The next crop of M4 Macs are coming soon, according to Apple leaker Mark Gurman. The first group of M4 Macs are reportedly due later this year (while a few other sets are dropping next year).

We got a sneak peek of the M4 chip’s power when Apple introduced it alongside the iPad Pro. This is the first time the Cupertino-based tech giant has ever rolled out an M-series chip on an iPad before debuting it on a Mac.

Why did Apple make this move? We’re not sure. Perhaps Apple wanted to give us an idea of its beastly capabilities before it rolls out to its laptops and computers. Based on the in-house performance figures we got for the M4 iPad Pro, the M4 Macs are likely going to blow us away.

That being said, let’s take a look at all the leaks and rumors we’ve been hearing across all the Macs.

M4 MacBook Pro

Just like the M3 MacBooks that debuted during last October’s “Scary Fast” event, we’re anticipating the following M4 MacBook models this year:

14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 (cheapest)

14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro

14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max

16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro

16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (priciest)

Apple reports that the M4 processor is 50% faster than the M2 CPU and boasts a four-fold increase in rendering performance

M4 MacBook Pro release date

According to an April report from Gurman, the next MacBook Pro will launch sometime later this year. While he didn’t provide an exact date, it’s expected to arrive before the M4 MacBook Air, which is slated for a spring 2025 release.

This aligns with a rumor from Ross Young, another well-regarded analyst. Young shared on his subscriber-only feed on X (formerly Twitter) that Apple fans can expect an M4 MacBook Pro release ‘later this year.’

Historically, Apple has held Mac events in October or November, making it likely that the new M4 MacBook Pro will be unveiled during that timeframe. However, as BGR noted, October seems to be the most probable date.

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According to Gurman, the entry-level M4 14-inch MacBook Pro will be released first, followed by the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring the more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, likely at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

M4 MacBook Pro design

There haven’t been any design rumors about the M4 MacBook Pro, but a major overhaul seems unlikely. According to MacRumors, Apple is planning a future MacBook launch with a new OLED display, though this isn’t expected until 2026.

M4 MacBook Air

According to Gurman, Apple is working on new M4 MacBook Air models, but they won’t be released until next year.

New 13.6-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models are likely to launch sometime next spring.

M4 iMac

According to Gurman, a new M4 24-inch iMac, like the M4 MacBook Pro, is slated for a late 2024 launch

Other than the date, we don’t have any other additional details.

M4 Mac mini

We have several meaty details about the M4 Mac mini. According to Gurman, it will be available in two configurations: M4 and M4 Pro, and is expected to launch either at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Mac mini

While the Mac mini may not undergo a dramatic design change, it will be significantly smaller. The Mac mini hasn’t had a major design update since 2010. As 9to5Mac noted, it lost its DVD drive and changed I/O options, but has consistently been a 7.7-inch aluminum slab. The new model is anticipated to be the smallest desktop Apple has ever produced.

The chassis is reportedly about the size of an Apple TV. Although the M4 Mac mini will have a smaller overall footprint, it is expected to be slightly taller than the current generation.

M4 Mac Studio

According to Gurman, the M4 Mac Studio is also set for a refresh, but not until mid-2025.

M4 Mac Pro

The April Bloomberg report mentioned earlier states that the next Mac Pro, featuring an M4 Ultra chip, is expected to launch in the second half of 2025.

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.

Vacuum decay, a process that could end the universe as we know it, may happen 10,000 times sooner than expected. Fortunately, it still won’t happen for a very, very long time.

When physicists speak of “the vacuum,” the term sounds as though it refers to empty space, and in a sense it does. More specifically, it refers to a set of defaults, like settings on a control board. When the quantum fields that permeate space sit at these default values, you consider space to be empty. Small tweaks to the settings create particles—turn the electromagnetic field up a bit, and you get a photon. Big tweaks, on the other hand, are best thought of as new defaults altogether. They create a different definition of empty space, with different traits.

One quantum field is special because its default value can change. Called the Higgs field, it controls the mass of many fundamental particles, like electrons and quarks. Unlike every other quantum field physicists have discovered, the Higgs field has a default value above zero. Dialing the Higgs field value up or down would increase or decrease the mass of electrons and other particles. If the setting of the Higgs field were zero, those particles would be massless.

