TechRadar News

• Maserati MC20 is equipped with numerous Lidar, cameras and sensors
• Demonstration vehicle hit almost 200mph at the Kennedy Space Center
• A second autonomous MC20 Cielo took to the streets of Florida

Maserati has just set a new autonomous speed record at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as its drop-dead gorgeous MC20 supercar hit 197.7mph without a human behind the wheel.

The initiative is a partnership between the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s largest scientific-technological university, with the pair aiming to test the very limits of hardware, computing power and artificial intelligence where it relates to advanced levels of autonomous driving.

The clever crew at the Politecnico di Milano, which forms part of a team that specializes solely in autonomous driving at the university, managed to hit 192.8mph in its IAC AV-21 race car in 2022, but returned to one of the world’s longest runways at 15,000 feet (2.8 miles) to attempt to beat it using Maserati’s 630hp street car.

According to the team, pushing the MC20 to almost 200mph without a driver behind the wheel “demonstrates the robustness and reliability of the algorithms developed for autonomous driving," Scientific Director of the project Professor Sergio Matteo Savaresi explained.

To further demonstrate how far the team has come in terms of autonomous driving abilities, the team also brought along its convertible Maserati MC20 Cielo, which had been specially fitted with Lidar, camera and sensor technology.

This drop-top model managed to complete around 60km (around 37 miles) of the famously tricky 1000 Miglia road race in Italy two years ago without a driver behind the wheel.

It went on to parade the streets of the south easternmost US State during the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida to showcase "the excellence of Italian research" according to the team.

That said, the images reveal that a human had to be in the driver's seat. Perhaps the organizers were worried about Tesla owners getting jealous.

From the racetrack to the streets

(Image credit: Maserati)

Far from simply being an impressive autonomous speed record (although not an officially sanctioned Guinness World Record), the Kennedy Space Center achievement helps push AI-driver software and robotics hardware to the very limits.

Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV claims that by transitioning to a streetcar, rather than a purpose-built racing machine of previous record attempts, it helps “transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways”.

At speeds of almost 200mph, software reaction times have to be razor sharp and, perhaps more importantly, super reliable.

The team claims that if it can create a system that safely navigates these sort of highly illegal speeds, it can translate some of the findings to help improve low-speed urban mobility.

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• YouTube might be planning a big redesign of its TV app's homepage
• The new layout will reportedly incorporate more streaming services
• Creators will be able to display their content in episodes and seasons

YouTube has been teasing some big changes to its TV app, and it looks like one of these new features might see the addition of more on-demand streaming content from the likes of third-party services such as Netflix.

That's according to a new report from The Information as seen by The Verge, which reveals that a new redesign of the homepage is expected to be launched in the "next few months."

The update is expected to make it easier to see which of the best streaming services you're subscribed to through the YouTube TV app, which you can access via Primetime Channels. The big difference that the change will make is instead of hiding away this content in the 'Movies and TV' tab, it will reportedly include it on the homepage alongside your favorite creators' videos.

That's similar to the interfaces of apps like Apple TV and Prime Video, which act as hubs for all your subscriptions. However, not every service is available via Primetime Channel, which varies depending on your region.

For example, US users can access Max on YouTube's Primetime Channels, while UK and Australian users can't. This is expected to change as part of the redesign's shift, though, as YouTube reportedly told The Information that it stopped offering new services due to its struggle to integrate paid content into the app.

YouTube's streaming dominance

YouTube has been the most popular streaming platform for a while now – it had an 11.1% majority share of TV and streaming viewership in the US in December 2024, according to a report by Neilsen.

That's not surprising when you consider that watching YouTube on TVs has become the preferred device to access the video sharing platform compared to phones and laptops, making it even more embedded into our home cinemas.

As part of YouTube's broader plans to make its app more like your favorite streamer, the service has also previously said that it will give its creators a new feature that lets them format their content into episodes and seasons – just like one of the best Netflix shows.

That change was announced in September last year and is expected to be further expanded with plans to add functionality that will let you automatically preview a movie or show on the homepage when scrolling over it – just like you would see on the homepage of Netflix.

Kurt Wilms, YouTube’s senior director of product management, told The Information that the service envisions these new automatic previews blending content from third-party apps with creators' videos.

What the new YouTube TV app will look like and whether these new features will become available is not yet definite, of course, but we'll be keeping an eye out for any updates and will report back as soon as we have more news from YouTube on the changes it plans to launch.

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Right now, Apple’s iPad lineup is a strong four, two of which come in two sizes. Just this morning, Apple ushered in the next generation of the iPad Air and the entry-level iPad, which is now dubbed iPad (A16).

Even with the gorgeous Dynamic OLED display on the iPad Pro, the bite-sized build of the iPad mini, and the sheer value of the iPad Air – now with M3 – the entry-level iPad is still a perfect balancing act.

On paper, the most recent upgrade seems minimal – it’s a jump from the A14 Bionic chip to the A16, which Apple promises delivers up to 50% better performance and a doubling of the internal storage from 64GB to 128GB. Both of these keep this iPad ticking, but what it doesn’t bring is support for Apple Intelligence.

It's kind of a surprise, yes, but it also shows that Apple isn’t necessarily on a quest to bring it to every device, or at least not at this time. Further, I think it’s a sign of what this entry-level iPad is all about and a testament to the fact that the rest of the hardware here makes it a pretty perfect package.

High-end looks with likely stellar performance

(Image credit: Apple)

There is no knocking the iPad (A16) for its looks – it still comes in some fun colors and boasts an iPad Air-esque design with rounded edges and a healthy bezel around the now-called 11-inch Liquid Retina display that’s still 10.86 inches. It looks modern in every sense of the word, even though it’s stuck in the design language that was used when it was the tenth Generation.

This was also the first iPad with a front-facing camera on the landscape side and Apple’s still sticking with that placement on everything but the iPad mini. You also get an easy way of unlocking and purchasing with Touch ID built into the power button, and there is a camera on the back should you want to take photos with your iPad.

