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Earlier this week, Polar announced an update that'll be a game-changer for runners like me who are gearing up for marathons later this year. After many years of waiting, I was delighted to hear that the company's best running watches finally support TrainingPeaks. At last!

If you're not familiar with TrainingPeaks, it's a tool that helps runners, cyclists, and triathletes train in a smart and structured way, whether you're an amateur or a pro. Sign up and select a training plan (free or paid), enter a goal time for your race, and you'll be presented with a full schedule of workouts to help you achieve it.

I've been using an 80:20 plan to train for the Paris Marathon next month – the same one that helped me prepare for last year's event in Manchester. Each week I'm given some general training advice via email and a set of training sessions for the week ahead are sent directly to my Garmin watch.

Whether it's a fartlek session, hills, a foundation run, or the weekly long effort, all I have to do is select the running activity and follow the instructions – all adjusted to suit my heart rate training zones.

TrainingPeaks is a fantastic training tool for runners, cyclists, and triathletes (Image credit: TrainingPeaks)

Meanwhile, coaches can use it to create custom training sessions for their clients and monitor athletes' performance over time. If someone has to take time out due to injury or a vacation, they can see that and plan around it.

It's a brilliant tool, and considering Polar's focus on running, it's a surprise that it's taken this long for it to arrive on the company's watches. Now that it has, though, I'm seriously considering making the switch from Garmin.

Time to disconnect?

Over the years, I've had the privilege of testing heaps of sports watches from Garmin, Polar, Suunto, and many more in my previous role as fitness editor here on TechRadar, and later as editor of our sister site Advnture.

Polar's watches have always appealed to me due to their excellent biometrics. While Garmin has always been focused on mapping (its first product was a GPS receiver designed for boats), Polar is all about health tracking, and its fitness and recovery-tracking tools are exceptional.

The Polar Pacer Pro is good-looking and lightweight (Image credit: Polar)

Polar makes some good-looking watches, too. Most of Garmin's more serious sports watches are hefty chunks of plastic and metal, whereas Polar's devices tend to be sleek, slim, and lightweight. The addition of TrainingPeaks sweetens the deal even more, and when my Fenix finally gives up the ghost, I'll be very tempted to abandon my Garmin Connect badges and make the switch.

There's just one more thing holding me back. I have epilepsy, and although it's very rarely a problem, it's reassuring for my partner to know where I am when I'm on a training run. Whenever I start a running activity, Garmin LiveTrack sends him an SMS with a link where he can keep tabs on my location, then sends another notification when I'm done. It gives us both peace of mind.

If Polar can add an equivalent to that, it'll finally be time to say goodbye to Garmin and disconnect from Connect.

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• Asus Vivobook 18 charging reaches 60% capacity in just 49 minutes
• Laptop offers with up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and PCIe 4.0 SSD, multitasking is smooth and efficient
• Comes with Windows Hello facial recognition and a webcam cover

Asus has released the Vivobook 18, a budget-friendly business laptop with an 18.4-inch IPS display featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio, a resolution of 1920 × 1200, and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, making it a decent laptop for programming.

With a 90% screen-to-body ratio and a brightness of 300 nits for an immersive viewing experience, the display reduces blue light emissions, making the Vivobook 18 ideal for working at all hours.

The Vivobook 18 is exclusively powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 260 fast CPU, featuring eight Zen 4 cores with a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz for smooth multitasking.

AMD Ryzen 7 260 brings exclusive performance

The Vivobook 18 comes with AMD Radeon 780M graphics, allowing it to handle multimedia tasks efficiently, making it a capable laptop for trading.

It also supports up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and comes with PCIe 4.0 SSD storage options starting at 512GB and going up to 1TB.

For connectivity, there is a mix of modern and traditional ports, featuring two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The USB-C ports support DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery, allowing users to connect external monitors and charge the laptop, though bandwidth is limited to 5 Gbit/s.

A 75Wh battery that supports fast charging powers the Vivobook 18, restoring 60% of its capacity in just 49 minutes. To maintain stable performance under heavy workloads, it features upgraded heat pipes and a taller fan design for improved airflow against previous models, with a CPU TDP of 35W.

The laptop maintains a sleek design, measuring just 1.86 cm thick and weighing 2.6 kg, while also meeting MIL-STD 810H military standards for durability.

A Windows Hello-compatible infrared camera enables quick and secure facial recognition login, while a physical cover adds an extra layer of privacy. In the same vein, AI noise-canceling technology filters out background noise on calls.

Asus has launched the Vivobook 18 in Germany for €899, with availability expected to expand to other markets soon

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A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: Key information

- The series will be based on George R. R. Martin’s Tales Of Dunk and Egg

- The show is a prequel to Game Of Thrones, and set almost 100 years after House Of The Dragon

- Filming took place for three months in June 2024, and was wrapped by September

- Peter Claffey will play Dunk / Ser Duncan the Tall, and Dexter Sol Ansell will play Egg / Prince Aegon Targaryen

- The release date has been confirmed by HBO as “streaming in 2025”, while Martin believes “maybe in the fall”

Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is the next HBO show based on George R. R. Martin novels.

When Game Of Thrones departed its other-worldly realm for good back in May 2019 – for better or worse, given that divisive ending – it left a giant, dark fantasy-shaped hole in many of the legions of fans lives.

House Of The Dragon was the prequel follow up from creator George R. R. Martin (and Ryan Condal), launching in 2022, but the demand was still there for more fantastical adventures and storytelling from the multi-million selling author.

And he’s delivered; with another swash-buckling epic tale called A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms. This is yet another prequel to Game Of Thrones – but set almost 100 years after events of House of The Dragon – part of the A Song Of Fire And Ice franchise.

It will be based on Martin’s series of fantasy novellas called Tales Of Dunk And Egg, and will feature the origins of Dunk, the future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg, the future King Aegon V Targaryen.

Needless to say, this has caused great excitement and expectation from those who enjoy Martin’s dramatic world-building, and with it likely to hit screens in 2025, here’s everything you need to know about A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms:

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: does it have a release date?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is set almost 100 years after events of House of The Dragon (Image credit: Ollie Upton/HBO)

After announcing the start of production in January 2021, by June 2024, according to Variety, filming had started, and wrapped three months later in September.

HBO announced that it would be streaming in 2025, and in a blog post by Martin on his site, he said: “The series will make its debut late this year, I am now told. How late, I could not say. Maybe in the fall.”

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: is there a trailer yet?

There’s no official full length trailer for A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms yet, but as is customary for HBO, an end of year sizzle reel looking forward to their productions in 2025 and beyond gave a sneak peek of what to expect (skip to one minute and 32 seconds in the video above to see the brief clip).

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: has there been a cast confirmed?

Send a raven. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell will star in the new @HBO Original Series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, as Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg. Coming to Max. pic.twitter.com/OAXVSQKLrBApril 5, 2024

It’s a solid line-up for this new adventure, which, if it goes down well with audiences, could see the series become as big as GOT. In the lead roles are Peter Claffey as Dunk / Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg / Prince Aegon Targaryen, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and Dunk's squire.

Martin added on his blog: “I’ve seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. and Tanselle Too-Tall.”

Other recurring roles are:

• Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and Egg's older brother.
• Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne and Hand of the King to Daeron II.
• Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer.
• Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, a knight known as the "Laughing Storm" and the heir to House Baratheon.
• Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen, Baelor's younger brother and Egg's father.

Meanwhile, other guest stars to pop up include:

• Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng, a knight of House Hardyng.
• Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway, a knight of House Fossoway of Cider Hall.
• Henry Ashton as Daeron "The Drunken" Targaryen, Egg and Aerion's older brother.
• Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate, a blacksmith hailing from the Reach.
• Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a knight of House Dondarrion of Blackhaven.
• Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, Steffon's cousin and squire.
• Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, the steward of Ashford.
• Steve Wall as Lord Leo "Longthorn" Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden.
• Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree, a hedge knight and Dunk's mentor.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: what do we know about the plot?

