IT General

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Feb. 3: OUR TOP PICK Apple AirPods 4 $99.99 (save $29.01) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 (save $20) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Beats Solo 4 $99.99 (save $99.96) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $94.99 (save $45) Get Deal BEST SMART HOME DEAL Blink Video Doorbell $32.99 (save $27) Get Deal

A new month brings a new slew of deals at Amazon. While the daily deals pages at the mega retailer can often be filled with inflated prices and items sitting at the same "sale" price for weeks on end, today's deals are actually pretty impressive. We've handpicked a few we think are worth grabbing on Feb. 3

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If these aren't getting the job done, check back tomorrow for a brand new batch.

Our top pick: Apple AirPods 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99.99 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal

Now's a great time to upgrade your listening experience with a new pair of AirPods. The fourth-generation earbuds (without ANC) are on sale for just under $100 at Amazon as of Feb. 3. That's 22% in savings and the biggest discount to date. With personalized spatial audio, Siri interactions, voice isolation, a surprisingly snug fit, and up to five hours of listening time, the AirPods 4 are a solid daily driver. Want noise cancellation? It'll cost you a bit more, although the buds with ANC are also on sale for 17% off.

Check out our review of the AirPods 4.

Fitbit Inspire 3 Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal

"For anyone new to fitness or any dedicated gym rat, the Fitbit Inspire 3 gets you more than you pay for," Mashable's reviewer writes. If you're making health and wellness a priority in 2025, the Fitbit Inspire 3 offers a huge suite of tracking features — from sleep and stress to steps and blood oxygen levels. It also has an intuitive, low-profile design, easy-to-navigate user interface, impressive app suite, workout insights, and decent battery life. As of Feb. 3, it's back on sale for only $79.95 at Amazon — that's 20% in savings — making it a total steal.

Check out our review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

Beats Solo 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 $99.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $99.96 Get Deal

The Beats Solo 4s improve upon the previous generation with upgraded drivers, rebalanced acoustics, and an improved frequency response. Translation: they have much more dynamic sound. They also have better battery life, clocking in at around 50 hours (10 more hours than their predecessor). They lack noise-cancelling technology, which is kind of a bummer, but we're willing to overlook that since they're down to just $99.99. That's 50% off their typical cost and their best price on record.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 $94.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

"The Fire HD 10 shines as a budget tablet designed for streaming and gaming," Mashable reviewer SaVanna Shoemaker writes. It's over 30 grams lighter than the previous generation and 25 percent faster. Plus, it features an upgraded front-facing camera (5MP vs. 2MP) for better pictures and video calls. It's not the fanciest tablet on the market by any means, but the no-frills design is ideal for watching movies, answering emails, or even reading on the go. It's usually $139.99, but you can slash 32% off as of Feb. 3 and grab it for just $94.99 at Amazon.

Check out our full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10.

Blink Video Doorbell Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Video Doorbell $32.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $27.00 Get Deal

The Blink Video Doorbell gives you an extra set of eyes to see who (or what) is outside your door, whether you're at home or out and about. It features a 1080p HD live view, two-way audio, infrared night vision, and can be installed in minutes. Plus, it'll last for up to two years on two AA batteries when paired with the Sync Module (sold separately). Slash 45% off as of Feb. 3 and pick it up for only $32.99 at Amazon. That's just $3 away from its best price ever.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

The short-lived power struggle between Elon Musk and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has reached a grim and unsettling conclusion. Early Monday morning, the Tesla and X CEO announced that the agency — responsible for distributing over $50 billion in international aid — is being shut down.

During a live X Spaces discussion, Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, claimed that Donald Trump gave him “full support” to dismantle USAID. "We dug into USAID," Musk said. "It became apparent that what we have here is not an apple with a worm in it, but actually just a ball of worms."

Though the DOGE executive order technically limits Musk’s authority to the U.S. Digital Service, he has, in just one weekend, asserted control over multiple federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management, the General Services Administration, and even the U.S. Treasury. His takeover has reportedly granted him and his allies access to classified intelligence and critical financial infrastructure.

USAID, the world’s largest single donor agency, plays a vital role in funding programs for women’s health, clean water, HIV/AIDS treatment, sustainable energy, and anti-corruption initiatives. With its abrupt closure, numerous NGOs providing life-saving aid to vulnerable populations now face an uncertain future.