The Apple Pencil situation here is still a little complicated as the iPad (A16) has a USB-C port but supports the first-generation Apple Pencil even though it has a Lightning port built-in. To charge it, you’ll need an adapter and a USB-C to USB-C cable – it’s incredibly clunky, but it works.

A post shared by Jake Krol (@jake31krol)

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You can also opt for the Apple Pencil with USB-C, which you can slide the top over to expose the USB-C port to plug it in for charge. That’s equally clunky. It does magnetically attach to the side of the iPad (A16) for safe-keeping, but that won’t charge it.

Once you figure out how to keep it charged, it works like an Apple Pencil should – giving you an experience that’s close to writing with pen to paper or drawing on a surface. Scribble is supported here, letting you write a message, and the iPad automatically translates it to text. It was kind of an Apple Intelligence-like feature before that was dubbed the name for Apple’s suite of AI functionality.

The A16 chip here should be plenty powerful for all the major tasks one would want to use an iPad for, like:

• Following a recipe
• Browsing the web
• Playing a game from the App Store or Apple Arcade
• FaceTiming with friends or family
• Reading a book
• Listening to Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run
• Scrolling through photos or editing some
• Typing a story … maybe even this one?
• Taking notes with an Apple Pencil
• Endless other things
• Streaming movies and TV shows

You get the point, but the vast majority of things that one can do on an iPad are all possible here (with the notable exception of Apple Intelligence). No, it might not replace a high-performance workflow that you’d need an iPad Air or iPad Pro for, but for the basics and even some more fun processes, the iPad (A16) is more than capable.

After all, to deserve the name of iPad, it needs to be an iPad. But when my friends or family ask me which one is best, if they aren’t doing anything crazy and simply want an iPad to join the bandwagon, as a secondary device, or as one for streaming content, this entry-level iPad checks off the boxes.

It has the better Magic Keyboard

(Image credit: Apple)

If you want to use the iPad for email, spreadsheets, or other productivity tasks, it also works with my favorite Apple keyboard accessory. The Magic Keyboard Folio has two parts: one that magnetically snaps to the back with a kickstand that you can prop up at various heights, and a keyboard on the front complete with function keys and a good-sized trackpad.

When you don’t need the keyboard, that front piece can snap to the back with the keys facing inward so you don’t accidentally have the keys pressed. It’s great and super functional; it’s not the cheapest, though, at $249.

The previous tenth-generation iPad is our pick for the ‘Best iPad’ overall, and on our Best Tablets page, is the best for most. I expect that this iPad (A16) will quickly shuffle into that spot with better performance after we go hands-on, even without Apple Intelligence.

So if you can live without Image Playground, summarized notifications, or writing tools and want an iPad for drawing, browsing the web, FaceTiming with friends or family, gaming, and streaming your favorite content, don’t dismiss the entry-level iPad … it’s pretty awesome. And I can’t wait to test one out, hopefully in Yellow or Pink.

Apple's taking preorders now for the iPad (A16) with a starting price of $349 / £329, and it will formally launch on March 12, 2025.

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• Analysts says Microsoft has cancelled leases with at least two data center operators
• It could be reassessing AI infrastructure investments amid potential oversupply
• Despite adjustments, Microsoft maintains its $80 billion AI commitment

Microsoft may not be quite as all-in on investing in AI infrastructure as recent reports have suggested. MarketWatch reported on a research note written by TD Cowen analysts which claims Microsoft has cancelled leases in the US with at least two private data center operators.

The leases totaled “a couple hundred megawatts” and Microsoft is also is not converting “so-called statements of qualifications into leases”. The same analysts also report that Microsoft has moved a portion of planned international spending to the US.

This is despite a recent interview with Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Satya Nadella, who said AI supply and demand will have to meet and that tech firms will need to exponentially invest to make this happen.

Raising broader questions

“When coupled with our prior channel checks, it points to a potential oversupply position for Microsoft,” said lead analyst Michael Elias. The group believes the shift is linked to OpenAI which Microsoft has close ties to.

“Consider this: Microsoft was the most active lessee of capacity in 2023 and 1H24, at which time it was procuring capacity relative to a capacity forecast that contemplated incremental OpenAI workloads. However, as we believe is indicated by its decision to pause construction on a data center in Wisconsin - which our prior channel checks indicated was to support OpenAI - there is capacity that it has likely procured, particularly in areas where capacity is not fungible to cloud, where the company may have excess data center capacity relative to its new forecast,” the analysts said.

Writing about the news, Bloomberg said, "A potential lease pullback by Microsoft raises broader questions about whether the company - one of the frontrunners among Big Tech in AI - is growing cautious about the outlook for overall demand. The company has said it expects to spend $80 billion this fiscal year on AI data centers, and on a late January earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said Microsoft has to sustain spending to meet “exponentially more demand.”

“While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions," a Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg. "Our plans to spend over $80 billion on infrastructure this FY remains on track as we continue to grow at a record pace to meet customer demand.”

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• Pixel feature drop for March adds several new features to Google's tech
• Scam Detection is coming to Google Pixel 9 phones in the US
• Multimodal Gemini Live tools are coming to the Pixel 6 and newer phones

The latest Pixel feature drop update for March and Android update are bringing some impressive new tools to your Google Pixel phone and Watch devices, including improved scam protection and US FDA-cleared Loss of Pulse Detection.

Starting with the major new Pixel phone features, the headliner is AI-powered scam protection. Using on-device AI this tool will apparently alert you in real time if the person you’re calling or text messaging is using language that's common among scammers, and everyone with a Google Pixel 6 or later can access the tool for texts in the UK, US and Canada; meanwhile Google Pixel 9 phones in the US can also use the call protection tool. Note, however (as Google itself warns), that scammers can mix up their tactics, and so the AI won’t be 100% effective, so don’t over-rely on this protection and drop your guard.

Continuing with the safety trend, Google’s Find My Device service is getting a new live location-sharing tool in-app, so you can easily update your friends and family on your whereabouts – either to let them know you got home safe, or to help coordinate a meetup. The app will also regularly remind you that you’re sharing your location, and with who, so you can remember to turn it off when it’s not needed. This feature isn’t a Pixel-exclusive – it’s coming to all Find my Device-compatible Android phones.

