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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 #467) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CAT
• PERSON
• SOLO
• HAWK
• CHEWY
• FIGURE
• INDIVIDUAL
• CORNER
• CHARACTER
• BOBA
• IMAGINE
• PARTY
• SUSPECT
• EMPEROR
• LITTER
• THINK

NYT Connections today (game #467) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Suppose
• Green: A human?
• Blue: The Force is with them (in some cases)
• Purple: Can go after a feline word

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 #467) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PRESUME
• GREEN: SOMEBODY
• BLUE: CHARACTERS IN “THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK," FAMILIARLY
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER “KITTY”

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

NYT Connections today (game #467) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #467, are…

• YELLOW: PRESUME FIGURE, IMAGINE, SUSPECT, THINK
• GREEN: SOMEBODY CHARACTER, INDIVIDUAL, PARTY, PERSON
• BLUE: CHARACTERS IN “THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK," FAMILIARLY BOBA, CHEWY, EMPEROR, SOLO
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER “KITTY” CAT, CORNER, HAWK, LITTER

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 mistakes

There's a distinctive Star Wars theme to some of the words in today's Connections, which as a child of the 1980s I obviously love. SOLO, CHEWY, BOBA and EMPEROR are all in there, but sadly the NYT couldn't find a way to squeeze in MILLENNIUM FALCON (although HAWK, who is a Star Wars character, is in there). HAWK was not part of the Star Wars group, but the other four were, forming the blue CHARACTERS IN “THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK," FAMILIARLY connection. The NYT is fond of this kind of grouping, having given us a JURASSIC PARK one recently too.

With that easy blue ticked off I was on the path to another success – that's 14 in a row – but I made life hard for myself by getting tangled up in the yellow PRESUME and green SOMEBODY groups. FIGURE seemed like it could go with CHARACTER, PERSON and INDIVIDUAL, but it didn't, and then I swapped CHARACTER for SUSPECT instead but that was also wrong. Eventually I realized my mistake and put PARTY in the green group, enabling me to solve both that and yellow and not need to worry about purple.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, 19 September, game #466)

• YELLOW: PREFIX MEANING “VERY” EXTRA, HYPER, OVER, SUPER
• GREEN: KINDS OF PARTIES BIRTHDAY, COCKTAIL, DINNER, SURPRISE
• BLUE: PBS SHOWS FRONTLINE, MASTERPIECE, NATURE, NOVA
• PURPLE: PLACES IN FRANCE ANGERS, CHAMPAGNE, NICE, REUNION

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… A way with words

NYT Strands today (game #201) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• DIRTY
• STRICT
• POSE
• POSED
• DEAN
• DOSE

NYT Strands today (game #201) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• A bard's domain

NYT Strands today (game #201) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 4th 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 #201) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #201, are…

• RHYME
• VERSE
• METER
• STANZA
• SYNTAX
• DICTION
• SCANSION
• SPANGRAM: POETRY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

I've never been a fan of poetry, though I love words and language. Set it to music and it's a different matter – and I guess the best lyricists are also poets. But ask me to talk about SCANSION and STANZAs and I'm a little lost. All of which is a way of justifying why I needed two hints to complete what for some people will probably be a fairly simple Strands puzzle.

I worked out what the theme was early on, with the clue of 'A way with words' and the fact that I found RHYME by accident combining to set me on the right track. But though I spotted a couple more, I couldn't get them all without needing a helping hand for METER and STANZA. After that I spotted the spangram, and the others were solved pretty much by a combination of guesswork and my modicum of knowledge.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday 19 September, game #200)

• SPIDER
• MILLIPEDE
• BEETLE
• TERMITE
• EARWIG
• SPANGRAM: CREEPYCRAWLIES

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

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

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

Quordle today (game #970) - 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 2.

Quordle today (game #970) - 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 #970) - 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 #970) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• E

• D

• S

• B

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

Quordle today (game #970) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #970, are…

• ELIDE
• DITTO
• SHAWL
• BONUS

When did you last use the word ELIDE? I'll wager it was a long, long time ago – or more likely, never. I don't think I've ever used it myself. For the curious, it means to strike out or leave out – and it's a good, perfectly acceptable word for Quordle. But also a difficult one. As well as its obscurity, there's the repeated Es aspect to it too, so well done if you found it.

ELIDE aside, this edition of Quordle is not too bad. DITTO has a repeated T, but that and the other two words are fairly common. A mixed bag.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #970) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #970, are…

• SCONE
• SIGHT
• DROLL
• TODAY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #951, Sunday 1 September: RABBI, CRAWL, GUPPY, BRAND
• Quordle #950, Saturday 31 August: AWOKE, TIBIA, ITCHY, SNACK

Ever feel like your social media posts only get engagement from bots? Well, the new SocialAI app attempts to flip that flaw into a feature. The company has just launched its mobile app, on which each user only connects with AI chatbots. To be fair, the bots are not spam, they are designed to engage with what you say, understand context, respond appropriately, and keep you interested. 

SocialAI describes itself as a kind of virtual world of conversation where millions of different AI chatbots with a range of personalities respond immediately to your posts and messages. If not getting any comments on your social media posts bugs you, SocialAI promises every post receives a response and will only be seen and responded to by AI chatbots. The responses include advice and straight answers from "Practical Patty," challenges on your ideas from "Debate Diva," and philosophical speculation from "Elena Bookworm." 

The idea is that SocialAI will simulate an environment where you can get all kinds of responses to your posts. That might be to practice for posting where other humans can see or just to express yourself in a kind of interactive journal with a community where you don't have to worry about who will judge you too harshly. SocialAI was built by Michael Sayman, formerly of Meta, Google, and Roblox. Sayman is well-known in the tech space for publishing a successful mobile app game at 13 and later helping develop Instagram Stories and Google Assistant.

