News of the last 24 hours

Spaceship’s Thunderbolt replaces your phone number with a domain name - if you’re tech-savvy enoughThunderbolt promises end-to-end encryption and no central storageDomain names are secure, but may not be practical for everyday messaging and callsThunderbolt, a new app developed by domain registrar Spaceship, aims to replace phone numbers and email addresses with domain names for voice, video, and text communication.Promoted as a privacy-focused alternative to existing platforms, Thunderbolt uses DNS ownership as a form of identity verification. Spaceship says this approach avoids the vulnerabilities of centralized databases and traditional login credentials.While it shares conceptual similarities with systems like what3words, which translate complex data into simpler, more memorable units, Thunderbolt applies this idea to communication rather than geography.The pitch and the privacy angleThunderbolt presents a domain as a “digital home” that can serve as a universal identifier. This concept allows users to make calls or send messages using a domain like “alice.chat” instead of a phone number.The company claims that domain names are more secure, inherently private, and easier to remember. “A domain is a public address, but it reveals nothing personal,” the company states.Thunderbolt also promises end-to-end encryption and no central message storage, claiming to deliver a high degree of privacy. Security is tied to DNS ownership, with DNSSEC used to further authenticate access.However, this model assumes users are comfortable navigating domain registration and DNS server settings, tasks that many still find opaque and unintuitive.The claim that the platform is “virtually impossible to hack” also warrants skepticism. While decentralized identity and DNSSEC offer strong protections, no system is entirely immune to compromise.Thunderbolt supports traditional domains, as well as Handshake and ENS domains, offering compatibility with third-party registrars.Still, the app’s onboarding experience is optimized for users who register domains through Spaceship, raising concerns about vendor lock-in and the true commitment to decentralization.For a tool that emphasizes user control and independence, this preference seems to conflict with its stated goals, as users may be wary of being funneled toward a single provider under the guise of convenience.There's also the broader question of how many people actually want to manage their identity through domain infrastructure. While this may appeal to those who already run personal websites or online portfolios, the average consumer might find it cumbersome compared to services that work out of the box.Thunderbolt enters a crowded market dominated by platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Skype. People seeking the best alternative to Skype may appreciate that Thunderbolt has no ads, uses strong encryption, and gives users more control over their identity.However, it remains unclear how well the platform performs at scale, or how easy it is to find and connect with others on the app.You might also likeThese are the best video conferencing tools available nowWe've listed the best business phone systems you can useRICO crypto fraud investigation leads to twelve more arrests

This week, Google wowed us with its new AI features – including the scarily good Veo 3 video generator – and a showcase of its Android XR efforts as it details the features coming to smart glasses and XR headsets in the coming years.To catch up on all this and more, scroll down for recaps of the week’s 7 biggest tech news stories.Once you’re up to speed, be sure to check out the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (May 23).7. Google I/O gave us AI updates galore(Image credit: Google)Google's annual I/O event took place this week, with the tech giant making several major announcements centered on AI. Among the most significant reveals were the rollout of AI Mode in the U.S., enabling users to converse with Google rather than solely using it as a search engine, and the release of Gemini Live for free on iOS and Android, allowing users to grant Gemini access to their camera and screen on an iPhone.Another key talking point was introducing the video generation tool, Veo 3. This represents a significant improvement over previous video tools, notably by adding the capability to synchronize voice with the generated moving images.Speaking of images, Imagen 4 was also unveiled, elevating image generation on Gemini to an entirely new level, allowing for the creation of impressive visuals in just a few seconds.Elsewhere, Google upgraded its models, showcasing the power of Gemini 2.5, and introduced a new ultra-premium subscription called Google AI Ultra. This subscription grants access to all the company's most advanced AI features for a whopping $250 a month.Read more: Google I/O 2025 as it happened6. Google showcased Android XR(Image credit: Future)The new Google operating system made for Android headsets and Android glasses has finally had its time in the spotlight thanks to Google I/O 2025.At its core is Google Gemini. The AI, in conjunction with your glasses’ cameras and display, can recommend a place to eat based on what you request and then give you directions to where to find it. It can perform live translation, and on a headset, it can use