Technology

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 265, for June 15.

Here are hints and answers for NYT Strands puzzle No. 469 for June 15.

Here are hints and the answer for today's extra-difficult Wordle, No. 1,457 for June 15.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for June 15, #735.

Looking for home internet in Madison? Availability varies by neighborhood, but CNET’s experts have narrowed down the top ISPs to help you choose.

• Attackers use real Google URLs to sneak malware past antivirus and into your browser undetected
• This malware only activates during checkout, making it a silent threat to online payments
• The script opens a WebSocket connection for live control, completely invisible to the average user

A new browser-based malware campaign has surfaced, demonstrating how attackers are now exploiting trusted domains like Google.com to bypass traditional antivirus defenses.

A report from security researchers at c/side, this method is subtle, conditionally triggered, and difficult for both users and conventional security software to detect.

It appears to originate from a legitimate OAuth-related URL, but covertly executes a malicious payload with full access to the user's browser session.

Malware hidden in plain sight

The attack begins with a script embedded in a compromised Magento-based ecommerce site which references a seemingly harmless Google OAuth logout URL: https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/revoke.

However, this URL includes a manipulated callback parameter, which decodes and runs an obfuscated JavaScript payload using eval(atob(...)).

The use of Google’s domain is central to the deception - because the script loads from a trusted source, most content security policies (CSPs) and DNS filters allow it through without question.

This script only activates under specific conditions. If the browser appears automated or the URL includes the word “checkout,” it silently opens a WebSocket connection to a malicious server. This means it can tailor malicious behavior to user actions.

Any payload sent through this channel is base64-encoded, decoded, and executed dynamically using JavaScript’s Function constructor.

The attacker can remotely run code in the browser in real time with this setup.

One of the primary factors influencing this attack's efficacy is its ability to evade many of the best antivirus programs currently on the market.

The script's logic is heavily obfuscated and only activates under certain conditions, making it unlikely to be detected by even the best Android antivirus apps and static malware scanners.

They will not inspect, flag, or block JavaScript payloads delivered through seemingly legitimate OAuth flows.

DNS-based filters or firewall rules also offer limited protection, since the initial request is to Google’s legitimate domain.

In the enterprise environment, even some of the best endpoint protection tools may struggle to detect this activity if they rely heavily on domain reputation or fail to inspect dynamic script execution within browsers.

While advanced users and cybersecurity teams may use content inspection proxies or behavioral analysis tools to identify anomalies like these, average users are still vulnerable.

Limiting third-party scripts, separating browser sessions used for financial transactions, and remaining vigilant about unexpected site behaviors could all help reduce risk in the short term.

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• HP unveils the future of super-HD video meetings, but it comes at a huge price

• Cortical Labs offers cloud access to neuron-powered computing for just $300 a week
• CL1 fuses human brain cells and silicon and can run real code
• System enables real-time neural processing for research in AI and neuroscience

Cortical Labs, an Australian startup we've covered previously, has launched what it describes as the world’s first commercially available biological computer capable of running code.

The CL1 device combines lab-grown human neurons with silicon hardware and is designed for neuroscience, biotech, and artificial intelligence research.

Customers can purchase a CL1 unit outright for $35,000 or access it remotely through a weekly rental priced at $300, with the platform already available via Cortical Labs’ wetware-as-a-service.

A new way to study brain function

Each CL1 contains about 800,000 neurons grown from reprogrammed adult cells. These neurons are kept alive by an integrated life-support system that delivers nutrients and controls the environment.

The neurons communicate and adapt using sub-millisecond electrical signals, which the company says allows the CL1 to process inputs and generate outputs almost instantly, offering a new way to study brain function.

“The CL1 does this in real time using simple code abstracted through multiple interacting layers of firmware and hardware,” Brett Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs told IEEE Spectrum. “Sub-millisecond loops read information, act on it, and write new information into the cell culture.”

The CL1 builds on DishBrain, a proof-of-concept where neurons learned to play Pong in a simulated environment.

The new model increases input channels, improves signal latency, and includes hardware enhancements that make it more suitable for research and potential commercial applications. It has already been used to restore learning function in neural cultures modeling epilepsy.

The device consumes less power than conventional AI hardware and supports use cases including drug development, AI testing, and disease modeling. It requires buyers to obtain ethical approval for new cell lines and to operate within a lab environment.

Karl Friston, a theoretical neuroscientist, called the CL1 a “remarkable achievement” and noted that it provides researchers with a practical platform to test theories about learning, behavior, and brain function using real neurons.

