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Month: October 2018

  • Apple Event: Updates to the iPad Pro

    Apple Event: Updates to the iPad Pro

    Apple is having another event this month to introduce new products and provide updates. This is the follow up event to the iPhone XS event early last September. We are expecting even more great new products and some updates to our favorites.

    The event has come to be known as “There’s more in the making” so you know something special will be unveiled. Apple sent out unique and individualized invitations and the event is always a must attend for the tech world. We will bring you all the updates and juicy details from the event.  Let’s take a look at what we got coming out, especially updates to the iPad Pro!

    The Updates to the iPad Pro

    Apple unveiled what it’s calling the biggest change to the iPad since its inception eight years ago. Its new features play in to Apple’s mission to make the tablet more adaptable and appealing to a larger audience.

    Apple announced their new and bigger 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros in New York today, which now come with Face ID, a USB-C charging port, and a new “Liquid Retina” display. With 5.6 million pixels, iPad Pro features the highest-resolution Retina display of any iOS device. The 12.9-inch screen makes everything you do — editing 4K video, designing presentations, running a business — easier, faster, and more engaging. And the Multi-Touch subsystem has been re-engineered, expanding the ways you can interact with iPad. Aesthetically, they’ve got slimmer bezels that only come in black, like the new MacBook Airs. The black bezels, when paired with the Smart Keyboard Folio, make the iPad Pro look closer to a laptop than it ever has before. They also allow for the 11-inch model display to fit a bigger screen into the same overall dimensions as the prior 10.5-inch model.

    There’s a new iPad Pencil stylus with support for gestures that let you switch between the different digital brush styles. You won’t lose this one as easily as last year, since it clips to the side of the iPad with magnets. It even wirelessly charges when attached to the iPad, an improvement over the silly Lightning plug from last year.You’ll pay more for the iPad Pencil and a keyboard, though, which cost $129 and $179, respectively.

    The new iPad Pro is 5.9 mm thinner — about 15% slimmer than its predecessor. And that Home button….Gone. It has been updated with the iPhone x gesture controls. The iPad Pro also features a nearly edge-to edge-display and rounded corners. Its beautiful and very sharp looking. You can also charge your iPhone, essentially turning it into your own personal power bank. At the heart of iPad Pro lies the new A9X, a third-generation chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. It delivers up to 1.8 times the CPU performance and double the graphics performance of iPad Air 2. So even the most demanding apps run effortlessly.

    iPad Pro runs iOS 10, the world’s most intuitive, advanced, and secure mobile operating system. And with improved built-in apps and multitasking features like Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture, iOS 10 helps you get more done in powerful yet simple ways. Whether you’re researching on the web while writing a book report or browsing your photos while creating a presentation, you’ll get more out of your iPad than ever before.

    There’s a new iPad Pencil stylus with support for gestures that let you switch between the different digital brush styles. You won’t lose this one as easily as last year, since it clips to the side of the iPad with magnets. It even wirelessly charges when attached to the iPad, an improvement over the silly Lightning plug from last year.

    For work, you can attach a keyboard. It felt just like the keyboard Apple launched with last year’s iPad Pro 10.5 but can adjust the screen to two different viewing angles, which is a nice touch.

    The Final Thought
    It’s the company’s first iPad not to include a home button, which allowed Apple to extend the screen vertically for a much more immersive experience. The bezels have been downsized on all four sides. Like the iPhone XR, Apple is referring to this screen as a Liquid Retina Display.The new iPad Pro comes in two screen sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. The 11-inch model has essentially the same proportions as the prior 10.5-inch model. And the 12.9-inch model puts the same-sized display into a much smaller form factor. The new iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 11-inch and $999 for the 12.9-inch. Preorders begin today, and it ships on November 7th.


  • Apple Event: Updates to the iPad Pro

    Apple Event: Updates to the iPad Pro

    Apple is having another event this month to introduce new products and provide updates. This is the follow up event to the iPhone XS event early last September. We are expecting even more great new products and some updates to our favorites.

    The event has come to be known as “There’s more in the making” so you know something special will be unveiled. Apple sent out unique and individualized invitations and the event is always a must attend for the tech world. We will bring you all the updates and juicy details from the event.  Let’s take a look at what we got coming out, especially updates to the iPad Pro!

    The Updates to the iPad Pro

    Apple unveiled what it’s calling the biggest change to the iPad since its inception eight years ago. Its new features play in to Apple’s mission to make the tablet more adaptable and appealing to a larger audience.

