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UPDATE: May. 4, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with new laptop deals, pricing, and availability.

The very best laptop deals at a glance:

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Best laptop deal under $300

Dell Inspiron 15 (3535))

$289.99 at Dell.com
(save $160)

Get Deal

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Best laptop deal under $600

HP Laptop 15t-fd100

$459.99 at HP.com
(save $540)

Get Deal

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Best laptop deal under $900

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch

$849 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo
(save $150)

Get Deal

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Best laptop deal under $1,200

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M2)

$1,199 at Best Buy
(save $300)

Get Deal

A new laptop is almost certainly a splurge, but keeping your eyes peeled for deals can make it much easier to pull the plug on an upgrade. The good news is that you’ve got options at a variety of price points via Best Buy, Amazon, and beyond, whether you’re looking for an everyday workhorse, a cheap Chromebook for homework, a 2-in-1 Windows PC for drawing, or a powerful premium gaming laptop.

Read on for our running list of the best laptop deals as of May 4. (And if you don’t see any models that check all the boxes on your spec wish list, come back soon: We add new picks every other week.)

Best laptop deal under $300

Why we like it

This Dell laptop features an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor from 2022, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s nothing spectacular and a little outdated, but this is a spec sheet we rarely see at this price point: Most cheap, entry-level PCs under $300 have dinky discontinued Intel Pentium/Celeron CPUs, 4GB of RAM, pokier eMMC flash storage that maxes out at 128GB, and 60Hz refresh rates. (Hell, even some nicer laptops don’t have 120Hz refresh rates — M3 Apple MacBook Air included!) It’s marked down to $289.99, which is a 36% discount.

More laptop deals under $300

• Acer Chromebook 315 (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) — $139 $219.99 (save $80.99)

• Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)

• Acer Swift 1 (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $229.99 $369.99 (save $140)

• HP Laptop 17z-cp200 (AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $249.99 $559.99 (save $310)

Best laptop deal under $600

Why we like it

At 54% off, this is the biggest discount we’ve yet encountered on a laptop powered by a brand-new Intel Core Ultra processor. It’s not much to write home about otherwise: There’s 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 720p webcam, a 15.6-inch IPS display, and a backlit keyboard (with a numeric keypad). But if all you really care about is oomph, it should make your shortlist at this price.

More laptop deals under $600

• Acer Aspire 3 (AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

• Acer Chromebook 516 GE (Intel Core i5-1240P, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $449 $649 (save $200)

• ASUS Vivobook Go 15 (AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $409.99 $549.99 (save $140)

• ASUS Vivobook 16 (AMD Ryzen 5 5625U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $389.99 $549.99 (save $160)

• Dell Inspiron 14 7435 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

• Dell Inspiron 16 5635 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400)

• Dell Inspiron 16 7635 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $499.99 $749.99 (save $250)

• Dell XPS 13 9315 (Intel Core i7-1230U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $599 $799 (save $200)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $479.99 $699.99 (save $220)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) — $424.99 $549.99 (save $125)

• Lenovo Yoga 6, 13-inch (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

Best laptop deal under $900

Why we like it

Read Mashable’s review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

The 13-inch version of Apple’s previous-gen MacBook Air won a Mashable Choice Award upon release in mid-2022, with tech and games reporter Alex Perry praising its peppy M2 processor, superb battery life, satisfying keyboard, and lightweight frame. A permanent price drop spurred by March’s release of its (very comparable) predecessor has brought it down to a new starting price of $999, and a $150 discount at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo scoots it even further into budget territory — as far as MacBooks are concerned, at least.

