Key Takeaways

• Clock speed isn’t everything; modern CPUs rely on various parts for performance.
• Rather than focusing on multiple cores, make sure that your CPU offers good single-threaded performance.
• Cache performance is a crucial potential bottleneck; always consider cache specs before purchasing a CPU.

The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of your computer, so it needs to be powerful. It isn’t easy to compare CPUs, but by understanding the right metrics and using the best tools, you can compare different processors the right way.

Clock Speed Isn’t Everything

Clock speed and cores are the most heavily advertised processor specs. Clock speed is usually measured in hertz (e.g., 3.14GHz), while core count is usually advertised as dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or octa-core. But given these two specs, what makes one CPU better than another?

For a long time, it was simple: higher clock speeds and more cores meant better speeds. Processors today don’t depend on clock speeds and cores as heavily for performance because modern CPUs have several other parts that determine how fast they can perform.

In a nutshell, it comes down to how much computing can be done when all parts of a CPU come together in a single clock cycle. If performing Task X takes two clock cycles on CPU A and one clock cycle on CPU B, then CPU B might be the better processor, even if CPU A has a higher clock speed.

You also shouldn’t rely on clock speeds and core count as your only method of comparison. Clock speed comparison is helpful when choosing between CPUs from the same family with the same number of cores, but it isn’t necessarily helpful otherwise.

If you’re comparing Intel Core i3 vs. Core i5 vs. Core i7 processors or Intel Core i5 vs. Core i7 vs. Core i9 processors, then clock speed and number of cores don’t matter. And if you’re comparing Intel vs. AMD or an AMD A10 vs. AMD A8 vs. AMD FX, then clock speed alone won’t tell you much.

But between two processors in the same family, clock speed is a useful unit of comparison. For example, the Intel Core i5 12400 and 12600 processors have drastically different clock speeds despite having similar specs otherwise.

Check Single-Threaded Performance

The dirty little secret in the computer world is that even though you’re buying a processor with four cores, all four of those cores might not be used when you’re running applications. Most software today is still single-threaded, which means the program is running as one process, and a process can only run on one core.

So, even if you have four cores, you won’t be getting the full performance of all four cores for that application. That’s why you also need to check the single-threaded (or single-core) performance of any processor before buying it.

Not all companies explicitly release that information, so you’ll need to rely on third-party data from reliable resources like Passmark. With Passmark, you can search for your specific CPU model (which you can find through settings) and compare it to other popular models on the market.

You can also add models you’re interested in to your comparison list and weigh them out against one another. Single thread performance ratings are included in the comparison sheet, so determining which CPU will likely run applications the fastest is a simple feat.

Cache Performance Is King

The cache is one of the most under-appreciated parts of a CPU. In fact, a cache with poor specs could be slowing down your PC. So, you should always check the cache specs of a processor before you purchase it.

Cache is essentially RAM for your processor, which means that the processor uses the cache to store all the functions it has recently performed. Whenever those functions are requested again, the processor can draw the data from the cache instead of performing them a second time, thus making it faster.

Ideally, your processor’s cache size should have at least 64KB of L1 cache per core, but above 128KB is ideal for gaming or other resource-intensive activities. You can compare the cache sizes of CPUs with the main comparison table on Passmark. Cache size isn’t as important as other specs as long as it’s above a reasonable minimum, though, like the impressive 480KB of the CPUs above.

Integrated Graphics Matter, Too

Intel and AMD have combined the CPU and the graphics card into an APU. If you’ve ever purchased or built a gaming-oriented PC, you may know the difference between an APU, CPU, and GPU, but in simple terms, the APU saves space by combining them.

Because of recent technological changes, new processors can now usually handle the graphics needs of most people without requiring a separate graphics card. These graphics chipsets also vary in performance depending on the processor. Again, you can’t compare an AMD to an Intel here, and even comparing it within the same family can be confusing.

For example, Intel has Intel HD, Intel Iris, and Intel Iris Pro graphics, but not every Iris is better than HD. Meanwhile, AMD’s Athlon and FX series comes without graphics chips but costs more than the APU-centric A-Series, so you’ll have to buy a graphics card if you’re getting an Athlon or FX processor.

The Best Way to Compare CPUs

All of these factors come together to make CPU comparisons a difficult proposition. How do you know which one you should buy? The easiest and best way is to head to Passmark. Passmark is one of the best sites for an effective CPU comparison in minutes. This site explains the differences between processors in terms that any non-techie can also understand.

