It’s not every day that a TV fan falls in love with a new workplace comedy, but there’s a high chance that the ones you hold near and dear had something to do with Justin Spitzer. Spitzer has over 15 years of TV experience, including creating Superstore and writing for another scrappy little comedy called The Office. His latest project, American Auto premiered Monday on NBC.
The show begins at Payne Motors, where a new CEO (Ana Gasteyer) has taken the reins after years of working in pharmaceuticals. This might just be another job on the resume, but she quickly finds that creating and selling cars is hardly the breezy joy ride she expected.
“Superstore was so much about these people whose lives and jobs are at the winds of this giant corporation and it can seem from that perspective, like they’re making these sort of arbitrary or even mean-spirited decisions,” Spitzer tells Mashable in a Zoom interview. “So it’s a lot of fun now to jump to the other side of things and try to understand why those decisions get made, and how reasonable people who don’t view themselves as bad — who really aren’t — sometimes find themselves forced to make them.”
Mayo as Dori, Tye White as Jack, Jon Barinholtz as Wesley Credit: Greg Gayne / NBC
Spitzer actually conceived of American Auto after The Office, but it didn’t move forward. When Superstore got the greenlight, he turned back to his dead pilot about the motor industry and “took it for parts” — like Superstore‘s beloved central romance between Jonah (Ben Feldman) and Amy (Ferrera). The bones for those characters are the same as American Auto‘s Jack (Tye White) and Sadie (Harriet Dyer). Themes like professionalism, power dynamics, and relationships outside of work all carried from The Office through Superstore to American Auto.
“What I like about workplace comedies is you have people that don’t necessarily want to be together, that have very different backgrounds, very different interests, and they’re forced to spend lots of time together in often not the most ideal space,” Spitzer says. “That’s every element you want for conflict, which is what you want as a storyteller.”
And it’s distinct — at least at first — from ensemble shows about friends or family, who choose each other’s company. There’s a drive to workplace comedies, Spitzer says; goals, deadlines, bosses, and more. His shows aren’t about everyone loving each other and getting along because that’s not the reality of most workplaces. It’s like in The Matrix, he says: If everything is great all the time, humans won’t accept it.
“You find those moments and like, one nice moment is enough to sustain you for six more episodes,” he says. “And then when you have like, one really great moment of kindness or a really up ending, it feels like ‘Oh my god.’ You feel really excited. If you do that every single week, it’s like, yeah, they’re following the formula.”
Sadie (Harriet Dyer) and Jack (Tye White) are TV’s next will-they/won’t-they. Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
While The Office regularly dipped into characters’ personal lives and Superstore stayed largely contained, American Auto branches out to mirror its executives’ lives. They go to press conferences and presentations, important meetings, and even take a private jet. At least three episodes significantly depart from the office setting, leading Spitzer to compare the show to Veep more than his previous work. It also lacks — or at least alters — one crucial element: The bumbling boss.
“It’s great to have a boss who’s kind of dumb or making mistakes because then even if the other characters are smart, they have to go along with it,” Spitzer says. “And then that generates story and comedy. In this show, Catherine [Gasteyer] is smart and competent. She still makes mistakes — and and that’s where I think it was helpful to have her come from a very different industry — but that’s something that presents its own challenges.”
After all these years, Spitzer isn’t sure he’s cracked the perfect workplace comedy formula, but he’s learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t, and how he himself can benefit from the creative process.
“Superstore, those first seasons, I approached everything with fear,” he says. “And now I think I approach everything with dread.”
That sounds bleak, but he elaborates: In the early days of Superstore, Spitzer simply didn’t know if things would work out, if he’d even have the right budget or script or anything resembling a show at the end of the day. These days, he knows everything will be done, but the road to getting it there could still be rocky.
“Also, I think I trust myself more to say we’ll figure this out,” he adds. “Like not everything needs to always be moving the story forward. Let’s make sure we have time for — whether it’s a break room meeting in Superstore or conference room meeting in American Auto — to just let the characters be funny and interact, and we’ll find elements of it as we go.”
The first two episodes of American Auto are now streaming on NBC and Hulu. The show returns Jan. 4.
UPDATE: Dec. 14, 2021, 3:05 p.m. EST We’ve gathered up some of the best deals from across the Apple universe, including the biggest markdown ever on the Apple Watch Series 7 and an enticing price slash on the MacBook Air.
BEST MAC DEAL: The MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is a great choice for portability matched with processing power that won’t break the bank — $799.99$999.99 (save $200)
BEST REFURBISHED DEAL: iPhone 11 (64GB) — no matter your carrier or plan, you can score a good deal on this iPhone — $492.00 $569.00 (save $77)
BEST IPAD DEAL: 2021 12.9″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB), a tablet with the right power and screen size for creatives — $999.00$1,099.00 (save $100)
BEST IPHONE DEAL: TheiPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon is a mini phone with plenty of storage space and a battery life worth bragging about — $0 with select trade-ins or BOGO with any unlimited plan $699.99 (save up to $699.99)
BEST APPLE WATCH DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) is Apple’s newest smartwatch available for its lowest price ever — $349$399 (save $50)
BEST ACCESSORIES DEAL: The AirPods Pro are the perfect earbuds for staying focused — $179$249 (save $70)
You could really kill some time trying to dissect the iron grasp Apple has on the general population, but when it comes down to it, its products look good, work well, and stay cutting-edge — of course people like them. Whether your favorite day of the year is its annual September reveal eventor you just want a solid computer no matter the brand, Apple’s got you covered. Sure, it is a little notorious for its higher prices, but we’ve rounded up the best deals on iPads, AirPods, and more to help you out. Check them out below.
