If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Empty.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BLANK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Unmarried.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UNWED

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Payment receiver.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

PAYEE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Another time.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

AGAIN

Final Hurdle hint

A predatory fish.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

MORAY

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

TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final for free on FIFA+. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know what you're thinking: How exactly is the FIFA Intercontinental Cup any different from the Club World Cup? It's best to not ask too many questions, because we're honestly not sure. But forget all about that, because PSG are facing off against Flamengo in the showpiece event.

Flamengo have battled through a couple of rounds to get here. PSG have been able to focus solely on this final. That's not particularly fair, but that's football.

If you want to watch PSG vs. Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Flamengo?

PSG vs. Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 17. This fixture takes place at the Ahmed Ben Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan.

How to watch PSG vs. Flamengo for free

PSG vs. Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final is available to live stream for free on FIFA+.

If this FIFA+ live stream is not available in your location, you can use a VPN to access for free. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams on FIFA+ from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream PSG vs. Flamengo for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit FIFA+

5. Stream PSG vs. Flamengo for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch PSG vs. Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to watch the final before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for FIFA+?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on FIFA+, for a number of reasons:

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream PSG vs. Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final for free.

The teaser trailer for Disclosure Day has been released, offering a glimpse at Steven Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi film. Ironically, Disclosure Day's teaser doesn't actually disclose all that much. What we do know is that aliens appear to be involved.

Offering more vibes than plot details, the trailer features Emily Blunt as a Kansas City weather presenter who begins making strange sounds while on air — sounds which are definitely not the weather forecast. Meanwhile, Colin Firth is wired up to a machine and appears distressed by whatever is on the screen in front of him, while Josh O'Connor is determined to give "full disclosure to the whole world, all at once." What is he disclosing? It isn't clear. However, the crop circles and extremely suspicious deer may have something to do with it.

Disclosure Day will arrive in theatres June 12.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a devout Christian.

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.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Small boats

• Green: Flat

• Blue: Popular cars

• Purple: Religious figures

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Human-powered watercraft

• Green: Flush

• Blue: Honda models

• Purple: Biblical figures plus starting letter

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 #920 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Human-powered watercraft: DUGOUT, KAYAK, RAFT, SHELL

• Flush: EVEN, FLAT, LEVEL, PLANE

• Honda models: ACCORD, CIVIC, ODYSSEY, PILOT

• Biblical figures plus starting letter: FLUKE, LABEL, MADAM, TRUTH

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.

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you don't seek perfection.

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.

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

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Out of line

The words are related to positioning.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that aren't straight.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is A Little Off.

NYT Strands word list for December 17

• Askew

• Crooked

• Lopsided

• A Little Off

• Uneven

• Titled

• Aslant

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love the outdoors.

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.

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.

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

Green plant.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

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...

GRASS

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.

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.

HBO Max has released the official trailer for The Pitt's second season, bringing back Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) for a fresh shift at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Unfortunately for him, it looks no less gruelling than the first one we saw.

Picking up 10 months on from the last season, The Pitt Season 2 takes place during a busy July 4 weekend in the emergency room. It'd be unsurprising to see some firework-related injuries, which tend to significantly increase around Independence Day. If that wasn't stressful enough, it looks as though a cyber attack will take the emergency room's computer systems offline during this shift, forcing the team to "go analogue." It seems like a perfect recipe for chaos in an already busy emergency department.

Alongside Dr. Robby, Season 2 sees the return of Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball), nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa), Dr. Mohran (Supriya Ganesh), Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif), Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), and medical students turned interns Whitaker (Gerran Howell) and Javadi (Shabana Azeez). Also joining them will be new physician Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi).

The Pitt Season 2 arrives Jan. 8 on HBO Max.

Reactivate those Pip-Boys and set your Spotify listening age to 87, as Prime Video's adaptation of post-apocalyptic game franchise Fallout is back with a second season. And of course, we're in for more details from Bethesda's games that you might recognise from your travels through the Wasteland.

For Season 1, showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner recruited production designer Howard Cummings and set decorator Regina Graves to bring the retro-futurist and post-apocalyptic details of the Fallout games to the screen, from those instantly familiar "Please stand by" screens to the famous T-60 power armor. In Season 2, there's more Sugar Bombs, irradiated enemies, and Vault-Tec facilities where that came from.

