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  • Best Wireless Routers for 2019

    Best Wireless Routers for 2019

    When you rely on your internet for your entertainment, your work or just your leisure time, you want the best. Maybe you’re paying for the best internet money can buy but your devices still seem sluggish. Maybe it’s your wireless router. Today we’re looking at some of the best wireless routers that money can buy.

    Best Wireless Routers for 2019

    Google WiFi

    Google’s proprietary WiFi router, the aptly named Google WiFi, is great for people with large homes. The puck-shaped router can be set up in a net-style array, and will cast your wireless signal across a larger space. Just set up a router in each part of your house that you want to cover and Google WiFi will do the work.

    This mesh technology tends to work better than simple range boosters. The reason for this is that Google’s tech uses the smaller WiFi receivers as satellites for the signal, catching it and amplifying it in the area nearby. This makes it easier to cover dead zones in your home.

    ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300

    If you want the best of the best, you want the Rapture GT-AC5300. Asus’s entry in the crowded high-end router market was made with performance in mind, and the price shows it. The hefty $400 price tag might incite some sticker shock, but it more than makes up for this with its strength and features.

    The incredibly speedy Rapture router was literally made with gaming in mind. The through-put is blisteringly fast, and you’ll experience no trouble connecting. There’s tons of I/O ports for the gamers out there, and a great management console for customizing your experience. If you take gaming seriously, this huge router is for you.

    Asus RT-AC66U B1 Dual-Band

    Another entry from Asus, this router is much less expensive. Coming in around $100, the RT-AC66U is great for all-purpose internet use. It’s speedy, but not blisteringly so. It sports four LAN parts and three non-removable antenna. The signal strength is solid and the throughput is fast enough for general gaming and streaming.

    The only drawbacks to this snappy little router are its sub-par file transfer speeds and its clunky, non-removable antenna. However, thanks to its low price point and easy set-up, this is an easy router to recommend. If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money but still want a great router for all your internet needs, this is the one you should be looking at.

  • Best Cell Phones Money Can Buy in 2019

    Best Cell Phones Money Can Buy in 2019

    Smartphones have hit something of a plateau in the last two years. While previous generations of phones were revolutionary, the last two have been more evolutionary. Leaps and bounds have given way to baby steps.

    That doesn’t mean the top-of-the-line isn’t still the most impressive type of phone you can find! It just means that this year’s high-end doesn’t look too different from last year’s. However, these are the top-of-the-line, and the best phones you can buy.

    Best Phones Money Can Buy

    Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

    Samsung is known for being one of the best phone manufacturers in the world. Their stellar Galaxy line has been a defining flagship of Android for years now. The newest entry, the S10, is no exception, and it’s bigger brother, the S10, is one of our favorite smartphones. It has a huge, gorgeous OLED display, cutting-edge specs under the hood and great cameras.

    If you love Android over iOS, this is the best phone you can get on the platform. The cameras are killer, taking pictures of great quality in numerous conditions. The processor is fast and responsive, and multitasking is easy on this great phone. The only drawback? That huge $1000 price point.

    iPhone XS

    The iPhone X introduced a new paradigm for Apple’s handsets in 2017. Removing the home button and increasing the screen size to a nearly bezel-free display dramatically changed the look of the phone. The iPhone XS is all that, plus a newer A12 Bionic chip that makes other smartphones look like calculators.

    Apple’s product design might be your cup of tea or it might put you off. We’ll leave that question of taste to you: however, if you want the best iPhone on the market, it’s the XS. If you don’t mind paying a bit more, the XS Max sports a huge battery and a huge 6.5 inch AMOLED screen.

    Google Pixel 3

    The makers of the Android operating system bring in their best hardware with the Pixel 3. The Google Pixel 3 is most well-known for its incredible camera. By some metrics, the Pixel 3 has one of the best cameras you can find on a smartphone.

    The Pixel 3 is a great competitor to the Samsung line of phones, bringing a big, vibrant display and great features like a Night Mode for shooting pictures in the dark. If you’re an Android fan who wants to take pictures with their phone a lot, the Pixel 3 is for you.

  • Best Bluetooth Headphones: Top-Quality Audio

    Best Bluetooth Headphones: Top-Quality Audio

    Everyone loves rocking out to their favorite songs. The only thing better than jamming is jamming with no wires! Today we’re going to look at some of the best Bluetooth headphones money can buy. Let’s get down to some great tunes with these awesome Bluetooth headphones!

    Best Bluetooth Headphones

    Bose QuietComfort 35 II

    Bose is a leading name in audio devices for a good reason. They consistently release top-notch hardware, and the QuietComfort 35 II is no exception. Industry-leading noise cancellation makes these wireless headphones irreplaceable on long plane rides.

    The audio quality is spacious and superb, delivering pumping bass and great range. There’s an active equalizer going on here that is a little unusual at first, but it can be a good thing for certain songs. If you don’t mind the somewhat drab appearance, this is one of the best pairs of headphones $350 can buy.

    Sony WH-1000XM3

    You knew Sony was going to show up on this list. Their WH-1000XM3 headphones are top-notch, offering a ton of killer features. There’s noise-canceling, superb audio quality and a very long battery life all packed in here. Available for around $350, these aren’t budget headphones, but trust us: you get what you pay for.

    The audio quality on these headphones is stellar for a wireless, over-ear pair. The 30-hour battery life is great for frequent fliers and audiophiles alike. Likewise, the noise cancellation means you won’t hear that baby crying two rows over.

    Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless

    If you don’t mind paying a full $700, the Amiron Wireless headphones from Beyerdynamic are truly the best of the best. These headphones have unparalleled sound and best even some conventional headphones. Whether you’re a strict audiophile who wants the most accurate playback or simply a fan of luxury items, there’s a lot to love about these headphones.

    It’s worth noting that these headphones cost double what the other two sets on this list cost. However, they’re not twice as good. Both Bose and Sony’s headsets are killer options for a much lower price. Likewise, these Beyerdynamic headphones don’t travel well, making Sony and Bose better choices for commuters.

    However, if you’re looking for a wireless pair of headphones that has unrivalled sound quality, this is it. Impressing your friends or just people on the street is one upshot, and having the highest quality playback is another. The build is top-notch, the sound is spacious and breathtaking, and the price will knock your socks off. That’s Beyerdynamic for you.

  • Google Stadia: What is it, and What Does it Mean?

    Google Stadia: What is it, and What Does it Mean?

    Google recently announced their upcoming Stadia game-streaming service, and people have been talking. Google promises seamless streaming of 4K, AAA game without the end-user needing any hardware besides a screen and an internet connection. Is this too good to be true? What could this mean for the gaming industry?

    Google Stadia

    Is This Real Life?

    Game streaming actually isn’t all that new. The technology for streaming games has been used by other companies to limited success previously. Notably, Capcom even allowed Resident Evil VII to stream to the Nintendo Switch in Japan. However, reviewers have noted that big, AAA games require a pretty good, stable internet connection to run well.

    If Google’s promised 4K game streaming is to become a reality, internet infrastructure in the US will be a hurdle to overcome. Many people that live in rural areas simply don’t have access to lightning-fast internet. Without that, how will they stream the kinds of games Google is promising?

    Pricing

    A big question mark regarding Stadia, at the moment, is the business model. Will this be a subscription service that gives the user access to a library of games for a monthly fee? Will the service itself be free but require you to buy games? Or, worst of all could these just be game “rentals” that charge you for play time?

    Pricing will be a huge factor in Stadia’s performance. We speculate that the most successful permutation for Google would be to operate a Netflix-like subscription service. You pay, say, $20 per month and get access to a library of games. No fuss, no mess, games on demand. Everyone is happy. This, however, isn’t all to consider.

    Ownership

    One of the concerns raised by many gamers following the Stadia announcement is anxiety over ownership. At present, most games get physical media releases. The physical media, whether it be disk or cartridge, contains the game’s data. That means you can play it even long after its developer and publisher stop supporting it.

    The same isn’t true of a service like Stadia. With Stadia, you don’t actually own the games, as Google’s servers have all of the data. If you want to play a game that isn’t on the service anymore, well tough. Likewise, if you want to sell your old games that you aren’t playing anymore, you can’t. You don’t own them, so you have nothing to show for the money you’ve spent gaming.

