Technology

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, April 4 (game #663).

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 #664) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CROSSWORD
• TIME
• STAR
• SIGN
• RAINBOW
• MENU
• CONTRACT
• BILLBOARD
• BANNER
• PEOPLE
• GRIMACE
• ENGAGE
• RETAIN
• HEADER
• SEMBLANCE
• SIDEBAR

NYT Connections today (game #664) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: On the job
• GREEN: Online 
• BLUE: Glossy read
• PURPLE: Words that include weaponry

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 #664) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: EMPLOY 
• GREEN: PARTS OF A WEBSITE 
• BLUE: MAGAZINES 
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH MEDIEVAL WEAPONS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #664) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #664, are…

• YELLOW: EMPLOY CONTRACT, ENGAGE, RETAIN, SIGN
• GREEN: PARTS OF A WEBSITE BANNER, HEADER, MENU, SIDEBAR
• BLUE: MAGAZINES BILLBOARD, PEOPLE, STAR, TIME
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH MEDIEVAL WEAPONS CROSSWORD, GRIMACE, RAINBOW, SEMBLANCE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 mistakes

I’m guilty of reading categories I don’t solve really quickly and mentally telling myself “yeah, whatever”.

So, today, I didn’t initially see the words “ENDING WITH” and was all ready to say how amazing it was that there was an ancient weapon called the CROSSWORD – I’m imagining it only killed someone once you completed 13 across blows and 13 downward blows.

Anyway, the fact is that I completely missed the words SWORD, MACE, BOW, and LANCE hidden in plain sight, despite almost daily thinking there is some Connections category about Medieval warfare.

My first mistake today came by impulsively guessing that I was collecting the characters of some imaginary Pee-wee Herman-style children’s TV show — so I had STAR, RAINBOW, GRIMACE and TIME.

Admittedly, this would be a pretty terrible TV show — sales of Grimmace dolls would be very poor. Then, ignoring the fact that there was a similar category on Thursday, I thought BILLBOARD, MENU, HEADER and BANNER were printed items, before “one away” made me see PARTS OF A WEBSITE.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 4 April, game #663)

• YELLOW: WHAT'S LEFTOVER BALANCE, DIFFERENCE, REMAINDER, REST
• GREEN: CAR TRIP CRUISE, DRIVE, RIDE, SPIN
• BLUE: BASEBALL VENUES DIAMOND, FIELD, PARK, STADIUM
• PURPLE: COMPANIES WITH "E" REMOVED BAY, HARMONY, INK, TRADE

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.

Will I Am Maximus make it back-to-back victories at Aintree?

• A new rumor suggests the next iPad mini may get an OLED screen
• This would make it the second iPad to get the upgrade, after the iPad Pro
• The rumor is light on details, and Apple has not acknowledged it

When the iPad Pro M4 released in 2024, Apple made waves by equipping its premier high-end tablet with a stunning OLED display – the first on any iPad model.

Since then, we’ve been wondering which iPad will be the next to make the leap from older LCD tech to the increased contrast and color accuracy of OLED – and a new rumor suggests an unlikely candidate could be next up.

Noted tipster Digital Chat Station (via GSMArena) made a post on Weibo suggesting that “iPad is evaluating small OLED” in the context of mainstream tech companies producing 8.8-inch tablets.

Admittedly, that’s not a lot to go on, but Digital Chat Station has a fairly decent record and is considered one of the more reliable tipsters posting on Chinese platforms.

The current-gen iPad mini, released at the tail-end of 2024, sports an 8.3-inch display. The post isn’t clear enough to know whether Digital Chat Station is implying a screen size increase for the iPad mini, as well as the new OLED tech.

Our iPad mini (2025) review found the tablet very impressive overall, but an OLED screen upgrade would still be more than welcome.

The iPad mini is the second-cheapest iPad model by starting price. At $499 / £499 / AU$799, it’s only beaten by the base model iPad, which clocks in at $329 / £329 / AU$599.

This would leave the LCD-equipped iPad Air models sandwiched between the iPad mini and iPad Pro on Apple’s pricing ladder – but while this might seem like an odd choice, I think this strategy could actually be a realistic one.

Analysis: why an OLED iPad mini could make sense

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Though the iPad mini does sit between the iPad and iPad Air on Apple’s tablet pricing ladder, it isn't really accurate to consider it as an intermediate option between the two.

It’s more realistic to think of the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro forming a contiguous product line aimed at mainstream consumers, with the iPad mini offering a similar experience to a niche market of small tablet fans.

The trend across all mobile devices for the last decade has been larger screens. The iPhone has increased from 4.7 to 6.9 inches, and the iPad from 9.7 to a maximum 13 inches of screen size.

The iPad mini is unique in that it’s only increased very slightly in the same timespan, from 7.9 to 8.3 inches, most of which can be attributed to the adoption of the modernized, full-screen iPad design language.

That’s all to say that the people buying an iPad mini are probably buying it because it has a small display, not because they’re looking to save money versus an iPad Air or iPad Pro.

As such, it makes sense that Apple would begin extending some of those higher-end features to the iPad mini, as its target audience would probably never experience them otherwise.

