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Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 22, No. 302.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 22 No. 506.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 22, #772.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 22, No. 1,494.

A Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis was preparing to land in Minot, N.D., when the flight crew spotted a large military aircraft flying toward them.

(Image credit: Screenshot by NPR)

GameSir T7 Pro Floral: one-minute review

The GameSir T7 Pro Floral comes from a third-party controller brand I rate very highly, and one I put right up there with the likes of 8BitDo and Victrix. Many of GameSir’s controllers feature in our buying guides, too, including best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers.

But that doesn’t mean every single one of the brand’s controllers are out-and-out bangers. While I like the GameSir T7 Pro Floral, I certainly prefer and would be more likely to recommend other pads from the brand, including the GameSir Kaleid and GameSir Tarantula Pro. Not because the Pro Floral is bad, far from it. It’s more that GameSir has put out so many quality pieces of hardware that this gamepad comes across as just a little less impressive.

It certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to looks, though. I’m a child of the early noughties, so eye-catching gaming hardware designs that look good enough to eat are right up my alley. Case in point, the GameSir T7 Pro Floral’s translucent icy blue finish - emblazoned with flowery imagery - is utterly stunning.

It’s helped by reactive RGB lights, too, which move around the controller depending on the direction of the sticks or which face buttons you press. GameSir always finds a way to include nice little aesthetic flourishes like this, and that’s no different on the Pro Floral.

Otherwise, the Pro Floral plays all the GameSir hits. It packs Hall effect sticks, a pair of remappable buttons on the pack, as well as trigger locks that let you swap between analog and digital presses. Said trigger locks can be a bit inconsistent, as the digital trigger presses didn’t register in some games I tested, but when they do work, they’re a welcome inclusion.

(Image credit: Future)GameSir T7 Pro Floral review: price and availability

• $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$89
• Available on GameSir's website
• Cheaper than the Xbox Wireless Controller

The GameSir T7 Pro Floral is available now for $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$89, and can be purchased directly from GameSir’s website. It’s similarly priced to other GameSir controllers such as the GameSir Kaleid ($49.99 / £59.99) and cheaper than the official Xbox Wireless Controller ($64.99 / £59.99). If you’re after a cheaper Xbox alternative, then I can definitely recommend checking out the Pro Floral, so long as you don’t mind the lack of wireless connectivity.

GameSir T7 Pro Floral review: Specs

Price

$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$89

Weight

7.7oz / 217g

Dimensions

5.71 x 3.66 x 2.32in / 145 x 93 x 59mm

Compatibility

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Connection type

Wired (USB Type-C)

Battery life

N/A

(Image credit: Future)GameSir T7 Pro Floral review: design and features

As I mentioned at the top, the standout design choice of the GameSir T7 Pro Floral is its aesthetics. I’m a huge fan of the semi-translucent shell, and the icy blue buttons, thumbsticks, triggers, and d-pad complement the white gradient really nicely. The RGB lighting here is another excellent, if subtle, touch; different sections of the controller light up depending on stick direction, or which buttons you’re pressing. Something you probably won’t notice while gaming, sure, but I love the detail here.

There are some neat design flourishes for the buttons, too. The triggers, d-pad, and rear remappable buttons are fully transparent, while the sticks and face buttons are a pleasing light blue hue. The overall look here is a lot more carefully considered than cheaper pads that might just splash some artwork across the front and call it a day.

Otherwise, there’s not a ton to report in terms of design and features. The Pro Floral’s silhouette is almost identical to that of the Xbox Wireless Controller, and also features a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom of the pad. Meanwhile, those aforementioned trigger locks are located on the back, just above the two remappable buttons.

The Pro Floral does feel a good bit lighter than the Xbox Wireless Controller, though this may be because it’s not housing a pair of AA batteries or the Xbox Play & Charge Kit. While lightweight, it’s thankfully not flimsy or listless in the hands, still offering firm placement thanks to its textured grips.

