Technologies

After Bringing Pebble Watches Back, the Next Thing’s a Ring

Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky’s next big product is a memory-recording ring that works with phones and Pebble watches. But here’s the catch: It doesn’t recharge, and you can’t replace the battery, either.

I have 10 fingers, but not enough patience for multiple smart rings. Even so, much like with smart glasses, the wearable tech industry is getting flooded with rings. Most need weird chargers, and some have subscriptions. Pebble founder Eric Migicovksy is following up his Pebble watch re-release with the Pebble Index 01, a voice-recording sub-$100 ring that doesn’t need to be charged at all, because the built-in battery can’t be replaced.

A strange model? Yes, and also kind of fascinating. «Send it back to us for recycling,» Migicovsky says of what to do with the Index after its expected two-year battery life is exhausted. At that point, you’d then have to buy another. It’s a subscription or rental of a different sort.

The Index is extremely simple, too. There’s one silicone button on top of a stainless steel ring, which triggers voice recordings. The ring stores 5 minutes of audio without needing to sync, but then offloads voice memos to Pebble’s iOS/Android app to transcribe into text using an open-source speech-to-text tool. The ring’s water-resistant, but not swim-proof.

Nothing in the Pebble Index uses subscription AI services, Migicovsky tells me. Instead, the voice memos are stored locally on the Pebble app, but can be synced up with other services theoretically — Migicovsky proudly promises that, much like Pebble watches, the Index’s functions and services are hackable. You could find a way to reassign that ring button to do other things, via Anthropic’s open-sourced model context protocol standard.

Migicovsky imagines that for most people, the ring would be a simple way to quickly record reminders and thoughts. What I’m wondering is, does the world need another memory-recording wearable? Plenty already exist, including ones in ring form. And my own memory needs get handled by a simple jot into Apple’s Notes app, most of the time. It’s not fancy, but it works.

The Pebble Index also lacks any other features. It has no indicator lights, no vibration and no other sensors. There’s no on-ring feedback when a recording starts or stops, but transcribed message notifications pop on via the phone app, or on Pebble watches. It could be used as a ring-worn way to bring up voice requests like asking for the weather, for example.

The Pebble Index doesn’t arrive until next March, but it can be preordered for $75 (which will increase to $99 at some future date).

I like the idea of not charging a smart ring, but I’m not wild about buying an item that can’t be serviced myself. And the two-year battery life depends on recording time: The ring lasts for «12-14 hours» of audio recording, which doesn’t sound like a lot. Then again, what would I be recording on my memory ring? I don’t know yet. Check back with me next year, or at CES in January, when I expect to get a close-up look.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Dec. 11, #444

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Dec. 11, No. 444.

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.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. 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: Put on your skates.

Green group hint: Get your racket.

Blue group hint: Dribble the ball.

Purple group hint: Kids love to do this.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Found at a hockey rink.

Green group: Last four men to win a tennis Grand Slam.

Blue group: Current women’s college basketball stars.

Purple group: ____ play.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is found at a hockey rink. The four answers are bench, boards, glass and penalty box.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is the last four men to win a tennis Grand Slam. The four answers are Alcaraz, Djokovic, Nadal and Sinner.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is current women’s college basketball stars. The four answers are Betts, Booker, Crooks and Strong.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ play. The four answers are bang-bang, power, trick and triple.

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Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories

The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.

That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing recently.

#1: Series A Clubs, Jan. 11. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.

#2: WNBA MVPs, Jan. 21. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.

#3: Premier League team nicknames, Jan. 17. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.

#4: Homophones of NBA player names, Jan. 26. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Dec. 11, #1636

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for Dec. 11, No. 1,636.

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

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a little tricky, with a double letter, to boot. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has two vowels.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with G.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with S.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can mean to estimate or to suppose something.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is GUESS.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Dec. 10, No. 1635 was ERASE.

Recent Wordle answers

Dec. 6, No. 1631: WAIST

Dec. 7, No. 1632: FLUTE

Dec. 8, No. 1633: GRAVY

Dec. 9, No. 1634: SNIDE

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Dec. 11

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 11.

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 wasn’t too bad, though 7-Across threw me until I solved some of the Down clues. Read on for 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.