Month: February 2023
‘Pokémon Sleep’ will finally arrive this year, letting Pikachu join you in bed
We finally have an update on Pokémon Sleep, four years after it was first announced. At last, we may finally get some good Pokémon-themed rest.
Nintendo revealed our first look at Pokémon Sleep on Monday, sharing a teaser trailer as well as a video explaining how the game will work — though whether or not this app can actually be classified as a game is debatable.
SEE ALSO:
I still play Pokémon like an aggressive child and I regret nothing
Pokémon Sleep is basically a Pokémon-themed sleep tracker that somewhat gamifies getting a good night’s rest. Players leave their phone beside them when they go to bed, allowing Pokémon Sleep to record and analyse their snooze overnight.
The app also lets you set an alarm, or play relaxing sounds to help you drift off.
It will then offer statistics such as how long you’ve been asleep and the time it took to fall asleep, as well as breaking down your sleep into three “sleep styles”: Dozing, Snoozing, and Slumbering. Judging by screenshots of the app, these appear to be analogous with phases of sleep.
Pokémon that share the same sleep style as you will subsequently appear in the app, gathering around the giant sleeping Snorlax that is the focal point of the game’s island setting. There are also “rare in-game sleep styles” that might show up, such as “Goofy Sleep” or “Droopy-Eared Sleep,” with each species of Pokémon having various different sleep styles.
Guiding you along will be Professor Neroli, a new character introduced in Pokémon Sleep who is researching Pokémon’s sleeping habits.
Though not required, Pokémon Sleep will also pair with Pokémon GO Plus+, a new wearable that was also initially announced in 2019 before being delayed. A follow up to the Pokémon GO Plus, this device will alert Pokémon GO players of nearby PokéStops, and also contains an accelerometer to track your sleeping.
It also has a Pikachu trapped inside it, who “grows friendlier the more sleep you get together” and can be made to sing you lullabies, just in case you wanted to fall asleep to a repetitive refrain of “pika pika Pikachu.”
Pokémon Sleep isn’t the first time Pokémon has flirted with health gadgets. In 1998, Nintendo released Pokémon Pikachu, a digital pet and pedometer that let players buy in-game items using currency earned by walking. This was followed by the Pokéwalker pedometer in 2009, which could connect to Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver to grant Pokémon experience based on the player’s step count. And, of course, millions of people got moving when Pokémon GO was released in 2016.
Even so, Pokémon Sleep is the franchise’s first venture into sleep tracking. I’m not sure if I would call this a game, per se, but at least it might encourage some kids to go to bed on time.
Originally scheduled for release in 2020, Pokémon Sleep will now launch in summer 2023.
We finally have an update on Pokémon Sleep, four years after it was first announced. At last, we may finally get some good Pokémon-themed rest.
Nintendo revealed our first look at Pokémon Sleep on Monday, sharing a teaser trailer as well as a video explaining how the game will work — though whether or not this app can actually be classified as a game is debatable.
Pokémon Sleep is basically a Pokémon-themed sleep tracker that somewhat gamifies getting a good night’s rest. Players leave their phone beside them when they go to bed, allowing Pokémon Sleep to record and analyse their snooze overnight.
The app also lets you set an alarm, or play relaxing sounds to help you drift off.
It will then offer statistics such as how long you’ve been asleep and the time it took to fall asleep, as well as breaking down your sleep into three “sleep styles”: Dozing, Snoozing, and Slumbering. Judging by screenshots of the app, these appear to be analogous with phases of sleep.
Pokémon that share the same sleep style as you will subsequently appear in the app, gathering around the giant sleeping Snorlax that is the focal point of the game’s island setting. There are also “rare in-game sleep styles” that might show up, such as “Goofy Sleep” or “Droopy-Eared Sleep,” with each species of Pokémon having various different sleep styles.
Guiding you along will be Professor Neroli, a new character introduced in Pokémon Sleep who is researching Pokémon’s sleeping habits.
Though not required, Pokémon Sleep will also pair with Pokémon GO Plus+, a new wearable that was also initially announced in 2019 before being delayed. A follow up to the Pokémon GO Plus, this device will alert Pokémon GO players of nearby PokéStops, and also contains an accelerometer to track your sleeping.
It also has a Pikachu trapped inside it, who “grows friendlier the more sleep you get together” and can be made to sing you lullabies, just in case you wanted to fall asleep to a repetitive refrain of “pika pika Pikachu.”
Pokémon Sleep isn’t the first time Pokémon has flirted with health gadgets. In 1998, Nintendo released Pokémon Pikachu, a digital pet and pedometer that let players buy in-game items using currency earned by walking. This was followed by the Pokéwalker pedometer in 2009, which could connect to Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver to grant Pokémon experience based on the player’s step count. And, of course, millions of people got moving when Pokémon GO was released in 2016.
