IT General

If someone five years ago told me I’d be an influencer, I would have never believed them. 

I’ve been cooking all my life. When I was a little girl, my grandmother would pull a chair up to the kitchen counter for me to stand on so I could see what she was doing and she would put me to work. Cooking for friends and family, experimenting with new recipes, and discovering delicious food has always been my passion.

Today, I’m a one-woman show and run my business Big Delicious Life at home, most of it right in my kitchen. I shoot and edit all of my own photos and videos, actively manage my website, create content for big brand campaigns, and balance being a full time mom and homemaker. I still can’t believe that this is now my business.

Technology helps me balance work and family

Technology is always changing, and when you depend on it as a creator to run your business, you are constantly learning new things. From work, to baby gear, to home management and entertainment, tech is at the center of everything in my life!

I depend heavily on my iPhone. With it, I shoot all of my photos and videos, edit them using apps like Lightroom, InShot, and Instagram Edits, and post them to the public. But my phone is also mission control for the various apps I use to manage the household.

Google Calendar helps me keep track of multiple schedules for our family. I can run our Roborock vacuum with the tap of a button to keep the floors in shape for a baby on the move. Nest cameras and Yale smart locks keep our home safe, secure, and comfortable. A Nanit Pro baby monitor lets me monitor how my little one is sleeping, and a Hatch Rest sound machine helps create her optimal sleep environment. I make sure to take care of myself too by booking different fitness classes on Classpass. I rely on a lot of tools and apps to make my life easier.

Technology gives me the freedom and flexibility to run my own business, take care of my family and my home, and share my passion for food and cooking with the world. I really can have it all, and by learning your way around the technology that's available to you both at home and on the go, you can too.

I've been flying RC helicopters and drones for a long time now, and while I've come and gone from the hobby as a casual participant, there's always been something new and fun to pull me back in after a while from the world of drones.

Your Samsung smartphone might offer plenty of great features, but we'll bet that the earphones it came with aren't that great. That's a standard-issue problem with standard-issue earbuds. You're better off upgrading by buying a pair of earphones or headphones that offer superior audio and features.

But before you jump in and invest in a fancy new set, it's worth thinking about your specific requirements — particularly as a Samsung user. After all, some headphones are geared towards Samsung devices, and some are geared towards Apple devices.

Where will you use your headphones? Do you commute regularly? Do you love using Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant? Do you need noise cancellation? It's important to pick a pair that works for you. Especially if you're looking to spend a sizeable wedge of money. To help get through the jargon and figure out what works best for your Samsung devices, here's a quick guide.

Are wired or wireless headphones better?

When buying headphones, you can choose between wired headphones, wireless, or even "true" wireless. Wired means you plug them into your headphone jack with cables trailing up to your ears. This can be an issue if you're moving around a lot and don't want to get tangled up. These do tend to be cheaper than wireless solutions, though.

Wireless headphones, meanwhile, are typically connected via Bluetooth. That means you're free to move around without being physically connected to your device.

The latest Samsung smartphones don’t have a headphone jack. Instead, they have a USB-C port that connects to the standard-issue earphones. In other words, Samsung is following Apple in moving towards wireless listening. Be aware of this when ordering headphones that still use an old-school jack connection.

Should you buy headphones or earbuds?

Wired, wireless, and true wireless aren't the only variations you have to consider. There are also on-ear headphones or in-ear earphones aka earbuds. Neither is technically better than the other. It all comes down to personal choice. Some people prefer the old school-feel of on-ear headphones. Others like buds that feed music directly into their ears.

There are benefits to both. On-ear headphones tend to have higher-quality sound, while in-ear earphones are more compact, portable, and inconspicuous. They’re also better suited to fitness or commuting.

What is noise cancellation?

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is a clever bit of tech that blocks out external sound. It uses mini microphones that detect incoming noise and then create anti-sound waves to cancel out that noise. Some headphones have variations of ANC, such as “adaptive” noise cancellation, which cleverly adapts to your surroundings, or ambient modes which let in certain types of external noise such as other people’s voices, so you know when someone has started a conversation.

Are Beats headphones compatible with Samsung?

