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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #689).

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 #690) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• POCKET
• SHAKE
• PURSE
• PAN
• POT
• DOLLY
• FUN
• PRIZE
• TRAVEL
• BREAK
• BITE
• KICK
• ZOOM
• DROP
• REWARD
• TILT

NYT Connections today (game #690) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: What you get for being champ
• GREEN: Cut it out 
• BLUE: Film-making
• PURPLE: Miniature versions

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 #690) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: WINNINGS 
• GREEN: STOP, AS A HABIT 
• BLUE: MOVIE CAMERA VERBS
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT PRECEDE "-SIZE" TO MEAN SMALL

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

NYT Connections today (game #690) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #690, are…

• YELLOW: WINNINGS POT, PRIZE, PURSE, REWARD
• GREEN: STOP, AS A HABIT BREAK, DROP, KICK, SHAKE
• BLUE: MOVIE CAMERA VERBS DOLLY, PAN, TILT, ZOOM
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT PRECEDE "-SIZE" TO MEAN SMALL BITE, FUN, POCKET, TRAVEL

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

All three of my mistakes came in the same group: MOVIE CAMERA VERBS.

My first hunch when I saw the grid of 16 words was that there was a group about photography, but I kept getting it wrong – at first thinking it was Photoshop tools, then something to do with special effects.

It wasn’t until I’d trimmed my options down to eight words that I realised DOLLY was a movie-making word, although I didn’t realise it was a type of shot; I thought the equipment was a dolly.

A frustrating round, then, even more so as I missed a purple group that I really should have got. Roll on tomorrow.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, April 30, game #689)

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A SHOE HEEL, SOLE, TONGUE, UPPER
• GREEN: ACCOMMODATION CAPACITY, CHAIRS, ROOM, SEATING
• BLUE: REPUTATION FACE, IMAGE, REGARD, STANDING
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "YUCK" DYNASTY, ENGROSS, GIMMICK, MILDEW

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #423).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I get around

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STEAR
• ROAST
• SORE
• DORK
• COAL
• SCORE

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #424) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #424) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #424, are…

• SKATEBOARD
• BICYCLE
• ROLLERBLADES
• SCOOTER
• WAGON
• SPANGRAM: WHEELIE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I don’t think I will ever fail to be impressed by the sight of someone popping a WHEELIE.

Perhaps because I’ve never been able to do it myself, I view it as some kind of low-level super power – not that it would be much use in a crime-fighting scenario.

The other day I saw someone riding a BICYCLE with no hands while eating from a bag of chips. Less spectacular, but full marks from me. Yet exactly the kind of thing my dad would have told me off about and muttered something along the lines of “you’ll be laughing when you break both of your legs”.

Anyway, I digress away from one of Strands’ easier days, with little in the way of stunts or odd words to get the hump about. A freewheeling kind of day, in fact.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, April 30, game #423)

• EYES
• DRESSED
• SMILE
• COUPLE
• ATHLETE
• FRIENDS
• HAIR
• SPANGRAM: YEARBOOK

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #1192).

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 #1193) - 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 #1193) - 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 3.

Quordle today (game #1193) - 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 #1193) - 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 #1193) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• E

• S

• D

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

Quordle today (game #1193) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1193, are…

• IDIOM
• EXILE
• SPOOF
• DRAPE

A very close call for me today after a long winning streak.

I got really unlucky with SPOOF; after deducing that there was a double-O, I guessed incorrectly three times, leaving me with no margin for error with the remaining word.

On such a tricky round I just knew that the Quordle gods were going to sneak in a rare letter, and so it proved.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1193) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1193, are…

• NEVER
• RULER
• COMMA
• SHIRE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY

• GreyNoise saw a significant increase in scanning activity
• IPs from Singapore are looking for exposed Git config files, also in Singapore
• The files could contain sensitive information such as login credentials and access tokens

Singaporean threat actors are on the hunt for organizations in the country that can be broken into and exploited, according to cybersecurity researchers GreyNoise, who recently observed a significant spike in reconnaissance activity.

In a new analysis, published earlier this week, GreyNoise said that on April 20-21, it witnessed a significant increase in IP addresses scanning for exposed Git configuration files. In that timeframe, it saw 4,800 unique IP addresses doing the scanning, which is a “substantial increase compared to typical levels”.

Most of the IPs originated in Singapore, although some were in the US, Germany, UK, and the Netherlands. They were mostly scanning through IPs in Singapore, as well, but also in the US, UK, Germany, and India.

Hunting for Git secrets

Git configuration files usually include sensitive information such as user email addresses, access tokens, authentication credentials, and remote repository URLs that embed usernames or tokens. As such, they are useful to cybercriminals in the reconnaissance and preparation stages of cyberattacks.

Software developers will sometimes forget to prevent public access to these files, exposing the secrets to anyone who knows where to look. As BleepingComputer reminds, this is exactly what happened in October 2024, when Sysdig reported a large-scale operation that scanned for exposed Git config files and grabbed 15,000 cloud account credentials from thousands of private repositories.

“In some cases, if the full .git directory is also exposed, attackers may be able to reconstruct the entire codebase — including commit history, which may contain confidential information, credentials, or sensitive logic,” GreyNoise explained.

