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  • Big Sound for a Great Price: Sonos Beam Feature Roundup

    Big Sound for a Great Price: Sonos Beam Feature Roundup

    If your ultra-thin panel TV had to cut some speaker power to have such thin bezels, you may be looking for a good sound system. The problem is, you got that ultra-thin TV so that it would take up less space in your living room! Those sound systems are huge, and really defeat the whole point of your aesthetic decisions. And there’s no way you’re wearing headphones to watch TV.  What are you to do? Thankfully, the Sonos Beam is here, and we’ve got a feature roundup for you. Who doesn’t love big sound from a little soundbar? 

    The Sound 

    The most important factor of any soundbar is, well, the sound. If it doesn’t sound great, then why even get it, right? Well, rest easy, the Sonos Beam sounds amazing. The bass is clear and wide, and its dual woofers reflect the sound off your walls. The vocal clarity is super high, and the detail is excellent. If you often play music through the TV, this is a great choice. The only complaint regarding the sound quality? The bass isn’t quite deep, just clear. As such, action and superhero movies sound a little flat on the bar. 

    Voice Control 

    The Sonos Beam launches with Alexa functionality built in, and that’s a huge plus. The mic array on the Beam is quite good, although you do occasionally have to yell to be heard over music. The included HDMI port allows you to power your TV on and off with your voice if you TV has HDMI power state matching. Some find voice functionality unimportant, but others love it. It won’t detract from your experience, but it will certainly please those who love voice commands.  

    Pricing 

    Another important facet of any soundbar is the price. The entire purpose of going with a soundbar is avoiding the size and price of full sound systems, so you don’t want to spend too much. Thankfully, the Beam is the best value of any Sonos bar yet. The Beam comes in at a $400 retail price, which is great. For the high-quality package, that price is quite reasonable. 

    Sonos Beam Botton Line 

    If you’re in the market for a solid, affordable soundbar to round out your living room, this is a great choice. Consider the Beam if you’re short on space but want big sound! If you’re an action-movie fan, or just want deeper bass, consider going with a more robust sound system, though. 

    Feature Image Credit: BGR 

  • Google’s DeepMind AI Now Capable of Rendering Scenes

    Google’s DeepMind AI Now Capable of Rendering Scenes

    Google’s DeepMind neural network is now capable of rendering scenes. Not just any scenes, mind you, but complex ones. Using its neural networks and learning functions, DeepMind is capable of rendering hypothetical images it hasn’t seen before. While that might all sound rather abstract and hard to understand, it’s a huge leap for learning software. What exactly does this mean, and what effect will it have on AI going forward? 

    Rendering Scenes 

    The reason this is important, if somewhat boring-sounding at first, is that it represents a logical form of imagination. The AI is now capable of understanding a description of a geometrical scene, rendering it, and then rendering it from angles it has neither been showed nor had described. This is something humans do already, and easily.  

    So easily, in fact, that you’re likely overthinking what is being described. If you see an image on a car, you can assume that it has four wheels, whether or not you can see all four in the image. Similarly, you can intuit that the pavement behind the car in the image is still there. You can even guess that there are seats inside the car, as well as a steering wheel and a radio.  

    DeepMind’s New Functionality is a Game-Changer 

    This is the AI equivalent of imagination. An AI capable of understanding spatial scenes and making predictions based on limited data is a quantum leap forward. What’s more, the developers overseeing DeepMind didn’t anticipate this functionality.   

    Ali Eslami, a Google team leader, had this to say in a phone interview with Ars Technica. “One of the most surprising results [was] when we saw it could do things like perspective and occlusion and lighting and shadows. We know how to write renderers and graphics engines.” However, the most compelling thing Eslami found that the laws of physics represented were discovered by the software. The software was said to be a “blank slate,” and it was able to “effectively discover these rules by looking at images.” 

    We’re living in an exciting era. AI advancements have been coming faster and faster, and soon we may even see fully aware learning software. This is both exhilarating and terrifying.  

  • Best Beer Gadgets for Your 4th of July Cookout!

    Best Beer Gadgets for Your 4th of July Cookout!

    We’ve been over the best grilling gadgets, but now let’s talk beer! No cookout is complete without some brews, so today we’ve got ten of the coolest beer gadgets for you! If you’re looking to show off to guests or give cool gifts, we’ve got it all! 

    Decapitator Bottle Opener 

    Photo Credit: JEBIGA 

    This magnetic bottle opener looks flashy and fancy when it’s taking the heads, I mean caps, off of bottles. One push, and boom! The cap comes right off. Great as a party trick and super handy to have around at your cookout. 

    Waytap

    Photo Credit: Amazon 

    Waytap is awesome, and your guests will love it. It’s a home tap system designed to make any beer you put in it taste like you just got it off the tap. If your friends like the taste of fresh-from-tap beer, this is a must-have! It looks great and makes your beer taste great!  

    Jacob Bromwell Copper Beer Stein

    Photo Credit: Wayfair 

    Nothing screams “beer aficionado” like a big, artisan copper stein. It’s guaranteed to last for life, which is great, considering just how gorgeous it is. If you’re looking to drink in style, this is the way to do it. The properties of copper also ensure a maximum-excellence drinking experience, so that’s a plus! 

    The Beer Bible

    Photo Credit: Amazon 

    A great coffee table book and conversation starter. Full of great tips on beer, tasting notes and trivia, this little tome is sure to impress even the most diehard beer-lovers! If you’re a connoisseur of beer, this is a must-have book for your coffee table!  

    Beer Foamer

    Photo Credit: Menu Design Shop 

    If you’re the type that loves that pub-style top foam, this little gadget is for you! The Beer Foamer is made from shatter-resistant glass and has an electric whisk. Add your beer, whisk it up, and you’ve got delicious foam to top your beer! An authentic pub experience, right there for your cookout! Impress your friends and your taste buds! 

    Bottle Loft

     

    Photo Credit: STRONG LIKE BULL Magnets 

    These magnetic strips stick to the top of your fridge and save on fridge space. While you could hang bottles of soda from them, beer is the much more obvious candidate. If you’re a fan of super-strong magnets or saving space, the Bottle Loft is for you! It looks awesome in a fridge and it’s actually really useful. The non-beer drinkers in the house will be happy that your brews are taking up less space, too! 

    Pico Brew Pro

     

    Photo Credit: Beverage Factory 

    If you’ve ever dreamed of doing your own homebrew, this is for you! The Pico Brew is actually quite easy to use, and you’ll be brewing your own beer in no time! You’ll have 5 liters of great beer in about 2 hours. That’s a far cry from traditional homebrew kits, huh? If you’re looking to impress your guests with your own brews, this is the way to do it! 

    Biersafe 

    Photo Credit: The Awesomer 

    This one is just plain awesome. Resembling a time capsule, this non-powered beer cooler is set inside the ground. It looks like a high-tech, sci-fi contraption, but it just keeps your beers cold. If you need the coolest possible way to cool your beers, this is it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a hole to dig… 

    GrowlerWerks uKeg

    Photo Credit: Homebrew Academy 

    This charming, vintage style growler is pressurized to keep your beer sudsy and fresh for weeks! It looks like it’s straight out of a steampunk film, and its bright copper finish glows. If you want a great, stylish way to store your beer, this is it! It even has a tap built in for easy pouring when you’re ready to drink! What better way to store the homebrew you’ll be serving your guests? 

    Our Favorite Beer Gadget: Spin Chill

    Photo Credit: OddityMail 

    The Spin Chill is an automatic beer chiller, and our favorite beer gadget. While it isn’t as flashy or innovative as some other beer gadgets on this list, it’s still quite cool. Pun intended! Just attach a drink, set it in some ice and let it spin! It’ll have your drink ice cold and ready to drink in just one minute! It uses the spin to send the hot liquid in the center of the can out to the edges, transferring the heat to the ice. If you’re the type that can’t wait patiently for your beers to get cold, this is the way to go! 

  • Ten Cars to Watch for 2019 Model Year

    Each new year brings new cars to watch for! The 2019 Model Year will be no different, and we expect big things from the big automakers.

