Texas Governor Says Will Continue to Defend Border Amid Dispute With Biden Administration

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The state of Texas will continue to defend its portion of the US border with Mexico amid a standoff with the Biden administration over the use of razor wire barriers, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/1Myulhb
via IFTTT

Expelled From 'MAGA Camp'

Haley raked in $1 million in donations to her campaign after the former president threatened her donors on his social media site Truth Social.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/hI4N3rL
via IFTTT

EU Forces Tried to Push Some 35,000 Refuges Into Belarus in 2023

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich said Thursday that Belarusian border guards prevented the displacement of about 35,000 undocumented migrants into the territory of the republic by the security forces of neighboring European countries in 2023.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/j659miD
via IFTTT

Senator Cruz Says 'Kamikaze' Supplemental Bill is Train Wreck, No Chance of Passing House

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Senator Ted Cruz said on Wednesday that the Ukraine aid-border security supplemental bill is a train wreck and has no chance of passing the US House of Representatives.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/gsEhVIR
via IFTTT

Apple Vision Pro is for hipsters and hustlers, but who else?

When Steve Jobs unveiled the Macintosh computer 40 years ago this week, it seemed like there was no limit to the things this futuristic device could do, or the number of units Apple could shift. Some 72,000 Macs were shipped during its first 100 days on sale, far outstripping Apple's goal of 50,000 Macs — even at a price tag that was the equivalent of $7,300 in today's money.

But if you'd treated those figures as a sign of corporate health, you would have been badly mistaken. Apple couldn't make the machines at scale, and would lose the PC wars to the makers of copycat beige boxes that ran MS-DOS and its successor, Windows. Within a year, Jobs would be ousted in a boardroom feud. His company was destined to spend the next 12 years in the wilderness.

SEE ALSO: Apple's Vision Pro is sold out

History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme, and something similar is happening today with Apple's Vision Pro. The $3,500 augmented reality headset has sold out its preorders. Apple isn't saying how many units that is, but analysts estimate upwards of 160,000. Half the price of that first Macintosh, with more than double the sales, in three days instead of 50? Clear some space on the tech history wall of fame!

The bots are coming

Not so fast. Turns out the deeper we dig into those numbers, the worse they look for Apple. Not only do sales seem to be slowing after the initial rush of early adopters, but not all those early adopters were on the up-and-up. A chunk of them were scalpers, buying large numbers of headsets at a time so they can turn around and sell them on eBay.

Apple's safeguards to prevent unscrupulous actors from buying multiple Vision Pros have failed, and "several thousand" units were sold to bot accounts, according to a report by Kasada, a company that specializes in defending against bots. Technically you can only buy one Vision Pro per Apple ID, but Kasada found a script that can circumvent that limit — and evidence that one bot alone generated multiple IDs to successfully check out 1,592 Vision Pro pre-orders.

Given that eBay sellers are already offering Vision Pros for up to $10,000 — a clear profit of more than $6,000 each — there's a significant incentive for scalpers using bots to break the rules. Even at a more conservative markup of $2,500 per unit, that one bot "would represent $4 million in profit" if it sells the lot, Kasada says. That's quite a payday for one weekend of work.

So the pre-sale numbers were skewed by scalpers. But there may be worse news for Apple in the fact that the ship dates for Vision Pros are holding steady at roughly 5 to 7 weeks out from the time you order. Contrast that with the iPhone, where the number of weeks you have to wait when a new model is released can climb into the double digits.

The steady wait time "indicates that demand may quickly taper off after the core fans and heavy users place their orders," wrote Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities and an expert on Apple's global supply chain. Kuo calls the Vision Pro a "niche product" and points out that it only took 0.007 percent of Apple's global user base to sell out pre-orders of the headset.

So who's it for?

With the Macintosh, the value proposition was clear. Here, for the first time, was a mass-market point-and-click PC designed so that pretty much anyone could use it. Graphic design, word processing, spreadsheets: all were now accessible for the first time.