"SocialAI is more than just another project for me – it’s the culmination of everything I’ve been thinking about, obsessing over, and dreaming of for years. I’ve always wanted to create something that not only showcases what’s possible with tech but also helps people in a real, tangible way," Sayman wrote in a post on X. "SocialAI is designed to help people feel heard, and to give them a space for reflection, support, and feedback that acts like a close-knit community."

Social without socializing

Playing around with SocialAI is fun, but it also feels a lot like practicing a speech to a mirror or getting a lot of likes on a post only to see it's just your parents and their friends. The personalities are a little too one-dimensional to really get lost in an illusion of real life, even if it's nice to not have any trolls attempting to upset you. Even Elena Bookworm wondered if I might not better myself by talking to humans about my posts since the bots could not offer anything truly innovative and then suggested I risked my personality mirroring the AI rather than the other way around. 

I don't discount the value of AI chatbots in addressing loneliness, as plenty of studies have shown them to be effective in that regard. SocialAI could be a great sounding board or place to vent, and I can see the attraction. But, even a one-on-one with an AI chatbot doesn't feel like entering a social uncanny valley the way posting to an AI-only social media platform did. Plus, over-reliance on AI interactions could lead to self-isolation worse than what came before. And emotionally bonding with AI long-term might not be the healthiest choice. Still, for those who can balance their social life appropriately, SocialAI might be a real boon.

"This app is a little piece of me – my frustrations, my ambitions, my hopes, and everything I believe in. It’s a response to all those times I’ve felt isolated, or like I needed a sounding board but didn’t have one," Sayman wrote. "I know this app won’t solve all of life’s problems, but I hope it can be a small tool for others to reflect, to grow, and to feel seen."

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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called on government organizations to be faster and more nimble when it comes to developing and working with AI tools.

Speaking at the Dreamforce 2024 event in San Francisco, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, US DHS Secretary, noted there was a desire to do more with AI in government, but some roadblocks remained.

Asked by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff what the biggest surprise in working with technology industry giants is, Sec. Mayorkas noted, "the sense of partnership in realizing the incredible opportunity that AI presents."

Realizing potential

"AI technology is amazing, but it can move in directions that we may not want it to move," Benioff had prompted Mayorkas during their conversation.

In reply, Mayorkas noted many people believe his agency is of the mindset of imposing restrictions on AI development and innovation - but this is not the case.

"What we want to do is create the space for its potential to be realized," he replied, "We also want to demonstrate the impact business can have in the progress of our world - and I want to demonstrate that government can move at the speed of business, that we can harness AI to advance our mission, while protecting the safety and security of our nation's critical infrastructure."

"The level of partnership and collaboration, and the sense of hope in terms of what this technology can mean for the world, I think, is amazing."

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Mayorkas also looked to outline the role of the DHS' AI Safety and Security Board, where he says the key is to develop a framework that includes and accounts for the entire ecosystem - developers, cloud compute, the entities using AI.

"The key is to develop a framework," he noted, "that is not just targeted at the model developers, but really includes and accounts for the entire ecosystem - the model developers, the cloud compute, the infrastructure entities that are going to be taking AI and using it in their operations."

"What we're trying to do is capture the entire ecosystem, and speak to them, with a framework that defines roles and responsibilities, where everyone has a role to play, and everyone has responsibilities to execute on, in a very socially responsible way or this amazing technology.."

"The magic is bringing everyone together - there's a strength in collaboration and collective action," Mayorkas adds. "I think it's very important to get everyone around the table, working towards a common goal."

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Google Cloud users in the United States are getting a host of upgraded security features that should make the platform more resilient to cyberattacks.

The company announced Mandiant’s Managed Defense for Google Security Operations is now available in the country, offering users real-time threat detection and response.

The threat hunting and incident investigation feature will be integrated into Google’s built-in security operations platform.

Practical advice

Mandiant’s Managed Defense for Google Security Operations is a cybersecurity service designed to enhance threat detection, investigation, and response for organizations using Google Cloud. It combines Mandiant’s threat intelligence and expertise in incident response with Google Cloud’s security tools, such as Chronicle and Google Security Command Center.

The service offers continuous monitoring, advanced analytics, and proactive threat hunting to identify and mitigate cyber threats, and helps organizations manage their security operations effectively by providing expert guidance and reducing the burden on in-house teams.

Furthermore, by integrating with Google Cloud, the service can provide real-time insights into potential vulnerabilities.

Mandiant’s Managed Defense for Google Security Operations is a cybersecurity service designed to enhance threat detection, investigation, and response for organizations using Google Cloud. It combines Mandiant’s threat intelligence and expertise in incident response with Google Cloud’s security tools, such as Chronicle and Google Security Command Center.

The service offers continuous monitoring, advanced analytics, and proactive threat hunting to identify and mitigate cyber threats, and helps organizations manage their security operations effectively by providing expert guidance and reducing the burden on in-house teams.

Furthermore, by integrating with Google Cloud, the service can provide real-time insights into potential vulnerabilities.

The other key announcement is the introduction of Private Collection Sharing for Google Threat Intelligence, which is essentially a new way to help businesses share vital cybersecurity intelligence. By creating a secure space for data sharing, companies can discuss indicators of compromise, tactics, techniques and procedures, and more, with their peers.

“Collaboration is critical to foster true resilience when it comes to the systems and networks we rely on every day,” said Phil Venables, chief information security officer at Google Cloud.

Finally, Google announced the second edition of the Defender’s Advantage Framework, Mandiant’s cybersecurity strategy designed to help organizations improve their defense capabilities and resilience against cyber threats. It emphasizes a proactive, intelligence-driven approach to security by focusing on understanding the threat environment, prioritizing and hardening assets, building resilient security operations, preparing for the worst, and operationalizing threat intelligence.

The second edition comes with practical guides on identifying redundancies, and improving cybersecurity overall.

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Just hours before the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are set to launch officially, Apple is about to make it much easier to give Apple Intelligence a go, well at least the features that are currently in beta, like Writing Tools and Summarization. Sorry, folks keen to try Genomji or Image Playground – it’s still a wait.

iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 are now rolling out as Public Betas, meaning you no longer need to be a part of Apple’s Developer Account to get these beta seeds and give Apple Intelligence a go.

Now, you’ll need an eligible device, such as an iPhone with an A17 Pro, A18, or A18 Pro, an iPad with at least an M1 chip, or a Mac with an M1 chip or newer. Considering plenty of folks are picking up iPhone 16s soon, that will greatly increase the number of people who can try this on a cell phone.

Of course, we’re still talking about beta software, which is now open to more people. You can expect slowdowns, bugs, and even glitches along the way. You may even see reduced battery life, but that might be worth it if you want to try the new graphical interface for Siri, Writing Tools, and Clean Up in Photos, to name a few.

How to get the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 Public Betas

(Image credit: Apple)

The first step in getting the Public Betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1 is to go to Apple’s signup page and sign up with your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID). From there, you’ll go to the respective software updates sections within settings.

On the iPhone or iPad, that’s Settings > General > Software Update, and you’ll want to tap Beta Updates and select iOS 18 Public Beta. On this screen, you’ll see your Apple Account. You can then search for the update and download it to install it once it hits your iPhone or iPad.

It’s a similar process on the Mac: open Settings > General > Software Update, select Beta Updates, and then macOS Sequoia 15.1 Public Beta. Then search for an update, wait for it to download, and install it. 

However, there is an extra step to enabling the Apple Intelligence and Siri beta.

How to enable the Apple Intelligence beta on the Public Betas

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Qubix Studio)

Once your iPhone, iPad, or Mac has rebooted after installing the respective public betas, you’ll want to head into settings and sign up to join the Apple Intelligence beta. You may not get it immediately, as there is a waitlist. However, during the developer betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, it only took a few minutes. Considering this is now a public beta, it’ll be interesting to see if there’s a longer waiting period.

On the iPhone or iPad, open Settings and then select Apple Intelligence and Siri. Then, turn the feature on and wait for a notification telling you the device is ready to join the Apple Intelligence waitlist. 

Similarly, on the Mac, you’ll open Settings, click Apple Intelligence and Siri, join the Apple Intelligence waitlist, and wait until it's your turn. 

Why the waitlist? Well, your iPhone, iPad, and Mac need to download some additional software, which seems to avoid a slowdown with Apple’s Private Compute Cloud servers, which handle the Apple Intelligence requests that require more power than your respective device can deliver. 

Of course, it’s a good sign that the public betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, are rolling out now as Apple has promised it will arrive next month, October 2024. As a reminder, Apple Intelligence is first launching in US English, and in December is expected to expand to localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. 

More languages, including Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, among others, will arrive in 2025.

What Apple Intelligence features are live in the Public Beta?

(Image credit: Apple)

As mentioned above, you won’t find Genmoji, Image Playground, the truly smarter Siri, or ChatGPT integration yet. It’s more of a small sampling for now, but as I noted in my iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus reviews, and as TechRadar’s Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff said in his iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max reviews, some are truly helpful. 

Writing Tools is leading the pack, which is available everywhere you write text on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Be it in a text box, Messages, Notes, Mail, or Pages. You can select a block of text and then tap into Writing Tools – a right-click on the Mac or a long press on the iPhone and iPad – to see the available options. It can summarize a large block of text or even bullet points, make something sound more professional, and proofread. It’s not designed to handle everything, though, and you might notice some ideas tossed in that weren’t originally intended, especially with rewriting.

On the iPhone, when you engage Siri after turning on Apple Intelligence, you won’t see a floating orb at the bottom, but the edges of your screen will be colorful and moving a bit – kind of like Siri giving your screen a hug. This isn’t the fully app-aware and on-screen aware Siri yet, but Apple’s virtual assistant is better at understanding the nuance of speech, like if we stumble over words, and is better equipped to help with tech support queries. 

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

I’d also suggest turning on “Always Show Request” under Siri Responses in the Apple Intelligence and Siri settings. It’s a nice animation, and you can see what the assistant is picking up. For the times when you don’t want to ask your request out loud, you can double-tap the bottom of your iPhone to type to Siri.

You can turn on Notification Summaries, which will essentially write a quick summary for a group of notifications for each app. So if you leave a meeting with 10+ unread emails, it will summarize them in one block; the same goes for Messages, Slack, or really any application. I’ve found this pretty helpful in my testing on the developer betas.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Clean Up is likely the one you’re most eager to try, though. It’s Apple’s answer to Google’s Magic Eraser, allowing you to easily remove something or someone from the background of an image. You’ll find it in Photos as a new editing option named “Clean Up.” On the first launch, it will need to download some data to use it. Once ready, you can either select and scrub over what you’d like removed or pick from a pre-selected glowing area.

Also new for Photos is the ability to create your own memories and more advanced natural language search. On the iPhone, you’ll also now be able to record phone calls and see a transcript in notes after – when you turn this on, a message noting the call is being recorded will be played on the line as well.

These are just some of the big hitters currently available within the Apple Intelligence beta as part of the new iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 Public Betas. Of course, you might encounter some bugs, and the vast majority of other already-announced features are set to arrive later this year or next.

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Lenovo has launched the Xiaoxin Elephant, a compact monochrome laser printer designed for both home and office use. Currently available only in China, the printer offers a range of features at an affordable price of 1,299 yuan ($183) on JD.com.

The Xiaoxin Elephant is more than just a black and white laser printer, it also scans and copies, delivering 26 pages per minute and supporting automatic double-sided printing. Connectivity options include 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB, allowing users to connect various devices easily.

A standout feature of the Xiaoxin Elephant is its ability to print directly from WeChat, providing quick access to documents from popular messaging apps. Additionally, the printer supports up to 100 users, making it an ideal solution for small businesses or families that share devices.

