Mashable

SAVE $50: Pre-order the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for just $449.99, down from its regular price of $499.99. That's a 10% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Segway Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro preorder $449.99 at Segway (save $50 with pre-order) Get Deal

If you're tired of hopping on the metro for your morning commute or no longer find enjoyment with your rideshare companions, it might be time to find a new way to get into the office. Thanks to today's deal, you can pre-order one of Segway's best commuting scooters and kick off your year with savings.

As of Jan. 11, you can pre-order the new Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E2 Pro for $449.99, a $50 discount off the MSRP of $499.99. Segway estimates shipments will begin on Jan. 25.

The Segway Ninebot E2 Pro is built for daily commuting, running errands, or enjoying an adventure. With a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, the E2 Pro features Segway's RideyLONG technology which adds 20% to the scooter's range without needing an extra battery. At max speed, the E2 Pro gets 16.8 miles of distance on a single charge. There's an anti-skid traction control system should you face precipitation and you get front and rear turning indicators for a safer ride. Plus, the braking system has a front drum brake and a rear electronic brake.

SEE ALSO: The biggest assistive technology and accessibility triumphs of 2023

Glide your way up hills with the E2 Pro's ability to head up slopes with up to an 18% incline thanks to the combination of rear-wheel drive and the 750 W motor. It takes about five-and-a-half hours to recharge the scooter for your next ride.

If you're looking for a new way to get around, the new Segway Ninebot E2 Pro scooter could be your dream mode of transportation. Pre-order the scooter today to save $50.

SAVE $70: As of Jan. 11, the Oh! vibrator is available for preorder from Ohdoki for $74.95. That's 50% off its normal price of $149.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Okidoki Oh! vibrator $74.95 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

Looking to spice things up in the bedroom? Norwegian tech company Ohdoki just debuted one very interesting piece of sextech at CES 2024, and it looks like a very interesting proposition for people with vulvas. The same company, which introduced the automated penis stroker The Handy at last year's tech expo, wants you to meet The Oh!, a new vibrator that looks more like a remote control than something that could rock your world. But despite its looks, it promises some serious sensations.

If you're in the market to try something new beyond your go-to toys, now's a great time to get in on the Oh! craze before it even starts. The newly-announced toy is available for preorder from Ohdoki right now for 50% off its MSRP. That means if you lock in your purchase as of Jan. 11, you can get it for just $74.95, which is down from its suggested price of $149.95.

The Oh! doesn't rely on motors to create those satisfying vibrations you expect from this kind of toy. Instead, according to Ohdoki, it uses sound wave-based "ResoTouch technology" to help users "create their own vibrational patterns." What that means, exactly, is a bit up in the air right now. But it probably translates to you or a partner having a great time.

You can sync up the Oh! with your favorite audio or video through Bluetooth as you take in the vibrations. And there's the opportunity to try it out with a partner using the brand's Handy toy as well, so there's an interesting type of synergy here that could bring you and someone else together while you enjoy content with a little something-something physical in the background.

The Oh! is set to debut this spring, so if you want to get it at its lower price now, be sure to pre-order early.

If you didn't think you could Moneyball dating, Netflix's latest film has a sporting strategy to change your mind.

The streaming service has dropped the trailer for Players, director Trish Sie's romantic comedy following a group of friends who run "plays" to help each other meet people for casual flings. In their dating rulebook, there's only one proviso: You can't start a relationship from a play. Seems somewhat ethical, I guess.

When Mack (Gina Rodriguez) falls for someone she has her eye on, a war correspondent named Nick (Tom Ellis), she goes to the group to help her run a play for something bigger. Her best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) and the rest of her pals decide to help her out and create a game plan to rival their usual scenarios. But the trailer hints at something else going on closer to home.

Netfix is releasing this one on Valentine's Day, so it's going to be the streaming service's big mushy romance play — and the latest addition to Netflix's existing romantic movie lineup.

Players debuts on Netflix Feb. 14

After writing surreal, existential dread-inducing movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anomalisa, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Charlie Kaufman makes a foray into films for younger audiences with the animated adventure Orion and the Dark.

Directed by Sean Charmatz and based on the book by Emma Yarlett, Orion and the Dark tells the story of elementary schooler Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay). He's overcome with fear of almost everything — but especially the dark. But when the embodiment of darkness itself (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser) pays him a visit, he'll embark on a magical adventure to try to overcome his fears.

The film's first trailer teases Orion and the Dark's fantastic journey and introduces some of Dark's friends: Dreams (voiced by Angela Bassett), Sleep (voiced by Natasia Demetriou), Unexplained Noises (voiced by Golda Rosheuvel), and more.

Orion and the Dark hits Netflix Feb. 2.

SAVE $170: The Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) is just $629 at Best Buy, down from its regular price of $799. That's a 21% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) $629 at Best Buy (save $170) Get Deal

If your lifestyle involves mountain adventures, exploring the underwater world while scuba diving, or off-the-map expeditions that rely on GPS, you might have noticed that not all smartwatches can keep up. If you've been let down by a fitness watch in the past, the Apple Watch Ultra might be the one for you, and there's a great deal at Best Buy today.

As of Jan. 11, the Apple Watch Ultra is just $629 at Best Buy, down from its regular price of $799. That's a savings of $170, or 21%.

