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Posted by Michelle Ehrhardt

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Here we go again. After hiking the price of Xbox consoles earlier this year, Microsoft just announced it is already raising prices again—the second price hike in four months. Now, even Microsoft's cheapest console, the Xbox Series S, will cost at least $400.

As someone who got an Xbox Series S for $150 a few years back, that stings. (Granted, I got a really good deal. Still.) Microsoft is blaming "changes in the macroeconomic environment" for the new prices, so read into that what you will.

How much more expensive will the Xbox be?

Here is what Microsoft's consoles will cost after the new pricing takes effect:

Keep in mind that even after Sony's own price hikes, U.S. gamers can still get a PS5 for $550 and a PS5 Digital Edition for $500. Yes, Microsoft's consoles technically start cheaper, but the Series S is more comparable to the original Nintendo Switch than an Xbox Series X or a PS5, and $400 is a lot to pay for it—although the original Switch also got its own price hike just last month, and the OLED model of that machine will also now run you $400. If you're comparing apples to apples, though, Sony's console is about to be a good bit cheaper than Microsoft's.

Gamers who prize physical media will be the hardest hit, as to get a disc drive on your machine, you have to opt for a non-digital Xbox Series X, which means you're going to get a bigger price increase than your peers. The last jump bumped the Xbox Series S up by $80 and the Series X by $100, while this one increases the Xbox Series S by $20 and the Xbox Series X by $50.

On the plus side, Microsoft said pricing for controllers and headsets "will remain the same," which isn't how it went last time around. Maybe that's a hint at the overall console strategy: Microsoft has been investing a lot in cloud gaming recently, and you technically don't even need a console to play its games. In that case, upping pricing on its hardware is maybe a bit less risky for the Halo folks than the God of War ones.

And I haven't even touched on Microsoft's most expensive machine. If you're an Xbox loyalist and you want to go all-in on its 2TB Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Special Edition, that will now run you $800, a $70 bump in the price tag. Honestly, at that point, you could probably just get a PC instead.

There is something you can do about these price increases, even if it kind of feels like giving in to a ransom: They won't go in effect until Oct. 3rd, so if you were still on the fence about getting an Xbox, now is the time to act. You'll still have to deal with the price hike from May, but at least you'll save between $20 and $70.

bitch

Sep. 19th, 2025 10:29 pm
tielan: (SGA - Teyla 2)
[personal profile] tielan
Someone wrote a 7000 word crossover fic about Atlantis that had not a single mention of Teyla.

Why am I surprised?
[syndicated profile] lifehacker_feed

Posted by Michelle Ehrhardt

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.


The Apple Watch Series 11 is now available, and just a few days into using a review unit, I’m happy with the upgrade. But whether it’ll be worth it to you is a different story entirely.

Before the Series 11, I was still using a first-generation Apple Watch SE. Since I don’t need much from my smartwatch, the SE was enough for me: basic media playback with heart-rate tracking and tap-to-pay. What more could I want?

But the Series 11 taught me that I could want much more. Its bigger screen with an always-on display is a nice bonus, as is the thinner and lighter design. The problem is that the Apple Watch Series 11 isn’t the first Apple Watch with those bonuses. If you’re like me and haven’t upgraded in a while, the Apple Watch Series 11 is a great pick. But those with a newer Apple Watch may want to hold off and save their money.

What I love most about the Apple Watch Series 11

While the Apple Watch Series 11 comes with a new chip and upgrades to both battery life and wireless connectivity, I’ve already mentioned what I value most about it. Essentially, I just like that this thing is super comfortable to wear. At its release, the Series 10 was Apple’s thinnest and lightest smartwatch, but since the Series 11 has inherited its design, it’s now tied with its successor.

Apple Watch Series 10 in profile (left) vs. Apple Watch Series 11 in profile (right)
Apple Watch Series 10 in profile (left) vs. Apple Watch Series 11 in profile (right) Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Both hardly feel like you’re wearing anything at all (while I don’t use the Series 10 on a day-to-day basis, my husband has one that he’s letting me borrow to write this). While my SE’s circular sensor bump often feels like it’s jutting into my wrist, both the Series 10 and 11 feel flat on my wrist, thanks to their thinner bodies. It's a huge relief over an extended period, and it only gets better with the few grams Apple’s knocked off the weight.

The display also contributes to the comfort. Both the Series 10 and the Series 11 have an always-on display, and while an always-on display has been available as far back as the Series 5, this is my first time using one on a watch. The Apple Watch display also got 9% bigger starting on the Series 10, so the Series 11 screen is a bit more luxurious than anyone on a Series 9 or before will be used to.

The bigger, always-on display helps with comfort because it’s much more glanceable. With my SE, I had to raise my wrist to see my watch screen, and the 10 and 11 don’t need that. At 2,000 nits of brightness, they’re easy to see even if your wrist is at your side and slightly turned, and with OLED and a 1Hz refresh rate, the always-on display is able to update every second without wasting unnecessary battery life. Having my screen turn off was probably the biggest annoyance of using a smartwatch over a traditional watch for me, and now it’s something I don’t have to worry about at all.

Apple Watch SE display (left) vs. Apple Watch Series 11 display (right)
Apple Watch SE display (left) vs. Apple Watch Series 11 display (right) Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

I’m pleased enough with the improved comfort to shell out money for a Series 11 after returning this review unit. I was worried that, because the Series 11 starts at 42mm while my first-gen SE is 40mm, it might feel a bit too big. In actuality, while I still prefer a small watch, it’s turned out to be the better size for me.

What else can the Apple Watch Series 11 do?

If you’re upgrading from an older watch, the Series 11 also gives you access to a lot more sensors. But to be honest, most are overkill. For instance, you can use it as a dive computer down to 6 meters (or about 20 feet), which isn't particularly handy for most people. But there are some advanced features worth caring about.

First, it’s easier to control this smartwatch than older Apple smartwatches. With watchOS 26, the Series 9, 10, and 11 got support for both the wrist flick and double tap gestures, and they’re both pretty convenient. Think of them as “dismiss” and “confirm,” respectively. You can use wrist flick to turn down notifications, and while you can customize double tap a bit more, the idea is that you’ll use it to start a song or navigate your smart stack without using your hands.

Essentially, the goal is that these features keep you from having to fumble with your watch screen if you’re otherwise occupied. For instance, I got a phone call while working out with the Series 11 this morning (where it was much more comfortable on my wrist than my SE), and quickly rotating my wrist away from my body was all I needed to do to decline the call. Normally, I would have just let it ring until it went to voicemail, so this was a nice way to save myself the distraction.

