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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 #470) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CHIP
• BED
• ROUGH
• PATCH
• ROCKY
• STITCH
• PARALLEL
• UNEVEN
• RUGGED
• SOUTH
• AMUSEMENT
• PLOT
• NATIONAL
• PARCEL
• SCRATCHY
• BUMPY

NYT Connections today (game #470) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Land that isn't flat
• Green: Land that can be used for gardening
• Blue: Another could be Tom
• Purple: Blank [open green space]

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 #470) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: NOT SMOOTH, AS TERRAIN
• GREEN: BIT OF LAND FOR GROWING
• BLUE: MEMBER OF A CARTOON DUO
• PURPLE: ___ PARK

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

NYT Connections today (game #470) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #470, are…

• YELLOW: NOT SMOOTH, AS TERRAIN BUMPY, ROUGH, RUGGED, UNEVEN
• GREEN: BIT OF LAND FOR GROWING BED, PARCEL, PATCH, PLOT
• BLUE: MEMBER OF A CARTOON DUO CHIP, ROCKY, SCRATCHY, STITCH
• PURPLE: ___ PARK AMUSEMENT, NATIONAL, PARALLEL, SOUTH

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

This might be the easiest Connections puzzle in weeks – to the extent that I solved the blue and purple groups first, in about two minutes flat.

I got blue first, with the word SCRATCHY immediately standing out due to my love of The Simpsons (classic era, obviously; we're talking seasons 3-9, no more). As soon as I spotted that SCRATCH and ROCKY were also there that connection became clear, and similarly AMUSEMENT and NATIONAL instantly led me to the usually difficult purple group, ___PARK. Yellow and green were slightly harder, in my experience, but only slightly; this was not a Connections game to fret over.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 22 September, game #469)

• YELLOW: COLOR TYPES GRAYSCALE, NEON, NEUTRAL, PASTEL
• GREEN: FILE MENU OPTIONS NEW, OPEN, PRINT, SAVE
• BLUE: CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE DRAWING, LOTTERY, POOL, RAFFLE
• PURPLE: WHAT “BRONZE” MIGHT MEAN ALLOY, SCULPTURE, SUNTAN, THIRD

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.

Microsoft has partnered with investment giant BlackRock to launch the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership (GAIIP), a fund exceeding $30 billion aimed at developing critical infrastructure for artificial intelligence advancements.

The collaboration includes Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and MGX, and is focused on building data centers and energy projects necessary to power next-generation AI technologies.

The investments will primarily target the United States, supporting the expansion of computing power and energy resources, with additional investments planned in partner countries. The partnership maintains an open architecture, granting non-exclusive access to a diverse range of companies and organizations. AI darling Nvidia will also play a role in the initiative, assisting in enhancing AI data centers.

$100 billion target

The goal of GAIIP is to unlock $30 billion in private equity capital initially, potentially reaching $100 billion when combined with debt financing. Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, said, "Mobilizing private capital to build AI infrastructure like data centers and power will unlock a multi-trillion-dollar long-term investment opportunity. Data centers are the bedrock of the digital economy, and these investments will help power economic growth, create jobs, and drive AI technology innovation.”

GAIIP's formation comes at a time when the demand for AI infrastructure is rapidly increasing. By pooling resources from leading global investors and technology companies, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of essential infrastructure for an AI-driven future.

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, noted that the capital required for AI infrastructure and new energy sources is more than any single company or government can finance. "This financial partnership will not only help advance technology, but enhance national competitiveness, security, and economic prosperity," he said.

"Accelerated computing and generative AI are driving a growing need for AI infrastructure for the next industrial revolution," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia. "Nvidia will use its expertise as a full-stack computing platform to support GAIIP and its portfolio companies on the design and integration of AI factories to propel industry innovation."

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's Chairman and CEO, summed up the alliance, saying, "The Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership will help us deliver on this vision, as we bring together financial and industry leaders to build the infrastructure of the future and power it in a sustainable way."

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This week we saw the arrival of new Snap Spectacles, and based on what’s been announced they sound like beefy AR glasses that inch closer than ever to our expectations based on sci-fi depictions of the tech. But while they might be in the running for the best smart glasses, man, do they look goofy. 

They look like those massive 3D glasses you wear at the cinema, and definitely not something I’d like to be seen wearing in public. That’s a sharp contrast to the Ray-Ban and Meta collaboration smart glasses, which have utterly triumphed in the fashion department. Those ooze cool – right down to their slick charging case – and all summer they were my shades of choice even when powered off, largely because of their aesthetics.

Based on design alone, I know which glasses I’d rather wear day-to-day, and even though the Snap Spectacles are clearly more feature-packed, a large part of me would still rather slip on the Meta Ray-Bans smart glasses.

Because in our wearable tech era, fashion is at least as important as function.

Who wants to wear these day-to-day? (Image credit: Snap) Fashion is more than design

I want to make a quick distinction between a design feature and tech being fashionable.

In the smart glasses world, a design feature is something like electro-chromic dimming lenses – lenses that you can make clearer or more shaded at the push of a button via electrical stimulation. This is a design feature I’ve tested in specs like the Chamelo glasses, which helps make the smart glasses wearable in a variety of weather conditions – a feature lacking in the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses which are permanently shaded, meaning I can only use them about a quarter of the year here in the UK.

Fashion, on the other hand, doesn’t need to offer a benefit that’s anything more substantial than looking good, a factor such as the frame shape or color. Smart glasses brands like Lucyd and Ray-Ban have shown a clear understanding of this aspect of design, boasting a selection of frame shapes that are otherwise functionally identical to each other. Letting you customize your experience with no sacrifices to the tech capabilities.

Sometimes fashion and design features are intertwined. Look at smart rings. Their biggest design feature – reducing clutter by removing the smartwatch or fitness tracker’s usual screen – offers functional differences between it and other health wearables. At the same time, it enables a different design profile that supports people who prefer a more minimalist aesthetic or want to wear a classic dumb watch without losing out on wellness tracking – or needing to wear two watches (something that looks super weird, and you know it).

Even without being linked to function, however, fashion cannot and should not be dismissed.

Wearables need to look good (Image credit: Future) Work good, look better

In other areas of tech, it’s understandable why fashionable perks could be dismissed as unnecessary. My PC’s RAM sticks won’t run faster because they glow with RGB lighting, a gold-plated iPhone is still just an iPhone. But wearables – smart accessories that replace our classic choice of jewelry – are more than just how useful they are.

