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What a week this was, folks. Meta Connect 2024 introduced us to a new VR headset, its first AR glasses prototype and slew of Meta AI upgrades – including an in-development skill to live dub Instagram reels.

We also said hello to the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, reviewed the new Legend of Zelda title, and prepared ourselves for heartbreak in 2025 with the arrival of The Last of Us season 2's first teaser trailer.

In case you missed all that, we've rounded up all of these top tech news stories below so you can get up to speed on everything that happened in the last seven days.

7. Is there nothing Nothing can’t do?

(Image credit: Future)

On Tuesday (September 24), Nothing unveiled its inaugural set of open-ear buds and TechRadar’s audio editor couldn’t help but share her initial thoughts. She’d already said she thought it was the best idea Nothing's had in ages (questionable ‘Ear Open’ moniker aside), and after slipping them on for a few hours, they didn’t disappoint.

Ear Open are so very Nothing; their friendly praying mantis aesthetic is so very likeable. And just as the company's Nothing Ear (a) impressed for a competitive fee, these buds are likely to be a huge hit in the open-ear space. That's particularly true given that they cost just £129, ie. the same price as the flagship Nothing Ear (which means your US and Australian prices are almost certainly $149 / AU$249). Compare that to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, with their $299 / £299 / AU$449.95 price-point. See?

Slip 'em on and they feel like nothing, too. The fit is excellent – even putting both on at the same time is a cinch. You get the trademark transparent-meets-monochrome-meets-titanium Nothing design language, plus on-ear pinch control, although there’s a knack to it now, purely because you need to locate where the old 'stem' idea is, to pinch. Oh, and the Advanced EQ setting? It's another level…

• Read more: Nothing's first open-ear buds are here, and they truly wow me

6. Echoes of Wisdom is here!

(Image credit: Nintendo)

We won't be surprised if not too many Nintendo fans are reading this, because right now they're probably all playing The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This highly anticipated entry in the long-running Nintendo franchise is something of a landmark, letting players explore Hyrule through the eyes of Princess Zelda for the first time.

And the good news is that it's great. It combines elements from classic Zelda titles with a wealth of new mechanics for an adventure quite unlike anything that we’ve seen before.

Tasked with closing sinister rifts that threaten the kingdom, you journey through a charming open-world and experiment with a suite of magical abilities. These let you create copies of certain objects whenever you need, which is just as fun as it sounds; a summoned bed might be good for a quick nap in isolation, but makes for the perfect bridge over a perilous chasm when multiplied and stacked. You can even spawn friendly versions of enemies to fight on your behalf.

It’s all wrapped up in an adorable art direction, making everything from the characters to the world look like it was plucked straight from a cute diorama. Check out our review below.

• Read more: Here's our The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review

5. The Last of Us season 2 was teased

This week we were treated to our first new trailer for The Last of Us season 2, and we’re convinced it's going to be as emotionally devastating as the videogame it’s based on. Released as part of this year’s The Last of Us Day celebrations (September 26 is the day the Cordyceps infection ravaged the world of the game/show) we got both a two-minute S2 teaser and a confirmation that it’s coming sometime in 2025.

The teaser gives us our first glimpse of characters players know from the games, including Abby and Ellie's love interest Dina, as well as providing hints at what Ellie and Joel have been up to following the 'five years of peace' that followed the events of season 1. Fans of the games know it’s not all sunshine and roses for the survivors, though, so we’re going to take these next few months to emotionally prepare ourselves for what The Last of Us has in store for us come 2025.

• Read more: The Last of Us season 2's unsettling first trailer is here

4. We spent some time with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra this week, and the new phone looks like it’ll prove the cheapest route into Samsung’s Galaxy AI ecosystem.

Among the S24 FE’s hardware upgrades over the Galaxy S23 FE are a bigger 6.7-inch display, a new Exynos 2400e chipset, and longer battery life. But while that would be enough to make it a contender in the cheap flagship stakes, it's the phone's AI tricks that we're most excited about.

Chief among them are its AI-powered ProVisual photography engine, which it inherits from the standard Galaxy S24 and which should bring improved low-light performance and optical zoom quality.

In our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review, we described Samsung’s new device as “a great value phone for its power and features,” so here’s hoping it lives up to that billing once we’ve put it through our full review process.

