News
Want to catch up on the biggest tech news stories you might have missed from the past seven days?
You're in luck, as we've rounded up the biggest events from Tesla launching its robotaxis (in a way) in Austin to reports of PS5s failing as an old debunked issue resurfaces.
Once you're up to speed on all that, be sure to check out the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (June 27).
8. We hosted Smart Home week(Image credit: Getty Images / Kemal Yildirim)Ever wanted to get started with smart lighting, set up a home security system, or automate everyday chores? This week, we've brought you a heap of expert advice and tutorials to help you get started with smart home tech. Whether you're getting connected for the first time or want to get more out of the devices you already have, we're here to help.
Smart home tech is all about making your life easier, so we’ll show you the devices that will do the most for you and show you how to connect them all together in a seamless system. It’s a lot simpler and more affordable than you might expect, and you’ll be amazed at just how much it can do for you!
- Read more: Welcome to TechRadar's Smart Home Week
Microsoft is officially cutting the cord on Windows 10 on October 14, but this week it threw a buoy to anyone who needs a bit more time to switch to Windows 11.
The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program brings important security patches to Windows 10 for a year after official support ends. And there’s now a new wizard to help you get your PC enrolled – it’ll be available in the Windows Insider Program in July, before rolling out more widely in August.
The wizard can’t, unfortunately, wave its wand to make Windows 11 go away, but it will help you kick that can down the road for another year if you aren’t quite ready to make the leap.
6. Cambridge Audio made us even crazier about music(Image credit: Future)Until now, Cambridge Audio’s wireless earbuds have been ‘pretty good’, but in a market so chock full of plucky contenders, ‘pretty good’ is usually not good enough. And so the company is back with a very concerted effort, in the shape of the new Melomania A100.
Look, it’s not every week that such a gifted set of earbuds arrives. Here is a product priced to compete squarely in the mainstream, but with so few apparent compromises – yes, they sound great; yes, the ANC is very effective – it makes the price tag seem unfathomable.
In every respect (build quality, specification and, especially, performance) these earbuds outperform their asking price by a wide margin. Highly recommended.
5. Multiple users reported PS5 failures(Image credit: Sony)Panic stations, folks; reports of PS5 failures due to liquid metal leaking issues are resurfacing, despite previously being debunked. This comes from the founder of indie developer Alderon Games, who claims that developers and multiple players reported constant abrupt shutdowns while playing its Rise of Titans game.
It’s perhaps the worst possible time for issues to occur, as arguably the most anticipated game of all time, GTA 6, is almost upon us; therefore, it’s advised to place consoles horizontally to avoid any potential complications.
4. Bond found its next movie director(Image credit: MGM)The first James Bond movie of the Amazon MGM Studios era is starting to take shape with a new director set to take over the reins that you might have heard of: Denis Villeneuve.
Known for big blockbusters like Dune, Arrival, Sicario, and Blade Runner 2049, the filmmaker has been trusted with taking over established franchises before, and so understands that the Bond movies are “sacred territory”.
A self-proclaimed “die-hard Bond fan”, the announcement of Villeneuve’s appointment has been largely welcomed by fans, with many taking to social media to say how excited they are. Although some have raised concerns that Villeneuve’s other upcoming projects, like Dune ,3 might mean there’ll be a longer wait.
3. Tesla’s self-driving robotaxis hit the road(Image credit: Tesla)After quite the wait, the Tesla robotaxi service has ‘launched’ in Austin, Texas, so now you can be ferried around in a Tesla vehicle with no human driver behind the wheel.
However, it’s a very limited thing. Not only does it only cover a very specific part of Austin – a region that's been thoroughly mapped by Tesla's software – but you also have to receive an invite to even try the service.
You won’t be alone on your ride for now either, as each robo taxi comes with its own robo taxi employee who can shut the car down if it gets into trouble, which bodes well for how Tesla thinks this test will go.
2. Chromecast with Google TV finally got its update(Image credit: Google)The Android 14 update, which we first reported that Chromecasts would be getting back in March, is at last available for everyone.
