
Green: Midwest cities
Blue: Football dynasty
Purple: Pro volleyball
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Arizona Pro Teams
Green: Big Ten School Locations
Blue: Manning Family Members
Purple: Major League Volleyball Teams
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 #719 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Arizona Pro Teams: CARDINALS, DIAMONDBACKS, MERCURY, SUNS
Big Ten School Locations: CHAMPAIGN, COLUMBUS, LINCOLN, PISCATAWAY
Manning Family Members: ARCH, ARCHIE, ELI, PEYTON
Major League Volleyball Teams: PULSE, SUPERNOVAS, VALKYRIES, VIBE
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 catalog.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 12, 2026The 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 September 12, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 12 PipsLess Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.
Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.
Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 12 PipsEqual (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.
Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 12 PipsGreater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.
Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.
Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.
Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.
Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max officially went on sale today ahead of their Sept. 18 launch (the foldable iPhone Duo won't be available until next month). And when you buy a new phone, that usually means buying a new phone case. The best iPhone 18 Pro cases will protect your phone when it inevitably slips out of your hands and tumbles to the ground, risking your $1,200 investment.
A lot of case companies started selling burgundy and glacier blue iPhone 18 Pro cases before the phones were even announced, and you can already find a ton of stylish and cute iPhone 18 Pro cases for sale online. Whether you're looking for a cheap $12 clear case, a classic PopSockets Grip, or a more fashion-forward Velvet Caviar case, we've found the top options for iPhone shoppers. We also checked Apple's official collection of iPhone 18 Pro Max cases for you.
If you're upgrading from the iPhone 17 Pro, there are two things you need to know. You can save up to $1,200 on the iPhone 18 Pro thanks to preorder deals, and your iPhone 17 Pro case should fit the 18 Pro just fine. Apple kept the measurements and button layouts exactly the same.
Our favorite iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases so far Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Profile Series Case $39.99 at AmazonOK, so you've reviewed the best iPhone 18 Pro cases and picked out your favorite, but you're not done yet. Apple rolled out a bunch of new accessories and cases for the iPhone 18, and brands like PopSockets have hundreds of grips, stands, wallets, and accessories.
Here are some of the top phone grips, screen protectors, and other goodies to pair with your new iPhone.
Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen GlasTR EZ FIT Screen Protector for iPhone 18 Pro $19.99 at AmazonAmerican comedian Caleb Hearon's made his mark as a content creator, amassing fans across social media and through his podcast So True with Caleb Hearon. Earlier this year, he appeared in three films in supporting turns, ranging from the stoner-comedy Pizza Movie, to the critically heralded The Devil Wears Prada 2, to the Netflix offering Little Brother. But with Trash Mountain, Hearon is penning his next chapter as leading man.
Written by Hearon and Ruby Caster, Trash Mountain is as funny as you might expect, if not funnier. But the real surprise is how truly touching this comedy with a snarky Hearon as its leading man is. Brace yourself, because Hearon is going to make you cry.
SEE ALSO: TIFF 2026 preview: 18 films (and shows) you'll want to see (and how) What's Caleb Hearon's Trash Mountain about? Caleb Hearon stars in "Trash Mountain." Credit: TIFFDirected by Kris Rey, this comedy begins with Hearon in his comfort zone, performing stand-up at a drag club before kiki-ing with colorful queens backstage. In an efficient and effusive opening sequence, Trash Mountain establishes Gavin (Hearon) as living it up in Chicago with a solid set of squirrel friends. But then he gets a call from his sister Abbi (Zooey Deschanel) that their dad has died.
Just like that, Gavin is back in the rural Missouri town where he grew up. Sleeping on his young nephew's bed, he wakes up to the sound of LEGOS clattering in play. He's bossed about by his religious grandmother (Jacki Weaver) and grudgingly helps Abbi sort out their father's home, which is stacked floor to ceiling with stuff, stuff, stuff. It's not just a matter of cleaning house, but locating their dead dad's lost Social Security card for some bureaucratic red tape related to his estate. But — as a sage named Trish offers, finding something so small in so much mess is like "looking for a virgin in a whore house." (Trash Mountain exudes small-town color.)
Uninterested in revisiting his past or connecting to his grief, Gavin is constantly cracking jokes and hits up Grindr for some easy fun. But working through his dad's stuff brings up feelings even Gavin can't laugh off. And his one night-stand named Jerome (Jaboukie Young-White) begins to blossom into something more.
Caleb Hearon is a damn star, but the whole ensemble is sensational.Through the stand-up intro, Trash Mountain smartly starts with a version of Hearon his fans know well, smart, snarky, and gay. But as soon as Gavin hits Missouri, the story turns fish-out-of-water. Hearon's performance becomes more layered as Gavin, on the surface, presents as an unflappable smartass. Deschanel proves a surprisingly terrific partner, dropping her bubbly New Girl persona for an irreverent humor that matches Hearon's. She also proves adorable with her onscreen husband (a charming Kyle Marvin) without getting treacly. But she and Hearon share an easy intimacy and comedic timing that make them terrifically convincing as siblings, especially as they one-up each other with increasingly acerbic jokes as their grandmother looks on in horror.
Props to Weaver, who expertly takes on the role of the hysterical, pushy matriarch. When the siblings run from their heartache with humor, it's grandma's earnest cries for compassion that shake them out of their irreverent reverie.
In those moments, Deschanel is terrific, trembling on a throbbing vulnerability. But Hearon is the surprise, revealing his range. He strides out of quick-witted reads and into fury, hurt, and ultimately grief. With a beguiling Young-White, he shares an electric chemistry. But watching Hearon's familiar and effective schtick be stripped away for a grounded and earnestly emotional climax was so striking that I cried through the final act, and more afterward.
