Technologies

Red Dead Redemption 2’s Strange Tales of the West Update Brings Cryptids to Multiplayer

Bandits aren’t the only things you have to worry about in the weird west. Red Dead Online players will now have to contend with swamp things, automatons and zombies.

Pack your silver bullets and keep your head on a swivel. There’s a bad moon rising over the wild west in Red Dead Online, as four new cryptid-themed missions just released in the game.

You’ll have to take on these quests on behalf of author Theodore Levin, who is investigating outlandish claims from around the country. Strange cases of fearsome monsters, cults and viral outbreaks are exactly the type of pulpy content that could inspire a good story.

The first new telegram mission, Strange Tales of Modern Science, sees players contending with killer robots. But these aren’t exactly Terminators. You’ll be fighting off a tiny tinman army as it stalks the grounds of the Braithwaite Manor.

Another mission, Strange Tales of the Bayou, will have you contending with both human and non-human threats as you wade through Lagras. The Swamp Folk like to ambush hunters who enter their territory — but it’s up to you to bring back the creature from the deep so that Levin can see it for himself.

The Strange Tales of the Wilderness mission is the closest thing to a standard bounty hunt included in the new update. You’ll need to hunt down a gang of murdering bandits in Tall Trees, but rumor has it that a missing scientist might just be experimenting on your foes. Brave the wilderness to take on an evolving manmade threat and bring the gang to justice.

The final mission in the latest batch of content, Strange Tales of the Plague, is an ode to fan-favorite spinoff Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare. A mysterious infection is spreading through Armadillo, and the dead are rising yet again. It’s up to you and your friends to put down the shambling horde and bring back their bodies for scientific examination.

If you want to take on these new missions, you’ll need to pick up a letter Levin left for you at the nearest in-game post office or your camp’s mailbox. Afterwards, these cryptid challenges will become repeatable telegram missions.

To celebrate the launch of the Strange Tales of the West update, all telegram missions (including the new batch of pulp fiction content) will have their rewards boosted until Aug. 4. You’ll be able to earn three times as much gold, Red Dead dollars and experience points during this time.

Red Dead Online’s Strange Tales of the West update is available for free now on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. Get ready to lock and load to take down the new telegram missions next time you log in.

This update is a rare treat for Red Dead Redemption 2 fans, as the game’s online mode has been largely neglected in recent years. The previous patch from March 2024 squashed some bugs — and the last update that added any amount of playable content came out in September 2022.

The content drought was so extreme that it spawned a movement with the stated goal of saving Red Dead Online. The change.org petition currently has more than 10,000 signatures.

The Strange Tales of the West update is being marketed as volume one of a broader update, which implies that even more pulp fiction content could be coming down the pipeline for the Red Dead Redemption 2 multiplayer mode sometime soon. The wild west is about to get a whole lot weirder.

Technologies

Stroke Risk Could Be Flagged Early Using Apple Watch Technology, Studies Show

The latest research shows that wearables could soon be a vital part of tracking your heart health.

For millions at risk of stroke, a simple tap on the wrist could one day save lives. New studies from the Amsterdam University Medical Center and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London showed that wearables, such as the Apple Watch, can improve the detection of atrial fibrillation compared to standard care. Atrial fibrillation, often referred to as A-fib, is a heart arrhythmia, which means an irregular or abnormal heartbeat. The condition can cause blood clots and is one of the leading causes of a stroke.

The Amsterdam study enrolled 437 patients aged 65 or older with elevated stroke risk and required 219 of them to wear an Apple Watch to track their heart rate for 12 hours a day for 6 months. The remaining 218 patients didn’t wear a watch and relied on standard care.

The experiment detected heart arrhythmias four times more frequently in patients wearing an Apple Watch versus those who didn’t. Specific versions of the Apple Watch use photoplethysmography, a heart rate-detecting LED light sensor, and have a built-in single-lead electrocardiogram sensor to read your heart rate.

