Technology

The gas versus electric stove debate continues.

We’ve reached a point where subscribing to all the various video streaming services has become outrageously expensive — so it’s a very welcome move to see Disney Plus handing out a generous discount on its annual subscription tiers.

The move is unexpected to say the least and I, for one, am jumping on this opportunity so I can catch up (and rewatch) my favourite shows. In fact, this discount is similar to what we saw during November last year, when Disney+ offered a Black Friday discount, but the subscription tiers were also cheaper at the time (the prices have since gone up).

This offer won't last till Black Friday 2026 though — it's available to new and returning customers only until October 21. So don't miss out.

If you're fine with 1080p resolution, you can still get ad-free streaming on Disney+ with this deal. While the price here reflects the Australian discount, subscribers in New Zealand can also take advantage of the same offer and get the Standard tier for NZ$132.99. This brings the price down to about the same as that for the Disney+ ad-supported tier that costs AU$9.99 / NZ$9.99 per month. You'll get two simultaneous streams with this subscription, with downloads available on up to 10 devices.
See all discounts below in Australia and New Zealand:
Disney+ Standard (AU): AU$179.99 now AU$125.99
Disney+ Premium (AU): AU$249.99 now AU$174.99
Disney+ Standard (NZ): NZ$189.99 now NZ$132.99
Disney+ Premium (NZ): NZ$259.99 now NZ$181.99View Deal

I’ve previously subscribed to Disney Plus, but had to cancel because costs began to spiral. Nevertheless, some of the shows I managed to watch earlier this year have made it to my all-time favourites list, and its recent addition of ESPN in Australia and New Zealand (for my fix of NBA and NFL games) means it has also become one of my must-have services. Throw in a still-lengthy watchlist of shows and movies, and the timing of this Disney Plus deal couldn’t be more perfect.

If you haven’t subscribed to Disney Plus before, the service in Australia and New Zealand isn’t only exclusive to the family-friendly content the studio is famous for. Apart from ESPN, the platform has a more diverse library via its Hulu content hub for more grown-up shows and movies, including the historical epic Shogun and the recent revival of Scrubs.

Of course, there’s also Disney properties like Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, 20th Century and classic animation if you’re a fan of those too.

Joining Shogun and Scrubs in my top three favourite Disney Plus shows is Andor, a spy thriller set in the Star Wars universe that precedes the events of the original films. Here’s why I recommend watching these shows once you subscribe to Disney Plus to make it worth shelling out for a full year.

Shogun (2024-ongoing)

(Image credit: FX)

Set in feudal Japan in 1600, Shogun is based on a novel (and later a miniseries in 1980) that’s loosely based on how European interests and internal conflicts brought about the reestablishment of the Shogun as Japan’s main head of state.

It’s a fantastic show for history buffs, but it also has riveting storytelling, brilliant acting performances and, well, a lot (and I mean a lot) of blood and gore. That said, it’s not suitable for younger viewers, but if you’re of appropriate age and interested in the time period, setting and characters inspired by real-life historical figures, you’re in for a treat. We’ve also named it one of the best shows of 2024.

This Disney Plus deal comes at a great time, as you’d be able to catch season two, which is likely to premiere sometime in early to mid-2027, and still have plenty of time to watch season one beforehand.

Scrubs (2001-2010, 2026-ongoing)

(Image credit: ABC/YouTube)

Hospital dramas have had a recent resurgence in the cultural zeitgeist with the popularity of HBO Max’s The Pitt, and it has also been one of my favourite shows of the past year. On the flipside, the hospital-based sitcom Scrubs has also seen a revival earlier this year, featuring most of the core cast of characters.

First premiering in 2001, Scrubs was one of my favourite shows growing up and I’ve always loved its surreal comedy, slapstick gags and heartfelt moments throughout its original run. The characters are lovable and the jokes still mostly hold up well, making the show a fantastic watch to this day.

What makes the show relevant now is its revival that premiered in February 2026, bringing the characters to the present day. Scrubs has kept the same balance of zaniness and seriousness from the original run, as well as some new characters that are also just as lovable.

All of the original seasons and season one of the revival are readily available on Disney Plus, while season 2 is already underway with two episodes live and the third premiering on Wednesday, October 8.

Andor (2022-2025)

(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)

Andor has made such a big impression on me when I first watched the Star Wars-based show earlier this year — so much so that it has become my most rewatched TV show.

Set in the five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story from 2016 — which itself is a prequel to the classic Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

This show stands apart from the rest of the Star Wars universe as, in my opinion, the best one so far, and I like it so much more than even the original trilogy. The dialogue and writing are the absolute standouts of this show, and the acting, cinematography and soundtrack have made Andor my all-time favourite TV show, beating the likes of other prestige TV dramas like Better Call Saul, Succession and Mad Men on my personal list.

Andor only has two seasons, but I’ve found it to be very rewatchable and this deal on the annual subscription means I can conveniently put the show on whenever I feel like doing another rewatch until I finally get tired of it.

It’s a lot more family-friendly than Shogun above, but the political themes and slow-burn narrative structure mean this show may not be interesting enough for kids despite Star Wars’ reputation as a family-friendly property. I would instead recommend Star Wars Rebels, which is set around the same time frame as Andor.

Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not, and if you enjoy watching spy thrillers, political dramas and sci-fi with excellent writing and dialogue, Andor is worth your consideration.

And don’t just take my word for it — my colleague Tom Power gave seasons one and two 4.5 out of 5 stars each in his reviews and even named it one of the best shows of 2025, and it has even landed the 32nd spot in the New York Times best TV shows of the 21st century list and even higher at 22 on the readers’ edition of the list.

Also consider

Other TV shows worth considering include some that are in my watch list, including Atlanta (2016-2022), The Americans (2013-2018), Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020) and more. For the ones I’ve already seen, I can also recommend WandaVision (2021), New Girl (2011-2018), The Office US (2005-2013), Parks and Recreation (2009-2015), to name a few.

