Technology

New video from Boston Dynamics sheds light on how the company's Atlas humanoid robot sees and engages with the world around it.

• Panasonic’s Let’s Note SC weighs under a kilo, yet packs a removable battery and Gigabit LAN port
• Includes a 56Wh battery held by screws, lasting up to 34.6 hours idle
• Unusual round touchpad returns, now larger and borrowed from a 14-inch sibling model

Panasonic has introduced the Let’s Note SC, a 12.4-inch notebook designed for business users, with a focus on portability, long battery life, and usability enhancements.

According to MyNavi (originally reported in Japanese), the device features a 12.4-inch LCD display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels.

The screen opens to 180 degrees without touching the surface beneath it, aided by a hinge design that keeps it slightly elevated.

Weighs less than a kilo and still has Ethernet and HDMI

The chassis features a pressure-resistant bonnet structure and has been tested to meet MIL standards.

Panasonic emphasizes the notebook’s durability, including resistance to both impact and vibration.

Available in Calm Gray and Black, the SC is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 processors, either the Ultra 7 255H or Ultra 5 255U, depending on the configuration.

Panasonic claims the notebook weighs 919g, though an independently tested unit reportedly came in at 901g, placing the SC among the lightest laptops in its class.

The device includes a 56Wh removable battery, now fastened with screws rather than the tool-less sliding lock used in previous models. While this improves structural integrity, it may make field maintenance less convenient.

Battery performance is rated at up to 12.7 hours of video playback and approximately 34.6 hours of idle time, according to JEITA 3.0 standards. In real-world usage, a 50% charge remained after 90+ minutes of light use and a 30-minute video call.

The keyboard retains a Japanese layout but introduces a notable change: the Ctrl key is now on the far left, having swapped positions with the Fn key. Users can revert to the previous configuration via BIOS settings.

The power button, now located behind the keyboard, is less prone to accidental presses and also functions as a fingerprint sensor.

The SC also includes a round touchpad, larger than in earlier models and borrowed from the 14-inch FC line. While still unconventional, this circular design remains a distinguishing feature of the series.

Connectivity includes a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, a rare inclusion in modern laptops and potentially appealing to those seeking robust mobile workstation capabilities.

However, the D-Sub and SD card slots have been removed, reflecting user trends toward HDMI and enhanced data security standards.

Most ports, including USB Type-A, dual Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB Type-C, and HDMI, are now positioned on the left side, helping to reduce cable clutter when using a mouse.

The starting price is approximately 295,000 yen (approx $1,880), with general sales expected to begin on June 20.

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best business laptops around
• Check out our recommendations for the best laptops for working from home
• A new 'Wikipedia for extensions' wants to make your web browser far more secure by exposing dangerous tools

You're gonna need a bigger TV.

While the battle for EVs with the longest range may well have tapered off, a new arms race has begun in its place – and it's all about charging speeds.

In China, some of the world’s most recognizable automotive and tech brands are dueling it out to see who can force electrons into a battery pack at the most impressive rates.

After all, if said giants of industry can consistently bring charging times in line with fueling up an internal combustion engine vehicle, range anxiety is essentially banished to the history books and the extra weight, resources and financial penalties of larger battery packs are no longer an issue.

But while the so-called Megawatt ultra-fast charging (anything above 1,000kW) has tongues wagging with the sheer physics-bending nature of it all, some believe that the road towards two-minute top-ups won't be so smooth.

During a recent electric vehicle battery technology workshop at Porsche’s R&D facility in Weissach, the company spoke frankly and at length about its own road to electrification, marking the huge leaps it has made with the current generation Taycan and what the future holds.

(Image credit: BYD)

When asked about the current trend for Megawatt charging, Porsche’s development lead in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Carlos Alberto Cordova Tineo, said that while it is impressive, he doesn’t think it is the future for everyone.