Our fashion is an extension of who we are, it’s a way for us to outwardly express ourselves, putting a stamp on our visual identity. So even if the smart accessory offers a useful benefit to our health, fitness, or safety, why should that gadget expect us to compromise our identity for it?

Part of this is being in the early stages of smart glasses and wearables in general. There’s only so much style variation you can account for if the gadget has to cram in a lot of tech, or you’re not expecting to sell many (every variant adds complexity and cost).

That said, I think it’s equally important for wearables makers to devote effort to ensuring something is fashionable as well as functional and useful. This means introducing variants so we can find a design that matches our vibe or making a singular product's design look fantastic rather than chunky and dopey.

Because just like it doesn’t matter if a clothing item is from a designer brand if you don't like the style, it doesn’t matter how great a wearable is if you think it looks ugly. If we don’t like how it looks, we’re not going to wear it often – and how useful is a smart wearable really if it sits in your drawer all day?

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We’re beginning to see the arrival of mini PCs running AMD's powerful Zen 5-based Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Strix Point processor, the latest of which is Aoostar’s GEM10 370.

First teased on X (formerly Twitter). The AI 9 HX 370 processor features four Zen 5 cores, eight Zen 5c cores, RDNA 3.5 Radeon 890M integrated graphics, and a Ryzen NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS of AI performance.

GEM10 370 supports up to three PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2280 SSDs, offering potentially up to 24TB of storage. There’s also an OCuLink connector, allowing you to connect an external GPU without consuming any NVMe channels.

Glacier cooling

The mini PC offers a variety of connectivity options. On the front, it features two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, a USB4 port for high-speed data transfer, a microphone jack, and an audio jack for headphones or speakers. There is also an OCuLink port. On the back, there are two 2.5G LAN ports for fast, reliable networking, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and an additional USB 3.2 Gen2 port. Wireless connectivity is provided by WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

GEM10 370's cooling will be handled by Aoostar’s “Glacier 2.5” cooling system, which offers a default BIOS TDP setting of 35W, adjustable to 28W, 35W, or 45W.

The new mini PC has the same chassis as the company’s previous Gem10 model, which is powered by a 7840HS processor, and measures 10.7 x 10.7 x 6 cm, with a volume of 0.6 liters.

Aoostar’s GEM10 370 is expected to begin shipping October, around the same time as Beelink’s SER9, which also features the HX 370. That said, according to Videocardz, both companies are awaiting AMD stock before mass production can begin.

There’s no word yet on pricing for the GEM10 370, but it is expected to be cheaper than Beelink’s offering, depending, naturally, on the configuration.

Aoostar Gem10 370 Mini PCHX 370 + M.2 SSD*3 +Oculink pic.twitter.com/lquPtl7o5xSeptember 12, 2024

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Phishing attacks remain a significant threat to organizations across various industries, with threat actors disguising malicious emails as legitimate messages from trusted brands, in an attempt to deceive users into divulging sensitive information or installing malware.

A multi-year survey by Cofense has highlighted phishing campaigns that spoofed trusted brands across the top 10 industries they serve - with Microsoft coming out on top as the most impersonated brand.

Cofense found 92.87% of the phishing emails it analyzed targeted Microsoft users, followed by Adobe and Webmail, accounting for 3.53% and 1.62%, respectively.

Be wary of emails from Microsoft

Microsoft spoofing is highly versatile, Cofense warned, with emails mimicking everything from Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requests to shared document alerts. The familiarity of Microsoft-related emails makes it easy for attackers to design convincing phishing attempts.

In finance and insurance, where there is a strong reliance on document sharing for signatures, Adobe is the second most targeted brand in this sector behind Microsoft. DHL and Meta are also common targets.

The manufacturing and mining sectors have Microsoft, Adobe, and Webmail topping the list. However, it is interesting to note that China Union Pay, a payment service in China, and South African Post Office ranks among the top five spoofed brands in this sector.

In the retail sector, Microsoft and Adobe continue to dominate, however, due to the logistical nature of the retail industry, DHL ranks third. Canada Post, a key logistics provider, also makes the list, emphasizing the focus on supply chain and delivery-related phishing campaigns.

Even in niche sectors like real estate, utilities, and transportation, Microsoft and Adobe are frequently impersonated. Instagram is also subject to impersonation, with attackers often attempting to hijack high-following social media accounts to spread scams and malware.

Microsoft and Adobe again top the list in the healthcare sector, but as this industry requires frequent use of file sharing, Dropbox and Docusign are often impersonated to trick healthcare workers into providing access to sensitive patient data.

Phishing emails often mimic legitimate messages from well-known companies, making it easier for attackers to deceive users into clicking on malicious links or providing sensitive information. It's crucial to verify the authenticity of any unexpected emails from such brands and be on the lookout for signs of phishing, such as suspicious links, unfamiliar senders, or requests for personal information.

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With the advent of the latest Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 11, there’s one new feature I’ve been eagerly anticipating, the new Training Load metric. 

For years, the best Apple Watches have been all about getting you on your feet, out of your house, into the gym, and really doing as much exercise as humanly possible. With watchOS 11, Apple has finally introduced some key metrics and features to help you do less, including incorporating rest days into your training goals and the aforementioned Training Load metric. 

Apple says Training Load can help users make informed decisions about their training, measuring the effort of their workouts and providing 28-day reports to help them understand the impact of exercise on their bodies. 

Training Load is a well-established metric used by performance athletes to help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their training, especially in the run-up to events. Crucially, Training Load is vital in preventing injury. With that in mind, you’d expect the general impact of monitoring your own training load to result in doing less, not more. Your Training Load goes up, your Apple Watch tells you to back off in order to recover more effectively. Simple, right? 

However, after just a few days using the public version of watchOS 11, I’m happy to report Training Load has already transformed the way I work out, but not at all in the way I expected.

 You’re only cheating yourself 

(Image credit: Future)

I use my Apple Watch Ultra 2 predominantly to track strength training workouts, which I do roughly six times a week. If you use watchOS 11 to track a cardio-based workout like a run or a bike ride, it will automatically record the “effort” applied in your workout, giving you the readings needed to track your training load. 

However, Apple’s fancy algorithm doesn’t apply to strength training (yet), so when you do a strength workout, you have to enter your effort manually, rating your workout on a perceived effort scale, from 1 to 10. 

