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  • Google Assistant Coming to Even More Devices

    Google Assistant Coming to Even More Devices

    Voice assistants are all the rage right now. Between Amazon’s stellar Alexa, Apple’s hit-and-miss Siri and Google’s excellent Assistant, there are a ton of options for home speakers with built-in assistants.

    Google is set to make an even bigger splash as their assistant technology comes to even more devices this year.

    Google Assistant Rolling Out on More Devices

    CES 2019

    This year’s Consumer Electronic Show, or CES, announced a number of new pieces of tech that will use Google’s Assistant software. JBL’s Link Bar, the Dolby Atmos soundbar and even Samsung TVs are slated to use the tech this coming year. This follows Google’s existing model of not marrying their software to their own tech, as seen with their Android phone operating system.

    CES 2019 marked a ton of new tech that Google Assistant would call home. This puts it apart from Apple, who only allow their Siri virtual assistant to live on Apple-branded products like the HomePod. Amazon, however, is no stranger to renting out their Alexa software.

    Earlier Models

    “Earlier models” of speakers are also slated to get updates to allow Google Assistant to live on them. Play:1, Play:5 and Playbar, for instance, will all be updated to allow for use with Google Assistant. It’s worth noting that these speakers don’t have native mics built in, so those wishing to use them as home hubs will need a go-between. A smartphone or another Google smart speaker are the two most likely candidates, though any microphone would do.

    So What?

    While millions of homes are now equipped with smart speakers, many people remain unconvinced of their usefulness. As such, this news might sound like no big deal. However, given the incredible usefulness and flexibility of smart speakers and virtual assistants, this is huge news.

    Smart speakers, first and foremost, are great for coordinating your media. If you want to listen to music or hear the weather, it’s easy to just call out to your smart speaker. Traffic reports, stock market changes and news are all available through these speakers as well, helping you streamline your morning routine.

    Smart speakers also can act as home hubs if you opt for smart appliances and lights. Controlling your home’s entire electronic ecosystem with your voice is a uniquely awesome experience. Asking to have the oven pre-heat while you also command the lights to enter “romantic dinner” mode is a sublime experience, to be sure.

  • Best Gifts for the Audiophile in Your Life

    Best Gifts for the Audiophile in Your Life

    Music lovers are an awesome bunch. You can always count on them to come in with a great band recommendation, and they’re super easy to shop for. What should you get for an audiophile? That’s easy: something cool to listen to their favorite tunes on!

    Here’s our gift guide for the audiophile in your life, so you can make sure they get to rock out in style.

    Best Gifts for Audiophiles

    Sony WH-1000XM3

    These Sony headphones are top-tier when it comes to audio quality and design. Their build is impeccable, as you would expect from Sony, with solid construction that feels sturdy even when thrown in a bag. The earcups are large and softly padded, making these a comfortable wear even on extended plane rides or through sprawling albums.

    The battery is conducive to such long-plays, too, coming in at a solid 30 hours. That means you can get in a few good listening sessions before you have to plug the headphones back in to charge up. The sound quality is great and can be described as “roomy” and “spacious,” giving a lot of natural, uncompressed sound to the listener. Even the most discerning audiophiles will love these Sony headphones.

    Roberts Revival iStream 3

    Old-school cool design meets modern sound quality with this retro-chic speaker. The classic Roberts design suggests the normal use for this speaker: it can tune in to normal FM/AM radio signals for those times when you just want to listen to the local stations. It’s got a lot more than just that going on, though.

    The sound quality is warm and could be described as “old-school,” but this Roberts doesn’t sacrifice modern sound fidelity for nostalgia. Bluetooth functionality, combined with wi-fi support and even the option to use rechargeable batteries on-the-go all make this a functional throwback speaker.

    Sony PS-HX500

    While the debate over analog-versus-digital audio rages on (it doesn’t make a difference, really) many audiophiles can’t deny the wonderful tactile sensation of throwing a record on the player. Having a physical medium for your music is just… nice. It’s hard to describe what’s so cool about physical media, but humans really like it. And that’s okay!

