Ask Jeeves quietly shuts down after nearly three decades, after pioneering conversational web search long before ChatGPT and Gemini

• Ask Jeeves has closed after almost 30 years
• It pioneered natural language web searches
• Today, ChatGPT and Gemini work in similar ways

With AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini available, it's now easy to run web searches like "what are the best sights in Rome?" or "how do you fix a leaky shower?", but this natural language format was actually pioneered almost 30 years ago — and by a search portal that just closed down.

The portal was Ask Jeeves, later rebranded to Ask.com, and it opened fully to the public on June 1, 1997. As XDA Developers reports, what remained of Ask.com has now been shuttered by its current owner, InterActiveCorp (IAC).

If you were online just as the internet was taking off, you'll remember Ask Jeeves and its eponymous butler character — named after the valet Jeeves in the PG Wodehouse stories. The idea was to ask questions and get answers from the growing amount of information on the web, not just look for topics like "sports" or "movies".

At the time that Ask Jeeves launched, Google was still a prototype university project, and it offered something genuinely different to the search engines and web directories of the time (including Yahoo, AltaVista, and Lycos).

'Deeply grateful'

(Image credit: Ask Jeeves / Ask.com)

Google of course entirely changed the web search landscape, and after its initial success, Ask Jeeves struggled. It was renamed Ask.com in February 2006 as Jeeves was removed from the search portal, although the butler character did reappear on the UK version of the site between 2009 and 2016.

IAC took over operations in 2005, and has now made the decision to close the search engine down to "sharpen its focus" on other areas. The official end date for Ask Jeeves and Ask.com was May 1, 2026.

"We are deeply grateful to the brilliant engineers, designers, and teams who built and supported Ask over the decades," says IAC. "And to you — the millions of users who turned to us for answers in a rapidly changing world — thank you for your endless curiosity, your loyalty, and your trust. Jeeves' spirit endures."

It's interesting that as Google and other AI-led companies try and make web search like a natural conversation again, the site that first pioneered the approach is closing. Ask Jeeves really was ahead of its time, back in 1997.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 4 (game #792)

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 3 (game #791).

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 #792) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… May the forest be with you

NYT Strands today (game #792) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STUB
• CHASE
• CHART
• ESCAPE
• HEAP
• SHOUT

NYT Strands today (game #792) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #792) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #792) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #792, are…

• CEDAR
• ASPEN
• DOGWOOD
• BIRCH
• CYPRESS
• EUCALYPTUS
• SPANGRAM: BRANCHOUT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

May 4th is, of course, “May the Fourth/Force be with you” day but “forest” seems to be stretching the pun a little too far, unless we are discussing the Forest Moon of Endor, Takodana, which we are patently not.

Instead, this was a search for trees found in woods and forests, made more complex by some tricky twists and turns to connect the letters.

The longest word of the game, EUCALYPTUS, was my final find — not the most obvious of trees, so I’ll forgive myself for not seeing it sooner.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 3, game #791)

• WEIRD
• PECULIAR
• STRANGE
• UNUSUAL
• BIZARRE
• QUIRKY
• SPANGRAM: THATSODD

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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NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, May 4 (game #1058)

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 Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, May 3 (game #1057).

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 #1058) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MARSHMALLOW
• LABUBU
• RADIO
• CHOWDER
• BEANIE BABY
• STOVE
• PITTER-PATTER
• ETCH A SKETCH
• TEDDY BEAR
• DESICCANT PACKET
• DOODLEBUG
• SWEETHEART
• HACKY SACK
• CONTROL PANEL
• SOFTIE
• EYE PILLOW

NYT Connections today (game #1058) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Kind people
• GREEN: Filled with beads etc
• BLUE: Turn the dials
• PURPLE: Begin with types of canine

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 #1058) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: TENDER-HEARTED PERSON
• GREEN: PELLET-FILLED THINGS
• BLUE: THINGS WITH KNOBS
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH FAMILIAR NAMES FOR KINDS OF DOGS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1058) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1058, are…