(Image credit: Future)GameSir T7 Pro Floral review: Performance

In terms of actually using the GameSir T7 Pro Floral for gaming, it doesn’t really put a foot wrong outside of one key area, but I’ll get to that soon. It’s otherwise a very capable gamepad that provides longevity thanks to its drift-resisting Hall effect thumbsticks. Plus, the addition of two remappable buttons and trigger locks grants you some customizability for button shortcuts or if, say, you prefer instant digital trigger presses over a more fulsome analog squeeze.

I played a wide variety of games over my two weeks of testing the controller, including some of the best fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, racing games like Forza Horizon 5, and action titles like Lies of P, Nioh 2, and popular MMORPG Final Fantasy 14 Online.

Now, while the trigger locks are a nice addition, I did find them to be pretty inconsistent, even when compared to other GameSir pads like the Tarantula Pro. They worked where it mattered; I prefer digital presses for Final Fantasy 14 Online, for example, as it lets me access my secondary hotbar abilities faster. However, some titles did not register the presses while in digital mode at all, including Elden Ring Nightreign, and Hades 2. It’s worth noting that your mileage may vary here, but these are not the most reliable trigger locks out there.

Otherwise, the last thing you’ll have to contend with is the lack of wireless connectivity. This isn’t necessarily a complaint, as plenty of excellent GameSir controllers opt for a wired-only connection. It’s more a matter of preference; if you prefer going wireless, you might want to consider a controller that supports that, such as the GameSir Tarantula Pro or even the cheaper GameSir Nova Lite, which also works on PC.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the GameSir T7 Pro Floral?Buy it if...

You want a gorgeous controller
The Pro Floral brings one of the nicest-looking controller chassis I’ve seen in a while. The blue-to-white gradient is lovely, and that titular floral pattern isn’t something you see much of among game controllers. Its looks are a real winner.

Don't buy it if...

You want more reliable digital triggers
The biggest weakness of the Pro Floral is its trigger locks. While analog presses work just fine across the board, digital trigger presses are inconsistent and didn’t work in some games for me.

GameSir T7 Pro Floral review: Also consider

You should consider the following two similarly priced GameSir alternatives if the T7 Pro Floral controller isn’t quite what you’re looking for.

GameSir T7 Pro Floral

GameSir Kaleid

GameSir Nova Lite

Price

$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$89

$49.99 / £59.99 / AU$109

$24.99 / £19.99 / AU$39

Weight

7.7oz / 217g

7.5oz / 213g

7.2oz / 205g

Dimensions

5.7 x 3.7 x 2.3in / 145 x 93 x 59mm

6.1 x 4.21 x 2.4in / 156 x 107 x 60mm

6.1 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 155 x 104 x 61mm

Compatibility

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC

Connection type

Wired (USB Type-C)

Wired (USB Type-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB Type-C)

Battery life

N/A

N/A

10-15 hours

GameSir Kaleid
One of the best, most affordable Xbox controllers on the market. I love the feeling of its microswitch face buttons, which provide tactile and instantaneous presses. A pair of RGB strips flanking the controller is also an eye-catching flourish. It’s one of my go-to Xbox controllers, and I would recommend it over the Pro Floral if you’re torn between the two.

Read our full GameSir Kaleid review

GameSir Nova Lite
Single-handedly the best budget controller out there, the Nova Lite isn’t compatible with Xbox, but can be used on Switch, Switch 2, and PC. Wireless connectivity is also supported here in both 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth formats. And yes, it still packs a pair of Hall effect sticks despite the low price.

Read our full GameSir Nova Lite review

How I tested the GameSir T7 Pro Floral

• Tested across a period of two weeks
• Played a wide range of games in that time, on both Xbox and PC
• Compared to the Xbox Wireless Controller and GameSir Kaleid

I tested the GameSir T7 Pro Floral over the course of around two weeks. In that time, I played a wide variety of my favorite games on both Xbox Series X Digital Edition and PC. These include Tekken 8, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Lies of P.

I went back and forth testing the Pro Floral against some of its contemporaries, including the Xbox Wireless Controller and the brand’s own Kaleid. I ended up preferring the Kaleid overall, thanks to its more tactile-feeling buttons. But if you’re an aesthetically minded player, then the Pro Floral’s lovely design might just do it for you instead. I can wholeheartedly recommend both at the end of the day.

