Techno

Monday, July 10, 2023

Latest Tech News

Google is currently beta testing an enhanced version of the Pixel Call Screen that introduces a conversational AI to help users deal with annoying robocalls.

If you’re not familiar with the feature, Call Screen gives Pixel phone owners a direct way to vet phone calls from unknown sources. You could, for example, automatically decline people whose number matches those found on Google’s spam database. With this beta, the company is adding a “series” of natural sounding voice prompts to “determine who’s calling and why.” The goal here, according to Google, is to help further reduce the amount of robocalls Pixel users get.

Surprisingly, the beta actually released nearly two months ago on May 15. Google, for whatever reason, has been pretty quiet about it. Keep in mind it is a work in progress, so it may not work as well as intended. We're still in the early stages. Because of this, the tech giant is asking first adopters for feedback on how to improve the AI.

The company seemingly wants to nail down that natural sounding voice. Once they get the feedback, Google states it has plans to incorporate those changes for the final version whenever it comes out. The launch date for the AI-powered Call Screen remains unknown although we did ask for more information.

Availability and feedback

In addition to the AI voices, Google is simplifying the Call Screen user interface. Now a new window will appear after selecting Protection Level in the Settings menu, offering more granular control over how to filter calls. You have the Basic level, which instantly declines numbers known to be spam. And you have two other levels, which add in their own level of scrutiny on top of stopping spam numbers. Medium limits “suspicious calls” while Maximum outright blocks all unknown numbers.

The beta is available for recent Pixel models like “the Pixel 6 and above” but only in the United States. Google has a list of instructions on its Help website teaching people how to install the AI-boosted feature. Basically, you’ll need to first download the “latest version of the Phone app” then go to the Call Screen section in the Settings menu. It appears the voices will be automatically be included in the screening process.

Hopefully, Google is successful in reining in the spam. Things have gotten pretty bad in recent years. To give you an idea, a recent study shows 75 billion robocalls and 225 billion robotexts were sent out in 2022 alone.

For those who want a more creative way to filter out spam, you should look into Jolly Roger Telephone. It’s an AI subscription service that utilizes ChatGPT tech to “engage in ridiculous conversations with scammers.” Afterwards, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the Pixel phones for 2023 if you’re looking to upgrade.

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Mortgage Rate Predictions for July and Beyond: Interest Rates Likely to Stay Higher for Longer - CNET

With inflation still high, experts expect mortgage interest rates will remain about where they are -- just under 7% -- in the coming months.

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Sunday, July 9, 2023

Best Early Prime Day Deals Under $50 - CNET

Amazon Prime Day is coming July 11, but there are already some sweet deals at budget prices. Here's a look at the best of them.

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Latest Tech News

Square Enix is "considering various ideas" about its upcoming titles, including remasters of its classic older games.

Addressing investors at a recent shareholders' meeting, the board was asked if it had plans to remaster further games from its archives, and the reply – whilst, admittedly, expertly non-committal – has fans hoping that the success of games like Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster will see further titles get spruced up for current-gen systems.

"Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster has been well received. Are there plans to remaster other past titles?" asked a shareholder at the latest investor meeting (thanks, VGC).

"Personally, I would like to play Xenogears."

The response didn't specifically confirm Square's plans one way or the other (nor address the Xenogears fan's specific desires at all). Instead, a member of the Square Enix board said:

"We will refrain from sharing information about new titles, but we are considering various ideas within the company and hope that you will look forward to forthcoming announcements."

As for the latest Final Fantasy game to release?

"Final Fantasy 16 is a shining example of narrative-focused games at their best, boasting immersive storytelling and cinematic action that invites you into its richly detailed world," we wrote in our Final Fantasy 16 review, awarding the game a full five out of five stars.

"The expansive, deeply immersive setting and cast of lovable, fully realized characters set a gold standard for Final Fantasy titles, offering something that is more than the sum of its parts.

"Overall, Final Fantasy 16 is an absolute triumph. It is a modernized Final Fantasy that breaks new ground for the series, boldly defying convention to produce something that stands apart from the rest of the series. Final Fantasy 16 itself, much like its protagonist, seeks to stand on its own terms, succeeding at this difficult task with skill and flair."

If you want something to play while you wait for the next Square Enix remaster, Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon, and great Prime Day gaming deals are already popping up as we get closer to the main event.

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Best Target Circle Week Deals: Save on Tech Home Goods and More Ahead of Prime Day - CNET

While we're still a few days away from Amazon's big sale, Target is already rolling out the deals on tech, appliances, everyday essentials and more.

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Latest Tech News

Electronic Arts has revealed that EA Sports UFC 5 is in development.

The highly-anticipated MMA sequel – the first addition to the franchise since 2020 – was announced on the game's official social media channels overnight.

EA is keeping its cards close to its chest, though: the 15-second video teaser is essentially just an animated logo and contains no gameplay or screenshots – promising only that a "full reveal" would follow in September 2023.

Coming soon #UFC5Full reveal September 2023 🗓️Sign up for more news➡️ https://t.co/vLBNhbt3QN pic.twitter.com/qIFoAmLbWNJuly 8, 2023

Beyond that, though, EA was surprisingly taciturn, only inviting fighting fans to sign up to EA's UFC mini-site, where they can receive news, updates, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive offers, "and more".