Aside from the new gestures, the Series 11 also has a few new health features. Like with the depth meter, whether you’ll actually use them depends on who you are, but there are a few in particular that I’m happy to have. For instance, like my colleague Beth Skwarecki, I’m not too enthused about Sleep Score, which tries to break down your sleep quality into one number but seems too generalized for me to get much use out of. Hypertension notifications, on the other hand, are a big deal to me. Hypertension notifications weren't available on my SE (and still aren't on any SE, for that matter). Instead, you need an Apple Watch Series 9 or above. What these notifications do is passively track how your blood vessels respond to your heart rate using a PPG, then send you a notification if your watch notices significant irregularities over a 30-day period.

One of the reasons my husband picked up an Apple Watch Series 10 was so he could use the ECG to track his heart rate over time, rather than just when he was working out. This helped him figure out that his heart rate would sometimes be way too high after drinking caffeine or while going to bed, which his doctor eventually diagnosed as AFiB. He might have missed out on this if he didn’t have the data to back it up, but he’s now gotten it treated, and says he feels a lot more stable across the day, with no random spikes (plus, AFiB has the potential to get pretty serious if left untreated, so his doctor is glad he was able to catch it early).

If these Hypertension Notifications, which do a similar thing but for high blood pressure, can help my husband keep his heart healthy, then I’m all for them. He does have to regularly check his blood pressure as part of his ongoing treatment, and while the Apple Watch can’t give him specific numbers, it should help him passively determine what his numbers mean and if he needs to be worried. Plus, I’m interested in trying them, too. The CDC says that “of the 75 million Americans who have hypertension…about 11 million of them don’t know their blood pressure is too high and are not receiving treatment to control it.” Given how well my husband’s Apple Watch helped him diagnose his AFiB, it brings a little extra peace of mind to have it checking for high blood pressure, too.

What’s new on the Apple Watch Series 11?

The catch is that the Apple Watch Series 11 isn’t the only way to get these new features. The thin and light display is on the Series 10, “wrist flick” and “double tap” are on the Series 9 and above, and so are Hypertension Notifications. The Series 11 is a great upgrade over my SE, but if you’ve been more up to date with your Apple Watch, you might not want to get the newest model at all. You'd likely be buying Series 11 for only three things.

First, the Apple Watch Series 11 has a 5G modem. Currently, the Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3 are the only Apple Watches with 5G connectivity, whereas older models use LTE, which is a type of 4G. That means these watches are faster, but because 5G is also more efficient than 4G, will also save some battery life when using online features. 

Second, the Series 11 has an improved Ion-X glass display. This uses proprietary tech, and Apple says it’s two times more scratch resistant than the Series 10. It’s only available on aluminum models, as titanium models use a slightly less durable sapphire crystal display instead, but it’s also on the SE 3 (the Ultra 3 instead opts for sapphire crystal).

And third, the Series 11 has a longer battery life. While I haven’t had the Series 11 long enough to test its longevity, Apple is claiming 24 hours of battery life on the Series 11 (or 38 in Low Power Mode) versus 18 hours on the Series 10 (or 36 in Low Power Mode). I have a trip coming up, and I’m curious to see how these claims hold up while I’m adventuring away from a plug for a long period of time.

Still, while all of these are nice-to-haves, none of them are as flashy as, say, the thin new body that came with the Series 10. Additionally, if you have a Series 10 and are already careful about scratching your watch or don’t have a cellular plan for it, then you’re not going to get use out of anything but the improved battery life.

I both do and don’t recommend the Apple Watch Series 11

Apple Watch Series 10 (left) vs. Apple Watch Series 11 (right)
Apple Watch Series 10 (left) vs. Apple Watch Series 11 (right) Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Which brings me to my final point. The Apple Watch Series 11 is a great watch if you’re a few years behind on upgrades, but it's probably worth skipping if you have a Series 10. It’s been a major quality of life improvement for me over my first-gen SE, which came out in 2020, but if it weren’t a different color than the Series 10, my husband might not have been able to tell it apart from what he already has.

That’s why, once I have to return this review unit, I’ll probably spend the $400 to get one. That’s the same price that the Series 10 has been at until now, and while you can currently find the Series 10 at a mild discount at third-party retailers, the new battery life is probably worth the extra $40-50 for me. But my husband, on the other hand, will keep kicking with what’s already on his wrist.

I assume that’s what a lot of other people will do: Upgrade if you’re a few years behind, but otherwise wait. But there's one other option. (Well, OK, two options if you want to go premium and get the $800 Apple Watch Ultra 3). You could just get an Apple Watch SE 3 instead. Releasing alongside the Series 11, this is a major upgrade over the SE 2, starting at $250 and upgrading that model to include an always-on display, sleep apnea notifications, temperature sensing, 5G, fast-charge, and both the wrist flick and double tap notifications. But it’s not quite as thin as the Apple Watch Series 11, the screen isn’t as big, and it can’t do ECG tracking or Hypertension notifications. I’ve been so thoroughly spoiled by the Series 11 that I’m not sure I can settle for that, but for others, it might be just the sweet spot.

round 154 hour -2

Sep. 19th, 2025 10:03 pm
lilly_c: Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran wearing all black against a purple lights background and mine! in purple text (Default)
[personal profile] lilly_c posting in [community profile] fic_rush_48
This hour is double checking the alarms are set for the morning.
kaberett: Trans symbol with Swiss Army knife tools at other positions around the central circle. (Default)
[personal profile] kaberett

... and doesn't quite make it.

On page 187 (of 218), we finally get this paragraph:

At this point we need to return to a crucial caveat. In most cases of persistent pain, whatever caused the initial injury has healed. Pain is now the primary disease. But there are a number of cases where there is continual damage that triggers nociceptive fibres; chronic inflammatory diseases are good examples. It is also important to point out that not every case of back pain is our brain's overreaction. A small -- but important -- minority of cases are caused by serious conditions -- cancer, some infections, spinal fractures and the nerve-compressing cauda equina syndrome -- but these can usually be ruled out by doctors, who will be on the lookout for 'red flag' symptoms. However, in the majority of cases of persistent pain (and over 90% of cases of back pain), there is no longer any identifiable tissue damage; our brain has become hypersensitive.

In a book that otherwise dedicates a lot of time to talking about gender and racial inequalities in healthcare access, including a solid half-paragraph on how common and how painful endometriosis (a chronic inflammatory condition!) is, the bit where "well this only applies to most people..." gets breezed past is certainly causing me more feelings. And yet it's still the closest anything I've read so far actually gets to engaging with the fact that the rest of us exist, so... no get-out-of-writing-essays-free card for me here, alas.

(The Painful Truth, Monty Lyman, mostly pretty good and definitely got me to think constructively about a few things -- like the merits of classical vs contemporary Pilates for my specific usecase via discussion of knitting -- and introduced me to some more, like open-label placebos and "safe threats" and the impact of paracetamol on empathy. It's incomplete, but not disrecommended.)

week 3 of RTW

Sep. 19th, 2025 11:01 pm
tielan: (SGA - Teyla 2)
[personal profile] tielan
Had a good time in Amalfi - the scenery is gorgeous. The people were pretty nice, a much younger crowd of women, but with only about half the time together, it was harder to make connections. We all took each others insta accounts and will follow on that way.

Now in London for a couple of days, thence to Derbyshire.

My first Guardian fanfic!

Sep. 19th, 2025 03:47 pm
veetvoojagig: (chuguo heart)
[personal profile] veetvoojagig posting in [community profile] sid_guardian
His Hands (2537 words) by VeetVoojagig
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Chu Shuzhi/Guo Changcheng
Characters: Guo Changcheng, Chu Shuzhi, Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Pining, Yearning, Lots of both, chu shuzhi has had enough of it, Hand Jobs, Semi-Public Sex
Summary:

He sighed softly, chin in his hand, as he watched Chu-ge drag a pen across a page from across the room. As steady in this mundane task as in fighting or manipulating his strings. What if Chu-ge was to set down that pen now, and walk across the office to Changcheng? What if that broad palm cupped his cheek, thumb brushing across his bottom lip? What if the other hand came to rest on his head, fingers threading into his hair? If the hands together tipped his face up to look into his eyes? Gazing down at him with the same want as his own?

[syndicated profile] twocents_feed

Posted by Daniel Oropeza

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.


Finding great travel deals is a skill, but it’s one that can be honed—if you know where to source a bargain, can be patient and flexible, and if you know you can take advantage of the 24-hour free federal cancelation policy to lock in a time-sensitive opportunity. Some of the hottest tricks people have been using lately to save on their travels are websites that let you buy other people's non-refundable vacations, from flights to hotels to cruises. If this sounds like your vibe, buckle up.

Here are some of the best travel websites you can use to snag your next trip on the cheap.

Google Flights' explore tool

I expect most people to know this one, but I have to start the list somewhere. For those who might not know, Google Flights has an “explore” tool where you see a map of your potential destinations from your local airport and their prices. This is great when you don't have a specific destination in mind but want to get away and see where you could potentially travel to. You can scroll through the planet and find some bargains that you might've never seen otherwise.

Quick tip: If you have a budget, use the filters on the top left to set it and see where you can afford to travel to around the world.

Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights

Yes, Google Flights is more user-friendly and has cool features, but if you mean business and are looking for the cheapest flight options you can find, Skyscanner is what you want to use. Here, you’ll find flights that will not even appear on Google Flights, and it even has an explore-like tool similar to Google’s where you simply input your local airport, select “whole month” for dates, and click “search” to find all the possible low-cost destinations for that month (I found a direct flight to Cancun from my home in Atlanta for $183).

You can catch last-minute flight deals and set alerts for cheap flights as well.

Shop second-hand vacation packages from people who can't get refunds

Imagine you buy a whole package deal for a family vacation months in advance but, like most people, you forego the travel insurance. You have a family emergency and can no longer take the trip. What can you do? Sell your vacation on the internet.

Websites like Sparefare, Roomer, Plans Change, and Transfer Travel let you buy other people's vacations that they can no longer use themselves. You can both save money and get these people out of a sticky situation. Here's a quick breakdown of your options:

TransferTravel

TransferTravel is like the Facebook Marketplace of travel plans. You can find anything from cruises, to flights, to hotels, events, and more. It's the most wide-ranging of all of these websites that offer transferable travel products.

SpareFare

SpareFare focuses on flight tickets or vouchers, hotel reservations, and holiday packages. You'll be connected directly with the seller to get their non-refundable bookings. SpareFare also helps you manage the name change process for airline tickets, which can get a bit complicated if you do it by yourself.

Roomer

If you're focusing on finding hotels at a bargain, use Roomer. The website focuses on showing you non-refundable bookings from people desperately trying to recoup any money they can. You can find hotels from all over the world and filter by number of occupants, dates, and location. You might not always find something available where you're staying, but if you do, you'll be a happy camper.

PlansChange

PlansChange is exactly like Roomer, but it's smaller in scope and reach. It doesn't hurt to check both when you find yourself looking for a bargain stay.

Use SecretFlying to set up alerts for their “Error Fares”

Airlines make mistakes sometimes, and as a savvy traveler, you need to be ready to take advantage of them when you can. SecretFlying is a travel deal website that works like many others, but it also has a special tool to find cheap flights that exist because of mistakes that airlines make. (For example, there was an enticing Chicago to London round-trip for only $58 last month.) The error fares go fast, and many might not logistically work for you, but if you ever do catch one of these, you’ll be bragging about it for years to come.

Use the Travel Arrow extension

If you're still only using Google Flights to do your searching, you could be missing out on some cheaper options. Travel Arrow is an extension you can install on your browser that will cross-reference your Google Flight info on Skyscanner, Kayak, Trip, and Expedia (all the major competitors to Google Flights). While it doesn't always work, it's a free tool that will more than pay for itself if you ever end up booking a cheaper flight with it. Keep in mind that some flights might be cheaper because their layovers are longer.

Use these online vacation package websites

There are many websites that sell you travel packages that include flights, hotels, food, tours, and even transportation (rails, buses, taxis, etc.) for much cheaper than you would find if you tried to book each piece individually. The catch is that these packages are typically strict on dates, and their cancellation policies are often less forgiving. But you’ll be able to find amazing deals at locations you might not otherwise be able to afford.

Gate1, for example, has been around since the '80s—my mom has used it with my dad to visit the eight wonders of the world on a budget over the years. Their best deals come from their weekly specials (you can sign up for their emails) and last-minute deals where you can find multi-day trips for big discounts.

