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Heard of Project 2025? Seth Meyers took "A Closer Look" at the 900-page pro-Trump playbook in all its unsettling detail on "Late Night."

Ignore vitriol, or turn it into content? Creators like Kacie Rose and Drew Afualo share their tips for dealing with a harsh comments section.

X (formerly Twitter) and its owner Elon Musk have escaped a $500 million unpaid severance lawsuit, successfully petitioning a California court to dismiss the case. Even so, this doesn't mean the matter is over.

A district court judge dismissed the class action suit on Tuesday, accepting the defendants' argument that X's severance plan was not governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). As the plaintiffs had accused X and Musk of violating ERISA, this finding that it doesn't even apply brought their case to a grinding halt.

However, the court made no ruling concerning the facts of the case. In fact, the judge explicitly stated that the plaintiffs can amend and refile their complaint with other claims such as breach of contract or promissory estoppel.

SEE ALSO: Yet another former Twitter/X exec is suing Elon Musk for millions in unpaid severance

Initially filed in July last year, the lawsuit accused X and Musk of failing to fulfil severance obligations owed to approximately 6,000 former employees. Musk famously began conducting mass layoffs mere days after acquiring Twitter in October 2022, cutting its workforce by at least 70 percent.

The complaint alleged that laid off employees were only offered a single month of severance pay, which fell short of the benefits detailed in the company's severance plan. Said plan had been in place since at least 2019, with Musk's merger agreement having stated that employees would be given severance and benefits "no less favorable than" those offered immediately prior to his takeover. 

As such, the plaintiffs accused X and Musk of violating the ERISA through denial of benefits, breach of fiduciary duty, and failure to provide complete and accurate information about the severance plan.

X and Musk didn't specifically refute the allegations that it had withheld employees' entitlements. Instead, the defendants successfully targeted matters of jurisdiction. 

For a severance plan to fall under ERISA, it must involve an "ongoing administrative program" under which severance claims and benefits are determined. The court found that X's plan involved no such program because it determined severance by applying set formulas and mathematical calculations rather than requiring discretionary analysis on a case-by-case basis. Thus, the ERISA does not apply.

Basically, the dismissal of this case doesn't necessarily mean that X has paid all severance it legally owes to the plaintiffs. It merely means that they may have to come at X with claims such as breach of contract instead of for violating federal labour laws. The plaintiffs have three weeks to file an amended complaint detailing any claims they may have which are unrelated to the ERISA. 

Regardless of whether the plaintiffs do refile their complaint, X's legal woes surrounding its Musk-ordered layoffs are far from over. A group of former Twitter executives previously filed a $128 million severance suit in March, another brought a $19.3 million one in April, and last September Musk agreed to settlement regarding claims of unpaid severance by almost 2,000 former employees. Tuesday's order noted that at least six lawsuits have been brought against X regarding severance, as well as five relating to wages and discrimination.

A Jeep plant that closed last year will be among those that will benefit from federal grants meant to help automotive manufacturers and protect jobs.

SpaceX employees are working on plans for a Martian city, including dome habitats, spacesuits and researching whether humans can procreate off Earth. Mr. Musk has volunteered his sperm.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for life for a one-time payment of $39.97 if you purchase before July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $59.99 at The Mashable Shop
$219.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

Must-have apps like Excel, PowerPoint, and Word are cornerstones of pretty much any type of digital productivity. They're also pretty expensive if you're paying for them every month or year. The alternative is to get a slightly older lifetime license for Microsoft Office, which is exactly what you can do with this limited-time sale. 

Here's your chance to get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021 (Windows) for your device at only $39.97 (reg. $219.99). 

If it's real, then why is it so cheap?

Instead of looking at sketchy software downloads, use this hack to get all the apps you need with one purchase. The reason this lifetime license is so cheap is because it's not the most recent version of this software, and you can also only install each app on one device. Microsoft 365 is the subscription service that gets you all the recent apps, but the tradeoff is you're basically renting apps you used to be able to own. 

