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More and more voices, including politicians, say that cloud seeding — or man-made ways of increasing precipitation — caused the deadly floods in Texas. Experts say this is damaging public trust.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Robin Rudowitz vice-president of the health policy organization KFF about the Trump administration idea that Medicaid enrollees could replace migrant farmworkers.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 13 (game #497).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Won't you be my neighbor?

NYT Strands today (game #498) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TORY
• LIAR
• RIFE
• FAIL
• HEAR
• RENT

NYT Strands today (game #498) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #498) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #498) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #498, are…

• TEACHER
• MAYOR
• JANITOR
• LIBRARIAN
• FIREFIGHTER
• SPANGRAM: COMMUNITY

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

Although TEACHER was easy to spot – hanging out very visibly in the top left-hand corner – the rest of today's answers posed quite the word search challenge.

With the exception of MAYOR, every word was hard to work out, with JANITOR taking me quite a while – although I can use a cultural differences excuse here, as I am in the UK and we call this profession a caretaker.

That said I am very familiar with the word thanks to the opening titles of the Hanna Barbera cartoon Hong Kong Phooey and its introduction of “Henry the mild mannered janitor”.

Meanwhile, after a run of sensible, straight, and short spangrams we have returned to experimentation with today’s yellow snake ending in the middle of the puzzle. Crazy.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, July 13, game #497)

• LINEN
• WOOL
• SILK
• COTTON
• RAYON
• POLYESTER
• SPANGRAM: TEXTILES

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, July 13 (game #1266).

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 #1267) - hint #1 - VowelsHow 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 #1267) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1267) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1267) - 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 3.

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 #1267) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• P

• P

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1267) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1267, are…

• SURGE
• PIZZA
• PAPER
• POPPY

Phew! I came dangerously close to crashing out today and was only rescued by a hail Mary guess of PIZZA – although, on reflection I’d used up so many letters that there were probably no other possibilities from a word I knew contained a P and an A.

My downfall today was PAPER, but in particular getting the A and the E and R in the correct positions, which rather than narrow things down revealed numerous possibilities.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1267) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1267, are…

• CAUSE
• GOURD
• GUSTO
• GLARE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
• Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, July 13 (game #763).

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 #764) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SPORTY
• JOLLY
• ICE
• GINGER
• BABY
• POWDER
• COMPACT
• SCARY
• FAST
• FLOUNDERS
• MISTER
• SKY
• BELLED
• SLEEK
• ABUT
• ROY

NYT Connections today (game #764) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Hues of a primary color
• GREEN: Ways to describe a fast vehicle
• BLUE: Followed by a name that rhymes with “dodger”
• PURPLE: Names from Walt’s world with one thing added

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 #764) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SHADES OF BLUE 
• GREEN: ADJECTIVES FOR A SPORTS CAR
• BLUE: WORDS BEFORE "ROGER/S" 
• PURPLE: DISNEY ANIMATED CHARACTERS PLUS A LETTER 

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

NYT Connections today (game #764) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #764, are…

• YELLOW: SHADES OF BLUE BABY, ICE, POWDER, SKY
• GREEN: ADJECTIVES FOR A SPORTS CAR COMPACT, FAST, SLEEK, SPORTY
• BLUE: WORDS BEFORE "ROGER/S" GINGER, JOLLY, MISTER, ROY
• PURPLE: DISNEY ANIMATED CHARACTERS PLUS A LETTER ABUT, BELLED, FLOUNDERS, SCARY

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

I fell hook, line and sinker for today’s Spice Girls trap, selecting SPORTY, GINGER, SCARY, and BABY before I’d even stopped to think of any alternatives. This was just the start of my woes.

My next mistake was thinking we were looking for words that described the surfaces in winter sports, so I had ICE, COMPACT, SLEEK, and POWDER.

The only group I got through deduction was WORDS BEFORE “ROGER/S” after seeing the link between GINGER, ROY, JOLLY, and MISTER. The yellow group I had gotten thinking that the word Vanilla was the connection – Vanilla SKY is a movie, Vanilla ICE is a rapper, people buy vanilla-flavored protein powder, there’s a tanning product called Vanilla Baby. All in all, not my greatest of games. I hope it was better for you. 