After just one session, I realized that my days of coasting workouts were over. For Training Load to work and provide the best possible recommendations for me, I have to give accurate results. If I overestimate my effort and mark every workout as a 10 out of 10, I’m going to get a false set of data that’s going to tell me to back off when I shouldn’t. My training and progress is going to stall, and I’m going to make less gains as a result. 

However, if I give an accurate reading for a workout, and I’m not trying my hardest each session, in 28 days I’m going to get a Training Load readout that shows I’m wasting my time and hard-earned money in the gym making no progress at all. 

The silent motivation I didn’t know I needed 

(Image credit: Apple)

All of a sudden then, the simple Apple Watch feature I thought would help me take it easy has become a massive source of motivation. Mindful that every workout counts, I’m now focused more than ever on walking the tightrope between applying maximum effort in the gym, and not overdoing it. I’m hyper-conscious of my performance and find myself concentrating on every rep, set, rest, and exercise. It’s not that I wasn’t necessarily doing those things already, but I’m more focused and motivated than ever thanks to a tool I thought was going to tell me to put my feet up.

Using a Training Load metric as inspiration to try even harder in the gym might sound counterintuitive, but I’m confident that the tech will ensure I don’t overdo it in the long run. But whether the goal is maximizing results or taking it easy, the only way the training load will help is if I’m honest about my effort. It seems my days wasting time at the gym are over. 

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Back in April, we heard that ChatGPT developer OpenAI was busy working on a hardware device in partnership with ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive – a rumor that has now been confirmed in a new profile of Ive.

The profile appeared in the New York Times (via The Verge), and goes into some of the background of how Ive met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The pair agreed to partner up on a new "artificial intelligence device company" – but for the time being, it's not clear what form this device could take.

We do know that much of the device development is being done in secret: the device will be "a product that uses AI to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone", as per the article. However, the exact nature of the gadget and its released date are both "still being determined".

The article does say that the fledgling AI device company does have office space, and has secured some private funding. In addition, some of the device design team worked with Ive on designing the iPhone (he's also responsible for many other modern Apple product designs, including the iPad and the MacBook).

Choose your form factor

The latest OpenAI model is the o1-preview (Image credit: OpenAI)

Based on the information we get here, it looks as though the exact form factor and features of the upcoming OpenAI piece of hardware are all still yet to be determined – though we've already seen numerous other AI gadgets hit the market in recent times.

The Rabbit R1 hasn't really lived up to its initial promise: the phone-like box promises to use your mobile apps for you, to some extent, replacing them with an all-purpose generative AI assistant – but in our Rabbit R1 review we described it as "an adorable but half-baked idea that you can ignore".

Then there's the Humane AI Pin, which launched to a lukewarm reception. The idea is similar to the Rabbit R1, in that it uses generative AI to mostly replace your smartphone, but the little wearable gadget has been plagued by problems with battery life and overheating in the short time it's been on sale.

These devices, and others including the Plaud.AI NotePin and the Friend, are basically just putting a generative AI assistant inside a compact device. OpenAI already has the assistant software sorted – now it just needs to work out the best physical form for it.

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I was exhausted. I had just got back from a trip away, having done more driving in three days than I normally did in two weeks. This included several trips escorting a friend to a nearby hospital, where I had stayed until long past midnight. I was finally back home in my own bed, and I was desperate for a good night’s sleep. 

Consequently, I reached for a device on the pile of gadgets I have for review: the Aura Smart Sleep Mask. It’s not exactly one of the best sleep trackers: unlike the Oura Ring, one of our best smart rings that monitor the quality of your sleep, the ‘Aura with an A’ sleep mask is more focused on improving it. It does so with a few interesting features, although it comes with an all-too-common-these-days subscription-based app. 

I charged the mask with the included USB-C cable and synced it to the Aura app (after signing up for the free trial, which lasts for one week – then it’s a very expensive $59.99 a year to access all the personalized meditation, sleep and guided movement content on offer, so around £45 / AU$90). I slipped it on and was struck by how light and comfortable it was: the eye-cushion insert and coverings softened the press of the hard plastic casing against your face. Even though the sensation was unfamiliar, I quickly got used to sleeping on my side with it. 

(Image credit: Future)

Its contoured design is said to block 100% of light, and I would say that apart from a very slender piece of light below the seam, it’s more or less completely accurate. All-fabric masks may be more comfortable for side sleepers, but this hard-case mask blocks out ambient light more effectively than a thin slip of fabric. It also allows you to have fun and gently annoy your significant other by pretending to be Cyclops from the X-Men.

The Aura mask is Bluetooth-enabled, allowing you to stream audio content from your phone through the mask using several ultra-thin speakers. The mask itself stores a few ambient soundscapes like rainfall and forest sounds in its Zen mode, and it’s designed to stream content from the Aura app. 

I experimented with Spotify and found it could stream from there too, so if you wanted to use your own audiobooks from Audible, for example, there’s no reason you couldn’t do so. I opted for the basic Zen mode, pressed the under-fabric 'on' button at the center of the mask, and went to sleep. It’s an odd sensation, pressing the mask into your face to start it, and I spent a bit of time fumbling with it. 

Other than waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and momentarily forgetting I was wearing it, I slept extremely well. Inside the mask is a wake-up light bar called a Glow bar, which acts like the best wake-up lights to imitate a sunrise. It’s a comparable experience to using a separate wake-up light, and a really effective, very gentle way to wake up: far more preferable than your phone’s alarm clock.

(Image credit: Future)

Really, it’s an excellent piece of kit, and I can’t fault either its comfortable design, innovative features like the Glow bar, or its performance as a set of sleep headphones. I genuinely quite enjoyed wearing it, although some of that may have been novelty. 

However, the biggest problem facing it, as mentioned in our full Aura Smart Sleep Mask review, is the price tag. At $229 (around £170 / AU$335) and with an additional $59.99 per year to access almost all the content on the Aura app, which you have to download to use the mask, it’s really only pitched at those with serious money to throw at better sleep.

I stopped my Calm subscription when prices went up to $69.99 per year: after subscribing at a cheaper tier for years, it had given me the tools to carry on a meditation practice without its guided content, and soundscapes exist on other streaming services like Spotify and YouTube. 

There are cheaper alternatives to the Aura Smart Sleep Mask out there, like Snoozeband and Musicozy, which you might want to try first. I haven't tried Snoozeband yet and so can't speak to its quality, but the Deluxe model does clock in at $79.99 / £59.99 / around AU$120, and that's without the ongoing subscription of the Aura app.