    This stellar Sony record-player has more than just old-school audio playback going on, too. You can make ultra-high-quality rips of your record collection with the PS-HX500, allowing you to convert your vinyl to a digital library. This lets you take even your most obscure recordings with you, even if where you’re going doesn’t have a record player.

  • Best Portable Generators for Your Money

    Best Portable Generators for Your Money

    Portable generators are awesome if you’re looking to go camping or just have a backup in case of an emergency. However, they can be a bit pricey, so it’s often hard to tell whether a given generator is worth buying. Today we’re breaking down the best portable generators so you can rest assured that you’re making a good purchase.

    Best Portable Generators

    WEN 56200i

    This lightweight generator is great pick for a number of reasons. For one thing, it sports a quiet performance, coming in at just 51 decibels. You won’t have to shout to be heard over it. It’s also quite light, weighing only 48 pounds. This makes it ideal for camping or other outdoorsy activities.

    Another great aspect of the WEN 56200i is that it’s got a 5V USB port, two three-prong 120V inputs, and a 12V DC input. That way you not only have lots of ports to charge your devices, but also a ton of options when it comes to your power needs.

    5735 GP17500E

    This generator is great if you need to power a whole house. Consider opting for this massive generator if you’re worried about the power getting knocked out for a while and needing a backup to keep the house online. This is a great generator for people who live in remote areas and want a great backup in case of emergencies.

    This is a 17500-watt unit that is capable of putting out a ton of power. It’s also a favorite at construction job sites to keep appliances powered. This all comes at a price, of course. The unit is quite expensive, and extremely heavy, at a massive 390 pounds. However, it does have wheels so you can wheel it around more easily.

    Honda EU2000i

    This Honda generator is a great pick for those who want a durable and easy-to-use generator. This one is ideal for people who like camping or going outdoors, as it’s a great battery to throw in the back of a car. It weighs just under 50 pounds, and it runs rather quietly.

    Impressively, the battery can put out 2,000 watts of starting power and 1,600 watts of running power. That makes it a tough little generator for its size. Note, however, that you get what you pay for. This generator is awesome, but it’s a little pricey. Consider it a worthy splurge if you’re looking to upgrade to a really great portable generator.

  • How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    There’s no way to sugarcoat it: trying to find a new job is really, really difficult. It’s hard to even know where to begin. Who’s hiring? Who has good benefits and a good work environment? If you’re not using some kind of job board or have a ton of connections, you’re running in blind.

    That’s where LinkedIn comes in. More than just being a simple job board site, LinkedIn is the best social media app for meeting professional connections. After all, it’s much easier to get ahead in a crowded job market when you know the right people. Here’s how to have LinkedIn work for you.

    LinkedIn

    Take it Seriously

    LinkedIn might be a social networking site, but you should take it seriously. It’s not quite the same as Facebook or Instagram. It’s an opportunity to present yourself in a professional and well-curated way for potential employers and colleagues.

    As such, you should make sure you present your best self on LinkedIn. Make sure your pictures aren’t ones of you and your buddies hanging loose and partying. Make sure you’re well-dressed and well-groomed in your pictures!

    Use it Often

    Make sure to use LinkedIn often. Even if you’re employed and like your job, it’s good to have connections that you cultivate. If you only use the app when you’re looking for a new job, you’ll be out of luck. It’s not enough just to run to it in an emergency: you need to keep up to date!

    By using the app often, you ensure that you’ve got a presence online that potential employers and professional connections can see. This is essentially an ad for yourself as an employee. Take pride in it, and make sure everyone knows just how good of an employee you are.

    Resume

    Make sure you keep a well-formatted, up-to-date copy of your resume easily accessible on your LinkedIn. You never know when a recruiter or hiring manager might come along and see your profile. If they do, you want to make sure your info is all up-to-date and accurate!

    There’s no reason to potentially miss out on a great job just because you’ve got some goofy typos on your resume. Make sure you keep everything connected to your business page tight and well-formatted. This is an easy step to take that will take you only a few minutes, so don’t put it off!

    If you’re looking to make lasting businesses connections, LinkedIn is where it’s at. Get your profile active and looking great today.

