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Month: September 2018

  • Biggest Changes in the October Update for Windows 10

    Biggest Changes in the October Update for Windows 10

    As of late, Microsoft has been releasing twice-yearly updates for Windows 10. The ubiquitous operating system last received a major overhaul in April with the previous update. Now, the October Update for Windows 10 is right around the corner and we’re eager to see what it brings. As such, today we’re rounding up the biggest changes coming in the October Update for Windows 10.

    Biggest Changes in the October Update for Windows 10

    windows10

    Clipboard History

    The first notable change coming is the clipboard history. Accessed by hitting the window key and V at the same time, it holds a list of your recent cut and copied items. This is a big plus for writers and those who often work in word processors. Also coming is a cloud sync for your clipboard, allowing you to copy and paste across Windows devices. Neat! Well, we think. It might be totally superfluous.

    SwiftKey Keyboard

    If you’re using a Windows tablet or Surface device, you’re going to love this. The SwiftKey keyboard, the fast, responsive Microsoft touchscreen keyboard is getting a big update. Also, prepare to see some pretty crazy designs for dual-screen laptops.

    Dark Mode

    Microsoft apps, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint, will be able to be run in Dark Mode soon. Much like the changes coming to the new MacOS, the October Update for Windows 10 will include Dark Mode. For those who work at night, or just prefer the softer look of Dark Mode, this is a huge boon. No more blinding yourself with stark white apps with no Dark Mode options!

    Less Restarting

    You turn on your computer, and you’re in a hurry. There’s a deadline for a project, or you’re rushing to join your friends online for a game. Whatever it may be, you need your computer to boot up quickly. However, you forgot to restart for an update last night. So, congratulations, you get to sit here and watch your PC update for twenty minutes. Microsoft is aiming to alleviate this with “smart update windows.” The system will attempt to learn your pattern so that it knows the safest times to restart for updates without interrupting you.

    Screenshot Tool

    The Snip and Sketch tool is the newest take on screenshots, courtesy of Microsoft. This tool is not quite a replacement for the Snipping Tool, but it’s being pushed pretty heavily as the way to do screenshots. While the Snip and Sketch tool is useful in some ways, it’s not necessarily better than the Snipping Tool. Pressing prt sc can now be hotkeyed to open the Snip and Sketch, which allows you to draw the area you want to capture

  • Ten Biggest Changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

    Ten Biggest Changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

    Super Smash Bros Ultimate is just around the corner, releasing on December 7th. As it stands, we’re incredibly excited for the massive overall that the ultimate entry in this storied series. While this is the 5th entry in the long-running franchise, it looks poised to shake things up in a big way. Why is everyone so excited, you may ask? Well, let’s answer that by looking at the ten biggest changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate! These are the ten ways this new entry improves upon its predecessors.

    Ten Biggest Changes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

    smashbrosfeatured

    Boss Characters

    Photo Credit: Too Much Gaming

    The first big change coming to the newest version of the game is the introduction of boss characters. While Brawl had boss characters in its single-player campaign, the Subspace Emissary, Ultimate has a different take. It seems like the boss characters can randomly appear on certain stages. Notable bosses include Rathalos, from Monster Hunter, and Dracula, of Castlevania fame.

    Perfect Shield

    Photo Credit: Smashpedia

    A new layer of tactical depth is coming to the game by way of the Perfect Shield. This technique allows a defensive player to take an offensive player off their pattern. By releasing the shield button right as an attack lands, you’ll stagger your attacker. This gives you a second to really bring the pain!

    Faster Duels

    Photo Credit: Inverse

    One-on-one duels are rarely a quick affair in Smash. In fact, we’d go so far as to say, in previous games, they were sort of a slog. Thankfully, this time around the duels will be much faster. In one-on-one battles, damage and launch power will be increased. This allows for the fights to stay quick and tense without speeding up big, chaotic multiplayer battles.

