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• NioCorp has notified the SEC of a cyberattack
• It was tricked into sending a payment to the wrong account
• It notified law enforcement and is trying to recover the funds

NioCorp Developments, a Canadian mineral exploration firm operating in Nebraska, has reported suffering a cyberattack in which it lost half a million dollars.

The company confirmed the news via an 8-K report recently filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In the report, filed February 14, NioCorp said it became aware of “unauthorized third-party access” to its information systems, including “portions of its email systems”. The result of this access was a “misdirected vendor payment” totaling approximately $0.5 million.

Investigating the attack

In other words, someone managed to trick NioCorp into making a payment to the wrong bank account.

This is usually done in business email compromise (BEC) attacks, when cybercriminals gain access to an email account belonging to a high-positioned executive and use it to trick the finance department into making the wrong payment.

NioCorp says it quickly realized what had happened, and notified both federal law enforcement and certain financial institutions in an attempt to recover the money. It is unclear if it succeeded yet or not. The company also said it “began taking steps” to investigate, contain, assess, and remediate the attack.

Although the company believes that, aside from the BEC, there were no other attacks or attempts, it is still analyzing the full nature and impact of the attack.

“As of the date of this filing, the company has not yet determined whether the cybersecurity incident is reasonably likely to materially impact the company’s overall financial condition or its results of operations,” the filing concluded.

NioCorp Developments aims to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium for industrial and green technology applications.

Via The Register

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• Meze Audio unveils new open-back headphones in a premium finish
• The manufacturer promises ‘breakthrough’ in planar magnetic drivers
• ‘Luxurious’ materials suitable for a £1,850 / $2,000 (around AU$3,100) price

Meze Audio, a Romanian headphones manufacturer behind some of the best planar magnetic headphones available today, claims its new POET model marks a breakthrough for the high-end audio technology.

These headphones are designed with aesthetes and audiophiles in mind, with an open-backed construction and wired connection to ensure you get high-quality audio, a reliable connection, and a well-sized soundstage to appreciate the resonance of the POET’s planar magnetic drivers – as well as the "audible emotion" that Meze professes for its latest cans.

But the POET headphones are also carefully crafted aesthetic objects, with an “intricate steel grill, magnesium chassis, and soft suede leather headrest”, alongside braided 3.5mm copper cabling for connecting to a source device.

Planar magnetic drivers have existed for many years now, offering an alternative to the dynamic driver design used in the vast majority of the best headphones.

Planar headphones essentially deploy a set of magnets on either side of a vibrating ultra-thin diaphragm in order to emit sound, requiring more power and larger, heavier hardware than standard drivers – achieving planar’s unique magnetic resonance and improved bass response. The POET headphones boast a frequency response of 4Hz-96kHz, vastly expanding the usual 20Hz-20kHz range in both directions.

However, Meze Audio claims to have advanced the technology further, with help from electro-acoustic engineers at Rinaro Isodynamics in Ukraine.

(Image credit: Meze Audio) A poet's life

A press release says “POET incorporates several breakthrough features that set it apart in the world of high-end headphones. These include a Hybrid Magnet Array designed to create a uniform, powerful magnetic field across the diaphragm, as well as a Parus diaphragm with an incredibly low weight (just 0.06g) and expansive active area for pristine audio reproduction. The result is ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) and ultra-high-resolution audio that captures every nuance, from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies.”

Meze adds that “Each driver is hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s state-of-the-art facility in Ukraine, ensuring unmatched quality and performance.”

Meze Audio has certainly impressed us before: in our five-star review of the Meze Audio 105 AER headphones, we called them “open-backed wired over-ear headphones that easily trounce all rivals at the level”.

At 350g, the POET headphones are still weighty overall – the dynamic driver Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones come in at just 250g – but they're still lighter than the recently announced Fiio FT7 planar headphones, so it's all relative. The luxurious price tag may keep it out of bounds for many shoppers, but for anyone after a truly premium listening experience, Meze Audio’s lineup increasingly looks like one of the best options out there.

The POET headphones are available now for £1,850 / $2,000 (around AU$3,100).

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The company said it was "gravely disappointed" to no longer be able to offer Advanced Data Protection to iPhone users in the UK.

• Cisco reveals Salt Typhoon used CVE-2018-0171 to breach target networks
• It needed login credentials, first
• The attackers are highly sophisticated and well-funded, Cisco said

Chinese state-sponsored threat actor Salt Typhoon was abusing a vulnerability in the Smart Install feature of Cisco IOS software and Cisco IOS XE software to compromise US telecoms networks, experts have confirmed.

In a new blog post, Cisco said it found evidence of Salt Typhoon abusing CVE-2018-0171, a 9.8/10 (critical) vulnerability that allows threat actors to execute arbitrary code on an affected device.

"The threat actor then demonstrated their ability to persist in target environments across equipment from multiple vendors for extended periods, maintaining access in one instance for over three years," Cisco Talos said.

Large-scale espionage

The researchers described the threat actors as “highly sophisticated” and “well-funded”, adding, "The long timeline of this campaign suggests a high degree of coordination, planning, and patience — standard hallmarks of advanced persistent threat (APT) and state-sponsored actors."

To be able to exploit this vulnerability, Salt Typhoon first needed valid login credentials, which it was somehow able to acquire. The researchers have their suspicions on how: "In addition, we have observed the threat actor capturing SNMP, TACACS, and RADIUS traffic, including the secret keys used between network devices and TACACS/RADIUS servers," Cisco said. "The intent of this traffic capture is almost certainly to enumerate additional credential details for follow-on use."

In late October 2024, the FBI and CISA warned about multiple major US telecom providers having been breached by Salt Typhoon.

The statement noted, “The U.S. Government is investigating the unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.”

As the investigation progressed, by December 2024 the researchers found that at least eight major US telecoms were breached, including T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies together with countless others around the world.