Beyond safety, the Pixel drop also includes new creative tools. New text-to-image tools in Pixel studio will let you create stickers and images of people and scenes on the Google Pixel 9, and if you love to stream your activities on YouTube, TikTok and other platforms from your phone, there's a new multi-cam feature – using a Pixel 9 phone as the primary device you can sync with a Pixel 6 or later Google phone, or a GoPro Hero10 Black or newer camera, to stream with a multi-cam setup.

Three features for the Pixel Watch 3

The (Image credit: Future)

Google Pixel Watch 3 users are also getting some nifty tools, starting with its Loss of Pulse Detection feature, which is launching in the US after being cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. This feature can detect when you experience a loss of pulse (perhaps due to cardiac arrest, circulatory failure, or an overdose or poisoning) and will contact emergency services, and it’ll start rolling out to Watch 3 users at the end of the month.

Pixel Watch 3 users can also now take advantage of new on-device menstrual tracking. This can help you monitor your period, and perhaps even predict when you might get your next one, all from your wrist.

Finally, all Pixel Watch devices are now set to offer improved step tracking precision, as the devices are now supposedly better at detecting when your walking pattern deviates – being able to tell the difference between someone jogging, pushing a shopping cart, or hiking with poles.

There are also a few more minor improvements coming to Google Pixel and Android devices, which you can check out in full on the official Google website, but the above features are the ones we’re most excited to try out – scam protection seems especially useful, and I’m excited to see how well it works.

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• A travel tracking software firm has suffered a data breach
• The researcher discovered 10 open Lost & Found databases
• Over 800,000 Lost & Found customers could be exposed

A dataset containing 820,750 records totaling 122GB has been discovered online, most likely belonging to German tracking software firm Lost & Found, which primarily services the aviation industry.

As revealed by security researcher, Jeremiah Fowler, this was in an unprotected and publicly exposed dataset of 14 databases in total, 10 that were accessible and 4 that were restricted. Within these, the researcher found shipping labels, lost item reports, and screenshots, ranging from personal electronics, wallets, bags, medical devices, and other personal effects travelers often take on flights.

That’s not all though, as a number of personally identifiable documents were also included, such as passport scans, drivers licenses, employment documents, and more. The researcher suggests these could either be lost and uploaded by airport staff, or used to file claims and identify ownership of lost documents.

Customers at risk

Once a disclosure notice was sent, the databases were restricted “within hours”. It’s not yet known whether the databases were owned and managed directly by Lost & Found, or if a third-party contractor had control. It’s also unclear how long the dataset was exposed, or if threat actors accessed the information.

Since there is a possibility that the information was accessed by threat actors, this leaves anyone exposed in the breach at risk. Since IDs and passports were included, this means the primary risk is identity theft, as criminals could use these scans to apply for loans, credit cards, or bank accounts.

To protect against this, anyone concerned they may be affected should closely monitor their account, transactions, and statements, and immediately report any suspicious activity to their bank.

Alongside this, be vigilant against any social engineering attacks by carefully inspecting any unexpected communications you receive from unknown sources - especially those prompting action.

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• Microsoft has patched a loophole in Windows Copilot
• Copilot will no longer inadvertently aid in unlicensed OS copies
• The company has yet to tackle the wider issue available online

Microsoft has updated Windows Copilot to prevent the AI-powered assistant from recommending third-party tools to aid in the piracy of its popular operating system.

Previously, it's claimed that Windows Copilot was not only recommending the use of third-party tools, but was also outlining ways to bypass Microsoft's licensing system where other AI programs, such as ChatGPT, were not generating activation keys for the operating system.

When testing Windows Copilot for workarounds, it will now completely reject any prompts for activation codes, third-party tools, and how-to information. Additionally, it stresses how unauthorized copies of the operating system are illegal, violate the terms of service, and recommends contacting official Microsoft support to get a legitimate copy.

Despite the Windows Copilot loophole getting plugged, it goes to show Microsoft's commitment to refining its AI assistant, which has been a core component of the operating system as laptops (and newer desktop processors) have utilized dedicated NPUs to better aid AI workloads. However, the technology is still in its infancy, which is causing some embarrassing issues, such as this one.

With that all said, many methods of unlicensed and authorized Windows 11 activations are still available online, they are just not being actively promoted by Microsoft's own AI assistant. It's about getting things under control as AI-generated content becomes more widely adopted.

A step forward for policing AI content

One of the major privacy concerns around AI has been the unregulated and unauthorized way that it can scrape and produce content for the end user. With Microsoft's Copilot, it was previously (inadvertently) being tricked into showing users ways of bypassing Windows licensing protocols. While it never directly gave out working activation codes, it was making things as easy as possible in other respects. Certainly not something Microsoft would like.

There have been discussions around updates, upgrading and alleged downgrading of Copilot since it first emerged in November 2023. In October 2024, it received a substantial visual makeover, and was able to interact with online and local (on the device) content.

It's a bid to make Copilot stand out against the bulk of its AI-powered rivals such as X's Grok, Google Gemini, and Open AI's ChatGPT. While some of its alternatives may help users bypass Microsoft's security measures, at least it won't be happening on its own platform anymore.

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• Wireless direct-to-phone design with 100ft range
• Four available polar patterns for different scenarios
• Available now from $299 / £289

Creators looking for better sound for their vlogs and podcasts have no shortage of wireless microphones to choose from – but Shure’s latest mic takes things in a different direction to the wearable likes of the DJI Mic Mini and Saramonic Ultra.

Unveiled today, the Shure MoveMic 88+ is a wireless mic designed to be mounted on tripods or microphone stands rather than clipped to your shirt collar or lapel. It's designed for video professionals or journalists who need a small, lightweight mic with enough flexibility to be used for everything from nature documentaries to short films and two-header interviews – it can link up directly with the user’s smartphone over a range of up to 100 feet.