The Apple Watch Ultra is designed for the most rugged of adventures. The watch is built with titanium and combines durability with a lightweight design. The Ultra's face features a super-bright Always‑On Retina display of 2000 nits, which is twice as bright as some other Apple Watch models.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch SE is still under $200, plus more Apple Watch deals this week

When it comes to wayfinding, the GPS antenna uses dual frequency for better accuracy when you need it most. Should you take a wrong turn, the watch's siren projects an 86-decibel sound pattern to attract help, heard up to 600 feet away.

If normal fitness watches can't keep up with your adventures, the Apple Watch Ultra is up for being your reliable companion. Take advantage of this deal while it lasts.

Last year, M3GAN gifted us with a pint-sized horror icon with killer dance moves. This year, Universal's Abigail looks to take up the mantle of dancing scream queen with its titular character: a vampiric ballerina (Matilda the Musical's Alisha Weir).

On the outside, Abigail looks like any sweet 12-year-old. But when a group of criminals kidnap her in order to claim a $50 million ransom from her father, they discover she's got a taste for human blood — and they're next on the menu. Locked in an isolated mansion, will these would-be kidnappers be able to survive the night?

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Scream VI), Abigail stars Melissa Barrera (Scream franchise), Dan Stevens (The Guest), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), William Catlett (Black Lightning), Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution), and Angus Cloud (Euphoria).

Abigail hits theaters April 19.

Clicks may very well be one of the most divisive iPhone cases ever created. 

Mashable published a quick first-look at the smartphone case with the built-in physical keyboard earlier in the week after first seeing the accessory at CES 2024. Other tech outlets did too. The online conversation about the case was all over the place. 

A physical keyboard for your iPhone?! Photos of the Clicks furthered the discourse as Clicks certainly has an interesting look, elongating the already quite large iPhone 15.

But, personally, I actually liked the idea. I'm not a fan of typing on a touchscreen. For short emails, text messages, and tweets – fine, it's no big deal. But, anything longer? Sorry, I need to wait until I'm at my laptop or desktop keyboard. If Clicks replicates those experiences, I don't care how big the case is.

Yes, Clicks makes your iPhone much bigger to carry around. But, that's not the problem. Credit: Mashable

So, I was excited to meet with the Clicks team and actually get some hands-on time with Clicks.

Reader, let me tell you, I wanted to like Clicks so much. The idea is there. The team behind it gets all the needs for a physical keyboard for your iPhone. But, the execution…it's just way off.

The Good

But, first, what I liked about Clicks, the iPhone case with a built-in physical keyboard. My favorite thing about the case is that it frees up space on your iPhone screen. When you put Clicks on your iPhone, the touchscreen keyboard disappears. Your device registers there's a physical keyboard plugged in, so the touchscreen keyboard doesn't show up. If you're livestreaming and need extra room to interact with your viewers in the livechat, that extra screen real estate is huge. Same goes for if you're trying to write a long document, note, or journal entry on your iPhone. This is easily Clicks' best feature.

SEE ALSO: 5 most WTF products we saw at CES 2024

The case also brings keyboard shortcuts to your iPhone. For example, just tap the space bar over and over to scroll down a page. Talk-to-text is just one always-visible physical keyboard click away. Clicks is also easy to slide on and off your iPhone, so if a user didn't want the case on all the time, it doesn't have to be.

The Bad

But, here's the negatives – and it's a big one – the keyboard itself is just bad.

If the point of a physical keyboard for the iPhone is to avoid the perils of a touchscreen, like accidentally tapping the wrong key, Clicks doesn't seem to solve that. I was constantly tapping the wrong keys during my hands-on experience. In fact, I was doing even worse than when using the iPhone touchscreen keyboard. The physical keys are just so close together, I was pressing on multiple keys at once at times.

Furthermore, the physical keyboard just doesn't feel like the keyboard I was expecting. The keys are soft and don't really physically push down all that much. There's no satisfying sounding "click" when tapping a key on a keyboard called Clicks!

The Clicks team explained to me that the physical keyboard does take some people time to get used to. My time with the keyboard wasn't that long and there are people who excel at typing on the iPhone touchscreen, so I can certainly believe that there are some users who would get the hang of the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro version of the Clicks case after a little while.

It was difficult to type with Clicks. Credit: Mashable

The team recommended I try out the larger Clicks case for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The keys are slightly more spread apart on that version of the case, so maybe I'd find it easier to use. Unfortunately, the iPhone 15 Pro Max case was even worse. In fact, I found it downright unusable.

SEE ALSO: 18 gadgets from CES 2024 that you can buy already

When testing out the Clicks case for iPhone 15 Pro Max, I could barely even use the keyboard. Why? The physical keyboard is located all the way at the bottom of the case. So, when you have both hands holding the keyboard so you can type, the entire device feels like it's about to flip over and fall out of your hand due to the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Clicks does not seem to have considered the weight distribution of the case for the largest iPhone model.

Just give me a portable mechanical keyboard

Overall, I was disappointed in the Clicks keyboard case. And that may be an understatement because I wanted to love it. The best things about the device, like the extra screen space, are all secondary benefits. The main selling point – the physical keyboard – is a let down.

Most of the criticisms about the case from those who have yet to try it all focus on the size: It's too big! I disagree. If a physical keyboard for the iPhone replicates the experience of typing at my desktop, I don't care how big it is. Give me a full blown mechanical keyboard for the iPhone! 

SEE ALSO: CES 2024: 5 wild laptops that made our jaws drop

Instead, it feels like Clicks took the naysayers' critiques to heart and tried to give us a physical keyboard for the iPhone in the most compact size possible. By doing so, it solved none of the biggest problems that people have with the touchscreen keyboard. It's either that or my hands are just too big.

Clicks for iPhone 14 Pro starts shipping next month, with the iPhone 15 Pro model coming out in March, and the Phone 15 Pro Max version launching in the Spring.

The best portable mechanical keyboards you can shop right now Best For Typing Experience Epomaker TH80 Pro $85.99 at Amazon Get Deal Best for Compact Design EPOMAKER TH66 Pro $89.99 at Amazon Get Deal Best For Premium Features Keychron Q1 Pro $219.99 at Amazon Get Deal

The world of wearable tech never sleeps. Sure, many of them track our sleep, but the tech industry's innovations with health and wellness wearables are constantly improving. If you're in the market for a new wearable health device in 2024, these are some of the best deals to shop today at Amazon.

Today's best deals on wearable wellness gadgets Latest tech wellness wearable deal Apollo Neuro $279.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best Garmin smartwatch deal Garmin vívoactive 5 (navy) $231.36 at Amazon (save $68.63) Get Deal Best fitness watch deal under $100 Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

In case you're not one for keeping up with tech news, this week introduces the public to handfuls of tech devices and gadgets to look forward to. CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is currently underway in Las Vegas. While some products have yet to be released, others are already available for you to buy. Health and wellness wearables have seen an eventful week at CES with spotlights on the Evolve MVMT and the Apollo Neuro — both of which present unique wellness tracking.

If you've earmarked 2024 as the year of wellness, here are some of the best fitness and wellness tracker deals today.

Latest tech wellness wearable deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apollo Our pick: Apollo Neuro $279.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Why we like it

Wearable fitness trackers have been around for ages. We've become accustomed to them tracking our steps, heart rate, and even sleep cycles, but the Apollo Neuro is a different type of wellness wearable. The Apollo works on vibes and vibes only, and attaches to either your wrist or ankle. From the free Apollo app, you get to select which vibes you're seeking — like Social, Focus, Calm, or Fall Asleep. Depending on which you choose, the Apollo Neuro then send the associated vibrations to the device. Ahead of CES 2024, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon tested out the Apollo Neuro for a week. Her review mentions she found it worked great in the Social mode but was felt skeptical about other modes. If you're curious about how actual vibes can impact your life, the Apollo Neuro is on sale at Amazon for $279.99, marked down from the normal price of $349.99.

Best Garmin smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin vívoactive 5 (navy) $231.36 at Amazon (save $68.63) Get Deal Why we like it

Garmin brought the Lily 2 Classic smartwatch to CES this year, but if you're looking for a great deal on a Garmin, we're opting for the Garmin vívoactive 5. In navy, the health and fitness watch is just $231.36 at Amazon, down from its normal price of $299.99. One of the most impressive elements of the vívoactive 5 is its battery life, which can last up to 11 days. This becomes especially useful if you're using a wearable to get a better picture about sleep stats. The Garmin vívoactive 5 also has a wheelchair mode that tracks pushes rather than steps.

Best fitness watch deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Why we like it

If you're seeking an uncomplicated wellness wearable, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is back down to just $69.95 at Amazon, matching its lowest price ever. For under $70 this could be perfect for anyone who wants to enter the world of fitness tracking in 2024. The always-on wellness tracker gives out a daily stress management score paired with mindfulness sessions or breathing exercises. You can also connect the Fitbit to receive text messages and app notifications from your smartphone. The Fitbit Inspire 3 can get up to 10 days on one battery charge, so you'll likely only need to recharge once a week.

Google Assistant is killing off a bunch of its capabilities. The tech giant said it would stop supporting 17 "underutilized features."

Several of these features that'll no longer be supported feel quite useful, including sending a message with your voice or setting alarms on Assistant-enabled devices. The company said it was "making a few changes to focus on quality and reliability" in Assistant, but it's clear this is part of a shift in priorities.

Here is the full list of defunct features, via Google.

• Playing and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books with your voice. You can still cast audiobooks from your mobile device.

• Setting or using media alarms, music alarms, or radio alarms on Google Assistant enabled devices. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior or use a standard alarm.

• Accessing or managing your cookbook, transfering recipes from device to device, playing an instructional recipe video, or showing step-by-step recipes. You can use Google Assistant to search for recipes across the web and YouTube.

• Managing a stopwatch on Smart Displays and Speakers. You can still set timers and alarms.

• Using your voice to call a device or broadcast a message to your Google Family Group. You can still broadcast to devices in your home.

• Using your voice to send an email, video or audio message. You can still make calls and send text messages.

• Rescheduling an event in Google Calendar with your voice. You can still schedule a new event.

• Using App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps to read and send messages, make calls, and control media. You can still use voice control on Google Maps the same way.

• Asking to schedule or hear previously scheduled Family Bell announcements. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior.

• Asking to meditate with Calm. You can still ask for meditation options with media providers such as YouTube.

• Voice control for activities will no longer be available on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices. You'll need to use the buttons on your device to start, stop, pause, and resume activities. You can still voice control activities on Pixel Watches.

• Viewing your sleep summaries will only be available on Google Smart Displays. You can still ask for sleep details by voice on third-party smart clocks.

• Calls made from speakers and Smart Displays will not show up with a caller ID unless you’re using Duo.

• Viewing the ambient “Commute to Work” time estimates on Smart Displays. You can still ask for commute times and get directions by voice.

• Checking personal travel itineraries by voice. You can still ask for flight status.

