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Month: May 2019

  • Ready to Jam? Best Wireless Speakers for Music Streaming

    Ready to Jam? Best Wireless Speakers for Music Streaming

    Who doesn’t love to jam to their favorite tunes? In the era of streaming music, it’s never been easier to get your hands (and ears) on your favorite music. If you’ve been looking for a good wireless speaker for your music streaming, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s look at some of the best wireless speakers on the market!

    Best Wireless Speakers

    Denon HEOS 1

    Nothing beats a speaker that’s as rugged as it is high quality. That’s what the water-resistant Denon HEOS 1 brings to the table, all for the low price of $169. Control options through Alexa and Google Assistant are available, so you can stream your music straight to the smart speaker.

    Importantly, the sound quality is quite good. This speaker brings big sound when you want to really rock out, making it a good value. If flexibility is what you’re looking for, this is the speaker for you.

    Apple HomePod

    If you’ve got a bit of money to spend and don’t already have a proper smart home speaker, consider the Apple HomePod. Apple’s smart speaker uses their Siri voice assistant to synchronize all of your smart home devices. It’s also a really great speaker!

    The HomePod is also the best option for Apple fans who use Apple’s Music streaming service. If you’re already sold on the iPhone, Apple Watch and MacBook line of products, the HomePod is the right smart speaker for you.

    Sonos One

    The Sonos One comes in at $200, and it’s one of the best wireless speakers you can buy for the value. It features Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, making it as much a part of your smart home as any other smart device. The sound quality is full and rich, and it can fill a room with great-sounding music.

    You can pair two Sonos One speakers together, as well. This results in a high-quality and flexible audio system that can span multiple rooms. For the price, this is one of the best values you can get in a wireless speaker.

  • Borderlands 3 Preview: A Billion Guns

    Borderlands 3 Preview: A Billion Guns

    Gearbox really needs a win after the fiasco that was Battleborn. That ill-fated first-person MOBA was unfairly stacked against Overwatch at a point in time when “hero shooters” were at their peak popularity. Thankfully, Borderlands 3 seems poised to put Gearbox back on the map as a developer. A game that promises a billion guns is exactly what they need right now.

    Borderlands 3: Step Back into the Borderlands

    The New Vault Hunters

    Four new Vault Hunters are taking up the mantle from the previous protagonists. This time around, we’ve got beastmaster FL4K, secret agent Zane, Siren Amara and heavy-gunner Moze. Each of these Hunters comes with unique skill trees and class abilities, not dissimilar from prior games’ protagonists. Each of them can be customized to granular details, meaning no two Vault Hunters will be the same.

    Unmitigated Mayhem

    This time around, the game promises even more massive boss battles, wacky enemies and exotic locales. While previous entries were land-locked to the planet of Pandora, that’s not the case this time around. In BL3, players will begin aboard their spaceship, the Sanctuary III, a starship capable of traveling to distant planets.

    In order to get a break from the drab, sandy locales of Pandora, the galaxy will be the player’s oyster. Traveling to new planets, seeking out countless recently opened Vaults and cracking bad-guy skulls will be the main attraction. Oh, and there will be “a billion guns,” according to Gearbox. Awesome.

    New Loot System

    Speaking of those guns, you’ll be happy to know that players get individualized, instanced loot now. That means your buddies can’t just swoop in and grab up the best guns before you get a chance to grab them. On that same token, players will also no longer be punished for playing with their higher-leveled friends.

    If you join a friend at a higher level, their enemies won’t just smash you to bits. Instead, you’ll each do normalized damage to the bad guys, and vice versa. Also, you’ll each see level-appropriate loot, which means that there are less barriers to playing with buddies now.

    Of course, if you preferred the old style, you can turn on “classic mode” to enjoy the old-school Borderlands loot system. In either case, Borderlands 3 will be landing on PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, 2019. Are you excited?

  • Tesla Being Sued Over Fatal Autopilot Crash

    Tesla Being Sued Over Fatal Autopilot Crash

    Surprisingly, luxury automaker Tesla is being sued over a deadly crash that occurred in early 2018. The family of Walter Huang, who died in a tragic accident when his Model X hit a central concrete median, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit claims that Tesla’s autopilot feature was to blame for Huang’s death, not his own inattentiveness at the wheel.