With the Apple Vision Pro, however, Apple has struggled to explain exactly who needs one or why. The Black Mirror-style launch video is a case in point. Its main character, Will, hasn't used the Vision Pro before, and repeats "oh, wow" several times as an Apple product manager walks him through displaying his photos, entering immersive environments, and firing up an app called Encounter Dinosaurs.

But so what? What is going to keep Will coming back to the Vision Pro after the "oh, wow" factor has faded? Where's the repeatable "must have" aspect, the sales-driving feature we call a killer app? (No, killer dinosaurs don't count).

To be fair to Apple, this is a common problem for VR and AR headset makers. Fun fact: three of the last four most recent citations for "killer app" in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary are all from articles pointing out that neither the Meta Quest 3 nor the Vision Pro have one.

Perhaps the killer app is a game; perhaps it's the fact that you can have multiple virtual monitors open on your real-life desktop. (Although speaking as someone who's bought a couple of external monitors in the past year, I can say I'm heartily glad I don't have to use them with a bulky battery-hogging device strapped to my face.)

While we're waiting for the killer app, the mood of most tech observers is turning hostile. After an initial burst of excitable stories from Apple's hand-picked reviewers, we seem to be in the backlash stage: Witness today's articles on how often headsets end up in closets, and how the Vision Pro's weight might lead to neck pain and muscle fatigue.

All the sales so far has told us is that Apple has successfully appealed to its one-percenters (or its 0.007%-ers), the deep-pocketed hipsters who want to be the first to make their friends go "oh, wow" by showing off new tech. And it has successfully attracted scalpers, who know there's a massive markup to be found in selling headsets to hipsters — the ones who can afford to not wait five weeks to show it off.

Perhaps the killer app will be found, in which case Tim Cook will look like Steve Jobs circa 1997, when the founder returned in triumph. But at the moment, he's looking a little more like Steve Jobs circa 1985 — and these supposedly strong sales figures aren't helping.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/2VjiPxZ
via IFTTT

Future of Military Warfare to 'Absolutely' Take Page From 'Black Mirror' Scripts

Modern warfare is changing faster than any time since the introduction of the machine gun. Largely brought on by drone and AI technologies, inexpensive and small weapons have evened the battlefield, making even poorly equipped forces a threat to the 20th century’s greatest war machines.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/esJiCm6
via IFTTT

US Has Already Lost Race for Hypersonic, Directed Energy Weapons - Senator

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has already lost the race to develop hypersonic and directed energy weapons to its rivals, Independent Senator Angus King said during a hearing of the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/el9yahj
via IFTTT

Ryan Gosling reacts to Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' Oscar snubs

The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards are out, and two of the biggest snubs are without question Barbie director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie getting left out of the race for Best Director and Best Actress, respectively.

The two earned nominations in different categories — Gerwig for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Robbie for Best Picture thanks to her role as producer — yet their omission in Director and Actress failed to recognize their most prominent work in the film. Given that Barbie received eight nominations total, making it one of the most nominated films of the year, it is baffling that its lead and the director who made it all possible failed to make the cut.

SEE ALSO: The 7 biggest Oscar snubs from the 2024 Academy Award nominations

While the internet is up in arms about these snubs, so too is one of Barbie's most prominent stars: Ryan Gosling. Gosling, who received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Ken, issued a statement that expresses both his honor at being nominated, and his disappointment for Gerwig and Robbie's snubs.

Tweet may have been deleted

"I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm also incredibly honored and proud that it's for portraying a plastic doll named Ken," Gosling wrote.

He continued: "But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I'm disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement."

