Google Maps is testing the rollout of more incident reports
These are weather-related options such as ‘flooded road’ or ‘low visibility’
The growing library of incidents is a source of annoyance for some drivers
Google Maps is introducing new incident reporting options, fresh additions that pertain to weather-related conditions.
Android Police spotted these new kinds of report, and they include the likes of ‘flooded road’ for when there’s been a huge deluge of rain, or ‘low visibility’ for when it gets foggy. And indeed ‘unplowed road’ for when, well, you should probably turn around and find a plowed road that’s not wheel-deep in snow.
The site noticed these new options in Google Maps for Android Auto first off, and then in the iPhone app.
The not-so-great news for those keen on being able to benefit from a wider variety of untoward happenings being reported is that these new introductions have not yet made it to the Android version of Google Maps.
However, it surely won’t be long before the ability to report a flooded or snowed-up road arrives on Android.
Is an ever-growing library of incidents a good thing?
(Image credit: Future)
This is a continued expansion of the reporting of incidents in Google Maps, on top of clearly-labeled Waze reports being piped through alongside native reports since last year. There’s already a wide range of incidents that can be flagged, such as road traffic accidents, stalled cars, lanes being closed, speed traps, and so on.
Sometimes, these kind of alerts can be very useful, of course, and plenty of folks are grateful to have been warned of an incoming thorny issue on the road ahead.
However, not everyone is keen on being subject to more and more of these reports being highlighted in Google Maps – with complaints about them being too frequent only likely to multiply, as Google further expands the library of incidents that can be reported.
The problem is compounded by errant reports – incidents that aren’t there, or were resolved some time back – and there being no easy way to switch off said reports.
It looks like this is a road Google is insisting on driving down, though, despite the ‘stop’ signs being waved by some of the drivers who use its navigation app.
Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University published research that says AI is causing “the deterioration of cognitive faculties”
The study involved 319 people who use AI tools at work at least once per week
The survey-based study opens the door to deeper research into AI side effects
Brain rot is usually associated with endless doom scrolling of low-quality online content, but a new Microsoft Research study suggests that overusing AI might be causing “the deterioration of cognitive faculties.” Oh no.
Performed in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, the study – titled The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers – asked 319 participants who use “GenAI tools at work at least once per week” (such as Gemini, ChatGPT, CoPilot) to judge how AI usage at work was affecting their critical thinking skills.
It found that “while GenAI can improve worker efficiency, it can inhibit critical engagement with work and can potentially lead to long-term overreliance on the tool and diminished skill for independent problem-solving.” The study added that people's jobs are becoming less about solving problems and more about making sure the AI has correctly solved the problem – morphing our work from “task execution to task stewardship” – which led people to feel like their ability to think critically isn’t as sharp as it was before they started using AI.
Is it time to panic? Not quite yet
AI might still be a help not a hindrance(Image credit: Pixabay)
Seeing the headlines and reading the study it can feel like it’s time to pull the big AI lever and shut it all down for good in order to save our brains from being irreparably damaged by a tool that may be hurting us more than it’s helping us. But while the study certainly highlights challenges we desperately need to tackle in the AI space – ultimately the relationship between humans and AI we should be cultivating – it’s not quite as dire as it seems.
That’s because the study focuses on how AI users perceive AI usage is affecting their critical thinking. While the study uses a survey to quantify these feelings it comes down to how people feel and, more importantly, it doesn’t create a true quantitative comparison between frequent AI users and people who never or rarely use the AI.
While people who use AI a lot may feel they’re less capable of critical thinking it could be that because they’re not as distracted by less difficult tasks they can more easily tackle challenging ones thanks to AI’s help – or it could be there’s been no change in their critical thinking skills. But to measure actual changes in critical thinking we’d need a study with quantitative tests that compare different groups' ability (groups decided based on their AI usage) to complete tasks – including a control who never uses AI for work.
Until we have that kind of study it’s impossible to judge if AI really is making us dumber. However, that doesn’t mean we should just dismiss this Microsoft research.
Make AI work for you(Image credit: Shutterstock/SomYuZu)
Firstly, using this study as inspiration for a more quantitative study like the one I’ve described would be a fantastic next step. Secondly, while the participants' feelings may or may not represent factual reality, they represent reality for the people in this study – and they shouldn’t be dismissed.
