• Samsung's Galaxy S9 smartphone is almost here, with a recent leak suggesting it will go on sale in mid-March.
• Samsung has already confirmed it will announce the smartphone on February 25.
• Most rumors about the Galaxy S9 say it will have many subtle updates.

We now have a pretty good idea of when Samsung plans to launch its new Galaxy S9 smartphone.

Evan Blass, a well-known tech informant, says he learned from a C-level executive at a smartphone-case maker that the Galaxy S9 and larger Galaxy S9 Plus will be available to preorder on March 1 and will go on sale on March 16.

Samsung has said it will announce the phone late next month, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Before Samsung confirms all the details then, here's what we know about the Galaxy S9 so far:

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy S9 retail box may have just leaked — and it seems to reveal the phone's key features

Samsung has not said when it will release the Galaxy S9, but it did recently confirm its unveiling in February.

This makes Blass' claim of a March release for the Galaxy S9 quite plausible. His reported schedule is very similar to Samsung's past smartphone releases.

Though the Galaxy S8 was delayed until April last year because of safety concerns, the Galaxy S7 was announced in late February 2016 and released in mid-March, as were several older devices in the Galaxy-S series.

Samsung sent press invites for a launch event on February 25.

Though concrete release details for the Galaxy S9 are still not yet available, Samsung has sent out press invites for its upcoming launch event, confirming the date for February 25.

The invite also hints at the phone's name. We assumed it would be the Galaxy S9, but the giant "9" on the press invites somewhat confirms this. The image also suggests the device and launch event may focus heavily on camera updates.  

A recent barrage of leaks will tell you almost everything there is to know about the Galaxy S9, from its new camera and associated features to even the phone's new stock wallpaper.

It's not surprising that a host of new leaks, rumors, and details have surfaced as Samsung shares more details about the Galaxy S9 launch. 

Most recently, the device reportedly surfaced in a video leak, showing off its touchscreen ability as well as its design similarities to the Galaxy S8. 

Other details come directly from Samsung, with the manufacturer recently sharing information about its latest camera technology on its official website. The camera features include updates to autofocus and settings that allow users to have more control over the camera parameters without having to go into pro mode. Many have connected these details to the Galaxy S9, especially since the launch event invite hints at camera updates.

Another recent leak from the tech informant Evan Blass shows what can be expected for the Galaxy S9 by way of design. The render suggests a larger screen and curved edges similar to the Galaxy S6 Edge design. Many have also compared the design to the Google Pixel 2.

Blass has also shared with the public, stock wallpapers, which he claims are for the Galaxy S9. 

US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis visited Indonesia on Tuesday to repair ties with the country's special forces, which committed gross human-rights violations under former Indonesian President Muhammad Suharto. 

Mattis was expecting to watch the Indonesian special forces, known as Kopassus, perform a hostage rescue drill — but instead saw them walk on fire, drink snake blood, roll in glass, and more.

Mattis seemed to enjoy the demonstration. 

“The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them? The way they were whipping them around — a snake gets tired very quickly,” Mattis later told reporters, according to Reuters. 

Here's what the Indonesian special forces do:

SEE ALSO: Indonesia's special forces drank snake blood and broke bricks with their heads in a rare display for Jim Mattis

DON'T MISS: US stealth bombers in Guam appear to be readying for a tactical nuclear strike on North Korea

Mattis visited Indonesia to repair ties with the country's military, and expected to just observe a hostage rescue demonstration. But he soon found out that that wasn't the only thing they had in store for him.

Source: Business Insider

The Indonesian special forces, or Kopassus, unsacked snakes and begin whipping them around to tire them out.

The soldiers bit them in half and drank their blood.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• An all-in-one computer is great for the average person or family that needs everything in one box. We think the best one for most people is the HP Envy 27 because it's powerful and well-designed.

The humble desktop computer has evolved a lot over the years. Gone are the days when you had to have a tower and monitor taking up a ton of space in your office. These days, the components of a computer can be built right into a single box, making it seem like you're just using a display, keyboard, and mouse.

Of course, that’s not the case. Instead, the processor, RAM, storage, motherboard, and so on, are all built in behind the display. But not all of these so-called “all-in-one” computers are created equal. Some are much better than others, and if you buy one that isn’t so powerful, you may find yourself having to upgrade much sooner than expected.

There are a few things you’ll want to consider before buying a computer in general, let alone an all-in-one. For starters, you’ll want to think about the operating system. Statistically, most of you will be looking for a Windows computer, but plenty of people prefer MacOS.

Apart from the operating system, you’ll also want to think about the components under the hood. The more complex things you want to do with your computer, the better processor and the more RAM you’ll need. The more music, photos, games, and files you want to store, the more storage you’ll need.

Last but not least, you’ll want to think about the display you’re using. Photographers, graphic designers, and some gamers will want higher resolution displays, while others may want to save a bit of money and get a computer with a slightly lower resolution display.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the HP Envy 27 all-in-one is our top pick and why you should also consider the Apple iMac, the Lenovo Ideacentre AOI 910, the Microsoft Surface Studio, and the Dell Inspiron 3464.

SEE ALSO: The best keyboards you can buy

The best all-in-one desktop overall

Why you'll love it: The HP Envy 27 is relatively powerful and has a sharp display, but the best thing about it is its beautiful design.

There are a ton of all-in-one computers to choose from, but we think that the best one is the HP Envy 27 with its sleek design and crisp 27-inch display.

Unlike many all-in-one computers, the HP Envy 27 has a slightly larger base. There’s a good reason for that, though. This design choice both slims down the actual display part of the computer and creates an external section for ports.

The base has four USB 3.0 ports, two HDMI ports, a card reader, a Thunderbolt 3 port, headphone jack, and more. The result is a streamlined all-in-one PC that will make any desktop look great. The setup even comes with a wireless chiclet-style keyboard and an optical mouse, so you don't need to buy anything extra unless you want to.

