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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, June 15 (game #735).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #736) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SHIPSHAPE
• INANIMATE
• CARBON
• ROD
• GLASS
• WOODEN
• BRACKET
• GARNISH
• BUSBOY
• TRAINEE
• FLAT
• STRAW
• BLANK
• HOOK
• COASTER
• CURTAIN

NYT Connections today (game #736) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: No emotion
• GREEN: Hang on
• BLUE: Bartender accoutrements
• PURPLE: Needed to get from A to B

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 #736) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: EXPRESSIONLESS 
• GREEN: DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS 
• BLUE: WHAT A DRINK IS SERVED WITH 
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION 

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

NYT Connections today (game #736) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #736, are…

• YELLOW: EXPRESSIONLESS BLANK, FLAT, INANIMATE, WOODEN
• GREEN: DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS BRACKET, CURTAIN, HOOK, ROD
• BLUE: WHAT A DRINK IS SERVED WITH COASTER, GARNISH, GLASS, STRAW
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION BUSBOY, CARBON, SHIPSHAPE, TRAINEE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

EXPRESSIONLESS was easy enough to get, but from here my progress was purely down to lucky guesses.

DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS I only got because I thought we were looking for things linked to furniture, so I used up one guess by including COASTER.

Then, for the purple group I would like to have seen STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION but I didn’t. I put four random words together from the eight that were left and got lucky with a ‘one away’, then managed to guess correctly.

I suppose I could have pretended I was clever enough to see all today’s links but the truth is I fudged it all the way.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, June 15, game #735)

• YELLOW: SLANG FOR COFFEE BREW, JAVA, MUD, ROCKET FUEL
• GREEN: "AW, HECK!" BLAST, CRUD, CURSES, FUDGE
• BLUE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MOVIE RATINGS ACTION, LANGUAGE, NUDITY, SMOKING
• PURPLE: WHAT "POP" MIGHT MEAN BURST, FATHER, POPULAR, SODA

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.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, June 15 (game #469).

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 NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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 #470) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Key notes

NYT Strands today (game #470) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• REPEAT
• NEEDS
• LICE 
• SAUCE
• PLATE
• CLUE

NYT Strands today (game #470) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #470) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #470) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

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

• ETUDE
• SUITE
• MINUET
• NOCTURNE
• SONATA
• PRELUDE
• SPANGRAM: PIANO PIECES

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

I desperately needed a hint to start me off today and the word that I was given – ETUDE – is one that I’m only familiar with from playing Wordle spinoff Quordle, where it has appeared several times this year.

It’s a piece of music that’s used as practice for students and is intended to stretch and test their abilities. 

Once I had this prompt I managed to find the other words without any further assistance.

All of these words for PIANO PIECES are familiar, but I was uncertain what they all meant. MINUET, for example, I had assumed meant a very short piece but is actually a slow, stately dance in triple time. Everyday’s a school day with Strands.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, June 15, game #469)

• CHALUPA
• CRAWDAD
• POPCORN
• PAPARAZZI
• POPSICLE
• SPANGRAM: FATHERS DAY

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which 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.

• Denmark wants out of Microsoft's grip, turning to Linux and LibreOffice for independence
• The Danish government is choosing open source over vendor lock-in and foreign tech control
• LibreOffice might be free, but can it match Microsoft Office’s compatibility?

Denmark is embarking on an ambitious effort to reduce its reliance on proprietary software from foreign tech giants by transitioning its government systems away from Microsoft offerings Windows and Office 365.

The Danish Ministry of Digitalization reportedly plans a phased migration to Linux operating systems and LibreOffice for office productivity.

The initiative is driven by concerns over digital sovereignty and the strategic risks of depending on foreign providers, particularly those based in the United States.

Open-source tools as a strategy for independence

Danish officials cite widely used open-source office suite LibreOffice as the best alternative to Microsoft Office for their needs.

The ministry aims to gain greater control over software updates, data storage, and security while avoiding vendor lock-in.

This effort is not solely about cutting costs, although reduced licensing fees are expected to yield financial benefits.

The core objective, according to Minister Caroline Stage, is strategic: to safeguard Denmark’s digital infrastructure from the uncertainties of geopolitical tensions and the risk of disrupted access to US-based services.

The move aligns with a broader trend across Europe, where governments are increasingly cautious about the long-term implications of depending on foreign tech companies.

Denmark’s initiative is not without precedent. More than a decade ago, Germany, most notably the city of Munich, attempted to replace Microsoft products with Linux and LibreOffice.

Despite initial enthusiasm, the project was eventually reversed due to compatibility issues, user dissatisfaction, and challenges in maintaining productivity.

Given this history, observers may question whether Denmark’s approach can yield different results.

The Danish government, however, appears to be proceeding with greater caution. The rollout will be gradual, and the ministry has stated that it will temporarily revert to Microsoft tools if serious disruptions arise.

This pragmatic stance indicates a willingness to prioritize operational continuity over strict adherence to the transition timeline.

While LibreOffice is often described as the leading alternative to Microsoft Word, its real-world performance in government settings remains a subject of debate.

Compatibility with Microsoft Office documents and user adaptation to a new interface may pose significant challenges.

Likewise, while Linux is frequently praised as a powerful and secure operating system, its stability and support can vary depending on the chosen distribution.

Ultimately, Denmark’s initiative represents a broader political and technological experiment, one that raises important questions about control, resilience, and the future of national digital infrastructure.