Mac and MacBook deals
Credit: Apple
Our pick: 2020 MacBook Air
$799.99 at Best Buy (save $200)
Why we like it
Check out Mashable’s official review of the MacBook Air.
While we’ve seen the MacBook Air have some pretty decent markdowns in the latter half of the year, this $200-off deal is one of the best we’ve ever seen on a laptop that boasts top-notch portability, 18-hours of battery life, and M1 power. Best Buy’s deal only lasts until the end of Dec. 14 and Amazon is sold out of this laptop as of the time of writing, so if you’re looking to upgrade, you’ll want to act quick.
More Mac and MacBook deals
2020 MacBook Pro, 13-inch
MacBook Pro (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,099$1,299 (save $199.01 with on-page coupon)
MacBook Pro (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,249.99 $1,499 (save $249.01 with on-page coupon)
Check outMashable’s official review of the 2021 iPad Pro.
This iPad comes loaded with an M1 chip, meaning it’s up to more intense tasks like editing high quality video footage or rendering 3D models. Basically, it’s your best bet for an iPad that could feasibly be used as a laptop. While it might not be the best option for the casual user, for creatives that need their tablet to handle a little heft, this tablet is definitely worth a second look. If you are shopping for the holidays, it is important to note that this iPad is not expected to arrive until after Christmas, but hey, sometimes the best things are worth waiting for, right?
More iPad deals
2020 11″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) — $749.99$899.99 (save $150)
2021 11″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 512GB) — $979$1,099 (save $120)
2021 12.9″ iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB) at Amazon — $999$1,099 (save $100)
iPhone deals
Credit: Apple
Our pick: iPhone 13 Mini at Verizon
$0 with select trade-ins or BOGO with any unlimited plan
Why we like it
Check out Mashable’s official review of the iPhone 13 Mini.
If you’re picking up some new phones for more than one person this holiday, it’ll be difficult to find a better deal than this buy one, get one on the iPhone 13 Mini at Verizon. Though this model looks quite similar to its predecessor, the starting storage of 128GB and improved battery life definitely justifies the upgrade.
More iPhone deals
iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at AT&T — $1per month for 36 months on an unlimited plan, then receive up to $594 in bill credits
iPhone 12 (64GB) at AT&T — $15 per month for 36 months on an unlimited plan, then receive up to $190 in bill credits
iPhone 13 (128GB) at AT&T — $0 with an eligible trade-in and unlimited plan $799.99 (save up to $799.99)
iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) at AT&T — $0 with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan, with installed payment plan $999.99 (save up to $999.99)
iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — $0 with a new line on an unlimited plan $599.99 (save $599.99)
iPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — $0 with select trade-ins or BOGO with any unlimited plan $699.99 (save up to $699.99)
iPhone 13 (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan or BOGO with any unlimited plan $799.99 (save $800)
iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with select trade-ins $999.99 (save up to $999.99)
Apple Watch deals
Credit: Apple
Our pick: Apple Watch Series 7
$349 at Walmart (save $50)
Why we like it
As if we didn’t have enough evidence of this “unprecedented” holiday shopping season, Apple’s latest smartwatch is down to its lowest price ever at both Walmart and Amazon, beating its Cyber Week price by about $30. You can grab the watch with a higher charging speed, bigger watch face, and increased workout support at both retailers and it should arrive in time for Christmas. At the time of writing, Amazon had sold out of the midnight color.
More Apple Watch deals
Series 7
Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS) at Amazon — $349$399 (save $50)
Series 6
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS) — $349 $399 (save $50)
Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm, GPS) — $349$429.99 (save $80.99)
SE
Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) at Amazon — $229$279 (save $50)
Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) at Amazon — $259$309 (save $50)
Series 3
Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm, GPS) at Walmart — $169$199 (save $30)
Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm, GPS) at Walmart — $199$229.00 (save $30)
Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm, GPS) at Best Buy — $169$199.00 (save $30 and get six months of Apple Fitness+ free)
Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm, GPS) — $199$229.00 (save $30 and get six months of Apple Fitness+ free)
Refurbished
Refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS + Cellular) — $399.95 $499 (save $99.05)
Renewed Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm, GPS) — $287.99$429 (save $141.01)
Apple accessories deals
Credit: Apple
Our pick: AirPods Pro
$179 at Amazon (save $70)
Why we like it
Check out the official Mashable review of the AirPods Pro.
While they are a bit pricier than they were during Black Friday, $70 off some of the best noise-canceling earbuds out there is a pretty stellar deal, especially if you’re already deep in the Apple ecosystem. We anticipate that just like years past, these will be a hot holiday pick, so if you catch them out of stock, they’re also available at Walmart for a mere 99 cents more.
More Apple accessories deals
AirPods (3rd gen) — $149.99$179 (save $29.01)
AirPods Pro at Walmart — $179.99$249 (save $69.01)
AirPods (2nd gen) — $89.99$159 (save $69.01)
AirPods with Wireless Charging Case at Best Buy — $149.99$199.99 (save $50)
Apple’s latest iOS brings more than just a dubious Voice Plan to the table.
The company behind the iPhone released its latest operating system, iOS 15.2, Monday, and hot damn is it a doozy. The update includes 38 (thirty-eight!) separate privacy and security fixes in addition to its more flashy and hyped components — and you should really go ahead and download it.