A century before @GameofThrones, there was Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg.Executive produced by George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker, Ryan Condal, and Vince Gerardis, A Knight of the #SevenKingdoms: The Hedge Knight has received a straight to series order. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/MRPUke5UptApril 12, 2023

We’ll hand back over to the big man for this one, for who else better to explain that its creator? Martin writes: “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is an adaptation of The Hedge Knight, the first of the novellas I wrote about them. It’s as faithful as adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for (and you all know how incredibly reasonable I am on that particular subject).”

The Hedge Knight – a knight without a master – tells the tale of how Dunk took on this mantle, and then meets his squire, a boy named Egg, on his way to compete in a tournament at Ashford Meadow, and follows the adventures they go on together afterwards.

However, it comes with a warning for blood-thirsty fans of GoT and mythical beast lovers of HotD. Martin adds: “Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… Well, this one may not satisfy you. There’s a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honor, on chivalry and all it means.”

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: the future

The future looks bright for the Kingdoms, as Martin said plans are all ready going full steam ahead, although HBO are yet to confirm season 2.

“We’ll be moving on to The Sworn Sword, in the second tale of Dunk & Egg,” he blogged on his site. “ And once I finish The Winds Of Winter, I will need to get hopping on The Village Hero, and all the other tales that await the lads. Don’t worry, I am sure you folks will remind me.’ Yep, we’re ready and waiting to give him a nudge, if needs be!

For more Max TV-based coverage, read our guides on Euphoria season 3, House of the Dragon season 3, and Peacemaker season 2.

• Vinpower iXflash and iXflash Cube offer direct photo and video recording to external storage
• Avoid cloud fees—iXflash delivers private storage with instant access
• iXflash Cube backs up while charging, ensuring secure offline storage

With business smartphones running more demanding applications, including high-resolution video recording, AI-driven features, and system updates, internal storage quickly fills up, limiting space for personal files.

Vinpower's iXflash and iXflash Cube USB flash drives offer up to 2TB of external storage in a compact format, providing an alternative to cloud storage, which requires an internet connection and may involve ongoing fees.

The iXflash Cube lets users record media directly in external storage while automatically backing up photos and videos when charging.

Automatic backup and charging in one device

Unlike cloud backup options that rely on external servers, the iXflash Cube offers local security and instant access to data, making it a seamless backup solution for users who prefer physical storage.

These drives are designed for cross-platform compatibility, working with iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac devices, but this level of convenience comes with a cost.

The highest-capacity iXflash and iXflash Cube models offer 2TB of storage, priced at $299.99 and $299.95, respectively, while smaller capacities are also available, with the 1TB version costing $169.99 for the iXflash and $199.95 for the Cube.

Also available are a 512GB model of the iXflash and iXflash Cube for $94.99 or $99.95, a 256GB version for $56.99 or $79.95, or 128GB for $37.99 or $59.95, respectively.

Although the 2TB model costs more than a typical external hard drive, which usually offers more storage for less, its compact form factor and direct iPhone compatibility make it a practical choice for those who need portability.

While portable SSDs offer high-speed data transfer, the iXflash Cube adds the convenience of automatic wireless iPhone backups without extra cables.

"The biggest buzzword today is AI, Artificial Intelligence…AI relies on both intelligent programming as well as copious amounts of data storage. That's why higher capacity storage, like the 2TB iXflash and iXflash Cube are critical when implementing AI technology on mobile platforms," said Calvin Chang, CEO of Vinpower.

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• Compal Adapt X modular laptop reduces waste with fully replaceable components
• Adapt X evolves rather than slips into obsolescence
• Supports modular AI and a functional HUB

Taiwanese manufacturer Compal Electronics has unveiled a concept device, Adapt X, a modular business laptop designed to extend device lifespan and reduce electronic waste.

Adapt X features 14-inch and 16-inch displays, equipped with Type-C interfaces and a functional HUB that expands input and output options through modular AI units.

It also comes with a detachable secondary display that can act as a business monitor, positioned either flat for seamless multitasking or elevated for an extended workspace.

Modular design for extended usability

Developed as a flexible and customizable modular AI alternative in the same vein as Framework's products, Adapt X combines metallic aesthetics with sustainability, earning it an iF Design Award for 2025.

Users can swap or upgrade components independently, reducing upgrade frequency and cutting costs. The ultra-thin and detachable keyboard offers a tablet-like experience.

Meanwhile, the detachable additional display is useful for managing multiple windows simultaneously, making the Adapt X a useful laptop for programming, and one of the best laptops for trading.

If fully realized, this approach could create a recyclable, upgradable laptop with minimal environmental impact, hinting at a future where 'eternal' devices, evolving with users, are mainstream.

Via iF Design

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• Anycubic foldable portable 3D printer supports five rotational axes
• Comes with a dedicated filament storage solution that keeps materials organized
• Control, monitor and adjust settings via a touchscreen interface

The world of 3D printing has seen its fair share of stylish and innovative designs in recent years, such as the Elegoo Centauri Carbon and Creality K2 Plus, but Anycubic’s foldable portable 3D printer still hopes to impress.

Unlike some of the best 3D printers, which are bulky and stationary, this model from Shenzhen Anycubic Technology Co., Ltd (via iF Design) folds down to just 75mm in height and features five rotational axes, allowing it to collapse neatly and be carried like a briefcase.

The multi-axis arms enable the print head to stop at any position, and it can print up to 460mm in height to suit projects of varying sizes.

Sleek design with practical features

Anycubic's printer features a modern light gray-silver color scheme, with a dark, square-shaped print bed likely made of glass or a coated material for adhesion and easy removal of prints.

Its extruder system features an active cooling fan to prevent filament jams, while a dedicated drawer-style filament spool holder is neatly tucked into a sliding compartment in the base, keeping the material organized and easily accessible.

In addition, the nozzle appears to be of standard size, compatible with various filament types, including PLA and PETG.

The printer includes a touchscreen interface, offering an intuitive way to navigate settings and monitor prints. Connectivity options include two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a micro-HDMI port, allowing users to load in print files.

Anycubic’s latest innovation could redefine what users expect from portable 3D printers, and has already won the iF Design Award 2025, but the company has offered no official launch date.

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• HP ZBook Fury G1i is a powerful 18-inch mobile workstation
• It's powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and next-gen Nvidia RTX graphics
• There's also a 16-inch model available with same high-end specs and features

It’s a personal preference, but I’ve always liked laptops with bigger screens. That means 16-inches for me, but HP thinks 18-inch laptops are what professionals should be aiming for if they are looking to replace their desktop PCs and get a solid productivity boost.

Billed as the world’s most powerful 18-inch mobile workstation, the HP ZBook Fury G1i 18” still manages to fit into a 17-inch backpack.

That extra 2-inches gives you roughly 30% more space to work with, which can come in handy when handling complex datasets, editing high-resolution media, or working across multiple windows.

Three-fan cooling

HP is pitching the laptop at developers and data scientists who need to train and run LLMs directly on the machine.

The Fury G1i 18” runs on Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, up to the top-end Core Ultra 9 285HX, with peak speeds of 5.5GHz. These chips also include an NPU with up to 13 TOPS of AI performance. HP says the machine will support next-gen Nvidia RTX GPUs.

There’s support for up to 192GB of DDR5 memory and up to 16TB of PCIe Gen5 NVMe storage. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and Ethernet.

The 18-inch display has a WQXGA (2560x1600) resolution, coupled with a fast 165Hz refresh rate, trading pixel density for smoother motion. Thermal performance is handled by a redesigned three-fan cooling system, along with HP’s Vaporforce tech, allowing up to 200W TDP without throttling under sustained load.