• Crusoe filed for two Jayton data centers with $4.8 billion in combined investment
• Each Jayton building covers 759,260 sq ft, totalling nearly 1.52 million sq ft
• Construction could begin in January 2027, with operations starting in 2029

Crusoe has filed the paperwork for two computing facilities in Jayton, Texas, involving $4.8 billion in combined investment for the proposed development.

Each facility will cover 759,260 sq ft, creating nearly 1.52 million sq ft of new computing space across the proposed site.

Applications filed with Texas regulators place the buildings along Country Road 233 and P2390 in Kent County, without providing specific street addresses.

Jayton adds another major Texas development

Construction at the Jayton site is scheduled to start in January 2027, with the first facility expected online in May 2029 and the second in July.

The filings classify both structures as "spur buildings" connected to Project Hyper, a separate Crusoe development currently being built in Childress.

Project Hyper contains three facilities measuring about 806,360 sq ft each, with investment estimated at roughly $2.4 billion for each building.

Two structures are already under construction in Childress, while work on the remaining facility is expected to begin this month.

All three buildings are scheduled for completion on or before the end of June 2028, putting them ahead of the Jayton construction timetable.

The combined figures for Project Hyper and Jayton would bring planned investment across the connected developments to approximately $12 billion.

Jayton is situated between Childress and Abilene, placing another large computing development within an established West Texas data center corridor.

The Jayton applications do not disclose whether the buildings will receive electricity through infrastructure associated with Project Hyper in Childress.

The filings also leave unspecified whether Crusoe intends to operate the facilities itself or secure customers before their scheduled completion dates.

Crusoe's wider Texas expansion

Meta has been reported as a prospective tenant at Crusoe's Childress campus, but the Jayton filings do not identify any customer for the new facilities.

Crusoe is also developing a separate campus for Google in Armstrong County, while its Abilene facility is being used by OpenAI.

Additional capacity at the Abilene campus is expected to be leased to Microsoft, giving Crusoe several major technology customers across Texas.

The Childress project involves a separate partnership with Lancium, announced by Crusoe in July 2026, covering a planned 1.4GW computing campus.

Lancium owns the 270-acre property and will develop and manage the energy infrastructure serving the planned computing facilities there.

The project is expected to include solar generation and energy storage resources located onsite to supply part of its electricity requirements.

Its facilities will also use recirculating cooling systems, an approach intended to reduce water requirements associated with operating large computing installations.

The Childress campus sits beside an Iren development leased to Microsoft, adding another major technology operation to the surrounding area.

The scale of the plans shows Crusoe expanding several large computing sites across West Texas instead of concentrating its investment around one location.

Via DCD

• Bose president Raza Haider says a new iteration of its QC35 II gaming headset would need to be "authentic" to gamers
• Haider says a new one would need to "meet a certain bar of performance that what we have right now isn't quite there"
• He adds that fans should "absolutely stay tuned" about potential hardware designed for gamers

Bose president Raza Haider has told gamers asking for a new gaming headset that the hardware would need to satisfy the community, but suggested fans should "stay tuned."

Speaking in an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Haider acknowledged that there haven't been too many Bose gaming audio products in recent years, aside from the 2021 QC35 II gaming headset, and that the audio manufacturer is aware that the gaming community is filled with "very passionate users" who hope for more hardware from Bose.

Haider explained that although the company produced the headset in the past, it didn't, "I don't think [it] resonated because it wasn't truly authentic," and satisfying the gaming community would be a top priority for a new iteration.

"I think if we do something, it has to be authentic to that consumer, it has to be authentic to that community, and it has to meet a certain bar of performance that what we have right now isn't quite there," Haider said.

However, it sounds like Bose is looking to expand into the gaming audio genre, because the president added: "Absolutely stay tuned. Hopefully something [is] coming at some point in the future, but it's a community we definitely keep our eyes on strongly."

TechRadar Gaming rated the Bose QC35 II four stars in our review, with Lewis Leong praising the noise cancellation, balanced sound, and comfort, though it lacked functionality that would benefit gaming, such as an instant mute button or auto play/pause.

"Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headphone for travelers and commuters," Leong writes. "Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners. Audiophiles, however, will want to check out our roundup of the best headphones for the very highest sound quality."

• Bose president Raza Haider says a new iteration of its QC35 II gaming headset would need to be "authentic" to gamers
• Haider says a new one would need to "meet a certain bar of performance that what we have right now isn't quite there"
• He adds that fans should "absolutely stay tuned" about potential hardware designed for gamers

Bose president Raza Haider has told gamers asking for a new gaming headset that the hardware would need to satisfy the community, but suggested fans should "stay tuned."

Speaking in an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Haider acknowledged that there haven't been too many Bose gaming audio products in recent years, aside from the 2021 QC35 II gaming headset, and that the audio manufacturer is aware that the gaming community is filled with "very passionate users" who hope for more hardware from Bose.

Haider explained that although the company produced the headset in the past, it didn't, "I don't think [it] resonated because it wasn't truly authentic," and satisfying the gaming community would be a top priority for a new iteration.

"I think if we do something, it has to be authentic to that consumer, it has to be authentic to that community, and it has to meet a certain bar of performance that what we have right now isn't quite there," Haider said.

However, it sounds like Bose is looking to expand into the gaming audio genre, because the president added: "Absolutely stay tuned. Hopefully something [is] coming at some point in the future, but it's a community we definitely keep our eyes on strongly."

TechRadar Gaming rated the Bose QC35 II four stars in our review, with Lewis Leong praising the noise cancellation, balanced sound, and comfort, though it lacked functionality that would benefit gaming, such as an instant mute button or auto play/pause.

"Taken as a whole, the Bose QC35 II NC is an excellent headphone for travelers and commuters," Leong writes. "Bose has found a good balance of features that will satisfy most mainstream listeners. Audiophiles, however, will want to check out our roundup of the best headphones for the very highest sound quality."

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman is warning the more than 100 American communities considering moratoriums on new data centers that stopping their construction now could leave the United States paying for the decision for decades.

