PS5 SSD deals have been hard to come by for a while now, but if you’re looking to pick one up right now then Silicon Power’s XS70 range has a bunch of tempting discounts right now over at Amazon.
The most impulse-purchase-worthy deal is the 1TB XS70 PS5 SSD which is down to $74.99 at Amazon (was $85.99). It’s a 13% price cut and takes the drive to its second lowest-ever price.
If you need a bit more storage and breathing room, the 2TB model has the biggest price cut of the three models and is down 22%, dropping its price to $139.99 at Amazon (was $179.99). As far as we can tell, this is nearly a lowest-ever price – perhaps missing that mark by only a couple of dollars.
For those looking to solve their PS5 storage woes in one fell swoop and cover themselves for years to come, the 4TB XS70 has got a handy 10% discount running right now with the drive dropping to $269.99 at Amazon (was $299.99). This is the 4TB model’s lowest price since February and is decent value for a large-capacity drive.
Silicon Power might not be the most famous name in storage, but the brand offers excellent products, and usually at value-busting prices – something that’s accentuated today with these price cuts.
Today’s best PS5 SSD deals
The XS70 comes with a heatsink already so immediately wins points for offering a ready-to-go storage solution. Offering speeds of up to 7,200 MB/s (write) and 6,800 MB/s (read) means it’ll also offer you top-drawer performance, reducing the time you spend looking at loading screens and waiting times while you transfer files. It’s got more than enough chops to make it feel like you’re just using the PS5’s own storage.
In a field barren of price cuts on the best SSDs for PS5, or even any truly outstanding cheap PS5 SSD deals, these price cuts offer a good value way of bolstering your storage.
Not in the US, or looking for even more options? Then check out even more prices on PS5 SSD’s below no matter where you are in the world.
It’s no secret that Apple has been biding its time on the AI front, and the latest intelligence surrounding iOS 18 suggests that the company’s upcoming generative AI features could differ from those already available on Samsung and Google Pixel devices in one key way.
According to Bloomberg’s resident Apple expert Mark Gurman (via MacRumors), Apple’s generative AI features will be underpinned by a proprietary large language model (LLM) that runs entirely on-device, rather than via the cloud. This approach would prioritize speed and privacy, since an on-device LLM doesn’t require an internet connection to function, though Apple’s AI tools may be slightly less powerful than those available from cloud-based rivals (like Galaxy AI) as a result.
As above, on-device processing delivers quicker response times and superior privacy over cloud-based solutions, which fits with Apple’s traditional commitment to style, simplicity and security. Indeed, according to Gurman, this is how Apple will market its AI features – as reliable, usable tools that enhance users’ daily lives, rather than all-powerful creative ones.
Superior Siri
(Image credit: Apple)
There’s still no word on what Apple’s AI features will be, exactly, but the likes of Siri, Messages, Apple Music and Pages are expected to receive significant AI-based improvements in iOS 18, with the former reportedly in line for a ChatGPT-style makeover.
In any case, Apple’s suite of AI features are reportedly on track for a grand unveiling at WWDC 2024, so we don’t have too long to wait before we find out how the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro Max and other iOS 18-compatible devices will challenge the current best phones on the market in the AI department.
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It’s safe to say that Apple’s FineWoven accessories have been a disaster from the moment they launched, with people criticizing them for their perceived lack of durability and the ease with which they can get damaged. Now, it seems that Apple has decided to cut its losses, and could phase out the entire range.
That’s if a leaker who goes by the name Kosutami is to be believed, at least. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami claimed that “FineWoven has gone,” adding that “All the production line was stopped and removed” [sic]. That presumably covers all FineWoven accessories, including iPhone cases and Apple Watch straps.
According to Kosutami, Apple made the move specifically due to the material’s poor durability. It will switch to a different substance, Kosutami says, but we won’t see a return to the leather products that Apple discontinued at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.
What that material will be remains a mystery, but there’s a chance we’ll see it at this year’s WWDC event on June 10. Kosutami’s prediction that Apple won’t return to leather makes a lot of sense, though, since Apple made a point of highlighting leather’s heavy environmental impact last year. Bringing out new leather accessories, then, would not be a good look.
Farewell FineWoven
A FineWoven iPhone 15 Pro case showing signs of wear (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
For a company with a reputation for delivering hit products forged with impeccable build quality, the FineWoven case has been a rare and notable miss. It’s received almost universal criticism since it launched in September 2023.
For instance, journalist Joanna Stern declared that her FineWoven iPhone case was “browning like a rotten banana” and likened it to a “biomedical concern,” while TechRadar’s own Axel Metz felt that his case was easily scratched and felt “clammy” in the hand. It “isn’t a total disaster,” Metz added, “Just a very big one.” Small comfort for Apple, then.
Kosutami has previously shared accurate information regarding upcoming Apple products and decisions (including several previous leaks concerning FineWoven accessories), so this latest report shouldn’t be immediately dismissed. Given the reception that Apple’s FineWoven products have received over their short lifetimes, we wouldn’t be surprised if Kosutami’s claims prove to be correct.
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TechRadar has approached Apple for comment, and we’ll update this article if we get a response.
Apple hasn’t even announced the iPad Air 6 yet, but that hasn’t stopped an accessory maker launching cases for the rumored slate, as ESR has done exactly that.
Several cases from the company (spotted by 9to5Mac) have been listed on Amazon.com, and they reveal some possible details in the process.
For one thing, the tablet is described as the ‘iPad Air 12.9 2024’, which is yet more evidence that the iPad Air 6 will be larger than its 10.9-inch predecessor. We’ve heard this claim a number of times, though some sources say a 10.9-inch model will land as well.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: ESR)
(Image credit: ESR)
The fact that ESR only currently lists cases for a 12.9-inch iPad Air 6 might mean we won’t see a 10.9-inch version, but it could also simply be that it hasn’t got around to listing those yet.
It’s possible that this detail is wrong in the pictures, but the images also show an Apple Pencil attached to the long edge that was reportedly going to house this camera, and we’re not sure there would be space for both a camera and an Apple Pencil charger there.
So that’s two details that might be wrong. Either that or maybe the front-facing camera won’t be moving after all.
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It could be launching very soon
For now, we’re not sure, and as such we’d take these images with a pinch of salt, but it’s worth noting that case makers – especially significant brands like ESR – do sometimes have advance information. So the design shown here could be accurate – or it could just be placeholder images.
In any case, the fact that these accessories have already been listed suggests that the iPad Air 6 might launch soon, and indeed leaks suggest that this new iPad could land in early May, alongside the iPad Pro (2024).
We’ve also heard from leaker Mark Gurman (writing for Bloomberg) that stock of the current iPad Air is dwindling in some stores, further suggesting that a new model is landing before long. So our camera questions should be answered soon.
Smartwatches have become ubiquitous in society. Certainly spearheaded by the arrival of the Apple Watch, you now can’t go anywhere without seeing a digital display on someone’s wrist. It could be argued that until we had the smartwatch, we didn’t know we needed it and we were perfectly content with a classic analog wrist watch to simply tell the time.
Withings has championed a combination of past and present with all of its watch releases – something it has dubbed as a ‘hybrid’ design – and the ScanWatch Nova is the latest model (alongside the ScanWatch 2) that combines analog looks, health and fitness tracking and a few smartwatch niceties into one elegant package.
Using the previous ScanWatch Horizon as its starting base, the ScanWatch Nova takes what we considered to be a winning formula, and makes aesthetic and technological improvements to make this one of the best smartwatches for those who prefer classic looks, but who are also intrigued by sensors to track their overall health.
As with its predecessor, a quick glance at the ScanWatch Nova doesn’t immediately give away the fact it has digital sensors for a brain instead of a traditional watch movement. Its polished chrome body, analog hands with glow-in-the-dark LumiNova coating and rotating crown, give the impression this could be something straight out of Switzerland.
Look a little closer though, and instead of a traditional chronometer or seconds-hand ticker, you’ll notice a small OLED display at 12 o’clock and a second dial at 6 o’clock that displays your progress towards your health goal in the form of 0 to 100%. The previous ScanWatch Horizon exhibited essentially the same design, but Withings says the resolution of the OLED display has been improved this time around and the watch itself is sleeker in design.