Other features include a spill-resistant RGB-backlit keyboard, four Poly Studio speakers, dual-array microphones, and an optional IR camera for facial login.

The Fury G1i is also available in a 16-inch model for anyone who feels 18-inches is too big to lug around. Pricing and availability details for both models is expected shortly.

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After suffering with terrible PC ports for the past few months - many of which have no right to perform poorly considering their visuals - I can finally look at a brand-new title and genuinely stop in awe of it. There's only a handful of titles that have left me amazed by incredible environments and spectacle: CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 comes to mind instantly (at least, after the post-launch patches).

This time, it's Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows - and when I tell you that this is one of the best-looking games I've ever played on PC, I'm not bluffing. It's not to score points on Ubisoft's side with all the controversy surrounding the title, no sir; it's giving credit where credit is due, and Shadows does an absolutely stellar job with its visuals.

It certainly isn't all perfect though: the top-of-the-line Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 can struggle to push the frame rate beyond 60fps at 4K native max settings, but compared to what we've seen with recent PC ports, this is nowhere near as bad. Based on the current consensus, it seems as though the performance issues may be a result of forced RTGI (Ray Traced Global Illumination) for the game's 'Hideout' area.

Essentially, this means you cannot fully disable ray tracing, which I suspect is the main factor behind the game's high hardware-demanding nature. However, my experience with it was completely different using the Asus TUF Nvidia RTX 4080 Super OC Edition - and I'm now eager to dive right back in.

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(Image credit: Future/Isaiah Williams)Image 2 of 5

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(Image credit: Future/Isaiah Williams)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: Future/Isaiah Williams)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: Future/Isaiah Williams) The usual stutterfest of recent times is absent in Shadows, and I couldn't be happier

Using my Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED ultrawide monitor, playing Assassin's Creed Shadows at the 'Ultra High' graphics preset with native AA and DLSS Frame Generation enabled (as shown above), I managed an average of 74fps - and fortunately, the game's benchmark tool has a stutter counter which came back reading zero on all of my benchmarks.

Again, Shadows is an absolutely gorgeous game to look at, but that's when RTGI is fully turned on (not just in the Hideout) and it comes with a heavy performance cost. Unlike other PC ports though, the frame time was completely flat - so even when the frame rate would drop to a minimum of 60fps on my setup, it still felt like a smooth experience.

It's also worth noting that recent Nvidia drivers have been causing issues with performance and causing black screens - its most recent one includes official DLSS 4 support for AC Shadows, but I'm sticking with driver 572.47 until all is stable again. I'm not sure if other reports regarding performance (especially on low-end cards) are a result of driver issues or if the real-time RTGI is responsible, but I'm happy to say that either way, it's still a smooth playable experience with no major stutters.

(Image credit: Future/Isaiah Williams)

I've seen a similar thing with Indiana Jones: The Great Circle - in that case, lowering the resolution actually gave me slightly worse performance, which makes sense as the GPU was no longer under heavy load and the CPU bottleneck was evident. It's also another title that doesn't allow you to fully disable ray tracing, so I wonder if that's the same case with Shadows.

Fortunately, DLSS Frame Generation works great with this game. While some ghosting is still present (likely because I'm not using DLSS 4 Override), it's not noticeable unless you're really trying to look for it and there's no major input lag. It's another case where upscaling and AI are being used to polish game performance after the fact, I know - but when you're trying to run ray tracing at 4K maximum settings in any modern triple-A game, it's often needed - especially with Shadows, where upscaling is practically compulsory.

Assassin's Creed Shadows' RTGI visuals make the performance hit worth it

I must state again that Assassin's Creed Shadows is one of the best games in terms of its visuals, and it's really one of those titles that you need to see for yourself to believe it. Images won't do it any justice and the OLED screen just amplifies the experience entirely.

Games that fail to impress with their graphics (like Rise of the Ronin) still launch on PC with bad performance, mostly with awful frame time graphs: I've been calling it the stutterfest. I say this because even if Shadows needs some adjustments to push its performance up to a higher standard, it has every right to be as demanding as it is because the spectacle is worth it and outshines other PC ports while doing so.

It's evident why Ubisoft decided to leave last-gen consoles behind with Shadows, as I can guarantee that they would not have been able to handle it. This and games like Cyberpunk 2077 are the few titles I can look at as an actual generational leap for visual fidelity, and I can't wait to see it continue - hopefully with acceptable performance results for all.

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• Framework’s modular AI desktop keeps selling out due to huge demand
• Powerful Ryzen AI Max chips offer impressive specs in a compact form
• Preorders for batch 8 are open now, but you’ll need to wait for Q3 for shipping

As you probably know, we’re big fans of Framework’s modular laptops here at TechRadar Pro, so when the company announced its Framework Desktop - a mini PC that’s an affordable alternative to Apple’s Mac Studio - we were more than a little curious.

A modular, repairable desktop that challenges industry giants while keeping costs down? You have our attention Framework.

Clearly, we weren’t the only ones impressed by the diminutive Desktop, as the computer has sold out for the seventh time since it was made available for pre-order less than two months ago.

Batch 8 arriving Q3

Framework Desktop is available with a choice of two AMD Ryzen AI Max processors: the Max 385, with 8 cores, 16 threads, a 3.6GHz base clock, 5.0GHz boost, and 32MB L3 cache; or the more powerful AI Max+ 395, with 16 cores, 32 threads, a 3.0GHz base clock, 5.1GHz boost, and 64MB L3 cache.

Both include integrated GPUs - the 385 features 32 compute units at up to 2.8GHz, while the 395 bumps that to 40 units at 2.9GHz.

The 32GB Max 385 version is priced at $1,099, while the Max+ 395 with 64GB costs $1,599, and the 128GB version is $1,999.

If you want to buy one, you can - preorders can be secured with a $100 deposit - but you’ll have a bit of a wait on your hands, as Batch 8 is expected to ship in Q3 2025.

It seems like a safe bet it will sell out just like the previous batches, so you'll need to be quick if you want one.

In a new blog post, Nirav Patel, Framework’s founder and CEO, shared a deep dive into the Desktop’s Ryzen AI Max processor, discussing what makes it a killer choice for gaming, workstation, and AI workloads.

Although there were inevitably trade-offs, the engineering payoff appears to be worth it.

“What makes Ryzen AI Max especially interesting in the Framework Desktop is that we were able to unlock every bit of its power,” he explains.

“Because we use a desktop-style 6-heatpipe heatsink from Cooler Master and a 120mm fan, we can run it at its maximum sustained power of 120W along with 140W boost, while keeping the system quiet. We were also able to break out 2x USB4, 2x DisplayPort, HDMI, and all three PCIe x4 interfaces - two for M.2 SSDs and one as a x4 PCIe slot. All of this makes it great in the tiny Framework Desktop form factor, but also makes it excellent to drop the Mainboard into any standard Mini-ITX case. This is, after all, a standard PC! It’s just one that uses a one-of-a-kind, monstrous processor from AMD.”

Patel plans a future deep dive into the creation of the case, which should be interesting. It's partially built with recycled materials and has a customizable front panel, with spaces for 21 tiles so you can dress it up however you like.

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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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, March 22 (game #650).

