Technologies

How to Join the Diablo 4 Beta

Time to head back to Hell.

Diablo 4, the latest installment of the popular dungeon crawler, comes out in June, but players can try out some of the game in beta before its full release.

The Diablo 4 open beta and early access beta started Friday. Developer Blizzard Entertainment says the beta will focus on the early parts of the campaign covering the prologue and Act 1, which takes place in the Fractured Peaks zone. Players will be able to max their characters to level 25, but can still play the beta throughout the weekend beyond that.

When does the Diablo 4 beta start?

The early access beta started on Friday at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET) and will last until Monday, March 20, at 12 p.m. PT. This weekend is only for those who received a beta code.

An open beta available to everyone will start next Friday, March 24, at 9 a.m. PT and ends on March 27 at 12 p.m. PT.

How do I get a Diablo 4 beta code?

Those interested can receive a code for the beta by preordering a copy of Diablo 4. KFC is also offering beta codes with the purchase of a Double Down.

Preorder Diablo 4

$70 at Target

What systems can I play the Diablo 4 beta on?

The beta is playable on the same systems the game will be released on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S.

What are the PC requirements for the Diablo 4 beta?

The minimum requirements are:

Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-8100
Memory: 8GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280
Storage: Solid-state drive with 45GB available space

Blizzard recommends the following specs:

Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD R3-1300X
Memory: 16GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 470
Storage: SSD with 45GB available space

What classes are available in the Diablo 4 beta?

The early access beta will offer the Rogue, Barbarian and Sorcerer classes. The open beta will unlock the other two classes, the Druid and Necromancer.

Will my Diablo 4 beta progress transfer over?

Beta testers in the early access weekend can carry over their progress to the open beta weekend, but no progress from the betas will transfer to the final game.

What content will be available in the Diablo 4 beta?

As well as the prologue and Act 1, a World Boss, Ashava, will be available to check out during both weekends. The boss will appear in the early access beta on March 18 at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. PT on March 19. During the open beta, Ashava will appear on March 25 at the same times.

What is the story for Diablo 4?

Diablo 4 is the newest entry in the legendary dungeon-crawling action RPG. Players will fight against the horde of monsters controlled by Lilith, the daughter of Mephisto, one of the Great Evils, and called the «mother» of Sanctuary, the world in which the Diablo series takes place.

Technologies

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Here’s everywhere the self-driving company operates now and where it’s heading soon.

Technologies

Apple Plans to Use a Custom Model of Google’s Gemini AI to Power Siri, Report Says

Apple reportedly chose Google over Anthropic for financial reasons.

Apple is turning to Google to make a custom Gemini AI model to power the next version of its virtual assistant Siri for spring 2026, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on Sunday.

According to the report, Apple was evaluating whether to use Google or AI competitor Anthropic for the next version of Siri. Gurman says Google offered a better financial deal. In an earlier Bloomberg report, he says Anthropic would have cost Apple $1.5 billion per year. The report doesn’t reveal Apple’s own financial offer.

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This custom Gemini model will run on Apple’s private cloud compute servers. Apple’s own models will continue to run on devices for personal data, while Gemini would operate on servers for more complex tasks. Gurman also says that Apple won’t highlight Google’s involvement in the company’s marketing.

Representatives for Google, Apple and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

With major tech companies pivoting toward AI, Apple has largely been left behind. The tech company was slow to adopt AI and hasn’t developed AI models that are competitive. It instead turned to companies like OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to help add generative capabilities on top of existing Apple systems.

Even then, the promise of a truly agentic Apple Intelligence has failed to materialize, although it has improved. Apple CEO Tim Cook also hasn’t ruled out the possibility of acquiring an AI company.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

Apple also has a close relationship with Google. The search giant pays Apple $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. It’s a relationship that nets Apple money and prevents it from building a competitor to Google Search, a claim Apple denies. This arrangement was an important factor in the Department of Justice’s case against Google, where a judge ruled that the company was operating an illegal monopoly.

Despite falling behind on AI, Apple is doing well financially. Last month, it surpassed a $4 trillion market cap.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 4, #877

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Nov. 4, #877.

Looking for the most recent 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, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a diverse mix of topics. They’re not too tough, but let’s hope you recognize your computer-related phrases. If you need help, you’re in the right place. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

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

Yellow group hint: Point in the right direction.

Green group hint: Like a veneer, or veil.

Blue group hint: Like JPG.

Purple group hint: Musical instrument.