• Read more: Here's our hands on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review

3. Meta’s affordable Meta Quest 3S broke cover

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The least surprising announcement of Meta Connect 2024 was nevertheless an exciting one – the much-leaked Meta Quest 3S. This affordable alternative to the Meta Quest 3 still packs a solid punch with its Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, and 8GB of RAM, but only costs $299.99 / £289.99 / AU$499.99.

In exchange you will have to accept a couple of downgrades – less sharp displays, a bulkier body, and the loss of the depth sensor – but by all accounts the Quest 3S is an impressive VR headset at its price, and looks like it could be perfect for people looking to dip their toes into XR as we head into the holiday season.

• Read more: Here’s our hands-on Meta Quest 3S review

2. Meta announced game-changing AR glasses, too

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

We also saw Meta’s first fully functional AR glasses – the Orion prototypes. These aren’t something anyone will be able to buy (though some are being given out as developer kits to help software creators make apps for the official specs), but from what we’ve been shown Orion looks amazing.

And it’s only set to get better, with Mark Zuckerberg promising the consumer pair will boast better displays, a more fashionable design, and a more affordable price. Although on that last point, Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth later clarified that Meta meant affordable in terms of smartphone and laptops rather than at “a Quest 3S price point, or even a Quest 3 price point.”

• Read more: Meta announces Orion, its first fully functional AR glasses prototype

1. PS5 Pro preorders went live

(Image credit: Sony)

It suddenly feels rather like 2020 all over again. That's because pre-orders for the forthcoming PS5 Pro and the limited-edition PS5 30th Anniversary Collection went on sale this week – with predictable results. Such as? Well, such as the official PlayStation Direct website quickly being inundated with would-be buyers all eager to get their hands on Sony’s upcoming consoles and kit. Many had to wait in digital queues for upwards of an hour, just to be in with a chance of pre-ordering the mid-gen refresh, and there were reports of crashes and timeouts and (inevitably) scalpers.

Most PlayStation Direct stock sold out completely that same day; the 30th Anniversary Edition bundle was gone in minutes across the US and UK, while the limited-edition PS5 Slim, DualSense Edge and PlayStation Portal models were quick to follow. Some stock still held on, however, and at the time of writing, Sony’s website still has PS5 Pro units available to pre-order.

• Read more: PS5 Pro pre-orders as it happened

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Sept. 28.

Whether you just want to stream Netflix or have serious privacy needs, NordVPN is a fast, user-friendly and full-featured virtual private network.

The Golden State is going all out to block plastic bags at grocery stores -- but it'll take a while for the new law to kick in.

Imagine a world where your smartphone charges itself simply by being exposed to sunlight, with no cords or power outlets required.

Researchers have long sought ways to integrate renewable energy into everyday objects, and this futuristic vision is now closer to reality, thanks to a breakthrough that could potentially allow devices to charge directly through their screens.

A research team at the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has developed transparent solar cells which can be embedded into the glass surfaces of mobile devices, cars, and buildings, offering a seamless and efficient way to generate power from sunlight.

Eco-friendly future-energy

Led by Professor Kwanyong Seo, the transparent solar cell and module has a glass-like, colorless, and transparent appearance. The team achieved this by using an "all-back-contact" design, which places all the components of the solar cell on the back, ensuring that the front remains visually unobstructed. The researchers also developed Seamless Modularization technology, which eliminates gaps between solar cells and removes the need for opaque metal wires, both of which previously compromised the appearance of transparent solar cells.

The team's 16 cm² transparent solar cell module achieved high efficiency, with transmittance ranging between 20% and 14.7%, and successfully charged a smartphone using natural sunlight, demonstrating the potential for screens to serve as energy sources.

“This study fundamentally solved the aesthetic problem of the existing solar cell modularization method through the design of the new device structure,” researcher Jeonghwan Park and Research Assistant Professor Kangmin Lee noted. “It presents the possibility that transparent silicon solar cells can be used in various industries, such as small devices, as well as in buildings and automobile glass.”

Professor Seo added, “We have opened a new path for modularization research, which is essential for the commercialization of transparent silicon solar cells. We plan to continue further research so that transparent solar cells can become a key technology in the eco-friendly future-energy industry.”

