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iPhone X Looks Amazing, But It Will Cost You

September 12, 2017, 12:05 pm
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DM your friends, message the family group text, and Slack your coworkers: The new iPhones have landed. After over a year of speculation β€” the rumors about Apple's latest and greatest started churning before 2016's iPhone 7 was even released β€” we finally know what Apple's been working on behind the scenes.

All the details about three new iPhones, the latest Apple TV, and Apple Watch were revealed onstage today at an event simply named the "Apple Special Event." Part of the excitement about the announcement had to do with its location β€” CEO Tim Cook delivered his keynote onstage at the Steve Jobs Theater, a flashy presentation space at the company's shiny new headquarters, Apple Park, in Cupertino.

Cook opened today's keynote with a voiceover from Jobs and a tribute to the legendary Apple CEO whom the theater is named after. After touching on the company's transition to Apple Park and some retail store updates, the keynote turned to what you're really here for β€” the products.

Photo: Courtesy of Apple.

iPhone X

iPhone X is the real standout from today's announcement. Many of the rumored new iPhone features appear here: There's an edge-to-edge Super Retina display (farewell, home button), facial recognition for unlocking the phone (Apple calls this Face ID), and brand new cameras.

Without the home button, you'll simply swipe up to access the home screen. Face ID involves something that Apple calls the TrueDepth camera system, which is located at the top of the phone and contains the infrared camera used to identify your face. You'll also be able to use Face ID when checking out with Apple Pay.

Facial recognition technology is also incorporated in Animoji, animated emoji that respond to your facial movements and can be sent as texts. You can even record and send a message as the unicorn, cat, or, if you really want to go there, poop.

As with the iPhone 7 Plus, there are dual 12 megapixel rear cameras. However, the new sensors are larger and faster, with a new color filter and deeper pixels. Apple promises that this will translate into sharper photos with less noise and better shooting in low light. Both cameras also have optical image stabilization (something available in Samsung's Galaxy Note8), to counteract any shakiness in your shooting hand.

Photo: Courtesy of Apple.

Portrait mode is also getting lit on iPhone X. The mode, which makes a central subject appear in focus and blurs the background, comes with new lighting effects. Apple made sure to note that these aren't filters. Machine learning in the phone works in real-time to sense the lighting around you, and alters it depending on the mode you choose. There are five modes: Natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, and stage light mono. Taking a selfie you like will be so much easier with better lighting. With X, you'll also be able to take portrait mode selfies for the first time.

Photo: Courtesy of Apple.

The battery lasts two hours longer than it does on iPhone 7, and wireless charging, something that is already available on Samsung phones, is finally coming to iPhone X. Apple also previewed a new product called AirPower that looks like a round charging mat and can power up your AirPods, iPhone X, and Apple Watch all at once. This won't be available until 2018.

iPhone X comes in 64 GB and 256 GB. Pre-ordering for the phone won't start until October 27 (and it will ship November 3). iPhone X is the priciest iPhone yet at $999. The much anticipated roll-out of iOS 11 will occur sooner, on September 19.

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Photo: Courtesy of Apple.

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus aren't as exciting as iPhone X: There's no infinity screen on either model, so the phones will still use Touch ID. However, wireless charging is available. Both phones have glass covering both the front and back, and come in three colors: Silver, Space Grey, and a new gold that's less pink than rose gold, but more coppery in color than the previous gold finish.

You'll find one 12 megapixel camera on the iPhone 8 and 12 megapixel dual rear cameras on the iPhone 8 Plus β€” the same configuration available with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. However, the improved cameras have the same larger and faster sensors with noise reduction as the ones you'll find on iPhone X. You can expect photos that are sharper and more vibrant in color.

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are available in 64 GB and 256 GB. iPhone 8 starts at $699 and iPhone 8 Plus starts at $799. Preorders start this Friday, September 15, and the phones will be available in stores September 22.

Apple TV

Those 4K rumors were true. The new Apple TV promises to stream shows in greater detail and brighter, more vibrant images, thanks to HDR (high dynamic range). The goal here is to create a movie theater experience in your bedroom, though we'll have to test it out to see if it lives up to the claims.

Luckily, 4K movies in iTunes won't cost more than an HD movie, and, if you already bought an HD movie, it will be converted to 4K HDR for free. You'll also be able to stream 4K HDR titles from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, so you can watch The Crown in its true, regal glory. The new Apple TV will be available September 22 and starts at $179.

Photo: Courtesy of Apple.

Apple Watch

The changes to Apple Watch may seem minimal, but they will make a world of difference in how you use the little computer on your wrist. Apple Watch Series 3 comes with built-in cellular, meaning you won't need to worry about forgetting your phone at home. The screen itself is the antenna, allowing you to text and call directly from your watch, sans iPhone. Series 3 also comes equipped with Apple Music, enabling you to stream up to 40 million songs, whether you want to listen on the subway or during a run.

Impressively, even with the new features, Series 3 is no larger than Series 2. There's also a new gold aluminum finish and ceramic grey color (a followup to last year's white ceramic release).

Series 3 with cellular is $399, and will be available for pre-order on September 15 and in stores on September 22. You can also get the Watch without cellular for $329, although it seems far more worthwhile to spend the extra $70. Watch OS4, Watch's new operating system, will be available to everyone on September 19.

Make sure you're prepped for all of the pre-ordering madness by following this simple checklist.

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The Internet Is NOT Happy With This iPhone X Feature

September 12, 2017, 12:50 pm
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Apple's long-awaited 10th-anniversary iPhone is here, as the company announced today at its unveiling event. It's barely been a couple of hours, and people are already unhappy with some of the new features. Last year, there were a lot of negative reactions to the nixing of the headphone jack β€” this year, it's the home button that's getting users bothered.

The iPhone X (pronounced "10") β€”Β which is available for pre-order starting October 27 and is expected to ship from November 3 β€”Β features secure facial-recognition technology called Face ID, wireless charging, and even animated emojis. But the most controversial component so far seems to be the elimination of the home button, a feature that's been around since the OG iPhone dropped in 2007. You can unlock the new device by just swiping up.

People on Twitter seem particularly incensed about the lack of home button, wondering what's next after the iconic feature goes away. "Just an empty box?" mused one user. Others joked that if they didn't want a home button, they would have already bought a Samsung Android.

But at the end of the day, it's the $999 price tag that's actually the worst. Because, really?

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You're (Probably) Pronouncing iPhone X Wrong

September 12, 2017, 2:00 pm
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iPhone X, one of three new iPhones Apple unveiled today, stands out from all prior iPhones in many ways. There's the edge to edge screen, Face ID, and no home button β€” as well as the fact that Apple is calling X the "future of the smartphone." Β That's quite a claim to live up to.

But iPhone X also differs from all the other iPhones in one very simple way: Its name. With the exception of the original iPhone, which was just iPhone, all successive iPhones have had numerical names. iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and so on, with some "Plus" and "S" versions thrown in. But iPhone X is causing a bit of confusion. How exactly do you pronounce it? Is it iPhone "X" or iPhone "Ten"?

In the keynote Tim Cook delivered onstage earlier today at the Steve Jobs Theater, he went with the latter. This fits with the fact that 2017 is the original iPhone's ten-year anniversary. But as much as Cook may want the pinnacle of all iPhones to be called "Ten," you can bet this is not how most people will refer to it.

Some Twitter users are advising name sticklers to accept this now.

Others have taken to making jokes that, should you invest in the $999 iPhone X, you may encounter.

Of course, at the end of the day, if a little name mispronunciation is the biggest problem the iPhone X has β€” that's not too bad in the great scheme of things. Though the number 10 does invite larger speculation about Apple's future iPhone naming: If this is "Ten," are we skipping iPhone 9? Is Apple going the Roman numeral route? If so, will iPhone 11 be iPhone XI?

You can avoid having to answer these questions if you take the easier, and far less expensive path: Buy the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus.

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These Pornhub Comments Have Nothing To Do With Sex, Everything To Do With Cooking Chicken

September 12, 2017, 6:00 pm
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Pornhub has its obvious use, but users are taking to the streaming site to drop loads of knowledge, too.

According to Mashable, Pornhub's comments sections are becoming an unlikely place where users can ask for advice, share life hacks, and even offer up recipes.

While this isn't necessarily a new phenomenon, the Pornhub team told Mashable that there has been an increase in comments that don't exactly pertain to the porn. The site reports that many people are asking for recipes β€” lasagna and Thai green curry are two recent requests β€” and one particular user is helping out.

Chef_Excellence, staying true to his or her username, is peppering the comments of various videos with different recipes and shortcuts. For example, Chef_Excellence shared that budding cooks who are short on time can opt to salt a chicken, pat it dry, and roast it for deliciously crispy skin. Chef_Excellence also shared a few tips on cooking up the perfect pizza.

Who knew Pornhub was also a hub for epicureans?

How to brine chicken from PornhubComments
I now know how to make a great pizza from PornhubComments

"I'm not sure if people are just funnier these days or more creative. Either way, we encourage people to continue to share their life hacks/advice/insight in our comment section," Corey Price, Pornhub's vice president, told Mashable. "I never imagined myself getting some wonderful advice on how to best make some lasagna, but here we are. Watch out, Yahoo Answers.”

Mashable adds that recipes are mingling with lifehacks and fan recommendations. Want to know how to fix a car problem, how much to put into a 401(k), or need some tips on math homework? It's all there, but it's buried along with Pornhub's usual fare. The site is still very NSFW, but with advice ranging from finance to food, HR may reconsider its stance on the site.

Come for the porn, stay for the comments. You never know what sort of tips and tricks you'll find.

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How Much Money Will The New iPhones Actually Cost You?

September 13, 2017, 1:30 pm
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In the weeks leading up to Apple’s big iPhone reveal, people were almost as interested in speculating the cost of the phones as they were about the actual phones. After yesterday’s event at the company’s Cupertino headquarters, we finally have all the details β€” both in terms of specs and pricing.

The rumors were right: iPhone X, the phone Apple was clearly most excited about, is the priciest iPhone yet at $999. Apple is calling it β€œthe future of the smartphone,” and it features an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, and a new β€œswipe up” interface in place of the home button. iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which were overshadowed by X but bring welcome upgrades to the similar iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, are more reasonable, though still expensive, at $699 and $799 respectively.

If the idea of spending your entire paycheck (and then some) on a new phone sounds crazy, you aren’t alone. Plenty of people have taken to Twitter with questions of how they'll justify their desire for the newest iPhone given the hefty price tag.

However, if you're considering which of the three phones to preorder, there are a few things you need to take into account that will make the price a little easier to stomach. If you already own an iPhone (or any smartphone) for that matter, the cost of one of the new phones will not be $1000, $699, or $799 β€” at least, not all at once.

Through Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program you can break the cost of the iPhone 8 into 24 monthly payments of $34.50, 8 Plus into 24 monthly payments of $39.50, and X into 24 monthly payments of $49.91. That includes the extra protection of AppleCare+, which on its own costs $129, $149, and $199 for each respective model.

Monthly pricing is slightly better at carriers, though it's always important to read the fine print of plans if you're deciding to buy your phone through one of these. At T-Mobile, you can opt for 24 monthly payments of $29.17 for the 64 GB iPhone 8 (plus, $0 down payment for a limited time), $30 per month for the 64 GB iPhone 8 Plus with a $79.99 down payment, and $30 per month for the iPhone X with a $279.99 down payment.

Verizon 's pricing is similar to T-Mobile's, with 24 monthly payments for the 64 GB iPhone 8 costing $29.17 each and, for the iPhone 8 Plus, $33.33 each.

If you want more time to pay off the phone, AT&T offers plans that let you break the cost up into 24 or 30 monthly payments with $0 down payment. Depending on which plan you choose, the 64 GB iPhone 8 starts at $23.34 per month, the 64GB iPhone 8 Plus starts at $26.67 per month. The 64 GB iPhone X starts at $33.34 per month. (You can also get a 32 GB iPad for $99.99.)

Sprint is offering a competitive pricing plan, including a "best price guarantee": If you find a better deal from another national carrier, Sprint will match it. You can lease the 64 GB iPhone 8 for $29.17 per month and the 64 GB iPhone 8 Plus for $33.34 per month. Pricing for iPhone X has not been announced yet.

Target has the same monthly pricing for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus as Verizon, but is also offering exclusive extras. If you have a REDcard, you'll get $120 in Target eGiftCards during the 24 months you're paying off the phone as well as 10% off a phone case.

In addition to looking at monthly plans, it's also important to consider how much you'll get back through trade-in deals. Those with an iPhone 6s Plus or earlier can get up to $260 towards one of the new phones by trading in their current version at Apple. For an iPhone 7 Plus in good condition you can get up to $425 back (get an estimated trade-in value here), which would bring iPhone X to a more bearable $575 or iPhone 8 Plus to $374.

Amazon, Best Buy, and most carriers offer trade-in programs, too, which will give you $300 to $400 credit (for an iPhone 7 in good condition) to use towards a new phone. If you have an iPhone 6, T-Mobile has one of the better trade-in deals: Anyone trading in a 6 or newer in good condition will get $300. Target is offering $200 in exchange for an iPhone 6 or newer. Trade in an eligible phone at Sprint and you'll save 50% on monthly lease payments for a new iPhone.

iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and, especially X, are still costly even when you slash the price by $300. If you aren't dying to get one of the new phones right away, it's worth your while and your bank account's happiness to wait until reviews of all three phones roll in. One thing that is completely free: Upgrading your phone to Apple's more advanced operating system, iOS 11, on September 19.

This article was updated with news about Target's iPhone 8 and 8 Plus deals.

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4 Impressive Smartphones That Won't Cost You $1000

September 13, 2017, 2:25 pm
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Contrary to what recent releases from Apple and Samsung would have you believe, you don't need to spend upwards of $1000 on a new smartphone.

Make no mistake: With edge-to-edge displays, fancy camera features, and improved battery life, the iPhone X and Samsung's Galaxy Note8 are top of the line phones β€” and ones that are likely to inspire envy when you pull them out to snap a selfie. But even with monthly payment plans and trade-in deals, their price tags are less than appealing.

If you need a new phone, but don't want to spend a small fortune, there are plenty of reasonably-priced and well-reviewed smartphones to consider. They don't come with all the bells and whistles of X or the Note8, but will serve you perfectly well on a daily basis. Ahead, a few options, all under $500, worth your consideration.

Huawei Mate 9

Cost: Starting at $499.99

What You Get: Some well known brands are integrated with Huawei's Mate 9. Alexa fans will be glad to know Amazon's virtual assistant lends her voice here for support. Leica, a favorite of professional photographers, is behind the phone's dual lens rear camera. The Mate 9 is also equipped with Huawei's supercharge capabilities, enabling you to power up faster.

Moto Z2 Play

Cost: Starting at $408

What You Get: You get 12 megapixel dual rear cameras here, plus impressive battery life. The Moto Z2 Play can gain multiple hours of battery life in minutes thanks to Motorola's TurboPower and, for those worried about spilling something, a water-repellent coating adds some reassurance.

Huawei Honor 6X

Cost: Starting at $199

What You Get: Even at a low price, the Honor 6X is still equipped with impressive lenses. There are dual 12 megapixel and 2 megapixel rear cameras, as well as an 8 megapixel front facing camera. Plus, you have the option to expand storage to 256 GB with a microSD card.

iPhone 6s

Cost: Starting at $449

What You Get: No, this is no iPhone X, but Apple's two-year-old 6s is still a good buy. There's a 12 megapixel rear camera and front-facing 5 megapixel HD camera, as well as support for capturing 4K video. For those who aren't ready to jump ship and abandon the home button, you still get it here. You'll also get the latest updates to Apple's operating system when iOS 11 ships on September 19.

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This Guy Just Proved How Much He Really, Really Wants The New iPhone

September 13, 2017, 4:30 pm
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While everyone was refreshing their feeds or glued to Apple's keynote presentation yesterday, Mazen Kourouche was already a step ahead. Determined to be the first person in the entire world to get an iPhone 8, he camped out in front of a Sydney Apple store days before the announcement even started.

Travel + Leisure reports that Kourouche, a software development student, will spend a total of 10 days in line before the iPhone 8 officially drops on September 22. He's not alone, however: He's enlisted two of his pals to stay with him so that when he has to step out of line to heed the call of nature, he won't lose his primo spot. Kourouche is prepared to weather the 10-day wait, with "food, a tent, a camping chair, and supplies" at the ready.

Naturally, Kourouche's got a YouTube channel and hopes that the attention he's getting with his eager actions will earn him some new subscribers. To that effort, he's already uploaded a video comparing the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X and says that he'll be doing a live unboxing from within the Apple store as soon as he gets his hands on a new phone.

"I had someone ask me if I'd take $50,000 for this position right here," Kourouche told the Daily Mail Australia. "I actually don't know, unless I'm in that situation, but being first may get me 50,000 subscribers, which would get me $50,000 in the long run, so I'm thinking macro rather than micro."

To keep busy during his wait, Kourouche will continue to update his YouTube channel. Last year, he pulled a similar stunt during the release of the iPhone 7, where he was actually third in line. Kourouche notes that the store's staff is generally welcoming and accommodating, letting him use the free Wi-Fi and electrical outlets while he waits out the new handset.

Here's hoping he gets his phone of choice and a slew of new subscribers. Otherwise, this stunt would be for nothing other than that shiny new iPhone. Not too bad of a consolation prize, if you ask us.

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How To Stream The Glitz & Glamour Of The Emmys

September 14, 2017, 10:10 am
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If you're looking to curl up with your cat/oversized wineglass/Trader Joe's snacks /Twitter feed and watch the Emmys this Sunday night, you're in luck: There are lots of ways to stream the 69th Emmy Awards even if you don't own a television set.

Since the show airs on CBS, you can stream it on CBS All Access, which is available in 174 U.S. markets, including most major cities. (CBS says it plans to expand the service to Canada and Australia, but it's currently only in the U.S.) You can stream the service on your phone or tablet, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, PS4, Xbox, or Windows 10, according to CBS News. And if you don't have CBS All Access, you can always watch the show with a free trial.

According to Quartz, in select markets you can livestream CBS through DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV. All of these services offer free trials.

Additionally, you can always follow along on social media. The #Emmys promises three different Snapchat Our Stories, behind-the-scenes photos and videos on Facebook, footage on @TelevisionAcad's Instagram Story, and an after-show sponsored by IMDb called Live After the Emmys shown on Twitter and Emmys.com.

With Stephen Colbert hosting β€” it's his first major awards-show gig β€” the show is sure to keep us on our toes. We're predicting cringe-worthy Trump jokes, and, according to Colbert, there will be nudity. "Look forward to my butt crack," he told reporters, according to the L.A. Times. However, he also struck a serious chord by saying he plans to honor the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Saturday Night Live and Westworld tie for the most Emmy nominations this year, with 22 each. Here's the full list of nominations.

If you do have a TV: The Emmys air this Sunday, September 17, at 8 p.m. ET. You can also watch E! for red carpet coverage before the show.

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These Are The New Headphones And Cases To Pair With Your iPhone 8

September 14, 2017, 10:50 am
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The joy of getting a new iPhone isn't just about playing with all its fancy new features. It's also about deciding what extras you'll buy β€” or add to your holiday wish list β€” to accessorize the device.

Although most of the world didn't see the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus until Apple announced them on Tuesday, hardware makers have been busy anticipating and prepping for the latest unveil. Among the new offerings: Extra-shock resistant cases to qualm your fears of cracking the all-glass front and back, speedy wireless charging tools, and metallic headphones to match the new coppery gold option.

Ahead, a look at everything you can add to your iPhone 8 or 8 Plus to make it stand out, stay booted up, and survive drops and scratches.

Beats is owned by Apple, so it only makes sense that the brand was set to unveil their wireless, on-ear headphones in new, iPhone-coordinating colors on Tuesday. Now available in sleek matte gold and matte silver, you can use the headphone's built-in controls to make calls, ask Siri questions, and switch songs.

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $299.95, available at Apple.

If over-ear isn't your style, go with the in-ear BeatsX, which are also available in matte silver and matte gold. You won't get the same battery life as you will with the Solo3 (X offers up to 8 hours, which is significantly less than the maximum 40 hours you'll get with Solo3), but you will save money. Given the cost factor of the new iPhones themselves, sparing some dollars on new earphones might be a good idea.

BeatsX Earphones, $149.95, available at Apple.

If you're looking for a fun pattern that still lets you see your iPhone 8's matte gold color and the Apple logo, Casetify is your best option. The company offers an almost endless array of designs for its clear snap and classic grip cases, so you can go for something that's as detailed or minimalist as you prefer.

Casetify, iPhone 8 Snap Case Sun Moon Stars, $35, available at Casetify.

Photo: Casetify.

Speck is ringing in the launch of the iPhone 8 Plus with a new, metallic version of its bestselling Presidio case. One thing to note: This rose gold color doesn't match the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus's new gold hue, so buy the clear Presidio case instead if you want to see that. Both clear and metallic cases protect against drops of up to 10 feet, so you really won't need to worry about cracking the phone's front and back glass cover.

Speck Presidio Metallic iPhone 8 Plus Case, $49.95, available at Speck.

My favorite part of Apple's leather cases is their microfiber inner lining. The soft, smooth material will keep your new, glass encased iPhone 8 protected and in like-new condition.

Apple iPhone 8 Plus Leather Case, $49, available at Apple.

Otterbox's cases are known for weathering daily fumbles: Drops, scratches, you name it. (Chalk it up to the over 238 hours of testing these cases endure.) This leather version has room for your subway pass or credit card.

Otterbox iPhone 8 Plus Strada Series Folio Case, $59.95, available at Otterbox.

Charging the new iPhone is a wireless activity β€” finally! Mophie's high-speed wireless charging base complies with the universal Qi standard for wireless charging and promises to power up your device 50% faster than others.

Mophie Wireless Charging Base, Price TBD, sign up here for pre-order notifications.

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Google Hit With Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Widespread Gender Bias

September 14, 2017, 2:40 pm
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For years, Google employees have whispered about pay discrepancies at the tech giant. Now, they're speaking more loudly than ever β€” and in court.

This afternoon, a lawyer representing three former Google employees β€” Kelly Ellis (the lead plaintiff), Holly Pease, and Kelli Wisuri β€” filed a class-action lawsuit "accusing the technology company of denying promotions and career opportunities to qualified women who are 'segregated' into lower-paying jobs," The Guardian reports.

Ellis, Pease, and Wisuri all worked at Google at some point between 2005 and 2016. The women shared similar stories with The Guardian of joining the company in good standing and doing well, if not exceeding expectations, before realizing that their contributions were being overlooked, or going unnoticed and uncompensated, compared to work of their male colleagues.

"Male software engineers who were less qualified than Ellis or at the same level were promoted into Level 4 and higher positions, according to the suit," The Guardian reports. "Google initially denied Ellis a promotion, despite 'excellent performance reviews', claiming she hadn't been at the company long enough, the suit said. By the time she advanced, she said she was far behind her male counterparts who had better opportunities from the start."

Pease also told The Guardian that she was denied a promotion into a technical position (which traditionally comes with much greater compensation) despite having 10 years of experience as a network engineer prior to joining Google. Wisuri, who joined the company's sales department in 2012, left in 2015 after being placed into the "lowest level available to permanent, full-time employees," despite seeing men with "comparable qualifications" start at higher levels.

Pease says Google "claimed she 'lacked technical ability,'" but the allegations raise the question of whether the majority of women at Google who are currently in, aim to transition into, or aspire to more advanced technical and leadership roles are vastly under-qualified compared to their male counterparts.

During a Department of Labor (DOL) investigation into alleged employment violations at Google earlier this years, Janet Herold, a regional solicitor for the DOL told The Guardian that "the government's analysis at this point indicates that discrimination against women in Google is quite extreme, even in this industry." That statement comes after research showing Google's numbers have actually improved in recent years.

"Men account for 80% of tech jobs at Google, down from 83% in 2014 when the company first released diversity data," the Los Angeles Times reported in August. "Men hold 75% of leadership positions today, down from 79% three years ago."

In response to the lawsuit, Google spokesperson Gina Scigliano told Refinery29 that the company disagrees with the allegations.

"We work really hard to create a great workplace for everyone, and to give everyone the chance to thrive here. In relation to this particular lawsuit, we'll review it in detail, but we disagree with the central allegations," Scigliano wrote in an email. "Job levels and promotions are determined through rigorous hiring and promotion committees, and must pass multiple levels of review, including checks to make sure there is no gender bias in these decisions. And we have extensive systems in place to ensure that we pay fairly. But on all these topics, if we ever see individual discrepancies or problems, we work to fix them, because Google has always sought to be a great employer, for every one of our employees."

Individual employees are also finding covert ways to address pay discrepancies. Earlier this month, The New York Times published data from a spreadsheet it obtained documenting 2017 salary and bonus information from nearly 1,200 Google employees in the U.S., about 2% of the company's global work force. Although the data is far from a complete picture, analysis of pay data on the spreadsheet found that female employees at Google are paid less than men at most job levels at the company.

Ex-Googler Erica Baker started the spreadsheet shared by The Times in 2015. Baker, a senior engineering manager at Patreon and a member of the board of director for Girl Develop It, has repeatedly spoken out about diversity and inclusion in tech, and disparities in the field when it comes to recognizing β€” in pay and in promotion β€” underrepresented groups in technology.

"Fighting for justice and fairness inside Google doesn't go over well," Baker tweeted. "Salary sharing is only 1 example."

Now that more employees are speaking out on the record inequalities they say they face at Google, it may not be much longer before the tech company is forced to provide answers on a wider, less piecemeal scale.

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Instagram May Be Preparing To Switch Up Your Grid

September 14, 2017, 3:00 pm
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If your Instagram grid is a carefully cultivated work of art β€” something you've strived to structure according to the rule of three or color coordinate by row β€” the app's latest test may put you on edge. According to multiple user posts on Twitter , Instagram may be preparing to switch to a four-across photo grid, rather than the three-across grid that has existed since the app's beginning.

It isn't unusual for Instagram to test new features with selected users before rolling them out to the public. This happened before the launch of slideshows earlier this year, and also in June with Favorites. (Favorites is still not available to everyone.) These tests are usually random, so it's often Instagram users, and not the press, who report the disparities in their feeds first.

That's what seems to be happening with Instagram's grid. Yesterday, concerned users took to Twitter to report what looks to be a grid test: Their grids had switched, seemingly overnight, to show four images across instead of three. It could be a glitch, but the number of people noticing the change makes testing seem more likely.

For those who could care less about their grids, the change may seem minor and inconsequential. But for influencers, celebs, and anyone who uses their Instagram to market their business or personal brand, it would be a major change if Instagram does decide to officially release it. Apps offering organizational grid strategies would also need to incorporate the changes.

Photos appear smaller to accommodate four in a row, and anyone who previously attempted to align their grid in a specific order will find the arrangement completely thrown off.

It isn't clear why Instagram would want to mess with its classic grid formula, but if this really is a test, it could be part of a larger strategy to change how people are using the app. At a New York Fashion Week event for press, Eva Chen, Instagram's director of fashion partnerships, noted a shift in the types of photos being posted: There are fewer posed, perfectionist shots. If Instagram is attempting to completely disrupt the "perfect photo," switching up grids could do it.

Of course, this is speculation β€” maybe the alterations really were just a glitch. Though if Instagram's testing history is anything to go by, it might be wise to start thinking how you'll deal with the change in the event it does happen.

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How To Watch Porn On Your Phone β€” The Right Way

September 15, 2017, 2:15 am
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We use our phones for everything these days. If that includes watching porn, don't worry: You're in very good company. There's still a stigma around phone porn usage, however. Even if you're a proud watcher, you may not want to advertise the fact right on your home screen.

In truth, that would be tough to do, anyway. There's no porn section of the App Store. And while the App Store and Google Play include plenty of apps with mature, sexy content, outright porn is prohibited in both markets. If you do see an app promising porn, be wary β€” it might contain malware. However, there are still ways to make the experience safer and less clunky.

Whether you regularly use your phone to watch porn or you've merely thought about it, there are things you can do to make that experience better. Read on for our best tips for watching porn on your handset.

Turn On Night Mode
If the porn site you're using offers night mode, switch it on. This makes the site's background darker, so that your evening activities have a lower chance of waking up someone else because of bright screen light. xHamster is one of the sites that recently introduced a beta version of the feature, which users can turn on by going to the menu tab found next to the upload button.