If people feel like they’re simply AI stewards rather than performing meaningful work that could lead to dissatisfaction in their job. Some psychologists believe dissatisfaction with how we spend our time scrolling is the root cause of the social media brain rot experience (via the BBC). A similar sense of meaninglessness could be causing AI users’ similar brain deterioration feelings at work.
With AI becoming more prevalent we’ll need to work out how best to fight back feelings of deterioration, but a good first step will always be some self-care. Be that finding a new job that stimulates us, taking up a hobby that we can devote our freed-up brain power towards, or some other strategy that works best for you.
Sony has seemingly removed a number of "spam" PS4 and PS5 games from the PS Store
This follows recent comments made by developers criticizing the
"slop" games featured on the digital storefront
Developer RandomSpin has had most of its games removed, includingBodycam Shooter,Supermarket Simulator Pro, and more
It looks like Sony may have quietly removed a number of "spam" shovelware games from its PlayStation Store.
This comes after a recent investigation from IGN which featured interviews from developers criticizing the lack of quality control across the PlayStation Store and the Nintendo eShop in comparison to the Xbox store, as well as the never-ending list of "spam" and "slop" games, and poor discoverability.
Now, a number of these low-quality PS4 and PS5 games have seemingly disappeared from the digital storefront (via True Trophies).
Over on PSNProfiles, players have found evidence to suggest that developer RandomSpin - which released over 40 titles in just 2024 alone - has had most of its games removed, including Bodycam Shooter, Supermarket Simulator Pro, Backrooms Brotherhood, and Backrooms Inside The Escape.
These titles in particular all seemed to use recycled assets, along with AI-generated images, to copy other popular games currently available, like Reissad Studio's Bodycam or Supermarket Simulator from Nokta Games.
It's unclear if the sudden delisting of these games was made by Sony as a result of the recent criticism, and it could be purely coincidental. Sony hasn't commented on the removal at this time.
In other news, Sony has announced that its first State of Play livestream of 2025 will air this week on February 12, 2025. The showcase will run for 40+ minutes and offer "news and updates on great games coming to PS5", which hopefully means we'll learn the release dates for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yōtei.
The $6.5 billion deal could shake up AI and data centers
There are questions about how it affects Arm’s neutrality and SoftBank’s long-term strategy
SoftBank, the Japanese owner of Arm, is close to acquiring Ampere Computing, a company that develops data center chips based on Arm's architecture.
In January 2025, BNN Bloomberg reported SoftBank was exploring a purchase of Ampere, which is backed by Oracle and private equity firm Carlyle Group, in a move widely seen as part of Softbank’s bid to challenge AMD and Intel’s dominance in the AI and data center chip market. However, as we previously reported, there were some hurdles to be overcome - Ampere was gearing up for an IPO, suggesting a desire to remain independent, while SoftBank would require approval from both Oracle and Carlyle Group before a deal could move forward.
However, a new Bloomberg report suggests that the deal is nearing completion and could be announced in the coming weeks. Sources familiar with the matter estimate its value to be around $6.5 billion, including debt. In 2021, SoftBank valued Ampere at over $8 billion during a proposed minority investment.
Strategic questions
Ampere develops high-performance processors for data centers, including the 192-core "Polaris" AmpereOne and upcoming 256-core "Magnetrix", using Arm’s chip designs. Acquiring Ampere could help SoftBank, which previously bought UK-based AI chip designer Graphcore, expand its footprint in the competitive data center and AI markets.
That said, the move does raise some interesting strategic questions. Arm, long dominant in mobile chips, has been working to expand into server and AI processing.
Ampere is one of the few firms independently developing Arm-based server chips. If the deal moves forward, it could impact Arm’s role as a neutral supplier of intellectual property. Integrating Ampere into SoftBank’s ecosystem may also shift competitive dynamics in the industry.
Market conditions add a further level of complexity to the benefits buying Ampere will bring to SoftBank. The semiconductor sector faces rising competition and concerns over slowing AI-related investments.
As Bloomberg notes, “Chinese startup DeepSeek, which unveiled an inexpensively produced AI model last month, has raised the specter that technology providers won’t be generating as much revenue as predicted.”
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, February 9 (game #609).