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 #651) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SMART
• AIRPLANE
• BACK
• POCKET
• GRAB
• BUTTONS
• STOP
• FLY
• FAIRY
• ENTRANCE
• BLACK
• RIVET
• MACK
• WRIST
• ABSORB
• HOSPITAL

NYT Connections today (game #651) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Under a spell
• GREEN: They help you fly but have another meaning too 
• BLUE: You tell time with these
• PURPLE: Clapping game lyrics

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 #651) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CAPTIVATE 
• GREEN: THINGS WITH WINGS 
• BLUE: WORDS THAT MODIFY "WATCH" 
• PURPLE: WORDS REPEATED IN "MISS MARY MACK" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #651) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #651, are…

• YELLOW: CAPTIVATE ABSORB, ENTRANCE, GRAB, RIVET
• GREEN: THINGS WITH WINGS AIRPLANE, FAIRY, FLY, HOSPITAL
• BLUE: WORDS THAT MODIFY "WATCH" POCKET, SMART, STOP, WRIST
• PURPLE: WORDS REPEATED IN "MISS MARY MACK" BACK, BLACK, BUTTONS, MACK

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

A day of double meanings. I was so locked on ENTRANCE being an opening to something that it didn’t occur to me that we were looking for the other definition, so I wasted a couple of mistakes trying to link it with FLY and BUTTONS. When that didn’t work I convinced myself we were looking for fasteners, so FLY again, BUTTONS, RIVET and in a trance of confusion MACK.

It had all started so well too. The second I saw SMART and WRIST I thought “watch”, although if we were playing a Jeopardy! version of Connections I would never have answered WORDS THAT MODIFY “WATCH”.

According to Wikipedia, Miss Mary Mack is the world’s best known clapping song, but I’ve never heard of it. Reading the rest of the lyrics, apparently Mary also enjoyed smoking her father’s pipe – and she was no doubt friends with a goose who drank wine and a monkey who chewed tobacco on the streetcar line.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 22 March, game #650)

• YELLOW: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TAMBOURINE, THEREMIN, TIMPANI, TROMBONE
• GREEN: KNICKKNACK TCHOTCHKE, THINGAMAJIG, TRIFLE, TRINKET
• BLUE: WORDS WITH THE PREFIX MEANING "THREE" TRIANGLE, TRIDENT, TRILLION, TRILOBITE
• PURPLE: WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH "T" + LETTER TELEVISION, TOUCHDOWN, TRADEMARK, TUBERCULOSIS

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, March 22 (game #384).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… In stitches

NYT Strands today (game #385) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• CONE
• TONER
• PLAID
• LINE
• BIND
• BEAST

NYT Strands today (game #385) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #385) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 6th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #385) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #385, are…

• DARN
• KNIT
• CROCHET
• EMBROIDER
• MEND
• BASTE
• PATCH
• SPANGRAM: NEEDLEWORK

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

A relatively straightforward puzzle today that was easy to KNIT together and without any crazy words or strange patterns to tap out.

Being good at NEEDLEWORK is an incredibly useful thing to be. It can save money if you DARN socks or PATCH up clothes, it can bring you a sense of purpose and mindfulness. As someone with terrible hand co-ordination and patience I know I couldn’t do it, but I admire people who can.

My auntie spends her evenings knitting woolen animals as she watches the TV, part of a program that sends toys to children in Ukraine. As an individual she can do nothing to stop the conflict, but one woolly bunny at a time she feels she’s doing something to help.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 22 March, game #384)

• CHUCKLE
• HOWL
• SHRIEK
• GIGGLE
• CACKLE
• ROAR
• LAUGH
• SPANGRAM: CRACKING UP

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.

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, March 22 (game #1153).

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 #1154) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1154) - 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 3.

Quordle today (game #1154) - 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 #1154) - 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 #1154) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• G

• G

• R

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

Quordle today (game #1154) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1154, are…

• ALLEY
• GAMUT
• GEESE
• RADII

My last two guesses today were complete stabs in the dark. The only word I could think of that began R-A-D-I was Radio and that was impossible as the O had been ruled out. Radix and RADII were the only words that were accepted.

And I thought GEESE was tough… (It was, too.)

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1154) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1154, are…

• GAMER
• CHAOS
• HOIST
• VIRUS

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLY
• Quordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISS
• Quordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCH
• Quordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNIC
• Quordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINK
• Quordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEER
• Quordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANK
• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY

• Battery life is reportedly a priority for the folding iPhone
• Apple could also make use of a liquid metal hinge
• The device isn't expected to appear until 2026 at the earliest

The more foldable iPhone rumors we come across, the more convinced we become that such a device is indeed going to see the light of day in the next year or two – and there are a couple of fresh leaks to report.

First up, well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via MacRumors) says that battery life is a priority for Apple when it comes to the folding iPhone. Apparently, DDI components – the key display chip technologies – will be improved to boost battery life as much as possible.

As foldable phones are essentially two phones stacked together, manufacturers try and ensure they're as thin as possible. That can have a negative impact on battery capacity and battery life, and it seems that's something Apple is trying to overcome.

This isn't the first time we've heard that battery life is important to Apple and its folding smartphone. Just a few days ago we heard about other tweaks Apple is making to the display technology to increase the time between recharges.

Liquid metal

Dongguan EonTec is poised to benefit significantly from the widespread adoption of liquid metal in the hinges of the upcoming foldable iPhone. According to recent industry research, Apple is focused on improving durability, enhancing screen flatness, and minimizing crease marks… https://t.co/KsGu49JXkPMarch 21, 2025

Our second leak comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is usually accurate when it comes to Apple predictions. He says Apple is thinking about using a liquid metal hinge in the construction of the folding iPhone, to improve durability and make the crease less visible.

The move, which would also improve the flatness of the main screen when it's unfolded, could be something that's followed by Android phone makers too, Kuo says – so stay up to date with our best foldable phones guide for any changes.

It speaks to the care with which Apple seems to be developing this device: earlier rumors have suggested one of the reasons that we've been waiting so long for a foldable iPhone is that Apple isn't happy with the current state of display creases.

With so much unofficial chatter around the folding iPhone now, it seems certain that it's something Apple is now working on. Most rumors point towards a launch sometime next year, though we should be prepared for a steep asking price.

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• Data privacy concerns limit AI’s role in ecommerce, survey finds
• AI-driven customer service still needs improvement
• AI in ecommerce must prioritize solving real problems

An Omnisend survey of 1,026 US respondents reveals while AI-powered assistants are becoming more common, most shoppers still prefer making purchasing decisions themselves.

The study found about 34% of consumers would allow AI tools to make purchases on their behalf, but this means that 2/3 of shoppers wouldn’t, even if it meant securing a better deal. This reluctance highlights a gap between AI’s growing presence in ecommerce and the trust consumers place in it.

Despite their hesitation, consumers acknowledge AI’s ability to improve shopping experiences, with 38% finding personalized product recommendations helpful and 31% saying it speeds up the process.

AI’s growing role in shopping

However, concerns over data security shape consumer attitudes toward AI shopping assistants, with over half worrying about data mishandling and 28% expressing complete distrust in businesses' data practices.

Beyond data privacy concerns, doubts about AI’s effectiveness in shopping persist, with 39% of consumers abandoning purchases due to frustrating interactions like inaccurate recommendations and poor AI chatbot for business experiences.

Additionally, 40% of shoppers are frustrated by the lack of human support in AI-driven customer service, while 21% find AI recommendations unreliable, reinforcing the need for the best live chat software and a human presence.

Nearly half of the respondents favored enhanced service quality over automation, believing that AI should prioritize assisting with customer support over making aggressive sales recommendations and purchasing decisions.

"Consumers are open to AI enhancing their shopping experience, but there’s a big difference between receiving personalized recommendations and handing over full purchasing control,” said Greg Zakowicz, Sr. Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend.

“Large-scale adoption of AI-driven purchasing requires a fundamental shift in consumer behavior — and that’s not happening anytime soon," they said. "Shoppers want to know exactly what they’re buying, whether it’s a size, color, or brand. Trusting an AI to make those decisions autonomously is a tough sell."

Retailers must bridge the trust gap between AI technology and consumer expectations by prioritizing transparency through providing clear information on data processing and still allowing customers to retain some degree of control.

