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  4.    <title>LifeHacker</title>
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  6.    <description>Do everything better.</description>
  7.    <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 17:27:40 +0000</pubDate>
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  16.      <title>Helldivers 2 Won’t Require a PSN Account After All</title>
  17.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX7BBXH5DHWN7MR0XKKW2102</guid>
  18.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  19.      <description>Sony is walking back a controversial decision that would have seen the hit game pulled from more than 150 countries</description>
  20.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX7BBXH5DHWN7MR0XKKW2102/hero-image.jpg"/>
  21.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Following fan backlash, Sony is canceling a planned update for the popular multiplayer game <em>Helldivers 2</em> that would have required players who purchased the game on PC to link their copies to PSN accounts&mdash;which, if the name didn't clue you in, is generally something people only have if they game on a PlayStation console.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
  22.    <a class="text-gray-600" href="https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/1787331667616829929" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">
  23.        Tweet may have been deleted
  24.    </a>
  25. </blockquote>
  26.  
  27. <p>In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the company credited &ldquo;feedback&rdquo; for the change and said it is still &ldquo;learning what is best for PC players.&rdquo;<br><br>While PSN (short for PlayStation Network) accounts are free to create and do not require account holders to actually own a PlayStation console, the proposed update proved controversial among the <em>Helldivers</em> community, with <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/553850/HELLDIVERS_2/#app_reviews_hash" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>user reviews on Steam</u></a> dropping from &ldquo;Mostly Positive&rdquo; to &ldquo;Overwhelmingly Negative&rdquo; over the weekend. As of writing, the game currently holds a &ldquo;Mixed&rdquo; rating.</p><p>Were the update to go through, new players would have had to link their accounts by May 30, and existing players would have needed to do so by June 4.</p><h2>Why are people mad at <em>Helldivers 2</em>?</h2><p>News of the update briefly <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/helldivers-2-pulled-from-sale-in-177-countries-due-to-psn-linking-requirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>pulled the PC version of <em>Helldivers 2</em></u><u> from purchase in 177 countries</u></a>, as PSN does not operate in those regions. If the update went live, players in those regions who had already bought the game would have needed to circumvent Sony&rsquo;s terms of service to continue playing.</p><p>Affected areas included Jamaica, Bangladesh, Belarus, and almost the entirety of Africa. Even Sony&rsquo;s home country of Japan was impacted&ndash;the game was available via a &ldquo;separate package,&rdquo; but users were not able to buy the &ldquo;global version.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Ouch, right in the review score,&rdquo; stated Johan Pilstedt, CEO of <em>Helldivers 2 </em>developer Arrowhead Game Studios. &ldquo;Well, I guess it&rsquo;s warranted.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
  28.    <a class="text-gray-600" href="https://twitter.com/pilestedt/status/1786454659256758447" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">
  29.        Tweet may have been deleted
  30.    </a>
  31. </blockquote>
  32.  
  33. <p>Pilstedt followed up his post with <a href="https://twitter.com/pilestedt/status/1787073896560165299?s=46&amp;t=tBuSe67d3hmxWnw3I8sPmg" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">another</a> saying that the Arrowhead was &ldquo;talking solutions with PlayStation, especially for non-PSN countries&rdquo;</p><h2>What happens next for <em>Helldivers 2</em>?</h2><p>Pilstedt followed today&rsquo;s news that the <em>Helldivers 2</em> update would not be going forward by first expressing how impressed he was with the community for its ability to collaborate, before thanking PlayStation for &ldquo;quickly and effectively making the decision to leave PSN linking optional.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
  34.    <a class="text-gray-600" href="https://twitter.com/pilestedt/status/1787365793379791051" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">
  35.        Tweet may have been deleted
  36.    </a>
  37. </blockquote>
  38.  
  39. <p>While the majority of Sony&rsquo;s other experiments in PC gaming are <a href="https://lifehacker.com/dont-buy-the-last-of-us-part-1-on-pc-1850278163" target="_blank">single player</a>, it is currently unclear whether the decision to leave PSN linking optional in <em>Helldivers</em> will affect other titles. According to Pilstedt, the team knew six months prior to launch that <a href="https://twitter.com/Pilestedt/status/1787076609188483254" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>PSN linking would be required at some point</u></a>, and that the decision to make it optional at launch would only be temporary.</p><p>In the meantime, <em>Helldivers 2</em> is once again available for purchase in the countries where it was pulled.</p><hr><p>Ready to dive into battle to protect Super Earth? Here's <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-connect-a-ps4-controller-to-pc" target="_blank">how to connect a PlayStation controller to PC</a>, plus some of our favorite PlayStation accessories.</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Py3LW?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Playstation%20DualSense%20Edge%20Wireless%20Controller&amp;short_url=Py3LW&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Playstation DualSense Edge Wireless Controller</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/eBm7A?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=PlayStation%20Pulse%20Elite%20Wireless%20Headset&amp;short_url=eBm7A&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Lb1L4?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=PlayStation%20Pulse%20Explore%20Wireless%20Earbuds&amp;short_url=Lb1L4&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds</a></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  40.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/helldivers-2-wont-require-a-psn-account-after-all</link>
  41.      <dc:creator>Michelle Ehrhardt</dc:creator>
  42.      <category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category>
  43.    </item>
  44.    <item>
  45.      <title>My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: Kindle Paperwhite Deals</title>
  46.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX7AWE9CGNR03N7SZPJKXRAC</guid>
  47.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  48.      <description>The Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Scribe are seeing some of their best discounts right now.</description>
  49.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX7AWE9CGNR03N7SZPJKXRAC/hero-image.png"/>
  50.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are few brands that are as synonymous with e-readers as Kindles are, and for good reason. Kindles are arguably the best e-readers in the market today, and right now, you can get the <a href="https://zdcs.link/BdMLJ?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Kindle%2C%20Kindle%20Paperwhite%2C%20and%20Kindle%20Scribe%20for%20up%20to%20%24105%20off&amp;short_url=BdMLJ&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Scribe for up to $105 off</a> after dropping to some of their lowest prices in recent months. The deals come during an <a href="https://zdcs.link/noZpx?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Amazon%20device%20sale%20for%20Mother%27s%20Day&amp;short_url=noZpx&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Amazon device sale for Mother's Day</a>. These Kindles are my favorite Amazon deal of the day.</p><h2>The Amazon Kindle for $79.99</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  51.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FMV5Lq&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Amazon+Kindle&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FMV5Lq" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Amazon Kindle">
  52.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  53.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  54.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Amazon Kindle
  55.                </div>
  56.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">The lightest and most compact Kindle, with extended battery life, adjustable front light, and 16 GB.
  57.                    </div>
  58.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  59.                                            <div class="self-end">
  60.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  61.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  62.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$79.99</span>
  63.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  64.                    </div>
  65.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  66.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$99.99</span>
  67.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $20.00</span>
  68.        </div>
  69.    </div>
  70.                            </div>
  71.                        </div>
  72.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  73.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  74.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  75.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  76.    </div>
  77. </div>
  78.                        </div>
  79.                                    </div>
  80.            </div>
  81.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  82.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX7AWE9CGNR03N7SZPJKXRAC/images-1.fill.size_245x250.v1715012296.jpg" alt="Amazon Kindle" width="245" height="250" loading="lazy">
  83.                            </div>
  84.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  85.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX7AWE9CGNR03N7SZPJKXRAC/images-1.fill.size_245x250.v1715012296.jpg" alt="Amazon Kindle" width="245" height="250" loading="lazy">
  86.                            </div>
  87.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  88.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  89.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  90.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  91.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  92.    </div>
  93. </div>
  94.                    </div>
  95.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  96.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  97.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  98.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$79.99</span>
  99.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  100.                    </div>
  101.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  102.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$99.99</span>
  103.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $20.00</span>
  104.        </div>
  105.    </div>
  106.                    </div>
  107.                            </div>
  108.        </div>
  109. </a></div>
  110. <p>The latest Amazon Kindle is enough for most people looking to take their stories with them. With 16 GB of storage, you can fit thousands of ebooks in its library. The 300 ppi high-resolution display makes it look like you're actually reading a printed book. It's also glare-free with a paper-like display that feels somewhat like paper. The battery lasts an impressive average of six weeks, depending on your use and brightness settings. You can get the <a href="https://zdcs.link/3dJ0m?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Amazon%20Kindle&amp;short_url=3dJ0m&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Amazon Kindle</a> for <strong>$79.99</strong> (originally $99.99), matching the lowest price it has been over the last few months according to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-price-tracking-tools-1692745053" target="_blank">price-checking tools</a>.</p><h2>The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for $114.99</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  111.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FknB4n&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Amazon+Kindle+Paperwhite&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FknB4n" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Amazon Kindle Paperwhite">
  112.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  113.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  114.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
  115.                </div>
  116.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Now with a larger display, adjustable warm light, increased battery life, and faster page turns.
  117.                    </div>
  118.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  119.                                            <div class="self-end">
  120.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  121.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  122.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$114.99</span>
  123.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  124.                    </div>
  125.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  126.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$149.99</span>
  127.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $35.00</span>
  128.        </div>
  129.    </div>
  130.                            </div>
  131.                        </div>
  132.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  133.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  134.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  135.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  136.    </div>
  137. </div>
  138.                        </div>
  139.                                    </div>
  140.            </div>
  141.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  142.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX7AWE9CGNR03N7SZPJKXRAC/images-2.fill.size_245x237.v1715012296.jpg" alt="Amazon Kindle Paperwhite" width="245" height="237" loading="lazy">
  143.                            </div>
  144.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  145.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX7AWE9CGNR03N7SZPJKXRAC/images-2.fill.size_245x237.v1715012296.jpg" alt="Amazon Kindle Paperwhite" width="245" height="237" loading="lazy">
  146.                            </div>
  147.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  148.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  149.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  150.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  151.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  152.    </div>
  153. </div>
  154.                    </div>
  155.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  156.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  157.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  158.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$114.99</span>
  159.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  160.                    </div>
  161.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  162.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$149.99</span>
  163.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $35.00</span>
  164.        </div>
  165.    </div>
  166.                    </div>
  167.                            </div>
  168.        </div>
  169. </a></div>
  170. <p>For those more dedicated readers who want to take their e-readers places, the Kindle Paperwhite might be a better fit. It's a bit bigger, with a 6.8&rdquo; display and thinner borders. The Paperwhite also gives you adjustable warm light to give your eyes a break from blue light if you like to read before bed. The battery is longer, with up to 10 weeks of juice, and the pages turn a bit faster than the Kindle. It is much brighter, with a front light of 17 LEDs over the Kindle's 4 LEDs. You can also submerge it underwater or read in the shower&mdash;it has a waterproof IPX8 rating. You can get the <a href="https://zdcs.link/4ANoJ?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Kindle%20Paperwhite&amp;short_url=4ANoJ&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Kindle Paperwhite</a> for <strong>$114.99</strong> (originally $149.99). </p><h2>The Kindle Scribe for $264.99</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  171.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB09BS26B8B&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Amazon+Kindle+Scribe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=00darn2dKFI2kQFBYIOErdP&amp;offer_uuid=06iiLtUqh68txOb7dTbNSfQ&amp;object_type=06iiLtUqh68txOb7dTbNSfQ&amp;object_uuid=00darn2dKFI2kQFBYIOErdP" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Amazon Kindle Scribe">
  172.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  173.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  174.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Amazon Kindle Scribe
  175.                </div>
  176.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">10.2&rdquo; 300 ppi Paperwhite display, a Kindle and a notebook all in one, convert notes to text and shar
  177.                    </div>
  178.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  179.                                            <div class="self-end">
  180.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  181.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  182.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$239.99</span>
  183.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  184.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  185.            </div>
  186.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  187.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$339.99</span>
  188.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $100.00</span>
  189.        </div>
  190.    </div>
  191.                            </div>
  192.                        </div>
  193.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  194.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  195.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  196.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  197.    </div>
  198. </div>
  199.                        </div>
  200.                                    </div>
  201.            </div>
  202.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  203.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/00darn2dKFI2kQFBYIOErdP/hero-image.fill.size_245x140.v1714748486.jpg" alt="Amazon Kindle Scribe" width="245" height="140" loading="lazy">
  204.                            </div>
  205.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  206.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/00darn2dKFI2kQFBYIOErdP/hero-image.fill.size_245x140.v1714748486.jpg" alt="Amazon Kindle Scribe" width="245" height="140" loading="lazy">
  207.                            </div>
  208.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  209.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  210.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  211.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  212.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  213.    </div>
  214. </div>
  215.                    </div>
  216.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  217.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  218.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  219.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$239.99</span>
  220.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  221.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  222.            </div>
  223.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  224.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$339.99</span>
  225.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $100.00</span>
  226.        </div>
  227.    </div>
  228.                    </div>
  229.                            </div>
  230.        </div>
  231. </a></div>
  232. <p>The Amazon Kindle Scribe is for those who like to be hands-on and take handwritten notes. As our Tech Writer Joshua Hawkins <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/kindle-scribe-review" target="_blank">said in his review</a>, the Kindle Scribe is one of the best e-readers you can buy. It has the same features as the Paperwhite but also has an auto-adjusting light and wireless charging (and can take notes with the included stylus, of course). The <a href="https://zdcs.link/lV1RO?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Kindle%20Scribe&amp;short_url=lV1RO&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Kindle Scribe</a> is available for its lowest price yet: <strong>$264.99 </strong>(originally $369.99). </p>]]></content:encoded>
  233.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/my-favorite-amazon-deal-of-the-day-kindle-paperwhite-deals</link>
  234.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  235.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  236.    </item>
  237.    <item>
  238.      <title>This Mac Malware Can Take Screenshots of Your Computer</title>
  239.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX762C0BXVTGB6CXBZ6QKX96</guid>
  240.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  241.      <description>Talk about invasive.</description>
  242.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX762C0BXVTGB6CXBZ6QKX96/hero-image.jpg"/>
  243.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Apple used to tout the fact that Macs didn't get viruses, and while Apple definitely has good anti-malware software, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/mac-virus-history" target="_blank">their machines are far from impervious to infection</a>. And with Macs more popular than ever, there exists even more potential malware out there, ready to steal your data and ruin your day. The latest can even take screenshots of what's on your Mac's monitor without your knowledge.</p><p><a href="https://blog.kandji.io/malware-cuckoo-infostealer-spyware?impact_clickid=WSm2cX0SMxyPTPU06hxWJ0dnUkHT7aQwsVClz80&amp;utm_campaign=Future%20PLC.&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&amp;utm_source=Future%20PLC.&amp;utm_term=Impact&amp;irgwc=1&amp;partner=Future%20PLC.&amp;mpid=221109&amp;group=" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Researchers from Kandji</a> have discovered the threat targeting Macs, and it's not great news. Kandji reports this new malware, which they've named "Cuckoo," is a mix between spyware and an infostealer. They discovered it in apps hosted by a site called "DumpMedia," which purported to convert songs on streaming services into MP3s.</p><p>When researchers downloaded one of these apps, they noticed the DMG, which allows you to install the app on your Mac, had different installation instructions than most DMGs: Rather than dragging the app to your Applications folder, this DMG instructed users to right click on the app and choose "Open." Unbeknownst to many users, this action bypasses some of the security features that serve as the first lines of defense for newly installed apps downloaded from the web.  </p><p>Rather than follow these suspicious instructions, researchers choose "Show Package Contents" so they could see what the app was hiding. While they did find a legitimate-looking "DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter" bundle, they also found a suspicious executable file that had no developer ID. That would normally trip Apple's Gatekeeper program to block the app from opening&mdash;hence why the malicious developers prompted potential victims to unwittingly bypass these protections.</p><p>Researchers then tested the software by opening it, and found it immediately started gathering information about the machine and running a long list of processes. Interestingly, the program will not continue if it detects the computer is based in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, or Ukraine. After more processes, it sneakily asks for your password with a "macOS needs to access System Settings" prompt. Once you enter it, the programs saves your password. It then checks to make sure the password is correct.</p><p>From here, the program asks for permission to access Finder, Downloads, and your microphone, then continues to scrape details about your Mac's hardware, before scraping files from Safari (including bookmarks, cookies, and history), Notes, and Keychain (which contains your passwords). As if that weren't invasive enough, the malware then initiates the screenshot function, even muting your speakers whenever it takes a screenshot so you don't hear the sound and realize what's happening.</p><p>All the while, there<em> is</em> an actual program running as advertised, keeping the victim in the dark about all the nefarious processing churning away in the background. According to researchers, DumpMedia is just one site hosting these malicious apps. Others, such as TuneSolo, FoneDog, TunesFun, and TuneFab, all host similar streaming-converter apps, as well as Android recovery tools that feature the same malware. </p><h2>How to protect your Mac from this and other malware</h2><p>This story serves as a good reminder to be careful when downloading apps directly from the web onto your devices, whether that's a Mac, PC, Android, or an <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/ios-175-brings-iphone-sideloading-to-the-eu" target="_blank">iOS device</a> (in the E.U., anyway). While there are plenty of legitimate apps on the internet (as opposed to in an app store like Google Play or the iOS App Store), there are many that are not, so it's important to vet each program before downloading it.</p><p>Research the app, and see if others have had positive experiences with both it and its host site. Speaking of which, it's safest to download apps from the developer itself: If DumpMedia is hosting a third-party app, for example, that's riskier than if the app's developer offers it directly.</p><p>In addition, never skirt your Mac's built-in malware defenses. You might not have known that right-clicking on an app and opening rather than dragging it to the Applications folder bypasses Gatekeeper, but it does. If you follow the normal process and macOS says there's a problem with the app, believe it. Download your apps from the official Apple App Store when you can, and when you can't, exercise extra caution. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  244.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/mac-malware-can-take-screenshots-of-your-computer</link>
  245.      <dc:creator>Jake Peterson</dc:creator>
  246.      <category><![CDATA[Security]]></category>
  247.    </item>
  248.    <item>
  249.      <title>How to Split an Apple in Half With Your Bare Hands (and a Way to Cheat a Little)</title>
  250.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1839415314</guid>
  251.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  252.      <description>What human being can do that? Surely nobody but Paul Rudd!</description>
  253.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GPRC714F3A7HNJGETJ1A5/hero-image.jpg"/>
  254.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Five years ago I split my first apple in half, inspired by a video clip on the internet and the audacity to think that maybe, if I really believed in myself, I might be able to join the ranks of the apple-splitters. I achieved glory and success (the apple did in fact break in my hands) and I've been riding that high ever since. Today, I return to retell that story <em>and</em> provide an innovation: a way to cheat if your apple-splitting is not going as well as you hoped.</p><h2>What do you mean, split an apple?</h2><p>I mean you break it in half, in a way that looks like it could have been cut with a knife. Right down the middle. Here's a <a href="https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1187758434281607170" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">video</a> of Paul Rudd wowing the internet with this feat. Amazing! What human being can do that? Surely nobody but Paul Rudd! </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
  255.    <a class="text-gray-600" href="https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1187758434281607170" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">
  256.        Tweet may have been deleted
  257.    </a>
  258. </blockquote>
  259.  
  260. <p>I love a good feat of strength and/or skill. In fact, the only thing I love more is hearing that it may be more accessible than at first I assumed. (See also: my brief obsessions with bending nails and flipping kettlebells.) So I was intrigued when strength coach Adam Fisher provided a different perspective: </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
  261.    <a class="text-gray-600" href="https://twitter.com/gains_tweets/status/1188153999184322562" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">
  262.        Tweet may have been deleted
  263.    </a>
  264. </blockquote>
  265.  
  266. <p>I don&rsquo;t mean to diminish the accomplishment of cracking open an apple. It is a feat of strength, and not everybody can do it. But far more people can do it than probably suspect they can. It turns out, Adam is right. </p><p>I saw his tweet while I was at a conference, and there was a giant basket of apples in the lobby, so I could test out the apple-splitting trick ASAP. I watched a few YouTube videos on apple splitting, but ultimately it is the apple that teaches you. </p><h2>How to crack that apple</h2><p>First, if you have small hands, choose a small apple. And make sure the apple is a crunchy one; a fresh Honeycrisp works well. (My first try was a medium size Gala, and it was tough but I got it.) Consider removing the stem, not for any mechanical advantage but just so it won&rsquo;t poke you as you are squeezing. </p><p>Then: </p><ol><li><p>Locate the squishy, meaty muscle at the base of your thumb. Wedge the thumb meat of both hands into the divot at the top of the apple. </p></li><li><p>Compress the apple top to bottom as hard as you can. It may help to press the apple against your knee or another convenient surface. </p></li><li><p>While doing this, pull the apple apart, like opening a book. </p></li></ol><p>If you run into trouble, try a smaller or crispier apple.</p><p>And don&rsquo;t get discouraged. I grabbed three Gala apples from the basket at the hotel, and was only able to crack one of them. Later, when I got home, I bought a bag of small Honeycrisps and was able to split them so easily that I did a few in a row for my kids and then encouraged them to try. None of them quite managed, but I told them all to try again next year when they have grown a bit bigger. Then, suddenly nobody wanted to <em>eat</em> any of the apples, so I&rsquo;m over here gnawing on them all by myself. Anyway. Give it a try&mdash;you might surprise yourself!</p><h2>How to make the apple easier to split (aka how to cheat)</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  267.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  268.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GPRC714F3A7HNJGETJ1A5/images-1.fill.size_2000x1500.v1715008423.jpg" alt="Apple with fingernail gouges" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GPRC714F3A7HNJGETJ1A5/images-1.fill.size_800x600.v1715008423.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GPRC714F3A7HNJGETJ1A5/images-1.fill.size_1400x1050.v1715008423.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GPRC714F3A7HNJGETJ1A5/images-1.fill.size_2000x1500.v1715008423.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  269.            </div>
  270.            <div class="mt-2">
  271.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Look closely&mdash;there are two fingernail gouges on the top surface of the apple.</span>
  272.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Beth Skwarecki</span>
  273.                    </div>
  274.    </div>
  275. <p>I sat down with an apple today, thinking my only job was to take a new photo to update this post. But the apple I had on hand--a Kanzi--wasn't cooperating. What to do? I could get some different apples at the store. I could treat this as a strength performance (which it kind of is) and schedule an apple-splitting session for a day I was better rested. Or maybe I could just cheat.</p><p>I know from experience that the apple-splitting phenomenon starts with a small, audible crack. You'll hear a soft noise as it begins to split apart, and if you keep applying pressure, all of a sudden the rest of the apple will give. </p><p>So what if I give that initial split just a little bit of help? I didn't have a knife within reach, so I dug my thumbnail into the top of the apple, along the line where I imagined it would break. Then I returned to my apple-splitting efforts.</p><p>As I predicted, the cracking noise began almost immediately. My cheat didn't make the apple <em>easy</em> to split, but it seemed to get my foot in the door, so to speak. I kept the pressure on, and soon the apple cracked in half just as I was hoping. A few fingernail gouges would be easy to apply surreptitiously if you're doing this trick in front of friends, and honestly you're <em>still</em> splitting an apple in half with no tools other than your bare hands. I hereby deem this a not-too-cheaty-cheat. So go forth and split an apple, ya cheater.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  276.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/how-to-split-an-apple-in-half-with-your-bare-hands-1839415314</link>
  277.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  278.      <category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
  279.    </item>
  280.    <item>
  281.      <title>Ditch the Heavy Cream and Make This Dairy-Free Vodka Sauce</title>
  282.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX745NFZ6QH3619H4TX1T7KT</guid>
  283.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  284.      <description>Even if you're not eschewing dairy, this sauce is worth making.</description>
  285.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX745NFZ6QH3619H4TX1T7KT/hero-image.jpg"/>
  286.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have no dietary issues with eating heavy cream, but if I&rsquo;m scrounging around trying to puzzle together a last-minute dinner idea, pasta with vodka sauce rarely materializes. Not because of the vodka aspect (I happen to have plenty of that at the moment), but because I rarely have cream on hand. By a happy accident, I ended up making a simple pantry pasta that convincingly emulated the boozy cream sauce without the cream. </p><p>The concept is simple: Add canned cannellini beans to your tomato sauce and let it simmer away. Cannellini beans are prized for their velvety texture, and even the aquafaba (the cloudy water in the can) is creamier than most other bean varieties. The beans eventually break apart, releasing their silky starches and thickening the sauce while tempering the tangy tomato flavor. Don&rsquo;t think of this as a way to fool anyone into ditching cream; there&rsquo;s no mistaking that this gravy has beans in it. Instead, I like to appreciate this as simply a scrumptious vodka sauce recipe.&nbsp;</p><hr><h3>Helpful tools for your next pasta night:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/pgbmR?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=ExcelSteel%20Heavy%20Duty%20Colander&amp;short_url=pgbmR&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>ExcelSteel Heavy Duty Colander</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/joJRe?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=KitchenAid%20Stainless%20Steel%202-quart%20Pot&amp;short_url=joJRe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>KitchenAid Stainless Steel 2-quart Pot</u></a></p></li></ul><hr><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  287.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLodge-Quart-Enameled-Enamel-Lagoon%2Fdp%2FB0764492S9%2Fref%3Dsr_1_5&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Lodge+6-quart+Dutch+Oven&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01reUp38xKimHTbsMJwcqde&amp;offer_uuid=00MFlcu75MT8D5eIxAKq6ve&amp;object_type=00MFlcu75MT8D5eIxAKq6ve&amp;object_uuid=01reUp38xKimHTbsMJwcqde" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Lodge 6-quart Dutch Oven">
  288.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  289.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  290.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Lodge 6-quart Dutch Oven
  291.                </div>
  292.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Trusted name in cast iron cookware ensures consistency and great results.
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  346.        </div>
  347. </a></div>
  348. <h2>How to make dairy-free vodka sauce</h2><p>This recipe begins with the same preparation as any vodka sauce recipe&mdash;softening the aromatics and adding the vodka and tomatoes after&mdash;but instead of stirring in cream, the cannellini beans take a bit of simmering at the end. (To make a vegan vodka sauce, just omit the pancetta.) </p><h3>1. Saut&eacute; the aromatics</h3><p>Coat the bottom of a medium pot with a drizzle of olive oil and turn the heat to medium-low. Add the garlic, shallot, and minced pancetta with a pinch of salt. Saut&eacute; these ingredients until the pork begins to crisp and the aromatics become translucent.&nbsp;</p><h3>2. Add the liquids</h3><p>Stir in the red pepper flakes and add the vodka. Allow the vodka to reduce by half. This doesn&rsquo;t take much time&mdash;about a minute or two.&nbsp;</p><h3>3. Crush the creamy beans</h3><p>Add the crushed tomatoes and canned cannellini beans with their aquafaba, and a bit of water. The beans will thicken the sauce and the water will prevent any starch from burning onto the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and set it to simmer gently for 15 minutes. Every five minutes or so, stir the sauce and smash some beans with your spoon. Sometimes I use a potato masher if I have stubborn beans. If your sauce is getting too thick add a couple tablespoons of water. Once most of the beans have broken up and the sauce is the right consistency, taste it. If it needs more salt or seasonings, adjust it now. Then toss in the pasta and serve.</p><p>Note that the beans will leave behind their skins, so the sauce will always have some subtle texture to it. This doesn&rsquo;t bother me, but if you want the sauce to be silkier, push the beans through a strainer (the holes shouldn&rsquo;t be too small) before you add them to the sauce. The starchy pulp will go through and the skins will be left behind.&nbsp;</p><p>The following recipe makes two servings, and it&rsquo;s my lazy version of the above. I don&rsquo;t always have the perfect ingredient list, but the lesson here is that there&rsquo;s usually some kind of replacement in my kitchen. If you think, &ldquo;this could function the same way as that,&rdquo; give it a try. Instead of pancetta, I had cold cut sliced ham. Instead of crushed tomatoes, I had a random unfinished jar of tomato sauce. And you know what? It rocks.&nbsp;</p><h2>Lazy Dairy-Free Vodka Sauce Recipe</h2><p>Ingredients:</p><ul><li><p>1 tablespoon olive oil</p></li><li><p>1 shallot, minced</p></li><li><p>2 cloves garlic, minced</p></li><li><p>2 slices ham, chopped</p></li><li><p>&frac14; teaspoon salt</p></li><li><p>&frac14; teaspoon pepper flakes</p></li><li><p>&frac14; cup vodka</p></li><li><p>&frac12; cup jarred tomato sauce</p></li><li><p>&#8531; cup water</p></li><li><p>&frac12; can cannellini beans with aquafaba</p></li></ul><p>1. Add the olive oil to a medium pot and set the heat to medium-low. Add the shallot, garlic, ham, and salt. Stir and saut&eacute; for a couple minutes until the shallot becomes soft and translucent.&nbsp;</p><p>2. Add the red pepper flakes and the vodka. Stir, and let the liquid reduce by 50%. This will only take about a minute.&nbsp;</p><p>3. Stir in the tomato sauce, beans and aquafaba, and water. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the mixture to a simmer. Stir the sauce every five minutes, crushing beans as you stir. If the sauce ever gets too thick, add a splash of water to the mixture. After about 15 minutes the sauce should be thick, creamy, and ready to eat. Toss in your favorite pasta and serve immediately.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  349.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/dairy-free-vodka-sauce-recipe</link>
  350.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  351.      <category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>
  352.    </item>
  353.    <item>
  354.      <title>You Can Get Microsoft Office 2019 on Sale for $30 Right Now</title>
  355.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HKTXV1NB0EN3WCZYTSH4EZF0</guid>
  356.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  357.      <description>This isn't a subscription to Microsoft 365, but a one-time payment offering lifetime access to the whole suite.</description>
  358.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HKTXV1NB0EN3WCZYTSH4EZF0/hero-image.png"/>
  359.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can get Microsoft Office 2019 lifetime licenses for <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3&amp;utm_term=scsf-596587&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000001827JIAQ&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Windows</a> or <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/microsoft-office-home-business-2019-for-mac-4?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-home-business-2019-for-mac-4&amp;utm_term=scsf-596393&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000001827JIAQ&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mac</a> on sale for $29.97 right now (reg. $229) through May 12. Both versions include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote; and the Home &amp; Business edition for Mac also includes Teams, while the Professional Plus version for Windows comes with Publisher and Access. Hardware and software requirements are pretty straightforward: Macs need at least macOS Monterey, 4GB of RAM, and 10GB of free device space, while PCs need a minimum of Windows 10, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of space. Licenses come from a trusted Microsoft partner.</p><p>You can get a Microsoft Office 2019 lifetime license for Windows or Mac on sale right now through May 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT, though prices can change at any time:</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3&amp;utm_term=scsf-596587&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000001827JIAQ&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows</a>, $29.97 (reg. $229)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/microsoft-office-home-business-2019-for-mac-4?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-home-business-2019-for-mac-4&amp;utm_term=scsf-596393&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000001827JIAQ&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Office Home &amp; Business 2019 for Mac</a>, $29.97 (reg. $229)</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  360.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/microsoft-office-2019-pc-mac-sale</link>
  361.      <dc:creator>Sponsored by StackCommerce</dc:creator>
  362.      <category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>
  363.    </item>
  364.    <item>
  365.      <title>What to Start Seeding and Planting in May</title>
  366.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX6YHK0JYX6G0H4TZFB47K1W</guid>
  367.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 14:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
  368.      <description>May means you can finally start direct seeding flowers and vegetables.</description>
  369.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX6YHK0JYX6G0H4TZFB47K1W/hero-image.png"/>
  370.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>May is moving day for young seedlings. I am constantly moving trays of flowers and vegetables from the growing room to my popup greenhouse for more space, or hardening them off outside to get ready to go into the ground. As they move out, they make room to seed-start the next group of flowers and vegetables for the mid summer. If you catch me outside, there&rsquo;s a good chance there are a few seed packs in my pocket to remind me to put something in the ground, too. Summer is just starting, but there are lots of seeds to be planted right now, either inside to grow into starts, or direct seeding outside.</p><h2>Lawns</h2><p>Take advantage of the last of the rains to help germinate lawn seed. If your lawn has patches that need some reseeding or you want to plant a whole summer lawn, work with your local garden center to find the right seed. Germination is really dependent on water, so you want to balance last frost date and warm enough weather for the seed you plant with there being enough rain so you&rsquo;re not watering constantly.&nbsp;</p><p>It&rsquo;s not just traditional lawns, either. If you&rsquo;ve got an eco lawn or clover lawn, you can flesh out the area by adding red and strawberry clover seed for the summer as well as English daisy seed. Ideally, you&rsquo;re not creating a monoculture of one kind of seed, so other low lying flowers can be added in.&nbsp;</p><h2>Annual flowers</h2><p>In most parts of the U.S., you&rsquo;ll start to get enough sunshine this month to direct seed outside, which just means you&rsquo;ll plant the seeds in the soil, rather than try to grow seedlings inside to plant outside later. If you&rsquo;re going to try to direct-seed annuals like wildflowers, they can start going in the ground as soon as you&rsquo;ve reasonably passed the risk of frost. Pay attention to the packet for instructions as to depth of seeds&mdash;many seeds can not germinate by simply being sprinkled on top of the soil; they need cover of soil. Your sunflower seeds, for instance, need a depth of an inch or so. A good basic rule is that seeds need to be planted as deep as their size. So tiny seeds like celosia and poppy are ok to be sowed on the surface, but marigolds and zinnia must be planted about half an inch deep. If you want to scatter the seeds to get a more natural look rather than poke holes for the seeds, scratch up an area so there&rsquo;s soil contact for the seeds, then scatter them and cover them by sprinkling soil on top and patting it down. Finish by watering.&nbsp;</p><p>Remember that summer is finite, so if you haven&rsquo;t planted annual flower starts and you want to direct seed, you&rsquo;ll want to do so before the end of May&mdash;although you may succession-seed another round of flowers later this summer, like zinnias or sunflowers.&nbsp;</p><h2>Vegetables</h2><p>All of your tender summer vegetables benefit from going into your garden as seedlings, rather than seeds. The summer is just so short that that you want to ensure you have enough runway to grow tomatoes and eggplants and peppers before it&rsquo;s over. Generally, most people either grow or buy starts for the rest of their garden as well, including pumpkins, corn, cucumbers, squash, and beans. But you can direct-seed these, and now is the time to do so. Direct-seeding has some upsides: You don&rsquo;t need room inside to grow them or soil and pots. The downside is that seeds outside are a little more vulnerable to squirrels and birds, and those young shoots are vulnerable to snails, slugs, and squirrels. All this to say: You should over-plant (and remember to follow the seeding instructions on the seed package for the appropriate depth of different types of seeds).&nbsp;</p><p>Be sure that you take advantage of the last spring rain to germinate additional rounds of carrots. Since they need constant moisture during germination, the rain can carry the load here.&nbsp;This time of year, I leave the radish, lettuce, green onion, beet, and kohlrabi seeds outside in a protected spot so I&rsquo;ll remember to seed them once a week. You don&rsquo;t need to put out a packet&rsquo;s worth each week, just the number that you&rsquo;ll eat. It helps to mark rows as you go so you don&rsquo;t plant in a spot you&rsquo;ve already seeded.&nbsp;</p><p>My favorite tip for having a summers&rsquo; worth of lettuce is to direct seed a long, low trough planter of lettuce, but you can just pick a corner of a planting bed. Dump the whole packet of seeds in and be sure to mix it with the top layer of soil so it&rsquo;s distributed evenly. Water the packet and as it germinates, you'll have a planter packed with lettuce. But if it's <em>too</em> packed, it won&rsquo;t grow much, so each week, I grab a scoop from the end of the planter, separate those seedlings, and plant them out in the garden beds. The planter acts as a holding space for lettuce most of the summer, and each week I pluck out a few to plant.&nbsp;</p><h2>Succession planting</h2><p>Back inside, it&rsquo;s time to get your mid-summer starts planted. This can be more lettuce if you prefer to grow it inside, but also chard, brassicas, beans, cucumbers, and mid-summer flowers. Again, you can direct seed these or grow them inside, which is a far more controlled environment.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  371.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/what-to-seed-and-plant-in-may</link>
  372.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  373.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  374.    </item>
  375.    <item>
  376.      <title>All the Gardening Tasks to Tackle in May</title>
  377.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX6W28H6765XY9A0PXTCTDDB</guid>
  378.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 13:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  379.      <description>There's a lot to do, including fertilizing, planting, seeding and watching for your last freeze date to pass.</description>
  380.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX6W28H6765XY9A0PXTCTDDB/hero-image.jpg"/>
  381.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>May is when all the work you&rsquo;ve put into your yard over the years starts showing. Suddenly, what looked sparse and barren just five weeks ago is filled out with greenery and signs of life. May is a heavy work month in the garden, but if you put in the time and effort now, you&rsquo;ll have a summer full of blooms and fruit.&nbsp;</p><h2>General garden maintenance</h2><p>Watering systems may have taken a hit during winter storms, so now is the time to ensure that the controller is working, that none of your underwater pipes have burst, and that all your above-ground connections are intact. Go zone by zone and test each of your lines. If you use a hose bib setup, get it up and running, and then check it. It can still be raining in many parts of the country, but very soon you&rsquo;ll need your irrigation in place. For plants growing in full sun, you want to aim for one to two inches of water a week by watering in the morning.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Your established beds can benefit from a layer of compost, which will act as a general fertilizer, as well as create volume back in your beds if they&rsquo;ve experienced erosion during the winter. Follow the compost with a layer of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-keep-your-garden-well-mulched" target="_blank">mulch</a>. Spending this time spreading the compost and mulch will give you the opportunity to size up each part of your garden, so take notes as you go for which areas need weeding, are experiencing pests, or have plants that look like they might not have survived the winter.&nbsp;</p><h2>Shrubs, trees and vines</h2><p>A number of shrubs go through blooming cycles in spring, like lilac and forsythia. Once they&rsquo;ve bloomed, you can prune them back, and in some cases, like lilac, this may trigger a second bloom later in the season. In either case, it will take one fall task off your list and keep the garden looking tidier.&nbsp;</p><p>This is a good time to plant new woody shrubs and trees&mdash;the weather is mild, and the ground should be soft from the rains. For your existing trees, make sure you feed them with a fertilizer that is appropriate for them this month. Your garden center can help identify which fertilizer is best for the trees you have. Each of these trees will be creating shoots this month, and you should prune them back as necessary to maintain the shape of the tree and to keep fruit to an amount the tree can reasonably support. Ensure you are only using clean pruners or loppers&mdash;carry diluted bleach or Lysol with you&nbsp;in a spray bottle while outside.&nbsp;</p><p>Climbing perennial vines like clematis, roses and honeysuckle should be coming out of their slumber at this point, and you&rsquo;ll want to ensure you&rsquo;re supporting them by tying them loosely to their trellises as they climb.&nbsp;</p><h2>Annual flowers</h2><p>Garden centers should be full of annuals at this point of the year, including petunias, lobelia, marigolds and begonias. Annuals are a bit more tender than perennials, so you want to wait until you are past the risk of freezing to plant. Annuals can fill an area with color in the space and time between perennials blooming, and are ideal for window boxes and planters, where it might be hard for annuals to survive the winter. Most hanging baskets have annuals  for the same reason&mdash;they&rsquo;re just too exposed for perennials or anything else to survive winter. You can plant your baskets now, but you might need to wait until it&rsquo;s warm enough for them to come out; you want to focus on overnight temperatures and soil temperature to determine the right date.&nbsp;</p><h2>Perennial flowers</h2><p>Most people will have tulips in bloom or just completed at this point&mdash;remember not to cut them down after bloom. Tulips need their leaves in order to come back next year, so let them compost in place. Once the foliage has yellowed, it&rsquo;s ok to divide or move the bulbs. Once the tulip has bloomed, it&rsquo;s a great time for a bulb fertilizer, so they&rsquo;ll be strong next year. You can also plant summer bulbs like dahlias and cannas now, if the risk of frost is gone.</p><p>If you didn&rsquo;t get new perennials planted in April, you can still do so now, or divide the perennials you have. The ground should be very workable now, and you may be noticing which plants are ready to be divided as you move about the garden. If you&rsquo;d like them to bloom this summer, you&rsquo;ll want to get this task done in May. As you plant, ensure you&rsquo;re using slow release fertilizer in the ground where you plant.&nbsp;</p><p>Your roses need a spring fertilizer and might need some shaping at this point or help attaching to the trellis. Look for signs of stress or pests and ensure you&rsquo;re treating them with appropriate treatments. Your garden center can help.&nbsp;</p><h2>Vegetables</h2><p>Many zones across the country will start putting vegetables in the ground sometime in May, depending on the soil temperature, overnight temperature and the risk of frost. Begin hardening off vegetables like tomatoes, pepper and eggplant as appropriate. </p><p>Perennial vegetables like asparagus and artichokes should be active now. Remember to harvest asparagus daily, taking only spears that are larger than your pinky. Once spears become thinner, it&rsquo;s time to leave the plant alone for next year. Watch your artichoke plants for ants or aphid infestations, which may be sprayed off, but will return without further treatment like neem oil or nearby trap flowers like nasturtiums. Both asparagus beds and artichokes will benefit from a spring fertilizer.&nbsp;</p><p>By mid to late May, almost all regions should be planting their warn weather crops. Tomatoes, eggplant and peppers, but also beans, corn, cucumber and everything else. Your beans and corn can be direct seeded, as can melon, pumpkin and both winter and summer squash, but using starts will give you a leg up for the summer. </p><p>If you planted potatoes in the spring, it&rsquo;s likely time to <a href="https://awaytogarden.com/growing-potatoes-organically-when-and-how-to-plant-hill-and-harvest/#:~:text=Hilling%20brings%20loose%20soil%20around,the%20top%20leaves%20are%20exposed." target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">hill up</a> earth around the sprouts.&nbsp;</p><p>Thin out your strawberry beds of <a href="https://strawberryplants.org/what-are-strawberry-runners-stolons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">runners</a>. Strawberry plants can either focus their energy on producing these runners or on fruit, but aren&rsquo;t very good at doing both. Each spring the beds much be thinned to create better and larger fruit. You can give away the runners or plant them elsewhere.</p><h2>Pest control</h2><p>Reduce snail and slug populations by putting out traps and going on regular evening hunts. Doing this now, as the rains cease, will greatly reduce problems later this summer. Hang pheromone traps in your fruit trees now, which will control pests this summer and protect your fruit.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  382.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/gardening-tasks-may</link>
  383.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  384.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  385.    </item>
  386.    <item>
  387.      <title>How to Score a Discount on Spotify Premium</title>
  388.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850994502</guid>
  389.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  390.      <description>Spotify is the most popular music streaming service for a reason — but what if you don't want to pay so much for it?</description>
  391.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GMMW2DNCYV326TB0FY6XQ/hero-image.jpg"/>
  392.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you think about streaming music, it's quite likely that Spotify is the first name that comes to mind. Spotify has a massive library, a great music recommendation algorithm, and several useful features worth paying for. <a href="https://lifehacker.com/spotify-premium-is-the-best-life-hack-of-the-decade-1839959921" target="_blank">Spotify Premium</a> is the paid version of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-music-streaming-services-1850864544" target="_blank">the world&rsquo;s most popular music streaming service</a>. If you can't afford it, or don't want to pay for Spotify, you can still use its free tier. Free Spotify has some annoying limitations, though, such as a limited number of song skips and plenty of ads, and it doesn't let you see time-synced lyrics, either. You also <a href="https://lifehacker.com/you-can-make-spotify-sound-better-1849743180" target="_blank">miss out on the highest quality audio</a> and lose the ability to download music for offline listening. Although you can <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-block-ads-on-spotify-1848811961" target="_blank">block Spotify ads on some platforms</a>, the rest are dealbreakers for a lot of people.</p><h2>How much is Spotify Premium?</h2><p><a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Spotify Premium</a> has four paid plans. If you&rsquo;re buying it for yourself, you&rsquo;ll want Premium Individual, which costs $10.99 per month. For those who want to share music with one other person in their household, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/is-spotify-duo-premium-worth-it-1844237347" target="_blank">Premium Duo</a> at $14.99 per month is the best plan. For families or larger groups who want Spotify Premium, there&rsquo;s the Premium Family plan at $16.99 per month. This plan allows up to six people to sign up for one sub, but  all of them should be living at the same address.</p><p>If you&rsquo;re a student attending an accredited higher education institution, you can sign up for the Premium Student plan, which costs $5.99/month. This plan <a href="https://lifehacker.com/now-students-can-score-hulu-and-spotify-premium-for-jus-1802344039" target="_blank">also lets you access Hulu (with ads)</a>.</p><h2>How to get discounts on Spotify Premium</h2><p>The best way to save on Spotify Premium is to sign up for an annual plan using a gift card. You can get these gift cards from <a href="https://zdcs.link/eBmg7?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Amazon&amp;short_url=eBmg7&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://zdcs.link/wrmqy?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Best%20Buy&amp;short_url=wrmqy&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Best Buy</a> at $99 for an annual plan. If you&rsquo;re sure you&rsquo;ll use Spotify all year, then you end up saving $33 when compared to paying month-to-month.</p><p>Of course, you can also take advantage of Spotify Premium&rsquo;s free trials. The duration of these free trials keeps changing over time, but one thing remains the same&mdash;it only works if you've never used Spotify Premium before. You're free to create a fresh account and keep signing up for free trials for as long as you can get away with it, but remember that you'll lose your listening history and playlists each time you create a new account. At the time of writing, <a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Spotify was offering a three-month free trial on its website</a>. You may also periodically come across promotions that offer longer free trials. At the time of publication, Spotify and Tinder had a collaboration to let you <a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/ppt/tinder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">sign up for four months of Premium for free</a>. PayPal also offers a <a href="https://www.paypal.com/US/webapps/mpp/spotify-premium-offer" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">three-month Spotify Premium</a> free trial.</p><p>Your employer may also offer Spotify Premium for free. (<a href="https://partner-provisioning.spotify.com/starbucks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Starbucks is one of these employers</a>.) </p><p>You can sign up for Spotify Premium from another region that has lower pricing. For example, <a href="https://www.spotify.com/in-en/premium/#plans" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Spotify Premium in India</a> starts from as little as INR 7 per day ($0.08); the most affordable monthly plan costs INR 119 per month ($1.43). You&rsquo;ll have to use a VPN to periodically sign in from the region you choose. Know, however, that streaming deals vary by region so some artists available on Spotify USA may be missing when you sign up from other regions.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  393.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/how-to-score-a-discount-on-spotify-premium-1850994502</link>
  394.      <dc:creator>Pranay Parab</dc:creator>
  395.      <category><![CDATA[Mobile Apps]]></category>
  396.    </item>
  397.    <item>
  398.      <title>Proton Pass Can Now Judge Your Passwords and Find Your Info on the Dark Web</title>
  399.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX00Z87XNTGAVQ7T70JCDMB4</guid>
  400.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  401.      <description>Proton Pass just got some exciting new free and premium features.</description>
  402.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX00Z87XNTGAVQ7T70JCDMB4/hero-image.png"/>
  403.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Proton Pass is one of the youngest and yet <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-five-best-password-managers-5529133#:~:text=LastPass%20(free%20basic%20version%3B%20%243%2Fmo%20premium)&amp;text=LastPass'%20reliability%20and%20user%2Dfriendly,for%20almost%20a%20decade%20now." target="_blank">best password managers</a> on the market, already catching up to industry veterans like 1Password and BitWarden. Now, the company is looking to make its free password manager even more useful, while also adding in some extra functionality for premium subscribers.</p><p>At its most basic level, <a href="https://proton.me/pass" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Proton Pass</a> is completely free to all users. This gets you a genuinely competitive password manager, and now access to the new Pass Monitor and Password Health features, which will tell you if your passwords are weak or reused. The password manager will even be able to identify if your accounts do not have 2FA (two-factor authentication), which you can then activate without leaving the app or website. Proton says these checks are all done on-device, too, without sending any of your private data over the internet.</p><p>This new update also brings Proton Pass even more in line with some of its biggest competitors. 1Password, another popular manager that I&rsquo;ve used for several years, offers similar functionality, but requires a monthly subscription. Other options, like LastPass, offer a free plan, but with <a href="https://mashable.com/article/lastpass-breach-hackers-got-password-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">recent data breaches</a>, some might not be comfortable going with that option.</p><p>There's also Bitwarden, which also features a free plan and has <a href="https://lifehacker.com/bitwarden-is-now-the-best-free-alternative-to-lastpass-1846289833" target="_blank">previously earned glowing recommendations</a>. However, security reports for Bitwarden are locked behind a premium subscription that costs $10 a year.</p><p>Proton Pass, by contrast, avoids locking core functionality behind a monthly subscription. Instead, users that pick up the Pass Plus plan for $1.99 a month (or those that subscribe to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/proton-unlimited-review-worth-it-vpn-password-manager-secure-email" target="_blank">Proton Unlimited</a>) get a suite of bonus features. The newest of these is real-time Dark Web Monitoring, which was announced today and will alert you if any of your email addresses or other private information leaks onto the dark web.</p><p>This new function works in conjunction with the recent release of <a href="https://proton.me/blog/dark-web-monitoring" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Proton Mail&rsquo;s Dark Web Monitoring</a>. Premium users also get access to <a href="https://proton.me/support/proton-sentinel" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Proton Sentinel</a>, a system designed to help stop account takeovers even if someone successfully steals your Proton login details. The company says that Sentinel has stopped over 15,000 account takeovers since it launched in August of 2023.</p><p><a href="https://proton.me/blog/proton-pass-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Son Nguyen, Director of Product at Proton, says</a> &ldquo;Pass Monitor allows users to evaluate the security status of their online credentials and provides immediate alerts if their data is compromised,&rdquo; offering a proactive way to protect your important accounts and private information.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  404.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/proton-pass-free-password-health-check-premium-dark-web-monitoring</link>
  405.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  406.      <category><![CDATA[Security]]></category>
  407.    </item>
  408.    <item>
  409.      <title>13 of the Best '90s Movies to Watch With Your Kids</title>
  410.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZR1FX6K2HV36JHHCV3C1R6</guid>
  411.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  412.      <description>And you won't even have to rewind them when you're done.</description>
  413.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR1FX6K2HV36JHHCV3C1R6/hero-image.jpg"/>
  414.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Remember when every movie you loved was on a VHS tape stored in a giant plastic clamshell? Our children will never know the struggle of prying one of those things open to watch their favorite Disney classics. On the other hand, thanks to streaming, you can still show them what made family movies in the '90s so great&mdash;without the hassle of a trip tp Blockbuster (and no need to rewind them either). Here are 13 family movies from the '90s that still hold up, from obscure animated gems to great book adaptations.</p><h2><em>The Mighty Ducks </em>(1992)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  415.    <div id="video-container-Um_JU7HpSYQ"></div>
  416. </div>
  417.  
  418.  
  419. <p>It's never too early to show your kids an inspirational sports movie. You probably already know the plot of this one (or could guess it if you've ever seen any <em>other</em> sports movies): A reluctant coach teaches the worst youth team in the league the power of teamwork, with an assist with a few good montages. What makes this movie different is that the team (which ended up inspiring an actual NHL franchise) expects just as much from their coach as he does of them, and rakes him over the coals when he doesn't come through.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Cats Don't Dance</em> (1997)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  420.    <div id="video-container-B7KpF7BF0ew"></div>
  421. </div>
  422.  
  423.  
  424. <p>Chances are you missed this colorful animated gem back in the day. Due to the merger between Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting, the studio's marketing department forgot about it, so it quickly came and went from theaters. But those who have seen it absolutely love it for the songs (penned by Randy Newman), animated choreography (developed by the late, great Gene Kelly), and a fun story about a cat named Danny who dreams of breaking into Hollywood.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Tubi, The Roku Channel, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Babe: Pig in the City</em> (1998)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  425.    <div id="video-container-XoMZtqQq3LQ"></div>
  426. </div>
  427.  
  428.  
  429. <p>You and your kids don't need to see the first&nbsp;<em>Babe&nbsp;</em>to appreciate its superior follow&nbsp;up (though you won't mind watching that one either). Using the vivid color palette and visual flair he more recently brought to&nbsp;<em>Mad Max: Fury Road&nbsp;</em>franchise, director George Miller builds a tough but dreamy metropolis that tests the optimism of its hero, a wee pig trying to save his farm from bankruptcy. While this factoid may not mean much to your kids, the film is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/08/tom-waits-gives-devil-due" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">a favorite of musician Tom Waits</a>, making it much cooler than your typical kid's movie.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Starz, Digital rental</p><h2><em>A Goofy Movie </em>(1995)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  430.    <div id="video-container-wAlkZ18wZfk"></div>
  431. </div>
  432.  
  433.  
  434. <p>The '90s had its share of pop stars, but none reached the heights that "Stand Out" singer Powerline did when he appeared in this movie spin-off of the television series&nbsp;<em>Goof Troop</em>. The film chronicles a road trip between the titular dad and his teenage son Max, and the inevitable hi-jinx that ensue. When you show this cult classic to your kids, you can tell them how Powerline inspired Justin Bieber to be a performer (not true).</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Matilda</em> (1996)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  435.    <div id="video-container-hUGHWje7liM"></div>
  436. </div>
  437.  
  438.  
  439. <p>Much like today, the '90s were littered with Roald Dahl adaptations and reboots. There was&nbsp;<em>James and the Giant Peach</em>,&nbsp;<em>The Witches</em>, and this quirky little film about a young girl who uses her wits and psychic powers to get even with the sadistic adults around her. Director Danny Devito (who also plays Matilda's awful father) uses low camera angles to capture Matilda's literal point of view, a trick that makes the film visually relatable to its intended audience, who will appreciate some fantastic gags as Matilda plays tricks on her parents and attempts to keep one step ahead of her monstrous, bully of a school principal.If your kids love this one, the recent Netflix musical adaptation makes a nice chaser (though the plots differ slightly).&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong>&nbsp;Digital rental</p><h2><em>Life With Mikey</em> (1993)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  440.    <div id="video-container-UocUrbcnd6o"></div>
  441. </div>
  442.  
  443.  
  444. <p>Michael J. Fox breaks the W.C. Fields' rule of never working "with children or animals" in this film about a former child star turned talent agent who tries to land his newest pint-sized client a job. Throw in some Broadway stars like Nathan Lane, Christine Baranski, Mandy Patinkin (in a cameo), plus a young (and kind of horny) David Krumholtz, and you've got the makings of a fun family comedy.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Mouse Hunt</em> (1997)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  445.    <div id="video-container-qcNMWo7e4Fc"></div>
  446. </div>
  447.  
  448.  
  449. <p>Speaking of Nathan Lane, the actor's physical comedy chops were tested in this classic about a pair of brothers trying to flip their father's house to make a small fortune. There's only one problem: the tiny mouse who lives inside its walls won't leave, which leaves the duo no choice but to exterminate it by any means necessary. Think&nbsp;<em>Home Alone&nbsp;</em>with a rodent.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Prime Video, Paramount+, Fubo TV, MGM+, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Fly Away Home </em>(1996)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  450.    <div id="video-container-Ui9th4nhvoY"></div>
  451. </div>
  452.  
  453.  
  454. <p>Before they were a couple in Noah Baumbach's&nbsp;<em>The Squid and the Whale</em>, Jeff Daniels and Anna Paquin played a father and daughter who build a goose-shaped glider so they can lead a flock of geese on their first migration south for the winter. Assuming your children aren't into mid-2000s art house films, the pairing of these two actors won't affect their enjoyment of this heartwarming, visually stunning film.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong>&nbsp;Digital rental</p><h2><em>The Parent Trap</em> (1998)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  455.    <div id="video-container-PMAhVpgzmRU"></div>
  456. </div>
  457.  
  458.  
  459. <p>Yes, Nancy Meyers, the creative force behind nearly every romantic comedy you've loved since, well, the '90s, co-wrote and directed this remake of the Disney classic about a pair of twins (both played Lindsey Lohan, truly winning in her debut role) who scheme to reunite their divorced parents. While it borrows liberally from the 1961 original, this version is entirely its own thing, filled with humor that will satisfy adults and kids.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Casper</em> (1995)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  460.    <div id="video-container-e8RATQJIngU"></div>
  461. </div>
  462.  
  463.  
  464. <p>Finding a ghost story your kids will like without freaking them out is tough. But somehow, in the '90s, they got one right. Based on the beloved comic and cartoon,&nbsp;<em>Casper&nbsp;</em>focuses more on slapstick than scares, with a cute (and innocent) teenage love story thrown in: Christina Ricci plays a young teenager who moves into a dilapidated old house with her ghost hunter father, who is shocked to discover it is inhabited by real ghosts&mdash;including one who is very friendly.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong>&nbsp;Digital rental</p><h2><em>The Sandlot</em> (1993)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  465.    <div id="video-container-iXOOL6SygW8"></div>
  466. </div>
  467.  
  468.  
  469. <p>I know I already put one sports movie on this list, but if I had left this one off, I know it would have come up in the comments. On the off chance you're unfamiliar with this classic, the plot revolves around a group of neighborhood boys trying to retrieve a valuable signed Babe Ruth baseball from their neighbor's backyard, guarded by his huge, slobbery Mastiff. What makes it memorable are the vignettes spread throughout the film, each of which captures a genuine slice of childhood whimsy. </p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Harriet the Spy</em> (1996)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  470.    <div id="video-container-XAz0GQW_-kA"></div>
  471. </div>
  472.  
  473.  
  474. <p>Before&nbsp;<em>Mean Girls</em>&nbsp;brought the concept of "burn books" into the cultural lexicon, there was&nbsp;<em>Harriet the Spy</em>. Based on the novel by Louise Fitzhugh, the movie follows grade schooler Harriet as she writes all her thoughts about her friends in her notebooks. But when one of her tomes is discovered by a classmate who shares all the secrets inside, her friends begin shutting her out. Though there is a clear moral to be learned from Harriet's shenanigans, it's a fun journey getting to it.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Hoopla, Paramount+, Fubo TV, Digital rental</p><h2><em>Muppet Treasure Island</em> (1996)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  475.    <div id="video-container--37gsH0ideE?si"></div>
  476. </div>
  477.  
  478.  
  479. <p>Since your children are probably not old enough to watch&nbsp;<em>Clue&nbsp;</em>or&nbsp;<em>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</em>, you can introduce them to the genius of Tim Curry with this wacky adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel concerning pirates and treasure. They won't be disappointed.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:&nbsp;</strong>Disney+, Digital rental</p>]]></content:encoded>
  480.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-1990s-kids-movies</link>
  481.      <dc:creator>Jason Keil</dc:creator>
  482.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  483.    </item>
  484.    <item>
  485.      <title>Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Monday, May 6, 2024</title>
  486.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HPSRBPR2YKM9J2478XJF3K9H</guid>
  487.      <pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  488.      <description>Here are some hints to help you win Wordle #1,052.</description>
  489.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HPSRBPR2YKM9J2478XJF3K9H/hero-image.jpg"/>
  490.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&rsquo;re looking for the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Wordle</u></a> answer for May 6, 2024 read on. We&rsquo;ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today&rsquo;s puzzle is medium difficult; I got it in five. <strong>Beware, there are spoilers below for May 6, Wordle #1,052!</strong> Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today&rsquo;s Wordle game.</p><h2>How to play Wordle</h2><p>Wordle lives <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>here on the New York Times website</u></a>. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.</p><p>Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if they&rsquo;re correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn&rsquo;t in the day&rsquo;s secret word at all. For more, check out <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-master-or-cheat-at-wordle-the-internets-favor-1848312354" target="_blank"><u>our guide to playing Wordle here</u></a>, and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-you-lost-wordle-today-1850348061" target="_blank"><u>my strategy guide here for more advanced tips</u></a>. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)</p><p>Ready for the hints? Let&rsquo;s go!</p><hr><h2>Does today&rsquo;s Wordle have any unusual letters?</h2><p>We&rsquo;ll define common letters as those that appear in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etaoin_shrdlu" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>old typesetters&rsquo; phrase</u></a> ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it &ldquo;Edwin Shirdloo,&rdquo; like a name, and pretend he&rsquo;s a friend of yours.)</p><p>Four of today's letters are in our mnemonic. The other is uncommon. </p><h2>Can you give me a hint for today&rsquo;s Wordle?</h2><p>As a verb, a task in the shower or over the sink.  </p><h2>Does today&rsquo;s Wordle have any double or repeated letters?</h2><p>No repeated letters today.&nbsp;</p><h2>How many vowels are in today&rsquo;s Wordle?</h2><p>There are two vowels.&nbsp;</p><h2>What letter does today&rsquo;s Wordle start with?</h2><p>Today&rsquo;s word starts with S.&nbsp;</p><h2>What letter does today&rsquo;s Wordle end with?</h2><p>Today&rsquo;s word ends with E.&nbsp;</p><h2>What is the solution to today&rsquo;s Wordle?</h2><p>Ready? Today&rsquo;s word is SHAVE.</p><h2>How I solved today&rsquo;s Wordle</h2><p>After RAISE and CLOMP, I tried SHADE to eliminate common letters. From here, I had only two possibilities: SHAKE and SHAVE. I tried the former first, but the latter was the solution.  </p><pre class="back border-2 border-gray-400 bg-gray-100 p-4 text-black shadow-md">Wordle 1,052 5/6
  491.  
