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Full spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2, up to and including episode 6.

The Rings of Power season 2 is fast approaching its explosive crescendo – but, before everything kicks off in episode 7, its predecessor has come bearing gifts in the form of some fascinating Middle-earth lore.

Season 2 episode 6, titled 'Where Is He?', continues to ramp up the tension ahead of next week's brutal Siege of Eregion, aka this season's tentpole battle sequence. Amid the multiple storylines explored in The Rings of Power's latest entry, though, a suspense-filled scene between Galadriel and Adar contains some compelling historical references to Middle-earth's First Age. Intriguingly, the lore dropped by Adar has ties to Sauron and Celebrimbor, too, whose increasingly fractious and abusive relationship is really going to "some dark places" as season 2 of the hit Amazon show reaches its endgame.

But enough dawdling. As long-time Lord of the Rings fans might have deduced, I am talking about the Silmarils and Morgoth's crown – the former being mentioned by name by Adar during his chat with Galadriel, and the latter showing up once more after its initial appearance in The Rings of Power season 2's opening episode.

What are the Silmarils and why are they so important in The Lord of the Rings?

The Silmarils contained the light of Valinor's Two Trees – one of which, Laurelin, can be seen in this image (Image credit: Amazon Studios)

There's a lot of background information on the Silmarils, so much so that I could dedicate an entire feature's worth of writing to them. But, while they're hugely important items that shaped the very history and topography of Middle-earth, I'll refrain from going off-track.

So, what are the Silmarils? Created by Celebrimbor's grandfather Fëanor, who's considered to be the greatest elven-smith to ever live (much to Celebrimbor's chagrin) during the First Age, the Silmarils are three gems of immense beauty and greatness. Each one contained the light of the Two Trees of Valinor – Telperion and Laurelin – and, after the duo were destroyed by Morgoth and Ungoliant, the Silmarils became even more important to the elves as they contained the last vestiges of the light that the Two Trees emitted. This was all covered, albeit briefly, in The Rings of Power season 1's premiere.

Unfortunately, the Silmarils wouldn't remain in the elves' care forever. Long story short, Morgoth stole them, which kicked off the War of the Jewels (also known as the Wars of Beleriand, the Goblin-wars, and the War of the Great Jewels) between Morgoth's forces and the Noldor, i.e. the second elven clan that arrived on Arda (The Lord of the Rings' version of Earth, basically). The brutal, centuries-long fight ended with the War of Wrath, which led to Morgoth's defeat, the sinking of Beleriand beneath Arda's vast ocean, and the end of the First Age.

Okay, but what happened to the Silmarils? Again, there's a lot of history surrounding them – to get the full picture, I'd recommend reading 'The Silmarillion', a book comprising numerous myths and short stories, all of which were penned by legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien, that was assembled and published posthumously by his son Christopher with assistance from Guy Gavriel Key.

If you want the short answer, though: one was placed as a star in the sky by the Valar (essentially, The Lord of the Rings' version of supremely powerful angels), another was lost beneath Arda's waves, and the final one was thrown into a fiery pit.

What is Morgoth's crown? And why does Adar have it in The Rings of Power season 2?

Morgoth's crown was first shown in season 2 episode 1's Sauron-focused flashback sequence (Image credit: Prime Video)

First glimpsed in episode 1 of The Rings of Power three-episode premiere, Morgoth's crown, which is also known as the Iron Crown, was forged by Morgoth to hold the three Silmarils once he's stolen them. Although incredibly heavy, Morgoth was never seen without it – well, until the elves Lúthien and Beren, who have been briefly mentioned in one of the best Prime Video shows, cast a sleeping spell on Morgoth, causing the crown to fall from his head and the duo being able to regain on one of the Silmarils.

But I digress. In the source material, Morgoth's crown is fashioned into a collar for his neck following his defeat and eternal casting out into the Timeless Void via the Door of Night. However, in Amazon's prequel series, it's held by Adar, with the fallen elf using it to lead the seemingly fatal attack on Sauron, who was Morgoth's lieutenant, in season 2's opening episode.

Until 'Where Is He?', we aren't sure what role Morgoth's crown will play in season 2 and beyond. However, as Adar reveals to Galadriel (and, by proxy, the audience), he wants to use Morgoth's crown in conjunction with the three elven rings to destroy Sauron once and for all. In Adar's view, the elven rings, which are untouched by Sauron and, therefore, weren't corrupted by his dark magic, plus the Iron Crown contains more than enough, well, power to kill him for good. It's why Adar is hell-bent on convincing Galadriel to give him Nenya, her Ring of Power, despite her reluctance to do so (I mean, would you give it to a millennia-old Uruk who's also one of your sworn enemies?).

Now, I know what you're thinking: isn't Sauron seen with Morgoth's crown in The Rings of Power season 2's official trailer? Yes, so you're right in assuming that it'll come into his possession before this season ends. How it does so, though, I won't say. You'll just have to keep your eye out for my season 2 ending explainer once this chapter's eight and final episode arrives on Thursday, October 3.

In the meantime, check out the section below for more coverage – some of it exclusive – on The Rings of Power season 2.

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Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. It's unsurprising given their versatility to answer questions on a broad range of topics and generate content at speed. However, it's becoming clear that the most valuable models to enterprises are not those that can recite the works of Shakespeare, but those that can provide accurate, domain-specific expertise.

In most cases, that means using industry or company-specific data - something most organizations will be wary of plugging into a model. This is exactly where Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) frameworks come in.

Getting under the hood

RAG is a process that improves the accuracy, currency and context of LLMs like GPT4. They work by combining a pre-trained LLM with a retrieval component that is connected to readily accessible information. The retrieval system finds relevant information in a knowledge library like a database. This, in turn, is passed to the LLM, or foundation model, to provide a more informed and accurate natural language answer with the most current and relevant information for the task.

RAG systems allow LLMs to refer to an external authoritative source of knowledge outside of the data set it was trained on, such as a company’s proprietary data, without needing to be retrained or compromising the security of that data.

It is this information retrieval component that is at the heart of how RAG works, and how it's differentiated from general LLMs. Chatbots and other technologies that use natural language processing can massively benefit from RAG. And a variety of industries, especially those handling sensitive or specialized data, can begin to maximize the full potential of data-driven LLMs with RAG in their corner.

The best of both worlds

Using a RAG approach brings several benefits. One of the most important is the ability to make large language models more agile. Most language models have a defined training window that can go out of date quickly, but RAG allows volatile and time-sensitive data to be used in an LLM, such as developments in the news. As a result, RAG allows an LLM to be updated at the point of the user’s request, rather than requiring it to be entirely retrained with new data regularly.

