The Google Pixel Watch 3 Is $100 Off Right Now

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

Ever since the Google Pixel Watch 4 came out this summer, the Pixel Watch 3 became "old," which means you can expect a better price for it. And right now, Walmart is selling the wifi-only 45mm Google Pixel Watch 3 for $199.99 (originally $299.99) after a $100 discount, a record-low price according to price tracking tools. The same size LTE version is $299.99 (originally $399.99). It might have been supplanted by the Pixel Watch 4, but the Pixel Watch 3 is still a great fitness watch in 2025, and it's at a great price right now.

Certainly, there is not enough of a difference between the Pixel Watch 4 and the Pixel Watch 3 to warrant an upgrade if you already own the latter. The main differences are the 4's ultra-fast charging, satellite SOS, and dual-band GPS. But if those things aren't all that important to you, the Pixel Watch 3 can still get you the latest Pixel software features for much less money.

The Pixel Watch series has never been known for its long battery life, although the third generation improved the battery significantly, to 36 hours. That might not be anywhere near what you can get from competitors like Garmin, but the Pixel makes up for it with other features. The display is bright and can be seen outdoors on a sunny day while wearing polarized glasses, a big plus for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers a ton of fitness metrics, including recovery and running dynamics that are perfect for casual fitness, according to Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skwarecki's review. The GPS tracking is good, but not perfect, so sticklers should probably go with a different option if this is an important feature. The sleep and heart rate monitor are reliable, however. Keep in mind the Pixel Watch 3 is all touchscreen, and there are no physical buttons, which is a pro or con depending on your preferences.

If you're not a professional athlete and are looking for a health- and fitness-focused smart watch that will save you money in the Android ecosystem, the Pixel Watch 3 is a great buy right now.


Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now
Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) $299.00 (List Price $349.00)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $29.99 (List Price $49.99)

How 'Bricking' Your Phone Improves Your Concentration

You know the feeling. You sit down to work on something important, and within minutes, your hand is reaching for your phone. Maybe it buzzed. Maybe it didn't. Either way, you're suddenly 20 minutes deep into Instagram Reels or doomscrolling through news you'd rather not read. When you finally look up, your focus is shattered, and you can't quite remember what you were doing in the first place.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. The average American now spends over six hours a day staring at screens, with much of that time devoted to mindless scrolling on smartphones. I don't go a day without lamenting my "phone addiction" and vanishing attention span.

If smartphones are the problem, it tracks that the solution could be eliminating all the features that make your phone so "smart." That's why for a growing number of people, dumb phones are making a comeback. And no, it's not just nostalgia for the early 2000s clunky aesthetics. People are ditching their iPhones and Androids for basic flip phones and minimalist devices that do little more than call and text as a solution to our digital noise problem. But the question remains: Does downgrading to a dumb phone actually rescue your ability to focus, or is it just another wellness trend that sounds better in theory than in practice?

What is a dumb phone?

A dumb phone is exactly what it sounds like: a phone that handles only basic communications. Think calls and texts, maybe a rudimentary camera, but no app stores, no social media feeds, and no endless rabbit holes of content. These minimalist devices harken back to the pre-smartphone era, when phones had one primary purpose, rather than the comprehensive entertainment hubs we can't live without now.

While traditional flip phones and basic handsets fit the bill, many people today are finding creative middle ground by "bricking" their smartphones—using settings like grayscale mode, removing apps, and stripping away colorful icons to make their devices as boring and utilitarian as possible. The goal is to reduce screen time and improve concentration.

But if you're like me, the idea of giving up your phone feels like a non-starter. How would I go about my daily life without Maps, TikTok, or Candy Crush? Do dumb phones even make that big of a difference to your brain health?

What the science says

The problem of smartphones is more than just anecdotal. Studies have found that smartphone notifications—even ones you don't check—hurt cognitive performance. Interruptions force your brain to work faster at the expense of accuracy, and it takes meaningful time to fully re-enter a task after being distracted. A 2017 study published in the University of Chicago Press found that the mere presence of a smartphone can reduce cognitive capacity, a phenomenon researchers call the "brain drain" effect.

So let's say you make the switch to a dumb phone that eliminates push notifications, infinite-scroll feeds, and, well, the mere presence of a smartphone. Does you concentration come back?