The entry-level model is fairly powerful and it can be customized to be very powerful. The base model comes with 8GB of RAM, a 1TB solid-state hybrid drive, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M graphics card, and a 27-inch display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. All of those specs can be upgraded, though it will obviously cost a little extra. Most people won't need more power than that, though.

HP made things a little confusing by also naming one of its monitors the HP Envy 27. If you’re looking to buy a computer for yourself and happen to see one that seems super cheap, make sure you’re looking at the all-in-one and not the standalone display.

Most reviewers liked the HP Envy 27, too. CNET gave it an 8.2/10, while TechRadar gave it a 4/5. Among the downsides noted in the reviews were that the keyboard and mouse included aren’t all that great, and that the display was a little too reflective.

Pros: Well-designed, can get powerful, decent sound quality

Cons: Sub-par peripherals, a little expensive

Buy the HP Envy 27 on Amazon for $1,819.99

Buy the HP Envy 27 from Best Buy for $1,699.99 or $1,934.99

The best all-in-one computer under $600

Why you'll love it: The Dell Inspiron 3464 offers everything you need in a basic desktop computer for a very decent price.

Desktop computers are often more expensive than laptops, but if you’re looking for a great desktop on a budget, thankfully, you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars. In fact, there are some pretty decent ones for less than $600 — like the Dell Inspiron 3464.

Now, you shouldn’t expect the highest performing computer for this price tag, but the computer still has decent specs. The base model offers an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and a 23.8-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.

As far as ports go, the computer doesn’t offer a ton of connectivity, but most should be happy with what it does offer. You’ll get two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI output, so you can attach an external display if you so choose.

So what are the downsides? Well, the included peripherals aren’t the best, and as mentioned, it’s not a very powerful computer. Still, when it comes to value for money, we think the Dell Inspiron 3464 is a good deal.

Pros: Great value for money, enough connectivity for most, inexpensive

Cons: Could be more powerful, included peripherals aren’t the best

Buy the Dell Inspiron 3464 on Amazon for $559.05 and up (originally $599.99)

The best Apple all-in-one computer

Why you'll love it: The Apple iMac is beautifully designed with a gorgeous display, plus, it runs MacOS and offers good performance.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one computer with Apple’s MacOS, then your only option is the iMac. Thankfully, however, there are a few different iMac models available: one with a 21.5-inch display and one with a 27-inch display.

When it comes to raw value for money, we think that the 21.5-inch version is probably your best bet. However, if you’re looking for sheer power, then the 27-inch model is the one to go for because you can customize it to make it more powerful. You could also go for the new iMac Pro, which takes power to a new level, but that power obviously comes at a pretty high price.

So why buy the iMac? Well, Apple has a reputation for offering beautifully-designed products, and the iMac is no different. The computer is sleek, streamlined, and offers a super industrial design.

The base 21.5-inch iMac boasts 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, coupled with an Intel Core i5 processor. If you want to upgrade, we recommend starting with the hard drive and upgrading to a solid-state drive, which will seriously boost the speed of the computer.

Most reviewers are pretty big fans of the iMac. MacWorld, perhaps unsurprisingly, gave the computer a 5/5, while PCMag took a slightly more conservative approach and gave it 4/5.

No matter how you look at it, however, this is a great computer that should last you for years on end. The downsides? Once again, the peripherals aren’t the best around, and the ports can be a bit tough to access to considering they’re on the back. The computer is also a little pricey for the performance it offers.

Pros: Powerful, great display, good customization options

Cons: A little pricey, included peripherals aren’t the best

Buy the iMac on Amazon for $1,089 and up

Buy the iMac from Apple for $1,099.00 and up

• Official royal wedding portraits are usually taken in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace.
• Royals also pose for casual pictures outdoors while vacationing or visiting family.
• Here are 20 royal portraits from the 1930s until the present.

Members of the royal family surely have many talents, but if there's one skill they've mastered, it's posing for pictures. Wherever they go, professional photographers and enthusiastic fans with iPhones alike clamor to snap a photo of their every move (though royals aren't allowed to take selfies with members of the public).

From official portraits in Buckingham Palace to informal photocalls while they're on vacation, here are 20 portraits of the royal family from the 1930s until the present.

1936: Britain's Queen Elizabeth, center, poses with her two daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, in the garden of the Royal Lodge at Windsor, England.

1944: Princess Elizabeth celebrates her 18th birthday in the English countryside.

1947: Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip on their wedding day.

For the last 14 months, a group of 95 people in a Kenyan village have received about $22 a month from the charity GiveDirectly.

The money, which villagers are free to use however they want, is part of an experiment in universal basic income, or UBI. The idea is a radical solution to poverty that involves people getting regular paychecks, in exchange for nothing, to help them cover basic costs.

In November 2017, GiveDirectly expanded the 95-person trial to a much larger study of 16,000 people, many of whom will receive money for the next 12 years.

Villagers in the original trial have reported life-changing improvements from the money. Here's what a handful of people had to say.

SEE ALSO: 32-year-old investor with ties to Elon Musk wants to upend America with a crazy utopian plan for the future

Margaret Abagi, 70, has used the money for home repairs and medication.

Abagi has long had difficulty tending to her farm and finding relief from her stomach aches, which she suspects are signs of ulcers.

Basic income has given her the ability to stop asking her son, a professor, for money. With help from her caregiver, she can travel into town to visit the hospital or pay for materials if parts of her mud house begin to crumble.

"I know I will get better because there is money that I'm going to use for the hospital bill," Abagi said.

Peres Riako Onywero Obambo, 75, no longer has to beg her daughter for money.

Obambo watches after two orphaned girls and helps care for her adult son, who has an undiagnosed mental disorder. She said working for money in her old age isn't always an option. 

The basic income money has allowed her to stop asking her daughter, who works in Nairobi, for money. Now she can take care of the two girls and buy food for son.

"I can tell you, this village has changed," Obambo said. "People's lives have changed. We don't have conflict anymore. There is peace in this village because people look at themselves as if they are equal."

Edwin Odongo Anyango, a 30-year-old laborer, can finally buy milk for his family.