You’re not just limited to comparing CPUs, either: Passmark also has databases of information about video cards, hard drives, RAM, and pre-built PCs. Comparing CPUs on Passmark effectively only takes a few simple steps:

1. Search for CPUs you’re interested in, then scroll down and click Compare to add it to your list.
2. Once you’ve finished creating your list, click on the weighted scale icon in the upper right corner of your screen to access it.
3. Compare your CPUs. The main values you should look at are clock speed, core count, single thread rating, and L1 cache size.

If you want more information than Passmark offers, you may also like the AnandTech CPU Benchmark Tool. On AnandTech, you can browse in-depth benchmarks conducted by one of the best independent hardware review sites and even compare two processors side-by-side.

Researching the CPUs you’re interested in may take time. There’s nothing wrong with being thorough. As you grow more confident with comparing CPU benchmarks, finding the best value CPUs on the market will become an easy feat.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Thursday, June 20, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#375)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “Items that a building contractor or tradesperson needs”
• Green: “Items that anglers or fishermen and women need”
• Blue: “Items that a hairdresser or barber needs”
• Purple: “Words that can be paired with what emerges from an electrical storm”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 20, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #375 without running out of mistakes, here is the solution…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Bits of Hardware”
• Green = “Fishing Gear”
• Blue = “Hair Salon Fixtures”
• Purple = “Lightning ____”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Bits of Hardware” = NAIL, NUT, SCREW, WASHER
• Green: “Fishing Gear” = FLY, HOOK, LINE, SINKER
• Blue: “Hair Salon Fixtures” = CHAIR, DRYER, MIRROR, SINK
• Purple: “Lightning ____” = BOLT, BUG, ROD, STRIKE

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “sink” and “sinker” as two similar-sounding words, plus “washer” and “dryer” as two words that are often lumped in together.
2. Green was made tricky by the appearance of “fly” next to “hook,” “line,” and “sinker”. The latter is a well-known phrase meaning to be fooled completely, making “fly” stand out.
3. I personally found the Blue category the most difficult today, as I didn’t immediately lump these words in together. Maybe because I’m a certain age, and therefore follically-challenged.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Key Takeaways

• SSDs offer faster loading times and improved performance compared to HDDs due to faster data transfer speeds.
• Faster data read/write speeds lead to fewer in-game stutters, especially in AAA titles.
• SSDs improve graphics by loading textures faster, leading to better visual fidelity in games.

Many modern games can easily take up hundreds of gigabytes of storage space on your drive. When a game is that big, performance is not only determined by your CPU/GPU combo but also by how fast your PC’s storage is.

That’s where SSDs come in. They’re faster, more reliable, and are getting cheaper by the day. So if you were looking for a reason to switch to SSDs on your gaming PC, here are six.

1 Faster Loading Times

One of the most prominent advantages SSDs hold over HDDs is the significantly faster data transfer speed. Not only does this help transfer files quickly, but this faster data transfer speed also translates to faster loading times in games.

Generally speaking, SSDs are about four times faster than HDDs in terms of both read and write speeds. While the exact figures will vary based on what specific HDD and SSD you’re comparing, SSDs will provide a much faster user experience overall.

This is achieved partly thanks to the PCIe interface that SSDs use, compared to the slower SATA port used by HDDs. Even if you compare a SATA SSD to a SATA HDD, the data transfer speed figures will favor the SSD, providing a significant boost in performance. If you feel like there are too many choices, we’ve got you covered with a list of the best PCIe 4.0 SSDs for gaming.

This is most prominent in AAA or open-world games that need to pull massive files from the drive. If you’re storing your games on an older HDD, chances are you’re going to spend a significant chunk of time waiting around for maps or stages to load. Using an SSD can save you plenty of hours in the long term that you would otherwise spend waiting on loading screens.

Multiplayer games also benefit from this. Some games like Valorant don’t launch a map for everyone on a server until every player is done loading. Even if you get decent a frame rate to drag you through the game, loading times can greatly impact your overall gaming experience.

2 Better In-Game Performance

Another side effect of an SSD’s fast data transfer speed is better in-game performance. Suppose you’re looking to upgrade your computer. In that case, a speedy SSD is one of the easiest, most impactful, and cost-effective upgrades that’ll visibly affect your PC’s performance, which in turn translates to far fewer hitches during gameplay caused by the game trying to load certain assets.

When you consider that modern AAA titles can make thousands of tiny read-and-write operations as you play, transferring hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes of data back and forth, faster data read and write speeds are your best friend.

However, do keep in mind that installing your game on an SSD isn’t a shortcut to an FPS boost. Your PC’s CPU/GPU combo still plays a big part in the game’s performance, but installing an SSD can help improve latency and prevent lag or stutter during gameplay.

3 Improved Graphics

While installing an SSD won’t make 720p games look ultra-realistic, the faster load times and better in-game performance do translate to better overall visual fidelity.