"It is relatively easy to demonstrate this sort of level of ultra-fast charging on a test bench, but making it work in the real world is a much more difficult task. There are just so many factors to consider when charging at these rates,” he told me.

One of the key issues for Porsche is battery longevity, as the company wants its cars to offer the same sort of driving thrills in 20 to 30 years time as they do when they roll off the production line.

Current residual values of Porsche's EVs aside, the company's cars generally remain hugely sought after items, with many going on to become collectable objects.

“All lithium-ion batteries suffer an initial 2-5% capacity drop in the first few years, but it is our job to manage battery health for the remainder of the vehicle’s life,” Cordova Tineo adds.

One of the factors that can lead to “sudden death” in a battery – or the point where its performance rapidly drops below what is deemed normal – is consistently charging at extreme rates, which Cordova Tineo says can lead to lithium plating and a massive reduction in battery performance.

“It is why we use stepped charging, where power is gradually ramped up as the battery reaches the optimum state of charge, tapering off as it hits the 70 or 80 per cent mark and then slowing right down towards the end,” he explains.

Real-world results

(Image credit: Porsche)

While Porsche wouldn’t rule out any new innovations in electric vehicle charging, it isn’t hastily jumping on the Megawatt bandwagon for now.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development and one of the longest-standing EV engineers at the company, says that the charging figures coming out of China are "good for PR but not always practical in the real world".

"The physics of it all is complex and this is before we even consider the infrastructure required to make it work," he added.

During one real-world demonstration in China, Inside EVs reported that BYD’s Han L, which is the first to use its Super e-platform with the latest Flash Battery, would draw 767kW of power until it reached a 40% State of Charge (SoC), holding steady at 633kW until it reached 50% and then dropping to 463 kW as it reached 60%.

Overall, the car gained 262 miles in around five minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Image credit: Porsche)

But despite BYD’s claims that fast-charging the battery doesn’t affect the warranty, the technology hasn’t been around long enough for us to know what state it will be in after five or ten years, long after the warranty has run out.

Plus, most of these next-generation, ultra-fast Chinese packs use a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemical make-up, rather than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) that is used by Porsche in its Taycan and Macan models.

Right now, Porsche is working to recover around 90% of the raw materials used in its NMC battery packs in order to drastically reduce the reliance on mining.

Recycling fast-charging LFP batteries, on the other hand, is widely considered a more complicated task and presents a weaker business case due to lower economic value of their content.

Driving dynamics matter

(Image credit: Porsche)

The other key factor for Porsche is driving dynamics, arguably one of the most important pillars of the brand.

Even its everyday electric SUV, the formidable Macan, is an absolute hoot to drive and will give many modern sports cars a run for their money on the race circuit.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development, says that there is a delicate balancing act to be had with overall weight, energy density and charging speeds, the perfect concoction of which will go into the marque’s long-awaited electric sports cars.

Both the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman are due to feature the next generation of Porsche’s EV powertrains, with Bitsche claiming that a range of around 370 miles on a single charge would be "enough" for most sports cars.

The company’s current 800V architecture allows for a max charging speed of 270kW, which is enough to brim the Taycan’s larger battery pack from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes.

Expect the Boxster and Cayman to feature smaller packs and new onboard charging tech, which in turn will likely see them charge even faster.

It is this notion of “being enough” for most users that Bitsche reiterates when confronted with the subject of Megawatt charging speeds, as he feels the additional technology and hardware required to make it work, not just from the manufacturer but the charging networks, has potential negative effects on the way a vehicle drives and a company’s bottom line.

An ultra-fast future

(Image credit: BYD)

Just this week, the Society of Automotive Engineers in the US just released a new SAE J3400/2 standard that defines the way a 1,000kW-capable North American Charging Standard connector and vehicle charge port will look like, proving its confidence in the technology.

However, as some critics have pointed out, even the Chinese real-world demonstrations only ever creep up to 1,000kW for a matter of seconds during charging sessions, before tapering off to a steady 600-odd kilowatts and then dropping back further.

