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[PHP] Issues Displaying a League Table


Question

Hi all,

Please see the following documentation for reference: https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/docs/

A developer provided me with the following PHP file (although I have removed the API key and Secret):

/**
 * League Championships
 */

function fetch_league_table() {
    // Replace with your actual API credentials
    $apiKey = 'xxxx';
    $secret = 'xxxx';

    // Generate a digital signature (sig) using the current timestamp
    $timestamp = time();
    $sig = hash_hmac('sha256', $timestamp, $apiKey . $secret);

    // API endpoint and query parameters
    $apiUrl = 'https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/leaguetable';
    $queryParams = [
        'compID' => 4, // Replace with the appropriate competition ID
        'sig' => $sig
    ];

    // Build the full URL
    $urlWithParams = $apiUrl . '?' . http_build_query($queryParams);

    // Initialize cURL
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $urlWithParams);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
        'Accept: application/json',
        'x-api-key: ' . $apiKey,
        'sig: ' . $sig
    ]);

    // Execute the API request
    $response = curl_exec($ch);

    // Check for errors
    if (curl_errno($ch)) {
        return 'Error fetching data: ' . curl_error($ch);
    }

    curl_close($ch);

    // Decode JSON response
    $data = json_decode($response, true);

        // Handle response and build HTML output
    if ($data['status'] !== 200) {
        return 'No data found.';
    }

    $leagueTable = $data['data']['table'];

    $output = "<h2>" . $data['data']['competition'] . " - " . $data['data']['season'] . "</h2>";
    $output .= "<table border='1' cellpadding='5' cellspacing='0'><thead><tr>";
    $output .= "<th>Position</th><th>Team</th><th>Played</th><th>Wins</th><th>Losses</th><th>Draws</th><th>Points</th></tr></thead><tbody>";

    foreach ($leagueTable as $position => $team) {
        if ($position === 'deductions') continue;
        $output .= "<tr>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $position . "</td>";

        // Fetch the logo URL from the API response
        $logoUrl = isset($team['logo']) ? $team['logo'] : '';
        $logoHtml = $logoUrl ? "<img src='$logoUrl' alt='{$team['teamName']} logo' style='height:20px; margin-right:10px;'>" : '';

        $output .= "<td><strong>" . $logoHtml . $team['teamName'] . "</strong></td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['P'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['W'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['L'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['D'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['PTS'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "</tr>";
    }

    $output .= "</tbody></table>";

    // Display deductions if available
    if (isset($leagueTable['deductions'])) {
        $output .= "<h3>Deductions</h3><ul>";
        foreach ($leagueTable['deductions'] as $deduction) {
            $output .= "<li>" . $deduction['team'] . ": -" . $deduction['pts'] . " points (" . $deduction['reason'] . ")</li>";
        }
        $output .= "</ul>";
    }

    return $output;
}

add_shortcode('league_table', 'fetch_league_table');

This PHP file provides us with the table on the website, although I note that the year is 2019. I think this is because the Leaguetable API endpoint doesn't have a year integer. I have been told that I should be able to get the year integer from the Competitions endpoint. But I am not a PHP developer, and I think that the developer that gave me this code got it by going through an AI prompt (i.e. he doesn't know PHP either).

I can see the API endpoint in the code, so I would imagine that I copy that, paste it again but modify the URL and the queryparams to search for year. But what I don't know is how I would then put the query params together so that the table being displayed (compID 4) is for the current year (ex. 2024).

Would someone be able to assist me or point me in the right direction? I tried emailing the support email in the documentation but they have been less than helpful.

Many thanks in advance.

8 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Without the API key and secret I'm not able to test anything, but according to the docs there is no "compID" parameter for the "leaguetable" endpoint, it should be "divisionID", so you're probably getting some kind of default value from 2019  (e.g. since divisionID is omitted it might be using 0)

  • 0
  On 11/12/2024 at 22:34, virtorio said:

Without the API key and secret I'm not able to test anything, but according to the docs there is no "compID" parameter for the "leaguetable" endpoint, it should be "divisionID", so you're probably getting some kind of default value from 2019.

Expand  

Oh damn...that seems right. That would explain why it defaults...

