No One Is Buying Phones for AI

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. Things must be dire for the company, right?

The iPhone continues to sell like hot cakes

While I'm not here to read the company's entire pulse, it does seem like the iPhone department is still crushing it. On Wednesday, market research firm Counterpoint released its list of the top-selling smartphones in Q1 of 2025. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the iPhone topped the list: Apple's iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone in the world in the first fiscal quarter of this year, followed by the 16 Pro Max, 16 Pro, and iPhone 15. Apple also had the top four spots in the first quarter of 2024—back then, it was the 15 Pro Max in first place, followed by the 15, 15 Pro, and 14.

Samsung took the next three spots, as it did in Q1 of 2024 as well. This year, it was the Galaxy A16 5G in fifth place, followed by the Galaxy A06 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Redmi 14C 4G came in eighth—impressive for a smartphone that isn't even sold in the U.S.—followed by the Galaxy A55 5G, and, finally, the iPhone 16 Plus.

There's a lot you can take away from the data here. The first impression is that the iPhone continues to be a global force to be reckoned with. The iPhone had five of the top 10 spots in both Q1 2024 and 2025—the only difference between them was the iPhone 15 Plus came in eighth place, while the 16 Plus came in 10th. Samsung, too, is clearly still a reigning champ in the global smartphone race, though it went from five phones in the top 10 to four between those two years—good for Redmi for stealing that eighth place spot.

Ecosystems are powerful things

It's particularly interesting to see the iPhone continue perform like this in 2025. After all, it's been apparent for months now that Apple did not follow through on its advertised AI promises for the iPhone 16 line. To wit, Counterpoint says that the iPhone 16e, the company's "more affordable" device, ranked sixth in the top selling smartphones of March. People are continuing to buy iPhones in droves.

Is it possible these customers are buying iPhones based on Apple's past advertisements? Sure. The company still advertises Apple Intelligence with each iPhone on its site, so AI could still be driving people's desires to buy iPhones. I'm not convinced, though. If AI were a priority, I think most customers would be buying from the companies that have been rolling out AI features at a steady clip. Samsung and Google immediately come to mind: Google's latest I/O event was all about AI, and you can experience a number of AI features on Android devices made by both companies. Again, maybe Samsung's four "top 10" smartphones are a result of its AI efforts. It's entirely possible, but I continue to be unconvinced.

I see this list of best-selling iPhones and Galaxies, and I see one thing: established market trends. I think the truth is, a lot of people like Galaxies, and even more people like iPhones. People switch phones all the time, especially in the Android ecosystem, but based on the data, it seems like when it's time to buy a new phone, most iPhone users buy a new iPhone, and most Galaxy users buy a new Galaxy. Ecosystems are powerful things, and when you've poured your entire digital life into one platform—including all the messaging, purchases, and cloud storage—it's rare you want to mix it up.

That's me to a T: As much as I respect Android, I'm stuck in the Apple ecosystem, and, as such, really only consider a new iPhone when it comes time to upgrade. Almost every single person in my immediate circle is the same way. The Samsung fans I know also stick to the pattern, just with the newest Galaxy. The decision for me is never whether to buy an iPhone or a Galaxy: it's whether to buy the Pro or the Pro Max.

AI enthusiasm isn't strong enough to drive smartphone sales

AI is without a doubt the trend in tech right now, and people are using it. But I don't think many are considering it when buying their devices—especially smartphones. I think people buy the phone they like, and then configure it after the fact to access their AI tools. Hell, Apple integrated ChatGPT into my iPhone, and I still have the ChatGPT app. AI features can be useful—it's great that Apple has its own version of Magic Eraser now—but AI features alone aren't enough to sway customers en masse. If OpenAI made a smartphone, would you buy it? I'm guessing probably not.

If the AI train continues on, maybe people will start buying the phones and devices that best integrate AI tools out of the box. Android is way ahead of Apple on this front—just look at Google replacing its assistant with Gemini—so perhaps we'll see Galaxy phones take more of a lead in global sales in future quarters, or even an appearance from a Pixel or two. Or, maybe people are fine downloading the apps they need to get their AI fix, and leaving other factors in play when choosing a phone to buy.

I can't predict the future; I can only note what I see in the present. And, right now, I'm seeing two things at once—I'm seeing a lot of people talking about ChatGPT, and I'm seeing a lot of people buying and using iPhones. Outside of my tech news circles, I've heard not a peep about Apple's struggles in the AI race.

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You Can Get a Lifetime License to Qlango for Just $35 Right Now

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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 content for not a lot of money.

What makes Qlango different is how it forces you to use your target language actively. You don’t spend time translating back into your native tongue—everything you do, from dictation to sentence-building to multiple choice, is centered around the language you’re learning. It uses spaced repetition, so if you miss something, it’ll keep coming back until it sticks. And while that might sound annoying, it’s actually one of the most effective ways to build long-term memory. You can also pick the learning style that suits you best—go slow with word matching, or dive into full sentence translations if you’re up for it.

That said, the app’s design isn’t as polished as something like Duolingo, and if you’re someone who needs visual bells and whistles to stay motivated, it might feel a bit barebones. But the real value here is in how flexible it is—you can set your own weekly goals, skip the guilt trips for missing a day, and focus on what actually helps you learn. You can hear the pronunciation of each word, learn nouns with their articles (super helpful for gendered languages), and build a vocabulary that’s actually useful. If you’ve bounced off other language apps in the past because they either felt too childish or too intense, Qlango might be the middle path you’ve been looking for. And at this price, it’s not a huge risk to find out.

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I Subscribe to Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music, and Here’s Why

Each music streaming service varies in terms of its features and its interface, but unlike the video streaming apps, the actual content selection is broadly the same across them all: You get access to tens of millions of tunes, on demand, across all of your multiple devices.

With that in mind, it doesn't make a lot of sense to subscribe to multiple music streaming platforms. People are far more likely to make a choice between them, find their preferred service, and then stick to it—and once you're invested in terms of playlists and listening history, it's not easy to leave.

But I'm signed up to not one, not two, but three music streaming services—and I'll try and explain why I stay active on all of them. If you've only ever stuck with one option, you might not know there are actually some key differences between them, and different ways that they're all worth the money.

Admittedly this isn't going to be right for everyone, and it's definitely expensive. As a tech journalist I get to write about these different streaming apps for a living, which helps justify the cost, and your mileage may vary in terms of whether the differences between these platforms make any difference to you.

Before we get into the three streaming services themselves, a shout out to a fourth service, Last.fm: It tracks listening across multiple music platforms, which means I can look back on my musical tastes and how they change over time, even as I'm bouncing among three separate subscriptions.

Apple Music: the legacy choice

I've been listening to digital music through iTunes since the start of this century, which is a big reason why I continue to rely on Apple Music for most of my day-to-day listening. I still have a carefully curated collection of local digital music files, and Apple Music can blend these seamlessly with new music that I stream on-demand. For bands I really like, I still buy the music—both to support them, and just in case one day I want to stop renting music (and movies, and TV shows).

