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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 11 (game #639).

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 #640) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ORANGE
• KETCHUP
• ELMO
• COTTON
• SUGAR
• EYE
• ROSE
• MONTH
• EGGS
• ROCK
• PURPLE
• BUTTER
• FLOUR
• CARDINAL
• JOHN
• SILVER

NYT Connections today (game #640) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Ready, steady, bake
• GREEN: A color in common
• BLUE: Impossible verse
• PURPLE: Link rhymes with “dandy”

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 #640) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE RED 
• BLUE: WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES 
• PURPLE: CANDY 

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

NYT Connections today (game #640) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #640, are…

• YELLOW: INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE BUTTER, EGGS, FLOUR, SUGAR
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE RED CARDINAL, ELMO, KETCHUP, ROSE
• BLUE: WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES MONTH, ORANGE, PURPLE, SILVER
• PURPLE: CANDY COTTON, EYE, JOHN, ROCK

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

Today’s puzzle took me down a nostalgia rabbit hole and gave me the munchies.

My two blind alleys were firstly thinking I was looking for pirates and then thinking there was a group connected to classic rock acts Elton JOHN and Deep PURPLE, which I gave up on after randomly adding SILVER and ROCK to that list and wasting a guess.

John and Silver also made me think about fish and chips – thanks to Long John SILVER’s restaurants – something which admittedly is never far from my thoughts.

The key that unlocked all four groups was CARDINAL. The lyrics “Cardinal landing in the dogwood” from Old Friends by Pinegrove popped into my head, I remembered they’re red and KETCHUP is red and from there everything fell into place and I needled my way home without another error – although I did think BUTTER, EGGS, FLOUR and SUGAR was a reference to pancakes, rather than pound cake.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 11 March, game #639)

• YELLOW: VARIATION FROM THE NORM ALTERNATIVE, BREAK, CHANGE, DEPARTURE
• GREEN: THINGS THAT RING ALARM, BELL, INTERCOM, PHONE
• BLUE: THINGS TRADITIONALLY MADE OF LEATHER FOOTBALL, MOCCASINS, SADDLE, WALLET
• PURPLE: SINGER-SONGWRITER PIANISTS KEYS, KING, LEGEND, WONDER

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 11 (game #373).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Bearing gifts

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• POLL
• FAIL
• TALE
• LEAK
• TART
• SIGN

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #374) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #374, are…

• CHOPS
• FLAIR
• SKILL
• KNACK
• TALENT
• PROWESS
• STRENGTH
• SPANGRAM: PRODIGY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

A mildly troubling search to get us over hump day.

One thing I know for certain after laboring over today’s puzzle is that I am no puzzle prodigy. I needed a Hint to get me going, but CHOPS didn’t help at all – what did cuts of meat have to do with gifts? Any other word and I think I would have gotten there quicker.

By my second word I had it and felt all kinds of foolish – I think I must have a special KNACK for making life hard for myself.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 11 March, game #373)

• TADA
• SHAZAM
• ABRACADABRA
• PRESTO
• ALAKAZAM
• SPANGRAM: CASTING SPELLS

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 11 (game #1142).

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 #1143) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - 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 2.

Quordle today (game #1143) - 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 #1143) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• P

• R

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1143, are…

• AWASH
• PUSHY
• RALPH
• PROOF

I hesitated with my final guess today. Despite having all the letters and being unable to think of any alternatives, I asked myself “is RALPH really a word and not just slang? Surely there’s some mistake.”

But, no RALPH, which is one of our many words for vomit (what snow is for Finnish, puke is for English), is in the dictionary. Stemming from the 1960s, RALPH is an onomatopoeic and comes from the sound someone makes while throwing up, not from some very sickly person called Ralph.

On reflection not a great name for a supermarket chain.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1143) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1143, are…

• VAGUE
• FROCK
• FLUME
• GAMUT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR
• Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME
• Quordle #1126, Sunday 23 February: RABID, RELIC, SCRAM, BASIS
• Quordle #1125, Saturday 22 February: ETHER, SONIC, VAUNT, ROUSE
• Quordle #1124, Friday 21 February: STIFF, PRIZE, SCOWL, DONUT
• Quordle #1123, Thursday 20 February: HASTY, DRAPE, FICUS, CRAZE

Fast-charging, MagSafe, lightweight, high-capacity and many more -- our CNET experts have tested them all and found which iPhone power banks would get you the power you need on the go.

• AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs are currently out of stock pretty much everywhere
• An AMD exec says that more supply of RX 9070 models is “coming ASAP”
• Some gamers are still worried about the prospect of entry-level RDNA 4 graphics cards not sticking to the MSRP, though

An AMD executive has promised that fresh stock of RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards – which are currently all sold out in the US, and seemingly most other regions besides – is winging its way to stores across the globe.

This news comes from Frank Azor, who is AMD’s head of consumer and gaming marketing, via a statement shared on X about the launch of these RDNA 4 graphics cards.

Azor assures us that: “More [RX 9070] supply is coming ASAP to partners all over the world.”

The use of the term ‘ASAP’ suggests that AMD won’t be messing around when it comes to restocking RX 9070 models, and that’s also suggested by what we’ve heard on the rumor mill recently.

Namely that AMD has a sizeable quantity of RDNA 4 stock rolling off the production lines, which has clearly not been the case with Nvidia’s Blackwell launch since the RTX 5000 GPUs debuted at the end of January.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: Better stock prospects all round (but what about pricing?)

Actually, the hope expressed via the rumor mill – and it is just a hope, mind – is that Nvidia’s RTX 5000 stock is also going to become more robust. Or at least RTX 5090 supply will increase – quite dramatically, the theory is – and perhaps other Blackwell graphics cards, too.

AMD’s Azor is generally pretty reliable, too, so we can hope that it’s the case that both RDNA 4 and Blackwell GPUs will benefit from a spike in supply in the near future.

Notably, Azor wouldn’t be drawn on MSRP pricing, though. If you scrolled through the comments on the exec’s latest post on X, you’ll have seen a few gamers calling out AMD over the MSRP, and the reported practice of only having an initial batch of (subsidized) RX 9070 graphics cards pegged at that official recommended asking price. (And that was indeed what seemed to happen at the RDNA 4 launch).

Previously, Azor has addressed this issue though, and said that “MSRP pricing will continue to be encouraged” beyond the launch, so we should see some (entry-level) RDNA 4 GPUs back at those baseline prices. That said, words like ‘encouraged’ and a feeling of slight evasiveness around the issue of pricing in the latest post from Azor leave some room for doubt as to exactly what policy AMD is pursuing here.

As ever, time will tell, and with any luck, we won’t have long to wait for the next batch of RX 9070 graphics cards to hit the shelves. Keep an eye on our guide to where to buy AMD’s RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 which highlights the retailers you should be watching to grab stock when the supply lines open up again.

You might also like...

• AMD warns its RX 9070 GPUs are strictly ‘UEFI-only’ – but don't panic, here's why this probably doesn’t affect you
• Nvidia retiring PhysX for its RTX 5000 GPUs has made some gamers furious - but I don't think it's a complete dealbreaker
• AMD vs Nvidia: who is the graphics card champion?

Buying a Ninja Swirl is almost as good as having your own personal frozen yogurt shop.

Arkansas offers a wide range of broadband providers. Discover the top choices for speed or affordability in your area with CNET’s expert recommendations.

The movie has it all: Lin-Manuel Miranda songs, a Blue Ivy Carter performance and little CGI lions.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is coming to iOS and Android
• It will launch on April 15 and cost $8.99
• All DLC is included

Dotemu, Tribute Games, Paramount Game Studios, and Pladigious have announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will hit mobile devices next month.

The game is a 2D beat-em-up with a stunning pixel art aesthetic that looks like it would be perfectly at home on one of the best gaming phones or a big-screen gaming tablet. It's coming to both iOS and Android and will be available via the App Store and Google Play Store respectively.

It features 16 distinct levels, with multiple playable characters which of course means the chance to punch goons such as the iconic ninja turtles Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo but also some more unusual ones like news reporter April O'Neil.