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    This will likely be one of the last model years before self-driving technology becomes widely available, so innovation will be largely iterative instead of revolutionary. With that said, lets look at the ten cars to watch for in 2019!

    2019 Chevy Silverado

    Everyone’s favorite pick-up is getting an overall face-lift for 2019. Without compromising for size or power, the new Silverado brings luxury and affordability. It’s hard to overstate just how luxurious and quiet the cabin is, and the ride is silky-smooth. Expected starting price is right around $30,000, and it’s 450 pounds lighter than last year’s model.

    2019 Honda Insight

    Redesigned and pulled out of retirement, the Honda Insight is back for 2019. This year’s entry is a hybrid that looks like a normal car, and that’s stellar. It gets an impressive 55 MPG on the highway, and it has tons of leg room. It looks in many ways like a stylistic take-off on the Civic, which is a great looking car. Even better, it starts around $23,000, which makes it a car to watch in 2019.

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    2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

    Essentially, this new Santa Fe is replacing the Santa Fe Sport. Redesigned for the 2019 Model Year, the new Santa Fe is poised to go head-to-head with cars like the CR-V and the Rogue. It’s bigger, longer and meaner-looking this year, and it brings tons of luxury to bear, too. The line we currently call the Santa Fe will be referred to as the Santa Fe XL from now on, making it the full-size Hyundai SUV. The 2019 Santa Fe, however, is much more luxurious and powerful than the previous Santa Fe Sport. Pricing is not currently available but should be soon.

    2019 Kia Forte

    Kia’s trying to have their cake and eat it, too, with the new Kia Forte. The 2019 model year Forte is roomier, for one, without bringing a larger footprint. It also packs more fuel economy but makes no sacrifice in horsepower. It’ll also be sporting all the expected advanced safety features you’ve come to want from a mid-sized car. Pricing information will be available later this year when the car is closer to going on sale.

    2019 GMC Sierra

    The pick-up market is as competitive as they come, and there are a ton of great options to choose from in it. The Sierra is no exception, and this year GMC is bringing more to the table. More size, that is. The truck has a bigger footprint, bigger interior and more power. The bed liner is carbon fiber, and all the high-end safety features you want are here. Tons of new tech is at play here, and this year will introduce an option for a diesel engine. There’s been no word on price yet, but we’d expect it to come in somewhere around $53,000, like last year’s Denali.

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    2019 Acura MDC

    Starting at $44,300, this is a vehicle to watch. Crossover SUVs are in right now, and Acura seems to know it! The roomy, tech-heavy 2019 MDC is a great entry-level SUV in Acura’s line-up. If you’ve never had a big luxury SUV, this one is a great start. The smooth ride and high-tech features will certainly spoil you, though!

    2019 Nissan Altima
    The “most advanced sedan” Nissan has ever made, in their own words, the 2019 Altima looks impressive. The new model comes with new dimensions: it’s lower to the ground and a bit longer. It also boasts a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine option, which is actually quite impressive for a sedan of its price range. Speaking of pricing, we’ve heard no word on the price from Nissan, but last year’s Altima S goes for $24,000. That places the Altima as an aggressively-priced mid-sized sedan with a ton of tech and power.

    2019 Toyota Avalon
    Toyota stays a major competitor for the title of best midsized sedan in 2019. Starting at $36,395 and coming equipped with Apple CarPlay standard, the new Avalon is set to make a splash. This entry in the Avalon family puts emphasis on the drive, making it a powerful and fun vehicle to pilot. It’s an all-around joy to take the Avalon on more complex roads, thanks to the great suspension and handling. If you want a bit of sportiness in your sedan, look no further.

    2019 Volvo XC40
    Starting at $35,200, the XC40 is a great value for a luxury SUV. As the market moves more and more towards the dominance of the crossover SUV, Volvo brings the goods with this year’s XC40. Roomy interior, tons of storage space and a great ride make the interior feel premium. The ride isn’t just smooth, though, it’s also quite fun. The engine has plenty of power and the suspension feels great. For how spacious this car is, it doesn’t handle like something its size.