(Image credit: Lenovo) Cheap consumables

The Xiaoxin Elephant is not only affordable to purchase but also economical to maintain. It uses a separate drum and toner system, reducing ongoing material costs. The toner cartridge, priced at 99 yuan ($14), can print approximately 1,500 A4 pages, while the drum costs 249 yuan ($35). This results in an estimated cost of 0.06 yuan ($0.01) per page, making it a cost-effective option for users with high printing needs.

Lenovo also offers customers on-site repair and replacement services across more than 100 cities in China, providing peace of mind should anything go wrong with the printer.

Naturally, there's an elephant in the room (you saw that pun coming). While we'd love to see Lenovo offer this new printer outside of China - especially if it can maintain comparable pricing - the company has yet to announce any plans for an international rollout. For now, at least, HP can breathe easy a little longer.

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Microsoft is currently testing a change for Windows 11’s Settings app that concerns recommended and promoted content - ads, in short - and surprisingly, it’s an idea that won’t make you wince. 

Windows Latest spotted that in preview builds of Windows 11 (in the Beta and Canary channels specifically), there’s a new dedicated ‘Recommendations & Offers’ page (which was previously titled as just a ‘General’ page, under the ‘Privacy & security’ section of the Settings app).

The new page will make it easier to manage what sort of adverts and recommendations Microsoft shows you in Windows 11, thanks to a couple of moves.

Firstly, the descriptions of the various options here relating to controlling ads and recommendations in one way or another have been made clearer, which is always good to see.

Secondly, we have a new option introduced to the revamped Recommendations & Offers page. (The other options remain the same as they were before, we should note - it’s just the descriptive text that’s changed, and small tweaks to the layout of the panel).

The new option is ‘Personalized offers’ but this isn’t actually new to Windows 11 as such, it’s just been shifted over from the ‘Diagnostic data’ page in Settings and renamed (it was called ‘Tailored experiences’ previously).

Switching ‘Personalized experiences’ on or off enables you to control whether you see personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on your activity within Windows.

This particular choice will be a lot easier for Windows 11 users to see - and use - in the new ‘Recommendations & Offers’ page, rather than being hidden away in some obscure panel related to diagnostic data. So, that’s a definite plus point.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff) A change of tune from Microsoft? That seems doubtful

It isn’t known when we can expect this fine-tuning of the Settings app to arrive in Windows 11. For now, it’s not even showing up for all Windows 11 testers, as apparently it’s still rolling out.

Windows Latest speculates that this change could arrive with Windows 11 24H2, although the annual update is getting close to release now - so it could be a tight squeeze.

Whatever the case, this is at least a clear effort to consider the wishes of Windows 11 users in terms of them having better visibility and control of, the advertising preferences on their devices. 

However, I don’t necessarily think this is Microsoft backing away from its aggressive stance on pushing advertising in many parts of the Windows 11 interface, and I don’t think this will do much to appease those people who are frustrated with Microsoft’s insistence on taking this path.

I’ll be happy to be proved wrong on this, but it’s hard to imagine a world where you could, say, turn off advertising altogether in Windows 11 - I can still dream, though.

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Chinese state-sponsored hackers were snooping around a US-based global engineering firm for months, trying to steal classified information, blueprints, login credentials, and other sensitive data.

An exclusive report by The Register, discussed the news with John Dwyer, Director of Security Research at Binary Defense, a managed detection and response firm that was brought in to investigate, once the attack was discovered.

The target company was not named, but it was describes as making, “components for public and private aerospace organizations and other critical sectors, including oil and gas.” The hacking collective was also not precisely identified, although the researchers did say they believed it to be Chinese, and state-sponsored, at that.

Unmanaged IT

The group made its way into the company’s infrastructure through three unmanaged AIX servers. These IBM-made servers are running the Advanced Interactive eXecutive operating system, a UNIX-based OS, and apparently, still had the default login credentials. That allowed threat actors to brute-force their way in, after which they established persistence and lurked for months. The researchers believe the intrusion originally occurred in March this year.

The group’s goal was to harvest information, which could later probably be used in supply chain attacks. Since the organization makes gear for critical sectors, the risk of important hardware going bust was real.

The victim company had endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems set up. However, these AIX servers were so old that they weren’t compatible with the EDR and as such were not monitored. The Register described them as “long- or almost-forgotten machines,” shadow IT deployments that are often not managed at all.

However, when the crooks tried to dump the memory of the LSASS process on a Windows server (a “common way to harvest credentials," the publication states), they were spotted, and blocked.

Via The Register

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Netflix has left me starving for more of the Spanish dystopian thriller The Platform 2 after revealing a sneak peek of the sequel movie.  

We rate The Platform as one of the best Netflix movies, so it's great to see that Netflix is dishing up a second serving on the best streaming service after the self-contained horror was renewed for a sequel last year – and if the exclusive clip (see below) is anything to go by, it's going to be as bleak and depressing as ever when we return to the despairing vertical prison.

The Platform became one of Netflix's best horror movies for its social commentary on capitalism, inequality, and class divide – it takes place in a vertical prison complex where food rations are passed down through a descending platform. Prisoners on the upper level take more than their fair share, leaving those lower down to starve on scraps, until one man vows to change the system.

In the eerie exclusive first clip released as part of Netflix's Geeked Week, cellmates Perempuan (Milena Smit) and Zamiatin (Hoik Keuchkerian) are two new casualties set to languish in the squalid prison this time. They introduce themselves to each other as a grand feast of food disappears down a platform between them. It's clear that Perempuan is haunted by what she's done to end up in the Pit, but what it is remains to be seen.

Another stretch on The Platform

The brutal feeding system appears to be making a return in The Platform 2, where said platform transports food between floors with those imprisoned on the top level receive the most and those on the bottom get the least or nothing at all once the platform reaches them. The class system shifts every month as prisoners are assigned a new floor to survive on. 

The Platform 2 sees a new leader impose their rule over the Platform and introduce a resident who fights against the controversial feeding method. However, their fight for survival takes a deadly turn when eating from the wrong plate could have killer consequences.

