- Help
- Google+
SAVE $124.98: The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB) productivity bundle is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon, down from the normal bundle price of $404.97. That's a 30% discount. The bundle includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet, keyboard case, and stylus pen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB) productivity bundle $279.99 at AmazonWorking from home or the local cafe can be a welcome break from the office — especially when you have the right equipment to make it easy. If you're looking to upgrade your work set-up for when you're away from the office, Amazon has the perfect deal.
As of April 17, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet productivity bundle is $279.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard bundle price of $404.97. That's a 30% discount or a savings of $124.98. The bundle includes the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (128GB), a magnetic keyboard case, and a stylus pen.
SEE ALSO: The best tablets: iPads are great, but have you tried literally anything else?The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet earned a Mashable Choice award, with SaVanna Shoemaker giving the tablet a high rating of 4.6 out of 5 in her review. "The Amazon Fire Max 11 has a large, 11-inch display and is blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games," writes Shoemaker.
Thanks to today's deal, you'll get the 11-inch tablet with 2.4 million pixels in addition to a setup that makes it ideal for working away from the office. The included keyboard case has a built-in trackpad that's capable of gestures like pinch to zoom and scrolling with two fingers. The integrated back cover not only serves as protection but also includes a stand. And the keyboard doesn't require charging, simply plugging into the Fire Max 11 tablet.
You'll also get an Amazon stylus pen with the productivity bundle. Take notes, draw, or mark up a PDF with ease thanks to the stylus. If you're nervous about losing the stylus pen, have no fear: it attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet.
If you prefer to work from home or you'd love to not lug a heavy laptop with you while traveling, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet productivity bundle could be ideal for streamlining the process. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can grab the bundle for 30% off.
Carrie Bradshaw is a narcissist. She's a terrible friend. She's delusional. She's the problem. She's problematic. Gen Z can't handle her.
The internet has been throwing around these opinions since Sex and the City arrived on Netflix, ushering in a new wave of Carrie Bradshaw discourse nearly 26 years after the groundbreaking HBO series premiered. The show and its iconic heroine still strike a chord with viewers. Gen Z icon Olivia Rodrigo even weighed in during one of two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, wearing a bedazzled tank top that read "Carrie Bradshaw AF." (The second night, she donned another embellished tank; this one said "And just like that.")
SEE ALSO: Why the internet stans IrelandSex and the City has long been a source of inspiration for meme culture, something Sylvia Sierra, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University, attributes to the breadth of material fans have to play with. "People get really into referencing media where they can imagine themselves in that world," she told Mashable. Throughout its six seasons, viewers get immersed in Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte's lives as single women in New York City, and each episode includes memorable characters like Charlotte's friend who steals her baby name and oddball plots like Miranda crushing on a sandwich.
There are longstanding Sex and the City memes, like refashioning the structure of Carrie's voiceovers to fit the current moment — starting with popular Carrie-isms like "I couldn't help but wonder" and "And just like that." Carrie's outsized reactions are also endlessly reposted to react to headlines, especially when that news concerns New York City.
Recently, a new meme has emerged: Big is moving to Paris. It's mainly used to illustrate how consumed Carrie was by her own problems, specifically her relationship with Big. Twitter / X users write out a conversation in the voices of the three other protagonists of the show, ending with Carrie announcing, "Big is moving to Paris." For instance, after an earthquake shook New York City one user wrote:
Charlotte: It was 4.8 on the Richter scale!
Miranda: The Richter scale is a totally outdated method for measuring magnitudes and everyone knows it.
Samantha: Let's just say it wasn't the only thing making my walls shake this morning.
Carrie: Big is moving to Paris
Similar posts circulated after the solar eclipse. Soon, Carrie announcing Big's move left the confines of Sex and the City's world making other popular characters, like Dune's Paul Atreides, say "Big is moving to Paris."
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedUnlike other often-quoted moments, Carrie never actually says, "Big is moving to Paris." In the now infamous Season 2 episode that finds Samantha taking the girls to a S&M-themed restaurant, Charlotte getting involved with a shoe salesman with a foot fetish, and Miranda sleeping with an exhibitionist — that's real television — Carrie breaks down at brunch with the girls. Big casually told her he might move to Paris for seven months. At brunch, she says, "I wanted to kill him. And he's standing there giving me the 'what's the big problem' eyes."
She doesn't even say "Big is moving to Paris" in the next episode when the girls stage an intervention with Carrie for excessively talking about their breakup.
Despite its absence, the phrase gets at a central tension of the series.
Why we're still talking about Carrie BradshawThe meme "tickled" Sienna Axe, a 23-year-old in Seattle, so much that she changed her display name on X to "Big is moving to Paris." It just made sense, she said. "I saw 'Big moving in Paris' and I was like, yeah Big is moving to Paris. She's always saying that shit," Axe told Mashable. "The world could be ending, and Big would still be moving to Paris and that would still be the most important thing in the world to Carrie Bradshaw."
Axe first got hooked on the show after watching it with her mom, specifically the episode after Carrie and Big broke up and she has a brief fling with an overzealous jazz musician. "I thought it was just so crazy that I sat down and watched the rest of the show," she said.
Katherine Morgan, a 30-year-old writer and Powell's Books employee in Portland, Oregon, recently wrote a thread defending Carrie against her critics but still laughed at the "Big is moving to Paris" meme. "She does that a lot when someone has news or is talking about current events and then she refocuses the conversation on Big," she said.
Tweet may have been deletedIn 2013, writer Emily Nussbaum examined how Sex and the City played with the romantic comedy form by pushing back against viewers' desire to identify with Carrie. For The New Yorker, she wrote, "It switched the romantic comedy’s primal scene, from 'Me, too!' to 'Am I like her?' A man practically woven out of red flags, Big wasn’t there to rescue Carrie; instead, his 'great love' was a slow poisoning. She spun out, becoming anxious, obsessive, and, despite her charm, wildly self-centered—in her own words, 'the frightening woman whose fear ate her sanity.'"
One could argue that Carrie's reaction to Big moving to Paris exemplifies Big's poison driving her to insanity. As one X user wrote, "This is the most down bad anyone's ever been btw."
Tweet may have been deleted"People often look to the media for examples of how to behave and do things in their everyday life and what personalities to have or behavior to enact," said Sierra. Memes are a way for viewers to negotiate those examples. "People use memes to circumscribe the boundaries of what is acceptable and isn't acceptable."