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 #610) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
AUNT
AROMA
SHOWER
BOUQUET
VASE
PEPPER
NOSE
STOP
UNCLE
TOMATO
TRUCE
DUST
SCATTER
NOTE
EITHER
MERCY
NYT Connections today (game #610) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Powder something
GREEN: Smell your drink
BLUE: End this now
PURPLE: You say neither and I say neither
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 #610) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: SPRINKLE
GREEN: SCENTS OF WINE
BLUE: "AAH, ENOUGH!"
PURPLE: WORDS FAMOUSLY PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #610) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #610, are…
YELLOW: SPRINKLE DUST, PEPPER, SCATTER, SHOWER
GREEN: SCENTS OF WINE AROMA, BOUQUET, NOSE, NOTE
BLUE: "AAH, ENOUGH!" MERCY, STOP, TRUCE, UNCLE
PURPLE: WORDS FAMOUSLY PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS AUNT, EITHER, TOMATO, VASE
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 mistakes
My first mistake was thinking that one group had something to do with flowers, so I I had BOUQUET, VASE, together and randomly added AROMA and SHOWER as they sounded floral.
Then, after getting SPRINKLE and SCENTS OF WINE, I struggled for ages to work out what the final two groups were and got there with a complete stab in the dark looking for the fourth word to add to MERCY, STOP and TRUCE. I doubt I’ll be the only one who struggled today.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 9 February, game #609)
YELLOW: MASSIVE GIANT, JUMBO, MONSTER, SUPER
GREEN: USED WHEN SERVING SOUP BOWL, LADLE, POT, SPOON
BLUE: SOMEBODY CHARACTER, INDIVIDUAL, PARTY, PERSON
PURPLE: SCI-FI FRANCHISES ALIEN, AVATAR, DUNE, TRON
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 Dyson V15s Submarine and WashG1 are both capable of mopping your floors. In fact, they're the only models in Dyson's floor-care lineup that can do so. In this article, we'll compare the two, so you can see which model will suit your needs best.
The V15s Detect Submarine launched in 2023 and is a hybrid vacuum and mop. It's a V15 Detect vacuum, with an extra floorhead just for mopping. The vacuuming capabilities are advanced, but mopping functionality is relatively basic, and both are operated via a trigger that needs to be continually depressed. You can get the full low-down in our Dyson V15s Submarine review.
In contrast, the WashG1 is a dedicated wet cleaner. It launched in 2024 and offers more advanced mopping capabilities: there are multiple mop modes to choose from; it will separate liquid from solid waste for easier disposal; and it has self-cleaning capabilities. It's operated via a single-press button. It can't vacuum at all, though. Find out more in our full Dyson WashG1 review.
Which model you go for will depend on your needs. The V15s Detect Submarine is great if you're short on space, and want a two-in-one appliance for vacuuming and mopping. It's also perhaps a better choice if you only have a bit of hard floor, because the water tanks are far smaller than those of the WashG1. However, be aware that a design flaw means it's very easy to spill dirty water back onto your newly clean floors.
Those with lots of hard floor or wanting to deal with bigger or more challenging spillages would be better opting for the WashG1; but it's a dedicated model that can't clean your carpets, too.
The WashG1 is specifically a wet cleaner, with no vacuuming capabilities(Image credit: Future)
Both are premium priced appliances, with the WashG1 the cheaper of the two. However, when you factor in that the V15s Submarine also comes with all the capabilities of the (not cheap) V15 vacuum, it appears to be slightly better value for money.
That's the short version; read on for a more in-depth look at how the Dyson V15s Submarine vs WashG1 compare.
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is a V15 stick vacuum with an extra floorhead for mopping(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: price
V15s Submarine is more expensive, at $949.99 / £799.99 / AU$949
WashG1 is cheaper at $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,549
Both are premium appliances – Submarine is perhaps better value
In the US, the WashG1 has a list price of $699.99, while the V15s Detect Submarine is $949.99 at full price.
In the UK, it's £599.99 for the WashG1 and £799.99 for the V15s Detect Submarine.
Finally, shoppers in Australia can get the WashG1 for AU$949. There are a couple of different V15s options here – the standard model is called the Absolute and costs AU$1,549, and there's an upgraded option with features borrowed from the Gen5detect vacuum, for AU$1,649.