And with the iPad mini enjoying popularity in certain professional and high-end leisure spaces – it’s a known favorite of pilots – there’s definitely scope for some feature upgrades.

Apple referenced the iPad mini's popularity with pilots in the reveal of the iPad mini 6 in 2021 (Image credit: Tech World Walt Plus / Apple)

As well as an OLED screen, I’d personally love to see the iPad mini get an M-series chipset. That might seem like overkill for such a small device, but when you consider the M1 chipset turns five years old this year, it’s not such a big ask.

For now, though, I think the addition of an OLED screen would be enough – a sign from Apple that their small tablet is still a priority, despite only comprising 10% of iPad sales (as MacRumors reports).

The only real sticking point could be price. A browse of Reddit suggests there are plenty of casual users who love the iPad mini for email, reading, web browsing – standard day-to-day stuff. I wouldn’t want to see these users saddled with any major price hikes as a result of the iPad mini getting closer to the Pro.

Of course, the above is pretty much entirely based on rumor at this point, so we’ve got a bit of a wait-and-see situation on our hands. For now, be sure to keep up with our iPad coverage and let us know what you’d like to see come to the iPad mini in the comments below.

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Not too long ago, our best phones guide featured models of all shapes and sizes, from the tablet-like Samsung Galaxy Note to the brightly colored iPhone 5C.

These days, however, flat metal sides, gently rounded corners, and muted, industrial colorways are the order of the day, with practicality and understated style seemingly prioritized over "look at my new phone!" personality.

But is this homogeneity a bad thing? Despite their plainness, today’s best (and best-selling) phones are objectively superior devices to their more characterful predecessors, and the best foldable phones (think the Galaxy Z Flip 6) are ready and waiting for those whose favor fun over conformity.

To find out how you, our readers, feel about modern smartphone design, we published an article back in February encouraging you to have your say.

We ran a poll in the TechRadar WhatsApp channel alongside that article, and a whopping 1,483 of you responded to the question ‘How do you feel about flagship smartphone design in 2025?'. Here are the results:

(Image credit: Future)

As you can see, an overwhelming majority of respondents – 915 (62%) – responded with the answer ‘Modern smartphone designs are boring – I miss the variety!’. A further 235 (16%) selected the third option – ‘Modern smartphone designs are boring, but I understand the need for conformity’ – meaning 78% of respondents feel negatively about the state of smartphone design in 2025.

Only 204 respondents (14%) think that smartphone design is better than ever, while an even lower 129 (8%) think there’s still enough variety in the smartphone market. Suffice it to say, that won’t provide happy reading for manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google.

For almost every major brand, smartphone sales have been steadily declining since 2021 (via ICIS), and it’s clear that innovative AI features haven’t yet proven the industry-saving development it was clearly hoped they would be.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (left) and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) (Image credit: Future)

That said, it’s hard to point the finger at boring smartphone designs as the sole – or even primary – reason for this downward trend.

Consumer buying patterns have changed; it’s no longer feasible, or even advisable, to replace your smartphone every two years, with most consumers now choosing to do so after four or five.

Even the best cheap phones will now remain supported with software updates for up to seven years, and their chipsets and batteries are advanced enough to see out that period with ease. Sure, modern smartphones are boring, but they’re extremely practical and fit for purpose – does it really matter that they all look the same?

It’s a question that will no doubt be playing on the minds of company executives across the industry. Apple, for instance, has come under fire for sticking with the same “boring” iPhone formula for too long, but will it risk messing with its golden goose for the sake of variety? The latest iPhone 17 rumors suggest it will, though it’s hard to believe that a slightly more adventurous camera module design will spark a tidal wave of iPhone upgrades.

As our poll demonstrates, consumers are clamoring for something new – but an element of nostalgia is undoubtedly at play here.

What do you think smartphone manufacturers should do to spice up the stagnating smartphone market? Let us know in the comments.

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• Full camera specs for the Google Pixel 10 series have supposedly leaked
• They point to a telephoto camera being added to the Pixel 10, but its other sensors being downgraded
• The rest of the Pixel 10 line might not be in for many camera changes

Google’s Pixel phones usually excel at photography, but based on the latest leak, that might not be the case with the Pixel 10, as Google is seemingly trading quality for quantity when it comes to this phone’s sensors.

Android Authority claims to have seen documents shared by a source inside Google that detail the complete camera specs of the Pixel 10 series.

The biggest changes are said to be coming to the standard Google Pixel 10, which could gain a third lens. This would apparently be the same 10.8MP sensor as you’ll find on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – so, like that phone, it will probably offer 5x optical zoom, but that’s not mentioned here.

However, presumably to keep the cost down, these documents suggest that Google will replace the Pixel 9’s main and ultra-wide sensors with lesser ones for the Pixel 10. Specifically, the Pixel 10 will apparently have the same 48MP wide and 13MP ultra-wide sensors as the Pixel 9a, along with the same selfie camera as the Pixel 9.

Note that this report lists the main sensor as being 50MP rather than 48MP, but it’s said to be the same Samsung GN8 sensor as is used by the 48MP Pixel 9a, so we’d assume it will be marketed as 48MP here, too.