    Bottom Line

    Will Google Stadia shake up the gaming landscape and make consoles obsolete? Or, will it fizzle out like many of Google’s other ill-fated ventures? Time will tell. Until then, we’re eagerly awaiting news on when Stadia launches, and how much it’ll cost.

  • Automation: Could Self-Driving Cars Put People Out of Work?

    Automation: Could Self-Driving Cars Put People Out of Work?

    Automation is a specter that hangs over the modern worker. The pace of technological advancement makes it difficult to keep up with certain careers. In the past 20 years, fields like web design and programming have exploded, while other fields are in danger of disappearing.

    One such field is that of the professional driver. Truckers, cab drivers and delivery drivers are all at risk of having their jobs rendered obsolete by automation. What kind of time table could such jobs be working under, and how will automation impact them?

    Automation and Drivers

    Obsoletion

    The average truck driver makes upwards of $50,000 per year, a great rate for a field that doesn’t require a high school diploma. As such, the threat of having their job vanish is mortifying for some truckers. While some truckers may be able to transfer into programming jobs, such a pivot certainly won’t be possible for all of them.

    The average truck driver is 55 years old, which means that continuing education would be difficult. Needless to say, the average trucker isn’t going to take up web design. Cab drivers, delivery drivers and the like are also subject to this new technology deleting their jobs.

    Timetable

    Self-driving cars aren’t exactly happening tomorrow. There are still numerous kinks that need to be worked out, and the technology is still in a formative state. There are often reports of self-driving tech getting into accidents and misreading situations. What’s the likelihood that this formative technology is taking anyone’s job any time soon?

    Frankly, it’s low. However, four or five years might be a reasonable timetable to keep in mind. There are a number of companies that are looking into self-driving cars, but even the most optimistic of guesses has proper self-driving tech hitting the market in 2021.

    What to Do

    What is one to do about this situation? If you’re currently a driver, you have time. Perhaps now is a good time to look into expanding your skills into a different field. Learning to code might seem tough, but jobs in programming are only becoming more desirable as time goes on.

    Outside of programming, there are tons of jobs you could look into. Continuing education, if you’re able to pursue it, is a great option if you’re worried about obsoletion. However, many people are apprehensive that not all hard-working drivers will be able to pursue this path and could be on the way to financial disaster.

  • 5G Smartphones: What Phones Will Use the New 5G Tech?

    5G Smartphones: What Phones Will Use the New 5G Tech?

    5G technology is on the horizon, and we can expect to see the first phones using the new tech by the end of the year. Many people have wondered what the first phones using the tech will be.

    Today we’re going to delve a bit deeper into 5G technology and the smartphones we can expect to take advantage of it.

    5G Smartphones

    5G Technology

    5G technology, for the uninformed, is the next step in wireless connections. If you remember back when 3G was phased out in favor of 4G LTE, you’re familiar with what this process looks like. Originally, 4G was only available in large metro areas and only on the newest and best smartphones.

    The roll-out of 5G tech is likely to track quite similarly. Much like 4G LTE, 5G is a huge step up in terms of speed and accuracy. It will likely first be rolled out to primarily large cities where it can service the largest numbers of users. Over time, it will be rolled out nationwide.

    The Phones

    Most phones that are on the market today will not have 5G compatibility, so this likely won’t even affect you until you upgrade. You won’t need to upgrade for a bit unless you’re living in an early-access area like New York or LA, though.

    If you’re interested in future-proofing, you can pick up one of these 5G-enabled phones in the coming months as they become available.

    Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

    Samsung will be coming out of the gate strong with a 5G version of their Galaxy S10. What can we say about the Galaxy S10 that hasn’t already been said? It’s a great phone with a great suite of useful features, a beautiful display and a stellar processor. Add lightning-fast 5G speeds to that and you’ve got a real winner.

    iPhone 12

    We know what you’re thinking: iPhone 12? They haven’t even released the 11 yet! Well, rumor has it that Apple likely won’t be rolling out 5G integration on this year’s upgrade. Given the slow roll-out of 5G nationally, Apple’s focus won’t be on that tech until 2020, with the eventual launch of the iPhone 12.

