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How to search for a seller on eBay in 2 different ways

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ebay logo on iphone

So you purchased an item on eBay and were particularly thrilled by the level of service you received from the seller.

If you want to buy from them again, you're able to easily search for a seller using eBay's advanced search feature. 

Alternatively, you can first find an item that seller has and then navigate to the seller's store from there.

How to search for a seller on eBay

1. Click on the "Advanced Search" link to the right of the search bar on the eBay homepage. This will bring you to the advanced search screen.

2. Hit the "By Seller" link on the left side of the page. 

How to search for a seller on eBay

3. Check the box that says "Only show items from" and then select the "Specific Sellers" bullet point.

How to search for a seller on eBay

4. Enter the seller's ID in the text box, and hit "Search."

5. If you don't know a seller's ID, you can find it by selecting an item that you know the seller has in his or her store. The seller's name will be on the right side of the page under "Seller Information." Select the name to be taken to a page that will display all the items that the seller has available for purchase.

How to search for a seller on eBay

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best budget laptops

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'Does PayPal have fees?': Yes, but not for all transactions — here's how you can avoid fees on PayPal

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paypal credit card

  • PayPal does have fees in some cases, but they're pretty easy to avoid as long as you're making basic transactions within the US. 
  • Fees are usually associated with using a credit or debit card to fund payments, sending money abroad, or using PayPal as a payment processor if you're a vendor.
  • Here's what you need to know about the various fees you might encounter with your PayPal account.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When it comes to basic transactions, like sending or receiving money between PayPal accounts within the US, the payment transfer platform is free. 

But that isn't the case for every transaction. Here are the situations when you might encounter fees on PayPal.

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

PayPal does have fees in some cases — here's how to avoid them

While you can transfer funds from your PayPal account to your bank for free, there is a fee for instant transfers: 1% of the transfer amount, capped at $10 per transaction. 

You'd also pay a fee to send money to a friend or family member using a debit or credit card. In that case, the fee would be 2.9% plus a fixed amount that varies depending on the currency used.

There are additional fees for sending money to people who live in other countries. For example, you'd pay at least 5% of the amount you planned on sending, plus $0.99 to $4.99, depending on your circumstances. 

If you were to use a credit or debit card to fund these transfers, you'd also pay a funding fee of 2.9% plus a fixed fee that varies depending on the receiver's country of residence.

Finally, if you were to sell items and use PayPal as your payment processor, you'll pay fees on each transaction:

  • Sales within the US: 2.9% plus 30 cents.
  • Discounted rate for eligible charities: 2.2% plus 30 cents.
  • International sales: 4.4% plus a fixed amount which varies by country.
  • PayPal Here card reader fee: 2.7% per swipe, or 3.5% plus 15 cents for manual transactions.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:



How to sync Notes from an iPhone to a Mac through iCloud, so your notes are always up-to-date

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iphone and computer

  • You can sync your Notes from an iPhone to your Mac using an iCloud account.
  • The option to turn this feature on is found in the settings on both devices.
  • Syncing your Notes is helpful for accessing them on multiple devices, so the Notes you write while on your iPhone will automatically appear on your Mac when you get home.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Notes are a great way to organize lists, ideas, and things to do — and thanks to iCloud, you can sync these notes across all your devices.

You probably use the Notes app the most on your iPhone, since it's great for jotting down quick thoughts and reminders throughout the day. You can easily sync these Notes by making a few changes to your iCloud settings. This will make it so any Note you take on one device will appear on all your iCloud-connected devices.

It's important to note that syncing will only work if you've signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices.

Here's how to set it up.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

MacBook Pro (From $1,299.99 at Best Buy)

How to sync your Notes on a Mac

First, you'll need to make sure your Mac is open for syncing.

1. Open the System Preferences app on your Mac. You can do this by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting "System Preferences..."

2. Click on the "iCloud" icon. If you're running macOS Catalina, it may also be called "Apple ID."

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3. Here you'll find details for your Apple ID account. The main portion of the screen should show which apps are currently using iCloud. Make sure the Notes app has a checkmark next to it. If it has an empty white box, click to check it off.

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You can also access the iCloud settings page by going directly through the Notes app on your Mac.

1. Open Notes.

2. Click on "Notes" in the menu bar at the top of your screen.

3. Click "Accounts." This will bring you to your account information. You may have linked multiple email accounts to your Mac, but iCloud should always be the first option.

4. Select your iCloud account in the pane on the left.

sync notes mac iphone

5. Scroll down and make sure the Notes app has a checkmark next to it. It's also important to note that syncing will only work if you've signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices, so make sure this account on your Mac will be the same as the account on your iPhone.

How to sync your Notes on an iPhone

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.

2. Tap your name at the top. This will bring you to your account details for your Apple ID, iCloud, and iTunes & App Store.

3. Tap "iCloud." 

4. This will bring you to your iCloud details page, where you'll find how much storage you've used for photos, backups, and documents, along with which apps are currently using iCloud. Find the Notes app and make sure the toggle is switched from gray to green. Tap or swipe to change this.

sync notes mac iphone 4.PNG

If for some reason your notes aren't syncing, make sure the default account is set to iCloud, as there is a chance the notes you are typing on your iPhone are linked to a different account. To do so:

1. Open your Settings app. 

2. From the homepage, scroll down to find the "Notes" tab in the fifth section. Tap to open it.

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3. Make sure the "Default Account" is set to "iCloud." If it's not, tap to change it. Your Notes will now automatically sync with your Mac.

sync notes mac iphone 6.PNG

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone accessories from cases to lightning cables

Join the conversation about this story »

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The best yoga socks

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Yoga socks aren't just for yoga anymore. With fitness exploding into a nearly $100 billion industry worldwide, more people are using these grippy socks, which often feature silicone dots on the bottoms, to bring stability and protection to their pilates, barre, dance, and outdoor workouts, too. 

Built for form and function, yoga socks provide extra stability in your yoga poses, which is especially helpful when you start to sweat during hot yoga or you "flip your dog" into Camatkarasana (wild thing pose) and your foot lands slightly off your yoga mat. They're great for assisting you in spreading your toes, too, which helps you gain flexibility so you can easily grip the hammocks with your feet in aerial yoga. 

Yoga socks can also keep your feet warm as you walk around colder gyms and studios, or during slower practices like restorative yoga, yin yoga, and meditation. Plus, with yoga expanding to the outdoors for goat yoga, and classes popping up in non-traditional spaces like cat cafes and breweries, the extra layer of protection is ideal for keeping you clean and safe from debris.

Now available in a wide variety of lengths (from ankle to knee length), colors, sizes, and patterns, yoga socks even include evolved offerings like organic cotton and matching socks for your toddler. You can find ones that cover each toe, or end just before the toes, enabling a more traditional yoga barefoot grip. Some are also engineered for softness, comfort, and staving off blisters, making a pair an essential item for your gym bag.

We've gathered and tested a variety of yoga socks for your inner wellness warrior, and made sure to include companies that give back to the community and care for the environment. Read on to see which pair will be your next go-to. 

Here are the best yoga socks you can buy:

Updated on 06/17/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

Updated on 10/29/19 by Mara Leighton: Updated prices and formatting. We are currently testing new products, so we'll update this guide soon.

Updated on 11/15/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Added Bombas Women's Grippers Ankle Socks, ToeSox Half-Toe Bellarina Grip Socks, Muezna Men's Non-Slip Yoga Socks, and Hylaea Yoga Socks for Women. 

SEE ALSO: The best yoga mats you can buy

The best yoga socks overall

ToeSox Half Toe Bellarina Grip Socks are comfortable, stylish, and provide excellent grip and support.

As a yoga teacher who practices in all kinds of environments, the ToeSox Half Toe Bellarina Grip Socks were hands (and feet) down my favorite of all the ToeSox options I tried. While I know that some people don't like the feeling of fabric between their toes, this design helps spread the toes for better stability.

The unique "half toe" option enables you to move freely and connect with your yoga mat or practice surface for that barefoot feel. Plus, the below-the-ankle fit and patented non-slip grip sole eliminate bunching and make flowing from pose to pose a breeze.

I love the more than 25 colors, patterns, and designs offered. Never have my feet looked so cute in socks before, and I wore them long after I rolled up my yoga mat because they are super comfortable and made me smile every time I looked down. Best of all, ToeSox purchases support various social organizations and causes, such as Soles4Souls / Clothes4Souls, Arbor Day Foundation, Keep A Breast, and Knock Knock Give a Sock.

Bustle, Health, and Shape all included the ToeSox Half Toe Bellarina Grip Socks on their lists of best yoga socks as well. 

Pros: Made with organic cotton, five-toe design allows toes to move and spread easily, unisex sizing

Cons: Some users said their pair stretched out after wear and that threads can come loose around the toes



The best yoga socks for the socially conscious

Bombas Women's Grippers Ankle Socks are high-quality, long-lasting yoga socks with a charitable component: for every purchase, a pair of socks is donated to someone in need.

New socks are one of the most requested items at homeless shelters, and Bombas pitches in by donating a pair of socks for each pair purchased. So, when you add the Bombas Women's Grippers Ankle Socks to your cart, know that another pair is on its way to someone in need.