I loved the experience of the Aura Smart Sleep Mask, but wouldn’t necessarily buy it as an essential without trying some cheaper alternatives first, especially with the subscription attached.

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There's no let up in the Samsung Galaxy S25 leaks – and there probably won't be until the handset series gets unveiled sometime in January – and two new images have made their way online that give us some idea of the design of the Ultra version.

We've already heard that the Galaxy S25 Ultra is going to adopt a more rounded design next year that's more comfortable to hold in the hand, but based on a new post from well-known tipster Ice Universe, the rear camera design won't be changing much.

The post supposedly shows a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra case, and there are the six holes you would expect based on the design of the current model (​four for the actual cameras, and a flashlight and a laser distance meter for autofocus too) – see our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review for details.

For reference, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a 200 MP wide + 10 MP telephoto + 50 MP periscope + 12 MP ultrawide camera setup that's capable of up to 5x optical zoom. There has been talk of upgrades to some of those cameras this year, even if this link suggests the layout is going to be pretty similar.

Another image leak

R angle and bezel：S24+ and S25 Ultra pic.twitter.com/LNy4DmiCUlSeptember 21, 2024

There's more from Ice Universe to report, as the tipster has also posted a rendering showing the corner and bezel of the current Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus up against what we're expecting from the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

It's been rumored that Samsung is going to be able to shrink the bezels even more on next year's handsets, and you can see that in this leaked image. You can also see the rounded design of the corners we mentioned earlier.

For comparison, you can check out leaked renders of the Galaxy S25 Ultra that have previously surfaced: not much change around the back of the handset, but an overall look and shape that's more consistent with the other models in the series.

As is normally the case, we've heard more about the Ultra model that's coming rather than the standard or Plus models. We've seen reports, for example, that the screen size on the Ultra model will be increased ever so slightly to 6.86 inches (up from 6.8 inches).

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The late nineties and early aughts ushered in another Golden Age of Television, changing the way we talk about small-screen storytelling with the likes of serious, dramatic fare like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under and The Wire. 

While those more elevated series scooped awards and critical acclaim, at the same time that era gifted us arguably the last great sitcom: Friends. Its ongoing popularity since being added to the best streaming services is only more testament to that.    

Why is Friends still such a go-to for many of us?

(Image credit: Prime Video)

At the time of its release in 1994, I was a mere 12 years old, not exactly the target demographic, and yet I was hooked from the moment of its UK television premiere on Channel. I rushed home from band practice every Friday to catch the latest episode even though its premise wasn't designed to lure me in. 

A series about six pals making their way in Manhattan, Friends emerged the brainchild of showrunners David Crane and Marta Kauffman and as a risky addition to the NBC slate. With the then-unknown Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer cast as the titular sextet, their anonymity gave the series a fresh slate to reflect youthful '90s attitudes. 

“There's nothing to tell! It’s just some guy I work with,” says Cox's Monica Geller, a twenty-something chef excited about an upcoming date. The show's first line of dialogue hints at some of its initial pull; Monica’s date with “Paul the wine guy” results in him spending the night. Granted, it's hardly a wild, out there storyline. In the context of the 1990s it certainly betrays typically-safe, family-oriented sitcom themes right out of the gate. 

(Image credit: Prime Video)

That pilot storyline – much like Ross’ divorce – set the show apart at time of release, lending it a bit of edge. Through a 2024 lens? It feels a tad vanilla. But those story choices, once so risque, now form part of its lasting appeal, cementing the tone for what’s now a comfort watch for many. Settling down for a few episodes of Friends – check out our roundup of the best Friends episodes – is like hunkering down in a buttery-soft oversized sweatshirt. It evokes feelings of safety and belonging: a wholly separate vibe than prestige television.

Not only that, it’s easy to dip in and out. For me, returning home from work some evenings I'll pop on a few episodes to wind down before bed. Doesn't matter where I start or even if my partner watched some without me. The storytelling is accessible no matter where you dive in. If I see Friends as an in-flight entertainment option but the smattering of episodes is from the middle of season 7 and my rewatch at home is only on season 4, do I pass it over? No way. I might not recall exactly what’s happening but in a matter of moments I pick it up. “Oh, right, this is the one where Monica’s mad about Rachel kissing Ross."

Clowning around with your best buddies

(Image credit: Prime Video)

A lot of the draw is the platonic intimacy. Is there any human that doesn’t crave that level of intimate and unconditional love, regardless of romance or not?

The show's serialized elements enrich the experience, but you aren’t required to remember painstaking quantities of backstory to enjoy – one of the biggest criticisms leveled at the Marvel Cinematic Universe's ever-expanding slate. 

Once you sink in, it offers sharp and still-relevant observations about relationships and making it as a twenty-something. Much is said about the nostalgia it evokes for the idealism of the 1990s, made emblematic now by the resurgence of formerly-counterculture '90s apparel being dragged back into the mainstream. 

But Friends boasts another form of longing: human connection. The Internet was not as widespread as it is today, and smartphones wouldn’t be invented until years after the series ended. Don’t worry, I'm not about to rag on technology. I love my smartphone (in fact, I’m writing this article on a commuter ferry thanks to my iPhone) and I advocate for easier access to information at my day job. So while it doesn’t affect us all, isolation due to the surge in online culture is very real. 

Much like Seinfeld (read our pick of the best Seinfeld episodes) did for a slightly older demographic, Friends captures the distinct feeling of goofing off. You know, just hanging out. The feeling that there is nowhere you would rather be than clowning around with your best buddies. How many shows or movies for that matter take that same “risk” as Friends by decentralizing romantic love and placing platonic love at its heart? 

(Image credit: Max)

I distinctly recall – sure, I was 12-22 for the series’ run – my life with my friends revolved around figuring out the world together. A friend of mine echoed this, aptly in a conversation over text: "In my opinion, I think a lot of the draw is the platonic intimacy. Is there any human that doesn’t crave that level of intimate and unconditional love, regardless of romance or not?"

It’s a cozy example of community. Who hasn’t missed that over the last few years? I know I have. The gang live close by one another with four of the six living in the same building, while it's implied that Ross and Phoebe's apartments are within walking distance (and even closer once Ross moves across the street). They have keys to each other’s places. They hang at Central Perk. They frequently hangout doing activities that are now relegated to "things we do on our own" such as putting together furniture and doing laundry.

It's like you're always stuck in second gear

(Image credit: Amazon)

It comes to me as no surprise that in 2024 the show remains as popular as ever. Second screen shows – that allow for a watcher to scroll their phone while watching – are huge. At the height of the pandemic, reruns became must-watch TV for their soothing, comfort factor. 