Leveraging the best email marketing service and best social media management tools can also help brands communicate AI’s benefits while ensuring a more personalized, consumer-friendly approach.

“AI is a tool that’s only as good as the problems it solves," said Zakowicz. "As companies race to integrate AI into their customers’ shopping experiences, they need to be more focused on its problem-solving qualities versus its potential. Providing poor experiences, whether by AI or a human, will result in lost sales.”

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Severance season 3: key information

- Officially announced in mid-March
- No release date confirmed yet
- Director/producer Ben Stiller says script work is underway
- Gemma/Ms. Casey actor Dichen Lachman doesn't know when filming might begin
- Stiller hopes to reveal the plan for season 3 "very soon"
- Main cast expected to return
- No official story synopsis revealed
- Season 2 finale offers clues about its follow-up's plot
- Unclear if a fourth season will be made

Severance season 3 might be the first and last thing on fans' minds after the hugely popular Apple show's season 2 finale. On the one hand, I suspect we need a day or seven to process what went down in the series' last episode. On the other, we're all desperate to learn what'll happen next

Thankfully, the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series will return (read more about that in this article's release date speculation section). I can't say where the story goes from here but, darn it, if I'm not going to try and answer those questions anyway!

Below, you'll find the latest information and rumors on Severance's third season. That includes my thoughts on when it'll be released, its likely cast, story possibilities, and more. Full spoilers follow for Severance season 2, so ensure your 'outie' and 'innie' proceed with equal levels of caution.

Severance season 3 release date: what we know

Season 3 of Severance is available upon request. - Tim C. https://t.co/bNig41qs9t pic.twitter.com/cnctZIRDNFMarch 21, 2025

Severance season 3 hasn't entered full production yet, but Apple officially announced another season of Severance just hours after its forebear's finale.

Before Apple renewed it, director/executive producer Ben Stiller revealed work was underway on season 3's scripts. Considering it's the show that everyone's been talking about so far in 2025, I would've been stunned if it got canceled.

Even with season 3 being announced, there's no word on when filming may begin. Ahead of the season 2 finale, Dichen Lachman, who plays Gemma/Ms. Casey, provided a disappointing filming update on Severance season 3 by telling me she was "in the dark" over a possible start date.

When will we see Mark and Helly again? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

However, with the main cast and crew assembling for a post-season 2 finale event in LA on March 22, we may learn more very soon. Indeed, speaking on the New Heights podcast, Stiller suggested the plan for season 3 would be revealed in the near future, so here's hoping an official announcement and filming start date are confirmed shortly.

So, when might season 3 launch on one of the world's best streaming services? Stiller hopes that, unlike season 2, which was shot amid the pandemic and 2023 Hollywood strikes, it won't take three years to make. Even with the best intentions – i.e., everyone's calendars lining up perfectly, principal photography starting sometime in 2025, etc – though, I can't see it arriving until early to mid-2027.

Severance season 3 trailer: is there one?

"You won't find a trailer for season 3 here, Mister Milchick!" (Image credit: Apple TV+)

No. There won't be a trailer for Severance season 3 for a while yet. I'll update this section when one is released.

Severance season 3 cast: likely and rumored

Dichen Lachman will surely return as Gemma next season (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Full spoilers follow for Severance season 2.

Here's who I expect to see again in Severance season 3:

• Adam Scott as Mark Scout/Mark S
• Britt Lower as Helena Eagan/ Helly R
• Zach Cherry as Dylan George/Dylan G
• Tramell Tillman as Seth Milchick
• Jen Tullock as Devon Scout-Hale
• Dichen Lachman as Gemma Scout/Ms. Casey
• Michael Chernus as Ricken Hale
• John Turturro as Irving Bailiff
• Christopher Walken as Burt Goodman
• Patricia Arquette as Harmony Cobel
• Karen Aldridge as Asal Reghabi
• Michael Sibbery as Jame Eagan
• Sydney Cole Alexander as Natalie Kalen
• Robby Benson as Doctor Mauer
• Merritt Wever as Gretchen George
• Claudia Robinson as Felicia
• Gwendoline Christie as Lorne
• John Noble as Fields

Some of the above character's returns are dependent on where the story goes next. I'll discuss season 3's potential plot later, but everyone up to and including Doctor Mauer is likely to be back next season. The final quartet's appearances hinge on Severance's continuing exploration of the real world and Lumon Industries' Mammalians Nurturable and Optics & Design departments.

Mister Drummond died in the season 2 finale (Image credit: Apple TV+)

There is one season 2 character who won't be back for more and that's Ólafur Darri Ólafsson's Mr. Drummond. He was accidentally killed by Mark in season 2 episode 10.

Mark's 'outie' unexpectedly shot Drummond in the neck as they crossed the severed barrier in the elevator leading to Lumon's testing floor. He did so because Mark's 'innie' was holding Drummond hostage – at gunpoint, FYI – as they descended in the elevator. Unfortunately for Mark (and Drummond), the switchover between Mark's two personas causes the fatality. Unless Lumon has a way of bringing people back from the dead, Ólafsson's time on one of the best Apple TV+ shows is over.

Severance season 3 story speculation

Where will Helly and Mark go from here? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Full spoilers follow for Severance season 2.

Severance season 3's plot synopsis hasn't been revealed yet. Based on what happened in the season 2 finale, though, I can speculate on where things will go next.

For a full breakdown of what happened in last season's final episode, my Severance season 2 episode 10 ending explained piece answers many of your questions. From this point on, I'll guess where the story goes from here, so here's your final warning: full spoilers immediately follow for Severance season 2's finale. Potential season 3 spoilers are also discussed.

Will Gemma try to rescue Mark in season 3? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The biggest question on everyone's minds is what Helly and Mark S will do next. Rather than leave Lumon for good with Gemma, Mark's 'innie' decided to stay with Helly. The pair then ran off to an unknown location as a devastated Gemma watched through the exit door's tiny window.

Helly and Mark S can't leave the severed floor as their 'outies' – Helena Eagan, daughter of Lumon CEO Jame, and Mark Scout – would take over. Logic would dictate, then, that they'd find somewhere to hide. However, they're on Lumon's turf, so there's not really anywhere they can hide from the all-seeing, evil-minded biotech company.

If they're found and punished, they won't be the only ones who'll face disciplinary action. Dylan G, the other remaining member of the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) team, helped Helly and Mark S in the season 2 finale. He helped trap severed floor manager Seth Milchick in MDR's bathroom, so he's in line for some form of penalty, too.

Seth Milchick's time as severed floor manager could be over (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Milchick is similarly up for the proverbial chopping block. Almost everything that occurred in the season 2 finale, titled 'Cold Harbor', happened on his watch. This isn't the first time the MDR team has put a spanner in Lumon's works during Milchick's time as MDR's boss, either, so I think his time as their manager might be coming to an end.

Read our reviews of Severance's first two seasons

- Severance season 1 review
- Severance season 2 review

Outside of Lumon's walls, an emotionally crushed Gemma will likely seek out Mark's sister Devon, plus her husband Ricken, as they're the only family we know Gemma has.

If she reunites with them, she'll probably bump into former severed floor manager Harmony Cobel, too. The quartet could formulate a new plan to rescue Mark and/or find a way to permanently get the 'innies' out of Lumon, too. Could they enlist Asal Reghabi's help to reintegrate Gemma? It's certainly a possibility, especially if Cobel has any insight into what might make the procedure more successful and/or less painful.

What is Harmony Cobel's end goal in all of this? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

There are plenty of other important questions that need answering as well.

Will we see Irving Bailiff again? If so, will he ever be reunited with Burt after they parted ways in Severance season 2 episode 9? Could they be proverbial jokers in the pack in terms of bringing down Lumon if Gemma and co. ask them to return to their former employer?

