Discord just made your voice and video calls more private and secure than ever — but age verification privacy concerns haven't been dispelled

• Discord has implemented end-to-end (E2EE) encryption for voice and video calls by default
• This is possible via its E2EE protocol, DAVE (Discord's Audio & Video End-to-End Encryption)
• Discord doesn't plan to use E2EE for text messages

Discord is hard at work to regain the trust of its users, with recent moves including adding Xbox Game Pass to Nitro and improving streaming on Linux, but it's not slowing down, judging by its latest move — even if it still may not be enough to appease everyone.

In its latest blog post, Discord announced that every voice and video call will now include end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default on its platforms. This means calls are now completely private and secure, and only those within a call can hear conversations.

Discord highlights that calls can consist of users on PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, or via a web browser on a laptop or phone, which requires an E2EE protocol that works "seamlessly across all of those surfaces simultaneously", which isn't exactly an easy feat.

Fortunately, the rollout of E2EE using DAVE (Discord's Audio & Video End-to-End Encryption) began earlier in March 2026, which requires all clients to support DAVE before joining a call. Now, Discord is in the process of "removing the client code that supports unencrypted fallback", and once complete, unencrypted connections will be a thing of the past.

(Image credit: Discord)

It's certainly a move that will have users feel more secure with private conversations on calls, especially with Discord's recent privacy concerns regarding global age verification. However, those controversial age verification plans are still slated for implementation in late 2026, and Discord currently has no plans to use E2EE for text messages.

It's worth noting that Discord has faced multiple cases of security breaches recently, revealing over 70,000 government ID photos, and that's exactly what the age verification checks require users (who aren't automatically verified) to submit.

Discord is moving in the right direction by doubling down on features like E2EE, but it's also not helping itself by doubling down on age verification, which is only mandatory for users in regions where new online child safety laws have been passed. Hopefully, those plans are revised, but it doesn't look like that's set to happen.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 21 (game #809)

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 20 (game #808).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… In a material world

NYT Strands today (game #809) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MINK
• FLOW
• FOOL
• RIFLE
• BELT
• STONK

NYT Strands today (game #809) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #809) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #809) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #809, are…

• WOOL
• SATIN
• VELVET
• COTTON
• SILK
• DENIM
• FLEECE
• LINEN
• SPANGRAM: FABRICS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

This was my 91st “spangram first” and I don’t think I’ve ever seen an easier one.

Madonna lyrics aside there was only one possible topic today’s theme could be referencing, made even more obvious by the FABRICS lurking across the center of the board.

From here on in there continued to be no surprises as we collected eight of the most common materials, with no room for leather, latex, lamé, spandex or bacon and thus eliminating 95% of Lady Gaga’s wardrobe. That said, she must have a FLEECE jacket somewhere.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, May 20, game #808)

• RELAXED
• SLOW
• LEISURELY
• PLACID
• CALM
• GENTLE
• SPANGRAM: TAKEYOURTIME

What 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.

https://ift.tt/1UIlwdK

NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 20 (game #808)

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, May 19 (game #807).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… No rush

NYT Strands today (game #808) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MEAL
• KEYS
• SLICE
• GATE
• RULE
• PLACES

NYT Strands today (game #808) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #808) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #808) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #808, are…

• RELAXED
• SLOW
• LEISURELY
• PLACID
• CALM
• GENTLE
• SPANGRAM: TAKEYOURTIME

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

One of the many downsides of aging is that you get slower, while the world around you speeds up. I feel this doubly so as a knee injury means that I can currently only perambulate the world at snail’s pace.

Regardless, I still feel that people are in too much of a hurry to get to places they don’t need to rush to and I am fully on board with the promotion of today’s words into the consciousness of a chaotic planet.

Ironically I didn’t really employ the mantra TAKEYOURTIME as I zoomed through the search beginning with the letter X, which pointed me towards RELAXED. 

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, May 19, game #807)

• MOUND
• HILL
• KNOLL
• SLOPE
• RIDGE
• BUTTE
• HUMMOCK
• SPANGRAM: HIGHERGROUND

What 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.

https://ift.tt/izWpmAD

Google I/O 2026 live — Gemini upgrades, Android XR, and more of what to expect from today's big software showcase

Is it that time of year again? Google I/O 2026 kicks off today, with the two-day software showcase set to run from May 19 to May 20.

Google tends to reveal its biggest announcements at an introductory keynote, which takes place today at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or 3am AET tomorrow if you're reading from Australia), and we'll be following along with that event here.

Google already teased a host of Android 17 upgrades during its recent Android Show broadcast, so we're expecting today's announcements to focus on Gemini, Search, and Android XR specifically. Might we finally see some fully-fledged Android XR-powered smart glasses released for sale? It's about time...

We've rounded up the 5 biggest things to expect at Google I/O 2026 elsewhere on TechRadar, but stick with us here for a beat-by-beat breakdown of the event itself.

Google I/O 2026 — how to watch

Google's I/O 2026 keynote kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, or 3am AET on May 20, and you can tune into proceedings via the above YouTube link.

If you hit the ‘Notify Me’ button on the full YouTube page, you’ll also get a reminder when the event is about to start, and if you can't tune in live, don't worry — the video will almost certainly remain up, so you can watch it after the fact.

Google I/O 2026 — what to expect

We don't know for sure what Google is cooking up for I/O 2026, but we can make some pretty confident predictions based on various leaks and rumors:

• A new Google Gemini agent — possibly called Remy — is reportedly in the works; it'll supposedly run digital errands, monitor routines, and help connect you with apps and services
• Google has been teasing its Android XR-powered smart glasses for a long time now — might we finally see them unveiled at I/O 2026?
• AI Search dominated Google I/O 2025, so it tracks that Google will again reveal upgrades to Search at I/O 2026
• We could get our first look at Aluminum OS, a unified operating system that will supposedly merge Android and ChromeOS into one platform
• Google already told us what to expect from Android 17 at The Android Show, but Gemini Intelligence could get another chance to shine at I/O

(Image credit: Google)

Welcome to our Google I/O 2026 live blog! Stick with us as we predict what to expect from today’s big software showcase, before reporting on the event as it happens.

As a reminder, Google's livestream kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or 3am AET tomorrow if you're reading from Australia), and you can tune in via the video link above.

I/O keynotes tend to run for between one and two hours, so expect things to be wrapped up by 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST / 5am AET.

Is it Android XR time?

Google has been teasing its Android XR smart glasses for what seems like forever at this point, but might we finally see them unveiled at I/O 2026? We make our predictions in the video above.

Google-what?

(Image credit: Future)

The Googlebook was a real oddity of Google's The Android Show broadcast. Is it hardware? Is it software? Google's first Gemini-centric platform is, seemingly, a bit of both, but we're not entirely sure how it works just yet. Here's hoping we get a little more color on this new "intelligence system" at I/O 2026.

Google I/O is typically reserved for software announcements, so we're not expecting much in the way of hardware news from today's event. But if you are wondering about the company's latest physical products, Google recently launched a super slim screenless fitness tracker, the Fitbit Air.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

(Image credit: Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

As for where Google I/O is taking place, it'll kick off — like always— at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. That's basically Google's version of the Steve Jobs Theater, which, by the way, is just a 16-minute drive away. Keep an eye out for Apple CEO John Ternus peeking over the fence.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, May 19 (game #807)

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 18 (game #806).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On the rise

NYT Strands today (game #807) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MOCK
• HULL
• POKE
• ROLL
• GREEK
• DIRGE

NYT Strands today (game #807) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #807) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #807) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #807, are…

• MOUND
• HILL
• KNOLL
• SLOPE
• RIDGE
• BUTTE
• HUMMOCK
• SPANGRAM: HIGHERGROUND

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

I had never heard of the word HUMMOCK before, but then I don’t frequent that many peat bogs, so I think I can be forgiven. It’s a great word to say, though.

The rest of the words describing HIGHERGROUND I am more familiar with, especially as I am currently training for a very hilly long-distance cycle ride in September and trying to build up the ability to get up any HILL without moaning, groaning and stopping. As a consequence I am recalibrating some things I used to regard as hills as now a mere SLOPE.

Meanwhile, BUTTE took me a little while as I initially thought it only had one T – which would instead be the rather rugged Scottish island, which I have discovered via a Google search contains a large number of hummocks.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, May 18, game #806)

• ORANGE
• CLEMENTINE
• LIME
• KUMQUAT
• POMELO
• TANGERINE
• SPANGRAM: CITRUS

What 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.

https://ift.tt/yCT1Xz3

Discord's latest 'year of the Linux desktop' update is a game-changer for Steam Deck, but fans are concerned about its age verification plans

• Discord has released a major update for Linux users
• Game and screen sharing has been improved with hardware-accelerated video encoding now supported via Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs
• It comes as users remain frustrated about global age verification plans

Discord on Linux, particularly on the Steam Deck or SteamOS handhelds, has been plagued by functionality issues, and a new update has finally addressed them — but users aren't buying it.

As reported by TweakTown, Discord announced a new major update for Linux in a video titled the 'year of the Linux desktop', providing significant improvements to game (or screen) capturing capabilities, including smaller updates to notifications and game detection.

Notably, hardware-accelerated video encoding is now supported on Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs for Discord, for better video quality without a drawback on game performance.

Discord will also capture games using Vulkan or Valve's Gamescope, and that's great news for devices like the Steam Deck or the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS, as more system resources can be used on games, ultimately improving performance and battery life while streaming to friends.

That's all good and well in the eyes of Discord users on Linux, and it has even joined in on the year of the Linux desktop meme (essentially the hope that Linux will surpass Windows) — and sure, this update has definitely taken it a step closer to that, but it's not enough to win fans over.

Instead, the comments on the video are consistent with users stating it's the 'year of age verification', criticizing Discord for its global age verification plans, which are still slated for late 2026.

This major Linux update comes around the same time as the Discord and Xbox collaboration, which gives Nitro users access to a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass. It seems as though Discord is trying its best to soften the blow from its controversial move, but it's quite clear that users aren't willing to let the age verification issues go.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 18 (game #806)

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, May 17 (game #805).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… The daily rind

NYT Strands today (game #806) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SURE
• MULE
• CAMEL
• POLE
• GATE
• GNAT

NYT Strands today (game #806) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #806) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 3rd row

Last side: right, 8th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #806) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #806, are…

• ORANGE
• CLEMENTINE
• LIME
• KUMQUAT
• POMELO
• TANGERINE
• SPANGRAM: CITRUS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Another easy game, although it was made slightly harder with the elimination of the most common of CITRUS fruits, the lemon.

In lemon’s place we had two lesser-spotted fruits: the KUMQUAT, which is like a miniature orange and which is often used to make marmalade, and POMELO, a pomegranate-melon hybrid which took me a couple of goes to get because I kept trying to connect it as polemo.

After finishing the game I was excited to discover that the polemo does actually exist and is famous (although not that famous, obviously) for being the largest citrus fruit.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 17, game #805)

• SCOREBOARD
• LANES
• PINS
• BALLS
• LOUNGE
• ARCADE
• SPANGRAM: BOWLINGALLEY

What 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.

https://ift.tt/cBmUi1h