RAG can also allow the model to be supplemented with sensitive data that cannot (and should not!) be used for the initial training of the LLM. RAG is particularly useful for any generative AI applications that work within highly domain-specific contexts, healthcare, financial services and science and engineering for example. Data in these domains tends to be sensitive, and there are various frameworks and regulations in place to safeguard its privacy, meaning training data is often sparse. In turn, RAG is essential to building useful generative AI tools in these industries.

As an example, consider electronic health records and medical histories. These contain sensitive information protected by privacy laws. While such records would never be included in the initial LLM training, RAG can integrate this data during runtime, allowing a healthcare professional to make queries about patients without compromising their data. This enables RAG applications to offer more precise and relevant responses to patient queries, enhancing personalized care and decision-making while maintaining data privacy and security.

Limitations to note

While RAG is a powerful approach, it’s not a silver bullet. Its effectiveness depends on the quality of the retrieval system and the data being used. If the retrieval system fails to find accurate or relevant documents, the generated output can be incorrect. Similarly, the retrieval database must also contain accurate, up-to-date, and high-quality documents to ensure responses are useful. RAG systems are a powerful addition to an LLM’s accuracy, but this approach does not entirely eliminate the risks of AI hallucinations, or inaccurate responses.

Also, while being able to draw from more up-to-date sources of information, RAG systems do not access information from the internet in real-time. Instead, RAG requires pre-indexed datasets or specific databases that must be regularly updated as that data evolves. However, it is usually still much easier to update this additional database than to retrain the foundational LLM.

A new frontier of generative AI applications

Given the use cases of RAG, we’re likely to see further research into hybrid models that combine retrieval and generation in AI and NLP. This could inspire innovations in model architectures leading to the development of generative AI capable of taking actions based on contextual information and user prompts, known as agentic applications.

RAG agentic applications have the potential to deliver personalized experiences, such as negotiating and booking the best deals for a vacation. The coming years will likely see advancements in allowing RAG models to handle more complex queries and understand subtle nuances in the data they retrieve.

We list the best AI chatbot for business.

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

Developer Electronic Arts has shared a new update concerning the future of The Sims franchise. It introduces a new type of downloadable content (DLC) for The Sims 4 and confirms that the series will now “move beyond linear, sequential” releases and instead focus on a “variety of games and experiences”.

The information, which was posted to The Sims website, states that the “continued depth, improvements, and modernization of The Sims 4” is still a top priority, describing the game as “a foundational Sims experience”. It will continue to be supported, with separate “innovative experiences” coming via The Sims Labs - a new platform focused on “experimental ways to play The Sims”. 

The Sims Labs will offer playtests of upcoming products, including features from the previously announced Project Rene. While many had speculated that Project Rene was in fact The Sims 5, it is now clear that this is not the case. Rather, it seems to be a multiplayer spin-off geared towards a more special experience.

The news that The Sims 5 isn’t on the horizon might be disappointing for some, but it does mean that loads of new content will continue to be released for The Sims 4. The post details a new type of DLC: The Sims 4 Creator Kits. These will feature assets wholly designed by The Sims content creators and begin rolling out in November.

Mobile players are also getting some love, with a new region coming to The Sims FreePlay. It will be inspired by mountainside towns and is described as potentially “the coziest region” in the game yet. EA goes on to reaffirm that The Sims FreePlay will continue to receive fresh content in future, a little reassuring given that EA recently stated that its other mobile life simulation title, The Sims Mobile, would stop receiving new updates.

An upcoming movie inspired by The Sims is also now officially in the works in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios. It will be directed by Kate Herron and co-written by Herron and Briony Redman. Information is limited right now, but more details are set to emerge as the franchise’s 25th anniversary approaches next year.

Finally, EA also reveals some new statistics about the series. The Sims has attracted over 500 million players to date and over 1.2 billion hours of The Sims 4 has already been played this year alone.

If you’re interested in diving into the world of The Sims, The Sims 4 is currently available as a free-to-play title for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in addition to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility. The Sims FreePlay can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android.

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Have you always wanted to be a YouTuber but aren't quite sure where to start? YouTube just unveiled some major AI-powered features at its Made On YouTube event, including the integration of generative AI into Shorts, so maybe now is the time to start.

Later this year, you’ll be able to use Dream Screen, powered by Google DeepMind’s Veo, to generate video backgrounds, and in 2025, creators will be able to use the new tool to generate 6-second video clips that can merge into existing content to create more engaging videos.

With over 70% of YouTube channels uploading Shorts every month, the company’s short-form video rival to TikTok is one of the platform’s most popular ways to consumer content. With Dream Screen, if you’ve ever wanted to make your own Shorts to show off to the world, bringing your ideas to life will be much easier.

In an effort to make sure the platform doesn’t drown in AI-generated content, YouTube says it will watermark all AI-generated content. This means those of us who don’t care about creating content and just want to consume it will be able to tell how each clip has been made.

YouTube’s AI overhaul

Dream Screen isn’t the only new AI feature coming to YouTube, however. A new Inspiration tab in YouTube Studio will use AI to help creators come up with video ideas, thumbnails, outlines, and more, perfect for kickstarting your creativity.

These new AI features aimed at video creation are the perfect entry point for any aspiring YouTuber who doesn’t quite know where to start. While AI tools like ChatGPT are great for coming up with ideas, having the tools built into the YouTube platform will make them far more accessible to creators.

While more established creators on the platform might find these AI-generated tools more of a gimmick than anything else, they could be the spark that lights a fire in a new generation of online entertainers – although you’ll still need to bring your own personality.

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Google is rolling out a new calendar overview directly in newly opened browser tabs for Workspace users in a bid to get them quicker access to information they’re likely to need.

The new tool will provide immediate access to schedules and meetings as soon as workers open Chrome, with opens to view their Google Calendar as well as check details, locations and join video calls.

As part of the update, Google has also included another tile for Drive, designed to surface recently accessed documents across apps like Docs, Sheets and Slides.

This minor Google Workspace update is actually a big one

By removing just one or two steps and compiling glanceable and interactive information on the Chrome homepage, Google has effectively eliminated the need for workers to open their Workspace apps in some circumstances.

The update forms part of a broader set of enhancements to Google Workspace and Chrome, all with an eye on efficiency and productivity. Enterprises can also set up managed-site shortcuts, allowing departments to quickly access sites like Salesforce without employees having to configure it themselves.

Moreover, Google is adding more control for IT teams with profile-level security policies. Acknowledging that, for many, the browser is the endpoint, especially for those using Google’s office software, the company has had to adapt to hybridized workforces and BYOD policies to ensure that bookmarks, extensions and browser data remain separate for work accounts.

The new Calendar and Drive views in the new tab page as well as enterprise-configured managed-site shortcuts are rolling out now, and further security controls will become generally available later this year.