• Asking for information about your contacts. You can still make calls to your contacts.

• Asking to take certain actions by voice, such as send a payment, make a reservation, or post to social media. You can still ask Assistant to open your installed apps.

There have been a lot of recent changes at the search giant. Google announced this week that it laid off hundreds of workers from its Assistant unit, among other cuts. All of these major changes come, of course, amid its increasing focus on Bard, its AI chatbot.

Assistant's future appears to be inextricably tied to Bard. AI is coming down the pike, whether we like it or not.

SEE ALSO: Can hackers get into your Google account without a password?

If your world is feeling a little less colorful these days, it might be because the iconic Fruit Stripe gum has been discontinued.

Ferrara Candy Company quietly discontinued the colorful confection, which has been giving fans a burst of fruit flavor since 1969. The gum offered five fruit flavors, which admittedly all tasted the same. It was all about fun over flavor, though, with individual sticks stamped with matching colors and each pack with its own temporary tattoo of mascot Yipes the Zebra.

“We have made the difficult decision to sunset Fruit Stripe Gum, but consumers may still be able to find the product at select retailers nationwide,” a spokesperson said in a statement to news outlets.

It's been a staple of the checkout aisle for many, from childhood through adulthood, so this loss has left fans feeling understandably morose. As a result, the remaining packs of gum still available at select stores have been flying off the shelves, making the treat difficult and even somewhat impossible to find now that it's no more.

However, this is the internet, where you can find just about anything as long as you're willing to pay. So, for the sake of all Fruit Stripe fans out there, we asked the question: where can you still find a pack of Fruit Stripe gum online?

How to find Fruit Stripe gum online

Unfortunately, as of Jan. 11, it looks like there are little to no retailers currently selling what's left of the Fruit Stripe gum inventory. Ever since the news dropped that the brand would be discontinued, eager fans have been scooping up the remaining packs left and right. That means, right now, it's unavailable at big box retailers like Amazon and Walmart and even smaller candy stores, as even mom and pop online stores are seemingly completely bereft of the product.

While you can still find the gum available on eBay, the remaining listings at the moment are sparse, and we can't wholeheartedly recommend you spend over $100 on a pack of discontinued gum. Your best bet right now is to keep an eye out and keep searching some of the smaller retailers to see if the gum comes back in terms of stock that still needs to be sold, or look around stores in your area that you know to have stocked it previously. You may happen upon a few packs that people haven't yet purchased.

Fruit Stripe gum alternatives

Don't give up hope just yet. If you're looking for something to satisfy that Fruit Stripe craving, there are a few options you can buy right now to scratch that itch. While they obviously won't be the same, these fruity gums and candies still packed with flavor and should at least tide you over until you can find a coveted pack of your favorite gum.

• Juicy Fruit gum 10-pack — $18.43 $30.99 (save $12.56)

• PUR Jumbo gum — $4.49

• Original Chiclets gum (380 pieces) — $9.99

• Trident Pineapple Twist (12 packs) — $17.43

• Orbit Strawberry (12 packs) — $15.48

SAVE $95.88: Starting Jan. 24, T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan will get Hulu (with ads) for no extra cost — that's a $7.99/month value (or $95.88 per year) for free. Hulu will join Netflix, Apple TV+, and MLB.tv in T-Mobile's stacked streaming suite.

Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free for T-Mobile Go5G Next customers (save $7.99/month) Get Deal

T-Mobile phone plans are the gifts that keep on giving — particularly the Go5G Next phone plan. If you have even the smallest gripe with your current mobile provider, T-Mobile is making a really convincing argument for switching. Currently, T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan get Netflix, Apple TV, and MLB.tv for no extra cost. And this month, Hulu is joining the mix as well.

As of Jan. 24, T-Mobile Go5G Next customers will unlock Hulu's entire library without paying a cent. Usually $7.99 per month for the The Hulu with ads plan usually costs $7.99 per month, so Go5G Next customers will save $95.88 per year just for being a T-Mobile customer. Hulu joins the already stacked T-Mobile streaming suite alongside Apple TV+, Netflix, and MLB.tv, adding up to about $400 in savings per year. Ironically, the same day, Netflix access will be demoted to the standard with ads version for customers as well (bummer, but at least it's still free).

SEE ALSO: Top streaming deals in January: Get a free month of Paramount+ ahead of the Grammys and the big game next month

T-Mobile isn't the first provider to offer streaming services as a hook for customers. Similarly, Verizon debuted its streaming bundle last month, which includes Netflix and Max for $10 per month. Unlike Verizon, however, T-Mobile is offering these streamers for no extra cost.

"T-Mobile customers get the best value and the best entertainment streaming bundle in wireless — just for being customers, without having to pay a penny more,” wrote Mike Katz, T-Mobile's president of marketing and strategy.

Hulu is brimming with excellent content, including some of our favorite original series like Only Murders in the Building and The Bear, as well as gems like The Creator, Palm Springs, Rye Lane, and Infinity Pool. Not to mention, you can get your reality TV fix with its extensive library of shows like The Masked Singer, The Bachelor, Love Island (UK), and The Kardashians. While having to watch a few ads every hour isn't ideal, it's easier to overlook the intrusion when you're paying zero dollars for the streaming service.

CES brings cool tech products — and products that make you say "WTF" — to the forefront. One sextech highlight this year is the Oh!, a new vibrator from Norwegian tech company Ohdoki. The company made waves (or…jerks) at CES last year for its flagship product, an automated penis stroker called The Handy.