"In fact, this build out is so important geopolitically that there are widespread reports of various countries intentionally seeding misinformation in the U.S. about data centers to trick us into slowing down," he wrote in a long statement defending the AI infrastructure boom. "If these measures are enacted, the U.S. could be writing its own losing ticket to this race, and the consequences would last generations. As a country, we can’t afford to find ourselves in that position."

Garman argues that data centers have become as strategically important as highways once were. He believes AI leadership is now an economic and national security contest, and countries that build the necessary computing infrastructure fastest will enjoy the benefits for years to come.

It is a dramatic warning, although the scale of what is being built is dramatic enough to match it. A new Brookings report estimates that investment in American data centers and related AI infrastructure could total $10.3 trillion between 2025 and 2032. That works out to an average of 3.63% of U.S. GDP each year and would make the current AI buildout larger relative to the economy than America's canal, railroad, electrification, highway, and telecommunications industries.

Building AI everywhere

(Image credit: AWS)

However, the comparison to the interstate highways leaves out the critical difference of who paid for them. The highways were funded by taxpayers, while Garman stresses that private companies are paying for the AI infrastructure boom. That certainly makes a $10.3 trillion construction spree easier to sell politically, although it does not mean the public is insulated from its consequences, like how much electricity and other resources the data centers consume.

Amazon argues that concerns about data centers raising bills, draining water supplies, or creating pollution are often exaggerated or wrong. Garman wrote that AWS works with utilities and regulators to ensure the prices its data centers pay cover the energy and infrastructure they require. Amazon also says its facilities are increasingly water efficient and that it is moving toward lower-emission backup generators.

More significantly, Amazon appears to recognize that simply telling communities to trust the industry is becoming a losing strategy. The company says it no longer uses nondisclosure agreements with government agencies for data center projects and will publish annual information about energy and water use.

"There are clearly areas in which the technology and energy industries can be doing better (along with their government partners) but just like in the past when the country has banded together to accomplish something that’s critical for our national security and economic prosperity — we should approach this as a long-term mission that the private and public sectors pursue together," Garman wrote.

The backlash grows

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Amazon is certainly putting some money behind the charm offensive. Its new Built Together program will apparently add more than $1 billion over five years to community investments around its U.S. data centers. The company says the money will support free community college programs, workforce training and energy-efficiency improvements for schools, public buildings and homes, with a goal of helping prepare as many as 100,000 workers annually by the end of 2028.

But these commitments are arriving just as opposition is becoming difficult to dismiss as a handful of angry neighbors.

California offers perhaps the clearest example of the shift, as reported in CalMatters. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed seven data center bills that will, among other things, work to stop electricity customers from having to subsidize data center infrastructure and set environmental reviews for the facilities.

Even Texas' famously permissive regulations are changing a little bit to increase supervision of data centers, albeit with some enormous loopholes.

Garman argues that misinformation and “outright lies” are driving resistance, but Amazon's promises suggest at least some of the backlash is a response to problems worth addressing.

The $10.3 trillion question

(Image credit: Shutterstock/photosince)

The AI industry is effectively making one of the largest infrastructure bets in American history on the assumption that demand and revenue will justify the bill.

That makes the political sales pitch particularly important as AI companies need communities to accept years of construction and enormous new demands on electricity infrastructure before anyone knows exactly how transformative or profitable the technology will be.

Not every AI developer is opting for reassurance either. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told Politico that “we believe that the world should accept some bad things happening for the benefits of this technology and people having the agency.”

He was talking primarily about AI safety and misuse rather than data centers, and that eliminating every possible hack or scam would require restrictions that would deprive people of AI's Still, he may as well have been talking about building the physical data centers, as it amounts to a similar request that Americans accept disruption now because of benefits from AI to come.

Garman and Altman are both making arguments that require an awful lot of confidence that AI's destination justifies a turbulent journey. Communities appear less willing to sign that blank check. Amazon's latest promises suggest it understands that resistance cannot simply be bulldozed away.

Garman may ultimately be right that data centers will become infrastructure as consequential as the Interstate Highway System, but nobody wants to live next to the highway. That fact led to rules about where and what kind of housing can be built along highways.

How much control the people living beside AI infrastructure should have and what protections they deserve remains an open question.

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman is warning the more than 100 American communities considering moratoriums on new data centers that stopping their construction now could leave the United States paying for the decision for decades.

"In fact, this build out is so important geopolitically that there are widespread reports of various countries intentionally seeding misinformation in the U.S. about data centers to trick us into slowing down," he wrote in a long statement defending the AI infrastructure boom. "If these measures are enacted, the U.S. could be writing its own losing ticket to this race, and the consequences would last generations. As a country, we can’t afford to find ourselves in that position."

Garman argues that data centers have become as strategically important as highways once were. He believes AI leadership is now an economic and national security contest, and countries that build the necessary computing infrastructure fastest will enjoy the benefits for years to come.

It is a dramatic warning, although the scale of what is being built is dramatic enough to match it. A new Brookings report estimates that investment in American data centers and related AI infrastructure could total $10.3 trillion between 2025 and 2032. That works out to an average of 3.63% of U.S. GDP each year and would make the current AI buildout larger relative to the economy than America's canal, railroad, electrification, highway, and telecommunications industries.

Building AI everywhere

(Image credit: AWS)

However, the comparison to the interstate highways leaves out the critical difference of who paid for them. The highways were funded by taxpayers, while Garman stresses that private companies are paying for the AI infrastructure boom. That certainly makes a $10.3 trillion construction spree easier to sell politically, although it does not mean the public is insulated from its consequences, like how much electricity and other resources the data centers consume.

Amazon argues that concerns about data centers raising bills, draining water supplies, or creating pollution are often exaggerated or wrong. Garman wrote that AWS works with utilities and regulators to ensure the prices its data centers pay cover the energy and infrastructure they require. Amazon also says its facilities are increasingly water efficient and that it is moving toward lower-emission backup generators.