  • Fix that Cracked Phone Screen Today

    Fix that Cracked Phone Screen Today

    A lot of people rock around this world with a cracked phone screen. However, you really shouldn’t. It’s not only bad for your phone, but it’s bad for your wallet and even your well-being. You need to get that cracked phone screen fixed, sooner rather than later! Don’t believe us? Check out these crazy facts about cracked phone screens.

    Fix that Cracked Phone Screen

    It Looks Bad

    Firstly, it looks really unsophisticated to roll around with that spiderweb crack in your phone. If you’re going to a job interview or meeting new networking connections, you really don’t want them to think you’re clumsy and irresponsible. You don’t want to look like the kind of person who can’t be bothered to get their phone fixed.

    Health Hazards

    It’s much harder to read what’s on a screen if the screen is badly cracked. If you’re squinting and trying to discern what’s on your phone screen, then you’re likely putting too much strain on your eyes. Another health hazard of a cracked screen is that, if it’s badly cracked, you could accidentally slice your finger open on the glass. Why put your health at risk instead of getting the phone screen fixed?

    Hardware Problems

    If you’re got a newer smartphone, odds are good that both the front and back are glass. If the back glass is cracked, this is still an issue. Newer smartphones are waterproof and dust-resistant. However, when they have cracks in the glass, both of these defenses are down.

    You need a vacuum seal from both the front and back of the phone in order for the water proofing and dust resistance to work. If you’re gotten accustomed to being able to dunk your phone underwater, this might come as an unwelcome surprise.

    Resale Value

    When you go to trade your phone in for a new one, you’ll get a lot less if it has a cracked screen. Often, this difference in resale value is more than it would have been for you to just get the phone’s screen fixed. In short, it’s literally bad for your wallet to leave your screen broken.

    Structure

    Even if you’re not planning on trading the phone in soon, why put off getting the screen fixed? It’s worse than just unsightly. If your phone is cracked, further drops could result in even more severe damage. A small crack can turn into spiderwebbing. A spiderweb crack can result in the screen busting out of its housing entirely.

    In short, just get your screen fixed. What’s stopping you?

  • Fix that Cracked Phone Screen Today

    A lot of people rock around this world with a cracked phone screen. However, you really shouldn’t. It’s not only bad for your phone, but it’s bad for your wallet and even your well-being. You need to get that cracked phone screen fixed, sooner rather than later! Don’t believe us? Check out these crazy facts about cracked phone screens.

    Fix that Cracked Phone Screen

    It Looks Bad

    Firstly, it looks really unsophisticated to roll around with that spiderweb crack in your phone. If you’re going to a job interview or meeting new networking connections, you really don’t want them to think you’re clumsy and irresponsible. You don’t want to look like the kind of person who can’t be bothered to get their phone fixed.

    Health Hazards

    It’s much harder to read what’s on a screen if the screen is badly cracked. If you’re squinting and trying to discern what’s on your phone screen, then you’re likely putting too much strain on your eyes. Another health hazard of a cracked screen is that, if it’s badly cracked, you could accidentally slice your finger open on the glass. Why put your health at risk instead of getting the phone screen fixed?

    Hardware Problems

    If you’re got a newer smartphone, odds are good that both the front and back are glass. If the back glass is cracked, this is still an issue. Newer smartphones are waterproof and dust-resistant. However, when they have cracks in the glass, both of these defenses are down.

    You need a vacuum seal from both the front and back of the phone in order for the water proofing and dust resistance to work. If you’re gotten accustomed to being able to dunk your phone underwater, this might come as an unwelcome surprise.

    Resale Value

    When you go to trade your phone in for a new one, you’ll get a lot less if it has a cracked screen. Often, this difference in resale value is more than it would have been for you to just get the phone’s screen fixed. In short, it’s literally bad for your wallet to leave your screen broken.

    Structure

    Even if you’re not planning on trading the phone in soon, why put off getting the screen fixed? It’s worse than just unsightly. If your phone is cracked, further drops could result in even more severe damage. A small crack can turn into spiderwebbing. A spiderweb crack can result in the screen busting out of its housing entirely.

    In short, just get your screen fixed. What’s stopping you?

