Technology

• Genki has unveiled its new handheld gaming accessory collection, available exclusively online starting today (May 29)
• The collection is designed to eliminate the common frustrations while playing on the go
• All-new accessories include a Modular Grip Case, Minimalist Protective Case, a 30W Wireless Power Bank, and more

Genki, the innovative gaming accessories company, has unveiled its brand new handheld accessory lineup.

The collection, which Genki is calling "its most complete accessory lineup yet," is officially available exclusively at its online store starting today (May 29) and arrives just in time for the newest generation of handheld gaming consoles, like the Nintendo Switch 2.

The lineup includes a range of different accessories, including the Attack Vector Modular Grip Case, Force Field 2 Minimalist Protective Case, Sleeper Ultra Protective Zipper Carry Case, and Aegis Shield Perfect Screen Protector.

There's also the 30W MagSafe Wireless Power Bank, Detachable Controller Charging Station and Grips, Mimic Chest Game Cartridge Storage Case, and the Saya Carry bag.

These all-new accessories are purpose-built for uninterrupted handheld gaming and designed to eliminate the common frustrations while playing on the go by introducing ergonomic upgrades, smart power solutions, and rugged protection, "all engineered with Genki’s signature focus on innovation and design."

"The problem with handheld consoles has always been the trade-off between portability and a complete gaming experience—whether it’s poor ergonomics, limited battery life, or inadequate protection. Genki, known for redefining portable play, is tackling these challenges head-on," Genki said.

You can check out the Genki handheld accessory collection pricing details below and see the collection here.

• Attack Vector Modular Grip Case - $49.99 / $59.99 with travel cover
• Force Field 2 Minimalist Protective Case - $29.99 / $39.99 with travel cover
• Sleeper Ultra Protective Zipper Carry Case - $42.99
• Aegis Shield Perfect Screen Protector - $19.99
• 30W MagSafe Wireless Power Bank - $69.99
• Detachable Controller Charging Station and Grips - $39.99
• Mimic Chest Game Cartridge Storage Case - $19.99
• Saya Carry Case - $139.99

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• CD Projekt Red has shared a new tech demo for The Witcher 4 at the State of Unreal 2025 showcase
• The demo revealed new cinematic and gameplay footage, which offered a first look at the region of Kovir and protagonist Ciri
• The gameplay footage captured is running on the base PS5 at 60 FPS with ray tracing

CD Projekt Red has shared a brand new look at The Witcher 4 with an impressive tech demo.

During the State of Unreal 2025 event today, we were treated to a technical demo that offered an early glimpse into the Unreal Engine 5.6 features that will be in The Witcher 4.

At the start of the livestream, we saw a short cinematic of a group of men being attacked by a monster, before the footage seamlessly transitions into gameplay. We then see Ciri, the game's titular Witcher and playable protagonist, emerging from a cave onto a cliff after investigating the attack and showing off the never-before-seen region of Kovir.

According to CD Projekt Red, the gameplay shown is running on the base PS5 at 60 FPS, with ray tracing enabled, and it looks incredible.

Just like Geralt of Rivia, Ciri also has her own horse companion named Kelpie, and the two of them can be seen riding through the mountains and dense forests of Kovir to the port town of Valdrest.

The town is bustling with crowds of NPCs, some of whom will react to certain instances created by the player, thanks to Unreal Engine's MetaHuman technology with Mass AI crowd scaling.

For instance, when Ciri knocks into a man carrying apples, she kicks off a chain reaction. She apologizes, and then a child can be seen running forward to steal some apples that fell on the ground, followed by a pig looking to eat them up.

We also see other NPCs interacting with each other and creating their reactive scenes, making the whole town feel alive. It also appears that gameplay will seamlessly transition back into cutscenes when Ciri reaches her destination and starts a conversation, suggesting there'll be no black loading screens in between these moments.

Tools like the new Unreal Animation Framework and Nanite Foliage rendering are being utilized in The Witcher 4 to help deliver an immersive world at 60 FPS without compromising on quality, according to the developer.

"We started our partnership with Epic Games to push open-world game technology forward," said CDPR co-CEO Michał Nowakowski. "To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, is a significant milestone - and a testament of the great cooperation between our teams.

"But we're far from finished. I look forward to seeing more advancements and inspiring technology from this partnership as development of The Witcher 4 on Unreal Engine 5 continues."

The studio also confirmed that while the tech demo was running on a PlayStation console, "the features and technology will be supported across all platforms the game will launch on", including Xbox and PC.

