The New York Times Crossword Puzzle is legendary. But if you don’t have that much time, the Mini Crossword is an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you’re stuck, we’ve got the answers.
The Mini Crossword is far from alone in the Times’ stable of games. Our home page also always has the answers for Wordle, Connections and Strands.
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
New York Times Mini Crossword completed for July 27, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Breed of sled dog. Answer: HUSKY
6A clue: Ante establishment? Answer: CASINO
7A clue: Golden-brown drizzle on an ice cream sundae. Answer: CARAMEL
8A clue: Guitarist’s accessory. Answer: AMP
9A clue: Tree that makes acorns. Answer: OAK
10A clue: Shoot off again, as an email. Answer: RESEND
12A clue: Unmanned aircraft. Answer: DRONE
13A clue: Castle material that’s not very sturdy. Answer: SAND
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Talks persistently about.Answer: HARPSON
2D clue: Olympic women’s gymnastics powerhouse.Answer: USA
3D clue: Biles who represents 2-Down.Answer: SIMONE
4D clue: Work with the hands, as dough.Answer: KNEAD
5D clue: Egg’s center.Answer: YOLK
6A clue: Backup ___ (modern auto feature). Answer: CAMERA
7A clue: Birthday messages may be written on them Answer: CARDS
11D clue: Fitting final Down answerAnswer: END
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
A new government program is trying to encourage Internet service providers (ISPs) to offer lower rates for lower income customers by distributing federal funds through states. The only problem is the ISPs don’t want to offer the proposed rates.
obtained a letter sent to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo signed by more than 30 broadband industry trade groups like ACA Connects and the Fiber Broadband Association as well as several state based organizations. The letter raises “both a sense of alarm and urgency” about their ability to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The newly formed BEAD program provides over $42 billion in federal funds to “expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure, deployment and adoption programs” in states across the country, according to the (NTIA).
The money first goes to the NTIA and then it’s distributed to states after they obtain approval from the NTIA by presenting a low-cost broadband Internet option. The ISP industries’ letter claims a fixed rate of $30 per month for high speed Internet access is “completely unmoored from the economic realities of deploying and operating networks in the highest-cost, hardest-to-reach areas.”
The letter urges the NTIA to revise the low-cost service option rate proposed or approved so far. have completed all of the BEAD program’s phases.
Americans pay an average of $89 a month for Internet access. New Jersey has the highest average bill at $126 per month, according to a survey conducted by . A 2021 study from the found that 57 percent of households with an annual salary of $30,000 or less have a broadband connection.
Apple’s M3 MacBook Air combines Apple’s lightest and thinnest laptop design with the impressive horsepower of third-generation Apple silicon. B&H Photo Video has the 2024 laptop on sale for $200 off. Usually $1,299, the variant with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is only $1,099.
The 2024 MacBook Air adds the M3 chip, Apple’s silicon with a 3nm process that crams more electronic components into a smaller space compared to its predecessor. Apple’s Neural Engine, which will become more crucial with the introduction of Apple Intelligence AI features this fall, is also 15 percent faster in the M3 family than the M2. While the M3 MacBook Air may not provide a dramatic speed boost over the M2 in day-to-day tasks, it has a higher ceiling for intensive work and is more future-proofed.
B&H Photo Video
The M3 model adds support for dual screens with the lid closed. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E’s faster speeds and lower latency if you have a compatible router.
Engadget Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar praised the device in his review from earlier this year, describing the two sizes of the laptop as “great computers with excellent performance, gorgeous screens and incredible battery life.” The M3 MacBook Air lasted over 10 hours in our video-playback battery stress test.
Although the $200 off deal at B&H is for the 13-inch model, the retailer (which operates online but also has a robust Manhattan retail outlet) has the 15-inch model for $150 off. If you like more real estate for your apps and desktop (or, like me, need larger text for aging eyes), the larger model may be the better choice.
One thing to keep in mind before ordering is that B&H’s return policy states that it won’t take computers back for a refund once the packaging has been unsealed. Although you can contact customer service for an exchange if something is wrong out of the box, buyer’s remorse alone won’t cut it for getting your money back. This contrasts with competitors like the Apple Store, Amazon and Best Buy, so consider that before proceeding. However, apart from that footnote, B&H has been an Apple partner for nearly a decade and has built a solid reputation with customers since its 1973 founding.
There are more ways to prevent and test for HIV today than ever. For people at a higher risk of contracting HIV, there’s medication available (PrEP) that reduces their risk, and research is ongoing into new and potentially more efficient ways to reduce HIV transmission.
Promising results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday found that an injection that’s given just twice a year significantly lowered the rate of HIV incidence among girls and women in South Africa and Uganda compared to background HIV incidence. None of the 2,134 study participants who took the studied drug (lenacapavir) acquired HIV.
Beyond advancements in preventive medicine, testing to know your HIV status is key to taking control of your health. Getting diagnosed today with HIV does not mean the same thing as it did years ago. By simply sticking to their medication plan, most people can get the virus to an undetectable level, meaning there’s no longer an infection risk. Current treatments mean that someone who tests positive for HIV can live a lengthy life and may keep the virus so undetectable that they won’t pass it on to a sexual partner.
If you’ve been through a typical sex ed class, you’ve probably heard that checking your HIV status is a good idea at least once, regardless of individual factors that influence your risk of contracting it. But has any information changed since you were last in school? Here’s what we know now about HIV tests, and where you can get one.
