Technology

Temu has exploded as a popular online shopping site all over the world, but at the same time has raised many concerns. I've been wary of using it myself, but over time I've become a regular customer, and there are a few key reasons why.

Booking travel isn't usually done in a state of calm. You're trying to match the cheapest flights and hotel dates, juggle transport connections, and in the worst-case scenario, coordinate with a number of travel companions with different opinions. Amongst all of this, it's easy to make mistakes.

Apple released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 today to fix a serious security problem related to USB Restricted Mode. This vulnerability could let someone bypass USB Restricted Mode on a locked device through a physical attack, which might allow access to the device's data.

TikTok is still missing from the Play Store and App Store, meaning that anyone who uninstalled the app on January 18th is effectively locked out. To alleviate this problem, the TikTok website is now distributing an APK for Android users.

Before optical discs started their plunge in popularity, CDs were set to be replaced by the DVD-A format. A format that would take use beyond stereo music and push fidelity into the stratosphere—so what happened?

As much as NVIDIA technically downsized the RTX 5090, it's still consuming a lot of power. It has a crazy 575W TDP, almost as much as a whole computer could consume a decade ago. No one could've seen this coming: power cables are melting again this generation.

According to Spotify, more than 1.6 million Valentine's Day playlists are created globally each year. If you're like me and take great pride in producing the perfect playlist, you'll love this new Valentine's Day sticker collection for sprucing up your playlist with the right cover art.

Not even Elmo, the beloved Sesame Street puppet, is safe from the internet's ire. The little red monster got roasted for a tweet about the Super Bowl.

Ahead of Sunday's big game, Elmo's X/Twitter account posted: "Elmo just hopes both teams have fun!"

Seems innocuous enough, no? Not to the internet, apparently.

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There were countless posts demanding Elmo stop riding the fence in the matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles.

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There were also a number of jokes about sports gambling to Elmo, who, canonically, is 3.5 years old.

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Pretty much everyone got in on the joke, even the Philadelphia Eagles' account, as the team cruised to a championship.

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This just goes to show that the internet will come after anyone at any time, including beloved children's puppets.

While many retro gamers are trying to snap up a good CRT TV before they're all gone (or at least gone up in price) there are some of you that are trying to offload your tubular paperweights, but can't seem to get rid of them. If no one seems interested in your old CRT TV, consider these tips.

Meta is joining other tech industry giants slimming down their workforces, as it begins a massive round of job cuts that reflect a priority shift towards AI.

In an internal memo sent to employees today (Feb. 10), Meta announced it would begin notifying "low performing" employees singled out for lay offs based on manager reviews and attrition rates of the previous year. The layoffs will affect almost 4,000 Meta workers across the United States, Europe, and Asia — U.S. employees are expected to be hit first.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on Meta's submission to Trump

In January, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company was planning to lay off more than 5 percent of its workforce based on an anticipated "intense year" for the tech giant, according to a leaked Workplace memo. The leader previously explained that Meta is doubling down on its "year of efficiency" and has been reorganizing the company's divisions to free up resources for its AI and AGI push. According to other internal documents, Meta is fast-tracking hiring for machine learning engineers and recently transferred some of the company's leadership to its generative AI group.

"Mark is creating fear. He's creating a culture where you have to be loyal to him or else," an anonymous Meta worker told Business Insider. "Self-censorship is rampant. At a company supposedly dedicated to connecting people, the human side of our work is disappearing, and everyone is acting more robotic."

Zuckerberg was recently spotted exiting the White House following his public support for President Donald Trump. A few weeks before Trump took office, Meta announced it was axing its in-house DEI policies and changing its Hateful Conduct policy.

Android 16 could soon get a feature that would be a lifesaver for frequent travelers: an alert for time zone changes. 

If you've ever traveled across a time zone change, you know it can be confusing if you're not paying attention. Your phone will automatically shift into the new time zone, whether you're paying attention or not. A new potential feature from Android 16 would send users an alert to alleviate that confusion.