Via The Hacker News

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For a while now we’ve been hearing rumors about a new, cheaper Apple Watch to replace the popular Apple Watch SE 2, which arrived in 2022. All signs were pointing to it being called the Apple Watch SE 3 or SE (2025), with the device retaining the same basic format as its predecessors: a perfectly functional Apple Watch using slightly dated parts, and missing a couple of features to keep the price down.

However, after this week’s iPhone 16e reveal, things have changed.

The phone was expected to be called the iPhone SE 4, and the announcement of the iPhone 16e was a big surprise from Apple. It’s not only a different name to the one we expected, but Apple has also made some big changes to the former SE line: notably, flagship-grade internals and a newer, more modern screen and size.

Gone are the last vestiges of older iPhones, such as the Home button and the Lightning charger, although the latter change was expected. The iPhone 16e even gets the Action button, bringing it into line with the rest of the iPhone 16 range.

Crucially, it also costs a good deal more than its SE predecessor, starting at $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 128GB phone. The cheapest SE model cost $429 / £419 / AU$719 for a 64GB handset.

(Image credit: Apple / Future)

Apple has always taken steps to ensure that its product range feels seamless and part of a larger whole, and I believe the launch of the iPhone 16e is a sign of things to come for the Apple Watch. The SE is dead, and in its place, I think, will be the Apple Watch 11e, sitting alongside the mainline Apple Watch Series 11.

Reliable Apple leaker Mark Gurman noted in his Power On newsletter that we’ll be getting an Apple Watch SE 3 during 2025 and that it would be a "fresh" upgrade with a "new look". This implies significant changes, much as the iPhone 16e incorporates significant changes from the iPhone SE 3. It could mean a larger screen and slimmer bezels, more in line with the Apple Watch 10, and possibly a newer chipset under the hood.

Right now, the Apple Watch SE 2 is one of the best value propositions in Apple’s entire range of products. Apple is known for its high prices, but the SE 2 sits pretty during sales events at around $200 / £190 / AU$400, making it by far the best cheap option in our best smartwatches for iPhone guide.

However, a new look and improvements under the hood could mean higher prices, making the Apple Watch 11e a cheaper option than the Apple Watch Series 11, but perhaps, like the iPhone 16e, not a cheap option overall.

(Image credit: Future)

I see Apple revamping its Watch lineup along the lines of how Garmin positions its watches: you have a Garmin Fenix 8 and a cheaper Fenix E, and a Garmin Instinct 3 and a cheaper Instinct E. They’re pretty much the same as the base watches, only a little lacking in features overall, and don’t quite represent the same outstanding value for Garmin users as the SE does for Apple users.

This would be a real shame, in my opinion: the SE has long been regarded as a loss leader by Apple, a jumping-on point to get people invested in its ecosystem, and a device that represents excellent value for money. A comparatively large price hike would see an end to that approach, even if the 11e, or whatever it's called, does come with some cool new features to bring it more into line, performance-wise, with the Apple Watch 11.

We’ll keep an eye out for more leaks and rumors about the Apple Watch SE 3, or 11e, but we likely won’t know anything for sure until Apple’s next September event. Stay tuned!

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These titles let you play with friends on all kinds of platforms, from computers to Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and even mobile.

Hori Split Pad Pro: One-minute review

The Hori Split Pad Pro was easily one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers when it first launched in conjunction with Daemon X Machina over five years ago, offering a fantastic wired-only Joy-Con alternative that delivered superior comfort and performance at the cost of a few nice-to-have features like HD Rumble, motion controls, and wireless compatibility. It remains a decent option in 2025, especially given its relatively modest price point, but the rise of absolutely killer, feature-packed alternatives like the CRKD Nitro Deck or CRKD Nitro Deck+ mean it’s not quite the titan that it once was.

The full-size thumbsticks, larger face buttons, and massively improved shoulder buttons are among its biggest advantages still, especially compared to the standard Joy-Con controllers. It’s hard to overstate just how much this can improve some games, especially shooters like Borderlands 3 or Doom Eternal where the limited thumbstick motion and shallow triggers of the Joy-Con are a constant frustration. Even so, the absence of motion controls is a real shame in this regard, especially when most Nintendo Switch shooters now support them for more precise aiming, and makes it unsuitable for the likes of Splatoon 3 if that’s your preferred input method.

The D-pad of the Hori Split Pad Pro is a strong point too and perfect for precise platforming in games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It’s joined by some handy extras, like two remappable rear inputs and an optional turbo mode, though I don’t find myself reaching for either of these that often. All of this can be configured on the controllers themselves, which eliminates the need for any extra software.

There’s also the matter of the controller’s overall shape, which is significantly larger than that of the Joy-Con. Does this make your Nintendo Switch harder to stash in a bag? Absolutely, but I think this trade-off is worth it given the greater level of comfort that it brings. It makes the Nintendo Switch a joy to play over extended periods of time and can be a lifesaver if you're trying to game throughout a long journey.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future) Hori Split Pad Pro: Price and availability

• Plain models go for $49.99 / £39.99
• Licensed versions get expensive
• Accessory pack available for TV mode wired play

The plain black version of the Hori Split Pad Pro is easy to find for $49.99 / £39.99 at online retailers like Amazon in addition to Best Buy and Walmart in the US or Argos and Currys in the UK. There are also a plethora of licensed versions available, though these are generally more expensive. To give an example, the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom variant that I tested costs $59.99 / £53.99 at the time of writing, so only spring out for these editions if you’re willing to pay more for the aesthetic.

This price point puts the Hori Split Pad Pro in close competition with the $59.99 / £59.99 CRKD Nitro Deck, especially when you bear in mind that the latter is almost perpetually on sale for as low as $39.99 / £37.99. Having tested both extensively, I can say the CRKD Nitro Deck is definitively better thanks to a slightly more comfortable shape (though the Split Pad Pro is still comfy) and the addition of features like motion control and rumble. Still, the Hori Split Pad Pro is worth choosing if you prefer its smaller form factor - or want something that doesn’t need a mobile app to tweak.

