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Month: October 2018

  • Which Mattress is the Best?

    Which Mattress is the Best?

    Everything circles back around to sleep. If you’re not sleeping well, everything else slips into being worse. Your physical well-being, your mood, everything. It all comes back to whether you’re sleeping well. With that in mind, today we’re looking at mattresses to find which is the best mattress.

    If you’ve been looking to find a good new mattress, this is the article for you. Today we answer the question: which is the best mattress?

    Hybrids

    Constructed from a combination of latex, memory, polyurethane foams, coils, and / or other materials, these mattresses usually are designed to maximize certain benefits, while also minimizing certain cons. For example, a latex + memory foam hybrid is able to deliver great bounce, cooling, and responsiveness via the latex, but also provide great pressure relief and support from the memory foam.

    Best for: Sleepers who want the best of all worlds. Great bounce, support, comfort, and cooling. A good all around option that is a very good choice for the majority of sleepers.

    Memory Foam
    Just like it sounds, these mattresses only consist of memory foam. Memory foam mattresses are known for their great support, pressure relief, and body contouring. Historically, memory foam has had a bad reputation as “sleeping hot”. However, many newer more advanced memory foams have been designed with superior cooling properties, creating a much cooler mattress than traditional memory foams.

    Best For: Sleepers who want great hug, body shaping, contour, pressure relief, and support. There is a wide spectrum of foams classified as “memory foam” and not all memory foams are created equal. A good option for sleepers who want a more pronounced hug than many hybrid or latex mattresses offer.

    Coils
    One of the most popular and widely used mattress types. Coil (aka innerspring) mattresses have one or more layers of spring coils (generally steel) that provide the support and comfort. As technology advances, the number, types, and layers of coils change. A larger number of coils typically means better comfort and support.

    Best For: Sleepers who want a more traditional coil / spring feel, great bounce, cooling, and strong edge support.

    Pillow-top

    Falling into an array of categories (coil, latex, memory, hybrid, etc.), pillow-top mattresses have a layer of soft material either stuffed or sewn into the cover. This works to add extra comfort and cushion for the sleeper.

    Best For: Sleepers who prefer a softer and more cushion comfort. If you enjoy a cloud-like type of support and comfort most pillow tops will offer the best sleeping surface for you.

    Contenders for Best Mattress

    #3. Purple
    Purple mattresses are luxurious and excellent. If you’re a fan of memory foam-style mattresses, you’ll love purple. The Purple Mattress has Smart Comfort Grid technology that keeps pressure on your body to a minimum. This ensures you awake comfortable and well-rested! If you find you often awake with painful pressure points from your mattress, this is for you. This mattress retails for $999, but you can often find it on sale for less. Purple’s website often has sales, as does Amazon!

    Also, a plus for Purple is their return policy. If you don’t love the mattress, you can send it back within 100 days for a full refund. These mattresses are made in the US, and they’re also covered by a ten-year warranty.

    #2. Sleep Number
    Sleep Number is well-known for their unique, adjustable design. If you’re not familiar with them, it works like this: each bed has a controller that allows you to choose a number. That number, your Sleep Number, represents how soft or firm you prefer your bed to be. The best part is, Sleep Number also offers beds that can be adjusted on both sides. That means if you prefer firm and your partner prefers soft, you can get the best of both worlds!

    You can also adjust the angle of the bed, allowing you to choose your preferred sleeping posture. You can even adjust the bed enough to watch TV or read while in bed! These mattresses are in the under-$1000 range, usually coming in between $700 and $900.

    #1. Saatva
    Saatva mattresses are made from all-natural, organic cotton. They also offer mattresses for $999 and offer a great set-up bonus. The cost of a mattress includes free delivery, setup and removal of your old mattress. Talk about full-service! Saatva mattresses are made in the US and Canada, meaning you know you’ll get quality construction.


