Technology

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, March 21 (game #383).

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 #384) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… A good roast

NYT Strands today (game #384) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PLUG
• GLUE
• LINE
• KICK
• CROW
• KING

NYT Strands today (game #384) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #384) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #384) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #384, are…

• CHUCKLE
• HOWL
• SHRIEK
• GIGGLE
• CACKLE
• ROAR
• LAUGH
• SPANGRAM: CRACKING UP

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

Okay, I’ll confess. After seeing the theme “A good roast” I spent a couple of minutes hunting for chicken, pork, lamb and potatoes.

Instead, we were looking for an entirely different type of roast and the many reactions to a well-told put-down. It’s a shame they didn’t find room for my two favorite laughter synonyms – guffaw, which is something a flamboyant person would do, and titter, which is something an introverted person might do.

The hardest I have ever laughed at a comedy show is at a comedian whose entire act was pointing at images of owls with a stick. I think this possibly says a great deal about me and why I don’t get out much.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 21 March, game #383)

• STUFFED
• MOUSSAKA
• PARMIGIANA
• RATATOUILLE
• SPANGRAM: EGGPLANT DISH

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new 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, March 21 (game #649).

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 #650) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TOUCHDOWN
• TRIFLE
• TRILLION
• TROMBONE
• TRIDENT
• TRADEMARK
• THEREMIN
• TCHOTCHKE
• TRIANGLE
• TELEVISION
• TRINKET
• TRILOBITE
• TIMPANI
• THINGAMAJIG
• TAMBOURINE 
• TUBERCULOSIS

NYT Connections today (game #650) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Making sound
• GREEN: Bric-a-brac
• BLUE: Must “tri” harder
• PURPLE: Known by shortened forms

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 #650) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
• GREEN: KNICKKNACK
• BLUE: WORDS WITH THE PREFIX MEANING "THREE"
• PURPLE: WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH "T" + LETTER

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

NYT Connections today (game #650) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #650, are…

• YELLOW: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TAMBOURINE, THEREMIN, TIMPANI, TROMBONE
• GREEN: KNICKKNACK TCHOTCHKE, THINGAMAJIG, TRIFLE, TRINKET
• BLUE: WORDS WITH THE PREFIX MEANING "THREE" TRIANGLE, TRIDENT, TRILLION, TRILOBITE
• PURPLE: WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH "T" + LETTER TELEVISION, TOUCHDOWN, TRADEMARK, TUBERCULOSIS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

Oh my gosh this was a difficult Connections. Similar to the occasions when the grid is made up of just two or three letter words, or that one time when it was a dozen numbers, I found just looking at all these T-words baffling and really struggled to make headway.

I wasn’t helped by making three Mistakes on MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS – convinced that TRIANGLE (the greatest of all instruments) should be in there.

With KNICKKNACK I gambled that TCHOTCHKE was one of the common words, although I’d never heard of this wonderful Jewish-American word before. For WORDS WITH THE PREFIX MEANING "THREE" I just linked all the options that began with TRI and was surprised that the answer was that simple – although there’s not much else that could link an extinct arthropod to a spear.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 21 March, game #649)

• YELLOW: MILIEU CIRCLE, SCENE, SPHERE, WORLD
• GREEN: LUMINARY GREAT, ICON, LEGEND, LION
• BLUE: ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING TOOLS COMPASS, RULER, STENCIL, T-SQUARE
• PURPLE: __BAR CHART, EXAM, MITZVAH, SOAP

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.

Welcome to the end of another working week. It's time to put your feet up and load up one of the many new movies and/or TV shows that have debuted on the world's best streaming services this weekend.

Personally, I'll be tuning in to watch the Severance season 2 finale again (read my Severance season 2 ending explained piece if you need more information on what just happened). But, from Oscar winners like Anora and Wicked, to intriguing new series, such as The Residence, there's plenty more to check out before Monday arrives. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Anora (Hulu)

Who else cried watching Anora? This year's huge Oscar-winning smash hit completely bowled over critics and audiences alike with the way it challenges the well-trodden rags-to-riches storyline. If you missed the chance to catch it in the cinema, now's the time to watch it as it's finally available on Hulu.

For anyone unfamiliar with the plot of Sean Baker's romantic drama, which will soon secure a spot as one of the best Hulu movies, it follows sex worker Ani (Mickey Madison), who meets and falls in love with Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch, that she ends up having a whirlwind marriage with. However, not everything's peachy when Ivan's parents find out...

If your Disney+ or Hulu subscriptions are about to expire, make sure to take advantage of this great deal that brings the bundle back down to its lowest ever price to watch this blockbuster hit and more for less. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Anora on Hulu (US only)

The Residence (Netflix)

Move over Benoit Blanc, there’s another eccentric detective on the case in the new Netflix show The Residence. Inspired by The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower, the mystery series follows Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), who arrives at the White House to solve a murder where all the staff and guests at a state dinner are suspects.

Produced by Shondaland, The Residence has promise to become one of the best Netflix shows given the production company’s history of creating acclaimed series like Bridgerton and Grey’s Anatomy. And, I’m certainly excited to see all the secrets and scandals unfold in this whodunnit. – Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch The Residence on Netflix

O'Dessa (Disney Plus/Hulu)

Sadie Sink may have joined the cast of Spider-Man 4 in a big supporting role, but the Stranger Things star proves she has the acting credentials to lead films in her own right in this straight-to-streaming dystopian cyberpunk musical.

