<![CDATA[ TechRadar ]]> https://www.techradar.com Wed, 08 May 2024 09:09:04 +0000 en <![CDATA[ Quordle today – hints and answers for Wednesday, May 8 (game #835) ]]> Another day, another Quordle puzzle to get your brain buzzing. Or rather, two Quordle puzzles – because there's also the Daily Sequence version now too. I've got hints for the standard Quordle below, but not the Sequence because it's (in my experience) a little easier. But you will find answers for both in case you don't get time to play.

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 #835) - hint #1 - Vowels

How 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 #835) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #835) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #835) - 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 #835) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• G

• R

• S

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

Quordle today (game #835) - the answers

Quordle answers for game 835 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #835, are…

  • SEVER
  • GLORY
  • RADAR
  • SMALL

A much easier Quordle today than yesterday's; this game is like a rollercoaster at the moment. That said, it's not without complications, particularly the fact that SEVER, RADAR and SMALL all have repeated letters. RADAR has two of them, of course, and is likely to be the word that causes you the most trouble today.

I didn't suffer unduly, because by the time I got to it, it was the only word I could see that fit, and I duly solved this Quordle with two guesses remaining.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #835) - the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 835 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #835, are…

  • DUVET
  • PLUNK
  • FOCAL
  • DAILY

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #834, Tuesday 7 May: DEFER, BOUGH, MISER, MAGMA
  • Quordle #833, Monday 6 May: STAIN, GENIE, LEVEL, RELAY
  • Quordle #832, Sunday 5 May: GAZER, TWEET, FERRY, THUMB
  • Quordle #831, Saturday 4 May: WAGON, QUICK, MURAL, LIEGE
  • Quordle #830, Friday 3 May: NUDGE, CLASH, KNAVE, AGENT
  • Quordle #829, Thursday 2 May: TULIP, PLAZA, DAILY, SINGE
  • Quordle #828, Wednesday 1 May: ROUGH, SYNOD, POSSE, PARRY
  • Quordle #827, Tuesday 30 April: STASH, FUSSY, REEDY, WALTZ
  • Quordle #826, Monday 29 April: STAKE, PURGE, PECAN, PLANT
  • Quordle #825, Sunday 28 April: LLAMA, CUMIN, CAULK, RABID
  • Quordle #824, Saturday 27 April: QUACK, BERET, SKULL, LATHE
  • Quordle #823, Friday 26 April: AMONG, FLING, SOUND, AGILE
  • Quordle #822, Thursday 25 April: WHILE, DODGY, MACHO, LOATH
  • Quordle #821, Wednesday 24 April: STEAD, CANAL, SHEEN, UNITE
  • Quordle #820, Tuesday 23 April: PLANK, SPOIL, GAVEL, STOOP
  • Quordle #819, Monday 22 April: PLAID, ADAGE, DIODE, ELBOW
  • Quordle #818, Sunday 21 April: CASTE, FUNKY, CAVIL, MANGA
  • Quordle #817, Saturday 20 April: STAMP, FORTH, DULLY, OUNCE
  • Quordle #816, Friday 19 April: WOMAN, WAXEN, FLIRT, FLOAT
  • Quordle #815, Thursday 18 April: MATCH, APTLY, BISON, CLINK
]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/quordle-today-answers-clues-8-may-2024 FWXBhRH6V5giQ43Xri89eb Tue, 07 May 2024 23:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Wednesday, May 8 (game #66) ]]> Today's Strands puzzle is not quite as tricky as yesterday's, but it's not exactly easy either. So if you're on the hunt for help then let me point you in the direction of my hints. You'll find them below, together with the answers and my commentary on the 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 #66) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Can you digit?

NYT Strands today (game #66) - hint #2 - clue words

What are some good clue words today?

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

• BAND

• BRAND

• STEEP

• STEEL

• HOLE

• MULE

NYT Strands today (game #66) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Natural or imaginary?

NYT Strands today (game #66) - hint #4 - spangram position

What two sides of the board does today's spangram touch?