Access Porn On Tumblr

Tumblr has removed some of the roadblocks that made finding porn on the app difficult. Now, all you need to do is go to your iPhone's Settings, scroll down to Tumblr, and tap "Safe Mode." From there, select "don't hide anything" from the list of search result options. It's that easy.

Clear Your Cookies
Ghostery is a secure web browser that helps you ensure you're not leaving behind a digital footprint. With one click, you can easily clear your cache and cookies after visiting a porn site.

Photo: Ghostery.

Keep Multiple Tabs Open

No matter where you are watching or which browser you're using, it's always a good idea to have some less, erm, provocative websites open in separate tabs. That way, if someone happens to walk into the room, you can easily switch pages.

Photo: PornHub.

Use An App For Private Photo Storage

If you'd rather browse titillating photos over videos (and you want to save those images), you'll need an app such as Private Photo Vault(free on iOS). This app password-protects your personal photo albums, so no one else can come across them by accident. The app also has a built-in web browser that lets you save photos (and videos) to one of these private folders.

Photo: Private Photo Vault.

Use An Ad Blocker

Porn sites are known for their many pop-up ads. Accidentally clicking on one could lead to an unfortunate virus for your phone β€” not exactly something you want to get while watching porn. Protect yourself by downloading the free app AdblockPlus. This will give you more control over the types of ads you see (you can allow "acceptable ads" that the app deems nonintrusive, or block ads altogether) and boosts your privacy and safety.

Photo: AdblockPlus.

Use A Secure Web-Browsing App

To make sure your connection is secure and private, try an app such as Anonymous Deep Web Browser for Android. The app gives you an anonymous IP address so that other sites can't see your information. It will also clear your search history and has ad blocking support β€” a major bonus for porn sites which always litter your screen with pop-ups.

Photo: Google Play.

Browse In Private
The easiest way to watch porn on your phone is with your browser, but you don't want your search history trailing behind you. To solve that issue, search in private. On Apple's Safari, you can do this by tapping the plus sign for a new browser tab and then tapping Private in the lower-left-hand corner. When you're done, close out of the tab, un-tap Private, and whatever sites you visited should stay private.

It's also smart to check that the site you're using is encrypted. To know for sure, look for an address that begins "https://".

Photo: Courtesy Apple.

Browse In Incognito
You can do this in Chrome, too β€” just as you would on the desktop. Just head to the settings button in the upper right (this is the same whether you're on iOS or Android) and tap "New Incognito Tab." Browse to your heart's content. When you're done, tap the tabs icon, located next to the settings button, and close out of your Incognito tabs.

Photo: Courtesy Google.

Employ A Bedside Dock
The one downside to the convenience of using your phone as your porn player of choice: It requires your hands. If you'd prefer to go hands-free, grab a dock you can position on your nightstand or coffee table. Twelve South's HiRise dock is a great option β€” it starts at $25.

Photo: Courtesy Amazon.

Download A Third-Party App Store
Android users have another option here: Downloading a third-party app market, such as Aptoide. Now, downloading a third-party app store comes with some risks, namely, that the apps haven't been vetted by Google. This means it's possible you could end up with a nasty piece of malware on your phone. However, Aptoide scans many of its apps for viruses and the market is recommended by Android Authority, so it's not completely sketch. Why download a market such as Aptoide? Because it's not regulated by Google, it's got porn apps β€” plenty of 'em.

Photo: Courtesy Aptoide.

Cumdroid
Or, you can download a title such as Cumdroid. Android-phone owners can download it for free or upgrade it with a $5 purchase to go ad-free and gain the ability to download videos. It sources videos from YouPorn, XVideos, and xHamster, among other sites, and perhaps surprisingly, also has a pleasant user interface.

Photo: Courtesy Cumdroid.

Pornhub
If you've got an Android device, you're in luck: You can now download Pornub's app. To get it, you'll have to lower your security settings: Go to Menu, System Settings, Security, and then check the box allowing downloads from "Unknown Sources." Once you've downloaded the app, we'd recommend unchecking that box again. Downloading an app this way does open up your phone to malware, so proceed with caution.

Photo: Courtesy Pornhub.

Add A Site To Your Homescreen
iPhone owners have no need to fret. Just because PornHub isn't in the App Store doesn't mean you can't still add it to your homescreen: You can add shortcuts to your favorite websites on your homescreen and they look just like app icons.

To do this, navigate to the website of your choice (I picked Refinery29.com for this example, naturally), then tap the share button at the bottom of the screen. Scroll right and tap "Add to Home Screen." From there, you can customize the name of the app and what URL the shortcut goes to. So, while the URL may direct to your favorite porn site, you could label the app "Puppy Videos" or "Productivity App" to throw any iPhone snoops off your trail.

Photo: Courtesy Apple.

Use A Folder
For an added layer of protection against prying eyes, store those shortcuts in a folder. We recommend naming it something dull and unremarkable. "Websites" could do.

Photo: Courtesy Apple.

Use YOUR Phone Only
If you're lucky enough to have a phone comped to you by the company you work for, kudos β€” just make sure what you do on there stays professional. Do not watch porn (or send sexts, or take scandalous photos) with a work device β€” even in Incognito Mode.

Photo: Courtesy Google.

Don't Browse In Public
And it should go without saying: Don't browse in public. You may think no one can see your screen while you're huddled in seat 24C of United Airlines flight 1649, but chances are yes, someone will glimpse the action on your phone at some point. Save it for when you're really, truly in private (or with someone who wants to watch it with you).

Photo: Courtesy Apple.

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Everything You Should Download Before Your Next Flight

September 15, 2017, 2:30 am
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You're at 20,000 feet, and you realize your flight doesn’t have WiFi β€” which wouldn't be a big deal, except you forgot your book at home, and none of your Spotify playlists are available offline. The summer travel season is upon us, and we just can't let this nightmare happen to you: Here's how to prep your phone so your next cross-country jaunt is time well-spent.

A couple days before your flight (or better yet, right now!), take an inventory to see what you’re missing. Perhaps it’s time for some new podcasts to tickle your brainwaves, or maybe you need a new, addictive puzzle game that will make your hours in the air simply fly by.

We’ve rounded up a handful of the best new apps, games, podcasts, and more that you should pre-load onto your phone before you step through security. These options will help you kill time in transit and plan what's ahead once you land. Armed with these options, you’ll be able to handle any layover β€” even a (god forbid) unexpected extra three hours at Newark.

This article first ran June 2, 2015, but has since been updated.

TV & MOVIES

If you’re unimpressed by the in-flight movie selection, or you just prefer watching something on your phone or tablet at your leisure, download some shows on Google Play, iTunes, or Netflix, which finally introduced offline streaming, before your trip.

Photo: Courtesy Apple.

Wonder Woman

Watch Gal Gadot become the superhero Hollywood needed in Patty Jenkins' summer Blockbuster hit.

La La Land

The movie that tied Titanic for the most Oscar nominations of all time is finally available to watch outside of theaters. Download it now to watch the adorable love story and Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling's impressive dancing and singing chops.

Hidden Figures

There's a reason everyone was talking about this inspirational tale of the three black women at NASA who helped send John Glenn to space. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle MonΓ‘e turn in performances that you'll want to watch over and over again.

Photo: iTunes.

MUSIC

Spotify and other streaming music services won't work on your flight unless you've downloaded items or synced them to your phone for online listening. To do this on Spotify, make sure you're on a Wi-Fi network. Then, at the top of a playlist, switch on "Available Offline." A downward-facing green arrow will pop up when that playlist is ready for offline listening. Choose playlists that will get you hyped for your destination, or help you relax into a deep slumber.

Or, download a new album or two. Our pick up ahead.

Kesha, Rainbow

It's been years since Kesha released a new album, but the first few singles available from the upcoming Rainbow prove that it's been well worth the wait. The full album is expected to come out August 11, but until then, download "Learn To Let Go" and "Woman" to tide yourself over.

Photo: iTunes.

Imagine Dragons, Evolve

Imagine Dragons' latest album is finally out, packed with songs such as "Believer" to keep you going on that eight-hour road trip.

Blink-182, California

Relive your high school years (ah, the days of listening to "All The Small Things" on repeat) with a deluxe edition of Blink-182's long-awaited 2016 album.

Feist, Pleasure

The songstress behind indie favorites like "1234" and "My Moon My Man" is back with an album that's part pop, part blues β€”Β and all worth listening to.

Photo: iTunes Store.

BOOKS

If you’re one of those people who doesn't get motion sickness reading on flights (don’t mind us while we pop some Dramamine), immerse yourself in another world with a digital download of some fresh literature. Don’t have an e-reader? You can use the Kindle app to buy and read titles on your phone. It offers a number of convenient features, including the option to turn the background dark (or a more natural sepia) and adjust the font, its size, and the screen brightness.

You can also buy books through Google Play if you’re on an Android device, or through iBooks on iOS.

Photo: Courtesy Amazon.

Moonglow: A Novel by Michael Chabon

Have you ever sat with your grandmother or grandfather and listened for hours as they told incredible stories about what life was like when they were growing up? Michael Chabon, the bestselling author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, captures the marvels of such stories in his latest fact-based novel about his grandparents.

Photo: Amazon.

Game of Queens by Sarah Gristwood

You've seen the movies β€” now go further into the worlds of Europe's ahead-of-their-times female rulers. This biography explores the 16 century's most formidable women, from Anne Boleyn to Mary Queen of Scots.

Photo: Amazon.

To Capture What We Cannot Keep: A Novel by Beatrice Colin

A love story in the City of Love: Beatrice Colin's novel imagines a romance that occurs as the Eiffel Tower is constructed in the background. There are the standard issues of class and status, but Colin presents them in new and magical ways.

Photo: Amazon.

GAMES

Tease your brain and delight your eyes with some beautiful new mobile games. You’ll get sucked in and before you know it, you’ll be landing. We’ve got three options worth checking out, whether you’re looking for something simple and free or aiming to drum up all sorts of childhood nostalgia.

Pictured, the Frogger-style Crossy Road. A classic (free on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone).

Photo: Courtesy Cross Road.

Panda Pop

Panda Pop is the kind of game that's so fun you will get sucked into playing it for the entirety of your flight. The game's different levels require you to match and pop bubbles to save baby pandas. So yes, it's cute and addictive β€” the ultimate combo.

Photo: Panda Pop.

INKS

This app is a combination of pinball and artwork. Your "canvas" is the pinball table and the more you hit the color blocks at the top with the ball, the more beautiful the table becomes. You'll quickly get as addicted to creating unique patterns as you will to hitting the ball.

Photo: INKS

Reigns

This new game is part Game of Thrones, part Sim City. As a medieval ruler, you'll have to answer the demands of your court and kingdom while fighting your enemies.

Photo: App Store.

Silk

Silk ($2.99 on iOS) is one of those apps that you can play for hours and hours...and hours (i.e., it's perfect for long car rides and plane trips). Pick a color and start drawing with your finger β€” beautiful geometric shapes will appear and regenerate on screen. Don't blame us if you can't put it down.

Photo: Courtesy Silk.

APPS

No worries if games aren’t your thing: There are plenty of other offline apps to help you plan activities at your destination or learn something new. Just remember to download these apps before your trip, so you can access the information anywhere, at any time, without worrying about data rates or Wi-Fi access.

TripAdvisor Offline City Guides
It’s exciting to explore a new city, but your adventures may be more fruitful if you have some idea of the hot spots you want to hit. Use TripAdvisor’s Offline City Guides app (free on iOS) to peruse the restaurants, attractions, and hotels at your destination. You can plan your days while you’re crammed in seat 24E, and once you land, you can use the app’s guided audio tours to learn the history of neighborhoods and landmarks as you walk around. Plus, it has a huge library of national and international cities β€” from Tel Aviv to Stockholm to Portland.

Photo: Courtesy TripAdvisor.

Pocket

We’re constantly favoriting tweets, saving articles on Facebook, and bookmarking websites to go back and read later…but we hardly ever do. If you use an app like Pocket (free on iOS and Android), you can save all those links you’re meaning to read in one handy location. Download articles before your trip (or set the app to only download them when you’re on a Wi-Fi network) and you’re ready to go. The app lays out webpages into a clean, distraction-free interface with adjustable brightness, and you can organize what you save using tags or by favoriting items. This app is handy for catching up on reading while you’re traveling, but it may end up helping you read more during your daily commute, too.

Photo: Courtesy Pocket.

Tablet Hotels

Tablet Hotels brings its hotel-finding expertise to your phone with its latest app (free on iOS). You'll find special upgrades and deals, plus the app makes it easy to find a well-reviewed hotel at the last minute, no matter where you are.

Photo: Tablet Hotels.

PODCASTS

Travel days are the perfect time to catch up on all those podcasts you’ve been meaning to listen to. You can use an app like Overcast (which dynamically boosts and normalizes volume for consistent listening) or Apple’s built-in Podcasts app, among other services. Here are three shows that you can learn from, laugh at, and be inspired by.

Photo: Courtesy Overcast.

Strong Opinions Loosely Held

If you're looking for something brand new to listen to, try Refinery29 's podcast, Strong Opinions Loosely Held. New episodes come out on Mondays, and it covers topics ranging from what it's like being woman on death row, to why the Kardashians are important to modern culture.

Photo: Courtesy Refinery29.

How I Built This

This NPR podcast centers around entrepreneurs discussing what it's like building a business and, in particular, the challenges they faced in their company's early years. The episodes include interviews with Angie Hicks of Angie's List and the founders of Instagram.

Photo: NPR.

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12 Creative Ways To Switch Up Your Instagram Grid For 2017

September 15, 2017, 2:30 am
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If you've ever looked at someone else's Instagram profile and noticed that it looked particularly put together, some careful planning has likely gone into it.

You too can make subtle changes that will help your Instagram profile stand out from the rest, from adopting a new color scheme to organizing your rows ahead. If you're going for influencer status, these small updates can help get you there. If you're just hoping to earn a few more Likes from friends, the same holds true. But, if nothing else, turn your grid into a mood board for yourself, and use it as a source of inspiration throughout 2017. Though be warned: There is a chance Instagram could change up its standard, three across photo grid.

Click through for 12 creative, easy updates you can make to yours now.

Find A Colorful Pattern

When you have a great pattern, whether it's flamingos or colorful, overlapping tiles, it can stand on its own β€” no object necessary. Intersperse pattern-only photos throughout your grid to separate one portrait shot from another and as an easy way to add more color.

Photo: @rclayton/Instagram.

Pick A Subject & Stick To It

Your posts will look more unified and you'll show your interests more clearly if you can abide by a specific theme or category.

"People want to know you are an expert in your field, whatever field that may be," says celeb hair stylist Kristin Ess. "If you have stuff you want to post that is not within that, try putting it into your Instagram stories so that it doesn't have to live on your page!"

Photo: via @kristin_ess.

Intersperse Quotes

Ess uses a quote every 10 or 20 posts to create a consistent pattern on her grid. Try using an app like Word Swag, which helps you find quotes and lets you choose your font and customize layouts for posts. Another option is Canva, which lets you place your quote on a professionally designed template.

Photo: via @kristin_ess.

"Frame" A Photo With Words

You can also use quotes to effectively frame a photo and make it stand out more than it might otherwise. Post a quote on the left and right borders of your grid and a photo in between. If you want to plan ahead and see how it will look before posting, try a grid-organizing app like Preview.

Photo: via @Refinery29.

Align Quotes In One Column

This one also takes a bit of advance planning. Place your quotes on the same background β€” whether it's a singular color or an image β€” and then arrange them along the left, middle, or right side of your grid. Even if you don't stick to a theme in your images, this will help to bring your whole profile together as one.

Photo: via @barilieberman.

Abide By The Rule Of Three

If you're not going to focus on only one thing throughout, at least focus on one row at a time.

"While each individual photo matters, it's all about getting your rows right and ensuring the three images on your top line are in sync both color-wise and visually," says Jaclyn Johnson, founder of the Create & Cultivate conference series.

Try Planoly, an app that lets you put images on a grid and rearrange as you please until you get the rows of three that look best to you.

Photo: via @jaclynrjohnson.

Make A Scene (The Good Kind)

Show off what happened during a night out by creating a scene in three parts across one row of your grid. It's one way to make your feed tell a story. In this case, a series of very short, visual stories.

"Make [Instagram] about family, friends, excursions β€” what you're doing and where you're going," says Claire Sulmers, editor-in-chief of Fashion Bomb Daily.

Photo: via @clairesulmers.

Skip "Full" Photos

In the past, you might have seen influencers or celebs use six or more tiles of their grid for one photo, with each post making up a part of that image. Instead of doing that, make each image worth your followers' interest.

"A scrolling mood board is always chic, but each individual image must stand on its own," says Karen Robinovitz, cofounder of influencer management agency Digital Brand Architects.

This will also help to make the stories you tell across each row more interesting.

Photo: via @karenrobinovitz.

Embrace Empty Space

We're all for mixing prints, but when you have a lot of busy photos near each other, it can be good to throw in a quieter photo or two. Plus, it's an easy way to add a pop of color to your grid.

Photo: via @jaclynrjohnson.

Pick A Filter & Color Scheme

Create your own filter using apps such as VSCO or Afterlight, or use the same filter within Instagram. Doing so will help to make each one of your photos look like it belongs on your grid and your grid only. If you don't want to make your own, try the Preview app, which has preset filters you can pick from.

Another unifying trick: Play with similar colors. "Most of my photos have a lightness, and I favor muted pastels," says Taylor Sterling, founder of lifestyle blog Glitter Guide. "However, I don't get so strict that I only do one color vibe. If you scroll down my grid, you can see transitions in the colors. Right now I have a lot of light lavender, pinks, beiges, but sometimes it will favor brown, or a lot of pink, or more bright colors."

Photo: via @taylorsterling.

Go Black & White (& Gray)

If you want to take a more drastic approach to your color scheme, pick black, white, and neutrals. While this takes a lot of commitment on a daily basis (unless you already tend to wear those colors), your feed will look pleasingly minimalistic β€” and very runway-ready.

Photo: via @laurencaruso_.

Space It Out

If you want to make sure people click on your account after seeing a single photo in their feed, use the puzzle piece method. Break up one photo into many individual photos that will only form one, cohesive image when combined on your profile. An app such as Instagrids lets you do just that.

Photo: @dus_donuts.

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When You Need To Switch Up Your Swiping, Try These Dating Apps

September 15, 2017, 4:00 am
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Without a doubt, dating in 2017 is an art form. If you’re single and looking for love, you know where the scene is. It’s online. (Unless you’ve made it onto The Bachelor, in which case, bravo.) But whether you’ve been on 100 Tinder dates or zero, it’s a tricky little business. There's such a grand variety of dating apps to choose from β€” where do you even begin?

While there is no official handbook or rule guide, most dating apps operate more or less the same way. You download the app, create a profile, add some of your favorite pictures, and write a short bio. If you make a match, you can commence Instagram- or Facebook-stalking to learn more β€” at least that’s what we do.

We're here to help you with that first step: Figuring out which dating app is worth your homescreen space in the first place. There's no reason you should have to do all that leg work when we can do it for you. So, each month we'll test drive the latest dating apps and report back on what's worth your time.

Ready to find your match? Read on to check out the latest.

The App:Taffy

The Pitch: "The chat-first way to meet new people"

What we think: The more you get to know someone, the more you see the real them, right? This is the premise behind dating app Taffy. Your photo and all other users' photos on the app remain blurry until a series of messages are exchanged. Instead of swiping based on looks, you'll see "catchy headlines" and short bios that will hopefully pique your interest and lead you to kick off a chat. The app is a refreshing change from the norm.

The App: Cuddli

The Pitch: "Find That Geeky Special Someone"

What We Think: Cuddli targets Marvel fan communities and those who prefer to spend their weekends playing Magic. However, beyond some gaming icons that people can use to express themselves there doesn't seem to be anything that makes this app specifically for "geeks", beyond the fact that it calls itself the "dating app for geeks."

Nevertheless, it helps weed out ghosting by requiring users to respond to matches who message and want to meet you. Plus, an embedded tool for picking a local meet-up spot makes it easier to plan an in person rendezvous.

Photo: Cuddli.

The App: Badoo

The Pitch: β€œMeet New People, Chat, Socialize”

What we think: If you want your celeb crush to become a reality, Badoo might be the app for you. While you won't really end up with Chris Evans, Jake Gyllenhaal, or Chris Pratt, you could get pretty close.

The app's latest update includes a new "Lookalikes" section where you can narrow down the profiles you see based on which users share a celeb doppelgΓ€nger. It's a fun idea and one that works relatively well, give or take some facial hair. If you want to see which celebs the app's algorithm thinks you look like, you can head here.

Photo: Courtesy of Badoo.

The App: First

The Pitch: "The First Real Dating App"

What We Think: Anyone who has spent time on a dating app knows that many messages go unanswered and, even for those that are answered, an in-person meet-up doesn't always happen. First aims to eliminate both concerns. You post a date you're interested in going on and other users express interest. You can also specify ahead of time who will pay or whether you will split the date.

Other users will express interest and you can sort through the profiles to pick the lucky winner. Or, find a date in your feed that you'd like to go on. This is essentially a (nearly) blind dating app for the 21st century.

The one downside with First is the very thing that sets it apart: A lack of any communication before the date. You can't get a sense of what the person is really like until you exchange words during your first meeting. So, if there are red flags that you can identify ahead of time through messaging in other apps, you won't get that here. Still, the concept is an interesting one and a nice change from the exhausting back-and-forth of arranging a date.

Photo: First.

The App: Huggle

The Pitch: "Discover people who go to the places you do."

What we think: The more places you visit, the better your chances of meeting someone on Huggle. After you go somewhere, the app will ask you to confirm that you did, in fact, visit that location (the geolocation was off a few times, but you can easily correct it). Then, you'll see other users who also visited that spot.

It's an easy conversation starter (hey, which pastries do you usually get at Ceci Cela?), but few people on the app actually started or responded to conversations, which was frustrating. Plus, there weren't very many users for each location.

The App:Klique

The Pitch: "Meet New People, With Friends By Your Side."

What we think: Like almost every other dating app out there, Klique lets you create a profile and swipe for nearby matches. Where it differs is its social component. After you start a chat with a match you can both invite friends to join the chat and make plans as a group.

While this is nice in theory, it feels like a waste of time and a bit odd. Why not just make plans with your match to go out and agree that you'll both invite friends to come along? That way, you can save time messaging online and get to what matters: an in-person interaction.

The App: Vouch Dating

The Pitch: "Friends Swipe For You"

What we think: We were excited about Vouch from the minute former Bachelor star Sean Lowe announced it. Why? It takes all the endless swiping out of your hands and lets your friends β€” who know what you like and can be more objectiveΒ β€” do all the leg work. On the flip side, it's fun to match friends with people you think are the right fit.

Both ends of the process worked seamlessly. Of course, after you've matched your friends, or they've matched you, the conversation is in the dater's hands. But it's so much easier to pick up there, with the swiping already done. So go on β€” match or be matched.

Photo: Vouch Dating.

The App: Coffee Meets Bagel

The Pitch: "Meet Your Everything Bagel Today"

What we think: If you want to be on a dating app that has lots of users but you don't feel like swiping, Coffee Meets Bagel is the app for you. Every day you're presented with one "bagel." Take a look at his or her interests and photos, and choose to pass or connect. It's that simple. Some days you may get more than one person, but never the infinite number that you'll find on other apps.

In a perfect world, fewer overall matches would mean that the matches you do get lead to deep, meaningful connections and wonderful dates. But, as with any other modern dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel has its fair share of unanswered messages and dead-end conversations. If you're over swiping left and swipe right, though, it's worth a try.

Photo: Courtesy of Coffee Meets Bagel.

The App:Mingle

The Pitch: "They say a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is at least a thousand pictures!"

What we think: Mingle gives you more options than your traditional swiping app. To chat with someone directly, you'll need to match with them, but you can also choose to go into a "chat room" and talk with anyone else there. However, it will cost you, which is one of the main deterrents of the app. To send messages to users and enter chat rooms you'll need to buy coins. The lowest number of coins, 100, will cost you $1.99. This isn't unlike Bumble Boost, but it is annoying to have so many hidden fees.

The one advantage that Mingle has over many other dating apps is the video profile option. While it might take you at least a few tries to take a video that you like and think feels like you, it's nice to hear how someone else sounds β€” and really see them β€” before meeting.

Photo: Mingle.com.

The App: Hater

The Pitch: "Meet someone who hates the same stuff."

What we think: Hater is similar to other dating apps in that you create a basic profile with photos and enter preferences for age. What's different is that instead of swiping on photos, you swipe on issues, indicating how much you like or dislike a show ( The Bachelor), Person (Tom Brady), or other part of life, such as "butt selfies." You match with people who dislike the same things as you do.

Hater just launched as a beta version on the App Store, so not many people seem to be on it yet. Aside from that, optimists might find it somewhat sad that you're meeting someone based on what you both hate. Then again, maybe true love can form over a shared dislike of cilantro.

Photo: Hater.

The App:Her

The Pitch: β€œYour Lesbian, Bisexual & Queer Community In One Place”

What we think: Her caters to gay and bisexual women, and nonbinary and trans people. However, it is so much more than just a dating app. The first thing I saw on my feed was posted by the Her team and invited users to join a live Q&A with actress and comedian, Brittani Nichols.

As I continued to scroll down, I noticed people uploading selfies, sharing thoughts, and posing questions to the larger community about how to come out to their parents. The Her team also posts a question each day, including, for example, β€œHow did your family and friends react when you came out to them?” Users can Like, comment, or share these posts, in addition to uploading their own.

The more time I spent on the app, the more I realized what a safe space it was. All the profiles are verified, and in order to chat with someone, you must add her as a friend first. Whether you’re looking for a date, a new buddy, a serious relationship, or all the above, everyone on the app is friendly and welcoming. You’ll find news, events, and women who you can connect with regardless of your sexual orientation.

Overall, the app feels like a hybrid of Pinterest (each profile has a board you can update and add to), Instagram, and Facebook, but with a dating component, too.

Photo: Her.

The App:BeLinked

The Pitch: β€œBe True. Be Selective. BeLinked.”

What we think: BeLinked is a dating app that connects to your LinkedIn account, catering to young, career-driven professionals. I’m used to dating apps that connect to my Facebook account, so this was a nice change of pace.

BeLinked operates more or less like any other dating app, but there are some notable benefits. I hate looking someone up on LinkedIn,
especially a potential date, knowing that they got a notification saying I viewed their profile. On BeLinked, I can view their profile without them getting a notice about it. So, for example, I immediately see what they do, where they went to school, and what year they graduated. Having all this information gives me more conversation starters than Bumble or Tinder, which don't require as much background.

One downside: Because the app is so new, I came across many BeLinked tester profiles.

Photo: BeLinked.

The App:Loveflutter

The Pitch: β€œDiscover People & Places To Meet Nearby”

What we think: When I downloaded the app, a screen very reminiscent of Twitter popped up. I had 140 characters to write anything I wanted about myself. If you don't know what to write, you've got to think of something β€” it's not optional. I used that space to say, β€œI’m voting for Hillary Clinton!”

Aside from the Twitter-like bio, Loveflutter stands out from other apps because it puts personality first, and appearance second. Let me explain.

Under the β€œPeople” section, I was shown one profile at a time. I saw their short bios, which were superimposed on very blurred profile pictures, along with their ages, names, and whether we had any similar interests. But, if you then tapped on the image, the text would disappear and you could see that person's photo. Instead of quickly swiping based on someone’s main image, I found myself swiping left and right solely based on their text, often not even looking at the picture at all. (Certainly a change from Tinder!) If the match is mutual, you can chat with the person.

The app also has a nice β€œDate Ideas” section that suggests restaurants and bars nearby, taking out the awkward guesswork of choosing a first date location.

And if you really want to get straight to the point, you can press β€œSuggest-a-Date,” which will notify someone you’ve matched with, essentially asking them out for you. What’s the point in mindless small talk anyways, right?

Photo: LoveFlutter.

The App:Whisper

The Pitch: β€œShare, Express, Meet”

What we think: Technically, Whisper isn’t a dating app, but many a wedding has come out of it. The app is an anonymous social network, and aims to provide users a safe online space to share thoughts, secrets, feelings, and opinions, and to trade advice.

After enabling push notifications, watching a short video introduction, and turning on my location settings, I was shown a feed of "whispers" (images and videos with text superimposed). No profile creation here.

Under the "Popular" section of the app were whispers that read, "Please don’t call me 'exotic.' I’m not a plant,” and, β€œI think the saddest thing I’ve ever seen to date was my dad spending 5 min trying to take off his wedding ring after my mom left him,” among others. I lost myself in a sea of thoughts. I liked the fact that I was connecting with people on an incredibly intimate level, while remaining anonymous. But plenty of people are also using it to hook up.

β€œ25 Male 6ft-3 Italian…message me.”

β€œTo the blond girl walking down Eddy st in hull, message me if you see this. I had the long red hair and beard.”

β€œWill you be my dirty little secret?”

While you can see whispers from all over, sticking to the "Nearby" section will limit posts to people in your general vicinity β€” which does make it a reasonable option for finding a date. When you post a whisper, other users can reply and heart it. You can also chat with other people directly on the app, but if you accept a chat request, both parties must provide their age, gender, and location.

If you're tired of traditional dating apps, checking out the personalities on Whisper could be an interesting β€” and even inspiring β€” way to go. And you might have fun sharing some of your own thoughts in the process.

Read on for the dating apps we've tested previously.

Photo: Whisper.

The App: Feeld

The Pitch: Dating for couples and singles

What we think: Feeld used to be a dating app for threesomes, but now caters to both singles and couples. While I wasn't necessarily into the idea of a threesome, I wanted to explore the app and see what all the fuss was about.

The app opens with a pleasant greeting: β€œDate awesome people around you who are kinky, curious, and open-minded.”

Profile creation was different than with your typical dating app. First, I had to specify whether this account was for a single person or for a couple. Then, I was asked to create an imaginary name. (That’s a first.) Another first: Adding a passcode and touch verification for security! But then again, I feel like the app is all about firsts.

When I was going through the β€œlooking for” part of the process, I realized why the app had changed its name. It’s not exclusively for threesomes. I had the option of checking off female, male, male and female couple, male and male couple, female and female couple, and TS/TG/TV.

Then I had a look around. At first I was confused because I was shown a profile picture, and had to swipe left in order to find out details β€” counterintuitive for a dating app, if you ask me. Other than that, I was amazed by who I came across. Feeld has mastered fostering an online space where anonymity, exploration, and personal freedom come together seamlessly. This is rare in the world of dating.

After browsing through a few profiles, I instantly felt that I was part of a community where everyone was genuine and open.

Photo: Feeld.

The App: Lively

The Pitch: Meet People in Motion

What we think: Lively, built by Zoosk, uses videos to help you get to know other people around you faster.

In making my profile, the app quickly gathered all my videos from my phone and Facebook so that I could choose which media I wanted to include in my profile. The four videos I selected were then transformed into a collage, showing off my personality and interests.

So, the app Lively really is quite lively: My profile felt like a short film in which I starred. The videos I chose included one dubsmash, while the others were of me and my friends goofing off. I felt it was an accurate representation of me.

Unfortunately, the app is brand-new, so there aren’t a ton of people on it yet. But I enjoyed the idea of skipping the β€œabout me” section in lieu of videos. In a world where video dominates social media β€” just look at Snapchat and Instagram stories β€” the visually stimulating factor at play is a serious plus. Instead of looking at a picture, I could decide whether or not I liked someone from watching 15 seconds of video footage, which feels a lot less judgmental than making a swipe based on a photo or two.

Photo: Lively.

The App: Once

The Pitch: Handpicked matches every day

What we think: True to its name, Once is a dating app that handpicks one match for you each day. Instead of swiping, Once has matchmakers who do that for you.

After I downloaded the app and filled in my profile, I was ready to start browsing β€” except that I couldn’t. It was an unexpected surprise. I could just sit back, relax, and wait for the app to alert me when they found my match of the day. Both parties get notified of their match at the same time.

After you get your match, you can message one another β€” and you can enjoy 24 hours of their undivided attention. But, if you don’t like your match, you can request someone else.

I am a fan of any online dating app that focuses on quality over quantity when it comes to matches. And when I got a push notification about my first match, I’m not going to lie, I definitely got excited.

Photo: Once.

The App: Siren

The Pitch: Dating apps make you sell yourself. Siren lets you be yourself.

What we think: Siren β€œfights the swipe,” focusing on values such as comfort, respect, and privacy. And it’s unlike other dating app I’ve encountered. For starters, the gender selection gave β€œnon-binary” as an option. And then, since the app is all about not objectifying its users, it focuses on your thoughts and opinions instead.

Each day, a new question is posted to the app and users are invited to respond. You can scroll down and see other people’s responses, and β€œheart” them based on their answers. When you like someone’s answer, only that user can see it.

After first downloading the app, the question of the day was: β€œYou are given unlimited resources and tasked with creating a lifesaving device. What do you create?” The responses were plentiful and diverse. One user answered: β€œA non-dangerous car. Can’t be harmed in it, can’t be harmed by it.”

I hearted a user who responded: β€œnanobots that kill cancer.” Then, I pressed the connect icon below that, letting the person know I was interested. If that person reciprocates the connection, then the messaging feature will be unlocked. You have two privacy options in the app: keeping your profile private until a connection is approved, or making it visible to all (I went with the latter).

I liked that, right away, you have a conversation starter with someone you’ve matched with. It’s unlike any other dating app, and feels refreshing. It puts people’s personalities on display rather than just their profile pictures.

Photo: Courtesy Siren.

The App: MiCrush

The Pitch: The Latino dating app.

What we think: MiCrush is designed to help you find single Latin Americans. It is the only dating app on the market that is offered fully in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Spanish is my first language (my mom’s side of the family has its roots in Colombia), so I was intrigued.

After connecting via Facebook, MiCrush asked me about my roots, presenting a multitude of Spanish-speaking countries I could choose from. I selected Colombia, but you can also select β€œbicultural,” "other," or leave out this detail.

After viewing and silently approving my new profile, I noticed I had the option of connecting with Instagram, too. I like this feature (and I’ve only seen it on one other dating app, Raya).

Next, I began filtering my matches by age, gender, and distance. But I could also filter by roots here. I decided to filter by choosing β€œColombia,” seeing as my mother would like nothing more than for me to end up with a Colombian. Okay, done. I’m ready to get swiping.

As I scrolled through profiles, I was pleasantly surprised by how many people showed up. I thought I would get through all the profiles of people who had roots in Colombia quickly, but, as it turns out, there are quite a lot.

While the app itself is free, you can, β€œsay hola,” to one of your crushes without waiting to see if they swipe right back by purchasing messages. Otherwise, messaging is free with people you match with. I liked the optional in-app purchase because it will get you noticed ASAP, but I wasn’t ready to splurge on five β€œholas” for $4.99. And being able to select the language of the app made the app feel really special β€” it was also a great way to practice my Spanish.

Photo: Courtesy MiCrush.

The App:The League

The Pitch: Meet. Intelligently.

What we think: The League doesn’t just let you connect to Facebook automatically, like most other dating apps. It’s all about connecting you with people who share your same education level, are successful, and driven β€” it’s dating for ambitious young professionals. Before I started swiping, I had to give access to my LinkedIn profile, then wait to get vetted and approved. After sitting on the wait-list for a tense couple of hours, I received a push notification saying, β€œYou’ve been officially drafted into The League!”

Okay, I know β€” it sounds a little obnoxious. But why not give it a try?

Here's how it works: Each day at 5 p.m. you receive a new batch of bachelors. If you β€œheart” someone, don’t be surprised if it’s not an instant match (not everyone receives the same daily batches of people). And you can join groups and group chats when you heart them in your feed. If users are inactive or unresponsive, they’ll get kicked off the app.

In my feed, I came across two surprising profiles: Soho House and Burning Man. If I were to heart Burning Man, I would be added to a group messaging chatroom where I could talk to other people who were going. Same goes for Soho House β€” except you already have to be a member (and send proof!) to the app in order to be added to this private chat group.

As for matches, I liked that I was only presented with a small manageable number of profiles (five, to be exact) each day. Instead of judging a person quickly, I delved into their profile before swiping so I could make an informed decision. I definitely felt like the quality of my matches were better here than on most other dating apps.

And while I initially thought the whole idea of connecting to your LinkedIn account to match you with someone with β€œdrive and motivation,” was snobbish, I did like its core values: Keep your standards high and don’t settle.

Photo: Courtesy The League.

The App:Adventurely

The Pitch: β€œThis Dating App Gets You Out Of The House”

What we think: Adventurely aims to help you have adventures. The app serves locals and travelers alike who want to discover a foreign city or their own β€” and are looking for some company along the way.

After downloading the app, I quickly composed my profile and pressed the β€œadventures” icon. I was prompted to choose from a selection of restaurants, museums, parks, landmarks, cafΓ©s, music venues, bars, and even bike paths that I was interested in and could add to my β€œitinerary.” I also had the option of entering in dates I was free to go.

If someone else had added the same adventures to their itinerary, I received a match notification. Thus, Adventurely connects like-minded people who want to do the similar things, allowing you to chat and make plans to get out there. (At last, no more pointless swipes or conversations that go nowhere!)

There is also a live feed where I explored other users’ adventure itineraries and had the option of joining. Even if you’re not using it in search of romance, the app is a great tool for seeing sights with a new friend.

The app is new and currently only available in New York City.

Photo: Courtesy Adventurely.

The App: Cheers

The Pitch: β€œDrink with friends”

What we think: Let me begin by saying that the first round of drinks is on Cheers. +1. Once downloaded and connected with Facebook, I saw if any of my friends were already on the app, so I could form a group with them and get my free drink.

I was initially attracted the app because instead of going on a blind one-on-one date (which can be incredibly awkward), the app is all about connecting two groups of friends and going out for drinks. Hopefully, a match comes out of it.

So, you can invite friends on the app to join your group and form a collective profile that others on the app can see. You can’t form groups larger than three people, though. When swiping through potential groups to go out with, you’re presented with either a duo or trio, their respective information, any mutual friends that might be shared, and a nice variety of group pictures.

If the match is mutual, you are immediately prompted to press the β€œpick a place” icon. The bar or restaurant you select will have a round of complimentary drinks under your name. We love the idea behind this app, because it takes any awkwardness out of the date (" Who pays for what? "), takes out meaningless in-app conversations, and, of course, free drinks.

However, I had a bit of bad luck. The only friend I had on the app was a girl I barely knew who lived in a different city from me. I invited a few of my friends to join, but even after joining and creating a profile, the app did not register them as my friends. I was never actually able to form a group, making the app virtually useless, since the only way to meet other people and go out for drinks is when two groups show mutual interest.

Hopefully, it's just a bug and I'll get to take advantage of the app's free drink soon.

Photo: Courtesy Cheers.

The App:Tastebuds

The Pitch: β€œMeet People through Music”

What we think: Tastebuds matches you up with someone who shares your taste in music. It's basically the Tinder for music lovers.

With Tastebuds, the major component in setting up your profile is choosing artists who you like. It gathers information from your music β€œlikes” on Facebook and your iTunes library, automatically inserts them into your profile, and then prompts you to add more. Obviously, you can tailor it β€” you might not want potential suitors to see you as a die-hard Taylor Swift fan from the get-go.

Personally, I kept Taylor Swift in the mix for the sake of online authenticity, and then curated my list so it best represented me, a task that took me no more than three minutes. You can also round out your profile by answering questions such as what your dream concert would be, and what your favorite band was when you were 13.

Then, you're presented with profiles of people whose music taste most closely matches yours. In lieu of sending a message, you can flirt by sending someone a song. Pretty great icebreaker, in my opinion.

What I like most about this app is that while browsing other people’s profiles you might discover a new song you like, and then you can easily save it to your Spotify account without even having to exit the app. Also, because it’s centered around music, there’s a larger incentive to meet up (i.e., go to a concert together). That’s always a great first date idea, and in the case of this app, a very appropriate one.

Photo: Courtesy Tastebuds.

The App:helloTruly

The Pitch: β€œKnow When To Say Hello”

What we think: helloTruly is unlike any dating app I’ve yet to encounter β€” in a good way.

When first opening the app, the screen shows a mission statement of sorts: β€œhelloTruly helps you make real, personal connections at the places you go.” And the app means that in the most literal way possible. If you’re one of those people who typically opts out of push notifications, think twice, because on this app, you’re going to want them.

The app functions as a digital icebreaker, designed for people who would rather meet someone IRL than first chatting on an app. In lieu of all the standard dating app algorithms and questionnaires, helloTruly is simple: It's centered around a location based checking-in feature. You open the app and check in somewhere, whether you’re at a bookstore, cafΓ©, bar, lounge, club, restaurant, or wherever, and if someone else (who meets your set preferences) checks in at the same spot, you’ll receive a push notification. Off the bat, you know you have things in common with this person because you’re both in the same spot at the same time.

Once you check in, you can press the β€œget found” button if you're interested in meeting someone new. You then share what you’re wearing, drinking, or doing, so you're identifiable to other app users. If you see someone you like that has checked into the same spot, you can send them a β€œwave” to let them know you’re interested. You don't have to check in to see who else is around you, but when you do check in, it shares your full profile with those in the same spot.

If you're not sure where to go to meet a potential date, the β€œHot Spot” screen shows you the most popular places people have checked in near you, which is convenient.

Unfortunately, since the app is so new (it just launched in June), I haven’t seen other people who have checked in at the same spot as me β€” dating app fail. Hopefully it will pick up some steam, though, because we like the idea.

Photo: Courtesy HelloTruly.

The App: Sweatt

The Pitch: β€œA Dating App for the Fitness Community”

What we think: Sweatt is a dating app for people who love to work out. Naturally then, after I created an account via Facebook, the app asked me a series of workout-related questions, such as what my favorite time to work out was (I selected the β€œpost work” option) and how many times a week I worked out (three to four). The next screen asks you to tap your true loves β€” icons representing activities such as lifting, Spinning, biking, running, yoga, and dance come up. You can only choose two, though! I tapped on the Spinning bike (because yes, I belong to SoulCycle) and yoga icons.

From there, you can fill out a short bio, and you can also list your preferred "fuel" (your preferred diet or dietary restrictions). I eat pretty much everything, so I chose the hamburger icon.

Once that's done, you're presented with five profiles each day. While I enjoy working out, I quickly realized I didn’t quite belong on the app. I am not an obsessive exerciser, nor would I even consider going on a Paleo diet. Many of the people I came across were trainers, hardcore gym fanatics, and people who wrote in their bios that they were looking for a workout buddy. But, the app itself is easy to use and has an attractive design scheme. However, it is truly geared towards fitness buffs. If you’re a fitness connoisseur, it's definitely worth a try.

Photo: Courtesy Sweatt.

The App:Platinum Poire

The Pitch: "The nation's premiere invitation-only matchmaking service."

What we think: Technically, it's not an app, but it’s a unique, invite-only dating service that aims to do the same thing as an app like Tinder does. Founders of the site, Rori Sassoon, professional matchmaker and style consultant, and Errol Gluck, PhD, an expert in forensic profiling, work to assist you when you find the online dating scene scary or hard to navigate.

Platinum Poire caters to NYC singles only, for now. If you’re interested, the first step is to send along a short biography and a photo of yourself. Then, a consultation is arranged with Sassoon, followed by a one-hour profiling session with Dr. Gluck, where you talk about your relationship history.

Then, you complete a 10-page questionnaire about yourself. With all of this information, the Platinum Poire team builds your profile and presents you with suggested matches. Every introduction is confidential.

If two parties agree that they would like to meet, Platinum Poire then discloses contact information and allows you to take it from there to arrange a date.

The duo behind this service does more than just play matchmaker, though. They help you with everything, from what to wear and what to say, to how to handle your nerves. If you need more than just an app, you should give it a shot.

Photo: Courtesy Platinum Poire.

The App: The Grade

The Pitch: β€œMake the Grade or Be Expelled”

What we think: If you don't like being judged, this is not the app for you. The Grade is, naturally, all about grades, as in, the app uses a grading system for you to judge and be judged by other people on the app.

But the app is very user friendly and easy to navigate. Once you grant it Facebook access, it loads up your profile with information, and gives you a β€œGrade Pending” next to your name until you've entered enough data to be assigned a number.

So, how do you get a good grade? The letters are assigned based on how many people "like" you (how many swipe right), how responsive you are to messages, the quality of your messages, and the anonymous feedback you receive from other users. The higher your grade, the better your chances are of meeting someone you like.

Why have this grading system in the first place? The goal of this app is simple: #NoMoreCreeps. The app tries to eliminate things such as X-rated messages and pictures, matches with people who don't respond, and matches with people who are already in relationships. The Grade holds users accountable for this type of behavior β€” and if you get an "F," you get kicked off the app. However, if its algorithm does expel you unjustly, you can go on its website and appeal.

Other than that, the app is kind of like Lulu, which lets users anonymously comment on guys, so other ladies can see from the comments whether a guy is worth their time. You can review your friends who are on The Grade by clicking on the β€œreview your friends” icon, and pressing "yes" or "no" when asked if they are a β€œquality person.” You also have the option of adding or editing a full review.

Photo: Courtesy The Grade.

The App:Score

The Pitch: β€œThe Ultimate Matchmaker”

What we think: Score has an interesting premise: It keeps your image blurred out until someone else "scores" with you. Half of the personal information that you fill out in the app β€” your profile image, and up to three additional images β€” is hidden to casual browsers unless you match up.

Here's how it actually works. After setting up my profile, I was presented with bachelors nearby. Their faces were blurred, and I could only see their usernames, location, age, height, gender, and something they like (i.e., humor). Then, I pressed a red, β€œLet’s Score” icon, which led me to a list of categories to choose from, as shown in the image here, and I answered five questions in whichever category I chose. From there, the app matched us based on the compatibility from our answers.

The questions are generally light and fun, which makes it seem more like a game of compatibility rather than a dating app. The questions are quirky, like, β€œYou just got to Moscow. First thing you do is: (and here you choose one) Free Pussy Riot. Photograph the Kremlin. Find the dude from Borat.”

If you have two or more of the same five answers in common, you unlock each other's profiles.

Photo: Courtesy Score.

The App:Sochat

The Pitch: β€œChat with Everyone”

What we think: Sochat is an app that’s all about chatting with those who you know, along with some you don’t know. It's a messaging service first, and a dating app second.

After requesting access to your phone contacts and Facebook friends, it automatically adds them as your friends on Sochat. Chatting via Sochat is different than, say, iMessage because of its in-depth GIF integration. β€œMagic Words” (specific keywords) let you send videos or songs, and you can create events and polls within different groups. You can also see who is currently online, and see who is nearby, which is where the dating aspect comes into play.

If you see someone nearby who you think is cute, tap on their profile β€” and then you can tap a heart emoji-emblazened button that says β€œlike,” or the blue hand waving button next to it to say, β€œhi.”

If you press β€œhi,” that person will automatically get a chat request, which they can ignore or reply to. You also have the option to β€œswipe chat,” which transforms the app into an iteration of Tinder, where you see one picture and a short bio of an individual, which you can then swipe right or left on. If the person likes you back, you get notified that you’ve matched.

Overall, my favorite feature on this app is its GIF integration. You can access a wider variety of GIFs organized by category, search GIFs, and see which ones you have recently sent, along with ones that you like and can collect for later use.

Whether you’re looking for a fun, new messaging service, or to meet new people and potential dates, Sochat does a pretty good job of combining them all into one easy app.

Photo: Courtesy SoChat.

The App:Zoosk

The Pitch: β€œMore Singles Who Are More Your Style”

What we think: Zoosk is your standard dating app, but it does have some interesting features. After setting things up and answering questions about my body type, if I have children, and my education preferences, I created a password, a display name, and answered a bunch of other optional questions to complete my profile. Then came security: I had to verify my phone number, as well as my pictures, which the app did by opening the camera and asking me to stare ahead, then turn my head to the right and then to the left. Extra points for countering fakes and scam accounts!

There are three sections at the top of the app: "Carousel," "Browse," and "SmartPick." I pressed "SmartPick" first, which shows you people with similar interests. The "Carousel" shows you profiles picked at random β€” you can then select β€œyes,” β€œno,” or β€œmaybe” based on their profile pictures and age. The "Browse" section shows full profiles, including how far away they are from you, plus the last time they logged in.

To boost your profile (and β€” the app claims β€” get an average of three times more views), you can pony up 100 coins of Zoosk's in-app currency system. You get coins by paying to become a member: a one- month subscription is $29.99, a three-month subscription for $59.99, and a six month subscription for $74.99. Kind of steep!

The benefits of subscribing include being able to chat with other members and connect with singles who have been chosen for you using their "SmartPick" algorithm. Personally, these perks do not seem worth the price of the membership.

The main perk of the app is being alerted when someone has viewed your profile. But you can get that for free on so many other apps, why pay if you don't have to?

Photo: Courtesy Zoosk.

The App: Dine

The Pitch: β€œMore dates, not swipes.”

What we think: Dine is all about matching you up β€” with a focus on getting you out on that first dinner date. It's perfect for foodies looking for a partner with similar taste buds.

After your typical set-up process, you are asked to select from a list of restaurants that you like or would like to try out and your favorite cuisines. The app uses that information to pair you up accordingly. Having similar taste in food is a major plus (and obviously the cornerstone of any healthy relationship?).

Typically, if someone were to suggest a dinner first date, I’d be taken aback. I’d rather get drinks β€” a date option with less pressure on both parties. But Dine will have you rethinking that mentality. The first date venue is already chosen, which takes out some of the pressure and adds an element of safety, as well.

Dine is very much about keeping the old-fashioned idea of chivalry alive and well, which is where a β€œmy treat” feature comes into play. If one party is willing to pick up the tab, the "my treat" icon is highlighted, so there's no post-meal payment confusion. If you see someone you like, you can send him a wink so they know you’re interested, but it's up to him to ask you out. Once he does, you can freely message one another.

The app also has a fun β€œdine with friends” feature, which basically sets up a double date. And to keep things fresh, every day, the app's restaurant options change and new picks are presented, so you’re not left choosing from the same Japanese joint over and over.

Photo: Courtesy Dine.

The App:Align

The Pitch: β€œInjecting soul into mobile dating.”

What we think:Align is all about astrology dating, showing you profiles whose signs are compatible with your own. The L.A.-based app, which launched in May of 2015, is now also available in NYC and the Bay Area.

Here’s how it works: Connect to Facebook and put in your birthday. Based on your sign, you are presented with a list of characteristics to choose from. You have to choose six that you identify the most β€” I chose silly, food, drink, stubborn, goal-oriented, and warm.

Instead of having to sift through endless matches that miss the mark, Align gives you a neat-and-tidy roundup of just five matches per day. You also get a detailed report explaining how you two galactic lovebirds would get along. If both people choose to align, you'll be able to exchange messages.

The app presents your matches in a unique way β€” they appear in the form of circles, varying in size, orbiting around your profile. The larger the circle, the more astrologically compatible you two are.

If you don’t like any of the matches for that day, don’t worry, they refresh at midnight.

Photo: Courtesy Align.

The App:Sniffr

The Pitch: β€œIt’s a dog-meet-dog world.”

What we think: If you are a dog owner (or a dog lover), Sniffr is for you. The app targets those who truly know the value of the statement made famous by Frederick II, King of Prussia, β€œDog is a man’s best friend.”

A major deal-breaker for me personally is meeting someone who hates dogs. On Sniffr, you automatically know you have a shared love with everyone on the app right away (and that's one less potentially awkward question-and-answer section of your date).

When you open the app, you have to make two profiles: one for you, and one for your pup. Then, once you give the app to access your location, you can find bachelors, bachelorettes, and pooches nearby. If you see a furry friend you like, you can "sniff" their profile to show your interest β€” you and your pet could find a new playdate or a new real date.

Photo: Courtesy Sniffr.

The App: Clover

The Pitch: "Swipe less, date more."

What we think: After connecting with Facebook, the app asks for some basic information such as your age, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. It feels a little like filling out doctor’s office paperwork, but most of it is optional, so there’s no pressure to answer. From there, Clover lets you filter people by their relationship intentions (friendship, a hookup, or a serious relationship.)

The app doesn’t waste any time. Right away a bachelor appeared, taking up my entire screen. He was online, and lived in the same borough as me. β€œJavi, 26/male/straight. Brooklyn, NY.” Before I even looked through his pictures, I had a short bio in front of me, which was convenient.

I’m not going to lie, this app has a lot of unique capabilities, such as an on-demand dating option that chooses the place and time for a date with your in-app match. But what really got me excited was the β€œ20 Questions” game, which lured me in to find compatible matches based on my answers. If you’re browsing someone’s profile, you can see their answers to these questions, and see how many you answered the same. (My match Javi and I answered 13 questions identically.) 13 out of 20 sounded pretty good to me, so I proceeded to swipe left to see more pictures of him. You can upload up to 100 pictures in the app. From there, you can β€œheart” or β€œX” a match, or send him a message. Anyone can message anyone, whether you’re a match or not, which could be good or annoying, depending on your personal preference. In the app's chat feature, you have the option to share videos, images, and audio clips, and control who can see if you’re online, and your location.

You can manage your busy new dating life within an hour of downloading Clover with its Prospects feature. This lets you manage and track your matches, people you’ve liked, people that have liked you, and those you passed.

This app, surprisingly, made me excited. You can’t say that about most dating apps.

Photo: Courtesy Clover.

The App: Quickflirt

The Pitch: "Speedy online dating for the restless."

What we think: Quickflirt is a hookup app. It connects to your Facebook, and then asks you to upload your main photo. After a brief tutorial, I pressed the app’s little funnel icon to filter my feed to specify what gender and age group I was interested in, and location.

I liked that the app offered a β€˜Safe mode’ to keep things from getting creepy (or unsafe). There are three safe mode options: off, basic, and full. When set to off, you can be contacted by all members; when set to basic, you can be contacted be everyone except people who've been flagged as suspicious by the app's safety team; and in full, only trusted members can get in touch with you. I want to feel like I’m in a safe space when online dating, so I set it to full.

Below that, you can customize advanced parameters. Here, you can choose to see who is near you, who is online now, and new members. The app also gives you the choice to choose between three different interfaces. You can see potential matches on a grid, scroll through them one by one, or tap the map and see where people are in relation to your location β€” handy if you don't want to end up across town.

Personally, Quickflirt was not for me. It’s advertised as the Fast and Furious of dating apps, and that’s exactly what it feels like. Within minutes, I had received a few flirty messages so, uh, "flirty" that I was slightly taken aback. If you’re looking to step up your sexting game, or want a fun fling, this might be the right place for you (but it's definitely not for me).

Photo: Courtesy Quickflirt.

The App:Match

The Pitch: #1 in dates, relationships, and marriages.

What we think: When we think of Match, we typically think of our high school gym teacher on an old iMac (the one with the see-through, colored back) scrolling for potential matches. When it launched in 1995, Match.com pioneered the online dating world. Now in 2016, it's dropped the ".com" and is trying to prove it’s still a hip place to find a date.

But it’s still old school, in a way. When you download the app, instead of connecting to Facebook or Instagram, you're prompted to answer a series of 29 questions to fill out your profile. The nitty gritty queries range from β€œHow often do you drink?” to β€œTell us about your ideal date.”

After that, it’s standard procedure. You tap on Discover, and the app uses your location to show a stream of bachelors or bachelorettes that match your preferences and location. You can β€˜like’ them by pressing the thumbs up icon, or send a message right then and there. This is different from most dating apps now β€” you don’t have to wait until there’s a match to strike up a conversation. Downside: All the annoying unsolicited messages. The app does show you your daily matches, and lists what you both have in common.

Overall, I didn’t feel like I would find someone on here β€” it felt like an older community to me (but if you prefer an older partner, this is definitely where you should hang). It's still worth a try, though.

Photo: Courtesy Match.

The App: Just Say Hi

The Pitch: "Chat, date, connect, and mingle with people around you now."

What we think: Just Say Hi is interesting because your profile is a video. It’s basically video chatting strangers (potential matches) instead of browsing a typical online profile. The idea is that while a picture is worth a thousand words, a video can communicate way more about you and your personality. It sounds silly, but I like the idea of knowing what someone’s voice sounds like before meeting them.

After filling out some basics, you then upload a video (bet you didn't see that one coming). Instead of filming one on the spot, I decided to upload an old video of me singing along to some of my favorite T-Swift songs, along with a random video of me and my goonsquad friends.

After completing my profile, I browsed other peoples’ video profiles nearby, and around the world. The profiles were fun to watch. Usually, it would be a guy saying something like, β€œHey my name is Logan, I’m 26 and from New York. Come say hi!” If you see someone you like, it’s standard procedure: like, heart, etc. If they like you back, then you can chat with one another. There is also another way to meet people: through the app's group chat feature. Here, you can browse a variety of chat rooms AIM-style circa 2005. Since it is a video based app, you feel like you're really meeting people from all over the world. There is a USA chat, a variety of international rooms, one for new users, locals, and…a roast room? Intrigued, I immediately tapped it. The chat room is true to its name, with a message that pops up saying, β€œWarning: Do Not Enter." This room is for people who like to be insulted and laughed at. It’s fighting room with rude people. Enter at your own risk!” I like to think I have thick skin, so I went in anyways. After browsing through though, none of the messages were that malicious.

While the app itself is free, you have to pay to see your fans. For $2 you can unlock fans for seven days, and for $6 you can unlock fans for 30 days.

Photo: Courtesy Just Say Hi.

The App:DivorceForce

The Pitch: Learn from others. Ask questions. Share your experiences. Meet new friends.

What we think: This app is for those thinking about getting back into the dating game following a divorce (that, for better or worse, could be a lot of us at some point, considering the divorce rate in the U.S.). The app is an empowering and resourceful place, featuring educational articles, current divorce news, forum discussions, lawyer ratings, and much more β€” just what you'd need if you'd come to the conclusion your high school sweetheart wasn’t such a catch after all.

If you don't want to create an account at first, you can 'go incognito' to view content anonymously, which is cool and welcoming. I tried this out first. It took me to the β€˜Discussions’ page, where I was presented with a pleasantly laid out list covering topics such as advice on choosing a lawyer, mediation, child support, and getting back in the dating game. Cool, right? A little blue box labeled, β€˜What to do first’ can guide you if you don't really know where to begin. If I were going through a divorce, I would have to say that this page was incredibly informative, educational, and helpful, filled with discussions and articles. Most of all, it felt like a really safe space.

When you make an account, the experience is more customized. You choose topics to follow (parenting, custody, new relationships), selecting your gender, your location, and your name. For those currently going through a divorce (or contemplating the idea), the app suggests creating a new email account to protect your identity. This app cares about you! 10 points for DivorceForce!

With an account, the app had much more to offer. You can connect with people and filter by all sorts of granular topics ranging from gender and age to topics followed. Overall, the experience seems pretty great. You can meet people who are going through or have gone through a similar situation, and also connect with people on a romantic level, without any stigma about having been previously married.

Photo: Courtesy DivorceForce.

The App:Raya

The Pitch: "An exclusive dating and networking platform for people in creative industries."

What we think: Unlike most dating apps, Raya screens applicants through their Instagram account before rejecting or accepting them into the app. Based on their Instagram presence (and referrals from existing users) an anonymous committee votes on whether to let you in or not. Sounds kind of brutal, huh? So, why all this screening you might ask? The goal is to create a niche where like-minded people can connect.

Raya is serious about this vetting process β€” which makes the app quite exclusive. Since launching in March, it has been known as the dating app for celebs. According to Page Six, spotted Raya users include Joe Jonas, Kelly Osbourne, Moby, and that new SNL cast member...So if you get in, always swipe right! (PSA: Be careful. If you’re caught leaking pictures or screen grabs of app users, they’ll kick you right off!) But(there's always a but), Raya doesn't come cheap. Accepted users have to pay $8 a month. In my opinion β€” totally worth it.

Raya's premise and design differs a bit from most other dating apps. To kick-start your profile, you have to choose a song and then curate a slideshow to go along with it. When making my profile, I chose Carly Simon's classic, "You're So Vain." Conversation starter, right? They also show you who your mutual Instagram friends are. But since the app is known for its exclusivity, there aren't that many people on it. Running into my brother as I was swiping felt kind of funny, until I saw his bio: "I'm a guy with a big, throbbing vocabulary. I like girls with tight, neat grammar." When I confronted him about it, demanding that he change it immediately, he responded with, "What! It was a really popular Whisper post!"

Overall, I love Raya. You never know who's going to be on there! But if you don't make the app's rigorous selection process, no stress β€” there are plenty of other options for meeting boys and girls with your phone.

Photo: Courtesy Raya.

The App:Happn

The Pitch: "Find the people you've crossed paths with."

What we think: See someone you like on the street? Are you always on the same train as him or her, but never had a chance (er, the bravery) to chat them up? Let Happn help you out.

Like Tinder, Happn connects to Facebook for your basic information, pictures, and to be able to tell you if you have mutual friends with someone you've liked. From there, it works like this: You scroll through the app and if you see someone you like, you can heart them. If they heart you back, voila. It's a match and you're both notified.

However, you also have the option to "charm" them. This is a feature most dating apps do not have and allows you to let someone know that you like them, even if they haven't liked you back...yet. You receive a "charm sent" notification and if the receiver does not send a charm back within 24 hours, you get your charm back. For females, the app is completely free. But, for men, sending charms is going to cost you.

Where the app gets its namesake is its location awareness. A profile will have "now" written up at the top when you are crossing paths with that person within 250 meters (see train cutie above). I am a fan of the proximity factor, because chances are you'll have more in common with the stranger that frequents the coffee shop by your apartment than the guy who lives two hours away. From what I can tell, it's got a decently wide pool of users (here in New York, at least), so even if you've seen that passerby a dozen times, you won't be stumbling on their profile every time you open the app.

Photo: Courtesy Happn.

The App: Double

The Pitch: "Don't date alone. Take a friend!"

What we think: This app is brand-spanking-new, making its New York launch just before Valentine's Day. As its name would suggest, Double is an app for double dating. You can double up with a friend and your profiles will appear side by side. Then, instead of browsing for one potential match, you're looking at two. You and your wingwoman choose a couple together, using the same swipe left or swipe right navigation we are all too familiar with. If your pairs make a match, then you enter a group chat. From there, you all can decide whether or not a double date is in the cards.

Double aims to take out the awkwardness and stress that seems to be synonymous with first dates, because this way, you go with the support of your friend. Going on a date with a pal makes the whole situation much more comfortable β€” and safer β€” and much more likely to actually happen. And despite being brand-new, when I signed up, I already had four friends using the app in NYC.

One thing that was slightly confusing was the matching process. When scrolling through prospective bachelors, the app shows you two side-by-side. (In the same way as it shows my profile next to my friend Zara's.) If I click to X one, both are technically swiped left, and vice versa. What if I like one of the guys, but not the other? Then what? And if I only liked one of the two guys paired together, chances are my friend will, too. So, then what? Do I convince my friend to take one for the team and go on a double date with me even if she doesn't like her match? And then there's the general issue of who gets who once you do actually meet your matching pair. (As it turns out, it only takes one person from each pair to like the other for a match to be made.)

Since the app is still so new, I haven't quite figured it out yet. But my "doubler" and I were just matched with another duo, so we'll update you on how it goes.

Photo: Courtesy Double.

The App:Tinder

The Pitch: "Friends, dates, relationships, and everything in-between."

What we think: With Tinder, you create a profile that is connected to your Facebook account. Tinder will never post anything on your behalf, but it lets you know if you have any mutual friends with the bachelor or bachelorette on your screen. You can make the pool of applicants more manageable to sift through by filtering age, gender, and location. The trademark feature of Tinder is how you go through matches by swiping right or left to like or pass (but you can also Super Like with the blue star on the far right).

The thing with Tinder is this: It feels like a game and matches come in quick. Once you match, if you decide to utilize the messaging feature (which everyone does), it turns into an exercise in creative writing. Due to the nature of online dating, my experience and the experiences of my friends has led me to believe that "Hey, what's up?" isn't going to get a response. You need something catchy from the get-go, a conversation starter. Openers that work: "Does your onesie come in other colors?" "Do you have any free time this weekend to babysit my poodle?" "What a funny group of mutual friends we have!"

If all goes smoothly, you might get to level two, which I call "exchanging numbers." Now the conversation has moved from a carefree flirtation in your Tinder inbox to an actual name and number in your address book. After that, it's pretty standard procedure. You aggressively stalk his or her social media accounts and then decide if level three, meeting IRL, is worth it.

There's a reason that Tinder is the dating app du jour; it's tried-and-true. The app boasts ten million matches to date and a high school friend of mine counts herself as one of the successes in that bunch. (She met her fiancΓ© on Tinder about three years ago, one thing led to another, and their wedding is in April. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!) If you're a Facebook user and haven't tried it yet, it's worth some experimental swipes.

Photo: Courtesy Tinder.

The App:Bumble

The Pitch: "We're changing the rules of the game."

What we think: Bumble is the Sadie Hawkins dance of the dating-app world; if a match happens, the only way to chat is if the girl makes the first move. Conversations begin on her terms and hers alone. If the female doesn't say anything within 24 hours of connecting with someone, that person disappears and the connection is lost. If a connection with someone of the same sex is made, each has one day to spark a conversation before the connection is deleted. If the 24-hour mark is approaching without a message, matches can request another 24 hours.

It's definitely an ego boost thinking, Ha, he is waiting by his phone for me to text him and there's nothing he can do about it! (We watch a lot of He's Just Not That Into You rom-coms around here, so it's nice to envision the tables turned.)

Another fun Bumble feature is backtracking. Say you by mistake swiped left or right too soon β€” no worries! Just shake your phone and it'll take you to the previous profile.

Photo: Courtesy Bumble.

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These Are The Best Apps For Making GIFs, Period

September 15, 2017, 5:00 am
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Regardless of how you pronounce it, there’s no denying that the GIF has taken a graceful tumble from Tumblr into the rest of our digital lives. You can use GIFs to share expressive reactions in emails, texts, and even work messages. And now, there are a ton of new apps to help you make them.

From insta-celebrity F*ck Jerry to our favorite hipster filter-makers at VSCO Cam, it seems that nearly everyone wants to get into the moving-picture game. (Cue Reel 2 Real’s '90s reggae dance hit β€œI Like To Move It," because that's what's happening on our phones right now.)

β€œBut how many GIF apps does one really need?” you ask. We’ll let you be the judge. After all, only you truly know how demanding your GIF-creation needs are. But to make things easier, here’s our roster of the top 26 GIF-making apps. Read on to figure out which ones make sense for your home screen.

GIFO
Why settle for one GIF when you could have four? GIFO let's you create "GIF collages" β€” a set of four different GIFs that play at once. You'll record each frame individually, and then have the option to add text, filters, and other personalizing details.

BurstKey
BurstKey is one of the simpler GIF creators out there, but it has all the key elements. You can add a filter before filming your GIF (some cost money, others are free). Then, simply press and hold the record button. Afterwards, you'll see various sharing options. If you tend to text GIFs rather than post them to Instagram or Facebook, add BurstKey to your texting keyboards so you can keep all your GIFs in one place and easily paste them directly into messages.

Cooler
Let's face it: A good portion of the GIFs you make are probably based on weird expressions and strange scenes from your favorite shows. But finding the exact moment you want to capture can prove tricky. Cooler solves that problem. When you sign up for the app, pick your favorite shows (you can always add more or change these later). Then, select which season you're caught up to so you can avoid spoilers. Cooler will create a feed, showing you some of the scenes that have been most popular, which you can choose to customize your own GIF. Don't see the one you want? You can use the app like Shazam β€” simply tap "Sync TV" along the bottom toolbar and Cooler will listen to what your watching and locate the scene so you can make your GIF and earn all the retweets.

GIF Maker For Mobile Web
Don't feel like downloading yet another app? GIPHY's new web-based GIF making tool is for you. You can turn still images from your camera roll into GIFs and add playful captions, fun, animated graphics, and glittery paint.

GIF: Courtesy of GIPHY.

Postto
Postto lets you turn any photo into a Gif by syncing your photo library with the app and applying playful effects that animate your image. You can also add stickers if you're feeling so inclined.

Polaroid Swing
Polaroid Swing isn't a GIF creator per say, but the app creates moving photos that act a lot like GIFs. Take a one-second video of a moving image, be it hair blowing in the wind, the swish of a dress, or someone waving. When you touch the image, it will move or you can move your iPhone from left to right for the same effect. You can share the images to Instagram and Facebook with a single tap.

Photo: Polaroid Swing/App Store.

GIPHY Says
You can't hear words in a GIF, but with GIPHY Says you can get your words on screen. Just press record, speak loudly, and the app turns your spoken words into words onscreen. You can move them around and play with the size before instantly sharing via iMessage, Facebook, or Instagram.

Photo: GIPHY Says.

GIF Maker
If you want to take a more playful approach to your GIFs, download GIF Maker. The app stands out from others for its fun selection of fonts and stickers, which you can resize and place anywhere on your image.

Photo: GIF Maker.

Snow
Snow is known for its many Snapchat-like lenses, but the app also has a Gif maker worth using. It lets you add filters, put on flower crowns, and add other playful, animated filters.

Photo: Snow.

Emoji Me Face Maker
Emoji Me Face Maker is similar to Bitmoji, but turns the animated character you've created into a gif. You can choose to have yours raise a glass, throw a snowball, blow a kiss, and more, although some actions will cost an extra fee in-app.

Photo: Emoji Me Face Maker.

Motion Moving Gif Pictures + Gif Maker for Photo
The Motion Moving Gif Pictures app lets you turn live photos into Gifs. What sets it apart from other Gif makers, though, is the ability to edit those Gifs. You can add filters, adjust the speed, and change the playback to make sure it appears exactly as you want it to.

Photo: Motion Moving Gif Pictures + Gif Maker for Photo.

GIF Keyboard
GIF Keyboard is easier to use than many other GIF apps because it lives right within the Messages app. Once you add the keyboard, you can use it to easily search for great GIFs or to make and text your own without having to hop from one app to another.

Photo: GIF Keyboard.

