It looks like Meta’s plans to charge subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram have gone down as well as an offensive meme posted by your uncle, with searches for how to deactivate Facebook and Instagram exploding after the news.
A quick glance at Google Trends (and pointed out by VPNOverview.com (opens in new tab)) shows a large spike in searches for ‘Deactivate Instagram’ – with an incredible increase of 2,400% peaking just after the news broke on February 19.
Searches for ‘Deactivate Facebook’ also rocketed by 1,566%. While Google Trends, which measures how popular certain terms are when used by people searching the internet with Google, shows that after those large spikes things settled down again, it’s clear that Meta’s plans spooked plenty of people into considering leaving those social media platforms.
While it might be fun to blame Elon Musk for everything that’s wrong with the modern world, the fact that Meta announced its subscription plans so soon after Musk bought the rival Twitter platform and implemented controversial changes with the Twitter Blue subscription seems more than just a coincidence – but that’s probably exactly what it is.
Surely, no one at Meta looked at how poorly Twitter Blue was received and thought “we’d like a piece of that.”
Instead, like Twitter, it seems like Meta is trying to work out how to make money from its social media platforms, and it seems by adding a “Meta Verified subscription” for $11.99 / AU$19.99 (around £10) (or $14.99 / AU$24.99 (around £13) for mobile users) with the promise of “increased visibility and reach with prominence in some areas of the platform”, including in search, comments, and recommendations, the company hopes to increase its profits, which have been increasingly shaky of late, especially with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s obsession with the virtual reality Metaversebleeding out money.
It’s a gamble that so far doesn’t seem to have paid off. The subscription service hasn’t even launched yet, but it’s caused a lot of people to look at how to leave the platforms. While both Facebook and Instagram will continue to be free to use, there’s an understandable worry that people who don’t pay to be ‘Meta Verified’ will essentially be treated as second-class citizens.
It’s not clear how many of these searches ended with people actually deactivating their accounts, but Meta isn’t in a position to find out. Time will tell if this backlash causes the company to revise its plans.
The European Union’s (EU) executive arm, the European Commission (EC), has ordered its staff to remove stratospherically popular social media platform TikTok from official smartphones and devices, citing security concerns.
Per BBC News (opens in new tab), the diktat, which has been given a deadline of March 15, 2023, comes as TikTok continues to face western pressure due to allegations of its owners, Chinese company ByteDance, sending international user data to the state government, which it can be forced to do per local laws.
Despite ByteDance’s continued assertions that it isn’t treating data in this way, which would amount to TikTok essentially being a mass-surveillance tool, this ought to raise fears around identity theft, and the general sanctity of an individual’s privacy online.
TikTok, the EU, and you
Sonya Gospodinova, an EU spokesperson, said the decision had been taken by the EC’s corporate management board.
“[It] aims to protect the Commission against cybersecurity threats and actions which may be exploited for cyberattacks against the corporate environment of the commission.”
Workers who don’t comply with the new rule are warned that they will be locked out of official EC applications, including the EC’s email client, and the video conferencing software Skype for Business. Given that the EC employs around 32,000 people, that could be disruptive.
Despite its admission last year that TikTok can access European user data, ByteDance strenuously denies the need for the bans that world governments, including the US and Netherlands have enacted, or have publicly considered enacting, in recent years.
As the BBC notes, TikTok’s chief executive Shou Zi Chew claimed in January that the social media platform was working on a “robust” system to safely and securely process European user data, following censure from EU officials.
A US-wide ban of the service was mulled over in 2020, though this appears to have been nixed. A ban across India came into force that same year.
Following the circulation of rumors claiming that Intel’s upcoming 3nm CPU products would be hit with delays, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has fired back with confirmation that the new chips are in fact on track for their planned 2024 releases.