I've received this bit of information since:

  Quote

That league table call looks good, expect you only need to pass the division ID to the league table endpoint. See the docs.

To find the divisionIDs and seasonIDs you need to call the competitions endpoint using the relevant compIDs, which are:

Championship: 3
League One: 4
Challenge Cup: 2
1895 Cup: 115
Academy: 52

Expand  

So the CompID is correct (4).

But now I don't know how to call the competitions endpoint as part of the code from the original post...like I said I'm no developer, especially with PHP. Do I try what I suggested at the start, copy-paste and modify the code for the competition part? But then if so, how do I concatenate the results from the first search and the second?

  • 0

I've updated your code (well I used ChatGPT to update the code as 1. I haven't touched PHP since 2008 and I'm more than a little rusty, and 2. I'm not set up to run any PHP on this computer). You can now re-use the requestApi() function by passing the endpoint url and query params (use of it is shown in the fetch_league_table function).

/**
 * Reusable API request function
 */
function requestApi($endpoint, $queryParams = []) {
    // Replace with your actual API credentials
    $apiKey = 'xxxx';
    $secret = 'xxxx';

    // Generate a digital signature (sig) using the current timestamp
    $timestamp = time();
    $sig = hash_hmac('sha256', $timestamp, $apiKey . $secret);

    // Add the signature to the query parameters
    $queryParams['sig'] = $sig;

    // Build the full URL
    $urlWithParams = $endpoint . '?' . http_build_query($queryParams);

    // Initialize cURL
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $urlWithParams);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
        'Accept: application/json',
        'x-api-key: ' . $apiKey,
        'sig: ' . $sig
    ]);

    // Execute the API request
    $response = curl_exec($ch);

    // Handle cURL errors
    if (curl_errno($ch)) {
        $error = curl_error($ch);
        curl_close($ch);
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => "Error fetching data: $error"
        ];
    }

    curl_close($ch);

    // Decode JSON response
    $data = json_decode($response, true);

    // Check for decoding errors
    if (json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => 'Error decoding JSON response.'
        ];
    }

    return [
        'success' => true,
        'data' => $data
    ];
}

/**
 * League Championships
 */
function fetch_league_table() {
    $endpoint = 'https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/leaguetable';
    $queryParams = [
        'compID' => 4 // Replace with the appropriate competition ID
    ];

    // Call the reusable request function
    $result = requestApi($endpoint, $queryParams);

    if (!$result['success']) {
        return $result['error'];
    }

    $data = $result['data'];

    // Handle response and build HTML output
    if ($data['status'] !== 200) {
        return 'No data found.';
    }

    $leagueTable = $data['data']['table'];

    $output = "<h2>" . $data['data']['competition'] . " - " . $data['data']['season'] . "</h2>";
    $output .= "<table border='1' cellpadding='5' cellspacing='0'><thead><tr>";
    $output .= "<th>Position</th><th>Team</th><th>Played</th><th>Wins</th><th>Losses</th><th>Draws</th><th>Points</th></tr></thead><tbody>";

    foreach ($leagueTable as $position => $team) {
        if ($position === 'deductions') continue;
        $output .= "<tr>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $position . "</td>";

        // Fetch the logo URL from the API response
        $logoUrl = isset($team['logo']) ? $team['logo'] : '';
        $logoHtml = $logoUrl ? "<img src='$logoUrl' alt='{$team['teamName']} logo' style='height:20px; margin-right:10px;'>" : '';

        $output .= "<td><strong>" . $logoHtml . $team['teamName'] . "</strong></td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['P'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['W'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['L'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['D'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['PTS'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "</tr>";
    }

    $output .= "</tbody></table>";

    // Display deductions if available
    if (isset($leagueTable['deductions'])) {
        $output .= "<h3>Deductions</h3><ul>";
        foreach ($leagueTable['deductions'] as $deduction) {
            $output .= "<li>" . $deduction['team'] . ": -" . $deduction['pts'] . " points (" . $deduction['reason'] . ")</li>";
        }
        $output .= "</ul>";
    }

    return $output;
}

add_shortcode('league_table', 'fetch_league_table');

 

For the next step, how would you like it to work? Should it use the "competitions" endpoint to get a list of all "divisionID"'s for a particular (current) year, and then print all those? Is there just a particular divisionID you want displayed, etc?

