I get really carsick if I try to read in a moving vehicle. And there's a reason for that: my eyes and my sense of movement are out of sync.
At least, that's according to the CDC, which states that motion sickness, "happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses." Your inner ear is a sack of fluid that moves when you do, giving you an innate sense of movement. If you're in a car and watching the horizon, your senses are aligned. But if you're looking at your phone, your senses are confusing each other. It's similar to the reason VR games make some people feel sick.
The free Android app KineStop aims to help. The application overlays a transparent horizon, and a number of transparent dots, across your entire screen. The accelerometer on your phone is used to move these reference points as your phone moves, helping to reduce the conflict between your eyes and your inner ear. You can turn the feature on manually in the application or, if you prefer, you can set it up to turn on automatically when you're in a moving car.
I tried it out, wondering if it would help with my carsickness, and it did—surprisingly well. Normally I can't read for more than a few minutes without feeling sick, but the KineStop app helped me do so for longer, without discomfort. I'm still not going to be able to read novels during a long road trip, mind you, but I can look up the next restaurant on a road trip without vomiting, and I call that a win.
Credit: Justin Pot
KineStop is totally free, though there's a $3.50 pro version that adds themed overlays, including one that makes it look like your phone is a half-empty beer. It's great to support a developer, but I also think the free version will work fine for most everyone.
fCyber Monday scams in 2025 are increasing at a time when phishing, credential theft, and financial cybercrime are already at some of the highest levels seen this year. Attackers know shoppers are distracted by discounts and rushed checkout decisions, and they are using this moment to launch more convincing scams than ever.
In November, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warned that phishing emails are becoming extremely realistic. One recent example involved emails pretending to be from the Canton of Zurich. The messages copied the government’s logo, layout, and tone, pressuring people to update information for “new cryptocurrency tax rules.” Victims were taken to a fake website that looked exactly like the real portal. After entering personal and financial details, they were redirected to the genuine website, so nothing felt suspicious.
This pattern isn’t limited to Europe. Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report 2025 found that 52% of cyberattacks are now financially motivated, while only 4% relate to espionage. The report shows attackers are more focused on quick money, data theft, and extortion than anything else.
Japan has also seen a spike. The Financial Services Agency reported nearly USD 700 million in unauthorized trades since March, after cybercriminals stole login details from fake securities websites and infostealer malware. Attackers then sent follow-up phishing emails pretending to be regulators to lure victims again, showing how far they go to keep the scam going.
With these global trends already in motion, Cyber Monday scams in 2025 are expected to hit even harder, using fake deals, phishing emails, and fraudulent apps to trick shoppers during the busiest online shopping week of the year.
Fake Deals: The Most Common Cyber Monday Scam
Fake deals continue to be one of the biggest Cyber Monday scams. Criminals create websites that look identical to popular shopping platforms. These fake pages advertise impossible discounts and use professional product images to appear genuine.
This year, attackers are using:
Paid ads to push fake “Cyber Monday” offers
AI-generated product photos
Fake customer support chatboxes
Websites designed to collect card details and passwords
Many of these sites even send fake confirmation emails to make the purchase look real.
Phishing Emails Designed for Holiday Shoppers
Phishing emails increase sharply during Cyber Monday week because shoppers expect order updates, delivery alerts, and discount codes. Attackers take advantage of this by sending emails that look like they’re from Amazon, courier services, or major retailers.
Common tactics include:
“Your order has been delayed” links
Payment failure warnings
Early-access Cyber Monday discounts
QR codes leading to fake login pages
These messages often use the correct logos and a domain name that looks almost identical to the real brand, making them harder to notice.
Fake Mobile Apps Posing as Shopping Tools
Another growing Cyber Monday scam involves fake mobile apps disguised as coupon apps, cashback tools, or sale trackers. Once installed, these apps can access personal details and intercept OTPs.
Some harmful apps can:
Read text messages
Capture saved card information
Monitor keystrokes
Send fake push notifications
Security researchers have also found fake apps pretending to be BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) services, which become very active during Cyber Monday sales.
AI-Powered Social Media Scams
Social media is now one of the biggest sources of Cyber Monday scams. Attackers use AI to create fake influencer posts, discount videos, and promotional codes that link to malicious websites.
These scams spread quickly because criminals use thousands of fake likes and comments to make the posts look trustworthy.
Even after Cyber Monday ends, the impact continues. Stolen passwords and card details are used for:
Cybercriminals also test stolen password combinations across multiple websites, knowing many people reuse the same credentials.
How Shoppers Can Stay Safe
Following are the recommendations to avoid Cyber Monday scams in 2025. These easy habits help reduce risk during the holiday shopping rush.
Double-check website URLs
Avoid deals sent only through social media DMs
Download apps only from official stores
Turn on two-factor authentication
Be careful with QR codes in emails
Never enter card details on unfamiliar sites
Cyber Monday scams in 2025 are becoming harder to spot as criminals use fake deals, phishing emails, and fraudulent apps to target busy shoppers. With global phishing incidents rising and financial cybercrime at record highs, staying alert is the best way to shop safely this season.
Since you're already carrying your phone with you everywhere like a digital appendage, you might as well use it for journaling. It's always at hand, can capture photos, videos, and voice notes as well as text, and is able to log locations, trips and more. Its new AI tools can even draft a few entries automatically for you.
What's more, your phone probably now comes with a journal app preinstalled: Apple's Journal app launched in 2023, and a brand new Journal app from Google, initially exclusive to the Pixel 10, is now available on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 too (apparently because these phones also have Gemini Nano on board). Plus, a wide selection of third-party options is available on the Android and iOS app stores.
In recent days, in an attempt to determine whether or not journaling on my phone might be for me, I've tested out both the Apple and Google offerings, as well as some of the best third-party alternatives. Here's what I found, and which apps I'd recommend if you want to log your thoughts and feelings on your phone.
The built-in options
Journal by Apple
Let's start with Journal by Apple, launched in December 2023. It's fair to say there haven't been a ton of updates released for the app since then, but all of the essentials are covered: Your journal entries can combine text, photos, videos, audio, locations, and sketches, and you can even set up multiple journals for different purposes.
I do like the way this app makes suggestions for journaling, particularly in terms of recent locations and photos—it means it's easier to get started or to jump back in after a while. There are also a good number of options for what you can attach to your journal entries, and I can see myself using the mood slider a lot.
Journaling with Apple.Credit: Lifehacker
Journal by Google
As for the Journal app that Google recently launched for Android, it is limited to those with a phone from the Pixel 8, Pixel 9, and Pixel 10 series. It's also pretty bare bones: I was able to log text, photos, videos, and places, as well as fitness data collected through Health Connect, but there's nothing here for audio or moods.
In addition, the interface is rather plain—much more spartan than the Apple equivalent. You do get a neat overview of all your posts, but it's not particularly inspiring, and you can't configure multiple journals. In addition, the AI-powered prompts for what to write about remain exclusive to Pixel 10 handsets, so you have to do without these on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9.
Google's Journal app sticks to the basics.Credit: Lifehacker
Neither of these are bad apps; each will do the job of getting down your thoughts in a digital format, with some useful extras attached. The biggest benefits are they're both well integrated into their respective operating systems, and you don't need new accounts to use them. Apple's journal app is certainly better than Google's at the moment, though it's had a two-year head start.
If you just want something quick and simple that's made by the company that made your phone (and that may well come preinstalled on your phone), then they're fine. However, these two journal apps remain rather bare bones compared to the other options, as well as keeping you locked in on either Android or iOS. That's why, if you're serious about your journaling, I think it's worth exploring a third-party app installed.
The best third-party journal apps
Day One
Day One was one of the first mobile journals to appear.Credit: Lifehacker
Outside of Google and Apple, Day One (Android and iOS) has long been one of the best journaling apps around—and you can take it with you if you ever jump between the Apple and Google platforms. It's been around since 2011 and is stacked with features, including multiple view types, prompts, tags, summaries, recaps, and a gorgeous design that looks great on every device.
Your entries can include all the usual features, plus weather details, playlists, health data, social media posts, and more. You get a lot for free, but there is also a premium plan available for $50 a year. It gives you support for unlimited images, videos, and audio, plus extras like the ability to create journal entries over email.
