• Todays Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Tuesday, August 6, 2024
    lifehacker.com
    If youre looking for the Wordle answer for August 6, 2024 read on. Well share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Todays puzzle is harder; I got it in five. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 6, Wordle #1,144! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to todays Wordle game.How to play WordleWordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if theyre correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isnt in the days secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)Ready for the hints? Lets go!Does todays Wordle have any unusual letters?Well define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it Edwin Shirdloo, like a name, and pretend hes a friend of yours.)They're almost all common letters today! Only one is uncommon. Can you give me a hint for todays Wordle?A metal object that sometimes falls on cartoon characters' heads. Does todays Wordle have any double or repeated letters?There are no repeated letters today.How many vowels are in todays Wordle?There are two vowels. What letter does todays Wordle start with?Todays word starts with A.What letter does todays Wordle end with?Todays word ends with L.What is the solution to todays Wordle?Ready? Todays word is ANVIL.How I solved todays WordleI started with RAISE and guessed that I probably didn't need additional vowels, so I tried BUNDT and GLYPH to eliminate possible common consonants. This left only a handful of solutions, of which FINAL was the most common word. From here, the best solution was ANVIL. Wordle 1,144 5/6Yesterdays Wordle answerYesterdays Wordle was medium difficult. The hint was to come after, as a result and the answer contained all common letters. The answer to yesterdays Wordle was ENSUE. A primer on Wordle basicsThe idea of Wordle is to guess the days secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, youll see an empty grid of letters. Its up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word.Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word:Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and its in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then its game over.The best starter words for WordleWhat should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, thats still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isnt a single best starting word, but the New York Timess Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:CRANETRACESLANTCRATECARTEMeanwhile, an MIT analysis found that youll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:SALETREASTTRACECRATESLATEOther good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that its better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.How to win at WordleWe have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if youre a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, dont waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldnt have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.Wordle alternativesIf you cant get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after anotherDordle and Quordle, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also Octordle, with eight puzzles, and Sedecordle, with 16.Waffle, which shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.Absurdle, which changes the solution after each guess, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.Squabble, in which you play Wordle against other people with a timer running. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.Antiwordle, in which you are trying not to guess the days solution. Youre required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.
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  • Google 'is a monopolist' in search, US judge rules in antitrust case
    www.engadget.com
    Google is in deep trouble after a federal judge ruled that the company illegally abused a monopoly over the search industry. The ruling follows a 10-week trial held in 2023 that stemmed from a 2020 lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice and several states.Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly, Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in the ruling. "It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act."Mehta has not imposed any remedies on Google at the time of writing. The judge may order Google to change how it operates or even sell parts of its business.The lawsuit claimed that Google illegally acted to maintain its dominant position in search through a number of actions, such as paying the likes of Apple, Samsung and Mozilla billions of dollars per year to be the default search engine on their phones and web browsers. The DOJ argued that Google facilitates almost 90 percent of web searches and that by paying to be the default option, it prevented rivals from achieving the kind of scale needed to compete. As such, Google is deemed to benefitted in terms of both revenue and data collection."Those search access points are preset with a 'default' search engine," the ruling reads. "The default is extremely valuable real estate. Because many users simply stick to searching with the default, Google receives billions of queries every day through those access points. Google derives extraordinary volumes of user data from such searches. It then uses that information to improve search quality."According to Mehta, Google has acknowledged that losing its position as the default search engine on various platforms would harm its bottom line. "For instance, Google has projected that losing the Safari default would result in a significant drop in queries and billions of dollars in lost revenues," the ruling states.Google released the following statement from Kent Walker, President of Global affairs, on X regarding the judge's decision:"This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldnt be allowed to make it easily available. We appreciate the Courts finding that Google is the industrys highest quality search engine, which has earned Google the trust of hundreds of millions of daily users, that Google has long been the best search engine, particularly on mobile devices, has continued to innovate in search and that Apple and Mozilla occasionally assess Googles search quality relative to its rivals and find Googles to be superior. Given this, and that people are increasingly looking for information in more and more ways, we plan to appeal. As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.During the trial, Google argued that its significant slice of market share was due to having a better product that consumers appreciated.In addition, the DOJ claimed that Google held a monopoly over ads that appear in search results. It argued that Google artificially inflated the prices of ads beyond what they'd cost in a free market.In his ruling, Mehta agreed that "Google has exercised its monopoly power by charging supracompetitive prices for general search text ads. That conduct has allowed Google to earn monopoly profits." However, the judge added that Google does not hold monopoly power in the broader market of search advertising.Meanwhile, Mehta declined to impose sanctions on Google for failing to preserve employee chat messages that may have been pertinent to the case. The ruling notes that, since 2008, Google deletes chat messages between its employees by default after 24 hours."The courts decision not to sanction Google should not be understood as condoning Googles failure to preserve chat evidence," Mehta wrote. "Any company that puts the onus on its employees to identify and preserve relevant evidence does so at its own peril. Google avoided sanctions in this case. It may not be so lucky in the next one."Google and the DOJ are set to return to federal court in September over an ad tech case.Update, August 5 2024, 4:40PM ET: This story was updated to include Google's statement on the ruling.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-is-a-monopolist-in-search-us-judge-rules-in-antitrust-case-193358356.html?src=rss
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  • 240806_MPCVikingsBreakdown_tw.mp4
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    Check out MPC's VFX breakdown for Season 3 of Netflix historical drama series Vikings: Valhalla, including this sequence of falling rocks sinking a shipWatch the full video on the MPC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Rp3mWuapc
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  • Nvidias AI market dominance: Can anyone mount a serious challenge?