Those are all the list prices when purchasing direct from Dyson – it doesn't account for deals or differences in price when shopping via third-party retailers.
The V15s costs a fair bit more in all territories, but you're perhaps getting better value for money with the V15s, because you're also getting all the functionality of the V15 vacuum. Prices for the V15 on its own start from $749.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449.
Note that the Submarine floorhead isn't compatible with any other stick vacuums, even the standard V15 – the software has been rewired in the V15s to support vacuuming and mopping.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: specs
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: design
V15s Submarine is a V15 vacuum with an extra mop floorhead
Dyson WashG1 is a dedicated wet floor cleaner; no vacuuming abilities
WashG1 has larger water tanks and multiple mop rollers
The V15s Detect Submarine looks just like one of Dyson's newest flagship cordless stick vacuums, with a motor, filter, dust bin, and cyclone array. In fact, that's exactly what it is – the difference is entirely in the additional mopping floorhead.
The standard version is based on the V15 vacuum. In Australia only, there's also an upgraded version that's more similar to the Gen5detect, with a crevice tool integrated into the wand, and more advanced filtration.
The V15s Detect Submarine will typically come with two vacuuming floorheads (plus the separate mop). The Motorbar floorhead is suitable for both hard floors and carpet, and is the head that needs to be attached if you want to use automatic suction adjustment. The Fluffy floorhead is specialized for use on hard floors only, and has a built-in laser to illuminate hidden dirt. You'll also get a selection of detail tools (the exact bundle, including specific floorheads, will vary by territory, version and retailer, so do double-check before you buy.) All of this means the V15s can be used for a wide variety of vacuum cleaning tasks.
The mop floorhead contains one velvety roller, and clean and dirty water tanks. Unlike most of today's best wet-and-dry vacuums, there's no suction when the machine is in mopping mode.
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine's mop floorhead has just one velvety mop roller(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
The WashG1 has no vacuuming capabilities (so no suction at all) – and is a tool dedicated to only mopping. The only cleaner head comprises two high-density microfiber rollers for liquid spillages, with a plate that presses into them to squeeze out dirty water. The floorhead also includes secondary rollers with big nylon bristles, designed to tackle solid mess.
A key point of difference is that the WashG1 will separate solid and liquid waste as it cleans. So while the dirty water ends up in the dirty water tank, any solid debris is channeled into a tray that sits in the base of the floorhead, ready to be tapped into the bin. This makes emptying easier and is good news for long-term maintenance.
The WashG1 has multiple different rollers, and a tray for solid waste(Image credit: Future)
The setup of the clean and dirty water tanks on the V15s Detect Submarine and the WashG1 is quite different, and on balance the latter is much better.
The V15s has a small bottle for clean water, and the tank for dirty water is hidden behind the roller. This dirty water compartment isn't sealed, so when you're done mopping and remove the floorhead, you'll end up sloshing dirty water over your newly cleaned floor.
The water tanks on the V15s are small, and integrated into the floorhead(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
On the WashG1, the dirty and clean water tanks are transparent and mounted on the front of the handle, making them more easily visible and accessible. Dyson also specifically addressed the Submarine's leaking issue when designing the WashG1. There, each tank is individually sealed with a screw top. I isn't quite perfect – the caps don't screw on especially deeply, and on test we found that unless handled carefully, the water inlet could also occasionally leak dirty water. Overall, though, it's far, far better than on the Submarine.
The tanks on the WashG1 are much larger and sit on the front of the handle(Image credit: Future)
Another thing to be aware of is that the water tanks on the WashG1 are far larger than those on the Submarine. The WashG1 will hold about a liter of clean water at a time, while the Submarine will hold only 300ml. The Submarine will manage roughly a large living room before you'll need to refill – if you have a number of rooms you want to mop, you'll get round faster and with fewer interruptions with the WashG1.
Controls and screen
The V15s Detect Submarine is operated by a trigger, which needs to be continually depressed for use, whereas the WashG1 has the far more user-friendly single-press button.
The Submarine has just one cleaning mode, plus there's no way to choose different water levels (even via the MyDyson app). In contrast, the WashG1 has many: three different hydration modes, alongside a no-water mode and a Max mode. That last one is the wettest of the lot, and is designed for ingrained dirt.