• YELLOW: TENDER-HEARTED PERSON MARSHMALLOW, SOFTIE, SWEETHEART, TEDDY BEAR
• GREEN: PELLET-FILLED THINGS BEANIE BABY, DESICCANT PACKET, EYE PILLOW, HACKY SACK
• BLUE: THINGS WITH KNOBS CONTROL PANEL, ETCH A SKETCH, RADIO, STOVE
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH FAMILIAR NAMES FOR KINDS OF DOGS CHOWDER, DOODLEBUG, LABUBU, PITTER-PATTER

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

My first mistake was thinking that LABUBU, BEANIE BABY, ETCH A SKETCH and HACKY SACK were all something to do with childhood trends — I was less confident about HACKY SACK, obviously.

Next, I connected the soft and squishy things and after getting one away realized we were looking for soft and squishy people types of people or indeed a TENDER-HEARTED PERSON, so swapped EYE PILLOW for SWEETHEART.

CONTROL PANEL seemed an odd tile but after a shuffle I managed to cotton on that we were looking for THINGS WITH KNOBS.

With eight tiles left I got four of the dog-related tiles and gambled on PITTER-PATTER. All in all not my finest day of deduction.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, May 3, game #1057)

• YELLOW: HOME STRUCTURES GARAGE, HOUSE, PORCH, SHED
• GREEN: ASSOCIATED WITH 1960S COUNTERCULTURE ACID, COMMUNE, FREE LOVE, HIPPIE
• BLUE: FAMOUS REVOLUTIONS IN HISTORY FRENCH, GREEN, INDUSTRIAL, SEXUAL
• PURPLE: GESTURES MADE WITH THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS AIR QUOTES, BUNNY EARS, FINGERS CROSSED, PEACE

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.

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'The only worry is for your budget': Microsoft briefly says 32GB of RAM is the 'no worries' level for gaming on Windows 11, but users fear getting priced out

• 32GB of RAM is a "no worries zone" for gamers, Microsoft says
• Users aren't happy — especially with the current price of memory
• The article has since disappeared, which is perhaps for the best

How much RAM is enough RAM for your Windows 11 gaming PC? It's an age-old debate, but Microsoft has briefly recommended 32GB as the "no worries zone" level, if you're planning on doing some multi-tasking alongside your actual gaming.

We say briefly, because the article mentioning 32GB of RAM has now been pulled from the Windows Learning Center — though not before Windows Latest and several other outlets spotted the new advice for gamers.

Perhaps the Microsoft marketing team realized that recommending 32GB of RAM wasn't the best idea during the current RAM crisis, when AI data center demand is driving up prices to ridiculously expensive levels.

Certainly, reaction on Reddit has not been kind: "the only worry is for your budget" quips one poster, while another says "the correct amount of RAM for Windows 11 is installing Linux" (a sentiment that seems to be broadly shared online).

Worried, or not worried?

Microsoft says 32GB of RAM is the “no-worries” upgrade for Windows 11 gaming from r/technology

To be fair to Microsoft, the now-pulled document said that 16GB of RAM remained the baseline for gamers, and the recommended RAM for Windows 11 itself is still 8GB. It's really the awkward phrasing that's new.

The unsaid implication of labeling 32GB as the "no worries zone" is that gamers who spend a lot of time in their browser, checking Discord, or livestreaming content while gaming should be worried if they've only got 16GB installed.

It's all semantics to some extent, but with prices continuing to shoot upwards — affecting every company in the industry — it's perhaps not the best idea to push 32GB of RAM as the new normal, especially when your own Copilot AI is contributing to memory shortages.

Reddit is filled with requests for Microsoft to get busy optimizing RAM usage on Windows 11 rather than advising customers to buy more memory — though there are also complaints about the bloat of Discord and modern AAA games as well.

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NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, May 3 (game #1057)

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, May 2 (game #1056).