The answer is yes, according to same researchers from that 2017 study. This year, they published a study of 467 participants, ages 18 to 74, who agreed to block the internet from their smartphones for just two weeks. The researchers measured three different outcomes of well-being, mood, and attention at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. 91% of participants improved their scores in at least one category, primarily in "subjective well-being." When it comes to attention specifically, the researchers write that "reducing a constant opportunity for distraction allows people to practice focusing on one activity or stimulus at a time, and increases the relative reward of focusing attention on activities other than one's phone." This points to a pattern all-too familiar to smartphone users: the cycle of instant gratification.

In this same vein, according to Dr. Shawn DuBravac, author of "Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Like, and Communicate," switching to a dumb phone is "really just a behavioral design hack." DuBravac says, "You're not changing your brain, you're changing your environment so your brain can do what it does best: focus."

Not everyone needs to make the complete switch, and for some people, it's simply not practical. Dr. Nidhi Gupta, a digital wellness expert with a TEDx Talk on the subject, says that switching to a dumb phone alone may not improve your concentration, but changing your lifestyle will. She points out that if you ditch your smartphone but still have a smartwatch, tablet, or laptop nearby, the distractions will simply migrate. "The brain will keep seeking dopamine from any available screen." Again, what matters is breaking the cycle of instant gratification.

Bricking your smartphone instead

Gupta advocates for a middle path: "demoting" your smartphone so it functions like a dumb phone while retaining useful features like navigation, ride-shares, and FaceTime. Her recommendations include turning on grayscale mode ("It's amazing how boring your phone becomes when it looks like an old newspaper"), deleting time-consuming apps, turning off non-essential notifications, and physically separating yourself from your phone during focused work.

I spoke with three Brooklyn-based twenty-somethings who were struggling with concentration issues and self-described phone addictions. Two of them opted to brick their smartphones rather than switching to dumb phones entirely.

Sam Schaefer, 28, found that removing color and app logos made all the difference. "It greatly reduced my screen time immediately, but more than anything, it really stopped me from mindlessly clicking on apps," he says. "Making it a black screen with letters really did take away my desire to mindlessly click."

Isa León, 26, had similar results. "Like everybody else, I'm addicted to bright colors and notifications, but now everything looks the same. When I have to take a moment to read the name of the app I get to think about what I'm doing instead of following my dopamine." Now, her screen time is down two hours. "Shows you how mindless my scrolling really was."

Michael Gebhardt, 31, a professional photographer and videographer, tried using a dumb phone but had to switch back. "A smart phone is sadly necessary for me to answer clients quickly and makes the difference between confirming a gig or missing out on it." The middle path was the road for him.

The bottom line

The consensus among experts and users alike is clear: limiting smartphone features can dramatically improve concentration. Whether you go full dumb phone, brick your existing device, or simply turn off notifications and use Do Not Disturb mode, the science shows that fewer interruptions lead to sharper focus, better memory, and lower stress.

The science backs it up, but it doesn't need to be all or nothing. You just need to be more intentional about when and how you use it. Whether that means buying a flip phone, enabling grayscale mode, or simply keeping your smartphone out of sight during work hours, the goal is the same: reclaiming your attention from the endless digital noise.



from News https://ift.tt/ThdRbxH
via IFTTT

This 2-in-1 Samsung TV and Desktop Smart Monitor Is $120 Off

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

If you’re shopping for a new desktop monitor (or a small standalone TV), the Samsung 32" Smart Monitor M5 (M50D) FHD with Streaming TV and Speakers is currently $179 (originally $299). It can be used for working, console-free gaming, and media consumption, making it a versatile two-in-one TV and desktop option that’s ideal for multitasking.

The M50D is a dual-purpose LED display and desktop monitor with a 16:9 ratio that makes it easy to switch between work and entertainment modes while also allowing you to control smart home devices via the SmartThings hub. It’s also compatible with voice assistants Bixby and Alexa. The monitor has a built-in Smart TV OS, so you don’t need a PC or an additional streaming device plugged in to watch on platforms like Prime, Netflix, and more. It also comes with a remote for a true TV experience. 

The display has 1920×1080 resolution, which is a somewhat lower pixel density compared to higher-end monitors with 1440p or 4K. Still, image quality is strong enough for working, streaming videos, and browsing the web. With Samsung Gaming Hub, you can instantly access console-free gaming; however, it's limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate and doesn’t have FreeSync support. Hence, it won’t offer the same performance as a dedicated gaming monitor, but that’s to be expected at this price point. Compared to pricier adjustable models, this one only has tilt adjustment with minimal swivel. 