Notably, these patches are for the iPhone 6s or later, meaning unless you have a pre-2015 Apple smartphone this message is very much for you.
And just what, exactly, does this latest version of iOS fix? Here’s a partial, and by no means exhaustive, list:
“Playing a malicious audio file may lead to arbitrary code execution”
“A user in a FaceTime call may unexpectedly leak sensitive user information through Live Photos metadata”
“Processing a maliciously crafted image may lead to arbitrary code execution”
“A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges”
“Processing a maliciously crafted file may disclose user information”
“A person with physical access to an iOS device may be able to access contacts from the lock screen”
“A person with physical access to an iOS device may be able to access stored passwords without authentication”
“A malicious application may be able to bypass certain Privacy preferences”
“An application may be able to access a user’s files”
Now, to be clear, it’s a good thing that Apple has disclosed these vulnerabilities and issued patches for them. Operating systems, whether they be from Apple or Google or anyone else, have problems. Whether or not, and how quickly, those problems are resolved is the real question.
Save $45: Stop searching for your remote in the couch cushions with an upgrade to the Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device, the second-gen edition of which is on sale for $74.99 as of Dec. 14.
Streaming devices are supposed to make life easier, but those tiny Fire TV or Roku remotes are easy to misplace. If you prefer hands-free convenience and appreciate a solid deal, then the Fire TV Cube from Amazon — which is on sale at Amazon for the lowest price we’ve seen — deserves a spot next to your TV.
SEE ALSO:
From Netflix to HBO Max to Disney+: The best streaming sites for movies
The Fire TV Cube supports 1080p Full HD and 4K Ultra HD resolutions, depending on what your TV supports. It also provides images in Dolby Vision HDR and the latest HDR10+ for more vivid picture quality.
Most importantly, you can control everything with the Alexa voice remote, which has eight built-in microphones to hear your commands from any direction. That way you can always control volume or change channels with compatible soundbars and your cable or satellite provider. It also includes other Alexa features such as weather updates or controls for other Alexa-enabled devices.
Credit: Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming device
$74.99 at Amazon (save $45)
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Bundle a documentary streaming service and VPN and score a huge discount
A series of devastating December tornadoes have destroyed homes and killed dozens of people across midwest and southern states, including Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, and Missouri. Kentucky residents have been hit the hardest, with at least 88 deaths and 109 people still unaccounted for. Many have found themselves homeless or without utilities as the state heads into winter.
At least 44 tornadoes raged across the region between Friday and Sunday, shocking emergency systems and causing severe damage to infrastructure across the state. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency on Dec.11 and ordered federal aid to the area.
Kentucky state officials said many households could be without heat, water, or electricity for weeks as rescue efforts continue, the Associated Press reported on Monday. As of Monday morning, 30,000 homes were without power, according to Kentucky governor Andy Beshear.
National Guard troops are on the ground to assist in recovering missing residents, and relief organizations are providing needed resources like food, water, and clothes. Locals and people from surrounding areas are traveling to provide aid to Kentuckians, like Jim Finch, who set up a makeshift food station in the center of Mayfield, Kentucky, one of the hardest hit towns.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
We’ve compiled the following list of ways to help aid workers and residents in Kentucky, one of the worst affected states, while officials respond to those in need, fix infrastructure and locate the missing. There are more ways to help tornado victims across the region, however. Consider donating to the Midwest U.S. Tornado Relief Fund by the nonprofit fundraising platform Global Giving. You can also check out GoFundMe’s verified list of tornado relief fundraisers and find more resources here.
Donate to relief organizations on the ground
State and federal response teams have been joined by local and national organizations in getting needed resources to households, operating shelters and blood drives, and collecting funds for emergency use by families.
Team Western Kentucky Relief Fundwas established by Gov. Andy Beshear to assist residents after the Dec. 11 tornado. All donations go toward state-led efforts to rescue and assist those affected, including burial costs for families.
The Red Cross has members on the ground operating 12 emergency shelters and numerous blood drives. Online donations go towards the organization’s general work. To ensure your donation goes specifically to tornado relief, the Red Cross asks donors to mail a donation form and check with “southern and midwest tornadoes” written in the subject line.
CARE, an international nonprofit that provides assistance toimpoverished communities, set up a Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. Donations go toward the immediate needs of Kentucky families, including food, water, and emergency cash.
The Salvation Armyis collecting donations of money or items to local relief efforts and you can choose to donate by region. All money donated online goes directly to emergency services including food and drinks, and baby, hygiene, cleaning, or other supplies, the organization states.
The Community Foundation of Kentucky, a local organization that manages and fundraises for charities and local nonprofits in the area, is accepting PayPal donations to a disaster relief fund that will assists families affected by the tornadoes.
The Kentucky Chamber Foundationpartnered with regional radio station Kentucky Sports Radio to create the Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, which will go to rebuilding efforts with local community organizations. Donate to the fundraiser on GoFundMe.
The University of Kentucky is donating all funds given to its Basic Needs and Persistence Fund to university students affected by the tornadoes.
The Global Empowerment Mission, a natural disaster relief organization, is collecting donations to transport $2 million in food and supplies and $100,000 in cash cards for residents of Kentucky. The organization, partnered with local community organizations, is transporting the goods in two semi trucks and will distribute the first shipment of supplies on Thursday. Donate here.
The LEE Initiative, a Louisville nonprofit that provides restaurant training and job opportunities to underrepresented communities, has pledged $15,000 in food to help tornado victims. The organization will be operating food trucks around the area this week. Donate to expand the organization’s efforts on its website.