More laptop deals under $900

• Acer Nitro 5 (Intel Core i7-12650H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,279.99 (save $380)

• Acer Nitro 16 (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

• Acer Nitro V 15 (Intel Core i5-13420H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $749.99 (save $150)

• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (Intel i5-13500HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

• Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core i5-13500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,099.99 (save $200)

• ASUS TUF Dash 15 (Intel Core i5 12450H, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (Intel Core i5-12500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)

• Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 (Intel Core i7-13700H, Intel Iris Xe, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $829.99 $1,299.99 (save $470)

• HP Envy x360 15t-fe000 (Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $749.99 $1,099.99 (save $350)

• HP Pavilion Plus 16t-ab000 (Intel Core i5-13500H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $629.99 $1,099.99 (save $470)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i, 14-inch (Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $649 $849.99 (save $200.99)

• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, 14-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $799.99 $1,049.99 (save $250)

• Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, 13.5-inch (Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $799.99 $1,299.99 (save $500)

• MSI Cyborg 15 (Intel Core i7-12650H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849.99 $1,099.99 (save $250)

Best laptop deal under $1,200

Why we like it

Read Mashable’s full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

Last year’s 15-inch M2 MacBook Air has a slightly larger (but just as pretty) Liquid Retina display and six speakers instead of four. Best of all, it still only weighs about three pounds. It’s technically been discontinued by Apple, meaning you can’t buy it in new condition through the Apple Store anymore, but certain third-party retailers still have it in stock. For its part, Best Buy has the 512GB model marked down to $1,199, or 20% off its $1,299 MSRP — an all-time low for this configuration.

More laptop deals under $1,200

• Acer Swift Edge 16 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• Acer Swift X 16 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $949.99 $1,249.99 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,099 (save $100)

• Dell XPS 15 9539 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Intel Arc Graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199 $1,499 (save $300)

• HP Envy 17t-da000 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Arc Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

• HP OMEN 16t-wf000 (Intel Core i7-13700HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600)

• Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, 16-inch (Intel Core i5-13500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $834.99 $1,499.99 (save $665)

On May 7, Apple will hold its first official Apple Event of the year. Which new products will the Cupertino-based company have in store for its users?

Brand new iPad models and iPad accessories like an all-new Apple Pencil, based on the roundup of leaks and rumors we’ve collected about the event.

Apple is calling the event, dubbed “Let Loose,” a “different kind of Apple event,” but it’s unclear what it means by that.

Apple events typically occur within specific time frames, such as June for WWDC and September for iPhones. Apple doesn’t normally hold an event in May. The last time it held an Apple event that didn’t fit its routine schedule was the “Scary Fast” livestream, when the M3 MacBooks were unveiled, on the evening before Halloween.

Although we already have a pretty good idea of what Apple will drop on Tuesday, Gurman has pulled together a last-minute report to solidify his predictions for the upcoming event. Here is his final forecast ahead of the livestream:

A new iPad Pro

Apple’s graphic for the “Let Loose” Apple Event showcases an image of a hand holding a pencil, so it seems pretty obvious that this event will focus on the iPad and its relevant accessories.

However, according to Gurman, Apple will likely focus on two specific new models of iPads. First up, the “star” of the event, the iPad Pro.

Gurman says that the new iPad Pro will be the first iPad with an OLED display, which will improve the iPad’s image quality and probably result in a thinner device. Apple will release two versions, an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch one.

While this has yet to be confirmed, there is a chance that these new Apple iPad Pros will be the very first Apple devices with Apple’s brand new M4 chipset. The M4 chip is set to start rolling out across Apple’s computer and mobile device lines through this year and next and is believed to play a major role in Apple’s coming AI focus.

iPad Air refresh

The “mid-tier” iPad, the iPad Air, will also get a refresh.

While not as much of a leap from its predecessor as the iPad Pro, it does seem like Apple will be offering the usual 10.9-inch model as well as an all-new 12.9-inch version of the device. 

The iPad Air is expected to be powered by the M2 chip, which Apple first released in 2022 with the M2 MacBook Air.

Updated Apple Pencil

As previously mentioned, Apple’s graphic for the event predominantly features a pencil, so a new Apple Pencil release seems pretty locked in.

According to Bloomberg, the new Apple Pencil is an update of the higher-end model which launched in 2018 — not the lower-end version which was updated just least year.