As a result, some industry insiders believe it would be more beneficial (and cheaper) to build out a reliable network of 500kW chargers that can deliver those kind of speeds for a larger proportion of the charging session.

This would equate to 8 to 10-minute stops for many, which is the equivalent to the time spent at most gas stations, according to one white paper.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for a marque like Porsche, Megawatt charging is still a relative unknown, with little research available on the longevity of the battery technology after many years or the reliability of it in extreme weather conditions.

"Increasing the charging efficiency and decreasing charge times is one of our priorities," explains Dr. Matthias Goldsche, a physicist and battery expert at Porsche.

"But this isn't the only thing, as we think the next generation of cars can hit a sweet spot of acceptable daily range for the majority of our customers, fast charging speeds, driving dynamics and the ability to create long-lasting, reliable and recyclable batteries," he adds.

You might also like

• I’ve driven the Porsche Macan EV – and it shows why the classic brand should stick to its electric guns
• Mercedes-AMG just teased its 1,000bhp Porsche Taycan Turbo GT rival – and it'll need to dip deep into its performance past to beat it
• Porsche hits the brakes on its electric-only plan – and it’s not the only major manufacturer keeping gas engines running

While the battle for EVs with the longest range may well have tapered off, a new arms race has begun in its place – and it's all about charging speeds.

In China, some of the world’s most recognizable automotive and tech brands are dueling it out to see who can force electrons into a battery pack at the most impressive rates.

After all, if said giants of industry can consistently bring charging times in line with fueling up an internal combustion engine vehicle, range anxiety is essentially banished to the history books and the extra weight, resources and financial penalties of larger battery packs are no longer an issue.

But while the so-called Megawatt ultra-fast charging (anything above 1,000kW) has tongues wagging with the sheer physics-bending nature of it all, some believe that the road towards two-minute top-ups won't be so smooth.

During a recent electric vehicle battery technology workshop at Porsche’s R&D facility in Weissach, the company spoke frankly and at length about its own road to electrification, marking the huge leaps it has made with the current generation Taycan and what the future holds.

(Image credit: BYD)

When asked about the current trend for Megawatt charging, Porsche’s development lead in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, Carlos Alberto Cordova Tineo, said that while it is impressive, he doesn’t think it is the future for everyone.

"It is relatively easy to demonstrate this sort of level of ultra-fast charging on a test bench, but making it work in the real world is a much more difficult task. There are just so many factors to consider when charging at these rates,” he told me.

One of the key issues for Porsche is battery longevity, as the company wants its cars to offer the same sort of driving thrills in 20 to 30 years time as they do when they roll off the production line.

Current residual values of Porsche's EVs aside, the company's cars generally remain hugely sought after items, with many going on to become collectable objects.

“All lithium-ion batteries suffer an initial 2-5% capacity drop in the first few years, but it is our job to manage battery health for the remainder of the vehicle’s life,” Cordova Tineo adds.

One of the factors that can lead to “sudden death” in a battery – or the point where its performance rapidly drops below what is deemed normal – is consistently charging at extreme rates, which Cordova Tineo says can lead to lithium plating and a massive reduction in battery performance.

“It is why we use stepped charging, where power is gradually ramped up as the battery reaches the optimum state of charge, tapering off as it hits the 70 or 80 per cent mark and then slowing right down towards the end,” he explains.

Real-world results

(Image credit: Porsche)

While Porsche wouldn’t rule out any new innovations in electric vehicle charging, it isn’t hastily jumping on the Megawatt bandwagon for now.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development and one of the longest-standing EV engineers at the company, says that the charging figures coming out of China are "good for PR but not always practical in the real world".

"The physics of it all is complex and this is before we even consider the infrastructure required to make it work," he added.

During one real-world demonstration in China, Inside EVs reported that BYD’s Han L, which is the first to use its Super e-platform with the latest Flash Battery, would draw 767kW of power until it reached a 40% State of Charge (SoC), holding steady at 633kW until it reached 50% and then dropping to 463 kW as it reached 60%.

