Technology

The President’s Day sales are hotting up and there are deals to be had on all sorts of gadgets. For those of you looking for an excellent fitness watch, it’s well worth looking around for some of the best Garmin watches this weekend.

Garmins are perfect for people looking to supercharge their outdoor training, be it cycling, hiking, running, swimming, surfing, climbing, or a mix of disciplines. As it’s the latest high-profile release by Garmin, all eyes might be on the Garmin Instinct 3, which we rated highly and gave 4.5 stars in our recent review.

However, it’s not going to be the best bang for your buck on President’s Day, as I believe it’s not going to receive many discounts based on the fact that it’s very new. Instead, there’s a three-year-old watch we rated even higher, that I believe is going to be very good value based on past sales events.

That watch is the Garmin Instinct 2. We rated the Garmin Instinct 2 an impressive five stars in our original 2022 review. We loved its extra-long battery life and superb fitness tracking features, and it’s often heavily discounted in sales events, making it an easy recommendation. It’s already on offer at Amazon in 40mm and 45mm sizes, from $299.99 down to just $199.99.

Check out that deal in full below:

Today's best Garmin Instinct 2 deal

Get the Garmin Instinct 2 in its smallest 40mm size, with the same $100 discount also on its larger 45mm sibling. It's got GPS tracking, all-day heart health monitoring, Garmin's Body Battery and Morning Report recovery tools (also on the Instinct 3) and all manner of outdoor training and navigation aids. Perfect for runners, hikers, cyclists, swimmers and more. View Deal

This is the first major sales event that has occurred since the Garmin Instinct 3’s release, so this could mean the Instinct 2 gets a bigger-than-usual price drop and go even lower than the deal above, as retailers look to clear old stock. It was a super-popular watch, and continues to be so: there are a lot of Instinct 2s out there, so we should see some great deals on it.

Why get the Garmin Instinct 2?

(Image credit: Future / Garmin)

Why get a three-year-old watch over its sequel, I hear you ask, even if it’s cheaper? Even though the Instinct 3 builds on its predecessor’s features in new ways, adding hardware like a torch and a new AMOLED screen option in addition to updated software, the Instinct 3 actually uses the same heart rate sensor as the Instinct 2.

The Instinct 2 continues (for now) to be supported with regular updates, so your experience tracking your health with the Garmin Instinct 2 won’t drastically differ or be wildly inaccurate compared with the Instinct 3.

The Instinct 3 does happen to have new SatIQ technology the Instinct 2 doesn’t, so it’s less likely to lose your GPS signal, but the Instinct 2 should continue to be more than sufficient for most hobbyist exercisers.

Not so keen on the Instinct 2? Check out our guides to the best smartwatch, best cheap smartwatch and best running watch to find the right one for you.

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• New optical tech could slash archival costs by 10x or even more
• Optera Data’s discs could hit 10TB for just $1 - cheaper than tape!
• The low-power, high-density storage has data centers in mind

A team led by Dr. Nicolas Riesen at the University of South Australia has come up with a new optical storage technology that could potentially slash archival storage costs by a factor of ten, compared to current optical solutions.

As reported by Blocks & Files, this method relies on manipulating fluorescence in wavebands at specific recording areas, enabling multi-bit storage that’s similar to NAND flash technology.

The process involves selectively altering the fluorescence properties of nanoparticles within the recording medium, using laser energy to create "spectral holes" where the emission is reduced. This variation in light emission encodes data in multiple levels, potentially allowing for high-density storage. The nanoparticles, composed of hexagonal silicon carbide (SiC) crystals doped with vanadium, reportedly react to laser exposure in ways that affect their light emission characteristics. These alterations can be identified during the read process, allowing data to be retrieved.

$1 per terabyte

Founded by entrepreneur Geoff Macleod-Smith, Optera Data is currently working to commercialize the technology. The startup foresees optical discs capable of high-density archival storage, with a focus on offline security and long-term data preservation. Writing data would involve tuning lasers to set spectral frequencies, while reading would rely on detecting fluorescence patterns.