GIF Camera
This one is strictly for Android phone owners. GIF Camera lets you shoot video that is then transformed instantly and easily into a GIF. You can adjust the frame rate and delete extra frames if you want to tweak what you recorded, and then save your GIF in the app, or share it with friends. The app has a section where you can browse funny GIFs, too.

Photo: GIF Camera.

GIF Editor
GIF Editor is basically a photo-editing app for GIFs. After you take your GIF using either video or burst mode, you can add filters, colorful backgrounds, and text. You also have the option to adjust the speed, so you can go with super slow motion or fast-forward for a dizzying effect.

Photo: GIF Editor.

LoopVid
This app is as simple as GIF-makers get. Take a one-second video of a moving object (longer videos will cost you $$$), and instantly share the resulting video loop on Instagram and Facebook, or via text or email. It will also be saved in your camera roll. Here, a coworker kissing a pumpkin got the glam GIF treatment.

Photo: LoopVid.

Live Studio
If you want to turn the Live Photos on your iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, or SE into GIFs, this is the app to do it. The $1 Live Studio app makes it incredibly easy to save Live Photos as GIFs or as videos β€” and it even lets you convert GIFs and videos back into Live Photos, if you want. It's a simple premise and simple app, but it gets the job done.

Photo: Courtesy Live Studio.

GIFYme
This GIF-maker incorporates one of our favorite Snapchat features β€” filters β€” in order to enhance your endlessly looping creations. GIFYme includes 30 different live filters, which you can then use on slow-motion GIFs, wiggle GIFs, and seamless loops.

You can also use the app to create time-lapse animation GIFs. When you're done, you can export your creations, either as GIFs or video files, and share them via your favorite apps, such as Instagram, Tumblr, and WhatsApp.

Photo: Courtesy GIFYme.

Motion Stills
Google's free app recently launched and is already earning rave reviews. And for good reason: The app lets you to turn any Live Photo into a high-quality GIF in seconds. Plus, Motion Stills' stabilization technology evens out any choppy filming on your part at the touch of a button. The resulting super-smooth GIF can be shared on Instagram and other social platforms.

The first GIF I posted using Motion Stills received double the number of likes my Instagram pictures usually get. Big props to Google.

Photo: Courtesy Google.

Giffer
Giffer offers a ton of versatility for your GIF-making endeavors. You can create GIFs from your Camera Roll's live photos, burst photos, videos, or pictures (as well as by pulling images from the web, or by copying and pasting them into the app). And then, if you want to share your GIF to Instagram, you can also save your creation as a video. The only catch is it's $3, and sometimes the output quality is on the low side.

Photo: Courtesy Giffer.

Boomerang
While technically not a β€œGIF” maker (a GIF is, after all, just a file type), this Instagram app takes a bunch of photos at once and, it explains, "stitches them together to make a video" that loops. Leaner than most traditional GIF apps, Boomerang is simple and sleek, offering easy shares to Facebook and Instagram (duh), as well as options to save to your camera roll.

Photo: Courtesy Instagram.

Phhhoto
An oldie (relatively speaking, since it launched almost a year and a half ago), but a goodie, Phhhoto is a veritable social network, with over a million registered users and over 10 million little, looping pieces of content on its platform. Its discovery tab, called β€œWOW,” showcases some pretty mind-boggling looping videos, and it’s always fun to check in and see the app's latest filters, which it updates frequently to correspond with holidays, seasons, and pop culture trends. Phhhoto is available for iOS and Android.

Photo: Courtesy Phhhoto.

Ultra Text
For more textually driven individuals, Ultra Text turns any written message into a brightly colored animated one β€” and it's compatible with Facebook Messenger to boot. It’s almost as if YO! (Remember that? Yeah, you do) let you say something more than...well, you know.

The Ultra Text iOS and Android apps offer a ton of fonts, colors, and stickers that create a dramatic texting GIF. This is particularly useful for attention grabbing when a good old-fashioned text goes unanswered.

Photo: Courtesy Ultra Text.

GifX
If GifX were a senior in a high school full of other GIF-making apps, its yearbook superlative might be β€œmost likely to follow Phish around.” That is to say: GifX is undoubtedly the trippiest of all the GIF-making apps out there β€” and the quickest way to jazz up your static camera roll.

Either take a picture or choose one from your iPhone’s photo library. Then, add a layer of screen-saver-esque movements on top. You can control the opacity of the image's top layer, making the effects more or less obvious. Then, you can save your trippy little snippet as a video or a GIF.

Photo: Courtesy Gifx.

Giffage
When something is co-founded by funny guy β€œF*CK Jerry,” the humor bar is set pretty high. Giffage gives that bar a high five; it’s fun β€œAF,” as they say.

The iOS app uses the GIPHY library as its GIF source and includes all of GIPHY's awesome categorizations β€” like a dedicated corgi category, for example. Swiping down gives you a menu of search options, organized by categories, trending, and things you’ve β€œloved,” and swiping left will give you an almost-endless horizontal feed of moving images. The coolest feature is the ability to invent your own category and have access to your creations (along with any other GIFs in the app) right from your keyboard. Who needs the eye-roll emoji when you can just send a GIF of your very own eyeballs?

Photo: Courtesy Giffage.

DSCO Cam
Leave it to the team that brought you VSCO Cam to make GIFs feel less like deep internet humor and more, well, β€œcool.” This is the app for the more refined GIF-maker, if you will.

You can hold your finger on the shutter for a longer GIF, or just tap for a quick, moving loop. There’s a slick left swipe that takes you through signature VSCO filters, such as M5, A6, and B1, plus a new, MTV rainbow-hued overlay. Another subtle, two-finger swipe-down gesture will take you to your settings. Once you’re satisfied with your GIF, tapping β€œpublish to VSCO” will share your creation to the VSCO community, automatically save it to your camera roll, and then offer up other standard Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram shares. It's available on iOS only, for now.

Photo: Courtesy VSCO Cam.

GIPHY Cam
It makes sense that GIPHY Cam would snag the top spot on our list. GIPHY has been the best at bringing β€œall the GIFs” to the internet since its inception in 2013. Its latest iOS app for actually making gifs, Giphy Cam, is evidence that its team just gets it.

GIPHY's super-clean and straightforward user flow lets you hold the shutter to record a long GIF (something DSCO Cam also adopted) or tap for a looping GIF. But what really wins it for GIPHY Cam is its superb selection of filters and effects. From adding a β€œVHS” grainy blur to superimposed cats, tears, and tacos, this app is easy to use, endlessly entertaining, and just all-around fun.

Photo: Courtesy GIPHY.

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Mark Zuckerberg & His Daughter Max Are Totally Twinning In This New Photo

September 15, 2017, 1:30 pm
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Mark Zuckerberg recently shared a photo on Facebook of himself walking with his oldest daughter Max (or Maxima), according to People. And they are totally twinning in the pic.

"I think Max is really starting to take after me since I've been on paternity leave," Zuckerberg captioned the photo, which shows him holding Max' hand as they walk next to a pool, wearing almost the exact same thing. (Gah, too cute.)

Of course, it's no secret that Zuckerberg has never been the most creative dresser. So it's no surprise that his progeny is taking after him.

Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan welcomed their second daughter in August β€”Β and named her after her birth month. The Facebook CEO is currently taking a paternity leave for two months after August's birth. (He also took two months off after Max was born.)

In an earlier post, he touted the benefits of paternity leave, noting that Facebook gives all new parents four months off. "This time, I'm going to take advantage of Facebook's option to take leave in parts," he wrote. "I'll take a month off to be with Priscilla and the girls at the beginning, and then we'll spend the whole month of December together as well. I'm looking forward to bonding with our new little one and taking Max on adventures."

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Some Apple Fans Might Have To Wait A Little Longer For An iPhone X

September 17, 2017, 6:00 pm
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After Apple's latest announcement, people were basically salivating over the iPhone X, the top-of-the-line smartphone that seemed like it was sent to consumers from the future. With pre-selling set to start on October 27, many Apple die-hards are already set to enter their credit card info. However, the latest news from Mashable says that anyone unwilling to go through the pre-order process may not get an iPhone X until 2018.

Using information gathered from KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Mashable notes that Apple's supply of the iPhone X may be even lower than expected. That means the tech giant might not be shipping out the iPhone X in huge numbers to appease all the demand that's sure to come with its release. Taking into account the fact that Apple can't manufacture the iPhone X as quickly as past models due to its new, super-sharp OLED display, Kuo predicts that the new phones won't be readily available for purchase until next year.

"Due to supply constraints, we expect market demand won't be fully met before 1H18," Kuo wrote in a report sent to according to MacRumors.

Another reason for the iPhone X's slow rollout may have to do with the release of its little sister, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. Available sooner, with stores expecting the handsets on September 22, Apple may be letting the lower-priced smartphone have its own time in the spotlight. It's not breaking news, however.

Mashable notes that every time a new iPhone gets released (annually, at this point), there's a frenzy surrounding everyone trying to get a new model. That leads to analysts having to change their predictions and declare that demand is outpacing supply. Of course, anyone who can't wait will definitely go the way of pre-ordering to get the phone ASAP, but for those who want their phones from brick-and-mortar Apple stores or other retailers, there could be a long wait ahead.

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Nikon's New Campaign Speaks To Much Larger Issues Of Representation

September 18, 2017, 11:45 am
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In its latest, much-discussed campaign, camera company Nikon attempted to point out the diversity of the photo ambassadors testing its latest camera, the D850.

"To demonstrate the versatility of the revolutionary #Nikon#D850, 32 professional photographers, from the fields of wedding, sports, nature, and commercial photography will be putting the latest DSLR to the test," wrote NikonAsia in an Instagram post announcing the campaign.

What Nikon failed to recognize, was that while it tapped photographers from a wide range of specialities, it did not include a single woman. Online photography community Fstoppers was the first to call attention to the fact that all 32 professional photographers included were men. The lack of diversity is glaringly obvious in a now-viral (and deleted) photo showing the group together, all holding their shiny new cameras.

In the days following the campaign's debut, lists of accomplished female photographers have circulated, and women and men alike have taken to Twitter to express their outrage. Nikon's official statement is little more than an attempt to soften a PR disaster. Instead of apologizing, the company went on the defensive, saying the female photographers who were invited weren't able to attend.

While Nikon USA's Twitter account also issued some apologies, even these show some laziness: The majority of the replies are the same cut and pasted response.

The sad truth is that Nikon's lack of female representation is not surprising, nor is the company alone in this. Ten of the most recent photos posted on Canon USA 's Instagram account were shot by men. The Sony Action Cam account fares just a bit better, with just three of the 10 most recent photos of the day coming from female photographers. Other top camera companies show similarly male dominated posts.

The problem is not a lack of women in the space; it's that we see women in front of the camera, as the subjects, more often than we see them behind it, as the people capturing the shots.

Some female photographers are taking action on their own: Earlier this year, photographer Daniella Zalcman created the website Women Photograph to "elevate the voices of female visual journalists" and combat gender biases within the space. (The site also welcomes gender nonconforming, transgender, and genderqueer photographers.)

But to see more mainstream progress, the public will need to continue to hold major camera companies accountable for addressing gender representation on their social media channels and in their campaigns. And while we're on the subject, the cameras women use don't need to be pink, sparkly, or made specifically for them. That should go without saying.

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7 Vacation Rental Sites To Know Besides Airbnb

September 18, 2017, 11:50 am
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It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Airbnb has changed the hospitality industry forever. The nine-year-old startup is now the second-largest lodging company, according to a report by STR. The popular site is now synonymous with the "sharing economy, " and continues to impress us with its collection of unique and over-the-top listings.

That said, if Airbnb is the only vacation rental booking platform on your radar, you're seriously missing out. There are a number of innovative startups equally deserving of your attention. On top of connecting travelers looking for rooms to hosts with availability, they also offer unique twists to differentiate themselves from Airbnb, ranging from special services to exclusive discounts. For your next vacation, consider giving these seven companies a try.

Innclusive

Embracing diversity is the name of the game at this rental platform. Originally named Noirebnb, the site was founded to provide a discrimination-free space for black travelers. Available in 130 countries, the serviced has recently relaunched to become open to travelers from all backgrounds. To minimize the possibility of discrimination, the photo of the booker is only revealed after the transaction is completed.

Homestay

The online community aims to link travelers with local hosts in over 160 countries. Unlike Airbnb, the hosts on this platform are always present to share the stay. This, along with the option to match with hosts according to your interests, can result in a more authentic experience. Guests on Homestay are also not required to pay any miscellaneous fees, whereas Airbnb charges around 6 to 12% of the total rate for cleaning and service.

9Flats

Hailing from Germany, this company specializes in apartment rentals in major metropolitan areas throughout Europe. There are no additional fees for guests, with instant booking available on some properties. The site is highly regarded for its straightforward layout and abundance of affordable deals.

Overnight

This startup is planning on revolutionizing the home sharing industry by incorporating your social network into the listing results. The site looks and operates a lot like Airbnb, but you'll need to be connected to your Facebook profile to join. Special rates are available for people in the same social network as the host β€” be it a Facebook interest group or an alumni association. Read our detail write up on how the site works here.

Onefinestay

This private home rental site is considered a fancier version of Airbnb, offering a collection of chic city apartments in top city destinations like London, Paris, Rome, and NYC. Seasonal availability is also possible in the Hamptons, the French Riviera, and other popular summer destinations. The one detail that sets the site apart is the service: Guests are provided with hotel-like touches such as an iPhone pre-loaded with city tips, fresh linens, and an in-person welcome by the staff. The prices are higher too, but getting to call a luxury apartment your temporary home β€” with hotel-grade services β€” is sometimes worth the splurge.

TripAdvisor Rental

Did you know that TripAdvisor has a holiday rental section? Having acquired vacation rental services FlipKey, HouseTrip, and Niumba, the travel behemoth has a presence in over 200 countries. Whether you're looking for a private room in a shared home or a beachfront villa, the site has you covered. The best part? TripAdvisor's review system is incorporated into all of the listings, and you'll be able to peruse thousands of comments from users who have stayed there.

Casamundo

This site is your go-to if you're planning a Eurotrip: The company has over 400,000 rentals in its database, with a robust presence in Europe. Its offerings are also unique: From castles in Tuscany to Dutch windmill houses, look no further for unforgettable properties you won't find anywhere else.

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