    Battlefield Stages

    Photo Credit: Smash Bros

    In the fourth entry, Smash Bros for Wii U, there was an option for “Omega” stages. Omega stages turn the stage into a version of Final Destination, the totally flat arena. Now, Omega stages are joined by Battlefield stages. Battlefield is a neutral stage that includes three platforms and a wide, flat plane. This game has something for everyone!

    Directional Air Dodge and Short Hops

    Photo Credit: Giant Bomb

    New movement abilities are a win-win for a game like Smash. Introducing high-level concepts like movement manipulation and gap closing to more casual players is good for everyone! As such, the new directional air dodge mechanic is a huge step in the right direction. Likewise, short hops, which are fast, aerial gap closers that incorporate a short attack, have been baked into every character’s moveset.

    Dash Canceling

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    Another advanced movement technique that’s been baked into the base mechanics is dash canceling. This is the technique by which you cancel a dash with a smash attack on the move. It looks cool, saves you frames and puts you on the offensive!

    Character Meters, etc.

    Photo Credit: Smashpedia

    A general quality of life update, this new feature is much requested. Characters’ unique meters and mechanics are being streamlined and added to their character portraits. Examples include Cloud’s Limit Meter, Shulk’s Monado Arts and Robin’s Spell Meter. These are neat, helpful little upgrades to the UI that make the more complex characters more easily visually identified. Great little touches, gang!

    Lead Indicator

    Photo Credit: Science Fiction

    It’s often hard to tell who’s in the lead in a chaotic Smash battle. Between the flashy effects, crazy combat and wacky items, the leader can get lost in the shuffle. In Ultimate, however, that’s changing: now, the person in the lead will have a flashing golden symbol to indicate how they’re doing. This works like a target on the back of whoever is doing the best. If you’re going to be on top, get ready for the heat!

    Stage Selection

    Photo Credit: Reddit

    This is a huge change! Stage selection comes before character select now! That’s a huge change from previous games. As you well know, different characters are stronger on different stages. As such, this change adds a huge amount of tactical depth to character selection. Do you go with your better character, or the one more well-suited to the chosen map? These changes have us itching to jump into the game!

    Everyone is Here

    Photo Credit: CNET

    That’s right: every single character for each previous iteration of Smash Bros is here! That’s a huge roster of playable fighters. Wolf, Pichu, Snake and other characters from past games are making comebacks. Additionally, several characters with weird rights issues, like Mega Man, Pac Man and Sonic are back in the mix. We’re excited for this huge roster, which is joined by the likes of Ridley, King K. Rool, Simon and Richter Belmont and the Squid Kids from Splatoon! The list just goes on and on!

  • Best 5 Laptops Under $500 in 2018

    Best 5 Laptops Under $500 in 2018

    Laptops are very essential these days- for school, work, or just personal use. The price of a premium new laptop can cost up to $1,000, which is pricey for anyone. Numerous companies have made laptops more affordable while keeping the quality and capabilities of more expensive laptops.

    You don’t have to feel like you’re settling when shopping for a laptop under $500. There are value-priced notebooks that include full-HD displays, solid performance and long battery life, plus all the ports you need. We picked all the best all-purpose laptops in $500 price range which we think are best laptops to suit the wide range of requirements of people. Here is a list of the best five laptops under $500!

    1. Dell Inspiron i3567 Laptop

    The latest version of this Dell laptop has a powerful system in place with 8GB of memory and a 128GB hard drive and a Intel Core i3-7100U 2.4GHz processor. It has a professional feel in it’s all black look with a 15.6-inch laptop with a screen resolution of 1366 x 768. The operating system runs smoothly with Windows 10 and is backed with a 12 month warranty, with 12 months of tech support.

