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  • What Can You Expect to See on Sale This Black Friday?

    What Can You Expect to See on Sale This Black Friday?

    Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, and shoppers continue to break sales records every year. The massive sale extravaganza is a complete madhouse at certain retailers, and for good reason: the sales are absurd! This year, Black Friday falls on November 23 – but you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to start scoring deep discounts.

    Every retailer is trying to grab your attention with incredible deals on Black Friday. If you’re looking to save some money for holiday shopping, here’s what you can expect to see on sale this Black Friday!

    Last Year’s Best Black Friday Deals

    If you want to know what to expect for Black Friday this year, you’ll want to look back to the deals offered in 2017. Each year, retailers keep their sales consistent, offering the biggest bonuses and markdowns on the hottest, most sought after products of the year. Last year, retailers released a host of incredible discounts – and those specials were unveiled as early as November 9th. Some of the top deals shoppers scored included:

      • iPhone + Gift Card Offers: Customers who purchased an Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus received a $300 Walmart gift card.
      • Samsung Galaxy + Gift Card Offers: The popular Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy S8 Plus came with a $300 Walmart gift card.
      • PlayStation Bundle Discount: Buy a PlayStation 4 bundled with GranTurismo Sport and a virtual reality set for $100 off.
      • Nintendo Discount: The popular Nintendo Switch console with two controllers and a carrying case was priced at $299.
      • Xbox One X Discount: The Microsoft Xbox One X console with 1 terabyte of storage space was priced at $499.
      • Smart LED TV Discount: A Sharp 55” 4K Smart LED TV was discounted down to just $298.

    Shoppers went wild for these steals – and this year, you can expect Walmart to offer equally great deals for Black Friday.

    Black Friday Sales to Expect This Year

    It’s easy to predict what kinds of deals you can expect to see for Black Friday 2018. Each year, retailers tends to offer similar discounts and bundled packages on new smartphones, TVs, video games and consoles, and so many more tech products. Before retailers releases its 2018 deals in early November, here’s what we’re expecting to see on the list of deals:

    Smart Speakers

    Smart speakers have been some of the hottest Black Friday sellers in recent years, especially now that big names like Amazon and Google are essentially all-in on the connected home. Expect more of the same for shoppers in 2018, with lots of deals on Alexa and Google Assistant gadgets, smart thermostats from names like Nest and Ecobee, home surround sound smart speakers, connected lighting kits, video doorbells app-enabled robot vacuums… you name it.

    Smartphones + Gift Cards

    New iterations of both the iPhone and the Galaxy have been released, along with plenty of other popular smartphones from LG, Huawei, and more. One of the biggest draws Walmart offers year after year is a special on the most sought after smartphones – and for 2018, we can expect to see gift card offers equal to or better than last year’s deals. Expect to see the newest smartphones, from the iPhone XS and XS Max to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, offered with a gift card of $300 to $350.

    These types of deals reoccur year after year, and they’re a safe bet at large retailers. If you’re planning on upgrading to a new phone or giving one as a gift, keep this in mind!

    Video Game Consoles

    Speaking of the Nintendo Switch, its sure to be a hot seller this year. The little hybrid console is primed for the release of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Pokemon Let’s Go! and Super Mario Party. Those big-name games will make the console a must-have for gamers this holiday season, so expect to see it discounted.

    For an example, last year retailers had deals including the console, a carrying case and a game for only $300. That’s the normal MSRP of the system, so the carrying case and game were simply all-upside! This year we expect to see similar sales at various retailers. The Super Smash Bros and Pokemon bundles of the Switch are likely targets for big sales. Both include unique docks and controllers based on the games that are bundled in! They’re both likely to be hot-ticket items this year.

    Microsoft and Sony also offer their Xbox and PS4 at $300, respectively. While we don’t expect to see these systems discounted any, it wouldn’t be surprising to see deals including games or controllers as bundles at $300. These sales are more desirable to retailers: they offer value to the consumer while not digging into the company’s profits. In fact, they could even help offload hardware like controllers or carrying cases while increasing traffic around the holidays.

    TV Deals

    You can also expect to see great discounts of TVs. Interestingly, TVs are one of the few things that hasn’t increased in price year over year with inflation. Instead, it’s more affordable than ever to get a big, flat-screen HD TV. That goes double during Black Friday sales when everything has huge discounts!

    Last year large retailers had 55-inch 4K displays as low as $300. Those kinds of prices were around $200-$300 off of MSRP. A lot of retailers even used those huge TV discounts as one of the biggest draws to shopping in their store during the huge holiday sales.