The in-development CPUs, which will be built on either the Intel 3 or TSMC N3 – both new 3nm processes – include product lines codenamed ‘Arrow Lake’, ‘Granite Rapids’, and ‘Sierra Forest’. Arrow Lake is ostensibly the one we’re most interested in here; that’s the current codename for Intel’s 15th-gen consumer desktop processors.
We’ll try not to get ahead of ourselves here, since we’re currently only on Intel’s 13th generation of Core CPUs (headlined by the mighty Intel Core i9-13900K), but the 3nm process is intriguing. Intel’s incoming 14th-gen ‘Meteor Lake’ chips will still be built on the current 4nm process.
In Intel’s Capital Allocation Update conference call, Gelsinger described the rumors as “patently false” and offered reassurance that “the 3nm programs are on track, both that with TSMC as well as our internal Intel 3 programs”. The Granite Rapids program, which will be server-grade CPUs for commercial use, could prove worrying for Google – the search engine giant has its own plans to start producing chips for datacenters.
Analysis: Meteor Lake might be lackluster, but Arrow Lake won’t be
Last year, we learned that Intel did actually delay the 14th-gen Meteor Lake chips, which were set to be produced on TSMC’s 3nm process. Despite the ‘Raptor Lake’ 13th generation producing some of the best processors we’ve ever seen, there are concerns that Meteor Lake will see smaller generational improvements.
That certainly shouldn’t be the case for Arrow Lake in 2024, though – since Intel isn’t using its own Intel 3 process to produce these consumer CPUs, TSMC will have plenty of time to refine its N3 process. The Taiwanese manufacturer will be very experienced with 3nm by the time it comes to put Arrow Lake into production, so we should be getting the optimal version of Intel’s 3nm designs.
Meteor Lake is still expected to launch this year, though we likely have a few more 13th-gen chips to go before a new flagship arrives. Intel has been keeping up a seriously fast release cadence for its CPUs, something we don’t entirely support – the speed at which these new chips arrives means that while some immediately outclass their predecessors, others are a bit harder to justify.
Naturally, all of this will probably be quite troubling for AMD’s execs, who were most likely hoping the rumors of an Arrow Lake delay were true. While Team Red has had some success in measuring up against Intel’s current-gen offerings (and is often still the better-value option), Intel is steamrolling ahead with increasingly powerful CPUs and threatening to leave its competitors in the dust.
Xbox All Access is a great option for anyone who can’t outright buy an Xbox Series X or Series S. It’s shifted how gamers play, offering the option to pay for a next-gen console via a monthly payment plan rather than a one-off, and with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundled in, you’re getting a lot of value for your money.
In August 2018, Microsoft first announced the launch of Xbox All Access, a service that – at the time – was exclusive to the US and only applied to the Xbox One S or Xbox One X console. Now though, this model has been rolled out worldwide, allowing gamers to upgrade or purchase a new Xbox Series X|S at launch, and it’s still going.
But how exactly does Xbox All Access work, is it cheaper in the long run, and – most importantly – is it really the right payment option for you? We’ve put together this handy guide to tell you everything you need to know – including how to sign up and save cash on the Xbox Series X price.
Xbox All Access
Xbox All Access: where to order
(Image credit: Microsoft)
If you’re looking to jump into an Xbox Series X|S today, you’re able to do so via Xbox All Access. There are more Xbox deals live today as well so you can often save on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in other ways.
UK customers can join Xbox All Access to order their console, either through Smyths (opens in new tab)Game (opens in new tab), or Microsoft (opens in new tab), right now. While stock levels were pretty much non-existent for the longest time, largely thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and global semiconductor shortage, supply has certainly eased in recent months.
For those in the US who wish to order via Xbox All Access, Best Buy (opens in new tab), GameStop, Target (opens in new tab), Microsoft Store (opens in new tab), and Walmart (opens in new tab) all offer the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S via Xbox All Access. Much like the UK, supply has also eased in the last few months, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a console.
What is Xbox All Access?