With the user running the Shure Motiv Video app, they’ll be able to select one of four polar patterns – stereo, mono cardioid, mono bi-directional or raw mid-side – and fine-tune the mic’s audio performance by adjusting gain, EQ, noise reduction or engaging a high pass filter. Recordings can be stored directly on the phone, or live streamed to platforms including YouTube and Facebook.

The MoveMic receiver (on the left) is an optional accessory that expands the MoveMic 88+'s compatibility (Image credit: Shure)

The direct-to-phone wireless link keeps things simple while offering superior audio performance to a phone’s on-board microphone, particularly in environments with wind or traffic noise. Shure also suggests the MoveMic 88+’s size and range could prove invaluable for remote recording scenarios, giving the example of clearly capturing the sounds from a bird’s nest while sitting at a distance; the mic’s discreet size means it could be placed close to the nest without disturbing its inhabitants.

The MoveMic 88+ has a built-in rechargeable battery delivering up to eight hours of use, topping up via USB-C when required, and comes supplied with two mounting clips – one for camera cold shoes and another for 5/8” mic stands. It can also work when handheld directly, according to Shure – but does seem a little small to hold comfortably.

The Shure MoveMic 88+ can be purchased solo for $299 / £289, or in a bundle with the MoveMic Receiver ($449 / £439), which allows it to connect to cameras, computers and smartphones (for third-party app recording) via USB-C or 3.5mm cable.

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• Apple has released new Apple Watch bands for spring 2025
• There are new Sport Loop and Sport Band shades
• There are also new Solo and Braided Solo Loop options, and impressive new Hermès options

Alongside its new M3 iPad Air and A16 iPad, Apple has quietly unveiled a series of new shades for many of its best Apple Watch bands just in time for spring (if you're in the US or UK that is).

Apple continually updates its Apple Watch band palette with various shades and colors throughout the seasons, and we've now got our first look at the Spring 2025 collection.

First up, there are new Sport Loops in Periwinkle blue (a quiet nod to Guy Ritchie fans) and Sage green, both priced at $49.

For sport users, there's a new Aquamarine green Sport Band, as well as a Tangerine orange and a Periwinkle option, again priced at $49. Sadly, there are no new Nike options, but the Solo Loop is available in three new colors including the aforementioned Periwinkle, Northern Lights (a fluorescent green), and pink Peony (club, I'm gonna keep on danci... sorry).

More Apple Watch bands for 2025

(Image credit: Apple)

Also new for 2025 are Tangerine, Aquamarine, and Peony braided Solo Loop bands priced at $99.

Finally, for the premium buyers, you can now get a new Hermès band for the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, in a new Bleu Hydra En Mer, which costs a cool $449 – that's more than the Apple Watch Series 10.

There's also a new Hermès Toile H Single Tour in black, and a new Hermès Twill Jump Attelage Single Tour in three new shades, all priced at $349. New colors are also available for the Hermès Kilim Single Tour and Hermès Bridon Single Tour and Attelage Double Tour ranges as well.

You can see every new available color, size, and band on Apple's website.

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• The Vado SL 2 has just launched
• It's Specialized's latest mainstream electric bike
• It features a 520W battery and up to five hours of ride time

Specialized has today unveiled the brand new alloy version of its Vado SL 2 e-bike, which the company says offers an unprecedented combination of power, speed, and range in its weight class.

We recently reviewed the exceptional Vado SL 2 Carbon and loved its excellent power, quiet ride, and smooth handling. However, it costs $6,500 USD, £5,500 UK / $9,900 AUS, an eye-watering amount even for the best e-bikes on the market.

Thankfully, Specialized now offers an alloy version of Vado SL 2 at a slightly more palatable £3,500/£3,800, with US and AUS pricing to be confirmed. That'll get you the new Vado SL 2 Alloy 4.0 or 5.0 respectively. So what do you get in the 4.0 and 5.0 models over the more expensive carbon option?

Specialized's Vado SL 2 alloy: on paper

The new 5.0 and 4.0 models are an ultra-light alloy version of the aforementioned 6.0 carbon. They're very similar in spec (hence the closeness in price). Both are available in either equipped or step-through configurations. They're both powered by Specialized's SL 1.2 motor, which generates 50nm of power and is good for 25kmh. Both have a 520wh integrated battery rated for up to five hours of ride time (e-bike range caveats notwithstanding), and both feature the Mastermind H3 with handlebar remote.

The 4.0 and 5.0 both feature aluminum frame and fork designs, as well as Future Shock 3.1 suspension. They also come with the same tires and wheels, and the same side and rear rack configurations for carrying luggage.

The 5.0 features Tektro TKD-148 brakes, as opposed to Tektro HD-R285 brakes on the 4.0. The 4.0 only has 10-speed gearing versus 11-speed on the 5.0, and the lights on the 5.0 are also slightly better.

The big miss over the more expensive carbon version is obviously the carbon frame. The motor also isn't as good, and the suspension and brakes are also uprated on the carbon model we've already reviewed.

The 4.0 and 5.0 don't feature a removable battery, just like the carbon model, which may be a turnoff for some. Otherwise, this looks like Specialized's best option yet for those who don't want to fork out on its wildly expensive Carbon model.

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• The Beogram 4000c Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition costs about $35,000
• Each turntable is a 1970s original, painstakingly restored
• A very limited edition: just 10 pieces

The B&O Beogram 4000 Series turntable is a genuine design classic, a '70s turntable that found a place not just in discerning music fans' homes, but in art museums too. And now it's back in a strictly limited edition that you probably can't afford, but won't be able to tear your eyes away from.

The Beogram 4000c Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition, to give it its full name, has been created under the watchful eye of Saint Laurent's creative director Anthony Vaccarello.

This isn't the first time Vaccarello has reimagined a classic: for example last year he redesigned the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar and accompanying amplifier. But clearly he was just warming up, because this B&O turntable is staggeringly beautiful.

This isn't the first time the Beogram 4000c has been reborn: B&O restored and tweaked 95 of them in 2020 and offered them for $11,000 / £9,000 / about AU$17,000. But this new edition is even more select, and a bit more expensive too.

