Technology

There’s nothing more done to death than the vampire. Director Robert Eggers says he tried to avoid the obvious by returning to “the older folklore.”

• Apple wants to bridge gaps in connectivity with advanced satellite technology
• New direct-to-device satellite services how to expand signal to remote areas
• Enhanced satellite services redefine iPhone’s global communication reach

Apple is working to enhance satellite-based services for iPhone users, focusing on improving connectivity in areas lacking cellular coverage.

Building on its 2022 collaboration with Globalstar, Apple’s latest investment aims to bolster its position in the growing direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communication market.

Apple has committed $1.5 billion to satellite communications company Globalstar, which includes a $1.1 billion cash investment and a $400 million allocation for a 20% equity stake in the business.

A game-changing partnership in low Earth orbit connectivity

This new deal between Apple and Globalstar represents one of the most substantial consumer OEM investments in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology to date.

Globalstar, which operates 31 satellites, plans to use Apple’s funds to expand its network.

The company has already ordered up to 26 additional satellites to strengthen its LEO constellation, ensuring broader and more reliable coverage. Approximately 85% of Globalstar’s network capacity will remain dedicated to Apple’s services, underscoring the strategic significance of this partnership.

With Globalstar, Apple will further position itself as a leader in the D2D satellite communication market - a field that enables standard smartphones to connect directly with satellites. The announcement has already had a notable market impact, with Globalstar’s stock rising by 31.4%.

The deal could have a significant impact on the connectivity ecosystem, as the largest and most important consumer OEM low Earth orbit (LEO) agreement to date.

Via CNBC

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Get ready for another round of Red Light, Green Light.

If you’ve opened up an Apple Watch for the first time this Christmas, then you might be wondering where to start. While you can do a range of things on all of the best Apple Watch models, from tracking workouts and making payments to turn-by-turn navigation and voice calling, having even a few great apps can make your Apple Watch a do-it-all wearable companion you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.

Like the iPhone, the Apple Watch relies on an ecosystem of third-party apps to expand its user experience, and downloading some out the gate can really make a difference.

I’ve been using and writing about the Apple Watch for nearly 10 years, really since it first debuted. With that in mind, I’ve pulled five of my top picks for apps you should download right away on your Apple Watch.

1. SmartGym

(Image credit: SmartGym)

The Apple Watch boasts a wealth of fitness tracking and health features built-in. But what if you could track and follow personalized workouts directly from your wrist, even if you don’t have your iPhone nearby? SmartGym is a standalone watch app that uses AI to create personalized workouts for you, even suggesting changes as you go. It supports gym workouts, home workouts, and even High Intensity Interval Training. There's a reason it’s featured in Apple’s own Watch adverts. This app is free to download and has a small monthly subscription for more workouts.

• Download SmartGym for Apple Watch

2. Runna

(Image credit: Runna)

I used Runna to kickstart my return to running in 2024 and was really impressed. Runna is an easy-to-use running coach with a great standalone watch app. Without your iPhone, you can get tailor-made running workouts on your wrist, including spoken instructions that give you pace, intervals, and time updates through your headphones. A quick glance at the wrist will show live pace updates, timings, and more. If you want to use your Apple Watch to get running in 2025, definitely give Runna a bash.

• Download Runna for Apple Watch

3. Citymapper

(Image credit: Citymapper)

While you can use Apple Maps and even turn-by-turn navigation on your Apple Watch, Citymapper takes navigation on your wrist to the next level. This app can help you find the best way to traverse over 400 cities by bus, train, walking, tram, subway, or any combination of transport modes. It offers step-by-step directions and instructions, with features to save destinations like Home or Work. It’ll even give you the frequency of buses and trains, and alert you when your stop is coming up.

• Download Citymapper for Apple Watch

4. CARROT Weather

(Image credit: CARROT)

Award-winning app, CARROT Weather brings personality to weather forecasting. It has five personalities including a “profanity-laden” overkill setting, delivering a weather robot that will literally swear at you while telling you the weather. It gathers weather data from various sources including Apple Weather, AccuWeather, and Tommorow.io, and includes alerts for rain, lighting, and more. You can customize the interface and there’s even an Apple Watch complication. It’s a big step up from the basic Apple Weather app.

• Download CARROT Weather on Apple Watch

5. Cheatsheet

(Image credit: Future)

Cheatsheet is a cheat code when it comes to the Apple Watch and might be one of my all-time favorite life hacks. Cheatsheet is a tiny widget app that lets you store important information on your Apple Watch for easy access. Maybe you need the Wi-Fi password handy for visitors, or the combination to a locked door, or the coordinates to your safe hou… Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea. Cheatsheet is an easy way to store important information you’d otherwise forget, viewable as a list or in a complication on your Apple Watch face, replete with more than 200 custom icons for visual cues.

• Download Cheatsheet for Apple Watch

Kickstart your Apple Watch

So there you have it, five top apps to give your Apple Watch a much-needed boost right out of the gate. Even if just one of these apps ends up a mainstay on your wrist, you’ll definitely appreciate the benefits they offer. Be sure to visit Apple’s App Store to continue discovering handy apps for Apple Watch. You might even find that apps you’re already using have dedicated Apple Watch versions you didn’t even know existed!

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AI voice cloning and deepfakes are supercharging scams. One method to protect your loved ones and yourself is to create secret code words to verify someone’s identity in real time.

