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Hints and answers for Connections for March 11, #639.

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 169, for March 11.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,361 for March 11.

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 168, for March 10.

• GMKTec EVO-X2 targets AI computing and gaming with 16 Zen 5 cores and a Radeon 8060S
• Ryzen AI Max+ 395 delivers 2.75× faster AI compute than Nvidia’s RTX 5090
• GMKTec accelerates its AI mini PC roadmap as rivals adopt AMD’s Strix Halo platform

Chinese mini PC maker GMKTec is preparing to launch the EVO-X2, a compact yet powerful system featuring AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor.

Per GMKTec, the device features 16 Zen 5 cores and Radeon 8060S graphics with 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units, positioning it as strong in AI tools, computing, gaming, and professional workload performance.

A GMKTec spokesperson told TechRadar Pro the Evo X2 will launch in May 2025, with pricing yet to be confirmed. However, its positioning suggests it will rival Apple’s Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra as one of the most capable AI mini PCs to date.

GMKTec sets sights on AI-driven mini PC dominance

Previously, the company announced plans for a Strix Halo-based mini PC but provided little detail at the time. With competitors like the HP ZBook and Framework Desktop adopting Strix Halo, GMKTec appears to be accelerating its roadmap to stay ahead in the AI-driven mini PC market.

The company claims that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 can deliver AI compute performance up to 2.75 times faster than Nvidia’s RTX 5090. Additionally, the mini PC will support a 140W TDP, suggesting a focus on high-performance computing, 4K gaming, and AI model training.

If these claims hold, the EVO-X2 could redefine expectations for AI-enabled mini PCs, offering a compelling alternative to traditional desktop workstations.

While GMKTec has not yet revealed final design details, reports indicate the EVO-X2 will maintain the compact footprint of its predecessor, the EVO-X1, which was one of the smallest high-TDP Strix Point-based mini PCs available.

Via Videocardz

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The company is also rumored to have a new gaming console coming in 2027.

We've seen a litany of new phones released since the beginning of the year, and a fair few of them have been in the more affordable, mid-range bracket, but which one is best?

For this episode, Hamish Hector and I are joined by TechRadar's Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff, Mobiles Editor Axel Metz, and special guest (slash friend of the show) Alex Walker-Todd to discuss all things phones.

We also discuss new gadgets like Apple's latest iPads and Macs, the pro-grade photography beast that is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and new foldable tech that could make its way into upcoming phones.

You can catch the episode in the video player above, or you can stream it directly via our YouTube channel, on Spotify or via Apple Podcasts.

While you’re there, you can also catch up on all of our older episodes – including our CES 2025 and iPhone 16 specials – and if you’re on YouTube, you can check out all our other amazing video reviews and features.

In the next episode, we'll be talking about some more new phones we're expecting this month and a roundup of the best wearables we've seen so far this year. See you there!

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to https://nordvpn.com/techradar - our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee!

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The department store chain, founded in 1670, can't pay its debts and says the pandemic, inflation and now trade tensions have hurt its financial future.

(Image credit: Adrian Wyld/AP)

In a memo posted to X on Monday morning, the secretary of state said 5,200 contracts had been canceled following a six-week review.

(Image credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Apple's next World Wide Developers Conference could mark a major pivot in iOS, macOS, and iPadOS design language, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

Details are thin, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that there's an effort to unify the designs and usage metaphors across these platforms, with much of it influenced, at least in part, by visionOS, which runs inside Vision Pro.

Apple's pricey mixed reality headset hasn't exactly taken the consumer world by storm, but there may be something about the interface metaphors, which rely on sight and gestures, that appeal to Apple's software designers.

Gurman claims that part of the effort is to make the platforms look similar. Of course, if you were to look at the Safari or Settings icons across all platforms, you would already notice significant similarities, with the only differences often being if they are round or square icons.

Time for a change

It has been some time since Apple significantly altered iOS and macOS. The desktop platform saw a major design update in 2020 with macOS Big Sur (the same year as the first Apple Silicon Macs).

iOS's last big overhaul dates back over a decade, when it scrubbed away most of the original iPhone's skeuomorphic design.

Skeuomorphism is where icons look like the thing they represent. The Photos app was a photo of a flower. The Settings app was a trio of almost touchable gears, Newsstand was a bookshelf filled with subscriptions, and the Calendar looked so much like an old desk calendar that you were tempted to rip a page right off the screen.

Apple iPhone (2007) (Image credit: Future)

If you look at today's iOS, you can see how flat and clean everything is, and that's mostly Jony Ive's work. Apple's former head of design loved a clean aesthetic, and starting with iOS 7, he got his way.

This new effort might be an opportunity to bring these disparate platforms into some unified visual and functional whole.

They should not look and work alike slavishly, but there could be benefits in Apple pushing them in that direction. It can be jarring if an action works one way on the iPhone and differently on the Mac, iPad, and even the Vision Pro.

One would hope that Apple Intelligence and a much smarter Siri (available on all platforms) could help with some of that confusion, but the process of integration into the deepest part of each operating system has not gone as fast or smoothly as we all were expecting.

Apple Vision OS app screen (Image credit: Apple)

Can Apple find that sweet spot of uniformity and differentiation that makes sense for its vast user base? Maybe.

And we wouldn't mind a little return to skeuomorphism. Having icons that look like their purpose is a form of shorthand and will always help beginners learn. The counter to that – and it is a fair argument – is that when you design software to look like current hardware, the software will be outdated as soon as progress remakes those objects.

The fact that our iPhone 16 Pro Max's "phone" icon still looks like a 20th-century phone handset is almost comical. Gen Z has never seen or used a phone that looks like that.