Even so, Pokémon Sleep is the franchise’s first venture into sleep tracking. I’m not sure if I would call this a game, per se, but at least it might encourage some kids to go to bed on time.
Originally scheduled for release in 2020, Pokémon Sleep will now launch in summer 2023.
Students can quote ChatGPT in essays as long as they do not pass the work off as their own, international qualification body says
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Xiaomi’s 300W demo fully charges a phone in five minutes
Back in late October, we saw Xiaomi releasing its 210W mobile charging tech by way of its Redmi sub-brand, and this was eventually beaten by a 240W version from Realme — part of the Oppo and OnePlus family — in early February. Given that it’s MWC week, today Xiaomi swiftly responded with a whopping 300W demo, which brought the charging time down to a little under five minutes — almost half that of the two aforementioned achievements. Xiaomi added that this new 300W charger comes in the same size as its earlier 210W counterpart, thanks to a better modular design plus heat dissipation on the inside.
The 300W demo featured a Redmi Note 12 Pro+ modified with a 4,100mAh battery, which is a little smaller than the 4,300mAh in the 210W Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition (and the Realme has a far more generous 4,600mAh). As you can see in the video, the phone reached 20 percent in just a little over one minute, followed by the 50 percent mark in 2 minutes 12 seconds, and then 100 percent in just a little under 5 minutes. The power meter indicated a peak input of a little over 290W for the charger, and it also managed to sustain 280W and above for around two minutes at one point.
The company said the battery here pack more powerful 15C cells (as opposed to the 10C cells in the Discovery Edition), which consist of new carbon materials in place of some of the conventional graphite parts, thus reducing the electrodes’ thickness by 35 percent. Together with an improved electrolyte formula, this lithium ion battery can pack a higher power density with a faster charge and discharge rate, while apparently reducing the amount of heat produced in the process. These ultra-thin cells are then stacked with thermal materials in between as part of a new “sandwich” design, in order to optimize heat dissipation while making better use of internal space. As far as safety is concerned, Xiaomi claimed that there are over 50 features built into the system to keep tabs on the current, voltage and temperature on each charging chip.
Xiaomi’s announcement today has definitely set another milestone for the mobile industry, though the company didn’t mention whether this 300W charging tech will be mass produced. Nor did Xiaomi share figures on charging cycles, which makes for a sober reminder of how battery lifespan can be affected by higher charging power.
Back in late October, we saw Xiaomi releasing its 210W mobile charging tech by way of its Redmi sub-brand, and this was eventually beaten by a 240W version from Realme — part of the Oppo and OnePlus family — in early February. Given that it’s MWC week, today Xiaomi swiftly responded with a whopping 300W demo, which brought the charging time down to a little under five minutes — almost half that of the two aforementioned achievements. Xiaomi added that this new 300W charger comes in the same size as its earlier 210W counterpart, thanks to a better modular design plus heat dissipation on the inside.
The 300W demo featured a Redmi Note 12 Pro+ modified with a 4,100mAh battery, which is a little smaller than the 4,300mAh in the 210W Redmi Note 12 Discovery Edition (and the Realme has a far more generous 4,600mAh). As you can see in the video, the phone reached 20 percent in just a little over one minute, followed by the 50 percent mark in 2 minutes 12 seconds, and then 100 percent in just a little under 5 minutes. The power meter indicated a peak input of a little over 290W for the charger, and it also managed to sustain 280W and above for around two minutes at one point.
The company said the battery here pack more powerful 15C cells (as opposed to the 10C cells in the Discovery Edition), which consist of new carbon materials in place of some of the conventional graphite parts, thus reducing the electrodes’ thickness by 35 percent. Together with an improved electrolyte formula, this lithium ion battery can pack a higher power density with a faster charge and discharge rate, while apparently reducing the amount of heat produced in the process. These ultra-thin cells are then stacked with thermal materials in between as part of a new “sandwich” design, in order to optimize heat dissipation while making better use of internal space. As far as safety is concerned, Xiaomi claimed that there are over 50 features built into the system to keep tabs on the current, voltage and temperature on each charging chip.
Xiaomi’s announcement today has definitely set another milestone for the mobile industry, though the company didn’t mention whether this 300W charging tech will be mass produced. Nor did Xiaomi share figures on charging cycles, which makes for a sober reminder of how battery lifespan can be affected by higher charging power.
Quordle today – hints and answers for Tuesday, February 28 (game #400)
Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.