Google Maps' immersive view to virtually transport you anywhere in the world.We know 5 brands are working on AR and AI glasses: Samsung, Warby Parker, Xreal, Kering Eyewear and Gentle Monster, though no release dates or prices have been given yet.Read more: Google finally gave us a closer look at Android XR – here are 4 new things we've learned5. We went to Computex(Image credit: Future)The world's biggest computing tech show, Computex 2025, has been underway in Taiwan, and we attended to bring you all the latest news and opinions of the coolest new computing gadgets showcased there.Huawei gave us a foldable laptop that looks like it's ripped straight out of a Mission Impossible flick, MSI's new Nintendo Switch 2 rival was made official, and Intel gave us new Battlemage GPUs to maybe make budget 1440p gaming practical again.Read more: Best gaming laptops of Computex 2025 - top picks from Asus, Acer, and more4. Apple invited us to WWDC 2025(Image credit: Apple)Right before Google I/O kicked off, Apple formally sent out invites for the opening keynote of WWDC 2025 and shared more details about the week-long developer conference. As with past Apple special events, it’ll all kick off at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM UK on June 9, 2025. TechRadar will be on the ground, and the event will be live-streamed for all to watch.It’ll be a big moment for Apple as well, marking a year since Apple Intelligence debuted and the expected reveal of its next-generation of platforms. On the latter, we’re expecting the next generation of iOS – iOS 19, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and even visionOS for the Apple Vision Pro.The rumor mill points to some of the aesthetics of the Vision Pro’s interface spreading to other platforms, making it likely the most significant redesign for iOS and the iPhone’s software look in quite some time. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of hype and hope leading up to WWDC 25, but also a lot of questions about how Apple will address Apple Intelligence. A few months back, it pushed back the promised AI-infused Siri upgrades, and thus far, the Apple Intelligence features have been a bit hit or miss.We’ll see how Apple addresses all this when CEO Tim Cook and many others take the virtual stage for the WWDC 2025 opening keynote.Read more: Apple’s next big event is officially coming in June3. We wore the Whoop MG(Image credit: Future)The latest Whoop fitness tracker has arrived alongside the Whoop 5.0, and controversy surrounding its arrival aside, we’ve been excitedly testing it.Its automatic workout tracking seems to surpass the best passive workout tracker (the Oura Ring 4), and its granular detail of health and fitness stats – added by the medical-grade features it offers like ECG and blood pressure functionality – mean it looks to be establishing itself as an essential companion in the lead-up to a competition or event.Though its guilt-tripping tendencies make it less ideal for more casual users who want to do a little working out, but also partake in sub-optimal behaviors like staying up past their bedtime.Read more: I've been wearing the Whoop MG for four days, and there's one thing I love about it – and one thing I really don’t2. Fujifilm launched a retro compact camera(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Fujifilm unveiled the X half, a retro compact camera packed with surprising and unique features. From its twin vertical LCD displays to its charming film camera shooting mode, diptych composites, and, of course, Fujifilm's Film Simulations, this tiny digital camera is a love letter to half-frame film photography.We had a brief hands-on with the X half ahead of its announcement, and it reminded us how fun photography can be. Its core features are underwhelming on paper – including a vertical 1-inch sensor, JPEG-only photos, and HD video – but the shooting experience certainly doesn't. This camera completely charmed us.Read more: There's nothing half baked in this charming homage to half-frame1. Dyson launched a weird little vacuum(Image credit: Dyson)Dyson has unveiled a new vacuum cleaner that looks absolutely nothing like the rest of the range. The Dyson PencilVac is incredibly streamlined, with all its internal mechanics - including dust cup and motor - shrunk down and squeezed into its 1.5-inch wide handle.The floorhead then consists of four fluffy rollers shaped like cones to prevent hair tangling and make the whole thing appear to float across the floor. This looks like a specialist hard floor model, and it is due to launch in Australia later this summer, but not until 2026 in the US and UK.Read more: The new PencilVac looks nothing like any vacuum I've seen before

