Remember that time TikTok shut down and disappeared from app stores? It wasn't that long ago. For roughly 12 hours on January 19, TikTok was stripped away from roughly 175M US users only to be saved by a Presidential executive order decree that extended the ban deadline by 75 days. Don't worry; the White House promised we'll have a sale in place by then.
Guess what? While TikTok has multiple suitors, no US company, and certainly not the White House, has purchased any portion of ByteDance's popular social media content-sharing platform.
Throughout this process, ByteDance – a Chinese company – has yet to comment directly on the potential of a sale to a US firm. TikTok's US leadership and its CEO, Shou Zi Chew, have publicly praised President Donald Trump for his intervention but have been mostly silent since then.
In the meantime, TikTok has spent millions on televised ads and infomercial segments touting TikTok's positive impact on people and US businesses, specifically small businesses. The company currently says it has roughly 7.5M businesses on the platform. In a recent economic impact report, TikTok claims small businesses drove $15B in revenue in 2023.
There's no question that TikTok has had a significant impact on US business and, especially, culture (remember the pivotal role it played during COVID?). However, the US climate and appetite for a last-minute save of the social media platform may have shifted since January.
After all, that was the literal dawn of President Trump's second term. Since then, there have been dozens of Executive Orders touching almost every part of American life (including technology; see this AI-related order), and there's a chance consumers may have bigger fish to fry.
Even so, the fate of one of the world's most popular social media platforms does hang in the balance. Here's what we know about what comes next:
I did reach out to the White House, Apple, Google, and TikTok about the current state of negotiations and what might happen if the ban does not get another extension. As of this writing, only Google responded, but it had nothing new to share.
While there have been no public indications of any real progress or movement in the TikTok sale negotiation process, we do know that multiple suitors include:
Oracle is already managing TikTok's US data, so it might be the leading prospective buyer.
The White House has often been mentioned as acquiring a partial stake in the US-owned version of the company. here are already legal hurdles involved with a sitting President also running a private or non-public-sector business.
Perplexity AI is the most interesting suitor. In a lengthy blog post, the AI search company made an impassioned case for "Rebuilding TikTok in America."
While ByteDance and the White House remain mum on deal details or progress, multiple US senators are still urging the White House to extend the ban postponement to October of this year.
The White House stated this week that a deal would be done before the April 5 deadline but has yet to offer any further details beyond reiterating that there are "lots of potential buyers" and they have "tremendous interest."
What's next?
(Image credit: Future)
If the deal does not happen by then, TikTok could face a new ban, and that might mean the removal not only of TikTok but all of ByteDance's US apps, including Lemon8 and the popular video-editing app CapCut.
Apple and Google removed the apps, and even after the US president extended the ban, they remained unavailable on the app stores for weeks.
Apple did not respond to my request for comment. As I noted above, Google told me it had nothing new to share at this time.
What this boils down to is that you can't buy something that isn't for sale. ByteDance has never publicly stated that it is open to a sale. TikTok in the US, which has publicly appreciated the extension, may not have control of the situation without a sale agreement from its parent company. TikTok might be out of options.
With five days left, anything could happen, but realistically, it's been almost a year since Former President Joe Biden signed the bill that triggered the ban countdown.
Nothing material has changed, and time is running out.
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, March 31 (game #393).
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 #394) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's a sign!
NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
MOSS
BITE
BREW
SHOES
ROOM
SLING
NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #394) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: bottom, 5th column
Last side: top, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #394) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #394, are…
SHOWERS
BUDS
ROBINS
POLLEN
PUDDLES
BLOSSOMS
SPANGRAM: SPRINGTIME
My rating: Easy
My score: 1 hint
There are some interesting cultural differences in today’s Strands that make it a little strange for someone from the UK.
ROBINS are something we associate with Christmas, while PUDDLES are a year-round phenomenon thanks to the combination of ceaseless rain, poor drainage and neglected street maintenance.
BLOSSOMS, meanwhile, are a global sign of SPRINGTIME and now, for the few weeks when fruit trees burst into flower, are often accompanied by people taking selfies in front of them.
I initially thought this was a tourist social media thing — over the weekend in London's Hyde Park I cycled past a queue of couples waiting for their turn to take snaps in front of a particularly fine cherry tree — but it’s spread everywhere. If they were in bloom year-round there’d be a lot less fuss.
April also marks the return of wasps and their long-term campaign of terror against the human race.