This is a commonly asked question, because Beats is such a popular brand but was bought by Apple back in 2014. You'd think that you can't use Beats headphones with your Samsung smartphone but that is not the case. The people at Beats are quick to remind listeners that their headphones sync with other types of devices straight out of the box. They have one-touch pairing with Android devices and there's a Beats app specifically for Android. Although you will miss out on some iOS features.  

Are cheap headphones any good?

It's pretty easy to find cheap headphones, but there are reasons why they're so inexpensive. Typically, you get what you pay for, and the cheapest set is going to be lacking. You'll want to make sure your headphones offer decent battery life, sound quality, durability, and portability, because otherwise you're just wasting your cash. The more you spend, the more features you tend to get.

What are the best headphones for Samsung devices?

If the sheer number of headphone options has you feeling overwhelmed, do not fear. We've made the whole process much easier. We've done the research, listened to the experts (not to mention some tunes), and pulled together a selection of your best options. Just pick something that sounds good to you.

These are the best headphones for Samsung devices in 2025.

You may have noticed a resurgence in enthusiasm for both old-school CRT TVs, and music on vinyl records. On the surface, both of these movements might seem like the same sort of nostalgic silliness, but the truth is that the rediscovery of these technologies are driven by very different things.

VirtualBox, the free and open-source virtual machine manager, just got another update. VirtualBox 7.2 just arrived with better ARM host and guest support, interface improvements, and more.

If you're looking for a computer for school, a MacBook Air may seem like the default choice. But there might actually be a better option: two devices. A Mac Mini and an iPad make for a killer combination for students.

Products featured in this story: HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 $299 Shop Now HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset $142.99 (save $57) Get Deal

Don't @ me, but I'm not a gamer. I know — I'm a tech editor. I'm supposed to be geeking out over the upcoming Lost Soul Aside game. But while I'm not an expert in gaming peripherals, I am an expert in the best headphones, which is why the new HyperX wireless gaming headset stood out.

The newly released HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is a PC gaming headset (with multi-platform compatibility thanks to a 3.5mm headphone jack) with a whopping 250 hours of battery life. In the headphones space, I was freaking out when the Dyson OnTrac debuted with 55 hours of battery life with ANC engaged. With a full charge, that 250 hours gives you 10 full days of gameplay. Since you'll be taking breaks to eat, sleep, and work, you could go weeks between charges.

However, is the new HyperX wireless gaming headset worth the $299 price of admission? I'll break it down and explain why the original Cloud Alpha 2 may be the better option for most PC gamers.

Is the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 worth it? Credit: HyperX Credit: HyperX

The new HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 makes a compelling case, and not just because of the impressive battery life.

However, gamers might actually be happier with the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2's predecessor. As a gaming noob, I'm just now learning that the original Cloud Alpha boasted 300 hours of battery life, though it was only compatible with PC gaming.

The Cloud Alpha 2 also comes with some new tech, including a programmable RGB Base Station, which "is an audio control hub featuring customizable RGB lighting, programmable buttons and macros, seamless device switching, and onboard controls." The new headset also offers more connectivity options (connect via Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz WiFi) and upgraded drivers. Specifically, the new headset packs 53mm Dual Chamber Drivers complete with spatial audio.

But if you can't afford the $299 Cloud Alpha 2, you can get the original headset on sale at Amazon for just $142.99. Both versions have double the battery life of competitors. For comparison, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X maxes out at 38 hours, while the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro has a measly 70 hours.

Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless PC gaming headset $142.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $57 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 wireless gaming headset $299 at HyperX
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On Windows, when I want a command line, I can choose between the native PowerShell or install the Windows Subsystem for Linux. I prefer the latter when I'm on Windows. Here's why I reach for a Linux shell instead of PowerShell.

You’re using your Chromebook wrong. There, I said it. If you’re just using your Chromebook to browse Facebook and check email, you’re leaving so much on the table.

SAVE $14: As of Aug. 15, get the Anker 735 Charger Nano II (65W) for $25.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 35% and the lowest price we've seen.

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No one wants to deal with multiple bricks and cables when keeping their electronics charged. That's why if you're looking to pick a charger up, a compact model that can handle multiple items at once is a great idea. You can grab a fantastic one from Anker right now that we've praised multiple times before here at Mashable today from Amazon at its lowest price ever, just in time to head back to school.