Here's a handy guide to the game elements the Fallout show includes — one we'll be updating each week as the episodes drop.

Fallout Season 2 includes key locations from the games including Fallout: New Vegas

Let's gooooo. Credit: Courtesy of Prime

The Fallout TV series covers a lot of ground within the post-apocalyptic Wasteland featured in multiple Fallout games. In Season 1, the characters came across the games' Red Rocket gas stations, Super Duper Marts, and a thrown-together town akin to the game's cities of Megaton, Rivet City, New Reno, and Diamond City. But in Season 2, it's all about New Vegas, a crumbling, post-apocalyptic version of the City of Lights which forms the core setting for the third Fallout game.

While Episode 1 doesn't reach New Vegas, it's always on the horizon, with Lucy (Ella Purnell) and Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) following her father's trail there. But in the very first scene, the pair are in quite a predicament within the The Great Khan raider hideout, a location in Fallout: New Vegas located in the Mojave Wasteland. For the Fallout show, the gang's base is actually the Dino Dee-lite Motel, another location from Fallout: New Vegas, which features that giant T-rex.

Lucy's sniper spot is straight out of "Fallout: New Vegas." Credit: Bethesda

Vault-wise, this season's underground locations are Vaults 31, 32, and 33, all with their own predicaments and mysteries. But there are also plenty of empty vaults to explore like the game — and in episode 1, Lucy and Coop find Vault 24, a vault that was actually cut from Fallout: New Vegas (meaning the TV series has a blank slate for its backstory). Right near the entrance to this vault, the pair walk through the Starlight Drive-In, an iconic location from Fallout 4. You'll see on the cinema's marquee that the very last movie to be shown here was A Man and His Dog 3, starring none other than Coop.

One of the most intriguing new locations in the series is the underground Vault-Tec tower, where Lucy's dad Hank (Kyle MacLachlan) heads to at the end of episode 1. We can't say much more.

Fallout brings the armor, weapons, and gadgets of the games to life.

Back into the vault with Woody Thomas (Zach Cherry). Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

One of the most impressive elements of the Fallout series is the impeccable production design, especially on details like armor, weapons, and gadgets — but not the games' signature aim-support V.A.T.S. system (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System). In Season 2, there's just as much to delight fans new and longtime.

For one, every Vault Dweller including Lucy still wears the franchise's signature Pip-Boy on their wrist, a wearable computer that's used in Season 1 for its inbuilt map and navigation, Geiger counter, torch, and more. This season, the devices take on additional uses; Lucy uses hers to open Vault 24 in episode 1. The Pip-Boys also feature the game's ubiquitous Vault Boy, Vault-Tec's thumbs-up mascot, who we learned last season is based on Cooper.

Frances Turner (Barb Howard) has her own Pip Boy. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

Armor-wise, the Brotherhood of Steel's preferred T-60 power armor from Fallout 4 is back in all its lumbering glory, along with plenty of raider leathers and vault jumpsuits.

That iconic power armor in "Fallout 4." Credit: Bethesda

And weapon-wise, while Season 1 featured game selections from automatic turrets to miniguns and the Junk Jet from Fallout 4, Season 2 starts with a bang and Fallout: New Vegas' grenade launcher.

Fallout relies on aid just like the game.

You're gonna need food, drugs, and friends. Credit: Courtesy of Prime.

You can't survive the Fallout games without aid items, and neither can the characters in the series. Season 1 featured the franchise's love for Atomic Age foods made for Vault-Dwellers like YumYum Deviled Eggs, Insta-Mash, Nuka-Cola, and Sugar Bombs, the latter of which is a cereal shaped like tiny nuclear bombs — and it plays an important role at the end of episode 1. Notably, the flea soup Lucy drinks in episode 1 is not from the game and is entirely the messed up creation of the showrunners.

Aid goes beyond food in Fallout, however, with stimulants and anti-radiation meds the tip of the drugberg. The first season included crucial-in game items like RadAway (to clear radiation poisoning), Jet (a chemical stimulant or "chem" used regularly by Cooper), and injections called "stimpaks" that instantly heal. There's not many chems used in episode 1, but there could be ahead.

