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Looking for a different day?A new Quordle 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: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, June 29 (game #1252).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1253) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1253) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.Quordle today (game #1253) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1253) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1253) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• I• I• T• CRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1253) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1253, are…INGOTINFERTAPIRCLUEDA rare outing for all five vowels on a day on which I was gifted a couple of words – CLUED and INGOT – after my starter words came up trumps.However, I made the wrong decision with INFER, thinking that there would be a double letter and guessing INNER instead.Despite missing out on a clean run, I'm pretty pleased that I remembered TAPIR – the wonderful pig-like creature with a prehensile snout.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1253) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1253, are…DEMONCLICKAUGURRUPEEQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACKQuordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWINGQuordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUINGQuordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEYQuordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUADQuordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACKQuordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXISTQuordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCIONQuordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAMQuordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURIDQuordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVYQuordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURNQuordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINEQuordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGNQuordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVENQuordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONICQuordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRYQuordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSEQuordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOODQuordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, June 29 (game #749).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 #750) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…AIRPLANEHIGHWAYROLLER COASTERBRIDGEVELVETCROWNNFL PLAYERCIRCUSWHIRLWINDDRIVEHOT TUB NOZZLEFILLINGBLACKVENEERSOAP OPERAPEAKSNYT Connections today (game #750) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: OrthodonticsGREEN: Life is a cabaretBLUE: Partial film namesPURPLE: Also a gang member in West Side StoryNeed 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 #750) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: DENTAL ADDITIONS GREEN: METAPHORS FOR A DRAMATIC AND CHAOTIC EVENT BLUE: SECOND WORDS IN DAVID LYNCH TITLES PURPLE: WHAT "JET" MIGHT REFER TO Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #750) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #750, are…YELLOW: DENTAL ADDITIONS BRIDGE, CROWN, FILLING, VENEERGREEN: METAPHORS FOR A DRAMATIC AND CHAOTIC EVENT CIRCUS, ROLLER COASTER, SOAP OPERA, WHIRLWINDBLUE: SECOND WORDS IN DAVID LYNCH TITLES DRIVE, HIGHWAY, PEAKS, VELVETPURPLE: WHAT "JET" MIGHT REFER TO AIRPLANE, BLACK, HOT TUB NOZZLE, NFL PLAYERMy rating: EasyMy score: PerfectHaving spent a small fortune on all the DENTAL ADDITIONS here I really should have got the yellow group more quickly.Instead, my eyes were drawn to the words PEAKS and VELVET – which will always be associated with Twin [Peaks] and Blue [Velvet], two of the works by the late and very great David Lynch.For the record, the other films included in SECOND WORDS IN DAVID LYNCH TITLES are Mullholland DRIVE and Lost HIGHWAY. METAPHORS FOR A DRAMATIC AND CHAOTIC EVENT was an equally easy spot. Just as well, as I would have struggled for hours to find the link between an NFL PLAYER and a HOT TUB NOZZLE. Congratulations if you did.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, June 29, game #749)YELLOW: ICE CREAM TREATS FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, SUNDAEGREEN: FLINCH BOLT, JERK, JUMP, STARTLEBLUE: DANCE MOVES CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, ROBOTPURPLE: SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, PUDDLEWhat 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.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, June 29 (game #483).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #484) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… ... Trellis beautiesNYT Strands today (game #484) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.MITRESEATCLIPROOFMAILWOLFNYT Strands today (game #484) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 7 lettersNYT Strands today (game #484) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 6th rowLast side: right, 2nd rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #484) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #484, are…JASMINECLEMATISWISTERIASWEETPEAMOONFLOWERSPANGRAM: CLIMBERMy rating: HardMy score: 1 hintAfter yesterday’s colorful treat, it was back to normal today – including a regular-length spangram, for a change.I am sure there were a few green-fingered puzzlers who saw all of these “Trelis beauties” immediately, but I needed a hint to get going and JASMINE confirmed what we were searching for.I had never heard of MOONFLOWER before; sunflower, yes – but not moon… After Googling it, I realized it was a plant I recognized and have seen often, but didn’t know the name of it until now. Thank you, Strands, for expanding my knowledge base. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, June 29, game #483)BLUEGREENVIOLETYELLOWINDIGOORANGESPANGRAM: CHASING RAINBOWSWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, has been flying in comic books, radio, TV and movies for almost 90 years. And now, DC Studios is bringing him back to the big screen in the new movie, "Superman." Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz talks with director James Gunn about his re-imagining of the Man of Steel, and with actor David Corenswet about the challenges of taking on the role following Christopher Reeve's preeminent performance. Mankiewicz also talks with critic Elvis Mitchell about how – in an era of superhero movies – Superman is unique.