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Sony's next State of Play livestream is claimed to be broadcast as early as next week.

That's according to industry insider and Giant Bomb reporter Jeff Grubb who said on the most recent Game Mess Mornings podcast that the next State of Play is "almost certainly happening" on September 24 (via VGC).

It's also claimed that the long-rumored Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster will make its official debut at the showcase, which coincidentally just received another leak in the form of an ESRB rating detailing a PS5 and PC release.

Grubb also said that another remaster will be officially announced during the State of Play, which he said is "even less exciting" than the Horizon remaster.

While discussing PlayStation's ongoing initiative to release more PS4 remasters on PS5 and PC, Grubb confirmed that he also recently had heard that fans shouldn't expect a Bloodborne remaster any time soon.

"It's still 'no' on the Bloodborne," he said.

Sony officially unveiled the PS5 Pro last week as part of its PlayStation 5 Technical Presentation, where it confirmed that the mid-generation console will launch globally on November 7, 2024.

During the presentation, Sony revealed several games like The Last of Us Part 2 and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart being played on the PS5 Pro, which all showcased the mid-generation console's advanced tech in action.

It's unconfirmed right now, but with the console's release date only months away, Sony could potentially show off more previously released PS5 games running on the hardware, or even a new game in development for the PS5 Pro. We'll have to wait and see.

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As streaming app interfaces go, Google TV is one of the best around, and its free channel offerings continue to get better as the launch of the Google TV Streamer approaches: there are apparently a handful of new channels to enjoy, as well a revamped Freeplay interface for accessing them.

Some images of the new interface have been posted online by 9to5Google, and it looks to be a significant improvement over the Live tab, where all of these free, ad-supported (or FAST) channels can currently be found.

The new-look interface makes it easier to get at your full list of channels, as well as giving you the option to browse by category: Recents, Popular, Drama, News, and so on. There's also a Favorites category where you can save the channels you like the most.

The Live tab isn't going away – you can still find FAST channels here, alongside live channels from YouTube TV. It's also worth noting that the Freeplay branding is still rolling out, so you might not see it right away – it should be showing up for everyone in the US across the next few days.

Hundreds of channels

The new Google TV Streamer is on the way (Image credit: Google)

While 9to5Google mentions new channels, it doesn't specify exactly what they are – and Google hasn't said anything officially either. New channels are now being added on such a regular basis, it's hard to keep up: we got 14 more free channels last week, together with a hint about this Freeplay rebranding.

All of these new channels and various other changes – like shifting all purchasing options to YouTube – seem to be in preparation for the launch of the new Google TV Streamer, on sale from September 24. The new box will take over from Chromecast devices.

There are now more than 800 FAST channels available on Google TV, with over 150 available in the curated list offered by Freeplay. This comeback for ad-supported viewing matches the recent trend in streaming services offering ad-supported tiers.

For now though, you can't get free channels or Freeplay on Google TV if you live outside the US – no doubt due to complications around licensing issues. If you're not in the United States and want to watch movies and shows for free (in return for a few ads), your options potentially include Amazon Freevee, Tubi, and Plex.

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Meta is potentially facing a significant fine over its alleged attempts to dominate the classified advertising market.

The classified ad practices of the corporation have come under fire for linking free Marketplace services with the Facebook platform, which 'undermines rivals', according to the EU regulators. It’s not clear how much the fine would be, but the figure could be up to 10% of global annual revenue, which was almost $135 billion in 2023.

In what could be EU antitrust Commissioner Margaret Vestager’s final blow to big tech before stepping down, regulators started looking into the social media platform in 2019 after rivals accused Facebook of abusing its dominant position by offering free services whilst profiting from the data it collects on the site.

Vestager’s legacy

Rulings against tech giants have forced companies to comply with digital regulations in the forms of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA). These have aimed to outlaw harmful advertising practices and mitigate the spread of misinformation online.

As Big Tech companies grow more powerful than ever, legislators and enforcers look to rein them in. A judge recently found that Google was acting as a search engine monopolist, and earlier this year, Apple was fined a record $1.2 billion for anti-competitive behaviors.

Margaret Vestager stepping down as EU commissioner was seen as a win for big tech companies who have been on the receiving end of her strict anticompetition rulings, but she may be able to see through this final ruling before she steps down.

The new antitrust enforcer for the EU college is likely to be named as Spanish climate expert Teresa Ribera, who looks set to continue Vesteger’s legacy of firm competition policy.

Via Financial Times

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Full spoilers follow for Agatha All Along's two-episode premiere, WandaVision, and Doctor Strange 2. Potentially big spoilers also follow for Teen's real identity.

Agatha All Along has made its spellbinding debut on Disney Plus – and, like many of you, I'm already caught up in its biggest mystery: who is Teen, the enigmatic character played by Joe Locke?

Shocking no one, Marvel doesn't give us a definitive answer at any point in the show's two-episode premiere. In fact, the comic giant goes to great lengths to ensuring that Teen's real name isn't disclosed in the episodes 'Seekest Thou The Road' or 'Circle Sewn With Fate, Unlock Thy Hidden Gate'. Clearly, there's more than meets the eye with the particular Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character.

But, like any good detective, I've scoured Agatha All Along's first two episodes for clues to determine Teen's actual identity. I don't want to brag, but I think I've already worked out who he is, too. So, before you continue scrolling, this is your final warning: potentially huge spoilers follow for Marvel's latest TV show. If you haven't seen any episodes yet, read my Agatha All Along review first and then stream them. Once you've completed both tasks, you should be safe to proceed.

What is Teen's real name in Agatha All Along? Is it Billy Maximoff?

I'm convinced that Joe Locke's Teen is Billy Maximoff in disguise (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

In the immediate aftermath of Agatha All Along's debut, the prevailing theory among Marvel fans – myself included – is that Teen's real name is William 'Billy' Maximoff. Yes, one of Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch's twin sons who first appeared in WandaVision.

There are plenty of signs to support this fan theory. For one, Teen wants to navigate the dangerous, sorcery-filled realm known as The Witches' Road. Individuals who successfully pass its numerous trials will be gifted a grand reward once they reach the end. With Wanda seemingly perishing in Doctor Strange 2's final act, what better reason would one of her sons have to successfully traverse The Witches' Road and rescue his mom from eternal damnation?

That isn't the only compelling piece of evidence that Teen is really Billy. Early on in episode 2 when he's conversing with Agatha Harkness, the latter asks him what his name is. Teen tries to tell her, but his mouth is covered by some of dark magic spell that prevents Agatha – and viewers – from hearing what he says, or even reading his lips to work out what words he's uttering.