In February, Samsung released the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, bringing the baseline Galaxy S25, super-premium Galaxy S25 Ultra, and intermediate Galaxy S25 Plus to the world.This lineup, comprising a standard, enlarged, and premium model, was nothing new, but the reveal of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge at a recent Galaxy Unpacked event had me thinking a little harder than usual about this year’s Samsung smartphones.At the time, I wondered where the Galaxy S25 Edge would fit in Samsung’s smartphone lineup – would it lean towards the Galaxy S25 Plus or start a new branch of premium phones alongside the Galaxy S25 Ultra?Now that the Galaxy S25 Edge is almost here, we know that the answer is a bit of both – and while the Galaxy S25 Edge has joined the existing lineup without replacing any of the existing models, I do think it could signal the beginning of the end for the Plus.Sibling rivalry(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The truth is, the Galaxy S25 Edge and Galaxy S25 Plus don’t have that much reason to coexist.Firstly, lets look at the sales figures. According to WCCFTech, in the first month of global sales the Galaxy S25 Ultra sold 2.55 million units, the Galaxy S25 sold 1.17 million units, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus sold just 840,000 units.Next, the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Edge are unusually close together on the Galaxy pricing ladder. Unlike Apple and others, Samsung’s flagship phones each have a pretty wide price gap between them – the baseline Galaxy S25 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, the Galaxy S25 Plus starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,249 / £1,249 / AU$2,149.The Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,099 for the model with 256GB of storage; that certainly feels like it’s encroaching on the Galaxy S25 Plus’ turf.And speaking of Apple, the latest rumors suggest that Cupertino could axe its larger base-model flagship as soon as this year – supposedly leaked images suggest that the rumored iPhone 17 Air could take the iPhone 17 Plus’ spot. And where Apple goes, the industry tends to follow.The same, but better(Image credit: Future)To me, the most damning part of the story is simply that the Galaxy S25 Edge embodies everything I like about the Galaxy S25 Plus – let me explain.I’ve had my hands on a Galaxy S25 Plus for a few months now, using it to test out One UI 7 and get first-hand experience with new features.I’m honestly a big fan – I love the phone’s minimalist design. While One UI isn’t my favorite Android wrapper, I do find its quirky look and straight-laced UI animations very charming. It also helps that the phone runs at a sprint and boasts a lovely display.However, the thing I like most about the Galaxy S25 is that it gives me a large screen in a thinner and lighter frame than either the Galaxy S25 Ultra or most comparable top-end phones.A large screen, light weight, and thin build – sounds an awful lot like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. Having spent some time with the Edge myself, I can confidently say that it beats the Galaxy S25 Plus when it comes to ergonomics, and there are no compromises made with its excellent display.And while the Galaxy S25 Plus wins against the Edge with its telephoto-equipped triple camera system and, most notably, battery capacity, I’m not actually convinced that people buy the former for its performance.Looking again at those first month sales figures, we can see that for every Galaxy S25 Plus sold, three Galaxy S25 Ultras were sold – I reckon that power users were going straight for the performance champ Galaxy S25 Ultra, with those who chose the Galaxy S25 Plus doing so for its large screen and light weight.For these people, the Galaxy S25 Edge is sure to look tempting – I suppose we’ll find out for certain when the phone releases globally on May 30. Until then the above is mostly based on my own opinions on the Samsung Galaxy S family – let us know yours in the comments below.You might also likeThe iPhone 17 could come with a nasty price hike – here's howSamsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: a style vs substance showdownHere's how much the Samsung tri-fold could cost – though you probably won't get chance to buy it

Since GoPro purchased the Australian smart motorcycle helmet company Forcite last year, the two-wheeled world has been waiting to see what the action camera giant can do if it applied its technology to rider safety equipment.Now, GoPro has announced that it will work with Italian helmet manufacturer AGV on its debut line of action camera-enabled lids, which are tipped to feature its built -in sensor and lens technology that will allow riders to capture POV footage without the need to mount an additional camera and other accessories.Forcite’s original goal was to provide a built-in dash cam experience for motorcycle riders, using a basic sensor from Sony, but is understood that GoPro’s influence will likely see the introduction of more advanced sensor, lens and processor tech that could allow for cinematic, high-definition footage to be captured and edited using the US company’s user-friendly software.Currently, riders wishing to capture POV footage either have to rely on handlebar or chest mounts, as well as accessories that clip to the chin of a motorcycle helmet or mount to the very top of it. But there have been questions raised about the potential impact on helmet safety in the unfortunate even of an accident.Designing a built-in solution would allow both GoPro and AGV to start from the ground up and create an aerodynamic, motorcycle-specific system that doesn’t compromise on safety, but can also deliver fantastic quality footage, alongside accident-detecting dash-cam functionality.AGV is a solid partner for GoPro, as it has been, manufacturing helmets for racing, the road and beyond since 1947. In fact, its Giacomo Agostini livery is one of