• First: right, 5th row

• Second: left, 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 #66) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 66 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #66, are…

  • BINARY
  • WHOLE
  • LUCKY
  • BACON
  • DANCE
  • SERIAL
  • TELEPHONE
  • SPANGRAM: NUMBERS
  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: Perfect

I thought this Strands puzzle would be easy, but not so. The theme clue – 'Can you digit?' (following 'Can you dig it?' yesterday; nice work, NYT) – immediately suggested numbers, and indeed I found that spangram running backwards across the board almost immediately. BINARY and WHOLE, both beneath the spangram, were simple solves too, and LUCKY followed by virtue of there being nothing else it could be.

But LUCKY indicated that it might be harder than I'd predicted, and here I stalled. Unlike the first couple, LUCKY is not a mathematical term (or not necessarily one), simply one that precedes 'numbers'. And that was the case with almost all of the others. It took me quite some time to come up with any of the others; I spotted PHONE, but it didn't turn blue, and it was only a while later that I realized it was TELEPHONE instead.

The others were all horrible. I wasn't thinking broadly enough to consider BACON or DANCE, and SERIAL just took ages because of all of the vowels. I got there in the end, but it wasn't exactly a cake walk.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday 7 May, game #65)

  • GOLD
  • SILVER
  • COPPER
  • ANTIMONY
  • ARSENIC
  • BISMUTH
  • SPANGRAM: HEAVYMETAL

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's currently in Beta and 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.

]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/nyt-strands-today-answers-hints-8-may-2024 NT2FNhfg7tsz63AVthxK4m Tue, 07 May 2024 23:10:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Quordle today – hints and answers for Tuesday, May 7 (game #834) ]]> It's time for your daily hit of Quordle hints, guaranteed to help you solve today's game and keep your streak alive. Scroll down for the hints, the answers, and my commentary on today's 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 #834) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* 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 #834) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #834) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #834) - 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 #834) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• D

• B

• M

• M

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

Quordle today (game #834) - the answers

Quordle answers for game 834 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #834, are…

  • DEFER
  • BOUGH
  • MISER
  • MAGMA

Phew! Once again this Quordle went to wire for me, thanks to a poor showing from my three set start words, which today only uncovered one yellow in the fourth quadrant, and only three or four letters in the others.

I needed some guesswork to get home in time, and my task wasn't helped by the repeated letters in DEFER and MAGMA (two of them!), or by the fact that WISER has several similarly spelled words, such as WISER and RISER. OK, so maybe playing MISER before RISER would have made sense, but I'm allowed one mistake, right?

The Daily Sequence, meanwhile, was just as tough thanks to the presence of TIBIA and KINKY. Maybe tomorrow will be a little easier.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #834) - the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 834 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #834, are…