Bombas puts as much care into the community as it does its sock technology. With a honeycomb arch support system, a Y-stitched heel for comfort, a seamless toe, and a blister tab, the Bombas Women's Grippers Ankle Socks will support your body, mind, and soul during your next yoga, pilates, or barre class.  

The socks come in four colors and four variants of gray and black. The eco-friendly gripper dots are made from ultra-thin PVC, and the company offers a 100-percent guarantee on all of their products. They also offer Bombas Men's Grippers Ankle Socks and a variety of Bombas Kids Grippers Socks.

Pros: A pair of socks is donated for each pair purchased, blister tab, Y-stitched heel for comfort

Cons: No toeless options, some users complain of holes shortly after wearing them



The best yoga socks for travel

Gaiam Grippy Yoga Socks are like a yoga mat on the go, providing full coverage for your feet to keep you stable while you practice in your hotel room or Airbnb.

Traveling doesn't mean you have to skip your yoga practice, thanks to Gaiam's Grippy Yoga Socks. These socks provide full-toe, non-slip traction while enhancing balance and stability. Meaning, you can feel confident that your feet will be both protected and warm when you practice on non-traditional surfaces.

Or if you do find a yoga studio in the new town you're exploring, you can keep your feet clean and fungus-free if you decide to use a rental mat. The feeling of being hygienic alone can help you relax more and focus on your downward-facing dog.

Gaiam's yoga socks are made from 95% polyester, and come in black with a few colors options for the grippy dots. Some buyers mention that their toes can tend to slip out, so be sure to find a snug fit. 

Pros: Full five-toe coverage, great for travel

Cons: Limited colors, made from polyester, can develop holes quickly



The best yoga socks for men

Muezna Men's Non-Slip Yoga Socks are versatile enough to provide a non-slip grip for all of your workouts, from hot power yoga to kickboxing and Tai Chi.

With a design on the instep and an anti-skid sole, Muezna Men's Non-Slip Yoga Socks add a dash of style and stability to your yoga practice or workouts. The combed cotton helps with sweat absorption, and the silica grips provide a sturdy non-slip surface so you can hold your stance and balance with ease.

In addition to yoga, these socks can help support you in other activities where you want to be barefoot but also need a layer of protection. They come in black with slight color variations for the instep design — including gray, navy, dark green, red, and blue — giving you the ability to color coordinate your socks with your workouts. 

Pros: Sizes up to men's 14, storage bag included

Cons: Sizing can be off, some buyers complain about the quality of the fabric 



The best yoga socks on a budget

The Hylaea Toeless Non-Slip Yoga Socks for Women have a five-toe design, giving you that barefoot sensation for better balance. 

Not sure about yoga socks in general or the five-toe design? With the Hylaea Toeless Non-Slip Yoga Socks for Women you can invest in a new yoga prop without breaking the bank.

The bottoms of these socks have silicone gel grips that are imported from Korea, providing a non-skid surface to protect you from sliding when doing yoga or pilates. The diamond-shaped grips are bigger than the usual dots on similar grip socks, and the heel has even larger grips for extra stability.

Bargain socks don't have to skimp on style, and many customer reviews mention how cute Hylaea's socks are, noting the criss-cross straps reminiscent of ballet shoes (those same straps also allow for more foot flexibility). 

Pros: Great grip, come with a mesh bag for storage and washing

Cons: Uncomfortable due to small toe holes, straps can tend to break



Check out our other great yoga gear guides

The best yoga mats you can buy

The first piece of gear you need to begin your yoga practice is a great yoga mat. Of all the yoga mats we've researched, the Manduka ProLite Yoga Mat is the best with its closed-cell surface that keeps out sweat and its dotted texture that keeps your hands and feet from slipping out of position during downward facing dog.


The best yoga blocks you can buy

Yoga blocks can help you get into difficult poses and deepen your flexibility or simply provide the support you need.



This convertible tote is a near-perfect gym bag — it's machine washable and compact yet deceptively spacious

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athena medium tote

  • Caraa Sport makes some of our favorite backpacks, totes, weekenders, and now gym bags.
  • The label blends style with functionality and versatility well, and its Athena Tote is a great example.
  • The Athena Tote Medium ($195) is machine-washable, converts from a tote to a messenger bag, and keeps its bulk to a rectangular shape.

Caraa Sport is the startup best known for their pricey but revered Studio bags. The brand has a recognizably modern, monochromatic style, but its customers most often rave about organization and performance — including us when we reviewed their Stratus Backpack ($200) and Cloud Cumulus Medium Tote ($195). One editor even said that, while there are other great options for much less, the $450 Studio Bag is pretty great for a weekender

Caraa Sport has a knack for balancing style with functionality and for solving issues that had inexplicably not been addressed sooner — like the weight and machine-washability of a gym bag.

 

Recently, the company sent me their Athena Tote Medium ($195) to consider for a review. It's a rectangular gym bag made from a sweatshirt material that's structured with branded bands along the body, and it works as either a tote or as a converted messenger bag. It also comes in a short, wide "small" version

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The Athena Tote Medium ($195) is another good example of why people come back to Caraa Sport. It's designed well for both aesthetics and your life. I used it over the course of a few weeks to run to workout classes and the office, and I was impressed by its versatility, ease, and thoughtful design. 

The shape works well. The body is soft enough to concave and save space on the subway when half full of gear, or to expand around a pile of bulky things. Its rectangular silhouette is unique, and it keeps the volume of the bag contained to the natural lines of your body — no wide, stuffed duffel bag that threatens to take out a few people every time you turn around, a complaint I've lodged against some of my other favorite workout bags.

It's also got a drawstring opening on the top which is easy to get into, and which can expand to accommodate lots of stuff. The only downside to this is that you can't easily undo it with one hand. 

And while it's certainly no weekender duffel doubling as a gym bag, it's deceptively spacious without being bulky.

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The design accounts for different legs of your day, like the gym and the office. Its internal organization has a pocket that can fit a 17-inch laptop, another for workout gear, a water bottle pocket, a slip pocket for an energy bar, and a separate pouch for shoes and wet, sweaty gear post-class. The outside has a slip pocket for your phone or wallet. Plus, like our other favorite bags from the brand, it's light enough to cart from one destination to the next. And there are removable messenger bag straps and a removable shoulder pad for long days. 

But perhaps the best feature is that the entire thing is machine-washable, so you can remove the dreaded stench of sweaty gym clothes just as easily as grime from the subway floor. (Mine fared a simple machine-wash without any noticeable changes).

All in all, it's a near-perfect iteration of a good gym bag: It looks good, works well, and is easy to carry.

You can find similar options for less on Adidas, but across retailers, many offerings are comparable in price, even with typically more affordable options like Athleta. I don't think it's worth the extra money if it's an uncomfortable leap. But if it's a comfortable expense and you want the best, you'll probably be happy with the investment. And if not you can return it within 21 days of when it's shipped to you. 

Caraa Sport Athena Medium Tote, $195

Caraa Sport Athena Athena Small Tote, in white or black, $185 

Join the conversation about this story »

Bill Gates just overtook Jeff Bezos to reclaim his spot as world's richest person

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Bill Gates

  • Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates regained his status as the world's richest person for the first time in two years on Friday, topping Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Bloomberg reported.
  • Shares landed Gates' net worth at $110 billion, while Bezos is at $108.7 billion.
  • Gates' rise in the rankings may have been helped, in part, by the Pentagon signing a $10 billion cloud-computing contract with Microsoft instead of Amazon. The October 25, deal prompted a surge in Microsoft shares while Amazon's stock plummeted by about 2% after the announcement.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates regained his status as the world's richest person for the first time in two years on Friday, topping Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Bloomberg reported.

The Bloomberg Billionaire Index that tracks the wealth of the richest 500 people is updated after US markets close, so Gates briefly had the upper hand last month after Amazon posted a profit drop, but the company's shares "pared the decline," according to the Bloomberg report.

Gates' rise in the rankings may have been helped, in part, by the Pentagon signing a $10 billion cloud-computing contract with Microsoft instead of Amazon. The October 25 deal prompted a surge in Microsoft shares while Amazon's stock plummeted by about 2% after the announcement.

Though he only owns roughly 1% of Microsoft shares, but as Business Insider reported earlier this year, "that 1% is estimated to be worth around $7.3 billion."

The stock market boost shifted Gates' net worth to $110 billion, while Bezos is at $108.7 billion.

Bezos's fortune also took a hit following his divorce from MacKenzie Bezos, who received a quarter of their Amazon holdings in the split. Bloomberg also notes that Gates could have had a higher net worth, but he has donated more than $35 billion since 1994 through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

SEE ALSO: Bill and Melinda Gates are backing an 'unsinkable' metal that could be used to build ships or floating cities

Join the conversation about this story »

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Everything you need to know about when Black Friday deals and sales start and end in 2019

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When is Black Friday Date 4x3

  • Black Friday is on November 29, 2019. 
  • Even though that's the official start day, many retailers will actually launch deals a few days earlier.
  • Black Friday deals often run through the weekend until Cyber Monday brings a fresh wave of deals.
  • The Insider Picks team will be reporting the best Black Friday deals in real-time from big-box retailers — like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Nordstrom — and direct-to-consumer startups like Casper, Leesa, and Brooklinen.  
  • To potentially save more on Black Friday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date coupons and promo codes.

Thanksgiving is coming up, and with it, Black Friday. Black Friday marks the beginning of the busiest shopping season of the year when shoppers pursue their gift-shopping list with increased urgency. 

When is Black Friday? 

Officially, Black Friday lands on Friday, November 29. 

But like many other retail holidays, Black "Friday" really starts a few days, or even earlier at some stores, before the real event. The high levels of anticipation for deals are enough to make retailers launch their sales early. 

That's probably better for shoppers anyway. It means they have extra time to shop the countless online sales at their leisure, rather than try to cram all their shopping into one hectic day. 

What time does Black Friday start? 

Here's when Black Friday starts at various retailers. While a handful will start their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day, there are also many that won't be open on the holiday. We will share the start dates and times of more stores as they're announced. 

Amazon: Device deals start online at 12 a.m. November 22. 

Best Buy: Stores will open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 1 a.m. November 29. They reopen at 8 a.m. November 29. Sales start online at 12 a.m. November 29. 

GameStop: Stores will open at 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Sales start online at 9 p.m. ET Thanksgiving Day. 

JCPenney: Stores will open at 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. 

Kohl's: Stores will open at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Sales start online at 12:01 a.m. CT November 25. 

Macy's: Stores will be open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 2 a.m. November 29. They reopen at 6 a.m. November 29. 

Nordstrom: Stores will be open at 10 a.m. November 29. Sales start online on November 27. 

Target: Stores will be open from 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 1 a.m. November 29. They reopen at 7 a.m. November 29. RedCard holders get first access to over 100 online deals on November 27, while Target Circle members get access to select deals at 6 p.m. CT November 27. 

The Home Depot: Appliance Special Buys and early Black Friday deals are live now in participating stores and online. 

Walmart: Stores will open at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Sales start online at 10 p.m. ET November 27. 

What time does Black Friday end?

In stores, most Black Friday sales end after November 29. However, sales will continue online through Cyber Monday and beyond. In past years, we've seen sales last the entire week afterward. This year, that means Black Friday and Cyber Week sales should end around December 6. 

Once we learn the exact Black Friday 2019 end dates and times of the most popular retailers, like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, we will share them below. 

Best Buy: Stores close at 10 p.m. November 29. 

The Home Depot: Appliance Special Buys end at 11:59 p.m. December 5. 

How long do Black Friday sales last? 

Again, don't be fooled by the name that suggests it's a single day. Black Friday sales usually last at least a few days, whether they start early or continue on until Cyber Monday. 

What else can I learn about Black Friday? 

Here are some of the best Black Friday deals you can shop by store. 

Best Black Friday deals from Amazon

Learn more about Amazon's Black Friday deals



Best Black Friday deals from Best Buy

Learn more about Best Buy's Black Friday deals

 



Best Black Friday deals from Target

Learn more about Target's Black Friday deals



Best Black Friday deals from Walmart

Learn more about Walmart's Black Friday deals



See more Black Friday sales and deals



Inside the chaotic aftermath of the McDonald's CEO's shocking termination and his replacement's quest to win over workers (MCD)

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  • McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook's termination as CEO following a relationship with a female coworker earlier in November sent shock waves through the massive fast-food chain. 
  • Easterbrook was successful, well-liked, and respected at McDonald's, making his abrupt firing even more shocking and embarrassing for the company, employees and franchisees told Business Insider. 
  • The ex-CEO's romantic involvement with another employee wasn't widely known internally and the identity of the woman remains a mystery, according to interviews with current and former employees.
  • The next day, employees learned David Fairhurst, McDonald's head of human resources and Easterbrook's friend, was also leaving— news one employee called a "double whammy." 
  • McDonald's new CEO Chris Kempczinski has spent the last two weeks getting the company on board with his vision as a leader, which is strategically similar to Easterbrook's but emphasizes a renewed focus on values and ethics. 
  • McDonald's confirmed that Kempczinski and Easterbrook's exits were not related to each other or two other executives' departure earlier this year, but declined to comment further for this article. 
  • If you're a McDonald's employee or franchisee with a story to share, email ktaylor@businessinsider.com or reach out on the phone or via Signal app at +1 (646) 768-4740.  
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When McDonald's employees heard that CEO Steve Easterbrook had been abruptly fired, a wave of shock, anger, and embarrassment rippled through the fast-food giant's corporate offices and restaurants around the world. 

Easterbrook was seen by many inside the company as McDonald's savior, a charismatic Brit determined to transform the fast-food chain's villainous "Supersize Me" reputation to a "modern, progressive burger chain," a soundbite he frequently repeated over his four years leading the chain. 

As CEO, Easterbrook led McDonald's through the national launch of all-day breakfast, fresh-beef quarter pounders and the acquisitions of two tech companies this year. Under his leadership, the company's market cap grew from $93.3 billion in March 2015 to $146.7 billion in November. He was respected and well-liked throughout the company.

Then on Sunday, November 3, McDonald's workers were alerted that Easterbrook was out, effective immediately. The board had investigated after learning the CEO had a relationship with a female employee, ultimately determining that Easterbrook "violated company policy and demonstrated poor judgment."

Easterbrook's romantic involvement with another employee wasn't widely known internally, and the identity of the woman remains a mystery, according to interviews with three current and former employees.

Less than 24 hours later, McDonald's employees were hit with news of another sudden departure. The company announced that its head of human resources, David Fairhurst, was leaving, effective immediately. 

In conversations with ten current and former McDonald's corporate employees and franchisees, insiders repeatedly emphasized shock over Easterbrook's termination. They said they were infuriated by Easterbrook's behavior and that ultimately they trusted the board's decision to terminate the CEO. 

Meanwhile, Chris Kempczinski has spent the last two weeks launching a quest to win over McDonald's massive system. And, the new CEO is succeeding — despite previous bad blood with franchises. 

Shock, embarrassment, and anger 

McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook

Nearly every McDonald's insider who spoke with Business Insider, from franchisees to corporate employees, mentioned shock as their first reaction to Easterbrook's abrupt departure. 

Easterbrook was generally well-liked and well-respected, according to past and current employees. Various people described him as smart and strategic, with a dry, British sense of humor. 

Discussion of Easterbrook's past relationship with Denise Paleothodoros, who previously worked on McDonald's account at public relations firm Golin, served as water-cooler gossip at McDonald's, according to multiple sources. As reported by the The Wall Street Journal, the relationship with Paleothodoros was reviewed and permitted by the board following an investigation several years ago, due in part to assurances that she would no longer work on the McDonald's account. 

The idea that the CEO would engage in what The Journal reports the board found to be a short-term, consensual relationship with a subordinate at the company was widely seen as unexpected and unacceptable.

"I was shocked," said one long-time franchisee. "Mainly because in today's world, you don't anticipate that type of behavior."

One corporate employee said he was surprised by Easterbrook's "lack of judgment," expressing amazement that the executive could be "so smart and so stupid at the same time." 

The same employee said he and others felt embarrassed and angry in the aftermath of Easterbrook's departure, saying the incident felt like a black eye on the company's reputation. Financially, it placed employees, franchisees, and shareholders in a dicey position, with McDonald's losing $4 billion in value after the news broke. 

Adding to the discomfort was activists' use of the incident to highlight issues facing workers at the restaurant level. Fight for $15, a labor group fighting for higher minimum wages, swiftly released a statement following Easterbrook's firing that called McDonald's culture "rotten from top to bottom." On November 12, the American Civil Liberties Union and a Michigan McDonald's worker filed a class-action lawsuit over claims that McDonald's has failed to address a "systemic problem" of harassment, connecting the worker's claims of sexual harassment to Easterbrook's behavior.

This is precisely what some franchisees had feared might happen in response to Easterbrook's firing.

"The hypersensitive and opportunistic world we live in could result in the groups that have higher mandatory wage and QSR organizing objectives for their own selfish reasons have already started to use the news to advance their objectives," McDonald's National Owners Association (NOA), an independent organization of franchisees, wrote in an internal report seen by Business Insider. 

Current and former McDonald's corporate staffers said that the identity of the woman with whom Easterbrook was involved remains unknown internally. Unsurprisingly, the mystery has sparked rumors. The discussion around the employee's identity has been a hot topic of conversation among various McDonald's insiders, according to multiple sources. 

The 'double-whammy' of a second exit in a year full of departures 

Mcdonalds

McDonald's employees were still reeling from Easterbrook's departure when they learned less than 24 hours later that David Fairhurst, McDonald's head of human resources, would also be leaving. 

Like Easterbrook, Fairhurst was a long-time McDonald's employee who got his start in the UK. Fairhurst was promoted to the role of chief people officer in 2015, six months after Easterbrook became CEO. Sources said the two were friends and worked closely at McDonald's. Fairhurst said in April that he was "heavily involved with the CEO." 

One corporate employee described the back-to-back loss of Easterbrook and Fairhurst as a "double whammy."

Despite the abrupt nature of Fairhurst's departure and his closeness with Easterbrook, a representative for McDonald's said the two were unrelated and declined to provide further details. Fairhurst wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday, November 4, that he had "decided the time has come for me to move on to my next career challenge." 

"My parting wish is that each of them remain true to the values which have taken us so far on our journey," the post reads. "That their customer obsession never wavers. That their commitment to maintaining McDonald's position as a global leader never dims. And that, above all, their belief that they are always better and stronger when they act together remains absolute."

Fairhurst and Easterbrook's exits were also concerning for some employees because they represented the latest in the number of senior-level departures at the company. The company said in July that chief marketing officer Silvia Lagnado planned to leave her post in October. In September, McDonald's said its chief communications officer, Robert Gibbs, would also exit the company in October. 

Three current and former corporate employees said that, to the best of their knowledge, the departures were not directly connected or rooted in a common cause. While the departures of Easterbrook and Fairhurst were sudden, Gibbs and Lagnados were previously announced. 

Despite the lack of a unifying narrative around the exits, one corporate staffer said that the number of departures did worry him — especially since there was no obvious financial reason for people to jump ship. 

McDonald's confirmed that the four departures were all unrelated to each other. The company declined to offer further comment for this article. 

The new CEO's quest to win over McDonald's

McDonald's U.S President Chris Kempczinski fresh beef

With the shock of Easterbrook's termination and some anxiety around the number of departures this year, Chris Kempczinski has his work cut out for him as McDonald's new CEO. And, by all reports, he has embraced the challenge. 

Employees were happy that the company did not attempt to bring someone in from the outside, according to a corporate employee, instead promoting Kempczinski from his role as the head of the US business. McDonald's unique culture and understanding of how the corporate office and franchisees interact is crucial to the company's success. This can create issues for newcomers, according to multiple sources.

Kempczinski, who joined McDonald's in 2015, had previously clashed with franchisees while leading the company's US business, with franchise owners bristling against expensive initiatives like a remodeling program that could cost up to $750,000 per location. 

When the news broke of Easterbrook's departure, Kempczinski quickly set to work reassuring franchisees and employees. The core of his messaging has been that McDonald's won't change course strategically, but that misconduct of any kind will not be allowed under his leadership. 

Soon after the news broke on Sunday, Kempczinski called Larry Tripplett, a leader of two influential franchisee groups as CEO of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association and an NOA board member, to discuss financials and African-American franchisees' on-going concerns. By Monday morning, a video starring Kempczinski was sent to franchisee summits around the country, presenting a narrative and financial expectations that helped franchisees get on board with the new CEO, despite past tension.

The Wednesday following his promotion, Kempczinski held a town hall in the company's Chicago headquarters that was streamed to McDonald's employees around the world. In the town hall, Kempczinski talked about his personal background — including that has had been married for 25 years and met his wife college — and answered questions about the future of the company. 

Strategically, Kempczinski emphasized that McDonald's will continue to work on the velocity of its growth plan. However, he and chairman Rick Hernandez Jr. also alluded to the need for a renewal of ethics and trust in the company. 

"The mission I'm asking you to re-enlist in is to make this company an example for the world and to do the right thing each and every day," Kempczinski told employees, according to a McDonald's employee who attended the town hall. 

According to another McDonald's employee, Kempczinski emphasized that he had respect for everyone on his team. Further, Kempczinski said that he would not have anyone on his team who didn't share his values. 

Kempczinski's language and Hernandez Jr.'s discussion of the McDonald's policies on relationships between employees were seen by this employee as an allusion to Easterbrook and Fairhurst's recent departures. 

The town hall and Kempczinski's efforts to win over those within McDonald's system is producing positive results in their early stages. McDonald's stock has recovered from its fall in the aftermath of Easterbrook's termination, with shares trading at $194.57 when the market opened on Friday. 

Two weeks out, multiple employees and franchisees said that even though the details of Easterbrook's relationship remain a mystery, they agree with the board's decision to terminate the CEO. 

"I think that folks trust the board," said one former corporate employee who left McDonald's earlier this year. If board members determined Easterbrook's relationship was grounds for termination, "there must have been something that was driving it." 

Hayley Peterson contributed reporting for this piece. 

Are you a McDonald's franchisee or employee with a story to share? Contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (646) 768-4740, phone at +1 (646) 768-4740, email at ktaylor@businessinsider.com, or Twitter DM at @Kate_H_Taylor. (PR pitches by email only, please.)

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NOW WATCH: Gold can cost $1,500 per ounce — here's why it's so expensive


Here's the income you need to live comfortably in every state in the US

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Living paycheck to paycheck is an unfortunately common hallmark of American life.

Having it all — the ability to cover basic expenses, while still having "fun money" and contributing to savings — can be a difficult feat.

That total amount — also known as an annual "living wage" — varies significantly depending on what state you're in.

GoBankingRates recently determined the necessary living wage in each state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. This popular general budgeting rule allocates 50% of annual income to necessities like housing, 30% to discretionary expenses like travel, and the remaining 20% to savings.

The median necessary living wage across the entire US is $67,690. The state with the lowest annual living wage is Mississippi with $58,321. The state with the highest living wage is Hawaii with $136,437. Other expensive states (unsurprisingly) included New York and California, which have notoriously high costs of living and expensive housing markets.

Keep reading to see what the annual living wage necessary is to live comfortably in every US state, listed in alphabetical order by state name. Also included is the actual median household income in each state according to 2018 data from the US Census Bureau and the median price of homes listed for sale in each state from Zillow.

SEE ALSO: Forget New York — millennials are better off in these 30 US cities, where they're paid well and can afford to buy a home

DON'T MISS: The top 10 ZIP codes where America's wealthiest millennials live, ranked

The living wage in Alabama is $60,016.

Median household income in 2018: $61,584

Median price of homes currently listed: $219,900



The living wage in Alaska is $91,996.

Median household income in 2018: $74,346

Median price of homes currently listed: $288,000



The living wage in Arizona is $68,504.

Median household income in 2018: $59,246

Median price of homes currently listed: $295,000



The living wage in Arkansas is $59,641.

Median household income in 2018: $47,062

Median price of homes currently listed: $178,500



The living wage in California is $99,971.

Median household income in 2018: $75,277

Median price of homes currently listed: $549,000



The living wage in Colorado in $74,215.

Median household income in 2018: $71,953

Median price of homes currently listed: $427,300



The living wage in Connecticut is $90,278.

Median household income in 2018: $76,348

Median price of homes currently listed: $324,900



The living wage in Delaware is $71,254.

Median household income in 2018: $64,805

Median price of homes currently listed: $300,000



The living wage in Florida is $67,614.

Median household income in 2018: $55,462

Median price of homes currently listed: $296,000



The living wage in Georgia is $62,074.

Median household income in 2018: $58,756

Median price of homes currently listed: $260,000



The living wage in Hawaii is $136,437.

Median household income in 2018: $80,212

Median price of homes currently listed: $630,000



The living wage in Idaho is $66,486.

Median household income in 2018: $55,583

Median price of homes currently listed: $334,900



The living wage in Illinois is $66,847.

Median household income in 2018: $65,030

Median price of homes currently listed: $235,950



The living wage in Indiana is $62,086.

Median household income in 2018: $55,746

Median price of homes currently listed: $189,900



The living wage in Iowa is $63,397.

Median household income in 2018: $59,955

Median price of homes currently listed: $175,000



The living wage in Kansas is $62,090.

Median household income in 2018: $58,218

Median price of homes currently listed: $190,000



The living wage in Kentucky is $63,086.

Median household income in 2018: $50,247

Median price of homes currently listed: $195,000



The living wage in Louisiana is $63,842.

Median household income in 2018: $58,218

Median price of homes currently listed: $190,000



The living wage in Maine is $80,336.

Median household income in 2018: $55,602

Median price of homes currently listed: $250,000



The living wage in Maryland is $92,227.

Median household income in 2018: $83,242

Median price of homes currently listed: $325,000



The living wage in Massachusetts is $93,895.

Median household income in 2018: $79,835

Median price of homes currently listed: $468,500



The living wage in Michigan is $67,712.

Median household income in 2018: $56,697

Median price of homes currently listed: $189,000



The living wage in Minnesota is $68,944.

Median household income in 2018: $70,315

Median price of homes currently listed: $274,900



The living wage in Mississippi is $58,321.

Median household income in 2018: $44,717

Median price of homes currently listed: $188,000



The living wage in Missouri is $60,858.

Median household income in 2018: $54,478

Median price of homes currently listed: $189,900



The living wage in Montana is $70,719.

Median household income in 2018: $55,328

Median price of homes currently listed: $325,000



The living wage in Nebraska is $65,162.

Median household income in 2018: $59,566

Median price of homes currently listed: $212,000



The living wage in Nevada is $75,902.

Median household income in 2018: $58,646

Median price of homes currently listed: $324,900



The living wage in New Hampshire is $74,415.

Median household income in 2018: $74,991

Median price of homes currently listed: $304,900



The living wage in New Jersey is $86,244.

Median household income in 2018: $81,740

Median price of homes currently listed: $345,000



The living wage in New Mexico is $63,629.

Median household income in 2018: $47,169

Median price of homes currently listed: $240,000



The living wage in New York is $95,724.

Median household income in 2018: $67,844

Median price of homes currently listed: $399,900



The living wage in North Carolina is $64,406.

Median household income in 2018: $53,855

Median price of homes currently listed: $274,900



The living wage in North Dakota is $69,085.

Median household income in 2018: $63,837

Median price of homes currently listed: $223,900



The living wage in Ohio is $63,204.

