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Heineken is the latest company attempting to take us back to a time before the smartphone. The beer-maker, in collaboration with fashion brand Bodega and device-maker HMD, is launching the Boring Phone, a transparent flip phone designed primarily for making calls and sending text messages — just like in the old days.

Based on Heineken’s press release, it’s unclear exactly what the phone can and can’t do (some modern flip phones can download versions of smartphone apps). But it does say the phone “is unable to download social media or other apps that take away from being present.” The phone will debut at Milan Design Week on April 18, and an app for modern smartphones that makes them “boring” is also slated for a June launch.

The Boring Phone is the latest effort to capitalize on two trends that have been in the spotlight recently: vintage tech and “digital detoxing,” a term used to describe disconnecting or scaling back from smartphones and technology. At Mobile World Congress in February, for example, HMD, which makes Nokia-branded phones, also teamed up with Mattel on a Barbie-inspired flip phone, a nostalgia-baiting product that hearkened back to simpler days.

So far, it seems like HMD’s commitment to flip phones has been paying off. Sales of HMD phones with basic call and texting functionality increased in 2022, according to Euronews, showing that there is demand for simpler devices. The Light Phone, a tiny, minimalist device that lacks modern features like a web browser, email, camera and social media, also helped bring so-called “dumb phones” into the spotlight in recent years.

The Boring Phone is brimming with nostalgia, from its transparent design to its simplistic keypad and classic green screen. If you grew up in the 1990s and 2000s, this flip phone may bring back memories of the Atomic Purple Gameboy Color or vintage iMacs. It should last for a week in standby mode on a single charge and provides 20 hours of talk time, according to the press release.

While it’s undoubtedly a marketing ploy, the Boring Phone’s launch also comes as there has been more attention paid to the effects of excessive screen time and social media. A report from Reviews.org, for example, found that Americans check their phones 144 times per day, and 60% sleep with their phones at night.

Following the announcement that hackers had stolen the personal information of 73 million current and former AT&T customers, the telecommunications giant is now notifying 7.6 million current customers that they can sign up for one free year of credit monitoring and identity theft detection.

The stolen data, including Social Security numbers, appears to be from 2019 or earlier, AT&T said in a statement, and includes account information for approximately 65.4 million former customers and 7.6 million current account holders.

The leak first came to light in 2021, when hackers claimed they’d stolen customer data from AT&T and would put the information up for sale. Fast-forward to March 2024, the stolen personal information was discovered on the dark web, according to Troy Hunt, creator of Have I Been Pwned.

In response, AT&T said it has contacted the 7.6 million current customers and has reset their passcodes. Whether you’re in the smaller set of current customers or the larger group of former account holders who think their data has been stolen in the breach, you can take steps to potentially lessen the damage of the breach. Read on for what you can do. AT&T didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.

For more, here’s our picks for the best identity theft protection and monitoring services and how Consumer Report’s permission slip can help you take control of your online data.

What to know about the AT&T data leak

AT&T on March 30 said that personal information of 73 million current and former customers was leaked in mid-March to the dark web. The company said the stolen information appears to be from 2019 or earlier, and it does not know if the information came from AT&T or one of its vendors.

What personal information was stolen in the AT&T breach?

According to AT&T, which customer and account data was stolen may vary by account, but thieves had access to customers’ full name, email address, mailing address, phone number, Social Security number, date of birth, AT&T account number and passcode. AT&T said the information doesn’t appear to contain personal financial information or call history.

What’s AT&T doing for customers whose data was stolen?

In addition to resetting passcodes, AT&T said it is providing the 7.6 million customers whose accounts were breached identity-theft and credit-monitoring services through Experian’s IdentityWorks for one year for free.

What is an AT&T passcode?

A customer’s passcode is essentially a numerical PIN and is usually four digits. A passcode is different from a password and is required to complete an AT&T installation, perform personal account functions by phone or contact technical support by phone, AT&T said.