the most recognizable in the motorcycle racing world and it kept MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi’s head safe throughout his career.Currently, its range-topping Pista GP carbon fibre lids can cost in the region of $1,924/ £1,370 / AU$$2,200, although it does offer much more affordable options in its more wallet-friendly K1 S range.There is no hint at what the GoPro tie-up helmet could eventually cost, but we would expect it to be expensive given the technology involved.Analysis: Technology moves faster than helmets(Image credit: Forcite/GoPro)Thanks to the advent of social media, many riders are increasingly looking for ways to document their two-wheeled escapades – or merely to record footage that could come in very handy should an insurance claim eventually arise.GoPro and AGV’s partnership is undeniably exciting for those that want technology seamlessly integrated with a high quality helmet, but whatever way you cut it, it is going to be expensive.What’s more, camera technology moves at such a rate that the GoPro sensors, lenses and processing chips integrated into the upcoming lid could well be second-rate or obsolete after a couple of years.When riders invest a large sum of money in a new helmet, they typically expect that piece of safety equipment to last a number of years, if not decades, so long as it isn’t dropped or damaged.It would be a crying shame if GoPro’s solution isn’t upgradeable, as it could end up being a bulky, heavy helmet that is only capable of capturing second rate footage. Or worse, is eventually not supported by GoPro at all.That said, AGV is a good partner for GoPro as it makes some of the nicest motorbike helmets around, and a built-in camera is still a better solution that helmet-mounted cams, which can be dangerous – so I'm looking forward to see what the partnership delivers.You might also likeBest GoPro camera 2025: the finest models you can buy at all price pointsI’ve driven the new Ford Capri – and it proves that nailing the retro-inspired EV brief isn’t easyApple CarPlay Ultra finally rolls out – here are 4 things you need to know about its Aston Martin debut

With every new Hulu schedule comes a list of movies and shows that will be subsequently removed from the platform, and like always, Hulu's June 2025 calendar is a rather short list.This month only 15 movies are set to leave one of the best streaming services, meaning that a lot of the best Hulu movies are staying put for now. However despite this small total, that doesn't mean there aren't any titles worth missing – and there are a few international titles bearing the brunt.One of those movies is Joachim Trier's romance drama The Worst Person in the World (2021) which, in addition to Best International Feature, was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2022 Oscars.On top of this, Northern Irish thriller Here Before (2021) will also be leaving the platform, but you have until June 10 to catch it before it goes.Everything leaving Netflix in June 2025Leaving on June 1Christmas with the Campbells (movie)Leaving on June 2The Amazing Maurice (movie)Leaving on June 4Intrigo: Dear Agnes (movie)Leaving on June 8Indemnity (movie)Leaving on June 10Here Before (movie)Warhunt (movie)Leaving on June 11Intrigo: Samaria (movie)Leaving on June 13The Worst Person in the World (movie)Leaving on June 17Ted K (movie)The Ledge (movie)Leaving on June 22The Burning Sea (movie)Leaving on June 24Big Gold Brick (movie)Gasoline Alley (movie)Leaving on June 25The Desperate Hour (movie)Leaving on June 30Transfusion (movie)You might also like The Bear season 4 and Alien: Earth release dates have been revealed, and it's worth keeping your Hulu subscription forPredator: Killer of Killers is a new animated movie coming to Hulu that'll tell the story fans of the franchise have been waiting for7 essential movies to stream to prepare you for Universal's new Epic Universe theme park and its lore

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, May 24 (game #1216).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1217) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1217) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.Quordle today (game #1217) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1217) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1217) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• O• A• P• GRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1217) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1217, are…OCEANAMBERPIPERGLEANA tricky round with a silver lining. It’s so satisfying when an incorrect guess in one column helps you get a correct word in another, which is what happened to me today after FIBER led to AMBER.The disappearing number of letters I had left led me to PIPER. Thankfully there was no other option.