    As crazy as this sounds, you might even be able to pick up 4K Smart TVs for as little as $250 on Black Friday. These deals are sure to be red-hot to boot. Make sure you’re early in line to snag these deals! TVs are one of the fastest-moving items on sale during Black Friday. If you’ve been holding off on upgrading, this year is going to be a really good time to pull the trigger on an upgrade. Given the trajectory of large flat-screens, it’s likely that this year will have some of the lowest prices ever for them.

    There are sure to be dozens of more awesome deals to be found at major retailers this Black Friday. Ads indicating sale prices are usually out by mid-November, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for early indicators of the big deals this season!

    Laptop & Tablet Deals

    If you’re looking to pick up one of the best laptops or a new MacBook, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times to do fetch a winning deal. And, with this year’s celebration of shopping quickly approaching, you might want to gear up for the big day and see how you can ensure you only get the best price.

    Big name brands like Dell, Lenovo and HP should all see price drops for their range of laptops, both budget and high-end. Last year, Dell’s XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops saw liberal price cuts, and we hope to see similar slashing this year. They are two of the best laptops money can buy, so if you find those getting discounted on Black Friday, definitely consider purchasing them.

    Price cuts to Microsoft’s excellent range of Surface devices are also a common sight on Black Friday. Microsoft just announced the Surface Pro 6, and while Black Friday will be too soon for that new device to see price cuts, it means that its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2017, has a good chance of seeing some decent price cuts. Keep an eye out for the affordable Surface Go as well – we suspect Microsoft will make some prices cuts there as well.

    But, what about Apple? Apple’s MacBook notebooks don’t often receive sizable price cuts, but in recent Black Friday events we’ve seen some good price cuts emerging from retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama. If you don’t mind getting somewhat older MacBook hardware from a year or so ago, then you should be able to score yourself a neat MacBook deal on Black Friday. Finally the new iPad Pro was recently unveiled this year so Apple will undoubtedly have Black Friday deals for their most recent flagship product.


  • What Can You Expect to See on Sale This Black Friday?

    What Can You Expect to See on Sale This Black Friday?

    Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, and shoppers continue to break sales records every year. The massive sale extravaganza is a complete madhouse at certain retailers, and for good reason: the sales are absurd! This year, Black Friday falls on November 23 – but you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to start scoring deep discounts.

    Every retailer is trying to grab your attention with incredible deals on Black Friday. If you’re looking to save some money for holiday shopping, here’s what you can expect to see on sale this Black Friday!

    Last Year’s Best Black Friday Deals

    If you want to know what to expect for Black Friday this year, you’ll want to look back to the deals offered in 2017. Each year, retailers keep their sales consistent, offering the biggest bonuses and markdowns on the hottest, most sought after products of the year. Last year, retailers released a host of incredible discounts – and those specials were unveiled as early as November 9th. Some of the top deals shoppers scored included:

      • iPhone + Gift Card Offers: Customers who purchased an Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus received a $300 Walmart gift card.
      • Samsung Galaxy + Gift Card Offers: The popular Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy S8 Plus came with a $300 Walmart gift card.
      • PlayStation Bundle Discount: Buy a PlayStation 4 bundled with GranTurismo Sport and a virtual reality set for $100 off.
      • Nintendo Discount: The popular Nintendo Switch console with two controllers and a carrying case was priced at $299.
      • Xbox One X Discount: The Microsoft Xbox One X console with 1 terabyte of storage space was priced at $499.
      • Smart LED TV Discount: A Sharp 55” 4K Smart LED TV was discounted down to just $298.

    Shoppers went wild for these steals – and this year, you can expect Walmart to offer equally great deals for Black Friday.

    Black Friday Sales to Expect This Year

    It’s easy to predict what kinds of deals you can expect to see for Black Friday 2018. Each year, retailers tends to offer similar discounts and bundled packages on new smartphones, TVs, video games and consoles, and so many more tech products. Before retailers releases its 2018 deals in early November, here’s what we’re expecting to see on the list of deals:

    Smart Speakers

    Smart speakers have been some of the hottest Black Friday sellers in recent years, especially now that big names like Amazon and Google are essentially all-in on the connected home. Expect more of the same for shoppers in 2018, with lots of deals on Alexa and Google Assistant gadgets, smart thermostats from names like Nest and Ecobee, home surround sound smart speakers, connected lighting kits, video doorbells app-enabled robot vacuums… you name it.

    Smartphones + Gift Cards

    New iterations of both the iPhone and the Galaxy have been released, along with plenty of other popular smartphones from LG, Huawei, and more. One of the biggest draws Walmart offers year after year is a special on the most sought after smartphones – and for 2018, we can expect to see gift card offers equal to or better than last year’s deals. Expect to see the newest smartphones, from the iPhone XS and XS Max to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9, offered with a gift card of $300 to $350.