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen) The Beogram 4000c Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition: exquisite and inevitably, expensive

As our colleagues at Wallpaper explain, each turntable is a fully restored and numbered original with silver-plated metal and a Ziricote wood base. Each original turntable is disassembled by B&O in Denmark, and every single part is then cleaned – and by "every" we do mean "every", right down to the tiniest screws – and if necessary, replaced.

The hand-crafted wooden frame is new, as are the new finishes on the zen-like controls aside the platter, and each turntable gets a new cartridge and a new pre-amp too.

The wooden case is made from solid ziricote, which is a dark hardwood; it has "a particularly distinctive grain, creating an object of fascination even when the turntable is not in use," Wallpaper says.

I think it looks absolutely stunning. We're used to seeing a lot of retro-styled turntables or retro-inspired ones, but it's quite something to see a true original come back and show everyone how it's done.

The Beogram 4000c Saint Laurent Rive Droite Edition is available now from Saint Laurent Rive Droite in Paris and LA, and online from both YSL and Bang & Olufsen.

It's yours for €30,000 (about $35,000 / £30,000 / AU$50,845) but if you want one you'd better be quick: there are just 10 turntables in this release.

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• Google is asking keen users to pick their favorite feature descriptions
• Focus is on Ambient Screensaver info and Gemini Live on Google TV
• No details of launch date or device availability just yet

Google has been testing the waters for some interesting new Google TV features, and as a result it's revealed a lot about the upgrades coming to a Google TV set or streamer near you.

It's all happening at the Google TV Advisors Club, which launched in late 2024 to get feedback from Google TV users. And its first targeted survey of Club users asked users with help "trying to figure out the clearest way to describe some exciting new features".

So what's Google been cooking?

The updates are likely to come to the Google TV Streamer, as well as (Image credit: Google) What features has Google been asking users about?

We already reported on the fundamental updates coming to Google TV, including Gemini support – but we're getting a little more information about them from the survey.

As Android Police reports, the first feature in the survey is the Ambient Screensaver, which can provide information as well as art; Google's suggested marketing messages talk about how "when you get closer, it switches to an overview of helpful information like time, weather, and news headlines".

There's a lot about Gemini Live on Google TV too. The most detailed proposed messaging talks about having a "natural, free-flowing conversation" with Gemini that you can interrupt if you want to add more detail or change the topic; brainstorming out loud "from finding recipes to planning your next movie-themed party"; exploring new topics by chatting with Gemini; and most interestingly, "practice for interviews, presentations or other important moments with feedback from Gemini."

Again, we knew that Google TV would get Gemini, but the extent to which it support the full flexibility of Gemini Live was unclear – in combination with more far-field microphones in TVs, the idea is clearly that Google TV devices will work as an AI home assistant hub easily.

There's no indication of a release window for these features, or any detail regarding which TVs will get the features first, though they're expect to come to a lot of Google TV sets, which includes several of the best TVs. But if Google's at the stage of testing its marketing ideas, a release can't be very far away.

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What's in a name, especially one as evocative as "Air"? To me, it means light, floating, a breeze, and the distinction matters. In the case of the iPad, it's always meant lighter than the original, or at least it did. But Apple's recent iPad releases have muddied the definition of 'Air' and now Apple's made one change to the latest iPad Air M3 (11-inch and 13-inch) that makes it clear that the "Air" distinction likely belongs elsewhere.

There isn't much difference between the iPad Air 2024 with the M2 chip and the new Apple iPad Air M3 11-inch and 13-inch models unveiled today aside from the more powerful M3 chip. That bit of Apple silicon imbues the iPad Air with overall faster performance and better intelligence features thanks to a super-charged Neural Processor that better supports the Cupertino tech giant's Apple Intelligence ambitions.

'There is, though, one easy-to-miss design change. On the back, right above the three Magic Keyboard smart connectors, is nothing. In this case, nothing is something because I've noticed the absence of two words, "iPad Air," that were on the back of the M2 iPad Air.

I don't know why Apple removed those words, and Apple is not telling us, but it's a notable change. Here's why.

A question of weight

The iPad Air branding on the rear of the iPad Air M2. (Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

It's been 15 years since Steve Jobs introduced us to the "post-PC" world and unveiled the first iPad. That remarkable and sturdy tablet weighed 1.5 pounds. At the time, we lauded it for its sveltness.

Two years later, Apple unveiled the first iPad Air, a skinny, 1-pound, glass and aluminum wonder. The product adopted the Air name from the original MacBook Air, an ultra-thin 3-pound laptop that, in a particularly theatrical flourish, Steve Jobs pulled from a manila envelope.

Since then, all 'Air' products have been dependably lighter and thinner than their base and even Pro counterparts. It's still that way on the MacBook side, but things have gotten fuzzier in the iPad space.

Image 1 of 3

Apple iPad Air M3 specs (Image credit: Apple)Image 2 of 3

Apple iPad Pro M4 specs (Image credit: Apple)Image 3 of 3

Apple 11th gen iPad specs (Image credit: Apple)

Since 2024, Apple's iPad Air has no longer been the thinnest or lightest iPad. That distinction goes to the M4 iPad Pro models. Introduced in 2024, the iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Pro 13-inch use the new Tandem OLED screen technology. This sandwiches two OLED panels for better colors and deeper blacks, while also eliminating the need for a backlight, thereby making the 5.3-milimeter thickness possible. The 11-inch model weighs just under a pound (0.98 pounds), while the 13-inch Pro weighs 1.28 pounds.

Compare this to the new iPad Air with M3. The 11-inch model is 6.1 milimeters thick and weighs 1.01 pounds. The 13-inch iPad Air is the same 6.1 milimeters thick, and weighs 1.36 pounds. The iPad Air is still 0.9 milimeters thinner than the base iPad (which also got a refresh this week) and 17 grams heavier.

These are not vast differences, but it's also clear that until Apple brings the Tandem OLED technology to the iPad Air lineup, that tablet will still use an LCD-based Liquid Retina screen that requires a backlight, which naturally makes it thicker than the iPad Pro.

Will the real Air stand up?