Anyango has been able to build on the meager savings from his manual-labor jobs, cover preschool fees for one of his children, and buy a new mattress, cupboard, and better-quality cushions for his couch. 

His family can also buy milk on a regular basis. Before the money came in, they could only afford it a handful of days out of the month.

"If this money were to be given to everybody, this would be a very good thing," Anyango said. "What this money does is it creates hope. And when people have hope, they are happy."

For much of the 20th century, the United Arab Emirates was known as one of the world's biggest oil producers and, as a result, greenhouse-gas emitters.

But in the past two decades, the UAE government has made an effort to lower its own dependency on fossil fuels, shifting toward more environmentally-friendly sources to power its cities.

The UAE aims to have 75% of Dubai's energy come from clean sources by 2050. If the city pulls that off, it would have the smallest carbon footprint in the world. 

As part of this larger goal, local company Diamond Developers is building a city 18 miles outside central Dubai that's designed to produce more energy than it consumes. Called Sustainable City, the development is expected to cost $354 million and be fully complete by 2019.

Find out more below:

SEE ALSO: Putin is behind one of the most expensive parks in the world — take a look

In 2013, Diamond Developers started building Sustainable City, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Source: Arabian Business

The 113-acre city aims to curb CO2 emissions as much as possible. Cars are banned from most neighborhoods.

Residents are only permitted to take public transport, drive electric-powered smart cars, or take horse-drawn buggies.

Instead of gas stations, there are 250 charging stations.

When it comes to making healthier food choices, one of the best things you can do for your overall health (and your waistline) is cut back on sugar. It's why we created the Zero Sugar Diet to help people curb their sugar cravings and demolish their sugar addiction for good.

Obvious sweet treats like cookies, cakes, and soda are easy enough to pick out and avoid, but what about the secret sugar bombs lurking in your "healthy" meals and snacks? Many seemingly diet-conscious salads, smoothies, and sauces contain more sugar than a can of soda. If you really want to work on slashing the sweet stuff from your diet, take a peek at these deceptive menu choices—all of which have more sugar than a can of Coke (39 grams)—to learn what items you need to avoid the next time you're choosing a drink, snack, or meal.

Curious what other foods are secretly loaded with sugar? Take a peek at the 35 sugariest restaurant meals on the planet to learn what else you need to avoid while eating out.

Smoothie King’s Caribbean Way smoothie

1 smoothie: 380 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 10 mg sodium, 97 g carbs (4 g fiber, 83 g sugar), 1 g protein

This fruit-based beverage may sound innocent enough, but even its smallest size contains more sugar than two cans of Coke. In order to get that tropical taste, Smoothie King combines bananas and a papaya juice blend and throws in some turbinado sugar to sweeten the deal. Bananas and papayas both have quite a bit of natural sweetness and condensing them into liquid form (plus adding more sugar) means multiple fruit servings worth of sugar, all blended into one ominous cup.

Dunkin Donuts vanilla chai latte

1 medium latte: 340 calories, 9 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 160 mg sodium, 56 g carbs (0 g fiber, 49 g sugar), 10 g protein

Chai lattes are deceptive. While the spicy tea variety itself is filled with antioxidants, lattes made with concentrated syrup are an entirely different story. The first ingredient listed in Dunkin Donuts' Vanilla Chai Powder is sugar, so it’s no wonder that even a modestly-sized latte has close to 50 grams of the stuff.

Learn what you should order at Dunkin Donuts by checking out healthy breakfasts nutritionists order at Dunkin Donuts.

Au Bon Pain's blueberry yogurt and wild blueberry parfait

1 parfait: 380 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 170 mg sodium, 68 g carbs (3 g fiber, 48 g sugar), 11 g protein

Blueberries are a bonafide superfood, but the only thing super about this blueberry parfait is its sugar content. Au Bon Pain's blueberry yogurt is sweetened with corn syrup and their granola contains both brown sugar and maple syrup, all of which account for the parfait's cavity-inducing amount of sugar.

One of the biggest relationship deal-breakers is cheating. Whether it was a one time fling or a long-term love affair, significant others find it very difficult to forgive, and nearly impossible to forget an act of infidelity cheating.

A monogamous relationship, by definition, is supposed to be a faithful one, so it is no surprise that the first thing a scorned partner wants to know is, "why?"

Because men are more likely to stray than women– the Institute for Family Studies cites that 20% of men and 13% of women report having sex outside of their marriage – we took to Reddit to find out some of the explanations unfaithful men give for their cheating ways.

"We never stopped loving each other"

"I really screwed up with the one I love and she wouldn't take me back and I was lonely. So I started dating someone, but we never stopped loving each other and one day we gave in and cheated on our partners with each other." - Redditor n0_fat_ch1x

"I like that excitement of something or someone new."

"I've cheated on my girlfriends, and I also think I would cheat on my wife. I know this sounds horrible and all but I don't know why I'd do it. Perhaps it's the same reason why I don't know why I drink.

"I'd love my girlfriend or (maybe) future wife to death and I am faithfully loyal, but at the same time, I like that excitement of something or someone new. I like new energy. I know, in the eyes of some people this makes me a horrible person. But I am who I am." - Anonymous Redditor

"It wasn't quite revenge; more like trying to put things back in balance"

"When I was 17 and with my first girlfriend, I cheated on her. It was right after she'd cheated on me. It wasn't quite revenge; more like trying to put things back in balance. It made me feel horrible. The purity and closeness of our relationship was never the same again." - Redditor nueromonkey

Paris is known as ville lumière— city of lights.

But the French capital looks more like a city of water right now, as the Seine bulges out of its banks. The water is more than five times its normal level.

Rainfall totals in the Paris area have been double the average this winter. The French government said the Seine reached its crest Monday morning in Paris, with the Austerlitz station measuring the water at 5.85 meters (19.2 feet). But although the levels are now expected to descend, the process will be slow — the water is expected to remain above 5.5 meters (18 feet) until at least Wednesday morning. It could take parts of the city's core weeks to dry out.

