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  • Looking for the Biggest Display? Check out a 4K Projector!

    Looking for the Biggest Display? Check out a 4K Projector!

    While TV panels keep getting bigger and bigger, the hassles of installing and storing them do, too. Not to mention, they consume a ton of power and they’re super fragile! If you’re interested in having a massive, gorgeous 4K display but don’t want to worry about a TV, what are you supposed to do? Well, you could check out an awesome 4K projector!

    We’ve got three here, chosen for their various strengths, to help give you an idea of what to look for. 

    Epson 5040UB 

    While this projector is technically a 1080p projector, it uses some interesting optical shift technology. That optical shift makes it give the appearance of a 4K image without actually being 4K. This one is on the list for its price point, however, as it offers a great image quality for its cost. If you’re just looking to dip your toe into projecting, this $2,300 projector is a good place to start. It sports a great range of colors and looks vibrant. It’s only big drawback is that it only has an HDMI 2.0 input, meaning it’s not very future-proof for upcoming 4K releases.

     

    Sony VPL-VW285ES 

    If you want to see every single pixel of your 4K image, this Sony projector is for you. If you have true 4K you want to watch on a massive scale and have it look great, this projector is perfect. It is a little expensive, though, coming in at $5,000, but it’s well worth it. If you’ve ever wanted to have movie-theater quality images in your house, this is how you do it. Now all you need is a big tub of popcorn and a comically large soda to drink! The only downside to this one, aside from steep price, is the colors. The color range isn’t as good as the other projectors on this list, and our pick for favorite blows it out of the water in terms of black levels.  

    Our Favorite 4K Projector: JVC DLA-X590R 

    Much like the Epson we mentioned earlier, the JVC is technically a 1080p projector. However, it uses optical shift technology to scale the images it sends up to 4K. Its biggest strengths are its strong colors and intense contrast. This 4k projector will wow you with its deep black values and vibrant colors. While it isn’t quite as crisp or sharp as the Sony, it’s much more affordable and offers better color values. Those features alone make it our favorite, as it does an incredible job for the price. You can usually snag this projector on Amazon for around $3,000. You won’t be dissapointed: this little guy punches way above his weight class! 


  • Investing in Stocks: A Beginners Guide

    Investing in Stocks: A Beginners Guide

    The stock market can be a scary place and an even more intimidating process if you’ve never invested your money before. But investing online is one of the best pieces of financial advice you can ever receive. For one, it’s an excellent way to grow your wealth for a specific period then reap the fruits in the future, probably after retirement.

    The best way to start investing in stocks is to put money in a trusted online investment account and use it to buy shares of stock. However, stocks are not like your typical savings accounts, certificates of deposit, or money market funds. They always have a very volatile principal value. They can rise and fall in very short periods. Therefore, if you still don’t have sufficient knowledge in investing, you can easily lose most, if not all, of your investment capital.

    As a result, it’s crucial that you learn the basics of how to invest and the most effective strategies to use. That’s what we aim to help you achieve in this excerpt:

    What Kind of Investor Are You?

    Before committing your money, it’s vital that you know what kind of investments you want to venture into. Most investment accounts will also want to know which types of investments are best suited to you. Therefore, ensure that you have an investment goal already planned out and set how much risk you’ll be willing to take on in your investments.

    Some investors are always more open to taking an active hand in the managerial part of their investments, while others prefer to set up their investments and forget them entirely until they mature. Both options allow you to invest in stocks, bonds, index funds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

    If you are the type of investor who prefers to be more hands-on and involved with your investments, this article should be particularly beneficial to you. But if you prefer to have someone else with expertise in the stock market manage the process for you, it’s best to look for a reputable Robo-advisor’s services at a minimal fee.

    It’s vital that you know which type of investor you are to determine which investment types to focus on. Once you’ve found your preference, you should be ready to research stocks to trade.

    Research Stocks to Trade

    Once you’ve found a brokerage firm, you can buy stocks. But the question now arises on which stocks are best to buy. For beginners in the stock investment business, the best place to start investing in might not be stocks. Instead, start off with ETFs.
    ETFs allow you to buy different bundles of stocks at once. This can help build more confidence, especially if you don’t know which individual companies to pick over the others.

    ETFs built to replicate the bigger indices like Nasdaq, Dow, and S&P 500 are the best investment options to use to give your portfolio the boost it needs and broader exposure to the U.S. stock market. Most seasoned traders also advise that you diversify your holdings with other assets instead of just stocks. Diversifying your investments is one of the most effective ways of hedging the risks that arise from stock market downturns (but more on that later).

    Where to Start Investing in Stocks

    A thrifty, self-motivated investor who knows exactly what he/she wants might be served best using online brokerages, especially ones that provide commission-free trading. However, there are also stock options for new traders who feel more comfortable having the system or a broker pick the stocks for them. Such investors are better off using automated investing services, most of which are reasonably priced and provide a user-friendly platform to invest.

