• You don't have to spend a fortune to give them a gift they'll love. 
• We've rounded up 50 gifts under $50 that fit everyone on your list, from the practical to the nostalgic to the quirky and everything in between.
• Check out all of our 2019 holiday gift guides here.

With parents, friends, significant others, coworkers, and more to account for, it's easy for your holiday gifting list to fill up pretty quickly. Luckily, you actually can get a thoughtful gift for everyone on your list without blowing your budget. 

We've been testing products, combing through our favorite sites, and collecting gift ideas all year for this very occasion, to make sure you find the best holiday gifts possible. Below, we've rounded up 50 of our favorites that are $50 or less. Whether these gifts are complements to a bigger present or are the star of the show, we think your recipient will love them.

Keep reading for 50 gifts under $50 that work for anyone on your list:

A limited-edition candle inspired by seasonal scents

Manor House Weekend Candle, available at Otherland, $36

We love Otherland's seasonally inspired, limited-edition candles, and we're sure they will too. The "Manor House Weekend" collection includes a selection of autumnal aromas such as musky Dappled Wood with hints of sandalwood, toasted walnut, and sweet hay, a comforting Cardamom Milk with notes of frothy milk, cardamom, and praline woods, and a wintry Mountain Lace with elderflower fizz, anjou pear, and apple blossom.

A small but mighty smart speaker

Echo Dot, available at Amazon, $49.99

The Echo Dot is a great pick for anyone who's looking for a speaker, whether they want a smart one or not. The speaker is small enough to fit just about anywhere, but it boasts great sound quality for its size. 

A smooth olive oil that'll instantly elevate any dish

Alive Olive Oil, available at Brightland, pre-order for $37

If they spend a lot of time in the kitchen, they probably already know the merits of high-quality olive oil. A drizzle of Alive from Brightland adds a vibrant, zesty flavor to any dish, plus the beautiful bottle will look great on display in their kitchen. 

An affordable electric toothbrush subscription

Toothbrush Starter Set, available at Quip, from $25

Help them upgrade their oral care routine with a Quip toothbrush. Not only is it a great electric toothbrush at a reasonable price, but Quip will send them a refill every three months with a new brush head and toothbrush. 

A set of covers that'll keep their avocados fresh

Avocado Huggers (set of 2), available at Uncommon Goods, $7.95

Hug the things you love, like avocados. These cute silicone covers will keep their favorite food fresh for longer. 

A set of magnets that are fun to play with and can boost concentration

Speks Magnet Balls, available at Speks, $24.95

Almost everyone on the Insider Picks team has a set of Speks at their desk. The little magnetic balls can be mashed, molded, and built into fun shapes and are a fun fidget toy that even adults will love. 

A cute kitchen gadget that makes breakfast in a flash

Dash Mini Waffle Maker, available at Amazon, $14.99

This compact waffle maker makes a great addition to any college dorm or small kitchen. All they have to do is plug it in and they can make their favorite breakfast treat in a flash. 

A mini speaker that brings Google Assistant to any room

Google Home Mini, available at Best Buy, $39

This little speaker is loaded with smart features thanks to Google Assistant — play music, check the weather, and control your smart home with just your voice. 

A streaming stick that turns any TV into a smart one

Roku Streaming Stick +, available at Amazon, $49

Upgrade their Netflix binge marathons without actually buying them a whole new TV. The Roku Streaming Stick + offers 4K, HD, and HDR streaming in a portable package and affordable price. 

A moisturizing mask that'll revive dry hair

Briogeo Honey Deep Conditioning Mask, available at Sephora, $36

Whether their hair is damaged from heat or just is suffering from winter dryness, this deep-conditioning mask in the shape of a honey bear will refresh their strands with the hydration it needs. 

A taste of Japan by way of snacks

Bokksu Tasting Gift, 1-month box, available at Bokksu, $31.99

Adventurous foodies will love the chance to taste test a curated box of gourmet Japanese snacks. In this Bokksu box, they can expect to find between 10-14 snacks, a tea pairing, and an in-depth guide that details every product included. 

A best-selling face mask for clear skin

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Mask, available at Amazon, $9.99

Anyone in on the latest skincare trends will know about this mask. Many claim it has helped clear their skin, and it has over 12,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The best part is that this powerful facial is just $10. 

A set of festive flavorings for holiday beverages

Monin Holiday Cheer Collection, available at Amazon, $14.99

This set of flavored syrups — macadamia nut, peppermint, dark chocolate, gingerbread, and toasted marshmallow — will turn any regular drink into a holiday-ready one. 

A soft pair of socks made from sustainable fabric

SoftHemp Sock, available at United by Blue, $16

There's nothing better than slipping on cozy socks in the winter. Made from a soft, sustainable hemp fabric, this pair is sure to do the trick. 

A luxurious exfoliator to keep skin smooth

The Body Exfoliator, available at Necessaire, $30

Necessaire's clean beauty products come in beautiful, minimalist packaging that looks as good in their bathroom as it feels on their skin. This gentle exfoliator will help them slough off dry winter skin for good. 

Cruelty-free nail polish in a range of fun colors

Nail Polish, available at Smith & Cult, $18

Smith & Cult's polish is vegan, cruelty-free, and chip-resistant. With 46 fun colors to choose from, you're sure to find one (or two, or three) they'll love. 

A sheet mask that'll hydrate dry, stressed skin

Dr. Jart+ Soothing Hydra Solution, available at Sephora, $6

Winter skin tends to be dry and dull. While you can't change the weather, you can throw on a hydrating face mask to stay moisturized. This one will add lots of soothing hydration to their skin to keep it feeling fresh. 

You can also find a holiday set of seven masks from Dr. Jart+ for $39, a $57 value. 

Makeup towels that make washing their face less of a chore

Makeup Towels, available at Weezie, $40

If they've never thought of washcloths as anything special, Weezie towels will change their minds. The adorable towels are embroidered with either hearts, winky eyelids, or the words "stain me." Plus, the dark navy blue color will conceal makeup stains. 

A silky-smooth sleep mask to block light

Slip Pink Marble Sleep Mask, available at Nordstrom, $50

If there's nothing they appreciate more than a good night's sleep, they'll love Slip's silk sleep mask. It's made from 100% pure Mulberry silk for a luxe, light feel on their skin. 

A simple necklace that reminds them of their intentions

Good Intentions Necklace, available at Bando, $38

A sweet necklace with an even sweeter mission. Choose from a selection of positive intentions like "optimism," "strength," or "gratitude," which they can carry with them throughout the day. For every necklace sold, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Girls Inc.

A lip gloss that has all the benefits of a balm

Tower28 Beauty Jelly Lip Gloss, available at Sephora, $14

This clean-beauty favorite delivers the glossy sheen they'd expect from a lip gloss, but it's loaded with nourishing oils to keep lips hydrated, too. 

A phone case made of premium leather

Phone Case, available at Bellroy, $29 - $45

Did they get a new phone for the holidays? This sleek and protective case makes the perfect companion — just be sure you get the right model. 

A bold lip color that'll last all day long

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick, available at Sephora, $32

Whether it's a pale peach or a deep-red look they crave, they'll love this long-lasting lipstick with its saturated colors and hydrating formula.

A set of loose-leaf teas that even Oprah loves

Vadham Chai Tea Reserve Set, available at Amazon, $34.99

This classy set of loose-leaf teas made it into Oprah's Favorite Things back in 2018. It's filled with three variations of chai tea that any tea lover will appreciate. 

A set of playing cards inspired by music's greats

Music Genius Playing Cards, available at Amazon, $9.42

Whether they love game night, music, or are equal fans of both, they'll surely get a kick out of these playing cards. The pack features illustrations of all the big names in pop, rock, country, and R&B. 

A spray that any sneakerhead needs in their collection

Jason Markk Repel, available at Amazon, $17.48

If they love shoes, they should have the right products to take care of their favorite footwear. This spray protects shoes from stains caused by water and oil, and there are multiple people on our team who swear by it for every new pair of shoes they get. 

Comfy boxers that come in festive patterns

Women's Bikini, available at MeUndies, $18

Men's Boxer Brief, available at MeUndies, $24

MeUndies' collection of plaids make a perfect bottom layer for Christmas morning — and all the cozy winter days after that. 

A set of colorful silicone straws that reduce plastic waste

Five Two Silicone Straws, available at Food52, $25

Bendable, sustainable, and portable (thanks to the set of carrying cases), these fun straws are the accessory any eco-conscious person should have.

An elevated hand sanitizer that fends off germs

Power Mist Hand Sanitizer, available at Touchland, $12

A lightweight, spray formula and refreshing scents make Touchland's hand sanitizer one they'll actually want to use. It dries quickly and doesn't leave residue or stickiness behind.

A book subscription catered to teens

Book of the Month Young Adult, 3-month plan, available at Book of the Month, $49.99

A subscription box that sends them an exciting new read catered to their tastes each month is the perfect gift for a young bookworm. 

A case that protects their AirPods

Metallic AirPods Case, available at Incase, $29.95

AirPods may come in a case already, but this metallic cover keeps that one protected. And, it adds some nice color and shine to the plain white cover that everyone else has. 

A coffee mug that keeps their drinks hot or cold for hours

Hydro Flask Travel Coffee Mug, available at Amazon, $29.95

Hydro Flask's Travel Coffee Mug is a team favorite. It combines the classic shape of a mug with Hydro Flask's TempShield insulation to keep beverages hot, or cold, for hours— a great gift for the coffee or tea lover who's always on the move. 

An aromatherapy diffuser that'll make their space smell great and help them breathe easier

VicTsing Mini Oil Diffuser, available at Amazon, $19.99

If they've never dabbled in aromatherapy before, this mini diffuser is a great place to start. It's easy-to-use, whisper-quiet, and works with their favorite essential oils and scents. 

A cute reusable tote that can fit tons of stuff

Standard Baggu, available at Baggu, $12

It's no wonder these bags are bestsellers— they can hold up to 50 pounds of stuff and come in a range of fun colors and patterns. Plus, at just $12, they're a great deal. 

A portable straw that makes water drinkable

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, available at Amazon, $17.47

This portable, personal water filter was the bestselling product on Prime Day. It filters water from creeks and rivers, making it perfect for hiking, camping, and travel.

A classy carrying case to stash chargers

Leather Charger Roll-Up, available at Mark & Graham, $49

After they fill the three pockets with cables and chargers, all they have do is roll everything up and they're good to go. The soft, supple leather comes in a variety of fun colors and patterns. 

A duo of essentials to nourish dry lips

Laniege Kiss Me Day and Night, available at Sephora, $18

Give them everything they need to banish dry, chapped winter lips. This set includes the cult-favorite Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and the Lip Glowy Balm for a pillowy-soft pout.  

A cult-favorite cast-iron skillet

Lodge 12-inch Cast-Iron Skillet, available at Amazon, $25.99

Every cook needs a cast-iron skillet in their kitchen. Lodge makes some of the best out there, but at prices that won't break the bank. 

A fitting vehicle for their post-run brews

Etched Marathon Pint Glass, available at Uncommon Goods, $18

If they like to celebrate a long run with a big pint, they'll appreciate these pint glasses etched with famous marathon routes. 

A candle that reminds them of their favorite place

Homesick Scented Candle, available at Amazon, $29.50

This is a great gift that's sure to make anyone sentimental. Whether it's their hometown, college town, or favorite spot to vacation, a Homesick candle, with scents inspired by all sorts of locations, will bring them back to that favorite place. 

A personalized pillow of their favorite fur baby

Cartoon Great Pet Pillow, available at Etsy, from $25.98

If there's nothing they love more than their cat or dog, this pillow — featuring a blown-up picture of their pet — is sure to make them smile. 

A cold brew coffee maker to keep up with their iced coffee habit

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker, available at Amazon, $19.87

If their morning ritual includes a cup of cold brew, they'll appreciate this convenient cold brew maker. All they have to do is fill it with their favorite coffee grinds, add water, let it sit, and they've got a glass of delicious cold brew on the way. 