The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

More from TechRadar Pro

• Researchers design tech that could 'potentially replace solar cells'
• Amazon has a solar way to power the infrastructure needed for AI
• Scientists develop RGB LED out of miracle material perovskite

AI may seem like it's everywhere now, but you'll see a lot more embedded in people's lives before too long, according to YoungJip Kim, the head of AI for Samsung Electronics. Speaking in the evening after the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 and their many AI features, Kim shared his favorite aspects of the recent burst of AI interest and why it's only just beginning. Part of that is because of the rapid change in how people view AI assistants.

"These days, people's expectation of this technology is very high compared to the several months back. So that's why most, I think most of the tech companies are working on that part very hard," Kim said. "I think people will be able to find more advanced experiences to use [AI with] soon because the AI technology will bring another way to interact with an assistant. And then behind the scenes, the AI assistants and smart devices user experience will be very different from their previous experiences. That's the most interesting part I'm looking forward to."

Samsung's devices have been steadily adding new AI features and expanding their availability. The emphasis on some of the camera and photo AI tools matches up with some of Kim's favorite ways to employ AI. Though he's far from alone in enjoying how AI can enhance photography, it certainly doesn't hurt to have intimate knowledge of everything AI can do for a picture.  

"When I take a picture of my wife, I need to [refine] the picture and [use AI to improve] the quality of the picture. That's the way to stay alive. That's a cool function, I think," Kim joked.

Our AI Future

Kim pointed out that even the most mundane use of AI can change lives. He told an anecdote about a Samsung employee from South Korea working at an office in Poland who married a local woman and spent years having to act as a translator between his and his spouse's parents. Then, the Galaxy S24 with AI translation came out. He bought one for each set of parents, and suddenly, there was no language barrier.

Ultimately, Kim believes future AI tools will evolve to reflect how people use and think about AI as they get used to it and spend more time trying various features powered by AI models. He suggested there will be a lot of personalization as AI adapts to the needs of individuals and their way of engaging with the technology. 

"I think another shift that people can find out in the coming year is adoption. So today, people [have mostly] tried to use AI technology [only] from time to time. And in the coming year, I think that AI technology will be deeply integrated with every corner of life," Kim said. "So I think making a user's life easier is the best part. I think one of the examples is the communication, the translation, and the summarizing, and  all those kinds of language-based data. I'm excited about that kind of continuing innovation."

You might also like...

• Hands on: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: AI doesn’t come cheap … until now
• The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 series have landed, with high-end specs and a whole lot of AI
• The Samsung Galaxy S26 is being tipped for major performance gains

If you’re going to invest in toys to enhance your sex life, why not go big?

Here are some hints, and the answers, for the Sept. 28 Strands puzzle, No. 209.

Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections No. 475 for Sept. 28.

Here are some hints and the answer for Wordle No. 1,197 for Saturday, Sept. 28.

If you've been missing student loan payments or have loans in default, you'll want to take action before Oct. 1.

OpenAI has enhanced ChatGPT's GPT-4o mini model with a bunch of new features, though surprisingly, it does not have any of the usual fanfare. The smaller, faster version of the GPT-4o model, GPT-4o mini, has lacked many of the features of its larger sibling until now – though by its nature, it has less power to complete the same tasks. 

The mini model's efficiency and speed were already attractive enough to many ChatGPT users. And here we're sharing four of the biggest upgrades that bring it closer to par with GPT-4o.

Image creation

(Image credit: Screenshot/ Eric Schwartz)

The 4o-mini model can now generate images based on text prompts like the full GPT-4o model. While functionally it is the same in terms of making visuals out of text on ChatGPT, the model's size might speed up the production a bit. Further, it's unlikely to matter when it comes to the output as they both rely on the DALL-E 3 image generation model from OpenAI. 

Browsing

(Image credit: Screenshot/ Eric Schwartz )

Arguably, one of the biggest limits of the GPT-4o mini model previously was its lack of internet access. Now, you can use the model through ChatGPT to conduct online research faster than with GPT-4o. That means you can get up-to-date information instead of relying solely on its pre-trained knowledge base. It's crucial to have that option when it comes to fact-checking and comparing information. That brings it up to par with the bigger model but is tied to the speed of the mini model.

Uploading and understanding

(Image credit: Screenshot/ Eric Schwartz )

One of the GPT-4o mini model's most significant limitations compared to the rest of the stable has been its lack of uploading options. Now, ChatGPT users can employ the model to analyze, summarize, and discuss uploaded documents and pictures. The model's visual processing features let it understand and explain the uploaded images just as it can any texts sent to ChatGPT. This capability makes it easier for users to work with complex visual data for educational or personal needs. 

