Tag: Phones and Gadgets

NYT Connections is the one word association game known for the difficulty and amusement that it brings. However, if you are part of the folks lost as to what today’s Connections answer is, then you are in the right place. We post a NYT Connections answers guide every day to help you solve each day’s puzzle easily. So, let’s not waste time and check out Connections hints for today’s game #673 to help you get to the answers for April 14, 2025.

What is NYT Connections Game?

After Wordle’s overwhelming success, The New York Times embraced the fun and launched another word puzzle game called Connections. NYT Connections is a popular word puzzle game available to play for free on mobile and desktop.

Thankfully, it’s easy getting started with NYT Connections. This word association game spreads 16 random words across a 4 x 4 grid. Players must find well, connections among these words and divide them across four categories, colored yellow, green, blue, and purple, based on difficulty.

Connections Hint Today for April 14, 2025

As mentioned above, the NYT Connections puzzle has four different categories that are divided into color-coded difficulties. From Yellow category being the easiest to the hardest Purple one, the game can quickly become difficult if you’re unprepared.

To make your life even easier, here are the NYT Connections hints for today’s categories:

• Yellow Category – To stop someone
• Green Category – You pay to get in here
• Blue Category – A certain game has all these
• Purple Category – One word, many meanings

Spoiler Warning:

Scroll past this point AT YOUR OWN RISK. Major category hints and answers for today’s NYT Connections below.

Check out Today’s Connections Categories

The Connections categories today are an interesting mix of themes, which might get a bit difficult for us all. That said, here are the NYT Connections categories for Monday, April 14, 2025.

• Yellow – RESTRICT
• Green – TICKETED EVENTS
• Blue – ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAME THE ORGEON TRAIL
• Purple – WHAT “FORD” MIGHT REFER TO

Do you finally see where each word should go? No? Then, keep scrolling to see the NYT Connections answers for today.

Today’s Connections Answers for April 14, 2025

The answers for Connections today, on April 14, 2025, are:

• RESTRICT – Block, Check, Dam, Stop
• TICKETED EVENTS – Concert, Game, Movie, Play
• ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAME THE ORGEON TRAIL – Dysentery, Ford, Hunt, Oxen
• WHAT “FORD” MIGHT REFER TO – Actor, Car, Director, President

How to Play Connections: Tips & Tricks to Solve the Puzzle

Given the fact you’re here, chances are that you already know how to play NYT Connections. As you might be able to tell by now, Connections by The New York Times is a word association game where players sort out 16 random words into four categories by finding a common ‘connection.’ This can be anything from a common sound to a deeper meaning.

That said, if you’re still confused, here are the best tips on how to play NYT Connections:

• Simplicity is key: Connections will often throw ambiguous words at you. While it’s easy to get caught up in the details, the answer almost always lies in the simplest connections possible. So, instead of dear and deer being connected through a hunter-prey dynamic, they most likely connect because of a similar sound.
• Watch those guesses: A key thing to note is Connections only gives you four chances in 24 hours for a single puzzle. As such, we advise not being trigger happy and carefully weighing in your words before pressing that submit button.
• Shuffle Away: While a bit tricky, the sneaky Connections editor deliberately puts the first word placement as a misdirection. So the one golden tip here is to press that Shuffle button before you go on solving it.

If you’re still unsure how to proceed, check out our dedicated how-to-play NYT Connections guide for all the help you need.

We hope you had similar luck as I did for today’s game. If not, please let us know in the comments below!

If you are finding it hard to spot theme words in today’s puzzle, then you are in serious need of the Strands hints below. Those bored with sensational games like Wordle and Connections are turning their attention to Strands for a challenging new experience. If you happen to be one of them and are struggling with NYT Strands, we can get you sorted. So, to help you out, we have added the Strands hints, answers, and Spangram on Monday, April 14, 2025, below.

What is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a word game created by The New York Times as part of its growing “Games” library. The aim of this New York Times game is to connect letters in a six-by-eight grid to form a bunch of words that share the same theme.

To get you started, the puzzle will give you a theme for today’s NYT Strands. You can use it to form multiple “theme” words which will be relevant to this theme, along with one “special” word called the Spangram. This is a word or phrase that spans the length of the grid, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, giving you the key to crack the rest of the Strands theme words.

The theme for today’s Strands can be relevant in many different ways. So, the puzzle keeps you on your toes every day with its intriguing set of theme words and Spangrams.