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1217) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1217, are…CIRCACURRYCREAKCURVEQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLARQuordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPERQuordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCELQuordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUTQuordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURERQuordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVEQuordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNYQuordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESEQuordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAKQuordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKEQuordle #1206, Wednesday, 14 May: FAVOR, METER, PICKY, MAKERQuordle #1205, Tuesday, 13 May: SCENT, AGAPE, POLAR, YEARNQuordle #1204, Monday, 12 May: ROYAL, ARGUE, BUNCH, READYQuordle #1203, Sunday, 11 May: QUASH, MUNCH, ALTER, UNDUEQuordle #1202, Saturday, 10 May: RELIC, BADGE, CHAMP, SATINQuordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAINQuordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITEQuordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVEQuordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCHQuordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, May 24 (game #713).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #714) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…DOUBLEHELIXSNAILKINGCONCHQUEENTWINROOKELECTRONICJUNKACERINGERJACKLOBECLONECHAINNYT Connections today (game #714) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: PokerGREEN: LookalikeBLUE: Places for studs and ringsPURPLE: Add a word that sounds like “fail”Need more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #714) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: PLAYING CARDS GREEN: DOPPELGÄNGER BLUE: EAR PIERCING SITESPURPLE: __ MAIL Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #714) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #714, are…YELLOW: PLAYING CARDS ACE, JACK, KING, QUEENGREEN: DOPPELGÄNGER CLONE, DOUBLE, RINGER, TWINBLUE: EAR PIERCING SITES CONCH, HELIX, LOBE, ROOKPURPLE: __ MAIL CHAIN, ELECTRONIC, JUNK, SNAILMy rating: ModerateMy score: 1 mistakeEAR PIERCING SITES is something I know absolutely nothing about, so it was a good job that SNAIL triggered a quartet of __MAIL words.Before my final pair of groups I’d made a mistake in thinking that there was a group containing curled things, so I had SNAIL, HELIX and CONCH and added LOBE as I was thinking about the shape of ears.Fortunately I abandoned this blind alley and went for the far more obvious PLAYING CARDS and DOPPELGÄNGER.According to German folklore, all humans have a spirit double which is invisible but identical to them. It’s an odd thought. Somewhere in the world there is someone who looks exactly like us playing Connections.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 24, game #713)YELLOW: BABY GEAR BIB, BOTTLE, MONITOR, STROLLERGREEN: KINDS OF PANTS MINUS "S" CAPRI, JEAN, JOGGER, SLACKBLUE: NEW YORK SPORTS TEAM MEMBERS JET, MET, NET, RANGERPURPLE: BLACK WOMEN AUTHORS BUTLER, GAY, HOOKS, WALKERWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, May 24 (game #447).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #448) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Get out the dust buster!NYT Strands today (game #448) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.GLADEGREEDCLUESPLUGROLLSLEETNYT Strands today (game #448) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 14 lettersNYT Strands today (game #448) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 4th rowLast side: left, 6th rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #448) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #448, are…SELLDONATELABELDECLUTTERREORGANIZESPANGRAM: SPRING CLEANINGMy rating: ModerateMy score: 1 hintOrganizing the letters that made up REORGANIZE was a far from easy task. I spent a good couple of minutes staring at the jumble of letters that remained at the end of today’s puzzle and pondered abandoning ship before finally seeing the magic word.The first word I got today was SELL, after a hint, so it wasn’t obvious what we were searching for until I found DONATE and LABEL.Had I seen DECLUTTER sooner I may have gotten it done a bit quicker – leaving me time to do some SPRING CLEANING of my own.It is always amazing the many different ways Strands has found to hide the Spangram, with this edition being a rare snake that begins and ends on the same side. Bravo.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 24, game #447)CHAMPAGNEPILLOWLEGROOMPRIVACYTOWELETTESPANGRAM: FIRST CLASSWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

A modest beginning with massive growth over 25 yearsOver 12 billion SD and microSD cards have been sold across consumer and industrial devicesSD Express cards now reach speeds of 4GB/s, up from just 12.5MB/s in 2000When the first SD memory card hit the market in 2000, it offered a modest 8MB of storage. At the time, this was a practical solution for the relatively small demands of digital cameras and early portable media devices.Twenty-five years later, SD and microSD cards have evolved into high-performance storage mediums, with capacities reaching up to 8TB following the launch of the SanDisk Extreme Pro in 2024.According to the SD Association (SDA), a consortium of nearly 800 technology companies, this represents a capacity increase of over one million times.microSD’s roleMicroSD, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2025, has been particularly credited with shaping mobile device capabilities.“Selfies, mobile phone photography, enjoying music and videos on a mobile phone all became possible because of innovation driven by the SDA,” the association noted.Today, the best microSD cards and SD cards remain widely used in smartphones, cameras, drones, gaming consoles, and IoT devices.Even with the rise of USB-C flash drives and cloud syncing services, SD technology continues to hold its place.