    These types of deals reoccur year after year, and they’re a safe bet at large retailers. If you’re planning on upgrading to a new phone or giving one as a gift, keep this in mind!

    Video Game Consoles

    Speaking of the Nintendo Switch, its sure to be a hot seller this year. The little hybrid console is primed for the release of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Pokemon Let’s Go! and Super Mario Party. Those big-name games will make the console a must-have for gamers this holiday season, so expect to see it discounted.

    For an example, last year retailers had deals including the console, a carrying case and a game for only $300. That’s the normal MSRP of the system, so the carrying case and game were simply all-upside! This year we expect to see similar sales at various retailers. The Super Smash Bros and Pokemon bundles of the Switch are likely targets for big sales. Both include unique docks and controllers based on the games that are bundled in! They’re both likely to be hot-ticket items this year.

    Microsoft and Sony also offer their Xbox and PS4 at $300, respectively. While we don’t expect to see these systems discounted any, it wouldn’t be surprising to see deals including games or controllers as bundles at $300. These sales are more desirable to retailers: they offer value to the consumer while not digging into the company’s profits. In fact, they could even help offload hardware like controllers or carrying cases while increasing traffic around the holidays.

    TV Deals

    You can also expect to see great discounts of TVs. Interestingly, TVs are one of the few things that hasn’t increased in price year over year with inflation. Instead, it’s more affordable than ever to get a big, flat-screen HD TV. That goes double during Black Friday sales when everything has huge discounts!

    Last year large retailers had 55-inch 4K displays as low as $300. Those kinds of prices were around $200-$300 off of MSRP. A lot of retailers even used those huge TV discounts as one of the biggest draws to shopping in their store during the huge holiday sales.

    As crazy as this sounds, you might even be able to pick up 4K Smart TVs for as little as $250 on Black Friday. These deals are sure to be red-hot to boot. Make sure you’re early in line to snag these deals! TVs are one of the fastest-moving items on sale during Black Friday. If you’ve been holding off on upgrading, this year is going to be a really good time to pull the trigger on an upgrade. Given the trajectory of large flat-screens, it’s likely that this year will have some of the lowest prices ever for them.

    There are sure to be dozens of more awesome deals to be found at major retailers this Black Friday. Ads indicating sale prices are usually out by mid-November, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for early indicators of the big deals this season!

    Laptop & Tablet Deals

    If you’re looking to pick up one of the best laptops or a new MacBook, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times to do fetch a winning deal. And, with this year’s celebration of shopping quickly approaching, you might want to gear up for the big day and see how you can ensure you only get the best price.

    Big name brands like Dell, Lenovo and HP should all see price drops for their range of laptops, both budget and high-end. Last year, Dell’s XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops saw liberal price cuts, and we hope to see similar slashing this year. They are two of the best laptops money can buy, so if you find those getting discounted on Black Friday, definitely consider purchasing them.

    Price cuts to Microsoft’s excellent range of Surface devices are also a common sight on Black Friday. Microsoft just announced the Surface Pro 6, and while Black Friday will be too soon for that new device to see price cuts, it means that its predecessor, the Surface Pro 2017, has a good chance of seeing some decent price cuts. Keep an eye out for the affordable Surface Go as well – we suspect Microsoft will make some prices cuts there as well.

    But, what about Apple? Apple’s MacBook notebooks don’t often receive sizable price cuts, but in recent Black Friday events we’ve seen some good price cuts emerging from retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama. If you don’t mind getting somewhat older MacBook hardware from a year or so ago, then you should be able to score yourself a neat MacBook deal on Black Friday. Finally the new iPad Pro was recently unveiled this year so Apple will undoubtedly have Black Friday deals for their most recent flagship product.


  • Best Online Stock Trading Platform

    Best Online Stock Trading Platform

    Stock trading can be a scary concept. After all, investing in markets is something difficult that only professionals can do, right? Well, not really. All you need to start trading today is some money to invest and a good online stock trading platform.

    Best Online Stock Trading Platform

    E-Trade

    The poster child for online stock trading, E-Trade is a great place for beginners to start. If you’ve never done any trading before, we recommend E-Trade. You can get acquainted with the basics through their learning tools. They offer web seminars, reading material and more to get you comfortable with the idea of investing in stocks.

    They even have a team of market analysts who can help guide you in the best ways to invest your money. Their analyses are available through the site, and you can even contact a 24-hour helpline to give you market advice. Really, it’s a great all-in-one for beginners.

    Ally Invest

    Ally Invest is fantastic for those looking for a more budget-friendly way to trade. That’s because they have a low price for trading and a low commission structure for an online stock trading platform. They offer $5 trades, or $4 trades for people with more than 30 trades per quarter. That’s a pretty enticing deal for those looking to make a lot of trades!

