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  • iPhone Feature Roundup: How do They Compare?

    iPhone Feature Roundup: How do They Compare?

    A lot of people took notice when the iPhone X was announced to retail for $1,000. As the first mass-market smartphone to break the $1,000 price tag, it must be something special, right? Apple seemed to be hedging their bets slightly, and also released the iPhone 8, an $800 option that more closely resembles previous iterations of the iPhone. In order to help you with figuring out which one is right for you, we’ve got an iPhone feature roundup to break down the difference between the two flavors of iPhone.

    Price

    The first one is the most obvious, and we’ve already been over it, but it bears repeating. The iPhone X is truly the best smartphone in the world, and its price reflects that. $1,000 is a lot of money to pay for a phone, but that buys you a ton of features. The iPhone 8 is no slouch, either, to be fair, and costs a respectable $800. Both phones are on the premium side, so the question becomes: what does $200 buy you?

    Face ID vs Fingerprint Scanner

    Face ID is convenient, fast and secure. Apple was the first to market with very secure, very accurate facial recognition software. The depth-sensing front cameras in the iPhone X’s much-maligned notch can read your face in the blink of an eye. The iPhone 8, on the other hand, sports the same fingerprint scanner iPhones have been using for years. It’s secure, it’s fast and it’s pretty much the same as you’d expect. It works fine in most circumstances, but if you’re wearing gloves or if your hands are wet, it’s a no-go.

    Face ID isn’t the only use of those front cameras, though: the animated “Animoji” technology is exclusive to iPhone X. It’s silly, it’s cute and you absolutely want it. Is it worth $200? Your call.

    OLED Screen, Bezels

    The iPhone X has a huge, bright and gorgeous OLED display that looks sharp even in direct sunlight. It’s hard to describe, but it simply has an alluring glow to it that dazzles the eye. If that sounds overly romantic, you probably haven’t seen one in person. The iPhone 8, on the other hand, sports a Retina display that looks fine, if somewhat tame compared to the iPhone X.

    Interestingly, the iPhone 8 Plus is bigger than the iPhone X by a good bit, yet the iPhone X still sports a bigger screen, thanks to its nearly bezel-free design. Almost the entire front face of the phone is screen, with the exception of the notch.

    Home Button

    A huge change in the iPhone X is the lack of a home button. If you’re a home button faithful, you want an iPhone 8, period. It’s a pretty big change, and if you’ve been using iPhones since 2007, it will certainly take some getting used to. That said, the gesture controls are intuitive, fast and slick, and you will get used to them.

    iPhone Feature Bottom Line

    One way to look at the iPhone X is as a proof-of-concept for the way future iPhones will work. So, by getting an iPhone 8, you’ll have a nostalgic, old-school style iPhone experience. However, you’re likely only delaying the inevitable. That $200 upcharge can be viewed as the price of entry to a new era of iPhone. If you’re the kind of person that gets excited by bleeding edge tech, you want an iPhone X. If you want the same experience you’ve grown accustomed to, the 8 is more your speed.

  • Netflix to Stop Offering User Reviews

    Netflix to Stop Offering User Reviews

    After July 30th, Netflix users will no longer be able to write reviews for shows on the website. After August, you won’t be able to read any pre-existing reviews, either. Netflix broke this news recently and stated that the reason behind it was lack of interest in the feature. According to the streaming company, users have used the user reviews function less and less as time has gone on. As such, they don’t see a reason to support the feature any longer.

    User Reviews Going the Way of the 5-Star Review

    Those who used Netflix before last summer may remember the old review system being on a 5-star scale. Last year, however, Netflix replaced that system with a simpler thumbs-up, thumbs-down system. The Pandora Radio-like thumbs system resulted in a 200 percent increase in positive reviews, according to Netflix. The streaming company reported that the thumbs system led to better profile matching and show suggestions for users. As such, there’s good precedence for Netflix trimming functionality that is no longer useful from the service.

    Lack of Support

    The user review function wasn’t the most well-supported function on the service, for what it’s worth. The reviews could only be accessed or written through the desktop version of the site. Apps on phone, Roku and Smart TV platformers didn’t have access to the feature. As such, the declining usage can likely be ascribed to people not being aware of it. In truth, if Netflix was interested in users writing reviews on their shows, they would have made the function easier to access.

    That said, Netflix was never considered a review platform. It seems unlikely anyone will be too disappointed by this news. It makes sense, following Netflix’s pattern of trimming features that don’t serve the core experience of watching TV and movies. The company has offered no suggestions as to whether any new features will replace the written reviews, though it seems unlikely.

  • Most Hotly Anticipated Gadgets of 2018

    Most Hotly Anticipated Gadgets of 2018

    Believe it or not, we’re nearly halfway through 2018. That means there’s only a few months left in the year to get hyped about upcoming gadgets! Don’t worry, though, because we’ve got a list for you. Today, we’re looking at the ten most anticipated gadgets of 2018! Get ready to get hyped, because these things are awesome!

    Nintendo 64 Classic

    Photo Credit: Venture Beat

    After a patent filing for the name, Nintendo has made no indication they’re working on the N64 Classic. However, the odds that they aren’t are incredibly low. The NES and SNES Classic mini-consoles sold through their entire production runs and were immensely well-received. Well, except for how hard it was to find them. However, recently Nintendo has addressed the supply issues and the mini-consoles can be found for MSRP on most store shelves. If they were to follow this trend with a miniature N64 console, we’d be ecstatic, and this writer would have one on launch day. Come on Nintendo, make it a reality so I can throw money at you!

    Atari VCS

    Photo Credit: Engadget

    Consider us cautiously optimistic regarding Atari’s upcoming console. The console was a Kickstarter success, but so was the Ouya, and we all know how that turned out. Similarly, the last time Atari released a console, it didn’t exactly go well. You may have noticed that the Atari Jaguar was the very last console they released. Well, until the VCS, that is. If it ever releases. The concept, however, seems awesome: a retro-inspired, modern console. It’ll play both old Atari titles and brand-new games. Older titles will ship with the console, and you can download new ones. It’s aiming to be the best of both worlds! Let’s just hope it doesn’t collapse under its own ambition.

    New MacBooks

    Photo Credit: PC Mag

    While there’s no definitive word on this front, we’re due for a new MacBook release. Apple’s flagship laptop has been somewhat lacking in love lately, largely lagging behind their phone releases. However, there’s still a ton of Mac users out there who’d love a shiny new machine to edit videos and create content on. There’s no better computers for content creators than Mac, and they deserve a powerful enough laptop to keep up with their demanding software. A new processor and some more RAM wouldn’t be a bad thing, but expect to pay that Apple Tax.

    Apple Watch Series 4

    Photo Credit: NY Mag

    While the Apple Watch has been around since 2015, it’s seen little in the way of design updates. The Series 3 watches look largely the same as the Series One. Series Four is rumored to bring a suite of changes to the wearable tech. One such change is the removal of buttons in favor of solid-style nubs that use haptic feedback. These will likely help waterproof the watch, as well as make it more durable in general. Other rumored changes include a dedicated watch face store and larger display. In any event, we’re excited to find out more!

    Google Pixel Watch

    Photo Credit: cnet.com

    When the Pixel phone was released, it was clearly an answer to the iPhone. Google has been attempting to take bites out of Apple at every turn. As such, it only makes sense that Google would like to go head-to-head with the Apple Watch. The Pixel Watch is currently just a rumor, but with Google confirming the resurrection of Wear OS, we’d be surprised if we didn’t hear news of a Google-branded watch to go with the Google-branded OS. Maybe a launch for the watch could come alongside the new Pixel 3 this Fall? Time will tell, pun intended.

    Nintendo Switch Online Features

    Photo Credit: Gearnuke

    The Switch is getting its much-hyped paid online service this fall. There are a few notable features coming with the service. The first is cloud back-ups for game saves, a much-requested feature of the system. The second is the introduction of Netflix-style retro game rentals. Anyone who pays for the $20 per year service will be able to play the retro titles, some of which will have new online multiplayer functions. Of course, if you don’t have the service, you won’t be able to play Fortnite or Splatoon 2 against your friends. As such, many will be getting the service regardless of what games are offered through it.

    Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL

    Photo Credit: cnet.com

    Google’s Pixel phones have impressed on the Android side of things. If ever there was a contender for “best camera,” it’s the Pixel 2. As such, we’re excited to see what kinds of tech will be jammed into the third generation of Pixel phones. Google’s newest Android OS, Android P, will likely release with the new Pixel phones. We can expect them in the fall of the year, just in time to compete with the new iPhones and the new Galaxy phones. This fall will be a bit of a phone battlefield.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 9

    Photo Credit: Forbes

    Samsung’s next phone is as hotly anticipated as any phone this year. Many notch-haters would rather get a Galaxy Note, as it won’t sport any notch at all. Another big draw is the headphone jack, which many phones are foregoing in favor of waterproofing. The Note is also rumored to have an in-screen fingerprint scanner, although rumors are contradictory at the moment regarding the scanner. That said, Samsung fans are excited about the newest entry in the Galaxy family. Android has some stellar phones coming out this year!

    2018 iPad Pro

    Photo Credit: Apple

    Simply put, tablets aren’t cool anymore. The company responsible for inventing the massive smart-device would like to change that, though. There’s currently no word on a potential iPad Pro for this year. However, one rumors as to what it would look like: unlocking with Face ID, sporting no home button. It may even incorporate an OLED screen and carry some variation of the Bionic chip. Changes like that could make for a very appealing (and expensive) iPad indeed. We’ll see if the rumors come true!

    Most Anticipated Gadgets of 2018: New iPhones

    Photo Credit: Digital Trends

    This year’s iPhone lineup is set to be stellar. Rumor has it that we can expect to see three models this year, two of which will sport OLED screens. Those two phones are clearly an iPhone X-2 (ha) and an iPhone X Plus. That third one is most likely a less-expensive phone with an LED screen. Maybe an iPhone 9? Time will tell. What is certain, though, is that people are excited! The iPhone X is the best phone in the world, by a wide margin, so we’re expecting big things from Apple this year.

  • Galaxy’s Edge: Star Wars Theme Park Coming Soon

    Galaxy’s Edge: Star Wars Theme Park Coming Soon

    If the words “Star Wars Theme Park” don’t excite you, I don’t know what to say to you, to be honest. While the newest films have received some flak from some unusually agitated “fans,” they have largely reignited the spark of love and adoration in the franchise that Lucas tried to smother with the prequels. In order to capitalize on this sudden surge of interest, Disney’s opening a new theme park to let you live out your own Star Wars adventure. The park, called Galaxy’s Edge, will be added to Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

    When Can I Go Drink with Wookies in the Cantina?

    Soon, thankfully! The Anaheim park will be opening next summer, while the Orlando one will be opening in the fall. There’s no hard date set yet, though, so stay posted for more news on that front. The coolest part of the park, however, is the new background story that sets the stage. The park itself is meant to be a planet called Batuu, specifically a region called Black Spire Outpost.

    This backstory sets the Outpost as a place away from the grip of the First Order. This is perfect for a theme park, as it allows visitors to enact their fantasies as smugglers, pirates and Jedi in a lawless haven at the edge of known space.

    What Things Can You Do in Galaxy’s Edge?

    The park is slated to have two as-yet-unnamed rides for guests. One will be a simulated space battle between the First Order and the Rebellion, culminating in the ride landing in a Star Destroyer. The second will be a Millennium Falcon flight simulator. If you perform well, you’ll be commended and could even get a prize! But if you mess up, you might be blacklisted by a bounty hunter and hounded elsewhere in the park.

    Disney also promises that creatures from the films and books will be brought to life inside the park. Cryptically, they’ve also stated some will be available to be adopted and brought home. Whether this means they’ll be selling plush versions of them or actually holding adoptions for live cats is unknown. In any event, we’re ecstatic to find out more, and we can’t wait to get our tickets!

  • Best Apps For Dog Owners

    There certainly is an app for everything. One type of app you don’t realize you need: apps made just for dog owners!

