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The Women-Led Games Showcase will be returning for its second year at the Summer Game Fest 2025. It will feature 39 titles from women-led and majority women development teams, and viewers can expect to see deep dives, release announcements and information on DLCs during the event. The Showcase will take place on June 7 at 1PM Eastern time and will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube, which is embedded below. You can also watch the stream through various co-streamers' Twitch channels that you can find from the Women-Led Games' X account. Take note that the team will also be running a Steam sale event from June 6 to 13 for women-led titles. In addition to this showcase, Summer Game Fest 2025 will also feature several other events, such as Day of the Dev for indie titles and Wholesome Direct for cozy games. There will be a showcase for titles created by Latin American developers, a Green Games event for titles that make direct contributions to green initiatives and an Xbox Games Showcase for updates on titles from across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. You can also watch the live premiere for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach on June 8 at 10PM Eastern time. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-the-women-led-games-showcase-at-summer-game-fest-2025-190005489.html?src=rss

Devolver Digital is devoting its Summer Game Fest stream to a single title. That's quite the departure for the Austin-based publisher. So, the company must see something special in Ball x Pit: The Kenny Sun Story. Get ready to find out about it on June 6. Devolver isn't being shy about its enthusiasm for Ball x Pit. The publisher says it's a game the team "can't even put down — hundreds of hours later." Sounds promising! So, what do we know about the game and its titular character? Not much. There's the teaser image above, featuring battle skeletons and other fantasy characters. Also, Devolver called it "a tremendous little game." Expect to learn much more about Ball x Pit on June 6 at 8 PM ET. You can tune into Devolver Direct on YouTube and Twitch. (That's the same broadcast as the Summer Game Fest Live and Day of the Devs livestreams.)This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-devolver-direct-at-summer-game-fest-2025-170014340.html?src=rss

Nebraska is the latest state to crack down on how kids can use social media. The state's governor, Jim Pillen, recently signed into law a package of bills aimed at restricting certain social media features that keep kids hooked on the platform. The final bill signed, called the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, will require companies to offer time limits on usage, restrict certain categories of content and provide chronological feeds instead of algorithmic ones that promote infinite scrolling. The Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, also known as LB504, details that social media companies can only collect the minimum amount of personal data from younger users, and offers parents more tools to limit how their children use their accounts. Along with those restrictions, the law prohibits any ads related to gambling, alcohol, tobacco or drugs from reaching kids on social media.  Alongside LB504, the signed package of bills includes LB140 that limits student use of smartphones in schools, LB383 that requires social media companies to verify the age of its users and require parental consent for creating accounts, and LB172 that creates criminal penalties for AI-generated pornography. "Collectively, all these bills have an incredible impact on helping our teachers and giving our schools the opportunity to teach our kids, instead of being disrupted in the classroom," Pillen said in a press release. "They also provide parents with the tools they need to protect our kids from big tech online companies and predators." The law is set to go into effect January 1, 2026, and any companies that violate these new regulations will face civil penalties. Nebraska is the latest state to restrict social media usage for minors, but Texas is also trying to pass a similar ban. With more efforts to regulate social media, NetChoice, an Internet advocacy organization whose members include Google, Meta and X, has voiced criticism of these states' efforts, arguing that they infringe on First Amendment rights and user privacy. In 2022, California signed a similar law meant to protect underage users, but it has since been in a legal battle following a lawsuit filed by NetChoice that claims a violation of free speech rights.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/a-new-nebraska-law-wants-to-make-social-media-less-addictive-for-kids-171510432.html?src=rss

Seagate quietly ships 40TB HAMR drives, setting the pace for the next storage nextMozaic HAMR tech crams 4TB per platter, promising massive boosts in storage efficiencyData center expansion will dictate how fast these record-breaking 40TB drives hit the mainstreamAt the recent Seagate’s Investor and Analyst Conference, the company revealed it has delivered limited units of its new 40TB hard drives based on its Mozaic HAMR platform.These 40TB drives use Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) to achieve 4TB per platter across ten platters, marking a shift toward Seagate’s Mozaic 4+ platform.While these are not yet broadly available, full-scale production is slated to begin in the first half of 2026 following extensive customer qualification testing.Full-scale production to commence next year“We have shipped limited 40 terabyte engineering samples to our customer already. We do plan to initiate quals next quarter, and we'll continue quals into 2026, where we'll be bringing over a wide portion of our customer base to the Mozaic 4 platform,” said Dr. John Morris, Seagate’s CTO.Volume readiness will depend on how data centers integrate and validate the drives. However, the goal is to move a significant share of Seagate’s exabyte shipments to HAMR-based drives, which promise higher capacity and data center efficiency.As CEO, Dr. Dave Mosley explained, “10 disks would get you to 40 terabytes... this gives better efficiencies in the data center. At the fleet level, this is how our customers think.”Seagate's long-term plan involves rolling out even larger capacities, including 44TB drives by 2027 and 50TB drives by 2028.The delay from its original 2017 projection for 50TB drives by 2026 underscores the complexities of scaling HAMR technology. Yet, the 40TB development still positions Seagate in the race to offer the largest HDD on the market.Rival companies are following different strategies. Western Digital (WD) continues to expand capacity through ePMR and OptiNAND, reserving HAMR for its own 40TB launch expected in late 2026.“Other companies have started adopting HAMR with 30TB HDDs, but we believe HAMR’s true potential begins at 40TB. Until then, we'll continue using technologies like OptiNAND and UltraSMR to increase the capacity of existing HDDs up to 40TB,” said Kimihiko Nishio, WD's sales manager in Japan.Toshiba, another key player, has been developing its technologies, such as Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR).The company aims to release its first 35TB HDD based on HAMR before 2026. Toshiba's strategy involves combining MAMR with future HAMR implementations to achieve these capacities.These drives won’t appeal to average consumers looking for the fastest HDD or even the best HDD for home use, their development is closely tied to the AI-driven cybersecurity arms race.Seagate’s early shipments of 40TB drives suggest technical leadership in the race to develop the largest HDD, but the path to commercial reality is winding, and the cautious stance of competitors implies the challenges are considerable.You might also likeThese are the largest SSDs and hard drives in the marketHere are the best microSD cards for your microstorage needsMac users beware - fake Ledger apps are being used by hackers to steal seed phrases and hack accounts