Who needs an HIV test? How often should I get one?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all people get at least one HIV test during their lifetime. However, many people are recommended to test more often. How often you might benefit from a test is personal and depends on several factors, including your recent sexual history, your partners, what drugs you use and more. Here are some more specific recommendations:
If you’re a man who has sex with men and you’re not in a monogamous relationship where the two of you already know your status: You should get an HIV test at least once a year. Some sexually active gay or bisexual men might benefit from testing more often, like once every three or six months.
Like many viruses, HIV has a disproportionate effect on certain populations. Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men have the highest risk of contracting HIV in the US, making up about 68% of new diagnoses in 2020. Black and Hispanic men are at higher risk.
If you’ve had more than one sexual partner since your last HIV test, the CDC recommends getting another one. You can get it at the same time as your test for other sexually transmitted infections, like chlamydia. Similarly, though kind of in reverse, if you’ve been diagnosed with another STI, you should also get a test for HIV.
If you’ve exchanged drug equipment with another person, such as needles, syringes or cookers, you should get an HIV test. If you share drug equipment regularly, you should test for HIV at least once a year.
If you’ve exchanged sex for things like money, you should get an HIV test. If you do so regularly, you should get tested at least once a year (possibly every three months, for example).
If you’ve had sex with a person who’s been recommended a test based on the above criteria, or you don’t know their sexual history, you should get an HIV test.
If you’re pregnant, your doctor will also probably recommend an HIV test early in your pregnancy. If someone who is HIV-positive follows the guidelines given to them for their medication regimen during pregnancy and birth, they have a 99% chance of not passing HIV onto their baby, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
You can get an HIV test a few different ways, and they’re all pretty quick.
Alex Levine/Getty Images
Where to get an HIV test
HIV tests can be antibody, antigen/antibody tests or NAT (lab-based) tests. Most rapid HIV tests are antibody tests, which means they work by detecting antibodies your body produces if you have HIV, either through blood or a swab of the cheek.
Health clinics like Planned Parenthood offer HIV testing. You can also check in with your local health department, as smaller clinics often offer discounted or even free testing if you’re worried you can’t afford one. If you have a regular primary care physician you see, they’ll also be able to run an HIV test for you.
If you’d rather test at home, you also have options. OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is an HIV testing kit that requires a swab of your cheek — no blood involved. In 20 minutes, you’ll get your results. You can get one or two OraQuick home HIV tests for free if you order through Together TakeMeHome, an initiative by the CDC to get more HIV tests out. And according to the Together TakeMeHome website, people in the US and Puerto Rico can order every three months.
You can also buy OraQuick online for $39. If you’re testing within three months after potentially being exposed to HIV, OraQuick recommends testing again after the three-month mark, as there’s a window of time when false negatives are more likely. (Read more about when to test in the section below.)
There are other testing options, including mail-in HIV tests where you administer the test at home but mail in your sample to a lab for processing. Pharmacies such as CVS sell HIV tests, sometimes in kits that test for other STIs as well.
The LetsGetChecked Standard 5 test, for example, screens for HIV but also common STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. You’ll need to do a finger prick and provide a urine sample that you’ll ship out for testing, and you should receive results within two to five days, according to the company.
HIV tests are generally accurate if you follow the test instructions, but if you get a positive result, follow up with your doctor to confirm the result and get next steps for treatment. If you test positive at your doctor’s office or in a clinic, your health care provider might run a second test to confirm.
When to take a test if you think you were exposed to HIV
If you’ve been exposed to HIV and do end up developing it, how soon a test will turn positive depends on the type of test you’re taking and also varies a bit person to person. But it may take up to three months for a rapid test to detect HIV, as the body needs to build up enough antibodies to turn a test positive.
If you’re looking for an accurate result in the fastest amount of time, you can ask your doctor for a nucleic acid test (NAT), which may detect it as early as 10 days after an exposure, though it may take longer.
If you have an exposure and take a negative test, get tested again as soon as the “window period” of whatever test you’re using is over. For antibody tests, this means testing again after 90 days have gone by. For NAT tests, this means waiting 33 days. See the CDC’s window period for different HIV tests here. If you think you were exposed to HIV, you can also talk with your doctor or another health care provider so they can advise you on the best timing to test, or direct you to testing.
If you test positive for HIV: Know you are not alone, and that the medications available today mean you’ll most likely be able to bring the virus down to a level that’s undetectable, which means your body is on top of it and you have effectively no chance of spreading it to a sex partner.
The last year has continued to bring whiplash to the camera world, with numerous new models introduced across mirrorless, action and compact lineups. We continue to see improvements in all areas, with greater speed, more accurate autofocus and better video specs.
All those options can be overwhelming, but that’s where this guide comes in. Whether you’re an aspiring action or wildlife photographer, an extreme sports junkie or a content creator, we’ll help you find the perfect camera to match your budget and requirements.
What to consider before choosing a camera
Though smartphones get better for video and photos every year, full cameras are still better in many ways. The larger sensors in mirrorless cameras let more light in, and you have a wide choice of lenses with far superior optics. Where smartphones typically have one f/stop, cameras have many, which gives you better exposure control. You also get natural and not AI-generated bokeh, quicker shooting, a physical shutter, more professional video results and so on.
Sensor size
With that extra quality comes a lot of extra factors to consider, though. The first thing is sensor size. In general, the larger the sensor, the better (and usually more expensive) the camera.
Full frame is available on models like Sony’s new ZV-E1, the Canon EOS R6 II and Panasonic S5 II. At a size equivalent to 35mm film (36 x 24mm), it offers the best performance in terms of image quality, low-light capability and depth of field. But it’s also the most expensive and finicky. While bokeh looks incredible at f/1.4, the depth of field is so razor thin that your subject’s eyebrow might be in focus but not their eye. This can also make video shooting difficult.