Whether it will succeed where others have stumbled remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the move is less about software preference and more about who holds the keys to government technology.

Via Guru3D

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• A well-known analyst predicts a 2026 launch for the AirPods Pro 3
• Some tipsters had previously suggested they'd appear this year
• New gesture-recognizing cameras are among the rumored upgrades

Apple launched the AirPods Pro 2 back in September 2022, and is still pushing out new features for them – but it seems we may have to wait until next year before the Apple AirPods Pro 3 see the light of day.

According to industry analyst Jeff Pu (via @Jukanlosreve), the AirPods Pro 3 are slated for a 2026 release. That would mean a full four years between launches, after a three year gap between the original AirPods Pro and the AirPods Pro 2.

We don't get much more information beyond that for this particular leak, but it means you may have a little more time to save up to get Apple's next pair of premium earbuds. The 4th-gen version of the standard AirPods were launched last September.

We had got our hopes up for a 2025 launch for the Apple AirPods Pro 3 after code mentioning the earbuds was spotted in iOS 26. Nothing is certain either way, but a launch this year is now looking less likely.

What we think we know so far

Apple Product Timeline by Jeff Pu, GF Securities Hong Kong pic.twitter.com/jEIGMi7TwvJune 15, 2025

There have certainly been plenty of leaks and rumors around the AirPods Pro 3 since 2022, so we've got a pretty good idea of what's coming – even if we have to wait a little longer for the grand unveiling of these upgraded earbuds.

One of the major changes rumored to be coming is the introduction of tiny infrared cameras on the AirPods Pro. The purpose of these cameras, apparently, would be to capture gestures for controlling the earbuds.

There will of course be some audio quality improvements – which we would certainly expect after a four year gap between models – and there's also been talk that we'll see a number of health tracking enhancements as well.

Let's hope the price is something that doesn't change: both previous models of the AirPods Pro had a starting price of $249 / £249 / AU$399, and we're hoping that Apple won't have to hike up that price next time around.

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• MonTitan SSD shows impressive specs but may have missed timing window
• Silicon Motion faces tough competition from vertically integrated NAND manufacturers
• Strong controller performance may not be enough in today’s AI market

Silicon Motion’s MonTitan SSD platform is finally getting a full performance breakdown after years of trade show previews, and while the results impress on paper, the question is whether it’s too late to matter.

A review from TweakTown claims the 7.68TB MonTitan SSD is “a masterpiece of enterprise storage design,” powered by Silicon Motion’s SM8366 PCIe Gen5 controller and built to compete in the highest tiers of data center performance.

The MonTitan platform targets both TLC and QLC configurations and is optimized for AI, edge computing, and HPC environments.

Delivers more than most

With support for NVMe 2.0b, OCP Data Center specs, and multiple standard form factors, 7.68TB MonTitan SSD is aimed at modern, high-demand workloads. The reviewed unit, a U.2 form factor TLC-based SSD, supports 3.4 million IOPS and sequential speeds up to 14.2GB/s.

It also boasts tight latency control, low idle power (under 5W), and a 1 DWPD endurance rating that allows the drive to be rewritten nearly 2000 times over its lifespan.

The SM8366 controller itself is the cornerstone of the platform, offering advanced features like PerformaShape, a firmware-based algorithm for shaping performance by user-defined quality of service (QoS) requirements.

Combined with hardware-level isolation, this design aims to deliver consistent, application-tuned throughput across workloads.

Summing it up, TweakTown said: “We like what Silicon Motion has developed in its SM8366 controller as delivered by its MonTitan platform. Our test subject demonstrated clearly that it can deliver more than most of its competitors. We especially appreciate its tight, consistent and predictable IO delivery along with its ability to dominate most, if not all, of those in its class or even above at low queue depths.”

Despite the technical strengths, Silicon Motion’s position is more complicated. It, like Phison and other controller vendors, is now competing against former partners.

NAND makers such as Samsung and SK Hynix are vertically integrated, building their own controllers and keeping more of the value chain in-house. In that landscape, offering a platform, however capable, is a much harder sell.

With AI workloads now pushing queue depths far beyond what was typical just a few years ago, controller quality matters more than ever. But with full commercialization of platforms like MonTitan coming years after the AI infrastructure race began, Silicon Motion may simply be too late to carve out meaningful space against entrenched competitors.

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Beef season 2: key information

- Filming reportedly wrapped in May
- Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Charles Melton and more to star
- No official trailer released yet
- An entirely new plot for season 2
- Lee Sung Jin continues as creator and showrunner
- No word yet on future seasons

Beef season 2 reportedly wrapped filming in May, which means we're one step closer to more chaotic comedy and unapologetic rage.

Though, this time, with a whole new cast and whole new plot. Beef season 1 followed Amy (Ali Wong) and Danny (Steven Yeun) as two strangers brought together by a road rage incident. And in light of its great success on one of the best streaming services, it won a multitude of awards and a season 2 renewal.

After Amy and Danny's feud consumes every fiber of their beings, it all concluded dramatically in the season 1 finale. This time round, new characters join the anthology series with their own serving of beef to address – and we're certainly hungry for more.

Here's everything we know so far about the Beef season 2 release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot and more.

Beef season 2: is there a release date?

Filming on Beef season 2 reportedly wrapped in May (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no Beef season 2 release date, just yet, but all the signs are pointing in the right direction.