    Apple announced their new and bigger 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros in New York today, which now come with Face ID, a USB-C charging port, and a new “Liquid Retina” display. With 5.6 million pixels, iPad Pro features the highest-resolution Retina display of any iOS device. The 12.9-inch screen makes everything you do — editing 4K video, designing presentations, running a business — easier, faster, and more engaging. And the Multi-Touch subsystem has been re-engineered, expanding the ways you can interact with iPad. Aesthetically, they’ve got slimmer bezels that only come in black, like the new MacBook Airs. The black bezels, when paired with the Smart Keyboard Folio, make the iPad Pro look closer to a laptop than it ever has before. They also allow for the 11-inch model display to fit a bigger screen into the same overall dimensions as the prior 10.5-inch model.

    There’s a new iPad Pencil stylus with support for gestures that let you switch between the different digital brush styles. You won’t lose this one as easily as last year, since it clips to the side of the iPad with magnets. It even wirelessly charges when attached to the iPad, an improvement over the silly Lightning plug from last year.You’ll pay more for the iPad Pencil and a keyboard, though, which cost $129 and $179, respectively.

    The new iPad Pro is 5.9 mm thinner — about 15% slimmer than its predecessor. And that Home button….Gone. It has been updated with the iPhone x gesture controls. The iPad Pro also features a nearly edge-to edge-display and rounded corners. Its beautiful and very sharp looking. You can also charge your iPhone, essentially turning it into your own personal power bank. At the heart of iPad Pro lies the new A9X, a third-generation chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. It delivers up to 1.8 times the CPU performance and double the graphics performance of iPad Air 2. So even the most demanding apps run effortlessly.

    iPad Pro runs iOS 10, the world’s most intuitive, advanced, and secure mobile operating system. And with improved built-in apps and multitasking features like Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture, iOS 10 helps you get more done in powerful yet simple ways. Whether you’re researching on the web while writing a book report or browsing your photos while creating a presentation, you’ll get more out of your iPad than ever before.

    There’s a new iPad Pencil stylus with support for gestures that let you switch between the different digital brush styles. You won’t lose this one as easily as last year, since it clips to the side of the iPad with magnets. It even wirelessly charges when attached to the iPad, an improvement over the silly Lightning plug from last year.

    For work, you can attach a keyboard. It felt just like the keyboard Apple launched with last year’s iPad Pro 10.5 but can adjust the screen to two different viewing angles, which is a nice touch.

    The Final Thought
    It’s the company’s first iPad not to include a home button, which allowed Apple to extend the screen vertically for a much more immersive experience. The bezels have been downsized on all four sides. Like the iPhone XR, Apple is referring to this screen as a Liquid Retina Display.The new iPad Pro comes in two screen sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. The 11-inch model has essentially the same proportions as the prior 10.5-inch model. And the 12.9-inch model puts the same-sized display into a much smaller form factor. The new iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 11-inch and $999 for the 12.9-inch. Preorders begin today, and it ships on November 7th.


  • 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.


  • Best Places to Get an Oil Change

    Best Places to Get an Oil Change

    When the time comes for an oil change, people often pay way too much. More often than not, vehicle owners will hand over their hard-earned money in exchange for poor quality oil without even knowing it! Unfortunately, this poor grade oil has the potential to greatly decrease an engine’s life span.

    High-grade motor oils create heat-resistant films around the numerous moving parts of automotive engines, protecting engine parts from grinding together and wearing down even after hundreds of thousands of miles of use.

    The latest synthetic oils also keep engine parts free of dirt and grime while preventing oxidation. That’s why changing your oil with the latest synthetic blends at reputable establishments is such an important part of auto maintenance. Finding quality motor oil doesn’t have to be a big expense, and there are a multitude of printable coupons and discounts that can be used for quality oil changes. Here are our top 4 oil change deals in 2018!

    Best Places to Get an Oil Change

    Sears

    Sears offers oil changes for as low as $20. Their selection of oil is pretty great, too! When you go to get your oil changed, make sure you can find access to synthetic oils. While the conventional oils are often less expensive, it helps your car’s longevity if you keep better quality oil in it. The best oils are the ones that protect your car with heat-resistant coatings, keeping your engine better for longer.

    Pep Boys

    When it’s time for an oil change, Pep Boys has all your needs covered. Every oil change performed by their certified technicians includes up to five quarts of oil, a new oil filter, and a courtesy vehicle inspection. Pep Boys uses premium oil brands such as Quaker State, Pennzoil, and Mobil 1, and can meet any of your car’s needs from conventional to high-mileage, synthetic blend, and fully synthetic oil changes.

    Meineke

    Another great place to get an oil change is Meineke! These guys offer great service at reasonable prices. There are often coupons available online for those looking to save money, too. They offer a great range of oils to choose from, as well. As always, we recommend checking out synthetic oils instead of conventional. When you think about how much money you save on the oil change, it’s worth it to pay a bit more for better oil!

    Jiffy Lube

    Another great place to get an oil change, Jiffy Lube offers great prices and awesome service. The best part about these guys is how friendly and knowledgeable they are. They’ll help you get your oil changed and help you pick an oil that’s right for your car. They also offer a great inspection that will help you find out if there is anything wrong with your vehicle!