No release window was given, nor any indication of what platforms we may be able to play it on, either.

We do, however, now know a little more about another of EA's celebrated franchises, The Sims. According to a now-deleted job listing that briefly popped up on publisher EA's careers website last week, The Sims 5 will launch as a free-to-play title for the first time.

The job advert was swiftly pulled offline, but not before the internet saw and screenshotted the website and advertisement, which you can still view in full on the web archive site, Wayback Machine.

If you want something to play while you wait for UFC 5, Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon, and great Prime Day gaming deals are already popping up as we get closer to the main event.

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Streaming on Max: The 24 Absolute Best Movies to Watch - CNET

The most highly rated films on Max (the new HBO Max), plus what's coming out in July.

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Don't Let Someone Hack Your Netflix Account: Here's How to Protect Yourself - CNET

Does something seem off with your Continue Watching row or your active profiles? Follow these steps.

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Apple's Shazam Update Helps You Put a Name to Those Viral Tunes - CNET

Music discovery on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube might be a bit easier now.

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Saturday, July 8, 2023

Latest Tech News

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off.

Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's good fun, but also difficult.

What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keeping it fresh in the form of a new variant called the Daily Sequence, which sees you complete four puzzles consecutively, rather than concurrently.

But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints, you'll probably need some for this game too.

I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #531 and the answers to the main game and Daily Sequence.

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 #531) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #531) - hint #2 - total vowels

What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?

• The total number of vowels across today's Quordle answers is 8.

Quordle today (game #531) - hint #3 - 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 #531) - hint #4 - total letters

How many different letters are used in Quordle today?

• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 12.

Quordle today (game #531) - hint #5 - 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 #531) - hint #6 - 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 #531) - hint #7 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• O

• D

• S

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

Quordle today (game #531) - the answers

Quordle answers for game 531 on a yellow background — (Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #531, are…

AXION
OFFER
DREAD
SADLY

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

Daily Sequence today (game #531) - the answers

Quordle daily sequence answers for game 531 on a yellow background — (Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #531, are…

USING
HOBBY
SHIFT
EVICT

Quordle answers: The past 20

Quordle #530, Saturday 8 July: BAGEL, SPITE, MAYBE, RADIO
Quordle #529, Friday 7 July: CLOUT, SMEAR, GAILY, ANGRY
Quordle #528, Thursday 6 July: HUNCH, LEFTY, ABBEY, RECUR
Quordle #527, Wednesday 5 July: HILLY, ALERT, SHEET, VODKA
Quordle #526, Tuesday 4 July: GUMMY, SQUAT, SUSHI, GAUDY
Quordle #525, Monday 3 July: DRUID, ENACT, APART, HEFTY
Quordle #524, Sunday 2 July: AMISS, SHOWY, LURCH, SAUCY
Quordle #523, Saturday 1 July: KNEAD, DALLY, AMAZE, IDEAL
Quordle #522, Friday 30 June: WOMAN, BAGEL, SUPER, ARISE
Quordle #521, Thursday 29 June: ISSUE, MOUNT, OVOID, SANER
Quordle #520, Wednesday 28 June: CEDAR, RUMBA, WIDOW, TITHE
Quordle #519, Tuesday 27 June: STRAW, APPLY, MAGMA, CLUED
Quordle #518, Monday 26 June: SCARE, RIGHT, IRATE, ORBIT
Quordle #517, Sunday 25 June: GAUNT, SLANG, ROUSE, UNITE
Quordle #516, Saturday 24 June: BILGE, LEAPT, GLOAT, PLEAT
Quordle #515, Friday 23 June: FIELD, BRINE, BEGUN, PITCH
Quordle #514, Thursday 22 June: AMAZE, BINGO, MUMMY, WEIRD
Quordle #513, Wednesday 21 June: BRIDE, TILDE, LOWER, REVEL
Quordle #512, Tuesday 20 June: DUVET, BLAST, FILMY, CEASE
Quordle #511, Monday 19 June: HORDE, LOSER, GUSTO, PRONE

Quordle FAQs: Everything you need to know

What is Quordle?

Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar.

It's played online via the Quordle website and you can also get to it via the Merriam-Webster site, after the dictionary purchased Quordle last year.

As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you're competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.

The website also includes a practice mode - which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! - and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements - specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.

Oh, and it's difficult. Really difficult.

What are the Quordle rules?

The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.

1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.

2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.

3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…

4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two.

5. Answers are never plural.

6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.

7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle's dictionary. You can't guess ABCDE, for instance.

8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle's Hard mode.

9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.

10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.

What is a good Quordle strategy?

Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can't blindly throw letters at it and expect to win - you'll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.

That's the case in Wordle too, of course, but it's even more important in Quordle.

There are two key things to remember.

1. Use several starting words

Firstly, you won't want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words.

The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.

For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options - you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe - but something like that should do the trick.

If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!

2. Narrow things down

Secondly, if you're faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options - for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH - you'll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options.

In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It's risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it's the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure - you simply don't have enough guesses.

In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.

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Friday, July 7, 2023

Best Early Walmart Plus Week Deals Worth Buying Now - CNET

Seize early deals and discounts on tech, home goods and more right now.

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