How to reset your AT&T passcode

AT&T said it has already reset the passcodes for those active accounts where data was stolen but recommends if you haven’t changed your passcode in the past year, you should change yours as a precaution. Here’s how to change your AT&T passcode.

1. Head to your myAT&T Profile. Sign in, if asked. (If you have extra security enabled and can’t sign in, AT&T says, choose Get a new passcode)
2. Scroll to My linked accounts
3. Select Edit for the passcode you want to update
4. Follow the prompts to finish up

Where can you check if you are part of the AT&T breach

AT&T said it will email or mail a letter to the 7.6 million current customers whose data was stolen, explaining the incident, what information was compromised and what it is doing in response. The company said it has reset passcodes for affected current customers. The company said it is also communicating with the 65.4 million former account holders whose data was stolen.

You don’t have to wait for AT&T to contact you, however. Using Have I Been Pwned, you can check whether your data has been leaked. If you store your password information in a Google account, the company’s Password Checkup tool can alert you if your account information has been exposed. And the premium version of our favorite password manager, Bitwarden, can check for stolen passwords on the web.

Changing your passcode and password, if AT&T hasn’t contacted you, can help secure your account.

How to monitor your credit report for fraud

If you think your personal information was part of the AT&T breach, you can watch your credit reports for signs of potential fraud.

Monitor your credit reports. You get one free credit report a year from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. On your report, look for unusual or unfamiliar activity, such as the appearance of new accounts you didn’t open. And watch your credit card accounts and bank statements for unexpected charges and payments.

Sign up for a credit monitoring service. Pick a credit monitoring service that constantly monitors your credit report on major credit bureaus and alerts when it detects unusual activity. To help with the monitoring, you can set fraud alerts that notify you if someone is trying to use your identity to create credit. A credit-reporting service like LifeLock can start at $7.50 a month — or you could use a free service like the one from Credit Karma.

What to do if you suspect you’re a victim of fraud or identity theft

As soon as you suspect your personal information has been stolen, take action to stop unauthorized charges and start to recover your identity.

Place a fraud alert. If you suspect fraud, place a fraud alert with each of the credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The alert notifies creditors that you have been a victim of fraud and lets them know to verify with you new credit requests in your name. You can place an initial fraud alert, which stays on your credit report for 90 days, or an extended fraud alert, which stays on your credit report for sevenyears. Placing a fraud alert won’t affect your credit score.

Contact fraud departments. For each business and credit card company where you think an account was opened or charged without your knowledge, contact its fraud department. While you’re not responsible for fraudulent charges to an account, you need to report the suspicious activity promptly.

Freeze your credit. If you want to stop anyone from opening credit and requesting loans and services in your name without your permission, you can freeze your credit. You will need to request a freeze with each of the three credit reporting companies, which again are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. To apply for new credit, you need to unfreeze your credit, again, through each of the credit reporting companies. You can either request a temporary lift of the freeze or unfreeze it permanently.

Create a recovery plan. The Federal Trade Commission has a valuable tool that helps you report identity theft and recover your identity through a personal recovery plan and Identity Theft Report, which you can use to dispute charges.

Document everything. Keep copies of all documents and expenses and records of your conversations about the theft.

For more, here are our favorite password managers and the best VPN services.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X or Series S, Xbox One and PC for $17 a month. A subscription gets you new games every month (like Diablo 4) plus other benefits, like online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.

Xbox recently added Shadow of the Tomb Raider to Game Pass on April 11, and the company is adding these titles to the service soon, including three Day 1 releases.

Orcs Must Die 3

Available now.

Crank the orc-slaying mayhem up to 11 in the latest installment of this tower-defense series by slicing, burning, carbonizing and tossing orc hordes. You can also use a trove of new traps and weapons, like magical staffs or sawblade launchers. No matter how you dispatch them, the one thing for certain in this title is that every last orc must die.