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, July 13, game #763)

• YELLOW: INSULT BURN, KNOCK, SLIGHT, ZING
• GREEN: CREDIT CARD INFO EXPIRATION, NAME, NUMBER, ZIP
• BLUE: SLANG FOR PRINTED MATTER GLOSSY, MAG, RAG, ZINE
• PURPLE: WINE NICKNAMES BUBBLY, CAB, CHARD, ZIN

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.

In tech terms, June and July have been particularly busy this year. While gamers have been sinking their teeth into the new Nintendo Switch 2, mobile fans have been served a run of excellent, exciting, and, crucially, affordable new smartphones to consider.

One of the lesser-talked-about affordable phone brands is Poco. The Xiaomi-owned subsidiary prioritizes performance above all else, offering powerful devices that typically undercut rivals in the budget and mid-range markets.

One of the marque’s latest offerings – the Poco F7 – strikes an impressive balance between price and performance, toting Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 silicon while still clocking it at under £389 in the UK.

Previously, the impressive value proposition of Poco’s F-series phones has meant that concessions – on aspects like camera quality and OS update support longevity – have been expected, and often accepted, by users.

Scan through the reviews of the Poco F7, however, and you’ll see that the team behind the phone has clearly made strides to produce a more holistically capable competitor. And that poses a problem for some particularly prominent rivals.

Better ig-Nord?

(Image credit: Future)

The fresh-faced OnePlus Nord 5 touched down in the second week of June, serving as the brand’s new top mid-ranger. During the process of testing it out for myself over the last few weeks, however, comparisons to the Poco F7 have kept popping up, and OnePlus' effort loses the battle nine times out of 10.

For starters, despite coming in at £399 in the UK (i.e. £10 more than the F7), the Nord 5 runs on the same chipset family as the Poco, but it uses the previous generation – the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. OnePlus has also paired that to conventional UFS 3.1 storage, whilst the Poco uses bleeding-edge UFS 4.1 tech (that's two generations newer in the smartphone space).

You also get a brighter display (in terms of both panel-wide and peak brightness output), superior IP68-grade protection against dust and water (the Nord 5 tops out at IP65), and a 25% larger battery (6500mAh, versus 5200mAh in most markets).

Poco has even extended its update support commitment to match that of OnePlus, with four years of OS releases and six years of security updates promised.

HyperOS 2.0 still needs work (Image credit: Tom Mundy / Future)

The main caveat here, which has the potential to put the ball back in the Nord 5's court, is the difference in user experience.

Xiaomi promised big things with the move from MIUI to HyperOS in 2024, and while there are some clear technical improvements to the company's Android-based user experience, the user-facing facets of HyperOS 2.0 – as found on the likes of the F7 – are still... lacking.

In contrast, OnePlus' latest OxygenOS 15, as featured on the latest and best OnePlus phones, is cleaner, more elegant, less bloated, more responsive, easier to use, and sports a more intuitive and dynamic suite of AI-backed features. And as that's the bit of the phone you interact with more than any other on a daily basis, that might be reason enough to pick the Nord 5 over the technically superior and more affordable F7.

Something better than Nothing?

(Image credit: Future)

Perhaps the highest profile launch in the first week of July was the release of the divisive Nothing Phone 3.

I say 'divisive' because what the company is calling its "first true flagship" immediately came under fire for its design, performance, and price.

While there's no question that the Phone 3's aesthetics are unorthodox, as the most subjective of those three aspects, I'm less inclined to say the Poco F7 boasts better or worse looks. In fact, its semi-transparent back is decidedly Nothing-like, as it happens.

Where the trouble for the Phone 3 really starts is with its choice of chipset, which – as you might be able to guess – is the same as the one powering the Poco F7: the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

I have nothing against this particular silicon and Nothing itself has done an admirable job of extolling the virtues of the chip. But on a phone that costs £799 / $799 (Nothing's most expensive phone yet), people were expecting to see the chip of choice for almost every other 2025 Android flagship: Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite.