The other major reason I use Apple Music above every other streaming service is the control you get over your library and over your playlists: There are algorithms here, of course, and music recommendations, but I'm much less reliant on them. Apple Music is a throwback in terms of how you can organize the music you like and determine what you listen to, rather than just opening up an app and clicking play on whatever auto-generated playlist looks most appealing.

Apple Music supports smart playlists. Credit: Lifehacker

Smart playlists are an important part of this experience, too. They let you build playlists based on your library, based around a whole host of criteria: total plays, date, genre, rating, the last played date, artist, and more. They update in real time, so a "songs I haven't heard for six months" playlist will constantly refresh as you listen to it and the metadata updates.

I've spent more time than I care to admit curating numerous smart playlists. They let me balance new music with old music, prioritize my favorites while still adding in more obscure cuts, and mean that forgotten tracks that I haven't heard for a year or more will still occasionally pop into my queue without me having to dig for them. If I ever go down to just one music streaming service, this is the one I think I'd keep.

YouTube Music: the widest choice

YouTube is the opposite of Apple Music in some ways, because I'll often just click on a music video I like and see where the recommendation algorithm takes me. YouTube probably knows my musical tastes better than any other app or platform, because of the hours I've spent clicking around on those brightly colored thumbnails, and it's great for discovering new bands and new songs.

It's an easy, sit-back-and-listen experience, one that works everywhere: web browsers, TVs, phones, and tablets of any description. Just about every device can run YouTube. And any listening I do on YouTube is synced to YouTube Music (while all of my YouTube Music playlists are also accessible through YouTube)—I can switch between an audio and video experience as needed.

YouTube Music offers a wealth of music choices. Credit: Lifehacker

That's convenient and accessible, and on top of that there's more music on YouTube Music (via YouTube) than anywhere else: live versions, b-sides, alternative takes you can't find anywhere else, obscure gig recordings made by fans, and all the rest. There's a depth and a breadth here that Apple Music and Spotify can't match.

Another feature I like about YouTube Music is being able to queue up different playlists on different devices—even in different browser tabs. On my laptop I can have a new music mix (for entertainment) and a lo-fi chill mix (for concentration) available in neighboring browser tabs, and switch between them with a click. If I then go out in the car I can listen to a third YouTube Music playlist, without losing my place in either of the playlists I'm working through back at home.

Spotify: the power user choice

Finally, I subscribe to Spotify is that, well, even with everything I've already said about its competitors, it's the best music streaming service. It has the most polished apps, with the most features available—like the Blend playlists you can use to combine your musical tastes with those of a friend to create a single mix, and the AI DJ you can get to queue up tracks for you.

When it comes to third-party speakers, apps, and AI assistants, Spotify is the music streaming service most likely to be supported: It doesn't favor particular devices or platforms, as Apple Music and YouTube Music do. It's available everywhere, and it's the easiest for sharing music with other people, because almost everyone uses it.

Spotify remains the most polished, feature-rich option. Credit: Lifehacker

I use Spotify most for new music. It has a fantastic range of recommendation options, including the Release Radar playlist (new music by artists I like), and the Discover Weekly playlist (a weekly mix of new and old music, including some artists I know and some I don't). I also enjoy all the weird and wonderful playlists other Spotify users curate and make public for everyone else.

What's more (and despite what I said about YouTube Music), sometimes I do want a playlist that I can transfer from my laptop, to my smart speaker, to my car, and all the way back again, without skipping a beat—and Spotify handles this better than both Apple Music and YouTube Music.

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This Highly Rated 85-Inch TV Is Nearly $500 Off Right Now

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If you’ve been waiting for a big-screen TV deal that doesn’t require big-spender energy, this might be it. The Hisense 85U6N is currently down to $799.99 from $1,297.96 on Amazon—its lowest price ever, according to price-trackers. That’s nearly a $500 discount on a TV that PCMag rated Outstanding and named an Editor’s Choice, calling it the best budget-friendly TV you can buy. That said, if 85 inches feels like overkill, the 65-inch version is also on sale for $499 right now.

Hisense 85U6N

$799.99 at Amazon

$1,297.96 Save $497.97

$799.99 at Amazon

$1,297.96 Save $497.97

This is a 4K QLED panel with a mini-LED backlight system, so the color and contrast are strong—better than you'd expect at this price. It supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and though it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, it makes up for it with very low input lag. Gamers will appreciate the 3.6ms response time, and streamers get full access to Google TV, with all the usual apps: Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV, and other streaming platforms. You can also cast from your phone using Google Cast or Apple AirPlay, and there’s hands-free Google Assistant baked in.

Design-wise, it’s simple but clean. The near bezel-less look works well, and the matte black build doesn’t scream “budget.” It comes with a voice remote and can sit on a stand or be wall-mounted. You get four HDMI ports (one with eARC), two USB ports, and the usual audio and antenna connections. The only real omission is the newer ATSC 3.0 tuner for next-gen over-the-air broadcasts, but unless you’re using an antenna for local 4K channels, that won’t matter much. Overall, the U6N delivers a big-screen experience with strong performance and modern features at a price that’s hard to beat right now. If you’ve got the wall space and the budget, it’s a solid pick.

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Use This Free App to Track Sports Scores in Your Mac’s Menu Bar

It's a sad fact of life: Sometimes you have to work when you'd rather be watching the game. I can't fix that problem for you, sadly, but I can give you a way to keep track of the score on your Mac.

Apple offers a great sports scores app for the iPhone, which is the best way to keep track of the score while you're doing something else. There's nothing like that from Apple for the Mac, though, which I find a little disappointing. Sure, you can ask Siri for the score, but there's no way to passively keep track of the score while you're working on something else. Happily, there's a free app that puts the score for many major leagues right in your menu bar: the aptly named MenuScores.

This is a free and open source application that offers scores for major sports leagues in both Europe and North America. Just install the application and you'll see "Select a Game" in the menu bar. Click this and you'll see a list of leagues—hover over any of them to see a list of games. Click a game and you'll know the score every time you glance at the menu bar. You can optionally get a notification when the game starts and ends.

Credit: Justin Pot

The supported leagues include the NHL, NBA, NCAA men's and women's basketball, the NFL, MLB, F1, PGA, LPGA, EUFA Champions league, EPL, ESP, GER, ITA, and NLL. Most sports fans aren't going to want to see all of theses, so you can disable any league in the settings. You can also disable notifications and configure how often scores should refresh—options range from every five seconds to every five minutes. Scores are pulled in using ESPN's API.

The application isn't perfect. It would be nice if I could get more details about games by clicking them, even if that meant opening a website. I also wish there was support for MLS games. Even so, this is a great tool if you're a fan of even one supported league. I know I'll be opening ii late in the afternoon most days during hockey season.