Android Authority spotted a potential new feature in the beta for Android 16. It wrote that in Settings > System > Date & Time, there is a new "time zone change" feature that will let users "receive a notification when their time zone is automatically updated."

SEE ALSO: Android 16 public beta arrives: 3 new features, how to try it now

As of this writing, the new feature appears to be available only to folks running the Android 16 beta, but it could very well be a part of the final operating system that rolls out to users.

It's a small change, but one that could be pretty helpful for travelers. Changing time zones during a drive, in particular, can be a bit disorienting. With this potential new feature, you might never have to worry about that again.

SAVE UP TO $900: The Purple Presidents' Day sale takes up to $900 off mattress and base bundles, up to 30% off bedding, and 20% off Purple pillows.

Best Purple Presidents' Day Sale deals Best mattress deal Purple Mattress $1299 (save $200) Get Deal Best Purple bedding deal Purple SoftStretch Sheet Set $183 (save $46) Get Deal Best Purple pillow deal Harmony Anywhere Travel Bundle $150 (save $53) Get Deal

Sleep is one of life's essentials. If you've ever gone through a period in life where sleep was hard to come by, you understand the impact poor sleep has on memory, cognition, mood, the immune system, and overall vibes.

On the other hand, if you've been getting great sleep that leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for each new day, congratulations because you've unlocked one of life's most significant hacks.

A huge component of whether you're getting the best sleep of your life or slogging through each night to clock just five hours of rest is your mattress and bedding setup. You deserve something comfortable and supportive, from the mattress itself to your sheets and pillows.

Thankfully, one of the leading mattress companies is offering some great discounts during Presidents' Day. Purple has taken up to $900 off mattress and base bundles while also offering discounts on sheet sets and pillows. If you're in need of a bedroom refresh, check out some of our favorite deals at Purple during Presidents' Day.

Best mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Purple Purple Mattress (queen) $1,299.00 at Purple
$1,499.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Mattresses vary significantly in materials and construction and the Purple Mattress is unique in the use of the brand's GelFlex Grid. This upper comfort layer is a hyper-elastic polymer material that aims to offer great pressure relief with excellent cooling. This makes the Purple Mattress great for anyone who's looking for a comfortable night's rest without overheating.

It's also great when it come to motion isolation which is something sleepers should look for if they're easily awaken by a partner's movements of if the dog tends to jump up on the bed at 3 a.m. The material is also hypoallergenic which is great for those who deal with allergies.

In a queen size, the Purple Mattress usually costs $1,499 but the Presidents' Day Sale brings it down to $1,299. You also get a 100-night sleep trial to test out the mattress at home.

Best bedding deal Opens in a new window Credit: Purple Purple SoftStretch Sheet Set (queen) $183.00 at Purple
$229.00 Save $46.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A good mattress deserves to be dressed in nice sheets, and you deserve to sleep well in cozy bedding. The queen-size Purple SoftStretch Sheet Set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases, and it's on sale for $183 at part of the Purple Presidents' Day sale, down from the normal price of $229.

Purple makes these soft sheets with a bamboo-blend fabric that feels silky and smooth, draping over the body. The material is also nice for hot sleepers since it's both moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating. The StretchSecure elastic band on the fitted sheet helps it stay snugly in place over your mattress.

Best pillow deal Opens in a new window Credit: Purple Harmony Anywhere Travel Bundle $150.00 at Purple
$203.00 Save $53.00 Get Deal Why we like it

There's nothing worse that getting bad sleep on vacation. While some hotels are genuinely a dream come true when it comes to mattress and bedding comfort, others could use some serious help. Instead of playing roulette with sleep while traveling, grab the Purple Harmony Anywhere Travel Bundle. It includes the Purple Harmony Travel Pillow, Purple SoftStretch Pillowcase, and the Harmony Anywhere Travel Case. Together, the bundle is discounted to $150 instead of the typical price of $203.