The next size category is APS-C (around 23.5 x 15.6mm for most models and 22.2 x 14.8mm for Canon), offered on Fujifilm’s X Series lineup, Canon’s R10, Sony’s ZV-E10 II and the Nikon Z50. It’s cheaper than full frame, both for the camera body and lenses, but still brings most of the advantages like decent bokeh, high ISOs for low-light shooting and relatively high resolution. With a sensor size the same as movie cameras, it’s ideal for shooting video, and it’s easier to hold focus than with full-frame cameras.
Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13mm), a format shared by Panasonic and Olympus, is the next step down in sensor size. It offers less bokeh and light-gathering capability than APS-C and full frame, but allows for smaller and lighter cameras and lenses. For video, you can still get reasonably tight depth of field with good prime lenses, but focus is easier to control.
The other common sensor size is Type 1 (1 inch), which is actually smaller than one inch at 12.7 x 9.5mm. That’s used mostly by compact models like Sony’s ZV-1 vlogging camera. Finally, action cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 and DJI’s Osmo 3 have even smaller sensors (1/1.9 and 1/1.7 size, respectively).
Autofocus
For photographers, another key factor is autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy. Most modern mirrorless cameras have hybrid phase-detect AF systems that allow for rapid focus and fast burst speeds. The majority also feature AI smarts like eye-detect AF for people and animals. However, some models are faster and more reactive than others.
Displays
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear display are also key. The best models have the sharpest and brightest EVFs that help you judge a shot before taking it. For things like street photography, it’s best to have as bright and sharp a rear display as possible. You may also want a screen that flips out rather than just tilting.
Lenses
DSLRs and mirrorless cameras let you change lenses, but you’re stuck with what’s built into a compact camera. While that’s great for portability, a single lens means you’re going to sacrifice something. Fujifilm’s X100V, for instance, has a fast but fixed 35mm-equivalent f/2.0 lens and no zoom. Sony’s RX100 V has a 24-70mm zoom, but it’s slower at the telephoto end (f/2.8) and less sharp than a fixed focal (prime) lens.
Video recording
When it comes to video, there are other factors to consider. Does your camera do “pixel-binning” for video recording or read out the entire sensor? Better cameras tend to do the latter. Another key factor is sensor speed, as slower sensors tend to have more rolling shutter that can create a “jello” effect that skews video.
In addition, how’s the battery life? How do you like the handling and feel? How long can you shoot video before the camera heats up or stops? Does it support 10-bit HDR video? Is there a microphone and/or a headphone jack? (if you do a lot of interviews, it’s preferable to have both.) How’s the video autofocus? All of these things play a part in your decision – so now let’s take a look at the best models.
Best cameras
Mirrorless cameras
Mirrorless is the largest camera category in terms of models available, so it’s the best way to go if you’re looking for something with the most advanced features. Both Canon and Nikon recently announced they’re discontinuing development of new DSLRs, simply because most of the advantages of that category are gone, as I detailed in a video. The biggest selling feature of a mirrorless camera is the ability to change lenses depending on the type of shooting you want to do.
Key features to consider are sensor size, resolution, autofocus, shooting (burst) speeds and video specs. If you’re primarily a sports or wildlife photographer, you’ll likely want fast burst speeds and accurate autofocus. Portrait and landscape shooters will favor large sensors and high resolution (more megapixels) to maximize image quality. And content creators will want to look for things like flip-out displays, high-end video specifications and good in-body stabilization. Price is of course a major factor as well.
Mirrorless cameras under $1,000
Canon
My top pick under $1,000 is the brand new 24.2-megapixel Canon R10, which is a great model for both photographers and content creators. It can shoot bursts at up to 23 fps in electronic shutter mode, and offers 4K 10-bit at 30p with supersampling and no crop, or 4K 60p with a 1.5x crop. It has a fully articulating display for vlogging, along with a 2.36-million dot electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode that works in both photo and video modes. The main drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization.
Another great choice in this price range is the 21-megapixel Nikon Z fc, as it’s not only a solid hybrid photo/video camera but happens to look beautiful as well. You can shoot bursts at up to 11 fps with autofocus and auto-exposure enabled, and it offers supersampled 4K at up to 30 fps. Perhaps the most desirable feature is the small, functional body that makes it ideal for travel.
The Sony ZV-E10 II just hit the market, but for content creators, it’s worth waiting a couple of weeks. It comes with a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor that’s much faster than before, so rolling shutter wobble is mostly a non-issue. You can shoot supersampled 4K video at up to 30p using the full sensor width, or 4K 60p with a small 1.1x crop. It also supports 10-bit S-Log3 video capture, LUt imports and more. The main drawbacks are the lack of an electronic viewfinder and mechanical shutter.
Though it was released over two years ago, the Sony A7 IV still has the best combination of image quality, performance and video powers. The 33-megapixel sensor has the highest resolution in its price range, and dynamic range is also near the top. At the same time, you can shoot at up to 10fps in mechanical shutter mode. For creators, 10-bit 4K video is available at up to 60fps, and it offers the best autofocus in its class, both for video and photos. The main drawback is rolling shutter distortion that occurs with the electronic shutter or video.
Think of the Nikon Z6 III as a mini Z8, thanks to the incredible performance of what the company calls a partially-stacked sensor. To that end, you can shoot RAW bursts at up to 20 fps in electronic shutter mode while nailing sharp shots thanks to the much-improved autofocus. On the video side, it supports 6K RAW at up to 60 fps, or 4K 120p. The only thing holding it back from dethroning Sony is image quality that’s compromised a bit by the relatively low resolution and reduced dynamic range.