    If you’re a relatively confident investor who just needs a good, stable and inexpensive platform, Ally Invest is for you. They’ve got a few nifty tools for users, and they offer the best bang for your buck.

    TD Ameritrade

    TD Ameritrade doesn’t have the low price of Ally Invest, but they offer some other interesting features. Trade Architect is TD Ameritrade’s beginner-friendly platform that will introduce new investors to all the concepts they need to know. The simplified platform is considered a rival to E-Trade’s easy-to-understand approach.

    TD Ameritrade also offers a platform called Thinkorswim, which is great for established and confident investors. Thinkorswim offers market analyses, charts, graphs and in-depth reports fit for the most discerning of investors. So, whether you’re a greenhorn or a grizzled vet, TD Ameritrade has an online trading platform that will work for you!

  • SmartPhone Spotlight: The Palm

    SmartPhone Spotlight: The Palm

    Palm Pilot is back. No this is not a tech throwback, this is legit. Palm is back in action after being shut down in 2011 by HP. A startup out of California now uses the Palm name, and it’s serious about breathing new life into the brand. They are releasing a new android based smartphone sidekick. It’s a back up phone of sorts? The Robin to your smartphone Batman? The new phone known as just the Palm. The Palm is a small device you carry around when you don’t want to bring your main iPhone or Galaxy along. Like to the beach or warped tour. Let take a look in to this, “The Palm”

    The Great

    • Small
    • Tiny
    • Miniscule
    • Cheap

    The Not

    • Lacks everything you need on a daily bases
    • No NFC

    The Conclusion

    It’s a backup phone that fits is the palm of your hand. It is a thin version of the iPhone 3g with slightly more power and running android. My first impression, it’s a giant smartwatch. I think I want one

     

    The Palm In Your Palm

    So lets address the elephant in the room, new Palm has nothing to do with the old palm or Palm pilot. They just got the name. That said, The Palm is a 3.3 inch LCD display with Android 8.1 OS. Palm has redesigned the interface to give it a more friendly Palm feel. The Palm is a beautiful little thing, crafted from aluminum and Gorilla Glass 3. Its has a amazingly sharp screen, with pixel density of 445 PPI. For those keeping score at home that is top of the charts iPhone XS level. The Palm is crystal clear.

    The guts are comprised of a octa-core Snapdragon 435 chipset with 3GB of RAM. Pretty unimpressive and available in any free android MetroPCS is giving away this month. This is a Verizon exclusive, but for any of you that pay attention we know all Verizon phones are factory unlocked so The Palm will be able to be used with any carrier.

    An 800mAh battery tucked away inside. Palm claims will last about 8 hours on a single charge. You can extend that battery life a bit with a feature Palm calls Life Mode, which is meant to help you disconnect when needed and focus on what’s happening in front of you. Its like enabling airplane mode.

    The Look

    With rounded edges, no fingerprint reader and only one power button on the entire thing, the Palm’s resemblance to the iPhone is unavoidable. Extremely easy to hold and use, it almost slipped out of my hands a few times. Palm wants you to buy accessories for this phone accessory like a workout sleeve or lariat. Palm will also sell you a bi-fold wallet case and a Kate Spade clutch which you wear around your wrist.

    “Creating a smaller smartphone would have been easy, but Palm is unique in that it augments the smartphone in a special new way,” said Brian Higgins, vice president of device and consumer product marketing at Verizon. “Palm and Verizon set out to reinvent something in a smaller form factor that allows you to connect with only what matters.”

    The Palm Quick Speck Look

    • 3.3-inch, 445ppi. 720p resolution
    • 12-megapixel rear camera and flash
    • 8-megapixel front-facing camera
    • 32GB local storage/3GB RAM
    • No expandable storage
    • Battery capacity: 800mAh
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor
    • Proprietary optical sensor to unlock the phone, but not 3D, not secure enough for mobile payments
    • One speaker on front
    • USB-C port
    • One button power/lock
    • Gesture controls
    • Android 8.1
    • No NFC
    • Water-resistance: IP68

    The Final Thought

    It’s a backup phone that does all of the things your current phone does, just not as well. It to be used in a pinch. I really don’t know what to make of this. I have carried a backup phone for the last 10 years, and I’m enjoying not having 100% communication reliability. There has to be some fail safe to just go off grid for a moment. I will get its own number or a simple sim switch and you are good to go with your regular number. For $299 it is a pretty inexpensive phone, my just be the phone I slip in to my baggies on those long boat days.

