Half-Life 2 celebrated its 20th anniversary last week, with Valve releasing a hefty update to the original game alongside a two-hour documentary featuring interviews and a peek at never-before-seen footage and concept art from the games development.As a longtime fan of the series who considers Half-Life 2 one of my most formative experiences playing games, the anniversary has me feeling some type of way: a bittersweet nostalgia for a bygone era of PC gaming and the community of aspiring artists, designers, and modders that sprang up around it. Half-Life 2 was the first game I played that inspired me to know more not just about the people who created it, but about how games are even made in the first place. With that said, I must admit my love for the game has waned somewhat in the decades since its release.For as much as I initially fell in love with the game for its sense of mystery and intrigue, theres just no more mystery in it left for me. Ive turned over every rock, scoured every surface, and hungrily completed every possible achievement in Half-Life 2 and its episodic follow-ups some before Steam achievements even existed! Which is why the user-created mod series Minerva: Metastasis remains not only my favorite take on the Half-Life universe, but one of my favorite games full stop. More than 17 years since I first played it, Im still utterly enthralled by its sense of eerie mystery and alien menace. And with the recent anniversary update to Half-Life 2, which includes both Half-Life 2: Episode One and Two, now is as perfect a time as any to play it.Released between 2005 and 2007 as an episodic series of mods to Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One, Minerva: Metastasis was developed by Adam Foster, a web developer and hobbyist designer who gained notoriety among the Half-Life modding scene for Someplace Else, a short single-player campaign released in 2002 and set entirely in Xen the hostile alien dimension that serves as the setting for Half-Lifes finale.After collaborating on several other modding projects that fell apart due to an overabundance of ambition, Foster decided on a different approach for his next project, one that made the most of preexisting assets to create an original single-player story released in episodic installments. The aim isnt to replace as much game content as possible, Foster said in an interview with CVG in 2006. Instead, its to tell my own, apocryphal story set in the Half-Life 2 universe, and to actually release something for the public to play.Minerva opens with your character, an unnamed protagonist clad in an HEV suit, unceremoniously dropped on the shore of a mysterious island bunker in the Baltic Sea fortified by the Combine, the multidimensional antagonists of Half-Life 2. The game doesnt waste any time explaining whats happening; youre pelted by Combine gunfire from the moment you set foot on the beach. Before you can even get your bearings, you hear the chirp of a dial-up modem as a timestamped message scrolls across the top-left corner of your screen, commanding you to run up the side of the beach and take cover.Circling around the opposite end of the beach, you receive another message from your mysterious, would-be benefactor. I am your Athena, you are my bastard Perseus, and our Medusa for today is this island. If you couldnt already tell, the messages sender, known alternatively as Minerva, is a foul-mouthed megalomaniac with a penchant for mythological metaphors. Not much else is known about them initially, aside from the obvious fact that theyre the closest thing you have to a friend on an island overrun with posthuman stormtroopers ready, willing, and eager to ventilate you on sight. With no other choice, you charge ahead at the behest of this strange ally with opaque intentions to unearth the secrets of this compound, why the Combine are here, and how the answer to both those questions might connect to the broader Half-Life universe.Minerva: Metastasis isnt like a lot of other mods of its era, in that it, well, actually prioritizes its writing. Inspired by Bungies sci-fi shooter Marathon, as well as the Cortana Letters ARG created to promote Halo: Combat Evolved, the bulk of Minervas story is conveyed entirely through text messages sent by the players unseen companion. The