Plus, it's no fun traversing the Wasteland alone, and in the Fallout games, you can bring your friends along for company (and the perks and storylines you'll unlock). In Season 1, the series included companions like the Mister Handy robot butlers, one of whom was voiced by Matt Berry, and introduced a glorious dog named CX404, otherwise known by the terrible name of Dogmeat. The pooch is back for Season 2.

Fallout's enemies are right out of the game.

Watch your back. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

Enemies abound in the Wasteland, and the Fallout series has already featured plenty of them, from Raiders (gangs of outlaws) to Fiends (cannibals). Creature-wise, Season 1 included Radroaches (irradiated cockroaches), Yao Guai (mutant bears), Feral Ghouls (zombie versions of the mutated humans), and a giant anglerfish. In Season 2, we've only really seen one band of Raiders — the Great Khans of Fallout: New Vegas —  however the sinister forces within the vaults (and the past?) seem more of a threat at this point.

One famous foe missing from the Fallout TV series? The game's fierce and omnipresent Super Mutants; you can spot one for a second on a "Wanted!" poster in Season 1, episode 6. Our fingers are crossed.

Perhaps all this detail makes you want to play the games for the first time — or all over again? 

Fallout Season 2 premieres Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with a new episode every week.

There's moment in Fallout Season 2 that isn't directly an ode to the late, great David Lynch but it absolutely, 100 percent is.

In the very first episode of the second chapter, there's a fleeting scene that Twin Peaks fans might find unexpectedly heartwarming in the middle of this forsaken Wasteland. And it involves a damn fine cup of coffee.

Late in Season 2, episode 1 of the TV adaptation of Bethesda's Fallout game franchise, we meet up with former Vault 33 overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) who has trudged across the Nevada desert in T-60 power armor all the way to a massive underground Vault-Tec tower. It's completely devoid of life, instead a silent shell of a pristine office building.

Plus, Hank's got over 400,000 unread messages to attend to — it's been at least 200 years since anyone's checked them. With an aim for caffeination and his golden Pip Boy strapped on, Hank makes himself a pot of coffee and takes a sip — and if you don't think MacLachlan's character is about to remark that it's a "damn fine cup of coffee," you need to watch more Twin Peaks.

In this scene, MacLachlan could very well be paying tribute to his longtime friend and Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet/Dune director, who died at 78 in January this year. The actor has long been synonymous with the phrase after playing Agent Dale Cooper in Lynch's iconic mystery series. The FBI special agent insists on taking a moment for his daily brew, and giving oneself a daily present while investigating horrific crimes, preferring "two cups of good, hot black coffee" for himself.

While Hank doesn't actually utter the words despite subtle "say the line, Bart," teasing, there's definitely a smile and a pause — enough for Lynch fans to fill in the famous line themselves.

If you're a U.S.-based TikTok user who was anxiously counting down the days until the social media app was banned on Dec. 16, 2025, then there's good news. Christmas came early — you can start counting down the days until Jan. 23 instead.

Dec. 16 was, in theory, the latest deadline for TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, to wrap up a sale of its U.S. business. That was supposed to happen by law (the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act of 2024, if you're feeling formal) on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025; in fact, there was a brief shutdown.

The deadline has been extended four times, via executive order, since the Trump administration gained power on that date. The first delay took us to April 4, 2025. On that date, another executive order gave ByteDance until June 19, 2025 to sell. Then, guess what: a June 19 executive order pushed the deadline back until Dec. 16, 2025.

In the meantime, we seem to be no closer to a TikTok sale. By multiple accounts, negotiations have become bogged down, in part because the Chinese government takes a dim view of the U.S. strong-arming one of its companies and views the deal as leverage. Not to mention that a constantly-extended deadline isn't a real deadline at all.

Trump, who has repeatedly drawn attention to his own following on TikTok, may appear like he's tactically delaying the ban. But he's also keen to take credit for the possibility of a sale, and it doesn't exactly take an international diplomacy expert to see weaknesses in this game of hardball. You just have to know one of 2025's most popular political truisms: TACO.