(Image credit: Tom Mundy / Future)

Cue the Poco F7 to rub salt in the wound. As well as hitting the market ahead of the Phone 3, packing in faster storage and a bigger battery with faster charging, you're getting a phone with the same chipset (and thus comparable performance) for less than half the price.

Admittedly, the extra money commanded by the Nothing Phone does – like the OnePlus – buy you access to one of the best smartphone user experiences on the market, in Nothing OS 3.0, not to mention superior cameras, a brighter screen and longer software support (7 years of OS & security updates) than the Poco. So, the divide isn't quite as chasmic as with the Nord.

In a three-way shootout between the Poco F7, Nord 5, and Phone 3, then, it ultimately falls to where your priorities lie. Is a slick user experience your top priority, or does more performance and a lower price tag more readily entice you? If the latter, I'm inclined to recommend the powerful and affordable Poco.

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We look at the tariff letters President Trump sent out this past week, as well as what polling tells us about how Americans feel about the increasingly violent immigration raids.

In this first glimpse of the "Sea Camp" series from NPR's Short Wave podcast, hear how climate change will significantly shift three-quarters of the ocean's surface currents by the end of the century.

• More details of the Galaxy S25 FE have emerged
• The screen and battery could get a boost
• We might see a launch sometime during September

We're still forming our early impressions of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, but more Samsung phones are on the way – and the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is the subject of the latest leak to appear online.

According to a report from TechManiacs (via GSMArena), the Galaxy S25 FE will come with a Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) screen – essentially meaning it's able to adjust its refresh rate depending on what's on the display.

It's useful for reducing the refresh rate and improving battery life if an always-on display is enabled, for example, when the phone is locked: while the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE supports an always-on display mode, it doesn't use LTPO technology, so on the new model the impact on battery shouldn't be as great.

You'll see LTPO screens on top-end phones such as the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S25, and it's perhaps an indication that the Galaxy S25 FE will be a more premium offering than its predecessors have been.

Battery upgrade

(Image credit: Future)

The other key component upgrade mentioned by TechManiacs is the battery. The capacity is apparently being boosted from 4,700 mAh to 4,900 mAh, while the wired charging rate is set to go up from 25W to 45W.

These would all be welcome upgrades of course, though nothing is certain until Samsung makes this phone official. As with previous FE ('Fan Edition') phones, it's expected to sit somewhere between the flagship and the budget categories.

Other rumors have suggested that the Galaxy S25 FE screen will be thinner and have smaller bezels, while it could well be powered by an Exynos 2400 chip. In the camera department though, the rear cameras could be the same as those on the Galaxy S24 FE. This is all backed up by the latest leak as well.

It's still not clear when we might see the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE – although the indicators are that it's on the way. The Galaxy S24 FE was introduced in September 2024, so its successor may well show up in September 2025.

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• Seagate 36TB Exos M hard drive is large enough to store over 1,440 single-layer Blu-ray discs
• New model ships alongside refurbished versions at nearly the same price
• Designed for AI, cloud, and data-heavy workloads with lower power use

The Exos M ST36000NM003K is Seagate’s newest and largest SATA data center hard drive to date. It follows the 32TB model launched in late 2024, which itself came nearly a year after the company’s 30TB release.

We wrote about the 36TB version back in January 2025, and now it’s gone up for preorder at ServerPartDeals.com, priced at $799.99 (which equates to $22.22 per terabyte, if you’re wondering).

What’s intriguing is that, alongside the new drive, manufacturer-recertified and seller-refurbished models are also being offered at slightly lower prices.

Refurbished and recertified

The 3.5-inch drive runs at 7,200 RPM and uses the SATA 6Gb/s interface. It introduces a new areal density milestone of 3TB per platter, reaching high capacity without changing the form factor.