The MultiControl feature allows you to control multiple connected devices via the monitor using a single mouse and keyboard. This can help streamline multitasking between your monitor apps, laptop, and PC. You can also mirror your devices via AirPlay 2, Mobile Mirroring, or Wireless DeX, which makes it easy to switch between streaming and work across various devices.

Overall, if you’re looking for a dual-purpose smart monitor with built-in streaming apps, reliable image quality, and smart home connectivity, the Samsung 32" Smart Monitor M5 (M50D) FHD with Streaming TV and Speakers is a space-saving, under-$200 option ideal for small homes or dorm rooms that doubles as both a computer monitor and a small-screen streaming TV.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

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

Samsung announced the latest Galaxy S25 Series back in January, and later that same month, teased a fourth, thinner phone, the Galaxy S25 Edge. In May we learned more about the device Samsung is calling the "slimmest Galaxy S Series ever." The phone came out at the end of that month, and surprisingly, it's already 40% off, matching the lowest price it has ever reached according to price tracking tools.

Yes, right now you can get the 512GB Galaxy S25 Edge for $729.99 (originally $1,219.99). It's a great price for a lightweight yet powerful phone.

The Galaxy S25 Edge has impressed since its release, with excellent reviews from many tech sites, including PCMag. The reviews praise its thin design (around 5.84mm), which doesn't come at the expense of battery life or performance. You can expect over 16 hours of use on a single charge (tests conducted with YouTube videos playing at full brightness), which is the longest of all the latest S Series phones. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, comes with 12GB of RAM, and starts with 128GB of storage, although this deal is for the 512GB model.

It also has a dual camera setup with a 200 MP wide lens and 12 MP ultra-wide and front lenses, but no telephoto camera. The AI features are what you'd expect from Samsung: enhanced multitasking tools, a desktop mode (Dex), and Galaxy AI. A big plus is Samsung's promise to give this phone seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security fixes (through May 31, 2032).

If you're looking for a deal on a thin and lightweight Android phone that excels in battery life, performance, and will be around for many years, consider the Galaxy S25 Edge for $729.99.

X Is Getting Rid of ‘Twitter,’ and It Might Affect Your Account

The site formerly known as Twitter has been "X" for over two years now. Nevertheless, many of us still call the site by its old, iconic name. In fact, anytime I feel the need to visit, I go to twitter.com, not x.com—even though the site always redirects to the latter. Is it muscle memory? A small protest? Probably a little of both. But my days of typing "t" in Safari's address bar and clicking the autofilled twitter.com URL are likely coming to a close, as X seems poised to finally retire its Twitter domain for good.

That news started with a post from X's "Safety" account on Friday. The post stated that, by Nov. 10, all accounts using a security key for two-factor authentication (2FA) should re-enroll their key to continue using X. The account says you can re-enroll an existing key, or enroll a new one, and that if you choose the latter, other security keys on your account will stop working unless you re-enroll them as well. If you don't take action, your account will be locked after the 10th.

This change set off speculation that someone had compromised X's authorization infrastructure, which forced X's Safety account to make another post clarifying its reasoning for the security change. Not only was there no security concern, the issue only affected Yubikeys and passkeys, not authenticator apps or other 2FA protocols. But the lede was buried within this post: The keys are currently tied to the twitter.com domain: X plans to retire that domain, requiring users to re-enroll with the x.com domain.

If X really does go ahead and retire the domain, it truly will be the end of an era. Nothing will change with the platform itself: X will still be a site for posting your thoughts and dodging the worst of humanity. But once twitter.com stops working, it really will become X through and through. Maybe that will be enough to finally get me to quit it.

Of course, the immediate issue here is for users with security keys tied to Twitter, not X. Those users won't be able to access their accounts after Nov. 10—unless they take some simple steps to comply with the changes.

Don't get locked out of X

If you'd like to make sure you can continue using X once the twitter.com domain is retired, you'll need to make sure your 2FA setup is compliant.