The "Big is moving to Paris" meme rejects Big's hold over Carrie. "They're distancing themselves [from Carrie] and communicating that this is not what we want to be by ridiculing and laughing about that character," said Sierra.
"There's so many stereotypes, and ideologies embedded in the media that we consume. In this case, it's a stereotype about a certain woman who's very self-centered. When you recirculate it, you're bringing that stereotype to mind, but by making fun of it, you're rejecting that way of being, and presenting an ideology that's not acceptable," she continued.
By making fun of it, you're rejecting that way of being, and presenting an ideology that's not acceptable.But even during Sex and the City's cultural heyday, Carrie and Big's relationship was a point of contention for fans. In 2002, Joke Hermes, a professor of media, culture, and citizenship at Inholland University, conducted a study of conversations about the show on Jump the Shark, an internet forum for discussing when a television show fell off. "People reacted strongly against the Carrie and Big storyline early on," Hermes told Mashable.
Like Sierra, she sees the memes as reacting to something bigger than just the characters. "[Carrie and Big] explore women's condition. We have the jobs we want to do, we are our own women, and then there's this old dream of finding the right guy to be a complete person, which is — as we used to say in the 1980s — the complete myth of patriarchy," said Hermes. "It's an ongoing discussion about how we think about men and women today and whether we're still invested in thinking about femininity and masculinity as total opposites."
It's easy to reject Carrie, but there are those like Morgan who embrace her chaos. "It's freeing to have a model for being loud and wrong because sometimes you have to be a little bit loud and wrong and say what you think so your friends can correct you," Axe said. Being loud and wrong is an essential part of growing up, and in an era where so many women are growing up publicly — whether that be Rodrigo or your average TikTokker in NYC — Carrie Bradshaw is relatable. When Rodrigo calls herself "Carrie Bradshaw AF" she's embracing the messy side of love and womanhood.
While the internet continues to wrestle with issues we've failed to resolve in the past 26 years via Carrie and Big, every New York City transplant on TikTok will continue to battle it out to be "the next Carrie Bradshaw."
In the highly oversaturated world of e-commerce, Amazon consistently comes out on top — not just because of its convenience, but largely due to its array of deals. If you're a sucker for a sweet discount, we've scoured the lengthy list of daily deals at the mega-retailer and handpicked some of the most impressive ones we could find. While it may not be a major shopping holiday, there are plenty of price drops on big-name products, including the Apple Watch, The Frame TV, and Echo Buds.
Here are the best Amazon deals of the day for April 17. And don't miss out on our picks from April 15 and April 16 — many of those deals are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) $433.30If you've had the Apple Watch Series 9 on your wishlist since its debut, your patience has been rewarded with an all-time low discount. Despite its rocky start to the year (Apple removed the blood oxygen sensor from its watches due to a patent dispute), the Series 9 is alive and thriving. It comes with a few fancy new features like Double Tap and a 2,000-nit display, which makes it more readable in sunlight (one of Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder's favorite features). The 41mm version with GPS and cellular connectivity is typically $699, but you can save 38% as of April 17 and snag it for just $433.30.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-Inch The Frame LS03B Series QLED 4K TV $1,895.00 at AmazonThanks to Samsung's The Frame TVs, gone are the days of staring at a boring black rectangle on your wall when your TV is switched off. These TVs feature a unique ambient "Art Mode" that displays paintings and photos when the QLED screen is not in use. Many images come pre-loaded onto the TV, but you can also upload your own or subscribe to Samsung's Art Store for more options. The 75-inch version is down to an all-time low price of $1,895 as of April 17 — that's 37% off its usual cost.
Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $77.99 at AmazonIf you're looking to add a second set of eyes outside of your home, the Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera lets you see what's happening in crisp HD at any time of day. It features 700 lumens of motion-triggered illumination and two-way audio, plus advanced motion detection via the Blink subscription plan. At 40% off, it's back down to its all-time low price of $77.99 (reg. $129.98).
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Buds with ANC (wired charging case) $54.99 at AmazonSome of our favorite wireless earbuds, the second-generation Echo Buds, are on sale at Amazon for just $54.99 as of April 17. While that's not the lowest price we've seen — that honor goes to the $49.99 deal from March 2022 — it's still an incredible deal on a pair of noise-canceling earbuds. Compared to the first-generation duds, Amazon's second iteration "deliver good sound quality, effective ANC, and a slimmed down build." Mashable's Alex Perry was impressed with them upon testing, calling them "a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire."
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Mac Mini (M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $499.00 at AmazonIf you're looking to upgrade our work-from-home setup without breaking the bank, the M2-equipped Mac Mini is a solid place to start. The ultra-portable desktop computer offers a zippy performance, support for up to two displays, upgraded graphics from its predecessor, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for advanced connectivity. Better yet, it's just $20 shy of its all-time low price as of April 17. Snag it on sale for just $499 at Amazon.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Snapchat users will now see a ghostly image hovering over their AI-generated images, as Snapchat joins other Big Tech companies using watermarking tech to battle AI misinformation and deepfakes.
Images made using Snapchat's AI tools, like the app's extend tool and its recently launched Dreams feature, will be stamped with a transparent watermark (Snapchat's ghost logo) once it's exported or downloaded off the app. Users receiving AI-generated images may also see the ghost logo and the app's "sparkle" AI icon.
SEE ALSO: Is AI good or bad? The answer is more complicated than 'yes' or 'no.'Currently, Snapchat marks AI-generated content, included text conversations with its My AI chatbot, in various ways. Images created using Dreams are accompanied by a "context card" that explains the feature and generative AI. My AI conversations and the extend tool uses "contextual" icons, like the sparkle symbol, to
"We also take great care to vet all political ads through a rigorous human review process, including a thorough check for any misleading use of content, including AI to create deceptive images or content," the platform wrote. "The addition of these watermarks will help inform those viewing it that the image was made with AI on Snapchat."
Along with the new transparency tool, Snapchat also committed to ongoing AI literacy efforts. So far, that just entails a generative AI FAQ available on its Support Site.
"While all of our AI tools, both text-based and visual, are designed to avoid producing incorrect, harmful, or misleading material, mistakes may still occur," the company wrote. "Snapchatters are able to report content, and we appreciate this feedback."
AI watchdogs say watermarking technology isn't a sure fire solution, however, even as tech's big players hinge their user-side bets on it.
In February, OpenAI announced it would be adding metadata watermarks to images generated by DALL-E 3. Google launched its SynthID, a tool that adds similarly invisible watermarks to AI images, in August. Youtube, meanwhile, is enforcing penalties against users who don't use its labelling system for digitally altered content.