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I Don't Usually Enjoy Meditation, but Peloton's Meditation Classes Are Surprisingly Helpful

I do not consider myself a very woo-woo person, someone who's in touch with their spirituality, or even someone particularly sentimental. The concept of meditating, like so many other things I regard "too mystical," has never appealed to me, but I'll tell you what does: Working out, being physically healthy, and staying on top of my goals. That's why Peloton's approach to meditation sessions appealed to me more than others have before.

I'm always browsing the Peloton app for new workout options and recently stumbled across the guided meditation classes it offers alongside cycling, walking, yoga, strength training, and more. At first, I didn't see the appeal. I use the app and its classes to get sweaty, burn calories, and enhance my body's performance, after all. But as it turns out, these are really cool and can put you in a better mental space, which clears the way for you to do all that other stuff. Since discovering them, I've been streaming them quite a bit. Here's why you should, too.

What are Peloton's meditation classes all about?

Using Peloton's app—which is included on the touchscreens of its at-home workout equipment, can be downloaded to your phone, or even streamed on devices like a Roku—you can access a variety of class types. Tap Meditation from the home screen and you'll be shown hundreds of meditation options that range in length from five minutes to 30. As with any Peloton offering, they're led by a number of different instructors; if you take enough of them, you'll find a favorite or two, but what really stands out is that there are different categories available, such as:

• sleep

• mindfulness

• anxiety

• focus

• recovery

• gratitude

• happiness

• relaxing

Each class is designed for a specific purpose, so you can choose if you want to "flow and let go," embrace a bright morning, or even take one designed for use on your evening commute. You can filter by class type, which lets you break down the classes by categories like "Daily Meditation," "Meditation Basics," "Emotions," "Theme," or "Walking Meditation." There are even some for pre- and post-natal meditation.

You don't need any special equipment; the instructors usually lead off simply by suggesting how you should position your body. Meditations can be added to class Stacks, which are Peloton's version of playlists that cycles through pre-selected classes, allowing you to customize your entire workout before it begins. If you have your Apple Watch linked up to your Peloton account (and you should!) the app will track your heart rate and input the meditation into your Apple Health tracker, listing it as "Mind & Body" under your sessions.

Why I like Peloton's meditations

As I said, I'm not a very spiritual or soulful person, so I appreciate that the meditation classes I've taken through the app aren't overly mushy. Rather, they're pretty straightforward: The instructors speak clearly and plainly, don't rely too much on frivolous imagery, and instead, draw your attention to your breathing and body in a way that actually helps you feel more connected to both. For as much energy as I put into working out and strengthening my body, I do struggle with things like the "mind-muscle connection" or just identifying how different parts of my body are feeling, so these sessions, where I'm asked to focus intently on certain areas and connect to how I'm feeling in a given moment, are actually pretty beneficial to my quest to become stronger and healthier overall.

I first tried the Peloton meditations a few weeks ago while waiting for the bus. I was having a very busy day and had had absolutely no time to work out, not even on my Peloton bike, which was adding to my stress while I waited for the bus to pull up and take me to more busy activities. I didn't want to lose my Peloton streak, so I opened the app to see if there was a quick walking workout I could get in, maybe by strolling to the next-farthest bus stop, and saw the meditations option. I picked a five-minute meditation and listened to it while I stood on the sidewalk—and it did chill me out, help me focus, and reinvigorate me a little, almost the same as a traditional workout would have, but without taking up as much time or making me a sweaty mess. I tried a few others over the next few days and found them really useful, especially during long hours in the car on my Memorial Day road trip or earlier this week and when my team was losing a baseball game and I was not enjoying the experience of watching.

Obviously, these classes are a lot different from Peloton's usual offerings. I'm not sweating, straining myself, or enhancing my cardiovascular or respiratory function. Instead, I'm strengthening my mind, training myself to focus on my breathing and feelings. Those abilities translate really well to being able to continue my fitness journey as well as just handle whatever is going on in an average day. I think these are especially useful as a pick-me-up, a kickstart for the day, or a post-workout wind-down.

I also appreciate how accessible the classes are. You can toggle on closed captions, for instance, and the audio and video components are high-quality, making the instructors easy to understand. The background music never muffles the instructors' voices, there is a diverse selection of instructors and class types, and there really does seem to be something for everyone, whether you want to walk and listen or only have five minutes to devote to grounding yourself.

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That LexisNexis Data Breach Was So Bad, It Might Lead to a Class-Action Lawsuit

Data broker LexisNexis Risk Solutions (LNRS) has just disclosed a data breach that occurred at the end of last year, and while it doesn't affect as many individuals as other recent high profile incidents—such as the DISA hack that included 3.3 million people's information—it underscores the ever-present concerns with companies collecting (and profiting off of) user data.

As TechCrunch reports, LexisNexis Risk Solutions uses consumers' personal and financial information to help corporations conduct risk assessments on prospective customers and detect fraudulent transactions. For example, LexisNexis sold data on vehicle driving habits collected by car manufacturers to insurance companies to set premiums, while law enforcement agencies pull data from LexisNexis about suspects. (LexisNexis Risk Solutions is a subsidiary of the same corporation that owns data analytics and research firm LexisNexis.)

The LexisNexis hack compromised data collected on 364,333 individuals, and there's a potential class action lawsuit brewing over the incident. Here's what you need to know.

What happened with LexisNexis?

According to the company's filing with the Maine attorney general's office, a data breach took place on December 25, 2024 but wasn't discovered until May 14, 2025. A third-party platform used by LexisNexis was hacked, compromising information that may include the following:

• Name

• Phone number

• Mailing address

• Email address

• Social Security number

• Driver's license number

• Date of birth

In a letter to affected individuals, LexisNexis states that no financial or credit card information was included in the breach, nor has any data been obviously misused (so far). Few additional details about the incident have been disclosed, other than that none of the company's own networks or systems were hacked.

What consumers need to do

LexisNexis sent a notice dated May 24 to consumers whose data may have been compromised, so if you receive a letter from LexisNexis Risk Solutions, don't throw it out. The company is offering 24 months of identity protection and credit monitoring services through Experian IdentityWorks, and you must enroll online by August 31, 2025 using the activation code provided in your notice.

Affected individuals can also indicate their interest in joining a class action lawsuit against LexisNexis through Oklahoma-based firm Abington Cole + Ellery. If you want to volunteer to be considered as a class representative, fill out the online form with your name, contact information, and connection to the breach.

Finally, even if you don't plan to join the class action suit, you should keep an eye out for signs of identity theft. Check your credit report—which you can request for free on a weekly basis—and monitor your accounts for any unauthorized activity. You can also freeze your credit, place a fraud alert, and take other steps to secure your Social Security number so no one can open accounts or take out debt in your name.

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QuickDraw Add-On Weights Can Make Your Dumbbells Heavier, But They Scare Me

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Purchasing a full set of individual dumbbell pairs between five and 60 pounds can cost well over $1,500, not to mention how much space you'd have to dedicate to storing them. That's why I'm a huge fan of adjustable dumbbells like the REP QuickDraws or Nüobells, which I reviewed here and here, respectively.

