Technologies

Update Your LG Smartphone Now. Soon, You Won’t Be Able To

If you have an old LG phone, you’ll need to update it soon — LG stopped creating new smartphones in 2021 and is shutting down its update servers on June 30.

When LG left the smartphone industry in 2021, the company laid out a three-year plan to continue supporting customers with new updates for eligible phone models. While that support has continued for a little longer than the pledged time, LG is finally shutting down its smartphone update servers on June 30.

At the end of June, LG smartphones will no longer be able to install any new Android OS updates. This means you’ll be limited to the last version you downloaded before the servers were shut down.

Even if you’re downloading before the servers are discontinued, you can only upgrade to Android 12 or Android 13 and download any missing security patches, depending on your device.

LG is also shutting down the LG Bridge PC app. This software allows you to manage your phone’s contacts, images and videos on a desktop. More importantly, the app interfaces with LG smartphones to create data backups and install software updates. The LG Bridge software will also be sunsetted on June 30.

LG kept its phone update servers ‘past the typical use date’

Avi Greengart, a mobile analyst and president of Techsponential, says LG kept the lights on for a fairly long time in an environment in which consumers typically upgrade their devices every two or three years. Even so, he told CNET that today’s phones are being used longer than before — and they’re getting more support as well.

«Companies like Samsung are promising to update both the OS and security for up to eight years, which means that (those phones) will get new features long into the future,» Greengart said.

LG’s decision to end support for its smartphones will affect a «vanishingly small number of users,» according to Greengart. He advises that users upgrade their phones when they stop receiving security updates.

While many modern phones have outpaced the technology in older LG models, Greengart said that some customers hold onto their devices because of unique LG design traits like the rear fingerprint reader placement and dual-screen cover displays.

Greengart suggests that these customers look for alternatives that offer «secure face ID or fingerprint readers on the side power button» and «large fold phones from Samsung and Google in the US, along with Oppo and Honor in markets where those are sold.»

A representative for LG didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, March 17

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 17.

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

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s not too tough — only 1-Down puzzled me until I filled in the other responses. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: One drawing X’s and O’s
Answer: COACH

6A clue: Company whose market cap (~$4 trillion) exceeds the G.D.P. of most countries
Answer: APPLE

7A clue: «Chill!»
Answer: RELAX

8A clue: Do some rhythmic tapping
Answer: DRUM

9A clue: Back talk
Answer: SASS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: What’s the deal?
Answer: CARDS

2D clue: «The Phantom of the ___»
Answer: OPERA

3D clue: Excellent grade
Answer: APLUS

4D clue: Sandpipers dig for them in the sand
Answer: CLAMS

5D clue: Evil spell
Answer: HEX

Technologies

Nvidia Is Building a Computer for AI Data Centers in Space

The big challenge is keeping things cool, apparently.

Space may be the next frontier for the AI infrastructure boom, but it will take some work to make that happen, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said during his keynote address Monday at the company’s GTC conference in San Jose, California.

While the company already has chips in satellites, creating a data center in space is an entirely different beast, Huang said. «Obviously, very complicated to do so.»

Nvidia isn’t the only one eyeing orbit for AI factories. Elon Musk has talked often of putting data centers in space, which makes sense considering he recently merged the AI company he owns with the rocket company he owns.

Read more: Nvidia GTC: All the AI and Robotics News From Jensen Huang’s Keynote

Space has some distinct advantages for data centers. For one, there are no zoning boards or neighbors to worry about annoying. You could likely power an orbital data center with solar power.There’s also a ton of room, although the number of satellites is making orbit crowded.

But there’s a big challenge that Nvidia is facing as it designs its Space-1 Vera Rubin module computer. How do you keep chips cool in a vacuum?

«In space, there’s no conduction, there’s no convection, it’s just radiation,» Huang said. «So we have to figure out how to cool these systems out in space.»

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for March 17, #540

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle No. 540 for Tuesday, March 17.

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.

Yes, you saw both DUNKIN and DONUT in today’s Connections: Sports Edition. But, of course, those words weren’t referring to the bakery chain. That would be far too easy. 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: Hockey division.

Green group hint: Sporting goods.

Blue group hint: Some are birds.

Purple group hint: Sounds like a star hoops player.