The flooding started Tuesday, during Paris's annual spring fashion show, when the Seine started over-spilling its banks and gushing into neighboring streets.

Take a look at what's been happening since then:

SEE ALSO: The wildest scientific discoveries of 2017

The flooding, which extended to this man's home in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, just outside Paris, came after months of historically heavy rains.

According to French paper Le Monde, this is Paris’s second-wettest winter on record since 1900.

From December 1, 2017, to January 21, 2018, Paris got more than 7 inches of rain — double the amount in a typical year.

The high waters made work treacherous for this Paris fire-brigade diver, who was checking the mooring ropes of a peniche boat. 

You can see how high the river is now (bottom image) in this comparison with August 2016 (top).

The French government said it will take days, if not weeks, for water levels to recede back to normal levels (below five feet).

• Victoria's Secret has three core businesses: lingerie, beauty, and its PINK label.
• There's a big discrepancy between these collections and the customers they are targeting. This can be off-putting to some shoppers.
• Lingerie and beauty reported negative sales growth in the last quarter, while PINK was a relative bright spot for the brand.

There's a big disconnect between Victoria's Secret's businesses, and it's putting some customers off from shopping at the store.

The company has two main lingerie brands: Victoria's Secret lingerie and PINK. The first claims to offer "the sexiest panties and lingerie," and the latter, apparel and underwear for teenage girls.

This week, a mother complained on Facebook that some of Victoria's Secret's lingerie images shown in a store she visited in South Carolina were inappropriate for its younger shoppers at PINK.

"The images in your store at Columbiana Centre Mall in South Carolina are very distasteful and obscene. It is basically pornography that everyone (children and teens) are subjected to viewing because there is only one area to check out between PINK and Victoria's Secret, which happens to have the most obscene photos behind the registers," she wrote on Victoria's Secret's Facebook page. 

This is especially concerning for the company as its PINK label has become one of its only areas of growth. In the company's most recent earnings results, while sales in its beauty and lingerie sections were down, total sales at PINK grew in the mid-single digit range, the company said.

Victoria's Secret has been criticized for putting off customers with its sexualized ads in the past. In 2016, one of its Facebook photos got heat for being so overtly sexual that it was borderline pornographic. Customers on Facebook were furious and called it "trashy," Business Insider reported.

 The customer who complained on Facebook has called for bigger divides in the stores.

"I've not been happy with the displays for a while but when the models are spread leg, pulling down panties and even bare bottom women on the walls.... it is VERY embarrassing for a family. If PINK items are targeted to teens, there needs to be a separate checkout area or these types of photos should be removed! There were lots of families in line behind me who felt the same and I hope they will voice their opinions as well!" the shopper wrote.

We visited one of its stores in New York's Manhattan to see how the images were being used in store. Victoria's Secret did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. 

SEE ALSO: Victoria's Secret took a big gamble when it abandoned its popular swimwear line — but analysts still say it was a brilliant move

The store we visited was in Westfield mall in the Financial District of Manhattan. From the outside, you immediately see how the two brands are marketed side by side.

Victoria's Secret lingerie is at the front of the store. This photo is a typical example of the overtly sexualized displays you find in this section.

Lingerie has become a weak spot for the brand. In the most recent quarter, sales were down in this category for Victoria's Secret.

In a separate room, we found PINK clothing and underwear, which is aimed at a younger demographic of girls aged between 14 and 22.

PINK has seen stronger sales than the other part of the store in recent years. During the third quarter of 2017, total sales increased in the mid-single-digit range, the company said in its earnings call.

It may come as no surprise, but the rich are getting richer.

In fact, the world's richest 1% of people own more wealth than the rest of humanity, according to a report by Oxfam, a non-profit that focuses on fighting global poverty.

The report, titled "Reward Work, Not Wealth," revealed an increasingly depressing picture of wealth and gender inequality around the world.

"To end extreme poverty, we must also end extreme wealth," Oxfam wrote in the report. "Today's gilded age is undermining our future. Governments should use regulation and taxation to radically reduce levels of extreme wealth, as well as limit the influence of wealthy individuals and groups over policy making."

Oxfam's report culled data from multiple sources including Forbes and Credit Suisse. Here are nine of the most mind-blowing facts about the world's richest people: 

SEE ALSO: There are 6 surprising things everyone always gets wrong about American millionaires

DON'T MISS: 7 luxuries you can probably afford — even if it feels like you can't

Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett — the three richest Americans — own as much wealth as the bottom 50% of the US population, about 160 million people.

Billionaire wealth rose by nearly 13% annually between 2006 and 2015, while ordinary wages rose by an average of just 2% a year.

The total wealth of the globe's billionaires grew by $762 billion in 2017.

A fitness app called Strava updated the 2017 exercise routes of more than one billion people over the weekend.

In the process, Strava may have inadvertently revealed the locations and activities of US troops in secret bases around the world.

The Strava app takes data from fitbits and smartphones, uploading the information to a "heatmap" for users to track their workouts and share with friends.

People from all around the world use the app, and could prove problematic for a number of foreign militaries. But since the app is used mostly by young westerners, the US military has the most to lose, given its large global footprint.

Here are 10 of the most revealing images from the heatmap:

SEE ALSO: A map of fitness-tracker data may have compromised top-secret US military bases around the world

These look like US outposts outside of Mosul, Iraq.

Via Tobias Schneider

Here's Camp Lemonnier, a US military base in Djibouti, along with a CIA site nearby.

Via Alec Muffett‏

There's noticeable activity around a reported CIA annex at the Mogadishu airport in Somalia.

Via Daily Beast reporter Adam Rawnsley

We've all been there.

You've gone to the Eiffel Tower on your first day in Paris. Now you're three hours deep in queues and your schedule for the rest of the weekend has been thrown off.

Then you reach the top of the iconic tower, take in your surroundings, and realise that the very best thing about Paris's skyline is missing from your view.

There are many tourist traps which sound great in theory but will eat into your holiday in a big way. Once you go, you realise that — although they look great on a postcard — they aren't entirely worth the visit.