  • SLEPT
  • TIBIA
  • KINKY
  • LIGHT

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #833, Monday 6 May: STAIN, GENIE, LEVEL, RELAY
  • Quordle #832, Sunday 5 May: GAZER, TWEET, FERRY, THUMB
  • Quordle #831, Saturday 4 May: WAGON, QUICK, MURAL, LIEGE
  • Quordle #830, Friday 3 May: NUDGE, CLASH, KNAVE, AGENT
  • Quordle #829, Thursday 2 May: TULIP, PLAZA, DAILY, SINGE
  • Quordle #828, Wednesday 1 May: ROUGH, SYNOD, POSSE, PARRY
  • Quordle #827, Tuesday 30 April: STASH, FUSSY, REEDY, WALTZ
  • Quordle #826, Monday 29 April: STAKE, PURGE, PECAN, PLANT
  • Quordle #825, Sunday 28 April: LLAMA, CUMIN, CAULK, RABID
  • Quordle #824, Saturday 27 April: QUACK, BERET, SKULL, LATHE
  • Quordle #823, Friday 26 April: AMONG, FLING, SOUND, AGILE
  • Quordle #822, Thursday 25 April: WHILE, DODGY, MACHO, LOATH
  • Quordle #821, Wednesday 24 April: STEAD, CANAL, SHEEN, UNITE
  • Quordle #820, Tuesday 23 April: PLANK, SPOIL, GAVEL, STOOP
  • Quordle #819, Monday 22 April: PLAID, ADAGE, DIODE, ELBOW
  • Quordle #818, Sunday 21 April: CASTE, FUNKY, CAVIL, MANGA
  • Quordle #817, Saturday 20 April: STAMP, FORTH, DULLY, OUNCE
  • Quordle #816, Friday 19 April: WOMAN, WAXEN, FLIRT, FLOAT
  • Quordle #815, Thursday 18 April: MATCH, APTLY, BISON, CLINK
  • Quordle #814, Wednesday 17 April: COLON, EQUIP, SUITE, BLURB
]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/quordle-today-answers-clues-7-may-2024 nX7bYnS7m5Xd5LW8qzqLmh Mon, 06 May 2024 23:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Tuesday, May 7 (game #65) ]]> Consider this your warning: today's Strands puzzle from the NYT is really, really difficult. Well, that was my experience at least; maybe you're a lot smarter than me. But if you do struggle with it, I've got some helpful hints below.

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Can you dig it?

NYT Strands today (game #65) - hint #2 - clue words

What are some good clue words today?

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

• HOLD

• BEGAN

• MUST

• SLOPE

• CLAP

• EDGE

NYT Strands today (game #65) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• All that glitters

NYT Strands today (game #65) - hint #4 - spangram position

What two sides of the board does today's spangram touch?

• First: top, 1st column

• Second: bottom, 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 #65) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 65 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #65, are…

  • GOLD
  • SILVER
  • COPPER
  • ANTIMONY
  • ARSENIC
  • BISMUTH
  • SPANGRAM: HEAVYMETAL
  • My rating: Very hard
  • My score: Two hints

This might be arrogance on my part, but I've come to feel that I should always get a perfect score on the Strands. After all, it is possible to solve it by brute force if necessary, simply playing words until something turns blue (or yellow), and never using a hint. However, there's always a time-versus-reward algorithm playing in my head, and today I decided after about 30 minutes of fruitlessly searching that I had had enough.

The clue phrase – 'Can you dig it?' – implied 'beneath the ground', but I found the likes of HOLE and EARTH without either of them changing color. So in the end I used a hint and got GOLD. Great – I should be able to solve it now with no more hassle. Except… this got harder from there. SILVER and COPPER were easy enough, and ANTIMONY (which I've never even heard of) was revealed by simple virtue of the fact that there was now nothing else that would fit in that space. Likewise, HEAVYMETAL (nice pun, NYT) was easy to find. But the final two… wow! Eventually, I had to use a second hint to reveal ARSENIC, which I didn't even know was a metal, before solving BISMUTH (never heard of it) by default.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday 6 May, game #64)

  • LETTER
  • BILL
  • MAGAZINE
  • POSTCARD
  • INVITE
  • PACKAGE
  • SPANGRAM: SNAILMAIL

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's currently in Beta and 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.

]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/nyt-strands-today-answers-hints-7-may-2024 6NCgDuUSbmhQWrDxVCgiob Mon, 06 May 2024 23:10:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Quordle today – hints and answers for Monday, May 6 (game #833) ]]> It's the start of a new week, but it's the same old Quordle that's now been going for 833 games. It's the best and longest-running of the many Wordle clones, and I still play it every day. If you do too, you may not need my hints below; scroll to my commentary if so. But if you're new to the game, or just find today's Quordle to be particularly tough, read on for some help.

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 #833) - hint #1 - Vowels

How 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 #833) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #833) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #833) - 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 #833) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• G

• L

• R

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

Quordle today (game #833) - the answers

Quordle answers for game 833 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #833, are…

  • STAIN
  • GENIE
  • LEVEL
  • RELAY

A much easier Quordle today than yesterday – for me at least. I always say that, because the way you play may be very different from the way I do. But today, my three start words gave me the majority of the letters I needed, and made most of the quadrants easy to solve.