As of Aug. 15, get the Anker 735 Charger Nano II (65W) for $25.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 35% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C300 portable power station is $100 off right now at Amazon

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth called this wall charger "indispensable", naming it his "go-to" whenever he's away from his desk. It uses GaN technology for fast charging with less heat, and it comes with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. That means it can handle juicing up an iPhone, a pair of headphones, and a laptop all at once, or whatever mix of tech devices you have at once. That's a timesaver if you're a heavy tech user.

It's quick and efficient when it comes to charging, and it's much smaller than even the power brick that you're supplied with when you grab a new MacBook. In fact, it can get a laptop back up to speed at about 65W, which means you'll be sitting around waiting for it to get back to 100% for a much shorter time period.

If speed and efficiency are what you're looking for in a charger, this is one you'll want to invest in fast, especially at its lowest price.

For many, the INDEX-XMATCH combination in Excel is the go-to method for retrieving a value from a dataset. However, you can also use this dynamic duo to perform two-way lookups, returning a value at the intersection of a specified row and column.

SAVE $160: As of Aug. 15, the Dyson V8 Absolute cordless vacuum is on sale at Walmart for $359.99. That's over 30% off its list price of $519.99.

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If you loathe vacuuming, there's a good chance it's because you've never used a Dyson stick vacuum. Dysons are designed to make cleaning your floors an effortless job. It's probably no surprise, but we're big fans. If you're looking for an entry-level model, our top pick for those with smaller homes and on a budget, the V8 Absolute, is currently on sale for $160 off.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Dyson V8 Absolute for only $359.99 at Walmart and Dyson.com. That's over 30% off its list price of $519.99.

When it comes to stick vacuums, Dysons are the top dog. Their cleaning prowess, superior suction, lightweight design, and attachment variety justify their hefty price tags. The Dyson V8 Absolute features a powerful motor that unleashes 115 air watts of cyclonic suction, a 40-minute run time, and five different attachments and cleaner heads for versatility: the Motorbar cleaner head, crevice tool, combination tool, hair screw tool, and Fluffy Optic cleaner head. The latter is part of what makes this the "Absolute" model; it's specially designed for gently getting tough dirt off of hard floors.

The V8 features two power modes: powerful mode, for daily use, and max mode, made for those higher-volume jobs. And of course, like all Dyson stick vacuums, it transforms into a handheld for seamlessly reaching tough spots and getting into small spaces.

Save over 30% on the Dyson V8 Absolute at Walmart while you can. For what it's worth, the non-Absolute V8 model, which includes one less cleaning attachment, is $30 more at Amazon. In other words, this is a great value.

Roblox is once again the target of online child safety advocates, as it faces another lawsuit that claims the platform is "choosing profits over child safety."

SEE ALSO: I 'dated' Character.AI's popular boyfriends, and parents should be worried

The lawsuit, file by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, alleges the platform has "knowingly and intentionally" failed to institute "basic safety controls" that have exposed young players to predatory behavior and child sex abuse materials. Murrill also alleges the platform has failed to properly warn parents of potential dangers children face when playing Roblox.

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In a series of tweets posted to X, Murrill claimed the platform was "perpetuating violence against children and sexual exploitation for profit" and called many of the site's gaming worlds, which are built by users and played by millions of children around the world, "obscene garbage." Murrill also posted several images of what were allegedly publicly available game experiences hosted on the platform, including "Escape to Epstein Island" and "Public Showers." Similar legal actions have been taken against other popular social media platforms — including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat — amid growing concern for youth online safety and mental health.

"The assertion that Roblox would intentionally put our users at risk of exploitation is categorically untrue. Every day, tens of millions of people around the world use Roblox to learn stem skills, play, and imagine and have a safe experience on our platform," a Roblox spokesperson said in a comment issued Friday. "We dedicate vast resources to supporting a safe infrastructure including advanced technology and 24/7 human moderation, to detect and prevent inappropriate content and behavior — not only because it's important to us but because it is such a critical issue and so important to our community.

"We dispute these allegations and we remain committed to working with Attorney General Murrill to keep kids safe. While no system is perfect, Roblox has implemented rigorous safeguards — such as restrictions on sharing personal information, links, and user-to-user image sharing — to help protect our community. Unfortunately, bad actors will try to circumvent our systems to try to direct users off the platform, where safety standards and moderation practices may differ. We continuously work to block those efforts and to enhance our moderation approaches to promote a safe and enjoyable environment for all users."