Despite these stakes, Musk dismissed USAID as "beyond repair."

UPDATE: Feb. 3, 2025, 10:15 a.m. CST This development follows our previous coverage on Musk’s allies attempting to gain personnel access to USAID offices over the weekend. Read our initial story below.

Elon Musk and his allies in the federal government are at it again — this time, taking aim at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

According to a CNN report, the chaos kicked off late Saturday night when two senior USAID officials refused to let Musk-linked personnel access the agency’s offices, blocking what appeared to be an attempt to grab sensitive and possibly classified information. Their reward: administrative leave. Now, the future of USAID is hanging by a thread.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk seizes computer system, locks out senior government officials

USAID oversees billions in global aid, funding NGOs that fight poverty, famine, and disasters. As an agency rooted in distributing resources to the world’s most vulnerable, it has become a natural target for Musk and President Donald Trump. The duo has already attempted to dismantle social safety nets like FAFSA and SNAP, but federal judges have stopped them.

Previous Trump executive orders targeting the agency have already delayed critical relief shipments and frozen funding for NGOs operating in crisis zones. Last week, it was reported that 60 senior staff in USAID were accused of attempting to circumvent the executive order on foreign aid. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio justifying the freeze, he said "The U.S. government is not a charity."

With its leadership sidelined and systems compromised, the ability to deliver life-saving aid will once again be in serious jeopardy.

Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has been on a posting spree, using his platform to justify and denigrate his takeover of USAID. He’s called the agency "evil," a "criminal organization," and a "viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America."

Tweet may have been deleted

Musk and his allies in the Office of Personnel Management have already seized control of computer systems within the U.S. Treasury — the agency that processes $6 trillion in payments, essentially the entire federal budget. And to call a spade a spade (or a Nazi a Nazi), what Musk and his team are doing is illegal. Under the guise of budget-cutting, he has effectively taken control of which organizations and programs get funded.

If he or Trump decides that certain groups — or even competitors — don’t deserve money, they can shut them out entirely. It’s a blatant violation of Congress’ power of the purse, and it demands immediate attention.

Right now, USAID is in limbo. A source told CNN that the agency’s entire public affairs office has been placed on leave and locked out of their systems.

The European Union is planning to crack down on foreign goods shipped by e-commerce marketplaces like Shein, Temu, and even Amazon, according to a draft proposal reviewed by the Financial Times.

New customs guidelines would require these companies to provide information on products — even those sold by third parties — to EU officials prior to their receipt, so that agents can track and inspect packages more efficiently. In an even more significant shift, they would also place the liability of products deemed dangerous or illegal on the shopping platforms themselves, rather than importers, and load additional onus on marketplaces to ensure their products comply with EU rules.

Currently, any EU resident purchasing foreign goods online is considered an "importer" in the eyes of customs enforcement.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's DOGE team attempt takeover of USAID

In 2024, more than 90 percent of "lower-value" goods making their way into the EU were imported from China through online marketplaces, the Financial Times reported. Under the new rules, the EU intends could potentially disrupt this flow by subjecting such packages to duties that they are currently exempt from. The EU is also considering applying additional handling fees to such imports, and will establish a new EU customs authority (EUCA) to handle their oversight.

"The surging volume of products that are unsafe, counterfeit or otherwise non-compliant leads to serious safety and health risks for consumers, has an unsustainable impact on the environment, and fuels unfair competition for legitimate businesses, with a significant impact on competitiveness in different sectors," the proposal draft reads. "The EUCA would be able to screen the goods based on this information and to identify potential risks, even prior to the loading of the goods for transport or their physical arrival in the EU."

The EU has launched multiple investigations into online marketplaces under its Digital Markets Act (DMA), including several antitrust audits levied at Amazon. In late 2024, regulatory insiders told Reuters that Amazon would be facing another battle with the bloc's antitrust body this year, allegedly for favoring its own products over other vendors on Amazon platforms.

In addition, the EU recently renewed a 6-month period of economic sanctions on Russia in response to its continued invasion of Ukraine, and announced they were exploring widened sanctions on imported goods like video game consoles and controllers.

