Wordle today: Here’s the answer and hints for April 23

a phone displaying Wordle

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 April 23’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:

Small driving robot on Mars.

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 R.

SEE ALSO:

Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What’s the answer to Wordle today?

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 #1039 is…

ROVER.

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.

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 23

A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

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 April 23’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.

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.

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: Kicked out the club

  • Green: Dryland

  • Blue: Geographically significant bodies of saltwater

  • Purple: Famous actor’s filmography

Here are today’s Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Thrown Out

  • Green: Terra Firma

  • Blue: Seas

  • Purple: Tom Hanks Movies

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 #317 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Thrown Out: BOOT, BOUNCE, EJECT, TOSS

  • Terra Firma: EARTH, GROUND, LAND, SOIL

  • Seas: BALTIC, BLACK, PHILLIPPINE, RED

  • Tom Hanks Movies: BIG, PHILADELPHIA, SPLASH, SULLY

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.

The biggest social media moments of Coachella 2024, from No Doubt’s reunion to Chappell Roan’s ascent

Three photos: Chappell Roan styled in big, curly red hair and a shirt that says

Every April, hundreds of thousands of people descend on Coachella Valley for two weekends of music, $25 caesar salads, and dust-related health complications. The rest of us experience the festival through our phones, watching it unfold on our social media feeds from the comfort of our couches.

The biggest moments from Coachella 2024 range from superstar-making sets to technical difficulties and broken bones, and they all get credit on our list.

Chappell Roan ascends

If you were plugged into the pop music scene before April 12, you may have been aware of Chappell Roan’s growing popularity. If you weren’t, Roan’s performances at Coachella made her hard to ignore. Posts of her performance on the first weekend and her life-size butterfly outfit on the second boosted her streaming numbers and bumped her latest single “Good Luck, Babe!” to no. 77 on the Billboard 100, her first-ever entry on the chart.

Lana del Rey duets with Billie

In her first weekend set, Lana del Rey sang her classics, brought out Billie Eilish to sing “Video Games” and “Ocean Eyes,” and finished her set by riding off on the back of a motorcycle. Onstage, Eilish told the crowd that del Rey was “the reason for half of you bitches’ existence, including mine,” echoing sentiments she shared in a February interview with del Rey for Interview Magazine. Fans called the set one of del Rey’s best and were upset by critics who found it underwhelming.

Kesha and Renee Rapp remix “Tik Tok” (the song)

Songstress Renee Rapp brought Kesha on stage during her set for a rendition of her hit 2010 song “Tik Tok.” They changed the opening line, “Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy,” to “Wake up in the morning like fuck P. Diddy” as an acknowledgment of the producer’s alleged abuse.

Grimes is frustrated by first-weekend flubs

A clip of Grimes’s feral, unfettered screeching on the Coachella stage racked up more than 4 million views on TikTok. Grimes often screams during performances, but the ones in her Coachella set were borne of frustration after a technical setback that plagued a large portion of her performance. Grimes took to X to explain herself and promised a better experience for concertgoers on weekend two.

No Doubt reunites, brings Olivia Rodrigo as special guest

For the first time in 10 years, No Doubt reunited to perform for Coachella crowds. To mark the occasion, Gwen Stefani welcomed Olivia Rodrigo to the stage to sing “Bathwater.” Rodrigo wore an “I heart ND” tank, an ode to her love of the band and its frontwoman, whom she has credited as an inspiration in the past.

Stefani and Rodrigo onstage, facing each other. Stefani sings into a mic while Rodrigo opens her mouth in a look of surprise or awe.


Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for No Doubt

Doja Cat makes history

Doja Cat became the first female rapper to headline Coachella and opened her first set dressed head-to-toe in long blonde extensions. On the second weekend, a clip of her looking around expectantly for a dancer to hand her a microphone while performing “Fuck the Girls” racked up millions of views on X and TikTok.

Doja Cat in a long blonde wig surrounded by her dancers who are covered in the same colored extensions.


Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

Taylor Swift parties with Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift attended the first weekend of Coachella with her boyfriend Travis Kelce ahead of the release of her double album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, on April 19. She was seen watching collaborator Jack Antonoff’s set with his band Bleachers, taking photos with Real Housewives‘ Teresa Giudice, being lifted in the air by Kelce, and generally having a great time.

