The New York Times’ latest game, Pips, brings domino fun to your desktop. How to play Pips as well as hints in case you get stuck.
Sports Edition of NYT Connections: Hints and Answers for April 23, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition is a New York Times word game about finding common sports threads between words. How to solve the day’s puzzle.
NASA Unveils iPhone Footage of Earthshine Filmed from Orion Amid Artemis II Mission
### Earthshine, Captured on iPhone
The Artemis II mission, which recently orbited the Moon, has drawn the interest of both astronomy fans and the general populace. A key highlight from the undertaking is the crew’s use of iPhones to chronicle their expedition, featuring spectacular images of Earth from space.
On the second day of the mission, astronaut Christina Koch recorded an impressive video that displays Earthshine—a phenomenon in which sunlight bounces off the Earth and lights up the Moon’s dark side or, in this case, the interior of the Orion spacecraft. The video, posted by NASA’s Artemis account, shows Koch’s face illuminated by this reflected glow, producing a dreamlike and mesmerizing scene.
As the video unfolds, Koch turns the camera to show the stunning view of Earth beyond the capsule. At that time, Orion was around 33,800 miles (54,500 kilometers) from our planet, offering a distinctive viewpoint that few have had the chance to witness.
The incorporation of commonplace technology like the iPhone to seize such remarkable instances underscores the accessibility of space exploration and the capacity to share these experiences with a broader audience. For those enthusiastic about astronomy and space travel, the footage acts as a reminder of the beauty and marvel of our planet from a distance.
This engaging video not only highlights the technological progress in space exploration but also emphasizes the significance of documenting these missions for educational and inspirational reasons. As the Artemis II mission progresses, it promises to present more stunning visuals and revelations about our universe.
Reasons Your PC’s Task Manager Might Offer Deceptive Information
when the Windows Runtime Broker causes a surge in your CPU usage. At a quick glance, you can observe CPU, memory (RAM), disk usage, and additional metrics. Many individuals come to depend on this tool as a kind of performance benchmark and to gain a clearer picture of the operating system.
However, it might be wise not to take those figures at face value. According to its original developer, former Microsoft OS engineer Dave Plummer, the task manager may be misleading regarding performance metrics. This relates to how the application retrieves data. As Plummer articulates, assessing CPU and system resource usage is complex. “Either the CPU is engaged, or it’s not, right? It’s silicon, not interpretative dance.” Yet, despite this commonly held belief, that’s not precisely how it functions. More details are needed to decipher why the CPU is active. “The first uncomfortable question is ‘Busy doing what, exactly?'” How many cores are being utilized? What is the typical resource usage during the polling interval? Furthermore, Plummer probes whether it’s busy because of deferred procedure calls, the idle loop, or “some peculiar accounting bucket” because “the scheduler required somewhere to attach the cost?”
Plummer discloses that the task manager tracks resource usage over time, refreshing at multiple intervals to update the figures. It’s not reflecting stats in real-time, and it’s not a “straightforward speedometer,” but “more akin to forensic accounting.”
So, what exactly does the task manager represent?
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What Task Manager indicates
Frequent Safety Neglect in Storing Used Batteries
a battery-activated fire. It’s important to note that triggering this can occur easily; merely having coins touch the terminals or the tip of a screwdriver is sufficient to potentially initiate a short circuit. Luckily, there’s a simple precaution you can take to avert this: Cover the terminals with tape.
Storing used batteries is about separation
Report Uncovers Details from Tim Cook’s Town Hall: Key Points of Professional Milestones and Obstacles
**Tim Cook Contemplates Leadership and Legacy at Apple**
During a recent town hall gathering at the Steve Jobs Theater, Tim Cook spoke to Apple employees following the announcement of his imminent shift from CEO to Chairman, effective September 1. His successor, John Ternus, was also in attendance, marking a pivotal moment in Apple’s leadership narrative.