tone and style of Minervas writing is heavily indebted to the work of the late Scottish sci-fi author Iain M. Banks, who Foster has praised for a style of writing that hides huge amounts of information in slightly ambiguous sentences that require keen-eyed readings to fully parse the true weight of their meaning.The character of Minerva, whose nature and motivations are gradually revealed over the course of the game, is where Fosters strengths as a storyteller really shine. Initially an aloof, taciturn taskmaster who delights in constantly thrusting you into mortal peril as readily as she chides you for not heeding her precise instructions, Minerva gradually drops her guard as the plot unfolds, revealing her to be as much a victim of circumstances beyond her control as the protagonist themself. Before you ask, no: She is not an artificial intelligence, nor is she quite what you would conventionally describe as human. Shes well, something else. A secret third thing, if you will. Minerva is a prime example of Fosters layered approach to writing that gestures toward answers without outright stating them. For me, an essential quality of any enduring creative work is a degree of interpretative ambiguity, and the story of Minerva: Metastasis more than qualifies in that respect.Minervas level design is yet another reason why it stands head and shoulders above other mods of its time and even arguably Half-Life 2 itself. Where Half-Life 2s levels were designed to be gameplay-friendly environments first and architecturally plausible locations second, if at all, Fosters approach to designing Minervas levels was almost the exact opposite: creating believable environments with correctly proportioned structures and areas first before implementing gameplay later.Instead of relying on horizontally sprawling, immense maps that stress the Source engines area capabilities to its max, Minervas environments are small but incredibly dense, guiding the player through multiple pathways that incentivize them to circle back and explore previously unexplored routes, making the maximum use of each levels potential before proceeding downward into the labyrinthine depths of the islands interior. Combined with carefully choreographed enemy placements and intuitive environmental puzzles, Minerva delivers a moment-to-moment experience thats as propulsively challenging as it is narratively engaging.As if that werent enough, Foster went so far as to create tons of assorted ephemera outside the game that offer more depth to his apocryphal take on Half-Life. The mods website contains additional messages written by Minerva herself, as well as other documents and emails, that not only offer more details about the character, but enmesh her significance more deeply into the events prior to Half-Life and Half-Life 2.While not necessary to grasp the plot of the game, I nonetheless highly recommend reading through the site if you, like me, appreciate deftly written world-building through epistolary fiction. Technology and violence are a girls best friends; power is eternal delight is a line thats lived rent-free in the back of my mind for almost two decades now.Foster had initially planned on two other chapters of the story, with the second installment, Minerva: Out of Time, set in a snow-capped coastal town with a semi-open-world design inspired by 2007s STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl. However, those plans promptly went out the window when Foster announced hed been hired by Valve shortly after Minerva: Metastasis release, initially to work on the companys then in-development Half-Life 2: Episode Three before moving on to work on Left 4 Dead and Portal 2 following that games indefinite postponement.Theres still a part of me, to this day, that would happily take either a new, Valve-sanctioned Minerva or Minvera-inspired game over Half-Life 3 at this point. Given the frankly infinitesimal likelihood of either scenario bearing out, Im just happy to be able to replay the game after all these years and be left to imagine what other strange and perilous adventures Perseus and Minerva get up to after the credits roll. In the absence of answers, one must learn to be content enough to love the questions themselves.MINERVA: Metastasis is available to play for free on Steam.

