from the be-better dept

We’ve been talking a lot of about the use of artificial intelligence lately, for obvious reasons. Many of those conversations have revolved around the video game industry and I’ve been fairly vocal about pushing back against the “all AI is bad everywhere forever” dogma that I see far too often. There are plenty of folks in our community that don’t agree with me on that, and that’s fine. But if the picture you’re getting is that I’m an AI evangelist, that’s simply not true. There are potentially good uses of AI in my view, as well as a whole lot of potential negative outcomes of its use. I’m not blind to that.

And, in the video game industry specifically, one bit of pushback that seems to be sorely needed is on game developers that use generative AI in their games, fail to say so, and then excuse its use as accidental after the fact. That is becoming as common a refrain from game developers as the laughable excuse in trademark instances that is, “Well, I have to be an aggressive jerk about my trademarks or else I lose them.” Neither is true.

The most recent version of this concerns the recent hit launch of Crimson Desert. In what is becoming something analogous to the antiquated process by which people who watch golf tournaments on TV looking for missed rules violations could then send into the PGA, which I’ve coined as McPromptism, new game releases get put under a microscope by people looking to find AI uses within them. Crimson Desert went through this process and, wouldn’t you know it, people found clear uses of AI-generated assets in the game.

The game’s extremely high fidelity and impressive graphics are a big part of the sales pitch, which made it all the more disappointing when players began to come across what appeared to be AI-generated artwork littered throughout the game. In light of the disappointment, developer Pearl Abyss has apologized for including the slop in their game, promising to remove and replace all of it.

“We also acknowledge that we should have clearly disclosed our use of AI,” the Crimson Desert account posted on X. “We are currently conducting a comprehensive audit of all in-game assets and are taking steps to replace any affected content. Updated assets will be rolled out in upcoming patches. In parallel, we are reviewing and strengthening our internal processes to ensure greater transparency and consistency in how we communicate with players moving forward.”

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Like I said above, this excuse is getting old. Very old. Game developers and publishers will be more than aware at this point that a sizable percentage of the gaming public is very allergic to the use of AI in games, particularly when that use is not acknowledged at the forefront. If placeholder assets generated by AI are to be used at all in the development of a game, it is inexcusable for a developer to not have a process to remove them in place of human-created art before the game is published. That’s sloppy at best, and a lie of an excuse at worst.

Especially because it’s not like there aren’t other options that have nothing to do with AI.

The practice is becoming more common in AAA developer spaces, but critics argue that setting aside the use of AI in your game, it’s pretty foolish to use temporary assets that don’t call obvious attention to themselves. In games of such massive scale, BRAT-green blocks that scream “DO NOT USE” are much easier to flag than something approximating the final product.

I’m struggling to come up with a counter-argument to that.

I’m still in a place where I think there are valid uses of AI in gaming development. If a dev or publisher wants to explore those uses and, importantly, is upfront about it, there may be a place for that.

But the excuse of laziness when it comes to stripping AI assets out when their use was not intended is lame and needs to go away.

Filed Under: ai, crimson desert, placeholder, slop, video games

In today’s technological landscape, the only constant is the rate of obsolescence. As engineers move deeper into the eras of 6G, ubiquitous artificial intelligence, and hyper-miniaturized electronics, a traditional degree is only a starting point.

To remain competitive in today’s job market, technical specialists must evolve into future-ready professionals by cultivating more than just niche expertise. Success now demands a high degree of adaptive intelligence and strategic communication, allowing specialists to translate complex data into actionable business decisions as industry shifts accelerate.

To bridge the gap between technical proficiency and organizational leadership, the IEEE Professional Development Suite offers training on programs designed to build the strategic competencies required to navigate today’s complex landscape. The suite provides deep technical dives into domains such as telecommunications connectivity and microelectronics reliability. Organizations can stay ahead of the curve through informed decision-making and a future-ready workforce.

Mastery of electrostatic discharge and 5G networks

Within the semiconductor sector, which is projected to become a US $1 billion industry by 2030, electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a major reliability challenge. Because even a microscopic, unnoticed discharge can compromise a semiconductor, ESD issues account for up to one-third of all field failures, according to the EOS/ESD Association.

IEEE’s targeted training—the online Practical ESD Protection Design certificate program—equips teams with technical protocols to mitigate the risks and ensure long-term hardware reliability. Specialized ESD training has become essential for chip designers and manufacturing professionals seeking to improve discharge control.