First reviewed July 2025

Read more about how we test

New rumors suggest iOS beta testers could get their hands on the next iPhone operating system and new features like Liquid Glass in a few days.

Jason Sudeikis and the AFC Richmond gang are back with a new pitch and new faces now that filming is underway in the US and London.

Zoner Studio is a WIndows-only take on both Photoshop and Lightroom - not as powerful as either (although a slew of regular updates is changing that), but a good entry-level/intermediate photo editor and organizer that comes in at a fair price.

After a recent name change from Zoner Photo Studio X to Zoner Studio, to better reflect the broader usage, the company says, I took the latest version out for a spin to see how it measures up against some of the best Adobe Photoshop alternatives.

Zoner Studio: Pricing & plans

Zoner Studio is available for a monthly subscription of $5.99, or $59 for the year. A family plan, letting two or more users in the same household use the app, is available for $9.98 a month or $98 a year.

For me, the pricing here is a big plus. There may not be a free version available (although there is a welcome free trial), but the cost is low, especially when compared to Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of apps. The Photoshop and Lightroom Photography plan is currently priced at $22.99 a month. Your other option would be a tool like Affinity Photo, which has a one-off cost of $70.

The main differences between Zoner Studio and its rivals is that Zoner is only available on Windows machines, and it leans slightly more towards entry-level and intermediate users compared to Affinity Photo and Photoshop’s professional-grade photo editor.

You can check out Zoner Studio by clicking here.

Zoner Studio: First impressions

(Image credit: Zoner // Future)Minimum requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11 64-bit

Processor: Intel or AMD CPU 64-bit with SSE 4.2 support

RAM: 8GB

Storage space: 2GB

Screen resolution: 1280 × 800

If you’re familiar with photo editing software, you’ll have no problems navigating Zoner Studio. And, if you’re not, it’s not especially tricky to figure out - for me, that’s part of the appeal of the app, making it pretty welcoming to new users who want to do more with their photographs.

The main part of the screen is devoted to your selected image, with files and folders beneath, which can be scrolled through with your mouse. It’s a nice touch, making navigation that much easier.

Where new users may come unstuck are the five options to the right of the screen. Manager, Develop, Editor, Print, and Video (ok, those last two are self-explanatory). So, a little exploration wouldn’t go amiss - Zoner does at least feature non-destructive editing, letting you experiment with new tools without irretrievably modifying the original file.

Basically, Manager is for organizing and tagging photos. Develop is Zoner’s take on Lightroom, where you can edit RAW images, and Editor is for all other tweaks you want to make to your media, like adjusting the color temperature, or sharpening images. It’s all nicely laid out and generally easy to find what you’re looking for - and most options are also replicated in menus along the ribbon, which contextually change depending on which mode you’re in.

Zoner Studio: In use

(Image credit: Zoner // Future)

Using Zoner Studio isn’t especially tricky, but it may still feel a little overwhelming if you’re new to image editing given the sheer amount of options available here. I’d also advise beginners to hover over the side-panel icons - there are a lot here, and not all of them are especially intuitive, so hovering your mouse will serve up a name and brief description of each.

Your photos automatically appear in Zoner, since there’s a file explorer tab to the left of the screen (there is an import function along the ribbon, too, but I never found the need to use this). These will appear on a timeline at the foot of the main panel. When you’ve selected your image, it can then be edited and adjusted via the Editor tab.

All the familiar tools are here, from cropping and rotating to adding watermarks or directional blurring. As expected, then, there are heaps of tools for toying with the exposure (shadows, contrast, and so on), white balance (temperature and tint), and color (like saturation). I also like the addition of the tone curve, as you’d find in Lightroom, for lightening or darkening an image, or bringing specific color channels to the fore.

(Image credit: Zoner // Future)

There’s also a Quick Edit option, which populates the panel with the core tools most photographers and designers use without needing to fumble through the menus. The editing process can further be streamlined with the likes of Quick Fix and, ideal for social media, Quick Filters. All of these work instantly, just a press of the button.