Some people did initially manage to start installing the update, so this new rollout is for two versions – a smaller package for anyone who downloaded the initial Android 14 update before it was pulled, and a larger one for anyone who didn't and whose device is still running Android 12.
According to Google, the update should lead to "a snappier, more responsive TV experience".
1. Samsung set the date for Galaxy Unpacked(Image credit: Samsung)After numerous hints from Samsung and many rumors about the next Galaxy Z Fold, Galaxy Z Flip, and Galaxy Watches, you can now officially mark your calendars for July 9, 2025.
The Galaxy Unpacked festivities will kick off at 10am ET / 7am PT / 3pm BST on July 9, 2025, and the event will be live-streamed. TechRadar will be on the scene in Brooklyn, New York, reporting live, so we’ll be breaking down err... Unpacking everything that Samsung unveils.
The teaser says 'Ultra Unfolds' suggesting we might also see the rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Ultra.
- Read more: Is the Galaxy Z Fold ready to go Ultra?
- Security-focused Apple browser Psylo isolates tabs into silos with private proxies per tab
- Each silo blocks trackers and fingerprinting for deeper privacy
- No data or identity gets stored, only bandwidth tied to random ID
Browser fingerprinting tracks users by collecting device details to build a unique profile, allowing cross-site tracking without cookies or static IPs.
Apple users looking for privacy-first web browsing now have a new option for blocking this kind of tracking in Psylo, a browser developed by Canadian security researchers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk.
Available on Apple’s App Store it offers a fresh approach to online privacy via isolated browser tabs and built-in proxy protections.
True tab isolationPsylo is built around the idea of isolating every browser tab as its own “silo,” with separate storage, cookies, and even unique IP addresses.
This approach not only adds privacy but makes tracking users far more difficult. “Psylo stands out as it is the only WebKit-based iOS browser that truly isolates tabs,” Tommy Mysk told The Register.
Each silo connects through Psylo’s private proxy network, offering more than 40 high-speed servers in locations like Canada, Germany, and Brazil.
Unlike traditional VPNs, which mask only IP addresses, Psylo adjusts browser fingerprints per silo. It aligns timezone and system language to the chosen proxy location, a feature aimed at preventing fingerprinting techniques that can bypass VPNs.
The app is fully self-contained. It doesn't modify system VPN settings or require any setup.
Protections such as DNS-level tracker blocking and automatic HTTPS upgrades are built-in. There are no ads, no crypto incentives, and no AI agents running in the background.
Psylo also allows multiple account usage through web versions of social platforms like Instagram or X.
Tabs can run side by side without sharing data or tracking information between them. Users can choose between persistent silos for daily browsing or ephemeral ones that delete data after closing.
Mysk says that no browsing history, IP addresses, or personally identifiable information is stored. Bandwidth data is the only thing recorded, and it is tied only to a random identifier created at signup. Apple handles all payment data.
Psylo is available now on iOS and iPadOS. Users can try it free for seven days without creating an account. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available, starting at $9.99 per month.
You might also likeBoth Microsoft and Sony have confirmed they’re working on next-generation games consoles, with 2027 even tipped to be the potential launch date for a potential PlayStation 6 or new Xbox. But I’m here to squash that hype.
While 2027 makes sense for the usual new console cycle, which tends to be around every seven years - the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (and S) both launched in November 2020, so that amount of time will have elapsed come 2027 - I think it’s way too early to start thinking about next-gen consoles (unless you’re looking at snagging a Nintendo Switch 2 restock).
I was lucky enough to put both current-gen PlayStation and Xbox flagship consoles through their paces when they launched. And both are excellent bits of hardware; the Series X is the ultimate expression of Xbox, while the PS5 offered a neat suite of innovations and the immersion-heightening DualSense controller.
But the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic not only made it hard to get either of the consoles close to launch, but also saw huge delays to games. This had the knock-on effect of more games being cross-generation than I’d have usually expected.