  492. &#11035;&#129000;&#11035;&#129000;&#129001;
  493. &#11035;&#11035;&#11035;&#11035;&#11035;
  494. &#129001;&#129001;&#129001;&#11035;&#129001;
  495. &#129001;&#129001;&#129001;&#11035;&#129001;
  496. &#129001;&#129001;&#129001;&#129001;&#129001;</pre>
  497. <hr><h2>Yesterday&rsquo;s Wordle answer</h2><p>Yesterday&rsquo;s Wordle was easier. The hint was &ldquo;something you stick on your car,&rdquo; and the answer contained four common letters and one fairly common letter. </p><p>The answer to yesterday&rsquo;s Wordle was DECAL. </p><h2>A primer on Wordle basics</h2><p>The idea of Wordle is to guess the day&rsquo;s secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you&rsquo;ll see an empty grid of letters. It&rsquo;s up to <em>you</em> to make the first move: type in any five-letter word.&nbsp;</p><p>Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word:&nbsp;<strong>Green</strong> means you correctly guessed a letter, and it&rsquo;s in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)</p><ul><li><p><strong>Yellow</strong> means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)</p></li><li><p><strong>Gray</strong> means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution <em>cannot</em> be PURSE or ROAST.)</p></li></ul><p>With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then it&rsquo;s game over.</p><h2>The best starter words for Wordle</h2><p>What should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that&rsquo;s <em>still</em> excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn&rsquo;t a single &ldquo;best&rdquo; starting word, but the New York Times&rsquo;s <a href="https://lifehacker.com/this-bot-can-tell-you-how-good-you-really-are-at-wordle-1848769075" target="_blank"><u>Wordle analysis bot</u></a> has suggested starting with one of these:</p><ul><li><p>CRANE</p></li><li><p>TRACE</p></li><li><p>SLANT</p></li><li><p>CRATE</p></li><li><p>CARTE</p></li></ul><p>Meanwhile, an MIT analysis <a href="https://lifehacker.com/science-thinks-it-has-found-the-best-wordle-starter-1849541276" target="_blank"><u>found</u></a> that you&rsquo;ll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:</p><ul><li><p>SALET</p></li><li><p>REAST</p></li><li><p>TRACE</p></li><li><p>CRATE</p></li><li><p>SLATE</p></li></ul><p>Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it&rsquo;s better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.</p><h2>How to win at Wordle</h2><p>We have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if you&rsquo;re a serious student of the game. <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-win-at-wordle-according-to-my-wife-1848480285" target="_blank"><u>This one</u></a> covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-master-or-cheat-at-wordle-the-internets-favor-1848312354" target="_blank"><u>this one</u></a> focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In <a href="https://lifehacker.com/you-should-try-quordle-if-youre-too-good-at-wordle-1848540319" target="_blank"><u>this advanced guide</u></a>, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.</p><p>The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners <a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-you-lost-wordle-today-1850348061" target="_blank"><u>use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word</u></a>. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, don&rsquo;t waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.</p><p>One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/wordle-has-themes-now-so-you-should-change-your-strate-1849840529" target="_blank"><u>the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions</u></a>. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldn&rsquo;t have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.</p><h2>Wordle alternatives</h2><p>If you can&rsquo;t get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-10-best-wordle-alternatives-ranked-by-difficulty-1848859009" target="_blank"><u>best Wordle alternatives</u></a>, ranked by difficulty, include:</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://wheelsrpgs.itch.io/wheeldle" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after another</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zaratustra.itch.io/dordle" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Dordle</u></a> and <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/games/quordle/#/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Quordle</u></a>, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also <a href="https://octordle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Octordle</u></a>, with eight puzzles, and <a href="https://www.sedecordle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Sedecordle</u></a>, with 16.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://wafflegame.net/daily" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Waffle</u></a>, which <a href="https://lifehacker.com/waffle-is-the-new-wordle-1848793653" target="_blank"><u>shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid</u></a>; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://qntm.org/files/absurdle/absurdle.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Absurdle</u></a>, which <a href="https://lifehacker.com/try-this-game-if-youre-already-too-good-at-wordle-1848356298" target="_blank"><u>changes the solution after each guess</u></a>, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/squabble-lets-you-beat-other-people-at-wordle-in-real-t-1848849342" target="_blank"><u>Squabble</u></a>, in which you <a href="https://lifehacker.com/squabble-lets-you-beat-other-people-at-wordle-in-real-t-1848849342" target="_blank"><u>play Wordle against other people with a timer running</u></a>. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.antiwordle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Antiwordle</u></a>, in which you <a href="https://lifehacker.com/i-hate-antiwordle-and-thats-why-i-play-it-every-mornin-1848756496" target="_blank"><em><u>are trying not to guess the day&rsquo;s solution</u></em></a>. You&rsquo;re required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  498.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/wordle-hint-answer-today</link>
  499.      <dc:creator>Emily Long</dc:creator>
  500.      <category><![CDATA[Wordle]]></category>
  501.    </item>
  502.    <item>
  503.      <title>The Best Services, or Mini-apps, to Add to Your Mac</title>
  504.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK</guid>
  505.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  506.      <description>Hear text read out loud, quickly do math problems, or look up links without opening your browser</description>
  507.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/hero-image.png"/>
  508.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the most under-appreciated Mac features is the services menu, which you can find by right-clicking just about anything&mdash;highlighted text, say, or any image. Hover over the "Services" section and you'll see a bunch of quick actions. You can find this same collection in the menu bar: just click the name of the application that's currently open and hover over <strong>Services</strong>.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  509.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  510.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-1.fill.size_2000x938.v1714593097.png" alt="The services menu can also be found in the menu bar. Dictact is once again highlighted. " width="2000" height="938" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-1.fill.size_800x375.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-1.fill.size_1400x656.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-1.fill.size_2000x938.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  511.            </div>
  512.            <div class="mt-2">
  513.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  514.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  515.                    </div>
  516.    </div>
  517. <p>There are all kinds of useful options here. You can, for example, look up a word in the dictionary, or add a bit of text to your to-do list. You can open a URL using <a href="https://lifehacker.com/iina-is-mac-focused-video-player-with-modern-design-1791034517" target="_blank">IINA, a great video player for Mac</a>. You get the idea: you can automate whatever it is that is selected. You can take control of which things do, and do not, show up by open <strong>System Settings</strong> and heading to <strong>Keyboard</strong> &gt; <strong>Keyboard Shortcuts</strong> &gt; <strong>Services</strong>. From here you can check or uncheck items. You can also set custom keyboard shortcuts for these services.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  518.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  519.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-2.fill.size_2000x870.v1714593097.png" alt="System Settings opened to the Services sub-section of the keyboard shortcuts window. Various services are visible&mdash;the user can check the ones they want to enable, and also set keyboard shortcuts." width="2000" height="870" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-2.fill.size_800x348.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-2.fill.size_1400x609.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-2.fill.size_2000x870.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  520.            </div>
  521.            <div class="mt-2">
  522.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  523.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  524.                    </div>
  525.    </div>
  526. <p>Where things get really fun, though, is when you look into the custom services you can download. Here are a few of the best apps I could find that add cool features to the services menu on your Mac.</p><h2>Dictater reads text to you out loud</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  527.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  528.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-3.fill.size_2000x768.v1714593097.png" alt="The software, Dictator, shows text&mdash;the current word being read is highlighted. A toolbar allows the user to pause the reading or to skip ahead and behind. " width="2000" height="768" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-3.fill.size_800x307.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-3.fill.size_1400x538.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-3.fill.size_2000x768.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  529.            </div>
  530.            <div class="mt-2">
  531.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  532.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  533.                    </div>
  534.    </div>
  535. <p>The Mac comes with a built-in service for reading text, but I don't really like it very much. <a href="http://nosrac.github.io/Dictater/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Dictater</a>, in my experience, works a lot better. With this application you can highlight any text, in any app, and have it read out loud. There's a pop-up window with buttons to play and jump forward and backward, and an optional window you can open to see the text on screen as it is read. You can change the voice used in <strong>System Settings</strong> &gt; <strong>Accessibility</strong> &gt; <strong>Spoken Content</strong>, if you like&mdash;I prefer to use one of the high-quality Siri voices.</p><h2>CalcService does math</h2><p>CalcService is a <a href="https://www.devontechnologies.com/support/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">free download</a> that lets you do math in any text field. With the app installed you can highlight any mathematical formula in any app&mdash;for example, <code>(62*7)/4</code>, and get an answer right in place, like this: <code>(62*7)/4 = 108.5</code>. It's magic, and even better once you create a keyboard shortcut for the feature.</p><h2>WordService</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  536.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  537.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-4.fill.size_2000x1472.v1714593097.png" alt="A simple pop-up window with statistics about the currently highlighted text. There are 252 characters and 72 spaces for a total of 324. There are 54 words and 20 lines. " width="2000" height="1472" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-4.fill.size_800x589.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-4.fill.size_1400x1031.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-4.fill.size_2000x1472.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  538.            </div>
  539.            <div class="mt-2">
  540.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  541.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  542.                    </div>
  543.    </div>
  544. <p>WordService comes as a <a href="https://www.devontechnologies.com/support/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">free download</a> from Devon Technologies, the same company that made CalcService. This one offers all kinds of tools for working with text, the most obviously useful of which allows you to get a word count and character count for any text you highlight. This is useful for all kinds of things, from composing social media posts to long-form writing. But there's so much more here to dig into. There are actions for converting text that's in all caps to lowercase, and vice versa. There are actions for inserting the current time, or the current date. And there are actions for adding or removing smart quotes from a block of text. If you publish things online regularly, this is a good collection of tools to have around.</p><h2>SearchLink quickly looks for a link and adds it</h2><p><a href="https://brettterpstra.com/projects/searchlink/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">SearchLink</a> is a little harder to explain but I love it. Basically, you can highlight any text, trigger the service, and the tool will automatically search the web for the term and add a markdown-formatted link. So, for example, here's a text document with my name in it:</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  545.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  546.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-5.fill.size_2000x673.v1714593097.png" alt='A text document with the name "Justin Pot" highlighted. ' width="2000" height="673" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-5.fill.size_800x269.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-5.fill.size_1400x471.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-5.fill.size_2000x673.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  547.            </div>
  548.            <div class="mt-2">
  549.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  550.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  551.                    </div>
  552.    </div>
  553. <p>If I run SearchLink on the highlighted text, which is my name, the document looks like this:</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  554.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  555.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-6.fill.size_2000x686.v1714593097.png" alt="The same text document as before, but a link formatted in markdown was added. Like this: [Justin Pot](https://justinpot.com/)|" width="2000" height="686" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-6.fill.size_800x274.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-6.fill.size_1400x480.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-6.fill.size_2000x686.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  556.            </div>
  557.            <div class="mt-2">
  558.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  559.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  560.                    </div>
  561.    </div>
  562. <p>The link has been added, without me having to open a browser. This can save you a lot of time while writing, assuming that you do that writing in markdown. And there are more advanced features you can dig into, including one that will fill in all the links in a document. It's a great tool to have around.</p><h2>Shortcuts can work this way too</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  563.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  564.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-7.fill.size_2000x1488.v1714593097.png" alt='The right-panel of the Apple Shortcuts application, with various options for this specific shortcut. The "Use as Quick Action" option is checked, as is "Services Menu". ' width="2000" height="1488" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-7.fill.size_800x595.v1714593097.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-7.fill.size_1400x1042.v1714593097.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTVCSMCWA0CS0TJ43X2VJEK/images-7.fill.size_2000x1488.v1714593097.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  565.            </div>
  566.            <div class="mt-2">
  567.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  568.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  569.                    </div>
  570.    </div>
  571. <p>Didn't quite find the app you want? You could try building one yourself. Any shortcut you build in Apple Shortcuts can function as a service. Just make sure <strong>Use as Quick Action</strong> and <strong>Services Menu</strong> are highlighted in the <strong>Shortcut details </strong>pane. Check out our list of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/9-of-the-most-helpful-shortcuts-to-automate-tasks-on-yo-1847982949" target="_blank">the most helpful Shortcuts on macOS</a> if you need a few ideas of how to put this to work.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  572.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/best-services-mini-apps-to-add-macos</link>
  573.      <dc:creator>Justin Pot</dc:creator>
  574.      <category><![CDATA[Computing]]></category>
  575.    </item>
  576.    <item>
  577.      <title>How to Find Your Local and External IP Address</title>
  578.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ</guid>
  579.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 16:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
  580.      <description>It's a key bit of info, and here's where it is.</description>
  581.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/hero-image.png"/>
  582.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Your IP address is something you usually don't need to think about&mdash;in fact you might never have heard of it before&mdash;but it's an important little piece of information attached to every device on your home network. Knowing the ins and outs of IP addresses can be useful in configuring the wifi network in your home, troubleshooting connection problems, and keeping your devices safe while they're online. Here's where you can find them, and what they do.</p><h2>What is an IP address?</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  583.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  584.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714569329.jpg" alt="macOS IP address" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714569329.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714569329.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714569329.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  585.            </div>
  586.            <div class="mt-2">
  587.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Every connected device has at least one IP address.</span>
  588.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  589.                    </div>
  590.    </div>
  591. <p>An IP address is an Internet Protocol address: It works a bit like a postal address does for the place where you live, enabling websites and web servers to find you and maintain a working connection. It's an essential bit of code in making the internet work, and it looks like a series of numbers and letters with a bit of punctuation thrown in.</p><p>Every device connected to your router at home will have a local (or private) IP address, which helps the router figure out which gadget is which and keep everything running smoothly. In addition, your router has an external (or public) IP address it broadcasts to the world, which helps everything else on the internet find you.</p><p>You'll come across both the older, simpler IPv4 addresses and the newer, more complex IPv6 addresses for your devices. Most current hardware makes use of both, but eventually it's expected that IPv4 will be phased out, albeit very slowly&mdash;IPv6 was introduced all the way back in 1995 because the internet was quite simply running out of addresses to use.</p><p>All of this is handled behind the scenes by your wifi router and your internet provider, fortunately. In fact, most routers and internet providers give dynamic IP addresses for local and external use, which are changing all the time (it's a bit easier and more cost-effective that way)&mdash;but your connection to the internet at large isn't affected.</p><p>You'll only really need to know your IP address for specific scenarios, usually involving some change in network configuration: Maybe you're connecting up a network drive to the web that you need to access remotely, for example, or you're trying to get online multiplayer features working on a games console. Here's how to find out what your IP addresses currently are.</p><h2>How to find your external IP address</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  592.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  593.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714569329.jpg" alt="IP address website" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714569329.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714569329.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714569329.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  594.            </div>
  595.            <div class="mt-2">
  596.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">There's no shortage of websites around to tell you your IP address.</span>
  597.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  598.                    </div>
  599.    </div>
  600. <p>A host of different websites will tell you your IP address: It's a piece of information you give to every site you visit in exchange for connecting to them, though you can switch to a different external IP address by <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-set-up-vpn-on-iphone" target="_blank">setting up a VPN</a>. Remember, too, that as we've said, most internet providers give you a dynamic IP address that regularly changes.</p><p>VPNs will broadcast the IP address of one of their servers somewhere in the world, which means your external IP address stays hidden from the sites you load up. If you want to get at your external IP address, make sure you're not currently using a VPN.</p><p>With that check completed, all you need to do is visit a website such as the aptly named <a href="https://whatismyipaddress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">WhatIsMyIPAddress</a> and you'll get both your IPv6 and IPv4 addresses on screen. (Depending on how the network you're using has been set up, across both hardware and software, you may only see an IPv4 or an IPv6 address.) You can also just type "what is my IP?" into Google and the search engine should tell you (though it might not be the top result).</p><h2>How to find your internal IP address</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  601.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  602.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714569329.jpg" alt="Windows IP address" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714569329.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-3.fill.size_1400x788.v1714569329.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT4QEG6PFRHSY9SAJZ8QVQZ/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714569329.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  603.            </div>
  604.            <div class="mt-2">
  605.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Getting your IP address on Windows.</span>
  606.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  607.                    </div>
  608.    </div>
  609. <p>On a Windows computer, go to Settings from the Start menu, open up the <strong>Network &amp; internet</strong> page and click either <strong>wifi</strong> and then the network name, or <strong>Ethernet</strong>, depending on how you're connected. Your local IPv6 and IPv4 addresses are then included in the information on screen, with a handy <strong>Copy</strong> button next to the details.</p><p>Over in macOS land, you need to open the <strong>Apple</strong> menu, then choose <strong>System Settings</strong> and <strong>Network</strong>. Pick <strong>wifi</strong> or <strong>Ethernet</strong>, depending on how you're currently connected to the internet, then select <strong>Details</strong> next to the network you're on. The Mac's local IP address is listed on the next screen, together with your router's IP address.</p><p>Next, the iPhone. From the main iOS Settings screen, tap <strong>wifi</strong>, then the small blue information bubble next to your current network to see your IP addresses. Note that phones will often have several listed&mdash;sometimes for extra privacy protection, and also to account for both wifi and cellular connections.</p><p>As usual for Android, the exact menu names and structure vary depending on your phone: On Pixels, open Settings and tap <strong>Network and Internet</strong> and <strong>Internet</strong>. Next to the network you're currently on there will be a gear icon: Tap this, then scroll down to see the IP address of your device.</p><p>With Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings and select <strong>Connections</strong>, <strong>wifi</strong>, and then the gear icon next to the network you're currently hooked up to. Choose <strong>View more</strong> to see the relevant IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. If you're not using a Pixel or Galaxy phone, you should be able to find something along these lines through the internet options in Settings.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  610.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-find-ip-address</link>
  611.      <dc:creator>David Nield</dc:creator>
  612.      <category><![CDATA[Internet]]></category>
  613.    </item>
  614.    <item>
  615.      <title>Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Indoor Garden</title>
  616.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWT0A3K6QZCA8YB7JV8KSD62</guid>
  617.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 15:30:15 +0000</pubDate>
  618.      <description>Tools like automation, a level, and a massage wand turn out to be really useful for getting the most out your indoor hydroponic garden.</description>
  619.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWT0A3K6QZCA8YB7JV8KSD62/hero-image.png"/>
  620.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Even as we move into gardening seasoning outside, I am keeping all of my indoor gardens going through the summer months. I've been surprised by how handy it is to have these gardens nearby and how it leads to me using crops like fresh herbs more often. The side effect I didn't expect was how much I enjoy having the actual plants and greenery around in my bedroom and living room: The gardens produce a calming tickling-water sound, like a creek, and I love the smell of the plants. If gardening outside isn't for you, you might find one of these indoor gardening sets that require almost no skill to be just the trick. </p><p>These commercial sets include everything you might need, from the seed cups and growing medium, to the lights, and the use a pump to recirculate the water at regular intervals. Small sets like the <a href="https://zdcs.link/rdZnX?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Aerogarden%20Harvest&amp;short_url=rdZnX&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Aerogarden Harvest</u></a> or <a href="https://zdcs.link/lVj2r?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Letpot&amp;short_url=lVj2r&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Letpot</u> </a>can sit on a countertop and large ones like <a href="https://zdcs.link/W0Ood?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Rise&amp;short_url=W0Ood&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Rise</u></a> need their own space on the floor. Here are the tips I&rsquo;ve developed to use these gardens more effectively.&nbsp;</p><h2>Buy a level</h2><p>Hydroponic gardens work by keeping the roots of the plant constantly hydrated either in a pool of recirculating water or by routinely &ldquo;watering&rdquo; them via a pump. For this to work effectively, the entire system has to be level. Usually, bigger kits like Rise will have leveling feet to help with this, but a system like LettuceGrow doesn&rsquo;t, so you&rsquo;ll need shims. You still need to ensure your countertop garden is level. When they&rsquo;re not, the water will list to one side of the garden, and some roots might not get hydrated. If only one side of your garden is germinating, this might be the cause.&nbsp;</p><h2>Grow the right crops</h2><p>Hydro gardens grow crops in a tight space, with a finite amount of &ldquo;sunlight&rdquo; and no soil for roots to steady themselves in. While almost anything will still grow, crops that are going to require a lot of support like squash can&rsquo;t flourish. Crops with a really long grow period, like pumpkins, also are not ideal for the system, since you&rsquo;ll need to turn the garden system over before the pumpkin is done and it will grow out of the &ldquo;sunlight.&rdquo; Moreover, while smaller and smaller vegetable plants are always being bred (I recently grew actual tomatoes on eight-inch tall plants from Aerogarden), it doesn&rsquo;t mean they&rsquo;ll taste good. I&rsquo;ve been really disappointed by fruit and vegetables grown in hydroponic environments; while they still receive nutrition, sunlight and water, they usually just don&rsquo;t taste great. So while you <em>can</em> grow almost anything, I&rsquo;ve found that simply growing herbs or simpler, short crops like peas is the best way to go.&nbsp;</p><h2>Learn how to self-pollinate</h2><p>Since your hydroponic garden won&rsquo;t be visited by bees to do the work of carrying pollen from plant to plant, you&rsquo;ll need to do that if you grow any type of fruit or vegetable. I&rsquo;ve seen many of these gardens advise casually shaking the plants from time to time, but this is disingenuous. To achieve good pollination rates, you need to really vibrate the plants and do it often while there are flowers. The best way I&rsquo;ve found to do this is with a real vibrator or massage wand and to use a smart automation to have it run for a minute every few hours. I specifically looked for one that plugged in and used a manual switch, rather than a button to be powered on each time. This way, I could leave the want plugged in and on, and just set an automation for the outlet it was plugged into. I just left it set on top of the garden, but you could also tape it to the back. As long as it&rsquo;s attached in some way to the garden, it will vibrate it enough that the pollen will be freed and form a cloud of yellow dust that will settle onto the blossoms and pollinate them.&nbsp;</p><h2>Grow any seed you&rsquo;d like</h2><p>Most companies that make hydroponic gardens sell seed packs or starts for those gardens, and they&rsquo;re quite expensive. But the gardens provide everything a plant needs to grow: sunlight, nutrition, and water. You can always purchase aftermarket pods and growing medium and plant your own seeds. There&rsquo;s nothing particularly special about the lettuce or herb seeds they&rsquo;re using, and you likely have seeds or can purchase a packet of them, cheaply. While small &ldquo;patio&rdquo; vegetables are bred specifically for these purposes, you can usually purchase similar varieties online (although, again, growing them is mostly for sport as they don&rsquo;t taste great).&nbsp;</p><h2>Be vigilant about pest prevention</h2><p>Plants will attract pests like aphids and gnats on their own with little work. Hydro gardens seem to worsen the problem, so you have to be proactive. Always ensure there is no standing water around, from a leaking unit or when you add water to the unit. Using traps nearby is a good idea&mdash;I like the <a href="https://zdcs.link/0PBxe?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Zevo&amp;short_url=0PBxe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Zevo</u></a> flying insect traps that use UV light to attract the insects. You can consider adding nasturtium flowers to your garden&mdash;not in abundance, but in one of the growing pods since they work to &ldquo;trap&rdquo; aphids. The aphids are attracted to the nasturtium, and just hang out on it, avoiding your other plants; you just leave the nasturtium to do it&rsquo;s work.&nbsp;</p><p>The secret sauce, for me, has been using smaller gardens for growing herbs, which&nbsp;I use consistently, making sure I am hacking the plants back on a regular basis to keep them from bolting. For larger gardens, I grow greens like lettuce, celery, celery, chard, and spinach. Using small, compact plants like these means that nothing is crowded out, there&rsquo;s no fruit to be disappointed by or that will take too much time, and you ultimately end up pretty satisfied with the experience.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  621.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/best-ways-to-grow-herbs-inside</link>
  622.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  623.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  624.    </item>
  625.    <item>
  626.      <title>How to Choose Between the Peloton Bike and the Bike+</title>
  627.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4</guid>
  628.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 15:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
  629.      <description>The Bike is good enough for most of us, but the Bike+ has some pretty sweet upgrades.</description>
  630.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/hero-image.jpg"/>
  631.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With some products, like phones, you have a myriad of options to sort through. But if you want to buy one of Peloton's spin bikes, you only have <a href="https://zdcs.link/vdGoE?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=two%20choices&amp;short_url=vdGoE&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>two choices</u></a>: the Bike or the Bike+ (pronounced &ldquo;bike plus&rdquo;). That little &ldquo;+&rdquo; costs an extra <em>thousand dollars</em>, so is it really worth it? Let&rsquo;s dive in.&nbsp;</p><h2>Overview of the important features</h2><p>I&rsquo;ll go over the details below, but here&rsquo;s the short answer: if you just want &ldquo;a Peloton,&rdquo; the regular Bike is the original. It&rsquo;s the one most people have, it&rsquo;s cheaper, and it does the job just fine. <strong>I have a regular Bike and I&rsquo;ve never felt like I&rsquo;m missing out. </strong>The regular price for a Bike is $1,445, but with a good sale you can find it closer to $1,000. If you're <a href="https://lifehacker.com/peloton-bike-review-1850804329" target="_blank">willing to look at used models</a>, they can often be had in the mid to high triple digits.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  632.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FAd1RL&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Original+Peloton+Bike+%7C+Indoor+Stationary+Exercise+Bike+with+Immersive+22%22+HD+Touchscreen+%28Updated+Seat+Post%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FAd1RL" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label='Original Peloton Bike | Indoor Stationary Exercise Bike with Immersive 22" HD Touchscreen (Updated Seat Post)'>
  633.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  634.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  635.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Original Peloton Bike | Indoor Stationary Exercise Bike with Immersive 22" HD Touchscreen (Updated Seat Post)
  636.                </div>
  637.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  638.                                            <div class="self-end">
  639.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  640.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  641.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,250.00</span>
  642.                    </div>
  643.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  644.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,445.00</span>
  645.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $195.00</span>
  646.        </div>
  647.    </div>
  648.                            </div>
  649.                        </div>
  650.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  651.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  652.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  653.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  654.    </div>
  655. </div>
  656.                        </div>
  657.                                    </div>
  658.            </div>
  659.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  660.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/images-3.fill.size_245x277.v1714595426.jpg" alt="Peloton Bike" width="245" height="277" loading="lazy">
  661.                            </div>
  662.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  663.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/images-3.fill.size_245x277.v1714595426.jpg" alt="Peloton Bike" width="245" height="277" loading="lazy">
  664.                            </div>
  665.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  666.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  667.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  668.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  669.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  670.    </div>
  671. </div>
  672.                    </div>
  673.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  674.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  675.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  676.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,250.00</span>
  677.                    </div>
  678.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  679.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,445.00</span>
  680.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $195.00</span>
  681.        </div>
  682.    </div>
  683.                    </div>
  684.                            </div>
  685.        </div>
  686. </a></div>
  687. <p>The Bike+ costs significantly more, so what are you paying for? The <strong>tech components are nicer</strong>, so the on-screen experience will feel a bit faster and smoother. Other than that, the big features are <strong>auto-resistance</strong> (the bike will follow along with classes without you having to turn the knob) and a <strong>swiveling screen</strong> so you can turn it to the side for things like strength workouts and guided yoga sessions. List price on the Bike+ is $2,495, with deals sometimes bringing it as low as $1,995. Refurbished and used models will, of course, cost a bit less.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  688.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FW0O4K&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Peloton+Bike%2B+%7C+Indoor+Stationary+Exercise+Bike+with+24%E2%80%9D+HD%2C+Anti-Reflective+Rotating+Touchscreen&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FW0O4K" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Peloton Bike+ | Indoor Stationary Exercise Bike with 24&rdquo; HD, Anti-Reflective Rotating Touchscreen">
  689.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  690.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  691.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Peloton Bike+ | Indoor Stationary Exercise Bike with 24&rdquo; HD, Anti-Reflective Rotating Touchscreen
  692.                </div>
  693.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  694.                                            <div class="self-end">
  695.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  696.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  697.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$2,100.00</span>
  698.                    </div>
  699.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  700.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$2,495.00</span>
  701.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $395.00</span>
  702.        </div>
  703.    </div>
  704.                            </div>
  705.                        </div>
  706.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  707.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  708.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  709.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  710.    </div>
  711. </div>
  712.                        </div>
  713.                                    </div>
  714.            </div>
  715.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  716.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/images-2.fill.size_245x279.v1714594791.jpg" alt="Peloton Bike+" width="245" height="279" loading="lazy">
  717.                            </div>
  718.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  719.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/images-2.fill.size_245x279.v1714594791.jpg" alt="Peloton Bike+" width="245" height="279" loading="lazy">
  720.                            </div>
  721.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  722.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  723.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  724.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  725.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  726.    </div>
  727. </div>
  728.                    </div>
  729.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  730.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  731.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  732.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$2,100.00</span>
  733.                    </div>
  734.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  735.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$2,495.00</span>
  736.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $395.00</span>
  737.        </div>
  738.    </div>
  739.                    </div>
  740.                            </div>
  741.        </div>
  742. </a></div>
  743. <h2>What&rsquo;s the same between the Bike and the Bike+</h2><p>Most of the differences between the two bikes are tech-related, and we&rsquo;ll get into those in a minute. But first, you should know what&rsquo;s the same between the two bikes.&nbsp;</p><p>First, they&rsquo;re the same size. Both have the same footprint, 4 feet by 2 feet&mdash;Peloton recommends that you allow 24 inches on each side of the bike, and that you put it in an area with at least 8-foot-high ceilings. This allows even tall riders to be able to stand up and pedal. (If you don&rsquo;t care about standing, or if you&rsquo;re shorter, you might be able to squeeze into a tighter space. I&rsquo;m 5&rsquo;6&rdquo; and never had an issue with my attic&rsquo;s 7-foot ceilings.)</p><p>The controls and the frame are the same, with the exception that the original Bike had a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/peloton-is-recalling-millions-of-bikes-1850428672" target="_blank"><u>seat post recall</u></a>, and the Bike+ did not. (If you&rsquo;re buying used, make sure that the seat post was replaced.) Both have a hard wired 3.5mm headphone jack, although it&rsquo;s probably more common to use the onboard speakers or a bluetooth headset rather than plugging in a pair of headphones.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Both flavors of bike can accommodate a rider who is anywhere between 4&rsquo;11&rdquo; and 6&rsquo;4&rdquo; and weighs up to 297 pounds. The Bike itself weighs 135 pounds, and the Bike+ weighs 140, due mainly to the hefty flywheel (with spin bikes, the heavier the flywheel, the better).</p><p>Both the Bike and Bike+ have access to the same subscription options. For the $44/month All-Access subscription, you get:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Classes on the bike&mdash;these are the classic offering, with a charismatic instructor leading you through a structured workout (and often peppering it with motivational speeches).</p></li><li><p>Scenic rides on the bike, with &ldquo;Peloton radio&rdquo; for music (I usually mute it and just play my own music from my phone).</p></li><li><p>Lanebreak (a sort of ride-along video game) on the bike.</p></li><li><p>Access to classes through the Peloton app on your phone.</p></li><li><p>The ability to create multiple profiles for family members, so you can all share the bike without additional subscriptions.</p></li></ul><p>Besides cycling classes, the bikes and the app can also provide follow-along classes for strength, stretching, yoga, and more. You can take bike classes on the phone app as well, a handy feature when you have access to a spin bike but it&rsquo;s not a Peloton (for example, at a gym).&nbsp;</p><p>Now that we know what&rsquo;s the same, let&rsquo;s dig into the differences.</p><h2>The Bike+ has a swiveling screen, but don&rsquo;t buy it just for that</h2><p>The first thing you&rsquo;ll notice about the Bike+ (and arguably its only visually distinctive feature) is the fact that its screen is on a swivel. This lets you set up a space next to the bike, perhaps with a mat and dumbbells, to do other types of workouts. Hop off the Bike+, point the screen toward your mat, and you can do a yoga class without having to crane your neck to see over the seat.&nbsp;</p><p>The screen on the regular Bike doesn&rsquo;t swivel, but it does tilt. This lets you adjust it for the most comfortable angle or to avoid glare while you&rsquo;re riding. If you want that swiveling feature, though, you don&rsquo;t have to pony up an extra grand for a whole new bike&mdash;an <a href="https://zdcs.link/KJ15D?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=aftermarket%20swivel%20mount&amp;short_url=KJ15D&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>aftermarket swivel mount</u></a> is only about 50 smackers.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  744.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FOdqxO&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=TFD+The+Pivot+for+Peloton+Bikes+%28Original+Models%29%2C+Made+in+USA+%7C+360%C2%B0+Movement+Monitor+Adjuster+-+Easily+Adjust+%26+Rotate+Your+Peloton+Screen+%7C+Peloton+Accessories&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FOdqxO" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="TFD The Pivot for Peloton Bikes (Original Models), Made in USA | 360&deg; Movement Monitor Adjuster - Easily Adjust &amp; Rotate Your Peloton Screen | Peloton Accessories">
  745.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  746.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  747.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">TFD The Pivot for Peloton Bikes (Original Models), Made in USA | 360&deg; Movement Monitor Adjuster - Easily Adjust &amp; Rotate Your Peloton Screen | Peloton Accessories
  748.                </div>
  749.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  750.                                            <div class="self-end">
  751.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  752.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  753.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$49.99</span>
  754.                    </div>
  755.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  756.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$54.99</span>
  757.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $5.00</span>
  758.        </div>
  759.    </div>
  760.                            </div>
  761.                        </div>
  762.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  763.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  764.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  765.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  766.    </div>
  767. </div>
  768.                        </div>
  769.                                    </div>
  770.            </div>
  771.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  772.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/images-1.fill.size_245x239.v1714594791.jpg" alt="TFD The Pivot" width="245" height="239" loading="lazy">
  773.                            </div>
  774.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  775.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTX0FNZVRG7MXNFAC1D4YQ4/images-1.fill.size_245x239.v1714594791.jpg" alt="TFD The Pivot" width="245" height="239" loading="lazy">
  776.                            </div>
  777.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  778.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  779.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  780.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  781.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  782.    </div>
  783. </div>
  784.                    </div>
  785.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  786.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  787.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  788.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$49.99</span>
  789.                    </div>
  790.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  791.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$54.99</span>
  792.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $5.00</span>
  793.        </div>
  794.    </div>
  795.                    </div>
  796.                            </div>
  797.        </div>
  798. </a></div>
  799. <h2>The Bike+ has auto-resistance and a real power meter</h2><p>If the Bike+ has a killer feature, it&rsquo;s this. When an instructor tells you to set your resistance to 30, you don&rsquo;t need to touch the knob&mdash;the Bike+ will <a href="https://support.onepeloton.com/s/article/360048732091-Auto-Resistance-On-The-Peloton-BikePlus?language=en_US" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>adjust the resistance for you</u></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>You can turn this feature on or off during a ride by tapping the lock icon next to the resistance numbers. On regular rides, the Bike+ will adjust the resistance whenever the instructor announces that the resistance is changing; on power zone rides, it will adjust as needed to keep you in your power zone.&nbsp;</p><p>The catch is that auto-resistance only works for rides where &ldquo;target metrics&rdquo; are programmed. This includes most rides from Peloton&rsquo;s back catalog, but it does <em>not</em> include rides where you&rsquo;re following along with an instructor in real time. After those live rides, Peloton will add the target metrics, but they say it can take up to 24 hours for that feature to become available for a given ride.&nbsp;</p><p>The Bike+ also has a power meter built in, so that it can tell exactly how many watts your output is. (The regular Bike will show you an <em>estimated</em> wattage, but Bikes can become miscalibrated and the wattage may be off.) While you can calibrate a regular Bike, the Bike+ always knows how hard you are actually pedaling, and you may appreciate this extra accuracy.</p><h2>The Bike+ has better quality tech in its tablet</h2><p>The screen on the front of your Bike or Bike+ isn&rsquo;t just a screen; it&rsquo;s a whole tablet computer with its own processor, RAM, and other electronic components. An under-appreciated part of the Bike+ upgrade is just that everything in the tablet is nicer, better, and faster. The screen itself is larger: a 23.8&rdquo; diagonal instead of 21.5&rdquo;. The Bike+ also has:</p><ul><li><p>4 gigabytes of RAM instead of just two</p></li><li><p>A 2.5 gigahertz Qualcomm processor instead of a 2.0 GHz Mediatek</p></li><li><p>A 26-watt sound system with front- and rear-facing speakers instead of a 16-watt system with just rear-facing speakers</p></li><li><p>Bluetooth 5.0 instead of 4.0</p></li><li><p>A USB-C port so you can charge your devices while you ride (the regular Bike has a charging port, but it&rsquo;s micro-USB, so most of us would need to get an adapter).</p></li><li><p>A smudge-proof, reduced-reflection coating on that big ol' screen.</p></li></ul><p>There are also two features that are better on paper but that won&rsquo;t matter to most of us. First, the Bike+ supports GymKit, a protocol for connecting your Apple Watch to the Bike+ for heart rate data. (They briefly stopped supporting GymKit, since there&rsquo;s a Peloton Apple Watch app that does most of what GymKit does, but got enough complaints that they <a href="https://support.onepeloton.com/s/article/360048773312-Apple-GymKit-On-The-Peloton-BikePlus?language=en_US" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>brought it back</u></a>.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Second, the Bike+ has a nicer selfie camera, 8 MP versus 5 MP (and a privacy cover for said camera). <em>Wait, the Peloton has a camera??</em> I hear you say. Yep, and <a href="https://support.onepeloton.com/s/article/10431468050964-Why-is-there-a-Camera-on-My-Peloton-Touchscreen?language=en_US" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>according to Peloton</u></a> its only use is for taking a selfie to use as your profile picture. (You can also just take a photo on your phone and add it to your profile through the app.) That said, Peloton users <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/pelotoncycle/comments/u24dpg/why_cant_we_use_the_camera_on_the_bike_during/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>have said they&rsquo;ve used the camera for video chat</u></a>&mdash;but nobody seems to actually <em>like</em> that feature.</p><p>Ultimately, these features mean that your experience will be just a little bit faster and smoother. Some Peloton riders say that the nicer tech means that Lanebreak is less likely to have that occasional lag when you change &ldquo;lanes&rdquo; during the ride, and that the interface is just generally a bit more responsive.</p><h2>The bottom line: Peloton Bike vs. Bike+</h2><p>The Bike is a solid choice that will fulfill pretty much all your Peloton dreams. The Bike+ has some features that are nice-to-haves.&nbsp;</p><p>Buy the Bike if:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>You just want a dang Peloton.</p></li><li><p>You don&rsquo;t want to pay an extra $1,050 for minor upgrades.</p></li></ul><p>Buy the Bike+ if:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>You want the fastest and smoothest tech experience.</p></li><li><p>You&rsquo;d like the Bike to adjust itself during (most) classes.</p></li><li><p>You&rsquo;re a numbers nerd and want to know your exact wattage and know that the bike is perfectly calibrated.</p></li></ul><p>Ultimately, both are good choices. The exact price differential between the two models will depend on whether you can find your chosen bike on sale, used, or as a rental (<a href="https://lifehacker.com/peloton-bike-review-1850804329" target="_blank"><u>I crunch the numbers for those scenarios here</u></a>).</p>]]></content:encoded>
  800.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/health/peloton-bike-vs-bike-plus</link>
  801.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  802.      <category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
  803.    </item>
  804.    <item>
  805.      <title>Five Lesser-Known Ways You Can Redeem Airline Points and Miles</title>
  806.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWQSENDRS4Z6C21W61DWDRK3</guid>
  807.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 14:30:42 +0000</pubDate>
  808.      <description>If you’ve got miles or points piling up, there are more ways to use them than you think.</description>
  809.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQSENDRS4Z6C21W61DWDRK3/hero-image.jpg"/>
  810.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Credit card points and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/a-beginners-guide-to-airline-miles-1592887319" target="_blank">airline miles</a> are strange aspects of the modern economy. On the one hand, they&rsquo;re <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/airline-miles-and-hotel-points-valuations" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">not really worth all that much</a>&mdash;airline miles, hotel points, and credit card reward points max out at about 1.5 cents per point, with most valued significantly less than a penny. On the other hand, they&rsquo;re basically free money&mdash;you get them whenever you use the card, so as long as you&rsquo;re traveling places you need to go to and buying stuff you need anyway (and not paying interest on those purchases), those points will eventually add up to something of value you wouldn&rsquo;t otherwise have.</p><p>If you&rsquo;ve got an airline-affiliated credit card like the United MileagePlus card or something similar, you&rsquo;ve probably used the points you accrue mainly to offset the costs of travel. Points can be pretty easily used to pay for flights, hotels, and rental cars, and if the exchange rate is awful it&rsquo;s still essentially free. But hotels and flights aren&rsquo;t the only ways to cash in those points. </p><h2>Donations</h2><p>The points and miles you earn via credit card purchases or airline loyalty programs may not have much cash value, but they have <em>some</em> cash value. If you want to make the world a slightly better place without actually taking a hit in your bank account, you can probably <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-donate-your-airline-miles-to-charity-1843292580" target="_blank">donate your miles</a> or points to charity. Most loyalty programs already have built-in relationships with charities that make this pretty easy. Keep in mind that these donations are probably not tax-deductible; the IRS views points and miles as discounts, not income.</p><h2>Magazines</h2><p>Your loyalty program or credit card website might have a built-in option to subscribe to magazines or newspapers, or you can check out <a href="https://www.magsformiles.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">MagsForMiles</a> to see if you can trade those points for reading material. If you&rsquo;ve got nothing else to do with your miles <em>and</em> you will actually get something out of the periodical, this could make sense&mdash;especially because points and miles are often high-value when used this way, for some reason. <a href="https://magazinerewards.mileageplus.com/20000744/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">For example</a>, with MileagePlus miles you can get a 15-issue subscription to Wine Spectator for 1,000 miles; that sub costs about $72 annually if you bought it directly, which values your point at about 7 cents each, which is not bad at all. </p><h2>Gift cards</h2><p>If you want to convert your miles or points into something a little more flexible, a solution most people overlook is a gift card. Most of these programs will happily sell you a gift card (you can also sometimes <a href="https://lifehacker.com/exchange-your-crappy-gift-cards-for-united-airlines-mil-1840724584" target="_blank">exchange your unwanted gift cards for points</a>&mdash;United&rsquo;s MileagePlus program does this&mdash;creating a weird kind of circular economy of craptastic gift cards). As with all points/miles transactions, you have to dig in to see if you&rsquo;re getting any sort of value. A $5.00 Starbucks card through MileagePlus will cost you 1,666 points, making those points worth about 3 cents each. On the other hand, a gift card makes it a lot easier to actually buy things at Starbucks, so it might make sense. Plus, it&rsquo;s a way to give someone a gift without spending any real money, you cheap weirdo.</p><h2>Experiences</h2><p>Yeah, the word &ldquo;experiences&rdquo; is kind of silly, but if you&rsquo;ve got a stash of miles or points sitting in an account somewhere, you should look into the &ldquo;<a href="https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/using-points-and-miles-for-experiences/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">experiences</a>&rdquo; you can either buy or bid on. MileagePlus offers a bunch of sporting experiences you can bid on with your miles, and Hilton Honors members can <a href="https://stories.hilton.com/hilton-honors/hilton-honors-101-experiences" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">bid on a wide range of special events</a>, like concerts, sporting events, or special dinners. Since these are usually auctions of some kind, you might get tempted into using more points or miles than you want&mdash;but since those miles and points are more or less free, it might be fun to just yeet them into an adventure you might otherwise never pay for.</p><h2>Cash</h2><p>While it&rsquo;s generally <em>legal</em> to sell your points or miles to a third party like <a href="https://milesbuyer.com/sell-miles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">MilesBuyer</a>, it&rsquo;s not a great idea because most airlines and credit cards <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/sell-airline-miles-broker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">prohibit the practice</a>. If you&rsquo;re caught, you could lose your account and all your accrued points or miles.</p><p>But there are some options. Many rewards programs have options to cash out your points&mdash;Citi, for example, makes it pretty easy to <a href="https://www.thankyou.com/cms/thankyou/help.page?csccode=TYREWARD-CASHRED&amp;pageName=help" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">convert your ThankYou points</a> into a direct deposit into your bank account, a credit to your credit card balance, or even a check in the mail. That transforms your difficult-to-redeem points into actual cash, so it&rsquo;s worth checking into the details of your program to see what your options are. But do the math before you jump on it&mdash;generally speaking, you want to get <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/worst-ways-to-redeem-credit-card-rewards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">at least a penny a point</a> before you convert to cash; otherwise waiting to redeem them for other goods or services might make more sense. For example, Citi&rsquo;s ThankYou points are worth exactly one penny each when you turn them into cash, so 5,000 points becomes a $50 deposit in your account.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  811.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/five-lesser-known-ways-you-can-redeem-airline-points-and-miles</link>
  812.      <dc:creator>Jeff Somers</dc:creator>
  813.      <category><![CDATA[Credit Cards]]></category>
  814.    </item>
  815.    <item>
  816.      <title>Use the 'Five-second Rule' to Declutter Faster</title>
  817.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWNRQZX7CNC5KVJ2R0RXWQ08</guid>
  818.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  819.      <description>Stop wasting time deliberating over items you just don't need to keep.</description>
  820.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNRQZX7CNC5KVJ2R0RXWQ08/hero-image.png"/>
  821.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Once you decide on a decluttering method to clean out your home, the real work begins. Almost <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/the-difference-between-peter-walsh-and-marie-kondos-decluttering-methods" target="_blank"><u>every popular technique out there</u></a> requires you to group your items into three or four categories: Keep, throw, donate, and possibly, sell. Putting each item in its correct pile is not as easy as the step-by-step rules make it seem, but there&rsquo;s a trick called the five-second rule that you can use to keep the process efficient.&nbsp;</p><h2>What is the five-second rule?</h2><p>The five-second rule is a widely-adaptable technique from organizational coach Mel Robbins, who <a href="https://zdcs.link/yjgx6?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=advocates%20for%20it%20in%20her%20books&amp;short_url=yjgx6&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>advocates for it in her books</u></a>. According to Robbins, you should make major decisions in under five seconds, actually counting down <em>five, four, three, two, one</em>. Your brain will know that at the end of that countdown, it has to make a choice; there&rsquo;s a sense of urgency to it. This will push you to make quick, efficient decisions. I do this all the time, like when I have to rip off a bandage or open one of those popping cans of biscuits (which really freaks me out). There&rsquo;s just something about the countdown that amps you up to do the thing you don&rsquo;t want to do or are deliberating about.&nbsp;</p><h2>How does the five-second rule apply in decluttering?</h2><p>Adapting the five-second rule for decluttering is a big tip that <a href="https://nourishingminimalism.com/5-second-rule-control-your-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>floats around minimalist spaces online</u></a>. You can use it to spur yourself to start cleaning if you&rsquo;re feeling overwhelmed, but most often, it&rsquo;s applied to the moments you spend debating internally about whether or not something should be kept or tossed out.&nbsp;</p><p>The less time you give yourself to make the choice, the better off you&rsquo;ll be. You can rationalize keeping <em>anything </em>if you give yourself long enough to do it, but the goal of decluttering is to minimize the amount of stuff you have and organize the stuff that&rsquo;s leftover, not make a bunch of excuses for why you can&rsquo;t downsize. When you pick something up in the process of decluttering, you usually know instinctively if you <em>really</em> need it. Holding it and considering it for too long doesn&rsquo;t take away from what you already know to be true so much as it gives you time to come up with reasons the thing should be kept. Commit to sorting everything you touch into a keep or get-rid-of pile as soon as you pick it up and in no more than five seconds, employing the countdown if you have to in a tough moment.&nbsp;</p><p>For anything that really makes you struggle and can&rsquo;t be so easily sorted in five seconds, follow <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/ask-yourself-two-questions-before-throwing-something-out" target="_blank"><u>the Minimalists&rsquo; 20/20 rule</u></a>, asking yourself whether the thing you&rsquo;re debating keeping could be replaced for under $20 and in under 20 minutes in the unlikely event you ever need it again. If you answer those questions with a yes, throw it out.</p><p>Training yourself to be quick and decisive in these instances will help you build the habit of parting with things easily and not assigning false sentimentality or need to items that simply have no business sticking around.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  822.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/use-the-five-second-rule-to-declutter-faster</link>
  823.      <dc:creator>Lindsey Ellefson</dc:creator>
  824.      <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category>
  825.    </item>
  826.    <item>
  827.      <title>Six Ways to Give Away Less of Your Personal Data</title>
  828.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWN5FTJFSGRE3G02R5YYMYR5</guid>
  829.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 13:30:55 +0000</pubDate>
  830.      <description>Data mining undermines your privacy. It’s almost impossible to avoid, but you can minimize your exposure.</description>
  831.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWN5FTJFSGRE3G02R5YYMYR5/hero-image.jpg"/>
  832.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes it feels like <a href="https://lifehacker.com/use-these-new-google-privacy-tools-to-protect-your-data-1850703726" target="_blank">privacy</a>, as a concept, has vanished from the world. Advertisers certainly seem to know everything about you, serving up frighteningly accurate ads that make you think your phone&rsquo;s microphone has been turned on and marketers are actively listening to your every mumble.</p><p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/what-people-are-getting-wrong-this-week-phone-surveill-1850658089" target="_blank">They&rsquo;re not</a>&mdash;yet. But they are engaged in something called &ldquo;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/datamining.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">data mining</a>,&rdquo; which is the process of collecting enormous amounts of anonymous data from your every connected activity and then analyzing that data to infiltrate your life with advertisements and other influences. And it&rsquo;s not just corporate America&mdash;<a href="https://www.govtech.com/security/fbi-offers-tips-for-defending-against-data-mining-memes" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">criminals can mine your data</a> in order to rip you off. </p><p>If that bugs you&mdash;and it should&mdash;you can take some steps to minimize data mining in your life. You can&rsquo;t completely escape it unless you plan to live off-grid with zero Internet connection, but you can reduce your exposure. After all, it&rsquo;s <em>your</em> data, you&rsquo;re not being compensated for it, and it&rsquo;s creepy that some anonymous marketing team knows you&rsquo;re really into RPGs and craft beer. </p><h2>Read those EULAs</h2><p>One of the biggest vectors for mining your data is your smartphone, especially the apps you&rsquo;ve installed on it. Every time you install an app you agree to its terms&mdash;the <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/EULA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">end user license agreement</a> (EULA) and other requirements.</p><p>A first line of defense against data mining is to take the time to review those EULAs. You can&rsquo;t negotiate, but if you see you&rsquo;re being asked for blanket permission to send data back to the mothership, you might at least look for an alternative. The key warning signs that the app is just a data-mining vessel are granting permission to monitor your Internet activity, to explicitly collect personal information, or to use your computer or device for their own purposes. If you see anything that gives you pause, think twice before agreeing.</p><h2>Check settings</h2><p>When you install an app on your device, you probably click through a series of permissions that grant that app access to everything it needs to gather data about you. This is a data-mining goldmine.</p><p>A few years ago, for example, an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/05/28/its-middle-night-do-you-know-who-your-iphone-is-talking/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">investigation</a> found that about 5,400 apps were siphoning data from just one person&rsquo;s smartphone&mdash;1.5 gigs of data in all. And back in 2017, an app maker called Alphonso was caught <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/business/media/alphonso-app-tracking.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">tracking what people were watching on TV</a> by activating the microphone on their smartphones.</p><p>If an app requires a lot of unnecessary permissions&mdash;does a game really need access to your microphone, location, and camera?&mdash;you should assume it&rsquo;s more of a data-mining app than anything else. Your next line of defense: Stop installing <a href="https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/real-cost-of-free-apps-and-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">garbage free apps</a> and spend that dollar. Every app wants to make money from you, and if you&rsquo;re not paying up front, you&rsquo;re paying in some other way, most likely by having your data stripmined.</p><h2>Be boring on social</h2><p>Social media is very obviously a <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/x-alternatives-user-privacy-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">dumpster fire</a> when it comes to privacy. You&rsquo;re literally posting a photo of you at the store with the hashtag #LiveToShop, so you shouldn&rsquo;t be surprised when that store&rsquo;s ads start popping up all over your life.</p><p>If you&rsquo;re concerned about data mining, you can take a few simple steps to reduce the access that data miners have to your social media:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Set your profile to private.</strong> If your main goal on social media is to connect with friends or colleagues, restrict the reach of your posts to just those folks.</p></li><li><p><strong>Be a snob.</strong> Don&rsquo;t accept every request you receive to connect&mdash;if you don&rsquo;t know that person, they don&rsquo;t need to be let in to your inner circle.</p></li><li><p><strong>Discretion.</strong> Don&rsquo;t blast your travel plans, spending habits, or product reviews out into the universe.</p></li></ul><p>Using social media compromises your privacy, but if you&rsquo;re mindful of the information data miners want, you can at least refuse to make it easy.</p><h2>Log out</h2><p>When you log into platforms like Google or Facebook, that platform can pretty easily track what you&rsquo;re doing. And as long as you&rsquo;re signed in, that ability persists&mdash;even if you leave the site. These companies are really data mining companies, and they have perfected the art of following you around.</p><p>It&rsquo;s a pain in the butt, but logging out of those services when you&rsquo;re not actively using them (and clearing cookies and browsing history regularly) can slow down the vacuuming of data. It&rsquo;s inconvenient to do so by design, but it has a real impact on how much information is being mined from your online activities.</p><h2>Avoid memes</h2><p>Data mining isn&rsquo;t just about advertisers selling your stuff. It can also be weaponized by scammers to get personal info they can use to rob you blind, steal your identity, or steal your identity and <em>then</em> rob you blind.</p><p>One easy way they can do this is to just wait for you to respond to a <a href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/these-phishing-tactics-disguised-as-fun-on-social-media-heres-what-to-look-for/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">phishing meme</a>. These memes look like innocent fun quizzes where you supply some seemingly innocuous bits of personal information and receive a chuckle in response. Common examples include posting your &ldquo;porn name&rdquo; (a combination of common security question answers like your middle name or the model of your first car or something similar) or using the last digits of your phone number to do some math magic.</p><p>Luckily, there&rsquo;s an easy way to avoid data mining via phishing memes: Ignore the memes. Your life will actually be incrementally better anyway.</p><h2>Tech solutions</h2><p>One of the most effective ways to cut down your exposure to data mining requires a bit more effort. Various privacy tools exist that can really stem the flow of your data to the unappeasable black hole of marketing:</p><ul><li><p><strong>VPNs.</strong> Virtual Private Networks are useful for privacy because they <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/what-does-vpn-hide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">obscure your location and IP address</a>, which makes it a <em>lot</em> harder for data miners to collate the data they get. Since your data appears to come from a wide range of random locations, it&rsquo;s impossible to build a coherent profile of your preferences and habits. <a href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-vpn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Installing a VPN</a> on your computer, phone, and devices will go a long way towards cutting off the flow of private information.</p></li><li><p><strong>Tor.</strong> The <a href="https://www.torproject.org/download/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Tor Browser</a> routes your web surfing traffic through many encrypted nodes, making it basically impossible to track your travels on the Internet. If you really want to go dark, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/advisor/vpn/combining-tor-and-vpn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">combine Tor with a VPN</a> and you&rsquo;ll be practically invisible. If you&rsquo;re not ready to use Tor as your everyday browser, use a privacy-focused browser like <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">DuckDuckGo</a> or <a href="https://brave.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Brave</a>, or at least adjust the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/online-privacy-change-these-browser-settings-asap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">privacy settings</a> in your browser to make it as secure as possible.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ad blockers.</strong> Almost every single website you visit tracks your activities and gathers data about you. While using a privacy browser is an effective way to stifle that, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/the-best-ad-blockers" target="_blank">ad-blocking plugins</a> can go the extra mile by denying intrusive access to your browsing experience altogether.</p></li></ul><p></p>]]></content:encoded>
  833.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-give-away-less-personal-data</link>
  834.      <dc:creator>Jeff Somers</dc:creator>
  835.      <category><![CDATA[Privacy]]></category>
  836.    </item>
  837.    <item>
  838.      <title>How to Make TikTok's Viral Cookie Croissant Even Better</title>
  839.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS</guid>
  840.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 13:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
  841.      <description>The TikTok viral cookie croissant is good, but why stop with cookie dough alone?</description>
  842.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/hero-image.jpg"/>
  843.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Take a French pastry that&rsquo;s been painstakingly shaped; flawless in its simplicity&mdash;and then stuff it with an American sugar-and -utter bomb. The TikTok viral cookie croissant feels slightly blasphemous at first glance, but that&rsquo;s part of the fun of it. What&rsquo;s even more fun is that it&rsquo;s a great way to use past-prime store bought croissants. Here&rsquo;s my favorite way to make them (and then make them even better).&nbsp;</p><p>This instance of pastry profanity is actually credited to have started at a French bakery, <a href="https://maisonlouvard.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Maison Louvard</u></a>. It&rsquo;s not even too off-brand for French croissant treatment in general&mdash;take the almond croissant, for example, which is stuffed with a flavorful almond batter and baked to sweet, caramelized perfection. Stuffing sweet dough or batter into the center of a second-rate packaged croissant and baking it again creates a marriage of crisp, toasted pastry and soft&mdash;or even gooey&mdash;cookie. It only requires two ingredients and about 12 minutes in the oven.&nbsp;</p><h2>How to make a "Crookie&rdquo; at home</h2><p>I choose the path of least resistance. Instead of making my own cookie dough, I bought one of those sausages of Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough.&nbsp;</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  844.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  845.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714408783.jpg" alt="Assembly of the cookie croissant." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714408783.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-1.fill.size_1400x787.v1714408783.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714408783.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  846.            </div>
  847.            <div class="mt-2">
  848.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  849.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  850.                    </div>
  851.    </div>
  852. <p>1. Split a store bought, packaged croissant (those need improving anyway), and stuff it with about a tablespoon of cookie dough, flattened.&nbsp;I used mini croissants, so if you have full-sized ones you may want to use more cookie dough.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  853.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  854.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714408783.jpg" alt="Fully assembled cookie croissant." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714408783.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-2.fill.size_1400x787.v1714408783.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNBKZVWCESAGGETFWWFFHAS/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714408783.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  855.            </div>
  856.            <div class="mt-2">
  857.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  858.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  859.                    </div>
  860.    </div>
  861. <p>2. Put the &ldquo;lid&rdquo; back on and secure another flattened spoonful of dough on top. Bake the whole monstrosity in a 350&deg;F oven for about 12 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an air fryer set to &ldquo;air fry&rdquo; at 325&deg;F for about eight minutes.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  862.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=02zLDwCqTbhlnKCTPdI0yqf&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FPillsbury-Ready-To-Bake-Cookie-Dough-Reese-s-Mini-Pieces-Peanut-Butter-12-Cookies-16-oz%2F10813688&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Pillsbury+Reese%27s+Mini+Pieces+Peanut+Butter+Cookies&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=02PvHyWmzQ4OpoObBfee8Z6&amp;offer_uuid=01qrluyxWV11C3XXdFB1ck6&amp;object_type=01qrluyxWV11C3XXdFB1ck6&amp;object_uuid=02PvHyWmzQ4OpoObBfee8Z6" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Pillsbury Reese's Mini Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies">
  863.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  864.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  865.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Pillsbury Reese's Mini Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies
  866.                </div>
  867.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Ready to bake cookies.
  868.                    </div>
  869.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  870.                                            <div class="self-end">
  871.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  872.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  873.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$12.70</span>
  874.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Walmart</span>
  875.                    </div>
  876.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  877.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$3.88</span>
  878.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save 0.00</span>
  879.        </div>
  880.    </div>
  881.                            </div>
  882.                        </div>
  883.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  884.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  885.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  886.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  887.    </div>
  888. </div>
  889.                        </div>
  890.                                    </div>
  891.            </div>
  892.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  893.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/02PvHyWmzQ4OpoObBfee8Z6/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714407568.jpg" alt="Pillsbury Ready To Bake Cookie Dough, Reese's Mini Pieces Peanut Butter, 12 Cookies, 16 oz" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  894.                            </div>
  895.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  896.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/02PvHyWmzQ4OpoObBfee8Z6/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714407568.jpg" alt="Pillsbury Ready To Bake Cookie Dough, Reese's Mini Pieces Peanut Butter, 12 Cookies, 16 oz" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  897.                            </div>
  898.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  899.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  900.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  901.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  902.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  903.    </div>
  904. </div>
  905.                    </div>
  906.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  907.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  908.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  909.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$12.70</span>
  910.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Walmart</span>
  911.                    </div>
  912.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  913.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$3.88</span>
  914.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save 0.00</span>
  915.        </div>
  916.    </div>
  917.                    </div>
  918.                            </div>
  919.        </div>
  920. </a></div>
  921. <hr><h3>Keep the grocery list simple:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/YB73o?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Petite%20Butter%20Croissants%2012-count&amp;short_url=YB73o&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Petite Butter Croissants 12-count</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/84MR1?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Nestle%20Toll%20House%20Cookie%20Dough&amp;short_url=84MR1&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough</u></a></p></li></ul><hr><h2>Tips to improve your cookie croissant</h2><p>My biggest problem with this preparation is that it&rsquo;s hard to bake the cookie center all the way through. Any cookie dough that doesn&rsquo;t bloom out to the surface stays gooey. It&rsquo;s so gooey, actually, it&rsquo;s basically liquid. Most packaged cookie dough is safe to consume raw (it&rsquo;ll say so on the wrapper if it is), so safety isn&rsquo;t an issue, but personally, I like cooked cookies.&nbsp;</p><h3>Actually cook the cookie dough</h3><p>If you&rsquo;re in the same cooked-cookie-boat with me, it&rsquo;s a simple fix: Proceed to press cookie dough onto the cut-side of the split croissant&rsquo;s bottom half, and onto the exterior of the top half, just like before. This time, don&rsquo;t stack the layers. Instead, place the two halves onto a sheet tray, cookie-side up, and bake them. Use the same temperature, and the same amount of time. Since the cookie dough is exposed, they&rsquo;ll bake through completely. Stack the halves once the croissant comes out of the oven, and enjoy.</p><h3>Why stop with the basics?</h3><p>Cookie dough alone is good, but I&rsquo;m in the business of great, dammit. Croissants are a versatile buttery dough, so anything pairs well with them. Cookies are also, oddly, rather flexible. Anything you&rsquo;d stir into your cookie dough can be tucked it into your crookie. Anything. You can switch up the cookie dough flavor too. Chocolate chip cookie dough pairs well with crispy bacon crumbles, pretzels, potato chips, or corn flakes. Sugar cookie dough is a friend to granola, cashews, or rosemary. My favorite pairing today was adding a long slice of banana along with Reese&rsquo;s Pieces cookie dough. With just a little experimentation, you&rsquo;ll have your next favorite snack ready in less than 15 minutes.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  922.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/how-to-make-tiktok-viral-cookie-croissant</link>
  923.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  924.      <category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>
  925.    </item>
  926.    <item>
  927.      <title>The Home Renovation Projects That Will Make You Happiest</title>
  928.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWNAV7D5573DW2F2PAMCMX71</guid>
  929.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  930.      <description>Forget cost. Never mind budgets. These home renovation projects will spark the most joy.</description>
  931.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNAV7D5573DW2F2PAMCMX71/hero-image.jpg"/>
  932.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you own a home, you&rsquo;ve probably at least contemplated making major, dramatic changes to it; <a href="https://www.longislandpress.com/2019/09/24/the-psychology-of-renovation-does-newer-and-shinier-equal-happier/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">having control over your shelter</a> is important psychologically, and one way we exert that control is by changing it to better meet our needs. And we increasingly treat our homes as <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/02/self-help-hgtv-home-improvement/621493/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">reflections of our emotional and mental state</a>, often turning to renovation projects when we feel stuck or unhappy in other areas of our lives (for better or <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/07/07/hgtv-makes-homes-boring-sad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">for worse</a>).</p><p>We usually discuss home <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/renovate-home-in-phases" target="_blank">renovation projects</a> in terms of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/ten-home-improvements-under-10-000-that-add-the-most-t-1850484898" target="_blank">return on investment</a> (ROI) or the practical impact the change will have on our daily lives and our families. But there&rsquo;s a crucial aspect of home remodeling that we should prioritize more: happiness. How happy will that home renovation project make you? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has quantified this to some extent with their &ldquo;<a href="https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/remodeling-impact" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Joy Score</a>,&rdquo; which asks homeowners to rate how happy a home renovation has made them. Combined with some other factors, it&rsquo;s possible to come up with a list of the home renovation projects that will make you the happiest&mdash;and they&rsquo;re not always the most expensive or ambitious.</p><h2>Happiness-inducing indoor projects</h2><p>Unsurprisingly, one of the key factors in any home renovation project is how well the end result meets the need that inspired it. If your kitchen is barely functional before the renovation and does everything you need after, you&rsquo;re probably going to be pretty happy with the project (assuming no soul-killing problems like massive cost overruns or your contractor dropping an uber-expensive countertop just inches away from installation).</p><p>But the renovation projects that will make you happiest in the house are often the simplest. All of these renovations received a <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2022-remodeling-impact-report-04-19-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">perfect Joy Score of 10</a>, for example:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Painting.</strong> Painting the whole interior of your home or even just one room can be very, very satisfying. There&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4383146/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">some evidence</a> that color has an explicit impact on your mental state, and many people subjectively experience a boost in mood with the right paint colors. Plus, painting is like literally erasing mistakes. Throw in the relatively low cost, speed, and ease of this project and the happiness factor is obvious.</p></li><li><p><strong>Home office addition.</strong> This is all about solving problems. If you&rsquo;re working from home and find yourself balancing your laptop on your knees in the bathroom, creating a dedicated office space can make you feel like you&rsquo;re a professional.                   </p></li><li><p><strong>New or refinished wood floors.</strong> Like paint on the walls, that new floor shine feels like shedding the mistakes of the past (like the time you dragged the couch to a new spot and left deep gouges in your floor). Plus the durability of the final result&mdash;an improvement that will last years&mdash;is very satisfying.</p></li><li><p><strong>Closet renovation. </strong>Our closets are like a personal Portrait of Dorian Gray&mdash;the public-facing parts of our home might be neat and tidy while our closets are overflowing nightmares. <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/clutterbug-styles-cleaning-organizing-home" target="_blank">Organizing always feels good</a>, so it&rsquo;s little wonder that creating order out of chaos in our closets makes us happy.</p></li><li><p><strong>Attic conversion. </strong>Conquering an area of your house currently ruled by spiders is always going to make you feel better. Not only do you turn a dark and slightly dangerous place (where you can easily misstep and fall through the ceiling) into a functional and useful space, you gain square footage and increase your home&rsquo;s value.</p></li><li><p><strong>New insulation.</strong> This might be a surprising one, but not if you think about it: Not only does new or upgraded insulation improve your home&rsquo;s energy efficiency, which feels good, it also makes your home more comfortable&mdash;which makes people want to spend more time there.</p></li></ul><h2>Happiness-inducing outdoor projects</h2><p>Home renovations outside the house hit a little different, but access to outdoor spaces can have a huge <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135392/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">positive impact</a> on your overall happiness, so it&rsquo;s not surprising that some of these projects score really high on the <a href="https://www.gaar.com/images/uploads/2023-03-remodeling-impact-outdoor-features-03-17-2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">joy scale</a>:</p><ul><li><p><strong>In-ground pool.</strong> A pool makes people want to spend more time in their homes, and gives them a higher sense of enjoyment of the property. Not only can you cool off and get some good exercise in a pool, you can also throw some pretty epic parties around one.</p></li><li><p><strong>Landscape lighting.</strong> Another perfect Joy Score involves adding light to your outdoor spaces. Solid lighting design outside can turn a dark, foreboding yard into a beautiful spot you want to spend time in. It also increases a sense of security, since you can actually see what&rsquo;s going on. Plus, it doesn&rsquo;t have to be a  complicated project&mdash;some <a href="https://lifehacker.com/use-cheap-led-and-solar-lights-for-pro-quality-landscap-1850359585" target="_blank">solar lights, used thoughtfully</a>, is all you need.</p></li><li><p><strong>New patio or deck.</strong> Like the pool, a new patio area or deck makes people <em>want</em> to use their outdoor spaces more, because they provide comfortable areas to relax. A new patio or deck turns a blank canvas into an entertaining space or a spot for decompression, cocktails, and enjoying the fresh air.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fire feature.</strong> Fire can have a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2023/02/14/new-fire-features-add-romance-comfort-and-resale-value-to-home-spaces/?sh=830d4527426c" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">positive psychological impact</a>&mdash;it can be relaxing and meditative. It manages a Joy Score of 9.7 because it makes our outdoor spaces <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-build-a-fire-pit-without-burning-down-the-neigh-1848735177" target="_blank">more inviting</a>, gives them more &ldquo;personality,&rdquo; and increases the amount of time you can enjoy your yard, patio, or deck because it allows us to use those spaces even when it&rsquo;s a little colder than we&rsquo;d like.</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  933.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/the-home-renovation-projects-that-will-make-you-happiest</link>
  934.      <dc:creator>Jeff Somers</dc:creator>
  935.      <category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
  936.    </item>
  937.    <item>
  938.      <title>What Your Monitor Settings Actually Mean (and How to Change Them)</title>
  939.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM</guid>
  940.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  941.      <description>Get to know your screen, and make the most of what it can do.</description>
  942.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/hero-image.jpg"/>
  943.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most of us are likely to accept most computer settings as they are without varying too much from the default configuration that comes out of the box&mdash;but sometimes, a little digging can help you get more out of your hardware. That's certainly true when it comes to monitor settings: This depends on the monitor you've got, of course, but you may have more options to play around with than you thought. If you're going to be spending a lot of time staring at your screen, it's important to get it set up in the best way for you.</p><p>Whether you're looking to make the most of the display you've got, or you're simply baffled by some of the options you've come across, we'll guide you through the key monitor settings you need to know about&mdash;both those you'll find in Windows and macOS, and those available on your actual monitor.</p><h2>Windows and macOS</h2><p>You can find your monitor settings in Windows by going to Settings from the Start menu, then choosing <strong>System</strong> and <strong>Display</strong>. You get the fundamentals here: first and foremost, the <strong>Display resolution</strong>, which is simply the number of pixels on show. Look for the option marked <strong>Recommended</strong> in the drop down list, as this will be the native resolution for your monitor&mdash;the one where text and graphics look the sharpest.</p><p>If you're using a high-end, high-resolution monitor, using the native resolution can make Windows text and menus seem tiny, which is where <strong>Scale</strong> comes in. Use this to scale up on-screen elements without affecting the resolution. If your monitor supports the feature, you can also choose between <strong>Landscape</strong> and <strong>Portrait</strong> for the <strong>Display orientation</strong>, enabling you to use your monitor vertically if needed.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  944.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  945.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg" alt="Windows display settings" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714388301.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714388301.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  946.            </div>
  947.            <div class="mt-2">
  948.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Display settings on Windows.</span>
  949.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  950.                    </div>
  951.    </div>
  952. <p>Most monitors now support a High Dynamic Range or HDR mode, which you can enable by clicking <strong>Use HDR</strong>. HDR can work wonders in terms of contrast and color range&mdash;it essentially means details in very dark and very light areas of the screen are kept visible and not lost. Imagine a person standing with strong sunlight behind them: HDR would mean that person wouldn't just be a black shadow.</p><p>Head to the <strong>Advanced display</strong> screen and you're able to set the refresh rate, if your monitor supports multiple refresh rates: This is a key monitor spec, measured in Hertz (Hz), that tells you how often per second the display is refreshing itself. A higher refresh rate typically means smoother playback for games and movies, because you're seeing more frames per second.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  953.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDell-UltraSharp-U2723QE-27-16%2Fdp%2FB09TQZP9CL&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Dell+UltraSharp+27+4K+USB-C+Hub+Monitor+%28U2723QE%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=03XutoWUTIbWBSvHXmwino3&amp;offer_uuid=05zvSrMokMg6Imvw6y0ifSC&amp;object_type=05zvSrMokMg6Imvw6y0ifSC&amp;object_uuid=03XutoWUTIbWBSvHXmwino3" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE)">
  954.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  955.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  956.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE)
  957.                </div>
  958.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  959.                                            <div class="self-end">
  960.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  961.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  962.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$467.99</span>
  963.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  964.                    </div>
  965.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  966.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$579.99</span>
  967.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $112.00</span>
  968.        </div>
  969.    </div>
  970.                            </div>
  971.                        </div>
  972.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  973.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  974.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  975.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  976.    </div>
  977. </div>
  978.                        </div>
  979.                                    </div>
  980.            </div>
  981.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  982.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/03XutoWUTIbWBSvHXmwino3/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1713217443.jpg" alt="Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE)" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  983.                            </div>
  984.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  985.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/03XutoWUTIbWBSvHXmwino3/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1713217443.jpg" alt="Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U2723QE)" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  986.                            </div>
  987.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  988.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  989.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  990.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  991.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  992.    </div>
  993. </div>
  994.                    </div>
  995.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  996.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  997.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  998.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$467.99</span>
  999.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1000.                    </div>
  1001.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1002.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$579.99</span>
  1003.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $112.00</span>
  1004.        </div>
  1005.    </div>
  1006.                    </div>
  1007.                            </div>
  1008.        </div>
  1009. </a></div>
  1010. <p>Over on macOS, you're able to get to your monitor settings by going to the <strong>Apple</strong> menu and choosing <strong>System Settings</strong> and then Displays. As on Windows, you'll see a choice of resolutions, represented in pixels&mdash;the native resolution for the monitor will be labeled as <strong>Default</strong>, and that should give you the best experience.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1011.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1012.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg" alt="macOS display settings" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714388301.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714388301.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1013.            </div>
  1014.            <div class="mt-2">
  1015.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Display settings on macOS.</span>
  1016.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  1017.                    </div>
  1018.    </div>
  1019. <p>Then there's <strong>Color profile</strong>, which essentially manages how colors and contrast are handled by the monitor (there are more ways to do this thank you might think). This setting is of most use for creative professionals who need full color accuracy in their work&mdash;most of the rest of us won't need to change this setting, but you can certainly experiment with what's available.</p><p>The other settings here match those that we've previously covered for Windows. You're able to specify a refresh rate (how quickly the screen refreshes each second), and enable HDR (for better management of color and contrast extremes). Finally, <strong>Rotation</strong> lets you turn your monitor into a portrait or landscape orientation, if your monitor supports it.</p><h2>On-board settings</h2><p>That's the Windows and macOS settings, but you may also find a bunch of options available on your monitor. Obviously this will vary from monitor to monitor, so you might need to check on the web to see what exactly your model is capable of and how you get to the settings (it's usually done via buttons on the monitor itself).</p><p>Besides the basics of brightness and contrast, something you'll often see are presets, which will have a variety of names like <strong>Movie</strong> or <strong>Gaming</strong>: These presets will adjust settings like contrast, color saturation, and sharpness all together to work best for certain scenarios. The scenario should be made clear by the preset name, but you can always look it up if you need to.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1020.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1021.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg" alt="Monitor presets" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714388301.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-3.fill.size_1400x788.v1714388301.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1022.            </div>
  1023.            <div class="mt-2">
  1024.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">On-board presets on a BenQ monitor.</span>
  1025.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  1026.                    </div>
  1027.    </div>
  1028. <p>There's nothing wrong with the standard preset that's enabled by default, by the way&mdash;this will work well for most use cases. However, if you're doing something specific, you may get better results with a preset. You can always tweak presets further by adjusting the individual settings for color and contrast yourself, if needed.</p><p>One of the individual settings you'll see on some monitors is <strong>Gamma</strong>, which controls how smoothly <a href="https://www.benq.eu/en-uk/knowledge-center/knowledge/gamma-monitor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">black transitions into white</a>, and affects the balance between the lightest and the darkest areas of the frame. There might also be a <strong>Color temperature</strong> setting, which affects how 'warm' or 'cold' colors look on screen.</p><p>Gaming monitors will often have something called an <strong>Overdrive</strong> feature (though it might have a different name). This boosts the monitor's ability to transition between colors, and it can reduce 'ghosting' (or color trails) in fast-paced games with a lot of motion. It can also cause other noticeable artifacts though, so it's something that's best set on a game-by-game basis, depending on your personal preference.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1029.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1030.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg" alt="Red Dead Redemption 2 graphics settings" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-4.fill.size_800x450.v1714388301.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-4.fill.size_1400x788.v1714388301.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWMR2Y39966DB1DHTBXJQAWM/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714388301.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1031.            </div>
  1032.            <div class="mt-2">
  1033.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">In-game settings for Red Dead Redemption 2.</span>
  1034.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  1035.                    </div>
  1036.    </div>
  1037. <p>You might also see a mention of Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, features that sync the monitor refresh rate to the number of frames being outputted every second by your graphics card: With this enabled, you should see less stuttering and screen tearing (where two halves of a frame don't match up). It has a variety of other names depending on the monitor, so look out for something mentioning "sync" or "variable refresh rate."</p><p>Finally, don't neglect the settings inside your apps and especially your games. Most games will come with a stack of options you can adjust to control the monitor resolution, refresh rate, latency (the delay between your input and the screen response), and frame sync settings&mdash;these will vary between games and between monitors, but they should be labeled in a way that makes them easy to understand.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1038.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0C1HCDNN3&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=HP+Omen+32c+32%22+1440p+165Hz+Curved+Gaming+Monitor&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=03Um8eWM1a2iKdzX4YVmR2J&amp;offer_uuid=06QacSDRCiF3578AbPTN6Z3&amp;object_type=06QacSDRCiF3578AbPTN6Z3&amp;object_uuid=03Um8eWM1a2iKdzX4YVmR2J" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label='HP Omen 32c 32" 1440p 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor'>
  1039.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1040.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1041.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">HP Omen 32c 32" 1440p 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor
  1042.                </div>
  1043.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1044.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1045.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1046.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1047.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$219.99</span>
  1048.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1049.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  1050.            </div>
  1051.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1052.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$379.99</span>
  1053.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $160.00</span>
  1054.        </div>
  1055.    </div>
  1056.                            </div>
  1057.                        </div>
  1058.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1059.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1060.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1061.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1062.    </div>
  1063. </div>
  1064.                        </div>
  1065.                                    </div>
  1066.            </div>
  1067.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1068.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/03Um8eWM1a2iKdzX4YVmR2J/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1710850769.jpg" alt='HP Omen 32c 32" 1440p 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor' width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  1069.                            </div>
  1070.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1071.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/03Um8eWM1a2iKdzX4YVmR2J/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1710850769.jpg" alt='HP Omen 32c 32" 1440p 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor' width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  1072.                            </div>
  1073.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1074.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1075.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1076.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1077.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1078.    </div>
  1079. </div>
  1080.                    </div>
  1081.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1082.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1083.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1084.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$219.99</span>
  1085.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1086.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  1087.            </div>
  1088.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1089.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$379.99</span>
  1090.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $160.00</span>
  1091.        </div>
  1092.    </div>
  1093.                    </div>
  1094.                            </div>
  1095.        </div>
  1096. </a></div>]]></content:encoded>
  1097.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/what-your-monitor-settings-actually-mean-and-how-to-change-them</link>
  1098.      <dc:creator>David Nield</dc:creator>
  1099.      <category><![CDATA[Hardware]]></category>
  1100.    </item>
  1101.    <item>
  1102.      <title>Here's Where You Can Return Running Shoes, Even If You've Already Run in Them</title>
  1103.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1847998182</guid>
  1104.      <pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 00:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1105.      <description>Independent running stores often have good return policies—but so do a bunch of the big brands.</description>
  1106.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GZDCRQHV17MYXZ5NP3PP1/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1107.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are plenty of reasons to buy shoes at your local running store instead of online or at a big box store, including a more knowledgeable staff and the fact that you&rsquo;re supporting your local running community. But another biggie is the fact that many will take returns even after you&rsquo;ve gone for a few runs in your shoes.</p><p>In case you don&rsquo;t have a local store with this policy, it&rsquo;s good to know that some larger brands and online stores will also take returns of lightly-worn shoes. Fleet Feet and Running Warehouse are among the bigger stores that offer this perk; some online running shoe stores will include it as part of a membership (like Roadrunner). But several running shoe brands offer a no-questions-asked return policy themselves, so if you know that you love (say) Nikes, you can buy from the brand directly. </p><p><em>Do not feel bad</em> about taking advantage of this policy. The whole idea is that you can trust your body to tell you whether the shoes are working, rather than stressing during a brief try-on about whether you <em>think</em> these shoes will work for you. If you can't help but feel guilty, you can make it up by buying your next new pair of shoes from the same place. They do it because they're trying to win you as a loyal customer.</p><p><strong>Adidas</strong> asks for shoes to be unworn for most returns, <em>but</em> it has a <a href="https://zdcs.link/4ALjL?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=separate%20policy&amp;short_url=4ALjL&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">separate policy</a> for its "performance" running shoes, which include all its popular running shoes, from the $65 Runfalcon on up.</p><p><strong>Altra</strong> prominently advertises "<a href="https://zdcs.link/R0gYy?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=30%20day%20trial%20runs%2C%20guaranteed&amp;short_url=R0gYy&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">30 day trial runs, guaranteed</a>." It ships a return label with your shoes and allows returns "for any reason" during those 30 days.</p><p><strong>Brooks</strong> <a href="https://zdcs.link/oebZL?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=will%20accept%20returns%20within%2090%20days&amp;short_url=oebZL&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">will accept returns within 90 days</a>, even if you&rsquo;ve run in the shoes: "Run in it, sweat in it, inside, outside, in the rain - if it doesn&rsquo;t perform the way it should, send it back."</p><p><strong>Hoka</strong> has a <a href="https://zdcs.link/dMKOM?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=30-day%20return%20policy&amp;short_url=dMKOM&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">30-day return policy</a> (60 days for members), even if you've worn the shoes. "Try them out, that's what our 30-day Guarantee is all about." </p><p><strong>Newton</strong> <a href="https://zdcs.link/XDNXe?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=accepts%20returns%20within%2030%20days&amp;short_url=XDNXe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">accepts returns within 30 days</a> "for any reason with as much or as little wear and tear on them" as they happen to have.</p><p><strong>Nike</strong> will let you return shoes, even if they&rsquo;ve been worn, <a href="https://zdcs.link/EyMZ7?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=within%2060%20days%20of%20purchase&amp;short_url=EyMZ7&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">within 60 days of purchase</a>. It specifically says you can return shoes, including custom sneakers, "for any reason" within that time period. There are <a href="https://zdcs.link/Y0YL2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=exceptions&amp;short_url=Y0YL2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">exceptions</a>, including items purchased at Nike Clearance stores. </p><p>Please note that policies can change, and that they often vary by country. Customer service staff can sometimes help you out even if you fall outside the official policy, but don't count on it. Still, if you&rsquo;ve bought shoes, run in them, and weren&rsquo;t happy, it can&rsquo;t hurt to ask.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1108.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/heres-where-you-can-return-running-shoes-even-if-youve-1847998182</link>
  1109.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  1110.      <category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
  1111.    </item>
  1112.    <item>
  1113.      <title>When You Really Need to Replace Your Running Shoes, According to Reddit</title>
  1114.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1848654849</guid>
  1115.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1116.      <description>You don't have to chuck them just because they've hit 300 miles.</description>
  1117.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HGQB67RMCZM1P4X43CW00/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1118.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You&rsquo;ve probably heard the advice that running shoes are only good for about 300 to 500 miles, and after that, the cushioning is so broken down that they&rsquo;re an injury waiting to happen. But that&rsquo;s not always true, and there are more ways to figure out when to throw out your shoes than just counting the miles.</p><h2>How do running shoes break down?</h2><p>When you put in the miles, your shoes undergo wear and tear. The first thing you&rsquo;ll notice is that the tread on the bottom wears down, but that&rsquo;s okay; there should be more than enough rubber under your feet to last the lifetime of the shoe. </p><p>Another place you&rsquo;ll see visible wear is on the upper. Maybe you tend to get a hole in the toe box where your big toenail rubs; maybe you run on trails and tend to scuff up the sides. But these scrapes are usually a cosmetic issue, not a functional one. You can patch them up or just run in them despite the holes. </p><p>What really matters is the cushioning on the inside. It gets compressed with every step, and the more it gets squished, the less it bounces back. There will come a time in the life of every running shoe when it provides substantially less cushioning than it did when it was new. That&rsquo;s when it&rsquo;s arguably time to replace them. </p><h2>How <em>fast</em> do running shoes break down?</h2><p>The &ldquo;300 to 500 miles&rdquo; rule benefits running companies, since it requires you to replace your shoes while they still might look like new. But it&rsquo;s true: 300 to 500 miles really is the range where cushioning tends to reach the end of its useful life. </p><p>That said, a lot of different factors are at work here besides just mileage&mdash;the runner's weight, for instance. If you&rsquo;re a heavier runner, your shoes will wear out faster. And if you&rsquo;re a lighter one, you may get more mileage out of your shoes than you&rsquo;d otherwise expect. </p><p>Another factor is how the shoes are made. Some shoes are more durable and will last well beyond 500 miles. Others are light and flimsy to start with, and you might be lucky to break 300. I sometimes buy kids&rsquo; running shoes if I can find them in a size that fits me, but they tend to be less sturdy and their cushioning doesn&rsquo;t last as long. </p><h2>How long can you wear your old running shoes?</h2><p>I remember running in the same pair of Nikes for literal years without issue. I bought them around the time that barefoot running and minimalist shoes were all the rage, and in fact I bought them because they had less cushioning than other models&mdash;so I figured that if I wanted the least cushioning possible, why would I worry about replacing shoes just because the cushioning was wearing down? </p><p>I did eventually get a new pair for other reasons, but the logic is sound: If you don&rsquo;t need the extra cushioning, and your beat-up shoes are still comfortable, you can keep running in them for as long as they feel good. </p><p>On the other hand, not all shoes break down uniformly. I&rsquo;ve had shoes where one sole starts to feel a bit lumpy or weird, and that can definitely lead to discomfort (or potentially even injury) over time. The most recent models of my favorite Nikes (the Free Run) seem to break down quickly. I've since switched to the Downshifter, a model that fits similarly but has more durable cushioning.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1119.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F71wGE&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Nike+Womens+Downshifter+12&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F71wGE" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Nike Womens Downshifter 12">
  1120.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1121.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1122.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Nike Womens Downshifter 12
  1123.                </div>
  1124.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1125.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1126.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1127.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1128.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$64.77</span>
  1129.                    </div>
  1130.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1131.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$69.51</span>
  1132.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $4.74</span>
  1133.        </div>
  1134.    </div>
  1135.                            </div>
  1136.                        </div>
  1137.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1138.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1139.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1140.        <div>Learn More</div>
  1141.    </div>
  1142. </div>
  1143.                        </div>
  1144.                                    </div>
  1145.            </div>
  1146.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1147.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HGQB67RMCZM1P4X43CW00/images-1.fill.size_245x133.v1714768536.jpg" alt="Nike Downshifter" width="245" height="133" loading="lazy">
  1148.                            </div>
  1149.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1150.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HGQB67RMCZM1P4X43CW00/images-1.fill.size_245x133.v1714768536.jpg" alt="Nike Downshifter" width="245" height="133" loading="lazy">
  1151.                            </div>
  1152.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1153.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1154.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1155.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1156.        <div>Learn More</div>
  1157.    </div>
  1158. </div>
  1159.                    </div>
  1160.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1161.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1162.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1163.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$64.77</span>
  1164.                    </div>
  1165.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1166.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$69.51</span>
  1167.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $4.74</span>
  1168.        </div>
  1169.    </div>
  1170.                    </div>
  1171.                            </div>
  1172.        </div>
  1173. </a></div>
  1174. <p>All of this is to say: just because you <em>can</em> keep running in old shoes doesn&rsquo;t mean you <em>should</em>. Your experience will vary with the brand of shoe, the age of the shoe, and other factors like how heavy you are and what kind of surfaces you run on. </p><h2>When do you really need to replace your running shoes?</h2><p>Runners debate this issue amongst themselves, and they don't always come to the same conclusion as the running shoe companies. For example, see <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/te5a5n/about_should_i_retire_these_shoes_posts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">this discussion in a running forum on Reddit</a>. Some people do track their miles, but they learn from experience instead of trusting a number just because they read it on the internet somewhere. One runner says, &ldquo;Yep, my running shoes become lawn mowing shoes somewhere between 700 and 800 miles.&rdquo; Another uses a range of 600 to 800 kilometers (roughly 400 to 500 miles). Another gives a more detailed explanation: </p><p>Theaveragemaryjanie says: "In fact, I started going off of mileage on some brands because [a gradual pain in the knee] went from it&rsquo;s fine it&rsquo;s fine it&rsquo;s fine to oh-my-god-my-knee-how-long-am-I-out-is-this-serious. After about three scares at near the same mileage I figured it out and now replace 50 miles sooner. I would rather buy one extra pair per year than injure myself.&#65279;"</p><p>Others go by feel. "I retire shoes not at a mileage but when they either don&rsquo;t feel comfy to run in any more or if they fall apart," says Layric. I generally get 1,000 miles at least out of pairs. At this mileage the soles are going to be nowhere near as cushioned as when they were new but I don&rsquo;t suffer any injuries keeping them going this long. I own about half a dozen pairs and rotate through them.&#65279;"</p><p>Rotating through a shoe collection reportedly helps to extend the life of shoes. (Pro tip: if you do this, make sure to track shoe mileage in your running app, because otherwise it will be difficult to remember how much you&rsquo;ve run in each shoe.) </p><p>One redditor, MakeYourMarks, has the receipts: "The fact that you rotate them is certainly a boon to their longevity," they say. "The foam/insulation/support gets compressed from the constant banging and pressure of running. Giving them time to &ldquo;rest&rdquo; (fully dry out and re-expand) adds a not-insubstantial amount of life to them. I have found that I get around 500 miles of amazing cushioning out of Hokas when rotating every other day as opposed to only about 350-400 when using every day. That&rsquo;s at least a 25% increase, and at $100+ for a pair of shoes, the savings add up quickly over time."</p><p>You can also combine these approaches, and rotate between an older and a newer pair of shoes. The nice thing about this approach is that you&rsquo;ll be able to feel the difference between good cushioning and worn-down cushioning just by comparing the two, without having to make a trip to the shoe store. Comparing new and old shoes is <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-know-when-its-time-for-new-running-shoes-1844481292" target="" rel="noopener" title="open in a new window">my own preferred method</a>.</p><p>Just one warning about keeping a stash in the closet: <a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-older-running-shoes-probably-wont-last-even-if-the-1847417213" target="" rel="noopener" title="open in a new window">the cushioning in running shoes will break down over time, even if you haven&rsquo;t run in them</a>, so very old shoes may have a shorter lifespan from the start.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1175.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/when-you-really-need-to-replace-your-running-shoes-acc-1848654849</link>
  1176.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  1177.      <category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
  1178.    </item>
  1179.    <item>
  1180.      <title>These Fancy Robot Vacuums Are up to 50% Off</title>
  1181.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX0327AE1WVGEHNR0M1KYCNA</guid>
  1182.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 22:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1183.      <description>These Yeedi and Ecovacs robot vacuums might make you ditch your Roomba for good.</description>
  1184.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX0327AE1WVGEHNR0M1KYCNA/hero-image.png"/>
  1185.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to high-end robot vacuums, there are a few brands that stand out from the rest. Yeedi and Ecovacs, for example: These companies are consistently innovating new features, increasing battery life and suction power, and improving their companion apps. Here are the best high-end robot vacuum deals available right now. </p><h2>The Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni is 50% off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1186.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FECOVACS-Self-Empty-Auto-Clean-Navigation-Avoidance%2Fdp%2FB0BBYWK3HY&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Ecovacs+Deebot+T10+Omni&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01mcjcbXf2drIz8HW4zzp9V&amp;offer_uuid=00iRWJmskuDgzx4Zv2b8tzc&amp;object_type=00iRWJmskuDgzx4Zv2b8tzc&amp;object_uuid=01mcjcbXf2drIz8HW4zzp9V" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni">
  1187.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1188.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1189.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Ecovacs Deebot T10 Omni
  1190.                </div>
  1191.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1192.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1193.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1194.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1195.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$599.99</span>
  1196.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1197.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  1198.            </div>
  1199.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1200.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,199.99</span>
  1201.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $600.00</span>
  1202.        </div>
  1203.    </div>
  1204.                            </div>
  1205.                        </div>
  1206.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1207.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1208.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1209.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1210.    </div>
  1211. </div>
  1212.                        </div>
  1213.                                    </div>
  1214.            </div>
  1215.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1216.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01mcjcbXf2drIz8HW4zzp9V/hero-image.fill.size_245x306.v1707261664.jpg" alt="ECOVACS DEEBOT T10 OMNI Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, Auto Self-Emptying, Auto Mop Cleaning, Hot Air Drying, 5000Pa Suction, OZMO TURBO Deep Mopping with Precision Mapping and Obstacle Avoidance, White" width="245" height="306" loading="lazy">
  1217.                            </div>
  1218.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1219.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01mcjcbXf2drIz8HW4zzp9V/hero-image.fill.size_245x306.v1707261664.jpg" alt="ECOVACS DEEBOT T10 OMNI Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, Auto Self-Emptying, Auto Mop Cleaning, Hot Air Drying, 5000Pa Suction, OZMO TURBO Deep Mopping with Precision Mapping and Obstacle Avoidance, White" width="245" height="306" loading="lazy">
  1220.                            </div>
  1221.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1222.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1223.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1224.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1225.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1226.    </div>
  1227. </div>
  1228.                    </div>
  1229.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1230.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1231.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1232.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$599.99</span>
  1233.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1234.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  1235.            </div>
  1236.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1237.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,199.99</span>
  1238.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $600.00</span>
  1239.        </div>
  1240.    </div>
  1241.                    </div>
  1242.                            </div>
  1243.        </div>
  1244. </a></div>
  1245. <p>Like all the devices here, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/ZRrAK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Deebot%20T10%20Omni&amp;short_url=ZRrAK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Deebot T10 Omni</a> is a vacuum and mop robot vacuum with a self-emptying home base that also charges the robot. It has a decent suction power of 5,000 Pa and mops with cold water. There is no auto-mop lifting feature, so you'll have to designate no-mop zones on your app if you don't want your carpet getting wet. The T10 has a camera with AI technology that it uses to avoid and recognize obstacles. You can also use the camera to monitor where the vacuum goes on a live video stream that also has two-way audio. You can get the Deebot T10 Omni for <strong>$599.99</strong> (originally $1,199.99), the lowest price yet according to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-price-tracking-tools-1692745053" target="_blank">price-checking tools</a>. </p><h2>The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is $500 off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1246.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FY0rRj&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=ECOVACS+DEEBOT+X2+Omni&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FY0rRj" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Omni">
  1247.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1248.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1249.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Omni
  1250.                </div>
  1251.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">8000Pa Suction, 15mm Lift, Omni Station with Hot Water Mop Washing, Self-Emptying, Hot Air Drying.
  1252.                    </div>
  1253.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1254.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1255.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1256.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1257.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$999.99</span>
  1258.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1259.                    </div>
  1260.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1261.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,499.00</span>
  1262.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $499.01</span>
  1263.        </div>
  1264.    </div>
  1265.                            </div>
  1266.                        </div>
  1267.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1268.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1269.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1270.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1271.    </div>
  1272. </div>
  1273.                        </div>
  1274.                                    </div>
  1275.            </div>
  1276.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1277.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX0327AE1WVGEHNR0M1KYCNA/images-1.fill.size_245x237.v1714768911.jpg" alt="ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Omni" width="245" height="237" loading="lazy">
  1278.                            </div>
  1279.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1280.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX0327AE1WVGEHNR0M1KYCNA/images-1.fill.size_245x237.v1714768911.jpg" alt="ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Omni" width="245" height="237" loading="lazy">
  1281.                            </div>
  1282.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1283.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1284.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1285.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1286.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1287.    </div>
  1288. </div>
  1289.                    </div>
  1290.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1291.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1292.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1293.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$999.99</span>
  1294.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1295.                    </div>
  1296.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1297.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,499.00</span>
  1298.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $499.01</span>
  1299.        </div>
  1300.    </div>
  1301.                    </div>
  1302.                            </div>
  1303.        </div>
  1304. </a></div>
  1305. <p>When the <a href="https://zdcs.link/Y0rRj?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Ecovacs%20Deebot%20X2%20Omni%20Robot%20Vacuum&amp;short_url=Y0rRj&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot Vacuum</u></a> came out, the 8,000 Pa suction power was top of the line. This one works with carpets since the mop has a clearance of 15mm. The long rubber brushes for mopping leave my floors looking fresh, and it has yet to run out of battery mid-job with a long 200 minutes of run time. I've yet to take the debris out of the 90-day self-emptying home base (I don't use it every day). The mopping is done with two powerful brushes and hot water. The X2 will also dry your floors with hot air. You can get this cleaning machine for <strong>$999.99</strong> (originally $1,499.99) after a 33% discount.</p><h2>The Yeedi M12 PRO+ is $300 off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1306.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fpgb2l&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Yeedi+M12+PRO%2B+with+%24100+on-page+coupon&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fpgb2l" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Yeedi M12 PRO+ with $100 on-page coupon">
  1307.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1308.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1309.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Yeedi M12 PRO+ with $100 on-page coupon
  1310.                </div>
  1311.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">11000Pa Strong Suction, ZeroTangle Technology, TruEdge Deep Mopping, Auto Mop Washing/Drying.
  1312.                    </div>
  1313.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1314.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1315.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1316.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1317.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$799.00</span>
  1318.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1319.                    </div>
  1320.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1321.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,099.00</span>
  1322.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $300.00</span>
  1323.        </div>
  1324.    </div>
  1325.                            </div>
  1326.                        </div>
  1327.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1328.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1329.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1330.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1331.    </div>
  1332. </div>
  1333.                        </div>
  1334.                                    </div>
  1335.            </div>
  1336.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1337.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX0327AE1WVGEHNR0M1KYCNA/images-2.fill.size_245x180.v1714768911.jpg" alt="Yeedi M12 PRO+" width="245" height="180" loading="lazy">
  1338.                            </div>
  1339.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1340.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX0327AE1WVGEHNR0M1KYCNA/images-2.fill.size_245x180.v1714768911.jpg" alt="Yeedi M12 PRO+" width="245" height="180" loading="lazy">
  1341.                            </div>
  1342.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1343.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1344.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1345.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1346.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1347.    </div>
  1348. </div>
  1349.                    </div>
  1350.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1351.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1352.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1353.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$799.00</span>
  1354.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  1355.                    </div>
  1356.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1357.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,099.00</span>
  1358.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $300.00</span>
  1359.        </div>
  1360.    </div>
  1361.                    </div>
  1362.                            </div>
  1363.        </div>
  1364. </a></div>
  1365. <p>The newest high-end robot vacuum from Yeedi is impressive on paper, and it is already $300 off. The <a href="https://zdcs.link/4AN3X?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Yeedi%20M12%20PRO%2B&amp;short_url=4AN3X&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Yeedi M12 PRO+</a> has a powerful 11,000 Pa suction power, which is the highest suction I've seen in a robot vacuum. It also has a self-emptying dustbin, hot water mopping, self-washing extending mop pads, a tangle-free V-shaped roller brush, and a spot-cleaning feature in case you make a mess in one specific spot of the house. The M12 PRO+ has obstacle avoidance, but it may still try to clean objects it should probably avoid, like food wrappers or napkins. The auto-lift of 9mm means if you have a thicker carpet, you might want to tell your vacuum to work around it, or it will likely get wet. The fact that you can get a robot vacuum of this quality for <strong>$799.99 </strong>(originally $1,099) after using the $100 on-page coupon is impressive.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1366.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/yeedi-and-ecovacs-robot-vacuum-sale</link>
  1367.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  1368.      <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category>
  1369.    </item>
  1370.    <item>
  1371.      <title>The Easiest Ways to Get More Vitamin D in Your Diet</title>
  1372.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HX015DYC0WTD2DTVENDTT961</guid>
  1373.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1374.      <description>No need to drown yourself in spoonfuls of cod liver oil.</description>
  1375.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX015DYC0WTD2DTVENDTT961/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1376.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Vitamin D is hugely important to your health, and I don&rsquo;t just mean bone health. Humans need vitamin D for immune function, cell growth and repair, and many other things. We get vitamin D from sunlight and from food, so let&rsquo;s take a look at which foods have the most vitamin D.</p><h2>You don&rsquo;t have to get all of your vitamin D from food</h2><p>Before I discuss food sources, I do want to address the issue of where vitamin D comes from in the first place. The primary sources are sunlight <em>and</em> food (and supplements), so if you get plenty of sun, you don&rsquo;t need to worry about meeting your needs through food, and vice versa.&nbsp;</p><p>How much sun do you need to get enough vitamin D? That depends on your latitude on the Earth and how dark or light your skin is. For a benchmark, consider <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20363523/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>this study</u></a> that compared sun exposure in Miami and Boston. In Miami in the summer, it only takes a few minutes for a person with a medium skin tone (the kind that tans easily but is still capable of sunburn) to get their vitamin D for the day. In Boston in the winter, bundled up, that same person might take two hours to get the same amount of vitamin D.</p><p>Health professionals generally agree that if you aren&rsquo;t sure if you&rsquo;re getting enough vitamin D from food and the sun, to just take a supplement. That&rsquo;s going to be safer than trying to meet all your needs through sunlight, since the vitamin-converting rays of the sun are the same rays that can potentially contribute to skin cancer. </p><p>Getting more vitamin D through food is also an option&mdash;so let&rsquo;s dig in.</p><h2>How much vitamin D do you need in food each day?&nbsp;</h2><p>There isn&rsquo;t a ton of agreement on how much vitamin D we need, but the U.S. National Institutes of Health have decided that <a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>600 IU (international units) is enough for pretty much everyone aged 1 to 70.</u></a> If you&rsquo;re older than 70, you should get 800 IU.</p><p>The daily value on nutrition labels is based on a target of 800 IU (the recommendation for elderly folks) so most of us can actually get away with just 75% of the daily value, instead of making sure we hit 100%.&nbsp;</p><p>Those <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_unit" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>international units</u></a> exist because there are different forms of vitamin D found in food, and some have a stronger effect on the body than others. In general, 600 IU is equivalent to 15 micrograms of vitamin D, but using IU means you don&rsquo;t have to keep track of which type of the vitamin is present in food.&nbsp;</p><p>Oh, and the recommendations of 600 or 800 IU assume that you are getting minimal sun exposure&mdash;they&rsquo;re for the bundled-up person in Boston, not the sunbather in Miami. </p><h2>Easy ways to add vitamin D to your diet</h2><h3>Eat more fatty fish</h3><p>Fish carry tons of vitamin D in their fat, so fatty fish like trout and salmon tend to be great sources of the vitamin.&nbsp;</p><p>If you'll allow me a small rant: Cod liver oil always tops lists of vitamin D sources, as if people are buying cod liver oil and taking spoonfuls of it like in old cartoons. (Maybe people do. If this is you, you can stop reading now.) I am going to proceed with my list as if cod liver oil did not exist. That said, if you really want to get your vitamin D this way, by all means, <a href="https://zdcs.link/71w1V?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=buy%20some%20one%20Amazon&amp;short_url=71w1V&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>buy some one Amazon</u></a>.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1377.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F71w1V&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Carlson+-+Cod+Liver+Oil%2C+1100+mg+Omega-3s%2C+Liquid+Fish+Oil+Supplement%2C+Wild-Caught+Norwegian+Arctic+%2C+Sustainably+Sourced+Nordic+Fish+Oil+Liquid%2C+Lemon%2C+500+ml&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F71w1V" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Carlson - Cod Liver Oil, 1100 mg Omega-3s, Liquid Fish Oil Supplement, Wild-Caught Norwegian Arctic , Sustainably Sourced Nordic Fish Oil Liquid, Lemon, 500 ml">
  1378.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1379.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1380.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Carlson - Cod Liver Oil, 1100 mg Omega-3s, Liquid Fish Oil Supplement, Wild-Caught Norwegian Arctic , Sustainably Sourced Nordic Fish Oil Liquid, Lemon, 500 ml
  1381.                </div>
  1382.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1383.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1384.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1385.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1386.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$44.63</span>
  1387.                    </div>
  1388.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1389.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$46.90</span>
  1390.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $2.27</span>
  1391.        </div>
  1392.    </div>
  1393.                            </div>
  1394.                        </div>
  1395.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1396.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1397.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1398.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  1399.    </div>
  1400. </div>
  1401.                        </div>
  1402.                                    </div>
  1403.            </div>
  1404.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1405.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX015DYC0WTD2DTVENDTT961/images-1.fill.size_245x415.v1714766919.jpg" alt="cod liver oil" width="245" height="415" loading="lazy">
  1406.                            </div>
  1407.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1408.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HX015DYC0WTD2DTVENDTT961/images-1.fill.size_245x415.v1714766919.jpg" alt="cod liver oil" width="245" height="415" loading="lazy">
  1409.                            </div>
  1410.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1411.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1412.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1413.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1414.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  1415.    </div>
  1416. </div>
  1417.                    </div>
  1418.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1419.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1420.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1421.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$44.63</span>
  1422.                    </div>
  1423.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1424.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$46.90</span>
  1425.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $2.27</span>
  1426.        </div>
  1427.    </div>
  1428.                    </div>
  1429.                            </div>
  1430.        </div>
  1431. </a></div>
  1432. <p>If you'd rather enjoy eating the fish you're consuming, here&rsquo;s how much vitamin D is in different types of fish. All of these listings are from the USDA, and indicate the levels in a three-ounce portion of cooked fish.</p><ul><li><p>Trout (rainbow, farmed): 645 IU</p></li><li><p>Salmon (sockeye): 570 IU</p></li><li><p>Tuna (light, canned): 229 IU (or 460 IU for a small can)</p></li><li><p>Tilapia: 128 IU</p></li><li><p>Fish sticks: sadly, only 1 IU</p></li></ul><h2>Other animal products that are good sources of vitamin D</h2><p>Several land animals also make enough vitamin D to be worth considering as a good source of vitamin D.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Chicken eggs: 37 IU each (the vitamin D is in the yolk)</p></li><li><p>Beef liver: 48 IU in a three-ounce cooked portion</p></li></ul><p>Milk is famously a good source of vitamin D (the carton often says &ldquo;vitamin D milk&rdquo;). There is some vitamin D naturally present in the milkfat, so skim milk doesn&rsquo;t usually have much vitamin D, but whole milk does&mdash;and it&rsquo;s often fortified to bring those levels up even more.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Whole milk: 124 IU per cup</p></li><li><p>Heavy cream: 19 IU per ounce</p></li></ul><h2>Eat more fortified foods</h2><p>A food is &ldquo;fortified&rdquo; with vitamins if those vitamins have been added to the food. A lot of people don&rsquo;t drink milk, so several similar beverages are sold with vitamin D added.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p><strong>Fortified plant milks</strong>: Check the label, but it&rsquo;s often similar to whole milk. here&rsquo;s a <a href="https://zdcs.link/oeVJg?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Silk%20brand%20soy%20milk&amp;short_url=oeVJg&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Silk brand soy milk</u></a> with 120 IU per cup.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fortified orange juice</strong>: Check the label, but here&rsquo;s <a href="https://zdcs.link/NMV3d?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Simply%20Orange&amp;short_url=NMV3d&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Simply Orange</u></a> with 200 IU per cup.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fortified cereals</strong>: Check the label, but even a sugary cereal like <a href="https://zdcs.link/Ddv8X?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Cinnamon%20Toast%20Crunch&amp;short_url=Ddv8X&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Cinnamon Toast Crunch</u></a> has 240 IU per serving.</p></li></ul><p>You get the idea. Plant-based foods don&rsquo;t naturally have much vitamin D, but many common items like these are fortified. Between food, sunlight, and the &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to think about it&rdquo; approach of just taking a vitamin D supplement, it shouldn&rsquo;t be too hard to meet your needs.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1433.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/health/how-to-get-more-vitamin-d-in-your-diet</link>
  1434.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  1435.      <category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
  1436.    </item>
  1437.    <item>
  1438.      <title>If the Latest Windows 11 Update Broke Your VPN, Here's How to Fix It</title>
  1439.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZZRGQPXBZHH187FWGST1YH</guid>
  1440.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 21:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1441.      <description>Rolling back is the only answer.</description>
  1442.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZZRGQPXBZHH187FWGST1YH/hero-image.png"/>
  1443.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Microsoft is investigating reports of the latest April Windows 11 update breaking some VPN apps for users. The update, titled KB5036893, introduced several improvements to Windows 11&mdash;unfortunately it also seems to have broken VPN apps that run off a TPM-backed certificate.</p><p>The exact issue users are running into seems to be with the VPN being unable to find the certificate that it needs to be used with the Extensible Authentication Protocol, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/1bzxia8/comment/kz21u6n/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Reddit User Flo-TPG</a> explains. Now that <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23h2#3291msgdesc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Microsoft has confirmed</a> it knows about the issue and is investigating it, we&rsquo;ll hopefully have a fix before too long. </p><p>Unfortunately, that doesn&rsquo;t help those who might be trying to use a VPN with Windows 11 currently. If you have installed update KB5036893, then the only real option you have is to uninstall it and downgrade to the previous Windows 11 version.</p><h2>How to uninstall a Windows 11 update</h2><p>If you ever have any issues with a new Windows 11 update, you can always roll back to the previous version thanks to a handy built-in system Microsoft has included in the operating system. </p><ol><li><p>First, open the <strong>Settings </strong>menu on your Windows 11 PC.</p></li><li><p>Navigate to <strong>Windows Update</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Now click <strong>Update History</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Scroll all the way to the bottom and select <strong>Uninstall Updates</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Find the update that you need to uninstall&mdash;in this case, you&rsquo;ll want to look for update <strong>KB5036893</strong>&mdash;and click <strong>Uninstall</strong>, then complete the process.</p></li></ol><p>Once the update finishes uninstalling, your system will restart, and you&rsquo;ll launch back on the older version of Windows 11. Keep in mind that downgrading from some of the larger updates for Windows 11 may remove some features from your operating system.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1444.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/windows-11-april-update-breaks-vpn-app-how-to-fix</link>
  1445.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  1446.      <category><![CDATA[Computing]]></category>
  1447.    </item>
  1448.    <item>
  1449.      <title>The iPad Is Changing This Year</title>
  1450.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZT84A7E70F87DBGZ2BCHN1</guid>
  1451.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1452.      <description>Apple has some big plans for the iPad in 2024.</description>
  1453.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZT84A7E70F87DBGZ2BCHN1/hero-image.png"/>
  1454.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="https://zdcs.link/rdLAX?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=iPad&amp;short_url=rdLAX&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">iPad</a> is a product equally beloved and criticized: It has its devoted fans, who love it as it is, and use it for everything from work, passion projects, and entertainment. But it also has detractors, mostly those who see it as a limited experience thanks to an underpowered OS.  </p><p>While Apple rarely seems to cater to the whims of its critics, it has made some iterative changes to the iPad over the years: iPadOS used to be an undeniably "tablet" experience, before Apple revamped its multitasking features, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/every-multitasking-feature-in-ipados-15-worth-knowing-a-1847664365" target="_blank">not once</a>, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/a-bunch-of-exclusive-new-ipados-features-just-dropped-1849694753" target="_blank">but twice</a>. Throw in mouse and trackpad support, and the iPad <em>can</em> be used as a computer replacement.</p><p>Apple hasn't made many fundamental changes to the overall design of the iPad in some time: The design of the Pro models remains almost identical to the ones released back in 2018, minus the 12.9-inch Pro's mini-LED display. This year, however, could mark some massive changes in the iPad lineup, across both hardware to software.</p><h2>Apple's new iPads</h2><p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/dont-buy-an-ipad-or-macbook-air-now" target="_blank">iPad rumors have been in circulation for months now</a>, but as we approach <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/what-to-expect-at-apples-may-event" target="_blank">Apple's big iPad event next week</a>, the claims are only getting more serious. </p><p>Case in point, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-03/apple-ipad-event-2024-new-ipad-pro-air-magic-keyboard-pencil-coming-may-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">a new Bloomberg report</a> from noted Apple reporter Mark Gurman presents the highlights of Apple's iPad presentation: The star of the show is the iPad Pro. Apple is moving on from the mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch Pro (as well as the standard LCD on the 11-inch Pro) in favor of OLED. It's the first time Apple has used this display tech in an iPad before, but better late than never: On OLED displays, each pixel can be lit up individually, which means they can be completely shut off for dark scenes. The contrast is incomparable to LCD, which is lit by one solid backlight, and improved over mini-LED: The latter uses many dimming zones to boost contrast, but <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/ygwx86/is_129_ipad_pro_screen_miniled_blooming_normal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">comes with the side effect of light bloom</a>, or white zones in the dark areas around an image.</p><p>In addition to the display upgrades, the rumors suggest these iPads could be the first to get <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/apples-new-m4-chip-will-feature-ai" target="_blank">Apple's upcoming M4 chip</a>, which may power many of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/safari-ai-upgrade" target="_blank">Apple's upcoming AI features</a>. (At least, the ones not outsourced to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/openais-gpt-may-be-coming-to-ios-18" target="_blank">OpenAI</a> or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/openais-gpt-may-be-coming-to-ios-18" target="_blank">Google</a>.) Perhaps the 2024 iPad Pro will usher in Apple's long-awaited AI strategy. We'll just have to see. </p><p>While OLED iPads will certainly make headlines, the iPad Air is also getting an upgrade: Gurman expects Apple to unveil a new 12.9-inch version of the Air, for those who want a larger iPad without paying Pro prices. The standard 10.9-inch will also be available for anyone who likes the traditional form factor of the Air, and both are expected to come with Apple's M2 chip. So, not the tablets to get for AI or the best contrast, but probably the best tablets for most people to consider. </p><h2>Some new accessories for your new iPad</h2><p>Of course, what's an iPad without some additional (expensive) accessories? Gurman expects Apple to unveil new versions of both the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. The new Pencil will come with haptic feedback, which I'm all for: Those are the tiny vibrations you feel in certain pieces of tech, which offers some physical feedback whenever completing an action. It's not clear how Apple plans to implement that into the new Pencil, but it'd be cool if they came into play when drawing, erasing, or selecting items on-screen.</p><p>The new Magic Keyboard also sounds like a step up: It will reportedly use more durable materials, like aluminum, and will make the iPad "look more laptop-like." While I'm a fan of the <a href="https://zdcs.link/lV12x?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=current%20Magic%20Keyboard&amp;short_url=lV12x&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">current Magic Keyboard</a>, it does feel quite fragile compared to other Apple products. There are other areas I'd like to see improvements as well: The main keyboard is nice, but I hope Apple increases the size of the trackpad and adds a row of function keys. Honestly, if all they did was add brightness and volume controls to the keyboard, I'd be set.</p><h2>The iPad is becoming a bit more like a computer</h2><p>People have wanted to replace their Macs and PCs with iPads since the tablet's launch in 2010. And although we've come a long way since that initial design, there's no denying an iPad simply can't do everything a traditional computer can. Sure, you can now have up to four windows on your iPhone running at once, and the Magic Keyboard lets you interact with your tablet much like a laptop, but you will continue to run into roadblocks and jump through painful workarounds to accomplish tasks that would be simple on a Mac.</p><p>There are many such differences Apple still needs to iron out, but one big one comes down to apps. Yes, the App Store is full of apps you can discover and download, but it isn't the same experience as a computer: On a Mac or PC, you can find a fun app or utility on the web, install it, and be on your way. On iPadOS, if Apple didn't approve the app on the App Store, you're not running it. </p><p>That's changing this year, at least in Europe: <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2024/05/02/ipados-eu-app-changes-fall/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Apple confirmed Thursday</a> it will allow app developers to sell their apps through third-party app stores and through websites, following the same rules the company rolled out for <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/ios-175-brings-iphone-sideloading-to-the-eu" target="_blank">iPhones as of iOS 17.5</a>. While app developers will still need to play by Apple's rules and give a percentage of their revenue to the company (this isn't a way to skirt Apple's fees, after all), it gives users more options for where they can download their apps. It means iPhones feel more like Androids, and iPads feels more like computers: If you see an app online, and you want to install it directly on your iPad, you can.</p><p>Of course, the only reason Apple is doing this is because the European Commission is forcing them to. The E.U. sees the iPhone and the iPad as "<a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/eu-investigations-into-apple-google-meta" target="_blank">gatekeeping technologies</a>," and, as such, must open up their platforms to allow for more competition. Unless we see similar legislation passed in the U.S., it's unlikely we'll get sideloading on iPads anytime soon.</p><p>That said, this is a reality for European iPad owners: While there are still plenty of small advantages computers still have over iPads, this change is another small step towards a future where Apple's tablet can be most people's all-in-one device.  </p><hr><p>New iPads are always fun, but arguably the best part of a product release is watching prices on older devices shrink. If you want a new iPad, but don't want to pay new iPad prices, keep an eye on the prices for these iPads post-Apple event:</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Gdqrq?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=12.9-inch%20M2%20iPad%20Pro%20%28renewed%29&amp;short_url=Gdqrq&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (renewed)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/3dJG3?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=11-inch%20M2%20iPad%20Pro%20%28renewed%29&amp;short_url=3dJG3&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">11-inch M2 iPad Pro (renewed)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/71wMy?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=iPad%20Air%20%285th%20generation%29&amp;short_url=71wMy&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">iPad Air (5th generation)</a></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  1455.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/new-ipad-rumors</link>
  1456.      <dc:creator>Jake Peterson</dc:creator>
  1457.      <category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
  1458.    </item>
  1459.    <item>
  1460.      <title>The LG C3 65-inch Evo OLED TV Is 42% Off</title>
  1461.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZY56JV2B2N04T76A4WA7ZB</guid>
  1462.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1463.      <description>One of the best OLED TVs of 2023 is over $1,000 off.</description>
  1464.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZY56JV2B2N04T76A4WA7ZB/hero-image.png"/>
  1465.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to OLED TVs, LG's C series has been near the top of the pack for years. The 2023 model was no different, with PCMag giving it an <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/lg-c3-65-inch-evo-oled-tv-oled65c3pua" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">"outstanding" review</a>. And right now, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/2eg1D?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=LG%20C3%2065-Inch%20Evo%20OLED%20TV&amp;short_url=2eg1D&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">LG C3 65-Inch Evo OLED TV</a> is on sale for <strong>$1,446.99</strong> (originally $2,499.99) after a 42% discount. </p><p>The TV is new, not refurbished, and only available in the 65-inch size. The deal runs until May 10 or until the TVs run out. Remember, Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it&rsquo;ll be $6 to ship.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1466.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FZRrMM&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=LG+C3+65-Inch+Evo+OLED+TV&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FZRrMM" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="LG C3 65-Inch Evo OLED TV">
  1467.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1468.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1469.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">LG C3 65-Inch Evo OLED TV
  1470.                </div>
  1471.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">4K Processor Smart Flat Screen TV for Gaming with Magic Remote AI-Powered, 2023 with Alexa Built-in.