Interesting, very interesting... (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

While we can't decipher his name, there are two hints at Teen's real identity. The first is the cursive, black-inked letter that censors Teen's face as he replies to Agatha's query. Depending on how you read it, it looks like an upside down 'W' or a 'M', which – surprise surprise – are Wanda's initials. The other clue is more subtle but, if you pay very close attention to the movement of Locke's mouth and jaw as he responds to Agatha, it looks like it says 'Billy Maximoff'.

Then there's the fact that, in the comics, Billy is a supremely powerful being in his own right. You can read more about his comic book origins and history in our Billy and Tommy Maximoff explainer, which also goes into more detail about their creation and roles in WandaVision. In essence, though: Billy is, like his mom, a formidable magic wielder who adopts the superhero pseudonym Wiccan. His abilities are seemingly limitless and, at various points in Marvel comics, he's been part of superteams including The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Young Avengers.

We already know that Teen is obsessed with the dark arts and witchcraft, and that he's a Familiar, i.e. someone who acts as a witch's companion on their travels. Evidently, then, he has the potential to become a sorcerer – all he needs is a push in the right direction to become Wiccan.

If Teen is Billy Maximoff, how did he survive the events of WandaVision?

Billy/Wiccan (center) was last seen as a child in 2021's WandaVision TV show (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

If Locke is playing an aged-up Billy, it poses one big question: how is he alive? After all, as we covered in our WandaVision episode 9 recap, Billy and his twin brother Tommy, died (read: disintegrated) after Wanda came to terms with the grief-laden events she experienced in Avengers: Infinity War. 

Essentially, Billy and Tommy were the fabricated offspring of Wanda and Vision – the latter also being a make-believe version of the deceased synthezoid that Wanda created following his death in one of the best Marvel movies. So, once Wanda made peace with original Vision's demise, she didn't need a manufactured family to keep her company, nor did she need to maintain her extremely powerful Hex spell that she accidentally covered the town of Westview with upon her arrival.

So, if Locke is playing an older Billy in Agatha All Along, we'll certainly need a thorough explanation about how he evaded certain death. Not only that, but we'll need answers to the following: how did Billy survive if Tommy didn't? Is it because of his powerful magical abilities or something else? If, at the end of The Witches' Road, he gains his own powers instead of being able to save Wanda from certain death on Mount Wundagore, can he use them to rescue her? And, if that's the case, will Agatha All Along finally set up Marvel's Young Avengers movie – one which may take inspiration from the 'Children's Crusade' comic book storyline – after years of rumors about its development?

Teen could be Agatha's long-lost son, but I doubt that's the case (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

The other option, of course, is that Teen is Agatha's own son, who died/was given up for adoption/turned into Nicholas Scratch the rabbit (delete as applicable), and has been reincarnated or taken on human form for reasons unknown. There's little evidence to suggest this is the case, however, especially regarding the latter, with Agatha's pet rabbit (as seen in this article's main image) clearly still around in her standalone series.

Right now, then, all signs point towards Teen being Billy Maximoff. Hopefully, the Marvel Phase 5 series won't make us wait until its two-part finale to get a definitive answer.

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Nintendo has announced that it will be suing the developer of the hit monster-taming game, Palworld, for infringing on multiple patents. 

In its statement, Nintendo said, “The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the defendants and compensation for damages… In order to protect the valuable intellectual property that we have built up through many years of hard work, we will continue to take the necessary measures against any infringement of our intellectual property.”

This comes almost eight months after Palworld's monumental January launch, selling more than 5 million copies and achieving an average viewership on Twitch of 147,264, with 58.3m hours watched. But Palworld instantly drew comparisons to the third-best-selling video game series of all time, thanks to glaringly obvious similarities between its "Pals" and Pokemon. The entire gaming world expected Nintendo's infamous legal team to speedily come down on their heads, and when that didn’t happen many people assumed that Palworld was safe.

While Pocketpair's CEO Takuro Mizobe tried to get ahead of legal troubles earlier this year by saying they had "no intention of infringing upon the intellectual property of other companies", it was only days later that Pokemon Company said it would begin to "investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights."

That investigation has finally led Nintendo to officially file suit against Pocketpair, as many predicted nearly 8 months ago.

No stranger to throwing legal Poké Balls

This is far from the first time Nintendo has flexed its legal muscles and instances like this come with the territory, as it's one of the oldest and biggest video game companies in the world.

Nintendo famously sued video rental chain Blockbuster for copyright infringement after it photocopied game manuals for rental games that were missing guides. It has issued so many cease-and-desist orders to fan-made games that hobbyist developers now don't even release news until the games are ready to play. And there’s no shortage of emulation sites that have been hit with lawsuits for offering Nintendo ROMs.

If you’re at all familiar with Pokémon, one glance at Palworld's creatures is enough to see that Pocketpair may have borrowed a little too much from the monster-catching monarch. However, Palworld is also a third-person action-adventure survival game, complete with combat, exploration, and base-building – and vastly different from anything you'll find in a Pokémon game.

While it’s not surprising that Nintendo is suing the developer, it is curious that it took this long for the lawsuit to materialize. Palworld's concurrent player numbers now generally hover between 15 to 30K per day, down significantly versus its launch-month high of over 2 million – so Nintendo can now at least tackle Pocketpair without millions of fans rallying in protest. 

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• Google Gemini Live's AI voice now comes in ten more styles

Google's Gemini Live AI assistant has a new range of voices for communicating with Android users. The ten new voices each have a unique way of speaking tied to personalities and accents. 

Furthermore, in keeping with the astronomical theme of Gemini, the voices are all named for constellations, stars, or star-related phenomena, such as Orion, Capella, and Nova, respectively. 

The voices were initially exclusive to Gemini Advanced subscribers but are now available to all users, which makes them more accessible and fits with Google's efforts to make Gemini a part of every user's experience. Google claims the speech engine used for the voices makes them more emotionally expressive and able to handle interactions in a way closer to human conversation. 

Regardless of the voice you choose, the AI will still be able to talk and complete tasks at the same time. And if you didn't understand something the AI said, it keeps a text transcript saved for you to review or even reset.

You can now explore up to 10 different voices with Gemini Live *and* change up your selection at any time. Take a listen here or in the app and let us know your favorite(s) in the replies. pic.twitter.com/ZflSi7n4NRSeptember 17, 2024

Gemini Live forever

It's notable that the Gemini Live voices are rolling out just as OpenAI plans to announce significant improvements to the ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode. ChatGPT in Voice Mode currently struggles with longer conversations and has other limits that Gemini Live and its larger context window don't. Whether the updated Advanced Voice Mode will include as many voice options hasn't been revealed yet as of yet. 