Memory

(Image credit: Screenshot/ Eric Schwartz)

In case you can't remember all of the new features or forget one of them, the GPT-4o mini model can help, as it now accesses the memory feature available for other ChatGPT models. That allows it to remember previous conversations with specific users and tailor interactions accordingly. So even after ending a talk with ChatGPT through the 4o-mini model, you can come back and get more relevant answers, follow-ups on earlier discussions, and recognition of your preferences. In other words, being mini doesn't mean it can't handle long-term interactions.

You might also like...

• OpenAI has a new scale for measuring how smart their AI models are becoming – which is not as comforting as it should be
• OpenAI's GPT-4o ChatGPT assistant is more life-like than ever, complete with witty quips
• If you think GPT-4o is something, wait until you see GPT-5 – a 'significant leap forward'

A long-term CD guarantees interest years from now, but there's a catch.

Helene, now a post-tropical cyclone, continues to flood parts of North Carolina and the Tennessee Valley. Dozens of storm-related deaths were reported in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

(Image credit: Phelan M. Ebenhack)

The HP EliteBook X was easily one of the highlights of the HP Imagine 2024 event, showcasing that despite the tech giant launching high-performing AI PCs with the latest in AI-powered CPUs and NPUs, it's not satisfied resting on its laurels. Instead, HP continues to push the envelope in terms of specs and performance, attempting to give us the best laptop on the market.

The EliteBook X was touted as the "most powerful AI device" available right now and, judging from the specs that HP has provided us with, I'm inclined to agree. At the very least, this AI PC outfitted with an AMD chip does feel like an evolution in terms of design as well as hardware.

HP EliteBook X: price and availability

As of right now, we don't have either an official price point, release date, or availability for the HP EliteBook X. However, judging from previous HP AI PCs, the laptop should be available in the US, UK, and Australia at the very least.

HP EliteBook X: specs

Here are the specs for the HP EliteBook X at a glance. 

HP EliteBook X: design

(Image credit: Future)

The outside of the laptop is a beautiful light silver, almost white, color. The chassis is lightweight yet feels sturdy and the hinges are solid. Opening it up, it has a standard keyboard with well-sized keys with a nice snap as you type, along with a responsive touchpad that's the perfect size.

One of the best features of the laptop is the fact that it has a manual switch for the webcam, which is ideal for proper security as it ensures that potential hackers can't hack into it and spy on you. It also has a pretty solid port selection, easily one of the best for an AI laptop so far, including two Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C ports, one Type-C port, one USB Type-A port, one headphone and mic combo jack, and one HDMI port. If it had an ethernet cable port and an SD card slot, it would be perfect.

It also has a lovely display, with two options for an LED screen and an OLED screen. One is a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display and the other is a 2.8K (2880 x 1800). Both feature 400 nits, though the former has sRGB 100%, a touch screen, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Not only does it boast an aesthetically pleasing design, but a sustainable one as well. According to HP, the EliteBook X is built with 60% of its major parts containing recycled material including up to 80% recycled aluminum in the covers, 21% recycled cooking oil in the bezel, 30% ocean-bound plastic on the speaker box, a heat plate made with 50% recycled copper, and 100% sustainable materials on the packaging.

HP EliteBook X: performance Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

The most promoted part of the HP EliteBook X is that it has the highest performance of any AI PC currently on the market. Normally this claim would be hyperbole at best and completely unfounded at worst, but the fact that HP currently has the only NPU that runs at a staggering 55 TOPs as well as a much higher speed memory makes it clear why this boast is most likely true - for now.

That said, we can't fully verify these claims as of yet, at least until we get our hands on an EliteBook X and thoroughly test it ourselves.

It does have another feature that's sure to keep performance running as high as possible, which is Wolf Security. It comes with a host of tools and programs that will protect this laptop including external attacks and cyber threats. As a bonus, Wolf uses the NPU for AI security, which reduces the load on the CPU and GPU and prevents slowdown.

There are other features as well including a hyperbolic cooling system that should prevent overheating, Suresense to protect your laptop from malware, and Smart Hibernate that detects if the laptop is in a bag. Both are powered by an accelerometer sensor.  Finally, there's Onlooking detection which blurs the screen when someone approaches the laptop.