To mitigate the risk, the researchers advise software devs make sure .git/ directories are not accessible via public web servers, and to block access to hidden files and folders in web server configurations. Furthermore, they suggest devs monitor logs for repeated requests to .git/config and similar paths, and to rotate any credentials exposed in version control history.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Trailers have been released for upcoming horror movies Fear Street: Prom Queen and Weapons
• The movies will be released on May 23 and August 8, respectively
• Fear Street: Prom Queen is a Netflix release, while Weapons is coming to theaters

We've got plenty of great new movies coming up this year, and after seeing the trailers for Weapons and Fear Street: Prom Queen, I've got quite the list to look forward to.

First up, Barbarian's director – Zach Creggor – is bringing us Weapons, which everyone is talking about due to that insane trailer and viral marketing website MaybookMissing.net, which features a fun reference to Barbarian.

We've also got the highly anticipated Fear Street: Prom Queen, following on from Netflix's excellent horror series of movies, based on the books by R. L. Stine, which also saw its trailer drop today.

I wasn't sure anything could top TechRdar's best horror movies of 2024, but it seems we're truly spoiled this year too. Let's take a closer look at these great trailers.

What do we know so far about Weapons?

Julia Garner is in her horror era lately, following on from her great performance in Leigh Whannell's Wolf Man. In Weapons, she plays a school teacher whose entire class disappears at the exact same time.

In the trailer, you can see CCTV footage showing the school kids running in disturbingly inhuman poses – it's like T-posing in video games, but worse.

Weapons has quickly shot to the top of my horror must-watches this year because all the teasers so far have me hooked. The trailer gives us flashes of disturbing imagery without spoiling the plot, I need to know what's going on.

Weapons is scheduled to be released on August 8, 2025, before eventually likely streaming on Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service Max and hopefully becoming one of the best Max movies.

What do we know so far about Fear Street: Prom Queen?

You can thank Carrie for making prom night utterly disturbing. But before Mike Flanagan's TV adaptation of Stephen King's novel releases on Prime Video, Netflix is bringing us Fear Street: Prom Queen.

Much like Weapons, this movie is centered around a school and also has the potential to become one of the best Netflix movies. Just like the Fear Street trilogy of movies, there's trouble again at Shadyside High (and with a name like that, why wouldn't there be? Shady indeed).

As prom approaches, all the coolest girls are fighting for the crown, but they'll soon start fighting for their lives instead when all the candidates start to disappear. Someone out there is hoping it'll be a killer prom from all the wrong reasons.

Fear Street: Prom Queen will be available to stream on Netflix on May 23.

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• TSMC starts work on its third semiconductor manufacturing facility
• Easier permit acquisition and tariffs influenced the move, says US Commerce Secretary
• TSMC's quarterly revenue was up 41.6%, but it's still keeping an eye on tariff-induced worries

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has started construction of a third chip plant in Arizona according to South China Morning Post reporting, as the company continues to expand operations in the US.

The announcement coincided with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's visit to the site, highlighting the political significance of TSMC's US investment amid the ongoing trade war.

Driven by Trump's push for domestic manufacturing, supported by hefty tariffs on imports from certain countries, the project marks the largest foreign investment in US history.

TSMC invests in more US chip manufacturing

Though TSMC flies under the radar among consumers, the Taiwanese company is a key supplier for Apple and Nvidia. Domesticating manufacturing within the US would certainly help the companies that rely on TSMC keep costs down amid fears that tariffs could impact sales.

In March 2025, the company announced plans to invest $100 billion in the US semiconductor manufacturing industry over the next four years, adding to its existing $65 billion investment in Arizona.

Speaking with CNBC, Lutnick criticized slow permit and regulation processes that previously hampered companies' efforts to move to the US. "And what you saw today is they needed a couple of permits. We got those permits super fast. And here we go. They’re building it. So that’s the idea," Lutnick said.

Reiterating that TSMC's plans mark the "largest foreign direct investment ever made in the United States of America," Lutnick stressed that domesticating manufacturing acts in the name of national security.

Besides upcoming efforts, TSMC's CEO CC Wei confirmed in this month's quarterly earnings call that its second plant is already ramping up operations. Its first plant has also entered high-volume production, with yield matching those in Taiwan.

TSMC confirmed earlier this month that its first-quarter revenue rose a staggering 41.6%. CFO Wendell Huang added: "While we have not seen any changes in our customers’ behavior so far, uncertainties and risks from the potential impact from tariff policies exist."

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• Geopolitical tensions are impacting US companies especially
• Expectations about AI are not realistic
• Networks need major upgrades

Nearly one in five US organizations have experienced security incidents as a result of their AI deployments according to new research commissioned by Expereo.

The report reveals how two in five (41%) organizations struggle to find and retain cybersecurity talent, yet cybersecurity is a close second when it comes to investment priorities at 38%, compared with networking and connectivity (43%).

More broadly, ongoing geopolitical tensions are also affecting how organizations go about deploying artificial intelligence, with 50% noting the impact of such events on their growth strategies.

Rushed AI deployments are becoming costly

Before it even gets to the point of a potential breach, the research reveals how one in three global CIOs believe boards have unrealistic expectations about AI's impact - and more than a quarter (27%) of US tech leaders feel similarly.

This is a trend that appears to be more of a concern abroad, with 28% of global technology executives saying AI expectations are growing faster than their ability to meet them – above the US average of 23%.

Over half (52% globally, 53% in the US) agree that their network connectivity is not ready for new technologies like AI, with more respondents concerned about network performance limitations than last year.