    • A new, powerful hardware system
    • Has many ports and slots to use your external devices
    • 8 GB Ram
    • 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor
    • It is not backlit enabled
    • Battery life up to 5 hours

    2. Acer Aspire A515-51-50RR Laptop

    The Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best budget full-size laptops you can find in stores today. It checks most of the right boxes: well built, slim and fairly light, gets a decent keyboard, an IPS screen and modern hardware, performs well, runs cool and quiet and lasts for a long while on a charge. This slim and sleek laptop is a great all round performing laptop, especially for the price. The visuals are spot on with vivid, bright colors.

    • LCD display and is backlit
    • 2.50 GHz Intel Core i5-7200U processor
    • Storage: 1TB hard disk
    • Intel HD 620 graphics
    • Battery life up to 7 hours
    • All-plastic chassis

    3. HP 15-ay191ms Laptop

    The HP 15-ay191ms, a signature edition laptops that comes with a seventh-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB DDR4 system memory, 1TB of storage and a touchscreen, but still remains insanely affordable. It’s one of those laptops you’d buy without a second thought if you find inexpensive chromebook attractive, but really, really need Windows. If you love touchscreen, this one’s for you! This laptop contains the Kaby Lake processor which makes this laptop consume little power. Apps are not an issue here, they all run very smoothly.

    • Touchscreen
    • Intel Core i3-7100U processor
    • 8GB RAM
    • 1TB hard drive
    • Lag-free performance
    • Battery life up to 6 hours

    4. Dell Inspiron i3567-5185BLK Laptop

    Yet another Inspiron made this list! This version comes in different color options and a textured finish.  Packed with a large 15.6 Inches display and a decent 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7200U up to 3.1GHz CPU processor. This Dell laptop model would work well for portability with its 4.85 Pounds lightweight design and sleek black look. Great for school work or the family computer. A huge bonus with this laptop is it doesn’t heat up much!

    • 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3-7100U processor
    • 8GB RAM
    • TB hard drive
    • LED display with a built-in webcam and mic
    • Battery life is up to 6 hours

    5. ASUS Chromebook Flip

    This is one of the best convertible laptops on the current market. The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is worthy of its premium stature with a gorgeous screen, tactile keyboard and a classy design that’s equally as comfortable to use in tablet mode or as a traditional laptop. The screen is a full HD touchscreen and can be converted from a laptop to a tablet by turning the screen. A top pick for a college student!

    • Intel Core m3 processor
    • 4GB RAM
    • 64GB of SSD storage
    • Battery life of up to 10 hours

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true!

    I’m sure we all remember the note 7 scandle, but that is all history for the Galaxy Note brand. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone.


  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • Tech Throwback: 1st generation iPod

    Tech Throwback: 1st generation iPod

    I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. I’m going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today’s throwback is at the very center of our every day life, The original 1st generation iPod.

     

    The iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player — there were a number of models from a number of companies before Apple unveiled what came to be one of its flagship products — but the iPod was the first truly great MP3 player. It didn’t have the most storage or the most features, but it did have a dead-simple user interface, terrific industrial design, and the simplicity and polish that define Apple products (it also has an interesting story about how it got its name).

    It featured a black and white LCD and the first click wheel, a mechanical scrolling interface that let users quickly and conveniently scroll through long lists of music. The click wheel also included easy access buttons for playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding through music content. The first iPod’s battery lasted for up to 10 hours before needing to be recharged, and the device was priced at $399.

    1st generation iPod Blew Our Minds

    The 1st generation iPod can be identified by its scroll wheel, surrounded by four buttons (from top, clockwise: menu, forward, play/pause, backwards), and its center button for selecting items. The first-generation iPod, which Apple advertised with the tagline “1,000 songs in your pocket,” was a rectangle-shaped device with a 5GB 1.8-inch hard drive capable of holding 1,000 songs. Nice this about this is its still functional and available. You can buy one on amazon new. Sadly the software and iTunes software cant be reverted so there is no really going to back to visit the original iPod. Just nice to play with the wheel for a bit.