Kid Cudi breaks his foot

On the last day of Coachella, during a set that was added to the schedule less than a week prior, rapper Kid Cudi optimistically leaped from the stage and was unable to continue his show after hitting the ground. It turns out he broke his foot in the fall. In a video posted to X, Cudi said, “I learned a valuable lesson, not more prancing around [or] jumping off stages.”

iPhone password reset attacks are real – how to protect yourself

iPhone 14

We’re hearing more and more about password reset attacks being used to target Apple iPhone users. 

As Mashable reported last month, hackers are attacking iPhones via a method that inundates them with password reset prompts. These hacking campaigns have also been called MFA (multi-factor authentication) bombing or fatigue attacks. 

These attacks aren’t new. Reports about them online have been shared for a few years now. However, based on online discussions around them, there seems to be an uptick in cases now.

Basically, in this attack, an iPhone user is asked through dozens of notification pop-ups to reset their Apple ID password. As X user @parth220 shared in his retelling of being the target of this attack, this renders a user’s iPhone inoperable — unless the user chooses the “Don’t Allow” option for every reset password notification.

The attack takes it up a notch in the next step. The hacker then spoofs an official Apple phone number and calls the target about the password issue, presenting themself as an Apple employee. According to KrebsonSecurity, individuals impacted by the attack report that the malicious actor possesses personal data gleaned from the web about the target, enabling them to construct a persuasive facade as a genuine Apple employee. The hacker then attempts to use that trust to gain access to the target’s phone and its data remotely.

However, iPhone users don’t have to fall for this. A few outlets, such as 9to5Mac, have now put out guides on how to avoid being a successful target of a MFA bombing attack.

And here’s Mashable’s guide to making sure you avoid being a victim of the password reset attack.

Avoid the iPhone password reset attack

Don’t trust outbound calls

This is an extremely important rule — and it is a tried-and-tested method to avoid getting hacked or scammed in a multitude of different attacks.

In this particular attack, the phone call from someone claiming to work at Apple is a key component to scamming their target. But take a moment to think about this. Why would Apple call you? When has Apple ever called you before on their own when you are going through real, legit technical difficulties? Never! Apple doesn’t make outbound calls to users without an Apple customer calling them first and requesting a callback. 

As a rule of thumb, don’t trust a call you receive claiming to be from a company, even if the number checks out because that can be spoofed. If you’re worried about it being legit, hang up on the call you received, go to the company’s website, and call their official number back. That way, because you initiated the call, you know you are actually connected to the real company’s official number. Next, you can ask about your issue and check if they actually called you first. Very often you’ll find out that they did not.

With so many scam calls, the best way to be safe is to just not answer a call from a number you’re not familiar with. Let them leave a message if it’s that important. Then, if they say they are from Apple in the voicemail, you can just directly call Apple’s official phone number yourself to check on the supposed issue.

‘Don’t allow’ the password reset option

The password reset prompts are, at the same time, annoying and convincing. These are the same official system notifications you receive for legitimate issues.

But don’t be fooled. There’s a bad actor trying to use these prompts to gain access to your device. Click “Don’t Allow” each and every time.

Eventually, the attacker will give up.

Change your Apple ID phone number

As 9to5Mac points out, users can also change the phone number connected to their Apple ID, which will stop these notifications.

This should really be a last resort as this will mess up with your current iPhone settings. For example, you won’t be able to use features such as iMessage or FaceTime until the number is set back.

Ideally, it won’t come to this. Just don’t give these attackers the time of day. If they see that they are wasting their time trying to gain access to your phone, and you aren’t falling for the notifications nor answering their phone calls, they will very likely move on to a new target.

‘Challengers’ trailer: Zendaya has critics’ raving (and breathless)

A woman dancing in a blue dress.

Happy Challengers week to all who celebrate!

Luca Guadagnino’s (Bones and All, Call Me By Your Name) latest film has garnered heaps of critical praise, with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko declaring in her review it is “one of 2024’s best.” So naturally, the much-anticipated film’s final trailer highlights all that hype — as well as its three leading performances from Zendaya (Dune: Part Two), Josh O’Connor (La Chimera), and Mike Faist (West Side Story).

Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy taken out of commission by a devastating injury. Now, she coaches her husband Art Donaldson (Faist) as he prepares for the US Open. The only problem? He’s in the middle of a humiliating losing streak, and needs to regain his confidence. A trip to a lower-level Challengers tournament could be just what he needs — until his ex-best friend (and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend) Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) steps foot on the court. Tensions swirl between the trio as the film moves back and forth through time, making for a no-hold-barred volley of tennis and intimacy.

As Puchko writes in her review, it will “leave you breathless.”

Challengers hits theaters April 26. 

‘The Watchers’ trailer: Dakota Fanning and M. Night Shyamalan team up for fresh scares

A group of men and women staring at something offscreen.

Something spooky is afoot in the latest trailer for The Watchers, another new summer movie from M. Night Shyamalan, who debuted his Trap trailer just last week.

The Watchers stars Dakota Fanning as Mina, a 28-year-old whose journey to a remote Irish forest goes disastrously awry. One moment, she’s driving through gorgeous, untouched nature. The next, she’s running for her life from an unseen threat. Her only shelter — a mysterious bunker in the middle of nowhere — turns out to be as good as a prison.

In this bunker, Mina and her fellow prisoners (played by Barbarian‘s Georgina Campbell, Outlander‘s Oliver Finnegan, and The Northman‘s Olwen Fouéré) serve as spectacle for an audience of mysterious creatures. No one knows who they are, what they look like, or what they want. But one thing is clear: They do not want any of their performers breaking out.

While M. Night (king of twists and beaches that make you old) serves as a producer on The Watchers, it’s his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan who helms, making her directorial debut from her adapted screenplay of the A.M. Shine novel of the same name. Meanwhile, her sister Saleka Shyamalan appears in Trap as a pop star called Lady Raven.

So, this summer brings family fun in a sure-to-be wild way.

The Watchers hits theaters June 14.

Google issues new fix for connectivity issues — but only for these 3 Pixel phones

The new Google Pixel Fold phone is seen in a media area during the Google I/O, annual developers conference at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California

A recent software update aimed at resolving connectivity issues is now available for various Google Pixel models, including the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 series, as reported by 9to5Google. This update is significant for users facing difficulties with cell network connections.

Which Pixels are getting the update?

The need for this update became apparent following user reports on platforms like Reddit, suggesting that connectivity issues began escalating after a March 2024 update. Some Pixel owners experienced problems such as missed texts and calls being diverted directly to voicemail, affecting multiple users across various countries and carriers.

The patch is currently accessible for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 series phones and the Google Pixel Fold — with Verizon customers in the U.S. being the first to receive it over the air. Despite its small size of less than 7MB, this is the second update released for these devices in April, designed to enhance LTE call/data performance and rectify network issues, according to Verizon’s changelogs.

SEE ALSO:

Google Pixel 9 is rumored to steal this iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 feature

Users not yet notified of the update have the option to download it using links provided by 9to5Google manually. However, manual updates require technical expertise and carry a risk of damaging the device if performed incorrectly, advising users to proceed with caution or wait for an automatic update notification.

iPad Air 2024: It’s not even out yet, but there’s already a case for it on Amazon

iPad Air 2022

The new iPad Air announcement is expected to come any day now.

Rumors have been flying around for months about new iPad models supposedly dropping in the near future, but 9to5Mac spotted pretty irrefutable evidence of at least one new model over the weekend.

Device accessory maker ESR posted some new iPad cases on its Amazon storefront — and some of them are labeled for 2024 iPad Air models in a 12.9-inch size.

SEE ALSO:

Apple’s FineWoven accessories might be on their way out

In other words, those would be for the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that’s supposed to come out soon (in addition to the familiar 10.9-inch variant). As 9to5Mac pointed out, these are third-party products. That means Apple didn’t make them, and they could theoretically be off the mark, but given that accessory makers are given product specs ahead of time, that’s not likely to be the case.

The 12.9-inch Air (which is rumored to have a new mini-LED display) is one of four rumored iPads that will launch imminently. It’s joined by another smaller iPad Air and two new iPad Pro models, which could finally bring OLED displays to the iPad family. We could finally hear about them from Apple itself within the next few weeks, days, or potentially even minutes. You never know.