This license comes with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access. It's the classic productivity suite, and for students, remote workers, and household budgeters, it might be all you need. The license lasts as long as your device does — no recurring costs ever. 

Got an old computer? One of the hidden benefits of opting for older software is they often have lighter hardware requirements. All you need to run these apps are Windows 10 or 11, 1GB RAM, 4GB hard disk space, and a modern monitor.

Is Microsoft Office Pro 2021 worth it for the price?

At the normal price of $219.99 for a lifetime license, Office Pro 2021 would be worth it for professionals who need to cut down on their day-to-day costs by removing subscriptions. At this drastically reduced (and limited-time) price, Office Pro 2021 is worth it for everyone from students who need reliable apps for homework to household browsers who just want an easy way to update their budget. 

Don't miss your chance to get Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows for $39.97. No coupon is needed, but this sale only lasts through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Master Excel with the help of experts by copping this Microsoft Excel training bundle, on sale for $29.97 (reg. $399) through July 21.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The 2024 Ultimate Microsoft Excel Training Bundle $29.97 at the Mashable Shop
$399.00 Save $369.03 Get Deal

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. But teaching a man Excel? That's when he can really thrive. Sure, that's not exactly how the proverb goes, but you get the drift. While you're probably used to cursing at Excel, it can also be your best buddy for career advancement, organizing that dreamy European summer trip, or finally conquering your personal budget.

These courses provide you with extensive training on all things Excel. Whether you're a complete beginner or a power user, you can stand to learn new Excel functions with this expert-led training. Through July 21, you can grab it on sale for $29.97.

With 16 jam-packed courses, this training package aims to help you figure out how to make Excel work to achieve your professional and personal goals. With newbie and advanced courses included, you can expect to receive nuanced training. Lessons cover topics like analyzing data with charts, using logical functions for smarter business decisions, creating interactive reports and dashboards, and performing financial forecasting and modeling. VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) training is included too, so you can learn how to use Excel to automate your workflow and make short work of your more tedious tasks.

All courses are taught by StreamSkill, an e-learning platform that has been delivering easy, hands-on software training to individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies since 2008. You can access the online courses at your own pace and on your own time, and you can stream them using virtually any device.

Master spreadsheets with the help of this 2024 Microsoft Excel training bundle, on sale for only $29.97.

Want to explore more productivity tools? Check out the entire Microsoft for Power Users collection.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: For a limited time, you can get a near-mint condition HP Elitebook 840 laptop with 16GB RAM and an Intel Core i5 processor for just $319.97 (reg. $410). This sale only lasts through July 21.

Refurbished computers come in all shapes and prices, but what good is an affordable computer if you can't use it for anything? This HP EliteBook 840 has hardware suitable for school or office work, and you can score it for $319.97 instead of its usual $410 price.

For a budget laptop, it has some impressive specs, including an Intel processor and twice as much RAM as a typical laptop. While it was originally released in 2018, it's a genuine laptop, not a Chromebook.

What's under the hood?

This model comes with Windows 10 pre-installed and has a 14-inch HD display. That's some good screen real estate that doesn't make it hard to carry your computer around. The battery has up to a 14-hour capacity.

The grade "A" refurb rating means this machine is in near-mint condition. There might be some super minimal signs of wear (faint wear patterns on the case not visible from more than a foot away), but that's it. Even the battery has at least 80% capacity. 

A computer made in 2018 probably isn't going to be a great fit for graphically intense apps for art or design. Where this machine can still shine is with the basics. Students don't need to get an expensive machine just to write essays or respond to emails. And professionals don't need a pricey PC if they're only running Microsoft Office. Still, with 16GB of RAM and a decent processor, it's still more powerful than most laptops in this price range.

Other noteworthy specs include the 256GB SSD, the 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-835U processor, and an overall weight of just 3.26 pounds. It's also got plenty of ports to keep all your devices connected.

Get a refurb you can rely on

Whether you're drafting an email or getting some homework done, here's a refurb that's got your back. 