The way that most modern-day game textures work is that most objects have a low res texture when you’re further away from them, which is then replaced by a higher res texture when you’re nearby. When using an SSD, this swap between low-res and high-res textures is much faster as the game is able to load and swap textures faster.

So while your FPS will most likely remain the same, the game will likely look better as textures can be loaded in and out faster. Any ragged edges, misaligned or low-quality textures, and other visual glitches will also drop to a minimum. Once again, your CPU and GPU do play a bigger role here, but an SSD helps keep everything together.

4 Better Reliability Than an HDD

Compared to HDDs, SSDs don’t have any moving parts inside. This makes them more shock-resistant and durable, providing far better reliability than an HDD.

When you’re working with an HDD, there are a lot of factors you need to keep in mind. Since these drives have mechanical moving parts inside them, they tend to wear out over time. The moving assembly inside an HDD is also rather delicate, meaning even a small impact on the drive can put it out of action.

That’s not to say that SSDs can be chucked around thoughtlessly and will still function, but they offer far better durability and long-term reliability than HDDs. The average lifespan of an SSD is 5-10 years, compared to 3-5 years on an HDD. They’re also less likely to corrupt or have internal component failure.

5 A Quieter System

Now granted HDDs aren’t exactly rocket engines when it comes to sound, but they still make some sound due to mechanical components spinning inside the drive enclosure. On average, an HDD can produce nearly 20 to 40 dB of white noise when in use. What makes SSDs more reliable than HDDs also makes them silent in operation—they have no moving parts inside.

The sound problem might be amplified if you have a particularly noisy or old HDD. There’s a chance that the HDD’s sounds might get drowned out by your PC’s fans, but if you’re looking to run your gaming PC as quietly as you can, getting an SSD is the way forward.

6 Better Power Efficiency

Whether you’re using a gaming PC or laptop, chances are you already have a power-hungry CPU and GPU. When gaming, both these components are under stress and draw as much power as possible to give you the best performance. Depending on your power supply, this might not leave enough overhead for other components to function properly.

SSDs require far less power than HDDs to run and perform better in these cases. An SSD uses anywhere between one to four watts of power, while an HDD can go as high as 20 to 25 watts on startup and settle later at a relatively lower four to nine watts during regular operation.

Other than the aforementioned reasons, there are more, smaller ways that SSDs can enhance your gaming and overall PC user experience. SSDs are faster, consume less power, are more durable, and require less maintenance compared to HDDs, and that makes them the better choice for any PC use case.

With SSD prices continuously falling and drives with more capacity and faster data transfer speeds getting cheaper, there’s never been a better time to upgrade if you haven’t already.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Tuesday, June 18, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#373)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “What you can see on the clicker or zapper”
• Green: “When you want someone not to see something”
• Blue: “What a mixologist may stick in your cocktail”
• Purple: “The name’s Connections, Mr. Connections”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 18, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #373 without running out of mistakes, here is the answer…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Remote Control Buttons”
• Green = “Hide From View”
• Blue = “Drink Garnishes”
• Purple = “First Word in Bond Movie Titles”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Remote Control Buttons” = CHANNEL, MENU, POWER, VOLUME
• Green: “Hide From View” = BLOCK, COVER, SCREEN, SHIELD
• Blue: “Drink Garnishes” = CHERRY, OLIVE, SWORD, UMBRELLA
• Purple: “First Word in Bond Movie Titles” = CASINO, DIAMONDS, QUANTUM, TOMORROW

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “channel” and “screen” as two words that could be connected to television, “quantum” and “power” as two words that could be associated with energy, and “sword” and “shield” as two items that were used in medieval warfare.
2. I personally found the Blue category the most difficult today, despite drinking the odd cocktail. Partly because I’m more interested in the taste than the garnish, and partly because I have never had a sword stuck in my cocktail, so that threw me off.
3. I actually found the Purple category quite easy today, as I’m a big fan of the Bond movies. While “tomorrow” is a common word, the others are all words I associate with Bond movie titles before anything else.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Key Takeaways

• Make sure your internet is working properly and Steam servers are not facing a widespread outage.
• Check if Windows Firewall or your antivirus program is preventing Steam from opening on your PC.
• Consider clearing Steam’s cached data or reinstalling the app from scratch if the issue persists.

Is Steam refusing to launch on your Windows computer, leaving you stranded without your favorite games? This could happen due to several reasons, but it’s nothing you can’t fix with the solutions listed below.

1 Check If Steam Is Down

If Steam opens but won’t get past the connection screen, or if it won’t load at all, there might be an issue with Steam’s servers. They might be experiencing an outage, causing all Steam clients to stop functioning.