Oh!, however, is for people with vulvas, and resembles a TV remote. The toy uses "ResoTouch technology," according to Ohdoki's press release, which utilizes sound waves — not motors — to create vibrations. Sound waves can apparently "enable individuals to create their own vibrational patterns with more flexibility and customization," the release states.

SEE ALSO: CES 2024: This smart mirror doubles as a mindfulness coach

The vibe can sync with audio, video, and VR content using Bluetooth. It can also act as an actual remote(!) to control a Handy or another Oh! even from a different location. The Oh! website claims that no sign-ins are needed to do this, so you can be totally anonymous.

Former Mashable reporter Jess Joho warned against using Bluetooth sex toys back in 2020 because they didn't function that well (one reason being that water repels Bluetooth signals, and our bodies are mostly water). Since these Ohdoki toys are for external body use, though, perhaps you'd have better luck with them.

"We aim to empower individuals of all genders to elevate their intimate sexual experiences, as we all deserve to explore ourselves and find new levels of pleasure," said Ohdoki CEO and co-founder Jens Petter "JP" Wilhelmsen in the press release. "That's why I'm so excited to bring Oh! to market and create even more ways to elevate pleasure and joy."

"We've seen incredible positive feedback on our flagship product The Handy and have continued to learn from our community to innovate and create a vibrator for our vulva-owning customers like they've never experienced before," Wilhelmsen continued.

The Oh! will be available for purchase this spring on Ohdoki's website and Amazon. The pre-order price is $74.95, and will eventually double to $149.95.

For more big tech reveals from CES, here's Mashable's CES 2024 highlights.

Last week, people at Target nearly bloodied each other as they fought to get one of the new, special-edition Valentine's Day cups from Stanley, a company known for its TikTok-famous tumblers.

Stanley is a good tumbler. It keeps your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold, even in a burning car. But it isn't "commit an act of violence" good, and there are a lot of tumblers that do it better. So why are we so obsessed with them that we're willing to camp out in front of a Target to buy them in Cosmo pink?

SEE ALSO: The pink Starbucks x Stanley cup is going for $200 on eBay. Shop these dupes instead.

It's partly due to the scarcity effect, according to a New York Times piece on the phenomenon. The tumbler is a fashion item, and exclusive colors are only available for a short amount of time, making people more inclined to buy them when they drop. But TikTok is also a huge piece of the puzzle.

After gaining some attention from an Instagram blog, the Quencher, Stanley's 40-ounce tumbler, became the It-item on the app, with people showing off their collections of Stanley tumblers which take up entire walls in their homes and sharing affiliate links to accessories for their cups. If TikTok users didn't already have one before Christmas, they likely had it on their lists. And each tumbler is around $50, making them expensive for a cup but still attainable for most shoppers. 

SEE ALSO: Our favorite TikTokkers of 2023

The frenzy for the tumblers points to a sensation becoming all too popular on TikTok: The app makes us feel insecure and uncertain of ourselves, and those very insecurities and uncertainties are being exploited for spending power.

Spending to be seen

The Stanley tumbler has become a $50 status symbol, as the Wall Street Journal pointed out, usurping the status symbols of yore: Jimmy Choo shoes and Armani suits. It points to a rise in a centuries-old trend with a new twist fueled by social media: conspicuous consumption.

Conspicuous consumption — a term coined by economist Thorstein Veblen that describes the act of buying something specifically to show off your economic or social status — is not new, but is most often associated with the upper class who have an abundance of disposable income. It's like someone who isn't particularly interested in collecting watches spending thousands of dollars on a Rolex instead of a Timex that has the same functionality. And, as @resumeofficial on TikTok pointed out, "We as the middle class took [conspicuous consumption] and adjusted it" despite not having the same kind of privilege for spending.

Partially, this is because wealth inequality has moved us away from seeing luxury products as aspirational — and some of that aspiration was replaced by parasocial relationships that encourage us all to spend on anything the influencers we see own. Not all of them accumulate luxury products, but a lot of them have smaller in-demand items like Stanleys.

SEE ALSO: Were these 8 viral TikTok products worth the hype in 2023?

"Many parasocial relationships between online content creators and their audiences is based on aspiration," Ali Fazal, the Vice President of Marketing at GRIN, told Mashable. "Consumers have always been fascinated by the lifestyles of those they follow, but in 2024, instead of those subjects being athletes or major celebrities, they are often influencers and online content creators whose lifestyles seem more within reach. As a result, being able to share products, goods, or services that someone you aspire to be like also deepens the connection."

The Stanley tumbler was quietly advertised to you through TikTok, but not all of those videos were ads. Instead, a few influencers posted about liking them, and the trend snowballed. One study from Binus University showed that there is a direct link between TikTok usage and conspicuous consumption, fueled by a "bandwagon effect." As the Association for Consumer Research points out, "this effect is an attempt to 'keep up with the Joneses' in order to preserve one's self-esteem."

You're willing to spend $50 on a Stanley cup instead of $20 on a Hydro Flask, which tends to perform at a higher level with regards to keeping the temperature of your drink consistent, because of what it symbolizes. You want the Stanley so other people know you're in the know; you are in their same social status; you can afford to spend $50 on a cup; you are the hottest mom on the soccer field and the most desirable vet tech in the office. According to research from Lending Tree, nearly 40 percent of Americans have overspent on clothes, shoes, and accessories — like the Stanley tumbler — to impress others. And in 2022, social media apps made $11 billion from children and teens. The TikTok algorithm feeds us videos that make us feel uncertain and insecure in our lives, showing us something to buy to better fit in or fit a certain ideal.