On top of this, the mobile version will come bundled with all DLC content at no additional cost. This means you're getting the Radical Reptiles (which introduces two new playable characters) and Dimension Shellshock (with new characters, game modes, and exclusive mechanics) expansions.

All of this will cost just $8.99 - a fraction of the $32.90 asking price over on PC. Better still, those who pre-order the game ahead of its April 15 launch date will benefit from a special 10% discount which takes it down to only $7.99.

A free trial will be available, which would be a good way to assess performance on your device.

The port will feature full Bluetooth controller support too, which is perfect if you have a spare Xbox Wireless Controller lying around.

You might also like...

• GTA 6's console-only launch reminds me of how much I despise console exclusivity - is it worth waiting years for PC ports?
• The next Xbox could simply be a PC in a 'TV-friendly shell' per latest rumor
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Full spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 2. Mild spoilers also follow for season 3's first three episodes.

I have a complicated relationship with The Wheel of Time's (TWoT) TV adaptation. The first season of Amazon's live-action series was terrific – indeed, I said it was everyone's next fantasy show obsession ahead of its April 2021 launch.

The Wheel of Time's second season was less impressive. Yes, it belatedly found its feet as it raced towards its thrilling finale, but it wasn't the epic second chapter I expected it to be. The so-called 'sophomore slump' was most certainly in effect.

So, thank goodness that, based on its three-episode premiere, The Wheel of Time season 3 is a magical return to form for a show whose future rests on its ability to prove that The Rings of Power isn't the only terrific high fantasy program in Amazon's TV arsenal.

Aes Sedai: civil war

Season 3 kicks off with an almighty and brutal scrap in The White Tower's central chamber (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

One month has passed since Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski) was officially declared the Dragon Reborn in Falme. However, despite the defeat of Ishamael and his Seanchan allies, the Shadow looms larger than ever over The Wheel of Time's world.

To prepare for the forthcoming Last Battle, Rand, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), and company need to divide and conquer once more. Cue our heroes splitting up to not only tackle the threat that the Dark One and his subordinates pose, but also acquire the knowledge, skills, and weapons to defeat them once and for all.

The Aes Sedai battle is an astoundingly cold-blooded and brave entry point to this season

Before those events are set in motion, there's the small matter of a civil war erupting among the Aes Sedai. Trouble has been brewing at the all-female magic wielders' stronghold in Tar Valon since the show began. And, like the merciless Thanedd Coup event in The Witcher season 3 on Netflix, episode 1 of TWoT's third entry is the stage for tensions boiling over.

The extended opening sequence of season 3's first episode is as incendiary as it is brutal (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Season 3, then, wastes no time throwing us into the thick of the action. Political infighting (there's still plenty of this once the dust settles on this bout, FYI) between The White Tower's various factions makes way for bloody, One Power-based warfare as those loyal to the Aes Sedai's leader Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okenedo), aka 'Mother', fight literal fire with fire against Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) and her Black Ajah compatriots – i.e., the Aes Sedai who've now sided with the Dark One.

A microcosm of the wider war that'll eventually envelop TWoT's universe, it's an shockingly cold-blooded and brave reintroduction to one of the best Prime Video shows around. Nonetheless, I welcome any and all courageously creative entry points to new movies and shows or, the latter's case, new seasons, so consider me highly satisfied by this venture.

A dune prophecy

Rand (middle right) and Moiraine (second right) travel to the Aiel Waste in season 3 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

But the Prime Video show's primary heroes aren't side-lined for long. As the dust settles on the conflict within The White Tower's walls and before they part ways to cover as much ground as possible, Rand and company actually spent a significant – well, significant by TWoT's standards – amount of time together in episode 1.

It's a pleasing albeit temporary respite from the dangerous adventures they've embarked on and will soon undertake again. Not only that, it also serves as a reminder of the tight bonds – especially between The Two Rivers quintet of Rand, Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Perrin (Marcus Rutherford), Nynaeve (Zoe Robins), and Matt (Donal Finn) – that they forged before the show began and have been seriously tested since.