 

  • 0
  On 11/12/2024 at 23:31, virtorio said:

I've updated your code (well I used ChatGPT to update the code as 1. I haven't touched PHP since 2008 and I'm more than a little rusty, and 2. I'm not set up to run any PHP on this computer). You can now re-use the requestApi() function by passing the endpoint url and query params (use of it is shown in the fetch_league_table function).

For the next step, how would you like it to work? Should it use the "competitions" endpoint to get a list of all "divisionID"'s for a particular (current) year, and then print all those? Is there just a particular divisionID you want displayed, etc?

Expand  

Oh wow! Ok, that's great news! I've just performed a test and it still provides the table for 2019, but as you mentioned it's going to because it doesn't have the year parameter set.

I think you're right about the next step: display all DivisionID's for the current year. I haven't been provided with a specific DivisonID so I guess it would be all of them (at least for the moment)...

Wow, many thanks for taking a shot at this for me. I've been staring at the code for so long trying to understand it my eyes are getting crossed. :laugh:

  • 0

This is what I've got so far, but haven't been able to test it. You're welcome to PM your api key/secret (I won't share it with anyone - promise) if you want and I can run through it.

 

/**
 * Reusable API request function
 */
function request_api($endpoint, $queryParams = []) {
    // Replace with your actual API credentials
    $apiKey = 'xxxx';
    $secret = 'xxxx';

    // Generate a digital signature (sig) using the current timestamp
    $timestamp = time();
    $sig = hash_hmac('sha256', $timestamp, $apiKey . $secret);

    // Add the signature to the query parameters
    $queryParams['sig'] = $sig;

    // Build the full URL
    $urlWithParams = $endpoint . '?' . http_build_query($queryParams);

    // Initialize cURL
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $urlWithParams);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
        'Accept: application/json',
        'x-api-key: ' . $apiKey,
        'sig: ' . $sig
    ]);

    // Execute the API request
    $response = curl_exec($ch);

    // Handle cURL errors
    if (curl_errno($ch)) {
        $error = curl_error($ch);
        curl_close($ch);
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => "Error fetching data: $error"
        ];
    }

    curl_close($ch);

    // Decode JSON response
    $data = json_decode($response, true);

    // Check for decoding errors
    if (json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => 'Error decoding JSON response.'
        ];
    }

    return [
        'success' => true,
        'data' => $data
    ];
}

/**
 * Renders the league table as HTML
 */
function render_league_table_html($data) {
    // Handle response and build HTML output
    if ($data['status'] !== 200) {
        return 'No data found.';
    }

    $leagueTable = $data['data']['table'];

    $output = "<h2>" . $data['data']['competition'] . " - " . $data['data']['season'] . "</h2>";
    $output .= "<table border='1' cellpadding='5' cellspacing='0'><thead><tr>";
    $output .= "<th>Position</th><th>Team</th><th>Played</th><th>Wins</th><th>Losses</th><th>Draws</th><th>Points</th></tr></thead><tbody>";

    foreach ($leagueTable as $position => $team) {
        if ($position === 'deductions') continue;
        $output .= "<tr>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $position . "</td>";

        // Fetch the logo URL from the API response
        $logoUrl = isset($team['logo']) ? $team['logo'] : '';
        $logoHtml = $logoUrl ? "<img src='$logoUrl' alt='{$team['teamName']} logo' style='height:20px; margin-right:10px;'>" : '';

        $output .= "<td><strong>" . $logoHtml . $team['teamName'] . "</strong></td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['P'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['W'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['L'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['D'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['PTS'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "</tr>";
    }

    $output .= "</tbody></table>";

    // Display deductions if available
    if (isset($leagueTable['deductions'])) {
        $output .= "<h3>Deductions</h3><ul>";
        foreach ($leagueTable['deductions'] as $deduction) {
            $output .= "<li>" . $deduction['team'] . ": -" . $deduction['pts'] . " points (" . $deduction['reason'] . ")</li>";
        }
        $output .= "</ul>";
    }

    return $output;
}

/**
 * Fetch competitions based on compIDs
 */
function fetch_competitions($compIDs) {
    $endpoint = 'https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/competitions';
    $queryParams = [
        'compIDs' => implode(',', $compIDs) // Convert array to comma-separated string
    ];