  1472.                    </div>
  1473.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1474.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1475.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1476.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1477.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,446.99</span>
  1478.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1479.                    </div>
  1480.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1481.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$2,499.99</span>
  1482.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $1,053.00</span>
  1483.        </div>
  1484.    </div>
  1485.                            </div>
  1486.                        </div>
  1487.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1488.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1489.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1490.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1491.    </div>
  1492. </div>
  1493.                        </div>
  1494.                                    </div>
  1495.            </div>
  1496.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1497.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZY56JV2B2N04T76A4WA7ZB/images-1.fill.size_245x184.v1714763766.jpg" alt="LG C3 65-Inch Evo OLED TV" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  1498.                            </div>
  1499.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1500.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZY56JV2B2N04T76A4WA7ZB/images-1.fill.size_245x184.v1714763766.jpg" alt="LG C3 65-Inch Evo OLED TV" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  1501.                            </div>
  1502.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1503.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1504.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1505.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1506.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1507.    </div>
  1508. </div>
  1509.                    </div>
  1510.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1511.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1512.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1513.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,446.99</span>
  1514.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1515.                    </div>
  1516.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1517.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$2,499.99</span>
  1518.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $1,053.00</span>
  1519.        </div>
  1520.    </div>
  1521.                    </div>
  1522.                            </div>
  1523.        </div>
  1524. </a></div>
  1525. <p>What makes the C3 Evo different from other OLEDs and its predecessors is how much brighter it gets than the competition, up to 651 nits. Its color performance is also better than its <a href="https://zdcs.link/knBwg?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=predecessor&amp;short_url=knBwg&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">predecessor</a>. Gamers should appreciate the under 1 ms input lag once the TV&rsquo;s Game Optimizer feature is on, and with a 120 Hz refresh rate, games will look smooth. The TV has 4K 3,840 by 2,160 resolution, four HDMI ports, and hands-free Amazon Alexa voice assistant compatibility through the TV's microphones. </p><p>According to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-price-tracking-tools-1692745053" target="_blank">price-checking tools</a>, the 65-inch LG C3 Evo OLED TV didn't drop in price until February of this year. Although this isn't the lowest price this TV has it, it is only a few dollars away from it. At the time of this writing, the next cheapest place to get the C3 Evo is Amazon, which <a href="https://zdcs.link/BdMDB?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=sells%20it%20for%20%241%2C596.99&amp;short_url=BdMDB&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">sells it for $1,596.99</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1526.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/lg-c3-65-inch-evo-oled-tv-sale</link>
  1527.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  1528.      <category><![CDATA[Tvs]]></category>
  1529.    </item>
  1530.    <item>
  1531.      <title>Use This App to Block Ads on Windows 11</title>
  1532.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZXMJ8R5CW02F55JGDBDHV8</guid>
  1533.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 20:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
  1534.      <description>OFGB can quickly change the settings needed to disable start menu ads and other "features."</description>
  1535.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZXMJ8R5CW02F55JGDBDHV8/hero-image.png"/>
  1536.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Advertisements&mdash;sometimes prompts to do something that would financially benefit Microsoft and sometimes actual paid advertisements&mdash;are showing up all over Windows 11. <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-start-menu-ads-to-windows-11-users" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Start menu ads are rolling out to all users</a> this month, taking the shape of "Recommended" applications you haven't installed. <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-experiments-with-ads-in-windows-11-file-explorer" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Ads also briefly showed up in File Explorer</a>, though this was apparently unintentional. And there have long been calls to action on the lock screen and in the settings app. It's a mess.</p><p>We've told you how to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-block-ads-in-windows-11" target="_blank">manually turn off all of Microsoft's ads in Windows 11</a>, but it's a lot of digging around in the settings. If you'd rather not do that, an app called <a href="https://github.com/xM4ddy/OFGB" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">OFGB</a> can do it for you. This free and open source application can quickly change various registry settings to disable those ads&mdash;all you have to do is click a few checkboxes.</p><p>To get started, simply <a href="https://github.com/xM4ddy/OFGB/releases/tag/v0.2" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">download the latest release from Github</a>. There are two versions&mdash;one tiny one that will only work if you've already installed .NET 8.0 and another massive one that has .NET bundled. Use whichever sounds easier to you.</p><p>Open the application and you'll see a bunch of checkboxes allowing you to disable different features. This includes the infamous ads in the File Explorer, the ads on the lock screen, the "Suggested content" in the Settings app, the general tips and tricks that pop up while you're using Windows, the Windows "Welcome Experience," the optional tracking tool that enables "more personal" ads, the "Tailored Experience" feature that tracks your website browsing to show product recommendations, and the "recommended" ads that show up in the start menu.</p><p>It's honestly a lot of stuff to have to disable just to get a clean operating system, but with this application, at least it's all in one place. And hey: It's easier than wiping your computer just to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-install-windows-11-without-extra-junk" target="_blank">install an actually clean version of Windows 11</a>, so that's a plus.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1537.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/use-ofgb-app-to-remove-ads-in-windows-11</link>
  1538.      <dc:creator>Justin Pot</dc:creator>
  1539.      <category><![CDATA[Computing]]></category>
  1540.    </item>
  1541.    <item>
  1542.      <title>These Samsung TVs Are Up to 48% Off Right Now</title>
  1543.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ</guid>
  1544.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1545.      <description>You can get these high-end 2023 4K OLED and QLED Samsung TVs on sale at Woot.</description>
  1546.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/hero-image.png"/>
  1547.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Woot has a <a href="https://zdcs.link/rdLwN?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=liquidation%20sale&amp;short_url=rdLwN&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">liquidation sale</a> for tech products happening right now, and their <a href="https://zdcs.link/0PWel?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=television%20and%20projectors%20section&amp;short_url=0PWel&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">television and projectors section</a> has some good discounts on last year's Samsung OLED and QLED 4K TV models. You can find them going up to 48% off at Woot right now. </p><p>The deal runs until May 9, 2024, or until the TVs sell out. Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it&rsquo;ll be $6 to ship.&nbsp;Here are the best TVs on sale.</p><h2>The Samsung 65-inch S95C OLED TV is 46% off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1548.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FDdvZe&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Samsung+65-Inch+S95C+OLED+TV&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FDdvZe" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Samsung 65-Inch S95C OLED TV">
  1549.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1550.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1551.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Samsung 65-Inch S95C OLED TV
  1552.                </div>
  1553.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Smart TV w/Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound+, Q Symphony, Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro, Gaming Hub.
  1554.                    </div>
  1555.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1556.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1557.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1558.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1559.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,777.99</span>
  1560.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1561.                    </div>
  1562.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1563.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$3,297.99</span>
  1564.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $1,520.00</span>
  1565.        </div>
  1566.    </div>
  1567.                            </div>
  1568.                        </div>
  1569.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1570.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1571.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1572.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1573.    </div>
  1574. </div>
  1575.                        </div>
  1576.                                    </div>
  1577.            </div>
  1578.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1579.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/images-1.fill.size_245x154.v1714757542.jpg" alt="Samsung 65-Inch S95C OLED TV" width="245" height="154" loading="lazy">
  1580.                            </div>
  1581.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1582.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/images-1.fill.size_245x154.v1714757542.jpg" alt="Samsung 65-Inch S95C OLED TV" width="245" height="154" loading="lazy">
  1583.                            </div>
  1584.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1585.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1586.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1587.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1588.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1589.    </div>
  1590. </div>
  1591.                    </div>
  1592.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1593.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1594.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1595.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,777.99</span>
  1596.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1597.                    </div>
  1598.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1599.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$3,297.99</span>
  1600.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $1,520.00</span>
  1601.        </div>
  1602.    </div>
  1603.                    </div>
  1604.                            </div>
  1605.        </div>
  1606. </a></div>
  1607. <p>The 65-inch Samsung S95C OLED TV was released about a year ago, when Samsung released what was then its latest OLED 4K TV. PCMag gave it an <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/samsung-65-inch-s95c-oled-tv" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">"outstanding" review</a> because of its bright display despite being an OLED, great colors, low input lag, and support for AirPlay 2 and voice assistants Alexa and Bixby (Samsung's equivalent). Right now, you can get the <a href="https://zdcs.link/Y0r0l?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=65-inch%20Samsung%20OLED%204K%20S95C&amp;short_url=Y0r0l&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>65-inch Samsung OLED 4K S95C</u></a> for <strong>$1,777.99</strong> (originally $3,297.99) or the 77-inch for 39% off. This TV was a bit cheaper when Woot had a Samsung TV sale last month, but it is the cheapest you can find from a reputable store at the moment, with <a href="https://zdcs.link/noZox?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Walmart%20being%20the%20runner-up&amp;short_url=noZox&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Walmart being the runner-up</a>. </p><h2>The Samsung QLED Q80C Series is 48% off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1608.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FDdvVR&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Samsung+QLED+4K+Q80C+Series&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FDdvVR" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Samsung QLED 4K Q80C Series">
  1609.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1610.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1611.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Samsung QLED 4K Q80C Series
  1612.                </div>
  1613.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Dolby Atmos Object Tracking Sound Lite, Direct Full Array, Q-Symphony 3.0, Gaming Hub, Smart TV.
  1614.                    </div>
  1615.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1616.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1617.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1618.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1619.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,727.99</span>
  1620.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1621.                    </div>
  1622.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1623.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$3,297.99</span>
  1624.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $1,570.00</span>
  1625.        </div>
  1626.    </div>
  1627.                            </div>
  1628.                        </div>
  1629.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1630.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1631.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1632.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1633.    </div>
  1634. </div>
  1635.                        </div>
  1636.                                    </div>
  1637.            </div>
  1638.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1639.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/images-2.fill.size_245x184.v1714757542.jpg" alt="Samsung QLED 4K Q80C Series" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  1640.                            </div>
  1641.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1642.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/images-2.fill.size_245x184.v1714757542.jpg" alt="Samsung QLED 4K Q80C Series" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  1643.                            </div>
  1644.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1645.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1646.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1647.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1648.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1649.    </div>
  1650. </div>
  1651.                    </div>
  1652.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1653.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1654.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1655.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,727.99</span>
  1656.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1657.                    </div>
  1658.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1659.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$3,297.99</span>
  1660.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $1,570.00</span>
  1661.        </div>
  1662.    </div>
  1663.                    </div>
  1664.                            </div>
  1665.        </div>
  1666. </a></div>
  1667. <p>If you're looking for a good deal on an 85-inch QLED TV, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the <a href="https://zdcs.link/pgbgD?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Samsung%20QLED%204K%20Q80C%20Series&amp;short_url=pgbgD&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Samsung QLED 4K Q80C Series</a> for <strong>$1,727.99</strong> (originally $3,297.99). You won't find the same mini-LED backlighting screen technology that you'll find in other high-end Samsung TVs, giving you some limitations on your viewing angles&mdash;however, you also won't find those TVs 48% off. At its current price, the QLED technology and 85-inch size give you great value for your money for those looking for bright and colorful 4K images.</p><h2>The Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV is 43% off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1668.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fglv3P&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Samsung+QN90C+Neo+QLED+TV&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fglv3P" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV">
  1669.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1670.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  1671.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV
  1672.                </div>
  1673.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound+, Anti-Glare, Gaming Hub, Q-Symphony, Alexa Built-in.
  1674.                    </div>
  1675.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  1676.                                            <div class="self-end">
  1677.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1678.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1679.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,887.99</span>
  1680.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1681.                    </div>
  1682.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1683.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$329,799.00</span>
  1684.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $327,911.01</span>
  1685.        </div>
  1686.    </div>
  1687.                            </div>
  1688.                        </div>
  1689.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  1690.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1691.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1692.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1693.    </div>
  1694. </div>
  1695.                        </div>
  1696.                                    </div>
  1697.            </div>
  1698.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  1699.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/images-3.fill.size_245x184.v1714757542.jpg" alt="Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  1700.                            </div>
  1701.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  1702.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZR78XYHD2EMQ9YP1847CPQ/images-3.fill.size_245x184.v1714757542.jpg" alt="Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  1703.                            </div>
  1704.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  1705.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  1706.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  1707.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  1708.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  1709.    </div>
  1710. </div>
  1711.                    </div>
  1712.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  1713.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  1714.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  1715.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,887.99</span>
  1716.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  1717.                    </div>
  1718.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  1719.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$329,799.00</span>
  1720.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $327,911.01</span>
  1721.        </div>
  1722.    </div>
  1723.                    </div>
  1724.                            </div>
  1725.        </div>
  1726. </a></div>
  1727. <p>The <a href="https://zdcs.link/V0V77?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Samsung%20QN90C%20Neo%20QLED%20TV&amp;short_url=V0V77&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Samsung QN90C Neo QLED TV</a> is a premium 4K mini LED TV on paper without the price tag. It offers one of the best HDR brightness of 2023, great off-angle viewing, strong picture performance, 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, and a rechargeable remote. It was one of the best QLED TV's last year, according to <a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/samsung-qn90c-4k-neo-qled-tv" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Tom's Guide</a>. You can get it starting at <strong>$1,887.99 </strong>(originally $3,297.99) for the 75-inch size. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  1728.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/samsung-tv-sale-at-woot-1</link>
  1729.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  1730.      <category><![CDATA[Tvs]]></category>
  1731.    </item>
  1732.    <item>
  1733.      <title>Go Ahead, Deep Fry Your Meatballs</title>
  1734.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT</guid>
  1735.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1736.      <description>Breaded and fried, these are quite possibly the juiciest meatballs in the world.</description>
  1737.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1738.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A well-constructed meatball is an inherently perfect food. Tender, flavorful meat gently compacted into a burly sphere&mdash;big or small&mdash;always feels like a special reward. Improving upon it isn&rsquo;t necessary, so I consider the following embellishment as a way to honor the meatball&rsquo;s innate perfection: You should try deep frying your meatballs.</p><p>The idea of breading and deep frying the illustrious meatball didn&rsquo;t come to me the usual way (a stroke of inspiration bestowed upon me by the angel of food). Instead, I caught news that this season, Yankee Stadium is serving up fried meatballs. Meatball makers everywhere know that technically<em> all</em> the best meatballs get a quick pan-fry before being finished off with a sauce (unless you&rsquo;re baking them so there's less mess, which I respect), and the stadium&rsquo;s preparation method remains a bit unclear. </p><p>Whether or not Yankee Stadium&rsquo;s fried meatballs are just regular meatballs dunked in a fryer, the idea certainly inspired me to step it up and create my own vision for the perfect fried meat orb.</p><h2>How to make deep-fried meatballs</h2><p>The whole point of deep-frying anything is to get a crunchy crust on the outside and a tender interior. While something like a falafel doesn&rsquo;t need extra starch on the outside to develop a crispy shell, meatballs do. I breaded the outside of my meatballs with a panko and fine bread crumb mixture, and the results were incredible. The meatballs had a crackling crust yet retained plenty of moisture. It was, frankly, one of the juiciest meatballs I&rsquo;ve ever had.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Here's how to recreate it:</p><h3>1. Make your meatball mix</h3><p>Deep-fried meatballs can be made with any recipe, so I suggest you use your favorite. That said, it&rsquo;s helpful for the breading step if the mixture has an egg in it, so if you can add an egg to your recipe, great, but it isn't essential. Raw meat is usually sticky enough anyway. Once you've made the mix, roll the meatballs and place them on a foil-lined sheet tray.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1739.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1740.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714756092.jpg" alt="Breaded meatballs on a foil tray." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714756092.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-1.fill.size_1400x787.v1714756092.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714756092.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1741.            </div>
  1742.            <div class="mt-2">
  1743.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  1744.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  1745.                    </div>
  1746.    </div>
  1747. <h3>2. Coat them in crumbs</h3><p>In a bowl, add an equal-parts mixture of panko and fine breadcrumbs. I used store bought Kikkoman panko and Progresso breadcrumbs. If you&rsquo;re feeling inspired, add a spoonful of grated parmesan to the mix. (I only had shredded, but I managed.) Thoroughly roll each meatball in the breading mixture and return it to the sheet tray.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1748.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1749.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714756092.jpg" alt="Fried meatball on a cooling rack." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714756092.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-2.fill.size_1400x787.v1714756092.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZPV0CVA3M6VM799N03T5RT/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714756092.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1750.            </div>
  1751.            <div class="mt-2">
  1752.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  1753.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  1754.                    </div>
  1755.    </div>
  1756. <h3>3. Fry &lsquo;em&nbsp;up</h3><p>Depending on how big your meatballs are, add enough neutral oil to a pot to cover them. Bring the oil up to 350&deg;F. Use a deep frying thermometer or candy thermometer to monitor the temperature. Ideally, you&rsquo;ll keep it around 335&deg;F to 350&deg;F. This frying range will ensure the meatballs cook through to the center without over-browning. Fry the meatballs for three to five minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs. Use a probe thermometer to test the internal temperature if you&rsquo;re unsure about doneness.&nbsp;</p><p>If you&rsquo;ve ever experienced the sadness of dry meatballs, deep frying is the remedy. I&rsquo;ve never had a juicier meatball, and the initial crunch creates a swoon-worthy textural juxtaposition. My meatballs were two inches in diameter&mdash;perhaps a tad large. If you want them any bigger than that, I&rsquo;d recommend breading and baking them on a wire rack over a sheet tray for 15 minutes at 400&deg;F before frying to ensure they cook through. That way when you get to deep frying them you can focus on forming a nice crust and trust they&rsquo;ll be safe to eat. </p><p>(Also, because I know you&rsquo;re wondering, air frying them is <em>just okay</em>. They'll develop a subtle crust&mdash;and again, meatballs are always flawless&mdash;but a deep fry just hits different.)</p><hr><h3>Take the guess-work out of deep frying with these tools:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/GdqdB?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Candy%20Thermometer%20with%20Pot%20Clip&amp;short_url=GdqdB&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Candy Thermometer with Pot Clip</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/OdYdE?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=ThermoPro%20Digital%20Meat%20Thermometer&amp;short_url=OdYdE&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Ddv3R?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Hamilton%20Beach%20Electric%20Deep%20Fryer&amp;short_url=Ddv3R&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Hamilton Beach Electric Deep Fryer</u></a></p></li></ul><hr><h2>Deep-fried Meatball Recipe</h2><p>Ingredients:</p><ul><li><p>1 slice of sandwich bread, toasted</p></li><li><p>2 tablespoons of grated onion (juice included)</p></li><li><p>2 tablespoons milk</p></li><li><p>8 ounces ground beef</p></li><li><p>8 ounces ground pork</p></li><li><p>&frac12; teaspoon salt</p></li><li><p>&frac12; teaspoon garlic powder</p></li><li><p>2 teaspoons soy sauce</p></li><li><p>3 dashes worcestershire sauce</p></li><li><p>1 egg</p></li><li><p>&frac12; cup panko</p></li><li><p>&frac12; cup breadcrumbs&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>2 tablespoons grated parmesan</p></li><li><p>Neutral oil for deep frying</p></li></ul><p>1. Crumble the slice of toast into a medium mixing bowl. You want small pieces; about the size of a pea or smaller. Add the grated onion and juice, and the milk. Stir to moisten the bread. Feel free to add a splash more milk if there are any remaining dry hunks of bread. Add the beef, pork, salt, seasonings, sauces, and the egg. Mix until combined.&nbsp;</p><p>2. Divide and roll the mixture into balls (the size is up to you). Place them on a foil-lined sheet tray.&nbsp;</p><p>3. Combine the panko, breadcrumbs, and cheese in a small bowl. Roll each meatball in the breading until well-coated. Replace them on the sheet tray.&nbsp;</p><p>4. Add enough oil to a pot to cover a meatball, about two inches of oil. Heat the oil to 350&deg;F and deep fry a couple meatballs at a time for 3 to 5 minutes, or until well browned and the center registers a <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>safe temperature</u></a> (usually 160&deg;F) for your mixture. Cool the meatballs for about five minutes on a wire rack before serving with your favorite sauce and a dusting of grated parm.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1757.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/deep-fried-meatball-recipe</link>
  1758.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  1759.      <category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>
  1760.    </item>
  1761.    <item>
  1762.      <title>What to Do If Your Roommate Stops Paying Rent</title>
  1763.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZQ3E9G12EVGJKTSRWBVNYZ</guid>
  1764.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1765.      <description>You took in a roommate to defray your cost of living, but they’ve gone rogue and refused to pay their fair share. What can you (legally) do?</description>
  1766.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZQ3E9G12EVGJKTSRWBVNYZ/hero-image.png"/>
  1767.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are a lot of reasons people take on roommates, but one of the most common is simple economics: Rent <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/rental-market-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">keeps rising</a>, half of all tenants in the U.S. are paying more rent than they can <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/economy/rent-prices-dropping-2024-apartments/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">actually afford</a>, and they can <a href="https://m.spareroom.com/content/info-statistics/increased-homeowners-taking-in-roommates" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">defray those costs significantly</a> by splitting the rent and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-split-bills-with-your-roommates-without-pissing-1848083535" target="_blank">other bills</a> with someone else.</p><p>All of those benefits are predicated on one assumption, however: That your roommate will keep up their end of the bargain and, you know, actually pay their share of everything. When considering a roommate, you have to consider how it will impact you both personally and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/consider-how-a-potential-roommate-might-affect-you-fina-1834140303" target="_blank">financially</a>&mdash;and be prepared for the possibility that your roommate turns deadbeat and stops paying their rent or share of the bills. Whether it&rsquo;s due to their own personal financial hardship or because you accidentally let a sociopath into your home, a deadbeat roommate can be a disaster. If your roommate stops paying their share, here&rsquo;s what you can do about it.</p><h2>Gather data showing they aren't paying rent</h2><p>Your first step when dealing with this situation is to get the facts. If your roommate is on the lease as a cotenant, has a separate rental agreement, or if you at least have a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/when-you-should-use-a-contract" target="_blank">roommate agreement</a> of some sort in writing, review the document to see what their financial responsibilities are and what consequences, if any, are spelled out.</p><p>Next, establish evidence. Gather records of missed payments and your attempts to collect the overdue rent. If you haven&rsquo;t sent your roommate any requests for overdue payments, start doing so in a way that leaves a trail&mdash;emails or written requests.</p><p>Keep paying the rent. If your roommate is a cotenant or otherwise officially on the lease you might assume they are responsible for their share of the rent, but most lease and rental agreements specify that all tenants are &ldquo;<a href="https://www.nolo.com/dictionary/joint-and-several-term.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">jointly and severally</a>&rdquo; liable, which means the landlord can seek the full rent amount from any tenant. If you only pay your share of the rent, you can get into serious financial difficulties if the landlord goes after you for the balance.</p><p>If you <em>don&rsquo;t</em> have any sort of written agreement (if your roommate isn&rsquo;t officially listed anywhere on the lease), you can&rsquo;t just kick them out. You can ask them to leave, sure, but most states grant homestead rights to anyone who has occupied a home for a period of time, meaning they often have a specific grace period before you can legally make them leave. <a href="https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance/tenantrights" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Check the laws</a> in your state so you know how you have to proceed.</p><h2>Try a (mediated) negotiation with your roommate</h2><p>Once you know where you stand in terms of a written agreement, your next step is to open a dialogue. Note the financial burden they&rsquo;re putting on you, and see if you can&rsquo;t come up with a way for them to contribute at least some of what they owe. Calling in a professional mediator can keep things civil and offer a neutral way to discuss your issues; many cities offer mediation services for landlords and tenants to resolve conflicts&mdash;for example, in New York, the <a href="https://nypeace.org/mediation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">New York Peace Institute</a> offers mediation services. If your city doesn&rsquo;t, you can contact the <a href="https://www.adr.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">American Arbitration Association</a> for mediator referrals in your area. You can also try to negotiate a portion of the back rent&mdash;sometimes half of what you&rsquo;re owed is better than zero.</p><p>If talks go nowhere, you can warn your roommate that your next step is legal action. At this point you could decide to cut your losses and try to negotiate a timeline for them to leave the apartment, using the possibility of a lawsuit as motivation. You might never get your money back this way, but at least you can stem the bleeding and remove this source of stress from your life.</p><h2>If necessary, exercise your legal options</h2><p>If all else fails, you might need to sue your roommate to try and collect the money. This isn&rsquo;t actually all that difficult, but you will need to prepare:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Agreements.</strong> Have copies of all written agreements with your roommate&mdash;a lease, sublease, or roommate contract are best, but any sort of written agreement that spells out their financial responsibilities should be acquired. If your roommate is on a separate sublease or rental agreement, ask your landlord for a copy.</p></li><li><p><strong>Demand letter.</strong> Next, send your roommate a letter detailing what they owe, called a <a href="https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/small-claims-book/chapter6-4.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">demand letter</a>. This should lay out in detail all the payments they&rsquo;ve missed <em>and</em> your attempts to collect, including dates when you asked for the rent or other bills to be paid. It should also include a formal request for the money by a certain date. Send the letter registered mail or through any service that provides proof of delivery.</p></li><li><p><strong>Sue.</strong> You can usually bring a suit like this in <a href="https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/sue-your-roommate-for-unpaid-rent.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">small claims court</a>, which means you won&rsquo;t necessarily need a lawyer. As long as you can prove that a) you had an agreement with the roommate wherein they paid rent and/or a share of the bills, b) they broke the agreement by not paying, and c) you suffered a financial loss as a result (because you had to pay all the rent), you have a very good chance of winning. This is where all the data you gathered comes in handy: If you can show a written agreement, prove that your roommate didn&rsquo;t pay as agreed and that you tried to collect, prove that you gave them notice, and show that you paid the rent on their behalf, you&rsquo;ll have a solid case.</p></li></ul><h2>Eviction is tough, but possible</h2><p>If you go through all of these steps and your roommate <em>still</em> won&rsquo;t pay&mdash;or move out&mdash;you can consider <a href="https://www.realtor.com/advice/rent/can-you-kick-your-roommate-out/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">trying to evict them</a>. This can be a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/24/realestate/how-do-i-evict-my-roommates.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">much more difficult process</a>, and you&rsquo;ll likely need to hire a lawyer to navigate your state&rsquo;s laws around tenancy and homestead rights. It&rsquo;s not a fast process (it can take <a href="https://www.findlaw.com/realestate/landlord-tenant-law/how-long-does-the-eviction-process-take.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">up to a year</a>), so going this route can cost you a lot of money while your roommate remains in your home, still not paying rent.</p><p>If you have a good relationship with your landlord and the roommate is on the lease, you can enlist their help in an eviction process. Keep in mind that if you&rsquo;ve violated your lease by having an off-book roommate, you might find yourself being evicted right alongside them, so proceed with caution.</p><p>And, no, you can&rsquo;t engage in what&rsquo;s known as a &ldquo;<a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/illegal-for-landlord-to-evict-you-themselves" target="_blank">self-help eviction</a>,&rdquo; doing things like changing the locks, throwing their stuff into the street, or making their room unlivable in some way. Even if their tenancy is off the books, these tactics are illegal and will just put you in a worse position.</p><p>In the end, if your roommate turns deadbeat, your best bet is to negotiate with them, then try to recover your money through small claims court. Whatever you decide to do, be patient, keep records, and think about how you&rsquo;ll avoid this situation next time.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1768.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/what-to-do-when-roommate-stops-paying-rent</link>
  1769.      <dc:creator>Jeff Somers</dc:creator>
  1770.      <category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
  1771.    </item>
  1772.    <item>
  1773.      <title>How to Create a Portable PC on a USB Drive</title>
  1774.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE</guid>
  1775.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 18:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
  1776.      <description>You can run your very own computer system on a USB drive.</description>
  1777.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1778.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Now that so many of us are signed up to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/google-just-added-dark-mode-to-drive" target="_blank">cloud storage services</a>, USB drives aren't as ubiquitous as they once were, but they still have their uses. One of those uses is running an entire computer system entirely on the USB stick, which you can then bring anywhere. Your files and apps are always with you rather than being left at home or at the office, and if you're at a new desk you don't have to spend time getting everything set up the way you want&mdash;just plug in the drive, and you're up and running. </p><h2>How it works</h2><p>Of course you can't take an entire PC around with you on a USB stick&mdash;you need a monitor, a keyboard, a motherboard, and everything else. That said, all of the software and storage can be handled on a portable USB drive: As long as you have access to a computer with a spare USB slot, you can run your portable PC.</p><p>There's no interference with the existing setup on the computer you're using either, so you can borrow one from a colleague or a friend without causing them any hassle. You reboot the PC, tell it to load up your USB stick rather than what's on the internal drive, and your operating system appears. When you're done, shut down the computer, unplug your USB drive, and you've left no trace behind.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1779.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1780.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714738293.jpg" alt="USB drives" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714738293.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714738293.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714738293.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1781.            </div>
  1782.            <div class="mt-2">
  1783.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">All you need to set this up is a USB drive.</span>
  1784.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  1785.                    </div>
  1786.    </div>
  1787. <p>It's great if you're always moving between locations, and want to have access to the same desktop interface wherever you go. It can also be useful if you're trying to troubleshoot problems with your hardware setup, or if you want to try out different operating systems without installing anything permanently on your computer.</p><p>You do need to bear in mind some caveats, though. A USB drive isn't as fast or as capable as a full desktop or laptop system, so you're limited to basic computing tasks. This doesn't really work on Macs either, because of their different architecture&mdash;if you need to run a separate system on macOS, the best approach is <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-set-up-a-virtual-machine-for-free-1828969527" target="_blank">setting up a virtual machine</a>.</p><h2>Choosing an OS</h2><p>When it comes to picking an operating system for your USB PC, you can use Windows if you'd like to&mdash;via a third-party tool such as <a href="http://WinToUSB" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">WinToUSB</a>&mdash;though you will need a paid license for it, and the user experience isn't the best. A better idea is to go for a flavor of Linux: Not only is the software free to use, it's also more lightweight, which means you're not putting as much stress on the USB drive and everything should run more smoothly.</p><p>If you're new to Linux, it's an open source desktop OS that comes in a wide variety of flavors known as distros. It doesn't offer the same kind of broad software selection or hardware support as Windows or macOS, but all the core computing apps are covered: You can browse the web, check your email, do some work, edit images, and plenty more on Linux.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1788.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1789.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714738293.jpg" alt="Puppy Linux" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714738293.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714738293.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714738293.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1790.            </div>
  1791.            <div class="mt-2">
  1792.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Puppy Linux is one of your options here.</span>
  1793.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Puppy Linux</span>
  1794.                    </div>
  1795.    </div>
  1796. <p>When it comes to choosing the distro you want to use, it's really up to you: Just about any version of Linux can be run fairly easily from a USB stick. Make sure you look for a feature called "persistence" in the distro documentation, though&mdash;this means you're going to be able to save settings and files to the USB drive, rather than starting up fresh with a clean slate every time you boot it up.</p><p>Ideally, you want to choose a distro that's lightweight and basic, to give you the smoothest operation possible. <a href="https://puppylinux-woof-ce.github.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Puppy Linux</a> and <a href="https://www.linuxliteos.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Linux Lite</a> are often recommended for this particular purpose, while <a href="https://tails.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Tails</a> is great if security is a priority&mdash;it automatically connects to the Tor network when you go online. <a href="https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Ubuntu</a> is an excellent choice too, offering a polished interface and plenty of help documentation.</p><h2>Getting started</h2><p>Head to the official website for your Linux distro of choice, then look for an ISO download&mdash;this is essentially the operating system in its entirety. Downloads like this can often run to several gigabytes in size, so you might have to wait a while. It's also worth checking in the distro's documentation to see if there are any notes or recommendations regarding USB installation.</p><p>Next, you need a program to put the ISO on the USB drive for you&mdash;not just to copy over the file, but to make the drive bootable. There are a few options here, including <a href="https://rufus.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Rufus</a>, but we've gone for <a href="https://etcher.balena.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Etcher</a> for this guide: It's really simple to use, and you can run it on both Windows and macOS (and, indeed, Linux).</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  1797.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  1798.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714738293.jpg" alt="Etcher app" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714738293.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-3.fill.size_1400x788.v1714738293.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ5VTE3FXS4BCC7BGB4NMZE/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714738293.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  1799.            </div>
  1800.            <div class="mt-2">
  1801.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Etcher can flash a drive for you in minutes.</span>
  1802.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  1803.                    </div>
  1804.    </div>
  1805. <p>Fire up Etcher, and you'll see there are three stages: Pick <strong>Flash from file</strong> to pick the ISO from disk, then <strong>Select target</strong> to choose a USB drive connected to your computer, and then click <strong>Flash</strong> to complete the operation. As far as USB drives go, a capacity of at least 8GB is recommended, plus the fastest read/write speeds you can find&mdash;you might find more requirements listed on the pages of the distro you've chosen.</p><p>With all that taken care of, you can use your USB drive by putting it in a spare USB port on any computer, then restarting the computer and choosing to boot from the USB stick. How this is done varies, but it usually involves pressing a key to choose a boot device while the computer's starting up&mdash;look for a message on screen or check the documentation that came with the computer, if you're not sure.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1806.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/create-a-portable-pc-on-usb-drive</link>
  1807.      <dc:creator>David Nield</dc:creator>
  1808.      <category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>
  1809.    </item>
  1810.    <item>
  1811.      <title>The 25 Best New Movies Streaming on Netflix Right Now</title>
  1812.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWX4MM0SSC6ZXBMD543AGA6D</guid>
  1813.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1814.      <description>Netflix features some top-quality streaming options, from rom-coms to horror to prestige productions.</description>
  1815.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX4MM0SSC6ZXBMD543AGA6D/hero-image.webp"/>
  1816.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Other streamers, especially those with close corporate ties to major movie studios, might reel in a few more major theatrical releases than Netflix. Where Netflix outshines them, however, is in its slate of original movies produced specifically for the streaming service. At a glance, it might seem as though the streamer emphasizes quantity over quality, but they've released nine Best Picture Academy Award nominees since 2019. Oscars aren't everything, of course&mdash;but they're not nothing, either. </p><p>Here, then, are some of the best recent movies streaming on Netflix, whether wide theatrical releases you might have missed, or originals.</p><hr><h2><em>Society of the Snow</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1817.    <div id="video-container-pDak4qLyF4Q"></div>
  1818. </div>
  1819.  
  1820.  
  1821. <p>The true story of the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team lost in the Andes following a place crash has been the subject of multiple documentaries and two previous dramas. For all that, this would seem to be the best of all of them: a thoughtful and tasteful take on what's sometimes been presented as a salacious drama, with director J. A. Bayona emphasizing both the physical perils faced by the team, but also the spiritual toll of survival.</p><hr><h2><em>Thanksgiving</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1822.    <div id="video-container-KbU50SdL8zA"></div>
  1823. </div>
  1824.  
  1825.  
  1826. <p>Patrick Dempsey stars in this funny but bleak satire from Eli Roth, his first horror film since 2013. When an unruly mob storms a Walmart (sorry: RightMart) on Black Friday, violence and bloodshed ensue, leaving one of the victims of the incident to seek revenge. It's wild and gory holiday fun.</p><hr><h2><em>Anyone but You</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1827.    <div id="video-container-ESEc6W2h9_k"></div>
  1828. </div>
  1829.  
  1830.  
  1831. <p>A loose spin on <em>Much Ado About Nothing</em>, <em>Anyone But You</em> stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as a couple who meet, hit it off&mdash;and then immediately piss each other off such that neither really wants to see each other again. Until, of course, they need wedding dates and find themselves surrounded by scheming friends. It's not wildly out there as rom-com premises go, but this one's briskly directed and boasts strong chemistry between the leads.</p><hr><h2><em>Orion in the Dark</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1832.    <div id="video-container-cScAQ2O26Y4"></div>
  1833. </div>
  1834.  
  1835.  
  1836. <p>Charlie Kaufman (<em>Being John Malkovich</em>, <em>Adaptation</em>, <em>Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind</em>) wrote this DreamWorks animated adaptation of the Emma Yarlett novel. When Orion is visited by the literal incarnation of his fear of the dark, he's taken on a whirlwind journey around the world to explore the world of night and help him to face his fears.</p><hr><h2><em>The Perfect Find</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1837.    <div id="video-container-n4tjqqGgky8"></div>
  1838. </div>
  1839.  
  1840.  
  1841. <p>Numa Perrier&rsquo;s film hits plenty of the traditional rom-com beats, but no matter: Lead Gabrielle Union provides the spark that ignites the whole film (based on the Tia Williams novel). She&rsquo;s never been better than she is here, playing Jenna, a woman in her 40s making a clean break of a long-term relationship and taking on a high-profile, high-stakes career in beauty journalism&mdash;only to wind up in a one-night stand with Eric (Keith Powers), 15 years younger and the son of her boss.</p><hr><h2><em>Damsel</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1842.    <div id="video-container-iM150ZWovZM"></div>
  1843. </div>
  1844.  
  1845.  
  1846. <p>Netflix's favorite action lead, Millie Bobby Brown, is back in this dark fantasy from director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (<em>28 Weeks Later</em>). Brown plays Elodie, the damsel of the title, offered into an arranged marriage by her family, only to discover that she's marked as the sacrifice to a dragon. Which turns out to be bad news for her new in-laws.</p><hr><h2><em>Rebel Moon</em>, Parts One and Two (2023/2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1847.    <div id="video-container-fhr3MzT6exg"></div>
  1848. </div>
  1849.  
  1850.  
  1851. <p>Zack Snyder, late of the entire DC cinematic universe, isn't to everyone's taste&mdash;but his <em>Army of the Dead</em>, also for Netflix, was a fun spin on the zombie formula, done as a heist movie. His followup is pure science fiction: a multi-part (it's unclear how many parts that will be) space opera that blends Snyder's distinctive visual style with <em>Star Wars</em>-style action. Sofia Boutella stars as a former soldier who rallies warriors from across the galaxy to join in a revolt against the imperial Motherworld on the title's out-of-the-way farming moon.</p><hr><h2><em>The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1852.    <div id="video-container-4RdncisZ_QA"></div>
  1853. </div>
  1854.  
  1855.  
  1856. <p>This short adaptation of the Roald Dahl story finally earned Wes Anderson his first Oscar. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular Henry Sugar, a man who uses his inherited fortune to fund his gambling habit. When he learns of a secret means of winning by seeing through the eyes of others, he comes to perceive more than he, perhaps, bargained for. It's cute and sweet, and among one of Anderson's most visually inventive works (which is saying quite a bit). At 39 minutes, it never has time to wear out its welcome&mdash;even if you're not a huge fan of Anderson''s twee sensibilities. Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade also star.</p><hr><h2><em>American Symphony</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1857.    <div id="video-container-wKSMsdq8ONs"></div>
  1858. </div>
  1859.  
  1860.  
  1861. <p>Director Matthew Heineman's film follows a year in the lives of writer Suleika Jaouad and her husband, musician Jon Batiste, during which she confronts a recurrence of a rare form of leukemia while he constructs his first symphony. It's a moving film that goes beyond the obvious tropes to make the case that there are things that only music can say. It had a lot of Oscar buzz, while receiving just a single nomination for Best Song.</p><hr><h2><em>Scoop</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1862.    <div id="video-container-cZcHc3zEEoc"></div>
  1863. </div>
  1864.  
  1865.  
  1866. <p>The great Gillian Anderson plays real-life British journalist Emily Maitlis, who lead the BBC2 team that secured the disastrous (for the Prince) interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) that laid bare his associations with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Keeley Hawes and Billie Piper also star. </p><hr><h2><em>We Have a Ghost</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1867.    <div id="video-container-82I1ErFD63U"></div>
  1868. </div>
  1869.  
  1870.  
  1871. <p>Christopher Landon, writer/director behind innovative comedy-horror movies like <em>Happy Death Day </em>and <em>Freaky</em> (and, briefly, of the next <em>Scream</em> movie), helms this similarly fun but more family-friendly entry. Anthony Mackie is in the lead as Frank Presley, who, with his family, buys a cheap fixer-upper, only for his son Kevin (Jahi Winston) to discover a ghost (played by David Harbour) unliving in the attic. So far, familiar territory, but Kevin wants to help their new ghost while dad only wants to make money&mdash;and so, their ghost goes viral.</p><hr><h2><em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1872.    <div id="video-container-TnGl01FkMMo"></div>
  1873. </div>
  1874.  
  1875.  
  1876. <p>He may be America's least favorite Chris, but Mr. Pratt still leads the voice cast for the year's second highest-grossing movie: a colorful, goofy animated adventure pitting proudly Italian-American brothers Mario and Luigi against Bowser (Jack Black), King of the Koopas.</p><hr><h2><em>May December</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1877.    <div id="video-container-4VdAParM4h8"></div>
  1878. </div>
  1879.  
  1880.  
  1881. <p>Todd Haynes directs this insightful and moving, but also deliberately campy, story of an actress visiting the woman whom she'll be playing in a film. The movie's deft, and unexpected, blending of tones makes it pretty consistently fascinating, and the lead performances from Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton are all top-tier.</p><hr><h2><em>Nyad</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1882.    <div id="video-container-3anCgVSQb3Q"></div>
  1883. </div>
  1884.  
  1885.  
  1886. <p>Annette Benning stars as the real-life Diana Nyad, who swam from Florida to Cuba in her 60s. The movie succeeds in large part because of the performances from and chemistry between lead Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, both of whom received Oscar nominations for their work here.</p><hr><h2><em>The Killer</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1887.    <div id="video-container-5S7FR_HCg9g"></div>
  1888. </div>
  1889.  
  1890.  
  1891. <p>David Fincher's latest didn't seem to generate his typical buzz, perhaps because it's so thoroughly action-oriented (a far cry from his last Netflix original, the screenplay-writing drama <em>Mank</em>). Michael Fassbender plays the movie's nameless hitman protagonist, a fastidious and ruthless killer who makes the first mistake of his career&mdash;accidentally shooting the wrong person&mdash;and then finds his carefully managed life crumbling faster than he can keep up.</p><hr><h2><em>Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1892.    <div id="video-container-shW9i6k8cB0"></div>
  1893. </div>
  1894.  
  1895.  
  1896. <p>The sequel to one of the very best superhero movies pretty much ever is also excellent, and even more visually innovative than the first. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is back, joined by Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), herself on a secret mission that puts them both at odds with pretty much every Spider in the multiverse.</p><hr><h2><em>Rustin</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1897.    <div id="video-container-EuZ-UONInl4"></div>
  1898. </div>
  1899.  
  1900.  
  1901. <p>Colman Domingo gives a stellar performance (earning a Best Actor Oscar nomination) as the title's Bayard Rustin, the gay Civil Rights leader who planned the March on Washington. Not only is it a corrective to our very straight-centered vision of the Civil Rights Movement, it's a stylish and moving biopic in its own right.</p><hr><h2><em>Nimona</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1902.    <div id="video-container-f_fuHRyQbOc"></div>
  1903. </div>
  1904.  
  1905.  
  1906. <p>Long in the making, and based on the similarly delightful graphic novel by ND Stevenson, <em>Nimona</em> is a heartfelt, joyful, and funny fantasy set in a futuristic world that's also thoroughly medieval in its look and feel. Ballister Boldheart, alongside his boyfriend, Ambrosius Goldenloin, is about to be knighted by the queen, and he&rsquo;ll be the first commoner ever to receive the honor. All good, until he&rsquo;s framed for the queen&rsquo;s murder and forced to flee, becoming the criminal that the snobs already took him for. Luckily (or not) he&rsquo;s joined by Nimona, a teenager who&rsquo;s an outcast because of her shapeshifting powers.</p><hr><h2><em>Wedding Season</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1907.    <div id="video-container-xqqTL91J1lo"></div>
  1908. </div>
  1909.  
  1910.  
  1911. <p>Asha (Pallavi Sharda) just broke off her engagement and left her Wall Street investment firm in favor of a Jersey City startup. Her concerned mother sets her daughter up on a dating app, and Asha acquiesces to a single date with the first match: Ravi (Suraj Sharma). It doesn&rsquo;t go particularly well, but they&rsquo;re both under a lot of parental pressure to get married, and Asha has about a dozen weddings to go to over the course of the summer, most of them filled with busybodies who want to see her in a relationship. So, naturally (for a movie), Ahsa and Ravi decide to play at being a couple to get people off their backs&mdash;which works out fine, until it doesn&rsquo;t.</p><hr><h2><em>They Cloned Tyrone</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1912.    <div id="video-container-2S3M1xFVdVg"></div>
  1913. </div>
  1914.  
  1915.  
  1916. <p>This smart, funny genre mashup spins plenty of plates, and mostly manages to keep them from crashing down. John Boyega stars as Fontaine, a drug dealer in a world just off to the side of our own (there&rsquo;s definitely some Blaxsploitation influence in the dress styles). Following a showdown with one-time Pimp of the Year(!) Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), Fontaine is shot dead before waking up in his own bed with nothing, seemingly, having changed. Teaming up with Slick Charles and sex worker Yo Yo (Teyonah Parris), he leads the three of them into an unlikely web of scientific conspiracy.</p><hr><h2><em>Leave the World Behind</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1917.    <div id="video-container-cMVBi_e8o-Y"></div>
  1918. </div>
  1919.  
  1920.  
  1921. <p>Look at this cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la Herrold (<em>Industry</em>), and Kevin Bacon are all on hand for this apocalyptic thriller that has that <em>Bird Box</em> vibe without the alien implications&mdash;the monsters here are all human. As technology begins to inexplicably fail, our protagonists find themselves in a last-days-of-America scenario, including a scene of self-driving Teslas run amok. It's occasionally a little on the nose, but still a pretty compelling thriller.</p><hr><h2><em>City Hunter</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1922.    <div id="video-container-G20m5NTAVAE"></div>
  1923. </div>
  1924.  
  1925.  
  1926. <p>The <em>City Hunter</em> manga, about the titular detective agency, has been adapted several times in the past, with very mixed results. This latest looks like it might be the best: a candy-colored, high-action, appropriately goofy take starring Ryohei Suzuki as lead detective Ryo Saeba and Misato Morita as the daughter of his murdered partner, with whom he teams up to avenge that death and to find a missing teenage runaway with deadly superpowers.</p><hr><h2><em>Spaceman</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1927.    <div id="video-container-rNZ0xKaCdus"></div>
  1928. </div>
  1929.  
  1930.  
  1931. <p>Adam Sandler stars here in one of his occasional dramatic roles, here as a Czech astronaut coming to terms with the potential dissolution of his marriage. At the edge of the solar system. With some help from a spider-like alien creature trying to understand humanity. Carey Mulligan and Isabella Rossellini co-star.</p><hr><h2><em>Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1932.    <div id="video-container-_-Kz67kea8Q"></div>
  1933. </div>
  1934.  
  1935.  
  1936. <p>If it's not entirely on the same level as the Aardman-animated original from way back in 2000, it's still a delightful and cheeky return from the escapees from Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy's Farm. Thandiwe Newton leads the impressive voice cast.</p><hr><h2><em>Down the Rabbit Hole</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  1937.    <div id="video-container-ClqC-VYnW6w"></div>
  1938. </div>
  1939.  
  1940.  
  1941. <p>The <em>House of Flowers</em> creator Manolo Caro directs this quirky and thoughtful drama about meticulous, fussy kid Tochtli (Miguel Valverde), living in a palatial estate somewhere in rural Mexico. He's old enough to start questioning his wildly privileged and sheltered life, slowly discovering that his father Yolcaut (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is a major, well-connected drug lord. It's a quietly stylish drama that avoids taking any obvious routes.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1942.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-new-netflix-movies</link>
  1943.      <dc:creator>Ross Johnson</dc:creator>
  1944.      <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
  1945.    </item>
  1946.    <item>
  1947.      <title>How to Keep Your Garden Well-Mulched (and Why You Should)</title>
  1948.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZ6WZ908Q5WQXV45DHAF96G</guid>
  1949.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1950.      <description>Mulch is much more important than people think, and when it's done right, it won't blow away.</description>
  1951.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZ6WZ908Q5WQXV45DHAF96G/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1952.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>People think of mulch as something that provides a unifying look to their garden beds, but that&rsquo;s not the reason you need it. Mulch, when done right, provides an insulating layer that protects your plants from extreme weather, keeps the soil from drying out, and provides nutrition back to your beds as it decomposes. It&rsquo;s a lot of work to get mulch into place, so it can be frustrating to view it as temporary. But mulch breaks down&mdash;it's supposed to. A lot of people complain about their mulch blowing away, but fortunately this is a solvable problem.&nbsp;</p><h2>The right way to mulch</h2><p>The surface of your soil is vulnerable. It is exposed to the sun and can easily dry out. It&rsquo;s exposed to the wind, which can blow it away if you don&rsquo;t have plant roots anchoring it. We are now experiencing extreme weather conditions all the time, including heat domes in summer and extreme ice in the winter, all of which wreak havoc on your plants. A healthy layer of three to six inches of mulch can really make a difference. </p><p>You want to ensure that this organic material you choose is pulled away from the stems of your plants. (Mulch shouldn&rsquo;t be up against tree trunks, either.) You want your plants to be planted into the soil, not the mulch, and each plant has a natural place it should be buried up to in the soil, as it comes from the nursery or grows naturally, and the mulch would smother the plants. Pulling the mulch away creates a well around the base of plants, which is perfect for watering.&nbsp;</p><h2>Heftier mulch won&rsquo;t blow away</h2><p>Big box stores tend to sell bagged, dyed mulch. This mulch has three issues that make it a poor choice: the dye itself, which fades and adds a chemical to your beds; the lack of nutrition in it; and finally, people don't put enough of it down, and a light layer isn&rsquo;t going to do much. This dyed mulch can look great at first, but again, that&rsquo;s not the purpose of mulch, and the dye quickly gets bleached out anyway.Sometimes, people put down plastic before the mulch or landscape fabric, and this, too, is unadvised. The plastic will break down; it does not usually suppress weeds as well as you&rsquo;d think; and it introduces microplastics to your beds. Getting rid of that plastic by taking it back up is a miserable process, too.&nbsp;</p><p>Instead, you want natural material to sit on top of your soil, and you want a hefty amount of it&mdash;ideally, three to six inches deep. I like to use wood chips because they have weight to them, create a uniform look, decompose slowly and are spectacular for the soil as they compost. They&rsquo;re also <a href="https://lifehacker.com/where-to-get-free-wood-chips-for-your-lawn-1850577513" target="_blank">free</a>&mdash;I use <a href="https://getchipdrop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">ChipDrop</a> to get them yearly and have been using them for 10 years without much issue. You can also use straw (<em>not</em> hay&mdash;there&rsquo;s an important distinction), or leaves. In the fall, rake or blow your leaves into your beds instead of bagging them. Leaf mulch becomes amazing compost while supporting local beneficial insects as a place to nest over winter. Using a heftier amount of mulch, and heftier mulch, means it is less likely to blow away. Even if some of it does, you still have a substantial amount of it.&nbsp;</p><h2>You may only think your mulch is blowing away</h2><p>Mulch, when done right, decomposes in place, enriching the soil. It may be simply that what looks like disappearing mulch is really this process taking place. It can also be that it&rsquo;s your dyed mulch losing color. You could also be washing the mulch away, if you water overhead instead of watering your plants at the soil line via drip irrigation. </p><p>Even if your mulch migrates, while your plant beds are now more exposed, it&rsquo;s not really a problem for the places the mulch migrates to. It should just break down there, as well. The bigger issue is that your beds are left exposed to the elements and you lose the benefit.&nbsp;</p><h2>How to keep your beds tidier</h2><p>Curbing or edging your beds can help mulch stay in place and keep your beds looking uniform, whether you use plastic or metal or bricks.&nbsp; If you have a well-planted garden, the wind should be screened by your landscaping, as you want a healthy mix of understory, shrubs and then a canopy layer of trees. If you experience enough wind to be a problem for your mulch, you might consider that your landscaping has left your plants too exposed and introduce more of these layers. You can also consider ground cover, which is, hands down, the best way to reduce erosion, since it introduces roots to anchor the soil. I am reluctant to mention mulch glue, because I think it&rsquo;s unnecessary, but there usually isn&rsquo;t anything problematic in the glue itself. It&rsquo;s a mix of bark dust and other wood products that are heated into a sticky adhesive you can spray onto your mulch to keep it in place. However, I fear it prevents the mulch from doing the thing we ask of it, which is to break down into compost.&nbsp;</p><h2>Mulch isn't permanent</h2><p>Mulch is a to-do item you should address yearly. Choose the right kind of mulch, and make sure you are applying enough of it in the right places, and replace it when you see it disappearing. Occasionally, take a peek at the soil below your composting mulch. It&rsquo;s likely to be a healthy layer of humus full of happy worms and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/mycorrhiza#:~:text=Mycorrhizae%20are%20a%20symbiotic%20association,host%20plant%20and%20fungal%20taxonomy." target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">mycorrhizae</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1953.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-keep-your-garden-well-mulched</link>
  1954.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  1955.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  1956.    </item>
  1957.    <item>
  1958.      <title>How to Stop Wood From Splintering When You Cut It</title>
  1959.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWXKV5CDSR8TTYCASMSGZ6CS</guid>
  1960.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 16:30:37 +0000</pubDate>
  1961.      <description>There are a few simple things you can do to get a clean, splinter-free cut while woodworking.</description>
  1962.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXKV5CDSR8TTYCASMSGZ6CS/hero-image.png"/>
  1963.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&rsquo;ve ever noticed that the edge of your board gets splintered while you&rsquo;re cutting, you&rsquo;re dealing with one of the most common problems for woodworkers: tearout. Tearout can be caused by using the wrong type of saw blade, a dull blade, or from improperly positioned lumber. But sometimes, you can do all these things correctly and still have a splinter problem. Sanding can help if your splintering is minimal, but here are some other methods to help prevent splintering from happening.</p><h2>How to prevent tearout with a backer board</h2><p>One of the most common ways to prevent splintering when using a chop saw or miter saw is to use a backer board. This is a simple way to support the grain of your lumber from the back side while cutting. Since the blade on a saw used for cross-cutting spins 90 degrees to the direction of the grain, the blade can tend to pull splinters out on the back side of your board. Place a scrap of wood against the fence of the saw&mdash;the part that you push your lumber up against to make your cut&mdash;before you position your board. Then, place your board against the scrap and make your cut through both the board and your scrap. The backer board will support the lumber you&rsquo;re cutting, reducing tearout.</p><p>You can also use a backer board on a table saw, but you&rsquo;ll need a board that&rsquo;s at least as wide as the cut you&rsquo;re making for it to work, making this method impractical in some circumstances. To use this method, place the board you&rsquo;re cutting on top of another piece of lumber before cutting on the table saw. This can help some with tearout on the bottom side of your piece.</p><h2>Preventing tearout with tape</h2><p>Tape is another good fix for preventing tearout. If you&rsquo;re cutting on a table saw, using a strip of <a href="https://zdcs.link/rdLZ5?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=masking%20tape&amp;short_url=rdLZ5&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>masking tape</u></a> or <a href="https://zdcs.link/mV1kJ?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=blue%20tape&amp;short_url=mV1kJ&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>blue tape</u></a> on the top side of your board above where the blade is positioned and cutting with the good side down can help prevent tearout. On a circular saw, you can use tape on the bottom side of your board, cutting with the good side up. Be aware that cutting through tape will likely dull your saw blade more quickly, but it might be worth it, depending on how precise you need the edges of your cut to be.</p><h2>Preventing tearout with scoring</h2><p>To keep tearout from happening, one helpful method is to score the board along your cut line before cutting. You can do this with a <a href="https://zdcs.link/71wJn?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=utility%20knife&amp;short_url=71wJn&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>utility knife</u></a>, a <a href="https://zdcs.link/2egLy?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=scoring%20tool&amp;short_url=2egLy&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>scoring tool</u></a>, or any blade you have handy by making a groove with your tool using a straight edge along your cut line before making your cut. Essentially what this method does is pre-cut the surface of your board without teeth, making it less likely for the saw blade to catch on splinters as it spins and the teeth exit the board.</p><h2>Reducing tearout using a router</h2><p>If tearout prevention methods don&rsquo;t work or are impractical, you can make a cut that&rsquo;s an eighth to a quarter inch outside your cut line and then attach a straight board along your cut line and trim the remaining material with a <a href="https://zdcs.link/0PWB3?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=flush%20trim%20bit&amp;short_url=0PWB3&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>flush trim bit</u></a> in a <a href="https://zdcs.link/W0NO6?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=router&amp;short_url=W0NO6&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>router</u></a>. Since the router blade usually spins perpendicular to your board, a sharp flush trim bit should produce very little tearout. For curved or irregular cuts, you can make a template that&rsquo;s the exact size and shape of your cut, then use the router to trim your piece to the shape you want using the same method. This is also a good way to make multiple pieces the same size and shape.</p><h2>Preventing tearout when drilling holes</h2><p>If you&rsquo;re using a drill press, clamping a scrap piece of wood onto the foot of your press before drilling can give the bottom of your board&rsquo;s grain support as the drill bit exits the board. You can reduce splintering using this method with a hand-held drill, too, by clamping a scrap to the back side of your mark, making sure the clamp is clear of the hole, and drilling with the scrap in place. You can also drill a shallow hole on the opposite side of your board and then drill through from the top, reducing the exposed surface grain that needs to be drilled through.</p><h2>Combining tearout prevention methods</h2><p>There&rsquo;s no rule that says you can&rsquo;t use tape and a backer board and scoring at the same time. Combining methods, especially if you&rsquo;re trying to make a very clean, precise cut, will decrease tearout even more. You should also make sure your blade is sharp and that you're using the appropriate one for the job you&rsquo;re doing. If you&rsquo;re making a cross cut, make sure you have a cross-cut blade on your saw, and if you&rsquo;re making a rip cut, going with the grain, make sure you have a blade that&rsquo;s designed for that cut on your saw.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1964.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-prevent-splintering-when-you-cut-wood</link>
  1965.      <dc:creator>Becca Lewis</dc:creator>
  1966.      <category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
  1967.    </item>
  1968.    <item>
  1969.      <title>The Differences Between a Payday and Installment Loan (and When to Use Each)</title>
  1970.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWXAQBPBES0YBG4J4S627BAR</guid>
  1971.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 16:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
  1972.      <description>If you need to borrow money fast, here are the crucial distinctions between high-cost payday loans and more affordable installment loan options.</description>
  1973.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXAQBPBES0YBG4J4S627BAR/hero-image.png"/>
  1974.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you're in a financial bind and need to borrow money quickly, two common options are payday loans and installment loans. Both provide fast access to cash, but they work very differently in terms of how you repay the borrowed amount. Here's a look at the key distinctions and some guidance on which type of loan may be preferable depending on your circumstances.</p><h2>What is a payday loan? </h2><p>A payday loan is a short-term, high-cost loan that typically needs to be repaid in full by your next payday, usually within two to four weeks. The maximum loan amounts are relatively small, usually $500 or less.</p><p>To get a payday loan, you provide the lender with a post-dated check for the full loan amount plus fees and interest. On your next payday, the lender cashes that check to recover what you owe. If you can't repay, you may be able to roll the loan over by paying only the fees and interest, but this will result in additional high charges being added.</p><p>Payday loans have extremely high annual percentage rates (APRs) <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-payday-loan-en-1567/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">that can exceed 400%</a>. The combination of short repayment periods and exorbitant interest rates makes these loans very difficult to pay off, which is why many borrowers end up trapped in cycles of debt.</p><h2>What is an installment loan? </h2><p>Installment loans, as their name suggests, allow you to repay what you borrowed in a series of scheduled payments or installments over a period of months or years. Typical repayment terms range anywhere from a few months to a few decades.</p><p>The funds from an installment loan can often be used for a variety of purposes like debt consolidation, major purchases, home improvements, and more. You'll usually repay the loan on a fixed monthly schedule, making equal payments that go toward both principal and interest.</p><p>Installment loans can be secured by collateral like a home or car title, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/what-is-an-unsecured-loan" target="_blank">or they can be unsecured</a>. Interest rates tend to be lower than payday loans, but <a href="https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-an-installment-loan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">will vary based on factors</a> like your credit score, income, and whether the loan is secured or not.</p><h2>Which should you choose?</h2><p>In almost every situation, an installment loan is the better choice compared to a high-risk payday loan. Installment loans:</p><ul><li><p>Are far less expensive overall due to lower fees and interest rates</p></li><li><p>Give you longer to repay in reasonably affordable installments</p></li><li><p>Are available in higher amounts suitable for bigger expenses</p></li><li><p>Are less likely to trap you in never-ending cycles of debt</p></li></ul><p>The only instance when a payday loan could potentially make sense is if you need a very small amount of money to cover an emergency and you're certain you can repay it quickly to avoid interest charges piling up. But in general, the high costs and short repayment terms of payday loans make them exceedingly risky.</p><p>Whenever possible, explore installment loan options from personal loan providers, credit unions, banks, or online lenders. With better terms and more affordable repayment plans, they are almost always the smarter choice over predatory payday loans. For more, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/what-to-know-when-paying-loan-early" target="_blank">here are some tips for paying off loans early</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1975.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/difference-between-payday-and-installment-loans</link>
  1976.      <dc:creator>Meredith Dietz</dc:creator>
  1977.      <category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
  1978.    </item>
  1979.    <item>
  1980.      <title>Microsoft Accounts Can Finally Use Passkeys on Windows 11, Android, and Apple</title>
  1981.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWZERKR4Y04M628RF8QYCG7K</guid>
  1982.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 15:32:03 +0000</pubDate>
  1983.      <description>Time to ditch your password.</description>
  1984.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWZERKR4Y04M628RF8QYCG7K/hero-image.png"/>
  1985.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Microsoft first released <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-new-features-windows-11-23h2-update-1850860890" target="_blank">support for passkeys in Windows 11</a> last year, introducing users to a passwordless way to sign into their Microsoft accounts. Now, all consumer accounts can finally generate passkeys for use across Windows, Android, and iOS. </p><p>Microsoft announced the full rollout on its <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/05/02/microsoft-introduces-passkeys-for-consumer-accounts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">security blog</a> this week. The company notes that attacks on passwords have surged more than 3,378 percent since it first introduced Windows Hello, its biometric-based login method for Windows 10, fueling its efforts to replace passwords with passkeys. Starting this week, Microsoft will now let you add and use passkeys that let you access your account with your face, fingerprint, or a device PIN on Windows, Google, and Apple platforms.</p><p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/embrace-the-passwordless-future-of-passkeys-1850418024" target="_blank">Passkeys have been increasing in availability</a> across a number of sites and platforms, with <a href="https://lifehacker.com/embrace-the-passwordless-future-of-passkeys-1850418024#:~:text=Google%20lets%20you%20create%20a,to%20Google's%20Passkeys%20setup%20page." target="_blank">Google even going the &ldquo;passwordless&rdquo; route</a> by adding its own passkey systems. In short, they offer more security than a traditional password, as they're device-based: Your device holds one part of the key, while the app or site&mdash;in this case, Microsoft&mdash;holds the other. There's no "password" to hack: Without the trusted device, bad actors can't break into your accounts.</p><p>Microsoft has slowly been working towards adding passkey support across its ecosystem, starting with a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/microsoft-is-adding-a-passkey-manager-to-windows-11-1850865246" target="_blank">passkey manager in Windows 11</a>, which lets you save passkeys for other sites and apps directly on your device. Creating a passkey with Windows will also hopefully help make signing into other apps easier, as it sounds like Microsoft wants to expand where its Windows passkeys are accepted.</p><p>With password crackers becoming so prevalent, and passwords requirements becoming increasingly complex, passkeys offer both a convenient and more secure way to log into your account that won&rsquo;t require you to write down some long and overwhelming password&mdash;thus removing some of the additional security of the password right off the bat&mdash;to remember it.</p><p>You can manage your passkeys on Windows 11 by navigating to <strong>Settings </strong>&gt; <strong>Accounts </strong>&gt; <strong>Passkey Settings </strong>and pressing the three dots next to any passkey to manage it.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  1986.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/microsoft-accounts-passkeys-windows-11-android-apple</link>
  1987.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  1988.      <category><![CDATA[Security]]></category>
  1989.    </item>
  1990.    <item>
  1991.      <title>The RadExpand 5 Plus Folding E-bike Sets the Standard for Its Class</title>
  1992.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT</guid>
  1993.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1994.      <description>The RadExpand 5 Plus is a customizable and versatile e-bike with great handling and a powerful motor.</description>
  1995.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/hero-image.jpg"/>
  1996.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to foldable e-bikes, there is one thing that most of them have in common: a straight handlebar with a high and narrow grip. The <a href="https://zdcs.link/Y0Y7m?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=RadExpand%205%20Plus&amp;short_url=Y0Y7m&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">RadExpand 5 Plus</a> breaks away from that status quo with a low BMX-style handlebar that sets the tone for how comfortable and fun it feels to ride it. The RadExpand 5 Plus is an upgraded version of the previous <a href="https://zdcs.link/EyMOP?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=RadExpand%205&amp;short_url=EyMOP&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">RadExpand 5</a>, and it brings many great improvements and features that make this e-bike a tough one to compete against. The battery and motor are impressive, but being only able to go up to Class 2 means the RadExpand 5 Plus is limited in its abilities.</p><p>I received the RadExpand 5 Plus as a review unit. The e-bike came pre-assembled, and I only needed to install the handlebar and some other minor parts, which was fast and easy to do. Rad Power says all of their RadExpand 5 Plus come pre-assembled, so it should be an easy set-up. You can see a full breakdown of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64ncZcTPrKc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">how to install the e-bike from RadPower here</a>. </p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  1997.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fqk86B&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=RadExpand+5+Plus+Electric+Folding+Bike&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fqk86B" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="RadExpand 5 Plus Electric Folding Bike">
  1998.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  1999.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2000.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">RadExpand 5 Plus Electric Folding Bike
  2001.                </div>
  2002.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Features front suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, turn signals, and retractable pedals.
  2003.                    </div>
  2004.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2005.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2006.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2007.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2008.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,899.00</span>
  2009.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Rad Power Bikes</span>
  2010.                    </div>
  2011.    </div>
  2012.                            </div>
  2013.                        </div>
  2014.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2015.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2016.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2017.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  2018.    </div>
  2019. </div>
  2020.                        </div>
  2021.                                    </div>
  2022.            </div>
  2023.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2024.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-1.fill.size_245x184.v1714688515.webp" alt="RadExpand 5 Plus" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2025.                            </div>
  2026.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2027.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-1.fill.size_245x184.v1714688515.webp" alt="RadExpand 5 Plus" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2028.                            </div>
  2029.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2030.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2031.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2032.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2033.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  2034.    </div>
  2035. </div>
  2036.                    </div>
  2037.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2038.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2039.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2040.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,899.00</span>
  2041.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Rad Power Bikes</span>
  2042.                    </div>
  2043.    </div>
  2044.                    </div>
  2045.                            </div>
  2046.        </div>
  2047. </a></div>
  2048. <h2>Pros and cons of the RadExpand 5 Plus </h2><h3>Pros</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Handling</strong>: The low BMX-style handlebar and a well-thought-out design make the handling top-tier.</p></li><li><p><strong>Accessible</strong>: The user-friendly controls make it easy to pick up and get to the fun parts.</p></li><li><p><strong>Comfortable:</strong> The 4-inch tires, a padded saddle, and front suspension make this a comfortable ride.</p></li><li><p><strong>Versatile</strong>: There are many ways to customize the e-bike and add any accessory you can imagine.</p></li></ul><h3>Cons</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Class: </strong>Although the motor is strong and capable, the bike only goes up to Class 2, topping at 20mph.</p></li><li><p><strong>Portability</strong>: The BMX-style bars mean it might not be as compact in tight spaces, and the 72.5 lb weight doesn't help.</p></li><li><p><strong>Not for tall people</strong>: The bike only works for people between 4'10"-5'10", leaving tall people out of the equation.</p></li></ul><h2>Specs:</h2><ul><li><p><strong>Classification</strong>: Class 1 or 2 (up to 20 moh)</p></li><li><p><strong>Brakes</strong>: Gemma Hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors</p></li><li><p><strong>Tires</strong>: Beefy 20" by 4" tires with some off-roading treads</p></li><li><p><strong>Frame geometry</strong>: Step-through frame</p></li><li><p><strong>Lights</strong>: LED brake light, tail light, and LED front headlights.</p></li><li><p><strong>Battery: </strong>48V 15 Ah 720 Wh with Safe Shield Technology</p></li><li><p><strong>Display:</strong> Full-Color LCD Display</p></li><li><p><strong>Motor:</strong> 750W with 64 Nm of Torque</p></li><li><p><strong>Pedal Assist:</strong> 5 Levels (magnet-sensing cadence assist with pedals)</p></li><li><p><strong>Claimed Range: </strong>60 mi on average, but can get up to 80 mi</p></li><li><p><strong>Throttle: </strong>Grip twist</p></li><li><p><strong>Weight of e-bike:</strong> 73.8 lb with battery</p></li><li><p><strong>Rider height range:</strong> One frame fits 4&rsquo;10&rdquo; to 5&rsquo;10&rdquo;</p></li><li><p><strong>Maximum rider weight:</strong> 315 lbs</p></li><li><p><strong>Maximum load on the rear rack:</strong> 59 lbs</p></li></ul><p>The RadExpand 5 Plus is a big improvement on its predecessor, and it should be to justify the $300 price tag increase. It now comes with 50 mm travel front suspensions with preload adjustments and lockouts so you can choose your preferred level of bumpiness; hydraulic disc brakes over the mechanic disc brakes; a much-improved LCD display over the LED one; turn signals; a battery with "Safe Shield Technology," which improves battery fire safety; and an improved torque sensor, which is supposed to feel more natural and improve the mileage. You can see <a href="https://zdcs.link/lV1jN?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=more%20about%20the%20specs%20and%20other%20details&amp;short_url=lV1jN&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">more about the specs and other details</a> from the Rad Power website.</p><h2>How does the RadExpand 5 Plus e-bike ride on the street?</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2049.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2050.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="Sitting on the RadExpand 5 Plus" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2051.            </div>
  2052.            <div class="mt-2">
  2053.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2054.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2055.                    </div>
  2056.    </div>
  2057. <p>The RadExpand 5 Plus did not feel like a foldable e-bike when I rode it, in a good way. Yes, the step-through design is the same, but the choice to go for a BMX-style handlebar was bold, and it paid off. Your run-of-the-mill folding bike usually has an elongated handlebar stem, putting your grip in a higher and more narrow place than normal. This can make handling feel less in control, especially at high speeds. The RadExpand 5 Plus' lower grip and wider-stance handlebar gave me more control on my ride. It felt much better than other folding bikes I have ridden before. The e-bike handles like a mix between a cruiser and a mountain bike, and the four-inch-wide beefy tires have some off-roading treads, which made me feel comfortable riding it on some dirt paths. Even when going downhill and hitting around 28 mph, the handling felt so secure that I was always in control. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2058.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2059.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="The bell, pedal assist, and turning signal controls on the RadExpand 5 Plus" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-3.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2060.            </div>
  2061.            <div class="mt-2">
  2062.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2063.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2064.                    </div>
  2065.    </div>
  2066. <p>When it comes to pedal assist, the RadExpand 5 Plus has a 64 Nm torque sensor that matches your level of effort, so if you pedal harder, it gives you more pedal assistance and vice versa. I can change the level of pedal assist from one to five (or zero for no pedal assist and just leg power alone). Adjusting the pedal assist and finding the right level while going up a hill was smooth and practical with the controls placed on the left side of the handlebar. Hitting the maximum speed of 20 mph in class 2 with a pedal assist of 5 was very easy and quick, but I did have to move my legs very fast, and I wish there were an eighth gear to make it easier. With torque alone and no throttle, I was able to reach 20mph smoothly as I moved up through the five levels. My terrain was flat, and it took less than 15 seconds to get there. On the left side of the handlebar, there are also the controls to turn on the turning signals and a bell to alert those around you.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2067.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2068.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.png" alt="The LCD display, half-twist throttle, and 7 gear-shifter" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-4.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-4.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2069.            </div>
  2070.            <div class="mt-2">
  2071.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2072.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2073.                    </div>
  2074.    </div>
  2075. <p>I was pleased with the LCD display. It shows all the information you need to know, and it is easy to navigate. I just wish it showed a percentage on the battery bar. The half-twist throttle on the right side of the handlebar is powerful for a foldable e-bike. On just throttle alone, it was able to go up the meanest hill in my area with ease, which is about <a href="https://theclimbingcyclist.com/gradients-and-cycling-an-introduction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>nine degrees</u></a>. That same hill on pedal assist level five felt like I was cruising on flat ground. I am confident that if you use the throttle and pedal assist level five, the bike can go up most hills without issues. With such a responsive pedal assist and powerful motor, it is a shame that Rad Power didn't give the rider the option to go up to class 3. It leaves a lot of untapped potential that the RadExpand 5 Plus could have on the table.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2076.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2077.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-9.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="The adjustable front-wheel suspensions" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-9.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-9.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-9.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2078.            </div>
  2079.            <div class="mt-2">
  2080.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2081.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2082.                    </div>
  2083.    </div>
  2084. <p>Rad Power says you will get an average of 20 to 60 miles on a single charge, but of course, it will depend on your use of pedal assist, throttle, weight, terrain, and other factors. Judging from my time riding it and the distance I covered, I feel like you can easily push past the 60-mile range if you're conservative. My estimation is you can get more than 80 miles of riding on a single charge.  </p><h2>How does the RadExpand 5 Plus fold?</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2085.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2086.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="Folded RadExpand 5 Plus" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-5.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-5.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2087.            </div>
  2088.            <div class="mt-2">
  2089.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2090.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2091.                    </div>
  2092.    </div>
  2093. <p>A foldable e-bike's main purpose is to be portable and compact. And that's where the RadExpand 5 Plus fell a bit short. The e-bike weighs 73.8 pounds, and it was not easy to fold or maneuver by myself. It also has a detached Velcro wrap that I'm not exactly sure where is meant to hold the e-bike together once folded. I did end up finding a place that made sense, but I think a permanent place with an easier snap-on device like <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/ride1ups-portola-ebike-review" target="_blank">Ride1Up's Portola</a> would've been an easy and smarter design choice. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2094.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2095.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="Finding where to attach the velcro on the RadExpand 5 Plus" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-8.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-8.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2096.            </div>
  2097.            <div class="mt-2">
  2098.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2099.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2100.                    </div>
  2101.    </div>
  2102. <p>The decision to give the e-bike a BMX-style handlebar means it isn't as compact as a flat and narrow one. On my usual test to fit it in my 2011 Toyota Corolla's trunk, I struggled to make it fit, almost giving up at one point. (I did eventually manage to make it fit, thanks to some smart maneuvering on my part.) If you don't plan to take the RadExpand 5 Plus on your car, this is probably not a big issue. The e-bike does compact well otherwise.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2103.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2104.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-6.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="RadExpand 5 Plus inside my Corolla's trunk" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-6.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-6.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-6.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2105.            </div>
  2106.            <div class="mt-2">
  2107.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2108.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2109.                    </div>
  2110.    </div>
  2111. <h2>The RadExpand 5 Plus is versatile and customizable</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2112.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2113.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="Rad Trailer and Pet Carrier on the RadExpand 5 Plus" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-7.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-7.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2114.            </div>
  2115.            <div class="mt-2">
  2116.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2117.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2118.                    </div>
  2119.    </div>
  2120. <p>One of my favorite parts of an e-bike experience is sharing it with loved ones. The RadExpand 5 Plus has access to many <a href="https://zdcs.link/BdM6E?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=accessories%20from%20the%20Rad%20Power%20store&amp;short_url=BdM6E&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">accessories from the Rad Power store</a>. I used the <a href="https://zdcs.link/glvxq?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Rad%20Trailer&amp;short_url=glvxq&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Rad Trailer</a> with the <a href="https://zdcs.link/MV5dm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Pet%20Insert&amp;short_url=MV5dm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Pet Insert</a> to take Gambino on a ride. The pedal assist and throttle make even carrying the trailer a breeze. Even going up some hills, I was able to easily find the right combination to make it through easily. You can carry a maximum weight of 100 pounds on the trailer and 84 pounds on the Pet Insert. You can get a <a href="https://zdcs.link/qkP8B?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=rear&amp;short_url=qkP8B&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">rear</a> and/or <a href="https://zdcs.link/V0V2d?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=front%20rack&amp;short_url=V0V2d&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">front rack</a> to be able to use many of their accessories. Some are easier to install than others, but the Rad Trailer and Pet Insert were easy and quick to assemble as well as take on and off the bike (they just need a single bolt to put on the e-bike). Unfortunately, the rear can only hold a maximum of 59 pounds, so you can't have another adult in as a passenger on the back. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2121.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2122.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-10.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg" alt="Gambino in the Pet Carrier" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-10.fill.size_800x450.v1714688515.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-10.fill.size_1400x788.v1714688515.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HTZPTBYA3C919CXVF6M4V7ZT/images-10.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714688515.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2123.            </div>
  2124.            <div class="mt-2">
  2125.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2126.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Daniel Oropeza</span>
  2127.                    </div>
  2128.    </div>
  2129. <h2>Closing thoughts</h2><p>The RadExpand 5 Plus was a joy to ride. It felt like a comfortable BMX/mountain hybrid e-bike that also happens to fold in half. The inclusion of small details like rear light turning signals, a bell, a nice LED screen, and compatibility with many accessories makes the RadExpand 5 Plus a well-rounded e-bike that can be a good fit for most people looking to save some space at home or take their e-bike on their trunk. The five-level pedal assist with the torque sensor is very responsive and easy to use. The throttle is powerful yet smooth and easy to control thanks to the top-tier handling from the BMX-style handlebars and beefy tires. If Rad Power had made the RadExpand 5 Plus able to fit people taller than 5'10" and get up to class 3, I could see this being one of the best foldable e-bikes for comfort and versatility.  </p>]]></content:encoded>
  2130.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/radexpand-5-plus-electric-folding-bike-review</link>
  2131.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  2132.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  2133.    </item>
  2134.    <item>
  2135.      <title>How to (Finally) Finish Your College Degree, According to a University Dean</title>
  2136.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWDS62VEA78EF4BK5E38C05T</guid>
  2137.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2138.      <description>Apply everything you learned as a professional to your back-to-school experience, and you’ll go far.</description>
  2139.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWDS62VEA78EF4BK5E38C05T/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2140.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&rsquo;re a Gen Xer or a millennial, you remember a time when college was pitched to you as a value-add, rather than a necessary expense. We all know <a href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>how that turned out</u></a>. And while many of us graduated and hopefully put our degrees to work, as many as 40 million Americans were classifiable as college dropouts in July 2021, according to according to <a href="http://EducationData.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>EducationData.org</u></a>&mdash;folks who previously enrolled in higher ed but left before completing a degree. </p><p>Plenty of people from all generations leave school before finishing a degree, for reasons that vary from financial to personal. But even after you've already entered the working world without a degree, going back to finish yours can be a smart move. If you've already earned a good number of general ed credits, for example&mdash;say a year&rsquo;s worth&mdash;in theory you should be able to apply them to a degree in a new field that reflects your current ambitions, not those of your teenage self.&nbsp;</p><p>For many adults, going back to school seems daunting, but finishing your degree could lead to higher salaries and more opportunities, or put you on the path to a different career altogether. I talked to an expert to get some tips on how you can apply your life experience to picking up where you left off, and share proactive strategies for finally finish your degree.&nbsp;</p><h2>Take stock of your (scholarly) assets</h2><p>Whether it&rsquo;s been one year or 20 since you left school, it&rsquo;s hard to remember exactly what's on your transcript. Record gathering is an important part of the back-to-school process, so start there. Even if you plan on attending the same school you left, it&rsquo;s essential to know where you stand.</p><p>Doing this will help you avoid disappointment or surprises by giving you a better idea of what&rsquo;s under your belt. As a kid, the college application process seemed complex and difficult, but when you&rsquo;re in your 30s and have been laid off a few times, it&rsquo;s really no more complicated than a job application.&nbsp;</p><p>College transcripts are an important way to take stock of your credits and their subject matter, but you might also need your high school transcripts if you&rsquo;re going to be attending a different school or if it&rsquo;s been so long that your previous school no longer has those records. Calling, emailing, and filling out forms is your first tstep, but paid services like <a href="https://www.parchment.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Parchment</u></a> can help with some of the legwork.</p><p>I asked Dr. Bri Newland, assistant dean of the New York University School of Professional Studies Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (NYU SPS DAUS), where o begin when determining your credit status.&nbsp;</p><p><strong><em>&ldquo;</em></strong>Most program policies on transfer credit typically have a maximum limit of 10 years," she said. "However, it is crucial to schedule a meeting with an experienced academic advisor who will thoroughly assess your transcripts alongside you, regardless of whether you acquired these credits beyond the specified timeframe.&rdquo;</p><p>There&rsquo;s more factors at play than when you stopped attending. If you have any other type of technical schooling or certifications, gather this paperwork in case there are professional equivalencies that could make your credits go farther.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;The [NYU SPS DAUS] also assesses prior learning through other experiences beyond college credit," Dr. Newland noted. "For example, military experience can be reviewed for college credit, as well as prior work experience and apprenticeships.&ldquo;</p><p>While colleges and universities are places of higher education, they are also businesses, and want you to keep going (and graduate) to keep their reputation for excellence intact, so they are usually willing to work with you. Save money and time by knocking out as many equivalent credits as possible.</p><p>Dr. Newland gave an example of how this works at NYU. &ldquo;For associate's degrees, students can transfer up to 30 credits, while for bachelor's degrees, 80 credits can be transferred," she said. "This flexibility allows students to build upon their prior learning and accelerate their path to graduation.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><h2>Reach out to your alma mater</h2><p>Give the admissions folks at your former school a call. Spring is a great time for adult students to ring, as most graduating high schoolers have already made their enrollment decisions. At many colleges, adult applicants can complete their application whenever they want, especially if it&rsquo;s a school they already attended.&nbsp;</p><p>Admissions counselors can do everything from getting you set up with an application, to checking your records to make sure that you have what you need to reapply, and even directing you to other school services that could make the process easier. Alumni services serve as post-attendance marketing, enticing you to return and maybe even helping you meet that goal by connecting you to financial resources.</p><p>If you&rsquo;re a working professional, counselors can also help you decide if your previous school can accommodate your schedule. If you&rsquo;re one of the hundreds of thousands of people laid off right now, you should <a href="https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/outreach/target/adults.jsp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>apply for financial aid now</u></a> while you&rsquo;re between jobs.&nbsp;</p><h2>How to pay for it</h2><p>If you&rsquo;re in a stable job and your company doesn&rsquo;t already provide educational resources as a matter of course, it can&rsquo;t hurt to ask. Continuing education is often a part of competitive compensation packages, and you should to use that to your advantage. Education focused workplaces, especially in tech and healthcare, will sometimes even allow you time off of work to focus on these pursuits.</p><p>NYU in particular devotes an entire segment of their school to lifelong learners. Dr.Newland said. Adult and continuing education programs at many schools take a different approach to schoolwork too. &ldquo;For example, through hands-on projects, real-world case studies, and industry collaborations, NYU SPS DAUS students gain practical experience and develop the tools and strategies needed to tackle complex problems and drive innovation in their fields, she noted.&rdquo;</p><p>For the unemployed or underemployed, you can follow the same route you did as a high schooler: Apply for financial aid, in all its many forms. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/scholarships-for-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>It&rsquo;s easier than ever to find loans and scholarships</u></a>, and you can enter into the process with your eyes open and the financial literacy of an adult. Grants, repayment programs, and even low-cost loans could offer just enough to cover the handful of credits you need to complete if you're close to finishing, while a scholarship could cover a year or more.</p><h2>Use all the tools at your disposal</h2><p>I'm not saying you should use AI to write an entrance letter or complete your research papers after work, but imagine if you had ChatGPT to check your grammar and spelling 15 years ago. Digital calendars, digital note-taking, and other educational tools have come a long way in recent years, and you should use them help you across the educational finish line, wherever that may be. For example, software like <a href="http://Otter.ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Otter.ai</a> can take notes for you, and you can summarize them with OpenAI and track your projects on <a href="http://Monday.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Monday.com</a>.</p><p>Remote learning is no longer considered a fringe or lesser higher education experience. Online classes can be your sole method of schooling, and you don&rsquo;t have choose an online-only schools to get a remote degree.</p><p>If you require more accommodations that you did (or that were available) back when you were in college, look into those too: These days, every college has an office deevoted to helping people with disabilities do their best in academia. Neurodivergence, mental illness, or physical ability need not be an impediment in today's educational environment. School services can help you create a plan for success, and social attitudes have shifted to make receiving this assistance more commonplace and easier to access.&nbsp;</p><p>Apply everything you learned as a professional to your back-to-school experience, and you&rsquo;ll finally be able to get that (very expensive, hopefully equally valuable piece of paper..&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2141.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/family/how-to-finally-finish-your-degree</link>
  2142.      <dc:creator>Danielle Guercio</dc:creator>
  2143.      <category><![CDATA[School]]></category>
  2144.    </item>
  2145.    <item>
  2146.      <title>The Best TV Series to Stream This Week</title>
  2147.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HMW2J9DDP4YPPAE5CMQK3CHG</guid>
  2148.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2149.      <description>This week brings a solid slate of new TV series to binge (or watch in moderation).</description>
  2150.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HMW2J9DDP4YPPAE5CMQK3CHG/hero-image.png"/>
  2151.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you're looking for a new show to watch this week, streaming has you covered. Some of them are even worth your time!</p><p>The week sees the return of HBO's excellent showbiz comedy <em>Hacks</em>. Meanwhile, Netflix is experimenting with live streaming again via <em>John Mulaney Presents: Everybody&rsquo;s in LA</em>, and fans of underdog sports stories and/or Welsh soccer dramas can catch a new season of <em>Welcome to Wrexham</em>. </p><h2><em>Hacks</em>, Season 3</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2152.    <div id="video-container-wB6H9OiXyOI"></div>
  2153. </div>
  2154.  