Case in point: STAIN, for which I already had three green letters and two yellows. RELAY, where I had four yellows and one green, was not much harder. By the time I reached GENIE I already had the letters -ENIE – so no, that one did not challenge me too much. And that just left LEVEL, which I could hardly get wrong by that point.

If only they were all so simple, eh?

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #833) - the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 833 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #833, are…

  • CLONE
  • PRICE
  • MAMBO
  • FIZZY

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #832, Sunday 5 May: GAZER, TWEET, FERRY, THUMB
  • Quordle #831, Saturday 4 May: WAGON, QUICK, MURAL, LIEGE
  • Quordle #830, Friday 3 May: NUDGE, CLASH, KNAVE, AGENT
  • Quordle #829, Thursday 2 May: TULIP, PLAZA, DAILY, SINGE
  • Quordle #828, Wednesday 1 May: ROUGH, SYNOD, POSSE, PARRY
  • Quordle #827, Tuesday 30 April: STASH, FUSSY, REEDY, WALTZ
  • Quordle #826, Monday 29 April: STAKE, PURGE, PECAN, PLANT
  • Quordle #825, Sunday 28 April: LLAMA, CUMIN, CAULK, RABID
  • Quordle #824, Saturday 27 April: QUACK, BERET, SKULL, LATHE
  • Quordle #823, Friday 26 April: AMONG, FLING, SOUND, AGILE
  • Quordle #822, Thursday 25 April: WHILE, DODGY, MACHO, LOATH
  • Quordle #821, Wednesday 24 April: STEAD, CANAL, SHEEN, UNITE
  • Quordle #820, Tuesday 23 April: PLANK, SPOIL, GAVEL, STOOP
  • Quordle #819, Monday 22 April: PLAID, ADAGE, DIODE, ELBOW
  • Quordle #818, Sunday 21 April: CASTE, FUNKY, CAVIL, MANGA
  • Quordle #817, Saturday 20 April: STAMP, FORTH, DULLY, OUNCE
  • Quordle #816, Friday 19 April: WOMAN, WAXEN, FLIRT, FLOAT
  • Quordle #815, Thursday 18 April: MATCH, APTLY, BISON, CLINK
  • Quordle #814, Wednesday 17 April: COLON, EQUIP, SUITE, BLURB
  • Quordle #813, Tuesday 16 April: METAL, MATEY, AGREE, DRIVE
]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/quordle-today-answers-clues-6-may-2024 5G8gTgy9KeMCeTygaLt9Ue Sun, 05 May 2024 23:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Monday, May 6 (game #64) ]]> Another week, another Strands puzzle to try to solve. Today's is of average difficulty… but the average here is hard compared to most word games, so you might want some help. I can provide that, in the form of some hints below, plus the answers and my commentary on today's Strands.

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Signed, Sealed, Delivered

NYT Strands today (game #64) - hint #2 - clue words

What are some good clue words today?

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

• AGAIN

• DRAIN

• PACK

• PAIN

• SIZE

• GAZE

NYT Strands today (game #64) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Open the box

NYT Strands today (game #64) - hint #4 - spangram position

Where does today's spangram start and end?

• Start: right, 4th row

• End: left, 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 #64) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 64 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #64, are…

  • LETTER
  • BILL
  • MAGAZINE
  • POSTCARD
  • INVITE
  • PACKAGE
  • SPANGRAM: SNAILMAIL
  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: Perfect

Though this Strands puzzle is not incredibly hard, it does have a more difficult spangram than most. SNAILMAIL as a term is now relatively widely used, sure, but it still seems a lot more informal than we've come to expect from Strands.

Otherwise, it's not too bad. I really struggled to find MAGAZINE – it just wasn't something I thought of as an item that gets delivered in the mail – but POSTCARD, PACKAGE and LETTER were all pretty easy.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday 5 May, game #63)

  • GLOVES
  • RAKE
  • SHEARS
  • TRIMMER
  • TROWEL
  • SHOVEL
  • EDGER
  • SPANGRAM: YARDWORK

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's currently in Beta and 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.

