TechRadar News

• Mac mini M4 has been rated for repairability by iFixit
• The compact computer scored a 7/10 with a laudable modular design
• There are sticking points with the proprietary SSD, though

Apple’s Mac mini M4 has been given the teardown treatment by iFixit, and there are generally positive findings here, albeit with some catches.

The website is famous for taking apart hardware and rating it in terms of design and repairability considerations, and iFixit begins its video teardown by underlining just how much smaller the new Mac mini is compared to the computer in the past.

Apple achieved this by cramming a lot of components into a small space in an impressive manner, and something to note is that the power supply has been changed from a single module to a board that runs across the top of the chassis.

There’s also a large fan inside the Mac mini M4 and an innovative cooling design which is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping the power used in check given the limited space in the more compact chassis.

Another interesting move on the cooling front is that the Mac mini with vanilla M4 has an aluminum heatsink, whereas the model with the M4 Pro SoC has a larger copper heatsink to better cool the more powerful processor, which makes sense of course.

There’s good news on the storage front: the SSD is removable, as we’ve already heard about, so upgrading to a bigger drive is possible. We say that, but there are caveats here, which we’ll come back to in a moment.

The plus point of removable and replaceable ports is also noted, at least on the front of the Mac mini – sadly the rear ports are soldered (as is the system RAM, alongside the M4 chip itself at the heart of the machine).

The controversial position of the power button on the underside of the Mac mini also gets a mention, inevitably, along with an observation that perhaps Apple is overly concerned about aesthetics here.

Overall, iFixit praises the thinking about the modular design, with the likes of those ports (on the front), and the storage, pinning a 7/10 (provisional) score for repairability on the Mac mini M4.

Analysis: Storage and Apple’s proprietary choice

Coming back to the issue of storage, while the SSD can be upgraded, there are catches as mentioned (which we already touched on in a previous report). The drives are physically different between the Mac mini with M4 and the computer with the M4 Pro, so you can’t swap SSDs between those models. However, iFixit did successfully upgrade a base Mac mini M4 with a 512GB SSD from another model replacing a 256GB drive.

The other fly in the ointment here is that the SSD is a proprietary Apple drive, so you can’t just go and buy any old solid-state drive and plug it into your Mac mini. You’ll need an SSD from another Mac mini, or one sold by Apple – if the company starts offering these (which isn’t the case yet). So, that rather limits the storage upgrade options as you can imagine.

There is the possibility that third parties will produce compatible SSDs for Mac mini upgrades, and indeed there have already been announcements to that effect. The downside of such a ‘fudged’ (well, unofficial) drive installation could be that Apple closes off this avenue via firmware updates that render the third-party SSD inoperable, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.

Let’s just hope Apple sells SSDs for Mac mini storage upgrades itself, but skeptics are already doubtful this might happen – and the point of the replaceable drive here is more about facilitating repairs, than upgrades.

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• Sony announced a chunky $70 discount for the PS5 Slim
• However, the trailer for the deal has now been delisted
• It seems likely that the deal will resurface closer to Black Friday

It looks like the PS5 Slim is getting a slight discount over the Black Friday sales period... or is it?

As spotted by IGN, Sony released a short trailer announcing that the PS5 Slim Digital Edition is to be reduced to $379.99 - a pretty sizeable $70 off its $449.99 retail price in the US. However, trying to watch the trailer at this point won't do you any good as Sony very quickly delisted it after it went live yesterday (November 12).

While there was no start date attached to the deal, it was due to run all the way up until December 24 - so plenty of time to nab one in time for Christmas. The deal would've been quite a boon for those planning on buying a PS5 disc drive, which retails for $79.99. That would bring the total price up to $459.98 - about $40 cheaper than the PS5 Slim console with the disc drive included.

The most likely reason for the trailer being delisted is that it was simply posted too early. Black Friday PS5 deals commence on November 29, so we could see PlayStation's official channels repost the deal trailer a little closer to the time.

Curiously, there's no word on whether or not the standard PS5 Slim with the disc drive included will receive a Black Friday discount, though this could also be up to individual retailers' discretion. We also don't know if the deal will be reflected in other parts of the world such as the UK and Australia.

All we can say at this point, really, is watch this space. We'd be surprised if Sony decided to cancel the deal entirely, as there will no doubt be plenty of buyers eager to grab the console at a discount in time for the Holidays.

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• New rumor predicts that iOS 18.2 could roll out on December 9
• Software update will finally deliver some Apple Intelligence features
• Rumors contradict previous speculation about a December 2 release

Since Apple Intelligence was revealed at Apple’s WWDC 2024 event in June, it’s been very slow to roll out, with many features still not in the hands of iOS 18 users. That will all change when iOS 18.2 gets the green light – and two sources have now indicated exactly when that might happen.

The first hint seems to have been inadvertently leaked by British mobile carrier EE (as spotted by MacRumors). According to forum posts, EE has warned users that it will stop offering a service called “Wi-Fi calling on other supported iCloud-connected devices” on December 9. This feature lets you make a call from an iPad or a Mac when you iPhone is not close to hand.

How does this relate to iOS 18.2 and Apple Intelligence? Well, eagle-eyed sleuths have noticed that the second developer beta of iOS 18.2 (which launched last week) came with new carrier settings specifically for EE.

This update removed a toggle in the Settings app called “Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices,” which sounds extremely similar to the feature that EE says will be discontinued on December 9. Since most carrier updates are bundled in with full public iOS releases, it suggests that iOS 18.2 will launch out of beta on the date indicated by EE.

Another date for your diary

(Image credit: Future)

However, those new rumors may not have predicted the exact date. That’s because Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman believes iOS 18.2 will actually land a week earlier. Writing in his recent Power On newsletter, Gurman explained that iOS 18.2 is likely to be rolled out at some point in the week commencing December 2, putting him at odds with the EE leak.

Gurman has a very strong track record and is seen as one of the most reliable Apple leakers in the business, so his words carry weight. But at the same time, iOS x.2 releases usually fall in the second week of December, which tends to support the EE theory. Either way, what seems certain is that iOS 18.2 is nearly upon us.

Whenever it launches, iOS 18.2 will bring a number of Apple Intelligence features to compatible devices, including the Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, custom emoji known as Genmoji, and an integration with ChatGPT.

We’ll have all the details on how to get the most out of them when they arrive – whatever date that ends up being.