Get the HP EliteBook 840 for $319.97 until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP EliteBook 840 G5 Core i5-835U (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Refurbished) $319.97 at the Mashable Shop
$410.00 Save $90.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Thanks to the Mymanu Link, you can connect your wireless headphones to devices with an audio jack. Get it for just $29.99 (reg. $49.99) right here through July 21.

Want to make wireless listening even more convenient? The Mymanu Link sets out to do just that — serving as a wireless Bluetooth transmitter and receiver on planes, in cars, for gaming, and more. It aims to make wireless audio seamless and open a whole new world of possibilities. 

Just in time for summer travel and festivities, you can bring home a Mymanu Link for only $29.99 — $20 off the usual price tag — now through July 21, with no coupon code needed. 

The Mymanu Link offers a wide range of options — it's designed for connecting two sets of headphones to wired devices so you and a friend can share a playlist or listen to a movie together. If you'd like to stream navigation directions right to your car stereo, it does that too. The interface is built to make it easy to connect for even the less tech-savvy folks.

With up to 20 hours of use on a single charge, the Mymanu Link will help you groove, binge-watch, and more...all without tangled cords. It offers a wireless range of up to 33 feet, with a premium audio experience even at a distance. It's also compact and portable, so you can pack it up easily for flights, vacations, and road trips. 

Enjoy audio anywhere with the Mymanu Link, available for just $29.99 (reg. $49.99) right here through July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mymanu Mymanu Link - Wireless Bluetooth Transmitter & Receiver for Planes, Gyms, Vehicles, Gaming and more! $29.99 at the Mashable Shop
$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Charge six devices simultaneously with the Flash Pro Plus graphene power bank with MagSafe compatibility, price-dropped to $199.97 (reg. $319) through July 21.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh Graphene Power Bank w/ Magsafe Compatibility $199.97 at The Mashable Shop
$319.00 Save $119.03 Get Deal

It always seems like we have several devices that need charging. Make it easy on yourself with one power bank to charge them all.

The Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh graphene power bank with MagSafe compatibility is the ultimate power bank powered by Panasonic and designed for Apple and Android users, and it’s on sale for $199.97 (reg. $319) through July 21.

This innovative power bank lets you charge up to six devices at once. Recharge the power bank back to 100% in only 70 minutes. The OLED display gives you real-time information about battery percentage and power output from each port, so you can see the status of your battery life. It can also detect and charge low-voltage devices such as headphones, vapes, and watches from each port.

The Flash Pro Plus is lightweight and portable and makes the perfect travel for anyone who’s on the go. You’ll love the convenience of having one pocket-sized power source versus multiple types of wall plugs to lug around.  

Successfully crowdfunded on Indiegogo, this power bank is a game-changer for powering up your tech gadgets at max speed. Charge laptops, iPhones, Apple Watches, cameras, and more. The Flash Pro is compatible with Oppo (50W), OnePlus (50W), Vivo (50W), and Huawei (22.5W).

Get the Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh graphene power bank with MagSafe compatibility for $199.97 (reg. $319) until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Explore more awesome deals from this shop. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Astronomers have homed in on a world they believe might have just the right conditions for a thick atmosphere and an ocean half the size of the Atlantic. 

The exoplanet — a world orbiting a star other than the sun — is LHS 1140 b, and it's about 48 light-years away from Earth, in the constellation Cetus. The planet is a little less than double the size of Earth.

A team of scientists pointed the James Webb Space Telescope at LHS 1140 b twice in December 2023. Using a special instrument called a spectrograph on the powerful telescope, which is a collaboration between NASA and its European and Canadian space counterparts, they looked for signs of an atmosphere. 

"LHS 1140 b is one of the best small exoplanets in the habitable zone, capable of supporting a thick atmosphere," said Ryan MacDonald, coauthor of the exoplanet study based at the University of Michigan, in a statement, "and we might just have found evidence of air on this world."