For example, you can do a 13-day Thailand trip for $2,249 with all this included:

  • Roundtrip flights Los Angeles to Bangkok, or Bangkok to Los Angeles

  • Intra-flight Chiang Mai to Bangkok

  • 11 nights First Class accommodations

  • Hotel taxes, fees, service charges, and porterage

  • 18 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

  • Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach

  • Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout

  • Entrance fees per itinerary

Here are some other websites similar to Gate1 where you can find great deals on packages for your next trip:

round 154 hour -3

Sep. 19th, 2025 09:13 pm
lilly_c: Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran wearing all black against a purple lights background and mine! in purple text (Default)
[personal profile] lilly_c posting in [community profile] fic_rush_48
something something goes here
[syndicated profile] lifehacker_feed

Posted by Daniel Oropeza

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.


Finding great travel deals is a skill, but it’s one that can be honed—if you know where to source a bargain, can be patient and flexible, and if you know you can take advantage of the 24-hour free federal cancelation policy to lock in a time-sensitive opportunity. Some of the hottest tricks people have been using lately to save on their travels are websites that let you buy other people's non-refundable vacations, from flights to hotels to cruises. If this sounds like your vibe, buckle up.

Here are some of the best travel websites you can use to snag your next trip on the cheap.

Google Flights' explore tool

I expect most people to know this one, but I have to start the list somewhere. For those who might not know, Google Flights has an “explore” tool where you see a map of your potential destinations from your local airport and their prices. This is great when you don't have a specific destination in mind but want to get away and see where you could potentially travel to. You can scroll through the planet and find some bargains that you might've never seen otherwise.

Quick tip: If you have a budget, use the filters on the top left to set it and see where you can afford to travel to around the world.

Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights

Yes, Google Flights is more user-friendly and has cool features, but if you mean business and are looking for the cheapest flight options you can find, Skyscanner is what you want to use. Here, you’ll find flights that will not even appear on Google Flights, and it even has an explore-like tool similar to Google’s where you simply input your local airport, select “whole month” for dates, and click “search” to find all the possible low-cost destinations for that month (I found a direct flight to Cancun from my home in Atlanta for $183).

You can catch last-minute flight deals and set alerts for cheap flights as well.

Shop second-hand vacation packages from people who can't get refunds

Imagine you buy a whole package deal for a family vacation months in advance but, like most people, you forego the travel insurance. You have a family emergency and can no longer take the trip. What can you do? Sell your vacation on the internet.

Websites like Sparefare, Roomer, Plans Change, and Transfer Travel let you buy other people's vacations that they can no longer use themselves. You can both save money and get these people out of a sticky situation. Here's a quick breakdown of your options:

TransferTravel

TransferTravel is like the Facebook Marketplace of travel plans. You can find anything from cruises, to flights, to hotels, events, and more. It's the most wide-ranging of all of these websites that offer transferable travel products.

SpareFare

SpareFare focuses on flight tickets or vouchers, hotel reservations, and holiday packages. You'll be connected directly with the seller to get their non-refundable bookings. SpareFare also helps you manage the name change process for airline tickets, which can get a bit complicated if you do it by yourself.

Roomer

If you're focusing on finding hotels at a bargain, use Roomer. The website focuses on showing you non-refundable bookings from people desperately trying to recoup any money they can. You can find hotels from all over the world and filter by number of occupants, dates, and location. You might not always find something available where you're staying, but if you do, you'll be a happy camper.

PlansChange

PlansChange is exactly like Roomer, but it's smaller in scope and reach. It doesn't hurt to check both when you find yourself looking for a bargain stay.

Use SecretFlying to set up alerts for their “Error Fares”

Airlines make mistakes sometimes, and as a savvy traveler, you need to be ready to take advantage of them when you can. SecretFlying is a travel deal website that works like many others, but it also has a special tool to find cheap flights that exist because of mistakes that airlines make. (For example, there was an enticing Chicago to London round-trip for only $58 last month.) The error fares go fast, and many might not logistically work for you, but if you ever do catch one of these, you’ll be bragging about it for years to come.

Use the Travel Arrow extension

If you're still only using Google Flights to do your searching, you could be missing out on some cheaper options. Travel Arrow is an extension you can install on your browser that will cross-reference your Google Flight info on Skyscanner, Kayak, Trip, and Expedia (all the major competitors to Google Flights). While it doesn't always work, it's a free tool that will more than pay for itself if you ever end up booking a cheaper flight with it. Keep in mind that some flights might be cheaper because their layovers are longer.

Use these online vacation package websites

There are many websites that sell you travel packages that include flights, hotels, food, tours, and even transportation (rails, buses, taxis, etc.) for much cheaper than you would find if you tried to book each piece individually. The catch is that these packages are typically strict on dates, and their cancellation policies are often less forgiving. But you’ll be able to find amazing deals at locations you might not otherwise be able to afford.

Gate1, for example, has been around since the '80s—my mom has used it with my dad to visit the eight wonders of the world on a budget over the years. Their best deals come from their weekly specials (you can sign up for their emails) and last-minute deals where you can find multi-day trips for big discounts.

For example, you can do a 13-day Thailand trip for $2,249 with all this included:

  • Roundtrip flights Los Angeles to Bangkok, or Bangkok to Los Angeles

  • Intra-flight Chiang Mai to Bangkok

  • 11 nights First Class accommodations

  • Hotel taxes, fees, service charges, and porterage

  • 18 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

  • Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach

  • Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout

  • Entrance fees per itinerary

Here are some other websites similar to Gate1 where you can find great deals on packages for your next trip:

Give you joy of the day

Sep. 19th, 2025 03:19 pm
petra: A man with a spyglass looking excited; a man next to him seeming unimpressed (Hornblower - Oh baby)
[personal profile] petra
I can't celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day without remembering the time Talk Like Stephen Maturin Day was proposed as an alternative on Making Light, which was probably the best thing to ever happen to that website.
[syndicated profile] lifehacker_feed

Posted by Pradershika Sharma

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you’re trying to avoid Microsoft 365’s monthly fees but still want the full suite of tools for work or school, this one-time purchase of Office Professional Plus 2019 might be worth a look. It’s currently on sale for $29.97 on StackSocial, which is a fraction of what you’d usually pay. And just to be clear—this isn’t a trial or a cloud-based subscription, but a lifetime license for one Windows PC, and you get full offline access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

There are some limitations you’ll want to keep in mind. This deal is strictly for the 2019 version and doesn’t include Microsoft Teams. It also won’t tie to your Microsoft account, which might throw off those used to syncing documents between devices. But for a lot of people, that’s not a dealbreaker. It runs on Windows 10 or 11—so no luck if you’re still using an older machine—and you’ll need at least 1GB of RAM and 4GB of disk space. Installation is straightforward and instant. You get your license key and download link right after purchase, and that’s it.