    www.techradar.com
    The emergence of NPUs could rival Nvidia's semiconductor monopoly.
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  • OpenAI co-founder John Schulman says he will leave and join rival Anthropic
    www.cnbc.com
    Schulman said OpenAI executives remain committed to backing efforts to ensure that people can control highly capable artificial intelligence models.
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  • House Of The Dragon Season 2 4K Steelbook Preorders Are Live At Amazon
    www.gamespot.com
    House of the Dragon Season 2 - 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Edition $57 Preorder 4K Steelbook Preorder 4K Blu-ray Preorder Blu-ray House of the Dragon Season 2 is now available to preorder on 4K Blu-ray at Amazon ahead of its November 19 release, which is perfect timing for the holiday gift-giving season. Before placing your preorder, you should also check out Amazon's deal on the steelbook edition of House of the Dragon Season 1, which drops the price to only $30 for a limited time.Season 2's finale aired over the weekend, and the wait for new House of the Dragon episodes will probably be a long one. Production on Season 3 is expected to begin early next year, and we now know the Game of Thrones prequel series will run for four seasons. But judging by the nearly two-year wait between the first and second seasons, it seems unlikely Season 3 will debut before 2026. Fans can fill at least some of that wait time by rewatching the first half of the show on 4K Blu-ray. Plus, if you're like us, you'll want to refresh your memory with a rewatch right before Season 3 kicks off. House of the Dragon Season 2 - 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Edition $57 House of the Dragon Season 2 is getting multiple physical editions, including a special 4K steelbook edition, standard 4K Blu-ray, and 1080p Blu-ray. Though Amazon has not yet added full descriptions to the listings, the two 4K versions have different cover art. The steelbook edition is shown above.You can preorder House of the Dragon Season 2's 4K steelbook edition for $57. Meanwhile, the non-steelbook edition is $50 at the moment. Blu-ray prices at Amazon often starter higher than the retailer will actually sell them for at launch. Your order comes with Amazon's preorder price guarantee, which means you'll only pay the lowest price offered and won't be charged until your order ships. The 1080p Blu-ray edition is available to preorder for $45. Preorder 4K Steelbook Preorder 4K Blu-ray Preorder Blu-ray Here's a closer look at House of the Dragon Season 2's 4K steelbook editionContinue Reading at GameSpot
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  • New York Times Connections Hints and Answers for #423 August 7, 2024
    gamerant.com
    The New York Times Games Connections is a daily word-sorting puzzle with an interesting twist: you need to sort all the words into mystery categories without making more than three mistakes. To top it all off, some of these words seem to fit into more than one category.