5 Minute Journal
5 Minute Journal focuses on positivity.Credit: Lifehacker
As someone just dipping a toe into the world of journaling, 5 Minute Journal (Android and iOS) appeals right from the name. The idea is you don't have to spend too long jotting down your thoughts and ideas each day, and the app is geared towards getting you to record the more positive aspects of your life, boosting mindfulness and well-being.
I like the writing prompts and journaling reminders this app provides to keep you motivated, as well as the really simple way you can log your mood as you go. It's also a beautifully designed and organized app—a completely different aesthetic experience than a more utilitarian option like Google Journal. However, some features (including unlimited photos and videos) requires a premium subscription, which starts at $5 a month.
Rosebud Journal
Rosebud comes with a few AI prompt extras.Credit: Lifehacker
One more recommendation from my own experience: Rosebud (Android and iOS). It's branded as "AI-powered" but thankfully you don't have to worry too much about that, and it does a really nice job of summarizing and tracking your thoughts over time, as well as encouraging you to jot stuff down in the here and now.
The app does quite a bit of hand-holding and prompting, but that's perfect if you're just getting started or struggling to journal each day, and you can always just jot down standard journal entries with text and images if you prefer. As you might have guessed given the other options on my list, there is a pro-level subscription for $13 a month that gives you a lot more insights in terms of past entries, trends, and emotional patterns and triggers, if an AI's summary of your life is interesting to you.
The best journal app is the one you use
One of the benefits of there being so many journal apps out there is that there really is something for everyone, so there's no harm in testing out Google and Apple's offerings first—they are, after all, completely free. But for journaling apps that really invest in user design and features, there are much better options out there. Now I just need to pick the one I'm going to stick with, because in the end, the best journal app is the one that you use consistently.
If you've spent years curating playlists in Apple Music or another streaming service, you can now easily transfer your playlist to your Spotify library without needing to start from scratch or pay for a third-party service. Playlist transfers are now built into Spotify thanks to a new integration with TuneMyMusic, which facilitates music syncing, sharing, transfers, and backups across platforms.
To initiate a playlist transfer from Apple Music or another streaming service (YouTube Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, etc.), open the Spotify mobile app and tap Your Library. Scroll to the bottom of the page, tap Import your music > Get Started, and follow the on-screen prompts to connect with TuneMyMusic. You can choose which platform to transfer music from, and your playlists will populate in Spotify. Your playlists will remain on the original platform, as they are simply being copied into Spotify. (This feature is currently rolling out to users, so you may need to update your Spotify app.)
Data portability across music streamers has been very limited, but it's getting better: TuneMyMusic was already compatible with Spotify, but users had to sign up for a free trial with the service and were capped at just 500 songs before needing to upgrade to a paid plan. (Other third-party playlist transfer tools include FreeYourMusic and Soundiiz.)
Apple Music has a music transfer feature built into its iOS and iPadOS (under Settings > Apps > Music) as well as the Apple Music app for Android and via the web. YouTube Music supports playlist imports and exports but requires a third-party service for platforms that don't permit direct transfers.
In the near future, according to a recent news release, Meta wants to systematically save and analyze its users’ conversations with the company’s own AI chatbot on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
The initiative will begin starting December 16th, 2025, initially outside the EU and UK where stricter data protection laws will force a later introduction. The data will be used to further personalize advertising and content, and it won’t be possible to opt out.
Meta wants to study your AI chats
According to Meta, all user inputs to the AI chatbot in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook will be stored and analyzed. The company wants to use this data to personalize advertising and content.
Anyone who talks to the AI about topics such as cycling or cooking, for example, could start receiving targeted ads for bicycles or kitchen appliances. Users might also start getting suggestions and recommendations for relevant groups and posts.
Meta emphasizes that sensitive information—such as health, religion, or political views—won’t be used for advertising purposes. Nevertheless, that kind of data is still technically collected and processed in order to provide the AI functions.
No way to opt out of data collection
There won’t be a way to keep using the AI chatbot while also opting out of data collection and analysis. If you don’t want Meta to read and study your conversations for advertising purposes, your only option is to stop conversing with the AI chatbot altogether.
WhatsApp offers an option for blocking the automatic integration of AI. To do this, open the relevant chat, go to the settings, and activate the “Advanced chat privacy” option. This must be done for each chat.
Note that Meta plans to compile the AI chat data collected across platforms. Anyone who has linked their accounts in the “Accounts Center” must be aware that AI interactions on one platform can also influence the display of advertising on another.
Meta says it won’t analyze private end-to-end encrypted messages between real contacts. Only AI conversations.
Launch in Europe still up in the air
While the new policy is due to come into force in most regions worldwide starting December, the launch date for the EU and UK remains unclear. Meta is still examining how the changes can be reconciled with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws.
According to the company, over one billion people already use Meta’s AI services, including the chatbot and the “Imagine me” image function.
What does this mean for users?
In the future, anyone who chats with Meta AI will have their full conversations stored and examined by Meta. As the data analysis can’t be deactivated after its introduction, the only protective measure you can take is to not use any Meta AI features. (In WhatsApp only, you can activate chat data protection on a per-chat basis.)
In 2015, ahead of my first vacation to Italy, I wanted to learn some Italian. It’s polite to know at least some basic words and phrases when visiting a foreign country, right? Enough to get by, anyway. With about three months to learn, I landed on Duolingo—and instantly fell in love with the way it teaches a language through implicit learning and gamification.
As someone who’s never been particularly academic, I still remember those days with a special fondness because I’d never had so much fun while learning something new. A lot of that had to do with the fact I could see (and feel) how much progress I was making.
Duolingo has been part of my life for a decade now, but I’m falling out of love with it. What was once my favorite app has turned into something I dread, and the fun I once had is no longer there. What happened?
I was using the free version of Duolingo, but liked it enough to start paying
That first Italian vacation I mentioned above went pretty well and I was able to enjoy basic conversations in Italian with the locals. Duolingo actually helped, and since then I’ve used the app to learn the basics of several other languages when visiting other countries. For a long time, it was the most exciting app on my phone.
Dave Parrack / Foundry
And in fact I liked Duolingo enough that I started paying for the privilege of using it. It was so useful that I felt the developers deserved some compensation, and more than that it was actually entertaining. So, why not? I rarely pay for premium subscriptions, but I gladly handed over my hard-earned money for a 12-month Super Duolingo plan.
Things went well for a couple of years, and I didn’t mind seeing my Super Duolingo subscription automatically renew every year… but then some frustrations started creeping in.
The negative quirks of Super Duolingo
For one, I became more concerned about maintaining my Duolingo streak and gaining XP—whether to make the top 3 in my current league, to get promoted to a higher league, or to avoid demotion to a lower league—instead of actually learning the languages. I found myself just doing the personalized practice session every day to earn a quick 20 XP. (For those unfamiliar, practices only review mistakes and weak areas.)
With Duolingo, I could earn more total XP by completing actual language lessons where I’m learning new words and phrases, but doing so takes a lot more time and effort. In order not to break my streak, I felt compelled to take the easy way out with easy XP sources. This meant I was making zero progress towards learning new languages.
Dave Parrack / Foundry
The gamification was great for building my streak—but once that streak was built, the gamification started backfiring.
There’s also the fact that Super Duolingo gives unlimited hearts, and that robs the whole gamified learning process of its stakes. With limited hearts, I’m encouraged to apply myself and do my best so I don’t lose any of them. With unlimited hearts, I can half-ass my way through lessons, knowing I can just try again if I mess up. I end up going through the motions without taking anything in or testing myself.
Recently, Duolingo has switched from its hearts system to an energy system, where every lesson costs a bit of energy. Energy slowly refills over time or instantly refills by watching a rewarded ad. You also get bonus energy for a perfect lesson. Is this better for learning? The jury’s still out.
I canceled Super Duolingo when I realized it was preventing me from learning
A couple of years later, when I realized the quirks of Super Duolingo—personalized practice being the easiest source of XP and unlimited hearts making it easy to coast through lessons—were holding back my learning, I decided to cancel my premium subscription.
Now I’m back to using the free version of Duolingo… and I’m actually enjoying it again. I’m actively learning new languages again, having returned to completing 1 or 2 lessons most days. With limited hearts (or now energy), I have to pay attention and do well. Consequences are a great tool for focusing the mind and putting in effort.
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Unfortunately, the free version of Duoling has its own annoyances to deal with, like paywalled features and advertisements.
Don’t get me wrong. Both of those things make sense for any freemium app. I understand that Duolingo isn’t a charity, that they need to earn revenue to keep the lights on and the app active developed. But it is an annoyance, nonetheless, and it’s kind of ironic that it keeps prodding me to try Super Duolingo for free. I’ve already tried it! And it’s no good.
I’m adapting to using the free version again, despite its many flaws
I still have Duolingo installed on my phone and I still use it most days. However, I’m now doing it on my own terms, tackling lessons when it suits me. I’m no longer subject to Duo’s passive-aggressive reminders to start a lesson so as not to lose my streak.
Ultimately, I’ve realized that maintaining a streak isn’t important. My streak was greater than 1,200 days at the time I canceled Super Duolingo, and losing it was the best thing that could’ve happened. It was freeing. I can now miss a day and not care less. Back to zero? Oh well. The world keeps turning and I can keep learning another day.
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Ultimately, I think Duolingo has got the balance wrong. The paid version encourages you to focus on the wrong stuff and takes away the good pressures that matter. You care more about keeping streaks and reaching new leagues instead of completing courses and passing actual learning milestones with real meaning behind them. As for the free version, it feels set up to annoy you enough to subscribe to the paid version.
I still think Duolingo has a lot of value and can be used to learn new languages in a fun and accessible way. However, right now, it’s hard to recommend it to anyone not already using it.
OpenAI is now launching Sora 2, according to a recent announcement post. Sora 2 is the next generation of the company’s AI video and audio generator, promising more realistic, physically accurate, and controllable results. Unlike previous models, which often “cheated” with physics, Sora 2 can generate more believable simulations.
Sora 2 can create videos of advanced movements—like gymnastics sequences, backflips on a paddleboard, and figure skating triple axels—while generating synchronized sound, dialogue, and effects. It can also insert people or objects from real-life videos, and recreate both their appearances and voices with high precision.
There’s also a new iOS app called Sora being launched. The app allows you to create and share AI videos, remix other people’s clips, and use the cameos feature to put yourself (or your friends) right into AI-generated scenes. If your cameo is used in a remixed clip, you’ll be counted as a co-creator (thus allowing you the power to remove said clip).
OpenAI emphasizes that this launch is focused on responsible use. The feed will encourage creation over passive consumption, and users will also be given tools to personalize their experience and minimize addictive scrolling.
At launch, the Sora app will only be available in the US and Canada. Sora 2 is available on the web. Both require an invitation from OpenAI.
Google is expanding the features of YouTube Premium, bringing the benefits of the paid subscription service to more devices, according to a recent community thread post. YouTube Premium subscribers will see the following improvements:
High-quality audio: Enjoy a more immersive listening experience with improved audio quality (256 Kbps). This feature, previously available in the YouTube Music app and only as an opt-in experiment on YouTube, is now fully available in the YouTube apps for Android and iOS. (But only for official/premium music videos and Art Tracks.)
Faster playback speeds: You can now speed up playback on multiple devices in 0.05x increments up to a maximum of 4x. Previously only available on Android and iOS, this YouTube Premium feature is now fully available on Android, iOS, and the web.
Skip forward: Jump to the most interesting parts of videos faster by seamlessly skipping to the most important moments via AI and your user data. This feature is already available on Android, iOS, and the web and is now also available for YouTube on smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Shorts Smart Downloads: Automatically download your favorite Shorts based on your previous viewing history so you always have something new to watch—without you having to do a thing. Previously available on Android and as an opt-in experiment on iOS, this feature is now fully available on iOS.
Shorts Picture-in-Picture (PiP): Have your Shorts play in a small window while you scroll through other content on your device. Previously available on Android and as an opt-in experiment on iOS, this feature is now fully available on iOS.
How much is YouTube Premium?
For individuals, YouTube Premium costs $13.99/month or $139.99/year. Families can get YouTube Premium Family for $22.99/month while students can get YouTube Premium Student for $7.99/month.
If you only care about an ad-free viewing experience and none of the other benefits that come with YouTube Premium, you might want to look into the new YouTube Premium Lite option. However, even Premium Lite still has some ads in some areas of YouTube.
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