  2155.  
  2156. <p>The first and second seasons of HBO original show-biz comedy series <a href="https://zdcs.link/V022N?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Roundups&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=Hacks&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=V022N&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fbest-movies-and-tv-shows-on-max&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Hacks&amp;short_url=V022N&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>Hacks</u></em></strong></a> earned rare <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/hacks/s02" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>100% fresh ratings on Rotten Tomatoes</u></strong></a>, and the new season aims to continue that perfect record. Picking up a year after Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) went their separate ways, season three finds Deborah enjoying a career resurgence (thanks to Ava's writing), while Ava is working on a <em>Daily Show</em>-like nightly comedy program. Fate, as you'd probably guess, soon brings the odd couple back together.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Max</p><h2><em>John Mulaney Presents: Everybody&rsquo;s in LA</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2157.    <div id="video-container-cGSe2T3wgj4"></div>
  2158. </div>
  2159.  
  2160.  
  2161. <p>As part of the "Netflix is a Joke" festival, stand-up comedian John Mulaney will host six nights of live broadcasts, beginning on May 3. Described as a "celebration of LA" and featuring the biggest names in comedy (said big names to be announced), <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81742123" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>Everybody&rsquo;s in LA</u></em></strong></a> promises to see Mulaney and his comedian pals descending on the City of Angels to create an anything-can-happen experience that comedy fans will definitely want to catch in real time.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><h2><em>Welcome to Wrexham</em>, Season 3</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2162.    <div id="video-container-c3gFkGsWAJM"></div>
  2163. </div>
  2164.  
  2165.  
  2166. <p>Season three of <a href="https://zdcs.link/5qZeL?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Opinions&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=Welcome%20to%20Wrexham&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=5qZeL&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Fapollo-preview.lifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fthe-best-shows-and-movies-on-hulu-this-month&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Welcome%20to%20Wrexham&amp;short_url=5qZeL&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>Welcome to Wrexham</u></em></strong></a><strong> </strong>was originally announced for April, but better late than never. The new season begins with the ragtag Welsh football team owned by Ryan Reynolds&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rob McElhenney having ascended to League Two, the fourth-highest tier of English soccer. But the squad&rsquo;s new position brings bigger obstacles. Wrexham's season is currently in play in real life, so whether the club continues its Cinderella story or crashes and burns in the face of a higher level of play remains to be seen.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Hulu</p><h2><em>Tattooist of Auschwitz</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2167.    <div id="video-container-ZMWPujF8G3Q"></div>
  2168. </div>
  2169.  
  2170.  
  2171. <p><em>The Tattooist of Auschwitz</em> tells the true story of Holocaust survivors Lali and Gita Sokolov. Imprisoned at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942, Lali (Jonah Hauer-King) is given the job of <em>t&auml;towierer</em> and tasked with inking identification numbers on the camp's inmates. Under these worse-than-imaginable conditions, Lali meets Gita (Anna Pr&oacute;chniak) and love blooms within the poison heart of the death camps. Harvey Keitel plays the 80-year-old version of Lali, recounting his story to novelist Heather Morris, played by Melanie Lynskey.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Peacock</p><h2><em>The Veil</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2172.    <div id="video-container-GGMmFC_GpXc"></div>
  2173. </div>
  2174.  
  2175.  
  2176. <p>Elisabeth Moss, star of incendiary and awesome <em>The Handmaid&rsquo;s Tale</em>, returns with a new series that explores the shadowy world of international espionage. <a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/the-veil-5ec992dc-8e35-4d69-892f-8ce1269fcb4f" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>The Veil</u></em><u> </u></strong></a>follows a pair of secret agents locked in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that takes them from Istanbul to Paris to London and everywhere in between. Thousands of lives hang in the balance as agents of the CIA and the French DGSE work together to learn a deadly secret from a mutual enemy. If you&rsquo;re in the mood for a stylish, fast-paced, whip-smart spy thriller, <em>The Veil</em> is your new jam.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Hulu</p><h2><em>A Man in Full</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2177.    <div id="video-container-S9bF4X38O0o"></div>
  2178. </div>
  2179.  
  2180.  
  2181. <p>Television powerhouses David E. Kelley and Regina King teamed up to create this emotionally gripping drama based on the best-selling novel by Tom Wolfe. Jeff Daniels plays Charlie Croker, a brash Atlanta real estate magnate facing bankruptcy and fending off white-collar adversaries eager to capitalize on his fall-from-grace. Diane Lane, Sarah Jones, and Lucy Lui round out <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81506171" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>A Man in Full</u></em><u>'</u></strong></a>s impressive cast.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Netflix</p><h2><em>Star Wars: Tales Of The Empire</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2182.    <div id="video-container-8SIST9t72kY"></div>
  2183. </div>
  2184.  
  2185.  
  2186. <p>Kids and Star Wars fans take note: There's a new animated Star Wars series premiering this week. <a href="https://zdcs.link/Jd1Wp?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Tales%20of%20the%20Empire%2C&amp;short_url=Jd1Wp&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Tales of the Empire</em>,</strong></a> as the title suggests, is set amongst the bad guys, giving the dark side of the Force the attention it deserves. This six-episode series tells the stories of Morgan Elsbeth and Padawan-gone-rogue Barriss Offee, and will feature appearances by legendary Star Wars evil-doers like Darth Vader and General Grievous. </p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><h2><em>Shardlake</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2187.    <div id="video-container-NFHJ0Kp4Zo0"></div>
  2188. </div>
  2189.  
  2190.  
  2191. <p>Set in the 16th century, <a href="https://zdcs.link/DZwAN?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Opinions&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=Shardlake&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=DZwAN&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Fapollo-preview.lifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fthe-best-shows-and-movies-on-hulu-this-month&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Shardlake&amp;short_url=DZwAN&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>Shardlake</u></em></strong></a><strong> </strong>is a moody mystery series that kicks off with Oliver Cromwell assigning young lawyer Matthew Shardlake (played by Arthur Hughes) to investigate a murder at a monastery in the remote town of Scarnsea. With Cromwell hoping to shut down the monasteries, the monks greet Shardlake with suspicion and hostility. To make matters worse, Shardlake isn't sure of the loyalties of his new assistant. Based on mystery novels by C. J. Sansom, <em>Shardlake</em> aims to present a historically accurate version of the Tudor world as a backdrop for its proto-Sherlock Holmes protagonist.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2>Last week's picks</h2><h2>Dead Boy Detectives</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2192.    <div id="video-container-hwJmZ2Ekfbc"></div>
  2193. </div>
  2194.  
  2195.  
  2196. <p>The ghosts at the center of <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81679967" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em><u>Dead Boy Detectives</u></em></a> don&rsquo;t spend time haunting people; they solve crimes instead. Based on the comic from Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, and set in Gaiman&rsquo;s <em>Sandman</em> universe, <em>Dead Boy Detectives</em> follows Edwin and Charles (George Rexstrew and Charles Rowland), best dead friends spending their afterlives solving supernatural crimes. With the help of their clairvoyant pal Crystal (Kassius Nelson), the Dead Boys will face off against witches, monsters, and other supernatural enemies to solve the earthly realm's most baffling mysteries.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><h2><em>The Jinx: Part 2</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2197.    <div id="video-container-ShYl5K8Nlq8"></div>
  2198. </div>
  2199.  
  2200.  
  2201. <p>Andrew Jarecki&rsquo;s Emmy-winning series<em> The Jinx</em> caught lightning in a bottle when it came out in 2015&mdash;how often does a guy confess to multiple murders while mic'ed up for a true crime documentary, right? <a href="https://zdcs.link/XBX2p?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Jinx%E2%80%94Part%202&amp;short_url=XBX2p&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em><u>The Jinx&mdash;Part 2</u></em><u> </u></a>completes the story of weird-rich-dude-turned murderer Robert Durst, and promises shocking new revelations. Durst is dead, so he won't be confessing to any more murders, but it's a fascinating story nonetheless.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Max</p><h2><em>THEM: The Scare</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2202.    <div id="video-container-PCyeEMRweRo"></div>
  2203. </div>
  2204.  
  2205.  
  2206. <p>The second season Little Marvin&rsquo;s horror anthology series is set in 1991 Los Angeles and stars Deborah Ayorinde&nbsp;as&nbsp;Dawn Reeve, an LAPD detective investigating a particularly grisly series of murders. With the city teetering on the edge of chaos, Reeve tracks down the killer, but begins to suspect that something worse than human evil may be behind the crimes, and it&rsquo;s targeting her and her family. <a href="https://zdcs.link/yjVXr?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=THEM%3A%20The%20Scare&amp;short_url=yjVXr&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em><u>THEM: The Scare</u></em></a><a href="https://zdcs.link/yjVXr?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;short_url=yjVXr&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong> </strong></a>also stars Pam Grier&nbsp;as&nbsp;Athena Reeve, and that&rsquo;s reason enough to check it out.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Prime</p><h2><em>Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2207.    <div id="video-container-Vx93Z6zBnGE"></div>
  2208. </div>
  2209.  
  2210.  
  2211. <p>This four-part documentary series takes viewers deep inside the world of New Jersey&rsquo;s favorite sons, pop metal hair rockers Bon Jovi. Through never-before-seen personal videos and photos, concert footage, and interviews with the Bon Jovis themselves, <a href="https://zdcs.link/bPwxG?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Thank%20You%2C%20Goodnight&amp;short_url=bPwxG&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Thank You, Goodnight</em></a> details the band&rsquo;s 40-year career of rocking and/or rolling. If you&rsquo;re in the mood for old duffers telling &ldquo;we came from nothing&rdquo; stories and wistfully discussing their days of rock-star excess, this is the series for you. Includes unreleased demos from Bon Jovi and interviews with Bruce Springsteen,&nbsp;John Shanks, Obie O&rsquo;Brien, and more.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2><em>Knuckles</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2212.    <div id="video-container-1kETt59yn6A"></div>
  2213. </div>
  2214.  
  2215.  
  2216. <p>This mini-series features the voice of Idris Elba in the role of Knuckles, a hotheaded, super-strong anthropomorphic anteater/alien you might know from the world of video games. This six-episode, live-action-meets-animation spin-off of the <em>Sonic the Hedgehog </em>movies details Knuckles' attempt to train hapless human Wade Whipple (played by Adam Pally) in the ways of the Echidna warrior. If you like over-the-top action and comedy featuring beloved video game characters, don't miss <a href="https://zdcs.link/njmXy?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Knuckles&amp;short_url=njmXy&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Knuckles</em></a>. </p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Paramount+</p><h2>Secrets of the Octopus</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2217.    <div id="video-container-SxOHYy1w92c"></div>
  2218. </div>
  2219.  
  2220.  
  2221. <p>Whether it&rsquo;s submarines or sunken ocean liners, director James Cameron loves crap that&rsquo;s underwater. With the help of National Geographic, Cameron adds octopuses to his list of soggy documentary subjects, exploring the unique lives and minds of these mysterious under-the-ocean aliens who can change colors, squeeze into spaces the size of their eyeballs, and might be more intelligent than we can even understand.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2><em>We're Here</em>, Season 4</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2222.    <div id="video-container-fuzt7bMQA98"></div>
  2223. </div>
  2224.  
  2225.  
  2226. <p>Season four of HBO's Emmy-winning reality show features some big changes: Original cohosts Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and Eureka have been replaced with <em>RuPaul's Drag Race</em> franchise winners Sasha Velour, Jaida Essence Hall, Priyanka, and Latrice Royale. The essence of <a href="https://zdcs.link/pGNXo?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=We%27re%20Here&amp;short_url=pGNXo&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em><u>We're Here</u></em></a><em> </em>will remain the same though; the quartet of drag queens will travel to small communities around Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, to spread the good word that drag is actually fun and maybe you should loosen up?</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Max</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2227.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-new-tv-series-stream-this-week</link>
  2228.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  2229.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  2230.    </item>
  2231.    <item>
  2232.      <title>My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: These Meta Quest 2 Bundles</title>
  2233.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWX7S64TTAZZ8MB4DR7JB677</guid>
  2234.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 13:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2235.      <description>Get the Meta Quest 2 with the Elite Strap, a carrying case, or both.</description>
  2236.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7S64TTAZZ8MB4DR7JB677/hero-image.png"/>
  2237.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="https://zdcs.link/mVkKK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Meta%20Quest%202&amp;short_url=mVkKK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Meta Quest 2</a> is one of the best and cheapest options for trying what virtual reality has to offer. The headset has been on a steep decline in price ever since the new <a href="https://zdcs.link/4EMmJ?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Meta%20Quest%203&amp;short_url=4EMmJ&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Meta Quest 3</u></a> came out in October, settling at <strong>$199.99</strong> right now (originally $249.99). Given the Meta Quest 3 starts at $499.99 and the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/what-the-vision-pro-could-mean-for-the-future-of-mixed-reality" target="_blank"><u>Apple Vision Pro</u></a> starts at $3,499, the Meta Quest 2 is the only VR headset that lets you dip your feet in VR without breaking the bank&mdash;especially if you get it in one of the bundles available right now. </p><h2>The Elite Strap Bundle</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2238.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fqk8o3&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Meta+Quest+2+Elite+Strap+Bundle&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fqk8o3" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Meta Quest 2 Elite Strap Bundle">
  2239.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2240.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2241.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Meta Quest 2 Elite Strap Bundle
  2242.                </div>
  2243.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Advanced All-in-One Virtual Reality Headset &mdash; 128 GB with Elite Strap for Enhanced Support.
  2244.                    </div>
  2245.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2246.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2247.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2248.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2249.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$223.76</span>
  2250.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  2251.                    </div>
  2252.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2253.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$299.98</span>
  2254.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $76.22</span>
  2255.        </div>
  2256.    </div>
  2257.                            </div>
  2258.                        </div>
  2259.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2260.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2261.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2262.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2263.    </div>
  2264. </div>
  2265.                        </div>
  2266.                                    </div>
  2267.            </div>
  2268.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2269.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7S64TTAZZ8MB4DR7JB677/images-1.fill.size_245x133.v1714674599.jpg" alt="The Elite Strap Bundle" width="245" height="133" loading="lazy">
  2270.                            </div>
  2271.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2272.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7S64TTAZZ8MB4DR7JB677/images-1.fill.size_245x133.v1714674599.jpg" alt="The Elite Strap Bundle" width="245" height="133" loading="lazy">
  2273.                            </div>
  2274.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2275.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2276.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2277.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2278.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2279.    </div>
  2280. </div>
  2281.                    </div>
  2282.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2283.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2284.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2285.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$223.76</span>
  2286.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  2287.                    </div>
  2288.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2289.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$299.98</span>
  2290.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $76.22</span>
  2291.        </div>
  2292.    </div>
  2293.                    </div>
  2294.                            </div>
  2295.        </div>
  2296. </a></div>
  2297. <p>If you value comfort, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/lVjpW?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Meta%20Quest%202%20with%20the%20Elite%20Strap%20Bundle&amp;short_url=lVjpW&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Meta Quest 2 with the Elite Strap Bundle</a> for <strong>$223.76</strong> (originally $299.98) is a great choice for only $23 more. The <a href="https://zdcs.link/1vJEb?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Elite%20Strap&amp;short_url=1vJEb&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Elite Strap</a> is made to relieve fatigue and offer more choices in terms of fit. It has straps, bracing, and a weight-balancing design that lifts the headset's weight away from your face for more comfort. </p><h2>The carrying case bundle</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2298.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0BQ94YGS5&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Meta+Quest+2+%E2%80%94+Advanced+All-in-One+Virtual+Reality+Headset+%E2%80%94+128+GB+with+Elite+Strap+for+Enhanced+Support+and+Comfort+in+VR&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01AkyjTfei1cn5SHgoZ7dGv&amp;offer_uuid=063WHEE7ewNELw3dXFVyW3h&amp;object_type=063WHEE7ewNELw3dXFVyW3h&amp;object_uuid=01AkyjTfei1cn5SHgoZ7dGv" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Meta Quest 2 &mdash; Advanced All-in-One Virtual Reality Headset &mdash; 128 GB with Elite Strap for Enhanced Support and Comfort in VR">
  2299.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2300.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2301.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Meta Quest 2 &mdash; Advanced All-in-One Virtual Reality Headset &mdash; 128 GB with Elite Strap for Enhanced Support and Comfort in VR
  2302.                </div>
  2303.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2304.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2305.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2306.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2307.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$223.76</span>
  2308.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  2309.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  2310.            </div>
  2311.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2312.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$299.98</span>
  2313.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $76.22</span>
  2314.        </div>
  2315.    </div>
  2316.                            </div>
  2317.                        </div>
  2318.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2319.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2320.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2321.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2322.    </div>
  2323. </div>
  2324.                        </div>
  2325.                                    </div>
  2326.            </div>
  2327.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2328.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01AkyjTfei1cn5SHgoZ7dGv/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714640626.jpg" alt="Meta Quest 2 &mdash; Advanced All-in-One Virtual Reality Headset &mdash; 128 GB with Elite Strap for Enhanced Support and Comfort in VR" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  2329.                            </div>
  2330.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2331.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01AkyjTfei1cn5SHgoZ7dGv/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714640626.jpg" alt="Meta Quest 2 &mdash; Advanced All-in-One Virtual Reality Headset &mdash; 128 GB with Elite Strap for Enhanced Support and Comfort in VR" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  2332.                            </div>
  2333.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2334.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2335.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2336.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2337.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2338.    </div>
  2339. </div>
  2340.                    </div>
  2341.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2342.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2343.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2344.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$223.76</span>
  2345.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  2346.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  2347.            </div>
  2348.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2349.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$299.98</span>
  2350.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $76.22</span>
  2351.        </div>
  2352.    </div>
  2353.                    </div>
  2354.                            </div>
  2355.        </div>
  2356. </a></div>
  2357. <p>If you value practicality and portability instead, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/KJ1rB?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Carrying%20Case%20Bundle&amp;short_url=KJ1rB&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Carrying Case Bundle</a> might be a better option. For $18.76 more than the price of the headset alone, you can fit your Meta Quest 2 and accessories in a <a href="https://zdcs.link/pgw0Y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=lightweight%20case&amp;short_url=pgw0Y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">lightweight case</a> that can protect the headset from bumps. </p><p>For those who can't decide between the two, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/joKO2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Meta%20Quest%202%20Power%20Bundle&amp;short_url=joKO2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Meta Quest 2 Power Bundle</a> for <strong>$243.52 </strong>(originally $344.97) includes both the Elite Strap and the carrying case for $43.52 more than the price of the headset alone. Of course, there's also the option to just save your money if you don't like any of the bundle options. <a href="https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-meta-quest-2-deal" target="_blank">Walmart has the Meta Quest 2 with a $50 gift card</a> option as well.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2358.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/amazon-deal-of-the-day-meta-quest-2-bundle</link>
  2359.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  2360.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  2361.    </item>
  2362.    <item>
  2363.      <title>Why Gig Workers Need Business Insurance (and How Much They Should Buy)</title>
  2364.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTRS19Y5V4FR3A4JF4WTXC4</guid>
  2365.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 13:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
  2366.      <description>Gig workers face unique risks not covered by personal insurance policies.</description>
  2367.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRS19Y5V4FR3A4JF4WTXC4/hero-image.png"/>
  2368.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-side-hustles-with-little-or-no-start-up-costs-1850467111" target="_blank">gig worker</a>, you are essentially a self-employed business owner providing services on a freelance or contract basis. While the gig economy offers great flexibility, it also means you don't have the same protections as a traditional employee. That's why it's crucial for gig workers to have proper business insurance coverage.</p><p>Without the right insurance, you could be<em> personally </em>liable for things like injuries, damage to property, or professional mistakes that occur while working a gig. The costs of a liability claim can quickly wipe out your savings if you aren't properly insured. Here are the main types of insurance gig workers should consider.</p><h2>General liability insurance </h2><p>This provides protection if someone is injured or their property is damaged due to your business operations. For example, if you spill coffee and stain a client's expensive carpet as a housecleaner, general liability would cover the repair/replacement costs.</p><p>Most gig workers <a href="https://www.techinsurance.com/small-business-insurance/how-much-do-i-need#:~:text=This%20policy%20shows%20you're,to%20carry%20general%20liability%20insurance." target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">should have</a> at least a $1 million general liability policy, with costs typically ranging from $300-$900 per year depending on your profession and location.</p><h2>Professional liability insurance </h2><p>Also called errors &amp; omissions (E&amp;O) insurance, this covers you if a client claims your work was mishandled or negligent and caused them a financial loss. It's essential for any gig workers providing professional services, such as consulting, IT support, and accounting.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance/cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">typical policy runs</a> $500-$1,000 per year for freelancers and can be increased for higher coverage needs.</p><h2>Workers' compensation insurance </h2><p>If you get injured on a job, workers' comp provides medical coverage and replaces lost wages during your recovery. It's legally required for many contractor roles like construction, delivery driving, moving/hauling services and more.</p><p>Costs vary widely by state, profession, and payroll amount but are <a href="https://www.mklawsyracuse.com/if-you-are-self-employed-can-you-qualify-for-workers-comp-in-new-york/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">typically under</a> $1,000 annually for solo entrepreneurs.</p><h2>Where to buy insurance</h2><p>Luckily, there are insurance companies and brokers that specialize in affordable policies designed specifically for self-employed individuals, freelancers, and gig economy businesses. A few top options with consistently high customer satisfaction rating include:</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/0PBDe?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Chubb&amp;short_url=0PBDe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Chubb</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/6Xej7?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=State%20Farm&amp;short_url=6Xej7&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>State Farm</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/3dYE2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Nationwide&amp;short_url=3dYE2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Nationwide</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/6XeJR?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Thimble&amp;short_url=6XeJR&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Thimble</u></a> </p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/KJ1LB?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Liberty%20Mutual&amp;short_url=KJ1LB&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Liberty Mutual</u></a></p></li></ul><p>Shop around and compare quotes, coverage, and support to find the right policies for your gig work and budget. Having the proper insurance gives you essential protection and allows you to confidently grow your freelance business.</p><p>For more, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/self-employed-retirement-accounts" target="_blank">here are the best retirement accounts</a> for people who are self-employed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2369.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/business-insurance-all-gig-workers-should-have</link>
  2370.      <dc:creator>Meredith Dietz</dc:creator>
  2371.      <category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
  2372.    </item>
  2373.    <item>
  2374.      <title>The Best Movies to Stream This Week</title>
  2375.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HKZXVZXBD69NB9CMM70E6Q3P</guid>
  2376.      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2377.      <description>If you're looking for a great movie to stream this weekend, check out these choices.</description>
  2378.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HKZXVZXBD69NB9CMM70E6Q3P/hero-image.png"/>
  2379.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Looking to settle in with a good movie? Me too. That's why I've pored over the release schedules of major streaming services to bring you the best original and new-to-streaming movies you can watch right now. </p><p>The start of May is heavy on original, character-driven, romantic movies like Prime's <em>The Idea of You</em> and Max's <em>Turtles all the Way Down</em>. There's also <em>Prom Dates</em>, a teen comedy from Hulu, Jerry Seinfeld's breakfas- based comedy <em>Unfrosted</em>, and truly wild documentary <em>The Contestant</em>. But best of all: Max is streaming a lovingly remastered, 4k version of <em>Stop Making Sense, </em>mandatory viewing. </p><h2><em>The Idea of You</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2380.    <div id="video-container-V8i6PB0gGOA"></div>
  2381. </div>
  2382.  
  2383.  
  2384. <p>If you like romantic comedies, <a href="https://zdcs.link/njm3y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Roundups&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=The%20Idea%20of%20You&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=njm3y&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fthe-best-movies-and-tv-shows-to-watch-on-prime&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Idea%20of%20You&amp;short_url=njm3y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>The Idea of You</u></em></strong></a> will make your week. Based on a novel by Robinne Lee that began as a piece of Harry Styles fan fiction, this romantic comedy stars Anne Hathaway as Sol&egrave;ne, a 40-year-old single mom who goes to Coachella and unexpectedly falls in love with Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine), the 24-year-old singer in August Moon, a band playing the main stage. <em>The Idea of You</em> is sitting at a <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_idea_of_you/reviews" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>90% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes</u></strong></a>, with reviewers praising Hathaway's excellent performance, the romantic chemistry between the movie's leads, and the film's easygoing, character-driven comedy.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Prime</p><h2><em>All that Heaven Allows</em> (1955)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2385.    <div id="video-container-3H8yXanHW1I"></div>
  2386. </div>
  2387.  
  2388.  
  2389. <p>To accompany the release of <em>The Idea of You,</em> Prime is dropping an older take on the May/December romance genre for fans of classic films: 1955's <a href="https://zdcs.link/jP0Ze?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Roundups&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=All%20That%20Heaven%20Allows&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=jP0Ze&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fthe-best-movies-and-tv-shows-to-watch-on-prime&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=All%20That%20Heaven%20Allows&amp;short_url=jP0Ze&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>All That Heaven Allows</u></em></strong></a>. Jane Wyman plays a rich widow whose life is defined by the opinions of her snooty children and the squares at the country club. Rock Hudson plays the dashing young landscaper/free spirit she falls in love with. Upon its release, <em>All The Heaven Allows</em> was regarded as a well-made melodramatic romance, but director Douglas Sirk was secretly satirizing 1950s middle-class mores and Hollywood romance clich&eacute;s, a piece of cinematic misdirection that wasn't noticed until decades later.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Prime</p><h2><em>Turtles All the Way Down</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2390.    <div id="video-container-HtydYWzolKE"></div>
  2391. </div>
  2392.  
  2393.  
  2394. <p>Based on the young adult novel by John Green (<em>The Fault in our Stars</em>), <a href="https://zdcs.link/glxxD?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Roundups&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=Turtles%20all%20the%20Way%20Down&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=glxxD&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fbest-movies-and-tv-shows-on-max&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Turtles%20All%20the%20Way%20Down&amp;short_url=glxxD&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>Turtles All the Way Down</u></em></strong></a> is a great choice if you're looking for a deeper than usual coming-of-age movie. High-schooler Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced) suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, so the normal moments and milestones of her teenage life are informed by her mental illness&mdash;i.e., a first kiss is about both an expression of young love and her paralyzing fear of a potential bacterial infection. Green's novel has earned <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35504431-turtles-all-the-way-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>4.5 stars from readers on Goodreads</u></strong></a>, and <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/turtles-all-the-way-down-film-review-john-green-adaptation-1234977751/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>early reviews of the film are positive</u></strong></a>, so this is definitely worth a stream.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Max</p><h2><em>Unfrosted</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2395.    <div id="video-container-2lqRPUhPfho"></div>
  2396. </div>
  2397.  
  2398.  
  2399. <p>If you like movies about brands, you're going to be very pleased with <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81481606" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>Unfrosted</u></em></strong></a>. Jerry Seinfeld co-wrote, directed, co-produced, and stars in this comedy that tells the origin story of Pop-Tarts, America's favorite breakfast rectangle. Set in Michigan in 1963, <em>Unfrosted</em> details the cutthroat competition between breakfast kingpins Kellogg's and Post, as each races to develop and market a breakfast pastry for the masses before the other guy steals the show.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Netflix</p><h2><em>The Contestant</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2400.    <div id="video-container-SVR2629rCkU"></div>
  2401. </div>
  2402.  
  2403.  
  2404. <p>Back in the late 1990s, Japan took reality TV to its limit with <em>A Life in Prizes</em>, a show in which unknown comedian Nasubi was imprisoned and naked in a bare room and tasked with staying there until he&rsquo;d won a million yen through mail-order contests. Unbeknownst to Nasubi, his journey into near madness was being broadcast weekly and he&rsquo;d become the most famous man in Japan. <a href="https://zdcs.link/6YlnR?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Opinions&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=The%20Contestant&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=6YlnR&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Fapollo-preview.lifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fthe-best-shows-and-movies-on-hulu-this-month&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Contestant&amp;short_url=6YlnR&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>The Contestant</u></em></strong></a> tells the full story of this strange experiment through footage from <em>A Life in Prizes</em> and interviews with its director, producers, star, and others who were there. If you like out-there docs, give it a look. </p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2><em>Stop Making Sense</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2405.    <div id="video-container--rjMwSTeVeo"></div>
  2406. </div>
  2407.  
  2408.  
  2409. <p><em>Stop Making Sense</em> is the best concert movie ever been made, and I will fight you if you disagree (it's also <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-highbrow-movies-to-watch-when-youre-stoned" target="_blank"><strong><u>great to watch when you're high</u></strong></a>). To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its release, A24 has restored and remastered Jonathan Demme's masterpiece to preserve a pristine, streamable 4k vision of the Talking Heads at the height of their power for posterity (or for at least as long as it remains in Max's rotation). The years have done nothing to diminish the pure joy of watching a new wave band jamming out with funk legends like Parliament keyboardist Bernie Worrell and Brothers Johnson guitarist Alex Weir on banger after banger.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Max</p><h2><em>Prom Dates </em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2410.    <div id="video-container-JiUH6LiuMPk"></div>
  2411. </div>
  2412.  
  2413.  
  2414. <p>In this Hulu original coming-of-age comedy, Julia Lester and Antonia Gentry play best friends Jess and Hannah. They've always wanted to have a perfect prom night, but just a day before the big night, everything goes haywire, and they break up with their dates. With only 24 hours until prom, Jess and Hannah will have to get creative to make their perfect night happen. With its classic teen movie set-up and no-holds-barred portrayal of the awkwardness of adolescence, <a href="https://zdcs.link/0e58e?pageview_type=Standard&amp;amp%3Btemplate=Opinions&amp;amp%3Bmodule=content-body&amp;amp%3Belement=offer&amp;amp%3Bitem=text-link&amp;amp%3Belement_label=Prom%20Dates&amp;amp%3Bshort_url=0e58e&amp;amp%3Bu=https%3A%2F%2Fapollo-preview.lifehacker.com%2Fentertainment%2Fthe-best-shows-and-movies-on-hulu-this-month&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Prom%20Dates&amp;short_url=0e58e&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="open in a new window"><strong><em><u>Prom Dates</u></em></strong></a><strong> </strong>is one to watch for teens, and anyone who has been a teen in the past.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2><em>The Beach Boys</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2415.    <div id="video-container-F_Rspu3Xoi4"></div>
  2416. </div>
  2417.  
  2418.  
  2419. <p>I love The Beach Boys, first because of Brian Wilson's genius music, but also because, despite their squeaky clean image, they were the most hardcore, drugged out, batshit crazy rock band in history&mdash;think Black Sabbath times 100. I doubt this Disney+ documentary will dig into the story of The Beach Boys' collaboration with Charles Manson or other more extreme moments from their personal lives (too many actual band members interviewed for it to be that kind of movie) but I'll watch it anyway because Brian Wilson is the greatest that ever was. </p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Disney+</p><h2><em>The Holdovers</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2420.    <div id="video-container-pgIyk1tvTd8"></div>
  2421. </div>
  2422.  
  2423.  
  2424. <p>I can&rsquo;t say enough positive things about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holdovers-Paul-Giamatti/dp/B0CJRHJXYV" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>The Holdovers</u></em></strong></a>. A character-driven drama directed by the great Alexander Payne, <em>The Holdovers </em>stars Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, a hardass classics instructor at a New England boarding school. Tasked with babysitting a crew of poor-little-rich-boys with nowhere to go over Christmas vacation, Hunham strikes up an unlikely friendship with troubled-but-intelligent delinquent Angus Tully (played by Dominic Sessa) and the school's cook, Mary Lamb (a role for which actor Da'Vine Joy Randolph won an Academy Award). It&rsquo;s the kind of movie that you know will make you cry about five minutes in, but the tears are honest, man.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Prime</p><h2><em>Secrets of the Neanderthals</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2425.    <div id="video-container-b5YtgLSU_sE"></div>
  2426. </div>
  2427.  
  2428.  
  2429. <p>Sir Patrick Stewart narrates this documentary that tries to figure out what those Neanderthals have been hiding from us<em> </em>for 300,000 years. In its quest for answers, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_hn_Ov2qpk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>Secrets of the Neanderthals</u></em></strong></a> takes viewers all over the world, examines the fossil record, and consults top researchers in the field to ask, "What is the <em>deal</em> with cavemen?"</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><h2>Peeping Tom (1960)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2430.    <div id="video-container-nAqEn6JS-oM"></div>
  2431. </div>
  2432.  
  2433.  
  2434. <p>Whether <a href="https://zdcs.link/4ALVG?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Peeping%20Tom&amp;short_url=4ALVG&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Peeping Tom</em></strong></a><strong> </strong>"counts" as the first slasher movie is debatable, but the film's portrayal of a serial killer who murders women with a blade attached to a camera so he can film their last moments is creepier than most splatter movies, even all these years later. Voyeuristic, violent, and deeply unsettling, <em>Peeping Tom</em> was once a critically-derided, impossible-to-see film. It has since been reappraised and given the Criterion blessing so all you need to do it click on it. If you're into horror, but also into quality, don't miss this blood-soaked gem. </p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Criterion Channel</p><h2>All of the Die Hard movies</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2435.    <div id="video-container-gYWvwkXreaI"></div>
  2436. </div>
  2437.  
  2438.  
  2439. <p>This week, action fans will be able to follow a quarter century of NYPD detective John McClane&rsquo;s edge-of-your seat adventures when Hulu drops all five <em>Die Hard</em> movies, from the 1988 original to 2013&rsquo;s<em> A Good Day to Die Hard</em>, all at once. Don&rsquo;t act like you have something better to do than plan a marathon. It&rsquo;s what Bruce Willis would want.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2>Last week's picks</h2><h2><em>Hip-Hop and The White House</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2440.    <div id="video-container-MN7M_Ans-SU"></div>
  2441. </div>
  2442.  
  2443.  
  2444. <p>When president Obama strode into the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2013 to DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win,&rdquo; it marked a seismic cultural shift, for both hip-hop and American politics. Narrated by Jeezy, <a href="https://zdcs.link/jPZX2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Hip-Hop%20and%20the%20White%20House&amp;short_url=jPZX2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Hip-Hop and the White House</em></a> goes beyond Obama&rsquo;s power move to explore the deeper history of hip-hop&rsquo;s relationship to the nation&rsquo;s power structures, charting hip hop&rsquo;s evolution from a disreputable musical form politicians derided for cheap political points, to a cultural force that helps move elections.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Hulu</p><h2><em>Late Night with the Devil</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2445.    <div id="video-container-YeKYfneOH3o"></div>
  2446. </div>
  2447.  
  2448.  
  2449. <p><em>Late Night with the Devil</em> is the most clever, effective found-footage horror film I've seen in years. The story of a late-night talk show host's encounter with the Lord of all Evil is told through footage that was supposedly broadcast live, nationwide on Halloween night in 1977. <em>Late Night with the Devil</em>'s period details are so perfect and the performances so spot-on, you might believe that Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian) was a real competitor to Johnny Carson, and that his show, <em>Night Owls with Jack Delroy</em>, really did try to boost ratings by airing an episode where all hell, literally, breaks loose. Funny, smart, and scary, <em>Late Night with Devil</em> is a must-stream.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Shudder</p><h2><em>Hundreds of Beavers</em> (2024)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2450.    <div id="video-container-5h4P-26kHAw"></div>
  2451. </div>
  2452.  
  2453.  
  2454. <p>If you're in the mood for a comedy that's different, and I mean <em>really</em> different, check out <em>Hundreds of Beavers</em>. Written by, directed by, and starring Milwaukee filmmaker Mike Cheslik, <em>Beavers</em> is a cinematic outsider's fever dream that mashes up slapstick comedy from the 1930s, internet memes, Warner Bros. cartoons, and a furry convention. Before grabbing its streaming debut through sheer force of will, <em>Hundreds of Beavers</em> earned raves from audiences on festival circuit and a <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hundreds_of_beavers/reviews" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">95% positive rating from Rotten Tomatoes</a> for its frantic pace and anything-for-a-laugh style. </p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Fandor</p><h2><em>Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2455.    <div id="video-container-YFDhI7OwFyU"></div>
  2456. </div>
  2457.  
  2458.  
  2459. <p>If you like stand-up comedy but you&rsquo;re sick of the same old shizz, check out<strong> <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81717099" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em><u>Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen</u></em></a></strong><em>.</em> The Scottish standup, podcaster, and writer's unique life story, personality, and neurodivergence guarantees unique and screamingly funny takes on sex, drinking, autism, feminism, and everything else.</p><p><strong>Where to stream</strong>: Netflix</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2460.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-movies-streaming-this-week</link>
  2461.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  2462.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  2463.    </item>
  2464.    <item>
  2465.      <title>The AnkerWork S600 Uses AI to Block Background Noise, and It's Not Just a Gimmick</title>
  2466.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z</guid>
  2467.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 22:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2468.      <description>Voiceprint technology makes this speakerphone shine.</description>
  2469.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2470.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With remote work now more normalized than ever, speakerphones like the AnkerWork S600 can be a solid way to improve the quality of audio calls no matter your environment. The S600, however, takes things a step further by adding AI to the mix, which picks up individual voices and blocks out unneeded noise.</p><p>The S600 is currently available as part of a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smartaudio/ankerwork-s600-all-in-one-speakerphone-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Kickstarter</a>, where you can back the device for a limited early bird price of $113. The regular price will eventually be around $180 when sold through retailers and <a href="https://zdcs.link/yLlgJ?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Anker%27s%20website&amp;short_url=yLlgJ&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Anker's website</a>, based on the discount percentage AnkerWork has listed on its Kickstarter. That&rsquo;s a nice deal if you&rsquo;re in need of a speakerphone with these capabilities, but is the AI actually worth it? I think so.</p><h2>AI that isn&rsquo;t just a gimmick</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2471.    <div id="video-container-RjjHqJ1KSeA?si=UmWpUKtIsEl8HpHN"></div>
  2472. </div>
  2473.  
  2474.  
  2475. <p>While there are certainly other <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/best-bluetooth-speakers" target="_blank">Bluetooth speakers</a> and speakerphones out there, some of which can block out background noise like barking dogs, the S600 stands out as one of the first speakerphones to ship with AI-powered voiceprint recognition. This tech uses built-in algorithms and neural networks to hone in on a specific person's voice, cutting off the noise from everything else.</p><p>It&rsquo;s an ambitious pitch, but actually works surprisingly well. I tested it out across a number of calls in different environments, including outside, in the kitchen, in a smaller echoey room, and in an office where background noise was pretty constant.</p><p>The voiceprint technology was able to quickly pick up on my voice and the voices of those around me. There were two ways it worked to cut down background noise: First, it muted microphones that I wasn't speaking into. Second, it applied noise cancellation to audio sources that weren't me. The end result didn't mask everything, but did make everything sound cleaner.</p><p>While noise cancellation isn't new, the ability to quickly identify audio sources is. AnkerWork claims that the VoiceRadar 3.5 technology in the S600 can identify more than 300 different types of background noises, and it definitely seemed to do a solid job in the environments where I tested, although it was impossible for me to test every possible scenario. There's also echo cancellation, which helped me out when testing in a small room, and should be nice for cramped home offices.</p><h2>Design and portability</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2476.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2477.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-2.fill.size_2000x1500.v1714678415.jpg" alt="AnkerWork S600 speakerphone compared to Yeti" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-2.fill.size_800x600.v1714678415.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-2.fill.size_1400x1050.v1714678415.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-2.fill.size_2000x1500.v1714678415.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2478.            </div>
  2479.            <div class="mt-2">
  2480.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2481.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  2482.                    </div>
  2483.    </div>
  2484. <p>The S600 is very portable, thanks to a minimalist design. While my unit was a pre-release model, I was told it should be identical to the real thing. Essentially, the S600 almost looks like someone turned a coffee shop cup on its head, then added speakers and a few buttons to it. It&rsquo;s a simple enough design that doesn&rsquo;t distract too much from the functionality that it offers. There are only two physical buttons&mdash;one for power and one for pairing to your devices with Bluetooth. It also has a few touch controls that let you pause or play music, accept and reject calls, change volume levels, and even mute the sound or sample someone&rsquo;s voiceprint.</p><p>The S600 also features two USB-C ports, one for charging the internal battery, which Ankerwork claims offers up to 16 hours of life, and a port that lets you connect it to a device directly, such as a computer or smartphone. The device is topped with a hinged MagSafe <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/your-iphone-is-getting-qi2-compatible-charging" target="_blank">Qi2</a> wireless charger that can charge your phone with up to 15W while you&rsquo;re taking calls. The charger can move up to 70 degrees, so you can position your phone in a comfortable spot for video calls or whatever else you need it for.</p><p>The S600's speakers encircle the device, with four microphones at the base to capture noise and voices in 360 degrees around it. Music playback is okay, but the lack of any real bass will likely have you reaching for a more music-oriented speaker.</p><h2>A speakerphone that delivers</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2485.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2486.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714678415.jpg" alt="AnkerWork S600 speakerphone buttons" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714678415.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714678415.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWXCRG3AJ6BGVYNQ69778C6Z/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714678415.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2487.            </div>
  2488.            <div class="mt-2">
  2489.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2490.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  2491.                    </div>
  2492.    </div>
  2493. <p>Overall, I was very impressed with the S600. Having received the device early, I did have to jump through a few hoops to install a beta version of the software to fully utilize the voiceprint technology, but after that was done, the initial setup was actually very easy to follow. Final units shouldn't have to jump through these hoops.</p><p>By the way, don't worry about security with this device. Everything it records, including your voiceprint, is stored entirely on the speakerphone and never goes to the cloud.</p><p>Pairing my smartphone with the speakerphone was easy, and changing the volume and other settings through touch controls was a breeze, too. I didn&rsquo;t experience any connection issues while using the speakerphone, and the quality is more than clear enough for any important business calls you might need to take. </p><p>The device itself is fairly attractive, if not a bit simplistic, so you don&rsquo;t have to worry about it being an eyesore on your desk, either. Plus, the ability to charge your phone directly while using the device is handy. If you take a lot of calls on your phone, then the AnkerWork S600 will make a great addition to your everyday work gear. Units will start shipping after the Kickstarter campaign ends on May 20.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2494.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/ankerwork-s600-ai-bluetooth-speakerphone-charger-review</link>
  2495.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  2496.      <category><![CDATA[Phone Accessories]]></category>
  2497.    </item>
  2498.    <item>
  2499.      <title>The Best Way to Keep Mosquitoes From Breeding in Your Yard</title>
  2500.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850607465</guid>
  2501.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2502.      <description>Mosquito "dunks" are perfect for your rain barrel or little fish pond.</description>
  2503.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFZJ85DHFBCFDFQ04WHAR/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2504.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mosquito season is coming up&mdash;and maybe it's already here if you live in a warmer place. We've already explained <a href="https://lifehacker.com/to-keep-mosquitoes-away-do-these-two-things-1844224273" target="_blank">how to keep mosquitoes from biting you</a> (DEET or other effective spray for your skin and a box fan for your porch or deck) but let's talk about preventing them from buzzing around in the first place. You need mosquito dunks.</p><p>Mosquitoes need stagnant water to breed. Their babies start out as little worm-like creatures that breathe through their butts and eat algae and bacteria until they are ready to become the biting, flying nemeses we all know so well. This is why you&rsquo;re supposed to cover or <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/athome/outside-your-home/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">dump out any containers that collect water</a> weekly. But what about puddles, potholes, and containers like rain barrels that can&rsquo;t easily be covered or dumped? That&rsquo;s what mosquito dunks are for. </p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2505.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FjoKLM&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Summit+Mosquito+Dunk+Tablet%2C+20+Count+%28Pack+of+1%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FjoKLM" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Summit Mosquito Dunk Tablet, 20 Count (Pack of 1)">
  2506.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2507.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2508.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Summit Mosquito Dunk Tablet, 20 Count (Pack of 1)
  2509.                </div>
  2510.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2511.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2512.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2513.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2514.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$21.06</span>
  2515.                    </div>
  2516.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2517.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$26.00</span>
  2518.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $4.94</span>
  2519.        </div>
  2520.    </div>
  2521.                            </div>
  2522.                        </div>
  2523.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2524.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2525.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2526.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  2527.    </div>
  2528. </div>
  2529.                        </div>
  2530.                                    </div>
  2531.            </div>
  2532.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2533.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFZJ85DHFBCFDFQ04WHAR/images-1.fill.size_245x159.v1714680454.jpg" alt="mosquito dunks" width="245" height="159" loading="lazy">
  2534.                            </div>
  2535.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2536.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFZJ85DHFBCFDFQ04WHAR/images-1.fill.size_245x159.v1714680454.jpg" alt="mosquito dunks" width="245" height="159" loading="lazy">
  2537.                            </div>
  2538.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2539.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2540.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2541.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2542.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  2543.    </div>
  2544. </div>
  2545.                    </div>
  2546.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2547.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2548.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2549.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$21.06</span>
  2550.                    </div>
  2551.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2552.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$26.00</span>
  2553.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $4.94</span>
  2554.        </div>
  2555.    </div>
  2556.                    </div>
  2557.                            </div>
  2558.        </div>
  2559. </a></div>
  2560. <h2>What are mosquito dunks?</h2><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/3Zwxw?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Mosquito%20dunks&amp;short_url=3Zwxw&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Mosquito dunks</a> are doughnut-shaped pellets that you can float in standing water. (You can also run a string or stake through the hole, if you need a way to keep it in place.) As the dunk dissolves, it releases bacteria that mosquito larvae will eat. So far, that sounds great for the mosquitoes. </p><p>But the bacteria in the dunks are <em>Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis</em> (Bti), which are harmless to people and most animals, but poisonous to baby mosquitoes. You can safely use them in fish ponds or birdbaths, and the EPA <a href="https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/bti-mosquito-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">notes</a> that while Bti will also kill the larvae of black flies and gnats, it does not affect honeybees or most other insect species.</p><hr><p>Here are some mosquito dunks to consider: </p><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/3Zwxw?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=These%20dunks&amp;short_url=3Zwxw&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">These dunks</a> last 30 days and treat 100 square feet of water surface. (You can break a dunk into pieces to treat smaller areas.)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/BJYbv?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Mosquito%20bits&amp;short_url=BJYbv&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Mosquito bits</a> are the same idea as dunks, but in smaller pellet form. </p></li><li><p>Have a lot of mosquito-breeding areas? <a href="https://zdcs.link/vbRW2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Buy%20dunks%20in%20bulk&amp;short_url=vbRW2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Buy dunks in bulk</a>. </p></li></ul><hr><h2>Do mosquito dunks actually work?</h2><p>Unlike a lot of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/mosquito-repelling-plants-are-a-lie-1849036607" target="_blank">mosquito-repelling yard hacks</a>, mosquito dunks are legit. Both the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/athome/outside-your-home/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">CDC</a> and <a href="https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/bti-mosquito-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">EPA</a> recommend them for standing water you&rsquo;re unable to cover or drain. This could include ornamental features of your yard like koi ponds and bird baths, or places that collect water by accident, like gutters or ditches that fill up with water, or unused swimming pools. (For swimming pools that are actually in use, the chlorine is enough to keep mosquitoes out.) </p><p>Note that dunks prevent mosquitoes from <em>breeding</em>, but they don&rsquo;t kill existing mosquitoes. This means you shouldn&rsquo;t expect an immediate reduction in their numbers from using a dunk. But <a href="https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/mosquito-life-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">their life cycle is short</a>, running from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the species and the climate. That means if you eliminate the places that larvae can thrive, you&rsquo;ll likely notice reduced numbers of mosquitoes later on this summer. </p><p>If you&rsquo;d like to speed up the process, you can try using a dunk to create a &ldquo;<a href="https://www.audubonva.org/news/how-to-set-up-a-mosquito-larva-trap" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Bucket of Doom</a>.&rdquo; This is a trap for mosquito mothers to lay their eggs in a nice, swampy bucket&mdash;which you happen to have treated with a dunk. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  2561.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/how-to-keep-mosquitoes-from-breeding-in-your-yard-1850607465</link>
  2562.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  2563.      <category><![CDATA[Home & Garden]]></category>
  2564.    </item>
  2565.    <item>
  2566.      <title>Pop-Tarts Can Be Milkshakes, Too</title>
  2567.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWX8ZR02998RVGGXTJABENZ9</guid>
  2568.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 21:30:15 +0000</pubDate>
  2569.      <description>When eating Pop-Tarts just isn't enough sweet, frosted, pastry goodness, turn it into a milkshake.</description>
  2570.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZR02998RVGGXTJABENZ9/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2571.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I may have cooled off on my Pop-Tart coverage lately, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean the jam-filled breakfast pastry has been sleeping. With the new Pop-Tart comedy, <em>Unfrosted,</em> releasing, you can expect to see more of the eye-catching blue box in your life soon. Normally I have inventive ideas for how you can <em>eat</em> Pop-Tarts, like this <a href="https://lifehacker.com/pop-tart-pie-crust-recipe-1850933508" target="_blank"><u>Pop-Tart pie crust</u></a> or a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/make-a-perverted-trifle-with-pop-tarts-1850477191" target="_blank"><u>perverted Pop-Tart trifle</u></a>, but I seem to have forgotten the importance of hydrating. Luckily, with this quick Pop-Tart milkshake, you can easily drink your Pop-Tarts too.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Milkshakes are the answer to wanting ice cream without having to pay attention to it at all. Just smash it all in a cup so I don&rsquo;t have to catch any drips, and give me a straw while you&rsquo;re at it so I can chug as much as possible in one breath. As if it couldn&rsquo;t get any better, milkshakes give you the special opportunity to drink normally solid foods. All you need is <a href="https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/when-to-use-blender-versus-food-processor" target="_blank">a regular blender</a>, an immersion blender, or one of those fancy milkshake beater machines.&nbsp;</p><hr><h3>You might need one of these:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/kn35X?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Cuisinart%202-Speed%20Hand%20Blender&amp;short_url=kn35X&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Cuisinart 2-Speed Hand Blender</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/V02vx?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Ninja%20Professional%20Plus%20Blender&amp;short_url=V02vx&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Ninja Professional Plus Blender</a></p></li></ul><hr><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2572.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCold-Stone-Milkshake-Stainless-Electric%2Fdp%2FB0CBKZPBL7%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B0CBKZPBL7%2F&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Cold+Stone+Milkshake+Maker+with+Mixing+Cup&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=02eDOaVsOxKjC6H1j6ehMS3&amp;offer_uuid=00LcT8ViJtZcbx8coVVX6oj&amp;object_type=00LcT8ViJtZcbx8coVVX6oj&amp;object_uuid=02eDOaVsOxKjC6H1j6ehMS3" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Cold Stone Milkshake Maker with Mixing Cup">
  2573.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2574.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2575.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Cold Stone Milkshake Maker with Mixing Cup
  2576.                </div>
  2577.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Make a wide range of tempting milkshakes.
  2578.                    </div>
  2579.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2580.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2581.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2582.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2583.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$29.99</span>
  2584.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  2585.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  2586.            </div>
  2587.    </div>
  2588.                            </div>
  2589.                        </div>
  2590.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2591.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2592.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2593.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  2594.    </div>
  2595. </div>
  2596.                        </div>
  2597.                                    </div>
  2598.            </div>
  2599.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2600.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/02eDOaVsOxKjC6H1j6ehMS3/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714673400.jpg" alt="Cold Stone Milkshake Maker with Stainless Steel Mixing Cup 16 ounce, Electric Drink Maker" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  2601.                            </div>
  2602.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2603.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/02eDOaVsOxKjC6H1j6ehMS3/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714673400.jpg" alt="Cold Stone Milkshake Maker with Stainless Steel Mixing Cup 16 ounce, Electric Drink Maker" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  2604.                            </div>
  2605.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2606.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2607.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2608.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2609.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  2610.    </div>
  2611. </div>
  2612.                    </div>
  2613.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2614.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2615.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2616.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$29.99</span>
  2617.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  2618.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  2619.            </div>
  2620.    </div>
  2621.                    </div>
  2622.                            </div>
  2623.        </div>
  2624. </a></div>
  2625. <h2>How to make a Pop-Tart Milkshake</h2><h3>1. Soften the tarts</h3><p>Pre-softening the Pop-Tarts makes for easier blending, in my experience&mdash;specially if you&rsquo;re using a milkshake maker, which doesn&rsquo;t use a blade to mix up the shake. To do this, break up two tarts of any flavor into the container of the machine and add the milk. I&rsquo;m a sucker for the frosted strawberry flavor so I added that and some almond milk to a measuring cup (I used my immersion blender later). Let it sit together for about five minutes.</p><h3>2. Add the ice cream</h3><p>When your tarts have softened, add the ice cream. I added strawberry ice cream to boost the berry flavor, but if you really want the nuanced Pop-Tart flavors to shine, I recommend using vanilla bean. It can help with blending to soften your ice cream for 10 minutes before scooping, but it depends on how thick and cold you want the mixture to be.&nbsp;</p><h3>3. Blend</h3><p>Turn on your appliance of choice and blend the milkshake until the ice cream is soft and smooth and the tarts are obliterated. Pour it into a glass and enjoy immediately.</p><p>My strawberry Pop-Tart milkshake came out creamy, sweet, and with plenty of strawberry flavor. My favorite part was that the jammy center broke up into tiny, semi-frozen, jam crumbs that made for some added textural interest. If you don't like strawberry, don't worry. The beauty of making milkshakes with this nostalgic breakfast pastry is that your flavor choices are only limited by your neighborhood grocery aisle. With over 20 flavors (even "Frosted Strawberry Milkshake flavor!"), you&rsquo;ve got a lot of experimenting ahead of you.&nbsp;</p><h2>Pop-Tart Milkshake Recipe</h2><p>Ingredients:</p><ul><li><p>2 Pop-Tarts</p></li><li><p>&frac12; pint ice cream</p></li><li><p>&frac12; cup milk</p></li><li><p>Sprinkles for garnish</p></li></ul><p>1. Break up the tarts and add them to the blender's container. Add the milk and let it all sit together to soften for about five minutes. </p><p>2. Add the ice cream to the container and blend until smooth. Pour the milkshake into a glass and serve with sprinkles on top.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  2626.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/easiest-pop-tart-milkshake-recipe</link>
  2627.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  2628.      <category><![CDATA[Drinks]]></category>
  2629.    </item>
  2630.    <item>
  2631.      <title>Why the Radio Is Still Better Than the Spotify Algorithm</title>
  2632.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC</guid>
  2633.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2634.      <description>Sometimes you need actual human curation instead of just more of what you already like.</description>
  2635.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2636.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I still listen to radio at my desk, like an absolute freak. Yes, I know that streaming apps exist&mdash;I also use Spotify every day. Spotify is great for listening to entire albums, and even the occasional playlist. Where the service loses me, though, is when it tries to use my listening history to recommend more music. And the worst version of this is Spotify's auto-play feature, which automatically plays something else at the end of whatever you're listening to.</p><p>This might be my fault. Plenty of people seem to like the algorithm just fine. Maybe I'm using Spotify "wrong," or at least differently than the average user. But it's clear, every time I finish listening to an entire album, that Spotify's algorithms suddenly decide I'm obsessed with that artist and what to hear them all the time&mdash;even if I only listen to the album once. In other words, more often than not, it sends me right down a rabbit hole. </p><p>Rabbit holes can be fun, but I don't want to be in one of them all the time. Sometimes when I listen to music, I prefer to hear a blend of what's trending in the culture right alongside a bunch of old songs I already love and haven't heard in ages. Sometimes I want to hear weird music I'd never seek out and that the algorithm would never recommend to me. And yes, I like it when my music is occasionally interrupted by an actual human being who tells a corny joke or comments on the news. </p><p>Sometimes, it turns out, I want the radio.</p><h2>The algorithm is a trap</h2><p>The theory behind using an algorithm to recommend music makes sense in the abstract: You like Artist A,Artist B is similar, ergo you might also like Artist B. In practice, though, the result is that I end up listening to a lot of music in the same key, so to speak.</p><p>Last fall I listened to Boygenius' <em>The Record</em> at least once a day. Spotify seized on this and recommended me similar low key indie rock, which I passively listened to. Evidently the algorithm concluded that I'm a female 20-something art school dropout. If that sounds specific, well, it is:</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2637.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2638.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-1.fill.size_2000x796.v1714674454.png" alt="A Spotify screenshot&mdash;it's one section of recommendations. The header: &quot;Art school dropout&quot;. The playlists offered include &quot;sad girl starter pack&quot;, &quot;Sad indie&quot;, and &quot;My life is a movie&quot;. " width="2000" height="796" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-1.fill.size_800x318.v1714674454.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-1.fill.size_1400x557.v1714674454.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-1.fill.size_2000x796.v1714674454.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2639.            </div>
  2640.            <div class="mt-2">
  2641.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2642.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  2643.                    </div>
  2644.    </div>
  2645. <p>Some people&mdash;those obsessed with things like "facts" and "reality"&mdash;would classify me a man in his late 30s. Even so, I'm not necessarily objecting. Some small part of me clearly vibes with sad girl indie. But sad girl indie was all Spotify recommended me  for <em>months</em>, and it made up the bulk of what it autoplayed on my behalf. Any playlist that says it's "Created for" me tends to have the same three songs or so at the top, and the DJ mode tends to dip into to the same well.</p><p>But I'm more than just a sad girl. I'm someone with diverse musical taste, and I want to keep exploring and expanding my horizons. I'm not listening to music because I want to be lulled into complacency by always listening to the same things. I want to be surprised, to be exposed to weird and wonderful things that I'd never have gone looking for&mdash;and an algorithm trained on my listening habits probably won't push to me in that way. </p><p>For me, the best way to find that is with the help of other humans. A good disk jockey can serve me up a much more eclectic&mdash;perhaps even challenging&mdash;playlist, instead of several hours of the same vibes.</p><h2>How to find a radio station for you</h2><p>Now, the simplest thing you could do to find a radio station is to dig out an honest-to-god physical FM radio and see what's on the dial. Now, depending on where you live, the outlets not monopolized by the same corporate owners could be limited, and I willing to bet most people don't have an FM radio handy in their house, so you can start online if that's easier. I've spent some time seeking out online radio stations I like, with human curated playlists. I even <a href="https://www.popsci.com/diy/find-radio-stations-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">wrote a guide for finding them</a> a few years ago.</p><p>I like to recommend finding a few stations that are based locally&mdash;ideally community-run ones that don't interrupt the music with ads. Where I live in Oregon, I enjoy the <a href="https://prp.fm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Portland Radio Project</a> and <a href="https://www.shadypinesradio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Shady Pines Radio</a>, both of which are pretty eclectic, but there are great stations still broadcasting all over the world. <a href="https://www.nts.live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">NTS Radio</a> is intentionally all over the map, and <a href="http://www.radioparadise.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Radio Paradise</a> goes some unusual places will still playing some songs you're probably familiar with. There's also <a href="https://somafm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">SomaFM</a>, which offers a bunch of different stations under one umbrella.</p><p>And those are just the stations I personally like. Part of the fun of escaping the algorithm is the thrill of finding your own favorites, tuning in, and discovering what you do and don't enjoy.</p><h2>The best apps for online radio</h2><p>There's nothing wrong with listening to radio in your web browser&mdash;in some ways, it's easier. But I prefer having an app for the job, if only because it makes it easier to pause or change the station on the fly.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2646.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2647.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-2.fill.size_2000x1680.v1714674454.png" alt="A screenshot of Eter on Mac, running from the menu bar. The currently playing station is KINK; the currently playing song is Kid by The Revivalists." width="2000" height="1680" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-2.fill.size_800x672.v1714674454.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-2.fill.size_1400x1176.v1714674454.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX8ZKMX6XEMKBZVDHBD9GBC/images-2.fill.size_2000x1680.v1714674454.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2648.            </div>
  2649.            <div class="mt-2">
  2650.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2651.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  2652.                    </div>
  2653.    </div>
  2654. <p>I use <a href="https://eter.apparentsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Eter</a> for listening to the radio on my Mac. You can use it to search for specific stations or discover new ones. You can also add stations yourself, assuming they don't come up in search, and there's a matching iPhone app that will syncs your preferred station list.</p><p>On Android, I like <a href="https://github.com/segler-alex/RadioDroid" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">RadioDroid</a>. It has a comprehensive database of stations and a decent user interface. It's also open source and free of ads.</p><h2>If Spotify is smart, it will add radio stations</h2><p>Spotify has been on a mission to dominate audio, as a category. That's why <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/spotify-podcast-gimlet-harry-meghan-kardashian-59866a5d" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">it spent so much money trying to take over podcasting</a>, and it's why it's currently <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/29/books/spotify-audiobooks.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">pushing audiobooks so hard</a>. Another obvious way to take greater control of my audio life would be simulcasting actual radio stations.</p><p>Apple Music works really well for radio, especially if you have a subscription. There are even a few Apple-exclusive runs programmed by actual DJs, and you can also search for pretty much any station on earth and find it there, thanks to a TuneIn integration. I have no idea why Spotify hasn't copied this feature. Until then, I'll be avoiding the algorithm by heading elsewhere. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  2655.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/the-radio-is-still-better-than-the-spotify-algorithm</link>
  2656.      <dc:creator>Justin Pot</dc:creator>
  2657.      <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
  2658.    </item>
  2659.    <item>
  2660.      <title>These Are the Best Cardio Workouts</title>
  2661.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWX7Y2DGDE646P25KMMHSFAT</guid>
  2662.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2663.      <description>In which I crown the cheapest, the easiest on your body, and the most fun.</description>
  2664.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7Y2DGDE646P25KMMHSFAT/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2665.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Cardio is incredibly important for all of us. It&rsquo;s the bedrock of the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-much-exercise-do-i-really-need-1823708126" target="_blank"><u>physical activity guidelines for health</u></a>, and if you already strength train, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-cardio-and-strength-training-are-both-important-1845206358" target="_blank"><u>adding in cardio</u></a> will make you healthier in general <em>and</em> better at the stuff in the gym that you care about. (And no, it <a href="https://lifehacker.com/does-the-cardio-interference-effect-really-slow-your-ga-1846984740" target="_blank"><u>won&rsquo;t kill your gains</u></a>.)&nbsp;</p><p>So where should you begin if you&rsquo;re starting (or re-starting) a cardio habit? The simple answer is that you can do anything that you enjoy, so if your favorite exercise isn&rsquo;t on my list below, but it meets the definition of cardio, you don&rsquo;t need my approval&mdash;just go do it. But if you want some more information about your best options, read on.</p><h2>What counts as cardio?</h2><p>Cardio exercise is generally understood to be exercise that:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p><strong>Uses most of your body</strong>, or at least several large muscle groups (cycling &ldquo;only&rdquo; uses your legs, but it absolutely counts).</p></li><li><p><strong>Is rhythmic and repetitive</strong>&mdash;think of the footsteps in jogging, or the arm strokes in swimming.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p><strong>Can last for 10 minutes or more</strong>. It&rsquo;s fine to do cardio in shorter bursts, but we want to draw a distinction between things like jogging (which people often do for 30 minutes or more) and strength exercises like squats (which might be done for a set of 8 or 12 reps, and then <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-long-you-should-rest-between-sets-1850810654" target="_blank"><u>you need to rest</u></a> before you do more).</p></li><li><p><strong>Is intense enough you feel like you&rsquo;re working</strong>. A leisurely stroll isn&rsquo;t cardio, but <a href="https://lifehacker.com/does-walking-really-count-as-cardio-1846965965" target="_blank"><u>a brisk walk could be</u></a>.</p></li></ul><p>Cardio machines you might see in a typical gym include the treadmill, elliptical, exercise bike (all kinds), rower, and stair climber. Those all count as cardio. Strength training work <em>doesn't</em> count--it's still good for you, but it's a separate thing.</p><h2>How much cardio should I do?</h2><p>The American Heart Association, the World Health Organization, the CDC, and many other organizations have settled on a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-much-exercise-do-i-really-need-1823708126" target="_blank"><u>guideline</u></a> that says your baseline should be 150 minutes <em>or more</em> of moderate cardio per week. (They often say &ldquo;exercise&rdquo; but if you read the fine print, they are referring specifically to cardio. Strength training is separate.) Specifically, they say you should do:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>150 minutes of moderate cardio per week, <em>or</em>&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>75 minutes of vigorous cardio per week, <em>or</em></p></li><li><p>Any combination of the above (adding up to 150, with each minute of vigorous cardio counting double), <em>or</em></p></li><li><p>If you&rsquo;re already meeting that baseline easily, you should aim for 300 minutes of moderate/150 minutes vigorous.</p></li></ul><p>What does 150 minutes per week look like? Here are some examples:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>A 30-minute jog every weekday at lunch, <em>or</em></p></li><li><p>A 50-minute session on a spin bike three times a week, <em>or</em></p></li><li><p>22 minutes of brisk walking every morning (even weekends)</p></li></ul><h2>How hard should a cardio workout feel?&nbsp;</h2><p>If you&rsquo;re out of breath, feel like you&rsquo;re dying, and can&rsquo;t wait until it&rsquo;s time to stop, you&rsquo;re going harder than you need to. <strong>Moderate cardio</strong> is basically the same as <a href="https://lifehacker.com/what-is-zone-2-cardio-and-how-do-i-actually-do-it-1850275966" target="_blank"><u>&ldquo;zone 2&rdquo; cardio</u></a>. It should feel like work, but not torture. You&rsquo;ll be breathing a little heavier than at rest, but you could still easily speak in full sentences. These workouts are easy to recover from (you don&rsquo;t need rest days in between them) and you&rsquo;ll generally feel better at the end than you did at the beginning.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Vigorous cardio</strong> includes everything harder than that, from sprints that have you pooped in five seconds, all the way down to tempo runs where you&rsquo;re pushing the pace but you&rsquo;re able to keep going for the length of a whole workout. You may feel exhausted at the end. You may not be able to do this kind of workout every day. Vigorous cardio is good for you, but it&rsquo;s often best in small doses. Endurance athletes (like runners) often aim to keep this stuff to 20% or less of their weekly workouts.&nbsp;</p><p>While heart rate tracking is popular, I don&rsquo;t recommend using heart rate to tell the difference between your moderate and vigorous workouts. The heart rate zones that are built into your watch are <a href="https://lifehacker.com/what-is-zone-2-cardio-its-complicated" target="_blank"><u>inconsistent from device to device</u></a> and they use a formula that is <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-calculate-your-max-heart-rate-youre-probably-d-1683716934" target="_blank"><u>often wrong</u></a>. Judge the difference from your breathing and your perceived effort. Moderate cardio is about a 3, maybe 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. </p><h2>Does it matter what kind of cardio I do?&nbsp;</h2><p>Honestly: not that much. Sometimes people seek out cardio that uses their full body, or that targets specific body parts, but that&rsquo;s not actually very important when it comes to the health and fitness benefits. A rowing machine uses your arms more than a spin bike, but both can provide a great cardio workout. If you want to build muscle in your arms, you&rsquo;re better off doing some <a href="https://lifehacker.com/health/best-bicep-exercises" target="_blank"><u>strength exercises for your arms</u></a> rather than worrying about whether your cardio workouts include your arms.</p><p>The best cardio workout is whatever you&rsquo;ll do, so the most important factors are how available the workout is to you (is there a rower at your gym?) and preference (do you <em>like</em> rowing?).</p><p>With that huge caveat out of the way, I&rsquo;ll give you guys my favorite cardio workouts, and some tips for working each into your routine.&nbsp;</p><h2>The cheapest cardio workout: running (or run/walk)</h2><p>Let&rsquo;s start with what is, for many, the most accessible cardio workout of them all: stepping out of your front door and putting one foot in front of the other. (Nothing is perfect for everybody, of course, so if outdoor workouts don&rsquo;t fit your life, skip to the next section.)&nbsp;</p><p>You&rsquo;ll need a pair of shoes that feel reasonably comfortable when you run (they do <em>not</em> have to be expensive running shoes) and many of us will need a sports bra. Then, just add some athletic clothes, and you have the essentials. You&rsquo;ll need the same basic gear for most other exercise, anyway.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2666.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FY0YE4&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=adidas+Men%27s+Duramo+Sl+2.0+Running+Shoes&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FY0YE4" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="adidas Men's Duramo Sl 2.0 Running Shoes">
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  2668.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2669.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">adidas Men's Duramo Sl 2.0 Running Shoes
  2670.                </div>
  2671.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2672.                                            <div class="self-end">
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  2674.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2675.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$54.00</span>
  2676.                    </div>
  2677.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2678.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$70.00</span>
  2679.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $16.00</span>
  2680.        </div>
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  2683.                        </div>
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  2685.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
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  2693.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2694.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7Y2DGDE646P25KMMHSFAT/images-1.fill.size_245x118.v1714673930.jpg" alt="Adidas Duramo 10" width="245" height="118" loading="lazy">
  2695.                            </div>
  2696.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2697.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7Y2DGDE646P25KMMHSFAT/images-1.fill.size_245x118.v1714673930.jpg" alt="Adidas Duramo 10" width="245" height="118" loading="lazy">
  2698.                            </div>
  2699.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2700.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2701.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2702.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2703.        <div>Shop Now</div>
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  2708.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2709.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2710.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$54.00</span>
  2711.                    </div>
  2712.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2713.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$70.00</span>
  2714.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $16.00</span>
  2715.        </div>
  2716.    </div>
  2717.                    </div>
  2718.                            </div>
  2719.        </div>
  2720. </a></div>
  2721. <p>You do <em>not</em> need a running watch or a heart rate monitor. You don&rsquo;t need to track your mileage or pace at all, although you may find it useful to be vaguely aware of how long your workouts are taking and to track how often you do them. That can be a note in your phone (&ldquo;30 minutes jog Monday&rdquo;) rather than buying into an app or device ecosystem.&nbsp;</p><p>Here&rsquo;s a sample workout, if you don&rsquo;t know where to get started:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Walk for the first 5 minutes, as a warmup. Start slow, and by the end, try to be at a brisk pace.</p></li><li><p>Speed up a bit; try a jog or a fast walk.</p></li><li><p>If you start to feel tired, slow down <em>just a little bit</em>. Don&rsquo;t return to a slow walk unless you truly have to.</p></li><li><p>Speed up again when you feel ready, and repeat.</p></li></ul><p>Over time, work toward keeping up a steady pace. A slow, steady jog is better (for most of your training) than sprint-and-walk intervals. That said, interval training is a fun thing to sprinkle in. If you&rsquo;re worried that running is boring, try <a href="https://lifehacker.com/health/how-to-make-running-fun-according-to-reddit" target="_blank"><u>these tips to keep it fun</u></a>.</p><h2>Easiest on your body: indoor cycling</h2><p>If I had to crown a best all-around cardio workout, it would probably be spinning. There&rsquo;s a smoother transition between speeds, rather than the distinct categories of &ldquo;walking&rdquo; and &ldquo;running,&rdquo; so it&rsquo;s easier to find the right intensity for a given workout. There&rsquo;s not much bouncing or impact, so you may not need a sports bra and you may find it easier on your knees and shins at the start. And you can do it <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/the-real-cost-of-a-peloton" target="_blank"><u>with a water bottle and a fan within reach</u></a>, which makes logistics a bit easier&mdash;no need to carry everything with you.&nbsp;</p><p>(Outdoor cycling is great, by the way. But that requires a helmet, a bit of mechanical know-how, and street smarts to safely mesh with, or avoid, traffic. I&rsquo;m sticking with indoor cycling for my recommendation here, but if you love taking your bike to the streets, by all means enjoy!)</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2722.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F8BeXv&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=YOSUDA+Indoor+Cycling+Bike+Brake+Pad%2FMagnetic+Stationary+Bike+-+Cycle+Bike+with+Ipad+Mount+%26+Comfortable+Seat+Cushion&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F8BeXv" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Brake Pad/Magnetic Stationary Bike - Cycle Bike with Ipad Mount &amp; Comfortable Seat Cushion">
  2723.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2724.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2725.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Brake Pad/Magnetic Stationary Bike - Cycle Bike with Ipad Mount &amp; Comfortable Seat Cushion
  2726.                </div>
  2727.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2728.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2729.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2730.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2731.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$249.99</span>
  2732.                    </div>
  2733.    </div>
  2734.                            </div>
  2735.                        </div>
  2736.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2737.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2738.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2739.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2740.    </div>
  2741. </div>
  2742.                        </div>
  2743.                                    </div>
  2744.            </div>
  2745.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2746.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7Y2DGDE646P25KMMHSFAT/images-2.fill.size_245x245.v1714673930.jpg" alt="YOSUDA spin bike" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  2747.                            </div>
  2748.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2749.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX7Y2DGDE646P25KMMHSFAT/images-2.fill.size_245x245.v1714673930.jpg" alt="YOSUDA spin bike" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  2750.                            </div>
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  2752.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2753.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2754.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2755.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2756.    </div>
  2757. </div>
  2758.                    </div>
  2759.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2760.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2761.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2762.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$249.99</span>
  2763.                    </div>
  2764.    </div>
  2765.                    </div>
  2766.                            </div>
  2767.        </div>
  2768. </a></div>
  2769. <p>There are also tons of options for indoor cycling workouts. You can aim for a straight steady-state workout, perhaps watching a favorite show while you do it on the gym&rsquo;s TV or even your phone. Or you can follow along with a video or audio workout that guides you through intervals while distracting you with music and chatter. Use an app like Peloton or Aaptiv, or find videos on YouTube. Here&rsquo;s one to start you off:&nbsp;</p><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2770.    <div id="video-container-YbgvnA9sxtI"></div>
  2771. </div>
  2772.  
  2773.  
  2774. <h2>Best for no equipment at home: put on some music and dance</h2><p>I really debated this one. There&rsquo;s a lot to be said for jumping rope (even though technically that is &ldquo;equipment&rdquo;) but the pros and cons are similar to jogging. There&rsquo;s a lot of bouncing and impact, and it can be pretty exhausting at first, until you learn how to pace yourself.&nbsp;</p><p>Then we have the staples of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/most-hiit-workouts-arent-really-hiit-1846409560" target="_blank"><u>bodyweight &ldquo;HIIT&rdquo; videos</u></a>, like air squats and jumping jacks. These are fine! But they lend themselves better to intervals, and when we&rsquo;re doing cardio it&rsquo;s good to have options that let us move continuously. That said, I&rsquo;m going to put in a quick plug for the most underrated no-equipment cardio move out there: the old school four-count burpee. (I <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-do-the-perfect-burpee-1826642241" target="_blank"><u>describe it in more detail here</u></a>.) No jump and no pushup. You&rsquo;re welcome.</p><p>But ultimately, if you want to get a good cardio workout in your home without having to buy equipment or clear a big space, just put on some music and dance. And don&rsquo;t tell me you &ldquo;can&rsquo;t dance,&rdquo; because you don&rsquo;t need to impress an audience here. Put on something that makes you happy, and shift your weight from one foot to the other. Swing your arms a little. Look! You&rsquo;re dancing! It may not look stylish, but you&rsquo;re getting a workout and you&rsquo;re probably enjoying it a lot more than burpees or squat jumps.&nbsp;</p><p>Obviously, there are so many directions you can go from here. You can simply bop along to whatever is on the radio or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-reason-spotify-shuffles-aren-t-really-random-and-h-1849756947" target="_blank"><u>shuffle your Spotify</u></a>. You can work on building your skill as a dancer, learning new moves and stringing them together&mdash;don&rsquo;t <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eAFCKYe4iw" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>these goofballs</u></a> look like they&rsquo;re having fun dancing the Charleston? You can look up <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QegSjK9Itbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>dance cardio videos</u></a> where an instructor leads you through a workout. Or you can just pick any style you like and have fun with it.</p><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  2775.    <div id="video-container-DBGoSFIv__4"></div>
  2776. </div>
  2777.  