Then there's Harmony Cobel herself. Season 2 episode 8 revealed four big things about her, including that she's the original creator of the severance procedure. Will she use that to her advantage to try to force Jame Eagan, Lumon's CEO, to step down? Would she replace him if he does? How would Helena Eagan react to this and/or everything that happened in last season's finale if Lumon removes Helly R from the severance floor and allows her 'outie' (that being Helena) to re-emerge?

Season 2's penultimate episode can't be the end of Irving's story, right? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

As for Lumon itself, there are numerous unsolved mysteries left to explore.

Read more of my season 2 exclusives

- Severance creator Dan Erickson reveals the funniest fan theory he's heard about the popular Apple TV+ show: 'I think that's ridiculous'
- 'They only told me': Severance actor Dichen Lachman reveals how long she's known about Cold Harbor's true purpose in the Apple TV+ show
- 'Everyone is going to be so torn': Severance star Dichen Lachman reacts to the popular Apple TV+ show's most 'intense' season 2 finale event

I imagine there'll be some that are left to viewer interpretation, but creator Dan Erickson, Stiller, and co. will need to provide answers to some of them. I wouldn't mind if some of those answers prove some big fan theories right, too. One of the five best Severance season 2 goat theories was proven correct in season 2 episode 10, after all.

So, what mysteries need to be solved? The most obvious one is why Lumon is conducting severance-based experiments and what its end goal is with them. There are plenty more, though, including the latest enigma surrounding Kier Eagan's Grand Agendum. What is it? Why have we never heard about it before? And how does it factor into Lumon's workplace-style cult?

Where can I watch Severance?

Please try to enjoy all episodes equally (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The only place you can stream Severance's first two seasons, comprising 19 episodes, is Apple TV+. It's an Apple TV Original, so it's exclusive to that streaming platform.

If you haven't seen it yet but want to catch up on one of the best shows of recent years, you can do so by signing up for an Apple TV+ account. Our Apple TV+ price guide reveals how much a subscription costs in your world region.

If you want to try before you buy, however, a seven-day Apple TV+ free trial is currently available, so you can binge-watch seasons 1 and 2 without paying a penny. Just make sure you cancel your subscription before your trial period ends!

Has Apple confirmed if Severance season 4 is on the way?

Nobody, not even Burt Goodman, knows if a fourth season will be made (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Nope. As I mentioned earlier, Severance season 3 hasn't even entered full production yet, so any talk of a fourth season is wishful thinking.

It's unclear if there'll be a fourth chapter, too. Speaking to TechRadar ahead of season 2's release, Erickson said he "has a sense" of how the show will end and how many seasons would be "ideal" to reach its conclusion. However, Erickson and the rest of the show's chief creative team want to be "flexible enough" to tell Severance's story across as many seasons as it'll take.

I'm sure Apple will want its most popular TV Original since Ted Lasso to run for as long as possible, too. Of course, nobody wants it to outstay its welcome, but Apple TV+ hasn't had many breakout hits. Ensuring shows like Severance stick around for a while and keep customers spending their cash on Apple TV+ subscriptions makes business sense for the tech giant. Don't be surprised, then, if more seasons are greenlit alongside or after Severance season 3.

For more Apple TV-based coverage, read our guides on Foundation season 3, Slow Horses season 5, Ted Lasso season 4, and Silo season 3.

• Nvidia’s DGX Spark, once called Project Digits, is a tiny AI supercomputer
• Built on GB10, is delivers 1000 TOPS and 200B parameter support
• Dell, HPE, and Asus will offer GB10-based alternatives with similar performance

Nvidia has announced DGX Spark, a Mac Mini-sized AI supercomputer designed to bring advanced model development and inferencing directly to desktops.

The mini machine was originally called Project Digits and expected to be priced at $3000, but the change of name has caused the figure to skyrocket as it's now priced at $3999, according to Nvidia’s reservation page.

Built around the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, DGX Spark features a Blackwell GPU with fifth-generation Tensor Cores, FP4 support, and NVLink-C2C, which enables high-bandwidth memory sharing between the GPU and Grace CPU.

(Image credit: Nvidia) OEM alternatives

The system offers up to 1,000 trillion operations per second of AI compute power and supports models with up to 200 billion parameters. It is designed to handle demanding AI workflows such as fine-tuning, inference, and prototyping without relying entirely on external infrastructure.

DGX Spark includes 128GB of LPDDR5x unified memory and up to 4TB of NVMe SSD storage, and delivers performance previously limited to data centers. It's aimed at developers, researchers, data scientists, and students working with increasingly complex AI models locally, so it’s not something most people will need.

“AI has transformed every layer of the computing stack. It stands to reason a new class of computers would emerge - designed for AI-native developers and to run AI-native applications,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia.

“With these new DGX personal AI computers, AI can span from cloud services to desktop and edge applications.”

Some of Nvidia’s OEM partners are debuting desktop AI systems based on the same GB10 architecture.

Dell’s Pro Max with GB10 fits into the company’s broader AI workstation portfolio, connecting with the Dell AI Factory with Nvidia to give developers an easy path from deskside development to deployment.

HP’s ZGX Nano AI Station is another entry, offering comparable capabilities for developers who want performance and scalability without full server infrastructure.

Asus has also introduced its GB10 AI super computer, the Ascent GX10. Pricing details have not yet been confirmed, but Nvidia lists it on its DGX Spark pre-order page where it says the GX10 will cost $2999 and come with 1TB of storage.

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When it comes to staying on top of your health, there’s a wealth of technology out there that can give you a boost. The best fitness trackers can help you keep on top of your step count and exercise, while the best smart scales can help you monitor metrics like body composition.

But can you use AI to stay fit and healthy, lose weight, or build muscle? As an experienced health and fitness writer with over a decade using fitness tech like the Apple Watch, I’ve been putting ChatGPT to use as part of my health and fitness regime.

While the usual caveats about AI apply (double-check for hallucinations, etc), I have to say I’ve come away mightily impressed with it as a fitness tool. A lot of the “logistics” of fitness can often involve a lot of minutiae and data, such as calculating macros (proteins, carbs, fat) for your diet. AI is perfect for this sort of work.

So whether you want AI help developing massive workout plans for the weeks and months ahead, a full week’s worth of eating, or more granular help with day-to-day fitness needs, here’s how you can use ChatGPT to help supplement your health and fitness.

Coming up with the right prompts

Fitness and ChatGPT are a lot alike in one key aspect. You really only get out as much as you put in. If you’re half-hearted with your workouts or lax with your diet, your results will reflect that. Likewise, the more precise you are with ChatGPT, and the more effort you put into your prompts, the better the information you’ll get in return.

For example, if you ask ChatGPT, “How do I grow muscle?”, you’ll get some helpful but largely generic advice about progressive overload, reps and sets, and nutrition. None of this is wrong, and if you’re a beginner, ChatGPT can be a handy place to start collating some basic principles of health, exercise, and more.

But I’m here to tell you that ChatGPT is way more powerful than that, and it’s all about going deeper, being more specific, and really stretching the LLM’s legs. As I’ve already hinted at, ChatGPT is useful for large, comprehensive fitness and health tasks, but also for granular day-to-day stuff. Here are some of the prompts I’ve used.

1. Generate a workout plan

(Image credit: OpenAI / Future)

Can you generate an 8-week workout plan that will help me build muscle? I work out in a local gym, so can use most standard equipment, but I only have about 60 minutes a day to exercise.

ChatGPT can be used to generate a full workout plan that can last weeks or even months. This is a great example of the broader, more comprehensive approach to prompts I’m talking about. ChatGPT designed me a six-day workout plan that lasts eight weeks, with an outline of the weekly schedule and a workout breakdown by day.