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Xiaomi Mi Mix 3

    Smartphone Spotlight: Xiaomi Mi Mix 3

    We have the First 5g Smartphone, I said It would happen. I said it would happen before the end of the year. Here we are. WE know Chinese phone maker Xiaomi is working on one of the first 5G-enabled phones you can buy. However you’ll have to wait until next year for it. I know I know, next year. We have hard details though. Lets take our first look in to the first 5G- enabled smartphone. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3.

    The Great

    • 5G
    • Good Power Spec
    • Snapdragon 845

    The Bad

    • Unknown yet

    The Conclusion

    Xiaomi’s Mi Mix phones are traditionally its most expensive and configurations with more storage typically cost more. It is priced great and will be our Guinea pig in to 5G. This will not be a commercial success but is much needed. Bugs, glitches and kinks galore are to be expected.

    Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 and What We Know

    Thursday at the Forbidden City we got our first 5G enabled smartphone annonced, the Mi Mix 3 is the latest addition to Xiaomi’s line of all-screen flagship phones. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, it has a 6.39-inch display like the Mi Mix with a 2,340×1,080-pixel resolution, meaning 93.4 percent of its body is screen. All the standar features are here. It has four cameras — two each on the front and back — as well as an astonishing 10GB RAM variant. That is impressive now, this time next year it will be the norm.

    Battery capacity is a less impressive 3,200 mAh, although I don’t expect great battery life. I have a feeling the 5G power will be more draining then the engineers are accounting for. While this isn’t the biggest battery we have seen, the phone does supports wireless charging. Also check out the fingerprint senso, it is right there on the back of the phone, no surprise there.

    For starters The Mi Mix 3 will come in three versions. You can get 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage, or the top-end model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It will be available in three colors: onyx black, jade green and sapphire blue. It will have a starting price point of $475 and be available early next year.

    Quick Spec Look

    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
    • 6.39-inch AMOLED screen, full-HD+ display (2,340×1,080 pixels)
    • 6GB RAM with 128GB onboard storage; 8GB RAM with 128GB storage; 8GB RAM with 256GB storage; 10GB with 256GB onboard storage
    • 12-megapixel dual rear cameras
    • 24- and 2-megapixel dual front cameras
    • Rear fingerprint sensor
    • 218 grams (7.69 ounces), 158 by 75 by 8.5 mm

     

    The Final Thought

    It is sleek, simple and elegant. Make no mistakes though The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 will be clunky, it will over heat and underperform, but we are here. The future isn’t ahead its now. Remember what I told you a few months back, the 5 g network will power the wifi at the resorts on the moon. Today is the start.

  • Five Things to Consider When Buying a New Cell Plan

    Five Things to Consider When Buying a New Cell Plan

    Your cell phone and cell plan is a huge purchase and the center of all of your communication, and primary social tool. No longer are they for making calls in an emergency, they are now our most used possession. When we become so dependent on these devices, the cost tend to creep up and rise out of control.

    To help you save on this important cost, we are going to break down the cost and some tips when looking for new cell service. Whether you want to upgrade to a new phone or lower your monthly cost, we will take a look at all the dos and don’ts. Here are the five things to consider when looking for a new cell plan and the no contract cell phone plans as well.

    First Things First

    First off you need to decide on the phone you want to use. There are a lot of options and they update constantly. There are 3 options to consider here, iPhone, Android, non-smartphone or feature phone as they are called today. I don’t recommend buying a feature phone to anyone. You may think it is easier, it is not. A feature phone will lacking functionality also has a more cumbersome operation process. The smartphone is easier to operate and easier to customize to only use the features and functions you want.

    Do You Need a Flagship Device?

    As far a smartphones go you have the iPhone or an Android. The iPhone’s are more powerful, easier to use, more reliable and last longer. The Androids have more advanced feature sets and more customizable. Apple and Samsung make the 2 main device but there are a slew of other brands when looking in to Android. LG, HTC, OnePlus, Motorola all make new top of the line phones every year. You can get a great android device for half the cost of the premium Samsung Flagships.

    iPhone?

    This is always my recommendation. Due to their reliability, durability and ease of use and cost of ownership being much lower. The average iPhone will last 3.5 years, stay current and cutting edge. Isn’t the cost very high? Not really, The highest end new iPhone is the most expensive device on the market, but last year’s models or cheaper models like the XR are available. There is always an iPhone for any budget and they are always the best option in their class. Even today you can purchase an iPhone 7 for less than $450.

    No Contract No Cry

    Wait! $450? Aren’t phones supposed to be free! I never paid for a phone before… No they have never been free, and yes you paid a lot more for your free phone then you think. This brings me to my next point. Contracts. Don’t do them. Years ago the iPhone 7 that is selling for $450 with no contract would have been free with a 2 year contract. The cost of the subsidy was built in to your cellular plan at an average of $40 per month. Did you do that math? Your free phone cost you $960. Your best option is to find the phone you want and purchases at full price.