After season 2 was confirmed by Netflix in October 2024, filming reportedly commenced in January before wrapping in early May, according to a post by the Film & Television Industry Alliance.

FTIA also posted on season 1's filming, which took place in January to April 2022, with the show eventually releasing on Netflix in April 2023. So, if I take a shot at predicting the Beef season 2 release date, I'd say early to mid 2026.

Beef season 2: has a trailer been released?

No Beef season 2 trailer just yet (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no official Beef season 2 trailer to share, but I'll be sure to update here when there is. Considering filming only reportedly wrapped in May, I'd say with confidence that there won't be a trailer anytime soon.

Beef season 2: confirmed and predicted cast

Song Kang-Ho will join Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Yuh-Jung Youn, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny as a guest star in the next installment of BEEF! pic.twitter.com/88QmAYurfYDecember 19, 2024

Potential spoilers follow for Beef season 2.

The Beef season 2 cast is entirely new, and as such, there will be no returning characters from season 1. Here's the actors we can expect to star this time round:

• Oscar Isaac as TBC
• Carey Mulligan as TBC
• Charles Melton as TBC
• Cailee Spaeny as TBC
• Song Kang-ho as TBC

While their roles haven't been officially confirmed, Beef season 2 follows a young couple and their boss and his wife. We would say then that those four characters make up Isaac, Mulligan, Melton and Spaeny's casting.

For Parasite's Song Kang-ho, it has been revealed that he will be a guest star in season 2 and the official logline (seen below) references a Korean billionaire of which Song will most likely be playing.

Beef season 2: story synopsis and rumors

Beef season 2 steps away from Danny and Amy's story (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers follow for Beef season 1 and potential spoilers for Beef season 2.

While Beef season 1 followed two people brought together by a road rage incident, season 2 is going to be completely different.

And we know that thanks to Netflix Tudum's official logline: "This season's inciting incident? A young couple witnesses an alarming fight between their boss and his wife, triggering chess moves of favors and coercion in the elitist world of a country club and its Korean billionaire owner."

We also know that Beef season 2 will be a little shorter, running for eight 30-minute episodes, as opposed to season 1's ten. And if the FTIA production post is anything to go by, it's also been filmed in both Los Angeles and Korea.

But, while the tale of this season of the anthology series is not at all like the previous, creator and showrunner Lee Sung Jim is still the man behind it.

During the Beef SXSW panel in March 2023, Lee in fact revealed that season 1 was inspired by his own experience, though in a BMW, not a white SUV like Amy: "It honked at me, cursed at me and drove away. And for some reason on that day, I was like, "I'm going to follow you."

The similarities end there though as his personal road rage didn't end the same way as Beef does. But, he did also say it made him think how we "live in such subjective realities and we project so much onto people that we don't know all the time."

Aside from the logline then, it appears the Beef season 2 plot is being kept firmly under wraps. But, with Lee once again behind it, we can hope it's just as darkly comedic and full of rage as the first.

And speaking to Variety, Carey Mulligan said of season 2: "Almost everything [is different]. But it's still [creator Lee Sung Jin] being brilliant. It's a completely new story and if I say anything else then a laser beam will appear on my head. But it's very exciting."

Will there be more seasons of Beef?

Beef season 2 offers an entirely new path for the show (Image credit: Netflix)

There's been no word on Beef season 3, which is not surprising since season 2 hasn't launched on Netflix yet.

In 2023, creator Lee told Elle: "Cards on the table, we did pitch this show as a limited anthology, so there is sort of a close-ended-ness to the story [of Danny and Amy]. But, if given the opportunity, of course, I'd love to explore them further, because Danny and Amy, I love those characters. But yeah, by design, though, this is a close-ended narrative."

Lee said this before Beef season 2 was even confirmed and so, we know now, that in true anthology fashion, there's an entirely different story to tell this time round - away from Danny and Amy (for now).

But, we also know that a second season means it's no longer a limited series. So, the potential for more seasons to come is very possible.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides on Nobody Wants This season 2, Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, and One Piece season 2.

• Manage VPS servers using natural language commands
• Works in over 50+ languages
• Supported across the entire Hostinger ecosystem

It always puzzled me why Hostinger, one of the best web hosting providers, didn't offer managed VPS hosting.

I rank Hostinger as a top web hosting provider across many categories including best VPS hosting, best WordPress hosting, and best cloud hosting - clearly, Hostinger knows how to put together excellent hosting packages.

So, why not offer managed VPS hosting to beginners stepping up from shared hosting into VPS?

Hostinger has been planning something better

Meet VPS Kodee, an AI assistant powered by the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

While this isn't a complete replacement of some requirements of managed servers it does bridge that gap between beginner shared hosting and more complex VPS hosting.

"Our vision is to make VPS self-management radically simpler for everyone," Valentinas Čirba, Head of VPS at Hostinger told TechRadar Pro in an exclusive comment.

"With Kodee powered by MCP, users no longer need to learn complex commands – just chat naturally, and the AI takes care of the rest.”

(Image credit: Hostinger)

Kodee can handle complex server tasks 24/7 in multiple languages, and can be using for over 200 operations including setting up firewalls, creating snapshots, troubleshooting SSH, and scanning for malware.

Kodee is integrated directed into hPanel, and throughout Hostinger's infrastructure by using MCP, an open source standard that provides context to AI.