  • Exciting New TVs Seen at CES 2019

    Exciting New TVs Seen at CES 2019

    CES 2019 was a great showcase of some of the best upcoming TV technology we’ve seen in years. With the imminent jump to 8K displays and crazy advances in technology, we’re excited for the future of TVs. Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting new TVs seen at CES 2019. Between 8K images and rollable displays, there’s a lot to be excited about.

    Exciting New TVs Seen at CES 2019

    Sony ZG9

    Sony’s new ZG9 Master Series will sport 8K picture quality and come in both 88- and 95-inch sizes. This means that the screens will not only look more real than real life, but will also be undeniably massive. The Master Series is going to use backlit LEDs instead of OLEDs, making it a departure from existing TV tech.

    Software in the ZG9’s will allow them to upscale 4K images and help them to look much sharper on the larger display. This is a great feature for future-proofing, as most 4K content is still new, and there is no 8K content currently available. As such, having a sharp 4K image, too, is important for the Master Series to be useful.

    Panasonic GZ2000

    This straightforward design from Panasonic wasn’t a head-turned at the show like some of the other high-concept displays. However, it does have some very interesting things going for it. For instance, the screen sports a state-of-the-art processor that works to clean up images and make high frame-rate image look even smoother.

    The screen will also use this processor for integration with Dolby Atmos, helping to keep the images and sounds synced up perfectly. While this isn’t going to be the flashiest TV on the market in 2019, it will have a competitive price point. We love things that can defy expectations, and this Panasonic looks set to do just that.

    LG OLED65R9

    Finally, the most impressive TV at the show was the LG OLED65R9. The TV can be rolled up and stored away easily when not in use, making it the first consumer application of the roll-able screen tech we’ve been hearing about for years.  LG is set to bring this incredible tech to the market by mid-2019.

    What’s even better, the screen stows away in a Dolby Atmos speaker when it’s not being used. This makes for a great portable TV, as you can tote it easily to a different spot when it’s rolled up. The OLED screen looks great, and it has a great speaker attached to boot.

  • Recruitment Tools to Make Your Hiring Process Easier

    Recruitment Tools to Make Your Hiring Process Easier

    Finding the time to sort through all of your applications can be difficult. Even if you do have the time, how do you find the best people? It’s a huge hassle, to be sure. Where do you even start when you’re looking for the right candidate for the job?

    Today we’re looking at some of the top recruiting tools to help your make hiring a breeze. Find the right candidate, fast, with some of these awesome hiring tools. These are some of our top-rated recruitment sites.

    Recruitment Tools to Make Your Hiring Process Easier

    Recruitment CRM Programs

    CRM, or Candidate Relationship Management, programs are a great new trend among businesses. These CRMs are dedicated to keeping the relationship between employer and employee at a high satisfaction level. They’re often used for both onboarding and back-end relationship management.

    Some examples of CRMs are Avature, Ascendify, Yello, Smashfly and Beamery. The main goal of these sites is to keep the company’s image and values fresh in the minds of employees and candidates while they engage with the company’s content.

    Testing Sites

    Testing sites are overlooked by a lot of companies despite being excellent ways to sort candidates. Those positions that require raw talent in fields like pattern recognition or math benefit greatly from this type of candidate sorting.

    Pymetrics offers game-like activities that score candidates using algortithms. The site prides itself on being “bias-free,” using finely tuned metrics to weigh each candidate fairly.

    Self Management Group, available in over 40 languages, is a straightforward test of science-based knowledge. The tests given on the site are a great way to quickly gauge a candidate’s knowledge for a given position, which can be quite valuable for certain jobs.

    HackerRank is a site that helps to quickly learn about a programmer’s skill. If you’re hiring for a programming position, you really just need someone who has skills. The good news for you is that HackerRank is great at weeding out the wanna-be’s from the really skilled programmers.

    Job Boards

    The most straightforward job recruitment tools are job boards. These boards account for sixty percent of all hires in the US, so they’ve got to be doing something right!

    Indeed is the go-to job board site in the US. It offers ample features for both applicants and employers and is responsible for putting hundreds of thousands of people into their new jobs. Other notable job boards are Career Builder and Google for Jobs.