Just a day after its release, FromSoftware announced a crucial patch for Elden Ring Nightreign players who prefer to solo queue. The game's developer posted on X that Patch 1.02 will be released next week, delivering some bug fixes and "improvements for solo expeditions." More specifically, FromSoftware will add the effect of “Automatic Revival Upon Defeat” that allows a self-revival once per night boss battle for solo expeditions. Players will also get more runes, which should provide a more balanced gaming experience when venturing alone. This news of this patch follows several criticisms of the game being poorly optimized when playing solo, versus in a party of three as it was designed for. FromSoftware's titles have a reputation for being difficult, but early reviews pointed out that Nightreign offers poor scaling with certain mechanics, abilities and boss fights that cater towards a full party. Despite the millions of copies sold on the first day, Nightreign holds a "mixed" Steam user review rating thanks to the solo queue issues, along with a lack of communication tools, cross-platform play and less replayability than other Souls titles. For FromSoftware, Elden Ring Nightreign represents a stylistic shift into the roguelike genre based on its best-selling predecessor and it might still be working out some of the kinks. The game's director, Junya Ishizaki, told IGN in an interview that jumping into an expedition as a duo was “overlooked during development” but is something that the developer is looking at and considering for post-launch support. Some players are also having issues with matchmaking itself, where FromSoftware recommends restarting the process to get into an expedition. As for rebalancing for solo play, FromSoftware said that more details about this upcoming patch will come next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/elden-ring-nightreigns-next-patch-will-make-gameplay-easier-for-solo-players-183644323.html?src=rss

In our list of the best streaming services we crowned Paramount+ as the best platform for classic movies, and it still is – however, it's broadening its library of 21st century features in its list of new titles for June 2025.With over 80 new movies landing on June 1, among the list of new Paramount+ movies lies modern titles that over time have earned modern classic status, starting with No Country for Old Men (2007) – a western thriller from the Coen brothers starring Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin.But that's not all and, if anything, the drama never ends. Joining the Coens' thriller is Steve McQueen's Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave (2013), Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994), and four movies from the Indiana Jones franchise. The thrills are endless.Everything new on Paramount+ in June 2025 Arriving on June 1 3:10 to Yuma (movie)12 Years a Slave (movie)Bad News Bears (movie)BlacKkKlansman (movie)Boogie Nights (movie)But I'm a Cheerleader (movie)Call Me By Your Name (movie)Carol (movie)Carriers (movie)Center Stage (movie)Changing Lanes (movie)Chasing Amy (movie)Cloverfield (movie)Crawlspace (movie)Daddy Day Camp (movie)Dance Flick (movie)Dog Day Afternoon (movie)Double Jeopardy (movie)Eagle Eye (movie)Elf (movie)Enemy at the Gates (movie)EuroTrip (movie)Everybody's Fine (movie)Extract (movie)First Blood (movie)Heatwave (movie)How She Move (movie)How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (movie)Imagine That (movie)In & Out (movie)Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (movie)Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (movie)Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (movie)Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (movie)Jawbreaker (movie)Kinky Boots (movie)Law of Desire (movie)Layer Cake (movie)Light of My Life (movie)Like a Boss (movie)Marathon Man (movie)Masterminds (movie)Military Wives (movie)Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (movie)No Country for Old Men (movie)Orange County (movie)Overdrive (movie)Pretty In Pink (movie)Pulp Fiction (movie)Racing with the Moon (movie)Rambo III (movie)Rambo: First Blood Part II (movie)RED (movie)Reservoir Dogs (movie)Risky Business (movie)Road Trip (movie)Run & Gun (movie)Saturday Night Fever (movie)Save the Last Dance (movie)School Ties (movie)Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (movie)She's All That (movie)Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (movie)Stand By Me (movie)Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (movie)The Autopsy of Jane Doe (movie)The Crossing Guard (movie)The Dictator (movie)The Fighting Temptations (movie)The Gambler (movie)The General's Daughter (movie)The Girl Next Door (movie)The Godfather (movie)The Godfather Part II (movie)The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (movie)The Hunt for Red October (movie)The Ides Of March (movie)The Kings of Summer (movie)The Last Samurai (movie)The Lovely Bones (movie)The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (movie)The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (movie)The Nice Guys (movie)The Other Woman (movie)The People vs. Larry Flynt (movie)The Running Man (movie)The Shootist (movie)The Space Between Us (movie)The Untouchables (movie)Tigerland (movie)Tommy Boy (movie)Tootsie (movie)Total Recall (movie)True Grit (movie)Whiplash (movie)Without a Paddle (movie)xXx (movie)Zola (movie)Arriving on June 4 SpongeBob SquarePants season 14 (TV show)Arriving on June 5 Lions for Lambs (movie)Arriving on June 8 The 78th Annual Tony Awards (TV show)Arriving on June 11The Really Loud House season 2 (TV show)Arriving on June 15 In Bloom: Everybody’s Fight (TV show)Arriving on June 22 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (TV show)Arriving on June 25 The Patrick Star Show season 3 (TV show)Ice Airport Alaska season 5 (TV show)The Last Cowboy season 5 (TV show)You might also like Yellowjackets season 3 finale made me shocked, surprised and sad – here are 3 things you may have missedHBO Max might hog the 'premium streaming' spotlight, but lately I've gotten way more value from my Apple TV+ subscription – here's whyEverything new on Netflix in June 2025 – stream all episodes of Squid Game season 3 on June 27

The indie-focused Day of the Devs is nearly here. That's the portion of Summer Game Fest where smaller publishers step into the spotlight. It tends to be a worthwhile watch, often eclipsing the main show. Get ready to tune in on June 6. What's on tap this year? Heart Machine's 2D sidescroller Possessor(s) will make an appearance. If you like hand-drawn art, horror and visual novels, this is your game. (Oh, and don't forget "very hot" demons!) We'll also see more of Outersloth's "nightmarish life sim" Neverway. That title has a killer elevator pitch. "After quitting her dead-end job, Fiona starts over on a farm and becomes the immortal herald of a dead god." (As one does!) Big WalkHouse House Untitled Goose Game maker House House is on the schedule. That will presumably mean a closer look at Big Walk. The "cooperative online walker-talker" eschews the hardcore competition common in online gaming. "Our favorite part of playing online coop games is when they give you enough direction for the group to keep up a good momentum," the studio said in 2023. "But it's relaxed enough that you're mostly just able to enjoy spending time with your friends." Expect a chill time with delightfully strange characters. Expect much more beyond that small sampling. Day of the Devs kicks off on June 6 at 7PM ET. You can also stream it on YouTube and Twitch. Engadget will also be on the ground at Summer Games Fest with plenty of first-hand impressions.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-day-of-the-devs-at-summer-game-fest-2025-150047219.html?src=rss

According to a report from NPR, Meta plans to shift the task of assessing its products' potential harms away from human reviewers, instead leaning more heavily on AI to speed up the process. Internal documents seen by the publication note that Meta is aiming to have up to 90 percent of risk assessments fall on AI, NPR reports, and is considering using AI reviews even in areas such as youth risk and "integrity," which covers violent content, misinformation and more. Unnamed current and former Meta employees who spoke with NPR warned AI may overlook serious risks that a human team would have been able to identify. Updates and new features for Meta's platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp, have long been subjected to human reviews before they hit the public, but Meta has reportedly doubled down on the use of AI over the last two months. Now, according to NPR, product teams have to fill out a questionnaire about their product and submit this for review by the AI system, which generally provides an "instant decision" that includes the risk areas it's identified. They'll then have to address whatever requirements it laid out to resolve the issues before the product can be released. A former Meta executive told NPR that reducing scrutiny "means you're creating higher risks. Negative externalities of product changes are less likely to be prevented before they start causing problems in the world." In a statement to NPR, Meta said it would still tap "human expertise" to evaluate "novel and complex issues," and leave the "low-risk decisions" to AI. Read the full report over at NPR. It comes a few days after Meta released its latest quarterly integrity reports — the first since changing its policies on content moderation and fact-checking earlier this year. The amount of content taken down has unsurprisingly decreased in the wake of the changes, per the report. But there was a small rise in bullying and harassment, as well as violent and graphic content.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-will-reportedly-soon-use-ai-for-most-product-risk-assessments-instead-of-human-reviewers-205416849.html?src=rss