SEE ALSO: The strange new worlds scientists have discovered this year The James Webb Space Telescope has observed exoplanet LHS 1140 b, which could be an icy world akin to Jupiter's moon Europa, left, or it may have a bulls-eye ocean facing its star. Credit: B. Gougeon / Université de Montréal illustration

Exoplanet hunters have coined names for different types of planets. Many of the known worlds travel in tight circles around their host stars. Smaller planets are mostly divided into two groups, known as super-Earths and mini Neptunes. Although both kinds are larger than Earth and smaller than Neptune, super-Earths can be as much as 1.75 times the size of our home planet, while mini Neptunes are double to quadruple the size of Earth.

The team's goal was to determine whether LHS 1140 b was a hydrogen-rich mini Neptune or a scaled-up version of Earth, covered in water and ice. Their study immediately ruled out mini Neptune, because LHS 1140 b lacked the features of a big, puffy atmosphere. That means the exoplanet could be rocky and have other similarities to our planet.

"But can we say anything about the atmospheric composition of this super-Earth?" MacDonald said on X, formerly Twitter. "That's where things get really exciting."

The researchers' analysis found possible evidence that the planet has a thick, nitrogen-rich atmosphere like Earth's, which is 78 percent nitrogen. The study's result, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, comes from a technique called transmission spectroscopy.

This method studies the starlight filtered through the planet's atmosphere. Molecules within the atmosphere absorb certain light wavelengths, or colors. By splitting the light like a prism into its basic parts — a rainbow — astronomers can detect which light segments are missing to figure out an atmosphere's makeup.

LHS 1140 b orbits a red dwarf star — a much smaller, colder star than the sun — at a distance that would probably cause the planet's surface to be frozen. But if LHS 1140 b had an atmosphere, the world could experience a greenhouse effect, making a liquid ocean possible. The team also found that the exoplanet is less massive than expected, perhaps indicating that 10 to 20 percent of it is water weight.

"We might just have found evidence of air on this world."

Most astronomers agree that knowing what's in another planet's atmosphere is crucial in the quest for habitable worlds. NASA has playfully called Earth's own atmosphere its "security blanket": Without it, the type of life flourishing here wouldn't exist. This cocoon holds oxygen in the air and filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, all while keeping our world warm. Furthermore, it creates pressure that allows liquid water to exist on the surface.

Tweet may have been deleted

Scientists have found signs of atmospheres surrounding many exoplanets over the past 20 years, but all of them have been gas giant planets, like Jupiter, with an envelope mostly composed of hydrogen. The hunt for an Earth-like world swaddled in a protective atmosphere has so far eluded astronomers, but Webb has recently helped scientists find candidates, such as 55 Cancri e or GJ 486b, another exoplanet study for which MacDonald was a co-author.

The LHS 1140 b team's analysis suggests this exoplanet is an icy world with a bulls-eye ocean about 2,500 miles wide on the side always facing its star. The surface temperature at the center of the ocean might even be close to a refreshing 68 degrees Fahrenheit. 

"We'll likely need years of additional observations to secure a concrete detection of an atmosphere on LHS 1140b," MacDonald said on X, "but it's promising that the initial reconnaissance is paying off!"

Don't be fooled by its nostalgic, romantic title. Fly Me To The Moon is not the winsome, star-led rom-com you might expect. Instead, director Greg Berlanti takes a cheeky premise befitting a bouncy '60s rom-com and burdens it with dreary NASA drama and a half-baked showbiz satire thread. 

Sure, Fly Me To The Moon has Scarlett Johansson, smiling and beguiling as a Mad (wo)Man who's cinched and coiffed like a Hitchcock blonde. It's got a strapping Channing Tatum as the stern Tracy to her beaming Hepburn. The stellar supporting cast, which includes Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, Jim Rash, and the splendid Anna Garcia, breathes life into one-liners and extravagantly long bits. But overall, Berlanti lacks the creative vision to pull all this off. 

All told, Fly Me To The Moon is a disaster that fails to launch. 