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For over two decades, Google has monopolized how and where people search online. From outfit ideas and travel tips to medical symptoms and product reviews, consumers have turned to Google to guide their decision-making. But we’re now witnessing a monumental shift in how people search. As antitrust pressures mount and tools like ChatGPT redefine the very nature of information discovery, a new contender has entered the ring: AI-powered search.

This isn’t just a blip on the radar - it’s a full-blown transformation. AI-driven platforms are not only gaining popularity, they’re also fundamentally changing consumer expectations and search behavior.

According to our latest research at adMarketplace, one in five consumers already prefers AI-powered search tools over traditional methods, drawn to their ability to deliver seamless, personalized, and conversational results. For advertisers, this presents a golden opportunity should they seize it. The age of AI search is here, and brands that fail to evolve with it risk being left behind.

AI search: redefining relevancy and intent

The foundation of search advertising has always been built on intent - understanding what consumers want and delivering relevant results in real-time. AI supercharges this. Unlike traditional keyword-based systems, AI search engines use natural language processing, machine learning, and real-time data to understand user intent more deeply and deliver results in a way that feels intuitive and tailored.

Consumers are no longer satisfied with a list of blue links on the legacy search engine results page. They want responses to their queries delivered natively on the sites, apps, and platforms they use daily. Whether it's product comparisons, local food recommendations, or answers to complex questions, AI search tools are meeting users where they are. This is a major leap forward for the consumer search experience and a powerful opportunity for advertisers to capitalize on.

Search is no longer confined to traditional platforms

Discovery is increasingly happening natively within the apps, websites, and digital ecosystems consumers already engage with daily, whether it's through AI-driven assistants, retail apps, or vertical-specific platforms. This decentralization of search represents a major change for advertisers. It's no longer enough to focus campaigns exclusively on legacy search engines.

To reach consumers effectively, brands must expand their search strategies to meet audiences where they are, across multiple platforms that are integrated with AI-driven discovery tools. As the search landscape modernizes, advertisers who diversify their investments and embrace this broader, AI-enhanced environment will be best positioned to capture attention and drive engagement.

A seamless, conversational experience

One of the key differentiators of AI search is its ability to make searching feel more engaging, relevant and intuitive. Instead of fragmented queries and manual refinement, users can engage in a natural, back-and-forth dialogue with AI tools, refining results through follow-up questions, contextual cues, and real-time data to find answers that fit their needs more efficiently.

This conversational approach is already proving to be a game-changer. It simplifies the path to discovery, reduces friction, and increases the likelihood that consumers will find - and act on - what they’re looking for. For brands, this opens up new creative formats and interaction points within search, allowing for more immersive and persuasive ad experiences.

Capturing the next generation of consumers

AI-powered search isn’t just a novelty. It’s quickly becoming the de facto method for specific types of discovery, especially among the younger, tech-native generations. Gen Z and younger Millennials are already leaning into tools like ChatGPT and AI-enhanced assistants for everything from shopping advice to academic support. These demographics expect search experiences to be fast, intuitive, and tailored to their needs.

For advertisers, this presents a crucial opportunity. If you want to engage the next wave of digital consumers, your search strategy must evolve. That means embracing AI-powered experiences, diversifying search media investment, and prioritizing how you approach consumer search intent.

What this means for advertisers

So, how should advertisers respond to this AI-powered revolution?

1. Reevaluate search strategies – Traditional search advertising, placing ads at the top of search pages, is no longer sufficient. It's time to experiment with native search integrations that leverage AI to deliver personalized, intent-driven results and enable conversational, real-time interactions between users and your brand.

2. Invest in personalization – Use AI to analyze behavior, preferences, and context to create more targeted and meaningful search experiences.

3. Reach next-generation consumers today – Target the younger demographics that are already adopting AI search. Meet them on the platforms they prefer with messaging and formats that resonate.

4. Stay agile and curious – AI search is evolving fast. Keep testing, learning, and adapting your campaigns to remain relevant in this rapidly shifting environment.

The bottom line

We’re on the cusp of a new era in digital discovery. AI is not just changing how consumers search, it’s redefining what they expect from every brand interaction. Advertisers that lean into this transformation will be able to connect with consumers in smarter, more personal ways, capturing attention and loyalty in a crowded market.

The crown of search is up for grabs. It’s time for advertisers to claim their place in the AI-powered future.

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

Is the conversation around remote work models finally petering out? Data suggests a shift in focus, with many firms reassessing their approach to the modern workplace. The reasons for these changes are myriad and nuanced. But while businesses and employees adapt to new ways of working, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the crucial factor that could actually shape the future of hybrid work.