In the Disney+/Hulu flick, Sink plays the titular farm girl, who embarks on a cross-country trip to retrieve a family heirloom – a guitar that might hold special power – and rescue the love of her life from the tyrannical Plutonovich (Murray Bartlett).

O'Dessa's early reviews have been mixed, so it's unlikely to find a spot on our best Disney+ movies and best Hulu movies lists. Nevertheless, critics say Sink delivers a great performance, which is to be expected from this rising star ahead of her final outing as Max in Stranger Things season 5. – TP

• Watch O'Dessa on Disney+ (internationally) and Hulu (US)

Wicked Part One (Peacock)

There's no place like home for one of 2024's biggest blockbuster hits. Indeed, Peacock is the service to sign up to this weekend if you want to catch Wicked in the US. The first part of the broadway musical's film adaptation is available alongside a singalong version, too, if you fancy belting out its classic numbers.

Ozians will also be treated to extra behind-the-scenes content from Universal's musical hit, which will include deleted and extended scenes, a making-of documentary, in-depth interviews with director Jon M Chu, and more besides!

There's a lot of excitement around this Wizard of Oz prequel, which tells the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Once you've watched it, stream these six other movie musicals on Netflix, Max and more. – AS

• Watch Wicked Part One on Peacock

Sing Sing (Max)

This overlooked gem flew under the radar after its limited theatrical run. Luckily, it's out now on Max.

Sing Sing is one of six Max movies and shows we're most excited to watch in March, not least because of the ever-incredible Coleman Domingo (Selma; Lincoln), whose performance earned him multiple Best Actor awards from various ceremonies. Clarence Maclin is similarly brilliant; the former inmate playing a fictional version of himself in the film.

In Sing Sing, which is based on a true story, Domingo plays an inmate called Divine G, who's been imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit but finds solace by acting in a theatrical comedy with fellow prisoners. It's one of the best Max movies you'll watch this year. – AS

• Watch Sing Sing on Max

Happy Face (Paramount Plus)

After his creepy performance as the powerful Harvey in The Substance, Dennis Quaid is about to get creepier as he steps into the role of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, aka the Happy Face Killer. However, Happy Face isn’t just about the notorious murderer – it also focuses on his daughter Melissa Jesperson-Moore.

Adapted from Melissa’s podcast Happy Face and her 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, this new Paramount+ true crime drama series follows Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford), who discovered that her father was the Happy Face Killer when she was 15 years old. In Happy Face, an incarcerated Keith finds a way to force himself back into Melissa’s life after decades of no contact.

With an 83% critical Rotten Tomatoes score, it's got a good chance of going down as one of the best Paramount+ shows and I can’t wait to see Quaid embody evil as this TV adaptation's antagonist. – GM

• Watch Happy Face on Paramount Plus

Last One Laughing UK (Prime Video)

Want to see a battle royale between comedians trying to make each other laugh? Prime Video has you covered with the UK edition of Last One Laughing, which is creatively titled Last One Standing UK.

Hosted by Jimmy Car, its 10 comedians will attempt to make each other smile (without getting the giggles themselves). Considering the reality comedy gameshow format is based on a successful series from Japan called Documental that's been adapted in various countries, it has a high chance of carving out a spot as one of the best Prime Video shows. – AS

• Watch Last One Laughing UK on Prime Video

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Disney+ shows, best Prime Video movies, and best Apple TV+ shows.

The company said scammers used these accounts to exploit people out of money.

An AI filter used on videos uploaded to TikTok has been the subject of criticism, generating its own subset of response videos on the platform.

Though we're still in the era of iOS 18, we're already hearing some key rumors about iOS 19, Apple's next major iPhone software update.

From speculation on new features to the possibility of a massive design overhaul, there's plenty of buzz already about what Apple could bring to its mobile operating system.

Furthermore, there could be huge new Apple Intelligence features on the way, with Siri specifically poised for a revamp.

Keep reading for an overview of everything you need to know so far about iOS 19.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next major update to the iPhone’s operating system
• When is it out? Probably September
• Who will get it? If you bought a new iPhone in the last five years, you'll probably be able to upgrade to iOS 19

iOS 19: release date rumors

iOS 18 was released in September 2024 (Image credit: Apple)

iOS 19 will probably launch in September 2025, alongside the expected iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Plus, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and possible iPhone 17 Air.

Though we haven’t heard any solid rumors about exact release dates yet, Apple normally launches major version updates of iOS alongside that year’s iPhone lineup.

Likewise, we don’t know for sure when the iPhone 17 family will release, but Apple has stuck to September for many years, so this feels like a safe bet.

iOS 19: rumored new features

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

iOS 19 is expected to launch with a slew of useful new features, ranging from overhauled apps to an Apple Intelligence-powered Siri, finally.

A new camera app

(Image credit: Front Page Tech)

iOS 19 could bring with it a redesigned camera app, taking design cues from visionOS.

We previously heard that this could be part of a wider UI redesign which would extend that VisionOS inspiration across the whole of iOS, but at the time of writing we’ve only seen supposed screenshots of the new camera app.

