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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 clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

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 #487) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• HIP
• TEA
• BIG
• BAD
• EYE
• FLY
• SEW
• SAW
• ILL
• FAR
• ELF
• LEG
• HER
• RAD
• ARM
• DOE

NYT Connections today (game #487) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Ear could be another
• Green: Dope words
• Blue: Films
• Purple: All feature in a popular musical song

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 #487) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: BODY PARTS
• GREEN: COOL, IN ’80S SLANG
• BLUE: MOVIES
• PURPLE: WORDS IN “DO-RE-MI”

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

NYT Connections today (game #487) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #487, are…

• YELLOW: BODY PARTS ARM, EYE, HIP, LEG
• GREEN: COOL, IN ’80S SLANG BAD, FLY, ILL, RAD
• BLUE: MOVIES BIG, ELF, HER, SAW
• PURPLE: WORDS IN “DO-RE-MI” DOE, FAR, SEW, TEA

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

As a child of the ‘80s I was delighted to see COOL, IN ’80S SLANG appear as a group today – although I’ll be honest and admit that I was never cool enough to say words like BAD, FLY, ILL or RAD myself very often. But I’ve watched enough ‘80s movies that they’re still in my mind, so solving this one wasn’t too tricky.

In fact, none of today’s four groups were particularly challenging. That didn’t appear to be the case when I loaded up the game, though: it was one of those days where all of the words are really short. In fact, all 16 of them were three-letter words, and though that doesn’t itself make a game hard, there was a strong possibility that some might be prefixes or suffixes, and that can make things tougher.

That wasn’t the case, though. MOVIES was another theme (with ELF, SAW, HER and BIG the answers), while the yellow BODY PARTS group was one of the easiest we’ve ever had in Connections. It was all much simpler than I anticipated, thankfully.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 9 October, game #486)

• YELLOW: EFFERVESCENCE BUBBLES, FIZZ, FOAM, FROTH
• GREEN: BURGEON BLOSSOM, DEVELOP, MATURE, PROGRESS
• BLUE: MUSIC PUBLICATIONS BILLBOARD, MOJO, PITCHFORK, SPIN
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH TABLEWARE BOILERPLATE, BUTTERCUP, JACKKNIFE, WITHERSPOON

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.

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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Think about it

NYT Strands today (game #221) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MASS
• PASS
• MAST
• PAST
• PASTY
• PASTRY

NYT Strands today (game #221) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Where's Strands?

NYT Strands today (game #221) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 4th row

Last: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #221) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #221, are…

• JUMBLE
• SUDOKU
• JIGSAW
• MAZE
• CROSSWORD
• CRYPTOGRAM
• SPANGRAM: PUZZLES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Give me a puzzle and I'll solve it; give me a puzzle about puzzles and I'll solve it and enjoy every second while doing so. Today's Strands is exactly that – a puzzle about puzzles. I was somewhat surprised not to see Wordle, Connections or indeed Strands in there, but the likes of SUDOKU, JUMBLE and CROSSWORD were all obvious enough that this didn't cause me any trouble.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday 9 October, game #220)

• HALL
• OFFICE
• STUDY
• KITCHEN
• LIBRARY
• PANTRY
• FOYER
• SPANGRAM: HOMEROOM

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

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 #990) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #990) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #990) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #990) - 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 #990) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• U

• M

• M

• W

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

Quordle today (game #990) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #990, are…

• UNTIL
• MARSH
• METAL
• WINDY

With four common words and plenty of common letters, today's Quordle holds no real dangers for experienced players. The biggest challenge will likely have been in avoiding the wrong answers for the MARSH. This could also have been HARSH if you had the four final letters in place, or the likes of CRASH or EARTH if you had only a few. But that was about it, so I imagine most people will have solved today's Quordle without major problems.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #990) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #990, are…

• NORTH
• FUNNY
• EAGER
• STRAP

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #989, Wednesday 9 October: TRIAL, HUSKY, DOWNY, TRADE
• Quordle #988, Tuesday 8 October: TROUT, HATER, BARGE, DOZEN
• Quordle #987, Monday 7 October: CAULK, HALVE, APING, HEATH
• Quordle #986, Sunday 6 October: FUDGE, TENOR, BEGAT, ROUSE
• Quordle #985, Saturday 5 October: ELECT, CROAK, FRISK, JAUNT
• Quordle #984, Friday 4 October: ELFIN, GRAIL, PATIO, RECAP
• Quordle #983, Thursday 3 October: TENTH, REMIT, CURVE, TOAST
• Quordle #982, Wednesday 2 October: ARGUE, CRANE, TOKEN, PRINT
• Quordle #981, Tuesday 1 October: FRILL, MADLY, GRANT, NYLON
• Quordle #980, Monday 30 September: CRUSH, TARDY, TEACH, STUMP
• Quordle #979, Sunday 29 September: SERIF, BORNE, WRITE, SLEEK
• Quordle #978, Saturday 28 September: BUSHY, CIVIC, SNOUT, EQUIP
• Quordle #977, Friday 27 September: GUEST, CHASM, ROOST, BASAL
• Quordle #976, Thursday 26 September: STAGE, VOGUE, CLUMP, HEATH
• Quordle #975, Wednesday 25 September: UMBRA, DADDY, GLAZE, PRANK
• Quordle #974, Tuesday 24 September: SPACE, INNER, SPAWN, BEGAT
• Quordle #973, Monday 23 September: GUILT, STERN, ANNEX, FIELD
• Quordle #972, Sunday 22 September: ZESTY, MEATY, ALIVE, DRAWN
• Quordle #971, Saturday 21 September: VITAL, FRAIL, SPEAR, EERIE
• Quordle #970, Friday 20 September: ELIDE, DITTO, SHAWL, BONUS

A recent study published in the PNAS Nexus journal suggests the rise of AI models like ChatGPT may be challenging the dominance of traditional knowledge-sharing sites like Reddit and the programming forum Stack Overflow. This shift could impact the availability of freely accessible public information.

The research, conducted by Maria del Rio-Chanona and her colleagues, shows Stack Overflow saw a 25% decline in user activity within just six months of ChatGPT’s launch.

This drop was not observed on similar sites where ChatGPT access is restricted, highlighting the significant impact of the AI model’s rapid adoption. According to the study, users may be turning to AI-generated responses instead of seeking human-driven content, shifting how people obtain information online.

(Image credit: Maria del Rio-Chanona )

"LLMs are so powerful, have such a high value, and make a huge impact on the world. One begins to wonder about their future," says Del Rio-Chanona, who is also an associate faculty member at the Complexity Science Hub (CSH). The findings raise concerns that a growing dependence on AI could reduce the number of contributions to public forums, leading to a shortage of diverse and authentic data needed to train future models. “This has quite big implications. This means there may not be enough public data to train models in the future,” she warns.