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• 92% of UK businesses recognize sustainability as a key priority
• More pressure is coming from investors and shareholders
• The future is in data-driven predictive AI

A new joint study by Kyndryl and Microsoft has shed light on how taking advantage of new and emerging technologies can actually help companies reach their sustainability goals.

With British businesses being forced to comply with increasingly stringent regulations, nine in 10 (92%) UK companies now recognize sustainability as a high priority, however fewer than one in three (30%) are fully using technology for meaningful progress.

However, the report revealed that investor expectations and shareholder demands are the primary motivators – with pressure coming from the top and outside, businesses are less likely to feel the urge to change, which is reflected in the low green tech uptake.

Businesses aren’t using tech for sustainability initiatives

With investor and shareholder pressure now noted by 38% of respondents, up from 29% last year, the need to reduce energy consumption as a motivator has slipped four percentage points to 38%.

In terms of how companies can use tech to become more sustainable, artificial intelligence is already emerging as an important role player. Three in five (62%) use it to monitor energy use and emissions, but with only 37% using predictive AI to forecast needs based on trends and patterns, there’s room for improvement.

Furthermore, only one in five (19%) fully use data for strategic planning and decision-making – a concerningly small proportion given the importance of a strong data foundation in the deployment of AI tools.

However, the report calls for the responsible use of artificial intelligence, which relies on power- and resource-hungry data centers that themselves are coming under scrutiny in a more environmentally-conscious world. Only one-third (35%) are currently considering the energy implications of their AI solutions.

"By integrating sustainability into a company’s business strategy, processes and systems, organizations can maximize the value of their people and technology to achieve internal goals and deliver positive impact," noted Faith Taylor, Chief Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Officer at Kyndryl.

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• HBO chief Casey Bloys has narrowed down the launch windows for the highly-anticipated duo
• The Last of Us season 2 will arrive in early 2025, Bloys revealed
• Peacemaker season 2 is also set to be released next August, HBO's CEO added

HBO boss Casey Bloys has provided some exciting release window updates for two of the studio's most anticipated TV shows.

Speaking at a HBO event, which was attended by press outlets including IGN, Bloys fielded numerous questions about the company's upcoming line-up of shows. Among the queries put to Bloys was when audiences could expect to see The Last of Us season 2 and Peacemaker season 2 make their debuts. And, while Bloys wasn't directly quoted by IGN or its siblings, IGN reports he was more than happy to deliver some telling updates on the pair's forthcoming releases.

Discussing The Last of Us' return first, Bloys told the assembled press that the hugely popular post-apocalyptic drama would launch sometime in spring 2025 (that's autumn for non-northern hemisphere dwellers). That's a narrower launch window than I'd previously reported on – indeed, in mid-September, Bloys said one of the best Max shows' second seasons would air in the "first half of 2025".

Prepare to dance along to Peacemaker's amazing intro sequence again in August 2025 (Image credit: Max)

As for Peacemaker season 2, Bloys was more forthcoming about an actual release month for the DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) TV show. The John Cena-starring comic book-inspired series will, according to Bloys, debut on Max (in the US, anyway) next August, meaning it'll be released a few weeks after James Gunn's Superman movie flies into theaters.

With Peacemaker's sophomore season in the final throes of its filming schedule, plus the fact that 2025's Superman flick will lead directly into the show's next outing, it makes sense for the two DCU Chapter One projects to launch in close proximity to each other. For what it's worth, DC Studios co-head James Gunn hasn't taken to social media to counter what Bloys said. Considering Gunn is quick to dismiss rumors and other falsely reported news, it seems there's more than a grain of truth to Bloys' comments regarding Peacemaker 2.

Max-ing out HBO's 2025 release schedule

The duo's release window updates come hot on the heels of a 'new in 2025' Max trailer, which featured Peacemaker season 2's first footage and new clips from The Last of Us season 2. Regarding the latter, there was a new, albeit quick glimpse at Pedro Pascal's Joel interacting with Catherine O'Hara's unnamed character, which debuted alongside previously seen clips from season 2. Meanwhile, the first scenes from Peacemaker 2 showed the titular character raising a glass with his 11th Street Kids crew, plus a first look at Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr., who's expected to be the series' new antagonist.

Before he makes his live-action debut in Peacemaker, Grillo's Flag Sr. will be seen in animated form as part of Creature Commandos. The first project to arrive as part of Gunn's rebooted DC cinematic franchise, it'll launch on Max (US), aka one of the world's best streaming services, with a two-episode premiere on December 5. It's expected to debut on Sky/Now TV (UK) and Binge (Australia) around the same time, too.

It could be a while before an official trailer for Peacemaker season 2 is released, but we received an unsettling teaser for The Last of Us TV show's second installment in late September. As someone who played Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II, which the series' second chapter is based on, I'm not ready to have my heart broken again, either.

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• Google is restarting the Wear OS 5 rollout on older Pixel Watch models
• It has previously been paused because it was bricking devices
• Pixel Watch 1 and 2 users will see the rollout starting now

Google has confirmed that it's restarting the rollout of Wear OS 5 for Pixel Watch 1 and 2 owners, weeks after the update was pulled because the new software was bricking devices.

Google paused the Wear OS 5 update in late September after users reported that the update was bricking their older-generation Pixel Watch models. At the time, Google told us it had put the update on hold while it looked for a solution.

In a community post on November 12, Google confirmed that the rollout is back underway.

"Pixel Watch 1, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3 devices will receive the November 2024 software update, with the next update planned for March 2025," Google stated, adding that with this update "Pixel Watch 1 and 2 users will resume receiving the Wear OS 5 upgrade starting today (November 12.)"

Google says Pixel Watch users can expect the update to land over the coming week depending on carrier and device, and they'll get a notification on their watch once the update is available.

Wear OS 5 comes to older Pixel Watch models

(Image credit: Google)

The Wear OS 5 rollout is great news for owners of the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, which are still some of the best Android smartwatch options out there despite the launch of the Pixel Watch 3 earlier this year. Users can expect improved performance and battery life, as well as new running metrics such as ground contact time and vertical oscillation.

Not only is it great news for existing Pixel Watch customers, it could also give a boost to Pixel Watch sales ahead of the Black Friday deals event. We expect to see big savings on Pixel Watch 1 and 2 models (the Pixel Watch 2 is already $100 off at Amazon), and now prospective customers know they're getting the latest Android wearable software if they decide to go for an older model.

