Technology

Here are hints and answers for the New York Times Strands puzzle No. 410 for April 17.

Hints and answers for Connections for April 17, #676.

As we reported last year, the first season of Citadel struggled to achieve a 50% Rotten Tomatoes rating. It's currently sitting at a rather sad 51%, but its spin-offs Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny are much higher rated, with 82% and 75% respectively.

So of course Prime Video has canned both spin-offs after just one season apiece.

The reason's simple enough: the reviews were often rank: "As generic as they come"; "style over substance"; "what you'd get if a child tried to draw an action blockbuster from memory"; "so frustratingly low-effort it's honestly kind of offensive"), but lots and lots of people streamed it anyway.

It's not all bad news for fans of the now cancelled shows, however. Amazon MGM TV boss Vernon Sanders says the tales will continue as part of the mothership show.

What's happening with Citadel?

Here's Sanders: "Having successfully traversed India and Italy, storylines from both Citadel: Honey Bunny and Citadel: Diana will be woven into the upcoming second season of the mothership series Citadel."

He continues: "While these successful and widely enjoyed international chapters will not continue as individual series, Season 2 of Citadel will be our most exhilarating yet. With high-stakes storytelling, new additions to our amazing cast and bold, cinematic ambition, the new season will deepen the emotional journeys of Nadia, Mason and Orlick against the relentless force that is Manticore."

He also shared a premiere date, or at least a premiere window: Q2 of 2026.

The writing was on the wall for the spin-offs because, as Deadline reports, they "have not been global breakouts". The two shows "have been waiting for word on their fates since launching their first seasons in September and December, respectively."

That also means the end of what I slightly sarcastically described as a Citadel Cinematic Universe of multiple connected shows set in different countries. It's all about the single show now, and hopefully it'll raise its game for season 2.

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Zoom now seems to be working again, but users faced a meeting-less day of outages, streaming issues and more.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro brings rugged durability with IP68, MIL-STD-810H and Gorilla Glass
• Mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip handles essential business tasks
• Supports a hot-swappable 10,100mAh battery and POGO charging

Samsung has launched a new rugged tablet featuring a 10.1-inch WUXGA TFT LCD display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, and touch sensitivity for gloves under 2mm thick and wet screen use - though not underwater.

There aren’t many rugged tablets from major brands, so it’s great to see the Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro built specifically for tough environments. It boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, MIL-STD-810H certification for durability in extreme conditions, and Gorilla Glass Victus+ to protect the screen against scratches and disinfectants like ethanol and bleach-based cleaners.

Power shouldn’t be an issue, as the tablet includes a 10,100mAh user-replaceable battery that supports dual hot-swap, allowing one battery to be changed without powering down the device. A POGO pin interface supports dock-based charging, although the dock is sold separately.

3.5mm headphone jack

This isn’t a device aiming to compete with mainstream tablets in raw performance. It’s powered by a 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 2TB. This chip delivers mid-range performance and sits below the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 series in Qualcomm’s lineup.

For connectivity, the tablet supports 5G (Sub-6), LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC with front tagging. It also supports both physical SIM and eSIM, though eSIM availability may vary by region. Navigation is covered by GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS, although satellite coverage may differ based on location.

The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature increasingly rare in modern devices. Samsung retained the port specifically for frontline workers who rely on wired headsets where Bluetooth may be unreliable or restricted.

Don’t expect flagship-level photography from the Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro. This productivity-focused tablet includes a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing sensor. It does come bundled with an IP68-rated S Pen for added functionality, however.

Weighing about 680g, the tablet also supports a USB 3.2 Type-C port, Samsung Knox and Knox Vault for enhanced security, an RGB light sensor, and a programmable Active Key for quick access to user-defined functions.

“At Samsung, we understand that frontline professionals need technology that adapts to their fast-paced and demanding work environments,” said Jerry Park, EVP and Head of Global Mobile B2B Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics.

He added the Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro combines "ruggedised durability, enterprise-grade security, seamless connectivity and intuitive AI-driven features to help businesses operate efficiently in harsh conditions while maximizing productivity and minimizing downtime.”

The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro will be available starting April 2025, with a recommended retail price of £769 in the UK. US pricing has yet to be confirmed.

