Month: January 2025
Nvidia CEO: Quantum Computers Won’t Be Very Useful for Another 20 Years
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computers won’t be very useful for another 20 years, causing stocks in this emerging sector to plunge more than 40% for a total market value loss of over $8 billion. “If you kind of said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that’d probably be on the early side. If you said 30, is probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it,” Huang said during a Q&A with analysts. PCMag reports: The field of quantum computing hasn’t gotten nearly as much hype as generative AI and the tech giants promoting it in the past few years. Right now, part of the reason quantum computers aren’t currently that helpful is because of their error rates. Nord Quantique CEO Julien Lemyre previously told PCMag that quantum error correction is the future of the field, and his firm is working on a solution. The errors that qubits, the basic unit of information in a quantum machine, currently make result in quantum computers being largely unhelpful. It’s an essential hurdle to overcomeâ”but we don’t currently know if or when quantum errors will be eliminated.
Chris Erven, CEO and co-founder of Kets Quantum, believes quantum computers will eventually pose a significant threat to cybersecurity. “China is making some of the largest investments in quantum computing, pumping in billions of dollars into research and development in the hope of being the first to create a large-scale, cryptographically relevant machine,” Erven tells PCMag in a statement. “Although they may be a few years away from being fully operational, we know a quantum computer will be capable of breaking all traditional cyber defenses we currently use. So they, and others, are actively harvesting now, to decrypt later.” “The 15 to 20-year timeline seems very realistic,” said Ivana Delevska, investment chief of Spear Invest, which holds Rigetti and IonQ shares in an actively managed ETF. “That is roughly what it took Nvidia to develop accelerated computing.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computers won’t be very useful for another 20 years, causing stocks in this emerging sector to plunge more than 40% for a total market value loss of over $8 billion. “If you kind of said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that’d probably be on the early side. If you said 30, is probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it,” Huang said during a Q&A with analysts. PCMag reports: The field of quantum computing hasn’t gotten nearly as much hype as generative AI and the tech giants promoting it in the past few years. Right now, part of the reason quantum computers aren’t currently that helpful is because of their error rates. Nord Quantique CEO Julien Lemyre previously told PCMag that quantum error correction is the future of the field, and his firm is working on a solution. The errors that qubits, the basic unit of information in a quantum machine, currently make result in quantum computers being largely unhelpful. It’s an essential hurdle to overcomeâ”but we don’t currently know if or when quantum errors will be eliminated.
Chris Erven, CEO and co-founder of Kets Quantum, believes quantum computers will eventually pose a significant threat to cybersecurity. “China is making some of the largest investments in quantum computing, pumping in billions of dollars into research and development in the hope of being the first to create a large-scale, cryptographically relevant machine,” Erven tells PCMag in a statement. “Although they may be a few years away from being fully operational, we know a quantum computer will be capable of breaking all traditional cyber defenses we currently use. So they, and others, are actively harvesting now, to decrypt later.” “The 15 to 20-year timeline seems very realistic,” said Ivana Delevska, investment chief of Spear Invest, which holds Rigetti and IonQ shares in an actively managed ETF. “That is roughly what it took Nvidia to develop accelerated computing.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
TikTok to make final plea at Supreme Court against US ban
TikTok is hoping to win a challenge against law that would see it banned from the US this month.
TikTok is hoping to win a challenge against law that would see it banned from the US this month.
Apple’s weird iPhone alarm problems are still happening
Image: Satechi
Apple acknowledged issues with the reliability of the iPhone’s built-in alarm feature last April after a report by NBC’s Today morning show and said it was working on a fix, but some people are still having trouble. Android Authority points out this Reddit post by bryanlolwut in the r/iPhone subreddit from Wednesday with a picture of an iPhone with an Alarm set for 10:30, but the alarm goes off at 12:42 instead — the time displayed on an Apple Watch.
Late into Thursday, many Reddit users are still commenting on the thread, saying they’re having similar issues.
“My morning alarm was displaying as going off while making no sound and no haptics for 40 minutes,” said Slawek_Zupa. Another post says their alarm went off at 5PM when it was supposed to go off at 7AM.
The reports in the thread today include people still using iOS 17 and others who have updated to iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence.
Some say they’ve tried turning off Apple’s Attention Awareness Features, which can reduce the alarm volume when it goes off if the iPhone detects your face. However, it hasn’t solved the problem for many, and you lose out on features like seeing full notifications on your lock screen.