You can also buy the Hori Split Pad Pro in a bundle that comes with a small attachment that goes in between the controllers for wired TV mode play and also enables PC compatibility. This comes in at $79.99 / £69.99 and is the only way to buy that attachment as it is not sold separately.

Hori Split Pad Pro: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Hori Split Pad Pro: Design and features

• Much more comfortable than the Joy-Con
• But light weight feels quite cheap
• Turbo mode, plus remappable buttons featured

Taking the Hori Split Pad Pro out of the box, the first thing you’ll notice is its light weight. These controllers come in at just 0.18 lbs / 80 g each - which is actually a little more than the standard Joy-Con but, because of the increased size, feels a lot less substantial in the hands. They come across as almost hollow, which isn’t the best first impression given the price. Thankfully, this is barely noticeable once you slot them into the Joy-Con rails, and they slide in seamlessly before securing in place with a reassuring click.

Hori has opted for an unusual, almost squashed look with the Split Pad Pro, giving the impression of a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that someone has accidentally sat on. The grips are tiny, lumpy protrusions on the corner of each side of the gamepad, which honestly looks pretty ridiculous. That said, the company must be on to something here as the Hori Split Pad Pro is seriously comfortable to hold.

The grips fit nicely in my palms and the chunky depth gives you loads to grasp on to. The shoulder buttons are a massive improvement over those found on the Joy-Con, coming in larger and with a much softer press to them. The triggers are also enhanced, with a bit of extra movement for a more satisfying pull. Likewise, the thumbsticks have a great range of motion, allowing for more precise inputs than the fiddly tiny ones on the Joy-Con - though they are unfortunately not Hall effect like those of the CRKD Nitro Deck. There’s also a proper D-pad, with a satisfying, spongy feel (not too dissimilar to that of the Nintendo 2DS) and a slight concave shape that’s pleasant on the thumb.

When it comes to features, you have a modest selection to choose from. Each side of the Split Pad Pro has its own rear input, which can be mapped by holding the tiny ‘Assign’ button on the front. This can only be achieved while your Nintendo Switch is powered on but, thankfully, does save your selection in between uses. There’s also a turbo button, which you can hold to simulate rapid button presses without ruining your thumb - handy if you play a lot of arcade shoot-’em up style games.

As I’ve previously mentioned, this is a wired controller that can only be used attached to the Switch. Unlike the Joy-Con, you also don’t get HD Rumble (or any vibration for that matter), gyroscope controls, an IR camera, or Amiibo support which is a shame but not too surprising in the realm of third-party controllers.

(Image credit: Future) Hori Split Pad Pro: Performance

• Very comfortable to use
• Perfect for shooters
• Outclassed by the CRKD Nitro Deck

There’s very little I can fault the Hori Split Pad Pro on in raw performance. It feels great in the hands and remains so over extended sessions. I often find my fingers become cramped after multiple hours with the Joy-Con and that’s not at all the case here.

The buttons and D-pad are perfectly responsive and a great size for those with larger hands too, further adding to the comfort factor. The larger thumbsticks don’t have a lot of resistance so are ideal for quick motion, whether that’s in 3D adventures like Super Mario Odyssey or fast-paced driving games such as Rocket League.

My only complaint with the buttons is the use of a very soft rubbery material for the start, select, home, ‘Assign’ and turbo buttons, which makes them fairly dull and slow to press. These aren’t buttons that you’re going to be using all the time, of course, but plastic would be a big improvement. Although I do miss the ability to tweak settings like thumbstick sensitivity, the fact that you don’t need an app to access the rear button assignment and turbo is refreshing and would make this a particularly good fit if you’re shopping for a child.

Unfortunately, the Hori Split Pad Pro suffers because of its relative age. The CRKD Nitro Deck and CRKD Nitro Deck+ have launched over the last couple of years and outclass it in almost every regard - be that the presence of motion control, rumble, two more rear inputs, a HDMI port, or Hall effect components. Having tested both extensively, I even found that the Nitro Deck is a tad more comfortable thanks to its increased heft and certainly has a more premium build. The one area where the Hori Split Pad Pro comes up on top is the fact that it is smaller and easier to remove, so slightly more portable overall.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Hori Split Pad Pro? Buy it if...

You want a simple Joy-Con alternative
If you want an easy-to-use handheld grip that doesn’t require an app to access any of its features, then the Hori Split Pad Pro is for you.

You love handheld play
The Hori Split Pad Pro is excellent for handheld play, offering a huge improvement over the Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch.

You love the licensed designs
With designs inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, and more, the Hori Split Pad Pro is definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of the look.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a wireless controller with all the features
If you want a controller with all of the features of the Joy-Con, you’re going to need to look elsewhere. The Hori Split Pad Pro can only be used in a wired capacity, and also lacks features like rumble, gyroscope controls, and Amiibo support.View Deal

The CRKD Nitro Deck is on sale
When it’s on sale, the CRKD Nitro Deck is practically the same price as the cheapest version of the Hori Split Pad Pro. It’s also noticeably better, with Hall effect components and a more premium build, plus loads of extra features.View Deal

Also consider...

Considering the Hori Split Pad Pro? These alternatives should also be on your radar.

CRKD Nitro Deck
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the closest equivalent to the Hori Split Pad Pro and offers a wider set of features, plus more remappable buttons, at a very similar price.

Read our full CRKD Nitro Deck review

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
If you want a fully-featured, wireless controller for your Nintendo Switch then you can never go wrong with the official option. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feels great in the hands and has best-in-class battery life.