Summer Game Fest 2025 is just around the corner and it'll be a weekend packed with video game news. The event kicks off on June 6, with roughly a dozen livestreams scheduled to take place from then through June 8. Among them is the Latin American Games Showcase, which will highlight over 50 titles from Latin American indie developers. You can tune into the YouTube stream on Saturday, June 7 at 2PM ET (11AM PT). Last year's Latin American Games Showcase at SGF gave us a glimpse at a ton of games to be excited about, like the recently released title, Despelote, that's both memoir and soccer game. We don't know yet what the 2025 showcase will bring, but there's sure to be some gems. Before the Latin American Games Showcase on Saturday, Summer Game Fest Live will usher in the festivities on June 6 at 5PM ET (2PM PT). We have all the info you need to know right here ahead of Summer Game Fest and will be on the ground getting some hands-on time with many of the games you'll see featured in the showcases, so be sure to check back in for the latest news.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-the-latin-american-games-showcase-at-summer-game-fest-2025-210009391.html?src=rss

Outdated DNS records create invisible openings for criminals to spread malware through legitimate sitesHazy Hawk turns misconfigured cloud links into silent redirection traps for fraud and infectionVictims think they’re visiting a real site, until popups and malware take overA troubling new online threat is emerging in which criminals hijack subdomains of major organizations, such as Bose, Panasonic, and even the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), to spread malware and perpetrate online scams.As flagged by security experts Infoblox, at the center of this campaign is a threat group known as Hazy Hawk, which has taken a relatively quiet but highly effective approach to compromise user trust and weaponize it against unsuspecting visitors.These subdomain hijackings are not the result of direct hacking but rather of exploiting overlooked infrastructure vulnerabilities.An exploit rooted in administrative oversightInstead of breaching networks through brute force or phishing, Hazy Hawk exploits abandoned cloud resources linked to misconfigured DNS CNAME records.These so-called “dangling” records occur when an organization decommissions a cloud service but forgets to update or delete the DNS entry pointing to it, leaving the subdomain vulnerable.For example, a forgotten subdomain like something.bose.com might still point to an unused Azure or AWS resource, and if Hazy Hawk registers the corresponding cloud instance, the attacker suddenly controls a legitimate-looking Bose subdomain.This method is dangerous because misconfigurations are not typically flagged by conventional security systems.The repurposed subdomains become platforms for delivering scams, including fake antivirus warnings, tech support cons, and malware disguised as software updates.Hazy Hawk doesn’t just stop at hijacking - the group uses traffic distribution systems (TDSs) to reroute users from hijacked subdomains to malicious destinations.These TDSs, such as viralclipnow.xyz, assess a user’s device type, location, and browsing behavior to serve up tailored scams.Often, redirection begins with seemingly innocuous developer or blog domains, like share.js.org, before shuffling users through a web of deception.Once users accept push notifications, they continue to receive scam messages long after the initial infection, establishing a lasting vector for fraud.The fallout from these campaigns is more than theoretical and has affected high-profile organizations and firms like the CDC, Panasonic and Deloitte.Individuals can guard against these threats by refusing push notification requests from unfamiliar sites and exercising caution with links that seem too good to be true.For organizations, the emphasis must be on DNS hygiene. Failing to remove DNS entries for decommissioned cloud services leaves subdomains vulnerable to takeover.Automated DNS monitoring tools, especially those integrated with threat intelligence, can help detect signs of compromise.Security teams should treat these misconfigurations as critical vulnerabilities, not minor oversights.You might also likeThese are the best AI website builders aroundUK businesses say that fear of missing out is driving AI adoptionTikTok fans beware - experts warn dangerous malware spread by AI fake videos

Didn't manage to get tickets to the Netflix Tudum 2025 live event? Don't worry. We'll be rounding up all the biggest news from the global fan extravaganza taking place in Los Angeles right here.Some of the biggest returning TV shows and upcoming movies from one of the best streaming services are already confirmed to feature throughout the evening. From Stranger Things season 5 and Wednesday season 2 to Squid Game season 3 and more, there's a lot of ground to cover.Alongside live performances from global stars like Lady Gaga and Hanumankind as well as appearances from some of the talent in Netflix's hit shows and movies, there'll be streaming announcements in the form of trailers, teasers, release dates and more.Follow along below to get the biggest news from Netflix's biggest fan event.Where can I watch Netflix Tudum 2025? You can tune into the Netflix Tudum 2025 live event from home by streaming it live on Netflix on May 31, 2025, at 8pm ET / 5PM PT. That means viewers in the UK can catch it at 1am BST, while those in Australia will be able to watch it at 10am AEST.We'll be covering the biggest streaming news from the event live, so you'll be able to catch up on anything you missed about the best Netflix shows and new Netflix movies all in one place.

