Tag: Phones and Gadgets

On March 20, Huawei held the Pura Pioneer Festival and introduced HarmonyOS 5 (Hongmeng 5). The company also launched the Huawei Pura X, the first phone to come with HarmonyOS 5 pre-installed. This marks the start of the system’s official rollout.

The new update improves speed, AI features, device connection, and security. Huawei also shared an upgrade plan for older devices. The Mate70 series will be among the first to get HarmonyOS 5. Huawei aims to build a strong and independent system, giving users another choice besides Android and iOS.

Top Features of HarmonyOS 5

Huawei has introduced several major upgrades with HarmonyOS 5, focusing on performance, convenience, AI-powered automation, and cross-device capabilities. Below are the top 10 highlights of the new operating system.

1. Faster and Smoother Performance

Huawei says HarmonyOS 5 is 30% faster than before. Apps open quicker, scrolling is smoother, and switching between apps is effortless. The system also uses memory better, freeing up to 1.2GB of RAM. This helps older devices run more smoothly.

The improved system also extends battery life. Phones running HarmonyOS 5 use less power when running apps, browsing the web, or playing games. Users will notice fewer lags and a longer battery lifespan.

2. Easy File Sharing with Touch-to-Share

Users can now share photos, videos, and documents by bringing two Huawei devices close together. This keeps the original quality of files and works for shopping links, videos, and games too.

Users no longer need to send files through third-party apps or cloud services. This feature works offline and allows instant file transfers without losing quality. It also keeps private files more secure since they don’t go through the internet.

3. Smarter Xiaoyi AI Assistant

Xiaoyi, Huawei’s AI assistant, is now smarter. It can help with travel plans, document organization, and local services. Users can ask Xiaoyi for help by voice or text.

For example, if you need a travel guide for Huangshan, Xiaoyi will create an itinerary, a list of attractions, and restaurant suggestions in seconds. It also provides quick answers for government services, like real estate registration locations.

Xiaoyi can also help with daily tasks. Users can ask for reminders, schedule meetings, or organize to-do lists. The assistant learns user preferences and gives better suggestions over time.

4. Drag-and-Drop AI Features

Users can drag and drop images, files, and text onto Xiaoyi to get instant help.

Examples:

• Drag a financial report, and Xiaoyi will summarize key points.
• Drag a product image, and Xiaoyi will find similar items online.
• Drag a document, and Xiaoyi will organize the data into a table.

This makes tasks faster and easier. Students, office workers, and content creators will find this feature useful.

5. Live Windows for Real-Time Updates

HarmonyOS 5 adds Live Windows, similar to Apple’s Live Activities. It lets users see real-time updates without opening an app.

Examples:

• Track food deliveries on the lock screen.
• Follow ride-sharing updates without opening the app.
• View fitness stats while doing other tasks.

This makes checking important information quick and easy.

6. Faster QR Code Scanning

Users can now scan and pay instantly without opening an app.

New features:

• Auto-scan on unlocking—no need to search for the QR scanner.
• Long-distance scanning for faraway codes, like in parking lots.
• Quick payments with Huawei Pay and Alipay.

This makes shopping and payments faster. It also improves security by avoiding fake QR codes that redirect to harmful websites.

7. Knuckle Gestures for Quick Actions

Users can draw a circle on the screen with their knuckle to quickly grab important information from messages, images, or web pages.

For example, if you see an address, phone number, or reservation code, just circle it, and HarmonyOS will save it instantly.

Huawei first introduced knuckle gestures in older models, but now they work faster and recognize more types of content.

8. Sync Content Across Devices

HarmonyOS 5 syncs content across Huawei devices. Users can switch between their phone, tablet, and PC without losing progress.

Examples:

• Read a book on your phone and continue from the same page on your tablet.
• Start a movie on your PC and finish it on your phone.
• Edit a report on your laptop, and it updates on all devices.

This creates a smooth multi-device experience. It is useful for students, professionals, and entertainment lovers.

9. Stronger Privacy and Security

Huawei improved privacy controls in HarmonyOS 5.

New security features:

• Blocks apps from accessing call logs and messages without permission.
• Stops apps from tracking users unnecessarily.
• Gives users temporary permissions for one-time photo access.

These upgrades protect user data and increase control over privacy. Users will get real-time alerts when apps try to access sensitive information.

10. Better Multi-Device Connection

Huawei made cross-device sharing easier.

Users can:

• Copy text on their phone and paste it on a PC instantly.
• Access tablet photos from a phone without cloud storage.
• Edit a drawing on a tablet, and changes appear on a PC in real-time.