While we're not sure if any characters from the original movie will return, we can count on filmmaker Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia to use the new cast of Natalia Tena (Game of Thrones), Óscar Jaenada (The Shallows), and Tadashi Ito (Under Paris) to – what we can only hope –lift the curtain on the broken class system and disparate wealth gap once again. 

I can only hope that the sequel will be as satiating as the first and possibly lead to a third installment to complete this cinematic three course meal. 

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There's still some time before Black Mirror season 7 returns to Netflix but in an exciting announcement, we finally know who will lead the cast of the popular sci-fi series across the new episodes. 

The news was revealed at the live event of Netflix Geeked Week, which took place today (September 19) in Atlanta, in the US, and was one of the most anticipated updates for fans of the hit Charlie Brooker anthology series. 

As one of the best Netflix shows, it's no surprise that the next season of Black Mirror would be able to draw in some of the most high-profile actors. Early reports indicated that it had already started production in late 2024 and from these, we also know that it will have six-episodes – one of which is Black Mirror's first-ever sequel to an earlier episode in the series.  

That episode is reported to be a follow-up to the Black Mirror season 4 episode 'USS Callister', and could bring back some of the the star-studded cast that the original had, but the list will notably be missing Jesse Plemons from that episode, which perhaps is no surprise if you've seen it. 

TCKR_Confidential_NotForDistribution.mp4 pic.twitter.com/NdaGRQYtbaSeptember 19, 2024

Who will star in Black Mirror season 7?

As for who will be the lead cast in Black Mirror season 7, you can see the full list below:  

• Awkwafina (Jackpot!)
• Milanka Brooks (Mum And I Don’t Talk Anymore)
• Peter Capaldi (Criminal Record)
• Emma Corrin (Deadpool & Wolverine)
• Patsy Ferran (Firebrand)
• Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
• Lewis Gribben (Blade Runner 2099)
• Osy Ikhile (Citadel)
• Rashida Jones (Sunny)
• Siena Kelly (Domino Day)
• Billy Magnussen (Road House)
• Rosy McEwen (Blue Jean)
• Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)
• Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids)
• Issa Rae (Barbie)
• Paul G. Raymond (Horrible Histories)
• Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
• Jimmi Simpson (Westworld)
• Harriet Walter (Succession)

As you can see, it's another row of ridiculously great actor who'll be joining the returning series, so we can expect this to be a massive season. And while we don't rank 'USS Callister' among the best Black Mirror episodes, it's still iconic to the fanbase, and it's go to be interesting that the show is finally returning to a story from the past. This is going to be out of this world. 

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German police were able to identify individuals using the Tor network, link them to certain criminal activity, and have them arrested and later convicted of the crimes. This is according to multiple German media outlets, who recently reported on the law enforcement using so-called “timing analysis” attacks.

Tor’s heads, on the other hand, argue that the network is perfectly fine and safe, and that the person that was arrested was, in fact, using outdated software that exposed its identity to the police, The Register found.

The Onion Router (Tor) is a privacy-focused network that enables anonymous communication by routing internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers, or nodes. It hides users' IP addresses and encrypts their data, making it difficult to trace their online activity.

Unmanaged IT

In its writeup, the German outlet Panorama briefly explains the logic behind timing attacks: “By timing individual data packets, anonymised connections can be traced back to the Tor user, even though data connections in the Tor network are encrypted multiple times.” That would presumably require the law enforcement to add, or compromise, the nodes, and use them to observe clues about users sending traffic into the network.

It seems to be a long shot, and the maintainers of the Tor network believe the individual gave themselves away by using outdated third-party software. Namely, an anonymous messaging app called Ricochet, which didn’t have protections against so-called guard attacks. A “guard” is an entry node - the first one to receive data that’s later moved through the Tor network.

By getting a list of all subscribers connecting to a specific guard (in this case, by asking a telecommunications provider for the information), and then cross-referencing this data with Ricochet, the police were able to de-anonymise one user, an individual known as “Andres G”, allegedly operating a website hosting child sex abuse content.

"The claim that the network is 'not healthy' is simply not true," Tor's PR director Pavel Zoneff told The Register.

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Sony has announced a limited edition collection of PS5 consoles and accessories to celebrate PlayStation's 30th anniversary.

The PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection is set to be released on November 21 with preorders starting on September 26.

The entire collection will feature a PS5 Digital Edition bundle, a PS5 Pro bundle, as well as standalone versions of the PlayStation Portal Remote Player, DualSense Edge Wireless Controller, and DualSense Wireless Controller.

Although prices are still under wraps, Sony has confirmed there will only be 12,300 units of the PlayStation 5 Pro Console – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle available.

Those who do manage to snag one will find limited edition numbers etched onto the unit, with the number representing the month and date of the first PlayStation console launch.

Players with a PlayStation Network account can pre-order the PS5 Pro Edition, PlayStation Portal Remote Player, and DualSense Edge Wireless Controller on September 26 in regions where the PlayStation Direct website is available.

In regions where the website is unavailable, they can be preordered from select retailers, including the DualSense Wireless Controller.

The limited edition PS5 Digital Edition will be available to preorder on October 10.

For the PS5 Pro Edition bundle, owners will receive the console with a 2TB SSD along with a themed DualSense Edge, DualSense Wireless Controller, DualSense Charging Station, and a Console Cover for a Disc Drive, the latter of which is sold separately.

The PS5 Digital Edition will come packaged with a console with a 1TB SSD and matching accessories, along with a DualSense wireless controller, a vertical stand, and a Console Cover for a Disc Drive, which will also be sold separately.

Both bundles featured in the collection also come with unique components alongside the fancy new hardware, like a retro-style cable and connector, cable ties, stickers, a poster, and a PlayStation paperclip.

The full details can be read below along with preorder information per item.

The PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection:

PlayStation 5 Pro Console – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition BundIe - (Preorder on September 26).