If you know you want to be able to up to 60 pounds at five-pound increments, effectively combining 30 weights into one compact set, then adjustables like the REP QuickDraws are how you can save significant money and space in your home gym equipment setup.

But let's say your strength progresses beyond your adjustable dumbbells' capacity. First of all: Nice work. Secondly: What do you do now?

I've seen users on Reddit directly asking "what's stopping me from adding more plates to keep going heavier?" Adding extra weight plates seems like a logical solution, as opposed to spending all that money on an entirely new set for just a few pounds beyond the recommended capacity.

So, let's take a look at what is stopping you—and what's not. Here's what you should know about using add-on weights to your adjustable dumbbells, from what is officially considered unsafe to why it gets impractical even aside from that.

How to add weight to your adjustable dumbbells

First off, not all adjustable dumbbells allow for this type of modification. Selector pin systems (like PowerBlocks) generally don't allow for unofficial weight additions due to their enclosed design. Dial systems (like my favorite, the Nüobells) have security features specifically preventing modifications outside the cradle. Then you have spin-lock dumbbells, like the QuickDraws, which allow for customization and additional weight outside the cradle. For this reason, I'll be speaking to the REP QuickDraws specifically, as opposed to Nüobells or Powerblocks.

Still, adding weight beyond the manufacturer's specifications will almost certainly void your warranty. REP Fitness designed these dumbbells for specific weight ranges and cannot guarantee safety beyond those limits. I spoke with a REP representative (REP-resentative?) who informed me, "internal testing was not conducted beyond the 60 pound maximum, so REP cannot guarantee the safety of additional weight beyond that."

Outside of your warranty, there are safety concerns. The handles, locking mechanisms, and materials are engineered for specific maximum loads. Exceeding these limits risks equipment failure and potential injury. Even if the dumbbells can technically handle the additional plates, the result might be bulky and awkward, affecting your form and increasing injury risk.

All that being said, it still is entirely feasible to bend the rules and take your 60-pound dumbbells up to 70 pounds. Assuming you play it safe and only add a few plates to each side, here's what you should know:

1. Only add compatible plates: The QuickDraw system uses standard plate dimensions that can be supplemented with additional compatible plates.

2. Manual addition required: You'll need to add these plates manually outside the cradle system, as the selection mechanism only works within the advertised weight range. This pretty much negates the whole "quick draw" appeal.

3. Secure them properly: Ensure the additional plates are secured with the locking mechanism to prevent dangerous slippage during exercises.

4. Manual tracking required: The dial indicator becomes inaccurate once you exceed the designed range. You'll need to manually calculate and track the added weight.

Can you (and should you) add more weight to REP QuickDraw Dumbbells?

The short answer: Yes, technically you can add additional weight plates to REP QuickDraw dumbbells beyond their advertised maximum.

The long answer: Just because something is possible doesn't mean you should make a habit of it. Sure, it's fully above-board to order add-on weights in five-pound increments (which, side-note, I love so much more than a 10-pound jump). However, going beyond 60 pounds isn't sanctioned by REP.

For this reason, I naturally had my boyfriend test my DIY super-QuickDraws creation. In the image below, you can see how I manually added weights outside of the cradle. With the spin-locks, you can keep adding weights outside the cradle without any resistance. Just slide the weights on and flip the lock switch.

I snapped a picture of it in its lopsided form, so you can see just how far outside the cradle the five-pound add-ons will go—and how precarious it starts to look right off the bat.

Behold, my DIY super-QuickDraws creation. Credit: Meredith Dietz

As we steadily increased the weight from 65, to 70, to 85 pounds, he noted growing concerns with how much the dumbbells could handle while still feeling safe. The all-steel design gives these guys a premium feel during standard use. But when you go beyond the sanctioned weight capacity, there's a sense that the dumbbells wouldn't bend or snag, but simply snap.

And again, you'll need to manually keep track of how much weight you're adding, since the individual plates are not labeled, and you're exceeding the labels of the cradle. That mental math might not be a deterrent for you, but it's something to note.

The bottom line

In most cases, the hassle and safety concerns outweigh the benefits. The primary advantage of the QuickDraws—quick, convenient weight changes—is totally undermined when manually adding plates.

Investing in a higher-capacity adjustable dumbbell set (like 80- to 90-pound models) or supplementing with specific heavier fixed dumbbells for certain exercises might be safer and more practical. For serious lifters approaching the upper limits of their adjustable dumbbells, I'd recommend supplementing with individual heavier dumbbells.

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What Medical Guidelines (Finally) Say About Pain Management for IUD Insertion

Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are an extremely effective and convenient form of birth control for many people—but it can also very painful to get one inserted. Current medical guidelines say that your doctor should be discussing pain management with you, and they also give advice to doctors on what methods tend to work best for most people.

The newest set of guidelines is from ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These guidelines actually cover a variety of procedures, including endometrial and cervical biopsies, but today I'll be talking about the IUD insertion portions. And in 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's released new contraceptive recommendations that include a section on how and why providers should help you with pain relief. 

Before we get into the new recommendations and what they say, it’s important to keep in mind that that not everybody feels severe pain with insertion—the estimate is that insertion is severely painful for 50% of people who haven't given birth, and only 10% of people who have, according to Rachel Flink, the OB-GYN I spoke with for my article on what to expect when you get an IUD. (She also gave me a great rundown of pain management options and their pros and cons, which I included in the article.)  

I’m making sure to point this out because I’ve met people who are terrified at the thought of getting an IUD, because they think that severe pain is guaranteed and that doctors are lying if they say otherwise. In reality, there’s a whole spectrum of possible experiences, and both you and your provider should be informed and prepared for anything along that spectrum.

Your provider should discuss pain management with you

The biggest thing in both sets of guidelines is not just the pain management options they discuss, but the guideline that says there is a place for this discussion and that it is important! You’ve always been able to ask about pain management, but providers are now expected to know that they need to discuss this with their patients. The ACOG guidelines say: "Options to manage pain should be discussed with and offered to all patients seeking in-office gynecologic procedures." And the CDC says: 

Before IUD placement, all patients should be counseled on potential pain during placement as well as the risks, benefits, and alternatives of different options for pain management. A person-centered plan for IUD placement and pain management should be made based on patient preference.

“Person-centered” means that the plan should take into account what you want and need, not just what the provider is used to doing or thinks will be easiest. (This has sometimes been called “patient-centered” care, but “person-centered” is meant to convey that you and your provider understand that they are treating a whole person, with concerns outside of just their health, and you’re not only a patient who exists in a medical context.) 