There are 120,000 different species of wasps in the world (the most common in the US are yellowjackets) and the only place on Earth where they don’t exist is Antarctica – a place where springtime doesn’t happen at all.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 31 March, game #393)
ROAN
DAPPLE
BUCKSKIN
CHESTNUT
PALOMINO
SPANGRAM: HORSE COLORINGS
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.
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, March 30 (game #392).
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 #393) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… That's an equine of a different shade!
NYT Strands today (game #393) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
LOSS
LOSE
LION
RUNS
BUSH
HOOK
NYT Strands today (game #393) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 14 letters
NYT Strands today (game #393) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 5th column
Last side: bottom, 2nd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #393) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #393, are…
ROAN
DAPPLE
BUCKSKIN
CHESTNUT
PALOMINO
SPANGRAM: HORSE COLORINGS
My rating: Hard
My score: 4 hints
Even with four hints I still struggled with today’s word search. I guess I have spent my entire life ignoring HORSE COLORINGS.
The only color I tapped out with confidence was CHESTNUT and this is only because Chestnut Mare by The Byrds is my fourth favorite song about horses. Give it a listen, it’s quite mad.
My top three, incidentally, are Crazy Horses by The Osmonds (for the giggles), the theme tune to the 1960s TV show White Horses (for the innocence of youth), and Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones (for the melancholy majesty).
Also, as previously discussed, Spangrams that begin in the center of the puzzle are an abomination and should be banned by the international puzzling authorities.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 30 March, game #392)
BASS
ALTO
SOPRANO
TENOR
TREBLE
BARITONE
MEZZO
SPANGRAM: CHOIR PART
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.
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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, March 29 (game #391).
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 #392) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Join the chorus
NYT Strands today (game #392) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
ROOT
ZERO
PASS
BEAR
SPORE
MEAT
NYT Strands today (game #392) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 9 letters
NYT Strands today (game #392) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: right, 3rd row
Last side: left, 6th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #392) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #392, are…
BASS
ALTO
SOPRANO
TENOR
TREBLE
BARITONE
MEZZO
SPANGRAM: CHOIR PART
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 hints
I really struggled to get going with today’s search and needed a couple of hints to prompt me into action.
Eventually this became one of those editions of Strands where you think you are not highbrow enough to know the words, but end up knowing them all — not that I know what they sound like.
Meanwhile, the one piece of choral history everyone knows is that of the castrato, a male vocalist who underwent castration before puberty in order to retain a soprano singing voice long into adulthood.
The castrati became wildly famous in the 17th century and had entire operas written for their unique ability, but went out of fashion by the 19th century when everyone realised it was just a gimmick and rather cruel.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 29 March, game #391)
NUTS
TOFU
SEITAN
TEMPEH
BEANS
SEEDS
YEAST
SPANGRAM: VEGAN PROTEINS
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.
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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, March 28 (game #1159).
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 #1160) - hint #1 - Vowels
How 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 #1160) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #1160) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do 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.
What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?
• L
• O
• C
• A
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1160) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle, game #1160, are…
LATER
ODDLY
CUMIN
AGREE
Too early to call it a streak, but I checked out after seven guesses again. Not that it felt as “green lights all the way home” as it did yesterday, because I spent a good couple of minutes pondering before coming up with CUMIN.
One of the many health medical trends I followed for a few weeks was eating a banana sprinkled with cumin every night before bed. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds, but I gave up as it didn’t seem to make any health difference.
Anyway, I digress. In fairness today’s double letter words did make life easier, so I can’t claim to be at genius level just yet!
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1160) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1160, are…
'Signalgate' continues to rumble on, with even more of the Signal messages that were shared between Trump officials – and, inadvertently, The Atlantic – revealed today. But how exactly did this group chat debacle happen, and what does it say about Signal? We've answered all of this and more in our one-stop explainer about the app that's in the eye of a political storm.
With robust privacy credentials, Signal has long set the standard for secure messaging. But in the wake of those revelations that US government officials inadvertently added a journalist to a group chat where confidential military plans were discussed, there are fresh (and mostly unfair) question marks over how reliable the app’s protections really are.
Signal’s reputation has made it popular with journalists, politicians and privacy advocates. Used correctly on an Android or iOS device, it can absolutely make your conversations more secure. Even so, it’s not a tool designed for sharing classified information.
So why have senior US politicians been using it for sensitive national security communications? And how safe were those messages? Here’s what you need to know about Signal – and how to use it properly for private messaging.
What is Signal?