EA Sports NHL 24

Available: April 18

As the NHL gears up for the Stanley Cup playoffs, you can too, with the latest installment in this EA Sports franchise. This entry in the series has new gameplay mechanics, including vision passing and an exhaust engine, intended to give you more control over your players and to present new challenges. So if you want to see the Las Vegas Golden Knights win the cup back-to-back, or you want to ensure that doesn’t happen, this game is for you.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Available: April 23

Gather your friends and allies for this Day 1 release. In this action JRPG, you create a party of six heroes out of over a hundred — it’s in the name after all — as you set off on an adventure across the war-torn continent of Allraan. You can also manage a small town and play mini-games along the way. And if you can’t wait for this title to release, you can play Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising on Game Pass Ultimate now.

Another Crab’s Treasure

Available: April 25

You know what they say: One man’s trash is another crab’s treasure, or something like that. This Day 1 release is like a cross between Elden Ring and the classic game Ecco the Dolphin. In this title, you play as a hermit crab who sets off on a quest to buy back your repossessed shell. You’ll have to use the trash of the ocean to protect yourself against huge enemies, and you’ll also learn why the ocean is so polluted with garbage to begin with. And who knows, maybe you’ll see Ariel with her collection of thingamabobs down there.

Manor Lords (PC)

Available: April 26

If you watched Game of Thrones and thought, “Being a medieval lord doesn’t seem that hard. I could do it,” now’s your chance to prove it. This medieval strategy game brings city-building, tactical battles, economic simulations and social interactions into one complex title. Now you can find out if you have what it takes to keep your people safe and fed when the seasons change and the harsh winters approach.

Have a Nice Death

Available: April 30

Even Death needs a break every now and then, and that’s the goal of this roguelike game. You play as Death, the CEO of Death Incorporated, who finds himself needing a restful vacation. The only thing standing in your way from a relaxing stay at the beach — or wherever Death would vacation — is a mountain of paperwork and reminding your demonic subordinates who’s in charge. Just another day at the office.

Games coming to Game Pass Core

Game Pass Core ($10 a month) is the cheapest Game Pass subscription, and it’s a good option if you only want to play certain games online. It also gives you access to a handful of games, and on April 23, Game Pass Core subscribers can access these titles, too:

• Deep Rock Galactic
• Superhot: Mind Control Delete
• Wreckfest

Titles leaving Game Pass

While Xbox is adding the above titles to Game Pass Ultimate, it’s also removing six titles on April 30. So, you have some time to finish any side quests before you have to buy these titles separately:

• 7 Days to Die
• Besiege
• EA Sports NHL 22
• Loot River
• Pikuniku
• Ravenlok

For more on Xbox, here’s what Diablo 4 on Game Pass likely means for the service, other titles available on Game Pass Ultimate now and everything to know about the gaming service.

Apple made a pretty significant change to how you access your apps from within your text messages when it released iOS 17 last year. In previous iterations, the apps in Messages lived right at the top of your keyboard. If you wanted to quickly send money via Apple Cash or share a GIF from inside your texts, you could swipe left and right through your apps.

Then Apple changed it up with iOS 17.

Instead of all the Messages apps living right above your keyboard on your iPhone, Apple designed a single button, to the left of the text message field, that you can tap to access a full-screen interface with with all your apps.

The new menu is big and brash and organized differently than before, and you may not be a fan of it. While we can’t do anything about the size, there is a hidden trick to organizing the menu so that your most important Messages apps are at the top of the list.

Here’s how you can swap these items around.

If you want more about hidden features on your iPhone, check out 17 hidden iOS 17 features you should definitely know about and the easy way to send photos and videos on your iPhone.

How to rearrange all your apps in Messages on iOS 17

If you don’t know how to access the apps in your text messages, open the Messages app, go into any text message thread and tap the plus (+) button on the bottom-left. The menu with your Messages apps will appear, with the default (Apple) apps appearing on the first page, and your downloaded (third-party) apps on the second page, which you can access by swiping up.