William F. Buckley, Jr. was a leading commentator who had a vital role in elevating Joseph McCarthy, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, catalyzing a conservative movement that reshaped the Republican Party – and the country. "Sunday Morning" national correspondent Robert Costa talks with Sam Tanenhaus (author of the new biography, "Buckley: The Life and The Revolution That Changed America") about the "National Review" founder and "Firing Line" TV debater who drew acclaim and criticism, and how the celebrity intellectual paved the way for President Donald Trump.

Colorful Smart 900 mini PC delivers AI-driven performance with 16-core Ryzen processorAnother Strix Halo device from a smaller brand while Dell, Asus, MSI remain absentIt's built for creators needing fast graphics, SD card access, and a good range of portsThe Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is AMD’s flagship AI APU, offering strong performance for creative tasks, AI workloads, and gaming. A number of PC makers have already built mobile workstations around it, and the lesser-known Colorful is the latest to join the list with its new Smart 900.This mini PC combines high-end specs with a bold, industrial design that wouldn’t seem out of place in Alienware’s lineup, and makes you wonder why Dell (and Asus and MSI for that matter) still haven’t yet released anything built around AMD's powerful new chip.Developed on Zen 5 architecture, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 ‘Strix Halo’ APU is a 16-core chip with 32 threads and a turbo clock up to 5.1GHz. It features a 50 TOPS NPU for AI tasks and Radeon 8060S graphics with RDNA 3.5 architecture.It even has a SD 4.0 card slotThe GPU includes 40 compute units, offering competitive power for creative tasks, 3D workloads, and machine learning.The Smart 900 supports LPDDR5 memory at 8000MHz (we’d imagine up to 128GB, but nothing has been confirmed) and includes two PCIe 4.0 SSD slots. That combination means fast read-write speeds and strong multitasking, making it a solid choice for editing, modeling, and running local inference.For creators and media professionals, it includes a rare bonus - an SD 4.0 card slot on the front panel, allowing for quick media transfers without needing an adapter.On the front, users get two USB 3.2 ports, one USB 4.0 Type-C, and the SD slot. On the rear are additional USB 2.0 and 3.2 ports, another USB 4.0 Type-C, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4.Bluetooth support covers versions 4.2 through 5.2, and networking includes Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5Gbps Ethernet.The case itself uses anodized aluminum and has a 4-liter footprint. It should fit nicely in professional or home environments without appearing basic or bulky, and the design makes it look like a massive exclamation point - and what's not to love about that?There's no word on pricing or even a concrete release date yet, but we do know it will be available globally upon launch - so stay tuned for more details hopefully coming soon.You may also likeCheck out our list of the best workstations for any budgetAnd these are the best business laptops you can buy right nowMinisforum's NAS packs a Ryzen AI HX 370, up to 96GB RAM and 154TB storage

Amazon Prime Day has been a summer mainstay for years at this point and this year is no exception. Prime Day will return on July 8 to July 11 this year, marking the first time the shopping event has been more than 48-hours long. That just means you’ll have more time to shop the deals, but really, you don't even have to wait until the official start date to save. Amazon typically always has early Prime Day deals in the lead-up to the event, and this year we’re already seeing some solid discounts on gadgets we like. Here, we’ve gathered all of the best Prime Day deals you can get right now, and we’ll keep updating this post as we get close to Prime Day proper.

Prime Day deals under $50

Audible Premium Plus (three months) for $3 ($42 off): New subscribers can get three months of Audible for only $3, which represents a $42 discount. The Premium Plus tier gives you one book credit per month to use on any audiobook the service has, and you can stream any of the included titles for free on top of that. Audible also has members-only sales and discounts that you'll be able to take advantage of, too. The deal runs through July 31.

Samsung SmartTag 2 for $18.50 (38 percent off): Samsung users looking to keep track of their stuff need look no further than the SmartTag 2. One of our top picks for the best Bluetooth trackers, this accessory easily attaches to keys, bags and other items and uses Samsung's large finding network to show you their last known location.