Which brings me to another major question. Will the iOS 19 redesign be so radical that it will do away with that iconic phone app icon? I hope not, but I guess anything is possible.

Whatever the case, WWDC 25 looks like it'll be a big moment for the Apple ecosystem. Sure, every platform sees upgrades during these events, but usually not at this rumored scale.

Hold onto your iPhones, iPads, and MacBook; this could be a wild, visual ride.

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OnePlus is giving a heads up to its fans about the change, who have been protective of the slider in the past.

The acting inspector general says the Office of Personnel Management is investigating whether any “emerging threats” have arisen as Elon Musk’s DOGE works to rapidly transform government systems.

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• Director eliminated manual input, making computing more efficient and automated
• Seventy years later, Director’s legacy remains vital to operating system history
• Whirlwind I led to SAGE, transforming US Air Force technology

Seventy years ago, the foundation of modern computing was laid with the development of Director, the first operating system.

On March 8, 1955, its launch marked a turning point in computer science, shaping the evolution of future operating systems like Windows, and the various Linux distributions.

Unlike earlier machines that simply replaced mechanical computing with electronic components, Whirlwind I processed data using bit-parallel calculations, significantly improving speed and efficiency. However, as computing tasks grew more complex, the need for automation became apparent.

Automating computation with Director

Director was created for MIT’s Whirlwind I, a pioneering real-time digital computer developed during the Cold War at MIT’s Servomechanisms Laboratory.

Seventy years later, Director’s legacy remains undeniable. As the first attempt at an automated operating system, it revolutionized software design and set the stage for future innovations. Today, every modern device that relies on software to manage tasks efficiently can trace its roots back to this pioneering achievement.

At the time, computers relied on punched paper tapes to store and execute instructions, but switching between tasks required manual intervention. To address this, Director was developed as an early job control system, allowing Whirlwind I to manage multiple computing tasks without constant operator input.

Developed by John Frankovich and Frank Helwig, Director worked by reading a special Director tape, which contained predefined instructions that automated job execution. This innovation introduced batch processing, a concept that later became a standard feature in operating systems.

More importantly, Director laid the foundation for automated computing, influencing the development of IBM’s OS/360 and UNIX.

Whirlwind I’s impact extended beyond automation, shaping military computing with its role in the SAGE air defense system for the U.S. Air Force. Many computers in the 1960s adopted principles first seen in Whirlwind I, ensuring that both the machine and Director left a lasting mark on computing history.

Via Wired

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Mark Carney once lead the central bank of Canada and then was tapped to do the same job in England. So he knows a lot about government and finance but he has never held elected office. This weekend he was elected to be head of Canada's Liberal Party which means he'll soon be prime minister. We learn more about the man who takes the job at a time of strained relations with the U.S.

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• Lego just unveiled a new Mario Kart set that's constructed from 1,972 pieces
• You'll build Mario and the iconic 'Standard Kart'
• It's up for preorder now ahead of a May 15, 2025, ship date

You could say that Lego is on a bit of a roll with new sets across its various lineups. We saw an epic Steamboat from its Ideas theme at ToyFair – it even sailed away as our best construction toy – an epic new Disney castle, and now a set that not only appropriately celebrates MAR10 day, but lets you build an iconic piece of video game history.

The just-announced Lego Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart set will let you build a larger-than-life Mario and his iconic kart from the video game. It’s up for preorder at $169.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.99 and will begin shipping on May 15, 2025. Though, like other Super Mario theme sets and generally other epic Lego sets, there is a chance this one could quickly move to backorder.

And as exciting as the new set is, it's also reignited our excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the brand new Mario Kart game. We should learn more about the upcoming title and next-generation Switch on April 2, 2025 during the Nintendo Direct, but until then, this new set could help hold us over.

Lego Mario Kart preorder deal

The Lego Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart set is up for preorder at $169.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.99 and will begin shipping on May 15, 2025.

Preorder it from Lego GB here.

Preorder it from Lego Australia here.View Deal

Now, a lot of attention to detail has been paid to this Mario Kart set. For one, it’s a pretty great recreation of the iconic character and the kart as seen in several tiles of video game. You’ll build both Mario and the kart – wheels included – out of 1,972 pieces. Once built, you can rest the cart on a flat surface courtesy of the wheels or display it on a stand you’ll build.

And opting for the latter, you can have a lot of fun with the kart. Thanks to what appears to be Technic parts, you can tilt the kart up or down to simulate driving and even move it to the left or right to simulate a drift or sharp turn. Much like you’d have to do if you were racing with the Standard Kart on Rainbow Road, Koopa Cape, or the Mushroom Bridge.

(Image credit: Lego)

You can also show that Mario is in the zone thanks to posable arms and a moveable head. This way, you can have him looking straight ahead or maybe facing an opponent like Donkey Kong, Yoshi, or Walugi.

Once built, the kart with Mario in the driver's seat will be over eight inches tall and 12.5 inches long. That’s no small vehicle and likely one that is great for display in an office, living room, or even on a counter. You can, of course, also take it off the stand and give the wheels a go, but Lego does note this is a “build-and-display model.”

And if you decide to preorder the Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart set from Lego by March 11, 2025 at midnight or until supplies run out, you’ll score a mini Mario Kart – Toad (Pit Crew) set. It’s a fun touch. If you’re a Lego Insiders member – a free rewards program – you’ll also score double points through March 11, 2025, on purchases.

Now, if you’re looking for a Lego Mario set that will deliver sooner than May, Amazon has you covered in the best way possible. The LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant is down to just $47.99 from $59.99 on Amazon, and like the Mario Kart set, it’s one that is designed for display.

More Lego deals

Just promise us when you get your Mario Kart set that you’ll pose him with a thumbs up.

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