There is nothing wrong with the previous or this new iPad Air lineup. The M3 I've previously experienced in the MacBook Air is an excellent chip and offers ample support for pro-level video and audio editing, AAA gaming, and, of course, Apple Intelligence.

What about it, though, makes it 'Air'-worthy? Without admitting it directly, Apple has given us a clue that maybe the 'Air' name means less than we thought. Taking the label off this new model is a none-too-subtle way of saying that the appellation doesn't mean what it used to.

Choosing which iPad is right for you will no longer be, "Obviously, I want the light and thin Air model." There are other, more nuanced reasons, like getting near-M4 power and a far more affordable price.

After all, the iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model. The new iPad Air M3 starts at just $599. It's not the thinnest or lightest iPad you can get anymore, but that balance of price, performance, and support for the Pencil Pro and that new Magic keyboard may be enough – at least until Apple is ready for the iPad Air to reclaim the thin and light crown.

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• Trend Micro says hackers are using Microsoft Teams to get closer to their victims
• Through social engineering, they obtain credentials to remote desktop solutions
• This access is then used to drop advanced backdoors

Hackers are using advanced social engineering tactics to try and get flawed old .DLL files onto people’s computers which, in turn, would allow them to drop backdoor malware.

A new report from cybersecurity researchers Trend Micro claims the new attack starts on Microsoft Teams, where the crooks use impersonation to get close to the victims and trick them into providing a certain set of credentials. Through Quick Assist, or similar remote desktop tools, they gain access to the devices, where they sideload flawed .DLL files using OneDriveStandaloneUpdater.exe, a legitimate OneDrive update tool.

These .DLL files then allow them to drop BackConnect, a type of remote access tool (RAT) that establishes a reverse connection from an infected device to an attacker's server, bypassing firewall restrictions. This allows attackers to maintain persistent access, execute commands, and exfiltrate data while evading traditional security measures.

Commercial cloud solutions

BackConnect is apparently hosted, and distributed, using commercial cloud storage tools.

Trend Micro says the attacks started in October 2024, and have mostly focused on North America, where it observed 21 breaches - 17 in the US, five in Canada and the UK, and 18 in Europe. The researchers didn’t say if the attacks were successful, or which industries they targeted most.

Since most of the tools used in this campaign are legitimate (Teams, OneDriveStandaloneUpdater, Quick Assist), traditional antivirus or malware protection services will not suffice. Instead, businesses must educate their employees to spot social engineering attacks and report them in a timely fashion. Businesses could also enforce the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and limit access to remote desktop tools.

Finally, they should audit cloud storage configurations to prevent unauthorized access, and monitor network traffic for suspicious connections, especially those going to known malicious C2 servers.

Via Infosecurity Magazine

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• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 3 has been delayed two weeks
• The upcoming season will now be released on April 3 instead of March 20
• Activision says it's "taking the time to deliver a great experience"

Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 3 have been delayed by two weeks.

The news comes from a post on the official Call of Duty X / Twitter account, where it was confirmed that Season 3 will now launch on April 3 instead of March 20.

"Season 03 is a big moment for Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6, and we’re taking the time to deliver a great experience starting on April 3," the post reads.

With Season 3 delayed by two weeks, this means that Season 2 could receive some sort of extension in the meantime, giving players more time to complete the current battle pass.

Season 03 is a big moment for Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6, and we’re taking the time to deliver a great experience starting on April 3. More to come following Call of Duty: Warzone’s 5th anniversary next week… pic.twitter.com/TmPJnoYBZSMarch 3, 2025

Activision also said that more details about the upcoming season will be revealed during Warzone's 5th anniversary next week on March 10.

Fans have speculated that Verdansk, the original Call of Duty: Warzone map from 2020, will make a return and be a highlight of the upcoming update to celebrate the game's 5th anniversary.

Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 2: Reloaded launched on February 20 and currently features an ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle collaboration, complete with a themed map called Grind Ooze, as well as Operator skins designed after the four iconic brothers.

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When it comes to cybersecurity, most people think that creating strong, unique passwords is enough. A password gives access to a single account, or potentially several if you re-use passwords, which can make you vulnerable to attacks. But your email address is actually more valuable than your passwords. It's basically your digital passport. You wouldn't share your passport details every time you speak to someone or make a purchase in real life, so why would you share your digital passport everywhere online? If it falls into the wrong hands, the stakes are extremely high.

In 2024, the global average cost of a business data breach was $4.88 million. Identity fraud is on the rise and data breaches occur regularly, so we need to start protecting our email addresses to protect ourselves online.

The risk of using one email address

Your email address isn't just for communication, it's your digital identity. It's an incredibly valuable piece of personal information that can be used, sold and abused by companies, governments and scammers. Thanks to this data, spammers have been able to personalize phishing emails well enough to avoid sophisticated spam detection by Google and Microsoft.

When you give your email address to sign up to public WiFi, or to create a new account, that single piece of information can be used to create a detailed profile about you. It's attached to everything you do online, from online shopping to banking, from posting on forums to contacting healthcare professionals. By themselves, individual accounts contain some sensitive information about you, but your email address connects them all. In the hands of a bad actor, it's the key to a gold mine of personal data.

If, like most people, you only use one email address for all your online accounts, you're creating a huge potential risk. If you only use one email address for all your accounts, you will also find it harder to change it if (or when) it's exposed in a breach.

So many of your accounts will be associated with this email address that even if you realize that you've been affected by a data breach, it's not easy to fix. It means updating your account details on potentially hundreds of websites, a labor-intensive task that most people aren't willing to take on. This gargantuan task is reflected in our recent survey: 66% of Brits said they’d rather lose their passport than their email address.

What happens when your email address – your digital passport – is exposed?

If your email address is published online, you become a target for bad actors online. The two main ways that this can happen are through data breaches and data brokers.

Data breaches occur when businesses fall prey to cyberattacks or even just through mistakes, such as Ticketmaster, Microsoft, and Google experienced in 2024. Hackers downloaded and published troves of information, with more than 1 billion records being stolen. If hackers acquire your email address, they can target you with phishing scams, sending emails to convince you to give away sensitive information to help them to access your accounts.