No change for the Pro and little difference for the Fold

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In any case, there’s less change on the other models, with the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL said to have exactly the same cameras as their predecessors, meaning a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto (presumably offering 5x optical zoom).

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also detailed in this leak, but the only camera change here is apparently a small upgrade from the Sony IMX787 (which is also used by the Pixel 8a) to the Samsung GN8 (which is also used by the Pixel 9a).

That would mean a 50MP main sensor, joined by the same 10.5MP ultra-wide, 10.8MP telephoto (likely with 5x optical zoom), and pair of 10MP selfie cameras as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

We would, of course, take all of these claims with a pinch of salt, but we’ll likely find out for sure what cameras the Pixel 10 phones have in August, as that’s probably when they’ll launch.

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• Windows 365 Link is easy to set up for IT admins and secure
• It’ll cost $349 / £349 / AUD639 and is available to buy now
• We also got a Windows 365 Frontline Shared Mode

Windows 365 Link, Microsoft’s first purpose-built Cloud PC device for connecting to Windows 365, is now generally available.

The device is available from Microsoft account teams or a number of resellers in all of the countries it’s for sale in. It’s priced at: AUD639 in Australia, CAD519.99 in Canada, €419 in Germany, JPY56,800 in Japan, NZD739 in New Zealand, £349 in the United Kingdom and $349.99 in the United States.

Key to its upcoming success will be its simple setup and minimal configuration requirements, making it an IT-friendly tool to deploy via Microsoft Intune.

Windows 365 Link on sale

An announcement by Stefan Kinnestrand, VP for Modern Work at Microsoft, claims in the several months after it was previewed at Microsoft Ignite 2024, more than 100 organizations got in on the preview program to offer feedback ahead of general availability.

Kinnestrand noted that Windows 365 Link could be especially useful for desk-based or frontline workers in shared workspaces, because the device leaves no local data when users sign out.

In the same breath, Kinnestrand also uncovered a handy new update – Windows 365 Frontline Shared Mode. It allows multiple users to share a single Cloud PC license and automatically clears user data after each session ends for privacy, making it an ideal system for temporary or occasional access use cases.

Highlighting the benefits of Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, a Microsoft-commissioned Forrester Consulting study details how users can save six to 12 minutes per day from avoided outages and improved latency, implement cost-effective bring-your-own-PC (BYOPC) programs, reduce their IT infrastructure costs and make substantial five- or six-figure savings (for companies with 2,000 employees).

Other announcements shared include a Windows app for Android devices and a reminder of the Windows 11 hotpatching update.

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• A new patent has revealed that Samsung is working on an exciting new smart ring charging solution
• It would involve charging your Ring on the back of your Galaxy phone
• The tech reveals a built-in slot that would securely house the device

New technology developed by Samsung could one day let users of its Galaxy Ring charge the device by placing it in a secure slot on the back of its Galaxy phone lineup, according to a new patent.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is the best smart ring out there right now thanks to its comfortable design, extensive feature set, and lack of subscription – a crucial advantage over the Oura Ring 4.

The Galaxy Ring, like most devices on the market, charges using a small, standalone charging case. Battery life is good for up to six or seven days on a single charge, and you can get multiple charges from the case, with a full charge taking about 80 minutes.

Now, a newly published Samsung patent spotted by 91Mobiles reveals how this could change in the future.

The patent comprises a device with a processor, memory, battery, and more, clearly a smartphone, replete with a grooved housing that can seat a smart ring securely to provide wireless charging. It's pretty self-explanatory, but it would be a unique and novel solution to smart ring charging.

The future of smart ring charging

(Image credit: Samsung / WIPO)

One of the reasons to choose a smart ring over the best smartwatches is battery life, with the best models generally tending to last a week or longer.

The charging case solution employed by every smart ring manufacturer isn't particularly cumbersome or inconvenient, but I can see the appeal of an even more streamlined solution like using wireless charging tech on the back of a phone.

Firstly, the case is only good if you have it on you, which means if your smart ring dies unexpectedly or without warning and you don't have it handy, you're at a loss. You'll. likely always have your Galaxy phone on you, so this could be a handy emergency solution and a great alternative to carrying a bulkier case around.

Smart rings don't need a ton of juice to get going, so it's not going to destroy your phone's battery life either.

I don't think this tech solution would be the primary mode of charging, and I can see charging cases sticking around, but as a way to supplement charging, this is a great idea from Samsung. Employing a slot or groove makes sense, too, because the Galaxy Ring is small and light and could easily become dislodged otherwise.

What's more, it would mean you could simply pop the ring in your pocket and forget about it while it's charging and you get on with your day.

Just a patent at this stage, so don't expect to see this technology deployed in the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2, which is probably just a few months away.

Bearing in mind this would require some serious hardware tweaks to Samsung's Galaxy phone lineup, it's safe to assume its probably a couple of years away.

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• New footage for The Fantastic Four: First Steps was revealed at CinemaCon 2025
• The sizzle reel confirmed a big fan theory about the Marvel movie's first trailer
• It's unclear if the MCU Phase 6 film's latest teaser will be released online

Marvel detectives, you've done it again. One week after sleuthing fans claimed they'd worked out Avengers: Doomsday's plot, a big fan theory regarding The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first trailer has been proved correct.