HP EliteBook X: early verdict

(Image credit: Future)

Though we still have yet to properly formulate a final verdict, so far the HP EliteBook X looks and sounds promising. Visually it's a beautiful laptop that's easy to transport with a stunning display. Its performance looks to match its appearance, fitting a ton of power in its thin frame.

I'm most excited to get my hands on an AMD-powered AI PC to see how well it compares to both Qualcomm and Intel's own chips. Coupled with it supposedly being the most powerful AI PC, it'll be fascinating to see how well that claim holds up. Regardless, this is definitely one laptop to keep an eye out for in the coming months.

Commentary: A formula dispenser, a chic smart sleeper, and a beautiful digital calendar, to name a few.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

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 #978) - 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 #978) - 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 #978) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #978) - 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 #978) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• C

• S

• E

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

Quordle today (game #978) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #978, are…

• BUSHY
• CIVIC
• SNOUT
• EQUIP

Yesterday I failed the main 'classic' Quordle; today it was the Daily Sequence that did for me. It was the same deal as yesterday, frankly – a failure on my part to allow for words that have multiple answers separated by only one letter. And so it was that I guessed TAMER and TAPER before TAKER, FROCK before CROCK and failed to reach SATYR. The classic version was a cinch in comparison.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #978) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #978, are…

• TAKER
• STEER
• CROCK
• SATYR

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #977, Friday 27 September: GUEST, CHASM, ROOST, BASAL
• Quordle #976, Thursday 26 September: STAGE, VOGUE, CLUMP, HEATH
• Quordle #975, Wednesday 25 September: UMBRA, DADDY, GLAZE, PRANK
• Quordle #974, Tuesday 24 September: SPACE, INNER, SPAWN, BEGAT
• Quordle #973, Monday 23 September: GUILT, STERN, ANNEX, FIELD
• Quordle #972, Sunday 22 September: ZESTY, MEATY, ALIVE, DRAWN
• Quordle #971, Saturday 21 September: VITAL, FRAIL, SPEAR, EERIE
• Quordle #970, Friday 20 September: ELIDE, DITTO, SHAWL, BONUS
• Quordle #969, Thursday 19 September: MARRY, OWING, DICEY, LUCKY
• Quordle #968, Wednesday 18 September: CEDAR, VENOM, MIGHT, MEDIC
• Quordle #967, Tuesday 17 September: ETHOS, COUNT, PRINT, THREE
• Quordle #966, Monday 16 September: ROUGE, SWAMP, FUGUE, UNDUE
• Quordle #965, Sunday 15 September: VILLA, SMOKE, BULKY, THRUM
• Quordle #964, Saturday 14 September: ESSAY, GENRE, WIMPY, CHUTE
• Quordle #963, Friday 13 September: LEANT, ORGAN, FILLY, PLAIT
• Quordle #962, Thursday 12 September: ARBOR, STARK, LEAVE, GOOFY
• Quordle #961, Wednesday 11 September: ROUGH, CACTI, SAVOY, ODDER
• Quordle #960, Tuesday 10 September: PLUMB, SEIZE, EARLY, ASSET
• Quordle #959, Monday 9 September: CHIRP, BEADY, THETA, MINUS
• Quordle #958, Sunday 8 September: TEASE, AGATE, PRIDE, PLATE

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 Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

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 #475) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• QUALITY
• BIRTH
• HOUSE
• PLANT
• REMOTE
• LODGE
• HYBRID
• COMPOUND
• CROSS
• CRUISE
• STICK
• HOTEL
• TOKEN
• BLEND
• WEDGE
• DEED

NYT Connections today (game #475) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Mix
• Green: Place deep
• Blue: Pass go
• Purple: Blank [switch or button?]

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 #475) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: COMPOSITE
• GREEN: EMBED
• BLUE: ITEMS IN A MONOPOLY BOX
• PURPLE: ___ CONTROL

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

NYT Connections today (game #475) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #475, are…

• YELLOW: COMPOSITE BLEND, COMPOUND, CROSS, HYBRID
• GREEN: EMBED LODGE, PLANT, STICK, WEDGE
• BLUE: ITEMS IN A MONOPOLY BOX DEED, HOTEL, HOUSE, TOKEN
• PURPLE: ___ CONTROL BIRTH, CRUISE, QUALITY, REMOTE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 mistake

My streak is now up to 23, a far cry from the days when I failed eight Connections puzzles in 15 days. This was, admittedly, a fairly easy one. I made one mistake, guessing HOTEL, HOUSE, LODGE and COMPOUND as places where you could live, but when that proved to be wrong I looked again and spotted the COMPOSITE connection that united BLEND, COMPOUND, CROSS and HYBRID.

HOUSE and HOTEL, meanwhile, went with DEED and TOKEN for a MONOPOLY-themed group, and I also solved the supposedly most difficult purple group, which was one of the NYT's favorite blank___ answers.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 27 September, game #474)

• YELLOW: AREA OF HIGH GROUND BANK, DUNE, HILL, MOUND
• GREEN: SIGNIFICANCE GRAVITY, IMPORT, SUBSTANCE, WEIGHT
• BLUE: ACTIONS IN FANTASY SPORTS BENCH, DRAFT, START, TRADE
• PURPLE: SCI-FI MOVIES, WITH “THE” ABYSS, FLY, MATRIX, THING

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.

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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Feeling good

NYT Strands today (game #209) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• VINE
• PINE
• PHOTO
• LAST
• DUST
• RUSE

NYT Strands today (game #209) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Inside out

NYT Strands today (game #209) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #209) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #209, are…

• HAPPINESS
• LOVE
• GRATITUDE
• PLEASURE
• EXCITEMENT
• SPANGRAM: EMOTIONS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

My only issue with today's Strands is that the theme clue and answers all fit nicely with the idea of 'good or pleasant emotions' – but the spangram is merely EMOTIONS on its own. It's not a major problem, but it mildly annoyed me.

It's not a difficult one, even bearing that in mind. I looked for HAPPINESS at the start of the game and found it quickly, and none of the other words provided any great problems. Once again I was done in only a few minutes. I'd quite like a more difficult game soon, as it happens.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday 27 September, game #208)

• MOAT
• WALL
• DRAWBRIDGE
• COURTYARD
• TOWER
• KEEP
• TURRET
• SPANGRAM: CASTLE

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.

While the Galaxy Watch FE only dropped a few weeks before the flagship Galaxy Watch 7 debuted in July of 2024, Samsung is already offering a sizeable update to the original, more affordable Galaxy Watch and is tossing in one new feature.

Alongside the new Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Samsung sneakily unveiled the Galaxy Watch FE LTE, and proudly shared that a number of the Galaxy AI features from the Watch 7 would be trickling down.

Energy Score will arrive on Galaxy Watch FE

(Image credit: Future)

I noted this in our review of the Galaxy Watch 7, but it bears repeating and rings even more true here. To get the new features like Energy Score and Wellness tips – both tools that contextualize the data within Samsung Health and better compete with the likes of Oura and Whoop – you didn’t necessarily need to buy the Galaxy Watch 7, Ultra, or Ring.

Samsung introduced many of the new AI health features to previous Galaxy Watch models, and now they’re coming to the Galaxy Watch FE later in 2024, which is indeed a welcome addition. It also adds an extra bit of versatility to Samsung's most affordable smartwatch: remember, it’s just $199.99 / £199 and only comes in one size, 40mm.

That equates to a 1.2-inch touchscreen with a durable layer of Sapphire Crystal glass to protect against drops, scuffs, or scratches. Under the hood is an Exynos W920 processor with 1.5GB of RAM, which powers Wear OS with Samsung’s One UX customizations on top.

Most importantly, though, it has a BioActive Sensor on the back that enables activity, health and sleep tracking, and there were already some limited Galaxy AI features available in the form of a sleep coach.

Still, Energy Score will help give you a better sensor of your body’s recovery and its overall performance. It’ll be a nice addition that adds some more value here, and if you’ve been eyeing the Galaxy Watch FE but aren’t interested because there wasn’t a cellular LTE model, Samsung’s solving that.

There is now a Galaxy Watch FE with LTE

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Arguably, the bigger news during Samsung’s “Galaxy AI for All” press event is that there is now a Galaxy Watch FE with LTE (aka cellular) up for preorder at $249.99 / £249. It’s set to begin shipping in early October and keeps all of the features of the Galaxy Watch FE but adds in connectivity when you’re out and about, assuming you add it to a plan with your wireless carrier.

This newer model will also receive an update by the end of 2024, adding Energy Score and potentially some other features. The Galaxy Watch FE with Bluetooth and WiFi and the Galaxy Watch FE with Bluetooth, WiFi, and LTE are available in black, silver, or gold. You can see them on Samsung's online store here.

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