  • 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

  • Best Halloween Decoration Sites

    Best Halloween Decoration Sites

    For many people, Halloween is by far the best holiday of the year! The spooky atmosphere, costumes and candy attract many people and for many Halloween is their favorite holiday. From decorations to candy to costumes, they go all out to have fun, sometimes for the whole month of October.

    If you’re one of the many people who loves Halloween, you’re undoubtedly looking to decorate your house for the season! There are decorations for walls, tables and yards, and different kinds for kids and grown-ups. Having so many choices can make it difficult to decide where to get the best Halloween decorations.

    The best places will have a wide variety but will have reasonable prices so it’s possible to go all out. Buying online is easy and convenient, and online merchants usually have a wider variety and great deals.  Here are the best Halloween decoration sites to get you in the Halloween mood!

    Best Halloween Decoration Sites

    Oriental Trading

    A great place to start looking for Halloween decorations is Oriental Trading. They offer a really wide range of awesome decorations! The site is sort of like a department store, but their catalogue is entirely digital! They have a really colorful, fun UI that makes shopping a joy, not a chore!

    Decorations are sorted helpfully into categories such as party decorations, outdoor decorations and the like. If you’re looking for a great place to shop for plastic skeletons and wacky spider webs, this is the place! They even offer free shipping on orders over $40!

    Party City

    Party City is known for bringing the fun in on special occasions, so it’s not surprising that they have a wide variety of affordable and fun Halloween decorations. Unsurprisingly, Party City’s website is another wonderful Halloween decoration destination. If you’re looking for a great site to pick up supplies for a Halloween party, look no further! You can also buy massive fixtures like inflatable dragons, fog machines and animatronics. Want to make your yard the haunted destination of Halloween Night? Try Party City!

    Spirit Halloween

    One of the best places to look for Halloween decorations, as you might expect, is Spirit Halloween. They have a huge selection of decorations of all types. Everything from simple wall hangers and posters to elaborate animatronics and outdoor decorations is available. What’s more, they even offer a flat five-dollar shipping for orders of more than $100.

    If you’re in the mood for a spooky costume, you can even use Spirit’s site to construct your own! If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd a bit, consider visiting Spirit Halloween!


  • Best Recruitment Software 2018

    Best Recruitment Software 2018

    An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs. An ATS can be implemented or accessed online on an enterprise or small business level, depending on the needs of the company and there is also free and open source ATS software available. 

    When you apply for a job online, your resume isn’t typically going directly to a recruiter or hiring manager. It’s first being processed by an ATS. Whether that human recruiter ever sees your resume could depend on how well your resume is optimized for ATS algorithms.

    Why employers use applicant tracking systems

    Top employers hire for several jobs at a time and receive hundreds of resumes for any given opening. Because applying for a job online is easier than ever, many of these applicants are unqualified and figured “it was worth a try.”

    Applicant tracking systems keep all these resumes in one place, helping recruiters and hiring managers stay organized as well as EEOC compliant. In theory, these systems also save time by automatically surfacing and highlighting top candidates. In reality, ATS do help hiring professionals narrow their applicant pool, but top candidates slip through the cracks.

    Most large corporations utilize applicant tracking systems. Jobscan research found that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS while a Kelly OCG survey estimated 66% of large companies and 35% of small organizations rely on recruitment software. If you’re applying to a large organization, chances are you’ll face an ATS. If you’re applying through any online form, you’re applying through an ATS. Even job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn have their own built in ATS.

    Viewing Applications

    Some recruiters still choose to glance at every job application that comes through their applicant tracking system. In this case, most take a quick glance at the applicant’s past highlights, job titles, and companies. They can make a determination about whether they want to learn more in about 6 seconds. It’s important to make sure your top skills and qualifications are easily identifiable.