This new premium Apple Pencil will include haptic feedback, meaning users will feel a “vibration-like effect” while using the device, matching whatever action it is that they are performing on the iPad.

Gurman says another new feature likely to be added will allow users to perform tasks with the Apple Pencil by applying pressure to the device with their hand by squeezing it.

Magic Keyboard for iPad

It also appears that these new iPad models will launch with a brand new Magic Keyboard for iPads as well. 

The new version will still come with an iPad case, keyboard, and trackpad but will be “more durable” as it will use aluminum and look “more laptop-like.” 

A smaller event but Apple has more to come

This does appear to be a much smaller Apple Event than usual, however, it’s not out of the ordinary for Apple to hold device-specific events, especially in recent years.

A new iPad Mini, the iPad model that hasn’t been updated at all since 2021, isn’t expected yet. Neither is a new base iPad model. New MacBooks aren’t expected to be part of the event either.

There is a chance Apple will tease new AI features, especially if the iPad Pro model features the M4 chip. However, Apple will save most, if not all, of its AI announcements for the big WWDC event in June.

Eagle-eyed AI watchers suspect that a ChatGPT search engine product — in other words a direct competitor to Google Search — will be here in a matter of days.

Yesterday, a post in Y Combinator’s Hacker News community noted that a domain name and a security certificate for “search.chatgpt.com” had been created, although that address currently leads to nothing. This could mean anything. A developer at OpenAI could have created that address and certificate for some internal purpose for all anyone knows, and then some investment-minded person who uses automated tools to breathlessly monitor hot domains like ChatGPT.com for changes that might make for hot stock tips jumped to a conclusion.

For good measure, AI influencer Pete Huang tweeted “Search (dot) ChatGPT (dot) com May 9th,” also yesterday. And here we are in downtown Rumorville. Still, the rumor is plausible, and feeds speculation that has been going strong ever since ChatGPT first debuted.

Mashable asked OpenAI for comment, and will update if we hear back.

What would a ChatGPT search product be like?

To understand what this might mean, you might first imagine a search engine, but one powered by an AI algorithm. Are you imagining Google? You’re imagining right, because Google is powered by an AI algorithm. But since this would be a search engine under the ChatGPT umbrella, we should probably imagine something closer to Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE).

If Google’s search-engine-with-chatbot mode is what OpenAI is mimicking, the user will search normally, and receive a page of links in classic web style, but as a side dish there’ll be a little widget at the top of the page offering to let the Gemini large language model take a stab at answering the query, which the user can click a button to trigger, meaning the AI answer is still optional. 

For users with this feature turned on when it was new, Google used to load a bunch of traditional search results, and then a few seconds later the Generative AI answer would unexpectedly open wide like a robotic mouth toward the top of the page spewing non-optional AI text. The effect was rather creepy, like watching a Big Mouth Billy Bass start talking. Hopefully ChatGPT isn’t going in that direction.

The reverse of this, ChatGPT with an external search engine integrated into it, already exists for paid ChatGPT users, but ChatGPT’s search engine access sometimes disappears for some users, and is occasionally disabled altogether. So the integration of OpenAI’s search and chatbot capabilities hasn’t been rolled out smoothly to say the least.

Credit: Mashable screengrab via Microsoft

A non-paywalled version of this also exists within Microsoft Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat. Ask the chatbot a question that a large language model can’t plausibly answer, and you get a summary of search results instead. The Google Gemini chatbot can also search the web in this way.

At any rate, this move feeds into the narrative of inevitability being spread by the biggest names in tech right now, about how AI will replace the web as we know it. In fact, a dedicated ChatGPT search page might already be an outmoded idea if Bill Gates was right a year ago, when he said that when AI tech fully blossoms, “You’ll never go to a search site again.”

iOS 18, the next major iteration of the iPhone operating system, is reportedly going to feature a new suite of AI-powered features designed to keep up with the AI race where Google, Microsoft, and other tech giants are at the forefront.