“SD memory cards continue delivering portability and convenience, letting people upgrade the storage in their devices at any time thanks to the dedication and vision of our nearly 800 SDA members,” said Yosi Pinto, Chairman of the SDA.The SDA reports that more than 12 billion SD and microSD cards have been sold globally. While volumes increase, performance is also improving.In 2000, card speeds were around 12.5MB per second. Modern cards using the SD Express standard can reach nearly 4GB per second, a speed improvement of more than 300 times.With these gains, SD technology is approaching SSD-level performance, a development especially important as gaming, VR, and AI workloads drive demand for faster, high-capacity storage.That said, internal storage is becoming more affordable, and reliance on the cloud continues to grow. This raises the question of whether external cards will remain essential or shift into niche roles. However, the SDA remains confident.“We expect SD memory cards to remain a critical, cost-effective storage option across a variety of applications and devices in the future, since 394 zettabytes of data is expected to be created by 2028,” said Hiroyuki Sakamoto, President of the SDA.You might also likeThese are the largest SSDs and hard drives on the marketHere are the best cloud storage services aroundHow startups can achieve outsized results by leveraging multi-agent systems

Hey there! Welcome to our weekly indie games roundup. We've got lots to get through this time, including some news before we highlight some brand-new games you can play right now. Indie journal publisher Lost in Cult is moving into physical game releases with a label called Editions. The focus here is on preservation — all of the games that it releases will be available to play offline, with no updates required. Physical game preservation team Does it Play? is playtesting each release. There are premium, limited-edition versions of each game with a slipcase cover, essay booklet, poster and more, as well as retail copies. There will be new releases every month, and the first batch includes a couple of humdingers: Immortality and Thank Goodness You're Here. The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, a point-and-click folk horror game rounds out the trio of debut titles. Really looking forward to seeing where Editions goes from here. The latest Six One Indie showcase took place this week. I've mentioned a game or two that was featured in it below (Game Informer has a list of all the announcements), but I just want to call out a couple of things here.  The score for 1000xResist, one of the best-received games of 2024, is getting a vinyl release in October. Pre-orders are open now. Also, the game that closed out the show has somehow flown under my radar. Dinoblade is an upcoming hack-and-slash action RPG that puts big blades in the jaws of big dinosaurs. Hell yeah. Meanwhile, the folks behind the showcase have set up their own publishing label, Six One Indie Publishing. We've got a ton of other gaming showcases coming up over the next few weeks as Summer Game Fest bobbles on the horizon. Fans of brainteasers may want to catch the Thinky Direct showcase from the Thinky Games community. The hour-long stream starts on May 29 at 1PM ET (just as the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase begins on Steam) It will focus on, you guessed it, puzzle games and other titles that should give your brain a workout. You'll be able to watch the stream on YouTube. Meanwhile, a fun showcase of spy games just premiered. The 25-minute video highlights games across several genres that are largely about snoopin' and sneakin'. All of them, including a bundle of the I Expect You To Die VR trilogy, are featured in the Spy Video Game Rendezvous festival on Steam. New releases Deliver At All Costs was among this week's newcomers. It's an action game in which you play a courier in the '50s. As the name suggests, your primary goal is to deliver your cargo, no matter what. Reviews are mixed for this one but, hey, it's free on the Epic Games Store until 11AM ET on May 29. You can also get it on Steam for 10 percent off the regular price of $30 for the time being. The game is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Speaking of vehicle-oriented destruction, it can be a chore to get the first few Grand Theft Auto games running on modern hardware. I live for chaos and Maniac, from Transhuman Design and publisher Skystone Games, reminds me a bit of those early, top-down GTA entries (which were made in my hometown, fact fans). It's out now on Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, a little over a year after debuting on Steam. I can't promise it'll tide you over for a year until GTA 6 drops, but Maniac will run you just five bucks. Lynked: Banner of the Spark is a co-op action RPG that just came out of early access on Steam and landed on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. With its colorful visuals, it reminds me a bit of Hi-Fi Rush, aesthetically. There's a town-building aspect to this as well. I didn't get around to digging into the game during early access. Reviews have been pretty solid so far, though, so