• LIFEHACKER.COM
    These Are the Best Gifts for Teens, According to TikTok
    We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Teens are uniquely terrifying creatures. They are simultaneously confused and cool: As they struggle to figure out who they are as individuals, they have no problem identifying the finer points of popular culture. Simply put, they know whats cool long before we do. If you have to shop for one this holiday season, heres a guide for what is on trend in their world, which takes place, at least partially, on TikTok.Gifts for a teenager's bedroomA teens room is a sanctuary. They dont have their own home, but they do have their own space, and that space is very important to them. Here are the things they want for that sacred spot:Desk vacuums remain very popular this year. This mini vacuum from Odistar ($12.98) will pick up whatever crumbs a teen is producing at the workspace where they spend so much of their time.This year, teens are interested in a specific brand of speaker: Turtlebox. It is $399.99, so quite spendy, but it's also extremely popular and could be a hit if you're willing. If your teen is less interested in brands than quality, here's the Lifehacker roundup of the best bluetooth speakers on the market right now at a variety of price points. Turtlebox Gen 2: Loud! $399.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $399.00 at Amazon LED strip lights have been big for a while now, but theyre holding on in terms of trendiness even after a few years. If you get some for a teen, make sure to get ones that sync up to a smartphone for easy color-changing, like this 100-foot set from Ksipze ($11.99).Search TikTok for birthdate candle and try to convince yourself teens dont love these things. You cant convince yourself of that, so it looks like youre about to drop $48.99 on a candle with their birthday written on the side.Watching movies is a well-established teen pastime. Watching them blown up huge on the wall is a newer twist that this generation is especially keen on. This AuKing projector ($67.99) is going to be a hit.New to the list this year is the Jellycat. What is a Jellycat? It's a brand of plushies. To be clear, Squishmallows aren't fully out, but Jellycats are in, so if you're looking to get your teen a stuffed animal (which they genuinely like, I promise) start here. Prices vary.Gifts for a teenager's wellbeingEveryone needs self-care, including teens who are just a few years into the lifelong compulsion to look presentable out in the world. Help them achieve thator just some plain old relaxationwith these gifts.Brazilian Bum Bum Cream from Sol de Janeiro has gotten more and more coveted over the years and now dominates social media. It smells amazing, absorbs fast, is a celeb favorite, and claims to firm up the skin. On TikTok, influencers discuss the benefits of layering it under certain perfumes to achieve out-of-this-world scents. As a Sol de Janeiro fan myself, I recommend the brand's own extremely popular body sprays. Get 2.5 ounces for $24.Any teen who is into makeup wants lip oil, same as last year. Lip oil is having a major moment and one can simply never have enough of it. Not only is it glossy, its hydrating. Trust and believe this is a good gift, whether you go for the well-rated NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip ($9) or the ever-coveted Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil ($40).I own a number of the Dior ones and can vouch that they're glossy, smooth, and long-lasting. If you're not sure which colors your teen has or wants, play it safe and go with clear. Similarly, lip balm is very big right now, but Chapstick isn't going to cut it. If you're shopping for a teen who is into makeup and/or self care, learn two brand names: Summer Fridays and Rhode. The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is $24 and often hard to find. You may have to visit multiple Sephora locations or settle for whichever color isn't sold out on the website. Rhode Peptide Lip Tints and Peptide Lip Treatments are $18 each, but the real draw is a special phone case that protects the teen's iPhone and has a molded holder for the lip product on the back. That's $38. (It's very likely the teen already has this, so check first, but if they don't, this one is an easy win. Just make sure to buy a lip treatment or balm with it.) Its hard to explain, but Stanley cupsthe kind of insulated, massive-capacity mug you associate with truckersare still very popular with teens. They come in all kinds of colors. Get a 40-ounce Stanley for $45 (which is a lot less than they were going for last year). Stanley's reign is ongoing, yes, but there are some contenders sneaking up and threatening to usurp the mug giant. Namely, Owala FreeSip tumblers are really popping off lately. Personally, mine is green and pink, but the variety of color combos on the market means you'll be able to get something truly eye-catching for your teen. They're cheaper and more spill-proof than a Stanley, too, making them the better gift, in my opinion. Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle $27.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $27.99 at Amazon Shopping for a fashionable and/or athletic girl? Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag ($48). Done.Be careful with other athleisure. Leggings are out and flared pants are in, for instance, but getting the right ones requires knowing the teen's exact height and preferences. Some, especially athletes, still want leggings. Best to give a Lululemon or Alo gift card if you're not sure. Other random gifts for teensSome gifts fall outside the parameters of home goods and self-care. These are still crucial for teens, who require many trinkets and knickknacks.Still holding strong at the top of teens' wishlists this year is the Fujifilm Instax. The instant camera produces a physical photo they can display, usually in that all-important bedroom. A kit with 40 photo papers and a carrying case, as well as the camera itself, is $139.95. Were getting a little meta here because while all these gifts are popular on social media, this one is for social media: The TikTok remote control ring ($19.99) offers the ability for hands-free scrolling as well as the ability to film from far away. Its a cooler version of the old millennial favorite, the selfie stick.Prices are accurate as of publication, but are always subject to change.
