Latest News from Man of Many
Man of Many
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
Man of Many's Staff Favourites—7 June, 2025
By Dean Blake - News Published: 7 June 2025 |Last Updated: 5 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Happy long weekend everyone! Hopefully you're up to some fun and exciting things for the next few days, or are sitting at home playing with your brand-new Nintendo Switch 2. We're gearing up for some exciting stuff, with a few of our writers off on international trips for some exciting, secret things we can show off in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here are a few exciting things we can share now: a few of our favourite things from our personal collections, as well as a special message from one of Man of Many's co-founders. Enjoy! Blundstone #2446's Blundstone #2446's Beatrix Boon – Social Content Producer I took my Blundstone #2446's with me on a recent trip to New York, and at the time, it was a bit of a risk considering I hadn't worn them a bunch till then. But now I can't take them off! I've always been a sneaker person, but ever since breaking them in, they are genuinely more comfortable than my trainers. Between walking Brooklyn streets and navigating Manhattan subways, they held up beautifully — It was all-day comfort and classic style. Plus, the leather is wearing so nicely, I can tell they're gonna be with me for a long time to come. Safe to say, they've officially earned a permanent spot in my rotation. Favourite article: Chess GOAT Magnus Carlsen Perform All-Time Dummy Spit at Norway Tournament 'Elden Ring: Nightreign' | Image: FromSoftware Inc. Elden Ring: Nightreign is Kicking My Ass Dean Blake – Entertainment and Tech Journalist As someone who has spent hundreds of hours of his life dying repeatedly in most of From Software's dark fantasy games, Elden Ring: Nightreign feels very familiar, but also very different. It's effectively the same old Souls formula—a third-person action RPG with much of the gameplay dictated by how well you can manage your stamina bar when being pelted by an over-aggressive enemy—but with a much bigger focus on multiplayer and a rogue-like gameplay loop. You (and potentially two others) are dropped into the game's large, detailed map, and are given 2 in-game days to explore, collect weapons, power-up your chosen character, and get to the next major boss fight before the rains come and lay waste to the world. You're effectively avoiding the storm from Fortnite, only without slurp juice for safety. After surviving two nights, you're taken straight to the run-ending boss, and get rewards based on how well you do. Then, you do it all again. It's much faster than almost any other Souls-style game From has made, and reduces much of the RPG-elements in order to speed up decision making. You're not building out a custom character but are choosing an archetype (Strength-based Barbarian, or Magic-focused Witch, for example) and leaning into it wholeheartedly. It makes it both an easier game to recommend to newcomers, and way harder. Runs aren't too long, lasting about 40 minutes if everything goes well and you actually manage to beat whatever Nightlord you've chosen to take on. If you're like me though, you're probably spending 10-15 minutes solo grinding through the world before getting absolutely hammered by the first boss. The single player scaling isn't quite there yet, so bring some friends. Favourite Article: 'Ballerina' Review: Ana de Armas Blows the Door Off the 'John Wick' Universe When Robots Skip the Source – Don't Let AI Erase Independent Media Scott Purcell – Co-Founder With Agentic AI, AI tools and software absolutely taking over how we digest, disseminate and discover information, the world is truly changing at a rapid pace. Now enter Google's AI Mode that has launched in the USA and gone are the days of the 10 blue links. Now search is multi-modal, personalised and conversational. While that might be good for Google's bottom line, does make it much more difficult for publishers who've previously relied on traffic the resulting ad funding in order to keep their content free. Man of Many is not excluded from these impacts. Here at Man of Many we can feel the squeeze. Fewer clicks mean fewer resources and while we have plans in motion, every independent publisher ultimately lives or dies on community support, audience loyalty and not on algorithmic mercy. So we are asking, politely and with our best puppy-dog eyes, for a little help. It takes less time than brewing an instant coffee, yet it keeps real voices in your feed instead of bland copy-paste AI summaries that nobody needs. Pick one, pick seven, every bit counts: Favourite Article: Netflix Drops Trailers and Release Dates for the Biggest Titles Comings This Year
Man of Many
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
Marshall Steamrolls Into TV Audio With Its First-Ever Soundbar