Google's expansion of Gemini Live and the introduction of new voices help highlight how Google wants Gemini to seem like more than just Google Assistant, but as a personalized aide adaptable to your preferences. Making them free will likely enhance Gemini's place in people's lives, especially as the company rolls out new integrations and connections to Google products. revealed 

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Snapchat's AI experiments are reaching a new level of maturity, as exemplified by the new AI Lens that will let you see how you might look in the future. Aging your appearance is just a taste of the upgraded AI on Snapchat, as the company seemed eager to show off how AI is becoming integrated even more into its platform, including the latest version of the Spectacles.

The most notable new feature is "My Selfie," which employs AI and photos of you to produce a digital avatar based on your selfies. You can then ask the social media app to create AI-generated images and place your virtual self in them. 

It's a lot like the "Imagine" feature from Meta, which also makes an AI-produced version of you to embed in AI-generated images. A bonus of the Snapchat version is that you can generate images of yourself as well as your friends if they have made an AI avatar and opted into the program.

If you subscribe to Snapchat+, your real experiences with friends also get an AI upgrade. Snapchat has boosted the Memories feature for all users with collages and videos. But with Snapchat+, you'll also have more AI-produced information in the form of captions and curated Lenses for the old pictures, all adding detail and reworking the images in new ways. 

AI Lens Life

Information is also key to Snapchat's upgraded My AI chatbot, which uses ChatGPT-based models to converse. Snap announced it is improving the chatbot's problem-solving capabilities with visual processing. That means the bot can now interpret images, answer questions about parking rules based on a picture of a sign, identify plants from a photo you take, and even translate text from another language. Like the AI avatar, this feature might also sound familiar if you've used ChatGPT's image features or the Gemini-powered Google Lens.

If you're feeling creative but aren't a fan of the Lens that makes you look old, there's a lot of opportunity for you in the new AI-powered tools in Lens Studio. The new Easy Lens tool lets you design a Lens by writing a text prompt that can theoretically do anything you might imagine from a Snapchat filter. 

For more advanced creators, the GenAI Suite has several new tools, including Body Morph, which produces three-dimensional characters and outfits based on text prompts or uploaded images. There's also the new Animation Blending feature, which combines multiple animation clips to move smoothly.

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Mild spoilers follow for Agatha All Along's first three episodes. Full spoilers also follow for WandaVision.

"Who asked for this?" – it's an eye-roll-inducing question that Marvel fans, myself included, have seen asked countless times since Agatha All Along was first announced in November 2021. In some people's minds, the forthcoming WandaVision spin-off is not just a superfluous addition to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but also a miniseries that, if handled incorrectly, might even sully the reputation of Marvel Studios' first-ever – and arguably most popular – TV project.

The comic-book giant may not have polled its global fanbase on whether an Agatha Harkness-led show was necessary, but I'm glad they didn't. Agatha All Along is an enchanting, kooky, and occasionally spine-chilling WandaVision companion piece that confidently straddles the exploratory line between its weighty content, expansion of the MCU's horror-filled corner, and being a campy romp that puts a modern spin on classic witch tropes.

Previously on WandaVision

Agatha All Along opens with the titular witch still trapped in Wanda Maximoff's spell  (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

Agatha All Along begins three years after WandaVision's final episode, with Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) still trapped in the reality-altering spell that Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch placed her in after their Westview showdown.

However, with the aid of her spurned and unhinged ex Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), plus a mysterious Familiar known as Teen (Heartstopper's Joe Locke), Agatha manages to claw her way out of her Hex-based mind-prison. Unfortunately, her problems aren't over – not only is Agatha still powerless after Wanda drained her of her sorcery-based abilities, but a powerful and covert organization called The Salem Seven are hunting her for reasons unknown.

If it sounds like there's a fair amount to set up in Agatha All Along, that's because there is

But Teen has a solution: all Agatha has to do is survive The Witches' Road, a life-threatening realm that few witches have successfully navigated, and she'll regain her powers. Cue a mind-bending, fun-filled, and harrowing journey "down, down, down The Witches' Road" that'll test Agatha, Teen – he wants to walk it for reasons of his own – and their hastily assembled coven of fellow misfit magic-wielders, all of whom are vital in traversing the dangerous dimension.

If it sounds like there's a fair amount to set up in Agatha All Along, that's because there is. Like WandaVision, I found the first of its two planned TV spin-offs to be as much of a slow burn as Marvel's first Disney Plus foray, though I suspect some will argue that, given the new characters it has to introduce (more on this later) and the fact it's been over three years since WandaVision debuted on one of the world's best streaming services, a methodical approach to its early narrative is a necessity.

Agatha All Along only begins to find its feet in its second episode (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

Even so, Agatha bizarrely spends the bulk of episode one in the warped reality of a crime drama not unlike True Detective, or Scandinavian police procedurals including Wallander and The Killing. Sure, it's a novel expansion of the television/sitcom genre storytelling that WandaVision was built upon, but I found it to be extraneous from plot and runtime perspectives. MCU newcomers, for whom Agatha All Along may be their introduction into Marvel's ever-evolving cinematic franchise, will benefit from this creativity-laced plot exposition but, as a Marvel veteran, it added little to my viewing experience.

Agatha All Along ratchets up the humor, spookiness, and high-stakes moments that'll... define this hair-raising yet rollicking series

Once Agatha breaks out of her mental jail, however, things quickly heat up – and I'm not just talking about her sexually charged run-in with Rio at Agatha's Westview home. 

From the enigma that is Locke's Teen and the revelations about The Witches' Road, to the assembling of Agatha's maverick coven and the creepy introduction of The Salem Seven, Agatha All Along ratchets up the humor, spookiness, and high-stakes moments that'll come to define this hair-raising yet rollicking Marvel Phase 5 series. Showrunner Jac Schaeffer, alongside her fellow writers and executive producers, has struck a pleasing tonal and visual balance that instils Agatha All Along with its own identity without discarding many of the elements that made WandaVision one of the best Disney Plus shows around – a balancing act that few shows, especially ones with a superhero and/or comic-book slant, have executed effectively.

Witches, assemble!

Teen (first left), Rio (second left), and Jennifer Kale (right) are all part of Agatha's fractious coven (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

Agatha All Along is at its bewitching best, though, once the titular sorceress' ragtag group of dark-magic outcasts join forces – albeit reluctantly, in some cases – to traverse The Witches' Road.

Okay, it's the mysteries surrounding Teen and The Salem Seven that'll initially spark the most interest in viewers, and I fully expect to see numerous wild fan-theories about their identities immediately after the two-episode premiere. Until those puzzling subplots are resolved in later episodes, though, Agatha All Along's biggest strength lies in its compelling character-driven moments, and a dysfunctional family vibe that reminded me of another of Marvel's found families in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Agatha All Along hangs its hat on compelling character-driven moments and a dysfunctional family vibe

And maladjusted Agatha's coven most certainly is. Debra Jo Rupp's Sharon Davies, the comic relief and only non-sorceress of the group, notwithstanding, the other witches – Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Kamata), Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), and Plaza's Rio – all have an ax to grind with Agatha. Despite their obvious dislike for the conniving and callous protagonist and her suspicious plan, the quintet agree to joining Agatha's quest with the promise that grand rewards await them, which provides ample opportunity for spicy and venomous melodrama, as well as lashings of delightfully awkward humor, to unfold amid their strained collaboration.