As if AI-induced cybersecurity concerns aren't enough, ongoing trade wars continue to add further complexity. One-third (34%) of global tech leaders have had to reassess their infrastructure due to geopolitical risks, with 37% noting the affect of such disruptions on their growth strategies – a figure that climbs considerably to 50% in the US.

"While the potential of AI is immense, its successful integration requires careful planning. Technology leaders must recognize the need for robust networks and connectivity infrastructure to support AI at scale, while also ensuring consistent performance across these networks," Expire CEO Ben Elms commented.

Looking ahead, cybersecurity isn't the only consideration for businesses when it comes to adopting AI tools. AI governance, the pace of change and inadequate capabilities are among the three biggest external hurdles, with employee resistance still affecting companies internally.

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• Andor actor Faye Marsay has had her say on season 2 episode 6's most shocking moment
• The Star Wars show's latest act includes a moment that impacts Vel more than most
• Marsay says the event will impact Vel's character arc moving forward

Full spoilers immediately follow for Andor season 2 episode 6.

Andor star Faye Marsay has revealed how Cinta's death will impact her character Vel's story throughout the rest of season 2.

Speaking to TechRadar prior to Andor season 2's launch, Marsay suggested that the shocking event will leave a lasting impression on Vel, not least because of the Romeo and Juliet-style nature of the relationship she had with Varada Sethu's Cinta.

Cinta's demise is a heart-breaking and character-defining moment for Vel. Despite their estrangement in Andor season 1's latter half, and Cinta's decision not to contact Vel before suddenly appearing on Chandrila to kidnap (and presumably kill) Mon Mothma's long-time friend Tay in season 2 episode 3, the romantically entangled pair still clearly care for each other.

The evidence for that is on full display in their eventual reunion on Ghorman in this season's sixth chapter, titled 'What a Festive Evening'. After Cassian refuses to do Luthen's bidding – essentially, help to incite a riot that might lead to the death of hundreds of Ghorman's citizens – Luthen sends Vel and Cinta to Ghorman to aid its burgeoning resistance to the Galactic Empire.

Vel and Cinta's reunion is described as "beautifully human" by Marsay's co-star Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

It's a decision that proves fatal for Cinta, and might be devastating enough for Vel to reconsider her loyalty to Luthen.

Indeed, after a couple of heart-to-hearts that result in the duo rekindling their relationship, Vel and Cinta assist Ghorman's gang of freedom fighters in covertly disrupting an Empire convoy, stealing the arms that said convoy is shipping through Ghorman's streets, and escaping into the night.

That would be the case, anyway, if this wasn't a trap laid by the Empire's Imperial Security Bureau. Long story short, a Ghorman citizen loyal to the Empire interrupts the rebels' attack, a scuffle ensues and, amid the confusion, Cinta is accidentally shot and killed by a member of the Ghorman resistance.

RIP, Cinta (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

In a Star Wars TV series that's already delivered its fair share of tragedies – I'm still pouring one out for Basso following his death in this season's third episode – it's another telling blow to the resistance. For Vel, Cinta's death is even more personal, and it may prove to be a turning point in the Disney+ show that might force her to reconsider her allegiances to Luthen and the Rebel Alliance.

"For Vel, the rebellion has always comes first," Marsay told me when I asked about the latest soul-destroying event in one of the best Disney+ shows. "The only time that's really tested is with this relationship with Cinta. Other than the rebellion, it's the only thing she could've chosen.

Cinta and Vel's time together could have been so different (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

"But, Cinta is stuck in the mindset of 'the rebellion comes first' and Val suffers for that," Marsay continued. "It's a relationship that they want, but can't have.

"Once Cinta is no longer with us, Vel really doesn't have anything else to live for. In itself, that's really sad because now she has a decision to make. She can either put her energy into the thing that, right from the beginning, she's believed so passionately in, or walk away from it completely. You'll see what decision she makes in the episodes still to come."

Andor season 2 episodes 1 to 6 are out now. Three more episodes will arrive on May 6/7, with the final trio being released on May 13/14.

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• Spotify and record labels have been hyping "superfan" tiers for some time
• Spotify's Daniel Ek now appears to be managing expectations: it's not arriving imminently
• He says they need their partners to work with them on it

Has Spotify shelved its own 'Superfan' subscription tier? It certainly sounds like it: during the streamer's latest financial earnings call, Daniel Ek responded to a question about "a Superfan product" by saying that the existing subscription plans on offer were "plenty enough for us".

As we reported back in February, Spotify was expected to launch a "superfan" premium tier this year; record company bosses and Ek have talked about it a few times, and in November 2024 Ek responded to a question about it by saying, "I can’t get into specifics, but I think I’ve left enough breadcrumbs for you guys to get excited by."

The most likely reason for the sudden downgrade in the excitement department? Record companies and concert promoters.

Spotify has discussed offering early access to concert tickets for "superfan" users (Image credit: Spotify) What's stalling Superfan?

When asked "can you share more details about what makes you enthusiastic about the product and when it may be available in the market?", chief business officer Alex Nostrom replied:

"Now with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we've mentioned before. So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as a really opens up new opportunities to delight users matters. A new value-to-price ratio, if you will. And of course, we need alignment and support from our industry partners to offer these kinds of new experiences to our users."

Daniel Ek then explained how the superfan concept could be "a huge part for the music industry" but "this is really one where I would put, again, the emphasis is for the superfan, we do need the partners to come to the table and be part of this journey."

