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Prepare for the summer with these breathable pajama sets for you and your partner.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 29.

Here are some hints (and the answers) for Connections: Sports Edition No. 97 for Dec. 29.

Here are some hints -- and the answers -- for Connections No. 567 for Dec. 29.

Here are some hints -- and the answers -- for the Dec. 29 Strands puzzle, No. 301.

Here are some hints -- and the answer -- for Wordle No. 1,289 for Dec. 29.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : One-minute review

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Compared to it’s bigger 7i sibling, the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is a smaller budget pre-build that starts at $1,149. This gaming desktop is well suited for anyone looking for a rig that handles 1080p gaming without much noise and is big enough to upgrade later on.

The base configuration features an Intel Core i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. Gamers who want to play newer AAA titles at mid-to-high settings in 1080p like Black Myth: Wukong or aspiring competitive gamers in need of high frame rates for games like Valorant should definitely keep this in mind. Everything from CPU to GPU alongside storage or RAM can be configured to more powerful components - for an extra cost of course - to suit your needs.

Outside of performance specs, the Legion Tower 5i has some extras that help it stand out amongst the fierce competition. Cooling is handled by several 150w fans alongside a VRM heatsink which keeps the desktop from overheating. Like the 7i, the rig stays quiet even during the most demanding tasks.

The front panel Lenovo logo and fans feature ARGB lighting which grants users control of each LED individually. This adds a bit of flair to the desktop but not as much as the i7 which featured lighting on the GPU and CPU. Finally, the Legion Tower 5i features Nahimic 3D audio for virtual surround sound.

Everything including performance, lighting and Nahimic are controlled through Lenovo’s Vantage application that comes packed in. For added measure, there’s also a keyboard and mouse included in the box.

The Legion 5i’s design does carry over certain problems of the bigger 7i. Though the mesh bezel at the front of the desktop allows proper airflow, maintenance is going to be a bit of a pain as there’s no dust filtration capabilities available.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of ports available sans a single USB-C which users may find issue with. In an age where USB-C is the current standard for many mobile devices, mouses, keyboards and headsets, this means users may need to stock up on adaptors or get a hub.

If those issues don’t matter more than the gaming experience, the Legion Tower 5i should be kept in consideration. It’s 1080p performance is respectable, well ventilated design that’s peaceful sounding and upgradability that potential buyers will appreciate.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• How much does it cost? Starts at $1,149/ £1,080 / AU $1,799
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is available now in U.S., UK, and Australia territories starting at $1,149 / £1,080 / AU $1,799. Potential buyers can purchase the pre-build gaming desktop through Lenovo’s online store or various other retailers depending on the territory.

In the U.S., there are five configurations available that range between the previously mentioned starting price and $2,399. That higher-priced tier will get you an Intel Core i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD in storage.

For those living in the UK, there’s only one buildable option that ranges between £1,080 and £2,187. At the lower end, users will get an Core i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD in storage. The higher £2,187 configuration grants an Intel i9, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD.

Four customizable configurations for Australia range between AU $1,799 and AU $5,359. At the lower end, potential buyers can get an Intel i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. An Intel i7, Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD alongside an extra 2TB HDD in storage is available at the highest configuration tier.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Specs Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Roomy enough for future upgrades
• Has ARGB lighting
• Dust maintenance will be a problem

The mesh front grill featuring the Legion logo with ARGB lighting sets a nice impression of something that could fit in an office space as well as a gaming set-up. The all-black colorway blends really well with the lighting as the mesh design also manages to lend a level of aggression.

As mentioned previously, only the fans and Legion logo are lit unlike the 7i which has CPU and GPU lighting too. Though the mesh on the front looks terrific, it does come at the cost of function in terms of maintenance. It might be a bit difficult to clean every nook and cranny as dust accumulates over time. Thankfully, the case is big enough for upgrades over time in the CPU, GPU and storage area as well.