X's Safety account says if you have a Yubikey or passkey that is affected, you will be prompted to automatically re-enroll with the x.com domain. However, you can also take it upon yourself to re-enroll, by heading to your X account's 2FA settings and following the on-screen instructions. If you don't want to re-enroll a key, you can instead choose a different 2FA method, or ditch 2FA entirely—though I strongly encourage you not to choose the last option, for the sake of your account's security.



from News https://ift.tt/v5m4YKd
via IFTTT

This Subscription-Free Eufy Outdoor Security Camera Is Over $100 Off Right Now

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

The Eufy SoloCam S340 is designed for individuals who want complete control over their home’s security without a monthly subscription commitment. Now $223.99 at Walmart, down from $349.99, which is about $55 cheaper than Amazon’s current price of $279.98 (and an all-time low, according to price trackers), this outdoor home security camera delivers 3K resolution, 360-degree coverage, and solar-powered operation. Its two-lens setup captures both wide-angle and zoomed-in footage with surprising clarity. You can easily mount it anywhere—the solar panel connects via a 10-foot USB-C cable or sits neatly on top—so setup is as simple as picking a spot. As our reviewer put it in her review, “choosing where to put the SoloCam S340 will be the hardest part of installing it.”

Design-wise, the camera looks as sturdy as it feels. The IP67-rated weatherproof housing makes it safe for all seasons, and the motorized base allows 360-degree horizontal panning and 70-degree vertical tilt. That flexibility gives you full yard or driveway coverage, and you can control the view remotely through the Eufy Security app, complete with a virtual joystick and preset “stations” for quick repositioning. The dual-lens setup means you can see both the big picture and fine details you’d normally miss, like the license plate of a passing car or a squirrel raiding your plants. Color night vision and a built-in spotlight make low-light monitoring surprisingly clear, while two-way audio lets you talk through the camera in real time.

Everything saves locally, thanks to onboard storage or the included HomeBase 3 hub, which can hold up to 16TB via USB. That means you get smart motion detection, human and vehicle alerts, and full access to recordings without ever paying a monthly subscription fee. That said, there are a few things to consider. It doesn’t support Apple HomeKit or Matter, and clip loading and live feed access can occasionally lag, especially from a distance. But paired with Alexa or Google Assistant, it’s still easy to manage hands-free, notes this PCMag review.


Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now
Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) $299.00 (List Price $349.00)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $29.99 (List Price $49.99)
Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) $27.99 (List Price $69.99)

from News https://ift.tt/uaV1ob3
via IFTTT

'Cognitive Restructuring' Can Help You Shake Off a Doom Spiral and Be More Productive

"Cognitive restructuring" isn't as culturally popular as its therapy-speak peers, like "toxic" and "gaslighting," but it's a powerful tool pros use to help people adjust their thoughts. Though it's usually something you go over in therapy, you can still employ some principles of cognitive restructuring in your everyday life to stay more upbeat and productive.

What is cognitive restructuring?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines cognitive restructuring as “a skill for carefully examining your thinking when you are feeling upset or distressed about something.” The goal is to change how you think in moments of stress so that your thoughts can become more balanced. You want to be less subjective, more objective, and overall less influenced by negativity. Here, the stressful thoughts you may experience are considered cognitive distortions and aren’t helpful for your overall wellbeing or productivity. In fact, they can be downright unhelpful, holding you back from getting things done.

Negative feelings associated with certain actions or events can stall your progress, which can lead to more negative feelings as your tasks pile up. Whether you’re too sad to clean, too anxious to run to the store, or too stressed to do your work, addressing the negative feelings head-on and restructuring them can help you move past the hump and get it all done in a way that still feels safe—and even good. When you feel good, your thoughts are good, and when your thoughts are good, you keep going and getting even more done. Negative thoughts beget more negativity, and the same is generally true of positivity. You just have to figure out how to make the switch, which is what cognitive restructuring is for.

Five steps to practicing cognitive restructuring

Here’s what you do, per the APA:

  1. Write down the situation that's upsetting you, whether it’s an actual event (like cleaning your house, doing your schoolwork, or having to talk to someone you don't like) or a memory of an event. You just need a one-sentence description.

  2. Identify the most upsetting feeling you have. Even if you have a lot of feelings, pick the strongest one. It may help you to categorize them into fear and anxiety; sadness and depression; guilt and shame; or anger. Keep the strongest feeling in mind for the rest of the steps.