    Automatic Rankings

    Some applicant tracking systems can automatically compare your resume to the job description. For example, Taleo calls this feature “Req Rank,” which ranks each applicant based on how well their resume scores based on the job description. A common way recruiters filter resumes in an applicant tracking system is by searching for key skills and titles. For example, if a recruiter is hiring for an Administrative Assistant position out of 400 resumes, their first step will probably be a search for “Administrative Assistant.” This will isolate candidates that have done the exact job before. Anyone that doesn’t have that exact term in their resume is out of luck. A search can contain multiple terms. For example, they might perform a complex search that contains a combination of titles and skills important for the job:

    Administrative Assistant AND data entry AND payroll …

    Candidates who can predict the correct resume keywords will have the greatest chance of being included in recruiter search results. The best way figure out which skills and keywords to include is by analyzing the job description. Jobs can automates this process by analyzing your resume against the job description to show the top skills and keywords missing from your resume.

    Our Top 3
    #3. Homebase

    Homebase makes hourly work easier for the whole team. With free online tools and mobile apps for managers and employees, Homebase eliminates the paperwork and headaches of scheduling, payroll, hiring and team communication. Start saving 4+ hours every week by visiting joinhomebase.com. Used by over 100,000 businesses of all sizes across the US.

    #2. BambooHR

    BambooHR offers easy, integrated applicant tracking (ATS) as part of our award-winning cloud-based HR platform. Onboarding tools, e-signatures, time-off tracking, performance management, plus easy reporting and a convenient mobile app set you free to do great work. Released from the data management spiral, HR professionals become more effective, more efficient, and more human. Visit bamboohr.com or give us a call to see a demo and start a free trial.

    #1. Breezy HR

    The most highly rated ATS on Capterra, Breezy streamlines your entire hiring process; giving you more time to connect with candidates by automating tasks like advertising on 40+ job boards, screening, interview scheduling & follow-ups. We include all the tools your team needs to hire more efficiently, from referrals & sourcing tools for LinkedIn and dozens of others to custom scorecards & interview guides. With Breezy, you’ll be making better, hiring decisions in less time. It’s GDPR compliant.

    If you own a business and found this article helpful, you might like our article about the top cloud services of 2018.


  • Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    If you rely on Medicare for your health care, you might have found that Medicare doesn’t cover everything. For those on a fixed income, it can be extremely difficult to afford medication or any additional health care costs not covered by Medicare.

    If you are in a difficult situation where the health care bills are piling up, consider Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Medicare Supplemental Insurance is insurance that can help cover what Medicare doesn’t. We analyzed several plans with our experts and today we are breaking down the Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance!

    Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    Information About Supplemental Insurance

    An important note: in order to get supplemental insurance, you must have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A covers inpatient, and Part B covers outpatient care. Anoter factor to consider is Supplemental insurance only covers one person. Additionally, as long as you’re paying your premiums, Medicare supplemental  insurance can’t drop you, no matter what medical issues you may begin to suffer from.

    Supplemental insurance won’t always cover everything Medicare doesn’t.  Supplemental insurance is not going to cover all expenses. Things like vision, dental, prescriptions, long term care and private nursing are also not typically covered. Finally,  supplemental insurance must be acquired within the first sixth months of you turning 65 and you must already be on Medicare to qualify.

    United Healthcare Insurance Company

    The United Healthcare Insurance Company is endorsed by the AARP, and for good reason. This company offers a great deal of benefits for those on Medicare. They have a 94 percent user satisfaction, which is stellar. They also offer coverage that can be combined with a Medicare Part D plan. Those with this policy can visit any doctor that accepts Medicare! United Healthcare allows you to choose from a wide variety of plans, coverage, deductibles and benefits so you have coverage to fit your health needs and your financial situation.

    State Farm

    State Farm is another option for supplemental insurance. State Farm Medicare Supplement Insurance is designed to cover the gaps in Medicare, helping to pay deductibles, coinsurance and copayment amounts not covered by Medicare. State Farm also provides you the flexibility to choose between different plans to meet your individual needs and budget. They are a well-respected agency and are renowned for their high customer satisfaction ratings “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There” tagline is very true. State Farm insurance might be able to cover hospital or medical services your Medicare won’t pay for as well.