Seagate combines its latest Mozaic 3+ technology with 90% of components used in earlier models. Designed for cloud services, big data, and AI infrastructure, the Exos M offers higher capacity in the same physical footprint.

It claims to deliver three times the power efficiency per terabyte compared to traditional drives, helping lower data center operating costs.

Seagate says the Exos M uses more recycled materials and renewable energy than any of its past products.

Recertified and refurbished versions of the 36TB model are already available to preorder now, priced only slighter cheaper that the brand new version.

The manufacturer-recertified version is listed at $789.99 ($21.94 per TB), while the seller-refurbished model is available for $779.99 ($21.66 per TB).

That used units are being offered for preorder alongside the new models is interesting and possibly linked to testing or early returns.

Aside from availability shortages, I can’t imagine many people are going to rush to buy one of those models just to save $10-$20 per drive.

Each new unit comes with a 3-year warranty. That drops to two years for the recertified version and to just 90 days for the refurbished model.

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Is your home internet suited for streaming? Check out some of our top picks for the best home internet providers for streaming this July.

• FiiO launches new desktop speakers that are ideal for home studios
• The SP5s have independent amplification and 120W per speaker
• They'll be available to buy from August 2025 for $749 / £709

FiiO's latest desktop speakers aren't just for audiophiles: they're for music makers and other audio pros, too. That's because they come with some important features that ordinary home speakers lack.

The new SP5 active speakers are high-spec, high-powered bookshelf or desktop speakers, and if you work with audio the most important bits are on the back.

That's where the three-band EQ shelf switches are located, enabling you to cut certain frequencies to ensure the sound you get isn't colored by the environment your speakers are in.

For example, if you need to position your speakers near a wall or other highly reflective surface, you can drop the low and/or ultra-low frequencies so you're not working with an unrealistic idea of how much bass your listeners will get.

This is an ongoing issue for me – I don’t have room to spread out, so all my recording and mixing happens in a cramped corner where my speakers have to be much closer to a wall and a partition than I’d like.

Cutting out some of the low-end would improve the accuracy of what I hear, and might make me more popular with the neighbors, too.

FiiO SP5 active speakers: key features and pricing

(Image credit: FiiO)

The SP5 speakers have aux, RCA, XLR and USB-C inputs for analog and digital sources, and there's independent volume memory to retain custom level settings for each input.

Each speaker has its own dedicated 120W power supply to ensure consistent power delivery, reduce cross-channel interference and deliver what FiiO says is "a level of sonic stability typically reserved for component systems."

The four-channel amp puts out 60W into the 5.25-inch Rohacell woofer, which is made from the same material as the cones in some high-end speakers, and is designed to deliver tight, responsive bass and ultra-low distortion. And the rear cavity-enhanced tweeter gets 20W for smooth highs.

In addition to the previously mentioned three-band bass and treble adjustment for tuning the speakers to their environment, the companion iOS and Android app offers 10-band parametric EQ.

There's also Bluetooth including LDAC and aptX Adaptive, which means you can use these speakers for casual listening and for checking out how your songs will sound when they're streaming.

The new SP5 speakers will go on sale in August 2025 with a price of $749 / £709. That's converts to around €820 / AU$1,459.

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Churches in Los Angeles put contingency plans in place after the Trump administration rescinds long-standing guidance advising immigration agents to avoid houses of worship.

(Image credit: Jason DeRose)

And configuration options abound to meet your computing needs and budget, including a 3K OLED display for only an extra $100.

Love Island USA. Chelley and her partner, Ace, were dumped from the villa on Friday's episode.'/>

The finale of Love Island USA airs Sunday night. Critic Aisha Harris says it's impossible to separate the season's racial and ethnic diversity from the show's mealy-mouthed handling of behind-the-scenes drama.

(Image credit: Kim Nunneley)

They all showed off their talents at this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The theme: How youth keep cultural traditions alive.

(Image credit: Ben de la Cruz/NPR)

Satellite internet may not be the fastest broadband connection type, but it has extensive coverage nationwide. Here are the details on the top providers.

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 19 people on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point, local health officials said.