The CDC guidelines also say: “When considering patient pain, it is important to recognize that the experience of pain is individualized and might be influenced by previous experiences including trauma and mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.” The ACOG guidelines, similarly, say that talking over the procedure and what to expect can help make the procedure more tolerable, regardless of how physically painful it ends up being. (Dr. Flink told me that anti-anxiety medications during insertion are helpful for some of her patients, and that she’ll discuss them alongside options for physical pain relief.)

Lidocaine paracervical blocks may relieve pain

There’s good news and bad news about the recommended pain medications. The good news is that there are recommendations. The bad news is that none of them are guaranteed to work for everyone, and it’s not clear if they work very well at all. 

The CDC says that a paracervical block (done by injection, similar to the numbing injections used for dental work) “might” reduce pain with insertion. Three studies showed that the injections worked to reduce pain, while three others found they did not. The CDC rates the certainty of evidence as “low” for pain and for satisfaction with the procedure. The ACOG guidelines also mention local anesthetics, including lidocaine paracervical blocks, as one of the best options for pain management.

Dr. Flink told me that while some of her patients appreciate this option, it’s often impossible to numb all of the nerves in the cervix, and the injection itself can be painful—so in many cases, patients decide it’s not worth it. Still, it’s worth discussing with your provider if this sounds like something you would like to try.

Topical lidocaine may also help

Lidocaine, the same numbing medication, can also be applied to the cervix as a cream, spray, or gel. Again, evidence is mixed, with six trials finding that it helped, and seven finding that it did not. The ACOG guidelines note that sometimes topical lidocaine has worked better than the injected kind. Unfortunately, they also say that it can be hard for doctors to find an appropriate spray-on product that can be used on the cervix.

The CDC judged the certainty of to be a bit better here compared to the injection—moderate for reducing pain, and high for improving placement success (meaning that the provider was able to get the IUD inserted properly). 

Other methods aren’t well supported by the evidence (yet?)

For the other pain management methods that the CDC group studied, there wasn’t enough evidence to say whether they work. These included analgesics like ibuprofen, and smooth-muscle-relaxing medications. 

The ACOG guidelines say that taking NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) before insertion doesn't seem to help with insertion pain, even though that's commonly recommended. That approach does seem to work for some other procedures, though, and may help with pain that occurs after an IUD insertion. So it may not be a bad idea to take those four Advil if that's what your doc recommends, but it shouldn't be your only option. Or as the ACOG paper puts it: "Although recommending preprocedural NSAIDs is a benign, low-risk intervention unlikely to cause harm, relying on NSAIDs alone for pain management during IUD insertion is ineffective and does not provide the immediate pain control patients need at the time of the procedure."

Both sets of guidelines also don't recommend misoprostol, which is sometimes used to soften and open the cervix before inserting an IUD. The ACOG guidelines describe the evidence as mixed, and the CDC guidelines specifically recommend against it. Moderate certainty evidence says that misoprostol doesn’t help with pain, and low certainty evidence says that it may increase the risk of adverse events like cramping and vomiting. 

What this means for you

The publication of these guidelines won’t change anything overnight at your local OB-GYN office, but it’s a good sign that discussions about pain management with IUD placement are happening more openly. 

The new guidelines also don’t necessarily take any options off the table. Even misoprostol, which the CDC now says not to use for routine insertions, “might be useful in selected circumstances (e.g., in patients with a recent failed placement),” it writes.

Don’t be afraid to ask about pain management before your appointment; as we discussed before, some medications and procedures require that you and your provider plan ahead. And definitely don’t accept a dismissive reply about how taking a few Advil should be enough; it may help for some people, but that shouldn't be the end of the discussion. You deserve to have your provider take your concerns seriously.

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This Budget Android Tablet Is Going for $75 Right Now

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If you’ve been thinking about picking up a family tablet for streaming, casual browsing, or giving the kids something budget-friendly to play on, the 2023 onn. 11" Tablet Pro is worth a look—especially at this price. It’s currently going for $74.99 as an open-box deal on StackSocial. For context, the same model is listed at $128.99 on Amazon. Open Box means it’s likely been handled or returned in-store, so while the packaging might not look brand new, the tablet itself has been verified to be in good working condition. The device runs Android 13 and feels very much like using a large phone. It’s got a familiar interface (if you’ve used an Android phone before), which makes it easy to jump into without a learning curve.

The 11-inch LCD screen, with a 1200x2000 resolution, is crisp enough for Netflix or YouTube, and the 2.2GHz Octa-Core processor paired with 4GB RAM gives it just enough power to juggle casual multitasking—think video calls, browsing, and maybe a bit of app-based gaming. You’re also looking at 128GB of internal storage, which is generous for this price range, plus a microSD slot if you need extra room for downloads. The dual-camera setup (5MP on the front and 8MP on the back) isn’t winning any awards, but it’ll get the job done for video chats and quick snaps.

It also has a headphone jack (which isn’t a given anymore), a USB-C port for fast charging, and built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Also, the 16-hour battery claim gives it real potential as a travel companion (it’s enough to last through long travel days or keep a kid entertained without constant charging). Plus, bonus points for Google Kids Space and Entertainment Space already baked in, which makes this a decent shared family device. Just keep in mind that while it checks a lot of boxes, it’s not a powerhouse—if you're looking to run intensive apps or use it for work, this might fall short. But for basic day-to-day use, it’s a pretty compelling option under $80.

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Nintendo Has a List of Switch 1 Games That Will Be Ready for Switch 2

The Switch 2 is nearly here. On June 5, those of us who were lucky enough to snag preorders will start receiving their consoles, and will be able to play new games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

Of course, Nintendo's new console isn't only compatible with Switch 2 games. It will play your original Switch games too. The thing is, it isn't as simple as with other backwards compatible consoles: The Switch 2 uses emulation to run original Switch titles, so it isn't playing those games natively. That works for the most part—Nintendo says virtually all first-party Switch games can run on Switch 2 without issue, and the same is true for most "partner" games.

However, some games run into problems with the emulation on Switch 2. Certain titles have issues when starting up (e.g. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Rocket League, and FINAL FANTASY), while others are "playable," but suffer in-game compatibility issues (e.g. ALIEN: ISOLATION, Fall Guys, and Overcooked! All You Can Eat). Nintendo is investigating the issue for these titles, so hopefully they'll all eventually be able to run on Switch 2 as well as they do on the original Switch.

These Switch games are getting updates for Switch 2

In fact, there's already a list of titles with fixes on the way. Nintendo says 49 games with current problems running on Switch 2 will receive updates by system launch or shortly after to fix those issues. (The exception is Fortnite, which is apparently getting a true Switch 2 version rather than an update.)