    The New Cell Plan

    This lead me to my last tip, by bringing your own phone you can get the best price on your plan. No longer do you have to worried about prepaid or postpaid. You can pick the plan you want and the carrier you want. Verizon and AT&T are the premium providers, with better, faster and more extensive coverage. They mock each other plans so cost are just about the same. Sprint and T-Mobile are your bargain carriers, cheaper and service will have holes and speed issues. You may not notice but odds are you will. Their new cell plan will run you a few dollars less.

    The Next option is to go with non-carrier 3rd parties. MetroPCS, StraighTalk, Cricket, Boost. These are providers that don’t have a network of their own and instead piggy back on the Carriers network. While these can be the cheapest option, they do not receive the same level of coverage. Even though they are using the same network, they are at a much lower priority and do not share in with the roaming agreements the major carriers have in play. So while you may get to use T-Mobile’s network, you will be out of service when it is not available. With a direct T-Mobile service you would jump on to one of the other networks. This is something you want to evaluate when buying a new cell plan.


  • Whats Up With the HTC Blockchain Phone?

    Whats Up With the HTC Blockchain Phone?

    HTC is releasing blockchain version of HTC’s U12+ flagship, featuring a 6-inch QuadHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, Snapdragon 845 chip, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 16-megapixel dual camera, 8-megapixel dual selfie camera, IP68 rating, 3,500 mAh battery, and Android Oreo. It has all the specs, pretty standard. What is interesting, and what Id like to take a deeper look into the is the blockchain tech HTC is packing in to its new HTC blockchain phone.

    What is Blockchain?

    For those of you that are unfamiliar, blockchain is an is an undeniably ingenious invention. Blockchain is allowing digital information to be distributed but not copied. Blockchain technology created the backbone of a new type of internet. Originally devised for the digital currency, Bitcoin, (Buy Bitcoin) the tech community is now finding other potential uses for the technology. Information held on a blockchain exists as a shared — and continually reconciled — database. This is a way of using the network that has obvious benefits. The blockchain database isn’t stored in any single location, meaning the records it keeps are truly public and easily verifiable. No centralized version of this information exists for a hacker to corrupt. Hosted by millions of computers simultaneously, its data is accessible to anyone on the internet.

    HTC BlockChain

    AS for the blockchain tech in the phone The phone contains a wallet that’s kept in a secure area “protected from the Android OS,” according to a press release, which can be used to hold the keys to your cryptocurrency and tokens like CryptoKitties. HTC also made a social key recovery mechanism in case your phone is lost, stolen, or you misplace your key information. You’re able to keep the recovery details with a few trustworthy friends, who must then download a key management app. HTC will then use a secret sharing algorithm to send the info to your friends, which you can then piece together if needed. The phone is also being opened up for third-party developers to make their own key apps and wallets.

    HTC says one of the purposes of a HTC blockchain phone is to allow users to control their data. But as long as this is an Android phone, some of that data still flows to Google.

    The Final Thought

    Another interesting development is that this phone can only be purchased with crypto currency. Being a blockchain phone, the Exodus 1 can be purchased only for crypto. 0.15 Bitcoin or 4.78 Ethereum will get you a phone. That’s $958 and $950, respectively, but the prices will change by the time I finished typing these words. That’s how crypto works. The HTC Blockchain phone can be purchased via the early access program.It  will be available in 34 countries including the US.

  • Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners

    Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners

    Hopefully there will come a day when all that boring stuff we don’t want to do is done by robots. We already have machines wash dishes for us and wash our clothes. Now we even have robot vacuum cleaners! They’re really quite convenient, hoovering up any dirt with the push of a button. What’s not to love about these little guys? Today, we’re bringing you our list of the best robot vacuum cleaners.

    Robotic vacuums have come a long way. The latest iterations have stronger suction, better edge-cleaning capabilities, and improved programming. for daily cleaning of surface debris, a robotic vacuum can work wonders—if you choose one of our top-rated models. And you no longer have to spend $1,000 to get great performance. If you’re thinking of purchasing one of these little machines, consider your flooring (some are better on carpet, others on bare floors), the layout of your home, and the types of detritus your home generates (pet hair, kid spills).

    Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners

    iRobot
    These popular robot vacuum cleaners have been in production since the early 2000’s. Their Roomba 890 is a great option, as it comes with an app that allows you to schedule when it will clean. You can also set cleaning patterns to make sure the Roomba doesn’t miss those corners and hidden areas.

