Following Microsoft's extensive layoff of approximately 9,000 employees, Blizzard has been affected, leading to the winding down of development on its mobile tower defense game, Warcraft Rumble. While Blizzard will not completely abandon the game, it will stop creating new content and focus only on regular in-game events and bug fixes. Warcraft Rumble, launched in 2023 after nine years of development, struggled to meet expectations and achieve sustainable success despite efforts to incorporate player feedback. This pause in development places Warcraft Rumble alongside other Blizzard games like Starcraft II and Heroes of the Storm, which are in development stasis. Additionally, Xbox has cancelled the Rare-developed Everwild, the Perfect Dark remake, and closed The Initiative studio responsible for the remake.

Laptop Mag is closing down after almost 35 years of providing detailed information on laptops and technology. The decision was announced by Faisal Alani, global brand director at Future PLC, the owner of Laptop Mag, following a review of their long-term strategy. Founded in 1991 as a print guide, Laptop Mag transitioned to digital-only content in 2013 after being acquired by TechMedia Network, and later Future PLC acquired it through Purch. The shutdown comes shortly after the closure of AnandTech, another tech site owned by Future PLC. The availability of Laptop Mag’s archives post-shutdown remains uncertain.

The MLS Season Pass offers fans full access to this summer's All-Star Game and the Leagues Cup tournament, now at a discounted rate. Major League Soccer's 2025 season is underway, and Apple has slashed the price to $49 for new and returning subscribers, half off the usual cost. Apple TV Plus subscribers benefit even more, securing the pass for just $39 with an additional $10 discount. This pass streams every MLS game live in 1080p without regional blackouts, including playoffs and Sunday Night Soccer, plus MLS 360—a show with live highlights, analysis, and interviews. Subscribers can share with up to five family members and watch on numerous devices. Remember to cancel before auto-renewal to avoid higher charges after the promotion ends.

Sonos has reduced the price of its refurbished Era 100 smart speaker to $119, down from the usual $199, marking the lowest price for this popular model. The Era 100 is Sonos' most affordable in-home smart speaker, featuring stereo audio, line-in, and Bluetooth support, along with improved physical controls and enhanced sound quality with two tweeters and a larger midwoofer. Certified refurbished by Sonos with a one-year warranty, this deal offers a great value for those looking to expand their multiroom wireless speaker setup. Additionally, Sonos is discounting the refurbished Move 2 speaker to $269, and there are other tech deals available on devices like the Elgato Stream Deck Neo and the original Google Pixel Fold.

Grammarly announced its plan to acquire the popular email app Superhuman, aiming to expand its presence in the email productivity space where it already revises over 50 million emails weekly. This acquisition provides Grammarly with its own email app to better showcase its AI-driven tools. The company envisions evolving into a multi-product AI productivity platform featuring numerous intelligent, task-specific agents for various professional tasks like communication, sales, support, and marketing. Grammarly's ambition is to allow users to work with multiple AI agents simultaneously within their email environment, which remains central to productivity for many professionals. Having acquired the productivity startup Coda recently, Grammarly continues to enhance its AI capabilities under the leadership of new CEO Shishir Mehrotra. The company's long-term success will depend on its ability to compete with AI leaders like OpenAI and Google in the agentic AI arena.

Amazon's Kindle lineup offers a range of e-readers varying from entry-level models to advanced devices like the Kindle Scribe with a stylus and note-taking capabilities. The 2024 Kindle models include the basic Kindle, Kindle Kids, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Kids, Kindle Scribe, and the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, each with unique features such as waterproofing, kid-friendly content, wireless charging, and color displays. While some deals are currently available, Amazon Prime Day on July 8th promises significant discounts especially on devices like Kindle Scribe and Kindle Kids. Current prices often reflect full retail, but bundles with covers or chargers offer savings. Ad-supported versions offer a lower price point with occasional ads on the lock screen. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft Signature Edition provide premium options with extra storage, wireless charging, and color E-Ink display ideal for comics.

Senate Republicans have passed a comprehensive spending bill that poses significant challenges for renewable energy development in the US. The bill tightens eligibility for tax incentives introduced in 2022, requiring solar and wind projects to begin construction within one year or be operational by 2027 to qualify. While a controversial excise tax on solar and wind projects linked to foreign supply chains was removed, the bill still reduces support for renewables, energy efficiency programs, and electric vehicle tax credits. The legislation, part of former President Trump's agenda, includes cuts to Medicaid and food assistance and increased funding for immigration enforcement. Critics argue the bill undermines efforts to boost clean energy, especially in Republican districts, potentially raising energy costs and job losses amid growing electricity demand driven by AI, manufacturing, and electric vehicles.

T-Mobile's Ultra Mobile, an international-focused MVNO on its network, has increased its data caps and enhanced international perks without any price hikes for both new and existing customers. The $39/month plan now offers 24GB of data, up from 15GB, plus 5GB usable in Mexico before roaming fees apply. The $59/month unlimited plan includes $20 in international calling and data credits, 25GB mobile hotspot data, and additional international minutes and texts or roaming data. Ultra Mobile differentiates itself from other T-Mobile MVNOs and major carriers by providing more international calling and texting perks, including free calls to multiple countries and support for Wi-Fi calling to improve call quality even in areas with weak local coverage.

In recent years, the Android smartwatch market has significantly expanded, offering diverse options for users. Leading the pack for Samsung users is the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, noted for its rotating bezel, enhanced battery life, and larger display. Non-Samsung Android users might prefer the Google Pixel Watch 3, which introduces new fitness features, brighter displays, and deeper Google integrations. Alternatives include the OnePlus Watch 2, Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5, Withings ScanWatch Light, Garmin Venu 3S, and the budget-friendly Amazfit Active 2. These watches vary in features like battery life, GPS capabilities, health tracking, and smart functionalities. Buyers should consider the Wear OS version, compatibility with their phone, and specific needs such as fitness tracking or hybrid smartwatch features. Each watch caters to different preferences, from rugged outdoor options to sleek hybrid designs, ensuring that Android users have more choices than ever.

Google has introduced an update to Google Home that simplifies managing household control over smart home devices. The new feature allows users to assign "Admin" and "Member" roles, where Admins have full control over devices, services, and users, while Members have limited basic controls. Admins can also grant Members additional privileges such as settings and activity access. Additionally, adding a child under 13 to the Home app is now more straightforward through Family Link integration, allowing the child to be added as a Member by default. This update streamlines the previous complex process of adding a child's voice and access to a smart home.