While that’s no bad thing, especially as I rather enjoyed playing games like God of War and The Last of Us Part 2 at 60 frames per second (fps), I felt it didn’t really give the proper next-generation console vibe I’d hoped for.
And now, five years into the generation and Microsoft has already started talking about next-generation hardware, with Xbox president Sarah Bond announcing the gaming division has formed a partnership with AMD for future hardware. And Sony confirmed it’s working on new next-generation PlayStation hardware, but stopped short of calling it the PS6.
Too soon? (Image credit: Shutterstock/Hopix Art)None of this is surprising, as of course there’ll be a new console generation; that’s unless Microsoft really does eschew hardware and go fully into Xbox Cloud Gaming, but that’s another topic of discussion. However, I think it's way too early for even the most hardcore of gamers to be thinking too much about what’s next for Xbox and PlayStation hardware.
The crux of this is, I reckon, we only really started to get proper ‘next-gen’ games in 2022, perhaps even 2023 - when the term ‘next-gen’ started to feel irrelevant. Perhaps ‘current-gen’ was more appropriate by then.
Now I get that even on the PS5 Pro, players may still need to make some form of choice between the fastest frame rates or the crispest graphics, rather than just having 4K 60 fps (I should add that the PS5 Pro does offer some excellent middle-ground options like a 40 fps high quality graphics mode in Horizon Forbidden West, and PSSR offer some smart upsampling for games).
So there’s potentially an argument for new hardware to finally deliver the ultra-high-definition and fast frame rate combo that has always felt like an undelivered promise.
A powerful PC like this Starforge System is arguably a step towards next-gen gaming right now. (Image credit: Starforge Systems)Of course, PC gamers with deep pockets can already get this with a high-end machine, or are making the most out of Nvidia’s DLSS tech to get fast frame rates at cleverly up-mixed resolutions.
As someone with a very powerful gaming PC, I do love the ease of being able to boot up basically any game, crank everything up, and enjoy fast frame rates on a monitor with a high refresh rate. But that’s a bit of a niche proposition, and I don’t think it’s yet a catalyst for new console hardware.
My overarching feeling is that the current Xbox and PlayStation generation is only really three-ish years old in a gaming sense. I'd like to see more pumped out of the current hardware before diving headfirst into the next, as I reckon developers have more to extract from these machines.
I’ve partially made this argument before in regards to the PS5 Pro, which I think is great but perhaps a tad underwhelming. What I find more impressive is seeing consoles work to deliver impressive performance or visuals as developers really learn to optimize for their silicon innards.
Take The Last of Us on the PS3 - that was a seriously impressive-looking game that got so much out of very mature hardware. I’d say the same was true of Halo 4 on the Xbox 360.
While those consoles had different chip architecture to their predecessors, I think that the technical know-how of getting the most out of aging hardware may have had a positive knock-on effect on developing games for the PS4 and Xbox One.
Given that last-generation and this generation’s consoles run on AMD chip architecture, and that’s sure to continue with the next-generation, I think learning to push current hardware as hard as possible will have a positive knock on effect for the next-gen consoles in terms of extracting more performance from the offset, but also potentially opening up new gaming experiences with an understanding of what can be done with extra performance headroom.
Beyond frame rates (Image credit: Sony/PlayStation)While we’ve had some very graphically impressive games, like Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 on PS5, and Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Series X, I don’t feel they were enormously different from their predecessors. So I’m still waiting on a game to truly wow me - Fable 4 and GTA 6 have both caught my eye, but they’re delayed until next year.
Going by the recent Witcher 4 tech demo, which looked amazing yet was running at 60 fps on PS5 hardware, there’s seemingly a lot of untapped promise in the current console hardware, especially with what Unreal Engine 5 has to offer.
Equally, I still think The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt looks fantastic, especially after its upgraded release on the current-gen consoles. And while I love fast frame rate gaming with all the bells and whistles on my PC, I do wonder if we’ve sort of hit 'peak graphics’. Sure, things can get crisper, sharper, and smoother, but will we ever see the big generational leap like I used to see in the early 2000s? Probably not.