By now, everyone has likely seen Boston Dynamics' robots.
The company's videos, usually showcasing what its Atlas hydraulic robot model could do, pretty much always go viral. Yes, these videos show off the incredible technological accomplishments of a company that has created a humanoid robot that can do parkour. But, the videos were popular due to the quirky nature of the robot. Atlas would slip! Atlas would fall over. Sure, some of Atlas's movements could be a bit dystopian – a sneak peek into a world where robots rule over humans – but Atlas also kind of looked like a Disney/Pixar creation.
But, earlier this week, Boston Dynamics surprisingly bid farewell to Atlas, retiring the beloved humanoid robot model.
But I don't believe anyone was quite expecting what Boston Dynamics had in store for us next.
The all-new AtlasOn Wednesday, just one day after the retirement of Atlas, Boston Dynamics uploaded a video announcing the all-new version of Atlas, a fully electric robot.
The new Atlas clearly has a brand new design. It's now slimmer, looking more like an actual human body-type. And it has a round head, something missing from the old Atlas' structure. In an announcement, Boston Dynamics says it is teaming with Hyundai to roll out real-world commercial uses for Atlas.
But, the video that Boston Dynamics released to introduce the world to the new Atlas certainly was a choice. It's giving off T-1000 from Terminator 2 vibes as opposed to the quirky kids movie feel of the old Atlas.
The video starts with the new electric Atlas lying on a mat. Suddenly, his legs rise and invert, landing almost crab-style. The legs then lift the rest of the robot's body up like something straight out of a Japanese horror movie. Its head suddenly spins, like Regan from The Exorcist, to face the camera. With its torso and arms still facing the wrong direction, the robot starts walking towards the camera. Atlas' torso then flips around to face forwards and the robot stops in front of the camera. After a second, each section of the body begins to spin away from the camera and Atlas loudly marches off.
Boston Dynamics doesn't really show off too much in the video — in terms of real-world capability anyway — so we still have to wait to find out if the new Atlas will amaze audiences in the way that the old one did. The company usually does deliver though, with each of its robot models proving to be better than the previous iteration.
But, there's no denying that Boston Dynamics has chosen a pretty creepy way to introduce the world to the new fully electric Atlas. John Connor, please standby.
Need to backup your iPhone? As a rule of thumb, you should always backup your computer — and that same rule applies to your iPhone, too.
Trust us. We've lost data, files, and other digital media before by not regularly backing up our device. You never know when you'll lose your iPhone.
Backing up your iPhone is easier than ever. In the early days of the iPhone, it use to be annoying to pull out the wire, connect your iPhone to your computer, and go through the iTunes backup process. Now, you can simply use iCloud.
How to backup iPhoneAll it takes is the tap of a button to backup your iPhone now. And you can set up your device to automatically make regular backups, too. Let's walk through this simple process.
1. Go to Settings and tap your Apple ID name at the top Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 2. On the Apple ID screen, tap on iCloud. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 3. Under the Device Backups section, tap on iCloud Backup Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 4. For automated backups, make sure the 'Back Up This iPhone option' is switched on. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshot 5. To backup your iPhone immediately, tap on the 'Back Up Now' option. Credit: Matt Binder / Mashable screenshotNote: iCloud does not include photos and videos in your iPhone backup. Those media files are stored separately in iCloud Photos.
Apple gives iPhone users free 5GB of iCloud storage. For some users, this will be enough. For others, they'll have to upgrade to an iCloud+ paid plan. Both your iPhone backup on iCloud and your iCloud Photos share the same storage space, so make sure you have an appropriately sized plan that has enough storage space for your photos and latest iPhone backup.
The old Alexa can't answer your questions about Taylor Swift's new album, but Swift can.
In promotion of The Tortured Poets Department, out April 19, the pop star will answer your burning questions about the album on Amazon Alexa. For example, when you ask, "When does Taylor Swift's new album come out?" Alexa passes the mic to Swift who says, "Hey it's Taylor Swift. My new album The Tortured Poets Department is out this Friday. All is fair in love and poetry."
SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's music returns to TikTok ahead of 'The Tortured Poets Department' releaseSwift famously never shies away from any opportunity to promote her music, despite current critiques of her artistic integrity. She managed to be the only Universal Music Group artist to get her music back on TikTok ahead of her album's release. That's not to mention her recent collaboration with Spotify in Los Angeles: a "library installation" that reveals details about the album via poetry typed on faux old-timey parchment — a fun gimmick that the corporate partnership detracts from. (Each piece of paper features the Spotify logo.) And on Instagram, if you type "Taylor Swift" a writing emoji appears.
Tweet may have been deleted Credit: InstagramFor her last album, Midnights, she partnered with TikTok and Spotify as well as Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football and Tumblr. She's also one of many artists utilizing the album variant approach to maximize sales and profits.
Swift recently became a billionaire and remains under fire for her private jet use. But Alexa can probably tell you that.
SAVE 18%: An Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device is just $114.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $139.99. That's a savings of $25.
Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device $114.99 at AmazonDoes your TV take forever to boot up Netflix, taking precious time away from your evening shows? If you tend to wait for apps to load, investing in a high-end streaming device could make your viewing experience more enjoyable. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can get lightning-fast streaming while saving some money.
As of April 17, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is $114.99, marked down from the normal price of $139.99. That's an 18% discount or a savings of $25. This deal includes the Fire TV Cube streaming device, an Alexa voice-enhanced remote, and a power adapter.
SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV dealsThe Amazon Fire TV Cube is capable of streaming 4K media, fast. Amazon says the Fire TV Cube is two times as powerful as the popular Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Fire TV Cube uses an octa-core 2.0 GHz processor for faster launching and navigating of your favorite apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. The cube can also support WiFi 6E for the latest in speedy internet connection.
The Fire TV Cube also works with voice commands thanks to the included remote control, so you can ask Alexa to change the volume of the TV or open Disney+.
If your streaming device is no longer keeping up or can't support streaming in 4K, this is your sign that it's time to upgrade. Grab the Amazon Fire TV Cube for just $114.99 and get used to quick streaming and navigating.
Wade Allain-Marcus describes how he sees his Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead as more of a remix than a remake. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead is now in theaters.