  2778. ]]></content:encoded>
  2779.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/health/these-are-the-best-cardio-workouts</link>
  2780.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  2781.      <category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
  2782.    </item>
  2783.    <item>
  2784.      <title>Why OpenAI Replaced ChatGPT Plugins With GPTs</title>
  2785.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWX9XB0MMBJPSRBQBQ4R7AZT</guid>
  2786.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2787.      <description>ChatGPT has replaced plugins with GPTs. Why?</description>
  2788.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWX9XB0MMBJPSRBQBQ4R7AZT/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2789.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/a-beginners-guide-to-using-chatgpt-plugins-1850578719" target="_blank">ChatGPT Plugins</a> were a great addition to the ChatGPT Plus plan: They acted like browser extensions for ChatGPT, adding third-party functionality to the chatbot that OpenAI didn't build in itself.</p><p>Unfortunately for fans of these plugins, they're now no longer available. <a href="https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8988022-winding-down-the-chatgpt-plugins-beta" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">OpenAI discontinued them back in April</a>, informing users that existing conversations with plugins couldn't be continued. (They are, however, still viewable.) OpenAI didn't take away a great function for the hell of it, though: The company made the decision because it saw its new tool, GPTs, as an improved successor. </p><h2>What are GPTs?</h2><p>This can get a bit confusing, since OpenAI has two different uses for the name "GPT." The one you might be more familiar with is the GPT LLMs: This includes GPT-3.5, GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, etc. These GPT LLMs are what power ChatGPT, as well as programs that outsource their AI processing to OpenAI. Microsoft's Copilot, for example, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/copilot-now-lets-you-use-gpt-4-turbo-for-free" target="_blank">uses GPT-4 Turbo</a>.</p><p><a href="https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8554407-gpts-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">GPTs in <em>this</em> context</a>, on the other hand, are customized versions of ChatGPT. Users and developers alike can create a custom GPT to do whatever they want: For example, you can make a GPT that <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-gFt1ghYJl-logo-creator" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">designs custom logos</a>, <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-pmuQfob8d-image-generator" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">generates images using DALL-E</a>, or <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-B3hgivKK9-write-for-me" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">writes in a manner of your choosing</a>. They can be basic bots, or full of complexity.</p><p>Best of all, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-ways-to-build-ai-tools-without-knowing-how-to-1850535556" target="_blank">it's a no-code application</a>: You'd assume to build one of these programs, you'd need to know how to write the code to make it work. But OpenAI's GPT builder works as a conversation. You tell the builder what you want your GPT to do, upload additional knowledge to help the bot work, as well as choose its capabilities (web browsing, image generation, and code interpreting), and it generates you a GPT. And since GPTs are trained on OpenAI's latest GPT models (again, confusing, I know), there's less dependency on third-party processes or APIs to achieve the same tasks.</p><p>You still need a ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise account to use GPTs, but if you're a paying customer, <a href="https://chat.openai.com/gpts/editor" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">you can get started building from here</a>. The builder walks you through the entire process, including suggesting names and generating logos. You're free to adjust anything as you see fit along the way.</p><h2>How do GPTs replace plugins?</h2><p>While it's great that OpenAI made a GPT builder that literally anyone can use, it doesn't seem to fill the exact void that plugins left. After all, you don't necessary want to build your own browser extensions: You want to download the best ones off your browser's web store and be done with it.</p><p>But GPTs aren't just about self-creation: Anyone, including companies, can make GPTs and put them on the <a href="https://chat.openai.com/gpts" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">GPT Store</a> for others to use. Part of the reason OpenAI killed plugins is that many of the same companies that worked on these apps also have GPTs that do the same thing. Kayak had a ChatGPT plugin for checking prices on travel, but <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-hcqdAuSMv-kayak-flights-hotels-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">it now has a GPT</a> for it instead. If you liked Wolfram's ChatGPT plugin, <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-0S5FXLyFN-wolfram" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">you'll probably like its GPT as well</a>. <a href="https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8988022-winding-down-the-chatgpt-plugins-beta" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">OpenAI says</a> while the plugins beta had just over 1,000 plugins to choose from, the GPT Store has hundreds of thousands of GPTs to use. While there is no doubt plenty of junk on the GPT Store to sift through, chances are you'll find GPTs you want to use. </p><p>If there was a particular plugin you loved, try searching on the GPT Store for it. (Kayak and Wolfram came right up.) Of course, the sheer number of GPTs on the store means the situation has changed considerably: Like other app stores, the GPT Store has "Featured" and "Trending" tabs for finding GPTs OpenAI and other ChatGPT users like. OpenAI is currently selling me on a <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-HZOCIptut-wine-sommelier" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">wine sommelier GPT</a>, as well as <a href="https://chat.openai.com/g/g-RR3RCyK8N-language-teacher-ms-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">a language teacher</a>.</p><p>Scroll through the GPT Store and see if any of the promoted options appeal to you. Then, make a search for applications you're looking for and see if any have already been made. You can get an idea of how well-liked the GPT is by the reviews and number of conversations it has been used for, similar to checking ratings on an app store. However, if you don't find what you're looking for in a search, you might want to try building the GPT yourself.</p><p>Of course, like all AI products, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-tell-when-an-artificial-intelligence-is-hallucin-1850280001" target="_blank">GPTs can hallucinate</a>. In other words, they sometimes just make things up. Don't take everything your GPT responds with as certified fact, even if it does have access to the web. If you're using the GPT for anything important, always fact check before using the information it provides. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  2790.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/why-openai-replaced-chatgpt-plugins-with-gpts</link>
  2791.      <dc:creator>Jake Peterson</dc:creator>
  2792.      <category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
  2793.    </item>
  2794.    <item>
  2795.      <title>iPhone Messages Has a Hidden Flight Tracker</title>
  2796.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1848205414</guid>
  2797.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2798.      <description>You can pull up real-time flight data without leaving the Messages app.</description>
  2799.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/hero-image.jpg"/>
  2800.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Busy airports and flight delays are expected parts of traveling, and both can cause major headaches. Apps can help you work around some of these issues, but if you use iMessage, you actually don&rsquo;t need an airline app, a flight tracking app, or even the ability to Google to figure out if your flight is running behind schedule. Your iPhone's Messages app has a built-in flight status tool that offers real-time information about departures, arrivals, gate changes, and baggage claim numbers. </p><p>Here&rsquo;s how to find your flight status without leaving the Messages app.  </p><h2>How to track flights in iMessage</h2><p>First, you&rsquo;ll need to have texted yourself or someone else your flight number via iMessage&mdash;not SMS&mdash;as the feature only works on and across Apple devices. That message must follow one of these formats:</p><ul><li><p>Airline + flight number: Delta Airlines 405</p></li><li><p>Airline abbreviation + flight number: DL 405</p></li><li><p>Airline abbreviation + flight number (no space): DL405</p></li></ul><p>(DeltaAirlines405 and DeltaAirlines 405 with no space or only on space may also work.)</p><p>The first option&mdash;with &ldquo;Airlines&rdquo; added to the company name&mdash;is your best bet across all airlines. Simply typing &ldquo;Delta 405" or &ldquo;JetBlue 101" is not enough to trigger the flight tracker. You&rsquo;ll know your format is correct if the text is underlined (indicating a hyperlink) once the message has been sent. </p><p>To track the flight, tap the underlined text to pull up a menu with two options. You can copy the flight code to your iPhone clipboard or select &ldquo;Preview Flight&rdquo; to view flight details. If the flight is active, you&rsquo;ll also see a real-time tracking map. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2801.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2802.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-3.fill.size_346x750.v1714624418.png" alt="imessage flight tracker preview" width="346" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-3.fill.size_800x1734.v1714624418.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-3.fill.size_1400x3035.v1714624418.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-3.fill.size_2000x4336.v1714624418.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2803.            </div>
  2804.            <div class="mt-2">
  2805.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2806.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Emily Long</span>
  2807.                    </div>
  2808.    </div>
  2809. <p>Tapping &ldquo;Preview Flight&rdquo; pulls up another window with more flight data, such as on-time status, departure and arrival times, duration, and gate and baggage claim information. Depending on the flight, you can also swipe to see stats for the same flight number on upcoming days. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  2810.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  2811.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-2.fill.size_346x750.v1714624417.png" alt="imessage flight tracker" width="346" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-2.fill.size_800x1734.v1714624417.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-2.fill.size_1400x3035.v1714624417.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFFK7ZBPRNM1FK9031KXZ/images-2.fill.size_2000x4336.v1714624417.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  2812.            </div>
  2813.            <div class="mt-2">
  2814.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  2815.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Emily Long</span>
  2816.                    </div>
  2817.    </div>
  2818. <p>Obviously, this is most useful for active or same-day itineraries, as flight numbers that are used infrequently may not have data available for your flight. If you don&rsquo;t see the underlined text in Messages when you send your airline name and flight number, check that the format is correct.  </p>]]></content:encoded>
  2819.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/how-to-use-the-hidden-flight-tracker-in-iphone-messages-1848205414</link>
  2820.      <dc:creator>Emily Long</dc:creator>
  2821.      <category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
  2822.    </item>
  2823.    <item>
  2824.      <title>The Google Pixel 7a, 7, and 7 Pro Are All at Their Lowest Prices Right Now</title>
  2825.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850974690</guid>
  2826.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2827.      <description>They might not be the newest Pixel phones, but they're still pretty dang good.</description>
  2828.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/hero-image.png"/>
  2829.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="https://lifehacker.com/google-pixel-8-pro-review-1850930355" target="_blank">Google Pixel 8</a> came out in October after a much-anticipated release, so it was only a matter of time before the Google Pixel 7 series dropped in price. That time is here. Amazon normally has the <a href="https://zdcs.link/2mRMe?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=128GB%20unlocked%20Google%20Pixel%207a&amp;short_url=2mRMe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">128GB unlocked Google Pixel 7a</a> for <strong>$349</strong> (originally $499.99), the <a href="https://zdcs.link/R24l7?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=128GB%20unlocked%20Google%20Pixel%207&amp;short_url=R24l7&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">128GB unlocked Google Pixel 7</a> for <strong>$399.99</strong> (originally $599), and the <a href="https://zdcs.link/AykG0?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=128GB%20unlocked%20Google%20Pixel%207%20Pro&amp;short_url=AykG0&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">128GB unlocked Google Pixel 7 Pro</a> for <strong>$479</strong> (originally $899). However, <a href="https://zdcs.link/nokpb?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Woot%20is%20having%20a%20sale%20on%20phones%20and%20accessories&amp;short_url=nokpb&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Woot is having a sale on phones and accessories</a> where you can find all three phones for cheaper, including the older <a href="https://zdcs.link/ZRnVK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Pixel%206a&amp;short_url=ZRnVK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Pixel 6a</a> for <strong>$259.99</strong> (originally $349). A great budget option for a great phone (I'm still using mine today).</p><p>All three Google Pixel phones are at their lowest price ever, according to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-price-tracking-tools-1692745053" target="_blank">price comparison tools</a>. For reference, the 7 Pro hit $512 on March 28, which was then the record-low price. Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it&rsquo;ll be $6 to ship.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2830.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F5MJvj&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Google+Pixel+7+Pro+%28512GB%29+%28Unlocked%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F5MJvj" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Google Pixel 7 Pro (512GB) (Unlocked)">
  2831.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2832.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2833.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Google Pixel 7 Pro (512GB) (Unlocked)
  2834.                </div>
  2835.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">6.7" display fully unlocked 512GB
  2836.                    </div>
  2837.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2838.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2839.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2840.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2841.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$499.99</span>
  2842.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  2843.                    </div>
  2844.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2845.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,099.99</span>
  2846.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $600.00</span>
  2847.        </div>
  2848.    </div>
  2849.                            </div>
  2850.                        </div>
  2851.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2852.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2853.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2854.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2855.    </div>
  2856. </div>
  2857.                        </div>
  2858.                                    </div>
  2859.            </div>
  2860.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2861.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/images-1.fill.size_245x184.v1714664921.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 7 Pro (512GB) (Unlocked)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2862.                            </div>
  2863.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2864.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/images-1.fill.size_245x184.v1714664921.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 7 Pro (512GB) (Unlocked)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2865.                            </div>
  2866.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2867.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2868.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2869.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2870.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2871.    </div>
  2872. </div>
  2873.                    </div>
  2874.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2875.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2876.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2877.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$499.99</span>
  2878.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  2879.                    </div>
  2880.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2881.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,099.99</span>
  2882.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $600.00</span>
  2883.        </div>
  2884.    </div>
  2885.                    </div>
  2886.                            </div>
  2887.        </div>
  2888. </a></div>
  2889. <p>The main difference between the 7 and the Pro is that with the 7 Pro, you get a better camera, a superior Super Res Zoom, and a larger display with a slightly better refresh rate. Both phones give you a 50MP wide camera and one 12MP ultrawide, but the Pro has a better field of view and a 48MP telephoto camera. You can read more about the difference in our <a href="https://lifehacker.com/is-the-pixel-7-pro-worth-300-more-than-the-pixel-7-1849624470" target="_blank">breakdown here</a>.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2890.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FAd1Gp&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Google+Pixel+7+%28128GB%29+%28Unlocked%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FAd1Gp" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Google Pixel 7 (128GB) (Unlocked)">
  2891.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2892.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2893.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Google Pixel 7 (128GB) (Unlocked)
  2894.                </div>
  2895.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">6.3" display, fully unlocked, 128GB.
  2896.                    </div>
  2897.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2898.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2899.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2900.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2901.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$359.99</span>
  2902.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  2903.                    </div>
  2904.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2905.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$599.99</span>
  2906.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $240.00</span>
  2907.        </div>
  2908.    </div>
  2909.                            </div>
  2910.                        </div>
  2911.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2912.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2913.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2914.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2915.    </div>
  2916. </div>
  2917.                        </div>
  2918.                                    </div>
  2919.            </div>
  2920.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2921.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/images-2.fill.size_245x184.v1714664921.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 7 (128GB) (Unlocked)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2922.                            </div>
  2923.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2924.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/images-2.fill.size_245x184.v1714664921.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 7 (128GB) (Unlocked)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2925.                            </div>
  2926.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2927.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2928.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2929.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2930.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2931.    </div>
  2932. </div>
  2933.                    </div>
  2934.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2935.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2936.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2937.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$359.99</span>
  2938.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  2939.                    </div>
  2940.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2941.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$599.99</span>
  2942.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $240.00</span>
  2943.        </div>
  2944.    </div>
  2945.                    </div>
  2946.                            </div>
  2947.        </div>
  2948. </a></div>
  2949. <p>The Google Pixel 7 is still an &ldquo;outstanding phone," <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-pixel-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">according to PCMag&rsquo;s review</a>. It was deemed the best Android phone for its price and the most affordable flagship phone. If you prioritize long battery life, the Pixel 7 has a slight advantage with two more hours than the Pixel 7 Pro, with up to 12 hours and 10 minutes. The Pixel 7 Pro got an <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-pixel-7-pro" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">"excellent" review </a>from PCMag. </p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  2950.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FmVkRq&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Google+Pixel+7a+%28128GB%29+%28Unlocked%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FmVkRq" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Google Pixel 7a (128GB) (Unlocked)">
  2951.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  2952.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  2953.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Google Pixel 7a (128GB) (Unlocked)
  2954.                </div>
  2955.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">6.1" display, fully unlocked, 128GB.
  2956.                    </div>
  2957.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  2958.                                            <div class="self-end">
  2959.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2960.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2961.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$339.99</span>
  2962.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  2963.                    </div>
  2964.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  2965.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$499.00</span>
  2966.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $159.01</span>
  2967.        </div>
  2968.    </div>
  2969.                            </div>
  2970.                        </div>
  2971.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  2972.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2973.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2974.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2975.    </div>
  2976. </div>
  2977.                        </div>
  2978.                                    </div>
  2979.            </div>
  2980.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  2981.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/images-3.fill.size_245x184.v1714664921.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 7a (128GB) (Unlocked)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2982.                            </div>
  2983.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  2984.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2H5C4DQQVRW4WMQ45MJ5ED/images-3.fill.size_245x184.v1714664921.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 7a (128GB) (Unlocked)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  2985.                            </div>
  2986.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  2987.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  2988.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  2989.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  2990.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  2991.    </div>
  2992. </div>
  2993.                    </div>
  2994.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  2995.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  2996.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  2997.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$339.99</span>
  2998.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  2999.                    </div>
  3000.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3001.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$499.00</span>
  3002.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $159.01</span>
  3003.        </div>
  3004.    </div>
  3005.                    </div>
  3006.                            </div>
  3007.        </div>
  3008. </a></div>
  3009. <p>The Pixel 7a has a similar metal-framed design to the Pixel 7, but it is slightly smaller and lighter, with a 6.1-inch screen over the Pixel 7's 6.3. The back is also made out of a glossy plastic back instead of the more premium feel from the Pixel 7's Gorilla Glass Victus material. The cameras are different, but <a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-pixel-7-vs-pixel-7a-camera-test-comparison/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">there isn't a clear "better" one</a>. </p><p>Users shopping for a high-end Android phone for an affordable price should take a serious look at either of these Pixel phones. All three will be covered by <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/january-pixel-security-update" target="_blank">Google's ongoing security updates</a> and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/whats-new-january-pixel-features-drop" target="_blank">Pixel feature updates</a> for years to come. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  3010.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/google-pixel-7-deal</link>
  3011.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  3012.      <category><![CDATA[Android]]></category>
  3013.    </item>
  3014.    <item>
  3015.      <title>Make Apple Notes Better by Changing These Eight Settings</title>
  3016.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB</guid>
  3017.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 18:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3018.      <description>Every note doesn't have to begin with a giant title.</description>
  3019.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3020.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-use-apple-notes-to-have-secret-chats-with-others-1849112538" target="_blank">Apple Notes is a great app</a> for jotting your thoughts down. It ships with your <a href="https://lifehacker.com/45-of-lifehackers-favorite-iphone-hacks-of-2022-1849920815" target="_blank">iPhone</a>, reliably syncs across Apple devices, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/9-of-the-best-but-hidden-notes-app-features-on-your-i-1850076909" target="_blank">has great features</a> like sharing, and best of all&mdash;it's free. Even so, there are a number of easy ways to improve the app you might not know about.</p><h2>Not every note needs a title</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3021.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3022.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to change how new notes begin." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3023.            </div>
  3024.            <div class="mt-2">
  3025.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3026.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3027.                    </div>
  3028.    </div>
  3029. <p>By default, the first line in each of your notes is automatically in title formatting, which means it'll be bold and use a large font size. Some people love this, but if you'd rather use a different font size, go to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes &gt; New Notes Start With</strong>. Instead of a title, you can choose to start your notes off with a <strong>Heading</strong>, <strong>Subheading</strong>, or <strong>Body </strong>text. For normal sized words, Body is the right option. The other two settings let you retain a title at the start of each note, but with a smaller font size when compared to the default.</p><h2>Change how checklists are sorted</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3030.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3031.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to automatically sort checklists." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3032.            </div>
  3033.            <div class="mt-2">
  3034.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3035.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3036.                    </div>
  3037.    </div>
  3038. <p>You can use Apple Notes to make checklists, which are great if you use the app to create shared to-do lists or shopping lists. By default, when you check an item off in these lists, Notes will keep it in place. Some people like it when completed items are moved to the bottom of lists, which you can set by going to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes &gt; Sort Ticked Items</strong>, and selecting <strong>Automatically</strong>.</p><h2>Use a different background color</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3039.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3040.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to change the background color." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-3.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3041.            </div>
  3042.            <div class="mt-2">
  3043.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3044.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3045.                    </div>
  3046.    </div>
  3047. <p>Apple doesn't allow you to choose a custom background color for Notes, but you still have a couple of options. If your phone is in <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-enable-dark-mode-in-ios-and-android-1841770858" target="_blank">dark mode</a>, you can still force notes to use a white background. This is great for people who prefer dark mode in general, but find it easier to read text against a white background. Make this adjustment by going to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes &gt; Note Backgrounds</strong> and selecting <strong>Light</strong>. This option doesn't appear at all if you use light mode on your phone&mdash;it's only for people who've enabled dark mode.</p><h2>Pick lines or grids for handwriting</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3048.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3049.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to use grids for handwriting." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-4.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-4.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3050.            </div>
  3051.            <div class="mt-2">
  3052.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3053.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3054.                    </div>
  3055.    </div>
  3056. <p>Apple Notes lets you use a stylus to handwrite your notes, but the default setting shows you a blank page when you start writing. If you're the kind of person who prefers a ruled notebook, go to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes &gt; Lines &amp; Grids</strong> and take your pick.&nbsp;</p><h2>Make sorting work for you</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3057.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3058.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to sort notes differently." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-5.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-5.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3059.            </div>
  3060.            <div class="mt-2">
  3061.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3062.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3063.                    </div>
  3064.    </div>
  3065. <p>Apple Notes' default sorting options are good, but you can still make changes if you'd prefer something else. Go to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes</strong> and scroll down to the <strong>Viewing</strong> section. If you don't like your notes grouped by date, you can disable that option, although I don't recommend it. You can also select <strong>Sort Notes By</strong> and choose <strong>Date Created</strong> or <strong>Title</strong>. The former will stop reordering notes every time you make a change to an older note, while the latter will sort your notes alphabetically.</p><h2>View your notes as a gallery</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3066.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3067.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-6.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to view notes as a gallery." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-6.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-6.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-6.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3068.            </div>
  3069.            <div class="mt-2">
  3070.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3071.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3072.                    </div>
  3073.    </div>
  3074. <p>If you're tired of viewing notes as a text-based list, you can switch to a gallery view. Some people find the gallery view easier to skim through and others like it because it's aesthetically pleasing. Make the switch by opening the Notes app on your iPhone and tapping the <strong>three-dots</strong> icon in the top-right corner. Select <strong>View as Gallery</strong> to switch.&nbsp;</p><h2>Keep some notes on your iPhone</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3075.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3076.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to use an offline notes account." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-7.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-7.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3077.            </div>
  3078.            <div class="mt-2">
  3079.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3080.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3081.                    </div>
  3082.    </div>
  3083. <p>You likely keep all your notes tied to your accounts in the cloud, which is convenient when jumping between devices. But if you'd rather keep some notes on one device specifically&mdash;say, your iPhone&mdash;you can do that. Go to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes</strong> and enable <strong>"On My iPhone" Account</strong>. This will show a new folder in Apple Notes: Notes in this folder won't appear on other devices. However, if you have Notes enabled for iCloud, this folder will be included in an iCloud backup of your iPhone. </p><h2>Embrace notes wherever you are</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3084.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3085.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Apple Notes settings, showing the option to tweak lock screen notes." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-8.fill.size_800x450.v1714655390.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-8.fill.size_1400x788.v1714655390.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWP08MMCZQNQYQMWWHXKJAB/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714655390.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3086.            </div>
  3087.            <div class="mt-2">
  3088.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3089.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3090.                    </div>
  3091.    </div>
  3092. <p>Your iPhone lets you access notes from wherever you happen to be on your iPhone, including the Lock Screen, if you add the app toI Control Center. Just go to <strong>Settings &gt; Control Center</strong> and add <strong>Notes</strong>. Now, when you open the app from the Control Center, it'll automatically open a new note. You can also make the app open your most recent note instead. To do this, go to <strong>Settings &gt; Notes &gt; Access Notes from Lock Screen</strong> and select <strong>Resume Last Note</strong>.</p><hr><p>In the market for a new iPhone? Check out these latest options:</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/6Xe1k?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=iPhone%2015&amp;short_url=6Xe1k&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">iPhone 15</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/pgw0Z?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=iPhone%2015%20Plus&amp;short_url=pgw0Z&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">iPhone 15 Plus</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/5MJPN?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=iPhone%2015%20Pro&amp;short_url=5MJPN&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">iPhone 15 Pro</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/KJ1rG?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=iPhone%2015%20Pro%20Max&amp;short_url=KJ1rG&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">iPhone 15 Pro Max </a></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  3093.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/make-apple-notes-better-by-changing-these-settings</link>
  3094.      <dc:creator>Pranay Parab</dc:creator>
  3095.      <category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
  3096.    </item>
  3097.    <item>
  3098.      <title>How to Outsmart Your Hotel Room TV and Use Its HDMI Ports for Anything You Want</title>
  3099.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1841694937</guid>
  3100.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3101.      <description>Your hotel TV might not be as locked down as it seems.</description>
  3102.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HFCS8T42XDW1ERF7CNQBE/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3103.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hotels can be stingy about what guests are allowed to do with their TVs. If you try to plug your own device into your room&rsquo;s TV to watch your own content, odds are good that nothing will happen. Hotel TVs are usually plugged into external boxes that track the TVs' activity and control which channels, apps, and TV features can be used by guests. These boxes are what prevent you from using the HDMI ports, but they can be easily circumvented.</p><p>A while back, <a href="https://deviating.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">social media user Deviant Ollam</a> shared some steps on how to disable &ldquo;hotel mode&rdquo; on some TVs. We&rsquo;ll go over those steps below, as well as some additional steps you can take if that solution doesn&rsquo;t work out.</p><h2>How to bypass hotel restrictions on some TVs</h2><p>Most modern hotels run a combination of different restrictions on their TVs, most of which are usually controlled by a coaxial or ethernet cable. There are various reasons for this, but it mostly comes down to controlling bandwidth and trying to make a little more money off you by tracking what you do on the TV. You can bypass all of that, though, by unplugging the cable controlling the restrictions. </p><p>Before doing this, keep in mind that the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/24hoursupport/comments/adolb8/comment/edj2rs6/?context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">hotel may have an alarm</a> connected to this cable, which will alert them that you&rsquo;ve removed it. If that happens, you could be warned not to mess with the TV and its cables, or you could be fined, depending on the hotel. Knowing that, if you want to continue, follow these steps:</p><ol><li><p>Look for a data cable plugged into the back or side of your room&rsquo;s TV. The port resembles a phone or small ethernet cable plug, and the cable should be connected to a breakout box nearby. The cable may also be a standard coaxial cable, which you'll need to unscrew.</p></li><li><p>(Gently) pull out or unscrew the cable. If it's an ethernet cable, look for a small&mdash;and very fragile&mdash;plastic tab you'll need to hold down to take it out. Make sure you don&rsquo;t damage it, as you&rsquo;ll need to plug the cable back in before you check out.</p></li><li><p>Turn the TV off and on again, and you should be able to use the HDMI input.</p></li></ol><p>Ollam notes this little trick may disable the TV&rsquo;s remote in some instances. You should still be able to use the buttons on the TV to swap the inputs and adjust the volume. If this solution doesn&rsquo;t work, then there might be another issue at play here.</p><h2>How to turn off &lsquo;hotel mode'</h2><p>Some hotels will also use a special functionality on their TVs called &ldquo;hotel mode.&rdquo; When activated, it essentially blocks input changes, forcing you to use whatever services the hotel offers. Depending on the brand the hotel uses, disabling &ldquo;hotel mode&rdquo; can be simple. Here are a few methods for popular brands that we&rsquo;ve seen in most hotels:</p><h3>HiSense</h3><p>To turn off hotel mode on a Hisense TV:</p><ol><li><p>Press <strong>Menu</strong> on the remote and select the <strong>Lock</strong> tab. </p></li><li><p>You&rsquo;ll be asked to put in a PIN code. The default is usually <strong>0000</strong>. If it doesn&rsquo;t work, then the hotel changed the PIN, and there isn&rsquo;t any way to continue. If you do get through, tap the <strong>Hotel</strong> <strong>Mode</strong> option to turn it off.</p></li></ol><h3>LG</h3><p>If your hotel has an LG TV:</p><ol><li><p> Hold down <strong>Settings</strong> on the remote until the <strong>Input</strong> banner pops up. This should show options like HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc. You do not need the All Settings menu, so you&rsquo;ll need to hold the button until the inputs appear.</p></li><li><p>Now, type in the code <strong>1105</strong> and hit <strong>OK</strong>. Depending on the exact model, you may need to use different codes. Some recommended codes include <strong>0000</strong>, <strong>7777</strong>, <strong>0413</strong>, <strong>8741</strong>, <strong>8743</strong>, and <strong>8878</strong>, according to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT3FjRpkfjA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Pointer Clicker</a>. Inputting the correct code should put you in the Hotel Mode menu.</p></li><li><p>Switch <strong>Hotel</strong> <strong>Mode</strong> to <strong>off</strong> to disable it.</p></li></ol><h3>Samsung</h3><p>Depending on the type of remote a Samsung TV has, unlocking it and disabling hotel mode may be more difficult. If your remote does not have number buttons, download a third-party remote app from your phone's app store (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smartthings/id1222822904" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Samsung's official SmartThings app is the most reliable</a>), connect it to the TV, and follow the steps below:</p><ol><li><p>Press <strong>Mute </strong>on the remote, enter <strong>119</strong>, and press <strong>OK</strong>. This should bring up the service menu.</p></li><li><p>Find <strong>Hospitality</strong> <strong>Mode</strong> and disable it to unlock the TV. </p></li></ol><h2>How to unlock inputs on hotel TVs</h2><p>Another popular way that hotels control how you use their TVs is by locking the inputs and making it impossible for you to plug in your own devices. When this happens, you can plug in your device, but you might not be able to swap to its input, or it might not show up. Depending on the model of the TV, you can actually bypass these settings by following a few steps.</p><h3>TCL</h3><p>On TCL TVs, first access the <strong>Settings</strong> menu by pressing <strong>Settings</strong> on the remote.</p><ol><li><p>From here, select <strong>System</strong> and then <strong>Parental</strong> <strong>Controls</strong>.</p></li><li><p>You&rsquo;ll likely be asked for a PIN code. The default on TCL TVs is <strong>1234</strong>. If it doesn&rsquo;t work, then the hotel has set a customized PIN, and there isn&rsquo;t much you can do beyond trying to reset the code, which might get you in trouble with the hotel.</p></li></ol><p>If the PIN does work, though, you can select <strong>Inputs Lock</strong> and then unlock the input you want to use.</p><h3>LG</h3><p>To unlock inputs on an LG TV, start by accessing <strong>Settings</strong> by pressing <strong>Settings</strong> on the remote:</p><ol><li><p>Choose <strong>All</strong> <strong>Settings</strong>, then navigate to <strong>General</strong> and <strong>System</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Select <strong>Safety</strong> from the list and then choose <strong>Input</strong> <strong>Locks</strong>.</p></li><li><p>You&rsquo;ll be asked for a PIN code: The default on LG TVs is usually <strong>0000</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Now, toggle the locks for the input that you plan to use. </p></li></ol><h3>Sony</h3><p>Unlock the inputs on Sony TVs by first opening the <strong>Settings</strong> menu through the remote:</p><ol><li><p>Now, select <strong>System</strong> and then <strong>Parental</strong> <strong>Controls</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Enter in the PIN when asked. The default is usually <strong>0000</strong>. </p></li><li><p>Select <strong>External Input</strong> <strong>Block</strong> after entering the PIN and unlock the input you plan to use.</p></li></ol><p>If the TV your hotel uses isn&rsquo;t listed here, try googling the specific brand and model to see if there are detailed instructions available for resetting the PIN or unlocking the inputs. However, the steps listed above should cover most major hotels.</p><p>As a final note, remember that tinkering with the hotel&rsquo;s TV could get you into trouble with the hotel, and you should only do so at your own risk. It&rsquo;s unfortunate, but hotels can be rather picky about what you do with their TVs and may charge you for messing around with their settings. If you do unplug anything, be sure to plug it back in before leaving, so that the next guest is able to use the TV.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3104.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/how-to-outsmart-your-hotel-room-tv-and-use-its-hdmi-por-1841694937</link>
  3105.      <dc:creator>Brendan Hesse</dc:creator>
  3106.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  3107.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  3108.    </item>
  3109.    <item>
  3110.      <title>The Seven Best Ways to Organize Notes in Google Keep</title>
  3111.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT</guid>
  3112.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 17:30:02 +0000</pubDate>
  3113.      <description>You can keep your digital sticky notes from descending into chaos.</description>
  3114.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3115.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Notetaking Jedis know the power of organization. Creating a system for your Google Keep notes isn't any different, even if the sticky notes app doesn't have an obvious tier of folders and sub-folders. Google Keep is deliberately minimal, but there are enough tips and tricks you can combine to stop yourself from drowning in a sea of digital sticky notes.</p><h2>Seven tips for organizing Google Keep</h2><p>It's important to set up a system before the sea of notes starts overwhelming you, but you can do this retroactively, too. Start by discarding notes you no longer need and shifting the relatively vital notes to more permanent places. For instance, a shopping list isn't a permanent note, but a list of contact numbers might be. Next, begin by creating a scheme or rules (that works for you) with these features in Keep.</p><h3>Color code your notes with colors and backgrounds</h3><p>Since Google Keep doesn't have folders, use colors and background options instead. I suggest you reserve the darker peach color for urgent tasks or notes. There are specific background patterns for groceries, recipes, places, travel, etc. You can drag the notes around and arrange them by color.</p><p>If you use Google Keep for tracking projects, specific colors can help you <a href="https://lifehacker.com/track-your-work-with-the-kanban-method-1850721028" target="_blank">design a Kanban board</a> too.</p><p><strong>Tip:</strong> <a href="https://lifehacker.com/use-a-kanban-to-delegate-and-track-family-chores-1797032196" target="_blank">Tracking family chores with a Kanban board</a> is absolutely doable with Google Keep's checklists and collaboration options.</p><h3>Embrace labels to tag your notes</h3><p>You can think of labels as "folder names," so give your Google Keep labeling system a lot of thought. Tag related notes with labels. Any note can have more than one label, so you can connect related notes. The "/" or "|" could be a clever way of visualizing related notes with different labels.</p><p>For instance, notes can have a primary label like "Personal Development." Then, you can create separate related notes with labels like "Personal Development/Health,"; "Personal Development/Nutrition,"; "Personal Development/Projects," etc. You can also add labels with a "#" (hashtag).</p><p>You can use a similar labeling system to keep a note private while sharing a related one with a collaborator.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3116.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3117.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-2.fill.size_2000x969.v1714660212.jpg" alt="Add Labels to Google Keep" width="2000" height="969" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-2.fill.size_800x388.v1714660212.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-2.fill.size_1400x679.v1714660212.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-2.fill.size_2000x969.v1714660212.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3118.            </div>
  3119.            <div class="mt-2">
  3120.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3121.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Saikat Basu</span>
  3122.                    </div>
  3123.    </div>
  3124. <p>Think about your labels with care, as Google Keep allows a maximum of 50 labels.</p><h3>Number your labels</h3><p>The heart of Google Keep's organization lies in the labeling system. Though you cannot organize labels by dragging and dropping them, you can use numbers to force them in the order you want.</p><p>Add a number to the label names in the order you use them. So, if it's "Work," then "1 - Work" will push this label to the top, followed by any label you number with a "2"... and so on.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3125.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3126.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-3.fill.size_2000x946.v1714660212.jpg" alt="Ordering labels in Google Keep by numbering them" width="2000" height="946" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-3.fill.size_800x378.v1714660212.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-3.fill.size_1400x662.v1714660212.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-3.fill.size_2000x946.v1714660212.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3127.            </div>
  3128.            <div class="mt-2">
  3129.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3130.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Saikat Basu</span>
  3131.                    </div>
  3132.    </div>
  3133. <h3>Make notes (and labels) more visual with emojis</h3><p>Don't let the lack of formatting options deter you from creating visual notes. You can insert all sorts of emojis and symbols in Google Keep. Inserting the right emoji in a note is easy on the desktop too, with the <strong>Windows +</strong> keyboard shortcut that opens the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-shortcuts-for-using-gifs-and-emojis-on-your-co-1848684883" target="_blank">emoji keyboard</a>.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3134.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3135.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-4.fill.size_2000x1004.v1714660212.jpg" alt="Make Google Keep visually pleasing with emojis" width="2000" height="1004" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-4.fill.size_800x402.v1714660212.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-4.fill.size_1400x703.v1714660212.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-4.fill.size_2000x1004.v1714660212.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3136.            </div>
  3137.            <div class="mt-2">
  3138.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3139.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Saikat Basu</span>
  3140.                    </div>
  3141.    </div>
  3142. <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Insert emojis in your labels and make your Google Keep sidebar look fun.</p><h3>Pin only the important notes on the top</h3><p>Pin the notes that are absolutely necessary&mdash;ideally, limit the pinned notes to a number that doesn't make you scroll. My iOS screen lets me see four to five notes at a glance in the Tile view. I usually pin notes that are reminders or timely, like a shopping list. </p><h3>Use reminders to clean up</h3><p>Reminders are a great way to ensure that you don't forget important tasks or deadlines. You can also set reminders for recurring daily or weekly tasks. But why not also use reminders to clean up the notes you no longer need?</p><p>Choose a time in the future to review a specific note. If it's no longer useful, trash it.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3143.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3144.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-5.fill.size_2000x1005.v1714660212.jpg" alt="Google Keep Reminders" width="2000" height="1005" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-5.fill.size_800x402.v1714660212.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-5.fill.size_1400x703.v1714660212.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-5.fill.size_2000x1005.v1714660212.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3145.            </div>
  3146.            <div class="mt-2">
  3147.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3148.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Saikat Basu</span>
  3149.                    </div>
  3150.    </div>
  3151. <h3>Archive notes for a cleaner home view</h3><p>One of the problems with Google Keep is that all your notes show up on the home screen, even if you've labeled them. This clutter can be overwhelming when you have a lot of notes.</p><p>A nice tip from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmsCIDUI6B8" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Simpletivity</a> YouTube channel suggests using the archive feature to clean things up. You can archive all your notes as long as they are labeled properly. They will still be searchable and editable, but they won't clutter up your home screen anymore. You can unarchive any note at any time.</p><p>You can then display only the critical pinned notes on the home view.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3152.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3153.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-6.fill.size_2000x970.v1714660212.jpg" alt="Archive all Google Keep notes for a decluttered view" width="2000" height="970" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-6.fill.size_800x388.v1714660212.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-6.fill.size_1400x679.v1714660212.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCZWPG7KTMDB4DVVQSGKT/images-6.fill.size_2000x970.v1714660212.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3154.            </div>
  3155.            <div class="mt-2">
  3156.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3157.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Saikat Basu</span>
  3158.                    </div>
  3159.    </div>
  3160. <p><strong>Tip</strong>: Google Keep has a powerful search with several filters too. It can look through your pile and find notes by <strong>Types</strong>, <strong>Labels</strong>, <strong>Things</strong>, and <strong>Colors</strong>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3161.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/best-ways-to-organize-notes-in-google-keep</link>
  3162.      <dc:creator>Saikat Basu</dc:creator>
  3163.      <category><![CDATA[Internet]]></category>
  3164.    </item>
  3165.    <item>
  3166.      <title>How to Use Chromecast for Videos and Audio</title>
  3167.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7</guid>
  3168.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3169.      <description>The streaming tech is simple to use and widely available.</description>
  3170.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3171.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you want to get a movie or TV show up on a big screen, or beam music wirelessly to a speaker, then the Chromecast standard is one of the best ways to go about it: It couldn't be much simpler to use, it works across a host of devices and apps, and you can even use it to mirror browser tabs and Android screens.</p><p>Here's everything you need to know about the Chromecast technology developed by Google, and the Google Cast protocol that underpins it&mdash;from the steps needed to set it up, to the TV models that support it natively, and everything in between.</p><h2>What is Chromecast?</h2><p>Technically speaking, a Chromecast is a physical piece of hardware that you can beam video and audio to wirelessly&mdash;something like the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-settings-to-try-on-your-chromecast-with-google-1845534700" target="_blank">Chromecast with Google TV</a>, for example. However, the term is also commonly used to refer to the wireless streaming process itself, in part because a lot of devices now have Chromecast capabilities built in, with no dongle required (smart TVs from Sony, for instance, and the Google Nest Hubs).</p><p>The technology underpinning Chromecast devices is <a href="https://support.google.com/chromecastbuiltin/answer/6102923" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Google Cast</a>, a protocol or set of standards developed by Google that tells devices how to communicate with each other and with the web. As long as the device you're sending content from supports Google Cast, and the device you're sending content <em>to</em> supports Google Cast, you've got yourself a working Chromecast setup.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3172.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3173.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg" alt="Google TV" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714651326.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714651326.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3174.            </div>
  3175.            <div class="mt-2">
  3176.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Any TV running Google TV will also work as a Chromecast.</span>
  3177.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Google</span>
  3178.                    </div>
  3179.    </div>
  3180. <p>Both the sending and receiving device have to be on the same wifi network, and once you tap the cast button, here's what happens: The sending device (your phone, for example) speaks to the receiving device (your TV, for example), and tells it where on the internet it can find the video you're watching, or the audio you're listening to. That file is then streamed to the receiving device from the web, though you can still control playback from the original device you started with.</p><p>So if you're using a phone and Chromecast-enabled TV together to watch a movie, the movie isn't being streamed from the phone to the television&mdash;the phone is just telling the TV which particular movie stream it needs to connect to, and where you're up to in it. That means there's no heavy lifting for your phone to do in terms of processing or transmitting, and it keeps congestion down on your network, too.</p><h2>Devices with Chromecast support</h2><p>When it comes to Android phones and tablets, you can mirror whatever's on the display to any Chromecast device, as well as sending content from specific apps. Just about every media app, from Pocket Casts to Prime Video to Tidal, will have a cast button somewhere in the interface you can use.</p><p>On iPhones and iPads, there's no Chromecast support for screen mirroring as there is on Android, but you will find the cast button in most media apps like Netflix and Spotify. The only exceptions are Apple's own apps, like Apple TV and Apple Music (though you can cast from Apple Music on Android). </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3181.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3182.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg" alt="Spotify app" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714651326.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714651326.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3183.            </div>
  3184.            <div class="mt-2">
  3185.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Spotify can connect to Chromecast devices via Google Cast.</span>
  3186.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  3187.                    </div>
  3188.    </div>
  3189. <p>Chromecast functionality is built right into Google Chrome as well: That means you can get the Lifehacker website, a Google Slides presentation, or anything else you've got open in a browser tab up on a bigger screen&mdash;though in this scenario, the sending and receiving devices communicate directly, so it's not really fast enough to handle video and audio streams. It works on every platform you can run Chrome on.</p><p>A lot of web apps can stream to Chromecast devices in the usual way&mdash;by sharing the specific content link for a seamless switchover&mdash;as long as you open them in Chrome. The likes of YouTube, Disney Plus, Plex, Spotify, and many others will all show a Chromecast button somewhere on the interface if they're running in the Chrome browser.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3190.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3191.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg" alt="Google Chrome casting" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714651326.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-3.fill.size_1400x788.v1714651326.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3192.            </div>
  3193.            <div class="mt-2">
  3194.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Casting from Plex running in the Chrome browser.</span>
  3195.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  3196.                    </div>
  3197.    </div>
  3198. <p>When it comes to devices that can receive Chromecast links, then obviously you've got the Chromecast dongles to start with. What's more, any TV running Android TV or Google TV will work as a Chromecast, no extra hardware required: Television sets from companies including Sony, Philips, Sharp, and Vizio are included, and Google has more information <a href="https://www.google.com/chromecast/built-in/tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">on compatible sets here</a>.</p><p>Chromecast works with Google's range of Nest smart speakers, and if you've got a Nest smart display, then you can beam over video and Chrome browser tabs as well as audio. If you really want to, you can edit a Google Doc on your Nest Home Hub&mdash;which is impractical, but shows you how versatile the Chromecast standard can be.</p><h2>How to Chromecast</h2><p>If you're starting with a phone or tablet that you want to send content from, find the cast button in the app&mdash;it looks like a rectangle with three concentric arcs in the lower left corner (though Spotify goes its own way with an icon that looks like a speaker in front of a screen). It'll usually be somewhere on the "now playing" screen. You'll see the same button on a lot of video and audio web apps as well, if they're opened in Chrome.</p><p>If you're casting from the Chrome web browser, it's always best to use the cast button on the website itself, if it's showing. If not, click the three dots (top right), then choose <strong>Save and share</strong> then <strong>Cast</strong> to send whatever's in the current tab over to a Chromecast device. You can carry on using Chrome as normal, but the tab will be mirrored on the other screen.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3199.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3200.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg" alt="Pixel Android" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-4.fill.size_800x450.v1714651326.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-4.fill.size_1400x788.v1714651326.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWJXSQPGKEWT3JAM008T8P7/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714651326.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3201.            </div>
  3202.            <div class="mt-2">
  3203.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">Google Cast is built right into Android Pixel phones.</span>
  3204.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Lifehacker</span>
  3205.                    </div>
  3206.    </div>
  3207. <p>To mirror the screen of an Android Pixel device, open Settings and choose <strong>Connected devices</strong>, <strong>Connection preferences</strong>, and <strong>Cast</strong>. On any other Android device, you can use the Google Home app to do the same job: Tap the relevant Chromecast device on the <strong>Devices</strong> tab, then choose <strong>Cast my screen</strong>.</p><p>Once Google Cast has been initiated, a list of Chromecast-compatible devices on the same wifi network appears: Just tap on the one you want to use. After a few moments, the connection is established. You can carry on using the original device, whether it's a phone app or a browser tab, to control what's happening on the other screen (so your phone can become a remote for your TV, for example).</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3208.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-use-chromecast</link>
  3209.      <dc:creator>David Nield</dc:creator>
  3210.      <category><![CDATA[Hardware]]></category>
  3211.    </item>
  3212.    <item>
  3213.      <title>Make Quick and Easy Blueberry Muffins From Boxed Pancake Mix</title>
  3214.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWWVCYR72HP3NS3T5TYR3MFN</guid>
  3215.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3216.      <description>If you want delicious muffins but you're all out of eggs, boxed pancake mix is here to help.</description>
  3217.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCYR72HP3NS3T5TYR3MFN/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3218.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It may not come as a surprise that there&rsquo;s yet another scrumptious morsel you can easily whip up with the help of boxed pancake mix. This malty, self-rising baking mix makes an excellent frying <a href="https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/easy-frying-batter-pancake-mix" target="_blank"><u>batter for veggies</u></a> and a perfect dough for <a href="https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/the-easiest-apple-fritter-recipe" target="_blank"><u>apple fritters</u></a> (among other <a href="https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/the-best-pancake-mix-recipes" target="_blank"><u>tempting carb-laden snacks</u></a>). With both sweet and savory applications, complete pancake mix can do no wrong. Let&rsquo;s add another one to the list of Boxed Mix Greatest Hits: quick and easy blueberry muffins.</p><p>Most cakes and quick breads contain similar ingredients&mdash;flour, leavening agent, sugar, salt, fat, and eggs&mdash;just in different proportions. Baking from scratch comes easy to some, and they&rsquo;re the folks who might find boxed pancake mix a veritable baking scam. It&rsquo;s premixed dry ingredients (and sometimes even dry egg powder), so why not do it yourself? To that I say: Precisely! </p><p>Complete pancake mix is already pre-measured and combined, so all you have to do is mess with the proportions a bit and add some liquid to make the type of quick bread you want. Less time spent pulling six different containers out of the pantry, fewer measuring utensils, and an easier cleanup.&nbsp;Plus, sometimes you're just plum outta eggs. </p><hr><h3>Even boxed-mix baking can be easier with the right tools:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/LbZ74?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=OXO%20Stainless%20Steel%209-inch%20Whisk&amp;short_url=LbZ74&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>OXO Stainless Steel 9-inch Whisk</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/yLlre?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Wilton%206-cup%20Cupcake%20Pan&amp;short_url=yLlre&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Wilton 6-cup Cupcake Pan</u></a></p></li></ul><hr><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3219.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FVIKING-Culinary-Stainless-Non-slip-Dishwasher%2Fdp%2FB09Q1LJGK6%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B09Q1LJGK6%2F&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Viking+Culinary+Stainless+Steel+Mixing+Bowl+Set&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01IZlkq7GOigHOvDIEr28xu&amp;offer_uuid=02qK6h8Q7XjJuKH1iChnATV&amp;object_type=02qK6h8Q7XjJuKH1iChnATV&amp;object_uuid=01IZlkq7GOigHOvDIEr28xu" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Viking Culinary Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set">
  3220.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3221.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3222.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Viking Culinary Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set
  3223.                </div>
  3224.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Nesting set of mixing bowls with non-slip bottoms.
  3225.                    </div>
  3226.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3227.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3228.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3229.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3230.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$49.99</span>
  3231.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3232.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3233.            </div>
  3234.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3235.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$59.99</span>
  3236.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $10.00</span>
  3237.        </div>
  3238.    </div>
  3239.                            </div>
  3240.                        </div>
  3241.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3242.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3243.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3244.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  3245.    </div>
  3246. </div>
  3247.                        </div>
  3248.                                    </div>
  3249.            </div>
  3250.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  3251.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01IZlkq7GOigHOvDIEr28xu/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714659258.jpg" alt="VIKING Culinary Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set, 10 piece, Non-slip Silicone Base, Includes Airtight Lids, Dishwasher Safe, Black" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  3252.                            </div>
  3253.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  3254.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01IZlkq7GOigHOvDIEr28xu/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1714659258.jpg" alt="VIKING Culinary Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set, 10 piece, Non-slip Silicone Base, Includes Airtight Lids, Dishwasher Safe, Black" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  3255.                            </div>
  3256.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  3257.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  3258.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3259.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3260.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  3261.    </div>
  3262. </div>
  3263.                    </div>
  3264.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  3265.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3266.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3267.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$49.99</span>
  3268.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3269.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3270.            </div>
  3271.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3272.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$59.99</span>
  3273.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $10.00</span>
  3274.        </div>
  3275.    </div>
  3276.                    </div>
  3277.                            </div>
  3278.        </div>
  3279. </a></div>
  3280. <h2>The right ratio for muffins</h2><p>Muffins have a slightly higher sugar and fat content than pancakes, so besides liquid (which needs to be added regardless) that&rsquo;s all that needs to be added. Oh, and the blueberries of course. I don&rsquo;t like my muffins to be as sweet as cake, but if that speaks to you then add another tablespoon of sugar to the mix. Muffin batter is also much thicker than pancake batter, so keep in mind that the mixture should be rather thick.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3281.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3282.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCYR72HP3NS3T5TYR3MFN/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714660211.jpg" alt="Blueberry muffin batter in a bowl" width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCYR72HP3NS3T5TYR3MFN/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714660211.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCYR72HP3NS3T5TYR3MFN/images-1.fill.size_1400x787.v1714660211.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWVCYR72HP3NS3T5TYR3MFN/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714660211.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3283.            </div>
  3284.            <div class="mt-2">
  3285.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3286.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  3287.                    </div>
  3288.    </div>
  3289. <h2>How to make blueberry muffins from pancake mix</h2><p>1. Whisk the boxed pancake mix, sugar, oil, and milk together in a mixing bowl. The mixture should be well combined, but a few lumps are okay. Add the blueberries and stir gently. You can use frozen blueberries, though they&rsquo;ll tint the batter blue-gray.&nbsp;</p><p>2. Spoon the batter into a buttered or paper lined cupcake pan. I usually fill them just shy of the top because I like the muffin to crown. For a crunchy crust, generously sprinkle granulated sugar over the tops of each muffin.&nbsp;</p><p>3. Bake the muffins in a preheated 400&deg;F oven for about 12 minutes, or until browned and springy in the center.</p><p>Feel free to zhuzh up your pancake mix muffins with a pinch of ground cinnamon, a splash of vanilla extract, orange zest, or even different fruit. This recipe makes about five muffins and can certainly be doubled.</p><h2>Easy Blueberry Muffin Recipe (from pancake mix)</h2><p>Ingredients:</p><ul><li><p>1 cup complete pancake mix&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>2 tablespoons sugar + more for topping</p></li><li><p>2 tablespoons canola oil</p></li><li><p>4 tablespoons milk (subsitute alternative milk, or water)</p></li><li><p>&frac12; - &#8532; cup blueberries</p></li></ul><p>1. Preheat the oven to 400&deg;F. Line a 6-cup cupcake pan with paper liners, or generously butter the cups and the top edge around each cup.</p><p>2. Whisk the pancake mix, sugar, oil, and milk together in a bowl until combined. The mixture should be well combined but a few lumps are okay. Stir the blueberries into the mixture gently with a spoon.</p><p>3. Divide the batter into each muffin cup. Generously sprinkle the tops with more granulated sugar.&nbsp;</p><p>4. Bake the muffins for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned and they&rsquo;re springy in the center.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3290.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/make-quick-and-easy-blueberry-muffins-from-boxed-pancake-mix</link>
  3291.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  3292.      <category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>
  3293.    </item>
  3294.    <item>
  3295.      <title>How to Trace Your Ancestry Without Paying Too Much for It</title>
  3296.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWV0Z4AP7HPMY4489BJGFCCM</guid>
  3297.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3298.      <description>You can learn plenty about your family tree, if you're willing to do the work.</description>
  3299.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWV0Z4AP7HPMY4489BJGFCCM/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3300.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Between shows like <em>Finding Your Roots</em> on PBS and the proliferation of companies like 23andMe, conversations about genealogy and family history have become mainstream&mdash;trendy, even. While not everyone wants to spit in a tube and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/what-you-re-really-agreeing-to-when-you-sign-up-for-23a-1828034397" target="_blank">potentially sign their physical data away</a>, tracing one's ancestors is hardly a new tech trend&mdash;genealogy has been a major field of study for a very long time. Rest assured, you can learn plenty about your own ancestry without sacrificing any saliva.</p><p>I&rsquo;m no genealogist, but with some research I&rsquo;ve been able to find some amazing family stories and artifacts via the internet and the U.S. National Archives. I've found my photojournalist dad&rsquo;s old work, including prescient courtroom pics of Trump and nightlife snaps of Andy Warhol. Newspaper reviews found mentions of my step-grandmother&rsquo;s aunt, a "famous nun in Italy," and a transatlantic plot twist&mdash;that our family immigrated from post-war Italy via ship travel through Ellis Island. They were among the last waves of people who did, when it was long assumed Nonna and Nonno came via modern air travel.</p><p>There are many reasons to trace one's ancestry, whether purely out of curiosity, a quest for truth, or even for practical reasons like citizenship or legal affairs. Here are some tips for tracing your ancestry, along with valuable insights from experts.</p><h2>Start with the obvious&nbsp;stuff first</h2><p>It was happenstance that brought me to my dad&lsquo;s archive of Getty images, but it could've just been Google. You&rsquo;d be surprised at how many people don&rsquo;t run a basic internet search on their family members, myself included. Of course, you may not glean any Earth-shattering insights just by searching for that family member&rsquo;s name, but it's always worth a try. The newspaper was the internet of the past, and before the late &lsquo;90s, people were published for doing all kinds of stuff&mdash;good, bad, ugly, and otherwise.&nbsp;</p><p>To maximize your chances of finding something, think of some additional phrases or keywords you can use to boost your search terms. If your dad worked at the same company for 30 years, try searching for his name and that company. Was your mom nurse of the year in 1993? Look that up, too. A lot of things&mdash;especially old, historical things&mdash;can pop up on page 10 of a search. The internet doesn't just include wedding, birth, and funeral records that have been digitized, but shop openings, political opinions, and other newsworthy events that have been scanned into the web by blessed archivists.</p><h2>Genealogical resources to take advantage of, both in person and online</h2><p>Of course, there are plenty of other non-Google resources you can use, too.</p><p>Popular DNA companies do more than analyze your DNA&mdash;they&rsquo;ve been collecting volumes of identity data, too. <a href="http://Ancestry.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Ancestry.com</a> and <a href="http://MyHeritage.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">MyHeritage.com</a> maintain digital records from around the world, huge volumes of info that include records and cultural relics. While both their DNA services and long-term memberships cost money, you can often try the databases for free with a trial. Still, if you're looking for information but don't want to (eventually) shell out money, there are plenty of options. </p><p>"Some naturalization records can be found on popular genealogy websites that are either free to everyone (such as <a href="http://FamilySearch.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>FamilySearch.org</u></a>), free at most public libraries (such as <a href="http://AncestryInstitution.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>AncestryInstitution.com</u></a> and others), or by paid subscription," a representative for the National Archives told me. NARA also pointed me toward the <a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Resources for Genealogists page</u></a> on <a href="http://archives.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>archives.gov</u></a> and the <a href="https://historyhub.history.gov/genealogy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Genealogy Community</u></a> on History Hub as additional sources of information.</p><p>For folks looking to engage with the Archives, they have research rooms open to the public, with on-site access to computers&mdash;and some days, an archivist on duty that may be able to assist you directly. Speaking of archivists, that brings me to my next resource: libraries. </p><p>Working in journalism, I have nothing but love for librarians. I've often learned cool facts or historical tales via the help of library staff&mdash;especially those in New York City. If you want to work with a librarian in the locations where your family has lived, they may be able to help you find mentions of your family or their businesses, properties, accolades, or tragedies.</p><p>If your family has been all over the globe, you don't have to travel to start your library research. Email a library politely and reach out and see if they have the time (or energy) to help you with your search. If you&rsquo;re not local to a particular library, institutional librarians, like those that work for universities and governments, might be able to lend a hand.</p><h2>Dig a little deeper</h2><p>This is the fun part: being your own detective. Once you have a few documents to work from, it's time to start making connections to find even more.</p><p>&ldquo;Finding a name mentioned is not enough," a representative for NARA said. "Many people may have the same name. Whether the name is mentioned in a newspaper article or some other record, identifying the person is a combination of factors in addition to their name, such as geographic location, date of the event, age, occupation, religion, relationship to other persons named in the record, and so forth. Locating as many records as possible about the person is key."</p><p>Use the clues from photos&mdash;maybe a name on the sign outside a restaurant, for example&mdash;stories your grandmother told you, fragments of memories, or anything that can provide material information. All of it will help lead you to even more stuff, and you'll likely find answers to questions you had never thought to ask in the first place. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  3301.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/family/how-to-trace-your-ancestry-without-paying</link>
  3302.      <dc:creator>Danielle Guercio</dc:creator>
  3303.      <category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
  3304.    </item>
  3305.    <item>
  3306.      <title>Claude Finally Has an Official App for iOS</title>
  3307.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTWFHRK2JG9REB9WN2BFRPG</guid>
  3308.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3309.      <description>One of the best AI chatbots just got its own iOS app.</description>
  3310.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTWFHRK2JG9REB9WN2BFRPG/hero-image.webp"/>
  3311.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Anthropic is freeing its AI chatbot, <a href="https://www.anthropic.com/news/team-plan-and-ios" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Claude</a>, from your desktop. The highly successful ChatGPT competitor has now made the jump to iOS, launching its first-ever official chatbot app for the iPhone. </p><p>The new iOS app is available to download right now, and can do everything that Claude on the web can do, including analyzing images and helping you brainstorm. It can also use images straight from your mobile library and even take new photos for immediate upload. Pro users still get full access to premium features, including the model selector and a greatly increased message limit. With such a fully-featured mobile experience, Claude is one step closer to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/claude-ai-versus-chatgpt-which-is-better" target="_blank">closing any gaps between itself and ChatGPT</a>.</p><p>To try out the Claude app for yourself, download it directly from the App Store. Just be careful not to install any imposters. One of the first options that shows up when searching for Claude is an app called "Chat AI with Claude," which tracks quite a lot of your personal information, including purchases, device ID, user ID, app usage, and more. Either be careful when searching, or just click this link to go <a href="https://zdcs.link/joK2q?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=directly%20to%20Claude%27s%20App%20Store%20listing.&amp;short_url=joK2q&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">directly to Claude's App Store listing.</a> </p><p>Anthropic says that Claude&rsquo;s iOS app will allow for seamless syncing between the web and mobile app, so you can move from your laptop to your iPhone and pick up where you left off. You can also take photos and import them directly into the app to analyze them. The mobile app is available for all Claude users, including free users, although there's no word on an Android version yet.</p><p>On top of launching its iOS app, Anthropic also recently debuted a new Teams subscription for the AI chatbot, which offers the premium version of the chatbot for just $30 a user per month, with a minimum of five users. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  3312.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/anthropic-claude-ai-chatbot-official-ios-app</link>
  3313.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  3314.      <category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
  3315.    </item>
  3316.    <item>
  3317.      <title>You Can Get Rosetta Stone on Sale Right Now</title>
  3318.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850991143</guid>
  3319.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3320.      <description>Use this promo code until May 5 for a discounted lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone.</description>
  3321.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2HDK1M7MRTHRC97T120B8D/hero-image.png"/>
  3322.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/rosetta-stone-lifetime-subscription-all-languages?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=rosetta-stone-lifetime-subscription-all-languages&amp;utm_term=scsf-595724&amp;utm_content=a0xRn0000012HfNIAU&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $179.97 right now</a> (reg. $399) using the promo code ROSETTA through May 5. Winner of the PC Magazine Editors&rsquo; Choice Award, the app has lessons in 25 languages like Spanish (Latin American and Spain), French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (Mandarin), and Russian, and each lesson is designed to only take 10 to 15 minutes. The learning method mimics how you learned your native language as a child, starting with matching words with images, moving to conversational skills like shopping, and finishing with advanced subjects like pop culture. You&rsquo;ll learn to read, write, understand, and speak with speech-recognition technology that gives you real-time feedback on your pronunciation and accent.</p><p>You can get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/rosetta-stone-lifetime-subscription-all-languages?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=rosetta-stone-lifetime-subscription-all-languages&amp;utm_term=scsf-595724&amp;utm_content=a0xRn0000012HfNIAU&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $179.97 right now</a> (reg. $399) using the promo code ROSETTA through May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT, though prices can change at any time.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3323.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/rosetta-stone-sale</link>
  3324.      <dc:creator>Sponsored by StackCommerce</dc:creator>
  3325.      <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
  3326.    </item>
  3327.    <item>
  3328.      <title>You Should Grow a Pizza Garden This Summer</title>
  3329.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWWHXRM3VKK292ST21DPS5V2</guid>
  3330.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 14:30:38 +0000</pubDate>
  3331.      <description>Few things in life are as satisfying as eating a meal full of vegetables you grew yourself.</description>
  3332.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWHXRM3VKK292ST21DPS5V2/hero-image.png"/>
  3333.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you have limited space in your garden, you have to make hard decisions each year about what you&rsquo;ll grow. The most important factor in choosing what to <em>grow</em> is what you like to <em>eat.</em> If you like pizza, summer is a spectacular time&mdash;throw some stretched pizza dough on the grill and top it with fresh veggies from the garden, cheese, and sauce (or fresh tomatoes you grew). The level of satisfaction you&rsquo;ll draw will be tremendous, so I humbly suggest that this year, you grow a pizza garden.&nbsp;</p><h2>Choose vegetables for the toppings</h2><p>A pizza usually starts with tomatoes, and if you like sauce, you'll want sauce or paste tomatoes. If you prefer to just have slices of juicy tomatoes on your pizza, you'll want larger heirloom slicing tomatoes.  You can, of course, grow both. While tomatoes are obvious, consider what other vegetables you&rsquo;d enjoy on the pizza, and remember that you don&rsquo;t need to think traditionally. In my twenties, I had a pizza somewhere with grilled eggplant on it, and I&rsquo;ve made that pizza every summer since. Classic choices like peppers, onions, and basil are a good place to start. But consider summer squash or zucchini, too. Once sliced and grilled, they&rsquo;re delicious on pizzas. Spinach, oregano, arugula, or rosemary will all help produce a delicious pie.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3334.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FRectangular-Grilling-Durable-Cordierite-Cooking%2Fdp%2FB076617VFY&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Hans+Grill+Pizza+Stone%2C+Beige&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=045mBpw2OqklQ3QqVuEPIZL&amp;offer_uuid=0540WGLzan87SU6HssU7YVv&amp;object_type=0540WGLzan87SU6HssU7YVv&amp;object_uuid=045mBpw2OqklQ3QqVuEPIZL" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Hans Grill Pizza Stone, Beige">
  3335.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3336.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3337.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Hans Grill Pizza Stone, Beige
  3338.                </div>
  3339.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3340.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3341.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3342.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3343.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$39.99</span>
  3344.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3345.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3346.            </div>
  3347.    </div>
  3348.                            </div>
  3349.                        </div>
  3350.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3351.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
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  3353.        <div>Shop Now</div>
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  3375.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3376.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$39.99</span>
  3377.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3378.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
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  3381.                    </div>
  3382.                            </div>
  3383.        </div>
  3384. </a></div>
  3385. <h2>Make space considerations</h2><p>While some vegetables do better <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-design-vegetable-garden" target="_blank">together</a> than others, there also isn&rsquo;t great harm in planting most vegetables together, even if they&rsquo;re not beneficial&mdash;with a few exceptions. You don&rsquo;t want to plant fennel in your pizza garden, since it will negatively affect all other vegetables planted with it. You can keep fennel in a separate planter nearby. Also, if you love broccoli and cauliflower on your pizza, you&rsquo;ll want to keep them on one side of your vegetable bed, and keep your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants on the other side. Your greens like basil, arugula, and spinach can live in between them. The major issue is considering the space each plant needs, which will vary. Zucchini will become quite large horizontally, so I like to have it hang off the edge of the bed. Tomatoes, particularly indeterminate ones, grow quite tall, so you need support for them. Basil prefers to be hidden between plants to grow prolifically. Onions can be interplanted with tomatoes, for instance, since they occupy different space&mdash;tomatoes are above ground, and onions below it.&nbsp;</p><h2>A pizza garden is a late summer treat</h2><p>A number of the items in your pizza garden need most of the season to grow. You&rsquo;ll see tomatoes by the middle of summer, but peppers and eggplants take a bit longer to incubate. In the meanwhile, you&rsquo;ll be able to enjoy your squash, arugula, and spinach in other dishes. Onions can be picked in their scallion stage, even though they&rsquo;re not fully bulbed out. Just make sure you leave enough in the ground to reach a more mature state for later in summer.&nbsp;</p><p>Growing all these vegetables together will make for a really colorful bed with lots of height and texture variance, but it will also ensure that you don&rsquo;t have one giant target for specific pests, as you would with a whole tomato bed or a big bed of basil. Those monocultures are like a glaring &ldquo;open for business&rdquo; sign for the pests that love that particular crop. Each summer, you&rsquo;ll learn a little more about your bed, and where to arrange the vegetables in the pizza garden for the best space, access to the sun and ease of harvesting.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3386.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-grow-pizza-garden</link>
  3387.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  3388.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  3389.    </item>
  3390.    <item>
  3391.      <title>Watch the Weather, Not the Calendar, for Planting Times</title>
  3392.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWWMHMGA6M4F40W5Y2JDGRJ0</guid>
  3393.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3394.      <description>Last frost dates are important guides for planting, but aren't always accurate.</description>
  3395.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWWMHMGA6M4F40W5Y2JDGRJ0/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3396.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gardeners always know their <a href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>planting zone</u></a>, and the local lore around the date it&rsquo;s safe to plant outside. Around my parts, that&rsquo;s Mothers Day. In more northern parts of the U.S., it&rsquo;s Memorial Day. We use those dates to backtrack and decide when to start seeds inside. But these dates, while not arbitrary, are also not written in stone. The weather changes every year, and we&rsquo;ve been seeing huge weather changes the last few years due to climate change. That's why I&rsquo;m suggesting you watch the weather, not the calendar, for your summer planting.&nbsp;</p><h2>Last frost dates are an estimate</h2><p>Each spring is a gamble for gardeners: when you start seeds and when you risk planting them outside. Start seeds too early, and your plants become large, leggy and rootbound inside. Start seeds too late, and your plants won&rsquo;t be large enough to produce crops over the short summer season. You&rsquo;d think if your plants are big enough, you could just plunk them outside in your garden, but that&rsquo;s where the biggest risk lies. These tender summer plants have temperature requirements, and spring is notorious for surprise frosts. Your plants won&rsquo;t survive, or at best, will be stunted, if they go through a frost without some serious protection. To hedge against this risk, each planting zone in the U.S. has a<a href="https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u> last frost date</u></a>, which is an average date that should be safe to plant outside. But that&rsquo;s all it is&mdash;an average. Some years the frost date is well into weeks of warm weather, and some years, there&rsquo;s a surprise May snowstorm.&nbsp;</p><h2>Soil temperature is the most important indicator</h2><p>The frost date was never meant to be more than a guide. The real indicators we should be paying attention to are soil temperatures, overnight temperatures and sunshine. The soil, at a depth of eight or so inches, does not rapidly shift temperature based on one day&rsquo;s weather. Instead, that temperature represents the shift of seasons, and it slowly warms as the ambient temperature does. To sustain summer plantings, the soil needs to be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. While plants may survive in temperatures below that, they won&rsquo;t thrive.&nbsp; You can gauge your temperature with a probe specifically for that, and while there are <a href="https://zdcs.link/joKEv?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=fancy%20ones&amp;short_url=joKEv&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>fancy ones</u></a>, I prefer a simple, analog <a href="https://zdcs.link/b12Ex?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=long%20stem%20thermometer&amp;short_url=b12Ex&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>long stem thermometer</u></a> for the task.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3397.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fb12Ex&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Long+Stem+Compost+Soil+Thermometer+&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fb12Ex" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Long Stem Compost Soil Thermometer">
  3398.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3399.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3400.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Long Stem Compost Soil Thermometer
  3401.                </div>
  3402.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3403.                                            <div class="self-end">
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  3405.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3406.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$17.99</span>
  3407.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
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  3421.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
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  3423.                            </div>
  3424.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
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  3426.                            </div>
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  3437.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3438.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$17.99</span>
  3439.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3440.                    </div>
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  3442.                    </div>
  3443.                            </div>
  3444.        </div>
  3445. </a></div>
  3446. <h2>Overnight temperatures must be over 50 degrees</h2><p>While daytime conditions are important, the temperature is always going to dip once the sun goes down. Your summer plants can&rsquo;t tolerate frosty temps, so you want to wait until the overnight temperature remains steadily above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (although 55 is better). Of course, this will happen in tandem with the soil temperature, but not precisely, and even one night of frost or cold temperatures can be harmful for your plants, so it&rsquo;s a delicate balance. Any weather reporting site like <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Wunderground </u></a>or <a href="http://Weather.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Weather.com</u></a> will report on these overnight temperatures.&nbsp;</p><h2>Look for the sunshine</h2><p>Lastly, you want to look for the sunshine&mdash;this is less objective and more observational. Spring is still the rainy season, and plants benefit from all that free water. But they will still need sunshine to thrive, and so we&rsquo;re looking for a mix of quality days of sunshine mixed with rain before you plant. Long stretches of overcast days will not produce happy plants, and instead, create conditions for virus and fungus. As rain splashes on the soil, microbes in the soil splash up onto the plants, where those wet conditions are perfect for fungal and viral growth and spread. If you&rsquo;re really skilled, you&rsquo;ll choose the last stretch of overcast days to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-move-your-seedlings-outside-without-killing-them-1850346123" target="_blank"><u>plant everything</u></a>, so it gets a gentle stretch of time away from the sun to settle into the new digs, and then gets a drink of sunshine so it can start to grow.&nbsp;</p><h2>Extend the season</h2><p>There are ways to start the season early by offering your plants protection outside, even if you plant them before conditions are met. There are greenhouses, both permanent and temporary. If you don&rsquo;t have a greenhouse, you can buy a temporary <a href="https://zdcs.link/ZRnkV?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=popup&amp;short_url=ZRnkV&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>popup</u></a> to put over your bed. You can consider coldframes, which are outdoor beds with removable covers. There are insulating products like <a href="https://zdcs.link/oebEm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=waterwalls&amp;short_url=oebEm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>waterwalls</u></a> for tomatoes, and there is always Agribond, which you can use to build <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-way-to-insulate-your-soil-now-so-you-can-plant-1850946315" target="_blank"><u>low tunnels</u></a> over your beds.&nbsp;</p><p>Whenever gardeners talk about seeding and planting and harvesting online, they&rsquo;re usually talking about a median growing zone for the U.S. There are zones with completely different timetables, like the southeast or really northern states. When considering the advice, it&rsquo;s smart to remember the local lore around planting and seeding dates, but it&rsquo;s more important to just look outside. Our planting seasons are becoming more volatile due to climate change, and so we want to get the maximum amount of growing season possible. Rely on the indicators.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3447.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/watch-the-weather-not-the-calendar-for-planting-times</link>
  3448.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  3449.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  3450.    </item>
  3451.    <item>
  3452.      <title>The Difference Between Shorting ETFs and Inverse ETFs (and Which Is More Risky)</title>
  3453.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTCPZFPJ51J4RHEFG7NK3X9</guid>
  3454.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 13:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3455.      <description>These investments can be lucrative, but they are definitely not for everyone.</description>
  3456.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTCPZFPJ51J4RHEFG7NK3X9/hero-image.png"/>
  3457.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For traders <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/livecoverage/fed-meeting-dow-futuresdip-as-traders-wait-for-rate-decision-as-ai-stocks-slide/card/bank-etfs-are-rising-even-as-u-s-stock-market-mostly-declines-hnind4ZWs9sC91yu7sg5?mod=mw_quote_news" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">looking to profit from a declining market</a>, shorting exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and investing in inverse ETFs are two popular strategies. While both approaches aim to capitalize on downward price movements, there are crucial differences that investors should understand before deciding which one to use.</p><h2>Shorting ETFs</h2><p>Shorting an ETF involves borrowing shares from a broker and selling them on the open market with the expectation that the price will fall. The intention is to buy back the shares at a lower price and return them to the broker, pocketing the difference as profit. However, there is a potential for unlimited losses if the share price rises instead of falling.</p><p>Pros:</p><ul><li><p>Allows traders to profit from declining prices in a specific ETF or market segment.</p></li><li><p>Provides flexibility in timing and duration of the short position.</p></li></ul><p>Cons:</p><ul><li><p>Requires paying borrowing fees and interest on the short position.</p></li><li><p>Exposes traders to the risk of potentially unlimited losses if the share price rises.</p></li><li><p>Involves the risk of being forced to cover the short position prematurely (short squeeze).</p></li></ul><p>Let's take a closer at that short squeeze risk with a fresh real-world example. <a href="https://www.vox.com/money/2023/9/15/23873474/dumb-money-gamestop-stock-keith-gill-melvin-capital-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">In early 2021</a>, a group of retail investors on the Reddit forum r/WallStreetBets identified that GameStop's stock was heavily shorted by hedge funds. These investors collectively bought and held shares of GameStop, driving up the price rapidly. As the stock price soared, the hedge funds that had shorted GameStop were forced to buy shares to cover their short positions&mdash;basically fueling the price surge in a self-reinforcing feedback loop. </p><p>The GameStop saga highlights the potential risks of excessive short selling, as short sellers can face theoretically unlimited losses if a stock price continues to rise. For investors interested in shorting ETFs or stocks, this serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overcrowded short positions and the power of coordinated buying pressure from retail investors, which can trigger a brutal short squeeze.</p><h2>Inverse ETFs</h2><p>Inverse ETFs are designed to move in the opposite direction of a specific benchmark or index. For example, if the S&amp;P 500 index falls by 1%, an inverse S&amp;P 500 ETF would theoretically rise by 1%. These ETFs use derivatives and leverage to achieve this inverse relationship.</p><p>Pros:</p><ul><li><p>Provides a straightforward way to profit from declining markets without the need for shorting.</p></li><li><p>Offers potential for amplified returns due to the use of leverage.</p></li></ul><p>Cons:</p><ul><li><p>Exposes traders to the risk of compounding losses due to the leveraged nature of these products.</p></li><li><p>Typically designed for short-term trading and may not track the underlying index accurately over longer periods.</p></li><li><p>Incurs higher fees compared to traditional ETFs.</p></li></ul><p>For a real world example, consider <a href="https://www.proshares.com/our-etfs/leveraged-and-inverse/sh" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">ProShares Short S&amp;P 500 (SH)</a>, which provides inverse exposure to the large and mid-cap companies that make up the S&amp;P 500 index. SH is not intended to be held for periods longer than a single trading day. Let's say one day the S&amp;P 500 rose 1.07%. This means shares of SH declined by 1.07%, <a href="https://ycharts.com/companies/SH" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">dropping from $14.88 to $14.72 per share</a>. So, investors who held a position in SH on that particular day&mdash;when the broader market rallied&mdash;would have incurred losses.</p><h2>Which one is for you</h2><p>The decision between shorting ETFs or investing in inverse ETFs depends on various factors, including an investor's risk tolerance, investment horizon, and overall investment strategy.</p><p>Shorting ETFs may be more suitable for experienced traders who have a good understanding of the risks involved and can actively manage their positions. It offers greater flexibility but also higher potential for losses.</p><p>On the other hand, inverse ETFs can be a more accessible option for traders seeking a more straightforward way to profit from declining markets. However, the leveraged nature of these products and the potential for compounding losses make them riskier, especially for long-term holdings.</p><p>Ultimately, both strategies carry significant risks and should be approached with caution and proper risk management practices. It is crucial for investors to thoroughly understand the mechanics, risks, and potential rewards of each approach before making investment decisions. For more, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/money/should-you-invest-in-bitcoin-etfs" target="_blank">check out whether Bitcoin ETFs</a> have a place in your portfolio.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3458.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/shorting-etfs-vs-inverse-etfs</link>
  3459.      <dc:creator>Meredith Dietz</dc:creator>
  3460.      <category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
  3461.    </item>
  3462.    <item>
  3463.      <title>12 Building Toys Any LEGO-obsessed Kid Will Love</title>
  3464.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTBTEZ0MWD9QAS876NH8D60</guid>
  3465.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 13:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
  3466.      <description>Just because there isn't a movie franchise for them doesn't mean they aren't good.</description>
  3467.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTBTEZ0MWD9QAS876NH8D60/hero-image.png"/>
  3468.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They're small, expensive, and hurt when stepped on. Yes, I am talking about LEGO, the construction set that, for 75 years, has sparked creativity in children and those who refuse to grow up&mdash;but you may not realize that LEGO isn't the only game in town. In addition to the company's many imitators, there are other construction systems that don't have a hit movie franchise or theme park behind them. Yet, they are perfect for different age ranges and purposes that your child may enjoy. Below are 12 alternative brands offering young users a creative outlet for their ideas.&nbsp;</p><h2>K'Nex</h2><p>The internet, being what it is,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/KNEX/comments/17htmog/knex_are_better_than_legos/?rdt=53915" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">loves to debate</a>&nbsp;about whether LEGO or K'Nex are the better construction set. The truth is that&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/Odq1E?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=the%20system%20of%20interlocking%20plastic%20rods&amp;short_url=Odq1E&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">the system of interlocking plastic rods</a>, connectors, motors, and other components is geared (pun intended) more toward those interested in engineering than building, but that hasn't stopped builders from making models of space shuttles and roller coasters with this system designed over three decades ago.&nbsp;</p><h2>Playstix&nbsp;</h2><p>According to the reviews on its product page, children won't use the instruction book included with&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/gP8ZG?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=this%20colorful%2C%20groove-based%20construction%20set%C2%A0&amp;short_url=gP8ZG&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">this colorful, groove-based construction set&nbsp;</a>for long. Despite Playstix's unusual shape, users pick up on how to use them right away, quickly constructing everything from cars to houses to furniture, and the color of each piece represents its length. Parents also mention in their reviews that Playstix is the perfect toy to calm a child's busy mind.</p><h2>Mould King</h2><p>Bricks and sets from LEGO can get mighty pricey. Most of the sets my 8-year-old wants would take years to save for on his allowance. However, there are alternatives. Mould King is a brand based in China that manufactures sets similar to the building bricks based in Denmark...almost. They also cost significantly less. Whereas an AT-AT Walker from&nbsp;<em>The Empire Strikes Back&nbsp;</em>costs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/at-at-75313?consent-modal=show&amp;age-gate=grown_up" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">a pretty penny from LEGO</a>, Mould King's&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/joKmp?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=nearly%20identical%20set&amp;short_url=joKmp&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">nearly identical set</a>&nbsp;is more than two-thirds less in price, and most reviewers state it's a good value for the money. However, some builders in the comments strongly disagree, so have some glue handy when putting sets together if you want them to stay intact.</p><h2>Bristle Blocks</h2><p>Aimed toward toddlers and preschoolers, these colorful, chunky blocks are perfect for developing brains that crave stimulation. I never thought much of them when I saw them in my child's daycare, but when I view what kids have built on&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/EyM3o?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=the%20product%27s%20Amazon%20page&amp;short_url=EyM3o&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">the product's Amazon page</a>, they might be the most underrated STEM toy on the market.&nbsp;</p><h2>Plus Plus</h2><p>Sometimes, kids don't want to be told what to build. They need to figure it out themselves, making the&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/oebLm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=puzzle%20piece-shaped%20Plus%20Plus&amp;short_url=oebLm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">puzzle piece-shaped Plus Plus</a>&nbsp;sets appropriate for kids trying to bring their imagination to life. Children discover how to build three-dimensional structures and creatures on their own. They're also portable so you can take them on that road-trip to LEGOLAND.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h2>Magformers&nbsp;</h2><p>These&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/KKNRY?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=building%20toys&amp;short_url=KKNRY&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">building toys</a>&nbsp;look very similar to Magnatiles, another building toy that parents of preschoolers are undoubtedly familiar with. However, the size of the pieces and placement of magnets in Magformers make it much easier to build three-dimensional structures than with Magnatiles.&nbsp;</p><h2>Mega Bloks</h2><p>Whether your child would want Mattel's Mega Bloks depends on what they're into. LEGO has the rights to&nbsp;<em>Super Mario</em>, but Mega Bloks has Pokemon and <em>Halo</em> building sets.&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/oxwEg?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=On%20the%20preschool%20front&amp;short_url=oxwEg&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">On the preschool front</a>, if your little one likes&nbsp;<em>Thomas the Tank Engine</em>, Mega Bloks has plenty of sets available, too. Fisher-Price also manufactures them, so plenty of cool accessories, like a construction table, are available for your child's building sets.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h2>Superspace</h2><p>It isn't easy to find a place to sit in my living room on Saturday mornings because my sons take every couch and chair cushion in sight and use it to build a fort.&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/m3jEq?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Superspace&amp;short_url=m3jEq&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Superspace</a>&nbsp;solves that problem with its extra large felt magnetic panels, which allow children to create structures that won't easily fall apart. Think giant Magformers that keep kids occupied while you catch up on basketball highlights.</p><h2>Wange</h2><p>LEGO's architecture sets are one reason the childhood building blocks resonate with adults. However, if the price of building your favorite structure seems steep, you can always get a similar set from Wange. They have sets based on the London Bridge or&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/Nxgod?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20White%20House&amp;short_url=Nxgod&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">The White House</a>&nbsp;for a more reasonable price than their Danish counterparts.&nbsp;</p><h2>Lincoln Logs</h2><p>There's no school like the old school, and nothing older than&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/KJ1b8?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=this%20over-century-old%20building%20set&amp;short_url=KJ1b8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">this over-century-old building set</a>&nbsp;designed&nbsp;by the son of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.&nbsp;The fact that your child's great-great-grandfather also played with Lincoln Logs says a lot about how this simple toy has endured, even when interlocking plastic blocks began to capture the imagination of children around the world.</p><h2>Cobi</h2><p>My oldest son is currently obsessed with anything historical, so Cobi's sets featuring historical aircraft, tanks, and airplanes would be perfect for his next construction project. They also offer Maserati cars, historic trains, and some planes&nbsp;<a href="https://zdcs.link/MVd7k?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=from%20the%20hit%20film%C2%A0Top%20Gun%3A%20Maverick.&amp;short_url=MVd7k&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">from the hit film&nbsp;<em>Top Gun: Maverick</em>.</a></p><h2>Tinkertoys</h2><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/vdGWP?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Tinkertoys&amp;short_url=vdGWP&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Tinkertoys</a>&nbsp;might be the original STEAM-based toy, and they are perfect for preschoolers who just want to use their hands to build something fun. Older kids who might not be ready for K'Nex can assemble a robot or another creature by mixing and matching the rods, spools, and&nbsp;connectors.&nbsp;</p><h2>All the Lego alternatives...</h2><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Odq1E?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=K%27Nex%2035%20Model%20Building%20Set%C2%A0%28%2427.99%29&amp;short_url=Odq1E&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>K'Nex 35 Model Building Set&nbsp;</strong>($27.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/gP8ZG?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Playstix%C2%A0%28%2427.99%29&amp;short_url=gP8ZG&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Playstix&nbsp;</strong>($27.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/joKmp?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Mould%20King%20Motorized%20Walker%C2%A0%28%24238.00%29&amp;short_url=joKmp&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Mould King Motorized Walker</strong>&nbsp;($238.00)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/EyM3o?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Bristle%20Blocks%2080-Piece%20Playset%C2%A0%28%2416.99%29&amp;short_url=EyM3o&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Bristle Blocks 80-Piece Playset</strong>&nbsp;($16.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/oebLm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Plus%20Plus%20Learn%20to%20Build%20Basic%20Set&amp;short_url=oebLm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Plus Plus Learn to Build Basic Set</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://zdcs.link/oebLm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=%28%2426.99%29&amp;short_url=oebLm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">($26.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/KKNRY?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Magformers%C2%A0%28%2449.94%29&amp;short_url=KKNRY&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Magformers</strong>&nbsp;($49.94)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/oxwEg?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Mega%20Bloks%20300-piece%20Building%20Bag%C2%A0%28%2464.99%29&amp;short_url=oxwEg&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Mega Bloks 300-piece Building Bag&nbsp;</strong>($64.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/m3jEq?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Superspace%C2%A0%28%24329%29&amp;short_url=m3jEq&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Superspace</strong>&nbsp;($329)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Nxgod?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Wange%20White%20House%20Model%C2%A0%28%2442.32%29&amp;short_url=Nxgod&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Wange White House Model</strong>&nbsp;($42.32)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/KJ1b8?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Lincoln%20Logs%20100th%20Anniversary%20Tin%C2%A0%28%2449.99%29&amp;short_url=KJ1b8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Lincoln Logs 100th Anniversary Tin&nbsp;</strong>($49.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/MVd7k?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Cobi%20TOP%20GUN%3A%20Maverick%20Mustang%20P-51D%C2%A0%28%2449.99%29&amp;short_url=MVd7k&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Cobi TOP GUN: Maverick Mustang P-51D</strong>&nbsp;($49.99)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/vdGWP?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Tinkertoy%20Retro%20Building%20Tin%C2%A0%28%2439.80%29&amp;short_url=vdGWP&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong>Tinkertoy Retro Building Tin</strong>&nbsp;($39.80)</a></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
  3469.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/family/best-toys-for-kids-who-love-lego</link>
  3470.      <dc:creator>Jason Keil</dc:creator>
  3471.      <category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
  3472.    </item>
  3473.    <item>
  3474.      <title>My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: Echo Pop</title>
  3475.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTFN2TF9NZE42K5ZFSWGHR3</guid>
  3476.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3477.      <description>A smaller Alexa speaker that doubles as an Eero wifi node for $19.99.</description>
  3478.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTFN2TF9NZE42K5ZFSWGHR3/hero-image.png"/>
  3479.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Of all the smart speakers made by Amazon, which are already relatively low priced, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/71JMP?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Amazon%20Echo%20Pop&amp;short_url=71JMP&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Amazon Echo Pop</a> is the most affordable. Right now, it's discounted to <strong>$19.99</strong> (originally $39.99) after a 50% discount. Considering it still has all the same features as the more expensive Echo devices, the Echo Pop makes a great value Alexa device, and that's why it is my favorite Amazon deal of the day.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3480.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FIntroducing-sound-compact-speaker-Glacier%2Fdp%2FB09ZXLRRHY&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Amazon+Echo+Pop+%7C+Full+sound+compact+smart+speaker+with+Alexa+%7C+Glacier+White&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=04bBsYKeR4BziJWeISJd3IJ&amp;offer_uuid=03xuq556NmqSpTK9eQe56S4&amp;object_type=03xuq556NmqSpTK9eQe56S4&amp;object_uuid=04bBsYKeR4BziJWeISJd3IJ" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Amazon Echo Pop | Full sound compact smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White">
  3481.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3482.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3483.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Amazon Echo Pop | Full sound compact smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White
  3484.                </div>
  3485.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Full sound compact smart speaker with Alexa.