    Humana

    Humana offers Medicare supplemental insurance that covers Medicare Part A and B. Humana’s policy covers coinsurance for medical expenses, co pays, hospice care and hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care, and blood work. Additionally, the Humana plan also covers copayments for outpatient services. Remember, this is in addition to your Medicare coverage, so getting this extra coverage could save you a lot of money when you have expensive outpatient services. Particularly if you have frequent doctor’s visits, you may find yourself saving a ton with this supplementary policy.


  • Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    If you rely on Medicare for your health care, you might have found that Medicare doesn’t cover everything. For those on a fixed income, it can be extremely difficult to afford medication or any additional health care costs not covered by Medicare.

    If you are in a difficult situation where the health care bills are piling up, consider Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Medicare Supplemental Insurance is insurance that can help cover what Medicare doesn’t. We analyzed several plans with our experts and today we are breaking down the Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance!

    Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    Information About Supplemental Insurance

    An important note: in order to get supplemental insurance, you must have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A covers inpatient, and Part B covers outpatient care. Anoter factor to consider is Supplemental insurance only covers one person. Additionally, as long as you’re paying your premiums, Medicare supplemental  insurance can’t drop you, no matter what medical issues you may begin to suffer from.

    Supplemental insurance won’t always cover everything Medicare doesn’t.  Supplemental insurance is not going to cover all expenses. Things like vision, dental, prescriptions, long term care and private nursing are also not typically covered. Finally,  supplemental insurance must be acquired within the first sixth months of you turning 65 and you must already be on Medicare to qualify.

    United Healthcare Insurance Company

    The United Healthcare Insurance Company is endorsed by the AARP, and for good reason. This company offers a great deal of benefits for those on Medicare. They have a 94 percent user satisfaction, which is stellar. They also offer coverage that can be combined with a Medicare Part D plan. Those with this policy can visit any doctor that accepts Medicare! United Healthcare allows you to choose from a wide variety of plans, coverage, deductibles and benefits so you have coverage to fit your health needs and your financial situation.

    State Farm

    State Farm is another option for supplemental insurance. State Farm Medicare Supplement Insurance is designed to cover the gaps in Medicare, helping to pay deductibles, coinsurance and copayment amounts not covered by Medicare. State Farm also provides you the flexibility to choose between different plans to meet your individual needs and budget. They are a well-respected agency and are renowned for their high customer satisfaction ratings “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There” tagline is very true. State Farm insurance might be able to cover hospital or medical services your Medicare won’t pay for as well.

    Humana

    Humana offers Medicare supplemental insurance that covers Medicare Part A and B. Humana’s policy covers coinsurance for medical expenses, co pays, hospice care and hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care, and blood work. Additionally, the Humana plan also covers copayments for outpatient services. Remember, this is in addition to your Medicare coverage, so getting this extra coverage could save you a lot of money when you have expensive outpatient services. Particularly if you have frequent doctor’s visits, you may find yourself saving a ton with this supplementary policy.


  • Top 5 Email Providers

    Top 5 Email Providers

    Email  has become a primary form of communication for work, family and friends. It is the cornerstone of everything from keeping up with loved ones to confirming purchases. We are all walking around with priority access to our email accounts at all times.

    With so many email options it may be hard to pick one email provider. Which one is the best for your priorities and needs? I always recommend everyone have at least 2 email addresses. One for important accounts and security that you only use for personal and financial accounts. Then a second one you use to register for Netflix, social media, communicating with family and spam registrations.

    Getting hold of an email account is easy. Getting the right email account is more difficult, as there’s a lot to consider. What are the spam filters like? How easy is it to keep your inbox organized? Can you access the account from other email clients? Keep reading and we’ll highlight some of the best email providers around. Here are the Top 5 Email Providers!

    1.Gmail

    Google’s webmail juggernaut needs no introduction. It’s easy, reliable and most importantly free. Your Gmail  email address gives you access to a plethora of Google apps and functions. There is no reason not to have at least one and it’s great as your primary email address. First released back in 2004, Google’s Gmail has become the market leader in free email services with more than a billion users across the globe.