There are several key components that make the prompt useful. I’ve specified the length of the plan and the goal (eight weeks, build muscle). Crucially, I’ve also specified the level of equipment I have access to, and the length of time I’d like to spend working out.

Each of these is a parameter you can tweak to your own liking, for instance, you could ask for shorter workouts, or specify that you have no equipment so you’ll need to do bodyweight exercises only.

Bonus follow-up: ChatGPT didn’t specify how much rest I should take between exercises, so this is a great follow-up question to ask.

2. Exercise help and lifting form

(Image credit: OpenAI / Future)

Can you tell me about the correct technique for doing a Romanian Deadlift?

Perhaps this is your first time lifting weights, and you’ve spotted an exercise you don’t recognize. You can ask ChatGPT for information and advice about lifting technique, specifying the correct technique to avoid any confusion. A lot of lifting technique is common sense, and I’ve not seen ChatGPT give out shoddy advice in this regard, but ChatGPT even offered me advice on several reputable fitness sources I could check out for video advice if I wanted to get a proper look.

3. Weight and progressive overload

With this workout plan - what sort of weight should I start with, and how do I lift heavier?

If you’re doing any kind of weightlifting or workout plan, especially for the first time, it’s important to know how much weight you should be lifting (and how much you shouldn’t). This is crucial to avoiding injury, but also to ensuring you’re going to make progress over time.

ChatGPT can use a prompt like this to give you general guidelines about progressive overload, but can also be used for specific examples. For instance, you could ask it to give you a progressive overload plan for bench press over a number of weeks.

4. Impromptu training

(Image credit: Future)

I'm on holiday and there's a gym in my hotel, can you generate a quick 30-minute workout for my whole body?

Perhaps you’re not looking for a comprehensive workout plan, but you’re on holiday or a work trip and want to get a quick blast in. A prompt like this can generate a full-body workout in just seconds for you to follow. All you have to specify is your time limits, the target muscle group, and the level of equipment you have access to.

5. Set your diet and nutrient benchmarks

I'm 6 feet tall and weigh 107kg, can you calculate a rough BMR for me, as well as an ideal macronutrient split for fat loss?

If you want to lose weight, pack on muscle, or maintain your physique, knowing your basal metabolic rate (how many calories your body needs each day) is crucial. With just my height and weight, ChatGPT provided a comprehensive picture of my BMR, including estimates of total daily energy expenditure based on activity levels.

Then, it suggested a calorie deficit, and a macronutrient split of protein, carbs, and fats. You can use this information to come up with your own nutrition plan or use this next prompt to get ChatGPT to do it for you.

6. Take the guesswork out of nutrition

(Image credit: Future)

I'd like you to generate a one-week meal plan targeting 2,500 kcal a day. I'd like to eat three times a day, getting 40% of my calories from protein.

If you need a diet or nutrition plan to complement your exercise, you can ask ChatGPT for a nutrition plan specifically tailored to your calorific needs. Just be sure to specify your target calories, how often you’d like to eat, and a general idea of your macronutrient split. You can be more precise too, adding in percentages for carbs and fats.

Bonus followup: ChatGPT can turn the meal plan it has generated for you into a shopping list, organized by food type to make shopping easier.

7. Day-to-day meals

I only have 600 calories left in my intake today, but need to consume around 50 grams of protein. Can you think of a good meal?

If you prefer to eyeball your nutrition or don’t want to follow a daily nutrition plan, you can also ask ChatGPT for on-the-fly meal ideas. I find it helpful to specify the number of calories left that I need, as well as any macronutrient requirements. For this prompt and the previous one, you can also specify any dietary restrictions, intolerances, or just general preferences, too.

Exercise ChatGPT

Each of these prompts is specific and useful, but can also serve as grounding for your one inspiration. For example, just as ChatGPT can create an eight-week lifting program, it can also create a running training schedule, or a plan to help you get better a cycling.

I’ve asked ChatGPT for lifting advice and techniques, but this can also be applied to other disciplines. Likewise, my nutritional goals are largely built around protein and building muscle, but you can tailor your requests to suit your needs, for instance with a focus on fat loss, or on fuelling up properly for endurance work.

Like I said, the key is to apply the principles of fitness to using ChatGPT, the more precise you are and the more effort you make with AI, the more you’ll get out of it.

You might also like...

• We asked AI chatbots Gemini and ChatGPT to design our workouts – then we tried them out
• Personal training is losing its appeal, according to research – and AI apps could be to blame
• I used this AI-powered workout app for an entire year – here’s 5 things I learned

• Here's another sign the Pixel 10 is coming
• It could be the fastest booting Pixel yet
• Expect it to appear sometime in mid-2025

The Google Pixel 9a was made official earlier this week, but we're already well into rumor season for the Pixel 10 due later this year – and the handset just popped up in Android's codebase, with a hint of a useful speed upgrade.

As spotted by Android Authority, the Pixel 10 has been namechecked in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code. That's the code on which all the various Android flavors are based, including the Pixel software and Samsung's One UI.

What's more, changes to the boot up process on the Pixel 10 are apparently leading to the handset starting up more quickly, according to a Google engineer – though of course the device will only be in the very early stages of testing right now.

It seems that's down to something called Parallel Module Loading, which basically loads up different bits of Android alongside each other, rather than one at a time – as you might have guessed from the name. The Pixel 10 is showing a 30% speed improvement in this particular part of the boot process, according to code comments.

Camera upgrades rumored

The Pixel 9a ditched the usual Pixel camera bar (Image credit: Google)

This won't be exclusive to the Pixel 10, either: Parallel Module Loading improvements should be rolling out to other recent Android handsets as well. It may well be included as part of Android 16, which is due sometime in the middle of 2025.

As for the Pixel 10, that may well make an appearance in August – which would be a neat 12 months after the launch of the Google Pixel 9 series. To date though, we haven't heard too much in the way of leaks and rumors.

We have seen some leaks in terms of model numbers and internal codenames, but they're not particularly exciting. Of more interest are rumors that the Pixel 10 could come with some camera upgrades, including an extra rear camera.

While the Pixel 9a ditched the iconic rear camera bar that we've grown accustomed to on the Pixel series, it's most probably going to make a return to the Pixel 10 phones. We can expect several different models to make an appearance again, including – perhaps – a successor to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

You might also like

• Here's why Google is delaying the Pixel 9a
• Older Pixels just got a big performance boost
• The Google Pixel 9a's AI has a RAM problem

• SoftBank confirms $6.5 billion deal to acquire Arm-based chipmaker Ampere
• The deal could align Ampere with Arm and previously acquired Graphcore
• The acquisition could put Arm in direct competition with its chip partners

We previously reported that Arm is considering making its own silicon, and that the British firm’s Japanese owner, SoftBank, was considering acquiring Ampere Computing, Arm's only independent server chip vendor, to make this a reality.

Ampere, based in Santa Clara, California and backed by Oracle, designs high-performance, energy-efficient processors optimized for AI and cloud workloads using the Arm compute platform.

An acquisition by SoftBank could shift Arm from simply licensing chip designs to manufacturing its own chips - putting it in direct competition with existing customers and expanding Arm’s footprint in the growing data center space.

Complementing Arm's design strengths

Up until now, the acquisition had only been a strong rumor, but it’s now finally confirmed that SoftBank will be buying Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion (approximately ¥973.0 billion).

The deal, announced on March 19, 2025, will make Ampere a wholly owned subsidiary through SoftBank’s investment arm, Silver Bands 6.

SoftBank Group already owns a majority stake in Arm, and an affiliated company, Arm Technology Investment Ltd, also holds an 8.08% stake in Ampere.

The transaction has already been approved by SBG’s Board of Directors but as always with these things it remains subject to regulatory approvals, including U.S. antitrust clearance and review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

In a statement, Softbank said, “Through this strategic alignment following the transaction, Ampere’s expertise in developing and taping out Arm-based chips can be integrated, complementing design strengths of Arm Holdings.”