Gosling also congratulated his fellow Barbie nominees, including Best Supporting Actress nominee America Ferrera.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/e3rYR8H
via IFTTT

Canada Judge Rebuke Trudeau's Use of Emergency Powers Against 2022 "Freedom Convoy"

The Federal Court of Canada has ruled against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's invocation of emergency legislation to manage the "freedom convoy" protests in 2022, challenging the government's approach to civil unrest.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/m50caq8
via IFTTT

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 23

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 20's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Green - Great

• Yellow - Foment

• Blue - You'll notice when typing

• Purple - Things you [synonym for "overtake"]

---

Featured Video For You

---

Connections: How to play and how to win

---

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Green - EXCELLENT

• Yellow - BRING INTO BEING

• Blue - SYMBOLS ABOVE NUMBERS ON A KEYBOARD

• Purple - PASS THE ____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #226 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Green - EXCELLENT - FINE, PRIME, QUALITY, STERLING

• Yellow - BRING INTO BEING - COIN, CREATE, DEVISE, INVENT

• Blue - SYMBOLS ABOVE NUMBERS ON A KEYBOARD - AT, DOLLAR, PERCENT, POUND

• Purple - PASS THE ____ - BAR, BUCK, TIME, TORCH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/RWOfeH3
via IFTTT

DeSantis Was a Good Candidate With a Bad Campaign

With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially out of the race for President, the Republican primary has officially become a two-person race between former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former US President Donald Trump.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/J0MHdup
via IFTTT

Biden, Sunak Hold Call on Red Sea Attacks, Gaza Aid, Support for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)- US President Joe Biden held a phone call with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to discuss the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, humanitarian aid for Gaza and support for Ukraine, the White House said in a statement.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/jsCDLYz
via IFTTT

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 22

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 20's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Green - In your mouth

• Yellow - Long objects

• Blue - Boilerplate

• Purple - Words before "annum" synonym

---

Featured Video For You

---

---

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Green - DENTAL TERMS

• Yello - SYMBOLIC RODS

• Blue - RUBBER STAMPED WORDS

• Purple - ____ YEAR

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #225 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Green - DENTAL TERMS - CAVITY, CROWN, FILLING, PLAQUE

• Yellow - SYMBOLIC RODS - BATON, SCEPTER, STAFF, WAND

• Blue - RUBBER STAMPED WORDS - APPROVED, PAID, URGENT, VOID

• Purple - ____ YEAR - GAP, LEAP, LIGHT, SCHOOL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/lEdLNtR
via IFTTT

Russian FM Lavrov Arrives in New York, Will Participate in UNSC Meetings

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has arrived in New York, where he will take part in the events organised by the UN Security Council, Sputnik reports.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/vXw8oGg
via IFTTT

Czech Republic to Sign Agreement to Purchase 24 US F-35 Fighters by End of March

PRAGUE (Sputnik) - The Czech Republic will sign an agreement to purchase 24 fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from the United States by the end of March, Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said on Sunday.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/ZoBe7F8
via IFTTT

Palestinian-American Teenager Killed in West Bank

Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since a Hamas surprise attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of more than 1000 Israelis. Since then, the violence in the West Bank has been increasing.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/AUCPohL
via IFTTT

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 21

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 21's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Act of unfairness

• Green: Things that might melt

• Purple: Masses of produce

• Blue: Air travel essentials

---

Featured Video For You

---

Connections: How to play and how to win

---

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow - RIP OFF

• Green - THINGS MADE OF WAX

• Purple - UNITS OF VEGETABLES

• Blue - PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE

Looking for the Wordle answer today? Here's the solution to today's wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #221 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Yellow - RIP OFF - FLEECE, HOSE, ROB, STIFF

• Green - THINGS MADE OF WAX - CANDLE, CRAYON, HONEYCOMB, SEAL

• Purple - UNITS OF VEGETABLES - BULB, EAR, HEAD, STALK

• Blue - PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE - CABIN, ENGINE, NOSE, WING

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/iUPSJcq
via IFTTT

Syria Calls on International Community to Stop Israeli Strikes on Civilian Targets

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Syria urges the international community to stop Israeli attacks on civilians, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following an Israeli airstrike on Damascus which killed at least five people.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/ByShKau
via IFTTT

New Hampshire: The Last Stand of Trump's GOP Opposition?