    Gmail’s stripped-back web interface is a highlight. Most of the screen is devoted to your inbox, with a minimum of toolbar and other clutter. Messages are neatly organized via conversations for easier viewing, and you can read and reply to emails with ease, even as a first-time user.

    2. Outlook

    Outlook provides plenty of power and features, especially for Office 365 users. Focused inbox, powerful events and calendar abilities and litany of app based integrations are some of the great features of Outlook.

    Outlook’s web interface follows the same familiar style as its desktop incarnation, and most other email clients: folders and organizational tools on the left, the contents of the current folder in the center, and a simple preview pane on the right (with adverts in the case of the free account).

    A toolbar gives you speedy access to common features, and right-clicking folders or messages shows you just about everything else. If you’ve ever used another email client, you’ll figure out the key details in moments.

    If that’s still not enough, Microsoft offers a bunch of app-based integrations to take the service further. You get built-in Skype support via the beta, and apps give you easier access to Evernote, PayPal, GIPHY, Yelp, Uber and more.

    3. Yahoo

    Yahoo mail has a powerful offering with some surprisingly neat extras. Useful extras like disposable email addresses, 1 TB of inbox storage and limited low level options.  Yahoo Mail doesn’t make the headlines so much, these days, but its latest version is a polished and professional service which stands up well against the top competition.

    The well-designed interface resembles Gmail, at least initially, with a large view of your inbox, one-click filters for common messages and content (Photos, Documents, Travel), and easy browsing of all the emails in a conversation. But you can also organize mails into custom folders, and the layout can be tweaked to display a message preview in a couple of clicks.

    4. Proton Mail

    Proton Mail is email with an emphasis on security and privacy. It includes tight privacy features and end to end encryption for messages. Signing up with an email provider will often involve some privacy compromises. Yahoo Mail asks for your name and mobile number, for instance. Gmail and other services might scan your messages to carry out useful actions (such as adding events to calendars), and just about everyone serves you with ads.

    ProtonMail is a Swiss-based email service which focuses on privacy above all else. You can sign up anonymously, there’s no logging of IP addresses, and all your emails are end-to-end encrypted, which means there’s no way ProtonMail (or anyone else) can read their contents. Also, address verification (which allows you to be sure you are securely communicating with the right person) and full support for PGP email encryption is available.

    In reality, ProtonMail is a specialist tool which is intended for use alongside services like Gmail – not to replace them – and overall it performs its core tasks very well.

    5. Mail.com

    Mail.com offers most of the important email features that you might be thinking about. Most importantly, you can select the email domain name that will suit you best from over 200 domain names. They provide unlimited email storage capacity and you can attach up to 50MB of file in one attachment.

    You can also set up your email to receive and reply all your emails from this one address. They also provide mobile support. You can use your email on BlackBerry, iDevices and Android devices. You also have an online calendar to use.


  • Monday Movie Review : Venom

    Monday Movie Review : Venom

    Hooray,  Its Monday. That means like most of you, and the rest of the free world, I got to hit the theaters over the weekend. I like to do this every weekend. I wanted to take a little bit of time to tell you my experience at the movie,. Just a minute to shed a little insight and perspective on Hollywood’s latest hit. Seeing a great movie in the theater can be a life altering experience. It can also be an easy way to waste a couple of hours and 30 bucks. My hopes is that with a quick review from this self proclaim movie connoisseur I can save readers  a few hours.  Or better yet, possibly change a few more lives. I saw Venom this past weekend.

    Venom is the latest superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel. Let talk about it

     

    Venom 57% Life Altering

    We have a Superhero movie. This one is interesting though. Venom is not altruistic, he is a down right evil symbiote. His human pair Eddie Brock is a tragically flawed man of biblical proportions. The two combine and special effects chaos ensues. The movie follows Tom Hardy’s “Eddie” struggle to come to grips with an alien parasite hosting on him, controlling his actions and eating peoples heads. Both Venom and Eddie share a common antagonist and the movie flows to that confrontation aboard a launching rocket. Abort.

    What Did I Think?