In Wicked, wicked-witch-to-be Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is ostracized by her fellow Ozians because of her green skin and her magical powers. But on the set of a big-budget Hollywood studio production that leans heavily on visual effects instead of magic, she has her own viridescent foe: green-screen technology.Vivid green backdropsoften referred to as chroma green by digital artists are used in modern VFX processes, in part, because that tint is so far from the color range of human skin. That makes it far easier for visual effects artists to digitally select anything in an image thats chroma green and replace it, keying out the actors and placing them into new backgrounds. But if Elphaba stood in front of a green-screen background, it would likely erase her like her classmates want to, theoretically leaving a just-as-magical floating hat, eyes, dress, and cape standing in for the Wicked Witch of the West.As Industrial Light & Magic visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman told Polygon in an interview ahead of Wickeds release, Elphabas coloration made it necessary to revert to an earlier form of this kind of digital replacement technology.It immediately became a blue-screen show, Helman says. When youre doing prep, you have to acquire all these screens. And so we knew that we had [to use] blue screen.Helman, whose credits in visual effects range from fantastical movies like Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones to less visible work on Martin Scorseses The Irishman prefers to use these screens as little as possible: The reason why I dont like [this method] is because it changes the lighting by spilling all over the set, one color or the other. In his eyes, that would have sucked the life out of one of Wickeds most elaborate musical numbers, where prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) leads Galinda/Glinda (Ariana Grande) and others in a cheery song about how Lifes more painless / for the brainless.For instance, in scenes like Dancing Through Life in the library, it could have been a blue-screen set, because all the backgrounds were put in there, Helman says. But I worked with Alice Brooks, the director of photography, just to say, If were thinking that were exposing for the inside, and the outside is going to be blooming, lets just light it white, and lets deal with extracting the actors and putting backgrounds differently, because then the white light is going to help us in having the true meaning of what it means to be in a set like that.The contrast between the bright white light Brooks and Helman wanted for that scene and the blue light that digital-friendly backdrops would have spread across the sequence is part of the frustration Helman often sees on movie sets, where different needs for a shot can come into conflict. If you actually go historically to the beginning of green- or blue-screen photography, its because in visual effects, we like to separate everything, and we love to have control over everything, he says. But the director also wants to have control, and the production designer wants to have control.Even with all the preparation Helman, director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), and the rest of the filmmaking team put into the project, it wasnt until they were on set that they discovered how avoiding an Elphaba green-screen clash meant running into another problem.Until we started shooting in Shiz [the university in Oz], we [hadnt] realized that everybody was wearing blue, Helman laughed.

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Shazam has mastered the art of instant song recognition, creating a UX that feels magical with just one tap. Discover how Shazams design taps into our curiosity and love for quick answers, giving users that satisfying moment of discovery right when they need itmost.Source: Simply Life by HoneyMadisonWeve all been there. Sitting in a public place, a song begins to play. The melody feels oddly familiar, tugging at your memory, but you just cant put a name to it. The frustration buildsyou need to know the title.Now.Enter, Shazam. You reach for your phone, tap a button, and Shazam delivers the answer in seconds. This almost effortless act of identifying a song feels like sorcery, but its not. Its the result of meticulous UX design, where the technology is invisible and the experience is seamless. From its minimalist interface to its lightning-fast recognition, Shazam satisfies our innate curiosity and need for instant gratification. Lets dive into the psychology and design principles behind this beloved app, and uncover what makes it a UX masterpiece.Shazams Core UX PrinciplesBy prioritising simplicity, speed, and accessibility, Shazam ensures that every user interaction is frictionless and rewarding. These principles form the foundation of a UX design that feels intuitive, reliable, and above allmagical.SimplicityAt its core, Shazam embodies the principles of less is more. The apps design is strikingly minimalistic, with a single central button that dominates the interface. Unlike other apps cluttered with features and menus, Shazam makes identifying a song as easy as pressing a button. This one-tap approach eliminates any ambiguity about what the user needs to do. This simplicity is not just aesthetic, its functional. By focusing on this one primary action, Shazam