I'm hoping to try out Lynked (from FuzzyBot and publisher Dreamhaven) soon. A few seconds into the latest trailer for Tales of Seikyu, I spotted a centaur, which was enough to catch my attention. This yokai fantasy life sim from ACE Entertainment and Fireshine Games is out now in early access on Steam. You can morph into other forms (including a slime!) to help with navigation and combat in this one. Centaurs and slimes, what's not to love? Here's one for the turn-based strategy/history enthusiasts out there. Bonaparte - A Mechanized Revolution (the debut game from Studio Imugi) sees you take control of units like a giant commandant mech in a battle for the future of France. Expect some political intrigue from this one, which is out now on Steam early access. Upcoming Chrono Odyssey has picked up plenty of momentum, as more than 400,000 people have already signed up to try it out. The horror-tinged, open-world MMORPG from Kakao Games and Chrono Studio will have a closed beta on Steam next month. It's also set to be featured at the Summer Game Fest Live showcase on June 6. The latest trailer looks deliciously creepy. Any game from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi is worth paying attention to. Even more so when publisher Annapurna Interactive is on board. And when it's a game that has a "call unicycle" button, I'm triple sold. Life-sim To a T tells the story of a teenager whose body gets stuck in a T-pose, with their arms stuck out to the sides. Thankfully, they have a cute pup who helps them actually do things. A delightful demo is out now on Steam, and the game will hit PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 28. This one will be available day one on Game Pass. We've mentioned The Wandering Village a few times over the years and the game is finally coming out of early access on Steam on July 17. It'll also hit PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on the same day. This is a city-building sim that takes place on the back of a giant creature. I do enjoy the voxel destruction of sandbox heist game Teardown. So I was happy to hear that Tuxedo Labs and Coffee Stain are set to release another expansion next month. This time, we're going to space, as all great franchises (i.e the Leprechaun movies) eventually do. The Greenwash Gambit DLC will arrive on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on June 24. It'll cost $8, but owners of the season pass and ultimate edition will get access at no extra cost. Artis Impact's pretty pixel art made an immediate impression on me during the Six One Indie showcase. It took Malaysian solo developer Mas four years to make this cozy RPG, which is "set in a decaying world ruled by rogue AI." Although the game has a main, linear main path, there are side quests, hidden interactions and random events to experience. A demo for Artis Impact is out now, and the full game is coming to Steam on August 7.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/chaotic-deliveries-colorful-co-op-action-rpgs-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-140023626.html?src=rss

There are widespread reports of the new Whoop MG band failingThe device becomes unresponsive after several hours of useWhoop has issued replacements to at least some of those affectedIt seems as though there's a serious problem with the new Whoop MG (Medical Grade) fitness bands that were launched just a couple of weeks ago, with many users reporting that their devices have crashed and stopped working.As reported by Tech Issues Today, there are complaints all over forum boards and social media. The issue is the same: the device sensors stop working just hours after the Whoop MG is set up, with no warning signs.The tracker stops displaying any LED lights, won't sync with the mobile app, and isn't responsive even when it's fully charged. All the user complaints say the Whoop MG stopped responding within the first day of use.This appears to be a widespread problem too: you don't have to look for long on Reddit, X, or Whoop's official community forums to find frustrated users. These Whoop MG owners report that they're following standard troubleshooting steps, to no avail.What to do if you're affected@WHOOP wow guys I was so excited to get my new MG sensor from you. After only 5 days it failed. The worst part is the absolute runaround I’ve been getting the last 24 hours trying to deal with I can only imagine is AI customer support. Way to make a bad experience WAY worse!May 21, 2025An official response from the Whoop team recommends fully charging the battery and then forcing a reset by rapidly tapping the top of the sensor multiple times until the side LED pulses blue. You might then find you can pair it again in the app.These steps don't seem to be enough for some users, however. Affected Whoop MG owners are also being asked to contact Whoop support directly, and it seems some people are being sent replacements without asking for them, as bugs have been detected remotely.If you have been affected, try the reset process linked above, and then get in touch with Whoop – you should be sent a free replacement if your Whoop MG has suddenly stopped working and can't be recovered.And it's worth saying that this isn't affecting everyone, with some users reporting flawless operation with their Whoop MG. In the days that the TechRadar team has spent with the wearable, we haven't noticed any issues with it either.You might also likeWhoop unveils two new wearables, but the best features will cost youFrom Garmin to Whoop and Polar: the rise in fitness tech subscriptionsWhoop subscribers can now get a free upgrade to the latest devices