Signal is a secure messaging app with end-to-end encryption
It’s operated by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organization
Open source code makes the platform more resilient
Signal is a messaging app that's available for iOS and Android devices. Like the best messaging apps, it supports cross-platform text, voice and video chats. What sets Signal apart is its robust privacy features: it’s regarded as the benchmark for secure mobile communications. Which makes Signalgate all the more ironic, even though it has little to do with the app's technical security.
End-to-end encryption ensures messages can only be read by the sender and receiver, while open-source code ensures that there are fewer vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / BigTuneOnline)
Signal was created in 2012 by Moxie Marlinspike. It’s now run by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2018 by Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton. The Foundation relies on donations rather than ad revenue to fund its services. That means users can enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free experience, knowing that their data won’t be sold to third parties.
In our in-depth Signal review, we noted that the app offers “fewer bells and whistles than the more popular (and less secure) messaging apps”. Instead, its developers have focused on creating a secure, minimalist communications tool.
It’s this approach which has made it popular with everyone from whistleblowers and activists to journalists and privacy advocates, who favor its more secure architecture.
How safe and secure is Signal?
Used correctly, Signal is the most secure messaging app
It’s only as secure as the devices sending and receiving messages
User error can compromise the privacy of group chats
Used correctly, Signal has the most robust privacy credentials of any major messaging app. It has the most layers of security at both the front-end and back-end. Messages themselves are deeply protected against hacking, while the app offers a toolkit to ensure communications are only seen by who they’re intended for.
So how did a journalist from The Atlantic end up on a group chat with US government officials, including Vice-President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles? Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker maintains that the app is “the gold standard” in private communication. Here’s the challenge: as strong as Signal’s security features are, they are reliant on the end user understanding how they work.
This incident was not really a failing of Signal. The journalist in question did not infiltrate the group chat through a backdoor. Instead, a member of that chat – which included 18 people – unintentionally but actively added the reporter to the group, who was then privy to sensitive messages discussing air strikes in Yemen.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Shutterstockies)
Any group chat is only as secure as its members. Even with disappearing messages enabled, there is a window in which anyone in that group can read them. By mistakenly adding the journalist to the group, the US official became responsible for compromising its integrity.
Some voices have criticized the fact that the app allowed this, but the option to add a contact to a chat is a core function of group communications. The fault here doesn’t lie with Signal – the reality is that, as secure as the app is, it’s not an appropriate platform for sharing highly confidential state information.
What’s more, messages sent on Signal are only as secure as the device that is receiving them. If a smartphone is compromised or left unlocked, all of the Signal messages on that device can be read. There is also nothing to prevent someone simply reading messages over your shoulder.
Matthew Mittelsteadt, a technology policy research fellow for the Cato Institute, said as much in a statement emailed to CNN. “Messages may be secure when they are in transit between phones, but once they reach the recipient, security can indeed fail.”
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet)
This is why the use of Signal by top US officials fell far short of government security protocols. Data expert Caro Robson, quoted by the BBC, said communications like these would usually take place on “a very secure government system that is operated and owned by the government using very high levels of encryption.”
While officials from the Trump administration have claimed that none of the information shared was classified, a memo from the Defense Department circulated in 2023 and obtained by NPR banned the use of mobile apps for "controlled unclassified information”. Since the leak, the Pentagon has issued an advisory prohibiting the use of Signal even for “unclassified information”.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has acknowledged the failing. Speaking to Fox News, he described it as “embarrassing” and took “full responsibility”.
How does Signal work?
Signal uses open-source, end-to-end encryption to secure messages
The Signal Foundation doesn’t monetize user data or sell ads
User features are designed for security, including personal PINs
Signal offers greater security in three key ways. The first is through end-to-end encryption, which means messages are scrambled in transit, then decoded when delivered to the intended device. No-one else can read these messages, not even Signal.
While other messaging apps also offer end-to-end encryption, Signal’s is more secure because it’s open source. Not only does this make the platform more transparent, but it also allows absolutely anyone to examine the code for potential vulnerabilities. This community scrutiny makes it more likely that problems are found and fixed before hackers can exploit them.
(Image credit: Signal)
Then there are the Signal Foundation’s principles. The app itself collects less user data than other services, with message history stored on user devices rather than Signal’s servers. Of the very limited information that is collected by Signal, none of its is monetized: as a non-profit, the Foundation relies on donations rather than advertising revenue. That also means users won’t be tracked or encounter ads on the platform.
Finally, there are the safety features integral to the user experience. These include a personal PIN to secure your profile and the option to hide your phone number. Every one-to-one Signal chat also has a safety number, which can be used to verify that you’re communicating with the right person. In addition, you can’t be added to a group chat without giving your express approval.