Donate in kind
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and governor’s office is also accepting donations of physical items, including:
Water
Flash Lights
Head Lamps
Batteries
Work/Utility Gloves
New Socks
New Undergarments
Blankets
Coats
Warm clothes
Shoes
Toiletry Items
Items can be mailed to or dropped off at:
Mayfield-Graves County Fairground
1004 KY-121
Mayfield, KY 42066
Other local organizations, including animal rescues, are also accepting physical donations, both by mail and in person. Check out a non-exhaustive list here.
If you live in the area…
Consider donating blood to a nearby blood bank to help with emergency blood shortages. You can find one in your area on the Red Cross’s website or the organization’s blood donor app. Or check online for blood drives by the Kentucky Blood Center or Blood Assurance, a regional network specifically seeking donations for Tennessee and Kentucky tornado relief.
Take tornado safety seriously. Don’t enter damaged buildings unless they’ve been inspected, and look out for downed power lines or broken gas lines. Report these to utility companies as soon as possible. Call Crisis Clean Up, a disaster clean up organization partnered with FEMA, to find assistance removing debris.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
For those battling power outages, the Red Cross also suggests these precautions to keep you and your family safe:
Use flashlights to light your home, rather than candles.
Don’t drive unless necessary, as roads could be dangerous.
Turn off and unplug all appliances to prevent them from being damaged during power surges.
Keep food covered, in a dry, cool spot. Don’t eat perishable food that’s been stored at a temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
If using a generator, keep it dry and plug appliances into it directly. Don’t plug a generator into a wall outlet.
We will continue to update this story with more resources as they become available.
Apple has released a new Android app allowing users to detect whether there’s an unfamiliar AirTag following them. It’s a useful safety tool for any non-iPhone users concerned they may be a victim of high-tech stalking.
“Tracker Detect looks for item trackers that are separated from their owner and that are compatible with Apple’s Find My network,” the app’s Google Play store description reads. “These item trackers include AirTag and compatible devices from other companies. If you think someone is using AirTag or another device to track your location, you can scan to try to find it.”
When Apple announced its new Bluetooth AirTag trackers in April, they were quickly met with privacy and security concerns. Using these handy 1.26-inch tags to electronically keep track of your keys and wallet is pretty convenient. Being potentially tracked by a stalker without your knowledge is less great.
Apple indicated it was aware of this issue, and implemented a few features to help prevent AirTag abuse. This included automatic detection of any unknown AirTags following you, the ability to deactivate said AirTags, and having AirTags emit a noise if they’re separated from their paired iPhone for three days. The audio alert was later updated in June to activate at a random time between 8 and 24 hours.
However, aside from the AirTags’ sound, these features were only available for iPhone users. Now, Apple’s Tracker Detect app will finally allow Android users to check whether they’re being shadowed by any maliciously-intended AirTags, hopefully catching them early.
SEE ALSO:
The best headphones for your Android devices
Though Tracker Detect appears to be a handy safety tool, it isn’t without flaws. Users have already started leaving negative reviews on the Google Play store, criticizing Apple’s app for requiring manual activation of its scan. This means you’d have to already know someone might have planted an AirTag on you recently, otherwise you probably wouldn’t bother opening the app and scanning. On the other hand, Tracker Detect could potentially drain your phone’s battery if it was automatically scanning all the time.
“Tracker Detect gives Android users the ability to scan for an AirTag or supported Find My enabled item trackers that might be travelling with them without their knowledge,” an Apple spokesperson told Mashable. “We are raising the bar on privacy for our users and the industry, and hope others will follow.”
UPDATE: Dec. 14, 2021, 12:26 p.m. This article has been updated with comment from Apple and to note the update to the AirTag’s audio alert feature.
Apple has released the latest version of iOS 15, which includes the Apple Music Voice Plan the company first teased at its October event.
Apple iOS 15.2—along with iPadOS 15.2, tvOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3—are now available for compatible devices. The standout features of iOS 15.2 include the introduction of the Apple Music Voice Plan, which drops the music subscription’s cost to $5 per month but also restricts users to accessing the service with Siri, the addition of a dedicated App Privacy Report in the Settings app, and the debut of new parental control features.
Apple has also added Legacy Contacts—friends or family members of the user’s choice—to Apple ID as part of its Digital Legacy program. The company says in a support article that Legacy Contacts will be able to access the deceased’s “photos, messages, notes, files, apps they downloaded, device backups, and more” via the program.
9to5Mac reports that other changes debuting with iOS 15.2 include the ability to use Apple’s privacy-focused Hide My Email feature with the built-in Mail app; an “enhanced city map in Apple Maps with road details like turn lanes, medians, bike lanes, and pedestrian crosswalks for supported cities” with CarPlay, and a streamlined TV app.
Apple notes that “streaming in the Music app could result in higher CPU usage, causing faster battery drain in some scenarios,” and other bugs will probably be reported as the update reaches more devices. But it’s generally a good idea to update as soon as possible anyway to defend against vulnerabilities found in previous versions of iOS.
Whether you were a homebody or aggressively outdoorsy in 2021, technology almost certainly played a role in your lifestyle throughout the year. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at the very best tech products that came out this past year.
From a colorful desktop for your home office to a portable Bluetooth speaker that’s ideal for backyard reunions with loved ones, here is a list of the best gadgets of 2021.