reduces cognitive load and ensures users can instantly understand how to use the app quickly, without instructions and onboarding.Shazam app main screen, with the Tap to Shazam feature as the key focus of the interface.SpeedIn todays ever-evolving digital world, speed is central to a satisfying user experience, based on our human desire for instant gratification. Users dont just want answers, they want them fast. Shazams ability to deliver song results in a matter of seconds is a testament to its technical efficiency and design optimisation. Delays could break the magic of the moment, so the apps speed is critical to itssuccess.AccessibilityShazam goes beyond being a standalone app. Throughout the years, it has integrated into a wide range of platforms, from iOS and Android to voice assistants like Siri and Alexa. Shazam also incorporates accessibility features like voice commands (e.g., Hey Siri, Shazam this song). This accessibility ensures users can access Shazams functionality wherever they are, whether its through their phone, smartwatch, or even directly through music streaming apps. The clear and intuitive design is visually friendly, using large touch targets and high contrast to accommodate users with various visual impairments.Sync to Spotify popup, enabling seamless integration and easy access for later retrieval.Travelling without data and having a Shazam moment? No worries. Shazams offline mode demonstrates a thoughtful approach, allowing users to save songs to identify later, even when they dont have an internet connection. Users also can be notified of the identified song, once they become connected again. This feature ensures that no moment of curiosity goes unsatisfied, regardless of connectivity. Dont forget, the devil works hard but Shazam works hardereven in the background.The call to action changes when the device is offline, highlighting the functionality.Designing for instant gratificationHumans are hardwired to seek instant gratification: a psychological phenomenon where we prioritise immediate rewards over delayed ones. In a world where patience is scarce and convenience and speed are paramount, Shazam thrives by leveraging this innate desire. The app transforms the process of identifying a song into a moment of discovery and delight, with its design fueling that satisfying aha! moment with both speed and elegance. When we experience immediate rewards, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure and reinforces behaviours that lead to those rewards. In this case, the act of usingShazam.One-tap interactionThis one-button, one-tap design isnt just intuitiveits empowering. By stripping away complexity, Shazam enables users to feel in control of the process while requiring minimal effort. The result? Instant engagement and satisfaction.By removing barriers like navigating menus or dealing with complex settings, Shazam ensures users can act on their impulses immediately. The design also plays into choice overload theory, which shows that too many options can cause decision paralysis. Shazams focused interface eliminates unnecessary decisions, making the act of identifying a song almost reflexive. In UX design, mitigating choice overload involves simplifying user journeys, often using strategies like progressive disclosurerevealing information or options incrementally. This approach reduces cognitive load, enabling users to focus on fewer choices at a time, leading to more satisfying decision-making experiences.Real-time feedback: anticipation anddelightWhen users tap the Shazam button, theyre met with dynamic feedback: sound wave animations and a listening status. This immediate response is crucial because it reassures users that their action is being processed, reducing anxiety about whether the app isworking.This leans into a theory of learning known as operant conditioning, which states that behaviour that is followed by pleasant consequences such as rewards, is more likely to be repeated. The brief waiting period between the moment of curiosity and the aha! moment builds anticipation, making the final result even more satisfying.Shazams design also leverages the emotional journey of anticipation and resolution. The listening animation creates suspense, while the accurate identification delivers a delightful moment. This mirrors what psychologists call the peak-end rule, where people judge an experience largely based on its most intense moment (the aha! moment) and the ending (seeing the result). Shazam carefully crafts both moments to leave a lasting positive impression.Cured curiosityThe act of resolving uncertainty and curiosity triggers a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. In this case: what the hell is that song? Shazam takes this a step further by enriching the reward. Instead of just providing a song title, it offers additional context like artist details, lyrics, music video and streaming links. This layered reward system enhances overall satisfaction, encouraging users to stay engaged with the applonger.A triumphant Shazam moment, revealing the song info and opening up a world of musical exploration.Personalisation for buildingloyaltyOne of Shazams most effective tools for retaining users is its History feature, recently renamed to My Music. This functionality allows users to revisit past identifications, transforming Shazam from a single-use app into