Its application holds the potential to shift the focus away from location to how employee experience can be optimized and unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity. Our recent research highlights this shift, noting that 70% of businesses have integrated AI to enhance communication and workflows.

AI is driving the evolution of hybrid work, from intelligent workspaces to enhanced collaboration and personalized work experiences. As organizations move beyond traditional models, AI is enabling a workplace that is more dynamic, efficient, and ultimately, more human-centric.

The rise of intelligent workspaces

As hybrid work has become an established norm, many workplace tools have struggled to keep at pace with its demands. Standard video conferencing struggles to create truly inclusive meetings between office and remote participants. Calendar systems can also fail to account for complex hybrid schedules. Communication platforms often create information silos between in-office and remote teams, while productivity tools lack the intelligence to adapt to different working environments.

The challenge isn't just about managing hybrid schedules, but creating consistent, engaging experiences for employees splitting their time between home and office. Our research shows that AI is becoming a key focus for businesses looking to improve hybrid work, with a significant majority experimenting with or fully utilizing AI to enhance communication and workflows.

Rather than enforcing rigid systems, AI-powered platforms are introducing new levels of personalization. These systems learn from individual work patterns, automatically adjusting to personal preferences and optimizing workflows based on when and where employees are working. Data indicates that 88% of teams are already using AI tools at least weekly, demonstrating widespread adoption and reliance on AI to improve working practices.

The implications are far-reaching. AI can now predict when employees are most productive, suggest optimal meeting times that respect work-life balance, and even pre-emptively organize digital workspaces based on upcoming projects. For organizations embracing hybrid work policies, this level of intelligent adaptation is proving transformative.

Breaking down collaboration barriers

Business leaders and employees often share a common challenge: making collaboration work seamlessly across dispersed teams. Many employees in hybrid settings often struggle with feelings of disconnection and unequal participation between in-office and remote workers.

AI is helping address these challenges head-on. Advanced communications solutions provide real-time translation for global teams, intelligent meeting scheduling accounting for time zones and personal preferences, and automated note-taking that ensures everyone stays aligned regardless of location.

These tools are transforming how teams interact, making file sharing, team messaging, and real-time document editing more intuitive and accessible. Further, our research indicates that businesses are recognizing the value of these AI-driven solutions, with an overwhelming 97% of leaders anticipating increased investment in AI tools.

More significantly, AI is levelling the playing field between remote and in-office workers. Leading platforms can now analyze meeting dynamics to ensure equal participation, automatically enhance video and audio quality for remote participants, and even suggest optimal times for in-person collaboration based on team patterns. For global operations and mobile workforces, these capabilities are essential for maintaining productivity and team cohesion within a flexible work environment.

The benefits aren’t just limited to improved efficiency. AI is also helping managers and HR teams better support employee wellbeing. By analyzing communication patterns and workload distribution, AI can identify potential burnout risks before they become serious issues. These systems can recommend breaks, suggest more efficient working patterns, and help managers better understand their teams' needs.

Embracing the shift with AI

In short, the binary in/out debate is becoming less relevant. Organizations preoccupied with tracking office attendance have missed the bigger picture: AI is fundamentally changing how teams work together, regardless of the location.

Modern workplaces use intelligent systems to eliminate the mechanical aspects of coordination, allowing teams to focus on creative problem-solving and meaningful collaboration. A workplace with AI at its core removes the traditional tension between flexibility and productivity, between remote efficiency and in-person connection.

A future in which intelligent agents empower individuals to shape their workday is close. Our collective evolution towards agentic AI means work becomes less about rigid mandates and more about personal agency. By removing friction and enhancing individual experience, AI can foster the next era of work, where even the decision to go to the office is less about obligation and more about genuine choice.

As we embrace this shift, the workplace of tomorrow will be defined not by where we work, but by how effectively we can work together, augmented by the intelligent systems that empower us.

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• PlayStation has announced its next State of Play presentation
• It's happening on June 4 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST / 11pm CEST
• The show will be around 40 minutes, focusing on upcoming PS5 games

It's a PlayStation surprise as a new State of Play presentation has been announced for tomorrow (June 4).

Announced via a post on PlayStation's official X / Twitter account, this State of Play presentation is expected to be around 40 minutes long, according to the accompanying PlayStation Blog announcement.

This State of Play presentation will focus on "news and updates on great games coming to PS5." No information has been provided beyond that, though it's reasonable to expect potential updates on upcoming games like Sucker Punch's Ghost of Yōtei and Housemarque's Saros.