Save 17%: The Dyson Airwrap Complete and Complete Long Diffuse in the special edition Strawberry Bronze colorway are both on sale as of Feb. 3. You have your pick of retailer: the absolute cheapest price is on the straight hair Complete at Amazon for $499, saving you $100.99 off the multi-styler's $599.99 list price. You can also pay just 99 cents more at Dyson for the straight or curly version of the Airwrap or Best Buy for the straight version.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Complete $499.00 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal

As Mashable's shopping reporter on the beauty beat, I've tested the Dyson Airwrap, the Shark FlexStyle, and many Airwrap dupes and while I remain skeptical to the claim the Airwrap is worth the hefty investment for everyone, I do think that those who've been dying to try it should grab it on sale.

SEE ALSO: Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Here's which hot air tool is worth your money

It's not exactly rare to see the Airwrap go on sale — if you keep an eye out, you'll find that every few months or so, it'll drop about $100 from its $599.99 list price. That said, it can be harder to find the more unique colorways, like the Strawberry Bronze and Blush Pink version of the tool, getting the same treatment, especially in both the straight hair and curly hair models (the latter comes with a diffuser and wide tooth comb to better dry naturally textured hair). But as of Feb. 3, you'll have your pick of the pink Dyson Airwraps on sale, with the absolute lowest price being Amazon's deal for the straight Complete at $499. Right behind it, Amazon priced the Complete Long Diffuse at $499.99, with Dyson and Best Buy following the same $499.99 deal.

Even on sale $500 is a steep price, and though you can save even more money by opting for a dupe that's $300 or less, there are a few areas where the Airwrap has the edge. For starters, its the only multi-styler on the market that doesn't require two different curling barrels to change the direction of your curls, which does streamline the styling experience. (As an aside, the curls on the Airwrap, and every other styler for that matter, are designed to and work much better at creating a bouncy blowout than curling iron curls — this holds especially true if your hair already has trouble holding a curl).

SEE ALSO: I tried 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype

It also has the most attachments of any multi-styler, so if you (or your Valentine) are particularly interested in having a lot of options, the Airwrap might be worth the investment. Plus, unlike most other multi-stylers out there, this Airwrap will come with a case, which is especially handy as these hair tools are large and difficult to store without one. Finally, while the Airwrap may not give $300-better blowouts, the experience of using it does admittedly feel luxe — if all these factors combined points to an Airwrap for you, I recommend grabbing one while it's on sale.

SAVE $20: As of Feb. 3, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is available at Amazon for $79.95, making it an almost record-breaking deal. It's just $10 shy of its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal

If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable fitness tracker that won’t expose you to potentially harmful chemicals (we’re looking at you, Apple), the Fitbit Inspire 3 is our favorite budget-friendly pick.

As of Feb. 3, you can get it for just $79.95 at Amazon. That’s 20% off the list price and just $10 more than its all-time low price.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 does everything you’d need a basic fitness tracker to do — it tracks your steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. It also has menstrual health tracking and includes a six-month Premium Fitbit membership, which gives you access to additional health metrics and personalized insights.

SEE ALSO: The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the budget-friendly fitness tracker of our dreams

While more expensive fitness trackers have additional features like built-in GPS and color displays, the Inspire 3 provides the core functionality most people need. It’s also water-resistant up to 50 meters and has a battery life of 10 days on a single charge.

Plus, studies show that less pricey trackers can be surprisingly good at measuring steps and tracking what really matters. A 2020 study published by JMIR mHealth and uHealth tested a bunch of lower-budget fitness trackers and found they were actually pretty decent at tracking steps and estimating sleep, which is usually what most new fitness tracker owners care about the most.

TAKE UP TO 44% OFF: TurboTax 2024 software is marked down at Amazon by up to 44% including options for businesses, self-employed people, and rental property.

Best TurboTax deals at Amazon Best overall deal TurboTax Deluxe $44.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best tax deal for business owners TurboTax Business 2024 $113.99 (save $76) Get Deal Best tax deal for self-employed people TurboTax Home & Business 2024 $75.99 (save $54) Get Deal Best tax deal for investments and rental property TurboTax Premier 2024 $64.99 (save $50) Get Deal

We're now into the month of February which means your tax forms will be arriving any day. Sure, we're still months away from the tax filing deadline on April 15, but the IRS has already started processing tax returns. That means if you're in line for a refund, there's no reason to wait around.