    Huawei Mate X

    If you don’t mind importing, or dealing with a somewhat shady company, the Huawei Mate X will be releasing later this year. This folding, 5G-ready phone looks like a sci-fi device. The Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has been in hot water recently over some scandals, but they still make great phones.

  • Top Ten Dreamcast Games of All Time

    Top Ten Dreamcast Games of All Time

    Twenty years after the release of Sega’s final home console, many people in the modern era look back at the Dreamcast with a bittersweet feeling. While the system was the final time Sega released new hardware, it was also well ahead of its time and something of a powerhouse in 1999.

    Today, in honor of the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the system’s American release, we’re looking at the top ten Dreamcast games of all time. From fast-paced action games to off-the-wall puzzlers and everything in between, the Dreamcast was quite the special system.

    Top Ten Dreamcast Games

    10. Rez

    Rez, a trippy, otherworldly shooter that is equal parts rhythm and bullet-hell, showed us just how creative games could be. The journey the player undertakes is equal parts strange and wonderful, engrossing and beautiful all at once.

    As you kill your enemies and avoid damage, the world around you morphs and becomes less wireframe and more psychedelic. It’s a great experience, one you should definitely seek out if you love off-the-wall gaming experiences.

    9. Jet Grind Radio

    The cell-shaded, streetwise anthem of disobedience called Jet Grind Radio (Jet Set Radio outside of the States) blew critics away when it launched. The funky soundtrack, slick presentation and fun roller-blading movement system all make the game an awesome experience even today.

    While the first game was partly overlooked by American gamers, the series got a second chance with the sequel, Jet Set Radio Future, which made its way to Microsoft’s Xbox a few years later.

    8. Crazy Taxi

    Sega was known for its bold, in-your-face philosophy. Their commercials once screamed “SEGA” at full volume, for crying out loud. Crazy Taxi was like a crystallization of Sega’s 90’s ethos. Driving recklessly, crashing around turns and getting your customers to their destinations as fast as possible were all encouraged. In fact, the game gives you bonus points for driving in the most dangerous way possible!

    The gameplay is still fast and fun to this day. While the controls are a bit clunky and ridiculous today, the sheer over-the-top hilarity and pure video game fun remain timeless. Both the original game and its sequel were released during the Dreamcast’s short lifespan, so the two games are synonymous with the system.

    7. Power Stone

    Before Super Smash Brothers really sank its teeth into lovers of party fighting games, there was Power Stone. The fast-paced, 3D combat of the quirky fighting game was fresh and fun in 1999 and hasn’t aged a day in 2019.

    Gameplay is centered on brawling with opponents using the environment and your character’s skills. As the fight goes on, you and your opponent fight over Power Stones that drop randomly on the map. If you collect all three Power Stones, you enter a powered-up state and can really take the fight to the opposition!

    6. Skies of Arcadia

    The Blue Rogue air pirates are a quirky bunch, reminiscent of the best Final Fantasy characters. Skies of Arcadia wears its inspirations like a badge of honor, clearly displaying its love of Final Fantasy in its visuals and gameplay. The storyline is gripping and well-plotted, and you’ll find yourself dying to find out what happens to the crew.

    The game is packed full of fun characters, secrets and more. The turn-based combat is an exemplary representative of the best the RPG genre has to offer, too. If you love games like Final Fantasy 7, you owe it to yourself to try this one out.

    5. Marvel Vs Capcom 2

    The definitive version of this arcade classic came out on Sega’s Dreamcast. Marvel Vs Capcom 2 plays like a dream, with silky-smooth framerate and gorgeous character models. The game has superb balance, with each character displaying well-defined strengths and weaknesses.

    The fun of watching Spider-Man and Ryu take on Wolverine and M. Bison never grows old. If you’re a huge fan of the MvC series, you should hunt down and old Dreamcast and a copy of this game. It’s well worth the effort to play the series’ most definitive entry!

    4. Ikaruga

    This binary shoot-em-up is all about switching back and forth between two polarized modes. When your ship is white, you’re immune to white projectiles, but black projectiles damage you. The opposite is also true, making the game a fast-paced exercise in switching, ducking and weaving.

    Ikaruga sports slick and stellar visuals, fun gameplay and a great soundtrack. It’s largely considered one of the best shoot-em-ups ever, and for good reason. This is one of the best games of all time, system notwithstanding.

    3. Sonic Adventure

    This game’s cutscenes and voice acting have aged about as well as milk, but that doesn’t stop this from being a wonderful game. The visuals are stunning for 1999, the gameplay is as fast as the series namesake, and the tunes are decidedly great.

    This is the Blue Blur’s first transition into 3D graphics, and it’s executed rather well. Some clunky camera controls and wonkiness is to be expected of any 3D Sonic game, and this one is no exception. However, this game still makes for a fun time, especially when playing as Sonic and Tails.

    2. Soul Calibur

    The legend of Soul Calibur will never die! This masterwork of a fighting game is unparalleled in the genre. No other fighting game has presented weapons-based gameplay in such a well-balanced and undeniably fun package. Simple to pick up, tricky to master and a visual feast, Soul Calibur is Namco-Bandai’s strongest case for their fighting game dominance.

    This Dreamcast exclusive may have been released on a doomed system, but the soul still burns! Numerous sequels have kept the legend alive, and today the name Soul Calibur is connected with top-notch gameplay and production values.

    1. Shenmue

    The best game on the Dreamcast and one of the biggest game releases in history is Shenmue. This unusual, decidedly Japanese game, is more than a little weird. The grand scope of Ryo’s revenge mission to find his father’s killer is underscored by the closely intimate nature of the game’s open world. Characters have schedules and hobbies, interests and distinct personalities.

    The gameplay is a mix of open-world exploration and Virtua Fighter-style fighting. Uncovering the mystery of your father’s death is the driving goal, though you can just waste time in the arcade playing Hang-On if you want.

    The groundbreaking graphics, well-penned story and silly, endearing voice acting have given Shenmue a near-legendary status. The sequel, Shenmue II, was released on Xbox in North America, though it saw a Dreamcast release in Japan and Europe. The series has been in limbo for years, though the creators promise the Shenmue III will be out sometime soon.

  • The History of the Smartphone: How We Got Here

    The History of the Smartphone: How We Got Here

    For most people, the smartphone era began in 2007, with the landmark release of the Apple iPhone. While this was a huge moment in the history of smartphones, the iPhone wasn’t the first. In fact, as far back as 1992, a commercially-available device was unveiled by IBM called the Simon Personal Communicator.

    The History of the Smartphone

    The First Smartphone

    The very first smartphone, the Simon Personal Communicator, was first unveiled in 1992. It was made available or consumers in 1994, sporting an astonishing price tag of $1,100. If that sounds like a lot for today, imagine how much it was in the mid-90’s!

    The SPC was a revolutionary device at the time, sporting a monochromatic display and some rudimentary features that might be recognized now as apps. Email access, an address book, access to your faxes (ha) and even a touchscreen display were all at play with this device.

    Now, the Simon Personal Communicator was a mild success, selling 50,000 units in six months. However, it would go forgotten to the sands of time for roughly a decade. In 2007, Apple perfected what IBM started.

    The iPhone’s Impact

    Before 2007, the SPC could be seen as a bit of an aberrant blip in the world of cell phones. However, when Apple blew the doors open on full-screen smartphones, it was a revolution. The elegant full-screen phone was an instant smash hit, with other manufacturers rushing to duplicate Apple’s success.

    An early example of one such imitator was HTC. The company quickly rose to prominence with devices made using Google’s Android software, running as a direct competitor to Appel. In recent years, the market has shifted more towards Samsung, who makes the ever-popular line of Galaxy smartphones.

    Where We’re Heading

    Smartphones have plateaued in recent years, showing less growth from generation to generation. The advent of high-resolution OLED technology, face-scanning biometric locks and highly-advanced machine learning chips have all brought us closer to the “definitive” smartphone experience.

    If there’s one thing technology hates, though, that’s stagnation. The next big thing in the world of personal communication is likely right around the corner, though there are no clear contenders out there at the moment.

    For a brief time, wearable tech seemed to be the most likely course, with the Apple Watch and its many imitators making a brief splash. However, these seem to have been more of a fad.