We could stay at the nonzero default for eternity, were it not for quantum mechanics. A quantum field can “tunnel,” jumping to a new, lower-energy value even if it doesn’t have enough energy to pass through the higher-energy intermediate settings, an effect akin to tunneling through a solid wall.

For this to happen, you need to have a lower-energy state to tunnel to. And before building the Large Hadron Collider, physicists thought that the current state of the Higgs field could be the lowest. That belief has now changed.

The curve that represents the energy required for different settings of the Higgs field was always known to resemble a sombrero with an upturned brim. The current setting of the Higgs field can be pictured as a ball resting at the bottom of the brim.

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 August 19’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.

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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:

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Here are today’s Connections categories

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

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 today’s Connections #435 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Music Genres: BLUES, COUNTRY, FOLK, ROCK

Bratwurst Go-Withs: BRAT, BUN, MUSTARD, SAUERKRAUT

Yoga Poses: CHAIR, MOUNTAIN, TREE, WARRIOR

Starting with Pixar Movies: COCONUT, SOULMATE, UPDO, WALLET

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

I fell in love with linen bedding years ago. I bought a bright yellow linen duvet I was certain would bring my bedroom together. The yellow was just a phase, but sleeping on linen just clicked. Linen has a rougher texture and a lived-in look, which can turn some folks off from sleeping on it. But the fabric is breathable and dries fast, so you’ll stay cooler as you sleep and avoid sweaty sheets. (That’s why linen apparel is popular in the summer.)

Linen is also strong and durable, softening up (slowly) after each wash without becoming thinner or weaker. Linen tends to be more expensive, and since high-quality linen will last a long time, a linen sheet set is an investment not only in staying cool as you sleep (which is very important for sleep quality) but also in gorgeous bedding you can enjoy for years.

I love sleeping on linen so long as it isn’t too scratchy, which is one of the many things I looked for while testing and searching for the best linen sheets. I also looked for breathability and airflow, the weight of the sheets, and any other texture or temperature issues beyond linen’s infamous scratchiness. I also researched where each maker sources their linen from and where it’s produced (which can impact both the quality and the price point). These are the best linen sheets I’ve slept on, all having been tested for at least seven nights and at least two washes. I always wash sheets before my first night of testing, and I tend to rotate my sheets every few nights. (All prices in this guide are for queen size sheets.)

Read our Best Sheets guide if you want something a little softer, and check out our other bedding buying guides, including the Best Pillows, Best Mattresses, Best Cooling Mattresses, and whether you need a duvet.

Updated August 2024: We’ve added testing notes about The Company Store’s linen sheets, plus more details about linen weight for all the picks in our guide.

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What’s So Great About Linen?

Linen is a woven fabric made from flax plants. It’s a highly breathable material, so it keeps you cool during the summer months as it doesn’t trap heat. It’s great for people who sleep hot. It’s rougher at first than a simple cotton sheet set, but it should soften up the more it’s washed. Linen often has a higher price than other sheets, but it’s generally more durable than percale or other cotton weaves, so a good sheet set should last a long time.

It’s not for everyone, but if you love linen apparel, you’ll probably love linen sheets. If you’re unsure, start with a single piece (like a duvet or flat sheet) and see what you think. Most of the options we recommend come in a linen set, but you can also buy many of these pieces separately, allowing you to try a linen pillowcase or fitted sheet before wading into a full-on linen bed.

Not everyone will appreciate a side of existential threat with their board game, but that is exactly what you get with Catan: New Energies. It drags the beloved classic Catan into the modern day with fossil fuels and renewable energy, an inventive climate crisis mechanic, and a clever illustration of the consequences if we fail to work toward a greener world. This stand-alone board game for two to four players doesn’t require the original, though experienced players will grasp it more easily.

While the message is clear, the makers did not forget about flow or fun. The addictive hook of Catan, the deals, the room for multiple strategies, and the variation in playthroughs are all present and correct. It is familiar enough to entice old fans and fresh enough to demand a look for newcomers. New Energies also succeeds in making its point, and our first game provoked a long and interesting conversation with my kids about why climate change is happening and why some folks are not on board with fighting it.