Buying our way out of uncertainty

In a study in the National Library of Medicine, "The link between self-uncertainty and conspicuous consumption: Tolerance of uncertainty as a moderator," researchers found that people who are uncertain of themselves were more likely to engage in this kind of spending and that people who are less comfortable being uncertain about themselves are even more likely to engage in conspicuous consumption. 

While conspicuous consumption isn't new, the way we interact with it is. Fazal said that one of the more significant changes to conspicuous consumption has been that "consumer attention follows influencers now more than anyone else, and as a result, social networks are where this trend is displayed the most." We're no longer trying to fit in with our close-knit community — we're trying to fit in with a community of thousands of people online. TikTok is changing the way we think about ourselves, and how much money we're willing to spend to prove it.

SEE ALSO: Despite trend fatigue, these TikTok aesthetics ruled 2023

And these trends might be picking up speed. Urvashi Ajmera, senior strategist at digital agency Barbarian, told Digiday that TikTok Shop will transform the experience we have on social media even more than it already has. 

"More and more organic content will have the Shop feature, and you’d be scrolling through an infinite feed of shop and sponsored content," Ajmera said.

Social media will only get better at convincing us we need to spend money on stuff to fit in, enjoy life, or inch closer to morphing into our favorite influencer. And the trends will shift.

Now that Stanley tumblers are so popular, consumer trends analysts are predicting that we're all going to hate them soon — and the Stanley obsession will inevitably be replaced with something new that you'll be convinced to buy, too. The cycle always continues, but it's getting more difficult to determine what is being advertised to us and the real motivations behind our purchases.

Be careful what your mind does on social media; before you know it, you might reach for your wallet.

What's trickier: high-profile espionage or marriage?

That seems to be the question at the heart of Prime Video's Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a new take on the story that first debuted as a TV series in 1996, then as a 2005 film starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Created by Atlanta's Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover, the upcoming series stars Glover and Maya Erskine (PEN15) as lonely strangers John and Jane. They've each landed jobs at a glamorous spy agency, where they'll be posing as a married couple in order to attract less attention. But amidst all the high-profile missions, car chases, and explosions, could they develop real feelings for one another?

SEE ALSO: 38 TV shows we can't wait to see in 2024

The show's trailer teases this growing romance with shots of steamy kisses and confessions of love — all sandwiched between blowout arguments and awkward attempts to dispose of bodies. Oh, and the show promises an all-star cast too, with Paul Dano, Parker Posey, Wagner Moura, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Michaela Coel, Alexander Skarsgård, Sharon Horgan, and Sarah Paulson.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith premieres Feb. 2 on Prime Video.

When a parent flips on the TV, it often affords them 30 minutes or more of relative silence. That's enough time to make dinner, fold a load of laundry, or quickly chat with a friend. TV makes achieving certain parenting goals possible.

Their kid often enjoys it, too. It's time spent in an imaginary world when, importantly, their parent isn't bugging them to put on their shoes or do homework.

But research increasingly suggests that too much TV at a young age may come with risks.

A study published this week in JAMA Pediatrics found an association between TV screen time and what's known as atypical sensory processing. This can include developing sensory-seeking behaviors, like obsessively watching a spinning object, as well as becoming slower to respond to stimuli, like hearing one's name called, and avoiding certain sensory experiences, such as resisting new foods and noisy environments.

Though the researchers did not study children with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, such sensory processing difficulties can be common with both conditions.

SEE ALSO: What to know about an 'ADHD watch'

The study's association between screen time and atypical sensory processing builds on past research suggesting a similar link between TV-watching at a young age and language delay, attention problems, emotional dysregulation, brain findings, autism symptoms, and sleep problems.

However, there is no evidence that too much TV causes autism, ADHD, or other conditions. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not consider watching too much TV as a risk factor for autism.

Known risk factors for autism include advanced parental age, genetics, and very low birth weight. Genetics also plays a role in the development of ADHD; other potential risk factors for ADHD include environmental pollutants and premature delivery.

The study's lead author, Dr. Karen Heffler, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, was drawn to this field of research after her own son was diagnosed with autism.

If TV-watching is a risk factor for atypical sensory processing, it is one that can potentially be changed, Heffler said.

"We want to empower parents, we want kids to develop to their potential," she added.

To better understand the role of TV screen time in your child's life, here are five things you should know about the subject:

1. What the guidelines say about screen time for young kids

Heffler strongly urges parents to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for media, which say to avoid digital media use for children younger than 18 to 24 months. The guidelines make an exception for video-chatting, which may be enriching and appropriately engaging when done with family members, for example.

When you do play digital media for toddlers between 18 to 24 months, the AAP recommends turning to high-quality programming and watching it together.

Children between the ages of 2 and 5 should be limited to one hour of high-quality programming per day, which you should also watch with them.

2. Research findings on risks of TV screen time

Heffler's study analyzed data reported between 2011 and 2014 by the parents of 1,471 babies and toddlers. The parents shared how frequently their children watched TV or DVDs. The parents weren't asked about mobile devices, since they were less prevalent at the time.

She and her co-authors found that for 1-year-olds, any TV screen exposure was associated with a doubled likelihood that they would go on to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors when they were nearly 3 years old compared to children with no screen time.