SAVE $30: The Shokz OpenFit wireless headphones are on sale for $149.95 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $179.95. That's a 17% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenFit headphones $149.95 at AmazonHeadphones have become part of our everyday tech needs. Whether you prefer over-the-ear or earbuds, finding a pair that feels comfortable can be tough. If you're searching for a pair that focuses on comfort and all-day wearability, today's deal at Amazon might grant your wish.
As of April 17, the Shokz OpenFit wireless headphones are just $149.95, down from the standard price of $179.95. That's a savings of $30 or a 17% discount.
The Shokz OpenFit focus on a comfortable and secure fit without sacrificing sound quality. They have an over-ear design that keeps the earbuds secured thanks to a flexible ear hook. This design can be especially beneficial if you like to go for neighborhood runs, workout with a jump rope, or otherwise tend to have issues with keeping earbuds in place.
SEE ALSO: The 8 best earbuds on Amazon start at just $9With the included charging case, expect to get up to 28 hours of listening time. The Shokz OpenFit also use situational awareness, so while you're jamming out to your favorite playlist you can still hear what's happening around you. This trend is appearing more often, with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds also focusing on letting users stay in tune with their surroundings.
The Shokz OpenFit are also great for those who live in climates where rain is common. The OpenFit have a double layer of waterproof steel mesh and gauze so a bit of rain or sweat won't be an issue.
If you're tired of earbuds being painful after an hour of wear, the Shokz OpenFit aim to offer both comfort and function. Plus, they have pretty awesome battery life. Score today's deal to save $30 and listen in comfort.
SAVE $80: As of April 17, get the 32-inch 2-Series HD Amazon Fire TV for just $119.99. That's a discount of 40%.
32-inch 2-Series HD Amazon Fire TV $119.99 at AmazonIf you're in the market for a new TV, there are tons of great options available — but some of the best smart TVs you'll find are part of Amazon's Fire TV series. These affordable displays offer big functionality at low prices, especially if you're looking to add a screen to your home setup or a starter TV that you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on. Now's a great time to lock in a purchase as you can get one of the lineup's budget models for even cheaper than usual.
As of April 17, the Amazon 32-inch 2-Series Fire TV is just $119.99 at Amazon. That's $80 off its normal price of $199.99, and a discount of 40%.
SEE ALSO: Turn your TV into a digital art gallery for $32This is a basic smart TV that doesn't offer many of its higher-priced siblings' features, but it's still a great screen if you want smart capabilities. It uses the Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote for hands-free control with Alexa Voice Search, which means never typing in long show names at a snail's pace again. On top of that, it supports all the normal Alexa apps you'd be able to use within the Fire ecosystem.
This TV doesn't support 4K, as it only goes up to HD 720p resolution, so keep that in mind when purchasing. But at this price, you get a streaming-capable TV with voice control support, live TV streaming, and a connection to Fire TV's live TV options, plus gaming and music. It's a great buy for just over $100.
I'd just got in the bath when my phone buzzed on the window sill. It was, alas, out of reach. But I had a sneaking suspicion of who the message was from.
I got up and leaned across to my device, bath suds and water dripping all over the floor. With wet fingers, I swiped up to see the WhatsApp and instantly wished I'd stayed in the bath.
"Send pics," read the message from the guy I barely knew.
Until this moment, things had been going so well. So well, in fact, that I was deeply suspicious.
Sending nudes to a near-stranger in the early stages of dating is a boundary for me. That might not be the case for everyone, but in my case, it's not something I do unless I'm sleeping with the person. But at this point, I hadn't even gone on a first date with this guy yet. We'd simply kissed on a night out with friends and started texting each other.
I sat back in the bath and deliberated how to respond. My heart raced as I asked myself if it was easier to just comply with this request. My thoughts urged me not to be awkward, not to be a prude. But something stronger was overriding these — a fierce feeling that I just didn't want to do what was being asked of me. The anxiety I could physically feel told me I'd be crossing my own boundaries if I yielded.
I waited an hour, scrambling to find the right words to tell him 'no.' "Hey," I began. "So I have a rule that I don't send pics to someone unless I've slept with them." He replied almost instantly. "That is a very good rule," he said. The conversation went back to whatever we'd been talking about before. No awkwardness, no annoyance, nothing that I'd feared had happened.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that at age 30, I shouldn't be struggling to tell a man I'd met twice that I didn't want to do something. But here we are. My friends also tell me they feel highly nervous, overcome with anxiety when setting boundaries in the early stages of dating.
Why are boundaries important?So, why are boundaries so important? "Boundaries set the basic guidelines for how a person wants to be treated," according to Neil Wilkie, founder of online couples therapy platform The Relationship Paradigm. "Clear boundaries are essential for our own mental health and self-esteem."
While this post deals primarily with boundaries in dating and romantic and sexual relationships, I'd note that boundaries are vital in ALL relationships — be that with family, friends, colleagues, and even your internet followers. For marginalised communities, in particular, respecting boundaries is deeply important in preventing re-traumatisation, and examples of boundary violations can include white people asking their Black friends to explain racism and people tagging sexual violence survivors in social media posts about sexual trauma. Everyone has the right to set boundaries and to have them respected.
SEE ALSO: How to set sexual boundaries Why does boundary setting feel difficult?Boundaries are key, but in terms of dating, establishing them with someone you like and don't know very well can seem a little daunting at first. "When we’re nervous about holding onto someone else’s approval we can compromise on boundaries," Rachael Lloyd, relationship expert at eharmony, told me. "But once you start doing that, your own sense of self can erode and you can soon lose yourself in the relationship." If you're not 100 percent sure of your own boundaries, Lloyd said you might be clued in by your instincts. "You’ll know when a boundary is overstepped because you’re likely to suddenly feel triggered emotionally, within your body."
Getting in early with boundary setting also means heading off at the pass any potential future sources of resentment and friction that could arise. "In the early days of a relationship it is rare for a couple to discuss boundaries, which will mean that the ground rules are unclear and uncertain," explained Wilkie. Discussing your sexual boundaries with a new partner is particularly important in making sure you both feel comfortable and safe. "It is so much easier to talk about boundaries in the early days of a relationship as that will be coming from a place of growth and clarity rather than resentment and blame," Wilkie added.
How to talk about boundariesWhat do you do if a discussion with someone you're newly dating veers into territory that you're not OK with? "If you enter into a topic of conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable or is delicate, such as political views, family life or salary, politely assert your boundary and explain that you’d rather not discuss that at this point, while changing the conversation to something that you have in common," explained Lloyd.