More significantly, Amazon appears to recognize that simply telling communities to trust the industry is becoming a losing strategy. The company says it no longer uses nondisclosure agreements with government agencies for data center projects and will publish annual information about energy and water use.

"There are clearly areas in which the technology and energy industries can be doing better (along with their government partners) but just like in the past when the country has banded together to accomplish something that’s critical for our national security and economic prosperity — we should approach this as a long-term mission that the private and public sectors pursue together," Garman wrote.

The backlash grows

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Amazon is certainly putting some money behind the charm offensive. Its new Built Together program will apparently add more than $1 billion over five years to community investments around its U.S. data centers. The company says the money will support free community college programs, workforce training and energy-efficiency improvements for schools, public buildings and homes, with a goal of helping prepare as many as 100,000 workers annually by the end of 2028.

But these commitments are arriving just as opposition is becoming difficult to dismiss as a handful of angry neighbors.

California offers perhaps the clearest example of the shift, as reported in CalMatters. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed seven data center bills that will, among other things, work to stop electricity customers from having to subsidize data center infrastructure and set environmental reviews for the facilities.

Even Texas' famously permissive regulations are changing a little bit to increase supervision of data centers, albeit with some enormous loopholes.

Garman argues that misinformation and “outright lies” are driving resistance, but Amazon's promises suggest at least some of the backlash is a response to problems worth addressing.

The $10.3 trillion question

(Image credit: Shutterstock/photosince)

The AI industry is effectively making one of the largest infrastructure bets in American history on the assumption that demand and revenue will justify the bill.

That makes the political sales pitch particularly important as AI companies need communities to accept years of construction and enormous new demands on electricity infrastructure before anyone knows exactly how transformative or profitable the technology will be.

Not every AI developer is opting for reassurance either. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told Politico that “we believe that the world should accept some bad things happening for the benefits of this technology and people having the agency.”

He was talking primarily about AI safety and misuse rather than data centers, and that eliminating every possible hack or scam would require restrictions that would deprive people of AI's Still, he may as well have been talking about building the physical data centers, as it amounts to a similar request that Americans accept disruption now because of benefits from AI to come.

Garman and Altman are both making arguments that require an awful lot of confidence that AI's destination justifies a turbulent journey. Communities appear less willing to sign that blank check. Amazon's latest promises suggest it understands that resistance cannot simply be bulldozed away.

Garman may ultimately be right that data centers will become infrastructure as consequential as the Interstate Highway System, but nobody wants to live next to the highway. That fact led to rules about where and what kind of housing can be built along highways.

How much control the people living beside AI infrastructure should have and what protections they deserve remains an open question.

Buying a prebuilt PC usually comes down to deciding how much performance you actually need and how much you're prepared to spend getting it. Two top-end MSI desktops are discounted for Amazon Prime Day, but there's a substantial $870 difference between them.

• Best for: The Codex Z2 is our choice for most buyers, while the Aegis R2 makes more sense if you want the faster graphics card, more memory, and twice the storage.

• The deal: The MSI Codex Z2 is priced at $1399 (was $1599), while the higher-spec MSI Aegis R2 is $2269 (was $2469), both at Amazon.

• Why it matters: The Codex Z2 and Aegis R2 target different budgets, but spending more doesn't necessarily mean you're getting better value. The key question is whether the Aegis R2 offers enough extra to justify the considerable additional expense.

Codex Z2: was $1599 now $1399
This desktop combines a Ryzen 7 8700F processor, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB graphics, 16GB DDR5 memory, 1TB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C connectivity, four cooling fans, and Windows 11 Home.View Deal

Aegis R2: was $2469 now $2269
This desktop features a Core Ultra 7 265 processor, RTX 5070 12GB graphics, 32GB DDR5 memory, 2TB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C connectivity, four cooling fans, and Windows 11 Home.View Deal

Which one we'd recommend

Of the two MSI beasts, the Aegis R2 is unquestionably the more powerful, but I'd recommend the Codex Z2 for most buyers. Priced at $1,399, it combines an AMD Ryzen 7 8700F processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB graphics card. There's 16GB of DDR5-4800 memory and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD, providing a well-balanced specification.

At $2,269, the Aegis R2 steps up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and GeForce RTX 5070 with 12GB of GDDR7. It also doubles both the system memory and storage, giving you 32GB of DDR5 and a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD.

Both systems use air cooling with four case fans — three at the front and one at the rear — and customizable RGB lighting. They also provide USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI, and multiple USB connections. MSI includes a keyboard and mouse with both.

Which MSI desktop should you buy?

✅ Buy the MSI Codex Z2 if...

You want the better-value desktop PC of the two. Its Ryzen 7 8700F, RTX 5060 Ti, 16GB of DDR5, and 1TB SSD provide a balanced specification without pushing the price beyond $1,400.

✅ Buy the MSI Aegis R2 instead if...

You're prepared to spend another $870 for the higher-tier RTX 5070, Core Ultra 7 265, 32GB of memory, and 2TB SSD. It's the clear performance winner and gives you more headroom for gaming and demanding creative tasks.

• Shop all desktop PC deals at Amazon

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, October 6 (game #1213).

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 #1214) - today's words

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MUSICAL
• CINNAMON
• TRIDENT
• HOT DOG
• STICKY
• SQUIRREL
• MONOLOGUE
• PLAY
• BANK
• DICHOTOMY
• HAMBURGER
• STORE
• CHOREOGRAPHY
• STASH
• ORCHESTRATIONS
• TETRACYCLINE

NYT Connections today (game #1214) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Hide it away for later
• GREEN: Types of bread roll
• BLUE: Ancient numerals
• PURPLE: Stage honors

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 #1214) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SAVE FOR LATER
• GREEN: KINDS OF BUNS
• BLUE: GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES
• PURPLE: BEST _____ TONY AWARDS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1214) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1214, are…

• YELLOW: SAVE FOR LATER: BANK, SQUIRREL, STASH, STORE
• GREEN: KINDS OF BUNS: CINNAMON, HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, STICKY
• BLUE: GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES: DICHOTOMY, MONOLOGUE, TETRACYCLINE, TRIDENT
• PURPLE: BEST _____ TONY AWARDS: CHOREOGRAPHY, MUSICAL, ORCHESTRATIONS, PLAY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I decided to play this game a little differently from normal and instead of roaring headlong into guessing groups, I took it slowly and made some notes for each tile.