I’d have to agree. Having worn both (and still owning the Horizon) the Nova’s case has more rounded edges and the lug around the crown has been reduced. When wearing the Horizon, I found it could occasionally dig into my wrist when I bent my hand, but with the Nova, that’s been resolved. The display is definitely a tad sharper as well, and scrolling text across the display moves at a readable speed and is clearly legible.
On the rear is a quartet of sensors to track your heart rate, 24/7 temperature, ECG and blood oxygen levels. As before, interacting with the crown doesn’t adjust the time or date, but instead brings the OLED display to life, whereby you can then scroll through the various menus and data.
In the ScanWatch Nova, Withings is once again putting a firm focus on your health. You can use it to track workouts and it will display notifications from your smartphone apps, but this is a watch that ultimately wants to keep an accurate record of how your body is performing and all data is presented in the thoughtfully designed HealthMate companion app. It can also be exported to (and imported from) your phone’s native health app.
Battery life is once again excellent with Withings accurately claiming 30 days of use, and what I particularly love about this new model is the charger. The charger that came with the ScanWatch Horizon was terrible; it didn’t magnetically attach to the watch which meant it could easily fall off. The new charger is like a cradle you have to physically insert the ScanWatch Nova into, where it’s held in place.
As my US colleague Lance Ulanoff said of the ScanWatch Horizon, the ScanWatch Nova is the perfect smartwatch for those who don’t want one, or who at least want to be more inconspicuous in owning one. It collects a vast amount of data with accuracy, presents it well in a companion app and lasts forever on a single charge. For me it’s the perfect smartwatch and so I encourage everyone to give it a try.
Withings ScanWatch Nova: Price & availability
The Withings ScanWatch Nova launched on December 5, 2023 and was available from Withings in the US and UK directly on the same date for $599.95 / £549.95. It arrived in Australia in March 2024 for AU$799 at third-party retailers.
This does make it more expensive than the Apple Watch Series 9 and not a huge amount cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra in comparison. iPhone users will get more use from the Apple Watch and there’s a huge amount more in the way of customizing how it looks, but the Apple Watch’s battery doesn’t last nearly as long.
Withings ScanWatch Nova: Specifications
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Price
$599.95 / £549.95 / $799
Dimensions
42 x 12.8mm (diameter x thickness)
Display
0.63-inch, 282ppi
GPS?
No
Battery life
Up to 30 days
Withings ScanWatch Nova: Design
Slimmer than previous ScanWatch Horizon
Improved display resolution
Looks and feels like a traditional diver’s watch
The Withings ScanWatch Nova employs a 42mm watch face and a design reminiscent of traditional diver’s watches. If you’ve always looked at other smartwatches but haven’t admired their use of all-digital displays then a hybrid smartwatch such as the Nova is ideal. I’m personally in this camp myself.
I used to own an Apple Watch Series 3 about five years ago, but stopped wearing it because I wasn’t using it to its full potential, and preferred to wear a traditional watch instead. Because the Withings ScanWatch Nova combines this traditional look with health-tracking capabilities, it makes it the perfect smartwatch in my opinion.
While the Nova employs a similar design to the Horizon, Withings has made some notable improvements. It’s slimmer in the body (and 1mm narrower on the watch face) and has gone on a weight loss kick, shaving its weight down from 72g to 52.6g. This makes a huge difference for everyday wear. The ScanWatch Horizon didn’t necessarily feel heavy, but in comparison it’s like wearing an anvil tied to your wrist compared to the featherweight nature of the ScanWatch Nova. The lighter design also makes it more comfortable to wear to bed at night, which is something you should do, since it can track your sleep and present you with a sleep performance score the next morning (more on that later).
Withings shipings the ScanWatch Nova complete with a second sport strap and tools to add or remove links. (Image credit: Future)
Withings ships the ScanWatch Nova with everything you need to get the perfect fit too, including spare links for the oyster metal bracelet should you need to make it larger, and a plastic holder and metal hammer to help you in adding or removing links as required. Finding the perfect fit is paramount to ensuring the ScanWatch Nova records accurate data. When we reviewed the ScanWatch Horizon we found this tricky to do, especially with the metal bracelet. I don’t think anyone should have too much issue getting a good fit with the Nova though as you’re able to remove full-size or half-size links from the bracelet.