a personal music archive. By enabling users to explore and remember their discoveries, the feature provides both practical and psychological benefits.Revisiting past discoveriesThe My Music feature acts as a digital record of every song a user identifies. This is especially valuable for music lovers who might forget a track they heard in passing or want to compile a playlist of their finds. When users review their history, it reinforces their connection to the identified tracks, helping them remember new music they might want to explore further. By storing these musical moments, Shazam gives users a reason to return to the app, building loyalty overtime.Accessing the My Music feature labelled by date, with the ability to explore and sort by musical characteristics.You can even sort these moments by artist, mood, genre, decade and more. Even more moments to returnto!Memory and nostalgiaThis feature also taps into powerful psychological drivers: memory and nostalgia. Music is deeply tied to personal experiences, often evoking vivid memories and emotions. Revisiting old songs or moments tied to a discovery can evoke a pleasant sense of nostalgia, enhancing user satisfaction and encouraging repeat usage. By providing almost what functions as a musical diary, Shazam allows users to relive specific moments associated with songs theyve identified. This emotional connection fosters a sense of attachment to theapp.CurationA more recent evolution is around curation, giving users personalised music recommendations. By leveraging users Shazam history, the app creates tailored playlists that reflect individual tastes, bridging the gap between music identification and ongoing music discovery. This allows users to move seamlessly from identifying a song they love to exploring similar tracks within the app or integrated platforms like Spotify or AppleMusic.A Shazam-curated playlist linked to Spotify, based on my most recent Shazam. A nod to the Spotify radiofeature?This taps into the growing demand for personalised experiences in digital products. Shazam uses the data it collects from user interactions to offer curated playlists, turning music discovery into a continuous journey rather than a single-use interaction.Concerts and liveeventsAs seen in the My Music screen, lies a new feature: concerts. It is designed to enhance user engagement by connecting music discovery to live experiences. This feature provides personalised recommendations for nearby concerts, using a users Shazam history and location data. Powered by Bandsintown, it offers insights into tour dates and shows tailored to individual preferences.The new concerts feature in Shazam, connecting sponataneous discovery with liveevents.Beyond just concert discovery, Shazam integrates features like saving events, setting reminders for upcoming performances, and accessing exclusive content. Users can view set lists, behind-the-scenes videos, tour photos, and download artist-themed wallpapers or watch faces. This transforms Shazam into more than a song-recognition toolit becomes a bridge to real-world music experiences. This addition reflects Shazams broader mission to deepen user engagement by creating a holistic music ecosystem that combines digital convenience with live event immersion.Satisfying impulses: A habit-forming experienceBy consistently delivering quick rewards, Shazam fosters a habit loop. According to the Hook habit formation model, every habit consists of a trigger, action, reward, and investment. The concept was introduced to describe how digital products can retain customers by getting them to form habits, through developing an emotional association with the product. For Shazam, the loop lookslike:Trigger: Hearing a song you want to identify.Action: Tapping the Shazambutton.Reward: Getting the songsdetails.Investment: Saving identified songs to revisitlater.This cycle strengthens over time, turning Shazam into the go-to app for music discovery. By addressing our need for instant gratification and crafting an emotionally resonant experience, the app transforms a simple tool into something that feels intuitive, rewarding, and even addictive.The takeawaysShazams enduring success is a testament to its thoughtfully designed user experience. For UX designers, researchers and product teams alike, the app offers valuable lessons on how to create intuitive, engaging, and habit-forming digital products. Here are the key takeaways:Prioritise simplicity to reduce cognitive load: Sometimes less is more. Shazams minimalist interface demonstrates the power of a single clear call to action. By focusing on one core functionsong identificationthe app eliminates unnecessary complexity, reducing cognitive load and making the experience intuitive for users of all tech skilllevels.Leverage the power of instant gratification: Shazam capitalises on our innate desire for quick results. From dynamic feedback during processing to near-instant song identification, the app satisfies user curiosity and delivers a dopamine-fueled reward.Design for anticipation and delight: The suspense created during the listening phase and the joy of the aha! moment are emotional drivers that enhance user satisfaction. Incorporating subtle, anticipatory feedback into your products design can make interactions more engaging and memorable.Create features that build loyalty: Shazams My Music history