Toddlers between the ages of 18 and 24 months also had higher odds of a similar outcome, but not as marked as infants exposed to TV.

For every hour of TV screen time beyond no screen time at all, 18-month-olds were 23 percent more likely to display behaviors related to avoiding certain sensations and being less responsive to stimuli when they were older.

It's important to remember that while many young children have sensory processing differences, such as sensitivity to a specific noise, those reactions may be fleeting or short-lived. Heffler and her co-authors were specifically looking for atypical behavior in four distinct categories of sensory processing, including sensitivity and avoidance, as reported by the children's parents.

While it's unclear how TV exposure could affect sensory processing, Heffler said one possible explanation is that young children's brains aren't yet prepared to take in and process sensory features of TV, like lights, movement, and colors. It's also possible that TV displaces other behaviors and activities that contribute to typical processing development, like talking, babbling, cooing, playing, and being outside.

3. Does it matter if screen time involves television or a smartphone or tablet?

Heffler's study couldn't evaluate screen time that takes place on a smartphone or tablet, but she suspects that it could lead to similar results. Some research already indicates that screen time on mobile devices is associated with language delay and dysregulation for young children.

If anything, Heffler worries that exposure to screen time at young ages is far more pervasive than it was a decade ago, though more research on smartphone use among babies and toddlers is needed.

"The concern is that children have access to video through mobile devices at a much higher rate than they did even when the study was done," Heffler said.

4. Testing what happens when you reduce screen time for young kids

In her research, Heffler is exploring what happens when parents reduce screen time for young kids, particularly those with autism symptoms.

In the very limited research on the topic, there are glimmers of improvement for some children and their families.

In a pilot study Heffler published in 2022, nine children between the ages of 18 to 40 months old with an autism diagnosis had a history of watching an average of five hours of screen content per day. After their parents received educational information and one-on-one in-home support visits to help them replace screen time with social engagement, testing revealed significant improvements in core autism symptoms and reduced stress for parents.

Heffler said that parents who notice that their child's atypical sensory processing is interfering with their everyday routine could consider doing a trial run of turning off screens and integrating more social, sensory, and play activities to see if it leads to improvements.

Importantly, screen time is just one potential risk factor for atypical sensory processing; some families may reduce screen time and see little or no improvement.

5. Alternatives to TV screen time

Heffler understands just how pressed parents are for time, and that some may experience mental health challenges, like postpartum depression. She believes society should consider the needs of families so that parents can have more support as they raise young children, rather than putting them in a position where TV presents their one break between work and parenting.

Lori Frome, an early childhood interventionist who co-authored Heffler's 2022 pilot study, said parents who feel comfortable with reducing TV time can try various strategies.

That starts with removing the screens themselves, as much as possible. Some parents Frome has worked with have put TVs away or draped them with a blanket. Removing remotes, unplugging TVs, and placing phones and tablets out of reach (for both a child and a parent) can help, too.

Frome recommends that parents frequently involve their children in household routines instead of turning on the TV in order to get something done. Helping with dinner could be as simple as putting carrot sticks in a bowl or napkins on the table. As an alternative to screen time when a parent is present but not available, children can play in a nearby safe, closed-off environment with standard toys, like dolls, blocks, cups, and balls. Children might particularly enjoy toy characters or stuffies featured in their favorite movie or TV show.

But Heffler isn't expecting parents to perform miracles.

"We just hope that they can use this information to the best of their ability under their circumstances," Heffler said.

Halo Season 2 is coming and war is on the cards.

Paramount+ has dropped the trailer for the second season of the Xbox game-inspired TV series from showrunner David Wiener, with Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) back to lead the Spartans against the dastardly Covenant. As the alien threat gathers to attack humanity (they do that), Master Chief has got to find the eponymous Halo to save the world — classic.

Natascha McElhone is back as Dr. Halsey alongside Jen Taylor, Bokeem Woodbine, Shabana Azmi, Natasha Culzac, Olive Gray, Yerin Ha, Bentley Kalu, Kate Kennedy, Charlie Murphy, and Danny Sapani, with a host of new cast members too.

Halo Season 2 will premiere the first two episodes globally on Feb. 8 on Paramount+.

A24 has defined its brand as a killer film studio, unleashing such critically heralded marvels as Ari Aster's menacing folk horror hit, Midsommar; Greta Gerwig's universally praised coming-of-age comedy, Lady Bird; and the Daniels' Oscar-winning action adventure, Everything Everywhere All at Once. As the studio expands into television — with edgy offerings like Beef, Euphoria, and The Curse – a venture into adult animation seemed almost inevitable. Where better to give a visual storyteller the space to spin a narrative where literally anything is possible? 

Though known for its big swings, Hazbin Hotel seems a safe bet. The animated musical-comedy series has been brewing its brand online through creator Vivienne Medrano's inventive teases, which boast 93 to 156 million views. Plus, co-producer Amazon Studios has an established stable of adult-aimed animated series, like Invincible, The Boys: Diabolical, and The Legend of Vox Machina. But can this perky pink cartoon show about sinners and singing thrive as a fleshed-out series? With Season 2 already confirmed, Season 1 has a lot to prove. 

What's Hazbin Hotel about?  Charlie is like the Disney Princess of hell. Credit: Prime Video

Imagine a halfway house for demons and the damned, a sort of purgatory with room service and a bartender who only knows how to serve drinks and tough love. That's the Hazbin Hotel, the passion project of the princess of hell, Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen). Perky and relentless, this leggy blonde in a red tuxedo gives big theater kid energy as she makes her pitch to sinners and angels alike, advocating for rehabilitation over annihilation. 