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• The latest Steam beta runs natively on Apple silicon
• Apple is retiring the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer
• Games should run more smoothly and more efficiently

Following WWDC 2025, we've had a flurry of Apple announcements this week, including the news that macOS Tahoe 26 will be the last version to support Intel Macs – and right on cue, Steam has finally delivered a version of its client that runs natively on Apple silicon.

Check in on the release notes for the latest Steam Client Beta (via PC Gamer), and you'll see the all-important news that "Steam Client and Steam Helper apps now run natively on Apple silicon" included in the update details.

Up until now, Steam for macOS has always been coded for x86 Intel chipsets, rather than the ARM chips developed by Apple itself – which has meant that on M-series Macs, the client has worked through the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer Apple provides.

As well as dropping Intel chipset support, leaving older Macs on macOS 26, next year's macOS 27 will be the last version to support Rosetta 2, Apple announced at WWDC 2025. That means developers will have to put out ARM-coded versions of their applications.

How to try it now

(Image credit: Future)

For those of us with no interest in chipset architecture or compatibility layers, this simply means that Steam games on macOS should run more efficiently and smoothly – think faster frame rates and better battery life, on the whole.

You should also find the Steam client launches more quickly and is more responsive when it's used on Macs. A big part of that is down to the Chromium-based user interface working natively on ARM, rather than having to be translated.

If you want to try the beta version now, you can do – the usual caveats with beta software apply here, in that you may notice more bugs than normal, and some of your games may be glitchy, but any issues should be ironed out over time.

From the Steam app on your Mac, choose Steam > Preferences > Interface, then click the No beta chosen drop-down menu to the right of the Client Beta Participation heading: You'll then be able to select Steam Beta Update to join the beta.

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Where can you find the biggest lineup of the most popular live channels?

• Kioxia’s 332-layer NAND delivers 2Tb without using PLC tech
• Japanese flash giant is focusing on performance and capacity through dual-axis development approach
• Hints are that it can deliver even larger capacity SSDs, as part of "Gen X"

Kioxia has revealed via updated roadmap materials that its upcoming 332-layer NAND chip - part of its 10th generation BiCS FLASH - will offer 2Tb of capacity per die.

While this may seem small compared to expectations, the Japanese flash memory specialist has hinted that it can deliver even larger capacity SSDs, as part of Gen X, without resorting to Penta-Level Cell (PLC) technology.

The roadmap slides, published by TechPowerUp, were shared as part of Kioxia’s long-term corporate strategy.

Dual-axis strategy

The 332-layer chip, which is currently under development, is part of what Kioxia calls its “dual-axis strategy” for NAND. This strategy splits development into two paths: the first focusing on increasing layer count for higher capacity and the second improving performance via Charge-Based Architecture (CBA).

CBA connects the CMOS circuitry directly to the memory array, helping to increase bandwidth, reduce latency, and lower power consumption.

Kioxia says this approach allows it to boost density without sacrificing the endurance and reliability associated with having fewer bits per cell.

Kioxia’s roadmap doesn’t discuss the company’s plans for PLC, even though other competitors are beginning to explore that direction. Kioxia instead appears to be doubling down on process improvements and new controller designs to meet market demands.

The company’s recent focus has been on two SSD families: the CM9 series, which emphasizes high-performance for AI applications, and the LC9 series, which targets large capacity and currently offers up to 122TB capacity.

Both products are based on Kioxia’s 8th generation BiCS FLASH, which introduced CBA and supports energy-efficient, high-throughput workloads.

Kioxia also revealed a high-IOPS SSD that it has developed using its XL-Flash SLC technology. This SSD is expected to exceed 10 million IOPS and sample in the second half of 2026.

(Image credit: Kioxia)

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Chatbots can be incredibly reassuring. That's not always the best thing for your mental health.

Sometimes, it takes a moment to notice the subtler elements of a phone’s software design – but that’s not always for the best reasons.

Take One UI 7, for example. Samsung’s latest mobile operating system update marked a major visual refresh, bringing new icons, fonts, and color schemes to the software’s visual elements.

However, as one member of the TechRadar team discovered, there’s one aspect of Samsung’s latest Android wrapper that makes less sense than ever before.

To cut to the chase, Samsung’s new battery icon is confusingly vague and hard to recognize. TechRadar’s Homes Editor Ruth Hamilton tells me that when she updated her Galaxy A54 to One UI 7, she couldn’t even tell what the battery icon was.