The software includes some AI-powered tools, all of which deliver good results impressively quickly. This includes AI Masking, found in the Develop tab. Choosing this gives you the option to let Zoner automatically select the photo’s subject, background, objects, or sky for fine-tuning. For anyone looking to streamline the workflow, these are must-use tools, and I was pretty pleased with the speed and accuracy here.

One of the stand-outs for me is the AI Background Remover, which I found generally works very well. Once completed, I could then add a color background or create a transparent one for compositing into other images. Occasionally, the process removed elements of the image subject - typically when on darker or a similarly colored backgrounds - but on the whole, I had no serious complaints with this one-click background removal tool.

Perhaps the biggest issue, at least for those looking to make the switch away from Photoshop, is the lack of support for .PSD files. Instead, the software uses its own .ZPS files, which functionally work the same with layers and effects. But there’s no way to import or export Photoshop files into the app.

Overall, Zoner Studio packs in a wealth of tools for photo editing. It will take some getting used to if you’re new (and absolutely no time at all if you’re familiar with any of the best photo editors). But if you don’t need .PSD file support, there’s plenty to like here, especially for the price.

Should I buy Zoner Studio?

(Image credit: Zoner // Future)Buy it if...

You’re new to photo editing: This is a great place to start if you’re new to editing images but want a good amount of powerful tools for bringing out the best in your photos.

You don’t want to spend too much: Zoner Studio is a lot cheaper than Adobe Photoshop or similar pro-grade packages.

Don't buy it if...

You want a basic app: If you’re just looking to crop or brighten images, you’ll find plenty of other options that won’t overwhelm.

You want a professional-level app: Similarly, if you want a pro-level software that delivers the very best results, you’ll get better results from the likes of Photoshop and Lightroom.

Alek Hermon didn't think much of his father's overnight nurse until his father died.

(Image credit: Hermon family photo)

Nothing More of This Land traces indigenous communities on Martha's Vineyard. Above, beachgoers on Moshup Beach in July 2010.'/>

In Nothing More of This Land, Aquinnah Wampanoag writer Joseph Lee takes readers past the celebrity summer scene and into the heart of Noepe, the name his people have called the island for centuries.

(Image credit: Don Emmert)

A clash between the US and UK governments could mean Apple's privacy protections remain intact.

• HPE patched CVE-2025-37103 and CVE-2025-37102
• The former is a case of hardcoded credentials for an admin account
• The latter allows the execution of arbitrary commands as an admin

HPE has patched a critical-severity vulnerability in its Aruba Instant On Access Points which could have allowed threat actors to access the devices as an admin, change settings, deploy malware, and wreak havoc as they see fit.

Aruba Instant On Access Points are Wi-Fi devices designed for small businesses. They are advertised as easy-to-deploy devices offering fast, secure, and reliable wireless connectivity.

In a security advisory, HPE said it found hardcoded credentials in the device’s firmware, “allowing anyone with knowledge of it to bypass normal device authentication.”

No workarounds

“Successful exploitation could allow a remote attacker to gain administrative access to the system,” the company added.

Now, the bug is tracked as CVE-2025-37103. It has a severity score of 9.8/10 (critical) and is apparently simple to find and exploit, especially for a skilled threat actor.

Unfortunately, hardcoded credentials are a common occurrence in modern software. Usually, during the production phase, software developers would add an admin account this way, for easy and convenient access.

However, these credentials should be removed before the product is shipped to the market, and when the DevSecOps team or the Application Security team fails, vulnerabilities like this one happen.

There are no workarounds to mitigate the problem, patching it is the only way to secure the access points, and thus the wider network, from attacks.

In the same advisory, HPE said it patched a second bug, an authenticated command injection vulnerability in instant on command line interface. This bug, tracked as CVE-2025-37102, allows remote threat actors with elevated privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as a highly privileged user. It was assigned a severity score of 7.2/10 (high).

For this vulnerability, too, there are no workarounds, and HPE advises users to apply the patch as soon as possible.