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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

There are loads of ports available on the Legion Tower 5i, including 8 USB-A ports of various power delivery capabilities alongside standard audio and ethernet ports. Those are split between the top panel and the rear with two USB-A ports alongside singular jacks for headset and microphone. It’s a shame that there’s only one singular USB-C, which at this point and time is a bit strange. There are plenty of accessories like controllers, VR headsets, mouses, keyboards and headsets that use USB-C alongside most modern mobile devices.

For potential buyers who have devices that require USB-C, some adapters or hubs are going to be required. One thing for sure is that the included keyboard and mouse within the package isn’t going to make serious gamers happy as they lack the function of even the most budget gaming centered input devices. However, those who are new into PC gaming might find some usage at the start before moving on.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• 1080p performance is fantastic
• Isn’t loud even when pushed

One of the first games I played on the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i was Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2. Though the lower 8GB of VRAM on the RTX 4060 prevented the ability to play the game at max settings, it looked great at mid-to-low settings and provided consistent 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution. This was consistent with other games played with high visual fidelity on the gaming desktop.

Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings gave us 82 fps and dropped to the mid-60s when using mid ray tracing settings. Playing the ultra resource intensive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 provided around 30 fps on mid to low settings too.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i: Benchmarks

Here's how the Lenovo Legion 5i performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Speed Way: 2578; Fire Strike: 21744; Time Spy: 10060

GeekBench 6: 2362 (single-core); 11791 (multi-core)

Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 85 fps; (1080p, Low): 226 fps

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 82 fps; (1080p, Low): 127 fps

Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 97.43333333 fps; (1080p, Low):198.2666667 fps

Handbrake (1080p, Fast): 5:33

There are a few ways to get more performance out of the Legion 5i as well. The first is through Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology which uses artificial intelligence to bump up resolutions. This is a great way to get 1440p resolution without the worry of frame rate drops. The other way is through the Lenovo Vantage application which allows for some overclocking for CPU and GPU performance.

On the esports side of things, playing games at recommended settings at 1080p provided great results as well. For example, playing Valorant on those settings pushed us into the 200+ frame rate range. I saw similar results for other titles including Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. Games that are somewhat in the middle between visual fidelity and competitive performance like Forza Motorsport were able to run on recommended settings at 60 fps.

When it comes to general computing tasks, the Legion Tower 5i is speedy where it counts from using Google Chrome to music streaming services like Tidal. Creatives will be happy to know that Adobe Suite software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro works great for media that stays within the 1080p range. When it comes to Premiere Pro, trying to edit complex 4K video may lead to some issues in regards to sluggish prformance.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Should I buy the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i? Buy it if…

You need some solid 1080p performance

Native 1080p performance is pretty good on the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i from esports titles like Valorant to big-budget AAA titles like Black Myth: Wukong.

You want a quiet gaming rig

Lenovo put a nice focus on cooling technology for a gaming desktop that doesn’t get loud when under pressure.

You require an affordable price point

$1,149 is great for budget gamers looking for 1080p performance and the ability to upgrade in the future.

Don’t buy it if…

You want better maintenance opportunities

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i case doesn’t have removable panes to prevent the build-up of dust, which will make maintenance in the future a pain.

You need more than one USB-C

USB-C is a standard at this point for many mobile devices and accessories. This means that users are probably going to have to invest in a hub or adaptor.

Also Consider

If our Lenovo Legion Tower 5i review has you considering other options, here are two gaming desktops to consider...

HP Victus 15L

The HP Victus 15L is a bit cheaper than the 8th-gen Lenovo Legion Tower 5i and provides comparable performance power.

Read our full HP Victus 15L review

Acer Predator Orion 3000

Beyond the compact form, this gaming desktop packs a punch at an affordable price.