    Its a predictable superhero movie, you can write it out your self before seeing it. Culminating in an over the top and unnecessary 3rd act. For a superhero movie it strayed from the original Todd McFarland comic. Venom is a Spiderman villain. Most of what makes him unique is the symbiote bonds with the spidey suit. This is what gives Venom the characteristic we know and love. So that is a %10 loss in score.

    Tom Hardy does an amazing job. He alone makes this movie watchable. He adds depth and layers to Eddie and makes him instantly likable. The likability and struggle Tom does with Eddie is completely fantastic and worth watching.

    Riz Ahmed, you know him as the pilot from Rouge One. He does a delightful job with a one dimensional, terribly scripted villain. With just a little bit of forethought Drake could have been a wildly interesting villain.

    The road to hell is paved with good intentions, good intentions were what was missing from Drake. Think Thanos, his actions are selfless. Drake is  a character in a position to do some fantastic things, and a tragic fall, matched with a massively evil smybiote could have been cool. But instead Venom misses, I do not sympathize or care or really believe in Drake or Riot at all. 

    The Final Venom Thought

    Eddie, Watch it for Tom’s Eddie. Tom is one of the greatest actors of our generation, and this only adds to his impressive body of work.  The Post scene could open doors for a good 5-6 movie universe. We know Marvel has got the rights to Peter Park and Spiderman. However Sony still has Miles Morales’s Spidey, or Spider-Juan as I like to call him. They could introduce Miles and have a new spider man universe with Venom and Carnage and crew. All we ask Sony is plan for 5 movies, don’t rush, spend time developing the characters. That is what we love after all, its not the CG, its the characters.

  • Dell XPS 15 Review Roundup

    Dell XPS 15 Review Roundup

    The Dell XPS 15 is upon us, and it keeps up Dell’s recent string of high-quality laptop releases. The XPS 15 offers a lot of great power and design for the intro price of $1,000, keeping this laptop just in the range of “affordable.” For a laptop, at least. Let’s get into the review roundup!

    Dell XPS 15

    dellxps15
    CNet

    Design

    There aren’t really any surprises in this department for 2018. The outer lid is silver-colored aluminum with a shiny Dell logo. The screen still has the crazy-small bezels you’ve come to expect from XPS. Unfortunately, that means the webcam is under the screen, which is probably the least flattering angle imaginable. Other than that, the design is pretty stellar.

    You get tons of ports, a great form factor and good battery life. Additionally, the laptop sports a Thunderbolt 3 charging port for blazingly-fast charging. All in all, other than the webcam, it’s hard to pick on this laptop. If you’re a fan of flashy aesthetics, this Dell is a bit understated. However, for most folks it’ll look just sleek enough to be stylish.

    Specs

    If you’ve been tuned out for the past few years, you might think the name Dell means low quality. However, in recent years, Dell’s quality has improved markedly. The XPS 15 is no exception! The 15 inch display looks fantastic in most lighting conditions. It boasts an Intel i7 processor, making it a solid choice for multitasking. You can open tons of tabs and stream music and video all while operating productivity programs.

    If you opt for the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q GPU you can even do some light gaming. Games look pretty solid on the 15-inch screen, though if you opt for the 4K screen, of course, it looks markedly better. Also, the laptop does an ample job cooling down during long gaming sessions.

    Bottom Line

    In summary, the Dell XPS 15 is a rock-solid laptop. While you can pick it up for $1,000, that configuration wouldn’t be the beefiest. If you want decent gaming specs and good productivity, your configuration could run up to $1,500. The $2,000 version boasts a 4K display and is well worth the money, although those with no interest in 4K would be fine with the mid-level version.

    The bottom line is that this is a great laptop in any configuration. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, consider getting the Dell XPS 15!

  • Top Ten Nintendo Console Redesigns

    Top Ten Nintendo Console Redesigns

    News broke last week regarding the possibility of a redesign for the Nintendo Switch. From the very first Nintendo console, the Game and Watch, console redesigns have been a huge part of Nintendo’s business strategy. Today, in honor of the potential new Switch, we’re looking at the top ten Nintendo console redesigns!