Overall, the car gained 262 miles in around five minutes. Impressive stuff.

(Image credit: Porsche)

But despite BYD’s claims that fast-charging the battery doesn’t affect the warranty, the technology hasn’t been around long enough for us to know what state it will be in after five or ten years, long after the warranty has run out.

Plus, most of these next-generation, ultra-fast Chinese packs use a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemical make-up, rather than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) that is used by Porsche in its Taycan and Macan models.

Right now, Porsche is working to recover around 90% of the raw materials used in its NMC battery packs in order to drastically reduce the reliance on mining.

Recycling fast-charging LFP batteries, on the other hand, is widely considered a more complicated task and presents a weaker business case due to lower economic value of their content.

Driving dynamics matter

(Image credit: Porsche)

The other key factor for Porsche is driving dynamics, arguably one of the most important pillars of the brand.

Even its everyday electric SUV, the formidable Macan, is an absolute hoot to drive and will give many modern sports cars a run for their money on the race circuit.

Otmar Bitsche, senior consultant in battery development, says that there is a delicate balancing act to be had with overall weight, energy density and charging speeds, the perfect concoction of which will go into the marque’s long-awaited electric sports cars.

Both the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman are due to feature the next generation of Porsche’s EV powertrains, with Bitsche claiming that a range of around 370 miles on a single charge would be "enough" for most sports cars.

The company’s current 800V architecture allows for a max charging speed of 270kW, which is enough to brim the Taycan’s larger battery pack from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes.

Expect the Boxster and Cayman to feature smaller packs and new onboard charging tech, which in turn will likely see them charge even faster.

It is this notion of “being enough” for most users that Bitsche reiterates when confronted with the subject of Megawatt charging speeds, as he feels the additional technology and hardware required to make it work, not just from the manufacturer but the charging networks, has potential negative effects on the way a vehicle drives and a company’s bottom line.

An ultra-fast future

(Image credit: BYD)

Just this week, the Society of Automotive Engineers in the US just released a new SAE J3400/2 standard that defines the way a 1,000kW-capable North American Charging Standard connector and vehicle charge port will look like, proving its confidence in the technology.

However, as some critics have pointed out, even the Chinese real-world demonstrations only ever creep up to 1,000kW for a matter of seconds during charging sessions, before tapering off to a steady 600-odd kilowatts and then dropping back further.

As a result, some industry insiders believe it would be more beneficial (and cheaper) to build out a reliable network of 500kW chargers that can deliver those kind of speeds for a larger proportion of the charging session.

This would equate to 8 to 10-minute stops for many, which is the equivalent to the time spent at most gas stations, according to one white paper.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for a marque like Porsche, Megawatt charging is still a relative unknown, with little research available on the longevity of the battery technology after many years or the reliability of it in extreme weather conditions.

"Increasing the charging efficiency and decreasing charge times is one of our priorities," explains Dr. Matthias Goldsche, a physicist and battery expert at Porsche.

"But this isn't the only thing, as we think the next generation of cars can hit a sweet spot of acceptable daily range for the majority of our customers, fast charging speeds, driving dynamics and the ability to create long-lasting, reliable and recyclable batteries," he adds.

You might also like

• I’ve driven the Porsche Macan EV – and it shows why the classic brand should stick to its electric guns
• Mercedes-AMG just teased its 1,000bhp Porsche Taycan Turbo GT rival – and it'll need to dip deep into its performance past to beat it
• Porsche hits the brakes on its electric-only plan – and it’s not the only major manufacturer keeping gas engines running

You've heard of Wi-Fi, but here's what Li-Fi's unique technology may offer you.

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 258, for June 8.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 8.

Here are the iPhone models that we recommend in 2025. Whether you're looking at the iPhone 16, 16 Pro or curious about the iPhone 16E, we've tested and reviewed them all.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,450 for June 8.