In terms of features, you’re getting a robust productivity suite. Excel has improved data analysis tools, PowerPoint brings in new transitions and a zoom feature for dynamic slides, and Outlook makes email and calendar management a bit more efficient. Word is Word—it just works, and it works well. You can’t collaborate in real-time like in Office 365, but if you mostly work solo or on one device, this version gets the job done. All that said, $30 for a fully licensed, download-now Office suite isn’t a bad move—especially if you just need a stable toolkit that works.

[syndicated profile] twocents_feed

Posted by Pradershika Sharma

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you’re trying to avoid Microsoft 365’s monthly fees but still want the full suite of tools for work or school, this one-time purchase of Office Professional Plus 2019 might be worth a look. It’s currently on sale for $29.97 on StackSocial, which is a fraction of what you’d usually pay. And just to be clear—this isn’t a trial or a cloud-based subscription, but a lifetime license for one Windows PC, and you get full offline access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

There are some limitations you’ll want to keep in mind. This deal is strictly for the 2019 version and doesn’t include Microsoft Teams. It also won’t tie to your Microsoft account, which might throw off those used to syncing documents between devices. But for a lot of people, that’s not a dealbreaker. It runs on Windows 10 or 11—so no luck if you’re still using an older machine—and you’ll need at least 1GB of RAM and 4GB of disk space. Installation is straightforward and instant. You get your license key and download link right after purchase, and that’s it.

In terms of features, you’re getting a robust productivity suite. Excel has improved data analysis tools, PowerPoint brings in new transitions and a zoom feature for dynamic slides, and Outlook makes email and calendar management a bit more efficient. Word is Word—it just works, and it works well. You can’t collaborate in real-time like in Office 365, but if you mostly work solo or on one device, this version gets the job done. All that said, $30 for a fully licensed, download-now Office suite isn’t a bad move—especially if you just need a stable toolkit that works.

round 154 hour -4

Sep. 19th, 2025 08:00 pm
lilly_c: Ronnie The Rhino standing with his left arm on top of a NSW Blues Steeden football (Ronnie - footy)
[personal profile] lilly_c posting in [community profile] fic_rush_48
This hour is sponsored by super league. *giggles*

Progress?
Just chillin'?
[syndicated profile] lifehacker_feed

Posted by Michelle Ehrhardt

Google’s Gemini AI seems to be everywhere these days. It’s in your Gmail, it’s on your phone, and soon, it’ll be in your browser. While Google’s AI browser integration was already live for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, it's now rolling out to everyone—and getting a bunch of new features, too.

If you’re suddenly seeing a new Gemini button in the top right of your Chrome browser (in the same pane as your tabs), then you’ve already been hit with the update. If not, you may need to use the three-dots button in the top right corner and select Gemini in Chrome to turn it on, assuming you want to.

How to use Gemini in Chrome

When you click the Gemini button, or summon it via a keyboard shortcut (Alt + G by default), you’ll be able to try out the same features Google’s paying customers have had access to for a while. That means Gemini will be able to answer questions about the webpage you’re on, or just answer general questions unrelated to what you’re browsing. Or, if you’re in a Google app or on a Google website, it’ll be able to take some simple actions for you, like jumping you to a specific spot in a YouTube video.

Additionally, Gemini can also now work across your tabs and compare information between them. Simply start a dialogue with Gemini by tapping the button in the top right corner, and at the bottom of the window, click “Add tab” to give Gemini another source of data to consider.

Weirdly, while these updates are already pushing live to average folks, Google says businesses will need to wait a couple of weeks, so they can get “enterprise-grade data protections and controls.”

As of now, aside from the new access, it’s not the biggest update, especially because to try it, you need to be on Windows or Mac, have your language set to English, and be in the U.S.. Google stresses that the Gemini Assistant on Android can also help you browse Chrome, and that it’s working to bring more direct Gemini in Chrome access to both its Android and iOS apps.

More AI browsing is coming

Google says it also has big things in store for the feature, with “agentic browsing” set for the “coming months.” This will supposedly let Gemini in Chrome complete tasks, like booking a haircut for you, or ordering your groceries. Alternatively, it’ll also help you browse a bit more easily, as Google says it’s working to let you ask Gemini questions about your browser history when you want to go back to a specific page. For instance, “what was the website where I saw the walnut desk last week?” could take you back to a shopping page you only vaguely remember.

A more powerful address bar is apparently in the works that will let you ask questions of Google’s AI model without having to navigate to it first. For now, Gemini in Chrome will start suggesting questions to ask it about whatever page you’re on, right in the address bar.

The update includes a few security updates too, although they mostly seem to work in the backend, supposedly using AI to better block scammy ads and notifications. Now that’s the type of AI integration I can support wholeheartedly.

How to turn off Gemini in Chrome

All that said, if you’re a bit skeptical about Gemini in Chrome, you can turn it off. Simply navigate to Settings > AI Innovations, and you’ll be able to turn off the Gemini button, as well as disable its keyboard shortcut. You can also restrict its permissions: Set everything to off, and it’ll be like it was never installed in the first place.

[syndicated profile] twocents_feed

Posted by Michelle Ehrhardt

Google’s Gemini AI seems to be everywhere these days. It’s in your Gmail, it’s on your phone, and soon, it’ll be in your browser. While Google’s AI browser integration was already live for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, it's now rolling out to everyone—and getting a bunch of new features, too.

If you’re suddenly seeing a new Gemini button in the top right of your Chrome browser (in the same pane as your tabs), then you’ve already been hit with the update. If not, you may need to use the three-dots button in the top right corner and select Gemini in Chrome to turn it on, assuming you want to.

How to use Gemini in Chrome

When you click the Gemini button, or summon it via a keyboard shortcut (Alt + G by default), you’ll be able to try out the same features Google’s paying customers have had access to for a while. That means Gemini will be able to answer questions about the webpage you’re on, or just answer general questions unrelated to what you’re browsing. Or, if you’re in a Google app or on a Google website, it’ll be able to take some simple actions for you, like jumping you to a specific spot in a YouTube video.