Read our full Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Hori Split Pad Pro

• Tested this unit for two weeks
• Tried with a huge a variety of Nintendo Switch games
• Compared to other Nintendo Switch accessories

Although Hori provided the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom edition for the purposes of this review, I have owned the black version of the Hori Split Pad Pro for years with it being my main Nintendo Switch controller between 2021 and 2023, at which point I upgraded to the CRKD Nitro Deck. I have spent literally hundreds of hours with it, testing all of its functions and playing a huge variety of Nintendo Switch games.

For this review, I compared my experience with the Hori Split Pad Pro to that with other Nintendo Switch controllers and accessories - namely the CRKD Nitro Deck.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

The semaglutide shortage has officially ended in the US—which means the GLP-1 drug industry is about to undergo massive changes.

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Get grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and free-range chicken delivered to your door no matter where you live.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, leaders around the world are navigating the challenge of how to create clear and consistent regulations that balance innovation with safety. In September 2024, representatives from technology companies, institutions, and researchers issued an open letter to European policymakers, warning that fragmented and inconsistent rules risk depriving the EU of two cornerstones of AI innovation: “open” and “multimodal” models. Open models are free and available to everyone to use, modify, and build on, which spreads social and economic opportunities. The latest multimodal models operate fluidly across text, images, and speech and will enable the next wave of breakthroughs in AI.

Now, another transformative shift is emerging: Agentic AI - AI systems that can make decisions and carry out tasks autonomously. These intelligent agents will work in tandem with multimodal AI to create more adaptive and hyper-personalized customer experiences. Multimodal AI represents a significant leap forward from traditional AI systems. Conventional AI typically focuses on one modality at a time, for example, a text-based chatbot processes only text, and a voice assistant like Siri primarily processes voice inputs.

Multimodal AI systems process and respond across multiple formats simultaneously — integrating text, voice, images, and gestures to deliver more intuitive user experiences that feel more natural and human.

Agentic AI builds upon these capabilities, taking AI beyond responsive systems to proactive, decision-making agents. These models can interpret inputs from multiple sources and learn user preferences to anticipate needs and take action autonomously.

Transforming customer experience through multiple touchpoints

Multimodal AI is already revolutionizing customer experiences, offering differentiated and transformative possibilities for how brands and customers interact. These systems have evolved how customers engage with brands by offering unmatched flexibility in communication methods. They also boost efficiency by leveraging how humans naturally process information, letting users input data the fastest way they can, through speech, and delivering responses in formats that best suit their preferences or needs.

A customer may, for example, begin their interaction through voice commands while driving, seamlessly switch to text upon entering a quiet environment, and receive visual confirmations throughout their journey. This adaptability creates a more natural and comfortable experience while maintaining conversational context across different modes of interaction. With voice interfaces providing much-needed alternatives for individuals with visual impairments and text and visual outputs serving those with hearing difficulties, multimodal systems are helping to remove barriers and promote inclusivity, broadening access to everyday tasks and interactions with brands.

With Agentic AI, these experiences become even smarter and more independent. Instead of waiting for input from a user, AI-powered agents will automate complex workflows and act on behalf of customers. For example, if a customer’s flight is delayed, an Agentic AI system could automatically rebook a flight, adjust hotel reservations, and send the customer real-time updates without needing any manual intervention.

In the retail sector, multimodal AI is transforming online and in-store consumer experiences. Leading retailers are using the technology to help customers search for products more easily using a combination of voice queries and images. For example, shoppers can use smartphones to photograph a piece of furniture and then verbally specify modifications such as, “show me this in blue” or “find similar items at a lower price point.” Smart mirrors with multimodal AI take this a step further, allowing customers to “try on” clothes virtually using voice commands and gestures. Agentic AI can enhance these experiences by tracking a customer’s purchase history, anticipating their personal preferences and autonomously suggesting items or promotions, creating a hyper-personalized shopping journey.

Best practices for implementing multimodal and Agentic AI

For organizations looking to implement these AI-fueled solutions, several best practices should be considered:

Seamless integration: The key to successful implementation lies in creating smooth transitions between different modes of interaction, while also enabling AI agents to act independently when appropriate. Users should be able to switch between voice, text, and visual interfaces without disrupting their experience or losing context.

User-centric design: Organizations need to understand the preferences of their specific user base to deliver the best experience. This insight should guide the choice of modalities, ensuring the technology serves real user needs rather than being implemented for its own sake.

Contextual data utilization: Effective multimodal AI systems should leverage available contextual data, including location information, interaction history, and user preferences, to deliver more personalized experiences. Combining this with Agentic AI ensures that responses to customers are accurate and actionable, which reduces the need for human intervention. However, this must be balanced with strong privacy protections, informed user consent, and transparent data collection and usage policies.

Accessibility first: Rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought, organizations should place it at the core of their multimodal and Agentic AI strategy. This approach not only serves users with different abilities but often leads to better solutions for all users.

Continuous improvement: The field of multimodal and Agentic AI is rapidly evolving, making it essential for organizations to update and refine their systems regularly. This includes incorporating user feedback, adapting to new technological capabilities, and maintaining robust security measures.

Leverage third-party expertise: Partnering with an expert provider can help organizations navigate the complexities of advanced AI implementation. These providers bring specialized expertise, ensuring seamless integration, responsible innovation, and adherence to regulatory standards. These collaborations can accelerate deployment while maximizing the technology’s impact on customer experiences.

Looking ahead: The future of CX is adaptive and proactive

As multimodal and Agentic AI continue to evolve, they will unlock new opportunities for brands to win customers, build loyalty, and deliver seamless, autonomous experiences. Instead of AI only responding to customer inquiries, AI-powered agents will anticipate needs and take action proactively, which will reduce customer friction and transform CX into a more adaptive system. For these innovations to thrive, technology leaders need to have confidence in consistent rules that balance safety with innovation. Europe has the opportunity to create a regulatory framework that addresses potential risks while unlocking the full potential of these transformative technologies.