Indeed, on Sept. 25, Trump issued another executive order directing the U.S. Attorney General to take "no action for noncompliance" against TikTok for "120 days from the date of this order" — which brings us to Jan. 23, 2026. Why? Because, Trump wrote, "a plan has been presented to me to undergo a qualified divestiture of TikTok’s United States operations."

That plan was said to involve a $14 billion sale of the U.S. arm of TikTok to a consortium including Oracle, which is led by Trump backer Larry Ellison. But no further details have materialized, and the Chinese government insists the sale isn't going ahead — leading to widespread confusion.

So will TikTok be officially banned in the U.S. on Jan. 23, 2026, 368 days after the original ban was said to go ahead? Your guess is as good as ours — but given the evidence of the past year, it probably wouldn't be wise to bet your life savings on it.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime of MagellanTV subscription access for $139.97, its lowest price to date, and explore thousands of ad-free documentaries across history, science, crime, nature, and more.

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If you’ve run out of documentaries on mainstream platforms, consider this price drop on a MagellanTV lifetime subscription. The service specializes in documentaries across history, science, nature, crime, and space, and it’s currently available for $139.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time.

MagellanTV is dedicated to documentaries, not sitcoms or reality shows. Every section is curated for viewers who prefer learning over laugh tracks. The library features more than 4,000 films and series, with playlists focused on major events, scientific discoveries, ancient history, and true crime investigations.

MagellanTV works across mobile, desktop, and most smart TVs, and supports casting with Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and other compatible devices. The platform is ad-free, with new documentaries added every week, making it a practical plus for viewers who go through content quickly.

If you want even more control over what you watch, MagellanTV’s built-in collections can help narrow down big topics into structured routes — like multi-part space exploration series, deep looks at ancient civilizations, or crime investigations that span decades. It’s the kind of platform that rewards curiosity, whether you’re watching occasionally or streaming something new every night.

The lifetime subscription, defined as 75 years of access, is most valuable for frequent documentary watchers, households that lean toward factual programming, or those already juggling multiple streaming services. Accounts support up to five devices, and purchasers have 30 days to redeem the code after purchase.

For viewers who have already worked through popular history and science series on mainstream platforms, MagellanTV offers a more specialized alternative for a one-time payment.

For compelling, fact-filled TV time, MagellanTV brings learning to your screen.

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Some people possess an innate talent for finding gifts on a budget. No matter the occasion (Christmas, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) or recipient (wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws), they somehow nail it every time — winning the unofficial "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them. If you're not the most intuitive gift-giver, fear not. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful stocking stuffers to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique budget-friendly gift ideas span such a variety of categories that you're bound to find something up their alley. You might even catch a few on sale.

ChatGPT Images doesn’t roll off the tongue like Nano Banana, but OpenAI finally has an answer for Google's uber-popular AI image editor. The company's "new flagship image generation model" is available now in ChatGPT Images and in the API under the model name GPT Image 1.5.

OpenAI has been on a tear recently, in fact. The company, which was rumored to be in a “code red” state following the launch of Google Gemini 3, launched GPT-5.2 last week. Today, OpenAI continues its counterattack against Google’s newfound momentum in the AI space with a rather large update to ChatGPT Images, promising to generate better images, edit images more effectively, and do so more quickly. 

“Whether you’re creating something from scratch or editing a photo, you’ll get the output you’re picturing,” OpenAI says in its announcement post. “It makes precise edits while keeping details intact, and generates images up to 4x faster.”

In addition to the update, which does not appear to have a catchy name like Google’s Nano Banana, OpenAI also launched a new Images tab within the ChatGPT app and browser. In addition to being a dedicated space to create images, the new ChatGPT Images also acts as a sort of discovery and brainstorming feed to give you ideas of what to create. OpenAI says that the new feature is “designed to make image generation delightful — to spark inspiration and make creative exploration effortless.”

For general performance, the latest update seems like a refinement rather than something totally new. OpenAI says the new ChatGPT Image model will be more reliable, adhere better to user intent, and keep details more consistent across multiple outputs. That last bit has been a bit of a meme in the AI user community, and many have tried the 100x ChatGPT image trend to see what they come up with. 

OpenAI’s announcement post includes the full list of updates with GPT Image 1.5, plus some impressive examples of the new image model at work.