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Xbox All Access is a subscription service that sees you pay a monthly cost towards your Xbox console, rather than paying a huge amount of money up front. It’s a bit like a mortgage – without the interest – or the way we pay for smartphone contracts.
The subscription service not only includes your Xbox console, but also bundles in 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. That grants access to cloud streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming, hundreds of Xbox games via Game Pass, over 60 EA games via EA Play and first-party Xbox titles, including the likes of Halo Infinite. All in return for a fixed two-year contract.
The Game Pass subscription applies to the platform on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Considering how many games Xbox Game Pass Ultimate grants access to, Xbox All Access could be a more affordable option for heavy-use gamers who can’t afford an upfront cost. The price of the console, plus the subscription service, comes in roughly just $10 more than the subscription service costs alone.
However, All Access could potentially work out to be a more expensive option in the long run for those unlikely to use these add-on services.
Xbox All Access: how much does it cost?
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Alex Van Aken)
The amount you pay per month depends on which console you decide to ‘subscribe’ to. The Xbox Series X bundle will set you back $34.99 / £28.99 / AU$46 per month, with a fixed contact of 24 months. This bundle includes 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and is available now. An Xbox Series X has an upfront cost of $499 / £449 / AU$749.
The Xbox Series S bundle will set you back $24.99 / £20.99 / AU$33 per month, with a fixed contact of 24 months. This bundle includes 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and, like the Xbox Series X bundle, is also available now. An Xbox Series S will have an upfront cost of $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$499.
There is no upfront cost and 0% APR, either. You will, however, start being charged interest if you miss two consecutive payments, so we don’t recommend signing up unless you have stable income. We cannot emphasize this enough, Xbox All Access is a contract and missing payments could negatively affect your credit score. It’s not a subscription service to be entered into lightly.
Xbox All Access: important things to know
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Before you sign up for Xbox All Access there are some crucial details to be aware of:
If you return the console, you are still responsible to pay for Xbox Game Pass Xbox All Access is subject to the Microsoft Store standard return policy. This means your chosen console has a 30-day return policy. However Xbox Game Pass is not returnable and is non-refundable. It’s also worth noting you can’t revert Game Pass Ultimate back to a standard Game Pass package once you’re signed up – nor can you cancel it to reduce payments.
Can I cancel Xbox All Access? The short answer is no, when you purchase the bundle you are signing up for a 24-month contract – which isn’t to be taken lightly. But check with the retailer you purchase from.
It’s yours to keep after the two years Signing up for Xbox All Access apparently means you own the console and the 24 month Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold memberships outright upon purchase. But, in reality, until you make all your payments, it’s not really yours – which is why Microsoft asks for your current console back when you choose to upgrade before the minimum payment time.
Microsoft Limited Warranty only covers the Xbox console for one year (90 days for the controller and accessories) If it malfunctions after that then you are responsible for any repair costs and monthly payments will continue until the remaining balance on your Dell Preferred Account is paid in full.
Outstanding balances at the end of 24 months are subject to APR Rates range from 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR. The Minimum Interest Charge is $2.
A full credit search needs to be conducted To sign up for Xbox All Access you need to sign up for a credit agreement with the relevant financier for your region In the UK, this is Klarna Bank AB, who will run a full credit search on you. To apply through Klarna, you must be a permanent UK resident, and be at least 18 years of age.
“When you apply for Financing with Klarna, Klarna will make a full credit search with credit reference agencies who will supply credit information,” the Xbox All Access FAQs state. “The agencies will record details of the search, which can be seen on your credit file, whether or not credit is granted. This record will also be visible to third parties and may affect other organizations’ future decisions on whether or not to provide you with credit. For any questions relating to the credit check process, contact Klarna’s customer support team. Missed and late payments will be reported to credit bureaus and could impact your credit score.”
In the US, Xbox All access finance is provided by Citizens One, so you need to open a Citizens One Line of Credit. Citizens One has no fees, but late payments may be reported to the credit bureaus. Like with Klarna, a full credit check will be run before your line of credit is approved.
Xbox All Access had a limited launch initially. Previously available in just the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Microsoft has since rolled out the service to even more countries worldwide.
Here are the countries and retailers that will have Xbox All Access:
Australia at Telstra
Canada at EB Games
Denmark at Elgiganten
Finland at Gigantti
France at FNAC
New Zealand at Spark
Norway at Elkjøp
Poland at Media Expert
Portugal at Worten
South Korea at SK Telecom
Sweden at Elgiganten
UK at GAME and Smyths Toys
United States at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Microsoft Store, and Walmart
Xbox All Access games
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Xbox All Access doesn’t explicitly come with games, but the inclusion of 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the bundle sees you getting access to loads of top Xbox titles.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate grants access to over 400 Xbox games via Game Pass, some of which are available to play on Android mobile devices, thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Game Pass titles include the complete Gears of War, Forza, and Halo series’, plus much more.
In addition, you’ll have access to the biggest first-party Xbox titles as they launch, like Hellblade 2. EA Play has been included in the subscription service since 2020, granting players access to more than 60 of EA’s top games including FIFA 22, Need for Speed and The Sims; while Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda means Skyrim and Fallout also joined the service.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is a story-driven action-adventure game from Daedalic Entertainment. Set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic setting, players take on the role of one of Middle Earth’s most tragic and fascinating characters.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is set to release late 2023 for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. There is also slated to be a Nintendo Switch version at some point post-launch.
The title is a canonical story from Middle Earth, set between The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and follows Gollum’s quest to recover the One Ring, an artifact of great power taken from him in his famous riddle battle with Bilbo Baggins. On top of the usual action-adventure mechanics, the choices you make will directly affect Gollum’s personality, split as it is between the sinister and scheming Gollum and the gentler, kinder Sméagol.
The Lord of the Rings Gollum: cut to the chase
What is it? An action-adventure video game centered around Gollum
When can I play it? September 1, 2022
What can I play it on? PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 and Xbox One (Switch after launch)
(Image credit: Daedalic Entertainment)
The Lord of the Rings Gollum release date and platforms
It won’t be long before you can hop into the nonexistent shoes of everybody’s favorite morally confused, corrupted Hobbit.
After numerous delays, we finally have a potential release window for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. In a financial report by the game’s publisher, Nacon, it was revealed that we can expect the title to release sometime between April and September 2023 (via Gameshub) (opens in new tab).
However, it looks like the launch will be slightly jolted. While the game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in September, it won’t be launching on Nintendo’s handheld at the same time. The Nintendo Switch version of the game is set to release on an unspecified date post-launch.
The Lord of the Rings Gollum trailers
Latest trailer
Back in July 2022, we were treated to a brand new gameplay trailer for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
In it, we see a range of gorgeous landscapes and epic vistas, as well as snippets of what looks like stealth gameplay. The title also seems to have an emphasis on climbing and traversal, as we see Gollum make his way across cliffs and caves.
Lastly, we catch a glimpse of the sinister Ring Wraiths, servants of Sauron who, no doubt, have horrible plans for our bicameral protagonist.
More trailers
Deadalic entertainment’s YouTube channel (opens in new tab) is a great source of extra The Lord of the Rings: Gollum content, including a cinematic trailer that shows off our anti-hero’s split personality (opens in new tab). There’s also a sneak peek trailer (opens in new tab), if you want to get a more general look at the game’s aesthetic.
The Lord of the Rings Gollum gameplay
(Image credit: Nacon)
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is a story-driven action RPG. While we’ve not seen much beyond a short gameplay trailer, previews emerged back in May 2022 which gave us more details about our twisted protagonist. For one, you’ll need to manage both Gollum and Sméagol, his more agreeable alter ego. Gameplay will vary depending on which side of Gollum has taken the reigns.
Gameplay will largely revolve around stealth and platforming. Gollum himself won’t get much in the way of actionable abilities. True to his character, he’ll be small, spry, and somewhat fragile, making him a perfect choice for a stealth game protagonist. As much as we’d love to see the little guy suplex an Orc, that’s likely not going to happen.
Within the Gollum segments, our protagonist can use “Gollum Vision” to highlight enemies, basically a Detective Mode. Taking a stealth-driven approach, Gollum finds different locations to hide between, avoiding guards and sentries, before carrying out a stealth takedown. Your choices will have small effects on the story, though it doesn’t affect the major story elements. As for Sméagol, his segments don’t appear to be combat-based, taking the platforming approach instead.
Speaking to IGN (opens in new tab) in August 2020, lead game designer Martin Wilkes explained more, advising there’ll be a mixture of linear stages and open-world environments:
“Some levels are completely open in all three dimensions and can be explored freely, while others are more linear but often with alternative routes where players can, for example, decide if they’d rather sneak around some guards or take a risky parkour route in vertiginous heights to pass the next segment.”
“If you want a reference, you might think of it as similar to Prince of Persia. It is mostly a non-combat game, but Gollum will be able to stealthily take out enemies. However, this will not be easy and always come[s] with big risks. We want players to carefully weigh these encounters. After all, Gollum’s strengths lie in cunning, not combat.”
The Lord of the Rings Gollum story and setting
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum takes place during the first few chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring. It picks up as the titular character is captured by the forces of Sauron in the dungeons of Barad-dûr, before he escapes and journeys across the Misty Mountains. Eventually, he’ll arrive into the belly of Mirkwood.
The journey will see you encounter many familiar and famed characters of Middle-Earth, including Gandalf. You’ll also run into King Thranduil and a whole bunch of orcs. This being a stealth-focused game, though, you’ll spend more time surreptitiously slipping around them, instead of fighting the Dark Lord Sauron’s soldiers head-on.
Players will also have to make decisions at certain key points through choices and actions displayed in thought bubbles around the main character. What we find interesting is that the choices will be split between Gollum’s own split personalities. From what we’ve seen, we can choose to suppress Gollum and select choices more in line with Smeagol (his original form before coming in contact with The One Ring).
Conversely, players can indulge the more feral Gollum with more cunning and aggressive choices.
It sounds like a clever system that makes a ton of sense for Gollum specifically, leading us to think that the game could end up being an interesting character study. It remains unclear as to how much these decisions will affect the overarching story, but we can imagine Gollum’s personality altering over time based on which side of him you choose to invest in more.
The Lord of the Rings Gollum news and rumors
(Image credit: Nacon)
Amazon’s and Tencent’s Lord of the Rings MMO is no more
It looks like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is now the only Lord of the Rings game on the horizon after Amazon and Tencent’s MMO title set in Tolkien’s universe is reported to have been cancelled.
Bloomberg reports that the Lord of the Rings MMO’s cancellation is due to “a dispute between Amazon and Tencent”, with the latter publisher having acquired one of Amazon’s other development partners on the game – Leyou Technologies Holdings Ltd. Contract negotiations fells through, and the fallout seems sensitive enough that the publication’s sources asked not to be named.
Amazon has, however, confirmed that it is “unable to secure terms to proceed with this title at this time,” and that the organization is “disappointed that we won’t be bringing this game to customers.”
Fortunately, for Lord of the Rings fans, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is still in development and expected sometime in 2022.
It will have PS5 DualSense support
One reason players may want to pick up the PS5 version of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is the inclusion of features made possible by its DualSense controller. Namely, the haptic feedback offered by the controller’s triggers.
Comments made by Daedalic’s Jonas Husges indicate that the triggers’ haptic feedback functionality will be tied to Gollum’s stamina. The more Gollum tires himself out by running, the more resistance will be applied to the triggers, indicating that the creature is getting tired.
We wonder if this will be a superficial feature purely for the sake of immersion, or if there’s something more ambitious at play here. For example, players might have to manage Gollum’s stamina to be able to more effectively sprint. Another possibility is that we might have to contend with increased resistance on the triggers to maintain extended bouts of speed.
This inclusion points to what kind of set pieces we might see during the game, too. You don’t typically do a lot of running while in stealth, after all, unless you’ve been spotted and have to make like a Nazgûl chasing a Hobbit.
There may be sequences where the player is being chased as part of the story, with no alternative recourse. In this case, haptic feedback on the DualSense could add another layer of challenge as players fight to keep Gollum on the move.
Daedalic has confirmed that ray-tracing will be a feature
Daedalic has confirmed that current-gen versions of The Lord of the Rings Gollum will put ray-tracing front and center as a graphical feature. The developer has hinted that ray-tracing could be used dynamically in the game’s level design.
An example was attributed to how ray-traced lighting can both help and hinder the player in their stealthy endeavors. Passages of shadows can be used to maneuver safely from the enemy, while moving light sources can expose Gollum at a moment’s notice.
If this is indeed the case, we can see The Lord of the Rings Gollum turning into a unique and challenging stealth-based game which could pave the way for how other developers look at how to best utilize ray-tracing in gameplay-oriented ways. A certain long-dormant stealth action franchise comes to mind.
As for the game’s overall visual style, it’s certainly a step away from the gritty photorealism we’re used to seeing from Middle-Earth projects. It’s not overly cartoonish, but definitely straddles the line between that and a more realistic look. Gollum himself looks unsettlingly adorable, for example.
(Image credit: Daedalic Entertainment)
From screenshots released by Daedalic, it looks like the game’s environments have an impressive sense of scale. There are many scenes where the camera is tilted upward, immediately highlighting just how small Gollum is in comparison, while touching on the immense journey laid out ahead of him.
Touching on the game’s environmental progression, Daedalic confirmed the opening level will be Barad-dûr, a Mordor stronghold where Gollum is being held captive. However, the hellish landscapes of Mordor won’t be the only locale we’ll get to visit, as Daedalic has promised a variety of areas across Middle-Earth. Many of these environments will likely be large and explorable, offering several quest lines for players to uncover.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum has been in the works over at Daedalic for some time now, and its launch doesn’t appear to be all that far away. What we have seen so far looks promising, and hopefully Daedalic can deliver a unique stealth-based adventure that fits perfectly into Tolkien’s mythos. As always, we’ll keep you updated on any news regarding the game as it approaches release.
Pirated copies of a popular video editing software tool for Mac devices have been found distributing malware (opens in new tab) on torrent sites.
Researchers from Jamf Threat Labs stumbled upon an instance of XMRig – a popular cryptocurrency miner that’s often used in cryptojacking attacks, disguised as Apple’s Final Cut Pro offering.
Cryptojacking is essentially device hijacking, where a threat actor installs a miner and sends all of the generated tokens to an address they own. It’s called hijacking because when a miner is running, it usually takes up all of the device’s computing power, rendering it useless for pretty much anything else.
Hiding from antiviruses
Deeper analysis by Jamf determined that it was a pirated version of Final Cut Pro, modified to run XMRig in the background.
While XMRig is usually picked up by antivirus programs, this variant somehow remained under the radar. At the time of their report (opens in new tab), the researchers said, VirusTotal was still not recognizing the pirated Final Cut Pro version as malicious.
The program was being distributed through Pirate Bay, the researchers added, as Pirate Bay is one of the world’s most popular torrent sites, and the user that uploaded it is a “well-known uploader”.
Commenting on the discovery, Apple told 9To5Mac: “We continue to update XProtect to block this malware, including the specific variants cited in JAMF’s research. Additionally, this malware family does not bypass Gatekeeper protections. The Mac App Store provides the safest place to get software for the Mac. For software downloaded outside the Mac App Store, Apple uses industry-leading technical mechanisms, such as the Apple notary service and XProtect, to protect users by detecting malware and blocking it so it can’t run.”