There’s no doubt about it: Android offers a fantastic ecosystem with some of the best phones and best tablets money can buy. When you opt for products powered by Google’s operating system, you’ll find devices that cover just about every need imaginable, from budget-friendly phones to feature-rich powerhouses. It’s also a highly customizable system that lets you tweak it in just about any way you can imagine, unlike Apple’s locked down offerings.Yet despite all that, I’ve never owned an Android phone.Sure, I had a slide-up Samsung back in the day, but that was probably before Android was even a consideration inside Google HQ (honestly, it was also a terrible phone). Instead, I’ve faithfully stuck with Apple ever since I first got an iPhone 3GS, never since venturing outside the famous walled garden.So why have I never been tempted to switch over to the Android side and ditch my Apple products for good, despite the open appeal of Google's mobile operating system? Well, there’s one thing that has made me an Apple loyalist for many years now: the seamless way Apple’s devices all work together, and the incredible features this enables.Apple controls both the hardware and software that underpins its products, and this is something that I think a lot of people really underestimate. If Apple knows exactly which devices and operating systems it will be working with, it knows what kind of features it can build, and it knows that those features should work reliably for everyone.(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)With Android, you’re talking about a huge range of diverse hardware and software configurations. That has its benefits, but it also makes it difficult for developers to account for all that variation. This throws up problems with functionality and compatibility, which limits what can be done to a degree that doesn’t happen with Apple.For example, I love how I can place my iPhone on my Mac’s monitor and it instantly becomes a webcam, no software setup needed. Or how I can use a single mouse and keyboard on both my Mac and my iPad, or drag and drop a file from my iPhone to my Mac without a hitch.Sure, some of these features work on Android, more or less, but they’re nowhere near as slick. Apple’s features work automatically and intuitively, with no additional software to install and no cumbersome setup process to go through. My Apple devices recognize each other and work together without a hitch.That’s something that I just can’t get on Android – not to the same extent, anyway. So, while Android has a huge amount to offer, it falls short compared to Apple when it comes to this impactful area.Smooth integration(Image credit: Apple)That said, my setup is a little more complicated than I originally made out. As well as my Apple kit, I also have a Windows PC, which doesn’t always play nice with my iOS and macOS devices. I certainly can’t use Apple exclusives like Handoff, Universal Control and more across both iOS and Windows, for example. Even though I get to enjoy Apple’s joined-up ecosystem for the most part, there are still hitches when it comes to my PC.What I want is something that offers all this functionality across all my devices. I won’t get that from Apple with its closed-off walled garden – the company doesn’t like sharing, after all. Things like Continuity Camera will never come to Windows, at least not in a native form from Apple.But at the same time, I definitely won’t get that functionality from Android either, which is too dispersed and fragmented to offer the same kind of integration as Apple can provide.Ultimately, Apple still gives me the best way to have all my devices working together near-seamlessly. I absolutely love how using my iPhone, iPad and Mac together unlocks all kinds of neat functions and features that I can’t get anywhere else, and I know that if I switched to Android, I’d lose out on a lot of that.I can’t say if there’s a solution on the horizon that works for both Apple products and the Windows/Android world. But for now, Apple has the upper hand, at least for me. Hopefully, Android can find a way to catch up in the future.You might also likeThe best Android phones 2025: top performing and most affordableI love Apple’s iPhone mirroring feature so much I almost forgot Microsoft did it first – though Apple has definitely done it betterHow to use Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura

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 31 (game #720).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 #721) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…DIVESLUSHFENCELOCKSWIMHEDGEICEHAUNTMUTUALGUARANTEEJOINTRIDECINCHSHOOTTRUSTESTABLISHMENTNYT Connections today (game #721) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: A bar you know GREEN: Multi-sportBLUE: In the bag PURPLE: A pool of moneyNeed 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 #721) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: LOCAL WATERING HOLE GREEN: COMPETE IN A MODERN PENTATHLON BLUE: ENSURE, AS A VICTORY PURPLE: ___ FUND Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #721) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #721, are…YELLOW: LOCAL WATERING HOLE DIVE, ESTABLISHMENT, HAUNT, JOINTGREEN: COMPETE IN A MODERN PENTATHLON FENCE, RIDE, SHOOT, SWIMBLUE: ENSURE, AS A VICTORY CINCH, GUARANTEE, ICE, LOCKPURPLE: ___ FUND HEDGE, MUTUAL, SLUSH, TRUSTMy rating: ModerateMy score: PerfectAs a big fan of multi-sport competitions I got COMPETE IN A MODERN PENTATHLON quickly, as these are all events in that particular Olympic sport.It’s called the modern pentathlon to distinguish it from the ancient pentathlon, but in truth it’s not very modern anymore. It’s a bit like someone calling a typewriter a modern pencil. In my opinion there should be more of these tests of sporting ability – I remember a brief attempt at marketing a chessboxing hybrid a while back and there is of course the triathlon, but why stop there?Combining table games, athletics and martial arts creates hundreds of watchable possibilities; who wouldn’t want to watch Jenga-Pole Vault-Judo? Getting the hardest group, comprising of four funds, early was a thrill for me today, tempered slightly by the fact that I don’t understand the blue group ENSURE, AS A VICTORY at all – just like I didn’t understand it a year ago when the exact same group appeared in Connections #340.Back then, in May 2024, it was a green group so I don’t think I’m alone in struggling to see where ICE fits in.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 31, game #720)YELLOW: ALCOVE CAVITY, HOLLOW, NOOK, RECESSGREEN: WAYS TO RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE, MEDAL, PLAQUE, TROPHYBLUE: VERBS IN BREADMAKING FERMENT, PROOF, REST, RISEPURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN BLOW BUBBLE, FUSE, KISS, RASPBERRYWhat 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.