ChatGPT Images vs. Nano Banana

Nano Banana is the nickname for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Google's AI image generator. The tool has proven remarkably capable as a fast and easy-to-use AI image editor, and as its popularity has grown, Google has integrated it into Gemini, Google Photos, Search, and Messages. So, how does the new ChatGPT Images compare?

It took all of about 10 minutes, but GPT-Image-1.5 immediately took first place on LMArena’s Text-to-Image leaderboard, bumping Nano Banana Pro to second place. However, real-world examples so far have been a little mixed. 

I asked both Nano Banana and the new ChatGPT Images to edit the same photo, and received very similar results.

Using the same prompt and image, I asked both models to edit a photo of my car from nighttime to daytime.

The original image Credit: Joe Hindy

While both models earn a passing grade, Google's version looks better to my eye.

Left: The result from Nano Banana. Credit: Joe Hindy / Google Gemini

Right: The result from ChatGPT Images. Credit: Joe Hindy / OpenAI

How to try the new ChatGPT Images

Per OpenAI, the update is rolling out as we speak to all users, so it should be available to try immediately. In short, all you need to do is head to ChatGPT and look for the new Images tab. You can find the tool at chatgpt.com/images. As per usual, free users will have very limited access.

The new image model is also available in the OpenAI API, and you can check the pricing on the OpenAI website. So, developers and people with their own AI tools can start using it right away.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The artificial intelligence boom has become truly unavoidable, even for those who don't use AI in their daily lives at all.

Case in point: The world of personal computers, especially laptops and smartphones.

We're in the midst of a worldwide memory shortage, due in large part to the sudden explosion of AI data centers around the world and their enormous demand for these computer components. That's sparked an ongoing shortage of crucial hardware such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Samsung DDR5 RAM, and SSDs. As a result, smartphone prices could rise 6.9 percent in 2026, according to a CNBC report on the memory shortage.

Now, Samsung has reportedly doubled the contract price of DDR5 memory drives. At the same time, Framework, makers of easily repairable, enthusiast-centric machines, just doubled prices on those exact components. And as suppliers hike prices on memory hardware, device manufacturers will most likely pass that cost onto consumers, experts say.

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Samsung is hardly the only brand affected by the memory shortage. HP has warned that it will have to raise prices on its PCs starting next year because there just isn't enough memory to go around, per our colleagues at PCMag. The same goes for Lenovo and Dell, according to PC Gamer. In fact, RAM is in such short supply that some analysts are predicting laptop makers will push more low-performance 8GB RAM laptops on consumers in 2026 out of necessity. Either way, customers lose.

Additionally, it doesn't seem like there's an end date on any of this. Despite recent fears over an AI bubble, the AI industry is hardly slowing down. The need for more data centers could be indefinite, as far as anyone can tell.

All of this is to say that if you want a new laptop or PC, or even just parts for a PC, you better get to shopping now. That DDR5 RAM you need might cost a whole lot more in just a few months.

From radroaches to deathclaws, there are a lot of things in Fallout that I'm happy don't exist in real life. But there are several elements of its sci-fi technology that I wouldn't mind having around for day-to-day use. Who wouldn't want a handy-dandy Pip-Boy on their wrist?

However, the cast and showrunner of Fallout have their own ideas about what technology they'd steal from the series.

In an interview with Mashable, Fallout co-creator and showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet revealed she would steal cold fusion, the revolutionary, limitless power source introduced at the end of Season 1. That technology continues to play a big role in Season 2, as the forces of the wasteland jockey to control it — and the fate of the world.

Meanwhile, Aaron Moten, who plays Brotherhood of Steel Knight Maximus, would choose an item that's very on-brand for his character: the T-60 power armor suit.

"Just for getting groceries, or walking the dog," Moten joked. "Just the simple things in life, where you want to be impervious."

Walton Goggins, who plays the Ghoul/Cooper Howard, opted for a different route entirely.

"I don't like technology, you know? A phone depresses me. I'm going to be the only person to just say nothing," Goggins said. "You can have it, you can keep it! I don't want to live in that world!"

The response sounds like it came straight from Cooper Howard's mouth. "He avoids technology for sure," Goggins said. "He's an analog guy, which I think makes him so appealing, at least to me, anyway."