You don't need to be a weatherman to work out which way the wind is blowing here: everybody thinks superfan tiers will make a ton of money and the record companies want the lion's share of it.

According to Hypebot, Spotify – and other streamers – have also tried to get ticketing giant Live Nation on board so that superfans would get early access to concert tickets.

That could be a really big deal, because presales are big business. But Live Nation doesn't seem particularly excited at the prospect of getting yet another presale partner on board.

Asked about such deals, CEO Michael Rapino using a lot of words where he could probably have just shrugged instead: "Spotify and Apple and Amazon, they’ve approached us, we’ve talked to them all, about ideas on if they wanted inventory. There’s a cost to that and we would entertain and look at that option if it made sense for us in comparison to other options we have for that presale which is a very valuable asset.”

So until that impasse is, uh, passed it looks like there will be a wait for these new kinds of subscriptions. Ek said in the earnings call, "I think you should expect for the near term and midterm growth […] just working on our existing subscriptions, the family plans, all of these things [are] plenty enough for us."

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• Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak's charges in Greece have been dropped after a two year legal battle
• The charges were in connection to alleged internet offences by an unknown user in June 2023
• Sak was accused of "illegal access to electronic data"

Windscribe has won a landmark case in Greece after a two-year legal battle, in a win for no-log VPNs.

Windscribe's Co-Founder and CEO, Yegor Sak, was charged in connection with an alleged internet offence perpetrated by an unknown user in June 2023. On April 11, 2025, an Athens Court decided to dismiss the case against Sak for lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.

Our legal battle is over. A few years back, some idiot used our VPN to do idiot things. Greece then decided to charge the Windscribe CEO @yegor for the crimes because it was his name on the VPN server bill. No logs existed of anything. Case dismissed. https://t.co/IPw0RKWgnRApril 25, 2025

As per the official legal document shared by Windscribe with TechRadar, Sak was accused of "illegal access to electronic data" to send mass spam emails.

An anonymous user allegedly used a Windscribe-owned server in Finland to breach a website in Greece and launch the attacks.

According to Sak, however, Greek authorities didn't issue any subpoena to the VPN company, as the norm requires. Instead, they directly charged Sak, the account holder of the Finland data center involved in the criminal activity.

"This sets a concerning precedent for anyone who owns servers that could be used by others," said Sak. "If upheld, it could have criminalised infrastructure ownership for actions taken by anonymous users."

Not only a Windscribe victory

The case against Windscribe was dismissed for lack of evidence that either the VPN company or Sak himself had committed any wrongdoing. This isn't only a victory for Windscribe, though.

"This was not just about me," said Sak. "It was about drawing a hard line around the role of privacy infrastructure providers. As we do not log user activity, we cannot hand over what we do not have."

Some say VPNs should be banned because a few people misuse them, but that's a rather misguided approach

Yegor Sak, Windscribe

A no-log VPN is a guarantee that the provider never stores or tracks users' activities and any other data that can identify them. This means that providers cannot share any information with law enforcement when asked, as these details simply do not exist.

A few companies before Windscribe have proved the legitimacy of this feature in real life over the years. For example, Mullvad did so in 2023 after being hit by an inconclusive police raid. Private Internet Access (PIA) also proved its no-log claims twice in Court.

The main goal of virtual private network (VPN) software is to keep people anonymous when they browse the web. This is why EU experts have deemed these services a "key challenge" to the work of law enforcement, with lawmakers currently considering whether data retention requirements should be changed.

Sak, however, now reiterates Windscribe's commitment to users' privacy and transparency. He said: "Some say VPNs should be banned because a few people misuse them, but that's a rather misguided approach. By that logic, we should also ban hammers and cars."

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• Google observed 75 zero-day bugs last year
• Most were used by state-sponsored actors
• Countries like China and North Korea were specifically mentioned

In 2024, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) discovered 75 zero-day vulnerabilities, and argued that the majority were used in state-sponsored hacking campaigns. The company made these claims in “Hello zero-day my old friend, a 2024 exploitation analysis” paper published recently.

In the report, Google says that the number of zero-day flaws dropped compared to 2023 (from 98 to 75). However, the four-year trend is that the rate of zero-day exploitation “continues to grow at a slow but steady pace.”

While consumer devices continue to be the most attacked targets, there is an increase in adversaries exploiting enterprise-specific technologies. In 2023, roughly a third (37%) of zero-days targeted enterprise products, jumping to 44% last year. This, Google says, is primarily fueled by the increased exploitation of security and networking software and appliances.

Governments at it again

In fact, zero-day vulnerabilities in security software and appliances were a high-value target in 2024. Google says it identified 20 security and networking flaws, which was over 60% of all zero-day exploitation of enterprise technologies. Since the exploitation of these products results in a more efficient and extensive system and network compromise, Google expects threat actors’ focus on these technologies to continue growing.

The biggest abusers of zero-day vulnerabilities are the governments, Google says. “Between government-backed groups and customers of commercial surveillance vendors, actors conducting cyber espionage operations accounted for over 50% of the vulnerabilities we could attribute in 2024,” the report says.

Google singled out China as a major player in this regard, but also mentioned North Korea, whose operatives mixed espionage with financially motivated operations.

The number of Windows exploits rose to 22 (from 16 the year before), while on Safari and iOS it fell (from 11 and 9 to 3 and 2). Android retained its “lucky number” 7, as did Chrome. Firefox was up from zero in 2023 to one in 2024.