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Wearables that track heart rate and other health markers aren’t new, and previous studies have shown promise in detecting A-fib. Although wearables are known to track this type of data, no prior research has examined how well they detect potential health risks for A-fib.

«We saw that after six months we diagnosed and treated 21 patients in the group wearing the smartwatch, of whom 57% were asymptomatic,» said Michiel Winter, a cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC, in a statement. «This was against just five diagnoses in the group receiving standard care, all of whom experienced symptoms.»

The second clinical study, conducted by St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, showed that the Apple Watch could also be beneficial for detecting A-fib symptoms earlier and for monitoring patients after a standard treatment, such as a catheter ablation. The hospital found that patients could record clinical-grade ECGs on their Apple Watches at home when experiencing symptoms. Similar to the first study, the hospital found that patients using an Apple Watch detected A-fib earlier and more frequently than those receiving standard care. Catching symptoms earlier also reduces anxiousness and the likelihood that a patient will need to be hospitalized.

The findings from these studies show that wearables such as the Apple Watch could be used for long-term heart screening to detect heart health abnormalities and improve patient care for those in treatment. And it can help diagnose those who don’t know they have the condition.

«Using smartwatches with PPG and ECG functions aids doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, thereby expediting the diagnostic process,» said Winter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Jan. 29

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 29.

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 one of those neat, solid grids with no empty squares. 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: Employees, collectively
Answer: STAFF

6A clue: The «L» of TTYL
Answer: LATER

7A clue: Slowly lessen, as political support
Answer: ERODE

8A clue: Dunkin’ offering
Answer: DONUT

9A clue: Tricky things to navigate with a stroller
Answer: STEPS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Toys that go on the decline in winter?
Answer: SLEDS

2D clue: Set of fortunetelling cards
Answer: TAROT

3D clue: Make amends
Answer: ATONE

4D clue: Out of patience
Answer: FEDUP

5D clue: Guitar bars
Answer: FRETS

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Technologies

Mobile Internet Without Borders: How Verum E-SIM Is Changing the Game for Travelers and Beyond

In an era when flights take just a few hours, but data boundaries remain very real, a solution has emerged that significantly simplifies life for frequent international travelers. The Verum E-SIM app offers a next-generation virtual SIM card — no plastic, no waiting for delivery, and no traditional roaming charges.

While eSIM technology itself is no longer new, Verum takes it further: the internet works in over 150 countries worldwide under clear, uniform conditions. Connection happens through the app in just a couple of minutes — choose a package (or even a global one), pay, and activate. No need to buy local SIM cards at the airport, hunt for carrier shops, or struggle with explanations in a foreign language.

One of the biggest advantages is the complete absence of hidden fees or billing surprises. Plans are fully transparent: you immediately see how many gigabytes you get and for how long. Speed and reliability are provided by partner operators in each specific country — this isn’t a single “averaged” provider for the entire world.

Another key point for many users is that no VPN is required. As long as your device is using Verum E-SIM traffic, all familiar services and websites open directly, without extra layers or speed loss.

For those traveling with a group or family, portable Wi-Fi routers with Verum eSIM support have become a great option. One profile — and the internet is shared simultaneously across multiple smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It’s convenient on the road, in a hotel, or even in a café where the local Wi-Fi is unreliable.

Payment flexibility is also a plus: the service supports regular bank cards, cryptocurrencies, and various alternative methods — so you can choose whatever feels most convenient and cost-effective for you.

In the end, Verum E-SIM is more than just another data app. It’s a way to make mobile internet as natural and hassle-free abroad as it is at home. The difference becomes especially clear when you compare a roaming bill from one of the major operators with your Verum expenses after two or three trips.

The technology is still gaining popularity, but many travelers are already saying: “For the first time in ages, internet abroad stopped being a source of stress.” Solutions like this are shaping the future of mobile connectivity — without extra cables, borders, or unpleasant surprises.

If you travel often or simply value stable internet without unnecessary hassle — it’s worth giving it a try at least once.

https://esim.verum.im

https://esimglobal.world