Season 3 sacrifices the frustratingly slow and meandering start of its forebear in favor of faster-paced storytelling

The lull between last season's finale and the beginning of season 3's questing doesn't disrupt the pacing, though.

Episode 1's explosive opening, plus the plot exposition dumps we thankfully receive through character conversations, which fill in the narrative gaps between seasons, season 3 hits the ground running. Sure, it might feel like we've skipped an episode, but I'm relieved that TWoT's latest chapter sacrifices the frustratingly slow and meandering start of its forebear in favor of faster-paced storytelling with perpetual forward momentum.

Matt, Nynaeve, Min (all pictured), and Elayne travel to Tanchico in the series' third entry (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That much is clear in how quickly Rand, Moiraine, Egwene, Lan (Daniel Henney), and Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) journey to and arrive at the Aiel Waste. A vast and mysterious desert region that's steeped in history and home to the Aiel people (they call it the Three-Fold Land, FYI), its introduction in episode 2 is testament to propel the story into darker, narratively absorbing, and enigmatic territory.

Three episodes in, I'd argue this storyline is the most interesting so far in season 3. That might be down to the unmistakable parallels between this particular plot, and Frank Herbert's Dune book series and its live-action movie franchise – the pair of which I adore. After all, TWoT and Dune tell the tale of a prophesized messiah who reluctantly embraces their so-called destiny by traveling to an unknown land and unites its quarrelling factions. Stark comparisons between Rand and Paul Atreides notwithstanding, the Aiel Waste storyline is also full of compelling melodrama and fantastical revelations that'll please new and old fans alike.

The dark arts

Lanfear's return – and the arrival of more Forsaken – means nowhere is safe for our heroes (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

That doesn't mean season 3 prioritizes one storyline over its brethren. Rand's arc is particularly important – you know, what with him being the Dragon Reborn and all – but, aware of its overreliance and favoring of some plots over others last season, TWoT's latest installment takes a proactive approach to managing the time it spends between its multiple narratives.

Whether it's Perrin's cathartic albeit life-threatening return to The Two Rivers, Nynaeve and Elayne's (Ceara Coveney) appointment as Siuan's 'hounds' to track down the Black Ajah and The One Power-infused relics they stole from The White Tower, or Matt battling his inner demons, season 3 skilfully maneuvers between its various storylines with confidence. That was something its forebear lacked, so I'm glad this season doesn't suffer from the same issue.

Season 3 skilfully maneuvers between its various storylines with confidence

That said, I was vexed by season 3's penchant for dragging out problems that have affected certain characters since season 1's second half. Sure, only a month has elapsed in-universe, so it's understandable that traumatic events that impacted some heroes, such as Egwene's post-traumatic stress disorder from her Seanchan imprisonment and torture, and Matt's ongoing mental health issues, in season 2 would continue to afflict them.

However, plot threads like Nynaeve's ongoing struggles to channel the One Power are growing tiresome. True, this is dictated by the storylines and character arcs that comprise season 3, but it's frustrating that plot elements like this, which began in TWoT's first season, haven't been resolved yet, nor allow for much character evolution for individuals who sorely need it.

Season 3 makes more changes from the novels, such as a budding romance between Elayne and Aviendha, that might annoy some fans (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

TWoT devotees are sure to be disgruntled by further deviations from what's depicted in Robert Jordan's beloved book series namesake as well.

Again, such diversions are determined by the story that showrunner Rafe Judkins wishes to tell. That'll be of scant consolation to fans of Jordan's literary works, though, who may bristle at changes like Matt not being part of Rand's Aiel Waste-bound party. However, some tweaks to the source materials, such as the budding romance between Elayne and Aviendha – an evolution of the close friendship they share in the novels – feels less intrusive.

The natural expansion of TWoT's world and the character that inhabit it in season 3 is handled with purposeful precision, too. The introduction of new locations like Tanchico, Rhuidean, and Andor upscale the size and scope of Amazon's adaptation. Meanwhile, the live-action debut of Andor's royal family – aka Elayne's relatives – and more of Lanfear's (Natasha O'Keeffe) fellow Forsaken, plus devoting of more screentime to characters with bit-part roles in season 2 like Aviendha and Siuan, raise the stakes and suggest I should be worried for more characters than just Rand and Moiraine this season.