Fly Me to the Moon does too much... and poorly.  Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) and Henry Smalls (Ray Romano) in "Fly Me to the Moon." Credit: Dan McFadden / Sony Pictures

Set in 1969, Fly Me to the Moon follows an enemies-to-lovers plot line that pits the noble ambition of a moon-landing mission against marketing. In the corner of scientific endeavor stands beefy but taciturn NASA launch director Cole Davis (Tatum); in the other corner swishes metropolitan advertising maverick Kelly Jones (Johansson). He is trying to get America on the moon. She's trying to sell America on the moon landing. But shucks! The news of late is super caught up with that Vietnam War! 

There's a jarring disconnect between the movie's would-be winsome romance and its clumsy handling of the era's hard-hitting horrors. The jumbled screenplay from Rose Gilroy doesn’t just have its heroine cynically lament about how this grim war's news cycle distracts from their PR efforts (though she does). Berlanti also douses his sometimes-comedy with reminders of the horrid war. So, anytime his love story might start heating up, real-life carnage hits like a cold shower. The tragedy of the Apollo 1 mission, in which three astronauts were killed, is also a heavy thread, knitting together the life-or-death stakes of Apollo 11 and giving Cole a series of scenes to grieve as that failed launch's haunted director. 

This remorse explains why he has no patience for Kelly's relentlessly can-do attitude, the white lies she employs in the name of "selling," and the persistent distraction she is to his work. (She literally pulls his astronauts away from training for product-placement photo shoots.) However, without her skills at selling NASA to the public, the mission could see its funding pulled. So, selling out is regarded by Fly Me to the Moon as a necessary evil — a point driven home by a climactic kiss that features OMEGA® watches in its cozy close-up of the headlining co-stars. 

The total dissonance of the film might be intentional; perhaps it's meant to reflect the conflict between the idealistic Cole and the jaded Kelly. While that might be clever on paper, on screen it makes for a deadly tedious film. There is absolutely no flow or momentum to the storytelling, as one scene of utter despair leads into one of of light-hearted flirtation, then to one of clumsy comic mayhem. 

Is star power dead?  Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) and Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) in "Fly Me to the Moon." Credit: Dan McFadden / Sony Pictures

Critics have been debating this for years now, and Fly Me to the Moon might be further proof that a eulogy is overdue.

Scarlett Johansson gives a lot to this film, including an arsenal of wheedling accents, a megawatt smile that Julia Roberts would be proud of, and a performance that ranges from plucky punchlines to a tearful monologue about a tragic childhood. Yet she can't dazzle thoroughly through all the shenanigans and tonal turns. Con woman Kelly is so throughly constructed of false fronts that even when she gets to her tender truth, it seems just another scheming schtick — amusing but shallow.  

Tatum is similarly shackled by a script that deflates the himbo allure he perfected in the Magic Mike movies, offering instead a stale archetype of a serious science man. Despite some early antics involving a flaming broom and a black cat, Cole never quite manages to solidify into a compelling fussbudget, molded from the likes of Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant, or Rock Hudson. 

Johansson and Tatum don't share a chemistry that can make this movie work for all its faults. Neither is helped by a plot line that runs in circles of highs and lows rather than a compelling three-act trajectory. As Berlanti has a storied history in television, with credits that include Everwood, Arrow, You, and Legends of Tomorrow, I began to wonder if this premise was originally conceived as a miniseries. This could explain the confounding structure that, at two hours and 10 minutes long, feels agonizing.

Broken up into 30-minute episodes, these jarring tonal shifts might've felt less severe, the quirky comedy bits could have been grounded, the dramatic stings given the space to hit with impact. But Berlanti, who won praise at the helm of romantic dramedies like Love, Simon and The Broken Hearts Club, doesn't have the cinematic vision to pull off all these elements. Instead, he take a tale of love and lies and space, and creates something that is often astonishingly visually flat and uninspired. The whimsy of '60s comedies and its candy-colored fashion is lost here.