Cook seized the moment to reflect on his time at the helm, showcasing both significant accomplishments and noteworthy errors. Among the latter, he recognized the rollout of Apple Maps as his “first truly major mistake.” He honestly confessed that the product was ill-prepared for launch, stating, “The product wasn’t ready, and we thought it was because we were testing more of local kind of stuff.” This acknowledgment highlights the difficulties Apple encountered during the introduction of a service aimed at rivaling established mapping platforms.
In spite of this misstep, Cook asserted that the catalog of errors made under his leadership would be “extraordinary in length.” However, he pointed out that Apple has largely steered clear of the product recalls and cancellations that have plagued other technology companies in the consumer electronics sector over the last 15 years. He characterized the Apple Maps experience as ultimately beneficial, offering lessons that have shaped the company’s strategy in product development.
On a brighter note, Cook recounted one of his most esteemed moments: receiving an email from a user whose life was preserved by the Apple Watch. He stated that this experience resonated deeply with him, even as he now regularly receives similar messages. This story exemplifies the significant influence Apple’s products can have on users’ lives and underscores Cook’s dedication to innovation that prioritizes user health.
In closing, Cook’s insights during the town hall illuminated his leadership path while also paving the way for Ternus as he gets ready to steer Apple into its forthcoming chapter. Cook’s focus on learning from previous mistakes and acknowledging user impact will likely keep shaping Apple’s corporate ethos and product philosophy in the future. For more information, the complete report is available on Bloomberg.
Exploring X’s New AI-Powered Custom Feeds
X’s AI-powered custom timelines are replacing Communities, with Grok-curated feeds…and new ad slots.
Elon Musk Reveals Millions of Tesla Owners Require Upgrades for Genuine ‘Full Self-Driving’
The admission could open Tesla to legal challenges after it spent years promising customers they were just one software update away from owning fully autonomous cars.
Google Enhances Workspace to Introduce AI as Your Office Intern
Google has introduced a host of new automated functions into Workspace, all of which are driven by Workspace Intelligence, its new AI system.
Base Model $599 Mac Mini Completely Sold Out Now
The persistent supply chain challenges are greatly affecting potential Apple consumers aiming to buy new Macs, especially the M4 Mac mini. Currently, the base model priced at $599, which features 256 GB of storage, is entirely out of stock at the Apple Store, tagged as “currently unavailable” for delivery. This predicament applies to all M4 Mac mini models with 256 GB storage, irrespective of their RAM specifications. Third-party vendors are also struggling, with Amazon presently only providing M4 Pro Mac minis.
The situation regarding Mac desktops has been worsening week after week. Reports from early April pointed out that Mac mini models with 32 GB and 64 GB RAM configurations were no longer up for sale. Now, the base model with 256 GB storage has similarly disappeared from Apple’s inventory. Other models aren’t much better off either; the Apple Store is indicating wait times of six weeks for the 512 GB M4 Mac mini, which is the shortest delay currently available. Numerous other configurations are encountering shipping estimates of nine to ten weeks or more, if they are in stock at all.
The main factor behind this shortage seems to be Apple’s reaction to significant shortages of memory and storage components throughout the industry. The company appears to be favoring supply for its MacBook series over the less frequently purchased desktop Macs. Additionally, demand for Mac minis has likely surged due to the recent excitement surrounding personal AI technologies.
Traditionally, reduced availability can indicate an approaching hardware refresh. Speculation is increasing that an M5 Mac mini update may be forthcoming. However, similar speculation regarding the Mac Studio, which is also encountering stock limitations, implies that the expected M5 Mac Studio refresh might not materialize until October, according to reports from Bloomberg.
In conclusion, prospective purchasers of the M4 Mac mini are confronting significant obstacles due to supply chain challenges, with restricted availability and prolonged wait times for various models. As Apple manages these shortages, the future of the Mac mini range remains ambiguous, with aspirations for a hardware refresh hanging in the balance.