Best desktop to brighten your work days
Apple 24-inch iMac
Yellow is the way to go. Credit: molly flores / mashable
If you’re going to be stuck staring at a computer all day, it might as well be nice to look at. And what better than a stunning 24-inch iMac that comes in seven different colors? With a choice between blue, yellow, green, purple, orange, and silver, there’s something here to match all types of interior decor and personalities.
Powered by Apple’s M1 chip, the new iMac is a super-smooth workstation that doubles as an ideal entertainment system. It’s also compact and lightweight enough to carry from room to room or travel with on road trips. And its 1080p webcam is the cherry on top, upping the ante on your video call quality.
With a starting price of $1,299, it’s tough to find a reason not to buy such a fun desktop computer.
Best affordable earbuds for noisy commutes
Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen)
Yeah, these aren’t cute. Credit: alex perry / mashable
If your weekdays consist of going to and from the office or classroom, your mornings probably aren’t as zen as they used to be. Whether you’re within walking distance from work or have to hop on a noisy bus, you won’t want to leave the house without a great pair of noise-canceling earbuds.
Enter: Amazon’s Echo Buds. (The second-generation version, that is).
Compared to the first iteration, these Echo Buds are smaller, slimmer, and come with real active noise cancelation — as opposed to the “noise reduction” feature included with the first-generation effort.
While these aren’t the flashiest pair of buds (they’re actually really ugly), you can rest assured you’ll get the best bang for your buck. At $119, the Echo Buds offer great noise cancelation, solid sound quality, and feel comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
They also come with a variety of ear tips and wing tips in the box to fit ear canals both big and small.
Best streaming stick to watch box office hits
Roku Express 4K+
The movie theaters can wait. Credit: alex perry / mashable
Don’t feel fully comfortable sitting in a packed movie theater yet? Well, that’s fine because you can always recreate that cinematic viewing experience at home. If you’re on somewhat of a budget, you can snag a 4K TV for under $300 and then pair it with the Roku Express 4K+ for only $40.
True to its name, the Express 4K+ has the ability to play 4K content at 60 frames per second, giving you impressive video quality for such an affordable, entry-level device. Sadly, there isn’t a lot of 4K content to choose from on streaming services, but you can find some options on HBO Max.
Best smartphone for all-day adventures
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
It’s overkill, but it does make sense for specific situations. Credit: zlata ivleva / mashable
Yes, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra is the embodiment of absolute feature overkill in a smartphone. But it also takes excellent scenic photos thanks to a combination of its 108-megapixel main shooter and improved imaging software. The S21 Ultra captures really crisp, bright images that don’t look overly processed.
It also comes equipped with Samsung’s proprietary Space Zoom technology, allowing you to zoom in on a subject up to 100x. Even when taking shots that close up, the photo quality remains impressive.
And with a 5,000mAh battery, this phone will last you through an entire day of capturing content and then some.
Best Bluetooth speaker for beach days with friends
Sonos Roam
Excellent design AND sound. What more could you ask for? Credit: alex perry / mashable
For most of us, it’s been a while since we’ve had to make small talk at public gatherings. So if you’re feeling a little social anxiety before that pool party or BBQ, the Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker will make for excellent emotional support. Just put on a good playlist and feel the awkwardness in the atmosphere melt away.
The Roam’s portable and durable design makes it easy to throw into your tote bag or backpack to transport from spot to spot. It also links to over 100 streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Tidal, and provides really rich audio quality.
At $179, its price tag is a little steep, but its compact build and large catalogue of compatible streaming services make it worth the cost. Plus, we all know your friends are begging you to stop bringing that cheap Bluetooth speaker from the drugstore to social gatherings anyway.
Best laptop to get a head start on Windows 11
Surface Laptop Studio
You won’t find a better intro to Windows 11 this year. Credit: molly flores / mashable
In the fall of 2021, a momentous occasion occurred. Microsoft released a new, numbered version of its PC operating system: Windows 11.
And there’s no better portable device on the market for learning to love Windows 11 (and its newly centered Start button) than the Surface Laptop Studio. Sure, its $1,599 starting price (which can balloon far beyond that with enough upgrades) is daunting and likely disqualifying for many folks. But if you can swing it, you’ll get the most elegant, sturdy, and high-performing product in the new Surface lineup.
It can be a laptop, with a real and excellent keyboard attached to it. Or you can pull the screen forward a bit using the unique hinge and turn it into a presentational display, which is great for watching content or making art with a stylus. Pull it forward even more and the display will sit flush with the keyboard, turning the Surface Laptop Studio into a full-on tablet.
Versatility aside, it’s an incredibly sleek laptop with great construction, excellent performance, and solid battery life.
Best all-around wireless earbuds
Beats Fit Pro
Apple released a new pair of AirPods this fall, but they weren’t even the best wireless earbuds the company released that month.
The Beats Fit Pro may not outwardly bear Apple’s name, but they are by far the best wireless earbuds Tim Cook and co. have ever made. At $200, they’re cheaper than AirPods Pro while being better in almost every way that matters. The design is strong, with a silicone ear tip providing all-day comfort and a small wingtip ensuring they’ll never fall out. A six-hour battery with ANC turned on also puts them far above any AirPods.
And then there’s the sound quality. Your favorite songs won’t sound better in any pair of AirPods than they do here. They get Apple’s fancy spatial audio features and, to top it all off, their active noise canceling capabilities are nearly flawless. Finally, Android users can get some use out of them, too, as they don’t lock all their best features to iOS like AirPods do.
What more can we say? If you’re in the market for new wireless earbuds, this is as good as it gets.