Champions League Final 2025 kicks off later today – which means it's time to figure out the best way to watch PSG vs Inter live from the Allianz Arena on Saturday, May 31.The huge soccer showdown between Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A stalwarts Inter Milan is tipped for a global TV audience of more than 145 million.Football fans can watch live thanks to major sports networks such as TNT Sports and CBS, as well as online via their respective streaming apps.Ready to see the PSG-Inter showdown in Munich? Stick with us for all the latest on the 2025 Champions League Final including team news, build up, and goal updates...What is the venue for the Champions League Final?The 2024-25 Champions League Final between Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan will take place at the Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany.The stadium is usually known as the Allianz Arena but UEFA regulations dictate the removal of stadium sponsors to provide a "clean stadium" for fixtures.The UEFA-approved Munich Football Arena previously staged the 2012 Champions League Final and the 2024 European Championship.According to UEFA, "The Munich Football Arena took less than three years to build from start to finish, and was completed on 30 April 2005." It has a capacity of 75,024 and is owned by elite German club Bayern Munich.When does the Champions League Final take place?(Image credit: Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images)The UEFA Champions League Final – as it is officially known – takes place in Munich, Germany on Saturday, May 31. The match will begin at 8pm GMT / 3pm ET.The match is a repeat of the pair's club friendly in August 2023, in which Inter Milan beat Paris St. German 2-1 away after scoring two late goals in the 81st and 83rd minute of the game.When does PSG vs Inter Milan start?Kick off: 8pm GMT / 3pm ET / 12pm PT / 5am AEST (Sun) / 12.30am IST / 9pm CET Munich time on Saturday, May 31.What time does the build up to the Champions League Final start?Good question. In the UK, the build-up to Paris v Inter in Munich will begin on TNT Sports and Discovery+ at 6pm on May 31 – two hours ahead of kick-off at 8pm.We expect the match to start bang on time.UEFA's fan park – Champions Festival, located in Munich's Olympiapark – is open from 11am to 15 mins after final whistle on Saturday, May 31 and 11am – 6pm on Sunday, 1 June.Munich is home to the Hofbrauhaus, one of the biggest bierkeller's in Germany and the fans are already there to celebrate today's festival of football.If you're planning on watching the Champions League Final, keep an eye on our live updates for the latest streaming info and build-up.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – key information- Set to be released in June 2026- Filming wrapped in early May- No trailer revealed yet- Milly Alcock will play the titular character- Other cast members reportedly unveiled- Based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely's comic book namesake- Should directly adapt the story from the aforementioned graphic novel- Unclear how it'll impact the wider DCUSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, due to fly into theaters in June 2026, will introduce the titular hero to a whole new audience.Over 40 years have passed since Kara Zor-El's only big-screen adventure. And, while she's appeared in numerous TV shows, it's high time that Kal-El's jaded but similarly powerful cousin returned to the silver screen spotlight.With Supergirl's long-overdue sophomore movie outing set to be the DC Universe's (DCU) second film release, you'll want to learn more about it. Below, I've rounded up the latest information on the superhero flick, including its confirmed release date and cast, story details, and more. Potential spoilers follow for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and the graphic novel it's based on.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow release dateToday we celebrate #Supergirl and all her various incarnations. Can’t wait for you to see the latest version, portrayed by the indomitable @millyalcock, in June 2026.Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh. pic.twitter.com/3sXwAFfxJbMarch 31, 2025Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will land in theaters worldwide on June 26, 2026. That means Supergirl will make her DCU debut almost one year after James Gunn's Superman movie officially kicks off the DCU. Well, if you discount Creature Commandos' first season.But I digress. Although he's not directing it, Gunn, one of DC Studios' co-heads, confirmed (via Threads) that principal photography wrapped in early May. With over 12 months to complete its post-production phase, there's no reason why the DCU Chapter One movie won't make its current release date.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow trailer: is there one?The first image from the Woman of Tomorrow set was shared by James Gunn in March (Image credit: James Gunn/Instagram)Nope. A teaser could be shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 in late July, if DC Studios is in attendance and one has been edited in time. Right now, though, no footage is publicly available.Once a trailer is released, I'll update this section.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow cast: confirmed and rumoredKara Zor-El is the lead character in this DCU Chapter One film (Image credit: DC Comics)Potential spoilers follow for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.Here's who I expect to see in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow:Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/SupergirlJason Momoa as LoboMatthias Schoenaerts as KremEve Ridley as Ruthye Marye KnollDavid Krumholtz as Zor-ElEmily Beecham as Alura In-ZeSo far, Alcock and Momoa are the only actors who are officially confirmed to appear.Alcock, who you might recognize from House of the Dragon and Sirens, was picked to play Supergirl in January 2024. Alcock made it to the final two alongside Meg Donnelly last January, and was then selected by Gunn and his studio co-chief Peter Safran to play a character previously portrayed by the likes of Helen Slater, Melissa Benoist, and Summer Glau in a live-action capacity.Real name Kara Zor-El, she hails from Krypton, aka the destroyed planet that was also home to Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman. In fact, she's Superman's cousin, so you won't be surprised to learn that she possesses identical powers to the only other surviving Kryptonian. Expect to see her use her superhuman physical abilities, heat vision, X-ray vision, invulnerability, and flight-based skills in Woman of Tomorrow.I wonder if Kara and company will try to enlist Lobo's help to track down Krem... (Image credit: DC Comics)As for Momoa, who played Aquaman in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU), he'll cameo as Lobo.The sole survivor of another alien race that lived on the utopian world known as Czarnia, Lobo travels the cosmos as a bounty hunter/mercenary. He's got the skillset for the job, too, with super strength, speed, and agility, plus immortality, self-healing powers, and expert marksmanship, ensuring that few foes can best him in short- and long-range combat.Interestingly, Lobo doesn't appear in Woman of Tomorrow's comic book namesake (more on the story later), so I'm keen to learn why writer Ana Nogueira and director Craig Gillespie included him in the movie adaptation.A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies)A photo posted by on Where the rest of the cast is concerned, Ridley, who appeared in 3 Body Problem on Netflix, will play Ruthye (per Deadline). A young and noble warrior who enlists the eponymous hero's help to track down the individual who murdered her dad, Ruthye will play an integral role in the story.Meanwhile, Krumholtz and Beecham are on board (per The Hollywood Reporter) as Kara's parents, Zor-El and Alura, so expect to see some flashbacks to Kara's childhood and, potentially, Krypton's demise. According to the aforementioned Deadline article, Schoenaerts is tackling the role of Krem, aka the primary villain of the piece, who's responsible for killing Ruthye's father.Lastly, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will feature everyone's favorite boisterous pooch, Krypto. Inspired by Gunn's own rescue dog Ouzo, Krypto will make his DCU debut in Gunn's Superman movie before he traverses the galaxy with Kara and Ruthye.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow story speculationSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow takes its title from its comic book namesake (Image credit: DC Comics/Warner Bros. Discovery)Possible spoilers follow for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow doesn't have a story synopsis yet. However, it's already possible to draw some conclusions about its plot because it'll draw heavily from its graphic novel series namesake.Indeed, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is the same title bestowed upon an eight-issue series written by Tom King and drawn by Bilquis Eveley, which ran from June 2021 to February 2022.In it, Kara Zor-El crosses paths with Ruthye and is asked to help the latter find the man (i.e. Krem) responsible for killing her dad. A reluctant Supergirl agrees to help, thus kicking off the literary work's events.I won't spoil much else because, well, spoilers. However, Woman of Tomorrow is a unique comic book series in that it doesn't tell the story from the perspective of the titular hero. Indeed, we witness events play out through Ruthye's eyes, so I'm curious to see if this'll be the case in its movie adaptation, or if Kara will be our eyes and ears instead.Regardless, it seems like Supergirl's first solo DCU outing will be incredibly faithful to its graphic novel counterpart. In January, Gunn revealed Woman of Tomorrow's first behind-the-scenes image, and it showed Alcock's Kara in a place that'll be very familiar to DC fans. Sure, this is just a single picture, but I'd be amazed if the forthcoming flick isn't a near-identical retelling of the plot that plays out in DC Comics literature.Of equal intrigue will be the movie's age rating.By all accounts, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a pretty dark story from a thematic standpoint, so its live-action interpretation could push the boundaries of what's considered to be a PG-13 movie in the US and a 12-plus film in the UK. I suspect these are the age ratings it'll eventually earn, as Gunn, Safran, and company won't want to make a 16-plus or even R-rated film that fewer people will be able to see.How will Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow impact the DCU?Woman of Tomorrow will be the second DCU movie after Superman, which arrives this July (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)The short answer is: I don't know. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be the fourth DCU project released after Creature Commandos season 1, Superman, and Lanterns. The last of that trio is the next HBO TV Original that'll also air on Max (US and Australia) and Sky/Now TV (UK). It's expected to launch in early 2026.Post-Woman of Tomorrow, the only other DCU production confirmed to be in active development, is Clayface. A small-budget horror flick from Mike Flanagan, it's currently penciled in to arrive in September 2026 and, based on what's been publicly revealed, it's highly unlikely to have ties to Woman of Tomorrow.Until the Daughter of Krypton's next standalone adventure is out, then, nobody can say what the future holds for Kara Zor-El or how her first DCU solo movie will impact Gunn and Safran's cinematic universe.What we do know is Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is positioning Supergirl as the fourth superhero that the DCU will be built around. In May, WBD CEO David Zaslav told investors that Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, and Batman are the DCU's "big asset builders" (per Yahoo). So, this isn't the last we'll see of Kara in the DCU.For more DCU based coverage, read our guides on Creature Commandos season 2, the best Batman movies, and how to watch the DC movies in order.