A whitepaper by Tom Coughlin, available to read on the Optera Data site, projects that overall storage capacity shipments will grow five-fold between 2024 and 2029, with much of this data residing in secondary or archival storage. Traditional hard drives, tape, and other emerging optical solutions are competing for this expanding market, where longevity and energy efficiency are prime factors.

Optera Data claims that, once developed, its technology could achieve a total cost of ownership as low as $1 per terabyte, far below the projected costs of other storage media.

The company hopes to manufacture 1TB discs in the short term, with the ambitious goal of hitting 10TB for $1 by the end of the decade. This price point would make it significantly cheaper than solutions from the likes of Cerabyte, and it could even potentially undercut magnetic tape storage, which is projected to fall below $2.50 per terabyte by 2029.

Unlike hard drives, which require continuous power, and magnetic tape, which depends on specialized library systems, Optera Data’s approach could integrate with existing optical disc formats. This compatibility could help with the tech’s adoption in data centers where reducing energy consumption and storage costs is a big focus for hyperscalers right now.

The viability of the technology will of course depend on its ability to meet storage density requirements and compete with evolving alternatives such as synthetic DNA storage, which offers long-term stability but is still a way off being ready for prime time.

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• Another foldable iPhone leak has emerged
• Display sizes of 7.74 inches and 5.49 inches are tipped
• The handset is expected to appear next year

The rumors around the foldable iPhone aren't stopping, and the latest leak gives us some idea of the sizes of the displays that the handset is going to be sporting – both the main display and the outer cover display.

This tip is from serial leaker Digital Chat Station (via Android Authority), a source that can usually be relied on. Apparently we're set to get a 7.74-inch inner screen and a 5.49-inch outer screen when the folding iPhone eventually makes an appearance.

If you want to know how that stacks up against the competition, check out our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: that foldable comes with a 7.6-inch inner display and a 6.3-inch outer display, so the cover screen is significantly larger on the Samsung model.

Then there's Google: as our Google Pixel 9 Pro review will tell you, it comes with an 8-inch inner display and a 6.3-inch outer display. If this leak is accurate, both screens on the foldable iPhone are going to be smaller.

iPhone not iPad

The book-style Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Image credit: Future)

This leak would suggest Apple is indeed working on a book-style foldable, rather than a flip-style foldable (see our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review for an example). This also sounds more like a folding iPhone than a folding iPad.

Of course if the foldable iPhone has a smaller screen than its rivals, that's not necessarily a disadvantage: it means the handset is going to be more compact when it's closed shut, and take up less room in a pocket or bag.

The rumors so far have pointed to 2026 as the year when Apple will make this folding iPhone public and available to the masses. With Apple's record, it's likely to become one of the best foldables on the market as soon as it's launched.

Apple is said to have started in earnest on developing the phone last November, but given the complexity of a device like this, next year would be a good bet for the folding iPhone making an appearance – and we can expect more leaks and rumors in the meantime.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, February 15 (game #1118).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1119) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1119) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1119) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1119) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1119) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• A

• C

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1119) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1119, are…

• GHOUL
• AFIRE
• COVEN
• FIERY

I took a leap of faith today, guessing FIERY immediately after correctly entering AFIRE; the Quordle puzzle setters couldn’t include two very similar words in the same puzzle could they? Oh yes, they could.

Meanwhile, COVEN and GHOUL sound as if they could both feature in the same horror movie. It was all very thematic today.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1119) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1119, are…