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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

At first glance, Max's March 2025 list is looking to be a thrilling month for its subscribers, and if you're one of those people you'll soon be able to stream some brand new releases from last year in just a matter of weeks. It was going to be a tough month to follow February given the anticipated return of The White Lotus season 3, but somehow Max has pulled through once again.

Max is one of the best streaming services for a number of reasons, one of those being that it's always up-to-date with brand new releases. In March 2025 you'll finally have the chance to catch up on some of the highlight movies of awards season from Golden Globe to Oscar nominees Sing Sing (2024), Heretic (2024), and Queer (2024).

If it were me, this is the month to sign up to Max if you haven't already, especially now that these brand new movies and shows are finally being launched – not forgetting the upcoming release of The Last of Us season 2. It's even better if you can get a subscription at a discounted price, so be sure to check out our tips on how to score a Max student discount.

Everything new on Max in March 2024

March 1

A Lost Lady (movie)
A Woman's Face (movie)
AEW Special Events, 2020A (TV show)
AEW Special Events, 2021A (TV show)
AEW Special Events, 2022A (TV show)
AEW Special Events, 2023A (TV show)
AEW Special Events, 2024A (TV show)
Along the Great Divide (movie)
Arrow in the Dust (movie)
Assassin’s Creed (movie)
Away We Go (movie)
Big Eyes (movie)
Captain Horatio Hornblower (movie)
Carrie (1976) (movie)
Carrie (2013) (movie)
Child’s Play (1988) (movie)
Child’s Play (2019) (movie)
Executive Suite (movie)
Ghostbusters (movie)
Ghostbusters II (movie)
Goodbye, My Fancy (movie)
GoodFellas (movie)
Jeopardy (movie)
Ladies They Talk About (movie)
Maggie (movie)
Massacre River (movie)
Men in Black (movie)
Men in Black II (movie)
Men in Black III (movie)
My Reputation (movie)
Night Nurse (movie)
Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words (movie)
Stand By Me (movie)
Susan and God (movie)
The Babe Ruth Story (movie)
The Best Man Holiday (movie)
The Burning Hills (movie)
The Damned Don't Cry (movie)
The Descendants (movie)
The Forger (movie)
The Mad Miss Manton (movie)
The Man with a Cloak (movie)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (movie)
The Purchase Price (movie)
The Secret Bride (movie)
The Two Mrs. Carrolls (movie)
The Women (movie)
This Woman Is Dangerous (movie)
To Please a Lady (movie)
When Ladies Meet (movie)
White Chicks (movie)
White Chicks: Unrated (movie)
Why Him? (movie)

March 3

Celtics City (TV show)
The Nut Job (movie)
The Nut Job 2 (movie)
Tournament of Champions season 6 (TV show)

March 4

Smallfoot (movie)

March 5

Jay & Pamela season 1 (TV show)
Road Rage season 3 (TV show)

March 6

Dylan's Playtime Adventures season 1A (TV show)
Jellystone season 3B (TV show)

March 7

Heretic (movie)
When No One Sees Us (Cuando Nadie Nos Ve) season 1 (TV show)

March 9

The Righteous Gemstones season 4 (TV show)

March 10

Home Town Takeover season 3 (TV show)
Naked and Afraid season 18 (TV show)
Oh My God…Yes! A Series of Extremely Relatable Circumstances season 1 (TV show)
YOLO: Rainbow Trinity season 3 (TV show)

March 11

Kobe: The Making of a Legend (TV show)
Spring Baking Championship season 11 (TV show)

March 12

Constables On Patrol season 1 (TV show)

March 13

Battle of Culiacán: Heirs of the Cartel (Culiacanazo: Herederos del Narco) (movie)
Expedition Bigfoot season 6 (TV show)
Married to Real Estate season 4 (TV show)
The Parenting (movie)

March 14

Beau Is Afraid (movie)

March 15

Bugs Bunny Builders season 2C (TV show)
Ready to Love season 10 (TV show)

March 17

A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read season 1 (TV show)
A Clean Sheet: The Return of Gabe Landeskog season 1 (TV show)
TNT Sports Conversations season 1 (TV show)

March 19

House of Knives season 1 (TV show)

March 21

A Decent Man (Porządny Człowiek) season 1 (TV show)
Sing Sing (movie)

March 22

Tiny Toons Looniversity season 2C (TV show)

March 23

Girl Meets Farm season 14 (TV show)

March 24

Signs of a Psychopath season 9 (TV show)

March 25

Lockerbie: The Bombing of Pan Am 103 season 1 (TV show)

March 26

Naked and Afraid: LatAm season 3 (TV show)

March 27

Help! My House is Haunted season 5 (TV show)
Paul American season 1 (TV show)

March 28

Bargain Mansions season 6 (TV show)
Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives season 50 (TV show)
Queer (movie)
Reformed (Le Sens Des Choses) season 1 (TV show)

March 29

The Pioneer Woman season 38 (TV show)

March 31

Amityville: Where The Echo Lives (movie)
Camp Hell (movie)
Enter Nowhere (movie)

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• AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs have witnessed spillage around their specs and possible performance levels
• Power-wise the RX 9070 XT looks a bit hungrier than expected, but the vanilla 9070 is pitched at a more comfortable level
• The benchmarks paint a shakier picture of performance than previous leaks – but there are good reasons not to worry here, thankfully

AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs will soon be officially revealed – in a week there’s a big press event dedicated to these cards – but ahead of that, we’ve just been treated to some purported leaked specs and benchmarks.

In terms of the specs, VideoCardz comes with news that Hoang Anh Phu, a regular leaker on X, posted some details of the RX 9070 models (although that post has since been deleted).

Salt firmly clutched in hand, then, we can consider the revelations apparently made in a recent AMD press briefing.