Generation Z in particular latched onto shows like Friends that withstand repeat viewings – my partner's 21 year-old sister informs me that she's seen Friends at least ten times all the way through: "Whenever I need a feelgood show, I put on Friends." 

That same friend of mine echoed this after I told her I was writing this piece: "I literally was watching it in the background earlier today. I’ve been making my way through from the beginning lately. Again. For the zillionth time. Lol." 

Who knew that the series' catchy-as-hell theme song would adopt another meaning all these years later? That it's the show itself that's been there for us. 

Friends is one of the best Max shows, with 10 seasons streaming on the platform in the US. For those in the UK and Australia, you can catch it on Netflix (Aussies can also find it on Stan).  

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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 #469) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PASTEL
• POOL
• SUNTAN
• SCULPTURE
• PRINT
• THIRD
• NEUTRAL
• DRAWING
• NEW
• ALLOY
• OPEN
• NEON
• LOTTERY
• SAVE
• GRAYSCALE
• RAFFLE

NYT Connections today (game #469) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Different tones
• Green: Click here
• Blue: Are you feeling lucky?
• Purple: Copper and tin

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 #469) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: COLOR TYPES
• GREEN: FILE MENU OPTIONS
• BLUE: CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE
• PURPLE: WHAT “BRONZE” MIGHT MEAN

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

NYT Connections today (game #469) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #469, are…

• YELLOW: COLOR TYPES GRAYSCALE, NEON, NEUTRAL, PASTEL
• GREEN: FILE MENU OPTIONS NEW, OPEN, PRINT, SAVE
• BLUE: CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE DRAWING, LOTTERY, POOL, RAFFLE
• PURPLE: WHAT “BRONZE” MIGHT MEAN ALLOY, SCULPTURE, SUNTAN, THIRD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Those of you who play Connections on a laptop or PC may have had an advantage over people playing on their phones today, because you'll have had a big hint for the green group. That connection is FILE MENU OPTIONS, and the fact that I was on my laptop to play and then write this column meant they were staring me in the face. OK, not literally – they were hidden within the menu – but they were certainly fresh in my mind. By that point I'd already solved blue, too, with LOTTERY and RAFFLE clearly going together and the other two not too hard to find (I did struggle a little with DRAWING).

Two down, one to go – and inevitably I found yellow rather than purple, although neither was actually too bad today.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 21 September, game #468)

• YELLOW: CLAIRVOYANT MEDIUM, MYSTIC, ORACLE, PSYCHIC
• GREEN: SPECIAL EDITION ADJECTIVES COLLECTIBLE, EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED, RARE
• BLUE: “GREAT JOB!” IMPRESSIVE, NICE, PROPS, WELL DONE
• PURPLE: EXTREMELY AWFUL, BLOODY, REAL, WAY

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I've got you under my skin

NYT Strands today (game #203) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TRAIN
• THEM
• RIVER
• ROLE
• HATE
• HATER

NYT Strands today (game #203) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• They keep you going

NYT Strands today (game #203) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #203) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #203, are…

• BRAIN
• LIVER
• HEART
• KIDNEYS
• STOMACH
• LUNGS
• SPANGRAM: INTERNALORGANS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

As is so often the case with Strands, the key today was in working out what the theme was, because once you had that the answers were all pretty obvious. The theme clue of 'I've got you under my skin' was a nice one – cryptic, but not to the extent that you didn't have any idea what kind of thing you could be looking for. I found BRAIN by accident, and that was enough to make it clear what the other solutions would be. Finding the likes of KIDNEYS and LIVER was easy enough, and once the spangram was in place there was very little room for failure.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday 21 September, game #202)

• ARENA
• STADIUM
• NIGHTCLUB
• THEATER
• FESTIVAL
• SPANGRAM: CONCERTVENUE

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #972) - 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 #972) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #972) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #972) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• Z

• M

• A

• D

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

Quordle today (game #972) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #972, are…

• ZESTY
• MEATY
• ALIVE
• DRAWN

It's been a while since we've had an uncommon letter in Quordle – you'd have to go back to SEIZE on September 10. And as with that game, it was a Z that appeared today to make things more complicated. I needed all nine guesses to complete today's puzzle, partly due to that letter tripping me up for ZESTY, but it wasn't the only word I struggled with. DRAWN also caused me problems (and W is another fairly uncommon letter), and this wasn't a game I sailed through with ease.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #972) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #972, are…

• ABASE
• LATCH
• WHOLE
• SHINE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #971, Saturday 21 September: VITAL, FRAIL, SPEAR, EERIE
• Quordle #970, Friday 20 September: ELIDE, DITTO, SHAWL, BONUS
• Quordle #969, Thursday 19 September: MARRY, OWING, DICEY, LUCKY
• Quordle #968, Wednesday 18 September: CEDAR, VENOM, MIGHT, MEDIC
• Quordle #967, Tuesday 17 September: ETHOS, COUNT, PRINT, THREE
• Quordle #966, Monday 16 September: ROUGE, SWAMP, FUGUE, UNDUE
• Quordle #965, Sunday 15 September: VILLA, SMOKE, BULKY, THRUM
• Quordle #964, Saturday 14 September: ESSAY, GENRE, WIMPY, CHUTE
• Quordle #963, Friday 13 September: LEANT, ORGAN, FILLY, PLAIT
• Quordle #962, Thursday 12 September: ARBOR, STARK, LEAVE, GOOFY
• Quordle #961, Wednesday 11 September: ROUGH, CACTI, SAVOY, ODDER
• Quordle #960, Tuesday 10 September: PLUMB, SEIZE, EARLY, ASSET
• Quordle #959, Monday 9 September: CHIRP, BEADY, THETA, MINUS
• Quordle #958, Sunday 8 September: TEASE, AGATE, PRIDE, PLATE
• Quordle #957, Saturday 7 September: LASSO, TILDE, BUNCH, PRONG
• Quordle #956, Friday 6 September: FARCE, WOOLY, LOCAL, NIGHT
• Quordle #955, Thursday 5 September: SNIDE, EGRET, AMONG, SHINY
• Quordle #954, Wednesday 4 September: POINT, WITTY, GAFFE, ABUSE
• Quordle #953, Tuesday 3 September: ATOLL, ANGER, OCEAN, SWEEP
• Quordle #952, Monday 2 September: HABIT, LODGE, PLAIN, DRIFT

iodyne has announced the Pro Mini SSD, a portable, bus-powered storage solution designed for professionals. The Pro Mini features a durable machined aluminum chassis with Frore AirJet membrane vibration cooling to prevent thermal throttling and ensure the SSD delivers consistent performance even under heavy data loads.