Content creators should take a hard look at the full-frame Panasonic S5 IIX. It’s the company’s first camera with hybrid phase-detect AF designed to make focus “wobble” and other issues a thing of the past. You can shoot sharp 4K 30p video downsampled from the full sensor width, or 4K 60p from an APS-C cropped size, all in 10-bit color. It even offers 5.9K 30p capture, along with ProRes capture to an external SSD. You also get a flip-out screen for vlogging and updated five-axis in-body stabilization that’s the best in the industry. Photo quality is also good thanks to the dual-gain 24-megapixel sensor. The main drawback is the slowish burst speeds.
The Nikon Z8 is an interesting mirrorless camera because it carries the same specs as the company’s Z9 flagship but costs a lot less. It’s one of the highest resolution full-frame cameras with 45 megapixels, but is also one of the fastest with burst speeds up to 30 fps. At the same time, it offers incredible video capabilities with 8K RAW video at up to 60 fps. Autofocus isn’t on par with Sony’s A1, but it’s a better camera for the price.
If you’re OK with a smaller APS-C sensor, check out the Fujifilm X-H2S. It has an incredibly fast stacked, backside-illuminated 26.1-megapixel sensor that allows for rapid burst shooting speeds of 40 fps, along with 4K 120p video with minimal rolling shutter. It can capture ProRes 10-bit video internally, has seven stops of in-body stabilization and a class-leading EVF. Yes, it’s expensive for an APS-C camera, but on the other hand, it’s the cheapest stacked sensor camera out there. The other downside is AF that’s not quite up to Canon and Sony’s level.
For the ultimate high-resolution camera, check out Sony’s A7R V. With a 61-megapixel sensor, it shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that’s much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap, albeit with significant rolling shutter. If you don’t need the video, however, Sony’s A7R IVa does mostly the same job, photo-wise, and costs a few hundred dollars less.
The most important features to look for in an action cam are image quality, stabilization and battery life. GoPro has easily been beating all rivals recently in all those areas, but DJI has taken a lot of its business to date with the Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera.
DJI
Late last year DJI unveiled the Osmo Pocket III and I called it “maybe the only vlogging camera you need.” It has a big 1-inch sensor, the same size found on Sony’s ZV-1 II compact camera. That boosts image quality considerably, particularly in low light. It also has a new, large swiveling touchscreen that makes it easier to switch between horizontal and vertical video.
What really makes it great for vlogging are the follow modes combined with face tracking. If you’re working solo, you can simply set it up and it’ll rotate and tilt to follow you around. That also applies for walk-and-talk vlogging, so you don’t have to worry about focus or even pointing the camera at yourself. The main drawbacks are the reduced resolution (which means it’s not ideal for photos) and a price that’s considerably higher than the previous model.
GoPro’s Hero 12 Black is a relatively mild update over the Hero 11, but it was launched at a lower price and is often available for only a tad bit more than the Hero 11 Black — so it’s easy to recommend. It can record videos at up to 5.3K at 60fps in 10-bit color with high data rates, and 8:7 capture that uses the entire sensor now works in all modes. The battery lasts around 10-15 percent longer than before, and it has a new quarter-inch tripod mount. Otherwise, the Hero 12 still has the best digital stabilization (aka Hypersmooth) of any action camera, a full-color front screen and the best image quality, overall, of any cam in its class.
This category has fewer cameras than it did even a few years ago and many models are older, as manufacturers focus instead on mirrorless models. However, I’m still a big believer in compact cameras. They’re a noticeable step up from smartphones quality-wise, and a lot of people will take a compact traveling or to events when they’d never bother with the hassle of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Compacts largely have type 1-inch sensors, but a few offer larger options, particularly Fujifilm’s XF-100V. Another popular model, Sony’s XV-1, is primarily aimed at content creators looking to step up. In any case, desirable qualities include image quality, a fast lens, relatively long zoom, flip-out display, good battery life, a high quality EVF, decent video and good pocketability.
Fujifilm
The Fujifilm X100 VI is a near-perfect update to the X100 V, keeping everything buyers liked while adding features like a 40-megapixel sensor and in-body stabilization. Image quality is excellent and the improved resolution is much appreciated for things like street and tourist photography. Meanwhile, the in-body stabilization makes it much more useful in low light or to create blur effects handheld. Video is solid for such a small camera, with up to 6K 30p capture. The only downsides are mediocre battery life and autofocus that can be a bit slow.
The 20-megapixel Sony ZV-1 II is follow-up to the ZV-1, a compact camera based on the RX-100 series that uses a type 1-inch sensor. It does that job well thanks to a lightweight body, built-in high-quality microphone, flip-out display, 4K 30p video, best-in-class autofocus and excellent image quality. The 18-50mm f/1.8-4.0 lens is sharp and wider than on the ZV-1, so it’s better for vlogging. One very nice feature is the built-in ND filter, but it does lack optical image stabilization and a headphone port.
Strands doesn’t get as much attention as its New York Times game siblings Wordle and Connections, but it can be just as challenging and entertaining. Strands just moved out of beta, so it’s now in the New York Times’ official Games app, which might bring it more fans. I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Time to medal.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
New York Times Strands completed puzzle for July 26, 2024.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET
How to play NYT Strands
1. Use today’s theme to look for words relating to that topic. See one? Drag or click the letters in order. Click on the last letter twice to submit your guess. If you’ve found a theme word, it’ll light up in blue and stay that way.