Read our full Acer Predator Orion 3000 review

How I tested the Lenovo Legion 5i

• Tested over a week and some change
• Games played include Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2, Black Myth: Wukong and Forza Motorsport (2023)
• General computing tasks including Google Chrome and Adobe Creative Suite

I spent over a week using the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, putting it to the test across various tasks. During work hours, I managed everyday computing using Google Chrome, running multiple tabs for apps like Asana, Google Docs, and Hootsuite. For content creation, I leaned on Adobe Premiere and Photoshop to design graphics and produce short-form social media videos.

To evaluate its high frame rate capabilities, I played fast-paced games like Valorant and Fortnite. Pushing the system further, I tested graphically demanding titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Black Myth: Wukong. Additionally, I also ran Forza Motorsport (2023) and Starfield to assess how the Legion Tower 5i handles diverse gaming experiences and visual performance.

I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for TechRadar. Outside of gaming, I’ve been proficient in Adobe Suite for over a decade as well.

First reviewed October 2024

Footage of the crash aired by YTN television showed the Jeju Air plane skidding across the airstrip, apparently with its landing gear still closed, and colliding head-on with a concrete wall on the outskirts of the facility.

(Image credit: Cho Nam-soo/AP)

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

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my 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 #1070) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1070) - 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 #1070) - 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 #1070) - 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 #1070) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• S

• R

• E

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

Quordle today (game #1070) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1070, are…

• PURER
• SPLAT
• RABID
• EMCEE

A tricky one today, with a triple-letter word EMCEE, which is the pronounced abbreviation to MC (short for master of ceremonies) and a sound word (SPLAT).

That said, PURER was the word I struggled over the most, as none of the words I could think of with a U and ending in ER were possible with the letters I had left. I always forget to try a repeat letter, but when I do it often leads to the solution and so it proved today.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1070) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1070, are…

• FROST
• COPSE
• FOGGY
• SCARF

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1069, Saturday 28 December: BUNCH, LABOR, TRIPE, BUNNY
• Quordle #1068, Friday 27 December: BRAWL, LYING, ORGAN, CRONY
• Quordle #1067, Thursday 26 December: TATTY, OVERT, FLOUR, SWEPT
• Quordle #1066, Wednesday 25 December: LIVER, CRIER, SHORE, MURKY
• Quordle #1065, Tuesday 24 December: TIPSY, SCALE, FLYER, VALVE
• Quordle #1064, Monday 23 December: SNAKE, SAVVY, ELBOW, TWEED
• Quordle #1063, Sunday 22 December: DOUBT, SLURP, PAPER, CIVIL
• Quordle #1062, Saturday 21 December: STRIP, BUDGE, SAPPY, SHELF
• Quordle #1061, Friday 20 December: PENAL, EAGLE, DILLY, QUITE
• Quordle #1060, Thursday 19 December: JEWEL, GNOME, TRAMP, IDLER
• Quordle #1059, Wednesday 18 December: LITHE, BIRTH, HUMID, ROBOT
• Quordle #1058, Tuesday 17 December: DOING, ENJOY, SNAKY, AMPLE
• Quordle #1057, Monday 16 December: HYDRO, CREAM, CHIDE, SLIME
• Quordle #1056, Sunday 15 December: DROVE, STILT, LINEN, GIANT
• Quordle #1055, Saturday 14 December: SPIEL, ONSET, TIGER, DITTO
• Quordle #1054, Friday 13 December: ERECT, REBAR, MOIST, IDIOM
• Quordle #1053, Thursday 12 December: MILKY, CRIER, STORK, DRIER
• Quordle #1052, Wednesday 11 December: BRIAR, NASAL, SHARD, FLUFF
• Quordle #1051, Tuesday 10 December: BEGAN, TRIAL, IDEAL, GUIDE
• Quordle #1050, Monday 9 December: TITAN, FORTE, SPEED, BRIAR

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Festival of Lights delights

NYT Strands today (game #301) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STOKE
• DIAL
• BROKEN
• SLAG
• CALL
• LADS

NYT Strands today (game #301) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Jewish feast

NYT Strands today (game #301) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: bottom, 2nd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #301) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #301, are…

• KUGEL
• LATKES
• BRISKET
• CHALLAH
• APPLE SAUCE
• SPANGRAM: HANNUKAH FOODS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

Sufganiyot is the biggest item left off this list of HANUKKAH FOODS – or rather, HANNUKAH FOODS, because the NYT spelled the holiday name in a different way from how it's general listed elsewhere. That said, it is one of those words with multiple spellings in general use, so maybe this is just another one I've not seen before.