    Car to Watch for the 2019 Model Year: 2019 VW Arteon Gran Turismo

    The roomy cabin and smooth ride of the Arteon Gran Turismo send a message: this is a flagship. Volkswagen is looking to enter this prestige vehicle into the same territory as Cadillac’s own flagships, and the Gran Turismo is up to the task. The 9.2-inch infotainment system sells this interior comfort while the various engine options assure you the vehicle has some power. Those engine configurations range from 148 to 276 horsepower, all on four cylinders. This is one luxury sedan to watch. Pricing and release information for the US is still to come.

  • Which Pool Alarm is the Best for Your Family?

    Which Pool Alarm is the Best for Your Family?

    It’s the time of year that everyone’s opening their backyard pools! While having the pool open is awesome fun, it can also be stressful if you have small children. You’ve got smoke alarms, so why not have a pool alarm? If you have a pool and want to keep your family safe from injury, or worse, drowning, check out these great pool alarms. 

    Pool Guard Safety Buoy Alarm 

    This alarm is adorable and hilarious and helps keep your pool safe! It’s a bright red safety cone that floats on the top of the pool. How awesome is that? It’s designed to work best with above ground pools or small in-ground pools. It’s also great for spas. If you want a cute buoy for an alarm, here it is! 

    Poolguard GAPT-2 Outdoor Pool Gate Alarm 

    This gate sensor is awesome for more unusual gates. It’s a no-contact sensor, so installation is pretty simple. If other gate sensors have proved hard to use for your gate, this one is a great pick. The conatacts need only be attached to the gate and fence within a half inch or so of one another. Adults need only press the button to allow a pass-through, but kids that can’t reach the button will trigger the alarm. This makes it easy for pool parties and general use while still keeping the kids safe! 

    Techko S187D Safe Pool Alarm 

    This is a straightforward alarm that works on any opening like a door or gate. It’s weather-resistant and will survive splashes from the pool, too! It’s easy to set up and install, and it has a very no-frills interface. If you’re looking for a simple, affordable alarm that will keep your backyard safe, this is the way to go. If you want something with more functionality, though, check out our final entry. 

    Our Favorite Pool Alarm: iSmartAlarm DWS3R Contact Sensor 

    If you’re in the market for a more advanced solution, this is for you. It sports wireless contacts that keep your pool safe, and it has a ton of integration. If you want to hook up motion detectors or cameras, those are also available. You can even synch it with an Alexa-enabled device to arm it with your voice. How cool is that? This one is easily our favorite pool alarm. 

     

  • The Top Ten Streaming Services of 2018

    The Top Ten Streaming Services of 2018

    Cable TV isn’t the living room mainstay it once was. Just a few months ago, Netflix surpassed Comcast in total net worth. If that isn’t evidence enough, the plethora of excellent streaming services should convince you! People seem to love the idea of getting streaming services with no long-term contract or commitment. And, to be honest, why are you signing contracts for any services in 2018? If you’re looking to ditch cable (and you should be) you’re probably wondering which streaming service is the best one. Good news for you, we’ve got the ten best right here! Let’s get into it! 

    10. PlayStation Vue

    Photo Credit: PlayStation.Blog 

    For $40 per month, you get access to more than 40 channels with PS Vue. There are also more expensive premium plans, all the way up to the Ultra Plan, which runs $75 per month and includes HBO and SHowtime, too. While the name may sound like it locks you in to watching via your PlayStation (which you totally can) the service is available on other platforms, too. You get access to cloud DVR, and you can add individual channels as you see fit. PS Vue also lets you watch local channels and sports, which is a plus. 

    The downsides for PS Vue, though: it’s really quite expensive. Compared to the other streaming services on this list, it doesn’t do anything differently enough to merit its high price tag. It also isn’t available on Roku, which is a strange omission.  

  • Got an Amazon Fire Tablet? It’s an Echo Show Now

    Got an Amazon Fire Tablet? It’s an Echo Show Now

    That’s right, with an upcoming software update, your Amazon Fire Tablet becomes an Echo Show. The update, called “Show Mode,” is Amazon’s newest effort to make Alexa an everyday name. If you already have a case with a stand, you can simply set your tablet up in it, swipe down on the screen to activate Show Mode, and ta-da! You have a makeshift Echo Show. You can now use your voice to check the weather, sports score, compose messages and more.  