The redesigned app does away with the clutter of the current interface, instead using transparent icons and overlays to tuck options away into menus.

Apple Intelligence, meet Siri

(Image credit: Apple)

Siri was due to get a major Apple Intelligence upgrade at some point during the iOS 18 life cycle, but Apple is now rumored to bring users this update later this year (as Daring Fireball reports)

To us, that suggests Siri could be getting its long-awaited overhaul with iOS 19, either at launch or during a mid-year update.

As we recently covered, Siri is well overdue a decent update – it’s currently struggling to answer even basic questions.

RCS encryption

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Tero Vesalainen)

Apple made waves late last year by enabling RCS messaging on iOS, but users were left without access to one of the main benefits of RCS – end-to-end encryption.

End-to-end encryption secures messages by scrambling them into code which is only decipherable by the sender and recipient – effectively meaning your message can’t be understood if intercepted.

We’re expecting a new RCS standard developed by the GSM Association and partners, including Apple, to come to iOS 19, finally giving Apple users the full capabilities of RCS.

AirPods could get live translation

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

As MacRumors recaps, a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that AirPods may get the ability to translate spoken language in real-time thanks to a new Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 19.

Gurman is the foremost source for Apple rumors and insights, which lends this rumor some additional weight.

The way this supposedly works is by picking up speech with the AirPods microphones, and relaying the translated audio through the AirPods’ speakers. The AirPods wearer will then have their speech picked up and relayed by their iPhone speaker, theoretically enabling conversation.

There could also be attendant updates on the way to the iPhone's translation capabilities.

iOS 19: redesign rumors

iOS 19 could take inspiration from VisionOS (Image credit: Apple)

One of the biggest iOS 19 rumors we’ve seen so far concerns a design overhaul for Apple’s user interface, the likes of which we haven’t seen in over ten years.

Word of a redesign comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, so though this is still very much an unofficial rumor, there is some weight behind it. Gurman has a great track record, though he tends to gloss over times he has gotten things wrong.

iOS 19 has been rumored to bring with it the largest redesign to the iPhone software experience since iOS 7 launched alongside the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.

This redesign may take cues from Apple Vision Pro’s visionOS software, introducing more circular elements and making use of transparent overlays.

We recently reported on a supposed leaked screenshot of a new camera app that follows this new visionOS-inspired design philosophy.

iOS 19: rumored compatible devices

iOS 19 may drop support for the iPhone Xs (Image credit: Future)

The list of devices compatible with iOS 19 will probably look similar to the list of devices compatible with iOS 18, though naturally expanded to include the iPhone 17 family.

Conversely, we may see Apple drop support for the oldest currently-supported iPhones – the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone XR.

However, this loss of support for the older iPhones isn’t assured – the models mentioned above were all eligible to upgrade to iOS 18, despite also being the oldest phones to run iOS 17.

In any case, it’s a fairly safe bet that all iPhones released alongside or after the iPhone 11 will support iOS 19.

What do you want to see on the best iPhones as a result of the iOS 19 update? Let us know in the comments below.

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• NAKIVO patched a high-severity flaw in November 2024
• However CISA has now added it to KEV, signalling abuse in the wild
• The bug can lead to remote code execution

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added a NAKIVO bug to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, signaling in-the-wild abuse and giving government agencies a deadline to apply the provided patch.

The bug in question is tracked as CVE-2024-48248. It is an absolute path traversal vulnerability affecting the Backup & Replication software, in versions before 11.0.0.88174.

It has a severity score of 8.6/10 (high) and can lead to remote code execution across the vulnerable enterprise.

CISA's deadline

The bug was patched in November 2024, two months after being tipped off by watchTowr Labs.

"Exploiting this vulnerability could expose sensitive data, including configuration files, backups, and credentials, potentially leading to data breaches or further security compromises," NAKIVO said in its security advisory.

While the security advisory does not discuss the idea of abuse in the wild, CISA removed any doubt when it added the bug to the KEV catalog. Now, Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies have three weeks (until April 9), to apply the patch, or stop using the NAKIVO product entirely.

"These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise," CISA said.

While FCEB agencies are mandated by the Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01, commercial businesses are not. It would still be wise to follow CISA’s lead and apply the patch, especially knowing that cybercriminals are actively exploiting the bug.

NAKIVO is a US-based company, specializing in backup, ransomware protection, and disaster recovery solutions for virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS environments.

Backup & Replication is its flagship product, supporting platforms such as VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, Amazon AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Microsoft 365, and various NAS devices.

According to some reports, the company has 25,000 customers in 183 countries and a network of over 7,500 partners worldwide. Some of its clients include Honda, Cisco, Coca-Cola, and Siemens. Their clientele spans multiple industries, including IT, hospitality, government, and education.

Via BleepingComputer

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Apple is a fantastic tech company that is, perhaps, not having its best moment. It failed to deliver the AI Siri update we were promised, it's being pestered by the EU to open its secret sauce to competitors, its iPhone 16e failed to inspire, and it hasn't had a major category splash in a while.

I want Apple to step out of its comfort zone and show us what it's working on, specifically in the folding space. This might be the best way for it to reclaim the conversation and, perhaps, inspire a new legion of future Apple customers.

It's not that the work on Siri isn't important or worth pursuing. I desperately want a better Siri, but I think what I miss is Apple delivering FOMO-inducing products.

