Sunday, 8 June 2025

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, June 9 (game #463)

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 8 (game #462).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… What you see isn't what you get

NYT Strands today (game #463) - hint #2 - clue words

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

  • DANCE
  • CARD
  • NOSE
  • CONE
  • FOAM
  • SKIDS

NYT Strands today (game #463) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #463) - hint #4 - spangram position

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

First side: top, 3rd 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 #463) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 463 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #463, are…

  • MASK
  • CAMOUFLAGE
  • DISGUISE
  • CLOAK
  • COVER
  • FACADE
  • SPANGRAM: FALSE FRONT

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: 1 hint

Fittingly, today’s search words were well hidden and I needed a hint to get started. The word MASK confirmed what we were looking for – so I immediately started looking for CAMOUFLAGE and DISGUISE.

The spangram was not a term I was familiar with, but is one that I have seen in action in London. Here, there is a beautiful old theater I watched turn from thriving to derelict that has been under development for years to become apartments.

As is the case in many cities, the back of the building was demolished – leaving just the FACADE. However, along the way something structurally most have gone wrong as the propped-up facade was then completely replaced by a new facade, copying the art deco style of the original. So now, not one brick of the original building remains, which maybe was the plan all along. Either way, not once but twice, a FALSE FRONT.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, June 8, game #462)

  • CAST
  • SCORE
  • LIGHTS
  • SINGING
  • DANCING
  • COSTUMES
  • SPANGRAM: ITS SHOWTIME

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/HqJ43Do

Saturday, 7 June 2025

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, June 8 (game #462)

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 7 (game #461).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… On Broadway

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #2 - clue words

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

  • SHINER
  • MELTS
  • CRISIS
  • TRACE
  • CHAD
  • STING

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #462) - hint #4 - spangram position

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

First side: top, 1st column

Last side: bottom, 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 #462) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 462 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #462, are…

  • CAST
  • SCORE
  • LIGHTS
  • SINGING
  • DANCING
  • COSTUMES
  • SPANGRAM: ITS SHOWTIME

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: Perfect

When I saw that the theme was “On Broadway”, I was convinced that today’s search would be about classic shows such as Evita. So, I began by spotting Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that ran for 18 years, from 1982 to 2000. I was shocked when the letters didn’t turn blue and the answer instead turned out to be CAST.

Here, instead, were some of the elements that it takes to put  on a production minus a couple of omissions – stage and script, both of which are crucial to most Broadway hits. Well, unless your idea of a night out at the theater is an improv in a parking lot,

Getting the spangram early always feels a little weird. I got it today as my second correct guess and it helped unlock the rest of the board.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 7, game #461)

  • HUMAN
  • SOUL
  • MORTAL
  • SOMEONE
  • INDIVIDUAL
  • SPANGRAM: BE YOURSELF

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/kHrwqbM

Friday, 6 June 2025

Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 7 (game #1230)

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, June 6 (game #1229).

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 #1230) - 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 #1230) - 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 #1230) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1230) - 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 0.

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 #1230) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• F

• E

• S

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1230) - the answers

Quordle answers for game 1230 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1230, are…

  • FLUNK
  • ESTER
  • SPITE
  • CHEAP

I was thinking that today’s game was one for the ages after shooting down three challenging words without hesitation. But before I could start thinking of myself as some kind John Wick of Quordle, I hit a wall.

My fourth word was never going to be TREES, as plurals are not allowed, but I tapped it out anyway, before rearranging the letters for a word I had never heard of before – ESTER I have subsequently discovered is a chemical compound made when an acid and an alcohol combine. Kudos if you got this and knew what it meant.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.


Daily Sequence today (game #1230) - the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 1230 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1230, are…

  • RAJAH
  • SALVE
  • CORAL
  • STUCK

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
  • Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
  • Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
  • Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
  • Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
  • Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
  • Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE
  • Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
  • Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH
  • Quordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURER
  • Quordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADAR
  • Quordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOP
  • Quordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEAN
  • Quordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLAR
  • Quordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPER
  • Quordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCEL
  • Quordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUT
  • Quordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURER
  • Quordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVE
  • Quordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNY
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NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 7 (game #461)

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, June 6 (game #460).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… I am what I am

NYT Strands today (game #461) - hint #2 - clue words

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

  • SOLID
  • ALIVE
  • SOLO
  • MOLE
  • LOVES
  • SOOT

NYT Strands today (game #461) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #461) - hint #4 - spangram position

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

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 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 #461) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 461 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #461, are…

  • HUMAN
  • SOUL
  • MORTAL
  • SOMEONE
  • INDIVIDUAL
  • SPANGRAM: BE YOURSELF

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

Today’s search was a celebration of the self and what makes us singular. It’s fitting, because Strands is very much an INDIVIDUAL pursuit, and like most solo efforts we are in competition with just one other person – ourselves. 