The company also released an official statement outlining its commitments to child safety.

Roblox has been on a mission to reform its image following a series of reports claiming the online gaming site is dangerous for young children, allegedly because it failed to curb a network of predatory adult users. In 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against the platform on behalf of parents, claiming the company falsely advertised its site as safe for children.

Since then, Roblox has introduced a swath of new safety features, including extensive blocking tools, parental oversight, and messaging controls. The platform recently introduced selfie-based age verification for teen players — in the lawsuit, Murrill claims a lack of age verification policies makes it easier for predators to interact with children on the platforms. Earlier this year, the platform joined other social media companies backing the newly passed Take It Down Act, which establishes takedown policies and repercussions for publishing non-consensual intimate imagery, including deepfakes.

UPDATE: Aug. 15, 2025, 6:05 p.m. This story was updated with an official statement from Roblox.

Kodak says its not going out of business, despite rumors of an imminent demise and brutal statements in its Q2 earnings report.

After posting its latest SEC filing, the company insisted it is still alive, saying recent reports of impending doom are "inaccurate" and "reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of a recent technical disclosure."

SEE ALSO: Review: The best travel camera for every type of photographer

Kodak said this in a statement clarifying its financial position after forward-looking statements in its 10-Q filing was picked up by several news outlets.

"Kodak has debt coming due within twelve months and does not have committed financing or available liquidity to meet such debt obligations if they were to become due in accordance with their current terms," said Kodak, which reported roughly $500 million in debt. "These conditions raise substantial doubt about Kodak’s ability to continue as a going concern."

The gloomy outlook led some outlets to interpret this as the end of the road for the 130-year-old U.S. company, which pioneered mainstream camera and film production. But Kodak quickly issued a statement to "set the record straight," saying it "has no plans to cease operations, go out of business, or file for bankruptcy protection." In short, Kodak says the obituaries were premature.

Instead, Kodak says its financial plans for the upcoming year will enable it to pay off its debts on time, including obligations to its pension fund.

A Kodak engineer created the first digital camera, all the back back in the '70s. But over time, Kodak failed to capitalize on its technical innovations, betting instead on its film business and letting competitors move in on its market. Other photography companies, notably Japanese camera makers like Nikon and Fujifilm, rose to prominence as go-to digital cameras for amateurs and professionals alike.

More recently, Kodak diversified its business to manufacture chemicals and pharmaceutical ingredients. "We believe our business is stable and self-sustaining," Kodak said of its ongoing operations.

Carrie Bradshaw is going to be just fine.

If you've watched the final-ever episode of HBO Max's And Just Like That..., you'll know that too. If you haven't, you should probably avert your eyes — spoilers ahead.

The ending was, in my opinion, the perfect send-off for Carrie — a full circle moment, ending nearly three decades on our screen, just as she started: single.

The finale opens with Carrie dining solo in a futuristic Japanese restaurant featuring robots and menus on tablets. When she places her order, a member of staff places a cuddly toy tomato named Tommy as company, the consolation prize, so she doesn't have to eat alone.

SEE ALSO: 'And Just Like That…' Season 3 dabbles in dating app fatigue

Carrie is rightfully affronted by this, and as a frequent solo diner, I happen to agree with this justified outrage. Eating on our own is actually a luxury that many people do not have: parents wrangling active kids at dinnertime will attest to this, I'm sure. Being able to sit in complete silence and enjoy your food in blissful silence? It's heaven-sent, frankly.

In the previous episode of AJLT, the first half of the finale, Carrie handed in her manuscript to her editor, who declared it a "romantic tragedy" that the protagonist ends up alone. Again, rude. What's tragic about choosing yourself? What is this chasmic void that suddenly needs filling?

After the solo dining-shaming incident, Carrie declares, "Apparently, not only is it tragic for women to be alone in the past, it's also an issue in the future."

It's an episode that wrestles with the endings we've been conditioned to crave. Seema questions whether she really wants marriage, or if she's just spent her whole life being told she should aspire to so-called matrimonial bliss. "Do I really want it, or am I just programmed for it?" she asks as she and Carrie watch a bridal fashion show. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Lisa grapple with the realities of marriage versus the fantasies they had before entering it. The message seems to be: wedded "bliss" isn't exactly all it's cracked up to be.

Credit: Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max

I, and many others, were hoping for this ending. After years of centering men, Carrie is finally putting her own needs first. In this final season of the show, we endured several episodes of Aidan being a truly abysmal partner. And somehow, Carrie kept coming back for more — until she finally snapped (which was a long time coming). Aidan asked for a hell of a lot in that relationship, namely waiting for him for five years in a state of celibacy, in an empty furniture-less apartment, waiting until he was finally available. Carrie isn't even sure how often she should text Aidan, seemingly because she doesn't want to bother him or be too needy. Girl, are we for real with this cool girl behaviour? "DUMP HIM," I screamed at my television after every episode. And thankfully, the message seemed to get through when she got tired of his possessive, jealous bullshit.

Of course, while all this Aidan nonsense was happening, many of us were also urging her to sleep with the sexy British downstairs neighbour. Sure, he's a curmudgeon who won't let her wear her signature heels around her flat (oppression!) — but he's charming. When Carrie says, "I’ve never experienced a man see me as smart first," I feel sad. How is it possible that a woman with seven bestsellers and an illustrious writing career spanning several decades is still having her intellect diminished?

"Carrie Bradshaw, you're a thing," Duncan announces mid-epiphany as if he's somehow only just discovered this. Have you been hiding under a rock? Too busy writing about Margaret Thatcher to see the icon you have in front of you? Anyway, despite his charms, it's also a no from me on this one.

By the penultimate episode, it was clear that there were no worthy contenders in the race to win Carrie's affection. It was high time to stop catering to men's needs, bending and breaking yourself to suit their demands, and not being seen for all that you are. Do we really want our girl to settle for less than she deserves?

SEE ALSO: Goodbye Carrie Bradshaw, our messy, relatable queen

What's interesting about Carrie's attitude in the final episode is her willingness to admit that she's previously looked to aloneness as an impermanent state, a means to an end — the end being the man.

But we see Carrie begin to question: What if she just stands still for a while and doesn't try to "fix" her singleness by bringing a man into the picture?

Carrie tells Charlotte, "I've never lived alone without the thought that I wouldn't be alone for long."

"I have to quit thinking 'maybe a man,' and start accepting 'maybe just me.' It's not a tragedy, it's just a fact," she adds.

But, I'd go as far as to say that "just me" isn't just a fact, it's a triumph. And there's no "just" about it. Carrie, on her own, is Carrie at her best.

As Barry White's "My Everything" plays at the closing scene of the episode, Carrie's voice tells us, "She was not alone; she was on her own."

If we contrast that line with Carrie's parting words in the final episode of Sex And The City, there's a very stark contrast:

"Later that day, I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous."

Carrie knew it then, back in 2004: The real love story all along was the one she had with herself. Anything else is just an added extra.

The complete series of And Just Like That... is now streaming on HBO Max.

Tesla is set to lose out on an easy, major source of revenue thanks to President Donald Trump's administration — you know, the one for which Elon Musk was once the right-hand man.

The passage of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill cut tax incentives for electric vehicles, as well as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements. All automakers were required to hit these CAFE requirements, but if they couldn't, they were allowed to purchase carbon credits from companies like Tesla, which had a surplus. These carbon credits became a billion-dollar source of revenue for Tesla, bolstering the EV maker's earnings even as Tesla sales plummeted.

InsideEVs wrote a detailed piece on the implications of the Big Beautiful Bill for Tesla, and in short, these credits have made Tesla $11.8 billion in revenue over the last decade. That money helped Tesla stay afloat.

“These regulatory credit sales are the reason that Tesla exists today,” Gordon Johnson, an analyst with GLJ Research, told InsideEVs.

Musk himself said he wanted all credits to be cut as recently as last year.

Reuters wrote about the credits in July and noted that "this income segment is crucial for Tesla's finances, having been the main driver of its profit in the first three months of the year." Without the credits, Tesla would've reported a loss in Q1 of 2025. And about half of its Q2 operating income — which took a steep, 42 percent drop year over year — came from credits.

The credits are basically free cash for the EV maker, and they're now set to entirely disappear. Meanwhile, Tesla sales continue to drop globally amid, well, everything going on with Musk. And don't forget about the end of the $7,500 EV tax credit that helped U.S. buyers afford electric cars in the first place.

Despite the difficulties it may cause, Musk himself called for the end of all EV subsidies as recently as last year.

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The billionaire Tesla chief might feel differently now, but it seems he will get his wish.

SAVE 47%: As of Aug. 15, you can get the Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead vacuum cleaner for $199.99, down from $379.99, at Walmart. That's $180 off.

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As the owner of two beagles, I can tell you a powerful vacuum isn't a luxury — it's a necessity. The problem is, the best brands (we're looking at you, Dyson) often come with a hefty price tag that can feel out of reach. That's why this deal from Walmart immediately caught our eye.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead vacuum cleaner for $199.99, down from $379.99, at Walmart. That's a 47% discount, saving you $180 and getting you into the Dyson family for less.

SEE ALSO: How to make your robot vacuum work better: 3 setup tips to do right now

The Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead vacuum cleaner comes with four additional tools, including a Turbinehead tool that adjusts for carpets, rugs, and hard floors. This model also features a 360-degree handle for easy maneuvering and a clever self-righting mechanism, so if it gets knocked over, it picks itself right back up. Plus, it uses Dyson's Radial Root Cyclone technology to suck up stubborn pet hair, dander, and other debris, even from thick carpeting.

The time has come to bid farewell to Carrie Bradshaw, the patron saint of looking for love in all the wrong places. The final episode of And Just Like That... brings to a close the reboot, which viewers balk at yet somehow can't look away.

Since first gracing our screens in 1998 in the very first episode of Sex and the City, Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) place in popular culture has been firmly cemented as the complex, romantic, independent, vulnerable, and at times infuriating single gal about town. Despite the shortcomings of both Sex and the City and And Just Like That..., it feels emotional to be saying goodbye to Carrie (well, again). Over the years, she's been a dependable companion to us single gals, those finding themselves in the Wild West that is modern dating, the diehard romantics, the unlucky-in-loves, and people who've had their heart broken.

SEE ALSO: Why the ending of 'And Just Like That...' is a total triumph

Several generations of viewers (myself included) have looked to the four female leads of SATC as an alternative Myers-Briggs personality test — "I'm such a Carrie!" "I'm Charlotte-coded, but a Samantha at heart." 27 years since that first episode, Carrie Bradshaw's impact is still being felt. Sex and the City discourse is alive and well on TikTok, resuscitated by a new wave of Gen-Z viewers streaming the show on HBO Max. In mainstream pop culture, the SATC references have been ever-present; in the last year, Gen Z icon Olivia Rodrigo wore a bejewelled top with the words "Carrie Bradshaw AF" while performing at Madison Square Garden, and in "Nissan Altima," our Grammy-winning Swamp Princess, Doechii, rapped, "I'm like Carrie Bradshaw with a back brace on."

As Carrie's final ever on-screen appearance (until the next reboot at least) arrived, I couldn't help but wonder: What is the enduring appeal of this character?

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in 1998, the year "Sex and the City" first aired. Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

As a millennial 30-something looking for love, Carrie Bradshaw has long occupied a space in my heart. Growing up in the 2000s, I watched SATC in my bedroom on terrestrial TV (remember that?) before I'd even so much as kissed a boy for the first time. Is this how my thirties were going to be? I wondered as a teen. Not having a boyfriend had never looked so glitteringly fabulous.

As a millennial 30-something looking for love, Carrie Bradshaw has long occupied a space in my heart.

Like many women, this show continues to stay with me as I grow older. In my twenties, I visited New York and did a Sex and the City tour of Manhattan, posing for photos outside Carrie's apartment building at 245 East 73rd Street (although the actual brownstone is in the West Village), stopping for cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, and sipping a Cosmopolitan at Scout, the bar Steve (David Eigenberg) and Aidan (John Corbett) owned together. The SATC fan pilgrimage was rendered all the more poignant because I was going through a heartbreaking chapter of my own, being ghosted by a man I had feelings for, and mulling over whether or not to send the dreaded paragraph to him (I did in the end).

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When I'm going through heartbreak or even just a confusing dating experience, I turn to this show for comfort, for answers, for validation. Even now in my mid-thirties, I see myself in Carrie in her refusal to settle for a relationship that's lacking in the kind of love she deserves. "I'm looking for love," Carrie declared in the final episode of Sex and the City. "Real love Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love."