NYT Strands Hints for Today’s Theme: “April showers …”

The theme for today’s Strands on April 14, 2025, is — April showers …

If you can’t figure out answers for today’s puzzle, here’s a quick Strands hint — what do peonies, roses, and cherry blossoms have in common?

Here are hints for a couple of Strands theme words to make it easy for you to solve today’s puzzle on your own without having to scroll down to view the answers:

• Hint #1: a small Eurasian low-growing plant with a corm.
• Hint #2: a small genus of bulbous herbs that have straplike leaves and a pleasant smell.

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

The Spangram for today’s Strands on April 14, 2025, is mostly VERTICAL. It starts with the letters “SP“.

The hint for today’s Spangram for Strands — the season after winter + the seed-bearing part of a plant.

Spoiler Warning:

Scroll past this point AT YOUR OWN RISK. Hints and answers for today’s Strands below.

Today’s NYT Strands Answers for April 14, 2025

Today’s Strands Spangram Answer

The Spangram answer for today’s Strands on April 14, 2025, is — SpringFlowers

All Theme Words in Today’s Strands

Still looking for the theme words to get the answers for today’s NYT Strands? You can check them out below:

• TULIP
• DAFFODIL
• LILY
• IRIS
• HYACINTH
• CROCUS

The answers for today’s Strands were pretty straightforward. I started off with the first set of theme words – TULIP and DAFFODIL. Once I spotted FLOWERS, solving the Spangram and the theme words was an easy affair.

What is NYT Strands Spangram and How Does It Work?

Every NYT Strands puzzle consists of a unique word or phrase that’s called the Spangram. This word or set of words will run the length of two opposite sides of the grid. One thing to note here is that, a Spangram doesn’t necessarily have to originate or end at the edge of the grid.

In its essence, the Spangram is kind of like a bigger hint that sums up today’s Strands theme in just a word or two. Since it spans across two sides of the puzzle, solving it early helps you figure out the rest of the theme words and vice versa.

Tips and Tricks for Mastering NYT Strands Puzzles

Solving an NYT Strands puzzle successfully isn’t that hard in itself, but in some cases, the approach might not be as straightforward as it looks. So, here are simple tips and tricks that we suggest you follow to crack the theme words and Spangram for Strands puzzles:

• Always start at the corners: No two puzzles are the same. But the chances of the Spangram extending to a diagonal form are quite low. So, the best strategy is to find and decrypt relevant words that are at the corners of the grid.
• Don’t be ashamed to get hints: Sometimes, a theme word could be all you need to solve the entire puzzle. If that requires getting a hint using non-theme words, then that’s the first thing you should do. After all, the point is to have fun and figure this out, like all of us.
• Think both literally and figuratively: Not all themes may land you in the same sense of thought. Some puzzles may welcome more clever answers that may convey something totally different from their actual meaning.
• Aim for the Spangram: The Spangram is what splits the Strands board in half. So, figuring it out will help you cross out other potential approaches for a theme. Deciphering even half of the Spangram can get you close to the rest of the answers.

Still finding it difficult to master the art of NYT Strands? Follow our guide and learn how to play Strands, along with more helpful tips and tricks.

China’s Commerce Ministry has urged the U.S. to “completely abolish” the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, following a partial exemption granted late Friday. In a strongly worded statement, the ministry described the tariff exemptions as a “small step” and called on President Donald Trump to heed “rational voices” and correct what it sees as damaging policy errors.

“We urge the U.S. to heed the rational voices of the international community and domestic parties, take a big stride in correcting its mistakes,” the ministry said. It added that Washington should “completely abolish the wrongful action of ‘reciprocal tariffs,’ and return to the correct path of resolving differences through equal dialogue based on mutual respect.”

Exemptions seen as a U.S. retreat

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that several technology products—including smartphones, computers, semiconductors, solar cells, and flash drives—will no longer be subject to reciprocal tariffs. These devices, widely used across sectors, are key to the global supply chains of major firms such as Apple.

Public reaction in China has been swift. “Public opinion widely views this as another retreat by the U.S. government on its tariff policies,” wrote the state-run Beijing Daily. On the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the phrase “Trump administration retreats again” became the second most popular search term.

No immediate plans for Trump-Xi talks

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on CBS News’ Face the Nation that there are currently no plans for President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak about the ongoing tariff dispute.

“This issue is truly at the leaders level,” Greer said, signaling that any significant progress would need to come from direct talks between the heads of state.

China continues to assess impact

The release of Last of Us Season 2 is right around the corner, and fans are excited to see Ellie and Joel back on their screens. Ellie has always been a fan-favorite character among video game fans. Over the years, she has become one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. So, new fans of the TLOU video game or TV show are always excited to learn who plays Ellie’s character.

Of course, fans who have already watched the first season and played the video games know a great deal about both actors. However, for newcomers, we have compiled this guide that includes details about the actors who play Ellie in the TV show and video games.

Who Plays Ellie In The Last Of Us Video Games?

The American actress Ashley Suzanne Johnson plays Ellie in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us video game series. Before being cast as Ellie for the TLOU video game series, Ashley worked on several popular projects, such as Growing Pains, The Killing, What Women Want, Critical Role, and many more. 

Ashley got the role of Ellie in 2013, and since then, she has continued to portray the character in the video game series through motion capture. The American talent has done a tremendous job with the character, so much so that she has become a staple for leading female characters in the video game industry. She also won not one but two BAFTA Games Awards for Best Performer in the Last of Us game series.

Which Actor Plays Ellie In The Last of Us TV Show?

The actor who plays Ellie in The Last of Us TV show is Bella Ramsey. The English actor was cast to play the iconic video game character in February 2021, and it has turned out to be a life-changing role for Ramsey.

Though often criticized by fans for not having the same looks as Ellie, Bella Ramsey has done an incredible job bringing the character to life. We expect to see more of the same in the upcoming second season, as the showrunners never thought of recasting Ellie’s role. Wondering how old is Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2? We have the answer for you linked right here.

For the unacquainted, TLOU isn’t the first big TV series to feature Bella Ramsey. Interestingly, the young actor grew in fame after portraying Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. The character and the actor made their first appearance in GOT Season 6, and Bella instantly rose to fame because of her outstanding dialogue delivery in the TV show, despite being so young at the time. So, it is no surprise that the showrunners decided to go with Bella for the role of Ellie.

Apart from GOT and TLOU, Bella Ramsey has also appeared in The Worst Witch and Netflix’s Hilda animated series.

Is Bella Ramsey Good for Ellie’s Role In TLOU?

Of course, Bella Ramsey being cast for the role of Ellie is a huge topic of controversy among fans. While some fans believe that Bella is good for the role, some think that the young actress doesn’t look anything like Ellie from the video games.

However, the truth is that the actor doesn’t have to look exactly the same as the character to do justice to the role. Bella may not look like Ellie from the video games, but she definitely did an incredible job in the first season. She perfectly matched Ellie’s rude yet sensitive personality through her acting, and we couldn’t have hoped for a better portrayal. 

Honestly, it would have been unfortunate if the actor looked like Ellie but couldn’t do justice to the character in terms of acting. The emotional depth that Bella showcased in the first season was truly incredible, and we expect to see an even better performance from Bella in TLOU Season 2. 

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us blessed video game fans with one of the most heartwarming stories and brilliant characters ever. One such character is Ellie, who never gets to live a normal life as she is born in a world run over by the Cordyceps fungus. The first season of the HBO TV series based on the TLOU video game introduces us to a teenage Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey. Now, as we head into The Last of Us Season 2, let’s find out what age Ellie is in the upcoming installment.

Ellie’s Age in The Last of Us Season 2 Explained

Like the first video game, Ellie was 14 years old in The Last Of Us Season 1. The actor who plays Ellie, aka Bella Ramsey, was 19 years old at the time.

And video game fans might know, the sequel takes place five years after the debut season, so Ellie is 19 years old in The Last of Us Season 2. While in real life, this age gives one the freedom to live without depending too much on others, Ellie doesn’t have all the privileges.

The initial moments of the game take place in 2013, but here’s where HBO’s adaptation stands different; it’s 2003 when the epidemic occurs in the TV series. Now, it makes sense why the main storyline of the HBO show is set in 2023, i.e. the same year it was released. In contrast, the game sees the world in 2033-34.

Due to the Cordyceps virus outbreak, civilization started collapsing in 2003, and Ellie was born sometime in 2009. The creators never revealed her birthdate, though.

At the age of 14, Ellie was just a kid who had no clue of the challenges she would have to face in the future. So, she starts seeing her father in Joel and puts her trust in him with all her heart. However, in the second season, Ellie appears as a warrior who would go beyond her limits to take her revenge and win the game of survival.

Ellie Is Still Too Young to Experience Such Pain

Even though Ellie transforms into a young woman in the second video game and TLOU Season 2, she still doesn’t deserve all the pain she is about to go through. While people her age in real life are able to make choices for their future, Ellie walks on a different path, which is full of life-threatening challenges.