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    Fake parcel delivery texts are the fastest-growing phishing scam this holiday season heres how to avoid them
    Fake text message alerts claiming to be from legitimate courier services are the fastest-growing scam this holiday season here's how to avoid them.
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    Popular Microsoft Office rival targets billion user milestone as it brings together office software, PDF editing, and cloud storage
    MobiSystems rebrands OfficeSuite to MobiOffice, unifying productivity tools like MobiDocs and MobiPDF.
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  • WWW.FASTCOMPANY.COM
    3 new Mac menu bar shortcuts will make you even more productive in 2025
    Anyone using a Mac in the workplace knows its a productivity powerhouse. Not only do Macs run business staples like Microsoft Office and Googles suite of online software but, thanks to Apple Silicon chips, modern Macs are absolute workhorses capable of driving advanced design, media creation, and scientific apps with ease.But a Mac is more than just the apps it runs when it comes to productivity. The operating system that powers the Mac, macOS, is packed with little productivity features throughout. Some of my favorites, which users often overlook, are found in the Mac menu barthat srtip that runs along the top of the screen and lets you access both individual app commands (such as File>Save) and shortcuts to system-wide tools.Here are the three menu bar shortcuts I find most invaluable during the workday.Passwords on the menu barIn September, with the release of macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, Apple introduced the new Passwords app. Passwords is a password manager that allows you to organize and sync your passwords across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and PC. And if you use multifactor authentication (MFA) for your online accounts, Passwords is where you can find the six-digit codes you need to enter whenever you log into an account.Passwords is nearly identical on the Mac and iPhone, but, the macOS version of the app has a hidden feature that the iOS version does not: a Passwords menu bar shortcut. Click on the key icon in the menu bar, and verify with your fingerprint or password in the small drop-down menu that appears. Youll then have access to a quick searchable database of all your passwords and verification codes, no matter which app you are currently working in.Clicking on any password entry in the menu will display all its details, including the username, password, and verification codes associated with the account. You can copy any of those items to your clipboard for pasting into other fields. I use the Passwords menu bar shortcut to quickly copy and paste my VPNs MFA code when the app requests it.Apple hides the Passwords menu bar shortcut by default. You can turn it on by opening the Passwords app, selecting Passwords>Settings from the menu bar, and checking the Show Passwords in Menu Bar box in the settings window.FocusFocus is the name of a feature on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch that lets you quickly silence distractions or receive notifications from only those you want to hear from. It is a great way to use your iPhone as both a dedicated work phone and personal phone. On the Mac, Focus mode lacks some advanced iPhone features, such as customizable home screen layouts based on the Focus you select. However, it is still beneficial for silencing notifications from specific apps and people while you are working.But activating Focus mode is hidden in a Control Center menu by default on the Mac. But you can put the Focus control in the Macs menu bar so it is front and center and just a click away when you want to enter or switch into a Focus. From the menu bar, click the crescent moon icon and then select any Focus you want. My new favorite focus is called Reduce Interruptions. It uses Apple Intelligences AI to determine which notifications should be allowed to interrupt you while silencing the ones it deems unimportant.By default, the Focus menu bar shortcut is hidden from the menu bar when not in use. But you can force it to always show in the menu bar so you can easily activate a Focus mode. To get the Focus shortcut to appear in the menu bar, open the System Settings app on your Mac, click Control Center, and by the Focus icon, select Always Show in Menu Bar from the drop-down menu.Apple Intelligence-powered Siri with ChatGPT accessSiri has long been a Mac staple, but thanks to Apple Intelligence, its received a massive upgrade. Siri is now smarter than ever, and you can interact with it via text instead of speaking, making it much less awkward to use in the workplace. In macOS 15.2, out now, Siri also gains ChatGPT support.This means that Siri is now an incredibly useful productivity tooland one you can access directly from the Macs menu bar. Simply click on the Apple Intelligence Siri logo in the menu bar to activate Siri. By default, Siri will wait for your spoken query. But if you click the Talk to Siri field that appears below the menu bar, it will change to a Type to Siri text entry field. You can then silently type your query to Siri.One of the best new Apple Intelligence-powered Siri features in macOS 15 is that Siri now contains robust knowledge about Apples own products and software. So, if your boss asks you to send him that Word document as a PDF and you dont know how to convert the file format, you can just ask Siri, How do I save a document as a PDF? and Siri will give you step by step instructions right below the menu bar.To make sure the Siri shortcut is showing in your menu bar, open the System Settings app on your Mac, click Control Center, and by the Siri icon, select Show in Menu Bar from the drop-down menu.