Iodyne claims the device achieves sustained performance of over 3GB/s, making it ideal for tasks like video editing, media offloading, and data transfer. Pro Mini provides solid security through XTS-AES-256 encryption and RAID-6 data protection, safeguarding data even in the event of a hardware failure. Passkeys replace traditional passwords, allowing users to securely unlock the device with their phone or computer. It offers NFC tap-to-unlock functionality too.

The SSD includes a customizable digital label that displays project names or other relevant information on its 2.1-inch e-ink display. The multiple containers feature allows users to divide the SSD into distinct partitions, each with its own filesystem.

Available in 4 and 8TB capacities

The Pro Mini comes with USB 4 and Thunderbolt (40 Gbps) ports so you can plug in a wide range of devices, including phones, tablets, cameras, and computers. Additionally, Find My tracking helps users locate lost or misplaced devices, while Fleet Management via the iodyne app allows for remote provisioning and management of multiple drives.

Mike Shapiro, Co-President iodyne said, “There is so much powerful performance and revolutionary engineering packed into the Pro Mini. Every single feature was thoughtfully designed with the specific needs of production professionals in mind - innovative breakthroughs thanks to our collaboration with Frore Systems to bring solid-state active cooling to portable SSDs.”

Pro Mini comes in 4TB and 8TB capacity, ideal for those needing to store large amounts of data, such as 4K video footage. It is available to preorder now and is expected to ship in Q1 2025.

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Sometimes, you get your hands on a piece of hardware that just feels right. For me, that was the Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless – and now that mouse is reaching the end of its life, and while I won't be hosting an actual Viking funeral for it, I genuinely am a little upset.

A fairly high-end gaming mouse with a comfortable ergonomic design and understated RGB lighting, the G502 Lightspeed Wireless has been my trusty desktop companion for more than five years, and is only just starting to show its age; specifically, the left-click switch is giving out, still registering most clicks but rendering click-and-drag operations almost impossible.

As you can probably tell from this image, my own G502 Lightspeed Wireless has seen better days. (Image credit: Future)

It's fair to say that I've definitely put this mouse through the wringer over the past half-decade. Not only have I used it to put literally thousands of hours into all manner of games, but it's also been my daily driver for work ever since the pandemic shifted me into working from home. It's survived countless hours of frantic clicking, scrolling, and at-desk lunches (no, I'm not a 'tidy desk, tidy mind' sort of person).

It's not an exaggeration to say that I love this mouse. It's incredibly comfy under the hand thanks to the curved shape and thumb rest, and the underside features two magnetic panels that can be removed to add tiny metal weights to the interior – in other words, a little tweaking can create the perfect weight distribution for any user. 

It's also just a good gaming mouse in general: a 25,600 DPI sensor, long battery life, 1ms latency thanks to the proprietary Lightspeed USB dongle, and 11 remappable buttons all make it a stellar choice for any genre of PC game.

Consistency above all else

As heartbroken as I might be that my reliable gaming companion is beginning to fade from glory, there's a definite silver lining here.

See, Logitech does something that I wish more PC hardware companies would do: a certain 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach to product design, meaning that I can still buy the exact same G502 Lightspeed Wireless mouse that I originally purchased over five years ago. Plenty of companies would've made the original product redundant in that time period, replacing it twice or three times over with new models (looking at you, Razer).

Hell, Logitech has been using the same design for its mainstream 1080p webcam – the Logitech C920 – for more than a decade, with only some minor generational improvements over the years. There's a reason that cam still sits in the top spot of our best webcams ranking, is what I'm saying.

Seriously, look at this beautiful little device. Never change, C920. (Image credit: Future)

The G502 Lightspeed has been replaced in our best gaming mouse list by the newer, shinier Logitech G502 X Plus, but it's still the same excellent mouse at heart – and gamers on a budget can always pick up the G502 Hero, which packs a lot of the great design and features found in my favorite mouse into a more wallet-friendly package.

But you can't have too much of a good thing, so while I'm currently rocking a temporary replacement from NZXT, I can't wait to take my paycheck to the Logitech G Store to pick up an identical replacement for my beloved G502 Lightspeed Wireless. There's only one problem, and that's the price: $99.99 / £139.99 (around AU$150, but it's no longer available from Logitech in Australia). Why's it so expensive in the UK, Logitech?

I guess I'll be waiting for a Black Friday deal… unless the kind folks at Logitech read this and take pity on a poor tech journalist. Keep your fingers crossed for me, readers!

The (digital) ink has barely dried on our iPhone 16 review, and we're already into iPhone 17 rumor season – with one reliable source suggesting that there are display upgrades in store when Apple's 2025 refresh rolls around.

This comes from well-known industry analyst Ross Young (via 9to5Mac), who says that the two cheaper iPhone 17 models are going to get the same always-on display and ProMotion tech that has previously been exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max handsets.

That means an upgrade to the LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) screen technology required to reduce power consumption and support a variable refresh rate, all the way up to 120Hz (or all the way down to 1Hz) when required.

However, while Young initially predicted Face ID would be embedded in the display on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, he later said that was a misunderstanding – so we'll have to wait a little while longer for developments in that department.

Pro vs non-Pro

The iPhone 16 Pro, with ProMotion (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If the less expensive iPhone 17 models do indeed get LTPO display technology next year, there will be less of a distinction between these variants and the Pro and Pro Max – though the latter handsets may well still get better cameras and faster processors.

It also links in with another rumor we've heard about next year's iPhone refresh: that the iPhone 16 Plus will be replaced not by another Plus model, but by an iPhone 17 Air – perhaps with a slimmer, more stylish design at the same price point.

Apple has of course already used the same branding with the iPad Air and the MacBook Air, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the moniker was added to one of the iPhone 17 models as well. However, we'll need to wait almost another 12 months to be sure.

This isn't the only iPhone 17 rumor that's emerged already, either: there has also been talk that the 2025 iPhones are going to get improved selfie cameras and a bump in the RAM, alongside the usual boost in performance.

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Well, Apple kind of fooled us, didn’t it? The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are now here and there’s a public beta of Apple Intelligence to supercharge your new iPhone at launch.