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Just before the 2024 general election was announced, the UK government was looking to bring in tougher rules on ransomware payments, including the potential to ban ransom payments entirely. The justification? A decisive action to cut off the business model of cyber extortionists.

But the message around ransom payments is contradictory to say the least. In the UK, the NCSC has made it abundantly clear that businesses should not pay ransoms. Yet, insurance policies recommended by the government's Cyber Essentials scheme clearly state that they provide cover for extortion payments. Ultimately though, this directly funds cybercriminal activity and enables it to gain momentum.

So, what are the benefits and drawbacks of banning ransomware payments, what alternatives can be considered and what role does the cyber insurance industry play in tackling this threat?

To pay or not to pay

Earlier this year, French hospital, CHCSV, refused to pay a ransomware demand, despite suffering severe operational disruption. Meanwhile, other organizations that have fallen victim, such as Change Healthcare in the US, have gone in a different direction, with this particular private healthcare firm paying $22m to attackers.

The difference here is that one victim falls within the public sector, while the other doesn’t, and when public sector organizations pay ransom demands, it ultimately comes out of tax payers’ money. It’s for this reason, among others, that several states in the US have already made it illegal for public sector organizations to pay extortion payments.

However, there appears to be less public transparency in the UK on whether companies pay ransomware demands. While the US has official government data specific to ransomware payments, the UK lacks official reporting as most of the data available comes from industry reports. For instance, a report from Censornet revealed 85% of SMEs report paying a ransomware demand, while research from Cohesity found that 69% had paid a ransom in the last year.

But not paying can cost businesses more in the long run. For example, last year, MGM Resorts didn’t pay its attackers but has since revealed costs of up to $110m. Similarly, the WannaCry incident, which affected thousands of NHS hospitals and surgeries in 2017, is reported to have cost £92 million in recovery.

While ransomware victims continue to play this game of ‘will they, won’t they’, according to Mordor Intelligence and Fortune Business Insights the cyber insurance market in the UK is estimated to be $1.35bn in 2024 and $20.88 billion globally, with new policies continually being established as businesses scramble to insure themselves against the inevitable.

Insurers, unsurprisingly, will usually look for the lowest cost option when dealing with the fallout of a ransomware attack: paying the ransom demands. But doing so funds this global cybercrime pandemic. It’s therefore little surprise that ransomware payments, according to Chainalysis, broke the $1bn mark in 2023.

So, while some believe ransomware is becoming more prevalent due to better targeting by cyber criminals, it’s perhaps worth considering whether it’s any coincidence that as the insurance industry grows, so too does the cybercrime landscape.

What other choice do we have?

Despite these somewhat muddied waters, the correct response to ransomware attacks is clear: paying demands should almost always be a last resort. The only exception should be where there is a risk to life. Paying because it’s easy, costs less and causes less disruption to the business is not a good enough reason to pay, regardless of whether it’s the business handing cashing out or an insurer.

However, while a step in the right direction, totally banning ransom payments addresses only one form of attack and feels a bit like a ‘whack-a-mole’ strategy. It may ease the rise in attacks for a short while, but attackers will inevitably switch tactics, to compromising business email perhaps, or something we’ve not even heard of yet.

So, what else can be done to slow the rise in ransomware attacks? Well, we can consider a few options, such as closing vulnerability trading brokers and regulating cryptocurrency transactions. To pick on the latter as an example, most cybercrime monetizes through cryptocurrency, so rather than simply banning payments, it could be a better option to regulate the crypto industry and flow of money.

Alongside this kind of regulatory change, governments could also consider moving the decision of whether to pay or not to an independent body. This would ensure the decision is made regardless of cost and instead based on risk to life and disruption to critical services. Though whether a court, or other independent body, could make these decisions quick enough is up for debate.

Insurance and cyber security can go hand in hand

Digital transformation was expedited during the pandemic and on top of that, extortion based cyber-attacks have been spurred on by cryptocurrency, all within a short time frame.

Meanwhile, the biggest challenge for insurers in today’s digital environment is their lack of data. This perfect storm explains why the insurers are continually adapting requirements and increasing premiums at an escalated pace.

But it’s important to remember that being insured can make the business more of a target because cyber criminals know they may get their ransom payment, fueling this never-ending cycle. It’s therefore essential that businesses adopt a cybersecurity posture that provides them with the best possible protection, insured or not. In fact, opting for an insurer who understands risk based on data can help make a business’ cyber strategy more secure.

For example, insurers who understand risk based on data often require businesses to adopt many different technologies and processes to reduce said risk, for example the use of cloud backup systems, multi-factor-authentication and advanced endpoint detection and response solutions.

In fact, the full list of recommendations these insurers require are typically a subset of those that cybersecurity professionals and cybersecurity frameworks also recommend. And while insurers are focused on reducing the potential of a financial claim, the cybersecurity industry is focused on reducing the risk of any cyberattack, so following these recommendations will inevitably be a positive step for the business.

A match made in cyber heaven?

The relationship between cyber insurance and cybersecurity is inseparable, and these two industries are fast becoming a marriage of convenience. However, there remains one significant obstacle in this becoming a happy and truly fulfilling marriage. The funding of cybercrime through the payment of ransomware demands by insurers needs to stop (unless in exceptional circumstances!).

We've featured the best malware removal tools.

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

• WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to be banned for internal NatWest communications
• You can still reach customer service through WhatsApp
• The Financial Conduct Authority issued fines to Morgan Stanley for irretrievable conversations

One of the UK’s largest banks has banned employees from using instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger.

NatWest had previously asked workers to ensure they used ‘approved channels’, but has now gone one step further and made messaging platforms inaccessible from company-issued devices.

Whilst WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are encrypted, they can also be set to disappear or can be difficult to retrieve, but financial institutions must be in line with record-keeping regulations, and have retrievable communications.

Robust regulations

"Like many organisations, we only permit the use of approved channels for communicating about business matters, whether internally or externally," a statement from NatWest confirmed.

The Financial Conduct Authority is reportedly paying particular attention to the issue of unmonitored communications, which prompted NatWest to take actions to protect itself in regards to the regulations.

The rules are aimed at preventing market abuse and misconduct, but the use of third party messaging apps has made them harder to enforce, especially with an increased number of people working from home. The bank still offers WhatsApp as a means of contact for customers and for assistance with banking enquiries, but the platform is banned for internal communications.

This comes after a huge fine was handed to Morgan Stanley of almost £5.5 million when Ofgem determined the bank had breached rules on recorded communications after staff used WhatsApp for trading communications.