    // Call the reusable request function
    $result = request_api($endpoint, $queryParams);

    if (!$result['success']) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => $result['error']
        ];
    }

    $data = $result['data'];

    // Validate response format
    if (!isset($data) || !is_array($data)) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => 'Invalid response format from API.'
        ];
    }

    // Map API response to required format
    $competitions = [];
    foreach ($data as $comp) {
        $competition = [
            'compID' => $comp['compID'],
            'compName' => $comp['name'],
            'divisions' => []
        ];

        if (isset($comp['seasons']) && is_array($comp['seasons'])) {
            foreach ($comp['seasons'] as $season) {
                if (isset($season['divisions']) && is_array($season['divisions'])) {
                    foreach ($season['divisions'] as $divisionID => $division) {
                        $competition['divisions'][] = [
                            'divisionID' => $division['divisionID'],
                            'divisionName' => $division['divisionName']
                        ];
                    }
                }
            }
        }

        $competitions[] = $competition;
    }

    return [
        'success' => true,
        'data' => $competitions
    ];
}

/**
 * League Championships
 */
function fetch_league_table() {
    // Always fetch competitions for compID 4
    $compIDs = [4];
    $competitionsResult = fetch_competitions($compIDs);

    if (!$competitionsResult['success']) {
        return $competitionsResult['error'];
    }

    $competitions = $competitionsResult['data'];
    $output = '';

    // Loop through each competition and fetch league table for its divisions
    foreach ($competitions as $competition) {
        foreach ($competition['divisions'] as $division) {
            $divisionID = $division['divisionID'];
            $endpoint = 'https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/leaguetable';
            $queryParams = [
                'divisionID' => $divisionID // Use divisionID instead of compID
            ];

            // Call the reusable request function
            $result = request_api($endpoint, $queryParams);

            if (!$result['success']) {
                $output .= "<p>Error fetching league table for Division ID $divisionID: {$result['error']}</p>";
                continue;
            }

            $data = $result['data'];

            // Pass data to the render function and append the HTML
            $output .= render_league_table_html($data);
        }
    }

    return $output;
}

/**
 * Shortcode to display the league table
 */
add_shortcode('league_table', 'fetch_league_table');

 

 

  • 0

@virtorioI meant to send you the keys earlier, I know I can trust you with them. My bad.

I'll send they keys in a moment, and I'll try the script on the server on my side once I read through it to try and see what is going on. (Y)

  • 0

Seems like it was mostly correct, just needed to correct one array error and it wasn't handling invalid requests from the API properly.

/**
 * Reusable API request function
 */
function request_api($endpoint, $queryParams = []) {
    // Replace with your actual API credentials
    $apiKey = 'xxx';
    $secret = 'xxx';

    // Generate a digital signature (sig) using the current timestamp
    $timestamp = time();
    $sig = hash_hmac('sha256', $timestamp, $apiKey . $secret);

    // Add the signature to the query parameters
    $queryParams['sig'] = $sig;

    // Build the full URL
    $urlWithParams = $endpoint . '?' . http_build_query($queryParams);

    // Initialize cURL
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $urlWithParams);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
        'Accept: application/json',
        'x-api-key: ' . $apiKey,
        'sig: ' . $sig
    ]);

    // Execute the API request
    $response = curl_exec($ch);

    // Handle cURL errors
    if (curl_errno($ch)) {
        $error = curl_error($ch);
        curl_close($ch);
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => "Error fetching data: $error"
        ];
    }

    curl_close($ch);

    // Decode JSON response
    $data = json_decode($response, true);

    // Check for decoding errors
    if (json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => 'Error decoding JSON response.'
        ];
    }

    if ($data['status'] !== 200) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => $data['response']
        ];
    }

    return [
        'success' => true,
        'data' => $data
    ];
}

/**
 * Renders the league table as HTML
 */
function render_league_table_html($data) {
    // Handle response and build HTML output
    if ($data['status'] !== 200) {
        return 'No data found.';
    }