My verdict

With The Wheel of Time season 3, Prime Video not only conjures up the show's best season yet, but also finally cements its position as one of the greatest Amazon TV Originals.

Like many of the characters that inhabit its world, it's a coming-of-age success story that proves TWoT has the style and substance – and, whisper it quietly, longevity – to go toe-to-toe with Amazon's Lord of the Rings prequel series.

It remains to be seen if a wider audience will be receptive to the Prime Video series' bleakest and most daunting season yet. After all, TWoT's future hinges on how its third chapter performs on one of the world's best streaming services. Based on the spellbinding effect that its three-episode premiere had on me, though, I'm confident it'll perform well enough to keep its storytelling wheel spinning for some time yet.

The Wheel of Time season 3 launches exclusively on Prime Video with a three-episode premiere on Thursday, March 13. New episodes air weekly.

LG is set to release the C5 and G5 updates to its highly regarded OLED TVs this month.

• LG has revealed US pricing for its LG G5 and LG C5 OLED TVs
• Prices are the same or cheaper than their predecessors
• Both series are available to pre-order through LG

LG has announced pricing for two of its 2025 OLED TV series, the LG G5 and LG C5, and in some welcome news, prices are the same and or even cheaper for some sizes compared to last year's models.

Available to order now from LG, the LG G5 and LG C5 are successors to the LG G4 and LG C4, two of the best OLED TVs from 2024. Pricing for the 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97-inch LG G5, is as follows:

• LG 55-inch G5 OLED: $2,499
• LG 65-inch G5 OLED: $3,399
• LG 77-inch G5 OLED: $4,499
• LG 83-inch G5 OLED: $6,499
• LG 97-inch G5 OLED: $27,999

Interestingly, there is no mention of the new LG 48-inch G5, which was announced in the UK with the other models earlier this month along with pricing.

Pricing for the LG C5 series, available in six sizes, is as follows:

• LG 42-inch C5 OLED: $1,399
• LG 48-inch C5 OLED: $1,599
• LG 55-inch C5 OLED: $1,999
• LG 65-inch C5 OLED: $2,699
• LG 77-inch C5 OLED: $3,699
• LG 83-inch C5 OLED: $5,399

Compared with last year's LG G4 and LG C4, launch prices for the G5 and C5 are largely the same, with a couple of exceptions.

The 55- and 77-inch G5 and 42-inch C5 are all launching $100 cheaper than their respective 2024 counterparts, which is welcome pricing news.

Pre-orders for each model are available through LG's website, with links to each model below:

• Pre-order the 55-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 65-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 77-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 83-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 97-inch LG G5 at LG

• Pre-order the 42-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 48-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 55-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 65-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 77-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 83-inch LG C5 at LG

The announcement of these prices also gives us our first release dates, with every model of both the G5 and C5 listed as available in March 2025. Although there is no specific date, this means availability is imminent as we're already into the second week of March. This release schedule follows the same pattern that LG's OLEDs have had for the past few years.

LG has yet to announce a release date or pricing for the LG B5 in the US.

A pricing surprise

The LG G5 (pictured) offers a real brightness boost over its predecessor, the LG G4. (Image credit: Future)

These are the first official prices for the LG G5 and LG C5 in the US that we've received. We initially predicted they would be pricier compared to their 2024 counterparts after a first look at CES 2025 (accounting for inflation and pricing trends over previous years). However, European pricing for the LG G5, C5 and B5 and UK pricing for the LG G5 was recently announced, revealing that prices remained the same for the G4 in Europe and the UK and for the C5 in Europe. We hoped this would also be the case for the US, and thankfully, it is.

What we didn't anticipate in all this pricing news is that some models would be cheaper. Yes, at the time of writing, prices are still at a premium and significantly higher than the 2024 LG OLED models, which have seen their prices fall throughout the past year. But for launch prices to match LG's 2024 OLED lineup, and even go cheaper, could be a good sign for the future. Could prices for the G5 and C5 series eventually drop even lower than their predecessors?