I am not entirely sure it helped me to achieve a better result — for TRIDENT, I wrote “chewing gum, weapon, mythology", which missed the fact that it was one of the four tiles featuring GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES.

I did get close with the four purple tiles; my note was “something to do with stages”, but I lacked the conviction to connect them and claim a Purple First. If only I'd saved the yellow group for later.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, October 6, 2026, game #1213)

• YELLOW: FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT: BERKSHIRE, CITI, GOLDMAN, MERRILL
• GREEN: KINDS OF CHAIRS: ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, WINGBACK
• BLUE: INN HOTELS: COMFORT, DAYS, HAMPTON, HOLIDAY
• PURPLE: ENDING IN TALENTS: CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, STABILITY

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 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, October 6 (game #1213).

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 #1214) - today's words

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MUSICAL
• CINNAMON
• TRIDENT
• HOT DOG
• STICKY
• SQUIRREL
• MONOLOGUE
• PLAY
• BANK
• DICHOTOMY
• HAMBURGER
• STORE
• CHOREOGRAPHY
• STASH
• ORCHESTRATIONS
• TETRACYCLINE

NYT Connections today (game #1214) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Hide it away for later
• GREEN: Types of bread roll
• BLUE: Ancient numerals
• PURPLE: Stage honors

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 #1214) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SAVE FOR LATER
• GREEN: KINDS OF BUNS
• BLUE: GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES
• PURPLE: BEST _____ TONY AWARDS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1214) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1214, are…

• YELLOW: SAVE FOR LATER: BANK, SQUIRREL, STASH, STORE
• GREEN: KINDS OF BUNS: CINNAMON, HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, STICKY
• BLUE: GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES: DICHOTOMY, MONOLOGUE, TETRACYCLINE, TRIDENT
• PURPLE: BEST _____ TONY AWARDS: CHOREOGRAPHY, MUSICAL, ORCHESTRATIONS, PLAY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I decided to play this game a little differently from normal and instead of roaring headlong into guessing groups, I took it slowly and made some notes for each tile.

I am not entirely sure it helped me to achieve a better result — for TRIDENT, I wrote “chewing gum, weapon, mythology", which missed the fact that it was one of the four tiles featuring GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES.

I did get close with the four purple tiles; my note was “something to do with stages”, but I lacked the conviction to connect them and claim a Purple First. If only I'd saved the yellow group for later.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, October 6, 2026, game #1213)

• YELLOW: FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT: BERKSHIRE, CITI, GOLDMAN, MERRILL
• GREEN: KINDS OF CHAIRS: ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, WINGBACK
• BLUE: INN HOTELS: COMFORT, DAYS, HAMPTON, HOLIDAY
• PURPLE: ENDING IN TALENTS: CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, STABILITY

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 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, October 6 (game #1716).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 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 #1717) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1717) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1717) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1717) — 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 #1717) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• F

• D

• E

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

Quordle today (game #1717) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1717, are…

• PALER
• FROTH
• DOZEN
• ERASE

Two rare occurrences popped up for the second time in the past week — another word beginning and ending in E, and another appearance of a rare letter.

However, despite the rarities, this ended up being an oddly easy game for me, with most of the work done for DOZEN and no other letter working at the beginning for ERASE.

Daily Sequence today (game #1717) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1717, are…

• HANDY
• PUREE
• SHOOK
• SATIN

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1716, Tuesday, 6 October: FRESH, SKULK, BATCH, ENSUE
• Quordle #1715, Monday, 5 October: SIXTH, SPEAK, SEDAN, HEIST
• Quordle #1714, Sunday, 4 October: INFER, RAINY, THING, ARENA
• Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE
• Quordle #1712, Friday, 2 October: IVORY, SADLY, ANGEL, LLAMA
• Quordle #1711, Thursday, 1 October: NAVEL, SHEER, BIRTH, TACKY
• Quordle #1710, Wednesday, 30 September: CHOKE, BATCH, MOSSY, EAGER
• Quordle #1709, Tuesday, 29 September: BILGE, MEDAL, LODGE, PORCH
• Quordle #1708, Monday, 28 September: BRUNT, TORSO, STONE, HEATH
• Quordle #1707, Sunday, 27 September: VALET, CHEST, VIGIL, PUREE
• Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE
• Quordle #1705, Friday, 25 September: SWEAR, FLOOD, GUPPY, GROAN
• Quordle #1704, Thursday, 24 September: TOPIC, METRO, SCALP, FREED
• Quordle #1703, Wednesday, 23 September: SHEET, BLAND, JOIST, GUAVA
• Quordle #1702, Tuesday, 22 September: COMFY, LOBBY, DRESS, PANEL
• Quordle #1701, Monday, 21 September: WAXEN, HIPPO, PETAL, LEASH
• Quordle #1700, Sunday, 20 September: DERBY, LIMBO, GAWKY, REIGN
• Quordle #1699, Saturday, 19 September: SCOPE, HEIST, PULSE, CHAMP
• Quordle #1698, Friday, 18 September: MUCUS, MIRTH, APPLE, TILDE
• Quordle #1697, Thursday, 17 September: CRIER, CHIRP, NEIGH, FREER

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, October 6 (game #947).

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 #948) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Color for the cure

NYT Strands today (game #948) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• KING
• FLIP
• BARGE
• LINKS
• SOCK
• BULK

NYT Strands today (game #948) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #948) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: right, 8th row

• Last side: left, 3rd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #948) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #948, are…

• BUBBLEGUM
• BARBIE
• SHOCKING
• QUARTZ
• FLAMINGO
• SPANGRAM: TICKLEDPINK

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

In case you were unaware, today’s theme celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the “Wear it pink” campaign of global fundraising.