This allows for seamless work across multiple devices. It is perfect for students, designers, and business professionals.

Huawei Pura X: First Phone with HarmonyOS 5

Huawei will launch the Pura X on March 30. It will have:

• A 6.3-inch wide foldable display for an immersive experience.
• A 3.5-inch outer screen, making it easy to use when folded.
• HarmonyOS 5, offering a smooth and feature-rich experience.

With HarmonyOS 5, the Pura X offers a unique smartphone experience, different from Android and iOS.

Final Thoughts

HarmonyOS 5 improves speed, AI, device connections, and security. It gives users a better, smarter, and safer experience. As Huawei continues to build its own system, it offers an exciting alternative to Android and iOS. More devices will get HarmonyOS 5 in the coming months, making the Huawei ecosystem stronger than ever.

NYT Wordle is a satisfying and tricky test of vocabulary and logic that challenges players to guess a new five-letter word every day. However, things can get a little too challenging at times, and that probably explains why you’re here. So, if you don’t want to break your word-guessing streak or get too frustrated, take a look at today’s Wordle hints and answer for puzzle #1381 for March 31, 2025, down below!

How to Play Wordle

Wordle is a word puzzle game by The New York Times. You are given six attempts to guess a five-letter word. The letters are highlighted in Yellow, Green, and Grey when you input a word. Yellow denotes that the letter appears in today’s Wordle answer, but it’s not at the right spot. Meanwhile, when a letter turns green, it means you have guessed the right letter in the right position. At last, a grey letter means the letter is not part of today’s answer.

While it may seem that winning at Wordle is easy, it is difficult to get that pesky five-letter word right. To help you out, here are some quick tips on how to play Wordle:

• Open with a strong word – Using the right Wordle starting words rich with multiple vowels and consonants is important. While you can take a look at our dedicated guide, starting words like AISLE, SALTY, and DINER are my go-to choices.
• Pay attention to colors – Keep track of the yellow, green, and grayed-out letters to eliminate incorrect positions and letters. To make every guess count, avoid accidentally repeating letters that have already been eliminated.
• Isolate the vowels – There can be days when your usual starting words don’t help much. In that case, try to test the remaining vowels by using different words.
• Repeating letters is good – Don’t be afraid of repeating letters as history is proof that there are chances the Wordle answer will have one or two letters that repeat themselves.
• Use the Wordlebot – As described above, NYT’s Wordlebot is an intuitive bot that analyzes your responses and compares them against itself. Instilling some healthy competition can help you improve your own Wordle guessing and see what you could have done better.

If you still need more details, learn how to play Wordle and check out more Wordle tips and tricks to ensure you get the answer almost every time.

Hints for Today’s Wordle Answer for March 31

We know you are here for Wordle hints and clues, and we are eager to help you. Like always, to assist you with today’s puzzle, we list the starting word for today’s Wordle answer, whether it has any vowels or repeating letters, and more.

After that, we also provide an additional hint for today’s Wordle game to get one step closer to the answer. So scroll down if you’re ready. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Does Today’s Wordle Have Any Vowels?

Today’s Wordle answer for Monday, March 31, 2025, has a vowel repeated twice.

If you guess the vowels correctly, there is a high possibility that you will guess the correct 5-letter answer in no time.

Does the Wordle Today Have Double Letters?

Well, there are double letters in the Wordle answer today.

What Does Today’s Wordle Answer Start with?

Today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter “B.”

Spoiler Warning:

Scroll slowly past this point. Major hint and answer for today’s Wordle #1381 lie ahead.

Additional Hint for Today’s Wordle Answer

If the above-mentioned hints haven’t helped much, here’s the Wordle cheat hint that will definitely get you to the answer. The final hint for today is:

Slang for buttocks.

What Is Today’s Wordle Answer?

The answer for Wordle today on March 31, 2025, is BOOTY.

Meaning of Booty — While it’s most commonly used in modern day as a slang for buttocks, booty also refers to valuable items that were taken during the war or through robbery.

The NYT Wordle today is, well, interesting. I honestly didn’t see it coming, and that’s probably why it was a bit challenging. It started off like a normal Wordle puzzle initially, and I got a green “T” and “Y” with SALTY. Next, I tried POUCH, which confirmed “O” as the second letter. It was when I tried BOATY and everything but the A turned green, that was when the challenge began. I tried BOTTY next, but that didn’t lead anywhere either. I finally gave in to my intrusive thoughts, and BOOTY turned out to be the Wordle answer for the day. Like I said, interesting.