feature and curated playlists are examples of how personalisation deepens user engagement. By giving users a way to revisit and organise their discoveries, Shazam becomes more than a single-use app. Consider how your product can provide long-term value, turning one-time interactions into ongoing relationships.Integrate seamlessly across ecosystems: Shazams integration with various platforms and voice assistants allows it to extend its functionality, creating a seamless user experience across multiple touchpoints. Overall, this enhances not only convenience and usability but also accessibility for those with impairments.Solve real-world problems thoughtfullyFeatures like offline mode and concert recommendations address user pain points while expanding the apps value proposition. Focus on understanding and solving your audiences unique needs, even in situations where they face constraints like lack of connectivity.Sources: Present bias: how instant gratification impacts your long-term goals The Psychology of Instant Gratification: How to Rewire Your Brain for Long-Term Happiness Why do we have a harder time choosing when we have moreoptions? Psychological Triggers in UX/UI Design: Navigating Biases andBehavior Operant Conditioning: What It Is, How It Works, andExamples What Is the PeakEnd Rule? How to Use ItSmartly The Hook Model: Retain Users by Creating Habit-Forming ProductsHow Shazams UX delivers instant gratification was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Apple products can be pretty hard to score a good deal on, and youll often have to settle on a minor discount if youre going to get a discount at all. But Amazons current sale on the 10th Generation iPad is markedly different. Its combining an instant 20% discount and a $29.01 coupon to bring the price down to just $250. Considering that the tablet was $449 when it launched, this new deal price gives it a huge bump in value. Apple iPad (2022) $279.00 at Amazon $349.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $279.00 at Amazon $349.00 Save $70.00 The 10th Generation iPad may be a couple years old, but it still has plenty going for it. The A14 Bionic chip inside is no slouch, and it proved quite capable in our friends over at PCMags testing. For casual browsing, reading, streaming, and drawing, it ought to be plenty. Apple isnt one to quickly leave its products behind when it comes to software updates either, so it should last for a good while yet.The iPad offers up a sharp 10.9-inch display, and it supports the 1st Generation Apple Pencil. With Apples stylus, you can jot down notes or get creative with the wide variety of drawing and painting applications available to the tablet. Its also possible to pair the tablet with a keyboard folio to use it in lieu of a laptop. The tablet also offers quality cameras on the front and back that you can use for video calls or photography. And it includes a Touch ID button on the edge for quick, secure logins. The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) $21.99 (List Price $49.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) $99.99 (List Price $259.99) Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop $449.99 (List Price $699.99) Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive $99.90 (List Price $124.99) Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $199.00 (List Price $349.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team

Black Friday is upon usit's basically a whole season now, not just a dayand the deals are rolling in. I'll keep updating this post with the best bargains on fitness equipment, but I've already found a ton of deep discounts on spin bikes, adjustable dumbbells, and more. (It's also worth checking out the deals on Garmin watches if you're looking for something to track your workouts.)Deals on Powerblock and Bowflex adjustable dumbbellsSeveral of my picks for the best adjustable dumbbells are on sale today. The Powerblock Elite EXP Stage 1, which goes from 5 to 50 pounds, is on sale for $299/pair at Amazon, normally $449or $199 for a single, at Walmart. Its Stage 2 and Stage 3 expansion kits are also on sale, both $142.90, down from $169. Each kit adds 20 pounds, so with both you can have a pair of 90 pound dumbbells. POWERBLOCK Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbell (2020 Model) $199.99 at Walmart $449.00 Save $249.01 Get Deal Get Deal $199.99 at Walmart $449.00 Save $249.01 The Bowflex SelectTech 552 are on sale for $379/pair, from a list price of $549. They sometimes go for a bit less than list price, but the sale price here is lower than I've seen it all year. Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbell (Single, 5-52.5lbs) $379.99 at Best Buy $429.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $379.99 at Best Buy $429.99 Save $50.00 Deals on Peloton and NordicTrack spin bikesPeloton has gotten into the habit of offering sweet deals on its bikes on all the major shopping holidays, so of course there's a nice Black Friday sale going. The basic model Bike is $1,295 (down from $1,445) and the fancier Bike+ is $1,995 (normally $2,495). Of the two, the Bike+ is the better sale compared to historical price data, but ultimately you should choose based on which fits your needs better. I have a guide here to help you decide between the Bike and the Bike+. Peloton Bike+ $1,995.00 at Amazon $2,495.00 Save $500.