Technologies

Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride: When Does It Start, How to Participate and More

Nintendo’s next racing game will have a free demo for anyone interested in trying it out.

As the year nears its end, Nintendo still has a couple of major titles coming out for the Switch 2.

One of them, Kirby Air Riders, is set to release on Nov. 20, but you don’t have to wait until then to get a feel of the game. There will be an online global test for players interested in the racing game featuring the popular Nintendo mascot.

The Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride takes place on Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-16, spanning several sessions that will last 6 hours each. Those who partake in the test will be able to check out three of the courses for free before the game is officially released.

Details about the global test came out last month during the Kirby Air Riders Direct #2. Game director Masahiro Sakurai showcased the new game, a follow-up to the 2003 GameCube game, Kirby Air Ride. Although the new Kirby Air Riders shares a similar feel with Mario Kart, where different characters race around a track on various machines, this game does things differently.

A Road Trip mode, for example, lets players compete in challenges and races while learning more about the story of why Kirby and friends are on this journey. Swap Relay is a new kind of race where players switch machines while racing. There’s also the VS. Boss mode, where players team up to take down huge bosses.

Kirby Air Riders features 16 courses for players to race in, and numerous customizations are available for every player’s machine.

When does the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride start?

Nintendo planned for the Kirby Air Riders global test to take place over two weekends in November. Each session will last only 6 hours through the weekend.

Here are the days and times for the test:

Nov. 8 at 12:00 a.m. PT until 6:00 a.m. PT
Nov. 8 at 4:00 p.m. PT until 10:00 p.m. PT
Nov. 9 at 7:00 a.m. PT until 1:00 p.m. PT
Nov. 15 at 12:00 a.m. PT until 6:00 a.m. PT
Nov. 15 at 4:00 p.m. PT until 10:00 p.m. PT
Nov. 16 at 7:00 a.m. PT until 1:00 p.m. PT

What will I be able to play during the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride?

During the test, players will have access to three Air Ride courses: Floria Field, Waveflow Waters and Mount Amberfalls. For those who want to keep the game among friends, there is the Paddock, which acts as a lobby to set up matches. The test will limit the racers to 16, but when the game goes live, that number will increase to 32.

The test will also feature a Lessons mode to help you learn how to play the game. City Trial is another mode available during the weekends. In City Trial, players roam around the city of Skyah, where they can collect power-ups to improve their machine’s stats or find a new machine to ride.

What do I need to participate in the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Rise?

Those interested in participating in the online test will need a Switch 2. The test will be available to download on the Nintendo eShop on Nov. 7. A Nintendo Switch Online membership or a trial membership is needed for City Trial, while Lesson and Air Rides can be accessed without a Switch Online subscription.

When does Kirby Air Riders come out?

Nintendo will release Kirby Air Riders for the Switch 2 on Nov. 20 for $70.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for April 8, #562

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for April 8 No. 562.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Working out.

Green group hint: Cover your face.

Blue group hint: NFL players.

Purple group hint: Leap.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Exercises in singular form.

Green group: Sporting jobs that require masks.

Blue group: Hall of Fame defensive ends.

Purple group: ____ jump.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is exercises in singular form. The four answers are crunch, plank, situp and squat.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is sporting jobs that require masks. The four answers are catcher, fencer, football player and goaltender.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Hall of Fame defensive ends. The four answers are Dent, Peppers, Strahan and Youngblood.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ jump. The four answers are broad, high, long and triple.

Technologies

The $135M Google Data Settlement Site Is Live — See If You’re Eligible

Use the settlement website to select your preferred payment method, and you may end up $100 richer.

You can now file a claim in the $135 million Google data settlement. The case centers on claims that Android devices transmitted user data without consent. Specifically, the class action lawsuit Taylor v. Google LLC contends that Google’s Android devices passively transferred cellular data to Google without user permission, even when the devices were idle. While not admitting fault, Google reached a preliminary settlement in January, agreeing to pay $135 million to about 100 million US Android phone users.

The official settlement website for the lawsuit is now live. The final approval hearing won’t occur until June 23, when the court will consider whether Google’s settlement is fair and listen to objections. After that, the court will decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

In the meantime, if you qualify and want to be paid as part of the settlement, you can select your preferred payment method on the official website. There, you can find information on speaking at the June 23 court hearing and on how to exclude yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers do occur passively even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data may be relied upon when not connected to Wi-Fi. This can’t always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to it when setting up their device.

Google will also fully stop collecting data when its «allow background data usage» option is toggled off.

Who can be part of the settlement?

In order to join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

Be a living, individual human being in the US.
Have used an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
Have used the aforementioned device at any time from Nov. 12, 2017, to the date when the settlement receives final approval.
You’re not a class member in the Csupo v. Google LLC lawsuit, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

The final approval hearing is on June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The hearing’s date and time may change, and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing, you will still be issued a settlement payment, but you may not receive it if you don’t select a payment method.

How much will I get paid?

It’s not currently known exactly how much each settlement class member will receive, but the cap is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and after any appeals are resolved.

After all administrative, tax and attorney costs are paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If any funds remain after payments are sent, and it’s economically feasible, they will be redistributed to members who were previously and successfully paid. If it’s not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.