Trash Mountain is primed to be a queer cinema landmark.Executive produced by Lilly Wachowski, Trash Mountain will speak to plenty of folks, particularly American queers who grew up in conservative hometowns. (It's me!)
Through Gavin's story, Hearon and Caster capture a familiar narrative for LGBTQ people. Growing up in a small town where homophobia thrived, Gavin left for a big city, where he built a life and community. There, he could be himself with the relentless gawking or judgment of a too-small town. But coming home again is like being shoved into a box you were never going to fit into. The Big City Gay coming back home might not be openly harassed, but may be treated as a novelty, subject of awkward conversations with an old classmate at Wal-Mart, or with strangers who aim to be friendly and end up being a bother.
Gavin chafes at the expectations of a town he gladly left in his rearview, yet yearns to reconnect with his surviving family. But his low-key disdain for his hometown is an obstacle there. Yet Trash Mountain won't dismiss the town in the same way its hero has. Rey recognizes the political context of the place with a pick-up truck driving by with a Confederate flag, a "don't tread on me" flag, and a "Trump 2020" bumper sticker for good measure. However, by contrast, there's Jerome, an openly gay man from Seattle who loves this town. There's Trish, who's gruff, direct, and kind in a combination that feels deeply Americana. And there's loving shots of the scenery, be it a rolling plain or a lively dive bar. This is a place that's wonderful and flawed all at once.
This complex portrait of Gavin's hometown reflects how he feels about his father, who was, by all accounts, an alcoholic, a hoarder, and a loner. All those labels might urge Gavin and Abbi to try to box up their grief like so many forgotten magazines of "floppy disk porn." But ultimately, as they plan a funeral for their dad, they recognize all of the good and the bad to say goodbye. Even now, thinking of the quirk and tenderness of Trash Mountain's final scene, I tear up.
Finely tuned, Trash Mountain is an uproarously funny comedy about coming home again, and a tender drama about the grief of not just losing a parent, but also the challenge of accepting them as they are. Within all this, Hearon and company made a film that is not just terrifically entertaining and cathartically tear-jerking, but also a showcase for its leading man.
Cheers to Hearon. I can't wait to see what he headlines next.
Trash Mountain was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival.
In case you missed Apple's Sept. 9 event, there are a few new iPhones in town. And the big carriers are already competing to offer the best iPhone preorder deals and lock in new customers. Remember: The new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available for preorder starting Sept. 12 at 8 a.m. ET, so you can secure your new phone ASAP.
The best iPhone 18 preorder deals at a glance: Preorder at T-Mobile Get iPhone 18 Pro for free with qualifying trade-in or by switching Get Deal Preorder at AT&T Get iPhone 18 Pro for free with qualifying trade-in Get Deal Preorder at Visible Get $480 of monthly service credits with purchase Get Deal Preorder at Total Wireless Take $600 off iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max Get Deal Preorder at Apple Get up to $885 in credit with trade-in Get DealBy now, the annual iPhone launch is basically the first indicator of fall. The foldable iPhone Duo has captured most of the hype this year, but the tried-and-true iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max flagship models also deliver exciting new updates. While the Duo won't be available until October, the 18 Pro and Pro Max hit shelves on Friday, Sept. 18.
The new Pro models come in four new colors: deep black, silver, burgundy, and glacier blue. The 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299 for the 256GB models (storage options go up to 2TB). That's a $100 price increase over last year, and new phones keep getting more expensive. Fortunately for our wallets, carriers like T-Mobile are offering up to $1,200 off, and you can also take advantage of the Apple Upgrade program if you don't mind leasing your iPhone.
SEE ALSO: Get an iPhone 18 Pro case to go along with your new phone Save up to $1,200 with iPhone 18 preorder dealsIf you're ready to preorder your new device but your wallet isn't quite keeping up with your enthusiasm, we've found a few ways to save money. To take advantage of most carriers' offers, you'll need to switch providers, trade in an older iPhone, or choose a specific phone plan. Smaller carriers like Visible and Total Wireless are also offering up to half off the new iPhone if you sign up for certain plans.
Here are the best preorder deals for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max:
T-Mobile: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number or trade-in an eligible phone on an Experience Beyond plan. You can also score up to $930 in trade-in credit when you switch a line to T-Mobile's Experience More or Go5G Plus plans.
Total Wireless: Save $600 on iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max on the All Access plan.
Apple: Trade in an iPhone 13 or later model and get between $175 and $885 in credit towards the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max. You can also score up to $1,200 in trade-in credit through specific carriers.
AT&T: Get the iPhone 18 Pro for free or up to $1,200 off iPhone 18 Pro Max with qualifying trade-ins of iPhone 14 or later and activation on AT&T Premium 2.0 plan or higher. You can also get up to $800 in credit to pay off your current device just by switching to AT&T.
Verizon: Get up to $1,200 off when you add a new line (with qualified trade-in) on eligible myPlan or up to $1,020 off when you upgrade with an eligible trade-in on existing myPlan.
Visible: Buy the iPhone 18 Pro with Visible+ Pro and receive $480 through monthly service credits. New and existing members are eligible.
Walmart: The big box retailer doesn't have any preorder deals just yet, but you can finance the new iPhone and pay as little as $78/month if you qualify through OnePay, a Klarna-backed service.
Xfinity: Get the iPhone 18 Pro Max for free with a qualifying trade-in and device payment plan on the Mobile Plus plan.
As of this writing, Amazon's iPhone 18 Pro listings aren't live, and Amazon typically isn't the best place to shop for new Apple smartphones. However, we'll update this page if any iPhone 18 Pro Amazon deals appear in the days ahead. In the meantime, you can preorder the new AirPods 5 and Apple Watches at Amazon.
Apple AirPods 5 earbuds $129 at Amazon
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