According to a report from AppleInsider, Apple doesn’t necessarily care to roll out an AI chatbot like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Instead, the Cupertino-based tech giant is focused on enhancing the capabilities of utilities and apps that already exist within the Apple ecosystem, including Siri, Safari, Messages, and Spotlight Search.

As we reported in mid-April, these AI features are rumored to be “on device” (for the most part) to stay true to Apple’s commitment to user privacy.

iOS 18: 3 rumored AI-powered features

The AI-powered features rolling out to iOS 18 are underpinned by a large language model (LLM) called Apple Ajax, AppleInsider said.

With this LLM at the helm, here are the AI features we expect to see for the next big iOS release:

1. Summarization with Siri

Apple may be arming Siri with summarization smarts for Messages. The report wasn’t clear on what, exactly, Siri will do as part of this new integration, but if we can make an educated guess, the assistant may have the ability to give you a synopsis of texts (at the very least).

2. Summarization with Safari

Safari is also getting summarization capabilities, according to AppleInsider. With this feature, users will have the opportunity to get brief, AI-generated summaries of any webpage on the screen.

3. Spotlight Search gets smarter

The report reveals that Apple Ajax will allow iOS 18 to generate “sentence-long responses” without cloud-based processing. And according to AppleInsider, it spits it out in “milliseconds.”

This will be beneficial for Spotlight Search, another feature that will reportedly get sprinkled with AI enhancements. Spotlight Search is expected to get more intelligent. For example, if you type in a saved contact’s name, it will display their information.

“The software will also communicate with the Calendar app and take into account events when creating a response,” AppleInsider said.

Although Apple Ajax can perform basic AI tasks while remaining offline (e.g., analyzing text and summarization), AppleInsider claims that more complex AI computations will require cloud-based processing.

As mentioned at the outset, we expect to hear more about iOS 18 at WWDC on June 10. The next major version is expected to be released alongside the new iPhone 16 series in September.

May just started, but when has that ever stopped retailers from starting their Memorial Day sales early? This year is no different, so it’s time to prepare for those summer savings. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s big Memorial Day sales, plus some early offers for you to start shopping right now.

When is Memorial Day, and when do the sales start?

This year, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 27. But, Memorial Day weekend — the time when most of the big sales will be taking place — starts on Friday, May 24. We expect to see lots of discounts on offer during the three-day weekend, especially from mattress, appliance, and outdoor goods brands.

Are Memorial Day sales starting early?

Some Memorial Day sales are already getting started as we speak, with some brands holding “early access” events leading up to a bigger sale during Memorial Day weekend (more on those below). Others aren’t necessarily labeled as early Memorial Day sales, but you can already find a lot of savings on outdoor items, home appliances, and select electronics at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. We do think the deals will be much better as we get closer to Memorial Day, so it may be best to just wait it out.

Though Memorial Day weekend doesn’t officially begin until May 24, keep an eye out for sales starting earlier that week on May 20.

What to buy during Memorial Day sales

Memorial Day is always a huge time for doorbuster mattress sales, but we also expect to see big discounts on outdoor items and appliances for the summer, as well as other select home appliances and electronics. Look out for items like grills, lawn care equipment, gardening supplies, and outdoor furniture.

We also foresee popular kitchen items going on sale, as well as big-ticket items like TVs, headphones, laptops, and fitness equipment.

What are the best Memorial Day sales?

The worthwhile Memorial Day sales aren’t all that plentiful just yet, but more will be on the way shortly. Here are some of the best Memorial Day sales and deals that we could find so far.