No need to worry

There is a lot of fear over the integration of AI into workflows but Hostinger says Kodee cannot and will not execute risky actions like a complete reinstall, changing OS templates, or restoring templates. If you need to do something like that, Kodee will guide you through the steps.

While the biggest benefits can be seen with VPS hosting, Kodee can also also help with website building, managed hosting for WordPress, and support in general.

Before this upgrade to Kodee, I spent one hour with Hostinger and found Kodee really helpful - and Hostinger data claims the tool resolved over half of issues via live chat, with that amount expected to grow as it rolls out further.

AI is central to Hostinger’s business

Kodee is not the only AI tool recently launched by Hostinger - other new releases include Hostinger Reach, an AI marketing tool, and Hostinger Horizons a no-code AI web app builder.

Hostinger continue to develop the AI website builder that creates professional websites, writes content, creates images, and helps with SEO tasks. Plus, Hostinger's AI WordPress builder.

More product and service support will be released for Kodee in the coming months, so stay tuned for more updates as we see them.

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Garmin seems as though it's in the midst of a major course correction, and 2025 is a pivotal year. As someone who's been reviewing fitness technology, including the best Garmin watches, for many years, there's certainly been an increase in dramatic shifts in direction for the company in the past few months.

That's not to say 'change' means 'bad': the recently announced Garmin Venu X1 looks like a great watch, but it's a pivot from the way Garmin has been designing watches up until this point.

At two inches, the Venu X1 features Garmin's biggest screen. The Venu series has always represented Garmin's foray into lifestyle watch territory, with AMOLED screens replacing the duller, battery-saving memory-in-pixel (MIP) ones used in many of Garmin's other series and offering communication features, such as the ability to take calls on-wrist and interface with smart devices like the best video doorbells. Essentially, the Venu series was Garmin's answer to the best Apple Watches.

The Garmin Venu X1 is Garmin's Apple Watch Ultra in every way. A square shape instead of Garmin's usual round face and no longer chunky to incorporate bigger batteries, the Venu X1 is described as 'ultrathin', and packs a reduced maximum of eight days of battery life.

It's still leagues more life than you get out of your standard Apple Watch, but that powerful AMOLED screen, coupled with other features like an LED torch, means you'll get much less than the Garmin Venu 3, which used to offer up to 14 days.

(Image credit: Garmin)

Venu X1 eschews the way old watches used to be made for the company's truest smartwatch-esque design yet.

All other watches, such as Garmin's Forerunner, Instinct, and Fenix ranges, which used to be released with power-saving MIP screens, are now being released as power-sucking AMOLED ones. Where MIP options do exist, they're packing Garmin's Power Glass solar battery-extending technology, because this can't yet be implemented on a watch with an AMOLED screen. I have no doubt that once Garmin cracks Power Glass for AMOLED, we'll never see a MIP option again.

Battery lives are getting shorter, screens are getting brighter, and feature lists are getting longer, as Garmin positions itself further alongside Apple and Samsung and further away from its best running watch contemporaries, Polar and Coros. Apple is the biggest seller of smartwatches by a huge margin, so it's clear there's a market there, and one Garmin probably believes is worth pivoting to tap into.

On the fitness side, the introduction of a premium tier aligns more closely with Garmin's competitors, such as Fitbit and Google, and some of the best fitness apps like Strava and AllTrails.

Garmin has been one of the few holdouts for a long time as its competitors offered premium subscription services – even Apple has Apple Fitness Plus – and fans appreciated the company's stubbornness. However, it finally buckled in March, seeing the revenue streams it was leaving on the table and arriving with the controversial Garmin Connect Plus.

Garmin fans can feel it in the air: their brand of choice is undergoing a change of direction, a sort of metamorphosis. The next six months will tell us more about that change and what the next few years of Garmin will look like.

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• Outdated tech stacks are more than annoying; they're driving top developers out of the industry
• Developers tie their identity to tech stacks, and they’re quitting when they feel embarrassed by them
• Modern innovation can’t happen when devs are trapped in outdated frameworks and dead-end systems

A growing number of developers are rethinking their careers due to outdated and inefficient technology stacks, new research has claimed.

A survey by Storyblok revealed over half (58%) of senior developers at medium to large companies reveal are considering quitting their jobs because of "inadequate and ‘embarrassing’ legacy tech stacks."

Among all participants, 86% said they feel embarrassed by their current tech stack, with nearly a quarter citing legacy systems as the primary reason.

Legacy tech takes a toll on developer morale

Excessive technical debt and reliance on outdated libraries and frameworks were also major contributors to their dissatisfaction.

Developers take their tech environment personally. An overwhelming 74% said their tech stack has a "significant" impact on their professional identity, while 19.5% went further, saying it actually "defined" them. Only 2.5% reported feeling indifferent.

This deep personal connection may help explain why 73% said they know at least one colleague who has quit in the past year due to frustrations with their tech stack.

When asked to identify the biggest issues with their current stack, 51% pointed to a lack of core functionality. Another 47% highlighted maintenance challenges, while 31% expressed concern about limited compatibility with modern innovations such as AI.

Only 14% of respondents said they had nothing to be embarrassed about.

The situation is equally troubling when it comes to content management systems. Outdated CMS platforms were cited as major blockers, with 67.5% of developers saying their current CMS holds them back from doing their best work.

Almost half described this as a "constant" obstacle, and only 4% felt their CMS was fit for purpose.