]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/nyt-strands-today-answers-hints-6-may-2024 AYpE9JtQaWQJfd6noYha3n Sun, 05 May 2024 23:10:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, May 5 (game #63) ]]> Sunday's NYT Strands puzzle is a relatively straightforward one – but that doesn't make it a piece of cake exactly. Very few Strands games are that, and you'll still need your wits about you to solve it. But don't despair – I've got some hints for you below if you need them.

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Tools for the job

NYT Strands today (game #63) - hint #2 - clue words

What are some good clue words today?

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

• LOVE

• HELM

• OWED

• TREE

• SHARE

• GREED

NYT Strands today (game #63) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Outdoor labor

NYT Strands today (game #63) - hint #4 - spangram position

Where does today's spangram start and end?

• Start: left, 6th row

• End: 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 #63) - the answers

NYT Strands answers to game 63 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #63, are…

  • GLOVES
  • RAKE
  • SHEARS
  • TRIMMER
  • TROWEL
  • SHOVEL
  • EDGER
  • SPANGRAM: YARDWORK
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

There should be no issues here, unless you have zero knowledge of gardening. I wouldn't exactly describe myself as an expert, and I still solved this Strands puzzle with a minimum of fuss.

I was helped by the word GLOVES standing out immediately in the bottom right of the board; that then led to RAKE, and together with the theme clue of 'Tools for the job' it was obvious what was needed. The spangram, YARDWORK, foxed me a little because it's not a phrase you hear in the UK, where I'm based; we'd call it gardening. But overall this was one of the easier days for Strands.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday 4 May, game #62)

  • PSYCHO
  • POLTERGEIST
  • HALLOWEEN
  • HOSTEL
  • SCREAM
  • SPANGRAM: SCARYMOVIE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's currently in Beta and 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.

]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/nyt-strands-today-answers-hints-5-may-2024 N7v77ZTJb59BBfdtsT6kFR Sat, 04 May 2024 23:38:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ Quordle today – hints and answers for Sunday, May 5 (game #832) ]]> Hello and welcome to Sunday's edition of Quordle – the puzzle game that challenges you to solve four Wordles simultaneously, or consecutively in the case of the Daily Sequence variant. It's great fun, but potentially tough – so read on for some hints if you need help.

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 #832) - hint #1 - Vowels

How 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 #832) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #832) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #832) - 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 #832) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• T

• F

• T

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

Quordle today (game #832) - the answers

Quordle answers to game 832 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #832, are…

  • GAZER
  • TWEET
  • FERRY
  • THUMB

This must have been one of the worst starts I've ever had to a Quordle. Usually, my three set start words – STARE, DOILY and PUNCH – give me the majority of the letters I need. But today, I only had three yellows for the first quadrant, two for the second, one yellow and two greens for the third, and three yellows for the fourth.

Thankfully, the options in that fourth one, in the bottom right, were T, H and U – so I put them together with my unplayed M and B and uncovered THUMB. In the bottom left, I wanted to establish where the yellow E went, so played EVERY so as to give myself two shots at solving it. This didn't work as such, but it did confirm that the answer was -E-RY. FERRY was the only word I could think of, and that was correct.

In the top left I had three yellows still. Two were E and R, so I went with WAGER to cover off the common ER format, while playing two more unplayed letters. Again, it was wrong – but the A, E and R turned green, and the G yellow, so I knew it had to be GAZER. That just left one more, and the W I'd played before now made it clear that it had to be TWEET. 

So, here we had a Z plus a couple of repeated letters, and one of the more difficult recent Quordles. What a rollercoaster!

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #832) - the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers to game 832 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #832, are…

  • GOLLY
  • MOIST
  • ABBOT
  • FIBRE

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #831, Saturday 4 May: WAGON, QUICK, MURAL, LIEGE
  • Quordle #830, Friday 3 May: NUDGE, CLASH, KNAVE, AGENT
  • Quordle #829, Thursday 2 May: TULIP, PLAZA, DAILY, SINGE
  • Quordle #828, Wednesday 1 May: ROUGH, SYNOD, POSSE, PARRY
  • Quordle #827, Tuesday 30 April: STASH, FUSSY, REEDY, WALTZ
  • Quordle #826, Monday 29 April: STAKE, PURGE, PECAN, PLANT
  • Quordle #825, Sunday 28 April: LLAMA, CUMIN, CAULK, RABID
  • Quordle #824, Saturday 27 April: QUACK, BERET, SKULL, LATHE
  • Quordle #823, Friday 26 April: AMONG, FLING, SOUND, AGILE
  • Quordle #822, Thursday 25 April: WHILE, DODGY, MACHO, LOATH
  • Quordle #821, Wednesday 24 April: STEAD, CANAL, SHEEN, UNITE
  • Quordle #820, Tuesday 23 April: PLANK, SPOIL, GAVEL, STOOP
  • Quordle #819, Monday 22 April: PLAID, ADAGE, DIODE, ELBOW
  • Quordle #818, Sunday 21 April: CASTE, FUNKY, CAVIL, MANGA
  • Quordle #817, Saturday 20 April: STAMP, FORTH, DULLY, OUNCE
  • Quordle #816, Friday 19 April: WOMAN, WAXEN, FLIRT, FLOAT
  • Quordle #815, Thursday 18 April: MATCH, APTLY, BISON, CLINK
  • Quordle #814, Wednesday 17 April: COLON, EQUIP, SUITE, BLURB
  • Quordle #813, Tuesday 16 April: METAL, MATEY, AGREE, DRIVE
  • Quordle #812, Monday 15 April: STINT, RAPID, BRING, BUILD
]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/quordle-today-answers-clues-5-may-2024 sDG53mdomxjcD2m3HPgLGf Sat, 04 May 2024 23:32:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ I was fed up with creative blocks, and I found the perfect app to help me do something about it ]]> Creative blocks. Real or imagined? Having worked in creative industries for the past 20 years, I can relate to days and even weeks where it feels like there’s a blockage. At times, ideas flow, and turning them into meaningful creations seems as natural as a bee making honey. At other times, I seem to get caught up in that honey and end up trudging through my days questioning whether I should have just worked at the local shop.

In reality, I have no idea why we expect our bodies and brains to be at 100% peak performance and efficiency 100% of the time. Isn’t that incredibly unrealistic? 

And yet, we have a meltdown or at least mild anxiety when things are not flowing as we would hope. Rather than trying to force things when these downtimes arise, I’ve decided to take a more long-term approach. It involves keeping my brain fresh with little creative tasks each day. All of this is possible thanks to a free app called Messier.

Homescreen heroes

This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn't live without. Read them all here.

Available for both Apple and Android devices, this super simple app is a breath of fresh air that keeps me moving in the right direction. At its core, Messier is a collection of creative practices and activities that can be done when you have a few spare minutes in the day.

Messier App

(Image credit: Future)

Creative lessons center around drawing, dancing, cooking, tapping, and much more. Each one tells you what areas you’ll grow in, such as learning to express emotions or increasing your learning ability. Step-by-step instructions guide you from beginning to end. If you need any help, there are also some helpful hints. 

I also appreciated the ‘Try Variations’ section in each lesson, which is perfect if you want to return to an activity you loved but with a slight twist. Every lesson you liked can be saved, so you have the ones you enjoyed the most all in one place.

One of the things I love about this app is that the activities can be enjoyed on your own or with others. I prefer a mixture. Sometimes, I just want to get some headspace and have a good old creative moment on my own, but it’s also great to partake in the same activity with others. Being able to compare what you’ve created and learn from others is a lot of fun, and it also helps you see the pros and cons of other creative approaches. 