The State of Play presentation will air on PlayStation's official YouTube and Twitch channels. The show will go live on June 4 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST / 11pm CEST. It will also be uploaded to PlayStation's channels after the fact if you're unable to catch the show live.

Sony is perhaps cutting it fine with this State of Play announcement, but it's really not much of a surprise. This is arguably the biggest week in gaming, with the Nintendo Switch 2 launching on June 5, followed by Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase on June 6.

We're going to be seeing tons of new game announcements in the latter half of the week, then, so it's not too surprising that PlayStation is looking to get ahead of the curve here.

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• The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 wireless gaming headset is available now
• The headset has multiplatform compatibility across all consoles and PC
• It has a bevy of features at an impressively competitive price point

Hardware manufacturer SteelSeries has just revealed its new Arctis Nova 3 wireless gaming headset lineup.

Sporting multiplatform capability (that's PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC in addition to mobile devices), custom drivers, a new companion app, and a rather impressive feature set, it may just be one of the next best wireless gaming headsets to enter the market. Doubly so when you take its price point into account.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 wireless gaming headset comes in at $109.99 / £99.99 and is available to purchase from the brand's website or select retailers in your region. You can choose from four distinct color options (black, white, aqua, and lavender), as well as a 3P (PlayStation) or 3X (Xbox) variant.

This means it's close but undercuts its SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 - a headset we love - brethren, offering an even more aggressively priced wireless option.

While this is a multiplatform headset, keep in mind that the 3X version is not compatible with PlayStation consoles. However, the 3P model does work with Xbox alongside all other major platforms. If you game across all consoles regularly, then the latter is the one to go for.

In terms of features, then, the Arctis Nova 3 is certainly packing a lot into a very competitively priced gaming headset. The brand's custom Nova drivers are featured here, offering full 360-degree spatial audio and compatibility with the PS5's Tempest 3D audio as well as Microsoft's own spatial sound solution.

An on-board 'quick switch' button lets you instantaneously swap between a 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 connection; handy if you're expecting a call or for listening to music while you game. The headset also features a ClearCast 2.X microphone, which should provide clear voice quality for online multiplayer with pals.

In terms of battery life, SteelSeries claims you'll get an impressive 30 hours via 2.4GHz and around 40 hours via Bluetooth. Fast charge is also supported, with the brand noting you'll get nine hours of battery life from just 15 minutes of charging.

Lastly, SteelSeries is launching a new Arctis companion app for Android and iOS devices. The app features more than 200 game audio presets, which can be swapped and customized on the fly even while you're playing. That's pretty nifty if you're the type to set profiles on a per-game basis for maximum immersion.

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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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, June 3 (game #1226).

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 #1227) - hint #1 - VowelsHow 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 #1227) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1227) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1227) - 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 2.

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 #1227) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• S

• S

• H

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

Quordle today (game #1227) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1227, are…

• BANAL
• STOUT
• SEDAN
• HIPPO

Today’s Quordle nearly unraveled for me, but I managed to pull it back.

My starter words delivered all five letters for SEDAN and it was a simple case of rearranging them, but my next word had multiple options.

I figured that the word must end O-U-T but despite knowing it started with the letter S I had several options and sadly chose the wrong one before guessing STOUT.

From here it was more straightforward. For HIPPO, I had the H,I, P and O, so it wasn’t a great leap, while there was no other choice for BANAL.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1227) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1227, are…

• AMONG
• EXILE
• PRONG
• SOLVE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
• Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
• Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP
• Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
• Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
• Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
• Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE
• Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
• Quordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE
• Quordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK
• Quordle #1207, Thursday, 15 May: PAINT, CROUP, PEDAL, FLUKE

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, June 3 (game #723).

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 #724) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PIPE
• HOOK
• ROOT
• APPLE
• CHEER
• CONSOLE
• CLOUD
• BRIDGE
• RUNNER
• BOWLER
• REFRAIN
• WHISTLE
• BENCH
• CHORUS
• CLAP
• COAT RACK

NYT Connections today (game #724) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Elements of a hit
• GREEN: Fan worship
• BLUE: Hallway stuff
• PURPLE: A surrealist classic

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 #724) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A SONG
• GREEN: SUPPORT AUDIBLY
• BLUE: THINGS IN AN ENTRYWAY
• PURPLE: IMAGERY IN MAGRITTE PAINTINGS

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

NYT Connections today (game #724) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #724, are…

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A SONG BRIDGE, CHORUS, HOOK, REFRAIN
• GREEN: SUPPORT AUDIBLY CHEER, CLAP, ROOT, WHISTLE
• BLUE: THINGS IN AN ENTRYWAY BENCH, COAT RACK, CONSOLE, RUNNER
• PURPLE: IMAGERY IN MAGRITTE PAINTINGS APPLE, BOWLER, CLOUD, PIPE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

A game of two halves today. After I got the first two groups fairly quickly I hit a roadblock and saw no connection between the eight remaining words (I’ll count COAT RACK as one word).