You can see the full list of games to be updated for Switch 2 below:

• 112 Operator

• ACA NEOGEO ART OF FIGHTING 2

• ACA NEOGEO SAMURAI SHODOWN II

• ACA NEOGEO THE KING OF FIGHTERS '95

• ACA NEOGEO THE KING OF FIGHTERS '96

• ACTIVE LIFE Outdoor Challenge

• Airhead

• Alchemy Garden

• Baron: Fur Is Gonna Fly

• Batman: The Enemy Within

• Beyond the Ice Palace 2

• Boot Hill Bounties

• Bus Simulator 2023: City Driver

• Death Coming

• DOOM Eternal

• Eggy Party

• ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

• Everspace - Stellar Edition

• Fables Mosaic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

• Fitness Boxing

• Floor Kids

• Fortnite (a Switch 2 version is in the works)

• FRAMED Collection

• Gal Guardians: Demon Purge

• Gas Guzzlers Extreme

• Guns, Gore and Cannoli

• Island Flight Simulator

• Korean Drone Flying Tour Jeju Island-1

• Mexican Train Dominoes Gold

• Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame

• MUSYNX

• NBA 2K25

• Nova-111

• OMG Police - Car Chase TV Simulator

• Parents Vs Kids

• Perseverance: Complete Edition

• Pizza Tower

• Process of Elimination

• Slayin 2

• STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster

• Super Mega Baseball 3

• The Jackbox Party Pack

• The Jackbox Party Pack 2

• Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes

• Victor Vran Overkill Edition

• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

• WolfFang 空牙2001 SkullFang 空牙外伝 Saturn Tribute Boosted

• World of Tanks Blitz

• Xtreme Sports

Unfortunately, there's no true timeline for when these games will receive their updates. Nintendo's "by launch or shortly after" pledge is quite vague: Will some games be patched? Will most? Which ones? How long after launch is "shortly after?"

The silver lining is that the fixes are on their way. If you have any of these Switch games, or you happen to buy them with your Switch 2, keep an eye out for these updates.

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Four Strategies for Getting Better Sleep Away From Home

Sleep can be a mysterious process even under ideal conditions, but when you’re in a completely alien environment like a hotel room or other temporary lodging it can become seemingly impossible. But if you take a little control over your environment, you can get more—and better—sleep no matter where you find yourself at night.

Make the space feel more like home

Studies have shown that aspects of our home environment like sound and smell can help us be more relaxed and and happy when we’re away, so replicating those aspects of your life in an unfamiliar spot can help you sleep:

• Sound. If you normally sleep with a white noise machine, bring it with you when you travel, or find a travel-size model or phone app that simulates it.

• Smell. Everyone’s home has a unique scent map. Bringing those scents with you can trick your brain into feeling “at home” in a strange place. Using the same lotions, shampoos, and soaps on the road can recreate that scent matrix. Bringing an item of clothing that smells like the dryer sheets or detergent you use at home into bed with you can also help make an unfamiliar bed seem inviting.

• Routine. Another way to make an unfamiliar place seem more like home is to keep to your usual routine. However you approach bedtime at home—whether it’s reading a book, meditating for a few moments, or watching a little mindless television—do it as much as possible in your temporary digs. Try to hit the sack around the same time as usual, if you can, and keep to the same bathroom routine as well.

Control the environment

As much as possible, you want to control the physical environment that you’re sleeping in. If you’re used to sleeping in a pitch-black room, block light sources as much as possible by clipping curtains shut (binder clips work well for this), putting tape or Post-It notes over incidental light sources like alarms and thermostats, and blocking gaps under doors that allow light to leak in.

If you prefer some light while you’re sleeping, bring a nightlight with you that you can plug in to make sure even the darkest room is illuminated. And adjust the temperature, if you can—most people sleep better when the room is a little on the cool side, about 60 to 65 degrees. But if you’re used to sleeping in a warmer or even colder environment, try to get as close to that as you can.

Select a strategic location

If you have control over the location of your room (when staying at a hotel, for example), use that control to select a spot that’s conducive to a good night’s sleep. That starts with the location of the building itself—if you have a choice of guest rooms or hotels to spend the night, choose one far away from busy streets or other sources of noise. Then look for a spot that’s far from common areas like elevators or lobbies—or your friend’s living room where everyone stays up all night chatting.

Get out of bed (for a little while)

Finally, if you’re struggling to fall asleep in a strange place despite all of these efforts, give up and get out of bed. Forcing yourself to lie there and count the minutes as they slip past you just reinforces the connection between stress and anxiety and that bed, making it even less likely that you’ll fall asleep. Instead, after about 20 minutes it’s best to get up and do something relaxing for a short period of time. This resets your body and mind and breaks the association between frustration and the bed, making it easier to relax when you try again.

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What's New on Prime Video in June 2025

Amazon hasn't yet released a full list of what's coming to Prime Video in June, but we do know what original titles are slated to premiere throughout the month.

Prime original action comedy Deep Cover (June 12) has a stacked cast that includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, and Sean Bean. In the film, Howard plays an improv comedy teacher who recruits two of her students (played by Bloom and Mohammed) to infiltrate London's gangs by pretending to be criminals.

Countdown (June 25) is a new crime thriller series from Chicago Fire showrunner Derek Haas. An LAPD detective is recruited to a secret task force to investigate the murder of a Department of Homeland Security officer. And We Were Liars (June 18) is a psychological thriller series based on the titular novel by E. Lockhart, the plot of which follows the wealthy Sinclair family and the events of summer on their private island.

Finally, there's sports doc American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans (June 12), which chronicles the journey to bring the American stock car Chevrolet Camaro to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Here are the originals coming to Prime Video in June.

What’s coming to Prime Video in June 2025

Available June 12

• American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans

• Deep Cover

Available June 15

• The Chosen: Last Supper

Available June 18

• We Were Liars

Available June 23

• Head Over Heels

Available June 25

• Countdown

Available June 27

• Marry My Husband

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These Five Scams Are Targeting Recent College Grads

After the celebration ends, college graduates typically face numerous transitions, from moving to a new city and/or starting a new job to taking on student loan payments and other financial responsibilities. College students are often targeted for job scams, but the Better Business Bureau is alerting recent grads about schemes being employed specifically to steal their personal information and money during this transition period.

Unpaid tuition scam

Imagine getting a call after graduation that you have an outstanding tuition payment, and unless you pay the bill immediately, your diploma will be rescinded. Scammers are using this threat to con recent grads—who have, in fact, paid their full tuition—into sending money via wire transfer or prepaid debit card, which cannot be tracked or recovered. Another version of this scam attempts to convince college students (and/or their parents) that they owe tuition and need to pay immediately to ensure they remain enrolled.

If you receive an email, text, or call about an unpaid bill, do not engage—instead, contact your school's bursar or financial services office directly. You will typically receive communication from higher education institutions by mail or via a secure student portal—not as an urgent message demanding money.

Student loan scams

Student loans have been targets for scammers for years—made easier by the starting and stopping of loan forgiveness programs—and recent college grads who are getting ready to make their first payments are common victims. You may get an unsolicited call, text, or email from a company offering debt relief or debt forgiveness services for a fee. In some cases, the company is legit but making false claims, and in others, the whole thing is a scam. They may ask for upfront payment, usually via gift card or wire transfer, and never deliver, or gather a bunch of personal information that can be used to steal your identity.