Python and JavaScript

The trend could disrupt the open web ecosystem, as AI tools like ChatGPT rely on publicly shared knowledge for training data. "Even AI models like ChatGPT are trained on human-generated content like Stack Overflow posts,” explains Johannes Wachs, a faculty member at CSH. Ironically, as AI displaces these platforms, the quality of training data may deteriorate over time.

The impact is especially pronounced in posts related to widely-used programming languages like Python and JavaScript, where activity has dropped significantly. The study suggests this shift is not limited to novices but affects users across all experience levels, indicating a broad move from public to private interactions on AI platforms.

With fewer people contributing to public platforms, AI models may eventually rely on lower-quality data, which could degrade their performance. The researchers call for a balanced approach that maintains the open exchange of knowledge while embracing AI advancements.

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Google continues to replace Google Assistant features using its Gemini AI models and branding, as discovered in as-yet unreleased code by Android Authority. The tech giant's infusion of Gemini is rolling throughout its product line.

Upcoming Gemini Extensions will take over Google Assistant integrations with apps including Google Messages, Spotify, and WhatsApp. These Gemini extensions are designed to take over for those Google Assistant integrations while promising to personalize the interaction beyond the capacity of the older AI assistant. 

Right now, if you ask your Android device or Google app to play a song on Spotify or send a message via WhatsApp, Google Assistant completes the task. The code in the beta version of the Google app lays out how Gemini will pick up that role through Extensions running independently from Google Assistant. 

It's not just a cosmetic shift. The Spotify Extension works like the YouTube Music Gemini Extension, playing a song upon request and showing an image of the song that you can tap to open Spotify. The Gemini Extensions also allow you to use much more casual language than Google Assistant when asking Google to play music on Spotify or call someone with WhatsApp. They also speed up the process by eliminating some of the follow-up clarifications required by Google Assistant. 

The AI will adapt to your preferences, remembering what apps you favor for carrying out tasks. So, if you always use WhatsApp to call certain people and your phone to call others, you'll be able to ask the AI to call one of them without specifying which app to use, and it will automatically pick the right one. The same goes for asking Gemini to play a song on YouTube Music or Spotify. You can also manually adjust which apps are used for which tasks. 

Extension Stars

The Gemini Extensions being in beta means they can't do everything you might want as of yet. Gemini can't read or show old messages when asked yet, though that may be included when the final version of the update rolls out. When it does arrive, you might not find the update groundbreaking, but if you pay attention, you'll likely notice how much better Google's voice AI is at understanding what you want it to do and how it is completing your requests faster than you remember.

Gemini Extensions are key to Google's efforts to encourage people to use Gemini by spreading the AI everywhere. Gemini is becoming the foundation for both Google products and how they link to third-party apps and services. Google Assistant as both a brand and a product is being superseded, though marketing is definitely as much a part of that shift as actual technical upgrades. 

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You’ve probably never heard of Foxconn Technology Group, but it is a Taiwanese consumer electronics manufacturer that is perhaps best known for supplying the world with Apple iPhones – it also makes most of Amazon’s Kindles and Nintendo’s gaming consoles. 

Stopping short of actually producing the folklore legend Apple Car, the company has branched out into developing electric vehicles of its own under the Foxtron moniker, with its existing Model C five-or seven-seater SUV already licensed by the rapidly expanding Taiwanese automotive brand Luxgen and badged the n7.

While Foxtron isn’t exactly interested in becoming a recognized automotive name in its own right, it is keen to sell its designs and platforms to other, perhaps more established players in the EV market.

As such, it used its most recent Apple-esque Technology Day event to reveal two new models in the Model D and the Model U – a naming convention that might have folk at Tesla pulling a confused face.

The Model D is an absolutely massive, angular Lifestyle Multipurpose Utility Vehicle (LMUV), which measures 5.1m in length (think Ford Transit van size)  and almost 2m wide. Inside, there’s enough space for seven people to ride, although Foxtron is keen to point out that it can configure its cars to a B2B customer’s demands.

(Image credit: Foxconn Technology Group)

Powering the LMUV is a range of 100-120kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery packs, which would see an effective range of around 310 miles to almost 400-miles in the range-topping versions.

Designed with aerodynamics at the forefront, it features all manner of creases and ducts to improve airflow. Despite its blocky look, it was actually penned by Pininfarina, the designers behind numerous classic Italian sports cars. 

Naturally, Foxtron has also ensured the interior of its Model D plays nicely with the technology its sister company manufacturers. There are specific charging spots for iPhones in the rear, as well slots for passengers to attach their own iPads.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Model U is a mid-sized electric bus that features the latest in advanced driver assist systems. Perhaps Tesla needn’t be too worried, after all.

Analysis: A Chinese ban could open the door for Taiwan

(Image credit: Foxconn Technology Group)

The purpose of the Foxconn Technology Group’s Technology Day event was to reveal a series of vehicles that the company says is destined for the North American market. 

The Model C, which is already on sale in Taiwan, has seen its design tweaked slightly for a US audience and could be heading there soon, while the aforementioned Model D is set for production some time in 2026.

However, there’s no word on exactly what badge these cars will carry when they eventually go on sale to the general public, with Foxconn’s Contract Design and Manufacturing Service (CDMS) business model essentially providing the platform, hardware and updatable software to the highest bidder.

But with the US and much of Europe clamping down on imported Chinese EVs, it could be the perfect opportunity for Taiwan to offer the cheaper but more technologically advanced electric vehicle. 

Foxtron already has models ready to roll that cover everything from the small B-segment hatchback to a much larger pick-up truck. It has also made some serious advances in electric vehicle technology. 

Battery partnership programs with Pininfarina, ZF, Our Next Energy (ONE) and BMW have spawned ultra high-range LFP packs, with the resulting Gemini Dual-Chemistry Battery able to power a BMW iX for 608 miles on a single charge.

Plus, a relationship with Nvidia, albeit one that provides servers for AI applications, will likely put it in a favorable position to receive the latest single-chip architecture innovations required for Software Defined Vehicles and those with high levels of autonomous driving capabilities.

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The 8-core Zhaoxin KaiXian KX-7000 processor, China’s latest entry into the x86 CPU market, was recently put through its paces by PC Watch, and while it shows promise, early tests indicate that it falls short of competing with AMD and Intel’s offerings in key areas.