    Roomba’s offerings are generally mid-priced compared to the competition. While they’re not the most technologically impressive, they’re generally pretty good. Remote activation and scheduling are the biggest draws to these classic robot vacuum cleaners.

    The great thing about the iRobot brand is that they were pioneers of this industry and over the years have been able to offer a giant array of different products with different price points. you can get the older models for $150 or you can get their top of the line for almost $1000.

    iRobot 690

    Last year’s mid-range fave is still a great pick. It has many of iRobot’s covetable features, without the staggering prices. It connects to the same easy-to-use app to schedule cleanings and check battery life and even uses the same invisible wall barrier system. A few downgrades were inevitable—instead of the 980’s powerful AeroForce cleaning technology, the 690 has an earlier iteration called AeroVac, and the wonderful rubber carpet agitator was swapped for a boring, but effective carpet brush. But these are acceptable tradeoffs for being able to pocket more dough.

    iRobot i7+
    iRobot’s Roomba i7+ solves one of the most pressing robovac pain points: It can empty its own bin. This is in addition to smart maps that let the user map up to 10 different floor plans. In iRobot’s simple app, you can designate different zones in each floor plan, then remotely send the i7+ to tidy up the foyer and bathroom while leaving the cluttered bedrooms untouched. It also has updated navigation tech and a proprietary rubber carpet agitator to grab grime. If you can justify spending a month’s rent on a home appliance, this is it.

    Samsung POWERbot R7070
    On the higher end of prices is the Samsung POWERbot. This little robot is Alexa-enabled, and even works with Google Home. It sports a HEPA filter, which is great for those with allergies. It has smart-deploying side brushes that pop out when it gets near walls. This is a huge improvement over other side brushes that can scatter dirt when not near a wall.

    The POWERbot also offers app functionality, programability and scheduling. You can activate it remotely and even view its pattern and path. It has great power, too, sucking up dirt, pet hair and messes with the best of them.

    Eufy Robo Vac11

    On the less-expensive side of things is the Eufy Robo Vac11. This entry doesn’t have any Wi-Fi connectivity, and it doesn’t feature a companion app. The trade-off is a lower price, and the vacuum is controlled from a remote instead. You can still program a schedule for the little robot, but you can’t check on it from your phone or change it remotely.

    All in all, these three options are all pretty great! The biggest difference is price. If you’re looking for a robot vacuum, any of these would be a great choice. The biggest question is how much money you want to spend!


  • Best Car Tracking Systems

    Best Car Tracking Systems

    If you’re trying to keep up with a vehicle, you’re probably looking into a car tracking system. Car tracking systems are like reverse GPS devices: they help you find your way to your car, rather than finding your way in your car!

    These systems are great for concerned parents, employers of drivers with company cars and just for people who are worried about their cars being stolen. Let’s check out the best car tracking systems!

    Best Car Tracking Systems

    Automatic Pro Car GPS Tracker

    This Alexa-enabled gizmo is awesome. If you’re a fan of convenience and want to be able to track wherever your car goes, this is for you. When you get near your house, the Automatic can interface with your smart home system over the internet. Then, your smart home can start running programs for your arrival, such as turning on lights and setting the thermostat. What’s more, once you’ve purchased this gadget, you get five years of tracking over 3G completely free!

    ABLEGRID GPS Vehicle Tracker

    This is a more low-tech approach than some of the competition, but the ABLEGRID has some notable upsides. For one thing, this is really more of a GPS beacon than anything. It works by connecting to 2G networks, which are older and less prevalent than 3G. The ABLEGRID doesn’t require any setup: just throw it in a glove compartment and it’s tracking its current location.

    The lack of in-depth setup and low-tech build give this tracker some advantages. For one thing, it can be transferred from vehicle to vehicle very easily. For another, it has superb battery life, lasting for half a year on standby mode. It can even work for two weeks while actively being tracked!

    Spy Tech STI GL300 Mini Portable Vehicle GPS Tracker

    The incredibly long name of this tracker shouldn’t distract you from how good it is. This tracker has very easy-to-implement geofencing technology. That means that you can set up an area that a vehicle should remain within and receive alerts if it leaves that area. This is great for alerting you if your car is stolen, as well as for company cars that should only operate in certain regions.

    You can get detailed reports from the Spy Tech either on desktop or mobile. If you’re looking for a very high-quality, dependable GPS tracker, this is the favored option.


  • Smartphone SpotLight: LG V40

    Smartphone SpotLight: LG V40

    LG’s finest industrial design, power packed Android smartphone. The V40 is distinctive, modern, and stacked with desirable features, a phone seemingly destined for inevitable stardom. To cap off 2018, LG’s releasing the Lg V40. A 5 camera no-nonsense flagship that aims to take the best bits of the G7 from earlier in the year and improve upon them in every way possible.