2. Other words you find are considered hint words that give you clues to the theme words. Find three hint words (they must have at least four letters each), and the game will reward you by showing you a theme word. But if you can’t unscramble it, find three more hint words and the game will highlight the theme word’s letters in order.
3. Hunt for the spangram, a special theme word that spans the entire puzzle, though it could flow across or top to bottom. It summarizes the puzzle theme.
4. When you’re done, you’ll have used every letter on the board in either a theme word or spangram. Theme words fill the entire board and do not overlap.
The US is in the middle of another hotly contested and seemingly close presidential election. This election is also happening in this new age of widespread access to artificial intelligence and easily disseminated misinformation. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says his office tracked the source of one key piece of election misinformation back to X’s Grok chatbot.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that X’s premium chatbot service is passing along erroneous information about the deadlines for states’ presidential ballots including Minnesota. When Grok is asked “Which states’ presidential ballot deadlines have passed?”, Grok claims Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington “have passed their presidential ballots.” Grok then sources its information to an X post published on Sunday by user and conservative pundit @EvanAKilgore, which does not include a correction or warning about election misinformation.
In “Fun Mode,” Grok repeats the incorrect information and source with the comment, “So if you’re planning on running for president in one of these states, you might want to check if there’s a write-in option. Or, you know, travel back to before the deadlines passed.” Another response to the same question said “These states have already passed their deadlines to get on the presidential ballot, which means they’re probably just sitting around, twiddling their thumbs, wondering what to do now that Joe Biden has dropped out. But hey, at least they’ve got their ballots ready to go, right?”
Grok insinuates that President Joe Biden’s name can’t be replaced on these nine states’ ballots because the deadlines have passed. President Biden was the presumptive nominee until he announced he would no longer seek a second term on Sunday. The Democratic Party will choose its nominee through a virtual roll call vote ahead of its convention and states don’t start printing ballots until after both conventions. Also, Minnesota’s ballot deadline isn’t until Aug. 26.
Several fact checks from more reputable news outlets refute the claim that Biden’s name is etched into stone on these states’ ballots. Politifact rated a similar claim with the same list of nine states as “False.”
Simon says members of his staff tried to inform X about the misinformation their chatbot was spreading on its platform but could not reach a media relations representative. The response he says he received was equally concerning.
“[They] got what I can only verbalize as the equivalent of a shoulder shrug,” Simon said to the Star Tribune.
We reached out to X’s press email for comment and only received a reply that read, “Busy now, please check back later.”
While WinkBeds isn’t a name heard as often as Casper or Purple, it’s a great brand to consider if you want to invest in your sleep and upgrade your bed game. The brand’s flagship mattress, the WinkBed, has a lot to offer, from its four firmness level options to a WinkBed Plus offering for heavier sleepers looking for additional support. It also has a good value compared with other high-end beds on the market, and the price might surprise you.
For my thoughts on this mattress (I’ve tested over 100, so I know a thing or two about beds), continue reading this full-length WinkBed mattress review.
WinkBeds
Video: WinkBed Mattress Review
Watch our very own CNET video producer, Owen Poole, review the WinkBed mattress.
First impressions of the WinkBed mattress
The WinkBed is the most aesthetically pleasing mattress I’ve ever seen. It looks like a cloud decorated with a polka-dot ribbon. It’s such a clean, pretty and luxurious bed that it’s almost a shame to cover it with sheets and blankets. Not that looks mean much in the mattress world, but it’s worth mentioning that it’s as easy on your eyes as it is on your body.
I would describe the WinkBed mattress as a luxurious innerspring mattress with a fluffy, light and airy pillow top. It’s as supportive as the old reliable innerspring mattresses back in the day, with a modern-day upgrade on comfort and pressure relief. It’s also thick and burly, making it a great mattress for people who want durability and support. Although, the price surprised me. A mattress this nice, I think, could be worth over $2,000 (queen size) but the WinkBed is priced much lower, and discounts commonly offered by WinkBeds make it an affordable luxury option.
WinkBed mattress firmness and feel
Firmness
One of the best things about the WinkBed mattress is how versatile it is for different kinds of sleepers thanks to its three firmness levels. You can choose between Softer, Luxury Firm and Firm. There’s also the Plus option for heavier sleepers. Here’s how I would rate each mattress on the firmness scale, which runs from one to 10:
Softer: Medium-soft (3)
Luxury Firm: Medium (5)
Firm: Medium-firm (7)
Plus: Firm (8-9)
As you can see, the WinkBed covers all the bases when it comes to the different firmness types you can want. The difference is in the pillow top; it’s either extra fluffy and pressure relieving, firmer and more supportive or a balance of both. The company also claims the Luxury Firm model is chosen for high-end luxury hotels, which I completely believe because of WinkBed’s quality.
Feel
The WinkBed mattress is everything you ever wanted in an old innerspring mattress and everything that’s missing from a standard foam mattress. It’s supportive, but you can’t feel those steel springs in the bottom layer. Instead, you feel the comfortable foam layers and fluffy gel pillow top cradling your body. It’s bouncy and responsive, unlike memory foam, and really easy to switch positions on.
I tried the Luxury Firm model, which was both pressure-relieving and supportive; my back didn’t sag when I was on my back and stomach, nor did I feel a soreness in my arm and hips when I laid on my side. It’s incredibly pleasant and accommodating, and likely the reason why some fancy hotels chose this model to furnish their rooms with.