An easy-to-care-for plant shaped like a heart

Hoya Heart Trio, available at The Sill, $35

Bring some life to their space with these adorable heart-shaped succulents. With little attention needed, they're a great gift for amateur plant parents and experienced ones alike. 

A luxury wallet perfect for daily use or travel

Albee Leather Zip Card Case, available at Italic, $50

By partnering with the same manufacturers that make high-end pieces for brands like Celine, Burberry, and Prada, but ditching the designer labels and opting for a direct-to-consumer model, Italic is able to sell luxury goods at a fraction of the price. This sleek and simple leather card case would go for over $300 with a designer label, but at Italic it's a steal at just $50. 

A cookbook that's all their own

My Family Cookbook, available at Uncommon Goods, $30

There's a cookbook out there for every type of cook, but this customizable option is one any chef is sure to love. The blank pages are waiting to be filled with family recipes, which can be passed down for generations to come. 

A dainty pair of gold hoops that go with everything

Small Hoops, available at Mejuri, $50

Jewelry always makes a great gift, though it's typically pricey. These dainty hoops from Mejuri are the perfect pair for every day, and they're only $50. 

An apron loaded with plenty of clever features

Five Two Ultimate Apron, available at Food52, $45

Anyone who spends a good amount of time in the kitchen will appreciate this durable apron with its sturdy fabric, clever pockets made to hold the essentials, and pot-holders built right in. 

A lifetime of perks with an REI membership

REI Membership, available at REI, $20

A one-time, $20 payment will get them lifetime access to REI's membership program. The outdoorsy types in your life will appreciate the special offers, 10% back on purchases, member-pricing on REI classes and events, and the host of other membership perks. Learn more about the REI membership program here. 

A simple and elegant photo calendar

Walnut Desktop Photo Calendar, available at Artifact Uprising, from $30

All of Artifact Uprising's customized photo gifts are simple, beautiful, and made from eco-friendly materials. This simple calendar is an easy choice for anyone on your list. Just pick 12 photos (one for each month) of the people and places they love most to add a special sentiment to their desk setup.

A cozy, slouchy beanie

Neff Beanie, available at Amazon, $16

Cold-weather accessories make a great gift for anyone who will be braving the cold come winter. Neff beanies come in a wide variety of colors and are the perfect combination of cute and cozy. 

• ClassPass offers a two-week trial for new members. You can go to up to nine classes in 14 days — for free. You'll get a reminder four days before your trial ends, and you can cancel anytime. 
• The perks are plentiful. You could pay as much as 50% less every month for specialized fitness classes Find out how ClassPass works below.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to experience better classes or more variety in your workout regimen, then you've probably heard of ClassPass. 

What is ClassPass?

ClassPass is a relatively inexpensive subscription that lets you drop into boutique fitness classes in your area without having to belong to those specific clubs. You pay a monthly ClassPass fee and get credits, and you use those credits to sign up online for classes that pique your interest: boxing, yoga, cycling, weight training, martial arts, pilates, and a long list of others. ClassPass gives you a conveniently wide variety of exercises and classes.

And since budget-friendly options can often mean second-rate options, it's nice to know ClassPass typically features popular studios, including a majority of the fitness classes you've likely heard of from word-of-mouth or have actually been meaning to try. 

How does the ClassPass free trial work?

Typically, ClassPass offers a two-week-long trial for new members. You can take up to nine classes over the course of 14 days (the class number may vary depending on your location; some cities only offer six classes), and you can cancel your membership whenever. If you don't cancel, though, you'll be auto-enrolled in a monthly membership.

What does a ClassPass membership entail?

1. After your free trial, you pay a monthly membership fee that's based on your city and how many classes you want to take each month. The lowest tier membership starts at $9, but you should expect to pay something closer to $39 (the rate in cities like Minneapolis) to $49 (the rate in New York City) per month for four to nine classes.
2. Use the app or site to book yourself a spot in one of the thousands of participating fitness classes in your area. Every class has a different credit value, and you can book in advance or last-minute — even up to a few minutes before it begins when you use the app.
3. Add more credits anytime if you use yours up. If you don't use all of yours, up to 10 credits roll over each month.

Why do people like ClassPass?

The perks are plentiful. You could pay as much as 50% less every month for specialized fitness classes (a single class can cost $30 à la carte) and get better variety and convenience in your options. 

You can use class recommendations and reviews to see what's good before you book a new class, and you can stream workouts from home if you'd rather not head to the studio.

You don't have to buy class packs or commit to a membership that penalizes you for deciding in February that you're actually not going to be "really into" fitness in 2020. 

Plus, the versatility means working out can be more fun, which can help you build the habit. If you're getting bored of rowing, you can switch it up with tai chi. And if you're traveling, you can switch your account location and use ClassPass wherever you are (given you're in one of the participating cities). 

What are the potential cons of using ClassPass?

The risks you run, depending on the city, are popular classes booking up quickly, falling in love with a high-credit class, needing to buy more credits because you exercised too much that month (is this really a bad thing, though?), or paying for a month and never using the credits.

If you end the month with a bunch of unused credits, you can use them on the considerably higher credit spa treatments ClassPass also offers. Otherwise, up to 10 credits roll over each month. And if you love a workout spot that isn't listed, submit it as a recommendation to ClassPass.

You can go to most studios an unlimited times per month (or per "cycle"), though it's possible more credits will be charged if you go often, in which case you'll see a message explaining the change.

The bottom line

Overall, ClassPass is ideal for relatively inexpensive access to a myriad of top fitness classes. But with two weeks to try it for zero dollars, you don't have much to lose. 

Sign up for your free two-week trial of ClassPass here

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• A high-quality air fryer can be used to make a variety of dishes, cooks food efficiently without heating your house, and is easy to clean.
• I like the Philips Twin TurboStar XXL Airfryer because it has a spacious interior that holds up to 3 pounds or 4 quarts of food, cooks quickly, and is dishwasher safe.
• Though it's one of the most expensive air fryers on the market (currently $349.95 on Amazon), it comes with a full-color booklet and app with hundreds of recipes and is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

In 2010, Philips introduced the first air fryer at a consumer electronics fair in Berlin, Germany. Since then, the appliance has taken off with dozens of brands introducing different styles.

I was hesitant to try the Philips air fryer for several reasons, including the price — it's one of the most expensive options. Yet after using the Twin TurboStar XXL dozens of times over the past two months, I can say unequivocally that it's the best air fryer on the market. Below, I will explore what makes it better than the competition.

Specs

The Twin TurboStar XXL lives up to the XXL in its name with a footprint of 12 inches wide, 17 inches deep, and 12 inches tall. It has an impressive temperature range of 175 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can adjust the temp in 25-degree increments using the dial on the front. 

The dial lets you set the timer (between 1 and 60 minutes) and choose among presets, including defrost, chicken, steak, fish, and cake. And a large, LCD screen display shows you the temp and time remaining in the cooking process.

The air fryer comes with a beautiful recipe book complete with full-color photos. There are more than 30 recipes. Plus, you can access over 200 more by downloading the app.

Philips backs this air fryer with a one-year limited warranty.

Set-up process

The set-up process was effortless. After removing the packaging, I washed the basket and pan with soap and water. I then let the air fryer run for a few minutes to warm up. Within 10 minutes of opening the box, I had potstickers baking. They came out pretty good, but I think I'll stick with the stovetop method. Despite being healthier, they were missing the steamed goodness. However, there were several other plates the air fryer knocked out of the park.

What makes the Philips air fryer stand out

What impresses me most about the Philips Twin TurboStar XXL Airfryer is that it combines size with fast cooking. The stated capacity of the air fryer is 3 pounds or 4 quarts of food, and in my experience, this is conservative. I had no problem fitting 3 pounds of chicken breasts in the basket without crowding. 

There are three food items I test in all air fryers: toast, french fries, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The chicken breasts were safe to eat in 25 minutes, and they tasted juicy and delicious. 

To test the french-fry capabilities, I cut up 2 pounds of yellow potatoes, tossed them with a tablespoon of olive oil and some seasoning, and put them in the air fryer. Every 10 minutes, I'd shake the basket up and see if they were done. The fries took a little less than 30 minutes, which is impressive compared to other models.

The toast was also quite fast by air fryer standards. In less than four minutes, the Twin TurboStar XXL evenly toasted a giant slice of my homemade bread.

You can also tell how well an air fryer bakes by how much heat it puts off. If the air fryer is emitting a lot of heat around the exterior, then it's heating your house and not cooking efficiently. The Philips air fryer stays cool to the touch everywhere except the back of the appliance, where it's incredibly hot.

I've tested a dozen air fryers in the last year, and the recipe books always underestimate how long the dishes will take to cook. This is not the case with the Philips recipe book. I tried recipes for fries, drumsticks, and fish, and they were all accurate and scrumptious. 

I love that the parts of the air fryer that get the dirtiest — the basket, mesh bottom, "fat reducer" tray, and pan — are dishwasher safe. They cleaned up nice and tidy in my dishwasher, and I haven't noticed any wear from using this cleaning method.

Cons to consider

I did have a little issue with the Twin TurboStar XXL releasing a fair amount of smoke while cooking. This likely had to do with me going a little overboard with the amount of olive oil I used for a recipe. After thoroughly cleaning the unit, the smoke problem went away. So, the moral of the story is to go light on the oil. I recommend picking up an oil mister. 

Unlike most air fryers, the Philips air fryer doesn't come with accessories, such as a rack or skewers. The company sells these separately. I didn't miss having accessories, but if you're paying $350 for a small appliance, you'd expect it to come with plenty of extras.

The bottom line

From cooking family-size meals efficiently to cleaning up easily, the Philips Twin TurboStar XXL Airfryer hits all the right notes. But should you buy it? Are there more affordable and perfectly serviceable alternatives? Let's explore your options.

Should you buy the Philips air fryer?

Even though it's the best I've tested, $250 is a lot to spend on an air fryer. However, if you have the money and want to have the best, the Twin TurboStar XXL is the model to buy, especially if you want a unit that can cook larger quantities of food quickly. Due to its size, it may not be ideal for individuals with smaller kitchens, but it could be a good alternative if you don't have room for an oven.

Which model should you get?

You can save $50 off the price of the digital XXL by choosing the analog model. The only difference is you don't get the convenient digital interface. Instead, you set the appliance by manually adjusting the time and temperature dials. 

Philips makes a few other air fryer models, including its XL Collection and compact solutions, but we don't feel they provide as strong of a balance of price and cooking abilities as the XXL air fryers. However, if you really want a Philips air fryer but want to limit your spending, consider the compact Philips Starfish Technology Airfryer, which only costs $150 and has a smaller footprint than the XXL.

What are your alternatives?

If the Philips air fryer doesn't appeal to you, I've found the following to be excellent alternatives:

• Secura Extra Large Capacity Air Fryer ($70.95): At less than a third of the price of the Twin TurboStar XXL, the Secura air fryer is a workhorse that can hold 4.2-quarts of food. The oven is 1,500 watts and cooks quickly. The controls are basic analog. Still, this is a terrific alternative if you want to see what air frying is all about but aren't ready to commit to a more expensive unit. You can read my full review here.
• Chefman Rotisserie Programmable Air Roaster ($99): One of the best-tasting and healthiest foods you can make in an air fryer is chicken. And the Chefman Roaster evenly roasts a whole chicken on a rotisserie spit. While this unit has an impressive capacity, digital controls, and a helpful window for tracking the progress of your food, it heats slowly and inefficiently. You can read my full review here.
• Tobox Electric 1500W Digital Air Fryer ($90): The Tobox air fryer stands out because it has digital controls, preprogrammed settings, and can hold 3.8 quarts of food. Also, thanks to the well-ventilated design of the basket, the hot air flows freely to efficiently air fry your meal. Unfortunately, the vents make the basket hard to clean. 

Overall, there are several outstanding alternatives available, but if you have it in your budget, we strongly recommend picking up the Philips Twin TurboStar XXL Airfryer. You will appreciate how quickly it cooks large meals and how effortless it is to clean up.

Pros: 4-quart capacity, TurboStar design facilitates faster cooking, dishwasher safe, digital interface, full-color recipe book

Cons: Expensive, doesn't come with accessories, smoking may occur if too much oil is used

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• Amazon'sEcho Studio offers high quality audio at a price that's less expensive than rivals like the Google Home Max and Apple HomePod.
• Among its most unique features is support for 3D audio, although the selection of songs that support the standard still seems a bit thin.
• The launch of the Echo Studio is a big push by the company to break into the premium audio space and rival firms like Sonos and Bose.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Amazon's Echo devices can do many things the average home speaker can't. They can, for example, tell you what the weather will be like tomorrow, switch off the kitchen lights for you, and even help you order a pizza. And although music may be one of the Echo's most commonly used functions, it's Alexa's intelligence that has made them so popular — not their audio quality.

Amazon is looking to change that in a big way with the launch of the Echo Studio, a premium speaker packed with bigger and more capable tweeters and woofers than your standard Echo and the ability to adapt to the room it's in. The Echo Studio can also play songs in 3D audio, which is driven by its support for technologies such as Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio.

It's a product that puts Amazon squarely at competition with veteran speaker brands like Sonos and Bose as well as fellow tech titans Apple and Google.

After spending some time with the new Echo Studio, which launches on November 7 for $200, I've found that it offers a promising audio experience for the price. Here's a closer look at what it's been like to use it. 

SEE ALSO: Both AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro are the perfect wireless earbuds for iPhone owners — here's how to decide between them

It's much thicker and heavier than your standard Echo, but that's to be expected.

Even after taking just a quick look at the Echo Studio, you'll notice that it's much larger and heftier than your standard Echo.

The Echo Studio weighs a mighty 7.7 pounds, compared to the roughly 1.7-pound third-generation standard Echo. That beefier design is intentional and unavoidable, however, considering the Echo Studio houses an array of components that give it a more premium sound than its lower-priced sibling.

Such additions include significantly larger woofers and tweeters and additional speakers compared to the standard Echo. The Echo Studio has a one-inch tweeter, three two-inch mid-range speakers, and a 5.25-inch woofer, while the Echo and Echo Plus have a 0.8-inch tweeter and three-inch woofer. 

That being said, it's still more compact than the Google Home Max, the premium audio speaker Google launched in 2017, which is bulkier and heavier at 11.7 pounds. Although the Echo Studio isn't exactly portable — and it's not meant to be — it's still light enough to move around your home without much effort if you want to set it up in a different room. The Echo Studio also adapts to the acoustics of the specific room it's in, much like Apple's HomePod. 

Although the Echo Studio is wider and heavier than Amazon's regular Echo speaker, it still has all the hallmark physical characteristics of an Echo: the same mesh fabric coating, and the familiar glowing blue ring that lights up when Alexa is listening. 

The audio quality is excellent for the price, and 3D audio represents a noticeable upgrade. But the number of songs available in 3D is still pretty limited.

The Echo Studio certainly lives up to its promise of delivering clear, boisterous audio that outperforms many of the smaller smart home speakers I've used in the past. I've been using it in my living room, and it filled the roughly 600-square-foot space with ease. 

3D audio support is sure to be a differentiator for the Echo Studio, but the downside is that there simply aren't very many tracks that support it yet. There are an estimated 1,000 3D- compatible songs on Amazon's music service, but the company also claims this number will grow every month.

The difference between 3D-enabled tracks and non-3D music was more noticeable than I expected. Songs that support the 3D format, like Lady Gaga's "Look What I Found" and Ariana Grande's "7 Rings" just sounded bigger — that's to say the overall sound was more open, airy, and enveloping, making it easier to hear crisp high notes and lower accents.

If you want to take advantage of the Echo Studio's 3D music support, you'll have to subscribe to Amazon Music's  HD tier, which costs $13 per month for Prime members and $15 per month for non-Prime members. There's also a free 3D playlist available in Amazon's music app if you want to get a sense of whether it's worth the subscription.

In addition to 3D audio, you also get access to Amazon's much larger library of lossless high-definition and ultra-high-definition music as part of Amazon Music HD. The company says there are 50 million songs available in HD and millions available in ultra HD, and as I browsed around Amazon's music app I found that most of, if not all, the songs I wanted to listen to were available in one or the other.

During my time with the Echo Studio, I sampled songs across HD, Ultra HD, and stereo, and came away impressed. No matter the genre —rock, pop, electro pop, and hip-hop — music sounded deep, rich, and full of bass when necessary. That being said, the Google Home Max sounded just about as good at the Echo Studio on most occasions, and it was sometimes hard to tell the difference. But Amazon's speaker is $100 cheaper than the $300 Google Home Max, making it a more compelling option — particularly for those who already use Alexa and Amazon's services quite often.

Case in point: the Echo Studio is also equipped to work well as a speaker for your home entertainment system if you operate on Amazon's Fire devices. Those who have a Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick 4K, or third-generation Fire TV can wirelessly pair their streaming device with the Studio. 

It's a great choice for anyone looking for a smart speaker that doesn't want to compromise on audio — or pay a high price.

Amazon's Echo Studio offers crisp, high-quality audio at a reasonable price. And hopefully the company's push into 3D audio will make the format more accessible and prevalent than it is today. But even with Amazon's encouragement, it'll probably take some time for the company's vision of offering a studio-quality listening experience at a cheap price to become a reality.

That said, the Echo Studio is probably one of your best options if you're looking for a high-quality home speaker that still offers all the same functionality of standard smart speaker at a reasonable price. Older alternatives from Apple and Google, like the HomePod and Home Max, are still $100 pricier than the new Echo Studio. 

Amazon's biggest competitor in this space will probably be the Sonos One, which is also priced at $200 and comes with Alexa built-in. All told, if you're already tied to Amazon's ecosystem and want an Alexa speaker that offers better sound quality than your average Echo, the Echo Studio is worth considering. 

• My Purple Royal seat cushion ($79) has made sitting through the workday a much more pleasant exercise, and thanks to its effect on my posture, it's also improved my time spent standing up.
• The cushion's grid shape collapses into itself to help accommodate your pressure points, and makes sitting comfortable even if you've, say, left your phone in your back pocket.
• Purple makes a variety of seat cushions, from one that's specifically designed for lumbar support to one that's meant for portability. Prices start at $39 for the portable and lumbar-support cushions and go up to $129.

Sitting up straight can feel like an impossible feat. I'm constantly slouching while I work, and it seems like as soon as I correct my posture, I find myself nearing a 45-degree angle again. Constant posture vigilance is impractical when I'm focused on my job (or just scrolling through Twitter), so I continually let myself fall back into slouching. It's my default position — my resting pose. And it leaves me with a perennially sore back.

I've tried a few techniques to help snap me out of this bad habit. I go to yoga classes, I try to keep it so both of my shoulder blades are touching my chair back at all times, and I write reminders to sit up straight on Post-it notes on my desk. So far, none of those strategies have had a lasting effect (though I'm sure the yoga classes could if I went more consistently). Then, I got a Purple seat cushion, and it's never been easier to avoid hunching over my desk.

Perhaps better known for its mattresses, Purple makes a variety of seat cushions, from one that's specifically designed for lumbar support to one that's meant for portability. I opted for the Royal seat cushion. At $79, it falls somewhere in the middle of the Purple seat cushion price range (which starts at $39 for the portable and lumbar-support cushions and goes up to $129 for the "Ultimate" cushion). Besides improving my seating posture, my new cushion has made sitting down all day for my desk job significantly more comfortable.

But first, how does a seat cushion make you sit up straighter?

Purple cushions come in grid patterns — or they look like large, purple waffles, depending on how hungry you are. The grid shape collapses into itself to help accommodate your pressure points, and makes sitting comfortable even if you've, say, left your phone in your back pocket (guilty). This pattern helps distribute your weight evenly across your seat, and lets extraneous pocket items like cell phones sink into the cushion instead of poking into your behind.

I get antsy throughout the workday, especially because I spend so much time sitting down. The cushion also keeps me from constantly shifting around in my seat — instead of stiffly perching on top of it, like I do on my cushion-less chair, I'm relaxing into it. Not only does this accommodate for items left in my pants pockets, but it's also good news for my sit bones. They start to feel pain after balancing throughout the long workday atop a hard surface. The Purple cushion, made of hyper-elastic polymer, means I don't have to balance on those bones.

Plus, the edge of my seat no longer cuts off the circulation in my legs. Because the Purple cushion has give, it doesn't obstruct my blood flow. All of this helps keep my back and hips in line, making it much easier to maintain good posture.

Something to be wary of with this cushion is that it's not exactly light. While the Portable cushion weighs only 2.75 pounds, that's still adds up if you're carrying it around in a bag with your lunch and other work gear. My Royal cushion weighs 5.4 pounds, so the most I move it around is from one hardwood chair to the other in my kitchen (where I did the majority of my sitting when I worked at home for the past year). However, transporting a 2.75-pound cushion in your car is hardly an inconvenience.

I also wish I could mold my cushion to be the exact shape of my chair. As it is, my cushion hangs off the edge — more of an aesthetic issue than anything, but still something that would be nice to be able to tailor. That being said, different Purple cushions come in different dimensions, and the Royal is the third biggest of seven varieties. And admittedly, I didn't measure my chairs before buying.

Different jobs require different amounts of sitting. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent data, people who worked in office jobs (like lawyers, human resource managers, accountants, and software developers) spent somewhere between 75 and 90% of their workdays seated. Professional drivers sat for over 82% of their time on the job.

If you fall into any of these job categories, I fully suggest giving a Purple seat cushion a try. Enduring pain in your sit bones, tail bone, and legs all day while hunching over your laptop (or steering wheel) isn't worth avoiding the relatively small cost of adding daily comfort to your routine. My seat cushion has made sitting through the workday a much more pleasant exercise, and thanks to its effect on my posture, it's also improved my time spent standing up.

Buy the Purple Royal Seat Cushion for $79 — and check out 6 other seat cushion varieties on the Purple website.

It's also available to buy on Amazon.

SEE ALSO: 20 game-changing products under $10 that we use in our daily lives

Join the conversation about this story »

• Cliff Asness, the founder of AQR Capital Management, has listed his Miami penthouse for $29.5 million less than a year and a half after buying it, according to Mansion Global.
• Asness purchased the 6,807-square-foot penthouse in May 2018 for $26 million. The property's listing agents told Mansion Global that Asness is now looking for larger Florida digs. 
• Here's a look inside the apartment that sits on South Beach's iconic Ocean Drive and has floor to ceiling windows displaying wraparound views of Miami. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Cliff Asness, the billionaire founder of AQR Capital Management, just listed his luxurious Miami Beach apartment for $29.5 million, according to Mansion Global.

Asness has a net worth of $2.6 billion, per Forbes. Business Insider previously reported that his firm manages over $200 billion in assets.

He purchased the penthouse in May 2018 for $26 million from Boris Jordan, the chairman of Curaleaf, the biggest marijuana company in the US. Now, Mansion Global reports that he is looking for a larger Florida home.

The listing is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom, full-floor penthouse with sweeping views of Miami along with a private deck and pool. The building is situated on South Beach's iconic Ocean Drive.

Eloy Carmenate and Mick Duchon of Douglas Elliman Real Estate hold the listing.

Keep reading for a look inside the sun-drenched luxury apartment.

SEE ALSO: Cliff Asness' AQR has placed bets against Adyen and Worldline, two of Europe's biggest players in the buzzy payments space

NOW READ: $203 billion asset manager Cliff Asness says he'll stick with his trademark investing style 'like grim death' despite bleeding assets

Cliff Asness is the founder of AQR Capital Management, a firm that manages over $200 billion. He has a net worth of $2.6 billion.

Source: Business Insider, Forbes

He just listed his Miami Beach penthouse for $29.5 million.

Source: Mansion Global

He initially purchased the penthouse in May 2018 for $26 million from the chairman of the largest marijuana company in the US.

Source: Mansion Global,Business Insider

The penthouse spans 6,807 square feet and has an open layout.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The dining room, living room, and kitchen are all connected in an open-concept layout.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The kitchen has state-of-the-art appliances, including a wine cooler and an elongated marble island and bar.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and two half-baths, according to the listing.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The master closet is noticeably spacious ...

Source: Douglas Elliman

... as is the master bathroom.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The entire penthouse is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows for maximum natural light, and in some cases, easy access to the terrace.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The terrace provides both beach ...

Source: Douglas Elliman

... and city views.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The penthouse also has plenty of indoor lounging space.

Source: Douglas Elliman

And there's also additional, very luxurious outdoor lounging space.

Source: Douglas Elliman

The rooftop pool deck also comes equipped with a grilling area.

Source: Douglas Elliman

• Calling all NYC execs — what are your go-to spots to impress clients?
• Business Insider wants to know your favorite bar and restaurant in the city where you take clients.
• Fill out the form below to tell us. We can keep you anonymous if you prefer.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Have you heard? Peter Luger is out, according to The New York Times' Pete Wells.

NYC execs, we want to hear from you: Where are you taking your clients? If you have more than 10 years of experience, tell us your go-to bar and restaurant in the city for impressing clients.

Please note that we're looking to hear from those working in the following industries: finance, media, law, real estate, fashion, tech, and talent.

If your story is selected, we'll reach out to confidentially to verify your identity. Don't worry, you can remain anonymous. Just check off the option at the end of this form.

SEE ALSO: The New York Times just declared this power-lunching spot the No. 1 New York restaurant of the year

DON'T MISS: The 21 best restaurants for a power lunch in New York City

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Traditional Japanese swords can take over 18 months to create — here's what makes them so special

• Buffy recently released Eucalyptus Sheets ($190 for a queen set), made from an eco-friendly eucalyptus fabric. 
• Sheet sets range in price from $165 to $215 and come in four neutral, naturally dyed colors.
• The eucalyptus fabric is billed as being more breathable than cotton and softer than linen. It's also hypoallergenic.
• I slept on Buffy's new sheets for weeks, and they're among my all-time favorites. They're silky and cool to the touch, and they're great at regulating temperature. You may find them too thin for your liking at $190, but you have a 30-day window from ordering to return them if so. 

Buffy, the startup that dominated the internet with its comforter made from recycled plastic bottles, recently released a set eco-friendly sheets.

Buffy's Eucalyptus Sheets are made from 100% eucalyptus-based fiber — and reportedly come with the plant's naturally temperature-regulating properties.

Sheet sets range from $165 to $215. (A queen-size set will cost you $190). You can pick up sets for Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and Cal King mattresses and in three neutral colors: grey, light grey, and blush. The set will include a fitted sheet, top sheet, and two pillowcases. 

Like the rest of the product offerings, Buffy's sheets are built upon an environmentally conscious blueprint. The Austrian eucalyptus used to make its fabric reportedly requires ten times less water to grow than cotton. And, in the company's first offering of colorways in bedding, all its hues were naturally created with ingredients like gardenia, pomegranate, turmeric, and walnut without using bleach or harsh chemicals. 

Like many sleep startups familiar with customer concerns of buying products online, Buffy has good customer service policies in place; you'll get free shipping, free returns, and a pay-later trial that means you'll only be charged once the seven-day trial ends and you've chosen to keep the sheets. If you don't love them after the trial, returns can be initiated within 30 days of ordering. 

In terms of cost, you can find sheets for around the same price from other popular home startups. Snowe's queen-sized Sateen Set is $198, Brooklinen's Luxe Sateen is $149, and Parachute's Sateen Set is $149 (though it doesn't include a top sheet). Obviously, Buffy's set is unique in being made from eucalyptus fiber. The closest material equivalent would be the heavier, silkier set offered by Ettitude for $178 that's made from bamboo lyocell. 

To see how all this translates into the product in real life, Buffy sent a sheet set to Insider Picks to test. 

Keep reading for a full review, but the short summary is this: Buffy's sheets are among my favorite sheets of all-time. They're wonderfully silky and cool-to-the-touch, and they actually deliver on being softer than my linen sheets and more breathable than my cotton sets. If you can comfortably afford $190 for a queen-size set, I highly recommend trying them. The only con I'd mention is that they're relatively thin — you'll probably be able to vaguely decipher patterns on pillows underneath — and that could pose an issue with a lot of wear. 

My Experience sleeping on Buffy's Eucalyptus Sheets:

In the few weeks I've been sleeping under Buffy's sheets, they've become one of my all-time favorite sets. 

First of all, the material is decadent. It's the kind of silky fabric that threatens to slip off and out of a folded stack whenever it's not laid at ground level. It's also cool to the touch. The company bills it as being softer than linen and more breathable than cotton, and I've found that to be true. I own both linen and cotton sets, and I prefer Buffy's for everyday use. In the summer, I'll probably still revert to linen as it feels more breathable overall.

After one wash, the material appears the same size and color, though only time will tell how it fares with repeated washes.

The only possible con is that the sheets themselves are relatively thin — if your pillows have loud patterns on them, you may be able to see some of it underneath the Buffy covering. Its thinness may be a boon for breathability, but it could potentially mean they don't last as long as other thicker pairs. However, you have a seven-day trial to see if that's a deal-breaker before being charged, and a 30-day window from when you ordered in which to decide you want to send them back. 

Overall, if you're looking for silky, soft, breathable sheets that are both eco-friendly and primed to keep you from sweating at night, these are worth checking out. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• You can remove a bid on an eBay item you've listed if you don't want a specific user to purchase an item you're selling, though only under certain conditions. 
• Removing a bid on eBay doesn't prevent the same user from placing another bid on your item. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Selling on eBay is a quick and easy way to make a little extra cash, but it's not always a smooth process.

If you're looking to remove a buyer's bid from an item you're selling, eBay will only allow you to remove a bid for the following reasons:

• A potential buyer requests a cancellation, and you accept it.
• You've made an error in the item description that needs to be changed.
• The item you've listed is no longer for sale, and you're ending the listing. 
• You believe the buyer is fraudulent. 

That said, here's how to remove a bid on your listing. 

How to remove a bid on your item on eBay

1. Log into your eBay account.

2. Click "Help & Contact" in the menu bar on the top of your home screen. 

3. In the search bar on the next screen, type "canceling a bid" and then click "Canceling bids & managing bidders," which should be the top search result. 

4. On the next page, scroll down and click the blue "Cancel a bid" button. 

5. At the bottom of the following screen, click "Get started." 

6. From the items you have listed for sale, click the one with the bid you wish to retract. You'll want to copy the item number as well as the User ID of the bidder.

7. On the page for cancelling a bid, enter the item number, the User ID of the bid you're cancelling, and the reasons you want to cancel the user's bid, then click "cancel bid."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to return an item on eBay if it's defective or damaged, and meets the site's requirements

• How to list and sell items on Facebook Marketplace, Facebook's version of Craigslist

• How to cancel a bid you've made on eBay in 5 steps

• How to sell items on eBay and make extra money off of things you no longer need

SEE ALSO: The best budget laptops

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: People are still debating the pink or grey sneaker, 2 years after it went viral. Here's the real color explained.

• You can limit screen time on your iPhone using the aptly named "Screen Time" feature, which will lock your apps and make them temporarily unusable. 
• There are two ways to use Screen Time on your iPhone, both of which can be found in your iPhone's Settings app. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

We spend a lot of time looking at our screens, between our TV, computer, and phone. A lot. 

If you've ever wanted to limit the amount of time you spend on your iPhone, though, Apple's "Screen Time" function allows you to do just that, in two different ways. 

You can limit the time you spend on certain apps, or schedule a daily period of "downtime" where all apps (with the exception of essentials like Phone, Messages, and Maps) are blocked. 

Here's how to enable it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to limit screen time on your iPhone

Using the Downtime feature 

1. Unlock your iPhone and launch the Settings app from your homescreen. 

2. In Settings, find the "Screen Time" tab and tap to select it. 

3. If you've never used Screen Time before, Apple will ask you to set up a Screen Time password — this can be different from your lock screen password, and is four digits long. Tap "Use Screen Time Passcode" to set one.

4. Once you've set a password, in the Screen Time menu, find "Downtime" and tap it. 

5. After you've entered your Screen Time password, make sure Downtime is turned on — you will know when the switch to the right of Downtime turns green. 

6. Next, select the time frame during which you want to have apps blocked on your iPhone. 

7. To finish, make sure you've selected "Block at Downtime" — this will lock all your non-essential apps during the time period you selected. 

Apple will lock all of what it considers to be "non-essential" apps, a list that automatically excludes Phone, Messages, FaceTime and Maps — though you can block any app with the exception of the Phone app. 

You can add apps to your "Always Allowed" list by going to back to the main Screen Time menu and selecting "Always Allowed." Any app you add to the "Allowed Apps" section will be unblocked.

By locking certain apps 

1. Launch Settings and tap Screen Time. 

2. In the Screen Time menu, select "App Limits." 

3. Tap "Add Limit" at the bottom of the menu.

4. Here you can choose which apps you want to limit. They're sorted by various groupings like "Productivity" and "Social Networking" — tap a category to see what apps it includes. You can set limits on all apps by selecting "All Apps & Categories" and tapping "Next" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

5. To finish, select how long to allow the apps to be used and then tap "Add" at the top of the screen. 

When you hit your limit while using that app, you'll be locked out.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to enable in-app purchases on your iPhone, to buy upgrades and other features in your favorite apps and games

• How to lock apps on your iPad using Apple's 'Screen Time' feature for limiting app usage

• How to see old notifications on your iPhone in the Notification Center, and clear all your notifications at once

• 'Why won't my iPhone connect to Bluetooth?': How to fix your Bluetooth connection in 6 ways

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why it's so hard for planes to land on water

• There's a looming shortage of primary care doctors in the US, in part because of how much less they're paid compared to doctors in more specialized areas of medicine.
• To remedy that, medical schools have been exploring ways to provide free tuition to relieve the burden of medical school debt. 
• On Wednesday, Gesinger Health Systems's Commonwealth School of Medicine joined the ranks, adding a scholarship for 40 incoming medical students that provides full tuition coverage and a living stipend in exchange for staying with the health system after graduation and working in primary care. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Geisinger Health System, a nonprofit hospital system headquartered in central Pennsylvania, just made a big move to fix the primary care shortage facing the organization. 

On Wednesday, Geisinger said its Commonwealth School of Medicine will select 40 incoming medical school students and provide them with full tuition coverage and a $2,000-per-month living stipend. In return, the students commit to staying on at Geisinger for four years after residency to work in primary care roles.

Students can still pursue their residency anywhere so long as they come back to work at the health system afterwards in a primary care role. After graduating from medical school, doctors gain additional medical training in residencies, which usually last about three years for students going into primary care careers.

'It's simply because of the magnitude of the need in primary care'

First- and second-year students already at Geisinger's school of medicine will also get a chance to join the program starting January 2020, while incoming students will have the chance to join the primary care scholar program in August 2020. 

Geisinger is placing more of an emphasis on new ways to care for its seniors as Pennsylvania's 65-and-older population grows at a faster rate. 

The health system has opened specialized clinics and carried out a related redesign to its primary-care system. Geisinger is also building up its ability to take care of seniors in their homes and even investing in food pantries.

By setting up programs like the Primary Care Scholars Program, it can guarantee it has the doctors to take care of those seniors. It's why the scholars will take up 40 spots in each of the the medical school's 115-person class. 

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"It's simply because of the magnitude of the need in primary care," Steven Scheinman, the dean of Geisinger's Commonwealth School of Medicine told Business Insider. 

In addition to the scholarships spots, Scheinman said the school is revamping its curriculum to include more elements of primary care, including getting students time in different models like Geisinger's 65 Forward program for seniors and its at-home care program. 

"We are hoping and anticipating that by emphasizing it in the curriculum, giving the experience of 21st century primary care, that we will be known as a place to come to get the best training in primary care," Scheinman said. 

Of the 1,700 medical providers Geisinger employs, roughly 250 are primary care and internal medicine doctors and advanced practitioners like physician assistants and nurse practitioners, a spokesperson said.

Read more: A health system hidden in the heart of Pennsylvania thinks it's cracked the code on caring for seniors. And it could be the future of healthcare.

There's been a shortage of primary care physicians in the US. According to an April 2019 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the US faces a shortage of up to 55,200 primary care doctors by 2032. 

That's in part because of how much less they're paid compared to doctors in more specialized areas of medicine. At the same time. the median debt coming out of medical school for a doctor is $200,000.

Covering the cost of medical school

Geisinger isn't alone in covering medical school tuition for certain students.

New York University made a bold move in 2018 when it said it would offer free tuition to current and future medical students. 

The university hopes this will alleviate the financial barriers that discourage many promising high school and college students from considering a career in medicine due to concerns with high medical school costs. Ideally, without looming medical student debt, students will choose to go into less high-earning areas of medicine such as primary care. 

Read more: NYU's decision to go tuition-free has other top medical schools grappling with how to attract the brightest students

Others followed suit. In April 2019, Washington University in St. Louis also announced a commitment of $100 million to cover the medical debt of as many as half of its students. Kaiser Permanente, which is preparing to open its own medical school in 2020, said it would waive tuition for the first five classes. 

At the time, NYU's decision drew skepticism that the free ride would lead to more future doctors opting into primary care as their focus. Since then, NYU has opened a primary-care-focused medical school on Long Island. 

Last year, Geisinger set up the Abigail Geisinger Scholars program, which allows 10 medical students at Geisinger to have their medical debt forgiven upon completion of a certain amount of service as a Geisinger doctor in any specialty. 

While most other private institutions don't carry the same requirements that Geisinger's program does, other national programs cover tuition in exchange for military service or years of work in under-served areas. 

Read more about how Geisinger is bulking up its primary care strategy.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how to survive an avalanche

• It's easy to set a timer on your iPhone camera and position the device to take a picture after a brief countdown. 
• You can set the timer for either three seconds or 10 seconds, after which your iPhone camera will take a series of 10 burst photos that you can choose to keep or delete. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

We've all been there — there's nobody around to take a picture of your group of friends at a special location or event. 

Fortunately, Apple has developed a solution to this with a simple feature on the iPhone. 

The built-in self timer on your iPhone camera allows you to take photos without physically clicking the button. 

You can set a long or short countdown timer and your camera will snap 10 burst photos to give you the perfect shot. 

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

How to set the timer on your iPhone camera

1. Unlock your iPhone and launch the Camera app from the home screen. 

2. Set your iPhone up in the position of how you'd like the photo to be taken. 

3. Once you've placed your phone in the desired place, tap the clock icon at the top of the screen. 

4. Next, select a countdown for the timer. You have two options: three or 10 seconds. 

5. Select the shutter button to start the self timer. If you want to stop the timer at any point, tap the stop button. 

6. Once your photo has been taken, go to the Photos app. Select the photo taken with the self timer. Here you will be given the option to select from 10 different burst images taken using the self timer. Scroll through the images, selecting the ones you prefer, and tap Done in the upper right-hand corner.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to take and view burst photos on your iPhone, to capture and save fast-action images

• How to make GIFs on an iPhone using live photos, through the Photos app or Giphy

• How to use the Live Photo feature on your iPhone to take motion-enhanced pictures

• How to recover deleted photos from your iPhone, through the Photos app, cloud storage services, and more

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How autopilot on an airplane works

• Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder and CEO of Japanese holding company SoftBank, is worth an estimated $14.1 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.
• SoftBank, a Japanese conglomerate that invested almost $11 billion into WeWork, lost more than $4.7 billion after the coworking company's failed IPO, The Wall Street Journal reported.
• Son is the third-richest person in Japan after Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai and Keyence founder Takemitsu Takizaki.
• Through SoftBank and his first $100 billion Vision Fund, Son has invested millions in some of Silicon Valley's biggest tech companies, including Uber, WeWork, Slack, and DoorDash.
• He owns $45 million worth of real estate in Tokyo as well as a $117.5 million estate in Silicon Valley.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Japanese holding company SoftBank, the biggest investor in WeWork, lost more than $4.7 billion after the coworking company's failed IPO, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The company announced last month it would take control of the coworking company in a deal that will give former CEO Adam Neumann almost $1.7 billion.

Softbank had poured almost $11 billion into WeWork, Business Insider previously reported. It was set to invest an additional billion dollars into WeWork's IPO before the IPO was postponed on September 17.

SoftBank's founder and CEO is Masayoshi Son, who's worth an estimated $14.1 billion, per Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. That makes him the third-richest person in Japan after Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai and Keyence founder Takemitsu Takizaki.

Through SoftBank and his first $100 billion Vision Fund, Son has invested millions in some of Silicon Valley's biggest tech companies, including Uber, Slack, and DoorDash.

Here's a look at Son's life, career, investments, and real-estate portfolio.

SEE ALSO: All the details of SoftBank's WeWork takeover: SoftBank to own 80% of WeWork, Neumann steps down, and SoftBank invests billions. The new chairman will address employees on Wednesday.

DON'T MISS: WeWork is back to having an all-male board of directors — here's who is still leading the office-sharing company

Masayoshi Son is the billionaire founder and CEO of Japanese holding company SoftBank, which announced commitments of $108 billion to its second massive Vision Fund in July 2019.

SoftBank owns stakes in more than 1,000 companies, including Alibaba and Yahoo Japan, according to Bloomberg.

In 2018, the company reported revenue of $82.7 billion.

Son is worth an estimated $14.1 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.

That makes him the third-richest person in Japan after Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai, who's worth an estimated $32.5 billion, and Keyence founder Takemitsu Takizaki, who's worth $18.2 billion.

Most of Son's wealth comes from his 26% stake in Softbank, which makes him the largest shareholder, according to Bloomberg.

Son was born in 1957 to Korean immigrants on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

The 61-year-old CEO was one of four brothers, and his father worked at restaurants, farms, and fisheries.

In 1972, when he was 16, Son met one of his idols: McDonald's Japan founder Den Fujita, who encouraged him to go study in the United States.

Son took his advice and moved to San Francisco the next year to continue high school.

Son went on to study computer science and economics at the University of California at Berkeley.

Before he was 21 years old, Son sold his first company, a multilingual translator bought by Sharp for about $1 million.

In the 1980s, Son founded SoftBank, a company that today pours billions of dollars of capital into tech startups, including through its $100 billion Vision Fund.

Through its Vision Fund, SoftBank has invested in major companies like Uber, WeWork, food-delivery startup DoorDash, and Indian e-commerce retailer Flipkart.

Son's investment strategies are considered unconventional in Silicon Valley.

The size of Son's $100 billion Vision Fund and its investment strategies have shocked Silicon Valley investors, according to Bloomberg.

"The standard VC playbook involves making small, speculative investments in early-stage startups and adding funds in follow-on rounds as those startups grow," Sarah McBride, Selina Wing, and Peter Elstrom wrote for Bloomberg. "SoftBank's strategy has been to put enormous sums — its smallest deals are $100 million or so, its biggest are in the billions — into the most successful tech startups in a given category." 

Fast Company's Katrina Booker called Son "the most powerful person in Silicon Valley" for his ambitious vision — and financial means — to transform industries from real estate to food to transportation through his investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Like the rest of Silicon Valley, Son may soon have to reckon with the presence of Saudi Arabia in the US tech world.

"Saudi Arabia's presence in Silicon Valley is greater than it's ever been," Alexei Oreskovic recently reported for Business Insider.

The SoftBank CEO has direct ties to Saudi Arabia, which has been embroiled in human rights scandals and blamed for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is the SoftBank Vision Fund's largest backer, having contributed $45 billion of the fund's $100 billion bankroll.

The SoftBank CEO is known for paying his executives handsomely.

Six of SoftBanks' top executives made $83 million combined (9.1 billion yen) in compensation last year, while Son's salary rose to about $2.1 million (229 million yen), according to Bloomberg.

"The range of executive salaries in Japan has gone up, but compensation in the billions of yen is still unheard of beyond a handful of global companies," Noriko Watanabe, a partner at Heidrick & Struggles, an executive search company, told Bloomberg.

Son owns millions of dollars worth of property in Tokyo, where SoftBank is headquartered.

The SoftBank CEO owns about $45 million worth of residential property in Tokyo, according to Bloomberg. And in 2013, he spent $326 million on Tokyo's landmark Tiffany Building in the Ginza luxury shopping district.

He also owns a $117.5 million Silicon Valley estate that comes with a 9,000-square-foot house, a 1,117-square-foot pool house, a detached library, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and formal gardens.

Son bought the Woodside, California, property in 2012 from private equity investor Tully Friedman, according to Forbes. 

Son is married with two children but keeps his family life private.

The CEO married Masami Ohno, the daughter of a prominent Japanese doctor, while they were both students at UC Berkeley, The Seoul Times reported. The couple reportedly has two daughters together, but little information about the family can be found online.

Son's younger brother, Taizo Son, is also a billionaire.

Taizo Son is an entrepreneur who has founded companies including GungHo Online Entertainment and Movida Japan. He's worth an estimated $1.2 billion, according to Forbes.

The SoftBank CEO reportedly has personal relationships with billionaire CEOs and entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Rupert Murdoch, and Tadashi Yanai.

Son has visited Ellison's Silicon Valley home, where he met Steve Jobs.

Son reportedly once had a close relationship with WeWork's cofounder and former CEO Adam Neumann.

Neumann told Business Insider in a recent interview that he and his wife, Rebekah, call Son "Yoda," in reference to the "Star Wars" character.

"He is Yoda," Neumann said. "He has the Force with him."

However, in September 2019 amid a failed IPO attempt by the coworking company, Son reportedly "lost faith" in Neumann and wanted him demoted, the Financial Times reported September 22. A couple of days later, Neumann stepped down as CEO.

Now, SoftBank is taking control of WeWork in a deal that entails giving Neumann almost $1.7 billion and having him step down as chairman of the board, Maureen Farrell reported for The Wall Street Journal.

Softbank lost at least $4.7 billion by investing in WeWork, according to the Journal.

The SoftBank CEO has also publicly met with President Donald Trump on a few separate occasions, including at Trump Tower in New York a month after Trump was elected.

At a June 2018 groundbreaking ceremony in Wisconsin for a new manufacturing facility for Foxconn, Trump praised SoftBank for increasing its investments in US companies.

In May 2019, SoftBank announced the creation of a second $100 billion Vision Fund, after having already spent more than half of the first one.

"Various investors from around the world are telling us they definitely want to participate in Vision Fund 2. We will set it up soon," Son said at the beginning of May, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal later reported that Son has been having trouble raising money for this new fund, a claim SoftBank disputes, as Business Insider's Paige Leskin reported.

"While we don't comment on fundraising, much of The Wall Street Journal's reporting on investor sentiment is misleading and even inaccurate," a SoftBank spokesperson told Business Insider in an email in June.

In July, the company announced commitments of $108 billion to its second Vision Fund.

SoftBank confirmed that Apple, Foxconn, and others will invest in the fund, as well as Microsoft for the first time, Business Insider's Shona Gosh reported.

Although Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was the largest backer of the first Vision Fund, having contributed $45 billion of the fund's $100 billion bankroll, Saudi Arabia is missing from the list of backers for the new fund.

Despite paying his executives billions of yen, Son continues to grow richer.

In August 2012, Son had a net worth of $9.79 billion. Seven years later, he's more than $4 billion wealthier.

• It's easy to cancel your Hulu subscription if you no longer want to use the streaming service. 
• When you cancel Hulu, your account will remain active until the end of your payment period, after which you will lose access and no longer be charged. 
• You can also pause your Hulu subscription for up to 12 weeks and reactivate it at any time, if you don't want to cancel it permanently yet. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The streaming wars are well underway, and if you are thinking of axing some of your subscriptions, you are not alone — many users are jumping from one service to another, following their favorite shows. 

If you are thinking of pulling the plug on Hulu, one of the more popular subscription-based streaming services for TV shows and movies, here's how to do it.  

How to cancel your Hulu subscription

1. Launch your preferred browser on a computer or mobile device. 

2. Go to https://www.hulu.com/. 

3. In the upper right-hand corner, select your name. 

4. On the drop-down menu, scroll and then select "Account" under "Manage Profiles."

5. Under the "Your Subscription" section, select "Cancel Your Subscription."  

6. Hulu will then prompt you to consider pausing your subscription. If you're billed through Hulu, Roku, or Amazon, you can freeze your subscription and pay nothing for up to 12 weeks, with the opportunity to reactivate it at any time. This may be helpful if you won't be able to watch for a few months but want to keep your account.  

7. If you are set on cancelling Hulu permanently, select "Continue to Cancel." 

8. Another window will load and ask you to select a reason for your cancellation. Select one of the bubbles, and then click "Continue to Cancel." 

9. At this point you may receive a final prompt offering you a two-week, paid subscription or a page that says Hulu is adding shows all the time. Select "Continue to Cancellation" once again or "Cancel Subscription." 

10. Once you've cancelled your subscription, you should receive a confirmation email. Your Hulu account will be active until the end of your payment period, which can be found on the Account page. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'Can you watch Hulu on a Nintendo Switch?': Yes, you can — here's how to set up the Switch's Hulu app

• You can't watch Netflix on a Nintendo Switch, but you can watch YouTube and Hulu — here's what you need to know

• How to get Netflix on a PS4 to watch TV shows and movies from your console

• How to cancel a Netflix subscription, however you subscribed to it

SEE ALSO: The best 4K TVs you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Millennials earn 20% less than baby boomers did at their age, according to a new report by New America.
• A MagnifyMoney study from earlier this year found the wealth gap between generations in the US has nearly doubled in the past 20 years
• The study found that millennials have seen a small decrease in net worth when compared to the same-aged cohort 20 years ago.
• Baby boomers, meanwhile, have seen a significant increase in their net worth, when compared to the same-aged cohort 20 years ago. 
• Millennials are facing an affordability crisis, in which the Great Recession, expensive housing market, and staggering student-loan debt have put them financially behind.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Look no further than the widening generational wealth gap to see just how financially behind millennials are.

Millennials earn 20% less than baby boomers did at their age, according to a new report by think tank New America. These findings come after a MagnifyMoney study of Federal Reserve data on household assets and liabilities from earlier this year.

The study found that the average American millennial household today (ages 20 to 35 in 2016) has an average net worth of $100,800, while the average American baby boomer household today (ages 52 to 70 in 2016) has a net worth of $1.2 million (all values are adjusted for inflation), reported Mallika Mitra for CNBC. That means that baby boomer households in 2016 had twelve times the net worth of millennial households.

A gap in wealth between these age groups makes sense because baby boomers have had more time than millennials to accumulate wealth — but comparing that wealth gap to those of previous generations shines a new light on the findings.

In 1998, the average household aged 20 to 35 had a net worth of $103,400, while households aged 52 to 70 had a net worth of $747,600, MagnifyMoney found — roughly seven times more than the younger households.

That means the wealth gap between older households and younger households has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, climbing from seven to twelve times the net worth. 

In that time frame, the average net worth for households ages 20 to 35 has declined by $2,600, while households ages 52 to 70 have seen a $452,400 increase in net worth.

Read more: Millennials have been called the 'brokest' and the 'richest' generation, and experts say both of those are true

The Great American Affordability Crisis is to blame 

As a refresher, net worth is one's entire personal assets minus all their liabilities. MagnifyMoney's analysis reveals that millennials have more liabilities — debt — than any other age group studied.

Much of that debt takes shape in student loans, thanks to college tuition that has more than doubled since the 1980s— the national student-loan debt total is more than $1.5 trillion, and the average student-loan debt per graduating student in 2018 who took out loans is $29,800.

According to a report earlier this year by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, 81% of early-adult households ages 18 to 34 carry a collective debt of $2 trillion, including student-loan debt and credit card debt.

Meanwhile, as Mitra reported, rising housing costs also play a role. First-time homebuyers todaywill pay 39% more than first-time homebuyers did nearly 40 years ago, according to Student Loan Hero. That means millennials are less likely to buy a home, making houses an asset more boomers than millennials have.

There's also the aftermath of the Great Recession, which created a financial domino effect for millennials that put them on a slow path to wealth accumulation. It hit millennials born in the 1980s especially hard: Their wealth levels are 34% below where they would most likely have been if the financial crisis hadn't occurred, according to a report by the St. Louis Fed.

The recession also made millennials wary about investing, Mandi Woodruff, executive editor at MagnifyMoney told Mitra.

Ultimately, the generational wealth gap increase is an effect of The Great American Affordability Crisis, in which rising living costs, increasing student-loan debt, and the ongoing fallout of the recession are creating serious financial struggles for millennials.

SEE ALSO: The Great Recession split the millennial generation down the middle, creating 2 groups with very different financial habits

DON'T MISS: 2019 is the final class of millennial college graduates. Next stop: The Great American Affordability Crisis.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• To figure out how much your Steam account is worth, you'll need to calculate how much it would cost to replace every product currently in your account's library. 
• Third-party tools can connect with your account and use Steam's database to appraise your library, and give you an estimate of how much you average in dollars per minute of game time played.
• Steam accounts aren't intended for resale, so these statistics are just for fun and personal edification.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you've owned a Steam account for a few years, it can be surprising just how large your library is, even if you consider yourself a frugal gamer. It all adds up so slowly that it can be hard to get a grasp on just how much you've spent building your Steam library.

There are third-party tools that can show you how much it would cost to replace your entire Steam Library, and because Steam also tracks play time, how many hours of play you've gotten out of every dollar you spent.

It's against Steam's rules to sell your Steam account, so this should be considered a theoretical rather than a practical exercise. Theoretical exercises are still fun, if you're curious.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Steam Gift Card (From $20 at Best Buy)

How to know how much your Steam account is worth

1. SteamDB's calculator is a third-party app that accesses your public Steam library. Make sure your profile settings are set to Public, or else SteamDB won't be able to access the data it needs.

2. SteamDB will search for your account in its database to make its estimates. The best way to tell it which account to look for is to use your account number, which is a long string. The easiest way to get that profile number is to open the Steam app and click on your username at the top of the window — the URL that appears below your name will have the number.

3. Copy and paste the long number into SteamDB to search for your account.

4. SteamDB will give you two dollar values — the low number in green is how much it would have cost if you bought all the products in your library at their greatest discount, and the number in red is how much it would cost if you bought them all at current prices.

You can also see the average price of all the games in your library, your "average price per hour," and a breakdown of how many games you've bought at every major price tier.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to share games on Steam with anyone on a single computer, or on another computer anywhere in the world

• You can refund games you buy on Steam, but there's a time limit — here's how to get your money back

• How to add friends on Steam in 3 different ways, so you always know when they're ready to play

• How to appear offline on an Xbox One, and adjust who can see your online status

SEE ALSO: The best gaming mice you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: People are still debating the pink or grey sneaker, 2 years after it went viral. Here's the real color explained.

We rounded up the ten best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on wardrobe essentials at Gap, Italian-made shoes at M.Gemi, the 3rd Gen Echo Dot, and more.

Deals in this story are subject to change throughout the day. The prices listed reflect the deal at the time of publication. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

The best sales and deals happening today at a glance:

• Save 40% on everything, plus an extra 10% at Gap
• Save $20 on the Echo Dot 3rd Gen
• Save $100 on your first box of 12 wines at NakedWines.com
• Save 20% on everything at M.Gemi
• Save up to 30% on essential fall lawn tools on Amazon

SEE ALSO: The best mattresses you can buy

DON'T MISS: I got my teeth straightened through an online service called Candid for under $2,000 — here’s how it works

1. Save 40% on everything, plus an extra 10% at Gap

Shop the Gap sale now. 

Gap is a dependable place to find affordable wardrobe essentials, as they regularly have sales — and a particularly good one is going on right now. Until tonight, November 6 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can save 40% on everything (excluding the 1969 Premium Collection) by using the promo code "GAPFRIEND" at checkout. You can also save an extra 10% by using the promo code "FORYOU" at checkout. No matter what your style is, you'll be able to find pieces to include in your work or casual wardrobe.

2. Save $20 on the Echo Dot 3rd Gen

Echo Dot 3rd Gen, $29.99 (Originally $49.99) [You save $20]

The Echo Dot is one of Amazon's top-selling items worldwide. For a limited time, you can get the Echo Dot for 29.99, which is the lowest price since Prime Day. The device might be small, but it packs a lot of features. Using the power of Alexa, you can get the news, check the weather, control smart home devices, and play music from streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora.

3. Save $100 on your first box of 12 wines at NakedWines.com

Shop the NakedWines.com sale now. 

Founded in 2008, NakedWines.com is a direct-to-consumer startup that invests directly into independent winemakers to bring unique, high-end wine to consumers for reasonable prices. Right now, you can save $100 on your first box of 12 wines by using the promo code "AWIN100" at checkout. Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton tried the service and was impressed by the quality of "easy drinking" wines and their 100% satisfaction guarantee. Read her full review here.

This list includes Sponsored Products that have been suggested by Naked Wines and that also meet our editorial criteria in terms of quality and value.*

4. Save 20% on everything at M.Gemi

Shop the M.Gemi sale now. 

Direct-to-consumer Italian footwear startup M.Gemi is holding a friends-and-family sale with sitewide discounts. For a limited time, you can automatically save 20% on everything. Whether you're looking for a comfortable and stylish pair of fall boots, high-quality leather sneakers, or dress shoes, you'll find some great choices for men and women.

5. Save up to 30% on essential fall lawn tools on Amazon

Shop essential fall power tools on Amazon now. 

Maintaining a pristine lawn during the fall can be a huge pain without the right tools. Fortunately, Amazon is having a big sale on all of the essential power tools to keep your yard tidy and free of fallen leaves and broken branches. You can save up to 30% on leaf blowers, chain saws, and pole saws.

6. Get $750 worth of travel points when you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred from our partner The Points Guy.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option if you're new to earning points and miles, as it has a reasonable $95 annual fee. You'll earn 2 points per dollar on all travel and dining purchases and 1 point on everything else, and the card includes some valuable benefits like trip delay coverage and primary car rental insurance.

You can earn 60,000 Chase points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred when you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. That's worth at least $750 toward travel. Read our review to learn more about the card's benefits.

Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network if you apply for a credit card, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

7. Save up to $275 on a Bear mattress, plus two free pillows

Shop the Bear Mattress sale now. 

Named the best mattress for hot sleepers in our buying guide, Bear Mattresses are designed to keep you cool and comfortable at night. Additionally, the mattresses feature Celliant, a material that converts heat from the body into far infrared — a type of energy that's been proven to help rebuild cells. The technology can help you wake up feeling well-rested and free of aches and pains, plus you won't break a sweat in your sleep. Right now, you can save $175 on orders of $1,075 with the promo code "SAVE175" and $275 on orders of $1,075 with the promo code "SAVE275" at checkout. You'll also receive two free pillows.

8. Save 53% on an Audible subscription

Get Audible for $6.95 per month for the first 3 months now. 

Amazon's audiobook service Audible is the perfect subscription for avid readers who might not have as much time to read as they'd like. The subscription includes one audiobook and two Audible Originals each month with the option to swap any book if you don't love it. For a limited time, you can get three months for $6.95 per month — the price goes up to $14.95 per month afterward.

9. Save 15% on all orders at Framebridge as a new customer

Shop the Framebridge sale now.

In addition to offering customizable framing options for your prints and original paintings, Framebridge will turn your favorite digital images and smartphone pictures into beautifully framed artwork that's suitable for display. Simply pick a frame, upload your image, and Framebridge will ship it to you ready to be hung and shown off. Right now, new customers can save 15% sitewide by using the exclusive promo code "INSIDER15" at checkout. 

10. Save $200 on Sennheiser PXC-550 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones at Daily Steals

Sennheiser PXC-550 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, $199.99 (Originally $399.99) [You save $200]

As one of the lightest pairs of headphones in the industry, the Sennheiser PXC-550 headphones are perfect for wearing during long listening sessions and while traveling. They feature Bluetooth connectivity, a touch-sensitive trackpad, and adaptive noise-canceling. Right now, they're $190 off on deal site Daily Steals, but you can save an extra $10 by using the Business Insider-exclusive promo code "BISPXC" at checkout. 

• The Evelyn is a historic NoMad hotel that recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, while preserving the neighborhood's musical and artistic history through Art Deco design and ambiance.
• The Evelyn's rooms are on the smaller size, ideal for business travelers and couples that seek a boutique setting in a prime New York neighborhood.
• I spent a night in a Deluxe King room which currently starts at approximately $250. It was a decent size for New York City (meaning, it's still somewhat small), beautifully decorated, and had nice amenities like a walk-in rain shower and heated floors. 

The Evelyn Hotel, named after "it girl" Evelyn Nesbit from the district's famous Tin Pan Alley musical era, is the kind of spot that oozes nostalgia, even though much of it is brand new.

Originally designed in 1903, it underwent an extensive multi-million dollar renovation in 2018. The original exterior and floors were left intact, while upgrades like expansive Art Deco skylights, heated bathroom floors, and three distinctly different eateries from award-winning Chef Jonathan Benno ushered the hotel into a new era.

For now, it exists in at least two netherworlds: the glamour of the Gilded Age and the convenience of new New York.

I felt this first in the lobby, filled with velvet couches, Art Deco windowpanes, dark wood, brass light fixtures with warm mellow lights, and a delightful scent lodged somewhere between an olfactory memory of a favorite cologne, and a light plant medley.

But upstairs in my Deluxe King room, I was treated to updated amenities such as a walk-in rain shower and a winged headboard with USB ports for added functionality.

My room was comped for review purposes, but research showed that the same room was available for around $250 on Booking.com. And while I felt the price was reasonable given the hotel's central NoMad location, I know it might seem small and expensive to my friends who might visit from my home city of Minneapolis.

But to them I would also say, The Evelyn is the place to stay if you've ever wanted to physically live inside of a jazz song, if your drink-of-choice is an Old Fashioned, or you just want an experience that's true old school New York.

With exceptional design, a prime location, and comfortable accommodations, you'll be happy with your stay even if you don't frequent the excellent eateries, but I'd suggest at least having a cocktail at the speakeasy inside Benno when it's open (Tuesday-Saturday nights).

• The first impression
• The room
• On-site amenities
• What's nearby
• What others say
• What you need to know
• The bottom line
• Book The Evelyn, starting at $250 per night

Keep reading to see why I was so impressed byThe Evelyn New York. 

SEE ALSO: Hotel review: The Moxy East Village from Marriott trades space for an affordable price point — here's why the small rooms are no compromise

SEE ALSO: Hotel review: Hotel 50 Bowery brings approachable luxury to New York City's bustling Chinatown

SEE ALSO: Hotel review: The consistently hip Ace Hotel in NoMad is a go-to base for creative types

The calm, low-lit atmosphere of The Evelyn was a welcome departure from the clamor of 27th street when I arrived on an autumn Sunday. It was warm, spacious, and smelled like a light cologne. A cafe bustled quietly across from the front desk. 

At 3 p.m., it was mildly busy. The hotel mostly caters to business travelers, and many individuals seemed to be checking in on Sunday for a fresh start on Monday morning. I waited to be checked in for a few minutes (under 10) behind another small group. The process then took another five to 10 minutes.

I meandered into the lobby before finding my room, which was small but elegant. To the left, there was a waiting room that was about 40% occupied. Like the rest of The Evelyn, it lives comfortably in its own accessible elegance. The couches were deep and velvety with 1920s tufting backlit by expansive Art Deco windows and new skylights.

What I appreciated most about The Evelyn's renovation was that it felt like the embodiment of the New York jazz era, but not a 1920s cosplay of it, either.

Brass accents, straight-lined contemporary furniture, marble, and spins on old classics, like short, rounded dark leather chairs, made The Evelyn glamorous but not gimmicky. 

The Evelyn maintained the building's original, early-1900s exterior and flooring in its recent renovation. The latter is spider-webbed and showed wear from many pairs of feet, which added to the throwback atmosphere.

I stayed in a Deluxe King room (approximately $250 and up per night), and was impressed by its balance of elegance and functionality.

It was good-sized for New York, which means it wasn't huge, but was not a closet, either.

Deluxe rooms offered the extra footage of the small inlet pictured above, with its chair and table and either a queen or a king. You won't be able to do cartwheels, but there's enough room to store luggage and sit at a writing desk.

Across from the bed was a flat screen TV, and the winged headboard had many outlets and USB ports on both sides, as did the desk's digital alarm clock. The Wi-Fi was complimentary (though it's included in the facility fee mentioned later), easy to connect to, and reliable. 

The light was warm and dimmable, and the contemporary fixture was reminiscent of thin trumpets twisted together. The mattress was comfortable, and even though I sometimes have trouble falling asleep away from home, I slept well thanks to the utter darkness the room provided. 

There was, however, a faint, continual background noise similar to cicadas in the room. I didn't hear our neighbors, but I needed white noise to fall asleep. If you're sensitive to sound, you may not appreciate that.

The room was very nice, but the bathroom was my favorite. The honeycomb tiled floors were heated, the shower had multiple shower heads with good pressure and temperature control, and the robes were plush and soft. The bathroom also had high inlaid windows, which filled the room with a pale, bright light.

The only downside was it was difficult to drag myself out of a hot rainfall-shower in the morning to head to work. This is one of the best hotel problems to have, though.

The shower tiles were also decorated with Evelyn Nesbit lyrics, which included the names of nearby New York City streets. Like the rest of the decor, it was a fun nod to the city without teetering into cheesy territory. I've lived here for six years, and it still put a smile on my face to read them. 

The toiletries were from Five Wits, an "eco-luxury" brand headquartered in TriBeCa that smelled fresh and gender-neutral.

The positives of my room far outweighed any negatives, but there was another downside I noticed.

The closet was shallow. While there are plenty of shelves, and it's equipped with the essentials like a safe, hairdryer, and an iron and ironing board, if you have long skirts, a dress, or want to hang a pair of pants in full, you're going to need to do it using the hook in the bathroom. 

It was not a deal breaker, but something to be aware of, and likely the result of being a smaller-sized room.

Compare room types and prices for The Evelyn here

While it's likely you're looking to venture off-site for a meal (you're in New York!), The Evelyn's food options are worth a trip in their own right. There are three — the bakery Leonelli Focacceria, the casual luxury Italian spot Leonelli Taberna, and the fine-dining restaurant Benno.

Leonelli Taberna has a good-sized menu that changes seasonally, a small expert staff, and delicious Roman-inspired Italian dishes that hover around $15.

If you're staying at the hotel Tuesday-Saturday, try Benno. It's the crown jewel and was recently awarded a Michelin star despite Michelin being notoriously stingy about awarding stars to Italian venues. There's also a speakeasy bar with excellent cocktails.

Though humble in comparison to the other options, I'll be going back to the cafe and bakery, Leonelli Focacceria e Pasticceria, as a local. The croissants were perfectly fluffy and crispy, and the shop had a lofted study space that most patrons don't know exists (read: not overcrowded). 

The lofted study space features rows of beautiful coffee table books on the subject of art and design.

There's also a low glass overlook, so you can see down into the cafe and the street outside. It makes the small space feel airy, and the murmur of noise from below keeps the space lively enough so you can concentrate. 

Other amenities include a small gym, but skip it, it's not worth the workout.

The Evelyn is central to many Midtown businesses and sightseeing. It's within minutes of Madison Square Park, the historic Flatiron Building, Bryant Park, and the Empire State Building. The hotel is a 20-minute walk to the Chelsea High Line, and a 20-minute subway ride from most everywhere else in the city.

The newly renovated Museum of Modern Art is a 30-minute walk away, and Museum Mile (Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum, etc.) is on the subway line that's a five-minute walk from the hotel.

If you don't opt to stay in for dinner, try Quality Eats, ILILI, Her Name is Han, Covina, Upland, or Gramercy Tavern in the area.

Compare prices and book cheap flights to New York on Expedia

The Evelyn has an 8.8-star rating on Booking.com and ranks 21 out of 506 hotels in New York City on Trip Advisor. Customers consistently rave about the location, service and staff, Art Deco aesthetic, and amenities like heated floors and on-site pastries.

And while The Evelyn scores well across the board, it consistently rates even higher among two-person travelers as a good stay for couples.  

The most common complaints refer to small room sizes and a nightly $25 facility fee. This includes the hotel's complimentary wine hour in the lobby, Wi-Fi, New York Times, access to the fitness center, a neighborhood walking tour on the weekend, and 15% off laundry service.

I understand why the facility fee rubs travelers the wrong way. Many of the things included are labeled as complimentary, but they feel less so when you're technically paying for them.

Read reviews, compare prices, and book The Evelyn on Trip Advisor

Who stays here: A majority of business travelers throughout the week, with handfuls of tourists and some groups, especially on weekends. 

We like: The cool, never gimmicky Art Deco decor and the friendly staff.

We love (don't miss this feature!): The food. No matter your budget, you can find a delicious option on-site at one of the three excellent eateries. Don't miss the spinach pasta lasagna or the grilled octopus at the Leonelli Taberna.

We think you should know: The hotel offers an hour-long complimentary wine hour in the lobby lounge on Wednesday and Friday evenings, and the cafe's semi-hidden study space has good personality and is much more atmospheric, and less crowded than Starbucks. And, even if you don't get a reservation at Benno, it's worth going to get a drink at the bar inside. 

We'd do this differently next time: Book a stay while Benno is open (Tuesday-Saturday).

The Evelyn is cool like candlelit dinners and ragtime are cool. It pays homage to the neighborhood's musical and artistic heritage without making the space feel like a time capsule. And its amenities, like heated bathroom floors and rainfall-shower, are much-appreciated day-to-day perks. 

The hotel ties together just enough of New York (local flowers, big-time chef, jazz lyrics with nearby street names) that it encourages a little bit of perpetual wonder about the city you're in. And its location is hard to beat.

I thought the size of the room was good for the location, but it may feel smaller than expected to some people.

But, perhaps best of all, are the three concept eateries from Chef Jonathan Benno. There aren't many places in New York that offer great breakfasts, $20-something pastas, and a Michelin Star restaurant and speakeasy bar all in one spot. The Evelyn does and it's strongly worth your consideration. 

Book The Evelyn starting at $250 per night here

• To compile this list of rising business stars at or under the age of 30, we received 70 submissions from top leaders including Marc Randolph, cofounder and the first CEO of Netflix, Nancy Duarte, CEO and principal of Duarte, Inc., and Geoff Ralston, the president of Y Combinator.
• The roster includes CEOs and founders in tech, fashion, healthcare, education, and more.
• Some major names are 27-year-old Maryellis Bunn, founder and CEO of Museum of Ice Cream and cofounder of experience-first development company Figure8 and 29-year-old Chrissa McFarlane, founder and CEO of healthcare blockchain company Patientory.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Entrepreneurial rising stars aren't hard to find — but identifying the real rockstars certainly isn't easy in a sea of launching companies and unique business ideas. 