    The Great

    • 5 cameras
    • Snapdragon 845 processor,
    • Massive OLED screen,
    • Excellent battery life,
    • Waterproof
    • Wireless charging,
    • MicroSD storage
    • A headphone jack on a phone.

    The Not

    • Awkward to hold
    • Slow camera autofocus
    • Nothing Special

    The Conclusion

    The LG V40 is a terrific alternative to the iPhone XR and Huawei Mate 10. More than that, it is described more accurately as a blend of the 2. But with 5 cameras.

    Jack of All Trades

    Want a sleek, durable handset that’s practically all screen. A device with gobs of performance, super long battery life, an amazing camera and a headphone jack. How about water resistance, wireless charging, microSD expandable storage and support for any cellular carrier, too? This is it. The V40 will reportedly feature five different cameras, two on the front and three on the back. The triple camera setup on the back will apparently be arranged similarly to the P20 Pro, featuring a standard lens, wide angle lens, and a third lens that could be for bokeh effects.

    The 5 Cameras

    The biggest feature of the V40 is its five-camera setup — three sensors on the back and two on the front. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen an Android phone with this many cameras, but that doesn’t take away from LG’s implementation whatsoever.

    • Rear camera 1 — 12MP main sensor with OIS and f/1.5 aperture
    • R camera 2 — 16MP wide-angle lens with f/1.7
    • R camera 3 — 12MP telephoto 2x zoom lens with f/2.4
    • Front camera 1 — 8MP main sensor with f/1.9
    • F camera 2 — 5MP wide-angle shooter with f/2.2

    That Screen

    The only thing that sets LG’s phones apart is there screen. They have the best looking and highest quality OLED screen on the smartphone line up. It gets as bright or clear as Samsung’s screen outdoors but with a crisper more attractive color segment. OLED stands for “organic light-emitting diodes,” and it’s very different from the popular LCD screen technology seen in most phones recent years.

    The V40 uses an LG-made OLED display, and while past LG panels on the V30 and Pixel 3 XL have left us yearning for more, that’s not the case with the V40. This screen is robust and beautiful and can display true, actual blacks. LG does a lot of things right here, offering a truly beautiful display, fast internals, great cameras, and an exquisite design. The small(ish) battery and high price tag are definitely downsides to keep in mind, but even so, this is a phone that should absolutely be on your shortlist this holiday shopping season

    The Design, Don’t let it Slip

    The back of the LG V40 is made out of glass, and while just about every Android flagship has this same construction, LG’s done something unique to make the V40 stand out. The LG V40 has almost nothing in common with the V Series phones that have come before it. The only thing remaining from the Second Screen is a floating widget. The metal back and giant chins have been replaced with glass and slim bezels. Everything that was sharp and industrial is now more premium and svelte. It’s a gorgeous design that is absolutely stunning, Its sleek and by sleek I mean slippery. It will slip through your fingers like star systems slipping through Grand Moff Tarkens fingers.

    LG V40 Quick Spec Look

    • Display
      6.4-inch OLED FullVision display
      538ppi
      3,120 x 1,440 resolution
      Corning Gorilla Glass 5
      19.5:9 aspect ratio
      HDR10-capable
    • SoC
      Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
      2.8GHz, octa-core
      GPU Adreno 630
      RAM 6GB LPDDRx4
    • Storage
      64 or 128GB
      UFS 2.1
      MicroSD expansion up to 2TB
    • Audio
      Boombox Speaker
      DTS:X 3D Surround Sound
      32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC
      3.5mm headphone jack
      Audio Tuned by Meridian
      Super Far Field Voice Recognition
    • Battery
      3,300mAh
      Non-removable
      Fast wireless charging
      Quick Charge 4.0-compatible (ships with QC 3.0 charger)
      Qi wireless charging
    • USB Type-C port
    • IP rating IP68
    • MIL-STD 810G certification
    • Network LTE-A 4 Band CA
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac
    • Software Android 8.1 Oreo
    • Colors New Aurora Black, New Platinum Gray, New Moroccan Blue, Carmine Red

    The Final Thought

    Instead of straying from the pack, the LG V40 blends in with this year’s fleet of flagships. LG finally decided to stop playing around with gimmicks and made the best phone they possibly could. It has everything you wants but lacks the thing you didn’t know about, and that is where it fails. The V40 has a tough road ahead if it wants to stand out, but if you give the phone a chance, you just might be impressed with what you see. Pre-orders for the LG V40 are open now with full retail availability as of October 18. The phone ranges from $900 to $980 depending on where you buy it, making it one of the most expensive flagships of the year.