While the status of loan forgiveness can be difficult to follow, you should know the details of your loan, including when payments are due to begin, and look for official sources regarding loan forgiveness options.

Job scams

Employment scams range from fake job listings to unsolicited texts from "recruiters" offering a position while demanding personal information and payment for "training." Recent grads may be promised an entry-level remote role at a completely unrealistic salary, and scammers collect everything from your Social Security number to your bank account information in exchange for the offer. Other schemes have you pay upfront for training or equipment you never receive (because the job isn't real) or pay you too much with a fake check and ask for reimbursement via app or wire transfer.

No one is getting too-good-to-be-true jobs in this market. Always do your due diligence on companies before applying for a position or accepting an offer: Review the official website for contact information and job postings, and consider reaching out to HR or employees you locate independently to confirm that a position is legit. Don't ever pay for anything up front.

Moving scams

The moving industry seems to be rife with scams, and recent grads who need to move across town or out of state are not immune. Moving companies may charge more money than was quoted and, in the worst cases, hold your stuff hostage unless you pay. Or they may simply not show after you've paid a deposit for the move.

Red flags for moving companies include estimates delivered quickly and with little information collected about your move, full payments demanded before the move, and non-refundable deposits paid via peer-to-peer apps and bank transfers (negating the protection of credit cards). Thoroughly research the company to understand how moving brokers operate, and make sure you get everything in writing.

Rental scams

If you make it through the actual move unscathed, you could still encounter a rental scam. As with job scams, these involve listings that sound too good to be true, with lots of amenities in a desired location at an affordable price. (Like job scams, most renters aren't getting these deals in this market.) Fraudsters may even use real properties in their listings to lure you in. Once they have you, they collect a deposit, first month's rent, and a bunch of personal information while leaving you with nowhere to live.

While you may pay your actual rent via Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo, you shouldn't use these services to send a deposit for a rental you haven't seen to a landlord you haven't met. Search the listing on Zillow, Redfin, and other rental sites to look for inconsistencies that could indicate a scam. Verify the address, look at Google street view, and visit (or send someone you trust in your place) before paying any money if you can.

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My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The iPad Mini A17 Pro

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The latest iPad mini 7 was released in Oct. of 2024, bringing a smaller and more compact design with Apple Intelligence features to the already smallest iPad on the market. Today, the iPad Mini is nearly $100 off. You can get it for $399.99 (originally $499), $0.99 off the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools.

Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro)

$399.99 at Amazon

$499.00 Save $99.01

$399.99 at Amazon

$499.00 Save $99.01

The iPad mini 7 comes with the A17 Pro chip, the same chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro, and one A-series less than the iPhone 16 series uses. It's only a year and a half old and will be supported by Apple for many more years. In comparison to the iPad mini 6, it is 30% faster than the iPad mini 6's A15 Bionic chip, but more importantly, it runs Apple Intelligence, including new AI features like notification summaries and AI-powered writing tools. You'll also be able to use the new Apple Pencil Pro with it, have Wi-Fi 6E support, and it starts with 128GB of storage (twice what the iPad mini 6 base model offers).

True to its name, the mini 7 is Apple’s smallest tablet, measuring 7.7 by 5.3 by 0.3 inches and weighing 1.1 lbs. The screen is an 8.3-inch screen with a 2,226 by 1,448 pixels resolution. According to PCMag's "excellent" review, you can expect to get about seven hours and 23 minutes of juice on a full charge. Other than Apple Intelligence and supporting the Pencil Pro, there is not much difference to warrant upgrading if you have the sixth generation iPad mini. But if you're looking for a smaller iPad or just need to upgrade to a newer one that has the latest features, this new iPad mini is currently cheaper than the previous version and is a great deal for its price.

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After Two Months, the Steppin App Has Helped Me Walk More and Scroll Less

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Two months ago, I downloaded and started using the Steppin app, which locks up your most distracting apps and forces you to trade your real-world steps for them. After just three days, I was finding it enjoyable enough to review it, but now that I've spent 68 days with the app, I'm even more impressed. While it's still only available on iOS, an Android version is available on a waitlist and not much has changed in terms of interface or use since I first reviewed it, but I've found it much easier to navigate and incorporate into my life.

My social media use is definitely down

The app works by syncing with your Apple Health data and pulling in the steps your phone or fitness tracker record, then converting them to minutes that you can redeem on your preferred apps. Once you add an app to your blocklist, you'll be prompted to open Steppin every time you try to open the blocked app. Then, you have the choice of selecting between one and 30 minutes of unlocked time or just abandoning the pursuit altogether. My settings are calibrated such that 50 steps unlocks one minute of app time.

When I started, I added two apps to my blocklist: Instagram and a game called Project Makeover. My time on those apps has absolutely bottomed out. For the most part, this is a good thing. I can't even tell you the last time I watched a nonsensical Reel. On the flip side, though, I'll admit it's actually had a little bit of an impact on my social life. Instagram is where, for better or worse, people broadcast the goings-on in their lives, so I've missed out on a few things like milestone announcements from people I consider friends, but not best friends who would text me good news directly. I do feel rude for not "liking" these posts or congratulating them in the DMs when I eventually see or hear about the news days later. For as much as my mom complains that "social media isn't real life," that's not exactly true anymore and I am missing out on some real-life-adjacent things in my quest to stop looking at so many stupid Reels. I think it's a fine trade-off, but it's definitely something I've noticed.

Still, it's given me a lot of time back and I'm grateful for it. I check my screen time every week and have seen it taking a nosedive. This week, my daily average is down 18% from last week, my "pickups"—or the amount of times I've unlocked my phone—are down 14% from last week, and my average notifications are down 8% from last week, though Poshmark, with over 6,000 notifications this week, is an outlier because I get a notification every time someone shares, likes, or buys one of my listings and have been using a third-party app to maximize how often those things happen. Don't worry, though. I set those alerts to appear quietly in my notification feed; they don't generate a push notification that lights up my lock screen.

As it all relates to the little dopamine bops my brain has become wired to seek out from short-form videos and bite-sized hot takes, I've definitely noticed I'm just less interested in seeking that stuff out—to a point. Time without it has certainly acted like a detox and I don't necessarily feel the urge to look at posts that will shock, enrage, titillate, or otherwise entertain me, which wasn't true three months ago. That said, I've noticed that it's been a little easier for me to get sucked in by other apps that I didn't used to look at that often and didn't initially add to my blocklist—it was as though some of my previous Instagram time just spilled over into other apps. For a while there, I was spending an inordinate amount of time on X, for example. I noticed, added it to my Steppin blocklist while writing this, and carried on.

Streaks make this work

I am motivated heavily by arbitrary personal rewards. My workout streak on Peloton keeps me motivated to hop on my bike every day. My self-care streak on Finch keeps me motivated to log all my daily wins. My listing streak on Poshmark and my purchase streak on the Dunkin' Donuts app even earn me real-world rewards like discounted shipping and free coffee, respectively. It's no surprise the streak feature on Steppin has kept me similarly locked in.