Trying to live like others in order to fit in or be someone you are not is a thankless and exhausting task that usually leads to frustration or humiliation.

Frank Ocean’s wonderful album Blond has a great track called Be Yourself that’s largely made up of an answer machine message left by Frank’s Aunt Rosie, advising her son to avoid alcohol and drugs on his college campus and to “stop trying to be someone else”. “Be yourself and know that’s good enough,” she says. “Don’t try to act like someone else, be yourself. Be secure with yourself. Rely and trust upon your own decisions.” Wise words.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, June 6, game #460)

  • SEASICK
  • SLEEPER
  • PINWHEEL
  • ELEVATOR
  • BREAKAWAY
  • SPANGRAM: YOYO TRICK

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/MBTtQYA

Google claims Chrome is now faster than ever – but I’m still worried that the browser remains a RAM hog


  • Google has made a number of under-the-hood tweaks to Chrome
  • It claims the browser is now 10% faster than it was a year ago
  • That’s based on benchmarking with Speedometer 3.0, but we're not shown comparative results with other popular web browsers

Google has boasted that Chrome is now faster than ever, outlining the improvements it's made to its popular web browser to achieve this speed boost.

Neown flagged up the latest blog post from Google in a series entitled the ‘Fast and the Curious’ for those who are intrigued to see what tinkering Google has been doing.

We’re told that Chrome has recorded its highest score ever on Speedometer 3.0, a browser benchmarking tool, and that it’s now 10% faster than in August 2024 with the release of the latest version 139 (still in testing, in the Dev channel).

Google says these improvements have been possible due to the Chrome team working across all the main ‘rendering paths’ of the browser, referring to the fundamental mechanisms that convert the nuts-and-bolts of code for a website into a visible web page in Chrome.

With that work happening more swiftly across multiple fronts, you see web pages rendered in the browser a bit faster, and it should act more responsively overall.

Clearly, though, performance mileage depends not just on the browser, but on a lot of factors (including any given website itself, and how it’s implemented, alongside the spec of the PC and its current overall workload).


A person at a laptop.

(Image credit: Pixabay)

Analysis: faster than ever – but some RAM concerns remain

There’s a fair bit of techie detail provided in terms of the exact tweaks Google has applied here, but to summarize, they include memory-related optimizations, better use of caches, and work on refining data structures.

Fortunately, us mere non-programmer mortals don’t need to know those ins and outs. The simple takeaway is that, as mentioned, Chrome is now 10% faster – at least based on this run of benchmarking.

This is the latest in a series of boosts for Chrome, as Google showed us how much faster its browser was at around the same time last year, as Neowin pointed out.

The benchmarking tool employed, Speedometer, is a respected suite of tests for web browsers, generally acknowledged to reflect a real-world browsing experience with a commendable degree of accuracy. What we don’t see here, though, are any comparative results that show how fast Edge, or Firefox, or some of the other best web browsers are in relation to Chrome.

That said, a quick scan of recent independent testing with Speedometer does suggest that Chrome is no slouch, and it seems like it currently has the edge (no pun intended) over other browsers.

Google appears to be doing good work on the performance front, then, despite Chrome’s reputation as a RAM hog, an issue it has sought to address. There have been improvements in terms of streamlining memory usage with Chrome in the more recent past, though – and overall, Google’s browser seems nippy enough these days.

That said, concerns around RAM-related performance headwinds remain. How much of this is down to tainted perceptions is debatable, but complaints certainly persist on various online forums that Chrome doesn’t fare so well here, and overreaches with its demands on the system, particularly with lower-end PCs that aren’t well-equipped in the RAM department.

There’s more to web browsers than speed, too, and one of the thornier remaining issues for Chrome is one of trust – or rather a lack of it, regarding Google ‘spying’ on its users, which is a common theme in terms of accusations leveled online. Not that Google is alone in terms of tech giants in this respect – far from it.

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Thursday, 5 June 2025

'We created a new Airbnb' – here's what the app's big redesign means for how you travel and where you stay

Airbnb’s redesign, and its push into enabling users to Airbnb more than just a vacation spot or getaway, has been out for a few weeks now. The idea is that you’ll Airbnb more than just a lovely cottage on a beach – also turning to the service, for example, when you want to experience a city that’s close to home or add some adventure to your trip abroad.

We’ve already broken down the additions, including the launch of Experiences and Services, as well as the new look for the app. It all feels a lot sleeker, with visuals that adjust on the fly, a mini social network, and a passport of sorts that saves all the information from your trip. So, if you have a favorite spot, you can easily share it with a friend. It all feels very material.

