Technologies

New Vizio TVs Will Require Walmart Accounts, Report Says

The retail giant bought TV manufacturer Vizio in 2024 to push advertising, one report claims.

Customers who buy a new Vizio TV may need to sign in with a Walmart account to use streaming features.

A Walmart representative confirmed to Ars Technica that its online logins will be «mandatory on select new Vizio OS TVs» for users who set up and install streaming apps.

It’s unclear which new models and versions of its OS are affected, and whether this requirement could also apply to existing TVs.

A Vizio representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Vizio released its latest Quantum 4K TV in January, one of the company’s first new models since Walmart acquired the manufacturer in December 2024. Some industry insiders saw the deal as a way for Walmart to push advertising to Vizio’s large install base.

PCMag’s TV expert Will Greenwald confirmed to CNET that he needed «to enable sharing viewing information to turn on the streaming features» on the Quantum 4K TV, but wasn’t asked for a Walmart login. Greenwald said he was still able to stream after turning the setting off. (PCMag is owned by the same company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Most new TVs require a login to set them up — Samsung TVs use Samsung accounts, Fire TVs use Amazon accounts, Google TVs use Google accounts, and so on. Since 2024, Vizio TVs have also required a Vizio login, but this appears to be the first time a Walmart login is required as well. It’s unusual for a television to force owners to use a third-party retailer account just to watch content. The move highlights how even affordable tech can come with unexpected digital strings attached.

Vizio ranks among the top brands for budget-conscious buyers, and its TVs and soundbars have been regular recipients of CNET’s Editors’ Choice Awards.

Technologies

Anthropic’s Claude Can Now Take Over Your Computer to Do Tasks for You

The developer is boosting Claude’s agentic capabilities in an apparent effort to compete with platforms like OpenClaw.

You can now let Claude take control of your computer to perform tasks like sending you a file you left on your hard drive, the AI’s developer Anthropic announced Monday. For the feature to work, you just need to be on a qualifying subscription plan.

In the wake of the viral explosion of the open-source OpenClaw framework earlier this year, Anthropic is the latest developer to deliver a tool that enables an AI model to act more independently.

OpenClaw has spawned an entire ecosystem of «claws,» or AI tools that can take simple commands and perform them somewhat autonomously on your computer or with your tools or systems. Nvidia last week debuted NemoClaw, its framework for easily setting up and installing OpenClaw, with some security settings.

Anthropic says that Claude will look for the right tools to complete the task at hand via connectors with apps like Google Calendar or Slack. If the tool or connector isn’t available, Claude can manually perform the task by typing or moving the cursor, as if it were using the keyboard and mouse. It can use programs like your web browser, dev tools and open files.

When it’s performing these tasks, it can use a computer as you normally would — by scrolling and clicking around. The only difference is that Claude will always ask for permission beforehand. You can stop Claude from performing a task at any time.

Giving your chatbot the keys to your computer can be convenient for certain tasks, but it can leave your computer vulnerable to attacks. Experts told us one major worry with agentic AI is that it can take major, sometimes dramatic actions quickly and with little warning. Claws can also be hijacked by malicious actors, who can use your personal data and systems in ways you don’t want.

Anthropic says it implemented safeguards to minimize risks like prompt injections. The system will automatically scan for this and more vulnerabilities as they are implemented.

Despite some of its efforts to keep Claude’s computer use safe, Anthropic also provides a warning to users. The feature is new and may contain errors, and the company suggests not using apps that handle sensitive data — so much so that some of these apps are disabled by default.

The research preview is available now for Claude Pro and Claude Max subscribers and limited to computers running MacOS.

Anthropic says the new computer-use feature works well with Dispatch, which allows you to assign tasks to Claude using your phone. Such tasks include checking your email every morning or opening up a Claude Cowork or Claude Code session.

The combination of computer use for Claude and Dispatch enables you to do even more while you’re not even around. Anthropic says the feature combo can create a morning briefing or run tests, for example.

Given that both features are new, some complex tasks might not work the first time. Anthropic said it’s releasing this research preview to gain early insight on where it needs the most attention to become an even more powerful tool.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for March 28, #1743

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for March 28, No. 1,743.

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 tricky one, with a double letter. Sherlock Holmes fans, you might get this one right away. 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, but one is the repeated letter, so you’ll see it twice.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with A.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with T.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to something that is already underway or happening.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is AFOOT.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, March 27, No. 1742, was IVORY.

Recent Wordle answers

March 23, No. 1738: SERIF

March 24, No. 1739: BROOD

March 25, No. 1740: WISER

March 26, No. 1741: BEFIT

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q.

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

STARE

NOISE

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for March 28, #551

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for March 28, No. 551.

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.

Michiganders, today’s Connections: Sports Edition is calling your name. Players will also notice a certain primary color showing up a lot. 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: The Great Lakes State.

Green group hint: What happens when you’re at the plate.

Blue group hint: Not yellow or blue.

Purple group hint: Hallmark makes these.