We’re told the RX 9070 XT will run with 64 Compute Units (4,096 Stream Processors) and a boost clock of 2970MHz, all as previously rumored, with a power usage (TBP or Total Board Power) of 304W.

As for the vanilla RX 9070, that supposedly has 56 Compute Units (3,584 Stream Processors) and a boost clock of 2520MHz, with a 220W power consumption.

Meanwhile, both of these inbound RDNA 4 graphics cards from AMD have had benchmarks leaked, giving us a rough idea of where their performance may lie (scoop up even more salt here, though).

Wccftech noticed the benchmarks highlighted by Benchleaks (on X) which show that the RX 9070 XT scored 179,178 in the OpenCL test from Geekbench, and 177,395 points in Vulkan (both of these are graphics tests).

[GB6 GPU] Unknown GPUCPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (8C 16T)CPUID: B40F40 (AuthenticAMD)GPU: Radeon RX 9070 XTAPI: Open CLScore: 179178PCI-ID: 1002:7550VRAM: 15.9 GBhttps://t.co/RRECWGTDNzFebruary 21, 2025

In those same tests, the vanilla RX 9070 GPU managed to attain 140,842 points in OpenCL, while it hit 158,520 in Vulkan.

Those are just numbers, obviously, and only useful if we compare them to existing results for other GPUs, as Wccftech does. The tech site found that the RX 9070 XT is about 6% faster than the RX 7900 XT in OpenCL, and a touch slower (4% off the pace) in Vulkan compared to that same current-gen graphics card.

The RX 9070 (non-XT) on the other hand is about even with the 7800 XT in OpenCL and about 6% slower than this GPU in the Vulkan test (where it’s only a smidge faster than the 7700 XT, in fact).

(Image credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock) Analysis: Reasons to be doubtful (and cheerful)

At this point you might be thinking: huh, weren’t these RDNA 4 GPUs supposed to be faster than this based on previous rumors? Well, yes, they were. In fact past chatter has suggested that AMD was aiming to get the RX 9070 XT to be slightly faster than the RTX 4080 (Founders Edition model from Nvidia).

Now, if the RX 9070 XT is not much faster than the RX 7900 XT as is indicated here, that current-gen AMD GPU is considerably off the pace of a vanilla RTX 4080, so this latest leak is disappointingly slow compared to what we’ve been primed to expect.

However, this is just a few Geekbench runs, and as I always say when it comes to gauging gaming graphics cards, this is not nearly the best way to judge performance. Synthetic benchmarks aren’t ideal full-stop, and Geekbench is low on the ladder of these metrics to boot.

Other leaked performance estimations (including 3DMark results, and a glimpse of the vanilla 9070 flexing its muscles in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6) suggest a beefier GPU than what we’re seeing here, that’s for sure. And AMD is certainly putting expectations firmly on the table with its new naming scheme – the RTX 9070 models are clearly intended to square up to Nvidia’s RTX 5070 offerings.

So in short, I really wouldn’t worry about these fresh benchmarks, and I’d be surprised if they weren’t proven to be out of line eventually.

The indicated power usage figures are interesting, certainly. Previously we’ve seen suggestions that the RX 9070 XT could demand up to 330W of power, although that’s for top-end boards, with the entry-level (and reference) graphics cards expected to pitch in at 260W. This leak claiming 304W for the reference board is a bit higher than expected, then (while top-end GPUs going very heavy with the power is something that's already been rumored, and not really a surprise, of course).

The RX 9070, on the other hand, sounds like it’s in a theoretically much more comfortable spot for a lot of gaming PCs out there, being rated at 220W.

All these rumors will be cleared up soon enough, because as noted, AMD’s official launch event is now imminent, where we’ll find out the hefty-sized missing piece from the next-gen Radeon puzzle – those MSRPs.

Because after all, whatever performance comes out at relative to Nvidia’s new mid-range graphics cards, the right price tag can still make RDNA 4 a potent rival, or perhaps even a force to blow away Blackwell. (Okay, so the latter is doubtless wishful thinking, but come on AMD – let’s have a pricing surprise of a good nature in the GPU world for once, eh?).

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Well, this is a rare occurrence. Despite what this article's headline suggests, there are only two new movies to watch at home this weekend. In fact, there are no new films that you can catch on one of the world's best streaming services outside of North America. Ho hum.

Our hopes, then, lie with the television industry – and, thankfully, there are a bunch of new shows that are worth checking out. From Robert de Niro's first-ever TV series, which launched on Netflix yesterday (February 20), to the return of man mountain vigilante Jack Reacher, there are some truly unmissable shows to stream. So, hop to it! – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Reacher season 3 (Prime Video)

Prime Video's popular tough guy is back for another round of action-packed adventures. Indeed, Reacher season 3 takes the man-mountain hero out of his comfort zone when he goes undercover in a vast criminal empire to rescue an informant being held captive by an enemy from his past.

Reacher has firmly cemented itself as one of the best Prime Video shows and there’s plenty more to come following its early season 4 renewal. After watching the Reacher season 3 trailer, I couldn’t wait to see the titular hero face a 7-foot monster of a man, with Child revealing that it was an international search in finding an actor that made Ritchson look small.

With one spin-off already in the works, there could be even more Reacher projects on the cards as Child discussed future seasons of Reacher in an exclusive chat with TechRadar. – Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch Reacher season 3 on Prime Video

Zero Day (Netflix)

Netflix's new show Zero Day had me hooked the moment I saw Robert De Niro starring in a TV series. In it, the Hollywood A-lister plays an aging former US President that's called on by the acting administration to help get to the bottom of a massive cyberattack that dismantles everyones' technology devices, causing major disruptions and fatalities.

For those unfamiliar with the computing term, 'zero day' refers to security vulnerabilities that hackers can use to infiltrate a software and has proved to be a growing subject area in the disaster genre, with past titles like Mr Robot and Zero Dark Thirty seeing major critical acclaim.