Additionally, Gemini can also now work across your tabs and compare information between them. Simply start a dialogue with Gemini by tapping the button in the top right corner, and at the bottom of the window, click “Add tab” to give Gemini another source of data to consider.

Weirdly, while these updates are already pushing live to average folks, Google says businesses will need to wait a couple of weeks, so they can get “enterprise-grade data protections and controls.”

As of now, aside from the new access, it’s not the biggest update, especially because to try it, you need to be on Windows or Mac, have your language set to English, and be in the U.S.. Google stresses that the Gemini Assistant on Android can also help you browse Chrome, and that it’s working to bring more direct Gemini in Chrome access to both its Android and iOS apps.

More AI browsing is coming

Google says it also has big things in store for the feature, with “agentic browsing” set for the “coming months.” This will supposedly let Gemini in Chrome complete tasks, like booking a haircut for you, or ordering your groceries. Alternatively, it’ll also help you browse a bit more easily, as Google says it’s working to let you ask Gemini questions about your browser history when you want to go back to a specific page. For instance, “what was the website where I saw the walnut desk last week?” could take you back to a shopping page you only vaguely remember.

A more powerful address bar is apparently in the works that will let you ask questions of Google’s AI model without having to navigate to it first. For now, Gemini in Chrome will start suggesting questions to ask it about whatever page you’re on, right in the address bar.

The update includes a few security updates too, although they mostly seem to work in the backend, supposedly using AI to better block scammy ads and notifications. Now that’s the type of AI integration I can support wholeheartedly.

How to turn off Gemini in Chrome

All that said, if you’re a bit skeptical about Gemini in Chrome, you can turn it off. Simply navigate to Settings > AI Innovations, and you’ll be able to turn off the Gemini button, as well as disable its keyboard shortcut. You can also restrict its permissions: Set everything to off, and it’ll be like it was never installed in the first place.

[syndicated profile] lifehacker_feed

Posted by Beth Skwarecki

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

Apple's new sleep score, now available on the Apple Watch and in the Apple Health app, grades how well you slept on a scale from 0 to 100. Since it grades you retroactively, I can look back at my last month (or even years) of sleep scores to see how the new numbers compare to the scores I’ve gotten from Oura and other wearables. I tried this out, and one thing stood out: Apple is way too easy on me. 

I’m kidding, sort of. Yes, Apple’s scores are consistently higher than those I get from other wearables, but it’s not like I can definitively say Apple is wrong or Oura is right. I think of a sleep score like a grade on an essay: A bad essay will probably get a bad grade, and a good essay will probably get a good grade, but it’s not like every teacher in the world would agree that your take on Moby Dick’s symbolism deserves exactly a 92%. You may feel like you got away with something if your mid essay comes back with an A+, but as long as the prof is consistent with their grading scheme, you can’t say your grade was wrong

That’s why the accuracy of sleep scores doesn't matter a ton, in my opinion. The World Sleep Society more or less agrees, saying not to read too much into individual scores, but instead keep an eye on trends, like whether your sleep seems to be getting better or worse over time. 

How Apple's sleep scores measure up to Oura, Garmin, and Whoop

With all of that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to compare my last month or so of Apple sleep scores to those I get from the Oura ring, plus a few data points from my Garmin and Whoop devices. 

Apple calculates your sleep score based on your sleep duration, bedtime consistency, and interruptions. Competing devices each have their own algorithm. Apple can calculate its score based on the data from any device, not just an Apple Watch, so in some cases the Oura and Apple scores are actually using the same underlying data.

Here are the results: 

Graph of Apple, Oura, Garmin, and Whoop sleep scores
Apple is the red line at the top—usually grading me higher than its competitors. Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Apple says that over the past month, my most frequent sleep score level is “excellent,” earned on 17 nights. I also had a “high” sleep score on 10 nights, with just one night of “OK” sleep, one of “low” sleep, and no nights “very low.”

My major takeaway is that Apple’s scores are almost always higher than those I get from other devices. That said, they tend to go up when the others go up, and down when the others go down, which means that all of these scores are probably useful when looked at from a big-picture point of view. 

Subjectively, I don’t think my sleep has been all that good lately. I’ve been staying up late more often than I’d like, and waking up tired more often than not. I’d judge it as mostly OK, occasionally poor, and sometimes good. But that’s just, like, my opinion, man. 

It is true that there’s probably nothing medically wrong with me, and I don't think my sleep is drastically poor—so maybe Apple’s rosy outlook is just a better way to think about my sleep. It’s OK to be a straight-A student sometimes. 

round 154 hour -5

Sep. 19th, 2025 07:05 pm
lilly_c: Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran wearing all black against a purple lights background and mine! in purple text (Default)
[personal profile] lilly_c posting in [community profile] fic_rush_48
*heaves anchor over the side*

Any progress?

I've been prodding at something for one of my [personal profile] spook_me prompts.
[syndicated profile] twocents_feed

Posted by Beth Skwarecki

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

Apple's new sleep score, now available on the Apple Watch and in the Apple Health app, grades how well you slept on a scale from 0 to 100. Since it grades you retroactively, I can look back at my last month (or even years) of sleep scores to see how the new numbers compare to the scores I’ve gotten from Oura and other wearables. I tried this out, and one thing stood out: Apple is way too easy on me. 

I’m kidding, sort of. Yes, Apple’s scores are consistently higher than those I get from other wearables, but it’s not like I can definitively say Apple is wrong or Oura is right. I think of a sleep score like a grade on an essay: A bad essay will probably get a bad grade, and a good essay will probably get a good grade, but it’s not like every teacher in the world would agree that your take on Moby Dick’s symbolism deserves exactly a 92%. You may feel like you got away with something if your mid essay comes back with an A+, but as long as the prof is consistent with their grading scheme, you can’t say your grade was wrong

That’s why the accuracy of sleep scores doesn't matter a ton, in my opinion. The World Sleep Society more or less agrees, saying not to read too much into individual scores, but instead keep an eye on trends, like whether your sleep seems to be getting better or worse over time. 

How Apple's sleep scores measure up to Oura, Garmin, and Whoop

With all of that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to compare my last month or so of Apple sleep scores to those I get from the Oura ring, plus a few data points from my Garmin and Whoop devices. 