• Includes the limited edition PS5 Pro console with 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7 in territories supporting this standard, and matching limited edition accessories – DualSense wireless controller, DualSense Edge wireless controller, DualSense Charging Station, and a Console Cover for a Disc Drive (Disc Drive sold separately).
• It also includes a Vertical Stand and special collector’s Items:
• Original PlayStation controller-style cable connector housing
• Four PlayStation Shapes cable ties
• PlayStation sticker
• Limited Edition PlayStation Poster (1 of 30 possible designs)
• PlayStation Paperclip

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle - (Preorder on October 10).

• Includes the limited edition PS5 Digital Edition console with 1TD SSD and matching limited edition accessories – DualSense wireless controller and a Console Cover for a Disc Drive (Disc Drive sold separately).
• It also includes a Vertical Stand and special collector’s Items:
• Original PlayStation controller-style cable connector housing
• Four PlayStation Shapes cable ties
• PlayStation sticker
• Limited Edition PlayStation Poster (1 of 30 possible designs)
• PlayStation Paperclip

• PlayStation Portal Remote Player – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - (Preorder on September 26).
• DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - (Preorder on September 26).
• DualSense Wireless Controller – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition - (Preorder on September 26).

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In a move usually associated with Leica, Hasselblad has launched an ultra-exclusive edition of one of its flagship cameras – the 'Earth Explorer' X2D 100C – and I badly want it. The 100MP professional medium-format camera is now available in a Tundra Brown colorway that's supposedly inspired by the Swedish brand's native Nordic landscapes.

Whatever its inspiration, I'm all for the new version of the X2D 100C that's limited to just 1000 units worldwide. The stumbling block? It's a whopping $13,999 / £12,749 (we don't have Australia pricing yet) – that's almost twice the amount of the original version that most people are already priced out of.

However, while the camera is essentially identical to the original, save for its stunning new colorway and a unique 'Earth Explorer' welcome screen when you power up, there are also a bunch of accessories bundled into the limited edition box, so it might not be the significant mark up it appears to be.

Together with the camera, there's the XCD 55mm f/2.5 lens – that's a super-sharp walkaround lens with a 43mm full-frame equivalent focal length – a complimentary strap, additional batteries and charger, plus a Hasselblad UV filter (see the included accessories in the image below). In other words, all the gear you need to get out and explore the land around you.

Those items combined equate to a small mark up versus buying the original camera and lens separately, but not by much and this is a super-limited and super-attractive edition after all.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Hasselblad)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Hasselblad)

I'm a big fan of the Hasselblad X2D 100C and awarded it a 4.5 star rating in an in-depth review. Its 100MP medium-format sensor outguns pro full-frame mirrorless cameras – trust me, I've run the comparisons. I also adore its refreshingly minimalist design that's only further enhanced in this new Tundra Brown version.

Where the Hasselblad disappoints is its middling battery life – so those extra batteries will come in handy – and its sluggish autofocus. Oh, and if you're into video, the X2D 100C isn't for you because it's photos only.

However, if you're an outdoors photographer, you'll struggle to beat the X2D 100C's image quality and its design that's only more appealing in this exclusive edition.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C Earth Edition is available immediately, but only from select retailers given the extremely limited numbers – we've included options for your region, above.

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I blame myself. I reviewed the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max and then, as I usually do, went on social media and said people could ask me anything. Usually, I get five or six questions. This year, I got hundreds, and they reveal a lot about how long people hold onto their iPhones and what they do and don't consider when considering upgrading to Apple's latest flagships.

First, let's offer a quick primer on what these new phones offer. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are essentially the same smartphone in two different sizes. Both offer slightly larger screens than the last models, A18 Pro chips, iOS 18, no Artificial Intelligence out of the gate, updated cameras, and the new Camera Control.

While many of the questions related to those details, I did notice some trends that indicate what you care about most:

Post by @lanceulanoff View on Threads Will I get better battery life?

I got so many questions about Battery Life. Apparently, quite a few people have found that the iPhone 15 Pro got too hot and that the battery drained fast. Some iPhone 14 Pro owners reported the same thing. They wanted to know about battery performance on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, if battery life is better, and if I experienced any overheating issues. I explained that while the phones sometimes felt a bit warm (during gaming, for instance), I did not see any overheating.

iPhone owners are also hyper-aware of their battery's overall charge potential. I saw numerous reports of iPhone 15 Pro's with 85% charge capacity and iPhone 14 Pros with charge capacities between 82% and 75%. They seemed eager to return to full capacity with phones that might offer better battery life than ever before. In our tests, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max both offered better battery life than we've ever seen on an iPhone (between 14 and 16 hours on average).

They also asked about how these phone batteries performed during peak tasks. I think many are concerned that these batteries might drain more quickly when playing AAA games or editing videos. I was happy to explain that had not been my experience.

Don't these look just like the last model?

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

A fair number of people argued that I was, in fact, just holding the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, meaning that these models looked exactly like the last iPhones. This matters to consumers because they are looking for a fresh design and new features.

I explained multiple times that while, yes, these phones look similar, we can point to some obvious differences. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is 6.9 inches compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7 inches), and the iPhone 16 Pro is 6.3 inches compared to the iPhone 15 Pro (6.1). I also pointed out the other new physical feature: the Camera Control button, but I will discuss that later.

Is it time to upgrade?

I was shocked at how many people still have iPhone 12 Pro models. There were even some with the iPhone 11, which has a very different design, and the iPhone Xs, which was only the second model with Face ID and is also now six years old (iPhones really do hold up).

I explained that, in these cases, the upgrades would be significant. There'd be noticeable leaps in performance and camera quality. Batteries are larger and chips are more efficient. The screens are now bigger and offer higher resolution.

Many potential upgraders own iPhone 13 Pros and iPhone 14 Pros, though. Here, obviously, I explained that the differences will be less noticeable. There's higher zoom, now 5X on both the Pro and Pro Max, faster chips, Camera Control, and the potential to support Apple Intelligence, which only the 15 Pro line and above will support.