Best early Memorial Day deals 2024

Mattresses

• Avocado: Save up to 20% on mattresses and more

• Bear: 35% off sitewide, plus free sleep accessories

• Beautyrest: Save up to $1,200 on select mattresses and base sets

• Birch: 25% off sitewide, plus two free pillows

• Brooklyn Bedding: 25% off sitewide

• DreamCloud: Up to 50% off mattresses

• Helix: Up to 30% off sitewide, plus two free pillows

• Layla: Up to $200 off mattresses, plus two free pillows

• Leesa: 25% off mattresses, plus two free pillows

• Nectar: Up to 40% off mattresses

• Nolah: 35% off mattresses, plus free pillows

• Serta: Save up to $900 on select mattresses and adjustable bases

• Zoma: Save $150 on all mattresses

Furniture and home appliances

• Home Depot: Up to 50% off home decor and furniture

• LG: Bundle select items and save up to $200

• Lowe’s: Up to 35% off home appliances

• Samsung: Save up to $1,200 on refrigerators and laundry machines

• Solo Stove: Save up to $150 sitewide

• Wayfair: Way Day sale starting on May 4

Kitchen

• KitchenAid: Up to $150 off select Stand Mixers

Tech, electronics, and more

• Amazon: Check out deals on Echo devices, MacBooks, AirPods, iPads, fitness trackers, and other select electronics

• Best Buy: Check out deals on TVs from brands like Samsung, Hisense, Insignia, and more. Also find discounts on fitness trackers, home gym equipment, and outdoor items like grills and lawnmowers.

• iRobot: Save up to $400 sitewide until May 11

• Walmart: Score deals on kitchen appliances from Ninja, Keurig, Hamilton Beach, and others. Plus, find deals on patio furniture and summer cleaning devices.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for May 3’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

A very brown piece of wood/timber.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter E.

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 Wordle #1049 is…

EBONY.

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.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 May 3’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Going out spots

• Green: Leave behind

• Blue: Types of measurements

• Purple: Different places to sale things

Here are today’s Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Nightspots

• Green: Cast Off

• Blue: Units of Length

• Purple: ___Sale

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 Connections #327 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

• Nightspots: BAR, CLUB, DISCO, LOUNGE

• Cast Off: DITCH, DROP, LOSE, SHED

• Units of Length: FATHOM, FOOT, LEAGUE, YARD

• ___Sale: BAKE, CLEARANCE, GARAGE, SAMPLE

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday’s Connections.

Google Street View offers a window to the world in all its bizarre, intimate, and often unfiltered glory. However, this peek into everyday life also extends to your home, potentially revealing more than you’d like — from views into bedroom windows to concerns about privacy and safety.

Fortunately, there’s a solution. You can request Google to blur your house permanently, leaving behind only a vague outline of the building. The process is surprisingly simple.

Launched in 2007, Street View provides a ground-level perspective of numerous cities and towns worldwide, captured by roving vehicles and photographers equipped with camera-laden backpacks. From its inception, the service has been a subject of controversy, touching on expected concerns as well as unexpected ones.

In 2008, for instance, the Minnesota suburb of North Oaks objected to its inclusion on Google’s service, citing trespassing concerns. In response, Google promptly removed the images from Street View.

In 2009, Privacy International, a lobbying organization, lodged a formal complaint with the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), alleging that Google had not adequately anonymized the individuals captured in Street View images. According to a BBC report from that time, such a failure could have significant consequences.

The report detailed complaints received by Privacy International, including one from a woman who had relocated to escape a violent partner but was still identifiable outside her new residence on Street View. Another complaint involved two colleagues caught in what appeared to be a compromising situation, leading to embarrassment when the image circulated at their workplace.

Staying cool in Brooklyn.
Credit: Screenshot / street view

And that’s just the obvious stuff.

Google has faced several privacy controversies over the years. In 2010, the company admitted that its Street View vehicles, which continuously roam neighborhoods worldwide, had covertly been collecting data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks they passed by for several years. This revelation led to a $13 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit over the collection of data from an estimated 60 million individuals.

Whether you’re concerned about online stalkers, unwanted surveillance, potential break-ins, or simply value your privacy, it’s understandable why you might not want indexed and digitized images of your home readily available on Google Street View. Fortunately, requesting Google to blur out your home or apartment is a straightforward process.

Here’s what you do.

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Smartphone desktop or laptop

Step 1:
Go to Google Maps and enter your home address.