Completely stuck, I pressed shuffle to see if it would give me any clues and selected a few random groups of four.

It was thinking visually that changed things, as I imagined each item. I would not have been able to tell you the name of the artist – but APPLE, BOWLER, CLOUD and PIPE were all things I imagined in a painted form, and indeed there are all items that reoccur in Magritte’s surrealist paintings along with umbrellas, candles and doves.

His most famous piece is The Treachery of Images, better known for the phrase beneath a painting of a pipe which reads Ceci n'est pas une pipe (this is not a pipe). For a moment I felt quite clever, before admitting to myself that it was just a wild guess.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, June 3, game #723)

• YELLOW: BE OSTENTATIOUS GRANDSTAND, POSTURE, SHOWBOAT, SWAGGER
• GREEN: COPACETIC FINE, HUNKY-DORY, OK, SWELL
• BLUE: KINDS OF BRACELETS CHARM, FRIENDSHIP, ID, TENNIS
• PURPLE: THINGS YOU CAN PRACTICE LAW, MEDICINE, SELF-CARE, WITCHCRAFT

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, June 3 (game #457).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Monster quest

NYT Strands today (game #458) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MANY
• CAKE
• FEEL
• POLITE
• MOCK
• WIRE

NYT Strands today (game #458) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #458) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #458) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #458, are…

• YETI
• BIGFOOT
• KRAKEN
• CRAWLER
• MOTHMAN
• JACKALOPE
• SPANGRAM: CRYPTIDS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

Today’s quest had us searching for mythical beasts, including the fantastical wild man Sasquatch (also known as BIGFOOT) – one of the most enduring CRYPTIDS of North American folklore.

The history of Bigfoot sightings goes all the way back to 1811, with some scientists claiming that the ape-like giant could be a remnant of the Neanderthals.

Of course, it is also entirely possible that once the mythology spread, certain mischievous people might enjoy dressing as a giant ape-like man and running around the country being elusive (see the Beastie Boys' video for Triple Trouble for further information).

They’re a shy bunch, are mythical beasts, even the more recently seen ones like MOTHMAN first seen in West Virginia in the 1960s.

After several couples reported seeing a large winged black creature whose eyes glowed red, the Point Pleasant Register ran a news story with the headline “Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ... Something".

He hasn’t been seen much since, but rather than fear the beast in their midst, the town has taken them to their hearts and there is now an annual Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant where you can watch live music and take part in a pancake-eating contest.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, June 3, game #457)

• VELCRO
• JACUZZI
• KLEENEX
• POPSICLE
• CHAPSTICK
• SPANGRAM: TRADEMARKED

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.

• Edifier's Doo Ace on-ear headphones are Bluetooth 6.0
• Just 100g, so much lighter than the equivalent Sony cans
• Audio codec support is a little disappointing

We've been waiting a while for the first Bluetooth 6.0 headphones to arrive, and it looks like Edifier has beaten its rivals with the launch of the terribly named but quite funky Doo Ace on-ears.

The Doo Ace – a name that gets worse each time I type it – are Bluetooth 6.0 with multi-point pairing. But the presence of the latest Bluetooth doesn't necessarily mean you're going to want to buy them, as there are a few downsides to the spec – and as they're currently only available in China, you might not be able to buy them at all.

(Image credit: Edifier)Edifier Doo Ace headphones: key features and pricing

The Doo Ace headphones promise AI-based noise reduction, 32mm drivers and an audio jack for wired connections. There's a game mode with reduced latency, and Edifier says that you can also use them as a remote shutter control for your phone's camera.

However, as Notebookcheck.net reports, the audio codec support is limited: SBC, A2DP, AVRCP and HFP – not only is there nothing like aptX or LDAC, there isn't even LC3, the better default Bluetooth audio codec that's part of Bluetooth LE Audio.

At 100g, these headphones are very light compared to rivals such as the 147g Sony WH-CH520, but that light weight means less battery capacity: battery life is a claimed 25 hours, half that of the Sonys. Fast charging will give you 5 hours of playback from a 15-minute charge.