If you don’t use any of the default apps on the first page, or only use some of them, you can easily rearrange them so that you’re most important apps are at the top. To move an application, simply tap and hold down on it and drag your finger up or down the menu. This way, you can move any of the default apps from the first page to the second page, and any of your downloaded apps from the second page up to the main page.

You can fill the first page with as many apps as you want. I tested it out and was able to put every single download and default app in the first page, with none on the second page. However, I prefer to keep only a handful of my most used apps on the first page, and everything else in the second.

Now I don’t have to scroll through all the apps to quickly find what I need.

For more, here’s how you can fix the most annoying iOS 17 features and settings.

Whether you take a lot of flights or you want to reduce the noise on your commute or in the office, blocking out the outside world is easier when you have a great pair of noise-canceling headphones. Historically, picking a pair up would cost a decent chunk of change, but those days are long gone. And right now the excellent Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones can be had for just $64. To get this special price, you have to clip the on-screen coupon, and we don’t know how long it will remain an option — bear that in mind when planning your purchase.

That coupon is available across all three colors, but the blue and pink models start a few dollars higher than the standard black. Alternatively, Soundcore is also offering the same 20% discount on its own website, too.

Regardless of the color you choose, the headphones can filter out up to 95% of low-frequency ambient sound while promising up to 40 hours of music listening. Turn the active noise cancellation off and you’ll extend that to 60 hours, while a 5-minute top-up will get you an extra four hours of listening time.

As CNET’s resident headphone expert David Carnoy found in his testing, “as far as sound, comfort level and build quality go, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 for the money.” The clarity or bass definition isn’t quite on par with premium Bose or Sony models, but these headphones offer balanced sound overall and only really fall short on microphone quality for voice calls.

With the kinds of features you’d expect from headphones costing much, much more, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are a great option for those searching for noise-canceling headphones under $100 — especially when you can get them for even less. Looking for something a little different? No problem, our list of the best headphone deals should have something right up your street.

The choice of Android tablets available to potential buyers has never been better and there are a number of different ways to choose the one that suits you best. The size of the display, how much storage is available, and most importantly, how much it will cost are among the most important factors. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is a great option, especially when you get the chance to pick one up at a heavily discounted price. Today, Amazon is offering the tablet for just $160, a new all-time low and a $60 saving over the normal $220 asking price.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus comes with 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM and a large 10.9-inch display, which is a solid offering when you consider the price that it’s currently available for.

In terms of key specifications, that midsize display and decent amount of storage size are two of the main ones to take notice of, plus the whole thing is powered by Android and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. If the 64GB storage limit is a concern, note that it can be expanded up to 1TB via an optional microSD card if required, and that’s something that can be resolved pretty inexpensively. Four speakers with Dolby Atmos support round out the main specs of note, making this a solid movie-watching device.

Don’t worry if this isn’t the tablet for you; we have rounded up plenty more tablet deals if you’d prefer something at a different size or price point, or with a different power profile.

Chinese brand Tecno wants you to know its new flagship smartphone is all about the camera. The Camon 30 Premier 5G, unveiled Wednesday, features the company’s own imaging system for the first time ever. This system in turn underpins what Tecno says is an industry-first feature: 4K 30fps full-scene AI-noise reduction HDR video. This basically means people can shoot very high-quality, clear, detailed, and color-accurate videos even whether in very bright environments or darker ones.

The Camon 30 Premier 5G imaging system, called the PolarAce, incorporates a Sony imaging chip (CXD5622GG), which facilitates that aforementioned feature. Tecno says people can even “record magical auroras in the poles and dusks in the deserts.”

Read more: Tecno’s AI-Powered Robot Dog Is Inspired by the German Shepherd

Moving beyond still videography to photography now. The Camon 30 Premier 5G has a total of four cameras. The rear camera module consists of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel periscope-style telephoto lens (capable of 3x optical zoom and 60 x digital zoom), and a 50-megapixel macro lens, which the company says can keep subjects in focus as close as 2.5cm. On the front, the Tecno phone is equipped with a 50-megapixel selfie camera, which boasts eye tracking and a focus speed within 100 milliseconds.