Developed by Shanghai Zhaoxin Integrated Circuit Co., the KX-7000 aims to carve out a niche for China in a sector dominated by the two giants. Zhaoxin is backed by Taiwan's VIA Technologies and the Shanghai Municipal Government, and its CPUs are built on intellectual property acquired from Centaur Technology.

The KX-7000 is the successor to the KX-6000, which was released in 2019. Although the KX-7000 series was initially slated for a 2021 launch, the first compatible hardware only became available this year.

Still a way off the pace

According to PC Watch, performance benchmarks show that while the KX-7000 has made strides over its predecessor, it lags behind Intel’s older 8th generation Core i3-8100 in single-thread performance. Multi-threaded workloads, however, show improvement due to its higher core count. It’s compatible with AVX and AVX2 instructions but lacks support for AVX-512.

The KX-7000 has the potential to power basic desktop or office applications but struggles with more demanding software and games. Its integrated graphics, the ZX C-1190, supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6, but it is roughly equivalent to a low-end GPU from a decade ago.

Overall, the KX-7000 represents a step forward for Zhaoxin, but its performance and software compatibility need substantial improvement before it can truly hope to compete with global rivals. As PC Watch points out, “If this could be distributed cheaply across China, it might gain traction… but with the current dominance of ultra-cheap mini-PCs equipped with Intel’s N100 series, unless there’s a specific need for China’s unique encryption standards like SM2, SM3, or SM4, it’s unlikely that the current low-profile sales strategy will change.”

For reference, the KaiXian KX-7000/8 setup costs the equivalent of around $270 for the CPU, with an additional $135 for the motherboard. The processor uses an LGA1700 socket similar to Intel’s (so it can accommodate standard CPU coolers) but the internal structure is entirely different and not compatible with Intel motherboards.

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I've shot thousands of hours of video over the years of my career and I can tell you that it takes lots of preparation, work, and energy. I can also tell you that if you use an AI avatar video generator like HeyGen, it takes almost none of the above, and that scares the heck out of me.

With the advent of high-quality generative video, these AI video avatars are popping up everywhere. I haven't paid much attention, mostly because I like being on camera and am happy to do it for TV and social video. Even so, I know not everyone loves the spotlight and would happily hand the duties over to an avatar, and when I got a glimpse of the apparent quality of HeyGen's avatars, I was intrigued enough to give it a try. Now I honestly wish I hadn't.

HeyGen, which you can use on mobile or desktop, is a simple and powerful platform for creating AI avatars that can, based on scripts you provide, speak to the camera for you. They're useful for video presentations, social media, interactive avatars, training videos, and essentially anything where an engaging human face might help sell the topic or information.

HeyGen lets you create digital twins that can appear in relatively static videos or ones in which the other you is on the move. For my experience, I chose the 'Still' option.

Setting up another me

(Image credit: Future)

There are some rules for creating your avatar and I think following them as I did may have resulted in the slightly off-putting quality of my digital twin.

HeyGen recommends you start the process by shooting a video of yourself using either a professional camera or one of your best smartphones, but the video should be at least 1080p. If you use the free version as I did, you'll note that the final videos are only 720p. Upgrade later and you can start producing full HD video avatars (more on the pricing structure later).

There are other bits of guidance like using a "nice background," avoiding harsh shadows" and background noise, and a few that are key to selling the digital twin version of you. HeyGen asked that I look directly (but not creepily, I assume) at the camera, make normal (open to interpretation) gestures below chest level, and take pauses between sentences. The last bit is actually good advice for making real videos. I have a habit of speaking stream of consciousness and forget to pause and create obvious soundbites for editing.

Here, though, the pauses are not about what you're saying, at least for the training video. It seems to be about learning to manage your twin's face and mouth when you're talking and when you're not.

In any case, I could say anything I wanted to the camera as long as it was for at least 2 minutes. More video will help with the quality of new videos featuring your avatar.

Training to be me

(Image credit: Future)

I set up my iPhone 16 Pro Max and a couple of lights and filmed myself in my home office for 2 minutes speaking about nonsense, all the while making sure to take 1-second pauses and to keep my gestures from being too wild. After I Airdropped it to my MacBook Air, I uploaded the video. It was at this point it became clear that as a non-paying user, I was handing over virtually all video rights to HeyGen. Not optimal at all but I was not about to start paying $24 a month for the basic plan and to return control of my image.

The HeyGen system took considerable time to ingest the video and prepare my digital twin. Once it was ready, I was able to create my first 3-minute video. Paying customers can create 5-minute videos or longer, depending on which service tier they choose, Paying also grants access to faster video processing.

To create a video, I selected the video format: portrait or landscape. I shot my training video in portrait but that did not seem to matter. I also had to provide a script that I could type or paste into a field that accepts a maximum of 2000 characters.

For someone who writes for a living, I struggled with the script, finally settling a on brief soliloquy from Hamlet. After checking the script length, the system went to work and slowly generated my first HeyGen Digital Twin video. I must've accidentally kept some blank spaces at the end of my script because about half of it is the digital me silently vamping for the cameras. It's unsettling.

Nothing is real @lanceulanoff

♬ original sound - LanceUlanoff

I followed this up with a tight TikTok video where I revealed that the video they were watching was not really me. My third video and the last of my free monthly allotment, was of me telling a joke: "Have you ever played quiet tennis? It's the same as regular tennis but without the racket. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" As you might've guessed, the punchline doesn't really land and because my digital twin never smiles and delivers the "laughter" in a completely humorless way, none of it is even remotely funny.

In all of these videos, I was struck by the audio quality. It's the essence of my voice but also not my voice. It's too robotic and lacking in emotion. At least it's properly synced with the mouth. The visuals, on the other hand, are almost perfect. My digital twin looks just like me or, at least a very emotionless version of me who is into Tim Cook keynote-style hand gestures. To be fair, I didn't know what to do with my hands when I originally recorded my training video, worrying that if I didn't control my often wild hand gestures they would look bizarre with my digital twin. I was wrong. This overly-controlled twin is the bizarre one.

Just nope

Can an AI version of me tell a joke? Sort of. #heygen @HeyGen_Official pic.twitter.com/ODke9z67VHOctober 9, 2024

On TikTok, someone wrote, "Nobody likes this. Nobody wants this." When I posted the video on Threads, the reactions ranged from shock to dismay. People noticed my "distracting" hand gestures, called it "creepy", and worried that such videos represented the "death of truth."

But here's the thing. While the AI-generated video is concerning, it did not say anything I did not write or copy and paste. Yes, my digital twin is well past uncanny and deep into unnervingly accurate but at least it's doing my bidding. The concern is if you have a good 2-minute video of someone else speaking, could you upload that and then make it say whatever you want? Possibly.