Jump into sunny spring weather with these fitness tracker deals at Amazon

a person working out while holding a kettlebell is wearing a fitbit fitness tracker

As warmer spring weather lures us outdoors, keep tabs on fitness progress with these great deals at Amazon on fitness trackers.

Best fitness tracker deals at Amazon today

Best stylish fitness tracker

Fitbit Versa 4

$149.94 at Amazon
(save $50)

a pink fitbit versa 4 fitness tracker watch on a white background


Best fitness tracker deal for runners

Coros Pace 2

$179 at Amazon
(save $20)

a coros pace 2 sport watch with a white band sits on a white background


Best wellness tracking deal

Whoop 4.0 + 12-month subscription

$215.10 at Amazon
(save $23.90)

a black colored whoop 4.0 on a white background


Best fitness tracker deal for Android users

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm)

$239.99 at Amazon
(save $60)

a Samsung galaxy watch 6 on a white background

Starting a new fitness routine can be a challenge. If you’re looking for an accountability partner, consider one that fits on your wrist. These compact devices can do major tracking and help with not only accountability, but encouragement for progress.

If the spring weather has you considering a new fitness routine, here are some great deals at Amazon on fitness trackers that will help with both metrics and encouragement.

Best stylish fitness tracker

a pink fitbit versa 4 fitness tracker watch on a white background

Credit: Fitbit

Fitbit Versa 4

$149.95
at Amazon

$199.95
Save $50.00

Why we like it

Fitbit has long been one of the most well-known fitness tracking brands and thanks to today’s deal, you can get the Fitbit Versa 4 for just $149.95 at Amazon, which matches the lowest price we’ve ever seen. What’s more is this deal extends to fun colorways like Pink Sand/Copper Rose and Waterfall Blue/Platinum.

When it comes to performance, the Fitbit Versa 4 tracks it all. From steps to sleep to a daily readiness score, the Fitbit is around to give your better insights about your fitness journey. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS and you can get over six days of battery life per charge.

Best fitness tracker for runners

a coros pace 2 sport watch with a white band sits on a white background

Credit: Coros

Coros Pace 2

$179.00
at Amazon

$199.00
Save $20.00

Why we like it

Weighing just 29 grams, the Coros Pace 2 is perfect for runners or anyone who’s not interested in a lugging around a heavy fitness tracker. Despite the lightweight design, it packs a punch in terms of functions. Here’s what you’ll get: an optical heart rate monitor, compass, thermometer, altimeter, accelerometer, and more. All of this is to note that the Coros Pace 2 is serious about tracking your runs, walks, bike rides, and more.

In full GPS mode, Coros says you’ll get about 30 hours of battery life. With regular use like tracking your daily workouts and recovery, you should get about 20 days of battery before needing to charge up.

Best wellness tracking deal

a black colored whoop 4.0 on a white background

Credit: Whoop

Whoop 4.0 with 12-month subscription

$215.10
at Amazon

$239.00
Save $23.90

Why we like it

The Whoop 4.0 goes above the standard fitness tracker to focus on wellness tracking. Named Mashable’s top pick for sleep and recovery tracking, the Whoop 4.0 provides tons of health and wellness metrics, in addition to tracking fitness.

Unlike most fitness trackers, the Whoop 4.0 doesn’t include a screen or watch face. This could be perfect for those who are trying to cut down on screens.

This deal includes a 12-month subscription to Whoop which is necessary for getting all those sweet stats.

Best fitness tracker deal for Android users

a Samsung galaxy watch 6 on a white background

Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm)

$239.99
at Amazon

$299.99
Save $60.00

Why we like it

If you’re an Android user and would like to get into fitness tracking, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm) could be ideal. Thanks to today’s deal, you can grab the watch for $239.99, marked down from the usual price of $299.99.

Alex Perry’s review of the Galaxy Watch 6 for Mashable mentions it’s easy to use, has a great display, and more features that some (more expensive) competitors.

“With a big, eminently useful display, a smorgasbord of fitness and sleep tracking features, and adequate battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is the smartwatch to get if you’re an Android owner. Doubly so if you happen to have a Samsung phone, specifically,” Perry explains.

When it comes to fitness, you’ll be tracking goals with an intuitive design and on-screen stats that include time spent exercising, heart rate, and distance. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 also personalizes your heart rate zones, so you’ll know which intensity to aim for with each workout.