By Jacob Osborn - News Published: 8 June 2025 |Last Updated: 6 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 3 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Undisputable masters of the amplifier, Marshall is dipping its toes in the TV audio category. And by 'dipping its toes,' we mean kicking the door open with both feet. So goes the new Heston 120, the brand's inaugural foray into the respective domain of modern soundbars. It draws upon six decades of experience and catches its stride at first attempt, combining superior engineering with inspired details to deliver the best of sound and style. Bring in wireless capability and you're getting a seamless sonic experience across TV and music alike. It's no secret that home entertainment systems have become micro-theatres unto themselves, making now a logical time for Marshall to expand upon its repertoire. The brand is already at the forefront of high-quality audio, and it jumps well ahead of the learning curve with its first soundbar. That is to say, the Heston 120 comes fully equipped with superlative specs, including 11 multi-facing drivers and built-in support for Dolby Atmos and DTS-X. Immersive sonics are all but guaranteed, complete with a rich and powerful low end. Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar | Image: Marshall Whether you're streaming shows, movies, or music, the Heston 120 offers wireless connectivity to TVs with HDMI eARC. For other external devices, the soundbar wirelessly integrates via HDMI pass-through, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It also features an RCA input to connect with analogue turntables and receivers. Various sound modes dial up the versatility factor and allow you to seek the ideal sonic template based on the medium. You can adjust the sound modes along with other controls on the unit itself or through an adjoining app, which works from anywhere in the home and even offers room calibration. The Heston 120 is pure Marshall in terms of design and aesthetic. This is a brand that forges ahead without losing a sense of heritage, hence the furled metal knobs ripped straight out of its iconic amplifiers. Additional details like the wrapped leather trims, brushed metal panel, and analogue-style control panel make for similarly inspired design choices. Under the skin, meanwhile, everything is 'tailored and engineered to have very specific roles to give you an optimal audio experience,' to quote Ed Camphor, Audio Technology and Tuning Lead at Marshall Group. More than a premium soundbar, the Heston 120 is also the first entry in a brand new product range. Later this year, Marshall will introduce a smaller Heston 60 Soundbar and a Heston Sub 200 subwoofer. The audio brand continues to adapt to emerging standards and trends as if it hasn't aged a day since breaking onto the scene all those decades ago. And for that, we're thankful.
Man of Many
a day ago
- Automotive
- Man of Many
‘Mini Touareg': 2026 Volkswagen Tayron 7-Seater Revealed for Australia
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 8 June 2025 |Last Updated: 5 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. New 7-seater Tayron slots below the Touareg and above the Tiguan Available with three engine options and three trim levels Range-topping 195TSI R-Line develops 195kW of power Volkswagen finally has a car to compete with the segment-leading Hyundai Santa Fe. Meet the new Tayron 7-seater SUV, which is essentially a Tiguan with a stretched wheelbase designed to replace the previous generation Tiguan Allspace. However, compared to the Allspace, there is crucially a lot more space in the Tayron and a plethora of new technology aside from some pretty aggressive styling on the exterior as well. Billed as the 'Mini Touareg', the Tayron will come with a 5-seater 110TSI Life entry-level variant with a 110kW/250Nm turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine along with a FWD configuration. Meanwhile, up the range are the 150TSI Life, Elegance and the 195TSI R-Line trims, which come with a punchier 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 150kW for the Elegance trim and 195kW/400Nm for the flagship R-Line. Importantly, every model in the line-up comes with the Volkswagen staple 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, helping the R-Line iteration of the Tayron accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. We want to note that the Tayron is longer than the Allspace by about 58 mm, with an overall length of 4792 mm, putting it right up there next to the Touareg (4,902 mm) in terms of length. With the 3rd row folded, luggage space has also increased by 150 litres to 850 litres. Meanwhile, compared to the Tiguan, the Tayron is longer by 250 mm and has a stretched wheelbase by 110 mm. 2026 Volkswagen Tayron | Image: VW Looking at the different variants of the Tayron, we'll start with the 110TSI Life trim that has the smallest powertrain with 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque in a front-wheel drive configuration. However, standard equipment does include 18-inch 'Bologna' alloy wheels, keyless access with alarm, power tailgate, Area View 360-degree camera, Digital Cockpit Pro (widescreen driver display), 12.9-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, wireless App-Connect, wireless smartphone charging and DAB+ digital radio. Safety-wise, you get Travel Assist (with adaptive cruise control and Lane Assist for semi-autonomous and stop-and-go driving), Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring and Side Assist with rear traffic alert are also standard along with side exit warning, front cross-traffic assist, oncoming vehicle braking when turning with swerve support, Park Assist Plus (with semi-autonomous steering and throttle/braking to park), 9 airbags (including centre) and Dynamic Road Sign Assist. Step up to the 150TSI Life and you gain a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is also available with the Life trim, with 885 litres of luggage capacity thanks to a 5-seater layout. Towing performance is rated at 2,500kg braked. 