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The new tool lets artists go live, chat, and share content all within Patreon.

The fallout from President Donald Trump's sky-high tariffs on China have consumers looking deeper into Chinese shopping platforms, but they still might not be a way around import taxes.

Look to the eastern sky, and a clear horizon will show you a unusual, grinning planet alignment with the crescent moon.

The Nerazzurri take a slender lead to the San Siro for this quarterfinal showdown.

Whether you're just here for the season or here for life, CNET's broadband experts have rounded up the fastest and most reliable internet service providers to keep you and your smart home connected.

Can Los Blancos come back from a three-goal deficit at the Bernabeu?

Will there be a full Star Wars-themed season of Fortnite? We'll be watching this livestream with great interest.

A great pair of noise-canceling headphones blocks out the outside world and offers great sound quality wherever and whenever you need it.

As recommended by a Brit.

You'll need a Peacock subscription to view the full season.

• Deezer is rolling out four new features between now and the end of May
• They include new customization options for algorithms and the interface
• My Deezer Month and unique Universal Sharing are also coming

Well then, Spotify still down? Parisian rival Deezer picked a cute moment to unveil a quartet of new features coming to its music streaming platform, didn't it?

Deezer is clearly on a mission, not just to provide a Wrapped and Replay answer in the shape of My Deezer Month, coming in May, but to enable its users to express themselves and connect with others through music – whichever of the best music streaming services they're pinging you a track from.

Always subscribe to Spotify because it's the one your friends use? You're about to get another option.

Alexis Lanternier, CEO of Deezer, said: "At Deezer, we are constantly innovating to offer the most personalized and customizable music experience on the market. The new features we’re introducing today give users more control over their algorithm, greater flexibility to personalize their experience, and easy ways to share content with their friends, even beyond Deezer. We want to keep surprising fans with new and engaging ways to experience music."

What of the four brand-new features? Let's get into it…

Deezer's new features: let's get granular

(Image credit: Future)

The four-pronged suite of updates Deezer is bringing is as follows:

More control over the algorithm
Deezer tells me 40% of music streamers are either 34 or younger (well don't I feel old?) and the message is clear: they want better control over the algorithm. Deezer has already evolved its Flow feature to let users influence their algorithm-delivered recommendations over the years (including 'like' buttons), but starting in April, Deezer is launching an algorithm customization feature that it claims puts users "fully in control" of their music discovery. For the first time in music streaming, Deezer tells me users get to tweak their recommendations algorithm without restriction.

During an online briefing, Lanternier showed off what he jokingly calls Deezer's new personalized "nightmare section" within every user's personal account: all of the bands you have disliked and a timeline of what you shunned, and when. Don't like it? You'll no longer be sent tracks from those artists, or similar tracks to the one you listened to and hated. Apple Music offers vaguely similar 'favorite' (star) and 'suggest less' (thumbs-down) buttons for tracks, but it's nothing like this.

Enhanced personalization of the interface
The Deezer app is becoming even more customizable. Starting in May, users will be able to organize the Favorites tab for quick access to their preferred content, creating a truly personalized space. They'll also have the option to customize their playlist covers by adding photos, shapes, and stickers – remodeling the app to fit their personality. During the demo we were shown how to create a cover – think emoji stickers like suns, sunglasses and maybe a drink, a colorful background and a title like 'Summer 2025 Ibiza' maybe. (Lucky you, by the way…)

New stats to discover and share your musical identity
Building on its annual recap, My Deezer Year, Deezer is launching My Deezer Month. And let's not mince words: this builds on the mixed successes of Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay (which was vastly better than Wrapped late last year). Starting in early May, users will receive fresh stats – including most listened-to songs, artists, genres – and a detailed breakdown of their activity, all presented in a "unique and engaging way" every month. Yes, we have heard of this before, but just wait…

Share your music beyond Deezer
Coming late April, Deezer is introducing a next-level approach to music sharing, and one that transcends your streaming platform. With a universal sharing link, Deezer tells me users will be able to send their favorite tracks to friends and family who are using other streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music). The launch builds on Shaker, another unique Deezer feature that allows subscribers to create playlists with their community, even with friends who are not on Deezer – but come on! It's huge, no?