To retain developers, employers may have to choose between costly pay increases or systemic change. The survey found that 92% of developers would require at least a 10% pay rise to remain in their current roles under existing tech conditions, while 42% said they’d need a 20% increase. Meanwhile, 15% said they would expect more than a 25% bump.

“Outdated tech stacks are making your developers unhappy to the point of quitting. Pay rises are a short-term fix... If you want to bring joy back into your development team, you need to commit to a modernization roadmap,” said Alexander Feiglstorfer, CTO and Co-Founder of Storyblok.

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• Matrox returns with dual-GPU card built for synchronized multi-display setups
• A380 Octal supports up to eight 5K screens and high-end audio
• Quad version offers fewer outputs, less power, for simpler installations

One of Nvidia’s earliest rivals, Matrox was well known in the 1990s for its high-quality graphics cards.

Although it eventually moved away from the mainstream gaming market, the company has remained active in professional and multi-display environments, including supplying display systems for the Sphere, the massive music and entertainment venue just off the Las Vegas Strip.

Now, Matrox is preparing to release a new dual-GPU graphics card aimed at powering video walls and multi-display setups.

Up to four 8K displays

The upcoming Matrox LUMA Pro A380 Octal features two Intel Arc A380E GPUs and eight Mini DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, allowing it to drive up to four 8K displays or eight 5K screens at once.

The A380 Octal is a single-slot PCIe 4.0 x16 card and includes 12GB of GDDR6 memory, with a 130W power requirement and active cooling.

Supported APIs include DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3, and OpenCL 3.0, making it compatible with a wide range of professional software environments. Matrox’s PowerDesk software and its Mura Developer tools are also supported.

In terms of capabilities, the card can deliver high-definition video across eight synchronized displays, including support for HDR, VESA DSC compression, Adaptive Sync, and HDCP 2.3. The maximum bit depth reaches up to 36 bits per pixel. Users can also stream multi-channel high-definition audio through four digital outputs.

According to Matrox, two cards can be used in a single system and can be frame-locked for synchronized output.

A second model in the lineup, the A380 Quad, offers similar features with a single GPU, 6GB of memory, and four full-sized DisplayPort connectors instead of eight Mini DisplayPorts. The Quad model draws less power and is aimed at less demanding applications.

There’s no word on pricing or availability for either model. Matrox lists them only as “coming soon.”

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• Report warns a college degree no longer guarantees skilled work in today’s AI-powered global job economy
• Remote jobs, once seen as offering freedom, now trap professionals in cycles of digital underemployment
• Middle-level professionals are taking side gigs to survive while tech roles remain out of reach

The global job market is undergoing a profound transformation as remote work, economic disparities, and digital labor migration reshape employment trends across borders.

A new survey by Global Work AI has now revealed underemployment is no longer confined to local economies or immigrant populations - instead, it is spreading across the global remote work landscape, where educational attainment no longer guarantees job relevance or economic security.

After analyzing data from over 5 million users, the platform found that “qualified specialists actively seek unskilled jobs,” including roles in data entry, customer service, and assistant positions, even though 62.75% of job seekers have completed higher education.

The paradox of qualifications in a globalized job market

Demographic data shows that women account for more than 70% of users on the platform, while men represent just under 30%, and millennials and late Zoomers (ages 25 to 40) comprise nearly two-thirds of all job seekers.

The majority of users are mid-level professionals, making up 30.37%, compared to 7.38% junior staff and just 3.47% executives.

“Mid-level specialists are among the most vulnerable employees,” the report notes, adding that recent layoffs have pushed many toward side gigs and project-based work to sustain their income.

The report also highlights that remote work opportunities have fueled digital labor migration, particularly from emerging economies to wealthier nations.

Professionals in countries like Nigeria, India, and the Philippines are using their English-language skills to secure jobs in English-speaking countries, often earning significantly more than they would domestically.

For example, a highly experienced dentist in Nigeria might earn around $1,885 per month (or less than $400 in many cases), while a remote data entry job for a U.S.-based company could pay over $4,000.

Still, this shift is not uniform. High-HDI countries such as the U.S., U.K., and Canada generally show a preference for domestic remote roles.

In contrast, middle-HDI countries like Mexico and Colombia exhibit strong interest in remote opportunities but largely focus on internal markets.

Countries with strong native-language dominance tend to have lower rates of digital migration.

Even with access to the best job sites or the CV builders, many professionals are being forced to downgrade their ambitions.

This trend raises critical questions about the future of work: What does skill mean in a globalized economy? Can professional credentials alone guard against systemic underemployment? And most importantly, what does this evolving landscape mean for long-term career prospects?

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• Zinwa Q25 revives BlackBerry Classic with modern hardware and software
• Original screen and keyboard remain in this updated 2025 Android phone
• Q20 Conversion kit and full Q25 handset both expected to ship in August

Chinese company Zinwa Technologies is preparing to bring back the BlackBerry Classic (also known as the Q20) with updated internals under the name Zinwa Q25 (because we’re in 2025).

The phone will feature new hardware while maintaining many of the original iconic components, including the 720x720 touchscreen, physical keyboard, LED notification light, and outer shell.

This project aims to blend the nostalgic BlackBerry form factor with modern smartphone capabilities.

(Image credit: Zinwa Technologies)Upgraded internals

Fortunately, inside, Zinwa is replacing the original internals with a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and 256GB of UFS 2.x storage. The battery is also getting an upgrade to 3,000mAh, and the camera system includes a 50MP rear sensor and an 8MP front-facing camera.

The Q25 will run Android 13 out of the box, but there are no plans to upgrade to Android 14 or later. That said, Zinwa does plan to provide regular updates to address bugs and add minor features.

The company will ship the Q25 with NFC, USB-C, a headphone jack, MicroSD card support, and a single SIM slot. The modem in the new motherboard supports all global 4G LTE bands, making the phone compatible with most networks worldwide.

In an interview with the YouTube channel Returning Retro (which you can watch below), Zinwa said the updated trackpad will function like the original, acting as both a cursor and directional pad, depending on the mode selected.

The Zinwa Q25 will be available fully assembled for $400 or as a $300 conversion kit for users who already own a BlackBerry Classic and prefer to retrofit it themselves.

Both the kit and the completed device are expected to ship in early August 2025.

Zinwa has also confirmed it is working on similar refreshes of the BlackBerry KEYone and Passport, with future models possibly named K25 and P26 respectively.

Via Notebookcheck

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• Attackers use real Google URLs to sneak malware past antivirus and into your browser undetected
• This malware only activates during checkout, making it a silent threat to online payments
• The script opens a WebSocket connection for live control, completely invisible to the average user

A new browser-based malware campaign has surfaced, demonstrating how attackers are now exploiting trusted domains like Google.com to bypass traditional antivirus defenses.

A report from security researchers at c/side, this method is subtle, conditionally triggered, and difficult for both users and conventional security software to detect.

It appears to originate from a legitimate OAuth-related URL, but covertly executes a malicious payload with full access to the user's browser session.

Malware hidden in plain sight

The attack begins with a script embedded in a compromised Magento-based ecommerce site which references a seemingly harmless Google OAuth logout URL: https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/revoke.

However, this URL includes a manipulated callback parameter, which decodes and runs an obfuscated JavaScript payload using eval(atob(...)).

The use of Google’s domain is central to the deception - because the script loads from a trusted source, most content security policies (CSPs) and DNS filters allow it through without question.

This script only activates under specific conditions. If the browser appears automated or the URL includes the word “checkout,” it silently opens a WebSocket connection to a malicious server. This means it can tailor malicious behavior to user actions.

Any payload sent through this channel is base64-encoded, decoded, and executed dynamically using JavaScript’s Function constructor.

The attacker can remotely run code in the browser in real time with this setup.

One of the primary factors influencing this attack's efficacy is its ability to evade many of the best antivirus programs currently on the market.

The script's logic is heavily obfuscated and only activates under certain conditions, making it unlikely to be detected by even the best Android antivirus apps and static malware scanners.

They will not inspect, flag, or block JavaScript payloads delivered through seemingly legitimate OAuth flows.

DNS-based filters or firewall rules also offer limited protection, since the initial request is to Google’s legitimate domain.

In the enterprise environment, even some of the best endpoint protection tools may struggle to detect this activity if they rely heavily on domain reputation or fail to inspect dynamic script execution within browsers.

While advanced users and cybersecurity teams may use content inspection proxies or behavioral analysis tools to identify anomalies like these, average users are still vulnerable.

Limiting third-party scripts, separating browser sessions used for financial transactions, and remaining vigilant about unexpected site behaviors could all help reduce risk in the short term.

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• HP unveils the future of super-HD video meetings, but it comes at a huge price

• Cortical Labs offers cloud access to neuron-powered computing for just $300 a week
• CL1 fuses human brain cells and silicon and can run real code
• System enables real-time neural processing for research in AI and neuroscience

Cortical Labs, an Australian startup we've covered previously, has launched what it describes as the world’s first commercially available biological computer capable of running code.

The CL1 device combines lab-grown human neurons with silicon hardware and is designed for neuroscience, biotech, and artificial intelligence research.

Customers can purchase a CL1 unit outright for $35,000 or access it remotely through a weekly rental priced at $300, with the platform already available via Cortical Labs’ wetware-as-a-service.

A new way to study brain function

Each CL1 contains about 800,000 neurons grown from reprogrammed adult cells. These neurons are kept alive by an integrated life-support system that delivers nutrients and controls the environment.

The neurons communicate and adapt using sub-millisecond electrical signals, which the company says allows the CL1 to process inputs and generate outputs almost instantly, offering a new way to study brain function.

“The CL1 does this in real time using simple code abstracted through multiple interacting layers of firmware and hardware,” Brett Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs told IEEE Spectrum. “Sub-millisecond loops read information, act on it, and write new information into the cell culture.”

The CL1 builds on DishBrain, a proof-of-concept where neurons learned to play Pong in a simulated environment.

The new model increases input channels, improves signal latency, and includes hardware enhancements that make it more suitable for research and potential commercial applications. It has already been used to restore learning function in neural cultures modeling epilepsy.

The device consumes less power than conventional AI hardware and supports use cases including drug development, AI testing, and disease modeling. It requires buyers to obtain ethical approval for new cell lines and to operate within a lab environment.

Karl Friston, a theoretical neuroscientist, called the CL1 a “remarkable achievement” and noted that it provides researchers with a practical platform to test theories about learning, behavior, and brain function using real neurons.

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• The latest Steam beta runs natively on Apple silicon
• Apple is retiring the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer
• Games should run more smoothly and more efficiently

Following WWDC 2025, we've had a flurry of Apple announcements this week, including the news that macOS Tahoe 26 will be the last version to support Intel Macs – and right on cue, Steam has finally delivered a version of its client that runs natively on Apple silicon.

Check in on the release notes for the latest Steam Client Beta (via PC Gamer), and you'll see the all-important news that "Steam Client and Steam Helper apps now run natively on Apple silicon" included in the update details.

Up until now, Steam for macOS has always been coded for x86 Intel chipsets, rather than the ARM chips developed by Apple itself – which has meant that on M-series Macs, the client has worked through the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer Apple provides.

As well as dropping Intel chipset support, leaving older Macs on macOS 26, next year's macOS 27 will be the last version to support Rosetta 2, Apple announced at WWDC 2025. That means developers will have to put out ARM-coded versions of their applications.

How to try it now

(Image credit: Future)

For those of us with no interest in chipset architecture or compatibility layers, this simply means that Steam games on macOS should run more efficiently and smoothly – think faster frame rates and better battery life, on the whole.

You should also find the Steam client launches more quickly and is more responsive when it's used on Macs. A big part of that is down to the Chromium-based user interface working natively on ARM, rather than having to be translated.

If you want to try the beta version now, you can do – the usual caveats with beta software apply here, in that you may notice more bugs than normal, and some of your games may be glitchy, but any issues should be ironed out over time.

From the Steam app on your Mac, choose Steam > Preferences > Interface, then click the No beta chosen drop-down menu to the right of the Client Beta Participation heading: You'll then be able to select Steam Beta Update to join the beta.

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• Kioxia’s 332-layer NAND delivers 2Tb without using PLC tech
• Japanese flash giant is focusing on performance and capacity through dual-axis development approach
• Hints are that it can deliver even larger capacity SSDs, as part of "Gen X"

Kioxia has revealed via updated roadmap materials that its upcoming 332-layer NAND chip - part of its 10th generation BiCS FLASH - will offer 2Tb of capacity per die.

While this may seem small compared to expectations, the Japanese flash memory specialist has hinted that it can deliver even larger capacity SSDs, as part of Gen X, without resorting to Penta-Level Cell (PLC) technology.

The roadmap slides, published by TechPowerUp, were shared as part of Kioxia’s long-term corporate strategy.

Dual-axis strategy

The 332-layer chip, which is currently under development, is part of what Kioxia calls its “dual-axis strategy” for NAND. This strategy splits development into two paths: the first focusing on increasing layer count for higher capacity and the second improving performance via Charge-Based Architecture (CBA).

CBA connects the CMOS circuitry directly to the memory array, helping to increase bandwidth, reduce latency, and lower power consumption.

Kioxia says this approach allows it to boost density without sacrificing the endurance and reliability associated with having fewer bits per cell.

Kioxia’s roadmap doesn’t discuss the company’s plans for PLC, even though other competitors are beginning to explore that direction. Kioxia instead appears to be doubling down on process improvements and new controller designs to meet market demands.

The company’s recent focus has been on two SSD families: the CM9 series, which emphasizes high-performance for AI applications, and the LC9 series, which targets large capacity and currently offers up to 122TB capacity.

Both products are based on Kioxia’s 8th generation BiCS FLASH, which introduced CBA and supports energy-efficient, high-throughput workloads.

Kioxia also revealed a high-IOPS SSD that it has developed using its XL-Flash SLC technology. This SSD is expected to exceed 10 million IOPS and sample in the second half of 2026.

(Image credit: Kioxia)

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Sometimes, it takes a moment to notice the subtler elements of a phone’s software design – but that’s not always for the best reasons.

Take One UI 7, for example. Samsung’s latest mobile operating system update marked a major visual refresh, bringing new icons, fonts, and color schemes to the software’s visual elements.

However, as one member of the TechRadar team discovered, there’s one aspect of Samsung’s latest Android wrapper that makes less sense than ever before.

To cut to the chase, Samsung’s new battery icon is confusingly vague and hard to recognize. TechRadar’s Homes Editor Ruth Hamilton tells me that when she updated her Galaxy A54 to One UI 7, she couldn’t even tell what the battery icon was.

That battery symbol certainly looks pretty round (Image credit: Ruth Hamilton / Future )

“I left the UI update to run overnight, and the following morning I couldn't for the life of me work out what the icon in the top right of my phone screen was,” said Ruth.

“At that point, it was half dark, half light, with a 45 in the middle. I was baffled. Did I have 45 messages? Surely not."

Ruth added: “Amidst the general mild disorientation that follows any UI tweak for something you're using regularly, I just didn't twig. In the absence of the usual visual cues – a percentage symbol, or a suggestion of a terminal – I couldn't work out what I was looking at.”

As this image from a deleted Reddit account shows, the battery icon is especially hard to understand without the percentage in the middle. (Image credit: Reddit)

As the above details, Samsung’s new battery icon is basically just a big oval that can, optionally, have a number representing battery percentage planted in the middle. It’s more circular than rectangular and a far cry from the clear battery-shaped icon used in One UI 6.

Even as someone who tests and reviews the best smartphones for a living, I have to admit that I only really recognize the icon as a battery meter thanks to its placement at the top-right corner of the screen.

Apple got it right

The icons throughout Liquid Glass reflect the real world (Image credit: Apple)

As it happens, I had just finished writing a piece about Apple’s new Liquid Glass design and return to skeuomorphism (that's digital design based on real-world things) when Ruth got in touch.

If you ask me, Samsung’s misstep with the One UI 7 battery icon shows that Apple made the right call by choosing to ramp up the realism with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26.

Tech moves forward in a way that can detach things from their original inspiration – take the pause icon, for example, which was inspired by the caesura, punctuation used in poetry to mark a moment of rest. I think you'd struggle to find someone on the street who could tell you that without looking it up (as I did).

But this has to be done in a way that doesn’t alienate parts of the user base. Apple sticking with the pictographic battery icon for Liquid Glass is a safe bet, but some of the best Android phones push things gently with more abstract rectangles that still feel familiar enough.

As others here at TechRadar have pointed out, Liquid Glass has its own issues with legibility, but at least everything is pretty recognizable (when you can actually see it). And, overall, I’m a big fan of the charming, colorful presentation of One UI 7 whenever I pick up one of the best Samsung phones.

With all that said, the battery icon stands as a reminder that UI design needs to cater to the everyday user as much as the smartphone specialist. Do you find Samsung’s new battery icon confusing? Let us know in the comments below.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 14 (game #1237).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 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 NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

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 #1238) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1238) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1238) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1238) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

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

Quordle today (game #1238) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• S

• B

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1238) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1238, are…

• SHOCK
• STEIN
• BROIL
• COVEN

The first word I got today – COVEN – was straight out of the Quordle databank rather than deduction. Although it hasn’t featured since February it feels like it pops up a fair amount. 

STEIN, meanwhile, was my best guess, as I didn’t really take any time to calculate if there were any alternatives. A nice way to end the week.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1238) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1238, are…

• DRAIN
• CIRCA
• TEPEE
• SPIED

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
• Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
• Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
• Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
• Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
• Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
• Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
• Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
• Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
• Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, June 14 (game #734).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #735) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FATHER
• LANGUAGE
• SODA
• BLAST
• SMOKING
• MUD
• ACTION
• BURST
• CRUD
• POPULAR
• FUDGE
• BREW
• ROCKET FUEL
• NUDITY
• JAVA
• CURSES

NYT Connections today (game #735) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Cafe culture
• GREEN: Low level anger
• BLUE: PG rated
• PURPLE: Different meanings for a word that rhymes with “stop”

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 #735) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SLANG FOR COFFEE 
• GREEN: "AW, HECK!" 
• BLUE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MOVIE RATINGS 
• PURPLE: WHAT "POP" MIGHT MEAN 

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

NYT Connections today (game #735) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #735, are…

• YELLOW: SLANG FOR COFFEE BREW, JAVA, MUD, ROCKET FUEL
• GREEN: "AW, HECK!" BLAST, CRUD, CURSES, FUDGE
• BLUE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MOVIE RATINGS ACTION, LANGUAGE, NUDITY, SMOKING
• PURPLE: WHAT "POP" MIGHT MEAN BURST, FATHER, POPULAR, SODA

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

I used up three lives trying to pin down SLANG FOR COFFEE today. I knew that BREW, JAVA, and ROCKET FUEL had coffee in common, but had no clue on the fourth and had never heard of anyone calling it MUD.

I’ve since learned it’s a very basic method of brewing coffee that means everything has to settle before you drink it. For a while I thought that MUD and FUDGE could form a group as they are both words that feature in famous deserts.

Four words eliminated, WHAT “POP” MIGHT MEAN came together after a shuffle put FATHER, POPULAR and SODA beside each other and I guessed what we were looking for. 

From here, though, my good fortune deserted me and I failed to collect “AW, HECK!”, thinking instead that we were looking for something to do with emojis. 

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 14, game #734)

• YELLOW: GODDESS DIVA, ICON, LEGEND, QUEEN
• GREEN: ELEMENTS OF A CLASSIC "MOM" TATTOO ARROW, HEART, MOM, RIBBON
• BLUE: DOGS OF THE SCREEN ASTRO, BLUE, HOOCH, TOTO
• PURPLE: __ TERRIER BORDER, BOSTON, BULL, RAT

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.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 14 (game #468).

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 NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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 #469) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Here's to him!

NYT Strands today (game #469) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SCORE
• PEACH
• THERE
• HAIL
• PROLE
• CROP

NYT Strands today (game #469) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #469) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: 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 #469) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

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

• CHALUPA
• CRAWDAD
• POPCORN
• PAPARAZZI
• POPSICLE
• SPANGRAM: FATHERS DAY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

As obvious as it seems in hindsight it took me two words before I realised that today’s theme was a homage to the world’s fathers, with a selection of words featuring either pa, papa, dad or pop.

I spent a while wondering what Mexican food (CHALUPA) has got to do with shellfish (CRAWDAD) before I got it.

Although there is a sentiment that FATHER’S DAY is merely a holiday to generate some summertime cash for the greeting card industry, I say any day that allows you to appreciate family is a good thing.

I do, however, think that some companies go too far trying to climb on board that dad train – chocolate and whisky is one thing, but a department store I was in last week had a sign beside a desktop printer that said “Give your father what he really wants this Father’s Day”. I think I can speak on behalf of most fathers when I say that what we really want is not a printer.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 14, game #468)

• CROSS
• MOON
• TRIANGLE
• STAR
• STRIPE
• CROWN
• SHIELD
• SPANGRAM: FLAG SYMBOL

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which 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.