During yesterday's (April 3) Walt Disney Studios showcase at CinemaCon 2025, Marvel chief Kevin Feige revealed new scenes – ones that won't be released publicly, in my view – from the hotly-anticipated Marvel Phase 6 movie. And, in a surprise turn of the events, The Fantastic Four: First Steps' latest teaser revealed fans were right to be curious about something they saw in the film's first round of footage.

Major spoilers immediately follow for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Do not proceed if you don't want to know anything ahead of its July 25 release.

More like The Fantastic Five... (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

As revealed on social media by CinemaCon attendees, Sue Storm, who'll be played by Vanessa Kirby in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), will be pregnant for a portion of The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen reboot.

This won't come as a huge shock to some fans. As I mentioned earlier, MCU devotees had their suspicions that Sue Storm was with child as soon as The Fantastic Four: First Steps' inaugural trailer dropped online.

Multiple viewers pointed out that, during the teaser's scene where Kirby's Storm and Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards are showing an individual around their home, something looked off about Storm's midriff. That led a number of fans to theorize that Marvel had edited the footage to hide her baby bump. Thanks to the film's CinemaCon sizzle reel, we have confirmation that Storm will not only be pregnant, but is likely to give birth to her first child in First Steps.

Why Sue Storm's pregnancy is such a big deal in The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Say hello to Franklin Richards, everyone (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Potentially big spoilers follow for The Fantastic Four's MCU debut.

Let's cut right to the chase: Storm's pregnancy is such a huge deal because it means Franklin Richards, Storm and Reed's first-born, will appear in First Steps.

For the uninitiated: Franklin Richards is not only a supremely powerful being in Marvel Comics, but he's also someone with incredibly close ties to Galactus, aka First Steps' Big Bad who'll be voiced by Ralph Inseon.

And, when I say 'incredibly close ties', what I mean is they're related. No, Galactus isn't Franklin's real dad – he's actually Franklin himself.

Franklin Richards actually becomes Galactus in one Marvel comic book series (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Well, in one Marvel comic book series, anyway. 'Earth X', a 1999 limited comic series, sees Richards take on the mantle of the planet-devouring cosmic entity following the demise of Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, aka Sue's brother and, by proxy, Franklin's uncle.

Now, it's incredibly unlikely that the Galactus who'll appear in First Steps will be the future form of this universe's Franklin Richards. After all, there have been numerous versions of the character throughout Marvel's illustrious history, many of whom haven't been Franklin Richards to begin with.

Sure, time travel and dimension hopping exist in the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse (MCM), so it's still a possibility. However, I don't think it's the wisest move to have Marvel's First Family face off against a villainous version of the offspring of two of their team members. Not now, anyway.

The more likely scenario is that Galactus – and his most famous Herald, aka The Silver Surfer, who was shown off for the first time in First Steps' CinemaCon sizzle reel – travel to Earth for another reason. That being, Galactus taking an interest in Franklin Richards due to his potent reality-warping and teleportation powers.

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If Galactus learns of Franklin Richards' abilities, I suspect he'd want to commandeer for his own nefarious purposes. Namely, being able to travel across the multiverse to devour as many planets as possible in an attempt to satiate his never-ending hunger.

That could eventually lead to The Fantastic Four being transported to the MCU. Marvel has already teased that the supergroup don't actually exist in the MCU (designated Earth-616), but live in an alternate reality. If their Earth is destroyed by Galactus because they refuse to hand over Franklin, First Steps might end with Franklin teleporting his family to Earth-616 to escape Galactus and survive in another dimension. That would also set the stage for the team's inclusion, and likely big role, in Avengers: Doomsday.

This is all speculation on my part. But, based on what we now know about Franklin's likely introduction in First Steps, it's the most logical theory I can come up with.

We won't find out if I'm right until one of 2025's most exciting new movies lands in theaters in late July. Until then, read up on everything else we know about the film in my dedicated hub on The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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• Signify has released eight spring-themed scenes for Philips Hue lights
• The new scenes are available in the Philips Hue app with version 5.39
• An updated icon hints that the Philips Hue AI assistant may arrive soon

Want to give your home a quick makeover? Signify, the company behind the Philips Hue lighting system, has released an update for the Hue app that adds eight new lighting scenes that you can apply to a whole room with a single tap.

Scenes are themed presets that use a palette of colors to create a particular mood. The latest collection are all designed around the theme of springtime, with fresh floral shades of pink and yellow alongside fresh greens.

Fabian, editor of Hueblog.com, has shared a screenshot of the new scenes in the app's German language edition. Seven appear to be standard scenes, while the eighth (named 'Die Farben der Natur', or 'The Colors of Nature') is one of Signify's new 24-hours scenes, which shifts to different shades depending on the time of day.

Scenes let you instantly apply a themed color scheme to all the Philips Hue lights in a room (Image credit: Signify) AI is on the way

It looks like we'll have to wait a little longer for Signify the launch the Philips Hue AI assistant that it announced back in January, but it could arrive any day now. Just a couple of weeks ago, the search button in the Hue app changed from a magnifying glass icon to the cluster of sparks that's typically used to represent AI.