Fly Me to the Moon is nearly saved by its supporting cast.  Ruby Martin (Anna Garcia), Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), and Lance Vespertine (Jim Rash) in "Fly Me to the Moon." Credit: Dan McFadden / Sony Pictures

While Johansson and Tatum struggle, the players around them manage to shine. Jim Rash certainly delivers the flashiest performance as Lance Vespertine, a unrepentantly flamboyant and narcissistic commercial director. Rash brings a welcomed chaotic energy to his scenes, issuing outlandish demands and withering remarks with the rapid-fire spray and viciousness of a tommy gun. In him, Fly Me to the Moon scratches at showbiz satire, gleefully mocking the indulgences allowed an arrogant director. But as Rash is used chiefly for breezy comic relief, the finer points of the critique are lost amid the screeching. 

Elsewhere, Ray Romano pops up as a pal of Cole's to deliver exposition dumps and hit plot points with a practiced efficiency and sly oafishness; Romano turns a thankless role into a needed source of heart. Meanwhile, Woody Harrelson strolls into the vaguely threatening authority role he's played across genres, this time as a mysterious yet intimidating government agent called Moe. He's on cruise control here, with a fedora doing half the work. Nonetheless, Harrelson is amusing, especially as he casually threatens Kelly, then erupts into the title song as he saunters away. 

However, the standout amid these big names (and Mr. Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, who pops by in a brief yet excruciating cameo) is Anna Garcia, a brilliant comedic actress who plays Kelly's plucky, politically minded assistant.

Plotwise, her Ruby is a confidante to whom Kelly can spill secrets of the fake moon landing, among other ploys. But in execution, Garcia brings a crisp comedy styling that is bright and intoxicating, whatever mess is going on around her. With guest stints on shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Party Down reboot, and various DROPOUT productions, Garcia first caught my eye in the interview parody show Very Important People. Here, Garcia played an eccentric Eurotrash pop star so convincingly that I looked for Princess Emily's Spotify artist page. (She was probably an Eurovision contender I missed, right?) In Fly Me to the Moon, she steals scenes with sharp asides and eye-catching reactions. Regrettably, as the film plunges into ham-fisted pathos, radiant Ruby is flung off on a lazy romantic subplot involving a character who can be most kindly written off as Nerd Number Two. 

Berlanti aims for the moon and falls far short.  Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) in "Fly Me to the Moon." Credit: Dan McFadden / Sony Pictures

By taking on a '60s-style romcom, Berlanti stacks himself against the talents of such influential directors as Blake Edwards (Breakfast at Tiffany's), Norman Jewison (Send Me No Flowers), William Wyler (How to Steal A Million), Stanley Donen (Charade, Funny Face) and George Cukor (Adam's Rib, My Fair Lady). By folding in so many earnest elements of space travel drama, he invites comparisons to the celebrated filmmaking of Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey), who is repeatedly name-dropped in the film because of those exhausting conspiracy theories. And in every instance, this clunky dramedy pales in comparison, lacking the visual splendor, the emotional resonance, and the incorrigible wit of those that came before. 

With this genre-blending script, Berlanti has a wide sandbox to play in but no idea what to do with all these toys. In the end, Fly Me to the Moon is not just a misfire but a cataclysmic miscalculation, turning out to be far more tedious than enchanting. 

Fly Me to the Moon opens exclusively in theaters July 12.

You're here because you just can't figure out which Xbox is actually the newest and most powerful one. No judgment; it happens to the best of us.

Video game console naming has always been a bit of a problem for every gaming giant except PlayStation, the only major player in the industry that just uses a linear progression of numbers. Other companies historically have run into problems, as Nintendo did when it decided "Wii U" was an appropriate name for the console after the Wii, which had next to nothing in common with the Wii.

Xbox might take the cake, though. Microsoft's console ecosystem is lousy with nonsensical device names that don't tell you anything about the devices themselves. It put "One" in the name of the third-generation console, for crying out loud. Without wasting more time, here's a basic rundown of which Xbox consoles are the newest, so you don't get confused.