Here are some hints and the answers for Connections for June 8, #728.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 462 for June 8.

• Beelink Mate adds ports and storage without changing your Mac mini’s footprint
• Choose between higher speed or maximum 16TB storage capacity option
• Quiet fan cooling and full port selection are offered in a sleek metal design

The Beelink Mate mini docking station offers Mac mini M4 users a sleek way to expand both connectivity and storage.

Designed to match Apple’s compact desktop, it attaches underneath the Mac mini, maintaining a tidy footprint while adding additional functionality.

At its core, the Mate mini supports Thunderbolt 5 with 80Gbps data transfer speeds, allowing for fast external SSD performance and seamless device connectivity.

Choice of models

There are two models on offer. Model A features dual PCIe x2 M.2 slots and supports up to 16TB of storage. Model B offers a single PCIe x4 slot that delivers higher speeds, up to 6228MB/s read, but with less total capacity.

That trade-off highlights the dock's main drawback. To reach the full 16TB, you need the version that uses PCIe x2, which is slightly less efficient than the x4 configuration. For most users, this is unlikely to create any real issues.

That said, professionals working with massive files or needing the fastest transfer speeds might feel the pinch.

Aside from storage, the Mate mini delivers a full range of ports. These include a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, USB-A 3.0 ports, an SD 4.0 card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

A Type-C PD port also allows power delivery for peripherals that exceed the Mac mini’s built-in 15W output. Two Thunderbolt 5 cables are included in the box.

A quiet fan and 360° cooling vents help keep the system cool and stable, even during heavy use. The all-aluminum design is finished in silver to match the Mac mini and weighs just 250g.

Priced at $279 (down from $339), the Mate mini targets users looking to extend their Mac mini’s capability without taking up extra space. It may not be perfect, but it does fill a useful role for those seeking extra ports and storage.

You might also like

• These are the best laptop docking stations available to buy right now
• This is probably the best looking docking station I've ever seen in my entire life
• What do you get when you cross a monitor stand and a docking station?

• Nearly half of IT teams don’t fully know what their AI agents are accessing daily
• Enterprises love AI agents, but also fear what they’re doing behind closed digital doors
• AI tools now need governance, audit trails, and control just like human employees

Despite growing enthusiasm for agentic AI across businesses, new research suggests that the rapid expansion of these tools is outpacing efforts to secure them.

A SailPoint survey of 353 IT professionals with enterprise security responsibilities has revealed a complex mix of optimism and anxiety over AI agents.

The survey reports 98% of organizations intend to expand their use of AI agents within the coming year.

AI Agents adoption outpaces security readiness

AI agents are being integrated into operations that handle sensitive enterprise data, from customer records and financials to legal documents and supply chain transactions - however, 96% of respondents said they view these very agents as a growing security threat.

One core issue is visibility: only 54% of professionals claim to have full awareness of the data their agents can access - which leaves nearly half of enterprise environments in the dark about how AI agents interact with critical information.

Compounding the problem, 92% of those surveyed agreed that governing AI agents is crucial for security, but just 44% have an actual policy in place.

Furthermore, eight in ten companies say their AI agents have taken actions they weren’t meant to - this includes accessing unauthorized systems (39%), sharing inappropriate data (33%), and downloading sensitive content (32%).

Even more troubling, 23% of respondents admitted their AI agents have been tricked into revealing access credentials, a potential goldmine for malicious actors.

One notable insight is that 72% believe AI agents present greater risks than traditional machine identities.

Part of the reason is that AI agents often require multiple identities to function efficiently, especially when integrated with high-performance AI tools or systems used for development and writing.

Calls for a shift to an identity-first model are growing louder, but SailPoint and others argue that organizations need to treat AI agents like human users, complete with access controls, accountability mechanisms, and full audit trails.

AI agents are a relatively new addition to the business space, and it will take time for organizations to fully integrate them into their operations.