A new vision

Those who insist that Vision Pro, unveiled almost two years ago, was it, a reminder that Apple could do big things, they're right, in a way. The Vision Pro remains an almost unmatched piece of engineering but has not moved the consumer needle.

This is partly because it's so expensive but also because of the fundamental limits of what people are willing to wear on their faces for extended periods of time.

Apple's steady stream of new utility apps and services, like Journal, Sports, and News+ Food, are not it and I won't even bother to argue the point.

You might counsel me to be patient. After all, that promised Siri update is now, possibly back on track thanks to rumored new leadership in the person of Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell. I happen to agree with Daring Fireball's John Gruber that the real news here is Apple Senior Vice President Software Engineering Craig Federighi is now in charge of the Siri project (Rockwell reports to him).

The delivery of a Siri that can dig into your phone and use your data to help you live a better digital life is good but also just a fulfillment of a promise made at WWDC2024. It's not something new and not the reset Apple needs.

Similarly, excellent iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches, AirPods, and iPad updates are not it – though I welcome all of them.

Let's get folding

(Image credit: Ming-Chi Kuo)

A folding iPhone, however, comes very close to a new product category since there's nothing else quite like it in the Apple product corral. It'll potentially be a true hybrid between a smartphone and a small tablet.

Current rumors have it launching in 2026 (a larger folding iPad could follow in 2027). That's not soon enough. Apple needs something this year.

My hope is that Apple will tease its first folding device at WWDC 2025. It's something of a necessity to distract from what Apple has failed to deliver: a Siri that knows your screen as well as it does you and can act on all that information.

Apple will have to address Siri and make fresh iOS 19 promises, ones it has a better chance of delivering with this rumored new leadership. But it'll still feel mostly like a mop-up.

Apple can essentially wave its hands and point in the direction of this new folding device, completely distracting consumers and media from the less-than-sunny Siri story.

I'm not suggesting Apple launch the phone in June, but a brief video and even Apple CEO Tim Cook standing on stage at Apple Park with a prototype could be a game changer.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

As much as I'd like to see it, I still don't expect Apple to unveil the foldable in September along with the iPhone 17 lineup, but that should not stop them from doing something extraordinary, like teasing an upcoming smartphone design breakthrough.

You might argue that this is not Apple's way, and you'd be right, but Apple hasn't necessarily been itself lately.

It has yet to address the true state of the Vision Pro. It failed to deliver a true AI Siri and fully enter the AI race, and even its efforts to update its "budget" iPhone with the iPhone 16e left many confused.

It's time for Apple to return to surprising people with one more eye-popping thing

Apple has in recent years, done extremely well with services and has had a cultural phenomenon hit on its hands with Severance, but content and annuity-based services are not, I'd argue, what drives Apple or its consumers.

It's time for Apple to return to surprising people with one more eye-popping thing and the folding iPhone would be perfect. We know it's hidden somewhere at Apple Park, where engineers try to make it perfect, perhaps the best folding smartphone ever.

That's fine, keep at it, but give us something at WWDC to keep customers inspired and remind everyone that Apple is still very good at being Apple.

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• HP unveiled HP Go, a zero-touch, multi-carrier 5G eSIM solution
• Initially only available in the US, with worldwide deployment to begin in late 2026
• Multi-carrier support with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon

HP has announced a zero touch, multi-carrier 5G eSIM solution designed to keep professionals connected on the go.

Launching in Spring 2025, HP Go looks to eliminate the need for a physical SIM card and manual activation with pre-loaded carrier profiles to ensure instant connectivity from when a device is powered on.

HP Go is not an eSIM for international travel and is only available in the US with plans to deploy worldwide in late 2026 - at launch, it will support multi-carriers including T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon allowing automatic switching to the strongest available network.

Decline of physical SIM cards

As remote and hybrid working becomes the norm, tech brands tapping into the growing eSIM market suggest the end of the traditional use of physical SIM cards. At the same time, we have seen global shipments of eSIM volume surpassing half a billion units.

With HP Go, users will receive a factory setting pre-loaded eSIM profile that is ready to use when they turn on their devices and the Windows setup is complete. This zero-touch deployment reduces IT complexity and time. IT administrators can also monitor devices remotely, control access, and analyze real-time data consumption—reducing security risks and hidden costs for businesses.

If you are changing locations while working at your HP Go PC, it will automatically switch from Wi-Fi to 5G and connect to the strongest carrier in the area.

The HP Go eSIM will debut on the HP EliteBook 6 G1q Next Gen AI PC, with additional device compatibility expected in late 2025.

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• The Lenovo Legion Go S powered by AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor will launch on May 25
• The SteamOS Z1 Extreme variant starts at $749.99 while the Z2 Go version starts at $549.99
• The highest configuration using the Z1 Extreme costs $829.99

While we await the introduction of more next-gen handheld gaming PCs, all eyes have been on Lenovo with its Legion Go 2 prototype and the already-launched Legion Go S. Now, the more powerful model of the Go S finally has a release date and price tag - and the latter is not the prettiest.

As reported by Wccftech, the Lenovo Legion Go S (with Windows 11 & SteamOS variants) powered by AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme will officially launch on May 25 alongside SteamOS Z2 Go variants. On Best Buy, the former starts at $749.99 while the long-awaited SteamOS Z2 Go starts at $549.99 - both are available for pre-order now.