Every diehard Sex and the City fan knows that Carrie Bradshaw’s most tenuous relationship is the one she has with technology.
It took five seasons before Carrie went wireless on the prolific HBO series, and it was only because a very pregnant Miranda bought her an emergency cell phone. This is a woman who famously preferred to use New York City pay phones, willingly holding a greasy handset next to her rouged cheek. She notoriously screened her calls, never answering on the first, second, or third ring. And when Samantha handed Carrie her first generation iPhone in the 2008 movie, the sex columnist took one look at it, utterly perplexed, and scoffed, “Alright. I don’t know how to work this,” before shoving it back into her friend’s hands.
Meanwhile, her own phone, a pink Samsung flip, was being held together by grey gaffers tape. According to the film’s DVD commentary from star and executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker, it was meant to imply that Carrie was still using the same, Swarovski-encrusted phone from the series… more than five years later.
This is a woman who famously preferred to use New York City pay phones, willingly holding a greasy handset next to her rouged cheek.
Carrie Bradshaw is many things: a published author; an early fashion influencer; a newly minted podcaster; and a semi-OK friend. But tech-savvy she is not. So it makes perfect sense that Carrie, now in her mid-50s, would still be clinging to outdated tech. It’s the devil she knows.
In the first episode of And Just Like That, HBO Max’s continuation of Sex and the City, Carrie is seen using a BlackBerry Key2, which hit the market in 2018. As some viewers pointed out, how could Carrie Bradshaw, an early adopter of late ’90s Apple aesthetics, own an Android?
However, I couldn’t help but wonder: How could she not?
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Carrie has never been a fan of cool, new tech. She’s tech agnostic. To her, tech isn’t an accessory — that’s what shoes are for — but rather a necessary evil. In the 2001 episode of the original series, “My Motherboard, Myself,” Carrie’s ’98 Apple PowerBook G3 laptop crashes. She brings her defunct hardware to Tekserve (RIP, thank you for saving my 2011 MacBook Pro), hoping for a miracle. “When was the last time you backed up your work?” the tech specialist asks. She looks confused and then responds, “I don’t do that.” (She doesn’t back up! This is not a woman who knows how to access the Cloud.)
Later in the episode, she ruthlessly rejects Aiden’s gift: a shiny new, blue iBook G3. It has a handle, like a purse. Carrie is not amused. She doesn’t want this laptop; she wants her laptop, the one with the fried hard drive. “I don’t even know how to use that,” she bites back. “I have my own system, and it works just fine.”
The thing is Carrie holds onto her devices for dear life, until they disintegrate in her hands or she throws them into the ocean. In And Just Like That, Carrie is seen typing away on her 2013 MacBook Pro (girl, I hope you’re backed up because you’re playing with fire). There are visual scuff marks on the machine’s dented aluminum shell.
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In a 2017 interview with Vogue, Parker, a longtime BlackBerry devotee, was asked how her character would fare with modern tech. “My guess is [Carrie] would have held onto her BlackBerry as long as she could before the phone company encouraged an ‘upgrade,'” she said. But then she made a peculiar observation, adding, “She would purchase an iPhone and use its most limited features: email, text, call. Most reliable on its call feature.”
SJP was close. Carrie actually does own an iPhone in And Just Like That. (Yes, she owns a BlackBerry and an iPhone.) She’s seen whipping out her iPhone 8 — originally released in 2017 and currently decorated with an “I Voted” sticker and strips of pink tape — at the brunch table in the opening scene of the first episode. But she’s not texting, calling, or emailing; she’s Instagramming a passerby’s fierce, fashion-forward look. After taking a video for the ‘gram, she slips both of her phones back into her designer purse.
The question now becomes: What does Carrie need with two phones? Well, to me, it’s relatively simple.
Carrie Bradshaw uses her BlackBerry Key2 as her primary device. She probably likes the tactility of the keyboard. It’s a familiar sensation for a writer, the feeling of your fingers hitting the keys. And Carrie isn’t trying to adapt to a touchscreen so much as have a device that adapts to her needs. She’s seen texting on her BlackBerry, and on her home screen you can see this is her main hub of communication — her contacts, her emails, her texts, and her call logs.
See? Carrie Bradshaw is a BlackBerry Key2 girlie. Credit: James Devaney/GC Images
As for her iPhone 8, this is most likely the device she uses to update her social media account(s). With the weekly newspaper column now a relic of the past, Carrie is growing an online community through platforms like Instagram, where she updates her feed with the people and fashion that inspire her. And let’s be real: She still doesn’t know how to use an iPhone. She just knows how to use it for this one thing. That’s all she could be bothered to learn. My theory is that she upgraded to the iPhone 8 in 2017 but absolutely hated it. So she bought her BlackBerry in 2018 (she needed the keyboard), and just like that she became the reluctant owner of two phones.
Each device serves different purposes, which, in retrospect, makes sense for her character. It’s not about being counterculture; it’s about convenience. She doesn’t want to sit there, thumbing through pages of apps to find the one she needs. This keeps things easy.
A tale of two phones, as told by Carrie Bradshaw. Credit: HBO Max
Truthfully, the entire discourse around why Carrie should or shouldn’t have the latest iPhone is null and void because Carrie Bradshaw doesn’t care about technology. She doesn’t want the newest model of any device. Pro means nothing to her. An upgrade is truly the last resort. To Carrie, a device doesn’t make somebody cool or fashionable, and she’s never been one to cultivate an aesthetic around a singular accessory, tech or otherwise. Carrie’s appeal as a fashionista is that she wears whatever she wants and somehow, someway makes it work for her.