“Many organizations are still early in this journey, and growing concerns around data control highlight the need for stronger, more comprehensive identity security strategies,” SailPoint concluded.

You might also like

• These are the best AI website builders around
• Take a look at our pick of the best internet security suites
• Google Drive's new Gemini features include video analysis at last

• watchOS 26 is expected to be announced on Monday
• It should run on every watchOS 11-compatible watch
• A major visual overhaul is among the rumored changes

A new software update for the best Apple Watches is on the way, and we just got word about which models are going to be compatible with the new watchOS 26 (which is apparently the new name for watchOS 12).

According to a source "with a proven track record" in contact with MacRumors, every watch that's able to run watchOS 11 is also going to be able to run watchOS 26, so there won't be any devices that are left behind this year.

That means Apple smartwatches as far back as the Apple Watch Series 6 (launched in 2020) and the Apple Watch SE 2 (launched in 2022) are going to be eligible for the new update, as well as all the watches launched since.

If you remember back to last year, after the announcement of watchOS 11, we heard from Apple that the Series 5, Series 4 and the original SE wouldn't be getting the 2024 update. This time around, all the currently supported devices are included.

What's on the way?

WWDC 2025 is almost here (Image credit: Apple)

Apple hasn't said anything officially yet about watchOS 26 – not even that it's on the way or that it's getting a rebranding – but we've heard plenty of rumors about what the upcoming software update might be bringing with it.

As is mentioned in the same MacRumors article, there's a prediction that watchOS 26 is going to offer support for third-party shortcuts on the watch Control Center for the first time, which should mean an improved experience for users.

A new and improved visual interface is apparently on the way too, which would follow the lead of visionOS, with plenty of transparency and frosted glass effects. In fact, the same redesign is said to be coming for all of Apple's software platforms.

We're also hoping we might get a smattering of Apple Intelligence on the Apple Watch. All of these new features are scheduled to be announced at WWDC 2025 on Monday, before watchOS 26 is released this September with the Apple Watch 11.

You might also like

• What you should expect from Apple WWDC 2025
• 3 new Apple Watch features I want to see
• How to watch WWDC 2025 on Monday, June 9

Should you keep that microcurrent device on your skin care wish list? This is what dermatologists have to say about the potential benefits and side effects.

Fortnite Galactic Battle is now coming to an end, culminating in a live event later today (June 7). Death Star Sabotage will cap off this Star Wars mini-season, tasking players with jumping into X-Wings and TIE Fighters for a space battle. This will hopefully lead into some downtime for the next season, which is expected to be Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3.

Fortnite Galactic Battle - Key Info

Start date and time
Next Season release date
Downtime estimate
What to expect from the new season
Map Changes
Trailer
Jump to Live Coverage

Epic Games has been busy teasing the next season of Fortnite over the last week or so, but so far we've only had details on the live event that's set to start later today. If early signs are anything to go on, the upcoming Star Wars live event in Fortnite could be a real high point for Chapter 6 so far. We'll get to fly some X-Wings, take down the Death Star, and save the Island from certain destruction.

Personally, I've enjoyed Fortnite Galactic Battle, with the blaster-only weapon pool being a refreshing change from the norm. I've been dropping in as the Star Wars updates have released, checking out the new Battle Pass skins and testing the new Star Destroyer portals. In my opinion, the recent changes have absolutely been good enough to keep Fortnite in TechRadar's best free games list.

Here's TechRadar's coverage of the launch of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, including my live impressions of the Death Star Sabotage live event as it happens.