There’s also a fluoroelastomer sport brand included which matches the color of the dial – it’s available in black, green and blue – which is soft and flexible and should provide a more secure fit if you struggle with the oyster metal bracelet. Both wristbands have a quick release function to make switching easy, although I found them easier to remove than to put back on, since they require you to compress some tiny pins that my chubby fingers had a bit of trouble with. In the UK and US you can choose from a variety of other sports and leather wristbands when buying directly from Withings, but customers in Australia are limited to just the two that come in the box.
(Image credit: Future)
At 12 o’clock you’ll find a 0.63-inch digital display which is the clearest indicator that this isn’t a traditional analog watch. It’s slightly larger than the Horizon’s 0.5-inch screen and Withings says it has increased the resolution to improve legibility too. I have to agree, as comparing the two side by side does reveal a clear improvement in the Nova’s display. Text is that little bit clearer, sharper and more legible. I certainly had no issues reading the display and thanks to an ambient light sensor, it will automatically adjust the brightness when required. If you want to view the display but the hands are covering it, a press of the crown will see them both immediately move out the way and settle at the 10 and 2 positions. If neither of the hands are covering the display, they’ll remain where they are when you press the crown.
The way you interact with the ScanWatch Nova is similar to how you would an Apple Watch in the fact that you scroll the crown to cycle through menus. But there’s no touchscreen option here and the menus are black and white only. I like this more basic approach, I found it to be incredibly intuitive and there’s no risk of selecting the wrong app or option.
Withings ScanWatch Nova: Features
Sensors to track a range of health metrics
Automatic sleep and workout detection
Single-line app notifications
There are four sensors on the back of the ScanWatch Nova for heart rate, SpO2, electrocardiogram (ECG) and a new TempTech24/7 module which is the main upgrade over the previous ScanWatch Horizon. You’ll find the same set of sensors on the recently released ScanWatch 2 as well. The main difference between the ScanWatch 2 and the ScanWatch Nova is their design, with the former taking on a more dress watch style appearance.
Using these sensors and obtaining data is incredibly easy and when you first connect the ScanWatch Nova to your phone and the companion HealthMate app, you’re presented with tutorials for each to get you up to speed.
Your heart rate and 24/7 temperature run continuously in the background and you only need to scroll to either of them in the menu to view the current reading. For SpO2 and ECG readings, you need to cover the watch face with your other hand for 30 seconds since the watch face doubles up as a sensor. Naturally, you’re not going to be able to see when the 30 seconds is up, so the ScanWatch Nova provides a rather lovely vibration to let you know the time is up. As soon as a reading is taken, you’ll get a pop-up notification on your phone directing you to view the results.
(Image credit: Future)
I had no issues obtaining an ECG result (mine was normal) but on the first few tries the Nova wasn’t able to record an SpO2 reading. I have to put this down to me not putting my hand on the watch face correctly (somehow) as on the third try it worked fine (and I was normal, again).
The Withings ScanWatch Nova isn’t the only smartwatch to offer this functionality of course – although it is the first health wearable to offer the 24/7 temperature tracking – but it is one of the few that is clinically evaluated and developed in collaboration with doctors and health professionals (Withings does say the SpO2 sensor is non-medical grade). Withings claims the 24/7 temperature tracking, which provides “baseline fluctuations of day and night body temperature,” can help to indicate the onset of an illness or other health conditions. You can also share your health reports directly with doctors via the HealthMate app.
More features are due in 2024 including irregular heart rhythm notifications and your respiratory rate.
Data recorded is displayed clearly in the HealthMate app although it somehow recorded two sets of sleep data on the first night I wore it to bed. One gave a sleep score of 20 and the other a score of 89. I’m taking the latter as being the more accurate. The ScanWatch Nova automatically detects when you go to sleep by the way, so no need to activate any settings before you nod off.