SEE ALSO: Biggest announcements from the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase Which is the newest Xbox?

The newest Xbox is, of course, the Series X. But it's also the Series S, which came out at the same time in 2020. Shoot, this is already ridiculous. Here's a straight up timeline of Xbox console releases to make sense of all of this:

• Xbox (the original) launched Nov. 15, 2001

• Xbox 360 (the first true follow-up) launched Nov. 22, 2005

• Xbox One (the third console, despite having "One" in the name) launched Nov. 22, 2013

• Xbox One S (a smaller Xbox One with very minor internal differences) launched Aug. 2, 2016

• Xbox One X (a more powerful Xbox One that is nonetheless still the same console) launched Nov. 7, 2017

• Xbox Series S (the true successor to the Xbox One, without 4K support or a disc drive) launched Nov. 10, 2020

• Xbox Series X (also the successor to Xbox One, but with more horsepower and a disc drive) launched Nov. 10, 2020

It's easier to think of "Xbox Series" as an all-encompassing name for the current generation of Xbox consoles, with S and X being different models of the same device. The Series S is cheaper, but also slightly less powerful and lacks a disc drive. The Series X is more expensive, but you get maximum graphical fidelity and the ability to use discs.

The next one should just be called "Xbox 5" so it's easier for everyone.

The 15-second "Emio" horror game trailer has freaked people out, as a curveball from the usually cute and adorable Nintendo.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 11 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for July 11

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, July 11, 2024:

AcrossPart of a cherry you shouldn't eat

• The answer is stem.

"Detour" sign feature

• The answer is arrow.

Depart

• The answer is leave.

Nail polish brand that sounds like two letters of the alphabet

• The answer is Esse.

Part of a pomegranate you should eat

• The answer is seed.

DownShopper's excuse to "save money"

• The answer is sale.

Head lock?

• The answer is tress.

Wipe, as a memory card

• The answer is erase.

Common date night activity

• The answer is movie.

Fast-growing plant

• The answer is weed.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

TL;DR: The CISSP Security and Risk Management training bundle is on sale for £23.31 (reg. £329.81) through July 21 and can help prepare you for top security certifications.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shutterstock The CISSP Security & Risk Management Training Bundle £23.31 at the Mashable Shop
£329.81 Save £306.50 Get Deal

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, businesses and organisations need professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect their assets. For those aiming to excel in the field of cybersecurity, this CISSP Security and Risk Management course bundle offers a comprehensive home-learning package designed to prepare you for the industry’s most recognised certification, the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

The CISSP Security and Risk Management training bundle is on sale for £23.31 (reg. £329.81) until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

This bundle includes eight advanced classes, with each course covering a domain to help you prepare from the comfort of your own home (or office). Domain 1 takes you through security and risk management and is one of the most important ones to master, as it covers the foundations of what's to come.

You'll also go through advanced, multi-lesson courses that cover asset security, security engineering, communications and network security, identity and asset management, and security and asset testing.

Domain 7 teaches you all about security operations, which is the backbone that ensures an organisation’s ongoing protection against threats. This course dives deep into the operational aspects of security, teaching critical topics such as incident response and understanding, complying with investigations, and disaster recovery planning, testing, and implementation.

Security in the Software Development Life Cycle (Domain 8) is another popular course that helps you understand, design, engineer, and manage your business's security posture. It focuses on both current and emerging tech and best practices.

Our digital landscape is constantly evolving, and so are the threats it faces. This bundle can help you gain advanced skills and knowledge needed to stay current in the cybersecurity field.

This CISSP Security and Risk Management training bundle is on sale for £23.31 (reg. £329.81) through July 21.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Vekic vs. Paolini in Wimbledon 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Italian dynamo Jasmine Paolini narrowly missed out on winning the French Open, but now the No. 7 seed has a real shot at winning Wimbledon.

Paolini decisively beat Emma Navarro in the quarter final, but Paolini will have to show the same dominance against Donna Vekic to advance past this semi-final.

