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22 Aug 2025

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Tyla learns how to prep for Notting Hill Carnival
Radio 1Xtra presenter Nadia Jae shares her top tips for Notting Hill Carnival with singer Tyla.

Apple TV+ just got a price hike, and it’s a steep one
Severance, The Studio, Slow Horses, and an upcoming new season of The Morning Show: Yes, Apple TV+ has been on a bit of a hot streak lately. Now get ready for a price hike to match. Starting on August 21—so, now—the price of Apple TV+ will rise to $12.99 a month, a steep $3 a month higher than the previous $9.99/month rate. That’s a 30-percent price hike, folks. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers on the monthly plan will see their rates go up following their next renewal date. The last time Apple raised its Apple TV+ prices was back in October 2023, when the service went from $6.99 a month to $9.99/month, an even steeper 43-percent price hike than the latest increase. Apple TV+ cost a mere $4.99 a month when it debuted back in launched back in 2019. In a statement announcing the price increase, Apple focused on Apple TV+’s recent streak of popular shows and movies—”all ad-free,” it added, as Variety reports. Indeed, Apple TV+ remains the lone holdout among the big streaming services by not offering an ad-supported tier, although there’s long been chatter that Apple was tinkering with the idea. After a slow start, Apple TV+ has cranked out a steady stream of hits, with one show—Severance—hitting a grand slam in terms of viewership and cultural buzz. Seth Rogan’s The Studio also drew plenty of eyeballs as well as nearly two dozen Emmy nominations, while the Gary Oldman-starring Slow Horses has been a popular procedural. And Apple TV+ also struck cinematic gold with F1, the Formula 1 movie headlined by Brad Pitt that’s been a genuine box office blockbuster. F1 is expected to make its Apple TV+ debut in the fall. Still, some dark clouds loon on the horizon for Apple TV+, including rumors that Apple may be about to lose Friday Night Baseball. Apple and Major League Baseball kicked off a seven-year deal back in 2022 for two exclusive Friday night games on Apple TV+, but Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Apple may end the deal early, with Peacock scooping up the Friday games instead. Apple has yet to confirm the news.

Here’s how much Microsoft devs earn, according to leaked documents
As one of the most important technology companies in the world, Microsoft employs over 220,000 people. However, this number has shrunk somewhat following layoffs from earlier this year, which resulted in thousands of employees being let go. But how much do you actually earn as a Microsoft employee? This question is particularly interesting for developers and managers, as such positions at top companies are in high demand. And as a user, you might also wonder what a Windows developer earns these days. How much do Microsoft devs earn? Business Insider recently obtained a leaked internal Microsoft document that answers this question. In it, 850 employees provided information on their own earnings at Microsoft, and the data allows for different levels to be compared with each other. Compensation at Microsoft comprises the following: a base annual salary, a cash bonus, a percentage bonus (presumably based on targets achieved), and a stock award (which is based on the current company value and can therefore fluctuate greatly). This results in the following salary range for developers: Level Basic salary Cash bonus Bonus percentage Stock bonus59$120,800 – $124,000$3,000 – $19,3008-14%$7,000 – $19,30060$111,000 – $160,000$9,300 – $21,7008-16%$7,200 – $20,00061$128,000 – $170,000$11,300 – $27,0008-20%$10,800 – $36,00062$139,200 – $191,000$11,000 – $30,8008-20%$8,000 – $45,00063$153,500 – $224,800$8,000 – $50,00010-25%$22,000 – $64,00064$162,700 – $230,600$11,000 – $50,00010-140%$38,000 – $80,00065$188,000 – $230,000$32,700 – $61,70016-28%$39,000 – $91,00066$217,600 – $269,000$59,000 – $60,70020-120%$78,000 – $140,00067$248,000 – $250,000$70,000 – $82,00028-34%$145,000 – $252,000 This means that a top developer at Microsoft could receive between $500,000 and $600,000 per year (after bonuses and stock awards). This is astonishing, as the average salary for developers in the US is normally around $120,000. However, you have to bear in mind that only a very small portion of the workforce is represented here. The salary is not only based on the individual level, but also on the area in which you work. The salary is lowest for developers in the “Experiences and Devices” area, which presumably means end devices and support. Cloud and AI developers earn a little more, but salaries are highest in the Xbox division and Commerce division. How much do Microsoft bosses earn? If you compare these already-excellent salaries with the top salaries at Microsoft, they no longer seem quite so impressive. According to unconfirmed reports, Phil Spencer (head of the Xbox division) earns $10 million per year, and that’s before stock awards. At the top of the list is Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who just about makes ends meet with a modest annual salary of $2.5 million. However, after all bonuses and premiums are paid out, the Microsoft top dog earns an impressive $79 million. So even a top-tier Microsoft developer earns as much in his entire life as Phil Spencer gets in two years or Satya Nadella in three months. Past reports of Microsoft salaries Microsoft salaries were also leaked in 2024 and in 2019. Compared to last year, salaries have hardly changed—but in 2019, developers at Microsoft earned significantly less. However, the company’s annual turnover has now risen to $281 billion, making it one of the top 3 tech companies in the world.