That battery symbol certainly looks pretty round (Image credit: Ruth Hamilton / Future )

“I left the UI update to run overnight, and the following morning I couldn't for the life of me work out what the icon in the top right of my phone screen was,” said Ruth.

“At that point, it was half dark, half light, with a 45 in the middle. I was baffled. Did I have 45 messages? Surely not."

Ruth added: “Amidst the general mild disorientation that follows any UI tweak for something you're using regularly, I just didn't twig. In the absence of the usual visual cues – a percentage symbol, or a suggestion of a terminal – I couldn't work out what I was looking at.”

As this image from a deleted Reddit account shows, the battery icon is especially hard to understand without the percentage in the middle. (Image credit: Reddit)

As the above details, Samsung’s new battery icon is basically just a big oval that can, optionally, have a number representing battery percentage planted in the middle. It’s more circular than rectangular and a far cry from the clear battery-shaped icon used in One UI 6.

Even as someone who tests and reviews the best smartphones for a living, I have to admit that I only really recognize the icon as a battery meter thanks to its placement at the top-right corner of the screen.

Apple got it right

The icons throughout Liquid Glass reflect the real world (Image credit: Apple)

As it happens, I had just finished writing a piece about Apple’s new Liquid Glass design and return to skeuomorphism (that's digital design based on real-world things) when Ruth got in touch.

If you ask me, Samsung’s misstep with the One UI 7 battery icon shows that Apple made the right call by choosing to ramp up the realism with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26.

Tech moves forward in a way that can detach things from their original inspiration – take the pause icon, for example, which was inspired by the caesura, punctuation used in poetry to mark a moment of rest. I think you'd struggle to find someone on the street who could tell you that without looking it up (as I did).

But this has to be done in a way that doesn’t alienate parts of the user base. Apple sticking with the pictographic battery icon for Liquid Glass is a safe bet, but some of the best Android phones push things gently with more abstract rectangles that still feel familiar enough.

As others here at TechRadar have pointed out, Liquid Glass has its own issues with legibility, but at least everything is pretty recognizable (when you can actually see it). And, overall, I’m a big fan of the charming, colorful presentation of One UI 7 whenever I pick up one of the best Samsung phones.

With all that said, the battery icon stands as a reminder that UI design needs to cater to the everyday user as much as the smartphone specialist. Do you find Samsung’s new battery icon confusing? Let us know in the comments below.

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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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 14 (game #1237).

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 #1238) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1238) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1238) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1238) - 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 2.

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 #1238) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• S

• B

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1238) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1238, are…

• SHOCK
• STEIN
• BROIL
• COVEN

The first word I got today – COVEN – was straight out of the Quordle databank rather than deduction. Although it hasn’t featured since February it feels like it pops up a fair amount. 

STEIN, meanwhile, was my best guess, as I didn’t really take any time to calculate if there were any alternatives. A nice way to end the week.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1238) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1238, are…

• DRAIN
• CIRCA
• TEPEE
• SPIED

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
• Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
• Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
• Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
• Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
• Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
• Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
• Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
• Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
• Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
• Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, June 14 (game #734).

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 #735) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FATHER
• LANGUAGE
• SODA
• BLAST
• SMOKING
• MUD
• ACTION
• BURST
• CRUD
• POPULAR
• FUDGE
• BREW
• ROCKET FUEL
• NUDITY
• JAVA
• CURSES

NYT Connections today (game #735) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Cafe culture
• GREEN: Low level anger
• BLUE: PG rated
• PURPLE: Different meanings for a word that rhymes with “stop”

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 #735) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SLANG FOR COFFEE 
• GREEN: "AW, HECK!" 
• BLUE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MOVIE RATINGS 
• PURPLE: WHAT "POP" MIGHT MEAN 

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

NYT Connections today (game #735) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #735, are…

• YELLOW: SLANG FOR COFFEE BREW, JAVA, MUD, ROCKET FUEL
• GREEN: "AW, HECK!" BLAST, CRUD, CURSES, FUDGE
• BLUE: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MOVIE RATINGS ACTION, LANGUAGE, NUDITY, SMOKING
• PURPLE: WHAT "POP" MIGHT MEAN BURST, FATHER, POPULAR, SODA

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

I used up three lives trying to pin down SLANG FOR COFFEE today. I knew that BREW, JAVA, and ROCKET FUEL had coffee in common, but had no clue on the fourth and had never heard of anyone calling it MUD.

I’ve since learned it’s a very basic method of brewing coffee that means everything has to settle before you drink it. For a while I thought that MUD and FUDGE could form a group as they are both words that feature in famous deserts.