So I worry that with a new console generation now arguably on the horizon, we’ll see even the best games consoles go the way of smartphones and become almost incremental generation-to-generation. I do not want that.
Rather, I want new consoles to offer proper step changes in gaming. Where once graphical fidelity represented that, how about seeing something new?
The world and its technological dog are harping on about AI, so how about we see games consoles that can truly support advanced character AI that offer unique player experiences with each new playthrough, or expand the scope of games.
(Image credit: Stock-Asso / Shutterstock)Or perhaps we see new control schemes that really make gaming accessible to all; as much as the Nintendo Switch 2 might be a cool piece of hardware, my colleague Rob Dwiar can’t use it, and that seems rather limiting in the year 2025.
As games have evolved, they open up more interesting experiences and interactions - if we break away from the established molds of Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, and so on - and I feel hardware could and perhaps should follow suit.
So it’s my hope that we don’t let hype push a new console generation too soon, and instead, current hardware is pushed to the max while smarter people than me come up with new tech that takes gaming to a new level.
You might also like- AI use is exploding, but most European companies are still operating without clear rules or policies
- Organizations celebrate productivity gains while ignoring rising security threats from deepfakes and AI misuse
- Employees use generative AI daily, but few know when, where, or how they should
As generative AI gains traction across Europe’s workplaces, many organizations are embracing its capabilities without establishing formal policies to guide its use.
According to ISACA, 83% of IT and business professionals believe AI is already being used by staff within their organizations, but only 31% report the presence of a comprehensive internal AI policy.
The use of AI in the workplace comes with some benefits. Fifty-six percent of respondents say AI has already improved productivity, 71% cite efficiency gains and time savings, while 62% are optimistic that AI will further enhance their organizations over the next year.
Productivity gains without structure is a ticking bombHowever, AI applications are not universally positive, and whatever perceived gains they bring come with caveats.
“The UK Government has made it clear through its AI Opportunities Action Plan that responsible AI adoption is a national priority,” says Chris Dimitriadis, ISACA’s Chief Global Strategy Officer.
“AI threats are evolving fast, from deepfakes to phishing, and without adequate training, investment and internal policy, businesses will struggle to keep up. Bridging this risk-action gap is essential if the UK is to lead with innovation and digital trust.”
This dissonance between enthusiasm and regulation poses notable challenges.
Concerns about AI misuse are high, and 64% of respondents are extremely or very concerned about generative AI being turned against them.
However, only 18% of organizations are investing in tools to detect deepfakes, despite 71% anticipating their proliferation in the near future.
These figures reflect a clear risk-action gap, where awareness of threats is not translating into meaningful protective measures.
The situation is further complicated by a lack of role-specific guidance. Without it, employees are left to determine when and how to use AI, which increases the risk of unsafe or inappropriate applications.
“Without guidance, rules or training in place on the extent to which AI can be used at work, employees might continue to use it in the wrong context or in an unsafe way. Equally, they might not be able to spot misinformation or deepfakes as easily as they might if they were equipped with the right knowledge and tools.”
This absence of structure is not only a security risk but also a missed opportunity for proper professional development.
Nearly half of the respondents, 42%, believe they need to improve their AI knowledge within six months to remain competitive in their roles.
This marks an 8% increase from the previous year and reflects a growing realization that skills development is critical.
Within two years, 89% expect to need upskilling in AI, underscoring the urgency of formal training.
That said, companies that want the best AI tools, including the best LLM for coding and the best AI writers, must also account for the responsibilities that come with them.
You might also like- Here's our roundup of the best AI phones
- We've also listed the best business laptops for all budgets
- Half of social media marketers can't imagine doing their jobs without AI
- Get free Google AI Pro tools with select Acer Chromebook Plus models
- AI, storage, and video creation tools are completely free for one full year
- Offer includes 2TB storage and premium Gemini model access
If you're considering buying a new Chromebook, Acer has just come up with a compelling reason to look at its Plus range.