Via BleepingComputer

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Once the bargain alternative to pricey cable and satellite packages, the streaming landscape continues to grow in size – and cost. While some of the best streaming services continue to hike their prices, we’ve got your back, giving you the latest scoop on which service you can expect to pay more for in future.

Read below to find out which streamers are charging more in 2025 so far. And while it may seem like keeping up with your favorite shows is getting increasingly costly, you could always check out the best free streaming services out there, which will offer you a wealth of content for nada. Make sure to also check the best streaming deals in 2025 to save on your next subscription bill.

Is anyone else getting déjà vu? In July 2024, Peacock's second ever price increase took effect and just over a year later we're getting another. NBCUniversal's streaming service has announced that its biggest price hike ever will begin on July 23 for new and returning customers (meanwhile, existing subscribers can expect to see an increase in their bill from August 23 or their next billing date).

The price hike sees Peacock's 'Premium' (with ads) and 'Premium Plus' (limited ads) plans rise by $3 each to $10.99 and $16.99 per month, respectively. As some subscribers look to cancel their subscriptions ahead of the change, Peacock is looking to offer more affordable options by testing a new 'Select' tier that will cost the same as its ad-supported plan was priced before the most recent price hike.

We had almost gotten through March without seeing a streaming price hike announcement for video on-demand services until Plex decided to break that streak by raising its prices. This is the first price hike its made in a decade and will apply to each of its plans. That means that the monthly price for Plex Pass will go from $4.99 to $6.99, the annual price will rise from $39.99 to $69.99 and the Plex Lifetime Pass will more than double from $119.99 to an eye-watering $249.99.

The changes will take effect on April 29, 2025, which means that if you're already signed up to the Lifetime Pass you'll be able to stick to the old rate, which is prompting many users to consider signing up for it before the rise. In an even bigger blow, Plex is making the ability to stream your favorite streaming subscriptions between two separate networks no longer free. Instead, users will have to sign up to a Remote Watch Pass for $1.99 a month or $19.99 to have the remote streaming feature.

The live TV streamer has announced that all packages are set to creep up in price. Coming into effect for new subscribers on January 23, existing customers should look for the increase in their bill on, or after, February 10. Citing “rising costs from our production partners,” the service is adding $5 per month to all of its streaming plans. This will be particularly galling news for subscribers to the platform’s Essentials tier, which was only launched in September and replaced the bargain Starter option.

The new prices mean that both the Essential and Pro now cost $85.99 per month, while the Elite option is $94.99 ($104.99 w/ Sports Plus). Customers already using the Deluxe, Premier and Ultimate tiers are also looking at five bucks more, although these options are no longer available to new subscribers. There is good news for new customers though, as after a seven-day free trial, you get your first month $20 off. And if the price increase has you doubting your loyalty, you might want to look in to other live TV streaming services, such as Hulu or Sling.

The biggest streamer to announce things were getting pricier in 2025 was Netflix. The streaming giant announced on January 22 that it was raising prices, with the company stating: “As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix.” It should be noted, at time of writing, the price increases only apply to subscribers in Argentina, Portugal and North America.

This means that in the US, the standard ad-supported plan will now cost subscribers $7.99, $1 more than it did previously. Standard without ads is up a buck and a half, now costing $17.99 while the premium tier is now $24.99, a $2 increase. If the price increase has you debating whether to keep the service, our list of the best Netflix movies and best Netflix shows might help your decision.

The other streamer already increasing its prices this year is Discovery Plus, with things set to get a little bit more expensive for US subscribers. The hike went into effect on January 7 for news subscribers, with Discovery saying it would renew at the new rates for existing customers “on your first billing date on or after February 7, 2025.”

Discovery Plus currently offers two tiers, both of which have increased by $1, with the ad-supported plan now $5.99, while it’s $9.99 to go ad-free. Of course, most of Discovery Plus’ content can also be accessed through Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streamer Max – which is due to receive a global rollout in 2025 – and with plenty of new content arriving on Max in February, consumers may begin wondering whether to keep the stand alone streamer at all.

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A quirky design with a unique rear display doesn't make up for this phone's shortcomings.