To learn more about the Fallout cast's technology of choice, and their favorite Fallout creatures, check out the full video above.

Fallout Season 2 premieres Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with a new episode every week.

SAVE $100: As of Dec. 16, the De'Longhi 15-bar manual espresso machine is on sale for only $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 50% price drop and its lowest cost to date.

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Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi 15-Bar Manual Espresso Machine

$99.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $100.00

 

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Most espresso machines come with major sticker shock, so finding one for under $100 is a huge deal. Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift for less than $100 or you want to treat yourself, this De'Longhi espresso maker is on sale at Amazon for its best price ever.

Typically $199.95, which is already a pretty solid price for a countertop espresso maker, the De'Longhi ECP3630 manual espresso machine is on sale for only $99.95 at Amazon as of Dec. 16. That's 50% off and the lowest price we've ever seen on this model, beating its Black Friday price by a long shot.

While it's not loaded with extra bells and whistles, this sleek and compact espresso machine will definitely get the job done. And by job, I mean pumping out piping hot quality cups of caffeine on your countertop. It's equipped with an Italian 15-bar pump, a premium adjustable frother, and adjustable controls to modify to your taste preferences. There's no major learning curve like bigger, fancier machines. Choose from single or double espresso and select your milk setting, then create your own authentic coffeehouse favorite at home.

Everyone knows a coffee addict. This could be the perfect gift for that person in your life and it won't set you back hundreds if not thousands of dollars like some espresso makers would. Less than $100 for at-home daily espresso? That's just 33 double shots of espresso at Starbucks, to put it in perspective.

SAVE $90: On Dec. 16 only, the 15-inch touchscreen Skylight Calendar is on sale for $229.99 as the Best Buy drop of the day. That beats its $249.99 Black Friday price by $20 — get the rare deal in the Best Buy app.

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Credit: Skylight

Skylight Calendar 15-inch smart touchscreen calendar and chore chart

$229.99
$319.99 Save $90

Find savings in the Best Buy app

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The best gift for a parent is ultimately the gift of less chaos. You could buy them AirTags, offer to watch their kids, or send them on a vacation. The ultra-helpful digital Skylight Calendar is one of Mashable's top gift ideas for moms and dads, and it's $90 off at Best Buy as the Dec. 16 drop of the day.

At $229.99 on Dec. 16 only, Best Buy's price beats the record-low $249.99 price tag we saw at Amazon during Black Friday. The 15-inch Skylight Calendar is currently full price ($319.99) at Amazon, so this near-$100 savings is rare.

You'll only see the sale price on the Best Buy mobile app (Best Buy drops don't show up in a web browser.) From there, you can add it to your cart and check out like usual. The catch is that all Best Buy drops have a limited inventory, with a live status bar keeping track of the percentage left. As of 12:15 p.m. ET, 75% inventory was left for the Skylight Calendar.

Skylight can sync with Google, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, and Cozi calendars to streamline schedules of multiple people to one communal device. Appointments, meetings, events, weekly chores, and even grocery lists can also be added right from the Skylight app, even if something pops up while you're not home. Everything can be labeled and color-coded for each member of the household.

But busy parents aren't the sole target audience for the Skylight Calendar — it's a life hack for literally anyone with a lot going on. Mashable contributor Jae Thomas, who is a journalist and editor, a dog trainer, and who works at a kennel one day per week, instantly felt more organized after bringing a Skylight Calendar into the weekly mix.

Thomas can confirm that yes, having a central hub like the Skylight is a worthwhile upgrade over merely sharing a Google Calendar with someone. "I find myself getting little hits of dopamine when I check things off my to-do lists, and it's easier for me and my partner to stay in sync on where we'll both be during the week. I truly wish I had this when we were sharing a car — it would have saved us many arguments and miscommunications about scheduling."

SAVE $100.01: As of Dec. 16, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $599.98, down from its usual price of $699.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 14%.

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Credit: Amazon

Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

$599.98 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $100.01

 

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Here's one indelible truth: No one enjoys spending all their time cleaning their floors. It's a thankless task, and it's one that always needs to be done if you want to keep a tidy house. Thankfully these days we have robot vacuums that can handle it all for you. If you're ready to offload all your cleaning tasks, you'll want to recruit these gadgets to do so.