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  • WWW.FASTCOMPANY.COM
    Image Architect Law Roach takes our career questionnaire
    As a stylist, Law Roach has helped stars like Zendaya, Celine Dion, and Anya Taylor-Joy stand out on the red carpet, dressing them in his signature mix of haute couture and vintage finds from designers such as Bob Mackie. Roach is also the author of How to Build a Fashion Icon, a guide to developing personal style. After announcing his retirement from day-to-day styling on Instagram in 2023, he launched School of Style, an educational program intended to help new stylists build a portfolio and get a foothold in the industry.Whats your best habit, and whats your worst?My best is getting lots of sleep. My worst is caving in to my cravings; when I find something I like, I want to eat it every day until Im sick of it. Right now Im obsessed with gochujang sauce.What do you do when youre creatively stuck?Ill just take a nap.Is there a businessperson you admire?Theres a photographer and stylist I admire named Wisdom Kaye.Is there a buzzword you never want to hear again?Diversity and inclusion. I wish we could get to a point where thats not even a thing because everybody is treated fairly and everybody has the same amount of equality and equity.Whats the best mistake you ever made?Retiring. When I wrote a now-infamous Instagram post, it was a way for me to take a breath. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. It gave me a chance to become happy.How do you unplug?I delete all social media off my phone.Is there a book you recommend to everyone?My book, How to Build a Fashion Icon. It teaches you that confidence can carry anything.Which advice are you glad you ignored?My first job was at a mental health facility. I wanted to quit and start my career in fashion. My grandmother told me not to because the job had healthcare benefits. Im happy I didnt listen to her.What advice would you give your younger self?Trust yourself.Did you have a career fork in the road?Working with Celine Dion put my name on a global level.Do you have a wardrobe staple?An oversize white button-down shirt. I get the cheapest brand in the biggest size off Amazon. I love being swallowed up by it. Its versatileI could wear it with a belt or with jeans or wrap it around me. I let it drop off my shoulder when I want to feel demure.Who is your style icon?Grace Jones.Whats always in your bag?Floss, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast lip balm, and a travel-size fragrance. Right now Im wearing Good Girl Gone Bad from Kilian.Do you have a favorite object in your office?A Kehinde Wiley portrait of a young Black girl.How do you exercise?Shopping. Especially in Soho.What TV show are you mid-binge on?Emily in Paris. I feel like I should be on that show.Do you have a mantra?The universe always protects and provides.What is your go-to food for fast fuel?Peanut butter M&Ms and a sip of Pepsijust enough to get that carbonation in my tummy.Is there a meal you still fantasize about?Dovetale, in London, has a sweet corn ravioli that I cant stop thinking about.What do you send to congratulate someone?White flowers. A white bouquet or a single white orchid is so chic to me.Is there a meeting you never miss?I never miss any meetings.
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  • WWW.FASTCOMPANY.COM
    5 expert hacks to ease air travel this holiday season
    Its safe to say that air travelespecially holiday air travelis back.According to online travel agencyHopper, more than 32 million people are currently scheduled to depart from U.S. airports between December 23 and New Years Daya 2.4% increase compared to this time last year. Deloitte, too, is finding that the average number of trips is rising, with 33% of Americans planning a trip that is a week or longer, versus 25% in 2023.Hopper just published a deep dive on what to expect from holiday travel this year. A few key takeaways? If you havent purchased tickets yet, get on it. Last-minute domestic airfare for Christmas is averaging $371 per round-trip ticket, up 8% from last year. Prices have risen 10% in the last five weeks, rising by $35 on average, and are set to spike as the holidays draw closer, writes Hayley Berg, lead economist and travel expert at Hopper.All that is to sayairports are going to be crowded. So Fast Company has turned to travel expertsfrom flight attendants to hotel executivesfor tips on navigating packed airports, delayed flights, and more.1. You can fast-track customsIf youre traveling internationally, customs is often the first hurdle after deplaning. During peak season, the wait at customs can be more than an hour long, says Henley Vazquez, CEO and cofounder of Fora Travel. Using the customs concierge service to expedite the process is a worthy splurge.The service is available through some luxury hotelsVazquez says both the Ritz Paris and La Reserve Paris offer the service to fast-track travelers through customs and get them to and from the airport. She recommends checking if your hotel offers the service, as it might make a room upgrade worth the money.Outside of hotels, there are companiesincluding Global Airport Concierge and Royal Airport Conciergethat offer a fast-track customs experience as part of their VIP airport offerings.[Photo: simonkr/Getty Images]2. Major airports can be closer to each other than you thinkHoppers Berg says big hub airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Dallas-Fort Worth International, and Denver International will be the busiest this holiday seasonand they had the highest disruption rates this past October. Some potentially good news: If youre scheduled to fly from a major city and your flight gets canceled, its still possible to travel from an alternate airport. If youre stuck at OHare, for example, Midway could have a flight thats on time. If youre stranded in cities like New York, Chicago, and Dallas, your ticket home may be just a train or Uber ride away, Vazquez says.2. Know what youre getting intoNigel Goode, chairman of London-based design firm PriestmanGoode, has been working with advocacy group Air4All to make air travel more convenient and less stressful for people in wheelchairs. The firms first-of-its kind airplane seat, expected to be installed in select airplanes next year, will allow customers to remain in their own wheelchairs for the entire journey. The process has taught him that its critical for travelers, not just those with mobility constraints, to plan each stage of the journey before heading to the airport. The more you find out beforehand, the less anxiety there will be on the day, Goode says.3. Essentials should be easily accessiblePaige Davis, president of AdventureWomena travel outfitter with more than 60 trips planned for 2025always flies with a small, easily accessible pouch at the top of her carry-on. In it, she packs earplugs, an eye mask, a pair of comfortable headphones, and a USB cable to keep devices charged. Ill also toss in a mini tube of lip balm and hand sanitizer, because comfort and hygiene at 30,000 feet are a must.[Photo: Getty Images]4. The airport can be a destination, tooFew know the highs and lows of plane travel better than flight attendants like Renae Grady with Alaska Airlines. Given the amount of time she spends in airports, she says shes learned to enjoy them. She suggests holiday travelers try to think about the airport as a destination on its own.Allow extra time for your trip so you can relax with a good book or noise-canceling headphones and a great playlist, she says. It can make the overall airport experience more enjoyable for everyone, travelers and airline workers alike, when passengers are more relaxed. Patience and kindness during this busy travel period can really make someones day, Grady says.Drew Richardson, president and CEO of PADI Worldwide, embraces a slower approach to holiday travel. My advice is to adopt an ABC mindset when traveling. In other words, always be chill. Part of the charm of travel can be the unexpected. Adjust your expectations situationally, be aware of your emotions in the present, and enjoy the experience, he says.5. Or you can avoid it entirelyPatrick Goddard, president of train operator Brightline, may be biased , but he believes the ease of getting on a train versus a plane is worth the trade-off in travel time.[Photo: Kohei Hara/Getty Images]Passengers get through security faster, keep their bags with them, andin the case of Brightlines in-route experiencehave charging stations at every seat and free Wi-Fi.Amtrak will have a fleet of new trains running between Washington, D.C., and Boston launching in the spring. Along with USB plugs and winged head rests, the trains will offer 25% more capacity. Theyre also quieter and faster than ever, running at up to 160 miles an hour.And if travel in general makes you queasy, staying home is always an option to save up for travel when airports will less busy. The best time to travel is during the shoulder season, AdventureWomans Davis says. The airports are less chaotic, cities breathe easier, and popular attractions arent overrun with selfie sticks. Bonus: Overbooking is your enemyAvoid filling your travel calendar to the brim, advises Fora Travels Vazquez. This can be tempting, especially if youre exploring a new destination or this is your one big trip a year. Try to set aside some time for true relaxation instead, she suggests, whether that means booking a full spa day or simply giving the alarm clock a rest. The last thing you want to do is return home on January 2 even more tired than when you left.