Many Brits will remember the recent COVID inquiry revealed a mass deletion of WhatsApp messages by Government ministers and officials, on an ‘industrial scale’.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the inquiry he lost around 5,000 messages, which were never recovered - illustrating the unreliable nature of third party messaging apps (and politicians).

Via BBC

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• Improvements are rolling out now for Chrome for iOS
• Google Lens gets improved searches
• Tighter integrations with other Google apps

If you're using Google Chrome on your iPhone, you'll be interested in the four upgrades that have just been announced. They're improving Google Lens search, online shopping, and integrations with Google Drive, Google Photos, and Google Maps.

First, as outlined in the official Google blog post, we've got an upgrade for Google Lens. You can already run Google Lens searches inside Chrome for iOS using a photo from the camera or your gallery – just tap the search box, then the Google Lens icon – and the new update lets you refine those searches with extra text.

So you could, for example, type out a color to narrow down the search results if you're looking at a photo of a sweatshirt. Or maybe you have a photo of a place on the screen and want to add some text asking where in the world it is.

Second, there's a new feature called Shopping Insights, which is only for US users now. If you're looking at a product in Chrome that Google knows is available online at a discount, you'll see a "good deal now" notification in the address bar – a little blue and white icon. Tap the icon to see the product's price history over time.

Keeping it Google

Your Google Lens searches can have text added (Image credit: Google)

The other changes here improve the integration between Chrome for iOS and other Google services. You can now save files and photos to Google Drive or Google Photos, so they don't have to take up space on your iPhone – just tap the Google Drive option when saving a file, or long-press an image and pick Google Photos on the pop-up.

Then there's Google Maps: Chrome for iOS could already bring up a map pop-up without actually opening Google Maps, but the process has now been streamlined and only needs a single tap. Chrome will automatically spot and underline addresses on the web.

Like Shopping Insights, the Google Maps update will not be available everywhere right away. Google says both of these features will expand to more regions over time, so keep an eye out for them. Make sure you update Chrome for iOS to the latest version to get everything as soon as possible.

It's worth bearing in mind that all these features, or very similar features, are already available in Chrome for Android – so if you're on a phone running Google's mobile operating system, you're not missing out.

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

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

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

NYT Connections today (game #521) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MUSTARD
• WING
• WEDNESDAY
• WORCESTERSHIRE
• COLONEL
• TARTAR
• LEMON
• MINION
• CALCULUS
• CANARY
• ADDITION
• PLAQUE
• EXTENSION
• PHARAOH
• CAVITY
• ANNEX

NYT Connections today (game #521) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Coward!
• Green: Extra bit of a house/office etc
• Blue: Infection could be another
• Purple: Missing syllables?

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 #521) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW
• GREEN: BUILDING ADD-ONS
• BLUE: CONCERNS FOR A DENTIST
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT SEEM LONGER WRITTEN THAN SPOKEN

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

NYT Connections today (game #521) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #521, are…

• YELLOW: THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW CANARY, LEMON, MINION, MUSTARD
• GREEN: BUILDING ADD-ONS ADDITION, ANNEX, EXTENSION, WING
• BLUE: CONCERNS FOR A DENTIST CALCULUS, CAVITY, PLAQUE, TARTAR
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT SEEM LONGER WRITTEN THAN SPOKEN COLONEL, PHARAOH, WEDNESDAY, WORCESTERSHIRE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

Well done if you solved today's purple group through anything other than luck, because it's a bit of an odd one. I definitely needed some good fortune with it, because the connection – WORDS THAT SEEM LONGER WRITTEN THAN SPOKEN – is really quite an odd one. For a start, isn't some of this dependent on understanding how language works? Sure, if you didn't know that PHARAOH had a silent second A, you might think it was pronounced PHAR-A-OH. But that's also true of KNOW (K-NO) or TRUE (T-RUE). It's just English! I'm not sure that PHARAOH actually seems longer written than spoken at all. You could maybe put WORCESTERSHIRE in that bracket, but only if you've never been to the UK. It all just seems a bit arbitrary.

The way I stumbled upon it was related, admittedly. I instead focused on missing syllables, although I guessed more with hope than expectation, and by that stage in the game had very little idea what else it could be. I wasn't helped by my other problem group, blue, including a word I'd never heard used in the context of CONCERNS FOR A DENTIST, namely CALCULUS. Apparently that's another term for TARTAR, so I don't see why both words are in there. All in all, a little unsatisfying.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 12 November, game #520)

• YELLOW: COMPLAIN BELLYACHE, CARP, CRAB, GRUMBLE
• GREEN: VEGETABLE UNITS CLOVE, FLORET, SPEAR, STALK
• BLUE: LAPTOP SPECS RAM, RESOLUTION, SPEED, STORAGE
• PURPLE: FEATURES OF JUSTICE PERSONIFIED BLINDFOLD, ROBE, SCALES, SWORD

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.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

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

Quordle today (game #1024) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1024) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1024) - 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 #1024) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1024) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• Y

• E

• S

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1024) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1024, are…

• YEARN
• ELBOW
• SURGE
• PINEY

With all five vowels included and no repeated letters, you might think this would be on the easier side of Quordle. But don't discount letter placement as a complication. YEARN features its Y at the start, where it isn't common, and ELBOW is one of those annoying answers where nothing seems to be in the right place. Well, the L is admittedly most common in position #2, something I show in my analysis of every Wordle answer, but it's usually preceded by a P or B or S or G or C, not by a vowel.