Filing online with software like TurboTax decodes the jargon, making it possible to file from home without hiring help. You can even do it while wearing pajamas.

TurboTax offers several versions, and most people are likely well suited to TurboTax Deluxe option which focuses on maximizing your deductions. Thanks to today's sale at Amazon, the TurboTax Deluxe software is on sale for $44.99, down from the usual price of $79.99. That's a 44% discount that'll save you $35 on the software, with the potential of saving you plenty more with your 2024 tax return.

Taxes get a bit more complicated if you're self-employed or you own a business. But TurboTax still has you covered. TurboTax Business 2024 is designed to help corporations, LLCs, trusts, estates, and partnerships navigate tax returns. At full price the software comes in at $189.99 but Amazon has it on sale today for just $113.99 which is a sweet 40% discount.

Self-employed folks can snag TurboTax Home & Business 2024 for just $75.99, instead of the list price of $129.99, which is a savings of $54.

The 2024 tax deadline is a bit more than two months away, but investing in the filing software today is the ideal motivation needed to file those taxes early this year. No one needs last-minute stress.

The world of mechanical keyboards is so expansive that it's sometimes hard to choose which keyboard to use. I landed on a tented, split mechanical keyboard (with eight thumb keys), which is a pretty bold move. Here's why I chose the Dygma Raise to run my desk setup.

Both the Currency and Accounting number formats in Excel are used to display monetary values, including the symbol for the chosen currency. However, in this article, I'll explain their subtle differences, giving you a better idea of which one to use in your spreadsheet.

The virtual private network (VPN) feature in Microsoft Defender, which was available to paid Microsoft 365 subscribers, is shutting down. Microsoft is killing the functionality less than a year after it was introduced.

Does your large spreadsheet contain lots of blank rows that serve no purpose? Don't waste time removing these empty rows manually! Instead, use this tip to ensure you don't miss any rows or accidentally delete the incorrect rows.

SAVE $170: As of Feb. 3, you can score a pair of Beats Studio Pro headphones for just $179.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. That's a 49% discount or $170 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Beats Studio Pro $179.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

It’s not every day that a Mashable Choice Award winner goes on sale, but we’ve been pretty lucky lately.

This week, you can snag the Beats Studio Pro headphones for just $179.99 — that’s a 49% discount or $170 off the list price (and no, it’s not inflated!). Buy 'em at Amazon or Best Buy.

The Beats Studio Pro headphones are a top-notch over-ear pair that delivers impressive noise-canceling technology, detailed audio, and a super-modern, Kim K-approved aesthetic (depending on the color you choose). What’s even more impressive is that these Apple-owned cans work with both Android and iOS devices, so they’re a great pick for anyone, regardless of smartphone brand.

SEE ALSO: The Beats Solo 4 are back down to their lowest-ever price at Amazon

“Beats Studio Pro can pair instantly via one-touch pairing on iOS and Fast Pair on Android, negating the need to fuss with a Bluetooth connection menu when you bring these bad boys out of the box,” Mashable’s Alex Perry writes in his review. “Apple’s and Google’s Find My features work natively with these headphones, too, adding a layer of security.”

You’ll also get up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to four hours of additional playback after a 10-minute quick charge — more than enough to get you through a long flight or road trip.

I stream Apple Music all day, every day on my Mac. In doing so, I’ve become hyperaware of both the idiosyncracies and glaring issues that Apple needs to address.

History is on the line in Super Bowl LIX, and you can watch it without paying a cent this year.

The two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in this year's edition of the big game, which kicks off at 6:30pm ET on Sunday, Feb. 9 on Fox. If the Chiefs win, it will be the first time in the history of the NFL that a team has won three championships in a row. In fact, no two-time defending champion has ever even made it to a third straight Super Bowl, so we're already in uncharted territory. If that wasn't enough of a reason to tune in, the Chiefs and Eagles played one of the best Super Bowls of all time just two years ago.

In other words, this will probably be a pretty good football game on top of the menagerie of commercials and Kendrick Lamar's highly anticipated halftime performance.

