My Favorite Method for Scrambling Eggs Isn’t What I Predicted

This is no time to be making inferior scrambled eggs—each shell must be cracked with a purpose and cooked to perfection. While you’ve probably scrambled a good few eggs in your time, it’s important to know that there are multiple ways to set up your scramble, and each way delivers a different result. Find out if you’ve actually been scrambling up the perfect egg, or if you need to switch your method. 

Heat and added ingredients

There are plenty of ingredients that can alter the texture of your eggs, so I wanted to keep the components consistent to zoom in on which texture results from each scrambling tool (whisk, fork, immersion blender, and jar shaking). 

The addition of mix-ins like chopped meat, herbs, or cheese and using water, milk, cream or nothing at all can change things (some more than others). Of course, it depends on what you’re hungry for that day, but I will say this: too much of any liquid can lead to rubbery scrambled eggs. In an effort to evaporate the excess moisture you may resort to cooking the eggs longer and the proteins will constrict until they’re tight and chewy. Always use a small amount if you use any liquid at all, about a teaspoon per two eggs.

If you’re completely starting from scratch with how you like to cook scrambled eggs, then you might want to read a bit more about cooking them low and slow or hot and fast. Low and slow can lead to more custardy eggs with tiny, porridge-like curds. Hot and fast will give you larger hunks of egg. 

How to scramble your favorite eggs

In these tests I prepared the mixture the same way every time—two eggs with a half-teaspoon of heavy cream and a pinch of salt—and cooked them in a lightly buttered pan over low heat just bridging on medium. I was surprised to note the results. There is no wrong scrambled egg, by the way. Some folks like them dry and some like them custardy. Either way, here’s how to achieve the best one for you. 

Regular fork scramble

Fork-scrambled eggs on a white plate.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

I expected this to yield the most clumpy egg, and firm pieces. Surprisingly, a classic fork scramble for 20 to 30 seconds yields a soft, medium curd. Compared to the immersion blender and the whisk, fork scrambling is actually a pretty gentle way to handle your eggs. The eggs ended up tender and silky. 

Immersion blender

Immersion blender-scrambled eggs on a white plate.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

 As expected, running the immersion blender for 30 seconds created a heavily aerated mixture—the egg liquid nearly doubled in volume in that short blending time. This resulted in quick-cooking, fluffy ribbons of egg. The fine bubbles cooked quickly along the sides of the pan and naturally I’d swipe along the sides to stir them into the center. This scramble was more firm and fluffy and the texture was light.

Shake ‘em in a jar 

Scrambled eggs on a white plate.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

I don’t usually shake my eggs, but I might start. My eggs, salt, and cream went into a small jar (an old amarena cherry jar from Trader Joe’s. IYKYK.) and I shook the heck out of it for about 30 seconds (with the lid on, of course). Even though I shook it vigorously, this method is one of the more gentle scrambling methods. Instead of using a metal tool, which adds air to the mix, the jar contains the eggs as they break up against the walls.

This scramble was soft and silky, even more so than with using a fork. It’s easier to get small curds with this mixing style. I didn’t go full-porridge here, but if you do like a creamy, porridge consistency then you should start jar-shakin’ and cook them on very low heat.

Whisked

Whisked scrambled eggs on a white plate.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

I expected whisked eggs to be similar to fork-scrambled, but things turned out differently again. Quickly whisking my eggs led to similar results to using the immersion—firm, fluffy ribbons. You can see that the ribbons are shorter (more like chips) than what the immersion blender produced. I could argue that they were less firm than the immersion, but if I had to do a blind taste test, I’d probably confuse the two. 

The pattern from these four tests comes down to aeration. The more you agitate your eggs and add air bubbles to them, the fluffier and firmer they will be. Obviously the immersion blender has a lot of power behind it so you’ll get plenty of foam with an appliance like this. The whisk is designed to whip air into liquids so, again, more foam. 

The more gentle you are with your scramble—a four-tined fork or a simple shake—keeps your egg mixture tender and silky, with fewer bubbles incorporated. I thought I’d be immersion blending my scramble from here on out, but I very well might become a jar shaker. Life is unpredictable, isn’t it?

‘Severance’ Theme Song Gets A Heavy Metal Remake

This is a video of guitarist Mat of Artificial Fear performing a heavy metal cover of the theme song from ‘Severance’. It’s a tasty jam (like strawberry balsamic or peach apricot). I’m actually in the process of rewatching the first season of ‘Severance’ with my girlfriend’s intention of binging Season 2 as soon as it’s all released. Because if there’s one thing she loves to do, it’s tear through a show we waited 3 years be released in just two days. Personally, I like to savor and marinate on the things I watch, but she’s like a puppy who just ripped open a bag of dog food while its owners are away.

UK watchdog finds Apple’s mobile browser policies are restricting innovation

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined that the country’s mobile browser markets are “not working well for consumers and businesses” and “holding back innovation.” Most of the watchdog’s ire is directed at Apple for policies such as requiring mobile browsers to use its engine, WebKit and, thus, limiting competitor’s abilities to differentiate from Apple. The report also points out that Safari has received access to key functions of WebKit and the operating system, earlier or to a greater extent than its competitors. This final report ends an investigation that began nearly four years ago. 

The CMA released a preliminary report in November, but has since removed two issues, thanks to updates from Apple, along with Google. In December, a software update at Apple changed how people can swap their default browser, while Google shared new evidence around its prompts created to encourage Android users to have Chrome as their default browser. 

The concerns around limiting innovation and growth remain. The independent inquiry group in charge of the final report, however, pulls its recommendation from another ongoing probe. In January, the CMA began investigating whether Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems, including their mobile browsers, should be given Strategic Market Status (SMS). This designation would allow the CMA to have greater regulatory powers over Apple and Google, as well as issuing pro-competition directives. 

If Apple and Google do receive an SMS designation, then the inquiry group recommends the CMA imposes “measures which could enhance the ability of other browsers to compete by offering new, innovative features to consumers, as well as enabling users actively to choose their preferred mobile browser which could drive competition.” It could take until the fall for the CMA to make a decision on Apple and Google’s SMS status. It’s unclear what, if any, steps the watchdog might take in the meantime to mitigate this report’s concerns. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-watchdog-finds-apples-mobile-browser-policies-are-restricting-innovation-140049033.html?src=rss

Keep Kids Off Roblox If You’re Worried, Its CEO Tells Parents

Parents who are worried about their children being on Roblox should not let them use it, the chief executive of the gigantic gaming platform has said. From a report: The site, which is the most popular in the UK among young gamers aged eight to 12, has been dogged by claims of some children being exposed to explicit or harmful content through its games, alongside multiple reported allegations of bullying and grooming.

But its co-founder and CEO Dave Baszucki insisted that the company is vigilant in protecting its users and pointed out that “tens of millions” of people have “amazing experiences” on the site. When asked what his message is to parents who don’t want their children on the platform, Mr Baszucki said: “My first message would be, if you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox.” […] “That sounds a little counter-intuitive, but I would always trust parents to make their own decisions,” he told BBC News in an exclusive interview.


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You Can Get a Lifetime Subscription to Babbel on Sale for $129 Right Now

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Practicing a new language can be fun, but premium language apps can be expensive. Babbel makes it easier with practical, bite-sized lessons designed for real-life use, focusing on conversations you’d actually have—ordering food, chatting with the locals, asking for directions (read PCMag’s in-depth review of Babbel to learn more—and right now, its lifetime subscription is on sale for a huge discount. Normally $599, it’s currently 71% off on StackSocial, bringing the price down to $169.99, plus you can use the promo code LEARN40 to knock off another $40, dropping the final price to just $129.99. The sale ends March 23. That’s a one-time payment—no recurring fees, no monthly charges—for lifetime access to all 14 languages (including French, German, Italian, and Spanish), making it cheaper than Babbel’s regular one-year plan at $215.40 (usually discounted).

Babbel’s lessons take just 10 to 15 minutes, so you can easily squeeze your practice into a commute or coffee break. And, unlike other language-learning apps that rely on repetitive vocabulary drills or random gamified exercises, Babbel follows a structured, linguist-designed curriculum that progressively increases in difficulty, so you don’t plateau after the basics (earning itself a place in PCMag’s “The Best Language Learning Apps for 2025” roundup). Plus, it’s not just passive learning—you get writing, speaking, and listening exercises with speech recognition technology to fine-tune your pronunciation, creating a far more immersive experience. Of course, dedication is still key, and no app will make you fluent overnight, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, this Babbel lifetime subscription gives you the tools to succeed—without the burden of ongoing costs.

Lip-Bu Takes Intel CEO Reins With A Focus On Winning Through Engineering

Lip-Bu Takes Intel CEO Reins With A Focus On Winning Through Engineering
It took a few months, but Intel has found its next chief executive officer in Lip-Bu Tan, an industry veteran with decades of semiconductor and software experience, and founding managing partner of Walden Catalyst Ventures. He succeeds Pat Gelsinger, who abruptly retired from Intel last December amid reports he was forced out by the company’s

WhatsApp is reportedly developing reply threads

WhatsApp never waits long between updates and this time it’s reportedly changing how replies look. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is currently working on a feature that would put all replies to the same message in one thread. A look at it appeared in an Android update available through the Google Play Beta Program. 

Right now, WhatsApp allows users to reply directly to a message and shows the original on top of the new message. However, users have to click through each response to see any earlier replies or the first message quoted. The new update would instead show every message in the thread in one place, making the flow of conversation clearer. 

WhatsApp with reply threads.
WABetaInfo

The update is currently under development, but should be available in individual or group chats, communities and channels. It would especially be beneficial for those latter ones, considering it’s always impossible to keep track of an ongoing conversation between multiple people. In the meantime, there’s no word yet of when this will roll out, though it probably won’t be too long if it’s already showing up in a beta. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-is-reportedly-developing-reply-threads-134516511.html?src=rss

Snapchat launches generative AI video Lenses

Snapchat’s future includes generative AI video Lenses, wherein users can watch themselves cuddling with virtual animals on screen. The first three Lenses the app has launched include the Racoon and Fox, which animate the animals into a Snap. Meanwhile, the third one called Spring Flowers will generate a bouquet of flowers and use a zoom-out effect to reveal who’s holding it. All three Lenses, as well as future ones Snapchat releases, are powered by a generative video model the company built in-house. Snap says it will be adding more every week to expand users’ options. 

“We have a long history of being first movers to bring advanced AR, ML and AI tools directly to our community, and we’re excited to see what Snapchatters create,” Snap said in its announcement. The company added an OpenAI-powered chatbot to its app back in 2023, and it has released more AI features since then. Last year, Snap introduced an AI video-generation tool for creators that allow users to create videos from text prompts. The tool was released to a small subset of users, but it showed that the company was working on AI video for the app. 

For now, only users paying for the $16-per-month Snapchat Platinum subscription tier will have access to the app’s new AI video Lenses. The new Lenses will show up first in the carousel for subscribers and will work with both front and rear cameras. Any AI video a user creates will be automatically saved to Memories, and they can then share them directly with friends, to their Stories and with the public through Spotlight.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/snapchat-launches-generative-ai-video-lenses-130056731.html?src=rss

This Highly Rated 75-Inch 4K ULED TV Is Under $500 Right Now

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The Hisense 75U6H ULED TV is now down to $488 from $698, making it a solid budget pick for those who want a big-screen experience without spending over a grand (or even half a grand).

This PCMag Editor’s Choice-winning 75-inch 4K TV delivers bright, vivid colors thanks to its quantum-dot technology and local dimming backlight, giving a noticeable boost to HDR content. That said, its contrast isn’t as deep as pricier models, and while colors pop, blacks can look a little washed out. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, ensuring compatibility with most modern streaming content. However, it’s a 60Hz panel, meaning motion might not feel as smooth as on higher-end models—something gamers might notice. It does include VRR (variable refresh rate), but without AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, serious gamers might want to look elsewhere. Additionally, its input lag sits at 11.1 ms, which is acceptable for casual gaming but not ideal for fast-paced competitive play, notes the PCMag review.

For streaming and smart features, this TV runs on Google TV, which means a smooth interface and access to all major streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO Max, and more. It supports Google Assistant hands-free, letting you control the TV or smart home devices just by saying, “Hey Google.” If you’re an Apple user, AirPlay 2 is also supported, so you can stream directly from your iPhone or Mac. The TV’s remote is pretty standard with a large circular navigation pad, volume and channel rockers, and dedicated buttons for streaming services like YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix. There’s also a built-in mic on the remote, so you can use voice commands without shouting at the TV. The TV includes four HDMI ports (one with eARC), two USB ports, an Ethernet port, an optical audio output, and multiple 3.5mm jacks for headphones and other connections. It also features a cable tuner, though it doesn’t support ATSC 3.0. For setup, you can place it on a tabletop with its metal legs or mount it on the wall using VESA-compatible screws.

Samsung will cut its Galaxy Store commission to 80/20 for games

Samsung is changing its revenue-sharing policy and reducing its cut for certain apps so that developers and publishers can get more money from sales. As part of its announcements ahead of this year’s upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC), the company said that it’s implementing an 80/20 revenue share model for games on the Galaxy Store. Previously, Samsung had a 70/30 sharing model, wherein it took 30 percent of an app’s revenue. The new model also applies to games built on the company’s cloud gaming platform, which allows players to stream games without downloading them. 

By adopting the new model, Samsung is undercutting Google, which implements a 70/30 split. However, it’s worth noting that Google only takes a 15 percent cut for the first $1 million dollars in revenue that the developer earns each year. The company will only take a 30 percent cut for earnings in excess of $1 million. Google also takes 15 percent for automatically renewing subscription purchases. 

Samsung’s Galaxy Store is nowhere near as big Google’s Play Store, but it still comes pre-installed on Samsung phones and could still be used to purchase games by millions of users around the world. An 80/20 structure would still benefit a developer even if they mainly get their business from the Play Store on Android devices. The new revenue-sharing model will take effect on May 15, 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/samsung-will-cut-its-galaxy-store-commission-to-8020-for-games-130008053.html?src=rss

Anthropic CEO Says Spies Are After $100 Million AI Secrets In a ‘Few Lines of Code’

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei is worried that spies, likely from China, are getting their hands on costly “algorithmic secrets” from the U.S.’s top AI companies — and he wants the U.S. government to step in. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event on Monday, Amodei said that China is known for its “large-scale industrial espionage” and that AI companies like Anthropic are almost certainly being targeted. “Many of these algorithmic secrets, there are $100 million secrets that are a few lines of code,” he said. “And, you know, I’m sure that there are folks trying to steal them, and they may be succeeding.”

More help from the U.S. government to defend against this risk is “very important,” Amodei added, without specifying exactly what kind of help would be required. Anthropic declined to comment to TechCrunch on the remarks specifically but referred to Anthropic’s recommendations to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) earlier this month. In the submission, Anthropic argues that the federal government should partner with AI industry leaders to beef up security at frontier AI labs, including by working with U.S. intelligence agencies and their allies.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.