We’ve asked Apple if they’re still looking into this problem, but we have not received a response yet. Personally, I’ve also noticed my iPhone sometimes doesn’t make sounds or vibrate in the morning, but it does drop down a lifeless notification as if it did. Luckily, I’ve got a Google Pixel 8 Pro as a backup that usually gets me going, and I’m trying the Nintendo Alarmo, too, but my wife has had enough of Zelda yelling at Link to wake up.
Image: Satechi
Apple acknowledged issues with the reliability of the iPhone’s built-in alarm feature last April after a report by NBC’s Today morning show and said it was working on a fix, but some people are still having trouble. Android Authority points out this Reddit post by bryanlolwut in the r/iPhone subreddit from Wednesday with a picture of an iPhone with an Alarm set for 10:30, but the alarm goes off at 12:42 instead — the time displayed on an Apple Watch.
Late into Thursday, many Reddit users are still commenting on the thread, saying they’re having similar issues.
“My morning alarm was displaying as going off while making no sound and no haptics for 40 minutes,” said Slawek_Zupa. Another post says their alarm went off at 5PM when it was supposed to go off at 7AM.
The reports in the thread today include people still using iOS 17 and others who have updated to iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence.
Some say they’ve tried turning off Apple’s Attention Awareness Features, which can reduce the alarm volume when it goes off if the iPhone detects your face. However, it hasn’t solved the problem for many, and you lose out on features like seeing full notifications on your lock screen.
We’ve asked Apple if they’re still looking into this problem, but we have not received a response yet. Personally, I’ve also noticed my iPhone sometimes doesn’t make sounds or vibrate in the morning, but it does drop down a lifeless notification as if it did. Luckily, I’ve got a Google Pixel 8 Pro as a backup that usually gets me going, and I’m trying the Nintendo Alarmo, too, but my wife has had enough of Zelda yelling at Link to wake up.
ICON, a builder of 3D printed homes last valued around $2 billion, cuts about 25% of staff
ICON Technologies Inc., which builds homes using 3D printing, is laying off 114 people, according to a WARN letter filed with the Texas Workforce Commission. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the news to TechCrunch, providing a statement that ICON had “recently made a difficult decision to re-align” its team and team size “to focus
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
ICON Technologies Inc., which builds homes using 3D printing, is laying off 114 people, according to a WARN letter filed with the Texas Workforce Commission. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the news to TechCrunch, providing a statement that ICON had “recently made a difficult decision to re-align” its team and team size “to focus […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Quordle today – my hints and answers for Friday, January 10 (game #1082)
Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
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 #1082) – 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 #1082) – 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 1.
Quordle today (game #1082) – 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.
Quordle today (game #1082) – hint #4 – 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 #1082) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• B
• I
• L
• T
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1082) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1082, are…
BIGOT
INLET
LEECH
TUNIC
I’m on a two-day streak of clearing Quordle in seven lines, thanks to some super-lucky guesswork today – the C in TUNIC helping me get LEECH.
Again, I came close to finishing on my sixth go, but chose the wrong word ending in OT.
Sticking to the same two start words is also helping me get more consistent, but I’m not sure if using a double E word is useful or a waste of a letter.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Daily Sequence today (game #1082) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1082, are…
TENET
ROOST
OLIVE
SERVE
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE
Quordle #1080, Wednesday 8 January: MINCE, SADLY, RISEN, VOUCH
Quordle #1079, Tuesday 7 January: CREED, FILET, ROUTE, TAPER
Quordle #1078, Monday 6 January: PIVOT, WOOLY, GRUNT, GROOM
Quordle #1077, Sunday 5 January: BORAX, JUDGE, CADET, SALON
Quordle #1076, Saturday 4 January: CORER, CRATE, QUASI, EXIST
Quordle #1075, Friday 3 January: PERKY, QUARK, NAVEL, SHEEN
Quordle #1074, Thursday 2 January: UNIFY, SWORE, DEPOT, INTRO
Quordle #1073, Wednesday 1 January: CLING, SUITE, WORRY, TONIC
Quordle #1072, Tuesday 31 December: PLUMP, TUBER, IRATE, ICILY
Quordle #1071, Monday 30 December: TODDY, GROIN, GROWN, VERVE
Quordle #1070, Sunday 29 December: PURER, SPLAT, RABID, EMCEE
Quordle #1069, Saturday 28 December: BUNCH, LABOR, TRIPE, BUNNY
Quordle #1068, Friday 27 December: BRAWL, LYING, ORGAN, CRONY
Quordle #1067, Thursday 26 December: TATTY, OVERT, FLOUR, SWEPT
Quordle #1066, Wednesday 25 December: LIVER, CRIER, SHORE, MURKY
Quordle #1065, Tuesday 24 December: TIPSY, SCALE, FLYER, VALVE
Quordle #1064, Monday 23 December: SNAKE, SAVVY, ELBOW, TWEED
Quordle #1063, Sunday 22 December: DOUBT, SLURP, PAPER, CIVIL
Quordle #1062, Saturday 21 December: STRIP, BUDGE, SAPPY, SHELF
NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Friday, January 10 (game #313)
Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, including the spangram.