Four words eliminated, WHAT “POP” MIGHT MEAN came together after a shuffle put FATHER, POPULAR and SODA beside each other and I guessed what we were looking for. 

From here, though, my good fortune deserted me and I failed to collect “AW, HECK!”, thinking instead that we were looking for something to do with emojis. 

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 14, game #734)

• YELLOW: GODDESS DIVA, ICON, LEGEND, QUEEN
• GREEN: ELEMENTS OF A CLASSIC "MOM" TATTOO ARROW, HEART, MOM, RIBBON
• BLUE: DOGS OF THE SCREEN ASTRO, BLUE, HOOCH, TOTO
• PURPLE: __ TERRIER BORDER, BOSTON, BULL, RAT

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 14 (game #468).

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 #469) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Here's to him!

NYT Strands today (game #469) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SCORE
• PEACH
• THERE
• HAIL
• PROLE
• CROP

NYT Strands today (game #469) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #469) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #469) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #469, are…

• CHALUPA
• CRAWDAD
• POPCORN
• PAPARAZZI
• POPSICLE
• SPANGRAM: FATHERS DAY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

As obvious as it seems in hindsight it took me two words before I realised that today’s theme was a homage to the world’s fathers, with a selection of words featuring either pa, papa, dad or pop.

I spent a while wondering what Mexican food (CHALUPA) has got to do with shellfish (CRAWDAD) before I got it.

Although there is a sentiment that FATHER’S DAY is merely a holiday to generate some summertime cash for the greeting card industry, I say any day that allows you to appreciate family is a good thing.

I do, however, think that some companies go too far trying to climb on board that dad train – chocolate and whisky is one thing, but a department store I was in last week had a sign beside a desktop printer that said “Give your father what he really wants this Father’s Day”. I think I can speak on behalf of most fathers when I say that what we really want is not a printer.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 14, game #468)

• CROSS
• MOON
• TRIANGLE
• STAR
• STRIPE
• CROWN
• SHIELD
• SPANGRAM: FLAG SYMBOL

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.

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Gen V season 2: key information

- Releasing in mid-September
- Launching with a three-episode premiere
- First trailer arrived in June
- Most of season 1's main cast set to return
- Two characters from season 1 won't be back
- Characters from The Boys could cameo
- Story synopsis revealed
- Will pick up after Gen V season 1 and The Boys season 4
- Yet to be officially renewed for a third season

Gen V season 2's release date (it's September 17, for those wondering) is fast approaching – and, if you're a fan of The Boys and/or its college-based spin-off, your attendance this semester is compulsory.

Gen V's next installment will pick up where its first chapter and The Boys season 4 left off. So, you'll want to be in class on time to immerse yourself in Amazon's live-action reimagining of The Boys.

For now, you'll have to make do with revising everything we know so far about Gen V's sophomore season. From its trailer and confirmed cast to its plot and the future of The Boys franchise, there's a lot to learn about in this guide.

Full spoilers follow for The Boys 4 and Gen V season 1.

Gen V season 2 release date

A post shared by Gen V (@genv)

A photo posted by on

Gen V season 2 will be released worldwide on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 17.

The reveal was made on June 2 at Mexico Comic-Con (CCXP) 2025, while an Amazon press release confirmed it'll launch with a three-episode premiere. New episodes will air weekly until the season finale drops on October 22.

Gen V season 2 trailer

The first trailer for Gen V season 2 was also unveiled at CCXP 2025, which revealed how the series' next installment will tie into events depicted in its predecessor's final episode and The Boys' fourth season.

I'll speculate on what this season's first round of footage tells us in this guide's plot section, so scroll on to learn more.

Gen V season 2 confirmed cast

Welcome back?? pic.twitter.com/Kho4rwD5cTJune 1, 2025

Full spoilers follow for Gen V season 1.

Here are the actors (and their respective characters) who'll appear in Gen V season 2:

• Jaz Sinclair as Marie Moreau
• Lizzie Broadway as Emma Meyer
• London Thor and Derek Luh as Jordan Li
• Maddie Philips as Cate Dunlap
• Asa Germann as Sam Riordan
• Sean Patrick Thomas as Polarity
• Hamish Linklater as Dean Cipher

The first six actors – or, rather, seven, because the gender-swapping Supe student known as Jordan is played by two people – all featured in season 1.

Meanwhile, Linklater will portray Godolkin University's new Dean following the death of Indira Shetty in season 1 episode 7. Some of Jaz, Jordan, Emma, Cate, and Sam's fellow students are also expected to return, but Amazon hasn't announced which ones will yet.