Via Ars Technica

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• Broadband provider Virgin Media has issued advice for UK users of its hub
• The company warns against placing a router in direct sunlight
• This could cause the router to overheat and perform badly – or ‘grind to a halt’ even – and there are other placement issues to consider, too

You might not have ever thought much about the positioning of your Wi-Fi router, but it’s important – particularly as summer is knocking on the door, and some countries are experiencing their first taste of a heatwave.

The Independent reports that prompted by the unusually warm April temperatures in the UK, broadband provider Virgin Media has delivered a warning that it really isn’t a good idea to have your router placed in direct sunlight when the weather gets hot. (Or at any time for that matter).

Virgin Media issued a statement to say: “Although we test our [broadband] hubs carefully at a range of temperatures, they are better off out of bright sunlight, just like your phone or laptop. If the hub gets too hot, it could slow down your connection or even grind to a halt altogether.”

This underlines the point that your router is just like any other piece of hardware – it warms up when used, and has vents and needs to stay cool. Put the device in strong sunlight in a baking hot room, and the results may not be pretty, as Virgin Media suggests.

In a similar vein, the statement advises that you shouldn’t stick your router in a cupboard, where again, it might get overly warm due to a lack of ventilation in the heat. Not to mention the fact that placing it in an enclosed space is interfering with the Wi-Fi signal anyway.

Other placement advice to avoid interference with the Wi-Fi includes: “Keep the Hub at least 1m away from cordless phones or baby monitors, and as far as possible from big obstructions like cupboards and fish tanks.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: Tricks to make your router quick (or at least a bit quicker)

Isn’t this all rather alarmist? No, in a word, if your router does get too hot, performance is indeed likely to be impaired. (And it’s not beyond consideration that damage could be caused, too, in cases of extreme heat conditions – something we’re getting more used to seeing these days).

Granted, this isn’t the first time Virgin Media has run this advisory, and in fact the company seems to trot this out on a yearly basis (ahead of summer in the UK). But it’s the first time I’ve seen it, and the advice given is good, plus more broadly, we should all think a bit more about the placement of our router.

Don’t put it in the sun, for sure, or in a cupboard, or in your TV cabinet, for all the heat-related reasons given above. Similarly, don’t shove the router under your desk – try to have it up reasonably high, not near the floor, and with as few obstructions as possible around the device. Any obstacles near the router will only diminish the Wi-Fi signal, just as sure as overheating will.

If you’re in the mood for improving your Wi-Fi in general, you might want to peruse our full guide on how to boost your Wi-Fi signal strength, which includes advice on positioning, as well as technical tweaks you can apply (such as changing Wi-Fi channels). It might be worth considering a Wi-Fi extender in some scenarios, too (such as getting a better signal in your garden for the summer, perhaps).

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The Smashing Machine sounds like the title of a Wallace & Gromit stop-motion comedy, but it's going to be a much more brutal experience than anything Feathers McGraw could come up with. It's a biographical drama based on real-life UFC legend Mark Kerr with Dwayne Johnson in the lead role.

Kerr himself is very excited: he shared the poster to his Instagram and wrote that he's "in disbelief that this is real". He is "so proud of the work DJ put into becoming The Smashing Machine. I have so much gratitude, humility and respect for every little detail production uncovered."

A post shared by Mark Kerr (@markkerrtsm)

A photo posted by on

This isn't the first time Kerr's story has been told on screen. There's another movie about his career which was made back in 2022 – but while the trailer is available to stream (and embedded below), you can't stream the movie, although I'll be amazed if one of the best streaming services doesn't buy the rights when the new movie's publicity starts to pick up steam.

What was the original Smashing Machine?

The 2002 movie, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, was critically acclaimed for its unflinching portrayal of the brutality of some of Kerr's earlier battles, and of Kerr's struggles with addiction.

It's a tough watch and of course, it's often very violent. And it sounds like it'll have very little in common tonally with A24's take on the same story.

While the new movie isn't out yet, some sites are running stories based on early viewings – and one of them, Worldofreel.com, says it could be the weirdest movie of 2025. According to Jordan Ruimy, "judging by what I’ve heard, there is zero doubt in my mind people are not ready for the type of film in store".

Ruimi describes it as "gonzo filmmaking", "not Oscar-bait in the least" and "one of the weirdest films A24 has ever produced." Given that this is the studio that gave us Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommar and The Lighthouse that's quite the claim.

(Image credit: A24)

The A24 movie will be released in theaters on October 3, 2025, and given Warner Bros. Discovery deal with the indie powerhouse, we can expect The Smashing Machine to stream on Max in the US after its box office run.

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Marvel Rivals patch notes arrive every couple of weeks or so, bringing bug fixes, Hero balancing changes, and more general updates. Sometimes, as is the case with the most recent patch, events are added, and certain Heroes receive buffs or nerfs to better bring them in line with the ongoing meta. Season 2's latest patch notes are now live, and they focus on improving the performance of a handful of Strategists.

These constant changes to Marvel Rivals help keep Competitive Mode fresh while providing a steady stream of reasons for players to check back in regularly. Since launch, Marvel Rivals has really proven itself as a worthy contender, landing on our list of the best free games and the best crossplay games.

Here are the latest Marvel Rivals patch notes for April 30, 2025. These outline buffs to Strategists like Adam Warlock and Mantis, while Captain America receives a nerf to his survivability. Read on for more info.