  3486.                    </div>
  3487.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3488.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3489.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3490.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3491.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$19.99</span>
  3492.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3493.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3494.            </div>
  3495.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3496.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$39.99</span>
  3497.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $20.00</span>
  3498.        </div>
  3499.    </div>
  3500.                            </div>
  3501.                        </div>
  3502.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3503.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3504.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3505.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3506.    </div>
  3507. </div>
  3508.                        </div>
  3509.                                    </div>
  3510.            </div>
  3511.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  3512.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/04bBsYKeR4BziJWeISJd3IJ/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1707311818.jpg" alt="Amazon Echo Pop | Full sound compact smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  3513.                            </div>
  3514.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  3515.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/04bBsYKeR4BziJWeISJd3IJ/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1707311818.jpg" alt="Amazon Echo Pop | Full sound compact smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  3516.                            </div>
  3517.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  3518.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  3519.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3520.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3521.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3522.    </div>
  3523. </div>
  3524.                    </div>
  3525.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  3526.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3527.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3528.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$19.99</span>
  3529.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3530.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3531.            </div>
  3532.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3533.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$39.99</span>
  3534.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $20.00</span>
  3535.        </div>
  3536.    </div>
  3537.                    </div>
  3538.                            </div>
  3539.        </div>
  3540. </a></div>
  3541. <p>Amazon does some great things with Echo Pop. To begin with, it's cheap, offering a good option if you're looking to put Amazon devices in multiple rooms without breaking the bank. And if you have an Eero mesh wifi network, the Echo Pop can double as an Eero node to expand your internet. But it's not perfect.</p><p>Amazon needed to cut spending somewhere, and they decided to do it right down the middle. Literally. The Echo Pop is essentially a <a href="https://zdcs.link/Ad18q?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=5th%20Generation%20Echo%20Dot&amp;short_url=Ad18q&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">5th Generation Echo Dot</a> cut in half, at least design-wise. Unsurprisingly, the smaller speaker doesn't get as loud as the Echo Dot. It also has a noticeably weaker bass and no touch or temperature sensors like the Echo Dot, according to <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-echo-pop" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">PCMag's "excellent"</a> review of the Echo Pop. If those things are important to you, the Echo Dot is just $8 more than the Echo Pop right now. If you just want a capable Alexa device for cheap, the Echo Pop is more than enough.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3542.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/amazon-deal-of-the-day-echo-pop</link>
  3543.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  3544.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  3545.    </item>
  3546.    <item>
  3547.      <title>Six Ways AI Can Help You Parent (and Five Ways It Won’t)</title>
  3548.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HW8B27M74NCM4S65FVK028XZ</guid>
  3549.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3550.      <description>AI isn't a substitute for parenting wisdom, but when deployed properly, it can help you out.</description>
  3551.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW8B27M74NCM4S65FVK028XZ/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3552.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For years, the media has been warning me that artificial intelligence will soon take over my job. Several years later, I'm somehow still out here making a living as a writer, perhaps because <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-tell-when-an-artificial-intelligence-is-hallucin-1850280001" target="_blank">AI can't always be trusted to do the job well</a>. </p><p>Obviously, AI can't take over for me as a parent either, but I was curious how the technology could help me with the job I don't get paid for: being a dad to two cool kids.I started doing some research and discovered there are plenty of practical uses for AI in the parenting realm. However, there are also some things AI can ostensibly do that made me think twice about what the innovation is capable of. </p><p>Here are some sensible uses for AI to help you with your caregiver duties and others that seem, as my 7-year-old is fond of saying, a bit &ldquo;sus.&rdquo;</p><h2>Use AI for: Conversational prompts</h2><p>Suppose you need help to start a meaningful conversation with your child or are trying to figure out where to begin with a sensitive topic. In that case, AI can be a useful tool to initiate a discussion. However, it's crucial to remember that AI is just a tool&mdash;don't expect your child to open up to you solely because you used a script generated by a computer program. You need to be actively involved and verify the suggestions the AI provides, and then put them to use while meaningfully connecting with your kid.</p><h2>Don't use AI for: Parenting advice</h2><p>AI is not a substitute for your role as a parent. While some tools, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91073635/improving-heart-health-with-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Oath Care</a>, are helpful to mothers in the early stages of child care, you should find a parenting style that best fits your family and your values. Since AI doesn't know you or your child first-hand, the information and advice it offers might not fit your temperament or style.&nbsp;</p><h2>Use AI for: Creating bedtime stories</h2><p>As someone who makes up silly bedtime stories for my boys on the fly, I occasionally need help hand crafting a compelling yarn to get them to sleep. You can use programs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hypotenuse.ai/tools/ai-story-generator#:~:text=An%20AI%20story%20generator%20offers,over%20traditional%20story%20writing%20methods.&amp;text=Whether%20it's%20a%20blog%20post,new%20stories%20quickly%20and%20easily.&amp;text=Create%20personalized%20stories%20for%20different%20customer%20segments." target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">like Hypotenuse</a>&nbsp;to write a story for you. All you need to do is give it some details to get started.</p><h2>Don't use AI for: Telling a bedtime story</h2><p>Children crave the unique touch that only a parent can provide in a bedtime story. They yearn for your voice, expressions, and personal touch. No computer program can replicate that. It's your presence that gives the words life and captivates their imagination.&nbsp;</p><h2>Use AI for: Meal planning and recipes</h2><p>If you and your family are tired of takeout but don't have the time to plan meals, AI can help. For instance, you can use ChatGPT to generate meal ideas based on the ingredients you have on hand.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/using-ai-is-easy-read-on-for-a-step-by-step-meal-planning-tutorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">According to this report</a>, you can enter a few prompts into the free version to help generate breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas for your family without searching everywhere for a recipe. However, it's important to note that these tools are imperfect and may not always provide the most suitable meal options for your family's preferences and dietary needs.&nbsp;</p><h2>Don't use AI for: Grocery shopping</h2><p><a href="https://www.ascm.org/ascm-insights-2/can-a-robot-do-my-grocery-shopping/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Reports say</a>&nbsp;we're nearing a point when robots will be able to grocery shop for us. That sounds cool, but as someone who frequently uses the Target app to order groceries, I currently can't get a human to pick out a properly ripe banana, and I I doubt a robot will be able to do much better. Having AI do my grocery shopping also removes any sense of discovery from the experience, meaning my kids and I might never know about a new product on the shelves.</p><h2>Use AI for: Keeping track of your child's milestones</h2><p>Any pediatrician will offer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/watchmetraining/docs/watch-me-training-print.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">plenty of checklists</a>&nbsp;to help parents track their child's development. However, getting your kid in for a checkup can take a while. For parents concerned about their child's development,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666521224000012" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">there are AI apps</a>&nbsp;to keep track of cognitive, social, and&nbsp;language development milestones. Some could even help detect autism early on. Many of these programs have yet to be clinically evaluated, but&nbsp;they do sound promising, so don't take the results as gospel, but do compile them to discuss with your pediatrician.</p><h2>Don't use AI for: Making important parenting decisions</h2><p>Using AI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/know-your-value/out-of-office/can-ai-actually-help-parents-moms-say-absolutely-rcna136212" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">to save time or make more informed decisions</a>&nbsp;seems perfectly reasonable. However, using the technology to help you decide if it's time for your child to, say, have a social media account, or if they should be homeschooled feels a bit off. </p><p>An AI program&nbsp;<a href="https://bottell.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">such as Bottell</a>&nbsp;may claim to offer personalized advice for you and your child, but only you know what's suitable for your offspring. AI is not a substitute for your own judgment and understanding of your child's needs and circumstances.&nbsp;</p><h2>Use AI for: Finding games and crafts for your kids </h2><p>If a rainy day has ruined outdoor plans,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-ways-chatgpt-can-make-parenting-easier-this-summer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">parents can use Chat GPT</a>&nbsp;to generate ideas for bored kids. Ask the program for ideas for games, science experiments, puzzles, and crafts that families can do indoors. You can even ask it to give them an educational bent so children can learn something while they have fun.</p><h2>Don't use AI for: Playing with your kids</h2><p>They want to play with you, not a computer.</p><h2>Use (and don't use) it for: Tutoring</h2><p>This one is a tough call. While Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, shared his belief&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sal_khan_how_ai_could_save_not_destroy_education/transcript?mod=ANLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">in a popular TED Talk</a>&nbsp;that AI can be used as an educational tool to tutor kids worldwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-is-tutoring-students-but-still-struggles-with-basic-math-694e76d3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em>&nbsp;found&nbsp;</a>that his AI-powered education bot Khanmigo often couldn't perform basic math. A company spokesperson told reporter Matt Barnum that upgrades were made to improve the bot's accuracy. </p><p>If you don't remember how to do the math your child is struggling with, you can consider asking an AI for help describing how to solve a problem&mdash;but given that Khan Academy emphasizes to educators that the technology isn't perfect, you'll still need to double-check the figures and formulas on your kids' homework for the time being.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3553.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-use-ai-as-a-parent-and-when-not-to</link>
  3554.      <dc:creator>Jason Keil</dc:creator>
  3555.      <category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
  3556.    </item>
  3557.    <item>
  3558.      <title>Woot Is Having Another iPad Sale</title>
  3559.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTRH1EVXCKNTEV2X4VH2CGB</guid>
  3560.      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 11:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3561.      <description>You can pick up these new 256GB iPads at their lowest prices yet.</description>
  3562.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRH1EVXCKNTEV2X4VH2CGB/hero-image.png"/>
  3563.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>According to the rumor mill, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/what-to-expect-at-apples-may-event" target="_blank">Apple is poised to announce new iPads any day now</a>, which often means it's the best time to pick up an older model. Whether you're seeking the entry-level iPad or a more powerful iPad Pro, <a href="https://zdcs.link/0PBOA?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=brand%20new%20models%20of%20both%20are%20currently%20available%20new%20from%20Woot&amp;short_url=0PBOA&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">brand new models of both are currently available new from Woot</a> at their lowest prices yet, according to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/best-price-tracking-tools-1692745053" target="_blank">price tracking tools</a>. </p><p>The sale continues until May 10, 2024, at 2:59 a.m. ET or until the iPads sell out. Note that Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it's $6. Here's what's on sale:</p><h2>The 10th Generation Apple iPad</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3564.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fkn3G5&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Apple+iPad+%2810th+Generation%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2Fkn3G5" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Apple iPad (10th Generation)">
  3565.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3566.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3567.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Apple iPad (10th Generation)
  3568.                </div>
  3569.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">with A14 Bionic chip, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 256GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera.
  3570.                    </div>
  3571.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3572.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3573.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3574.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3575.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$459.00</span>
  3576.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  3577.                    </div>
  3578.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3579.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$599.00</span>
  3580.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $140.00</span>
  3581.        </div>
  3582.    </div>
  3583.                            </div>
  3584.                        </div>
  3585.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3586.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3587.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3588.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3589.    </div>
  3590. </div>
  3591.                        </div>
  3592.                                    </div>
  3593.            </div>
  3594.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  3595.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRH1EVXCKNTEV2X4VH2CGB/images-2.fill.size_245x184.v1714592237.jpg" alt="Apple iPad (10th Generation)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  3596.                            </div>
  3597.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  3598.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRH1EVXCKNTEV2X4VH2CGB/images-2.fill.size_245x184.v1714592237.jpg" alt="Apple iPad (10th Generation)" width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  3599.                            </div>
  3600.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  3601.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  3602.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3603.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3604.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3605.    </div>
  3606. </div>
  3607.                    </div>
  3608.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  3609.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3610.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3611.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$459.00</span>
  3612.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  3613.                    </div>
  3614.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3615.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$599.00</span>
  3616.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $140.00</span>
  3617.        </div>
  3618.    </div>
  3619.                    </div>
  3620.                            </div>
  3621.        </div>
  3622. </a></div>
  3623. <p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/what-to-expect-at-apples-may-event" target="_blank">Apple's May event</a> will likely introduce the new 11th-generation iPad. If you're not necessarily into the latest specs and features and prefer getting a good deal on a capable Apple tablet, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/yLl4n?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=256%20GB%2010th%20Generation%20iPad&amp;short_url=yLl4n&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">256 GB 10th Generation iPad</a> is <strong>$459.99</strong> from Woot, down from $599. This iPad came out in late 2022 and received an <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-ipad-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">"excellent" review from PCMag</a> for its premium design (borrowed from the iPad Pro), the introduction of a USB-C charging, a better-placed and higher-quality webcam, and better cameras and speakers compared to the previous model. You'll get about six hours of battery too, making this arguably the best tablet under $500 that you can buy.</p><h2>The 2021 Apple iPad Pro</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3624.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FV02G1&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Apple+12.9%22+iPad+Pro+%282021+Model%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FV02G1" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label='Apple 12.9" iPad Pro (2021 Model)'>
  3625.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3626.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3627.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Apple 12.9" iPad Pro (2021 Model)
  3628.                </div>
  3629.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Wi-Fi + Cellular, 256GB Storage.
  3630.                    </div>
  3631.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3632.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3633.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3634.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3635.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$849.99</span>
  3636.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  3637.                    </div>
  3638.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3639.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,199.00</span>
  3640.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $349.01</span>
  3641.        </div>
  3642.    </div>
  3643.                            </div>
  3644.                        </div>
  3645.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3646.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3647.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3648.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3649.    </div>
  3650. </div>
  3651.                        </div>
  3652.                                    </div>
  3653.            </div>
  3654.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  3655.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRH1EVXCKNTEV2X4VH2CGB/images-3.fill.size_245x184.v1714592237.jpg" alt='Apple 12.9" iPad Pro (2021 Model)' width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  3656.                            </div>
  3657.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  3658.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTRH1EVXCKNTEV2X4VH2CGB/images-3.fill.size_245x184.v1714592237.jpg" alt='Apple 12.9" iPad Pro (2021 Model)' width="245" height="184" loading="lazy">
  3659.                            </div>
  3660.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  3661.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  3662.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3663.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3664.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3665.    </div>
  3666. </div>
  3667.                    </div>
  3668.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  3669.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3670.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3671.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$849.99</span>
  3672.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Woot</span>
  3673.                    </div>
  3674.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3675.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$1,199.00</span>
  3676.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $349.01</span>
  3677.        </div>
  3678.    </div>
  3679.                    </div>
  3680.                            </div>
  3681.        </div>
  3682. </a></div>
  3683. <p>The 2021 iPad Pro is a year older than the 10th-generation iPad, the ones Woot is selling offer some clear advantages. First, it's the cellular version, meaning you will not need to rely on wifi connectivity to have an internet connection. One of the biggest reasons to justify paying nearly twice the price over the standard iPad is that it features Apple's M1 processor. As Senior Tech Editor Jake Peterson explains, the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/m1-macbook-air-is-best-mac" target="_blank">M1 is still the best processor for most people</a> when it comes to balancing price and performance. <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-ipad-pro-129-inch-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">PCMag gave it a "good" review</a>, nothing that while it is a powerful machine, iPadOS isn't great for multi-tasking. Still, if you're looking for an iPad Pro, it's the best price for a new model you're likely to see for a while.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3684.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/get-the-latest-ipad-and-the-2021-ipad-pro-at-their-lowest-price-right-now</link>
  3685.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  3686.      <category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
  3687.    </item>
  3688.    <item>
  3689.      <title>You Aren't Using Your Pixel's Flashlight at Full Brightness</title>
  3690.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTWRD20PQ89T4E8V1E311SP</guid>
  3691.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 23:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
  3692.      <description>Google doesn't want you to see in the dark, apparently.</description>
  3693.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTWRD20PQ89T4E8V1E311SP/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3694.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Unlike other smartphones from companies like Apple and Samsung, Google doesn't let you control the flashlight intensity of your Pixel. While that might mean the torch is a bit brighter than you may like in some cases, at least it's always as bright as can be, right? Wrong. </p><p>As it turns out, not only does Google keep you to one level of brightness for your Pixel's flashlight, that set brightness isn't even the LED's maximum. It's not 90%, 80%, or 70%, either. In fact, it's 50%&mdash;<em>half</em> its potential brightness. If you've ever had trouble finding something in the dark with your <a href="https://zdcs.link/vdGZb?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Pixel%207&amp;short_url=vdGZb&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Pixel 7</a> or <a href="https://zdcs.link/V026Y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Pixel%208&amp;short_url=V026Y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Pixel 8</a>, that may be why.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1cfon29/the_flashlight_on_the_pixel_8_is_at_half/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Redditor Adnaks noticed the problem</a> and posted about it on r/GooglePixel on Sunday. Luckily, they have a solution: If you use the right third-party flashlight app, you can manually adjust your flashlight's intensity, including to degrees above 50%. Adnaks' recommendation is <a href="https://f-droid.org/packages/com.pdb82.flashlighttiramisu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Flashlight Tiramisu</a>, a flashlight app you need to sideload onto your Pixel, but <a href="https://www.androidpolice.com/pixel-8-only-turns-on-its-flashlight-at-half-intensity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Android Police says</a> other flashlight apps on the Play Store should work as well. </p><p>Whichever app you choose, fire it up and check what your flashlight's intensity is set to. If it's running off the Pixel's default setting, it should be at 50%, or exactly as bright as your Pixel's flashlight has always been. Just bump up the intensity if you need that extra brightness to find what you're looking for in the dark. </p><p>It's not clear why the Pixel of all phones won't let you adjust the brightness, or caps your brightness at 50%. It's possible Google thinks you'll damage the LED or your phone if you keep it at 100% for too long, but since plenty of other devices don't have this restriction, it seems a bit silly. That said, Apple enforces the opposite restrictions: Your iPhone's flashlight can actually be less bright than the lowest iOS setting, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/your-iphone-s-flashlight-can-go-dimmer-than-you-think-1850930045" target="_blank">but you need a shortcut to take advantage of it</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  3695.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-turn-up-pixel-flashlight</link>
  3696.      <dc:creator>Jake Peterson</dc:creator>
  3697.      <category><![CDATA[Android]]></category>
  3698.    </item>
  3699.    <item>
  3700.      <title>Android Users Are Getting a Fart Button</title>
  3701.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTYDGTMVXZKZ4N9X0RDQTGR</guid>
  3702.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 22:30:20 +0000</pubDate>
  3703.      <description>Now you can pretend to be a radio DJ while on hold with the IRS.</description>
  3704.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTYDGTMVXZKZ4N9X0RDQTGR/hero-image.png"/>
  3705.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Coming soon to an Android phone call near you: a fart button.</p><p>As first reported by <a href="https://9to5google.com/2024/04/30/google-phone-audio-emoji-rollout/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>9to5Google</u></a>, Android users on the beta update channel are noticing a new menu in calls made with the Google Phone app. Dubbed &ldquo;Audio Emoji,&rdquo; this surprise new feature gives callers a soundboard with six different sound effects, which both sides of the call can hear.</p><p>These include clapping, laughing, celebrations, a sad trombone, a &ldquo;ba dum tss,&rdquo; and, for some reason, farting.&nbsp;Really, the only thing that's "emoji" about them is that the buttons to play the sounds are emojis.</p><p>Audio emojis also include short graphics to go along with the sound effects, including a particularly foul animation of a &ldquo;chocolate ice cream cone&rdquo; squishing to the ground while surrounded by flies. You can guess which emoji that effect goes with. At the very least, it seems as if these animations are reserved for the sender, although they might play for the receiver if they also also have audio emojis enabled.</p><p>These questions will need to be answered over time, as the feature is rolling out slowly&mdash;I didn&rsquo;t have access to it on my <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-pixel-8-feature-is-one-you-won-t-find-on-any-o-1850902696" target="_blank">Pixel 8 Pro</a>, and Google has yet to even formally announce it.&nbsp;</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3706.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0CGTD5KVT%2Fref%3Dox_sc_act_title_1%3Fsmid%3DATVPDKIKX0DER%26psc%3D1&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Google+Pixel+8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=05hDh9rZO3TonTy7HnKOCAB&amp;offer_uuid=07kEXqRAh6YnK2KKUFrPh37&amp;object_type=07kEXqRAh6YnK2KKUFrPh37&amp;object_uuid=05hDh9rZO3TonTy7HnKOCAB" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Google Pixel 8">
  3707.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3708.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3709.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Google Pixel 8
  3710.                </div>
  3711.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3712.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3713.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3714.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3715.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$549.00</span>
  3716.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3717.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3718.            </div>
  3719.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3720.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$699.00</span>
  3721.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $150.00</span>
  3722.        </div>
  3723.    </div>
  3724.                            </div>
  3725.                        </div>
  3726.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3727.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3728.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3729.        <div>Learn More</div>
  3730.    </div>
  3731. </div>
  3732.                        </div>
  3733.                                    </div>
  3734.            </div>
  3735.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  3736.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/05hDh9rZO3TonTy7HnKOCAB/hero-image.fill.size_245x170.v1708308834.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 8" width="245" height="170" loading="lazy">
  3737.                            </div>
  3738.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  3739.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/05hDh9rZO3TonTy7HnKOCAB/hero-image.fill.size_245x170.v1708308834.jpg" alt="Google Pixel 8" width="245" height="170" loading="lazy">
  3740.                            </div>
  3741.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  3742.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  3743.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3744.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3745.        <div>Learn More</div>
  3746.    </div>
  3747. </div>
  3748.                    </div>
  3749.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  3750.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3751.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3752.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$549.00</span>
  3753.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  3754.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  3755.            </div>
  3756.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  3757.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$699.00</span>
  3758.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $150.00</span>
  3759.        </div>
  3760.    </div>
  3761.                    </div>
  3762.                            </div>
  3763.        </div>
  3764. </a></div>
  3765. <p>If you find yourself saddled with the Audio Emoji menu and would rather not see a small cartoon poop in your phone calls, you can disable the menu via an &ldquo;X&rdquo; in its top right corner. It&rsquo;s unclear whether this prevents friends from sending sound effects your way, though.</p><p>At any rate, there is a cooldown between emojis, so you at least won&rsquo;t have to worry about your call partner spamming you with a fart into sad trombone into ba dum tss combo.</p><p>Google&rsquo;s biggest hardware and software showcase for 2024, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/google-io-2024-announced" target="_blank"><u>Google I/O</u></a>, is just two weeks away. Here&rsquo;s hoping the tech giant has something a bit more impressive to show off come May 14.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3766.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/audio-emojis-on-android-smartphones</link>
  3767.      <dc:creator>Michelle Ehrhardt</dc:creator>
  3768.      <category><![CDATA[Android]]></category>
  3769.    </item>
  3770.    <item>
  3771.      <title>What People Are Getting Wrong this Week: AI-powered Gadgets</title>
  3772.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTQMZEHEYC85DWEDD4NMXHT</guid>
  3773.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3774.      <description>Two AI assistants have hit the market. They are not good.</description>
  3775.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQMZEHEYC85DWEDD4NMXHT/hero-image.png"/>
  3776.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Tech-interested people and early adopters have been extremely hyped for portable/wearable AI assistants since the Humane AI pin was announced in 2023. Sadly, blue sky techie visions of an easier, glossier, "in the flow" lifestyle powered by an ever-ready AI brain have been blown apart by the release of the first two products in the space. They are just not very good. At least for now.</p><p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/24126502/humane-ai-pin-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Reviews</a> of both The <a href="https://zdcs.link/NMl3y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Humane%20AI%20Pin&amp;short_url=NMl3y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Humane AI Pin </a>and Teenage Engineering's <a href="https://zdcs.link/LbZ6X?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Rabbit%20R1&amp;short_url=LbZ6X&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Rabbit R1</a> are are <a href="https://mashable.com/review/rabbit-r1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">not positive.</a> The general consensus: maybe it would be cool to have a personal artificial intelligence device you could whip out at a moment's notice to augment your brain, but neither of these products are that. Not only do they not live up to their hype, they don't work very well. </p><p>The Humane AI Pin is the more ambitious, "serious" product of the pair. Retailing for $699 and requiring a monthly subscription fee to function, the Pin is billed as "your assistant and second brain, allowing you to be present and in flow," but in reality, the AI is slow and often wrong, the battery life is short, and the UI is terrible, leading even-handed tech reviewer Marques Brownlee to declare the Humane AI Pin "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TitZV6k8zfA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">the worst product I have ever reviewed</a>."</p><p>Although it functions a lot like the AI Pin, the Rabbit R1 is more toy-like, both in appearance and price. It's safety orange with a big control knob, and it "only" costs $199 with no subscription fee. But the AI is often wrong, the battery life is short, and the UI is terrible, leading Marques Brownlee to declare the R1 "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddTV12hErTc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Barely Reviewable.</a>"</p><p>And all this is leaving aside the unanswered question at the core of both devices: do people even <em>want</em> a dedicated AI device? As many have pointed out, neither the Pin nor the Rabbit do much of anything that your phone can't already do. </p><h2>"Trust me" products and paying full price for half-baked things</h2><p>Both the Rabbit and the Pin promise more features in the future, including seamless integration with your other devices, and the ability to have your AI assistant complete multi-step tasks with a simple command like, "book me a vacation in Mexico." It all hints at a phone-free, AI-powered future that has a certain appeal. But for now, the Pin and Rabbit are "trust me" products: things that <em>could</em> be really cool&mdash;once the software is updated, the integration is completed, the bugs are worked out, etc. </p><p>Improving an existing product after you buy it through software updates is one thing&mdash;video games like <em>No Man's Sky</em> and <em>Fallout 76</em> were massive disappointments at launch, but are pretty good now, and Tesla's self-driving feature is now more than an empty promise on the car's touchscreens&mdash;but there's nothing that guarantees Humane's Pin won't go the way of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-obtain-juice-without-a-juicero-1794714370" target="_blank">the Juicero</a>, or that Teenage Engineering won't forget the R1 and go back to making overpriced (but extremely popular) <a href="https://zdcs.link/b12Dw?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Opinions&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=drum%20machines&amp;short_url=b12Dw&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">drum machines</a>, leaving consumers with expensive paperweights they can store next their Zune player. </p><h2>Avoid early adopter regret by living in the past </h2><p>To avoid the buyer's regret that can come from this almost-vaporware, you can simply wait to purchase tech products that are at least 18 months old. You'll skip all those buggy launches, every game console you buy will have plenty of games, and your personal AI assistant will have tons of apps. If you wait even longer, say three years, you could save a lot of money by buying everything when the price is lowered because the version 2.0 is coming to market. </p><p>Letting the dust clear before jumping into a new thing is what a most people do anyway, but that waiting is difficult for early adopters. Luckily, I have a solution. It involves virtual time travel. If you were to carefully curate the tech media you consume, and have every device you own only serve information that's a few years out-of-date, it would make last-generation gear new, to you at least. This would have been nearly impossible in the past, but it's doable now. To make it happen, you'll first need to buy a personal AI assistant like the Rabbit R1 or the Humane AI Pin. With your AI assistant is in hand, explain the situation in common English. Tell it to back-date any tech-related story by three years so you never know when anything is coming out. It will seamlessly integrate with your phone, computer, and other devices, translating your simple command into complex actions, and editing webpages and YouTube videos on the fly so you can&mdash;on second thought, that won't work. Maybe just wait until the things work.</p><h2>A brief, unrelated note about whether Donald Trump farts a lot</h2><p>Last week in this column I evaluated the truth or falsity of various stories about <a href="https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/donald-trump-trial-myths" target="_blank">Donald Trump's criminal trial</a>. I rated the idea that the ex-president farts in court as "false," but I heard from Brett Meiselas of <a href="https://www.meidastouch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Meidas Touch</a>, the source of the "news," who wrote, "Our coverage is based entirely on facts by experts, and we would not report something unless it is well sourced and corroborated."</p><p>Perhaps the journalists in the courtroom feel that reporting on flatulence is beneath them, so they don't want to go on record. Anyway, I've changed the designation of "Does Donald Trump fart in court?" to "unconfirmed." No one can prove he <em>didn't</em> fart, and Meiselas passionately stands behind his story, so sure, whatever. Maybe he farts all the time. </p><p>(I don't want to think about Donald Trump anymore because it's depressing.)</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3777.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/humane-ai-pin-and-rabbit-r1</link>
  3778.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  3779.      <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
  3780.    </item>
  3781.    <item>
  3782.      <title>The Asus Rog Zephyrus G16 Is Solid All Around</title>
  3783.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ</guid>
  3784.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 21:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3785.      <description>A solid creator laptop that doubles as a gaming machine.</description>
  3786.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/hero-image.png"/>
  3787.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves about gaming laptops is how over-the-top they can look and feel. I get it. Many of the best gaming laptops have a ton of fans, are usually packed with RGB lighting, and that flash is a badge of honor for some. But flash doesn't make the laptop run any better, and for the multitaskers among us, the slicker and often more streamlined designs of productivity laptops have a certain appeal, especially if you plan to take your machine out in public. </p><p>While <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/asus-rog-strix-scar-18-review-one-of-the-best-gaming-laptops-ive-used" target="_blank">I loved what Asus did with the heftier ROG Strix Scar 18</a>, the much smaller and more minimalist design of the <a href="https://zdcs.link/weLqK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Zephyrus%20G16&amp;short_url=weLqK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Zephyrus G16</a> is a sweet spot that delivers a solid all-around experience for gaming, work, and whatever else you might throw at it. It's primarily billed as a "creator" laptop, but it does game well, too. I've spent the last few weeks with the G16 and testing it out as my daily driver, and it's one of the first Windows laptops that hasn't made me miss my <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/m1-macbook-air-is-best-mac" target="_blank">MacBook Air</a> on the first day.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  3788.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FweLqK&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=ASUS+ROG+Zephyrus+G16&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FweLqK" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16">
  3789.    <div class="my-2 ml-4 font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">
  3790.            </div>
  3791.                <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  3792.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  3793.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16
  3794.                </div>
  3795.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  3796.                                            <div class="self-end">
  3797.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3798.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3799.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,999.99</span>
  3800.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Best Buy</span>
  3801.                    </div>
  3802.    </div>
  3803.                            </div>
  3804.                        </div>
  3805.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  3806.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3807.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3808.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3809.    </div>
  3810. </div>
  3811.                        </div>
  3812.                                    </div>
  3813.            </div>
  3814.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  3815.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-3.fill.size_245x167.v1714591772.jpg" alt="ROG Zephyrus G16" width="245" height="167" loading="lazy">
  3816.                            </div>
  3817.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  3818.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-3.fill.size_245x167.v1714591772.jpg" alt="ROG Zephyrus G16" width="245" height="167" loading="lazy">
  3819.                            </div>
  3820.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  3821.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  3822.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  3823.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  3824.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  3825.    </div>
  3826. </div>
  3827.                    </div>
  3828.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  3829.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  3830.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  3831.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$1,999.99</span>
  3832.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Best Buy</span>
  3833.                    </div>
  3834.    </div>
  3835.                    </div>
  3836.                            </div>
  3837.        </div>
  3838. </a></div>
  3839. <h2>A solid foundation for work and play</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3840.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3841.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-1.fill.size_2000x1334.v1714507749.jpg" alt="ROG Zephyrus G16 laptop in use" width="2000" height="1334" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-1.fill.size_800x534.v1714507749.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-1.fill.size_1400x934.v1714507749.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-1.fill.size_2000x1334.v1714507749.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3842.            </div>
  3843.            <div class="mt-2">
  3844.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3845.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Asus</span>
  3846.                    </div>
  3847.    </div>
  3848. <p>The G16 follows in the footsteps of this year's smaller <a href="https://zdcs.link/qk8py?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=ROG%20Zephyrus%20G14%20model&amp;short_url=qk8py&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">ROG Zephyrus G14 model</a>, offering a solid chassis that is thinner and lighter than the heftier Asus ROG laptops on the market right now. It comes with either a beautiful 16-inch Nebula OLED display running at 2560 x 1600 and 240Hz or a cheaper and almost equally as pretty Nebula IPS panel running at the same resolution and refresh rate.</p><p>All of that pairs well with the slim and lightweight chassis, which weighs in at just 4.29 pounds&mdash;very impressive when you consider it can sport up to an Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card. The trackpad and keyboard here are also both really solid, though the larger size of the trackpad did take some getting used to when I first started toying around with it. The keyboard feedback feels nice to type on, as well, and the stroke depth of 1.7 mm should be well-suited to most typing styles.</p><p>Here's a look at the specs on the model that Asus sent me:</p><ul><li><p>CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H</p></li><li><p>GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070</p></li><li><p>Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X 7467 RAM</p></li><li><p>Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD</p></li><li><p>Screen size: 16-inch ROG Nebula OLED</p></li><li><p>Resolution: 2560 x 1600</p></li><li><p>Refresh rate: 240Hz</p></li></ul><p>These specs may differ depending on your model. You can compare the <a href="https://zdcs.link/b12me?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=full%20list%20of%20available%20specs&amp;short_url=b12me&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">full list of available specs</a> on Asus's website.</p><p>The particular model that Asus sent me for testing only featured 16GB of RAM and an RTX 4070, but that was more than enough power for most of the gaming I did. You might want to sacrifice some of the higher settings on more intensive games (more on that in a moment), and I'd recommend going with 32GB of RAM if you plan to game a lot, but I never felt that I was too hamstrung by the smaller RAM count. The RAM is soldered into the laptop, which means you won't be able to upgrade it, so make sure you get what you need at the time of purchase.</p><p>The speakers on this laptop are surprisingly nice, with punchy sound that isn't always the best but is more than passable if you don't feel like putting on headphones. The OLED display is beautiful, with a great amount of color and depth, but it can be somewhat dark, even at full brightness. The 240Hz refresh rate still made for really smooth gaming, though, and working around the brightness was easy enough in most cases.</p><p>Overall, Asus sets a solid foundation for the Zephyrus G16 to build off of. The design is elegant and feels nice to carry around, and the metal chassis helps to give it a premium feel. And, if you're more of an RGB person, you also get what Asus calls "slash lighting" across the lid, allowing for some RGB customization without going overboard.</p><h2>Performance and battery life</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3849.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3850.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-2.fill.size_2000x1334.v1714507749.jpg" alt="Asus ROG zephyrus G16 laptop gaming center" width="2000" height="1334" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-2.fill.size_800x534.v1714507749.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-2.fill.size_1400x934.v1714507749.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRA05TQ8903VAX0GXAKN8WJ/images-2.fill.size_2000x1334.v1714507749.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3851.            </div>
  3852.            <div class="mt-2">
  3853.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3854.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Asus</span>
  3855.                    </div>
  3856.    </div>
  3857. <p>Of course, one of the biggest compromises you make with a laptop is performance. That's because much of the higher-end and better-performing hardware is too big and bulky to fit into a streamlined and lightweight machine. That isn't necessarily the case here, though, as Asus has found a way to pack an RTX 4090 into the Zephyrus G16, if you buy the right model.</p><p>While I wasn't testing the 4090 model, the 4070 in my test machine delivered reliable performance, though I did have to tweak game settings a bit to make the most of that 240Hz refresh rate on the OLED panel.</p><p>Testing the laptop in 3DMark 13, I received the following results:</p><ul><li><p>3DMark13 - CPU profile: max - 8198, 16 - 7634, 8 - 5905, 2 - 1913, 1 - 957</p></li><li><p>3D Mark 13 Fire Strike (DX11): 26478 (Graphics - 30869, Physics - 28574, Combined - 12171)</p></li><li><p>3D Mark 13 Port Royal: 7294</p></li><li><p>3D Mark 13 Time Spy (DX12): 12076 (Graphics - 12186, CPU - 11508)</p></li></ul><p>All of these benchmarks were captured using the G16's Turbo profile with the GPU set to Standard mode, and the screen set at the native resolution. Benchmarks give us a good idea of what the laptop is capable of, but they don't really show the full picture of what you can expect from day-to-day use. That's where we have to look at individual games.</p><p>While testing out <em>Cyberpunk 2077</em>, one of the most intensive games on the market, I was able to achieve solid frames-per-second (FPS) of around 50&ndash;55 FPS when running the game on Ultra settings with RTX off and using DX12. When running it in the Silent mode, which cuts performance to help minimize fan noise, the FPS dropped to around 29-35, which isn't ideal but still generally playable. I also tested <em>Red Dead Redemption 2</em>, which saw around 62&ndash;70 FPS when running on Ultra Optimized with DX12 and TAA. Silent mode netted a solid 50&ndash;53 FPS at the same settings.</p><p>I also tested the in-game benchmarks for both <em>Cyberpunk 2077</em> and <em>Red Dead Redemption 2</em>, as I like to get an idea of how things perform in both the live game and their benchmarks when available. <em>Cyberpunk</em> averaged around 52 FPS during my benchmarks, while <em>RDR2</em> returned an average of 50 FPS. These numbers don't take full advantage of the higher refresh rate the laptop offers, but if you want to experience the highest visual fidelity, then you're going to see lower frame returns like this. Both benchmarks were conducted on the same settings as my live gameplay tests.</p><p>Ultimately, if you're planning to game, you're likely going to want to use the higher performance modes, especially if you want to take advantage of higher graphics settings. Just keep in mind that the fans are going to get much louder in turbo mode, but they never too overbearing, so long as I had headphones on.</p><p>Battery life is another important thing to take into account, and when playing in the less power-intensive models like Silent, I was able to eke out four to five hours of battery life while working and browsing the internet. Gaming took huge chunks out of that, though, especially when playing more intensive titles. That isn't great, and this was just while running the laptop at the most basic settings. </p><p>There are tons of features you can take advantage of, like Eco mode, which can gain a couple more hours of time. Still, if you're running performance mode on your battery, you're going to see two to three hours before you'll need to find a charging station, especially if you're running more intense content like 4K videos. As such, I'd only recommend running Silent mode when using the laptop on battery power, unless you really like to tinker.</p><h2>Is the ROG Zephyrus G16 worth it?</h2><p>Starting at $2,199.99, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is anything but cheap. But the premium design comes with a lot of solid features for that price. If you really want the best that the G16 has to offer, you're going to need to go for one of the more expensive options, which can range up to $3,499.99. Those higher-end models come with 32GB of RAM, which I'd recommend upgrading to since you can't install more after purchasing.</p><p>Overall, though, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is a solid contender if you're looking for a good productivity laptop that has a lot of gaming power behind it. It's lightweight compared to most other gaming-ready laptops, and the aluminum chassis provides a premium feel that's hard to overlook if you're in the market for a Windows laptop that won't make you regret carrying it around. </p><p>The higher-end models also come with two separate power bricks: a larger brick for when you plan to use high-performance modes and a smaller brick that is perfect for traveling when you don't plan to game. At roughly $1,999.99 when you buy it from Best Buy, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/weLqK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Reviews&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=16GB%20RAM%20model&amp;short_url=weLqK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">16GB RAM model</a> that Asus sent me is a solid laptop for gamers who don't need to hit the highest frame rates on the newest games.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3858.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/asus-rog-zephyrus-g16-2024-review</link>
  3859.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  3860.      <category><![CDATA[Hardware]]></category>
  3861.    </item>
  3862.    <item>
  3863.      <title>LinkedIn Now Has Three ‘Wordle’ Style Puzzle Games for Some Reason</title>
  3864.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB</guid>
  3865.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3866.      <description>(The reason is “engagement.”)</description>
  3867.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/hero-image.png"/>
  3868.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Once a simple social network for posting resumes and job listings and networking with peers, then a blog platform, and more recently an <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-turn-off-ai-on-linkedin" target="_blank"><u>AI service</u></a>, LinkedIn is now following in the footsteps of <em>The New York Times</em> in launching three new <a href="https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/wordle" target="_blank"><em>Wordle</em></a> style daily puzzle games, which it no doubt fervently hopes will keep you coming back to the site at least that often.</p><p><em>Pinpoint</em>, <em>Crossclimb</em>, and <em>Queens</em> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/linkedin-news-introduces-games-6715874/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">launched today in the LinkedIn</a> mobile app and on its website. The games are somewhat unintuitively listed under the <strong>My Network</strong> section on both mobile and<strong> </strong>desktop. (Alternatively, just click <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/games/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>this link</u></a> or type <a href="http://linkedin.com/games" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">linkedin.com/games</a> into your browser.)</p><p>Like Wordle, each game can be played once per day, with LinkedIn keeping track of your scores, streaks, and leaderboard positions along the way. You can also get competitive with your network by sharing your scores with your connections.</p><p><em>Pinpoint</em> is about drawing connections. The game will reveal new clues with each wrong guess, and your goal is to find the common thread in each of the clues in as few guesses as possible. If all clues have been revealed and you still can&rsquo;t guess the answer, you lose.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3869.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3870.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-1.fill.size_706x750.v1714588488.png" alt="Pinpoint on LinkedIn" width="706" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-1.fill.size_800x850.v1714588488.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-1.fill.size_1400x1487.v1714588488.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-1.fill.size_2000x2124.v1714588488.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3871.            </div>
  3872.            <div class="mt-2">
  3873.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3874.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt/Lifehacker</span>
  3875.                    </div>
  3876.    </div>
  3877. <p><em>Crossclimb</em> is like a mix between crossword puzzles and trivia. The game will first give brief definitions for a series of words. Once you&rsquo;ve guessed each word, it&rsquo;ll be your job to rearrange them from top to bottom so that only one letter changes at a time. Then, you&rsquo;ll be given one final clue to find the top and bottom words in the sequence. It&rsquo;s a bit on the complicated side for a &ldquo;daily check in&rdquo; puzzle game, so it&rsquo;s best to learn through playing.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3878.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3879.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-2.fill.size_383x750.v1714588488.jpg" alt="Crossclimb on LinkedIn" width="383" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-2.fill.size_800x1568.v1714588488.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-2.fill.size_1400x2743.v1714588488.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-2.fill.size_2000x3919.v1714588488.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3880.            </div>
  3881.            <div class="mt-2">
  3882.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3883.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: LinkedIn</span>
  3884.                    </div>
  3885.    </div>
  3886. <p><em>Queens</em> is like <em>Sodoku</em>, but with crowns instead of numbers. Your goal is to place a crown in each row, column, and colored section without overlapping or having adjacent crowns. It&rsquo;s possibly the simplest puzzle here, at least in terms of its rules, but for some reason, LinkedIn has seen fit to give it the longest tutorial of the bunch.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3887.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3888.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-3.fill.size_504x750.v1714588488.png" alt="Queens on LinkedIn" width="504" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-3.fill.size_800x1190.v1714588488.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-3.fill.size_1400x2082.v1714588488.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQ04XM5K59E9TP9HMG4XRB/images-3.fill.size_2000x2974.v1714588488.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3889.            </div>
  3890.            <div class="mt-2">
  3891.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3892.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt/Lifehacker</span>
  3893.                    </div>
  3894.    </div>
  3895. <p>Games might seem an odd fit for LinkedIn, but as <a href="https://mashable.com/article/x-twitter-ads-lost-revenue-75m" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>ad revenue disappears</u></a> and other social media websites do their best to keep users on their own platforms, developing games is proving to be a great way to make &ldquo;sticky&rdquo; content and keep engagement numbers high. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/29/wordle-nyt-games-news-media-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>According to Axios</u></a>, The <em>New York Times</em> accrued over four billion plays last year on <em>Wordle</em> alone, so you can hardly fault LinkedIn for reaching for a piece of that pie.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3896.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/how-to-play-linkedins-new-wordle-style-puzzle-games</link>
  3897.      <dc:creator>Michelle Ehrhardt</dc:creator>
  3898.      <category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category>
  3899.    </item>
  3900.    <item>
  3901.      <title>How to Hide Your Phone Number on Android and iPhone</title>
  3902.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850771363</guid>
  3903.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  3904.      <description>With these three methods, you can place phone calls anonymously.</description>
  3905.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/hero-image.jpg"/>
  3906.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you call someone, you usually want them to know who you are. Usually. On the flip side, there are times when you might want or need to hide your phone number from the person on the other end of the call. Whether you use an Android or iPhone, you can easily hide your number using one of three options.</p><p>Note that some carriers may override your ability to block your Caller ID, requiring you to block your number through them directly. But on the hardware level, the basic steps vary depending on your device.</p><h2>How to hide your number on iOS</h2><p>To block your phone number on your iPhone, you'll want to follow these steps.</p><p>First, navigate to <strong>Settings.</strong></p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3907.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3908.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-1.fill.size_346x750.v1714589633.png" alt="iOS settings list" width="346" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-1.fill.size_800x1734.v1714589633.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-1.fill.size_1400x3034.v1714589633.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-1.fill.size_2000x4335.v1714589633.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3909.            </div>
  3910.            <div class="mt-2">
  3911.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3912.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  3913.                    </div>
  3914.    </div>
  3915. <p>Select <strong>Phone </strong>and then&nbsp;<strong>Show My Caller ID</strong>.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3916.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3917.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-2.fill.size_346x750.v1714589633.png" alt="iOS Phone settings list" width="346" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-2.fill.size_800x1734.v1714589633.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-2.fill.size_1400x3034.v1714589633.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-2.fill.size_2000x4335.v1714589633.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3918.            </div>
  3919.            <div class="mt-2">
  3920.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3921.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  3922.                    </div>
  3923.    </div>
  3924. <p>This will bring up a new list of options. Find and disable the toggle for &ldquo;Show My Caller ID.&rdquo;</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3925.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3926.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-3.fill.size_346x750.v1714589633.png" alt="iOS Caller ID toggle setting" width="346" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-3.fill.size_800x1734.v1714589633.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-3.fill.size_1400x3034.v1714589633.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-3.fill.size_2000x4335.v1714589633.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3927.            </div>
  3928.            <div class="mt-2">
  3929.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3930.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  3931.                    </div>
  3932.    </div>
  3933. <h2>How to hide your number on Android</h2><p>On Android, the name of specific settings may vary depending on which version of Android you're on and what brand of smartphone you're using. The basic steps should remain the same, though. </p><p>First, open the menu from the Phone app by pressing in the top-right corner. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3934.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3935.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-4.fill.size_337x750.v1714589633.png" alt="Pixel 8 Pro Phone app settings menu" width="337" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-4.fill.size_800x1781.v1714589633.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-4.fill.size_1400x3117.v1714589633.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-4.fill.size_2000x4452.v1714589633.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3936.            </div>
  3937.            <div class="mt-2">
  3938.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3939.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  3940.                    </div>
  3941.    </div>
  3942. <p>Tap <strong>Settings</strong> and then find the <strong>Call</strong> or <strong>Calling Accounts</strong> option.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3943.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3944.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-5.fill.size_337x750.v1714589633.png" alt="Phone app settings on Pixel 8 Pro" width="337" height="750" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-5.fill.size_800x1781.v1714589633.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-5.fill.size_1400x3117.v1714589633.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GTPA2SVFNZKKC0PY81N3D/images-5.fill.size_2000x4452.v1714589633.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3945.            </div>
  3946.            <div class="mt-2">
  3947.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3948.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Joshua Hawkins</span>
  3949.                    </div>
  3950.    </div>
  3951. <p>Now, depending on your phone, you'll need to do one of two things. If you're on a Pixel device, tap the SIM that you want to manage the Caller ID for and then select <strong>Additional Settings</strong>. </p><p>Now, tap <strong>Caller ID</strong> and change it to <strong>Hide Number</strong> in the list that appears in the popup. Keep in mind that your Pixel device will need to have an active SIM in order to manage the Caller ID.</p><p>On other Android devices, select <strong>Supplementary Services</strong> (some devices call it <strong>Additional Settings</strong>) from the Call or Calling Accounts menu.</p><p>You should now see a <strong>Show Your Caller ID</strong> option. Toggle it to <strong>Never</strong> to block your name and number when making phone calls.</p><h2>Block your number using a star code</h2><p>This method has been around for decades. Depending on where you live, you can press *67 on your phone&rsquo;s keyboard before entering the phone number you want to hide your number from. When the other end receives your call, you&rsquo;ll pop up as &ldquo;Unknown Number&rdquo; or &ldquo;Unknown Caller.&rdquo; This method is especially helpful for checking if someone has blocked your phone number, as it&rsquo;ll bypass the block, allowing you to contact the person anyway.</p><p>However, if you&rsquo;re in the United Kingdom or Ireland, you must type 141 before the phone number instead of *67.</p><h2>Hide your phone number through your carrier</h2><p>This method is the most complex, requiring you to reach out specifically to your carrier. Carriers like AT&amp;T and T-Mobile will allow you to hide your number by simply calling customer service and having them activate a blocking setting in their system. They may ask why you want to hide your number, so think up a reason before giving them a call.</p><p>If you get your phone service through Verizon, you can hide your phone number and Caller ID by finding the <strong>Block Services</strong> setting on the Verizon website or in the MyVerizon app. My Verizon is available on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vzw.hss.myverizon&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-verizon/id416023011" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">iOS</a>, so you can easily manage your caller ID-blocking features wherever you are.</p><p>Alternatively, if you ever need your phone number to show up while using this particular method, you can always dial *82 before dialing the phone number you want to call, which will force your Caller ID to appear instead of Unknown Caller.</p><p>Unfortunately, you can&rsquo;t block your number for everyone. Some organizations, businesses, and emergency services will still be able to see your phone number and name. If you want to lean into full anonymity, you can always use calling apps like Google Voice or Burner instead.</p><p>Even when you hide your number, spammers can still figure out your digits. I also recommend learning <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-block-annoying-spam-calls-and-texts-in-android-n-1785691168" target="_blank">how to block annoying spam calls on Android</a>, to help cut down on the random calls you might be getting throughout the day.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  3952.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/how-to-hide-your-phone-number-on-android-and-iphone-1850771363</link>
  3953.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  3954.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  3955.    </item>
  3956.    <item>
  3957.      <title>8 Telegram Privacy Settings You Should Enable Immediately</title>
  3958.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2</guid>
  3959.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 20:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
  3960.      <description>Reclaim your privacy on Telegram with these settings.</description>
  3961.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/hero-image.png"/>
  3962.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-automatically-delete-all-telegram-messages-1846365599" target="_blank">Telegram</a> is one of the world's most popular messaging apps, but many of its privacy features, like end-to-end encrypted chats, aren't actually enabled by default. Not only are these features a bit buried, there are also ways to control what personal information of yours Telegram users can see, such as old profile pictures. If you use Telegram regularly, you should definitely check out these eight privacy features. </p><h2>Use secret chats for privacy</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3963.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3964.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png" alt="A secret chat in Telegram." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-7.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-7.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-7.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3965.            </div>
  3966.            <div class="mt-2">
  3967.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3968.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3969.                    </div>
  3970.    </div>
  3971. <p>Unlike apps such as <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-apps-for-safer-protesting-1843856359" target="" rel="noopener" title="open in a new window">Signal</a> and <a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-you-should-encrypt-your-whatsapp-backups-in-icloud-1848064313" target="" rel="noopener" title="open in a new window">WhatsApp</a>, Telegram&rsquo;s chats aren&rsquo;t end-to-end encrypted by default&mdash;which means your chats aren&rsquo;t truly private out of the box. However, Telegram does have a feature called Secret Chats, which is protected by end-to-end encryption.</p><p>You can enable encryption by opening any chat in Telegram, tapping the <strong>contact&rsquo;s name</strong> &gt; <strong>three-dots icon</strong> &gt; <strong>Start Secret Chat</strong>. Your contact will receive a secret chat request, and once they approve it, the two of you will be private.</p><p>There are some inconveniences with Telegram&rsquo;s Secret Chat feature, the biggest being that it doesn&rsquo;t work on all devices. In other words, you may be able to start these chats from your phone, but you won't be able to start one from Telegram&rsquo;s desktop apps. Secret Chats are also device-specific, which means that if you start a chat from your iPhone, you won&rsquo;t be able to see it on your Android.</p><h2>Hide your date of birth</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3972.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3973.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-9.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714582083.jpg" alt="A screenshot of Telegram showing how to hide your date of birth." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-9.fill.size_800x450.v1714582083.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-9.fill.size_1400x788.v1714582083.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-9.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714582083.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3974.            </div>
  3975.            <div class="mt-2">
  3976.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3977.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3978.                    </div>
  3979.    </div>
  3980. <p>If you've added your birthday to your Telegram profile, you can hide it from people who don't need to see it. Go to <strong>Telegram Settings &gt; Date of Birth &gt; Nobody</strong>.</p><h2>Add a passcode lock</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3981.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3982.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png" alt="A screenshot of the passcode lock setup page for Telegram." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3983.            </div>
  3984.            <div class="mt-2">
  3985.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3986.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3987.                    </div>
  3988.    </div>
  3989. <p>Finally, you can keep your Telegram chats away from prying eyes by setting up a passcode lock in the app. Visit <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Passcode</strong>. </p><h2>Delete contacts stored on Telegram servers</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3990.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  3991.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png" alt="A screenshot of Telegram settings, showing the option to delete synced contacts." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-2.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  3992.            </div>
  3993.            <div class="mt-2">
  3994.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  3995.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  3996.                    </div>
  3997.    </div>
  3998. <p>You can use Telegram without giving it access to your address book. If you had previously given Telegram access to your contacts, you can also easily delete all of your contacts from Telegram&rsquo;s servers. Doing this will leave you with usernames and phone numbers in your chat list instead of the names stored in your contact list. This makes it harder to identify who you&rsquo;re texting, but for some people the trade-off is worth it for better privacy.</p><p>You can accomplish this by going to <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Data Settings &gt; Delete Synced Contacts</strong>.</p><h2>Hide your phone number</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  3999.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4000.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-6.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png" alt="A screenshot of Telegram settings, showing the option to hide your phone number." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-6.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-6.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-6.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4001.            </div>
  4002.            <div class="mt-2">
  4003.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4004.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  4005.                    </div>
  4006.    </div>
  4007. <p>You can also hide your phone number from everyone in Telegram. Go to <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Phone Number</strong>. Select <strong>Nobody</strong> to hide your number from everyone.</p><h2>Stop people from calling you or adding you to groups</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4008.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4009.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png" alt="A screenshot of Telegram settings, showing the option to stop people from calling you." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-4.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-4.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4010.            </div>
  4011.            <div class="mt-2">
  4012.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4013.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  4014.                    </div>
  4015.    </div>
  4016. <p>Telegram calls are a good alternative to regular phone calls, but if you don&rsquo;t want to use the app's calling features, you can disable them. Visit <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Calls</strong> and select <strong>Nobody</strong>. You can also stop strangers from adding you to Telegram groups by going to <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Invites</strong> and selecting <strong>My Contacts</strong>. </p><h2>Remove links to your account in forwarded messages</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4017.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4018.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png" alt="A screenshot of Telegram settings, showing the option to remove links to your account from forwarded messages." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-5.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-5.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4019.            </div>
  4020.            <div class="mt-2">
  4021.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4022.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  4023.                    </div>
  4024.    </div>
  4025. <p>If someone forwards one of your texts to others on Telegram, the app adds a link to your profile along with the forwarded message. Stop this from happening by going to <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Forwarded Messages</strong>. Select <strong>Nobody</strong> from this list to remove the link. Your name will still be attached to forwarded messages, but you can update your Telegram bio to change your name to just initials or your nickname for better privacy.</p><h2>Delete your old profile pictures (or hide them from strangers)</h2><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4026.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4027.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.webp" alt="A screenshot of Telegram settings, showing the option to remove old profile photos." width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-8.fill.size_800x450.v1714581022.webp 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-8.fill.size_1400x788.v1714581022.webp 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTF98KP0KKNJ3NEC72R7YE2/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714581022.webp 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4028.            </div>
  4029.            <div class="mt-2">
  4030.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4031.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Pranay Parab</span>
  4032.                    </div>
  4033.    </div>
  4034. <p>Every profile picture you've ever uploaded to Telegram is stored on your profile, and anyone can go to your profile and swipe to see them. If you want to avoid that, tap your profile picture on Telegram and hit <strong>Edit</strong>. Swipe right to see all your old photos.</p><p>On iPhone, delete these photos by tapping the trash icon in the bottom-right corner of the page. On Android, tap the three-dots in the top-right corner and select <strong>Delete</strong>. While you&rsquo;re at it, you can also hide your profile picture from strangers. Go to <strong>Telegram settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Profile Photo</strong>. Select <strong>My Contacts</strong> on the next page.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4035.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/telegram-privacy-settings-you-should-enable-immediately</link>
  4036.      <dc:creator>Pranay Parab</dc:creator>
  4037.      <category><![CDATA[Mobile Apps]]></category>
  4038.    </item>
  4039.    <item>
  4040.      <title>40 of the Best Animated Movies You Can Stream Right Now</title>
  4041.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850942505</guid>
  4042.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4043.      <description>Whether you're a kid or an adult, there's nothing wrong with getting a little animated.</description>
  4044.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GKBM5Y66QBEAGRH6HNSS1/hero-image.jpg"/>
  4045.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>From the earliest days of cinema history, cartoons were never just for kids, and it&rsquo;s important not to confuse the medium with a genre. </p><p>Animation has produced movies that are charming, romantic, harrowing, musical, magical, dystopian, funny...and pretty much every other adjective you might use to describe a story that you&rsquo;d find in a live-action. That said, the best animated movies tell stories that are particularly well-suited to a cartoon canvas. Here are 40 of those that you can stream right now, spanning many genres and age ranges.</p><hr><h2><em>Turning Red</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4046.    <div id="video-container-XdKzUbAiswE"></div>
  4047. </div>
  4048.  
  4049.  
  4050. <p>Whenever 13-year-old Mei Lee gets too excited, she turns into a giant red panda, which happens for the first time the morning after her overprotective mother embarrasses her in front of the older boy she has a crush on. A bright and lively coming-of-age story about the virtues of embracing change and letting your giant red panda flag fly, it's very much a movie that works with kids&mdash;but the lessons here also apply to parents, who might need reminding that it's OK to let kids grow up and be a little (or a lot) different.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Wendell &amp; Wild</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4051.    <div id="video-container-KNUZsLfAMqk"></div>
  4052. </div>
  4053.  
  4054.  
  4055. <p>This was the first film since 2009 from director Henry Selick, of <em>A Nightmare Before Christmas</em> and <em>Coraline</em> (both movies to which we'll return, don't worry). Having not lost a step, and joined here by co-writer Jordan Peele, the director fashioned another stop-motion masterpiece, this time about a couple of demon brothers (Peele and Keegan-Michael Key) and the troubled young woman (voiced by Lyric Ross) who they try to manipulate into helping them start their own demon carnival. Turns out she's not such an easy mark.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Soul</em> (2020)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4056.    <div id="video-container-xOsLIiBStEs"></div>
  4057. </div>
  4058.  
  4059.  
  4060. <p>Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a pretty good jazz musician&mdash;but the high school music teacher&rsquo;s life hasn&rsquo;t been quite all he dreamed. At least until he falls down a manhole, dies, and discovers what it really means to have soul. This Pixar movie about finding your purpose won a Best Animated Feature Oscar, as well as one for Best Original Score for the work of Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>The Mitchells vs. the Machines</em> (2021)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4061.    <div id="video-container-_ak5dFt8Ar0"></div>
  4062. </div>
  4063.  
  4064.  
  4065. <p>Danny McBride voices technophobic Rick Mitchell, who teams up with his movie-obsessed daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) to save the world in this smartass-yet-heartwarming animated movie. Aspiring filmmaker Katie is constantly at odds with her dad, whose nature and tool obsessions (and general anxiety) leave him out of the loop when it comes to her dreams. Instead of letting Katie take a flight to college, Ricks opts for a road trip to help the whole family bond, which isn&rsquo;t working out too well, even before a tech company&rsquo;s AI goes rogue and threatens the entire world in hilariously animated ways. The family has to learn to respect their differences and understand each other in order to beat the machines.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse</em> (2018)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4066.    <div id="video-container-g4Hbz2jLxvQ"></div>
  4067. </div>
  4068.  
  4069.  
  4070. <p>Peter Parker is a supporting character in the best Spider-Man movie of them all, with Miles Morales reluctantly learning to become a hero with a little help from Spider-people from across the multiverse. The gorgeous, intentionally messy, ultra-stylish animation is like nothing you&rsquo;ve ever seen.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>FXNow, Fubo</p><hr><h2><em>Nimona</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4071.    <div id="video-container-f_fuHRyQbOc"></div>
  4072. </div>
  4073.  
  4074.  
  4075. <p>Based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson, <em>Nimona</em> is a heartfelt, joyful, and very funny fantasy set in a futuristic world full of medieval trappings. Ballister Boldheart, alongside his boyfriend, Ambrosius Goldenloin, is about to be knighted by the queen, and he&rsquo;ll be the first commoner ever to receive the honor. All good, until he&rsquo;s framed for the queen&rsquo;s murder and forced to flee, becoming the criminal that the snobs already took him for. Luckily (or not) he&rsquo;s joined by Nimona, a teenager who&rsquo;s been an outcast because of her shapeshifting powers. The two work to clear Ballister&rsquo;s name, even as Nimona has things to teach Ballister about being true to your authentic self. </p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Spirited Away </em>(2001)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4076.    <div id="video-container-ByXuk9QqQkk"></div>
  4077. </div>
  4078.  
  4079.  
  4080. <p>Hayao Miyazaki&rsquo;s triumph is, not surprisingly, also one of the greatest films of all time (live-action <em>or</em> animated). It&rsquo;s a work of tremendous beauty, with great care taken in each and every single frame. It&rsquo;s the story of stubborn Chihiro, who goes on an adventure in a world of spirits to rescue her parents from a witch and to reclaim her name.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Max</p><hr><h2><em>The Iron Giant </em>(1999)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4081.    <div id="video-container-0ynvTQum390"></div>
  4082. </div>
  4083.  
  4084.  
  4085. <p>In Cold War-era Maine, a giant alien robot becomes the focus of fear and paranoia from an American military who can only see his potential as a weapon&mdash;but also becomes the best friend to a lonely little boy who believes in his mechanical heart. Aside from being a deeply emotional experience, the characters here (including the giant robot) are as complex as any in live-action film. (The director, Brad Bird, went on to make <em>The Incredibles,</em> which certainly also could be on this list, but I didn&rsquo;t want to just include every Pixar movie.)</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>The Sea Beast</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4086.    <div id="video-container-P-E-IGQCsPo"></div>
  4087. </div>
  4088.  
  4089.  
  4090. <p>Chris Williams, an animator who has either directed or had a hand in some of the best animated movies of the last decade (<em>Bolt</em>, <em>Big Hero 6</em>, <em>Moana</em>, etc.), brings us this story about a girl who stows away on the ship of a legendary monster hunter (Karl Urban) and sets off on an adventure that gives her new insight into what truly makes someone (or something) monstrous. It makes use of modern animation technology without ever feeling gimmicky.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>My Father&rsquo;s Dragon</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4091.    <div id="video-container-0giW36Fb69c"></div>
  4092. </div>
  4093.  
  4094.  
  4095. <p>Loosely adapted from Ruth Stiles Gannett&rsquo;s 1948 children&rsquo;s novel and geared toward younger audiences than most other all-ages animated movies on this list, <em>My Father&rsquo;s Dragon</em> still has enough wit and surprises to make it easy to recommend to just about anyone&mdash;along with more emotional intelligence than many movies made for adults. A boy named Elmer (Jacob Tremblay) and his shopkeeper mother, Dela (Golshifteh Farahani) leave their tight-knit town in favor of a bigger city&mdash;though the promise of better circumstances doesn&rsquo;t quickly materialize. Elmer&rsquo;s patience is rewarded, though, when a talking cat invites him on a beautiful, candy-colored adventure to meet a dragon and save an island.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Bubble</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4096.    <div id="video-container-8pbWblLkHHk"></div>
  4097. </div>
  4098.  
  4099.  
  4100. <p>From <em>Attack on Titan</em> and <em>Death Note</em> director Tetsur&ocirc; Araki and an all-star creative team, <em>Bubble</em> finds Tokyo cut off from the rest of the world when reality-bending bubbles rain down on the city (shades of Stephen King&rsquo;s <em>Under the Dome</em>, perhaps). It&rsquo;s a gorgeous, parkour-infused love story, but it&rsquo;s worth checking out for anyone who loves animation (or great sci-fi films in general).</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Akira</em> (1988)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4101.    <div id="video-container-nA8KmHC2Z-g"></div>
  4102. </div>
  4103.  
  4104.  
  4105. <p>Set in a dystopian 2019, this beautiful cyberpunk classic finds biker Kaneda forced to face down his friend Tetsuo after he gains telekinetic abilities in an accident. The wildly kinetic movie and its highly detailed world set a new standard for anime&mdash;we&rsquo;re still living in the animated world that writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo and company gave birth to with this one.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Hulu, Crunchyroll</p><hr><h2><em>Toy Story </em>(1995)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4106.    <div id="video-container-tN1A2mVnrOM"></div>
  4107. </div>
  4108.  
  4109.  
  4110. <p>I&rsquo;m not sure that the first <em>Toy Story</em> is the best of the series, but it&rsquo;s brilliant in its own right, not to mention technically groundbreaking, so, if you&rsquo;re rewatching (or watching for the first time), it&rsquo;s still the best place to start. </p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Lightyear </em>(2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4111.    <div id="video-container-BwZs3H_UN3k"></div>
  4112. </div>
  4113.  
  4114.  
  4115. <p>Unpopular opinion alert: This movie deserves another chance. Though its confusing premise (it&rsquo;s presented as the movie about Buzz Lightyear that inspired the toy from the <em>Toy Story</em> series) sent it to the bottom of the box office, <em>Lightyear</em> is, at heart, a characteristically charming, poignant Pixar film with a strong science fiction hook. Investigating a new world, Buzz (Chris Pine) and his best friend and commander Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) become stranded along with their team. Buzz commits to testing the hyperspace fuel that they&rsquo;ll need to get home, but the resulting time dilation means that every brief trip into space sees years pass by for his friends on the surface. It&rsquo;s the kind of poignant set-up that Pixar is so good at, even if it&rsquo;s understandable that it left theatrical audiences scratching their heads.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Ghost in the Shell</em> (1995)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4116.    <div id="video-container-8RF09G8Ymqg"></div>
  4117. </div>
  4118.  
  4119.  
  4120. <p>A legitimate cyberpunk mind-bender in the William Gibson mold, manga adaptation <em>Ghost in the Shell</em> easily stands alongside spiritual cinematic siblings like <em>Blade Runner</em> or <em>The Matrix</em> (which it explicitly inspired). From director Mamoru Oshii and writer Kazunori It&#333;, the film finds cyborg security officer Motoko Kusanagi on the hunt for a seemingly invincible hacker, the case leading her to question not only her own identity as, essentially, a robot with a human mind&mdash;but also the very nature of reality itself. Along with <em>Akira</em>, this movie became a gateway to anime for an entire generation of American fans, and it inspired an animated franchise, even though it stands entirely on its own.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Tubi, Freevee</p><hr><h2><em>Dumbo</em> (1941)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4121.    <div id="video-container-4hlowTTSyXo"></div>
  4122. </div>
  4123.  
  4124.  
  4125. <p>One of early Disney's shortest films, <em>Dumbo</em> is a brisk, occasionally heartbreaking story about the titular elephant with the enormous ears. The movie's racist crows are a problem, but otherwise it's a tender, occasionally heartbreaking story about a kid who just wants to belong. "Baby Mine" is among the most effectively tearjerking numbers in the entire Disney musical pantheon.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>The Tale of Princess Kaguya</em> (2013)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4126.    <div id="video-container-PZK2y9NAaNo"></div>
  4127. </div>
  4128.  
  4129.  
  4130. <p>Isao Takahata, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli alongside Hayao Miyazaki, capped his brilliant career with this Academy Award-nominee based on the 1,000-year-old folktale known as "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." The deceptively simple pencil and watercolor style is endlessly gorgeous. The story itself involves a woodsman who finds a baby in the bamboo and ultimately decides that it&rsquo;s his fate to give her the life of a princess. The girl wants nothing more than the love of her family, but the movie turns on the dichotomy between that simple virtue and the need to satisfy the desires of family and community.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Max</p><hr><h2><em>Mulan</em> (1998)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4131.    <div id="video-container-TVcLIfSC4OE"></div>
  4132. </div>
  4133.  
  4134.  
  4135. <p>Yes, this is another example of Disney doing a westernized version of a non-western culture, with all of the problems and inaccuracies that entails. Nevertheless, it's still a beautiful, inspiring story of a young Chinese woman impersonating a man to take her father's place in the military, and saving her country from invading Huns in the process. </p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Shrek</em> (2001)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4136.    <div id="video-container-em9lziI07M4"></div>
  4137. </div>
  4138.  
  4139.  
  4140. <p>While Eddie Murphy feels like a highly questionable choice for Chinese-folktale-inspired <em>Mulan</em>, he's very much at home here as Donkey, teaming up with Mike Myers as the titular ogre to save the imprisoned Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). The movie blends genuine laughs with some genuine feels, ultimately turning the Disney princess formula on its head by making clear that <em>true</em> beauty is found in the swamp. It was the very first film to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Coraline</em> (2009)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4141.    <div id="video-container-m9bOpeuvNwY"></div>
  4142. </div>
  4143.  
  4144.  
  4145. <p>From the director of <em>A Nightmare Before Christmas</em> and based on the book by Neil Gaiman, the stop-motion-animated <em>Coraline</em> is every inch the dark fantasy that you'd expect from that team-up. In the film, Coraline explores her new home in the general absence of her preoccupied parents, discovers a door into a slightly sinister, but definitely appealing alternate universe. Coraline is forced to choose which reality she'd prefer to live in, and fight for the opportunity.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Blame!</em> (2017)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4146.    <div id="video-container-hwy806RC2-Q"></div>
  4147. </div>
  4148.  
  4149.  
  4150. <p>In the future, the City grows like a virus, endlessly in all directions, humans long since having lost control of the automated systems designed to run things. Those same systems now see views humans as &ldquo;illegals&rdquo; to be purged, so flesh-and-blood survivors are caught between the city&rsquo;s murderous defense systems and the need to find food. One group of humans, though, is on the hunt for the existence of someone with a genetic marker that they believe will allow for access to the city&rsquo;s control systems&mdash;a hunt lead by Killy, a synthetic human who might have the key. Neat world-building here, and solid CGI animation.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Chicken Run</em> (2000)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4151.    <div id="video-container-jVdlxwX6A7g"></div>
  4152. </div>
  4153.  
  4154.  
  4155. <p>The sharp Aardman Brothers comedy has some incredibly fun stop-motion animation and an awful lot of chickens. It remains the top-grossing stop-motion animated movie of all time. And 20+ years later, we got a similarly good sequel.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Batman: Mask of the Phantasm</em> (1993)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4156.    <div id="video-container-imtYrQEZ4H8"></div>
  4157. </div>
  4158.  
  4159.  
  4160. <p>The late, great Kevin Conroy is joined by Mark Hamill and Dana Delany in this short animated crime thriller, initially intended as a direct to video release and yet somehow standing with the very best movies of the entire Batman franchise. Even while reconnecting with a former love, Bruce is forced to re-examine his life&rsquo;s choices as a mysterious vigilante is killing criminals in Gotham.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Princess Mononoke </em>(1997)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4161.    <div id="video-container-4OiMOHRDs14"></div>
  4162. </div>
  4163.  
  4164.  
  4165. <p>Another triumph from Hayao Miyazaki, <em>Princess Mononoke</em> is set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. Ashitaka is infected in an animal attack, and seeks a natural cure&mdash;only to discover that humanity&rsquo;s activities have angered the gods and thrown the natural balance. </p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Max</p><hr><h2><em>The Little Mermaid</em> (1989)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4166.    <div id="video-container-SXKlJuO07eM"></div>
  4167. </div>
  4168.  
  4169.  
  4170. <p>Following a series of flops, Disney was all-but finished as a producer of animated films. <em>The Little Mermaid</em> singlehandedly brought the company roaring back. It&rsquo;s an instant classic to rival the triumphs of earlier decades.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Kubo and the Two Strings</em> (2016)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4171.    <div id="video-container-Pz49Ml_rB34"></div>
  4172. </div>
  4173.  
  4174.  
  4175. <p>Another brilliant piece of stop-motion animation, this time inspired by origami and Japanese ink wash painting. Set in feudal Japan, the story involves Kubo and his enchanted shamisen (the title&rsquo;s string instrument), on a beautiful, dreamlike quest to stop his grandfather, the Moon King, in a story that doesn&rsquo;t talk down to a young audience.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>The Nightmare Before Christmas</em> (1993)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4176.    <div id="video-container-ZVuToMilP0A"></div>
  4177. </div>
  4178.  
  4179.  
  4180. <p>This seasonal gem from Henry Selick and Tim Burton is so familiar at this point, it&rsquo;s easy to underestimate its impact on pop culture. A wholly original dark fantasy and an enduring holiday classic (but is that holiday Halloween or Christmas?).</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Your Name</em> (2016)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4181.    <div id="video-container-xU47nhruN-Q"></div>
  4182. </div>
  4183.  
  4184.  
  4185. <p>Never has a body-swap story been this gorgeously rendered, with a use of light like I&rsquo;ve never seen in animation. Country girl Mitsuha begins mysterious trading bodies with Taki, a boy from Tokyo, and the two slowly come to understand each other and their separate lives. Gut-punching revelations in the second act take the story into deeper waters, the film revealing itself to have far more on its mind that a metaphysical meet-cute.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>The Criterion Channel, Crunchyroll</p><hr><h2><em>Weathering With You (2019)</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4186.    <div id="video-container-Q6iK6DjV_iE"></div>
  4187. </div>
  4188.  
  4189.  
  4190. <p>Makoto Shinkai followed up <em>Your Name</em> with this equally impactful successor, a gorgeous vision of rain-soaked Tokyo, and a young woman who can control the weather (this movie doing for water imagery what <em>Your Name</em> did with light). Troubled runaway Hodaka meets and befriends Hina, whose emotions impact the weather. There are life- and world-threatening consequences to all of this, but, ultimately, it's about the triumphs and tragedies of first love.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Max</p><hr><h2><em>Sleeping Beauty</em> (1959)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4191.    <div id="video-container-TXbHShUnwxY"></div>
  4192. </div>
  4193.  
  4194.  
  4195. <p>You know the story, but if you&rsquo;ve never seen the film itself, you&rsquo;re missing out on one of the signature artistic achievements of Disney&rsquo;s golden era. Both the backgrounds (inspired by gothic art and medieval tapestries) and the gorgeous character designs and animation represent some of the finest hand-drawn work ever put to film. When it was released in 1959, after an eight-year development process, it represented a huge leap forward for both Disney and screen animation in general. (Audiences weren&rsquo;t quite ready for it, and it was a financial disappointment. History has certainly redeemed it.)</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>The Red Turtle </em>(2016)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4196.    <div id="video-container-4lwrzNqEUOM"></div>
  4197. </div>
  4198.  
  4199.  
  4200. <p>Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit teamed with Studio Ghibli for this dialogue-free film that tells the story of a man who becomes trapped on a desert island with only a giant turtle for companionship. What starts as a survival tale takes on deeper resonance as their bond grows. A powerful emotional journey.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Starz</p><hr><h2><em>Up</em> (2009)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4201.    <div id="video-container-HWEW_qTLSEE"></div>
  4202. </div>
  4203.  
  4204.  
  4205. <p>Its tear-jerking opening minutes ground all the silliness to come in <em>Up</em>, a wild, sometimes wacky adventure story about an old man who has given up on life until he finally decides to set off on a real adventure (with a young stowaway tagging along), floating his house to South America with the help of thousands of balloons. It&rsquo;s an absurd romp that somehow never loses its grounding in the idea that grief and loss can only be challenged by forming real human connections.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Flee</em> (2021)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4206.    <div id="video-container-WzUVeuX1u04"></div>
  4207. </div>
  4208.  
  4209.  
  4210. <p>Presented as an animated pseudo-documentary, <em>Flee </em>sees director Jonas Poher Rasmussen telling the story of Amin Nawabi, heading off to marry his boyfriend but stopping to recount his childhood journey to escape Afghanistan at the end of the Soviet occupation. A gripping, and deeply moving, journey of self discovery.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Hulu</p><hr><h2><em>Perfect Blue</em> (1998)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4211.    <div id="video-container-2O09gQC-KvA"></div>
  4212. </div>
  4213.  
  4214.  
  4215. <p>As good a reminder of the breadth of animation as anything (and proof that anime can do the psychological thriller genre as well as any medium) Satoshi Kon's <em>Perfect Blue</em> isn't going to be for everyone. Its blurring of fantasy and reality draws comparisons to the films of Darren Aronofsky&mdash;though it's really the other way around, as <em>Perfect Blue</em> came before both <em>Requiem for a Dream</em> and <em>Black Swan</em>, which echo it deliberately. Its story follows a young Japanese singer who is pushed to quit her career to take a job on television&mdash;a move with horrific consequences in the best tradition of high-price-of-fame stories.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Shudder</p><hr><h2><em>Fantastic Planet</em> (1973) </h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4216.    <div id="video-container-SgCxCZNkQ9E"></div>
  4217. </div>
  4218.  
  4219.  
  4220. <p>This French science fiction film defies any attempts to succinctly describe its plot, except to say that it takes place in a distant future on a world where giant blue humanoid creatures keep humans as pets, when they're not treated as wild animals. It's almost pure allegory for whatever you'd like to slot in: perhaps animal rights, perhaps racism, but it's ultimately a beautiful, deeply trippy journey to a vividly imaginative world. </p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Max, The Criterion Channel</p><hr><h2><em>Frozen</em> (2013)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4221.    <div id="video-container-TeQ_TTyLGMs"></div>
  4222. </div>
  4223.  
  4224.  
  4225. <p>While many Disney princess stories wind up with fairly straightforward good versus evil dichotomies, <em>Frozen </em>does something new in crafting a lead who&rsquo;s also the film&rsquo;s antagonist, following her on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance that&rsquo;s as deeply meaningful as ever in a Disney film. (It&rsquo;s also a top-tier sisters movie.)</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Paprika</em> (2006)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4226.    <div id="video-container-PIUqozzyW2k"></div>
  4227. </div>
  4228.  
  4229.  
  4230. <p>Therapists can enter the dreams of their patients in the Satoshi Kon&rsquo;s masterpiece, which clearly inspired <em>Inception</em>. The film plays with layers of emotion and reality without ever leaving its audience feeling lost or disoriented. Well, maybe a little bit.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Tubi</p><hr><h2><em>Coco</em> (2017)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4231.    <div id="video-container-OF9Ixfq4BCI"></div>
  4232. </div>
  4233.  
  4234.  
  4235. <p>Miguel enters the land of the dead to find his grandfather, and bring the gift of music back to his family in this Oscar winner. The stunningly detailed depiction of the afterlife not only celebrates Mexican culture, it feels deeply universal.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p><hr><h2><em>Waltz with Bashir</em> (2008)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4236.    <div id="video-container-CoM-L62peIo"></div>
  4237. </div>
  4238.  
  4239.  
  4240. <p>There&rsquo;s documentary style here, but the film, involving the recollections of Ari Colman and his time as as young soldier in Israel&rsquo;s 1982 war with Lebanon, recognizes the ambiguous nature of memory. It&rsquo;s also a movie that makes clear the crimes and costs of war like few others.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs</em> (1937)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4241.    <div id="video-container-5fzZFQBXSLM"></div>
  4242. </div>
  4243.  
  4244.  