Let's not ignore Sex and the City's problematic moments

Despite her importance to fans, it's impossible to gloss over the fact that Carrie is a deeply flawed character. She's self-involved, lacking in accountability, selfish, and has a habit of flaking on her friends, even in their time of need. But there's a larger problem.

Like many sitcoms from the '90s and '00s, there are aspects of Sex and the City that do not hold up through a modern lens. The lack of diversity is one of the most glaring downfalls of the series. The four protagonists are white, privileged, cisgender, and their experiences (at least in the original show) are centred around dating and sleeping with men. Racist, reductive stereotypes rear their ugly head throughout the series. In a rare inclusion of Black characters, Season 3, episode 5 sees Samantha (Kim Cattrall) date record label executive Chivon (Asio Highsmith) in a portrayal that has not aged well at all. All in the space of one episode we get hypersexualised discussion of Chivon's penis, references to Black culture as "urban," and the depiction of Chivon's sister Adeena (Sundra Oakley) as a controlling "angry Black woman". It is a mess of an episode.

Again, in Season 3, episode 18, titled "Cock-a-Doodle-Do," deals with two sets of noisy neighbours for Carrie, but in doing so, appears to liken Black trans sex workers lives as akin to those of caged chickens. Throw in Carrie putting on an AAVE accent at the end of the episode, and I got to thinking: were any Black or trans writers present in the writing room? (There weren't.)

When And Just Like That... launched in 2021, viewers got the sense that those criticisms surrounding diversity had been heard. Co-creator Michael Patrick King brought in a more diverse writers room, including writers Samantha Irby, Keli Goff, and Rachna Fruchbom. Irby told Vogue in 2021, “I was a huge fan of Sex and the City back in the day. But there were some moments where I was like, If there had been a Black writer in the room, this would have probably played differently." Goff told Deadline that King was "open to really listening" to the writers.

New friends Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury), Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker), Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez), and Dr. Nya Wallace (Karen Pittman) were added to the girl gang in an attempt to fill the chasm that Samantha's absence left behind. One storyline running across all three seasons is Charlotte's child Rock's (Alexa Swinton) gender identity. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) leaves Steve and begins exploring her queer identity. But, despite clear efforts to make the show more inclusive, the show overall felt jarring for many viewers who wanted more from the reboot.

Nicole Ari Parker, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarita Choudhury, Cynthia Nixon. Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images Sex and the 'complicated single girl' representation

What was it about Carrie that captured the collective attention of viewers in the late '90s and 2000s?

Over the past few decades, "single girl" representation has come a long way, bringing complex, sometimes problematic, relatable, and realistic single women to our screens. Hannah, Jessa, Marnie, and Shoshanna from Girls, Issa Dee in Insecure, Abbie and Ilana in Broad City, Mindy in The Mindy Project, to name a few.

SEE ALSO: 12 single TV characters who'll always have a place in our hearts

The "sad single girl" trope doesn't really have a place on our screens anymore, but we've also lost our cultural fixation on the need for our single girls to be likeable, palatable to male viewers, role models to women. They can just be. But it hasn't always been that way.

The New Yorker's Emily Nussbaum wrote a piece in 2013 examining the complicated legacy of Sex and the City, and highlighted the new era of complicated single woman representation that the show ushered in. Nussbaum argued that our four SATC heroines were markedly different from the "you-go-girl types" such as That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, and Molly Dodd.

"In contrast, Carrie and her friends — Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte — were odder birds by far, jagged, aggressive, and sometimes frightening figures, like a makeup mirror lit up in neon," wrote Nussbaum.

From left to right: Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Credit: Getty Images

"And, with the exception of Charlotte (Kristin Davis), men didn’t find them likable: there were endless cruel jokes about Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Carrie as sluts, man-haters, or gold-diggers. To me, as a single woman, it felt like a definite sign of progress: since the elemental representation of single life at the time was the comic strip “Cathy” (ack! chocolate!), better that one’s life should be viewed as glamorously threatening than as sad and lonely."

What will become of Carrie Bradshaw's legacy?

Where do we go from here? Will Carrie's legacy live on beyond the show, the movies, and the reboot? While we might not be getting any new episodes of And Just Like That..., Carrie won't be disappearing from our screens. Sex and the City and And Just Like That... are shows that viewers will return to time and time again. Diehard fans embrace the totality of her character, flaws and all — they don't embellish or pretend she's perfect.