    That’s right, those exist! And the one’s we’ve got listed here are actually pretty cool. You don’t have to sit down, roll over and beg for an awesome app roundup, just keep on scrolling!

    iClicker

    This useful app is great for click-training. Dogs respond well to clicker training under certain circumstances, and this app is free! It’s worth a shot if you want to try to encourage better behavior from your pup. Unlike a normal clicker, the app is free, and you don’t have to worry about misplacing it! This one’s great for aspiring trainers.

    Map My Dogwalk

    Similar to “Map My Run”-style apps, this one is specifically for dogs! Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise and explore your neighborhood at the same time! No one wants their dog to be too tired at the end of a walk, either, so getting an app just for them is a good idea. Keep your pup in good health and comfortable with this app!

    Pet Coach

    This free app lets you talk to professional pet coaches. Professionals like vets, trainers and dietary specialists are all available through the app. While there’s no replacement for speaking with professionals in person, this can be an excellent first step in important conversations about your dog. You want the very best for your pet, and professionals like the ones you contact through this app can help make sure you get them what they need!

    Most Important App for Dog Owners: Pet First Aid by American Red Cross

    No one wants their animal getting hurt. However, life happens, and sometimes you may need to administer first aid to your pet. In those situations, this $0.99 app can be a literal lifesaver. There’s advice for how to treat bleeding, allergic reactions and the like. The app provides locations for the nearest pet hospitals. It also has advice on what behavior is normal and what behavior should concern you. For its price, this is an invaluable resource for pet health.

  • Best Chevy Cars of 2018

    Best Chevy Cars of 2018

    Chevy’s got quite the lineup of excellent vehicles this year. If you’re looking for a new Chevy and not sure which one is right for you, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re looking at the five best Chevy cars of 2018! Let’s talk cars!

    Chevrolet Bolt

    We’re kicking things off with the all-electric Chevy Bolt. Capable of going 90 miles on a 30-minute charge, Chevy’s high-tech electric rivals anything from Tesla. If you’ve never been a fan of gassing up your car, you’re in luck: no more waiting at the pump or paying for gas! The 2018 Chevy Bolt starts at $36,620, making it a rather affordable EV! The only drawback is the somewhat cheap make of the interior.

    Chevrolet Sonic

    Hatchbacks are great for outdoors-lovers, campers and hikers, as well as for getting around the city and grabbing groceries! The 2018 Chevy Sonic is affordable, too, at $15,295, making it great for families and those looking for a reliable car. While it doesn’t have power or handling to write home about, it’s still a great pick for those who just need a car! It also sports great fuel economy!

    Chevrolet Cruze

    The 2018 Chevy Cruze is a great choice for those looking for a car that’s great on gas. Sporting excellent fuel economy and a great price, the Cruze is great for those living in the city. With 28 miles-per-gallon city and 39 highway, you’ll go farther on less and save money! The 2018 model starts at $16,975, making it a great value for anyone looking for a slick ride.

    Chevrolet SS

    It’s likely you might have never heard of the Chevy SS. 2017 was the last year the under-marketed vehicle was in production. However, as a full-sized, rear-wheel drive Sedan, it stands up great against the competition. For a starting price of $46,625, the vehicle is surprisingly luxurious. It sports a good bit of power, too, coming in with 415 horsepower and great acceleration. If you’re into manual transmission, you can opt for that in this vehicle, too.

    The Best Chevy Cars of 2018: Chevrolet Corvette

    Okay, so the ‘Vette doesn’t scream “affordable,” but it is much less expensive than comparable BMWs and other high-end sports cars. If you’re a lover of American-made sports car awesomeness, the ‘Vette is for you. The base price for this year’s model is $55,495, which is almost half what you’d expect to pay for cars from other companies that have this much power. It starts with 455 horsepower, continues with the insane acceleration, and rounds out with the superior handling. A premium ride for a great price.


  • Feature Roundup: 2019 Dodge Ram 1500

    There’s no shortage of competition in the full-sized truck market. If you’re looking for a ton of room, great towing power and that classic American-tough look, Dodge’s Ram 1500 is a great pick. 