Yes, the public beta isn’t as stable as the upcoming iOS 18.1 release next month, but I decided to install it on my brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max, and I’m impressed with the results so far.

For full transparency, I initially installed iOS 18.1 developer beta 1 on my iPhone 15 Pro Max in July and after testing out Apple Intelligence for a few days I uninstalled the buggy mess from my device. It wasn’t so much an Apple Intelligence problem, but more related to how unstable a developer beta can be and why no one should install any developer betas on their primary device.

Fast forward to September 20 and not only do I have the shiny new iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium but I’ve reinstalled iOS 18.1 thanks to Apple’s surprise public beta drop. Public betas are still in development but they are usually far more stable than any developer beta, and so far, so good. 

So I unboxed my 16 Pro Max, instantly updated to iOS 18.1 public beta (if you’re looking to find out how to do this, check out our iOS 18.1 public beta install guide), and jumped on the Apple Intelligence waitlist.

Within minutes, my new iPhone had Apple Intelligence and my worry of Apple Intelligence’s messy launch was somewhat defused.

(Image credit: Apple)

Just to be clear, iOS 18.1 public beta is exactly that, a beta, so while I’m happy to use it on my primary device, I don’t suggest you install it unless you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. I’ve had no bugs or performance issues so far and the Apple Intelligence features that are available work pretty well, but everyone’s experience with beta software is different depending on the apps you use.

Back to Apple Intelligence: You’ll find all of the features my colleague Lance Ulanoff discussed in his iPhone 16 Pro Max review, which means Writing Tools to proofread and summarize text, smart replies in Messages, Siri’s redesign albeit not the super smart one you’re waiting for, Clean Up in Photos to remove objects from pictures, the ability to create Movie Memories, and the most underrated Apple Intelligence feature of them all: Reduce Interruptions Focus mode.

On paper, it might not sound like a lot of new additions to iOS on the best iPhone, but Apple Intelligence gives your smartphone a 2024 AI-fuelled glow-up making my new device feel fresh, rather than an incremental upgrade on my already fantastic 15 Pro Max from last year.

It's not quite ripe, yet

So far I’ve used Apple Intelligence to reply to my girlfriend more often than I care to admit (she’s definitely realizing, so I need to be careful), quickly removed a dog toy from the background of a photo of my French Bulldog, and used Reduce Interruptions to silence unnecessary notifications. I’ve had no problem with Apple Intelligence's performance so far while using the iOS 18.1 public beta, everything works just as expected and so much better than that initial developer beta I tried all those months ago. While it does feel like the AI features aren’t quite ripe yet, this is enough of a taster to get me excited for the lifespan of my iPhone 16 Pro Max and all the Apple Intelligence it has to look forward to. 

If you’re on the fence, there are worse things you can do than try out the iOS 18.1 public beta with Apple Intelligence. But remember, it’s a beta after all.

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Lenovo has unveiled its lightest-ever ThinkPad model as it looks to prioritizes design, weight, and environmental concerns.

Weighing in at just 980g and measuring only 8.08mm at its thinnest point, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition stands as the lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon notebook ever. Despite its size, Lenovo has incorporated two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an audio combo jack.

The materials used in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition include 90% recycled magnesium for the C cover, and the 100% plastic-free packaging is made from bamboo and sugarcane.

Lightest ThinkPad X1 Carbon notebook ever

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor with Intel Arc Xe2 graphics and an integrated NPU offering up to 48 TOPS, meaning that although it is not designed for heavy gaming or high-end 3D rendering, it should be enough for most multimedia and creative applications.

The laptop's premium Haptic TouchPad option integrates the classic three-button TrackPoint, and also includes Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.4, and an optional 5G sub-6GHz. For power, this device has a 57Whr customer-replaceable unit (CRU) battery that Lenovo says delivers more than 18 hours of battery life.

To complement the processor, this device supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM running at 8533 MT/s. In terms of storage, the X1 Carbon Gen 13 offers up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage. This next-gen storage solution provides incredibly fast read and write speeds, drastically reducing boot times and enabling rapid file access.

The 14-inch 2.8K OLED display offers 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and Dolby Vision support. It also supports 400 nits brightness, HDR True Black 500 technology, and a 120Hz refresh rate which provides smooth animations and scrolling. The inbuilt Eyesafe technology reduces blue light exposure, ensuring that users can work comfortably for extended periods without experiencing eye strain.

The device also offers intuitive Smart Modes for personalized performance, security, collaboration, and wellness, along with AI-powered Smart Share for seamless photo transfer and Smart Care for enhanced support.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition emphasizes security with features like the dTPM 2.0 chip for data encryption, a fingerprint reader, and an IR camera for facial recognition. It also includes a Nano Kensington lock slot for physical security, making it ideal for business professionals focused on data protection.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is set to be available in November 2024, starting at $1,999.

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It didn't really occur to me until now, but Apple has been selling AirPods with the same design as the original launch, back in December 2016, continuously for the eight years since then.

When AirPods 2nd Gen came out, they upgraded the internals and sound, as well as added new features, but they kept essentially the same exact design for the buds and case.

It's only now, with the arrival of AirPods 4, that this design is finally heading off for a well-earned retirement, having massively influenced and kickstarted the world of the best true wireless earbuds.

I never got on with this design at all, so I'm not exactly sorry to see it go – but it does feel like the end of an era, and I have to acknowledge that some of the best earbuds on the planet, including the ones I actually do use every day, owe a design debt to them.

AirPods were not the first Bluetooth true wireless earbuds by any means. The Bragi Dash and Earin earbuds basically fight for that honor around 2015 (it appears Bragi announced first, but Earin released first, so take your pick for the winner). I should also mention the Sennheiser MX W1 as an early pioneer in this area from back in 2008 (but those used a custom transmitter, and each earbud was the size of a gerbil).

Throughout 2016, it was clear to those around the tech world that true wireless earbuds could be a big deal. Good ol' Apple rival Samsung had beat AirPods to the punch, releasing the Samsung Gear Icon X several months before AirPods arrived.

But none of these early earbuds really mattered to the public at large. Bluetooth's standard hadn't been updated for this kind of dual transmission, so companies were using fudges to make it work. (One technique, for example, used hearing-aid transmission tech to beam from one earbud to the other, which was latency-free but was prone to interference.) Connection reliability and battery life were poor, and people weren't into the rounded bud design that was common with the early models.