• Matt Shakman has said whether Doctor Doom was ever going to be The Fantastic Four: First Steps' main villain
• Robert Downey Jr will play the group's iconic adversary in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday film
• Galactus was ultimately chosen to be First Steps' primary antagonist

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director has explained why Galactus and not Doctor Doom is the film's Big Bad – and it's got nothing to do with Avengers: Doomsday.

Chatting to TechRadar, Matt Shakman outlined two major reasons for picking the immortal, planet-devouring space-god over The Fantastic Four's most notorious villain for their latest big-screen reboot. Interestingly, Marvel's revised plan for The Multiverse Saga, which belatedly saw Robert Downey Jr return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to portray Victor von Doom in the next two Avengers movies, wasn't one of them.

"We didn't consider making Doom the villain," the Marvel movie's filmmaker told me. "Mostly, because he's been the villain of every other Fantastic Four film. He takes up a lot of space and he's a wonderful character, but I wanted to be able to focus on this family [and] these four characters [over him].

"Obviously, I picked a very big villain, literally," Shakman continued. "But, Galactus is also The Fantastic Four's second most famous villain, so it made sense to to bring him in. We considered a lot of other potential villains along the way, but eventually settled on Galactus and and I'm glad that we did."

Marvel has teased Galactus throughout the film's marketing campaign, but hasn't shown him in his full glory yet (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

It's fascinating to learn that Doom was never discussed as the Marvel Phase 6 film's primary foe.

Initially announced in July 2019, First Steps predates Marvel's pivot away from Kang the Conqueror – The Multiverse Saga's first overarching bad guy – to Doctor Doom by five years. Indeed, Downey Jr wasn't announced as Latveria's most famous son until 2024's San Diego Comic-Con, with Doom confirmed to be replacing Kang following Jonathan Majors' firing by Marvel in the wake of numerous assault allegations made against him.

Of equal intrigue is Shakman wasn't Marvel's first choice to be the director of one of the most anticipated new movies of 2025.

Originally, Jon Watts, who helmed Tom Holland's first Spider-Man film trilogy in the MCU, was tapped to direct in December 2020. However, Watts dropped out in April 2022 and, despite a bizarre rumor that legendary filmmaker Stephen Spielberg had been asked to replace Watts, it was Shakman who boarded the project in August of that year. It's possible, then, that Doom could've been discussed as the primary antagonist of The Fantastic Four's latest cinematic adventure prior to Shakman's hiring.

Downey Jr is currently filming Avengers: Doomsday at Pinewood studios in the UK (Image credit: Robert Downey Jr's Instagram)

Regardless, as he has throughout First Steps' press tour, Shakman declined to comment on the prospect of Downey Jr's Doom appearing in 2025's final MCU. With Marvel's First Family taking their, well, first steps into the MCU this Friday (July 25), we don't have long to wait until we have a definitive answer.

In the meantime, get the lowdown on the movie via my ultimate guide on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Additionally, check out my Avengers: Doomsday hub for the latest and biggest news about that film. Then, read on for more exclusive coverage of First Steps.

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• Monitor Audio launches new Bronze Series 7G speaker range
• New drivers and tweeters plus a new crossover design
• Hi-fi, home theater and a new wall-mounted speaker option

Monitor Audio has unveiled the seventh generation of its highly acclaimed Bronze Series speakers, and in addition to improving each model it's added a brand new wall-mounted speaker too.

There are five different speakers in the range: the Bronze 300 7G floorstanders, the Bronze 50 7G bookshelf speakers, the Bronze AMS 7G Dolby Atmos speakers, the Bronze Center 7G and the new Bronze On-Wall speaker.

Previous generations of the Bronze Series attracted rave reviews, so for example when we reviewed the Bronze BX5 way back in 2011 we praised its "fast, engaging sound": it was an "engaging and entertaining performer". And now the latest generation promises a significant audio upgrade.

There's a brand new wall-mounted speaker, a first for the Bronze Series (Image credit: Monitor Audio)Monitor Audio Bronze Series 7G: what's new and what they cost

Monitor Audio says that everything from the drivers and crossovers to the cabinets has been improved in this new generation. There are new ceramic-coated aluminum magnesium C-CAM bass and bass/mid drivers and a new C-CAM gold dome tweeter, a new crossover design, and a mix of real wood and plywood front baffles for strength and rigidity.