You can wear anything as long as you do it with confidence. The same can be said for your phone. Android, iPhone, flip phone (they’re back, you know) — it doesn’t matter. Tech trends are ephemeral; style is forever.
Anal sex, especially when you’re bottoming, can feel like a game of Russian roulette.
Actually, the same can be said for all kinds of sex. Our guard is down and really, we’re at our most vulnerable: we’re naked, turned on, eager to please, and there’s a risk that whatever we’re doing just won’t work. But for a bottom — the person in the receptive role during anal sex — the stakes feel higher, with a lot of us left feeling like we’re groping around in the dark (both literally and figuratively).
How painful is it going to be? Should I not eat before? For how long? What if I have an ‘accident’? These are the questions bottoms have asked themselves (or googled on the sly) at one point. Many of us have had to rely on trial and error over the years to figure out best practice — that is, until now. TikTok has become the hub for bottoms wanting to learn more about anal sex, how to enjoy it, and most importantly, how to practise it safely. But this begs an even bigger question: why were we never taught about it?
In the UK, the answer lies within the decades-long erasure of LGBTQ people from school curricula, and most notably the implementation of Section 28 in 1988. The legislation, enacted by Margaret Thatcher’s government to “prohibit the promotion of homosexuality” by local councils, banned the positive depiction of LGBTQ identities and relationships in classrooms, libraries, and extracurricular clubs for 15 years until it was repealed in 2003. However Lisa Hallgarten, head of policy and affairs at Brook, a charity specialising in the sexual health and wellbeing of young people in the UK, says the problem didn’t end there.
“Section 28 not only created a complete silencing at the time but for years afterwards,” she explains. Hallgarten argues the legislation’s legacy has left today’s teachers still feeling anxious to talk about LGBTQ sex. “They’re much more comfortable talking about heteronormative forms of sex because it’s focused on reproduction,” she says. “They’re not trained to talk about pleasure or any other form of sex different couples might have.”
“I’m a gay man and a butt doctor, and there’s this huge lack of anal sex education out there.”
Dr Carlton Thomas made his first TikTok about bottoming in the summer of 2020. As the coronavirus pandemic escalated around the world, TikTok was busy taking over the lives of his teenage children at home in San Diego. A gastroenterologist for 17 years, the 49-year-old saw an opportunity amongst the Megan Thee Stallion dance routines and banana bread recipes (remember those?) to share his expertise. “I’m a gay man and a butt doctor, and there’s this huge lack of anal sex education out there,” he says. “Who better to teach it than someone with professional and personal experience of how things work?”
Since then, he’s amassed nearly 250,000 followers on Gen Z’s favourite platform by covering a range of anal sex-related topics — from advice on how to avoid bleeding, douching (his most popular video, a guide to using store-bought enemas, has 1.6 million views), kegel exercises, tips for maximum pleasure as well as information about HIV prevention.
Citing the absence of gay sex education from his own childhood as the motivation behind starting the account, Thomas tells me that throughout medical school and his gastrointestinal doctor training, anal sex was never mentioned. “I had a lot of questions, so I did my own research to get the answers,” he says. The success of his videos, which regularly receive tens of thousands of likes, confirms that others around the world have been searching for these answers too. “People want to know how to do anal sex right, how to do it well, and how to do it safely,” he explains.
But Thomas isn’t the only face of TikTok’s bottom positivity movement. Alex Hall, a 29-year-old graphic designer, was living in New York when he came up with the idea of The Bottom’s Digest, a cooking channel sharing “bottom-friendly” recipes inspired by the Texan and Cajun cuisine he was brought up on. The rising cost of meat in the city paired with Hall’s growing sensitivity to dairy led him to a mostly plant-based diet, which he says provides a number of benefits for bottoming. “What we eat issuch a big part of how our sex is going to go,” he tells me.
Now living in Texas and running the account with his husband Mike, Hall has spent years searching far and wide for the best (or should I say cleanest) bottoming fuel. “What I did find would be so obvious…a salad. I hate salad!” he exclaims. “Sex and food are two of life’s great pleasures and our community really deprives themselves of one to enjoy the other, and we shouldn’t.” Whether it’s alfredo pasta, mac and cheese, or meatballs, Hall’s comfort food recipes are high in fiber and low in FODMAP (short for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols — essentially sugars that can cause intestinal distress), which makes them perfect for bottoms eager to avoid bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
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Daniel O’Shaughnessy, nutritionist and author of Naked Nutrition: An LGBTQ+ Guide to Diet and Lifestyle, notes that the perfect bottoming diet varies by individual. “As a general rule a bottom needs fiber when it comes to anal sex,” he says. He advises increasing fiber intake slowly to avoid excess wind and to avoid insoluble fibers (which can be high in FODMAP, think cauliflower, legumes, and some whole grains) at least 24 hours before the big moment. O’Shaughnessy’s other recommendations for bottoming nutrition include fermented foods (such as kimchi and kombucha) for improved gut health, avoiding dairy products, and chewing food properly for digestion.
Hall tests his bottom-friendly recipes himself, then runs them past a group of 10 drag queens. 24 hours later, the queens report back about whether they felt bloated, and if they did bottom, how it went. “So many people have had heartache trying to find information like this so it’s important these recipes actually work,” he adds.