Given this show's ties to the wider universe of The Boys, there'll be plenty of cameos from characters who populate the main series, aka one of best Prime Video shows. Season 2's first trailer already confirmed Valerie Curry's Firecracker will make an appearance, but it's unclear which other Supes or members of the titular Supe-fighting team may show up.

pic.twitter.com/vgFxUvmI6lMarch 30, 2024

One actor who definitely won't appear is Chance Perdomo, who played Andre Anderson in season 1.

Perdomo died in a motorcycle accident last March, but Gen V's creative team released a statement (see above) 24 hours later to confirm Andre wouldn't be recast. Instead, this season's narrative has been altered to reflect Perdomo's passing and, by proxy, Andre's in-universe death, which will occur off-camera between seasons 1 and 2.

Gen V season 2 story synopsis and speculation

Marie will be integral to the story woven through this season's eight-episode arc (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Full spoilers immediately follow for Gen V season 1 and The Boys season 4.

Here's the official plot brief for Gen V season 2: "School is back in session. As the rest of America adjusts to Homelander's iron fist, back at Godolkin University, the mysterious new Dean preaches a curriculum that promises to make students more powerful than ever. Cate and Sam are celebrated heroes, while Marie, Jordan and Emma reluctantly return to college, burdened by months of trauma and loss.

"But, parties and classes are hard to care about with war brewing between Humans and Supes, both on and off campus. The gang learns of a secret program that goes back to the founding of Godolkin that may have larger implications than they realize. And, somehow, Marie is a part of it."

That's quite a spoiler-filled synopsis, but it doesn't explain the events leading up to this season. For more on those, read my Gen V season 1 ending explained and The Boys season 4 ending explained articles.

Cipher (center) is charged with turning its students into Supe soldiers for Homelander (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

As season 2's blurb confirms, Cipher has been hired as Godolkin's Dean for one reason only – creating a new army of Supes for Homelander. The latter is, as of The Boys 4's finale, the shadow leader of the so-called Free World. Steve Calhoun may be the outward-facing US President, but he swore his allegiance to Homelander in episode 8 of the main series' fourth season. So, Calhoun is just a puppet ruler whose strings are being pulled by Anthony Starr's homicidal Supe.

Now effectively the commander-in-chief of the western world's greatest superpower, Homelander wants to use Godolkin's students as superpowered enforcers to maintain the autocracy of the United States. To that end, Godolkin's pupils will have to train and hone their superhuman abilities by battling one another. We catch a glimpse of this in season 2's first teaser, with Marie preparing to duel a fellow student in an audience-filled arena.

Homelander became the shadow president of the United States in The Boys season 4 episode 8 (Image credit: Prime Video)

Gen V season 2's plot synopsis also teases a "secret program" that Marie and company will unearth. Predictably, there's no word on what this clandestine (and likely experimental) initiative is, so we'll have to wait for the season to launch before this particular mystery is unraveled.

It's not the only one that'll need solving. We'll also learn more about what happened to Andre Anderson between seasons 1 and 2, and the events that led to his off-camera death. I suspect we'll also see how Andre's death will lead his father, Polarity, to side with Marie, Emma, Jordan, and any other allies they may accumulate this season, to lead a rebellion against Cipher and, by proxy, Homelander.

Lastly, it's plausible that Gen V's sophomore season will set up storylines for The Boys' fifth and final installment. Again, I'm unsure how this will be achieved, but I'd be shocked if one or more of Hughie, Starlight, Butcher, Mother's Milk, Frenchie, and Kimiko don't cross paths with Marie's renegade faction. If they do, that would set up a thrilling finale for the main series.

Has Gen V season 3 been announced yet?

In my view, Gen V's future will be determined by The Boys' final episode, which should wrap up Butcher's (pictured) story (Image credit: Prime Video)

Not yet. Truth be told, Gen V's future largely hinges on three things: how well its second season is received, whether people tune in to watch season 2, and how The Boys' story ends.

Where the last of those is concerned, The Boys season 5 will be the mainline show's last hurrah and is likely to bring Homelander, Butcher, Hughie, Starlight, and many other characters' stories to a close. If season 5 wraps up every major plot thread, including any outliers from Gen V's second outing, Amazon could decide to call it quits with its reimagining of The Boys there and then.

That said, The Boys is one of the biggest and most-watched Amazon TV Originals of all time, so I'd be equally surprised if Prime Video executives don't want it to continue in some form. Should that prove to be the case, Gen V might be renewed for a third season.