There are four colors, Mother-of-Pearl White, Sunset Orange, Earth Brown, and Secret Night Blue, and the price tag in China is CNY229 (about $32 / £24).

It's unknown whether the Doo Ace will be launched in other markets but of course if they are we'll let you know. As far as we can tell, they're the first headphones revealed with Bluetooth 6.0 – we can't find evidence of any others, but let us know in the comments if you've seen any announced.

They're not exactly a flagship showcase of what Bluetooth can do compared to the best wireless headphones, but they're funky looking, inexpensive, and the lightness is very impressive.

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The tech giant's data centers will start slurping power from a nuclear plant in 2027.

This new debit card will make it easy to select an interest-free BNPL plan at checkout, but there are fees to watch for.

• Early adopters are in a much better position to win – "just do it," Sam Altman says
• Today, AI is an intern, but soon it'll be an experienced worker capable of tackling complex problems
• The next step is AGI, but does that mean accelerated scientific discoveries, self-improvement, or something else?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has offered his honest insights into the evolving AI landscape, comparing previous, current and future trends to point enterprises in the right direction.

"I think, just do it," Altman said in an interview with Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy at the company's Summit 2025 event, highlighting that companies waiting for the next AI breakthrough risk being left behind.

"When things are changing quickly, the companies that have the quickest adoption speed... win," he added.

AGI definition is shifting

Reflecting on how his guidance has changed over the past year, Altman noted a major shift in AI's capabilities just in this short period of time.

"We hit a real inflection point for the use of these models," he said, but "an interesting question is what we say different next year."

Looking ahead, Altman said he envisions businesses adopting AI not just to automate routine processes but to tackle bigger challenges.

In 2026, he predicts companies will, "throw a tonne of compute" at "hugely important problem[s]" and "the models will be able to go figure out things that teams of people on their own can't do."

Altman likened today's AI to "an intern that can work for a couple of hours," but foresees a near future where AI resembles an experienced or senior worker. The OpenAI founder predicts that "in some limited cases [and] in some small ways" we could see agents capable of discovering new knowledge pretty soon, and the use cases are only set to increase with further developments.

When asked about artificial general intelligence (AGI), Altman explained that humans are very good as adjusting their expectations, challenging static definitions of the term. Casting his mind back five years, he said that most people might have considered today's ChatGPT to be AGI, but our expectations today have furthered.

"The thing that matters is the rate of progress that you see year-over-year over the last five years should continue for at least the next five, probably well beyond that," he added, suggesting we're nowhere near the top.

His preferred purpose for AGI would be to significantly increase, maybe "quadruple," scientific discovery, but he also acknowledges that others see AGI as a system capable of self-improvement, potentially even consciousness.

Concluding, Altman was asked a hypothetical question – what would he do if he had 1,000x more compute?

"I would ask it to work super hard on AI research, figure out how to build much better models, and then ask that much better model what we should do with all the compute," he said.

Offering us a glimpse into the not-too-distant future from OpenAI, Altman revealed that "the models over the next year, two years, are gonna be quite breathtaking... there's a lot of progress to come."

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• The North Face has notified customers of a data breach
• Hackers ran a credential stuffing attack on its website and breached customer accounts
• They stole names, addresses, and phone numbers

The North Face has confirmed suffering a credential stuffing attack through which cybercriminals exfiltrated sensitive customer information.

The outdoor clothing and equipment company has filed a new notice with the Vermont Attorney General which also included the data breach notification letter sent out to affected customers.

In the letter, the company said it discovered “unusual activity” on its website on April 23, 2025. The subsequent investigation showed that an unidentified attacker ran a “small-scale credential stuffing attack”, using login credentials obtained elsewhere, most likely purchased from the dark web.

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Payment information intact

“Credential stuffing attacks can occur when individuals use the same authentication credentials on multiple websites,” The North Face said. “We encourage all of our customers to use a unique password on our website.”

The crooks made away with people’s shipping addresses, preference information, email addresses, full names, dates of birth, and phone numbers.

“Payment card (credit, debit, or stored value card) information was not compromised on our website,” the company added.

“The attacker could not view your payment card number, expiration date, or your CVV (the short code on the back of your card).”

As The North Face explained, payment data was not taken because it’s not being stored on its servers. The company only retains a token linked to the payment card, while the payment processor retains the details.

“The token cannot be used to initiate a purchase anywhere other than on our website. Accordingly, your credit card information is not at risk as a result of this incident.”