SEE ALSO: How to set boundaries at workBut you don't have to wait until a line has been crossed before having a chat about boundaries. Why not have a conversation about both your boundaries? "Introduce the topic gently, maybe by asking them, 'What is important for you in a relationship?'. If they open up, great. If not, then try again in a different way," Wilkie suggested. "Notice what is important for you and what boundaries you feel are being transgressed. Bring these up in a way like: ‘When you do x, I feel y’ rather than ‘It’s horrible when you do x’ do."
If the person is reluctant to discuss boundaries, or if they react badly to you setting a boundary, this could be a red flag. "If they are breaking the boundaries and don’t want to engage in conversation about it, question if are they right for me?" said Wilkie.
When it comes to intimacy, it's advisable to bring up sexual boundaries before you've entered a sexual encounter with that person. In the moment, if you are having sex with someone and a boundary is being crossed, remember that consent can be withdrawn at any point, and each new sexual act that's introduced in an encounter needs to be consented to. Our boundaries change and evolve over time, so if you're in a long-term relationship with someone, check in with each other and see where you're at.
If you're in a long-term relationship with someone and you want to have a meaningful exchange about one another's boundaries, you could try drawing up a list. Wilkie suggested getting each partner to draw up a list of what their boundaries are, then sharing and discussing what those boundaries mean to them, before comparing any similarities and differences. Making sure you've been listened to and understood is really important. If you feel there's room for improvement in the way your partner interacts with and respects those boundaries, let them know. If you want to, schedule regular meetings to chat about these and whether sufficient progress has been made.
At the end of the day, we're all entitled to boundaries and we deserve to have them respected. Just because you're in the early stages of dating someone doesn't mean you have to compromise on something that keeps you feeling protected and safe. The person's response to a boundary being set will usually give you a good idea about whether this relationship is worth pursuing.
This article was first published in 2020 and republished in 2024.
Shōgun is a series full of wily political operators, unpredictable fight scenes, and the occasional devastating earthquake. Yet the biggest obstacle our characters have had to face is none other than a single gate leading out of Osaka Castle — a gate which becomes the focus of two of Shōgun's best scenes.
SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' review: 2024's first great TV epic is hereIn episode 3, "Tomorrow Is Tomorrow," Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) must leave Osaka in order to avoid death at the hands of Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira) and the rest of the Council of Regents. His plan to make it out of the city plays like something out of a farce, complete with faked labor pains and Toranaga switching places with his wife Kiri No Kata (Yoriko Dōguchi). Ishido's men almost catch on to the ruse, but John Blackthorne's (Cosmo Jarvis) improvised outrage on behalf of Kiri's virtue manages to cause enough chaos to throw them off the scent. The entire sequence is a perfect balancing act of comedy and suspense, but the next time Shōgun returns to the gate leading out of Osaka Castle, we're in for a much more somber affair.
Anna Sawai in "Shōgun." Credit: Katie Yu / FXFlash-forward to "Crimson Sky," Shōgun's ninth entry and its most heartbreaking to date. The whole episode focuses on Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) as she enacts the next stages of Toranaga's plan for victory. She arrives in Osaka and requests that she leave the next day along with Kiri and Toranaga's consort, Shizu No Kata (Mako Fujimoto). But that request, like so many elements of Shōgun, is not as simple as it may seem. That's because Ishido won't let any of the nobles staying in Osaka leave. Don't call them hostages, though! He'd prefer you think of them as very secure guests.
Mariko's demand to leave places Ishido in a tight spot. If he doesn't allow her to go, he's fully confirming that everyone in Osaka Castle is a prisoner. But if he does let her go, that sets a precedent for everyone else in the castle to leave as well. He states that he and the Council will deliberate, to which Mariko retorts that if she is unable to leave the next morning, she'll have failed to do her duty to Toranaga, and will therefore have to commit seppuku.
That takes us to Shōgun's second iteration of the Osaka gate scene, a tense showdown during which a determined Mariko and her retinue advance through waves of guards and archers. Eventually, she is unable to continue and resigns herself to commit seppuku later that day.
SEE ALSO: 'Shōgun' is a master class in period costumingWith Mariko's seemingly inevitable death on the horizon, and with the gradual attrition of her forces grinding her to a halt, this Osaka gate scene couldn't feel more different than Toranaga's madcap escape in episode 3. And yet that first escape sequence is key to understanding Mariko's attempt to leave.
"Your job is to teach the audience how to watch the show," Shōgun showrunner, co-creator, and executive producer Justin Marks told Mashable. "Everything in episode 3 is a setup for what happens in episode 9." Episode 3 establishes not only the architecture of Osaka Castle — including the layout of that specific gate — but also the degree of difficulty it takes to escape.
Everything in episode 3 is a setup for what happens in episode 9. - Justin Marks"The real focus of it is that it took the most powerful man in Japan an incredible amount of subterfuge to [leave Osaka]," Marks said. "How is one woman going to walk out? The point is, she's not. It's theater, it's performance art. That's the essential part of this, which is to demonstrate all that [Ishido] will do to keep her from going, but for her to keep going anyway."
Anna Sawai in "Shōgun." Credit: Katie Yu / FXShōgun has always prepared us for the possibility that Mariko might die, especially since she's asked for death so many times. Yet that possibility truly begins to feel like a reality during this gate sequence. Something as simple as a character trying to go from Point A to Point B becomes a deadly act, as episodes' worth of context — including the difficulties of Toranaga's episode 3 escape — bear down on Mariko's every footstep.
"The entire season funnels to this one moment where a character is walking, trying to pass through a gate," Shōgun co-creator and executive producer Rachel Kondo told Mashable. Kondo also wrote "Crimson Sky" along with Caillin Puente.
The entire season funnels to this one moment. - Rachel Kondo"The impression I got reading the book [by James Clavell] was that the 50 feet to that gate is a journey that Mariko has been trying to make for her entire life," Marks added.
For Mariko, her attempt to leave Osaka and the subsequent declaration of seppuku are necessary services she must perform for Toranaga. But they're also a chance for her death to serve a greater purpose in a cruel world that sometimes treats people as if they're disposable.
"She's fighting for more than just her own sense of resolution," Kondo explained. "I think she was fighting for all the women who don't ever get the chance for their deaths to mean something."
Even though Mariko doesn't die in this moment, "Crimson Sky" sees her face down death time and time again: First at the gate, then at her near-seppuku, then finally in a brutal third-act attack that does take her life. The constant proximity to death prepares us for her eventual farewell, and even though it may be tragic for the audience and for the characters around her, Marks believes that survival past this point would have crushed Mariko further.