At a time when there's still no official sign of Spotify HiFi, Apple Music, Tidal and Qobuz's hi-resolution streams have become ever-more tempting options. Deezer's audio file resolution still tops out at CD-quality, aka 16-bit/44.1kHz, (better than Spotify, not as good as the best offerings from Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music) but music I can send to a friend, safe in the knowledge that they'll be able to open and enjoy it, even if they're used to lowly Spotify streams? That is huge – and a big reason to switch.

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This is the second family of models OpenAI has dropped this week following the launch of GPT-4.1.

Netflix's new series The Gardener has been a big hit, rocketing to the top of its most-watched chart of non-English-speaking shows. It's the tale of a young man whose mother uses his lack of feelings to turn him into a hitman – but then he falls for his next intended victim.

What's made the show so popular is most likely the fact that it's character driven rather than action driven – and of course that means when things kick off, you're emotionally invested. And that's something that applies to these thrillers too: they're thrilling, of course, but they also feature characters you'll be rooting for.

Black Doves

With a whopping 94% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this Keira Knightley-starring spy story has "compelling performances, striking visuals, and a cheeky sense of humor," says the Times of India. It's the story of a woman having an affair, only for her partner to fall victim to the criminal underworld – so she's assigned Sam (Ben Wishaw), to protect her.

"It’s a smart, frolicking action-adventure full of twists and turns, but it also knows how to make the most of its stars, expand upon an audience’s expectations, and even riff cleverly on current events in our topsy-turvy world," says The Establishing Shot.

"Knightley and Whishaw are terrific here, playing all the layers of their characters’ lies and all the layers of their pains and joys," says The New York Times. It does get violent: however, as the UK Times says, it "is ultimately quite heartwarming despite the blood and gore."

House of Ninjas

Everybody loves a good ninja show, and this is a very good ninja show: season 1 of House of Ninjas has a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Here's what we said about the first season. "Sharpen your shurikens and dust off your daggers: Japan faces a national crisis and the only ones who can help are ninjas in Netflix's new Drama series. Luckily for the people of Japan, the ninjas are still around, having spent years in hiding to stay out of sight and out of mind.

But when the nation needs their help, the last and deeply dysfunctional ninja family must spring into action."

Not everybody loved the story – the SF Chronicle found it "predictable". But ScreenAnarchy begs to differ. It's "a marvelous mix of stealthy ninja action, family drama, and gentle comedy. The cast is outstanding at playing the various notes called for throughout the series, and the action is bone crushing and bloody."

The Night Agent

The Night Agent comes from the same pen as The Shield, which was also created by Shawn Ryan. It follows low-level FBI agent Peter Sutherland who's in the wrong place at the wrong time when the phone rings: the call plunges him right into the middle of a massive conspiracy.

Reviews have been mostly positive with a few tomato splats, such as The Age saying that it's a "solid" if "unspectacular run-and-gun narrative that at least has a zesty female counterpart." But the San Jose Mercury News liked it a lot: it's "A solid conspiracy movie/series throwback involving two lethal killers, a bombing in a subway, a mole within the White House and a newbie FBI agent who’s in over his head."

Variety was enthusiastic too. "It’s a pleasure to see a show better than it might have been, when so often the opposite is true: The Night Agent sparks with curiosity and intrigue, a richly detailed show that propels viewers forward with a relentless pace."

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• Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Editions will let players repair their equipment
• Players will need to download the Zelda Notes app to access the exclusive feature
• The Daily Bonus offering will give players the chance to repair their weapons

The Nintendo Switch 2 versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will give players the ability to repair their equipment with a companion app.

Although this hasn't been officially announced by Nintendo itself, the discovery comes from YouTuber Zeltik, who spotted in the recent Nintendo Treehouse Live that the new Zelda Notes app will offer the feature exclusively for the Switch 2 Editions (via IGN).

When using Zelda Notes, players will be able to access a Daily Bonus feature once per day, allowing them to roll a roulette wheel and redeem a random bonus in-game. Some of these include health recovery, a fireproof elixir, a hasty meal, stamina recovery, energy cell recharge, and more.

These are all items or buffs that can be found in-game but, notably, the Daily Bonus will also offer ways to repair your equipment, something neither Breath of the Wild nor Tears of the Kingdom offers in the current Switch versions.