Teen and Agatha's dynamic takes center stage throughout Agatha All Along (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

I venture we'll learn more about these characters' backstories, their inner demons, group dynamics, and relations to Agatha (the one she shares with Rio will be especially fascinating, given Plaza's lethal-yet-aloof scene-stealing performance) as the series progresses. But, it's evident from the get-go that the serendipitous nature of Agatha and Teen's bond is what'll really drive the plot forward. Hahn and Locke have a natural chemistry that's easy on the eye, subtly amusing in its unexpected buddy-cop makeup, and, even this early into its run, emotionally impactful. Keen as I am to see them interact with the rest of the supporting cast, I hope their relationship doesn't get lost in the fabric of the show with each passing episode.

Scare and serenade me more, Marvel

Aubrey Plaza's Rio Vidal has a small but significant role to play in the first three episodes (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

If there's one thing I'm disappointed with so far, it's Agatha All Along's reluctance to wholeheartedly lean into its horror and musical sensibilities.

I really want to see Agatha All Along adopt a braver, fright-filled stance

Okay, on the terror front, Agatha All Along is an extension of WandaVision's 16-plus/TV-14 story, so it's bound to the same or similar thematic, visual, and storytelling guidelines that its progenitor was. And yes, as part of a huge Disney Plus show update delivered by Marvel TV chief Brad Winderbaum in July, I should've known that a series Winderbaum labeled as a "Marvel brand of scary" was probably going to play it safe in the gore, jump-scare and psychological horror stakes. Heck, Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, which were similarly teased as full-blown horror offerings, didn't go as hard as I liked, even though I enjoyed them immensely.

Agatha All Along's early episodes are atmospherically spooky, rather than genuinely terrifying (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney Plus)

Unfortunately, while Agatha All Along's trailers and awesome, horror film-inspired posters suggest it might not only break the mould, but also fully embrace a genre it's tailor-made for, it's yet to convince me that it will. There are unsettling moments, such as The Salem Seven's creepy introduction as they advance on Agatha's home in episode 2. Some brief psychological horror sequences that occur in its third episode are also discomforting in their art direction, filmmaking style, and deep-seated trauma characteristics.

I was anticipating more in the way of catchy original songs in Agatha's early episodes

Those instances, though, are the extent of the scares in Marvel's final live-action show of 2024. The comic titan has already proved it can go further in in the supernatural, body- horror, and Lovecraftian stakes – just look at the Scarlet Witch scenes in Doctor Strange 2, the cosmic trippiness of its forebear, or even the undead nightmare scenes in Spider-Man: Far From Home and What If...? season 1's zombies episode. I really want to see Agatha All Along adopt a braver, fright-filled stance in the six episodes that follow, especially as it leads us down the horror-based rabbit hole with its Hereditary-meets-The Wizard of Oz storyline.

Contrary to popular belief, Agatha All Along isn't a full-blown musical, either (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

And what of its musical elements? Considering that Agatha's standalone series has been billed as a dark comedy musical since rumors of the WandaVision spin-off's existence first emerged in October 2021, I was anticipating more catchy and original songs in its early episodes. The Ballad of the Witches' Road is the only addition thus far, albeit it's a pleasingly constructed ditty that, thanks to the harmonies and vocal range of the show's primary and supporting cast, wonderfully builds to a euphonious crescendo in episode 2's final act. 

As with its somewhat underwhelming horror characteristics, I'm willing to give it more time to deliver on the musical front. Maybe my confidence is misplaced, but I'm optimistic that Agatha All Along will deliver more frights and earworm jingles to assuage my concerns in the weeks ahead.

My verdict

Three episodes in, Agatha All Along is an unapologetically queer, amusingly catty, and enchantingly twisted MCU offering that'll make for ideal viewing this Halloween. Unless it becomes a full-blown horror spectacle, though, I doubt that it'll turn out to be the dark and spine-chilling show I'd really like it to be; and even if it does, I doubt it'll ever become my favorite MCU TV series of all time. 

Nonetheless, there's enough cackle-inducing entertainment value in its morally ambiguous characters, spectral glamor, and – like The Penguin on Max – the magical deconstruction of its tragic villain lead for MCU veterans and casual horror enthusiasts to enjoy. I'm sure its target audience will get an even bigger kick out of what's on offer, too – and, after all of those "who asked for this?" questions, Marvel won't care one jot about those dissenting voices if they do.

Agatha All Along's first two episodes are out now on Disney Plus. New episodes air weekly until the two-part finale on October 30 (US) and October 31 (UK and Australia).

Just ahead of Apple’s AirPods 4 hitting shelves on Friday, September 20, 2024, Bose is unveiling a new pair of earbuds priced identically at $179 / £ 179. Unlike AirPods 4 with noise cancelling, the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have ear-tips that seal off your ears and pair that feature with a promised long runtime and strong active noise cancellation.

First, a quick history lesson, though. While these do have the name Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, they are not a new generation of the QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra or an update on our pick for Best ANC, the QCE2, which is sadly no longer officially sold by the brand. These new QuietComfort Earbuds have a more mid-range price and are likely the spiritual successor to the Sport Earbuds from years past.

Furthermore, these are the entry points to the Bose earbud lineup under the $299 Ultra Open Earbuds or $299 QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. These will be most similar to the latter with a slightly oversized look and a design that incorporates ear-tips. Now, if Bose’s mid-range QuietComfort Earbuds have already sold you, they are up for order now, but ahead, we’re breaking down what is new.

(Image credit: Bose)

While the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are priced in line with Apple’s AirPods 4, these earbuds take a different approach entirely. Starting with the design, Bose sticks with a slightly oversized look that will protrude from the ear and let you proudly display your color choice. You can pick between Black, White Smoke, or Chilled Lilac. With silicone ear-tips and a stability band, the QuietComfort Earbuds are decidedly not open-ear and aim for a full seal with your ear canal. 

This should aid in active noise cancellation, reducing environmental sounds to a silence, and avoiding audio leakage. You’ll be able to pick from a few sizes of both tips and bands in the box. If you enjoy listening to music while working out or walking in the rain, you know that these do meet the IPX4 water and sweat resistance rating. 

Powering the audio experience is a custom setup from Bose and it’s described as delivering a high-quality experience that can be customized within the companion Bose QC Earbuds app for Android and iOS. There you can choose between 5 EQ presets or create your own. 