We've seen the LG G5 and C5 in person and are excited about how both advance on two of 2024's best TVs. LG suggested a 40% fullscreen brightness boost in the LG G5 compared to the LG G4 and now we've seen the G5 and G4 side-by-side and can confirm the brightness increase is very real.

We've also seen webOS 25 and its new range of exciting AI features, including the AI Sound Wizard, which enables users to customize their LG TV's built-in sound profile in action and, spoiler alert, it's very cool. From what else we've seen, the C5 looks like a very capable TV.

We haven't had a chance to test the new LG G5 or C5 fully yet, but hope to in the coming weeks. We're encouraged by what we've seen so far and are eager to get our hands on them.

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• Bitdefender has identified a malicious SMS campaign
• The texts promise up to 90% energy bills savings
• Elon Musk's likeness is used to try and trick victims

A malicious SMS campaign has been discovered by Bitdefender, taking advantage of Americans who want to save money on their energy bills.

The scammers sent an offer for an ‘innovative’ energy saving device via an SMS, usually including the victim’s real name, urging them to follow a link to “start saving” hundreds on their electric bill. The fraudsters most likely had access to the victim’s names through previous data breaches. Here’s one example of the SMS;

“Gary, your neighbors are paying 79% less for power. Why aren’t you? Stop overpaying- click here to start saving https://gimelove .com/eln”

ESaver Watt

As well as phishing and malware attacks, the link was found to lead some recipients to a fake news article featuring a photo and testimonial from Musk, promising an up to 90% saving on monthly electricity bills.

“The big power companies are scamming you. Yes, that’s right. Believe it or not, they have been using a secret to cheat you every time you run your lights, dishwasher, blender, vacuum and anything else that draws power”, says the fake Elon Musk.

“This is why your power bill is so expensive every month and keeps rising with some US residents paying as much as $500 a month in electric bills. Every American can slash their electricity bill by 90% using this revolutionary technology. You’re welcome.”

The article features a photo of the ‘device’, and links to product pages, where the plugin is sold for $40. Bitdefender has seen similar devices sold on Chinese marketplaces for just a few dollars - but to be clear, energy prices cannot be reduced by plugging in an outlet, and these devices will cost victims money and their personal information.

These are classic social engineering attacks, which are designed to panic or entice victims into action - usually clicking a malicious link which will steal their data. The best way to stay safe from attacks like these is to stay vigilant, and to never click any unsolicited links - remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

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• Empirical Health has released a new smartwatch health protocol
• Empirical Health Radar uses 40+ smartwatch biomarkers, combined with clinical results to give you a health score
• It can give you a deeper look at heart health, kidney function, liver health, and more

A new service from Empirical Health promises to deliver a comprehensive health score using combined data from your smartwatch and clinical records.

Available from March 11, Empirical Health Radar (no affiliation with TechRadar) can be found in the Empirical Health app on Android and iOS.

Empirical Health Radar takes 40 biomarkers from your Apple Watch or Wear OS smartwatch, and combines the data with blood tests to generate a doctor-designed health score.

The health score was designed by Dr Raquel Rodriguez, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Empirical Health, formerly of Kaiser and UC San Francisco, and features guidelines and risk models from the US Preventive Services Task Force, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology, and American Board of Family Medicine.

At its heart, Empirical Health Data is designed to supplement the fitness and health tracking of your smartwatch with clinical data, filling in the blanks that even the best smartwatches can't quite cover just yet.

The ultimate smartwatch health check?

(Image credit: Empirical Health)

Empirical Health Radar's health score categorizes biomarkers into six categories: heart health, sleep, lungs, exercise, mental health, and kidney/liver.

By way of example, Empirical Health notes even the best Apple Watches can't predict heart attacks, but cholesterol and blood pressure data can be used in an American College of Cardiology risk calculator to do just that. Empirical Health Radar combines that clinical test with your smartwatch's ECG data, irregular rhythm alerts, resting heart rate, and cardio recovery metrics to give you a more holistic heart health score than you'd get from either a smartwatch or a blood test individually.