    Human brokers and other financial advisors offer some of the highest investment service levels, which mainly revolves around investment advice. But this is also the most expensive option to consider.

    Stock picking can be extraordinarily difficult, especially if you decide to go about it yourself. For the most part, there isn’t any way of knowing which direction the stock market will go. It’s on that note that even the seasoned stock investors, Warren Buffett included, discourage newbie investors from placing all their investments in individual stocks.

    Best New Apps to Use for Online Investments

    Stock investing apps have gained quite a reputation since the invention of the smartphone and the internet. Investment firms are now scrambling to develop mobile-friendlier apps that cater to the digital investor’s interests. The results have yielded some of the best stock trading apps the industry has to offer.

    These apps have easy-to-use features that make them perfect for quick and painless stock investments, even for first-timers. And the only requirements you need is a smartphone and an internet connection.

    As the resilience of Artificial Intelligence and intuitive software becomes more apparent in the stock trading industry, it’s also imperative that traders find the best apps with the latest tools for trading. These apps should have the latest tools and provide real-time research data and assess trading risks.

    Some of the best online apps for the job include:

    1. Robinhood
    Robinhood is one of the most renowned online stock brokerage apps that provide online traders with a completely free way to invest. The app doesn’t charge any commissions on stock, it has no minimums, and has one of the best and easy-to-use application interfaces.

    However, because Robinhood offers free investing, it doesn’t have as many perks as the other online investment apps. For instance, you won’t find features like trading tools, investing education, research, and several other investing options. But what it lacks in some areas, it makes up for in others, like providing high-tech, intuitively-designed, top-rated investing options on the market today.

    The app also allows investors to trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. But if you want to take your investing a notch higher, you can buy its premium version, Robinhood Gold, for $5 every month. The premium version gives users access to some of the apps premium features like allowing users to trade on margin, access market data, and make bigger instant deposits.

    2. Acorns
    Acorns is the next best straightforward money-making online investment app you can find today. It’s also definitely one of the best online apps for beginners. Acorns helps users learn some of the must-have investment skills to improve your chances of winning big. This is the online application that will make investing fun and turn it into a daily habit.

    To start investing with Acorns, you will need to link the application to your credit or debit card. Acorns will then round up all your purchases and move the change into your investment portfolio. This makes it one of the best apps to use, especially if you’re looking for a more hands-off investing type of approach but still want to make it your new habit.

    3. Public.Com
    Formerly known as Matador, Public also tops the list of the best stock investing apps you can find. It mixes social media with commission-free investing in creating a simple but unique platform that’s ideal for beginners.

    Public’s iOS and Android apps also help users to connect with other investors. Its developers came up with an ingenious idea to connect users with about 5,000 different securities. Another sweet deal with using the app is that you get a free stock of up to $50 if you refer a friend who signs up and starts trading.

    Public.com’s online trading app lowers the bar for beginners into the world of investing with no minimum balances needed and fractional shares available. After you’ve downloaded the app and opened an account, connect it to your bank account, and you should be set to start investing and trading.

    On the downside, more advanced investors who want to invest in cryptocurrencies or international stocks may miss out when using Public.com. But overall, this is an amazing online trading app for beginners who want to learn most, if not all, of the basics of online investments in a fun and intuitive way.

    4. Betterment
    Betterment is one of the world’s best Robo-advising platforms you can find today. The online investment guru manages and re-balances investors’ portfolios, making them stronger and more financially rewarding. Betterment is also one of the most user-friendly and easy-to-use online investment applications that can help users manage their taxable investments.

    To start investing with Betterment, you will need to answer a few questions about your financial goals, age, income, and risk tolerance. This information helps the application to evaluate you as an investor and the best investment experience with your goals. Additionally, Betterment has built-in financial guidance that’ helpful for anyone who’s still new to investing.

    It’s an excellent mobile application for both beginners and seasoned investors since it provides so much guidance to help all investors in different capacities.

    5. Webull
    Active traders who are looking for a mobile-first way to trade are better off trying Webull. This mobile app allows investors to trade ETFs, stock shares, and options to use. Webull also provides one of the simplest, bare-bone interfaces for smartphone apps. You won’t see several educational contents on the platform, but it’s still a leader when it comes to graphic analyses.

    Webull is an excellent choice, especially for investors who have some idea of what they’re doing. It also offers commission and fee-free trades for stocks, ETFs, shares, and options, making it one of the most desired options with a $0 minimum balance.

    Manage Your Stock Portfolio

    While worrying over daily fluctuations won’t do your portfolio much health, there’ll be times when you will need to check in on your investments.

    It’s always advisable that you revisit your portfolio several times a year to check if it’s still in line with your investment goals. Some few things to consider include:
    • If you are approaching retirement, it may be best to transfer some of your stock investments to more conservative fixed-income investments.
    • Pay attention to geographical diversification. It’s advisable to invest in international stocks as well to safeguard your portfolio. If possible, invest in stocks from different countries.
    • If your portfolio is heavily weighted in one industry or sector, consider buying stocks in a different industry to build more diversification.

