Tech / Technology

Best sex and dating apps for hooking up in 2023 (UK)

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Looking for no strings attached sex? We’ve lined up a selection of sex apps for finding something casual.
Three people in bed

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

Hookup culture is all about keeping things casual, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Everyone gets stuck in a sexual rut at some point in their lives, and trying to take strangers home from a bar or constantly texting your ex can be exhausting. If you’re struggling to find a match in the real world, it might be time to put your faith in dating sites.

When we think about these sites, it’s normal to go straight to the likes of Match, eharmony, EliteSingles, and other marriage-minded options, but not everyone is thinking about something so serious. Sometimes you just want to have fun.

How do you find a hookup?

It’s still possible to find a connection in the real world, because meeting in bars, clubs, parks, and other real-life locations still happens on a regular basis. You’re simply shortening your odds by subscribing to a dating site. Why not give yourself the best chance of success? You know it makes sense.

Dating sites and sex apps allow you to get your information out there to a massive network of like-minded individuals. Plus, you can save a lot of time, energy, and cash by testing out a potential relationship on an app before meeting up. We know that some dating apps can be expensive, but just think about all those wasted coffees you could avoid by chatting through an app first.

Lastly, using dating apps and sites is a whole lot less intimidating than meeting someone face to face. If you find the idea of meeting people slightly terrifying, these apps can help you dip your toe into the world of dating from the comfort of your own home.

Should you use free dating apps?

The good news is that there are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. However, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with dating apps. And sometimes free apps just don’t cut it.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you’re looking for, you are going to have to cough up some cash. We’re sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don’t come cheap. It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you’re looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What makes an app good for hooking up?

When it comes to sex apps, you probably don’t mind long questionnaires or in-depth profiles, but when you’re just looking for a casual hookup, that all seems unnecessary. Sure, you want to gauge that you’re at least a little compatible and not hooking up with a complete psychopath. The best hookup apps have quick and easy bios or prompts that give you an insight into who you’d be getting down and dirty with.

Photos are also a huge factor in good hookup apps. Some sex apps and dating sites gatekeep people’s pics unless you have a paid subscription, and we don’t really love that. Apps that show the full view of someone’s profile are the way to go. You definitely want to make sure you’re physically attracted to the person you’re going to be having sex with.

What is the best sex and dating app for hooking up?

The good news is that there are absolutely loads of dating sites and sex apps out there for every type of dater and dating situation. The problem with this wealth of options is that deciding on the right site for you can be difficult. This is where we can help.

We have tracked down a strong selection of your best options for hooking up, with sites like AdultFriendFinder and iHookup making the cut. There should be something for everyone in this list, so what do you have to lose?

These are the best hookup sites and apps in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best headphones for iPhone in 2023 (UK)

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Find the perfect partner for your iPhone with this selection of top headphones from brands like Apple and Sony.
Apple iPhone and AirBuds

Listen closely: your whole life is packed inside your phone. And if listening to music — not to mention podcasts and audiobooks — is one of life’s true pleasures, you need a good set of headphones or earbuds to connect to your phone.

That’s especially true for iPhone users. As dedicated Apple fans will know, the Apple iOS is a uniquely designed system, built for syncing Apple products together. That means only certain headphones will do (though the best ones aren’t always Apple-produced, by the way). And the ones that come bundled with your iPhone just don’t sound as good as a dedicated set. They also leak sound like crazy.

If you’re serious about your sounds — and you should be — you need a pair that both suit the capabilities of your iPhone and your lifestyle. It’s important to know what you’re looking for, so we’ve gone ahead and done the research for you.

Do you need wireless headphones for your iPhone?

To put it simply, yes. If you have an iPhone, it’s probably time to go wireless. You have to go back several generations to find an iPhone that has a regular 3.5mm audio jack input. Apple has insisted on equipping its phones with a Lightning port for several years now. Apple headphones also use Lightning connections so they can plug straight into your phone. And if you have a pair of wired non-Apple headphones, Apple also sells an adaptor which connects a regular audio jack to the Lightning connection. But these adaptors are unreliable and break all-too easily. The best option is to connect your iPhone to the headphones. It’s much easier and means fewer cables.

What is true wireless?

True wireless — or “truly” wireless as it’s sometimes called — refers to headphones that have no cord connected to your phone or device. True wireless headphones can use different types of wireless technology to transmit the sound into your ears. The most common form is Bluetooth. Wireless sound quality can be affected by factors such as distance and obstructions between your headphones and device, but also the codec software that your headphones support. Codecs are algorithms that encode and decode digital audio signals. Look out for headphones with low latency that support Qaulcomm’s aptX codecs, which are usually rated as the best codecs — particularly for streaming video on your phone and ensuring the picture and audio stay in sync.

Are AirPods the best headphones for the iPhone?

Yes and no. AirPods are great — especially AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro Max (as you’ll see below) — but they’re also expensive. They’re definitely a good one-stop solution as they’re so convenient to set up with your iPhone and they fit the Apple aesthetic perfectly. However, if you’re keen to search around and spend a little longer setting things up (or spend a little less), there are other good options out there.

Should you buy the cheapest pair of headphones?

You can spend a few pounds on the cheapest pair of headphones, but you might as well just use the buds that come free with your iPhone. Going cheap is a false economy and you’ll sacrifice quality and function. If you regularly listen to music, it’s worth investing a little more. The sound quality is going to be much better.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancellation blocks out ambient noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music. It’s usually a mark of the best, most advanced headphones.

There are two kinds of noise cancellation: Passive and active noise cancellation. Passive noise cancellation is achieved by the design and build of the headphones, which physically block out noise by having oversized ear cups that create a seal. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a system of small microphones that pick up incoming sounds and create anti-noise sound waves to cancel them out. Also, look out for advanced ANC modes such as “transparency mode”. This allows a certain level of ambient noise to seep in, such as other people’s voices. It’s handy for listening out for train platform announcements or having conversations with pals and colleagues.

What are the best headphones for the iPhone?

Think about the main reasons that you need new headphones: Are you going to be using them while you travel? Will you be listening to music mainly at home? Or while exercising? We’ve looked at a number of different scenarios and figured out the best headphones or earbuds for you and your lifestyle. In other words, we’ve done the hard work for you. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list. We’ve lined up a selection of impressive options from top brands.

These are the best headphones for your iPhone in 2023.

Tech / Technology

Best monitor deal: Save over $100 on this adjustable stacked dual 24-inch monitor

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Save on the Geminos stacked dual monitor at the Mashable Shop for a limited time.
Geminos adjustable dual monitor on desktop

TL;DR: With uber adjustability, this Geminos stacked dual 24-inch screen monitor can bring ergonomic viewing to a sitting or standing desk. It’s on sale for just $679.97 (reg. $799) when you order before November 9 — that’s 15% in savings.

The world we live in demands us to multitask, and that holds true for home and at work. Whenever we get the opportunity to streamline our efficiency through a device, tool, app, or more, we should take it if we have the means to do so. This Geminos stacked dual 24″ screen monitor offers a more ergonomic work life and double the visual real estate for more effortless productivity. And it’s on sale before the Black Friday crunch for just $679.97 (reg. $799) for a limited time.

Made to be uber-adjustable, unlike other types of dual monitors, the top monitor slides up and down while the bottom monitor pivots in and out, creating a bent appearance. It’s designed to be more ergonomic while either sitting or standing at your desk, offering a healthier environment with reduced slouching and harsh glares.

For instance, professionally, you can have your spreadsheet on one screen while referencing documents on the other. Or, for gaming purposes, it can help create a more immersive experience.

This dual monitor is an all-in-one way to be productive, as it includes a full HD webcam, powerful speakers, a mic, a USB hub (with USB-C pass-through charging for laptops), and more.

Use this unique device on Mac, Windows, and Linux via laptop, desktop, Xbox, or PlayStation. The Geminos monitor comes with a webcam cover, two HDMI cables, two USB-C cables, a USB-A/C cable, a power supply, and a user guide.

This unique monitor is an efficiency hub designed to meet and elevate your productivity and entertainment needs. It can also potentially alleviate some of the workplace stress that more and more people are experiencing.

Pick up the Geminos stacked dual 24-inch screen monitor while it’s on sale for just $679.97 (reg. $799) until November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Prices subject to change.


Geminos stacked dual screen monitor

Credit: Mobile Pixels


Geminos Stacked Dual Screen Monitor

$679.97 at the Mashable Shop

Tech / Technology

Get a year of Sam’s Club shopping for just $20

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Save on a Sam’s Club one-year membership at the Mashable Shop.
couple putting away groceries in kitchen

TL;DR: Don’t miss the chance to get a one-year Sam’s Club membership for just $20 (with auto-renew) instead of $50 and access all the benefits of membership right before the holiday hustle. This offer ends on Nov. 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

If you’ve been on the fence about getting a membership to a wholesale club, this might be a great time to go for it. Elevate your shopping experiences and enjoy incredible savings on a wide range of products right before the holiday season with this exceptional offer. Only through November 9, you can get a one-year Sam’s Club membership for just $20 with auto-renew.

Designed to make your shopping experience easier, more cost-effective, and enjoyable, Sam’s Club members get access to a vast array of products. From groceries and electronics to home goods and seasonal items and decor, members can find unbeatable value on a wide range of items.

Other helpful perks significantly add to the convenience of membership. Sam’s Club Members will be able to share a free membership with someone in their household. That means you can send your partner to do the weekly or special-occasion shopping when you can’t. As a member, you get access to the tire and battery center, which can help you stay safe on the road with free flat tire repair, battery testing, and more.

Add in the members-only fuel savings at select locations, Instant Savings, and Bonus Offers, as well as online shopping and even same-day delivery for a small additional fee, and members have a place to help them save time and money.

Until November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a Sam’s Club 1-year membership for only $20 with auto-renew and enjoy your shopping hub through the holidays and beyond.

Prices subject to change.


sam's club logo

Credit: Sam’s Club


Sam’s Club one-year membership

$20 at the Mashable Shop

Tech / Technology

AI e-book creation tool: On sale for $25

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Save on a lifetime subscription to My AI E-Book Creation Pro at the Mashable Shop.
woman writing in notebook and looking at laptop in kitchen

TL;DR: Through Nov. 9, you can enjoy a lifetime subscription to My AI E-Book Creation Pro and get help writing your next e-book for just $24.97 — that’s a savings of over 90%.

If talk of side hustles always has you feeling like an underachiever, it may be time to start dabbling in alternate revenue streams. And now, just in time for the holiday season and ahead of all of the Black Friday sales, you can use artificial intelligence to help you create your next e-book with a lifetime subscription to My AI eBook Creation Pro. 

My AI eBook Creation Pro offers a convenient way to create e-books and start making money from home once you publish them. And you can currently snag a lifetime subscription for forever access for just $24.97, with no coupon code needed. But you have to act fast — this deal only lasts through November 9. 

Don’t be intimidated by the AI component — this tool is totally user-friendly and doesn’t require any technical background. Turn your great ideas into full-fledged books as you input a little bit of information, like the project name, category, topic, target audience, tone, language, and max words per chapter, and then receive a completed eBook draft. You’ll be able to personalize as much as you’d like, as My AI eBook Creation Pro does the dirty work for you. 

Become an author with a lifetime subscription to My AI eBook Creation Pro, now just $24.97 until November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Prices subject to change. 


My AI E-Book Creation Pro logo

Credit: MyEbookCreation


My AI E-Book Creation Pro: Lifetime Subscription

$24.97 at the Mashable Shop

Tech / Technology

TikTok users put their partners to ‘The Beckham Test’ inspired by David and Victoria

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Inspired by David and Victoria in ‘Beckham’ on Netflix, “The Beckham Test” challenges TikTok partners to dance along to “Island in the Streams.”
Young David and Victoria Beckham embracing tenderly in front of a football pitch.

David Beckham doesn’t just score goals — he and his wife Victoria are relationship goals.

For many viewers of Beckham, Netflix‘s limited documentary series about the footballer, the most memorable scene wasn’t David calling out Victoria for referring to herself as “working class” or David getting a football cleat to the head, but rather the couple casually grooving to “Island in the Streams” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. The married pair share a seemingly spontaneous dance to the tune in the kitchen toward the end of the doc.

SEE ALSO:

‘Beckham’ is wildly popular on Netflix for this 1 key reason

Fans circulated the clip of the pair on TikTok with captions like “The Real Power Couple” and “This is my Roman Empire.” Others posted videos dancing to the audio from the scene overlaid with their reactions. TikTok user @caitlinann wrote, “I did not know one of my major life goals was to dance to this song in my countryside home with my future husband, but apparently it is now.” Another TikTokker, @siennakitchener, said, “pov: you just watched the Beckham docuseries & this scene has occupied your brain all day.”

Admiration for the sweet moment quickly morphed into a challenge for people, most of whom are women, to see if their partners measure up to the football star’s fancy footwork. The challenge, aptly called “The Beckham Test,” has TikTokkers dance along to “Island in the Streams” and record their partner’s reaction. To pass the test, the partner must join in on the dancing.

While the trend is light-hearted, it encourages users to compare their relationships to the curated, public image of the Beckhams and requires TikTokkers to surveil their partners in pursuit of internet clout.

SEE ALSO:

Are all men obsessed with the Roman Empire? We investigate.

In one video that garnered over 5.6 million views, @rebeccavieirax dances in the kitchen before her husband quickly “passes” and copies her dance moves. In another with 3.9 million views, @tess.shananhan puts her husband to the test by dancing alone in the living room, but fear not — he enters the frame and starts dancing alongside her.

Single people may be unable to participate in The Beckham Test, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t posting the audio, too. In one funny take on the trend, TikTokker @user3693184408 dances, adding the caption, “seeing if my bf will do the Beckham dance with me.” Then the camera pans and reveals she is entirely alone. Another video of two friends moving together to the beat reads, “My best friend and I still living with each other 25 years from now.”

Rather than passing a test of rhythm, maybe the next Beckham-inspired trend will involve passing a football.

Tech / Technology

Best gifts for her 2023: Unique picks she’ll actually love

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Shop home, tech, and beauty gifts for the lucky lady in your life.
gifts for her

Buying gifts for the special women in your life can be tricky. What do you buy a person who has everything? What should you gift to someone who’s picky about their products?

Our advice is to curate a gift according to her interests and personality. Taking the generic route usually sends a bad message. A gift for the lady in your life should be just that: A gift for her. Specifically.

There’s a wealth of unique gift items littered across the internet, but having too many choices isn’t always helpful. Sometimes, product overload can trick you into impulse-buying something your special person may not even want. Consider how a mug looks to someone whose mug shelf is overflowing or how a heart necklace looks to someone who never wears mushy jewelry.

SEE ALSO:

The best gifts for teenage girls, according to teenage girls

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to get you started on your important mission: Finding the gift of all gifts for the lady in your life, filled with classics that will be useful for years to come and trendy items you’ve never even heard of. From tech products to beauty must-haves, there’s a gift for every lady on this list.

Tech / Technology

Best smart thermostat deal: Get the Google Nest Learning thermostat for 28% off

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Get the Google Nest Learning thermostat for just $179, down from $249.99, at Amazon as of Oct. 31. That’s a 28% discount.
a google nest learning thermostat on a blue wall

SAVE $70: Integrate the Google Nest Learning thermostat into your home for just $179, down from $249, at Amazon. That’s a discount of 28%.


a google nest thermostat on a white background

Credit: Google


Google Nest Learning thermostat

$179 at Amazon (save $70)

Tis the season to crank up the heat — and then forget to turn it down for the nine hours you’ll be away from home. Avoid the heart-dropping sensation of realizing the plants will be the only ones enjoying a cozy 70 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re at work with a smart thermostat that senses when you’re away.

As of Oct. 31, you can score the Google Nest Learning thermostat for just $179 at Amazon, marked down from $249. That’s a savings of $70 that can go toward paying the heating bill.

SEE ALSO:

Upgrade your smart home with an Amazon Echo Show 8 and color bulb for under $70

This smart thermostat is designed to learn as you use it. After one week, the Google Nest thermostat programs itself based on its history and your temperature settings. Use the Nest app to adjust the temperature while you’re away from home — from your phone, you can turn down the heat if you forgot to adjust it before you left for vacation, or turn it back on an hour before you’re set to get home. The app also tracks your energy history if you’re looking for insights on how to use less energy.

The Google Nest Learning thermostat is also designed to use sensors to determine when you’re not around and turn itself to an energy-saving temperature. Google says most people take 30 minutes to install the thermostat and that it works with 95% of existing thermostat systems. The thermostat face comes in seven colorways including black, white, brass, and stainless steel, so you can match your home’s existing decor.

Introduce a new smart home feature this winter with the Google Nest Learning thermostat, marked down to just $179 at Amazon.