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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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, April 22 (game #681).

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 #682) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BEAN
• GAG
• TRUNK
• MUZZLE
• TAIL
• MAY
• ACT
• PAW
• TAD
• BIT
• ROOT
• SKETCH
• BRANCH
• FLAG
• FUR
• LEAF

NYT Connections today (game #682) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: In the woods
• GREEN: Cats and dogs
• BLUE: Stand up
• PURPLE: Add a word that rhyme with “coal”

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 #682) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A TREE 
• GREEN: CANINE/FELINE FEATURES 
• BLUE: COMEDIC ROUTINE 
• PURPLE: ____ POLE 

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

NYT Connections today (game #682) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #682, are…

• YELLOW: PARTS OF A TREE BRANCH, LEAF, ROOT, TRUNK
• GREEN: CANINE/FELINE FEATURES FUR, MUZZLE, PAW, TAIL
• BLUE: COMEDIC ROUTINE ACT, BIT, GAG, SKETCH
• PURPLE: ____ POLE BEAN, FLAG, MAY, TAD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

A fairly straightforward Connections day without any trickery or words that can go in several groups.

My only detour was thinking that there could be a common thread about mouth coverings, but it didn’t get much further than GAG and MUZZLE.

I got today's puzzle in order of difficulty, which always gives me a sense of harmony and that everything is working just the way it should do. On the rare occasions I’ve got the hardest/purple group first it feels as if it is a random fluke (usually it is). 

COMEDIC ROUTINE was missing the one element of a stand-up performance that has become a major part of comedian’s going viral on social media – responding to hecklers. That said, dealing with abusive audience members has become so commonplace it probably qualifies as a BIT.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, April 22, game #681)

• YELLOW: CANCEL, AS A PROJECT AXE, CUT, DROP, SCRAP
• GREEN: SEEN IN A POTTERY STUDIO CLAY, GLAZE, KILN, WHEEL
• BLUE: THINGS THAT ARE SLIPPERY BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE, ICE
• PURPLE: NATURAL PRODUCERS OF HEAT FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN, VOLCANO

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, April 22 (game #415).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… What a softie!

NYT Strands today (game #416) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• LEFT
• STEP
• SLURP
• LEAN
• PEST
• SLICK

NYT Strands today (game #416) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #416) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 2nd column

Last side: bottom, 5th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #416) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #416, are…

• PEACH
• CATERPILLAR
• CHENILLE
• DUCKLING
• SLIPPERS
• SPANGRAM: GET FUZZY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

The first word I got (PEACH) made me think we were looking for soft fruits, but my search for apricots and berries proved, erm, fruitless. Then I got CATERPILLAR and I was completely confused.

I saw the word caterpillar in stages – first cat, then cater, then the full word unfurling. 

In the dark as to the theme I used a hint to move me forward – ahh, just soft fuzzy stuff, then. I’m still not sure how caterpillars fit in, but I quite like these vague, random Strands themes. 

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, April 22, game #415)

• JUICES
• SOUP
• PASTRIES
• CHAI
• SANDWICHES
• ESPRESSO
• SPANGRAM: CAFE MENU

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.

No more surprise cleaning charges, as a new FTC rule will require disclosure of hidden costs.

A food scientist explains cultured and hybrid meats are the food of the future.

Google and Samsung took the world by storm with their surprise Android XR glasses announcement – which was complete with an impressive prototype demonstration at a TED 2025 event – but you don’t need to wait until 2026 (which is when the glasses are rumored to be launching) to try some excellent XR smart glasses for yourself.

In fact, we’ve just updated our best smart glasses guide with two fantastic new options that you can pick up right now. This includes a new entry in our number one slot for the best AR specs you can buy (the Xreal One glasses) and a new pick in our best affordable smart glasses slot called the RayNeo Air 3S glasses.

(Image credit: Jason Redmond / TED)

Admittedly these specs aren’t quite what Google and Samsung are boasting the Android XR glasses will be, but the Xreal and RayNeo glasses are more for entertainment – you connect them to a compatible phone, laptop or console to enjoy your film, TV or gaming content on a giant virtual screen wherever you are – and they’re damn good at what they do.