For a limited time (between now and February 1, 2026), select Acer Chromebook Plus models come bundled with $240 worth of Google AI services.
The eligible models are the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, 516, and Spin 714. The Google AI Pro plan unlocks access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, 2TB of cloud storage, and AI features inside Gmail, Docs, and other Google services.
Making AI tools more accessibleWhile you get a full free year of the Google AI Pro plan, it's worth mentioning that a $19.99 monthly subscription kicks in after the promotional period, so you’ll need to remember to cancel it if you don’t want to face ongoing charges.
Users also get NotebookLM, which helps with organizing and synthesizing research, and Flow, a video tool built to help with cinematic story creation. Flow is powered by Google’s Veo 3 Fast model, included as part of the same plan.
NotebookLM allows more depth in user sessions, offering five times the number of notebooks, queries, and source references compared to its free version. It’s aimed at making research and writing more manageable for students, professionals, or content creators.
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 sports Intel Core Ultra processors and up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It includes a convertible form factor and stylus support.
The 514 (CB514-5H) offers up to an Intel Core 7 chip, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and 512GB of storage. The 514 (CB514-6H) runs on an Intel Core 3 N-series processor and also supports up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD.
For those who need more screen space and power, the Chromebook Plus 516 includes up to an Intel Core 7 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, and 512GB of internal storage. All models support either Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 and come equipped with high-resolution QHD displays.
All of the Chromebook Plus devices also come with Google’s built-in AI tools, like Magic Eraser and AI-enhanced video calls.
You might also like- These are the best business laptops you can buy right now
- And these are the best laptops for students on the market
- What is Google AI Studio? Everything we know about Google's AI builder
- Google expands Gemini AI access to students under 18, but with safeguards
- Includes AI literacy tools, fact-checking, and stricter content moderation
- It nevertheless raises new questions about AI's long-term role in global education systems
When calculators first entered classrooms, many worried they would weaken students’ math skills. The arrival of the internet and smartphones, brought similar fears about plagiarism and distraction - and now, AI tools are taking their turn in the spotlight.
With the rollout of Google’s Gemini app to all Google Workspace for Education users, including students under 18, those old concerns are resurfacing in a new form.
Gemini promises to assist with everything from lesson planning to real-time feedback, but its expansion also raises tough questions about AI’s long-term role in education and how it may reshape learning itself.
Stricter content policiesGoogle says the goal is to support creativity, learning, and responsible AI use, as Gemini includes LearnLM, a family of AI models tuned for education and developed with input from teaching experts.
These models are built to handle tasks like helping students brainstorm ideas, check their understanding, or generate practice materials.
For students under 18, Gemini has stricter content policies and AI literacy tools endorsed by groups like ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute.
First-time users are guided through onboarding content that explains how to use AI responsibly.
To reduce the risk of misinformation, Gemini includes a fact-checking feature. When a student asks a fact-based question, the tool runs a double-check response using Google Search.
This happens automatically the first time and can be triggered later by the student if needed.
Privacy and security have been stressed by Google in the rollout, saying Gemini for Education follows the same data protection terms as the rest of Workspace for Education.
In a nutshell, that means student data is not used to train AI models or reviewed by humans.
The app is also aligned with education and privacy regulations like FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA, and FedRAMP.
That said, some educators and parents remain unsure how AI will affect student engagement and thinking, and is something we’ve covered a lot previously.
Google Gemini may save time and boost productivity, but big questions remain about whether students could come to rely on it too heavily or whether it might shift how learning is assessed.
You might also like- These are the best AI writers around today
- Fancy an upgrade? These are the best student laptops
- AI in education isn’t a crisis, it’s an indictment of the whole thing as a means to an end
- Two-thirds of shoppers won’t let AI check out their cart, even for better deals
- Most people fear that AI is helping retailers more than it's helping them to make smart choices
- Customers want suggestions, not machines deciding what color, brand, or size to buy
As major tech and retail giants rush to integrate agentic AI into e-commerce, consumer sentiment remains cautious.