Anyway, back to Sufganiyot. For me, doughnuts are a year-round indulgence. I’ve even got a loyalty card for a bakery chain that rewards me with a free weekly doughnut – such is my, a-hem, loyalty that I’ve not missed my freebie yet.

We will have to wait until 2027 for Christmas and the eight-day Jewish festival to closely coincide again, when it starts on Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile, Festivus – the festival for the rest of us – continues to be celebrated on December 23, with the annual “airing of grievances”. I’m unsure if Festivus celebrants eat doughnuts, but they really should.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 28 December, game #300)

• LAVENDER
• PATCHOULI
• CEDARWOOD
• EUCALYPTUS
• SPANGRAM: AROMATHERAPY

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.

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

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily 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 #567) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BEACH
• DATE
• LOCK
• CHERRY
• FUR
• MAROON
• TIME
• PAIR
• STRAND
• HEAD
• LOCATION
• BRICK
• DURATION
• YOU
• RUBY
• WISP

NYT Connections today (game #567) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Roses are?
• GREEN: Meeting detail
• BLUE: Mane attraction
• PURPLE: Sounds leafy

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 #567) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SHADES OF RED 
• GREEN: APPOINTMENT SPECIFICATIONS 
• BLUE: DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF HAIR 
• PURPLE: TREE HOMOPHONES

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

NYT Connections today (game #567) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #567, are…

• YELLOW: SHADES OF RED BRICK, CHERRY, MAROON, RUBY
• GREEN: APPOINTMENT SPECIFICATIONS DATE, DURATION, LOCATION, TIME
• BLUE: DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF HAIR HEAD, LOCK, STRAND, WISP
• PURPLE: TREE HOMOPHONES BEACH, FUR, PAIR, YOU

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

I struggled today and really should have employed a bit more lateral thinking to make it a bit less time-consuming.

I spent far too long thinking BEACH, STRAND, and MAROON were linked to dumping someone and PAIR and LOCK had something to do with charging a phone before finally seeing the much more obvious SHADES OF RED and DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF HEAD.

Our old friend the homophone also made an appearance with TREE HOMOPHONES. I think I’m going to have to have a permanent Post-it note reminding me to speak out words.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 28 December, game #566)

• YELLOW: "NOTHING TO IT!" EASY, NO SWEAT, PIECE OF CAKE, SURE THING
• GREEN: OBJECTS FROM GREEK MYTH AEGIS, APPLE OF DISCORD, GOLDEN FLEECE, PANDORA'S BOX
• BLUE: PROVERBIAL THINGS TO KICK CAN, HABIT, HORNETS' NEST, TIRES
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS HERSHEY, HISTAMINE, ITSY, MINEFIELD

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.

Find the best internet provider for you in Santa Fe with help from CNET’s broadband experts. Here's everything you need to know before picking a plan.

The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he and colleagues "escaped death narrowly" when an Israeli airstrike targeted Yemen's main airport.

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Curious about Utah’s best internet providers? CNET’s experts have rounded up the top broadband options in the Beehive State.

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I used to own a lot of CDs. And by “a lot”, I mean a lot. Since I was a teenager in the late ‘90s a significant chunk of my disposable income went on music, but when Spotify launched in 2009 that began to slow down, until on July 29 2016 I ordered my final CD from Amazon (Drive Like Jehu’s self-titled album, if you’re interested).