I've only seen the first episode so far, but I don't doubt that De Niro will continue to have us on the edge of our seats throughout. While early reviews are mixed, this still might have a chance of becoming one of the best Netflix shows. Let's just hope it's not a glitch... – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Zero Day on Netflix

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount Plus)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now streaming on Paramount Plus in the US and Canada (which makes us sad that we can't it in the UK or Australia). Still, there's no better watch on a lazy weekend than some good old, action-packed animation, and I'm sure you'll find all of here, especially in light of its 85% Rotten Tomatoes score that means a spot on our best Paramount Plus movies list is all but secured.

With an all-star cast including Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, and Keanu Reeves, this is a great choice for all the family even if you've never played a Sonic game in your life. It's not often a third movie surpasses the original in quality, but the third Sonic movie has been a real hit with critics and audiences alike, so you might find yourself pleasantly surprised. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on Paramount Plus

Win or Lose (Disney Plus)

The first-ever TV show developed by award-winning animation studio Pixar, this eight-part series tells the story of The Pickles, a middle school softball team who are about to compete in a game that'll decide their league's championship. Each episode will follow a different character – including its kid players, their parents, and the team coach – and not only explore their biggest fears and insecurities leading up to said match, but also depict a wholly unique animation style to their tales that's befitting of the anxieties they feel.

After a tricky period of under-performing films and internal issues, Pixar's found its feet once more with huge theaterical hits like Inside Out 2 and critically-acclaimed flicks including Turning Red. I, for one, am excited to stream Win or Lose and see if it has what it takes to join our best Disney Plus shows list, though I was disappointed to learn that Pixar and parent company Disney decided to cut an inclusive storyline centered on a transgender character. – TP

• Watch Win or Lose on Disney Plus

1923 season 2 (Paramount Plus)

Taylor Sheridan might as well be a whole genre at this point. Indeed, he's created some of the best Paramount Plus shows around, including neo-Western behemoth Yellowstone and its prequel series 1883 and 1923. Now, it’s the end of a saga as 1923 season 2 reveals the Yellowstone show's chilling origin story in a battle to keep the Dutton family's ranch safe.

1923 follows the next generation of Duttons after the events of the first Yellowstone prequel series 1883 and, in this epic final chapter, the Dutton elders Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) prepare for a full-blown ranch war. Looking at the trailer alone, it’s the cowboy chaos I needed after the Yellowstone finale. – GM

• Watch 1923 season 2 on Paramount Plus

A Thousand Blows (Hulu/Disney Plus)

If you're looking for something to fill that Peaky Blinders-shaped hole in your life, a brand new Victorian Era-set series is here. Not only is A Thousand Blows about a new family of gangsters, but Steven Knight is also the creator, which is unsurprising when you realize that the screenwriter believes that "fact is more interesting than fiction".

The real-life gangsters in what could be one of the best Disney+ shows and best Hulu shows are in fact the Forty Elephants, an all-female crime syndicate that operated around the same time as the Goodson Brother's reign of the boxing scene in the East End of London. It's here where the show's titular character Hezekiah Moscow comes face-to-face with a bare knuckle match that changes his fate forever.

While A Thousand Blows dramatizes these historical characters, it's hard not to feel completely absorbed thanks to the incredible set of the epic new drama, which you'll be able to see on Hulu in the US, and Disney+ in the UK and Australia. For more exclusive coverage, see which movies and shows the cast watched in preparation for their roles. – AS

• Watch A Thousand Blows on Hulu (US) and Disney Plus (internationally)

Nosferatu (Peacock)

Robert Eggers' highly-anticipated adaptation of Nosferatu is finally haunting our homes on Peacock (in the US), and I was especially delighted to learn that it will include the extended cut. Up there with some of the best horror movies, I was blown away by the way Eggers takes such an iconic and influential movie, and puts his unique spin on it, creating something that feels fresh yet pays so much homage to the original German Expressionist movie. For too long, vampires have become a bit of a joke in modern media (looking at you, Twilight), and it's nice to see them back to their horrifying, undead roots in a movie that has terrified modern audiences all over the world.

So, if you'd prefer some good old-fashioned horror, miles apart from Sonic the Hedgehog 3, this one's for you. I know which one I'm leaning towards. -LB

• Watch Nosferatu on Peacock

For more movie-focused recommendations, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Prime Video movies, best Max movies, and best Disney Plus movies.

Most of your nutrients come from your diet. Though these are the top six your doctor may suggest supplementing.

Theater productions Doomers and McNeal tackle AI’s impact on humanity and the creative process.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, February 21 (game #1124).

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 #1125) - 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 #1125) - 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 1.

Quordle today (game #1125) - 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 #1125) - 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 #1125) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• E

• S

• V

• R

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

Quordle today (game #1125) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1125, are…

• ETHER
• SONIC
• VAUNT
• ROUSE

I used three completely random start words today and it almost paid off until I hit a block with my final word ETHER. Until that point the method had squirreled out enough correct letters that I was making fast work of the puzzle.