  4245. <p>A gorgeous, deeply spooky fairy tale that sold audiences on the then-unheard-of idea that people would sit still for a feature-length animated film. It remains both entertaining and  a work of art in its own right.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Disney+</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4246.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/best-animated-movies-on-streaming-1850942505</link>
  4247.      <dc:creator>Ross Johnson</dc:creator>
  4248.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  4249.    </item>
  4250.    <item>
  4251.      <title>Ricotta Gnocchetti Is a Low-effort Pasta Anyone Can Make</title>
  4252.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN</guid>
  4253.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4254.      <description>Finally, a homemade pasta where no special tools or refined culinary skills are required.</description>
  4255.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/hero-image.jpg"/>
  4256.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I get some recipe inspiration from food blogs and bizarre social media trends, but I have a particular fondness for poring through culinary magazines from other countries. Can I read all the languages? Well, I can read the spirit of the food (and a translation app doesn&rsquo;t hurt). One of my favorites, La Cucina Italiana, included a pasta recipe recently that seemed far too easy&mdash;three ingredients (one is salt) and no special tools required. I had to try it. It&rsquo;s called gnocchetti di ricotta, and I think I&rsquo;m in love.</p><p>You&rsquo;re probably familiar with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnocchi" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">gnocchi</a> (gnocchetti's big brother), an Italian potato-centric dumpling about the size of a pecan. Traditional potato gnocchi requires the patience of boiling and cooling potatoes, the use of a ricer (a tool that manually pushes the potato through small holes to achieve a silky, lump-free consistency), and a bit of elbow grease to form the dough. While you can also roll and cut potato gnocchi into the diminutive gnocchetti, it&rsquo;s the overall ease of this ricotta-based one that&rsquo;s got me hooked.&nbsp;</p><hr><h3>Pasta night made easier with these essentials:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/glxYn?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Calphalon%20Classic%203.5%20Quart%20Pot&amp;short_url=glxYn&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Calphalon Classic 3.5 Quart Pot</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/Jd1bq?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Bench%20Scraper%20with%20Ruler%20Edge&amp;short_url=Jd1bq&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Bench Scraper with Ruler Edge</a></p></li></ul><hr><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4257.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB00555ETXY&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=ExcelSteel+Stainless+Steel+Colander&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01vKyo9wgo5V2AUOHDzadEa&amp;offer_uuid=01nKgifcXDyXaS2nqQamnSb&amp;object_type=01nKgifcXDyXaS2nqQamnSb&amp;object_uuid=01vKyo9wgo5V2AUOHDzadEa" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="ExcelSteel Stainless Steel Colander">
  4258.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4259.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4260.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">ExcelSteel Stainless Steel Colander
  4261.                </div>
  4262.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Simple design with durable construction
  4263.                    </div>
  4264.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4265.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4266.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4267.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4268.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$12.47</span>
  4269.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  4270.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  4271.            </div>
  4272.    </div>
  4273.                            </div>
  4274.                        </div>
  4275.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4276.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4277.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4278.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  4279.    </div>
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  4281.                        </div>
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  4283.            </div>
  4284.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4285.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01vKyo9wgo5V2AUOHDzadEa/hero-image.fill.size_245x151.v1707278161.jpg" alt="Excelsteel 242 5-Quart Stainless Steel Colander" width="245" height="151" loading="lazy">
  4286.                            </div>
  4287.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4288.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01vKyo9wgo5V2AUOHDzadEa/hero-image.fill.size_245x151.v1707278161.jpg" alt="Excelsteel 242 5-Quart Stainless Steel Colander" width="245" height="151" loading="lazy">
  4289.                            </div>
  4290.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4291.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4292.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4293.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4294.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  4295.    </div>
  4296. </div>
  4297.                    </div>
  4298.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4299.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4300.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4301.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$12.47</span>
  4302.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  4303.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  4304.            </div>
  4305.    </div>
  4306.                    </div>
  4307.                            </div>
  4308.        </div>
  4309. </a></div>
  4310. <h2>How to make gnocchetti di ricotta</h2><p>This is a low-effort pasta with a high return. It pairs well with tomato sauce, pesto, cream sauce, or a simple knob of salted butter.&nbsp;All you need is full-fat ricotta, all-purpose flour, and a pinch of salt.&nbsp;</p><h3>1. Pat the ricotta dry</h3><p>To ensure the dough holds together when boiling, it&rsquo;s important to eliminate some of the excess water in the cheese. To do this, double up a couple sheets of paper towels and spoon the ricotta into the center. Fold the ends over the cheese and press gently. You&rsquo;ll feel the moisture dampen the paper towel after a minute or two. Unfold the parcel and put the ricotta into a mixing bowl.</p><h3>2. Mix the dough</h3><p>Add the flour to the bowl. The other benefit of this recipe is that the two main ingredients are a near perfect 2:1 ratio of ricotta to flour by weight. So regardless of how many servings you want to make, you can estimate the numbers with this ratio, withholding some of the flour to add only if the dough is still too sticky. Add a pinch of salt and mix the ingredients until the dough comes together into a ball. It should be tacky, but not wet. Rest the dough for 20 to 30 minutes.&nbsp;</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4311.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4312.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714588972.jpg" alt="Gnocchetti dough in a bowl." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714588972.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-2.fill.size_1400x787.v1714588972.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714588972.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4313.            </div>
  4314.            <div class="mt-2">
  4315.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4316.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  4317.                    </div>
  4318.    </div>
  4319. <h3>3. Shape the gnocchetti</h3><p>After the dough has rested, rip off a golf ball-sized piece of dough and use your palms to roll it out into a rope on a cutting board. The dough should be a smidge thicker than a #2 pencil. Use a knife or a bench scraper to chop the dough into third- or half-inch wide dumplings. Toss the dumplings into a bowl with a bit of semolina or all-purpose flour so they don&rsquo;t stick together. Repeat this with the rest of the dough.&nbsp;</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4320.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4321.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-3.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714588972.jpg" alt="Dough shaped into a long rope and cut into gnocchetti." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-3.fill.size_800x450.v1714588972.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-3.fill.size_1400x787.v1714588972.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-3.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714588972.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4322.            </div>
  4323.            <div class="mt-2">
  4324.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4325.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  4326.                    </div>
  4327.    </div>
  4328. <h3>4. Boil and serve</h3><p>Shake off the excess semolina and drop the gnocchetti into boiling salted water. Allow them to float to the surface and boil for about three minutes. Drain the water and toss the wee ricotta dumplings with your favorite sauce. Serve immediately.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4329.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4330.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714588972.jpg" alt="A fork with gnocchetti on it." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714588972.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-1.fill.size_1400x787.v1714588972.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTQEXE1ZVQZT7YM6F65G3QN/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714588972.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4331.            </div>
  4332.            <div class="mt-2">
  4333.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4334.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  4335.                    </div>
  4336.    </div>
  4337. <p>These mini pasta pillows are tender, subtly cheesy, and completely satisfying. I enjoy the smaller size because I can scoop more of them onto my fork into a big bite, but you can always shape them into a larger size if you prefer. I haven&rsquo;t tried it myself, but I&rsquo;ve read the raw dough doesn&rsquo;t keep particularly well. It&rsquo;s best to boil off all of the gnocchetti and keep the leftovers covered in the fridge. Be sure to gobble those up in the next few days.&nbsp;</p><h2>Easy Gnocchetti di Ricotta Recipe</h2><p>Ingredients:</p><ul><li><p>&frac12; cup full-fat ricotta cheese</p></li><li><p>&frac12; cup all-purpose flour</p></li><li><p>&frac12; teaspoon salt</p></li></ul><p>1. Scoop the ricotta cheese onto a double layer of paper towel. Wrap the paper towel over the cheese and press gently to blot out the excess moisture. Unwrap the cheese and add it to a mixing bowl.</p><p>2. Add the flour and salt to the mixing bowl and combine the ingredients thoroughly. The dough should come together into a ball and be slightly tacky, but not sticky. If it is sticky, add a tablespoon more flour. Cover the dough and let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes.</p><p>3. Add water to a pot and set it to boil. Divide the dough into small sections, about five or six hunks. Working one at a time, roll a piece of the dough into a ball and then use your palms to roll the ball out into a long rope. Using a knife, cut the rope crosswise to make small dumplings roughly a half-inch wide. Toss the gnocchetti into a bowl with a bit of semolina or all-purpose flour. Repeat this with the other pieces of dough.&nbsp;</p><p>4. Once the water is boiling, salt the water and add the gnocchetti. Allow them to float to the surface and then boil them for about three minutes. Drain the dumplings and serve them with sauce, in soup, or simply tossed with some parmesan and olive oil.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4338.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/easy-ricotta-gnocchetti-recipe</link>
  4339.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  4340.      <category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>
  4341.    </item>
  4342.    <item>
  4343.      <title>Use the 80/20 Rule to Purge Stuff You Don’t Actually Need</title>
  4344.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTFEXW7VB96MEMSQ2MBJHZW</guid>
  4345.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 18:30:10 +0000</pubDate>
  4346.      <description>The Pareto Principle is useful in practically any endeavor—including decluttering.</description>
  4347.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTFEXW7VB96MEMSQ2MBJHZW/hero-image.png"/>
  4348.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If I seem to yap about the Pareto principle a lot, it&rsquo;s only because it&rsquo;s so widely applicable. Also known as the 80/20 rule, the principle essentially says that 80% of results come from 20% of your effort, which is valuable to keep in mind when <a href="https://lifehacker.com/work/what-is-the-pareto-principle" target="_blank"><u>planning your to-do</u></a> list or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/family/disss-method-to-study-more-effectively" target="_blank"><u>studying for a test</u></a>. It means you can focus on the basics, get rid of anything superfluous, and still see great results just by mastering the foundational elements of what you need to do. The same is true when you&rsquo;re decluttering. That&rsquo;s right: You can apply the 80/20 rule to your cleaning and minimizing efforts. </p><h2>What does the Pareto principle have to do with decluttering?</h2><p>Just like 80% of the test you&rsquo;re taking will probably be based on 20% of the basics you studied, 20% of your stuff is probably used 80% of the time. On an average day, when you&rsquo;re picking out what to wear, you likely gravitate to the same few shirts and pants. Doing your makeup, it&rsquo;s likely the same combo of foundation, blush, and eyeliner. Cooking, you probably reach for the same implements to make the same dishes on a regular weeknight.&nbsp;</p><p>We are people of habit with signature looks, meals, and hobbies. There&rsquo;s nothing wrong with that except that when you have tools scattered around that only work for the things you do rarely, that other 20% of the time, your space can get pretty cluttered.&nbsp;</p><h2>How to use the 80/20 rule to declutter</h2><p>First, prove the theory: Spend a few weeks taking note of what you reach for and use on an average day. You can jot it down in a spreadsheet or a note or just try to make a conscious effort to pay attention. Eventually, you&rsquo;ll realize that you gravitate to the same items over and over&mdash;and others go practically untouched. The things you don&rsquo;t use comprise the 80% of stuff that could be considered true clutter.&nbsp;</p><p>Set an intention to get rid of most of it. You can do this using a technique like the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/use-the-12-12-12-decluttering-method" target="_blank"><u>12-12-12 method</u></a>, which asks you to keep, throw, and donate 12 items every day, or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/the-difference-between-peter-walsh-and-marie-kondos-decluttering-methods" target="_blank"><u>KonMari</u></a>, which allows you to hold onto some of the items that are sentimental or nice, even if they aren&rsquo;t used frequently. That&rsquo;s the thing: While you probably never use most of the stuff in that 80% bulk, some of it is meaningful and some of it <em>does </em>have sporadic usage. Nice outfits for special occasions, the cookware you use for Thanksgiving meals, or board games you whip out when it&rsquo;s your turn to host your friend group don&rsquo;t necessarily have to get tossed out. If you&rsquo;re struggling to decide whether something is pure clutter that can be eliminated or you might need to hold onto it, there are two approaches you can try. The first is the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/90-90-rule-to-declutter-home" target="_blank"><u>90/90 method</u></a>, which involves recognizing if you&rsquo;ve used something in the last 90 days <em>or </em>might have use for it in the next 90. If you&rsquo;ve already conducted your mini Pareto analysis, you probably already know that the item in question has not been used in the preceding 90 days, but this technique still leaves space for the possibility that it will be used in the next three months, which can reduce some anxiety around whether or not it&rsquo;s appropriate to get rid of it.&nbsp;</p><p>Second, try the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/ask-yourself-two-questions-before-throwing-something-out" target="_blank"><u>20/20 rule</u></a>, which is especially useful when you&rsquo;re clearing out huge swaths of unused items. Here, you ask yourself if the item in question could be replaced for under $20 in the event you end up needing it in the future and if it could be replaced in under 20 minutes. If the answers are yes, get rid of it; the space you&rsquo;ll save in your home will be worth the $20 or so you spend replacing it in the unlikely event you ever actually need it.&nbsp;</p><p>Learning to recognize your own usage patterns and figure out which possessions are actually useful in your day-to-day life will help you get in the habit of not only decluttering, but <em>keeping</em> it that way, as you&rsquo;ll have a better frame of reference when making buying and organizing decisions.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4349.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-use-pareto-principle-to-declutter-home</link>
  4350.      <dc:creator>Lindsey Ellefson</dc:creator>
  4351.      <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category>
  4352.    </item>
  4353.    <item>
  4354.      <title>Coconut Oil Won’t Keep Pests Off Your Houseplants (and What to Use Instead)</title>
  4355.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWSY29DYVZ12FCH11M7XDWY6</guid>
  4356.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4357.      <description>You could wind up smothering your plant babies.</description>
  4358.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWSY29DYVZ12FCH11M7XDWY6/hero-image.jpg"/>
  4359.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We humans go to a lot of trouble to keep our plants healthy indoors. And while some of us often jokingly think of greenery as our &ldquo;plant-babies,&rdquo; plants and humans are very different organisms. While humans may benefit from using coconut oil as a moisturizer, plants do not derive from the same benefits from it, whatever the collected wisdom of the internet might tell you. Please, stop using coconut oil on your indoor plants.</p><h2>Coconut oil won't deter plant pests, but other oils can</h2><p>I&rsquo;m not entirely sure where the coconut oil suggestion originated, but there exists an online myth that you can rub your houseplants with coconut oil to deter pests. While <a href="https://www.ocl-journal.org/component/content/article/100-news/632-coconut-oil-compounds-repel-insects-better-than-deet" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">scientific studies have shown coconut oil will repel some bugs</a>, it's not a great idea to use it on your plants, for reasons I'll get to in a bit.</p><p>Instead, you should use a different oil, like diluted Neem oil (which you can <a href="https://zdcs.link/3voEP?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=pick%20up%20on%20Amazon%20for%20under%20%2410&amp;short_url=3voEP&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">pick up on Amazon for under $10</a>). Managing pests indoors is an important aspect of plant parenting, as bugs like thrips spread quickly and are hard to control once they&rsquo;ve established themselves. You can use neem oil proactively or reactively, but if you&rsquo;ve got pests already, it&rsquo;s important to immediately take action. Here's what to do:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Segregate affected plants</strong> to lessen the chances the pests will spread.</p></li><li><p><strong>Manually remove any bugs and eggs</strong> <strong>you can see</strong>. If the weather is warm enough, take the plant outside; otherwise, take it to the syou can do this in your shower. Carefully wash each leaf with a hose or shower sprayer, which will hopefully be enough to dislodge the rest of the eggs and bugs. </p></li><li><p><strong>Dunk the plant pot.</strong> Fill a bucket large enough to fit the entire plant pot. Submerge the entire soil-filled pot and hold it underwater until no more bubbles rise to the surface and the pot sinks to the bottom of the bucket. (This means the soil is completely saturated.) Leave the pot submerged for 10 minutes, then pull it out and allow it to drain. </p></li><li><p><strong>Spray the plant with diluted neem oil</strong>, making sure to evenly coat the leaves. After treating, keep the plant segregated for a few weeks and monitor it for any signs of unwelcome guests (and its a good idea to more closely scrutinize your other plants, just in case). Once you believe you&rsquo;ve conquered the problem, return the plant to the rest of your plant-fam.&nbsp;</p></li></ol><h2>Coconut oil won't moisturize plant leaves either</h2><p>Here's the real downside of coating your plants' leaves in coconut oil: The other use case I&rsquo;ve seen for doing it suggests coconut oil will &ldquo;moisturize&rdquo; plant leaves and help keep them clean, but coconut oil neither cleans nor moisturizes a plant, and can actually harm it. Plants breathe through tiny pores or stomata on the surface of their leaves, and coconut oil can clog those pores and make it harder for the plant to get the carbon dioxide it needs. Beyond that, coconut oil can leave a sticky surface on the leaves that will attract dust, compounding the problem.&nbsp;</p><p>Instead, to keep plant leaves looking shiny and free of dust, you can purchase a product like Leaf Shine (<a href="https://zdcs.link/LbZYo?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=How-To&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=%2425%20on%20Amazon%29&amp;short_url=LbZYo&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>$25 on Amazon)</u></a>; these are generally made from Neem oil and castile soap and are light enough that the plant will still be able to breathe.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4360.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/coconut-oil-is-bad-for-your-houseplants</link>
  4361.      <dc:creator>Amanda Blum</dc:creator>
  4362.      <category><![CDATA[Plants]]></category>
  4363.    </item>
  4364.    <item>
  4365.      <title>You Can Get These Mezzo Bone-Conduction Headphones on Sale for $40 Right Now</title>
  4366.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWDMDPNQ5CN7JTR64BS4MYNX</guid>
  4367.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4368.      <description>Bone-conduction technology sends sound waves to your inner ear, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without disturbing anyone around you.</description>
  4369.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWDMDPNQ5CN7JTR64BS4MYNX/hero-image.png"/>
  4370.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can get these Mezzo bone-conduction headphones <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/mezzo-bone-conduction-headphones?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=mezzo-bone-conduction-headphones&amp;utm_term=scsf-595721&amp;utm_content=a0xRn0000012I1tIAE&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $39.96 right now</a> (reg. $69.95) using the promo code MEZZO. They rest over your ears while bone-conduction technology sends sound waves to your inner ear, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without disturbing anyone around you. It comes with a dynamic sound range with deep bass, IPX5 water resistance, noise-canceling microphones, and six hours of battery life on a full charge with a 1.5-hour recharge time.</p><p>You can get these Mezzo bone-conduction headphones <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/mezzo-bone-conduction-headphones?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=mezzo-bone-conduction-headphones&amp;utm_term=scsf-595721&amp;utm_content=a0xRn0000012I1tIAE&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $39.96 right now</a> (reg. $69.95) using the promo code MEZZO, though prices can change at any time.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4371.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/mezzo-bone-conduction-headphones-sale</link>
  4372.      <dc:creator>Sponsored by StackCommerce</dc:creator>
  4373.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  4374.    </item>
  4375.    <item>
  4376.      <title>Safari May Be Getting This AI Upgrade This Year (and More)</title>
  4377.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWTB9X4P0E6YGZJ4C9S0JTQY</guid>
  4378.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4379.      <description>Apply may add a new AI feature to Safari in iOS 18 and macOS 15.</description>
  4380.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWTB9X4P0E6YGZJ4C9S0JTQY/hero-image.png"/>
  4381.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2024 is shaping up to be the year Apple jumps on the AI bandwagon. Most analysts are <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/iphone-features-expected-in-ios-18" target="_blank">expecting the company to roll out new AI features</a> with the company's latest updates, including, of course, iOS 18 and macOS 15, as Apple has yet to adopt generative AI in any meaningful way. </p><p>While we've heard about many different AI functions Apple may be planning for this year, the latest rumors point to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/best-hidden-safari-features" target="_blank">Safari</a>: <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/04/30/apple-to-unveil-ai-enabled-safari-browser-alongside-new-operating-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">AppleInsider's sources</a> say Safari 18 will add at least one new AI-powered feature that may bring it more in-line with existing services like <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/use-gemini-summarize-youtube-videos-free" target="_blank">Gemini in Chrome</a>, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-hide-or-disable-copilot-in-windows-11" target="_blank">Copilot in Edge</a>, or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/aria-operas-ai-tools-are-actually-useful" target="_blank">Aria in Opera</a>. In addition, the website shares some other non-AI changes Apple may be cooking up. </p><h2>Intelligent Search</h2><p>One AI feature engineers have reportedly discovered is "Intelligent Search," which may evaluate a web page for key words and phrases to build a summary for quick reference. These engineers say the feature uses Apple's on-device AI model to look for particular sentences that explain or describe a problem, as well as repeating words and sentences, to inform this summary.</p><p>According to these insiders, Intelligent Search isn't enabled by default, and isn't currently up and running, so it's still not clear exactly how this will work. However, it only makes sense for Apple to offer an AI assistant within Safari: Most other companies that offer internet browsers also offer some type of AI boost alongside it. If Safari 18 didn't include an AI web page summarizer, it'd be a bit of a surprise.</p><h2>Web Eraser</h2><p>This feature is aptly named: With Web Eraser, you can "erase" parts of a web page you don't want to see, including advertisements, pictures, blocks of text, etc. Plus, Safari remembers your previous eraser settings, so when you return to a web page, the same selections will be missing. </p><p>We've seen this type of tool in other services before, namely ad blockers, but it's certainly a first for Apple. The company will likely rope Web Eraser in with its other Safari privacy settings, such as <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-set-up-private-relay-on-icloud-1847977955" target="_blank">iCloud Private Relay</a>. </p><h2>Quick settings</h2><p>Intelligent Search, Web Eraser, and other Safari features and settings (such as the <strong>Aa</strong> menu on iOS and iPadOS) may all be available under Safari's quick menu. Right now, macOS Safari's quick menu includes privacy features, the share menu, and the option to bookmark the page, so it makes sense to fold all of Safari's biggest features into one place. </p><h2>Will Safari 18 make an impact in the browser world? </h2><p>It might not be everyone's first choice, but there's an argument to be made that <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/safari-is-better-than-chrome-actually" target="_blank">Safari is the best web browser right now</a>. Apple has an opportunity with Safari 18 on iOS 18 and macOS 15 to make the browser even better: I'm not quite sold on how useful AI can be for day-to-day use, but if Apple can figure out how to add genuinely useful AI tools to Safari (especially if you can turn them off or ignore them) I'm all for that.    </p><p>While AppleInsider only broke these three changes for Safari 18, there are no doubt more changes in the works, big and small. In fact, the outlet claims Apple is aiming to release an improved <a href="https://lifehacker.com/you-can-now-use-your-iphone-to-identify-animals-plants-1848945035" target="_blank">Visual Lookup</a> tool for Safari in 2025, which could let you search images you find on the web and learn more about them. While that big swing isn't coming this year, there are likely more features and adjustments to Safari on the way with iOS 18 and macOS 15. We'll keep an eye out for any new rumors, but luckily <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/apple-just-announced-wwdc-2024" target="_blank">WWDC isn't that far away</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4382.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/safari-ai-upgrade</link>
  4383.      <dc:creator>Jake Peterson</dc:creator>
  4384.      <category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
  4385.    </item>
  4386.    <item>
  4387.      <title>Why Now Is the Best Time to Find Running Shoes on Sale</title>
  4388.      <guid isPermaLink="false">1850471299</guid>
  4389.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4390.      <description>New shoes tend to be unveiled in the spring, making this the perfect time to snag a deal on last year's model.</description>
  4391.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/hero-image.jpg"/>
  4392.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Running seems like a cheap sport (you just need shoes!) until you actually go shoe shopping. Basic models are well over $100 new, and their cushioning <a href="https://lifehacker.com/when-you-really-need-to-replace-your-running-shoes-acc-1848654849" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="open in a new window">breaks down after a few hundred miles</a>. It&rsquo;s not unusual to go through a few pairs a year if you run a lot, and all of that adds up. So how can you save a few bucks on running shoes?</p><p>Of course, you can search for deals at any time&mdash;there's usually <em>something</em> being discounted no matter when you look, as <a href="https://runrepeat.com/guides/data-analysis-when-is-the-best-time-to-buy-running-shoes" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">RunRepeat points out</a> in their calendar analysis. But runners have often noted that, if you want a specific shoe on sale, it's worth watching the schedule of new releases. New shoe models tend to be introduced in the spring, making right now an excellent time to snag discontinued models. </p><h2>Save money by buying last year&rsquo;s model</h2><p>Just like cars, running shoes come in a make (Asics), model (Gel Nimbus) and, well, there is usually a number at the end of the name instead of a model year: <a href="https://zdcs.link/dMKbK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Asics%20Gel%20Nimbus%2026&amp;short_url=dMKbK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Asics Gel Nimbus 26</a>. Shoes are updated every year or two, depending on the model; the long-running Nike Pegasus is up to version 40.</p><p>And just as with cars, you can often snag a deal at the end of the model year when sellers get rid of their old stock to make room for the newcomers. You can follow websites like <a href="https://zdcs.link/3y8bK?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Runner%E2%80%99s%20World&amp;short_url=3y8bK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Runner&rsquo;s World</a> or <a href="https://zdcs.link/jkOGv?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Sole%20Review&amp;short_url=jkOGv&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Sole Review</a> to check out which models are being updated and when they are scheduled to launch. But an even simpler way to keep up on shoe seasons is just to check the &ldquo;new arrivals&rdquo; section on your local running store&rsquo;s website, or sign up for their newsletter.</p><p>For example, since the Asics Gel Nimbus 26 was just released for $160, you can bet that the <a href="https://zdcs.link/vdG4W?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Asics%20Gel%20Nimbus%2025&amp;short_url=vdG4W&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Asics Gel Nimbus 25</a> is available much more cheaply. At the time of this writing, most of the color/size combinations are going for around $120&mdash;that's a 25% discount. </p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4393.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FvdG4W&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=ASICS+Women%27s+Gel-Nimbus+25+Running&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FvdG4W" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="ASICS Women's Gel-Nimbus 25 Running">
  4394.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4395.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4396.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">ASICS Women's Gel-Nimbus 25 Running
  4397.                </div>
  4398.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4399.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4400.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4401.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4402.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$119.95</span>
  4403.                    </div>
  4404.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4405.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4406.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $40.05</span>
  4407.        </div>
  4408.    </div>
  4409.                            </div>
  4410.                        </div>
  4411.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4412.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4413.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4414.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4415.    </div>
  4416. </div>
  4417.                        </div>
  4418.                                    </div>
  4419.            </div>
  4420.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4421.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-2.fill.size_245x127.v1714576633.jpg" alt="Women's Asics Gel Nimbus 25" width="245" height="127" loading="lazy">
  4422.                            </div>
  4423.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4424.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-2.fill.size_245x127.v1714576633.jpg" alt="Women's Asics Gel Nimbus 25" width="245" height="127" loading="lazy">
  4425.                            </div>
  4426.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4427.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4428.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4429.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4430.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4431.    </div>
  4432. </div>
  4433.                    </div>
  4434.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4435.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4436.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4437.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$119.95</span>
  4438.                    </div>
  4439.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4440.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4441.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $40.05</span>
  4442.        </div>
  4443.    </div>
  4444.                    </div>
  4445.                            </div>
  4446.        </div>
  4447. </a></div>
  4448. <div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4449.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F1vJjb&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=ASICS+Men%27s+Gel-Nimbus+25+Running&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F1vJjb" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="ASICS Men's Gel-Nimbus 25 Running">
  4450.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4451.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4452.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">ASICS Men's Gel-Nimbus 25 Running
  4453.                </div>
  4454.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4455.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4456.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4457.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4458.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$119.95</span>
  4459.                    </div>
  4460.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4461.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4462.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $40.05</span>
  4463.        </div>
  4464.    </div>
  4465.                            </div>
  4466.                        </div>
  4467.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4468.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4469.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4470.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4471.    </div>
  4472. </div>
  4473.                        </div>
  4474.                                    </div>
  4475.            </div>
  4476.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4477.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-3.fill.size_245x154.v1714576633.png" alt="Men's Asics Gel Nimbus 24" width="245" height="154" loading="lazy">
  4478.                            </div>
  4479.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4480.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-3.fill.size_245x154.v1714576633.png" alt="Men's Asics Gel Nimbus 24" width="245" height="154" loading="lazy">
  4481.                            </div>
  4482.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4483.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4484.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4485.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4486.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4487.    </div>
  4488. </div>
  4489.                    </div>
  4490.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4491.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4492.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4493.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$119.95</span>
  4494.                    </div>
  4495.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4496.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4497.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $40.05</span>
  4498.        </div>
  4499.    </div>
  4500.                    </div>
  4501.                            </div>
  4502.        </div>
  4503. </a></div>
  4504. <p>That&rsquo;s a pretty typical bargain, but you can do even better if you shop around&mdash;and if you don&rsquo;t mind choosing your shoes based on the cheapest price rather than the prettiest colors. </p><p>By the way, that issue of selection is a good reason to shop now rather than waiting. As the summer wears on, you may find deeper discounts on last year's model, but you'll also have fewer options. Sizes sell out, too. Here's a perfect example: the Asics Gel Nimbus 24 (that's <em>two</em> models back) is going for <a href="https://zdcs.link/0PBnE?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=just%20%2484.95&amp;short_url=0PBnE&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">just $84.95</a>. The catch is that you have to wear either a men's size 8 or 10, and you have to find the neon tie-dye spatter pattern with palm trees (?!?) charming, or at least tolerable. </p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4505.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F0PBnE&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=ASICS+mens+Gel-nimbus%C2%AE+24&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F0PBnE" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="ASICS mens Gel-nimbus&reg; 24">
  4506.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4507.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4508.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">ASICS mens Gel-nimbus&reg; 24
  4509.                </div>
  4510.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4511.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4512.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4513.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4514.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$84.95</span>
  4515.                    </div>
  4516.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4517.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4518.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $75.05</span>
  4519.        </div>
  4520.    </div>
  4521.                            </div>
  4522.                        </div>
  4523.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4524.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4525.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4526.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4527.    </div>
  4528. </div>
  4529.                        </div>
  4530.                                    </div>
  4531.            </div>
  4532.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4533.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-1.fill.size_245x122.v1714576045.jpg" alt="Asics Gel Nimbus 24" width="245" height="122" loading="lazy">
  4534.                            </div>
  4535.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4536.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-1.fill.size_245x122.v1714576045.jpg" alt="Asics Gel Nimbus 24" width="245" height="122" loading="lazy">
  4537.                            </div>
  4538.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4539.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4540.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4541.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4542.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4543.    </div>
  4544. </div>
  4545.                    </div>
  4546.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4547.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4548.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4549.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$84.95</span>
  4550.                    </div>
  4551.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4552.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4553.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $75.05</span>
  4554.        </div>
  4555.    </div>
  4556.                    </div>
  4557.                            </div>
  4558.        </div>
  4559. </a></div>
  4560. <h2>Here are some more deals on popular running shoes</h2><p>There are too many running shoes to list <em>all</em> the deals, but I'd like to highlight some prime examples where a shoe was recently released, causing the previous version to go for a much cheaper price. (Release dates below are based on what companies or publications announced earlier this spring, and may or may not be the actual release date. You get the idea, though.) </p><ul><li><p>The <strong>Hoka Mach 6</strong> was released in March for $139.99, and you can now find the Hoka Mach 5 for $109.99 (<a href="https://zdcs.link/pgw7Y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=women%27s&amp;short_url=pgw7Y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">women's</a>) or $111.99 (<a href="https://zdcs.link/3dYG2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=men%27s&amp;short_url=3dYG2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">men's</a>).</p></li><li><p>The <strong>Brooks Glycerin 21</strong> was released in February for $160, and the Brooks Glycerin 20 is now available for $99.95 in some sizes and styles (<a href="https://zdcs.link/71JO8?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=women%27s&amp;short_url=71JO8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">women's</a>, <a href="https://zdcs.link/joKp2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=men%27s&amp;short_url=joKp2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">men's</a>). </p></li></ul><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4561.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F71JO8&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Brooks+Women%27s+Glycerin+20+Neutral+Running+Shoe&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2F71JO8" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Brooks Women's Glycerin 20 Neutral Running Shoe">
  4562.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4563.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4564.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Brooks Women's Glycerin 20 Neutral Running Shoe
  4565.                </div>
  4566.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4567.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4568.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4569.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4570.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$99.95</span>
  4571.                    </div>
  4572.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4573.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4574.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $60.05</span>
  4575.        </div>
  4576.    </div>
  4577.                            </div>
  4578.                        </div>
  4579.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4580.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4581.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4582.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4583.    </div>
  4584. </div>
  4585.                        </div>
  4586.                                    </div>
  4587.            </div>
  4588.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4589.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-4.fill.size_245x150.v1714577777.png" alt="Women's Brooks Glycerin 20" width="245" height="150" loading="lazy">
  4590.                            </div>
  4591.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4592.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-4.fill.size_245x150.v1714577777.png" alt="Women's Brooks Glycerin 20" width="245" height="150" loading="lazy">
  4593.                            </div>
  4594.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4595.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4596.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4597.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4598.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4599.    </div>
  4600. </div>
  4601.                    </div>
  4602.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4603.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4604.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4605.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$99.95</span>
  4606.                    </div>
  4607.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4608.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4609.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $60.05</span>
  4610.        </div>
  4611.    </div>
  4612.                    </div>
  4613.                            </div>
  4614.        </div>
  4615. </a></div>
  4616. <ul><li><p>The <strong>Brooks Ghost 16</strong> was released in May for $140, and the Brooks Ghost 15 is now available for $109.95 (<a href="https://zdcs.link/NMl8y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=women%27s&amp;short_url=NMl8y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">women's</a>, <a href="https://zdcs.link/6Xe2k?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=men%27s&amp;short_url=6Xe2k&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">men's</a>)</p></li><li><p>The <strong>Saucony Triumph 22</strong> was released in May for $160. I'm already seeing the Saucony Triumph 21 go for around $120-$130, and even lower for some colors. Here are listings for a <a href="https://zdcs.link/dMKpM?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=women%27s%20model%20at%20%24115.95&amp;short_url=dMKpM&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">women's model at $115.95</a> and a <a href="https://zdcs.link/xPOAd?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=men%27s%20model%20for%20%2492.56&amp;short_url=xPOAd&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">men's model for $92.56</a>.</p></li></ul><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4617.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FxPOAd&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Saucony+Men%27s+Triumph+21+Sneaker&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;short_code=https%3A%2F%2Fzdcs.link%2FxPOAd" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Saucony Men's Triumph 21 Sneaker">
  4618.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4619.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4620.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Saucony Men's Triumph 21 Sneaker
  4621.                </div>
  4622.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4623.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4624.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4625.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4626.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$92.56</span>
  4627.                    </div>
  4628.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4629.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4630.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $67.44</span>
  4631.        </div>
  4632.    </div>
  4633.                            </div>
  4634.                        </div>
  4635.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4636.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4637.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4638.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4639.    </div>
  4640. </div>
  4641.                        </div>
  4642.                                    </div>
  4643.            </div>
  4644.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4645.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-5.fill.size_245x149.v1714577777.png" alt="Saucony Men's Triumph 21 Sneaker" width="245" height="149" loading="lazy">
  4646.                            </div>
  4647.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4648.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HF2GWS4ZJRBRNB24DG5F4AQM/images-5.fill.size_245x149.v1714577777.png" alt="Saucony Men's Triumph 21 Sneaker" width="245" height="149" loading="lazy">
  4649.                            </div>
  4650.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4651.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4652.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4653.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4654.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4655.    </div>
  4656. </div>
  4657.                    </div>
  4658.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4659.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4660.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4661.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$92.56</span>
  4662.                    </div>
  4663.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4664.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$160.00</span>
  4665.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $67.44</span>
  4666.        </div>
  4667.    </div>
  4668.                    </div>
  4669.                            </div>
  4670.        </div>
  4671. </a></div>
  4672. <h2>But beware shoes that are <em>too</em> old</h2><p>If you&rsquo;re going to shop discontinued models, there are a few pitfalls you should know about. One is that the foam in a pair of shoes <a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-older-running-shoes-probably-wont-last-even-if-the-1847417213" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="open in a new window">will degrade while it sits on the shelf</a>. This isn&rsquo;t a problem if you&rsquo;re buying a model that was <em>just</em> discontinued&mdash;those should be fine. But if you find shoes that are two or three model numbers back, they probably won&rsquo;t last as long as new ones. (The price might still make them worthwhile even with the shortened lifespan, but consider yourself warned.) </p><p>The same concern applies if you&rsquo;re buying last year&rsquo;s model as a backup, and planning to stash it in your closet until your current shoes break down. Consider how long it will be until you actually use the shoes, and decide accordingly. While you&rsquo;re at it, apply the same logic to any gently-used shoes you might find on <a href="https://zdcs.link/xmD7Y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=eBay&amp;short_url=xmD7Y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">eBay</a> or <a href="https://zdcs.link/73eb4?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Poshmark&amp;short_url=73eb4&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Poshmark</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
  4673.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/why-now-is-the-best-time-to-find-running-shoes-on-sale-1850471299</link>
  4674.      <dc:creator>Beth Skwarecki</dc:creator>
  4675.      <category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
  4676.    </item>
  4677.    <item>
  4678.      <title>When You Should Get Pre-Approved for a Loan (and When You Shouldn’t)</title>
  4679.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWQNR260W7398X41ESP5SVP3</guid>
  4680.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4681.      <description>Getting a pre-approval for a mortgage, car loan, or personal loan gives you a head start—but timing is key.</description>
  4682.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQNR260W7398X41ESP5SVP3/hero-image.png"/>
  4683.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Getting pre-approved for a loan <a href="https://lifehacker.com/get-pre-approved-for-a-loan-before-you-start-house-hunt-1844279831" target="_blank">can be a valuable step</a> when preparing for a major purchase like a home or car, as a pre-approval gives you an idea of how much financing you may qualify for, based on a preliminary review of your income, debts, and credit history by a lender&mdash;but you should consider your circumstances and the timing before getting one Here's a look at why a pre-approval matters, how it impacts your credit, and how to determine when you should get one.</p><h2>The benefits of getting a pre-approval for a loan</h2><p>The key advantage of pre-approval is that it allows you to shop with confidence, as you'll have a better idea of your approximate budget and price range. It also demonstrates to sellers that you're a serious, creditworthy buyer. Having a pre-approval letter in hand can give you an edge over other bidders when you're purchasing a home, for example.</p><p>Additionally, the pre-approval process helps identify any potential issues with your credit report early on. This gives you a chance to correct errors or work on improving your credit profile before officially applying for the loan.</p><h2>The difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval</h2><p>In contrast to a full pre-approval, lenders may also pre-ualify you for a loan. Though they sound similar, the two are significantly different, and It's important to understand the nuances involved. A pre-qualification is issued based only on self-reported information you provide to the lender. Think of it as simply an initial estimate of what you <em>might</em> be able to borrow, based on your own accounting of your savings and income.</p><p>Pre-approval, on the other hand, requires the lender to pull your credit report and verify other financial details, like the amount of money in your bank account and your annual income. This formal process provides a more accurate and reliable assessment of your loan eligibility.</p><h2>How a loan pre-approval impacts your credit</h2><p>One concern with obtaining a pre-approval is the potential effect on your credit score. It's true that when you formally apply and the lender does a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-difference-between-hard-and-soft-credit-inquiries-1833060484" target="_blank">"hard" credit pull</a>, your score may dip slightly. However, if you rate shop with multiple lenders within a short window (around 14-45 days), these multiple inquiries will be recorded as a single hard inquiry, which will minimize the impact on your credit score.</p><p>It's a different story with a simple pre-qualification: For those, most lenders use a "soft" credit pull that doesn't impact your credit score at all, so getting pre-qualified with several lenders to compare initial loan estimates is perfectly acceptable.</p><h2>When you should get a loan pre-approval</h2><p>The ideal time to get pre-approved for a loan is two to three months before you plan to make your large purchase. This gives you enough time to clear up any issues with your finances, but ensures the pre-approval will still be current when you need it, as pre-approvals are generally only good for 60 to 90 days.</p><p>Pre-approval is recommended if:</p><ul><li><p>You're seriously shopping for a home or car</p></li><li><p>You want to get prequalified loan estimates to compare options</p></li><li><p>You've found a specific property and want to make a competitive offer</p></li><li><p><a href="https://lifehacker.com/why-its-never-been-more-important-to-have-a-good-credit-1850857840" target="_blank">Your credit is good</a> and you want to demonstrate your buying power</p></li></ul><h2>When to hold off on getting pre-approved for a loan</h2><p>There's no benefit to getting pre-approved for a loan a year or more before you'll actually need the financing, as again, pre-approvals typically expire within 60-90 days.</p><p>You may also want to delay pre-approval if:</p><ul><li><p>Your credit score needs significant work</p></li><li><p>You're just starting to think about a future purchase</p></li><li><p>Your income situation is unstable or in transition</p></li></ul><h2>How to time your loan pre-approval</h2><p>While pre-approval can be advantageous when making a major purchase, getting one too early can have a negative impact on your credit score if the pre-approval expires and you have to apply for another one after the aforementioned multiple inquiries window has closed.</p><p>Ultimately, thoughtful preparation and smart timing of your pre-approval application can simplify securing financing and keep you loan-ready without excessive credit checks. Consider getting pre-qualified first to get a rough idea of your purchasing power before pursuing an official pre-approval.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4684.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/when-to-get-preapproved-for-a-loan-and-when-not-to</link>
  4685.      <dc:creator>Meredith Dietz</dc:creator>
  4686.      <category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
  4687.    </item>
  4688.    <item>
  4689.      <title>You Can Get Two Days of Airport Parking on Sale for $10 Right Now</title>
  4690.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWDM5162Y6J94KVZY82Q8AD6</guid>
  4691.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4692.      <description>The Parking Spot lets you park at major airports for cheap.</description>
  4693.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWDM5162Y6J94KVZY82Q8AD6/hero-image.png"/>
  4694.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can get two days of The Parking Spot <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/join-the-spot-club-get-2-days-of-parking-at-the-parking-spot-for-just-9-99?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=join-the-spot-club-get-2-days-of-parking-at-the-parking-spot-for-just-9-99&amp;utm_term=scsf-595733&amp;utm_content=a0xRn0000012HfWIAU&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $9.99 right now</a> (reg. $32). The service has 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and lets you park at major airports for cheap&mdash;you just download The Parking Spot app and join the Spot Club to redeem your points from the sale, then just pick your dates and reserve your parking spot. When you arrive on the day of your trip, just scan your QR code to check in and park, and a shuttle will bring you to your terminal. The Parking Spot covers 46 locations and 28 airports, including ATL, DFW, DEN, ORD, LAX, JFK, and MIA.</p><p>You can get two days of The Parking Spot <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/join-the-spot-club-get-2-days-of-parking-at-the-parking-spot-for-just-9-99?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=join-the-spot-club-get-2-days-of-parking-at-the-parking-spot-for-just-9-99&amp;utm_term=scsf-595733&amp;utm_content=a0xRn0000012HfWIAU&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $9.99 right now</a> (reg. $32), though prices can change at any time.</p><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4695.    <div id="video-container-HZaA_du6cSg"></div>
  4696. </div>
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  4698. ]]></content:encoded>
  4699.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/travel/the-parking-spot-sale</link>
  4700.      <dc:creator>Sponsored by StackCommerce</dc:creator>
  4701.      <category><![CDATA[Auto and EV]]></category>
  4702.    </item>
  4703.    <item>
  4704.      <title>The Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Max This Month</title>
  4705.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HR5E5T24PE3Q212MA23G4S1R</guid>
  4706.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4707.      <description>There's just too much TV to watch it all, so I've culled the best bits from Max in May.</description>
  4708.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HR5E5T24PE3Q212MA23G4S1R/hero-image.png"/>
  4709.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There's a lot coming to streaming service Max in May, so to save you the effort, I've winnowed down the list to highlight only the newest and best movies and shows. This month's lineup includes the thoughtful coming-of-age story <em>Turtles all the Way Down</em>, a new season of <em>Hacks</em>, and only-on-Max movies <em>The Iron Claw</em> and <em>Stop Making Sense</em>. Read on to discover the best things streaming on Max this month. </p><h2><em>Turtles all the Way Down</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4710.    <div id="video-container-HtydYWzolKE"></div>
  4711. </div>
  4712.  
  4713.  
  4714. <p>Based on the young adult novel by John Green (<em>The Fault in our Stars</em>), <a href="https://zdcs.link/glxxD?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Turtles%20all%20the%20Way%20Down&amp;short_url=glxxD&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Turtles all the Way Down</em></strong></a> is a great choice if you're looking for a deeper than usual coming-of-age movie. High-schooler Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced) suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, so the normal moments and milestones of her teenage life are informed by her mental illness&mdash;i.e. a first kiss is about both an expression of young love and her paralyzing fear of a potential bacterial infection. Green's novel has earned <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35504431-turtles-all-the-way-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">4.5 stars from readers on Goodreads</a>, and <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/turtles-all-the-way-down-film-review-john-green-adaptation-1234977751/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">early reviews of the film are positive</a>, so this is definitely worth a stream. </p><p>Starts streaming May 2. </p><h2><em>Hacks</em>, Season 3</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4715.    <div id="video-container-wB6H9OiXyOI"></div>
  4716. </div>
  4717.  
  4718.  
  4719. <p>The first and second seasons of HBO original show-biz comedy series <a href="https://zdcs.link/V022N?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Hacks&amp;short_url=V022N&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Hacks</em></strong></a> earned rare <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/hacks/s02" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">100% fresh ratings on Rotten Tomatoes</a>, and the new season aims to continue that perfect record. Picking up a year after Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) went their separate ways, season three finds Deborah enjoying a career resurgence (thanks to Ava's writing), while Ava is working on a <em>Daily Show</em>-like nightly comedy program. Fate, as you'd probably guess, soon brings the odd couple back together. </p><p>Starts streaming May 2</p><h2><em>Stop Making Sense</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4720.    <div id="video-container--rjMwSTeVeo"></div>
  4721. </div>
  4722.  
  4723.  
  4724. <p><em>Stop Making Sense</em> is the best concert movie ever been made, and I will fight you if you disagree (it's also <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-highbrow-movies-to-watch-when-youre-stoned" target="_blank">great to watch when you're high</a>). To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its release, A24 has restored and remastered Jonathan Demme's masterpiece to preserve a pristine, streamable 4k vision of the Talking Heads at the height of their power for posterity (or for at least as long as it remains in Max's rotation). The years have done nothing to diminish the pure joy of watching a new wave band jamming out with funk legends like Parliament keyboardist Bernie Worrell and Brothers Johnson guitarist Alex Weir on banger after banger.</p><p>Starts streaming May 3</p><h2><em>Stax: Soulsville USA</em></h2><p>If you've finished watching <em>Stop Making Sense</em> a dozen times, check out <em>Stax: Soulsville USA</em>, a four-part HBO original music documentary series about the legendary Memphis record label that brought us Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. &amp; the M.G.&rsquo;s, The Staple Singers, and many more iconic artists. </p><p>Starts streaming May 20</p><h2><em>The Iron Claw</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4725.    <div id="video-container-8KVsaoveTbw"></div>
  4726. </div>
  4727.  
  4728.  
  4729. <p>Even though <em>The Iron Claw</em> was <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_iron_claw_2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">nearly universally lauded by critics</a>, it wasn't nominated for a single Oscar. Rip-off! Maybe a movie about professional wrestling is too lowbrow for "The Academy," but their loss. Yes, <a href="https://zdcs.link/qk880?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Iron%20Claw&amp;short_url=qk880&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The Iron Claw</em></strong> </a>is about wrestling, but it's also about mourning, loss, and the resilience of family. Plus, <em>The Iron Claw</em> features fantastic performances from Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White (<em>The Bear</em>), and Harris Dickinson as the real-life Von Erich brothers, a wrestling dynasty beset by so much tragedy they come to believe they've been cursed. After watching this flick, it's hard to argue with them.</p><p>Starts streaming May 10</p><h2><em>Pretty Little Liars: Summer School</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4730.    <div id="video-container-l-hFYgfgjvo"></div>
  4731. </div>
  4732.  
  4733.  
  4734. <p>The first season of the <em>Pretty Little Liars</em> reboot is a rare thing: A horror TV show that's actually <em>good</em>&mdash;so good, it was dubbed "one of the best horror TV shows of the past two decades" by the horror-freaks over at <a href="https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3724721/pretty-little-liars-original-sin-review-one-of-the-best-small-screen-slashers-to-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Bloody Disgusting</a>. Season two, subtitled "<a href="https://zdcs.link/8Bee8?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Summer%20School%2C&amp;short_url=8Bee8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Summer School,</a>"  finds high schoolers Tabby, Noa, Imogen, Faran, and Mouse in class for the summer. The season of romance and fun they imagined is interrupted by a terrifying new villain: Bloody Rose, a mysterious knife-wielding murderer who gets off on testing their limits. Choose this if you like genre-bending horror.</p><p>Starts streaming May 9</p><h2><em>Stupid Pet Tricks, </em>Season 1</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4735.    <div id="video-container-ov2C7gRcdhw"></div>
  4736. </div>
  4737.  
  4738.  
  4739. <p>Sometimes, you just need to look at some cute animals. Sarah Silverman hosts this comedy-variety program featuring performing cats, dogs, camels, hamsters, foxes and all manner of other smart animals doing stupid things. David Letterman originated the gag as a segment on his show back in the 1980s, and lends a hand here as the executive producer of this piece of pleasantly brainless feel-good television. </p><p>Starts streaming May 8</p><h2><em>MoviePass, Moviecrash</em></h2><p>On paper, a documentary about a dead movie-ticket subscription service might not sound interesting, but MoviePass's meteoric rise and plunge back to earth is a fascinating study in bad business ideas,  hubris, and corporate double-dealing. <em>MoviePass, Moviecrash</em> is told by the men who started the company and later had to watch from the sidelines as new executives piloted the aircraft straight into the ground. </p><p>Starts streaming May 29</p><h2><em>The Lighthouse </em>(2019)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4740.    <div id="video-container-Hyag7lR8CPA"></div>
  4741. </div>
  4742.  
  4743.  
  4744. <p>If you like dark, claustrophobic cinema and you haven't seen director Robert Eggers <em>The Lighthouse</em>, you're making a mistake. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe star as isolated lighthouse keepers who slowly drive one another insane (with horniness?). Shot in black-and-white and crammed with disturbing and surreal imagery, <em>The Lighthouse</em> isn't quite like any other movie, but it is quite a movie. </p><p>Starts streaming May 1</p><h2>Last month's picks</h2><h2><em>The Sympathizer</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4745.    <div id="video-container-f3HSTmG5Lhc"></div>
  4746. </div>
  4747.  
  4748.  
  4749. <p>Legendary filmmaker Park Chan-wook (<em>Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance</em>) teams up with actor and co-producer Robert Downey Jr. on this sweeping historical black comedy series. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning debut novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, <a href="https://www.hbo.com/the-sympathizer" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>The Sympathize</em>r</a> tells the story of a Vietnam-era spy with conflicting loyalties. When the war ends, the North Vietnamese agent, who goes by the moniker "The Captain," is forced to flee to America, but he's not finished his job, and reports on his neighbors to the Viet Cong. </p><p>Starts streaming April 14</p><h2><em>The Jinx &ndash; Part Two </em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4750.    <div id="video-container-pt6pEN0dypo"></div>
  4751. </div>
  4752.  
  4753.  
  4754. <p>Andrew Jarecki&rsquo;s Emmy-winning series<em> The Jinx</em> caught lightning in a bottle when it came out in 2015&mdash;how often does a guy confess to multiple murders while mic'ed up for a true crime documentary, right? <a href="https://www.max.com/shows/jinx-the-life-and-deaths-of-robert-durst/2039343b-3fa2-400c-8342-bcb8d308ba14" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The Jinx&mdash;Part 2</em></strong> </a>completes the story of weird-rich-dude-turned murderer Robert Durst, and promises shocking new revelations. Durst is dead, so he won't be confessing to any more murders, but it's a fascinating story nonetheless. </p><p>Start streaming April 21</p><h2><em>Conan O&rsquo;Brien Must Go</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4755.    <div id="video-container-eDFFY6swDY0"></div>
  4756. </div>
  4757.  
  4758.  
  4759. <p>Conan O'Brien is the funniest person alive, maybe, and this series puts him in situations designed to draw out his supernatural ability to be spontaneously hilarious. The premise: Conan visits fans in Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland, interacts with locals, and creates inspired, impromptu comedy. It's a formula that worked great on his late night shows, but HBO money means <a href="https://www.max.com/shows/conan-obrien-must-go/64e28eee-b3cc-4e08-b071-5a795b911dd2" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Conan O'Brien Must Go</em></strong></a><strong> </strong>will feature better production values&mdash;they even got Werner Herzog to narrate. </p><p>Starts streaming April 18</p><h2><em>The Synanon Fix </em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4760.    <div id="video-container-Y8Z8xMmly1M"></div>
  4761. </div>
  4762.  
  4763.  
  4764. <p>Synanon is hands-down my favorite cult of all time, so I'm psyched HBO is giving proper cinematic treatment to the off-the-chains crazy story of how a drug rehab center devolved into a heavily armed, post-hippie nightmare cult. Told through glorious insider film footage and interviews with ex cult-members and others who were there, <a href="https://www.hbo.com/the-synanon-fix" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The Synanon Fix</em></strong></a><strong>'</strong>s highlight include dead-eyed cultists with shaved heads wearing matching overalls and wielding axe-handles, attempted-murder-by-rattlesnake, and music from Synanon's in-house band that featured jazz immortals Joe Pass and Art Pepper among many others. There are not enough thumbs in existence for the number of thumbs-up this series deserves. </p><p>Starts streaming April 1</p><h2><em>The Zone of Interest&nbsp;(2024)</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4765.    <div id="video-container-r-vfg3KkV54"></div>
  4766. </div>
  4767.  
  4768.  
  4769. <p>Winner of the Best International Feature at this year's Oscars, <a href="https://www.max.com/movies/zone-of-interest/6a82c24c-5638-463c-8fa3-529610cf3537" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The Zone of Interest </em></strong></a>examines the chilling banality of evil by telling the story of concentration camp commandant Rudolf H&ouml;ss and his wife Hedwig raising their children in a charming little house next to Auschwitz. A searing, intense masterpiece, <em>The Zone of Interest</em> will stay with you long after the last frame. </p><p>Starts streaming April 5</p><h2>We're Here, Season 4</h2><p>Season four of HBO's Emmy-winning reality show features some big changes: Original cohosts Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and Eureka have been replaced with <em>RuPaul's Drag Race</em> franchise winners Sasha Velour, Jaida Essence Hall, Priyanka, and Latrice Royale. The essence of <a href="https://www.max.com/shows/were-here/761317f7-afa5-44bd-9045-4d7bc8b786ea" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>We're Here</em></a><em> </em>will remain the same though; the quartet of drag queens will travel to small communities around Murfreesboro, Tennessee., and Tulsa, Oklahoma, to spread the good word that drag is actually fun and maybe you should loosen up? </p><p>Starts streaming April 26</p><h2><em>Brandy Hellville &amp; The Cult of Fast Fashion</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4770.    <div id="video-container-p1pONvsrBEo"></div>
  4771. </div>
  4772.  
  4773.  
  4774. <p>I don't know if you're aware, but there is a dark side to the fashion industry. <em>Brandy Hellville &amp; The Cult of Fast Fashion</em> tells the story of a fun, flashy fashion brand that was once extremely popular with teen and tween girls, taking viewers behind-the-scenes at the Brandy Mellville company, which turns out to be a scummy cesspit of racism and sexual exploitation. The doc then goes deeper and broader with commentary on the environmental and societal devastation that fast fashion factories can bring to the places where they're located. </p><p>Starts streaming April 9</p><h2><em>Take My Tumor</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4775.    <div id="video-container-02nBBkoGLYw"></div>
  4776. </div>
  4777.  
  4778.  
  4779. <p>The success of shows like <em>Dr. Pimple Popper</em> and <em>Botched</em> proves a lot of people enjoy reality shows about often grotesque medical conditions. If you're among them, I bet you'll like <em>Take My Tumor</em>, a show about extreme tumors, the people who have them, and the dedicated medical professionals who remove them. It's from TLC, formerly The Learning Channel, who seem to have cornered the market on this kind of programming. </p><p>Starts streaming April 3</p><h2><em>An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th </em></h2><p>This documentary digs into the story of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, detailing not just the tragic explosion on April 19, but the massive FBI investigation that followed, and the seething underground of anti-government conspiracy theorists and hate-mongers who inspired Timothy McVeigh to commit mass murder.</p><p>Starts streaming April 16</p><h2><em>Men</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4780.    <div id="video-container-pt81CJcWZy8&amp;t=52s"></div>
  4781. </div>
  4782.  
  4783.  
  4784. <p>The monster in this "elevated horror" film is men&mdash;not a particular group of men, but men in general. From this provocative premise, director Alex Garland builds a creepy, disturbing narrative that explores the cultural and historical roots of misogyny through the victimization of the film's main character, Harper Marlowe (played by Jessie Buckley). In a stroke of genius, all the men in the movie (but one) are played by the incredibly talented Rory Kinnear, because men are all basically the same.</p><p>Starts streaming on April 18</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4785.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-movies-and-tv-shows-on-max</link>
  4786.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  4787.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  4788.    </item>
  4789.    <item>
  4790.      <title>The ‘Circular Economy’ Can Help You Waste (and Spend) Less</title>
  4791.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWQY621V4MRWRNFF107YPXJ1</guid>
  4792.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4793.      <description>Even if you recycle and compost you’re still living a pretty wasteful lifestyle. A “circular economy” model is a better option.</description>
  4794.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQY621V4MRWRNFF107YPXJ1/hero-image.jpg"/>
  4795.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&rsquo;re like most people, you probably want to feel like you&rsquo;re doing your part to avoid a <em>Mad Max</em>-style future in which we&rsquo;re all fighting in the desert over dwindling resources. You recycle your plastic, metal, and paper trash. You bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. </p><p>Those are all great&mdash;and meaningful&mdash;actions, but they're <a href="https://lifehacker.com/stop-pretending-your-trash-is-recyclable-1838178982" target="_blank">not as effective</a> as you might hope, because we&rsquo;re all trapped in a wasteful lifestyle. The average person wastes <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/13/food-waste-united-states-climate-change/71537256007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">168 pounds of perfectly edible food</a> every year, for example, and generates close to <a href="https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">5 pounds of garbage daily</a>. And lots of your recycling isn&rsquo;t getting recycled, including <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">less than 10%</a> of all the <a href="https://lifehacker.com/should-you-even-bother-recycling-your-plastics-1839640349" target="_blank">plastics</a> we use. The engine of the world economy is a &ldquo;take-make-waste&rdquo; model that encourages a disposable relationship with just about everything, and it&rsquo;s difficult to break out of it.</p><p>But you can do more by embracing what&rsquo;s known as the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/10/sustainable-homes-circular-economy-innovations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">circular economy</a>.</p><h2>Reduce-reuse-recycle</h2><p>A <a href="https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/what-circular-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">circular economy</a> is a model focused on reducing waste as much as possible. There are a few <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/531435a" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">basic principles</a>:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Reuse:</strong> If something is worn out or no longer functions as originally intended, seek out ways to keep it useful instead of simply trashing it.</p></li><li><p><strong>Recycle:</strong> If you can&rsquo;t figure out a way to reuse something, find ways to recycle it.</p></li><li><p><strong>Repair:</strong> When things break, figure out how to fix them instead of simply replacing them with a new model.</p></li><li><p><strong>Remanufacture:</strong> If there&rsquo;s no way to repair or repurpose something that&rsquo;s broken, only then make a new version.</p></li></ul><p>At the core of the concept is to transform &ldquo;waste&rdquo; into a new resource that can be used. Some of this is obviously only possible at a societal level, but there&rsquo;s a lot you can do on your own to follow these principles and live a more circular lifestyle.</p><h2>Reuse everything you can at home</h2><p>One of the easiest ways to embrace a circular economy model in your life is to change how you use the resources in your home by finding ways to reuse as much as you can. Water that goes down your drains can be <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-use-your-greywater-to-save-money-and-resources-1850332763" target="_blank">captured</a> to water your lawn or garden, or to flush your toilet. Food scraps and other organic matter <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-five-laziest-ways-to-compost-1850602707" target="_blank">can be composted</a> for use in your garden (or your landscaping, or in <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/compost-use-beyond-gardens" target="_blank">other people&rsquo;s gardens</a>).</p><p>This concept extends to your stuff. You can <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-repair-appliance-cheaply" target="_blank">repair</a> a lot of <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/when-to-fix-or-replace-range" target="_blank">appliances</a> and other items with a little bit of knowledge and some basic tools, instead of throwing them away and buying new. <a href="https://lifehacker.com/7-slightly-weird-but-useful-ways-you-should-reduce-the-1847547600" target="_blank">Finding new uses</a> for tools, gadgets, or materials that you&rsquo;ve accumulated or that no longer serve their original function is also a key strategy of the circular economy&mdash;even something simple like using an old toothbrush to help clean the bathroom tile, harvesting the remnants of old soap bars to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-turn-old-soap-slivers-into-new-bars-of-soap-1848461827" target="_blank">make new ones</a>, or using the lint from your dryer as kindling in your fireplace or fire pit helps.</p><p>If you&rsquo;re remodeling or renovating, choosing materials like tiles made from recycled materials or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-get-lumber-for-free-or-cheap-1847814824" target="_blank">reclaimed wood</a> transforms your project into a circular one. (You can also <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/how-to-recycle-diy-project-scraps" target="_blank">recycle the scraps</a> from your renovation instead of tossing them in a dumpster.)</p><h2>Borrow instead of buying</h2><p>In a consumerist society, it&rsquo;s easy to just buy things that we need, even if we&rsquo;re only going to need them for a single use. A more circular approach is to borrow or rent the things you need. This is can as simple as borrowing tools from your neighbor when you need them, or <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/best-places-to-rent-tools-and-equipment" target="_blank">renting equipment</a> from a hardware store instead of purchasing it, using it once, and leaving it to rot in your garage for a decade before deciding it&rsquo;s too old and throwing it away.</p><p>Another approach is to seek out a local <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tool-libraries-are-the-smartest-way-to-save-money-on-di-1848256776" target="_blank">tool library</a>, or organize a neighborhood <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tool-host-neighborhood-tool-share-123749153.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">tool share</a>. In fact, you can get together with neighbors, friends, and family to share a lot of stuff, like clothing (especially all those children&rsquo;s clothing your kids grow out of almost instantly). Another way to make your lifestyle more circular is to use tools like <a href="https://lifehacker.com/live-free-and-buy-nothing-1848014800" target="_blank">Freecycle or Buy Nothing Groups</a> to give away stuff you no longer need and to grab used items that still have a lot of life left in them. This kind of circular borrowing and lending has another big advantage: You can save a lot of money over the years by borrowing or finding free, used items instead of buying new all the time.</p><h2>Choose products wisely</h2><p>You can&rsquo;t <em>always</em> find what you need at your neighbor&rsquo;s house or on Freecycle. Sometimes you&rsquo;ll have no choice but to buy something new. In those cases, however, you can still support the circular economy by choosing companies that have embraced the concept too. For example:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Patagonia </strong>has built its business model on a circular and sustainable concept, including its <a href="https://wornwear.patagonia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Worn Wear program</a>, which allows you to trade in your used gear and buy used gear in turn.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ikea</strong> not only works to use recycled materials in its products, it also offers a <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/customer-service/services/buy-back/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Buyback &amp; Resell program</a> allowing you to sell your unneeded Ikea furniture back to the company, which then sells it used to someone else, wasting nothing.</p></li><li><p><strong>Adidas</strong> has launched a <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/blog/643269-the-three-loop-strategy-adidas-" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Three Loop Strategy</a>, which aims to a) use recycled materials in its shoes, b) reuse those materials when the shoes wear out, and c) eventually switch to using natural and renewable resources in making its shoes in the first place.</p></li><li><p><strong>Flor</strong> has a robust <a href="https://www.flor.com/responsible.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">recycling program</a> for its rug tiles, making it easy to send old carpet tiles back to the company to be recycled and reused in a sustainable way.</p></li><li><p><strong>Mattel</strong> has its <a href="https://shop.mattel.com/pages/playback" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Playback program</a>, which makes it easy for families to <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-recycle-any-fisher-price-toy-for-free-1849042114" target="_blank">mail in their old, used plastic toys</a> so the materials can be recycled and reclaimed.</p></li></ul><p>Choosing companies that are engaged with a circular economic strategy takes a little research, but once you identify them you can make your own efforts a lot easier by working with these companies when buying something is your only option&mdash;and establishing your own personal circular economy is the most effective way to lead a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. (And think of the money you'll save.)</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4796.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/circular-economy-waste-and-spend-less</link>
  4797.      <dc:creator>Jeff Somers</dc:creator>
  4798.      <category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
  4799.    </item>
  4800.    <item>
  4801.      <title>Why Lettuce Belongs on the Outside of Your Taco</title>
  4802.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH</guid>
  4803.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4804.      <description>Stop shredding your lettuce, and use the leaf for this instead.</description>
  4805.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/hero-image.jpg"/>
  4806.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Cutting corners is really satisfying when it actually works out. I know sometimes laziness means you&rsquo;ll have to work harder in the end, but each time I stumble upon a new food hack I begin to trust my lazy instincts even more. In the case of hard tacos, taking the extra two minutes to shred lettuce would be two minutes too long before shoving tacos into my face. With this refusal to do things &ldquo;right&rdquo; I found my favorite hard taco hack ever: use lettuce leaves as an edible brace for crunchy taco shells.&nbsp;</p><h2>Lettuce holds your shattering shell together</h2><p>I usually don&rsquo;t eat hard tacos. I love the corn flavor and adore the crunchy contrasting texture but I can&rsquo;t stand how they shatter as soon as you look at them. As a Taco Bell fan, I&rsquo;ve always appreciated the Double Decker Taco Supreme which makes use of a soft flour tortilla wrapped around the outside of a hard taco (with refried beans acting as a sound adhesive). When you take a bite, the crunchy shell breaks, naturally, but the outer soft tortilla layer holds it in place.&nbsp;</p><p>While I hadn&rsquo;t planned this result, effectively you can use a leaf of lettuce to do the same thing as the flour tortilla. Note that I am not, in no stretch of the imagination, suggesting that you <em>replace</em> your crunchy taco shell with lettuce. That&rsquo;s something you can do if you want to, but I fully believe the carb is integral to a taco.&nbsp;</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4807.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4808.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714509266.jpg" alt="Hand holding a leaf of lettuce around the outside of a taco." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-2.fill.size_800x450.v1714509266.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-2.fill.size_1400x787.v1714509266.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-2.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714509266.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4809.            </div>
  4810.            <div class="mt-2">
  4811.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4812.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  4813.                    </div>
  4814.    </div>
  4815. <hr><h3>Necessities for a perfect taco night:</h3><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/6Xeq2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Hard%20Taco%20Shells&amp;short_url=6Xeq2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Hard Taco Shells</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/OdqXD?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Hacks&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Lawry%27s%20Taco%20Spices%20%26%20Seasoning%20Mix&amp;short_url=OdqXD&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Lawry's Taco Spices &amp; Seasoning Mix</u></a></p></li></ul><hr><p>As I mentioned, in my steadfast laziness, I didn&rsquo;t care to shred my lettuce last taco night. Instead, I took a leaf of iceberg lettuce and slung it around the outside of the shell. I proceeded to fill my taco as usual, and took a bite. Normally I&rsquo;m resigned to the hard taco shell shattering all over my plate, but the lettuce acted as a brace. In fact, with the lettuce on the outside, I had more room in the center of the shell for more seasoned meat, cheese, and hot sauce. </p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  4816.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  4817.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714509266.jpg" alt="Taco shell with a bite taken out." width="2000" height="1124" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714509266.jpg 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-1.fill.size_1400x787.v1714509266.jpg 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRBEFDAPSTH164ADYEYMYRH/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1714509266.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  4818.            </div>
  4819.            <div class="mt-2">
  4820.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  4821.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</span>
  4822.                    </div>
  4823.    </div>
  4824. <p>Make no mistake, the shell will still break right down its spine (as you can kind of see in the picture of my breakfast taco), but the lettuce reduces the damage and keeps the broken pieces in one place. There's no need to shred the veg, plus you get more room for filling and a more pleasant taco eating experience overall.</p><p>You can use any type of lettuce as long as it&rsquo;s large enough to wrap around the bottom. I like iceberg because it&rsquo;s functionally a flexible blanket of crunchy water and it&rsquo;s cheap, but a small segment of romaine, red leaf, or Boston Bibb will work just fine. Even cabbage would work if you&rsquo;re into that, but it would have to be the tender portion of the leaf. If, like me, you gave up on crunchy tacos because of their brittle texture, consider this a sign to welcome them back onto the menu.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4825.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/use-lettuce-on-outside-of-hard-shell-tacos</link>
  4826.      <dc:creator>Allie Chanthorn Reinmann</dc:creator>
  4827.      <category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>
  4828.    </item>
  4829.    <item>
  4830.      <title>My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: LG Gaming Monitors</title>
  4831.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWRCY8WBE1W6AVAZY1MS4F19</guid>
  4832.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 13:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4833.      <description>These LG UltraGear gaming monitors are over 40% off right now.</description>
  4834.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWRCY8WBE1W6AVAZY1MS4F19/hero-image.png"/>
  4835.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some of the <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-gaming-monitors" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">best gaming monitors</a> on the market come from the LG UltraGear line. Right now, Amazon is having a sale on these <a href="https://zdcs.link/Y0YNo?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=LG%20gaming%20monitors&amp;short_url=Y0YNo&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">LG gaming monitors</a>, with two UltraGear monitors discounted by about 40%. </p><h2>The LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor is 44% off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4836.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB08BCRYS6B%2Fref%3Dox_sc_act_title_1%3Fsmid%3DATVPDKIKX0DER%26psc%3D1&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=LG+27GN950-B+27+Inch+UHD+Ultragear+Gaming+Monitor&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01P8MvjViXB6mmrWin21U1x&amp;offer_uuid=06zu88R2hqVZ6chUvzQacho&amp;object_type=06zu88R2hqVZ6chUvzQacho&amp;object_uuid=01P8MvjViXB6mmrWin21U1x" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch UHD Ultragear Gaming Monitor">
  4837.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4838.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4839.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch UHD Ultragear Gaming Monitor
  4840.                </div>
  4841.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4842.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4843.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4844.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4845.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$499.00</span>
  4846.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  4847.                    </div>
  4848.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4849.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$799.99</span>
  4850.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $300.99</span>
  4851.        </div>
  4852.    </div>
  4853.                            </div>
  4854.                        </div>
  4855.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4856.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4857.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4858.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4859.    </div>
  4860. </div>
  4861.                        </div>
  4862.                                    </div>
  4863.            </div>
  4864.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4865.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01P8MvjViXB6mmrWin21U1x/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1707305254.jpg" alt="LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch UHD Ultragear Gaming Monitor" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  4866.                            </div>
  4867.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4868.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01P8MvjViXB6mmrWin21U1x/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1707305254.jpg" alt="LG 27GN950-B 27 Inch UHD Ultragear Gaming Monitor" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  4869.                            </div>
  4870.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4871.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4872.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4873.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4874.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4875.    </div>
  4876. </div>
  4877.                    </div>
  4878.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4879.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4880.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4881.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$499.00</span>
  4882.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  4883.                    </div>
  4884.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4885.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$799.99</span>
  4886.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $300.99</span>
  4887.        </div>
  4888.    </div>
  4889.                    </div>
  4890.                            </div>
  4891.        </div>
  4892. </a></div>
  4893. <p>If you prioritize resolution over other specs, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/6XeB2?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=LG%2027GN950-B%20UltraGear%20Gaming%20Monitor&amp;short_url=6XeB2&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">LG 27GN950-B UltraGear Gaming Monitor</a> is a great option. It is one of the few to offer a full 4K (3840 by 2160) resolution and the only one under $500. The 27GN950-B also offers a 144Hz refresh rate IPS panel, a DisplayHDR 600 certification, Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility, and a 1ms response time with a ghost free and responsive picture. As <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/lg-ultragear-27gn950-b-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">IGN mentioned in its 9/10 review</a>, you will need a powerful graphics card to run AAA games in 4K without turning down the graphics. The monitor has two HDMI inputs, a single DisplayPort 1.4, and a headphone jack. As far as brightness, it peaks at 600 nits and has 16 local dimming zones, making it a middle-of-the-pack option between 400 nit and 1,000 nits. It's on sale for <strong>$449.99</strong> (originally $799.99).</p><h2>The LG UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor is 40% off</h2><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  4894.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0BRBW8KRK&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=LG+27%22+Ultragear+OLED+Gaming+Monitor+%2827GR95QE%29&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=05uBzxXNX2TOE6ZdrA3bF9V&amp;offer_uuid=03beq9AlZd2K6iihm14i8es&amp;object_type=03beq9AlZd2K6iihm14i8es&amp;object_uuid=05uBzxXNX2TOE6ZdrA3bF9V" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label='LG 27" Ultragear OLED Gaming Monitor (27GR95QE)'>
  4895.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  4896.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  4897.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">LG 27" Ultragear OLED Gaming Monitor (27GR95QE)
  4898.                </div>
  4899.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">240Hz .03ms GtG &amp; nVIDIA&reg; G-SYNC&reg; Compatible.
  4900.                    </div>
  4901.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  4902.                                            <div class="self-end">
  4903.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4904.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4905.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$656.99</span>
  4906.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  4907.                    </div>
  4908.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4909.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$999.99</span>
  4910.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $343.00</span>
  4911.        </div>
  4912.    </div>
  4913.                            </div>
  4914.                        </div>
  4915.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  4916.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4917.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4918.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4919.    </div>
  4920. </div>
  4921.                        </div>
  4922.                                    </div>
  4923.            </div>
  4924.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  4925.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/05uBzxXNX2TOE6ZdrA3bF9V/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1707260705.jpg" alt='LG Ultragear OLED 27" 2560x1440 240Hz 0.3ms Monitor' width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  4926.                            </div>
  4927.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  4928.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/05uBzxXNX2TOE6ZdrA3bF9V/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1707260705.jpg" alt='LG Ultragear OLED 27" 2560x1440 240Hz 0.3ms Monitor' width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  4929.                            </div>
  4930.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  4931.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  4932.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  4933.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  4934.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  4935.    </div>
  4936. </div>
  4937.                    </div>
  4938.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  4939.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  4940.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  4941.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$656.99</span>
  4942.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  4943.                    </div>
  4944.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  4945.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$999.99</span>
  4946.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $343.00</span>
  4947.        </div>
  4948.    </div>
  4949.                    </div>
  4950.                            </div>
  4951.        </div>
  4952. </a></div>
  4953. <p>What sets the <a href="https://zdcs.link/EyMln?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=LG%2027%22%20UltraGear%20OLED%20Gaming%20Monitor&amp;short_url=EyMln&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">LG 27" UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor</a> apart is its OLED panel, offering better color and contrast than other screens. Most gaming monitors are usually LCD screens that come in the form of TN, IPS, or VA panels. OLED screens at this smaller size with a respectable refresh rate are not common, and the UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor was one of the first to do it well, according to <a href="https://me.ign.com/en/lg-ultragear-27-oled-gaming-monitor-27gr95qe/205609/review/lg-ultragear-27-oled-gaming-monitor-27gr95qe-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">IGN Middle East's review</a>. Keep in mind, though, that OLED screens don't get as bright as LCD screens, so it's a trade-off you'll have to make. The monitor has a 240Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia GSync compatibility, and has a fast response time of 0.03ms. It also features 2xHDMI 2.1 ports, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB 3.0 ports, and a headphone jack with DTS Headphone:X virtual surround sound feature. It's available for <strong>$599.99</strong> (originally $999.99).</p>]]></content:encoded>
  4954.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/amazon-deal-of-the-day-lg-gaming-monitors</link>
  4955.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  4956.      <category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
  4957.    </item>
  4958.    <item>
  4959.      <title>The Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Prime This Month</title>
  4960.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HQW0SV12EQDAP0FN4X2W9CPM</guid>
  4961.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4962.      <description>A ton of new shows and movies are premiering on Prime in May. Here are the best of the best.</description>
  4963.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HQW0SV12EQDAP0FN4X2W9CPM/hero-image.png"/>
  4964.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I've scoured the new releases of Amazon's Prime and FreeVee platforms this month to present the best new movies and series the streaming services have to offer. </p><p>Amazon's tentpole original release this month is May/December romantic comedy <em>The Idea of You</em> starring Anne Hathaway. Don't sleep on the second season of sci-fi neo-Western <em>Outer Range</em> or the third season of <em>The Outlaws</em> either; both are excellent. </p><p>Along with new series and movies, I've highlighted some great older movies coming to Prime this month, including one of my favorites of all time, 1955's <em>All that Heaven Allows</em>, and <em>Am&eacute;lie</em>, which proves FreeVee has room for twee French cinema, too. </p><h2><em>The Idea of You</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4965.    <div id="video-container-V8i6PB0gGOA"></div>
  4966. </div>
  4967.  
  4968.  
  4969. <p>Based on a novel by Robinne Lee that began as a piece of Harry Styles fan fiction, romantic comedy <a href="https://zdcs.link/njm3y?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Idea%20of%20You&amp;short_url=njm3y&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The Idea of You</em></strong></a> stars Anne Hathaway as Sol&egrave;ne, a 40-year-old single mom who goes to Coachella and unexpectedly falls in love with Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine), the 24-year-old singer in August Moon, a band playing the main stage. <em>The Idea of You</em> is sitting at a <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_idea_of_you/reviews" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">90% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes</a>, with reviewers praising Hathaway's excellent performance, the romantic chemistry between the movie's leads, and the film's easygoing, character-driven comedy. </p><p>Starts streaming May 2</p><h2><em>All That Heaven Allows </em>(1955)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4970.    <div id="video-container-3H8yXanHW1I"></div>
  4971. </div>
  4972.  
  4973.  
  4974. <p>To accompany the release of <em>The Idea of You,</em> Prime is dropping an older take on the May/December romance genre: 1955's <a href="https://zdcs.link/jP0Ze?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=All%20That%20Heaven%20Allows&amp;short_url=jP0Ze&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>All That Heaven Allows</em></strong></a>. Jane Wyman plays a rich widow whose life is defined by the opinions of her snooty children and the squares at the country club. Rock Hudson plays the dashing young landscaper/free spirit she falls in love with. Upon its release, <em>All The Heaven Allows</em> was regarded as a well-made melodramatic romance, but director Douglas Sirk was archly satirizing 1950s middle-class mores and Hollywood romance clich&eacute;s, a piece of cinematic misdirection that wasn't noticed until decades later. </p><p>Starts streaming May 1</p><h2><em>Outer Range</em>, season 2</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4975.    <div id="video-container-8UkDdTMZh14"></div>
  4976. </div>
  4977.  
  4978.  
  4979. <p>The set-up of <em>Outer Range</em> will seem familiar for fans of TV neo-Westerns: Josh Brolin plays Royal Abbot, a Wyoming rancher fighting to protect his land. But the series takes a wildly unexpected turn toward the supernatural when Abbot discovers a mysterious, perfectly round hole on the edge of his property and otherworldly events begin occurring around the ranch. The first season of <a href="https://zdcs.link/KKMrj?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Outer%20Range&amp;short_url=KKMrj&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Outer Range</em></strong></a><strong> </strong>left a <em>lot</em> of unanswered questions. Let's hope season 2's answers live up to the promise of the premise. </p><p>Starts streaming May 16</p><h2><em>The GOAT</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4980.    <div id="video-container-PliGI2jtoFg"></div>
  4981. </div>
  4982.  
  4983.  
  4984. <p>Remember back around 2004, when reality television was everywhere and shows like <em>The Surreal Life</em> had washed-up celebrities live together to see what would happen? <em>The GOAT</em> feels like a throwback to those halcyon days. Hosted by Daniel (<em>Tosh.0</em>) Tosh, <a href="https://zdcs.link/3v3NE?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20GOAT&amp;short_url=3v3NE&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The GOAT</em></strong> </a>features 14 "reality superstars" like CJ Franco from <em>F Boy Island</em> and <em>The Bachelorette</em>'s Joseph Amabile living together in GOAT Manor and competing for $200,000 and the honor of being named the greatest reality star of all time. </p><p>Starts streaming May 8</p><h2><em>The Outlaws</em>, season 3</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4985.    <div id="video-container-AK8siK65xcw"></div>
  4986. </div>
  4987.  
  4988.  
  4989. <p>Created by and starring Steven Merchant, co-creator of the U.K. version of <em>The Office</em>, <a href="https://zdcs.link/3vo6K?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Outlaws&amp;short_url=3vo6K&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>The Outlaws </em></strong></a>serves up very British comedy with a side order of Christopher Walken. It follows a pack of minor scofflaws from different walks of life who come together to do community service for their crimes. Things get complicated when they discover a cache of hidden money and decide to keep it, angering the drug dealer it belongs to. Now is an excellent time to catch up on the first two seasons if you are unfamiliar. </p><p>Starts streaming May 31.</p><h2>58th Academy of Country Music Awards</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4990.    <div id="video-container-N2fhvoU86Zc"></div>
  4991. </div>
  4992.  
  4993.  
  4994. <p>All your favorite country stars will be on-hand to do-si-do at the <a href="https://zdcs.link/OGVlD?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=59th%20Academy%20of%20Country%20Music%20Awards&amp;short_url=OGVlD&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>59th Academy of Country Music Awards</em></strong></a>. Billed as "Country Music&rsquo;s Party of the Year," this year's event will be hosted by Reba McEntire, who is also slated to perform new music during the show. It's a really interesting time in country music, as the often-staid genre confronts a new wave of performers. The "entertainer of the year" category, for instance, pits neo-traditionalists like Cody Johnson against new school iconoclasts like face-tattooed, hip-hop influenced artist Jelly Roll. </p><p>Starts streaming May 16</p><h2><em>Whiplash (2014)</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  4995.    <div id="video-container-7d_jQycdQGo"></div>
  4996. </div>
  4997.  
  4998.  
  4999. <p>Winner of three Academy Awards, <a href="https://zdcs.link/gP4W0?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Whiplash&amp;short_url=gP4W0&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Whiplash</em></strong></a> tells the story of Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a student drummer who longs for jazz perfection, and his complicated relationship with his ruthless teacher/band leader Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a man who will do anything to get his students to perform at the peak of their talent. A movie that turns music instruction into a thriller with its tight pacing and editing, <em>Whiplash</em> has more than earned its <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/whiplash_2014/reviews" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%</a>. </p><p>Starts streaming May 1</p><h2><em>Am&eacute;lie</em> (2001)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5000.    <div id="video-container-2UT5xaAfxWU"></div>
  5001. </div>
  5002.  
  5003.  
  5004. <p>Amazon's FreeVee isn't the first movie platform I go to for French magical-realist cinema, but it is streaming <a href="https://zdcs.link/EbOMo?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Am%C3%A9lie&amp;short_url=EbOMo&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em>Am&eacute;lie</em></strong></a> in May, so maybe I'm wrong. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's portrayal of an awkward Parisian waitress (Audrey Tautou) and her strange hobbies will satiate any desire you have ever had for the twee and magical, but it manages to avoid cramming in so much whimsy that you feel sick. </p><p>Starts streaming May 1</p><h2><em>Bottle Rocket</em> (1996)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5005.    <div id="video-container-JJPQ-NnjZR0"></div>
  5006. </div>
  5007.  
  5008.  
  5009. <p>Starring Owen and Luke Wilson and directed by Wes Anderson,<a href="https://zdcs.link/R2Y17?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Roundups&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Bottle%20Rocket&amp;short_url=R2Y17&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"> <strong><em>Bottle Rocket</em></strong></a> is one of the highlights of the 1990s indie movie craze. The story of a group of eccentric nobodies trying to pull off an ambitious heist, <em>Bottle Rocket's</em> quirky vibe is both of-its-moment and timeless. Even with a relatively low budget and a lack of feature film experience, Wes Anderson's talent is undeniable, and his fingerprints are on every frame of this endearing and strangely affecting movie.</p><p>Starts streaming May 1</p><h2>Last month's picks</h2><h2><em>Fallout</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5010.    <div id="video-container-V-mugKDQDlg"></div>
  5011. </div>
  5012.  
  5013.  
  5014. <p>The <em>Fallout</em> video games are practically revered among gamers, so there will be a lot of critical eyes turned toward Prime&rsquo;s TV series based on them. Luckily, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fallout-Season-1/dp/B0CN4HV16N" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Fallout</em>&rsquo;s</a> executive producer Jonathan Nolan knows how to adapt a dystopian science fiction story&mdash;he created HBO&rsquo;s <em>Westworld. </em>In classic <em>Fallout </em>style, the series is set 200 years after a nuclear apocalypse obliterated humanity, and begins with the hero, Lucy (Ella Purnell), stepping out of a Vault-Tec vault into a bombed-out Los Angeles. She&rsquo;ll encounter gun-slinging ghouls, the power-suited Brotherhood of Steel soldiers, a Mr. Handy robot, and all kinds of &ldquo;hey, I recognize that!&rdquo; material from the games. Hit play to see if it lives up to its legacy.</p><p>Start streaming April 11</p><h2><em>Dinner with the Parents&nbsp;</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5015.    <div id="video-container-X_NoT9P13w4"></div>
  5016. </div>
  5017.  
  5018.  
  5019. <p>Don&rsquo;t discount this original comedy series because it&rsquo;s on FreeVee. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dinner-Parents-Season-Official-Trailer/dp/B0CXXGWMWH" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Dinner with the Parents</em></a>&rsquo; cast includes some of the funniest people who have ever been seen on a screen, including Dan Bakkedahl, Michaela Watkins, and Carol Kane&mdash;there&rsquo;s even a YouTube star, Daniel Thrasher, for the kids. Adopted from wildly popular British sit-com <em>Friday Night Dinne</em>r, each episode of <em>Dinner with the Parents</em> revolves around a family meal at the eccentric Langer family&rsquo;s house, a meal that inevitably descends into chaos.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming on FreeVee on April 18</p><h2><em>M&uacute;sica</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5020.    <div id="video-container-VckVviJh8ho"></div>
  5021. </div>
  5022.  
  5023.  
  5024. <p>Camila Mendes&nbsp;from <em>Riverdale</em> and internet personality Rudy Mancuso star in this Amazon original romantic comedy. Mancuso co-wrote the screenplay and composed the music in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/M%C3%BAsica-Rudy-Mancuso/dp/B0CL367CPJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>M&uacute;sica</em></a> too. Described as an &ldquo;untraditional romantic comedy that moves to its own infectious beat,&rdquo; <em>M&uacute;sica</em> tells the story of Rudy (natch) a charismatic Brazilian street performer with synesthesia&mdash;he experiences everyday noises as music. Rudy&rsquo;s directionless life is turned inside-out when he meets Isabella (Mendes), a beautiful woman who works at a fish market and seems to understand him much better than his girlfriend.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 4</p><h2><em>THEM: The Scare</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5025.    <div id="video-container-PCyeEMRweRo"></div>
  5026. </div>
  5027.  
  5028.  
  5029. <p>The second season Little Marvin&rsquo;s horror anthology series is set in 1991 Los Angeles and stars Deborah Ayorinde&nbsp;as&nbsp;Dawn Reeve, an LAPD detective investigating a particularly grisly series of murders. With the city teetering on the edge of chaos, Reeve tracks down the killer, but begins to suspect that something worse than human evil may be behind the crimes, and it&rsquo;s targeting her and her family. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/THEM-The-Scare-Official-Trailer/dp/B0CW62TSLG/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>THEM: The Scare</em></a><strong> </strong>also stars Pam Grier&nbsp;as&nbsp;Athena Reeve, and that&rsquo;s reason enough to check it out.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 25</p><h2><em>How to Date Billy Walsh</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5030.    <div id="video-container-dQHx9ems_I4"></div>
  5031. </div>
  5032.  
  5033.  
  5034. <p>If you&rsquo;re in the mood for a teenage love story, check out <em>How to Date Billy Walsh</em>. Set at a posh British boarding school, <em>Billy Walsh</em> tells the story of Archie&rsquo;s lifelong crush on his best friend Amelia (Charithra Chandran). Just when Archie is ready to tell his pal how he feels, Amelia meets Billy Walsh, a handsome, charismatic American transfer student, and she falls hard. Complications, as they say, ensue, as Amelia tries to date Billy and Archie tries to secretly keep them apart. It may not be the most original story for a teen comedy, but it&rsquo;s presented here with sincerity and wit.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 5</p><h2><em>Going Home with Tyler Cameron</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5035.    <div id="video-container-5I4KQ9ZQZPQ"></div>
  5036. </div>
  5037.  
  5038.  
  5039. <p>This reality/renovation show chronicles former<em> Bachelorette </em>and current handsome boy Tyler Cameron&rsquo;s quest to start a construction business in his hometown of Jupiter, Florida. We are meant to believe that Cameron has always dreamed of working in construction, and now that he no longer stars in a top-rated television show where a gaggle of attractive women compete for his affection, he is finally free to pursue his real passion: renovating other people&rsquo;s houses. Each of the eight episodes of <em>Going Home</em> features a remodeled home, and the series also boasts appearances from reality TV stars like Matt James, Rachael Kirkconnell, Jason Tartick, and Hannah Brown.</p><h2><em>Ong Bak - The Muay Thai Warrior</em>&nbsp;(2003)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5040.    <div id="video-container-GQ5qcPsCP9A"></div>
  5041. </div>
  5042.  
  5043.  
  5044. <p>I sometimes forget how great martial arts movies can be, often for years, but then I&rsquo;ll watch something like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ong-Bak-Warrior-Tony-Jaa/dp/B002ONISWI/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Ong-Bak</em></a> and go, &ldquo;wait, why do I ever watch any other kind of movies?&rdquo; Tony Jaa turns in a performance on the level of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan with his portrayal of Ting, who sets out from his small village to retrieve a stolen statue of Buddha. That plot, though, is secondary to the fight sequences. Shot in pre-digital, no-wire-work times, Jaa and the rest of the cast&rsquo;s stunts and choreography will have you saying &ldquo;Godd<em>amn</em>&rdquo; or shaking your head in pure disbelief.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 1</p><h2><em>Jesus Christ Superstar&nbsp;</em>(1973)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5045.    <div id="video-container-e1bAgWsEORc"></div>
  5046. </div>
  5047.  
  5048.  
  5049. <p>One thing I'll say for him, Jesus is cool. A screening of <em>Jesus Christ Superstar</em> is an Easter tradition in my house, and it should be in yours too. The story of Judas&rsquo; betrayal of Jesus told through hippie-era acid rock, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Christ-Superstar-Ted-Neeley/dp/B002NWWHOA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Jesus Christ Superstar</em></a><em> </em>works as both campy rock opera and as straight story-telling&mdash;the source material is pretty solid. Packed with great music by Andrew Lloyd Weber and featuring performances from talented long-hairs like Ted Neeley as Jesus Christ and Carl Anderson as Judas, <em>Jesus Christ Superstar </em>is so great, it almost makes me forget I&rsquo;m an atheist.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 1</p><h2><em>Rosemary's Baby</em>&nbsp;(1968)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5050.    <div id="video-container-BjpA6IH_Skc"></div>
  5051. </div>
  5052.  
  5053.  
  5054. <p>If you&rsquo;re the kind of person who can separate an artist from their work, watch (or re-watch) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rosemarys-Baby-Mia-Farrow/dp/B000IZ8NBU/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Rosemary's Baby,</em></a> a masterpiece horror movie from director Roman Polanski. It&rsquo;s strange that a criminal and reprobate like Polanski could have made a movie as progressive and pro-feminist as <em>Rosemary&rsquo;s Baby,</em> but art is sometimes weird like that. <em>Rosemary&rsquo;s Baby&rsquo;</em>s pregnant-with-the-devil story works on the surface as a creepy slow-burn suspense/horror tale, but underneath is a scathing critique of the patriarchy, with powerless Rosemary systemically victimized and violated by everyone and everything in her supposedly perfect life. It&rsquo;s still hard-hitting 55 years later, and it features stand-out performances from Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, and Ruth Gordon.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 1</p><h2><em>The Holdovers</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5055.    <div id="video-container-AhKLpJmHhIg"></div>
  5056. </div>
  5057.  
  5058.  
  5059. <p>I can&rsquo;t say enough positive things about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holdovers-Paul-Giamatti/dp/B0CJRHJXYV" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>The Holdovers</em></a>. A character-driven drama directed by the great Alexander Payne, <em>The Holdovers </em>stars Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, a hardass classics instructor at a New England boarding school. Tasked with babysitting a crew of poor-little-rich-boys with nowhere to go over Christmas vacation, Hunham strikes up an unlikely friendship with troubled-but-intelligent delinquent Angus Tully (played by Dominic Sessa) and the school's cook, Mary Lamb (a role for which actor Da'Vine Joy Randolph <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fia9mFKxwXM" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">won an Academy Award</a>). It&rsquo;s the kind of movie that you know will make you cry about five minutes in, but the tears are honest, man.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 29</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5060.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/the-best-movies-and-tv-shows-to-watch-on-prime</link>
  5061.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  5062.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  5063.    </item>
  5064.    <item>
  5065.      <title>The Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Netflix This Month</title>
  5066.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HQV8DK99931G1N8C5R4NVG68</guid>
  5067.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5068.      <description>There are a ton of interesting and notable movies and shows coming to Netflix in May. Here are the best of the bunch.</description>
  5069.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HQV8DK99931G1N8C5R4NVG68/hero-image.png"/>
  5070.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I've pored over Netflix's release schedule to bring you the best movies and TV shows premiering on the service this month, a month in which Netflix is leaning into live events hard. To celebrate its annual "Netflix is a joke" festival in Los Angeles, the streaming platform is presenting a series of as-they-happen streams, including a series from comedian John Mulaney that will be live nightly, a stand-up show from Katt Williams, and the live roast of quarterback Tom Brady. </p><p>And that's all on top of a full slate of original movies and shows, including Jerry Seinfeld's <em>Unfrosted</em>, a new season of <em>Bridgerton</em>, and the premiere of <em>A Man in Full</em>, a drama from David E. Kelley and Regina King. Also: <em>Atlas</em>, in which Jennifer Lopez plays a kick-ass secret agent who fights computers. </p><h2><em>John Mulaney Presents: Everybody&rsquo;s in LA</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5071.    <div id="video-container-cGSe2T3wgj4"></div>
  5072. </div>
  5073.  
  5074.  
  5075. <p>As part of the "Netflix is a Joke" festival, stand-up comedian John Mulaney will hosts six nights of live broadcasts beginning on May 3. Described as a "celebration of LA" and featuring the biggest names in comedy (names to be announced), <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81742123" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Everybody&rsquo;s in LA</em></a> promises Mulaney and his comedian pals descending on the City of Angels to create an anything-can-happen experiences that comedy fans will definitely want to watch in real time. </p><p>Starts streaming May 3.</p><h2><em>Katt Williams: Woke Foke</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5076.    <div id="video-container-TozX3UUPVt4"></div>
  5077. </div>
  5078.  
  5079.  
  5080. <p>Speaking of unpredictable live comedy, Kat Williams will be appearing live from Inglewood on Netflix on May 4 to deliver what should be an incendiary, history-making set. The fast-talking star of <em>Friday After Next</em> and the reigning king of stand-up is not known for holding anything back; like the man himself says in the <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81683615" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Woke Foke<strong> </strong></em></a>trailer, "It's gonna be some <em>shit</em>."</p><p>Starts streaming May 4.</p><h2><em>Bridgerton, </em>Season 3 &mdash; Part 1</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5081.    <div id="video-container-U4JYAx5rNRA"></div>
  5082. </div>
  5083.  
  5084.  
  5085. <p>You know what's the opposite of a live, anything-goes Katt Williams stand-up performance? <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/8023239" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Bridgerton</em></a>! The romance series set among high-society ladies and gentlemen of Regency London is going into its third season, and Netflix is dropping four episodes that tell the story of Colin and Penelope's friends-to-lovers romance. Series regulars Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton), Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), and Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury) are returning, and there will be new faces too, including Daniel Francis as dashing gentleman Marcus Anderson and James Phoon as the rakish Harry Dankwort.</p><p>Starts streaming May 16.</p><h2><em>A Man in Full</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5086.    <div id="video-container-S9bF4X38O0o"></div>
  5087. </div>
  5088.  
  5089.  
  5090. <p>Television powerhouses David E. Kelley and Regina King teamed up to create this emotionally gripping drama based on the best-selling novel by Tom Wolfe. Jeff Daniels plays Charlie Croker, a brash Atlanta real estate magnate facing bankruptcy and fending off white-collar adversaries eager to capitalize on his fall-from-grace. Diane Lane, Sarah Jones, and Lucy Lui round out <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81506171" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>A Man in Full</em>'</a>s impressive cast. </p><p>Starts streaming May 2.</p><h2><em>Unfrosted</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5091.    <div id="video-container-2lqRPUhPfho"></div>
  5092. </div>
  5093.  
  5094.  
  5095. <p>If you like movies about brands, you're going to be very pleased with <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81481606" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Unfrosted</em></a>. Jerry Seinfeld co-wrote, directed, co-produced, and stars in this comedy that tells the origin story of Pop-Tarts, America's favorite breakfast rectangle. Set in Michigan in 1963, <em>Unfrosted</em> details the cutthroat competition between breakfast kingpins Kellogg's and Post, as each races to develop and market a breakfast pastry for the masses before the other guy steals the show.  </p><p>Stars streaming May 3.</p><h2><em>Atlas</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5096.    <div id="video-container-Jokpt_LJpbw"></div>
  5097. </div>
  5098.  