If you’re already a Wordle addict then Quordle could be your next must-play game. This spin-off takes the familiar Wordle format and makes it harder by giving you four puzzles to solve simultaneously.
As you might imagine, it’s hard! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues, you’ll probably need some for Quordle too.
I’m a Quordle and Wordle addict who’s been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #400 and bookmark this page so you can easily return tomorrow.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #400) – 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 #400) – hint #2 – total vowels
What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?
• The total number of vowels across today’s Quordle answers is 8.
Quordle today (game #400) – hint #3 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #400) – hint #4 – total letters
How many different letters are used in Quordle today?
• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 12.
Quordle today (game #400) – hint #5 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #400) – hint #6 – starting letters (1)
Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?
• The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #400) – hint #7 – starting letters (2)
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• S
• O
• M
• C
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #400) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #400, are…
SHEAR
ORGAN
MURAL
COUCH
I found today’s Quordle to be pretty tough, although a glance at the answers would suggest I shouldn’t have done. Maybe I was distracted. Anyway, the repeated C in COUCH is the only major complication here, aside from the fact that as always you have to guess smartly or risk leaving yourself too much to do. I didn’t do that today and therefore struggled home on the final guess, with no margin for error. Phew!
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #399, Monday 27 February: AMBER, LAYER, CRUDE, DITTY
Quordle #398, Sunday 26 February: CIVIC, KOALA, STINT, RARER
Quordle #397, Saturday 25 February: CONIC, OMEGA, CADET, CANNY
Quordle #396, Friday 24 February: RIVET, CREAK, CACHE, CHILL
Quordle #395, Thursday 23 February: DRAFT, JERKY, DOZEN, BLINK
Quordle #394, Wednesday 22 February: AMAZE, TOKEN, MANGA, BOOZY
Quordle #393, Tuesday 21 February: EXIST, FLAIR, TAROT, TRUST
Quordle #392, Monday 20 February: LOYAL, CAMEL, ODDLY, QUITE
Quordle #391, Sunday 19 February: CLEAT, BLESS, TODAY, CONCH
Quordle #390, Saturday 18 February: PROSE, LEACH, FLUTE, FOLIO
Quordle #389, Friday 17 February: CLIFF, FREAK, MOUTH, TROOP
Quordle #388, Thursday 16 February: CLEAT, CHUNK, SNARE, TURBO
Quordle #387, Wednesday 15 February: REBUT, SHIRT, CLASH, SCAMP
Quordle #386, Tuesday 13 February: AMONG, GULCH, HALVE, OUTGO
Quordle #385, Monday 13 February: WOOER, STATE, FERAL, STRIP
Quordle #384, Sunday 12 February: PLUMP, DRYLY, BASIL, TEASE
Quordle #383, Saturday 11 February: SWAMI, DOGMA, SIEVE, BOUND
Quordle #382, Friday 10 February: TURBO, STRAY, FRILL, CLOWN
Quordle #381, Thursday 9 February: BADLY, LUNGE, GAUDY, GAZER
Quordle #380, Wednesday 8 February: OCTET, CAMEO, STRUT, MONEY
Quordle FAQs: Everything you need to know
What is Quordle?
Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar.
It’s played online via the Quordle website and you can also get to it via the Merriam-Webster site, after the dictionary purchased Quordle last year.
As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you’re competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.
The website also includes a practice mode – which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! – and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements – specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.
Oh, and it’s difficult. Really difficult.
What are the Quordle rules?
The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.
1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.
2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.
3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…
4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two.
5. Answers are never plural.
6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.
7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle’s dictionary. You can’t guess ABCDE, for instance.
8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle’s Hard mode.
9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.
10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.
What is a good Quordle strategy?
Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can’t blindly throw letters at it and expect to win – you’ll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.
That’s the case in Wordle too, of course, but it’s even more important in Quordle.
There are two key things to remember.
1. Use several starting words
Firstly, you won’t want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words.
The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.
For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options – you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe – but something like that should do the trick.
If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!
2. Narrow things down
Secondly, if you’re faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options – for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH – you’ll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options.
In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It’s risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it’s the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure – you simply don’t have enough guesses.
In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.
AI Could Be Made Obsolete by ‘OI’ — Biocomputers Running on Human Brain Cells – CNET
Scientists are pushing for the development of “biocomputers” running off the processing power of living brain cells.
Scientists are pushing for the development of “biocomputers” running off the processing power of living brain cells.
The Mobile Industry Is Increasingly Powered by Renewable Energy – CNET
Every industry has a responsibility to reduce its climate impact by lowering emissions. The mobile industry is no different.
Every industry has a responsibility to reduce its climate impact by lowering emissions. The mobile industry is no different.