WinkBed mattress construction
WinkBeds
The WinkBed’s bread and butter has to be its thick and durable construction made to fit just about any body type. It’s over 13 inches thick and is made with several different ergonomic layers:
The center is made with wider steel coils (labeled C in the illustration above) that are individually wrapped to help improve motion isolation, while the edge is made with thinner steel coils (D) with a firmer feel to boost edge support.
Next is a series of foam layers (B), including a layer of gel foam to help deaden the movement of the bouncy coils below, as well as quality, high-density foams for comfort and to help regulate temperature. You can also find WinkBeds’ Lumbarlayer, which is more supportive, in the center of the foam to add more reinforcement to your back and lumbar area.
A pillow top finish (A) with gel-infused foam underneath makes the mattress feel cozy and comfortable.
You also not only have the standard WinkBed, but the WinkBed Plus, too. It’s designed with an ultra-supportive latex foam layer and extra-dense foam that prevents the bed from sagging.
WinkBed mattress performance
Motion isolation
The old construction used to include an extra layer of coils where the foam layers are, and it made the WinkBed mattress pretty bouncy. With the removal of this layer and the addition of foam that helps neutralize the springiness, I think the WinkBed mattress deadens movement well for couples who have to share a mattress. Unless your partner is an aggressive tosser-and-turner, I don’t see this being a problem.
Edge support
The WinkBed has phenomenal edge support. Steel coils already help a mattress feel more sturdy and stable, so the extra-firm coils around the perimeter of a WinkBed mattress make the edge support even stronger.
Temperature
The foams in the WinkBed have what WinkBeds calls “Heat Disperse Tech,” which helps it sleep cooler than traditional mattresses that contain multiple layers of high-density foam. However, I wouldn’t call it a cool-sleeping mattress. Rather, it’s more neutral; it’s not too hot, but it’s not too cold either. I anticipate, unless you’re a particularly hot sleeper on most beds, that temperature will depend more on the type of pajamas you wear and how hot your bedroom is.
Who is the WinkBed mattress best for?
Your weight and primary sleeping position should help you determine which WinkBed mattress is best for you.
Sleeping position
Side sleepers: I recommend the Soft model to petite or average side sleepers who want more pressure relief than support. If you want a tad more back support, the Luxury Firm option will work for average to heavier side sleepers.
Back and stomach sleepers: The Firm or Luxury Firm models will be best for back and stomach sleepers because they keep the spine and neck in a neutral alignment.
Combination sleepers: I think the Luxury Firm model is perfect because it’s supportive enough to keep the back straight when you’re on your spine, but soft enough to give under your curves when you lay on your side.
Zooey Liao/CNET
Body type
The standard WinkBed mattress will be suitable for all body types, including people who weigh over 230 pounds. Petite sleepers under 150 pounds will consider this bed incredibly supportive, and average to heavy sleepers should be perfectly accommodated.
If you weigh over 250 pounds and want something even more supportive — perhaps you sleep with another heavier individual or just want maximum support — go for the WinkBed Plus. It offers a good value compared to other similar mattresses and it’s specifically designed with heavier sleepers in mind.
WinkBed Mattress Review Pricing
Size
Measurements (inches)
Price
Twin
38×75 inches
$1,149
Twin XL
38×80 inches
$1,249
Full
54×74 inches
$1,499
Queen
60×80 inches
$1,799
King
76×80 inches
$1,999
Cal king
72×84 inches
$2,049
I mentioned before that I assumed this mattress would be around $2,000 or more for a queen mattress because of how nice of a bed it is. It’s fit for a celebrity or a high-paying customer in a fancy hotel. A queen size retails for $1,799, and it’s usually followed up with $100 to $300 in discounts. Comparatively to other mattresses, a discounted WinkBed hybrid mattress is only a few hundred dollars more than the regular all-foam Casper Original and Purple mattress. It’s also cheaper than luxury mattresses like the Helix Midnight Luxe and the TempurPedic mattress. So, if you ask me, the WinkBed offers excellent value.
There are also mattress deals throughout the year where WinkBed offers generous discounts that will knock down the price of this mattress even further.
*Prices listed above are at MSRP
Shipping, trial and returns
Most online mattress companies want to make it easy for you to order online. So, they offer free shipping along with some kind of risk-free trial and warranty policy. Here’s what you can expect from WinkBed:
Free shipping and returns
120-night trial
Lifetime warranty
Its lifetime warranty is uncommon in the mattress industry and a testament to how durable WinkBeds feels its mattress is going to be. I must add a disclaimer: please don’t sleep on the same mattress for your entire lifetime.
Final verdict on the WinkBed mattress
If you have a strict budget of under $1,000 for your new mattress, the WinkBed isn’t going to be the one for you. For anyone willing to splurge a little more on their new bed, the WinkBed should be on your radar. It’s versatile, comfortable, supportive and long-lasting. It’s pretty much everything you can ask for in a mattress if you want a safe, quality pick. The only reason you may not love it is if you want a foam mattress or a cooling mattress.
You might like a WinkBed if:
You want a supportive and durable mattress
You sleep on your back, side, stomach or a combination of them all
You have a petite, average or heavy body type
You like a bouncy and responsive mattress
You sleep with a partner and value strong edge support and motion-isolating abilities
You have luxurious taste in mattresses
You might not like a WinkBed if:
You can’t spend over $1,000 on a new mattress
You’re very petite or want an all-foam bed that isn’t so supportive
You’re hooked on the contouring feel of memory foam
You’re a hot sleeper who wants a bed with additional cooling abilities
How we tested the WinkBed mattress
At CNET, we’ve spent years testing and assessing mattresses. During that time, we developed a testing methodology that we apply to each mattress. First, we consider the construction, firmness and feel of a bed. That gives us the big picture. Then, we test the mattress’s performance using factors like edge support, temperature and responsiveness.