In the game, she also experiences her biggest trauma, changing her life forever, and she becomes a fearless woman who won’t spare those who wronged her.

How Old Is Bella Ramsey Right Now?

At the time of writing in 2025, Bella Ramsey is 21 years old. But she was 19 years old during the filming of TLOU Season 2, which makes their age true to the character. However, Ellie in the video game is much more mature in appearance than Bella Ramsey’s Ellie, so it eventually became a topic of argument among the fandom.

However, the show’s creator Craig Mazin, while talking to THR, revealed that he doesn’t agree with the fact that Bella Ramsey looks younger than Ellie in the video games. He adds that apart from the change in appearance, he wanted the character to radiate emotional maturity, and Bella does exactly the same. He also says that he has been looking at Bella’s face while editing the series, so he has seen them grow over the years.

Well, the Ellie who appears in the video games is a tough warrior and fights the strongest human enemies, as well as the infected. Her hands are full of scars, and as the story progresses, she keeps getting more cuts and bite marks on her body. So, it would have been one of the most challenging roles of Bella’s career, and as the trailer showcases, they have nailed it with their talent.

However, let’s not judge the book by its cover, as the first episode of The Last of Us Season 2 is soon approaching, premiering on April 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM PT. 

Update: added new Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity codes on April 13, 2025

Being a Roblox gamer, I always look forward to the sequels of good games. But honestly, Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity isn’t really a sequel; it’s more like a reboot where I get to chew gum, jump around, and get even higher. However, I quickly learned that a cool hat and a cute pet are essential for those truly massive leaps. That is why we have compiled the Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity codes that give you free coins, mystery gifts, and other resources. Utilize the rewards, get better items, and reach crazy heights.

All New Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity Codes

• Release: Get 1 Mystery Gift (NEW)
• Thanks: Get 2 Mystery Gifts (NEW)
• Lucky: Get 1 Luck Potion V (NEW)

Expired Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity Codes

As the game has just been released, there are no expired codes in this Roblox experience yet. So, grab the free rewards before the developers change their minds.

In case you are bored with simulators, jump right into anime action with Jujutsu Infinite and Blox Fruits. Fond of sports games? Grab the Basketball Zero codes and Blue Lock Rivals codes before you try them out. You can also check our Roblox game codes master list and select your next adventure.

How to Redeem Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity Codes

Chewing to fly higher can get tiring, but the redemption process to receive rewards in this game is simple. Follow the steps below to redeem the codes for Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity:

• Open Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity on Roblox.
• Click the Codes button (Twitter bird icon) from the left menu.
• Type a working code in the Enter Code area.
• Click the Redeem button to claim your free reward.

How to Get More Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity Codes

To snag the freshest codes for Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity, the official social media and community Discord server are your best bets. We suggest you join the Rumble Studios Discord server and keep an eye on the ‘announcements’ channel. Staying tuned to their other channels is also important due to frequent game updates. You can also follow @RumbleStudiosRB on X for more news.

However, to save you time sifting through these channels, we diligently track them for the newest codes. So bookmark this page and check back often for easy rewards. For even more freebies, joining the Rumble Studios Roblox community unlocks additional rewards. If the code is not working, ensure you type the letters correctly. We suggest you copy the code directly from our page to stay clear of the errors.

With these free rewards in your pocket, your Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity journey will become easier. Did you spot a new code somewhere that is missing from our list? Do share it in the comments.

In November last year, Anthropic introduced an open-source project called the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The announcement didn’t grab headlines at the time, but MCP has since taken off. Now, both OpenAI and Google, the two leading AI labs in the world, have pledged to support the MCP standard. But what is MCP, and what are its applications in AI? We have explained the Model Context Protocol in detail below to help you understand how it works and its uses.

What is Model Context Protocol in AI?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source standard developed by Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI chatbot. MCP allows AI models to connect to external data, read them, and execute actions through a universal connector. You see, AI models are plenty powerful, but they live in isolation and can’t read your files or Slack messages.

For AI models to access external data or systems, companies have to build custom connectors for each application. MCP replaces all that with a universal connector (a common protocol) to interact with external data. For instance, you can use MCP to connect an AI model like Claude with Google Drive or GitHub.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) software used to be the territory of businesses as a means to enable their remote workers to access their internal networks and servers. VPNs were essential in securely extending the connection for remote workers to access sensitive business information as if they were in the office. Now, VPNs have moved outside the business space and are a requirement for users who desire privacy, security, and access freedom to content.