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #313) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… They’re inseparable
NYT Strands today (game #313) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
STORY
CLEAR
BEAR
HEAL
RULE
BLUR
NYT Strands today (game #313) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Words with friends
NYT Strands today (game #313) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: left, 5th row
Last side: 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 #313) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #313, are…
ARTS
CRAFTS
MILK
CEREAL
SOAP
WATER
RHYTHM
BLUES
SPANGRAM: TOGETHER
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
My first thoughts after seeing today’s theme was famous married couples or double acts, but Strands is rarely that straightforward.
Instead, we were given some words that enjoy hanging out together – MILK and CEREAL, SOAP and WATER, ARTS and CRAFTS, and big mates RHYTHM and BLUES. Rhythm is a word I always struggle to spell correctly, so it took me a while to connect the letters even though I knew what I was looking for. It just looks weird, the R, the H, the Y, the M at the end.
There were lots of “TOGETHER” words missing, of course, including a few that are never heard unless alongside their companions – Kith and Kin for example, great ’80s synth band (not really) Flotsam and Jetsam, To and Fro, or my favourite Kit and Caboodle. I think we should set “caboodle” free from ”kit” and get it some limelight of its own. It’s a great word that deserves to be more than a dog food brand. My pals might think I’m mad but I’m going to get it into a conversation – I’m going to be selling a caboodle of clothes on eBay and I’m going to be having caboodles of fun at the roller disco on Saturday. 2025 word of the year, caboodle, I can see it now.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 9 January, game #312)
BIGEYE
BLUEFIN
SKIPJACK
ALBACORE
YELLOWFIN
SPANGRAM: TUNA FAMILY
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable 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.
NYT Connections today — my hints and answers for Friday, January 10 (game #579)
Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.
Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.
What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #579) – today’s words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
SUGAR
GOAT
RELAX
ORANGE
HOST
REST
DOOR
HINGE
EASY
RYE
DEPEND
CAR
RELY
CHILL
ENOUGH
BITTERS
NYT Connections today (game #579) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Stand by me
GREEN: Take the pressure off
BLUE: Classic cocktail
PURPLE: Game show brain teaser
Need more clues?
We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #579) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: BE CONTINGENT (ON)
GREEN: “CALM DOWN”
BLUE: INGREDIENTS IN AN OLD FASHIONED
PURPLE: FEATURED IN THE MONTY HALL PROBLEM
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #579) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Connections, game #579, are…
YELLOW: BE CONTINGENT (ON) DEPEND, HINGE, RELY, REST
GREEN: “CALM DOWN” CHILL, EASY, ENOUGH, RELAX
BLUE: INGREDIENTS IN AN OLD FASHIONED BITTERS, ORANGE, RYE, SUGAR
PURPLE: FEATURED IN THE MONTY HALL PROBLEM CAR, DOOR, GOAT, HOST
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 mistakes
I was completely unaware of the “Monty Hall problem” and even after reading its Wikipedia page (views of which will reach a record high today) – much like Schrödinger’s cat – I still don’t get it. I’d stick with my initial guess, or pick the GOAT. Thankfully, my job here is revealing the answers to Connections, not explaining Connections categories.
The other colors were much easier, especially INGREDIENTS IN AN OLD FASHIONED, as BITTERS are not used for much else. I did waste a mistake on “CALM DOWN”, picking REST instead of ENOUGH before switching focus to the list of dependables.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Thursday, 9 January, game #578)
YELLOW: VENDOR’S SPOT AT A MARKET BOOTH, STALL, STAND, TABLE
GREEN: DOG COMMANDS COME, HEEL, SIT, STAY
BLUE: CORPORATE DEPARTMENTS FINANCE, IT, LEGAL, SALES
PURPLE: LAST WORDS IN “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL” FROM, SEA, SHINING, TO
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.