The interactive modules cover theory, real-world case studies, and practical mitigation techniques. The standards-based instruction is aligned with ANSI/ESD S20.20–21: Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts and other industry guidelines.

As 5G network capabilities expand globally, so does the demand for engineers who can master the protocols and procedures required to manage complex telecommunications systems. The IEEE 5G/6G Essential Protocols and Procedures Training and Innovation Testbed, in partnership with Wray Castle, takes a deep dive into the 5G network function framework, registration processes, and packet data unit session establishment. The program is designed for system engineers, integrators, and technical professionals responsible for 5G signaling. Stakeholders such as network operators, equipment vendors, regulators, and handset manufacturers could find the program to be beneficial as well.

“The IEEE Professional Development Suite ensures that learners are not just keeping pace with change but helping to drive it.”

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the course includes three months of free access to the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed. The secure, cloud-based platform offers a private, end-to-end 5G network environment where individuals and teams can gain hands-on experience with critical system signaling and troubleshooting.

Leadership training programs

Technical knowledge alone is not enough to climb the corporate ladder. To thrive today, engineering leaders must have a strategic vision and people-centric leadership skills.

The IEEE Leading Technical Teams training program focuses on the challenges of managing engineers in R&D environments and fostering creative problem-solving through an immersive learning experience. It’s designed for professionals who have been in a leadership position for at least six months. Participants can gain self-awareness.

The program includes a 360-degree assessment that gathers feedback about the individual from peers and direct reports to build a personalized development plan. The goal is to help technical professionals transition from high-performing individual contributors into leaders who drive innovation by inspiring their teams rather than just managing tasks.

Organizations can enroll groups of 10 or more to learn as a cohort—which can ensure that everyone stays on the same page while setting a training schedule that fits the team’s deadlines.

In collaboration with the Rutgers Business School, IEEE offers two mini MBA programs to bridge the gap between technical expertise and executive leadership. The programs offer flexibility to fit the demanding schedules of senior professionals. The online format lets participants engage with content as their time permits, while live virtual office hours with faculty provide opportunities for real-time interaction.

During the mini MBA for engineers 12-week curriculum, technical professionals master core competencies such as financial analysis, business strategy, and negotiation to effectively transition into management roles.

The mini MBA in artificial intelligence embeds AI literacy directly into business strategy rather than treating the technology as a standalone subject. Participants learn to evaluate AI through financial modeling and governance frameworks, gaining a practical foundation to lead initiatives that incorporate the technology.

The programs are offered to individuals as well as to organizations interested in training groups of 10 employees or more.

Earning credits that count

All the programs within the IEEE Professional Development Suite offer continuing education units and professional development hours.

Earning globally recognized credits provides a professional advantage, signaling a commitment to growth that often serves as a prerequisite for advancing into senior, lead, or principal roles. Additionally, the credits satisfy annual professional engineering license renewal requirements, ensuring practitioners remain compliant while expanding their capabilities.

Why curated content matters

Developed by IEEE Educational Activities, the training programs are peer-reviewed and built to align with industry needs. By focusing on upskilling (improving current skills) and reskilling (learning new ones), the IEEE Professional Development Suite ensures that learners are not just keeping pace with change but helping to drive it.

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

Since last year, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has been trying to help fresh graduates in their job search by periodically publishing a list of entry-level vacancies available in the country, and what the expected pay brackets are for each job.

While this list lags the market by about three months, with Dec figures only published in Mar, it still serves as a good indicator of where the openings appear, what jobs are worth looking at and how much they pay—both at the bottom and top end.

This data is collected from companies employing at least 25 people—so not micro businesses—and the figures are rounded up to the nearest 10.

Here are the latest findings:

List of entry-level PMET job opportunities for fresh graduates (Dec 2025)

Right off the bat, you can see a surprising entry at the very top of the list—a computer engineer—not in the IT industry but in Transportation & Storage.

This could be a good tip, since most computer science graduates may be looking for a job in tech when there might be a more attractive position available in a different sector.

In second place, we have another unexpected profession: a sports coach. Unfortunately, MOM doesn’t say specifically what kind of “sport” we’re talking about here and what the expectations are, but it is still quite informative that fresh entrants could see offers paying over S$8,000 per month.

Further down the list, we have more predictable vacancies in Finance, but, as it turns out, S$7,000 could be earned in Public Administration jobs under Research & Development and as a Secondary School Teacher.