There are no subwoofers in the range, but the Bronze Series were developed alongside and tuned together with Monitor's 10, 12 and 15-inch subwoofers, the W10, W12 and W15.

There are three finishes available across the range: satin black, white and walnut – although there's not a matching Vestra for the walnut option, as those subs only currently come in a choice of black or white.

The new Monitor Audio Series 7G is available now and the prices are below.

• Bronze 300 7G: £1,000 / €1,250 / $1,400 (about AU$2,065 ) per pair
• Bronze 50 7G: £500 / €600 / $700 (about AU$1,032) per pair
• Bronze Centre 7G: £400 / €500 / $550 (about AU$825) per piece
• Bronze On-Wall 7G: £300 / €350 / $400 (about AU$619) per piece
• Bronze AMS 7G: £450 / €575 / $625 (about AU$929) per pair

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• Ubisoft's annual financial report claims microtransactions makes game experiences "more fun"
• It comes after years of criticism regarding microtransactions, particularly in single-player games
• It calls for a change, especially considering the increased price standard for games

After the release of Ubisoft's recent Assassin's Creed Shadows, the French video game publisher is in the spotlight yet again – but this time, it's not particularly for the best reasons for gamers.

As reported by Notebookcheck, Ubisoft's annual financial report claims its microtransactions and monetization in premium games "makes the player experience more fun". It's a bold statement in the wake of titles like Star Wars Outlaws, Skull and Bones, and Assassin's Creed Shadows, all of which have microtransactions for boosters, skins and other cosmetics in-game.

It's not a good look for Ubisoft in the eyes of gamers; most AAA games cost $70 / £60 or more, whether single-player or multiplayer, and the addition of monetization doesn't make matters any better – especially when microtransactions have a significant presence in single-player titles.

It's a very similar rhetoric to complaints from gamers (and myself) regarding microtransactions dominating the Call of Duty franchise, with a plethora of cosmetics costing $16 or more, despite the $70 standard edition cost. As for single-player, similar complaints were widespread for Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2, with character editing and fast travel items having microtransaction options, albeit to an admittedly less egregious degree.

Ubisoft also stresses in the report that monetized cosmetics are optional, but gamers will be aware that some titles are created to encourage players to make in-game purchases – and that's either for faster progression, or for better character customization.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / pathdoc)Analysis: Microtransactions have no place in non-free-to-play games, so make it stop

Statements such as these from Ubisoft are nothing but an attempt to defend microtransactions against their deserved criticisms in the past few years. I've held the same thoughts about EA when it introduced microtransactions to older FIFA titles, and it's simple. Monetization should only be present in free-to-play games and out of full-priced single-player games, entirely.

From a business standpoint, Ubisoft and many other publishers have zero qualms about implementing microtransactions, which shouldn't come as a surprise. However, for consumers, it serves very little benefit to pay extra for cosmetics, which will likely lose their value in quick succession.

It's evident in Activision's Call of Duty games; while recent titles have allowed players to carry over cosmetics from previous iterations to new titles, this only lasts for about a year or so. I'd argue that these in-game purchases hold even less value in single-player games, where the same cosmetics can often be unlocked from normal game progression.

The sudden rise in game prices is already bad enough, but I fear that if these video game monetization models continue, it will only make publishers more comfortable to pull egregious pricing practices.

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Larry (Harry Richardson) and Marian (Louisa Jacobson) only became a couple at the beginning of The Gilded Age season 3, but it’s as if we’ve been shipping them forever. Five episodes into the new season on HBO Max this month and Larry has now proposed, meaning Larian (their fandom name, obviously) is officially on.

Their friendship has always had a healthy dose of chemistry, but now they are a couple, Marian doesn’t actually know everything about Larry’s fairly scandalous dating history. Back in season 2, he had an affair with Susan Blane (Laura Benanti), which they had to keep a secret even though neither of them were married. Susan was an older widow, giving Larry something of a reputation, and we still don’t know how – or if – this could affect Marian.

