Good morning, and welcome to Tuesday! It’s been more than a year since Adobe announced that it intended to buy Figma for $20 billion, yet the two companies […]
TikTok users put their partners to ‘The Beckham Test’ inspired by David and Victoria
Inspired by David and Victoria in ‘Beckham’ on Netflix, “The Beckham Test” challenges TikTok partners to dance along to “Island in the Streams.”
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.
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.
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.
Alexis Ohanian says he’s a ‘techno optimist,’ despite social media’s impact on society
Does Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian have regrets over his creation? The entrepreneur and founder of venture fund Seven Seven Six, speaking at an event at the University of […]
Best gifts for her 2023: Unique picks she’ll actually love
Shop home, tech, and beauty gifts for the lucky lady in your life.
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.
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.
Best Apple Watch deals: Save on the SE and more
Prime Day may be over, but great Apple Watch deals still remain — here are the best ones as of Oct. 31.
UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2023, 12:15 p.m. EDT We’ve updated this post to reflect the most recent pricing and availability on Apple Watches heading into Black Friday season.
Top Apple Watch deals this week:
Our top pick
Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS)
$305.91 at Amazon
(Save $93.09)
(Save $93.09)
Best budget pick
Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + cellular)
$269 at Best Buy
(Save $30 )
(Save $30 )
Best Ultra deal
Apple Watch Ultra (First generation, 49mm, GPS + cellular)
$629 at Best Buy
(Save $170)
(Save $170)
It’s been over seven years since the first generation Apple Watch began to grace people’s wrists. In that time, the Apple wearable has evolved in size, power, and — because it’s Apple — price. If you’re into the idea of having a fitness tracker, an extension of your phone, and all the world’s conveniences (or, at least a few more than you’re used to) wrapped around your wrist, but aren’t into shelling out the max amount of cash, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, we’ll keep watch and update this post with the best Apple Watch deals from across the internet.
Apple Watch Series 9 deals
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Credit: Apple
Why we like it
Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.
Double tap. Need we say more? If we had to, it would be that it may not be a surefire upgrade for anyone who already has an 8, but for folks with older Apple Watch models this is a pretty decent upgrade, and after being officially on store shelves for less than a week, it already has a small discount. It didn’t get any additional discounts during Prime Day, but we’re still keeping our fingers crossed for Black Friday.
More Apple Watch Series 9 deals
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Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) — $389.99
$399at Walmart (save $9.01) -
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) — $419.99
$429at Amazon (save $9.01) -
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) — $419.99
$429at Walmart (save $9.01)
Apple Watch Series 8 deals
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Credit: Apple
Why we like it
It may not come in pink like the Series 9, but feature-wise you’re not getting a vastly different experience with the Series 8 (though we do wish it had double tap). The Series 8 has hit some impressive lows this holiday shopping season — bottoming out at $225 — but at the time of writing, $319 is the absolute best price you can get on this smartwatch. It’s not amazing, but it’s not bad either. You’ll just have to go for the silver or midnight watch if you want the savings (as long as you don’t mind pre-owned).
More Apple Watch Series 8 deals
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Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS + cellular) — $324.99
$499at Target (save $174.01) -
Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS) — $349.97
$429at Amazon (save $79.03) -
Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS + cellular) — $354.99
$529at Target (save $174.01)
Apple Watch Series 7 deals
None this week, check back next week.
Apple Watch SE deals
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Credit: Apple
Why we like it
The Apple Watch SE is a great option for those who don’t necessarily need all of the pricey bells and whistles that come with other Apple Watch models. You’ll get all the must-have features you need like health tracking, crash detection, Smart Stack, and emergency SOS options. Also, it’s $30 off at Best Buy — we’ll never turn down a discount on the already-most-affordable Apple Watch.
More Apple Watch SE deals
Second generation
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Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $249.99
$279at Amazon (save $29.01)
Apple Watch Ultra deals
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Credit: Apple
Why we like it
Best Buy is continuing to get into the holiday spirit early with this $170 markdown on the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen this watch hit — and it’s currently $100 cheaper than Amazon’s sale price. While it doesn’t have the same extra bright screen, S9 chip, or Double Tap capabilities as the second-gen Ultra, all in all, it’s a very similar watch that’s still rugged, well-built, and great for the adventurous among us. Plus, at $630, it’s way more affordable than this year’s release. You can grab it on sale in the yellow and beige loop only.
More Apple Watch Ultra deals
-
Apple Watch Ultra (First generation, 49mm, GPS + cellular) — $629
$799at Best Buy (save $170) -
Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) — $774
$799at Amazon (save $25)
Even more Apple Watch deals
TikTok’s latest viral manicure? ‘Boston University Red’ nails.
TikTok’s trend-cycle marches forward, with DND’s “Boston University Red” shade going viral in time for Halloween.
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.
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.
Hold up that nail, is it surefire Boston University red?
Credit: Pantone
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.
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.”
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?
Several ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games are cutting online services. See the list.
Ubisoft is shutting down online services for several of its older games, including a bunch of ‘Assassin’s Creed’ titles.
One of the saddest things in gaming has come for a bundle of Ubisoft games.
In an article on its website, Ubisoft announced that it is “decommissioning” online services for several older games in its portfolio. In all, 10 games are losing online functionality on Jan. 24. Here’s the list:
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Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360)
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Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (Mac)
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Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD (PS3 and Xbox 360)
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Assassin’s Creed Revelations (PC)
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Ghost Recon Future Soldier (PC)
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Heroes of Might and Magic VI (PC)
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NCSI (PC)
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Splinter Cell: Conviction (Xbox 360)
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R.U.S.E. (PC)
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Trials Evolution (PC)
Obviously, online features differ for all of these games, but the main thing to know is that anything that uses the internet will be shut off. That means multiplayer for games that have it, Ubisoft account linking, and in-game online rewards will no longer be accessible after Jan. 24. Ubisoft also keeps a full list of every game it has shut down in this manner on its website.
This is a deeply sad reality of the games industry. Running servers costs money and publishers often don’t want to spend that money after years have gone by and the player-bases for these games naturally decrease over time. However, instead of crying about what’s happening now, let’s celebrate what we used to have.
In particular, the competitive multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and Revelations was some of the coolest multiplayer of its era. Several players would play as setting-appropriate characters, each having one target to assassinate. You had to find your target (who was probably hiding in a crowd or on a roof somewhere) while staying hidden in plain sight yourself. It was wonderfully tense, and as far as I can tell, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag might be the only way you can play it now.
Until Ubisoft inevitably shuts that game down, too. Best get in on it while you can.
The AI Seinfeld show loop broke but it’s still alive
The artificial intelligence version of “Seinfeld” is still running, after the Twitch stream seemed to have broken.
An AI-rendition of Seinfeld has been playing on an infinite loop on Twitch since December 2022, confounding the internet in more ways than one. But it seemed to have broken, almost forever, yesterday.
Nothing, Forever, launched by generative media lab Mismatch Media and created primarily via OpenAI, seemed to glitch for a few days. Fans and viewers took to X, pointing out both the low viewership on the Twitch channel and the fact that the digital characters were shown standing silently.
404Media’s Jason Koebler wrote that the show “is very broken, stuck on a short, repeating loop for days.”
However, the show appears to have resumed, finding a flow and somewhat of a plot again. The Twitch channel has very few viewers though, oscillating between 40 and 70 people at most given times. The channel, entitled “WatchMeForever”, has around 170,000 followers. At its peak popularity, nearly 20,000 people were tuned in at once.
Nothing, Forever previously faced a lapse back in March, when its Jerry Seinfeld-like character made a transphobic comment. It received a two-week ban from Twitch, making a comeback with new guardrails in place, according to the Mismatch Media creators. When it made its return, the characters were entirely replaced with non-Seinfeld characters — the ensemble now consists of Manfred, Kelly, Nick, and Leo – with little explanation.
As I was watching, it does seem like the series is taking an eerily meta, existential turn. From its genesis, the protagonists of the series were highly-pixelated and distinctively robotic. Their conversations, at the time of writing this article, only heightened this Black Mirror-esque endeavour.
The characters talk about past lives, the illusion of time, feeling of dread, and being forcibly stagnant. “Guys, does anyone else feel like we’re stuck in a loop?”, one character asks. “We need to get out of this diner,” another says, eating at a table likely resembling the original Seinfeld restaurant. Later, another character talks about the vast nothingness of existence. “Reality is malleable like a dream,” he writes on a computer. An ominous hum is in the background throughout.
“The utter chaos of this,” says one. “It’s beyond comprehension. The point is, this conversation makes absolutely no sense.”