It's no secret that 28 Years Later used iPhones to shoot parts of the film. Now its director, Danny Boyle, has discussed the use of iPhones for the film in more detail with IGN. The first film in the franchise, 28 Days Later, was shot on digital video, giving it a homemade feel. Boyle explained that he and writer Alex Garland got the idea from the fact that home video cameras were common at the time, and people would've shot videos with them if an apocalypse had indeed happened. Those cameras, of course, have since been replaced by smartphones. The movies used three special rigs for the iPhone sequences: One for eight cameras that one person can carry, another with 10 and another with 20. "I never say this, but there is an incredible shot in the second half [of the film] where we use the 20-rig camera, and you'll know it when you see it," Boyle told IGN. He described the 20-iPhone rig as "basically a poor man’s bullet time," which is a visual effect that uses multiple cameras to freeze or slow down time. Think the scene in The Matrix, wherein Neo dodged bullets in super slow motion.  Doyle said that the 20-camera rig can be attached to cranes or dollies and give you 180 degrees of vision of an action. In editing, you can choose from any of the footage each iPhone takes to, say, move between perspectives or jump forward and backward. For 28 Years Later, the team used the rig for violent scenes to emphasize their effect. "For a moment the audience is inside the scene, the action, rather than classically observing a picture," Doyle explained. In addition to the iPhones, the filmmakers also used drones, cameras attached to actors and even farm animals to achieve an immersive feel for its 2.76:1 widescreen aspect ratio. They decided on the aspect ratio to create a sense of unease, since you'd have to keep scanning the screen to see potential threats coming from the sides.  Sony This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/28-years-later-used-20-iphones-in-tandem-for-some-wild-shots-130043338.html?src=rss

Sony's latest Days of Play sale has kicked off. It features deals aplenty on PlayStation 5 consoles, accessories and games, as well as PS Plus subscriptions. One of the more intriguing discounts is for the PS5 DualSense Edge. The premium controller has dropped by 15 percent from $200 to $169. That's the lowest price to date for the peripheral. The deal is available on Amazon and from Sony directly. The layout apes that of the regular DualSense controller, but there's a lot more going on with the Edge. For instance, there are function buttons below each thumbstick that allow you to swap between button configurations (which you can customize at any time in the PS5 settings). On the rear, there are switches that enable you to change the pull length of the shoulder triggers. There are also rear paddles, and you can choose between a set of levers or shorter half-domes. It's possible to swap out the thumbsticks as well and, because they attach to the controller magnetically, it's a cinch to do so. Other than the standard nubs, you can choose between short-stemmed convex and long-stemmed convex options. There's also a cable lock that prevents you from accidentally removing the USB-C charging cable by accident. You might want to keep that cable plugged in. One of the major downsides of the DualSense Edge is its battery life. In our testing, we got around five to six hours of use on a single charge, less than the six or seven we get with the standard DualSense. Last but not least, the DualSense Edge comes with a hardshell carrying case. There's even a passthrough flap through which you can thread a USB-C cable to charge the controller while it's cocooned in the case. There are, of course, lots of other intriguing discounts in the Days of Play sale, including one on the standard PS5 DualSense controller. That has dropped to $55, which is $20 off the list price. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/playstations-dualsense-edge-wireless-controller-drops-to-a-record-low-price-143629755.html?src=rss

Haptic buttons are predicted for Apple devicesThey're more durable and more customizableIt's unlikely we'll see them on the iPhone 17Haptic buttons (also known as solid-state buttons) don't physically move – they just give your fingers feedback in the form of vibrations to simulate a click. Apple uses them for its MacBook trackpads, and it seems they'll be coming to many other devices soon.As per well-known tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors), Apple is exploring the idea of using haptic buttons for the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple Watch – though the indications are that this isn't something we'll be seeing in this year's refreshes.This isn't the first time this rumor has appeared – we thought we might get haptic buttons back with the iPhone 15 series, if you remember – but it appears that they're back on the agenda for Apple, and this time not just for the iPhone.We don't get much more information than that, but the benefits of these haptic buttons are that they last longer (because they're not actually moving), and offer more customization options (because the force of the feedback can be adjusted as needed).Buttoned downWe might see haptic buttons on the Apple Watch too (Image credit: Apple)Based on this rumor at least, it seems unlikely that haptic buttons are going to be ready for the iPhone 17, or indeed the Apple Watch Series 11. Both of those devices will now be in the latter stages of their development ahead of an expected September launch.Looking further down the line though, some of this technology might appear in Apple's 2026 devices (by which time, Apple's launch schedule could be more staggered). It could show up slowly too, on some buttons but not on others.The iPhone 16 handsets do feature a Camera Control button that's partially haptic, but it uses tech that's actually a solid-state and physical mechanism hybrid. It possibly shows Apple experimenting ahead of going all in on haptics.Other leaks have suggested that Apple is working towards an all-screen iPhone in the coming years (without any notches or islands), while rumors of a portless iPhone have been swirling for years. Haptic buttons could be another part of that grand plan.You might also likeThese are the best iPhones you can currently buyOur full review of the Apple Watch Series 10The iPad mini could get an OLED display soon