Even with all this Larian excitement, I’m not convinced this was the most exciting news to come out of The Gilded Age season 3 episode 5. If nothing else, I’m a huge fan of being a hater, and the HBO Max show delivered that to me on a plate perfectly in the form of Maud Beaton (Nicole Brydon Bloom).

Maud Beaton’s Haymarket double bluff was so much juicer than Larry and Marian’s proposal in The Gilded Age season 3 episode 5

While Larry and Marian are blissfully in love in episode 5 of The Gilded Age season 3, the groom-to-be seemingly lies about his plans, choosing to celebrate the good news in a less-than-reputable establishment called The Haymarket. It’s essentially the New York version of the Moulin Rouge, so you can imagine the kinds of behaviour we’re likely to see there. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Maud, the woman who conned Oscar (Blake Ritson) out of his entire family fortune.

When Larry confronts Maud about who she is, Maud denies it, introducing herself as Dolly Trent. The next day, Larry tells Oscar about what happened, who comes to the conclusion Maud no longer has the money she previously stole. While Oscar still wants answers and some kind of revenge, John (Ben Ahlers) thinks Maud’s new circumstances are punishment enough. Basically, it’s now up in the air whether Maud will come back into the bigger picture for her just deserts.

For me, that’s a much more exciting prospect than watching two lovely and sweet people get married. Sure, everybody loves a Pride and Prejudice moment for a happy ending, but what The Gilded Age has always done best is dripfeed its drama in the classiest of ways. If someone stole your family’s money and coincidentally reappeared back on the scene, you’d probably still be holding a grudge no matter how much time has passed. Instead of calming down, new episodes now have the potential to become a lot more chaotic, and I’m all here for it.

Seeing Maud will potentially get Larry in some trouble, meaning there could be some trouble in paradise when it comes to Larian’s wedding. As I’ve touched on, Larry is withholding details of his personal life from Marian as it is, so the extra gut punch of lying about his whereabouts and running into Maud isn’t likely to go down too well either. It only takes one small straw to break the camel’s back, and this could be a delicious one.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not wishing ill will on the newly engaged couple. But isn’t the show so much more fun when disaster is imminent? There’s nothing more tantalising than things going wrong in the Victorian upper classes, and God, The Gilded Age does it so well.

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• Slack Pro gets more AI, including summarization, for no extra charge
• Pro+ plan price up by 23%, but Slack says "significant value" has been added
• New Enterprise+ plan also added, offering tougher security

Slack has rolled out a new pricing structure to add more value to its plans, bringing it more aligned with the Salesforce ecosystem by expanding Salesforce Channels to free plans.

Extra value has also been added to the Pro plan, which remains unchanged in terms of pricing, with Business+ seeing a 23% price hike alongside the introduction of a new Enterprise+ plan.

As part of the upgrade, Salesforce is injecting more artificial intelligence into its paid plans, however each will have a varying degree of assistance.

Slack plans get a big upgrade – only some prices rise

Pro plans will see no changes to pricing, but they will get some of the company's core AI features including AI summarization and huddle notes, as well as enhanced security and deeper Salesforce integration.

The company explained the Business+ price increase, from £9.75 per user per month to £12, reflects the "significant value" added, including advanced AI tools like translation, workflow generation and recaps, as well as further Salesforce features and security improvements.

Enterprise-grade AI, premium Salesforce integrations, and enhanced security, admin controls, governance and compliance are the key additions to Enterprise+, which is a new plan coming to the Slack family.

Understandably, artificial intelligence is the central topic of discussion here, with 38,000 custom APIs built plus dozens of partner AI apps from the likes of Box, Writer, AWS, Adobe, Cohere and Perplexity available in the Slack Marketplace.

Being that Slack is owned by Salesforce – a company that's invested heavily in AI and one that's working on finding the right balance between human and machine – it should come as no surprise that autonomous AI agents via Agentforce are also available to paid tiers.

The company describes the Slack platform as the "work operating system for the agentic era."

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