Still, I don't think it's hard either; it probably nestles comfortably in the middle of the range, offering a challenge for sure, but not an impossible one. And that's fine by me.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1024) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1024, are…

• ABLED
• SCOUR
• CAUSE
• GRASP

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1023, Tuesday 12 November: CHORD, ATTIC, OLIVE, EIGHT
• Quordle #1022, Monday 11 November: COPSE, REGAL, GRUNT, GOODY
• Quordle #1021, Sunday 10 November: GROIN, FAULT, FERRY, SUITE
• Quordle #1020, Saturday 9 November: FLUME, THERE, ATOLL, SANER
• Quordle #1019, Friday 8 November: DELAY, NAVAL, MOLAR, SWARM
• Quordle #1018, Thursday 7 November: REPAY, SYNOD, LOATH, PITHY
• Quordle #1017, Wednesday 6 November: SASSY, DRUID, THREW, SLOSH
• Quordle #1016, Tuesday 5 November: BEGET, AMUSE, STONY, LOUSY
• Quordle #1015, Monday 4 November: CHILL, TACKY, GRAPH, PLAZA
• Quordle #1014, Sunday 3 November: QUIRK, HEART, ELBOW, KNOWN
• Quordle #1013, Saturday 2 November: SWUNG, FLOOR, PARER, CRUST
• Quordle #1012, Friday 1 November: FIFTY, GULCH, RECUT, TWEET
• Quordle #1011, Thursday 31 October: TWINE, RIGID, BELCH, AMEND
• Quordle #1010, Wednesday 30 October: SLOOP, BRINE, BROOD, FLUID
• Quordle #1009, Tuesday 29 October: CLIFF, BURNT, SNAKY, POLYP
• Quordle #1008, Monday 28 October: MACAW, LIEGE, GOUGE, CARGO
• Quordle #1007, Sunday 27 October: STUNG, CLOUT, SOWER, BASIS
• Quordle #1006, Saturday 26 October: DUCHY, CANNY, BLOCK, SMART
• Quordle #1005, Friday 25 October: PRANK, EXIST, RUDDY, PICKY
• Quordle #1004, Thursday 24 October: DAIRY, RALLY, CURLY, LABEL

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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

NYT Strands today (game #255) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… We're walking

NYT Strands today (game #255) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• LAST
• STORK
• KING
• PANG
• BONG
• TEAR

NYT Strands today (game #255) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Upright, alright

NYT Strands today (game #255) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: right, 4th row

Last: left, 2nd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #255) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #255, are…

• HUMAN
• GIBBON
• KANGAROO
• PANGOLIN
• MEERKAT
• OSTRICH
• SPANGRAM: BIPEDAL

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

Top marks to the NYT puzzle setters for this edition of Strands, which offers just the right amount of challenge. No real specialist knowledge is required – a factor which always makes a Strands game more inclusive, and therefore better for more people – but it requires a bit of thought and probably a bit of luck to solve it without hints.

The theme clue of 'We're walking' was a little cryptic, but when I spotted HUMAN – placed prominently at the top of the grid – I had an inkling of what was needed. I couldn't find a second word, though, until I focused on the two Bs near the bottom right of the board and got GIBBON. That led me to KANGAROO and then – surprisingly – PANGOLIN, which I didn't know was a BIPEDAL animal. The other answers were easier to get simply because there were not many possibilities left, although it still took me an annoyingly long time to realize that the last word was OSTRICH!

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 12 November, game #254)

• ECHO
• VICTOR
• DELTA
• FOXTROT
• GOLF
• TANGO
• BRAVO
• SPANGRAM: NATOALPHABET

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• TechRadar caught up with Gary Shapiro, CEO of the CTA
• "We don't like tariffs" is the message from the CTA to the incoming administration
• The proposed tariffs would be "devastating" for consumer goods, including tech

CES 2025, the massive consumer technology trade show in Las Vegas, is less than two months away. It falls in the liminal space between a historic US Presidential Election and a new administration's very significant plans for US trade, which could impact many of the thousands of technology companies expected at the tradeshow and the majority of US customers they serve.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the non-profit organization behind the event that often represents the industry's interests before the US government, has a message for the incoming administration: "We don't like tariffs."

Speaking at a CES 2025 preview kick-off dinner in Manhattan this week, CTA CEO, lobbyist, and best-selling author Gary Shapiro held nothing back when I asked him about President-elect Donald Trump's plans to apply a blanket 20% tariff to all imported goods and, potentially, a special 60% tariff on Chinese imports.

I will to my deathbed indicate that tariffs are not paid for by the countries involved, they're paid for by the consumers

–CTA CEO Gary Shapiro

"I will to my deathbed indicate that tariffs are not paid for by the countries involved, they're paid for by the consumers that are paying for a tax, and tariffs are a tax. It's basic economics. The fact that President Trump found that one economist who will say that out of thousands of economists doesn't mean anything to me."

Shapiro added that the 20% tariff likely to include Mexico and Canadian imports will be "very inflationary and not help the economy."

Trump's more draconian Chinese tariff measure, which appears designed to force companies to bring manufacturing back to the United States, could be, as Shapiro and the CTA see it, even worse, calling the proposed 60% tariff potentially "devastating."

It gets worse

The impact of these tariffs could be twofold because in addition to whatever pass-along costs consumers get from the tariffed companies, the countries being tariffed will, Shapiro told me, "hit back on us, and our exports will be affected, as well, and we have a huge amount of exports. This is not good for the country."

Shapiro, however, is not just pointing the finger at the incoming administration. He made it clear to me that some tariffs imposed by the last Trump administration remained in place during the Biden administration. He called them "bipartisan tariffs." In his first term, Trump applied $80 billion worth of tariffs. Biden kept the majority of them in place.

Despite the dire outlook, Shapiro told me the CTA would welcome the new administration and added that there's been "no fallout" among CES 2025 exhibitors and that some business people are optimistic about the change at the White House because the regulatory environment under Biden has been so strict. Shapiro pointed to the scuttling of Amazon's iRobot acquisition. "In a way, there's some optimism that we'll finally be able to get to some things we should."

That, though, does not alter the CTA's position on tariffs. "We will oppose them." said Shapiro, adding, "Will we succeed? I don't know."

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• Apple's long-rumored smart home display might arrive as soon as March 2025
• It could have a six-inch screen and run a new operating system
• Apple Intelligence could be front and center

There is seldom a shortage of Apple rumors, but one that has been constant – and heating up in recent months – is that the technology giant is planning to release a smart home display. And it makes a lot of sense as Apple continues to push into the smart home – there are already two smart speakers, the HomePod and HomePod mini, major updates to the Home app, and we can’t forget that Apple is part of the smart home standard Matter.

Now, though, it seems Apple is working at a record pace to ready a smart home display. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that “a wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle videoconferencing, and use AI to navigate apps” could launch as early as March 2025. That’s just five months away, and it sounds like a direct competitor to Amazon’s Echo Show 15. It might also be my dream Apple smart home display and a bit better than just a HomePod with a screen.

Gurman shares a bit more about the smart display, which is codenamed J490. As expected, it’ll be a showcase for Apple Intelligence and likely the smarter features of the forthcoming Siri. From a design and hardware standpoint, it’ll come in silver or black and stand as a 6-inch square screen that resembles an iPad with thicker bezels. The report states it’s “about the size of two iPhones side by side” with a built-in camera seemingly for FaceTime calls or home monitoring, speakers, and a rechargeable battery.