Then, at the very bottom, we have IT support technicians in non-tech industries and other support roles.

When it comes to the quantity of openings, by far the most are still in construction, with a few hundred Quantity Surveyors and Construction Engineers needed. There are also shortages in Nursing, Teaching, Social Work, and, despite murmurs of a crisis, Software Development.

Youth unemployment in Singapore among the lowest in the world

The vacancy list coincided with the release of a MOM report dedicated to the employment situation of Singapore youths (that is, people aged 15 to 24). While most in this age bracket still pursue education, the ones who have already completed it and joined the labour force have mostly found employment.

While the unemployment rate among them is 6.6%—so, a bit more than twice the 3.0% for the entire country—it is considerably below the 14.3% average reported by OECD, and would place Singapore among the best performing countries:

This figure has largely stayed at the same level over the years, with the exception of the pandemic period:

What’s more, Singapore also does very well in long-term unemployment statistics, as only 1.1% of local youths looking for work are out of a job for six months or longer.

The labour market may be becoming more competitive as companies invest in AI and offload unnecessary workers, but compared to other developed economies, Singapore still seems to be doing very well.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s current affairs here.

Featured Image Credit: kandal stock/ Shutterstock.com

For more than 40 days and 40 nights, the US Congress failed to come to a deal that would restart paychecks for many Department of Homeland Security employees. The evidence is all over the country’s airports, in the form of hours-long waits to go through security.

Workers with the Transportation Security Administration have been forced to call out as they struggle to pay for gas, rent, childcare, and groceries, according to officials from the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents some 47,000 TSA agents. Nearly 12 percent of agents called out on Thursday, compared to a usual average of 4 percent.

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing DHS to pay TSA workers; the department said employees could see paychecks “as early as Monday,” though union representatives said it could take longer than a week for agents to receive back pay. (Congress still hasn’t voted to fund the department and fully reopen the government.) But it’s unclear whether airports can avert disaster over the upcoming spring holiday weekend. Record-setting long lines still snake around some of the nation’s largest airports.

So if you’re flying, show up early and be prepared to wait. Emphasis on “prepare.” WIRED’s got some especially WIRED-y ideas to pass the time.

Consider TSA PreCheck

Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Think of a line as a sort of ritual liminal space, a threshold specially made for contemplation. Ponder, perhaps, your mistakes. Top of the list: Not signing up for TSA PreCheck. If you’re already in line, it’s too late right now, but it need not always be so. Those who can swing the $80 fee—good for five years—get expedited boarding, and therefore the right to stand in the security lines that seem to be moving the quickest right now. The online sign-up process takes just a few minutes. What a great way to kill some time!

Applicants then have to sign up for (or walk into) 10-minute in-person document check meetings at local Enrollment Centers, which are located everywhere from airports to local Office Depot and Staples locations. After that, actual enrollment can take anywhere from three to 60 days, the TSA says.

Read WIRED

You’re here already! Nose around. Check out our latest magazine package, The War Machine, which examines how technology has changed how the world fights and then tries to recover. Or head to the Gear homepage to read about the latest in gadgets and gadget trends. If you’re feeling more nostalgic, check out this list of some of WIRED’s best stories from the past 30 years.

Breathe Easy

Just because you’re nice and calm right now doesn’t mean that everyone around you is acting the same way. Escape with some deep breathing, your headphones, and, perhaps, a meditation app. Some options are right here.

While You’ve Got Those Headphones Out

Turn on a podcast! WIRED just updated its list of top ones. Best tech- and science-related recommendations include Flesh and Code, about the dark side of AI love; Your Undivided Attention, a pod hosted by tech-industry veterans about the downsides to living online and how we might make it better; and Ologies, which delights in taking listeners down various scientific rabbit holes. Oh, and Uncanny Valley, WIRED’s insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley.

Organize Your Photos

Is your photos folder a hellscape? Us, too. What a great time to tackle the task of deleting what no longer serves you. Going through pictures one-by-one is always an option, but WIRED has also tested—and liked!—two apps to help phone users declutter. Rodeo organizes screenshots by location, and helps you organize reminders and lists to share with friends and family. Swipewipe is the Tinder for photos: Just swipe left to remove images from your phone forever ever.