As of Dec. 16, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $599.98, down from its usual price of $699.99 at Amazon. That's $100.01 off and a discount of 14%.

This Shark combination robot vacuum and mop can handle just about anything you ask of it. It has powerful suction for vacuuming through dirt, debris, and hair, and it can also mop up tough stains. It uses NeverStuck technology to help lift it over obstacles and across thresholds, and keeps the mopping pad held above carpets to avoid issues with getting water everywhere, too.

When your robot's reservoir is full, it can handle itself there, too, emptying its debris into a 60-day capacity bin and refilling its own water tank for up o 30 days. It also washes and dries its mopping pad afer every time it runs. That means minimal interactions with you so all you have to do is set a schedule and let it go.

With LiDAR mapping, a 3D sensor, schedule-making, and targeted cleaning options, you don't even have to figure out how best for your vacuum and mop combo to tackle messes. Just sit back, relax, and watch it go. And be glad this is no longer something you have to worry about actually doing.

SAVE $1,150: The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $849, down from the list price of $1,999. That's a 58% discount.

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Credit: Anker Solix

Anker Solix F2000 portable power station

$849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150

 

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Winter officially arrives in just a few days. But you've probably already been feeling cool temps and dealing with seasonal storms. If high winds, torrential rains, or ice storms threaten a power outage, there's a better way curtail the inconvenience — a portable power station. Amazon has a great model on sale today to put you in better shape during the next outage.

As of Dec. 16, the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale for $849 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,999. That works out a massive savings of $1,150 from a 58% discount.

Anker consistently knocks it out of the park with designing portable power stations. In testing, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is my all-time favorite model for moderate power needs. But if you want more power to deal with a power outage, the Solix F2000 is a great option. It packs in 2,048 Wh of power while being able to power almost all of your home's appliances. Use it to keep the refrigerator cooling, the WiFi router online, and keep small devices charged.

Anker says the Solix F2000 can keep a refrigerator cooling for 10 hours, a CPAP machine on for over 32 hours or a washing machine for 1.5 hours. Plus, you can keep some lights on at home so you won't have to fumble around in the dark.

Come camping season, you can take it along to power up an air fryer, mini fridge, portable freezer, and a projector. Its telescoping handle makes it easy to bring along to the campsite. It's also an excellent addition to the worksite, powering tools like a chainsaw, drill, or yard work tools.

While it's on sale for a shocking 58% off, equip your home and camping adventures with the Anker Solix F2000. Everyone in your party will thank you for the extra power.

SAVE $400: As of Dec. 16, the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV is on sale for only $999.97 at Amazon. That's nearly 30% off its list price of $1,399.99 and matches its Black Friday cost.

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Credit: TCL

TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV

$999.97 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400.02

 

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From holiday movies to the Olympics to the NFL playoffs, there's plenty of excuses to snag a new TV this season. Not to mention, it's one of the best times to score a big screen for a big discount.

As of Dec. 16, you can get the TCL 85-inch T7 QLED 4K TV on sale for only $999.97. That's nearly 30% off its list price of $1,399.99 and matches its Black Friday cost, which also happens to be its lowest price on record.

TCL just launched this monstrous screen last month as part of its new T7 Series — a lineup of budget-friendly QLED TVs packed with bells and whistles. So, just know that you're getting a brand-new 2025 model that's relatively future-proof. Despite its affordable price tag, it still features quantum dot technology, a native refresh rate of 144Hz, an AI processor that automatically optimizes color, contrast and clarity, Dolby Atmos audio, and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. It's powered by Google TV, so you can open apps, change the channel, or launch a movie right where you left off via hands-free voice control.

The TCL T7 is also a solid pick for gamers on a budget. Besides the 144Hz refresh rate, it also features Game Accelerator 288, an Auto Game Mode that automatically enables the lowest input lag and latency, and Motion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame Insertion for the ultimate clarity.

Don't endure any more dark and blurry viewing sessions. Upgrade your TV to the 85-inch TCL T7 while it's under $1,000. If that's too much TV for you, the smaller models (55, 65, and 75 inches) are also on sale for up to 33% off.