Each will have different configurations: the Z1 Extreme processor will be used on both Windows 11 and SteamOS variants using 32GB of RAM. In comparison, the Z2 Go processor will power a new SteamOS model with the choice of 16GB or 32GB of RAM including a storage capacity of either 512GB or 1TB.

The previously-released Legion Go S model with Windows 11 (available at $729.99) is also powered by the Z2 Go processor - and it's safe to say that it didn't compete well against other handhelds on the market. With the Asus ROG Ally seeing frequent price drops and Valve's Steam Deck arguably still the best available in terms of affordability, the prices of these Legion Go S models likely won't do Lenovo any favors. It doesn’t help that this is a fairly messy release slate with multiple differently-priced models, which could potentially confuse buyers.

While the Z1 Extreme processor is no slouch, the highest configuration (with the Z1 Extreme on Windows 11) is available at $829.99 - in other words, you’re paying an extra 80 bucks just to have Windows 11 instead of SteamOS, which feels like a rip-off, especially when anyone with a small amount of know-how could simply install Windows 11 on the device themselves. At around the same price, you can buy the MSI Claw 8 AI+ which excels in performance and battery life for $899.99, making it the better option for gamers.

(Image credit: Lenovo) The only worthwhile upgrade beyond Z1 Extreme-powered handhelds is the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Now, AMD's hotly anticipated Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor hasn't been released yet: the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is expected to be the first handheld gaming PC using the APU (a processor with CPU and GPU on the same die). However, it's not exactly clear how much of a performance leap it will offer over its predecessor, nor does it have a definite launch date.

In the meantime, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ provides fantastic performance across the board, outperforming Team Red's Z1 Extreme using Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor - and notably, it uses an 80WHr battery (also present in the Asus ROG Ally X) compared to the Legion Go S' 55WHr battery. The Claw manages to provide high and stable frame rates in multiple games, even at lower TDPs.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the price for MSI's handheld is a bit too high - and like I've said before, just buy a desktop gaming PC or laptop at that point - but, if you're adamant about handheld portability and high performance is up your alley, then right now you should look no further than the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Alternatively, shoppers looking for value first should be strongly considering the Asus ROG Ally.

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• Veeam released a patch for a 9.9/10 severity flaw that can lead to RCE
• It was found in Veeam Backup & Restoration
• The bug only works on installations joined to a domain

Veeam released a patch for a critical-level vulnerability recently discovered in its Backup & Replication software.

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-23120, is described as a deserialization flaw that allows authenticated domain users to conduct remote code execution (RCE) attacks. It was given a severity score of 9.9/10 (critical), and affects Veeam Backup & Replication 12.3.0.310 and all earlier version 12 builds.

It was fixed with version 12.3.1 (build 12.3.1.1139).

Blacklists and whitelists

The bug was discovered by cybersecurity researchers watchTowr Labs, who slammed Veeam for the way it addresses deserialization problems:

“It seems Veeam, despite being a ransomware gang's favorite play toy - didn’t learn after the lesson given by Frycos in previous research published. You guessed it - they fixed the deserialization issues by adding entries to their deserialization blacklist,” the researchers explained.

Adding entries to a deserialization blacklist doesn’t work because hackers can always find new avenues, and the developers will always end up being reactive to their behavior, watchTowr explained. Instead, it suggests Veeam should opt for a whitelist approach.

Despite its critical severity, the bug is not that simple to explicit since it only impacts Veeam Backup & Replication installations joined to a domain.

On the downside, any domain user can exploit the bug. BleepingComputer claims that “many companies” joined their Veeam server to a Windows domain, “ignoring the company’s long-standing best practices.”

The same publication claims that ransomware gangs already told them they always target Veeam Backup & Replication servers, since they are an easy way into archives of sensitive information, and allow them to block any restoration and backup efforts.

At press time, there were no reports of in-the-wild abuse, but it is safe to assume that there will be, and soon - now that the cat is out of the bag.

If your company is using Veeam’s Backup & Replication, make sure to upgrade it to version 12.3.1 as soon as you can.

Via BleepingComputer

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• The SluTune Q1 is an 11mm-thick Bluetooth speakers
• Up to 28 hours from a 1-hour charge, skin-friendly fabric covering
• $29 early bird offer; usually $59

Names are important, especially for products: some, such as Mazda's Bongo Friendee, are inspired; others, such as Dry Sack Sherry and the Nintendo DS Touch Dic, are not so great. The SluTune Q1 is definitely in the latter category, as noted by The Verge . And that's a shame, because it's an interesting little speaker.

The SluTune Q1 is "like a small UFO", with a disc design that's just 11mm high. Inside there's a speaker with an acoustic chamber optimized for the unusual shape, and it has Bluetooth 5.4 with a 28-hour battery and "Hi-Fi Audio".

I very much doubt it'll have Bowers & Wilkins or Klipsch quaking in their boots, but if you're looking for a small, lightweight speaker to slip onto your pillow it could be worth checking out, and is very different to anything else in our list of the best Bluetooth speakers.

(Image credit: SluTune / Kickstarter) Who is this super-slim speaker for?