For the time being, the change is only cosmetic and the search bar still works the same as before. However, the new icon suggests that the assistant may launch imminently.

According to Signify, the upcoming feature will let you create "personalized lighting scenes based on mood, occasion or style", so you won't need to tinker with colors by hand, or wait for an app update to add a theme that you particularly want.

The Philips Hue system already holds the number one spot in our roundup of the best smart lights, so it'll be interesting to see whether the addition of AI will make it an even more compelling choice.

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Marvel Rivals Season 2 arrives later this month, adding Emma Frost as a brand new Vanguard. There are also interesting changes coming to Team Ups, with some like Magneto and Scarlet Witch's Metallic Chaos ability being removed, while new ones between Captain America and Winter Soldier are being added. By the looks of things, this season will shake up the meta quite a bit.

I'm still absolutely loving Marvel Rivals, having reviewed it back at launch. Since then, The Fantastic Four have been added, and I've spent a considerable time gaining Sue Storm, using the push ability to send enemies flying. By having a good cadence of adding new heroes, Marvel Rivals remains highly ranked in TechRadar Gaming's best crossplay games page. If Season 2 continues to bring new maps, modes, and heroes at a decent pace, I can't see myself being torn away from Marvel Rivals anytime soon.

NetEase has now revealed the main details surrounding Marvel Rivals Season 2. There's a new Hero to try out, and an evolving story set around an opulent gala on Krakoa. Here's when Marvel Rivals Season 2 launches, as well as some info on upcoming changes to the balance of the game. As we near launch day, I'll update this page with all of the latest news.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 release date

Marvel Rivals Season 2 will arrive on April 11 UTC. This means that it'll launch at the following time according to your timezone:

• April 10 at 5PM PST: West Coast US
• April 10 at 8PM ET: East Coast US
• April 11 at 1AM BST: United Kingdom
• April 11 at 2AM CET: Central Europe
• April 11 at 9AM JST: Japan

Based on previous seasons, expect Marvel Rivals to go offline for a few hours before the launch of the second season. Keep on eye on the official Marvel Rivals website for more info.

I'll be sure to update this section with any news of expected downtime once it's revealed.

Marvel Rivals Emma Frost release date

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals will add Emma Frost on April 11 UTC. She's a new Vanguard, operating on the front line of battle by utilizing telekinetic abilities and sheer brawling firepower. -NetEase has fully detailed the character in the video below, which shows off each of her abilities. It appears that she'll have a decent bit of range, as well as the ability to apply her diamond skin and move in for close-quarters combat. She has an ultimate that damages multiple enemies at once with telekinetic beams while pulling them toward her.

There are some interesting details to Emma Frost's kit that are worth diving into. Firstly, her dash and choke slam ability ends with a sweep kick which knocks enemies back. This can be used to throw an opponent off of an edge for a quick kill. Emma Frost can also place diamond shields, using them to block Ultimates like Iron Man's. This works similarly to Groot's shield walls, in that there's a fair bit of range to where you can place them.

Emma Frost joins Hulk, Doctor Strange, Venom, Captain America, The Thing, Groot, and Magneto as a Vanguard. Primarily, she will be used to tank damage on the frontline, though she clearly has a lot of potential as a brawler, and some support elements in her shielding abilities.

Emma Frost joins Hulk, Doctor Strange, Venom, Captain America, The Thing, Groot, and Magneto as a Vanguard. Primarily, she will be used to tank damage on the frontline, though she clearly has a lot of potential as a brawler, and some support elements in her shielding abilities.

I'm a Venom main in Marvel Rivals, so I primarily tend to go with Vanguards over the other two classes, so I'll definitely be giving Emma Frost a go when she launches. We'll have to wait and see how her Team Up with Magneto and Psylocke plays out, but having a 2-tank team with Emma Frost and Magneto could be a good place to start in terms of working out a new meta.

Marvel Rivals Ultron

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now for Ultron, who won't launch until Season 2.5. If we look at the release schedule for the previous season, I expect Ultron to arrive sometime in May. We haven't seen much from this upcoming character just yet, only a brief tease in the Season 2 reveal trailer. It's clear that he's set to be the villain of the season but in terms of how he'll play? Well, that's yet to be seen.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 Team Up Changes

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 2 will bring in a bunch of new Team Ups, while removing existing ones. The first new one sees Emma Frost as the anchor Hero, with an ability called Mental Projection. This gives Magneto and Psylocke illusory projections, making it more difficult for the enemy to hit them. Next up is Arcane Order, which sees Doctor Strange sharing his magic abilities with Scarlet Witch, enhancing her attacks. Then, Stars Aligned allows Winter Soldier to leap towards allies at critical moments.