Update (April 30, 2025): Detailed Patch Notes for Marvel Rivals build version 20250430, which adds a new event and some significant buffs to Strategists. There's also a much-welcome change to the ranked points scoring system. More below.

Marvel Rivals patch notes for April 30, 2025

(Image credit: NetEase)

The latest Marvel Rivals patch notes detail changes added to the game on April 30 at 9:00 UTC. The main updates are as follows:

• All-New Event - Hellfire Gala: Moments
• Winter Soldier - Thunderbolts* Bundle (store)
• Black Panther - Damisa-Sarki Bundle (store)
• Thor's "Lord of Asgard" costume has been refined to improve visibility and ensure the crosshair isn't obstructed.
• Doctor Strange's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" costume now boasts enhanced visual details and voice effects to more accurately capture the essence of the costume theme.
• You can now switch all costume-specific sound effects back to the default ones via Settings.
• Using the latest S2.0 data, we've recalibrated the baseline data for calculating each hero's performance scores.
• Locked accounts can now initiate the account deletion process even from a logged-out state.
• Hero balancing changes (full info later in this page)

These are just the main updates that arrived in Marvel Rivals alongside the latest patch. For full detail on all bug fixes, visit the Marvel Rivals blog.

Marvel Rivals balancing changes

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Below, you'll find a list of the latest balancing changes in Marvel Rivals, detailing the buffs and nerfs that've been applied to each character.

• Captain America - Reduce base health from 650 to 600
• Doctor Strange - Decrease the energy cost to unleash the Eye of Agamotto (Ultimate Ability) from 3400 to 3100
• Groot - Reduce the health of Ironwood Wall from 700 to 600
• Spider-Man - Decrease the damage range of Amazing Combo from a 5m radius to a 4m radius
• Winter Soldier - Adjust the Tainted Voltage ability to have 2 charge levels, while keeping the cooldown time unchanged
• Adam Warlock - Add a new effect to Quantum Magic: When a critical hit lands on an enemy, reduce the cooldown time of Avatar Life Stream by 1s
• Cloak & Dagger - As Cloak, increase the damage of the Darkforce Cloak from 75/s to 80/s; As Dagger, increase the damage of the Lightforce Dagger on hit from 15 to 18
• Luna Snow - Adjust the Damage Falloff of Light & Dark Ice from 60% at 40m to 75%
• Mantis - Increase the hit damage of Life Energy Blast from 50 to 55
• Stars Aligned (Captain America - Winter Soldier Team Up) - Upon leaping to a teammate, Stellar Impact will provide 50 Bonus Health to allies within range

As you can see, the latest Marvel Rivals Hero balances apply to Strategists, upping their damage, or making their abilities more useful. Winter Soldier and Doctor Strange also get a buff, While Captain America, Groot and Spider-Man receive a slight nerf.

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• A new ChatGPT shopping experience is launching for all users
• Early users have expressed displeasure with the new recommendations
• Comparisons are being drawn to Corey Doctrow's "enshittification" concept

According to a new Reddit thread, some users are not happy with the new shopping features that are being integrated into ChatGPT and are rolling out now.

The new features make it easy to search for and buy consumer products online using ChatGPT's search feature combined with its rich natural-language prompts.

Reddit user 'Kjfitz', who started the thread, titled it, “the enshittification has arrived” in reference to the infamous neologism championed by Cory Doctrow in a 2022 essay about Amazon, which is generally used to describe how commercial pressures cause the experience of using platforms like Amazon, Google, and Facebook to gradually deteriorate over time as more monetization features are added.

The "Enshittification" has arrived from r/ChatGPT

“I asked ChatGPT about the impact of the current tariffs on inventories over the next few months. It returned a long list of links to toiletries I might want to buy”, said Kjfitz. “I asked it why it did that. It replied:

"As of April 28, 2025, OpenAI introduced new shopping features to ChatGPT, enhancing its capabilities to provide product recommendations complete with images, reviews, and direct purchase links. These features are available to all users, including those on Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, and even to users not logged in. The recommendations are generated organically, without paid advertisements or commission-based incentives, relying instead on structured metadata from third-party sources such as pricing, product descriptions, and reviews.​

"This update aims to offer a more personalized and streamlined shopping experience directly within the ChatGPT interface, allowing users to explore products across various categories like fashion, beauty, electronics, and home goods. If you have any specific preferences or need tailored recommendations, feel free to let me know!"

Other Reddit users were quick to express their displeasure with the new features. In reference to the notice that "The recommendations are generated organically, without paid advertisements or commission-based incentives" User 'crystallin' commented, “I give it less than six months before that changes.”

“Good God. Imagine the people using ChatGPT for mental health advice and it starts saying “you know what’ll fix your relationship with your kids? Switching to Allstate”, said Reddit user 'rosencranberry'.

A gradual deterioration

In 2024, the Macquarie Dictionary, the national dictionary of Australia, picked “enshittification” as its word of the year, describing it as “the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.”

It should be noted that currently there are no paid adverts or sponsored links attached to any of the shopping features in ChatGPT; however there's nothing to stop these being added in the future.

We’re still in the early days of shopping features being added to chatbots, and the AI search engine Perplexity has already made some inroads into adding shopping features, but this is the first time e-commerce features have been added to ChatGPT search.

