Technologies

Zoom Is Down, According to Multiple Reports from Users

Video chat and meeting platform Zoom has been experiencing outages for many users today.

Following widespread outages for Spotify users on Wednesday, numerous users report that the online meeting service Zoom is also down. As of Wednesday midday Pacific time, Zoom’s website, support page and email client also weren’t available.

While these issues are currently preventing many Zoom users from making it to their meetings, it’s not clear what has gone wrong with the service or why it is so widespread. On Downdetector, complaint reports are highest for the website and app, followed by login attempts.

Users from Michigan, California, Texas, Nevada and New Jersey have all commented online that they are unable to use Zoom at their locations.

When CNET reached out to Lacretia Nichols, product communications and content lead at Zoom, she responded, «Thanks for reaching out. We are aware that some users are experiencing an outage. We are investigating and will provide updates.»

We’ll also keep you updated here if we notice any significant changes.

Technologies

Apple Foldable iPhone May Have Face ID Embedded in the Screen

Apple is planning to put its facial recognition technology into the long-rumored folding iPhone, according to a new leak this week.

Apple has long been rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone and a new leak this week suggests it’ll have another feature that has yet to appear in any Apple phone: a camera embedded under the screen for Face ID.

The latest rumor offers possible dimensions for the anticipated iPhone Fold and indications that it could have under-screen camera technology. Leaker Digital Chat Station, as reported earlier by 9to5Mac, suggested a 7.76-inch inner screen with a 2,713×1,920-pixel resolution and a 5.49-inch outer screen with a 2,088×1,422-pixel resolution.

Previous rumors have estimated a potential 2026 or 2027 release for an iPhone that folds like a book. A 2027 release would tie into the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. The dimensions in this leak align with those in this previous rumor, with an expected price tag between $2,000 and $2,500.

Rumors have been split on which format of foldable Apple is releasing or even releasing first. This report suggests a book-style foldable is coming akin to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, while older ones suggested Apple was working on a clamshell foldable like the Motorola Razr.

Read more: Why Apple Needs to Launch the Foldable iPhone Flip This Year

Apple remains the only major smartphone maker not offering a folding phone. Challenges with the hinge and the display screen have reportedly held up the development.

Apple has also reportedly been working on a giant folding iPad. That product is rumored to open to the size of two iPad Pros and could be eyed for a 2028 debut.

If Apple does move forward with a folding iPhone, CNET’s Andrew Lanxon has some suggestions, namely that the software needs to take advantage of the folding ability and that the company should offer high-end models alongside more affordable options. «A foldable iPhone needs to be more than just a regular iPhone with a screen that can bend,» Lanxon wrote last month.

Technologies

What President Trump’s Department of Education Closure Could Mean for Student Broadband Access

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for April 19, #412

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 412 for April 19. Well, this was a weird one.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Todays NYT Strands puzzle might be tricky. The theme is an odd once, but once you get it, you’ll likely see the other answers start popping up. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: _ _ _ a _ _ _

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Hot take.

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:

STEAL, LEASE, LEAST, BRAT, BREATHE, DATE, MUTE, TUBER, CANE, FEEL, TRUE, NICE, SELF, HATE, BREATH, SELF, NICE, TILE.

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

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:

HIKE, HINT, CHANCE, GANDER, NUMBER, SELFIE, BREATHER.

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is TAKETHAT. All the words can follow «take a,» as in «take a hike.» To find the spangram, start with the T that’s two letters over to the right on the very top row, and wind down.

Toughest Strands puzzles

Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.

#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.

#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.

#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK