Why You Shouldn’t Trust Product Pictures When You’re Shopping for Walking Pads

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If there's one thing I love about my walking pad, it's the fact that it's bigger than most walking pads. Where most walking pads are significantly smaller than your average treadmill, the running belt on my Merach W50 is 16.5" x 41.3". For context, standard treadmill belt widths range from 18” x 48” (walking) to 22" x 60” (running).

Of course, walking pads are supposed to be small. You're not in the market for a bulky treadmill; you're looking for something that can fit under your desk and then slide out of sight. However, scroll through listings for walking pads, and you'll notice something peculiar: The models using these devices appear to glide effortlessly across spacious walking surfaces, their proportions suggesting these are substantial pieces of equipment. But look closer at the actual product dimensions, and you'll realize that the model in the photo must be the size of an American Girl Doll. If you found this article because you're shopping around for walking pads right now, heed my warning: What you see is rarely what you get.

Why walking pad marketing is so misleading

Many walking pads measure just 16-20 inches wide and 40-50 inches long. For context, that's barely wider than a standard laptop and shorter than most coffee tables. Yet the marketing photos consistently feature people who appear perfectly proportioned to the device, creating an optical illusion that these compact machines offer the same experience as full-sized treadmills.

Merach W50 Walking Pad

$359.99 at Amazon

$499.99 Save $140.00

$359.99 at Amazon

$499.99 Save $140.00

The problem isn't just perspective tricks or clever photography angles—I know that's the name of the game in all of advertising. What I'm seeing across listings is way more egregious and, well, laughable. The models featured look unnaturally petite compared to the actual product that will arrive at your door. Obviously, this a deliberate marketing strategy designed to make potential buyers believe they're purchasing something more substantial than they actually are. Then you're left with a walking surface that's narrower than expected and can feel unstable or cramped, particularly for taller individuals or those with wider gaits.

Again: A small walking pad isn't the end of the world. It could be exactly what you want. I'm simply urging you to be aware of what you're actually buying. Here's a prime example, pulled from this review for this walking pad from "BestGod" (one of those Amazon-adjacent, TikTokShop-type brands). This is the product photo on Amazon:

So spacious! Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon

And this is a photo of the actual product in use:

That is a doll walking pad for dolls, if you ask me. Credit: Image courtesy of Amazon.

Hey, it's still a positive review. But if you thought you'd have the space advertised in the picture online, you'd have made a $100 mistake.

BestGod Walking Pad

$97.49 at Amazon

$139.99 Save $42.50

$97.49 at Amazon

$139.99 Save $42.50

How to read between the lines

Savvy consumers need to become detective-like in their approach to walking pad shopping. Here's what to look for:

• Prioritize measurements over photos: Always check the exact dimensions listed in the product specifications. Measure out these dimensions in your space using tape or chalk to get a real sense of the footprint.

• Look for scale references: If product photos include objects like water bottles, phones, or furniture, use these to gauge the actual size. A walking pad that makes a standard water bottle look oversized is probably quite compact.

• Check multiple angles: Manufacturers often avoid showing full-body shots from the side, which would reveal the true proportions. Look for reviews or videos that show the product from various perspectives.

• Read user reviews carefully: Past buyers often mention if the product was smaller than expected. Pay particular attention to reviews from taller individuals, as they're more likely to notice size limitations.

The bottom line

Walking pads are genuinely convenient for small spaces, quiet enough for apartment living, and perfect for light walking workouts. The key is knowing exactly what you're buying.

And look—I know this sort of consumer warning is a losing battle. In the age of online shopping, we've become accustomed to products looking different in person than in photos. But featuring impossibly petite models and carefully crafted angles, manufacturers create expectations that reality simply cannot meet.

Trust the numbers, not the photos. Measure twice, buy once. And remember: If the person in the product photo looks like they could comfortably fit in your carry-on luggage, the walking pad is probably smaller than you think.

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The Best (and Easiest) Way to Clean a Vitamix Explorian E310

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When you spend top dollar on a high-quality blender, it's important to ensure it lasts a while. That includes following the rules while blending—don’t overheat the engine, avoid throwing rocks in there, and so on—but taking care of the machine after the blend is equally as important. 

The Vitamix Explorian E310 is the cheapest of Vitamix’s offerings, but it is by no means cheap monetarily nor in quality. While it doesn’t have the fancy presets of the Vitamix Ascent line, it still has nearly the same blending power and because of that, I think this Explorian might be the best deal of all its blenders.

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, Professional-Grade, 48 oz. Container, Slate

$329.95 at Amazon

$379.95 Save $50.00

$329.95 at Amazon

$379.95 Save $50.00

Here’s how I keep my Vitamix Explorian clean so it can keep making my favorite chia pudding forever.

How to Clean your Vitamix Explorian E310

Cleaning your Vitamix Explorian (or any Vitamix blender, for that matter) should not be over-thought. It’s easy. Keep it that way.

1. Add soap and fill it halfway with warm water

Once you’ve finished blending, detach the container from the motor and rinse it out. I like to get most of the loose food remnants off of the lid and the walls of the container first. Add one or two drops of dish detergent to the container and fill the vessel up halfway-ish with warm water. Secure the lid back onto the container.