The Kickstarter highlights three rivals: built-in pillow speakers, which can be cumbersome; under-pillow speakers, which can be muffled by the pillow; and in-ear headphones, which can press on your ears if you're not lying on your back. So this speaker has been designed for you to rest your head on it, and it's wrapped in a linen-like fabric that the makers say is skin-friendly.

I'm not sure I'd like to rest my face on what looks awfully like a Qi charger, or that it's going to be any good for the quoted problem of sleeping next to a snorer, perhaps unless you smother them with it.

But it's small enough to sit next to you on your pillow, playing soothing sounds or your favorite podcast until the two-hour timer kicks in.

It's very portable too, weighing just 0.1 lbs and coming in at 3.78 x 0.43 inches. Charging takes around an hour.

As ever with Kickstarters, there are early bird deals: right now the Q1 is $32, down from the official price of $59. It's already smashed through its funding goal with two more weeks to go. And even if you don't fancy buying one, the Kickstarter is worth a look for the promo video's sudden musical shift at the ten-second mark.

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With a 3D printer, a projector and a lot of pixie dust (spray paint), you too can bring Disneyland into your home.

• QD-EL promises super brightness with OLED contrast
• Samsung, Sharp, TCL and others have shown off prototypes already
• Likely to make its way to compact monitors first

The alphabet soup of TV technology continues to grow, with Samsung turning greater attention to QD-EL. That's short for Quantum Dot Electroluminescent, although the tech is also variously known as NanoLED, QD-LED, EL-QLED and QDEL because life isn't confusing enough. But whatever you call it, it's quite exciting and Samsung is investing heavily in it.

According to new reports in the Korean business press, as spotted by FlatpanelsHD, Samsung is accelerating development for QD-EL displays in order to fend off Chinese competitors. BusinessKorea says that "Samsung has set an internal target to commercialize EL-QD within a few years and is fully committed to its technological development."

Some reports are suggesting that QD-EL could be the future of TV, and they might be right. But I think Samsung is likely to be thinking more about monitors than big TVs for the time being. And that's still pretty exciting.

What is QD-EL and why are people excited about it?

At the moment there are two rival TV technologies: backlit LED TVs, and OLED TVs. The former are generally brighter but the latter have better darkness and contrast because OLEDs aren't backlit.

QD-EL promises to give you the best of both. Like OLED it's self-emissive, so there's no backlight. But because it uses quantum dot LEDs rather than organic LEDs, it promises longer life, more efficient energy usage and no burn-in.

Samsung, and firms including Sharp and TCL, have shown off QD-EL prototypes at trade shows, and attendees have been really impressed. But those prototypes have been pretty small – Samsung's one was an 18-inch display, and is at the end of the video below – and the tech is not yet ready for prime time: BusinessKorea says that Samsung is facing issues with the quantum dots' stability and energy efficiency. Presumably rivals face similar challenges too.

So my money's on this tech moving into monitors first, rather than larger TV screens.

There are two reasons why I think that. The first is that if QD-EL were close to being ready for really big displays, manufacturers would likely be showing them off already.

And the second is that big displays are a big risk when you're talking new technologies. It's common for new emission tech to start small and only scale as manufacturers find ways to reduce the often massive wastage that comes with large panels in the early days of manufacturing something new. You lose a lot less money on material wasted from an imperfect result if your screen is 21 inches than if it's 65 inches.

Here's a great example of that: inkjet-printed OLEDs. TCL started mass producing their panels in late 2024, and those panels are for 21.6-inch monitors. TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, Matt Bolton, has been told that inkjet-printed OLED won't come to TVs for years for this exact reason – it just won't be cost efficient in the short term to risk it on big screens.

I think QD-EL is really exciting, but I think it'll be a while before it moves off the desktop and into your home theater. Although I'd be happily surprised if I'm wrong: after all, Samsung skipped the monitor stage when it launched its QD-OLED panels in 2022 and launched a range of TVs directly, and then brought the tech to monitors later.

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• New Chromium code has revealed NotebookLM will be pre-installed on ChromeOS
• NotebookLM is a powerful AI tool for educational work, and analysis
• It's not confirmed whether it will be rolled out in an update or only available on new Chromebooks

Google has announced a new suite of Gemini AI features coming to ChromeOS, including NotebookLM, which will soon ship on the hardware by default. It will soon be available in the app drawer on Chromebooks, as evidenced by a code change to Chromium Gerrit.

NotebookLM is an AI-powered tool for summarizing and analyzing documents, videos, and other forms of content. You upload sources to it, including PDFs, websites, YouTube videos, audio, and the Google Suite with answers generated by Google Gemini.

The AI tool is currently available through its dedicated website, but it's not something that's been widely marketed or pushed by Google, even with all the new updates and advancements made around Gemini in recent months.

Google will be adding NotebookLM to the preinstalled web apps in its operating system. However, it's currently unknown whether this will apply in an update for all ChromeOS users or if it will become standard in only brand-new Chromebooks being released, such as those upcoming from Acer this summer.

NotebookLM isn't just exclusive to ChromeOS, as the Google Gemini feature can be used by any Chrome (or Chromium) user. If you were not aware of then now you are, meaning the best laptops as well as the best Chromebooks can benefit from one of the best AI tools for getting work done.