There are websites like Unofficial Steam Status that tell you the current status of the app’s servers. If you see any downtime there, that’s probably why Steam is not opening on your computer.

2 Check Your Network Connection

There’s a chance that Steam can’t open due to an unstable network connection. If you suspect this to be the case, restart your router, as network hardware can malfunction if it runs for extended periods.

If that does not help, you can also switch to a different network connection and then try to load Steam again.

3 End the Steam Process Using Task Manager

If Steam opens but gets stuck on the initial screen, one of its app’s processes may be malfunctioning. To fix this, you can kill Steam’s processes using Task Manager and give it a fresh start.

Follow these steps to stop the Steam process using Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Select the Processes tab in the left pane.
3. Right-click on Steam in the processes list and select End task.

Once Task Manager closes Steam, reopen it, and see if it works.

4 Restart Your Computer and Check for Windows Updates

Steam may be failing to open due to temporary issues with your Windows PC. If that’s the case, restarting your PC will likely fix the problem.

Additionally, you should update your operating system. Running Steam on an older Windows version might cause a conflict and stop the app from working as usual.

Press Win + I to open the Settings app. Then, head to Windows Update and click the Check for updates button to download and install pending updates.

5 Allow Steam Through Your Firewall and Disable Your VPN

According to Steam, firewalls and other security apps might interfere with the Steam client. In this case, you should allow Steam through the Windows firewall. The same goes if you’re using a third-party antivirus. Try adding Steam to the exception list and check if this fixes the issue.

Similarly to antivirus software, VPNs could interfere with Steam functionality. If you can’t open Steam, turn off your VPN, or add Steam to its exception list.

6 Run Steam as an Admin

A lack of relevant permissions could prevent Steam from opening and functioning as expected on Windows. You can launch Steam as an administrator and see if that helps you open the app without any issues.

Here’s how you do that:

1. Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location from the context menu.
2. Find steam.exe in the files list, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
3. Hit Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
4. Steam should now launch with admin rights.

If this solves your problem, you can configure Windows to always open Steam with administrative privileges.

7 Avoid Running Steam in Compatibility Mode

Compatibility mode is a useful feature in Windows that allows you to run older programs on your PC. However, since Steam is already compatible with both Windows 10 and 11, running it in compatibility mode can cause issues.

It’s best to disable compatibility mode for Steam using these steps:

1. Right-click on the Steam’s shortcut and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab and uncheck the Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox.
3. Hit Apply followed by OK.

   

8 Delete the Steam Cache Files

Like other apps, Steam also creates and stores cache files on your computer. These cache files are sometimes the reason you have various issues with Steam. In this case, your best option is to remove all Steam cache files from your computer.

To clear the Steam app cache:

1. Close Steam if it’s running on your PC.
2. Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location.
3. Find and select the appcache folder.
4. Click the trash icon at the top to delete it.
5. Launch Steam and see if it works.

9 Flush the Steam Configuration and Refresh the App

Since Steam has many configuration files, the app comes with a command that lets you refresh the Steam configuration and installation on your computer. You can use this command to resolve many issues with Steam, including instances when it won’t open.

To refresh the Steam configuration files:

1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type the following command, and then hit Enter.

   steam: 

Once you run the above command, it will delete all the temporary files associated with Steam and log you out of the app. Following that, you shouldn’t experience any problems.

10 Check the Date and Time Settings

Having your Windows PC set to an incorrect date or time may not sound like much, but it can prevent apps like Steam from connecting to their servers. This can cause Steam to become stuck on the startup screen and prevent it from opening.

To avoid this, you can enable the automatic time option on your Windows PC using these steps:

1. Open the Settings app from the Start menu.
2. Head to Time & Language > Date & time.
3. Turn on the toggles next to Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.
4. Open Steam and see if it launches.

11 Reinstall Steam on Your Computer

If nothing else works, your last option is to uninstall and reinstall Steam on your computer. This will remove Steam and all of its files from your machine. Afterward, you can install Steam from scratch.

Reinstalling the app will fix most issues with Steam on your computer, including when the app refuses to launch.

To remove Steam from your computer:

1. Launch the Settings app on your PC.
2. Click Apps.
3. Find Steam in the apps list, click the three-dot icon next to it, and select Uninstall.

Once removed, head over to the Steam site using your web browser. Download and launch the Steam setup on your PC. After you reinstall Steam on your PC, it should open and work as expected.