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1,995.00 at Amazon $2,495.00 Save $500.00 Peloton isn't the only game in town when it comes to higher-end spin bikes, though. NordicTrack's Commercial Studio Cycle is $1,274.98 (down from $1,499.99) for the S22i model. It has the same size screen as the Peloton Bike, a swiveling mount for the screen like the Bike+, and automatic resistance like the Bike+. (Like Peloton's offerings, it also requires a monthly subscription to access its digital featuresbut in this case, you'll pay $39/month rather than $44.) Nordictrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle $1,274.98 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $225.01 Get Deal Get Deal $1,274.98 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $225.01 Deals on Theragun and Hyperice massage gunsA massage gun is a great tool for whenever you feel like you'd enjoy being punched repeatedly, but therapeutically. (As I discovered when I tried one out, I do not enjoy thisbut many people do.) Some of the big brands have models on sale right now. The Hypervolt Go is $99 right now (normally $129) and it's available in both white and black. And the triangular Theragun Mini, normally $199, is now $149 or $159 depending on your color preference. Desert rose and black are the more inexpensive ones at the moment. TheraGun Mini Massage Gun - Handheld Deep Tissue Percussion Massage Gun & Compact Personal Massager for On-The-Go, Portable Muscle Pain Relief in Neck, Back, Leg, Hand & Shoulder (Desert Rose - 2.0) $149.00 at Amazon $199.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $149.00 at Amazon $199.00 Save $50.00 Deals on barbells, dumbbells, and other useful heavy thingsRogue Fitness is running a "Matte Black November" sale with discounts on a variety of items, some for limited times or with limited stock. One great deal that caught my eye (and which should be available through Cyber Monday) is the 15 kg Bella bar for $205 (normally $235). This is a 15 kilogram Olympic barbell, great for anyone who does Crossfit or olympic weightlifting, especially if you compete in the women's or youth divisions. (And if you're not clear on why there's a separate bar for women in these sports, I have a whole explainer here.) There are also bumper plates on sale from various retailers, and I'd like to highlight these basic 45-pound bumpers from GIKPAL. Bumpers are great for Olympic lifts, but also for deadlifts or anything else where you'd like to protect your floor and your ears a bit. These are now $116 for a pair, normally $179. GIKPAL 90lb 2-inch Olympic Bumper Plates, 10lb to 55lb Weights, High-Bounce Olympic Weight Plates with Colored Fleck-Rubber Weights Plates for Weight Lifting and Strength Training $116.99 at Walmart $179.99 Save $63.00 Get Deal Get Deal $116.99 at Walmart $179.99 Save $63.00

Microsoft says its working with Ubisoft to fix a problem with its latest Windows 11 update thats been crashing some games, and its put the updates release on pause for devices with those games in the meantime. Following users reports of issues after installing the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft confirmed this weekend that certain games may become unresponsive or display a black screen. The problem affects Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.Ubisoft has released a temporary fix for Star Wars Outlaws, but there still may be some issues, Microsoft says. To safeguard your Windows update experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on devices with these games installed, the company said on its support blog. These devices will not be offered to install Windows 11, version 24H2 via the Windows Update release channel. It goes on to say, We recommend that you do not attempt to manually update to version 24H2 using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the media creation tool until this issue has been resolved.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-24h2-update-is-crashing-some-ubisoft-games-215748241.html?src=rss

Itll soon be possible to replace the speakers in recent MacBook Pro models without having to replace the entire top case, as has long been the procedure. A memo seen by Macrumorsreportedly informed Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers this week that speakers will be available as standalone components for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 family of chips. A source also told the publication that this will be an option for repairs on earlier MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon as well.The change should make for a less expensive repair. Up until now, the process entailed replacing the whole top case, including the battery and other parts, which works out to be pretty costly. Its been that way since 2016. The repair manual with the new steps for speaker replacement is available online now from Apple Support. It may not necessarily be a simpler repair the guide shows a process thats rather involved but not having to also replace other parts like the battery just to change out the speakers should cut costs significantly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-is-changing-how-macbook-pro-speakers-are-replaced-and-it-could-make-repairs-cheaper-175356909.html?src=rss

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Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.