The V15s has one water mode, and the LCD screen shows remaining clean water(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
Both models feature a small LCD screen on which to display a range of information. The V15s uses this to deliver real-time reports on what's being sucked up when in vacuum mode; in mop mode, it will display the percentage of clean water available, so you know when you're running out. Unfortunately, it doesn't convey when the otherwise hidden dirty water tank is nearing full, which exacerbates the spillage issue.
The WashG1 has various modes, and uses its screen to provide a range of info(Image credit: Future)
The WashG1 uses its screen to show the hydration mode you're using, and also provides a countdown of how much battery life remains. It display graphics informing you if you need to complete any tasks – so prior to self-cleaning, it will let you know if you need to empty the solid waste tray, for example.
In terms of tank sensors, Dyson has gone the opposite way to the V15s, and will inform you when the WashG1's dirty water tank is full but not when the clean water is empty. However, you can view this for yourself because the tank on this model is mounted on the handle.
Dock
You can dock the Submarine on a wall-mounted charger, to keep it out of the way. Plus, it comes with a drip tray for when the Submarine floorhead is wet. This is useful for catching spillages when removing the mop head, too. Alternatively, certain versions of the V15s (including our review model) come with a "Floor Dok Multi", which is freestanding and includes spaces for all the different attachments.
The WashG1 has a minimal floor dock(Image credit: Future)
The WashG1 can't be wall-mounted, although to its credit, the floor dock is very minimal – only marginally bigger than the floorhead, and very lightweight.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: maintenance
WashG1 has a self-clean mode; V15s does not
Both have removable and washable rollers
WashG1 also separates solid from liquid waste for easier disposal
The V15s Submarine's mop roller is removable and fully washable. In fact, the mop floorhead comes apart and can be completely rinsed out. (For vacuuming, the dust cup is the easy-empty Dyson style one.)
On the V15s, the whole mop section can be rinsed out(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
A point of difference is that the WashG1 comes with a self-clean cycle. Taking two minutes to run, it's designed to be used after every mopping session, when you place the cleaner back on its dock. It runs clean water through the machine and uses a brush bar to clear any lingering solid debris from the rollers, then completes a no-water cycle to dry everything off a bit.
This needs to be supplemented with occasional deep cleans. For this, all the rollers can be removed and rinsed, as can the solid waste tray. The rest of the floorhead doesn't come off, though. The water tanks are large enough to get your whole hand in, making them super easy to clean, and there are no sharp corners where grime can build up.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: performance
WashG1 has multiple modes, and can handle more challenging cleans
Dirty water tank of V15s is open and spills easily when removed
WashG1's single-press operation is less fiddly than V15s' trigger
Dyson always shines when it comes to maneuverability, and both the V15s Detect Submarine and Wash G1 are easy to drive around your home and great at pivoting around furniture and getting into corners. The mop parts are motorized, so they gently propel each machine forward in use, which helps negate the effect of the extra weight added by the water tanks.
The weight is distributed differently on each machine. The V15s has a heavy vacuum motor and battery at the top, whereas much of the WashG1's weight is in the base. Operation of the WashG1 is simpler – you just press a button once, whereas on the V15s you need to compress the trigger continually as you clean.
The placement of the rollers is slightly better on the WashG1 versus the V15s Submarine. On the WashG1, the rollers fill almost the entire width and length of the floorhead, and there's a thin cover that prevents wet marks on your baseboards. On the V15s, there's slightly more of a gap along the short edges of the floorhead and the cover doesn't drop down so far at the front, meaning you can end up with damp baseboards. However, both are generally very good at getting up close to the edges of rooms.
The floorhead design is slightly better on the WashG1 (right) in terms of the roller placement(Image credit: Future)
In terms of vacuuming, the V15s Detect Submarine boasts superb suction and a very powerful motor, and the vacuuming accessories are well designed and useful. An auto mode adjusts suction based on the dirt level on the floor, for a thorough, battery-efficient clean.
Since there's no counterpoint on the WashG1, we won't get too in depth on the vacuum performance here – head direct to our Dyson V15 Detect review (the same base model) for more detail including the results of our suction tests – but the short version is we have no complaints on this front. It's one of the very best cordless vacuums on the market.