Why You Should Be Using a VPN Today: A Review of Opera VPN and Why Internet Privacy is Important

A modern VPN application aims to encrypt your online traffic and hide your IP address. With the ability to help keep sensitive information personal information out of the hands of hackers, surveillance, or even your ISP, modern VPNs are a critical component in the ongoing battle to keep your information safe.

Let’s examine why anyone concerned with online privacy requires a VPN today and how easy it is to start using one, like the free VPN built into Opera’s browser.

The Argument for Using a VPN: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Here’s a scenario: you are at a coffee shop with your laptop and there is a public Wi-Fi network that enables you to get some work done. Sounds great until you realize this is a danger. Public Wi-Fi networks are notoriously referred to as cybercriminal playgrounds due to lax security that is easily breached to steal information. Whether you are emailing, looking at sensitive documents, or even entering passwords, be assured your information is at risk.

That’s where a VPN comes in.

Your data is protected by a VPN because they encrypt the data being sent from your device which makes it unreadable to anyone who tries to intercept it. Unlike a VPN, it also protects a user’s real IP address that can be used to identify a user’s location and online activities. VPNs, however, provide their users with an IP address from their servers that are typically in a completely different region from the user’s actual geographical location.

This is not of critical importance for security – it is of critical importance for privacy. If you need to avoid targeted advertising, circumvent geo-blocks, or simply keep your browsing habits private, a VPN is the way to go.

Free and Paid VPNs: What You Should Know

Not all VPNs are made equal. It must be said. Free VPNs are helpful, albeit with downsides. These include slower speeds, data limits, and lower privacy. Paid VPNs are more reliable. They offer better performance, more data, stronger encryption, and a no-logs policy.

Opera’s VPN is one of a kind. It’s one of the few free ones that both works well and is easy to use. Although, it does have its limitations. Opera will not encrypt data from other apps or services on your device. In addition, while Opera claims not to collect users’ data, some privacy experts are suspicious of how it logs data.

However, if you are not ready to invest in a paid service, using Opera’s free VPN is a great move towards better online privacy.

How to Use Opera’s Built-in VPN

Now that you have understood the importance of VPNs, let us walk through the steps to enable Opera’s VPN on mobile and desktop platforms. It’s simple and does not require any technical expertise.

Using Opera VPN on Mobile (Android & iOS)

• Open the Opera browser on your mobile.
• Tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen.

• In the popup menu, tap the gear icon at the top-left corner to go to settings.
• Look for the VPN option in the settings.
• Tap the toggle switch to turn it on.

• Once turned on, all browsing on the Opera browser will be encrypted and routed through a VPN server, thus anonymizing your browsing session.

To enable Opera VPN on Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)

• Open the Opera desktop browser.
• Click the Opera icon at the top-left of the screen and select Settings (or open Settings directly from the sidebar).

• Navigate to Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
• Find the section labeled VPN and toggle the switch to Enable VPN.

• When it’s enabled, a small VPN icon will be present to the left of the address bar. You can click on this icon to monitor the VPN connection, switch virtual locations, or turn the VPN on and off as needed.

How to Check if Your VPN is Active

The following quick steps will help you check if your VPN is active or not:

• First, visit whatismyipaddress.com and see what your current IP address and location is.
  Proceed to the VPN, turn it on, and then reload the same website.
• You should now see a new IP address, provided that your VPN is working. The location will also be different and will match the VPN server that you are currently using.
• For example, if you are in New York in the USA, the VPN can show your location as Colima, Mexico. This means that your real IP is hidden and your internet usage is anonymous.

Other Tips on Using VPNs

• Be consistent: Develop the habit of using a VPN, especially when on public Wi-Fi or when logging into confidential accounts.
• Be aware of platform limits: Opera’s VPN works only within the browser. For full-device protection, consider installing a dedicated VPN app.
• Choose trusted providers: If privacy is your top priority, research VPN providers thoroughly. Look for those with verified no-logging policies and strong reputations.

Final Thoughts: A Small Step Toward Big Security

Several individuals can invade a person’s personal data, such as, but not limited to, hackers, trackers, and even machines. To ensure a certain degree of personal online privacy and security, a Virtual Private Network is much more convenient in comparaison o other options.

Opera does offer free VPN services, but it can be in use as an introduction because it does not offer as much choice as paid premium services. Additional features would make the browser more appealing for occasional users who are already Opera clients.

Considering what is on offer today, the sole reason holding one back from availing a VPN would be a deficiency of determination. It is no longer a privilege of tech-savvy individuals, but an everyday necessity whether for peace of mind or surfing the web without annoyance.