AirPods were both a step forward and a step backward compared to them, and in both cases, that was an advantage.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The step forward was that they offered rock-solid connectivity compared to the competition, practical battery life, and Apple's use of its ecosystem to avoid any hassle around pairing. They were as easy to use as Apple's famous EarPods (introduced in 2012), but without the cable tangle.

And speaking of EarPods, perhaps Apple's masterstroke was using nearly the same design for the AirPods as its wired earbuds. Other companies were designing something that looked new, which can be intimidating and concerning to people. How can you be sure they'll be comfortable? Or that they'll stay in reliably? It would be a gamble to buy them as an early adopter.

So, Apple took a step backward compared to those earbuds. It made them look like older tech – like the earbuds people already owned, but with the cable cut off. You could infer how well they would fit if you'd already tried its earbuds, so no gambling was required. It enabled Apple to create a long, thin case for them that had a familiar vibe – with their white stick-like design, it was like sliding a cigarette out from a packet. You could be the audio equivalent to James Dean pulling out a smoke and slouching against a wall.

(Image credit: Future)

As I mentioned above, I didn't actually like using this design. It rubbed my ears pretty quickly and became uncomfortable. At the time, I also felt that the stick design looked silly – it was only in retrospect that I saw how smart it was. I wanted something with the cool, new, rounded designs we saw elsewhere; my first true wireless earbuds were the Bang & Olufsen E8, released in 2017.

But AirPods delivered a massive boost to the whole world of true wireless earbuds. They became the best-selling model of headphones in the world, and their visibility normalized the idea of going true wireless. The standardized technology available to other earbuds evolved rapidly in order to beat what AirPods could do and turn wireless earbuds into the dominant form of headphones. We got competition from the likes of Samsung and Sony, but also from hi-fi specialists such as Master & Dynamic and Bowers & Wilkins who simply couldn't be left behind.

And the stick design… uh, stuck around. AirPods Pro were a great improvement on the design, and a huge number of competitors took inspiration. Even in 2024, we've just had Samsung actually adopt the stick design in its Pro buds for the first time in the Samsung Buds 3 Pro, and it's being used in the fantastic Nothing Ear (a), among loads of other buds.

Samsung's latest earbuds aren't exactly un-AirPods-y, are they? (Image credit: Future)

The oddest thing about this original AirPods design is how popular it remained right up until the end, considering how far other earbuds have surpassed the AirPods 2nd Gen for value and comfort. The best cheap earbuds provide way better sound, more features, better battery life and a more comfortable fit than AirPods 2nd Gen did, for a lower price – the Nothing Ear (a) being the prime example of that.

And yet, every time we covered a sale event on TechRadar where AirPods dropped under $90, we'd discover that they were usually the most popular product we'd feature or in the top three at the least. We'd give specific examples of other earbuds we think are a better buy, but AirPods would remain the hot thing.

Maybe it's that safety and reliability I talked about before. Eight years is an incredibly long time for one design to stick around in the tech world, but you knew exactly what you were getting with them, and people at large liked them. Sure, I won't miss the design, but there's no doubt we're saying goodbye to a true modern tech icon.

Lotus has unveiled its latest concept car, which hints at what we can expect from the company's high-performance future – including a pared-back interior that relies on robotic textiles instead of physical buttons.

As with many concept cars, there’s a lot of hypothetical thinking here, with much of the technology and performance figures providing a suggestion of what could come, rather than a true statement of intent.

Theoretically, a rather modest 70kW battery would send power to all four wheels, producing 968bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of under 2.5 seconds. It all sounds very 'modern hyper EV' to us, but it is the tech inside the vehicle that is the most interesting.

Both designers and engineers have stripped everything back, which (much to the derision of pure Lotus fans) is not something the company has chosen to do with its current production cars, such as the large Eletre SUV and the Emeya four-door GT.

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

Peel back the reverse opening wrap-over doors of Theory 1 and you’ll find swathes of recycled carbon fibre, with the driver’s seat positioned dead centre and two small seats for flanking passengers, very much in the Gordon Murray vein of sports car design.

Adorning these seats, as well as the yoke-style steering wheel, is what the company calls LotusWear, which consists of a soft, adaptive textile that covers key sections and touch points.

Working alongside MotorSkins, which developed the technology to create dynamic clothing that can provide on-the-fly compression, thermoregulation and haptic feedback for athletes, Lotus has seen fit to use it as an innovative human machine interface.

When driving, both driver and passengers will receive notifications through the inflatable robotic textiles during the journey. This could be through a light pulsing on the left shoulder to indicate an upcoming left-hand turn, or a tap on the lower back to indicate an incoming smartphone message.

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

Similarly, inflatable pods on the steering wheel could indicate a blindspot hazard, or provide added grip as the pace quickens. The use-cases are vast, but the overall mission remains the same: to simplify the cockpit by ridding it of physical buttons.

As well as transparent screens, head-up displays and multi-use paddle switches, Lotus has also teamed up with technology company Carbon to produce 3D printed lattice structure headrests that can serve multiple purposes. 

The soft, supportive structures are there for comfort and safety, but they also house a binaural audio system from KEF.

The ability to fire sound directly to the occupant of each seat means Lotus can add to the sensation of speed with a bespoke soundtrack, act as a noise-cancelling system on more mundane journeys, or to simply allow each passenger to experience individual media without sound clash.

Analysis: This is Lotus is riffing on its core values

(Image credit: Lotus Cars)

A lot of the criticism leveled at Lotus since its takeover by Chinese owners Geely is that it has strayed far from Colin and Hazel Chapman’s dream of a lightweight, affordable and purely fun sports car.

The model line-up is now large, heavy and choc full of superfluous technology that fans of the original cars seemingly detest. But sales of the Elise and Evora tanked to the point that the company almost went bust, proving that there just isn’t enough demand for a 'proper' Lotus anymore. 

Instead, the company has had to do what Porsche, Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini have in the past, and that’s create product that doesn’t traditionally fit in the line-up but sells exceedingly well (Lotus broke sales records in 2023) to ensure we are still treated to the fun stuff. Shout out to Cayenne, Bentayga, Purosangue and Urus.

However, Theory 1 appears to be hinting that Lotus is looking to go back to its roots, while not shunning future technology. 

Stripping everything back is the very ethos upon which the company is built, but it's doing so in a way that still incorporates Lidar, camera systems, in-car entertainment and even high levels of autonomous driving capabilities.

Granted, Theory 1 isn’t going to be a simple, lightweight two-seater, but like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, it looks like it is tackling what it means to be a performance car in the electric age.

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