Top brands like Amazon, Google, Walmart, and Mastercard are pushing the boundaries with AI systems designed to act on behalf of shoppers.
However, it appears that most shoppers are saying “no thank you,” we do not need a machine to act on our behalf.
Consumer trust lags behind AI shopping ambitionsAccording to a survey by Omnisend, 66% of U.S. shoppers say they would not allow AI to make purchases for them, even if it meant securing better deals.
This resistance reflects not just hesitation about new technology, but a deeper mistrust of whose interests these AI tools actually serve.
“Consumers are open to AI enhancing their shopping experience, but there’s a world of difference between getting a smart recommendation and handing over the entire wallet,” says Bernard Meyer, e-commerce expert at Omnisend.
Agentic AI promises convenience by automating the selection and payment process.
In theory, this could streamline buying decisions, reduce time spent searching for deals, and even personalize orders, but many shoppers remain skeptical.
“Shoppers want to know exactly what they’re buying, whether it’s size, color, or brand. Trusting an agent to make those calls is still a leap. Especially when consumers suspect AI is working for the retailer, not them. Until that trust gap closes, AI will remain a product discovery tool.”
Nearly half of those surveyed, 48%, believe AI should focus on customer service improvements rather than transactional control.
Many feel AI’s current use prioritizes upselling rather than helping customers.
In fact, 42% see AI today as being mainly geared toward increasing sales rather than solving problems.
This perceived bias undermines confidence in AI agents and fuels concern over the erosion of independent choice.
Even the best online marketing tool or email marketing service might struggle with public perception if AI is seen as amplifying manipulation or exploiting user data for targeting.
In addition to trust, data privacy plays a significant role in the hesitation, and 58% of respondents said they were concerned about how AI handles their data.
If users fear these systems are aligned with commercial agendas rather than their interests, adoption may stall regardless of technical sophistication.
You might also like- Check out the best AI phones on the market
- Here is our list of the best AI website builders on the web
- Microsoft Teams is working on a massive time-saver tool which might super-charge my productivity
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, June 28 (game #748).
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 #749) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…
- EARTHWORM
- FLOAT
- MUSHROOM
- MOONWALK
- STARTLE
- PUDDLE
- SUNDAE
- JUMP
- SHAKE
- ROBOT
- MUD
- FLOSS
- BOLT
- SPLIT
- CABBAGE PATCH
- JERK
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Gelato delight
- GREEN: Surprise!
- BLUE: Shake a leg
- PURPLE: Post precipitation
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 #749) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: ICE CREAM TREATS
- GREEN: FLINCH
- BLUE: DANCE MOVES
- PURPLE: SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #749) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #749, are…
- YELLOW: ICE CREAM TREATS FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, SUNDAE
- GREEN: FLINCH BOLT, JERK, JUMP, STARTLE
- BLUE: DANCE MOVES CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, ROBOT
- PURPLE: SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, PUDDLE
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 2 mistakes
There were so many possible DANCE MOVES in today’s Connections that I thought it could be a trap, but when I tried putting a dance craze group together I got “one away”, so persisted and got “one away” again.
I had no idea CABBAGE PATCH was a dance move, but I do think JERK and EARTHWORM are.
Instead, I switched to other groups and easily found ICE CREAM TREATS and FLINCH (dancing and flinching have a lot in common).
I arrived at the purple group though a process of elimination, but there is no way I would have gotten SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM any other way – MUD and PUDDLE, maybe, but I was unaware of the links between a MUSHROOM and some rainfall.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 28, game #748)- YELLOW: THINGS A DOG CAN FETCH BALL, BONE, FRISBEE, STICK
- GREEN: GREAT MANY DROVE, HOST, LOAD, SCORE
- BLUE: POSSIBLE RESULTS OF A TRAFFIC VIOLATION BOOT, POINTS, TICKET, TOW
- PURPLE: INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION INVENTORS BELL, DIESEL, SINGER, WATT
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.