     

     

    The Final Thought

    While it was not the first MP3 player, the original iPod was both smaller and easier to use than many of its competitors. As a result, it quickly attracted accolades and strong sales. The iTunes Store did not yet exist (it was introduced in 2003), so users had to add music to their iPods from CDs .Looking back to when the iPod was introduced (near the turn of the century!), it’s hard to remember just how different the world of computing and portable devices was.

    . At its introduction, the iPod was a Mac-only product. It required Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X 10.1. There was no Facebook, no Twitter, no apps, no iPhone, no Netflix. The world was a very different place.

  • iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    There has been months of speculation and hype about new iPhone X models rumored to be coming. “Today, we’re going to take iPhone X to the next level,” CEO Tim Cook said during the presentation and unveiling of new iPhone models.

    The iPhone X released last year was a total rethinking of the iPhone with features like Face ID and a edge to edge screen. Anticipation was high among iPhone fans and the day is finally here, and we have all the recaps.  Apple finally took the wraps off its new iPhones, including the iPhone Xs Max, its largest iPhone ever. With 3 new phone announcements, let’s take a look at what makes them different and sort through all the new details and features.

    iPhone Xs and Xs Max

    First off Apple  introduced the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs, which also has an OLED screen. The iPhone Xs is made of surgical-grade steel, is covered in new glass and comes in gold, silver and space gray. With the new A12 chip, more on this later, it allows the storage to be increased to 512 gb. The Xs will have 3 size options, 64gb, 256, or 512gb. The smaller 64gb is cutting a little close these days but 256gb should still be more than enough for 99% of the users out there.

    The iPhone XS will also incorporate more real-world machine learning for features such as augmented reality and FaceTime. The iOS upgrade will also open the door for Siri shortcuts, which users can customize.  For all the Instagram photographers out there the back camera has a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and 12-megapixel telephoto camera, along with improvements to flash. For the selfie lovers the front camera will feature 7 megapixels.

    Both devices are identical with only one difference, the iPhone Xs is 5.8 inches, the iPhone Xs max is 6.5 inches. There also have been improvements to the overall strength of the glass screen, which is a great improvement for those of us with butter fingers.

    The iPhone XR

    Alongside with the Xs models Apple also revealed it’s midrange iPhone model, the XR.  The XR is the  bargain model that will be more affordable with most of the same features as the Xs. The iPhone XR has an LCD display called liquid retina and it features a 6.1-inch screen. It’s the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but with a larger screen because of it’s edge to edge screen.  The iPhone XR will also feature Face ID, and include the A12 Bionic chip like the XS. The big difference among these phones is the back camera: a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera for the XR. The front camera will feature the same true depth features as the XS.

    On battery life, XR will offer an hour and a half more on one charge than the iPhone 8 Plus. Specs-wise, the XR is notable for matching many of the specs of the new XS, but one notable omission is 3D Touch, which  isn’t available with XR model. 

    While the 6.1-inch display seems large, the reduced bezels above and below the display  will make the XR slightly smaller than a traditional “Plus” iPhone and only slightly larger than the 5.8-inch iPhone XS. The iPhone XR will be available in a variety of colors including black, white, blue, coral, yellow and red.

    Pricing

    The iPhone XR will come in three sizes: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, and start at $749. Pre-orders arrive October 19, and ships October 26. XS available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB starting at $999. The XS Max will start at $1,099. Both Xs models are available for pre-order immediately with shipping to begin on September 21st.


  • Asus ZenBook S UX391UA Review Roundup

    Asus ZenBook S UX391UA Review Roundup

    Asus’ newest ZenBook, the Zenbook S UX391UA (say that three times fast) is here. Is the new super-compact device worth the hefty price tag, or is it better left for the bargain bin? Today we’re going to round up the best features of the new ZenBook and let you know what we think. After all, competition in the laptop market is fierce at the moment, and you shouldn’t waste your time or money on a sub-par product! Let’s talk about the newest release from Asus.