Each earbud features three microphones for voice pickup and active noise cancellation. With the latter, the onboard processor and a Bose algorithm cancel out the noise around you and leave you silent. We have high hopes for how well this will perform, especially given how previous Bose earbuds have been tested. You can also make some environmental sounds in “Aware” mode, similar to Apple’s Transparency mode on AirPods.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds support multipoint pairing out of the box, which the QuietComfort Ultra still lacks. These boast Bluetooth 5.3, which should ensure strong connectivity. There is also a new feature that will let the earbuds act as a remote shutter for taking selfies, and Bose has its own voice assistant that can be accessed by saying, “Hey headphones.”

Battery life is looking pretty sharp. Bose promises 8.5 hours of playback on a full charge, and the case provides 2.5 full recharges for 29.75 hours of total listening. That’s close to the Apple AirPods 4, which claim a 30-hour total playtime, but you only get five hours from Apple’s earbuds before they’ll need charging (which, let’s face it, isn’t that long in today’s money). Bose’s carrying case can be recharged via USB-C or a wireless charging mat. 

(Image credit: Bose)

Overall, the features stack up on paper to what could be an excellent pair of earbuds at a great price. It’s also clear that while Bose offers an open-ear pair of earbuds, the brand is returning to basics with a more affordable pair of earbuds designed to deliver strong noise cancellation in a design with proper ear tips.

Bose is already taking orders for the new QuietComfort Earbuds, and according to the company’s online store, they should be delivered in all three colors as soon as September 23. So, if you’re sold, you can lock in an order now, and we’ll be back with our thoughts as soon as we can go hands-on.

That's not all that Bose had to unveil, though. Alongside the QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose unveiled the new Smart Soundbar which keeps the look and feature-set of the Smart Soundbar 600, but tosses in an A.I. Dialogue Mode to adjust tone and EQ in real-time. It's up for order now at $499.99.

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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 #466) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CHAMPAGNE
• SUPER
• NOVA
• REUNION
• BIRTHDAY
• NATURE
• NICE
• COCKTAIL
• ANGERS
• EXTRA
• SURPRISE
• MASTERPIECE
• HYPER
• FRONTLINE
• OVER
• DINNER

NYT Connections today (game #466) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Exaggerated start
• Green: Celebration type
• Blue: TV shows
• Purple: Gallic locations

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 #466) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PREFIX MEANING “VERY”
• GREEN: KINDS OF PARTIES
• BLUE: PBS SHOWS
• PURPLE: PLACES IN FRANCE

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

NYT Connections today (game #466) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #466, are…

• 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

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

Today's Connections really got my brain working – which, I guess, is the intention. Green – KINDS OF PARTIES – was not a difficult one, with BIRTHDAY, COCKTAIL, DINNER and SURPRISE standing out, but I found yellow and blue harder. The problem was largely one of misdirection, with NOVA and SUPER and HYPER all sounding like they could go together, but eventually I settled on the PREFIX MEANING “VERY” angle and solved yellow.

That left blue and purple, and here I was stuck. Maybe if I watched US TV I'd have had a better chance with PBS SHOWS, but I'm in the UK and so I'm not really aware of the likes of MASTERPIECE and FRONTLINE. My attention was instead focused on ANGERS – an odd word for Connections, and one that didn't appear to go with anything else. But the word NICE was also nagging away at me, and I knew that CHAMPAGNE is a French place too, so put them together with REUNION and ANGERS and solved purple.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 18 September, game #465)

• YELLOW: GATHERING SPOT OUTSIDE A RESIDENCE DECK, PORCH, STOOP, YARD
• GREEN: LOWDOWN DISH, DOPE, INFO, SCOOP
• BLUE: KINDS OF REELS BLOOPER, DEMO, HIGHLIGHT, SIZZLE
• PURPLE: CARTOON DOGS MINUS “Y” DROOP, GOOF, LAD, SNOOP

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Work out the bugs

NYT Strands today (game #200) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• WARE
• SCARE
• MIRE
• TIRE
• BEET
• PLIER

NYT Strands today (game #200) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Minibeasts

NYT Strands today (game #200) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: top, 3rd column

Last: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #200) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #200, are…

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

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

This is a bit of a strange Strands game, in that the spangram is very long and only leaves room for five other answers. Given that these are all pretty easy, that makes for a potentially quick solve and a short game.

It's not necessarily an unsatisfying one (for me at least, because I love bugs), but I do wish it had been slightly harder. Once I spotted SPIDER the theme was obvious, and the spangram itself was easy too. Its position on the board left little room for doubt about what most of the other solutions were, and I was done in about five minutes max.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday 18 September, game #199)

• KNIFE
• PLIERS
• HAMMER
• SCREWDRIVER
• WRENCH
• LEVEL
• SPANGRAM: TOOLCHEST

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 #969) - 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 #969) - 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 1.

Quordle today (game #969) - 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 #969) - 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 #969) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• O

• D

• L

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

Quordle today (game #969) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #969, are…

• MARRY
• OWING
• DICEY
• LUCKY

There's no need to worry about today's Quordle; it's a very straightforward one that doesn't really hold any complications for anyone. Yeah, MARRY has a repeated R – but R is a common letter and MARRY a common word. That's pretty much it as far as traps go here – I'd be surprised if too many people lost their Quordle streak today.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #969) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #969, are…

• LEASE
• HASTE
• SKIER
• LOGIN

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #949, Friday 30 August: ARISE, OLDER, ISSUE, ERUPT

The launch of iOS 18 has been mostly well-received by iPhone fans, but the most controversial change has been Apple's redesign of the Photos app.

Across the TechRadar office and multiple Reddit threads, many fans have been fuming about the many changes – with the most disliked one being Apple's decision to ditch the tabbed navigation bar that used to live at the base of the app's screen.

Instead, Apple has embraced a scrolling design that, for many, makes the app feel slower and more laborious to use. Fortunately, it has also hidden two handy customizations that can help you restore the app to something similar to the previous tab experience.

The first is the ability to change the order of the app's long list of photo collections. To do that, scroll to the bottom of the app and tap 'Customize & Reorder'. This lets you move your preferred collections, such as 'Albums' and 'Recent Days, ' further up the page.

To reorder or remove collections in the iOS 18 Photos app, scroll to the bottom to find the 'Customize & Reorder' button (left) and choose your preferred order – with 'Pinned Collections' (right) being a key one for an old nav bar experience. (Image credit: Future / Apple)

If you want something closer to the old navigation bar, the key one to move to the top (so it sits just below your Photos feed when you open the app) is 'Pinned Collections.' 