    Limit Risks Through Diversification
    Diversification is the most popular way of managing risk exposure in the investment industry. Prudent investors always invest in stocks from different companies in different sectors, sometimes in different countries. They do this with the expectation that if a single bad event affects one stock, it doesn’t affect the rest. Diversification allows investors to recover from losses incurred from some stocks, thereby allowing investors to stay afloat.

    The first rule of trading is never to risk putting all your eggs in one basket. Also, never risk investing anything you’re not prepared to lose. This strategy is based more on the impact of margin trading. It means that you could potentially lose everything in a single trade if you’re not careful.

    Long-Term Investors Vs Short-Term Investors
    Knowing when to use short-term or long-term investments is a crucial part of growing wealth to help you reach your goals. Therefore, it’s essential that you learn all the strengths and weaknesses of short-term and long-term investments and which option is a better fit for your financial future. Here’s a quick brief on long-term investments and short-term investments.

    When to Consider Long-Term Investments
    Although some people put a lot of effort into short-term investments, getting to your goal of financial freedom isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. The earlier you start, the more you’ll be able to accumulate. The earlier you start, the more you can accumulate. And long-term investments help you to achieve this goal.

    Long-term investments are mostly assets like stocks and real estate. They are the investments that you plan on keeping for a while. This allows them to grow and allow your portfolio to grow as well since you know you won’t access them for a significant period.

    Times when it makes sense to consider long-term investments include:
    • When your retirement is 20+ years away
    • You want protection from inflation
    • You need a plan for 7 to 10 years in the future

    When to Consider Short-Term Investments
    In contrast, short-term investments are the investments you intend to use to meet your financial goals within shorter time frames. Often, they include assets like cash, bonds, and annuities. Some few scenarios where trying short-term investments make sense include:
    • You will need the money soon
    • You want a regular source of income

    The Bottom Line
    The information provided in this excerpt should help you start investing and working like a professional. One important note to keep in mind when investing is to never invest in anything that you don’t understand. Above all else, remember that it’s your money on the line. So, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you have to.

    The investment steps mentioned above should help you to stay empowered and confident, even as you start creating your retirement plan today.


  • Is Your Basement Trapping Moisture? Here’s how to Avoid Mold

    Is Your Basement Trapping Moisture? Here’s how to Avoid Mold

    Depending on where you live, basement humidity might be a serious issue for you. A damp basement can seriously affect the value of your home and can even result in structural damage. Fighting this humidity can be quite the uphill battle. If you’re at your wit’s end with a damp basement, here’s some tips for trying to dry it out!

    How to Dry out a Damp Basement

    Ventilate Well

    Make sure the basement is well-ventilated! Still, stagnate air is ideal for moisture to accumulate. Dark, still and quiet areas are also prime real estate for mold growth. The last thing you want in your house is mold! On a dry day, open doors or basement windows and put fans in the basement. Get that air circulating! Move it the heck out of your basement! Pair this with things like a dehumidifier to make sure you’re really drying the place out.

    Dehumidifier

    A straightforward solution might just be to run a dehumidifier in your basement. A lot of folks overthink their damp basement problems and don’t think about this incredibly straightforward and cost-effective solution. For around $200, a dehumidifier alone might just solve your entire problem.

    Just set up a medium-sized dehumidifier in the basement and let it run. These are a great idea for a number of reasons. For one thing, they can keep moisture buildup from resulting in dangerous puddles. For another, they can also reduce the growth of mold, which loves dark, moist areas. This means that running a dehumidifier can do wonders for your health!

    Reseal and Plug Leaks

    The concrete in your basement may need resealing if a dehumidifier alone can’t solve your problem. If this is the case, don’t panic.  If you’re noticing a lot of condensation through the concrete walls or floor of your basement, you can address the problem by resealing the concrete. You can go to any hardware store and find concrete paint and sealer. There are varieties for both walls and floors, so make sure you get the one that addresses your specific issues.

    While you’re resealing your concrete, make sure you address any potential leaks too. Things like basement windows, openings for your dryer to vent heat and the like can be entryways for a lot of moisture. This is especially true in rainy regions or during wet times of the year. Make sure to seal these areas well with silicone seals or weather strips. Then, make sure you run a dehumidifier and ventilate the area well.

    Address Any Issues with your Gutters

    If your gutters have spouts that let out close to your foundation, they could be pouring water into your basement. This can ruin even the best weather-treatment or sealing. To remedy this, make sure the spouts from your gutters let out at least four feet from your home. Additionally, make sure that the water that leaves the spout runs downhill away from your home. It won’t do any good to just have it roll back into your house!

    This is better for you home in general, too, not just your basement. The erosion this can cause around your foundation is pretty severe. The value of a home with a compromised foundation is negligible compared to one with a solid foundation! This should be high on your list of considerations if you have gutters that let out near your home.

    Air Out Wet Items Outside

    If you’ve got wet items from the basement flooding or just general dampness, take them out of the basement. It might seem like a good place to air them out but think about it. If you’re trying to dry the basement out, you really don’t need to have damp items airing out. That’s just going to work against all the hard work you’re doing trying to dry the place!

    Instead, take things like wet suitcases or furniture outside to a patio or deck. That way, they’re exposed to open air and sunlight and will dry out much faster. This also ensures that your home isn’t exposed to even more moisture! If the items you’re drying can’t go outside, consider drying them in the garage or a bedroom that is well ventilated.


  • Best Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    Best Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    Some people really just love cleaning. For other people, it’s a chore they hate but they’ve got to do it. In either event, you’re going to want the very best kitchen cleaning supplies when you go to clean up. If you’re not rocking the best kitchen cleaning supplies then you’re not getting the best clean!

    Best Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    Wring Mop

    Sometimes the classics are well-worth using. The old-school wring-mop is fantastic for floors that aren’t made of wood. Tile, concrete and the like are ideal surfaces for using an old-school wring mop. Make sure you get a good detergent and some hot water, and maybe a bit of vinegar, and you can clean up most any mess on a non-wood floor.

    You know what they say: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it! This is a critical cleaning supply for kitchens without wood floors.

    Non-cellulose Sponge

    Another great example of a classic kitchen cleaning supply that you should rely on is the non-cellulose sponge. Why non-cellulose? Well, their design doesn’t trap in water that will act as a bacteria-spawning hotbed. That means the normal bad smell and stains associated with sponges don’t come into play here!

    Sponges are great for use on surfaces like countertops that you can’t clean with a mop. After all, you can’t get your mop up that high! Sponges work wonders cleaning appliances like fridges and stoves, too. Make sure you pair them with a good detergent and warm water for best effect!

    Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products

    A lot of reviewers rave over Mrs. Meyers brand cleaning products. They offer a wide variety of products that are must-haves for cleaning! Whether you’re just getting started with your own place or you’ve been cleaning for a while, you should invest in this cleaner. It’s great at breaking up accumulations of dirt and leaves a great smell behind.

    If you’re environmentally conscious, good news: Mrs. Meyers is too! It’s environmentally friendly without sacrificing cleaning power. That’s the definition of a win-win! It comes in a variety of pleasant scents that aren’t overpowering, making your kitchen smell great while you clean.

    The best part of Mrs. Meyers products is the price, though! From their website you can often find great deals on the product. Right now you can even get three bottles sixteen-ounce bottles for $9! That makes this product less expensive on average than leading brands! That’s hard to beat!

    Coconut Oil Spray

    Hear us out! We know it sounds weird, but coconut oil can play a vital role in your kitchen cleaning. For one thing, it’s all-natural, which is a huge bonus. For another thing, it’s a fantastic furniture polish! If you have furniture or leather in your kitchen, such as your kitchen table or chairs, coconut oil spray is a must. When used in conjunction with sponges and scrubbing, it can make your kitchen pieces look amazing!

    Microfiber Cloths

    The type of cloths you use to clean eyeglasses are amazing for kitchen cleaning. Whether you’re cleaning counters, floors, tables or anything else, microfiber cloths are amazing. They don’t trap water or bacteria, they dry really rapidly and they work on everything. Using them on a variety of surfaces will show you just how great they are!

    They’re also super handy for cleaning in other parts of the house. For instance, if you’ve got a flat-screen TV that needs to be cleaned, a dry microfiber cloth alone can do wonders.

    Bona Mop

    Bona brand mops are similar in some ways to Swiffer wet mops. The main similarity is in the way they both work well on wooden floors. If you live in an older home with an original wood floor, you know how difficult it can be to maintain. So many cleaners are bad about stripping the finish and damaging the wood.

    Thankfully, the Bona Mop and Bono Floor Cleaner are made to help maintain wooden floors. The cleaner is gentle on wood but great at cleaning up messes. If you’re trying to clean an older wooden floor, you might be at a loss as to how you’ll be able to get it clean without damaging it. That’s where Bona comes in!

    When it comes to cleaning, you’ll need a wide variety of supplies. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, we hope it helps you get started in cleaning your kitchens like a professional!


  • The Tools You Need to Protect Yourself from Cyber Criminals

    The Tools You Need to Protect Yourself from Cyber Criminals

    Cyber crime is a major problem in our internet-based world. More than 90% of all transactions now occur digitally, and all of your data is stored on some database somewhere. Your most sensitive information is on the internet and it may even be unsecured as you’re reading this. There are over 4,000 cyber crimes committed every single day, and any of them could be attempts to get to your data. New crimes require new methods of protecting yourself. Here are some of the tools you need to protect yourself from cyber criminals.

    Tools to Protect Yourself from Cyber Criminals

    Why Now?