The Withings ScanWatch Nova’s screen (top) is much clearer than the ScanWatch Horizon’s screen (below) it replaces (Image credit: Future)
If you want to use the ScanWatch Nova to its full potential then it can also track a range of workouts. Your options are limited to running, walking, swimming, cycling and “other”. New for the Nova is the ability to automatically detect workouts – something the Horizon couldn’t do – but if for whatever reason it doesn’t, you’ll need to navigate to the workout type and press the crown to begin. A long press of the crown will pause the workout and a further long pause will restart, or you can scroll to the square stop icon on the screen and long press to end.
When you start a workout, you’ll also find start and stop actions, along with live data in the app. The ScanWatch Nova doesn’t have built-in GPS either, but can use the GPS capabilities of your phone to accurately track your workouts. This of course means you can’t leave your phone at home, but if you workout with music, you’ll likely have your phone with you anyway.
I don’t mind this stripped back approach, not least because I’m not exactly the workout type but because when I see other fitness trackers offering support for things like yoga and pilates, I have to wonder exactly what they’re tracking. But, it would be fair to say that the ScanWatch Nova is a health tracker first and a fitness tracker second. If you’re a triathlete or ultra marathon runner, then this likely won’t be the watch for you, although you will no doubt benefit from the accurate and insightful health data.
Finally, because it is also a smartwatch, the Withings ScanWatch Nova will display messages and notifications from apps installed on your phone. You can choose which apps you do and don’t receive notifications from within the HealthMate app. I personally just kept notifications from messaging apps turned on and everything else turned off. When I receive a message, it’s displayed on the small OLED screen, with text scrolling across in a single line.
Some people may prefer to see an entire message and also to be able to reply to messages from their watch. That’s not possible with the ScanWatch Nova, but again for me, I like it. My opinion towards smartwatches is that they’re simply an extension to a phone, not a replacement for one. If I see a message come through on my watch, my first instinct is to then get my phone out of my pocket to read it fully and respond, I’m not going to be someone who speaks into their watch to dictate a message. It could well be this interaction, or lack thereof, that will persuade someone to buy the Withings ScanWatch Nova. It is a totally different product to something like the Apple Watch, which does offer a lot more in terms of interactivity.
Withings ScanWatch Nova: Performance
Accurate measurements from sensors
Impeccable battery life
A few niggles with automatic sleep and workout detection
In relation to its fitness tracking capabilities, the Withings ScanWatch does a very good job of recording accurate measurements when you select a workout as well as automatically recording when you go to sleep. I say very good, rather than great, because there are a couple of niggles.
Starting with sleep, in general the Nova does indeed notice when I’ve gone into full sleep mode and the morning after it displays the various stages of sleep in the HealthMate app. However, the night before writing this section, I happened to get very lucky and fall asleep at 4.30pm. I woke up at around 12.30am before managing to get back to sleep for another few hours. Following on from my initial observations earlier, the ScanWatch Nova once again only tracked the first period of sleep but for some reason didn’t pick up the second stage. The most recent tracked sleep falls under a “Last Night” banner, as opposed to the day of the week it occurred, so I have to wonder if it only assumes there can be one period of “Last Night’s” sleep.
With regards to workouts, the ScanWatch Nova does automatically detect when you’re performing an activity, although when I looked in the app to view data, it had detected seven cycling sessions which is strange, since I don’t even own a bike, let alone cycle. All it could show was the duration of time and the day they occurred. No distance or speed. This is, however, likely because at the time I didn’t have GPS enabled on my phone.
The morning of writing this section of the review I decided to walk to work, since I was feeling so refreshed from the 16 hours or so of sleep from the night before. To ensure it would accurately record my walking data, I selected ‘Walking’ from the workout menu on the watch itself and enabled GPS. When you have a workout mode enabled, the screens you scroll through change from the default options. The first screen still shows the time in digital format, but underneath you’re also shown the distance travelled.
(Image credit: Future)
Interestingly, the map data recorded within the app showed a black screen with the route I took. Selecting it did bring up a view within Apple Maps and my walking workout data overlayed, so I’m going to put this down to an app issue. Also interestingly, walking data recorded later the same day by automatic detection didn’t show any GPS map route. It seems the only time you’ll see that kind of data is when you actually select a workout on the watch.