How to get started with Signal
The Signal app is available for iOS and Android devices
Setup requires a phone number to receive a verification call or text
Privacy features include personal PIN numbers and disappearing messages
Getting started with Signal is pretty easy – the app is free to download from the App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android smartphones. To create an account, you need a phone number which will be verified by phone call or text message. Once you’ve set up your account, your number will be hidden from other Signal users by default (see below).
The app's interface and basic functions will be familiar to anyone who has used a messaging app such as WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram. Tap the pencil icon to start a one-on-one or group chat. Within a chat, you can share messages, photos and voice notes. You can also tap the phone or camera icons to start voice or video calls.
If you’re keen to secure your messages, there are a few more advanced features to explore and configure. A Signal PIN can be used to recover your profile and settings on a different device. It’s configured by going to Signal Settings, tapping Account then selecting Change your pin.
Signal also encourages users to verify Safety Numbers. These are generated for every one-on-one chat to confirm that you’re sending messages to the right person. To view a Safety Number, open a chat, tap the header and select View Safety Number. To verify it, you would ideally compare numbers with the recipient in person. Otherwise, you can share it using a trusted channel.
(Image credit: Signal)
Disappearing messages add an additional layer of privacy. After a set period of time, the contents of messages are no longer visible, whether they’ve been read or not. You can set a default timer by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Default timer for new chats. You can also configure timers for specific chats. Just go to chat settings and select Disappearing messages.
Signal also offers features to keep your communications activity hidden. Screen Security stops a preview of Signal appearing when you switch apps. You can enable it by heading to Settings > Privacy and selecting Screen Security on Android or Hide Screen in App Switcher on iOS.
In addition, you can hide Signal calls from your device’s call log. This is enabled by default, but to double check, head to Signal Settings > Privacy and look for Show Calls in Recents.
Finally, to manage the visibility of your phone number, go to Signal Settings > Privacy > Phone Number and tap 'Who can find me by my number'. To set up a unique username that you can use instead of your number, go to Signal Settings > Profile.
Even with all of the above features enabled, remember that your Signal communications are only as secure as your smartphone itself. To avoid a leak of information like the US government suffered, be sure to activate your device’s full set of security features, keep it locked with a passcode when not in use and don’t access sensitive messages in public. For more tips on how to keep your phone safe, read our dedicated feature here.
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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, March 27 (game #389).
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 #390) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Wise ones
NYT Strands today (game #390) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
RINGED
SIDE
GUISE
DIRE
PRIDE
SHED
NYT Strands today (game #390) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #390) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: bottom, 3rd column
Last side: top, 5th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #390) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #390, are…
THINKER
VISIONARY
SAGE
ELDER
PHILOSOPHER
SPANGRAM: GUIDING LIGHT
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
A nice bunch of words today that were easy to spot and didn’t present me with any spelling difficulties – although I probably would have put a double L in PHILOSOPHER if left to my own devices.
Becoming wise with age is all very well, but growing older does not necessarily mean that you are bestowed with wisdom, dispensing SAGE thoughts about humanity and the future dilemmas of civilization.
Usually, in my experience, it just means you have some interesting advice on how to get from one place to another and save money using some coupons. "Never pay full price," an elderly taxi driver told me the other day. “It’s always cheaper somewhere.” Wise words.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 27 March, game #389)
DODGER
PIRATE
BRAVE
MARLIN
GIANT
BREWER
SPANGRAM: NATIONAL LEAGUE
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.
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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, March 26 (game #1157).
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 #1158) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1158) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1158) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do 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.
What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?
• C
• A
• L
• A
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1158) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle, game #1158, are…
CRONE
APNEA
LIGHT
AWOKE
I really struggled with my final word today.
I had a great start and could have got CRONE on my third go but stuck with the three starter word method instead. Landing APNEA was a real struggle and I was only helped by the fact that I had so few letters left.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1158) - the answers
The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1157, are…
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, March 26 (game #388).
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 #389) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Playing the field
NYT Strands today (game #389) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
BARE
NILL
GONE
LINT
TRIP
BRIDGE
NYT Strands today (game #389) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 14 letters
NYT Strands today (game #389) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 4th row
Last side: left, 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 #389) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #389, are…
DODGER
PIRATE
BRAVE
MARLIN
GIANT
BREWER
SPANGRAM: NATIONAL LEAGUE
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
Even though I’m in the UK and don’t follow baseball, I was still able to easily identify today’s words – such is the branding power of Major League Baseball, or in this case the NATIONAL LEAGUE.
Seeing the teams in singular form was a little strange, as was a Spangram that was so long (a whopping 14 letters) that it started and ended on the same side of the puzzle.
One of the oddest things about US sports teams from my perspective is how they can move between towns — the Atlanta Braves having previously existed during their history in Boston and Milwaukee.
In England, Arsenal Football Club get endless grief from their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur because they were formed in south London and only crossed the river in 1913.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, 26 March, game #388)
ZEBRA
MEERKAT
WARTHOG
HYENA
ELEPHANT
HORNBILL
SPANGRAM: LION KING
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.
Google Maps is one of the apps that gets the most love from Google in terms of regular updates, and we've spotted another couple of upgrades rolling out to the mapping app in recent days – upgrades to add some extra convenience to your travels.
Firstly, the app is changing up how it displays route overviews. As Android Police has noted, the info card you see when you select any place on the map on Android now shows you more details about parking availability and any applicable toll fees.
This information was previously available in Google Maps, but you had to dig around a little bit to find it – now it's included on the main route overview pop-up, alongside the estimated travel time and the current traffic conditions.
It's a small tweak but one that's potentially very useful. It brings together more of the data Google Maps has in the same place, which means you're more clued up about your journeys and you can get moving more quickly. It doesn't look as though the update is live for everyone yet, but it should be eventually.
More AI in Google Maps
Gemini is starting to let you ask about places you view on Google MapsGemini's 'Ask about place' chip for Google Maps has started showing up.✅ Details - https://t.co/wAU6mY4VJQ pic.twitter.com/q6ne9kbxbwMarch 25, 2025
Our second new feature concerns Google's favorite tech of the moment: AI. As spotted by Android Authority, if you select a place on the map in Google Maps for Android, then activate Gemini (with a long press on the power button for example), you get a new Ask about place chip you can tap.
Gemini being able to tell you about places isn't new, but the addition of a specific shortcut means you can get some AI-generated information about a location much more quickly from Google Maps. Just watch out for hallucinations, as always.
For example, you could ask when a certain place opens or closes, or ask if it's suitable for kids. The responses will then be displayed in a Gemini overlay on top of the screen, as usual, and you can ask follow-up questions if needed.
We can expect much more in the way of Gemini integration in Google Maps and Google's other apps in the future, too. Google has been busy pushing the AI bot into as many apps as it can, while it continues to work on retiring Google Assistant.
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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 25 (game #1156).
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 #1157) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1157) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do 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.
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, March 25 (game #387).
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 #388) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… In the circle of life
NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
ZANY
TINGLE
GROT
TONE
BARE
WAGON
NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 8 letters
NYT Strands today (game #388) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 5th row
Last side: right, 2nd row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #388) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #388, are…
ZEBRA
MEERKAT
WARTHOG
HYENA
ELEPHANT
HORNBILL
SPANGRAM: LION KING
My rating: Easy
My score: 1 hint
Even though it was pretty obvious that today’s Strands was for The LION KING, I still snagged Lion as a hint word – not that any hints were needed in a straightforward word search.
I’d wager that ZEBRA was almost everyone’s first word, not that they feature much in the story, acting as extras and the butt of a couple of jokes.
Although it’s about the animal kingdom, including a flatulent WARTHOG, this classic tale of sibling rivalry is very Shakespearian. Indeed, screenwriter Irene Mecchi said that the idea for the movie was pitched to her as Bamblet – Hamlet set in the jungle with a bit of Bambi thrown in. Well, I suppose it's better than Disney's idea for a love story set in a farmyard – Rameo and Eweliet anyone?
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 25 March, game #387)
SLIDERS
POPPERS
WINGS
FONDUE
NACHOS
CALAMARI
SPANGRAM: APPETIZER
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.
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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 24 (game #1155).
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 #1156) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1156) - hint #2 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1156) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do 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.
What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?
• S
• W
• F
• S
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1156) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle, game #1156, are…
SNEER
WATCH
FLORA
STAIN
My winning streak continues, thanks in large part to getting plenty of green and yellow hits with my start words.
With three options on my final word (either batch, patch or WATCH) I managed to pick the correct one.
I’d like to pretend there was some science to this choice, but it was pure luck. That said, I did ask myself, “what is the most Quordley of all these words?”, which is usually the word you are least likely to think is correct.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1156) - the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1156, are…
CROWN
ANGRY
RATIO
CLONE
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALL
