Technologies

Was April the Toughest Month Ever for Wordle? Who Guesses X and Z?

New York Times puzzle-solvers faced some tough challenges in April.

New York Times puzzlemakers, what was that about? Was it just me, or was April 2025 one of your toughest months ever — for all your games, maybe, but especially for Wordle? CNET publishes the daily answers for Wordle, Connections, Strands, Connections: Sports Edition and the Mini Crossword, and I’ve seen some doozies. But April Wordle broke my streak twice. Maybe more than that. I’m not counting anymore.

Read more: Daily NYT Puzzle Answers

(Spoilers for past puzzles ahead.)

If you play Wordle, you probably have your own starter words all lined up. I almost always begin with TRAIN and CLOSE. I’m not the kind of person who just looks around the room, sees a chair and plays that word. I play those words because I know, from a list I made for CNET and based on research from the Oxford English Dictionary, that TRAIN and CLOSE contain some of the most popular letters used in English.

This month’s Wordle answers included OZONE, with a Z, the 24th-least-popular letter, smack in the middle, and three vowels that I just couldn’t place in the right spots.

But even tougher might have been INBOX on April 19. Three letters — Z, J and Q — are used in English less than X (J? Why J?). But somehow, few letters come less frequently to my mind than X.

And April ended on a tough note, too, with Wednesday’s puzzle answer being IDLER. I mean, I know «idle» describes someone who’s lazy or avoiding work. But I don’t think I’ve ever pulled that out as an insult, and I sure didn’t see the letter pattern popping up.

No one wants an easy puzzle, but April seemed especially brain-busting. There’s good news, though. It’s gonna be May! And there’s bad news. The May 1 Wordle is a stumper too. Happy solving!

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im