The Harmony Anywhere Pillow is a smaller version of the brand's Harmony Pillow and both use the brand's signature GelFlex Grid for ultimate cooling and pressure relief. The core of the pillow is made with ventilated latex for even more comfort.

Not only is the pillow great for planes, it's great for when your Airbnb only has pillows that feel worthy of getting tossed out.

More Purple Presidents' Day deals:

• Purple Mattress Protector — $79 $99 (save $20)

• Purple Harmony Pillow — $179 $199 (save $20)

• Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress (queen) — $2,099 $2,399 (save $300)

• Purple Rejuvenate Mattress (queen) — $4,995 $5,495 (save $500)

T-Mobile's Starlink satellite messaging service is free for everyone to try — even AT&T and Verizon customers.

During the Super Bowl on Sunday, T-Mobile announced the public beta launch of its direct-to-cell program with Starlink. Customers can sign up, free of charge, until it moves out of beta in July. And you don't have to be a T-Mobile subscriber to try it out.

SEE ALSO: FCC approves T-Mobile's Starlink cell coverage plans

"When your service is amazing and different, you want as many people to try it as possible," reads the announcement. "T-Mobile is giving AT&T and Verizon customers the opportunity to try out T-Mobile Starlink satellite service on their existing phones."

When T-Mobile Starlink is released from beta, it will be included in the Go5G plan at no extra charge. T-Mobile customers on other plans can opt for the Starlink add-on for $15 a month per line. AT&T and Verizon customers can also add T-Mobile Starlink's satellite text messaging for $20 a month per line. All they need is a compatible smartphone.

While anyone with a compatible phone can sign up for T-Mobile Starlink, this does not mean it's automatically "installed" on iPhones, contrary to a rumor on TikTok. There's no direct partnership between Apple and Starlink, and Elon Musk, who owns Starlink, cannot access iPhone user data. 

All this means is that the iPhones have the Starlink connectivity option through T-Mobile since the iPhone has 1900MHz (band 25) spectrum support. This is not automatically included as part of the iPhone's iOS 18.3 update; users must opt to add Starlink coverage as part of their plan.

For the record, Apple has had satellite messaging support since the iPhone 14 via its Globalstar partnership. You can opt out of any satellite messaging by going to Settings > Cellular > your carrier > then turn off Satellite.

SAVE $700: As of Feb. 10, you can get the NordicTrack T Series treadmill for just $599 at Amazon. That's a 54% discount and a $700 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordicTrack NordicTrack T Series treadmill $599.00 at Amazon
$1,299.00 Save $700.00 Get Deal

Presidents’ Day isn’t until next week, but Amazon’s already cutting prices on everything from tech to fitness equipment, and one of the best deals we've spotted so far is on the NordicTrack T Series treadmill, which is currently 54% off its regular price.

As of Feb. 10, you can get the NordicTrack T Series 10 treadmill for just $599 — that’s $700 off the sticker price and a solid deal for a treadmill with 34K reviews and a 4.3-star average rating on Amazon.

This treadmill has a large 10-inch display so you can stream live and on-demand workouts, connect with the iFit app, and access a library of over 17,000 studio classes and scenic runs. (The iFit membership is sold separately.) The SmartAdjust feature adapts to your fitness level and auto-adjusts the intensity during your workout. And thanks to its syncing option, you can access your fitness data and stats right on your connected device (Google Fit, STRAVA, Apple Health, etc.).

PlayStation Network went down at the worst possible time for gamers this past weekend.

Around 9 p.m. ET on Friday night, PlayStation users found themselves unable to connect to PSN. The network was down for a still unspecified outage, meaning users could not connect to play online games. In addition, users were unable to buy some digitally purchased games that require an online connection.

If you're a paying member of the PlayStation Plus premium subscription and had your weekend gaming plans interrupted, things aren't all bad. PlayStation has announced that they will make it up to you.