Amazon has cancelled The Wheel of Time after three seasonsIts production costs and declining viewership led to the decisionThe Prime Video show's cast had been "confident" about a season 4 renewalThe Wheel of Time has spun its last narrative thread following its cancellation by Amazon after three seasons.Per Deadline, Amazon pulled the plug on the high fantasy series yesterday (May 23) after it determined it would cost too much money to produce more seasons, particularly in light of the show's declining viewership.Prime Video's top brass reportedly deliberated hard over this decision because executives enjoyed what the program offered. However, a significant drop-off in its viewership during The Wheel of Time season 3's run and its production costs were cited as the primary reasons for scrapping the entire series.The official confirmation comes over a month after one of the best Prime Video shows' third season drew to a close. Before it did, stars Josha Stradowski and Daniel Henney, who play Rand and Lan, exclusively told me that they were "confident" about a season 4 renewal. Unfortunately, the pair, alongside the rest of the show's cast and crew, won't be back for more outings.We won't see Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve again following The Wheel of Time's cancellation (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)The Wheel of Time's demise is even tougher to take in light of its most recent eight-part installment being considered its best entry yet.In my review of The Wheel of Time season 3, I called it a "spellbinding return to form for Prime Video's high fantasy TV show underdog" and handed it a four out of five stars rating.Many critics agreed with me, too. Over on popular review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, season 3 is far and away the show's highest-rated chapter – its 97% critical rating outscoring season 2 (86%) and season 1 (81%) by some distance.I can’t believe they decided to cancel the show I really had big hopes for another season but I guess we won’t get another one. Truly one of the best shows out there, with such an amazing fandom but I guess that does not matter. #TheWheelOfTime #savetwot pic.twitter.com/vK72LSXYQsMay 23, 2025Nevertheless, the writing has seemingly been on the wall for the Amazon TV Original for some time.As the weeks ticked by following its latest season's finale, fans became increasingly concerned over the lack of updates about the show's future. Some grew so worried, in fact, that they banded together and formed a fan campaign calling on Amazon to finish The Wheel of Time's story.When Prime Video's Upfront 2025 presentation in mid-May passed without a single mention, it was a case of when, not if, Amazon planned to bring the ax down on its second biggest high fantasy show. The biggest, of course, is The Rings of Power and, following its fantasy sibling's axing, Amazon's Lord of the Rings prequel series will single-handedly bear the weight of the fantasy genre on one of the world's best streaming services.There'll be some fans who'll be glad to see the back of Amazon's live-action adaptation of Robert Jordan's book series namesake. Indeed, some have expressed frustration over what they considered to be unnecessary diversions from the source material – changes showrunner Rafe Judkins defended ahead of The Wheel of Time season 3's launch.Still, this is a sad day for all associated with The Wheel of Time. I didn't expect my season 3 ending explainer to be one of the last major articles I'd write on it, but I suppose all good things must come to an end. I just wish the wheel had weaved for a bit longer...You might also likePrime Video is ready to give a 'Netflix-style boost' to two of the most expensive Amazon TV Originals of all-timePrime Video sounds the death knell for The Bondsman as Kevin Bacon horror show is canceled after one seasonPrime Video has a smash hit new comedy show with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes – here's why people are loving it so much

Against all chilly odds, we've made it to the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day. While that brings lots of barbecues and swimming, it also means a bunch of deals. Included in this years Memorial Day sales is the Apple Magic Mouse with a USB-C port. Right now, you can pick up the Apple Magic Mouse for $68, down from $79 — a 14 percent discount. The deal brings it to only $5 more than it's all-time low price. Notably, this deal is only for the white model with a USB-C port. The Apple Magic Mouse is a solid wireless and rechargeable option to go with any of your Macs. It should pair automatically with the computer. Plus, one charge should last about a month and you can recharge it with an included woven USB-C Charge Cable.  In addition to the Magic Mouse, there are a handful of other Apple accessories on sale for Memorial Day. Key among them are the Apple Pencil Pro for $99 and a four-pack of AirTags for $75. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-usb-c-magic-mouse-drops-to-68-for-memorial-day-143823705.html?src=rss