Here are the key points on the changes coming to Team Ups in Marvel Rivals Season 2:

• Mental Projection: Emma Frost, Magneto, Scarlet Witch (NEW)
• Arcane Order: Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch (NEW)
• Stars Aligned: Captain America, Winter Soldier (NEW)
• Gamma Charge: Hulk, Namor, Iron-Man (Doctor Strange removed, Namor added)
• Ammo Overload: Rocket, Punisher (Winter Soldier removed)
• Dimensional Shortcut: Magik, Black Panther (Psylocke removed)
• Chilling Charisma: Luna Snow, Jeff the Land Shark (Namor removed)
• Voltaic Union: Thor, Storm, Captain America (Removed entirely)
• Metallic Chaos: Magneto, Scarlet Witch (Removed entirely)

Marvel Rivals Season 2 balancing changes

In the Developer Vision video you can view above, some general balance updates are outlined for the future of Marvel Rivals. We've collected the key points in the list below:

• Hero balancing (buffs): Black Widow, Mister Fantastic, Scarlet Witch, Jeff the Land Shark, Peni Parker, Moon Knight, and Rocket Raccoon
• Hero Balancing (nerfs): Doctor Strange, Adam Warlock, Loki
• New Hero schedule: One per month from Season 3 onwards
• Maps: Map rotation will be in effect from Season 2 onwards (ranked), Hellfire: Gala (new map)
• Modes: New limited-time modes will be added over time
• Competitive: Map rotation, Bans added to Gold III, each player drops 9 divisions at the start at Season 2, minimum level requirement now 15, One Above All and Eternity ranks only allow duo queuing, Increasing the rate of individual performance vs match outcome.

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• Adaptive Security secures $43 million in investment
• OpenAI listed as one of the key investors alongside a16z
• Adaptive wants to tackle social engineering and deepfakes

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has backed a security start-up in a sign the company might be about to focus more heavily on cyber protections.

With generative AI enabling more sophisticated cyberattacks like deepfakes and phishing content, OpenAI has revealed a major supporting role for Adaptive Security.

The New York-based startup helps companies defend against AI-powered cyberattacks, and already counts over 100 enterprise clients on its books since publicly launching in January 2023.

OpenAI is backing Adaptive Security

“I’m thrilled to announce our $43 million investment round, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and the OpenAI Startup Fund – marking OpenAI’s first-ever investment in a cybersecurity company,” shared Adaptive’s CEO and co-founder Brian Long.

Long noted that social engineering continues to be the leading cause of security breaches, but artificial intelligence has enabled attackers to “[increase] the efficacy and blast radius of these attacks.”

It doesn’t just come down to the creation of content, because AI can now imitate colleagues and business leaders to “make phone calls, send emails or text your team.”

For decades, policymakers, leaders and individuals from all walks of life have been split on whether we can fight fire with fire, but Long believes AI can be the solution to AI-enhanced threats: “With the right models and data, we can simulate realistic AI attacks, train employees to recognize threats, triage suspicious behavior in real time, and surface risk before it turns into loss.”

Demonstrating how realistic deepfakes can be, Long even has a deepfake of himself on the website that customers can interact with. I asked the fake Brian to tell me about the company: “We offer a suite of next-generation cybersecurity training and simulation products designed to protect organizations from advanced threats,” he said.

It’s unclear how much money OpenAI invested individually, but the fact that the AI giant is now getting involved with cybersecurity – not least, relating to its own products’ impact – is especially noteworthy.

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• The Nintendo Switch 2 will use Nvidia's DLSS AI-powered upscaling for its games for better performance and image quality
• So far, handheld gaming PCs only have AMD's FSR and Intel's XeSS
• The Switch 2 could see itself compete with other handhelds thanks to DLSS

The Nintendo Switch 2 was finally fully revealed on April 2, with confirmation that the handheld console will use a custom Nvidia processor - and while the device may not outperform handheld gaming PCs, it could have a significant bonus over them.

As highlighted in a blog post, Nvidia confirmed that its DLSS AI-powered upscaling method will be present on the Nintendo Switch 2, along with ray tracing, thanks to its custom chip. This will allow game developers to implement DLSS in games where necessary, creating room for better performance through upscaling while maintaining image quality.

It's not exactly clear what version of DLSS this will be: its latest version, DLSS 4, utilizes a new transformer model to further improve image quality, especially with performance mode - which has been shown to outdo the previous model's quality mode in DLSS 3.

However, handheld gaming PCs have only been able to use either AMD's FSR or Intel's XeSS, as Nvidia hasn't made an APU (a processor with CPU and GPU on the same die) for any of the devices like the Asus ROG Ally or MSI Claw 8 AI+. Both of these rival upscaling methods have yet to match DLSS, and if DLSS 4 is being used by the Switch 2, it could challenge more powerful handheld gaming PCs when it comes to graphics and performance.

(Image credit: Konstantin Savusia / Shutterstock) It won't beat handheld gaming PCs, but it's on the verge of competing

Don't get me wrong, handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally, MSI Claw 8 AI+, and the Lenovo Legion Go are all still an easy choice over the Switch 2 as they more than likely still have more powerful hardware (as we don't know the exact specs of Nvidia's chip just yet).

However, if Nintendo’s new console uses DLSS 4, it could be a literal game changer placing the Switch 2 in pole position to compete against other handhelds, thanks to the new transformer model. It takes the upscaled image quality up another level, as I've highlighted previously and has already been a massive benefit to all GeForce RTX GPU users: image quality on the CNN model’s performance mode was blurry and contained ghosting when in motion, and the transformer model fixes this.