Finally Figure Out How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube

Photograph: Getty Images

This one requires some forethought, but a Rubik’s Cube might be the perfect line-waiting companion. No flailing limbs, loud noises, or even screens. It’s just you, your fingers, and sheer geometric logic. Here’s our step-by-step guide.

Belatedly Hear the Gospel of Horizon Worlds (on Mobile!)

Meta’s Horizon Worlds is going through some weirdness, as the tech giant shifts away from its (titular) metaverse and VR bets to focus on AI. After announcing Horizon Worlds would be sunset in virtual reality, Meta reversed course just a day later. Whatever: It’s definitely around on mobile! Visit a comedy club! Make some friends! Avoid the children (unless you yourself are a child)!

Ski (Digitally)

There are plenty of mobile gaming options. WIRED senior writer Jeremy White especially loves Grand Mountain Adventure and Grand Mountain Adventure 2 (Android, iOS), open-world skiing and snowboarding games that take you to the most beautiful mountains and ski resorts to cliff hop, slalom, or even cruise the backcountry. We have more mobile game recs here.

Ponder the Line

Photograph: Vital Pictures/Getty Images

If you’d rather spend your time contemplating the world in front of you, there has perhaps never been a better time to learn about the theory behind perfect queues. There’s a whole cottage industry of crowd-science consultants and scientists working out the math and psychology behind the most efficient way to get a bunch of people from here to there. Learn about them here, then consider how your own airport could be doing this better.

Disavow Airport Theory

Last year, TikTokers fell for “airport theory,” the idea that life could be better (?) and more relaxing (??) if flyers arrived at the airport as late as possible, rolling right through security to the boarding line. This gives us angina, and—look around!—feels like an especially bad idea right now. Here are other airport hacks to consider on your next trip, hopefully after Congress has decided to pay federal employees for their work.

Verizon will waive late fees and offer flexible payment arrangements for workers affected by the partial government shutdown. The carrier has made similar offers in the past, like during the COVID-19 pandemic when it gave customers extra mobile data at no additional cost.

The Department of Homeland Security has been hit the hardest by the partial shutdown, but Verizon’s offer covers any federal worker who’s able to offer employment verification. Verizon says employees can call 1-800-Verizon (1-800-922-0204) to get their late fees waived and set up a payment plan.

The partial government shutdown started in February after Congress failed to pass a new DHS funding bill. The lack of funding has not affected all of DHS’ sprawling organizations equally, however. While the Transportation Security Administration is no longer able to pay its employees — leading to significant delays in airport security lines over the last week — both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection have been spared thanks to a separate funding pool established by a previous bill.

Lawmakers continued inability to fund DHS also happens to hinge on both agencies. Democratic senators and congresspeople are demanding ICE agents wear body cams and remove masks before making arrests, among other restrictions, and refusing to fund DHS until those restrictions are worked into the bill. Both Republicans and Democrats have also separately proposed funding the entire department except for ICE and CBP, but while that bill passed in the Senate, it hasn’t been taken up in the House.

CASPIR is expected to significantly enhance Ireland’s high-performance computing capacity.

Ireland is getting a new supercomputer called Computational Analysis and Simulation Platform for Ireland (CASPIR).

The computer is currently being procured by the University of Galway and the European High-Performance Computing (EuroHPC) joint undertaking (JU), and will be managed by the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC). A hosting agreement for the supercomputer was signed last October.

Once operational, the CASPIR supercomputer is expected to significantly enhance national high-performance computing capacity and benefit the country’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Commenting on the procurement, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD said: “Ireland’s new supercomputer will provide the technological means for researchers and innovators to tackle key scientific and societal challenges in areas including health, environment and climate, artificial intelligence, materials science and transport.

“Procuring a supercomputer will be a landmark moment for research and innovation in our country.”

The EuroHPC JU is a funding entity which enables EU countries, European countries associated with the Horizon Europe programme, as well as private organisations to coordinate efforts and pool resources to build a supercomputing ecosystem.

Established in 2018, EuroHPC JU promotes the development of high-performance computing, quantum and AI innovation in involved countries. Ireland is a founding member of the funding entity.

The Government announced last year it received European funding for a €10m AI Factory Antenna. The Antenna will be implemented by ICHEC, CeADAR – Ireland’s centre for AI – alongside enterprise accelerators, including PorterShed, Dogpatch Labs, RDI Hub and Republic of Works, as well as digital skills networks, including Innovation Technology AtlanTec Gateway and Digital Technology Skills.