    Top Ten Nintendo Console Redesigns

    nintendo
    Stuff

    10. NES Top Loader

    This interesting, late-life NES upgrade actually hit in 1993. Strangely enough, this console redesign came after the release of the SNES, seemingly to keep up with demand for the then-outdated NES console. It also sports a redesigned controller that mirrors the look of its successor. Not to mention, it paved the way for many redesigned consoles to come over the years!

    9. Gameboy Pocket

    The first major rework for the mega-popular Gameboy handheld, the Gameboy Pocket is adorably small. This tiny little handheld slims down the bulky profile of the original in clever ways. For one, it sports less “dead space” in its design, utilizing a smaller board. Additionally, it is powered by two AAA batteries instead of four AA’s, like its older brother. This means shorter battery life, but smaller profile for pocketing!

    8. New Style SNES

    In 1997, a year after the N64’s release, Nintendo realized they could copy the success of the NES Top Loader with the SNES. So, in the twilight of the SNES’s popularity they released this smaller, more affordable configuration. By ditching some features, like LED power indicators, Nintendo was able to make this a budget option for the holiday season.

    7. Wii Mini

    While the N64 and GameCube skipped redesigns (in the West, at least) the Wii Mini returned to the tradition. This tiny update for the Wii released shortly after the Wii U released in 2012. It had to leave a lot of features out to achieve its tiny size, including GameCube controller ports and SD card support. However, the result is adorable and affordable all at once! It’s somewhat collectable, as well, since it had such a short shelf life.

    6. Gameboy Color

    One of the most well-known console redesigns of all time, the Gameboy Color was part rework and part successor. Oddly, many games in the Color library could be played on original Gameboys. However, the Gameboy Color is most well-remembered for its stellar lineup of exclusive games. Namely, Pokemon Gold and Silver could only be played on the Gameboy Color!

    5. Gameboy Micro

    The Gameboy Micro followed in the footsteps of the Gameboy Pocket a short nine years later. This time, the miniaturized Gameboy Advance system returned to the horizontal form-factor of the original but incorporated a backlit screen and exchangeable faceplates. Adorably, it sports lower-case letters on it’s A and B buttons, which just makes us happy. Additionally, it includes a headphone jack, which was a much-requested feature.

    4. DS Lite

    A much-needed redesign for the original DS (DS Phat, as it is affectionately known,) the DS Lite sports a slimmer profile and brighter screens. It also features a longer battery life! Many felt as though the buttons on the original DS were too small, and the DS Lite addresses this concern as well. The Lite was the first of many DS redesigns, though.

    3. Nintendo 2DS

    The 3DS has a huge library of kid-friendly titles, but its price was somewhat prohibitive. Additionally, the stereoscopic 3D functionality can be damaging to the developing eyes of children. To address both concerns, Nintendo sidestepped the issue entirely and released the ultra-budget Nintendo 2DS. The resounding success of a console reinvigorated sales of Pokemon, Mario Kart and the like for the 2013 holiday season.

    2. New Nintendo 3DS

    Released in 2014, the New Nintendo 3DS has an unfortunate name and an interesting design. Adding a nub-like C-stick and two extra shoulder buttons, the New 3DS nearly replicates the control scheme of home consoles. This move somewhat predicts the Switch about three years before its launch. The New 3DS also boats more RAM, and as such has exclusive games that take advantage of the updated graphical capabilities.

    Gameboy Advance SP

    The very finest Nintendo console redesign comes courtesy of the Gameboy Advance SP. The folding, clamshell design cleverly cut the profile down significantly while also protecting the screen and buttons while pocketed. Additionally, this redesign sports a backlit screen and a rechargeable battery. Really, with the exception of a headphone jack, the SP is the definitive Gameboy Advance model.

    If the updated Switch is as much of a masterclass in industrial design as the SP, we’re excited to see what Nintendo has in store!