    The 2019 model, due later this year, is no exception. Let’s look at some of the features Dodge is cramming into the 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 to see how it stacks up against the competition!

    2019 Dodge Ram 1500 Specs

    When it comes to full-sized trucks, size is certainly a consideration, and the Ram doesn’t disappoint. The Quad Cab is 5’7”, and the Crew Cab is 6’4”, so you can tailor your truck to your specific needs. Payload capacity is 2,300 lbs., and towing is 12,750 lbs. Those numbers certainly don’t make any mistakes, this is a powerful, rugged vehicle. If you need a truck to get yourself, your buddies and your stuff from site to site, this one can do that.

    Rear-wheel drive is standard, but you can opt for four-wheel drive. There are a ton of different engine options, so you can pick and choose which amount of power you need under the hood. The 8-speed automatic transmission is standard (sorry, manual-lovers). Interestingly, this year’s truck is a few hundred lbs. lighter than trucks from previous years, affording it better control and performance in general.

    This Year’s Upgrades

    The 2018 Ram is an undeniably great vehicle. So, how does Dodge plan to impress with the 2019? One way is the general ride quality. The huge, floaty performance is reminiscent of a large SUV, from the way it handles on turns to its ability to tank bumps. If you like a smooth ride and don’t mind some awkward steering, the ride is great. Another improvement over last year is the luxurious, quiet interior cabin. The finished plastic and smooth leather give an overall premium feel to a hard-working truck.

    Pricing Details

    Prices on the 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 start at $33,340, and of course, the more bells and whistles you get the more that number rolls up. The Laramie model, for instance, starts at $42,335 and nets you an Alpine stereo, heated and cooled seats and leather upholstery. If you’re looking for a high-end heavy-duty truck, you can’t go wrong with the Ram.

  • Sony Accidentally Uploads Entire Film Khali the Killer to YouTube

    Sony Accidentally Uploads Entire Film Khali the Killer to YouTube

    In an odd error, Sony accidentally uploaded the entirety of indie film Khali the Killer to its official YouTube channel. This move was almost certainly an accident, as such a film wouldn’t exactly be a prime target for a publicity stunt. The unusually-long “trailer” was picked up on by Reddit and a post was made there to show the blunder to the world. Incredibly, the film stayed up for several hours as the post got thousands of up-votes. A highly up-voted comment on the post made light of the blunder, stating that this is the “natural end-game” for spoiler-heavy trailers.

    Khali the Killer

    The film in question is an indie film that was actually released on DVD in 2017. Indie movies are weird, though, and the theatrical run for the film isn’t until later this year. Critical reception to the film has been mixed, and it hasn’t been highly anticipated. The movie is a crime drama, something of an homage to exploitation films of the 70’s. It follows a hit man named Khali as he attempts to leave a life of crime behind but is pulled back in when a kid hijacks his car. It carries (perhaps unintentional) echoes of John Wick, and is set in LA.

    Publicity, or Honest Accident?

    The film itself is typical indie action fare. A man tries to leave a life of crime and is drug back in, you know the tale. However, it’s not exactly hotly-anticipated, and it’s already been released on DVD. This move was likely an accident, perhaps the wrong video ID being copied and pasted to the upload bar. Sony’s film division is massive, and it’s believable that such a mistake could occur. Further, it would follow that the company would be sensitive about such errors. After all, in 2014 Sony Pictures experienced a critical hack that compromised the personal information of thousands of employees.

    However, Sony has, as of yet, made no comment on the situation, so this is only speculation. As it stands, the company doesn’t present the best image of digital supremacy. The aforementioned 2014 hack and this YouTube error are examples on the movie side. On the gaming side, the PlayStation Network has been hacked several times, notably in 2011. Recently, Sony has drawn criticism for blocking cross-console play between the PS4 and Xbox One and Switch systems. Notable, Sony doesn’t allow Fortnite accounts linked to PS4s to link to any other console. All of this adds up to point to a company struggling to keep up with its own massive size.