Median household income in 2018: $56,111

Median price of homes currently listed: $176,900



The living wage in Oklahoma is $60,318.

Median household income in 2018: $51,924

Median price of homes currently listed: $190,000



The living wage in Oregon is $93,285.

Median household income in 2018: $63,426

Median price of homes currently listed: $388,000



The living wage in Pennsylvania is $68,581.

Median household income in 2018: $60,905

Median price of homes currently listed: $216,995



The living wage in Rhode Island is $83,942.

Median household income in 2018: $64,340

Median price of homes currently listed: $324,000



The living wage in South Carolina is $65,953.

Median household income in 2018: $52,306

Median price of homes currently listed: $249,500



The living wage in South Dakota is $67,657.

Median household income in 2018: $56,274

Median price of homes currently listed: $225,000



The living wage in Tennessee is $60,682.

Median household income in 2018: $52,375

Median price of homes currently listed: $255,900



The living wage in Texas is $63,469.

Median household income in 2018: $60,629

Median price of homes currently listed: $279,000



The living wage in Utah is $67,807.

Median household income in 2018: $71,414

Median price of homes currently listed: $367,400



The living wage in Vermont is $83,878.

Median household income in 2018: $60,782

Median price of homes currently listed: $275,000



The living wage in Virginia is $69,886.

Median household income in 2018: $72,577

Median price of homes currently listed: $310,325



The living wage in Washington is $77,207.

Median household income in 2018: $74,073

Median price of homes currently listed: $419,900



The living wage in West Virginia is $62,635.

Median household income in 2018: $44,097

Median price of homes currently listed: $165,700



The living wage in Wisconsin is $67,667.

Median household income in 2018: $60,773

Median price of homes currently listed: $219,900



The living wage in Wyoming is $61,788.

Median household income in 2018: $61,584

Median price of homes currently listed: $264,900



I'm a tech CEO who tried to give up my smartphone for a year. I wasn't fully successful — but it did make me a better leader.

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  • Ben Crudo is the CEO of Diff, a full-service agency that designs and builds ecommerce solutions for major retailers. Ben is passionate about demystifying ecommerce while using technology to enhance human experience and connection.
  • A year ago, he decided to make a huge permanent change: swapping out his smartphone for a "dumb one." As the CEO of a growing tech company, he knew it was a risky move, but he thought it would ultimately help him in the long run.
  • While he hasn't been able to go smartphone-free, he has found that you don't need to go completely cold turkey to curb a tech addiction. Instead, it's all about balance. 
  • Now, he only uses his smartphone during working hours, and can only be reached by dumb phone on nights and weekends.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

About a year ago, I made a huge change. After spending my honeymoon in the backwoods of New Zealand — out of WiFi and cell range — I realized, for the first time, just how addicted I was to the supercomputer in my pocket. When I got back, I traded in my smartphone for a "dumb" one, with the intention of making a permanent switch. 

It was a risky move considering I'm the CEO of a growing tech company. Still, I figured being more present in the world would benefit both my home and work life. I went into this experiment with gusto, and at first, I found it liberating. Yes, there were some blips in the road — like getting lost without my GPS and constantly worrying I'd miss important work emails — but I learned to adapt and was confident I'd seen the last of my smartphone.  

I wish I could say that was true. Over the past year, I've encountered some real hurdles — mostly technological — that have kept me from going completely smartphone free. But it hasn't been a total loss. I've still managed to cut way back on my smartphone use by removing distractions like apps and setting firm boundaries around my communication patterns. In the process, I've learned that curbing a tech addiction isn't about cutting off access to technology but rather finding a healthy balance with it. And it's even helped me become a better CEO.

SEE ALSO: I'm the CEO of a tech company and I permanently gave up my smartphone after my honeymoon 6 months ago. Here's why I haven't looked back

It turns out, dumb phones are way too dumb

When I started this experiment, I was mostly concerned that my own inability to break my habits would be my downfall. Truthfully, there was some withdrawal at first, but I soon learned to adapt. Without a smartphone, I carried around a notebook and pen, I got a GPS for my bike, and I brought a book on the subway to occupy my time. But there were still things I needed a phone to do — make calls, send texts, and offer WiFi hotspot capability. Finding a device to reliably perform these simple tasks was, by far, the biggest challenge. 

While dumb phone sales are on the rise as more people seek to disconnect, I found the technology behind them to be seriously lacking. I scoured the internet for one that met my needs, but each new phone I bought proved to be more disappointing than the last. The first would repeatedly drop calls. The second refused to ring when there was an incoming call, and my latest — praised as being the best in the business for breaking a smartphone addiction — has an insufficient battery life and won't upload all of my contacts. Oh, and every time I try and sift through the phone it freezes, to the point where even making a quick call is a complicated, multistep process. I even resorted to coding my own hacks to try to improve these devices, to no avail.  

The reality is, my business has been growing at a major clip. We've doubled in size over the last few years and I now run a team of over 100 employees. I just can't risk missing out on crucial communications. Sadly, I had to go back to using a smartphone, although I noticed that after my hiatus I used it in a totally different way. 

Rather than allowing my phone to hijack my attention span and lure me down rabbit holes, I've limited its capabilities. There are no apps, no browsers, and all notifications are disabled — nothing buzzes, pings, or rings unless I allow it to. I use it during working hours only, and most of the time it's buried in my backpack so it's hard to reach. Putting these boundaries in place has helped me prioritize communication that matters — which has been essential as my company has grown. 



Limited contact equals better leadership

Without all the bells and whistles of a fully-loaded smartphone, I've been able to be extremely intentional with my time. Instead of answering emails and slack messages as they come in, I have designated times throughout the day when I check my email, and people have learned how to get in touch with me (a phone call if something is urgent, and an email if it can wait). This leaves me with uninterrupted blocks to focus on the big picture: how my company is evolving and how to communicate that to my clients and my team. You'd think pulling back on constant communication during this critical growth phase might have been a hindrance, but I've actually found it was necessary to help me develop as a leader. 

Dumbing down my smartphone let me engage more fully in meetings and have more conversations with people face to face. It gave me a better read on my team, which is particularly important given how quickly we've grown. I've even started to notice a trickle-down effect, with some of my employees making a conscious effort to cut back on their smartphone use as well. 

I should note though — while it's cool to see other people being more conscious of their phone use, I'm not out to inspire copycats. If I've learned anything this year, it's that forming a healthier relationship with technology is a highly personal thing. 



Finding balance through trial and error

Even though I've gone back to my smartphone, I've still achieved a lot of the goals I set one year ago. I'm much less susceptible to the distractions of technology, and I see my smartphone as a tool, not a toy. Imperfect as it may be, I still use a "dumb" phone on nights and weekends, which allows me to be much more present with my family and friends — and I've (mostly) gotten over the urge to zombie scroll to avoid boredom or awkward social situations. 

Most importantly, though, I've realized breaking your smartphone addiction isn't all or nothing. You don't have to sign up for a digital detox or go cold turkey like I did. Even simple actions, like leaving your phone in your backpack during the work day or turning it off during dinner, can be a catalyst for positive change. If that works, getting a dumb phone and using it on the weekends is an easy next step. 

The important thing is to find a balance that's right for you. So try it out. You might be surprised at just how easy it is — and how good it feels — to put some distance between you and your smartphone.



8 life events millennials are putting off longer than their parents because they can't afford it

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  • Millennials are more likely than their parents were to delay pretty much every life event because of money, according to a new survey by Insider and Morning Consult.
  • They're putting off big things, like buying a home, having a medical procedure, and making a career move.
  • But money is also affecting their love lives: Millennials aren't just delaying marriage and kids, but beginning or ending a relationship because of it.
  • Read more personal finance coverage. 

The thing about life milestones, and even life transitions, is that it often takes a bit of money to make them happen.

That's something many millennials don't have a lot of. They're still playing financial catch-up from the Great Recession while dealing with enormous student-loan debt and facing skyrocketing living costs.

And findings from a new survey by Insider and Morning Consult further highlight what a different financial world this is for them than it was for their parents.

The survey polled 2,096 Americans about their financial health, debt, and earnings for a new series, "The State of Our Money." More than 670 respondents were millennials, defined as ages 23 to 38 in 2019; 730 respondents were baby boomers, defined as ages 55 to 73 in 2019.

It asked all respondents what life events they've delayed because of money concerns, and the differences between millennials and baby boomers were telling.

millennials vs boomers delay because money

Millennials are more likely to delay pretty much everything thanks to money problems

The biggest difference is in homebuying: Half of millennials have delayed purchasing a house because they can't afford it, compared to 23% of boomers. It makes sense considering the median price of home sales has increased by 39% since 1970, adjusted for inflation, according to a recent SuperMoney report that analyzed US Federal Housing Agency Data.

About the same percentage of millennials have put off having a medical procedure, compared to 41% of baby boomers. It's the closest gap between the two generations, if that shows how expensive healthcare is. National health care costs per person have increased by $9,000 since 1970 in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Millennials are also twice as likely as boomers to have delayed career moves because of money concerns, including quitting a job and starting their own business.

There's also the effect money has had on each generation's love lives. It's made millennials more likely to delay beginning and ending a relationship, as well as more likely to delay marriage. In 2017, the average age of a first marriage was 27 for women and 29 for men; in 1980, it was 22 and 25, respectively.

A delay in marriage can trickle down to a delay in childbearing. More 30-something women are having babies than women in their 20s for the first time ever — a difference that grew in 2018,  Bill Chappell for NPR reported, citing a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Again, it boils down to money: Finances are one of the top reasons why American millennials aren't having kids or are having fewer kids than they considered ideal, Business Insider's Shana Lebowitz reported, citing a survey by The New York Times.

But there is one thing millennials are doing better than their parents when it comes to money: talking about it.

SEE ALSO: Millennials know what they'd do if they didn't have to pay their student loans: Pay off everything else

DON'T MISS: 37% of millennials think they're doing worse than their peers, but even more think they're coming out on top

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to find water when you're stuck in the desert

A beloved video game studio outsold some of October's biggest releases with its first game since being acquired by Microsoft

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  • October is usually one of the biggest months of the year for new video game releases, and this year a new release from a beloved studio took the spotlight.
  • A newly launched game, Obsidian Entertainment's "The Outer Worlds" was the second best-selling game of the month.
  • "The Outer Worlds" is Obsidian's first game since being acquired by Microsoft in November 2018. As an independent studio, Obsidian was beloved for games like "Fallout: New Vegas" and "Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords."
  • The Nintendo Switch continues to dominate the hardware market as consumers wait for the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

October is usually one of the biggest months of the year for new video game releases as eager publishers look to get their best games out on the shelves for the holiday season. But with multiple studios prepping for the launch of the Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Project Scarlett next year, a bunch of blockbuster titles are waiting until 2020 to launch.

That's left room for some lesser known games to take the spotlight, like Obsidian Entertainment's "The Outer Worlds." "The Outer Worlds" was the second-best selling game of October, according to data from the NPD Group. It was surpassed only by "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," the latest entry into the perennial best-selling franchise.

"The Outer Worlds" is Obsidian's first game since being acquired by Microsoft in November 2018. As an independent studio, Obsidian was beloved for games like "Fallout: New Vegas" and "Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords." "The Outer Worlds" is a single-player shooting game with role playing mechanics that let players alter the story.

"The Outer Worlds" was included in Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass when it was released on October 25th, but that didn't stop people from buying the game outright. Despite being made by a Microsoft subsidiary, "The Outer Worlds" is also available on PlayStation 4, and is coming to Nintendo Switch next year.

In comparison to last year, video game sales in October were down 34 percent, according to the NPD Group. However, October 2018 featured some of the biggest hits of the decade, including"Red Dead Redemption 2,
"Marvel's Spider-Man," and yet another "Call of Duty."

Nintendo's big exclusive release of October, "Luigi's Mansion 3," earned the third spot on the sales chart with a solid debut, while the company's new exercise game "Ring Fit Adventure" was the 10th best-selling game of the month.

"Madden 20," "NBA 2K20," and "FIFA 20" all made it onto the charts as the fall sports season hits a stride.

Though it's made it into the top 10 in two consecutive months, Ubisoft's "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint" appears to be a bit of a sale disappointment. The military survival game has been criticized for being too similar to "Tom Clancy's The Division 2," another Ubisoft game released earlier this year.

The Nintendo Switch continues to dominate the hardware market as consumers wait for the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The new Nintendo Switch Lite helped push the console over the 40 million mark in lifetime sales in October.

These were the top 10 best-selling games of October: 

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about 'Pokémon Sword and Shield,' the newly released Pokémon games for Nintendo Switch

10. "Ring Fit Adventure" (Nintendo)



"Borderlands 3" (Take 2 Interactive)



8. "FIFA 20"/Electronic Arts



7. "WWE 2K20" (Take 2 Interactive)



6. "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint" (Ubisoft



5. "NBA 2K20" (Take 2 Interactive)



4. "Madden NFL 20" (Electronic Arts)



3. "Luigi's Mansion 3" (Nintendo)



2. "The Outer Worlds" (Take 2 Interactive)



1. "Call of Duty Modern Warfare" (Activision Blizzard)



An abandoned 19th-century Napa Valley resort on 857 acres is now on sale for $50 million

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A Bay Area tech billionaire looking for a project with some history would be smart to look at the Napa Soda Springs Resort, which just went on the market for the first time in 40 years. 

Home to 27 mineral water springs, the property was once the site of a legendary resort. Historically, natural springs were seen as potential cure-alls, and resort towns popped up on spring sites around the country. By the 1930s, there were over 2,000 spring resorts in the US.  

At the same time, the owners of the resort also had a factory where they bottled and sold Napa Soda, and they won the exclusive rights to use the Napa name in court. In 1897, San Francisco saloons reportedly ran out of Napa Soda, necessitating overnight shifts at the factory to restock. The drink was a 19th century Bay Area food trend, an early precursor to kombucha and Soylent trends of today.

Here's some history about the resort, and photos of what remains on the site after over a century.

SEE ALSO: A decommissioned nuclear missile complex in Arizona that was abandoned for decades is now on sale for $400,000

In 1856, a lawyer from San Francisco opened the resort. Over the next decade, he added amenities like tennis, billiards, horseback riding, and citrus groves for visitors. The rest of the century saw a pool, music hall, and pagoda added as well.



As spring resorts went out of vogue, the hotel shut down after World War I. Two later fires destroyed much of what was left of the property.



The resort was a place for wealthy 19th-century vacationers to soak in healing springs and breath mountain air.



The resort has never been renovated, and the remaining shells of the stone buildings are all that's left of what was once a popular vacation destination. They could be restored by a wealthy buyer willing to pick up the $50 million tab.



The 75-foot-tall Rotunda, introduced with a formal ball in 1877, was once a highlight of the property. Only the shell has survived multiple fires.



Because it has never been renovated, the remaining structures have an eerie quality.



The sale will be one of the largest Bay Area land deals, with 857 acres, several springs, and an 80-foot waterfall.



Despite the large size and remote feel, the property is only about 15 minutes from downtown Napa, and close to several wineries.

The property is listed with Gerry Rohm of JLL Capital Markets.



Alaska is known for its fresh, sustainably harvested seafood — now you can enjoy it wherever you are through a monthly subscription

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wild alaskan company

  • The Wild Alaskan Company is a wild-caught, sustainable seafood delivery service founded by a member of a third-generation Alaskan fishing family. 
  • Its mission is to make trustworthy, sustainable fish (salmon, halibut, cod, and more) convenient to access. 
  • It operates on a monthly membership model, in which you can get 12 pieces of fish for $132/month or 24 pieces of fish for $240/month. 

While other kids grew up playing soccer or riding bikes in their backyard, Arron Kallenberg was raised on his family's commercial fishing boat in Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world

After spending 15 years working at internet startups, Kallenberg returned to these fishing roots, incorporating his knowledge of technology to create subscription service Wild Alaskan Company.   

Wild Alaskan Company delivers wild-caught, sustainable seafood from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to everywhere in the US except Hawaii.

If you've ever visited Alaska or Washington, you probably didn't leave without trying the state's abundance of delicious seafood options. And not only is it tasty, but it's also better for the environment. Alaska even mandates directly in its constitution that fish must be maintained on the sustained yield principle, which prevents the long-term depletion of a natural resource. 

By signing up for Wild Alaskan Company, you'll receive sustainable seafood that you can trust. Here's how it works and what to expect.

All year long, the company offers sockeye salmon, coho salmon, Alaskan halibut, and Pacific cod. Depending on availability, it also offers rockfish, wild Alaska pollock, sablefish, and weathervane scallops.

You can't get these types a la carte (at least not yet). Instead, they're bundled together into various plans: the Wild Salmon Box (6-ounce portions of salmon), Wild White Fish Box (6-ounce portions of white fish), and Wild Combo Box (6-ounce portions of both types). 

You have the choice between 12 single portions ($10.99 each) or 24 single portions ($9.99 each), to be delivered every month or every two months. These per-portion prices include shipping. 

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The fish arrives frozen in a dry ice-packed, insulated cooler, ready to be stashed in your freezer or cooked immediately. 

Wild Alaskan Company sent me its Wild Combo Box to check out. I love eating fish but don't buy it often when I go grocery shopping because of either lack of availability at my local market, or confusion about the fish's background and sourcing. Knowing that the service sources from sustainably managed fisheries and was created by people who care about the wellbeing of natural food systems, I could spend more time and energy simply enjoying the fish. 

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The fish isn't "fresh" in the traditional sense that it's sent to you shortly after being caught. Rather, it's "fresh-frozen," which means it's frozen shortly after it's caught and handled. Despite the distinction, your fish should still taste great. In my experience, there weren't any drawbacks in the cooking process or taste. 

The monthly membership design is meant to ensure you'll always have a flaky piece of salmon or halibut ready to cook for dinner. However, if at any point you want to pause or cancel your membership, you can email the company. 

The bottom line

As we've already seen with the online meat boom, there's a greater urgency to think more consciously and carefully about where your food comes from and its effects on the planet. Wild Alaskan Company is the direct-to-consumer equivalent in the fish and seafood industry, so whether you already love eating seafood or wish you had more guidance picking out the right types, it's a service you should try. 