Messier App

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve particularly enjoyed using the app with my children. There is the perpetual pull of devices, and it can be a real challenge to help them see the benefit of offline creativity. As they get older, they’re increasingly moving from pen and paper to other mediums, and I think there’s something lost from not engaging with things like art and music as the years roll on.

The activities are split into different categories. If I’m honest, the interface looks like Netflix, but with different content. One of those categories is ‘Family-friendly’ and it provides a set of options ideal for doing with others. One of my favorites is the ‘empathy through art’ activity, which requires you to listen to a person share a story before translating that into a drawing or a sketch. It's through activities like this that people are brought together and experiences are shared.

Messier App

(Image credit: Future)

To help create a sense of momentum and achievement, there is a profile section that details your weekly progress and your current and longest streak. This provides a quick and straightforward way to see how well you’re doing at engaging with the app and, more importantly, partaking in the creative exercises. 

One of the things I think is seriously lacking about the app is the ability to photograph or record your creations so that you can see your past creations. This would also provide the added benefit of seeing if you’re making any progress within specific mediums of art or music.

That aside, the Messier app has brought me significant new joy. Filling some of those moments in a day with a purposeful creative exercise rather than scrolling through social media has been wonderful. It's made me try new things that I would never have thought of without a little nudging. So, if you’re after some creative spice in your life, try the Messier app.

Download Messier on iOS or on Android

]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/i-was-fed-up-with-creative-blocks-and-i-found-the-perfect-app-to-help-me-do-something-about-it 4JFpqgvic7CsRzEVsswwh4 Sat, 04 May 2024 17:00:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ What are broadband price rises? ]]> If you’re a broadband customer in 2024, you might have received a notification from your provider that your monthly bills will be going up - even if you’ve recently got a new broadband deal. 

While this can of course be a frustrating thing to happen, the reality is that it’s not necessarily anything new and it’s a practice we’ve seen happening over the last few years.

That said, there are some circumstances where you can avoid these price rises - and sadly some where you can’t. Here we’ve explained all you need to know about broadband price rises, why they happen and offer some steps you can take to steer clear of them.

Broadband price rises explained

Broadband price rises: at a glance

Each April, broadband prices typically rise. The increases are meant to be in line with annual inflation - which is informed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Retail Price Index (RPI) - and these days this is something that’s written into our supplier contracts. 

Some broadband suppliers also have their own discretionary percentage price increases to cover their own rising operational costs against inflation, which they may bolt on at the same time. This is why we can see variations in the size of the percentages in which suppliers say they will be increasing their prices. 

‘Mid-contract price rises’ explained

You may also hear or see the phrase ‘mid-contract price rises’ being used in relation to this subject. This basically refers to the same price increases we’ve mentioned above, but specifically for those who are still under contract with their broadband provider - and ultimately, can’t do a great deal about them.

An Accept button agreeing to Terms and Conditions

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Broadband cost increase examples

The CPI rose by 4% in the 12 months up to January 2024, according to the ONS, and this is the base rate most broadband providers have used this year. However, some have taken a snapshot from February and then included their additional increases. As such, the majority of the UK’s ISPs have surpassed the standard 4%.

Here’s a selection of some examples for April 2024 of provider price increases, from highest to lowest:

  • Virgin Media - 8.8% (February RPI rate + 3.9%)
  • BT - 7.9% (CPI rate + 3.9%)
  • Plusnet - 7.9% (CPI rate + 3.9%)
  • EE - 7.9% (CPI rate + 3.9%)
  • Vodafone - 7.9% (CPI rate + 3.9%)
  • Three - 7.9% (CPI rate + 3.9%)
  • TalkTalk - 7.7% (CPI rate + 3.7%)
  • Sky - 6.7% average (not in relation to CPI)

Broadband price rises - frequently asked questions

Have broadband prices always increased?

As we’ve alluded to earlier, these price rises are nothing new - although things are getting a bit better than they used to be. 

If we go back to 2019, the UK regulator Ofcom had to introduce new regulations to stop providers putting up prices whenever they wanted - something that unfortunately happened quite a lot. 