After former US President Donald Trump's historically large win in Iowa, all eyes are turning to New Hampshire. The famously independent state may be the last best hope for Trump's opponents.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/tJ9dcYG
via IFTTT

5 new Roombas came out, and one has iRobot's best suction and mopping yet

TL;DR: On Sept. 11, iRobot announced the second half of its 2023 lineup, totaling five new Roombas ranging in price from $349.99 to $1,399.99. Highlights include a new flagship Combo Roomba with iRobot's most advanced suction, scrubbing, and automatic dock to date. All are available to buy now.

---

Opens in a new window

Credit: iRobot

New 2023 Roombas

Purchase and pre-order at iRobot

The recognizability of "Roomba" is palpable every time someone refers to a robot vacuum from any brand as a Roomba. But iRobot's 2023 product drop seems to take aim at those whose experience with Roomba ends at name recognition, particularly stretching mopping capabilities — a feature previously reserved for its most expensive vacuum — to a surprisingly varietal price range of $349.99 to $1,399.99.

The release of the fleet of five new Roombas was actually broken up into two parts. The end of August saw a somewhat quiet release of the upgraded versions of the existing i5 series, while Sept. 11 marked the launch of two new series: the j5 and the new flagship j9. Here's the full lineup:

New Roombas that mop

• Roomba Combo j9+ (with obstacle avoidance and automatic emptying) — $1,399.99

• Roomba Combo j5+ Swap and Mop robot vacuum (with obstacle avoidance and automatic emptying) — $799.99

• Roomba i5+ Swap and Mop robot vacuum (with automatic emptying) — $549.99

• Roomba i5 Swap and Mop robot vacuum — $349.99

New Roomba that doesn't mop

• Roomba j9+ (with obstacle avoidance and automatic emptying) — $899.99

(To tell Roomba titles apart at a glance, remember that the plus sign signifies automatic emptying, and the word "combo" signifies the retractable mopping pad.)

SEE ALSO: Dyson just dropped 6 new products, including a wet vacuum and a new robot vacuum

While the 2023 line does seem to focus on better balancing advanced cleaning features with lower costs, the j9 series is a treat for seasoned iRobot converts who will pay for the most souped-up cleaning experience.

Before breaking down the details differentiating the 2023 Roombas from each other and their predecessors, let's elaborate on iRobot's focus on mopping that we mentioned earlier. After a year of the $1,099.99 Roomba Combo j7+ being the only true 2-in-1 Roomba, iRobot now has several options with a water tank and mopping pad.

There are two types of hybrid Roombas now

The Roomba Combo tank holds enough water for a month's worth of on-demand mopping. Credit: iRobot

Roomba Swap and Mop vacs will return to clean rugs once the water tank is removed. Credit: iRobot

It's where the tank and pad reside when not in use that sets the new vacs apart. The Combo's claim to fame is a retractable mopping pad that fully lifts above the body of the vacuum when it's not mopping rather than letting a soggy pad riskily hover over carpet and rugs. The Roomba Combo j9+ and older Combo j7+ use the Combo mechanism.

The new Swap and Mop is a less-advanced but less-expensive design in which you'll physically swap a full-sized dust bin for a water tank depending on the type of floor being tackled. The two new i5 models and j5 models feature the Swap and Mop design.

To keep costs low, the Swap and Mop system omits the retractable mopping pad for a more basic two-tank system. Switching to mopping mode does require you to be home, but it's easy: Just click the full-sized dust bin or the water tank into place depending on the cleaning session being run. Though Swap and Mop Roombas do perform some dry vacuuming while mopping, you can designate carpeted areas to avoid in the app, then swap the bins to have the Roomba take a legit carpet lap.