  5099.  
  5100. <p>In <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81012048" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Atlas</em></a>, Jennifer Lopez beats up AI. She plays agent Atlas Shepard, a wisecracking badass who's devoted her life to hunting down rogue artificial intelligence Harlan. Trapped on a distant planet with her life in danger, Agent J-Lo is forced to rely on a computer program named Smith to survive. But in classic <em>Odd Couple</em> style, agent Shepard hates all AI, so it's not going to be an easy friendship. I didn't have "Jennifer Lopez plays a science fiction action hero battling super computers" on my bingo card, but now that I've heard about it, it makes a weird kind of sense. </p><p>Starts streaming May 24.</p><h2><em>Eric</em></h2><p>Benedict Cumberbatch stars in this thriller series created by BAFTA and Emmy Award-winner Abi Morgan. Cumberbatch plays Vincent, a puppeteer who created wildly successful kids' show <em>Good Day Sunshine</em>. But when his nine-year-old son goes missing on the way to school, Vincent's world unravels and he descends into a personal nightmare of guilt, anger, obsession, and madness. According to Morgan, "<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81284301" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Eric</em></a><strong><em> </em></strong>is a dark and crazy journey into the heart of 1980s New York&mdash;and the good, bad, and ugly world of Vincent." Sounds good to me.</p><p>Starts streaming May 30.</p><h2><em>Power</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5101.    <div id="video-container-BNfYuUKyXBU"></div>
  5102. </div>
  5103.  
  5104.  
  5105. <p>The big-ticket Netflix originals this month may be comedy and historical costumes, but there's a serious side too, embodied by <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81416254" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Power</em></a><strong>,</strong> a hard-hitting documentary that looks at our relationship with the cops and asks "Who is more powerful, the people or the police?" Directed by Academy Award nominee Yance Ford, <em>Power</em> examines the history of policing and asks tough questions about whether and how we're being oppressed by the boys and girls in blue. </p><p>Starts streaming May 17.</p><h2><em>Roast of Tom Brady</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5106.    <div id="video-container-qL0if7ge4Bw"></div>
  5107. </div>
  5108.  
  5109.  
  5110. <p>Most football fans are eager to see ex-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady get taken down a few pegs, and this roast brings in Jeff Ross, Kevin Hart, and a host of the most vicious comedians on earth to hit Brady harder than a 260-pound linebacker. And they don't make helmets for your feelings. The show will be broadcast live and unedited, ensuring an anything-might-happen evening of insults and comedy. </p><p>Starts streaming May 5.</p><h2><em>Secrets of the Neanderthals</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5111.    <div id="video-container-n_hn_Ov2qpk"></div>
  5112. </div>
  5113.  
  5114.  
  5115. <p>Sir Patrick Stewart narrates this documentary that tries to figure out what those Neanderthals have been hiding from us<em> </em>for 300,000 years. In its quest for answers, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_hn_Ov2qpk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Secrets of the Neanderthals</em></a> takes viewers all over the world, examines the fossil record, and consults top researchers in the field to ask, "What is the <em>deal</em> with cavemen?"</p><p>Starts streaming May 2.</p><h2>Rachel Feinstein: Big Guy&mdash;Netflix Comedy</h2><p>The comedy will just absolutely not stop this month on Netflix, no matter how you might beg. Rachel Feinstein is a comedians' comedian who has won fans for her whip-smart observational comedy. She's the kind of always-on-it pro who gets laughs whether she's playing some dinky club on a Wednesday night or co-hosting <em>The View</em>. Don't miss her Netflix special. </p><p>Starts streaming May 21.</p><h2><em>Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies &amp; Scandal</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5116.    <div id="video-container-X8ZY2W5NCdA"></div>
  5117. </div>
  5118.  
  5119.  
  5120. <p>When hackers called "The Impact Team" took over find-an-affair website Ashley Madison in 2015, they told its owners "welcome to your worst fucking nightmare," but the nightmare extended beyond the business owners. All of Ashley's Madison's users, from ordinary Joes to political figures and entertainment industry leaders, had their sordid details spilled to anyone who wanted to take a look. <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81602884" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies &amp; Scandal</em> </a>tells the entire sleazy story, but doesn't shy away from the real-world emotional devastation the imbroglio wrought. </p><p>Starts streaming May 15.</p><h2>Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult</h2><p>At the time of this posting, Netflix hasn't released a ton of details about original documentary <em>Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult</em>, but the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/withoutacrystalball/p/C6J1B7RvFbI/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Instagram post announcing it </a>by co-creator Katie Paulson describes the doc as shining a light on "the exploitation that occurs in Hollywood" by nefarious people preying on "talented dancers and entertainers." There's also mentions of a lawsuit to shut the documentary down, and there are hints of a huge, tangled mess of internet drama too. As a super-fan of cult-related documentaries, I am compelled to watch this one. </p><p>Starts streaming May 29.</p><h2><em>Living with Leopards</em></h2><p>I'm a sucker for nature documentaries, so I'm psyched for this made-in-the-UK movie that details the lives of a pair of leopard cubs, from birth to adulthood. <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81462291" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Living with Leopards</em></a> promises an up-close-and personal look at a the coming-of-age of some of the most majestic creatures on earth. </p><p>Starts streaming May 10.</p><h2><em>Tires</em></h2><p>Stand-up comic Shane Gillis stars in this six-episode comedy series about the crazy goings-on inside an auto repair shop. Gillis is also <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81758875" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Tires</em></a><strong>'</strong> executive producer and co-creator, so this has the potential to be one idiosyncratic, sleeper-hit shows that streaming is made for. We'll all know for sure when it debuts on May 23. </p><p>Starts streaming May 23.</p><h2>Last month's picks</h2><h2><em>Ripley</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5121.    <div id="video-container-0ri2biYLeaI"></div>
  5122. </div>
  5123.  
  5124.  
  5125. <p>Based on Patricia Highsmith&rsquo;s novel <em>The Talented Mr. Ripley,</em> this series stars Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, and Andrew Scott in the title role as Tom Ripley, a grifter and conman with too much charm and not enough morality. Director Steven Zaillian's moody black-and-white visuals set the tone of Ripley's<em> </em>chilling but glamorous life. After being hired by a wealthy industrialist to retrieve his wayward son from Italy, the ever-scheming Mr. Ripley sees an opportunity, and inserts himself into Dickie&rsquo;s life, leading to a dark spiral of psychological abuse, mayhem, and murder. If you like plot twists and stylish wickedness, you&rsquo;ll be very into <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81678765" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Ripley</em></a><strong>.</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 4</p><h2><em>Rebel Moon &mdash; Part Two: The Scargiver</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5126.    <div id="video-container-UEJuNHOd8Dw"></div>
  5127. </div>
  5128.  
  5129.  
  5130. <p>The climax of Zack Snyder&rsquo;s epic science fiction story promises a breakneck pace, larger-than-a-galaxy action sequences, and heroic characters battling impossible odds with everything on the line. <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81624666" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Rebel Moon &mdash; Part Two: The Scargiver</em></a><em> </em>continues the story of Kora and her surviving allies as they face off against Admiral Atticus Noble and the Imperium legion. With the collective force of the Realm gathered to destroy them, this rag-tag band of rebels mounts a last stand to free the villagers of Veldt. In other words, it&rsquo;s rip-roaring space adventure.  </p><p>Starts streaming April 19</p><h2><em>Scoop</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5131.    <div id="video-container-5cXzYpO8GxE"></div>
  5132. </div>
  5133.  
  5134.  
  5135. <p>This ripped-from-the-headlines films tells the story of how BBC&rsquo;s <em>Newsnight</em> secured the TV interview with Prince Andrew that led to his downfall. Based on the account of <em>Newsnight&rsquo;s</em> booker Sam McAlister, <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81600418" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Scoop</em></a> takes us behind the scenes of the scoop of the century, detailing how McAlister (played by Billie Piper) secured an &ldquo;un-gettable&rdquo; interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell), and how journalist Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) grilled the prince on air about his connection to Jeffery Epstein, leading to his withdrawal from official royal duties.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 5</p><h2><em>Dead Boy Detectives</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5136.    <div id="video-container-8bGICMgXEn0"></div>
  5137. </div>
  5138.  
  5139.  
  5140. <p>The ghosts at the center of <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81679967" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Dead Boy Detectives</em></a> don&rsquo;t spend time haunting people; they solve crimes instead. Based on the comic from Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, and set in Gaiman&rsquo;s <em>Sandman</em> universe, <em>Dead Boy Detectives</em> follows Edwin and Charles (George Rexstrew and Charles Rowland), best dead friends spending their afterlives solving supernatural crimes. With the help of their clairvoyant pal Crystal (Kassius Nelson), the Dead Boys will face off against witches, monsters, and other supernatural enemies to solve the earthly realms most baffling mysteries.</p><p>Starts streaming April 25</p><h2><em>Good Times</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5141.    <div id="video-container-BMA2Kc7TiO0"></div>
  5142. </div>
  5143.  
  5144.  
  5145. <p>With the help of executive producer Seth MacFarlane, Netflix has revived Norman Lear&rsquo;s seminal 1970s sitcom <em>Good Times </em>and<em> </em>re-imagined it as an R-rated animated series. Featuring the voices of J.B. Smoove,&nbsp;Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, and more, <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81306200" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Good Times</em></a> tells the story of the latest generation of the Evans family who are scratching and surviving,  hanging and jiving, in a Chicago housing project. The details have been modernized, but the theme of togetherness in the face of hard times remains the same.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 12</p><h2><em>Unlocked: A Jail Experiment</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5146.    <div id="video-container-EDRqvLD77lE"></div>
  5147. </div>
  5148.  
  5149.  
  5150. <p>This documentary tells the fascinating story of a radical experiment conducted in an Arkansas jail. Faced with deteriorating conditions, mistreatment of prisoners, and a high recidivism rate, Sheriff Eric Higgins ordered all the cell doors opened and gave the prisoners the authority to make decisions about how the jail should be run. The goal was to see whether autonomy would result in a greater sense of community, a more humane lock-up, and fewer accused criminals returning to the clink. Check out <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81476420" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Unlocked: A Jail Experiment</em></a> to see how well it worked.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 10</p><h2><em>Baby Reindeer</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5151.    <div id="video-container-eafm1gB6SCM"></div>
  5152. </div>
  5153.  
  5154.  
  5155. <p>This dark comedy series illustrates the adage &ldquo;no good deed goes unpunished.&rdquo; Written, directed, and starring comedian Richard Gadd, <em>Baby Reindeer </em>is a fictionalized version of real events in his life. Gadd plays bartender Donny Dunn, who shows kindness to a troubled customer named Martha. Dunn&rsquo;s innocent altruism leads to Martha becoming obsessed and throwing both of their lives into chaos. <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81219887" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Baby Reindeer</em></a> consciously avoids the typical tropes of stories about stalkers, choosing to focus on the reality of what it&rsquo;s like to be the center of an unhinged person&rsquo;s world.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 11</p><h2><em>Files of the Unexplained</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5156.    <div id="video-container-H_HFE4-JISE"></div>
  5157. </div>
  5158.  
  5159.  
  5160. <p>If you&rsquo;re in the right mood, a docuseries about eerie encounters, unexplained disappearances, haunted houses, and UFOs hits the spot. <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81593881" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Files of the Unexplained</em></a><strong><em> </em></strong>features eight episodes, with each exploring a different perplexing mystery including alien abduction, a spate of human feet washing up on beaches, and people seemingly vanishing into thin air. There&rsquo;s probably a rational explanation for these events, but <em>what if there isn&rsquo;t</em>?</p><p>Starts streaming April 3</p><h2><em>Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5161.    <div id="video-container-YFDhI7OwFyU"></div>
  5162. </div>
  5163.  
  5164.  
  5165. <p>If you like stand-up comedy but you&rsquo;re sick of the same old shizz, check out<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81717099" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen</em></a><em>.</em> The Scottish standup, podcaster, and writer's unique life story, personality, and neurodivergence guarantees unique and screamingly funny takes on sex, drinking, autism, feminism, and everything else.</p><p>Starts streaming April 22</p><h2><em>What Jennifer Did</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5166.    <div id="video-container-BSm5Nki93Bw"></div>
  5167. </div>
  5168.  
  5169.  
  5170. <p>When a Vietnamese immigrant couple is brutally slain in their home, police are baffled. The sole survivor of the crime, the couple&rsquo;s daughter Jennifer, lays the blame on masked intruders on a rampage, but there&rsquo;s something suspicious about her account. <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81586385" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>What Jennifer Did</em></a> digs deeply into this shocking crime through interrogation footage of Jennifer and interviews with the people involved, revealing a story with unexpected twists, baffling motives, and a most unlikely perpetrator.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 10</p><h2><em>The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5171.    <div id="video-container-GK_C54Q_9QY"></div>
  5172. </div>
  5173.  
  5174.  
  5175. <p>This Netflix documentary pulls open the metaphorical cabinet of 4Chan so we can watch the online roaches scurry. As told by <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81456528" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem</em></a>, 4chan started as an online hangout for creative homebound miscreants but devolved into a hive of scum and villainy that pierced the veil between the online and real worlds, turning our entire culture into a message board flame war in the process.&nbsp;</p><p>Starts streaming April 5</p><h2><em>Our Living World</em></h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5176.    <div id="video-container-em9CU8uiXDY"></div>
  5177. </div>
  5178.  
  5179.  
  5180. <p>Cate Blanchett narrates this family-friendly nature documentary that travels the world to explore the interconnectedness of nature.<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81137426" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Our Living World</a>&rsquo;s stunning wildlife photography, breathtaking locations, and timely and trenchant observations about the beauty and fragility of the natural world probably won&rsquo;t slow mankind&rsquo;s destruction of the planet by a single second, but you never know, and we might as well look at it while it's here.</p><p>Starts streaming April 17</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5181.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-movies-tv-shows-netflix-this-month</link>
  5182.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  5183.      <category><![CDATA[Streaming]]></category>
  5184.    </item>
  5185.    <item>
  5186.      <title>You Can Get This 6-Piece Xbox Accessory Set on Sale for $40 Right Now</title>
  5187.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HW6570PR51AP9G56RSQM2VJQ</guid>
  5188.      <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 11:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5189.      <description>This Bionik Pro Kit has some great accessories for your Xbox Series X/S.</description>
  5190.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HW6570PR51AP9G56RSQM2VJQ/hero-image.png"/>
  5191.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can get this Bionik Pro Kit for Xbox Series X/S <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/bionik-pro-kit-for-xbox-series-xs-essential-gaming-accessories?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bionik-pro-kit-for-xbox-series-xs-essential-gaming-accessories&amp;utm_term=scsf-595276&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000000xtQRIAY&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $39.99 right now</a> (reg. $89.99). The gaming accessories kit includes a green CLR-50 over-ear gaming headset with 50mm drivers, an integrated microphone, and RGB coloring; a dual-port controller charger with back-lit power indicators and an adjustable USB cord; two 1,200mAh rechargeable battery packs with custom covers; a 10-foot LYNX cable with woven stitching and a reinforced Kevlar coating; and a USB cable extender to use with the accessories.</p><p>You can get this Bionik Pro Kit for Xbox Series X/S <a href="https://shop.lifehacker.com/sales/bionik-pro-kit-for-xbox-series-xs-essential-gaming-accessories?utm_source=lifehacker.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bionik-pro-kit-for-xbox-series-xs-essential-gaming-accessories&amp;utm_term=scsf-595276&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000000xtQRIAY&amp;scsonar=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on sale for $39.99 right now</a> (reg. $89.99), though prices can change at any time.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5192.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/xbox-bionik-accessories-sale</link>
  5193.      <dc:creator>Sponsored by StackCommerce</dc:creator>
  5194.      <category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category>
  5195.    </item>
  5196.    <item>
  5197.      <title>Clicking This Fake Chrome Update Could Drain Your Bank Account and Leak Your Location</title>
  5198.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWR4KNBTR1S8TJ7XVV7SJJ1S</guid>
  5199.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5200.      <description>A new malware for Android phones is masquerading as three popular Android apps, including Google Chrome.</description>
  5201.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR4KNBTR1S8TJ7XVV7SJJ1S/hero-image.png"/>
  5202.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.threatfabric.com/blogs/brokewell-do-not-go-broke-by-new-banking-malware" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Security threat firm ThreatFabric has released details</a> about a new Android-based banking malware called Brokewell. The name refers to the malware's ability to drain bank accounts, but it can do so much more.</p><p>The program is said to be in active deployment as of this article's writing, and currently masquerades as an update for Google Chrome on Android, even going so far as to very closely mimic the actual ads Google puts out for its browser.</p><p>ThreatFabric warns that Brokewell is equipped with both remote-control capabilities and data-stealing functionality. All of that is built right into the malware rather than relying on a cloud connection, making it especially detrimental to your device's security. Like many <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/delete-these-android-malware-apps-asap" target="_blank">other recent Android malware families</a>, Brokewell is also capable of getting around the Google-imposed restrictions meant to keep sideloaded applications from requesting permissions to accessibility services.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  5203.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  5204.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR4KNBTR1S8TJ7XVV7SJJ1S/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714502096.webp" alt="Comparison of fake ad that installs Brokewell versus a real Chrome ad" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR4KNBTR1S8TJ7XVV7SJJ1S/images-1.fill.size_800x450.v1714502096.webp 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR4KNBTR1S8TJ7XVV7SJJ1S/images-1.fill.size_1400x788.v1714502096.webp 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR4KNBTR1S8TJ7XVV7SJJ1S/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1714502096.webp 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  5205.            </div>
  5206.            <div class="mt-2">
  5207.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide">A comparison of a real Google Chrome ad and the fake ad that installs Brokewell on your Android device.</span>
  5208.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: ThreatFabric</span>
  5209.                    </div>
  5210.    </div>
  5211. <p>Once installed and launched for the first time, Brokewell prompts the infected user to grant permissions for accessibility services. The malware can then automatically grant itself other permissions, giving it open access to carry out a slew of malicious activities, ThreatFabric warns.</p><p>So far, Brokewell has been spotted masquerading as three popular applications: Google Chrome, ID Austria, and Klarna. The security firm also warns Brokewell is constantly logging information from all of your apps, making it especially dangerous: It isn't just your banking that's at risk, as the malware can also collect information such as call history, geolocation, and recorded audio.</p><p>The rise of malware apps like Brokewell does not bode well for the future of Android threats. With more and more bad actors gaining the ability to bypass the restrictions put into place in <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-best-android-13-features-worth-knowing-about-1849417266" target="_blank">Android 13</a>, Google will need to find new ways to protect users. Of course, users themselves will also need to be mindful of what they are downloading and sideloading.</p><p>Either way, if you're running an Android phone right now, be careful what you download, and only download applications from trusted sources. Importantly, if a third-party app asks for accessibility permissions, don't give them to it, as it could provide open access to your device and any data stored on it.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5212.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/android-malware-poses-as-chrome-update-steals-bank-info-location-call-history</link>
  5213.      <dc:creator>Joshua Hawkins</dc:creator>
  5214.      <category><![CDATA[Android]]></category>
  5215.    </item>
  5216.    <item>
  5217.      <title>What the Most Credible Leaks Say About the Nintendo Switch 2</title>
  5218.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWQYXJK30KA6ZDWBB06RJPNG</guid>
  5219.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5220.      <description>Rumors have been swirling for years, but some are a lot more likely than others.</description>
  5221.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQYXJK30KA6ZDWBB06RJPNG/hero-image.jpg"/>
  5222.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Nintendo Switch 2 rumor mill seems to have been churning almost since the Switch originally launched, yet for the last seven years, Nintendo has been mostly silent on the issue. As such, it's easy to dismiss any new claims as mere speculation. Still I think some Switch 2 rumors are more solid than others, and may actually give us a glimpse into what Nintendo has planned for what is possibly the most anticipated new console in years.</p><p>The most recent rumors began with a Spanish outlet known as <a href="https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350770848/exclusiva-switch-2-conocemos-en-primicia-nuevos-detalles-de-la-proxima-consola-de-nintendo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Vandal</a>. where writer Ram&oacute;n Varela dropped a breakout piece that includes several claims that haven't circulated before. Those claims were then <a href="https://www.mobapad.com/blogs/the-latest-scoop-on-nintendo-switch-2/the-latest-scoop-on-nintendo-switch-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">corroborated and expanded upon by Mobapad</a>, a company that makes Switch controllers and accessories.</p><p>While all rumors should be taken with a grain of salt (and a massive one at that), there is reason to put stock in Vandal's reporting. <a href="https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350744733/nuevos-detalles-exclusivos-de-switch-pro-pantalla-tamano-dock-llegada-a-europa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">The outlet's piece on the "Switch Pro"</a> in 2021 actually got many of the details correct, for what turned out to be the <a href="https://zdcs.link/LbZZP?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Switch%20OLED&amp;short_url=LbZZP&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Switch OLED</a>. While Vandal was incorrect in predicting the Switch OLED would output 4K when connected to a TV, it accurately reported Nintendo would increase the display size without increasing the size of the console, and that the company would use an OLED panel for the display rather than an LCD. It also correctly claimed the upgraded stand would resemble a Microsoft Surface's stand, and that the dock would have USB 3.0 ports, as well as an ethernet port.</p><p>That's not to say you can expect every claim in Vandal's latest report to be true. But it's good to know the rumors aren't coming from a source with zero credibility, and it certainly helps that a Switch accessory maker can back some of them up. </p><h2>Old Joy-Cons, new connections</h2><p>The rail design of the current Switch <a href="https://zdcs.link/eB33X?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Joy-Cons&amp;short_url=eB33X&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Joy-Cons</a> is iconic: You align the Joy-Con's rail with the corresponding rail on the Switch, then slide and click it into place (hence, the Switch's famous "click" sound effect).</p><p>For the Switch 2, it seems likely Nintendo is sticking with a similar Joy-Con design, which makes sense: Detachable controllers are a fun way to make a portable console instantly multiplayer&mdash;although I hope they've figured out a way to prevent <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-finally-fix-your-drifting-nintendo-joy-con-on-yo-1847293340" target="_blank">stick drift</a> going forward. However, one big difference is the new Joy-Cons may connect with magnets, rather than by rail. Vandal doesn't share many details about how this magnetic tech actually works, but Mobapad says they're made with "magnetic suction" and use an electrical current. Perhaps there's some type of locking mechanism that clicks into place once the magnets do, similar to the locking system in the current Switch.</p><p>In any case, <em>switching</em> to a magnetic connection rather from a rails option would likely mean your old Joy-Cons wouldn't be  fully compatible with the Switch 2, unless Nintendo or a third-party made magnetic rail attachments for them. That said, Mobapad believes the current Joy-Cons will be compatible at least via Bluetooth, and both outlets think the existing <a href="https://zdcs.link/PyOOm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Pro%20Controller&amp;short_url=PyOOm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Pro Controller</a> will be as well.</p><p>Mobapad also says the Joy-Con buttons are getting an upgrade. The SL and SR buttons are supposedly going to be metal, and Nintendo is adding a third button to each of the Joy-Cons. In addition, there will be a new function button below the HOME button on the right controller.</p><h2>Full backwards compatibility</h2><p>Vandal says that the latest rumors don't definitively say one way or another whether the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with original Switch games, but report that manufacturers "believe and assume" that the console<em> will</em> be backwards compatible. </p><p>I'm with the manufacturers here: If Switch 2 <em>isn't</em> backwards compatible, that sounds like a disaster for Nintendo. The Switch was the first Nintendo console since the GameCube that wasn't backwards compatible with the generation before it. (It would've been difficult to fit a Wii U disc in the&nbsp;Switch's cartridge slot anyway.) But seeing as the Switch 2 is a likely spiritual successor to the OG Switch, it would be silly to expect customers to upgrade to the latest console generation without an option to play their existing Switch library. </p><p>Nintendo, you already made us buy all the best Wii U games as Switch ports. Please don't make us do it again. </p><h2>Beefier hardware</h2><p>Specifics on hardware specs are still pretty hard to come by in the Switch 2 rumor mill, but we do know the Nvidia is likely to be involved. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidia-chases-30-billion-custom-chip-market-with-new-unit-sources-2024-02-09/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">An unnamed source told Reuters back in February</a> that Nintendo was planning to use a custom Nvidia chip for the Switch 2, while a <a href="https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350765267/descubren-un-nuevo-soc-de-nvidia-que-podria-estar-relacionado-con-nintendo-switch-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">previous Vandal report</a> indicates Nintendo is planning to use an Nvidia chip based on the GeForce RTX 30 series. If rumors are to be believed, <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2023-inside-nvidias-latest-hardware-for-nintendo-what-is-the-t239-processor" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">this chip is known as the T239</a>, a customized version of the existing T234 chip. </p><p>Vandal believes the hardware will support DLSS (deep learning super scaling), <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/what-is-dlss-nvidia-deep-learning-supersampling-technology#:~:text=What%20Does%20DLSS%20Do%3F&amp;text=DLSS%20is%20a%20form%20of,construct%20a%20higher%20resolution%20frame." target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">which uses AI to create upscaled frames</a>, and that the Switch 2 will support ray tracing, a modern lighting technique that produces realistic lighting environments. These changes, plus a rumored 4K output, would definitely put the Switch 2 well above the original in the graphics department. </p><p>Even if we had the exact hardware specs in-hand, we wouldn't know for sure how powerful the Switch 2 really could be. That's because Nintendo will likely underclock the chip to balance the system's power with its portability, as it does the current Switch. If Nintendo allowed us to use the SoC's full potential, it would likely drain the battery too quickly and overheat the system. <a href="https://lifehacker.com/overclock-your-switch-to-make-tears-of-the-kingdom-ru-1850442406" target="_blank">You <em>can</em> overclock your Switch</a>, improving performance in demanding games like <a href="https://zdcs.link/nok88?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Tears%20of%20the%20Kingdom&amp;short_url=nok88&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Tears of the Kingdom</em></a>, but it isn't recommended.</p><p>All that to say, it's safe to assume the Switch 2 will increase the graphical performance of the current Switch, but the difference will not necessarily be seismic, especially if you're coming from a Sony or Microsoft console, or even the possible <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/everything-we-know-about-the-ps5-pro-so-far" target="_blank">PS5 Pro</a>. But Nintendo has never prioritized having the best quality graphics: As long as the next-generation of Nintendo's IP looks and plays great, and there continues to be support from third-party developers on the platform, the Switch 2 will do what it's supposed to.  </p><p>Games should look good in handheld mode, too: Mobapad says the system will come with an 8-inch display, larger than <a href="https://lifehacker.com/which-nintendo-switch-should-you-get-1848233817" target="_blank">even the 7-inch display on the Switch OLED</a>. and 1080p resolution. All current Switches have a 720p display, so even though the Switch 2 won't run at 4K in handheld mode, it should look crisper than anything we've seen so far. </p><h2>The Switch 2 is likely not coming this year</h2><p>If you're waiting to pick up an OLED Switch because you think the Switch 2 is right around the corner, you might be waiting a while longer. Vandal and other sources believe Nintendo is planning on a early 2025 launch, which would put the gap between console generations at <em>eight</em> years.</p><p>Vandal says that accessory manufacturers believe Nintendo is waiting until they have a larger catalog of games for the Switch 2 before launch, which isn't a bad strategy: Nintendo launched the 3DS without enough killer games, and it tanked the handheld's first year. (It was also too expensive, but that's a story for another day.)</p><p>Whatever's Nintendo's reasoning for holding off on the Switch 2, it likely won't be on shelves in the immediate future, or in time for the holidays. If you've been holding out, you're missing out on a lot of great games, so unless you're OK waiting up to another year, <a href="https://zdcs.link/xPOqm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=News&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=you%20may%20want%20to%20pick%20up%20a%20Switch&amp;short_url=xPOqm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">you may want to pick up a Switch</a>.</p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  5223.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=04wfQKbrfJIZEtCGCtNczf9&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dell.com%2Fen-us%2Fshop%2Fnintendo-switch-oled-model%2Fapd%2Fab926162&amp;template=News&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Nintendo+Switch+OLED+Gaming+Console&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=01C9EZsHwyfyg6uPIfU19a0&amp;offer_uuid=03ZgKnWkO7JSoCVq0EkvH8c&amp;object_type=03ZgKnWkO7JSoCVq0EkvH8c&amp;object_uuid=01C9EZsHwyfyg6uPIfU19a0" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Nintendo Switch OLED Gaming Console">
  5224.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  5225.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  5226.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Nintendo Switch OLED Gaming Console
  5227.                </div>
  5228.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  5229.                                            <div class="self-end">
  5230.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  5231.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  5232.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$349.99</span>
  5233.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Dell</span>
  5234.                    </div>
  5235.    </div>
  5236.                            </div>
  5237.                        </div>
  5238.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  5239.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  5240.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  5241.        <div>Shop Now</div>
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  5244.                        </div>
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  5246.            </div>
  5247.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  5248.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01C9EZsHwyfyg6uPIfU19a0/hero-image.fill.size_245x200.v1707237166.jpg" alt="Nintendo Switch OLED Gaming Console" width="245" height="200" loading="lazy">
  5249.                            </div>
  5250.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  5251.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/01C9EZsHwyfyg6uPIfU19a0/hero-image.fill.size_245x200.v1707237166.jpg" alt="Nintendo Switch OLED Gaming Console" width="245" height="200" loading="lazy">
  5252.                            </div>
  5253.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  5254.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  5255.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  5256.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  5257.        <div>Shop Now</div>
  5258.    </div>
  5259. </div>
  5260.                    </div>
  5261.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  5262.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  5263.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  5264.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$349.99</span>
  5265.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Dell</span>
  5266.                    </div>
  5267.    </div>
  5268.                    </div>
  5269.                            </div>
  5270.        </div>
  5271. </a></div>]]></content:encoded>
  5272.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/nintendo-switch-2-rumor-roundup</link>
  5273.      <dc:creator>Jake Peterson</dc:creator>
  5274.      <category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category>
  5275.    </item>
  5276.    <item>
  5277.      <title>You Can Play a Fan-Made 'Fallout' Game in Excel</title>
  5278.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWR8MME9JXXA1215C48N53KN</guid>
  5279.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5280.      <description>Time to escape the wasteland of the office and explore the wasteland of Mercer.</description>
  5281.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR8MME9JXXA1215C48N53KN/hero-image.png"/>
  5282.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Has your office job gotten so boring that wandering a nuclear wasteland is starting to sound like a better alternative? Have we got the game for you! Just in time for <a href="https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/which-fallout-game-fans-of-the-tv-series-should-play-first" target="_blank"><u>Amazon&rsquo;s <em>Fallout</em></u><u> series on Prime</u></a>, YouTuber Dynamic Pear has managed to <a href="https://storyteller-blog.com/2024/04/21/i-made-a-fallout-inspired-rpg-game-in-excel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>turn Microsoft Excel into a fully fledged <em>Fallout</em></u><u>-themed RPG</u></a>, letting you slack off in a world where war never changes.</p><p>The game takes place in Mercer, a setting 145 years out from some vaguely <em>Fallout</em>-flavored nuclear devastation. Players will explore this setting across a full world map and eight quests, lovingly represented in pixel art via colored Excel cells.</p><p>According to Pear, the majority of the game is battle-focused, using a turn-based system based on <em>Dungeons and Dragons</em>. Battles appear via pop-up boxes, displaying sprite art for enemies alongside text boxes for stats and actions.</p><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5283.    <div id="video-container-jh-42-7L7B0"></div>
  5284. </div>
  5285.  
  5286.  
  5287. <p>&ldquo;Battling is the meat and bones of this game,&rdquo; Pear says in a short video introducing his project. &ldquo;It involves <em>DnD </em>style mechanics of initiative, AC, range, and movement.&rdquo; While that might be a departure from recent entries like <em>Fallout 3</em> and <em>Fallout 4</em>, it's a great throwback to the tabletop-inspired SPECIAL system of the first two games.</p><p>&ldquo;<em>Fallout</em> but in Excel,&rdquo; as an image on Pear&rsquo;s website refers to it, isn&rsquo;t actually Pear&rsquo;s first time making a game using the unorthodox medium of Microsoft Excel. Prior projects include Excel-based versions of <em>Pok&eacute;mon</em> and <em>Baldur&rsquo;s Gate III</em>, as well as original projects including a horror game and a life sim game.</p><p>To play Pear&rsquo;s Excel-based, <em>Fallout</em>-inspired RPG, simply download the workbook from his website and open it in Excel. Unfortunately, the game relies on Excel macros, so while <a href="https://lifehacker.com/top-10-free-alternatives-to-expensive-software-1791300629" target="_blank">Google Sheets and other Excel alternatives</a> can open it, you&rsquo;ll need Excel itself to play it. Luckily, we've got a guide on <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-get-microsoft-office-for-free-1850769369" target="_blank">how to get Microsoft Office for free</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5288.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/play-a-fan-made-fallout-game-in-excel</link>
  5289.      <dc:creator>Michelle Ehrhardt</dc:creator>
  5290.      <category><![CDATA[Gaming]]></category>
  5291.    </item>
  5292.    <item>
  5293.      <title>23 of the Best Non-Porn Movies Rated NC-17</title>
  5294.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWNCJHXM1QCH6811A2GEP3WJ</guid>
  5295.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5296.      <description>These are all the art flicks your mom doesn't want you to see.</description>
  5297.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNCJHXM1QCH6811A2GEP3WJ/hero-image.png"/>
  5298.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Challengers</em>, director Luca Guadagnino's bisexual tennis movie starring Zendaya, may not be particularly explicit in its sex scenes, but it follows in the footsteps of other recent films like <em>Saltburn</em>, <em>Anyone But You</em>, and <em>Poor Things</em>&mdash;movies that put sex front and center. It's promising that movies for adults are carving out space at box offices that were once in the grip of sexless superhero movies, whatever your thoughts on the virtues of any particular film. They're also all movies that have managed to avoid an NC-17 rating in favor of the more theater-friendly R. Have we lightened up about sex? Remains to be seen.</p><p>It&rsquo;s true that an NC-17 rating can make it difficult for a film to make money at the box office; major chains often won&rsquo;t even carry them, seeing them as a like-for-like with the X rating it was introduced to replace. While that seems less of an issue in the streaming era, NC-17 <a href="https://time.com/4056703/nc-17-rating-anniversary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>still carries a stigma</u></strong></a>.</p><p>The thing is, NC-17 (and the X rating before it) was never intended to signal a movie was basically porn, but that it was thoroughly adult in content; classic examples include&nbsp;<em>A Clockwork Orange</em>, <em>Midnight Cowboy</em>, Nicholas Roeg&rsquo;s <em>Performance</em>, and Lindsay Anderson&rsquo;s <em>if...,</em> all of which were initially X-rated yet critically acclaimed (<em>Midnight Cowboy</em> even won the Best Picture Oscar). Unfortunately, eventually someone in the porn industry decided &ldquo;X&rdquo; was a good marketing hook, and it became common practice for pornos to self-rate (the meaningless &ldquo;XXX: soon entered the lexicon), and the rating came to be associated with exclusively naughty films.</p><p>Eventually the MPAA introduced the NC-17 label as a way to reboot the system, with the 1990 Henry Miller/Ana&iuml;s Nin docudrama <em>Henry &amp; June</em> being the first to get the new stamp. Thereafter followed a brief renaissance in adult-oriented films as, for a time, the NC-17 rating removed some of the stigma associated with films decidedly not meant for children, and even became an art-house badge of honor. Of course, an NC-17 in no way guarantees quality, but the following films are deserving of both their critical reputations and their restrictive ratings. (Note: Some of these films pre-date the NC-17 rating, having initially been rated X, but they&rsquo;ve all had their official rating updated since.)</p><hr><h2><em>Blonde</em> (2022)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5299.    <div id="video-container-aIsFywuZPoQ"></div>
  5300. </div>
  5301.  
  5302.  
  5303. <p>This Marilyn Monroe biopic comes from director Andrew Dominik, and is based on Joyce Carol Oates&rsquo; <em>highly</em> fictionalized novel of the same name. The Netflix-produced film received an NC-17 rating, a fact that <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a39072687/netflix-marilyn-monroe-biopic-backlash-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>reportedly caused some consternation for Netflix management</u></strong></a>, which apparently expected a straightforward biopic from the same artsy director who turned the story of Jesse James into a slow-paced, elegiac tone poem (but with Brad Pitt!). Though many, myself included, weren't thrilled with the film's rather singular focus on Marilyn as a victim of her own sexuality, many (including Oates) were thrilled with it, and there's no question that Ana de Armas gives a stellar performance, even earning multiple Best Actress award nominations, including at the Oscars.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Netflix</p><hr><h2><em>Bent</em> (1997)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5304.    <div id="video-container-GA0CCzh3x_g"></div>
  5305. </div>
  5306.  
  5307.  
  5308. <p>Though the film certainly earns a high maturity rating for a few relatively tame sex scenes and moments of shocking violence (a large stretch of the film being set at the Dachau concentration camp), the NC-17 is hard to fathom&mdash;until we consider that queer content has traditionally judged much more harshly by censors and ratings boards than straight material. The film&rsquo;s key love scene involves two men who aren&rsquo;t able to touch themselves or each other, making this a solid example of film ratings run amok.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV</p><hr><h2><em>Matador</em> (1986)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5309.    <div id="video-container-nswrsdEJVbo"></div>
  5310. </div>
  5311.  
  5312.  
  5313. <p>Pedro Almod&oacute;var, to whom we'll return, considers <em>Matador</em> to be among his weakest films, but I'll take the director's worst over the best of most others&mdash;to put things in perspective, this movie still has a 93% <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/matador" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Rotten Tomatoes score</a>. The NC-17 (which replaced the original X in 2005, nearly two decades after the film's release) here is probably not entirely unreasonable: the erotic thriller deals in rape, bondage porn, and snuff videos, while opening with a scene of unsimulated sex. It's also a rather brilliant satire on the dangers of sexual repression. </p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Bad Lieutenant</em> (1992)</h2><p>The indelible image here is Harvey Keitel's naked, crying, penis-swinging dance, so much so that the image features prominently in much of the movie's advertising art&mdash;though extra shadows have been superimposed for modesty, of course. Director Abel Ferrera's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo2ZCh7vc2E" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">neo-noir stylings</a> (and background in explicit porn) made him, briefly, one of the big names during the erotic boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s&mdash;movies like this one, <em>China Girl</em>, and <em>Dangerous Game</em> serving as examples of exploitation done right, turning sleaze into something like art. If this isn't quite his masterpiece (that'd be <em>Dangerous Game</em>) it's certainly his best known. The original NC-17 rating was attributed to "sexual violence, strong sexual situations and dialogue, graphic drug use"...that last bit being unique in that drug use alone isn't typically a criteria in assigning an NC-17. An R-rated version was hastily assembled for Blockbuster, so if you're looking for the uncut movie (with bonus Harvey Keitel masturbation!), you'll want to look for the 96-minute version.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Prime Video, The Criterion Channel, Tubi</p><hr><h2><em>Bad Education</em> (2004)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5314.    <div id="video-container-Gj4N3bbfG_w"></div>
  5315. </div>
  5316.  
  5317.  
  5318. <p>As mentioned, Pedro Almod&oacute;var&rsquo;s <em>Bad Education</em> wasn&rsquo;t the first of his films to receive an NC-17 rating, but was, instead, the last. Which probably says more about the standards of the certification board than it does about Almod&oacute;var&rsquo;s films, which frequently deal with sex but rarely include anything particularly pornographic (though I suppose that depends on your point of view). Given that the movies tend to be unapologetically queer and sex positive (at least when that sex is consensual rather than abusive), the ratings are more to do with attitude and orientation than actual content. This highly stylized murder mystery, with its depictions of substance abuse and sex abuse by Catholic priests, is among the director&rsquo;s darker films, but it&rsquo;s also one of his best.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Max</p><hr><h2><em>The Evil Dead</em> (1981)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5319.    <div id="video-container-NL6mioAlpJk"></div>
  5320. </div>
  5321.  
  5322.  
  5323. <p>Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and company made <em>The Evil Dead</em> with absolutely no concern for ratings or censorship, and likely with little expectation the movie would receive the kind of distribution where any of that would make a difference. Subsequent decades saw a remake-cum-sequel, a straight-up sequel, a reboot, a TV series, a musical, several games, endless comic books, and, of course, a porn parody called <em>Evil Head, </em>so things turned out fine for the Lovecraftian franchise that began here. Served with an X rating for its gory and goopy violence (and reclassified as NC-17 in 1994), the movie actually did just fine in the U.S., but found more trouble in the U.K., where crusades against &ldquo;video nasties&rdquo; were rampant. The film&rsquo;s 2013 reboot was initially primed for a similar rating, before a few judicious edits put it at a more cinema-friendly R.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Female Trouble</em> (1974)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5324.    <div id="video-container-QmOqOwMwHkA"></div>
  5325. </div>
  5326.  
  5327.  
  5328. <p><em>Pink Flamingos</em> is the one everyone talks about but, for my money, <em>Female Trouble</em> is peak John Waters. Divine stars as middle-aged juvenile delinquent Dawn Davenport, whose innocent wish for a pair of cha-cha heels puts her on course for a life of crime and also beauty (same thing). It&rsquo;s John Waters, so the movie&rsquo;s X rating is mostly fair (anything less would probably be insulting), with an early trash-dump sex scene leaving little room for doubt. It was officially re-rated NC-17 in 1999, but has since been subject to a 4k restoration and a Criterion release, proving that one era&rsquo;s cinematic trash is another&rsquo;s treasure.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>In the Realm of the Senses</em> (1976)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5329.    <div id="video-container-bk_aOjfkCrY"></div>
  5330. </div>
  5331.  
  5332.  
  5333. <p>An utterly unique bit of filmmaking, Nagisa &#332;shima&rsquo;s provocative psychosexual story blends eroticism (which, in this case, includes a fair bit of unsimulated sex) with hints of horror in its tale of love and murder, based on the true story of geisha, sex worker, and unlikely folk hero Sada Abe (flawlessly played by Eiko Matsuda). Unfolding like a tone poem, it&rsquo;s a beautifully hypnotic and appropriately titled film that culminates in a genuinely shocking act of violence. The filmmakers got around Japanese prohibitions during filming by listing it as a French production and shipping the footage to that country for processing and development. The X rating was updated to an NC-17 in 1991.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> The Criterion Channel</p><hr><h2>Santa Sangre (1989)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5334.    <div id="video-container-PQ3x6YgsacY"></div>
  5335. </div>
  5336.  
  5337.  
  5338. <p><em>Santa Sangre</em> is the best film from cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky, a filmmaker as beloved as he is (justifiably) controversial. There&rsquo;s very little point in describing the plot of this surrealist horror jaunt, though it involves Fenix (played by Jodorowsky&rsquo;s son Axel) reminiscing about his childhood in a shabby Mexican circus, and the murder/suicide that left his father dead and his knife-throwing cult leader mother without arms. In the present, Fenix fills in as his mother&rsquo;s arms, helping out with a variety of tasks up to, and including, murder. There&rsquo;s much here that&rsquo;s hard to stomach, but buried within are interesting and thoughtful ideas about the joy of escaping the past. An edited alternate version was created to secure an R rating, but the movie never received a proper stateside release anyway.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Shudder, Tubi, Free</p><hr><h2><em>Shame</em> (2011)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5339.    <div id="video-container-A-sU8GWoD3w"></div>
  5340. </div>
  5341.  
  5342.  
  5343. <p>Describing the movie&rsquo;s NC-17 stamp as a &ldquo;badge of honor,&rdquo; distributor Fox Searchlight made <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/shame-rated-nc-michael-fassbender-17-253247/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>no effort</u></strong></a> to dispute the rating, though I&rsquo;m not sure it&rsquo;s entirely well earned. The story of the rather grim life of sex addict Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender), it naturally involves a fair bit of sexuality, but none of it is shot to make it look particularly appealing (it&rsquo;s possible to see in the movie both an honest look at addictive behavior and a rather prudish take on sexuality in general). Still, the performances from Fassbender and Carey Mulligan make it well worth experiencing.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>A Dirty Shame </em>(2004)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5344.    <div id="video-container-3zzi1UnM31Q"></div>
  5345. </div>
  5346.  
  5347.  
  5348. <p>John Waters' most recent film is hardly one of his best, but it's a lot of goofy fun with a great cast lead by Tracy Ullman and including Selma Blair, Johnny Knoxville, Chris Isaak, and, of course, Mink Stole. There's a fair bit of nudity in this story of a war between the puritanical residents of Hartford Road and the regions various gleeful sex perverts, but the NC-17 probably has as much to do with the language, with a surprisingly emotional moment centered around the confession: "I'm a cunnilingus bottom." Given that it's all in good fun, the NC-17 feels excessive, and even a little shocking, unless you're one of the prudes that the movie takes aim at. The unnecessary rating also sank the movie at the box office, and has made it tough for Waters to get anything made since.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Killer Joe</em> (2011)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5349.    <div id="video-container-JYcUUXq6Kd8"></div>
  5350. </div>
  5351.  
  5352.  
  5353. <p>After a decade or two of disappointments, the great William Friedkin ended strong with <em>Killer Joe</em>, his penultimate film preceding the similarly great, but posthumous, <em>Caine Mutiny Court Martial</em>. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as the titular hitman with a disturbing crush on Juno Temple's Dottie, the younger sister of a drug dealer. The NC-17 was primarily for the violence, specifically: "graphic disturbing content involving violence and sexuality, and a scene of brutality," a rare case in which sex wasn't first and foremost when it came to a rating like this. The film did pretty poorly at the box office, and the NC-17 rating certainly didn't help.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Prime Video</p><hr><h2><em>Wide Sargasso Sea</em> (1993)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5354.    <div id="video-container-pmhixS6NDs4"></div>
  5355. </div>
  5356.  
  5357.  
  5358. <p>Adapting Jean Rhys&rsquo; feminist, anti-colonial take on Charlotte Bront&euml;&rsquo;s <em>Jane Eyre</em>, <em>Wide Sargasso Sea</em> tells the story of that novel&rsquo;s &ldquo;madwoman in the attic,&rdquo; here a West Indian Creole heiress who enters into an ultimately unhappy marriage with Mr. Rochester, and in the process finding herself isolated and alone in England, even more adrift than she had been in the Jamaica of her birth. The movie is damn sexy, which earned it that NC-17, though not everyone agreed it had reached its lofty ambitions (the Washington Post called it, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/widesargassoseanc17kempley_a0a380.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>&ldquo;coffee-table pornography with sound effects.&rdquo;</u></strong></a>)</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Arabian Nights</em> (1974)</h2><p>Several of Pier Paolo Pasolini&rsquo;s films received X ratings upon their initial American releases, though his most notorious work, <em>Sal&ograve;, or the 120 Days of Sodom</em>, skipped the rating process entirely, as though <a href="https://lifehacker.com/17-of-the-most-disturbing-films-ever-made-1849057023" target=""><strong><u>there was no rating sufficient to do justice to that film&rsquo;s imagery</u></strong></a>. Though perhaps his best known, it&rsquo;s not nearly the director&rsquo;s best; his typically horny but less characteristically joyous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY3tNfJI3ug" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><em>Arabian Nights</em></a> has a better claim to the top spot. The film&rsquo;s 16 vignettes pull from the latent (and not-so-latent) eroticism of the source material while throwing in plenty of slapstick humor. Though there was some very mild controversy over the film&rsquo;s &ldquo;obscenity&rdquo; in some locations, for the most part audiences were willing to have fun with it. The X became an NC-17 in 1990.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Prime Video, Tubi, MGM+</p><hr><h2><em>Last Tango in Paris</em> (1972)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5359.    <div id="video-container-lLNbRXG_v1E"></div>
  5360. </div>
  5361.  
  5362.  
  5363. <p><em>Last Tango in Paris</em> was wildly controversial upon its release in 1973 and remains no less so to this day, albeit for very different reasons. Here was the legendary Marlon Brando, just months after the release of <em>The Godfather</em>, starring in a film that drew literal mobs condemning the filmmakers as perverts while many (but not all) feminist critics saw something deeply retrograde in the central relationship between the 19-year-old Maria Schneider and the nearly 50-year-old Brando. In later years, Schneider described feelings of humiliation and rage regarding her on-set treatment (a dramatic TV series about the film&rsquo;s production, <em>Tango</em>, is reportedly <a href="https://deadline.com/2021/11/last-tango-in-paris-making-of-series-cbs-studios-stampede-ventures-1234881182/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><u>in development</u></strong></a>), making the already fraught sex scenes tougher to watch. Still, having become the highest-grossing import of its time, it represents an incredibly important moment in both American acceptance of foreign films and of depictions of frank sexuality. It&rsquo;s complicated legacy notwithstanding, both Schneider and Brando give career-great performances. Its X rating was officially changed to NC-17 in 1997.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> MGM+</p><hr><h2><em>Blue is the Warmest Colour</em> (2013)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5364.    <div id="video-container-yOkGP33XjWQ"></div>
  5365. </div>
  5366.  
  5367.  
  5368. <p><em>Blue</em> has lost a bit of its luster in the years since its release, as the elements that made it particularly unique and memorable (and earned its NC-17 rating) have also made it controversial. Working conditions on the film under director Abdellatif Kechiche have been a topic of contention, and the explicit sex scenes have been viewed very differently by different audiences. To some, its frank sexuality is among its greatest strengths; an essential element of the taboo-busting lesbian romance. Others see a director&rsquo;s <em>very</em> male gaze directed at two women, whose sexuality takes on a lurid quality. Still, the performances from L&eacute;a Seydoux and Ad&egrave;le Exarchopoulos are outstanding and, if the film&rsquo;s sexuality is a bit overdone, I suppose it&rsquo;s merely bringing a bit of parity with the long history of films with straight sex of questionable necessity.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> AMC+, Mubi</p><hr><h2><em>Inside Deep Throat</em> (2005)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5369.    <div id="video-container-dgXfPA1FOTU&amp;"></div>
  5370. </div>
  5371.  
  5372.  
  5373. <p>Thanks, in part, to the release of Andy Warhol&rsquo;s <em>Blue Movie</em> in 1969 (good timing, that), <a href="https://lifehacker.com/17-golden-age-porn-flicks-you-should-enjoy-with-your-pa-1847727088" target=""><strong><u>explicit sex had a real moment in global cinema</u></strong></a>, with porn movies actually being taken seriously, at least in certain circles. The sexual revolution and the feminist movement opened the way for a slightly more broad-minded approach to the genre, even if the movies themselves weren&rsquo;t always particularly good porn, nor good cinema, and were often exploitative. This Dennis Hopper-narrated documentary explores much of that, but focuses on the making of the 1972 film that entered the zeitgeist in surprising ways; Hopper, having himself been a figure of the counterculture who swung to the other end of that particular spectrum later in life, is a smart choice for a film about the rise and fall of the legitimate sex film. <em>Inside Deep Throat</em> earns its rating largely in presenting period footage, but a more prudish approach would have felt compromised.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> AMC+, The Roku Channel, Mubi</p><hr><h2><em>Showgirls</em> (1995)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5374.    <div id="video-container-wGvXwCU7i10"></div>
  5375. </div>
  5376.  
  5377.  
  5378. <p>There are many approaches to viewing Paul Verhoeven&rsquo;s <em>Showgirls</em>, all of them valid. For some, it&rsquo;s a <em>very</em> &lsquo;90s nostalgia piece that places <em>Saved By the Bell</em>&rsquo;s Elizabeth Berkley in an era-appropriate erotic drama; for others, it&rsquo;s a so-bad-it&rsquo;s-good guilty pleasure; for still others, it&rsquo;s a sly (if problematic) <a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/08/15/paul-verhoeven-showgirls-all-about-eve" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><strong><em><u>All About Eve-esque satire</u></em></strong></a>. Whether more out of genuine affection or plain notoriety, <em>Showgirls</em> remains one of the highest-grossing NC-17 releases in history, and a cult classic par excellence.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> The Criterion Channel, Tubi, MGM+</p><hr><h2><em>Lust, Caution</em> (2007)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5379.    <div id="video-container-DSuCH9obgkY"></div>
  5380. </div>
  5381.  
  5382.  
  5383. <p>The sexuality in <em>Lust, Caution</em> is in no way incidental. Set in Hong Kong and then Shanghai during the Japanese occupation of China, it tells the story of Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), recruited to insinuate herself into the circle of Mr. Yee (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), a recruiter for China&rsquo;s puppet government; she&rsquo;ll seduce him and lead him to his eventual assassination. Lee fought hard to keep the movie&rsquo;s eroticism intact, feeling that it was all essential to the story. The result was also one of the highest-grossing NC-17 dramas in American box office history.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Digital rental</p><hr><h2><em>Crash</em> (1994)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5384.    <div id="video-container-UN9lpOEqg04"></div>
  5385. </div>
  5386.  
  5387.  
  5388. <p>Not the 2004 Paul Haggis Oscar winner. David Cronenbgerg&rsquo;s 1996 film stars James Spader and Holly Hunter as a pair whose lives become entangled after a car crash leaves them both with a uniquely cinematic fetish. Merging sex and our cultural love affair with cars, <em>Crash</em> deals with the intersection of sex and violence that informs many other American films, but rarely with such explicit, squirmy style. It proved controversial at every stage of its life; Cannes viewers reportedly stormed out, and the movie was banned by theaters in many parts of the world. It&rsquo;s currently not streaming anywhere, and it remained hard to come by even on DVD until the venerable Criterion Collection released a definitive version of it in late 2020. Given I can&rsquo;t say the same about the likes of<em> The Human Centipede</em>, I&rsquo;d call this injustice.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Nowhere, at present&mdash;sadly common among NC-17 films, even decades later</p><hr><h2><em>Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!</em> (1989)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5389.    <div id="video-container-DVP84KIqEbc"></div>
  5390. </div>
  5391.  
  5392.  
  5393. <p>One more from Pedro Almod&oacute;var, if you'll indulge me. I suppose it&rsquo;s taken filmgoers a while to warm up to the writer/director, and this comedy/horror film divided audiences at the time of its release, which was right around the switchover from X to NC-17, and became part of that debate. The story of a psychiatric patient who kidnaps an actress with the hope of romance, it&rsquo;s as offbeat and weirdly funny as you&rsquo;d expect. The rating is for an extended sex scene, mostly, but also because the movie shows people on the toilet peeing, an apparently shockingly aberrant act. The film was intended to be released unrated following its initial X classification, but instead accepted an NC-17 when that became an option.</p><p><strong>Where to stream: </strong>Max, The Criterion Channel</p><hr><h2><em>Man Bites Dog</em> (1992)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5394.    <div id="video-container-bcPhaieTg4o"></div>
  5395. </div>
  5396.  
  5397.  
  5398. <p>In an early example of what we&rsquo;d later come to call &ldquo;found footage,&rdquo; Belgian mockumentary <em>Man Bites Dog</em> involves a film crew following around a serial killer, documenting his crimes and atrocities. Initially attempting to maintain an air of dispassionate observation, the crew inevitably become caught up in the darkness that surrounds their subject. The violent content remains shocking and effective, but the movie also succeeds in making broader points about our willingness to disassociate ourselves from the brutality that constantly surrounds us, both at the movies and in our daily lives.</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Max, The Criterion Channel</p><hr><h2><em>Passages</em> (2023)</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5399.    <div id="video-container-hvZmaePBSRw"></div>
  5400. </div>
  5401.  
  5402.  
  5403. <p>One of the most recent movies to receive an NC-17 from the American Motion Picture Association is also a good example of the politics around the NC-17: distributor Mubi decided it was better to release the film with no rating than with the NC-17, seen as deadly in all but a few instances. The film involves a love triangle between Tomas (Franz Rogowski), Martin (Ben Whishaw), and Agathe (Ad&egrave;le Exarchapoulos), who comes into the lives of the established couple and turns things upside down. Director Ira Sachs has stated strongly that the film's sex scenes are anything but gratuitous, while reminding us that queer content almost always leads to a more restrictive rating than the same type of scenes involving straight people. He's not wrong!</p><p><strong>Where to stream:</strong> Mubi</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5404.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-non-porn-movies-rated-nc-17</link>
  5405.      <dc:creator>Ross Johnson</dc:creator>
  5406.      <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
  5407.    </item>
  5408.    <item>
  5409.      <title>These Apple AirPods Are All on Sale Right Now</title>
  5410.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HP099YBNYQ7JC4A83XSFVQXW</guid>
  5411.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5412.      <description>The Apple AirPods Pro, 2nd generation Apple AirPods, and AirPods Max are on sale.</description>
  5413.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HP099YBNYQ7JC4A83XSFVQXW/hero-image.png"/>
  5414.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Three of the most popular <a href="https://lifehacker.com/tech/the-four-types-of-airpods-and-what-they-cost" target="_blank">models of Apple's AirPods</a> are discounted on Amazon right now, with one of them matching the lowest price they've ever been. The <a href="https://zdcs.link/MqkJ6?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=2nd%20Generation%20AirPods%20Pro&amp;short_url=MqkJ6&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>2nd Generation AirPods Pro</u></a> are <strong>$179</strong> (originally $249), which is the lowest I've ever seen them. The <a href="https://zdcs.link/kkoKw?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=2nd%20Generation%20AirPods&amp;short_url=kkoKw&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>2nd Generation AirPods</u></a> are <strong>$89</strong> (originally $129) after a 30% discount. This isn't <a href="https://lifehacker.com/these-apple-airpods-are-only-69-during-walmarts-early-1851005217" target="_blank">the lowest price</a> they've been, but it's still a decent discount. The <a href="https://zdcs.link/W0OOm?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=3rd%20Generation%20Apple%20AirPods&amp;short_url=W0OOm&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">3rd Generation Apple AirPods</a> are at their usual <strong>$161.99</strong> listing price, but if you wait, you can probably get them for $139.99, which they hit this past December.</p><p>If you're not sure which AirPods to pick, we have a <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-choose-between-the-airpods-2-airpods-3-and-air-1847890587" target="_blank">breakdown of all three</a> to make the choice a little easier.</p><hr><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/MqkJ6?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Apple%20AirPods%20Pro%20%282nd%20Generation%29&amp;short_url=MqkJ6&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)</a> <strong>$179</strong> (originally $249), matching lowest price ever</p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/kkoKw?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Apple%20AirPods%20%282nd%20Generation%29&amp;short_url=kkoKw&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)</u></a> <strong>$89</strong> (originally $129)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/G1Lv8?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Apple%20AirPods%20Max&amp;short_url=G1Lv8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Apple AirPods Max</u></a> <strong>$519</strong> (originally $549)</p></li></ul><hr><p>The <a href="https://zdcs.link/7XPLG?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=AirPods%20Max&amp;short_url=7XPLG&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">AirPods Max</a> are rarely discounted, but you can get them for $30 off right now. </p><div class="mb-4 rounded-md pb-8 pt-4 shadow-xl">
  5415.    <a href="https://cc.lifehacker.com/v1/otc/06ZVRiLmglGs4QA6plTXzTC?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08PZD76NP%2Fref%3Dox_sc_act_title_1%3Fsmid%3DATVPDKIKX0DER%26psc%3D1&amp;template=Deals&amp;module=shop-card&amp;element=offer&amp;item=whole-shop-card&amp;position=&amp;element_label=Apple+AirPods+Max&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss&amp;product_uuid=053ujcLAiU3hfRBTl7BP6L9&amp;offer_uuid=00wEEchQNiAJmPA4CS5IfUF&amp;object_type=00wEEchQNiAJmPA4CS5IfUF&amp;object_uuid=053ujcLAiU3hfRBTl7BP6L9" data-commerce="1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored" data-parent-group="affiliate-link" title="(opens in a new window)" class="cursor-default no-underline" data-ga-click="data-ga-click" data-ga-item="whole-shop-card" data-ga-label="Apple AirPods Max">
  5416.    <div class="flex flex-wrap justify-between px-6 text-black no-underline md:flex-nowrap md:px-4">
  5417.            <div class="order-1 mx-auto flex flex-col justify-center md:order-2 md:ml-4 md:w-full md:grow">
  5418.                <div class="block text-center font-akshar text-2xl font-medium leading-7 text-brand-green md:text-left">Apple AirPods Max
  5419.                </div>
  5420.                                    <div class="mt-2 block font-sans text-sm font-medium leading-5 text-gray-900 md:mx-0 md:mt-2">Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio
  5421.                    </div>
  5422.                                <div class="mt-2 hidden md:flex md:justify-between">
  5423.                                            <div class="self-end">
  5424.                            <div class="mb-0 h-11 md:flex md:flex-col md:justify-center"><div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  5425.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  5426.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$519.00</span>
  5427.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  5428.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  5429.            </div>
  5430.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  5431.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$549.00</span>
  5432.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $30.00</span>
  5433.        </div>
  5434.    </div>
  5435.                            </div>
  5436.                        </div>
  5437.                        <div class="w-44 self-end">
  5438.                            <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  5439.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  5440.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  5441.    </div>
  5442. </div>
  5443.                        </div>
  5444.                                    </div>
  5445.            </div>
  5446.            <div class="order-2 mt-5 w-full md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:hidden">
  5447.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/053ujcLAiU3hfRBTl7BP6L9/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1711363631.jpg" alt="Apple AirPods Max" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  5448.                            </div>
  5449.            <div class="order-2 mt-2 hidden w-64 md:order-1 md:mt-0 md:block">
  5450.                                    <img class="m-auto w-full" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/product/053ujcLAiU3hfRBTl7BP6L9/hero-image.fill.size_245x245.v1711363631.jpg" alt="Apple AirPods Max" width="245" height="245" loading="lazy">
  5451.                            </div>
  5452.            <div class="order-3 flex grow flex-wrap md:hidden md:grow-0">
  5453.                                    <div class="mt-5 w-full">
  5454.                        <div class="h-11 hover:cursor-pointer">
  5455.    <div class="py-auto flex h-full w-full flex-col justify-center rounded-md bg-brand-green text-center font-sans text-base text-white md:text-sm">
  5456.        <div>Get Deal</div>
  5457.    </div>
  5458. </div>
  5459.                    </div>
  5460.                    <div class="mx-2 mt-2 w-full">
  5461.                        <div class=" font-sans leading-3 text-black">
  5462.    <div class="text-center md:text-left">
  5463.        <span class="text-sm font-bold md:text-sm">$519.00</span>
  5464.                    <span class="text-xs font-medium md:text-xs"> at Amazon</span>
  5465.                            <img class="mx-auto mt-0 inline h-[15px]" src="/images/amazon-prime.svg" title="Amazon Prime" alt="Amazon Prime">
  5466.            </div>
  5467.            <div class="my-0 text-center md:text-left">
  5468.            <span class="text-xs font-bold line-through md:text-xs">$549.00</span>
  5469.            <span class="text-sm font-bold text-brand-green md:text-sm">Save $30.00</span>
  5470.        </div>
  5471.    </div>
  5472.                    </div>
  5473.                            </div>
  5474.        </div>
  5475. </a></div>
  5476. <p>The 2nd Generation AirPods Pro are some of the best earbuds you can get if you have the funds for them. This newest model, which came out in September, is the first to feature <a href="https://lifehacker.com/usb-c-airpods-pro-worth-it-1850825433" target="_blank"><u>charging via USB-C</u></a> as opposed to a lightning cable. They have a few new features, like adaptive transparency, but the change in the charging port is the biggest difference. You can expect solid battery life, with Apple claiming up to 30 hours of listening time on a single charge.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5477.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/apple-airpods-pro-sale</link>
  5478.      <dc:creator>Daniel Oropeza</dc:creator>
  5479.      <category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
  5480.    </item>
  5481.    <item>
  5482.      <title>Play With These Retro Mac OS Versions in Your Browser</title>
  5483.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH</guid>
  5484.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:30:06 +0000</pubDate>
  5485.      <description>This website runs a bunch of classic operating systems, complete with software and games.</description>
  5486.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/hero-image.png"/>
  5487.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you used a Mac computer in the '80s or '90s, you likely remember what's now called "Classic Mac OS", the precursor to the OS called macOS today. You might think you would need to find an ancient Mac on Craigslist to use that operating system again, but that's not true: you can try them all in your browser right now. </p><p>A site called <a href="https://infinitemac.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">InfiniteMac</a>, created by <a href="https://blog.persistent.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Mihai Parparita</a>, offers virtual machines running every major classic Mac operating system, from 1985 all the way to 2001. Just browse the collection, find something you want to try out, and click <strong>Run</strong>.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  5488.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  5489.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-1.fill.size_2000x1350.v1714498489.png" alt='Frames offer a few different versions of Class Mac OS. Each one offers a "Run" button. ' width="2000" height="1350" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-1.fill.size_800x540.v1714498489.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-1.fill.size_1400x945.v1714498489.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-1.fill.size_2000x1350.v1714498489.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  5490.            </div>
  5491.            <div class="mt-2">
  5492.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  5493.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  5494.                    </div>
  5495.    </div>
  5496. <p>Everything loads right in your browser, meaning you don't need to install anything. There are some stickies in each machine helping you find your way around and a mounted hard drive full of games and goodies.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  5497.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  5498.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-2.fill.size_2000x1104.v1714498489.png" alt="A Classic Mac OS version running." width="2000" height="1104" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-2.fill.size_800x442.v1714498489.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-2.fill.size_1400x773.v1714498489.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-2.fill.size_2000x1104.v1714498489.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  5499.            </div>
  5500.            <div class="mt-2">
  5501.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  5502.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  5503.                    </div>
  5504.    </div>
  5505. <p>There's even a special hard drive, called <strong>Saved HD</strong>, where you can save any files you create. These are saved to your computer, locally, but any other operating systems you open on InfiniteMac will have access to them. You can also drag files from your computer onto the window and find them in the "Outside World" folder. It's all very sleek.</p><p>There's a drive full of software you can try out, including everything from games to old versions of QuarkXPress. There's also a collection of CDs, available at the bottom of the window, which you can mount right in the emulated system. There are a few games, including <em>Myst</em>, and a few collections of software that came bundled with magazines at the time.</p><div class="eloquent-imagery-image">
  5506.    <div class="flex justify-center">
  5507.                    <img class="border border-gray-100" src="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-3.fill.size_2000x888.v1714498489.png" alt='A collection of classic software, including the CDs that were bundled with the magazine "Inside Mac Games" in the 1990s. ' width="2000" height="888" loading="lazy" srcset="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-3.fill.size_800x355.v1714498489.png 800w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-3.fill.size_1400x621.v1714498489.png 1400w, https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWR15KHK8B4YEAB0SCGXTJGH/images-3.fill.size_2000x888.v1714498489.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px">
  5508.            </div>
  5509.            <div class="mt-2">
  5510.                            <span class="mt-2 font-akshar text-sm tracking-wide"></span>
  5511.                                        <span class="text-xs inline-block text-gray-600">Credit: Justin Pot</span>
  5512.                    </div>
  5513.    </div>
  5514. <p>And you're not limited to macOS&mdash;there's also working versions of NeXTSTEP, which Steve Jobs worked on after being fired from Apple in the 1980s. A lot of code and ideas from that system, combined with elements from the Classic Mac OS, would go on to become the macOS we still use today. Not a lot of people remember using this system, mostly because the systems were absurdly expensive, but playing around with these you can see what would become our modern macOS starting to take shape. It's all a fascinating experience, and a great way to recall a particular era of computing.</p><p>The current Mac operating system&mdash;which launched in 2001, 23 years ago, as Mac OS X&mdash;has been around longer than the "Classic" OS, which Apple offered for a total of 16 years. Come to think of it, the iPhone launched in 2007, which is 17 years ago, meaning the iPhone has been around longer than Classic Mac OS lasted.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5515.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/tech/try-old-versions-of-mac-os-in-your-browser</link>
  5516.      <dc:creator>Justin Pot</dc:creator>
  5517.      <category><![CDATA[Computing]]></category>
  5518.    </item>
  5519.    <item>
  5520.      <title>When to Use a Credit Repair Service (and How to Find One)</title>
  5521.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWNHHTC7XFY0QKY52DPVK7Z2</guid>
  5522.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5523.      <description>Having trouble qualifying for loans or credit cards? A credit repair service can help.</description>
  5524.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWNHHTC7XFY0QKY52DPVK7Z2/hero-image.png"/>
  5525.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If your credit reports contain inaccurate or unverifiable negative items, it can severely damage your credit scores. This can <a href="https://lifehacker.com/the-unexpected-ways-a-bad-credit-score-messes-with-your-1848000319" target="_blank">make it difficult or impossible</a> to get approved for loans, credit cards, rental housing, or even a job. The good news: When negative items on your credit reports are incorrect or unsubstantiated, you have the right to dispute them and have them removed. However, this process can be time consuming and complicated. That's where credit repair services can help.</p><h2>What credit repair companies do</h2><p>Credit repair companies work on your behalf to dispute errors, outdated information, and unverifiable negative items with the credit bureaus and creditors or data furnishers reporting the information. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)</a> requires credit bureaus to investigate allegations of inaccurate or unverified information on a credit report. If the creditor cannot verify the negative item, it must be removed.</p><p>Here are some examples of negative items that may be able to be removed through credit repair efforts:</p><ul><li><p>Late payments that are incorrect</p></li><li><p>Charge-offs and collections for debts you did not actually owe</p></li><li><p>Duplicate negative entries reported multiple times in error</p></li><li><p>Debts or negative items that are too old to be reported anymore (generally 6-7 years)</p></li></ul><h2>When to use a credit repair service</h2><p>You may want to consider using a credit repair company if you have legitimate negative items on your credit reports that are bringing down your credit scores. This could include:</p><ul><li><p>Multiple late payments that you did make, preventing credit score recovery</p></li><li><p>A high debt burden and maxed out credit cards hurting your credit utilization</p></li><li><p>Past delinquencies, charge-offs, repossessions or other major derogatory marks</p></li></ul><p>While credit repair can't truly <em>erase</em> accurate negative information, it can help remove incorrect data that should not be on your reports anymore.</p><h2>How to use a credit repair service</h2><p>When you sign up for a credit repair service, they will obtain copies of your credit reports from all three major bureaus. You will need to provide documentation to verify any disputes over information you allege is inaccurate. The credit repair company will analyze your full reports and advise on a plan for which items to dispute first for maximum impact.</p><p>From there, the repair process involves sending official disputes and documentation to challenge the negative reporting. Credit bureaus must then investigate and verify or remove items accordingly within 30-45 days. This dispute cycle continues until all inaccurate negatives have hopefully been eliminated.</p><p>In terms of costs, you might pay a one-time flat fee or pay for each derogatory mark the company removes from each of your reports. According to <a href="https://www.creditkarma.com/advice/i/credit-repair-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Credit Karma</a>, this may start around $35 per deletion and could range to $750 or more. The company may also charge by the month, ranging from $50 to $130 or more.</p><p>Since credit repair scams are <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/consumer-finance/debt-relief-credit-repair-scams" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">all too common</a>, make sure you're using a vetted service. Some top options to consider:</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/2mAVM?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Credit%20Saint&amp;short_url=2mAVM&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Credit Saint</a> &ndash;&nbsp;$79.99 per month</p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/5qZV8?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=The%20Credit%20People&amp;short_url=5qZV8&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">The Credit People</a> &ndash;&nbsp;$99.99 per month</p></li><li><p><a href="https://zdcs.link/4ErVJ?pageview_type=Standard&amp;template=Explainers&amp;module=content-body&amp;element=offer&amp;item=text-link&amp;element_label=Lexington%20Law&amp;short_url=4ErVJ&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Flifehacker.com%2Ffeed%2Frss" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank" title="(opens in a new window)">Lexington Law</a> &ndash;&nbsp;$99.99 per month</p></li></ul><p>Again, be wary of any credit repair service asking for huge upfront fees&mdash;<a href="https://lifehacker.com/dont-pay-for-credit-repair-piggyback-scams-1842243066" target="_blank">this could be a scam</a>. Otherwise, professional credit repair assistance may be able to quickly improve your credit standing by correcting mistakes and removing invalid negative items weighing you down. And if you&rsquo;re suffering because of a low credit score, you can <a href="https://lifehacker.com/all-the-ways-you-didn-t-know-you-could-raise-your-credi-1850192800" target="_blank">take additional steps to boost your credit</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5526.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/money/when-to-use-a-credit-repair-service</link>
  5527.      <dc:creator>Meredith Dietz</dc:creator>
  5528.      <category><![CDATA[Credit Cards]]></category>
  5529.    </item>
  5530.    <item>
  5531.      <title>The Out-of-Touch Adults' Guide to Kid Culture: Man or Bear?</title>
  5532.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWQ1JRZX12GGMYFGJESHKG1H</guid>
  5533.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5534.      <description>"I'd rather be stuck in the forest with a cute kitten" is not a valid choice.</description>
  5535.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQ1JRZX12GGMYFGJESHKG1H/hero-image.png"/>
  5536.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This week in youth culture, everyone is asking whether you'd rather be trapped in the woods with a man or with a bear, a question that reveals a stark truth about gender. In less-depressing developments, a woman&rsquo;s duet with a kitchen fan has legitimately touched people's hearts, and a YouTuber has done some serious research about North Korean entertainment. </p><h2>The "man or bear" question, explained</h2><p>This hypothetical question has the online world embroiled in discussion and controversy this week: &ldquo;Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or with a bear?&rdquo; The source of question seems to be <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@screenshothq/video/7356208240008498465?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">this street interview video</a> from TikToker <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@screenshothq?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Screenshot</a>, that was referenced on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@callmebkbk/video/7348070989479021855" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">this video from</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@callmebkbk/video/7348070989479021855" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">@callmebkbk</a>. It's since spread everywhere, and nearly all women immediately answer &ldquo;a bear.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s a seemingly meaningless question that uncovers a brutal truth.</p><p>The reasons women choose the bear are heartbreaking: &ldquo;I've never been followed home by a bear,&rdquo; &ldquo;No one is going to tell me I&rsquo;m lying or imagining it if I get mauled by a bear,&rdquo; and "at least with a bear I don't have to worry about running into them at a family reunion.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>While women seem to understand the nature of the question immediately, if you're a man, it can take a little coaxing. (My gut response was "A man. Bears will kill you.") This leads to a clarifying just-for-men question: "Would you rather have your daughter/wife be alone with a man or a bear?"  This seems to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@amber.berry1/video/7362221658737741098" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">clear things up instantly</a>, and the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thatgirl_shannon_/video/7361458657458015531" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">moment of realization </a>of what the question implies is fascinating. </p><p>Another interesting twist: If you change the parameters to "a woman or a bear," <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thewildwitchjean/video/7361277011970624811" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">the choice of "woman"</a> is a no-brainer. </p><p>If you were hoping that maybe, just this one time, men would just shut up and listen, you&rsquo;d be disappointed. Here are some responses from <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/1cdmadp/whats_your_take_on_bear_vs_man_in_the_woods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Reddit&rsquo;s Ask Men subreddit</a>: &ldquo;Women just like to get together and talk shit about men,&rdquo; &ldquo;I don't think that they realize the unintended consequence of low key misandry is misogyny,&rdquo; &ldquo;they like fueling the gender war and being the victim," and &ldquo;there's a reason our fathers and grandfathers just didn't listen to women when they yap." Way to prove the point, fellas. </p><p>For the record, there are about 40 bear attacks per year worldwide and about quarter million rapes.&nbsp;</p><h2>TikTok&rsquo;s &ldquo;watch my boyfriend&rdquo; trend</h2><p>The man vs. bear thing is so depressing, I'm following it up with a gender-related TikTok thing that is  heartwarming&mdash;the &ldquo;watch my boyfriend&rdquo; trend. Here&rsquo;s how it works: women or girls start recording a video, ask their audience &ldquo;can you guys watch my boyfriend for a second?&rdquo; then point the phone at their boyfriends and walk out of the room. That&rsquo;s it. But the videos are heartwarming and wholesome. Some dudes <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@calebnandrea/video/7362314620117208362" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">sit and eat crackers</a>, or <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@exquisitenat/video/7362681811794709806" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">sit and do nothing</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@leiileiijaee_203/video/7362613297977347371" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Some tell you what&rsquo;s on their minds</a>. Or lay down you <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@annaboebana/video/7361471642838568235?_r=1&amp;_t=8lvyltOGX7O" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">some boyfriend-y facts about flamingos.</a> It's good to have a reminder that a lot of young people are having normal relationships with normal people sometimes. </p><h2>Is the Cybertruck a failure yet?</h2><p>I used to think that the one redeeming contribution Elon Musk made to society was convincing douche bros that it was cool to drive an electric car, but the reaction to Musk&rsquo;s Cybertruck might even take that away. The vehicle has been on the road since November, and if you&rsquo;re wondering whether young people are coveting it like they did when the Tesla came out in 2008, it doesn&rsquo;t seem like it.</p><p>Tesla sold 3,878&nbsp;of the things since launch, which isn&rsquo;t bad compared to sales of other electric trucks, but it&rsquo;s far from the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2024/04/22/tesla-cybertruck-recall-electric-truck-sales/73416419007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">250,000 a year Musk once promised</a>. The truck has been plagued with problems since its announcement, when a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/21/tesla-cybertruck-unveiled.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">demonstration of its bulletproof windows went hilariously wrong</a>. It <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-cybertruck-owners-complain-vehicles-181500186.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">rusts easily</a>. It&rsquo;s prone to <a href="https://www.carscoops.com/2024/02/tesla-cybertruck-owner-reports-25-critical-errors-within-two-days-of-ownership-and-hes-not-alone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">software errors</a>.<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91073608/this-cybertruck-design-flaw-could-chop-off-your-fingers" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"> It might chop off your fingers</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyjudkins2/video/7345593049495424298" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">You can&rsquo;t take it through a car wash</a>. It&rsquo;s being recalled due to a potentially deadly design error that could result in a <a href="https://www.tesla.com/support/recall-cybertruck-accelerator-pedal-pad" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">stuck accelerator</a>. And it&rsquo;s really, really ugly.</p><p>Maybe the tech problems can be ironed out, and maybe there are a lot of people out there ready to shell out 80k for the next-gen Cybertruck no matter how ugly it is, but I seriously doubt it. Mainly because the Cybertruck just isn&rsquo;t cool. This is a vibe thing, so I could be wrong, but when people are arguing that something &ldquo;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/11/cybertruck-tesla-electric-pickup-design/676201/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">is so uncool that it comes back around to cool again,</a>&rdquo; it&rsquo;s the kiss of death.&nbsp;</p><p>There is hope for Elon's folly over the long term, though. Cars that were ridiculous jokes upon their release&mdash;The Edsel in the 1950s, the DeLorean in the 1980s&mdash;tend to be fondly remembered after enough time has passed and everyone has gone bankrupt.&nbsp;</p><h2>Viral video of the week: harmonizing with a fan</h2><p>This week&rsquo;s viral video is a short clip of TikTok of musician <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireboyermusic" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Claire Boyer</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireboyermusic/video/7359417784306076958" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">harmonizing with a kitchen fan </a>while making dinner (tacos, specifically). It&rsquo;s hard to explain why, but these 20 seconds of wordless vocalizing struck a nerve with people. The nameless tune really is otherworldly, disquieting, and nostalgic, and over 19 million people have viewed the video since it was posted earlier this month. TikTokers are suggesting lyrics in the comment section, responding with <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bill_bradley_music/video/7361740928974933280" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">duets</a> or posting videos explaining the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@breakfastatfreds/video/7363075428396944646" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">emotions</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lyssaclare/video/7363126840078126367" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">memories</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alifeoftomfoolery/video/7363361267924421930" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">thoughts</a> the song <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@literallyreinerswife/video/7361690646387772678" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">evokes</a>. Boyer says <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireboyermusic/video/7362973722275253534" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">she&rsquo;s working on a full song based on the video</a>, taking lyrical suggestions from her comment section, and I can't wait for the fans-and-artist collaboration that will come from it. Although I doubt it will beat the simplicity of the original item. </p><h2>Special bonus viral video of the week: Entertainment Made By North Korea</h2><div class="mx-auto mt-8 w-full max-w-4xl">
  5537.    <div id="video-container-0T-pPPUAppk"></div>
  5538. </div>
  5539.  
  5540.  
  5541. <p>Since &ldquo;harmonizing with a fan&rdquo; is such a short video, I thought I&rsquo;d include a long-form viral video to balance the scales. Most viral videos are short, amusing, and forgettable,&nbsp;but there&rsquo;s a growing audience for content that takes extremely deep dives into niche subjects, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T-pPPUAppk&amp;t=613s" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Entertainment Made by North Korea,</a> a five-and-a-half-hour(!) video from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PaperWill" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">YouTuber Paper Will </a>that goes into great detail about the history, context, and meaning of movies, music, and TV shows made by and for North Korea. It&rsquo;s a fascinating video on its own, but it&rsquo;s also gratifying to see how many people have watched it, and how enthusiastically they&rsquo;ve responded.</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5542.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/the-out-of-touch-adults-guide-to-kid-culture-man-or-bear</link>
  5543.      <dc:creator>Stephen Johnson</dc:creator>
  5544.      <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
  5545.    </item>
  5546.    <item>
  5547.      <title>How to Decide Whether to Donate Something or Sell It (and Where to Take It)</title>
  5548.      <guid isPermaLink="false">01HWQW4YVPQ8AS0MZ165R7775V</guid>
  5549.      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5550.      <description>Figuring out what to actually donate is hard. It has to be useful, but you also have to get it where it needs to be.</description>
  5551.      <media:thumbnail url="https://lifehacker.com/imagery/articles/01HWQW4YVPQ8AS0MZ165R7775V/hero-image.png"/>
  5552.      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every <a href="https://lifehacker.com/home/the-difference-between-peter-walsh-and-marie-kondos-decluttering-methods" target="_blank"><u>decluttering method and technique</u></a> is slightly different, but one thing they almost all have in common is that they urge you to sort your possessions into at least three categories: keep, donate, and throw away (with the possibility of adding a fourth: sell). Throwing everything away is pretty easy, but figuring out what could actually be donated&mdash;and how/where to donate it&mdash;can be hard. </p><h2>What you should donate</h2><p>For the most part, there are three questions you should ask yourself when considering donating something: Is it in good condition&mdash;not broken, missing parts, falling apart, or dirty beyond repair? Is it useful? Is it safe, or does it contain chemicals or small parts that could be harmful to someone, especially kids?</p><p>When I&rsquo;m deciding whether to donate, throw, or sell clothes, for instance, I consider each item and where I got it from. I do buy some fast fashion from time to time and those tops and dresses don&rsquo;t last many wash cycles, so I don&rsquo;t usually donate them; instead, I consider if I can use them for household tasks, like wiping the floor or something, but usually, I throw them away. (Do not come for me while I&rsquo;m being <em>honest</em>!) <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/comments/4s3qc2/if_youre_stuck_on_donating_throw_it_away_its_ok/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Give yourself permission to throw things away</u></a>. If something isn&rsquo;t in good condition or it&rsquo;s not going to be useful, you don&rsquo;t have to beat yourself up for not donating it, especially when you&rsquo;re doing something good for yourself, like decluttering your home. That said, I always donate nicer things and attempt to sell <em>really</em> nice things, but if something doesn&rsquo;t sell from my Poshmark storefront within six months, I donate that, too. If the clothing is in good condition, someone else can use it. Google whether there are clothing-specific donation organizations in your area. For instance, <a href="https://dressforsuccess.org/affiliate-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Dress for Success</u></a> specializes in accepting gently used professional attire for women.&nbsp;Perform a quick search to find out if there are niche organizations like this looking for the kinds of items you have on hand or if any drives with specific needs are taking place near you.</p><p>Otherwise, check in with your local donation place. If you use the Salvation Army, for example, check to see what they&rsquo;re taking right now. Call them or <a href="https://satruck.org/Home/DonationValueGuide" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>use their online guide</u></a> to determine the approximate tax-deductible value of your stuff. <a href="https://www.goodwillsew.com/donation-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Goodwill, too</u></a>, releases lists of what they will and won&rsquo;t accept, making it easy to figure out which of your items are worth bringing over.&nbsp;</p><h2>Easy ways to donate</h2><p>Making a pile to donate and actually donating are two very different things. This exercise is not useful if you&rsquo;re just going to keep a &ldquo;donation&rdquo; box around your house or in your trunk for months. Remember that your first mission here is to declutter your home&mdash;any good you can do beyond that is a bonus, so if you don&rsquo;t live near a donation center or don&rsquo;t think you can reasonably do it, make other plans.&nbsp;</p><p>There are some ways to do this easily. <a href="https://pickupplease.org/acceptable-donations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)"><u>Pick Up Please</u></a> operates in 15 states and will come grab your donation bag from outside your house, while <a href="http://ClothingDonations.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">ClothingDonations.org</a> operates in 33 states and does the same. Check with your local centers, too, to see if they have their own pickup service. Bear in mind that when using pickup services, you are generally limited to donating smaller items that a person could reasonably pick up and transfer to their truck on their own, so if you&rsquo;re trying to offload furniture or appliances, call ahead and make a plan for transport.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.habitat.org/stories/does-habitat-offer-furniture-donation-pickup" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Habitat for Humanity</a>, however, does offer furniture pickups in select areas. <a href="https://www.pickupmydonation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Pick Up My Donation</a> acts as a kind of liaison, so if you give them the details of what and how much you want to donate, they'll coordinate with a donation center in your area for a pickup, provided you have enough to justify it. Otherwise, that center will reach out with information on where you can bring the stuff. <a href="https://www.gogreendrop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Green Drop</a> is similar, picking up your household items and clothing, then paying a local nonprofit for the access, funding community-based programs in your area.</p><p>You can also list larger or more unorthodox items on the <a href="https://buynothingproject.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="(opens in a new window)">Buy Nothing</a> platform, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or independent Facebook "buy nothing" groups in your area. The Buy Nothing app exists as a platform for users to set up free exchanges or giveaways in their area and may not include your location, but try typing your city or town into Facebook with the words "buy nothing" to find other independent groups doing the same thing. Always do this with a timeline in mind. If the thing doesn&rsquo;t get a taker within a month, have a plan to throw it away or donate it in an alternate way. Keep your goal of decluttering top of mind and don&rsquo;t allow your willingness to get rid of something eventually to turn into an excuse for why you haven&rsquo;t cleared it out.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
  5553.      <link>https://lifehacker.com/home/how-and-what-to-donate-when-decluttering</link>
  5554.      <dc:creator>Lindsey Ellefson</dc:creator>
  5555.      <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category>
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