Read More: Oppo Brings AI Photo Editing Tool to Affordable Phones

Tecno is also touting AI-based features, just as competing phonemakers have during this AI hype cycle. The company says a features called AI Erase can remove unwanted objects from photos, but it’s unclear whether the phone can generate content to refill the space where the object was removed. Tecno also says a feature called Universal Tone harnesses an AI-powered multi-skin tone imaging tech — to ensure people’s skin tones are captured accurately in pictures.

Tecno however chose a midrange processor to power the phone. The Camon 30 Premier 5G runs on Mediatek’s Dimensity 8200, a midrange processor announced in late 2022. It’s backed up by a large 5,000 mAH battery and 70W fast-charging, which Tecno says can replenish the device to 50 percent in just 16 minutes. Tecno promises more than 7 hours of gaming, 30 hours of calling, or nearly 8 hours of video viewing on just one charge. Despite this fast-charging support, Tecno says the battery should maintain over 80% of its effective capacity after four years.

The Camon 30 Premier 5G debuted at the Mobile World Congress conference in February this year. It’ll receive a global release starting in May, and pricing will vary based on the country. It’s unclear whether this phone will receive a US release. Previous Tecno phones have not rolled out stateside.

For more information on the Camon 30 Premier 5G, take a look at some of the key specs below.

Key Specs

Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1.5K LTOPO, 10-120Hz adaptive refresh rate

Processor: Mediatek’s Dimensity 8200

Rear Camera: 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel periscope-style telephoto lens (capable of 3x optical zoom and 60 x digital zoom), 50-megapixel macro lens

Battery: 5,000 mAh, 70W fast-charger

Weight: 210 grams

RAM & Storage: 512GB+24GB (12GB Extended RAM)

IP rating: IP54

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are still some of the best wireless earbuds out there, even a year and a half after they first came out. That’s because Apple added plenty of new features in iOS 17 like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume. We may see even more AirPods Pro 2 features announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10.

In the meantime, there are a bunch of lesser-known AirPods Pro 2 features you can try right now. I’ve been using the AirPods Pro 2 since launch, both the original model and the “new” version with USB-C charging that arrived alongside the iPhone 15.

The best part? Some of these tips will work with earlier versions of AirPods and even AirPods Max headphones. Just make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of iOS 17.

Hidden Control Center options

The Control Center is a quick way to access many AirPods settings. With your AirPods connected to your iPhone, press and hold the volume slider, and a list of options will appear underneath, such as noise control mode, conversational awareness and spatial audio toggles.

But there’s even more you can add to the Control Center with just two easy steps. First, add the Hearing option by going to Settings > Control Center. Then, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Control Center and tap the green plus icon next to any or all of the options, like Background Sounds and Live Listen. Background Sounds plays rain, ocean and other sounds like white noise in your earbuds to help you focus. You can learn more about the Live Listen feature below.

Now, swipe down to open the Control Center again, and you should see the Hearing icon that looks like an ear. You’ll be able to see the battery charge on your AirPods and control all the options you turned on in the previous step, like Live Listen.

Live Listen

Live Listen lets you amplify what your iPhone mic picks up and beam it right into your ears with any AirPods model. It’s primarily an accessibility feature, but you could potentially use it to listen in on what’s happening in a nearby room, say for example as an audio-only baby monitor.

This feature also lives within the Hearing option within the Control Center. Once you’ve turned it on, swipe down and tap the Hearing (ear) icon in Control Center, then Live Listen.

Customize audio with Headphone Accommodations

Want to change the default sound profile on your AirPods? If you use Apple Music, you can start by adjusting the equalizer by going to Settings > Music > EQ. Other streaming apps like Spotify have their own equalizer tool you can customize to your liking.

Apple’s Headphone Accommodations options also let you tune your audio even more. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations. Now, you can choose between balanced tone, vocals or brightness, or boost soft sounds using the slider tool.