HeyGen gets credit for effectively creating a no-fuss digital twin video generator. It's far from perfect and could be vastly improved if they also had users train it on emotions (the right looks for 'funny', 'sad', 'mad', you get it) and a wider variety of facial expressions (a smile or two would be nice). Until then these digital twins will be our emotionless doubles, waiting to do our video bidding.

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PS5 Pro pre-orders

(Image credit: Sony)

1. US quick links - PS5 Pro pre-orders
2. US quick links - 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders
3. UK quick links - PS5 Pro pre-orders
4. UK quick links - 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders
5. Complete US pre-orders
6. Complete UK pre-orders
7. Live updates

The second wave of PS5 Pro pre-orders and PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders are about to arrive and we're expecting extraordinary demand for both once more.

The opening of the PS5 Pro pre-order window two weeks ago saw Sony's new mid-generation refresh console go in and out of stock but stabilize afterwards and PlayStation Direct has since offered a reliable location to place a pre-order. However, the significant part of this next window – which opens tomorrow (October 10) – is that other retailers can now get in on the action. So, if you've been waiting to shop at your preferred store online then the time to strike is near. We're hoping that said retailers will have some flexibility in terms of how to sell the PS5 Pro, too, and that we might see attractive and value-busting bundles as a result. Fingers crossed.

Some of the fiercest action last time out was away from the regular Pro console, and on the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders – in particular, the 30th Anniversary DualSense pre-orders, which sold like hotcakes wherever they popped up. Plus, with retailers also able to offer their own PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary pre-orders from tomorrow, we're likely to see some serious competition in the limited-edition field. We're hoping that this new phase of pre-orders will bring more stock of the Limited Edition 30th Anniversary hardware, but there are no guarantees on that front.

Among the chaos of the Anniversary Collection pre-orders, and now that PS5 Pro pre-orders have leveled out, it's worth remembering that swotting up on where to buy a PS5 disc drive is also a fine idea right now, given the surge of interest in that accessory.

PS5 Pro pre-orders - US Quick Links

• PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at PlayStation Direct
• PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at Amazon (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at Walmart (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at Best Buy (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at Target (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at GameStop (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Newegg (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Antonline (starts Oct 10)

30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders - US Quick Links

• PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition Bundle: $999.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: $499 at Walmart (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: $499.99 at Best Buy (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: $499.99 at Target (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: $499.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at Amazon (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79 at Walmart (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at Best Buy (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at Target (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at GameStop (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense Edge: $219 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary PlayStation Portal: $219 at PS Direct (out of stock)

PS5 Pro pre-orders - UK Quick Links

• PS5 Pro pre-order: £699.99 at PlayStation Direct
• PS5 Pro pre-order: £699.99 at EE Store (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Amazon (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Very (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Currys (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Argos (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Pro pre-order: Check Game (starts Oct 10)

30th Anniversary Collection pre-orders - UK Quick Links

• 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro bundle: £959.99 at PlayStation Direct (out of stock)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: Check Amazon (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: Check Argos (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: Check Very (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: Check Currys (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: Check Game (starts Oct 10)
• PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Digital Edition: £433.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: £69.99 at Amazon (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: £69.99 at Argos (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: £69.99 at Game (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense: £69.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary DualSense Edge: £219.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)
• 30th Anniversary PlayStation Portal: £209.99 at PS Direct (out of stock)

PS5 Pro pre-orders - US complete pre-order listings

PS5 Pro pre-order: $699.99 at PlayStation Direct
If you're only interested in getting a PS5 Pro pre-order donee and dusted with the greatest of ease then these are the links to follow right now. PS Direct is live, and the below should (hopefully) follow tomorrow.

Check for stock: $699.99 at Amazon | $699.99 at Walmart | $699.99 at Best Buy | $699.99 at TargetView Deal

PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition bundle: $999.99 at PlayStation Direct (out of stock)
Perhaps the most in-demand PS5 Pro and 30th Anniversary product of them all, this sold out in minutes last time around. We're hoping that Sony will release more stock, but if that first phase was the entire 12,300 items then we may be totally out of luck for any more stock. If it's going to come up it'll be on this link though.View Deal

PS5 Slim Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Edition bundle: $499.99 at PlayStation Direct (out of stock)
The PS5 Slim Digital Edition sold out at PS Direct last time around, but with more retailers getting involved on this product in this upcoming pre-order window, we're hopeful that more folks will be able to get this one.

Check for stock: $499.99 at Walmart | $499.99 at Best Buy | $499.99 at TargetView Deal

DualSense 30th Anniversary Edition: $79.99 at PlayStation Direct (out of stock)
The DualSense 30th Anniversary Edition hung about for a while on September 26 so we're hopeful of something similar happening this time around – particularly as other retailers can sell the controller. The below stores are the ones to keep checking this time.

Check for stock: $79.99 at Amazon | $79 at Walmart | $79.99 at Best Buy | $79.99 at GameStopView Deal

DualSense Edge 30th Anniversary Edition: Check stock at PlayStation Direct (out of stock)
The limited-edition DualSense Edge sold out remarkably quickly in the US on pre-order day one. Given it's a PlayStation Direct-exclusive and not available anywhere else, we are not confident of a restock this time around – but if it comes, it'll be on this link!View Deal

PlayStation Portal 30th Anniversary Edition: $219.99 at PlayStation Direct (out of stock)
The 30th Anniversary Edition PlayStation Portal was one of the last things to sell out on September 26, but it did. We have no idea if it will return in the next round of pre-orders but if it will be anywhere, it'll be at PS Direct.View Deal

PS5 Pro pre-orders - UK complete pre-order listings

PS5 Pro pre-orders: £699.99 at PlayStation Direct
Pre-orders have remained stable at PlayStation Direct since a bit of a flutter with stock on September 26. Now it's readily available for pre-order at PS Direct, and retailers like the below ones will be in on the action in a matter of hours too, so choices will be numerous!

Check stock: £699.99 at EE Store | £699.99 at Amazon | £699.99 at Argos | £699.99 at Very | £699.99 at CurrysView Deal

PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition bundle: £959.99 at PlayStation Direct UK (sold out)
The PS5 Pro bundle sold out in minutes in the UK, just as it did in the US. It's the biggest bundle of all, and we'd be very pleasantly surprised if we saw a restock of this on October 10 – but here's hoping…View Deal

PS5 Slim Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Edition bundle: £433.99 at PlayStation Direct (sold out)
The PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition will be a hot product in the UK, with other retailers getting in on the action on October 10. Here are the best links to try right now and on the day itself.