Despite the slight performance loss in games with this new model (due to its more intensive processing nature for greater image quality), it's not significant enough to not recommend DLSS 4 - and it's better than Intel's XeSS 2 and AMD's FSR 4, as it maintains much better detail on objects, particularly at longer draw distances in games.

I've begged Nvidia to make an APU for handheld gaming PCs to use DLSS, and this gives me hope that the Switch 2 will make it possible.

We'll have to wait and see how DLSS will work (especially in docked mode at a 4K resolution), but if the Switch 2 ushers in a new generation of PC gaming handhelds with Nvidia hardware, then I’ll be extremely happy.

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• The iOS 18.4 update seems to be causing problems for CarPlay users
• Symptoms include connection issues and missing dashboard information
• There’s no solid fix yet, compounding the problem

Apple has just released iOS 18.4, which has brought a number of changes to users of many of the best iPhones. Unfortunately, though, it looks like the change has rendered Apple’s CarPlay platform unusable for a number of people, bringing disruption to Apple’s in-car entertainment system.

And according to multiple posts on X and Reddit, it looks like the issues are not restricted to one particular aspect of CarPlay. Instead, a wide range of glitches seem to be cropping up.

For instance, user NRein7 posted on Reddit to say that their car’s dashboard no longer displays Now Playing information after updating to iOS 18.4. Other Redditors chimed in to say that they were unable to connect their phone to their car in the first place, while others found their iPhones would only connect when using certain USB ports, or would repeatedly disconnect and reconnect over time.

We've reached out to Apple to find out if this is a confirmed issue and will update this story if we hear back about a potential fix.

Not just one car brand

(Image credit: Future)

The bugs seem to affect users of various car makes and models, including Audi, Ford, Honda and Mazda. That suggests the problem could lie with CarPlay itself rather than a specific car manufacturer’s software. Indeed, one Redditor said Volkswagen had told them that “Apple has to fix” to bug, implying it’s not down to Volkswagen’s own software. We've reached out to Apple to find out if this is the case.

Users have reported trying various methods to resolve the issue, including restarting their iPhones, unpairing and repairing them with their cars, and rebooting their vehicles. Some have found these methods to work, but for others, the problems remained.

Whatever the exact nature of the glitch, it’s a frustrating issue to encounter, and for now, there’s no confirmed fix. If you find yourself falling victim to this CarPlay mishap, you might just have to wait for Apple to roll out an update. The company has deployed the iOS 18.5 beta to testers, and the full version is expected to be released next month. Hopefully that provides a solution, if there isn't a fix before then.

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Application Programming Interfaces, (APIs) are a hot topic right now. With the rise of AI, APIs are crucial for integrating AI into apps, chatbots, as well as automating workflows. There is also the growth of microservices and cloud computing where APIs allow different services to communicate efficiently in the cloud.

APIs are transforming the integration and flow of data and information between different software applications and operating systems. The possibilities of what this will enable us as consumers to do is endless and for businesses its evolution is presents exciting opportunities across the board.

APIs enhance the connectivity between multiple platforms by allowing different systems to communicate and work together more seamlessly, streamlining operations and greatly improving the flow of data to be benefit of end users. It can save staff time and increase the value of tools including payment gateways, social media platforms, cloud services and more to help businesses improve functionality, create scalability and you get better value from existing systems.

An opportunity to grow

In fiercely competitive markets, APIs also provide businesses with an opportunity to grow and enhance their position as leaders in the field bringing significant advantages over competitors. There are other benefits too. Greater efficiency and reliability: APIs ensure consistent and accurate data transfer between systems which reduce errors and enhance the reliability of your operations.

By centralizing and connecting data from various sources, APIs provide a unified view of all the information. With this business leaders can make more informed decisions that enable expansion, moving and adapting quickly to respond to market demands and opportunities.

The operational enhancements that APIs bring mean that companies can enhance their customer experiences, facilitate more personalized services, apply seamless payment solutions, and share real-time updates, all of which lead to greater user satisfaction and engagement.

Everyday examples of this include integrating Google Maps into apps to show location data or where an online retailer provides the ability to pay with PayPal without the need to access sensitive data. APIs are already being used in our everyday lives.

Businesses can also use APIs to integrate chatbots, recommendation engines, and other AI-driven tools to deliver a more customized experience. The ability to connect with third-party services also improves functionality and helps companies offer comprehensive solutions to their customers.

Key considerations

Technology moves at pace and keeping up with these changes can bring key considerations that need to be considered throughout the development process.

The need to ensure the API meets end user needs – it needs to do the job it set out to do therefore it’s important that all stakeholders are involved in the development stage of the process to ensure success and buy-in at the implementation stage. Think about who the end user is, what the efficiency is you’re hoping to gain. The planning stage is key. Design an API with simplicity and test regularly throughout the development.

Consider security aspects – cross-sharing of data across platforms poses possible cyber security risks and APIs can be prone to threats like unauthorized access and data breaches if proper security measures are not adhered to. Robust authentication measures such as OAuth2 and token-based methods can ensure secure access along with encrypting data. This should be regularly reviewed.