    $leagueTable = $data['data']['table'];

    $output = "<h2>" . $data['data']['competition'] . " - " . $data['data']['season'] . "</h2>";
    $output .= "<table border='1' cellpadding='5' cellspacing='0'><thead><tr>";
    $output .= "<th>Position</th><th>Team</th><th>Played</th><th>Wins</th><th>Losses</th><th>Draws</th><th>Points</th></tr></thead><tbody>";

    foreach ($leagueTable as $position => $team) {
        if ($position === 'deductions') continue;
        $output .= "<tr>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $position . "</td>";

        // Fetch the logo URL from the API response
        $logoUrl = isset($team['logo']) ? $team['logo'] : '';
        $logoHtml = $logoUrl ? "<img src='$logoUrl' alt='{$team['teamName']} logo' style='height:20px; margin-right:10px;'>" : '';

        $output .= "<td><strong>" . $logoHtml . $team['teamName'] . "</strong></td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['P'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['W'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['L'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['D'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "<td>" . $team['PTS'] . "</td>";
        $output .= "</tr>";
    }

    $output .= "</tbody></table>";

    // Display deductions if available
    if (isset($leagueTable['deductions'])) {
        $output .= "<h3>Deductions</h3><ul>";
        foreach ($leagueTable['deductions'] as $deduction) {
            $output .= "<li>" . $deduction['team'] . ": -" . $deduction['pts'] . " points (" . $deduction['reason'] . ")</li>";
        }
        $output .= "</ul>";
    }

    return $output;
}

/**
 * Fetch competitions based on compIDs
 */
function fetch_competitions($compIDs) {
    $endpoint = 'https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/competitions';
    $queryParams = [
        'compIDs' => implode(',', $compIDs) // Convert array to comma-separated string
    ];

    // Call the reusable request function
    $result = request_api($endpoint, $queryParams);

    if (!$result['success']) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => $result['error']
        ];
    }

    $data = $result['data'];

    // Validate response format
    if (!isset($data) || !is_array($data)) {
        return [
            'success' => false,
            'error' => 'Invalid response format from API.'
        ];
    }

    // Map API response to required format
    $competitions = [];
    foreach ($data['data'] as $comp) {
        $competition = [
            'compID' => $comp['compID'],
            'compName' => $comp['name'],
            'divisions' => []
        ];

        if (isset($comp['seasons']) && is_array($comp['seasons'])) {
            foreach ($comp['seasons'] as $season) {
                if (isset($season['divisions']) && is_array($season['divisions'])) {
                    foreach ($season['divisions'] as $divisionID => $division) {
                        $competition['divisions'][] = [
                            'divisionID' => $division['divisionID'],
                            'divisionName' => $division['divisionName']
                        ];
                    }
                }
            }
        }

        $competitions[] = $competition;
    }

    return [
        'success' => true,
        'data' => $competitions
    ];
}

/**
 * League Championships
 */
function fetch_league_table() {
    // Always fetch competitions for compID 4
    $compIDs = [4];
    $competitionsResult = fetch_competitions($compIDs);

    if (!$competitionsResult['success']) {
        return $competitionsResult['error'];
    }

    $competitions = $competitionsResult['data'];
    $output = '';

    // Loop through each competition and fetch league table for its divisions
    foreach ($competitions as $competition) {
        foreach ($competition['divisions'] as $division) {
            $divisionID = $division['divisionID'];
            $endpoint = 'https://secure.rugby-league.com/api/leaguetable';
            $queryParams = [
                'divisionID' => $divisionID // Use divisionID instead of compID
            ];

            // Call the reusable request function
            $result = request_api($endpoint, $queryParams);

            if (!$result['success']) {
                $output .= "<p>Error fetching league table for Division ID $divisionID: {$result['error']}</p>";
                continue;
            }

            $data = $result['data'];

            // Pass data to the render function and append the HTML
            $output .= render_league_table_html($data);
        }
    }

    return $output;
}

/**
 * Shortcode to display the league table
 */
add_shortcode('league_table', 'fetch_league_table');

 