But there are plenty of landmarks that are worth the wait. Business Insider asked travel experts from the likes of Lonely Planet, Rare Escapes, and KAYAK for their favourite European landmarks that are actually worth visiting.

Scroll on to discover their top 26, ranging from London's Big Ben to the ornate gardens of Manoir d'Eyrignac in France.

SEE ALSO: The 25 places you need to visit in 2018, according to the world's top travel experts

The Shard in London, UK.

"When done properly, London's Shard is a great way to view the London skyline," according to Neil James Cartwright, vacation search engine KAYAK's travel expert.

"Most people pay to go to the viewing deck – where they are herded in with dozens of other tourists all vying for free space by the windows. A better alternative is to visit Gong Bar on the floor below the viewing deck.

"You may have to reserve a table ahead of time, and there is a minimum spend of £30 for a table, but you get to sit in a beautiful bar, with some of the best barmen in London creating amazing cocktails for you."

"The view is 99% the same as the viewing deck, and may even work out cheaper than paying for individual tickets if you are a small group. I'd highly recommend going at dusk, so you can see the views of London slowly fade away and be replaced by the twinkling lights of the city."

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

"Istanbul is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated destinations in Europe," Cartwright said.

"The only city in the world to span two continents, you can really feel the blend of culture as you walk around, but one attraction which really made me stand and stare in awe was the interior of The Blue Mosque.

"The intricate details of the mosaic covers every high wall and domed ceiling. The level of attention to the artwork and the sheer volume of the place really makes this a tourist attraction that is worth taking the time to visit."

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"Tivoli, depending on the time of year, is one of the most beautiful amusement parks I've ever visited," Cartwright said.

"If you visit during the Christmas period, the whole park is themed with no expense spared on the lights and decorations. There are lakes with small boats, Chinese-themed buildings, and no shortage of small cafés and restaurants to have a glass of Gløgg and take a break from the cold."

If you're looking to get away with your better half this Valentine's Day, it's not too late to plan a romantic retreat.

Whether you're pining for candlelit dinners, enchanting beachside strolls, lavish massages or an opulent hotel package, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday.

So, if you're ready to swap flowers and chocolate for a memorable close-to-home or far-flung escape, embark on a swoon-worthy trip in one of these city breaks, isles or cozy mountain towns this February.

SEE ALSO: 3 families explain what it was like to give up city life and move to the country

Colorado Springs, Colorado

There's something magical about the Rocky Mountains. Make your way to Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak area, where you and your better half can take fireside yoga classes and horseback riding lessons as you admire the striking granite rock formations in the backdrop. For a superlative view of Pikes Peak, make the Gardens of the Gods Collection resort your home base. When hunger strikes, venture to popular steak houses like The Famous and The Peppertree. Then, take a guided tasting tour of one of the area's distilleries or breweries.

St. Lucia

Beautiful, lush and romantic, St. Lucia offers a dreamy escape for couples. At the all-inclusive, adults-only Serenity at Coconut Bay, there are plenty of secluded spots and lavish amenities. With the seven-day Grand Romance Experience package, you can enjoy an en suite couples massage and take a private chauffeured island tour that includes swimming under a waterfall and venturing to lookout points for awe-inspiring views of the mighty Pitons. To up the romance factor, take a Champagne & Jazz Sunset Catamaran Cruise on a catamaran. For more relaxation, stretch out along a private beach, unwind in your cabana and finish off the night with a private, candlelit cabana dinner with butler service.

Dublin

Hidden in Dublin's beautiful Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church are the remains of Valentinus, patron saint of love. If that's not reason to plan a romantic escape with your partner, the spectacular scenery filled with rolling hills, castles, stately manors and cobbled streets are bound to make you swoon. For enchanting accommodations, retreat to The K Club and book the My Lovely Valentine package, which includes a two-night stay, a full Irish breakfast each morning, a four-course dining experience in the Byerley Turk restaurant, Champagne and chocolates upon arrival and a complimentary room upgrade. If you're craving more activity, enjoy hiking, horseback riding, clay shooting or unwinding at the full-service spa.

As time passes, even the biggest and most popular applications get further away from their original looks.

Changes in consumers' aesthetic preferences and heightened expectations for app usability urge companies to invest in updates to interfaces, so that they gradually evolve to meet demand. 

So what did some of the most popular apps look like when they first launched? Here are some vintage versions of your favorite apps and websites.

Samantha Cooney contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: The app explosion is over

Facebook

The original homepage for Facebook (née "thefacebook") is fairly well-known, thanks to the Oscar-nominated origin story "The Social Network." The site's most famous feature was the anonymous face in the upper left hand corner, which was later revealed to be a manipulated image of actor Al Pacino. After logging in, users were taken to a welcome page with no scroll option, rather than a feed of updates from friends and companies.

Instagram

Instagram's original 2011 logo wasn't updated until the photo-sharing app unveiled a new one in 2016, but the app changed constantly. In addition to adding more filter options, the direct-messaging capability, and horizontal pictures (instead of exclusively showing pictures in squares) Instagram removed the bars from the top and the bottom of the feed and removed all of the black backgrounds from the other screens.

Uber

When Uber debuted a new logo in 2016, many were quick to make snarky comments about the clunky design (the logo has changed again, now with a black background instead of that blue web). The first iteration of the Uber app, then known as UberCab, was far worse in terms of both logo and usability. The basics were there (enter your credit card info and location and then call a car), but it featured a bright red logo and a less refined interface.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• The best oven mitts provide excellent dexterity, protect your hands from burns, and will last for many years to come. The Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitts cover all the bases, plus, they're easy to clean and keep your forearms protected from scalding-hot liquids.

Whether you tried to grab a hot cast-iron skillet with a wet cotton pot holder or you were helping a mageirocophobic friend use their oven for the first time and had to make do with a beach towel, anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in the kitchen has been burned by bad oven mitts. Fortunately, there are several low-cost solutions that will protect you from all degrees of burns.

For the purposes of this guide, we are essentially looking at all types of oven mitts, gloves, and pot holders that were created for the express purpose of handling hot cookware safely. Each style has its own benefits and pitfalls, so you'll want to choose which kind of protection is best for your needs.

Oven mitts are a favorite because they tend to cover your hands and the forearms, giving you extra protection when reaching into an oven. The downside is that they are bulkier. Pot holders are preferred by many because they are small and easy to grab in a hurry. Finally, oven gloves are the top choice for people who want dexterity above all else.

Silicone is one of the most popular materials used in oven mitts these days because it provides a combination of heat protection and grip. Aramid fibers, like Nomex and Kevlar, are also found in the high-end options. These materials were designed for superior protection from burns. Terry cloth and quilted cotton continue to be popular for pot holders.

We found the best oven mitts were made from a combination of materials. For instance, there are several mitts that have a silicone exterior and cotton liner. Many of the top oven gloves are made with aramid fibers and have silicone elements throughout.

While researching the best oven mitts, we considered dozens of different options. Some were highly rated by experts but had bad reviews from the buyers who actually used them. The mitts and pot holders that made our list are considered superior by professionals and amateur home chefs alike because of their durability, heat protection, and flexibility.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitts are our top pick and why you might prefer the Grill Armor Gloves for added dexterity, the San Jamar Kool-Tek Nomex Oven Mitt for the added protection of kevlar, the OXO Good Grips Silicone Pot Holder for an easy-to-use option, or the affordable DII Cotton Terry Pot Holders.

The best oven mitt overall

Why you'll love them: If you are looking for affordable oven mitts that clean up effortlessly and keep your hands and forearms free from burns, the Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitts are your best bet.

The exterior of the Homwe oven mitts is made of BPA-free, FDA-approved silicone that offers protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The silicone is flexible, breathable, and textured for improved grip control. The interior features a quilted cotton lining. The oven mitts come as a pair and are designed for grilling, baking, and handling scalding hot liquids.

There are eight different styles to choose from, including 14.7-inch-long red ones, 13.7-inch-long black mitts, and 13.7-inch long gray ones. These oven mitts are dishwasher and washing machine safe. Plus, Homwe backs up the quality of this product with the offer of a full refund if the mitts don’t meet your expectations.

We’re not alone in rating the Homwe oven mitts as the best option overall. Wirecutter also put it at the top of its list because the mitts are water-resistant, easy to clean, and allowed testers to hold a 400-degree cast iron skillet for eleven seconds. Your Best Digs liked the impressive flexibility, superior wrist and forearm coverage, and secure grip. Finally, Chili Everyday strongly recommended the Professional Silicone Oven Mitt because it is flexible, protects a lot of your forearm, and is dishwasher safe. However, they found it wasn’t ideal for small hands and that it could be grippier.

The Homwe Extra Long Oven Mitt has more than 1,500 five-star ratings on Amazon. Buyers report that they feel safe reaching deep into hot ovens and that they can still bend their fingers just fine to grip items.

Amazon reviewer Melinda Cole related a couple interesting stories. While wearing the Homwe mitt, she touched the hot heating element in the oven without noticing it. Also, when in a bind, reviewers used the mitt to remove jars from boiling water while canning. There were complaints about the mitt being slippery, but you can compensate for this with a tighter grip.

Pros: Flexible, broad coverage area, easy to clean, affordable

Cons: May be too large for people with small hands, somewhat slippery

Buy the Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitts on Amazon for $11.97 and up

The best oven gloves

Why you'll love them: The Grill Armor Gloves are ideal for home chefs who want full use of their fingers while handling extremely hot cookware.

The Grill Armor Gloves feature P-ARAMID and M-ARAMID fabric insulation that is designed to avoid melting or catching fire when exposed to open flames. The exterior also has silicone for improved grip. And, the interior is 100% cotton.

As the name suggests, the gloves are designed to be heat resistant up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit and are EN407 certified. Two gloves come with the set, and they are machine washable. Grill Armor Gloves offer a money back guarantee with this product.

The Wirecutter gave the gloves high marks for maneuverability and dexterity, but they lost points because they weren’t as heat-resistant as many of the other pot holders and oven mitts. It's important to note that oven mitts will give you more protection, but oven gloves are good for most use cases where dexterity trumps the amount of protection provided.

These oven gloves were also recommended by AmazingRibs.com. In its tests, the reviewers were able to handle burning cedar logs and hot briquettes while wearing the gloves. And, the Z9 featured the Grill Armor glove as one of the best solutions because of the lifetime warranty and extreme heat resistance.

Around 91% of the people who reviewed the 932°F Extreme Heat Resistant Oven Gloves on Amazon gave them four or five stars. The most helpful reviewer, Scott Phillips, had several glowing remarks about the Grill Armor Gloves. He liked that the gloves provide heat protection that was superior to any of the oven mitts he’d owned previously. Reviewers were also impressed with how they could use all of their fingers.

Many buyers echoed these sentiments. Yet, there were complaints about the gloves producing a strong odor when people first open the package, but this dissipates over time.

Pros: Lifetime warranty, good dexterity

Cons: Do not provide protection from liquids or when wet

Buy the Grill Armor Gloves 932°F Extreme Heat Resistant Oven Gloves (One Size Fits Most, Red) on Amazon for $25.95

The best Kevlar oven mitt

Why you'll love it: If you are will to spend a little extra for a durable and dependable oven mitt that provides excellent protection for your hands and forearms, consider the San Jamar Kool-Tek Nomex Oven Mitt.

The San Jamar Oven Mitt features layers of Kevlar and Nomex. Kevlar is perhaps best known for its use in bullet-resistant body armor, but it also protects your hands from heat, abrasions, and cuts. Nomex is a fireproof fabric that race car drivers wear. This mitt is NSF P149 certified for use in commercial food service and has a Class II designation for intermittent flame protection.

Basically, that all just means that the mitt is verifiably high quality. Only one mitt comes with your purchase, but it can be used on either hand. The overall length of the mitt is 15 inches.

There are few expert reviews of the San Jamar Kool-Tek Oven Mitt. However, Cook’s Illustrated's testers were impressed with how the layers of Kevlar and Nomex provided all-around dependability as well as heat resistance. They put it through eighteen rounds of testing, including trips through the laundry, and it showed incredible durability. They did not like that the price is so high.

Around 72% of the reviewers on Amazon gave the KT0215 a positive rating. The biggest complaint about the mitt is that it’s too large for many people. Reviewer Joanna Snyder noted that this product provides excellent protection against heat, but she was concerned about the mitt slipping off and dropping the hot food in her hands.

Others noted that while the mitts are a bit unwieldy, they do a great job of protecting the wrists and forearms when reaching into an oven.

Pros: Machine washable, durable, exceptional heat resistance

Cons: Expensive, may be too big for many people

Buy the San Jamar KT0215 Kool-Tek Nomex Conventional Temperature Protection Oven Mitt on Amazon for $39.95

Vagina myths have been around for generations. In ancient times, there were gruesome tales about vaginas with teeth. In the 20th century, sexist ads warned women that they'd lose their husbands if they didn't douche. Today, there are Instagram ads and wellness gurus pushing vaginal jade eggs and glitter capsules. 

It's easy to dismiss these examples as ridiculous, but plenty of vagina myths aren't just abstractions: When real women believe them, they can have real, often damaging, consequences. 

So INSIDER asked gynecologist Alyssa Dweck, author of "The Complete A to Z for your V," to debunk enduring vagina myths that hinder reproductive health. Here are 10 to stop believing. 

MYTH: You need to clean your vagina with special products.

"I hope that in my lifetime we can really break the myth that the vagina is a gross place," Dweck said. "That's myth number one in my eyes."

For decades, makers of feminine hygiene products have exploited the sexist myth that vaginas are inherently dirty — and that they should be scrubbed of their natural odor with perfumed douches, washes, wipes, and more.

The truth is that the vagina is designed to clean itself, and adding in harsh products may do more harm than good. 

"When you start adding tons of fragrant products, wipes or douches in particular, you really disturb the natural balance of microbes that are supposed to be in the vagina," Dweck said. 

These products may cause irritation and itching, for starters, and they can also increase the likelihood of yeast and bacterial infections in women who are prone to them, she explained. 

"If women want to clean their vulva — the external genitalia — using a mild soap and warm water, that is fine," Dweck added. "But thinking that you need to get the loofah and some highly fragrant, harsh detergent and use them in the vagina — that's not necessary."

MYTH: Tampons can get "lost" inside your body.

Technically this isn't possible. Dweck explained that the opening of the cervix is too small to allow a tampon to go through it. 

"However, women often will forget to remove a tampon and it can get lost in the sense that they can't get it out," she added. "It basically gets caught up in the top of the vagina and the string is no longer easily felt."

Luckily, a forgotten tampon will probably announce its presence with a really bad smell.

"Someone comes in and says, 'I have the worst odor of my life. I don't know what it's from,'" Dweck said. "We usually can tell from down the hall that there's a retained tampon that might have been there for a long time. It's not that uncommon."

MYTH: You can cure a yeast infection with garlic or yogurt.

Burning, itching yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the Candida fungus inside the vagina. Antifungal medications, which you can buy at a drugstore or get through a doctor, are an effective way to treat them, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). 

But online sources claim you can cure yeast infections with natural remedies, like yogurt and garlic. Dweck explained, however, that neither is a proven cure. 

She did say that plain, unsweetened yogurt might help you manage the symptoms of a yeast infection — it can provide a cooling sensation when applied to the vulva — but it doesn't have special fungus-fighting powers. 

If you're really searching for a drug-free cure, you can always try good old-fashioned waiting.

"The most natural remedy that will work is time," Dweck said. "Some women are going to get rid of a yeast infection on their own, whether it's because they wait a week, get their period, their [vaginal] pH changes, and things get better, or because their natural immune processes get things back in order."

• The Philadelphia Eagles enter Super Bowl LII after a wild couple months of quarterback concerns.
• Carson Wentz was having an MVP-calibre season before suffering a season-ending injury in December, forcing backup Nick Foles to guide the Eagles through the playoffs.
• Third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld is on reserve should Foles go down in the Super Bowl.

With a win in Super Bowl LII this Sunday, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady could cement his legacy as the greatest football player of all time.

Standing in his way are the Philadelphia Eagles, whose past couple months have been filled with quarterback concerns.

Carson Wentz led the team to an NFC-best 11-2 start, and looked to be on pace for a potential MVP season before tearing an ACL in week 14, sidelining him for the rest of the year.

While many assumed Wentz's injury meant the end of the road for the Eagles, backup quarterback Nick Foles managed to lead them to two playoff victories, including a decisive rout of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

Wentz's injury also thrust third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld into the spotlight — should Foles get injured, the little-used Sudfeld will have to step up on the sport's biggest stage.

Read on to learn about the three quarterbacks taking on Tom Brady and the Patriots this Sunday:

SEE ALSO: Nate Silver's model has nailed 80% of the NFL playoff games, and now it has made its Super Bowl projection

There are three quarterbacks on the Philadelphia Eagles roster: No. 11 Carson Wentz, No. 9 Nick Foles, and No. 7 Nate Sudfeld.

Carson Wentz started out the year under center for the Eagles. The highly touted second-year player led Philly to a surprising 11-2 start, good for first place in the NFC.

Wentz quickly became an icon among Eagles fans, who dubbed their state "Wentzylvania." His 33 touchdown passes and nearly 3,300 passing yards made Wentz an early MVP favorite.

• Netflix has made a name for itself when it comes to original content.
• Current shows in the making include "Game Over, Man!" from the people who brought you "Workaholics" and  "Coach Snoop," a gritty documentary about beloved '90s rapper, Snoop Dogg. 
• Netflix is also adding new seasons of "Jessica Jones" and "Love."