Optimize API performance – APIs need to be able to handle high volumes of requests. Poor performance can cause slow response times and cause programs to crash. There are ways to mitigate this including caching for data that is frequently requested and sending only essential data. Developers can create database queries to minimize the level of data retrieved and processing required. Breaking the data retrieval down into more manageable chunks improves scalability and the ability for the API to cope with traffic spikes.

Consider cross-system compatibility – APIs need to work lots of different systems and programs and this needs to happen seamlessly for it to be effective. This can be particularly challenging when dealing with legacy systems that use old programming methods. Widely accepted standards such as JSON or XML should be used to ensure broad compatibility and help futureproof the API.

Summary

The rise of APIs is reshaping digital transformation across industries. From ecommerce and fintech to healthcare and logistics, businesses increasingly rely on APIs to innovate and scale at unprecedented rates. As cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and IoT continue to evolve, APIs will serve as the backbone of interconnected digital ecosystems.

Companies that embrace APIs will not only streamline their operations but also gain a competitive advantage by unlocking new markets and partnerships. The future of business lies in connectivity, and APIs will continue to play a crucial role in shaping this dynamic landscape.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Industry analysts have weighed in on Nintendo Switch 2's controversial pricing
• Hardware prices are in line with expectations, but software is a concern
• Analysts are saying that US tariffs are just one part of the problem

The pricing model of the Nintendo Switch 2 is now public knowledge in the aftermath of the April 2 Nintendo Direct, and there's much to unpack for both hardware and software.

In short, the common consensus is that the retail price of the console - $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle - is more or less in line with what folks were expecting. It's the software side that seems to have generated the most concern.

We now know that Switch 2 launch games like Mario Kart World will cost a borderline absurd $79.99 / £74.99, while Donkey Kong Bananza is being listed at the current industry standard of $69.99 / £64.99. In both cases, this is a massive leap up from most of the best Nintendo Switch games, and many analysts are showing concern about the precedent being set here.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

IGN has since spoken to a number of trusted industry analysts on the topic of Nintendo Switch 2 pricing.

There is general agreement on the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration being a factor. NYU Stern professor Joost van Dreunen calls Nintendo's pricing a "strategic balancing act," adding that: "Nintendo appears to be building in a buffer against these potential trade barriers while ensuring they maintain their traditional positive margin on hardware."

Ampere Analysis' Piers Harding-Rolls seems to agree here, saying: "My view is that they probably had a range of pricing for the US market in play up until the last minute due to the uncertainty on import tariffs."

Kantan Games CEO Dr. Serkan Toto also considers competitor Sony as a factor: "Nintendo probably factored in possible tariffs, the current inflationary climate in the world, and the $700 Sony dared to charge for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year."

(Image credit: Future/Nintendo)

Toto and other analysts, then, maybe hinting at a more cynical reason for Nintendo's lofty pricing schemes for Nintendo Switch 2. Toto added that the $80 price tag for Mario Kart World is "quite bold."

He added: "Tariffs could play a role, but I think it is much simpler: Nintendo is charging this price because they feel they can and that people will pay."

Finally, Circana's Mat Piscatella suggests that Nintendo is strongly targeting its enthusiast market for the first year of sales. "Based on what we're seeing across the market, sales to higher-income or more affluent households likely won't be impacted by this pricing," he said.

"And, of course, we have the price-insensitive super enthusiasts that will do and pay whatever it takes to acquire the Switch 2 at launch. Therefore, because of the limited quantities that will be available during the launch year, I do not anticipate this pricing to hinder year one sales volumes."

I personally have to wonder if Nintendo's software pricing for Switch 2 will level out in its second year, as Piscatella says: "The true test will come in year two, as supply is likely to become more readily available, and the addressable market will be forced to widen. So, we'll have to see what happens over the next 9-12 months."

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• Another upgrade has been spotted in Google Messages beta code
• The update would improve how longer texts are handled
• There's no word on how long it will be before the feature goes live

Sometimes the situation calls for a long and thoughtful text rather than a quick and short one, and Google Messages is finally improving support for these extended missives, according to new code spotted in the beta version of the app for Android.

This code isn't activated yet, but as spotted by Android Authority, it extends the text compose box to 12 lines – that's up from the current four, and means you don't have to keep scrolling up and down to review your message before sending it.

If you're a regular Google Messages user, you'll know it can be annoying to be composing a lengthy text and then have half of it disappear. It tends to break up the flow of writing, but it should be less of an issue going forward.

Google hasn't said anything officially about rolling this feature out, so we don't know how long it'll take to reach everyone – but it being baked into the beta code of Google Messages suggests the upgrade will start appearing sooner rather than later.

Getting the message

The compose window, before (left) and after (right) (Image credit: AssembleDebug / Android Authority)

Google Messages is now the default messaging app on both Pixel and Samsung phones, and Google has been working hard to make sure you choose it over any other chat app – such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

Near the end of last year, Google rolled out a bunch of features to improve message security, including better scam detection and controls for blocking messages that come in from international senders you don't know.

Earlier this year, Google added upgrades for contacting the emergency services, while it also seems to have been listening to users – reversing a frustrating change that prevented user nicknames and profile pictures from being edited.

It seems there's much more in the pipeline as well: we've seen signs of a remote delete feature, more straightforward group chat management, and support for higher quality photos and videos sent through your chats.

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