Step 2:
Enter into Street View mode by dragging the small yellow human-shaped icon, found in the bottom-right corner of the screen, onto the map in front of your house.

Step 3:
With your house in view, click “Report a problem” in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 4:
Center the red box on your home, and select “My home” in the “Request blurring” field.

Google’s San Francisco office.
Credit: screenshot / google

Step 5:
Write in the provided field why you want the image blurred (for example, you may be concerned about safety issues).

Step 6:
Enter your email address, and click “Submit.”

It’s crucial to be certain about your decision, as Google emphasizes that once your house is blurred on Street View, it’s a permanent change.

Remember, you still live in the location, so you can always step outside to see your home if you need a reminder of its appearance.

After submitting your request, Google will send you an email confirming that it’s reviewing the image you reported and will notify you once your request is resolved. In some cases, the company may ask for more specific details about the area you want blurred. If this happens, you’ll need to repeat the process, clearly specifying the exact area of the picture you want blurred.

And that’s all there is to it.

The processing time for Google’s requests can vary, so it’s wise to initiate your request as soon as possible. Additionally, consider making a similar request to blur your home on Bing Maps, as the process is quite similar — and it’s not like Microsoft should get any special treatment when it comes to your privacy.

Privacy Please is an ongoing series exploring the ways privacy is violated in the modern world, and what can be done about it.

The Tesla Cybertruck is, famously, a vehicle with a reputation problem. This video of a Cybertruck owner appearing to have his finger almost cut off by his truck’s motorized front hatch is not going to help.

Tweet may have been deleted

It was discovered early this year in the days just after the Cybertruck’s debut that the “frunk” (front trunk) was disturbingly capable when repurposed as a food slicer. Where competitor vehicles with automatic hatch closures would generally stop if they encountered blobs of fleshy, tender, organic material — possibly loaded with nerve endings — the Cybertruck was apparently more than happy to sever the object cleanly In one comparison test the Cybertruck fared the worst at avoiding hatch-related carnage among the other vehicles sampled, although some others did at least some damage to vegetables.

However, Tesla influencer Jeremy Judkins claims the situation has improved since then. “With just a software update, the Tesla Cybertruck frunk is way safer,” he says, describing a past video in which the hatch was kinder to various produce items. However, he says, his Cybertruck did lop off part of a carrot in his test, leaving him to wonder what it would do to a finger. Unlike most people, Judkins then (if the video is real) put his actual human finger on the line in the name of content science.

The result is the harrowing video above. His arm and full hand receive forgivable pinches, but then the truck chomps down on Judkins’ finger, and one can’t help but wonder for a few seconds if one is watching a gore vid. Then Judkins gets his other hand involved, and the robotic jaws release.

“That’s kinda bad,” he says, displaying his pinched and trembling finger.

The FDA just gave the Apple Watch a historic first approval for a digital health tech device.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Apple Watch – or more specifically its atrial fibrillation (AFib) feature – has received its approval as a qualified device in the Medical Device Development Tools (MDDT) program. The feature helps detect abnormal heart patterns and has previously been credited for saving users’ lives.

This FDA approval allows the Apple Watch AFib feature to be used as a “tool to assess atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat) burden estimates within clinical studies.”

The Apple Watch can now be used as a non-invasive “biomarker test to help evaluate estimates of AFib burden as a secondary effectiveness endpoint within clinical studies intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cardiac ablation devices to treat,” according to the FDA.

A digital first

But perhaps even more notable is that the Apple Watch AFib feature becomes the first ever digital health technology to qualify under the FDA’s MDDT program. 

The Apple Watch had previously received FDA “clearance” to include the atrial fibrillation detection feature in the device in 2022. According to 9to5Mac, this was the “lowest hurdle” with Apple basically proving that its AFib feature worked similarly to existing devices that affect AFib.

This FDA approval for the MDDT program places the Apple Watch in a unique category, particularly concerning its application in clinical studies.