As usual, the best way to protect against these threats is to only download legal software, from legitimate sources. Torrents, cracks and keygens, and other illegal software found online are filled with viruses and malware. To keep the endpoints protected, one can also install an antivirus program, a firewall, and set up multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
In an era where business cost optimization is on the tip of every leader’s tongue, a new Ricoh Europe study has uncovered workers’ dissatisfaction in terms of the technology they’re getting, and their companies don’t even seem to realize it.
The study analyzed 1,000 workers and 250 decision-makers in the UK and Ireland and found that 74% of decision-makers claim to be designing employee workplace processes and systems with their experience in mind.
However, only 54% of said employees agree with this statement.
Businesses need to invest in the right technology
Even amid economic pressure, it seems that companies are continuing to invest in new and upgraded tools. Despite this, around a third (34%) of workers reckon that the new technology won’t impact their work. Providing all workers with the same software, for example, won’t reap equal rewards, while a small handful of employees may require highly specialized tools that others wouldn’t.
This research, along with multiple other similar reports, suggests that working conditions and employee experiences play a considerable role in worker retention. It also indicates that investing in the right tools could prove much cheaper than new talent acquisition, which is estimated to cost around $11,000 per worker in the EU.
Ricoh Europe CEO Nicola Downing said: “Decision makers can’t afford to delay. Without an optimal working environment, employees may start to look for pastures new.”
Some of the key software types that businesses were found to be lacking included project management software, automation software, and hybrid working technology.
With financial and social benefits aplenty, Ricoh urges businesses to take a look at their current employee offerings before they lose out to their competition.
If you have been planning to purchase a premium side-by-side door refrigerator for your home, then this may be the right time for you to purchase one. Amazon has a plethora of refrigerators available under Rs 50,000 from brands like Samsung, Godrej, Whirlpool and others. Here’s a curated list of products along with the discounts that buyers can avail: Samsung 653L Convertible 5-in-1 side-by-side refrigerator: Available at Rs 83,990 after 26% discount Samsung 653L Convertible 5-in-1 side-by-side refrigerator has a capacity of 653 litres and is suitable for families with 5 or more members. The refrigerator also comes with a Digital Inverter Compressor feature that automatically adjusts the speed in response to cooling demand, quieter operation and consumes less power. Godrej 564L frost free side-by-side refrigerator: Available at Rs 58,999 after 38% discount Godrej 564L frost free side-by-side refrigerator comes with Auto Defrost technology that automatically prevents excess ice build up. The refrigerator has special features like multi airflow system, super freeze function, removable twist ice maker, XXL balcony space, larger drawers and bright LED lighting.
Whirlpool 570L inverter frost-free multi-door refrigerator: Available at Rs 62,990 after 46% discount Whirlpool 570L inverter frost-free multi-door refrigerator has a capacity of 570 litres which is suitable for families with 5 or more members. The refrigerator comes with special features like holiday mode, feather touch UI, long-lasting freshness, and delivers 3D airflow. Haier 630L double door side-by-side refrigerator: Available at Rs 64,990 after 51% discount Haier 630L double door side-by-side refrigerator comes with stabilizer free operation that ensures less harm from electricity fluctuations. The door is made up of stainless steel and has a toughened glass shelf type. The refrigerator comes with special features like inverter compressor and adjustable shelves. Hisense 564L inverter frost-free side-by-side door refrigerator: Available at Rs 54,990 after 27% discount Hisense 564L inverter frost-free side-by-side door refrigerator comes with a water dispenser. The refrigerator has a capacity of 564 litres and is suitable for families with 5 or more members. The freezer holds a capacity of 217 litres and 347 litres of fresh food capacity.