    Tesla Being Sued over Autopilot

    The Crash

    Huang was 38 when he passed away on March 23, 2018. He was driving in Mountain View, California, deep in Silicone Valley, when his autopilot misread the lane and didn’t brake before striking the concrete median. According to the complaint, not only did Huang’s vehicle not brake, it accelerated into the barrier.

    Mark Fong, a partner at a firm that is representing Huang’s family, released a statement. He stated that Tesla is “beta testing its Autopilot software on live drivers,” and that “The Huang family wants to help prevent this tragedy from happening to other drivers using Tesla vehicles or any semi-autonomous vehicles”.

    The Suit

    The lawsuit alleges that Tesla holds liability for Huang’s death due to a defective product design. The suit also alleges that Tesla failed to warn drivers enough about the autopilot system’s limitations, and that they intentionally misrepresented the system and advertised it falsely.

    The complaint does not specify the amount of damages the plaintiffs are seeking. However, it does name the State of California as a defendant for not replacing the guardrail that should have surrounded the median that Huang hit. Presumably, that guardrail would have greatly reduced the impact of the crash.

    Tesla’s Response

    As of yet, Tesla has made no formal response to the complaint. Likewise, the State of California has made no statement regarding the suit. It is worth noting that when news of Huang’s death was made public, Tesla stated that “safety is at the core of everything we do and every decision we make, so the loss of a life in an accident involving a Tesla vehicle is difficult for all of us.”

    At the time of that news breaking, Tesla expressed deep sadness over the crash. However, official reports stated that, despite Tesla warning drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and remain attentive while using autopilot, “the vehicle did not detect the driver’s hands on the steering wheel in the six seconds before the crash.”

  • Which is the Better Smartphone OS, Android or iOS?

    Which is the Better Smartphone OS, Android or iOS?

    When it comes to smartphone platforms, there are two big names to choose from. On the one hand, you have iOS, the original smartphone operating system and a very stable option from Apple. On the other hand, you have the much more open Android system from Google that is used on most other major smartphones. Which is the right call for you?

    Android vs iOS

    Open vs Closed Systems

    Apple is known for their user-friendly, “it just works” attitude towards design. In order to achieve this, however, Apple’s platforms, like iOS and Mac OS, are much more closed-off. While iOS is a very user-friendly and pleasing platform, it doesn’t offer the same range of customization and granularity that Android does.

    Android, on the other hand, has a bit more of a learning curve. It’s more akin to using a Windows computer than a Mac. There are a ton of options available to users, but they also require you learn a lot about your phone and how it works. That said, this openness also comes with a price: platform instability and malware.

    Aesthetics and Functionality

    Generally speaking, both iOS and Android allow users to do roughly the same things. Sending text messages, making phone calls, navigating the internet and using apps are all the same across the two systems. Both allow for music playback, both have support for all major apps and neither has a glaring hole in its functionality.

    If you like the idea of controlling the aesthetics of your phone’s operational appearance, however, Android is for you. Landing pages, backgrounds and basic phone operations are much more malleable on Android, though this does mean you can accidentally make your phone very difficult to navigate effectively.

    The Phones

    One of the biggest drawbacks to iOS is the closed nature of the system in more ways than one. Namely, iOS is only available on iPhones, and not everyone loves Apple’s design ethos. Some people just can’t afford the newest Apple phones, while others don’t like the minimalist design.

    Android, on the other hand, is available on phones from a wide number of manufacturers at wildly varying price points and design styles.

    Bottom Line

    If you’re the kind of person who likes an “all-in-the-box” design style, you’ll love Apple’s iOS. If you prefer to customize your phone and make everything your own, however, you’ll likely prefer to use Android.

  • Amazon Alexa to Have Full Spanish-Language Integration in 2019

    Amazon Alexa to Have Full Spanish-Language Integration in 2019

    Spanish-speaking Amazon Echo users have reason to be excited: Amazon has announced that their Alexa voice assistant will support Spanish-language commands before the end of 2019. This news coincides with reports that app developers who have Alexa-enabled features on their apps can request developer kits to develop Spanish-language skills.

    Amazon to Speak Spanish Soon

    Amazon’s Statement

    This news comes courtesy of Amazon themselves. The company made the news public in a blog post relating to the future of Alexa and Alexa-enabled devices.

    “Along with the Echo family of devices, later this year Bose, Facebook, and Sony will bring Alexa Built-in devices and Philips, TP Link, and Honeywell Home will bring Works with Alexa devices that support Spanish in the US,” Stated Amazon in their post.