  3. Identify your thoughts about the event or situation as they relate to your strongest feeling. If your strongest feeling is fear, ask yourself what you’re afraid of. If it’s guilt, ask yourself what “bad” thing you’ve actually done. This is where you get specific as you try to get at the root cause of your negative feeling. So, if you’re anxious about studying for a test and keep putting it off, identify what you’re afraid of (like not understanding the material or getting a bad grade). Write the thought out in full: “I feel anxious about studying because I am worried I won’t understand or retain enough information to do well on the test.”

  4. Here, evaluate the accuracy of your upsetting thought. Start with any evidence that could support the thought, then probe it. Why do you think you won’t understand or retain the material you have to study? Write down any evidence, but then ask yourself why your thought might be wrong, too. Explore the evidence against the thought, including other ways of looking at the situation, what someone else might think about it, and whether your feelings are based on facts.

  5. Once you’ve listed all the evidence for and against your negative thought, make an ultimate decision, placing the most weight on the strongest and most objective information. Cross out anything weak, subjective, or based in feelings; circle anything substantiated by hard evidence.

The steps here remind me of a reading comprehension and studying technique called elaborative interrogation. There, you identify a fact that you need to study and understand, like that a historical event took place. After that, you ask questions: Who was there? What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? What was going on in that region on at the time? Why was that happening? Why did this lead to the event? How did it happen? How did it impact everything that happened next? You look up the answers to all those questions until you know every detail of context about the fact. By that time, you know so much that the fact itself—the simple, straightforward thing you need to know for your test or whatever you're studying for—is so obvious as to become laughable. Of course the historical event happened—look at all the things that led up to and went into it! Cognitive restructuring is similar: You identify your fact, which in this case is the distressing thing, then dive deep on what you're afraid of, why you feel that way, when you last completed that task, etc. Going over it in an interrogative way helps you move to a point of deeper understanding, then helps you move right past it.

Doing this when you feel immobilized by anxiety or sadness can help you see a path forward. If you do it enough, dismissing negativity and focusing instead on facts—like that you’ve aced tests before or that you’ve maintained your house’s cleanliness in the past, or that doing badly on a test or having an untidy home don’t make you an all-around bad person—will come more naturally. Best of all, you can prove the facts right by then getting the tasks done, strengthening them for next time. The self-reinforcing nature of the good feelings and productivity that go along with this process is what makes it effective, so the first time you try, keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel. It will get easier the more you do it.



from News https://ift.tt/lkpD1UK
via IFTTT

How to Use ‘Task Batching’ to Instantly Be More Productive

As someone who's read and written a lot about various approaches to increasing productivity, I can say with certainty that the majority of the methods out there are primarily focused on how to structure your tasks over the course of a single day. Techniques and plans that call for prioritizing your to-dos, for instance, generally expect you to prioritize your to-dos for that day. The best scheduling advice also typically revolves around how you designate and take on chunks of time throughout a single day.

But sometimes—or often—you work on things that span a longer period of time, so you need productivity tips that are more expansive too. And while too much pre-planning can feel daunting, there's a method you can start using right away that can help you more effectively structure your time in the longer term. It's called "task batching."

What is task batching?

At its most basic, task batching is the act of grouping similar tasks or responsibilities together and completing them around the same time. Ideally, you can work on all the tasks at once, somewhat multitasking but still staying in the same frame of mind for all the jobs. Your goal here is to avoid context switching, or changing mental energies between tasks. While it's true that multitasking makes you worse at everything—which is why I've sworn off it—this isn't the same thing.

For instance, instead of jumping from your inbox to paying bills to taking video meetings to washing dishes to cleaning, you can batch the emails and video calls together, batch the dishes and cleaning together, and save the bills for a different chunk of the day (or the week). Keeping yourself in the same mind frame will help you stay focused instead of allowing your thoughts to be pulled in a bunch of different directions.

You already do task batching without thinking about it. When shopping for gifts, for example: Let's say you have to buy new shoes for your kid and your spouse, a gift for your bracelet-loving mother-in-law, one for your necklace-loving sister, and a candle for yourself. At the mall, you wouldn't pick one pair of shoes at Foot Locker, run to the jewelry store for your mother-in-law, head back to Foot Locker for the other shoes, circle back to the jewelry store for your sister's necklace, etc. You'd group these purchases together, getting everything you needed in each store you went into before moving to the next one. If one of the stores was in a different place altogether, you'd probably kick those purchases to a different day. That all just makes sense—and you can apply that same duh logic to your other to-dos.