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 #1057) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PEACE
• GREEN
• HOUSE
• ACID
• GARAGE
• COMMUNE
• FRENCH
• FINGERS CROSSED
• INDUSTRIAL
• BUNNY EARS
• SEXUAL
• HIPPIE
• SHED
• AIR QUOTES
• FREE LOVE
• PORCH

NYT Connections today (game #1057) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Buildings
• GREEN: Far out, man
• BLUE: Movements for cultural change
• PURPLE: Hand signals

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 #1057) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: HOME STRUCTURES
• GREEN: ASSOCIATED WITH 1960S COUNTERCULTURE
• BLUE: FAMOUS REVOLUTIONS IN HISTORY
• PURPLE: GESTURES MADE WITH THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1057) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1057, are…

• YELLOW: HOME STRUCTURES GARAGE, HOUSE, PORCH, SHED
• GREEN: ASSOCIATED WITH 1960S COUNTERCULTURE ACID, COMMUNE, FREE LOVE, HIPPIE
• BLUE: FAMOUS REVOLUTIONS IN HISTORY FRENCH, GREEN, INDUSTRIAL, SEXUAL
• PURPLE: GESTURES MADE WITH THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS AIR QUOTES, BUNNY EARS, FINGERS CROSSED, PEACE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

I absolutely knew that I was falling into a trap today, but I couldn’t help myself from connecting ACID, GARAGE, INDUSTRIAL and HIPPIE as types of house music, although I did think of including GREEN instead of INDUSTRIAL.

With this clanking error I got lucky with a purple first although I originally just had BUNNY EARS and FINGERS CROSSED, thinking the group was something to do with good fortune before realizing I was thinking of rabbit’s feet. 

Thankfully, I managed to avoid another error assembling the final groups — although I did fleetingly think that HOUSE, FRENCH and GREEN were all types of dressing.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 2, game #1056)

• BLUE: U.S. CABINET DEPARTMENTS EDUCATION, INTERIOR, STATE, TREASURY
• GREEN: STAGED PERFORMANCES BALLET, MUSICAL, OPERA, PLAY
• YELLOW: CLAIRVOYANT EXTRASENSORY, MENTAL, PSYCHIC, TELEPATHIC
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH NEWSPAPER NAMES GLOBETROTTER, HERALDRY, POST-IT, TIMES TABLES

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.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 3 (game #791)

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, May 2 (game #790).

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 #791) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Something fishy

NYT Strands today (game #791) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TRAIN
• PATRIAL
• SIRE
• WIPE
• QUART
• LOSER

NYT Strands today (game #791) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #791) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 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 #791) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #791, are…

• WEIRD
• PECULIAR
• STRANGE
• UNUSUAL
• BIZARRE
• QUIRKY
• SPANGRAM: THATSODD

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

I couldn't help thinking that today’s task was about fish, but this was something that I instantly dismissed after spotting the letter Q on the board.

Despite this very heavy clue I still failed to see QUIRKY until the very end of the game and needed a hint to get going.

I’m putting today’s slowness down to tiredness from a big night last night rather than anything STRANGE or PECULIAR. 

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 2, game #790)

• SHUFFLE
• KICK
• COASTER
• PONY
• SCUFF
• SAILOR
• WIZARD
• SPANGRAM: LINEDANCE

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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Apple’s Mac mini now has a higher starting price, as it discontinues the entry-level model and slides down to the mid-range

• Apple's entry-level $599 Mac mini with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM is no longer available
• It now starts at $799 for 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM
• Apple's still quoting over a month for delivery as well

Less than 24 hours after Apple’s earnings call in which CEO Tim Cook commented on supply chain issues hitting the Mac mini — shipping dates for the popular entry-level Mac desktop unit have been slipping — the price has gone up, and the former mid-range model is the new entry-level model on Apple.com.