Recognition for a undermarketed AI tool

NotebookLM has been available to users since July 2023, but there's a good chance this could be the first time that you've heard of it. Developed by Google Labs and powered by Gemini, it was originally conceived primarily as a research and note-taking assistant before its versatility expanded with a suite of updates over the last 19 months.

It's a powerful tool for understanding large amounts of information, as it can simplify otherwise complicated documentation for educational use. It was recently announced that Mind Maps will be coming to NotebookLM, which works for both the free and paid services of the program, with Audio Overviews applying to more than just podcasts. It's quickly becoming one of our favorite learning tools, and it's only getting better with time.

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• Severance's Dichen Lachman has revealed what she knew about Project Cold Harbor before this season's finale
• The Lumon experiment has been one of season 2's biggest mysteries
• Lachman says she wasn't told about what lay behind its test room door for a long time

Severance actor Dichen Lachman wasn't aware of what the show's creative team had planned for one of season 2's biggest mysteries for a long time.

Project Cold Harbor has dominated fan discussions ever since it was first mentioned in Severance season 2 episode 1. Indeed, one of the biggest enigmas of the Apple TV+ show has been speculated about since the series returned in mid-January.

I too have spent countless hours coming up with my own ideas on what Project Cold Harbor was. I've discussed the Lumon experiment in numerous articles over the past nine weeks, beginning with my season 2 episode 1 theories piece and recently in my season 2 episode 9 recap.

With the Severance season 2 finale, ironically titled 'Cold Harbor', making its long-awaited debut, we finally know what it's all about. Full spoilers immediately follow for season 2 episode 10, so turn back now if you haven't watched it yet.

This is what was hiding behind Cold Harbor's door all along (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The test room known as Project Cold Harbor is a near-empty space with a solitary baby's crib at its center.

That bassinet will be instantly recognizable to Severance diehards. It's an exact replica of the one Mark and Gemma owned, which we saw in season 2's Gemma-focused seventh episode.

So, what's it doing here? Well, it's the final test that Gemma has to complete – one that'll help Lumon determine if its severance procedure can be used to create multiple 'innies' within the same person. Gemma has been the test subject for these experiments and, once she completes this 25th and final one, Lumon will have the requisite data to prove it can sever someone numerous times.

Lumon won't need Gemma's services anymore, so they plan to kill her once she's finished. All she has to do, then, is – per Doctor Mauer's instructions – take apart the crib using the screwdriver she's given.

Gemma's Cold Harbor innie doesn't recognize the crib that she and Mark owned in the real world (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Unfortunately for Lumon, Mark – Gemma's husband – comes to her rescue and prevents her from completing Project Cold Harbor (NB: read my Severance season 2 ending explained piece for more details on that).

That's more than enough rambling on my part, though. When did Lachman learn more about Project Cold Harbor? Funnily enough, just like Gemma, she was kept in the dark for a long time by creator Dan Erickson and executive producer Ben Stiller.

"I didn't read [the script for] episode ten until we were almost filming it," Lachman told me ahead of the Apple TV Original's latest episode. "I didn't find out until a few weeks before [filming began], whereas I'd had [the script for episode] seven for quite a long time. So, I had a lot of time to let seven's events sink in.

"I got ten's script relatively soon before we started filming it, but I never really dove into it with Dan because they [Dan and Ben] only told me what I needed to know," Lachman added. "I'm not sure why they [Lumon] put her [Gemma] in that particular situation. Obviously, they're trying to see if the severance technology holds, but I'm not sure why Mauer says to her [in episode seven] that this is going to change the world. I guess it's just like a final drug trial, which is that final step they [Lumon] have to cross."

Where will Gemma's story go next? (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

That isn't the only information that Erickson and Stiller have withheld from Lachman. She also told me that she has no idea when filming on season 3 will begin, nor has she seen any of next season's scripts that Stiller says Erickson and his fellow writers are currently working on.

Nevertheless, Lachman has some ideas of her own about where she'd like Gemma's story to go in one of the best Apple TV+ shows' recently announced third season.

"It's interesting that she has so many different innies," Lachman mused. "I wonder what they're all like and what that means for her in the real world. Mark only has [one innie in] Mark S. She has... I mean, I don't know how many rooms are down there. I stopped counting and focused on other things!

"But, how many different compartments are there in her brain?" Lachman added. "I do wonder if they [the writers] will explore that. But, you know, the possibilities with the show are endless."

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• Severance will return for season 3, Apple TV+ has confirmed
• The news was announced on social media after the season 2 finale arrived
• A release date for the third season is unknown

Praise Kier, because Severance season 3 is officially happening!

The news was confirmed on Friday, March 21, on Apple TV+'s official Instagram account, where the streamer shared some clips from the previous season which led all the way to this week's devastating Severance season 2 finale. For more on that, check out our Severance season 2 episode 10 ending explained piece which breaks it all down.

Take a look at Apple TV+'s announcement below, which reads: "Cue the choreography and merriment. Severance has been renewed for Season 3."

A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)

A photo posted by on

Even though Severance has been crowned one of the best Apple TV + shows, it has seen some criticism this season, with our Phones Editor Axel Metz writing about how he thought Severance season 2 had a pacing problem, something that seems to have caused some serious debate in the fandom over the past few weeks.