The pink aspect became apparent early on, and I was thinking of the phrase “in the pink” when looking for the spangram. That was wrong, but it did help me to locate today's all important color and score another Spangram First with TICKLEDPINK.

I really enjoy games like this, where they fool around with the standard Strands palette — and I’m impressed by how many shades of pink they created.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, October 6, game #947)

• FLIP
• UNDO
• REVERSED
• OVERTURN
• BACKPEDAL
• SPANGRAM: THEOLDSWITCHEROO

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 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, October 6 (game #947).

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 #948) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Color for the cure

NYT Strands today (game #948) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• KING
• FLIP
• BARGE
• LINKS
• SOCK
• BULK

NYT Strands today (game #948) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #948) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: right, 8th row

• Last side: left, 3rd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #948) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #948, are…

• BUBBLEGUM
• BARBIE
• SHOCKING
• QUARTZ
• FLAMINGO
• SPANGRAM: TICKLEDPINK

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

In case you were unaware, today’s theme celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the “Wear it pink” campaign of global fundraising.

The pink aspect became apparent early on, and I was thinking of the phrase “in the pink” when looking for the spangram. That was wrong, but it did help me to locate today's all important color and score another Spangram First with TICKLEDPINK.

I really enjoy games like this, where they fool around with the standard Strands palette — and I’m impressed by how many shades of pink they created.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, October 6, game #947)

• FLIP
• UNDO
• REVERSED
• OVERTURN
• BACKPEDAL
• SPANGRAM: THEOLDSWITCHEROO

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.

Upgrading an SSD is usually straightforward once you get inside your PC, but moving everything from the old drive can make the job more complicated. PNY's CS2241 Complete Upgrade Kit addresses that problem by providing the hardware and software needed to transfer your existing data before installing the new drive.

• Best for: Anyone upgrading or replacing an existing laptop/desktop SSD who wants to transfer their files and OS rather than starting over from scratch.

• The deal: The 1TB PNY CS2241 Complete Upgrade Kit is now $136 (was $160) at Amazon.

• Why it matters: Unlike a bare SSD, the package includes a USB 3.2-to-NVMe transfer adapter and Acronis software, giving you the tools required to clone your existing drive before swapping it out.

Today's best internal SSD deal

1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD: was $159.99 now $135.99
This 1TB M.2 2280 SSD uses PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe, delivering sequential reads up to 5,100MB/s and writes up to 3,200MB/s, with a USB adapter, Acronis software, and five-year warranty.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The CS2241 is a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD capable of sequential read speeds up to 5,100MB/s and sequential writes up to 3,200MB/s. It's designed for compatible laptops and desktop PCs and can also be used in PCIe Gen3 systems. Actual performance will depend on your computer, configuration, operating system, and applications.

PNY backs the drive with a five-year limited warranty or TBW coverage, along with US-based technical support.

Price context & historical value

Amazon's Prime Day price drops the kit from $159.99 to $135.99, knocking $24 off the usual price.

That's around $0.14 per GB before accounting for the additional value of the adapter and cloning software. Those extras are particularly useful if you plan to replace your computer's current system drive rather than simply installing it as additional storage.

For more options, take a look at our roundups of the best SSDs and fastest SSDs.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy PNY's 1TB SSD if...

If you're replacing an existing SSD and want a straightforward way to move your current installation onto the new drive. The included adapter and Acronis software offer everything you'll need for the task.

❌ Skip PNY's 1TB SSD if...

If your computer doesn't have a compatible M.2 NVMe slot, or you already own the equipment and software required to clone a drive. If you're simply adding storage, a bare SSD will make more sense.

Also consider

500GB 2.5" Internal SSD: was $109.99 now $76.49
This 500GB 2.5-inch SATA III SSD delivers sequential read speeds up to 550MB/s and writes up to 500MB/s, with low power consumption and backward compatibility with SATA II systems.View Deal

• Shop all internal SSDS at Amazon

Upgrading an SSD is usually straightforward once you get inside your PC, but moving everything from the old drive can make the job more complicated. PNY's CS2241 Complete Upgrade Kit addresses that problem by providing the hardware and software needed to transfer your existing data before installing the new drive.

• Best for: Anyone upgrading or replacing an existing laptop/desktop SSD who wants to transfer their files and OS rather than starting over from scratch.

• The deal: The 1TB PNY CS2241 Complete Upgrade Kit is now $136 (was $160) at Amazon.

• Why it matters: Unlike a bare SSD, the package includes a USB 3.2-to-NVMe transfer adapter and Acronis software, giving you the tools required to clone your existing drive before swapping it out.

Today's best internal SSD deal

1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD: was $159.99 now $135.99
This 1TB M.2 2280 SSD uses PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe, delivering sequential reads up to 5,100MB/s and writes up to 3,200MB/s, with a USB adapter, Acronis software, and five-year warranty.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The CS2241 is a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD capable of sequential read speeds up to 5,100MB/s and sequential writes up to 3,200MB/s. It's designed for compatible laptops and desktop PCs and can also be used in PCIe Gen3 systems. Actual performance will depend on your computer, configuration, operating system, and applications.

PNY backs the drive with a five-year limited warranty or TBW coverage, along with US-based technical support.

Price context & historical value

Amazon's Prime Day price drops the kit from $159.99 to $135.99, knocking $24 off the usual price.

That's around $0.14 per GB before accounting for the additional value of the adapter and cloning software. Those extras are particularly useful if you plan to replace your computer's current system drive rather than simply installing it as additional storage.

For more options, take a look at our roundups of the best SSDs and fastest SSDs.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy PNY's 1TB SSD if...

If you're replacing an existing SSD and want a straightforward way to move your current installation onto the new drive. The included adapter and Acronis software offer everything you'll need for the task.