2026 Volkswagen Tayron | Image: VW If you want a 7-seater layout, you'll want to check out the 150TSI Elegance, which adds in features like 19-inch 'Catania' alloy wheels, leather-appointed seat upholstery, front 'ergoActive' seats with power adjustment, heating, ventilation, memory, and massage, heated outer second row seats, heated steering wheel, LED Plus headlights with illuminated grille strip, LED tail-lights with illuminated centre strip, chrome roof rails and trim, and rear privacy glass. Options for the Elegance trim include the Sound & Vision package, where you get a head-up display, Harman Kardon premium audio, 15-inch Discover Pro Max navigation, HD Matrix LED headlights, Dynamic Light Assist and dynamic indicators at the rear. 2026 Volkswagen Tayron | Image: VW Last but not least, the sportier R-Line trim has the most power and visually too gets a more purposeful look courtesy 20-inch 'Leeds' alloy wheels, R-Line interior and exterior styling, progressive steering, 15.0-inch Discover Pro Max navigation, head-up display, Harman Kardon premium audio, HD Matrix LED headlights, Dynamic Light Assist, and dynamic indicators at the rear. Options for the R-Line include a Black Style package, which adds 20-inch 'York' alloy wheels, gloss black exterior mirrors, roof rails, roof design strip and R-Line front bumper, and interior design elements with a black/dark anodised finish. Both the 150TSI Elegance and 195TSI R-Line can also be specced with a panoramic sunroof. To be launched in September, the Tayron would be available in six colours: Pure White, Oyster Silver Metallic, Dolphin Grey Metallic, Night Shade Blue Metallic, Grenadilla Black Metallic, and Ultra Violet Premium Metallic. Pricing for the Tayron will be revealed closer to launch, but expect it to sit above the Tiguan, which starts from $44,990 plus on-road costs, and below the Touareg, which starts from $86,790 plus on-roads for the base 170TDI model.
Man of Many
a day ago
- Man of Many
Razer's Latest Product Release Unlocks the Potential for Infinite Gaming
By Jacob Osborn - News Published: 8 June 2025 |Last Updated: 6 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 3 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. 'For gamers, by gamers' is the mantra over at Razer, and their latest product drop abides. It goes by the name of HyperFlux V2 and takes the form of a dongle-free mat that charges your mouse while you play. Bring one into your arsenal to unlock new tiers of convenience and possibility, with the pad keeping your mouse at full charge as you game for hours on end, possibly forever. They might need to peel you out of your chair at the end of each session, but we still say it's worth it! The innovative Razer HyperFlux V2 wireless charging system is effortless by design. It comes in either a hard surface edition for low-friction gliding or a cloth surface edition for tighter control and pixel-precise swiping. Getting started is as simple as inserting a dedicated charging puck into the bottom of your mouse and instaling the latest firmware via Razer Synapse. All that's left to do is place the mouse on the mat, and you're ready to roll. Razer HyperFlux V2 Mouse Pad | Image: Razer Here's a quick rundown of the HyperFlux V2 and its core features: Puck & play auto-pairing with zero additional steps. Dongle-free mouse and keyboard connectivity. A built-in LED charging indicator that changes colours based on battery levels. An anti-slip rubber base with a grooved underside for improved stability. There's a good chance you're already using Razer products, making this one a no-brainer. Not only does it charge your mouse while you play, but it rounds out a wireless arsenal for unfettered gaming. Here's a list of compatible mice and keyboards: Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Gaming Mouse Basilisk V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse Cobra Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse Naga V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse DeathStalker V2 Pro Wireless Keyboard DeathStalker V2 Pro Tenkeyless Wireless Keyboard Razer HyperFlux V2 Mouse Pad | Image: Razer How can a wireless pad deliver infinite gaming when it needs to be recharged? One might ask. The answer is it can't. Hence, if you truly want to game forever, you'll need to connect the HyperFlux V2 to your PC for continuous charging. It's also worth noting that you don't need to insert the charging puck into your mouse to play wirelessly. However, it's only with the puck inserted that the mat can charge your mouse while you game. Are you ready to unlock the power of infinite gaming potential with zero dongles or cords? If so, Razer's HyperFlux V2 is the innovation you've been waiting for. Choose between the hard surface edition and cloth surface edition based on your particular gaming needs, and prepare yourself for endless immersion. Prices start at US$119.99. Game on, mate.