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage live event - cut to the chase

Only have time for the basics? Here are the most important things to know about Fortnite Galactic Battle ending:

• Start time: June 7 at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 7PM BST
• New event: Death Star Sabotage
• Servers open: 9AM PT / 12PM ET / 5PM BST
• Servers close: "Intel states that you’ll have a short window of time on June 7 when the Death Star will be most susceptible to attack"
• Rumored theme for Season 3: "Super"

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage start date and time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage live event kicks off today (June 7) at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 7PM BST. The event itself will enter the Discovery section two hours prior to this, meaning it'll be available to join at the following times:

• US (West Coast): 9AM PT
• US (East Coast): 12AM ET
• United Kingdom: 5PM BST
• Europe: 6PM CEST

Fortnite next season release date and time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games is yet to detail the next season of Fortnite, but we expect it to arrive following downtime once the live event has ended. In the past, downtime has lasted 2-5 hours on average, though has run a lot longer between Chapters. As such, we'd expect Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 to star on June 7 at some point, though we'll need more info before we can be certain.

Fortnite next season downtime estimate

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic Games is yet to detail Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, though we expect it to arrive following downtime. This downtime will kick in after the Death Star Sabotage live event has ended. In previous seasons, this has been just 30 minutes after the live event has started. As such, my prediction for when downtime will take Fortnite offline is June 7 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST.

Of course, this is just an estimation based on how things have worked in the past. Stay tuned for updates later today, once I hear more from Epic Games.

What to expect from the next Fortnite Season

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Official details on the next season of Fortnite are scarce currently, but some prominent leakers have claimed that Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 will be superhero themed. In this Tweet from @HYPEX you can see that Superman skins have been leaked. This would make sense as a tie-in for the new movie coming out later in July.

Elsewhere, we have leaker @Shiina tweeting a summary of recent leaks for Chapter 6, also pointing to a superhero theme coming in next update. Of course, these details are in no way confirmed yet, however I've found these two sources to be reliable in the past, especially in the days leading up to a new season launch. We'll have to wait and see whether rumors of a "Super" season comes to fruition.

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 map changes

(Image credit: Epic Games)

As you can see from the image above, there were four new major POIs (points of interest) added alongside the Fortnite Galactic Battle. While Epic is yet to reveal the map for Chapter 6 Season 3, we can expect these Star Wars locations to change. Whether they revert to their Season 2 states, or are updated alongside the new season's theme, will be revealed later today.

Fortnite Death Star Sabotage trailer

The full cinematic trailer for Fortnite Death Star Sabotage debuted during The Game Awards on June 6. This shows some space battle-action, as players pilot X-Wings and TIE Fighters in a bid to stop the Death Star from destroying Battle Royale Island. It's embedded above so be sure to check it out.

Fortnite Star Wars live event coverage as it happensHello and welcome

(Image credit: Epic Games)

And so begins my live coverage of the upcoming Fortnite live event, the following downtime, and the launch of a brand new Season. Death Star Sabotage starts at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / BST, so not long now to wait.

Just 2 hours until you can queue for Death Star Sabotage!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

While you’ll need to wait a little longer to actually jump into Death Star Sabotage, the queue will open at 9AM PT / 12PM ET / 5PM BST. I recommend joining this as soon as you can after it goes live, as queues have been long enough in the past that it’s been possible to miss the event completely.

Death Star Sabotage trailer aired during The Game Awards

A brand new trailer for Death Star Sabotage aired last night (June 6) at The Game Awards. It sets the stage for an epic space battle, as players race to destroy the Death Star. Primarily, it looks as though this will be a vehicle-based fight, though there's a tease in the trailer showing that you and your squad might kick off the event imprisoned somewhere inside the Death Star.

Prepare for sabotage!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Before Death Star Sabotage, the Star Wars season approaches its end with special log-in rewards for all players. Log into Fortnite between June 3 at 9 AM ET and June 10 at 9 AM ET to immediately receive the Assault on the Death Star Loading Screen and Captain Phasma’s personal melee weapon: the Quicksilver Baton Spear Pickaxe.

There’s still time to check out Galactic Battle

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Galactic Battle comes to an end later today, but there’s still a few hours left for you to play. Currently, a Star Destroyer portal will spawn once per match, allowing you to take control of the hulking spacecraft’s turbo-lasers. This gives you a bird’s eye view of the map, marking nearby enemies and giving you time to blast them from above. This is a seriously powerful bonus to have, setting you up nicely for the final couple of circles.