New Age Catan

If you are unfamiliar, The Settlers of Catan was first published in 1995. The game takes place on a fictional medieval island with hexagonal tiles placed randomly, ensuring plenty of replay value. Players must build roads, towns, and cities by spending resources like lumber and grain. Resources are collected and traded after dice rolls to determine which tiles pay out each turn. A robber mechanic spices things up when anyone rolls a seven, and some additional achievements and cards provide victory points. The winner is the first person to amass 10 victory points.

Five editions and various expansions were released over the years, and the game was rebranded as simply Catan for the 20th-anniversary edition in 2015. It has sold more than 45 million copies in all its various forms. Catan: New Energies is a stand-alone game rather than an expansion, and it was first conceived over a decade ago, then shelved until creator Klaus Teuber and his sons decided to resurrect it during lockdown.

All the basic mechanics are still there: the randomly generated map of hexagonal tiles, the resource harvesting and trading, and the race for 10 victory points. But there are several additions and a modern-day makeover. Energy is a new resource, and you harvest it by building power plants; towns can support one, and cities up to three. The energy you generate can be spent on resources, including the new science cards needed to build power plants.

Fossil fuel power plants cost one science card, while renewable plants cost three, and cards are scarce at the beginning of the game. The catch is that building fossil fuel plants accelerates the risk of climate disasters and increases what’s called your local footprint. Each player must draw brown event tokens from a bag at the beginning of their turn, and these add up to trigger climate events. Most have a negative impact, such as hazards that block cities from earning resources for a turn, and they tend to punish the player with the highest local footprint.

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 August 19’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 solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

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.

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

Non-imperial unit of measurement.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter M.

The Wordle answer today is…

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 today’s Wordle is…

METER.

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

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

Projectors offer larger screen sizes and a more cinematic viewing experience than their TV counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they’re easier to set up. That’s why we have an entire guide to How to Buy a Projector to check out!

Unless you’re going for a portable option, you’ll want to make sure you have a projector mount ($20) and audio cables properly routed to the location of your projector. This is because setting up full-size projectors to fit your screen, be in focus, etc., can be a pain, so once you get everything dialed in, you’ll want to leave it as-is.

Make sure you get enough lumens (how bright your projector will get at its peak, the higher the number the better). Over 2,000 lumens is a good starting space for any kind of lit viewing, but we recommend 3000 or above if you’re viewing in a bright room.

Another thing to bear in mind before you get a projector is just how much space you’ll need to properly set it up. In most cases, you’ll need 10 to 15 feet between the screen and the projector (be sure to check the “throw distance” listed by the manufacturer in the manual) to achieve screen sizes over 100 inches.

Without a completely dark room, the image can look washed out and be hard to see. If you don’t have a room without windows, consider getting blackout curtains. For more detailed information on how to set up a projector after it arrives, I highly recommend this video.

TL;DR: Update your computer with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for £31.10 (reg. £171.16).

For cost-conscious small business owners, college students, freelancers, and other professionals, popular Microsoft Office tools like Word and Excel are essential — and expensive. That’s why finding a budget-friendly, reliable productivity solution is crucial. And for a limited time, Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is on sale.

So, if you can make do with a slightly older version of this productivity suite (and for most people, that’s very doable), you can get a lifetime pass over 75% off. With your one-time purchase, once you have Microsoft Office set up on your laptop or desktop, the license never expires.

One of the most appealing aspects of Microsoft Office 2021 is the substantial cost savings. With Microsoft 365, you face recurring subscription fees that can add up over time. In contrast, purchasing a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2021 means a one-time expense. This single payment gives you permanent access to essential productivity tools.

A lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2021 offers the benefit of a fixed, upfront cost and helps you avoid potential price increases (not to mention annoying subscription renewal fees). This software suite includes the most popular Microsoft tools. This includes Word to create and edit pro-level documents, Excel for managing and analysing data, PowerPoint to design presentations to impress clients and colleagues, and Outlook to organise emails, schedules, and contacts in one place. 

The suite includes OneNote for streamlined note organising and managing, as well as Teams. You’ll also get Publisher so you can produce professional-quality publications and marketing materials, plus Access for database management.

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For a limited time, grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for £31.10 — 81% off from the usual price. Your new MS Office license will cover one Windows device for life (its life, not yours, of course).

StackSocial prices subject to change.