But, if you don't pay for cable, you might be wondering how you can watch the game without shelling out for a month of an expensive streaming service. The good news is you don't have to do that at all. Here is how to watch Super Bowl LIX without taking a hammer to your piggy bank.

SEE ALSO: Super Bowl LIX is set: When to watch, halftime show, commercials, and more How to watch Super Bowl LIX without cable for free

This year's game is broadcast on Fox, which means color commentary will be provided by some new guy they just hired named Tom Brady. I hear he's been to a few Super Bowls before. Anyway, in previous years when Fox has broadcast the game, it was available for free via the Fox Sports app. That is not the case this year. Instead, the game will stream for free on the streaming service Tubi, and that should include all pregame and postgame coverage, all the same commercials people who are watching on regular TV would see, and yes, Kendrick's halftime show.

SEE ALSO: Will Kendrick Lamar diss Drake during the Super Bowl halftime show? Why and why not.

You'll need to make a Tubi account to watch the game, but fortunately, Tubi is a free streaming service by nature. Tubi will be by far the simplest way for most people who don't pay for cable to watch the game.

Other ways to watch the game

I can't think of any obvious reasons why you wouldn't just use Tubi to watch Super Bowl LIX, but in case that's not an option, there are other ways to see the game without having a guy come over to install a cable box.

For instance, you can choose from one of the many cable-alternative streaming services out there. Pretty much all of the major ones should carry your local Fox affiliate. Here's a list of services that will definitely let you watch Super Bowl LIX:

• YouTube TV

• Hulu with Live TV

• Sling TV

• DirecTV Stream

• Fubo

If, for some reason, none of those work for you, there's one more option: a digital TV antenna. You can get one that plugs directly into your TV and doesn't need to be outdoors to work for as little as $20. It'll probably only pick up a handful of local channels, but your Fox affiliate is almost certain to be one of them. As a bonus, this will most likely also grant you access to future Super Bowls, as well.

My productivity almost always falters when my Mac has a messy feel to it. If you're like me, cleaning up your Mac can go a long way in creating some much-needed focus. Here are a few ways to declutter your Mac and boost productivity.

This winter, my wife and I decided it was time to invest in a home energy backup plan. Instead of a built-in home battery like a Tesla Powerwall, we decided to buy an abundance of Anker portable power stations instead.

Kendrick Lamar isn't afraid of a little controversy — but the NFL is. So how might that play out during the halftime show on Super Bowl Sunday?

Part of the excitement of a live show like the NFL Halftime Show is that we don't know what will happen until it does, like Usher's 2024 surprise guests or Rihanna's pregnancy announcement. But Kendrick's fight comes in the middle of an ongoing rap beef between him and rival Drake.

If we are to believe rumors, it seems like Kendrick might play his biggest Drake diss "Not Like Us," his fifth installment in a series of diss tracks against the Canadian rapper. The song, which alleges Drake's pedophilia and sexual misconduct, solidified his victory against Drake and broke several Spotify records. On Sunday, the track won Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

But the song, and beef as a whole, also resulted in multiple lawsuits. Drake sued Universal Music Group and Spotify claiming they worked together to inflate the songs popularity and accused UMG of violating the RICO act. He later filed another lawsuit against UMG for defamation and funneling payments to iHeartRadio.

Whatever ends up happening, it will likely be a surprise to us, but not to anyone at the NFL, Andrew Mall, an associate professor of music at Northeastern University, told the Northeastern Global News. And the idea that the NFL would agree to something they could get sued for — like allowing Kendrick to allege Drake is a pedophile — would be pretty unlikely, he argues.

"He won’t do that in part because the scale and the choreography and the production of the Super Bowl halftime show has to be set in stone," Mall said. "So, he can’t just tease and be like, 'I know you said I can’t do this, but here I am dancing around the edges.' … My guess is there’s no chance for him to surprise at least anyone who is in a decision-making position with what’s going to be on stage or on the field."

We'll find out during Kendrick's Super Bowl LIX performance on February 9, where the Chiefs will face off against the Eagles.

Apple has reportedly canceled its plans to build augmented reality smart glasses.

This is according to Bloomberg, which cites people with knowledge of the move.

In November, the same outlet reported that Apple had launched the project under the codename "Atlas," with the goal to build a pair of advanced, AR smart glasses, perhaps in order to compete with Meta's promising "Orion" prototype.

SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence is getting more languages

The report was very thin on details, but now that the project has been canceled, however, we know a little more about what these glasses were supposed to look like. Apple reportedly first wanted glasses that could pair with the iPhone, but the drain on the smartphone's battery life was too big. Additionally, the iPhone wasn't able to provide the necessary processing power.

Apple's engineers then moved to glasses that would pair with a Mac, but that version was reported to have performed poorly during internal reviews among Apple's executives.

Apple still plans to build a followup to its Vision Pro mixed reality handset. The AR glasses were a different project, far lighter and similar to traditional glasses, perhaps akin to Ray-Ban's Meta smart glasses.

Still, it's another setback for the company whose CEO Tim Cook sounded very enthusiastic about augmented reality as early as 2016.

Apple doesn't share its internal plans with the public. But the company reportedly canceled its plans to build an electric, self-driving car in early 2024, and reports in June 2024 said that Apple has also given up on Vision Pro 2, focusing on a cheaper model instead.

"There is a specific type of alienation that comes with using an app that was not made with you or your community in mind, and most dating apps have initially been created with straight people in mind."

It's a truth uncomfortably acknowledged that every dating app in possession of a database of potential daters must be primarily in want of straight people. The quote above is one of the many insights into the modern dating landscape covered by Mashable's own features editor Rachel Thompson, in her second book The Love Fix, out now via Square Peg, following her debut, Rough. And we've got an excerpt on this complex, undeniably prevalent topic for you below.

SEE ALSO: Mashable's Rachel Thompson investigates sexual violence (and what we can do about it) in 'Rough'

Now, full disclosure, I'm biased — that much is obvious. I've been lucky enough to edit and read Rachel's (it feels weird to call you Thompson, I won't do it) brilliant work for years, covering every angle, trend, and buzzword of sex, dating, and relationships in contemporary life — before the rest of us really know what's happening right in front of us. But The Love Fix is a deeper dive than ever into dating app fatigue, and a truly hopeful means to understand how we can reconnect with authenticity and intimacy in a world increasingly disengaged and automated.

Rachel's thorough analysis of how orientation affects the app experience, how dating apps are not designed with queer people at the forefront, and that "our social scripts for dating are also designed for straight couples," is just one of the important threads she pulls. 

Featured Video For You 'I was cloaked.' What it's like to be blocked and stood up by your Hinge date.

The Love Fix delves into questions of dating app culture and design, what "limerence" is and how to deal with it, the trickiness of DTR (defining the relationship), how to reframe rejection, why ghosting hurts, the increased use of therapy speak in dating, the online attention economy (and how to take a break from it), getting over someone you never dated, how your attachment style impacts sex and relationships, breaking up in the online age and post-breakup etiquette, and the absence of commitment amid so much choice — amid so many other questions.

Really, it's for those with a book-long answer to the question: "How's your love life?"

So, we've got a sneak peek for you, an excerpt from The Love Fix about the lack of queer representation in dating apps beyond those specifically labelled as appealing to LGBTQ daters. Get into it.

The Love Fix by Rachel ThompsonFrom Chapter 4: Just My TypeHow does orientation affect the app experience? 

The Pew Research Center found that lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are around twice as likely as straight adults to have used a dating app or site, but now that so much of dating has moved online, it’s important to examine how we make online dating inclusive. There is a specific type of alienation that comes with using an app that was not made with you or your community in mind, and most dating apps have initially been created with straight people in mind. 

"Nothing in this world is made for marginalised people," says Melissa A. Fabello PhD, a US-based sex and relationships educator. ‘"As a queer woman, I talk to so many other queer women that are like “the apps suck!” And it’s like, yeah, because the apps weren’t made for us, so even though we can use them, they weren’t made for us, and that is impactful."

There is a specific type of alienation that comes with using an app that was not made with you or your community in mind.

This feeling that the apps are not designed with queer people in mind is echoed by scholars too. "Structures of power are visible also in the social and cultural genealogy of dating apps," writes Dr Carolina Bandinelli. "Most apps (dating and nondating) were funded in Silicon Valley, in a socio-economic environment marked by a culture that, despite the promotional claims of democracy, is in fact based on strict mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion which benefit certain categories, mostly white middle-class males, while marginalising others, notably women and ethnic minorities." 