Do you also solve NYT Connections and Strands every day? Check out our posts for Strands hints for March 31 and Connections hints for March 31 since they include helpful tips and clues to today’s puzzles.

Previous Wordle Answers

For regular Wordle players, we have curated the answers of all past Wordle answers in one place. If you are trying to find patterns in these word puzzles, check out our list of past Wordle answers.

Why Is Wordle Still So Popular?

Despite over 1,350 puzzles and nearly four years since its initial surge, Wordle is still going strong as a free-to-play word puzzle game that it is. What started as a simple game to pass the time during the pandemic has now become a daily habit for millions of The New York Times readers.

Just like reading your early morning newspaper, Wordle adds some productive value to your daily life as a brainteaser, which explains the incredible player base. Some avid Wordle players even stay up late to solve the puzzle as soon as it releases at 12:00 AM local time.

The fact that there’s a single puzzle on a daily basis that every player tries to solve makes it all the more competitive and challenging. According to a report by The Conversation, just in 2022, Wordle had around a whopping 3 million users across the world. As of 2025, one can only imagine where this number has soared.

That said, if you are one of them, hope the Wordle hints we shared today helped you figure out the answer without having to scroll to the answer.

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 #659 to help you get to the answers for March 31, 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 March 31, 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 ingest something
• Green Category – In addition to
• Blue Category – All found near a specific machine
• Purple Category – A word comes after all these

Do you also solve Strands from The New York Times every day? Our articles include Strands hints for March 31 and Wordle hints for March 31, useful tips to help you figure out the answers to these puzzles.

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, March 31, 2025.

• Yellow – CONSUMED
• Green – ALSO
• Blue – ATM OPTIONS
• Purple – _ _ _ PLAY

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 March 31, 2025

The answers for Connections today, on March 31, 2025, are:

• CONSUMED – Ate, Had, Put Away, Took In
• ALSO – As Well, Besides, To Boot, Too
• ATM OPTIONS – Balance, Deposit, Transfer, Withdrawal
• _ _ _ PLAY – Fore, Horse, Screen, Word

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, March 31, 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: “That’s an equine of a different shade!”

The theme for today’s Strands on March 31, 2025, is — That’s an equine of a different shade!

If you can’t figure out answers for today’s puzzle, here’s a quick Strands hint — think of various hues of stallions or the kind.

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 variety of white grape used to make sherry and fortified wines.
• Hint #2: the soft, strong leather made from a deer or sheep.

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

The Spangram for today’s Strands on March 31, 2025, is mostly VERTICAL. It starts with the letters “HO“.

The hint for today’s Spangram for Strands — different shades of coat you’d find on your favorite hoofed domestic animal.

Spoiler Warning:

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

Today’s NYT Strands Answers for March 31, 2025

Today’s Strands Spangram Answer

The Spangram answer for today’s Strands on March 31, 2025, is — HorseColorings

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:

• ROAN
• DAPPLE
• BUCKSKIN
• CHESTNUT
• PALOMINO

The answers for today’s Strands were kinda tricky. I had to use some hints to get the first theme words – ROAN and DAPPLE. Once I spotted COLOR, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the puzzle revealed itself.

Do you also happen to play NYT Connections daily? If so, you can check out Wordle hints for March 31 and Connections hints for March 31 for answers and step-by-step guides to these puzzles.

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 Strategies for Mastering NYT Strands Puzzle

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.

Besides all the new islands the Fisch Second Sea update has brought, we have a lot more in store. Instead of a particular area, this time it’s the entire Open Ocean on offer. Packing almost two dozen fishes, the Open Ocean in Fisch’s new update is one you should discover. Want to catch all the creations found here? Keep reading as we show you how to complete the Open Ocean Bestiary in Fisch here.

Full List of Open Ocean Bestiary in Fisch

The very basic requirement to get to the Second Sea in Fisch is to complete the Cthulhu boss fight. This can be done at Terrapin Island after interacting with the Sea Traveler NPC. Once done, you will teleport to the Waveborne island that looks similar to Moosewood in the first sea.

So, having reached this new world, you can spawn your boat in a similar way as before at the Shipwright and then explore the open ocean. Fishing anywhere on the water body except for the regions close to the islands will give you fishes from the Open Ocean Bestiary.

In this vast region, you will find 22 fishes, including two Secrets, two Exotics, and three Mythicals as well. However, it is worth noting that the last Dogefin fish is currently unobtainable due to a bug in the game. So, here is the list of all fishes you will get along with their preferences: