Tech / Technology

Is The Cheesecake Factory a bad place to take a first date? The internet is divided.

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The online world is ablaze arguing about the places OK for a first date after a woman went viral for refusing to enter a Cheesecake Factory.
cheesecake factory viewed from parking lot

Lots of folks have experienced a bad date. But it’s not every day someone exposes the intimate details of their bad date online — down to the choice of restaurant their prospective date chose — garnering an audience of millions. For one woman, that happened when she pulled up to The Cheesecake Factory for a first date.

Yes, the popular chain restaurant famed for its Bible-length menu is going viral for reasons likely making its marketing department lose sleep. A TikTok of a woman refusing to exit a vehicle for a date at The Cheesecake Factory has made the rounds on social media platforms this past week.

The TikTok in question, posted by a woman speaking directly into a camera, went into detail about how this was, apparently, a great offense.

“Who takes someone that looks like this to a chain restaurant?” she said in the video.”Look at me: I cannot go in Cheesecake Factory. I will die.”

The whole thing has since taken on a life of its own. So much so that the original TikTok isn’t even the issue in question anymore. At more than six minutes long, the video features the woman dressing down her would-be suitor outside of The Cheesecake Factory. He also poked back at her for being late and they then went back and forth, arguing in the front seats of a car. And, not for nothing, these sorts of TikToks are often staged and played up for the camera because…well, duh…people want attention.

If it was for attention, it worked. Millions of people have watched the interaction. The response has largely been in defense of the guy and The Cheesecake Factory. Typical comments were: “What’s wrong with the cheesecake factory” to “he seems so nice I would’ve been so hyped for the cheesecake factory,” and “I like the Cheesecake Factory….Girl bye…. He dodged a bullet.. perfectly played.”

Then, of course, the online world began having a Discourse because that’s what people online do. A list of 28 places not to take a date went viral, for instance. Twenty-eight places! (What’s left?) Things only escalated from there.

Popular sports talking head Stephen A. Smith ranted about it. TL;DR: “Ain’t nothing wrong with the Cheesecake Factory.” The freaking View had a segment on it. The brands posted about it, including The Cheesecake Factory itself.

In some ways, you do begin to feel bad for the woman who posted the original TikTok. Was it shady, over-the-top, and slightly unnecessary? Yes, of course. There was no way, however, she could know it would be this big of a deal. But in our culture where everyone needs to post about going to the viral new place, the relatively bland reliability of The Cheesecake Factory might feel like an insult. Never mind the fact that the restaurant itself estimates the average guest spends about $30, which isn’t that cheap. If you’re springing for drinks, dessert, and tipping no less than 20 percent, it seems the bill for a first date is likely to be at least $100.

The jokes about the whole saga will keep on coming for a while.

First dates are tough. Picking a restaurant is difficult even for couples who’ve been together for years, let alone two people just meeting.

It’d be great to support locally owned restaurants, but sometimes people want to play it safe with a place that has hundreds of options. There are worse things. And hey, at least the dessert will be good. That is if you enter the restaurant from the parking lot.

Tech / Technology

TikTok’s latest viral manicure? ‘Boston University Red’ nails.

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TikTok’s trend-cycle marches forward, with DND’s “Boston University Red” shade going viral in time for Halloween.
TikTok screenshots of red nails.

TikTok loves a good manicure. The new seasonal favorite? Boston University red.

The nail color, created by brand DND, is described by the company as “a perfect scarlet red, not too dark, not too bright.” DND proposed the shade as the ideal tool to create a Halloween-inspired look, taking to its own TikTok account to show viewers just how to use it.

A screenshot of a person doing their nails.


Credit: TikTok / @dndgel

The specific colour is inspired by BU Red — #CC0000 or Pantone’s 186 — which is one of Boston University’s official hues alongside black.

A Pantone swatch of red colour 186.

Hold up that nail, is it surefire Boston University red?
Credit: Pantone

As with most TikTok beauty trends, news spreads fast and creators are quick adopters. Across the app, the shade is going viral. The hashtag #bostonuniversityred currently has over 226,000 views on the app. TikTokkers like @kybeal_ shared videos of the manicure, writing “Boston Univeristy Red is my new fav”; nail creator @heluviee shared the color as the Halloween-adjacent tool it was likely made for: “vampy reds of my dreamsss,” she wrote.

TikTok’s beauty-centric trend cycle moves at lightning speed, and its nail obsessions are plenty. Over the summer, the “blueberry milk” manicure was declared by TikTok as the season’s best. But this trend turned out to be controversial for both its name and what it represented. With the onset of “blueberry milk”, many took objection to the micro-trend for rebranding what is essentially a light baby-blue hue, one that has been popular for years before TikTok came around. Others objected to the never-ending trend trap, a loss of individuality, and the fact that being on TikTok means your wallet must always be prepared to buy the next big thing — too often.

SEE ALSO:

TikTok’s ‘blueberry milk nails’ have the internet questioning trend culture

Red nails, too, have been revered for centuries (yes, really) and popular nail brands like OPI and Essie have catalogues packed with various colors along the spectrum. Demi, lead technician at London-based salon Browfique, tells Mashable that red nails have in-fact, seen “a resurgence recently”, thanks to TikTok discussions like “red nail theory”.

The latter is a debate that has made rounds on the app for months now, with red nails being touted as a confidence-booster and a way to attract potential suiters. Essentially, TikTokkers suggested that heterosexual men are more attracted to women with red nails. Take @melissevmartineau who told her followers that that she “had never been asked on so many dates” as when she donned the trend. Creator @ashleymescia tried the theory, captioning her post, “Suing if i don’t have 10 dates lined up next week.”

A screenshot of a creator wearing red nails.


Credit: TikTok / @ashleymescia.

“Boston University Red” may be an extension of this obsession. But, as many TikTokkers pointed out, red manicures have long been an aesthetic choice, way before any debates about the trend and cuffing season sprouted up. On the flip side of all these micro-trends and their associated discourse, lies the simple philosophy that people should pick and wear what they like. Easy, right?

Tech / Technology

Best wireless earbuds in 2023 (UK)

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The best wireless earbuds from top brands like Apple and Sony.
Man with earbuds in

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

We all know the pain of untangling your headphones. It’s like some ludicrous puzzle that we must solve every single day. It’s the curse of owning wired headphones — so infuriating that someone once did a scientific study into why it happens.

Perhaps that’s why the top audio brands have largely ditched the classic headphone jack and moved towards almost exclusive wireless listening. Well, that and the ever-evolving technology. Unsurprisingly, wireless earbuds have risen in popularity and become a must-have bit of tech for busy and active lifestyles.

What are wireless earbuds?

Just like a pair of standard wired buds, these little guys fit snugly inside your ear’s concha (that’s the shell-shaped cavity right next to the entrance of your ear canal). But instead of sending digital audio signals through a cord, they transmit them via a wireless connection.

What is true wireless?

True wireless is a term you’ll come across a lot when researching and shopping for earbuds. Technically, earbuds fall into several categories. For instance, “wireless” earbuds connect to each other via a cord, while “true wireless” have no cord whatsoever — they are completely independent of each other and your device. True wireless headphones can use different types of wireless technology to transmit the sound into your ears. The most common form is Bluetooth.

With brands and listeners favouring true wireless, we’ve followed suit — all the earbuds in this roundup are true wireless.

Are earbuds better than headphones?

If portability and a lower price point appeals to you, you’ll probably prefer wireless earbuds over the on-ear counterpart (wireless headphones). And luckily for you, Apple is no longer the only major brand cranking them out. From Bose to Beats, almost every audio brand has got a couple of wireless earbud offerings on the market nowadays.

Headphones are generally considered the go-to option for serious audiophiles. But there are earbuds geared towards high-quality sound that can match up to over-ear headphones at the same price point. Wireless sound quality is affected by factors such as distance and obstructions between your headphones and device, and the codec software that your headphones support.

What are Bluetooth codecs?

Codecs are algorithms that encode and decode digital audio signals. Look out for earbuds with low latency (this is the time it takes for the sound to hit your ears) and support for Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs. These are the best, most up-to-date codecs — particularly for streaming video content and keeping the image and audio in sync. This is important if you’re a Netflix nerd or have a passion for Prime.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation is another important feature in tech-savvy headphones. There are two kinds of noise cancellation — passive and active noise cancelling. Passive noise cancellation is achieved by the design of the headphones, which may physically block out noise. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a system of small microphones which pick up external sounds and create anti-noise sound waves to cancel them out.

Earbuds tend to offer some level of passive noise cancellation because of their in-ear design. But some also have specific ANC modes, such as “transparency mode” which allow select ambient sounds to seep in. A transparency mode is especially useful when listening out for announcements at the train station or talking to colleagues — all without having to stop your music every 30 seconds.

What are the best wireless earbuds?

All of these options can make for a tricky decision when it comes to finding the right pair of wireless earbuds in terms of fit, style, and intended use. That’s why we’ve done the research to bring you the best wireless earbuds featuring the latest Bluetooth technology. There should be something for everyone at every budget on this list, including popular models from top brands. All you need to do is pick a favourite pair.

These are the best wireless earbuds in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best headphones for under £50

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The best cheap headphones from top brands like Sony and Corsair.
Back of man's head listening to headphones

A good set of headphones are an absolute necessity in this increasingly noisy world. There are few greater pleasures than sticking on a set of headphones and losing yourself in great-sounding tunes. Now helped by the endless playlist on your phone.

Not only is this a tried and tested method of relaxing, it’s also pretty effective at blocking out everything that’s going on around you.

The prospect of living in your own little sound bubble is pretty appealing, and it needn’t cost a fortune. You don’t need to be loaded to get access to the best tech. There are lots of great budget headphones available. If you need some help choosing a pair, here’s some useful information to get you started.

What are the best headphone brands?

You can pick and choose from a wide selection of devices and a lengthy list of brands. You’ve almost certainly heard of Bose, Sony, and Apple, but there are lots of lesser known brands to consider as well.

Sticking to the top brands definitely has its advantages. You’re taking less of a risk by investing in one of the bigger names, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the way to go. You can often find much better value by looking at some of the smaller brands, and you don’t need to sacrifice comfort, style, or sound quality.

What features should you consider when shopping for headphones?

You might be surprised at all the features included with modern headphones — even at a budget price point. Here are some key things to consider:

  • Bluetooth — This allows you to connect to your phone or music-playing device wirelessly. It’s fairly standard with up-to-date headphones but usually for convenience rather than sound quality. Wired headphones are still the best for audio aficionados.

  • Sound quality — Serious audiophiles might want to spend a bit more to get the richest, expertly engineered sound. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get great sound for a low price. Look out for reviews that credit the lows, mids, and highs (these describe the different frequencies of music). Also, look for headphones with drivers of 50mm and under. Drivers are bits of internal tech which convert electronic signals into sound.

  • Microphone — It’s the age of connectivity and most headphones will connect to your phone and allow you make calls via an internal mic, built into the headset or the cable.

  • Manual controls — Many headphones include buttons on the headset for manually controlling the volume, playback, or making calls. Sounds simple, right? Not entirely. Be sure the controls are easy to access and are easy to differentiate from each other.

  • Closed-back/open-back — Closed back headphones have completely sealed ear cups, which direct sound to your ears and keeps out ambient noise. Open-back headphones let air into the ear cup but can cause sound leakage that goes both ways — both in and out. Expensive headphones sometimes have open backs for clearer, natural sound. But closed-back are the go-to choice for commuting and noisy environments.

  • Noise cancelling — Much like it sounds, this is a feature that cancels out ambient and surrounding noise to create a completely immersive experience. Some headphones are built to physically keep out noise. Others include specific tech that further cancels it out. That’s called “active noice cancellation” (ANC).

Keep these features in mind when shopping around for your next set of headphones.

What are the most comfortable headphones?

This is down to personal preference and — of course — what best fits your head size and shape. Some headphones are designed with comfort in mind, with padded ear cups or adjustable headband for getting the fit just right. Others are made with practicality in mind, and may fold up for added portability.

What are the best headphones for under £50?

Listen up, because we’ve done all the hard work and tracked down some of the best very headphone options for under £50. This list includes some names you probably don’t know, some budget models from the biggest brands, and everything in between. There really is something for everyone in this list. Just select the set that best fits your listening and lifestyle habits. Sounds good, right?

These are the best headphones for under £50 in 2023.