2. Dial up the speed

Credit: Carmine Mattia

The Explorian E310 does not have a cleaning preset, but that’s OK; we can operate the cleaning cycle manually. Start with the speed dial turned all the way to the left to setting 1. Flip the switch on and, while it’s running, use the dial to turn the blender all the way up to setting 10. Let it run at this speed for about 30 seconds straight. Rotate the dial back to setting 1, or just flip the switch off. 

3. Spot clean any stubborn areas

This is usually enough to clean the container and blades. If the soapy water didn’t splash up to the lid (it often won’t) then just take a soapy sponge and wipe it down. If you made something oily then there may be a stubborn smudge or two. I hit those with a soapy sponge and rinse it out. I’ve never seen anything get stuck under or directly around the blades after a single cleaning cycle. However, if you have this problem then just carefully use a sponge or a bottle brush to clean up around the blades. Let the container and lid air dry upside down.

Try a vinegar soak

If you’ve noticed your container has developed a cloudy film, or if you made a big batch of aioli and it still smells like garlic after the usual cleaning, add a cup of white vinegar to the container and fill it up with warm water until you reach the halfway point for the container’s capacity. Run the machine like you did before, then let it sit for several hours or overnight. Use the scrubby side of a sponge and carefully clean the sides. Rinse out this solution and you should be in good shape.

Things to avoid when cleaning your Vitamix Explorian E310

Credit: Carmine Mattia

Don’t put parts in the dish washer. The manufacturer does not recommend tossing the container or lid into the dishwasher. (If it's not obvious, don't put the motor in there either.)

Don’t attempt to take the blades off. The blade at the bottom of the container is not meant to be removed. It’s very securely and permanently attached. And considering the speed at which this blender runs, I wouldn’t trust myself re-attaching it properly anyway.

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Your PS5 Doesn’t Support Bluetooth Headphones, but Here's How to Connect Them Anyway

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These days, most tech that produces any kind of audio will work seamlessly with Bluetooth headphones, like AirPods. My computer, my phone, and even my Nintendo Switch all support relatively seamless Bluetooth pairing, so I pop them out of the case and get to watching or playing. The one device I can think of that does not play nice with AirPods, or any wireless headphones for that matter, is my PS5.

Here's how I discovered this: It was late, and I wanted to play some Astro Bot. I adore the game, but, I can admit, it's noisy. To be courteous to the rest of my house, I decided to play with my AirPods in, so I went through the usual steps: I put my AirPods in pairing mode, turned on my PS5, and navigated to Settings > Accessories > General > Bluetooth Accessories. My AirPods showed up on the list, but when I tried to connect them, I was greeted by the following message: "The PS5 doesn't support Bluetooth audio accessories."

I'm sorry, what? My $500 PlayStation 5 that launched in 2020, years after Bluetooth headphones were standard tech, doesn't support Bluetooth audio accessories? That would only make sense if Sony, like, sold their own line of wired and wireless headphones, in the hopes you buy a pair of those instead of using the products you already own. Oh, right: they do. OK, other companies sell headphones designed specifically for use with the PS5 too, but come on. Even the original Switch now supports Bluetooth audio, a feature Nintendo added four years after the console launched. Sony could easily do the same.

My annoyance aside, don't worry: The answer isn't to buy one of Sony's proprietary "audio accessories." Instead, there's an easy, free solution to the problem—assuming your TV is cooperative.

Connect your Bluetooth headphones directly to your TV

In my frustration, I did some googling and stumbled upon this Reddit thread. The OP was wondering, as I was, why they couldn't use Bluetooth audio devices with their PS5. While there's no official explanation (but see above for a likely one), another Redittor provided this simple yet salient suggestion: just pair your headphones with your TV.

You can do that? Why didn't I think of that? Why didn't I consider the fact that my TV is also a "modern" device with Bluetooth capabilities? I don't have answers, only solutions: Just connect your AirPods to your TV when you want to use them with your PS5.

To do this, you, of course, need a TV that supports Bluetooth audio accessories. If you don't have one, this trick won't work. My TV is from 2017, however, and it does, so I imagine many if not most TVs purchased in the bast half-decade or so will support this option.

Check your settings

Getting this to work may require you to tinker with your audio outputs. Your PS5's audio source will need to be set to your TV, and your TV's audio output will also need to be its internal speakers. If you already use your TV's speakers, this is probably already set up on both devices. But if you use an external audio setup, like a soundbar, double-check these settings. On the PS5, you'll find this on Settings > Sound > Audio Output. On your TV, navigate to your audio settings, and ensure that the output is set to its own internal speakers, rather than another device.

Connect your headphones or earbuds

With that done, you'll need to connect your Bluetooth headphones to your TV. Place them in pairing mode (this varies by device, so look up your brand of headphones to learn how if you don't know), then locate your TV's audio settings and look for anything concerning Bluetooth accessories or devices. If your TV has this menu, you should be able to search for nearby devices, and your headphones should appear in the list. Select them, wait for them to pair, and presto: Your AirPods, or other wireless headphones, will now stream the audio coming from your TV, which means they'll also stream the audio from your PS5.

Or use a Bluetooth audio adapter

If your TV doesn't support Bluetooth, you still don't need to buy a pair of Sony's headphones. Instead, you can buy something much cheaper: a Bluetooth audio adapter. These attachments outfit a non-Bluetooth device with Bluetooth capabilities. You can plug one into your PS5 or your TV, connect your headphones to it, and stream away. There are plenty of options out there, but something like UGREEN's USB-C Bluetooth adapter seems to work well enough per the reviews. Hell, even the HomeSpot, which was specifically designed for the Switch before Nintendo added support for Bluetooth devices, works on the PS5.

You can pick up one of these adapters for around $25, and while it's frustrating to have to spend money at all to get a feature you should have built-it, that's better than buying a whole new headset just for playing games on your PS5 without bothering everyone around you.

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How I Meal Prepped an Entire Week of Steak Lunches in My Air Fryer

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Meal prepping for the week is a great way to make lunch or dinner a simple matter of reheating. It’s extra helpful for folks cooking for one because all those recipes for casseroles, stews, and roasts become supremely economical. For example, take a nice cut of steak. Maybe it’s organic. Perhaps grass-fed. Perchance your grocery store charges you $25+ dollars for this nice, organic, grass-fed steak. For some, this pricey steak may only last a single meal. But when you’re meal prepping smart, you can get more bang for your buck and eat it every lunchtime for five days. 

Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 4 QT Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System & 6-Cup Glass Containers with Storage Lids

$179.99 at Amazon

$179.99 at Amazon

When I meal prep steak lunches, I’m not only concerned with keeping it cost efficient, but also time efficient. As someone who has meal prepped seven-component lunches for several months in an effort to save time, I’ve found that the preparation part is actually the biggest time suck. This is why I’ve called upon the services of my dear sweet Ninja Crispi air fryer. It’s hands-off, easy to set up, and it’s powerful, which makes meal prepping steak a snap. (Check out my tests and review for this portable air fryer.) Here’s how I meal prep steak so it’s quick, affordable, and not overcooked.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

How to make the best air fried steak

The trick to meal prepping steak is to undercook it first. Unless you’re a weirdo, like my partner who enjoys eating cold food, you’re probably planning on reheating your steak before you eat it. (He just ate yesterday’s air fried chicken cutlets—cold. The severity of my side-eye is giving me a headache.) Likely, that reheat will be done in the microwave, and that appliance has no forgiveness for your perfectly cooked steak. Knowing this, you should plan on air frying your steak to get some color but under cook it by 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. I know, it seems like a lot but when you reheat it later, your steak will maintain its juiciness and come up to roughly the right temperature.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

1. Season your steak, simply

I season my fridge-cold steak with salt and a sprinkle of MSG on all sides. Then I let it hang out in the fridge uncovered for a couple hours or overnight as a dry brine. If I’m in a rush, I just skip that step and get on with the air frying. 

2. Air fry it on high

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

The goal is to get a bit of color on the outside but keep the inside from coming up to temperature all the way. The best way to do that is to blast the steak on high for a short period of time. I sent my Ninja Crispi to “max crisp,” which is the highest temperature and fan speed. If you’re using a different air fryer, you’ll choose something like the “air fry” setting, and a temperature around 400°F. Press start and let this go for five to 10 minutes. The Ninja Crispi has a glass container so I can observe my steak as it cooks and flip it halfway through, or when I’m happy with the color. 

3. Cool and slice 

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Test the center of the steak for the temperature. Depending on how you like your steak cooked, you’ll have a different goal temperature. I like my steak cooked to a solid medium, so about 135°F. After eight minutes, I checked my steak’s temperature and it came to 107°F, about 30°F shy of my goal temperature. This is perfect for my meal prepping intentions. I took the steak out and let it cool completely without slicing it. Once it’s completely cool, prep it how you like. If you want it to be sliced or cubed for your meal, go ahead. Just keep in mind: The smaller the pieces, the faster it will reheat. Arrange the rest of your meal prep how you prefer and put it all in the fridge or in the freezer.

I’m not sure how I want my steak to be cut this week, so I divided it into five big pieces instead. Then I can reheat it easily without overcooking it and decide in the moment how I want it to be sliced. My single $25 steak is now a $5 contribution to my lunch for the week, paired with rice or pasta and veggies.

While you can totally reheat your meal prepped steak in the microwave, consider putting it back in the air fryer for about five to seven minutes during that future lunch time to crisp up the outside and keep the inside juicy and tender. 

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Apple's Newest Warranty Plan Might Finally Convince Me to Get AppleCare

Each time I buy a new Apple product, I'm faced with a moral and ethical dilemma: Do I, or do I not, buy AppleCare? Indeed, AppleCare adds an extra cost on top of an already expensive laptop or smartphone. However, it might save me money down the road should something happen to my device—whether I drop my iPhone and break the screen, or someone snatches it while I'm out and about.

The problem with warranties like AppleCare, other than the price itself, is that they only apply to the single product you're buying it for. That makes sense—one product, one warranty. But with Apple, you're rarely buying one product. The ecosystem is designed to work best when you have more than one Apple device. Suddenly, you're not faced with the question of buying AppleCare for only your iPhone, but also your MacBook, your iPad, your Apple Watch. Maybe you bite the bullet, and empty your wallet to protect everything. Or, you pick and choose, prioritizing the priciest devices, while leaving the less expensive ones vulnerable.

I often find myself in the latter category: I can't buy a Mac without AppleCare, but I do go without it for my iPhone, and pray I don't drop it. Apple's latest warranty plan, AppleCare One, however, might convince some like me to start covering more of their devices than usual.

AppleCare One

Apple announced the new warranty plan on Wednesday morning. Here's the gist: For $19.99 per month, you can choose to cover up to three Apple devices at once. If you have more than three devices, you can add additional coverage for $5.99 a pop.

If you're familiar with AppleCare+, you won't be surprised by AppleCare One's coverage. With it, you get unlimited repairs for damage from drops and spills, 24/7 "priority" support from Apple, as well as coverage on battery issues. Like AppleCare+, iPhones are covered for theft and loss, but one big difference with AppleCare One is that this coverage also extends to iPad and Apple Watch. (Apple says these devices' AppleCare+ plans will increase in price as a result.) If you lose your Apple Watch on vacation, or your iPad is stolen out of your bag, this plan covers you.

You can also add products you've owned for some time. Before, you needed to enroll your devices in AppleCare within 60 days of purchasing them. But now, you can add devices up to four years old to your AppleCare One plan. That makes it possible to add older products you've purchased secondhand, assuming they're in good enough condition to be enrolled.

That's the thing: Apple doesn't have a specific rubric for you to follow in order to know whether your device is eligible for AppleCare One. If it powers on and is free of visible cracks or scratches, it seems there's a good chance it'll be approved, but it does need to be approved. You can do that from an Apple Store in-person, of course, but Apple has also built tools in both the Apple Store app, as well as your device's Settings app, to evaluate the condition of your device. That includes a diagnostic test, to make sure it's working properly, but you'll also need a separate device, like an iPhone, to take photos of your device to make sure it qualifies. If it doesn't, you can repair it first, then enroll it in AppleCare One.

AppleCare One also doesn't have an expiration date. You can keep your devices enrolled as long as you want, and since it's a monthly plan, you can mix and match which devices are covered as you wish.

Pricing

$20 per month is not cheap, of course. That's the price of at least one, if not two subscriptions to streaming services. However, it's complicated situation. If you tend to cover all of your Apple devices, this is likely a win. If you have a 13-inch MacBook Air (typically $6.99 per month to cover), an iPhone 16e (typically $9.99 per month) and an Apple Watch Series 10 (typically $3.99 per month), you're saving a dollar with this new plan. If you have a more expensive MacBook, like a 16-inch Pro (typically $14.99) and an expensive iPhone, like a 16 Pro (typically $13.99 per month), you're saving quite a bit.

Of course, if you only have two relatively inexpensive Apple devices—an iPhone 16e at $9.99, and a Mac mini at $3.49, this plan isn't enticing at all. You'll want to price out the difference in cost between covering your chosen devices individually with AppleCare+, or folding them in under AppleCare One. You can check out AppleCare plan pricing per device on Apple's site here.

AppleCare One could be the move

There are things I do genuinely like about this plan. One, it does make it simple to cover multiple Apple devices at once—$20 is not a terrible price to ensure that a Mac, iPhone, and iPad are all covered. But more than that, it might encourage us to use our devices longer. We're conditioned to upgrade our devices as soon as they break, and limited, exclusive warranties don't help that. By allowing you to add older devices without an expiration on the coverage, you can be rest assured that your existing iPhone, iPad, MacBook, or Apple Watch is going to be supported into the future. It's no longer a question of "use it 'til it breaks," but rather, "use it 'til it can't be fixed." That's pretty cool.

AppleCare One will be available starting Thursday, July 24.

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Google Has Given Us Our First Official Look at the Pixel 10

New devices are getting harder and harder for tech companies to keep under wraps, and after the base Pixel 10 saw new render leaks drop yesterday, followed by Pixel 10 Pro leaks this morning (both via Android Headlines), Google seems to have given up and decided to published a video of the Pixel 10 itself.

On a Google Store page for the Pixel 10, the company now shows a short sequence with the number 10 transforming into a Pixel camera bar, before zooming out to reveal the phone in its full glory. While the company didn’t say whether this is the base model or the pro model, the store page and URL only mentions “Pixel 10.” Still, the phone in the video does look a lot more like how the Pixel 10 Pro is rumored to look.

That’s a bit disappointing, since the base Pixel 10 is the one that’s set to be startly different from the last model. While the regular Pixel 10 is rumored to be getting a new telephoto lens (at the cost of some ultrawide fidelity), the (seeming) Pixel 10 Pro in Google’s video looks almost exactly like the Pixel 9 Pro. 

That means no lost features, but also probably merely incremental improvements. Still, there is one key takeaway here: That the leaks seem to have been right on the money for the Pixel 10 Pro means that leaks for the base Pixel 10, which have been corroborated by the same source as the 10 Pro’s leaks, might be correct as well. That’s big news, since it would seem to confirm that the regular Pixel 10 will indeed have an arguably worse camera system than its predecessor, depending on how important zoom is to you.

Regardless, it won’t take long to get rid of all the “maybes” here: The entire Pixel 10 portfolio is set to go on sale on August 20, after a stream showing the new devices off at 1 p.m. EST that day. Alongside the base Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, Google is also expected to reveal a Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the Pixel Watch 4.

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This Ring Wireless Outdoor Camera Is at Its Lowest Price Ever Right Now

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If you’re looking for a security camera that can be mounted almost anywhere without running wires through your walls, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Battery) is one of the more flexible options available. And right now, this certified refurbished model is down to $118.99 on Amazon—its lowest recorded price, according to price trackers.

Like-New Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

$118.99 at Amazon

$194.99 Save $76.00

$118.99 at Amazon

$194.99 Save $76.00

This is a battery-powered, wire-free outdoor camera that brings a mix of strong image quality, useful features, and an easy setup that doesn’t require any drilling unless you want to. The camera delivers crisp, full-color video even at night, thanks to dual motion-activated spotlights that help light the scene. As for the sound quality, it's surprisingly clear, and includes two-way talk if you want to speak to visitors. Plus, features like the 140° field of view, 3D Motion Detection, and Bird’s Eye View help you understand exactly where someone’s moving across your property. There’s also a siren built in, which you can trigger manually through the app if something feels off. All of this works over dual-band wifi, though weaker outdoor signals may cause a delay in notifications or footage.

That said, the camera uses a rechargeable battery, and while the Quick Release pack makes swaps easy, frequent activity can wear it down faster than you might expect. Also, some features like distinguishing between a person and a passing car require a Ring Home subscription. It costs extra, but it does give you cloud video storage for up to 180 days, smart alerts, and other perks. Without the plan, you’ll still get basic motion notifications and live view access. For under $120, this like-new model could be a smart pick if you want better outdoor monitoring without dealing with wires or complicated installs.

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I Made Chicken Cutlets in the Air Fryer and Compared Them to Pan-Fried Cutlets

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Sinking your teeth into a crispy fried chicken cutlet is an unparalleled joy. In fact, it’s so wonderful that reaching for each subsequent cutlet is easier and easier—at least it is for me. It’s a cruel joke that I can’t eat fried food as much as I want to. Too much oily food can lead to a rather unfortunate GI upset for me. (TMI? We’re all family here, right?) While this doesn’t put oil off the menu for me completely, I do have to get creative with using less oil. That’s where the air fryer has helped me win. I can still make crispy, crunchy chicken cutlets without the puddle of oil.

I use a basket air fryer to make these chicken cutlets—specifically, the Instant Vortex, which is one of my top air fryer picks for 2025. It's easy to use and heats food quickly and evenly; you can read more details about the Instant Vortex here in my review. Here’s how I make air fryer chicken cutlets with less oil than pan frying. 

How to make air fryer chicken cutlets

Regardless of if you’re shallow frying or air-frying, the preparation method is the same. You want to build a coating that sticks first. 

1. Dredge the chicken cutlets

If you bought thinly sliced cutlets, you’re ready to dredge. If you bought whole breasts, then you’ll want to slice them in half or in thirds equatorially to get wide flat cutlets. 

Set up your dredging station with a bowl of one or two scrambled up raw eggs, a bowl of seasoned flour (I just salt and pepper the flour most of the time), and a plate of bread crumbs. I used seasoned panko breadcrumbs today. Have a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet nearby. Knocking off the excess each time, cover each cutlet in flour first, then dip them in egg, then press the chicken into the panko breading. Lay the coated chicken flat on the wire rack and repeat with the rest of the cutlets. Allow the chicken to dry for about 15 minutes. This drying time helps the breading to stay put. 

2. Pre-heat the air fryer

Unlike a pool of oil in a frying pan, air fryers generally take fewer than three minutes to preheat. So you don’t really have to do this much in advance, just snap it on when you’re ready to cook. I used my Instant Vortex air fryer today and set it for 400°F. Since the cutlets are thin, my priority is to brown and crisp the breading because I know the higher temperature will cook the chicken quickly.  

3. Coat the chicken with oil

Air frying isn’t oil-free. At least, I don’t recommend skipping it. The idea is to get similar results to shallow frying in a pan, but without submerging it in oil. Without any oil at all, you’ll end up with dry chicken and the breading won’t brown or develop much flavor. However, just a thin coating of oil will change everything, leading to more even browning and crisping.

I use a non-aerosol oil sprayer and spritz in a zig-zag to cover most areas on one side of each cutlet. I’ll place the chicken oil-side down in the air fryer and then spritz the top side with oil. If you don’t have an oil sprayer, you can use a pastry brush and just daub some oil over the chicken. It’s okay if you miss some areas—the oil will work its way around a bit when it heats up. 

4. Air fry the cutlets

I air fry the chicken for a total of 10 to 12 minutes at 400°F depending on the thickness of the chicken. Keep in mind that air fryers only heat from the fan-side down, so you’ll probably have to flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time to brown the other side. 

5. Cool

Cooling is crucial for most meats, but especially crispy food. The last thing you want to do is leave the air-fried cutlets in the machine when the fan turns off. The fan throws hot air around but it also ejects the moisture from the cooking container. Once the engine turns off, all of the humidity will build up in the basket or oven and soften the crispy breading.

Take the chicken out immediately once it’s finished and let it cool on a wire cooling rack for at least five minutes. This will help the cutlets stay crispy on the outside.

Air frying really can reduce oil

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

When you’re coating the cutlets with a spritz of oil you might have a moment where you think, Isn’t this the same as pan frying? It’s not. I prepared chicken cutlets using the air fryer method above, and the pan frying method using a half-inch of cooking oil so I could see and taste the results side by side. I used over a cup of cooking oil in the pan, and about half of it was absorbed by the chicken breading by the end. My air-fried cutlets used about two tablespoons of oil and I found some of it at the bottom of the air fryer basket at the end. 

Keep in mind that just because you put something in the air fryer doesn't automatically make it "healthier." Healthy looks different from person to person, but if your intention is to reduce oil use and still have a tasty, crispy cutlet, this is one way to do it for sure.

The downsides to air-fried chicken cutlets

Left: Shallow-fried chicken cutlet. Right: Air-fried chicken cutlet. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Were both results the same in taste and presentation? No. Shallow fried chicken cutlets are undoubtedly the superior treat. They’re juicier, more flavorful, and the color is more even. 

However, air-fried chicken cutlets are equally as crispy—especially if you listen to my cooling instructions. For a better air-fried chicken cutlet experience, consider using chicken thighs. I know the point of a cutlet is that it’s thin and flat, but the risk of drying out is higher in an air fryer thanks to those convection winds. Starting with a juicier piece of chicken will help you achieve juicier results and you’ll still be avoiding excess oil.

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This Beats Pill Speaker Is on Sale for $90 Right Now

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Woot is an Amazon-owned website that specializes in daily discounts on some of the best tech brands in the market. Right now, they’re offering the matte black refurbished 2024 Beats Pill speaker for $90. If you’re looking for a sleek and durable Bluetooth speaker that packs a punch, this is a great option.

Refurbished 2024 Beats Pill Speaker

$89.99 at Woot

$89.99 at Woot

Combining a rugged build with a sleek cylindrical design, this speaker excels in outdoor settings. While it’s not as lightweight as some portable speakers, the sound quality is impressive for a model that weighs just 1.5 pounds, with PCMag vetting it as having a “bright sound with rich bass.” While it lacks flashy features like LED lighting and customizable sound, it’s a reliable option that earned the PCMag Editors’ Choice award for its performance and sound.

It’s ideal for Apple users since its compatible with that ecosystem, but performs equally well with Android devices. It has a 24-hour battery life with a quick-charge feature that gives you around 2 hours of playback off a 10-minute charge, and an IP67 rating make it suitable for outdoor setups, beach days, or pool hangs. USB-C audio allows playback from phones and laptops, and if you want more immersive sound, you can pair it with another Pill for stereo mode. It doesn’t offer multipoint connectivity or app EQ.

While it’s Grade A Refurbished (meaning minimal cosmetic damage and full functionality), it’s worth noting that this is a used item, so signs of wear are still possible. Woot also only ships within the 48 contiguous states and is free for Prime members, but costs $6 outside of those areas. Given the durability, price point, and 90-day warranty program, this is a solid premium speaker at a mid-range cost. 

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How to Sign Up for Early Access to Alexa+, Amazon’s More Advanced AI Assistant

Earlier this year, Amazon announced Alexa+. It's not a streaming service—Amazon already has Prime Video for that—but the company's attempt to infuse new AI capabilities into its existing Alexa voice assistant.

If you've used Voice Mode on popular chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, or even Grok, Alexa+ should seem familiar. The idea is to make the chatbot more intelligent and capable, as well as more casual to use. Amazon wants you to be able to ask the assistant more complex questions, such as for minute details about your schedule; follow up those questions with new queries within the context of the conversation; make requests you normally wouldn't with Alexa, such as ask the bot to book you concert tickets; and even send Alexa+ photos or documents, like other AI bots that support multimodal queries.

Does that mean the assistant is actually useful? It's tough to say. In theory, it should be: If you're entrenched in the Amazon ecosystem, having a smart assistant that can understand natural language could help with chores, work, and entertainment. While Lance Ulanoff of TechRadar loved it when reviewing it last month, plenty of other users have had mixed experiences—as you can see from this Reddit thread. Feedback like "I lost so much functionality I use daily, and I can’t stand every single voice option they have," and "I made it about 48 hours before turning it off" don't bode well for Amazon's new AI tool.

Amazon hasn't rolled out Alexa+ to all users yet. However, that doesn't mean you have to wait to try it. For the past few months, the company has been offering some users early access to the new AI assistant. Users who are selected can try out Alexa+ in its current form, and check out new features as Amazon rolls them out.

How to get early access to Alexa+

Here's the good news: If you buy or own an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21, you're first in line to try out Alexa+. Amazon says all of your compatible Echo devices will be auto-enabled for Alexa+, so, really, it's a waiting game. Amazon will offering you Alexa+ whenever it decides to pick you.

If you don't have one of these devices, that's okay. Amazon has an official site where you can sign up to receive notifications about early access. Click the link, choose Sign in to continue, and follow the on-screen instructions to enroll. There's no telling when or if Amazon will choose your name out of the pile of applicants, but if it does, you'll get an alert about it from the company.