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, June 28 (game #1251).
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 #1252) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* 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 #1252) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.
Quordle today (game #1252) - 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 #1252) - 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 2.
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 #1252) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• M
• A
• S
• S
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1252) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1252, are…
- MIRTH
- APTLY
- SCRUB
- SMACK
A very difficult round today, with just one vowel in every word.
Getting APTLY was my biggest triumph, but it took a while before I got there and only after experimenting with possible words that begin and end with the letter A.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1252) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1252, are…
- RAVEN
- ARBOR
- DRUID
- PRICE
- Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
- Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
- Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
- Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
- Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
- Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
- Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
- Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
- Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
- Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
- Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN
- Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINE
- Quordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGN
- Quordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVEN
- Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
- Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
- Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
- Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
- Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
- Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
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, June 28 (game #482).
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 #483) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… ... Hue are my sunshine
NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- LINE
- ROLL
- BASIN
- HOUSE
- TRENCH
- SEEN
• Spangram has 15 letters
NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 6th row
Last side: right, 6th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #483) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #483, are…
- BLUE
- GREEN
- VIOLET
- YELLOW
- INDIGO
- ORANGE
- SPANGRAM: CHASING RAINBOWS
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Wow. Strands, I didn’t know you could do this.
After a year or so of playing this game, it is really fun when something unexpected happens, like today’s color explosion – a tribute to International LGBT Pride Day yesterday, the NYC Pride March today and the six colors of the rainbow flag.
I must admit I really struggled to put together the spangram CHASING RAINBOWS seeing the whole thing in three stages – first rainbows, then sing, then chasing. All worth it, of course.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 28, game #482)- REMOTE
- FLASHLIGHT
- CLOCK
- TOYS
- CAMERA
- SPANGRAM: BATTERIES REQUIRED
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.
- Codio Coach improves grades on its platform, but outside results may not look the same
- AI-assisted learning boosts short-term gains, but critics warn about long-term learning quality
- Completion rates doubled, but only in courses that already rely on Codio’s internal system
A new AI-powered learning assistant, Codio Coach, claims to boost student grades by 15% using a Socratic method inspired by a 2,400-year-old approach.
Codio Coach, launched in April 2024, was built using Anthropic’s Claude large language model and is designed to guide learners rather than provide direct answers.
Codio’s research, drawn from 1,800 learners across 39 computer science courses between January 2023 and December 2024, shows that median grades increased by 15% and average grades rose by 12% when Codio Coach was integrated into courses.
Codio claims academic gains rooted in ancient methodsThe reported results are impressive, but the claims invite a closer look, especially as AI continues to gain ground in education settings.
These numbers are based on data from Codio-hosted environments, which raises questions about external validity and how these gains might generalize beyond the platform.
The system simplifies summaries and plain-language error explanations.
Fifty-six percent of the interactions were triggered by the “explain this error” tool, which helps students understand compiler or runtime issues, suggesting that support during debugging is especially valuable.
“These findings are an important proof point that AI, when thoughtfully designed and embedded in the learning experience, can drive real improvements in outcomes,” said Philip Snalune, CEO and Co-Founder of Codio.
But while Snalune’s optimism is clear, the definition of “real improvements” in the context of controlled environments versus broader academic settings deserves scrutiny.
Codio’s study reveals that usage was highest in beginner and intermediate programming courses, where early frustrations often lead to dropout.
This could explain the doubled completion rates, as error-handling tools may help keep students engaged long enough to complete their coursework.
However, critics may argue that heavy reliance on AI, even for non-answer-based help, could create long-term dependencies, especially if students are not taught how to solve problems without intervention.
Codio Coach may indeed help students navigate the challenges of early coding education, especially when paired with the best laptops for students.
However, the claims of a 15% grade improvement, drawn from data within a closed system, do not settle the matter.
It’s one thing for an AI assistant to help students understand code, and it is another to prove lasting academic impact without unintended dependencies.
Nevertheless, Codio has shown that AI could be more context-aware, and this might just be what separates the best learning platform from the best AI writer.
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