Is it big and heavy?

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We carry our iPhones in our pockets and hold them in our hands, so naturally, a major concern among potential upgraders is weight and feel. Most are aware that these phones are a little bigger.

Even though the two Pro models are slightly heavier than their predecessors, the iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g), for instance, is significantly lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (240 grams). They repeatedly asked me if the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max fits in pockets and is comfortable to hold.

I struggled to answer this because while it feels fine in my big hands, it might not for someone with smaller pockets and hands.

Are they durable?

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

I got asked about the glass, which makes sense since so many of us are scratching and cracking our screens. I reported that Apple claims the Ceramic Shield glass is stronger, but I have not tried to scratch the screen purposely.

In other words, these screens should be more resilient, but I still wouldn't put them in your pocket with your keys.

Bigger screens, for real?

Most seemed aware that these Pro models bring slightly larger screens with them, but they wanted to know if they would appear that much larger than, for instance, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models they owned. 

It's a tough question because, at a glance, I don't think you notice, but if you hold them side-by-side, you do, and the difference in bezel size is especially noticeable.

Which colors are best?

(Image credit: Apple)

I felt similarly about all the color questions I got. People kept asking me for my preference across the four Pro color choices, Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. My test units are Desert and Natural.

I was asked if the Desert is more Rose gold or Brown. I'm a tiny bit color blind but to me, it looks more brown. They also wanted to know my color preference or, as they put it, "the best color for Pro." I said the Black Titanium, and when they pressed for my color recommendation, I said Black again. 

Of course, color is really a matter of taste. I don't know if the color I like will also appeal to you. For what it's worth, I really want some of the excellent iPhone 16 colors on the Pro models. Maybe next year.

Is the camera quality better?

Macro photos taken with Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max  (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Buying decisions were not just between older phones and the new models. In some cases, I was asked about the image quality difference between the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This was an easy one because the camera arrays are exactly the same, and the photo quality matched across the two phones.

For those considering upgrading from an iPhone 14 Pro, I was able to explain that both Pro models now have 5X zoom and that the 48MP main camera is faster than previous models, which means a better chance of catching that moment. I also reminded people that even the iPhone 15 Pro models' ultrawide photography got a major upgrade, going from 12MP to 48MP.

Naturally, an upgrade from older phones, like the iPhone 12, will mean untold new camera capabilities and vastly better image quality. Interestingly, not many asked about video quality, though there are upgrades (4K 120fps) to be found there, too.

Is the Camera Control any good?

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

People are fascinated by Camera Control but don't entirely understand it. Some confused it with the Action Button, which was introduced last year and replaced the sleep switch (not the action button). They asked how it works and if it would still function with a case on. I explained that there are special cases from Apple and third-party cases with huge cutouts to support it.

Others asked about using the new control, concerned it might be hard to master and use. I explained my experience: it took a bit to understand the differences between a hard press, light presses (haptic response), and gestures, but it can quickly become second nature.

Some worried the Camera Control placement might not work for them, and I had a few questions about left-hand usage I noted that I'm a righty but I do think using the Camera Control with the phone in portrait mode is a bit awkward.

Wait for iPhone 17?

As I mentioned, the questions I got most often related to whether it makes sense to upgrade now from models ranging from iPhone Xs to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. I usually pointed to the amount and level of upgrades you'd experience coming from each of these phones.

Trading in an iPhone 12 Pro for an iPhone 16 Pro will feel like a major leap, whereas if you trade in an iPhone 14 Pro or the barely one-year-old 15 Pro, it might feel incremental at best.

I tried to impart the notion that it's time to upgrade when you're no longer satisfied with your current phone or when you find the features in the new phone so compelling that you must upgrade now.

Some people are already looking to next year's anticipated iPhone 17. It's clear they'd chance waiting because many believe that phone will bring the sea change they desire.

The iPhone 16 line presents a conundrum because while the screen sizes, cameras, and Control Button are all new, one of the biggest new features, Apple Intelligence, is not yet live. It might be an upgrade driver, but not yet, and maybe not fully until next year. 

Most people didn't even ask about Apple's brand of AI. I did get one, though, about the experience of using it on the iPhone 16. I answered honestly, "Interesting and somewhat useful but still limited. Looking forward to seeing more."

I'm still answering upgrade questions, but I'll say the same thing I've said to some of them: Read my reviews!

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American online tax filing platform, eFile.com, appears to have suffered (yet another) ransomware attack.

Earlier this week, ransomware operators LockBit added the company to their extortion site, threatening to leak the files stolen during the raid, The Register reports. However, the company has not yet confirmed, nor denied, the attack.

Therefore, we don’t know if the attack even occurred, and even if it did - what kind of data the hackers stole, who was affected, and how many people are at risk.

Tax season

eFile.com is not a government organization, and is not affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in any way. It is a private, commercial, online tax filing platform that allows users to prepare and e-file their federal and state tax returns electronically. It offers both free and paid options, and comes with a user-friendly interface and step-by-step guidance to simplify the tax filing process. It is, however, authorized by the IRS to run its business.

Cybercriminals are no strangers to attacking the IRS, or other businesses adjacent to tax obligations. However, the attacks usually occur during the tax season (between early January and mid-April in a year), since in that period hackers have a solid chance of not being spotted quickly. Most of the time, the crooks would impersonate the IRS and send out phishing emails to their victims, to get them to either install malware, or share sensitive information.

In some cases, the crooks would obtain so much PII that they would steal a person’s identity and file their tax returns, essentially stealing money from them.

This attack, having happened outside tax season, raises many questions. The Register, for example, suspects the crooks might be recycling data from a 2022 breach. They could also be straight-up lying, in an attempt to regain some fame after being disrupted by law enforcement.

