Life Style

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Putting together a cake might seem straightforward, but it’s so much harder than it looks. Making the “bones” of the cake sturdy is just as important as making the outside look good, and having layers that are domed or topsy-turvy can mess up your cake from the jump. I’ve been a professional cake decorator for 14 years and there’s one tool that makes cake baking so much easier that I no longer bake without them: cake strips.  One thing that used to drive me crazy in commercial kitchens and bakeries is food waste. Some waste is to be expected, but it can become rather extreme. Working as a cake decorator, I would chop off pounds of domed cake tops a day to make flat cake layers. As you might guess, if the layers aren’t flat,...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been searching for a pair of wireless over-ear headphones that combine sound quality with comfort, these Sony noise-cancelling headphones are currently on sale for under $100. According to price trackers, they’re at their lowest price yet, and are a worthy alternative to those who find in-ear and clip-on headphones uncomfortable.  With plush ear cups and wireless capabilities, Sony’s lightest over-ear headphones (weighing just 192 grams, or a little over six ounces) offer comfort as well as more immersive sound. They're suitable for long listening sessions or blocking out distractions at home, but are also a potential fit for commuters or r...

Ever since Google started integrating its Gemini AI into all its apps, users have complained about seeing the optional AI-powered Summarize button in their Gmail threads. Now, Google is so confident about this feature that it’s enabling automatic summaries for all paying Google Workspace accounts with Gemini access. Now when you open a long email or thread, an AI Summary will be the first thing you see, right up top.Personally, I think these summaries can be quite convenient, depending on the email. But even though Google says these automatic summaries won't show up on every email, just the ones where the AI thinks they would be useful, I could still see them getting annoying if they start showing up a bit too often. In that case, you might want to turn them off. Luckily, you can do that, ...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Losing your luggage might not be the end of the world, but it’s definitely the worst part of a trip. That’s where something like the SmartLock comes in, and a four-pack of these TSA-approved travel locks is going for $79.99 on StackSocial right now, which is the same price Amazon charges for a three-pack. It’s designed for Apple users, integrating directly with the Find My app, so you can track your bags on a map, ping them with sound if they’re nearby, or get alerts if you’ve walked off and left them behind.Each lock uses a simple three-digit combination and is TSA-approved, meaning airpo...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Language learning apps usually fall into two camps—either they’re too rigid and boring, or they gamify things so much that you stop learning and start guessing. Qlango tries to find the middle ground, and right now, you can grab a lifetime subscription for $34.97 from StackSocial (down from $119.99), which gives you access to all 50+ supported languages. That includes the big ones like Spanish, French, and German, plus less common ones like Georgian, Tatar, and even Latin. Whether you're prepping for a trip, brushing up your vocabulary, or just trying to keep your brain busy, it’s a lot of...

If you're entrenched in tech news, you'd think Apple was on the brink of collapse. The company undoubtedly is having a rough go of all things AI—while companies like ChatGPT, Google, and Microsoft have hit the AI ground running, Apple's AI department is in disarray. Some features, like Clean Up and Writing Tools, have made their way to products like the iPhone, but, others (notably Siri's AI overhaul) are still nowhere to be seen. The situation is, objectively, not great. Apple advertised these features alongside the iPhone 16 line, even casting The Last of Us' Bella Ramsey in a commercial showing off said AI-powered Siri. (The commercial has since been deleted.) While the rest of the tech industry seems to be entirely focused on AI, Apple is, uncharacteristically, struggling to keep up....

Unlike the other big streamers, Tubi only has a handful of original shows, most of them imports (their original movie selection is much larger). That's not to say it's a wasteland for TV addicts: The streamer might actually have too many shows, a vast and sometimes wild catalog that spans decades. As the likes of Netflix and HBO Max have slimmed down their catalogues, Tubi is growing, offering a mix of established hits, underrated gems, and more obscure offerings. For the sheer breadth of material on offer, it has become the first place I look for anything outside the current zeitgeist—like the following 18 shows, an entirely non-comprehensive sampling of what Tubi has to offer, crossing genres and decades.Gossip Girl (2007 – 2012) Occasionally referred to as the greatest teen drama of a...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been eyeing a lightweight, all-purpose Chromebook for casual work, school, or everyday browsing, this open-box ASUS Chromebook CM30 might be worth a closer look. Currently priced at $179.99 (down from $329.99), it’s one of those mid-range 2-in-1s that doesn’t try to be everything, but nails the basics with enough flair to feel premium. The 10.5-inch WUXGA touchscreen is responsive and sharp, and thanks to the Kompanio 520 processor and 8GB of RAM, general multitasking is smooth, whether you’re juggling docs, Google Meet, or your Spotify tab. ChromeOS keeps things lean and fast, a...

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. As the weather warms up, it's a great time to get out for a run or a bike ride—but if you need some music to keep you motivated, it's crucial to have headphones that won't entirely shut out the outside world. A good bop is a wonderful thing; not being able to hear traffic and nearby cyclists is not. Earphones like the Anker Soundcore C40i, on sale for $89.99 (originally $119.99), are a good option because they clip onto the ear and don't entirely fill the ear canal. Unlike higher-priced models with touch controls, these earbuds feature only button controls. This is ideal for individuals wh...

Ever since Apple made it easy to change certain default apps on your iPhone, it's become quite convenient to switch away from the company's apps whenever there's a third-party option you prefer. With iOS 18.4, Apple made it possible to change your default translation app as well. First spotted by MacRumors, you can officially set Google Translate as the default app for translation, in case you prefer it over Apple Translate.Make Google Translate the default translation app on your iPhoneThere are a couple of ways to go about this, but I recommend the easiest method. If you never use it, just delete Apple's Translate app from your iPhone, and the device will automatically select Google Translate as the default translation app—assuming you're running the latest version of Google's app. This ...