Sign up for a monthly seafood membership at Wild Alaskan Company

SEE ALSO: The best Instant Pot and electric pressure cookers

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I spend a lot of time working with my hands outdoors — this healing balm brings my dry and weathered skin back to life

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  • I spend a good portion of my free time out in the elements. From fishing and hunting to camping and cooking, my skin, and especially my hands, take a thrashing.
  • I use SallyeAnder Rescue Me balm ($19.99) for anything shy of wounds that require hospital visits (which are every bit as frequent as you might expect), and I've yet to witness it not work wonders on my skin.
  • It's loaded with natural ingredients like soy, cocoa, and olive oil, as well as wheat germ, and essential oils from rosemary, spearmint, eucalyptus, tea tree, and more.

 

Day in and day out, I put my hands through hell and back. Chopping wood, building fires, and hunting leviathans. Just kidding, my workweek is spent just like you, chained to a desk just like yours. But on the weekends, I do manage to live out my Hemmingway- and London-esque fantasies of wrangling sea creatures and building fires, and come Monday my hands are always a little worse for wear.

That's why I keep SallyeAnder's Rescue Me intensive care balm on my office desk, which I use to heal everything from chapped lips to dry hands, as well as all kinds of burns, scrapes, sores, and more. It's my be-all, end-all, cure-all for all the wraths my body incurs over the course of a weekend aquatic.

Ingredients

There's a long list of ingredients, but this stuff is, by and large, hypoallergenic. Though not listed on Amazon, the ingredients are right on the tin, in order as follows: soy, cocoa, olive, shea, and castor oils, beeswax, rosehip, Centella Asiatica, wheat germ, frankincense, Canadian balsam, cistus absolute, rosemary, spearmint, rose geranium, eucalyptus, white camphor, thyme, tea tree, vetiver, clove, and benjamin essential oils.

Effectively, what you get is an anti-inflammatory (frankincense, eucalyptus, thyme), anti-fungal (clove, geranium, eucalyptus), anti-bacterial (tea tree, geranium, eucalyptus) salve that works on everything from arthritis and scrapes to eczema and cold sores.

What it's like to use

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What hits on the nose most is probably a combination of the clove, spearmint, and cocoa. What I like about it is that, while there is spearmint in it, it's as effective but not as effusive as something like Tiger Balm, which makes my eyes well up each and every time I put it on. It also smells like my grandmother (whom I loved, but good grief).

I use this stuff on everything, though, and it is just like Tiger Balm without the smell or the tingly menthol sensation. As temperatures drop and arthritic dampness grips me, my joints, and my soul, this stuff takes the edge off without making me feel like my body's on fire. Okay, that's enough ragging on Tiger Balm. You get it.

Let's just say that after a weekend spent fishing and hunting, my hands, lips, and sundry scrapes and burns are healed up just in time to go do it all over again on Friday night.

The bottom line

Sure, you could go buy all of these essential oils (or even some of them) and get basically the same thing, but will you? Further, it's only about 20 bucks for two ounces; what's your time worth? A tin of this stuff is a very handy thing to have around, especially during the winter months.

Pros: Not as intense on the nose as Tiger Balm, but just as (if not more) effective

Cons: None to speak of, other than maybe the price

 

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The best Black Friday mattress deals on the internet

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If you're looking to save some money on big purchases or holiday gifts, Black Friday is the time to do it.

No retailer is above the fray; we're already tracking the best deals from AmazonWalmart, Target, Best BuyNordstromThe Home Depot, and more.

If you're in need of a new mattress, Black Friday discounts of even 10% can save you a couple hundred dollars. Plus, you can expect plenty of perks like free shipping or free items with purchase.

The best Black Friday mattress deals of 2019:

1. Allswell mattress deals

Take 20% off mattresses with the code "GIVETHANKS" from November 17-25.

Take 20% off sitewide with the code "THANKS20" from November 26-December 2.

2. Amazon mattress deals 

Save up to 30% on select Classic Brands mattresses.

3. Avocado mattress deals 

Avocado hasn't released its Black Friday discount details yet, but check back closer to November 29 for updated details.

4. Bear mattress deals

Take 25% off sitewide and get two free Cloud Pillows included with every mattress purchase when you use the promo code "GIFT" now through December 9. 

5. Brooklyn Bedding mattress deals

Take 25% off sitewide from November 29-December 2. 

6. Casper mattress deals

Casper hasn't released its Black Friday 2019 deals yet, but we expect a similar discount to last year's 10% off.

You can find our review of the Casper Mattress here, the Casper Wave here, and the Casper mattress topper here. We've also tried the company's classic sheets and their linen sheets, and both the classic and down pillow

Right now, take $100 off Casper or $250 off Wave with the promo code "AUTUMNSAVINGS" at checkout now through November 18. You can also get up to $200 off with the exclusive code "INSIDER" at checkout. 

7. Dreamcloud mattress deals

Get $200 off a mattress now through December 2.  

8. Eight Sleep mattress deals

Eight Sleep hasn't released its Black Friday discount yet, but we expect it to look similar to last year's deal of $100 off a mattress and a $25 Amazon gift card. Check back closer to Black Friday for details. 

9. Helix Sleep mattress deals

If you spend $1,750 or more, take $200 off and get two free Dream Pillows with the code "BF200" now through November 18.

If you spend $1,250 or more, take $150 off and get two free Dream pillows with the code "BF150" now through November 18. 

If you spend $600 or more, take $100 off and get two free Dream Pillows with the code "BF100" now through November 18. 

10. Leesa mattress deals

Take $150 off the Leesa Original and get two free Down Alternative pillows.

Take $250 off the Leesa Hybrid and get two free Down Alternative pillows.

Take $350 off the Leesa Legend and get two free Down Alternative pillows.

Take 15% off select accessories.

11. Nectar Sleep mattress deals

Take $100 off a mattress and get two free memory foam pillows now through December 5. 

Get $125 off any mattress with the code "125NAFFHOL19" at checkout from November 18-December 2.

12. Nest Bedding mattress deals

Take $300 off select mattresses with the code "LUXNEST" from November 17-December 8.

13. Purple mattress deals

Purple hasn't released its Black Friday deals yet, but we expect to see a similar offer to last year's $100 discount and additional freebies. Check back here closer to November 29. In the meantime, you can find a review of the Purple mattress here.

Check out our guides to the best mattresses and toppers here: 

See more Black Friday sales and deals

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SEE ALSO: The absolute best Black Friday deals of 2019

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9 free Amazon Prime Video perks you probably didn't know about — all of which are free if you have a Prime membership

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  • Prime Video is one of the best perks of having an Amazon Prime membership.
  • It houses thousands of movies and TV shows that can be streamed and downloaded for free, as well as titles that can be rented for a brief time period or purchased for permanent access.
  • It also has lesser-known features that can make it more valuable to you, like the opportunity to share access with another adult, accessibility options, and behind-the-scenes factoids that show up while you watch in real time.

 

Amazon's lightning-fast Prime shipping is great, but I'd wager I use Prime Video about three times as often throughout the course of a year. Find me at home in my pajamas, barreling through the latest season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" or rewatching "Fleabag."

And, aside from the very obvious perks of free, streamable TV shows and movies on Prime Video, there are a few other features worth knowing about — from parental controls to à la carte network subscriptions to built-in cinematic trivia and fun facts. Below, you can find a few of the lesser-known perks that go along with Prime Video.

If you don't already have an Amazon Prime membership, and access to Prime Video by extension, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here

Download movies and TV shows for offline viewing

Never spend another underground subway ride or transatlantic flight stuck in streaming purgatory, wondering what happened in the next episode of "Fleabag."

You can download Prime Video titles for offline viewing as long as you have the Prime Video app for iOS or Android or a Fire tablet.

For eligible movies, select the download arrow (same as the one shown above). To download a full TV season, hit the middle downward arrow button at the very top of the page. To download specific individual episodes, hit the identical down arrow next to the specific episode you want to download. 

How long you have to watch your download before it expires depends on the content, and some of it may be locked geographically — meaning you may not be able to watch some content overseas, even with a VPN service. Though, you could theoretically keep your device on airplane mode to circumvent that.

 



Use Amazon Household to share your membership

To share your Amazon Prime benefits with another adult — including Prime Video access — create an Amazon Household and opt to add another adult with an email invitation or sign in together.  



Use the X-Ray feature to instantly get behind-the-scenes trivia

Amazon owns IMDB, and Prime Video uses its X-Ray integration to offer you instant access to cast information, featured music, and trivia about the show or movie you're watching while you're watching it. You can also use it to skip to specific scenes

If you want to dig into its other features, it also offers character backstories, behind-the-scenes photos, bonus video content, and more. To access it, just tap the screen or click up on the remote while the video is playing.



Set up parental controls

You can set up parental controls that require a pin entry to bypass viewing or purchase restrictions you've set on the account. Here's how to set up a Prime Video Pin.

Amazon Fire TV devices, Fire tablets, Fire phone, and Microsoft Xbox 360 all have their own parental controls settings, so you'll need to manage them directly on the device. 



Create your own alternate cable subscription with Amazon Channels

Everyone with a Prime membership can access Amazon Prime channels through Prime Video and the Prime Video app. Essentially, you can create your own custom, a la carte cable with subscriptions to only the channels you truly watch — like Showtime, HBO, Starz, CBS All Access, Cinemax and others. If you're not sure if it's for you, take advantage of its free week-long trials of the major channels. 