    Why Spanish?

    Spanish is one of the most-spoken languages on Earth, and the number of markets Amazon is opening itself up to is enormous with this move. More than just making it possible to sell Echo devices in Spanish-speaking countries, this also means that native Spanish-speakers in places like the US can feel more comfortable using the device.

    This could also prove a useful learning tool for people who want to learn Spanish. What better way to learn a language than to speak it daily?

    Smart Homes and Accessibility

    Amazon’s goal, of course, is to get Alexa into as many homes as possible. The smart-home speakers Echo and Show are two of Amazon’s best-selling products, so it makes sense the company would want them to be as accessible as possible.

    If you’re wondering what all the fuss over Alexa is about, consider trying an Amazon Echo Dot, the introductory level smart-home speaker. It starts you off with an Alexa-enabled device and shows the power and convenience of smart speakers. The Echo Dot is available from Amazon for $50 for the third-generation speaker.

  • Can’t Find the Time? Try these To-Do Apps

    Can’t Find the Time? Try these To-Do Apps

    You’re busy every single day. You’ve got tons of stuff to do, but you can never find the time to squeeze it all in. How are you supposed to organize your time and take command of what you need to get done? One of the easiest ways to get your time back is to use a to-do app. These to-do apps are some of the best available and will help you organize your time and get back on track!

    Best To-Do Apps

    Any.do

    Any.do is only available on iOS, but it’s a stellar to-do list app for those with iPhones. There’s a free version available, which is great for those on a budget. This app can nudge you when you need to do something you’ve set up, which is great if you’re trying to build new habits.

    For instance, if you’ve been meaning to hit the gym more. Another example is if you’ve been meaning to get in the habit of cleaning more regularly or going for walks. Whatever good habit you’re trying to cultivate, Any.do can help you get it down to second nature.

    Todoist

    Todoist, available for iOS and Android, is a great option for those who need to be more productive. If you’re a student trying to juggle time between work and school, this is a great option. Likewise, if you’re a professional who works from home, or does freelance work, this is a great way to organize your time and make sure you hit deadlines.

    Asana

    Another app available on both iPhone and Android, Asana is great for busy professionals who need help organizing their workflow. The free version is quite robust, and the app is clean, clear and easy to use. Setting up recurring tasks is a breeze. Essentially, this app can act as a second set of eyes to make sure you went over everything you meant to get to in the day.

    It’s impossible to put a price on discipline, but these apps are free. So, if you’re trying to get it together and organize your time, you’ve got nothing to lose with these wonderful to-do apps.

  • Which Console is Right for You? PS4 vs Switch

    Which Console is Right for You? PS4 vs Switch

    If you’re a little late to the current generation of gaming, you might be wondering which console is the right call for you. There area number of reasons to own either system, but most people don’t have enough income (or free time) for two systems. If you’re tossing up which one to get, don’t worry. We’re here to help you figure out which one is right for you!

    PS4 vs Switch

    Portability

    The biggest and most notable aspect of the Switch to point out right away is the portability factor. The Switch can be taken out of its dock and used like a gaming tablet, making it a very flexible device. If you’re playing a game in the living room but need to catch your train, just pop the Switch out of the dock and head out the door.

    Most games look great at 720p on the smaller Switch system screen. It’s a testament to Nintendo’s magic that Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild look so silky-smooth even in handheld mode.

    Power

    The PS4 way outclasses the Switch in terms of raw power. This goes double for the PS4 Pro. While you can’t take either system with you on the go, they’re both incredibly beefy consoles that can put out a gorgeous image. The PS4 Pro is even capable of rendering 4K images at 60 FPS, making it one beast of a home console.

    If crisp graphics are a bigger deal to you than portability, consider a PS4.

    Exclusives

    Both systems sport impressive lineups of exclusive games. The PS4 boasts God of War, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Persona 5, Spider-Man and tons of other AAA adventures. Nintendo’s console, of course, sports their lineup of exclusive series, from Splatoon to Mario to the Legend of Zelda.

    In short, if you’re after a fun, portable system with ample couch co-op and colorful characters, you want a Switch. Meanwhile, if you want big, cinematic gaming experiences in your living room and don’t mind having no local multiplayer worth mentioning, get a PS4. Both systems bring something awesome to the table.