Man of Many
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
5 Things We Learned About the Next ‘James Bond' Game: 007 First Light
By Dean Blake - News Published: 7 June 2025 |Last Updated: 5 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min The Lowdown: 007 First Light | Image: IO Interactive Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. At a time that we've been waiting patiently for any news of when everybody's favourite secret agent will be making his next appearance on the big screen, Sony just went ahead and dropped a trailer for a brand new James Bond game. 007 First Light is a new take on the often reinterpreted character, clearly eschewing the book-and-film series' various canons to present a new origin story: one unique to this much younger version of Bond. Created by IO Interactive, the people behind the incredible Hitman series, 007 First Light looks particularly promising in a industry finally taking licensed games seriously. If you haven't seen the first trailer for the new James Bond game, check it out below. Looks pretty good, right? Well, there's a bit more packed in that 3 minutes that we can tease out with a bit of digging: so here's 5 things we learned about 007 First Light. 1. Bond has a Backstory As a rule, Bond's backstory is usually pretty muddy. He's a secret agent, after all, and tends to keep his history pretty close to his chest. First Light seems to be taking things pretty closely from Ian Fleming's original novels, with Bond joining the secret service following the deaths of his parents after a mountaineering accident. After a few years in the Navy, and a few too many run-ins with authority, Bond is headhunted by MI6 and begins his journey to become the infamous, charismatic agent we all know today. In First Light, we'll see that process play out and, in some ways, will get to determine what kind of agent this version of Bond is. 007 First Light | Image: IO Interactive 2. Free-Form Gameplay takes Centre Stage… Now, this may not be a surprise to those of us in the know given IO Interactive's pedigree, but 007 First Light is going to feature open-ended, mission-based gameplay. It's a third-person action-adventure, likely in a similar style to IO's Hitman series, where you'll be dropped into 'breathtaking locations' with a goal to accomplish, and decide yourself how you'll proceed. Is your James Bond a silent assassin, keeping to shadows and eliminating guards as they pass his hiding place? Or is he more of a 'shoot first, sneak later' kind of agent? Or, does he aim to keep the body-count low, using gadgets to infiltrate or his natural British charm to bluff his way past potential encounters? I'd honestly think it was just the kind of overpromising many developers are prone to do at a game's announcement, only to reel it back in as you get closer to release, but this is IO Interactive. If any developer can nail the kind of free-form infiltrating a game like this requires, it's the team behind Hitman. I'm very hopeful. 007 First Light | Image: IO Interactive 3. …but Narrative is a Star Player A focus on gameplay doesn't mean the game's story gets thrown to the wayside, though. In First Light, Bond will be tracking down a rogue agent—009, specifically—who, according to MI6, is a master manipulator with an end-game they likely won't see coming. Why send an unproven, unreliable wannabe agent to track down a skilled defector? If 009 is as intelligent as MI6 thinks, they probably know everything the other 00 agents will do to track them down and can avoid them, but Bond is an unknown, a wild card, and likely MI6's best chance at tracking its former agent down. While we don't have much idea of what to expect from the story of 007 First Light, it's clearly going to be a particularly cinematic one, with IO Interactive likely relishing the chance to write a more charismatic and talkative character (no shade to Agent 47, of course). 007 First Light | Image: IO Interactive 4. There are a Ton of Classic Bond Goodies in the Trailer Bond has always been tied to real-world products, from his signature appreciation of cars and watches (especially when they're deadly weapons in their own right) to his love of Vesper Martinis, shaken, not stirred. In the 3 minutes and 14 seconds of trailer footage seen so far, we spotted a whole bunch of Omega watches, including an unreleased model, as well as the fact the man himself is driving an Aston Martin again—probably the Aston Martin V8. These are all undoubtedly geared up to the extreme by Q, with Bond seen accidentally kicking off a hidden thruster on a nearby dirt bike with the press of a button, and are likely to play a key role in the new agent's success in tracking down his mark. I honestly can't wait to cruise around in a Bond car, especially if there are hidden machine guns or something. 5. It's Coming in 2026 While we'll be learning more about the game in the coming months, we know it's set for launch in 2026. And, while it was shown at PlayStation's State of Play, and all the focus was on its launch on Sony's platform, 007 First Light is also coming to Xbox Series S/X, Steam, Epic Games, and the newly-released Nintendo Switch 2. 2026 is already looking pretty stacked for great games, with The Duskbloods, Saros, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Nioh 3, Fable, and, obviously, Grand Theft Auto 6 set to launch (not to mention a potential Elder Scrolls 6). Now, we've got one more reason to look forward to next year.