Meanwhile, CloudCIX’s Cork data centre launched the ‘Boole supercomputer’ in late January this year. The Cork-based supercomputer, a joint venture between CloudCIX and AlloComp, is reportedly one of Europe’s first liquid-cooled Nvidia B200 GPU deployments in Europe – and the first in Ireland.

Months earlier, University College Dublin (UCD) announced that it was procuring a new nearly €724,000 Nvidia supercomputer expected to perform 50-times faster than UCD’s existing high-performance compute cluster.

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

If you own any modern gadget, be it a smartphone, laptop, headphones or even a game controller, there’s a good chance that it will sport a USB-C port.

USB-C is quickly becoming the universal port of choice in the technology world, both for power delivery and data transfer. This universal adoption means you won’t need to worry about stocking multiple cable types, being able to use a single charger for multiple devices, which is not only more sustainable but also more convenient.

The initial universal adoption of USB-C was a slow process, especially as Apple took its time to ditch the iPhone Lightning port for USB-C, only doing so back in 2023 with the iPhone 15 series.

But what exactly is USB-C, and how does it compare to alternative connection types such as USB-A, HDMI and Lightning? Why was Apple under pressure to adopt the port in the first place? We’ve created this guide to explain everything you need to know about USB-C.

What is USB-C?

USB-C is an industry-standard connector that can charge a device as well as transmit data, making it one of the most convenient and versatile port options currently available.

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One of the most appealing aspects about USB-C is that it offers multiple functions beyond charging up the battery. For example, the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2 use USB-C to output their display to an external TV, while USB-C can also be used to transfer data (such as documents, photos and videos) between devices.

Its popularity and benefits have also seen it accepted by PC manufacturers since it can transfer data at high speeds, which we’ll go into more detail with later. This is useful for transferring large video files and the like. However, because USB-C currently has restrictions on how much power can be transferred through it, the port connection is generally not used for power delivery on high-end systems like gaming laptops.

How fast is USB-C?

It’s important to note that not all USB-C connections are the same. This means the power delivery and data transfer speeds will differ between devices, depending on which iteration of USB-C is being used.

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It’s best to think of USB-C as the physical connector, while the likes of USB 2.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB4, USB4 v2, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 will determine the level of performance instead.

Thunderbolt 5 is currently the most powerful version of USB-C, allowing up to 120Gbps speeds for data transmission, as well as up to 240W charging.

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Although it’s been available for some, time Thunderbolt 5 still seems reserved for more premium devices, such as the MacBook Pro M5 Pro or M5 Max. Instead, many more devices offer Thunderbolt 4 support instead. Just make sure to check the performance speeds of the USB-C connector for each individual device.

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If you’re not sure how the Gbps speed metric relates to real-world performance, Belkin claims that 10Gb/s translates to transferring a high definition feature-length film over to another device in just 30 seconds when working at peak performance.

Looking at the charging front, USB-C can go up to 240 watts. For comparison, Apple’s Lightning charger capped out at just 30W.

So while it is convenient to use the same charger between your tablet, laptop and phone, it’s also the more powerful option, which should result in less time waiting around waiting for your phone’s battery to be fully replenished.

Is USB-C the same as Thunderbolt?

USB-C and Thunderbolt are not the same thing, and so shouldn’t be mixed up.

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USB-C is just the name of the physical oval-shaped port. This means that all Thunderbolt technology uses the USB-C connector, but this isn’t true vice versa as there are other compatible connectivity standards such as USB 3.2 Gen 1 etc.

Thunderbolt has its own features and max speeds, with new iterations intermittently released as the technology improves.

Thunderbolt 5 is the latest iteration, supporting up to 120Gb/s, making data transfer even faster. Thunderbolt can also move as much as 240W of power over an interface, which further adds to its impressive speed and overall benefits.

Thunderbolt can be used to transfer large data or media files (such as 4K video) over to a computer or PC without long waiting times.

It can be seen as the supercharger version of a USB-C connector, with Intel deciding to stick to the universal connector to ensure cables are backwards compatible and can work with a large range of devices.

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What’s the difference between USB and USB-C?

We’ll start by explaining what USB actually is. Short for Universal Serial Bus, USB is a technology that’s used to connect computers to external devices such as printers, keyboards or controllers. USB is also used for charging devices via an adaptor or power bank, and transferring files from one device to another.