Prior to this story's publication, Apple’s entry-level Mac mini was priced at $599 and came with 256GB of solid-state storage and 16GB of RAM, though that model was out of stock for over a week. That’s no longer an option, though, and the Mac mini now starts at $799 for 512GB of solid-state storage and 16GB of RAM.

MacRumors was the first to spot this change, and the price has increased internationally as well. The Mac mini now starts at £799 in the UK and AU$1,299 in Australia, both with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Essentially, the $599 / £599 / AU$999 model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is discontinued, and the previous mid-range $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 Mac mini with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is now the entry-level. Same hardware specs and cost, but that previous step-up price is now the entry point.

(Image credit: Future)

As we noted in our review when this refreshed Mac mini hit the market, it delivered significant value, especially at the $599 price point in the United States. That value’s a bit tougher with a $200 MSRP increase, but one could say the MacBook Neo takes that spot — albeit with less power — while still staying affordable.

Considering the ongoing RAM crisis, which is bleeding into storage, and slipping times for Apple’s Mac mini already stretched out by weeks, this is likely a way for the supply chain teams within the Cupertino-based technology giant to manage the model.

On the earnings call, Cook didn't give many specifics or tease this forthcoming change, but did say, "We think, looking forward, that the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ may take several months to reach supply demand balance."

Even with the new entry-level model, the Mac mini is still showing a multi-week delivery estimate. If I were to order it now, the estimated delivery is between June 9, 2026, and June 16, 2026 — actually after WWDC 2026 starts.

We've reached out to Apple to request comment on the changes to the Mac mini and will circle back when we receive a response. And in the meantime, let us know what you think about this change to the Mac mini starting point.

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Redditor builds a PC inside an old CRT monitor — it looks like an ancient iMac, but runs Cyberpunk 2077 at 100fps in 1440p

• A Redditor found an unrepairable old CRT monitor in e-waste
• They decided to recycle it by using the monitor as a case for their PC build
• The resulting rig is built around a Ryzen 7600X CPU plus an RX 6900 XT GPU, uses a laptop panel for the front screen, and runs Cyberpunk 2077 smoothly

If left-field DIY with PCs is your bag, then you'll like a new project that has popped up on Reddit, which consists of a full rig jammed inside an old monitor.

Wccftech spotted this intriguingly different PC build, whereby the innards of the rig have been put together inside a hefty old CRT monitor, as shown off by Redditor 'Discipline_Great'.

The Redditor explains that the monitor was discovered in local e-waste, but it was shattered, and the internal components were "partly burned beyond repair", so about the only usable thing was the chassis.

(Image credit: Discipline_Great on Reddit)

So, why not turn that into a PC? The Redditor did exactly that, using an AMD Ryzen 7600X processor plus a Radeon RX 6900 XT graphics card, alongside 16GB of DDR5 RAM in an MSI B650 Gaming Plus motherboard.

The cooling is provided by six 120mm fans, and the display itself at the front is a 17.3-inch laptop panel (offering a 1440p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate).

Analysis: a novel anti-theft deterrent indeed

(Image credit: Discipline_Great on Reddit)

Some of the fellow inhabitants of Reddit wonder why on earth the original poster has done this, to which the obvious answer is: why not? It's a fun project, and one that harks back to the days when all-in-one PCs actually looked like this (rather than flat panels), such as the original iMac (from the previous century, of course).

The creator has also tried to make it look the part in terms of nostalgia, with the PC running Nobara Linux (a gaming-focused spin on the Fedora distro) using a Windows XP-like theme for more of a retro appearance.

Replying to one of the 'but why?' comments, the maker observes: "No one would steal it, and it's something different." I guess looking like a relic from the past, thieves probably wouldn't bother with the PC (and I expect any burglar would think twice about their back health when first setting eyes on this lump of a computer, too — until they picked it up).

To be fair, some of the criticisms on Reddit about the cooling are valid — looking to the longer-term, there needs to be more thought about the airflow, and the internal layout is a little clunky and untidy overall. But hey, have you tried to fit a motherboard and a full set of PC components inside a monitor chassis? I'm guessing it's far from easy.