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A new release from Promeo - a generative AI tool for marketing and design, looks to allow users to create high-quality promotional materials, visuals and marketing content with minimal effort.

Promeo leverages the advanced capabilities of Intel Core Ultra Processors, integrating NPU and GPU technologies and local AI processing.

By processing AI tasks locally, the platform eliminates the limitations often associated with cloud-based solutions, such as offline functionality and data-leakage risks.

A new era of local AI processing

Promeo comes with multiple features such as AI Magic Designer and AI Cowriter, which enable the creation of editable designs and text using simple prompts.

Microsoft Ignite offered attendees the opportunity to experience Promeo’s capabilities firsthand. At the demo showcase, users interacted with the software on new Copilot+ PCs equipped with Intel processors.

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 25.

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Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 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 #1066) - hint #1 - Vowels How 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 #1066) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1066) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do 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 #1066) - 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 #1066) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• C

• S

• M

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1066) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1066, are…

• LIVER
• CRIER
• SHORE
• MURKY

Despite a really good start I ended up with a Christmas Day flop – although it could have gone both ways with CRIER and DRIER both options for my final go.

I’m also pondering over whether I did the right thing in leaving a word that’s almost there in order to give yourself a chance with the rest. If I’m honest I think I was hoping for a little bit of festive luck and it failed to arrive. Well, Merry Christmas everyone anyway!

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #1066) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1066, are…

• LYMPH
• SOBER
• DOWNY
• INLAY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1065, Tuesday 24 December: TIPSY, SCALE, FLYER, VALVE
• Quordle #1064, Monday 23 December: SNAKE, SAVVY, ELBOW, TWEED
• Quordle #1063, Sunday 22 December: DOUBT, SLURP, PAPER, CIVIL
• Quordle #1062, Saturday 21 December: STRIP, BUDGE, SAPPY, SHELF
• Quordle #1061, Friday 20 December: PENAL, EAGLE, DILLY, QUITE
• Quordle #1060, Thursday 19 December: JEWEL, GNOME, TRAMP, IDLER
• Quordle #1059, Wednesday 18 December: LITHE, BIRTH, HUMID, ROBOT
• Quordle #1058, Tuesday 17 December: DOING, ENJOY, SNAKY, AMPLE
• Quordle #1057, Monday 16 December: HYDRO, CREAM, CHIDE, SLIME
• Quordle #1056, Sunday 15 December: DROVE, STILT, LINEN, GIANT
• Quordle #1055, Saturday 14 December: SPIEL, ONSET, TIGER, DITTO
• Quordle #1054, Friday 13 December: ERECT, REBAR, MOIST, IDIOM
• Quordle #1053, Thursday 12 December: MILKY, CRIER, STORK, DRIER
• Quordle #1052, Wednesday 11 December: BRIAR, NASAL, SHARD, FLUFF
• Quordle #1051, Tuesday 10 December: BEGAN, TRIAL, IDEAL, GUIDE
• Quordle #1050, Monday 9 December: TITAN, FORTE, SPEED, BRIAR
• Quordle #1049, Sunday 8 December: BUNCH, SHINY, MOULT, INTRO
• Quordle #1048, Saturday 7 December: SHAKY, CROOK, GHOUL, VERSE
• Quordle #1047, Friday 6 December: BRAWL, UNTIL, DOWRY, STING
• Quordle #1046, Thursday 5 December: AGING, BICEP, CLOVE, SPILL

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 clues.

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 #563) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• QUEEN
• STAR
• CUPID
• STRONG
• RUDOLPH
• SAGITTARIUS
• NANNY
• COMET
• VIXEN
• MOON
• ROBIN HOOD
• SHANNON
• HAWKEYE
• FEY
• JENNY
• PLANET

NYT Connections today (game #563) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Astronomy
• GREEN: Bow and arrow
• BLUE: Lady beasts
• PURPLE: “Live from New York…” 

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 #563) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: CELESTIAL OBJECTS 
• GREEN: ARCHERS 
• BLUE: FEMALE ANIMALS 
• PURPLE: "S.N.L." CAST MEMBERS 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #563) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #563, are…

• YELLOW: CELESTIAL OBJECTS COMET, MOON, PLANET, STAR
• GREEN: ARCHERS CUPID, HAWKEYE, ROBIN HOOD, SAGITTARIUS
• BLUE: FEMALE ANIMALS JENNY, NANNY, QUEEN, VIXEN
• PURPLE: "S.N.L." CAST MEMBERS FEY, RUDOLPH, SHANNON, STRONG

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The stars aligned for me today as I turned groups of three into four.

I knew that the symbol for SAGITTARIUS was a centaur, but i forgot that he was also holding a bow and arrow – apparently it's meant to symbolize how people born under this star sign are decisive and hit the mark every time.

ROBIN HOOD also gives his name to the archery equivalent of a hole-in-one – when an archer splits an arrow already in the target with another arrow shot from the same spot. A moment as rare as me getting through Connections without a mistake.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 24 December, game #562)

• YELLOW: "LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!" BEARS, LIONS, OH MY, TIGERS
• GREEN: BELOVED, AS A FRIEND CLOSE, DEAR, INTIMATE, TIGHT
• BLUE: WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE PLURAL LETTERS BEES, EASE, JAYS, USE
• PURPLE: WHEN TRIPLED, HIT SONG TITLES BILLS, BYE, GIMME, PLEASE

What 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.