You can also add a custom audio setup within the Headphone Accommodations menu. Tap the custom audio option, then your AirPods will switch into noise-canceling mode, and you’ll be asked if you can hear the soft-spoken words. It will play two audio samples and you’ll choose which one you prefer.

Personalized spatial audio

Your iPhone’s TrueDepth camera is good for more than just FaceID. You can actually use it to get personalized spatial audio tuned to the shape of your ears.

Go to Settings > AirPods > Personalized Spatial Audio and then follow the instructions to set this up. You’ll be prompted to hold the phone in front of your face then turn your head left and right to map your ears. Now, make sure spatial audio is turned on from the Control Center, and try it out with supported movies and music.

Share audio with a friend

Remember the good old days of sharing music with a friend with wired earbuds? Here’s the 2024 version. Swipe down to open the Control Center, then tap the AirPods icon in the top right corner within the music playback box. Tap Share Audio.

Bring another pair of AirPods or Beats close by, open the lid, then press and hold the pairing button on the case. Follow the prompts on screen to connect this other pair to your phone, and you can jam out to the same songs.

Siri can describe pictures received in Messages

I’ve recently discovered Siri can describe photos received in the Messages app when I’m wearing AirPods Pro 2 and my phone is locked. For example, I was waiting for a bus one day, and Siri announced that my best friend sent a photo of a brown dog lying on a black and white checkered floor. I pulled out my phone to check, and Siri was spot on.

I haven’t found the magic trick that makes Siri do this with every single photo, but so far it’s worked on images of people and pets that are centered in the frame with a clear background. I’ve reached out to Apple for more information on this feature and will update this story with more detail.

To try to replicate this yourself, make sure “announce notifications” is turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications, and that the Headphones option is also turned on. Scroll down further on this page to make sure the Messages app is turned on. Now, just get a friend to send you a photo — SMS and iMessages have both worked for me — to see if it works!

Unlock more AirPods settings with the Shortcuts app

The Shortcuts app on iPhone is a powerful tool for getting even more out of your AirPods. One of my favorite Shortcuts is having the AirPods automatically switch to my favorite settings every time they connect to my iPhone: noise canceling mode at 40% volume.

First, make sure your AirPods are in your ears and connected to your iPhone. Open the Shortcuts app > Plus icon > Add action. Here you’ll want to search for “set noise control mode” then tap the gray box that says “route.” Select the name of your AirPods from this menu, then choose your mode (in this example, that’s noise canceling.)

Next, you’ll want to add another action. In the “Search for apps and actions” bar, type “Set volume” and select it. Now, change the volume to 40% (or whatever volume you want). Give your Shortcut a snappy name, and tap Done.

Now let’s make this shortcut run automatically when you put the AirPods in your ears. Go to the Automations tab, tap New Automation and find Bluetooth. Where it says device, find the name of your AirPods, make sure “is connected” is on, then “run immediately.” Hit next, and then choose the Shortcut you just created. The next time you put your AirPods in your ears and they connect to your phone, this shortcut should run and you can test it out.

You can find out more about Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and how they differ from AirPods 3 and find out about all the rumored iOS 18 updates we might get at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Today’s Wordle answer shouldn’t be too hard. It has some fairly common letters. But if it’s tripping you up, continue reading.

Every day, we’ll post hints and then the answer for the current day’s Wordle, just in case you need it.

Today’s Wordle hints

Warning: If you keep reading, you’ll see the Wordle answer for Wednesday, April 17, puzzle No. 1033. That could be a devastating spoiler for some players. But if you just need the answer — maybe you’re on your last guess and just don’t want to see an 800-game streak go poof — keep reading.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer includes a very common letter that shows up twice.

Wordle hint No. 2: Placement

But the repeated letter doesn’t show up next to itself. There’s another letter in between.

Wordle hint No. 3: Vowels

There are two vowels in today’s answer.