❌ Skip PNY's 1TB SSD if...

If your computer doesn't have a compatible M.2 NVMe slot, or you already own the equipment and software required to clone a drive. If you're simply adding storage, a bare SSD will make more sense.

Also consider

500GB 2.5" Internal SSD: was $109.99 now $76.49
This 500GB 2.5-inch SATA III SSD delivers sequential read speeds up to 550MB/s and writes up to 500MB/s, with low power consumption and backward compatibility with SATA II systems.View Deal

• Shop all internal SSDS at Amazon

Epson's EcoTank ET-4950 is our top pick for a home printer - a cartridge-free unit that excelled throughout our tests, from black and white documents to full color photos. Now, it's $130 off at Amazon for Prime Day.

• Best for: Home offices and busy households that print and scan a lot and want to stop paying for ink cartridges.

• The deal: The Epson EcoTank ET-4950 all-in-one is now $370 (was $500) at Amazon.

• Why we like it: This is the best printer you can get right now. We found it loaded with features, loads of free ink in the box, and cheap to run. We awarded it 4.5 stars in our review. Highlights for us include the automatic two-sided printing and scanning, a 30-sheet document feeder, and fast speeds of up to 35ppm black and 23ppm color.

Today's top EcoTank deal

EcoTank ET-4950: was $499.99 now $369.99
A cartridge-free all-in-one that prints, copies, scans and faxes, with a 250-sheet paper tray, Ethernet, USB and Wi-Fi, and a touchscreen control panel.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Our senior printer editor Jim reviewed the ET-4950 and said, "I can't find another mid-price printer so loaded with features and ink."

He found it pleasant to print with, thanks to the responsive touchscreen and prompt print speeds, and it sits at the top of our best home printer guide.

The bottled ink is cheap enough that, in his words, it won't be beaten on cost per page. The ink in the box is rated for around 15,100 black or 5,500 color pages, which is why the upfront price is even easier to justify.

Price Context & Historical Value

At $369.99, this is $130 off the $499.99 list price, a 26 percent saving. It's a good price but not a record low - it matches the price we saw in June. If you need a printer now, there's no strong reason to wait.

For more printer deals, we've tracking all the best Prime Day home office deals - and that definitely includes this top model.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 if...

You print and scan often enough that ink costs add up, you want automatic two-sided printing and scanning from a document feeder, or you want a reliable all-in-one that should only need ink refills every few years.

❌ Skip the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 if...

You only print a few pages a month, you need a USB host port, NFC or Bluetooth, which this model lacks, or you need to scan heavy paper or print from a multi-purpose tray.

• See more printer deals at Amazon.

Epson's EcoTank ET-4950 is our top pick for a home printer - a cartridge-free unit that excelled throughout our tests, from black and white documents to full color photos. Now, it's $130 off at Amazon for Prime Day.

• Best for: Home offices and busy households that print and scan a lot and want to stop paying for ink cartridges.

• The deal: The Epson EcoTank ET-4950 all-in-one is now $370 (was $500) at Amazon.

• Why we like it: This is the best printer you can get right now. We found it loaded with features, loads of free ink in the box, and cheap to run. We awarded it 4.5 stars in our review. Highlights for us include the automatic two-sided printing and scanning, a 30-sheet document feeder, and fast speeds of up to 35ppm black and 23ppm color.

Today's top EcoTank deal

EcoTank ET-4950: was $499.99 now $369.99
A cartridge-free all-in-one that prints, copies, scans and faxes, with a 250-sheet paper tray, Ethernet, USB and Wi-Fi, and a touchscreen control panel.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Our senior printer editor Jim reviewed the ET-4950 and said, "I can't find another mid-price printer so loaded with features and ink."

He found it pleasant to print with, thanks to the responsive touchscreen and prompt print speeds, and it sits at the top of our best home printer guide.

The bottled ink is cheap enough that, in his words, it won't be beaten on cost per page. The ink in the box is rated for around 15,100 black or 5,500 color pages, which is why the upfront price is even easier to justify.

Price Context & Historical Value

At $369.99, this is $130 off the $499.99 list price, a 26 percent saving. It's a good price but not a record low - it matches the price we saw in June. If you need a printer now, there's no strong reason to wait.

For more printer deals, we've tracking all the best Prime Day home office deals - and that definitely includes this top model.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 if...

You print and scan often enough that ink costs add up, you want automatic two-sided printing and scanning from a document feeder, or you want a reliable all-in-one that should only need ink refills every few years.

❌ Skip the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 if...

You only print a few pages a month, you need a USB host port, NFC or Bluetooth, which this model lacks, or you need to scan heavy paper or print from a multi-purpose tray.

• See more printer deals at Amazon.

The Geekom A8 Max remains one of the top mini PCs we've tested, packing a fast eight-core Ryzen processor into a small desktop for office work and light video editing. Now, for Prime Day, it's $80 off at Amazon with our promo code.

• Best for: Creators and power users who want a compact desktop that can handle office work, photo editing and light video work.

• The deal: The Geekom A8 Max mini PC is now $719 (was $799) at Amazon with code TRA8XDFB.

• Why it matters: The A8 Max is an exceptionally good Windows 11 mini PC, scoring 4.5 stars and a TechRadar Pro Highly Recommended badge in our review. We called it "extremely powerful," and found it "ploughs through tasks in Microsoft Office and applications from the Adobe Suite without too much issue." It comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS with Radeon 780M graphics, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD that you can expand later.

AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD

In our tests, the A8 Max proved to be ideal for productivity tasks, alongside content creation like editing video, images, and music. Impressive, especially at this price. it's highly suitable suitable for homes, offices, and studios. For the full discount, use code TRA8XDFB at checkout. View Deal

Why we recommend it

This mini PC remains one of our top models - our hardware editor thinks for the cost, it's arguably the best machine out there, especially since you can upgrade the memory and storage to a maximum 128GB / 4TB. We especially like the inclusion of the fast USB4 port, allowing you to hook up an external graphics card. So, there's a lot of future-proofing options here.