When you scroll, you can view your heart rate, pace and body temperature. Of course, on something like an Apple Watch, you can view multiple metrics of data on one screen which will undoubtedly be more useful for real fitness fanatics. But for someone like me who doesn’t pour blood, sweat and tears into keeping fit, I was still grateful for the accurate tracking.
As for health tracking, all recorded data is presented neatly and efficiently in the companion app. Understanding that the average person is unlikely to know what a good or bad ECG or oxygen saturation reading is, the app gives a green tick of approval if you’re in good shape.
Generating data is simple too, as both the watch itself and the app give you instructions for how to record an ECG and SpO2 reading. You’re required to put your hand over the watch face, since this doubles up as a sensor, and the watch will give off a vibration when the 30 second recording period is up.
(Image credit: Future)
Along with choosing which apps you want to display notifications, you can also customize other aspects of the watch from within the app, such as the order of workout options or the order of screens that show up when you scroll through with the crown. I chose to move Walking to the top of the list, since this was the one I was going to be using the most.
The app also lets you know how much battery the ScanWatch Nova has left – after wearing it almost constantly for a week, I still have 54% at the time of writing – and you can also set an alarm to wake you up in the morning. What you can’t do with the app or the ScanWatch Nova, is activate any kind of Find My feature. This means if you lose the Nova somewhere, or simply forget where you put it at home, you can’t enable it to play any sounds to help you locate it. While it could be fair to assume that Withings expects the ScanWatch Nova will be on your wrist almost 24/7 (especially if you want to constantly track sleep) the fact remains you will likely take it off on occasion.
Finally, switching the wrist straps around is a simple affair and I did ultimately find the fluoroelastomer sport band to be the more comfortable of the two, especially for wearing to bed at night. With this strap attached, coupled with the lightweight build of the ScanWatch Nova, I barely noticed it was on my wrist, it was that comfortable.
Withings ScanWatch Nova: Scorecard
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Category
Comment
Score
Value
Not too dissimilar to pricing for a classic diver’s watch, but it’s biggest competitor can be picked up for less
3.5/5
Design
Classic watch looks with health tracking smarts is a win in my book, but might not be everyone’s cup of tea
4.5/5
Features
If you want a smartwatch that tracks basic fitness disciplines, health data and shows you phone notifications, the ScanWatch Nova ticks all boxes
5/5
Performance
Plenty of nicely presented data in the app, but couple of auto-tracking flaws keep it from top marks
Mayton Motion has developed a wireless adapter that transforms a car’s navigation screen into a functional laptop-like display. Users can access a range of new features by connecting the device via the car’s USB port.
AutoPro X is powered by Android Auto/Samsung DeX (it only works with Samsung Galaxy models that support DeX) and offers Bluetooth pairing, so users can connect game controllers, keyboards and other devices to the screen. This isn’t necessarily the greatest of ideas, since it could end up being a distraction for the driver, but we’d hope for some common sense to be used here.
Mayton says the AutoPro X allows all manner of functionality such as GPS, YouTube or OTT streaming, internet browsing, email, social media, Chat GPT, document processing, gaming, and voice recognition.
Back on Kickstarter
AutoPro X has a ‘Screen Select Mode’, which allows drivers to adjust the display size to either fill the screen or show it in the original ratio.
AutoPro X is available to back on Kickstarter, with Early Bird pricing at $140.
The device is compatible with vehicles that can be connected to Samsung Galaxy phones and Android Auto. Your car does have to support wired Android Auto. Mayton says, “The easiest way to check is to connect your vehicle with a cable and see if Android Auto works. If it does, you should be able to use our product.” You can also browse the compatible phones and vehicles list on the Kickstarter page.
As with any crowdsourced projects, you should be aware that backing a product doesn’t mean that it will be completed or that you will receive the item you backed. That said, at the time of writing, $142,984 had been pledged, well above the $5000 goal, so it’s looking positive.
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Blame it on the digital age or on the Covid lockdown years, but the way we read has changed. We’re increasingly consuming books digitally, with several of us adopting ereaders instead of buying printed books. This change in behavior could be considered better for the planet – after all, no trees are getting destroyed to make said books.