Some bonuses that can be spotted in the video are "Bow Repairs" and "Equipment Repairs", suggesting there may also be Sword and Shield repairs as well.

For players who may not be a fan of the game's weapon durability, this new Zelda Notes app feature seems like a decent workaround if you don't want to risk losing your favorite sword in the middle of a boss fight.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a Mario Kart World bundle. The Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are day-one launch titles.

Although there was some initial confusion, it's now been confirmed that both games will contain the full game and upgrades on the cartridge, although there is still some uncertainty as to whether players will need to re-purchase Breath of the Wild's downloadable content (DLC).

If you're looking to get your hands on a Switch 2, pre-orders are now live in the UK, but US pre-orders and Canadian pre-orders have been delayed as Nintendo assesses the potential impact of tariffs.

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Tesla often likes to bundle a number of big software updates into one, with its popular ‘Holiday Update’ typically introducing a series of choice tech upgrades to existing customers.

The latest over-the-air update, dubbed the ‘Spring Update’, sees a number of new features added across the line-up, with perhaps the most notable of all being Adaptive Headlights for cars in North American and Canada.

Both the Model S and Model X have also been catered for with a new blind spot camera video feed in the instrument cluster and an overall upgrade to the Dashcam and Sentry Mode camera coverage will benefit all owners, especially those worried about the prospect of anti-Musk protests.

Here are those Tesla updates and who's getting them...

1. Adaptive headlights arrive in North American and Canada

(Image credit: Tesla)

Available on Tesla models that feature matrix headlights, the software update will introduce high beams that automatically adapt to avoid blinding oncoming road users.

It works by dimming individual pixels, illuminating the parts of the road drivers need without inconveniencing others.

The technology and required software has been available in Europe for some time now, but the update, which can be toggled on and off in the Lights setting menu, comes to North American and Canadian customers thanks to recent changes in legislation that now allow for it.

That said, adaptive high beam headlights have been commonplace on models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and many more for over ten years now, so it’s not exactly a mind-blowing addition to the Tesla tech arsenal.

2. Route planning gets smarter

(Image credit: Tesla)

Tesla’s route-planning is largely excellent, arguably among the best in the EV business, but it has just got better thanks to clearer choices for multiple route-planning options.

There’s now an option labelled ‘Fastest’ that keeps travel (and charge time) time to the bare minimum, while a ‘Best amenities’ option prioritizes Supercharger stops near top-rated restaurants, shops and restrooms, according to a Tesla post on X. Users can also manually toggle an option to avoid highways for more scenic drives.

Finally, there’s a ‘Fewer Stops’ that aims to reduce the number of charging stops by taking the most direct and efficient routes.

Plus, when scrolling through the various Tesla Supercharger stations, the infotainment system will offer details on any nearby attractions it deems worth visiting.

3. Improvements to Dashcam and Sentry Mode

(Image credit: Tesla)

For the Model S, 3, X and Y with the latest hardware, Tesla has added footage from the side cameras (mounted in the b-pillars) to both Dashcam and Sentry Mode recordings.

This means that the captured camera angles now jump from four to six, which will see pretty much all of the car covered, both when driving and when parked.

On top of this, the Dashcam Viewer app has been redesigned with a grid layout option, showing a selection of camera angles on one screen.

Users can now more easily navigate the captured footage thanks to quick-swipe video review tools, as well as easily toggle between the various angles captured by all six cameras.

4. You can charge accessories after leaving the vehicle

(Image credit: Tesla UK)

One subtle feature has been added that allows users to continue using USB ports and phone chargers after exiting and locking the car.

The system will keep charging accessories so long as the vehicle’s battery level is above 20%, to ensure there’s enough charge remaining to get drivers to a nearby charging station.

It’s a nice addition, but many rival manufacturers deliberately offer accessory outlets in the trunk and/or frunk for this exact purpose.

5. Driver screen gets a blind spot camera

(Image credit: Tesla)

Rather than having to look down to the central touchscreen when indicating to change lanes, a live feed from the blind spot cameras now appears in the driver display… but there’s a catch.

This update is only available on the refreshed Model S and Model X, which encompasses vehicles made between 2021 and now.

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