Check for stock: £433.99 at Amazon | £433.99 at Argos | £433.99 at Very | £433.99 at Currys | £433.99 at GameView Deal

DualSense 30th Anniversary Edition: £69.99 at Amazon (out of stock)
The 30th Anniversary DualSense was incredibly popular last pre-order window, due to the fact that it could be bought as a standalone item, and even subsequent Amazon restocks have lasted a mere moment. It's also sold out at other retailers right now, but the below links are worth checking regularly for restocks or flashes of inventory.

Check for stock: £69.99 at Argos | £69.99 at Game | £69.99 at PS DirectView Deal

DualSense Edge 30th Anniversary Edition: £219.99 at PlayStation Direct UK (out of stock)
The premium DualSense Edge sold out on day one of pre-orders and as a PlayStation Direct exclusive, we're not totally confident we'll see any more stock, sadly.View Deal

PlayStation Portal 30th Anniversary Edition: £209.99 at PlayStation Direct UK (out of stock)
In the UK, the PlayStation Portal 30th Anniversary Edition has finally run out of stock.View Deal

Hello! Welcome, pull up a chair, get comfortable, and settle in for our live coverage of the next phase of PS5 Pro pre-order and PS5 30th Anniversary Collection pre-order festivities.

We're getting into position nice and early this time around and hope some extra preparation will help us, and you, navigate the action when it kicks in as the clock ticks over to October 10.

I'll be covering retailer information for both regular PS5 Pro pre-orders, and the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary console, as well as what we can expect, hope for, and prepare for in advance of pre-orders kicking off once again. Let's get into it.

So why are we getting prepared so early for this phase of pre-orders? 

Well, as well as having the opportunity to place a regular PS5 Pro pre-order at your retailer of choice - exclusive to PlayStation Direct as they have been so far - there’s also another 30th Anniversary pre-order to look out for in the shape of the PS5 Slim Digital Edition bundle. While the PS5 Pro bundle took all the headlines last time, this PS5 Slim model, and its wider availability, will draw a lot of attention and demand.

We’re expecting that demand to manifest in some volatile stock levels and fierce competition: after all, it’s worth remembering that all of the current 30th Anniversary Collection hardware and accessories are totally sold out at PlayStation Direct (US and UK) and at any other retailers who had stock of the DualSense controller briefly.

As a result, if you’re eyeing up the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary pre-order to get in on that retro PlayStation hardware action, then tomorrow is going to be an important day for you.

Early predictions: what can we expect at the big retailers?

(Image credit: Sony)

Now that Sony will be opening up regular PS5 Pro pre-orders and 30th Anniversary PS5 Slim pre-orders to other retailers, we can expect a flurry of action at the go-to places - on both sides of the Atlantic.

We've even got some retailer listing pages live and ready at the likes of Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and the EE Store in the UK (slightly strangely) for both the regular Pro and the Anniversary PS5 Slim so we know where to point you and some important details on what to expect. We can interrogate these pages individually, and offer advice on maximizing your chances of getting the console you want.

It's worth noting at this early stage that we don't know exactly when all pre-orders for both will begin tomorrow at all retailers. For example, could UK retailers go live at midnight tonight? Maybe! We'll be doing our best to cater for such an event. However, we do know a bit more about US retailers and times so we'll be sure to cover that in this live blog to furnish you with the details you need.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have made significant strides in developing a structural battery that could drastically reduce the weight and energy consumption of vehicles and electronic devices.

The structural battery, made from a carbon fiber composite, functions as both a power source and a load-bearing component, making it ideal for a range of purposes. "We have succeeded in creating a battery made of carbon fiber composite that is as stiff as aluminum and energy-dense enough to be used commercially. Just like a human skeleton, the battery has several functions at the same time," said Richa Chaudhary, lead author of a paper recently published in Advanced Materials.

The battery offers an energy density of 30 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), which is lower than standard lithium-ion batteries but allows for a significant reduction in overall weight.

A huge boost for electric cars

Professor Leif Asp, who leads the research, explained that electric cars using this battery could see a huge boost in driving range. "Investing in light and energy-efficient vehicles is a matter of course if we are to economize on energy and think about future generations," said Asp. "We have made calculations on electric cars that show they could drive for up to 70 percent longer than today if they had competitive structural batteries."

The structural battery also has improved stiffness, now reaching 70 gigapascals (GPa), allowing it to carry loads as effectively as aluminum while being much lighter. Asp stated, "In terms of multifunctional properties, the new battery is twice as good as its predecessor – and actually the best ever made in the world."

Although the technology is still under development, Sinonus AB, a spin-off from Chalmers Ventures, is working to bring this innovation to the market. Asp envisions that lightweight laptops, mobile phones, and electric vehicle components will be among the first products to benefit from the structural battery.

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iPhones and Android phones now have a lot in common, particularly since iOS 18 embraced customization in a big way. But one big area where they still differ is in resale values – with Apple's phones continuing to be better long-term investments than their Android equivalents, according to a new report.

A new survey from CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners) asked new phone buyers what they did with their previous phones. The standout stat was that 41% of iPhone owners turned their old handset into money by either selling it or trading it in, compared to only 17% of Android phone owners doing the same.

This stat is likely influenced, as CIRP notes, by the fact that iPhone owners typically have more invested in their pricier phones, on average – so are therefore more likely to sell them on. But separate data revealed that retired iPhones are also typically older than retired Android phones. And other reports back up the conclusion that iPhones do typically hold their value better than their rivals.

For example, 2024 data from the resale aggregator SellCell recently revealed that the iPhone 15 series had been depreciating at a much slower rate than rival 2023 flagships from the likes of Google, Samsung, and OnePlus. One notable example was that the iPhone 15 had an average price depreciation of 27.4% during its first three months, compared to a 43.5% drop for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series in its first few months.

Of course, not all iPhones are immune to price drops. A separate SellCell report in March revealed that the iPhone SE had a much higher price depreciation than other iPhone models – for example, the iPhone SE 3 series apparently lost around 65% of its value in the first 18 months following its launch. Alarmingly for SE fans, it actually lost 42.6% of its value in the first month after launch.

The flipside of this is that the SE range – and many Android phones – can offer great second-hand value if you're prepared to wait a little while. But if you like to buy your phones new and prefer to get the latest models, it seems that the iPhone continues to be the stronger long-term investment – and will give you more options when it's time to upgrade.

Why do iPhones retain their value?