There are way better start words than the ones I chose, but I’m realising now that to complete Quordle quickly and still make it a challenge, three is the magic number.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1125) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1125, are…

• SALTY
• CREPE
• AUNTY
• FAINT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1124, Friday 21 February: STIFF, PRIZE, SCOWL, DONUT
• Quordle #1123, Thursday 20 February: HASTY, DRAPE, FICUS, CRAZE
• Quordle #1122, Wednesday 19 February: ABATE, TROVE, VENUE, DRAPE
• Quordle #1121, Tuesday 18 February: TAMER, SCRUB, BRICK, DRIFT
• Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM
• Quordle #1119, Sunday 16 February: GHOUL, AFIRE, COVEN, FIERY
• Quordle #1118, Saturday 15 February: CREEP, CONDO, GRILL, FANCY
• Quordle #1117, Friday 14 February: MEDIA, ELUDE, THUMB, WIDOW
• Quordle #1116, Thursday 13 February: SCALP, DWELL, AMPLE, TRUNK
• Quordle #1115, Wednesday 12 February: SHOOK, GRADE, POLAR, SEEDY
• Quordle #1114, Tuesday 11 February: HEAVY, CIRCA, PESKY, SCION
• Quordle #1113, Monday 10 February: TWIXT, FRESH, GUISE, TABBY
• Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN
• Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL
• Quordle #1110, Friday 7 February: PETAL, ABASE, AMONG, CORER
• Quordle #1109, Thursday 6 February: MADAM, SCAMP, FAUNA, TRACK
• Quordle #1108, Wednesday 5 February: SIXTH, VERVE, BLURB, CACTI
• Quordle #1107, Tuesday 4 February: BIRTH, DRAWN, MILKY, JOIST
• Quordle #1106, Monday 3 February: SLEET, TENSE, SEIZE, SCAMP
• Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, February 21 (game #355).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Here we (don't) go again

NYT Strands today (game #356) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• CONK
• SOCK
• LION
• CODE
• DRIFT
• ROVER

NYT Strands today (game #356) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Stuck on the road

NYT Strands today (game #356) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 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 #356) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #356, are…

• GRIDLOCK
• BLOCKAGE
• CONGESTION
• OVERCROWDING
• SPANGRAM: TRAFFIC JAM

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

I got the Spangram first for the second day in a row, with TRAFFIC JAM materializing in front of me as I was searching for hint words.

Even though there were only five words in this puzzle, I still needed a Hint to set me on my way and still struggled to untangle BLOCKAGE – oh, the irony.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 21 February, game #355)

• WHEEZY
• SLINKY
• TWITCH
• BUZZ
• WOODY
• ALIEN
• BULLSEYE
• SPANGRAM: TOY STORY

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.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, February 21 (game #621).

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 #622) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• YANKEE
• DOODLE
• GLITTER
• GOOSE
• PAPER
• FEATHER
• MACARONI
• ROD
• PARACHUTE
• PACKER
• CANADIEN
• CURL
• CELTIC
• TEASE
• GLUE
• CRIMP

NYT Connections today (game #622) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Trophy winners 
• GREEN: Plump your coiffure
• BLUE: Toddler’s collage kit
• PURPLE: Prefix with a word that rhymes with olden

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 #622) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: MEMBER OF A TEAM WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS 
• GREEN: CREATE SOME VOLUME/TEXTURE IN HAIR 
• BLUE: SUPPLIES FOR MACARONI ART 
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER "GOLDEN" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #622) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #622, are…

• YELLOW: MEMBER OF A TEAM WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS CANADIEN, CELTIC, PACKER, YANKEE
• GREEN: CREATE SOME VOLUME/TEXTURE IN HAIR CRIMP, CURL, FEATHER, TEASE
• BLUE: SUPPLIES FOR MACARONI ART GLITTER, GLUE, MACARONI, PAPER
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER "GOLDEN" DOODLE, GOOSE, PARACHUTE, ROD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I’m not a huge sports person – at least when it comes to American sports (I'm in the UK) – which is probably why I got CREATE SOME VOLUME/TEXTURE IN HAIR as the first group today, despite it not technically being the easiest. Although I note 'backcoming' is missing, the tried and trusted method during my goth years – now long receded.

However, I still managed to get MEMBER OF A TEAM WITH THE MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS (rolls off the tongue) quickly, largely because of the spelling of CANADIEN rather than any actual knowledge.

Getting this in the bag helped me resist the urge to fall into the MACARONI-shaped YANKEE DOODLE hole.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 21 February, game #621)

• YELLOW: WAY OF SOLVING A PROBLEM ANSWER, FIX, REMEDY, SOLUTION
• GREEN: COLLECT, AS FROM AN ORCHARD GATHER, HARVEST, PICK, REAP
• BLUE: PHOTOSHOP TOOLS ERASER, EYEDROPPER, LASSO, MAGIC WAND
• PURPLE: OBJECTS THAT MAY BE RIGHT- OR LEFT-HANDED BASEBALL GLOVE, CAN OPENER, GOLF CLUB, GUITAR

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.

• Fitbit could be getting a new sleep schedule feature
• Sleep Lab has leaked in code
• It could give you personalized recommendations for bedtime and wake time based on surveys

The best Fitbits could be about to get a major sleep upgrade in the form of Sleep Lab, a new leaked feature that could transform the way you monitor and maintain your sleep schedule.

While Fitbit models currently offer various sleep tracking metrics across its range, the new Sleep Lab feature could give you more personalized insight into what time you should go to bed, and what time you should wake up in the morning.

9to5Google reports that new code found in the latest Fitbit for Android app uploaded to the Google Play Store includes a new "Sleep need" experiment, with more details in tow. Here's what you need to know.

Fitbit's sleep schedule experiment

(Image credit: Andrew Williams)

According to the report, Fitbit's new Sleep Lab (or Sleep need labs) has three main aspects. Users will answer a few questions at different times during the day. Using those responses and your sleep data, Fitbit will calculate how much sleep you need each night. With that info, you'll get personalized bedtime and wake-up recommendations.

Surveys are done in the morning, midday, and evening, and you'll get a 1-hour reminder before your scheduled bedtime.

There will also be sleep debt metrics, as well as integrations to edit your alarms to keep you on schedule. You'll also need to wear your Fitbit for 5 days to get the most accurate sleep need and sleep debt data.

This sounds like an exciting upgrade that could turn your Fitbit into one of the best sleep trackers without the need to invest in something like a smart ring or dedicated sleep-tracking products.

This feature isn't live yet, but its presence in the Fitbit app's code suggests its release is imminent, so stay tuned to find out when it goes live.

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