    In any event, before you go in for your oil change, scour the web for coupons and deals. There’s always great ways to save money on an oil change! It’s a critical part of car care, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save some money in the process!

    In Conclusion

    When asking about online discounts, see which companies use Firestone and Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil, AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Motor Oil, and Castrol Edge with Syntec Technology Full Synthetic Motor Oil. Each are affordable, top-shelf synthetic blends that will extend the life of your vehicle’s engine without breaking the bank. Synthetic motor oil has a high viscosity index, low temperature fluidity and volatility, good oxidative and thermal stability, and low traction force. It is also compatible with all engine oils. On the other hand, conventional motor oil is more affordable and better for both brand new vehicle engines and older cars because of how synthetic oil disrupts the balance of the engine.


  • The Most Luxurious Cruise in the World

    The Most Luxurious Cruise in the World

    So you have decided to be whisked away to a magical destination. You want to travel in style and serenity. You want a luxury cruise. Discount cruise rates are not for you.  Time and money are no concern of yours, for this is the trip of a life time. This experience will grow your spirit and evolve who you are. You want a luxury cruise.

     

     

     

    The moment you step aboard a luxury cruise ship, a hostess is at your arm proffering a glass of Champagne while a cargo boy offers to escort your luggage. He escorts you to what will be your luxurious room for the next few days. You stow your things (likely in a walk-in closet) and then emerge from your suite to get the lay of the ship. As you walk the decks, friendly crew members greet you … by name. How can that be? You just set foot onboard! First-class, personalized service is just one of the hallmarks of luxury cruise lines. You can also expect exotic itineraries, varying degrees of inclusivity in pricing, fine wines and gourmet cuisine as well as universally high crew-to-passenger ratios. Lets take a look at the most luxurious  cruise in the world.

     

    Explorer

    Explorer from Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the most luxurious cruise in the world with destinations to The two main restaurants are Compass Rose and La Veranda/Sette Mari. La Veranda is the buffet option for breakfast and lunch, and then the space transforms to Sette Mari in the evening, offering a hybrid experience that includes a buffet as well as an a la carte menu.  Explorer exemplifies the hallmarks of exquisite cuisine and the super all-inclusivity that Regent is known for. If you’re looking for extraordinary accommodations at sea, look no further than this ship. All cabins are suites, and if you love balconies, Seven Seas Explorer features some of the largest in the industry, ranging from 55 to 995 square feet. 6 star service all the way.

     

     

    Viking

    Viking Ocean Cruises is more of an upper-premium line, but it rivals luxury lines when it comes to the inclusiveness of its fares, spa options and design aesthetic. The first thing you notice about Viking Star is its open, airy feel and the care put into the design of every space onboard. Larger accommodations include the Penthouse Veranda at 338 square feet, the 405-square-foot Penthouse Junior Suite and the Explorer Suite, which spans more than 757 square feet. Thoughtful touches in all cabins include bedside USB ports, quiet-closing drawers, heated bathroom floors and anti-fog mirrors.

    Dine in the most delectable ways possible for your duration on this cruise. Many fantastic options delivered and executed with the highest of class. The Chef’s Table offers a rotating menu of themed, set course meals. If you’d like to sample Norwegian delicacies, don’t miss Mamsen’s with its heartily topped waffles, open-faced sandwiches and bacon-and-pea soup — all inspired by the recipes of Viking chairman Torstein Hagen’s mother. If all of those freebie dining options aren’t enough for you, book The Kitchen Table experience. The World Cafe serve international menus in light-filled venues, with options to open floor-to-ceiling windows on balmy days.

     

     

    Silver Shadow

    This small fleet of just eight ships, led by the beautiful Silver Shadow, provides travelers with a personal and indulgent voyage experience that includes Egyptian cotton sheets, Bulgari bath amenities, uniquely stocked minibars, private verandas, and personal butler service. The boats in the fleet are smaller than most, so they are able to access smaller ports all over the globe.

    The line is known for its spectacular annual round-the-world voyage, which sets sail in January of every year and stops in 50 ports in 30 countries over 115 days while circumnavigating the globe. And it will just set you back for the small fee of $58,950.

     

    The Final Thought and Discount Cruise Rates

    It is fun to dream isn’t it. Most of us however will never have the time and money for something so absurdly fancy. I mean, your own butler? There are some great ways to get Discount cruise rates. The best way to snap up a cruise bargain is to focus on value rather than the deepest possible discounts. Cruise lines are increasingly offering add-on packages in addition to cruise fares that can save you a lot of money as long as you know what you would ordinarily spend extra for while on the trip. Travel Agents,  while being  a dying career,  can still get you some fantastic deals for a discount cruise rates.  Another great way to save on your cruise is to book way in advance. Cruise lines typically offer the lowest rates when a new itinerary becomes available.