    Performance 

    The microphone on a Fire Tablet isn’t quite as strong as the one on a true Echo Show, of course. That said, in a relatively quiet space, the tablet should have no trouble picking you up. If you’ve never used Alexa before, prepare to be impressed. If you have, however, you might notice that she’s a little quieter here in her new housing. The tablet doesn’t have terribly strong speakers, either. If you connect your tablet to a Bluetooth speaker you can remedy that, though.  

    Show Mode Charger 

    Amazon is also prepared for the cries of “this isn’t even that useful.” How so, you ask? Why, with the Show Mode charging stand! The charging stands will be available for the HD 8 and HD 10 tablets and will effectively turn your tablet into a full-blown Echo Show. Setting the tablet upright and charging it at the same time, the charging stand lets you just put the tablet in Show Mode and walk away. There are a few downsides, though. The first is the lack of any extra microphones: you’ll be stuck with the tablet’s existing, sub-par mics. The other is the price tag, running at $40 for the HD 8 and $55 for the HD 10. That’s kind of pricey for a glorified metal stand with a charging cable running along it.  

    Bottom Line 

    If you already have a Fire Tablet, congratulations! It’s now an awkward, scaled-down Alexa device. You’re going to get a kick out of this, and it’s a free update. If you don’t own one already, though, this won’t be pushing you to get one. You might as well just get an Echo Show if an Alexa-enabled display is something you want. If the display isn’t a concern, the Echo Spot is a great device, and it only costs around $40. Still, this is cool news for those who already own one of Amazon’s tablets! 

  • Popular Scam Targets Uber Drivers

    Popular Scam Targets Uber Drivers

    A highlight of the current gig economy is the isolation contractors feel when working for companies like Uber. Since the company is so compartmentalized, drivers often feel alienated and alone on the road. Scammers have picked up on this, and a robust, complex scam has been targeting newer Uber drivers for more than a year. 

    The Scam 

    The scam in question involves misusing the information that customers get when they hail a ride through the Uber app. When you hail a ride, you see information about the driver, like their name and license plate number. Not to mention, you can call them through the app. That call gets a randomized, anonymous number with a 415 area-code, the same as Uber’s headquarters. 

    Upon hailing the cab, the user then calls the driver and claims to be from corporate and explains that there’s an issue with the driver’s account. The account needs to be verified before the driver can complete the fare, the scammer says. This is the tricky part: the scammer asks for the email and password of the driver. Then, the scammer has the driver tell them the code that they were just texted. You’ve probably guessed it: this is a phishing call, and that code was the two-factor verification. Now, the scammer is into the driver’s Uber account. “Alright, everything’s good here. We’ve transferred that ride to another car, but you’re free to keep driving.” 

    After that, of course, the damage isn’t done, but just beginning. The scammer will use their access to the driver account to change their account settings so that they can profit from any work the driver does. They’ll profit from any work the driver has done when Uber pays out for their work on Sunday. 

    The Company’s Responsibility to Uber Drivers 

    As of yet, Uber hasn’t formally acknowledged this scam to their new drivers. Lyft, which has been targeted by similar scams, has directly addressed drivers regarding it. Lyft drivers are thus less likely to fall for it, as their company has helped safeguard them. Uber, by contrast, is letting its drivers fend for themselves out there. There are dozens of things the company could do to fix this situation, but as of writing they claim that their authentication processes should keep drivers safe.  

    A few targeted by the scam are contacted by Uber to inform them of potential illegal activity on their account. However, if Uber took steps like Lyft, they could avoid the issue altogether. Something as simple as Lyft’s pre-recorded message that tells a driver it’s a customer calling them would take the legs out from under this scam. Uber, ever the helpful and caring employer, has done no such thing. If you’re an Uber driver, take steps to protect yourself, and don’t give anyone your account info.  

  • VPN Roundup: Best Free VPNs

    If you’re looking to browse undetected, or speed up your internet connection, a VPN might be a good choice. 

    However, you’re probably a bit wary of paying for something that you don’t exactly understand fully. If you’re interested in trying out a VPN, but don’t want to spend money, we’ve got a list of the best free VPNs for you! Check it out!

    Speedify 
    As the name would suggest, Speedify makes sure your internet speeds are blistering fast. It uses any connections available to make sure you’re connecting as efficiently as possible. The only downside to this one is the small data allowance. You first free month, you get 4GB of downloads for free. Subsequent months, you get just 1GB. If you try it and love it, though, you can subscribe to get the full service.

    Hotspot Shield Free
    A free VPN powered by ads, Hotspot Shield Free is a solid option. While it’s free, you get access to 500 MB of download per day! The paid version gains access to full geo-spoofing features, but the free version is locked into a few pre-selected locations. If you’re looking to try some basic geo-spoofing features and use a bit of data, though, this is a great one to check out. Be aware, though, there’s currently a controversy surrounding Hotspot Shield’s advertisers. Do a bit of research and decide for yourself how you feel about the situation, as it’s still developing at time of writing.

    TunnelBear 
    TunnelBear is our runner up among free VPNs. While it has a cute, friendly design, it’s also a powerful VPN for anonymity and security. It would get higher marks if free users got more than a paltry 500MB of data per month. However, if you try the service and like it, paying for it isn’t terribly expensive. The paid subscription runs about $10 per month, but you get a considerable amount of protection and speed with your browsing. If you’re interested in trying it, the free option is very secure, if a little short on data.

    Our Favorite Free VPN Our Favorite Free VPN Windscribe 
    Those looking for a very secure free VPN need look no further. Windscribe has some phenomenal security features and eight different server locations. It doesn’t store what sites you visit, your connection logs or your IP stamps. Other information is deleted from the server about 3 minutes after your session ends. You get 10GB of data per month, which is rather generous for a free service, and you can get more for Tweeting about it and suggesting it to friends. It even sports a built-in firewall and ad-blocker! As free VPNs go, this one is your best bet. As free VPNs go, this one is your best bet. 

  • Our Favorite Grills to Heat Up your Next Cookout!

    Our Favorite Grills to Heat Up your Next Cookout!

    It’s that time of year: grilling season! Invite over some friends, grab some beers and get ready for an awesome cookout! What cookout would be complete without the star: the grill! To help you find the best one for your summer fun, we’ve got a list of our favorite grills! 

    Broil King Baron S520 

    If you’re looking for pure power out of your grill, this $650 entry to the list is for you. With a combined power of 50,000 BTUs from its five burners, you can guarantee you’ll cook your meals fast with this grill. It’s recommended that you exercise caution with this one: you don’t want to burn your meats! Experienced grill masters who want fast cook times should consider this one, though! If you can handle the heat, step into this kitchen! 

    Char-Broil Performance XL 

    Sometimes, you don’t need the very top of the line to have a good time. For those who want a solid grill for a great price, check out the Char-Broil Performance XL. A great budget choice for those looking to just cut up with friends in the back yard and grill a few burgers and dogs. Sporting five burners and running only $300, this is a great value! It’s even got an extra side burner for those smaller side dishes. It’s also great for grilling chicken, so if that’s your dish of choice, this one is for you! 

    Weber Spirit II E-310 

    A customizable and high-tech experience, those who want a flashy grill should go with this one. Retailing for $600, this one comes in a variety of colors to match your backyard aesthetic! If you have the Weber Temperature Probe you can keep an eye on the food without having to disturb it, which is awesome. Additionally, the unique tank design means you can keep tabs on how much propane you have at a glance! This means you won’t be running out right as you start making food for your guests! 

    Our Favorite Grill: Char-Broil Commercial Double Header 

    This Double Header will run you about $700, but it’s well worth the investment! If you’re a grilling multitasker, you’ll want this one. With two distinct cooking zones, you don’t have to worry about differing cook times or heat requirements. True grill masters will love the versatility of this one! While it isn’t the flashiest grill on this list, it’s easily the most rewarding for those serious about their grilling!