Accessory maker Elecom has announced what its claiming to be the first consumer-ready power bank that uses a sodium-ion battery instead of a lithium-ion one, as spotted by Notebookcheck. In addition to being more environmentally friendly to manufacture, the 9,000mAh Na Plus can be used in extreme temperatures with less risk of overheating, and has Elecom claims a lifespan of almost 5,000 charges. Even if youre recharging it every single day, after 13 years it should still be providing power.Sodium-ion battery technology is new compared to lithium-ion tech, and production capacities havent reached the level of lithium-ion batteries. So while a little deal-hunting can get you a basic 10,000mAh lithium-ion power bank from companies like Anker for less than $20, the Na Plus is debuting in Japan (in black and light gray color options) for 9,980 yen, or around $67. Elecom hasnt yet announced a wider rollout.The Elecom Na Plus offers basic power bank functionality with a single USB-C and USB-A port. Image: ElecomPower output maxes out at 45W through a single USB-C port, or 18W through the Na Plus lone USB-A port. A series of LEDs can be used to determine the power banks remaining power level, and it takes about two hours to fully charge it.Performance-wise, the Na Plus definitely isnt the most capable portable charger you can buy. Whats inside is whats most exciting. Although lithium-ion technology has dominated batteries since the early 90s, lithium isnt an unlimited resource, and mining it (as well as other metals used in batteries like cobalt and nickel) involves energy-intensive processes that can pollute local ecosystems.Sodium-ion batteries like the name might suggest function similarly to lithium-ion ones, but with sodium instead of lithium. Sodium is more abundantly available and much easier to produce. Sodium-ion batteries are also safer to use. Elecom says the Na Plus can operate in temperatures ranging from around -30 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and is at less risk of fires caused by overheating and thermal runaway.The price tag on this technology might drop in the future as the supply chain expands and production increases. But doing those things likely wont solve this other drawback: sodium-ion batteries are simply bigger all around. These batteries have a lower energy density compared to lithium-based batteries, meaning they have to be larger and heavier to store an equivalent amount of energy. Case in point: that 10,000mAh lithium battery from Anker weighs around 213 grams, while the 9,000mAh Na Plus is 350 grams and much bulkier.Sodium-ion batteries might be better suited for applications where size isnt the primary concern, such as storage systems for renewable energy sources, backup power supplies, or powering vehicles like cargo ships. The Na Plus might be bulky and expensive, but its still exciting to see this technology finally reach consumers.See More:

AliExpress has dropped the price of the professional-grade Xbox Series X Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller to only $74.42 shipped after you apply coupon code "IFP3TXY" in cart. That's a huge price drop from its normal $140 list price and nearly the same cost as a standard Xbox controller. Note that this is a Hong Kong or Japanese import model in new retail packaging, but you won't find it cheaper anywhere else. AliExpress also offers a 90-day return policy on this item.Xbox Elite Core Wireless Controller for $74.42Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Gaming ControllerThe Xbox Elite Series 2 Core wireless controller is physically the same controller as the older generation Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, which retails for a much higher $180. That means that the Core controller retains all the integrated pro gaming features like adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks. It's a much superior option to the standard Xbox Core controller that the current gen consoles come with.Aside from the color scheme, the onlyare compatible with the Elite Series 2 Core, and you can buy them separately as a component pack for $59.99.More AliExpress DealsCheck out the AliExpress US Anniversary Sale for more deals on consoles and gaming accessories.Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Gaming ControllerXbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Gaming ControllerNintendo Switch Lite Portable Gaming ConsoleNintendo Switch OLEDEcoflow River 2 240Whr LiFePO4 Portable Power StationArzopa S1 15.6'' FHD USB Portable MonitorArzopa Z1FC 16.1" FHD 144Hz USB Portable MonitorLEGO Transformers Bumblebee 10338Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling HeadphonesSony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition ConsoleRGB Gaming ChairWhy Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

With Netflix and many other streaming services consistently raising prices multiple times each year, it's a real challenge for many to subscribe to multiple services at a time. Some streaming services have exclusive TV shows or movies, while others are targeted toward one medium, like anime or sports. If you're looking for a streaming service that won't break the bank, Sling Freestream is is an excellent option. The best part? It's completely free, with no credit card required.What is Sling Freestream?Sling Freestream is the free alternative to the paid Sling TV. This service includes instant access to over 600 free live TV channels and over 40,000 various on-demand TV shows and movies. You can access news channels like FOX, CBS, and ABC, or watch movies from AMC and numerous others. Naturally, Sling Freestream has quite a few ads due to its free nature, but that is to be expected with this service. There is support for most devices out there, including iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, numerous TV app stores, and any web browser. It's one of the best free streaming services you can find online in 2025.How to Sign Up for Sling FreestreamSling TV FreestreamSee it at Sling TVSince this is a free service, Sling does not require you to make an account to access Sling Freestream. You simply just need to head over to the official website or app to stream content for free. However, if you'd like to enable things like user profiles or parental controls, you will need to register for a free account.What Channels Does Sling Freestream Include?Signing up for Sling Freestream instantly grants you access to over 600 various live channels and 40,000 different movies and TV shows. For news, you have major 24/7 channels like FOX, ABC, CBS, FSTV, and even local networks from cities like Los Angeles. This can be great if you're away from home and wanting to catch up on world events from your laptop or phone. You will also find a wide variety of live crime channels with popular shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NCIS, Blue Bloods, and many more. These channels run every hour, so you can catch numerous episodes for free with Sling Freestream. Some of the most popular on-demand movies and TV shows include American Dad, Chicago P.D., The Contract, and Point Break. These can be accessed at any time, but do be aware that many of these series are only available with a few seasons. Since Sling Freestream is a free streaming service, there are very few shows that are available to watch in their entirety.If you're wishing for more, you can actually add on channels inside Sling Freestream through the Streaming Hub, where subscription services like Discovery+, Cinemax, AMC+, and Max can be added into your Freestream account.Does Sling Freestream Have Live Sports?No, Sling Freestream does have live sports. There is a selection of sports content that you can watch, but many of these premieres are replays of past events. As of now, there are no re-runs or content of major sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, or even college sports with the NCAA.You can sign up for a paid Sling TV subscription to get access to some live sports or try a free trial of Hulu + Live TV or Fubo to get access to more live sports channels without having to pay at first.

There are so many ways to score easy-on-the-wallet home decor pieces these days, from big box stores to thrifting quests. But when something is free? That's almost always too good to pass up. Whether we call it "curb shopping" or "stooping," many of us are no strangers to driving along, spotting a potential treasure on the side of the road, and pulling over to pick it up. And that practice has been gaining even more steam due to current trends. According to the American Society of Interior Designers' 2025 ASID Trends Outlook Report, vintage pieces and unique finds are having a major momentand those are two things you might be lucky enough to spot on a curb. People also love the eco-friendly aspect of going secondhandthat when you pick up an item, it's being reused and recycled instead of tossed into a landfill. "Curbside treasures tell a story and offer a great way to embrace sustainability in design," says Kerrie Kelly, CEO and Creative Director of Kerrie Kelly Studio. She's been known to pull over for barn boards and transform them into farmhouse-inspired outdoor signs, like the one below. Kerrie KellyVictoria Meadows, Principal and Lead Designer at Victoria Meadows Interiors, lives on a condo-lined cul-de-sac in South Florida that, she says, is "secretly a vintage collector's paradise." There are new finds every week on the curb, thanks to snowbirds moving in and out or changing up old furnishings. As a result, her home is outfitted in several curbside finds. Related StoriesMeadows is particularly drawn to rattan, saying that she scored the set of six vintage rattan dining chairs shown here and she also rescued a rattan accent chair and revived it to create a reading nook in her guest room. Another time, an abandoned gold etagere was practically "begging her to take it in and give it new life," and now it serves as a spot for her vintage record player and knickknacks. Eve Greendale PhotographyJoanne Palmisano, interior designer and author of Salvage Secrets Design & Decor, also has had incredible luck when it comes to snatching up curbside finds, and weaves them into her designs. For instance, she turned a timeworn table into a kitchen island, another find into a spray-painted-pink outdoor table, and a pair of doors into an oversized ottoman. She frequently sees the possibilities in items that others may overlook. Joanne PalmisanoJoanne PalmisanoIn fact, designers say that's the secret to curbside findsenvisioning whats possible And that's what these five designers have been known to do on a regular basis. Here, they share their advice on how to tell actual trash from potential treasure.Brake for Something UniqueKsenya Malina Ksenya Malina of New York interior design studio Time & Place Interiors says that a side-of-the-road treasure is one of the biggest thrills for a designer. "It's like retail therapy without the price tag. And it always makes for a great story," she says. "People often throw out great things they don't want to have to deal withmaybe it's too heavy to donate, or they don't have the time to find someone to pick it up." Malina shares that for example, she's outfitted a galley kitchen with a curbside vintage pendant lightall she had to do was add a new glass orb. "Whether it's a unique piece of furniture with great bones or a casegood that can be repurposed, roadside finds can add character and sustainability to a home," she says.And Claire Zinnecker, Founder and Creative Director of Claire Zinnecker Design, who has a curbside dresser in her guest room, shares a common viewpoint when it comes to picking up stuff: "One persons trash is another's treasure. All it takes is some imagination."Get Hands-On for Quality ControlWhen you do spy a possible curbside score, Malina recommends giving the item a "gentle shake for sturdiness." If you're after noteworthy brands, she advises, "open dresser drawers to check for markings. Look on the underside of tables and chairs. And turn over lamps, dishes, or glassware for signatures."You also might be able to get a sense of the quality just from where the item has been located. As Palmisano says, if the curbside piece is next to a cool, old house, or if the neighborhood is generally known for being old-school, "there may be some good finds."In general, even if something doesn't carry a label, Kelly is always on the lookout for solid construction: real wood instead of particle board, sturdy frames, and unique details that make a piece worth restoring. Avoid UpholsteryHow do you decide if a curbside piece is safe to take home? First, Malina suggests checking for any creepy-crawlies roaming in drawers or for any rotting in crevices. Kelly says that a quick inspection for mold or general structural damage is key. And of course, if the piece has a strong odor, deep water damage, or is beyond repair, keep driving.Upholstered pieces aren't usually all that safe to bring home. "Im not a fan of upholstered pieces," Palmisano says. "First, you don't know how long they have been outside. Second, you just don't know if pets have been sitting on them, or if they are filled with other critters. If I see a cool tablecloth or linen piece, then I know I can wash thatbut anything larger with upholstery on it I steer away from."Consider the Time and Money You'll Invest in a Refurb"If a large, cumbersome piece requires extensive refurbishment, think twice before taking on the chore or the expense of making it usable again," Malina says. "Custom upholstery and furniture restoration are pricey services."Make Sure It's Yours for the TakingNot sure if an item is resting on the curb while its owner carries something else insideor waiting to be picked up by the garbage truck or claimed by a new owner? Malina says that if an item is sitting suspiciously close to the home, or there's a moving truck nearby, definitely ring the doorbell to find the former owner, or approach a mover and ask before spiriting it away. But if the items are next to trash bins or accessorized with a "free" sign, then Palmisano says that they're fair game. Make a Curbside Find Your OwnIf you've determined that a curbside find is pest-free, clean, and able to be repaired, then you can start dreaming up ways to refresh and style it. For instance, if you stop for artwork and it's in good condition, Meadows notes that you can always change out the frame to match your decor style. And although she's been searching high and low for a large glass coffee table, she got clever with a full-height glass dining table and cut off the wooden legs to create a perfectly-sized coffee table.Some pieces simply need a little love. Malina recommends oiling down wood furniture with a light conditioner to give it a fresh feel, and polishing up brass accents. You can even add a new shade to a lamp base or install new hardware on a cabinet. Painting is always an option, too. For Palmisano, she prefers to refinish a wood table to its "natural glory," but if it's metal, she gets out the paint. Zinnecker points out that painting is a fairly "low lift and big impact DIY."And she's not afraid to experiment. As she says, "if I didn't spend money buying a piece, it makes it easier for me to experiment to make it my aesthetic without worrying if the refurbishing project isn't a success, which happens sometimes!" Overall, the designers agree that, as long as the piece isn't upholstered, and hasn't seen (much better) days, according to designers, a curbside find is (almost) always a good idea. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

After introducing for Android in September, YouTube Musics AI-powered Ask Music radio generator is now available on the iPhone and iPad.Once rolled out, youll see an Ask for music shelf in the Home tab. Its pretty close to the top of the main feed. Theres a carousel of 10 suggested prompts, with a tap automatically making a custom radio station.Theres also the Ask any way you like field with a voice input shortcut to enter your own prompt that describes a mood, activity, or listening experience. YouTubes examples are on the shorter side, with longer ones also working.After entering, YouTube Music takes a few seconds to create the AI radio, with the existing station card leveraged. Youll see the first three songs, with autoplay enabled and Add to library letting you save it.YTM also generates a short (fun) description. This joins the existing Music Tuner experience that has you pick artists and specify: Artist variety, Music discovery, and Filters. You can access this from the Library tab > New FAB (floating action button) > Radio.Ask Music requires a YouTube Music or Music Premium subscription. As of December, its available in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Google teased more countries and iOS support, which has just gone live (version 8.10+).More on YouTube Music:Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Google experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The internet choices in Columbus can leave you a bit wowwed, but our broadband experts have gathered the best, the fastest and the cheapest ISPs to help you get connected.

Who is sending those scammy text messages about unpaid tolls?The latest smishing scam follows a familiar process as ones the industry has seen over the past decade.ByMatt KapkoMarch 17, 2025Listen to this article0:00Learn more. This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. A picture of a toll booth in New Jersey. Scammers have been sending text messages about unpaid toll violations. (Getty Images)html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Its not just you.Seemingly everyone is getting those text messages that serve as a notification of an unpaid toll road violation. The past due is usually less than $25, but is often paired with threats of excessive penalties, suspended vehicle registrations and threats to report the fare to state motor vehicle agencies.None of it is legitimate. What is actually occurring is a wide-ranging scam, circulating nationwide on mobile phones, that attempts to trick people into paying the phantom violations. Federal authorities, including the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, are tracking and investigating the scam, noting the social engineering attacks are increasing in frequency and geographic reach.The framework for the scam isnt particularly novel: The FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center has fielded complaints about fake road toll collection text messages since March 2024. But the inclusion of toll road violations is a new thematic spin to a wave of attacks known as smishing phishing over SMS or text messages similar to scam campaigns related to missed package deliveries, threat researchers told CyberScoop.AdvertisementScammers know text messages are among the most personal and time-sensitive forms of communication. Combined with the small amounts of money requested in these messages, the scam hits a sweet spot where cybercriminals get the information they are truly after.They dont care about the seven bucks. They want your credit card number, said Aidan Holland, security researcher at Censys. Its just a low-dollar amount that most people will either pay without thinking or not give it a double take.Threat researchers attribute the unpaid toll scam to familiar cybercriminals, with the infrastructure and phishing kits originating from China.Its the same folks who are doing all sorts of text-based scams, said Rene Burton, VP of threat intelligence at Infoblox.An example of a toll road scam text message. (Scoop News Group)AdvertisementThe scams keep spreading in part because the malicious actors are using tens of thousands of URLs and consistently registering new domains.The malicious sites linked to these attacks often include some variant of a legitimate toll road collection subdomain, but end with uncommon top-level domains that are more commonly associated with cybercrime.Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 said the top subdomains embedded in these URLs include: ezdrive, e-zpass, fastrak, thetollroad, txtag, paturnpike, ohioturnpike, sunpass, bayareafastrak, among others.Legitimate toll road collection domains are inconsistent, a key factor contributing to the success of this campaign, according to Holland.Theres just so many different variants, he said. It leaves room for confusion, and that room for confusion is being taken advantage of.AdvertisementHolland discovered up to 57,000 malicious URLs earlier this month that were directly associated with the scam.Unit 42 last week said it found more than 10,000 registered domains for various smishing services posing as toll services for U.S. states and package delivery services. More than two-thirds of these domains use the same two-name servers and resolve to IP addresses from popular hosting providers, according to Unit 42.While the phishing sites mostly resolve to servers in the United States, Singapore and Japan, almost all of them were hosted on networks owned by China-based firms Tencent and Alibaba, Holland said.Researchers efforts to take these domains offline are ongoing, yet gaining the upper hand against this cybercrime group is unwieldy.If we get a thousand domains taken down, they can register 40,000 tomorrow, Burton said. That amount of domains they have tells you that they are making money off it.AdvertisementMost of the malicious texts Holland observed were delivered via iMessage from email accounts registered to burner phones running SIM cards with numbers based in the United Kingdom and the Philippines. He suspects cybercriminals are deploying this tactic because emails are cheaper than phone numbers, even those originating from countries with inexpensive disposable SIM cards.The campaign is not exclusive to Apple devices, however. Holland also observed toll road text scams on Android-based phones.Cybercriminals are also deploying tactics to try to circumvent wireless network-based spam controls. While wireless carriers can view regular text messages that pass through their network infrastructure filters, messages sent via platforms like iMessage and the industry-standard rich communication services (RCS) protocol are transmitted over the internet and outside their direct purview.As bad actors evolve their tactics from targeting traditional text platforms to focusing more on over-the-top internet-based platforms like iMessage and RCS, wireless providers, others in the messaging ecosystem and law enforcement need to partner to combat these tactics, said a spokesperson for CTIA, the U.S.-based wireless industry association.Federal authorities previously said this toll road text scam is moving from state to state. Earlier this month, researchers said they observed malicious activity in at least a dozen states and one Canadian province.AdvertisementThe FBI, FCC and FTC advise users who receive these text messages to exercise caution, not click links in unexpected texts, file complaints and delete the messages. Users are also encouraged to report unwanted texts as spam, block the number and forward the message to 7726 or SPAM to report them to their wireless provider.Whether its toll roads, package notifications, or other rudimentary notes tied to everyday life, these scams continue to pop up because social engineering attacks work. Yet, the way to avoid them, no matter the subject, is to practice vigilance and treat messages from unknown or unconfirmed senders with skepticism.These scams are somewhat easy to spot as fraud if youre paying attention, said Chester Wisniewski, director and global field chief technology officer at Sophos. Remain vigilant for non-U.S. country codes and look for unusual top-level domains which are often a tell for suspicious activity.

Image: Nintendo Life / Damien McFerranIt's a new week and that means a new update for the Switch Online Nintendo Music mobile application.This time Nintendo has added not one but three - yes, three - soundtracks to the service. This includes the Game Boy hit Tetris, its NES counterpart, and the NES version of Dr. Mario. Dr. Mario for Game Boy is already available service.Here's the rundown of each album including the amount of tracks and runtime:Tetris (Game Boy)18 tracks, 10 minutesSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube799kWatch on YouTube Title ScreenA-Type (Early Version)A-TypeB-TypeC-Type25 Lines ClearedEnding: High 0Ending: High 1Ending: High 2Ending: High 3Ending: High 4Ending: High 5Rocket LaunchGame OverName Entry2 Player: Danger2 Player: Intermission2 Player: Final ResultsTetris (NES)9 tracks, 9 minutesMusic-1Music-1: DangerMusic-2Music-2: DangerMusic-3Music-3: Danger25 Lines ClearedEndingName EntryDr. Mario (NES)10 tracks, 16 minutesTitle ScreenSelection ScreenFeverFever ClearChillChill ClearGame Over Vs. Game OverLevel 20 Low Clear & EndingLevel 20 Hi Clear (UFO) & EndingThe latest albums to join Nintendo Music follow the addition of the Super Mario Bros. 3 soundtrack last week. You can find out more about this album in our previous story.If you are keen for some Tetris and Dr. Mario action on the Switch, you can play these games on the Switch Online retro service. Late last year, Nintendo also added Tetris (NES) and Tetris DX (Game Boy Color). And a special message from Alexey PajitnovA mobile music app exclusive to Switch Online membersWhat do you think of the latest soundtrack to join the Nintendo Music library? What else would you like to see added? Tell us in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesPoll: Box Art Brawl: Mario's PicrossTicking a lot of boxesClassic Super Mario Soundtrack Joins Nintendo's Music App For MAR10 DayBop to the beatReview: Donkey Kong (GB) - One Of The Game Boy's Very BestIt's on with the King of the KongsEvery Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy (Color) Game RankedAll the GB and GBC games, ranked by you

The world is bad sometimes, but it feels even worse if you cant stop staring into the all-consuming abyss that is the 6-inch screen of a smartphone, following you through space and time. It taunts you with its compact, light build thats small enough to slip into your pocket and take anywhere, and its siren call is so strong that for some reason, we cannot sleep without our phone on our nightstands.As we weather the horrors around us, it may occur to you that you would feel calmer and more attentive and balanced if you did not pick up your phone dozens of times a day to doomscroll. Its messing with our brains to intersperse our day with glimpses into the most extreme, engagement-baiting TikToks, only to flip over to X or Bluesky and see crushing news headlines.Like any bad habit, doomscrolling is hard to kick. But its not hopeless. So how do you stop doomscrolling? We have some ideas about how you can set yourself up for success.Understand that this isnt your faultFirst of all, you arent the problem. The problem is that our lives have become deeply intertwined with tech companies that are looking to capture as much of our time as possible. If I use my Apple Watch to track a workout, I end up seeing text messages crop up while Im trying to catch my breath after running up a steep hill. If I go on Spotify to listen to a specific album, I open the app and immediately see recommendations for podcasts and audiobooks that Im not typically interested in. Or if I download Snapchat solely for a group chat where my friends send pictures of their pets, then each pet picture comes with some advertisement, extraneous push notification, or AR marketing filter that I didnt sign up for. Its no wonder that our phones make us feel crazy.I dont believe that Mark Zuckerberg is sitting in his lair probably within his metaverse dreaming up ways to personally make my life worse. But it is the inherent nature of consumer tech companies that our attention is what keeps them afloat, and the more we pay attention to them, the happier their investors are, and the stock prices rise, and so on. Even with the knowledge of how these companies operate, its still difficult to break our bad habits. I will still open my Instagram account to see what my friend sent me, only to regain my consciousness 10 minutes later after Ive watched dozens of Reels.Set up screen time limits, and take them seriouslyFor the first several years after Apple introduced the Screen Time feature on iPhones, I chose deliberately not to turn it on I was afraid of what I might learn about myself. But that fear in itself told me that I have a problem. Knowledge is power, and if we know which apps are sucking up most of our time, then we can curb how much time we spend on them.Heres how to set screen time limits for specific apps on iOS:Open the Settings app.Scroll down to Screen Time, which is denoted with an hourglass icon.Here, you can see your daily average screen time and set guardrails for yourself to hopefully lower that average.Under Limit Usage, there are a few different ways you can reduce your screen time: downtime and app limits.Downtime sets a schedule of when you can use certain apps. Maybe you set downtime for the hours you usually sleep, or maybe you create a more customizable day-to-day schedule. If you find yourself going on Instagram during class too much, maybe thats a time to set a limit.Rather than choosing which apps to limit during downtime, you set which apps you want to always allow, which is also accessible under the Limit Usage menu. If you have friends and family abroad, for example, you probably want to make sure that you can always access WhatsApp. Or, if youre like me and sometimes need audiobooks to fall asleep, then maybe youll allow unlimited Libby access.App Limits is where you can set how much time you want to spend on certain apps per day. You could set individual limits for specific apps, or maybe you lump a category of apps together (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, X, etc.) and set an overall time limit for those apps.Apples built-in Screen Time tools are effective, but theyre a bit easy to circumvent; if youre watching a great TikTok and suddenly get a pop-up that your time is up, you can just tap a button to give yourself another 15 minutes and then do the same thing after another 15 minutes go by.Some people opt to use third-party apps to motivate them to reduce their screen time, which can address potential pitfalls of Apples existing functionality.Here are some apps that are designed to limit your screen time:ScreenZen, available on iOS and Android, lets you create pop-ups that appear before you open certain apps. So, before you open Instagram, for example, you may see a 10-second pop-up that reads, Is this important? You can also have the app prompt you to take deep breaths before opening apps, and it gamifies your success at remaining under time limits. My friend is currently working with a 144-day streak, which they refuse to sacrifice for one quick jolt of ill-timed dopamine.Opal, available on iOS, Android, and the web, focuses more specifically on boosting productivity at work or at school. The app is more customizable in limiting screen time than Apples built-in features. You can focus not just on times, but also on how often you open an app (e.g., maybe you only want to open the Instagram app three times a day).Roots, available on iOS, doesnt just focus on how much time youre spending on your phone, but also on the quality of that time. Some users especially love the apps Monk Mode, which can be activated to make it impossible to bypass any of its app limits even if you go as far as deleting the app. But if youve been really diligent with your limits, you can unlock cheat days.Touch Grass, available on iOS, does what its name suggests: It makes you touch grass. In order to use certain blocked apps, you have to literally go outside and take a photo of grass. No, house plants wont work. If you want to avoid going outside, you can buy a skip for a price you set, as low as 99 cents. Half of the proceeds from skips go to support rewilding efforts.We rounded up some physical devices that can help you stop