“We’ll continue to bring merchants along our journeys as we quickly learn and iterate”, said OpenAI commenting on the launch of the new features yesterday.

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• Security researchers found dozens of flaws in Apple's AirPlay protocol
• Some of them allowed remote code execution attacks
• Apple has released patches addressing the flaws

Apple’s AirPlay Protocol and AirPlay Software Development Kit (SDK) carried numerous vulnerabilities that could be abused to run remote code execution (RCE) attacks, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, or denial of service (DoS) attacks. To make matters worse, some of these vulnerabilities could be used in zero-click attacks, meaning to pull it off - no interaction from the victim is required.

Cybersecurity researchers Oligo Security found 23 flaws and collectively dubbed them AirBorne. Two of the flaws could be used in RCE attacks, which are now tracked as CVE-2025-24252, and CVE-2025-24132. There is also CVE-2025-24206, a user interaction bypass vulnerability that allows crooks to bypass “Accept” click requirements on AirPlay requests.

"This means that an attacker can take over certain AirPlay-enabled devices and do things like deploy malware that spreads to devices on any local network the infected device connects to. This could lead to the delivery of other sophisticated attacks related to espionage, ransomware, supply-chain attacks, and more," Oligo warned.

'Vast and concerning'

"Because AirPlay is a fundamental piece of software for Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, etc.) as well as third-party devices that leverage the AirPlay SDK, this class of vulnerabilities could have far-reaching impacts."

The potential reach of AirBorne exploitation is “vast and concerning”, CyberInsider argues. The publication claims Apple’s wireless streaming protocol is “critical” to the company’s ecosystem and is operating on 2.35 billion active devices all over the world.

It argues that, in theory, a threat actor could compromise a MacBook at a coffee shop, and later use it as a steppingstone into an enterprise network, once the compromised device connects to the company’s Wi-Fi.

Apple has since fixed the flaws with iOS and iPadOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and visionOS 2.4. The AirPlay audio SDK, the AirPlay video SDK, and the CarPlay Communication Plug-in have all been updated, as well.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Colorful has two new RTX 5060 gaming laptops on the horizon
• Benchmarks have leaked which indicates a sizeable leap over the RTX 4060 laptop GPU
• 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM may suffice for both laptop and desktop GPUs

We're still waiting for Nvidia's RTX 5060 GPU to launch, a GPU that is expected to complete Team Green’s Blackwell GPU lineup (at least, before the rumored Super models). Now, we have some early insight into the laptop version of this GPU's performance, which could strongly indicate what the desktop counterpart has to offer.

As reported by VideoCardz, Chinese laptop maker Colorful has two new Nvidia RTX 5060 gaming laptops on the way. Most importantly, benchmarks have already leaked (pictured below) for both systems; the Colorful iGame M15 Origo and the Colorful P15 Pro, which also use Intel's powerful Ultra 9 285H and Core i9-13900HX processors respectively.

Using the OpenCL API (used in general computing applications), the iGame M15 Origo scored 102,564 points while the P15 Pro hit 109,431 points. It's worth noting that there are no leaked Vulkan benchmarks, which is a graphics API commonly used in plenty of triple-A games, so these scores don't give us the full picture.

However, VideoCardz notably does highlight that the RTX 5060 laptop GPU is roughly 18% faster than its predecessor, the RTX 4060, thanks to its GDDR7 VRAM over the latter’s GDDR6 and more GPU cores.

There's no official confirmation of these laptops from either Colorful or Nvidia, so this leak is all we have at the moment - apply salt pinches where necessary. The purported leap over its predecessor suggests that 8GB GDDR7 may be enough to provide good performance - the same could be true of its desktop variant as well.

(Image credit: Geekbench) I still want 8GB GPUs gone for good, but I think GDDR7 speeds will be the difference

Now, don't get me wrong, I still absolutely want 8GB GPUs to be long gone. Modern games - especially poorly-optimized PC ports - are frequently very VRAM-hungry, to the point where 8GB can be too low for some triple-A titles. However, both RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPUs could highly benefit from the upgrade to GDDR7 memory, and these benchmarks indicate a significant leap over the RTX 4060 based on older Geekbench tests.

With the anticipated improvements, I think 8GB of VRAM is slightly more acceptable for budget gaming laptops; particularly since gaming laptops with less powerful GPUs typically stick with 1080p and often don't go much higher than 1440p (which already makes no sense to me).

The potential of improved base frame rates, coupled with the advantage of Nvidia’s new DLSS 4 resolution upscaling and Multi Frame Generation, could make RTX 5060 laptops more appealing to budget gamers.

The desktop GPU is naturally expected to outperform the laptop variant (if it doesn't, something is seriously wrong), and these benchmarks tell me that the RTX 5060 may fare slightly better than I expected. Let's just hope that laptop pricing doesn't get too unrealistic, considering Nvidia's announced starting price of $1,099 for its major manufacturing partners.

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Some filmmakers become legends, and perhaps the most legendary filmmaker of all is Alfred Hitchcock. And now many of his most iconic movies, and movies inspired by the 'Master of Suspense', are coming to Netflix.

One of the movies you can stream from the 1st of June happens to be my favorite Hitchcock film, The Birds. Even decades on, it's a masterclass in suspense and creeping dread, and I still get the fear when I see more than a few black birds in real life.

Can't wait for Hitchcock's films to become some of the best Netflix movies to stream in June? Psycho, which had previously been available on Prime Video, is already streaming on Netflix if you're in the mood for screaming.