The V15s offers excellent vacuuming(Image credit: TechRadar / Sharmishta Sarkar)
Moving on to mopping. Both the WashG1 and Dyson V15s Detect Submarine are great at tackling wet spills, small bits of debris, and mud. The WashG1 has multiple mopping modes and various rollers, which means it's better at tackling tougher messes over the Submarine, which only has one mode and one roller.
The Submarine also isn't really geared towards liquid and debris spillages – cereal and milk, for instance. If you do use it to tackle any small bits of solid waste, you'll need to make sure you clean it out thoroughly afterwards. Also bear in mind that because solids and liquids aren't separated, you'll need to account for that when getting rid of waste. The WashG1, on the other hand, helpfully splits solid and liquid, so you can pour the liquid down the sink, and throw solid waste into the trash.
This tray on the WashG1 collects solid waste(Image credit: Future)
The mop functionality of both models can tackle dust, but not as efficiently as a vacuum cleaner – so if you have only hard floors and opt for a WashG1, you might still want a vacuum cleaner in your arsenal. The Submarine, however, has a vacuum floorhead(s) for that.
Neither cleaner is especially aggressive in its agitation – neither will "scrub: your floors, nor get into grouting cracks. In addition, both are really designed for use on perfectly flat floors, rather than those that might be uneven (this is true of the vast majority of wet cleaners).
Both the WashG1 and V15s are cordless cleaners. The WashG1's maximum battery life is 35 minutes, which isn't as long as your average cordless stick vac, but remains decent. The motor will automatically pause when the handle is clicked upright, so battery isn't wasted. The V15s promises a maximum of 60 minutes of cleaning, but in vacuum mode. We don't have a record of how long it will last in mopping mode, but we'd assume at least as long as the WashG1.
Dyson WashG1 vs V15s Detect Submarine: which should I buy?
Buy the Dyson WashG1 if...
You're dealing with lots of dirt
With its multiple wet cleaning modes, various rollers, and separation of solid and liquid waste, the WashG1 is set up to deal with more demanding mopping tasks and is far better at coping with messes that combine solid and liquid waste. You'll also appreciate the self-clean cycle.View Deal
You want to do lots of mopping at once
The WashG1 has far larger water tanks, so you'll be able to mop large areas without interruption. The V15s is good for maybe a large living room before you'll need to refill.View Deal
You don't want to press a trigger to clean
It might seem like a small thing, but the V15s' trigger operation is annoying in longer use – the WashG1's one-press button makes for much more comfortable cleaning.View Deal
Buy the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine if...
You're short on space
As well as combining two machines – vacuum and mop – in one, the Submarine can be wall-mounted when not in use. The WashG1 needs to dock on the floor. Do note that you'll need to store the Submarine's mop floorhead separately, though.View Deal
You also want to vacuum
The WashG1 is no good for your carpets, and even if you don't have any, if you ever wanted to also vacuum your hard floors, stairs or furniture, the V15s is more than up to the task.View Deal
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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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, February 7 (game #607).
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 #608) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
FAST
BUNCH
TEAM
PLAYER
SOUL
STAT
SOON
RUFFLE
LATER
GATHER
BIO
FINGER
NOW
JUNK
THEN
PUCKER
NYT Connections today (game #608) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Ballers deets
GREEN: Ruche it up
BLUE: Cometh the hour
PURPLE: Eat it
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 #608) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: INFO ON A BASEBALL CARD
GREEN: SCRUNCH, AS FABRIC
BLUE: TIME ADVERBS
PURPLE: — FOOD
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #608) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #608, are…
YELLOW: INFO ON A BASEBALL CARD BIO, PLAYER, STAT, TEAM
GREEN: SCRUNCH, AS FABRIC BUNCH, GATHER, PUCKER, RUFFLE
BLUE: TIME ADVERBS LATER, NOW, SOON, THEN
PURPLE: — FOOD FAST, FINGER, JUNK, SOUL
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
I completed today’s Connections without ever knowing what the four groups were until getting them correct – I just thought they belonged together.
It’s part of the two-tiered wonder/satisfaction/disappointment loop of this particular puzzle. You can whiz through it and still feel as if you know nothing – and I know absolutely nothing about INFO ON A BASEBALL CARD – which in turn can make you feel either blessed or as if you have gotten away with something.