As the name suggests, this is a bar of shortcuts to your preferred photo sets. To change the order of these, tap 'Modify,' and you can move some of the old nav bar favorites, like 'Albums,' into one-tap territory again without needing to scroll.

Put 'Pinned Collections' at the top of your list and it'll sit below your Photo Feed like an old nav bar – tap 'Modify' to change the order of your 'Pinned Collections'   (Image credit: Future / Apple)

If your photo feed is overrun with screenshots, you can also remove them and restrict them to a Screenshots folder in Pinned Collections. To do this, scroll upwards on the Photos app's home screen until the menu bar appears at the bottom of the screen. Now tap the up-down arrows button, hit 'View Options,' and then uncheck Screenshots.

While you may still need to relearn some muscle memory, these tweaks should at least make the Photos app less confusing and overwhelming than it first appears. 

RIP nav bar

The old Photos app (above) had a nav bar that let you quickly jump between collections and search – but you can achieve something similar with some customizations in iOS 18 (Image credit: Future / Apple)

It's fair to say that the new Photos app has traded some old-school simplicity for a more modern look, and that's divided opinion. However, the undoubted plus side is that this approach comes with greater customization.

These options are somewhat buried or hidden in the UI – so while many have been dismayed and aghast upon opening the new Photos app, there are, fortunately, ways to restore a more familiar experience.

That's not to say there aren't legitimate grievances with Apple's new app. One is that video playback appears to have taken a step backwards, with the scrub bar losing its thumbnail previews and requiring a tap to play videos full screen. Another is that the app feels slightly cluttered, with so many automated collections competing for your attention – although you can again remove the ones you don't want using the 'Customize and Reorder' menu.

While some iPhone owners are holding off from updating to iOS 18 in order to keep their comfortably familiar Photos app, they may soon be tempted to take the plunge when Apple Intelligence features finally start rolling out – which Apple confirmed today will happen next month in the US, and in December for the UK and Australia. 

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Keeping track of what was said in even the briefest workplace chats and meetings could soon get a lot easier thanks to a new update from Slack.

The online collaboration platform has revealed its "huddles" - quick-starting meetings designed for spontaneous chats and catch-ups - will now be able to use its Slack AI platform to generate notes for users.

Slack AI will use real-time audio along with the messages sent in the huddle to create a transcript, letting attendees keep track of exactly what was said, and by whom.

Slack AI Agents

Once the huddle is complete, the transcript and notes will be shared into a Slack canvas, including citations and action items. The notes will be visible to anyone in the channel or direct message that hosted the huddle, meaning even those members unable to attend can keep track of what went on.

(Image credit: Slack)

Elsewhere, Slack also revealed several other AI-powered upgrades, including full integration with Agentforce, a major new release from its parent company Salesforce.

Designed to help enable "the third wave of AI", Agentforce will allow companies to communicate with their data like never before, connecting unstructured data in a way that gives customers access to new insights and a greater experience for all.

It's not just AI agents from Salesforce getting in on the action, as the company announced a number of third-party AI agents will also be coming to Slack, including the likes of Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, and Perplexity.

The move is another step along Slack's AI journey, which has been ramping up in recent months.

The company claims customers have summarized more than 600 million messages, saving a collective 1.1 million hours across users, since it unveiled Slack AI in September 2023.

"We’ve moved beyond collaboration; every day, millions of teams are leveraging purpose-built AI, with customer data, automation, and now agents seamlessly integrated into the flow of work," noted Denise Dresser, CEO, Slack.

"This isn’t just about getting work done. It’s about unlocking new productivity levels to drive results and move business forward for every team and department. In today’s increasingly complex work environment, true productivity requires a work operating system built for the future of work — and that is Slack."

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Despite our protestations, Microsoft is determined to make AI tools in the workplace accessible and appealing with a raft of new improvements across its Microsoft 365 (M365) suite of productivity tools.

In an announcement on the M365 blog, the tech giant announced ‘wave 2’, rolling out (mostly) in September 2024, which includes Copilot Pages, “a dynamic, persistent canvas” for AI-powered collaboration. It also announced that Copilot would be seeing increased functionality in a number of key applications, such as data analysis in Excel and inbox management in Outlook.

While the company is stressing the importance of its AI tool for small to medium businesses who may have a need to manage costs, it is also keen to highlight that Business Chat (or ‘BizChat’, as it insists on calling it), the content-sensitive portion of Copilot, requires a subscription. The standard Copilot chat is free, but only searches the internet.

(Image credit: Microsoft) The net positives of “wave 2”

It seems like the integration of company content into content that’s AI-generated has been around for a while now, but Microsoft is claiming wave 2 will bring with it ‘reasoning’ for Copilot Business Chat - helping it make more contextual decisions and answer more contextual questions. For example, with Microsoft Teams, “you can ask Copilot if there were any questions that you missed in a meeting, and it will quickly scan across what was said, and what was typed in the chat, to see if anything was left unanswered.”

So, Copilot Business Chat is better now, in nebulous small ways. It can draw more on company-specific data, while Word specifically now supports quick reviews of all of it in-app, alongside additional writing prompts from the blank page.

Microsoft also says that “dynamic storytelling” is now available in PowerPoint, helping users build out a structure for their presentations. It will also pull in company branding to keep business presentations stylish and on brand. It also claims that Copilot will “soon” be able to draw from “approved” images in Sharepoint libraries.

Copilot is making the scourge of customer service, AI chatbots, easier to create, and able to be tailored towards specific “business processes” to “work with or for humans”. An agent builder in Business Chat will be in general availability “over the coming weeks” to facilitate this, according to the company.

Microsoft Excel gets possibly the most interesting development, albeit only in public preview for now, as its natural language prompts are being equipped with programming language Python to make advanced data analysis as easy as ever, with Microsoft promising to enable advanced data analysis, “[with] no coding required.”

(Image credit: Microsoft) Copilot Business Chat, marketing speak, and you

There are BizChat deniers in the Microsoft cell, however, resisting the very notion that it even exists. User HalSclater on Microsoft’s Small and Medium business blog writes: “BizChat?? Suddenly this is everywhere and yet it isn’t a product. Please stop!”

Microsoft should hire him to write their copy, because “BizChat” isn’t the only bit of strenuous marketing coming from Microsoft on this. The concrete thing here seems to be Copilot Pages, which puts “ephemeral AI-generated content” into a collaborative edit space.

Please ignore that insisting on calling this concept “multiplayer” and “a completely new work pattern” is somewhat egregious given what Google are up to in implementing its Gemini AI into Google Workspace. And it’s not just “a dynamic persistent canvas”, but one “designed for multiplayer AI collaboration”, going so far as to say that “it’s the first new digital artifact for the AI age”. The harried copywriter over there who’s just brazenly free associating words and expecting them to mean things has my undying respect, but at the same time, “please stop!”

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