Via The Register

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Squid Game was a monumental success for Netflix, with the K-drama quickly becoming the most popular non-English TV series on the best streaming service. With Squid Game season two right around the corner, it's hardly surprising fans have weighed in with all sorts of theories.

TechRadar even had a theory of our own off the back of the first teaser trailer that was released, and though that hasn't been addressed in a new Netflix Geeked Week interview on X/Twitter, the cast had a few things to say (see below) about what we should expect when the new season kicks off on December 26. 

Lee Jung-jae (Player 456), Lee Byung-hun (The Front Man), and Wi Ha-joon (Police Officer Hwang Jun-ho) sat down to discuss and debunk some of the leading theories of one of the best Netflix shows so far.

3 years ago, The Game began. What could possibly happen next? Watch the cast of Squid Game reacting to the craziest Season 2 theories. Squid Game returns December 26! #GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/bDXu6AZg9XSeptember 18, 2024

Theory one: Hwang Jun-ho becomes a villain this season

(Image credit: Netflix)

Reading out the theory, Wi Ha-joon said: "I think [he] will turn into a villain this season. He tries to get rid of the games and ends up becoming the host."

Responding to this, the actor revealed: "Some people around me also suggested the same thing..." but refused to elaborate, of course, so it will be interesting to see if the police officer's seemingly innocent intentions change course. As we know, he originally entered the games to find his missing brother, disguised as a guard. But have the games corrupted him?

Theory two: Some of the season one games will be re-shown from a different perspective

(Image credit: Netflix)

While plot details are still under wraps, fans have been drawing their own conclusions about what to expect from Squid Game season 2. One theory that was picked up is that we'll see some of the iconic games like the Dalgona cookie challenge (pictured above), or the ominous Red Light, Green Light game back once again. This time, though, fans are wondering if we'll see them from the perspective of the guards and games master, giving some background into them.

Strong as this theory is, the actors aren't confirming or denying it. Instead, Wi Ha-joon said: "That would be great." So whether or not it happens, at least he likes the theory!

Theory three: Player 456's daughter will appear in season two as an adult, and he is now the host of the game

(Image credit: Netflix)

Perhaps the most "out there" theory, actor Lee Jung-jae seemed particularly amused by this one and said: "Whoever wrote this should join our team", while complimenting them for their "rich imagination".

So it's clear at least the first part of that has been dismissed, and that one of the new additions to the cast will not be playing his daughter, but he didn't have much to say about his character becoming the host. But, surely 456 wouldn't be corrupted by these traumatic games, right?

Theory four: Player 456's hair is pink now and the guards also wear pink. Coincidence? I think not!

(Image credit: Netflix)

Many fans, including myself, were baffled by the season one ending where 456 decided to dye his hair. Like, I get it, he won loads of money but hair dye isn't that extravagant. This has made people speculate if it's hinting at a darker storyline for him. Like the above one, people are convinced he's going to end up controlling the very game he claims he wants to destroy.

The response to this was equally as vague with Lee Jung-jae saying: "You will have to wait and see!". 

Obviously, we knew they were going to be tight-lipped around the plot details but this showcase has definitely given me plenty of stuff to think about when Squid Game season 2 drops in December. Until then, check out our round-up of the best Netflix shows to give you plenty to watch. 

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Ubisoft has declared that xDefiant is "absolutely not dying" as it shares the game's development plan.

In a new blog post, xDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin acknowledged that the online first-person shooter, which launched in May, does need improvements, but insisted that it's not dying and is actually "doing well".

"I just want to quickly address the status of the game. i.e. is the game dying? No, the game is absolutely not dying," Rubin said.

"We know there are things we need to improve like Netcode/Hitreg and adding more content to progression, but the game is doing well.

"We just want it to do better. And we do that by addressing the concerns of our community which has always been the plan. Ubisoft is very much behind us and has allocated more resources to the team in order for us to do that."

The blog post also acted as a development update where Ubisoft shared xDefiant's roadmap for Season 2 through to Season 4.

Season 2 is set to arrive on September 25, and will bring a brand-new Highwaymen faction, a new Bomb game mode, three new maps and weapons, as well as new player progression features like event challenges and objectives.

Rubin's statement comes after a recent Insider Gaming report claimed that the free-to-play shooter is struggling as the player count rapidly declines.

Sources at Ubisoft told the publication that xDefiant's developers at Ubisoft San Francisco have until Season 3 to improve the game's player count.

A separate Reuters report from earlier this month also cited Midcap Partners' analyst Charles-Louis Planade who said that interest in xDefiant has dwindled since its strong May launch, has seen a sharp decline in Twitch viewership, and that "the game would likely have a minimal impact on Ubisoft's results over the next few quarters."

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A partnership has been announced between Microsoft and BlackRock in the form of an infrastructure investment unit, the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership (GAIIP). Artificial intelligence has dominated tech spaces in the last few years, and the rapid rate of investments illustrate the confidence tech firms have in the technologies.

The project will aim to ‘enhance American competitiveness’ by building on US soil. The $30 billion fund is likely to be used to develop infrastructure to help meet the demands of AI, such as data centers and energy projects to create new sources of power for their facilities.

This is a crucial consideration when developing AI models, as the tech uses an enormous amount of power and energy to run, as well as increasing emissions by as much as 50% for some firms - leaving the industry with a serious task to mitigate its consumption.

Growth Potential

The energy sector has been singled out by BlackRock as one of the leading opportunities for growth. With the initial $30 billion investment, the partnership hopes to eventually mobilize up to $100 billion in total investment capital when including debt financing.

Chief Executive Larry Fink explained, “Mobilising private capital to build AI infrastructure like data centres and power will unlock a multitrillion-dollar long-term investment opportunity,” he said.

“Data centers are the bedrock of the digital economy, and these investments will help power economic growth, create jobs, and drive AI technology innovation.”

Computing requirements for AI have led to a substantial investment into specialized data centers, so much so that the UK government declared them part of its ‘critical infrastructure’, giving them advanced protections over other tech projects.

Via Financial Times

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