I’ve been pretty much streaming-only ever since, and while I’ve purged a lot of CDs in recent years (mainly the albums I couldn't name a single song from without looking at the track-listing) there are a couple of hundred I can’t bring myself to get rid of.

Without a means to play any of them – I’d streamlined my hi-fi setup to include just a pair of Ruark MR1 Mk 2 speakers and an iFi Uno DAC connected to my disc-less MacBook Air when I moved out of London a few years ago – that seemed stupid.

But I spent a good chunk of my young adult life accumulating these shiny silver discs, some of which were acquired at gigs by obscure math-rock bands of the mid-2000s and certainly won’t be found on Spotify or Apple Music.

Even if they do now live in boxes under the stairs, existing as little more than a back-up archive to a hard drive full of ripped MP3s, they’re still part of my identity. And then one day the perfect solution dropped into my inbox.

What's in a name?

(Image credit: Future)

Try to buy a small, affordable CD player these days and you’ll mainly find cheap, plastic all-in-one systems made by companies called things like Pjlopj, Lvcdodvd and Gelielim (I actually made one of those up but I bet you don’t know which one).

Why was I choosing to listen to audibly inferior versions of stuff I’d spent so much time and money collecting?

In all honesty, the name FiiO isn’t much better, but the company at least has some recent pedigree when it comes to making hi-fi gear, with a number of its products earning five-star reviews right here on TechRadar. So news of its new $139 / £139 (around AU$275) DM13 CD player was music to my ears.

Here was a battery-powered CD player that’s barely any bigger than an old Sony Discman – not quite pocket-sized, but small enough to stash in a drawer when not in use – that has Bluetooth onboard so you can connect a pair of headphones, load up a copy of OK Computer and hit the streets like it’s 1997 all over again.

Mine arrived in the post just before Christmas, and its brushed metal chassis makes it vaguely reminiscent of Apple’s old Superdrive (RIP), particularly if you opt for the silver version. It can even convert CDs into MP3s if you hook it up to a computer.

I attempted to pair it with my Ruarks over Bluetooth but with its limited single-line display and very basic instruction manual, getting the two to talk to each other was like trying to change the clock on a microwave using only morse code.

Fortunately, it has standard aux and optical outputs as well, so I just dug out my box of miscellaneous cables (we’ve all got one) and went wired instead. I had created the perfect hi-fi setup for a millennial with limited space.

Don't look back in anger

(Image credit: Future) Top tips for CD revivalists

1. Check Ebay for CD bargains
A copy of Oasis’s debut album Definitely Maybe will set you back the best part of $35 / £30 on vinyl, but resellers such as Music Magpie (or Discogs in the US) have eBay shops where you can pick up a CD copy for far less. Try your local charity shops, too.

2. Only buy stuff you really love
If you start buying everything on CD you’ll quickly end up with a collection that’s hard to manage and you’ll be forced to purge some of it. Spotify and the other streaming services are the perfect tool for quality control, allowing you to try before you buy.

3. Keep your CDs out of the sun
My CD collection spent over a decade of its life by a window where it would catch the evening sun. As a result a good chunk has severely faded spines and partially bleached back covers, which bothers me from a sentimental perspective rather than a resale one. Try to look after yours better.

It’s not just because I’m a hoarder who can’t let go of the past that I’m planning to spend 2025 like it’s the height of Britpop all over again (and the Oasis reunion has nothing to do with it either).

Spotify’s refusal to increase its streaming quality has been bothering me for some time, but it was only when I was listening to some of those old MP3s that I realised just how noticeable it is. Why was I choosing to listen to audibly inferior versions of stuff I’d spent so much time and money collecting?

I also rarely listen to a full album from start to finish anymore, so rather than just switching to a different digital format I figured a CD player would be the perfect way to reconnect with music all over again.

I’m not the only one who’s plotting a physical-media renaissance. Sales of CDs rose 2% in 2023 and were up again 3.2% in the first half of 2024. That small upward trend is partially down to younger generations developing an interest in owning tangible formats but not having the disposable income to spend on vinyl (apparently it all goes on snozzberry vapes).