Dylan B Jones, co-host of So I Got To Thinking podcast, tells Mashable that Carrie embodies a desire "that lurks inside all of us — the freedom to live and behave like an absolute dickhead and somehow get away with it."

"She taps cigarette ash onto pristine carpets, slops martinis onto beautiful floors, turns up late on no sleep to fashion shoots, cheats and lies her way through relationships and somehow still comes out of it beloved by all who behold her. She embodies selfish oblivion, and that, for many of us, is the unattainable 21st century dream," says Jones.

Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall on location for "Sex and the City: The Movie" in 2007. Credit: Getty Images / Brian Ach/ WireImage

Maiia Krylova, founder of @carriebradshaws_outfits, an Instagram account dedicated to Carrie's enviable wardrobe, says Carrie's legacy will endure "because she represented more than fashion, she was the voice of freedom, imperfection, and the magic of being a woman."

"She gave us permission to embrace contradictions: to be vulnerable yet strong, romantic yet independent, glamorous yet relatable. Through her, women saw that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be extraordinary and that our stories, with all their flaws and detours, are worth telling," Krylova tells Mashable.

Carrie as a character will stay with us, I think, because she holds an at-times unflattering mirror up to us. When she's on good form, we gleefully declare we're "such a Carrie," but when she fucks up (which she so often does), we feel a keen disappointment. And yet, we carry on watching. She's like a friend we can't help but forgive.

As Big once said: "You're worth a million bucks, Bradshaw." It was one of the rare occasions that I actually agreed with him.

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 15, get the Beats Solo 4 headphones at Amazon for $99.95, down from their usual price of $199.95. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Beats Solo 4 $99.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $100.00 Get Deal

It's that time again: back to school. If you're sending some of the family back to class, or you're heading there yourself, one useful thing to add to your shopping list is a good pair of headphones. There are tons of models to choose from, sure, but if you're looking for an over-the-ear option, a pair of Beats headphones usually means you've got an excellent pick on your hands. And you can save a significant amount of money on a pair right now.

As of Aug. 15, get the Beats Solo 4 headphones for $99.95, down from their usual price of $199.95, at Amazon. That's $100 off for a discount of 50%, and just a couple of dollars away from their lowest price ever.

SEE ALSO: I found the exact headphones Taylor Swift wore to announce her new album — and they're on sale

These headphones are perfect for long listening sessions, whether that means bopping along to your favorite tunes, podcasts, or having conversations with others. They boast a lengthy listening time of up to 50 hours, as well as high-quality sound with Personalized Spatial Audio. That means they can make you feel like you're right in the middle of the music, thanks to their head-tracking ability.

They're also built with an ultralight frame that includes super plush ear cups so they're comfortable for wearing all day or through lengthy meetings. When they're low on charge, you can also utilize their FastFuel feature to get five hours of playtime back with just 10 minutes of charging.

Now's a great time to grab a pair of these solid headphones, especially since you can save so much on them right now.

SAVE 15%: As of Aug. 15, you can get the Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker (two pints included) for $169, down from $199, at Walmart. That's a 15% discount and a $30 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja CREAMi (NC300) $169 at Walmart
$199 Save $30 Get Deal

Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a frozen treat — and it's even better when you can make it fresh at home.

As of Aug. 15, you can get the Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker for $169, down from $199, at Walmart. That's a 15% discount and a $30 savings.

SEE ALSO: The Ninja Swirl is even better and more fun than the original Creami

The Ninja CREAMi is one of Mashable’s Hype Test subjects. Our shopping reporter, Samantha Mangino, says it’s ideal for meal preppers who like to experiment with new flavor combinations and control the ingredients in their frozen desserts.

“The Ninja Creami is fun to use; I get the hype,” writes Mangino. “Rather than going on a trip to get ice cream, you're having a little adventure in your kitchen. If you're a planner and/or an ice cream fanatic, the Creami will be a delightful addition as you plan your pints of the week.”

It has five built-in programs for ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, lite ice cream, and mix-in options. Just prepare your base, freeze it overnight, and process it through the machine. The re-spin function gives you the option to make it even creamier after your first pass, and it’s also the trick for making leftover frozen treats from previous batches soft and scoopable again.