    Design

    The Zenbook S UX391UA is compact. As in, incredibly compact. If you’re the type of person who often works in coffee shops or is on the move a lot, this is a plus. The main design feature here is the ErgoLift hinge. In English, that’s the hinge that lifts the bottom part of the laptop when it’s unfolded. The lift makes it easier to type on the small keyboard and also helps ventilate the laptop. Overall, the design could be described as understated, subtle and soft. That said, it is also quite stylish.

    Specs

    The Zenbook S UX391UA comes standard with a 4K display and a touchscreen. It also sports a 512GB SSD for storing data, and an i7 processor. All said, it’s a pretty hefty machine! That’s not even mentioning the 16GB of memory the ZenBook sports. It’s not going to be the strongest computer for gaming, for what it’s worth. It sports a 128MB (shared) Intel UHD Graphics 620, which will allow it to play basic games at best. However, most in the market for gaming laptops wouldn’t consider an ulta-compact option like this to begin with.

    Price

    This is the biggest sticking point. Despite the i7 processor, 4K display and great design, the Zenbook S UX391UA feels too expensive at $1500. Oddly, the ZenBook doesn’t feel like it brings enough compared to the competition. In fact, there are even computers in Asus’ own range that outpace the Zenbook S UX391UA for the price!

    Zenbook S UX391UA Bottom Line

    The bottom line on this ultra-compact computer: pass unless you really like the design. Generally speaking, ultra-compacts just shouldn’t cost so much. Perhaps in a year or so the price will drop and make this a worthy pickup. Until then, however, stick to the less pricy competition and get a similar (if not better) computer for your money. Better luck next time, ZenBook!

  • Flop Ten: Worst Marvel Video Games of all Time

    Flop Ten: Worst Marvel Video Games of all Time

    When it comes to superheroes and awesome stories, no one beats Marvel. However, their characters don’t always translate beautifully to video games. While some of their video games have been awesome (Spider-Man 2 comes to mind) others have been downright awful. Today, we’re taking a look at the worst Marvel video games of all time!

    Worst Marvel Video Games of all Time

    Uncanny X-Men 1989

    Photo Credit: Defunct Games
    NES games weren’t well-known for their stellar graphics, but usually you could at least tell where you were able to walk. This ill-conceived X-Men title barely functions as a game, let alone an X-Men game. A generic, top-down shooter, the worst part of this game is how bland it is. Even selecting different X-Men characters barely changes the gameplay and functions more like a palette swap.

    Iron Man 2008

    Photo Credit: The Astute Gamer

    Tie-in games with Marvel films rarely fare too well with critics. This 2008 Iron Man tie-in is no exception. Featuring odd voice work and weird character models, this game is entirely awkward. Gameplay is stiff and far too easy, resulting in fights with no tension or drama. For how awesome the movie was, this game is a disappointing adaptation!

    Spider-Man 1982

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    Spider-Man has been the start of countless video games throughout the years. This early-80’s game, released for the Atari, was one of his earliest appearances on a home system. Unfortunately, it’s also a buggy, frustrating mess. The gameplay is repetitive, featuring Spidey trying to land pixel-perfect web shots to climb buildings. Instead of, you know, just climbing up them with his superpower. The best thing about this awful game is its hilarious cheesy commercial.

    Punisher No Mercy

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    The term “uninspired” is overused in video game criticism, but it’s so often exactly what a game is. This bland shooter has all the charm of a Call of Duty title without the polished mechanics or engaging gunplay. Without a solid narrative to pin down the single player campaign, you’re left with just the multiplayer. Sadly, even anything more interesting than a CTF mode or King of the Hill is missing in this boring 2009 shooter. Oh well, maybe Frank’s next game will be a winner!