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  • Moissanite: The perfect choice for a blend of affordability and sustainability
    gamedev.net
    This gemstone offers a compelling blend of cost-effectiveness and eco-friendly production methods, making it a standout option in the world of fine jewelry. With its striking brilliance and ethical sourcing, moissanite opens up a world of possibilities for those looking to make a meaningful statement with their accessories.Rules of Buying Sustainable Diamonds:To ensure you make a sustainable choice when purchasing diamonds, consider the following guid
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  • The newest Helldivers 2 mission has a twist: less murder, not more
    www.polygon.com
    Image: Arrowhead Game Studios/PlayStation PC LLC The Anti-Tank Mines Stratagem is finally in sight Continue reading
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  • Meet Begm Tomruk: The Creative Brain Behind Marantzs Next Big Audio Releases
    design-milk.com
    Marantz audio products have long been at the forefront of high-end audio equipment. The luxury audio brand is known for building premium gear both inside and out, able to deliver among the best-sounding audio in the industry, while offering a stunning design and build-quality that does away with some of the traps that the rest of the industry can fall into.Youre likely well aware of the brands audio products without even knowing it. Since its inception in 1953 by pioneer Saul Marantz, the company has refined unique and iconic design elements like the Marantz Porthole, an aspect of their design language that blends form with function. Even the Marantz logo typeface is iconic, looking just as great in bright red or blue as it does in the glossy gold that adorns many of their modern products.Over the years, Marantz has become the master of giving nostalgic designs a modern take. Its latest-generation gear shares many of the design elements that made its original products so iconic, adding modern features and constantly improving on the amplifiers under the hood. Thats arguably much-needed in the industry. The speaker industry as a whole has shifted from the hi-fi approach of 20 years ago, to the tiny-cheap-speaker approach embraced by consumer tech companies like Amazon. To be clear, theres room forboth approaches, but it sure is nice to still see the likes of Marantz working on ways to help make music sound as great as it possibly can.Begm TomrukKeeping Marantz modern while ensuring an embrace of the past is no small feat, but the brand is seemingly in good hands. Last year, Marantz brought on design guru Begm Tomruk, who now serves as the companys Industrial Design Director and Creative Director. Tomruk has a rich history in industrial design, having worked on everything from luxury faucet and shower heads at GROHE SPA, to home appliances for Beko and Grundig. While shes new at Marantz, shes already put her stamp on the industry through some of its latest launches, like the Marantz MODEL M1 and MODEL M4.TT-15S1So whats next for Tomruk at Marantz? And whats her overall approach to blending iconic design elements like the Marantz porthole with new and fresh ideas? We recently had an opportunity to ask Tomruk herself.Design Milk: Where did your love of design come from?Begm Tomruk: My love of design and creativity was deeply influenced by my upbringing and education. Growing up in a technically developed environment with a touch of artistry shaped my perspective. My grandfather, a senior electrical engineer, my father, an architect, and my mother, a chemist, surrounded me with projects and drawings, immersing me in a world where science and creativity intersected. My fathers passion for architecture inspired me to follow in his footsteps and attend Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, his alma mater. In the Industrial Design Department, I was guided by esteemed teachers who taught me design sketching, industrial design principles, and design history. The culture of Istanbul, where old and new coexist harmoniously, taught me the importance of honoring the past while pushing for change. This dynamic city, with its historic architecture and modern developments, continually inspired my work. My time at Mimar Sinan was transformative, solidifying my passion for design. Opportunities to work in esteemed design studios exposed me to the intricacies of the industrial design process from rigorous research and ideation to meticulous design development and production. These experiences, both during and after university, brought clarity and deeper meaning to my journey as a designer.DM: How would you describe Marantzs approach to design?BT: For Marantz, this delicate balancing act is a daily effort when designing its high-end audio products. Marantz is designed for discerning consumers with a passion for incredible sound and long-lasting quality. Marantz offers a tactile, luxurious audio experience you can see, hear, and feel. Founded in 1953 in New York, the company has seven decades of history behind it, from the first Audio Consolette to the Hi-Fis and CD Players of the 1980s and 90s, to the home entertainment of the 21st century. Today, Marantz aims to create continuity of design through a recognizable, traceable aesthetic. This approach manifests itself with subtle cues. Marantz products, originally made with wood and brass, retain a warmth, in sound and materials, using earthy colors and a textured feel. As such, every Marantz piece delivers a rewarding and satisfying tactile user experience a hallmark characteristic of nearly every Marantz product since 1953.Marantzs design echoes the very first products designed by Saul Marantz, with the distinctive porthole identifier, warm design language, and iconic brand mark and logo. The artistry and craftsmanship of our products are expressions of our love for music, with precise details that reinforce quality, and a symmetrical design philosophy that sets Marantz products apart, offering sonic benefits. Marantzs design DNA, articulated through a puristic form language, harmoniously blends geometric purity with direct intersections, evoking the brands storied heritage and ethos.MODEL M1By embracing honesty and high-end materials as core principles, Marantz ensures each creation reflects its unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity. Central to this design philosophy is the iconic circle, a tribute to the porthole motif that has adorned their classic collections. This signature element continues to evolve, taking on new shapes and interpretations in