    You might be asking why this is suddenly such a huge concern. The internet has been a major part of our lives for more than 20 years now. Haven’t these cyber criminals all been stopped by now? Well, unfortunately, cyber crime isn’t going away any time soon. In fact, it’s on the rise now more than ever. In 2017 alone there were 27% more online crimes committed than in 2016. As the world becomes more connected, your data is more vulnerable than ever.

    Going online without the tools you need to protect yourself from online criminals is like walking through a dark alley alone at night while wearing a nice watch. Do you deserve to be mugged for that? No, absolutely not. Should you expect to be? Sadly, that’s the world we live in. If you go online and start making purchases or paying bills without any protection, it’s a matter of when your data gets stolen, not if. Unfortunately this is just the way cyber criminals operate. There’s a way to keep yourself safe, though, and that’s through information security technology.

    Information Security

    Information security technology is offered by sites like Lifelock, Norton, McAfee and the like. These security suites, as they are called, are typically paid services that allow you to browse without worrying about your data. They offer you peace of mind by giving you a number of services that keep your data private and make it much harder to steal.

    The ways they do this vary from suite to suite and can change based on the level of security you’re after. One of the main ways these security suites can keep you safe is through encryption. Data encryption is a process by which data is translated into incomprehensible gibberish that can only be deciphered by possessing the encryption key. This is a lot like old-school spy codes that replace letters with other letter and can be decoded with the right key.

    Encryption might not be foolproof, but it makes your data that much harder to steal. Generally, cyber criminals can’t be bothered to go to the work of decrypting a complex cypher, so they’ll sooner avoid your data altogether.

    Other Security Measures

    That’s not the only security you need to keep in mind online, though. Most security suites also include firewalls or virus protection. These are computer scripts or programs that intercept fishy lines of code that might be viruses. Many viruses exist solely to cause problems on your computer by replicating themselves and slowing your system down. More malicious viruses, however, may include commands that involve copying your keystrokes and sending your passwords to criminals.

    Another way to avoid keystroke-logging viruses would be through using a password manager. Password managers are another great aspect of cyber security you can use to keep your information safe online! They are typically paid services, some of which are included with security suites, that keep track of your passwords across different sites. Generally these services encrypt your password and help keep your information safe from outside parties by making your passwords complex strings of letters and numbers.

    Virtual Private Networks

    Another favorite tool to stymie online criminals is through use of a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, like Nord. VPNs allow you to use private servers to connect to the internet, which helps you to steer clear of seedier elements online. VPNs often can boost your internet speeds, as well, allowing you to connect more quickly and avoid data throttling and slowdown.

    Another widely-used but often maligned use of VPNs is “geo-spoofing,” a process through which a user tricks a site into thinking they are physically somewhere else. This is often used to sidestep regional blackouts on media. While many sites don’t appreciate this use of VPNs, it’s one of the most common reasons people use them. Most VPNs require a monthly fee to access, though there are some free ones out there, too.


  • The Best Deals on Rugs: Floor it!

    The Best Deals on Rugs: Floor it!

    If you’ve got hardwood floors, this winter might be reminding you just how cold they can be. If that’s the case, you’re probably looking for area rugs. Here are some of the best deals on rugs you can find. Remember, no house is complete without these gorgeous additions.

    Best Deals on Rugs

    Home Depot

    Home Depot carries more than just home improvement supplies. Believe it or not, they also have some of the best deals on rugs. If you’re in the market for an elegant floor rug, look no further than Home Depot. They have everything from modern-style designs to classic, oriental-style rugs.

    No matter what you’re in the market for, large or small, you can find an affordable area rug to accommodate your needs at Home Depot.

    RugsUSA

    RugsUSA, as their name suggests, carries some of the best deals on rugs you’ll find online. Shopping online has a number of benefits when compared to shopping in store. For one thing, when you shop online you can avoid spending money on gas and wasting time standing in line.

    Not to mention, when you shop online you don’t need to worry about carting a huge area rug home. You can compare the styles you like side-by-side and sort by any criteria you like. RugsUSA has a fantastic user interface that makes it easy to navigate and find what you like.

    Best of all, their prices are quite competitive. The best part of shopping online is being able to compare prices on the fly without a salesperson nearby pressuring you. It’s a win-win!

    Target

    Target doesn’t have the deepest in-store inventory of rugs, but they do carry a number of area rugs online. If you check in-store, you’ll see that the inventory they do carry is high-quality and not terribly expensive. The best deals can be found online, though!

    Much like with RugsUSA, Target has an excellent online store you can shop from. You can compare prices and find the best rug for your home, all while hanging out at your house. What’s better than shopping in your PJs? Not much, by our count.


  • Best Online Investment Apps! Start Earning Now

    Best Online Investment Apps! Start Earning Now

    Investing in the Stock Market can be daunting. There are a ton of moving parts and the big players all seem like Wall Street types. The good news is, the age of the smartphone has made investing super simple and easy. Where once you might have had to contact a broker to be your proxy on the exchange, you can now just use an app. There are a ton of options out there, though. How do you know which investment app is the best? Well, we’ve got our ten favorites for you to check out! 