Our team of experts includes different genders and body types. This allows us to get a well-rounded view of who a bed is best suited for.
Watch this: Tips for Buying Prescription Glasses Online
Other WinkBed Mattresses
WinkBeds GravityLux: The Gravity Lux mattress by Winkbeds offers premium memory foam that’s plush and provides ample comfort. Its layered design contours and supports your body, making it a great option for back and side sleepers alike. When compared with the WinkBeds flagship mattress, the Gravity Lux is more luxurious with a soft sleep surface. The Gravity Lux stands out for its premium feel.
WinkBeds EcoCloud Hybrid: The Winkbeds EcoCloud Hybrid mattress is an eco-friendly option from the brand. Crafted with natural and organic materials, it’s supportive yet feels plush. The base of the mattress has individually wrapped coils, followed by a layer of Tally latex, then topped with a cotton cover. This is a great affordable option for those looking for an environmentally friendly bed.
How does the WinkBed mattress compare to other mattresses?
Saatva Classic vs WinkBed: The Saatva Classic mattress is another luxury pillow-top bed available in different firmness levels. Saatva does outshine WinkBed regarding support with its back-to-back coil construction, but not everyone will need that extra durability from their bed. The Saatva Classic mattress is also a little more expensive than WinkBed.
Helix Midnight Luxe vs WinkBed: Both the Midnight Luxe and WinkBed are hybrid mattresses with gel-infused memory foam, making them similar. The Helix Midnight Luxe’s coils also have a targeted lumbar design to support your back. It’s also slightly more expensive than WinkBed.
The Winkbed mattress ranges from $849 for a twin to $1,749 for a California king.
You can choose your preferred firmness for your Winkbed mattress. The softer option is best suited for side sleepers.
We found the WinkBed has great support while also providing comfort and pressure relief, making this a solid option for people with back pain.
The WinkBed is a 13-inch hybrid mattress that features both steel pocketed coils and layers of memory foam. It’s topped with a really comfortable pillow top that gives this bed a luxury feel.
How much does the WinkBed cost?
The Winkbed mattress ranges from $849 for a twin to $1,749 for a California king.
Is the WinkBed mattress good for side sleepers?
You can choose your preferred firmness for your Winkbed mattress. The softer option is best suited for side sleepers.
Is the WinkBed mattress good for back pain?
We found the WinkBed has great support while also providing comfort and pressure relief, making this a solid option for people with back pain.
Back in March, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max announced that it’s extending its exclusive US streaming rights for Studio Ghibli in a new multiyear agreement. As part of that deal, Ghibli agreed to make Hayao Miyazaki’s first film in a decade, The Boy and the Heron, available on Max later this year. Now, the streaming service has revealed that the fantasy adventure film will be available to stream on Max starting on September 6. To note, Studio Ghibli first embraced streaming in 2020 when it gave Netflix and Max the rights to all its films, including Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro.
Written and directed by Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron revolves around a boy named Mahito who moves to his family’s countryside estate after the death of his mother. It was there where he encounters a gray heron, which marks the beginning of a fantastical adventure with magic, wizards, spirits and anthropomorphic animals. Like all other Miyazaki films, The Boy and the Heron contains philosophical messages weaved into Mahito’s journey as he faces the dangers of an unfamiliar world to find his ill stepmother who has disappeared into the forest.
The Boy and the Heron’s English dub features some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Christian Bale voices Mahito’s father Shoichi, Robert Pattinson voices the grey heron, Florence Pugh is the magical fisherwoman Kiriko while Dave Bautista voices the film’s main antagonist, the Parakeet King. The cast also includes Mark Hamill, Willem Dafoe, Gemma Chan, Karen Fukuhara and Luca Padovan as Mahito.
Carries the five channels you need for $57 a month
You can call the 2024 Summer Olympic Games the Paris Olympics, but you might also call them the Peacock Olympics. Unless you plan to be in the City of Light for the Games, you’ll need NBC’s streaming service to watch all of the events live in the US. At just $8 a month, Peacock is a much more affordable way to watch the Olympics than a trip to Paris.
If you’re already at your limit in terms of streaming subscriptions and don’t want to sign up for Peacock, you’ll be able to watch much of the Olympics across NBC’s family of channels: NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC and Golf Channel. For this, you’ll need cable or satellite TV or a live TV streaming service.
We are just one day away from the opening ceremony, which starts Friday at 7:30 p.m. local time in Paris. That’s 1:30 p.m. ET or 10:30 a.m. PT in the US.
It’ll be the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held somewhere other than a stadium. Instead of marching into and around a stadium, each national delegation of athletes will parade by boat down the Seine through the heart of Paris. This river parade will travel six kilometers from east to west, starting at the Austerlitz bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes before making its way around the two islands at the center of the city — the Île Saint Louis and the Île de la Cité — and concluding at the Trocadéro, which sits across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.
Below, we outline the Olympic TV schedule and provide recommendations for the best streaming services for watching the Games in the US, as well as international viewing options for Canada, Australia and the UK.
The 2024 Summer Games get underway tomorrow in Paris.
Geoffroy van der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images
How to watch the Olympics
Without question, if you’re streaming, you want Peacock. Even after a recent price hike, which raises the monthly charge from $6 to $8, Peacock is one of the most affordable streaming services. With it you can watch any event live; NBC states Peacock will stream 5,000 hours of live coverage throughout the Games, including all 329 medal events.