Queer dating apps, which have been conceived and built by queer people, are a response to oppression, says Fabello. "The queer dating apps only exist because other dating apps are not useful, particularly to queer people, so we create our own," she says. "Even if you’re trying to create something that’s less oppressive, you’re doing it in response to oppression, oppression takes up a lot of space in our lives." 

The dynamics these platforms expect of us don’t always work, as on top of that our social scripts for dating are also designed for straight couples. As Lucy says, "Women aren’t taught to flirt with other women, so even if someone feels attracted to another woman, they may not know how to express that." Our culture teaches straight women that men should make the first move, but doesn’t have an answer for what happens when both parties are women. In practice, this can mean that if both WLW women in a conversation expect the other person to make the first move, that move might not happen at all.

SEE ALSO: I got stood up. I refuse to let dating app culture break my spirit.

Journalist Siân Bradley wrote about the hurdle of learning to flirt after coming out as bisexual, saying, "I had had enough of secretly admiring women, nonbinary people, and AFAB people from a distance. Now I wanted to actually act on my attraction. But how?" Acting on your queer desire is scary, Bradley added, particularly when many WLW have absorbed heteronormative dating scripts. "When you’ve only been with cis men, like I had, dating women feels like a whole other ball game: one where you don’t know the rules, let alone who’s playing or whether you’re allowed on the pitch." Not only is it difficult to know how to flirt, there’s also a hypervigilance that comes with hitting on queer women and femmes because when queer women aren’t being treated by straight women as experimentation fodder or a means to attract the male gaze they’re contending with the fetishisation of WLW in mainstream culture. 

Our social scripts for dating are also designed for straight couples.

"We are seen as something for men’s pleasure only, and not our own entity," says Lucy. "It feels shameful sometimes admitting I’m a lesbian to men and seeing the turned-on look in their eyes." They’re always aware that the response they get might be more than a simple rejection. "We’re hyper vigilant about who we can hit on and when," says Riley. "A lot of us have really extreme emotional scarring and we really don’t trust a lot of questioning women." 

Once the flirting stage has been overcome, there’s also the question of how to behave within that relationship. "Before I started dating women I found it a struggle to imagine how I would behave when it was just me and another woman in a romantic relationship," says Cassie, a 27-year-old bisexual woman who, for years, only dated men. "This stopped me pursuing women for the longest time. I think this was because heterosexuality was all I knew. It was shown to us on the TV, in books, in films, on the street. I guess you could say I’m a visual learner, and with no queer representation in sight, I was lost!"

Compulsory heterosexuality  –  a term coined by feminist scholar Adrienne Rich in 1980 – is society’s imposition of heterosexuality as the norm, the false assumption that relationships are between men and women only. Cassie feels there is toxic masculinity at play with some queer cis women. "Sometimes we feel the need to behave in a certain way in order to fit the roles we’ve been shown our entire lives," she says. "At times it feels like even the people around me, who are supposedly allies, are only happy with me dating a woman as long as one of us is “the woman” and one of us is “the man”."

Extracted from 'The Love Fix' by Rachel Thompson, out now via Square Peg for £18.99.

TL;DR: Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Phoenix Suns head to Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers in a Western Conference matchup. The Suns are 25-23, which puts the team in eighth place. The Blazers are 20-29, which puts the team in 13th place.

The Suns have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Blazers. The Blazers have won four of their last five games, and are coming off three consecutive wins over the Suns, Orlando Magic, and Milwaukee Bucks.

These two teams have faced off three times this season already. The Suns have won two of those matchups.

When is Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers?

Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 3. This game takes place at Moda Center in Portland.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Suns vs. Blazers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Suns vs. Blazers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream LA Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Orlando Magic head to Chase Center to face the Golden State Warriors in a non-conference matchup. The Magic are 24-26, which puts the team in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors are 24-24, which puts the team in 11th place in the Western Conference.

The Magic have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off three consecutive losses to the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, and Miami Heat. The Warriors have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Phoenix Suns.

When is Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors?

Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 3. This game takes place at Chase Center in San Francisco.

This game will air on NBA TV.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Magic vs. Warriors basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Magic vs. Warriors from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA with ExpressVPN.