Vekic is in the Wimbledon semi-final for the very time. The unseeded Croatian has a chance to make her own piece of Wimbledon history. She'd be only the second unseeded woman to reach the final.

If you want to watch Vekic vs. Paolini in Wimbledon 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Vekic vs. Paolini?

Vekic and Paolini will meet in the semi final of Wimbledon 2024 women's singles. The match will take place on July 11 from 8.30 a.m. ET / 1.30 p.m. BST.

How to watch Vekic vs. Paolini in Wimbledon 2024 for free

Wimbledon 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer, including the semi-final matchup between Vekic and Paolini.

BBC iPlayer is a free streaming platform that's geo-blocked outside of the UK. But anyone can access BBC iPlayer, no matter where you are around the world, by signing up for a VPN. VPNs are clever tools that can obscure your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in the UK, allowing you to sidestep any geo-restrictions and access BBC iPlayer from any country.

Live stream Wimbledon 2024 for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2024 from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free use. They require an upfront fee or subscription. But the top VPN providers usually have incentive deals like free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage offers. you can unblock the BBC iPlayer without spending anything in the long run. This will give you time to stream the remaining Wimbledon 2024 matches before claiming back your money.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is at the discounted price $99.95 — a total saving of 49%. As part of this plan you'll also get a bonus three months at no extra cost, a year of unlimited cloud backup, and an attractive 30-day money-back guarantee. Be sure not to miss it. This deal is available for a limited time only.

Live stream Vekic vs. Paolini in Wimbledon 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Rybakina vs. Krejcikova in Wimbledon 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022 and another title is almost in the Kazakhstani's grasp. Rybakina defeated Elina Svitolina in straight sets to reach this semi-final, but the No. 4 seed haves to beat Barbora Krejcikova to advance further.

On paper, this semi-final is Rybakina's game for the taking. But Krejcikova has done well to this point, playing an excellent defensive game.

The 28-year-old Czech is the No. 31 seed — what a story it would be if she could knock out the top-ranked player in the women's singles and reach the final for the first time.

If you want to watch Rybakina vs. Krejcikova in Wimbledon 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Rybakina vs. Krejcikova?

Rybakina and Krejcikova will meet in the semi final of Wimbledon 2024 women's singles. The match will take place on July 11 from 9.45 a.m. ET / 2.45 p.m. BST.

How to watch de Rybakina vs. Krejcikova in Wimbledon 2024 for free

Wimbledon 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer, including the semi-final matchup between Rybakina and Krejcikova.

BBC iPlayer is a free streaming platform that's geo-blocked outside of the UK. But anyone can access BBC iPlayer, from any country around the world, by signing up for a VPN. VPNs are clever tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server within the UK, helping unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere around the globe.

Live stream Wimbledon 2024 for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2024 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free use. They require an upfront fee or subscription. But the top VPN services usually have generous deals such as free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By signing up to these offers. you'll be able to unblock the BBC iPlayer without losing any cash in the long run. This will give you more than enough time to stream the final Wimbledon 2024 fixtures before claiming back any initial investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is at the sale price $99.95, which gives you a total saving of 49%. As part of this plan you'll also get a bonus three months for free, a year of free unlimited cloud backup, and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. But don't miss it. This deal is available for a limited time only.

Live stream Rybakina vs. Krejcikova in Wimbledon 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

It's time for the next fixture of the WNBA, and this time Chicago Sky and New York Liberty go head to head. It's set to be a great game, and not one basketball fans are going to want to miss.

If you want to watch the Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty?

Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on July 12. This fixture takes place at the Barclays Center in New York.

How to watch Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty for free

Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscribed to tune in. You can watch the WNBA for free by using a 30-day trial of Prime Video in the U.S.

Fans from outside the U.S. will need to use a VPN to watch the WNBA for free on Prime Video. However, this process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

5. Watch Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the WNBA on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select WNBA fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty in the WNBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 11's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A brief, surprise appearance in a piece of media.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters repeat.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle...

CAMEO.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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