    Bloomberg 

    Photo Credit: Bloomberg 

    A well-known name in money management, Bloomberg’s app is great for investing. Combining breaking money news and investing tips, Bloomberg has it all. The app even offers personalized news, so you can watch the companies you invest in.  

    If you’re as interested in the “why” of the stock market as you are in making money off of it, try Bloomberg. 

    Benzinga

    Photo Credit: iTunes 

    Benzinga is great for investors who want insatnt information. By opening the app, you get immediate stock quotes, no need for waiting or skimming over news you don’t want. Acting as something of a punchy investment app, Benzinga is good for those who want to forge their own way. It has social media options, too, letting you share trending stock info to sites like Twitter.  

    Benzinga can also give you push notifications when news relevant to your investments breaks. It also offers some premium features for those who want a more in-depth experience. If you get the subscription you access features like live analysts to answer questions and audio news. 

    CNBC

    Photo Credit: DownloadMyMobileApp.com 

    CNBC is a great news app for those who want to see a little bit from every source. Their app is clean and user-friendly, presenting data in an immediate, digestible format. Many investors swear by the process of synthesizing news from as many sources as you can stand to read. CNBC’s app is a fantastic way to achieve such wide-ranging research without having to dig across the internet. A great resource for novices and veterans alike! 

    Fidelity Investments

    Photo Credit: iTunes 

    Fidelity Investments’ app is great for more experienced investors looking to move to something more in-depth. The app offers in-depth charts and daily video coverage of market trends. It also offers notifications for when prices go above or below certain thresholds. It has a comprehensive news section and offers multiple money-management tools. This is a great choice for those who have become more adept in their online investing! 

    Motif Explorer

    Photo Credit: The Divided Ninja 

    Motif is a cool way to introduce the stock market to people who are curious about the exchange. The app’s creators track various world events to see which could cause the market to shift. Portfolios, or motifs, based on those observations are generated. For instance, they might have a profile on clean energy, and if you invest in that motif your money would be invested in various clean energy companies. The app works to find which motifs are trending upwards and help you invest accordingly.  

    While Motif Explorer isn’t the best for large, serious investing, it is interesting for newcomers. Consider this one if you’re interested in dipping your toe in investing. 

    TD Ameritrade 

    Photo Credit: TD Ameritrade 

    This app gets a nod for being a great, bare-bones app with no frills. If you’re looking to not have your hand held and just start investing, check this one out. It offers real-time view of the stock exchange, mobile trading, fund exchange and other basic features.  

    Most notably, this app has a feature called Snapstock. This feature lets you use your phone camera to take a picture of a barcode. Then, the app pulls up the company that makes the product that barcode is attached to. That way, if you see an item in a store and think “this is going to be huge,” you can find them and invest on the fly from your phone. 

    Yahoo! Finance

    Photo Credit: Geeky Gadgets 

    Surely, you’ve heard of these guys? Jokes aside, Yahoo! Finance has a great app for beginner investors. The app has a gorgeous, clean design reminiscent of Apple’s native iPhone stocks app. The design is personalized to your investments and offers a great dashboard to see what stocks are trending. It also features news and trending stocks at a glance. All in all, this app is great for those just starting out who want to get their stock info at a glance.  

    Stock Market Simulator

    Photo Credit: APK-DI.com 

    This mock investment app is a stress-free simulator to show newbie investors the ropes. You start with $10,000 in virtual money with no value and can mock invest in an echo of the real stock market. The echo updates fifteen minutes behind the real exchange. While this isn’t meant to be a tool to predict actual investment trends, it is useful to show newcomers what the exchange looks like. It allows them to experiment without risking their actual money. 

    SigFig

     

    Photo Credit: Apptentive 

    This investment app is quite good for newcomers. SigFig offers advanced optimization tools for portfolios, helping you manage your money. You take a profile quiz to tell the app the ways you like to take risks with your money. You get a personalized investment plan, put money in the account, and off it goes. It’s like a digital broker! 

    The app also offers investment advice for first-time investors. The only downside is that it only shows you three years back of your investment, where most apps opt for five- or even ten-year retrospectives. That said, this is still an awesome choice for newcomers. 

    Our Favorite Beginner Investment App: Acorns

    Photo Credit: Cult of Mac 

    The Acorns app is pretty awesome. This investment app works by investing your loose change into a diversified portfolio. The idea is that you set it up with your credit or debit card, and then the app rounds up your regular purchases and invests the small amounts of money in accounts recommend by Harry Markowitz. Markowitz, for his part, has won a Nobel Prize for his work as an economist, so you know your money is in good hands. 

    Acorns is meant to be a “set it and forget it” service, in their COO Jeff Cruttenden’s own words. The service does have a small monthly fee, but as long as you keep small amounts of money in it, you probably won’t notice it. This service is great for those who’d like to invest but don’t know where to start. 


  • Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying Laptops

    Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying Laptops

    If you’re shopping for a laptop for your kids going back to school, or just looking for something to help you with productivity, there’s a lot to choose from. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for laptops on the lower end to distance themselves from competition in the form of tablets and even smartphones. As such, tons of weird gimmicks have started showing up on laptops across the entire market, and they can be hard to sift through.

    When you’re shopping for a new laptop, there are a few basic mistakes you’ll want to take care to avoid. Whether they’re experienced tech junkies or relative newcomers, here are the basic mistakes that people make when they’re shopping for a new laptop.

    Paying too Much

    Some of the higher-end laptops you’ll find are downright amazing. However, that doesn’t mean that every expensive laptop is a good deal. If a laptop feels like it’s straining your budget for you to fit it into your purchases, it’s likely rocking some features that are completely unnecessary. Don’t get suckered in to paying a huge upcharge for a 4K display, 4TB of memory and 12GB of RAM when the laptop is going to be used for taking notes and watching YouTube videos.

    Along this same line of reasoning, make sure you know what display resolution you’re comfortable with. If you want to use a laptop for lots of Netflix streaming, video games and photo editing, you might want to opt for the full 4K resolution. However, if you’re buying for a student so they can write research papers and check their email, then you might go for a 720p screen that costs less than half the price.

    Undershooting Your Needs

    On the flip side, if you buy a laptop entirely based on “oh, this is the cheapest one I could find!” then you’re likely going to get what you pay for. If your laptop barely has any storage or RAM, then you’ll find it quickly running out of usefulness for you. Likewise, if you need a lot of applications running at once but opt for a dual-core processor over a quad-core processor, just because the dual-core was cheaper, you’ve only short-changed yourself.

    When you’re buying a laptop, have a good idea of your needs. When you know what you need, then it’s easier to set your price point. If you undershoot what you need, then you’ll have issues on you hands that you won’t be able to fix until you just buy the laptop you should have bought in the first place. Likewise, if you overshoot and buy something hilariously overpowered for what you need, then you’ve wasted a ton of money on bells and whistles that aren’t helping you.

    Not Trying it Out

    Would you ever buy a car without test driving it, or a home without touring it? If you would, then, congratulations on your huge piles of disposable cash. However, people with normal budgets try things before buying them, and your laptop should be no exception. The prevalence of online buying has made this a bit less common in recent years, but this is a disturbing trend. It’s important that you try out any complex piece of technology before you buy it.

    The feel of the keyboard, the speed of the processors and the appearance of the resolution are all important things to see in person. Even minor touches, like the shape and weight of the laptop, are hard to gauge just by looking at stats and dimensions on a cold web page. Little things like the sensitivity of the touch pad or the lack of certain features might not jump off the page at you, but would be immediately apparent if you tried the device in-person.


  • The Gift of Music: How to Do It the Right Way

    The Gift of Music: How to Do It the Right Way

    Everyone has those people in life that are very hard to shop for. I mean what are you to get the person that has everything? Music. Music is always the best gift,  and for the people that have everything, it’s often the only gift. Music is universal and received by everyone. No one can have all of it or appreciate all of it,  which makes it such a great gift.

    The best part about giving music as a gift is there are so many different ways to do it. You can give equipment, earbuds, speakers, listening peripherals, or just new music that you think they would enjoy. The options are virtually endless. Let’s take a look at some of the best music gift ideas you can give your friends, family,  and loved ones.

    Streaming Subscriptions

    When gifting music the first place to start is the easiest place to start. That is a subscription to new music. Starting at $9.99 a month there is a plethora of streaming music subscription services. The subscriptions will allow you to stream, download, and listen to unlimited music, new, retro or classic. Whatever you wanna hear, whenever you wanna hear it.

    The first one I would mention is Apple Music. Apple Music has the largest subscription-based of users as well as the largest database of music. They’ve been compiling music in their iTunes software since the beginning of digital music. Almost all the music you could ever want to listen to is there is a very easy to use, intuitive,  user-friendly platform that syncs perfectly amongst all your iOS devices.

    The next option is Amazon’s Prime Music. Prime Music functions mostly like the Apple subscription services. Prime music will sync across all your Amazon prime devices,  you can even download the prime music app to your iOS or Android devices.

    This provides flexibility in your multiple and various OS mobile devices. There are also services like Iheartradio, Pandora, and Spotify. All the services will run you $9.99 a month and make an excellent gift for anyone who doesn’t have unlimited streaming music service.

    Harmonica?

    Maybe you want something tangible to give? Another great option to give somebody is the gift of a musical instrument. Regardless of talent level, Giving the gift of a musical instrument is always welcome. This will give you some options as well, the classic iconic instrument, a keyboard or guitar,  or you can get interesting like a banjo or harmonica. It’s fun, always remembered, and just may improve someone’s life.  If that’s not exactly what you been looking for, Here are some specific music listening devices that will make great gifts.