Which Hitchcock films will you be able to stream?

While Netflix hasn't revealed the entire list of Hitchcock movies that will be made available in the collection, we do know that five other masterpieces from the filmmaker will be added.

These include Vertigo, Rear Window, Frenzy, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Family Plot and "more". Netflix will also be including films strongly influenced by Hitchcock's work including Us and Barbarian, as well as a narrative feature called Hitchcock about his work and legacy directed by Sacha Gervasi.

It'll be interesting to see if the feature also talks about his cruelty: Hitchcock may have been a great director but as The Atlantic carefully put it he was "stringent with – and sometimes even sadistic toward – his female leads".

If you're in New York or intend to be, Netflix is also presenting a Hitchcock special at the Paris Theater from May 16 through June 29. 'HITCH! The Original Cinema Influencer' is a six-week screening of over 50 films, including 36 directed by Hitchcock himself and more than a dozen more movies bearing his influence, made in collaboration with him or in homage to his style.

35 of the movies will be shown in 35mm, including Rear Window, Vertigo and North by Northwest, Francois Truffaut’s The Bride Wore Black and Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Dialbolique.

The Alfred Hitchcock Collection will arrive on Netflix, one of the best streaming services, on June 1.

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• You can now talk to Perplexity AI from within WhatsApp
• Perplexity joins Meta AI and ChatGPT inside the app
• The move raises privacy concerns after comments from Perplexity’s CEO

If you regularly converse with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, it might seem like a natural move to talk to them inside your favorite messaging app. Well, you’ve just gained a new option, as you’re now able to chat with Perplexity AI directly within WhatsApp.

To get started, all you have to do is add the following number within WhatsApp: +1 (833) 436-3285. Once that number is in your list of contacts, you can chat with Perplexity AI till your heart’s content.

Announcing the move on X, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said that you’ll be able to get “answers, sources, image generation” from your WhatsApp chats, with “a lot more features coming soon.”

In a video accompanying the post on X, Srinivas asked Perplexity what they would look like if they were bald, then attached a headshot of themselves to the question. Perplexity replied with a doctored image of Srinivas with a bald head.

ChatGPT in WhatsApp

(Image credit: OpenAI)

Perplexity is just the latest AI chatbot to be added to WhatsApp. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, has added its own Meta AI tool to the app in the form of a permanent button in the lower-right corner. This gives you quick access to the company’s AI but also means you might accidentally trigger it since you can’t hide the icon.

If you’d rather your AI conversations appeared in your list of chats like those with living, human contacts, there are other options besides Perplexity. For instance, ChatGPT has recently become available in WhatsApp, and it can be contacted by adding the number +1 (800) 242-8478 to the app.

That said, you might have second thoughts about using a tool like Perplexity based on recent comments from its CEO. According to TechCrunch, Srinivas said Perplexity wants to build its upcoming Comet browser so that it can collect extensive data on its users, then sell that personal information to the highest bidder.

If that concerns you, you might want to think twice about feeding Perplexity’s WhatsApp AI with your personal questions.

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• WiZ has launched a new device to rival the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box
• The WiZ HDMI Sync Box uses the same tech, but is less than half the price
• It comes with an LED light strip, and can be synced with extra lights too

WiZ makes some of the best smart lights for home owners on a budget, and now it's taking the fight to Philips Hue with a new Sync Box that mirrors the colors on your TV screen, and mirrors them using a connected light strip or bars.

It's the same principle as Philips Ambilight technology, and effectively 'blurs' the edges of the screen for a more immersive movie or gaming experience.

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is the best Ambilight alternative around today, but it's also the most expensive. The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K, which launched in September 2024, has a list price of $349.99 / £299.99 (about AU$520), while the 4K version is $249.99 / £229.99 (about AU$390).

That's before you add the cost of the lights themselves, whether that's a set of Philips Hue Play Light Bars, or a Gradient Light Strip to stick on the back of your TV.

There are several affordable options available from brands like Nanoleaf and Govee, but even the best Ambilight alternatives struggle to match the performance of the Philips Hue Play system. That's because most budget-friendly color-mirroring systems use a camera mounted on top of your TV to monitor what's being displayed on the screen, then replicate those colors.

Although this can work well, it often results in more latency than using HDMI, and can be affected by reflections and lighting conditions in the room. That can break the immersion, or even become a distraction.

(Image credit: Signify) More immersion, less cash

The new WiZ HDMI Sync Box uses HDMI input instead, which eliminates these problems and means there's no need to spend time calibrating the system either.

The WiZ HDMI Sync Box supports HDMI 2.0 and video formats up to 4K, and unlike the Philips Hue Play Sync Box 4K it comes with a light strip included. To extend the lighting throughout the rest of your room you can also pair it with the WiZ Gradient Light Bars and Gradient Floor Light.

The WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV backlight is available in two sizes. The kit for 55-inch to 65-inch TVs is £79.99 (about $110 / AU$170), while the version for 75-inch to 85-inch TVs is £99.99 (about $130 / AU$210).

The smaller kit is available now in the UK and Europe, while the larger set will go on sale in September. Prices and release dates for the rest of the world have yet to be announced.

We'll be testing the WiZ HDMI Sync Box very soon, and will bring you a full review so you can see how it compares with the pricier Philips Hue alternative, and decide which is the best companion for your home entertainment setup.

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