Alexa+ should be available on most Echo devices, Fire TV, Fire tablets, as well as the Alexa app. (Amazon also says there is alexa.com website coming soon.) However, the following devices will only support the original Alexa: Echo Dot 1st Gen, Echo 1st Gen, Echo Plus 1st Gen, Amazon Tap, Echo Show 1st Gen, Echo Show 2nd Gen, and Echo Spot 1st Gen. In addition, Alexa Built-in devices and Amazon Astro do not support Alexa+.

What does Alexa+ cost?

Signing up for and using Alexa+ in early access is 100% free. Whenever Amazon decides to end early access and publicly release Alexa+, it will remain free for Prime members. All others users will be warned that their Alexa+ use will continue at a $19.99 per month subscription cost. That's in line with other AI subscriptions, like CharGPT Plus, but, to me, it seems very steep—especially when Alexa+ has yet to prove itself.

If you don't feel like using Alexa+ any longer, you can manage your access here. You can also say, "Alexa, end early access" and you'll switch back to the original Alexa. (You can also ask Alexa to bring back early access at any time.)

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You Can Use DuckDuckGo to Remove AI Images From Your Search Results

When I search for an image online, I'm usually either looking for a reference or for accurate, copyright-free material that I can throw into a project before I post or present it. AI images don't help me do either of those things. And on the off chance I do need an AI image, it's not hard to generate one myself using a custom prompt. So I can't think of a scenario where I'd want to see AI images in my search results. Luckily, it seems DuckDuckGo agrees with me.

The privacy-focused search engine and browser company recently announced a new feature for its Images tab that allows you to hide AI-generated images by default. While there are ways to hide AI from your Google searches, unless you install extensions, you have to go out of your way to use them every time you make a new search. With DuckDuckGo's solution, it's set-it-and-forget-it.

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Just go to the DuckDuckGo website, enter your search, click on the Images tab, then in the settings toolbar below the search bar, click on AI images and choose Hide from the dropdown menu. DuckDuckGo will then remember your settings for all future searches. Alternately, click on the hamburger menu in the top-right corner, click on Settings under Search, and toggle on Hide AI-Generated Images. Or, you can just start your search from noai.duckduckgo.com.

The company does warn you that its "block list is not exhaustive," so a few AI-generated results might slip through the cracks, but I immediately noticed a big difference in my attempts. While searching for tabby kittens, I managed to cut a good four or five AI images off of the front page of results, including some with weird, cartoony proportions that wouldn't really help me if I just wanted to know what a baby tabby looks like. It wasn't quite as noticeable as the "baby peacock" example DuckDuckGo gave in its announcement, but it's welcome assurance that what I'm seeing is probably real.

DuckDuckGo says its block list for hiding AI generated images relies on open-source work, including the uBlockOrigin and uBlacklist Huge AI Blocklist. This is a manually curated list that targets 1,000+ sites known for posting AI generated content, so while it won't catch everything, it's a great start. It's also helpful in that it will even work if an image has not necessarily been watermarked as AI.

While having a built-in AI blocklist does make DuckDuckGo attractive for AI skeptics, it's worth noting that DuckDuckGo is not necessarily anti-AI, and in fact offers a few AI tools of its own. However, in its announcement for the new image filtering feature, DuckDuckGo said it is committed to making its forays into AI "private, useful, and optional."

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My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The Sonos Ace Headphones

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You've probably heard of Sonos smart speakers and soundbars, which offer some of the best audio quality in the market. What you may not know, however, is that Sonos also makes the excellent Sonos Ace headphones, which were released last summer. Right now, they're on sale for $295 (originally $449), the lowest price they've ever been, according to price tracking tools.

Sonos Ace

$299.00 at Amazon

$449.00 Save $150.00

$299.00 at Amazon

$449.00 Save $150.00

The Sonos Ace are soft, comfortable, and adaptable to different head sizes, thanks to their plastic design. You get actual buttons to control the headphones (as opposed to touch controls), which I personally consider a huge plus. The battery life is impressive, with about 30 hours with either the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or Aware Mode settings active, or about 40 hours with both of those off. The Bluetooth multipoint connectivity means you can connect up to two devices at once and switch seamlessly between them.

The headphones perform well, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. The sound is balanced with an EQ adjuster in the app, and the ANC and Aware Mode are top-tier, competing with the best headphones on the market. Unfortunately, the Sonos Ace aren't wifi-enabled, meaning you can't stream media into them like you can with Sonos speakers, but then again, not many headphones are. However, you can connect to Sonos speakers through Bluetooth and listen to your media that way (if you own Sonos speakers).

At their current price, the Sonos Ace are competitive with the best headphones for Apple users, the AirPods Max, and the best headphones for Android users, Sony's WH-1000XM6, and arguably, offer a better value since they're much cheaper. If you care about transparency mode or have Sonos speakers at home, the Sonos Ace headphones are your best choice.

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The Out-of-Touch Adults' Guide to Kid Culture: What Is 'Freeze Branding'?