What’s more they’re a lot less pricey than the Android XR glasses are likely to be (based on pricing rumors for the similar Ray-Ban Meta AR glasses), so if you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of AR before it takes off then these two glasses will serve you well.

The best of the best

So, let’s start with the Xreal One glasses: our new number one pick, that are easily the best of the best AR smart glasses around.

As I mentioned before these smart specs are perfect for entertainment – both on-the-go and at-home (say in a cramped apartment, or when you want to relax in bed). You simply connect them to a compatible device via their USB-C cable and you watch your favorite show, film, or game play out on a giant virtual screen that functions like your own private cinema.

This feature appears on other AR smart glasses, but the Xreal One experience is on another level thanks to the full-HD 120Hz OLED screens, which boast up to 600-nits of brightness. This allows the glasses to produce vibrant images that have superb contrast for watching dark scenes.

(Image credit: Future)

Image quality is further improved by electrochromically-dimmable lenses – lenses which can be darkened or brightened via electrical input that you can toggle with a switch on the glasses.

At their clearest the lenses allow you to easily see what’s going on around you, while at their darkest the lenses serve as the perfect backdrop to whatever you’re watching – blocking out most errant external light that would ruin their near-perfect picture.

Beyond their picture, these glasses are also impressive thanks to their speakers which are the best I’ve heard from smart glasses.

With sound tuned by Bose (creators of some of the best headphones around) the Xreal One glasses can deliver full-bodied audio across highs, midtones and bass.

You will find that using a separate pair of headphones can still elevate your audio experience (especially because they leak less sound than these glasses will), however, these are the first smart glasses I’ve tested where a pair of cans feels like an optional add-on rather than an essential accessory.

The Xreal Beam Pro is a superb companion (Image credit: Xreal)

Couple all that with a superb design that’s both functional, and fairly fashionable, and you’ve got a stellar pair of AR glasses. Things get even better if you snag a pair with an Xreal Beam Pro (an Android spatial computer which turns your glasses into a complete package, rather than a phone accessory).

Plus, it only looks set to get better with the upcoming Xreal Eye add-on which will allow the glasses to take first-person photos and videos, and which may help unlock some new spatial computing powers, if we’re lucky.

The best on a budget (but still awesome)

At $499 / £449 the Xreal One glasses are a little pricey. If you’re on a budget you’ll want to try the RayNeo Air 3S glasses instead.

These smart glasses cost just $269 (around £205 / AU$435). For that you’ll get access to their 650-nit full-HD micro-OLED setup that produces great images and audio that doesn’t necessitate a pair of headphones.

(Image credit: Future)

They’re a lot like the Xreal One glasses, but do boast a few downgrades as you might expect.

The audio performance isn’t quite as impressive. It’s fine without headphones but isn’t quite as rich as Xreal’s alternative, and it’s more leaky (so if you use these while travelling your fellow passengers may hear what’s going on too).

What’s more, while on paper their image quality should be better than the Xreal glasses the overall result isn’t quite as vibrant because the reflective lenses the glasses use as a backdrop aren’t as effective as the electrochromic dimming used by the Xreal Ones.

This allows more light to sneak through the backdrop leading to image clarity issues (such as the picture appearing washed out) if you’re trying to use the glasses in a brighter environment.

They also lack any kind of camera add-on option if that’s a feature you care about.

(Image credit: RayNeo)

But these glasses are still very impressive, as are the specs, and I think most people should buy them because their value proposition is simply so fantastic.

Whether you pick the Xreal One glasses of RayNeo Air 3S smart glasses you’ll be in for a treat – and if you love the taste of AR they provide you’ll have a better idea of whether the Android XR and other AR glasses will be worth your time.

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• The X5 is an update of the X4 with a bigger sensor, better build quality and longer battery life
• We're still waiting for DJI's rumored 360 camera, plus the GoPro Max 2
• The Insta360 X5 standard version costs $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99

Our favorite 360-degree camera by a long shot just got even better with a decent, if iterative update.