You can upload a PDF or image of blood tests you've already taken, or import records directly from Apple Health using Apple's clinical records API in HealthKit.

If you don't want to surrender any clinical data, you can use Empirical Health Radar without recent blood tests and get a partial score. Or for convenience you can book a test directly through the Empirical Health app or complete one at a local lab for $97.

Empirical Health is available from the App Store or Google Play Store, or Empirical Health's website now.

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• The Alan Turing Institute has outlined recommendations to protect UK AI research
• Nation-state threat actors pose a serious risk to the UK's AI development
• Universities are increasingly targeted, so need to up protection

The Alan Turing Institute has issued a report warning ‘urgent action’ is needed to protect the UK’s ‘world leading AI research ecosystem’.

An urgent, coordinated response from the UK Government and higher education institutions is needed, the report says, to develop protections for the research sector. This includes recommendations to create a classified mapping of the AI higher education research ecosystem, and provide guidance to universities.

Higher education institutions in the UK are increasingly targeted by threat actors, with almost half experiencing a cyberattack every week. The report confirms that nation-based actors have been discovered using “espionage, theft, and duplicitous collaboration” to try and keep pace with the UK’s research and development.

Culture change

The rapid development of AI research makes it vulnerable to nation-backed threat actors looking to steal intellectual property, and using it for malicious purposes.

Concerns were raised about hostile states potentially gaining access to the “dual-use” nature of the technology, meaning that the tool can be repurposed or reverse engineered to be used for malicious activity, such as defence tools being converted to help attackers.

The report outlines a need for a change in culture to focus on building risk awareness and security-mindedness, and encouraging "consistent compliance” with guidelines and best practice.

The research also wants to address the UK's AI skills gap by ensuring domestic talent is retained, and delivering research security training for staff and research students. Research intensive universities are also advised to set up research scrutiny committees in order to support risk assessments for AI researchers.

“Furthering AI research is rightly a top priority for the UK, but the accompanying security risks cannot be ignored as the world around us grows ever more volatile,” says Megan Hughes, Research Associate at the Alan Turing institute.

“Academia and the government must commit to and support this long overdue culture change to strike the right balance between academic freedom and protecting this vital asset.”

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• Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel, but won't end the way 2016's Doom reboot begins with the Slayer in the coffin
• Game director Hugo Martin says this wouldn't allow the team to tell more stories
• Martin also said the team is working on DLC so the game can't end with the Slayer in a coffin

Doom: The Dark Ages might be a prequel, but developer iD Software confirms it won't end the way 2016's Doom begins.

If you haven't played Doom, the game begins with the Slayer locked inside a coffin until he breaks free. Since Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to this story, some players have started to form ideas about how the upcoming game will end.

However, according to game director Hugo Martin, this won't happen as it would mean the team wouldn't be able to tell more medieval stories.

"I mean, that would end the Dark Ages, the medieval chapter of the Doom saga. This is kind of like the Chronicles of the Slayer," Martin told PC Gamer.

"So if we took it all the way to that point, then that would mean that we couldn't tell any more medieval stories. And I'm not announcing projects or anything other than to just say it's better to leave it open."

Martin went on to reveal that iD Software has downloadable content (DLC) planned for Doom: The Dark Ages, which would also go against the idea of the Slayer ending up in a coffin at the end of the game.

"We do have a DLC and things like that, so it won't - I'm not giving away spoilers - but it doesn't end with him [in the coffin]," the game director added.

"The story is that they collapsed a building on top of him and then put him inside of that sarcophagus that we find him in at the beginning of 2016. And this game doesn't end that way."

Doom: The Dark Ages launches on May 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass on day one.

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• Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that a major iOS overhaul is on the way with iOS 19
• VisionOS could serve as inspiration for Apple's next mobile OS
• A new software look could go hand-in-hand with rumored hardware changes

We’ve heard plenty about the rumored hardware upgrades for the iPhone 17 family, which is supposedly due at some point later this year, but a new report from the industry’s best-regarded Apple tipster suggests Apple’s next handsets will also usher in a huge software revamp.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that iOS 19 will represent “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in the history of not only iOS, but Apple as a company. The last time iOS saw a truly massive change in form and function was with iOS 7, released in 2013 – even today, many of the apps and interface elements found in iOS 18 are based on their iOS 7 versions.