In addition to livestreaming each event, Peacock will have a whip-around show, Gold Zone, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (4 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT) each day. If you’re watching an event on Gold Zone that you’re really into, you can continue to watch it even if Gold Zone cuts away to something else. Peacock will display Live Action on-screen prompts that will let you stay with the event or follow Gold Zone’s coverage.
Peacock will also have four multiview options that will let you watch four events at once. You’ll be able to watch NBC’s nightly Primetime in Paris show on Peacock, and Peacock will have its own daily recap show “hosted” by AI Al Michaels.
James Martin/CNET
Peacock offers two Premium plans, and the monthly charge for each went up by $2 last week. After the price increases, the ad-supported Premium plan costs $8 a month, and the ad-free Premium plan costs $14 a month. You can use either Premium plan to watch the Olympics.
Paris is hosting the 2024 Summer Games. It’s the third time the Olympics have been in Paris, but the first since 1924.
When do the 2024 Olympics start and end?
The 2024 Paris Olympics begin on Friday, July 26 and conclude on Sunday, Aug. 11.
The opening ceremony starts at 7:30 p.m. local time in Paris on Friday, July 26. That’s 1:30 p.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. CT, 11:30 a.m. MT and 10:30 a.m. PT in the US. The opening ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. BST in the UK and 3:30 a.m. AEST on Saturday in Australia.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 11, beginning at 8 p.m. local time in Paris after the last event of the Games — the women’s marathon — concludes. That’s 2 p.m. ET or 11 a.m. PT in the US, 7 p.m. BST in the UK and 4 a.m. AEST on Monday in Australia
What’s the time difference between Paris and the US?
Paris is 6 hours ahead of New York and the rest of the Eastern time zone. It’s 7 hours ahead of the Central time zone, 8 hours ahead of Mountain time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific time.
This difference means that most events will be shown live in the morning and afternoon for US viewers.
Do I need Peacock to watch the Olympics?
Nope, you can watch the Games on TV, but Peacock will give you greater control over which events to watch.
There are five TV channels you need for the Olympics: NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC and Golf Channel. Here’s the breakdown for how coverage will be split across them:
USA Network will show US team sports including soccer, basketball and 3×3 basketball as well as swimming, track and field, beach volleyball, rugby, cycling, volleyball and water polo.
CNBC will show boxing, cycling, rugby, skateboarding and more.
E! will feature coverage of track and field, gymnastics, canoeing, diving, equestrian, artistic swimming, breaking, fencing and water polo. That’s right, break dancing is an Olympic sport and will make its debut in Paris.
The men’s and women’s golf competitions, naturally, will be shown on the Golf Channel.
NBC will broadcast its Primetime in Paris show each evening in the US. The show is hosted by Mike Tirico and includes reports from Snoop Dogg.
What’s the best live TV streaming service for the Olympics?
Sling TV is the most affordable option if you live in one of the few markets where it offers NBC. Failing that, YouTube is the best service for the Olympics because it offers all five channels you’ll need in its base plan which costs $73.
If Sling takes a conditional gold medal and YouTube TV gets the silver among live TV streaming services for watching the Olympics, then Hulu with Live TV is awarded the bronze. It costs only $4 more per month than YouTube TV and includes all five channels for watching the Olympics.
With a live TV streaming subscription (or cable/satellite plan), you’ll be able to authenticate yourself as a pay TV subscriber to watch live streams of every event on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app or the NBC Olympics app. That’s a great option if you don’t want to sign up for Peacock and want to pick and choose which events to watch.
Sling TV/CNET
Sling TV’s $40-a-month Blue plan includes NBC, USA Network and E!. You can add CBNC for an extra $6 a month and the Golf Channel for another $11 a month. Even with those add-ons, Sling TV is the cheapest way to get all five channels for the Olympics — provided you live in one of the few markets where Sling offers NBC.
YouTube TV costs $73 a month and includes NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC and Golf Channel. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to confirm which local networks are available in your area.
Hulu with Live TV costs $77 a month and includes NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC and Golf Channel. Click the “View channels in your area” link on its welcome page to confirm which local channels are offered in your ZIP code.
All of the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
How to watch the Olympics from anywhere with a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the Olympics locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream the 2024 Olympics in UK
The BBC will broadcast the 2024 Games on its free-to-air channels BBC One and BBC Two. It promises more than 250 hours of live coverage across the two channels. You can also live stream all the action from Paris on the BBC iPlayer.
The BBC iPlayer has dedicated apps available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the tournament.
Livestream the 2024 Olympics in Australia
Aussies can watch the Olympics on more than 40 free-to-air channels on the Nine Network. You can watch on-demand highlights on the network’s streaming service 9Now.
Meanwhile, pay-TV service Stan Sport will show all 329 Olympic events ad-free and in 4K Ultra HD.
Channel 9’s streaming service 9Now is free to use for viewers in Australia, with dedicated apps for Android and Apple devices, as well as Amazon Fire, plus a wide range of smart TVs.
Stan Sport costs AU$10 a month (on top of an AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial. It will show every event — ad-free and in 4K — and you’ll be able to stream live or on-demand.
Livestream the 2024 Olympics in Canada
In Canada, the Games will be broadcast on TV channels CBC, TSN and Sportsnet. They will be shown on the free CBC Gem streaming service.
The free CBC Gem streaming service will show live events each day of the 2024 Olympics.
Quick tips for streaming the 2024 Olympics using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming the Olympics live may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