It added that Ampere is expected to collaborate with “group companies, investees, and business partners.”

SoftBank said the purchase will be financed through borrowings from Mizuho Bank and others. The Raine Group is serving as financial adviser, with Morrison & Foerster providing legal counsel.

Ampere will continue operating under its current structure until the deal closes, which is expected to be in the latter half of 2025.

SoftBank previously acquired UK-based chip designer Graphcore for between $400 million and $500 million.

That company was once considered a potential rival to Nvidia and AMD, but fell on hard times after failing to capitalize on the AI boom.

It's not too much of a stretch to think that Softbank could integrate Ampere with Arm and Graphcore to build a more unified AI compute strategy across its portfolio.

You might also like

• Arm's Japanese owner could buy Arm's only independent server chip vendor
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This week was full of major announcements. Google showcased the (potentially) iPhone 16e beating Google Pixel 9a, we reviewed Assassin's Creed Shadow and loved it, and Nvidia showcased an actual Star Wars droid in real life.

To catch up on all that and more you can scroll down to see the week's seven biggest tech news stories that you don't want to have missed.

Once you're all up to speed check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (March 22).

1. The Google Pixel 9a broke cover

(Image credit: Google)

Google took the covers off the Pixel 9a this week, finally giving us an official look at its latest budget phone. At a quick glance, you’ll probably not notice a huge amount of difference from the Pixel 8a, but look closer, and there are some neat changes.

For starters, the phone’s design has changed with flatter sides and a larger display - which is also brighter - along with a rear camera setup that eschews the pill-shaped design of the Pixel 9 and goes for modules that sit flusher with the phone’s rear.

Under the hood, you’ll find the Google-designed Tensor G4 chip ready to power many Google Gemini activities and generative AI tools. There’s a bigger battery as well. This all comes at the same price as the Pixel 9a’s predecessor, but there’s a slight caveat in that Google has delayed the release of the phone until sometime in April due to a mystery “component quality issue”.

• Read more: Google just launched the Pixel 9a – and I reckon it embarrasses the iPhone 16e

2. We found the droid we've been looking for

Star Wars’ droids just got one step closer to reality at Nvidia's GTC 2025 keynote as Blue joined Jenson Huang on stage to show off the company’s new Newton engine. The robot bounded onto the stage after attendees watched a simulated version of the droid digitally explore the surface of a sandy planet far, far away.

This virtual landscape is what Newton is all about. Rather than needing to actually build a robot and real environments with a wide range of surface designs and materials to train your robot, with Newton, you can instead construct everything digitally, run the simulation, and the AI will gradually learn how to navigate. Once you’ve trained the model virtually, you can upload that data to a real version of the robot, and like Neo training in The Matrix Blue, other bots instantly become experts.

During the keynote, Huang also showcased a bunch of new hardware for developing AI, more humanoid robots, and autonomous vehicle tech.

• Read more: Nvidia GTC 2025 - all the news you might have missed

3. Pebble returned with two new smartwatches

(Image credit: Core Devices)

It’s a big week for retro gadget fans, as Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky’s new Core Devices company unveiled two new smartwatches running the now open-source Pebble OS. The Core 2 Duo is a low-power smartwatch with four buttons, some basic functionalities, an MIP black-and-white screen, and access to Pebble’s suite of 10,000 third-party apps.

The second watch, the Core Time 2, is an upgraded larger version with a color touchscreen and a heart rate monitor. Crucially, both watches last up to 30 days, an impressive 40 times the battery life of your average Apple Watch.

While both are limited runs, Migicovsky said he’ll “make more” if they do well. Available to pre-order now, both devices will be released in July.

• Read more: Pebble founder announces two new smartwatches, and they're basically the opposite of an Apple Watch in every way

4. We reviewed the LG C5 OLED TV

The LG C5 delivers bold, vibrant and dynamic colors, as shown on Disney's Elemental. (Image credit: Future)

We got our hands on one of 2025’s most anticipated TVs, the LG C5 OLED TV. The latest iteration in the ever-popular LG C-series, we spent a week with the C5, and spoiler alert; it’s fantastic.

Earning a full five out of five stars in our review, we loved the LG C5’s stunning picture quality, superb gaming performance, full suite of gaming features, and intuitive smart TV platform with some useful new AI tools. Even its built-in sound was solid!

To address the elephant in the room, no, it’s not that different from its predecessor, the LG C4, and while that’s around, the C5 looks overpriced. But, when the C4’s time is up, the C5 is a fantastic replacement and is already set to be one of the best TVs of 2025.

• Read more: I reviewed the LG C5 OLED TV for over a week, and it's one of the best TVs of the year

5. Deep Research went free to use

(Image credit: Google)

Deep Research is Google Gemini’s AI-powered research assistant. Rather than the usual search and response of the standard chatbot model, using Deep Research, Gemini puts together a full report on whatever you’ve asked it, including citations from sources that it analyzes.

It works best if you throw really meaty questions that need it to consult multiple sources, like “What percentage of dogs in the US are puppies?“, for example. It comes up with a plan for what research it’s going to undertake, which you can edit, and then produces its report. It can take a few minutes for Gemini to assemble a Deep Research report, but when it does, you get a document you can open in Google Docs that covers the subject conclusively.

Best of all, Deep Research is now free to all Gemini users.

• Read more: Gemini Deep Research is now free - here are 4 ways to get the most out of Google’s awesome AI tool

6. Assassin's Creed came out from the Shadows

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is out now and is immediately one of our favorites in the entire series. Offering the best open-world role-playing game in that line of Creed games, Shadows gets an awful lot right and not wrong. And I should know, having spent more than 40 hours in the game now.

A major part of the game’s success is the implementation and execution of some of the best combat in the series. Both protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, offer distinct styles of combat and a unique range of weapons they can use - but each can engage in seriously fluid, chunky, and hard-hitting combat. Whether you’re slashing at enemies with small blades as Naoe, or smashing them about the place with a Kanobo as Yusuke, the combat is Shadows is superb.

Ubisoft Quebec has also rethought world exploration and discovery with Shadows and implemented a much more rewarding and satisfying method of doing so. Instead of viewpoints revealing a sea of known entities in the landscape for you, Shadows only gives you a few points of interest and locations - unmarked, so you have to go and find out what they are. What results is a method of exploring the world that feels rewarding to explore and pulls you on from location to location, landscape to landscape, and region to region.

And while the main story wanes a little, and the Hideout mode that offers cozy base builders a little something can be a drain, there’s just so much to do in Shadows’ Feudal Japan setting that I’m going to be spending dozens more hours in it collecting tea sets, painting wildlife, meditating, learning new combos, carrying out contracts, and assassinating baddies.

• Read more: I’ve played Assassin’s Creed Shadows for more than 40 hours and can’t stop collecting tea sets, painting birds, and assassinating evil schemers

7. Lego and Pokémon broke the internet

(Image credit: Lego / Pokemon)

Lego and Pokémon broke the internet this week when everybody’s favorite plastic bricks announced a partnership with the world’s most valuable media franchise. For years, we’ve hoped for a Pikachu collaboration with Lego, and now our dreams look set to become a reality.

Coming in 2026, perfectly timed with the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, you’ll be able to go on “a real LEGO® Pokémon™ adventure." While we don’t know what LEGO sets will be made available, the teaser trailer showcased Pikachu’s tail, so Pokémon’s mascot is almost a certainty.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see regular releases celebrating the extensive library of Pokémon; after all, there are now over 1,000 species dating back to 1996. With Generation 10 on the horizon and new Nintendo Switch video games set for release this year, it’s definitely an exciting time to be a Pokémon fan.

• Read more: Pokemon and Lego announce the most electrifying collaboration of all time