Issues with Steam are very rare, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never encounter one at all. Thankfully, getting Steam back up and running isn’t too difficult if you apply the above tips.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Monday, June 17, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#372)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “What you need to do if you sell something on eBay”
• Green: “Types of product that people apply to their mouths”
• Blue: “A situation you need to get yourself out of”
• Purple: “360 masters struggling in hot weather, perhaps?”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 17, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #372 without running out of mistakes, here is the answer…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Deliver, as a Package”
• Green = “Kinds of Lip Makeup”
• Blue = “Predicament”
• Purple = “Measured in Degrees”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Deliver, as a Package” = MAIL, POST, SEND, SHIP
• Green: “Kinds of Lip Makeup” = BALM, GLOSS, LINER, STAIN
• Blue: “Predicament” = CORNER, FIX, HOLE, SPOT
• Purple: “Measured in Degrees” = ANGLE, CRIME, EDUCATION, TEMPERATURE

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “ship” and “liner” as two types of seafaring vessel. There’s also the order that the first three words are presented in, with “fix ship hole” being a sentence of sorts. This is a reminder of why it’s good to shuffle the words before you start sorting them into groups.
2. I personally found the Purple category the most difficult today, as the “degrees” cited have multiple different meanings. I also struggled with the Green category because lip makeup isn’t something I’m particularly knowledgeable about.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Key Takeaways

• Roku offers free public channels like The Roku Channel and Tubi with diverse content and no monthly subscription.
• Access live news with channels like CBS News and enjoy a wide library of movies with FilmRise and Redbox.
• Educate with TED Talks, explore space with NASA, and cast videos from Firefox and Roku Media Player.

Are you looking for the best free Roku channels around? We’ve got you covered.

After setting up your Roku device, it’s time to start installing channels—the Roku equivalent of apps. So, here are the best Roku channels you shouldn’t miss. All of them are free to install and do not require monthly subscriptions.

Movies and TV

1. The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is an official release from Roku that lets you watch movies for free.

Thanks to content from several major studios, including Lionsgate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros, it offers hundreds of Hollywood movies across many categories.

You don’t need an account to watch the content, but be warned that you will have to sit through some ads.

Download:The Roku Channel

2. Tubi

Tubi is one of the best free streaming services out there. It is ad-supported like other free services, but the ads are shorter and less invasive. It has a wide variety of movies and TV shows, with new content being cycled through frequently.

The best part is that you can access the entire Tubi library without making an account, but if you find yourself using it quite often, you can make an account to save your watchlist and get catered recommendations.

Download: Tubi

3. FilmRise

FilmRise has more than 10,000 free movies. You won’t find the same number of recent releases as on The Roku Channel, but it’s a great place to watch B-movies and classic films.

Again, no registration is required. You just need to install the channel to get started.

Download:FilmRise

4. Plex

Plex is one of the most user-friendly services available on Roku, and it’s completely free. Plex lets you make a watchlist incorporating content from your favorite services.

However, Plex also offers free access to an on-demand library of movies and shows and over 600 live TV channels.

Download: Plex

5. Pluto TV

Pluto TV is a completely legal way to watch live TV.

The company has partnerships with NBC News, MSNBC, Sky News, and Bloomberg to bring you 24/7 coverage of the world’s current affairs. The channel also offers lots of minor channels, including Crime Network, Funny AF, IGN, Pro Wrestling, and All-Day Anime.

You can also enjoy a small library of 1,000 on-demand TV shows.

Download:PlutoTV

6. Crackle

Crackle is well-known for cord cutters. It offers free TV, some old movies, and even some original content. The exact shows you can enjoy varies between countries.

Because Crackle works on multiple platforms (including Android, iOS, Apple TV, PlayStation, and Xbox), your recommendations list and watch history will sync up regardless of which device you’re using.

Download:Crackle

7. Kanopy

Kanopy is another free service where you can watch a variety of movies and TV shows. It’s accessed through your local public library and has one of the best selections of documentaries on any service. Kanopy gives you a certain number of monthly tickets, which you can use to stream free content for both education and entertainment.

While it has different content based on your library, and you can only watch a certain number of things per month if you are already a frequent library goer, Kanopy is easy to set up and gives you access to content you won’t see anywhere else.

Download: Kanopy

8. The CW

The CW channel is the official Roku app of the American television network of the same name. It’s entirely free to use, so no cable subscription is needed.

It offers the last five episodes of a given series on-demand. Shows are generally available 24 hours after they air on TV.

Download:The CW

9. Redbox

Everyone knows Redbox as the DVD rental service, but their streaming service has made them much more than that. While you can still rent movies through the Redbox service, they also have a library of free content.

It offers free movies to stream and live TV. While its library isn’t comparable to that of some other streaming services, it’s another good place to find free things to watch.