Apple calculates your sleep score based on your sleep duration, bedtime consistency, and interruptions. Competing devices each have their own algorithm. Apple can calculate its score based on the data from any device, not just an Apple Watch, so in some cases the Oura and Apple scores are actually using the same underlying data.

Here are the results: 

Graph of Apple, Oura, Garmin, and Whoop sleep scores
Apple is the red line at the top—usually grading me higher than its competitors. Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Apple says that over the past month, my most frequent sleep score level is “excellent,” earned on 17 nights. I also had a “high” sleep score on 10 nights, with just one night of “OK” sleep, one of “low” sleep, and no nights “very low.”

My major takeaway is that Apple’s scores are almost always higher than those I get from other devices. That said, they tend to go up when the others go up, and down when the others go down, which means that all of these scores are probably useful when looked at from a big-picture point of view. 

Subjectively, I don’t think my sleep has been all that good lately. I’ve been staying up late more often than I’d like, and waking up tired more often than not. I’d judge it as mostly OK, occasionally poor, and sometimes good. But that’s just, like, my opinion, man. 

It is true that there’s probably nothing medically wrong with me, and I don't think my sleep is drastically poor—so maybe Apple’s rosy outlook is just a better way to think about my sleep. It’s OK to be a straight-A student sometimes. 

[syndicated profile] lifehacker_feed

Posted by Daniel Oropeza

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.


If you’re going to commit to an Amazon Prime membership, you might as well squeeze as much as you can out of the deal. And there's a good amount of juice to squeeze there. The price you pay for Amazon depends on many factors, but regardless of how much you're paying, it's worth it for most people (we did the math). If you're on the fence about signing up, October Prime Day, Amazon's fall version of Prime Day, is just around the corner. It's a great time to sell your soul—or take advantage of the 30-day free trial.

How much does Amazon Prime cost?

The standard Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, but there are other tiers that some people might qualify for. For example, the new Amazon Prime Student program allows young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 to get all of the Prime perks for half the cost—$7.49 per month or $69 annually.

The benefits of Amazon Prime

I'll be the first to admit I didn't know all of the benefits that Amazon Prime offers to its members. There are a lot more perks than people think. Here are the most impressive ones (and check out the full list):

Fast and free shipping

  • Fast free shipping on millions of items: Depending on where you live, shipping can take one or two days, and some even come on the same day—and it’s always free (if being shipped by the Amazon store).

  • Pre-ordered items can be delivered on their release date for free.

  • The option to have items delivered inside your garage with a smart garage device (depending on where you live).

  • Earn rewards for future purchases when you select free no-rush shipping.

  • The option to have all your weekly orders delivered on a specific day, to reduce waste from boxes.

  • The ability to try before you buy when you order clothes or shoes, meaning you have seven days before you get charged for the items you decide to keep.

Deals, savings, and sales

  • Subscribe & Save deals that allow you to place recurring orders and save money when you do so.

  • Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card: Cardholders get 5% back on Amazon/Whole Foods purchases. So Prime members who use this card extensively can earn rewards that offset the annual fee.

  • A free year of Grubhub+, normally $9.99 per month, which gets you free delivery on eligible orders, lower service fees, exclusive deals, and other perks. 

  • Sharing with family or friends: Prime benefits can be shared with other members of your household. The more users, the more value per person.

Medical care

  • Amazon Health: Prime users get One Medical access for an additional $9 per month. Through your devices, you’ll have 24/7 access to on-demand virtual care, plus real-life access to primary care offices in a number of U.S. cities. It accepts most major health insurance plans, too.

  • Amazon Pharmacy: Access to free two-day delivery and other savings on medications.

Streaming and digital perks

E-books and audiobooks


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Posted by Meredith Dietz

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.


If you think fitness trackers are just about step counting and heart rate, get with the times. This week, performance wearable Whoop announced it will integrate clinical laboratory testing directly into its ecosystem, partnering with Quest Diagnostics to launch Whoop Advanced Labs this fall. This adds to a growing trend of more and more wearables aiming to be comprehensive, one-stop health platforms.

How Whoop will track bloodwork

Whoop members will be able to purchase Quest's clinical laboratory testing, schedule an appointment for testing, and receive test results within the Whoop app. The feature is designed to analyze biomarkers spanning metabolism, hormones, inflammation, cardiovascular health, and nutrient status—all data that goes far beyond what can be captured through wearable sensors alone.

The vision is that Whoop subscribers will be able access the types of clinical testing that physicians order (like from Quest Diagnostics) to deliver patient care. "At Whoop, we're committed to empowering our members with a highly comprehensive view into their health and performance," said John Sullivan, Chief Marketing Officer at Whoop.

A third-party provider will review test requests, order tests, deliver results through the Whoop app, and provide phone consultations when requested. Whoop Advanced Labs is set to launch later this fall, and members can join the waitlist now at whoop.com/waitlist.

Do you really need to monitor everything?

Again, Whoop isn't the first wearable company to head in this direction. Ultrahuman, the maker of the Ring AIR smart ring, launched its Blood Vision feature earlier this year.

This feature can help people catch health issues early and take proactive steps to address them. At the same time, it raises questions about whether consumers actually need this level of health monitoring from for-profit wellness companies.

In my opinion, this all points to a sort of "medicalization" of everyday wellness. While access to health data can be empowering, it can also create anxiety and lead people to over-monitor aspects of their health that might not require constant attention. After all, blood biomarkers can fluctuate for many reasons, and abnormal results don't always indicate health problems.

Looking ahead

As Whoop prepares to launch Advanced Labs this fall, it will be interesting to see how consumers respond to this deeper level of health monitoring. For now, it looks like the line between fitness tracker and medical device will continue to blur. Anecdotally, the company's existing user base already skews toward serious athletes and health optimization devotees; in other words, the sort of people who would be interested in comprehensive biomarker tracking.

Anyone interested in Whoop's blood testing integration can join the waitlist for Advanced Labs. Whether they'll actually want to know everything their blood is telling them is another question entirely.

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Posted by Lindsey Ellefson

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You may have heard of the Pomodoro technique before—perhaps even here at Lifehacker—and might already be aware it’s a solid productivity hack. But applied in another way, i can actually be more than that: This technique is also an excellent study tool that can help you maximize your focus and retention. It's time-tested, variable, and available to you whether you want to do it the old-fashioned way or call in the help of an app.

What is the Pomodoro technique?