The Combo j9+ has iRobot's most advanced everything

A mere year after launching its very first true 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop (the Roomba Combo j7+), iRobot is already building significantly on nearly every aspect of that design with the new Roomba Combo j9+.

Credit: iRobot

Before the Combo j9+, your high-end Roomba options were the Combo j7+ and the s9+. The Combo j7+ was the only choice for mopping and detection of small obstacles like cords and pet waste, while the s9+ was the choice for deep carpet cleaning, deploying 40 times the suction of the older 600 Series Roombas (the j7 only offered 10 times better suction). Each excelled on one floor type or the other, but not both.

The mastery of both floor types isn't mutually exclusive with the Combo j9+. On soft floors, iRobot's strongest suction power yet works with dual rubber brushes and an automatic suction boost to dig into thick carpet fibers and grab hair, fur, or crumbs. On hard floors, iRobot's new SmartScrub approach sends the mopping pad back and forth (complete with some actual elbow grease) over sticky spills and stubborn footprints for scrubbing two times deeper than the Combo j7+. The Combo j9+ tank is also compatible with a long list of cleaning solutions rather than just water.

Opens in a new window

Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba Combo j9+

$1,399.99 at iRobot (available to preorder)

Updated technology inside the new Roombas also helps them apply these more powerful cleaning techniques to the rooms that need it most. With iRobot's new Dirt Detective technology, your Combo j9+ cleans the dirtiest rooms first on any general cleaning run.

The other standout tech feature carried over from the j7+ is the team of a front-facing camera and front-facing LED light that form iRobot's PrecisionVision tech. This illuminates and detects small obstacles that trip other robot vacuums up, like cords, socks, and pet waste.

The Combo j9+ has gold-tinted metallic accents and a flat top with a modern wood finish. Credit: iRobot

The new self-emptying dock itself deserves equal hype. Its newfound ability to refill the vac's water tank for 30 days relieves the one major recurring downfall seen when comparing the Combo j7+ to other 2-in-1 robot vacuums. The dock is significantly bigger than iRobot's previous docks, but is also significantly more chic and doubles as a full-time side table.

Note: The original mopping Roomba, the trusty, beloved Combo j7+, has received a permanent price drop to $999.99.

Finally, mopping Roombas that aren't $1,000

Up until now, anyone who was set on owning a Roomba — not just any robot vacuum — basically had to choose between spending a lot and securing advanced features like deep carpet cleaning, small obstacle avoidance, or even mopping, or spending way less but settling for just decent cleaning and decent navigation. iRobot made sure to address this gap with the 2023 expansion.

The two new mid-range Roomba models, the j5 series and upgraded i5 series, actually launched first, quietly going live on iRobot's website at the end of August 2023. Here's what they offer:

Credit: iRobot

The j5 is the new j7 in terms of looks and price point, with one trick up its sleeve that Roombas at this price haven't seen before. There are two iterations here: the $799.99 Combo j5+, a robot vacuum and mop with an automatic dirt disposal dock, and the $599.99 Combo j5, the same exact thing minus the automatic emptying. These price tags are $50 cheaper than the debut prices of the j7+ and the j7 when they came out in fall 2021.

But the gag is that, despite being more expensive, the original j7 models didn't mop. The first Roomba to offer mopping ever was the Roomba Combo j7+, released in Sept. 2022 at $1,099.99. With the Combo s9+ now wearing the crown for most expensive Roomba, iRobot shifted to create two mid-range mopping Roombas that use the Swap and Mop mechanism, both of which are available with a self-emptying dock or as standalone vacs.

Choosing between the j series and i series comes down to whether or not you feel like cleaning up the floor before sending your Roomba out. The j series uses iRobot’s most advanced camera system to avoid small objects like pet waste, cords, and socks (and from our experience, is actually quite good at it). The j5+ is now the cheapest Roomba with small obstacle avoidance tech.