However, what suppliers instead started doing (which is what we’re seeing now) is that they just wrote into our contracts that their broadband packages would be subject to these annual increases. Moreover it also removes any obligation for them to let their customers know that these rises will be happening - something that continues to catch people out.

broadband when moving home

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Will broadband prices continue to rise?

As we’ve explained above, this practice of using a contractual agreement is going to hit consumers again in April this year, but whether or not this happens next year remains to be seen - as there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that Ofcom has recognised how these price rises aren’t particularly well received by broadband customers and in December 2023 it announced plans for a ban on these ‘inflation-linked price rises’.

Its own study into this showed that ‘as of April 2023 four in ten (11 million) broadband customers and over half of mobile customers (36 million) were on contracts subject to inflation-linked price rises’ and that this could rise to six in ten in 2024. Worryingly though, Ofcom deemed that providers weren’t doing enough to help customers understand these price rises and ultimately were making ‘customers unfairly assume the risk and burden of financial uncertainty from inflation’.

As such, it plans on introducing new rules for broadband providers requiring:

“that any price written into a customer’s contract would need to be set out in pounds and pence, prominently and transparently, at the point of sale. That includes being clear about when any changes to prices will occur. This would prevent providers from including inflation-linked, or percentage-based, price rise terms in all new contracts”.

Ofcom intends to finish its consultation on this matter and publish its final decision in Spring 2024. 

Can’t I just move to a cheaper provider?

This is the question a lot of customers tend to ask when faced with these price rises and the simple answer is that you can, but you’ll likely face having to pay an exit fee. 

However, if your existing broadband contract is set to come to an end before April’s price increases, you will be free to switch to a cheaper tariff without incurring any penalties.

woman looking at tablet on sofa

(Image credit: Future)

How to avoid broadband price rises

How to avoid broadband price rises now

So in addition to simply switching if you’re out of contract, there are a couple of other ways you can look to avoid these broadband price rises now. These include:

Haggling with your provider

One tried and tested method is to pick up the phone (or head to a LiveChat service) and try to haggle with your existing supplier for a cheaper rate.

Checking to see if you can switch for free

In some cases you can find that you are able to switch for free. This is quite rare, but it’s worth double checking your contract to see if your supplier in fact doesn’t charge a penalty fee for an early exit.

Prove you’re not getting the right service

If you feel you’re not getting the service you’re paying for - e.g. your internet is slower than it should be on a regular basis - then you can build a case to say your supplier has broken the terms of your contract, allowing you to leave for free. However, you do need lots of evidence and additional proof to make such a scenario happen.

How to avoid broadband price rises in the future

If you’re thinking further ahead - and assuming Ofcom’s rulings don’t come into force this year - you can also try the following to circumnavigate these price rises:

Choose a provider with no price rises

It might sound obvious, but there are a few providers who haven’t raised their prices, such as Zen Internet and Hyperoptic. Plus, more suppliers are starting to offer ‘price lock’ deals that promise you won’t see increases if you sign up for things like long term contracts. 

Go for shorter contracts

Another option is to pick a broadband package that has a short-term, or rolling monthly contract. These typically cost a bit more, but it gives you the flexibility to leave in a quicker timeframe if you know the prices are going up.

Save with a bundle deal

If you have things like your mobile phone or your TV services through different suppliers, it might actually work out cheaper to bundle these together with your broadband. Essentially you can negate the price rises with savings on these extras.

Find a new broadband deal

Finding the best broadband deals

Whatever approach you take here, our guide to the best broadband deals can help you find a new - and potentially cheaper - package, especially if you are looking to switch.

Alternatively, you can get an idea of what deals are on offer in your location by using our widget below. All you need to do is enter your postcode and we’ll show you all the top tariffs available to you and your property.

]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/wi-fi-broadband/what-are-broadband-price-rises 7BPN2fzWjKcZeQP4c9rz89 Sat, 04 May 2024 06:30:00 +0000