I’m definitely in the latter camp. “He got away with it (until now)” is all that will need to be said in my obituary.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 7 February, game #607)
YELLOW: BE IN CHARGE OF DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD, RUN
GREEN: THINGS MADE OF RUBBER BALLOON, ERASER, GALOSH, TIRE
BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENIE IN "ALADDIN" BLUE, EARRING, LAMP, WISHES
PURPLE: RED -_ BULL, CROSS, HERRING, VELVET
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.
from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/QmEdAkg
Windows 10 ESU will be available from November 2025 for three years
It’ll cost $61 per year, with prices doubling annually thereafter
Windows 10 is still preferred over Windows 11 by many users
With the official Windows 10 end of life deadline months away, Microsoft is still hoping users will opt to upgrade to its flagship OS, Windows 11, but it has also issued a series of notes detailing how users can continue to use the older software.
A newly-updated support document from the company has detailed the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, including costs and eligibility.
Microsoft promises its ESU will continue to provide “critical and important security updates” for a period after Windows 10 loses support - but this will come at the expense of an annual subscription.
Windows 10 ESU details revealed
In the post, Microsoft revealed devices running Windows 10 22H2 will be eligible to participate in the ESU program, but stressed this would only include important security updates and not new features, non-security updates, design change requests or general support.
Users can enrol on the ESU program via the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program, and it’ll cost $61 per device for cover between November 2025 and November 2026. From thereon in, costs will double annually, but ESU membership terminates after three years. In other words, Windows 10 fans can buy themselves another three years of safe usage before they’re ultimately forced to run a potentially insecure OS or upgrade to Windows 11.
The company also added ESUs are cumulative, so you’ll need to have bought year one before upgrading to year two. If you decide at the start of the second year to get security updates, you’ll be able to join retrospectively by paying for the previous year’s coverage.
“Windows 10 PCs will continue to work, but we recommend customers upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11 using Windows Autopatch, Microsoft Intune, or transition to a new Windows 11 PC for the best, most secure computing experience," the company added.
The rose among the thorns is that Windows 10 virtual machines running in Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop will get Extended Security Updates free of charge.
However, even Microsoft’s best efforts haven’t deterred users from opting to stay on Windows 10 – the nearly-deprecated operating system accounts for 60% of all Windows installs (via Statcounter). Still, Windows 11 adoption has increased slowly in recent months to a 37% market share.
Disney Plus lost 700,00 subscribers this past quarter
This is the first time the service has posted a quarterly subscriber drop
But the service is making more revenue than ever
Disney Plus has lost 700,000 users since September 28, 2024, likely due to price increases and its password-sharing crackdown, but I have bad news for you: that’s not going to stop Disney from raising prices again. In fact, Disney’s tactics have been a complete success.
At first, it doesn’t look like a Disney win; after all, this would mark the first time it has posted a quarterly subscriber drop since the Disney Plus platform was launched. But this negative milestone isn’t significant when you get into the numbers.
Firstly, the platform now sits at 124.6 million users, down from 125.3 million, so 700,000 represents just over 0.5% of users leaving between its quarterly reports. Meanwhile, those price rises – which saw Disney Plus with ads go from $7.99 to $9.99 and the ad-free tier going up to $15.99 from $13.99 – represent a 25% and 14% hike, respectively, for each tier, so the remaining subscribers would more than cover the cost of people leaving.
(Image credit: AFM Visuals / Shutterstock.com)
But the real kicker for people hoping we could somehow convince Disney, Netflix, and the rest that price rises and password-sharing crackdowns are a bad idea is this: in researching this article, I found that Disney’s subscriber drop was from international Disney Plus users – not those in the US or Canada where these significant price hikes happened. In fact, US and Canada Disney Plus numbers rose by 800,000 this past quarter despite the hike.
So according to Disney’s earnings report, in the US and Canada, Disney Plus went from making an average of $431.2 million a month to $453.83 million, and overall, it went from $902.16 million to $940.73 million per month.
All this is to say, as loud as we all are about hating price hikes and not being able to share our passwords for free, companies are incentivized to keep doing it because, financially, it’s a clearly successful strategy. So even though Disney is expected to lose even more subscribers by its next quarterly report, don’t expect it to change course any time soon – and as much as I hate to say it, expect 2025 to include plenty more price hikes across the best streaming services, and more password sharing crackdowns too.
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