(Image credit: Apple)

There is no mention of the processor, but we’d expect it to be Apple Silicon as it will need to power some other sensors, including one that can detect how many people are near the display. This is likely similar to Google’s Soli technology that is used on the Nest Thermostat to adjust what’s on screen based on whether you’re closer to it or farther away.

Bloomberg’s report notes that the operating system is a cross between watchOS and the iPhone’s StandBy mode. This means you’ll likely get dedicated apps and peek into them like widgets. It’s reported that it will run FaceTime, Safari, Music, and Calendar, among others. Of course, it will also be an ideal way to control the smart home, and it is being pegged as a “Command Center.”

As far as interactions go, it will either be touch or hands-free voice through Siri, much like a HomePod or HomePod Mini. The report notes that the smart display was “designed around App Intents, a system that lets AI precisely control applications and tasks” – a feature originally shown off at WWDC 2024 when Apple Intelligence was launched.

Just as Amazon offers several designs for Echos or how Google’s Pixel Tablet can be affixed to a stand, Apple has reportedly made different attachments or bases for the smart display. The report notes that beyond hanging on a wall, there will be bases for placing it on a desk, nightstand, or even counter, and these will offer better sound through additional speakers. It remains to be seen if the wall attachment will be done magnetically to a mount, allowing you to move it around quickly.

Like other smart displays, Apple’s will likely be a standalone device that you set up with an iPhone and sign in to with your Apple Account (formerly an Apple ID) to enable easy data syncing and the ability to hand off things like music or a call.

While this is a stationary, non-moving smart display from Apple, there are also many rumors of an intelligent display attached to a robotic arm that the company is said to be working on. Bloomberg’s latest report notes that it is in the pipeline but farther out and will be much more costly at $1,000. That makes sense, considering it’s a robot. This smart display, which could launch next year, is said to be “far-less” expensive and closer in line with competitors like Amazon’s Echo Show.

(Image credit: Future)

All in all, it feels like it’s about time for Apple to really enter the smart home, and it seems like the company really wants to take a piece of the smart display market from the mainstays. If it’s anything like the HomePod, iPad, or iPhone, we can expect it to offer a premium build with strong audio and a good interface. It would also likely check off the box for a lot of folks who have been waiting for a proper smart home control panel.

Further, it would reinforce Apple’s commitment to the smart home and show that it’s a category that the company sees on its roadmap for the long haul and one that it’ll likely continue to invest in. We also saw rumors this week that Apple is considering developing smart home accessories like cameras, and this report does mention that the development of those could be sped up if the smart display succeeds.

Of course, until Apple announces it’s all but a rumor, so take this with a grain of salt, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the rumored smart display from the Cupertino-based technology giant eventually sees the light of day.

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• Apple will soon let you share an AirTags location securely with an airline
• With several airlines onboard, the hope is to help sooner reunite lost baggage with an AirTag inside
• "Share Item Location" will launch with iOS 18.2 later in 2024

If you’ve ever had an airline lose your luggage, Apple might have announced the best news possible. And this is one that I really wish had arrived months earlier.

As part of iOS 18.2, which is expected to launch in December 2024, Apple is giving AirTags and FindMy a significant upgrade that will likely be music to many ears. You’ll now be able to securely share your AirTags location with a specific person, but more importantly, a business.

With “Share Item Location,” you can easily and quickly generate a shared URL showing the AirTag's location, a map, and the timestamp. Why is this so handy? Well, if you’re already in the habit of having an AirTag in your luggage, and if it goes missing, you’ll be able to share this URL with, say, an airline – like United or Delta, among others – in the hopes of getting it back sooner. The map viewable by the URL will be similar to seeing the AirTag’s location within the FindMy app, and it can be accessed from a browser.

(Image credit: Apple)

In fact, “Share Item Location” is designed for a trusted person or an airline from the ground up, in that Apple is working with many airlines to let a user share this link if a piece of luggage goes missing. Those airlines include United and Delta Airlines as well as Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling as of the time of writing.

As someone whose luggage has been lost, having an airline better equipped to handle and understand an AirTag and the location it pings will be leagues better. The goal here is that the AirTag’s location, as well as technology that airlines already have in place, can help to end lost luggage … or at least make it a faster return.

David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, said in a statement, “We know many of our customers are already traveling with AirTag in their checked bags, and this feature will soon make it easier for them to share location information with us safely and securely, helping our customer service agents work more efficiently and giving our customers added peace of mind. We plan to accept Find My item locations in select airports initially, with the goal of introducing the service systemwide in early 2025.”

It’s great that United is taking the time to integrate “Share Item Location” and the data it will bring into its systems. When this launches in early 2025 for the carrier, they’ll likely be inundated with questions. Delta is similarly excited about the new solution and hopes that it can close the gap.

Beyond individual airlines prepping for this launch of “Share Item Location,” SITA, which runs the global baggage tracing system WorldTracer, is working to build out support for the feature. Considering it’s used at over 2,800 airports around the world, this is good news in the quest to reunite baggage.

Analysis: This is a win for customers

(Image credit: United Airlines/Apple)

One of the biggest frustrations I had when my luggage went missing was that I could see where it was thanks to the AirTag inside, but that also meant I could tell when it was going somewhere that was the complete opposite of what a customer service representative would tell me. I could not share my AirTag’s location outside of screenshots; I just spoke to them or wrote it up in an email. It was frustrating as I had the information and could see my baggage moving the wrong way while I was told something completely different from the airline.

I truly don’t think this feature can roll out soon enough, and while I’d give the same hope as I do when recommending an AirTag is that you’ll never have to use it to track down your lost luggage, at least the airlines will be better equipped to reunite you even sooner. So yes, if AirTags go on sale again for Black Friday 2024, you should get one for every piece of luggage you own.

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• Nvidia’s production focus has reportedly shifted to RTX 5000 series GPUs
• RTX 4000 series GPUs could be close to discontinuation
• This is a huge indication that Nvidia’s reveal could be sooner than anticipated

Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series has been the focal point of the GPU market ever since its 2022 launch - its flagship GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, remains the king of all GPUs - often considered overkill for gaming, especially at resolutions below 4K. Now, if a new rumor holds any truth, Team Green’s production of RTX 5000 series GPUs could already be underway.