looking at screens too much, as well.So, youve opened TikTok and your screen time limits have denied you access, but now you dont know what to do. Maybe youre standing in line at the coffee shop and need a distraction. And sure, in an ideal world, we could simply be bored without spontaneously combusting, but this isnt an ideal world.Here are some other things you can do on your phone that do not involve social media:Read a book. No, really. On apps like iBooks and Kindle, you can change your settings so that you scroll to read a book, instead of flipping page by page. Youre literally scrolling, but instead, maybe youll learn something.Dont want to buy books? You dont have to! Libby connects with your library card to let you access e-books and audiobooks from your phone.Dont know what to read? Im so sorry, but you might have to go figure it out on BookTok.Play games. Sure, games can be addicting, too, but at least games wont inform you that the world has imploded in a new, unexpected way. Every app copies every other app, but in the case of bite-sized, once-per-day games, this is a good thing.The New York Times Games app will let you play quick games like Wordle, Strands, and the Mini Crossword, even if you arent a subscriber. But the Gray Ladys games have been so successful that other apps are taking the bait.Hear me out. The games on LinkedIn are actually really fun. Sure, you may get jump-scared by a post from your old, bad boss, but Tango in particular is worth the risk.

If youve ever spent way too long scrolling through endless feeds about nothing, you may have been advised to touch grass. Its a tongue-in-cheek suggestion, basically telling you to log off and go outside. But one developer took the concept to the next level.Rhys Kentish launched an iOS app last week called Touch Grass, which locks distracting apps until you literally walk outside and take a photo of grass.Image Credits:Touch Grass (opens in a new window)I struggled with my screen time and worked out that Id spend seven years of my life looking down at my phone if I didnt change something, Kentish told TechCrunch. I wanted more friction than other solutions out there, something to get me out of the house in the morning. I wanted to break the habit of reaching for my phone in the morning and doomscrolling for an hour or two before starting my day.Dont even try cheating; using a computer vision AI, the app can distinguish between house plants and actual outdoor grass. So, after the app rejected a photo of my Monstera plant, I went outside and found the nearest green thing: a bush. I would argue that a bush is grass-adjacent, but the Touch Grass app is hellbent on making you touch actual grass, so the bush was not sufficient.I had a brief moment of panic, looking around my urban street, where Im surrounded by concrete and brick on all sides. There are plenty of trees a rarity in the middle of a city but like a bush, a tree is not grass. I had to cross the street to find a patch of grass in front of a neighbors house, and only then was I granted access to open TikTok on my phone.For Kentish, who works full time as an app developer at an agency, this level of friction is the point. Peoples reactions to it have been, Haha, thats a funny concept, but now for some people its, Haha, thats a funny concept, but this is actually helping me, he said.The humor in the app is contingent on how serious it is about really making you go outside. But at the same time, Kentish doesnt want users to touch grass after dark, when it may not be as safe to do so. The app asks to see a users location (which can be granted as a one-time permission) so that it knows when the sun sets in the area. Then, users can customize their settings to navigate how blocks will work when going outside and touching grass isnt feasible.This is bush erasure.Image Credits:Touch GrassThe freemium app gives all users the ability to lock two apps, which can only be unlocked by touching grass but you can enable a feature that makes you pay what you want to open an app. No matter what you pay, half of the cost will be donated to rewilding efforts in the U.K., Kentish says. If you want to lock more than just two apps, you can sign up for $5.99 per month or $49.99 per year.The concept of paid unlocks has been in the apps DNA since before Kentish came up with the touching grass concept. About a year and a half ago, Kentish posted a video on TikTok about an app he designed for himself, which transferred money from his checking account to his savings every time he opened TikTok. But the idea of touching grass is a bit more palatable and funny than something that requires you to link your bank account.Since its launch on Friday, the app has been downloaded about 50,000 times. As an independent developer, Kentish is running the app on his own, but he said he isnt opposed to interest from investors. The funding could help him develop an Android app and market the app beyond his own social media accounts.