(Image credit: Future)

There are a few different likely explanations for the resilience of second-hand iPhone prices, compared to Android. One is that aside from the SE series, iPhones are typically higher-end devices compared to the whole Android ecosystem – and that luxury reputation is reflected in their sell-on prices.

A related factor is the sheer number of Android models compared to the iPhone – the wide variety of Android models can dilute their appeal compared to Apple's tightly controlled lineup, which currently comprises only five models. Discounts on iPhones are also comparably rare, even during Black Friday, which can again help to slow price depreciation.

But other resale realities also play a part. Resell websites often buy used phones en masse and the availability of replacement parts like screens or batteries – and the knowledge of how to fix them – is simply wider for iPhones, again raising their appeal and prices in the second-hand market. That's particularly the case for the iPhone Pro series.

Still, resale values aren't everything – and if, like an increasing number of phone buyers, you're holding onto your phone for several years, then they're only a minor factor in which phone you buy. And with refurbished phones being more popular than ever, the sheer availability of phone bargains – whether you're on iOS or Android – has never been better.

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The number of active ransomware groups over the last 12 months is on the rise as criminals look for more ways to target businesses, new research has claimed.

The 2024 State of Threat Report from Secureworks has revealed a rise in the number of active ransomware groups over the last 12 months - identifying a 30% rise in the number of active groups.

The figures represents a diversification of the landscape rather than a particularly drastic increase in criminals. Since the notorious Lockbit disruption, in which the most prolific group was briefly shut down, the ransomware ecosystem has evolved, with 31 new groups being established.

A variety of tactics

One of the key findings from the report is that unpatched vulnerabilities remain the top Initial Access Vector (IAV) in ransomware attacks, making up almost 50% of all IAVs. This outlines more than ever the importance of staying on top of cybersecurity and software updates.

In 2024, PLAY has become the most active group, and has doubled its victim count year-on year. Further evidence of the broadening of the attack sources is the fact that Lockbit, previously a dominant player, has seen an 8% reduction in its share of ransomware attacks.

“Cybercriminal ecosystems are akin to living organisms. They adapt and mutate in the face of disruption, reacting with speed to maintain the tempo of their attacks. The names and affiliations may be different, but the impact is the same, with attacks causing maximum business disruption, downtime, and remediation costs,” said Secureworks Vice President Don Smith.

The report also outlines a persistence of state-sponsored threat actors from Russia, China, and Iran amongst others. These are driven by geopolitical conflicts and underscore the growing use of cyberattacks as a political tool.

Unsurprisingly, AI continues to flourish as a tool for malicious actors, contributing to both the problem and the solution as the technology is increasingly used in both cyberattacks and cybersecurity solutions. This is consistent with earlier research which suggests ransomware has as much as doubled thanks to AI.

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LinkedIn is passing the responsibility onto users for sharing misleading or inaccurate information made by its own AI tools, instead of the tools themselves.

A November 2024 update to its Service Agreement will hold users accountable for sharing any misinformation created by AI tools that violate the privacy agreement.

Since no one can guarantee that the content generative AI produces is truthful or correct, companies are covering themselves by putting the onus on users to moderate the content they share.

Inaccurate, misleading, or not fit for purpose

ThE update follows the footsteps of LinkedIn's parent company Microsoft, who earlier in 2024 updated its terms of service to remind users not to take AI services too seriously, and to address limitations to the AI, advising it is ‘not designed intended, or to be used as substitutes for professional advice’.

LinkedIn will continue to provide features which can generate automated content, but with the caveat that it may not be trustworthy.

“Generative AI Features: By using the Services, you may interact with features we offer that automate content generation for you. The content that is generated might be inaccurate, incomplete, delayed, misleading or not suitable for your purposes," the updated passage will read.

The new policy reminds users to double check any information and make edits where necessary to adhere to community guidelines,

“Please review and edit such content before sharing with others. Like all content you share on our Services, you are responsible for ensuring it complies with our Professional Community Policies, including not sharing misleading information.”

The social network site is probably expecting its genAI models to improve in future, especially since it now uses user data to train its models by default, requiring users to opt out if they don’t want their data used.

There was pretty significant backlash against this move, as GDPR concerns clash with generative AI models across the board, but the recent policy update shows the models still have a fair bit of training needed.

Via The Register

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If you’ve been following the latest AI news then you’ll know that chatbots that you can talk to using your voice are here. OpenAI was one of the first to demo the technology with its ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode (currently only free for 10 minutes a month), but Google got to market first with Gemini Live (now free to all Android users), and recently Microsoft joined in by revamping its Copilot website and app (which is free to everyone) to include voice conversations.

The ability to talk to AI using our voice, and have it talk back like a human, has been the sci-fi dream ever since Captain James T. Kirk addressed the ship’s computer in Star Trek, but it was later sci-fi creations that proved indistinguishable from human beings, like HAL 9000 and the Blade Runner replicants, that ignited our imaginations about the possibilities of an AI that could interact like a human.

Now we appear to be living in the future, because you can, right now, have a conversation with AI using the smartphone or computer you’re reading this on. But while we’ve made huge progress towards a human-like companion, there’s still a long way to go, as I discovered recently by putting the latest voice-controlled AIs – ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode, Gemini Live, and Copilot – through their paces for a couple of weeks. Here are my top three takeaways:

(Image credit: OpenAI) 1. Interruptions are a great idea, but don’t work properly

The biggest problem I find with talking AIs is being able to interrupt them successfully, or their ability to interrupt you when you don’t want them to. It's great that ChatGPT, Gemini Live, and Copilot all let you interrupt, mainly because they tend to give long and ponderous answers to everything you ask them, and without that ability, you wouldn’t bother using them. That process, however, is often flawed; either they miss your interruption or they then respond to your interruption with more talking. Usually, it’s some version of, “Ok, what would you like to know about instead?”, when all you want them to do is stop talking so you can begin to talk. The result is usually a messy series of jumps and starts that kills the natural flow of the conversation and stops it from feeling human.

Quite often this week I found myself yelling, “Just stop talking!”, at my phone, just so I could get a word in, which isn’t a good look. Especially since I sit in an office surrounded by people for most of the day.

Another problem I frequently encountered with all of the chatbots is thinking I had finished talking when in fact I was just pausing to consider my thoughts and was still halfway through a sentence. The whole AI experience needs to be as smooth as butter for you to have confidence in it, or the spell breaks.

2. There's not enough local information

Ask any of the current crop of chatbots where the best place to get a pizza is locally and apart from Gemini Live, you get told that they can’t search the web. Gemini Live is massively ahead here – it will make a recommendation for somewhere good to get pizza. The recommendations aren’t bad, and although it can't make a reservation for you it will get you the phone number of the restaurant.