"She would hate victory over death," Marks said. "What she could no longer stand was to suppress her own wants in service of this world anymore. And she asserted that through an army trying to stop her."
He added, of the gate scene, that "it's the point where there's no going back for Mariko. You realize the whole show has been about her. And if you thought it was about anyone else, then you probably weren't watching closely enough."
Shōgun is now streaming on Hulu, with the finale premiering April 23.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 17 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 17Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, April 17, 2024:
AcrossChinese greeting that literally means "You good?"The answer is nihao.
The answer is award.
The answer is disco.
The answer is altar.
The answer is led.
The answer is nada.
"You can count on me"The answer is iwill.
The answer is haste.
The answer is arced.
The answer is odor.
Today in "things we learned on the internet," did you know you could screenshot an entire webpage on your iPhone?
You may think you already know how to screenshot on an iPhone, but you can also do so for a full page, then save it as a PDF and revisit its contents whenever your little heart desires. Taking full-page screenshots on iPhones is super simple and helpful, yet I, a person who's owned an iPhone for over a decade, had no idea it was possible until I watched this TikTok video.
SEE ALSO: How to mirror your iPhone to your TVIf you, like me, are tired of screenshotting webpages on your phone in chunks and struggling to figure out which order they go in, this handy hack is for you. Allow me to walk you through the steps of how to take a full page screenshot on an iPhone, and you'll be taking your own full page screenshots in no time.
How to take a full page screenshot on iPhoneIt may or may not surprise you, but taking a full page screenshot on an iPhone is just as simple as taking a regular screenshot. You can take a full page screenshot on any iPhone or iPad, as long as the device is running the latest iOS update — we're up to iOS 17 at this point. Here's how:
Total TimeStep 1: On your iPhone, navigate to your desired webpage in the Safari app.
Step 2: Snap away (screenshot) by simultaneously pressing the lock button and volume up button.
Step 3: Then keep an eye out for the preview of your screenshot that appears in the lower lefthand corner of your phone screen.
Step 4: Once you see the preview, tap it and you'll be taken to a screen that gives you image editing abilities (here, you'll have the option to crop the screenshot, mark it up, add your signature, and more).
Step 5: After you've completed your desired edits, you'll notice two options above the image. The default screenshot option is "Screen," but to the right of that you'll see a "Full Page" option.
Step 6: Select "Full Page" to transform your regular screenshot into a full page screenshot, then use the slider on the right side of your screen to navigate the length of your screenshotted webpage.
Here's how to create a full page screenshot. Credit: mashable composite: apple How do you save a full page screenshot on iPhone?
Learning how to take full page screenshots on iPhones is easy. The only thing that's a bit tricky is the process you'll undergo to save them. Unlike normal screenshots, full page screenshots aren't saved to Photos.
After you've edited a full page iPhone screenshot to your satisfaction, tap "Done" in the upper lefthand corner of your screen. This will prompt you to delete the screenshot or save it as a PDF to Files. Should you choose to save the full page screenshot, you'll be given several options, such as saving the screenshot to your a folder in your iCloud Drive or saving it to your iPhone in a folder such as Pages. (You'll also have the option to create a new folder to store your full-page screenshot. You can do that by tapping the folder icon in the upper righthand corner of your screen near the "Save" option.)
Featured Video For You How to screen record on an iPhoneOnce you figure out where you'd like to save your file simply smash that save button and you're all set.
How to save your full page screenshot. Credit: mashable composite: apple Can you take full page screenshots of anything on an iPhone?Sadly, full page iPhone screenshots seem to be limited to the Safari app, which means you can't save full page recaps of iMessage chats, social media feeds, or Slack DMs. If you attempt to full page screenshot anything outside of the Safari app the "Full Page" option won't appear on your editing screen, which is how you'll know the feature can't be utilized.
Though the option to take a full page screenshot on an iPhone or iPad technically isn't new, I have to imagine there are more than a few device owners out there using their devices who still have yet to uncover the trick. If you're already familiar with full-page screenshots, you're ahead of the game. Now spread the word. The iPhone screenshotters of this world need to know these tricks.
This article originally published in March 2021, was updated in July 2022, then updated again in April 2024.
Trump's first criminal trial is ongoing in New York, and The Daily Show — who are never adverse to making a joke or two about the former president — were on hand with the big updates. But first, a reminder that the former president is facing multiple criminal and civil cases.
"Before we get into Trump's trial, let's be clear about which trial this is," says host Dulcé Sloan in the clip above. "Is it the classified documents trial? No. Is it the January 6 trial? No. The Georgia RICO trial? No. The sexual assault defamation trial? No. The real estate trial? No. It's the porn money hush love sex music trial. This dude treats criminal charges like Pokémon — he's trying to catch them all."
Shortly after that Sloan recapped the jury selection process, much of which was spent going though prospective jurors' old social media posts to see if they'd said anything about Trump — and which turned out to include a slew of memes mocking the former president.
"Damn, this court is roasting Donald Trump!" Sloan says. "I thought this was a courthouse, not a high school cafeteria."
For more Daily Show coverage of Trump's fraud cause, you can also watch Jon Stewart's breakdown from Monday.
Everything's better on a big screen. That highly detailed sci-fi TV series you've been phone-watching on your commute. Your parents'/roommate's/colleague's holiday snaps you'd better strap in for. That TikTok with the insistent Australian Shepherd demanding its human pay the damn cheese tax. It's just all better when thrown from your phone.
You can share exactly what's showing on your iPhone screen to a TV pretty easily by "mirroring" it. It's a simple process that's kind of similar to using Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV Stick — we've actually got a whole guide to connecting your iPhone to your TV four different ways — but this method specifically lets you cast whatever screen your iPhone is currently landed on — or iPad, this all works with iPad too.
SEE ALSO: How to clean your AirPods the right wayYou can mirror your iPhone either on an Apple TV device (Apple's version of a set top box), an AirPlay-compatible smart TV, or a desktop Mac. Here's how to do it.
How to mirror your iPhone to a TV Total TimeStep 1: Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV, smart TV, or Mac.
Step 2: Swipe down from the top right corner of your iPhone screen to open the Control Center.
Note: If you're using an iPhone 8 or earlier, you'll be swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
Step 3: Tap the icon showing two rectangles, one overlapping the other — this is the "Screen Mirroring" button.
Credit: Shannon ConnellanStep 4: Select the device you would like to mirror your iPhone screen.
Step 5: You might need to punch in a passcode to mirror to a TV or Mac, which will appear on your iPhone.
Step 6: To stop mirroring, repeat the process above, tap the "Screen Mirroring" icon and select "Stop Mirroring".
Looking for something to mirror to your TV from your iPhone? Try one of the 10 of the best places on the internet.
Grand Theft Auto IV publisher Take-Two Interactive has revealed plans to lay off five percent of its workforce by the end of the year, as well as cancel several projects currently in development. The games industry layoffs keep coming, and they don't stop coming.
The decisions were revealed on Tuesday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing which briefly outlined Take-Two's "cost reduction program." The company expects its plan to save it $165 million per annum and "enhance the Company’s margin profile."
SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' fans are losing their entire minds over new trailer and its twerking queenTake-Two had 11,580 employees as of March last year, meaning the layoffs are likely to impact around 600 people. However, it isn't yet clear exactly where these cuts will come from. The holding company owns several well-known game developers and publishers, including Bioshock publisher 2K, Kerbal Space Program publisher Private Division, and GTA 6 publisher Rockstar Games. Its $460 million acquisition of Borderlands developer Gearbox was further announced just three weeks ago.
Several video games currently in development will also be cancelled as part of Take-Two's cost-cutting measures, though it hasn't been revealed exactly which ones. GTA 6 is probably safe though, with the highly anticipated game expected to smash sales records when released next year. Over 190 million copies of its predecessor GTA 5 have been sold since its launch in 2013.
Layoffs are awful even at the best of times, but Take-Two's news particularly stings considering that in February CEO Strauss Zelnick explicitly stated that the company was not planning any job cuts. Though the company had revealed it was working on a cost reduction program, Zelnick had emphasised that Take-Two was focusing on areas other than staffing, such as software and vendor expenses.
"I would just note that our biggest line item of expense is actually marketing," Zelnick told IGN at the time. "The hardest thing to do is to lay off colleagues, and we have no current plans."
Even so, this wouldn't be the first time Take-Two played down speculation about layoffs right before cutting its workforce. After Take-Two announced a previous cost-cutting program last February, Zelnick told GamesIndustry.biz the company didn't "expect any kind of broad-based reduction in force," and that it would "continue to support and build our development teams."
Take-Two subsequently conducted layoffs the very next month. Though to be fair, the development teams were largely unscathed. Instead, the cuts primarily impacted "corporate operations and label publishing."
The video games industry was plagued by layoffs and studio closures throughout 2023, yet somehow 2024 is managing to look even worse. Earlier this year Electronic Arts also announced it would cut five percent of its workforce, just one day afterPlayStation revealed it was letting go of approximately 900 employees. Over 8,000 games industry layoffs were announced in the first two months of 2024 alone, already exceeding estimates on the total number cut the year before.
iOS 17.5 beta 2 has rolled out to users registered to the Apple Developer Program, allowing them to test a gaggle of new features.
iOS 17.5, reportedly weeks away from an official release, is set to be the fifth significant update since Apple officially dropped iOS 17 in September (alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models). Curious about the new perks you can explore with iOS 17.5 beta 2? Here are the top five features in the new version.
SEE ALSO: iOS 18 rumors: Everything we know about the next big iPhone update iOS 17.5 beta 2: 5 new featuresThe new features include an update that complies with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), allowing users in the European Union to download and install apps from certain third-party websites, but there are other perks that may interest the wider public.
New Apple News+ gameReserved for users with an Apple News+ subscription, iOS 17.5 beta 2 now has a new game called "Quartiles." The game requires users to combine tiles to create words.
News can be fun, too. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableFor example, according to a screenshot from MacRumors, you can combine the following four tiles — "art," "ist," "ic," and "ally" — to make the word "artistically."
Expanded sideloadingiPhone users within the EU are now capable of downloading apps from directly from Apple app developers' websites sans using the Apple App Store (or a third-party app marketplace). iOS 17.4 introduced sideloading to EU users, but with iOS 17.5 beta 2, there's now a new way to download apps. The functionality is not yet available for iPad users.
'Palestinian flag' emoji fixAs we reported last week, Apple said it was releasing a fix for a bug that caused the Palestinian flag to appear when some users typed the word "Jersualem."
Only some users reported seeing the Palestinian flag after typing "Jerusalem." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableWith iOS 17.5 beta 2, it looks like the Cupertino-based tech giant followed through with its promise. No emojis populate when the word is typed in the Messages app.
New 'Tip' for Notes appUnder iOS 17.5 beta 2, a new "Tip" banner appears on the bottom of the Notes app, allowing users to get a better understanding on how to organize their notes by tags, checklists, and more.
New 'Reading Goals' indicator in Apple BooksIn the Apple Books app, iOS 17.5 beta 2 added a tiny new symbol on the upper-right corner. Once you tap it, it will bring you to your Reading Goals page.
The Apple Books app got a new indicator. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe official iOS 17.5 wide public rollout is expected to be some time in early May, perhaps alongside the oft-rumored iPad Air and iPad Pro launch.
I’ve tried quite a few wireless earbuds in the past few months. After my Apple AirPods Pro stopped working, I made it my mission to step outside of the Apple ecosystem to sample more products, and I’ve been pretty impressed with my options. First, I tried the budget-friendly JBL Vibe Beam earbuds, but I quickly fell in love with the surprisingly stellar audio quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE and thought I’d found my winner — until I discovered Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
I first saw Bose’s new earbuds on TikTok, and while I was instantly head over heels for the innovative open-ear design, the skeptic in me knew to proceed with caution. I’ve tried countless viral products in the past, some that lived up to the hype and others that fell flat, and I was skeptical that the Ultra Open Earbuds could deliver on their promise to leave your ears totally open while still delivering “rich, private sound.”
So are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds truly revolutionary? Or are they just another flashy gimmick? I put them to the test, and I was honestly surprised by the results.
SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list) First impressions of the Bose Ultra Open EarbudsStraight out of the box, my reaction to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds echoed what I experienced when I first saw them on TikTok. These tiny little earbuds are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and while I’ve tried other “open-ear” audio devices, like the Soundcore Frames audio sunglasses, the new Bose buds pack a surprisingly powerful punch.
Each earbud is designed to fit like an earring cuff, and unlike other open-ear headphones on the market, they don’t actually hook around the top/back of your ear. Instead, they fit more like a piece of jewelry, which makes them look cooler and fit better because they can be worn anywhere from zero to 90 degrees on your ear. It’s hard to describe the form factor of the Ultra Open Earbuds without seeing them, but it’s basically two pieces of plastic (the larger, barrel-shaped battery and the hooked speaker) connected by a soft silicone joint that serves as a flexible — and secure — grip around your ear.