Of course, The Boys' universe has plenty more stories to tell. Other spin-off projects, such as a rumored Mexico-based one that'll reportedly star Andor's Diego Luna, could be developed alongside, or instead of, Gen V season 3, then. Until The Boys' final season debuts on Prime Video, though, we don't know what'll happen next.

For more Prime Video-related coverage, read our guides on The Rings of Power season 3, Invincible season 4, Fallout season 2, and Mr and Mrs Smith season 2.

• Lenovo ThinkSmart One Pro combines PC power, AI, and conferencing gear into one surprisingly compact wall unit
• AI framing and video fencing promise a clearer call, but they’re hardly industry firsts
• Eight microphones with DSP aim to eliminate echo, background noise, and meeting confusion

In an age of hybrid work and increasingly remote collaboration, Lenovo has unveiled what it claims is a groundbreaking all-in-one meeting solution.

The ThinkSmart One Pro is a compact device merging compute, audio, and intelligent video into a single wall-mounted bar.

Technically, the ThinkSmart One Pro is a full-fledged PC, but Lenovo is positioning it as a mini PC for modern conferencing, as it features a Full HD, high-definition camera with AI-powered functions like dynamic framing, intelligent zoom, and video fencing.

AI-enhanced collaboration in a compact form

These tools enhance visual clarity, but they are not unique. Many of the best webcams on the market already offer AI framing and noise filtering.

At the heart of the ThinkSmart One Pro is an embedded Intel Core i5 processor with Intel vPro, running Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, but its value may lie more in its integration than in introducing radically new capabilities.

The 10.1-inch touchscreen controller, available in two models, provides intuitive access to video calls via leading video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, or Google Meet.

The display supports anti-glare and anti-smudge features, and with support for HDMI and PoE, it addresses common concerns about lag and connectivity.

The device's primary selling point is its audio capabilities, which include eight integrated microphones with 180-degree coverage and advanced DSP functions for echo and noise cancellation.

It also has stereo speakers capable of producing 15 watts.

This raises the question of whether such an audio array is truly necessary for the small spaces for which it is intended.

Lenovo has also included Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) compatibility, allowing users to connect their laptops and benefit from the ThinkSmart One Pro’s antivirus capabilities.

“Knowledge workers everywhere highly value well-equipped spaces enabling the latest AI-powered features and applications for meeting and collaborating,” said Marcus Kennedy, General Manager of Commercial Solutions at Lenovo.

Lenovo also includes deployment support and a ThinkSmart Premium license for the first year.

Pricing starts at $2,999 for the USB controller bundle, rising to $3,499 for the IP version.

This device is not cheap, and it appears Lenovo is targeting organizations that prioritize seamless, enterprise-grade collaboration tools.

Still, at these price points, potential buyers may want to consider whether bundling these features into one unit truly adds value over using separate high-quality components already available.

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• Images of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 have leaked
• They show off a thin frame and thick camera bump
• A launch is expected sometime in July

It looks increasingly likely that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 are going to get their grand unveiling next month, and a couple of new image leaks have given us a better look at how the former handset is going to look.

First up we have an image of a Galaxy Z Fold 7 case posted to Reddit (via 9to5Google) which shows how thin the phone is going to be – even when folded – and the significant protrusion the camera module bump is going to add around the back.

Samsung has already confirmed that the foldable is going to be the thinnest one yet in the series, while other rumors have pointed to the possibility of a significant camera upgrade as well, which would explain the camera bump.

Another leaked image, also posted to Reddit (also via 9to5Google) again shows off the thinness of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This picture seems to be of a stand made for an event – possibly the Unpacked launch event rumored for July.

A lot to look forward togalaxyfold from r/GalaxyFold/comments/1laduur/fold_7_camera_bump_is_huge

When it comes to the successor to the 2024 model, which you can read about in our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review, we've already heard plenty in the way of leaks and rumors over the past few months.

Yesterday we heard that the foldable could get an improved version of Samsung's ProVisual Engine AI image-processing tech, which will bring with it improvements to photo quality, digital zoom quality, and video stability.

Other rumors have been a little more vague: a well-placed source has said the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is going to bring with it 'industry-first' features, without being specific about what they are. Substantial screen, camera, or battery upgrades could be involved.

Samsung itself has been teasing an "Ultra" foldable that's coming soon, which may mean this phone gets rebranded, or has a lot in common with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It would seem there's a lot to look forward to with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

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