    You can’t go wrong with any of these job board sites. They all offer ample resources to sort and find the candidate that is right for the position you’re hiring for. You got this!


  • Apex Legends Tops 10 Million Players

    Apex Legends Tops 10 Million Players

    EA has had a surprise bit of good fortune with the release of Apex Legends, the newest game in the Titanfall series. Despite being free-to-play, battle royale, rife with microtransactions and bereft of giant mechs or wall-running, this “Titanfall” game has now seen 10 million players since its release last week. Color us impressed!

    Apex Legends Tops 10 Million Players

    The Formula for Failure

    We’re going to be honest on this one: we had written Apex Legends off the moment we heard about it last week. To be fair, who could be blamed for thinking this unusual game would succeed? After no press run-up and little buzz, EA simply dropped a Battle Royale game to go toe-to-toe with the big gods, Fortnite and PUBG.

    An EA-published free-to-play shooter with microtransactions sounds like the perfect storm of things gamers don’t usually like. To top that off, the game is marketed as being in the Titanfall universe, but none of the series’ titular mechs make an appearance. Even more egregiously, the signature parkour free-running of prior games isn’t on display either. Yet, the game seems to be rather popular.

    The Formula for Success

    It turns out, tight gunplay, excellent visuals and fun cosmetics are all you need to make a free-to-play shooter fun. Even EA’s dismal reputation couldn’t sully the hard work of developer Respawn, and the genuine passion they have for their IP.

    The lack of press leading up to the game’s launch may have been better PR than having any info come out. As it stands, naysayers can simply play the game now and see that it’s great, rather than prophesizing doom and bemoaning EA’s business practices. All of this is quite surprising, but a welcome surprise, to be sure.

    Later this month, EA’s next heavy-hitter, Anthem, will hit store shelves. If Apex Legends is anything to go by, Anthem may just blow us all away. Here’s hoping that EA-published shooters with this level of polish and detail become the new norm. We’ll take all the great games we can get!

  • Xbox Live Coming to Nintendo Switch

    Xbox Live Coming to Nintendo Switch

    No, you didn’t read that headline wrong. Microsoft’s Xbox Live is coming to the Nintendo Switch, per a recent listing from the upcoming Game Developer’s Conference. The news comes courtesy of a description for Microsoft’s presentation during the show. Is this the start of a new era of cooperation between Microsoft and Nintendo?

    Xbox Live Coming to Nintendo Switch

    The News

    This news, as stated previously, comes from a description from the upcoming Game Developer’s Conference. That description reads “Get a first look at the SDK to enable game developers to connect players between iOS, Android, and Switch in addition to Xbox and any game in the Microsoft Store on Windows PCs.”

    The description mentions that this “will break down barriers for developers that want their communities to mingle more freely across platforms.” Well, that sounds like good news for gaming in general, if you ask us!

    What This Means

    Does this mean we can expect to play Halo 5 on our Nintendo Switch? Maybe, but that’s not necessarily set in stone. What it definitely means, for now, is that we can expect to see cross-platform play remain a huge aspect of Microsoft’s initiatives.

    The company has been making huge pushes to keep gaming as integrated as possible following the rough launch of the Xbox One. Huge pushes for initiatives like the Adaptive Controller and cross-platform play with Nintendo has won massive respect for the company that was lost with the DRM fiascos when the Xbox One launched.

    We could expect to see support for Xbox Live achievements, friends lists, messaging and indie titles appearing on Switch and mobile devices. This would allow devices that aren’t typically known for their communications-based multiplayer to branch out into more “core” gaming experiences.

    A Modern Nintendo Online?

    Nintendo’s own online service is required to play any competitive online multiplayer and runs for about $20 per year. The service also grants access to emulations of some classic NES games. However, the service lacks achievements, messaging and voice communications that are considered hallmarks of modern online gaming.

    Could Microsoft’s Xbox Live service be the solution to this issue? While many players simply own both a Switch and an Xbox or PS4, it’s still strange that Nintendo hasn’t made online multiplayer a bigger part of their brand. Microsoft’s announcement could mean that the days of bare-bones online features on Nintendo systems is coming to an end!