You maintain your streak by not removing any apps from your blocklist or overriding the app to get at your blocked apps. I have maintained my streak for 68 days and am quite proud of it. Adding new apps to your blocklist doesn't reset your streak and neither does altering the amount of steps you have to take to earn one minute.

My steps aren't necessarily up (but I knew they wouldn't be)

My distracting app use is definitely down and I'm feeling the positive effects, but Steppin's whole deal is that it facilitates change by encouraging you to be more active. It's supposed to be a two-for-one benefit. I was already active before downloading this and haven't noticed a significant increase in my daily average steps, but I don't mind. I teach three to four spin classes per week and do the majority of my cardio using my Peloton bike at home—while those activities burn calories and keep me active, they don't count toward "steps." I still take as many steps in an average day as I ever did, walking to the post office, Dunkin', the gym, and the bus—all the places I was already walking before installing Steppin.

I have noticed I have not just a willingness, but an eagerness, to walk slightly farther distances than normal, though. Sometimes, instead of taking my Poshmark sales to the post office two blocks from my apartment, I walk up to the one 10 blocks away. I also get off the bus two or so stops early from time to time just to walk a little, although that might have more to do with my excitement that it's finally getting warmer outside. Generally, I know I'm doing this so I can bank some minutes of Instagram time, but I don't really end up using it, anyway. My banked minutes reset every Sunday at midnight and I usually end up with about five to six hours of unclaimed time. (It is very annoying to wake up on Sundays and not be able to even glance at Instagram while I brush my teeth and make my coffee, which results in me kind of shuffling around in a circle in the living room to generate some quick steps, but if I were to reconfigure my settings so that my minutes rolled over week-to-week, I'd lose my streak and I simply can't do that.)

All in all, my Apple Health data shows I'm taking the same amount of steps now, on average, as I was this time last year, but I consider it a win that I'm even consciously choosing to walk when I wouldn't normally. Just this week, besides going to the farther post office, I've opted to go golfing for my weekly sports outing, walk around a shopping center instead of order all my summer clothes online, and use Peloton's guided walking workouts instead of doing all my cardio on my bike. This is definitely because of Steppin, which is forcing me to consciously make minor, healthy tweaks to my day.

When I first reviewed Steppin, I interviewed its founder, Paul English. He mentioned he and his team are looking into ways to count things beyond steps that could equate to unblocked minutes, like time spent reading on a Kindle. That's a feature I'll be looking forward to. It would be great if the workouts my Apple Health records—like my cycling and my strength training—could somehow reflect in my Steppin time bank, although at this point, I'm not sure I'd use the extra minutes, anyway. I'm just not as interested in social media anymore.

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How the FDA Might Make It Harder to Get COVID Shots This Year

The U.S. government has not yet made its official recommendations for who should be able to get COVID booster shots this fall, but FDA officials published a policy position in the New England Journal of Medicine announcing that it intends to make some drastic policy changes. The changes could result in healthy people under age 65 losing access to COVID vaccines, according to vaccine experts who have spoken about the policies. Here’s what we know so far, and why the announced policy could be a problem. 

How COVID vaccines are currently approved

Scientists have changed the formulation of COVID vaccines a few times over the years, because the COVID virus itself tends to mutate. Vaccines are updated to better match the strains that are circulating, and this has happened roughly once a year—similar to how flu shots are updated each year. 

Instead of designing new vaccine trials from scratch for each small change in the COVID vaccine, manufacturers conduct studies to show that the immunity people get from the new vaccine is equivalent to what people got from the old vaccine. 

After approval from the FDA, the CDC then issues a recommendation for who should get the vaccine. Currently, everyone aged 6 months and up is recommended to get a COVID vaccine. 

What might be changing

The new policy, according to the NEJM article, would be to accept those immunobridging studies only to approve vaccines for people aged 65 and up, and people above the age of 6 months who have one of the high-risk conditions on a list maintained by the CDC. 

For healthy people under 65, the FDA’s policy wouldn’t approve new COVID vaccines unless they were tested against a placebo. (The type of placebo is phrased vaguely: “The control group could receive a saline placebo,” the authors write.) 

The FDA doesn’t have the authority to change the recommendations on who should get vaccines that are already approved (that’s the CDC’s purview), but it is in charge of approving vaccines and can approve them only for specific populations. 

Why placebo-controlled trials are an absolutely wild idea for COVID vaccines

Public health experts are, to put it mildly, not happy with this plan. That’s because we already have COVID vaccines that work. Doing a placebo-controlled trial would require withholding COVID vaccines from people in the control group; they would get saline instead of a functional vaccine. 

The normal way to do this type of trial (if you do one at all, rather than relying on immunobridging) is to compare the new vaccine or medication against one that is already considered effective. To use an extreme analogy, you wouldn’t test a new design of seatbelt by randomizing people to ride around without using any seatbelts at all. 

Vaccine scientist Peter Hotez told CNN that the FDA’s announced approach “essentially denies access to vaccines,” since such trials are not practical for companies to do. In a post on Bluesky, toxicologist Ryan Marino said that it amounts to “scientific misconduct.” Vaccine expert Paul Offit told NPR “I don't think it's ethical, given that we have a vaccine that works, given that we know that SARS-CoV2 [the COVID virus] continues to circulate and cause hospitalizations and death, and there's no group that has no risk.”

More vaccine chaos may be coming

The new policy isn’t official yet, but it’s hard to imagine the FDA and CDC being allowed to approve and recommend vaccines the way it always has in the current political climate. Biologics director Vinay Prasad and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, whose names appear on the FDA’s policy statement, have a history of arguing against COVID vaccine access for children. 

And both agencies are under the umbrella of HHS, the department of Health and Human Services, which is headed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr—the same person whose anti-vaccine organization financed the movie Plandemic. If you don’t recall the details of that movie circulating in the early pandemic days, it implied both that COVID wasn’t real and that it was a bioweapon created by the government; the logic didn’t hold together but ultimately the point was that we should be suspicious of vaccines. (I have more on Plandemic here.) 

RFK, Jr has said a lot of bananas stuff about vaccines. He has compared childhood vaccines to the holocaust, claimed that Bill Gates put microchips in vaccines, and loudly questioned whether vaccines cause autism. How this man got put in charge of a health agency, I will never understand. 

Recent and future vaccine approvals may be at risk in this environment. Moderna had planned to submit a combined flu/COVID vaccine for approval; it has since withdrawn its application. (It’s not clear whether recent FDA policy announcements are directly related.) Novavax’s recent vaccine was approved recently, but only after a delay and only for older adults and for people with high-risk health conditions. Kennedy released a report today that questions the childhood vaccine schedule and implies that vaccines are part of the “stark reality of American children's declining health.” 

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