The North Face also said notifying customers wasn’t necessary, given the nature of the stolen information, but still decided to do it “out of an abundance of caution.” Still, names, birth dates, postal addresses, and phone numbers are more than enough information to create custom, convincing phishing emails that can result in identity theft, payment information theft and wire fraud, identity theft, and more.

Via BleepingComputer

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• You can now create Sora AI videos in the Bing app on mobile
• You get 10 credits, but can earn more by searching with Bing
• Videos are portrait and five seconds long with more formats coming soon

Remember Bing, Microsoft’s attempt to take on the mighty Google in search? I’ve got to admit, I’d completely forgotten about it until Microsoft’s latest trick to make it relevant again caught me off guard: It has added Sora AI video creation to the Bing app on iOS and Android, for free!

Since you would normally need to be a ChatGPT Plus subscriber (which costs $20 a month) to get access to Sora, that’s a pretty sweet deal.

However, a look at the small print shows there are some restrictions. You get 10 ‘fast creations’ credits to start with, and each time you create a video with Bing Video Creator you gobble up a credit.

Using 'fast credits' your video will be created in just a few minutes. Once you’re out of fast credits you switch to Standard speed. Standard means that it will take Bing “approximately several hours per video” to generate anything.

Intriguingly, the 'fast credits' don't auto-renew each month, but instead you can earn more of them by searching using the Bing search engine.

Microsoft has produced a video to show you how Bing Video Creator works:

Using Bing Video Creator

To use Bing Video Creator you have to be using the Bing app on mobile, available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Once it's running just tap the apps icon at the bottom right of the Bing screen to access all the apps it contains. Next, tap on Video Creator.

You can then type in a prompt for your video. Obviously, the more descriptive you are with your prompts the better the video will be, but to test it out I tried something very simple: “A tiger prowling through the jungle” and hit the Create button.

Just a couple of minutes later, I had my five second AI video. And it had only used up one of my 'fast creations' credits.

I could share my video using all the usual methods on my iPhone, and the video file it produced was only 7MB in size. Videos created in Bing Video Creator are five seconds long and can be created in 9:16 format with 16:9 format “coming soon”.

Here it is:

Unlike Google’s recently released Veo 3 AI video creator, you can’t lip-sync voices in Sora videos, so you can’t make videos of people saying things, although it surely can’t be long before OpenAI add this feature to Sora. There also didn’t seem to be any way of adding sound to the video at all in Bing.

We all know that Microsoft has had a long-standing alliance with OpenAI which has meant that Copilot is powered by the ChatGPT search engine. This has sometimes meant that you can access premium features that you’d normally have to pay for via a ChatGPT.

The addition of Bing Video Creator is another welcome advantage of this deal, even if it's currently only available on mobile, however, Microsoft says that a desktop version is coming soon.

Earning more credits

The most interesting part of the new tool is how you earn 'fast creation' credits. To gain more you can redeem 100 Microsoft Rewards points for a single credit. You can earn these reward points by searching using Bing on desktop or mobile, browsing using the Edge browser or gaming using the Xbox console, provided you are logged in with your Microsoft account.

For example, you can earn five points by searching just once using Bing on either mobile or PC desktop. So, the more you search with Bing, the more Sora videos you can create.

Offering Sora video credits for searching in Bing is a clever tactic from Microsoft, and who knows, it might just bring Bing back into the spotlight again?

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• Photoshop on Android (beta) drops for devices running Android 11 or later
• It's free for a limited time
• Creative Cloud subscriptions unlock Adobe Stock assets and generative edits

Following the release of Photoshop for iPhone earlier this year, the biggest photo-editing app has finally made it to Android in pro-grade form, complete with Photoshop's marquee features and generative capabilities.

Offering much of the same functionality as the iPhone app, the free beta version of Photoshop for Android has an intuitive interface designed specifically for phones, with core Photoshop tools such as layering, masking, and blending.

I'm yet to use the app, but I watched a demonstration of its capabilities presented by Adobe, and it looks super impressive, seemingly being one of if not the most fully equipped and powerful photo editors for Android phones.

You can import images from your camera roll, start from a blank canvas, utilize Adobe Stock assets, and take a photo with your phone to then edit.

As a regular Photoshop user I can't wait to try the app out on my Google Pixel phone, and here are three tools I'll start with…

Tap select can be applied to both subjects and backgrounds and can utilize Adobe's generative Firefly tools. (Image credit: Adobe)1. Tap select

Simplifying Photoshop's subject and background selection tools on a mobile phone is no easy task, but what Adobe calls 'Tap select' appears to do the trick nicely.