HMD Global, the company which holds the license to manufacture Nokia branded smartphones, has quietly launched the latest Nokia branded budget smartphone. The company has unveiled the Nokia C02 smartphone. The smartphone runs Android Go Edition and is powered by a Unisoc chipset. The smartphone features a sleek design and a removable battery. Nokia C02 comes in two colour options — Dark Cyan and Charcoal. The company has not yet revealed the price and availability details of the smartphone. However, the handset is listed on the official website of the company. The support page of the smartphone is also live on the India website of the company and is expected to soon launch in the country. Nokia C02 specifications Nokia C02 sports a 5.45-inch FWVGA+ display with 480×960 pixel resolution. The display offers an 18:9 aspect ratio. The budget smartphone is powered by a quad-core Unisoc chipset paired with 2GB of RAM. Nokia C02 offers 32GB internal storage which can be expanded up to 256GB by adding a microSD card. The smartphone runs Android 12 (Go Edition) and comes with dual SIM support. Nokia C02 features a 5MP single-lens rear camera with LED flash and 2MP front shooter for selfies. The affordable C-series smartphone comes with an IP52 rating which makes it splash-resistant. The 4G smartphone is backed by a 4000 mAh removable battery with 5W charging support. Recently, Nokia launched its premium smartphone Nokia X30 5G in India. Priced at Rs 48,999, the smartphone runs Android 12 operating system and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset. Nokia X30 5G features a planet-friendly design and comes with a 100% recycled aluminium frame. The 5G-enabled smartphone houses a 50MP main camera and is backed by a 4,200 mAh battery with 33W fast charging support.
If you’re already a Wordle addict then Quordle could be your next must-play game. This spin-off takes the familiar Wordle format and makes it harder by giving you four puzzles to solve simultaneously.
As you might imagine, it’s hard! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues, you’ll probably need some for Quordle too.
I’m a Quordle and Wordle addict who’s been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #396 and bookmark this page so you can easily return tomorrow.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Quordle expert
Your Quordle expert
Marc McLaren
Marc is TechRadar’s UK Editor in Chief and has been playing Wordle and Quordle for more than a year. He’s authored dozens of articles on the game for TechRadar and its sister site Tom’s Guide, including a detailed analysis of the most common letters in every position. His Wordle streak recently reached the 400 mark and he’ll be inconsolable if he loses it. Yes, he takes it all too seriously.
Quordle today (game #396) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* 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 #396) – hint #2 – total vowels
What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?
• The total number of vowels across today’s Quordle answers is 7.
Quordle today (game #396) – hint #3 – 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 #396) – hint #4 – total letters
How many different letters are used in Quordle today?
• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 10.
Quordle today (game #396) – hint #5 – 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?
• R
• C
• C
• C
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #396) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #396, are…
Quordle was a bit easier today, not least because three answers started with a C, so once you found one of them you had a good way into the others. That said, it’s light on vowels (no O or U) and indeed light on letters in general, with just 10 used across the four puzzles. Repeated Ls in CHILL and Cs in CACHE may also have complicated things. But none of the words are too hard, and I solved it with one guess remaining despite making a very silly error or my seventh guess.
Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar.
As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you’re competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.
The website also includes a practice mode – which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! – and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements – specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.
Oh, and it’s difficult. Really difficult.
What are the Quordle rules?
The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.
1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.
2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.
3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…
4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two.
5. Answers are never plural.
6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.
7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle’s dictionary. You can’t guess ABCDE, for instance.
8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle’s Hard mode.
9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.
10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.
What is a good Quordle strategy?
Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can’t blindly throw letters at it and expect to win – you’ll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.
That’s the case in Wordle too, of course, but it’s even more important in Quordle.
There are two key things to remember.
1. Use several starting words
Firstly, you won’t want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words.
The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.
For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options – you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe – but something like that should do the trick.
If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!
2. Narrow things down
Secondly, if you’re faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options – for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH – you’ll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options.
In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It’s risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it’s the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure – you simply don’t have enough guesses.
In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.