  • 0

i was actually reading through this just to try and understand how api stuff like this works but honestly yeah it’s confusing esp with that compID/year thing… did you try calling the competitions endpoint directly? i’m curious what it returns, maybe it lists the compID for each year? like if 2024 has a diff compID than 2019? not sure though lol just guessing tbh. if anyone figures it out pls update here 🙏 kinda want to learn from this too

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Windows 10 received KB5062649, while Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 got KB5062663 with fixes for file systems, input, networking, printing, and more. The biggest changelog has Windows 11 version 24H2 and its KB5062660 update. It brings a handful of new AI-powered features, Settings improvements, a redesigned BSOD with Quick Machine Recovery, and a lot more. Speaking of AI-powered features, more and more companies turn their backs on Windows Recall, Windows 11's flagship AI thingy. Brave and AdGuard announced that they will block Windows Recall because the feature itself is unsettling, and Microsoft's privacy efforts are not enough. Microsoft is working on a new tool that can help you upgrade from your old computer to a new one. The app can transfer not only settings but also files. In a newly published support document, Microsoft explained how the recently discovered experience works. In this article, we take a closer look at what is coming soon. We also published a big article that explained everything you need to know about the end of Windows 10 support. If you are a Windows 10 user, check it out here to prepare for the inevitable. If your Windows 10 exodus strategy is to switch to Linux, you may find this app useful. It can transfer important data from Windows 10 to Linux. By the way, Windows 10 is not the only Windows version to lose support on October 14. Certain Windows 11 versions will also reach the end of life on that fateful day. Another useful guide that we published this week explains how to disable reserved storage to free some space on your computer. Finally, check out this article detailing Windows Sandbox, a highly underrated feature, and an overview of 10 Windows 10 features that promised a lot but failed to take off. Windows Insider Program Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week: Builds Canary Channel Build 27909 Nothing major in this build. The update only adds a couple of fixes here and there. Dev Channel Nothing in the Dev Channel this week Beta Channel Nothing in the Beta Channel this week Release Preview Channel Nothing in the Release Preview this week Recent Windows 11 preview builds were found to contain a welcome audio feature that allows sharing audio to several devices. Just open Quick Settings, click Shared Audio, and select the devices you need. Microsoft has not announced it yet, so stay tuned for official details. Also, Microsoft wants to improve Windows 11 with a new system that detects performance slowdowns and sends diagnostic data to the company. This system is now available in the latest Windows 11 preview builds. For Phone Link users with Android smartphones, Microsoft released some useful updates. The Link to Windows app now has remote controls, allowing you to lock your PC, send files, or mirror your phone's screen. There is also a redesigned UI and a better onboarding experience. Finally, Microsoft is testing a redesigned news feed in Windows Widgets, with Copilot Discover taking over the classic MSN feed, and a new Copilot Appearance feature that adds non-verbal communication to Copilot, enhancing voice conversations with real-time visual expression. Updates are available This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties. Microsoft has a new Surface in its device lineup. The Surface Laptop 7 with Intel's Core Ultra 200 Series processors is now available with optional 5G connectivity. Microsoft said in the announcement post that equipping a laptop with 5G was not just putting a modem inside. Microsoft had to carefully engineer a so-called "dynamic antenna system" that adapts to the environment and ensures the best reception by having six strategically placed antennas. A rather unfortunate event happened to SharePoint this week. Microsoft revealed details about hackers exploiting an unpatched SharePoint vulnerability, which even managed to breach the US nuclear weapons department, and quickly posted detailed guidance about it alongside much-needed fixes. Files, one of our favorite file managers for Windows 10 and 11, received a big preview update with a reworked address bar. The new Omnibar now combines the address bar and search bar, offering users a more intuitive experience alongside other improvements. Meta is making some significant changes to the WhatsApp client on Windows. The messenger is ditching UWP for a progressive web app, which is now available in beta in the Microsoft Store. Firefox received a big new feature update. Version 141.0 is now available with AI-powered tab groups, vertical tab improvements, WebGPU support, and other changes. Microsoft Edge, on the other hand, received some security fixes and contextual capabilities in the Business Chat work tab. Finally, check out a recap of all the new features that Microsoft added to Intune in July 2025, and a crucial data refresh feature for Excel, alongside a highly-requested PivotTable feature. Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting: Microsoft encourages Windows driver development in Rust for better security. Microsoft invests in European languages and culture to build smarter, more inclusive AI. UniGetUI received a massive update with bulk download options. Microsoft CEO finally addressed the recent layoff of 9,000 employees. Microsoft is planning a huge upgrade for Visual Studio. Microsoft Viva Insights boosts Copilot and learning with new reports. Windows 365 received a big RDP upgrade. Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week: Intel 32.0.101.6972 non-WHQL with optimizations for Killing Floor 3, Valorant's Unreal Engine 5 upgrade, and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. Nvidia 577.00 WHQL with Valorant UE5 upgrade support, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, and more Reviews are in Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week Robbie Khan reviewed the GameSir G7 Pro, a fantastic Xbox-licensed controller with TMR sticks, excellent software, optical buttons, and premium materials. Steven Parker reviewed the OXS Storm A2, a wireless gaming headset with hybrid ANC. On the gaming side Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more. This week, Microsoft announced some useful gaming updates. The company is now testing cross-device play history on Xbox consoles and PC, which should let players easily jump back into games that support features like Xbox Play Anywhere or Xbox Cloud Gaming, regardless of what platform they are using. Another useful and welcome update is about the future prices of Xbox games. Microsoft made a sudden U-turn and ditched the $80 price tag, which was supposed to arrive with the launch of The Outer Worlds 2. EA has finally announced the next Battlefield game that is coming soon. The first Battlefield 6 trailer shows off a major conflict breaking out across the world, with what looks to be a rogue mercenary group named Pax Armata attacking NATO and its allies. Nvidia announced new games for the GeForce NOW cloud streaming service. The latest additions include Abiotic Factor, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, Barony, He is Coming, SUPERVIVE, Wildgate, and more. Keep in mind that you have to own these games to play them using GeForce NOW. Deals and freebies This week's Weekend PC Game Deals is here with various discounts across multiple stores and a new freebie from the Epic Games Store. The latter is giving away Legion TD 2. Other gaming news includes the following: Ubisoft confirms Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is getting a third-person mode and New Game+ Assassin's Creed Shadows is getting New Game+, level cap increase, and more ahead of DLC launch Valve is redesigning the Steam Store Menu and Search, wants user feedback Frostpunk 2 arrives to Xbox and PlayStation this September, hits Game Pass on day one Great deals to check Every week, we cover many deals on different hardware and software. The following discounts are still available, so check them out. You might find something you want or need. Acer Aspire C27 AIO Desktop - $739.99 | 13% off HP 15.6-inch laptop (model 15-fc0499nr) - $399.99 | 20% off CMF Watch 3 Pro Smart Watch - $79 | 20% off 2TB Crucial P310 NVMe SSD - $149.99 | 38% off 2TB Crucial T710 NVMe SSD - $229.99 | 36% off Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Wi-Fi - $449.99 | 10% off Motorola Edge 2025 - $439.99 | 20% off This link will take you to other issues of the Microsoft Weekly series. You can also support Neowin by registering a free member account or subscribing for extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option.
    • A female Jem'Hadar makes no bloody sense whatsoever... They're a male only, genetically engineered, clone species...  Did the idiots making this not watch ANY of DS9, or bother to check a wiki, at ALL? This is going to be crap, isn't it?    
    • Internet Download Manager (IDM) 6.42 Build 42 by Razvan Serea Internet Download Manager (IDM) is a tool to increase download speeds by up to 5 times, resume and schedule downloads. Comprehensive error recovery and resume capability will restart broken or interrupted downloads due to lost connections, network problems, computer shutdowns, or unexpected power outages. IDM integrates seamlessly into Google Chrome, FireFox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari, Internet Explorer, Maxthon and all other popular browsers to automatically handle your downloads. You can also drag and drop files, or use Internet Download Manager from command line. The program supports proxy servers, ftp and http protocols, firewalls, redirects, cookies, authorization, MP3 audio and video content processing. Changes in Internet Download Manager 6.42 Build 42: Updated Chrome extension to support Chrome manifest 3 Fixed bugs Download: Internet Download Manager 6.42 Build 42 | 11.7 MB (Shareware) Links: Internet Download Manager Website | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
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