Max is about to go through another big change, and I'm not talking about its rebrand back to HBO Max. Now that all the new Max movies and shows have been announced for June 2025, another library reshuffle is on the way.After being renewed for a new installment right off the back of season two, HBO original show The Gilded Age season three premieres on June 22 with the return of stars Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon. This will be shortly followed by two new original documentary features Enigma and My Mom Jayne on June 24 and 27 respectively.But it wouldn't be a classic Max list without a flurry of new movies and, in true Max style, it's packed with titles going back as far as Hollywood's Golden Age as well as modern favorites like Fight Club (1999) and Best Picture winner Parasite (2019), which packs a punch with each watch. With that said, we'd better start making some room in our list of best Max movies for the new arrivals.Everything new on Max in June 2025Arriving on June 1A Hologram for the King (movie)A Nightmare on Elm Street (movie)A Perfect Getaway (movie)Backtrack (movie)Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (movie)Black Patch (movie)Blues in the Night (movie)Casino (movie)Fight Club (movie)Gentleman Jim (movie)Hellboy (movie)I Am Not Your Negro (movie)Igor (movie)Illegal (movie)In the Good Old Summertime (movie)Invasion of the Body Snatchers (movie)Kid Glove Killer (movie)Meet Me in St. Louis (movie)My Scientology Movie (movie)Numbered Men (movie)One Foot in Heaven (movie)Parasite (movie)Presenting Lily Mars (movie)Pride & Prejudice (movie)Public Enemies (movie)Reign of the Supermen (movie) Serenade (movie)Silver River (movie)Spaceballs (movie)Split (movie)Strike Up the Band (movie) Summer Stock (movie)Superman: Man of Tomorrow (movie)Superman: Red Son (movie)Superman: Unbound (movie)Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (movie) Thank Your Lucky Stars (movie)The Death of Superman (movie)The Fighting 69th (movie)The Harvey Girls (movie)The Hunger Games (movie)The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (movie) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (movie)The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (movie)The Man Who Invented Christmas (movie)The Match King (movie)The Mayor of Hell (movie)The Mortician (movie)The Nitwits (movie)The Prince and the Pauper (movie)The Sea Chase (movie)The Sea Hawk (movie)The Sunlit Night (movie)The Verdict (movie)They Made Me a Criminal (movie)This Side of the Law (movie)Three Faces East (movie)Three Strangers (movie)Total Drama Island season 2 (TV show)Wagons West (movie)Words and Music (movie)You'll Find Out (movie)Ziegfeld Follies (movie)Arriving on June 2 BBQ Brawl season 6 (TV show)Arriving on June 3Bullet Train (movie)Ugliest House in America season 6 (TV show)Arriving on June 41000-lb Roomies season 1 (TV show)Fatal Destination season 1 (TV show)Arriving on June 5Bea's Block season 1 (TV show)Chespirito: Not Really on Purpose season 1 (TV show)Arriving on June 6House Hunters International volume 9 season 201 (TV show)Parthenope (movie)Arriving on June 10Virgins season 1 (TV show)Arriving on June 11 Guy's Grocery Games season 38 (TV show)Arriving on June 12 Bitchin' Rides season 11 (TV show)Mini Beat Power Rockers: A Superheroic Night (TV show)Arriving on June 13Cleaner (movie)House Hunters volume 10 season 240 (TV show)Maine Cabin Masters season 10 (TV show)Super Sara (TV show)Toad & Friends season 1 (TV show)Arriving on June 16Hero Ball season 3 (TV show)Arriving on June 17 Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Animal Pharm (TV show)Super Mega Cakes season 1 (TV show)Arriving on June 19Expedition Unknown season 15 (TV show)Mystery At Blind Frog Ranch season 5 (TV show)Arriving on June 20 House Hunters volume 10 season 241 (TV show)Lu & The Bally Bunch season 1 (TV show)Now or Never: FC Montfermeil (TV show)Teen Titans Go! season 9 (TV show)Arriving on June 21The Kitchen season 38 (TV show)The Never Ever Mets season 2 (TV show)Arriving on June 22The Gilded Age season 3 (TV show)Arriving on June 23 Match Me Abroad season 2 (TV show)Arriving on June 24Enigma (documentary)Mean Girl Murders season 3 (TV show)The Invitation (movie)Arriving on June 25Rehab Addict season 10 (TV show)Arriving on June 27House Hunters volume 10 season 242 (TV show)My Mom Jayne (documentary)Pati seasons 1 & 2 (TV show)The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (movie)Arriving on June 29#Somebody's Son season 1 (TV show)Family or Fiancé season 4 (TV show)Arriving on June 3090 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk season 11 (TV show)Truck U season 21 (TV show)You might also like HBO Max's highly anticipated IT prequel series Welcome to Derry finally has a trailer, and it's delightfully creepy5 of the biggest streaming announcements from Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2025, from HBO Max shows to the new Superman trailerPeacemaker season 2 finally has a teaser trailer – here are 3 things you need to know about the hit Max show's return

A number of Sonos speakers are on sale right now at Sonos direct and Amazon. This includes the well-regarded Era 300 smart speaker, which is on sale for $359. This particular model is one of Sonos' newest, and it has rarely gone on sale in the past. We enjoyed the Era 300 enough to give it a score of 80 in our review. It has excellent sound quality and offers a premium experience that far surpasses other products in the company's lineup, even the Era 100. This is also true when compared to rival speakers like Apple's HomePod. It's simple to set up and offers the company's proprietary Trueplay tuning system. This feature optimizes the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of a room by leveraging an internal microphone. It measures how sound reflects off surfaces and adjusts the EQ to match. It's pretty nifty. As for connectivity, it can pair with another Era 300 speaker for a true stereo experience. It also includes a Bluetooth receiver and line-in options. Of course, the speaker integrates with just about every streaming music service. The built-in mic also allows for voice assistant control, but only with Siri and Alexa. Google Assistant is left out of the party. This speaker goes all-in on spatial audio, and the results are mixed. Sometimes it's sublime and sometimes it's kind of eh. This is more of a dig on the technology itself. It has serious potential but is still experiencing growing pains. The only real downside of this speaker is the exorbitant asking price, which has been slightly alleviated by this sale. As previously mentioned, other Sonos products are available at a discount. This includes the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, which is 26 percent off at $369. These deals are available via Sonos itself. There's also an ongoing sale on portable speakers.  Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-sonos-era-300-is-20-percent-off-in-this-home-speaker-sale-150857725.html?src=rss

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 31 (game #454).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 #455) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… All riseNYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.RATIONTHINYOURATOMCOINBROOMNYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 9 lettersNYT Strands today (game #455) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 4th rowLast side: right, 5th rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #455) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #455, are…BAILCOURTROOMALIBIMOTIONOBJECTIONSPANGRAM: YOUR HONORMy rating: ModerateMy score: 1 hintThe theme “All rise” immediately had me thinking we were searching for terms connected to judges, juries and trials. I couldn’t see any search words, so I used a hint to begin the hunt. BAIL didn’t exactly open up the board – but seeing COURTROOM did.After a few easy editions, this Strands was much more of a challenge – OBJECTION was my final word, but it took a while to unpick the anagram and then connect the letters.Today’s spangram – YOUR HONOR – is also the title of a TV show that has an excellent opening episode about a crime, a compromised judge, and the manufacture of an ALIBI. The jury is out on the rest of the series.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 31, game #454)SCRUNCHIECLAWCLIPBARRETTEHEADBANDSPANGRAM: HAIR ACCESSORIESWhat 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.

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 31 (game #1223).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 #1224) - 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 #1224) - 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 #1224) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1224) - 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 #1224) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• P• M• W• ARight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1224) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1224, are…POINTMERITWHOOPAPHIDOn the surface WHOOP may look like a tricky word to get, but there are two reasons behind why I saw it immediately.Firstly, with an H, O, and P all with limited places to go, a word ending  H-O-O-P seemed the most likely possibility. Secondly, when you play Quordle and its many variants for a while, a few words recur more than others and WHOOP is one of them. It still feels like magic when you get strange words like “whoop” correct, though. Worthy of a small “whoop!” at least.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1224) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1224, are…GLOATLADLEALIKEVOUCHQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITEQuordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDEQuordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGHQuordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURERQuordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADARQuordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOPQuordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEANQuordle #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, READY