Most computers and peripherals will sport some kind of USB port, whether that’s USB-A, USB-B (usually reserved for printers and scanners) or a USB-C connection.

With the above in mind, the “difference” between USB and USB-C is just that the latter is a type of the former. Both are designed to connect two devices together, but USB is the umbrella term for the different types of ports, such as USB-C for example. 

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Does the iPhone use USB-C?

Since the launch of the iPhone 15 back in September 2023, all iPhones have sported a USB-C port in lieu of the rather dated Lightning alternative. Apple was seemingly reluctant to move ahead with this change, however an EU court ruling essentially forced the brand, alongside other smartphone manufacturers, to opt for the USB-C port as standard.

It’s a welcome move too, as it means regardless of whether you’re an iOS or Android user, you’ll be able to use the same cables.

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How can I tell if my USB cable is A or C?

The easiest way to determine whether you have a USB-A or USB-C port is simply by looking at the shape. USB-A has a rectangular shape that can only plug into a port one way, whereas USB-C is more of an oval and can be plugged in either way round. While some devices do still sport USB-As, USB-C is undoubtedly more of an industry standard now.

Even so, if you have an older computer or other device with USB-A ports, it is still possible to connect your USB-C device, with the help of an external adapter.

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Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Michiganders, today’s Connections: Sports Edition is calling your name. Players will also notice a certain primary color showing up a lot. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: The Great Lakes State.

Green group hint: What happens when you’re at the plate.

Blue group hint: Not yellow or blue.

Purple group hint: Hallmark makes these.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Michigan teams.

Green group: Outcomes in an at-bat.

Blue group: “Red” teams.

Purple group: ____ card.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is Michigan teams. The four answers are Lions, Pistons, Spartans and Tigers.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is outcomes in an at-bat. The four answers are fielder’s choice, hit, strikeout and walk.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is “red” teams. The four answers are Red Bulls, Red Sox, Red Storm and Red Wings.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ card. The four answers are baseball, lineup, red and wild.

Conversations about smartwatches recently took an unexpected turn. People who already own one, as well as those who are new to the scene, generally agree that the Apple Watch SE 3,priced at $219 (was $249), is a reliable model that does not break the bank or overcomplicate matters.

The S10 chip featured in higher-end watches easily performs all of the regular duties including as apps, notifications, and voice commands, ensuring rapid replies whether you’re reading your messages or starting a workout. Because processing occurs directly on the watch, you can still use Siri to get answers to quick questions like the weather or your reminders while offline, and gestures like double tapping or a flick of the wrist allow you to answer calls or scroll through apps with one hand free as needed.

Sale

Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band – S/M…

• HEALTH ESSENTIALS — Temperature sensing enables richer insights in the Vitals app* and retrospective ovulation estimates.* You’ll also get a daily…
• GREAT BATTERY LIFE — Enjoy all-day, 18-hour battery life. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just…
• ALWAYS-ON DISPLAY — Now you can read the time and see the watch face without raising your wrist to wake the display.

Glances become completely effortless with this device because the display remains active while dimming its brightness just enough to save battery. You can quickly check the time, weather, and what’s on your calendar without having to raise your wrist every five seconds, which is a huge advantage during meetings or lengthy hikes. The display itself is no slouch, as it can remain bright enough to see clearly outside, and the glass is far more scratch resistant than previous entry-level models.

The health monitoring runs quietly in the background without demanding your attention. Heart rate is tracked continuously with alerts for anything unusual, sleep tracking now delivers nightly scores with breathing pause detection, and wrist temperature data helps with cycle estimation over time. A daily vitals summary pulls all of your trends together in one place so you are never hunting through multiple screens for answers. Everything surfaces when it is relevant and stays out of the way when it is not.

Fitness tracking is equally straightforward. Built in GPS logs runs and bike rides accurately, activity rings update in real time so you always know where you stand against your daily goals, and swim tracking holds up well in the pool. Workout suggestions are tailored to your history, making the SE 3 a genuinely practical companion for anyone looking to move more or build a consistent routine without wading through complicated menus or investing in dedicated gear.

Battery life just plain holds up through a typical day of use – with notifications, workouts, and the occasional call. You can top off the charge in about 15 minutes and get a few hours of life out of it. And when you need to really stretch it out, theres low power mode to fall back on – but more often than not you’ll still have plenty left over when the day winds down, so you dont have to worry about it running out mid-afternoon.