Aside from the occasional troll, the response to both accounts has been overwhelmingly positive. Thomas’ followers regularly credit him with revolutionising their sex lives in his comments, but he says the real impact of his videos can be found in his DMs. Gay men living in countries where homosexuality is illegal — and sometimes where it’s punishable by death, like in Saudi Arabia and Iran — message him “at least once a week” for advice.
The bottom community on TikTok isn’t exclusively for gay men, either. For Hall, cis and trans women make up almost half of his following. But whenever our society talks about sex, it’s heterosexual, penis-in-vagina sex that has always been the default: it’s compulsory to teach in schools, we read about it in the advice columns of magazines and websites, it’s what we read about in erotic novels, and watch (or awkwardly avoid watching when accompanied by family) in our favourite TV shows and films. The only representation we really see of anal sex onscreen is when it’s relegated to cheap homophobic jokes.
Thankfully, the tide appears to be turning. TikTok’s bottoming hashtag has over 10.4 million views and is brimming with honest experiences and advice from bottoms all over the world. Accounts like Thomas’ and The Bottom’s Digest are normalising these once shame-ridden conversations while providing an education to bottoms who can’t find information in more conventional places.
But these creators, for all their hard work, are facing censorship from TikTok itself. While the platform bans videos featuring nudity and sexually explicit content, creators across the field are having their content removed and their reach suppressed for even mentioning the word ‘sex’ in their TikToks, despite the platform’s community guidelines stating that educational content is an exception to the rules. Thomas says he has to be selective with what he posts, often resorting to codewords and innuendos in his videos to avoid being censored.
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Why is TikTok removing sex ed videos?
This censorship is problematic, says Hallgarten from Brook, especially for the people whose only access to information about sex is through social media. She’s curious about the criteria TikTok uses for judging and removing videos, and whether expert organisations have been involved in the process. “The way they approach sex needs to be more nuanced and there has to be a clear set of values that underpin the decisions being made,” she says. When it comes to sex ed videos that haven’t been removed from the platform, Hallgarten urges users to check how the information they see on TikTok compares to that of trusted sources like Brook. If COVID-19 has taught us anything it’s that misinformation on social media is rife. Hallgarten suggests platforms could easily add a box to videos featuring sex content directing users to expert organisations, like TikTok and other platforms have (eventually) done with mentions of the coronavirus.
A spokesperson for TikTok said that users can appeal the platform’s decisions to remove their content or suspend their accounts if they believe no violation of the community guidelines has occurred. They also noted that TikTok’s content moderation practice is detailed in the quarterly enforcement reports it publishes. But while these reports gloat statistics, for example that 90 percent of videos flagged for “adult nudity and sexual activity” are removed within 24 hours of being posted, they fail to explain how educational videos about sex are distinguished from the potentially harmful videos which are banned.
Information on anal sex shouldn’t be reduced to folklore. Bottoms deserve to feel empowered to take control of the sex they have, and a vital part of that is ensuring they are well equipped to enjoy anal sex safely. For too long we’ve been relegated to the shadows and made to feel like we’re harbouring a dirty little secret — but thanks to TikTok creators, change is finally on the horizon.
Bottoming dos and don’ts
With the help of some trusted health organisations including the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), Brook, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and sex education charity Fumble, we’ve compiled a list of bottoming dos and don’ts to get started.
Do
Do use a condom
Always make sure your top is wearing a condom. The lining of your anus is very delicate and can be damaged easily, which increases the risk of STI transmission.
Do make sure you have plenty of lube to hand
Your anus isn’t self-lubricating, so using lube is essential for anal play. Try to use water-based products as oil-based lube can break down condoms, and avoid desensitising lubes — they may prevent you from noticing pain.
Do change the condom if you’re having vaginal sex afterwards
This is to avoid transferring bacteria from your anus to your vagina, which could lead to a urinary tract infection.
Do get tested for sexually transmitted infections each time you have anal sex with a new partner
This is pretty self-explanatory, but getting tested regularly for STIs is always recommended.
Do use a towel or old sheet
Purely for ease of cleanup if you do have an accident.
Start slow, and use fingers and toys first
If it’s your first time bottoming (or first time in a while), use a lubricated anal sex toy (slowly) beforehand to get used to the feeling. Foreplay is crucial to relax the muscles in your anus.
Remember, you’re in control
Make sure you communicate to whoever you’re having sex with if something doesn’t feel right or if you want to stop. Consent can be given and withdrawn at any time.
Don’t
Don’t carry on if it hurts
Bottoming can feel uncomfortable (especially if you’re a newbie), but that’s what foreplay is for. Pain should never be something you’re expected to put up with, and tears on the anus (known as anal fissures) take time to heal.
Don’t forget to breathe
Feeling relaxed is key. By regulating your breathing, you’re helping your anus to relax. Take deep, slow breaths to start with.
Don’t share someone else’s sex toys
Avoid doing this where you can, but if you can’t, make sure to clean the toy thoroughly before and after use.
Don’t worry too much about poo
A common assumption is that poo sits directly inside of your anal sphincter, but this is false. Poo is stored in your colon and it’s when you’re on the toilet that it travels through the rectum (where the fun happens) and out of your sphincter. As long as you’ve recently been to the toilet, it’s very unlikely that you’ll actually ‘poo’ on your partner.
If you’re too worried about it to enjoy yourself, stick to other forms of sex (like oral) until you’ve gotten comfortable with the fact that shit does indeed, happen. Anal douching is common in the bottoming community to clean the rectum before sex, but it has its own pros and cons.