The A8 Max scored 4.5 stars in our review, and we found it to be "a stylish machine that will suit any design studio or office where a high-performance mini PC is required."

Price Context & Historical Value

At $719 with the code, this is $80 off the $799 list price, about 10 percent. That's a fair price, but not the cheapest. For comparison, we've seen the 32GB model drop to around $949 at Amazon and $900 at Best Buy (although the Best Buy deal was just as the RAMpocalypse began to bite).

For more mini PC deals, we've included them in our live hub of the best Prime Day home office deals.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Geekom A8 Max if...

You want a compact, fast Windows desktop for office work and creative tasks - especially if you want to upgrade the RAM and SSD for future-proofing.

❌ Skip the Geekom A8 Max if...

You want strong pro-grade video editing or gaming out of the box - you'll want to hook up an eGPU via the USB4 port for more graphics-intensive use.

• See all mini PC deals at Amazon

The Geekom A8 Max remains one of the top mini PCs we've tested, packing a fast eight-core Ryzen processor into a small desktop for office work and light video editing. Now, for Prime Day, it's $80 off at Amazon with our promo code.

• Best for: Creators and power users who want a compact desktop that can handle office work, photo editing and light video work.

• The deal: The Geekom A8 Max mini PC is now $719 (was $799) at Amazon with code TRA8XDFB.

• Why it matters: The A8 Max is an exceptionally good Windows 11 mini PC, scoring 4.5 stars and a TechRadar Pro Highly Recommended badge in our review. We called it "extremely powerful," and found it "ploughs through tasks in Microsoft Office and applications from the Adobe Suite without too much issue." It comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS with Radeon 780M graphics, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD that you can expand later.

AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD

In our tests, the A8 Max proved to be ideal for productivity tasks, alongside content creation like editing video, images, and music. Impressive, especially at this price. it's highly suitable suitable for homes, offices, and studios. For the full discount, use code TRA8XDFB at checkout. View Deal

Why we recommend it

This mini PC remains one of our top models - our hardware editor thinks for the cost, it's arguably the best machine out there, especially since you can upgrade the memory and storage to a maximum 128GB / 4TB. We especially like the inclusion of the fast USB4 port, allowing you to hook up an external graphics card. So, there's a lot of future-proofing options here.

The A8 Max scored 4.5 stars in our review, and we found it to be "a stylish machine that will suit any design studio or office where a high-performance mini PC is required."

Price Context & Historical Value

At $719 with the code, this is $80 off the $799 list price, about 10 percent. That's a fair price, but not the cheapest. For comparison, we've seen the 32GB model drop to around $949 at Amazon and $900 at Best Buy (although the Best Buy deal was just as the RAMpocalypse began to bite).

For more mini PC deals, we've included them in our live hub of the best Prime Day home office deals.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Geekom A8 Max if...

You want a compact, fast Windows desktop for office work and creative tasks - especially if you want to upgrade the RAM and SSD for future-proofing.

❌ Skip the Geekom A8 Max if...

You want strong pro-grade video editing or gaming out of the box - you'll want to hook up an eGPU via the USB4 port for more graphics-intensive use.

• See all mini PC deals at Amazon

• Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko says he captures sounds using his iPhone or a field recorder, which he later transforms into harmonies
• He says, "The weirder, the better," but the studio doesn't have an "audio bible" for what it wants
• Alanko adds, "What I’ve noticed in my past: the worse the recording is, the better the outcome"

Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko has explained how he created the eclectic soundtrack for Remedy Entertainment's latest game, revealing that much of what he comes up with is initially captured on a recording device.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Alanko shared that he records "a lot of stuff on a daily basis" using his iPhone or "my tiny, crappy dictaphone," but if he's carrying a bag, he'll have a small field recorder; whatever he records, he explained, he will later manipulate into harmonies that can be used for his professional work.

"Every now and then I go through what I have found, and I start doing the next phase: turning them into something I could use musically, be that rhythm or harmony or melody," Alanko said. "A lot of Control Resonant’s soundtrack is of that origin. The weirder, the better. There’s no 'too weird' for that."

The composer, who also created the soundtrack for the first Control and Alan Wake 2, said since he's been "decorating Remedy’s game universe for ages" he has "a good perspective on what works and what doesn’t," but explained that the studio doesn't have a certain approach.

"We don’t have an exact 'audio bible' for brand usage; it’s just what one might call 'silent knowledge'," he said. "I’d love to create one for Remedy; by the way, I’ve done that for some clients with whom I’ve gone through so-called sonic identity cases, audio branding, in other words. I try to not use that latter expression, as it cheapens the process.

"With Remedy, it’s about philosophy and the emotional layer, and nothing actually is omitted or put aside; everything might work. Emphasis on the word 'might'. It depends, and often one miss would need another miss or two to become an un-miss - and then it works in conjunction with everything else.

"It’s a very meticulous process, actually, but there’s no 'Remedy Game Music And Music Concept For Dummies 1-2-3', really. If it feels right, it is right. I rely on intuition and let it kick my ass with inspiration."

Alanko said that when coming up with Control's atmospheric music fans are familiar with, "sometimes the key to something cool is just slowing down things," or "by stretching or transposing a recorded sound down, a little like slowing the tape," explaining that the slower the sound flows, the lower the pitch, or the higher the frequency, it can reveal "very interesting things."

"Also, what I’ve noticed in my past: the worse the recording is, the better the outcome," he added. "Sometimes I spend ages with iZotope RX to carve out something usable from an intentionally (or unintentionally) flawed recording, then shove that through anything by Zynaptiq and continue from there. Then I gather together some instrument material groups — percussive, tonal, atonal, etc — and assemble something playable through a synth keyboard from them… which is when the first ideas connect with the pictures and the presentation I had seen.

"It’s a very clear 'Hey, NOW I know how things go from here' moment, in other words."

Control Resonant is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.