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  • WWW.DEZEEN.COM
    Billy Cotton adds "new-age twist" to Bridges restaurant in Manhattan
    New York-based designer Billy Cotton has blended art deco, futurist and brutalist references inside this restaurant in Lower Manhattan.For the first restaurant interior in his two-decade career, Cotton has designed Bridges as an homage to lively Parisian bistros while including plenty of "New York character".Banquettes built from cherry wood and featuring black leather cushions surround the main dining room at Bridges"The space blends art deco history with a more innovative futurist edge, creating an atmosphere with all the old school charm of so many classic Parisian and New York restaurants but with a decidedly memorable, new-age twist," said the restaurant team.Named for its Chinatown location between the entrances to the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, the French-Basque restaurant is owned by chef Sam Lawrence and operator Nicolas Mouchel, with creative direction by Josephine Stuart.The warm cherry wood pops against the white tableclothsGlass-block partitions around the entrance vestibule are influenced by the geometry of the nearby brutalist development Chatham Towers by Japanese-American architect George Shimamoto.A gap in the translucent blockwork leads to the bar, which is formed almost entirely of cherry wood and features curved edge detailing.Glass-block partitions reference the nearby brutalist Chatham TowersOpposite, a pair of booths built from the same wood variety and topped with black leather cushions are nestled against the textured concrete wall.Another glass-block partition demarcates the entrance to the 50-seat main dining area, where black leather upholstery is repeated across the banquettes that run along the walls. Here, textured, minimal wallpaper by Gracie Studios echoes the textured concrete of the front.Read: Nine design-forward restaurant interiors in New York CityPolished concrete floors throughout the space are inlaid with vibrant red tile, playing off the warm tones of the wood that pop against the white tablecloths.Bridges also includes a private dining room that seats 10 to 14 covers, with an additional 12 spots available in the bar area.The wood bar features art deco detailsThe 2,300-square-foot (214-square-metre) restaurant is illuminated by chrome light fixtures, some of which are vintage and others sourced from locally based studio Blue Green Works.These "play against the overall design schema of the space to create both a unique and cohesive dining experience" according to the team.Chrome-finished lighting fixtures include sconces by local studio Blue Green Works, which illuminate booths in the bar areaOther relative newcomers to New York City's culinary scene include San Sabino in the West Village and Cecchis in Chelsea.We recently published a round-up of nine design-forward eateries in the city, which includes Italian-influenced Cucina Alba, Korean spot Oiji Mi and fried-chicken specialist Coqodaq.The photography by Adrianna Glaviano.The post Billy Cotton adds "new-age twist" to Bridges restaurant in Manhattan appeared first on Dezeen.
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    Best Running Shoes (2024): Asics, Hoka, Nike, On Running
    We clocked thousands of test miles to bring you the best running shoes for every pace, ability, and running goal.
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    Amazon Warehouse Workers in New York City Join Protest
    The workers union hopes that adding employees at the Staten Island warehouse to a protest started by delivery drivers will increase pressure on Amazon.
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  • APPLEINSIDER.COM
    Best Buy's last-minute doorbuster deals slash Apple products to $22.99+
    Last-minute holiday deals are in effect now at Best Buy, with doorbuster pricing driving Apple products down to $22.99 and up.Last-minute holiday doorbuster deals are going on now - Image credit: Best BuyMacBooks, AirTags, Apple Watches and more are heavily discounted as Best Buy and Amazon compete for your last-minute shopping dollars. Save up to 30% on products at a variety of budget points, with prices starting at $22.99. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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