The new Insta360 X5 comes a year after the X4, armed with improved low-light image quality and refined video modes, plus very welcome design tweaks including fully replaceable lenses – our X5 first impressions are on the way shortly.

The X5 steals a march on DJI's rumored 360-degree camera plus the yet-to-be announced GoPro Max 2, the release of which has been stalled by GoPro for years.

It might not be a huge upgrade, but the X5 is better than the X4 where it matters most, and further extends Insta360's dominance in the 360 camera space – and it only costs a fraction more than the X4 did at launch.

The Insta360 X5 Standard Version costs $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99, while the Essentials Bundle costs $659.99 / £609.99 / AU$1,109.99 and includes an extra battery, fast charge case, 114cm invisible selfie stick, standard lens guards, lens cap and carry case.

Let's take a look at what's new in 2025's model.

(Image credit: Insta360) The X5's updates will go a long way improving real-world use

Top of the X5 upgrades list is the all-new and larger twin 1/1.28-inch sensors and triple 'AI' chips (versus the twin chips in the X4), which should deliver much better low-light video quality, and we're all for those improvements.

The X4's smaller sensor and 8K resolution are pushed to their limits in every scenario other than optimum brightness, but the X5, complete with its PureVideo mode, appears to be an altogether more versatile 360 camera.

Active HDR video in 5.7K resolution is now available at up to 60fps, whereas previously the resolution and frame rates were more limited – and that's something we noticed in our X4 review.

Build quality has also been improved, with tougher, fully replaceable lenses that are sure to be a hit with demanding users. 360 cameras have bulbous twin lenses that are at risk of damage – but here they can be swapped out in the event of any mishaps.

We also get a magnetic mount on the camera's underside a la GoPro, which makes moving the camera between mounts all the easier and quicker.

Waterproofing has been upped to 49ft / 15m, plus there's a higher-capacity battery for longer record times – now up to three hours for 5.7K, an approximately 40% increase from the X4. The X5's battery can also be charged to 80% via USB-C in just 20 minutes.

A built-in wind guard with wind-reduction mode improves in-camera audio quality, while a new wireless mic accessory is designed to easily pair with the X5, and makes it a viable option as a vlogging camera – in fact, the X5 could be your one-stop action and vlogging camera.

(Image credit: Insta360)

Crucially, it looks like the editing process for 360-degree videos has been refined, with new features and tools in Insta360's app. These include the new InstaFrame mode, which simultaneously records a flat video with auto frame (including AI subject-detection skills) to keep your subject at the center of the action for video output, with no editing needed, plus a 360-degree version of the video which can be kept as back up for further edits, should you wish. Stats from the likes of Apple Watch and Garmin devices can be overlaid, too.

And those sizable video files can be automatically backed up to the cloud using the Insta360+ Cloud Service, with Basic 200GB, Pro 1TB and Premium 2TYB subscription options – prices are on the Insta360 website.

We think Insta360 has delivered some sensible updates over the X4 that should make the X5 the more versatile camera to shoot, edit and upload with. We'll be bringing you our hands-on first impressions shortly, but – spoiler alert if it wasn't already obvious – the X5 is the new 360-degree camera to beat.

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• Bob Lord and Lauren Zabierek announced they are leaving CISA
• Neither said where they would go next
• Resignations and redundancies could be causing a brain drain at CISA

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has lost two senior officials on the same day. Bob Lord, and Lauren Zabierek both announced they were leaving the agency on LinkedIn, in the span of an hour.

Bob Lord served as a Senior Technical Advisor at CISA since 2022. Before that, he was the Chief Security Officer at the Democratic National Committee from 2018, where he joined after spending roughly two years as Yahoo’s Chief Information Security Officer.

Lauren Zabierek, on the other hand, was a CISA senior advisor with previous roles in Recorded Future, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

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Brain drain

Both expressed their gratitude for being given the opportunity to serve their country, and neither said where they would go from here.

In a new report, The Record says that the departures are the latest sign of a “brain drain” that’s taking place at CISA. “The Trump administration could soon axe up to 1,300 employees, cutting about half of CISA’s full-time staff, and another 40% of its contractors,” it said.