Voice-activated chatbots obviously need to be able to browse the web, just like text-based chatbots currently can, but right now ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode and Copilot can’t, and that’s a huge drawback when it comes to delivering relevant information.

(Image credit: OpenAI) 3. They're not personal enough

For voice AI to be useful it needs to know a lot of information about you. It also needs to be able to access your important apps like your inbox and your calendar. At the moment it can’t do that. If you ask it, “Hey, am I free at 4 pm this Friday?”, or, “When is the next family birthday coming up?”, you get told that it can’t do that right now, and without that kind of ability, the usefulness of voice AI just falls off a cliff.

(Image credit: Future / Apple ) So, what is a talking AI good for?

Right now the best use of Voice AI is for asking questions, giving you some motivation to do something, or coming up with ideas that you wouldn’t think of on your own. Pick a subject and get AI to engage with you in a conversation and you’ll find that it knows a surprising amount about a lot of things. It’s fascinating! For example, one of the things I actually know a lot about is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and I found I could engage each of the chatbots in a pretty good conversation about it, even down to a surprising level of detail regarding techniques and positions. Based on my experience I’d say that Copilot gave me the best answers and that Gemini seemed more likely to hallucinate things that weren’t true.

In terms of the interface, I think ChatGPT is leading the way. I really like the way its swirling orb seems to react with a pulse that’s in time with whatever you say, which gives you confidence it’s actually listening. Gemini Live in contrast has a mainly dark screen with a glowing area at the bottom, which doesn’t give you a focus point to look at, leading to a slightly more soulless experience.

The AI you can talk to right now is great for delving into research topics, but it also feels a bit half-finished, and it's going to need a lot more integration with our smartphones before it can perform at the level we’d naturally like it to. Of course, it will get better over time. Right now the elephant in the room is Apple Intelligence and its associated Siri, who are both late to the party. We’re still waiting for an Apple Intelligence release date, and even then we won’t get the full all-singing, all-dancing Siri until next year.

Right now the promise of an AI we can talk to just like a friend or a real virtual assistant seems tantalizingly close, but also still a long way off.

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While Nvidia hasn’t confirmed the release of its rumored new flagship GPU, the company’s recently shared news that CEO Jensen Huang is to deliver the keynote at CES 2025 – that’s 6:30 PM January 6 2025 – could hint at the highly-anticipated debut of the RTX 5090.

Rumors have been swirling about the RTX 5090’s specs, but Nvidia has remained excruciatingly tight-lipped. Huang’s CES keynote, his first for the major tech event held annually every January in Las Vegas, might be the moment we find out more. CES has long been the prime stage for major Nvidia announcements.

Nvidia cards are not always debuted in Las Vegas, of course. The GeForce RTX 40 series, for instance, debuted in September 2022. But the RTX 40 Super series and mobile versions did debut at (or around) CES, in 2023 and CES 2024 respectively. This pattern, plus Nvidia’s announcement of Huang’s keynote, could indicate that the rumors of a CES 2025 reveal for its new flagship series are in fact true.

Tune in to the #CES2025 opening keynote by our CEO Jensen Huang live in Las Vegas on Monday, January 6, at 6:30 p.m. PT. https://t.co/kMkKNXvRge pic.twitter.com/Adv1WfVPvjOctober 7, 2024

All aboard the hype train...

The RTX 5090 is rumored to feature the Blackwell GB202-300-A1 GPU with 21,760 CUDA cores – that’s over 30% more than the ultra-powerful RTX 4090’s 16,384 cores. Memory-wise, it could include 32GB of GDDR7 RAM on a 512-bit bus. Combined with a possible 28Gbps memory chip, this could result in a staggering 1.78TB/s of memory bandwidth, a 68% increase over the 1TB/s you get with the RTX 4090.

Another point of speculation is power consumption. Leaker kopite7kimi suggests the RTX 5090 could require up to a 600 Watt PSU (Power Supply Unit), significantly higher than the 4090’s 450W demands. That’s not wholly bad, since the 5090 is shaping up to be Nvidia’s most powerful GPU yet, but it does also mean gamers may have to shell out even more on a new PSU for their PC, and maybe even a new cooling system as well. And since the GPU itself is rumored to cost up to $2,000, you could be looking at an extremely expensive upgrade.

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Prime Video's latest crime comedy series The Sticky is based on real-life maple syrup heist that happened in Canada in 2011, which is as wild as it sounds. And if you're a Breaking Bad fan, you're going to spot some similarities between this and the hit HBO series when it hits our screens on December 6.

If you need further convincing, this series has some seriously impressive names attached. It's produced by Blumhouse, known for making some of the best horror movies, and stars huge names such as Margo Martindale and Jamie Lee Curtis. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to sit down and get this watched right now. Maybe it'll even join our big best Prime Video shows list.

Take a look at these first-look images from Blumhouse to give you a taste of what's to come.

A plan so wickedly good, it’s sweet.Here’s your first look at The Sticky, a new Blumhouse Television dark-comedy series executive produced by Jamie Lee Curtis and inspired by the true story of the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. Coming soon to @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/yG0A7CblcVOctober 9, 2024

What should we know about The Sticky?

As mentioned, The Sticky is loosely based on a real-life heist involving the theft of nearly 3,000 tonnes of maple syrup from a storage facility in Quebec. During this illegal operation, thieves used trucks to transport barrels to a remote sugar shack, where they siphoned off the maple syrup, refilled the barrels with water, and returned them to the facility. They then sold the syrup to legitimate syrup distributors to make a profit.

The Sticky will dramatize these events with a comedic twist and Prime Video has teased that the series follows Ruth Landry (Margo Martindale), a tough maple syrup farmer who turns to crime when the authorities threaten to take away everything she loves. She teams up with a hot-tempered Bostonian mobster (Chris Diamantopoulos), and a mild-mannered French-Canadian security guard (Guillaume Cyr), so we've already got ourselves a wild group of misfits. Meanwhile, Jamie Lee Curtis appears as an unnamed guest character.

This heist has previously been covered in the Netflix documentary series Dirty Money, but the six-episode series will depict the events like you've never seen before.

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Microsoft is warning of a new phishing campaign that abuses different privacy settings in cloud-based file hosting services to bypass security solutions and steal login credentials, deploy malware, and more.

In a blog post, the company outlined how crooks have been seen abusing SharePoint, OneDrive, and Dropbox services in their attacks.