Opens in a new window

Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba j5+

$799.99 at iRobot (available to purchase)

The i5 series fills out the low end of the price spectrum for the mopping Roombas. At $549.99 for the self-emptying version or $349.99 for the standalone vac, the cheapest Roomba mops more than halves the $1,399.99 price tag of the Combo j9+.

Of course, the price cut comes with feature cuts. The i5 series are another Swap and Mop model that won't pick up on those pesky small obstacles mentioned earlier. It does, however, recognize walls and furniture well enough to remember the layout of your home and clean specific rooms on demand. (A 2022 firmware update unlocked Imprint smart mapping capabilities for all Roomba i series vacuums, aside from the i1 and i2).

Opens in a new window

Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba i5+

$549.99 at iRobot (available to preorder)

If you're upgrading to any of the 2023 Roombas from another Roomba that already created a map of your house, you can skip the cleaning run and transfer the old Roomba's map to the new vac in the iRobot app.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/nu59WJm
via IFTTT

Ukrainian Troops Strike Gorlovka With 12 Cluster Shells

DONETSK (Sputnik) – The Kiev regime launched 12 cluster shells of 155 mm calibre on Gorlovka, the representative office of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of issues related to Ukraine's war crimes said in a statement.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/fG9qEj6
via IFTTT

Iranian Strike Draws Attention to Border with Pakistan, Israeli and US Role in Region

Tensions have flared between Iran and Pakistan in recent days, but one international affairs expert is pointing to the destabilizing role of Western powers in the Middle East.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/NOqmSZf
via IFTTT

US Defense Secretary Summoned to Testify Before Congress About Hospitalization

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers in a letter demanded US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin appear before the panel for a testimony to discuss the lack of transparency of his hospitalization earlier this month.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/IxFH3U1
via IFTTT

Webb Telescope Uncovers Oldest, Most Distant Black Hole Ever Observed

The black hole dates back to the dawn of the universe, and astronomers say it is “eating” its host galaxy to death.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/T3zZYsw
via IFTTT

US Launches New Round of Strikes on Houthi Positions in Yemen - Reports

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has launched new strikes on the Houthi positions in Yemen, CBS reported citing a US official.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/j0mkZOH
via IFTTT

Russian Air Defenses Destroy Ukrainian Drones Over Moscow, Leningrad Regions

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defenses intercepted Ukrainian aircraft-type drones over the Moscow and Leningrad regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/mlbSkVy
via IFTTT

Air Defenses Destroy 7 Olha Missiles, 4 Drones Over Russia's Belgorod Region

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems destroyed seven Ukrainian Olha missiles and four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Belgorod Region overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/E4yrSpn
via IFTTT

Ecuador's Forces Detained Over 1,750 People Since January 9 Amid Unrest

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - The Ecuadorian police and army have detained more than 1,750 people from January 9-16, including 158 suspected of terrorism, amid a wave of gang violence that swept the South American country last week, the office of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said Tuesday.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/dUD6IMC
via IFTTT

Israel's Army Strikes Building Near Group of Journalists in Southern Gaza

GAZA (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has hit a building in the vicinity of a group of journalists as they were trying to send information on the wounded after another Israeli strike, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Tuesday.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/RPo8HMn
via IFTTT

Brazilian Archaeologists Find Treasure Trove Including 43 Human Skeletons

According to IPHAN, about 43 human skeletons and over 100,000 artifacts were discovered during excavations at the Chácara Rosane Archaeological Site in the Vicente neighborhood of Fialho in São Luis.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/xmTVsHg
via IFTTT

Poland Has Beef With EU Over Ukrainian Agriculture

Central European countries have protested the consequences of the bloc’s free trade policy that has flooded countries with cheap agricultural goods.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/J18v3BP
via IFTTT

US in Contact With Iraqi, Kurdish Officials Following Recent Missile Attacks

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is in contact with senior Iraqi and Kurdish officials following the recent missile attacks in northern Iraq and northern Syria, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement to Sputnik.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/9kBi1qW
via IFTTT