How to batch your tasks effectively

At the start of each week, start with your regular to-do list, but then group together the similar things and schedule those groups for specific days. For example, if you need to buy dog food, school supplies, and groceries, schedule a shopping trip for one day of the week. If you have dinner scheduled with a friend and also need to call your mom to ask how her book club went, try to do all those social check-ins on the same day. Writing-intensive work goes in a batch, no matter if it’s for school, work, or pleasure. Personal and professional emails all get handled in one batch. Household tasks go in a batch, whether they’re cleaning or unpacking from a trip.

If you have a big party or event coming up, schedule the prep for a single day instead of picking up one necessity one day and another the next. Complete your similar tasks in one day so you can move on and focus on the next group the following day.

One key step here is not just pre-scheduling your batches at the beginning of the week, but checking in on their progress as the week goes on. Deadlines can change (or be missed), and what was low-priority on Monday may suddenly be important on Wednesday. Task batching helps you to get more done in big chunks, which frees you up for the unexpected emergencies or responsibilities that might crop up.

The reason this works is that it keeps you in "the zone." Instead of getting pulled in a bunch of directions and constantly thinking about the gear-shift necessary in order to move to the next disjointed task, you remain in the flow. On email day, you move through your inbox more quickly because you remain focused on that one task the entire time. On cleaning day, each chore seems less individually daunting because you're crossing off a bunch of them in sequence. When you're in that kind of flow state, things start to come easier and you can focus more deeply— plus, this strategy allows you to think ahead instead of constantly jumping from responsibility to responsibility.



from News https://ift.tt/KaQOcTU
via IFTTT

Apple Removed the Controversial 'Tea' and 'TeaOnHer' Apps From the App Store

Though it brings me no pleasure, it's once again time to discuss the viral apps Tea and TeaOnHer. You may remember them from the summer, when Tea—where women could anonymously rate and discuss men under the pretense of helping each other safely navigate dating—was the target of data breaches that exposed users' personal information. From there, an app called TeaOnHer was launched for men and Tea faced a class action from users who were upset about their private data being easily accessible to hackers. Whether you remember them or not, they're gone now—sort of. Apple has yanked them from the App Store.

The App Store removal of Tea and TeaOnHer

Tea was around for about two years before it unexpectedly went viral in July, which led to at least two distinct data breaches, the second of which occurred when a data expert discovered that not only were some users' pictures stored in an unsecured manner, but some private DMs were, too.

Part of the reason the app went so viral in the first place was that a lot of people were uncomfortable with its premise. It functioned like Yelp, but instead of reviewing businesses, women could review men. The men had no recourse or due process; they couldn't even access the app, let alone respond to anything said about them. (Women were granted access by uploading ID photos or verification selfies and it was the trove of ID photos that was originally hacked and leaked.)

Some people found that unfair and others saw an opportunity to cash in on the discontent. TeaOnHer, an app with the same premise but aimed at men, hit the App Store about two weeks after the Tea hack. The privacy discourse continued, but both apps remained up in the Apple App Store anyway. Until now.

Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that the apps were pulled because they failed to meet the company's requirements for user privacy and content moderation. Sure enough, if you search the apps on the App Store, nothing comes up. Well, except a bunch of imposters looking to make the most of Tea and TOH's absence. Something called "Tea On Her & Him - Overheard" is the second-most-downloaded free app in the Lifestyle category right now.

Can you still use Tea?

Tea hasn't been pulled from Google Play yet, so you can still access it on Android. Moreover, if you already had Tea on your iPhone, it still functions—for now.

When the DM breach was made public over the summer, Tea responded by shutting down DMs and making that clear within the app. Over the course of the news cycle at the time, the app posted public communications to its Instagram page. Within the app and on its social media, there is no mention of the App Store removal, but a rep did email me this: "We are aware that the Tea App has been removed from the App Store and we are working to address Apple's feedback. We know what this app means to our more than six million users and remain deeply committed to our mission of helping women navigate dating with confidence."



from News https://ift.tt/eXRi4o9
via IFTTT

The Google Pixel Watch 3 Is $100 Off Right Now

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