    Amazon Echo

    The Amazon Echo is one of Amazon’s premier speaker systems. It is an elegant and easy to use this quality speaker. It doubles as a speaker for most of your devices and comes with Amazon’s Alexa voice-enabled assistant fully built in. Full cloud sync-ability to prime music,  you can add in that subscription for a total music package. Synchronization across your devices lets the Amazon echo provide the ultimate in home music listening enjoyment. The Echo gives the gift of high-quality speaker along with the content to play through it.

    The Sonos Vinyl Set

    Are you looking for a gift for someone who likes that hands-on music experience? Do they like the sound they can feel and touch? At the same time want to have that digital proficiency and quality without suffering the nostalgic sound of crackles and pops. Look no further than Sonos’s new vinyl set. Picture this, the Play:5, the best-sounding, most powerful speaker, matched with the Pro-Ject vinyl record player, allowing you to stream your vinyl to every room. Masterful.

    Did I mention, the Pro-Ject includes built-in phono preamp. Outstanding. They will be able to just plug in any audio device, from a record player to a friend’s phone, and listen to their favorite music on the fantastic Play:5. Like all Sonos speakers, it is expandable.  The Sonos vinyl easily let you go from streaming your favorite music and high-quality sounds to spinning from your own record collection.

    Give the gift of streaming vinyl across the connected Sonos speakers to every room in a pure, balanced sound,  unmatched by anybody else in the industry. Give the gift of their own musical completion, The Sonos Vinyl set.

    Beats Studio3

    You could just try keeping it simple and just go with the old trusty Beats headsets. When you want to give the gift of quality music look no further than beats headphones. The best of the beats headphones are the Beats. Featuring intuitive balanced, pure noise canceling functionality in the most robust and authentic sounding headphones on the market.

    These headsets function flawlessly regardless of the situation or noisy environment that you’re in,  always providing the perfect pure balance sound and they look pretty great.


  • Botox Treatments: How do they Work?

    Botox Treatments: How do they Work?

    Botox treatments are the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the world! How much do you know about this popular procedure, though? Maybe you’ve heard about the muscle-paralyzing effects of the procedure, or maybe you’ve just heard that the procedure helps to eliminate wrinkles. Today we’re looking at the treatment, the chemical in question, and whether Botox might be a good idea for you.

    Botox Treatments

    What is Botox?

    The Botox treatment involves using a carefully controlled dose of a neurotoxin to paralyze some of the muscles in your face. That might sound pretty scary, but as long as a professional is applying the procedure it’s perfectly safe. The toxin itself, botulinum toxin, is created in laboratory settings by manipulating a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.

    The toxin itself is unbelievably dangerous, and is one of the most poisonous substances to humans that science has ever studied. It is estimated that a single gram of botulinum toxin could kill over a million humans, and only a few kilograms could wipe out the entire human race. That’s a pretty scary thought!

    The Toxin

    The toxin itself usually has to be lab-made to be deadly to humans. The bacteria that create it normally don’t do so in their natural environments, unless they transform into vegetative cells. In nature Clostridium botulinum is often found near lakes, in forests and in soil. It often lives in the intestinal tract of small mammals, and can often be found in the gills of fish.

    In high concentrations, the toxin these bacteria create results in a medical condition called botulism. Botulism typically results in serious respiratory distress in affected people, and, if left untreated, results in death. While this all may sound rather scary, the botulinum toxin still has proven to be a successful therapeutic protein.

    What it Does

    Botulinum toxin, when used in small quantities and applied correctly, can paralyze muscles in a very localized fashion. It does this by blocking proteins before they can reach the nerve cells in the muscles. You’ve likely seen the jokes about people getting Botox and being unable to move their facial muscles: this protein-blocking action is the reason why.

    In order for muscles to work correctly, a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine has to be released. It binds to receptors in the muscles and this, in turn, causes the muscles to contract. It’s pretty simple in theory, but in your body is occurs millions of times in a short span of time and across your entire bodily structure. Botulinum toxin is capable of simply cutting this neurotransmitter off at the source, resulting in paralysis. This is what gives it the title “neurotoxin.”

    In Cosmetic Procedures

    All of the scary, nerve-blocking functions would be terrifying in a large dose, of course. In a controlled dose, however, this toxin can have some interesting cosmetic effects. Namely, Botox procedures are normally aimed at reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles or fine lines. It does so through its normal function of blocking proteins and paralyzing muscles, but in a highly localized area.

    By paralyzing these muscles, the intended effect is to cause the face to appear smoother and more youthful. Typically it takes a day or so for the toxin to take effect, though, when it does, it can result in facial stiffness for a few days while the body deals with the toxin. Following the procedure, many find their facial appearance to be much smoother, their wrinkles being reduced.

    There are a few side effects that can occur with the procedure, however. The most common ones include nausea, headaches or migraines, double vision and a general feeling of fatigue. Rarer side effects could include redness or local edema at the injection site, trouble swallowing, neck stiffness or weakness, dry mouth and other side effects.