That’s not the only reason to read ebooks. Did you know that about 26% of worldwide waste is paper and paperboard? Clearly we’re not all recycling as much as we should be. UK-based waste management company Business Waste has some interesting stats on how much paper we throw away, and it doesn’t even take into account all the paperbacks and text books we might be discarding. Sure, paper decomposes, but that takes 2-6 weeks and the ink could be poisoning our soil and groundwater.
On the other hand, manufacturing an electronic device arguably has a bigger carbon footprint. According to a New York Times report from 2010, a single ereader needs about 33 pounds of minerals and 79 gallons of water to make, and it has a limited lifespan.
(Image credit: Future)
Sustaining digital reading
Manufacturing processes may have changed since that report was published, and while I’m not saying they’re a sustainable process, there are some ereader makers trying to make a change.
Amazon’s 2022 Kindle was the first to be made using up to 75% recycled plastic in its body and up to 90% recycled magnesium. Amazon adopted a similar stance with the Kindle Scribe a little later that same year, with the larger note-taking ereader built with 48% recycled plastic and 100% recycled aluminum.
Life without a Kindle is like life without a library nearby.
Franz McLaren, Author (Home Lost)
Japanese-Canadian brand Kobo, however, is making ereading even more sustainable. The first tablet it released that used recycled materials was the Kobo Clara 2E – the E moniker indicating its eco-friendly origins. According to Kobo, its body was 80% recycled plastic, 10% of which was ocean bound. It was the same with the Kobo Elipsa 2E as well. The company’s 2024 ereaders take it even further – the Kobo Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW not only use recycled plastics (including ocean-bound waste) in their bodies, but the packaging is 100% recycled and all the words and images printed on the boxes are soy ink, which is biodegradable.
Like other electronic devices, ereaders also have a limited lifespan – on average, a Kindle or a Kobo will give you 6-8 years of use, but several can exceed 10 years of use. Kobo, however, is trying to extend the life of its devices, with the 2024 models possibly becoming the most repairable ereaders available today. The brand has partnered with iFixit to make repair kits and instructions available to potential customers, although this initiative hasn’t gotten off the ground yet – the Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW are still in pre-order as of this writing.
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I am yet to hear about other ereader brands, like Onyx and PocketBook, moving towards a greener future, but this is a good start, particularly from Kobo.
(Image credit: Future)
Kindle your (green) reading dreams
There hasn’t been much research done on which reading habit is more sustainable. There are a handful of studies, and a 2021 article published in the Journal of Library & Information Science Research tried to collate this information to determine whether ereading was more sustainable – the results were inconclusive. So, for the more environmentally conscious reader, which option do you choose?
Well, opting for one of the latest Kobo ereaders might be a good place to start and, despite some non-renewable materials being used to make it, a report from 2009 (via CNET) suggested using an ereader might be the greener option. At the time it was estimated that around 168kg of carbon dioxide was produced over the lifespan of a single Kindle DX, which was the most popular e-ink device back then.
Despite being a big number, it can offset about 1,074kg of CO2 produced if you were to buy just three print books each month over four years. Depending on how long the ereader lasted, it could compensate for up to 26,000kg of CO2 over its lifetime. Even if you aren’t a voracious reader, an ebook reader could still have a lower carbon footprint than paper books.
Until recently, I was an ebook sceptic, see; one of those people who harrumphs about the “physical pleasure of turning actual pages” and how ebook will “never replace the real thing”. Then I was given a Kindle as a present. That shut me up.
Charlie Brooker, Writer & TV presenter
There are other reading habits you can develop that would make digital reading a greener option than buying paperbacks. For starters, borrowing ebooks and digital magazines from the library instead of buying new titles in print not only means there’s less paper being used, but you’re also saving money on buying new books – digital or otherwise. That’s a win-win.
In the US, you can use your Kindle to borrow from a library; elsewhere, Kobo is your best option, with OverDrive baked into every model. You will need to check with your local library if they have OverDrive support, or borrowing directly from a Kobo device is a no go. You can, however, use the Libby mobile app if your library supports that.