The publication also reminded that the agency also tried to fire 130 probational staffers but was blocked by the court. Also, the Department of Homeland Security tried to buy out employees who voluntarily resigned by April 14.

CISA Executive Director Bridget Bean said the agency “remains laser-focused on working across the public and private sectors to improve the nation’s cybersecurity.”

“This is why we continue to urge companies to develop products that are secure by design, instead of passing the cost of poorly designed products on to consumers,” she added. “While CISA’s approaches to Secure by Design evolve, our commitment to the principles remain steadfast. I thank Bob Lord and Lauren Zabierek for helping to lay the foundation on which future work in this space can be built.”

Via The Record

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• Fortnite is celebrating Star Wars with a five-part saga starting May 2
• New updates for Fortnite: Galactic Battle will be released weekly until June and add new Star Wars-themed features
• Players will be able to unlock new Star Wars skins like Darth Jar Jar

Star Wars is coming back to Fortnite next month for an all-new collaboration that will be updated over five weeks.

Announced during Star Wars Celebration, Fortnite: Galactic Battle begins on May 2 and is a five-part saga where players will "experience new Star Wars gameplay" every week until June, which will lead to an in-game narrative live event.

This celebration event will include a fresh Star Wars-themed Battle Pass inspired by iconic characters from the franchise that players will be able to unlock as skins, including Emperor Palpatine, Wookie Cuddle Team Leader, Darth Jar Jar, and more.

From the new trailer, which you can watch below, it looks like Luke Skywalker and Mace Windu will also be making an appearance, and players will be able to pilot and co-pilot X-wings and TIE fighters, and explore themed map locations.

The first part of Galactic Battle begins on May 2 with Imperial Takeover and will be followed by four more updates across four more weeks. You can check out the dates below.

• Imperial Takeover – May 2, 2025
• The Pull of the Force – May 8, 2025
• Mandalorian Rising – May 22, 2025
• Star Destroyer Bombardment – May 29, 2025
• Death Star Sabotage – June 7, 2025

Fortnite Chapter 6 is currently ongoing with Fortnite: Lawless, and will end on May 2 when Fortnite: Galactic Battle kicks off, so there's still time to complete any challenges and the season's Battle Pass before then.

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• Andor season 2's multi-year story will show how Cassian and Bix's relationship evolves
• Diego Luna and Adria Arjona have teased a "complex but beautiful" dynamic between them
• The Star Wars show's final season works to this dynamic's benefit, Luna added

Andor season 2 will show how the "complex but beautiful" relationship between Cassian and Bix changes in the four years before Rogue One.

Diego Luna and Adria Arjona, who play the duo in the Star Wars TV show, suggested that their characters' dynamic will shift and evolve throughout its final season. And, while they wouldn't be drawn on where the series leaves their relationship leading into Rogue One, it sounds like they'll individually and collectively be put through the emotional wringer.

As a TV prequel that directly leads into the aforementioned 2016 Star War movie, Andor's second and final season has to end with a particular outcome.

However, the steps taken to reach that point weren't predetermined during Rogue One's development. As such, the Disney+ show's cast and crew had the freedom to reach that marker in whatever way they saw fit.

Bix and Cassian's relationship will be put through the wringer in season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

With only one more season left to fill in the gaps between Andor season 1 and Rogue One, though, the series' second installment had to do plenty of lifting on the storytelling and character evolution front.

Indeed, the 12 episodes that comprise season 2 are split into four trilogy-style events, which each three-episode arc depicting a specific event in each of the four years between Andor's debut season and its sequel film. For more information on the Star Wars timeline, read our guide on how to watch the Star Wars movies and TV shows in order.

But I digress. This season's four-year narrative cycle provided the cast of Andor season 2, Luna and Arjona included, with the opportunity to explore the ever-changing dynamics between their characters. And, as the pair told me prior to one of the best Disney+ shows' return, that not only allowed them to examine the ups and downs that every relationship faces, but how the addition of a third wheel – the growth of the nascent Rebel Alliance – impacts it, too.

TOMORROW.Don't miss the three-episode premiere of Andor Season 2, streaming tomorrow on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/jAA1Wb8YiLApril 21, 2025

"Their relationship is so dependent on what happens outside of them," Arjona told me, "And I think that's one of the reasons why it's so complex. It's not just about them. There's something really big happening outside of them and, as the season progresses, you'll see how it just gets more and more complicated."

"This cause is asking for the best from them," Luna added. "And that influences how this relationship evolves. It's very complex and and beautiful, and four years is a good time for a relationship to actually have an arc, which you'll see throughout season two.

There's something really big happening outside of them

Adria Arjona, Andor season 2 actor

"From Cassian's perspective, in season one, he's far from being ready to join a revolution, have a love story, or really connect with anyone else but himself. He's in a very selfish, cynical period of his life.

"Now, he's starting to understand that the real meaning behind everything is making these connections," Luna continued. "He's opening up, being more honest, is finding love, and has a newfound commitment to his ideals. And, it's sad that all of this happens at the same time! One doesn't go with the other and you'll see the full effect of that."

I have plenty more exclusive coverage to bring you in the days and weeks ahead, so be sure to check back in with me soon. In the meantime, read my spoiler-free review of Andor season 2, or read more about this season in the section below.

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• CEOs agree that cybersecurity is now critical for business growth
• Three in five are concerned about cybersecurity threats
• Security leaders should demonstrate the value

More than four in five (85%) CEOs agree that a good cybersecurity strategy is now critical for business growth in an increasingly digital and connected world.

The figures, from a Gartner study, reveal that three-fifths (61%) are concerned about cybersecurity threats, which the emergence of artificial intelligence has influenced.

Gartner also noted that risk thresholds have shifted, with changes in commercial activity and political debates about AI, adding that cybersecurity has evolved to something far greater than just a protection system.

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Cybersecurity is now a core business consideration

“With 85% of CEOs recognising its importance, security leaders have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the value of cybersecurity investments not only in safeguarding assets but also in enabling strategic business objectives,” explained Distinguished VP Analyst David Furlogner.

The report also touches on regulatory changes when it comes to AI, with CEOs seeing a direct linkage between cybersecurity capabilities and enterprise growth. In order to inform their strategies, Gartner says security leaders should assess risks in foreign markets and intellectual property protection.

“CEOs should highlight the role of security leaders in both protecting the business and enhancing cybersecurity to drive growth,” Furlonger continued, suggesting that change must come from the fundamental C-suite level.

However, while it’s on CEOs to demonstrate the role of security leaders, Furlonger says it’s on security leaders to demonstrate the value of their strategy: “Security leaders are positioned to significantly influence value generation, and they should communicate how cybersecurity aids enterprise growth.”

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In the weeks that follow the passing of a pontiff, the city of Rome, and the Vatican in particular, comes alive with discussions over which man is best suited to next lead the Church.

(Image credit: Uncredited/AP)

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• Fire TV Sticks may move to a new OS later this year
• Vega OS is already running on some Echo devices
• Third-party Fire TVs may stick with Android for now

Amazon is making huge changes to its Fire TV platform this year in a move that's definitely coming to us from the "What could go wrong?" files.

A new report says that the Fire TV Stick devices will be shipping with a completely new operating system later this year. The devices currently run a modified version of Android, but the move will be to Amazon's own Vega OS.

As someone who dreads the inevitable issues that even a minor software or firmware change can cause, I'm not sure this is going to be a smooth transition with every bug and incompatibility stomped from day one. And it's also going to reduce the flexibility of future Fire TV devices.

The software change is expected to come to Fire TV Sticks long before it appears in Fire TVs. (Image credit: Amazon) What is Amazon doing with its Fire TV software?

According to well-informed TV tech writer Janko Roettgers, Amazon is "courting major publishers" to bring their apps to the new operating system: unlike the current OS, Vega won't support Android apps, and they can't be ported over.

While Vega OS hasn't been officially announced, it'll be arriving on a new, non-Android TV streaming device later this year according to Roettgers.

Vega is based on the Linux operating system, and Roettgers discovered its existence in 2023. It already powers the Echo Show 5, the Echo Hub and the Echo Spot.