I get that. I bought a lot of my CDs for £7 or less in shops like Fopp or Rounder Records (another RIP) in Brighton, UK and the thought of spending over £20 on just one album back then would’ve horrified me. What if it was rubbish? (Which, considering a proportion of it was mid-noughties math-rock, was fairly likely.)

With people like me offloading hordes of old CDs there are bargains to be found – and while the format isn’t as indestructible as was once claimed, the discs are often in decent nick, even if the cases and liner notes aren’t.

You can connect a pair of headphones, load up a copy of OK Computer and hit the streets like it’s 1997 all over again.

I probably won’t ditch Spotify completely. As portable as the FiiO DM13 is – connecting a pair of Bluetooth headphones presented fewer issues and it does have skip protection – my pockets are only big enough for my iPhone 16 Pro. Streaming is also unbeatable when it comes to discovering new stuff, plus I don’t have space to add significantly to my existing CD collection. My bank balance wouldn’t thank me either.

But the contents of those boxes under the stairs is going to get a chance to shine again in 2025 – and it’s all down to another little black box with a silly name.

You might also like

• The best CD rippers 2024: back up your CD collection with these top rippers
• First we had the Walkman for audiophiles, now it’s the Discman portable CD player’s turn
• Want to quit music streaming and go back to physical formats? This TEAC CD player/cassette deck is just the thing for it

The Norwegian chess grandmaster was fined $200 and given a warning by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to change into acceptable attire or be disqualified.

(Image credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)

Big Lots said Friday it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, a firm that specializes in distressed companies.

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• AWS is Netflix's only cloud computing platform
• But AWS is also part of Amazon, which owns Amazon Prime Video, a huge rival to Netflix
• Netflix engineers have been struggling to keep track of how much resources they use on AWS

Netflix, the world’s most popular streaming platform, may dominate home entertainment, but it’s struggling to manage one of its biggest operational challenges: cloud computing costs.

Despite its tech-forward image, Netflix has admitted it doesn’t fully know how much it spends on the cloud, an oversight made even more surprising given that its cloud provider, AWS, is part of Amazon - owner of Prime Video, one of Netflix’s largest competitors.

Relying on AWS for compute, storage, and networking, Netflix’s cloud infrastructure supports its global streaming service. Engineering teams use self-service tools to create and deploy applications, generating vast amounts of data. However, the complexity of this ecosystem makes it difficult for Netflix to understand exactly how resources are used and how costs accumulate.

Keeping its content flowing

The Platform Data Science Engineering (DSE) team at Netflix has taken on the task of untangling this problem. The team’s mission is to help the company’s engineers understand resource usage, efficiency, and associated costs.

Yet, as Netflix acknowledged in a recent blog post, its cloud cost management is still a work in progress.

To address the challenges it finds itself facing, Netflix has developed two tools: Foundational Platform Data (FPD) and Cloud Efficiency Analytics (CEA). FPD provides a centralized data layer with a standardized model, aggregating data from applications like Apache Spark. CEA builds on this by applying business logic to generate cost and ownership attribution, providing insights into efficiency and usage patterns.

The hurdles are significant. Netflix’s sprawling infrastructure includes services with multiple owners, varying cost heuristics, and multi-tenant platforms that complicate tracking.

Data delays and platform-specific customizations add a further layer of complexity. Regular audits and data transformations are necessary to maintain accuracy, but the company admits it has yet to achieve full visibility into its cloud spending.

Looking ahead, Netflix says it plans to expand its tools and incorporate predictive analytics and machine learning to optimize usage and detect cost anomalies.

While the company works to refine its approach, its situation highlights a striking irony: the world’s most popular streaming platform relies on its rival’s technology to deliver its own service, yet it is still figuring out the true cost of keeping its content flowing.

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