US Congress Reveals Two-Phase Interim Funding Strategy

US Congressional leaders have unveiled a strategic two-step funding plan. This approach, aimed at averting a fiscal crisis, involves temporarily funding certain federal agencies while negotiations on broader spending continue.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/vYSc5fy
via IFTTT

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 15

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 15's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Ways to submit a vote

• Green: Force fields

• Blue: Ways to take your medicine

• Purple: Types of peas

---

Featured Video For You

---

Connections: How to play and how to win

---

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: List of Candidates

• Green: Protective Barrier

• Blue: Medicine Formats

• Purple: Pea___

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 28

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #218 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• List of Candidates: BALLOT, ROSTER, SLATE, TICKET

• Protective Barrier: BUFFER, CUSHION, PAD, SHIELD

• Medicine Formats: CAPSULE, CREAM, SYRUP, TABLET

• Pea___: COAT, GREEN, POD, SOUP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/5aSGi8Q
via IFTTT

Netanyahu’s Refusal to Follow US Requests Leaving Biden Increasingly Frustrated - Reports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to follow the US administration's requests regarding Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip is causing growing frustration on the part of US President Joe Biden and other senior officials in Washington, the Axios news portal reported on Sunday, citing sources.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/Cn5jMVb
via IFTTT

Civilian Contractor Allegedly Stole $100M From Military Families

A US Army civilian contractor is accused of stealing more than $100 million meant to be spent on children of military families, while the Department of Defense states the Pentagon spends at least $300 billion per year.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/tsGKS2b
via IFTTT

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 14

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 14's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Jan. 12.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

We're getting jacked.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #939 is...

BULKY.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/AGF5o2b
via IFTTT

Biden Says US Privately Reaches Out to Iran Over Houthi Attacks

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that his administration had privately sent a message to Iran regarding attacks by Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in the Red Sea.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/4FT2yuc
via IFTTT

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 14

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 14's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Stressful finances

• Green: Swiper the Fox activities

• Blue: Animal nicknames

• Purple: Lower body clothing

---

Featured Video For You

---

Connections: How to play and how to win

---

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Things to Pay

• Green: Thieve

• Blue: Male Animals

• Purple: Legwear, In the Singular

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 28

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #217 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things to Pay: BILL, CHECK, INVOICE, TAB

• Thieve: PINCH, ROB, STEAL, SWIPE

• Male Animals: BUCK, BULL, JACK, TOM

• Legwear, In the Singular: JEAN, PANT, SHORT, TIGHT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/Dw3xaJ5
via IFTTT

RFK Jr. Supports Secure Border to End Crisis, Cutting Off Funding For Ukraine - Press Team

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports efforts to end the immigration crisis on the US southern border as well as cutting off aid to Ukraine, his campaign press team told Sputnik.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/BztjHqp
via IFTTT

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 13

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 13's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Jan. 12.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To hear.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter H.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #938 is...

HEARD.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/TDMgdVC
via IFTTT

Biden Says US Not in De Facto Proxy War With Iran Amid Mideast Attacks

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden told reporters he does not think the United States is in a de facto proxy war with Iran as it deals with violence in the Middle East.

from Sputnik News - World News, Breaking News & Top Storie https://ift.tt/ScUfm0K
via IFTTT

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 13

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 13's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: How to get into an event

• Green: To lord over

• Blue: Football lingo

• Purple: To delay

---

Featured Video For You

---

Connections: How to play and how to win

---

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Credentials for Entry

• Green: Preside Over

• Blue: American Football Positions

• Purple: Postpone

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 28

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #216 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Credentials for Entry: BADGE, INVITE, PASS, TICKET

• Preside Over: CHAIR, DIRECT, LEAD, RUN

• American Football Positions: CENTER, END, SAFETY, TACKLE

• Postpone: HOLD, PUNT, STALL, TABLE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

from Mashable https://ift.tt/mt09Iaf
via IFTTT