Anker 633 10K magnetic battery pack for $43 (28 percent off, Prime exclusive): This 10K battery pack attaches magnetically to the backs of iPhones, making it easy to recharge while on the go. It also has a built-in kickstand for easy video watching or FaceTime calling while powering up.

Blink Outdoor 4 (one camera system) for $45 (55 percent off): These security cameras are some of our favorites, and you can start building a system for your home with this pack that includes one Outdoor 4 camera and one Sync Module 2. These Blink cameras record 1080p video, support two-way talk and deliver speedy and accurate motion alerts to your phone. You don't need a subscription to save footage either; just use a thumb drive with the Sync Module 2 to save clips locally.

Prime Day Apple deals

AirPods Pro 2 for $199 (20 percent off): The AirPods Pro 2 remain Apple’s best set of wireless earbuds, as they offer the full set of Apple-focused features, strong ANC, onboard volume controls, a comfy in-ear design and a warm sound profile that most should find agreeable. They can even work as a hearing aid. Their six-hour battery life still isn’t the best, though, and you should only get them if you’re all-in on Apple hardware. But if that’s the case, we consider them the best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners.

Apple AirPods 4 for $119 at Amazon ($10 off): Apple’s wireless earbuds don't have the best sound quality or battery life, and this entry-level model lacks wireless charging, Find My tracking and onboard volume controls. But it still gets you tons of Apple-friendly features — from fast pairing with iCloud devices to spatial audio to hands-free Siri — and its lightweight design should fit most ears better than previous AirPods.

Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 ($100 off): We consider Apple’s flagship wearable to be the best smartwatch you can buy, period. It's a mostly iterative update, with faster charging, a slightly slimmer design and a marginally larger display than the prior Series 9. That said, it's still a comprehensive fitness tracker, and no other smartwatch can integrate as neatly with iPhones and other Apple devices.

Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) for $849 (15 percent off): Apple continues to iterate on its most affordable laptop, and the M4 is the best Air yet. We consider this to be the best laptop for most people, thanks to its excellent performance, thing-and-light design, comfortable keyboard and trackpad and excellent battery life.

Prime Day laptop deals

Microsoft Surface Laptop (13.8-inch, Snapdragon X Plus) for $870 (28 percent off): In addition to running on a Snapdragon X Plus processor, this 2024 Surface Laptop has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It's a Copilot+ PC that also has a 13.8-inch touchscreen, and it should last up to 20 hours on a single charge.

Google Pixelbook Go (13-inch, Intel Core M3) for $315 (51 percent off): The Pixelbook Go is a bit old at this point, but if you're a Chrome OS lover and want a Google-made laptop, this is a solid option. It includes an Intel Core M3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 12-hour battery life.

Prime Day tech deals

Ring Doorbell Battery + Indoor Cam 2 for $70 (50 percent off): If you're looking to build out a security system in your home, this bundle is a good place to start, giving you a video doorbell and an indoor security camera. You'll be able to see both live feeds in the Ring app, and they can send you motion alerts and let you speak to people on the other end of the camera when you're not at home.

Anker MagGo 10K power bank for $72 (20 percent off): Our favorite power bank for iPhones, this brick has a 10K capacity and magnets so it can attach to the back of your iPhone while it recharges. It's Qi2-compliant for fast charging, and it has a kickstand built in so you can more easily use your phone with the power bank as well.

Amazon Fire TV soundbar for $85 (29 percent off, Prime exclusive): Amazon's soundbar supports Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X, and it measures just 24-inches long so it should be able to fit into even the most cramped TV setups. It also supports Bluetooth audio, so you can play music from it when you're not using it with your TV.

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 multicooker for $70 (50 percent off, Prime exclusive): This six-quart pressure cooker and multicooker is a versatile kitchen tool for anyone who (somehow) didn't buy into the Instant Pot craze a few years back. It can do a lot with its nine cooking modes, including pressure cook, slow cook, steam, rice cook, saute and more, and the six-quart size is great for families and meal-preppers.

iRobot Roomba Vacuum and Mop Combo for $140 (49 percent off, Prime exclusive): A version of one of our top favorite robot vacuums, this budget-friendly machine comes with a water reservoir that allows it to mop hard floors. It connects via Wi-Fi to the iRobot app as well, which lets you set cleaning schedules and further control the machine.

Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum for $160 (43 percent off): A favorite budget robot vacuum of ours, the 11S Max has a slim profile that allows it to easily get other some furniture that other robovacs can't reach. It does a good job of sucking up dirt and debris, and even though it doesn't have Wi-Fi connectivity, it comes with a remote control that gives you most of the functions an app would have.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaner for $150 (25 percent off): One of our top picks for the best cordless vacuums, this Levoit machine picks up a good amount of dirt, debris and pet hair considering its size and cost. It's pretty lightweight and has a convenient single-button start, plus it can be quickly disassembled for easy storage.

Blink Outdoor 4 security cameras (five-camera system) for $160 (60 percent off): Get enough security cameras to outfit most of your home with this bundle. The Outdoor 4 cams are some of our favorites; you can use them indoors or outdoors, they supports 1080p video, motion alerts, local video storage when you employ a thumb drive with the Sync Module 2 that comes with the pack and they're totally wireless, running on two AA batteries each.

Ninja Dual-Zone air fryer (10 quart) for $180 ($50 off): This model is one of our favorite air fryers thanks to its dual-zone cooking system, which allows you to prepare two separate foods at different temperatures and settings. There's even a Match Cook feature that ensures both foods will be done at the same time, regardless of their cooking settings.

Levoit Core 400S air purifier for $183 ($37 off): Our top pick for the best air purifier, Levoit's Core 400S reliably improved air quality in our testing, plus it has easy to use onboard controls and replaceable filters that are not too expensive. We also found it to not be offensively loud, even on its highest setting.

TP-Link Deco XE75 Wi-Fi 6E mesh system for $250 (29 percent off): Our top pick for the best mesh Wi-Fi system, this Deco XE75 three-pack is easy to set up and provides excellent performance with no-frills. The Deco mobile app lets you check speeds for each node, and you can see all of the devices on your network at any time.

Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum for $380 (42 percent off): One of Eufy's latest machines and a top pick of ours for the best robot vacuums, the E20 can putter around your home automatically, sucking up dirt and debris in its path. But then it can quickly transform into a cordless or handheld vacuum, allowing you to clean hard-to-reach spots manually.

Amazon 55-inch Omni mini-LED Fire smart TV for $700 ($120 off, Prime exclusive): A top-of-the-line model in the Fire TV family, this set has a 4K QLED mini-LED display with 1,400 nits of peak brightness and "intelligence picture" technology that adapts the screen to your room's lighting conditions. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ for $800 ($200 off): One of Samsung's latest flagships, the S25+ has a triple rear camera system, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 4900 mAh battery and a bunch of AI features.

What is Prime Day?

Prime Day is Amazon's members-only shopping event, which means you’ll have to be a Prime subscriber on Prime Day to take advantage of most of the savings. Amazon still offers a 30-day free trial to new Prime subscribers, so you can start your free trial closer to July and participate in the event.

When is Prime Day 2025?

Amazon Prime Day 2025 will be back this year on July 8 through July 11.

How often is Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day typically comes around annually in July. In the last few years, Amazon has also had its "Big Deal Days" in October, which is effectively a second Prime Day and the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

How does Prime Day work?

Prime subscribers can go to Amazon's site on Prime Day to see all of the exclusive deals they have access to. Prime subscribers do not have to do anything additional to get Prime Day sales: the discounts you see on product pages will show up in your cart automatically. If you're not a Prime subscriber and you go to Amazon to shop on Prime Day, you'll likely see tons of items on sale but only "with Prime;" those discounts will not be available to those who are not active Prime subscribers.

Is Prime Day only for Prime members?

Technically yes, but even if you do not pay for a Prime membership, you should still check out Amazon on Prime Day. While most Prime Day deals will be exclusively available to subscribers, there are always a handful of sales available to all shoppers. Amazon distinguishes between them very clearly: you'll see "Prime exclusive" on product pages near the deal pricing on the discounts that are only available to paying members.

Separately, it’s very likely that other retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy will have their own competing Prime Day sales during that time frame, too. So if you're not keen on shopping at Amazon at all, it's worth checking out other retailers during the week of Prime Day to see if they are matching Prime Day deal prices.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-prime-day-2025-the-best-early-deals-to-shop-now-dates-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-120028780.html?src=rss