(Image credit: Abdel Kareem Hana)

• Xfinity, a Comcast brand, has introduced a new feature dubbed Wi-Fi Motion
• It lets an Xfinity router and up to three Wi-Fi-connected devices create a motion detection system
• The feature isn't available to everyone, but some users already have potential privacy concerns

Having a router that doubles as a motion detector was not on our bingo card for 2025, and yet, here we are. Xfinity by Comcast has introduced Wi-Fi Motion, a feature that lets you turn your printer, your smart fridge, or your TV – among other things – into a motion detector. But is that really a good thing?

Given that we're constantly connected to the internet these days, many of us assume that our devices have some kind of baseline of knowledge about our daily lives and habits.

We've got some of the best smartwatches tracking our sleep, workouts, and heart rate. As another example, Microsoft's Recall, now in preview, will go through our files to make our lives easier. Meanwhile, AI assistants can already read our emails and summarize them for us. Privacy is a commodity that we're running out of at a rapid pace.

In a world like this, having motion detection features in our home, free of charge, doesn't sound so bad. But some users are worried about the potential downsides of Xfinity's Wi-Fi Motion – here's what you need to know.

How does Xfinity's Wi-Fi Motion work?

As Xfinity describes, Wi-Fi Motion connects your compatible Xfinity Gateway (either the XB8 or the Technicolor XB7 CGM4981COM) to up to three eligible, always-on, stationary devices. So, think of things like printers or smart fridges, rather than smartphones and tablets. The feature is in early access and is only available to select customers right now.

The feature is off by default, but once enabled, it turns your router and those three devices into a motion detection system. This creates an oval-shaped area of Wi-Fi coverage, and anything that disrupts those signals may be detected as motion. It's worth noting that the coverage extends from the router and toward each device separately, and the devices themselves don't provide motion detection between each other.

(Image credit: Xfinity)

Let's say that this web of Wi-Fi signals detects motion – what then? Xfinity lets you tweak what happens, but the long story short is that you'll get a notification (see below), indicating that motion has been detected. This tech works across various rooms and floors, but it cannot pinpoint where the motion took place, and it'll just tell you which device spotted it.

You can choose the type of motion you'll be notified about. For example, it's possible to ignore pets under 40 pounds, saving you from pointless pings each time your dog crosses the room.

However, as noted by Cybernews, Xfinity can't always tell the difference between a large pet and a small child. You can choose different sensitivity levels to minimize notifications, and you can also set up alerts to go off only during certain times of day.

On paper, this sounds neat – an extra security system for your home at no extra charge. However, some users are understandably concerned about privacy, too.

Why are some users concerned about privacy?

Constantly being tracked in your own home could make you feel uneasy, so for those of you who find this idea a little creepy, you're not alone. But these privacy concerns, shared periodically by users since Wi-Fi Motion was first announced, stem largely from Xfinity's own description of the feature.

While Comcast notes that Wi-Fi Motion "is not a home security service and is not professionally monitored," the company will still generate and store data related to motion detection in your home. Comcast may also freely, without notifying you first, share that data with third parties if requested as part of an investigation, proceeding, or a court order or subpoena.

(Image credit: Xfinity)

This implies that Comcast could tell law enforcement whether you were home at a certain time, and some users on the Hacker News forums were not huge fans of that. However, others point out that your ISP already has that sort of information thanks to internet usage and phone pings, even when not in use.

Beyond sharing data with third parties, motion detection could open the door to a whole new host of cybersecurity threats. If the data falls into the wrong hands, a lot of sensitive information could potentially leak out, including data on when you're home and when you're not.

The impact of Wi-Fi Motion is unclear at this time. If you're an Xfinity user, you can just skip the feature and easily avoid any potential risks.

Still, this new feature, while certainly innovative, invites a larger debate on privacy, when exactly enough is enough, and how much data we're all willing to share with third parties. It will definitely leave some people struggling to choose between extra home security and giving up a little bit more privacy, so we're interested to see how it develops from here.

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(Image credit: Spencer Platt)