If you’re someone who prefers to buy rather than borrow, an ereader becomes the more eco-friendly option if you read upwards of five 360-page hardback titles a year or around nine paperbacks. If you don’t read as much, then purchasing second-hand printed books is the better alternative.
No matter what reading format you choose, the most important thing is to dispose of the books or the device thoughtfully.
It’s time for your Monday instalment of NYT Strands, the word game that challenges you to solve a kind of leveled-up wordsearch.
Today’s puzzle is not too bad, in my experience, but if you need hints to help you then scroll down and you’ll find a selection.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Strands expert
Your Strands expert
Marc McLaren
NYT Strands today (game #50) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Character class
NYT Strands today (game #50) – hint #2 – clue words
What are some good clue words today?
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
• SASH
• SORE
• BORN
• NASTY
• TASK
• NIGHT
NYT Strands today (game #50) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Dungeons and dragons
NYT Strands today (game #50) – hint #4 – spangram position
Where does today’s spangram start and end?
• Start: left, 3rd row
• End: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #50) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #50, are…
KNIGHT
MAGE
BARD
ROGUE
SORCERER
ASSASSIN
HUNTER
SPANGRAM: FANTASY
My rating: Moderate
My score: Perfect
That’s more like it. After I really struggled to solve yesterday’s Strands and ended up needing two hints, I found this to be a lot more straightforward. That said, you may well not have done – because how easy it was for you will have depended on your knowledge of the fantasy genre. Mine is pretty strong, so once I found KNIGHT and then MAGE, both of which relatively obvious, I was able to knock them off one by one with no mishaps.
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Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday 21 April, game #49)
DRIVE
SPEAK
CRAWL
MARRY
VOTE
GRADUATE
RETIRE
SPANGRAM: MILESTONES
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s currently in Beta and 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.
Another week brings another round of Quordles to puzzle over. Today’s is a moderately tough one, so if you need a helping hand then scroll down for my hints. And if you don’t have time to play at all, you’ll also find the answers. But why not give it a go yourself before peeking at them, eh?
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
Quordle today (game #819) – 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 #819) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #819) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• P
• A
• D
• E
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #819) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #819, are…
This is a potentially tricky Quordle due to the repeated letters in both ADAGE and DIODE, together with the relatively uncommon nature of both words. That I didn’t find it difficult was mostly down to the performance of my start words, which between them gave me all but three of the letters I needed.
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I had all five for PLAID, which I duly solved with no problems, and was able to guess DIODE because I couldn’t think of any other options that fit. ADAGE caused me a like more thought – I nearly guessed EVADE – while ELBOW was a shot to nothing that came off.
We’ve been enjoying being able to play around with the AI-powered Circle to Search feature since it arrived – first on the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 phones – and it seems it could be getting some new capabilities in the near future.
According to well-known tipster @AssembleDebug (via PiunikaWeb), hidden snippets lurking in the Circle to Search code seem set to boost the feature with options for capturing parts of the screen and sharing them with other people.
Sections of the screen can be selected with a tap, a circle, or a scribble with Circle to Search, and you’re then able to tweak the area that’s been selected. As it stands now, you can then run a search based on the highlighted pictures or text.
What’s apparently coming soon are new Copy image and Share image buttons that’ll pop up whenever something is selected. It’s effectively a quick and easy way of capturing part of the screen, to go alongside the existing screenshot options on Android.
More AI to come
🔥 Circle to Search on Pixel will soon let you copy and share selected areas as images📝 Read – https://t.co/J0EOtc6Rgt#GooglePixel #Google #Android pic.twitter.com/CCUljuTq4qApril 20, 2024
See more
As yet there’s no indication of when this might roll out to smartphones – and of course there’s always the option that Google software engineers will change their minds and decide not to add the extra Circle to Search capabilities after all.
However, considering that the source of this leak has been able to get the feature working – complete with new-look blue handles at the sides of selections, rather than white brackets – it can’t be too long before this feature gets introduced (if indeed it does).
Circle to Search and various other AI features have slowly been rolling out to older Pixel and Galaxy phones, after making their debut in the latest flagships. It’s not clear exactly what kind of hardware performance is required to get the tool to run smoothly.
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