You see, heaven's angels like to invade hell to wipe out the dastardly denizens to prevent overcrowding and ensure the golden gates can never be toppled. But if Charlie and her motley crew of hotel staff can change hearts and minds, maybe the damned can be redeemed and ascend? 

Hazbin Hotel struggles to find its footing.  Valentino is a pimp with guns. Credit: Prime Video

Creator Vivienne Medrano (through her online alias VivziePop) charted her course to this Prime Video series through a crowd-funded YouTube-released pilot, webcomics, and a sultry music video, each contributing to the construction of a promising fandom that could ensure the show's success. However, the first three episodes of Hazbin Hotel are unremarkable, at least to a newcomer not already besotted by hell's quirky characters. 

The first episode is weighed down by exposition, explaining not only Charlie's whole deal but also Medrano's revisionist version of Christian lore. The second episode builds on this, developing the rivalries between various demons, who deal in propaganda, prostitution, and drugs. And while jaunty song numbers like "Happy Day in Hell" serve to establish the weird world, full of temptation and deranged decadence, they play more Broadway than badass. 

The dialogue — thick with curse words — feels jarring, especially contrasted with an animation style that seems to be aping Disney XD. Indeed, it's easy to imagine Charlie popping up in shows like Gravity Falls, Amphibia, The Owl House, or Star vs. The Forces of Evil. The only thing that would clash would be her minimalist red/black/pink color scheme. And while Disney vibes plus dirty talk may be surprising, it's not satisfyingly subversive. Kids shows dealing in colonization, family skeletons, and queer characters finding love and themselves feel more thrilling and vital. But Hazbin Hotel flirts with turning things around in episode 4. 

Blake Roman and Keith David elevate Hazbin Hotel.  Blake Roman and Keith David, as Angel and Husk, sing a duet. Credit: Prime Video

The titular hotel is peopled by rowdy residents like surly sidekick Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz), kinky maid Niffty (Kimiko Glenn), and the shit-talking Radio Demon (Amir Talai). But the standouts are provocative porn star Angel Dust (Blake Roman) and snarling bartender Husk (Keith David). In "Masquerade," both score the spotlight, inviting audiences into the enticingly dark side of this candy-colored series. 

Trapped in a deeply toxic relationship with his boss/beau Valentino (Joel Perez), Angel drops his swaggering facade to let loose with his pain with "Poison," a song that scorches, not only in context but also as a pop banger. Like Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Paula Abdul, or even Olivia Rodrigo, Roman unleashes a dizzying blend of ecstasy and agony, perfectly bolstered by a montage of kinky sex acts, dance breaks, and moments of jolting fear. 

Here, the song number sensationally explores the inner workings of a character whose survival tool is playing the flirty fool. Then, Hazbin Hotel doubles down with a duet, wherein a spiraling Angel finds unexpected — but un-cuddly — comfort from Husk, who has denounced him as "fake." It's in these moments that Medrano's series transcends its aesthetic of cutesy meets crass. Keith David's deep, grumbly voice sings of loss, grounding the low point with bravado. Then he chimes, "You're a loser, baby!" And so is born a coarse chorus that plays like an anthem unhinged and cathartic. 

However, as the series is focused on Charlie, the most childish and cheery of the crew, I'm doubtful about how much more any daring emotional beats might probe. The very next episode, "Daddy Issues," brings in more characters, but little depth. Perhaps over the nine episodes of its first season, Hazbin Hotel will overcome its growing pains to strike a chord that feels unique, instead of a reaction to the cavalcade of hyperactive heroines who have come before. At present, Medrano's expansion of her online works is flashy but thin. 

Hazbin Hotel Season 1's first two episodes will debut with early access on the A24 app on Jan. 12 before hitting Prime Video on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m.

Mashable reporter Matt Binder takes a look at the Displace Mini. A 27-inch, wireless TV that can stick to just about anything.

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 January 11 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 11

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024:

AcrossDream outfit, for short?

• The answer is PJs.

Sometimes it hurts

• The answer is truth.

Juliet's lover

• The answer is Romeo.

"My money would be ..."

• The answer is idbet.

Another name for our sun

• The answer is sol.

DownPokes

• The answer is prods.

Very large

• The answer is jumbo.

Material for New York City's Chrysler Building

• The answer is steel.

Three: Prefix

• The answer is tri.

Faucet that's marked with a "C" in Italy, somewhat confusingly

• The answer is hot.

In one of the films we can't wait to watch in 2024, the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black has released an international teaser trailer.

From Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Johnson and writer Matt Greenhalgh, the film stars Industry's Marisa Abela as the inimitable British singer. Back to Black follows Winehouse beginning her colossal career in London and New York in the 2000s, dealing with the press and a turbulent private life, charting her incredible rise to fame before her death in 2011.

The Crown's Lesley Manville plays Winehouse's grandmother Cynthia, with Jack O'Connell as her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, Eddie Marsan as her father Mitch, and Juliet Cowan as her mother Janis. And of course, Back to Black is brimming with a soundtrack of Winehouse's catalogue alongside music production by 1917 and The Power of the Dog's Nina Gold.

Before you watch the film, we can highly recommend watching Asif Kapadia's documentary Amy, which examines Winehouse's rise to fame and the events and people surrounding her death.

Back to Black hits cinemas in the UK and Ireland April. 12 and cinemas in the U.S. May 10.