Netflix’s evolution from humble DVD dispensary, to streaming service, to full fledged original content producer has been a joy to watch. Literally. The company took a leap in 2013 with its first original production, House of Cards, and has been producing binge inducing crowd pleasers like Stranger Things, while rebooting classics like Full House ever since. Netflix doesn’t release data on how many people are watching what, but at over 110 million subscribers, they’ve become the premiere streaming service on Earth.

It’s hard to say what about Netflix original programing has made them such a juggernaut. They’ve hinted at a data based algorithmic approach to writing and there is the nostalgia bait inherent in shows like Stranger Things. Obviously partnering with Disney to show a grittier side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was no small coup. Even their missteps like, Bright, had all of us tuning in and talking. No one strategy explains what makes us crave, binge, and repeat as much as we do. It’s like magic.

In a media landscape crowded by an ever increasing array of producers trying to crack the code of addictive, digestible content; Netflix remains an unparalleled maverick with a healthy stable of bleeding edge originals. As we ease into the first quarter of 2018, they already have dozens of movies, and TV shows in production, waiting to blow our minds and own the internet.

Here are the fifteen shows/movies still in production that you will be watching and talking about all year.

"Carmen Sandiego"

Forget where in the world Carmen Sandiego is going to wind up this week. Netflix has promised that in this ongoing animated series we’re going to find out all about who Carmen Sandiego is, where Carmen Sandiego comes from and exactly why Carmen Sandiego does what it is that she does.

It’s an origin story and probably somewhat of a reboot, though we can’t imagine it being a prequel to the 90s show (although that would be pretty cool). Gina Rodriguez from Jane the Virgin will star as the titular hero and Stranger Things’ own Finn Wolfhard is co-staring as a mysterious character known only as ‘Player’ to be her sidekick. No word on whether or not Rockapella will be returning to do the score, but we can’t imagine how they’d revive a show like this without bringing back one of the most iconic and memorable parts of the original.

"Bright 2"

In a long since erased Tweet, controversial screenwriter Max Landis famously referred to his script for Bright as having the potential to be his Star Wars. Well that ended up not really happening. Max had to take a bit of an L when rumors of misconduct arose right before the release of Bright, which was met with almost unanimous unfavorable reviews. The movie became little more than a punching bag with people referring to it as ‘The Orc Cop movie’ and taking shots at its tone deaf approach to race relations in the United States. The funny thing is after all that negative press, Netflix still announced a sequel was already in development. Huh? But it makes sense if you compare it to a movie like Sharknado. Being a watercooler/Twitter gossip type show is good for ratings, even if the people watching don’t really like what they’re seeing.

"Jessica Jones: Season 2"

If your favorite detective is a super powered alcoholic who can’t quite fly so much as fall gracefully, then you’re in luck. Jessica Jones season 2 has been filming and the buzz is good. First there were the set photos of David Tennant which caused a lot of speculation that his character Killgrave was back and the show ended with so many loose ends waiting to be tied up. Will we see Nuke get his face tattoo and robot enhancements? Will Patsy Walker somehow investigate herself into a bright yellow and blue catsuit to fight alongside her adopted sister?

So far the Marvel series on Netflix haven’t had the best sophomore seasons. Daredevil season 2 kind of fell apart once Elektra showed up and The Defenders left fans divided. Plus with Marvel re-acquiring the rights to all its characters to run on their own as of yet unnamed streaming service, the fate of the extended universe might very well be in JJ’s hands.

Super Bowl Sunday represents the culmination of the year in football — two teams competing to be deemed champion of the most popular sport in America.

It's also a great day to gamble.

Earlier in the week we went through all of the best bets you can actually make in Las Vegas on the big game, but one of the defining features of the Super Bowl in recent years has been the ability to bet on all sorts of strange outcomes thanks to the prominence of offshore sportsbooks.

How long will the national anthem take? What outfit will the halftime act wear? How many times will Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth mention the point-spread for the game or Tom Brady's age?

Before the dawn of internet gambling these would just be weird questions to be posing to your friends while they try to enjoy the pregame spread at your Super Bowl party. Now? They're questions of investment.

Below we've collected the 17 weirdest, most specific, and hopefully most profitable prop bets that you can only find online. All of these numbers come courtesy of bovada.lv, and are subject to change drastically between now and kickoff. Their outcomes will be subject to Bovada's discretion — so be sure to read the fine print before committing too much money to the color of Justin Timberlake's footwear.

That said, if you have a friend of a friend who knows Timberlake's stylist, my Twitter DMs are open.

Pink takes Over/Under two minutes to sing the national anthem

The pick: Under two minutes ($100 to win $110)

The logic: My tendency over the years with this bet has to shut your eyes (and ears) and bet the under. It always ends up being closer than it should be, whether an artist flubs a word or attempts to hold out "BRAAAAAAAAAAVE" for twenty seconds after burning through the first 99% of the song. But more people bet the over because it's funnier to be the over, and thus there is usually value on the under.

Will Pink be airborne for any part of her national anthem?

The pick: No, Pink will not be airborne during national anthem ($500 to win $100)

The logic: Last year, Lady Gaga went airborne during the start of the halftime show, much to the delight and confusion of viewers at home. That said, that is some definite halftime business, and with the ongoing drama of the national anthem over this NFL season, I don't see Pink stirring the pot with anything crazy. Pink will play it straight and the NFL will get to football and away from nationalism with as little discussion as possible.

You have to lay a lot of money for the bet, but it sure does feel like a lock.

Will Pink say “Eagles” before or after the anthem?

The pick: No, Pink will not say "Eagles" at any point during anthem ($200 to win $100)

The logic: Pink is from suburban Philadelphia, but again, I think she plays it straight here as to not stir the pot. The national anthem at the Super Bowl served as a tryout of sorts for the halftime show when Lady Gaga sang it at Super Bowl 50, and with Pink's long career and national appeal, she could be in a similar position to perform at halftime in the near future. I wouldn't risk that by throwing in an "E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!" chant at the end of the anthem.