In terms of new functionality, iOS 19 could bring a reworked camera app and (finally) a more powerful Siri, but we’re still pretty light on tips about other features. Below, we’ve put together a roundup of the major rumors so far, as well as a few things I’d like to see from Apple’s next mobile operating system.

An overhauled design

iOS 19 may take inspiration from VisionOS (Image credit: Apple)

As mentioned, iOS 19 is strongly rumored to bring a total visual overhaul to Apple’s mobile operating system, the likes of which we haven’t seen in more than a decade.

Gurman’s report for Bloomberg suggests that iOS 19 will bring a similar visual refresh to iOS 7, with a major update to the “style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons” across the iPhone experience.

Furthermore, the Bloomberg report hints that the new interface could take inspiration from VisionOS, which could mean anything from full-on circular icons to subtler tweaks to UI overlays and menus.

However, a large part of Apple’s success as a brand depends on familiarity, so it’s likely that iOS 19 will at least resemble iOS versions from prior years – we wouldn’t expect to see the settings app lose its gear icon motif, for example.

This software overhaul may come in tandem with a reworked physical design; the iPhone 17 family is rumored to bring a new hardware look to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and all-new iPhone 17 Air.

A new camera app

(Image credit: Front Page Tech)

The first major suggestion of an iOS 19 redesign came with rumors of a new camera app, which could use an uncluttered, open design reminiscent of VisionOS.

As we previously reported, a supposed iOS 19 leak hinted at the new camera app design earlier this year, with a handful of mocked-up screenshots to go with it.

In said screenshots, the shutter button appears to float freely over the lower part of the screen, with key settings available below it rather than crammed up at the top of the screen.

The buttons are all either circular or rounded, and there doesn't appear to be many of them. Overall, the new design looks pretty sleek. Still, but of course, this is just a leak, and may not reflect the camera app’s final look.

An improved Siri

(Image credit: Apple)

iOS 19 is also tipped to bring improvements to Apple’s digital assistant, Siri.

We had previously expected Siri to get some Apple Intelligence-flavored updates via mid-year updates to iOS 18, but it now seems more likely that Siri will get a proper AI upgrade during the life cycle of iOS 19.

9to5Mac notes that Apple could bring together the two separate systems that currently power Siri into one, offering a more conversational and efficient experience. Siri currently makes use of ChatGPT, but it’s suggested that Apple would prefer not to rely on third-party AI.

However, Gurman predicts that iOS 19 won’t bring any major consumer-facing Apple Intelligence features, so we could be waiting until later versions of iOS 19 to get a proprietary AI Siri.

iOS 19: what I want to see

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Personally, I’m a fan of the mellow, dependable interface that Apple has built out over the years. After smoothing out the sharp visuals of iOS 7 and adding expanded, modernized features with each iteration, iOS 18 looks and feels excellent in most situations.

Nevertheless, there are some things I’d like to see from the next version of iOS.

If a new, airier UI is on the way, it could be a chance for Apple to enable more fluidity in navigating through that UI. I’m a huge fan of the swipe navigation found on most of the best Android phones, and always find the lack of a universal “back” gesture a real loss when I switch back to iPhone.

I’d also like to see Apple go even further with customization. iOS 18 finally gave us the ability to move icons around the home screen and recolor them to fit with a given wallpaper or theme (here's how to customize your iPhone’s Home Screen in iOS 18 if you haven't done so already), but again, Android has been pulling ahead for years in this department.

The live wallpapers offered by Xiaomi or OnePlus could serve as valuable inspiration, and more control over widget size in a VisionOS-inspired aesthetic would make a lot of sense.

With that all said, I’m supportive of any potential shake-ups. From both a hardware and software standpoint, phone design can get pretty homogenous, so it’s nice to hear that Apple might be willing to take some risks. In any case, let us know what you want to see from iOS 19 in the comments below.

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