First, the attackers would compromise a person’s cloud hosting account - they can either purchase an account on the black market, or obtain the login credentials elsewhere. Then, they would use these credentials to upload a document to one of these services. The document is usually a fake Microsoft 365 login page, which serves not only to steal people’s credentials, but also to grab MFA codes and one-time passwords, too. Alternatively, the file can contain a link to a malicious site, where victims would share their login credentials, download malware to their devices, or similar.

Abusing privacy settings

Here is where it gets interesting - cloud-based file hosting services have security solutions that scan for malicious links and files. However, depending on the document’s privacy settings, security solutions may not be allowed to scan it.

“To bypass analysis by email detonation systems, the files shared in these phishing attacks are set to ‘view-only’ mode, disabling the ability to download and consequently, the detection of embedded URLs within the file,” Microsoft explained.

Alternatively, the hackers would restrict access to the document only to designated recipients, to the same result.

To make matters worse - the threat actors are not distributing these files in the traditional phishing way. Instead, when they grant access to the document only to specific accounts, the cloud service sends an email notification to those accounts. Consequently, the victims get an email from a reputable source, further boosting the perceived legitimacy of the email.

The best way to defend against such attacks is to use common sense and be extra careful when receiving email messages, regardless of who they’re coming from.

Via The Hacker News

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Google’s Recorder app on the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro is one of its best AI-enhanced apps – we say as much in our Google Pixel 9 Pro review – thanks to its up to 40-minute-long real-time transcriptions. And soon a version of it will be coming to the best Chromebooks via the next ChromeOS 130 update.

That’s according to 9to5Google, which has revealed that the tool won’t just be coming to top-of-the-line Chromebook Plus devices – although these will get a few unique AI features, reportedly including a helpful offline speech-to-text tool that can function in real time on top of the usual voice-recording capabilities.

With a Chromebook Plus machine you’ll also get access to an on-device AI that can generate transcript summaries so It’s easier for you to flick through your notes later. To use these transcription tools on a Chromebook Plus you’ll apparently need to download an approximately 2GB AI model, while users of non-Plus Chromebooks will need to download a 100MB model to access the more limited recorder tools.

ChromeOS 130 doesn’t yet have a firm release date, but it's “Expected October 2024” per Google’s official ChromeOS releases page. So we hopefully won’t be waiting long for this new feature and update 130’s other upgrades.

Will ChromeOS get the Pixel 9's best feature? (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann) More ChromeOS Recorder details

Best of all, because it looks like the transcriptions and recordings happen on-device, it should be more private and secure than sending your voice notes to a server to have an AI type them up, though if you do want to export your recordings and transcriptions manually you can.

The only downside of the ChromeOS Recorder app will be that at launch it’ll only understand US English – so it won’t be able to help you if you speak a different language, and there’s no word yet on when support for more languages will be added.

It’s also unclear if one of ChromeOS 130’s other features for Chromebook Plus devices – ‘Studio-style mic’, which uses AI to make you sound clearer by reducing noise from your microphone – will be used by the recorder tool. It’s possible, but currently it’s only linked to new video-call tools, so it could be that it won’t help clean up your voice recordings for now – we’ll have to wait and see when ChromeOS 130 rolls out later this month.

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Hackers have managed to steal sensitive information from air-gapped systems belonging to different European governments on at least three separate occasions, experts have warned.

A new report from ESET. explained how the threat actor, called GoldenJackal, is a sophisticated cyber-espionage group known for targeting governments in South Asia and Europe over the last five years.

Air-gapped systems seem to be their inner specialty, targeting them with USB drives. GoldenJackal's affiliation remains unclear, but it is suspected to be a state-sponsored group, potentially from Eastern Europe or Asia. An air-gapped system is a computer or network that is physically isolated from unsecured networks, such as the internet, to prevent unauthorized access and enhance security. Still, crooks managed to steal data from these endpoints by means of self-propagating malware.

GoldenJackal

As per BleepingComputer, GoldenJackal was so far observed targeting an embassy of a South Asian country in Belarus on two occasions - once in September 2019, and once in July 2021. It was also seen going after a European government organization between May 2022 and March 2024.

The attack starts with a USB drive infected with a piece of malware. It is notable that the group built multiple variants for different victims which, for ESET’s experts, is a testament to the group’s resourcefulness. In some instances, it used malware called GoldenDealer, and in others - GoldenAce.

This malware is tasked with copying itself, together with other malware, onto air-gapped devices, as soon as the USB drive is plugged in. Other malware includes a backdoor called GoldenHowl, and an infostealer called GoldenRobo (or GoldenUsbCopy and GoldenUsbGo, respectively). The latter’s task is to copy documents, images, encryption keys, OpenVPN configuration files, and other important data, into a hidden directory on the USB drive.

Then, when the USB drive is reconnected to an internet-enabled device, the malware sends everything it stole to the C2 server.

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When you're planning a drive in Google Maps, the app can cover pretty much every part of the journey except parking. Well, thanks to a new partnership with SpotHero, it can now handle that, too.

SpotHero has just announced that its parking system will be coming to Google Maps users in the US and Canada, enabling you to reserve parking spots at over 8,000 locations in over 300 cities.

When you're planning a trip you'll be able to find nearby parking, and the app will then redirect you to SpotHero from inside the app. To see the option, you'll just need to type a venue's name plus 'parking' into the Google Maps search bar in the app or on desktop. You'll then see options shown as pins on the map, which you can also view by clicking 'show list'.

Once you've chosen a location with bookable parking, you can then tap 'book' or 'book online'. This takes you to a SpotHero landing page within Google Maps, where you can drill down to available dates and time slots – if you're happy with the fee, you'll be able to book it without setting up an account (thanks to a 'continue as guest' option).

Not just for last-minute parking

(Image credit: SpotHero)

The parking feature isn't just for here and now: you'll be able to plan your trip and book parking in advance, too. And in addition to parking spaces the feature will also enable you to look for specific must-haves such as wheelchair accessibility, EV charging and even valet services.

This actually isn't the first time Google has teamed up with a parking provider: it did the same with ParkMobile in the past. But it's part of a wider push to make Maps more useful, and should tie in nicely with the Destination Guidance feature announced in the summer: that included "showing you nearby parking lots" close to your destination.

It's part of a bigger push for SpotHero, too: it's already partnered with Apple to bring the same features to US and Canadian users of Apple Maps.

SpotHero says that it's already serving over 10 million American and Canadian drivers, and that it's already sold more than $1.5 billion in parking reservations. If you happen to own a parking lot, SpotHero will happily consider you for inclusion in exchange for a 35% cut: there's more about that on the SpotHero website [PDF].

We asked SpotHero if it's considering an expansion outside of the US and Canada, but a spokesperson simply told us that "right now we plan to continue expanding in the US and Canada".

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