Your email address can also be uncovered by data brokers. Data brokers trade in personal information as a commodity, selling it for marketing and advertising purposes. They combine data points such as your internet history, public records, and purchases. This data is incredibly easy to find online because it's all connected to your email address, and with enough of it, data brokers can sell a detailed profile of you to businesses for a profit. If you're affected, you'll likely find your inbox bombarded with spam from marketers and potentially scammers. You might also find hackers using your data to guess your passwords, access your accounts, and lock you out. Even governments can purchase this data to spy on their citizens using warrantless surveillance.

Anyone can fall victim to data scraping and breaches. Proton's recent study looked into politicians that had fallen victim to data breaches. 68% of MPs in the UK had their details compromised on the dark web – a national security issue waiting to happen.

A lesser-known solution – hiding your email address

The best way of protecting yourself online is not sharing any information in the first place – what companies don't have can't be used against you. But that's not realistic. So the best way to protect your real identity is to hide your digital identity.

Email aliases let you hide your identity from online services. An alias is a randomly generated email address that you can share with online service providers to mask your real email address, shielding it while still letting you receive emails. Despite being easy to create and manage, they're still underutilized.

For example, you can create an alias such as newsletters.perplexed753@passmail.net – a specific alias for receiving a newsletter. Without any identifying information, such as your name, it can't be traced back to you. Even if that business is breached, your personal identity won't be affected. You can create a unique alias for each account, covering your tracks online and protecting your privacy.

Without your email address, data brokers and scammers can't create an online profile for you. Your alias is only tied to one account, and since it doesn't contain any identifiable information, it reduces the amount of information you share online.

If one of your aliases is compromised in a data breach or begins receiving spam emails, you can simply deactivate it. Only one of your accounts is affected and you can create a different alias for that service. The inconvenience and risk associated with your real email address being leaked is eliminated. You can create as many aliases as you like to make sure that any risk is spread across multiple disposable addresses. Instead of a huge task to reset your email address, it becomes a thirty second fix.

Email aliases don't just allow you to receive emails — but send them too. If you want to create an account on a forum but don't want to use your personal email address, your aliases help you communicate with total privacy. You can create email aliases to help you manage a small business using your business domain or even just organize your inbox.

Email aliases are an easy, low-effort tool to combat cybercrime and protect our personal data. As navigating the internet becomes more risky, we need to rethink the way we freely give our personal email addresses to every online service provider. Instead, we should approach sharing your personal email address the same way as sharing your passport — with great caution. This shift in mindset will make it harder for bad actors to flourish online and help you take control of your privacy.

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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: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Threat actors seen abusing AWS misconfigurations to gain access to the instances
• They would use the instances to create new SES and WorkMail services
• The emails would bypass email security, while keeping the attackers hidden

Misconfigured Amazon Web Services (AWS) environments are being abused to run phishing campaigns that can bypass email filters and land right into people’s inboxes, experts have claimed.

Cybersecurity researchers from Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 recently spotted a group tracked as TGR-UNK-0011 engaging in this type of attack.

The group, which Unit 42 says significantly overlaps with a separate group called JavaGhost, has been active since 2019. However, the group was initially focused on defacing websites, and only pivoted to phishing in 2022, when they started seeking out financial gain.

JavaGhost

The attacks start with the group obtaining people’s AWS access keys. This gives them access to Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) and WorkMail services.

"JavaGhost obtained exposed long-term access keys associated with identity and access management (IAM) users that allowed them to gain initial access to an AWS environment via the command-line interface (CLI)," the researchers said. "Between 2022-24, the group evolved their tactics to more advanced defense evasion techniques that attempt to obfuscate identities in the CloudTrail logs. This tactic has historically been exploited by Scattered Spider."

After confirming the access, the attackers would create a temporary account and access the console. Then, they would use SES and WorkMail to set up their phishing infrastructure, and would set up SMTP credentials to send the phishing emails.

"Throughout the time frame of the attacks, JavaGhost creates various IAM users, some they use during their attacks and others that they never use," the researchers explained. "The unused IAM users seem to serve as long-term persistence mechanisms."

Since the emails would be coming from a known, and legitimate entity, they would bypass email protections and reach their target’s inboxes. They would also sound more credible, since the two parties most likely communicated in the past, as well.

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The Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for PC and Mac have finally been revealed. In general, you'll need to know the minimum and recommended specs to work out whether your setup can run the game, and how different levels of ray-tracing can be achieved in-game.

From what we've seen so far, Assassin's Creed Shadows looks to be a bold new step for the long-running action franchise. There are dual protagonists this time around, and even dynamic systems that will affect combat and stealth. We're still waiting to get ahold of the game, but it has a chance of ranking highly on our list of the best Assassin's Creed games from what we've seen so far.

Here's everything you need to know about the Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for PC and Mac, including a breakdown of what you'll need for each level of ray-tracing in-game. We'll also explain whether AC: Shadows can run on Steam Deck, and some key info on everything from GPU requirements to the resolutions and frame rates that you'll be targeting.

Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for PC

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Here are the Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for PC, broken up by the kind of Ray Tracing you want to achieve:

Now, we have the PC requirements for Assassin's Creed Shadows with Standard Ray Tracing switched on:

For those who want to go for extensive Ray Tracing, you'll need the following setup:

Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for Mac

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Now for the Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements from Mac, which will allow players using Apple silicon to get in on the fun.

Now, here's the requirements for those wanting to target Selective Ray Tracing on Mac:

Finally, here are the Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for achieving Standard Ray Tracing on Mac:

Can you play Assassin's Creed Shadows on the Steam Deck?

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Unfortunately, Assassin's Creed Shadows won't be playable on the Steam Deck at launch. This was revealed in a Q&A posted to the game's official website:

"At launch, the game will not be compatible with Steam Deck, due to the fact it is below our minimum specs for PC." said Pierre F, Technology Director of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

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The push to ban TikTok was always disingenuous in the United States. Don’t get me wrong – the app’s spyware concerns are well-founded. However, banning one app while ignoring scores of other state-owned, questionable software and hardware is like plugging a leaky dam while water gushes through dozens of other cracks. It’s not a long-term solution to a deep-rooted problem.