    Incredible Hulk 2008

    Photo Credit: Gamepressure

    For how awesome the MCU is, it had its fair share of terrible game tie-ins early on. The Hulk, for his part, controls like a slab of green meat on ice skates. Punching enemies is dull and makes nearly no impact. Destroying environments in repetitive missions isn’t fun or satisfying the way it should be. You feel less like an unstoppable force of nature than like a kid in a fake cardboard town. Everything is just so… flat.

    Thor, God of Thunder

    Photo Credit: NY Daily News

    Thor is awesome, and so was his first movie outing in the MCU. Unfortunately, as was the case for all MCU game tie-ins, it’s middling at best. Combat is stiff, and the camera actively fights the player. Missions are rarely explained well, and the player is often left lost or stumbling. The narrative, which vaguely follows the film’s plot, is convoluted and hard to keep up with. Really, this one isn’t so much bad as it is overly mediocre. This one’s better off left with the blown-up remains of Old Asgard.

    Fantastic Four 1997

    Photo Credit: Forces of Geek

    For being as awesome as they are, the FF sure do get crapped on a lot outside of comics. The four awful films they’ve been crammed into and this stinker of a game haven’t done the team any favors. In this side-scrolling beat-em-up, you control one of the four members of the team. It doesn’t really matter which one, as they’re all identical in game, despite their vastly different powers. The enemies have far too much health, the levels go on forever and boredom comes standard. If you can make it through this slug-fest you’ve got the patience of a saint.

    Silver Surfer 1990

    Photo Credit: YouTube
    Speaking of games that try your patience, here’s one that does so for a very different reason. Silver Surfer, much like the Fantastic Four, has not gotten a fair shake outside of comics. He’s a cool character: tragically flawed, tormented and endearing. His video game adaptation, however, is an overly-difficult, cluttered mess. Each level is rife with obstacles that only become apparent after they kill you. The core gameplay isn’t awful, but it’s hardly worth slogging through the absurd difficulty curve.

    Amazing Spider-Man 2

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    ASM2 was effectively the emblem of superhero film mediocrity. Sony dropped the ball in numerous ways with the film, one of which was the equally middling video game tie-in. This game wouldn’t exactly be described as bad, per se. Instead, it’s disappointing for how close it comes to being good. The end product, however, feels like a stitched-together series of half-finished gameplay concepts. Thankfully, the 2018 Insomniac take on the wall-crawler has come to wash the bad taste of this one out of our mouths!

    X-Men Destiny

    Photo Credit: IGN

    The most disappointing Marvel game of them all, however, is the abysmal X-Men Destiny. Hailed as revolutionary before release, the game promised a lot. One such promise was a custom player character. Another promise held that the narrative would change based on player decisions.

    However, upon release, these claims were found to be greatly exaggerated. The game’s story is boring and player choice is near meaningless. What’s worse, player characters are selected from pre-generated templates instead of being original creations. That’s really the opposite of what fans were excited for with this one. Since its release, X-Men fans are cautious when it comes to any video game rumors or speculation.

  • Best Moisturizer with SPF

    Best Moisturizer with SPF

    Everyone uses face moisturizers, but not all moisturizers are created equally. Many do not give you the protection you need. So, today we are looking at the best moisturizers with SPF protection! 

    The “best” face moisturizer for one person might be the worst for someone else.  It is important to know your own specific skin type before you buy anything to put on, especially on your face. Best practice would most likely be applying high quality face moisturizer and a high quality SPF lotion separate from one another, but for time’s sake, these moisturizers have the SPF already in them to save you time in your routine.

    The Best Oil-Free Moisturizer With SPF

    Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture With SPF35 Sunscreen:

    If you are one with predominately oily skin, this product might be one to check out.  People that use oil based moisturizers on already oily skin could end up with unwanted breakouts.  They also have a SPF 70 version of this product, for those of you who need extra protection.  Best to use this product right after you get done washing your face. This will leave your skin very soft, clear, and free from redness. Excellent product much more reasonably priced than others on the market.

    The Best Moisturizer With SPF for Sensitive Skin

    Olay Complete Daily Defense All Day Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF30 Sensitive Skin:

    You probably have sensitive skin if you found this article in the first place. If you do, finally, a 30 SPF sun lotion with moisturizer that does not smell, does not make your eyes sting and does not make your mouth taste like suntan lotion.

    The Best Illuminating Moisturizer With SPF

    Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer With Broad Spectrum SPF 30:

    This one is a great all around daily moisturizer. It controls oily skin and it has very little specks of shimmer (don’t worry, you can barely see it) that make your skin look flawless. There is a slight herbal scent, but you can’t smell it after a minute or so. It works great under makeup because it isn’t oily.

    The Best Brightening Moisturizer With SPF

    RoC Multi Correxion 5 In 1 Anti-Aging Daily Face Moisturizer for Skin Discoloration SPF 30:

    If you are like the majority of us, I am sure you have tried many other creams for lightening spots, but this product really works well on lightening those brown spots. It’s very lightweight but hydrates perfectly. If this one works for you and your skin, they also have a night cream that can enhance the effects.

    The Best Tinted Moisturizer With SPF

    Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 Tinted Matte Moisturizer:

    This one is very easy to apply and has a bit of a sheer tint to it.  It won’t necessarily make you look darker, it just won’t look like you’re wearing regular white sunscreen. It never leaves you too greasy, it makes your skin feel and look like your skin. It won’t leave you oily at all and it absorbs really fast. You can even apply regular moisturizer underneath from time to time during the winter, and it still won’t let your skin get greasy or shiny. For very oily, acne-prone skin, when using this product, your skin’s oil production slows down. This one doesn’t let your face get shiny too fast at all.

    The Best Longwear Moisturizer With SPF

    La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense 24-Hour Face Moisturizer With Hyaluronic Acid SPF 20:

    Do you still find that you get dry patches when using other moisturizers? This one is an impressive one if you typically have predominately dry skin. This one will keep your makeup looking fresh and hydrated. If you are looking for moisturizer that feels like it’s working and leaves your skin looking healthy without all the grease, this one might be the one for you.

    The Best SPF Moisturizer With Added Ceramides

    CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30:

    This one definately has some of the best ingredients out of any expensive face cream or moisturizer. you have other ones to do ‘extra’ stuff when you need it, but this is the best everyday one for a lot of CeraVe belivers. The ingredients have hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamides, which are awesome for your skin, and if you look at more expensive creams, they usually only boast ONE of those three…this lotion has three in one! It is light but holds moisture in, and will not break you out. This has the potential to work better for you than some expensive moisturizer (including Korean skin care) because it is so simple.

    The Best SPF Moisturizer With Retinol

    Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer With Retinol SPF 20:

    Use this cream under your eyes, between eyebrows, around the mouth and nose, and on your neck. Put the cream on after a shower once a day, rarely skipping a day. You will notice you have to use it for quite a while, but it will do amazing things. The skin tone under your eyes will have gained so much elasticity, you will be blown away, to tell you the truth. You never expected such a good outcome because you have used other products and they simply did not live up to what they said their products would do, but … you will notice without any doubt that this product has vastly improved the condition of your skin where you applied the cream, especially under your eyes. Previous customers told us they have considered some type of under-eyelid surgery or acid peel because they hated how many fine wrinkles they had under my eyes, but this product has smoothed those out and made them look so much younger. You will be so happy that you got it and used it so often for this long, it was worth the wait.

    The Best Moisturizer With SPF 50+

    Replenix Antioxidant Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50:

    This sunscreen triples as a moisturizer, tint, and sunscreen — and your skin will look improved after using it for a few weeks, due to the other antioxidants and good stuff in it. These products are superior for sensitive, aging skin, especially if you tend to break out. The moisturizer is pleasant, clean, and easy to use — and reasonably priced given the great quality in each product.