Personally, I've enjoyed every minute, and in our glowing Severance season 2 review, senior entertainment reporter Tom Power said the series "deserved a pay rise for being this good". There's certainly an appetite for more, even if there has been frustration that the second season hasn't delivered many of the answers we were hoping for.

That's where Severance season 3 comes in, hopefully – even if we now have more questions that need answering. I'm not keen to turn my back on the show any time soon though, as it remains one of the best I've ever seen. There's nothing else like it, and that's about the highest compliment I can give.

Let's just hope we don't have another agonizingly long wait for season 3!

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• Spotify has launched a new playlist in its Live Events feed called Concerts Near You
• The new feature will make it easier for you to see which artists are touring in your area
• As well as including songs based on your listening habits, each song has a link that takes you to third-party booking platforms to secure tickets

Though Spotify has rubbed music fans the wrong way with its lack of lossless audio (I’m still waiting for you Spotify HiFi), there’s no doubt that people use it enough for it to still be considered one of the best music streaming services. When it comes to live music, Spotify is aiming to bring you closer to your favorite artists with its new Concerts Near You playlist feature.

Combining informative and personalized features, Spotify’s Concerts Near You playlist aims to help you discover upcoming concerts in your area while providing expandable track links to third party ticket sites such as Ticketmaster, AXS, See Tickets, and Dice so that you can secure yourself a place in the crowd. The playlist is updated every Wednesday based on your listening habits, bringing you 30 fresh songs from artists with scheduled shows in your area.

When I open my Concerts Near You playlist, Spotify shows songs of artists with upcoming shows in my area - even for supporting acts. (Image credit: Future)

In Spotify’s announcement, the platform went into detail about the app’s newest addition claiming that “There’s nothing worse than realizing that your favorite artist played your town last week”.

Charlie Hellman, Vice President, Global Head of Music Product added: “this new playlist not only makes it easier for fans to find shows nearby, but it also gives artists a powerful new way of selling more tickets and filling venues with the audiences who love their music most.”

A useful feature, but one that’ll have to grow on me

Since it introduced its in-app Live Events feed, Spotify has doubled down on its mission to bring you closer to the artists you love the most, while also boosting artist ticket sales and exposing them to wider audiences. There’s no doubt that these listings are beneficial to those who aren’t in the loop with local gigs and tours, but what about those who are?

Don’t get me wrong, I love using Spotify to discover new artists through features like Blends and the New Music Friday playlists. But when it comes to live music, I pretty much have my ear to the ground with regard to local live music simply because I keep up with it by following the artists or reading live music listings on social media.

However, while I don’t find myself reaching for Spotify’s Live Events feed often, as a means of discovering new artists I can see how Concerts Near You could give you an advantage. As it stands, I’m not quite as enticed to use this feature as others might be, but heck, that was my first impression of Daylists, and now I can’t get enough of it.

Where to find Concerts Near You

(Image credit: Future)

It’s very easy to keep track of who’s performing in your area with Spotify’s Concerts Near You playlist, you just need to know where to look.

For starters, head to the search hub in the Spotify app and tap ‘Live Events’. From there, you can access your personalized Concerts Near You playlist under the ‘Discover concerts near you’ section. To get more accurate recommendations, make sure your location settings are adjusted in the Live Events feed, and Spotify will fill you in on upcoming shows and new announcements.

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• Nanoleaf has launched a new screen-mirroring light system for gaming PCs
• It connects to your PC via USB-C instead of using a camera on the screen
• This should mean less latency and better color reproduction

Nanoleaf, maker of some of the best smart lights we've tested here at TechRadar, has launched a new light strip designed to make PC gaming more immersive, by bathing the wall behind your monitor in a wash of color that shifts to mirror what's happening on screen. And it's much cheaper than you might expect.

The idea is that, like an Ambilight TV, the light strip effectively blurs the edges of the screen by extending its colors, helping you feel more involved in the action.

Many of the best Ambilight alternatives (such as the Nanoleaf 4D and the Govee Flow Pro Wi-Fi TV Smart Bars) can do this with any screen, including TVs and PC monitors, but these usually work by using a camera to monitor the changing colors. This can work fine in optimum lighting conditions, but reflections on the screen can throw things off, and there's always a slight delay before the lights behind your TV change color to match.

With Nanoleaf's new PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip, that should no longer be a problem because the system connects directly to your PC via USB-C, and picks up the data being sent to your monitor. It's very similar to the way a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box intercepts the HDMI signal being sent to your TV, and uses it to provide real-time synced backlighting.

The light strip is shaped to bend around the corners of your monitor without cumbersome brackets (Image credit: Nanoleaf) How to order

As Notebookcheck explains, the system also does away with the awkward brackets that make many light strips tricky to fit onto the back of TVs and monitors. Instead, it has a zig-zag shape that lets it easily bend around corners. It's compatible with monitors up to 32 inches, and can be cut to fit smaller ones.

The PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip is controlled using Nanoleaf's desktop software, which is available for Windows and macOS, but at the time of writing it's not compatible with the Nanoleaf mobile app.

It's available to pre-order now direct from Nanoleaf for $49.99 in the US, £39.99 in the UK, and orders should be delivered by the end of March so you won't have to wait long. The company hasn't yet announced pricing or a launch date for Australia.

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Praise Kier!