contemporary and future designs, seamlessly paying homage to the past while innovatively looking ahead.SACD 30nDM: Whats old seems new again. How much does nostalgia play a role in your approach to design, as it relates to Marantz?BT: At Marantz, we are deeply immersed in the brands rich heritage dating back to 1953. We meticulously study the hallmark attributes and qualities of our legacy products, seeking to elevate and integrate these timeless elements into modern Marantz collections. Certain materials possess enduring properties that remain as relevant today as they were seven decades ago, and we continue to utilize these materials. However, what has evolved is our capability to shape, manipulate, and enhance these materials through advanced manufacturing processes and sophisticated design tools. This approach allows us to maintain a seamless continuity with our heritage while embracing innovation to meet the demands of todays discerning Marantz collectors.DM: How do you balance nostalgia with innovation, from a design perspective?BT: Balancing nostalgia with innovation is a critical aspect of design that allows a brand to honor its legacy while embracing the future. Each brands journey in defining its design vision often starts with cues from the past, but these alone are insufficient to keep pace with the latest technologies and appeal to new audiences. This is where innovation comes into play, finding the sweet spot between nostalgic charm and forward-thinking design. For some brands, sticking to their history and invoking nostalgia is essential. However, we look beyond this to seize opportunities for revitalization and use the nostalgic part for storytelling. Take, for example, our Marantz AMP 10. The classic analogue dB meter, a hallmark of nostalgic design, is presented with ultra-precise modern execution. This blend of past and present creates a design that feels both familiar and fresh.MODEL M4In future high-end products, we will continue to explore fresh and innovative interpretations of nostalgic details. This approach ensures that our designs remain relevant and captivating, seamlessly integrating the cherished elements of our past with the exciting possibilities of the future.MODEL 40nDM: What do you see as the future of design at Marantz?BT: Marantz today embodies heritage performance transformed into contemporary luxury, marking a bold step into new territory and specifically targeting a new, non-traditional Hi-Fi audience. This is an investment in excellence, distinct from fast fashion or disposable tech. Crafted by the worlds finest engineers and Sound Masters, backed by 70 years of industry-leading heritage, Marantz promises exceptional sound quality that sets a new standard for luxury consumers. Each piece is designed to be a stunning statement in luxury homes, offering moments of surprise and delight with opportunities for proud display and admiration.MODEL M1DM: Marantz has some very distinct design elements, like the porthole. Is incorporating design elements like that ever limiting or challenging? How or how not?BT: The iconic porthole is one of the most significant signature design elements and differentiators of Marantz. While designing new products and collections, we draw inspiration from this symbol without being bound by its past iterations. Instead of repeating the same design, we reinterpret the porthole in fresh and innovative ways. Today, it serves as a symbol of continuity, evolving into new shapes and interpretations that resonate with contemporary aesthetics and future trends. This approach seamlessly pays homage to Marantzs heritage while pushing boundaries in design innovation. A compelling example of this transformation will be unveiled towards the end of this year.DM: Are a new generation of music-lovers interested in premium design from their audio equipment, in a world of cheap wireless speakers?BT: Today, a significant shift is evident among a new generation of music enthusiasts who prioritize premium design in their audio equipment, particularly amidst a market flooded with inexpensive mass market wireless speakers. There is a burgeoning appreciation for the craftsmanship and heritage associated with esteemed brands. This evolution transcends mere aesthetics to embrace the notions of longevity and uncompromising quality. Discerning consumers now recognize the enduring durability and superior performance offered by premium design and heritage brands like Marantz. They are drawn to products that not only deliver impressive sound but also enrich their living environments with timeless elegance and enduring value. Consequently, there is a growing demand for audio equipment that seamlessly blends aesthetic appeal with exceptional craftsmanship, reflecting a broader cultural trend towards investing in enduring quality and distinguished design.DM: You have experience designing many different types of products. What are the similarities in your approach to designing a speaker amplifier compared to something like a pair of headphones or a watch?BT: For me, design is design. Whether Im working on a speaker amplifier, a pair of headphones, a faucet collection, or a watch, I look at each project through the lens of the brand and its individual philosophy, but the core principles of my approach remain consistent, even as the specifics of each product vary. For me, design needs to have a holistic process that considers each brands identity, values, and design language. The design should tell a story. Understanding the essence of the brand allows me and the design teams to create forms that resonate authentically with its audience. My experience across different industries has only broadened my horizons, enriching my design process with diverse insights and techniques. At the heart of every project, I focus on user-centered design, ensuring I understand the needs, preferences, and behaviors of the end-user. Aesthetic consistency is essential, as a strong visual identity must be visually appealing and cohesive with the brands identity. Ergonomics play a key role, ensuring each product is intuitive and seamless to use. Functionality and innovation are paramount, as each design must meet high standards of functionality and incorporate innovative features where possible. Material selection is also crucial, as choosing high-quality, durable materials enhances the user experience and longevity of the product.CINEMA 30For more information on everything Marantz has to offer, head to marantz.com.This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!
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