The Battle Pass comes to an end soon

(Image credit: Epic Games)

There’s just a few hours left to redeem Battle Pass rewards. The final section gives you an Emperor Palpatine skin, as well as a Force Lightning emote.

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 7 (game #727).

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 #728) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• LAST
• BULL
• BORN
• BRED
• DOE
• STAND
• SPOUSE
• BEAR
• EDUCATION
• CACHE
• DOVE
• HOLD
• LUTE
• STAY
• OCCUPATION
• HAWK

NYT Connections today (game #728) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Relentless
• GREEN: Wildlife traders
• BLUE: Part of the biog
• PURPLE: Sounds like dollars

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 #728) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PERSIST 
• GREEN: ANIMAL METAPHORS IN ECONOMICS 
• BLUE: SIDEBAR INFO ON A PERSON'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE 
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF SLANG FOR MONEY 

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

NYT Connections today (game #728) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #728, are…

• YELLOW: PERSIST HOLD, LAST, STAND, STAY
• GREEN: ANIMAL METAPHORS IN ECONOMICS BEAR, BULL, DOVE, HAWK
• BLUE: SIDEBAR INFO ON A PERSON'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE BORN, EDUCATION, OCCUPATION, SPOUSE
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF SLANG FOR MONEY BRED, CACHE, DOE, LUTE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

Sometimes Connections can be frustrating, but other times, like today for me, it’s the most satisfying daily game there is.

What began as a 16-word grid where I could not see a single link all gradually fitted into place. It’s a great feeling.

I’m really pleased that I saw, or should I say heard, the purple group HOMOPHONES OF SLANG FOR MONEY – many times in the past wordplay like this has gone over my head, so I’m delighted to have combined BRED (bread), CACHE (cash), DOE (dough) and LUTE (loot). 

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 7, game #727)

• YELLOW: TIPS FOR WORKING OUT SAFELY BREATHE, HYDRATE, REST, STRETCH
• GREEN: ESTABLISH FOUND, INSTITUTE, LAUNCH, START
• BLUE: DITTY AIR, NUMBER, SONG, STRAIN
• PURPLE: SPRING____ CHICKEN, EQUINOX, FLING, ONION

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 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 7 (game #1230).

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 #1231) - 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 #1231) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1231) - 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 #1231) - 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 #1231) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• A

• P

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1231) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1231, are…

• REBAR
• ALERT
• PAYEE
• FLUME

A muddling-through game for me today, where working out three-letter combinations got me over the line.

REBAR took me the longest. I tried every combination of the letters I had left and it was the only actual word I managed to find – a classic final word.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1231) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1231, are…

• FLESH
• WIDTH
• GUARD
• RALPH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
• Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
• Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
• Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
• Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
• Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
• Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE

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 7 (game #461).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On Broadway

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SHINER
• MELTS
• CRISIS
• TRACE
• CHAD
• STING

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #462) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #462, are…

• CAST
• SCORE
• LIGHTS
• SINGING
• DANCING
• COSTUMES
• SPANGRAM: ITS SHOWTIME

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

When I saw that the theme was “On Broadway”, I was convinced that today’s search would be about classic shows such as Evita. So, I began by spotting Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that ran for 18 years, from 1982 to 2000. I was shocked when the letters didn’t turn blue and the answer instead turned out to be CAST.

Here, instead, were some of the elements that it takes to put  on a production minus a couple of omissions – stage and script, both of which are crucial to most Broadway hits. Well, unless your idea of a night out at the theater is an improv in a parking lot,

Getting the spangram early always feels a little weird. I got it today as my second correct guess and it helped unlock the rest of the board.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 7, game #461)

• HUMAN
• SOUL
• MORTAL
• SOMEONE
• INDIVIDUAL
• SPANGRAM: BE YOURSELF

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.