The unique cuff design of the Ultra Open Earbuds work well even with earrings. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable Comfort and fitIt might sound uncomfortable, but there’s no pinching involved. The earbuds “nestle” securely around your ear, and they actually fit like a dream. Because there’s so much flex in the joint, it’s easy to find where the earbuds fit best on your anatomy. The Bose companion app also offers a helpful tutorial on how to wear the earbuds.
Even with multiple ear piercings, I had no issues finding the perfect spot to wear the Ultra Open Earbuds, and I was shocked by how comfortable they were even after longer periods of wear. As someone with relatively small ears, I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve literally never experienced earbuds that don’t cause some degree of discomfort after longer wear — so much so that it’s hard for me to gauge if earbuds are uncomfortable or if it’s just my super small ears. However, I can truthfully say that this was the first time I’ve ever been able to wear earbuds for several hours straight with zero discomfort — none at all.
After trying them during workouts, I was even more impressed with the fit and comfort. I thought they’d feel loose or bounce while running outdoors, but they stayed perfectly secure — something that rarely happened even with my beloved Apple AirPods Pro. And, with an IPX4 water-resistance rating, the Ultra Open Earbuds should withstand sweat and light rain.
The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have shockingly good sound qualityWhen it comes to impressive audio experiences, Bose rarely disappoints. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones, but I didn’t expect the Ultra Open Earbuds to come anywhere close to traditional wireless headphones or earbuds. And, while they definitely weren’t as robust as my QC45s, the OpenAudio technology delivered surprisingly fantastic sound.
Due to the design of these earbuds, the sound quality does vary slightly based on how you wear them. In some orientations, like when I adjusted the earbuds to fit closer to a 45-degree angle on my ear, the sound felt a little more distant than when I wore them lower on my earlobes. However, because these earbuds are so customizable to your ears' anatomy, it’s easy to find the right spot to balance sound quality and comfort.
At lower volumes, I loved being able to listen to music and still experience the world around me. I could hold conversations with people on the street, and — because my ears were completely uncovered — I felt much safer taking my dog on walks or going on solo runs.
At higher volumes, my ability to interact with the world disappeared entirely because these headphones were really loud. I never reached max volume while using the Ultra Open Earbuds, and while the bass definitely isn’t quite as deep or rich as other earbuds I’ve tried, it wasn’t absent either. The sound was well-balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with the audio sounding distant or muddy. Instead, the Ultra Open Earbuds sounded clear, natural, and pretty lush.
Even better? They were, as Bose puts it, “surprisingly private.” At lower volumes, my partner couldn’t hear anything that I was listening to — even while standing a foot in front of me. At high volumes, it was definitely noticeable, but considering I never maxed out the volume, it wasn’t too big of an issue.
The new Bose earbuds let you create your own bubble of sound. Credit: RJ Andersen What I loved about the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Battery life and controlsIncredible comfort and good sound quality aside, I was surprised by how much I loved these earbuds. The battery life is phenomenal — up to 7.5 hours of playtime (less if you’re using Bose’s Immersive Audio feature) or a surprising 48 hours of battery life on standby. The charging case also provides an additional 19.5 hours of battery. Despite using these earbuds almost daily for several weeks, I barely needed to charge the case, and the promised 7.5 hours of playtime ended up being spot on in my testing.
The earbuds feature super convenient shortcuts via the button on the battery barrel. You can play and pause audio with a single press, skip forward with a double press, and skip backward with a triple press. A double press and hold on the left earbud decreases volume, while a double press and hold on the right increases it, and a long hold on either button can be customized in the Bose Music app to perform additional functions like activating your device’s voice assistant or toggling through Immersive Audio modes.
I liked that these earbuds included some of my favorite Bose features via the Bose Music app, including a basic equalizer and optional spatialized sound using Bose Immersive Audio. There's also a new optional feature called “Auto Volume” that dynamically adjusts the volume of your audio based on your surroundings. Finally, I could easily switch between multiple devices, including my Apple iPhone 11 Pro, and I love that they announced which device I was connected to.
What I didn’t love about them: Built-in microphoneHonestly, there was only one thing I didn’t love about my experience: the built-in microphone. For as good as Bose’s audio quality is, the built-in microphone on these earbuds wasn’t the best, especially when I was outdoors. Friends described it as sounding like a “really distant tunnel,” and my indoor microphone tests produced similar results.
Considering these earbuds are designed for all-day wear, it was disappointing to discover the microphone was so lacking. At one point, I even had to disconnect my earbuds entirely to talk to a friend directly through my phone because the ambient noise was so loud. Even at my desk, I tend to switch to other headphones to accept Zoom calls — it’s not that the Bose earbuds don’t work on calls, but the microphone quality is lacking even in quiet indoor environments.
Impressive battery life, less impressive microphone quality. Credit: RJ Andersen Are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds worth it?At $299, the Ultra Open Earbuds are definitely pricey. However, I can’t help but think they’re worth the splurge — especially if you’re looking for a comfortable earbud that gives you the flexibility to listen to music and stay aware of the world around you. When Bose announced these headphones, they described them as the solution to the “one bud phenomenon” — aka needing to pull out one of your earbuds to interact with the world — and I was surprised to find that they lived up to the hype. Not only are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds cool and functional, but the sound quality is great, the fit is incredible, and the comfort level is off the charts.
As someone who has long struggled to find earbuds that are actually comfortable for long-term wear, I definitely think I’ll be sticking with them — especially for my day-to-day use and outdoor activities like walking, jogging, and biking. While there are definitely more affordable earbuds to consider, these earbuds are in a category of their own. (Hopefully, these open-ear audio devices start a trend.) It’s a cool and unique product offering with a lot of potential, and if you find yourself getting excited about the hype like I was, then they’re definitely worth trying.
However, if you’re looking for a little more privacy to blast your music (like in a quiet office environment), you need Active Noise Cancellation, prefer better microphone quality, or you’re on a budget, then you might want to look elsewhere. These earbuds won’t be the best for everyone, but for the right people, they’re definitely a smart investment.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $299.00 at Bose
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...
Boston's most important responders: Bostonians The people of Boston are to be congratulated for being...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
Digital Privacy: A Catch 22 Mobility, convenience, accessibility and real-...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...