As for the gaming chops of this defiantly squat, retro PC build, we're told that it can run Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p ultra with ray tracing (on medium) at around 90 to 100 frames per second. Not shabby at all.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, May 1 (game #789)

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, April 30 (game #788).

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 #789) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I ❤️ Hawaii

NYT Strands today (game #789) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• PUKE
• PEEL
• DAME
• PINE
• LAME
• PLEAD

NYT Strands today (game #789) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #789) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 8th row

Last side: right, 3rd row

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

NYT Strands today (game #789) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #789, are…

• POKE
• HULA
• LUAU
• UKULELE
• PINEAPPLE
• MACADAMIA
• SPANGRAM: ALOHASPIRIT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Happy Lei Day, Hawaiians.

Having never been to Hawaii — the closest I’ve got is a shirt I owned in the late 1990s — I feared I would struggle my way around today’s board, but the reality was that it could not have been easier.

It’s a testament to how much Hawaiian culture has permeated around the globe that I was familiar with all of today's words, with the exception of MACADAMIA — which I did not know had a strong link to the islands (I thought they were Australian). It was also a very tricky word to piece together and took me a couple of attempts to get in the right order.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, April 30, game #788)

• DRIZZLE
• MIST
• STEAM
• VAPOR
• HUMIDITY
• AEROSOL
• SPANGRAM: CONDENSATION

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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NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 1 (game #1055)

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, April 30 (game #1054).

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 #1055) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• POUR
• WAX
• ALE
• HIVE
• CREST
• HONEY
• MIX
• COMB
• BUFF
• WIGHT
• WATTLE
• CITRINE
• SHINE
• BEAK
• AMBER
• POLISH

NYT Connections today (game #1055) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Final touch up after car wash
• BLUE: Avian elements
• GREEN: Clearly yellowy-orange
• PURPLE: Altered numerals

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 #1055) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: MAKE GLOSSY
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A BIRD'S HEAD
• GREEN: TRANSLUSCENT GOLDEN THINGS
• PURPLE: NUMBERS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED

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

NYT Connections today (game #1055) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1055, are…

• YELLOW: MAKE GLOSSY BUFF, POLISH, SHINE, WAX
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A BIRD'S HEAD BEAK, COMB, CREST, WATTLE
• GREEN: TRANSLUSCENT GOLDEN THINGS ALE, AMBER, CITRINE, HONEY
• PURPLE: NUMBERS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED HIVE, MIX, POUR, WIGHT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

Hopefully I wasn't the only player to fall into the bee-related trap, collecting HIVE, HONEY, WAX and COMB.

This error, though, helped me focus on other uses for WAX and its obvious car cleaning companions BUFF, POLISH and SHINE. Not that the MAKE GLOSSY activity is exclusive to cars — you could also BUFF up your medals or trophy collection. Something Cristiano Ronaldo no doubt employs someone to do daily.

Meanwhile, I was pretty pleased to get FEATURES OF A BIRD'S HEAD — largely down to knowing what a WATTLE is (that’s not the start of a tongue twister by the way).

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, April 30, game #1054)

• YELLOW: UNNERVE ALARM, DISTURB, SHAKE, SHOCK
• GREEN: REMOVE, AS AN ITEM FROM A LIST, WITH "OFF" CHECK, CROSS, MARK, TICK
• BLUE: WHAT "T" MIGHT STAND FOR TESLA, TIME, TRUE, TYRANNOSAURUS
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES HOUR, HUR, THERE, YORE

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.

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Clever Raspberry Pi hack gets Sony's PS5 controller working properly on a gaming PC over Bluetooth

• A modder has come up with a way to use a DualSense controller wirelessly on PC without losing haptics and the adaptive triggers
• It uses a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W as a bridge between the controller and PC
• This solution seemingly has no discernible added latency, at least for non-competitive gaming

If you use a PS5 DualSense controller for gaming on your PC, you might well be frustrated that to get full functionality, you must have it connected via the cable, and not wirelessly – but that isn't true any longer, thanks to this clever use of a Raspberry Pi.