Regain some semblance of self control by turning off Auto Play

Ever started an episode and ended up binge-watching a full season thanks to episodes automatically loading up every time you finish another? Turn off Auto Play to make it easier to stop after a single episode. 

To turn off Auto Play, go into Video Settings, click the Playback tab, and select "off" for Auto Play.

 



Get access to more free content by creating an IMDb Freedive account

IMDb Freedive is IMDb's free streaming video channel within the US, which gives you access to TV shows and movies including older classics like the "Heroes" series and movies such as "Memento" and "The Illusionist." The service is supported by advertisements, though, so prepare for some commercials. 

You can create an account to watch for free with IMDb, Amazon, Facebook, or Google. It'll also show up as a viewing option if you search something like "Memento" on Prime Video



Make use of accessibility features

Many Prime Video titles include subtitles, alternative tracks, audio descriptions, or a combination of these features. The range of supported features will ultimately depend on which device you're using. To find them, click on the icon that looks like a rectangular dialogue bubble.



Rate the videos you've watched to improve your Prime Video recommendations

Want better Prime Video recommendations generated by Amazon? Take a few minutes to rate the titles you've watched by going into your settings and clicking on Watch History. 

If you don't already have an Amazon Prime membership, and access to Prime Video by extension, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here



How to delete your PayPal account on your Mac or PC

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PayPal is an online platform for sending and receiving money, and can be used for things like paying bills. You can also use PayPal to send money to friends and family members as well as pay vendors for services.

To delete your PayPal account, first make sure to empty your PayPal balance (your Wallet), and transfer it to one of your linked bank accounts. If you've set your PayPal account to automatically pay bills, make sure to change your method of payment for those bills. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

MacBook Pro (From $1,299.99 at Best Buy)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to delete your PayPal account using desktop

1. Launch your preferred browser on your Mac or PC and go to https://www.paypal.com

2. At the top-right, select "Log In." 

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3. Enter the email and password associated with your PayPal account. 

How to delete PayPal account

4. Once you are logged in, select the Settings icon (resembling a gear) at the top-right of the page. 

How to delete PayPal account

5. In Settings, scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Close your account." 

How to delete PayPal account

6. If you have money in your "Wallet," PayPal will ask you to transfer it to your bank account. Once you've done that, follow the steps above again. 

7. Next, a pop-up window will appear to confirm you wish to close your account. If so, select "Close Account" in blue.

How to delete PayPal account

8. After you've selected "Close Account," you will receive an email confirming the closure of your PayPal account.

If you are having trouble closing your account, contact PayPal or visit the PayPal support page.  

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks you can buy

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Disney Plus: Everything you need to know about Disney's new ad-free streaming service

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  • Disney Plus is the on-demand, ad-free streaming service that Disney fans have been waiting for. On the first day of its launch, more than 10 million people signed up. 
  • It's now live and available to stream. The streaming service costs $6.99/month or $69.99/year after a seven-day free trial
  • Subscribers will be able to enjoy TV and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. This content includes original programming exclusive to Disney Plus. 

 

A new streaming service has joined the ranks of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and the many other services jostling for control of your TV. Disney Plus features TV and movie content from names we're all well familiar with: Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television. 

Learn more below about how the Disney Plus streaming service works, including what shows and movies are included, how much it costs, and when it launches. 

What is Disney Plus

Disney Plus is an on-demand, ad-free streaming service created by The Walt Disney Company.

With Disney Plus, subscribers can watch thousands of Disney movies and series from their devices (smart TVs, phones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles). The service includes unlimited downloads so you can watch anywhere, anytime. 

Disney Plus content will come from Walt Disney Studios' and Walt Disney Television's biggest names: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. 

How much does Disney Plus cost? 

Disney Plus costs $6.99 per month, or $69.99 per year ($5.83/month). This low price includes hours of entertainment spanning many different genres and interests, and best of all, it's all ad-free.

There's also an option to buy a bundled package with Hulu and ESPN+, which costs $12.99 per month for all three services. Individually, the ad-supported version of Hulu is currently $5.99 a month, and ESPN+ is $4.99 a month. If you haven't explored the world of streaming services full yet, the bundle could be the perfect opportunity to do so for a competitive price. 

Before you commit to this cost, you get a seven-day free trial. 

You can also read about how to get the Disney Plus bundle with ESPN Plus and the ad-free version of Hulu.

How to watch Disney Plus: 

You can watch Disney Plus from a large variety of places. The service lets you stream on up to four devices simultaneously:

  • Desktop web browsers
  • Mobile devices and tablets (Android and Apple). Learn how the Disney Plus app works
  • Smart TVs (LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen, Android TV) 
  • Boxes and game consoles (Apple TV 4th Gen and later, PlayStation 4, Roku, Xbox One) 
  • Streaming devices (Chromebook, Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, Amazon Fire TV)

Does Disney Plus work on Xbox One? 

Yes, Disney Plus works on the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X. 

Who should sign up for Disney Plus?

Disney Plus is the perfect service for Disney fans, whether they're Marvel geeks or animation aficionados. It's especially suitable for families with children who want to immerse themselves in the vast world of Disney. 

The service has been a clear hit since day one. Disney announced that more than 10 million people subscribed to Disney Plus on the first day. The Disney Plus app was also downloaded more than 3.2 million times on the first day. 

If you're someone who always ends up searching for Disney shows and movies on another streaming service anyway, you might want to consider subscribing to Disney Plus because it holds all that content in one convenient place.  

What shows and movies can I watch on Disney Plus

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In short, all of the Disney shows and movies that have already been released. You can cry through all four "Toy Story" movies, learn about the world around you through a Nat Geo documentary, and satisfy your comedic itch with an episode of "The Simpsons." You'll have access to classics like "Snow White" along with recent hits like "Black Panther." 

Disney Plus also includes all-new, exclusive original programming, such as a "Star Wars" TV series focused on a Mandalorian bounty hunter, a retelling of "Lady and the Tramp" featuring Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux, and a new perspective on the familiar objects in our lives through "The World According to Jeff Goldblum." The strong lineup of original Disney content alone could make a Disney Plus subscription worth it. 

 

When is the release date for Disney Plus

Disney Plus is now live and available to stream. It launched on November 12, 2019.

How does Disney Plus compare to other streaming services?

While services such as Netflix and Hulu cast a wide net over movie and TV entertainment, Disney Plus is much more focused and narrow in scope by revolving entirely around Disney content. Luckily, it doesn't actually feel that limited since Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television create everything from animated kids' movies to action and sci-fi thrillers. At this point, it's difficult to find someone who isn't a Disney fan in some capacity — with Disney Plus, there's a movie or series for everyone. 

It's a major plus that Disney Plus (for the time being) is launching with zero ads. We don't know whether that will change down the line, or whether it will add tiered ad pricing like some other streaming services, but in the meantime, we always appreciate ad-free streaming. 

At less than $10 a month, it's very affordable compared to major competitors. If you find the Disney content of other streaming services lacking, subscribing to Disney Plus is an affordable way to fix that problem. 

Of all the major streaming services, it's also the most generous in the areas of multiple-device streaming and profile additions. You can stream on up to four devices simultaneously and add up to seven profiles. 

How do I sign up for Disney Plus?

You can sign up on the Disney Plus website.

 

Read everything else you should know about Disney Plus here:  

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  1. How to get a free week of Disney Plus
  2. Disney Plus costs $7 a month on its own, but you can bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for an extra $6
  3. How to get the Disney Plus bundle with ESPN Plus and the ad-free version of Hulu
  4. How to use the Disney Plus app to download and watch movies and shows offline
  5. All the new movies you can watch on Disney Plus — from the live-action 'Lady and the Tramp' to holiday comedy 'Noelle'
  6. All the new shows you can watch on Disney Plus — from 'The Mandalorian' to new Pixar shorts
  7. All the kids' movies you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Snow White' to 'Frozen'
  8. All the new kids' shows you can watch on Disney Plus — from 'Vampirina' to the new reboot of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'
  9. All the Marvel movies and shows you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Iron Man' to the new 'Loki'
  10. Every single Star Wars movie will be available on Disney Plus
  11. All the Pixar films and shorts you can stream on Disney Plus — from 'Toy Story' to 'Inside Out'

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How to confirm your email on PayPal and get access to the site's basic features

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Over the years, PayPal has transformed from a small payments site to a massive financial juggernaut.

And because PayPal has many of the same functions as a full service bank, there are several security features you have to work through in order to fully take advantage of your PayPal account.

Among one of the first, easiest security measures you'll be asked to perform — and it's required before others can send you money via the site — is to confirm your email address.

Here's how to confirm your email address on PayPal.com.

How to confirm your email on PayPal

1. Set up or log into your PayPal account at PayPal.com.

2. Click "Confirm your email," located on the "Summary" page.

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3. An email will be sent to the email account that you set up your PayPal account with. 

4. Check your email. If you don't see an email from PayPal already, go back to the PayPal.com page and click "Send Email."

5. The email will read "Activate your new account" in the subject. Open it, and click "Confirm my email address."

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6. You'll be taken back to the PayPal website and be asked to enter your password again. Enter your password and click "Confirm My Email."

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You're all set and ready to receive money from others.

For even more expanded PayPal services, you can take further steps to verify your account.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

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