Welcome to The Out-of-Touch Adult’s Guide to Kid Culture, where you have joined my new religious group, just by reading these words. This week, we're taking a look at an online cult that got a little too real, asking why young people are branding themselves with liquid nitrogen, and discussing the generational stare-down being enacted across the counters of retail establishments all over the country. Plus a truly viral video about the dangers of jumbotrons.

Is Children of the Waning Star an online cult?

If your child says they've joined a cult called "Children of the Waning Star," it's not as bad as it seems. The online group began on July 11, when TikToker Gigi Jarvis announced she was starting a cult, "and you're all going to be a part of it." It was obviously a joke, but the video took off on the platform, earning millions of views, and before long, the cult began picking up steam. Jarvis and her followers chose the name "Children of the Waning Star," picked some special cult symbols, and declared new holidays. Jarvis even added "cult leader" to her resume. But then the blowback started.

Many commenters informed Jarvis that cults are not something you should joke about. Others, like this "pagan witch," posted videos about how the Waning Star was "spiraling out of control" or becoming a real cult. So Jarvis, less than a week after she started her group, announced she was shutting down the project. A week from cult to apology might be the world record.

I understand why stopped, but I think it's a shame. Jarvis clearly wasn't trying to be a cult leader for real, and Children of the Waning Star isn't the first (or the 10,000th) parody religion ever created. There's the Church of the Subgenius, the Pastafarians, The Discordian Society, and many more. None of these "spiraled out of control" or become "real" cults, even though they've been around for decades. Instead, they serve a real purpose by giving people a way to think and talk about unusual belief systems, and maybe provide tools to recognize the methods of actual authoritarian groups so they can be avoided. Also: I really liked that Waning Star chose everything democratically. It would have been interesting to see the TikTok collective define and codify its spiritual beliefs.

What is "freeze branding"?

Freeze branding, or cryo branding, is a method of using cryogenic materials, usually liquid nitrogen, to mark livestock. It's thought to be less painful and damaging than branding with heat. It was first practiced in 1960s, and it took all the way until 2021 for a case of human freeze branding to be recorded in medical literature. The procedure has been gaining enough traction among body modification fans online lately for doctors to issue stern warnings against the practice. Although it doesn't seem that widespread. Yet.

"You are not a horse," dermatologist Dr. Andrea Suarez (known online as Dr. Dray) reminds us in this TikTok video, "This can result in a full thickness burn that puts you at risk for a deep infection called cellulitis."

Dr. Dray sure is a downer, but I assume she's right, and that no one should ever brand themself with liquid nitrogen because it's super, super bad—but I get why people want to. The effect on cattle is cool: Freeze branding (animals) destroys pigmentation in hair follicles, resulting in white hair and/or white skin in the shape of the brand. There isn't much serious discussion online about how/if it's possible to cold brand people safely, but this video from another online doctor reveals that doctors use liquid nitrogen regularly, so it seems possible to cold brand people without disastrous consequences.

What is the "Gen-Z Stare?"

The term "Gen Z stare" is popping up all over social media and non-social media this week. It refers to the blank expression that is supposedly common among people between the ages of 13 and 28 years old, noticed especially often among retail workers. Gen Z, it is said, responds to boiler-plate greetings and small talk with an inscrutable stare instead of a smile or nod.

While it's not a new term—this video explaining the phenomena is nearly a year old— it has gone very viral lately. Is this a real shift in cultural behavior, or a trendy age-based online carping campaign? It's hard to say when it comes to something as amorphous as people online reporting, "the barista looks at me funny when I order Starbucks," but it feels more like the "older generation" (Millennial) overblowing a small trait of Gen Z.

It reminds me of past generational moral panics, like Millennials killing casual dining (and 100 other things), vocal fry, Jenkem, rainbow parties, switchblades, and the "overly jaunty" rhythm of Bing Crosby's "Deep in the Heart of Texas." (To be fair, that shit is fucking jaunty.) Also: If low-wage workers stare blankly at older people, it might be because they deserve it.

I took a more in-depth look at the Gen Z stare here.

Viral video of the week: Affair caught on Coldplay jumbotron

It’s rare for the entire internet to collectively agree on something, but this week, everyone, from Baby Boomers to Gen A, shared the same reaction to a viral video: "I'm glad I'm not these people." No one needs it explained, I guess, but you don't get more viral than this one.

The video in question was shot at a recent Coldplay concert in Massachusetts. It begins innocently enough: The camera pans to a couple embracing tenderly, and the crowd cheers. But things go south quickly when the pair realize they’re on the Jumbotron and freak out. Their awkward attempts to duck and hide only draw attention to the drama. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin even narrates the moment: “Oh, look at these two,” he says from the stage, before pausing and adding, "Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”

It was the first one, Chris.

The internet quickly identified the couple as Andy Byron, the CEO of tech company called Astronomer who is extremely married to someone who isn't Astronomer's "chief people officer" Kristin Cabot.In the following days, former employees came out to shit talk their old boss, Astronomer's board launched an investigation, more than 15 million people read about the event online (that's as much exposure as the Diddy trial had), and Byron's wife took the family photos off Facebook.

As amusing as all this is, I can't help but feel sympathy for those involved. Imagine that everyone you know—your friends, your family, your co-workers, your second grade teacher—has video proof that you attended a Coldplay concert.

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