"All PlayStation Plus members will automatically receive an additional 5 days of service," reads a post on X from the official PlayStation support account @AskPlayStation.

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Five free days of service isn't a bad trade for an issue that lasted around half a day.

PlayStation Network downtime was a big topic of conversation across the internet over the weekend. Although a complete network outage resulting in downtime is not unheard of, these issues are usually fixed quickly. That's why gamers were surprised to wake up on Saturday morning and find that PlayStation Network was still down.

In fact, the first reports about PSN being back up didn't start to trickle in until Saturday afternoon, roughly 15 hours later.

"Network services have fully recovered from an operational issue," PlayStation's support account posted on Sunday. "We apologize for the inconvenience and thank the community for their patience."

Picking an Apple Watch band is no different from clothes shopping. Feeling the materials of each band, trying out their fastening mechanisms, and strapping them on is the only way to find the best fit. Skirting this process could prove a pricey mistake, just as it was for me.

OnePlus has revealed the OnePlus Watch 3 smartwatch will be available in North America and Europe later in February. The main selling point here is its long-lasting battery.

Picture this: you’re dating someone new, and, not for nothing, you’re excited about them. They do things like chat to you all the time, texting and checking in with how your day is going. They take you on thoughtfully planned dates, talk about introducing you to their friends, kiss your forehead after sex, and cuddle you all night — in short, they’re waving lots of green flags and you think there’s a real future here.

But then you blink and suddenly, even though this person put so much of their time and emotional energy into signposting at every turn that they were serious about you, and never once saying they just wanted to keep things casual, they drop you without so much as an "it's not you, it’s me."

This is what I’ve dubbed the Relationship Experience. I’ve seen it play out time and time again, and it’s liable to make even the most sure-footed singleton stumble. 

With a name borrowed from the niche of sex work commonly referred to as 'the Girlfriend Experience,' a Relationship Experience is about enjoying the perks of having a partner for a little while without any actual commitment.

In a way, it’s a tale as old as time. How many times have you, dear reader, felt like you’ve been led down the garden path by someone who was giving off all the signs of wanting something serious with you, only to be unceremoniously ditched without any explanation?

Not quite a situationship, not quite love bombing

A situationship, for instance, is an umbrella term that can define all manner of casual dating scenarios like this one, but not all of them have to be bad. Meanwhile, ghosting can be at play in how they end things with you, but there are plenty of other insensitive ways someone can call time on a Relationship Experience.

As for love bombing, that behaviour is done with seriously nefarious intent, often by narcissists. It’s a means of controlling you later down the line. By drowning you in how good their overabundance of ‘love’ feels early on, their affection becomes the carrot they dangle to get you to do what they want, while their emotional distance and/or cruelty become the stick.

SEE ALSO: How does orientation affect the dating app experience?

Yes, it’s possible to date a person with the best of long-term intentions only to change your mind about wanting to commit to them. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, and it’s nobody’s fault. 

But the crux of the Relationship Experience is that one party may very well never have intended to commit in the first place. Meanwhile, all the green flags a Relationship Experience-seeker waves can trip up even the most seasoned singleton. This is what makes it so nefarious. 

And when they take their leave of you, they do so noncommittal-y rather than sensitively ending things.

Hurt people hurting people

But all this still raises the question: why do they put so much time and energy into romancing you, even though they have zero plans to take the ‘relationship’ further? 

Dr. Wendy Walsh, a relationship expert and psychology professor, thinks the answer is simple. "An unspoken rule has been observed by evolutionary psychologists around the world; the easiest way to obtain a short-term relationship is by pretending to want a long-term relationship."

"An unspoken rule has been observed by evolutionary psychologists around the world; the easiest way to obtain a short-term relationship is by pretending to want a long-term relationship."