During a demo, an Adobe professional walked us through an edit of a classic car photo, using Tap select to make image adjustments to just the car itself, and then to other subjects.

Tap select suggests various objects in an image that you might want to selectively edit, displaying thumbnails of these, and when you've made a selection it'll suggest a huge arsenal of Photoshop tools such as color adjustments and so forth.

Subject selection can be refined with Photoshop's Brush Tool to add / subtract from the selection when it has missed the mark.

And with these edits working within Photoshop's layering capabilities, changes can be tweaked at any point in the editing process.

Tap select is the kind of tool I can see myself using on almost every edit, and its implementation for Android phones looks well thought out.

With the model's clothes selected, it's possible to make selective edits, such as changing the hue. (Image credit: Adobe)2. Generative Firefly

Adobe has focused a lot of its energy recently into developing Firefly – the generative AI tools that sit within its leading apps such as Photoshop. Naturally, Photoshop for Android phones can tap into these tools too.

For example, Generative Fill can replace subjects and backgrounds to your liking, however fanciful your ideas are. Again, during the demo, we saw these tools put into practice – removing parked cars in the background and replacing surrounding trees for palm trees, with multiple generated options to choose between.

Naturally, there are limits to Firefly's capabilities, but the Android phone version appeared to be as powerful and efficient as the full version of Photoshop with the word prompt tasks it was assigned.

It's possible to work on the same file across Photoshop on mobile and Photoshop on web apps. (Image credit: Adobe)3. Tapping into Adobe Stock assets

Despite having a Creative Cloud subscription, I don't generally make use of the 'commercially safe' Adobe Stock assets at my disposal, whether that's images or textures or other assets. However, on the mobile version I can see myself having a proper play with these.

Let's say I want to add text to an image, for which there's a huge selection of fonts to choose from. I can then mask that text layer, modifying the lettering with just about any texture or image of my choice from hundreds of thousands of stock assets.

In the demo, we saw 'Aloha' text added to the classic car photo, taken in Hawaii, and then modified with an image of a hibiscus flower within the lettering.

I came away from the demo with the feeling that the scope of the edits I can make to photos from my phone is vast, and limited only by my imagination.

I'm really looking forward to having a play with Photoshop on my Android phone to get a proper feel for it.

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• The De'Longhi Dedica Duo is a new compact manual espresso machine
• It can brew hot and cold espresso, and has an integrated steam wand
• It comes in four colors, including three pastel shades inspired by gelato

De'Longhi has launched a new compact coffee maker, the De'Longhi Dedica Duo, which takes one of my all-time favorite machines and gives it a makeover with the ability to brew hot or cold, and a choice of four pretty pastel colors.

The De'Longhi Dedica Duo is an upgraded version of the Dedica Style, which has long held a top spot in our roundup of the best espresso machines thanks to its small footprint, impressive performance, high-quality integrated steam wand, and very reasonable price tag.

The Dedica Duo keeps all of those features, and adds the option to brew cold coffee for drinks like iced lattes and espresso martinis.

Cold brew is the biggest trend in home coffee machines right now, with brands including Breville, Ninja, and Jura all launching new models that aim to recreate the mellow flavor of cold-infused coffee in seconds rather than hours.

According to De'Longhi, the Dedica Duo can recreate the flavor profile of traditional cold brew in less than five minutes.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: De'Longhi)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: De'Longhi)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: De'Longhi)Espresso with gelato?

The Dedica Duo came in silver, gray, and black colorways, but the Dedica Duo breaks from tradition with a choice of four shades, three of which, according to De'Longhi, are inspired by the pastel colors of gelato. Alongside the classic stainless steel, you can also take your pick from muted green Pistachio, creamy Vanilla, and candy-pink Rose. The colors are part of a bigger overall trend towards soft shades in the kitchen, and away from clinical designs.

KitchenAid kicked things off in February when it announced that its color of the year would be a soft yellow called Butter, and since then we've seen a real shift towards more natural shades, with Kenwood, Breville and others all joining the trend. Just last week, the tiny Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine appeared in Pistachio (to match its pistachio vanilla coffee capsules) and Pastel Yellow.

Each Dedica Duo comes with a matching colored portafilter handle, which is a nice touch. Other design tweaks include a new knurled knob for controlling steam pressure, and controls positioned on top of the machine, leaving the front looking clean and smart.

The De'Longhi Dedica Duo is available to buy now direct from De'Longhi, and from third-party retailers like Amazon and Target for $299.95. International release dates and prices are yet to be announced, but we'll let you know as soon as this cute little espresso machine is available more widely.

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