Roettgers says that some big names are already on board. "I’ve been able to confirm that Paramount, Rakuten and the BBC’s UKTV subsidiary are among the publishers building TV apps using the Kepler SDK," says the report.

It doesn't look like the move will apply to Fire TV televisions from Amazon's partners: they appear to be moving to Android 14, based on other documentation. Perhaps that update will come to existing Fire TV Sticks and Cubes too.

However, speculation that this Android 14 move meant Vega was being ditched appears to be incorrect, at least according to Roettgers. The big danger here is that Amazon may end up releasing a new device that's inferior to the existing ones – with more limited app supported, less well-embedded features, and more chance of bugs and problems.

The launched of Vega on Fire Sticks has reportedly already been delayed once, and there's not a lot of time to get all apps polished and ready for a 2025 launch, so perhaps it'll be pushed back again – watch this space.

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Everybody loves a good medical drama, as the success of The Pitt shows. That's why Grey's Anatomy continues to sit atop the streaming charts.

It's currently the ninth most-watched show on Hulu this past week and has remained in the top 10 since becoming the second most-streamed show in 2024. With over 20 seasons to stream, that's a lot of red hot white coat action.

If you've already binged one of the best Hulu shows, or if you're looking for something medical-themed but in a different way, there's no shortage of medical-set shows to stream online: TV networks know they're reliable ratings-grabbers, so they've been making them for decades.

That makes Hulu particularly good for ER-based adventures: its catalog of network TV shows is more packed than the waiting area of your local ER. And among those shows are three that are particularly likely to get your heart monitor beeping.

ER

I need to warn you about this one: if like me you watched ER back in the day, the sight of Robbie from The Pitt (Noah Wyle) as fresh-faced junior Dr Carter will make you feel older than Methuselah. The mid-90s show is very similar to The Pitt in its fast-paced action and ensemble cast, and it made a star of a young actor called George Clooney.

The show was highly rated by critics – season 2 got the full 100% rating – but it's worth noting that while ER was pretty good in its portrayal of gay and lesbian characters, like other shows of the 90s its portrayal of trans and intersex characters is appalling.

House

What if Sherlock Holmes, but in a hospital? That's the elevator pitch for House, in which cranky genius Dr Gregory House (Hugh Lawrie, an incredible bit of casting) solves medical mysteries.

Like ER its second season has the full 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and while it's less impactful now its high production values and its use of a terribly flawed human – House is a misanthrope and a drug addict – as the hero made it stand out from the medical drama crowd.

9-1-1

With a 94% rating for its eighth season, 9-1-1 clearly doesn't lose any of its momentum: it gets better as it goes along. It's about first responders dealing with traumatic events, and watching Season 1 the Financial Times predicted that "it could yet turn out to be a classic of the lantern-jawed hero genre."

Like many shows it can teeter on the edge of silliness and sometimes falls right into it, but that's part of the appeal: as Paste Magazine put it, "this trashy show is spectacular [and] you must immediately begin watching this nonsense."

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• Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has teased the future of the Super Mario Bros. series
• When asked about the absence of a mainline Mario game for the Switch 2, Bowser said, "Stay tuned"
• He says Nintendo has a big catalog and that he's "sure will make its way to the platform"

Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser may have teased the next mainline Super Mario game for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Speaking to CNN following the big Switch 2 Direct, Bowser was asked about the noticeable absence of a new mainline Mario game for the Switch 2, something that many were expecting to be revealed, considering the massive success of Super Mario Odyssey last generation.

Bowser didn't confirm or deny that a new mainline Mario game is in development for the new handheld, but he did drop a hint that suggested Nintendo has plans for the series.

"Stay tuned," Bowser said. "You know, we have a long, long catalog, and a long list of (intellectual property) that I’m sure will make its way to the platform."

Although there won't be a new Super Mario game to look forward to anytime soon, Mario Kart World has officially been announced and will be launching alongside the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle which includes a digital copy of the upcoming game.

Pre-orders are now live in the UK. US pre-orders are set to begin on April 24 after Nintendo delayed its initial April 9 date as it assessed the potential impact of tariffs.

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