However, psychotherapist Dr. Gisele Caseiras, of Likeminds psychotherapy, wonders if the whole thing isn’t more to do with fear and self-sabotage. She explains that the seeker of a Relationship Experience may well be conflicted about having a genuinely close and committed relationship. "While they seem to desire intimacy, crave connection, and pursue it intensely," she adds, "their underlying fear of intimacy leads them to sabotage the relationship."

And why not be upfront about their feelings? Again, the answer may stem from fear — of rejection and of intimacy — combined with a desire to protect themselves.

Caseiras says: "They may worry that opening up will make them seem unattractive or uninteresting. To avoid feeling rejected, they might show a lot of affection early on, fostering a sense of dependency in their partners."

"This strategy enables them to end the relationship on their terms before facing rejection, often leaving their partner confused and overwhelmed. By not explicitly stating their intentions, individuals might try to avoid becoming emotionally involved and maintain a sense of power."

Thus they can more easily leave the whole situation in the dust if they feel like things are getting "too intense" on either side. 

Even if they’re actively seeking out a connection, they could still fear that intimacy deep down. "By keeping things ambiguous," Caseiras adds, "they can avoid getting too close and risking the emotional pain that inevitably comes with rejection or vulnerability."

This fear can stem from previous love life traumas the Relationship Experience-seeker went through. "Sometimes," Dr. Caseiras says, "people can reenact past experiences, repeating unconscious patterns of behaviour."

"As painful as heartbreak can be, it often teaches us a lot about ourselves."

Ultimately, if you’ve been hurt by someone who was only looking for the Relationship Experience, it’s largely not your business to fully understand why. Or, heaven forbid, try to fix them. Instead, it’s a lot wiser to focus on yourself.

Walsh, whose PhD is in clinical psychology and who works closely with DatingAdvice, suggests: "Use the experience as research on human behavior. Learn from it without beating yourself up for not seeing the red flags."

Caseiras agrees, suggesting you reflect, process, and note what you’ve learned from the whole thing.

"It would be natural to feel rejected but also confused, angry, and frustrated at being misled," she says. "Allow yourself time to reflect on those painful feelings. Explore your experience with a trusted friend — we often make better sense of experiences when we begin to think and put them into a context that others might understand. Those important conversations might help you not only to process your feelings but also lead you to some ‘aha’ moments."

You might also want to think about what exactly drew you to this Relationship Experience-seeker in the first place. "As painful as heartbreak can be," Caseiras says, "it often teaches us a lot about ourselves and what we are looking for in a relationship. Be curious about what kind of partner you are attracted to and whether that pattern is healthy for you. Keep that in mind when you feel ready to start dating again."

SEE ALSO: 10 free dating apps worth trying in 2025

As for new red flags to take away, you should watch out for things like a lack of truly deep conversations and a focus on physical attraction.

As Caseiras explains: “While chemistry and physical attraction are important, if the focus of the relationship seems solely on physical intimacy without any deeper connection, it could be a warning sign. You can tell if the person is interested in you by noticing if they are curious about you, your hobbies, and your interests. They might want to know about your views of the world and your goals. If the conversation is superficial and lacks depth, it could be a sign that the person is not interested in getting to know you on a deeper level.”

Emotional intensity early doors is another thing to be wary of, because, as the good doctor Caseiras says: “While feeling passionate is good, showing strong emotions and declaring love too soon can be a warning sign. If someone makes big gestures, wants constant contact, or makes big promises early on, it can leave you feeling vulnerable and dependent.”

And remember, cliché though it may be, actions speak louder than words. If someone consistently backs up what they say by making an effort to spend quality time with you and is there for you emotionally as well as physically, those are pretty big green flags.

Most vehicles depreciate the most in their first five years on the road. This means that if you’re looking for a used bargain that is going to save you a ton of money up front and won’t depreciate aggressively, you should nab one that is around five years old. This is particularly true of hybrid vehicles.

A good pair of headphones is worth its weight in gold, but what if I told you that you could enhance the sound quality of your existing ones without spending a dime? The solution lies in adjusting your equalizer, and you can do it effortlessly with AutoEq.