Download: Redbox

News

10. CBS News

If you’re a cord-cutter in need of news, you can’t go far wrong with the official CBS app. It offers 24/7 live-streaming of its news channel, along with on-demand segments such as CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Sunday Morning, and Face the Nation.

Download: CBS News

11. ABC News Live

Live news coverage is one of the many reasons people keep their cable subscriptions, but with the ABC News Live channel on your Roku, you can watch live news coverage and recent top stories.

This channel also lets you watch the most popular ABC News shows, such as Good Morning America, 20/20, Nightline, and World News Tonight.

Download: ABC News Live

12. NewsON

If you’re more interested in local news than global affairs, this is the channel for you. It offers more than 170 live local news channels from across the United States, and you can watch reruns from the previous 48 hours.

Unlike some other local news apps in the Channel Store, NewsON does not require a cable subscription to operate.

Download:NewsON

13. NBC News

Another one of the best options for streaming live news coverage on your Roku is NBC News. You can see all of today’s highlights on NBC as well as many other more specific news categories, such as sports, pop culture, food, and shopping.

Download: NBC News

14. WeatherNation

If you want to stay updated on the weather in your area, look no further than WeatherNation. It’s a very simple, user-friendly app that gives you detailed information and forecasts for the weather in your area and any other locations you’re interested in.

Download: WeatherNation

Kids

15. PBS Kids

The number of shows on PBS Kids isn’t vast, but it’s more than enough to amuse young children for hours. You’ll find classics such as Sesame Street and Curious George, as well as modern releases like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train, Super Why, and Wild Kratts.

You can also find classics like Masterpiece, Frontline, and NOVA, as well as cutting-edge documentaries and even some original web content on the regular PBS channel.

Download:PBS Kids

16. Cartoon Network

The Cartoon Network channel offers free episodes of some of their best programming. With popular shows like The Amazing World of Gumball, Ben 10, Teen Titans GO!, and many others, there is enough content on this channel to keep your kids entertained for hours.

Download: Cartoon Network

Audio

17. Pandora

Pandora is another well-known audio app. Pandora offers three different plan options: Free, Plus, and Premium. The free tier has some limited features, but it still delivers on the core premise of learning your musical tastes over time and playing tracks you’ll enjoy. It’s perfect for background music at an event.

Download:Pandora

18. Spotify

Spotify needs no introduction. It is the most popular music streaming app in the world. More than 100 million songs are available, its music discovery tools are the envy of the industry, and there is a never-ending supply of playlists made for you to listen to, made by Spotify’s over 600 million users.

Download: Spotify

19. iHeart Radio

iHeart is one of the best services for streaming free live radio. You’ll have access to all the top radio stations, including music, news, sports, podcasts, and local radio.

This channel also allows you to save and replay songs directly from custom artist radio stations, create personalized music playlists, and listen offline when you don’t have an internet connection.

Download: iHeart

20. Audacy

Another great free option for audio streaming is Audacy. You can listen to all your favorite music, sports, news, and talk radio, and it lets you discover new radio stations and podcasts based on your interests.

One unique feature that sets Audacy apart is the ability to search for radio stations anywhere in the country. You won’t be limited to stations in your area; if there is a station you love based across the country, you can listen to it anytime.

Download: Audacy

21. True Crime Network

If you’re a fan of true-crime podcasts, True Crime Network is a channel you’ll want to check out. You can watch the newest episodes of your favorite true-crime shows and there is even television content available as well.

This channel is full of crime investigation programming and even hosts some educational content to help keep users safe.

Download: True Crime Network

Gaming

22. Text Twist

We have covered some of the best Roku games elsewhere on the site, but Text Twist deserves a special shout-out.

It’s great for family fun. The app gives you either six or seven random letters, and you face a race against time to make as many words as possible before the clock runs out. If you can work out the top answer, you can move on to the next level.

Download:Text Twist

Educational

23. TED

The TED channel is one of the best educational resources on Roku, with access to over 2,000 educational TED Talks. There are countless categories of talks to look through, like science, psychology, technology, and many others, all told by accomplished people who are experts in their fields.

Download: TED

24. Hoopla

Like Kanopy, Hoopla is a service that works through your public library. Unlike Kanopy, though, Hoopla offers a broader variety of content for both education and entertainment.

Using your local library card, you can log in to Hoopla and browse their collection of more than 500,000 eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, comics, and movies.

Download: Hoopla

25. NASA

The NASA channel is the place for all things space. You can view on-demand videos from NASA missions and learn about recent discoveries. There is even a real-time view of Earth from the International Space Station.