This comes after months of speculation including rumors and leaks, some of which address the RTX 5000 series’ flagship GPU (the hotly anticipated RTX 5090) and its specifications along with its eye-watering purported price of $2,500. This latest rumor stems from Board Channels (a Chinese forum) as spotted by VideoCardz - the post states that Team Green has shifted its focus from RTX 4000 series production to the upcoming RTX 5000 series GPUs.

While this doesn’t mean Nvidia’s current-gen GPUs have been officially discontinued, the post claims that there is an ongoing transition to the next-gen GPUs within Nvidia’s main production line - the 4000 series is reportedly within its ‘final stage of inventory clearance’, as Team Green’s AD106 chip production line (which powers the RTX 4060) has halted entirely.

(Image credit: Konstantin Savusia / Shutterstock) What does this mean for RTX 4000 series buyers?

With the RTX 5000 series’ reveal edging closer, this month and December could be some of the last opportunities to get your hands on Nvidia’s 4000 series GPUs (aside from second-hand models, which can be a risky endeavor). Considering the raw power of the RTX 4090 and 4080, it wouldn’t be surprising to see scalping become a prominent issue once again - it may take a while for stock to run out, but scalpers will always be quick to act (AMD’s Ryzen 9800X3D CPU is the latest victim).

Third-party AIC (Add-in-Card) brands that have partnered with Nvidia to manufacture RTX cards could see a decrease in supply for the 4000 series leading into 2025 - this is already evident over at Team Green’s key rival, AMD, with its flagship GPU (the Radeon RX 7900 XTX) now heavily discounted or sold as refurbished at multiple retailers in the UK, like eBuyer.

We’ve seen this happen during the period of the 4000 series launch - the high MSRP price and shortages throughout the series’ lifetime led to scalpers reselling at obscene prices in various marketplaces. If Nvidia’s new GPUs are set to launch earlier than we anticipated, there’s no better time than now to make a move on the current-gen cards while they are still available - after all, if you pick up an RTX 4000 GPU now, it’ll still last you for years to come.

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• The Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 is easily transportable
• The new SSD offers 2x transfer speeds on previous models
• Initial testing shows OWC's Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 boasts top performance

The first reviews of OWC's new external SSD with built-in Thunderbolt 5 connectivity show promising capabilities for users.

The Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 portable SSD, which comes in 2TB and 4TB formats, offers ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 6,000MB/s, marking a significant improvement on previous iterations.

All told, the new portable SSD offers transfer speeds up to two-times faster than Thunderbolt 4, the company revealed.

Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD: What you need to know

In a statement at launch, OWC founder and CEO Larry O’Connor said Thunderbolt 5 technology “sets a new standard for performance and simple connectivity” and will provide huge performance benefits for enterprise users and professionals.

Boasting a Thunderbolt 5 interface, the new SSD from OWC offers bidirectional bandwidth of up to 80Gbps, equivalent to 10,000MB/s, at the high end of the scale.

The SSD can also support dual 8K monitors alongside 240W charging options.

Versatility is a key talking point for the new SSD, according to OWC, as it works with Macs, PCs, iPad Pros, Chromebooks, and Surface devices. Similarly, the SSD is dustproof, waterproof, and shockproof, meaning users can transport it easily while reducing the potential risk for damage.

On that front, it’s also a sleek, lightweight SSD, measuring in at 71 x 198 x 20 mm and weighing around 327 grams.

Pricing for the new Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD starts at $399 and $599 for the 2TB and 4TB models respectively.

Testing by PC Watch highlighted the performance capabilities of the new SSD from OWC. Using a Razer Blade 18 gaming laptop equipped with Thunderbolt 5, testing recorded sequential read speeding of 6,056.81MB/s, outperforming the basic advertised speeds.

Sequential write speed was also notable, coming in at 4,213.83MB/s.

Users also needn’t worry about potential overheating on this model, with maximum temperatures recorded during use standing at 42°C/107.6°F.

Testers also noted the SSD was “only slightly warm to the touch”, and despite being a fanless device boasted remarkable heat dissipation.

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AI chatbots can be useful tools for learning about the world, but they aren't usually designed as educators and often are full of caveats regarding where their data comes from. Google has debuted a new AI tutor called Learn About to solve those issues. It's a personal tutor capable of adapting its teaching style in real time. Learn About isn't just a conversational AI chatbot; it combines visual aids and the ability to expand and simplify subjects as needed, like an interactive and intelligent textbook.

Learn About doesn't rely on the Gemini AI models employed by Google in most of its AI services. Instead, it uses the LearnLM model introduced at Google I/O this year. LearnLM has been trained specifically on educational and research-oriented data and is supposed to encourage users to think for themselves. That means the AI doesn't just give a quick answer but tries to impart the facts and the knowledge behind the straightforward answer, including diagrams and annotated text, along with suggested topics related to your initial query.

LearnLM also makes sure the common hallucinations and wrong information regurgitated by AI chatbots are less of an issue. You can ask a question, suggest a topic, or even upload images and let the AI run with whatever it can find about what's in the images. Learn About is currently available to a limited number of U.S. users, but expansion is likely coming soon.

Robotic education

(Image credit: Future)

As an experiment, I asked about building a humanoid robot. Learn About didn't just cite an encyclopedia on what that would entail. Instead, I got a whole list of necessary elements broken down with images, context boxes, and further reading. The 'get images' button at the bottom did exactly what it said it would, while the double-check with Google just seemed to confirm the information was accurate. The 'go deeper' button quickly led me down a path of technical details for machining an arm joint. Two paragraphs in, I was lost.

I had much more fun with the 'simplify' button because each time I tapped it, the AI would get more creative in being simple. First, it talked about building a robot like a toy, then it tried to explain how to build a robot like a gingerbread man, then a puppet show, and then a magic Lego man. After that, the AI apparently decided I didn't understand analogies and used very small words to explain robots without any window dressing. Still, the analogies and accompanying images and diagrams were like a window into textbooks for ever-younger children.

People don't always want a personal tutor. Sometimes, the trivia expert version of AI is preferable. But Gemini and LearnLM point out that Google wants people to continue thinking of it as the source of all knowledge, whether that's a simple yes or no answer about where a famous landmark is located or a full lecture on its history and place in local culture. Learn About helps Google set itself up as an information resource and a digital learning companion. And I have to give credit to Learn About for inspiring my upcoming gingerbread puppet show about robots.

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If you're on T-Mobile – or an MvNO like Mint Mobile that uses its network – and experienced no service, dropped calls, or no connectivity on November 12, 2024, it likely wasn't just you.