So to narrow down the pool just a bit, Business Insider asked leaders from various industries including tech, marketing, and consulting for their picks of women executives, CEOs, and founders at or under the age of 30 to watch. 

From the 70 submissions we received, we drew out these eight businesswomen, based on nominations from a wide range of industry experts including: 

• Marc Randolph, cofounder and the first CEO of Netflix;
• Nancy Duarte, CEO and principal of Duarte, Inc.;
• Serguei Beloussov, CEO, founder, and chairman of backup software company Acronis;
• Sandro Olivieri, founder and president of strategy consulting firm Productive;
• Nigel Waller, managing director of management consulting firm Orsatech; and
• Geoff Ralston, president of Y Combinator.

Only 6.6% of the current Fortune 500 CEOs are not men, and yet research suggests time and again that having women at the helm of a company reaps substantial rewards. Which is why we're excited to acknowledge the impressive work of these individuals making waves in healthcare, fashion, education, technology, and elsewhere.

Check them out. The power players are listed in no particular order.

SEE ALSO: I'm a headhunter with 34 years of leadership experience who's placed female executives at Fortune 500 companies. Here's what it takes to break through the glass ceiling.

READ MORE: A 26-year-old college student took $200 and launched a $1.7 million swimwear business in a year out of her home. This is how she did it.

Jessie Zeng, CEO and cofounder of Choosy, 27

After starting her career in foreign exchange trading and algorithms for Citigroup, Zeng decided to break away from the finance industry at age 25. She launched Choosy with her cofounder Mo Zhou, which uses artificial intelligence and social media algorithms to create clothes and fashion products based on the trends and desires of the general public.

Zeng's company has about 70 full-time employees across New York and China and has collected over $10 million in funding from VCs and celebrity investors — which include Coatue Management, New Enterprise Associates, and Forerunner Ventures— while cultivating an engaged audience with over 74 million Instagram impressions and over 100,000 followers. 

The company reports that Choosy has run around $6 million in gross revenue for 2019, and is looking to run double that for 2020.

Maryellis Bunn, founder and CEO of Museum of Ice Cream and cofounder of Figure8, 27

After getting her bachelor's degree in business administration from Parsons School of Design and spending a year as head of forecasting and innovation at Time Inc., Bunn struck out on her own to found the wildly successful Museum of Ice Cream, which has hosted over one and a half million visitors across five locations to date, attracting constant sell-out crowds, creating an entire "experience" industry, and recently landing a nod as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies.

In addition to reportedly reaching every city in the US and more than 80 countries with her "mission to unite the world through ice cream," Bunn also has formed high-profile partnerships with Platinum Card by American Express, a makeup collection with Sephora, and a kids clothing line at Target, with plans for international expansion. 

This summer, Bunn also launched Figure8 (now a parent company of Museum of Ice Cream). The experience-first development company completed its first close of a $40 million series A round at a $200 million valuation, with plans to continue rolling out one new Museum of Ice Cream location per quarter. 

Chrissa McFarlane, founder and CEO of Patientory, 29

After receiving a master of arts degree in business management from the Babcock Graduate School of Business at Wake Forest University, McFarlane held roles such as laboratory researcher, community outreach program director at a hospital, and health insurance navigator manager, and over the course of her career has partnered with the likes of Tumblr, Blue Apron, Casper, and Meetup.

In 2015, after seeing a market need for more personalized and safe consumer-driven health information management solutions, McFarlane launched Patientory, a startup currently in beta testing that aims to "connect doctors, care providers, and consumers all within a single, secure platform," says the company's website. By doing so, she became the first female CEO of a blockchain company, in addition to leading Patientory's product development. 

In the summer of 2019, Patientory received a $5.3 million-dollar series A raise for their first cohort investment. McFarlane also serves as co-chair of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS18) Blockchain Workgroup.

Amanda DoAmaral, founder and CEO of Fiveable, 29

With five years as a high school teacher in the Oakland Unified School District — where she also served as the school's data and technology lead — under her belt, Amanda DoAmaral pivoted her skill set as an educator into entrepreneurship in 2018. 

The 29-year-old founded Fiveable, a social learning platform for students and teachers to engage after school through live-streamed lessons, interactive discussions, and supportive communities. In her new role, DoAmaral has expanded the size of her classroom to include nearly 37,000 students as they prepare for advanced placement (AP) exams, reaching 10,000 monthly active users. 

Having raised $190,000 in investment to date, the fledgling company's earnings are steadily growing, and are projected to nearly double from the previous year, to over $70,000 in 2019. But beyond her startup's spreadsheet, DoAmaral has already made an instrumental impact — helping students accomplish a 92% pass rate for the AP exam. 

Jess Ekstrom, founder of Headbands of Hope and Mic Drop Workshop, 28

While a sophomore in college at Northern Carolina State University in 2012, Jess Ekstrom launched her company, Headbands of Hope— which donates a headband to a child with cancer for every hair accessory sold — with the belief that "good could be done in the face of heartbreak."

To date, the company has donated over half a million headbands to hospitals in the US and 15 countries around the globe. Ekstrom recently added another company to her roster, founding Mic Drop Workshop, an online course that trains women to become public speakers in just 30 days. (She herself speaks more than 40 times a year and was just named one of today's most influential speakers by Forbes.) 

The sum revenues of Headbands of Hope, Mic Drop Workshop, and her speaking engagements are over $2 million a year. Ekstrom's book, "Chasing the Bright Side: Embrace Optimism, Activate Your Purpose, and Write Your Own Story," came out Tuesday. 

Masha Drokova, founder and general partner of Day One Ventures, 30

After immigrating to the US six years ago from Russia with almost no connections, Drokova started a PR firm that reached a million in revenue during its first year, then launched the early-stage VC firm Day One Ventures in 2018. 

Since launching Day One, her firm has invested in companies in 18 countries, including 17 female-founded startups. Since inception, the firm has had three exits and invested in an expanding roster of portfolio companies that includes Superhuman, Truebill, and Yumi. 

Day One also stands out for reportedly being the only fund in the US that leads communications and PR for its portfolio companies.

Lauren Singer, CEO of Package Free and founder of Trash is for Tossers, 28

This 28-year-old has been working to popularize the zero-waste movement since 2012, when she started her Trash is for Tossers website. In 2017, she launched the company Package Free, and recently closed her seed round with $4.5 million led by Primary Venture Partners. 

The company offers lifestyle products that are plastic free and zero waste, and has reportedly been "cash positive and profitable since 'day one,'" with sales coming in from a brick-and-mortar Brooklyn storefront and its ecommerce site. Under Singer's leadership, Package Free scaled from one employee to 30 in its first year, and average monthly sales from 2017 to 2019 have grown 675%. 

But Singer's impact has been larger than her company's profits. By living zero waste herself and actively promoting it (one of her posts went viral when she showcased eight years of trash in one mason jar), Lauren has inspired people of all ages to make small changes in order to live more sustainably.  

Grechen Huebner, cofounder and chief product officer of Kodable, 29

The 29-year-old cofounder of Kodable— a computer science education company with a mission to ensure every child, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, learns to code — launched her company in 2013. The duo's goal was to make it easier for people to teach their kids about computer science. 

Over five years later — with zero marketing budget — Huebner has grown Kodable from 1,500 users in 2013 to over 20 million users today. 

As an education company, much of the organization's revenue is tied to school sales. Kodable's annual recurring revenue is now in the low millions, which is largely due to the new Kodable for Parents product.

Huebner's company has been profitable and growing solely on its own revenue for over two years now after only raising $1 million in two halves in 2014 and 2015. Her lean team of seven supports over 20 million teachers, parents, and kids in 190 countries worldwide, and Kodable's curriculum is now being used in more than half of all US elementary schools, proving that Huebner's goal to close all gaps in the computer science industry is working.

• Mitch Zuklie is the chairman and CEO of Orrick.
• He says that the best book on management this year is one on salmon preservation — "Stronghold: One Man's Quest to Save the World's Wild Salmon."
• In it, conservationist Guido Rahr writes that the strategy for salmon preservation has been to focus on rivers that hadn't been spoiled, rather than fixing what was already broken. This is the concept of a "stronghold."
• Zuklie says that the stronghold has become a leading philosophy for him. He argues that it's disruptive to strengthen the things that are doing well, and that's key to scaling a business.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The best book on management to come out in the past year has nothing to do with management. It's about fish — salmon, to be precise. More importantly, it's about "strongholds," the simple idea that protecting what's intact and thriving is essential to sustaining success.

I believe a stronghold strategy is something every leader ought to incorporate into their vision for their company's future.

"Stronghold: One Man's Quest to Save the World's Wild Salmon" is the biography of Guido Rahr, one of the world's greatest fly fishermen and conservationists. Rahr is a friend of mine and the Chairman and CEO of The Wild Salmon Center, a nonprofit on whose board I sit. 

He also has the makings of a management genius, though I doubt he would ever think of himself that way. Because what's true for Pacific salmon populations is also true for both growing and established companies.

Rahr first honed his insights about strongholds in his college thesis at Yale, after discovering the work of one of America's pioneering 19th century fish conservationists. Even in the late 1800s, the Atlantic salmon rivers of the eastern seaboard were largely too polluted and industrialized to support the native species. So rather than fix what was already broken, the US's first fish conservationist focused on western salmon rivers that had yet to be spoiled. Strongholds, in other words. 

For threatened salmon habitats, Rahr adopted this strategy of saving and fortifying what was still right and intact, reasoning that the costs of preservation were far lower (and the odds of success far higher) than trying to repair what was already lost. That strategy has since led Rahr to his life's mission of working to preserve the salmon-rich river systems of the American northwest, along with habitats in British Columbia, Alaska, and Russia's Kamchatka peninsula.

I see the wisdom of the stronghold strategy in my own, less distinguished, fly-fishing pursuits. We've spent billions trying to bolster the habitats of California's Sacramento River, but we've struggled to restore the ecosystem. I also see a stronghold imperative in the effort to prevent the construction of a massive open-pit mine at the edge of Alaska's Bristol Bay, which could gravely endanger America's largest natural salmon run. 

The stronghold has become one of my guiding philosophies in leading my firm, and it's also the foundation for the advice I often give entrepreneurs. 

What does a stronghold strategy suggest for business? For one, that it's far better to retain top talent than to recruit their replacements. Talent identification is incredibly hard — especially when it comes to assessing cultural fit. Yet understanding how to motivate and inspire your existing team often takes only a few conversations.

When it comes to a growth strategy, it's often better to invest strength in strength, rather than to divert resources into new and uncharted territory. Know your path in the ecosystem and run it as powerfully as you can. That is the key to scale.

It can also be far more effective and rewarding to invest in existing customer relationships than to pursue new ones. Customer acquisition is risky and expensive, as is brand building. Focusing on delighting existing customers ensures that they'll be your own best promoters.

A stronghold strategy begins with asking about the healthiest elements of your business ecosystem and how you can protect and fortify them. Most business turnarounds begin with "re-embracing our core values" or "getting back to what we do best." Why wait until a turnaround is needed?

This isn't to say don't innovate. Rather, consider how you can innovate to reinforce your strongholds instead. How can you stay competitive in the areas where you are strongest? To cement relationships with existing clients? To do what you do best, only better?

As we all work to keep up with the pace of innovation, it may be that the most disruptive act is to stay the course. Take your strongholds and make them stronger.

The problem in actually adopting the stronghold strategy is rooted deep in our psychology. As humans we respond more favorably to fixing things that are broken, rather than appreciating, maintaining, and refining what already works. There's nothing sexy about prevention, even if incremental improvements are far more economically efficient. 

That's the challenge Guido Rahr has to overcome in his quest to preserve the Pacific salmon ecosystem. And I'd argue that's the same challenge we all face at our companies.

SEE ALSO: Here's how to be a 'jackass whisperer' at work and stop the negativity for good

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