• PRAWN
• WORDY
• SPIED
• REVEL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1118, Saturday 15 February: CREEP, CONDO, GRILL, FANCY
• Quordle #1117, Friday 14 February: MEDIA, ELUDE, THUMB, WIDOW
• Quordle #1116, Thursday 13 February: SCALP, DWELL, AMPLE, TRUNK
• Quordle #1115, Wednesday 12 February: SHOOK, GRADE, POLAR, SEEDY
• Quordle #1114, Tuesday 11 February: HEAVY, CIRCA, PESKY, SCION
• Quordle #1113, Monday 10 February: TWIXT, FRESH, GUISE, TABBY
• Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN
• Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL
• Quordle #1110, Friday 7 February: PETAL, ABASE, AMONG, CORER
• Quordle #1109, Thursday 6 February: MADAM, SCAMP, FAUNA, TRACK
• Quordle #1108, Wednesday 5 February: SIXTH, VERVE, BLURB, CACTI
• Quordle #1107, Tuesday 4 February: BIRTH, DRAWN, MILKY, JOIST
• Quordle #1106, Monday 3 February: SLEET, TENSE, SEIZE, SCAMP
• Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE
• Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
• Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
• Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR
• Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK
• Quordle #1100, Tuesday 28 January: TOKEN, DAISY, INANE, PLIED
• Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, February 15 (game #615).

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 #616) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PUNCH
• SUGGESTION
• TOUCH
• POINT
• MATCH
• BOX
• TRIUMPH
• SET
• HINT
• COMPLEMENT
• OSCAR
• SUIT
• LAMB CHOP
• TRACE
• FIT
• RETRIEVE

NYT Connections today (game #616) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Slight
• GREEN: Teams up
• BLUE: Comic dolls
• PURPLE: Add two letters for a canine

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 #616) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: GLIMMER 
• GREEN: CORRESPOND WELL WITH
• BLUE: FAMOUS PUPPETS 
• PURPLE: DOG BREEDS MINUS "ER" SOUND 

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

NYT Connections today (game #616) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #616, are…

• YELLOW: GLIMMER HINT, SUGGESTION, TOUCH, TRACE
• GREEN: CORRESPOND WELL WITH COMPLEMENT, FIT, MATCH, SUIT
• BLUE: FAMOUS PUPPETS LAMB CHOP, OSCAR, PUNCH, TRIUMPH
• PURPLE: DOG BREEDS MINUS "ER" SOUND BOX, POINT, RETRIEVE, SET

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

Crucial to today’s Connections was knowing the difference between COMPLEMENT and Compliment. Unlike Enquire and Inquire, it’s something I’m confident about after eating many complimentary snacks.

I breezed through FAMOUS PUPPETS, but momentarily snagged on the fourth one to add to LAMB CHOP, PUNCH, and OSCAR before a vague recollection of the fantastically rude mutt TRIUMPH on The Daily Show.

Puppets seem to be able to get away with things a person couldn’t say or do. Maybe it’s a future career move for Kanye West. I’m thinking of something like a cute fluffy cat with a pencil moustache.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 15 February, game #615)

• YELLOW: DIVULGE BLAB, DISH, SPILL, TELL
• GREEN: WORDS ON A MAC KEYBOARD COMMAND, CONTROL, OPTION, RETURN
• BLUE: WORDS SHORTENED IN ROCK GENRES ALTERNATIVE, EMOTIONAL, POPULAR, PROGRESSIVE
• PURPLE: __CAKE CHEESE, CUP, PAN, SHORT

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.

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, February 15 (game #349).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Flour power

NYT Strands today (game #350) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• PEND
• GLUE
• CULT
• BRICK
• PEAT
• CHEER

NYT Strands today (game #350) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Gut friendly

NYT Strands today (game #350) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 2nd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #350) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #350, are…

• ALMOND
• CORN
• RICE
• BUCKWHEAT
• TAPIOCA
• CHICKPEA
• SPANGRAM: GLUTEN FREE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

An educational Strands for me as I didn’t know there were so many GLUTEN FREE flours – CHICKPEA I knew about, but the others were news to me, especially TAPIOCA, as I associate that with the world’s most disgusting pudding (fight me, tapioca fans).

Originally I thought that we were just looking for cakes, as the first three words I got were ALMOND, CORN and RICE, and it took me BUCKWHEAT before I realized otherwise.

Right, this has made me feel hungry and in need of a power up.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 15 February, game #349)

• SHARKS
• JETS
• DEVILS
• WILD
• AVALANCHE
• LIGHTNING
• SPANGRAM: HOCKEY TEAM

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and 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.