Playdate Season Two is here, bringing with it two new games for the quirky yellow handheld every week until July 3. And if the first two titles are any indication of what this season will be like, it's sure to be a great one. Season Two kicked off on May 29 with the arcade action game Fulcrum Defender — from the studio behind FTL: Faster Than Light and Into the Breach — and the delightfully chill Dig! Dig! Dino!. The two games couldn't be more different from each other, but they're both bangers in their own right. Panic also released Blippo+, which can only be described as a fever dream of cable TV, with the first drop of Season Two, and it is amazingly bizarre. Fulcrum Defender Subset Games "Survive for 10min!" sounded almost like a threat when I first started reading through Fulcrum Defender's How To Play guide. Between all the on-screen information you need to pay attention to, the many different types of enemies that'll be attacking and the various weapon upgrades you can earn over the course of a run, there's a lot to take in, and I braced myself for a tense and complicated playing experience. But, while that may be closer to the case on Hard Mode, I found that Fulcrum Defender wasn't all that punishing of a shooter on Normal Mode. It's a challenge, for sure, but one with a surprisingly achievable goal that I was able to enjoy without losing my mind. At least, not until crossing the 10-minute mark. After that, all hell breaks loose. In Fulcrum Defender, you're positioned at the center of a circular arena and have to fend off a continuous swarm of enemies. Your shield will take damage any time an enemy collides with it, and once enough have breached that zone, it's game over. To avoid that, you need to shoot them down one by one, using the crank to aim your weapon and the D-pad to shoot. Some enemies can be taken out in one shot, but others — distinguished by their filled-in appearance — require multiple shots. Over time, you'll earn weapon upgrades to build out a more powerful defense system, with options like large, guided projectiles and a flail that can knock out several enemies in one sweep. It's unexpectedly addicting. The music is beautiful and calming, giving the whole thing a pleasant atmosphere despite the fact that you're surrounded by enemies at any given moment and trying not to die. Once I realized it was absolutely possible to survive 10 minutes and even go beyond that, I got sucked into the loop of trying over and over to beat my high scores. I'd love to see a global leaderboard for this game at some point, because I just know I'd be floored by how long some players will be able to last. If you liked this one and want to know a little more about the making of it, be sure to check out our interview with Jay Ma, the co-founder of Fulcrum Defender developer Subset Games. Dig! Dig! Dino! Dom2D & Fáyer I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing right now than pretending to be a paleontologist and casually digging for bones. No thoughts, just dig. That's exactly what Dig! Dig! Dino! has going on, and it's awesome. You're working as part of a crew (made up entirely of anthropomorphic animals) at the site of some really unusual dinosaur fossils, and it's your job to dig up new bones and artifacts. Once you've got the entire skeleton of a particular dinosaur, you can scan it in the lab to reveal what it was like when it was alive. That information, coupled with the peculiar artifacts scattered around the site, paints a picture of some pretty strange activities that went on there long ago. For example, some of these dinosaurs seem to have had crystals growing out of their bodies, and it looks like they were warned about the asteroid extinction event. Fishy! The gameplay is extremely low stakes — this is one for when you just want to zone out playing something that'll keep your hands busy. You're equipped with a shovel, a drill and a radar gadget for detecting items beneath the surface, and have no time-sensitive goals to hit. You only have so much energy, though, which will be consumed with each use of your tools. When you run out, the round is over. But you can visit each site as many times as you need to in order to find all of the dinosaur pieces hidden there, so it can be a really casual undertaking if you want it to be. It's a really nice time, with a fun story to tie it all together. You'll get a solid few hours of playtime out of this, too, and the simplicity of it all means you can put it down and come back to it later without having to rack your memory to figure out where you left off. I loved this one. Blippo+ Panic What can one even say about Blippo+? This bizarre "1-bit television" experience came as a bonus with the first Season Two games, and it is something. Panic first teased it back in December 2024 as a Steam title, but here it is for the Playdate now, complete with a roster of channels playing hallucinatory programs and Femtofax, an interactive message board of sorts where you can find affirmations, neighborhood drama, chatter among amateur astronomers and more. Panic describes it as being "comparable to an old episode of The Twilight Zone," but it's more like an old episode of The Twilight Zone if it were made by Tim & Eric and aired after midnight on Adult Swim. I think I am obsessed with it? I'm really interested to see where this goes. It'll keep getting new content alongside the rest of the Season Two releases, with new episodes every week for 12 weeks. I would totally park my Playdate in a dock (but not the Stereo Dock </3) on my desk and leave Blippo+ running in the background all day if it has enough fresh material to sustain it. The song playing alongside the endlessly scrolling Blippo+ TV guide screen is already stuck in my head, and I don't hate it. The program guide with this week's schedule is online, if you're curious about what's going on right now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playdate-season-2-review-fulcrum-defender-dig-dig-dino-and-blippo-140036697.html?src=rss

Security experts say traditional identity checks fail because they treat each verification as an isolated eventDeepfake variations let fraudsters bypass biometric and liveness detection systems with easeConsortium validation shares data across organizations to detect subtle, repeated fraud attempts in real timeIn a digital world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, identity fraud is evolving in scale and sophistication.Experts from AU10TIX have flagged a new threat tactic known as “Repeaters” which is reshaping the way fraudsters infiltrate digital systems.Unlike traditional attacks, these aren’t designed for instant damage - instead, Repeaters quietly test the defenses of banks, crypto platforms, and other services by using slightly varied synthetic identities.Deepfakes as reconnaissance toolsOnce weak points are identified, those same assets are redeployed across multiple platforms in large-scale, coordinated fraud campaigns.At the heart of this strategy are deepfake-enhanced identities, slightly modified versions of a core digital asset.These changes may include tweaks to facial features, background images, or document numbers.When examined individually, each variation appears legitimate, often bypassing traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) processes and biometric checks.AU10TIX’s CEO, Yair Tal, describes them as “the fingerprint of a new class of fraud: automated, AI-enhanced attacks that reuse synthetic identities and digital assets at scale.”What makes Repeaters particularly dangerous is how they exploit gaps in current fraud detection systems.Most traditional defenses rely on static validation, evaluating each identity as an isolated event. Techniques like biometric scans, liveness detection, and ID checks often miss the broader picture.Because these synthetic identities are only submitted a few times per platform and appear unique, conventional tools struggle to detect the repetition.To counter this threat, AU10TIX therefore introduces “consortium validation”. Unlike siloed systems, this method allows multiple organizations to share identity signals across a real-time network, just like the best endpoint protection platforms.If an identity, or even a slightly modified version, appears at more than one member organization, the system flags it immediately.It’s a collaborative defense strategy aimed at connecting the dots between otherwise isolated incidents.“We’re proud to be at the forefront of detecting and blocking these attacks through advanced pattern recognition and real-time consortium validation,” Tal addedAU10TIX recommends organizations also audit for vulnerabilities to deepfakes and synthetic identities that can bypass traditional KYC defenses.It also recommends the close monitoring of behaviors across devices, sessions and onboarding events because it can reveal coordinated activities before they scale.The best chance at early detection of such fraudulent activity is a connected and behaviorally aware security infrastructure because no single solution can claim to be the best antivirus or the best malware protection against this new generation of fraud.You might also likeThese are the best AI website builders aroundUK businesses say that fear of missing out is driving AI adoptionTikTok fans beware - experts warn dangerous malware spread by AI fake videos