  • Best OLED TVs in 2018

    Best OLED TVs in 2018

    The biggest, best and brightest 4K TVs are powered by OLED technology. Which OLED TVs are the best, though? That depends on what you’re looking for, of course. However, cutting edge technology is expensive, and no one wants to make a bad call on something that pricey. With that in mind, we’ve got a roundup of our favorite OLED TVs for 2018 to help you pick! Get ready to see some awesome displays!

     LG Signature OLED TV W8

    You may have heard of these “Wallpaper” displays. They really have to be seen to be believed: they are amazingly thin. Truthfully, the guts of these TVs are held in the included soundbar. The display itself is just that, a display; the tech powering it is off-site, so to speak, in the soundbar. There’s also no bones about it, these displays are seriously expensive.

    However, if money is no object, it’s hard to deny how amazing this screen looks. Depending on the screen you choose, it runs between $7,000 and $15,000, but that price gets you a truly futuristic piece of technology. It’s hard to overstate how good these OLED screens look. It also supports every type of HDR, meaning it’s fully future proofed. For the very best, at a very high price, this is the one you want.

    SONY A8F BRAVIA OLED TV

    Sony’s OLED entry is a fantastic TV for the price. Retailing for around $3,000, it’ll certainly set you back, but it’s an impressive piece of technology. For one thing, it has that beautiful OLED display, and it sports Sony’s great processors to make everything look smooth and seamless.

    The other interesting wrinkle with this TV is the Acoustic Surface that Sony managed to fit in this panel. Acoustic Surface makes the screen itself the speaker, which is mind-blowing. The sound quality is surprisingly good, and the panel is very thin since it has no traditional speakers. It’s hard to describe, but it feels futuristic and truly awesome.

    Our Favorite of 2018’s OLED TVs: LG C8-SERIES 4K OLED TV

    LG knows what it’s doing when it comes to OLED. It’s hard to overstate how good this screen’s picture quality is. Images on this screen almost look more real than real life, which is almost visually confusing. 77-inch models exist but cost around $9,000 and are almost too big to be practical. 65-inch panels run for $3,500, and 55-inch screens are a more reasonable $2,500.

    For that price, you get some of the best bang for your buck when it comes to home TV displays. While there are other, more fancy options, this LG line is a strictly good-looking display with no frills, and the cost reflects that. If you’re looking for the best picture at the best price, this is what you want.

  • Would You Look at That? Amazon Echo Look Feature Roundup

    Would You Look at That? Amazon Echo Look Feature Roundup

    If you’ve been following Amazon lately, you know that they’re really doubling down on Alexa devices. And why shouldn’t they? Their Echo family of products has been selling like hot cakes, and everyone loves the software! Their newest Alexa product is the Amazon Echo Look. This camera-enabled device is meant to help you coordinate your fashion and pick out good-looking clothes! It’s experimental, new, and definitely quite weird. That said, it seems somewhat promising!

    Echo Look Setup

    The device itself is small, tube-shaped, and can be placed on a flat surface or mounted. It gets best results when placed at shoulder-height. You use the Amazon Look app to set it up though a smartphone. You can then pair it with Alexa and get ready to get a confidence boost!

    Impartial View

    One great use of the Look is taking accurate, impartial pictures of you that you can view through the app. You can also just view yourself in live time, so you can turn in profile or turn around and see yourself through your app. This allows you to eliminate the wonky angles and potentially weird lighting that come with taking selfies. All said, this can make for quite a self-esteem boost!

    Fashion Forward

    The main use for the Look, of course, is fashion. If you show the app two pictures of yourself in different outfits, the app will tell you which one you look better in. It uses a combination of machine learning and fashion expert advice to do this. It tells you which colors look good on you, which ones fit your profile better, and so on. What’s more, you can enable “pairing suggestions.” You can opt to share pictures taken with your Look to Amazon, and they’ll suggest clothes from the site that would pair well with your wardrobe.

    After you’ve had the device for a while and had it take a large number of pictures of you, it makes a “look book” for you. This look book shows you what you wore on specific days, helping you hone your style and understand what looks good on you.

    Bottom Line

    This is a really unique device! There’s really nothing else like it, and it feels like a natural extension of the personal assistant role that Alexa fills. The Amazon Echo Look retails for $200 and is available now.