Wordle hint No. 4: Starting letter

The word begins with a T.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Many people associate this word with church donations.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Here comes the spoiler: Today’s Wordle answer is TITHE, as in one-tenth of one’s earnings, usually given to the church or as a tax.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, No. 1032, was SHANK.

Past Wordle answers

April 12, No. 1028, WHINY

April 13, No. 1029, STEEL

April 14, No. 1030, BLIMP

April 15, No. 1031, EQUIP

Everyday Wordle tips

I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. So if you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.

Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.

What is Wordle?

If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”

A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”

There are other fun games in the Times Games stable. My latest addiction is Connections, which I think is trickier than Wordle. This is the game where you look at a grid of 16 words and try to put them into four groups of related words. Sometimes the relationships between the words are pretty out there — like the time when it was four words that all began with rock bands, such as “Rushmore” and “journeyman.” (Connections got a little sassy on April Fools’ Day with an all-emoji puzzle. Some gamers did NOT find that funny.)

Spelling Bee is a popular Times game too. And there’s a new game that’s still in beta, Strands, which I’m trying to master.

Boston Dynamics had a real hit on its hands when it introduced the Atlas robot in 2013. The humanoid Atlas could run, jump and dance, and the meme-worthy videos it produced have gobbled up tens of millions of views on YouTube over the years. Now, the Hyundai-owned robotics company is saying goodbye to Atlas with a send-off video showing off the humanoid robot one last time.

The blooper reel-slash-highlight-video shows Atlas in all of its glory as it performs backflips, runs obstacle courses and busts some dance moves. Boston Dynamics has never been one to shy away from showing its robots taking a few bumps as well. Around the 18-second mark, Atlas runs across a balance beam, stumbles, falls and grasps its robotic groin in simulated pain. Around the 1-minute mark, Atlas performs a front flip, lands low and hydraulic fluid shoots out of both kneecaps. As someone on the cusp of middle age, I’ve never identified with a robot more in my life.

It ends with Atlas giving a few waves and a bow. The retirement of Atlas marks a turning point for Boston Dynamics as the robot captured the imagination of millions throughout its life. Whether it was a big dance number with Spot, Boston Dynamics’ robot dog or watching it work a parkour course, every time Atlas did something, the Internet paid attention to it, even if it was terrible at karate.

Atlas and Spot

Atlas started life as a contest project for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as DARPA. The robot was based on the Boston Dynamics’ Petman project, which was originally made to test the performance of protective clothing in hazardous environments. The Petman hydraulic robot had sensors all over its body that could detect if chemicals were leaking through the biohazard suits it wore during testing.

In 2013, DARPA issued a robotics challenge, and Boston Dynamics helped. The company built several Atlas robots that were issued to the competitors so they didn’t have to build robots from scratch. At one point, DARPA requested that Boston Dynamics improve Atlas’ design and capabilities, which the company did in 2015.

After the contest, Atlas continued to star in Internet videos as Boston Dynamics tested and improved its capabilities. Over the years, the robot was improved to do more advanced parkour and gymnastics. Hyundai, which has its own robotics division, bought Boston Dynamics in 2021.

Boston Dynamics was also well-known for its robotic dog, Spot, which could herd sheep like a real dog and it could be walked remotely. It even helped protect medical workers from COVID-19. It eventually went on sale and remains a part of Boston Dynamics’ lineup. Spot has danced with BTS, a South Korean boy band, and it also helps Hyundai with safety operations in one of its plants in South Korea.

In its later years, it seemed like Atlas was becoming primed for work use. Boston Dynamics had videos of the robot helping out on simulated construction sites and performing basic factory work. The factory work video was released only two months ago, so it’s a curiosity that Atlas is being retired despite being actively worked on as recently as February.

Boston Dynamics didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

There’s no word on why Atlas was retired, but TechCrunch pontificates that it’s likely moving out of the way for the next generation of robots from Boston Dynamics, especially since the industry is very interested in humanoid robotics right now.