Just a few weeks after a major Verizon outage, T-Mobile experienced a smaller outage in the Salt Lake City region of Utah. At the peak, reported outages for T-Mobile shot up to over 19,500 on Down Detector—an online tool used to track service outages from user reports—with many frustrated customers leaving comments on the site.

Similarly, impacted customers are taking to X (formerly Twitter) and Threads to express frustration and seek answers from T-Mobile about the lack of service in Utah. Unlike Verizon, which impacted customers nationwide, T-Mobile only hit a smaller region due to a "brief mechanical issue" at a facility in Salt Lake City.

Ahead, you can read our live reporting on the T-Mobile outage and see the carrier's full comment on the service disruption.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Judging by social posts from impacted T-Mobile customers, this network outage is pretty widespread but also has some hotspots. More than a few folks have posted to Threads and X (formerly Twitter), calling out service issues in Utah, specifically Salt Lake City.

From Down Detector's interactive map, we can see that service disruptions are being reported in Utah as well as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and New York City.

Along with T-Mobile's core customers, this outage is impacting MvNOs – aka mobile virtual network operators – like Mint Mobile. These carriers use T-Mobile's network – or another major carrier like Verizon or AT&T – to provide service.

TechRadar's Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff noted this in a post to X (formerly Twitter) and Threads. At the same time, we're seeing Mint Mobile customers flag network issues.

Raise your hand if @TMobile (or one of its MVNOs like @Mintmobile ) is out for youNovember 12, 2024

While less than the surge of over 19,000 reported outages for T-Mobile, Down Detector is currently showing over 1,000 reported issues for Mint Mobile. In the comments on the site, many are reporting no or minimal service in Utah.

Along with various reports on social media and Down Detector reporting T-Mobile issues in Utah as a whole, CBS affiliate KUTV in St. George, Utah, reports that a 'major event' is impacting service for the carrier and CenturyLink customers.

T-Mobile reportedly confirmed the service outage, and KUTV wrote that "the event impacted four cell towers," but additional details are not yet available. There is also no estimate for service restoration, but judging from previous outages for AT&T and Verizon, it can take several hours to return to normal.

While T-Mobile has yet to comment publicly on the ongoing network issues, customers are attempting to get support on X via the @TMobileHelp account. It's currently being flooded with many messages and mostly canned, scripted responses asking the customers to "direct message" them.

Many of these are about issues in Utah, specifically Salt Lake City, with @TMobileHelp even trying to figure out why one customer is on WiFi calling versus cellular. That's a good thing in the event of a cellular outage, as with the feature enabled, you'll still be able to make calls on WiFi.

Hi, let's see what's causing you to have to be on Wi-Fi calling in Salt Lake City, Utah. Meet us in DM with your address. We'll review the coverage in your area right away. Thanks. ^ShannonRobinson https://t.co/8DIvLVByJjNovember 12, 2024

While reports on Down Detector did surge to over 19,000 for T-Mobile, reported outages for the wireless carrier are beginning to slow down. As of 3:23 PM ET, there were above 5,600 reported outages—a smaller sum, but still indicating a larger pool of issues than to be expected on a normal day.

The site's comments still point to service disruptions in South Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Ogden, and Sandy City Utah. Signaling that this state, along with the earlier report of four cell towers being impacted, is the main affected area.

(Image credit: Future)

Even with many reported outages and folks commenting on social media about issues with T-Mobile, others note that it is business as usual.

It's likely that if you have a newer iPhone or Android phone and are experiencing T-Mobile's outage, you might have noticed that your network bars in the top right corner have been replaced by the word "SOS" and an icon depicting a satellite. This means your device has no cellular connectivity, but if you need to reach emergency services or send a message, you can use the device's satellite connectivity to get through.

You can see our guide to using satellite messaging here, but there is a good chance you'll see this icon for the first time during a network outage.

(Image credit: Apple)

After a flurry of reported outages, reaching nearly 20,000 on Down Detector, it seems that T-Mobile's network is returning ... for some. Several commenters on Down Detector and social media platforms like Threads and X have noted that service is returning.

One customer, Kent J Barnes, wrote, "Back on line in Murray, UT Hope it lasts" on Down Detector, with others saying service is back in Salt Lake City. These reports of service returning come as reports on the site continue to drop, sitting at 1,848 as of 3:52PM ET.

(Image credit: Future) T-Mobile is back up

T-Mobile has responded to TechRadar and confirmed that the network issue is now resolved. The carrier has noted that it was not a "major outage" and only impacted customers in the Salt Lake City area.

Here is the full statement from T-Mobile: "A facility in the Salt Lake area had a brief mechanical issue that impacted connectivity for some customers in that market, but this is now resolved and service is restored. We apologize for the inconvenience."

It seems the culprit for the outage was a mechanical issue, but the good news is that the service is restored. If you're on T-Mobile, it can't hurt to restart your phone.

• Foxit PDF reader will now work natively on Snapdragon devices
• Workers can enjoy AI tool integration to boost productivity
• Schools and workplaces can benefit from enhanced Snapdragon performance

Foxit has unveils upgrades to help improve productivity for its users by introducing native support for PCs running on Snapdragon processors.

The move eliminates the need for emulation which can slow down performance and drain battery life, and allows Foxit's PDF Editor and Editor Pro with AI Assistant to run more efficiently.

The combination of Foxit's PDF and eSignature software with Snapdragon hardware should also help boost performance and streamline the way users manage and interact with PDF documents.

Foxit and Snapdragon

Foxit’s latest offerings also integrate AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, bringing a range of intelligent automation capabilities to users. Through AI-driven natural language processing, users can perform advanced tasks like document redaction, form filling, and annotation more intuitively and with less manual effort, simplifying repetitive tasks and improving accuracy.

In addition, Foxit also optimized its latest PDF tools to run natively on Snapdragon-powered devices, allowing them to deliver the same quality and performance as desktop computers.

Furthermore, the integration with Snapdragon opens up opportunities for users in sectors like education, where mobile-first workflows are becoming more common. Students and educators alike can benefit from a tool that is not only optimized for performance but also capable of handling complex document management tasks without draining device resources.

“Foxit’s commitment to native support on the Snapdragon platform enables us to deliver significant improvements, including faster rendering and processing of content, leading to greatly enhanced productivity and an unrivalled user experience," said Andrew Travis, Executive Vice President of Sales, at Foxit.

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