For me, as a connected device user and maker of more than two decades, the social media ban (and rapid about-face) raises a bigger, overlooked security concern: the vast network of Chinese-manufactured smart devices in homes and businesses. While TikTok’s data collection makes headlines, the Internet of Things (IoT) captures far more intimate data about our daily lives.

As lawmakers now attempt to find American buyers for co-ownership of TikTok, I’m left asking myself: If this app requires home-grown investment and steering for security, shouldn’t the same apply to the millions of Chinese-made IoT devices?

We know about this threat

Chinese-connected devices have been making headlines for years. First, they’re cheap, which means they’re hackable. Tens of thousands of customers found this out the hard way when Hikvision, a state-owned surveillance camera manufacturer, left users exposed through unpatched software vulnerabilities and default passwords that leaked online.

Further, these devices aren’t just weak – they’re black boxes. Ownership is often unknown or state-linked, so what happens with device data is anyone’s best guess. Additionally, there’s no telling what these devices could do. The hardware, software, and platform are made in China. With full network access, rogue devices could monitor network traffic, inject malicious code, and create distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

What we can say for certain is that these devices – from robot vacuums to video doorbells – collect more intimate, real-time data than any social media app. This includes constant audio, video, and location data. Think about it: social media only sees what you choose to share, while these devices witness your unfiltered life. They come with eyes and ears – cameras and microphones – that can track daily routines, lifestyle, and, well, you.

While TikTok operates in the virtual realm of social media content, IoT senses and actuates with the real world around it. Connected cars with cameras can drive around and discover all kinds of infrastructure, even using sensors like WiFi to discover networks and digital mechanisms. This is just the tip of the surveillance iceberg.

More dangerous than TikTok

The TikTok ban and ownership decision opens up a digital can of worms. It’s just not true to say this app is a national security risk if countless other devices aren’t given the same distinction. This is especially so if the threat from connected devices is actually worse than one app.

Consider, for example, that devices directly connect to cloud platforms – again, determined by the devicemaker – with some even counting facial recognition. Not to mention, TikTok is usually tied to a mobile device, which adds an extra security layer via iOS or Android. Devices don’t have this. How is this not a security and geopolitical risk, again?

The truth is that TikTok’s ban and buyout is based on political posturing rather than consumer safety. For this reason, it’s highly unlikely governments will start divvying up ownership and operation of every dodgy company in Chinese IoT. There’s not enough political will and, ultimately, these devices do a lot of good for economies when onboarded – keyword – safely.

Of course, regulators are trying to encourage device security baselines in Europe (Cyber Resilience Act) and The United States (Cyber Trust Mark) regarding default passwords and patching guarantees. But they can’t and won’t move for outright bans or buyouts. After all, IoT offers excellent efficiency and management insights, and Chinese devices often deliver the best bang for buck. So, what can we do?

Protect yourself, your networks, and your data

Protecting yourself from this threat starts by weighing up the pros and cons of technology from this part of the world. There’s a real chance you’ll pay the price for discounted devices in the form of security backdoors and data loss. So, keep the overall bottom-line impact in mind.

If you decide to bite the bullet, ensure multiple security failsafes. Configure your devices with peer-to-peer communication and end-to-end encryption. Also, store them under your own lock and key at the edge. This way, they’re on their own segmented network closer to home with less latency and fewer intermediary servers.

For the record, I don’t think governments should get involved with the ownership of these companies. Nonetheless, it’s a worthwhile thought exercise with geopolitics moving at breakneck speed and devices entering our most private spaces. Regulations are the right move for the moment and let’s hope our lawmakers keep a close eye on this sector.

Whatever happens next, both consumers and companies need to move with the landscape. Between tariffs and TikTok, nothing is off the table, so be careful not to put your data in the line of fire.

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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

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, March 4 (game #632).

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 #633) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BITE
• ONION
• SOFT
• KICK
• PICKLE
• SKIRT
• ALLERGY
• RELIEF
• PAINT
• DODGE
• EDGE
• CLIP
• BORDER
• FILE
• MELODRAMA
• FRINGE

NYT Connections today (game #633) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: On the outside
• GREEN: Cuticle activities
• BLUE: Things to make you blub 
• PURPLE: Add a rhyme with “wall” to make a game

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 #633) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PERIPHERY 
• GREEN: THINGS PEOPLE DO TO FINGERNAILS
• BLUE: WHAT MIGHT BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES 
• PURPLE: __BALL RECREATIONAL SPORTS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #633) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #633, are…

• YELLOW: PERIPHERY BORDER, EDGE, FRINGE, SKIRT
• GREEN: THINGS PEOPLE DO TO FINGERNAILS BITE, CLIP, FILE, PAINT
• BLUE: WHAT MIGHT BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES ALLERGY, MELODRAMA, ONION, RELIEF
• PURPLE: __BALL RECREATIONAL SPORTS DODGE, KICK, PICKLE, SOFT

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

I’m annoyed with today’s Connections because I made a mistake with an answer that is technically also correct.

PAINT could have fitted into __BALL RECREATIONAL SPORTS as well as THINGS PEOPLE DO TO FINGERNAILS. The injustice! It’s not as if I tried to put PICKLE and ONION in a group together – I thought about it, though.

Paintball doesn't involve an actual ball as such, so I guess that justifies its exclusion. But what’s doubly annoying at missing out on an error-free clean run is that this was one of those rare puzzles where I actually understood what all the categories were, for a change.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 4 March, game #632)

• YELLOW: ADJECTIVES FOR NICE SKIN DEWY, FRESH, GLOWING, SMOOTH
• GREEN: MESS OF HAIR MAT, MOP, TANGLE, THATCH
• BLUE: DICKENS CHARACTERS BUCKET, PIP, SCROOGE, TWIST
• PURPLE: ___CHAIN DAISY, FOOD, MOUNTAIN, SUPPLY

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.