Although it has a fancy name, the technique itself is simple: If you have a large task to complete, you should break it down into pieces and schedule breaks to reward yourself in between finishing bits of it. The scheduling is the key part: When following the classic Pomodoro model, you have to set an alarm for 25 minutes and 25 minutes only. So, work for 25 minutes, and when the alarm goes off, take a five-minute break, maybe to grab a snack, refill your coffee, or scroll social media. When the five minutes are up, get back to work. Do this over and over, but every four cycles, give yourself a bigger break, up to a half an hour.

In the event something distracts you—whether it’s your phone or another person—you have to reset your timer, so try instead to be direct and tell them you’re busy and will be able to reconnect with them in a bit. Then, put them off until you get your five-minute break or even after your whole task is finished.

This works because you are aware you’re getting that little reset once your 25 minutes are up. You can throw yourself into the task knowing there’s a little treat coming down the pipeline. And while you rest up, your brain is processing everything you just learned.

How to use Pomodoro for studying

We usually discuss the Pomodoro technique in terms of working professionally, especially when there’s a big project you need to complete, but its origins actually come from the academic sphere. The method was invented by Fancesco Cirillo, a developer and entrepreneur, but he came up with it when he was a student. It’s actually named for the little tomato-shaped timer he used when he was studying. Those methods are certainly still viable, but the popularity of his technique has also birthed a cottage industry of specialty timers. On Amazon, you can get a Pomodoro-specific timer for under $20. These offer different preset time allotments, so you don't have to stick to the 25 on, five off model—but I'll get to that in a moment.

You can use this method to study for a test by breaking up the content you need to review. You go by chapter, by content, or by “chunk,” if you’re using the chunking method to divvy up your study load (which you should be). It’s a good way to stay on task if you get easily distracted and dividing your topics up will help you remember them better. It’s not ideal for quick cramming sessions, however, since you need at least two hours to get four “Pomodoros” in. Do this on a day you have plenty of time to devote to studying—and, of course, relaxing.

Pomodoro variations that work for studying

As noted, the classic Pomodoro technique involves 25 minutes on and five minutes off, but you needn't be so rigid—there's a reason those Pomodoro timers don't lock you to those intervals. Twenty-five minute increments worked for Cirillo and countless adherents after him, but they may not work for you. I do recommend starting with the classic technique, but if you're not finding yourself falling into a state of deep work during those blocks of time, you have to switch things up.

There's a lot of flexibility to the method, so feel free to experiment. For instance, one student invented "Animedoro" a few years ago. This approach involves working for longer intervals, around 40 to 60 minutes, then getting 20 minutes to relax and do something you enjoy—like watching an episode of anime, which tend to be about 20 minutes long. With longer working time, you have a better chance of getting into deep work and focusing, plus not getting discombobulated when your timer suddenly goes off.

Another approach is called Pomodoro 2.0 and it involves adding 15 minutes to your work period every time you return to your task, so you focus longer and longer as you go. You still need to take breaks, of course, and you can even make those incrementally longer too.

Or maybe you prefer to work in quick bursts. You can try variations where you study for just 10 minutes before a short break, giving yourself a sense of urgency as you try to see how many flashcards you can study in that time. The point is it's up to you: A period of work interspersed with breaks is the only core element of the method, and you can approach it in whatever way you find most useful. Just keep in mind that you'll get better results if you commit to a set structure, even if it takes some time to adjust to it.

Pomodoro apps can help

I'm a fan of those Pomodoro timers because they keep me off my phone, which is a major distraction—it's a slippery slope from setting an alarm to checking a notification and then finding myself in a Reels hole 10 minutes of my allotted study time.

Then again, the phone can be useful if you're using it productively. Many focus timer apps can be used with the Pomodoro method, and will even block other apps during the work-time increments you set, or otherwise penalize you for getting distracted when you should be focusing. (If you need suggestions, I've previously written about a few of my favorites.)

There are also Pomodoro-specific apps—including my top pick, FocusPomo—that exist purely to help you structure your study or productivity time around the famous technique. If using your phone alarm seems risky and buying a tabletop timer off Amazon feels antiquated, look into one of these.

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Posted by Daniel Oropeza

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.


If you’re going to commit to an Amazon Prime membership, you might as well squeeze as much as you can out of the deal. And there's a good amount of juice to squeeze there. The price you pay for Amazon depends on many factors, but regardless of how much you're paying, it's worth it for most people (we did the math). If you're on the fence about signing up, October Prime Day, Amazon's fall version of Prime Day, is just around the corner. It's a great time to sell your soul—or take advantage of the 30-day free trial.

How much does Amazon Prime cost?

The standard Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, but there are other tiers that some people might qualify for. For example, the new Amazon Prime Student program allows young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 to get all of the Prime perks for half the cost—$7.49 per month or $69 annually.

The benefits of Amazon Prime

I'll be the first to admit I didn't know all of the benefits that Amazon Prime offers to its members. There are a lot more perks than people think. Here are the most impressive ones (and check out the full list):

Fast and free shipping

  • Fast free shipping on millions of items: Depending on where you live, shipping can take one or two days, and some even come on the same day—and it’s always free (if being shipped by the Amazon store).

  • Pre-ordered items can be delivered on their release date for free.

  • The option to have items delivered inside your garage with a smart garage device (depending on where you live).

  • Earn rewards for future purchases when you select free no-rush shipping.

  • The option to have all your weekly orders delivered on a specific day, to reduce waste from boxes.

  • The ability to try before you buy when you order clothes or shoes, meaning you have seven days before you get charged for the items you decide to keep.

Deals, savings, and sales

  • Subscribe & Save deals that allow you to place recurring orders and save money when you do so.

  • Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card: Cardholders get 5% back on Amazon/Whole Foods purchases. So Prime members who use this card extensively can earn rewards that offset the annual fee.

  • A free year of Grubhub+, normally $9.99 per month, which gets you free delivery on eligible orders, lower service fees, exclusive deals, and other perks. 

  • Sharing with family or friends: Prime benefits can be shared with other members of your household. The more users, the more value per person.

Medical care

  • Amazon Health: Prime users get One Medical access for an additional $9 per month. Through your devices, you’ll have 24/7 access to on-demand virtual care, plus real-life access to primary care offices in a number of U.S. cities. It accepts most major health insurance plans, too.

  • Amazon Pharmacy: Access to free two-day delivery and other savings on medications.

Streaming and digital perks

E-books and audiobooks


Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now
Deals are selected by our commerce team
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