    Samsung has been toying with a novelty folding smartphone that sports an interior, foldable display, though we’re uncertain as to how popular this will prove. Only time will tell where we head next!

  • Best Deals on Phones from Metro by T-Mobile

    Best Deals on Phones from Metro by T-Mobile

    Formerly known as Metro PCS, Metro by T-Mobile is a great cellular service provider for those looking for a good value. Seen as something of a budget mobile provider, Metro offers great rates on cellular plans. Today we’re looking at some of the best deals they offer on smartphones for savvy deal-seekers!

    Keep in mind, these deals are subject to change based on availability and time. Make sure you call ahead to your Metro dealer and confirm what deals they have available and whether they have the phone you want in stock.

    Best Phone Deals on Metro

    iPhone 6s Plus

    The larger and more powerful of the iPhone 6s line, the 6s Plus is a great phone for people who love a big screen. The 6s Plus sports a 5.5-inch screen with a gorgeous Retina display. The A9 processor running under the hood is something of a powerhouse, too.

    If you get over to Metro and switch to them from another provider, you can pick up this big iPhone for $249. While it might not be the newest phone from Apple, it’s here for a great price.

    Samsung Galaxy J7 Star

    If you switch from another provider to Metro, you can get a Samsung Galaxy J7 Star totally free. The large, 5.5-inch display is bright and sleek, and puts out a crisp HD image. There’s a 13MP camera on the back of the phone, allowing you to snap gorgeous pictures.

    32GB of memory in this Samsung phone means you’ll have tons of storage for those pictures, too! Not to mention your music and apps, so you can feel free to keep all your favorite tunes on hand. Make sure you get over to Metro fast while they still have Galaxy J7 Stars in stock so you can get yours for free when you switch!

    iPhone 6s

    It might not be the newest or shiniest phone in Apple’s lineup, but the iPhone 6s is available for $150 from Metro. This sleek little smartphone has a lot to love. The 3D Touch technology is here, the phone still sports a conventional headphone jack, and it has a fingerprint scanner for unlocking your phone.

    Likewise, a 12MP rear camera means your pictures will look awesome. You also get 32GB of storage in this smartphone, so you can download tons of music and apps. This is a hard-to-beat deal. Keep in mind you need to switch to Metro from another carrier in order to qualify for this discount.

  • Create Your Own Website for Free: Get Yourself Out There

    Create Your Own Website for Free: Get Yourself Out There

    No matter what you do, having your own website can be a huge boon. There’s a lot to be said for the strength of having an online presence for your brand.

    Maybe you’re an artist, a designer, a PR firm, a small business owner or a visionary. No matter what you do, a website can help anchor your image and give you an online identity.

    Today we’re going over how you can make your own website for free and make your mark on the internet.

    When it comes to making a splash in the digital sphere, less can often be more. Here are our tips for how you can make your own website for free.

    Create Your Own Website

    Pick Your Builder

    The first thing you have to do is pick out the site you’ll use to build your website. There are a few popular options, though the top three are undisputed. We’ll go over the top three and tell you what the major pros and cons of each are.

    Wix

    Wix is a popular platform that you may have seen advertised on various YouTube videos or web ads. A lot of people like Wix due to its high-quality mobile templates and ready-to-use site building tools.

    One need not know a great deal about web design to make a good-looking website with Wix.

    The free version of the Wix website builder results in a domain name that is under the Wix banner. If you opt to pay, you can get your own URL, which is great if you’re a small business owner and want your own identity.

    The free site builder, however, does allow for a robust suite of tools to make a site that looks great.

    uKit

    uKit is a very popular pick for site building, though it’s not as well-known as Wix and WordPress. It’s preferred by business owners, due to its unique layout and ease of use. The biggest draw to uKit isn’t the free version, however, but the affordable $3/month business plan.

    WordPress

    WordPress is one of the most popular site building tools in the world. In fact, this site was built on WordPress! Text-based sites that focus on articles are a great fit for WordPress. The free version, like Wix, gives you a WordPress domain.

    Keep in mind when you’re considering WordPress for your own personal website that it’s easy to add and change images and designs. There’s a lot of flexibility with WordPress, though the focus is much more on words than on images.