Here we're taking a look under the hood and finding out how Airbnb is making the app work better for you. The company has rebuilt its entire tech stack for the app and the service as a whole, meaning you'll find easier navigation with three choices at the top: Homes, Experiences, and Services.

Furthermore, there's a redesigned profile that makes it easier for you to take a look back and even reconnect with people you've had experiences with. The rebuilding effort enables what's already launched, while also setting Airbnb up for the future, a note that Jud Coplan, VP of Product Marketing at Airbnb, shared with TechRadar.

“One of the huge benefits of rebuilding the architecture and rethinking, really, the infrastructure of the app was that we created something that can expand beyond the 10 categories of services.” Coplan told me.

He was referencing the 10 that currently exist – chefs, photographers, massages, spa treatments, personal training, hair treatments, makeup, nails, prepared meals, and catering – but hinted that expansion is very possible, adding, “We've created a new Airbnb that can go even beyond what we've been talking about today.”

Airbnb Services

(Image credit: Airbnb)

That could mean we see grocery deliveries integrated, so you can be well stocked when you arrive at your Airbnb to make dinner, or maybe that even means you can order directly to your home.

It’s really an expansion of the platform to book these services, whether you’re in your home city or on a trip. Coplan told me how his family had booked an experience in their home city of San Francisco, a kind of a staycation excursion.

The 10 aforementioned options are further themed by activity, such as cooking, city walks, learning a new skill, and even more exclusive ones featuring celebrities.

During the keynote, Airbnb’s CEO, Brian Chesky, highlighted the importance of people, noting that it’s real folks who are experts offering these experiences and services, and it’s real people offering up their homes, lofts, or apartments for Airbnb.

There is an element of AI being used here, one example being an AI-powered photo tour, as Coplan explained. “For homes, if you upload all your photos, we recognize them, we organize them, we present them really nicely,” all with the aim of making the listing easier and theoretically helping to encourage more bookings. There are also quick replies powered by AI, in which, for a host, the app will automatically suggest a response that could be sent.

For services and experiences, the two new offerings from Airbnb utilize AI to recommend what you might find most appealing. It bases this off of “where they are in their journey, their past bookings, their current trip, what they've told us about in their profile,” explained Coplan.

Lastly on AI, Coplan also shared that Airbnb began rolling out an AI assistant for customer service in the US in English, “that allows people to do is have a natural language conversation with customer service and get answers to questions really easily.” It’ll be interesting to see how this performs, and what feedback users provide.

Profile Section of Airbnb App – May 2025

(Image credit: Airbnb)

On the app’s new look and flow, it was clear that Coplan and the team at Airbnb focused on the human element, emphasizing that what one can book is all tied back to a real person. He noted that the color palette, animations, and dimensionality all tie back to the real world, giving a sense of what you might experience.

Even more interesting, and maybe hinting at Airbnb’s future, is the community aspect. “We didn't want this to be a place where you have followers, where you meet people online,” explained Coplan. “The people you see are people that you know from the real world, and so that connections page within your profile, those are people you've traveled with and those are people you've met on your experiences.”

It’s certainly a unique approach and a more intentional one, rooted in a shared experience. Now, it’s entirely opt-in, and there are privacy controls that allow you to turn off this community aspect.

Separate from the community, but also housed within the profile, is a sort of passport-like experience, allowing you to look back at where you’ve been and easily share details. Much like a card in Apple Wallet, it has a shimmer and shine effect when you move your phone around.

While Airbnb’s main event is its annual summer release, and that’s done with for 2025, I suspect we’ll hear more from it sooner than a year from now, and I’m intrigued to see just how far the tech stack can go. For now, I’m on the hunt for an experience to try.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, June 6 (game #460)

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, June 5 (game #459).

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

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… String's attached

NYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #2 - clue words

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

  • SOYA
  • TRAVEL
  • BACK
  • WART
  • LOVE
  • TOYS

NYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #4 - spangram position

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

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 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 #460) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 460 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #460, are…

  • SEASICK
  • SLEEPER
  • PINWHEEL
  • ELEVATOR
  • BREAKAWAY
  • SPANGRAM: YOYO TRICK

  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: 2 hints

I really struggled today and had no idea what we were searching for, even after using two hints – SEASICK and SLEEPER seemed to suggest travel.

My third correct word, PINWHEEL, confused me even more; was it referring to the small wheels of a wheelie suitcase?

ELEVATOR and BREAKAWAY didn’t help much either, both still hinting at some vaguely travel-related group of words.

It wasn’t until the very end when I got the spangram that I finally understood what “strings attached meant”. Bravo Strands, bravo!

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, June 5, game #459)

  • COCKLESHELLS
  • PRETTY
  • MAIDS
  • SILVER
  • BELLS
  • CONTRARY
  • SPANGRAM: GARDEN

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/J1P8LSV