Tom's Hardware reports that a new creation built with a cheap Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W (the wireless variant of the Pico 2) acts as a bridge between the PC and the controller. This allows the DualSense to connect over Bluetooth and work just as it does on PS5 with haptic feedback, the nifty adaptive triggers, and other goodies.

In case you didn't realize, those functions work fine on PC when you hook up with the cable, but they don't if you connect to the PC (directly) using Bluetooth. This is because the Windows implementation of Bluetooth doesn't have the full bandwidth required by the DualSense to enable all its functions to be transmitted wirelessly.

The project, dubbed 'DS5Dongle', was highlighted on Reddit and is the creation of a developer by the name of 'awalol' on GitHub.

How does it work? Essentially, the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is plugged into the PC and acts as a bridge, meaning the PS5 controller connects to it (rather than the computer) – with the Pi then presenting itself to Windows 11 as a wired DualSense.

It's a clever workaround, and you can buy the necessary goods to fashion your own DS5Dongle for less than $20 in the US (or a roughly equivalent outlay in your region). All you need is a Pi Pico 2 W and a microUSB cable, and of course, the file for the project from GitHub.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff)

Analysis: a neat solution, and latency doesn't spoil the wireless gaming fun

This shortcoming has been an annoyance for many PC gamers who want to use their PS5 DualSense with games that are better suited to a controller than to a mouse and keyboard. It's not ideal having to be restricted to plugging in your DualSense, as wireless obviously offers a great deal more freedom.

Once you've made your own Pi dongle, all you need to do is the initial handshake with the controller, and then your DualSense will be connected to the PC automatically every time you turn the controller on (assuming you leave the dongle in place, of course).

Are there any drawbacks? The obvious worry is that this is an extra step between the PC and the controller, so it may introduce some input latency, which is a point raised by some Redditors on the above thread.

According to the original poster, though, it's not a problem. They observed: "I can only say about my experience, which is I didn't feel any difference to wired. But I only play single player games."

It may not be an ideal solution for competitive gaming, but this is definitely one of the smarter DIY tech pieces I've seen for PC gamers this year. There's some possible flakiness with the current implementation of the DS5Dongle, as noted on GitHub, including the audio from the controller potentially being choppy. The project is still a work in progress.

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Thought the MacBook Pro was expensive? Apple's rumored MacBook Ultra could 'cost significantly more'

• Apple's incoming laptop with OLED touchscreen is set to be called the MacBook Ultra, according to a source who spoke to Macworld
• Packing M6 silicon, it's expected to sit above the existing MacBook Pro M5
• Macworld notes: "This new MacBook will cost significantly more than the current MacBook Pro and offer an entirely new feature set."

We've heard a bit more about the rumored MacBook Ultra, a possible new model that Apple could have planned for its laptop range – and this Ultra branding could extend further than laptops, too.

Macworld claims it has a source who reckons that the rumored MacBook with an OLED touchscreen won't be a MacBook Pro (as was believed until recently), but that instead Apple will introduce a new category: the MacBook Ultra.

You won't like the reason for this potential name change, mind, which is essentially that the MacBook OLED will be seriously pricey, hence the need to recategorize it as a new even higher-end offering, placed above the MacBook Pro.

As Macworld states: "This new MacBook will cost significantly more than the current MacBook Pro and offer an entirely new feature set than the existing models."

Last month, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg (via MacRumors) also said the new top-end Apple laptop with OLED could be called the MacBook Ultra.

As well as the touchscreen and OLED upgrades, the belief is that this MacBook Ultra will run with M6 Pro and Max chips, and it'll be thinner than the MacBook Pro (which would fit the idea of it being ultra-premium, as it were). The touchscreen in particular would change the MacBook experience considerably, of course, or presumably that's the idea.

The expected launch window for this new MacBook is the first half of 2027, we're told, though Apple has apparently pushed that back from late in 2026 due to the RAM crisis. All of this is rumored, of course, so grab some handfuls of salt.

Analysis: Ultra branding feels like a distinct possibility

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

It makes sense for Apple to try to clearly differentiate a model that goes above and beyond where the MacBook Pro currently stands by adding an OLED touchscreen. After all, that's going to be a costly upgrade, and the suggestion of a new MacBook Ultra name hints that it might be very pricey indeed. Of course, people won't just be paying for the hardware, but the cachet of owning an 'Ultra' device from Apple.

The branding also fits with Apple's existing scheme of things in terms of its processors, which have base models, then Pro and Max variants, followed by Ultra at the top.

I wouldn't bet against a MacBook Ultra appearing, then, particularly as we've heard a few bits of chatter from the grapevine about such a laptop in recent times. It seems the idea might be to keep the MacBook Pro M5 models in place, with the MacBook Ultra M6 coming in on top, featuring something in the order of a 20% price hike, Gurman has speculated in the past.

As mentioned at the outset, there could be a fair few more products carrying the Ultra name besides this MacBook.

Macworld also believes that Apple is planning an iPhone Ultra, a foldable device that's been rumored elsewhere, and further theorizes about an iPad Ultra, Mac Studio Ultra, and maybe even an AirPods Ultra (with built-in cameras) that could be on the cards for the future. This might well be the case if Apple really wants to push the Ultra branding and give it a presence across a whole swathe of (more expensive) hardware.

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NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, April 30 (game #1054)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 29 (game #1053).

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 #1054) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• THERE
• CHECK
• MARK
• TRUE
• ALARM
• HOUR
• TYRANNOSAURUS
• TICK
• TIME
• SHOCK
• CROSS
• YORE
• SHAKE
• HUR
• DISTURB
• TESLA

NYT Connections today (game #1054) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Scare someone
• GREEN: Strike off your to-dos
• BLUE: The letter after S
• PURPLE: Sounds like ownership

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 #1054) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: UNNERVE
• GREEN: REMOVE, AS AN ITEM FROM A LIST, WITH "OFF"
• BLUE: WHAT "T" MIGHT STAND FOR
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

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

NYT Connections today (game #1054) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1054, are…

• YELLOW: UNNERVE ALARM, DISTURB, SHAKE, SHOCK
• GREEN: REMOVE, AS AN ITEM FROM A LIST, WITH "OFF" CHECK, CROSS, MARK, TICK
• BLUE: WHAT "T" MIGHT STAND FOR TESLA, TIME, TRUE, TYRANNOSAURUS
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES HOUR, HUR, THERE, YORE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

As a perpetual maker and crosser-offer of to-do lists I spotted the green group containing CHECK, CROSS, MARK, and TICK immediately. Like many, I am sure, I add things to my to-do lists that I’ve already done just so I can have the pleasure of checking them off. I think I need help!

Meanwhile, the most un-nerving thing about the yellow group is that I did not see it sooner. 

The same could be said for HOMOPHONES OF POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES — I spent far too long thinking HUR was connected to the classic film Ben Hur — while I only got WHAT "T" MIGHT STAND FOR because the four words began with that letter; Googling afterwards I discovered that the TESLA in this context was a unit of measurement and nothing to do with Elon Musk's cars.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, April 29, game #1053)

• YELLOW: STEP IN A PROCESS LEVEL, PHASE, ROUND, STAGE
• GREEN: SOUND LIKE THUNDER BOOM, CLAP, ROLL, RUMBLE
• BLUE: KINDS OF PUPPETS HAND, SHADOW, SOCK, STRING
• PURPLE: STANDING ___ JOKE, ORDERS, OVATION, ROOM

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.

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