Download: NASA

Apps

26. YouTube

Everyone knows YouTube, but you might not know that it can fill needs met by almost every other service on this list. You can watch live news coverage and educational content, and listen to music and podcasts, there is even a selection of free movies available to stream right in the YouTube app.

Download: YouTube

27. Roku Media Player

If you’re looking for a way to view your local files on your Roku device, this channel is for you. With the Roku Media Player, you can access all the photo, video, and audio files you have downloaded on your other devices.

If your Roku has a USB connection you can plug directly into it and access your files through the media player, but if not, you can still play files on your Roku through your network.

Download: Roku Media Player

With such a wide variety of free content on Roku, it’s easier than ever to ditch your cable subscription and still watch everything you did before. These channels are just the tip of the iceberg; the more you use your Roku, the more channels you’ll discover.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Sunday, June 16, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#371)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “The set of circumstances right now”
• Green: “Where you end up when you venture out of the city”
• Blue: “What people choose to decorate their gardens with”
• Purple: “Four different types of story”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 16, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #371 without running out of mistakes, here is the answer…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Current Situation”
• Green = “Remote Rural Area”
• Blue = “Classic Lawn Ornaments”
• Purple = “____ Tale”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Current Situation” = CONDITION, FORM, SHAPE, STATE
• Green: “Remote Rural Area” = BUSH, COUNTRY, STICKS, WOODS
• Blue: “Classic Lawn Ornaments” = FLAMINGO, FOUNTAIN, GNOME, PINWHEEL
• Purple: “____ Tale” = FAIRY, FISH, FOLK, TALL

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “country” and “state” as two territorial areas, plus “fairy” and “gnome” as two types of mythical creature from folklore. There’s also a high number of words starting with the letter F, with six of the 16 fitting that bill.
2. I personally found the Blue category the most difficult today, mainly because I don’t have any ornaments adorning my lawn. For the second day in a row, I also found the Yellow category tricky. This time due to each word needing to be used slightly differently to describe the current situation.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for Saturday, June 15, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.

SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)

Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#370)

Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.

If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some hints designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:

• Yellow: “What you do when you shoot some hoops”
• Green: “What anglers want to find on the end of their lines”
• Blue: “What people’s hair exhibits in shampoo commercials”
• Purple: “What words go before a synonym for kid”

SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)

Today’s Connections Solution (June 15, 2024)

If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #370 without running out of mistakes, here is the answer…

Today’s Connections Categories

• Yellow = “Basketball Shots”
• Green = “Fish”
• Blue = “Qualities of Thick Hair”
• Purple = “____ Child”

With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.

If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.

SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)

Today’s Connections Solution

• Yellow: “Basketball Shots” = DUNK, FLOATER, LAYUP, THREE
• Green: “Fish” = PERCH, PIKE, SKATE, SOLE
• Blue: “Qualities of Thick Hair” = BODY, BOUNCE, LIFT, VOLUME
• Purple: “____ Child” = FLOWER, ONLY, POSTER, PROBLEM

How I Solved Today’s Connections Puzzle

Takeaways from solving today’s Connections…

1. The most obvious red herrings are “sole” and “lift” as two parts of a shoe, plus “only” and “sole” as words referring to individual elements. However, unless I’m missing something, I can’t see anything designed to majorly derail people trying to solve Connections today.
2. I found both the Yellow and Purple categories difficult today, but for different reasons. Yellow, because I’m not familiar with basketball; another example of Connections being easier for Americans to solve. Purple, because while in hindsight, the connection is obvious to see, when you’re scanning the 16 words, it really isn’t.

Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day

1. Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
2. Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
3. Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
4. Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
5. Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.

Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.

Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.

There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.

Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.

Whatever generation of iPad you own, these versatile accessories will help you take your productivity to the next level.

Striking an all-important balance between function and affordability, the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro is a versatile protective case for your iPad that won’t break the bank. Although this version is for the iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), other versions are available for the iPad Pro 11-inch (2024), iPad Air 13-inch (2024), and iPad Air 11-inch (2024) — as well as previous generations of the iPad Pro and Air.

Sporting a sleek and slim profile and embellished with carbon fiber accents, it looks every inch the premium case. It offers good all-around protection for your iPad, with Air Cushion corners for shock absorption and a reinforced back that protects against scratch and drop damage. It fully supports Apple Pencil storage and functionality, and its integrated kickstand allows for multiple viewing angles.

A foldable front cover provides an auto wake/sleep function for your iPad, while a soft microfiber lining keeps the screen free from dust and scuff marks. Its textured design feels good to the touch and is lightweight enough to make it practical for portability.

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro for iPad Pro 13 Inch

Best iPad Case

Providing rugged protection for your iPad, the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro offers a premium finish at an affordable price point. It also has convenient Apple Pencil storage and a foldable stand to support multiple viewing angles.

Pros

• Rugged protection for your iPad
• Integrated kickstand for multiple viewing angles
• Supports Apple Pencil storage and charging
• Premium look and feel
• Reasonable price point

Designed to provide a paper-like feel for drawing or note-taking, the ESR screen protector for iPad Pro 13-inch attaches magnetically to your device’s screen when you’re feeling creative and can be removed and reused up to 100,000 times. In addition to the iPad Pro 13-inch, ESR makes this screen protector for the Pro 11-inch (2024), Air 13-inch (2024), and Air 11-inch (2024), as well as previous generations like the iPad 10th Gen.

Compatible with tempered glass screen protectors, it provides a bubble-free and frictionless surface on which to create. When not in use, it can be safely stored in the protective envelope supplied, ready for that next moment of inspiration. You can seamlessly transition between a matte surface for drawing and a pristine display for everyday use and media streaming.

ESR for iPad Pro 13 Inch Magnetic Screen Protector

Best iPad Screen Protector

The ESR Magnetic Screen Protector provides a paper-like feel for frictionless drawing and note-taking. Its convenient magnetic attachment allows it to be reused up to 100,00 times.

Pros

• Provides a paper-like feel for drawing and note-taking
• Compatible with tempered glass screen protectors
• Magnetic attachment
• Reusable up to 100,000 times

Cons

• Can cause some dimming of the screen display

Although other iPad-compatible styluses are available, the Apple Pencil Pro has been designed to provide you with the best drawing and writing experience possible. Available for the iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) and 11-inch (M4) models, as well as the iPad Air 13-inch (M2) and 11-inch (M2), it comes fully equipped to feed your creativity with fluid movement and intuitive features.

Using the Apple Pencil Pro allows for seamless control across your canvas. For instance, squeezing it brings up a brand-new palette, enabling you to switch up tools, colors, and more in a split second. A barrel roll feature allows for precision rotation, control of brush features, and haptic feedback pulses to acknowledge each action.

Should you ever misplace your Apple Pencil Pro, you can locate it using the Find My app. Plus, for added convenience, it attaches and charges magnetically on the side of your iPad.

If you love the convenience of your iPad but are craving a more precise typing experience, the Apple iPad Magic Keyboard could be the answer. Compatible with the iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad Air 13-inch, and iPad Air 11-inch, this lightweight detachable keyboard case is ideal for working at home or on the go.

It features a floating cantilever design that can be adjusted to support multiple viewing angles, a USB-C pass-through for easy charging, and a large glass trackpad with haptic feedback for fluid navigation. Backlit keys give it a nice aesthetic, while ultra-quiet keystrokes allow you to work discreetly from wherever you are.

A lightweight and slim form factor makes it ideal for travel, while its magnetic attachment means there’s no need for pairing as it draws power directly from your iPad.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) can easily stream music, movies, and more. Featuring the Apple-designed H2 chip, they provide an immersive audio experience with intelligent noise cancelation and low-distortion sound.

In addition to Active Noise Cancelation, the AirPods Pro features a Transparency Mode and Adaptive Audio, which blend both modes for the best of both worlds in any environment. The AirPods Pro and the charging case are IP54 sweat- and water-resistant and, when combined, provide a battery life of up to 30 hours.

The case is compatible with MagSafe for added convenience, and you’ll find personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. Additionally, the AirPods Pro supports Dolby Atmos, making them ideal for enjoying music or movies on the move.

FAQ

Q: Do I need a case for my iPad?

You don’t need a case for your iPad, but using one will better protect your device against accidental drops and scratch damage.

Most iPad cases feature precise cutouts for all ports, speakers, buttons, and camera lenses too, so using one won’t impair any of its functions.

Q: Do I need to buy the Apple Pencil for my iPad, or can I use another stylus?

If you’re looking for a stylus to use with your iPad, you can find plenty of iPad-compatible choices and don’t necessarily need to choose the Apple Pencil.

However, the Apple Pencil has been specially designed to work exclusively with your iPad and offers full support for things such as pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, offering you what is arguably a more complete drawing and writing experience.

Q: How do I connect my Bluetooth devices to my iPad?

Pairing Bluetooth devices with your iPad is a relatively simple process.

To get started, navigate to the Settings menu on your iPad, select Bluetooth, and switch on the Bluetooth function. Follow the on-screen prompts until the pairing process has been completed. Ensure your accessory has discovery mode enabled, and then wait for it to appear on your iPad.

Q: What are the latest iPad models?

The latest iPad models are the iPad Pro (M4) and the iPad Air (M4), both of which were released in 2024.